Month: September 2020

Galileo’s Magical Denies Ghaiyyath In the Irish Champion

There was a seventh group 1 success for Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a second renewal of Leopardstown’s G1 Irish Champion S. on Saturday as the remarkable mare downed Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a sensational renewal of the 10-furlong contest. Intent on keeping close tabs on that 8-13 favourite from the outset, Seamie Heffernan placed Ballydoyle’s relentless mare at his flanks and the closer they got to the straight the more it appeared that Godolphin’s colossus would struggle to divert her attentions. Ranging alongside the visitor and locking on passing the two pole, she put her G1 Juddmonte International conqueror in the red soon after as William Buick drew the whip. Ahead with a furlong to race, the 9-2 second favourite may even have been idling thereafter as she earned a momentous 3/4-of-a-length success, with the fellow Ballydoyle outsider Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) upping his game markedly to be only 1 1/4 lengths behind in third. “We were delighted that Ghaiyyath was coming over, as we wanted another go at him after York, where maybe we felt it didn’t work 100% for us,” Aidan O’Brien commented after greeting his ninth winner of this prestige affair. “We were going to go with him today and sit 3/4 [of a length] off him for a solid even match. She eyeballed him all the way and when you do that, there’s always a chance that the ones coming from behind will get you but we took a chance and let him and her match up all the way. There are no excuses here at this track and she’s incredibly tough and genuine with speed and determination–she has everything and Seamie gave her a brilliant ride.”

In reality, for all of Ghaiyyath’s many accomplishments, this was no surprise as Magical is part of a new era of the supermares which is due to go on and on. Her exhilarating display when winning the G1 Pretty Polly S. on her 5-year-old bow at The Curragh June 28 was up there with any of her previous efforts and showed why connections had opted not to cover her by No Nay Never until at least 2021. Coming to the fore last term with wins in the G1 Champion S. as well as this and also the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, she is a heavyweight wherever she goes around the world but is rock-solid on home soil and it was always going to take a monumental performance from Ghaiyyath to withstand her. This was her 13th start in Ireland and 10th success, with her reversals coming as a fledgling act at two and when fourth in the 2018 G1 Matron S. over an inadequate mile. Having won back-to-back renewals of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh July 26, she was three-lengths second at York Aug. 19 with Aidan O’Brien publicly wondering why the extra that he believed she possessed in the locker was not coming forward on the track.

Remarkably, Heffernan was riding Magical for the first time in the Pretty Polly and this was only his second opportunity to sit on the mare as Ryan Moore stuck with Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). That extra that her trainer talked of may have been eked out in some part by the Ballydoyle stalwart in the saddle and by an opponent of the merit of Ghaiyyath, but the way she operated in the run to the line suggests she was still keeping something back. “I felt that the favourite knew we were there at the start and we were with him every step of the way today–he knew we meant business,” Heffernan explained after steering his third winner of this after the masterfully-ridden Cape Blanco (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2010 and So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) a year later. “Some horses can disappoint you when they seem like champions in the morning, but she has probably never given everything and still won seven group 1s. She’s very sound and up for it every day. She’s a big and honest mare and to win a third one is massive for me–I work for a great team.”

Magical is likely to head back to ParisLongchamp on the first Sunday in October, having been a well-beaten fifth in the Arc last year. “I suppose we are learning about her all the time,” Aidan O’Brien added. “If you get away from her she gets a bit lazy, but if you get into a fight with her very few will eyeball her. Of all the European races, prestige-wise, this is one of the top, if not the top and every year all the high-rated horses turn up here. It has a perfect place in the calendar, perfect ground, perfect distance and Armory ran an unbelievable race as well. Magical has the choice of the Arc or the fillies’ race [the G1 Prix de l’Opera] on the same day. It will depend on what the lads want to do with Love. The Breeders’ Cup could also suit her really well. We think she gets a mile and a quarter real strong and at a mile and a half you probably have to ride more of a race on her. She can dish it out to anyone stride-for-stride at a mile and a quarter. Fair dues to Sheikh Mohammed and to Charlie for bringing Ghaiyyath–that’s what makes these races. You win some and lose some–we get beaten all the time, but you have to compete and you can’t expect to win everything. Ghaiyyath is a great horse.”

Connections of the runner-up could bypass the Arc, with Charlie Appleby saying, “I talked with William Buick afterwards, who said that it rode like a decent race and they have gone a good gallop. Turning in, Ghaiyyath was there with every chance but full credit to Magical, who is a multiple group 1 winner. They have produced another good duel up the straight, but she has come out on top this time. Ghaiyyath will have a short break now before we decide on our next target. We will make a call over the coming weeks and discuss everything before confirming where to go next with him.” Ryan Moore said of Japan, who ended up fifth having briefly threatened in early straight, “I thought off the bend he was going to run well, but he hasn’t found the line today and it’s disappointing. I was hoping he would run up to his 3-year-old form, but unfortunately he hasn’t.”

