York's Knavesmire had witnessed a TDN Rising Star on Saturday as Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) streeted his 2-year-old peers and there was another to earn that tag on Sunday as Amo Racing Limited's Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) romped to a seven-length success over the track's flat fast five furlongs. The 2022 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale topper at 525,000gns had the misfortune to run into Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on debut at Ascot May 7, but this Sky Bet Sunday Series EBF Novice S. offered easier pickings and he was 2-7 to make amends. Sent straight to the front by Silvestre De Sousa, the David Loughnane-trained bay from the Niarchos family of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was far too strong for Beautiful Sunrise (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). That rival, who had previously been 5 1/2 lengths behind another TDN Rising Star in Miami Girl (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) at Newmarket, paid the price for taking on the favourite for the first half of the contest and tired to end up only 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Minnesota Lad (Ire) (Sioux Nation).
Walbank is the first foal out of the useful sprinter No Lippy (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), whose career wins included Chester's Lily Agnes Conditions S. She is a full-sister to the Listed Hopeful S. winner and G3 Bengough S.-placed Polybius (GB) and a half to the aforementioned Albigna, who also captured the G2 Balanchine S. They are out of the G2 Prix de Pomone winner and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational runner-up Freedonia (GB) (Selkirk) from the family of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). No Lippy's yearling filly is by Mehmas (Ire), while she also has a foal full-sister to Walbank.
2nd-York, £15,000, Novice, 5-22, 2yo, 5fT, :58.70, gd. WALBANK (IRE), c, 2, by Kodiac 1st Dam: No Lippy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: Freedonia (GB), by Selkirk 3rd Dam: Forest Rain (Fr), by Caerleon
(525,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, £11,903. O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-David Loughnane. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
The mental strain and inner turmoil that COVID-19 has caused in Hong Kong over the past 26 months dictate that the talented Blake Shinn will return to Australia at the end of the current racing season. The 34-year-old, winner at home of the 2008 G1 Melbourne Cup and 2016 G1 Golden Slipper, among other feature races, decided to give Hong Kong a go a couple of years back, and while it has not always been smooth sailing, Shinn has done the hard yards. He improved from 15 wins in his inaugural season to 24 in the 2020/2021 campaign, including a first pattern success aboard Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and a victory in the 4-year-old Classic series astride Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).
The current season, the toughest of the three within the context of the curbs put on the local jockey colony, has seen Shinn reach even loftier heights, with a Sky Field win in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint before Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) added to that tally in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) back in February. The end of his stint may be near, but he continues to ride at the peak of his powers and gave the latter a peach of a steer from the tail of the field to post a convincing tally in Sunday's G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin. The win capped off a natural three-timer for Shinn–each for a different trainer–and carries him to 36 winners for the year, good for seventh in the premiership.
Getting the blinkers off after overracing when a last-out fifth to BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 FWD QE II Cup Apr. 24, Russian Emperor was allowed to drift back to last and traveled sweetly behind a soft pace. Content to trail into the final half-mile, Russian Emperor was slipped a bit of rein and followed the move of 2021 Champions and Chater runner-up Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) around the turn. Pulled out widest as they hit the top of the straight, Russian Emperor hit top gear about 200 metres out, collared a very game Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and edged clear. Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) was a perfect-trip third.
“It's the longest 2400 [metres] of my life,” said winning trainer Douglas Whyte, who won the Champions and Chater three times in his illustrious riding career. “When you're a jockey, things unfold and you can see them unfolding in front of you, but when you're standing on the side and watching it, it gets quite daunting.
“He showed that he has got a really good turn of foot for a stayer. If he can continue to race in this sort of form and with these racing manners, he's an exciting horse for all these staying races next season,” Whyte added.
Given all that he–and to be fair, the entire institution of Hong Kong racing–has had to endure, the magnitude of Sunday's win was not lost on Shinn.
“It means a lot. It was a tough decision to go home [at the end of the season],” he explained. “The last year has been an extremely tough time, especially for myself. It was almost a breaking point. I made the decision because I was pretty much battling there mentally.
