January, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Keeping Rivals at ‘Bay’ in Cape Verdi

Looking for her first win since last July, Pevensey Bay (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) marked her return in style, closing with a flourish to earn a career high win in Friday's G2 Cape Verdi S. at Meydan.

A hair sluggish away from the gate, Pevensey Bay settled along the inside near the back early as Down On Da Bayou (Super Saver) raced to the front. The pacesetter began to pick up the tempo on the first turn while heading into the final 800 meters. Completely buried along the rail with the pacesetter still moving easily about two lengths in front turning for home, Pevensey Bay was swung out several paths wide for the stretch drive. Hitting her best stride midtsretch, the dark bay powered past her rivals and forged to the front late, edging Ascot Brass (Swe) (Juniper Tree {Ire}) en route to a 3/4-length decision. Wedding Dance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was a half-length back in third, ahead of Down On Da Bayou.

Returning from a lengthy layoff to win at Saint-Cloud in early July, the German-bred mare finished sixth at Deauville the following month before coming home fourth in Longchamp's Listed Prix de la Cochere Sept. 5. Packed away for another three months, she finished second most recently in the Dec. 20 Listed Prix Miss Satamixa at Deauville.

Pedigree Note:
Pevensey Bay is the sole winner out of Pachelbelle (Fr), the daughter of unraced Royalemixa (Fr), who is a full-sister to Grade III victor Right One (Fr) and a half-sister to Group 1 scorer Rouvres (Fr). With the victory in Friday's Cape Verdi, the 6-year-old becomes the 36th group/graded winner for Coolmore sire Footstepsinthesand.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
CAPE VERDI PRESENTED BY CLUB VISTA MARE-G2, $180,000, Meydan, 1-14, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:36.13, gd.
1–PEVENSEY BAY (GER), 126, m, 6, by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
1st Dam: Pachelbelle (Fr), by Anabaa
2nd Dam: Royalemixa (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Riziere (Fr), by Groom Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£240,000 Ylg '15
DBSPRM). O/B-Julia & Jonathan Aisbitt (FR); T-Hiroo Shimizu;
J-Olivier Peslier. $108,000. Lifetime Record: 17-4-4-0,
$196,780. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Ascot Brass (Swe), 126, m, 5, Juniper Tree (Ire)–By the Book
(Ire), by Definite Article (GB). O-Stall Valley; B-Sigfridsson Tor
Harry (SWE); T-Niels Petersen. $36,000.
3–Wedding Dance (Ire), 126, f, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Wadaa,
by Dynaformer. (600,000gns Ylg '19 TAOCT). O-Godolphin;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. $18,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, SHD.
Also Ran: Down On Da Bayou, Pessemona (GB), Silent Night (Swe), Stunning Beauty (Ire), Mnasek, Dalanijujo (Ire), Soft Whisper (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Grimthorpe Among Five Appointees To Blue Diamond Stud Management

Blue Diamond Stud, owned by Imad Al Sagar and based near Newmarket, has undergone a major restructure in terms of its racing and farm management to place it on an excellent footing for the 2022 season.

The restructure is underpinned by the appointment of Lord Teddy Grimthorpe as racing manager to Imad Al Sagar.

Grimthorpe, who succeeds Tony Nerses, takes up the position in February.

Grimthorpe is one of the most widely respected figures within racing, having served as racing manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah for 22 years. During that time, he worked with 24 European trainers and oversaw 3,000 horses in training, which between them won almost 100 Group 1 races.

Grimthorpe currently serves as chairman of the National Stud, deputy senior steward of The Jockey Club and on the board of York Racecourse board following nine years at the track as chairman. Prior to his role with Juddmonte Farms, he worked for the British Bloodstock Agency for over 20 years.

“We have taken the opportunity to restructure our team at Blue Diamond Stud for 2022 and are delighted to welcome Teddy Grimthorpe as racing manager,” said Imad Al Sagar. “Tony Nerses was a major contributor to the growth and success of Blue Diamond Stud and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

“Teddy is a widely respected racing figure on an international scale. He played a key role in the sustained success of Juddmonte Farms and with his wealth of knowledge and experience, will undoubtedly prove a valuable asset to Blue Diamond Stud. I am greatly looking forward to working with him.”

Teddy Grimthorpe added: “I am very touched to have been asked by Imad Al Sagar to join his team. He has built up an impressive bloodstock portfolio and I will look forward to being any help I can with his operation.

“I will continue to be Chairman of the National Stud and serve on the boards of both Jockey Club and York Racecourse, all of which should fit nicely into this new role.”

Blue Diamond Stud is also delighted to announce the appointment of Ted Voute, another extremely well respected figure within racing and bloodstock circles, as the stud's interim chief executive officer. Voute, a leading sales consignor who will maintain his duties at his stud, Eydon Hall Farm, and as racing and bloodstock advisor to Prince Faisal's Nawara Stud, will fulfill the role until a permanent incumbent is identified.

“I have known Imad from the days of his Derby winner Authorized and have always kept in touch,” said Voute. “Having bought his own farms in Newmarket, Imad has quickly become a successful breeder and I am excited to help him in this transitional phase.”

Gerry Meehan has been appointed as yearling manager. Meehan is another with a wealth of experience behind him, notably 17 and a half years of service at Newsells Park Stud, latterly as Yearling Manager.

Winner of the Stud Staff category within the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards of 2014, Meehan's resume also includes stints at Fair Winter Farm, Cheveley Park Stud, Side Hill Stud and Coolmore, where he worked with the likes of Fairy King and Alzao.

