August, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hungerford Takes Centre Stage

Newbury and Deauville provide the focus on Saturday, with the former venue featuring one of the key seven-furlong contests of the season in the G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. Charlie Appleby has a pair engaged with William Buick settling for the unexposed 4-year-old Al Suhail (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who reverts to this trip for the first time since his juvenile days. Third in the nine-furlong G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Mar. 6, the half-brother to Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was in the same spot in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot July 10 with his stamina looking to ebb late on. “We were delighted with Al Suhail's first start back in the UK at Ascot, finishing third over the mile in soft conditions,” his trainer said. “Dropping back to seven furlongs I feel will suit him–he travels very well through his races. He's definitely come forward for that run and we feel the style of the race on Saturday will suit, so there are plenty of positives going into the race with him.”

Shadwell's silks are also carried by a duo, with the Owen Burrows-trained Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) having won Ascot's International H. over this trip July 24 where the Richard Hannon-trained impressive Bunbury Cup hero Motakhayyel (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) was back in sixth under top weight. “It was a big performance at Ascot, but it was only a handicap and we'll see where we sit now against these group horses,” Burrows said of the former. “He'd been fourth in the Lincoln, second in the Spring Mile and second at Royal Ascot to a filly who has since won a listed race and didn't run bad at all in a Group 3 at Goodwood from a wide draw. We were giving her plenty of weight at the Royal meeting and she's been able to mix it up in stakes company, so fingers crossed he can do the same.”

There was no fluke about the impressive G3 Valiant S. of Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and if the Ed Walker trainee can improve on her 4 1/2-length defeat of the smart Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), subsequent listed scorer Waliyak (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Indigo Girl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in that Ascot contest July 23 she will pose a major threat to the colts and geldings. Another filly in the mix is Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who took the G3 Nell Gwyn S. over this trip at Newmarket Apr. 14 and has been waiting for fast ground ever since her subsequent seventh when a non-stayer in the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas there.

At Deauville, the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain sees 'TDN Rising Star' Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) bid to emulate the operation's Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who came from Britain to score here in 2019. The John and Thady Gosden-trained half-brother to Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was run down late by Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Listed Steventon S. over this 10-furlong trip at Newbury July 17. Godolphin, Ecurie des Monceaux and Ecurie Skymarc Farm's June 20 G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two to represent the owners alongside the Apr. 13 Listed Feilden S. winner Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the former, “Philomene is in great form and Andre Fabre has been very happy with her progress since the Prix de Diane. This looks a good option for her as a springboard to an autumn campaign.” Charlie Appleby added of the visitor, “We have been looking forward to stepping Highland Avenue up in trip and his preparation has gone well. He has yet to prove himself at this level, but we feel that he is a group horse in the making. He has done well physically since Ascot and looks a proper mature horse now.”

Gerard Augustin-Normand's June 6 G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) returns off a break to try and give his country something to shout about come the Arc, while Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) who was sixth in that June 6 Chantilly Classic has since collected the G2 Prix Eugene Adam over this trip at Saint-Cloud July 4. That form received a boost when the runner-up Caprice Des Dieux (Fr) (Declaration of War) was subsequently an impressive winner of the Listed Prix Pelleas at Compiegne July 27.

Also on the card is the G3 Prix de Lieurey over a mile, where Ivan Furtado's stable star Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) represents the red-hot form of the G1 Falmouth S., having been sixth and beaten just over two lengths in that Newmarket feature July 9. Back at Newbury, the G3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer S. over an extended 13 furlongs sees Shadwell's 2021 winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) look for a repeat having taken York's G3 Silver Cup July 10. His trainer Owen Burrows said, “He was in at Goodwood the other day, but we've waited for this race and, touch wood, he's in great form. He'll have to carry a three-pound penalty, but there isn't really a suitable Group 2 option for him in Britain. I'm actually going to enter him in the [G2] Grand Prix de Deauville at the end of the month.” In the opening Academy Insurance British EBF Maiden S. over a mile and a half, the June 5 G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) will be the day's shortest-priced favourite as he bids to shed his unwanted tag ahead of a return to much bigger things.

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Champion French Jockey Boudot Has Ban Extended Another Six Months

Reigning champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot has had his suspension from racing extended another six months by France Galop as a result of being charged with rape.

The three-time winner of France's cravache d'or was stood down in May, along with fellow jockey Pierre Bazire, who has been charged with failing to report a crime over the same incident.

Boudot, 28, was released on €50,000 [$60,710] bail after spending two days in police custody, having been charged with the rape of a 25-year-old female work rider. This followed an investigation into a complaint made following a party in Cagnes-Sur-Mer on France's Cote d'Azur in February.

A statement from France Galop released on Friday read: “France Galop's commissioners have examined the statements made by the jockeys Pierre-Charles Boudot and Pierre Bazire, who are currently under investigation by an examining magistrate from Senlis Judicial Tribunal, with a view to potentially extending the precautionary measures taken against them on May 14, 2021.

“Though these two jockeys are still presumed innocent, in view of the ongoing legal proceedings that concern said jockeys, the gravity of the allegations and the damage they would cause to the image, legality and safety of horse racing, as well as the organization of any bets pertaining to horse races, the commissioners have decided to suspend, as a precautionary measure and for a duration of six months, the aforementioned jockeys' authorization to ride, in accordance with the provisions stated in article 216 of the French horse racing code.

