Harry Redknapp goes to Epsom with a great shot at glory in the Cazoo Handicap
He is purist of the sport, preferring, as he puts it, 'to go to Fontwell on a Tuesday afternoon, or Wincanton' rather than your big traditional meets, such as Ascot.
Month: June 2022
The Derby: Where Did They Come From?
Lent extra poignancy this year for being run in memory of Lester Piggott, the blue riband of the turf features colts with the whole range of backgrounds, from a £3,000 yearling to regal homebreds.
ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Shaloushka (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire})
Owner: Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – Woodland Walk
Breeder: Emma Capon Bloodstock
Trainers: Charlie and Mark Johnston
Sales History: A 62,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling.
Pedigree Notes: He is the first foal of his Aga Khan-bred dam, a winner at up to 1 1/2 miles whose half-brother Shalapour (Ire) was third in the Irish Derby. His granddam is a half-sister to the 1986 Derby winner Shahrastani. Shaloushka has a yearling colt by Magna Grecia (Ire) and was covered last season by Expert Eye (GB).
WESTOVER (GB), Frankel (GB)–Mirabilis (Lear Fan)
Owner/Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Pedigree Notes: A full-brother to the Group 3 winner Monarchs Glen (GB), he is out of a Grade III-winning turf miler whose half-sister Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) won the G1 Prix de Diane. Mirabilis has a 2-year-old filly by Expert Eye (GB) named Jalapa (GB).
HOO YA MAL (GB), Territories (Ire)–Sensationally (GB) (Montjeu {Ire})
Owner: Ahmad Al Shaikh
Breeder: Meon Valley Stud
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Sales History: A 40,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling.
Pedigree Notes: He traces back to the Meon Valley foundation mare One In A Million (GB); his granddam One So Wonderful (GB) won the G1 Juddmonte International while his 70-rated dam won over 9 1/2 furlongs on Polytrack. Sensationally has a Mukhadram (GB) 2-year-old named Oyamal (GB) and a filly foal by Belardo (Ire).
STONE AGE (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Bonanza Creek (Ire) (Anabaa)
Owner: Brant, Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg
Breeder: White Birch Farm
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: Stone Age was bred by part-owner Peter Brant, who bought his dam from the Wildenstein Dispersal at Goffs in 2016 for €270,000. A 10-furlong maiden winner, she is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix de l'Opera victrix Bright Sky (Ire). Granddam Bright Moon won the G2 Prix de Pomone over 2700m. Bonanza Creek has a Frankel (GB) 2-year-old filly named Sandy Creek (Ire) and a yearling filly foal by Churchill (Ire). She was covered last year by Galileo (Ire).
A pivotal 10 minutes in the Derby picture?
With Luxembourg ruled out of the race, Stone Age outlines his credentials for the Epsom Classic with a brilliant win in the Derby Trial for Aidan O'Brien & Ryan Moore @LeopardstownRC | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/8KKaNuJxoK
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 8, 2022
NATIONS PRIDE (IRE), Teofilo (Ire)–Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Pedigree Notes: His dam won a German listed contest over nine furlongs in soft ground and is a daughter of the prolific group winner Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), whose finest moment came in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Important Time has a yearling filly by Dark Angel (Ire) and full-sister to Nations Pride at foot.
NAHANNI (GB), Frankel (GB)–Final Stage (GB) (Street Cry {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Pedigree Notes: His dam won over 1 1/2 miles and is a half-sister to the St Leger winner Mastery (GB) and G1 Gran Criterium winner Kirklees (Ire). Final Stage has had no foal since Nahanni.
PIZ BADILE (IRE), Ulysses (Ire)–That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality)
Owner/Breeder: Flaxman Stables Ireland
Trainer: Donnacha O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: A Niarchos homebred top and bottom, Piz Badile is inbred to Lingerie through his granddams, the Group 1-winning half-sisters Light Shift (Kingmambo) and Shiva (Hector Protector). That Which Is Not has a 2-year-old colt named Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal), a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and was covered last year by Frankel (GB).
MASEKELA (IRE), El Kabeir–Lady's Purse (GB) (Doyen {Ire})
Owners: Mick and Janice Mariscotti
Breeder: Coolawn Stud
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Sales History: A €35,000 Goffs November Foal resold as a yearling at Tattersalls October Book 2 for 30,000gns.
Pedigree Notes: A half-brother to the G2 Cape Verdi runner-up Asoof (GB), their dam won the G3 Prix de Royaumont over 2400m. Lady's Purse has a yearling colt by Churchill (Ire) and was covered last year by Ten Sovereigns (Ire).
WALK OF STARS (GB), Dubawi (Ire)–Sound Reflection (Street Cry {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Pedigree Notes: From the family of the Group 1-winning Galileo (Ire) full-siblings Nathaniel (Ire) and Great Heavens (Ire), he is out of a 97-rated treble winner from seven furlongs to 1 1/2 miles. Granddam Echoes In Eternity (Ire) (Spinning World) won the G2 Sun Chariot S. and G2 Park Hill S. Sound Reflection has 2-year-old and yearling fillies by New Approach (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire), respectively. Her 2022 filly by Ghaiyyath (Ire) has died.
GLORY DAZE (IRE), Cotai Glory (GB)–Pioneer Alexander (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire})
Owner: Glory Gold Partnership
Breeder: Mountarmstrong Stud
Trainer: Andy Oliver
Sales History: A £3,000 Goffs Sportsman's Sale yearling.
Pedigree Notes: His half-sister Rita Levi (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) won three times at up to 1 1/2 miles. Their dam was unplaced in three starts and is a half-sister to the Listed Rockingham S. winner Bannock (Ire) (Bertolini). Granddam Laoub (Red Ransom) won the UAE Oaks over nine furlongs. The mare has had no foal since Glory Daze and died in 2021.
WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE), Teofilo (Ire)–West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian)
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: Abdulla Al Mansoori
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainers: Simon and Ed Crisford
Pedigree Notes: His dam won the G1 Prix de Diane and is a daughter of the Sun Chariot S. winner Red Slippers (Nureyev), herself a half-sister to the Oaks and Irish Derby winner Balanchine (Storm Bird). The mare has a 2-year-old full-brother to West Wind Blows and was covered last year by Masar (Ire).
DESERT CROWN (GB), Nathaniel (Ire)–Desert Berry (GB) (Green Desert)
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: Saeed Suhail
Breeder: Strawberry Fields Stud
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Sales History: A 280,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling.
Pedigree Notes: His half-brother Flying Thunder (GB) (Archipenko) won a Group 3 in Hong Kong over 1400 metres. Their 68-rated dam won a maiden over a mile in three starts, and her Juddmonte-bred granddam Binary (GB) (Rainbow Quest) was a 10-furlong listed winner. Desert Berry has a 2-year-old filly by Al Kazeem (GB), a yearling colt by Study Of Man (Ire), a colt foal by Nathaniel and is back in foal to the Newsells Park Stud resident.
SONNY LISTON (IRE), Lawman (Fr)–Stars In Your Eyes (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Chelsea Thoroughbreds – The Big Bear
Breeder: Tally-Ho Stud
Trainer: Charlie Hills
Sales History: A 60,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling.
Pedigree Notes: A half-brother to the Hascombe & Valiant-bred dual Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Dame Malliot (GB), their dam won over 1 1/2 miles. Further family includes Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The mare has a 2-year-old colt by Kodiac (GB) and was covered last year by Sottsass (Fr).
EL HABEEB (IRE), Al Rifai (Ire)–Los Ojitos (Mr Greeley)
Owner/Breeder: Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim
Trainer: Stan Moore
Pedigree Notes: His sire, a son of Galileo and GI EP Taylor S. winner Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback {GB}), ran just once, winning a 1 1/2-mile maiden at Kempton. The dam was Grade II-placed in America over six furlongs and has produced the Listed Galtres S. winner Gold Wand (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). El Habeeb has a 2-year-old half-brother by Camelot (GB) and a yearling full-sister, foaled in Bahrain.
STAR OF INDIA (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Shermeen (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owners: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Westerberg
Breeder: Barronstown Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: A half-brother to G1 Phoenix S. winner Sudirman (Ire) (Henrythenavigator), his dam won three times over five furlongs and was never tried beyond a mile. She has a yearling colt by No Nay Never and was covered last year by Sottsass (Fr).
CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Lady Lara (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB})
Owners: Westerberg, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith
Breeder: Ben Sangster
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: The April-foaled bay's dam won a Grade II over a mile at Gulfstream Park in Florida and a Newbury listed race over seven furlongs. In the extended family is G1 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand (GB) (Giant's Causeway). Lady Lara also has a 2-year-old colt by Galileo named Galileo's Compass (Ire) and filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).
GRAND ALLIANCE (IRE), Churchill (Ire)–Endless Love (Ire) (Dubai Destination)
Owner/Breeder: Susan Roy
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
Pedigree Notes: A half-brother to the multiple seven-furlong group winner Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), he is out of an unraced daughter of listed winner Vita E Bella (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}). She has a 2-year-old colt by Ulysses (Ire) named Yesisaidyes (Ire) and a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire). She was covered last year by Earthlight (Ire).
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Piassek’s Plays: Saturday Selections Under the Twin Spires
In his regular gambling blog, John Piassek presents his top picks for the upcoming weekend in horse racing, offering betting options at different budget levels. Piassek’s Plays is brought to you by Horseplayers.com, the official online qualifying site of the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).
Poker Tell Tale Signs
How do you figure out the hand of your opponent? Look closely and you will notice twitches that reveal the strength of his hand. These twitches are called poker tells. And players are having a field day talking about poker tells in their blogs.
Poker tells exist both in the live games and in the online games. If you want to beef up your poker strategy, you will surely be interested in learning the common poker tells.
In a physical card room or in a casino, you will notice a poor player putting a hand over his mouth. Why? Because he is trying to conceal a smile (not a yawn). You can be sure that just as the sun rises in east, he is holding a strong hand. Another physical twitch is when the player reaches for a drink: his mouth is dry because he is nervous. A nervous player is relatively easy to lead.
If an opponent is trying to stare you down, he is trying to intimidate you. What is the reason behind this? Most likely, he is bluffing. If you have a strong hand, call. If you have a great hand and want more action, raise.
Observe the eyes of your opponent when the flop comes. If he takes a quick look at his chips, he probably has a strong hand. He is thinking of how much he will bet and win.
When you play online, will knowing poker tells be useful? Of course. Poker tells will differ slightly from player to player, but your online opponents are still humans. What you need to observe closely is the time or duration that an opponent spends during his turn or chance to bet.
In a limit game, when two flush or straight cards are out, and one of the players makes a quick call, this usually means a draw. On the flop, however, when one player makes an instantaneous raise, you can assume that he has a top pair.
When one of your opponents that you consider a poor player is taking time to think, he is actually debating whether to call or fold. This means that his hand is weak. Now if he took time (but not too long) to think and then raise, you can be sure that he is not bluffing. Poor players generally don’t bluff. He was just both nervous and excited and needs to calm himself enough to use the mouse.
If one of your online opponents raises frequently at the pre-flop and then folds at the flop when another player bets at him, this particular opponent is a tilting player. Tilting players are also relatively easy to read.
Win big with your newfound knowledge.
