Bet to win.
Southwell 3.05 Mr Chua – win bet.
Wolverhampton 6.40 Jeans Maite – win bet.
Month: March 2021
Yulong Looking For Luck In The Guineas
Yuesheng Zhang has built up an Irish stable with enviable horsepower while shopping with a relatively modest budget over the last few years. His stable star is undoubtedly last year's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who looks to someday have a future at stud both in Europe and at Zhang's Yulong property in Victoria, Australia.
For now, though, connections have set their sights on the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas in Newmarket, with the colt preparing at Jessica Harrington's yard in good nick.
“I saw Lucky Vega last week and he is in great form,” confirmed Yulong's European Racing and Bloodstock Manager Michael Donohoe. “He's turned into a beautiful physical; he's after growing, getting strong and putting on nearly 40 kilos from his last race last year. Physically he's after developing a huge amount, which you like to see. We're hoping that bodes well that he will train on from two to three. Physically and in his work so far the guys are very happy with him. Shane [Foley] sat on him last week and he was very happy with him.”
“The main early season goal is going to be the Qipco 2000 Guineas in Newmarket on May 1,” Donohoe confirmed. “Rather than taking in a trial we'll probably head straight there, although that might change. No disrespect to the Irish or French Guineas–they may be an easier target–but Jessie is keen to go straight to Newmarket. Our only slight worry, and it's probably not a huge problem, is the trip. He's extremely strong and looks very much a sprinter physically, and there is plenty of speed in his pedigree. And we know Lope De Vega can get some very fast horses. He has shown a lot of speed in a couple of his races so it's just whether he gets the mile or not. We don't think he's going to stay any further than a mile with his running style.”
One of nine yearlings purchased in his crop by Donohoe for Yulong in Europe, the Kilcarn Stud-bred Lucky Vega was a €175,000 Goffs Orby yearling, having also been sold on the Co. Kildare grounds when bringing €110,000 as a foal. He broke his maiden at first asking on June 8 last year, the day Irish racing resumed after a 2 1/2-month absence in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and though his owner was unable to travel to attend any of his races, Lucky Vega continued to go from strength to strength throughout the campaign. He was second to Law Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the G2 Railway S. in July before turning the tables on that rival and the likes of The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) and G1 Dewhurst S. winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) with a 3 1/2-length win in the Phoenix. He could finish only fifth after being repeatedly hampered in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., and regrouped to be a strong second in the G1 Middle Park S. behind Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).
“His win in the Phoenix, he was very good that day,” Donohoe recalled. “He was caught in a pocket and when he got out he showed some serious acceleration. The form of that race held up pretty well; Law Of Indices and St Mark's Basilica were behind him.
“You can draw a line through his run in the National S; he was extremely unlucky. It's just one of things, it wasn't jockey error, it's just racing. And then he ran against Supremacy [in the Middle Park] and was very good, and there were some proper horses behind them. We were very happy; we were very disappointed with the National S., and although we would have liked to have beaten Supremacy in the Middle Park, Supremacy is an extremely talented horse as well. It'll be interesting for them to match up again and we wouldn't mind taking him on again over six or seven furlongs. His run in the Middle Park reaffirmed our belief in him, that he's a very good horse.”
Donohoe noted that Zhang has moved his entire Irish stable, which numbers around 25, to Harrington, and that he has a handful of other 3-year-olds to look forward to.
“Aside from Lucky Vega there are a couple nice 3-year-olds that broke their maidens last year and look progressive,” he said. Those include Aussie Ace (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who broke his maiden at second asking at Cork before finishing down the field in the G2 Beresford S., and a “very nice” filly by Free Eagle (Ire) called Soaring Sky (Ire), who was bought for €15,000 from the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. “She won her only start at Dundalk at the back end of last year and she looks like a progressive filly,” Donohoe said. “Mr. Zhang also has a nice 3-year-old by Footstepsinthesand (GB) called Deputy Sandy (Ire), and he looks quite progressive.”
Zhang added nine yearlings at the European sales last year, and with the addition of three homebreds has 11 juveniles to go into training with Harrington. Understandably, Zhang was keen to repeat the dose with Lucky Vega's sire.
“We were keeping a close eye on the Lope De Vegas and they were extremely hard to buy, but we have two nice Lope De Vega colts called Lucky Kuna and Lucky San Jore,” Donohoe said. “Lucky Kuna was bought in France at the Arqana [Deauville Select Yearling Sale for €150,000]. Lucky San Jore was bought from Book 2 in Newmarket [for 50,000gns] and he's very nice. He looks quite precocious even at this stage. I was talking to Shane Foley and he gave him a little half speed during the week and he thinks that he could be one for those early season races.”
