It was a race billed between two horses – Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion – and it proved just that, with John Gosden’s 8-11 favourite Roaring Lion coming out on top in a thrilling Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes.
Ridden by the in-form Oisin Murphy, who struck earlier on the card aboard Willie Mullins’ Limini, Roaring Lion looked to have plenty to do with two furlongs out as Ryan Moore kicked for home on Saxon Warrior.
However, despite the eventual runner-up sticking on gamely, he was just worn down late on by his old foe to the joy of punters. (fonte : RacingPost)
It’s Roaring Lion Again In the Irish Champion
| 7th at LEP, Gr. Stk, €1,250,000 | G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. | (10f) | Winner: Roaring Lion, c, 3 by Kitten’s Joy |
Showing his trademark devastating turn of acceleration again, Qatar Racing’s Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) edged out arch-rival Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in a thriller in Leopardstown’s G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. Settled with just the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) behind early, the 8-11 favourite had two lengths to make up on Ballydoyle’s 2000 Guineas winner turning for home. Despite allowing him first run as he had in Sandown’s G1 Eclipse S. July 7, the grey was able to cut him down in the final yards and win by a neck, with the pacemaker Deauville (Ire)(Galileo {Ire}) 2 3/4 lengths behind in third. Now Europe’s undisputed leader at this 10-furlong trip, he was adding to the Eclipse and G1 Juddmonte International S. at York Aug. 22 with jockey Oisin Murphy also swelling his ever-growing tally of big-race victories.
1–ROARING LION, 127, c, 3, by Kitten’s Joy
1st Dam: Vionnet (GISP-US, $175,140), by Street Sense
2nd Dam: Cambiocorsa, by Avenue of Flags
3rd Dam: Ultrafleet, by Afleet
($160,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Ran Jan Racing Inc (KY); T-John Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. €712,500.
fonte : TDN
Alpha Centauri’s winning sequence comes to an end as Laurens bravely prevails
Alpha Centauri, sent off the 30-100 favourite, failed to shine as Karl Burke’s Laurens made all under Danny Tudhope to win the Group 1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
Laurens was allowed to dictate in the early stages and battled on gamely to deny Alpha Centauri, who was seeking her fifth straight top-level victory.
Jessica Harrington’s star filly looked likely to sweep by Laurens with a furlong to run, but she didn’t pick up in her normal exhilarating fashion and hung left under pressure close home.
PJ McDonald, the regular rider of Laurens who is sidelined due to injury but was in attendance in a wheelchair, said: “She was very good. For her to come here and beat the best miler we’ve seen for a long time is a great training performance.
“What a tough filly, it’s a pleasure to be a part of her. It’s great to be here – I’d much prefer to be on Danny’s side of it but I’ll join in the celebrations tonight.”
Laurens is now the 5-2 favourite (from 6) for the Prix de l’Opera, while Alpha Centauri has drifted to 8-1 (from 4) for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
fonte : RacingPost
Alpha Centauri Succumbs To Laurens In the Matron
| 4th at LEP, Gr. Stk, €350,000 | G1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. | (8f) | Winner: Laurens (Fr), f, 3 by Siyouni (Fr) |
Laurens turns back Alpha Centauri in the Matron | Racing Post
Reverting to a mile after finishing sixth in the 12-furlong G1 Yorkshire Oaks Aug. 23, John Dance’s Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) did the unthinkable and turned back Alpha Centauri (Ire)(Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to land Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. at Leopardstown. Sent off an inflated 10-1, the June 17 G1 Prix de Diane heroine set out her stall in front under Danny Tudhope and really knuckled down as the Niarchos sensation came to her inside the final furlong. Digging gamely as the 3-10 favourite lugged left under pressure, the British raider carved out a 3/4-of-a-length success, with Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third.