Magical’s dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) was successful in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. before being solely mated with Galileo to dramatic effect. Her triple group 1-winning daughter Rhododendron (Ire) owned the bragging rights prior to the arrival of this phenomenon, while she also threw the G3 International S. winner Flying the Flag (Ire). She is out of the triple group-winning sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who went close to a group 1 victory herself and whose other black-type winners include Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire) whose daughter Photo Call (Ire) also by Galileo captured the GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo S. Theann also produced the G2 Richmond S. scorer Land Force (Ire) by Magical’s future husband No Nay Never, while Cassandra Go is kin to the G3 Coventry S. winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Verglas (Ire) who excelled at stud. Also connected to the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) by Galileo’s son Teofilo (Ire), Halfway To Heaven also has a yearling colt to come.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
IRISH CHAMPION S.-G1, €750,000, Leopardstown, 9-12, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:05.08, gd.
1–MAGICAL (IRE), 132, 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, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €435,000. 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, 25-12-7-0, $5,219,464. *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–Ghaiyyath (Ire), 135, h, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Nightime (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€1,100,000 Wlg ’15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €150,000.
3–Armory (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–After (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €75,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 4.50, 0.62, 66.00.
Also Ran: Sottsass (Fr), Japan (GB), Leo de Fury (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Lope de Vega’s Cadillac Best In the Champions Juvenile

Irish Champions Weekend is as much about the juveniles as the proven older horses and Alpha Racing 2020’s Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) presented himself as one of the premier members of the 2-year-old brigade when surging to an impressive success in Saturday’s G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S., a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race. Having caused a stir at Leopardstown with a nine-length debut win over seven furlongs July 1, the bay had been second in The Curragh’s G2 Futurity S. last time Aug. 22 but showed this step up to a mile held no fears. Forced wide with no cover throughout, the 11-8 favourite moved to Ballydoyle’s Van Gogh (American Pharoah) at the furlong pole en route to a commanding 3 1/2-length success, with Reve de Vol (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) 2 3/4 lengths away in third. “I was a bit disappointed that he was beaten the last day, but he was raw and inexperienced as he didn’t learn much on his debut,” jockey Shane Foley said. “He had a dogfight there and it stood to him. He was more of a man today–he was stuck on the wing, but is a good laid-back horse who only goes through the motions and you know there is something under the tank. He works just okay in the mornings, he wouldn’t knock the house down but he obviously keeps his best for the track.”

Cadillac, an inspired €40,000 Goffs Orby purchase who came up a half-length short behind Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Futurity, is Keeneland-bound now according to Kate Harrington, who said, “You’d have to be delighted with him. You saw the real Cadillac there today and he’s a lovely horse. He’s a horse that just goes through the motions at home, you don’t really know how big an engine is in there but it’s fairly big. He didn’t really learn much the first day, but learned a lot the last day and he did it right there today. It’s great for the syndicate, which we started two years ago and this is the second running of it. We’re going to go forward with it next year and it’s great to have a high-profile horse like this. I’d say, all being well, his next start will probably be in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.”

The dam Seas of Wells (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is a daughter of Kyra Wells (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), who is a half-sister to the G3 Prestige S. winner Geminiani (Ire) by Sadler’s Wells’ son King of Kings (Ire) and to the G1 Phoenix S. heroine Damson (Ire) by another of the great Coolmore monarch’s progeny in Entrepreneur (GB). Damson in turn produced the G2 Flying Childers S.-winning sire Requinto (Ire) from a mating with Seas of Wells’ sire Dansili, and is the second dam of Last Kingdom (Frankel {GB}) who took the G3 Prix Daphnis. Also from the family of the G1 Sun Met-winning South African champion Whisky Baron (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}), Seas of Wells has a yearling filly by Sea the Stars (Ire).

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KPMG CHAMPIONS JUVENILE S. (GOLDEN FLEECE S.)-G2, €147,500, Leopardstown, 9-12, 2yo, 8fT, 1:40.93, gd.
1–CADILLAC (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Seas of Wells (Ire), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Kiyra Wells (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
3rd Dam: Tadkiyra (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€40,000 Ylg ’19 GOFOR). O-Alpha Racing 2020; B-Sunderland Holdings Inc (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €75,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $126,702. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Van Gogh, 131, c, 2, American Pharoah–Imagine (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Mrs David Nagle; B-Barronstown Stud (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. €25,000.
3–Reve de Vol (Ire), 131, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Joailliere (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €12,500.
Margins: 3HF, 2 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.38, 3.50, 40.00.
Also Ran: Fernando Vichi (Ire), Ides of August, Snapraeterea (Ire), Liffey River (Fr), Fourhometwo (GB), Jack Duggan. Scratched: Blue For You (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Leger Triumph For Australia’s Galileo Chrome

