Magical Simply Stunning In Pretty Polly Return
Magical | Racing Post
Playing host to a Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in full swing, Sunday’s G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh was as good as over after less than a furlong as Seamie Heffernan committed to front-running duties on the returning 2-5 favourite. Kept in training for good reason, the G1 English and Irish Champion S. and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup heroine of 2019 showed no mercy to her opposition and took off heading to two out en route to a 4 1/2-length dismissal of the 3-year-old Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}), with 1 3/4 lengths back to Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in third.
Of all Magical’s achievements, her record on Irish soil is formidable, with 11 runs at Cork, Naas, Leopardstown and here yielding eight wins including this romp. Two of her domestic reversals came as a 2-year-old, while the other was in the 2018 G1 Matron S. over an inadequate mile, so when it comes to home advantage the 5-year-old is as close to unopposable as it gets. Busy in England during this period last term, she was finishing runner-up in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. and the G1 Eclipse S. prior to her victorious autumn spell.
“She’s very exciting and always has been, but she’s got stronger this year and that’s why the lads decided to leave her in training,” Aidan O’Brien said. “She was to go to No Nay Never. We could have gone to Sandown [for the Eclipse], but this was a lovely race to start her off. We’ll probably let Japan go to Sandown–he’s had a run. We’ll look at the King George for her next. We learned last year that she gets 10 really well and gets 12 as well. It makes her very uncomplicated. You usually see a big change between three to four, but something really strange happened the way she changed over the winter to this year. It’s very obvious the power she has now. She had been working brilliantly, but we knew that she would come on plenty as well. The Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc are all races that are open to her.” Amazingly, this was the first time that Heffernan has partnered Magical and he was happy with the opportunity. “I thought she was a steering job and she’s bang there with all the good ones I’ve ridden,” he commented and everything is still there. She’s a mile-and-a-half filly for me.”
Magical is by the excellent producer Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who herself won the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. All her progeny to date are by Galileo, including the triple group 1-winning Rhododendron (Ire) and the G3 International S. winner Flying the Flag (Ire) with her youngest being a yearling colt. Halfway To Heaven is in turn the leading performer for the triple group-winning sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), whose other black-type winners include Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire) who in turn produced the GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo S. heroine Photo Call (Ire) from a mating with Galileo and the G2 Richmond S. scorer Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never). This outstanding dynasty also features the notable sire Verglas (Ire) and the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) by Galileo’s son Teofilo (Ire).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
ALWASMIYAH PRETTY POLLY S.-G1, €200,000, Curragh, 6-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:12.29, gd.
1–MAGICAL (IRE), 138, m, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Broodmare of the Year-Ire, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
O-Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €120,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng & GISP-US, 22-10-6-0, $4,456,271. *Full to Rhododendron (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 7-9.5f, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-USA, $1,786,763; Flying the Flag (IRE), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cayenne Pepper (Ire), 126, f, 3, Australia (GB)–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality. (195,000gns Wlg ’17 TATFOA). O-Jon Kelly; B-GHS Bloodstock & JC Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €40,000.
3–Fleeting (Ire), 138, f, 4, Zoffany (Ire)–Azafata (Spa), by Motivator (GB). (€50,000 Wlg ’16 ARQDEC; €100,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Fernando Bermudez (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €20,000.
Margins: 4HF, 1 3/4, 3HF. Odds: 0.40, 7.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: True Self (Ire), Roca Roma (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. (by : TDN)
Way To Paris Has His Day In the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Way To Paris | Scoop Dyga
Good things come to those who wait and connections and fans of Way To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) gained a much-deserved moment in the sun as the 7-year-old was played late to take Sunday’s G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Restrained in last early by Pierre-Charles Boudot, the ever-zestful grey emerged in the nick of time to deny the battling duo Nagano Gold (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) and Ziyad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) by a neck and a head. “You are always a little bit worried when running horses back-to-back with short intervals, but it looked in the mornings as if he had kept his form,” trainer Andrea Marcialis said of the 6-5 favourite, who was runner-up in the G1 Prix Ganay at Chantilly June 14. “It is my and his first group 1 and he is so brave–I owe him so much and it is a great moment. I thought we were in trouble, but he found more and has a big heart. He’ll have a break now until the autumn.”
