July, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

War Front’s Battleground Bounds to Vintage Triumph

Fresh from an impressive tally in Royal Ascot’s Listed Chesham S., Coolmore’s Battleground (War Front) emulated last year’s winner of that contest–Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal)–by doubling up in Tuesday’s G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. at Goodwood. Employing patient tactics trapped three wide in sixth after a level break in the seven-furlong contest, the 13-8 favourite made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge at the quarter-mile marker and he was driven out once seizing control soon after to deny G2 Superlative S. runner-up Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) by two lengths. Newmarket maiden winner Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) ran on well from the rear to finish 1 1/4 lengths further adrift in third. “He travelled very easily through the race, he picked up Devious Company quite quickly and was just doing enough in front,” explained winning rider Ryan Moore. “He’s a beautiful horse, he has plenty of speed and we’ll see how he develops.”

The May-foaled bay had opened up with a maiden fifth over six furlongs in his June 8 debut at Naas and jumped to the head of all ante-post lists as favourite for next year’s G1 2000 Guineas in the aftermath of this latest victory. His short-term target is back on home soil in The Curragh’s Sept. 13 G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S., with trainer Aidan O’Brien explaining, “This was his first run after [Royal] Ascot, we were very happy with him at home and we thought it was a lovely race for him to get experience from. The ground was lovely and safe and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him. We think his next run will be the National S., everything being well, but he is a horse we have always loved. He is a big, powerful horse and very genuine, and that’s the way his dam was as well. We think he will be a miler. He is a strong traveller, but he is by War Front, and being out of Found we thought he might get a mile and that is what we would be hoping for. Obviously all the 2-year-olds got a little bit messed up, with the start of the season not being there, and then we had to rush some of them to get them to Ascot. A lot of stuff wasn’t ideal, but he was lovely. It is very early for horses. Some will improve, some will stand still and some will go back, but we are delighted with this horse.”

Battleground is the first and only foal to date produced by G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, GI Breeders’ Cup Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was bred to Justify last year. Found is a daughter of G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Matron S. victress Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab), herself out of stakes-winning G3 Prix du Calvados third Malefemmena (Ire) (Nordico), and thus a full-sister to G3 C L Weld Parks S. winner Magical Dream (Ire) and G3 Give Thanks S. winner Best in the World (Ire). His G3 Athasi S.-winning fourth dam Martinova (Ire) (Martinmas {GB}) ran third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and produced MGSW sire Export Price (Fr) (Habitat).

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
VEUVE CLICQUOT VINTAGE S.-G2, £50,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 2yo, 7fT, 1:28.80, gd.
1–BATTLEGROUND, 127, c, 2, by War Front
1st Dam: Found (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Fr at 9.5-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Fr, GISW-US, MGSW & MG1SP-Ire, MG1SP-Eng, $7,610,405), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Deriick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $66,599. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Devious Company (Ire), 127, c, 2, Fast Company (Ire)–Seren Devious (GB), by Dr Devious (Ire). (£45,000 Ylg ’19 GOFFPR). O-Russell Jones; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Dascombe. £10,750.
3–Youth Spirit (Ire), 127, c, 2, Camelot (GB)–Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (€60,000 Wlg ’18 GOFNOV; €100,000 RNA Ylg ’19 ARAUG). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £5,380.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.63, 4.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Gorytus (Ire), Fountain Cross (GB), Dark Lion (Ire), Kraken Power (Ire), King Zain (Ire), Painless Potter (Ire), Thunder of Niagara (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post War Front’s Battleground Bounds to Vintage Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Horse racing tips TODAY: The best bets at Glorious Goodwood, Ayr and Yarmouth

He might not be much bigger than a pony, but Stradivarius can show that he has the heart of a lion by making it an historic fourth victory in today’s Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

A Thorn on Their Side

Once upon time, the Nets wasted draft picks on stiffs like Yinka Dare. Players with modest talent such as Chris Morris had the gall to write “trade me” on their sneakers. Players with more talent but not nearly as much as they thought, like Stephon Marbury, wrote “All Alone” on their ankle tape. And throughout all this, fans and New York media alike responded with Derrick Coleman-like enthusiasm: whoop-de-damn doo.

Then after the 1999-00 season, Rod Thorn took over a Nets team that desperately needed someone with his professionalism and player evaluation skills. Rod Thorn’s first major move was to select Kenyon Martin as the number one pick in the draft. While Martin suffered through an injury-plagued first season, by his second season he was a major defensive presence and a huge part of their running offense.

In 1984, Rod Thorn made what was clearly his best draft pick while GM of the Bulls, selecting Michael Jordan. However, in 2001, after having one full season to evaluate the Nets’ needs, Rod Thorn had what would have to be considered the best off-season of his career. The Nets drafted Eddie Griffin and then turned around and dealt him for three picks which they turned into Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong.

Richard Jefferson turned into one of the Nets’ brightest stars. A great athlete who plays outstanding defense, Jefferson is also one of the league’s most efficient scorers, getting 19.5 points on fewer than 13 shots a night. Jason Collins doesn’t wow you if you look at the stat sheet, but he does so many little things when he is on the court, he is well respected by his teammates and considered a winner throughout the league. Brandon Armstrong, a reported sharp-shooter who can’t shoot, offered less of an impact.

But it was Thorn’s trade that off-season that really turned things around. Thorn traded talented but selfish potential superstar Stephon Marbury for an older Jason Kidd. Kidd instantly energized the franchise, guaranteeing a winning record the year he joined the franchise. Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, and Keith Van Horn immediately improved their game and Jefferson and Collins’ NBA initiation couldn’t have gone smoother with Jason Kidd leading the charge. The reenergized franchise made it to the NBA Finals in both 2002 and 2003, ultimately losing to more talented Western Conference foes (Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs).

Thorn made a couple of errors along the way in his quest to find a bona fide center. He traded Keith Van Horn for a miscast Dikeme Mutombo, who never fit in with the Nets running style, and then signed Alonzo Mourning to a terrible 4-year, 20-million-dollar contract only to see him miss most of the season due to his kidney ailment. However, the Nets look like they have finally found their center in Nenad Krstic whom they drafted in 2002 and stashed in Europe for a couple of years to develop his game. Krstic has become an offensive force for the current Nets, averaging 13.5 points per game on a better than 50% FG percentage.

Thorn also saved the Nets’ organization when they were in danger of sliding back into the abyss. Faced with demands from ownership to cut costs, Thorn shipped off Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, and Lucious Harris. Fans were outraged, but Denver is now stuck with Martin’s bloated contract, and Kerry Kittles is semi-retired after playing only 11 games last year. Thorn made the correct choice in Richard Jefferson over Kenyon Martin, and then made another great move by stealing Vince Carter from Toronto for the incredible bargain price of Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning (who refused to suit up for Toronto), and a couple of harmless draft picks.

The Nets start their series against the Miami Heat equipped with three superstars acquired by Thorn and a budding fourth in Krstic, also drafted by Thorn. While you could quibble with his bench choices that backfired this year (Mark Jackson and Jeff McInnis), the Nets are surely thrilled to have this Thorn on their side.

Road to the Breeders’ Cup: Whitney Stakes Headlines Active Prep Weekend

After a two-week break, the Road to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships resumes this weekend in North America, with four Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” preps held at two of the sport’s iconic venues as the 2020 schedule unfolds on an adjusted schedule in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.