May, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dawn Approach’s Poetic Flare Prevails In Guineas Thriller

Eight years on from the G1 2000 Guineas success of Dawn Approach (Ire), Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare (Ire) proved every bit as tough and resilient as his sire was dominant when outbattling Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a thrilling renewal of the QIPCO-sponsored Newmarket Classic on Saturday. Positioned close enough to the furious tempo set by Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) from the outset, the 16-1 shot was at the fore alongside the eventual runner-up as they reeled in that pacemaker a furlong from home with Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in close attendance. Headed and seemingly held by Godolphin's first-string soon after, the Coolcullen bay who earned this bid in Leopardstown's Listed 2000 Guineas Trial S. dug deep for Kevin Manning to prevail on the bobber by a short head. Lucky Vega was only a neck away in third as the low-drawn horses came out on top of a true battle royal. “He's done nothing wrong all along and is a proper horse,” 54-year-old Manning said. “He was a little bit keen with me today and caught me on a long rein, but it was a huge performance. Going into the 'dip' I was getting there too soon, but I had no choice and had to keep going. He was idling that little bit going to the line and is a pleasure to ride–he's bomb-proof.”

Long renowned as a man who looks to compose his own concertos within the turf's music, Jim Bolger had every intention of making Dawn Approach New Approach's first winner from his first runner as he sent him to post for the opening five-furlong juvenile maiden of the Irish flat season in 2012. It duly happened and so when Poetic Flare was introduced on the initial day of the soon-to-be interrupted 2020 flat season at Naas last March the hint was there if anyone was looking closely. Giving that form substance was Ballydoyle's smart Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) in second, but while Royal Ascot and a summer of Pattern races for the 2-year-olds rolled by Poetic Flare waited at home with his owner-breeder-trainer allowing ample time for the maturing process. His next step would have been unorthodox for many stables, but when Bolger targets the G1 Dewhurst S. in which he has enjoyed so much success it is always a noteworthy move. In the event, the still-raw homebred was just short of a true peak in this venue's juvenile monument but within a week of finishing 10th there had garnered Leopardstown's G3 Killavullan S. in what amounted to a remarkable bounce.

Unproven beyond seven furlongs, having turned back allcomers in the Apr. 11 2000 Guineas Trial also at Leopardstown, Poetic Flare nevertheless had no frailty in the stamina department on pedigree and was one of the race's potential big improvers upped to a more suitable trip. Bolger had been bullish in the lead-up, but with Ballydoyle putting forward a trio of closely-matched class acts and Godolphin so well-represented along with the likes of TDN Rising Stars Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), he was to prove another gift to value-backers at 16-1. Newmarket was just about at its fastest on Saturday and so when Naval Crown got rolling in front on the famed chalk heathland it was necessary to lay as close as possible without the needle entering the red. That balancing act was achieved to maximum effect by Manning, whose decades of experience and guile told him to stay firmly in the draft while tempering his mount's clear enthusiasm to the right degree. The unflinching speed at the head of the arrow drained the race's late gamble and 9-2 favourite Battleground (War Front), as well as Mutasaabeq, while Thunder Moon failed to enter the reckoning at any stage and Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) only briefly flattered.

Naval Crown had beaten Master of the Seas in the Feb. 25 Listed Meydan Classic and it was that form that told here, with William Buick's mount the race's only serious closer from behind. As he had before flattening out in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh in September, Master of the Seas produced a telling surge of acceleration down the outside which would have won any Guineas without a character of the kind of Poetic Flare. Unfortunately for Appleby and Buick, who had also looked to have the last edition in the bag as Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) loomed, the withering effort of this year's contender also fell fractionally short.

“He's a solid horse and basically has everything,” Manning added of the ultra-game winner. “He had given us all the right vibes at home and his run in the Dewhurst was very good considering the time he had been off beforehand. He was very impressive at Leopardstown and I did feel he had come forward from that. I made no secret that I thought he'd be at the business end, as he did it very easy in the Guineas Trial and stretched away in the last furlong so I thought a mile would suit. All his homework had been excellent and although he'll probably get a mile and a quarter, I don't see a reason to go beyond a mile. These races are so hard-won and everyone wants to win them, so they make the long days and hard work that bit easier.”

Bolger was ensconced at home, but the 79-year-old was clear as to the import of the occasion. “It's a big day for us, right up there with the best we've had,” he declared. “He wasn't ready for the Dewhurst last year–I thought he was a little bit fitter than he was and I was hoping he'd run a big race and get the experience of running at that level, but he ran out of wind about a furlong and a half down. We were very pleased with the run and didn't lose faith in him. It very much carries on that Dawn Approach line and I have two half-sisters of Poetic Flare as well.”