1–LAURENS (FR), 126, f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Recambe (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Razana (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Raysiya (Ire), by Cure the Blues
(£220,000 Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-John Dance; B-Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-Karl Burke; J-Daniel Tudhope. €206,500. (fonte : TDN)
Kingman’s Persian King Earns Rising Star Tag at Chantilly
| 1st at CHY, Cond, €44,000 | Prix de la Reconversion d’un Cheval de Courses en Cheval de Loisir (Cond) | (8f) | Winner: Persian King (Ire), c, 2 by Kingman (GB) |
New TDN Rising Star Persian King | Scoop Dyga
Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {Ire}), who bettered an Aug. 7 first-up second going 7 1/2 panels at Deauville when graduating over Chantilly’s mile last time Sept. 1, was hammered in to odds-on favouritism–despite the presence of ‘TDN Rising Star’ Lone Peak (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire})–and justified that support in impressive fashion to replicate that rival’s status. Breaking well to stalk the pace set by the Strawbridge homebred through halfway, the 3-5 chalk loomed large in the straight and was pushed out in the closing stages once cruising to the front soon after passing the two pole to outclass his overmatched opposition by five lengths and more. Half-brother to a yearling filly by Australia (GB), the homebred bay is the second foal and lone winner produced by a winning half-sister to G1SW sire Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and dual stakes winner Pilote d’Essai (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
1st-Chantilly, €44,000, Cond, 9-15, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:37.25, gd.
PERSIAN KING (IRE), c, 2, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Pretty Please (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Plante Rare (Ire), by Giant’s Causeway
3rd Dam: Palmeraie, by Lear Fan
Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €40,900. O-Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. (fonte : TDN)
Kew Gardens in full bloom to deny Lah Ti Dar and give O’Brien another St Leger
In a flash they were gone – first Kew Gardens from his rivals in the William Hill St Leger and then his trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.
O’Brien and Moore had no time to reflect on Kew Gardens’ authoritative victory in the final Classic of the British season, instead dashing for their helicopter to Leopardstown for the first day of Irish Champions Weekend as if they were catching the last chopper out of Saigon.
It was a sixth success in the race for O’Brien, whose Ballydoyle juggernaut is picking up pace approaching the end of the season after an in-and-out year due to a virus.
“We’re over the moon with him,” said O’Brien as he cantered across the straight where Kew Gardens had stamped his class over his 11 rivals just moments before.
Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | SP |
| 2001 | Milan | Mick Kinane | 13-8f |
| 2003 | Brian Boru | Jamie Spencer | 5-4f |
| 2005 | Scorpion | Frankie Dettori | 10-11f |
| 2013 | Leading Light | Joseph O’Brien | 7-2f |
| 2017 | Capri | Ryan Moore | 3-1f |
| 2018 | Kew Gardens | Ryan Moore | 3-1 |
“We always thought he was a horse who would stay well and we were delighted with what he did in France [winning the Grand Prix de Paris] and at York [finishing third in the Great Voltigeur].
“We always felt he had a lot of class and this extra distance was going to be what he wanted.”
With stamina clearly Kew Gardens’ forte, a strong pace was set by his stablemates, with Moore content to take a midfield position, tracked all the time by favourite Lah Ti Dar and Frankie Dettori, who had steered the filly’s brother Too Darn Hot to an exciting success in the Champagne Stakes in the previous race.
Swinging into the straight with a long, relentless half a mile to go, Kew Gardens seemed to grow into himself and moved through to chase down the leaders with style. Lah Ti Dar, on just her fourth start, was a little more uncertain and required more guidance from the saddle. It proved to be a key moment.
Kew Gardens went from being a length in front of Lah Ti Dar with four furlongs remaining to being closer to three lengths ahead with two furlongs to go. With stamina assured, Kew Gardens kept on powerfully to win by two and a quarter lengths, with Southern France, also trained by O’Brien, four and a half lengths behind Lah Ti Dar in third.
Moore said: “He travelled well and got there really easy. He’s a very uncomplicated, easy horse and he did it very impressively. He tries very hard and has a great attitude to life. He picked up really well and beat a good field.”
Kew Gardens was cut by bookmakers for next month’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, his odds now ranging from 12-1 to 25-1 (from 33 generally), a race in which last year’s St Leger winner, his stablemate Capri, finished a disappointing 17th of 18 behind Enable.
