Van Gogh | Scoop Dyga

A fortnight after Harvey’s Lil Goil provided American Pharoah with a first top-level triumph as a sire in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, there was another landmark in his remarkable story as Van Gogh supplied him with a first in that grade in Europe in Saturday’s Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. Highly tried by Aidan O’Brien this term, the son of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) had been second in Leopardstown’s G3 Tyros S. and G2 Champions Juvenile S. and in the Oct. 10 G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket and traded at what in hindsight appears generous-looking odds of 18-5. Anchored in rear early by Pierre-Charles Boudot, the bay was delivered on the hedge in the home straight to overtake all rivals and assume command with 300 metres remaining. Drawing away from there, he had enough in the tank to jink near the line and had four lengths to spare there over the long-time leader Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), with the 17-10 favourite Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) a neck away in third. “This horse was very impressive and gave me a very good feel,” commented the unstoppable “PCB” as he racked up another big-race double. “Aidan called me before the race and said it was important to get a good trip and get him cover, but he was still a bit keen early on. I made my move along the rail, which is always a big help here and he showed a very nice turn of foot. He was a bit tricky and green in front and was looking around, so he can only improve and has run on all grounds so the signs are positive for next year.”

Introduced over seven furlongs at Leopardstown July 11, Van Gogh who is the 12th foal out of the operation’s 2001 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine was fourth behind Khalid Abdullah’s Masen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) but turned that form around next time in the course-and-distance Tyros Aug. 6. Second to his stablemate Military Style (War Front) there as Masen was back in third, the Ballydoyle blueblood was below-par next time when sixth in The Curragh’s G2 Futurity S. Aug. 22 but rebounded back at Leopardstown when runner-up to Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) on his first try at this trip in the prime juvenile contest on Irish Champions Day Sept. 12. Making most to get off the mark in a seven-furlong Curragh maiden Sept. 27, he was out again for Newmarket’s Autumn S. on the “Future Champions Day” but was no match for Godolphin’s authoritative One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in that Oct. 10 contest. Minutes prior to that contemporary finishing a game runner-up in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy, Van Gogh was putting himself in an aptly priceless bracket in the Saint-Cloud mud with arguably the day’s most impressive display.

The Oct. 2 G3 Prix Thomas Bryon scorer Normandy Bridge, who looked set to be swamped in midstraight having over-raced in front only to rally and get back up for second, is a work in progress according to trainer Stephanie Nigge. “He didn’t have an ideal race, as we would have preferred cover but that’s the way it is,” she said. “I thought he’d finish fourth or fifth at one point, but he is very courageous and kept finding which is a very good sign. I feel he is very immature and there is quite a lot of work to do over the winter. He’s a nice prospect for next season.”

Imagine’s previous best was the ill-fated G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G2 Futurity S. hero Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill), but she had also thrown the G2 Rockfel S. winner Kitty Matcham (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), the G2 Al Fahidi Fort winner Viscount Nelson (Giant’s Causeway) and his GIII Longacres Mile-winning full-brother Point Piper. Imagine is of regal blood herself, with the full-sister to the Listed Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Strawberry Roan (Ire) a half to the brilliant G1 Epsom and Irish Derby and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. hero and sire Generous (Ire) (Caerleon) and to the G3 Park S. and GIII Monrovia H. scorer Wedding Bouquet (Ire) (Kings Lake). The latter is in turn the second dam of the six-times group 1 heroine Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), with this being the dam line of the excellent racemare and blue hen Margarethen (Tulyar {Ire}). It is fitting that one of Aidan O’Brien’s earliest stars during his tenure at Ballydoyle should be responsible for American Pharoah’s breakthrough moment in Europe and fitting also that one of this stable’s runners made the breakthrough such has been Coolmore’s support for the Triple Crown hero. Imagine’s as-yet unnamed yearling is a full-sister to Van Gogh.

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL-G1, €150,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-24, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:48.31, hy.
1–VAN GOGH, 126, c, 2, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Imagine (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng & Ire, $527,013), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Doff The Derby, by Master Derby
3rd Dam: Margarethen, by Tulyar (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Diane Nagle; B-Barronstown Stud (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €85,710. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Ire & GSP-Eng, 7-2-3-o, €144,262. *1/2 to Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill), G1SW-Fr, GSWW & G1SP-Eng, GSW-Ire, $488,433; Viscount Nelson (Giant’s Causeway), GSW-UAE, MSW & G1SP-Ire, MG1SP-Eng, $707,647; Point Piper (Giant’s Causeway), GSW-US, $520,415; Kitty Matcham (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Eng, $106,564; and Red Rock Canyon (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), MG1SP-Ire, $360,889. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Normandy Bridge (Fr), 126, c, 2, Le Havre (Ire)–Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk. (€80,000 Ylg ’19 AROCT). O-Gerard Thomas Ryan; B-Haras du Mezeray SA & Ecurie Skymarc Farm (FR); T-Stephanie Nigge. €34,290.
3–Jadoomi (Fr), 126, c, 2, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–South Sister (GB), by Sakhee. (€75,000 Ylg ’19 AROCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Suc. de Moratalla, Alban Chevalier du Fau & Pierre-Hugues Henry (FR); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. €17,145.
Margins: 4, NK, NK. Odds: 3.60, 4.50, 1.70.
Also Ran: Policy of Truth (Fr), Darkness (Fr), La Barrosa (Ire). Scratched: Ponntos (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