Dawn Approach went to the Derby after his Guineas, but Poetic Flare is not heading in that direction according to his trainer. “Kevin did say that he thought he'd stay 10 furlongs, but at the moment I'm not thinking about going anywhere except the mile,” he continued. “He has buckets of speed and I even entered him in the Commonwealth Cup in the unlikely event that he didn't stay, as he's that quick and you always have some doubts about whether the very quick ones will stay or not. The [June 15 G1] St James's Palace [at Royal Ascot] would definitely be on the cards.”

Charlie Appleby said of the runner-up, “He's run a great race and backed up his performance in the Craven. He travelled lovely through the race and two furlongs down I thought 'we're in with a real shout here'. He's picked up well up the hill, but so has Jim Bolger's horse and well done to him and his team. Ascot will be the most likely target for him, but I'll speak to connections. Naval Crown ran a hell of a race. I was always confident he'd run a big race, stepping back up to the mile.”

Jessie Harrington said of Lucky Vega, “I'm delighted with him. He ran a great race and proved he stays. He's a relaxed horse and just a little bit fresh. Shane [Foley] said he didn't come down the hill very well, but he stayed well and he said he was coming back at them with every stride. He's in the [G1] Irish Guineas [at The Curragh May 22] and the St James's Palace, so they are nice options to have. I've also got Cadillac, who is meant to be going to the Irish Guineas. We might have to run them against each other later in the year, although Cadillac might get further–he's from more of a staying family.”

One of the race's more excusable anti-climaxes was the seventh-placed Mutasaabeq and his rider Jim Crowley gave an insight into the attritional nature of the race afterwards. “He was a little bit disappointing, as I thought he would travel better into the race but it was a sound pace and a real war, a truly-run Guineas and he came off the bridle sooner than I expected,” he explained. “It was only his third start and he hasn't run a bad race, as it was a big jump up for him. He's obviously a very good horse, but you have to be a superstar to win on your third start. We gave it a go and it's back to the drawing board, but there are plenty of nice races for him.”

Poetic Flare is the second black-type winner for Maria Lee (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) after the dual listed scorer and dual group 3-placed Glamorous Approach (Ire) by New Approach, who had the stamina to win the 10-furlong Zetland as a 2-year-old. She is a full-sister to Bring Back Matron (Ire), who in turn produced the Listed Eyrefield S. winner Dubai Sand (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) while the third dam Saviour (Majestic Light) is a full-sister to the GI Blue Grass S. hero War and a half to fellow grade I winners Judge Angelucci (Honest Pleasure) and Peace (Naskra). Saviour produced the Listed Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S. winner Speirbhean (Ire) (Danehill), who is in the Bolger Hall of Fame as the dam of one of his very finest in the aforementioned champion Teofilo. Denied his chance in this Classic by cruel fate, he is a half-brother to Godolphin's G2 Cape Verdi scorer Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and her G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial-winning full-sister Bean Feasa (GB). Maria Lee's 2-year-old Frazil (Ire) is a full-brother to Poetic Flare, while she also has a yearling filly by U S Navy Flag.

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS S.-G1, £400,315, Newmarket, 5-1, 3yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:35.69, g/f.
1–POETIC FLARE (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Dawn Approach (Ire)
1st Dam: Maria Lee (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Elida (Ire), by Royal Academy
3rd Dam: Saviour, by Majestic Light
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE); J-Kevin Manning. £227,019. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 5-4-0-0, $388,518. *1/2 to Glamorous Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Ire, SW-Eng, $224,182. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Master of the Seas (Ire), 126, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Firth of Lorne (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £86,068.
3–Lucky Vega (Ire), 126, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Queen of Carthage, by Cape Cross (Ire). (€110,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV; €175,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Zhang Yuesheng; B-Kilcarn Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £43,074.
Margins: NO, NK, 2HF. Odds: 16.00, 6.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Naval Crown (GB), Chindit (Ire), One Ruler (Ire), Mutasaabeq (GB), Van Gogh, Legion of Honour (GB), Mystery Smiles (Ire), Wembley (Ire), Devilwala (Ire), Battleground, Thunder Moon (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Malathaat Exits Gutsy Oaks Victory In ‘Excellent’ Condition

“Excellent.”

That was trainer Todd Pletcher's all-encompassing answer to the question of Malathaat's condition on the morning after her gutsy run and neck victory in the Grade I Longines Kentucky Oaks Saturday at Churchill Downs.

