Royal Ascot: Love wins Prince of Wales’s Stakes for Aidan O’Brien’s 75th victory
Love digs deep to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot for Aidan O'Brien in her first race for 10 months.
Month: June 2021
Galileo’s Love Hangs Tough In The Prince Of Wales’s
Long absent and much-missed, Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) returned to the big time at Royal Ascot on Wednesday and had to be as tenacious as she is classy to see off Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) under a perfectly-judged front-running ride in the G1 Prince of Wales's S., a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf this fall. Last year's G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine had been denied what had looked to be a match with Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) after that rival was withdrawn in the morning, but instead was put through the wringer by the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya as the fillies came to the fore. Always comfortable on the lead, the 11-10 favourite appeared temporarily in trouble at the top of the straight but kept digging in against the rail to prevail by 3/4 of a length from the James Fanshawe trainee who is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in her own right. Love's stablemate Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished on their heels in third, beaten the same margin. “It was her first run since last August and she beat a Breeders' Cup winner,” Moore said. “I'm sure she'll improve, but I'm delighted with her today. She's a very honest filly with a lot of ability.”
Love, who was Ryan Moore's last European group 1-winning ride for Ballydoyle when taking the Yorkshire Oaks in August, first came to the fore when winning the G3 Silver Flash S. over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in July 2019. Fifth in the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh before bouncing back to take the G1 Moyglare Stud S., she ended her juvenile campaign with a third in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October prior to her perfect three-race 3-year-old campaign. She had to prove herself again here against a filly that has emerged from relative obscurity to regular in the highest league in the space of a year and had to do it on her own in front, but the ground was at least ideal for her to flow along and play catch-me-if-you-can.
Registering a 75th Royal Ascot victory, Aidan O'Brien said, “It was a little bit of a risk coming here with her first time, as often when you prepare them and then don't run them it can be a little bit tricky but we knew she was ready to run even if she wasn't cherry-ripe today. It was lovely to start her on beautiful ground and where better to start? When you do that you are a little bit vulnerable, so we're delighted with her. Ryan gave her a lovely ride–he had a balancing act, as he knew a good pace was going to suit Armory and she is very versatile and had made the running before. Ryan was happy to get a lead if someone wanted to, but it just happened that there wasn't anyone willing to. What was unusual when we were tacking her up was that we put a 52 girth on her and it wouldn't fit her, so we had to go back for a 54. That's unusual for a filly like her and obviously she's really filled into her chest. It's unusual to get a big, deep-girthed filly like that. She can go anywhere, there is the [July 24 G1] King George [VI and Queen Elizabeth S.] and the [G1] Eclipse [at Sandown July 3] and any of those races. She'll be very happy staying at this distance and also be happy going back up to a mile and a half, so we'll see what the lads want to do and how she comes out of this race. Armory had to be ridden patiently and gently and ran a great race, he just didn't quite get there.”
Audarya's trainer James Fanshawe said of the runner-up, “We are all absolutely thrilled–she's proven that she's progressed again from last year and is a really exciting prospect for the rest of the year. It looked at the furlong pole that we were going to give her a race and William said the pace wasn't actually that strong. We'll have a think about her next race, whether it's the [Aug. 22 G1 Prix] Jean Romanet or the [July 29 G1] Nassau [at Goodwood]. It'll be one of those races and we'll try and space them out.”
Love is a half-sister to Lucky Kristale (GB) (Lucky Story), who captured the G2 Lowther S. and G2 Cherry Hinton S., and a full-sister to this stable's G3 Stanerra S. winner Flattering (Ire) and the G3 Munster Oaks scorer Peach Tree (Ire). The dam Pikaboo (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a half-sister to the seven-furlong specialist and dual G2 Park S.-winning sire Arabian Gleam (GB) and the listed-winning and group-placed sprinter Kimberella (GB) by Pivotal's son Kyllachy (GB). She is also kin to Light Quest (Quest For Fame {GB}), who produced the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air scorer Skia (Fr) (Motivator {GB})–in turn responsible for the G2 Fuji S. winner and G1 Dubai Turf runner-up Vin de Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})–and the Singapore Gold Cup winner Tropaios (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}). Pikaboo is also a half to Cute (GB) (Diktat {GB}), the dam of the Listed Midsummer S. winner and G1 Prix d'Ispahan third Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}). This is also the family of the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas-winning champion miler and sire Don't Forget Me (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}).
Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES'S S.-G1, £700,000, Ascot, 6-16, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:06.86, g/f.
