February, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Champions Essential Quality, Monomoy Girl Remain On Target For Delayed Oaklawn Stakes

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and 2020 Champion 2-year-old Essential Quality remains on target for Oaklawn's delayed running of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, reigning champion trainer Brad Cox told the Paulick Report.

Hot Springs, Ak. has been beset by extreme winter weather since it last held racing on Feb. 11. The track has seen several inches of snow and sub-zero temperatures over the past week, and is forecast to receive an additional 10-plus inches of snow in the coming days. Races were cancelled this weekend, and all graded stakes were rescheduled.

The $750,000 Southwest, which offers 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby to the winner, was originally scheduled to be run on Feb. 15, and is now expected to be rescheduled to the week of Feb. 25-28. That puts the Southwest just two weeks before Oaklawn's next prep race, the G2 Rebel on March 14.

Essential Quality remains stabled at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., where temperatures have dipped below freezing overnight but are not nearly as cold as in Arkansas. The Godolphin-owned 3-year-old son of Tapit put in a workout at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14, covering five furlongs in 1:02.40.

Also remaining on target for her 2021 debut at Oaklawn is dual champion Monomoy Girl. The now 6-year-old daughter of Tapizar was scheduled to run in the G3 Bayakoa Stakes on Feb. 15, and will still make her next start in that race when it's rescheduled to the week of Feb. 25-28. Monomoy Girl is also stabled at the Fair Grounds, and worked five furlongs there in 1:01.40 on Feb. 14.

“It hasn't really affected the training for both Essential Quality and Monomoy Girl,” Cox told bloodhorse.com. “They have been working steadily and are ready to run. We worked them this weekend when they were supposed to race and we'll breeze them again this weekend to prep for the races next weekend. They are ready to run. We'll ship them up when the weather clears.”

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Coronet’s Half-Sister Debuts at Kemptom

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's observations features a half-sister to Group 1 winner Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

4.15 Kempton, Mdn, £5,300, 3yo/up, 7f (AWT)
REGENT (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who starts out for the same Denford Stud-John Gosden axis. Also a half to the G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger runner-up Midas Touch (GB) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire), the May-foaled grey has the widest draw to overcome as she takes on 10 rivals.

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Major Australian Breeder Under Investigation For Embryo Transfer In Mares

Sean Buckley of Australian-based breeding operation Ultra Thoroughbreds, is under investigation for conducting an embryo transfer scheme in Thoroughbred mares, the Racing Post's ANZ Bloodstock reports.

Stewards for Racing Victoria are investigating allegations that the operation has been producing foals through embryo transfer: taking a fertilized egg from a mare in its ranks and placing it into another mare to carry and foal out. One of the mares in question is believed to be Miss Andretti, the 2007 Australian Horse of the Year, who has reportedly had a history of issues conceiving foals.

The allegations list multiple high-profile mares who are accused of using artificial means of conceiving foals during the 2019 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, including Strikeline, the dam of recent Group 1 winner Nature Strip.

The claims allege that Miss Andretti had a filly and Strikeline had a colt during last year's foaling season, both by Buckley-owned stallion Addictive Nature, but mare returns have not been reported for either horse. Both mares were covered by another Buckley-owned stallion, Shamus Award, in December.

The rules of the Australian Stud Book – along with any globally recognized Thoroughbred stud book – state that a registered Thoroughbred can only be conceived through a live cover. Other forms of conception, including embryo transfer, artificial insemination, and cloning, are strictly prohibited within the Thoroughbred breed, through they are more commonplace within the racing spheres of the Standardbred, Quarter Horse, and Arabian breeds.

The investigation was supported on-record by representatives for breed organizations Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria.

Read more at Racing Post ANZ Bloodstock.

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Much to Like When Evaluating Kentucky Derby Contender Mandaloun

Making the Grade, which will run through the 2021 Triple Crown races, focuses on the winners or top performers of the key races, usually from the previous weekend, who could make an impact on the Triple Crown. We’ll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win classic races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey), and pedigree.