New Approach’s Mac Swiney Takes the Futurity Trophy

 

Mac Swiney | racingfotos.com

Saturday was unofficially Jim Bolger day, with his breeding operation excelling with two group 1 successes and a trio of pattern-race wins across three countries. Chief among them was Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who sported the family silks as he carried off an attritional renewal of Doncaster’s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. As the ground deteriorated on Town Moor, the race which has so often been a key pointer to the following season’s Classics lost a vital player with Ballydoyle withdrawing the likely favourite Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). What resulted was a survival-of-the-fittest encounter and the leading pugilist was one of Bolger’s already battle-hardened juveniles as Mac Swiney proved he had the requisite amount of class and stamina combined. Trading at 12-1 having run eighth in The Curragh’s G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. last time, the G2 Futurity S. winner tracked the G3 Autumn S. winner and 6-4 favourite One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as Cobh (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) pressed on at the front. Apparently booked for a place only as Baradar (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) took over travelling smoothly passing two out, the chestnut was only halfway through his day’s graft and his travails paid off as he wore down that rival inside the final 200 yards. At the line, he had 3/4 of a length to spare over One Ruler, with the non-staying Baradar fading to be 2 1/4 lengths back in third. “Go back to his Futurity win and put a line through his last run and he was a leading player,” winning rider Kevin Manning said. “When he won the Futurity it was soft, although not as testing at this, and the extra furlong was always going to suit him. He’s a real three-year-old in the making and I think when he steps up in trip next year with another winter under his belt you’ll see the real horse.”

In a feat of foresight which is hardly surprising given that we are talking about Irish racing’s talisman Jim Bolger, the homebred was coming to England to conquer the day before the 100th anniversary of the death by hunger strike of Irish playwright and politician Terence Macswiney. “I must have known he was good back in January when I called him Mac Swiney, as it wouldn’t have been good to name him after such an important Cork man if he wasn’t capable of delivering,” quipped his owner-breeder. “He was one of our outstanding patriots and I’m thrilled for his memory and for his extended family.” Introduced in the seven-furlong Curragh maiden won by TDN Rising Star Hudson River (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) June 28, Mac Swiney was fifth keeping smart company with Wembley ending up third. When they re-engaged over the same course and distance July 18, it was the Bolger representative who held the bragging rights as he dealt Wembley a 1 1/2-length defeat only to flop when ninth in the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown Aug. 6. Getting the better of Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) when 28-1 for the Futurity back at The Curragh Aug. 22, he was again off piste in the National Sept. 13 but was back on his A-game on his first try at this trip that was always going to prove a perfect fit.

“To use the cliche, he ticks all the boxes and certainly does so after today,” added Bolger, who had just watched the juvenile he also bred but sold, Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), win the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. “I was hoping he could win, as he’s been improving steadily over the last six weeks and I thought he’d get through the ground today. I bought the third dam [Amoura (Northfields)] for $4,000 in America after both The Aga Khan and Khalid Abdullah had finished with her. I’ve been regarding him as my Derby horse since he first went to the races and I’m not about to change that opinion. Five minutes earlier, we had another group 1 winner at Saint-Cloud and it is down to the brilliant staff I have both at the farm and at the training centre.”

Inbred 2×3 to Galileo (Ire), Mac Swiney is out of the unraced Halla Na Saoire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who is a full-sister to the G2 Derrinstown Derby Trial winner and G1 Irish Derby third Light Heavy (Ire) and a half to Halla Siamsa (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who produced a trio of black-type performers by Teofilo headed by the surprise G1 Dewhurst S. hero Parish Hall (Ire). The aforementioned Amoura is also the ancestress of the Listed Curragh S. winner An Ghalanta (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of this year’s Listed Empress S. winner Time Scale (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). Halla Na Saoire’s as-yet unnamed yearling colt is by Vocalised.