1–LOVE (IRE), 123, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Pikaboo (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Gleam of Light (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Gold Runner, by Runnett (GB)
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £396,970. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f & G1SW-Ire, 11-7-1-1, $1,488,088. *Full to Peach Tree (Ire), GSW-Ire, $142,207; and Flattering (Ire), GSW-Ire, SP-Eng; and 1/2 to Lucky Kristale (GB) (Lucky Story), MGSW-Eng, $288,793. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Audarya (Fr), 123, m, 5, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Green Bananas (Fr), by Green Tune. (€125,000 Ylg '17 AROYRG). O-Mrs A M Swinburn; B-SARL Haras d'Ecouves (FR); T-James Fanshawe. £150,500.
3–Armory (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–After (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £75,320.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 10.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: My Oberon (Ire), Desert Encounter (Ire), Sangarius (GB). Scratched: Lord North (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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Grooms, Hotwalkers Honored in New York
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) named a race for the New York Race Track Chaplaincy (NY Chaplaincy) Friday, June 4, allowing the organization to honor the groom and hotwalker who cared for the winning horse in that race. Trainer Bill's Mott's Aunt Kat (Uncle Mo) won, with Gustavo Solorio and Agripina Lara each receiving a trophy and a gift provided by the NY Chaplaincy as part of the winner's circle ceremony.
“These are the people who dedicate their lives to caring for Thoroughbreds and we are immensely grateful to NYRA for partnering with us to honor them in this manner, as they have done for many years,” said chaplain Humberto Chavez. “These individuals are rarely in the limelight and this ceremony, as well as similar tributes conducted at Aqueduct and Saratoga Race Course, is a real morale-booster.”
According to Chavez, approximately 800 stable workers live at Belmont Park and another 2,000 live off track.
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NTRA’s Alex Waldrop to Retire at End of 2021
National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Waldrop will retire at the end of 2021. He has been at the forefront of the NTRA for 15 years.
During Waldrop's leadership, the NTRA transitioned from a member dues-driven organization into a self-sustaining, program-driven operation with more than 90% of the entity's revenues now derived from programs that support the industry. The organization also solidified its position as the industry's leading voice and the entity that represents all segments of the Thoroughbred industry in Washington, D.C., focusing its lobbying on legislation relating to horse racing, breeding and pari-mutuel wagering.
In addition, the NTRA under Waldrop worked to ensure that the industry was not left behind in 2020 as federal lawmakers crafted numerous important pieces of economic stimulus legislation tied to COVID-19 relief. Another major focus of the NTRA over the past two years was the ultimate passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). The NTRA played a key role in bringing together various factions of the industry represented on the NTRA Board to find common ground in their support of HISA. In addition, the NTRA was crucial in the U.S. Treasury Department's formally adopted modernized regulations regarding the withholding and reporting of winning pari-mutuel wagers, which allowed horseplayers to retain more of their winnings and led to higher pari-mutuel handle.
“My decision to step down at the end of this year is driven by the knowledge that the NTRA is now financially strong and strategically well positioned to lead on key issues affecting Thoroughbred racing,” said Waldrop. “It's the right time for new leadership to take the reins and lead the organization in new and exciting directions. While I will truly miss my colleagues at the NTRA, I am certain they are prepared to meet the challenges ahead. I also have great confidence in the NTRA Board to lead the organization through this time of transition.”
Among Waldrop's other accomplishments during his tenure, he grew the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship from an event offering just over $500,000 in prize money to one that now offers purses and awards totaling nearly $4 million. In addition, the NTRA's group purchasing arm, NTRA Advantage, surpassed $1 billion in sales to the equine industry in 2019 and has provided nearly $200 million in savings to industry participants.
Waldrop has previously been president of Churchill Downs, where he led the effort to develop a master plan for renovation and modernization of the historic facility, and as chair of the equine, gaming, and entertainment practice group at the Kentucky-based law firm Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. It was there that he served as the NTRA's general counsel before joining the organization full-time in his current role. Waldrop also serves as President of NTRA Horse PAC®, the Federal Political Action Committee of the NTRA that has raised more than $5 million through voluntary contributions to support political parties and candidates for elective office at the federal level.
“Alex was the right person at the time to lead the NTRA,” said Alan M. Foreman, chairman of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (THA) and the NTRA's longest-serving director. “He stabilized the organization, refocused its mission and core functions and produced results that have and will continue to benefit our industry in the future. He led the organization's unparalleled achievements in Washington, from modernizing the law governing withholding of winnings to benefit our horseplayers, to tax reform for our breeders and owners, pandemic relief for all stakeholders and safety, health and welfare standards for our equine athletes. Most importantly, through his quiet but tireless leadership, he was able to bring consensus among competing industry stakeholders for the industry's best interests during challenging times. He deserves our gratitude and respect.”
The NTRA board of directors has begun a formal transition process and is conducting a search for Waldrop's successor.
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