With a national television audience taking it in, the well-made daughter of Curlin overcame early troubles, took rider John Velazquez's cues at all points and then dug down deep to win a photo finish and $713,000 in the 147th “Run for the Lilies.”

The Shadwell Stable miss now is a perfect five for five in her brief racing career, has three graded stakes on her ledger and is well on her way to millionaire status ($953,000) with a very bright future ahead.

The conditioner wasn't sure yet what the shipping plans were for his star 3-year-old miss. He said the outcome of events Saturday (read Kentucky Derby) for his four star colts would play a big factor into who, where and when would be on the road from his potent string.

“You'd like to think with a filly like (Malathaat) you can be thinking Breeders' Cup (at Del Mar in November),” Pletcher said. “But we've got a long way to go before we get there.”

SEARCH RESULTS – Trainer Chad Brown said Klaravich Stables' Search Results was a tired filly Sunday morning but was none the worse for wear after a heartbreaking and ultra-game second by a neck in the Oaks.

“We checked her out this morning and she looks fine,” Brown said. “She came back good and will ride back to New York on Monday. Right now, we'll look at the (Grade 1) Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks; those are the two most likely things we'll discuss,” Brown said.

Search Results saw her unbeaten streak end at three but lost nothing in defeat while battling the undefeated Malathaat through the stretch. The daughter of Flatter tracked early leader and second-choice Travel Column 3-wide throughout under Irad Ortiz Jr., made first run off the far turn, and refused to yield to the winner.

“It was a huge race,” Brown said. “I watched the replay a couple of times and I thought Irad used good judgement. It was just the way it unfolded, she was parked out a little bit, and I would have preferred that we were right next to Travel Column and saved a little bit more ground on both turns it may have helped reserve a little bit of fuel. That said, the winner broke a little tardy and had to be used and was pitched out following me just as wide, so she won obviously fair and square.”

Brown was also quick to applaud Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who gave the winner a flawless ride, while showing a little gamesmanship as well.

“It was typical Johnny fashion,” Brown said. “He rode so smart to follow us, then floated us down to the inside, which is his patented move. It was a smart move. And it was a winning move. She just had a little more and she's a really good horse.”

Sitting back in his office chair in Barn 25, Brown looked back on the last 10-12 days and summarized the proceedings, while admitting the end result might have been right in front of everyone all along.

“At the end of the day, as I've learned with the Oaks and the Derby, there's a big buildup and these are fun races to analyze,” Brown said. “Then you throw into the mix that this is one of the only events where the media is actually watching these horses train every day. And there's a lot of different scenarios and projected paces and trips and opinions, and it's great. But at the end of the day, a lot of times in these big races, when you look at them the next day, it wasn't too hard to figure out; the two undefeated fillies threw down in the lane and that was the way it was probably the way it was supposed to be.”

As for the prospect of facing Malathaat again, Brown took a bit more stoic approach, while noting both fillies might go down a different path this summer, with Saratoga's 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club and 1 ¼-mile Alabama on the calendar.

“I think I'd be foolish to say I'm looking forward to running against her,” Brown joked. “I don't know if you ever want to run against great horses, especially if you have one of your own. I read this stuff sometimes, and I'm not one of these bravado guys that say 'I'm looking forward to a rematch.' I appreciate the sport, and I look forward to the challenges, but I've got a really good horse and there are races out there for all of us. And looking at Malathaat and the schedule going forward, it looks like she won't have any trouble beyond this (distance), like in the Alabama. I don't really see that in our filly's future. Coming in, we thought 1 1/8 miles was fine for our filly, and if you take the winner out, she was well clear of the others. But I don't know if Search Results will relish a mile and a quarter, so they might separate at that point. The mile and an eighth races though, I wouldn't hesitate to run her in any race I saw fit, regardless of who was running, and I say that with the utmost respect to the others.”

WILL'S SECRET – Trainer Dallas Stewart simply described his feelings of Will's Secret's third-place finish in Friday's Longines Kentucky Oaks as, “Proud.”

Stewart reported that he and owner Willis Horton will look for additional races down the road for the 3-year-old filly.

CLAIRIERE/PAULINE'S PEARL – Both of Stonestreet Stables' homebreds Clairiere and Pauline's Pearl, who were fourth and eighth, respectively, came out of the Oaks in good order and will be given a brief freshening, according to trainer Steve Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi.

TRAVEL COLUMN/COACH – Trainer Brad Cox reported both of his Kentucky Oaks entrants Travel Column and Coach exited the 1 1/8-mile race in fine fettle.