“These measures may be lifted or extended at any time, taking into consideration any additional elements that may be brought to the attention of France Galop's commissioners.”

Boudot, champion jockey in 2015, 2016 and 2020, has become one of the world's top riders. He won the 2019 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Waldgeist, has ridden the winners of four French Classics and rode two winners at last year's Breeders' Cup.

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Ottoman Empire Has Additional ‘Education’ Ahead Of Saratoga Special

Greg Tramontin's Ottoman Empire will look to benefit from the experience of his race last month at Saratoga when he returns as part of a 12-horse field of juveniles in tomorrow's Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite contested at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

The Tom Amoss trainee won his debut in a five-furlong sprint on June 20 at Churchill Downs, rallying from seventh to best next-out winner Texas Red Hot by one length. Stepping up to stakes company next out, the Classic Empire colt ran fourth in the Grade 3 Sanford at six furlongs at the Spa in a race won by Wit.

“He won his first start at Churchill and there's absolutely no doubt he's a talented horse,” Amoss said. “In his first start, it was strictly on raw talent. He made a lot of mistakes. He didn't break well, he didn't like being crowded, he didn't go around anybody. But it was a very good race as far as watching a horse that doesn't have a really good understanding of competition yet but still being able to win a race.”

Amoss said an equipment change could continue to be beneficial to Ottoman Empire, who was a $120,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“Since his first start, we thought we had educated him pretty well entering the last stakes race here. We did add blinkers to him, which isn't a move I often make this early in a horse's career,” Amoss said. “I like them to learn through racing, but we're going to go ahead and run with the blinkers. I just feel he needs a little jump-start in the education process.”

Ottoman Empire drew post 3 with Dylan Davis in the irons. He is listed at 15-1 on the morning line.

“His understanding of competition and what he needs to do to win is still not where it needs to be, but you tend to get a little bit of a better understanding through racing, so we're back in tomorrow and we feel good about it,” Amoss said.

Joel Politi's Li'l Tootsie will make a surface change after going 3-1-0 in first seven career starts on dirt when she competes in Sunday's $120,000 Galway for 3-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs on Saratoga's Mellon turf course.

Li'l Tootsie, who ran ninth last out in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks on July 7 at Indiana Grand Race Course, registered her first breeze on the grass with a five-furlong work in 1:03.66 on the Oklahoma training turf July 31 and Amoss said he was impressed with the effort.

“She's a very talented sprinter,” Amoss said. “She's never raced over the grass before, but the pedigree suggests it'll work. We breezed her over the Oklahoma turf course and we thought she worked very well. This race gives us the opportunity to see if we can make her anything other than a dirt sprinter and broaden our horizons.”

Li'l Tootsie, bought for $105,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is a daughter of Tapiture out of the Dayjur mare Informative Style. She drew the inside post in the Galway with Eric Cancel aboard and is 12-1 on the morning line.

“You always prefer to be further outside with a chance to position and make a late run without any traffic,” Amoss said. “The one-hole, it's the shortest way home, but it presents potential problems for a horse who comes off the pace. We have to work out a trip from there and see what happens.”

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Atras Hopes CCA Oaks Winner Maracuja Can Be ‘More Tactical’ In Alabama

Trainer Rob Atras said Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks-winner Maracuja is training well into her next engagement – the 10-furlong Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on Aug. 21 at the Spa.

The Honor Code gray posted a swift half-mile breeze in 47.67 seconds Sunday in company on the main track in her first work back since upsetting Malathaat in the nine-furlong CCA Oaks on July 24.

“She went a little quicker than I thought, visually,” Atras said. “She broke off a little quick and was rolling along and galloped out real nice. I never get too concerned about the time, but she did it well within herself. That's all that matters to me.”

A $200,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, Maracuja graduated at third asking in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden sprint in February at Aqueduct Racetrack and followed with a closing second in the Grade 3 Gazelle in April, finishing 2 3/4-lengths back of Search Results.

Maracuja exited post 2 in a 13-horse field in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in April at Churchill Downs and closed up the rail for seventh in a race won by Malathaat by a neck over Search Results.

Last out, in a compact field of four, Maracuja tracked closer to the pace in third under Ricardo Santana, Jr., and battled gamely to the wire to best Malathaat by a head.

“She broke so sharp in the last race and we were hoping for that,” Atras said. “We were hoping she could be a little more tactical. That would definitely be an advantage to her going forward.

“I knew you could throw the Oaks out and she was capable of better,” Atras added. “I thought if she took a step forward from the Gazelle she could be a contender, if not for the win, then for second. She definitely took a big step forward last time. Right out of the gate, she showed that she was live that day.”

The probable field for the Alabama includes Army Wife (Mike Maker), Clairiere (Steve Asmussen), Crazy Beautiful (Kenny McPeek), Malathaat (Todd Pletcher), Played Hard (Phil Bauer) and Will's Secret (Dallas Stewart).

Atras said Dennis Narlinger's graded stakes placed Sadie Lady, who worked a half-mile in 48.11 Sunday on the main track, is slated to make her next start in the $100,000 Union Avenue, a 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

“She's doing well,” Atras said. “It was a good work and she's on target for that race.”

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