Gerry Meehan will oversee the stud's yearling division and its sales consignments, which will debut under the Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd banner this year, starting at the Tattersalls February Sale.

“I am very excited to be joining Blue Diamond Stud,” said Meehan, “and feel like I can make a difference in helping the stud achieve success at the highest level in and out of the sale ring. The stud is a top-class operation that is already a proven source of Group 1 winners. I look forward to working with Imad Al Sagar and everyone at Blue Diamond Stud.”

Andrew Rawlin, a long serving member of the team at Blue Diamond Stud, has been promoted to mares manager. Rawlin has been a valued part of the stud team for 11 years and is well respected across the industry for his dedication and professionalism.

Nancy Sexton has also been appointed as bloodstock and media advisor. A bloodstock commentator attached to a variety of industry publications, Sexton also acts as European representative to the Kentucky-based Schumer Bloodstock.

“With such a strong team on board for 2022, I believe we are well placed to not only consolidate Blue Diamond Stud's position as an elite presence within the industry, but also to strive for further growth and success,” said Imad Al Sagar. “As such, we have started the year on a positive note and I look forward to a successful year.”

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Golden Goal Up To The Challenge

Dale Brennan's Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) indicated he could be rounding into his best form at age seven last year with a second-place finish in the G2 Godolphin Mile. Making his second start since in Friday's G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, he fulfilled that prophecy with a near gate-to-wire, 1 1/2-length victory.

Joining Doug Watson after winning twice in Britain at three for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, the £240,000 yearling Golden Goal made just two starts in both 2019 and 2020, winning once the former season and finishing second both times in the latter. Despite being a lightly raced 7-year-old, Golden Goal began to hint that he was coming into his own last season, winning at first asking going seven furlongs on the dirt before being beaten three lengths in fifth at the handicap level and 3 1/4 lengths when fourth in the G3 Burj Nahaar before his Godolphin Mile second. Golden Goal warmed up for this with a fourth-place finish in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile on Dec. 16.

Breaking on terms from the inside gate, Golden Goal gradually worked his way to the front under Sam Hitchcott. He briefly held the lead before Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) moved to poke his nose in front in the three path, the pair split by Marie's Diamond (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). With that rival prematurely packing it in, it was Secret Ambition who held a slightly advantage in the two path rounding the turn with Golden Goal hugging the fence. Golden Goal got his head in front upon straightening and though Secret Ambition remained a game rival through the lane, Golden Goal at last stole clear inside the final furlong, finding the wire 1 1/2 lengths the better of Secret Ambition with the previously unbeaten 4-year-old Kafoo (Curlin) making up ground late to be third.

Pedigree Notes

Golden Goal is a half-brother to three winners including the listed-placed Rosie's Premiere (Ire), now the dam of the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or winner and dual Group 3-placed Louliana (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and the listed-placed Rose Premium (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). His second dam, the listed-placed Kelsey Rose (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}), is the dam of another evergreen black-type-winning son of Dark Angel in Sovereign Debt (Ire) as well as the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Puff (Ire) (Camacho {GB}). It is the extended family of the G2 Mill Reef S. winner and sire Indian Rocket (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

Friday, Meydan, Britain
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R1 PRESENTED BY NAKHEEL-G2, $250,000, Meydan, 1-14, 3yo/up, 8f, 1:37.90, fs.
1–GOLDEN GOAL (IRE), 126, g, 8, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Golden Rosie (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Kelsey Rose (GB), by Most Welcome (GB)
3rd Dam: Duxyana (Ire), by Cyrano de Bergerac (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£240,000 Ylg '15
DBSPRM). O-Dale Brennan; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Doug
Watson; J-Sam Hitchcott. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 16-6-3-1,
$431,234. *1/2 to Rosie's Premiere (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}),
SP-Eng. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: A+.
2–Secret Ambition (GB), 126, h, 9, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–
Inner Secret, by Singspiel (Ire). O-Nasir Askar; B-Darley (GB);
T-Bhupat Seemar. $50,000.
3–Kafoo, 126, c, 4, Curlin–Blind Luck, by Pollard's Vision.
($250,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al
Maktoum; B-Mark Dedomenico (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar.
$25,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, 3/4. Also Ran: Thegreatcollection, Salute the Soldier (Ger), Imperial Empire (GB), Avant Garde, Kimbear, Eastern World (Ire), Midnight Sands, Marie's Diamond (Ire), Hypothetical (Ire), Capezzano, Syrtis (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Kevin Costello Captures 2021 NHC Title

Joseph (Kevin) Costello, a 53-year-old executive from Chicago, IL, rode the strength of four victories and 14 top 10 finishes in handicapping contests to run away with the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour title. Costello, who has qualified to the NHC each year since 2016, earned $75,000 for winning the NHC Tour and is eligible for a $5-million bonus if he captures the 2022 NHC Jan. 28-30 at Bally's Las Vegas.

“I always wanted to have the knowledge that I'm consistently good and that's what the Tour does,” said Costello.

Costello said he does all of his handicapping using a pen, a piece of paper and the Daily Racing Form Classic past performances. “I handicap races the way our grandparents did,” he said.

Costello won the Last Chance, First Chance NHC qualifier in Las Vegas on the eve of the 2021 NHC and won three other contests, including two at his hometown racetrack of Hawthorne Race Course, over the course of 2021. Costello concluded the 2021 Tour season with 22,540 points amassed from his top seven scores.

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