Owner Derrick Smith, who was left to pick up the trophy with his son Paul, owner of 2014 St Leger winner Kingston Hill, said the Coolmore team had long thought Kew Gardens was a colt destined to perform to his best at Doncaster.
“He’s looked a Leger horse for a long time but he’s always had plenty of pace,” Smith said. ”I’m not sure what he’ll do next so we’ll see what Aidan is thinking and sort it out.
“He’s probably going to be better on better ground but the contest suited him today. The way he made up the ground was impressive and then it was over in a flash.”
While those closest to Kew Gardens may have not been hanging around on Town Moor, the impression the colt left in winning the Classic will remain for a long time.
fonte : RacingPost
Galileo’s Kew Gardens Is the Leger Hero
| 4th at DON, Gr. Stk, £743,000 | G1 William Hill St Leger S. | (14f 115y) | Winner: Kew Gardens (Ire), c, 3 by Galileo (Ire) |
Kew Gardens wins the St Leger from Lah Ti Dar | Racing Post
It may have been a quiet 2018 for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable by last year’s exalted standards, but few establishments would complain about a state of affairs that included three British Classic victories in a calendar year. That is what Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) supplied on Doncaster’s Town Moor on Saturday as he punished his rivals with a perfect combination of staying power and speed in the G1 William Hill St Leger. Settled in mid-division early by Ryan Moore, the 3-1 second favourite made up his ground between the three and the two and after mastering stablemate Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) really hit his stride as Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) chased hard. Always too far away from that 7-4 favourite, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero was the emphatic 2 1/4-length winner in the end as the class duo pulled 4 1/2 lengths away from Southern France in third. “You couldn’t fault him today, when he went forward it was all over in a flash,” Derrick Smith commented after Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore had made the dash to Leopardstown. “He’d be better on better ground–on fast he’d be a handful. He’s always looked a Leger type, but he does have plenty of pace so he has lots of options. Obviously, something was wrong with them this year but that’s life–it happens to everybody.”
By the middle of May, the attention was already turning to this Classic as Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) realistically threatened to bring more Triple Crown mythology to Rosegreen while Kew Gardens took a back seat after his first two efforts of 2018. A laboured third on his 3-year-old bow in the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket Apr. 17, the bay was hard at work in arrears again next time as Knight To Behold (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) slipped away from him in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial over an extended 11 furlongs May 12. Losing a shoe on that occasion, he was sent to the June 2 G1 Epsom Derby with a legitimate excuse for that heavy defeat but became embroiled in a battle for the lead with that rival which ultimately saw him trail in ninth in the blue riband. Backing up quickly under contrasting tactics in the 14-furlong G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot June 20, he displayed the same hard-galloping style in beating Southern France by 4 1/2 lengths that he had exhibited when taking the Listed Zetland S. over 10 furlongs at Newmarket in October of his juvenile season.
Aided by the ideal lead-out horse in Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) there and again in the Grand Prix de Paris on Bastille Day, he swooped on Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to win with authority and only the widespread virus kept him from taking on the deadly Stoute pair of older horses in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. On his return, he came from behind to close on Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with genuine intent when third under a penalty in the Aug. 22 G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York and was firm favourite until Lah Ti Dar was routed here this week. Allowed to slide out to a starting price that seemed large in hindsight, he had the Lloyd-Webber homebred on his tail throughout as they sat a respectable distance back from the tempo created by Nelson with Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and Proschema (Ire) (Declaration of War) keeping up the pressure.
It was Southern France and Seamie Heffernan who looked the biggest danger up ahead with three furlongs remaining, but Moore was only just beginning to get the powerful-striding winner organised as Lah Ti Dar visibly struggled to find a rhythm in behind. When Kew Gardens overwhelmed his imposing stablemate, the contest was settled as Frankie Dettori could only muster a brave but ineffective response from the previously-unbeaten filly. She emerges with great credit, particularly as she was being niggled at a long way out and ran into one of the finest Leger winners of recent times as Kew Gardens recorded a time just outside standard and bettered only twice in the previous 10 years. “It was very smooth,” Ryan Moore commented. “He’s a very uncomplicated horse and he tries very hard. He’s got a great attitude to life and he picked up really well–a super horse.”