“Hong Kong has been a great place for me but for a few months there, it was really tough–not just for me, but a lot of people in Hong Kong. It's hard to walk away because I've worked so hard, but mental health is very important.
“Things have eased now but first and foremost, I have to make sure my well-being is where I need it to be and hopefully in time, I can get it back to where I need it to be and you can see me back in Hong Kong in the future,” Shinn said.
Pedigree Notes:
Russian Emperor, winner of the 2020 G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, is one of his late sire's 93 worldwide Group 1/Grade I winners and one of three in Hong Kong, alongside G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase winners Highland Reel (Ire) and Mogul (Ire). All three are bred on the enormously successful cross of Galileo over Danehill and his stallion sons. Russian Emperor is the lone Galileo Group 1 winner from a daughter of Fastnet Rock.
Russian Emperor is one of two winners from four to the races for his outstanding dam, a two-time Australian champion and a Group 1 winner at 1400 (x2) (All-Aged S., Memsie S.), 1600 (Schweppes Thousand Guineas) and 2000 metres (Caulfield S.) and winner of 10 of her 11 career starts. Atlantic Jewel, a half-sister to fellow Thousand Guineas heroine Commanding Jewel (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), sadly passed away in August of 2020 after foaling a colt by US Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy). That produce was purchased by Dermot Farrington Bloodstock for A$240,000 (US$181,059) at last month's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
WATCH: Russian Emperor overpowers the field in the Champions and Chater Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS AND CHATER CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,231,525/€1,452,138/A$2,182,458/US$1,529,244), Sha Tin, 5-22, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26.67, gd.
1–RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Atlantic Jewel (Ire) (Ch. 3yo Filly, Ch. Older Mare & MG1SW-Aus, $1,559,748), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Regard (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ) 3rd Dam: Nanshan (Ire), by Nashwan
O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Blake Shinn; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, GSP-Ire, 20-4-4-3, HK$28,674,860. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 126, g, 7, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Luke Ferraris; HK$2,640,000.
3–Senor Toba (Aus), 126, g, 4, Toronado (Ire)–Bahamas (Aus), by Teofilo (Ire). (A$180,000 Ylg '19 INGMAR). O-Willie May Syndicate; B-D Peacock (SA); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Joao Moreira; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 21-10, 16-1, 37-10.
Also Ran: Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Panfield (Chi), Zebrowski (NZ), Butterfield (Brz), Columbus County (NZ), Reliable Team (NZ), Nordic Sky (Brz). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Kept back from the 1000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Moyglare Stud's TDN Rising Star Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was finally let loose on unsuspecting victims lined up for what appeared to be a competitive edition of the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh on Sunday. Travelling like the best filly the whole way settled in rear of mid-division by Chris Hayes, the 11-2 shot who had offered tantalising insight into what was to come when taking the seven-furlong G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown Apr. 2 produced explosive acceleration down the outside to chop down the 11-4 favourite Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a furlong from home. At the line, the Dermot Weld-trained homebred had stretched the measurement of her superiority to 5 1/2 lengths from Ballydoyle's number one, with another from that operation Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) running an eye-catching Oaks trial half a length back in third.
“She is very talented and has a lot of pace, but she's not the easiest to keep right,” her master trainer announced in the aftermath of receiving a warm welcome from the appreciative crowd in the winner's enclosure following his 20th Curragh Classic victory. “I've always had the highest confidence in the filly, but I wasn't prepared to run her until she was right and conditions were right and it is beautiful ground today. Chris got her relaxed and gave her a beautiful ride–the only question was whether she would stay a mile, as she has pace to win a group 1 race over six furlongs, but this was the best place to find out.”