Zhang isn't only concentrating on colts, however. His 2021 juvenile lineup includes a pair of well-bred Galileo fillies: a three-quarter sister to G1 Irish Derby winner Trading Leather (Ire) purchased for £185,000 at Goffs Orby last year and a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) picked up for 305,000gns at Tattersalls.
“With Mr. Zhang's farm in Australia he's always on the lookout for some well-bred fillies and we bought two nice Galileo fillies,” Donohoe said. “So if lightning can strike twice we'll be happy.”
Zhang's Irish stable is completed by a handful of older reliable performers like Barbados (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a 5-year-old gelding who was twice stakes-placed last year after being purchased privately from Ballydoyle; 2020 G2 Mooresbridge S. winner Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who was gelded at the end of the season; and Ancient Spirit (Ger) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a listed winner and twice group placed last year at five.
The post Yulong Looking For Luck In The Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
EHV-1 Positive Horse In Pennsylvania Not Associated To European Outbreak
On March 3, the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported that one horse was euthanized after being admitted to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center with neurologic signs of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1).
The horse, who lived in Pennsylvania, had no known affiliation with any international travel or competition, and is not considered to be associated in any way with the EHV-1 outbreak in Europe.
Veterinarians and horse owners in the United States are closely following the EHV-1 outbreak in Europe and remain vigilant in their efforts to prevent its spread to the States. EHV-1 is spread between horses from nasal discharge or aerosol droplets, as well as from touching contaminated surfaces.
There is no vaccine for the neurologic strain of equine herpesvirus; the fatality rate can reach 30 percent in horses that develop neurologic signs. A horse that recovers from the disease may retain neurologic deficits.
Read more at the EDCC.
The post EHV-1 Positive Horse In Pennsylvania Not Associated To European Outbreak appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Idol Takes Big ‘Cap As Favorite Maxfield Suffers First Career Defeat
Although a disappointing third as the heavy favorite in his final prep, the Richard Baltas-trained Idol seemed to relish clear sailing and a mile and a quarter, as he rallied wide turning for home to win the 84th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Casino by a half length. Ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, Idol, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Curlin, got the distance in 2:02.46 and provided Rosario with his third consecutive win in the Big 'Cap.
Unhurried early as longshots King Guillermo and Tizamagician carved out a solid early pace, Idol was next to last, about five lengths off the lead heading into the far turn, Idol kicked into high gear around the turn and was five-deep turning for home as Express Train hit the front while full of run under Juan Hernandez.
With Rosario employing a powerful hand ride, Idol was able to get up on the money in a thrilling finish befitting the long storied history of the Big 'Cap, which was first run in 1935.
“I know he was running really hard around the turn, he was wide, he was far back, but Joel said he didn't want any of the kickback in his face, so we took the wide route,” said Baltas, 59. “He's a got a big, lovely long stride, so that's why we were thinking a mile and a quarter for sure. We needed all of Joel Rosario's power in the stretch to get him home. It was a great win, it's a race you dream about winning.
“It's unbelievable, I've been coming here since I was 13 years old,” Baltas continued. “Before I even got to be a horse trainer, I saw all the greats run here in the Big 'Cap and you never think that you're gonna be here but you keep working hard and God blessed you.”
Third as the even money favorite in the G2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 30, Idol was off at 5-1 in a field of eight older horses and paid $12.80, $6.40 and $3.40.
“My horse loves this distance,” said Rosario. “I just wanted to keep him away from the rail and he handled it easily. He responded when it came time to run and he had some kick…I had never been on him. I watched all his races and I could see he tries hard every time. What a strong finish today! He ran really big.”
Owned by longtime Baltas client Calvin Nguyen, Idol, who is out of the A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood, notched his first stakes win in what was his sixth career start. With the Big 'Cap winner's share of $240,000, he increased his earnings to $416,464 from three wins, two seconds and one third place finish.
In a tremendous effort, the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train just missed while finishing 1 ½ lengths in front of race favorite Maxfield. Off at 5-1, Express Train paid $5.40 and $2.80.
The Brendan Walsh-conditioned Maxfield, who shipped in from New Orleans unbeaten in five starts, entered the stretch four-deep while about two lengths off of Express Train, but couldn't finish with the top two with no apparent excuses. Ridden by Florent Geroux, Maxfield was off at even money and paid $2.40 to show while finishing a half length better than Independence Hall.
Fractions on the Big 'Cap were 22.82, 47.12, 1:12.26 and 1:37.13.
Saturday's all sources pari-mutuel handle reached $22,744,568 on 11 races, which compared very favorably to last year's Big 'Cap Day total of $17,486,155 on a 12-race card.
First post time on Sunday for a nine-race program is at 12:30 p.m.
The post Idol Takes Big ‘Cap As Favorite Maxfield Suffers First Career Defeat appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
