Month: April 2021

Busy Saturday Beneath the Twin Spires

With just two weeks remaining to the running of the GI Kentucky Derby, the Saturday worktab at Churchill Downs was dotted with the names of top sophomores headed towards the first jewel of racing's Triple Crown.

Godolphin's reigning Eclipse Award-winning juvenile colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit) took to the Churchill main track at 5:15 a.m. with big-race rider Luis Saez in from Keeneland to put the colt through his paces. The homebred went five furlongs in :59.60 after breaking off about a length behind 4-year-old stablemate Spa City (Street Sense) and was timed in fractions of :12.80, :24.60 and :47.40 before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.20 and seven furlongs in 1:28.60. Essential Quality never passed his workmate around the turn and into the backstretch.

It was the first serious piece of work for Essential Quality since his tough defeat of Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 3. Trainer Brad Cox was duly pleased with what he saw Saturday morning.

“I'm not taking a deep breath yet, but we're very pleased with where we are at today,” the conditioner said. “He really had to work for that win in the Blue Grass and we were very pleased how well he ended up bouncing out of it.”


Highly Motivated, whose official status for the Derby remains 'possible,' is scheduled to breeze Sunday morning at Keeneland for trainer Chad Brown and is expected on the Churchill backside Monday.

Following the champ's workout, Cox sent out GII Risen Star S. hero and fellow 'Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) to breeze six furlongs in a crisp 1:11.40. The Juddmonte homebred tugged hard against jockey Florent Geroux and was difficult to settle through early sectional times of :12.40, :24.20 and :35.60. He was noticeably more relaxed once given his head at the quarter pole and worked strongly through the line before clocking seven furlongs in 1:25.20 and a mile in 1:41.60.

Mandaloun exits a disappointing sixth behind Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) and Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 20, but Cox is more and more inclined to draw a line through the effort.

“[Mandaloun] worked great,” he said. “We were all puzzled after the Louisiana Derby, but he's been doing great since that race–maybe that was just a head-scratcher. He's a really good-looking son of Into Mischief, and we know he's better than what we saw in his last start.”

Live Oak Plantation's Soup and Sandwich (Into Mischief), who earned his way into the Run for the Roses via his runner-up effort to Known Agenda (Curlin) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Mar. 27, went five-eighths of a mile in :59.80 Saturday morning. With Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, the homebred skipped along in :12.40, :24.20 and :35.20, then readily drew clear of his company Epic Dreamer (Orb) and was out six furlongs in a strong 1:12.40 and seven panels in 1:25.20.

“This horse is just starting to figure things around the racetrack,” trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll said. “Tyler was in cruise control around there and that gallop out was great.”

Also Saturday morning, 'TDN Rising Star' Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) looked sharp going five furlongs in a bullet :59 (:12.40, :24, :35.40, :47, out 1:12.40) for trainer Ken McPeek; and GIII Fantasy S. runner-up Ava's Grace (Laoban) went a half-mile in :48.60 for Robertino Diodoro for the Apr. 30 GI Kentucky Oaks.

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Classic Trials Take Centre Stage

   With Newbury's card transferred from Saturday, Sunday sees a feast of action in Europe which should answer more questions regarding the upcoming Classics. Other than the fact that the G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. clashes directly with ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix de la Grotte, the day is set fair for some pulsating racing which begins in earnest with Newbury's seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. for the fillies. Heading the list is Jeff Smith's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), who tries further than six for the first time and faces the perennial stamina quandary as the mile Classics loom. David Bowe, general manager of Smith's Littleton Stud, gave the lowdown on Saturday. “She came back to Littleton for her winter break, we sent her back to Andrew [Balding] after Christmas and he has been pleased with her since,” he said. “I think she will stay the seven furlongs, but we will find out much more in regards to her trip on Sunday. Oisin [Murphy] has been to ride her. He was very happy with her and Andrew is confident she has trained on.”

Behind Alcohol Free in the Cheveley Park were the third-placed Umm Kulthum (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the fourth Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and fifth Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Happy Romance had previously beaten her in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury in early September and trainer Richard Hannon is hoping she can regain the winning thread back at the track she was successful at during her busy juvenile campaign. “I do think she's slightly under-appreciated in terms of what she has achieved and she was never a 2-year-old for me,” he said. “I always thought she was a big girl who is going to make a nice 3-year-old and hopefully make a miler. I think she'll be better for going further and I think she's improved from two to three. She's a tough filly and she's very happy.”