Stamped a TDN Rising Star with a debut defeat of Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) in what has turned out to be a prescient seven-furlong maiden at Leopardstown in July, Homeless Songs was returning to the scene of the first of two subsequent disappointments when fifth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. in September. Only sixth in the G3 Killavullan S. back at Leopardstown the following month, the homebred had come back with a clean slate for the latter venue's 1000 Guineas Trial and swept aside Agartha on three-pound better terms to re-establish her reputation. This was much the same in terms of performance, if super-sized to fit the occasion.
Unsurprisingly, Agartha who was at levels this time was in the thick of it again heading to the furlong pole where Joseph O'Brien's solid yardstick was coming off slightly worse in her private argument with Tuesday. What happened in the next dozen seconds was as dramatic as it gets in a fiercely-contested Curragh Classic, as both high-class fillies were swamped and left for dead by the relentless winner. Homeless Songs covered the mile almost a second faster than the year-older Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had carrying the same weight in the preceding G2 Lanwades Stud S. and when weight-for-age is taken into account, the cherry is on the cake where this magnificent display is concerned.
Chris Hayes said, “Where we were drawn is probably the best of the ground. When the draw came out the other day, I was nearly leaping up and down inside in Rosewell! She has an extraordinary turn of foot and the last thing I wanted to do was to be looking for gaps. She likes a little bit of room and you saw what she can do. There was talk that she would be better with a bend and this and that. My only concern coming into today was would I get a clean run of things. Staying a mile and the ground made no difference, as she is a special filly.”
For Weld, the occasion brought rise to many emotions as he pondered the loss of Pat Smullen. “Today would have been his birthday and I saw his picture on the racecard and recalled that he won at stakes level on her dam. He also won this on Nighttime for my late mother in 2006, so it's very poignant,” he said, before his attention was turned back to Homeless Songs' immediate and long-term future. “We'll see how she comes out of this and speak with Eva Maria [Bucher-Haefner], but obviously the Coronation at Royal Ascot has to be considered,” he added. “That is my 27th European Classic and my fifth time to win this race and every Classic is very special and difficult to win. She's a very special filly and she is likely to be around next year–there's every chance.”
Homeless Songs, bred on the same cross as Adayar (Ire), gives Frankel his 21st group 1 winner and hails from a high-achieving family that keeps delivering on the big stage. She is the second foal out of the talented Joailliere (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was denied the chance to show her true merit and ended up only ninth in this in 2015 on her second start after an emphatic debut win. Off until her 4-year-old campaign, she was placed in the G3 Concorde S., G3 Park Express S. and G3 Gladness S. before winning the Listed Frankfurt Sprint Trophy. Kin to the G3 Meld S. and G3 Dance Design Fillies' S. winner Carla Bianca (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and the G2 Beresford S. runner-up True Solitaire (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), her first foal was the Listed Orby S. winner Reve de Vol (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who was also placed in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. and G3 Royal Whip S.
Joailliere is out of the Listed Finale S. winner Diamond Trim (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}), whose progeny list is headed by the triple group 3 winner and G1 Irish St Leger runner-up Profound Beauty (Ire) (Danehill) who in turn produced the Listed Platinum S. winner and G3 Athasi S. runner-up Rose de Pierre (Ire) to a mating with Dubawi. Diamond Trim is a granddaughter of the GI Acorn S. winner Aptostar (Fappiano), as well as being a half to the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (Danehill), in turn the dam of the Irish St Leger hero Royal Diamond (Ire) (King's Best), fellow Ribblesdale scorer Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}) and Mad about You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who was second in this Classic. Joailliere's 2-year-old colt Time Tells All (Ire) is by Sea the Stars (Ire), while she also has a yearling full-brother to Homeless Songs.
Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland TATTERSALLS IRISH 1000 GUINEAS-G1, €595,000, Curragh, 5-22, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.81, g/y.
1–HOMELESS SONGS (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Joailliere (Ire) (Hwt. Older Mare-Ger at 5-7f, SW-Ger, MGSP-Ire), by Dubawi (Ire) 2nd Dam: Majestic Silver (Ire), by Linamix (Fr) 3rd Dam: Diamond Trim (Ire), by Highest Honor (Fr) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Chris Hayes. €290,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $361,287. *1/2 to Reve de Vol (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), SW & MGSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tuesday (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Mrs.J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €100,000.