Travel Column dueled on the lead until fading in mid-stretch while Coach ran an enigmatic ninth.

“(Travel Column) relaxed well on the front end but just didn't have that final push to continue on. I'm still not sure what ended up happening with Coach but we'll regroup and look for more options down the road.”

MILLEFEUILLE – Trainer Bill Mott said that Juddmonte's Millefeuille was fine Saturday morning, a day after finishing sixth in the Oaks after a wide trip all the way through the 1 1/8-mile test.

“There will be a race for her,” Mott said. “The first two (Malathaat and Search Results) were clearly the best yesterday. She may be able to compete with those with a good trip.”

The day was not a total loss for the Mott barn as Obligatory, who served as Millefeuille's workmate prior to the Oaks, won the Eight Belles (G2) with a last-to-first run. “We thought Obligatory is as good as the other one.”

MARACUJA – Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja exited her seventh-place finish in the Oaks in good order and will eye a couple of Saratoga grade 1 races later this summer, according to trainer Rob Atras.

“She cooled out really good and last night she was good and relaxed when we left and ate up as well,” Atras said. “We'll go back to Belmont and regroup a little bit. We'd like to look at races like the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama at Saratoga.”

Maracuja was Atras' first starter in the Oaks, and while she may have been 37-1 on the toteboard, the daughter of Honor Code acquitted herself nicely in what was her first start away from Aqueduct.

“She ran well, I can't knock her at all,” Atras said. “We were happy to be here but we also wanted to run well, and I think she did that. She broke a little slow and that cost her some tactical position. I really think, in the Oaks and Derby, having watched them, you need to have a horse with tactical speed and she doesn't quite have that like those top fillies. But she's still learning and developing and I really think she's got a bright future.”

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL – Phoenix Thoroughbred LTD's Crazy Beautiful received a superficial cut to her left front leg during Friday's Oaks, in which she finished 10th.

“She'll be fine. It won't have any impact on her,” said Greg Geier, assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek. The team will regroup and figure out where the filly and King Fury, a scratch Friday from the Derby after he spiked a temperature, race next.

MORAZ – The dark daughter of Empire Maker reported back to Barn 37 late Saturday afternoon none the worse for wear following her front-running, but unplaced finish in the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The filly lay second for nearly a mile in the mile and one-eighth Grade I headliner, but couldn't sustain her bid under rider Flavien Prat.

“She came out of it well,” reported assistant trainer Justin Curran. “She ate up last night and is feeling fine this morning.”

Curran wasn't sure of head trainer Michael McCarthy's shipping plans.

“She'll go back to (Southern) California (McCarthy's base) at some point but I'm not quite sure when,” Curran said.

PASS THE CHAMPAGNE – Pass the Champagne emerged from her 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks in good order and was being hand walked around the barn Saturday morning by her trainer George Weaver.

“She's good,” Weaver said. “We'll get her home and make next race plans from there.”

COMPETITIVE SPEED – John Minchello's Competitive Speed is scheduled to return to her home base at Gulfstream Park on Sunday after exiting the Oaks in good order for trainer Javier Gonzalez.

No specific race has been targeted for a return to the races according to Gonzalez.

“The result was not what I wanted but it was a good experience,” Gonzalez said. “I always learn, so let's see what happens next time.”

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TAA Check Presentation From Tampa Bay Downs

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) supporter Tampa Bay Downs will promote aftercare awareness on the undercard of the final day of the Oldsmar, Florida-based race meet. Taking place Sunday, May 2, Race 6 will benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Following the running of the race, a check presentation will be made to the TAA and a TAA blanket and swag bag will go to the winning connections.

In Tampa Bay Downs' Race 6 presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, 10 maiden 3-year-olds are set to go 5 furlongs on the turf at 3:08 PM.

“Tampa Bay Downs is pleased to extend its support of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and its ongoing efforts to find new homes and second careers for retired racehorses,” said Margo Flynn, the track's Vice President of Marketing & Publicity.

“The TAA is thrilled to be represented during the finale of Tampa Bay Down's race meet,” said TAA Marketing and Communications Manager Alexandra Kokka. “We're so grateful to have the support of Tampa Bay Downs and only wish we could be there in person to thank them for their donation.”

Out of the TAA's 81 accredited organizations, 14 facilities comprised of 10 organizations are located throughout Florida and work to assist Florida's horsemen. Tampa Bay Downs is committed to financially supporting OTTBs and the TAA.