April, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Beautiful Empire Streaks Home in Star Shoot

Beautiful Empire (Classic Empire)'s furious kick carried the day for conditioner Mark Casse, rallying from last to lead home a 1-2-3 finish for the Mark Casse barn in a brisk rendition of the Star Shoot S. at Woodbine.

The filly was far back in her first two starts over conventional dirt at Churchill Downs before breaking her maiden Dec. 10 over the synthetic at Turfway Park to conclude her juvenile season. The chestnut began her year with a close runner-up effort Jan. 8 at the venue on first-time Lasix and finished third in a stacked rendition of the Valdale S. Feb. 12 and most recently overcame a bump at the start of a local allowance Apr. 16 to draw clear by four lengths.

Allowed to settle after the break here, the 7-2 third choice tracked from last early and quickly made up ground from that rail spot coming into the lane. Under right-hand urging from Emma-Jayne Wilson, Beautiful Empire kicked into high gear in the final furlong to clear rivals and win by 1 1/2 lengths over Aubrieta (Speightster). Diabolic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) rounded out the Casse trifecta. The time for the six-furlongs was only just off the track record set by the venerable Pink Lloyd (Old Forester).

“I was actually angling to go to the outside, and the rail kind of opened up,” said Wilson post race. “Good horses, when you ask them, they run. And that's exactly what happened. She's been running lights out the whole winter. She was primed for a big effort. It was a big effort last time and she stepped up again today.”

The victress is her dam's first black-type earner and second winner from three to race. She has a 2-year-old half-brother by American Pharoah. Humor Me Colonel is expecting a foal by Munnings this season. She is also the fourth stakes winner for her young sire (by Pioneerof the Nile). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

STAR SHOOT S., C$131,500, Woodbine, 4-30, 3yo, f, 6f (AWT), 1:08.70, ft.
1–BEAUTIFUL EMPIRE, 120, f, 3, by Classic Empire
                1st Dam: Humor Me Colonel, by Colonel John
                2nd Dam: Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor
                3rd Dam: Gilded Halo, by Gilded Time
($320,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-John C. Oxley; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Emma-Jayne Wilson. C$75,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, $157,494.
2–Aubrieta, 122, f, 3, Speightster–Amethea, by Henny Hughes. O/B-Manfred & Penny Conrad (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$30,000.
3–Diabolic (Ire), 124, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Seafront (GB), by Foxwedge (Aus). (£90,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-D. J. Stable LLC and Nexus Racing Club; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Mark E. Casse. C$13,750.
Margins: 1HF, HD, 1. Odds: 3.60, 3.45, 2.35.
Also Ran: Howdyoumakeurmoney, Miss Alacrity, Parlance.

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All To Play For In The 1000 Guineas

After the decision to avoid the stress of a G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas examination for Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the latest renewal of the Newmarket Classic has become open season for up-and-comers in the miling division. Very few of the 14 left in the race can be safely discounted and with a filly unproven beyond six furlongs at the head of the market, it is fair to say that anything can happen in this one. There were shades of Ravinella (Mr. Prospector) in the way Ballydoyle's number one and 'TDN Rising Star' Tenebrism (Caravaggio) went through the G1 Cheveley Park S. here in September, but there is a definite question mark over the mile for her and the performance of Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) here on Saturday was an untimely blow to that form. “She is unproven beyond six furlongs and maybe some have pegged her as a sprinter, but there is only one way to find out and that is on Sunday,” Ryan Moore said. “In terms of raw ability, we are happy with where she sits in the pecking order.”

Will Danehill's Record Fall?

Aidan O'Brien tends to win mile Classics with stouter-bred individuals, which brings in Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) but there is a feeling that the reality of winning a 1000 Guineas will be too much too soon as she builds experience ahead of an Oaks tilt. The Naas maiden winner shaped as the better filly when second to Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) on her sole juvenile start and if she has made the leap she will be providing Galileo with the world record of stakes winners. This would be a stage fitting for such a landmark, and Ballydoyle's go-to rider Frankie Dettori only adds to the equation. “We are happy with where she is, as we didn't think we would be in this position with her four weeks ago,” the Ballydoyle handler admitted recently.