Saturday, Doncater, Britain
VERTEM FUTURITY TROPHY S.-G1, £215,000, Doncaster, 10-24, 2yo, 8fT, 1:41.98, hy.
1–MAC SWINEY (IRE), 127, c, 2, by New Approach (Ire)
1st Dam: Halla Na Saoire (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Siamsa, by Quest for Fame (GB)
3rd Dam: Amoura, by Northfields
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger; J-Kevin Manning. £127,280. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 6-3-0-0, $243,958. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–One Ruler (Ire), 127, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Fintry (Ire), by Shamardal. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £48,139.
3–Baradar (Ire), 127, c, 2, Muhaarar (GB)–Go Lovely Rose (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). (260,000gns Ylg ’19 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Knocktoran Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £24,059.
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 12.00, 1.50, 9.00.
Also Ran: Cobh (Ire), State of Rest (Ire), Emperor Supreme (Ire), Megallan (GB), King Vega (GB). Scratched: Wembley (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Teofilo’s Gear Up Game In the Criterium de Saint-Cloud

 

Gear Up | Scoop Dyga

Bred by Jim Bolger and trained by a Brit who stands comparison in Mark Johnston, Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) had all the right credentials on a special afternoon for Redmondstown Stud and duly made all for G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud glory. Tough and resilient when successful in the seven-furlong G3 Acomb S. at York Aug. 19 before finishing fourth in Newmarket’s G2 Royal Lodge S. tackling a mile Sept. 26, the Teme Valley 2 syndicate’s €52,000 Goffs Orby bargain relished this step up to 10 furlongs in testing conditions as James Doyle executed a masterclass from the front. Shaking off the attentions of Ballydoyle’s TDN Rising Star Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) turning into the straight, the 27-1 shot saw off the non-staying G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Tiger Tanaka (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) and Jessica Marcialis but that was not all. Tackled latterly by Godolphin’s Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), he had to dig deep to prevail but was equal to the task for a short-neck verdict from that rival, with the previously unbeaten 13-10 favourite Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) 1 3/4 lengths behind in third. “It wasn’t necessarily the plan to make the running, but he was very comfortable there and Franny Norton told me that last time in the Royal Lodge they went very slow and he was caught for speed,” the winning rider explained. “He was still very green turning for home and tried to hang left most of the way up the straight, but it was only inside the last furlong that he was finding his best stride. He’s very tough and courageous, a typical Mark Johnston horse, and he stays well and has now won on all sorts of ground so hopefully he has a bright future.”

On a day when Godolphin just missed in two of the leading contests, the runner-up put up an improved performance and Lisa-Jane Graffard said, “Botanik ran a superb race and we are delighted with him. Mickael Barzalona said that he ran very nicely–he felt that Botanik was very honest and still slightly immature, so he should hopefully progress further next year.” Jean-Claude Rouget said of The Aga Khan’s impressive G3 Prix de Conde winner Makaloun, “It was a different race to what he is used to–he is normally closer to the pace or in front but this time because of the draw we waited and he finished well. He was bumped a few times, so nothing was ideal and as he has had five runs we’ll give him a long break and see where we start off next year.”

Gear Up is a full-brother to Bolger’s G3 Eyrefield S. winner Guaranteed (Ire), with the dam Gearanai (Toccet) being a half-sister to the Argentinian group 3 winner Plainswoman (Arg) (Zensational) and the dam of the G3 Anglesey S. and G3 Tyros S. runner-up Theobald (Ire) also by Teofilo. The third dam is the four-times grade I winner and Kentucky Oaks heroine Dispute (Danzig), whose descendants include the GII Golden Rod S. winner West Coast Belle (Tapit) and the G3 Round Tower S. scorer Maoineach (Congaree) whose 2-year-old colt New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) emulated her success in that Curragh contest this year. Dispute is a full-sister to the GI Champagne S. and GI Cowdin S.-winning sire Adjudicating and a half to the GI Flamingo S.-winning sire Time For a Change (Damascus). Gearanai’s yearling full-brother to the winner topped the recent Tattersalls Ireland September Yearlings Sale @ Newmarket when sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for £325,000, while she also has a colt foal by Parish Hall (Ire).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €150,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-24, 2yo, c/f, 10fT, 2:21.99, hy.
1–GEAR UP (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Gearanai, by Toccet
2nd Dam: Plaintiff, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Dispute, by Danzig
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€52,000 Ylg ’19 GOFOR). O-Teme Valley 2; B-Jim Bolger (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-James Doyle. €85,710. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 4-3-0-0, €123,234. *Full to Guaranteed (Ire), GSW-Ire, $170,221. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Botanik (Ire), 126, c, 2, Golden Horn (GB)–Autumn Lily, by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €34,290.
3–Makaloun (Fr), 126, c, 2, Bated Breath (GB)–Makana (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €17,145.
Margins: SNK, 1 3/4, NO. Odds: 27.50, 16.00, 1.30.
Also Ran: Tiger Tanaka (Ire), Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), Sweet Lady (Fr), Best of Lips (Ire). Scratched: Belloccio (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

by TDN