In a deep renewal full of talented fillies, there are a clutch of unexposed types including the John and Thady Gosden-trained Wild Iris (Ire) (No Nay Never), who was impressive given that she blew the start on her sole start in a Newcastle novice in October. Roger Varian also supplies an all-weather winner in Shadwell's Zaajirah (Ire) (Shamardal), a distant relative of the 1991 Fred Darling winner Shadayid (Shadeed) who scored with real authority on the Polytrack at Kempton in October. Angus Gold said of her, “She won well on her only start and has been pleasing them with her work. When they've won a maiden, you don't know where you are but she looks a nice, progressive filly in her homework. She obviously lacks experience, but she hasn't done anything wrong so far, so let's see where she fits in.”

The French fillies get their turn in the Grotte, with Gemini Stud's impressive Mar. 21 Listed Prix la Camargo winner Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) taking on the G3 Prix d'Aumale scorer King's Harlequin (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) and G3 Prix Six Perfections scorer See the Rose (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}). Thirty minutes later, the colts line up for the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau where Haras de la Gousserie and Guy Pariente's dominant G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) sets the standard. Andre Fabre puts Godolphin's Parchemin (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) to the test, with the chestnut having beaten the subsequent G3 Prix Djebel scorer Fast Raaj (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) on debut at Compiegne in early October before following up in the Listed Prix Isonomy at Deauville later that month. The card also sees the return of Gestut Schlenderhan's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the 12-furlong Listed Prix Lord Seymour.

Back at Newbury, the G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. boasts a fascinating cast headed by Shadwell's G2 Mill Reef S. winner Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Michael Pescod's G2 Champagne S. winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Both were left behind in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket in October, but excuses can be made for both and they have the chance to wipe the slate clean here. Richard Hannon said of Chindit, “On that day, the times said it was riding like it was heavy ground at Newmarket and Chindit was wheel-spinning the whole way. Chindit travelled into it very well, like he normally does, and didn't pick up at all. I'm more than happy to forgive that run. To me, last year it looked like he wanted all of that seven furlongs when he won the Champagne S. and was crying out for a mile. I hope that's the case, but the nice thing with a 3-year-old now is if you don't get the Guineas trip, you can come back to Royal Ascot for six furlongs.”

Perhaps tellingly, Jim Crowley has opted to ride the G3 Horris Hill S. winner Mujbar (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) even though Alkumait looks more likely to relish this fast ground. Angus Gold said, “Sunday will tell us a lot more, but the Hills camp have always hoped Mujbar was going to make into a Guineas horse. He obviously won a group race as a 2-year-old, as did Alkumait, but everything about Alkumait that I have seen suggests he's more of a sprinter and I know Jim feels the same. Marcus [Tregoning] wants to see whether he would stay seven furlongs. We'll be trying to get him to settle and finish it off, so we learn whether he does stay. He didn't stay in the Dewhurst last year, but that might not have been just down to stamina. I think Jim is looking to the future and we're thinking that if Mujbar has come on, he could be a Guineas horse, whereas I would be pleasantly surprised if Alkumait made a Guineas horse. We could all be wrong and I'd be delighted to be proven wrong, but at this stage I see Alkumait as more of a Commonwealth Cup type.”

Marie McCartan's G2 Coventry S. winner Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) later split Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and the re-opposing Rhythm Master (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville in August before being left trailing when second to the aforementioned Sealiway in the Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day. Nando Parrado's trainer Clive Cox said, “He's pleased me very much and has been working nicely. We've got confidence in him over seven and I still think a mile is well within his compass.”

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Broome Gets It Done In The Alleged

While he had to work to land odds of 1-2 in Saturday's G3 Holden Plant Rentals Alleged S. at The Curragh, Coolmore and Masaaki Matsushima's Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) managed to collect and maintain his perfect sequence in 2021. Authoritative when taking the Listed Devoy S. over this 10-furlong trip on contrasting soft ground at Naas Mar. 28, the 2019 G3 Ballysax S. and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. winner who was also a close fourth in that year's G1 Epsom Derby is back on an even keel this term and was providing Aidan O'Brien with a third renewal in the last four runnings of a race which is becoming increasingly important to the operation. Settled fifth early, the bay was three lengths off the pace and looking in possible trouble two out but after hitting that flat spot stayed on to collar Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) near the line for a half-length success. Ryan Moore, who was completing the third part of a four-timer for the stable on the afternoon, said, “I think he did very well to win today, as it was just a little bit messy early on and I had to wait a bit. The way the ground is today and with the wind, it is hard to make up ground but he showed a great attitude. He was a very good 3-year-old and he's in a better place now–he's done nothing wrong this year.”