Setting The Scene

In an edition dominated by Irish and French-trained fillies, it looks a tall order for the home team to arrest the overseas momentum. The top-rated quartet among them are the quartet who chased home Inspiral in the course-and-distance G1 Fillies' Mile in October, and while Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), 'TDN Rising Star' Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}), Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) are all solid proposals here they all have something to find. Mise En Scene provides James Ferguson with a first Classic runner and he is understandably hopeful that the Qatar Racing and Racehorse Club-owned G3 Prestige S. winner could be at least a bit player in this play. “I honestly think it is the most open 1000 Guineas I can remember,” he said. “It is wonderful to have a filly this good and she deserves to be the shortest-priced British runner. The fact she has got stamina in her pedigree will help her.”

Guineas Set For Frexit?

This is a big year for Francis-Henri Graffard, who has been handed the golden opportunity of taking over the famous Aiglemont stables, and in Everest Racing, Barbara Keller and David Redvers's Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) he has a strong chance of making waves in this important monument. Building slowly to a crescendo last term, she went from a soft-ground win in the six-furlong G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly in October to a barnstorming finish when second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on a firm surface over this trip at Del Mar the following month. She put her compatriot Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in her place in the Apr. 7 G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville, which during the 1980s was the launchpad used by Criquette Head for her Guineas heroines Ma Biche and Ravinella and by François Boutin for the great Miesque. “I couldn't have her in better form,” Graffard said. “She came on a lot from her seasonal debut and she's very well. When it comes to the ground, she's a very versatile filly and hopefully she is good enough for a race like this.”

The Supporting Cast

There is abundant intrigue away from the Guineas, with ParisLongchamp staging the G1 Prix Ganay where the G2 Prix d'Harcourt one-two-three Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) re-oppose. Sir Michael Stoute, a master in races like the G2 Betfair Exchange Dahlia S., looks to Chris Humber and Hunscote Stud's G3 Pride S. winner Ville de Grace (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) to provide him with a seventh renewal of Newmarket's nine-furlong test. In Germany, the G3 Bavarian Classic at Munich sees the latest potential Gestut Schlenderhan star step forward in the impressive Dusseldorf scorer So Moonstruck (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}); while John and Thady Gosden who appear to have several Oaks hopefuls and saddle Juddmonte's Crenelle (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the 10-furlong Listed Pretty Polly S. on the Guineas undercard.

Click here for the group fields.

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Book 1 Sensation Out Early At Newmarket

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a pricy son of Dubawi (Ire).

1.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £15,000, 2yo, 5fT
SYNDICATED (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a surprise runner on breeding in this sharp juvenile test, being an April-foaled son of J Wonder (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), the full-sister to Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) who captured the G3 Fred Darling S. and G3 Oaks Tree S. for Andrew Rosen. Andrew Balding had a bright 2021 with his juveniles and it will be interesting to see how this 450,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, who races for Rosen and Myracehorse, fares with Royal Ascot on the horizon.

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Irish NH Champions Crowned At Punchestown

The 2021/2022 Irish National Hunt Champions were announced at Punchestown on Saturday. Of the six, five were repeat winners, with Jack Foley named the Champion Conditional Jockey for the first time. Ireland's NH champions are as follows:

Champion Owner: JP McManus (19th win)
Champion Trainer: Willie Mullins (16th win)
Champion Jockey: Paul Townend (fifth win)
Champion Conditional: Jack Foley
Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins (14th win)
Champion Lady Amateur Rider: Jody Townend (second win)

Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, Suzanne Eade, said, “This is the first time since May 2019 that we have been able to crown our National Hunt champions before a raceday crowd and my congratulations go to JP, Willie, Paul, Jody, Jack, Patrick and the many thousands across the country who have worked to make the season the success that it was.

“The wonderful achievements of so many within our industry show Irish racing in the best possible light and high-profile wins on the biggest of the world's racing stages are reflected in the terrific crowds that we have seen here this week and at Fairyhouse over Easter. It augurs well for the summer ahead and I wish all involved the very best of luck as the new jumps' season begins at Down Royal on Monday.”

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