In a G1 Pertemps St Leger story of twists and turns, the joy of Tom Marquand counterbalanced despair for Shane Crosse as Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) battled to glory in the oldest Classic at Doncaster on Saturday. In the fortnight that had passed since his command performance in Navan’s Listed Yeats S., there had been a sizeable gamble on the Joseph O’Brien runner from 25-1 into a starting price of 4-1 and a remarkable positive COVID-19 test returned on regular rider Shane Crosse. Marquand, who had suffered some slings and arrows himself when jocked off English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) for the Derby earlier in the season, seemed the perfect beneficiary as a result and also proved up to the task as he lifted the Irish raider past Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}) in the final 100 yards for a neck success. Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) held on for third despite the petrol gauge being empty, while the 5-2 favourite Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) travelled like the certain winner throughout but could only manage fourth. “This is a dream come true. Obviously, I genuinely feel terrible for Shane because under such circumstances I can’t imagine what heartbreak that would bring,” Marquand said. “He’s in a similar boat to me in that that would have been a first Classic for him and I know how much that means to me. The racing game is a leveller and it was a case of me being in the right place at the right time. I was extremely lucky just to get the ride, which was a great story in itself, but to win it is something else.”

As if any proof were needed, this result is further confirmation that Joseph O’Brien will be a force in the training ranks for some years to come. This outcome, in the race in which he was denied Triple Crown glory on Camelot (GB) in 2012 only to come back victorious with Leading Light (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) a year later, means that at the age of 27 he has already matched the achievement of the legendary Harry Wragg in riding and training a St Leger winner. Galileo Chrome has crept up on this scene with stealth, avoiding the traditional trials such as the Gordon or the Voltigeur, but there was a distinct measure of Classic class in the manner of his five-length success in the Yeats over 13 furlongs on testing ground. Earlier this summer, the bay had been forced to sidestep the June 27 G1 Irish Derby due to a stone bruise having won the 10-furlong Curragh maiden June 12 in which Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was fifth. Next seen winning a conditions race by six lengths over the same trip at Leopardstown July 31, he emerged from his first black-type test at Navan with true Leger credentials.

Admirably straightforward as well as talented, Galileo Chrome was able to glide into a mid-division pitch from the widest stall as Mythical (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) pressed Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) on the lead. As it turned out, Marquand was tracking the right rival in Berkshire Rocco as they straightened for home but Frankie was on the tail of Galileo Chrome travelling with a double-handful on Santiago, who had shown Berkshire Rocco a clean pair of heels in the G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. With 3 1/2 furlongs remaining, racing room was suddenly at a premium for the eventual winner, who was starting to feel the pinch and as Santiago shut the door to his right Marquand was forced to dive inside for his run. Two out, there were five across the Town Moor track matching strides as Santiago, Berkshire Rocco, Galileo Chrome, Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Pyledriver created a dramatic spectacle. Hukum cracked first, while a tiring Pyledriver rolled towards the far rail which left the Irish pair to duel with the proven stayer Berkshire Rocco in between passing the furlong pole. With Santiago at full stretch and unable to sustain the battle, Galileo Chrome forged on to deny Andrea Atzeni on the gallant Andrew Balding trainee in an epic renewal which is certain to stand the test of time.

“If I had 20 goes at it, I wouldn’t be able to do it again,” added the winning rider, who had registered his first wins at this level on Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in the Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth S. this Spring and who would have been riding English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) had he not been switched to ParisLongchamp by Ed Walker. “Stall 12 is normally a sticky draw and it is credit to him and his ability that there wasn’t really a moment’s worry. When you get instructions from someone like Joseph, who you know has been here and done it, you know it’s reliable and he told me to be mid-division or closer as long as he was comfortable in himself. You have to have the right horse and I knew beforehand that he would be comfortable going this trip, as in the listed race he had powered to the line.”

Reflecting on recent months, Marquand added, “Time and time again it’s all fallen my way. I lost English King in the Derby and gained Khalifa Sat and finished second. Then I got English King back for today and he ended up going to France for a more favourable race and I can’t go there as I’d have to do the week’s quarantine after. Then Shane Crosse’s misfortune means that this has ended up in my lap. It’s been an incredible run this year, with those two Australian group 1s earlier on while there was a lockdown in England–it’s the luck of the draw and things have gone from strength to strength since. It is a hard game it’s hard to win a group 1 on home soil, let alone a Classic.”