Way To Paris had come to prominence in 2018 when placed in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and G3 Prix d’Hedouville before being tried over staying trips at the beginning of the following season. Runner-up in the G3 Prix de Barbeville and G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp, he dropped to 14 furlongs to beat Marmelo (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil also at that venue in July before finishing second to Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Foy sent back there again in September. His last three starts prior to this saw him run second in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt also at ParisLongchamp May 11, gain a 4 1/2-length success in the latest edition of the Grand Prix de Chantilly staged at Deauville May 31 and run Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) to a head when second in the Ganay.
With Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) failing to fire and beaten in early straight, Pierre Charles-Boudot’s task was made easier and with the veteran giving him all the right signals it was just a case of when to ask him to extend. Ziyad refused to relent on the lead, as he had 12 months ago, but eventually had to give best to Nagano Gold only for them both to be swamped inside the last 100 metres by the popular grey. “I’m delighted–he deserved that and a mile and a half is much better for him than the Ganay distance,” the winning rider said. “He was more keen than usual during the race and it took a little while to get him to relax, so he maybe needs a break now.”
Way To Paris is the last living foal out of the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Grey Way (Cozzene), whose previous best was the dual G1 Premio Presidente della Repubblica hero Distant Way (Distant View). Also responsible for the G3 Premio Ambrosiano winner Cima De Pluie (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), she hails from the family of the triple grade I-winning Redattore (Brz) (Roi Normand). This is the dam line of Intriguing (Swaps), producer of the champion Numbered Account (Buckpasser) who is herself the dam of the GI Beldame S. heroine and multiple stakes-producing Dance Number (Northern Dancer) and the sire Private Account.
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €240,000, Saint-Cloud, 6-28, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:29.98, g/s.
1–WAY TO PARIS (GB), 128, h, 7, by Champs Elysees (GB)
1st Dam: Grey Way (Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9.5-11f, GSW-Ity & GSP-US, $195,033), by Cozzene
2nd Dam: Northern Naiad (Fr), by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Fascinating Trick, by Buckpasser
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (50,000gns Ylg ’14 TATOCT). O-Paolo Ferrario; B-Grundy Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Andrea Marcialis; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €137,136. Lifetime Record: MSW & MGSP-Ity, 34-7-10-4, €632,419. *1/2 to Distant Way (Distant View), Hwt. Older Horse-Ity at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Ity, $1,192,161; Cima de Pluie (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), GSW-Ity, $197,979; and Secret de Vie (GB) (Fantastic Light), SP-Ity. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nagano Gold (GB), 128, h, 6, Sixties Icon (GB)–Never Enough (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). (3,500gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA). O-Syndikat V3J; B-J Knight & E Cantillon (GB); T-Vaclav Luka. €54,864.
3–Ziyad (GB), 128, g, 5, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)–Arme Ancienne (GB), by Sillery. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €27,432.
Margins: NK, HD, 6. Odds: 1.20, 6.70, 4.00.
Also Ran: Folamour (GB), Old Persian (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. (by : TDN)
Ballydoyle Get First Four As Santiago Strikes In the Irish Derby
Santiago | Racing Post
It was labelled as wide-open, but in the end Saturday’s G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh proved anything but as Aidan O’Brien was in dominating form yet again with Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) leading home a remarkable stable one-two-three-four. Sent off the clear 2-1 favourite coming back eight days after his emphatic win in the G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, the bay was always travelling with supreme ease anchored towards the rear by a confident Seamie Heffernan. Cutting through the pack and getting an ideal split to arrive at the front two out, he was pushed all the way to the line by Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) but toughed it out to prevail by a head, with five lengths back to Dawn Patrol (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and another 1 1/4 lengths to Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}).
Delivering a 14th renewal to his trainer and a fourth for his personal resume, Heffernan said, “I was always comfortable. He’s a tough horse–I would have liked to have had a better draw and a cleaner slot and I took a gamble in dropping him in, but if you go forward and you get trapped wide he’s a horse that gets competitive. I always wanted to switch him off and ride him for luck, because he’s a generous horse and it worked out. When I put him in gear, he picked up. He had been showing plenty at home, but what he had been showing at home was guts. He’s a lovely horse with a big heart and you can’t ask for any more.”
Santiago had started out with seconds over seven furlongs at Leopardstown and Galway last summer, the latter of which takes on an altogether different light coming behind Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) at the famed festival. Beating Sunchart (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) over a mile at Listowel in September, he was untried in the top latter-season tests and consequently arrived at Royal Ascot under the radar to all bar those closest to him tackling the Queen’s Vase. After dismissing the solid yardstick Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}) as the pair pulled clear in that 14-furlong contest, he was thrust into the limelight and then into the heat of this battle with the stable’s leading Galileos diverted to Epsom.