O'Brien is looking at a possible step back up in trip with the winner and said, “He's a lovely horse and will probably love going back up to a mile and a half. It was nice that he didn't have to make the running and Ryan was very happy with him. We can have a look at races like the [G1] Coronation Cup [at Epsom June 4] and the [G1] Tattersalls [Gold Cup at this venue May 23]. Ryan felt the pace was nice early and then dropped in the middle of the race. He had to work a bit harder than if the pace was consistent over a mile and a quarter. He's brave.”

 Pedigree Notes

   Broome's dam is the Listed National S.-winning and G3 Princess Margaret S. and GIII Appalachian S.-placed Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), whose dam Dust Flicker (GB) (Suave Dancer) is a full-sister to the G3 Prix de la Nonette winner Dust Dancer (GB). The latter is in turn the second dam of this stable's G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), the G2 Futurity S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G3 Bengough S. winner Projection (GB) who shares Acclamation as a sire with Sweepstake. Dust Flicker is also kin to the G3 Fred Darling S. scorer Bulaxie (GB) (Bustino {GB}), who herself produced the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Claxon (GB) (Caerleon) with the latter responsible for Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) who took the GIII Hillsborough S. and was runner-up in G1 Nassau S.

Cassydora's three black-type winners include the multiple group winner Ernest Hemingway (Ire) by Australia's sire Galileo (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Toulifaut (Ire) by Rostropovich's sire Frankel, while the family also features last year's G1 St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}). Sweepstake also has the once-raced 3-year-old filly by Frankel named Malathaat (Ire), an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old full-brother to Broome and a yearling filly by Lope de Vega (Ire).

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
HOLDEN PLANT RENTALS ALLEGED S.-G3, €50,000, Curragh, 4-17, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:05.43, gd.
1–BROOME (IRE), 131, h, 5, by Australia (GB)
                1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng, SW &
                                 GSP-US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
                2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
                3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
(€120,000 RNA Ylg '17 GOFOR; 150,000gns Ylg '17 TATDEY).
O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier &
Masaaki Matsushima; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan
O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €30,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr,
13-5-2-0, $455,911. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thundering Nights (Ire), 131, f, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–
Cape Castle (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€17,000 RNA Wlg '17
GOFNOV; €19,000 RNA Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-Shapoor Mistry;
B-Manjri Farm (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Up Helly Aa (Ire), 131, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Fiesolana (Ire), by
Aussie Rules. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Willie
McCreery. €5,000.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.50, 9.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Helvic Dream (Ire), Numerian (Ire), In From The Cold (Ire), Pondus (GB), King of Comedy (Ire), Bowerman (GB). Scratched: Njord (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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R.A.C.E. Fundraiser Begins May 7

The TAA-accredited R.A.C.E. Fund begins its 2021 fund drive with an online auction hosted on eBay beginning May 7 at 8 p.m. ET and ending May 14 to help raise funds for racehorse retirement and rescue.

Among the items available are halters of California Chrome, Funny Cide, Mohaymen, Serena's Song, Havre de Grace, Union Rags, Frosted and Littleprincessemma, the dam of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Other items up for auction is a farm tour donated by Three Chimneys and horseshoes from Afleet Alex and First Samurai.

“We have some very exciting auction items again this year,” said Marlene Murray, president of the R.A.C.E. Fund. “We would like to especially thank volunteer Roxanne Campbell for her tireless efforts as well as Claiborne, Darley-Godolphin, Denali Stud, Gainesway, Kentucky Horse Park, Lane's End, Shadwell, Summer Wind Farm, Three Chimneys and Timber Town Stables for their generous support by donating such valuable items of racing champions to help us raise funds.”

All proceeds raised will be used to help Thoroughbred racehorses in need of retirement and rescue from slaughter. For more information on the R.A.C.E. Fund, click here.

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