Joseph O’Brien was restricted to staying at home due to the complications of Shane Crosse’s positive test and said, “Shane obviously had been in the yard during the week, so just as a precaution any of his close contacts are in the process of being tested and I just haven’t gone racing to err on the side of caution really. But I’m enjoying the racing! I’m lucky enough to be able to watch it from home.”

Andrew Balding was narrowly denied a second Kingsclere Classic winner in 2020 and said of Berkshire Rocco, “I would have settled for that beforehand. He wears his heart on his sleeve and kept digging in, but it wasn’t quite enough. There were no hiding places and no excuses–Andrea gave him a lovely ride. It’s a race we all want to win and we are getting closer, so we’ll keep going. It’s fantastic to run so well in a Classic–he has some options and there is a race in France, but we’ll see if he runs again this season.” Martin Dwyer said of Pyledriver, “He didn’t stay. He was slightly over-racing, but had everything beat at the two and didn’t see it out. He was getting tired towards the finish. It was a super run and he’s lost nothing in defeat. He can come back to a mile and a half and maybe even a mile and a quarter, as he has the speed for it. He’s such a nice horse and he’s going to be even better next year. It was a gamble worth trying, being the last Classic he could run in, and he was the last one off the bridle so I think there’s a group 1 win in him. This was unnatural for him. There was a point in the race where I should have been working through the gears and picking up, but I’m having to steady him down. He was out of his comfort zone.”

Dettori said of Santiago, “He wants a bit of cut in the ground. He came there to win, but he didn’t level off like I thought he would. I felt on softer ground mine would be a better horse.” Hukum’s trainer Owen Burrows said of the fifth, “It was just the last furlong and a half. He was out on his head a bit. He stayed at Newbury, but in lesser company. In this class it was a bit too far for him. We always thought he wasn’t a Cup horse. We’ll look forward to next year.”
Galileo Chrome’s family includes a trio who have already played bit parts in the St Leger story, with his dam Curious Mind (GB) (Dansili {GB}) being a half-sister to Michelangelo (GB) by Australia’s sire Galileo (Ire) who was third in the aforementioned renewal in which Camelot lost out to Encke (Kingmambo). Two years earlier, another relative Midas Touch (GB) also by Galileo had run second in this, while his half-sister Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fifth in one of the better renewals three years ago. The second dam, the dual listed-placed Intrigued (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) was also responsible for Private Secretary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who like Michelangelo took the Listed Cocked Hat S. She is a daughter of the G2 Nassau S. and G2 Sun Chariot S. winner Last Second (Ire) (Alzao), who in turn produced the sire Aussie Rules who captured the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and GI Shadwell Turf Mile. Last Second also threw the listed scorer Approach (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who is the dam of the aforementioned G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Coronet and Midas Touch who was also runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby.

Last Second is kin to Alleluia (GB) (Caerleon), who won the G3 Doncaster Cup at this meeting before producing the G1 Prix Royal Oak scorer Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the listed-winning and group-placed pair of full-sisters Arrikala (Ire) and Alouette (GB) by Darshaan (GB). Alouette produced the dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) and the triple German group 1 scorer Alborada (GB) from matings with Last Second’s sire Alzao and both have proven special broodmares for Kirsten Rausing. Also connected to Sadler’s Wells’ high-class full-sisters Yesterday (Ire) and Quarter Moon (Ire), Curious Mind also has a yearling full-sister to Galileo Chrome who was led out unsold at €70,000 at last year’s Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. Her colt foal is by Dream Ahead.

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
PERTEMPS ST LEGER S.-G1, £350,000, Doncaster, 9-12, 3yo, 14f 115yT, 3:01.94, gd.
1–GALILEO CHROME (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Curious Mind (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Intrigued (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Last Second (Ire), by Alzao
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€75,000 RNA Ylg ’18 GOFOR). O-Galileo Chrome Partnership; B-Mohamed Ali Meddeb (IRE); T-Joseph O’Brien; J-Tom Marquand. £198,485. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 5-4-0-0, $313,148. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Berkshire Rocco (Fr), 127, c, 3, Sir Percy (GB)–Sunny Again (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (€35,000 Wlg ’17 ARQDE; €50,000 Ylg ’18 GOFOR). O-Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd; B-S.A.G.L. Seserve (FR); T-Andrew Balding. £75,250.
3–Pyledriver (GB), 127, c, 3, Harbour Watch (Ire)–La Pyle (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). (10,000gns RNA Wlg ’17 TATFOA). O-La Pyle Partnership; B-Knox & Wells Ltd & R Devlin (GB); T-William Muir. £37,660.
Margins: NK, 1, NO. Odds: 4.00, 16.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Santiago (Ire), Hukum (Ire), Dawn Patrol (Ire), Subjectivist (GB), Sunchart (GB), Tyson Fury (GB), Mythical (Fr), Mohican Heights (Ire). Scratched: English King (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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