3–Concert Hall (Ire), 128, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Was (Ire) (G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $496,294), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Was Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €50,000.
Margins: 5HF, HF, NK. Odds: 5.50, 2.75, 7.50.
Also Ran: Star Girls Aalmal (Ire), Agartha (Ire), Purplepay (Fr), History (Ire), Villanova Queen (Ire), Lady of Inishfree (Ire), Panama Red (Ire), Mise En Scene (GB), Freedom of Speech (Ire), Hermana Estrella (Ire), Lullaby (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Haras de Saint Pair's evergreen 5-year-old mare Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Pearl Banks {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}), who posted runner-up finishes in last term's G1 Matron S. and G1 Prix de la Foret, went postward as the odds-on selection for Sunday's G2 Lanwades Stud S. at The Curragh, but was made to fight for a narrow success by 25-1 outsider Emphatic Answer (Ire) (No Nay Never). The homebred bay, whose 2021 campaign yielded scores in the G3 Brownstown S. and G3 Fairy Bridge S., also ran sixth in November's GI Breeders' Cup Mile and lined up here coming back off a win in Leopardstown's Listed Heritage S. on seasonal return last month. The eventual was the sharpest of seven into stride and settled behind the leaders in third after the early strides. Inching closer once into the straight, the 8-11 favourite was shaken up inside the final quarter mile to launch her challenge Emphatic Answer entering the final furlong and was driven out to just get the better of that rival by a neck. Sh Boom (GB) (War Command) was best of the remainder and finished two lengths away in third.
“She's tough and improving all the time,” said winning trainer Paddy Twomey. “She enjoys her racing and does what she has to do. She's won her Group 2 now, so we'll have to try and win a Group 1. The fillies' races through the summer–the Falmouth, the Prix de Rothschild and the Matron–and maybe the [Prix de la] Foret and the [GI] Breeders Cup Mile, that sort of programme we are looking at with her. We'll target the European races before going to America.”
Pearls Galore is the fifth of seven foals and one of three stakes winners produced by G3 Dirk Elbers-Preis victrix Pearl Banks (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), herself out of G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}). Pearly Shells, in turn, is a half-sister to GI Hollywood Turf Cup-winning sire Frenchpark (GB) (Fools Holme). The May-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to G3 Grosser Preis der Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung victrix Lucky Lycra (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), Listed Prix des Lilas winner Pearly Steph (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the unraced 2-year-old colt L'Ambassadeur (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland LANWADES STUD S.-G2, €142,800, Curragh, 5-22, 4yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:39.62, gd/yl.
1–PEARLS GALORE (FR), 128, m, 5, by Invincible Spirit (Ire) 1st Dam: Pearl Banks (GB) (GSW-Ger & SW-Fr, $127,537), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Pearly Shells (GB), by Efisio (GB) 3rd Dam: Piffle (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair du Mont (FR); T-Paddy Twomey; J-Billy Lee. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 14-6-3-1, $426,326. *1/2 to Lucky Lycra (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), GSW-Ger & SW-Fr; and Pearly Steph (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Emphatic Answer (Ire), 128, f, 4, No Nay Never–Ask Me Nicely (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Rectory Road Holdings Ltd, Susan Magnier & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Mrs A M O'Brien (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €24,000.
3–Sh Boom (GB), 128, m, 6, War Command–Nouvelle Lune (GB), by Fantastic Light. (52,000gns RNA Ylg '17 TAOCT; 57,000gns 3yo '19 TATMA). O-David Spratt, Sean Jones & Mrs Lynne Lyons; B-J G Davis & Star Pointe Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €12,000.
Margins: NK, 2, 3/4. Odds: 0.73, 25.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Thunder Beauty (Ire), Twilight Spinner (GB), Shahaada (Ire), Diadora (Ire). Scratched: My Holy Fox (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