John Gosden said of Lah Ti Dar, “She ran a great race and as Frankie said, that’s the first real race of her life. She’s only ever seen about one horse before today. She was beaten by a proper horse and a proper Leger horse–a Grand Prix de Paris winner and a Queen’s Vase winner. She’s run an absolute blinder and we’re thrilled with her. The early pace was a lot slower than we thought it would be. In the end the best horse won–make no mistake–but I like the way she was closing him down late on. She was getting to him and getting to him. There was a period at the three where you said ‘she’s not going to be placed’, but then she got balanced and organised. We’ll freshen her up and go for the [Oct. 20 G1 Qipco British Champions] Fillies’ and Mares’ race on Champions Day at Ascot and then put her away for next year. That’s the plan.”
Kew Gardens is out of the G1 Moyglare Stud S.-winning Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}), who also placed in the G1 Pretty Polly S. and G1 Premio Lydia Tesio. From the family of the G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner and GI San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. runner-up River Warden (Riverman) and the GIII Hoist the Flag S. scorer Sweettuc (Spectacular Bid), she has also produced two other black-type performers headed by the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Chelsea Rose has three more Galileos in the offing, with colts in 2016 and 2018 and a filly in between.
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
WILLIAM HILL ST LEGER S.-G1, £743,000, Doncaster, 9-15, 3yo, 14f 115yT, 3:03.34, gd.
1–KEW GARDENS (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 9.5-10.5f, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Ity, $527,260), by Desert King (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino
3rd Dam: Sweet Simone (Fr), by Green Dancer
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £421,355. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & GSP-Ire, 12-5-2-2, $1,217,492. *1/2 to Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $262,616; and Hamlool (Ire) (Red Ransom), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lah Ti Dar (GB), 124, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Dar Re Mi (GB), by Singspiel (Ire). O-Lord Lloyd-Webber; B-Watership Down Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. £159,745.
3–Southern France (Ire), 127, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Alta Anna (Fr), by Anabaa. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £79,947.
Margins: 2 1/4, 4HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 1.75, 20.00.
Also Ran: Dee Ex Bee (GB), Old Persian (GB), Raymond Tusk (Ire), Nelson (Ire), Proschema (Ire), Maid Up (GB), Loxley (Ire), The Pentagon (Ire), Zabriskie (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. (fonte : TDN)
Kodiac Colt a New Rising Star At Salisbury
| 2nd at SLB, Cond, 7400 | Excalibur Communications Novice S. | (6f) | Winner: Jash (Ire), c, 2 by Kodiac (GB) |
Jash breaking his maiden in August | Racingfotos.com
Shadwell’s Jash (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who had already impressed on debut when off the mark by 4 1/2 lengths at Newmarket Aug. 25, had saved something extra special for this second outing in Friday’s Excalibur Communications Novice S. over six furlongs at Salisbury. Able to saunter to the lead under Jim Crowley from the break without any effort, the 1-8 favourite was always completely in hand and strode clear of Ginger Fox (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) still in second gear to score by nine lengths.
Jash, who holds an entry in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in 15 days’ time, is out of Miss Azeza (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) who scored on her debut but was retired after twice refusing to race. She is a granddaughter of Lady Zonda (GB) (Lion Cavern) who produced the G1 Fillies’ Mile and GI Yellow Ribbon S. heroine Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), herself the dam of the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The dam’s yearling filly is by No Nay Never.
2nd-Salisbury, £7,400, Cond, 9-14, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:14.71, g/f.
JASH (IRE) (c, 2, Kodiac {GB}–Miss Azeza {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) Sales history: €88,000 Wlg ’16 GOFNOV; 185,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $12,922.
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-William Pilkington (IRE); T-Simon Crisford.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. (fonte : TDN)