Travelling notably strongly in the final quintet with Heffernan happy to keep tabs on the Jim Bolger runner Fiscal Rules (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) dead ahead, the pace was kept honest courtesy of Iberia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was placed on the front to draw the potential sprint out of the race. As the field turned for home, there was a fanning out from the fence which gifted Heffernan the space he needed to emerge into contention and he was at the head of affairs as quickly as he had been at the Royal meeting last week passing the two pole. While everything in his immediate vicinity was instantly covered, out of range to his left was Tiger Moth with Emmet McNamara keeping him wide for his effort. It became a battle in the final furlong and for a brief spell it looked as if the 11-1 shot would provide his rider with a fairytale first Classic, but Santiago drew on that extra dimension to take the glory.
O’Brien, who had saddled the first three in this in 2002, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2019, majors in humility at all times and was not breaking the pattern despite this incredible achievement. “They ran good races, so I’m delighted,” was his unassuming response to another milestone in his career. “Santiago is a lovely, straightforward horse who likes to take his time in his races and Seamus got a lovely run through. We thought he could be a Leger horse and I think that looks a lovely race for him, but we are going to look forward to him for next year too. He’s a lovely, clean-winded, honest horse.”
Tiger Moth had beaten Dawn Patrol and Order of Australia as O’Brien also saddled the first four home in a 10-furlong Leopardstown maiden June 9 that in this unusual season takes on the shape of a true Derby trial. Dawn Patrol met interference en route to finishing off strongly here and the Ballydoyle handler was understandably full of hope that they can also emerge as forces later on this term. “The next two are lovely horses and are two babies–they are progressing and in a month’s time we think they will be even better,” he added.
MV Magnier, speaking by Zoom videolink, added, “I’m delighted for Seamus. I didn’t realise that he’s 47, but he’s riding very well and has been working in Ballydoyle for a long time. He deserves it. The Irish Derby is the pinnacle of Irish racing. It is a stallion-making race and many great champions have won it over the years.”
Santiago, who becomes the first Classic winner for his sire, was bought in utero by Robert Nataf of Horse France as he purchased the 4-year-old filly Wadyhatta (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) for €275,000 at Arqana’s 2016 Summer Sale. The listed-placed second dam Thamarat (GB) (Anabaa) produced three black-type performers, including last year’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) who looks a potential star this season, and the multiple listed-placed Riqa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is in turn the dam of the G3 Prix de Cabourg, G3 Prix de Meautry and G3 Prix du Petit Couvert scorer Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).
Thamarat is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Tamayuz (GB) (Nayef), while the G3 Prix de Flore-winning fourth dam Allez Les Trois (Riverman) produced the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club hero and sire Anabaa Blue (GB) by Thamarat’s sire Anabaa. Allez Les Trois is kin to the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine and incredible producer Urban Sea (Miswaki), which links Santiago back to the 2001 winner of this race, Galileo, as well as to Sea the Stars (Ire) who shares Cape Cross (Ire) as a sire with Santiago’s dam Wadyhatta. This is also the family of the brilliant G1 2000 Guineas hero and sire King’s Best, involving the dam line of the German-bred blue hen Allegretta (GB) (Lombard {Ger}). Wadyhatta’s as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly by Frankel (GB) named La Joconde (Ire) was purchased by the Broadhurst Agency for 850,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, while she also has a yearling filly by that sire.
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY-G1, €750,000, Curragh, 6-27, 3yo, 12fT, 2:38.17, gd.
1–SANTIAGO (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Authorized (Ire)
1st Dam: Wadyhatta (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Thamarat (GB), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Al Ishq (Fr), by Nureyev
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €435,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 5-3-2-0, $589,585. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tiger Moth (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Lesson In Humility (Ire), by Mujadil. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €150,000.
3–Dawn Patrol (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €75,000.
Margins: HD, 5, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.00, 11.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Order of Australia (Ire), Fiscal Rules (Ire), Gold Maze (GB), New York Girl (Ire), Sunchart (GB), Arthur’s Kingdom (Ire), Crossfirehurricane, King of the Throne, Iberia (Ire), Chiricahua (Ire). Scratched: Galileo Chrome (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. (by : TDN)
