Month: June 2022

Oscar Performance Represented By First Japanese Starter

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running Saturday at Tokyo and Sunday at Hanshin. The latter venue plays host to Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen, the final top-level event in Japan for three months and offering the winner a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November. The field appears at the end of TDN Europe and a full preview can be found in Saturday's TDN Euro:

Saturday, June 25, 2022
5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
MEINER VISION (JPN) (c, 2, Oscar Performance–Songoficeandfire, by Dynaformer) becomes the first Japanese starter for his first-crop sire (by Kitten's Joy), who has already been represented by the impressive debut scorer Andthewinneris at Keeneland at the end of April. The bay is the third to the races for his dam, twice placed in turf marathon events at Grade III level and acquired for $200K with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale. Songoficeandfire is a daughter of G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Catchascatchcan (GB) (Pursuit of Love {GB}), the dam of Irish Group 2 winner Antonius Pius (Danzig), whose Group 1 placings included the St James's Palace, the Prix du Moulin and the Breeders' Cup Mile. B-Big Red Farm

 

 

Sunday, June 26, 2022
5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
KAUPILI (c, 2, Frosted–Heavenly Romance {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) is the latest produce for his Tenno Sho-winning dam, whose other notable offspring include MGSW/MG1SP and $4-million earner Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}), five-time stakes winner Amour Briller (Smart Strike) and the enigmatic G2 UAE Derby winner and GI Belmont S. third Lani (Tapit) from the same sire line. It should be noted that the three siblings were a combined four for 30 on the grass, but improved dramatically with a switch to the dirt track. B-North Hills Co Limited (KY)

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Apprentice Andy Hernandez Making Fast Impression At Monmouth Park

Apprentice Jockey Andy Hernandez knew close to nothing about horse racing back in 2019 when he moved to Miami from Cuba. Having never been around horse racing before, and with virtually no horse racing available in his native country, Hernandez's first experience at the track came on an outing with a friend in South Florida.

That friend introduced Hernandez to Gulfstream Park-based trainer David Brownlee, who soon gave him his first job in racing. Hernandez started as a hot walker, learning the business from the bottom, and Brownlee took the time to teach him every aspect of the sport he could. Hernandez eventually was given the chance to gallop horses, with his strong work ethic paying off when Brownlee gave him a leg up for his first career ride Gulfstream Park on April 6, 2021 aboard a horse named Majestic Luna.

Hernandez, now 22, has come a long way in a short time since then, with Monmouth Park one of four racetracks he currently rides at. He has made a quick impression at the Jersey Shore, with a 4-3-4 line from 20 mounts at Monmouth Park heading into this weekend.

After moving from Gulfstream Park last year, he went to Delaware Park to ride, while also hustling for mounts at Parx and Penn National.

It was at Parx last October that Hernandez met agent Jimmy Boulmetis, and the two hit it off immediately, forming a partnership that is ongoing.

“I saw he was a great rider, he was just riding bad horses,” said Boulmetis, the son of the late Hall of Fame jockey Sam Boulmetis, who won four riding titles at Monmouth Park. “Having never been around horse racing before, it's amazing how fast and how well he has picked it up.”

The partnership has proven to be a huge success, with 61 of Hernandez' 84 career wins coming this year.

Hernandez, who counts his work ethic as one of his strengths, made the decision with Boulmetis to try Monmouth Park this summer because of the opportunities to add to his riding workload.

“It was a good fit, it gave me a chance to work seven days a week — three days racing at Parx and three racing at Monmouth Park,” Hernandez said. “Everything is great here so far. I've been working hard every day.”

Hernandez said he will ride at Monmouth Park for the duration of the summer, as well as Parx and Penn National, adding Laurel Park to his workload when the opportunities arise.

The post Apprentice Andy Hernandez Making Fast Impression At Monmouth Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Galway Excited by Next Crop of Alpha Racing Runners After Cadillac Sale

Just over a week after selling the syndicate's flag-bearer Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega) for a cool £500,000 at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot, Alpha Racing are concentrated on sending out the stars of the future at the Curragh on Derby weekend, headed by G2 Airlie Stud S. contender It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

A winner of a Dundalk maiden on debut back in April, the Jessica Harrington-trained It's Showtime Baby achieved black type when running third in a Group 3 at Naas last month. 

Connections opted to sidestep the royal meeting in preference for the Curragh this weekend and Richie Galway, who set up the commercially-driven Alpha Racing Syndicate with Harrington, is optimistic about the next batch of 2-year-old coming through.

He said, “We have It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to look forward to in the G2 Airlie Stud S. at the Curragh on Sunday. We decided against going to Royal Ascot with her because we thought this race would suit. She has won her maiden and has black type. She looks progressive. 

“We have two nice colts running at the Curragh as well. We bought them at the breeze-ups. National Emblem (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) looks to be a lovely horse and he runs on Friday. The First And Last (Ire) (No Nay Never) runs on Sunday so it's a very exciting weekend for the group.”

Galway added, “We try to make Flat racing accessible and give people an opportunity to spread their risk. The syndicate is somewhat commercial. We have fun but we also trade and have been very conscious about that in the four years we've been up and running.

“Everything we run is for sale at a price. When we go to the yearlings sales, we have a limit and we try to limit the syndicate to 20 people at around €50,000 apiece. We all take a share ourselves; myself, Jessica [Harrington] and Patrick [Cooper] so we are all invested in it.”

Cadillac was the last of the yearlings bought in 2019 on behalf of the syndicate. His sale ensured that the owners recorded an overall profit and, according to Galway, the current crop of 3-year-olds in training with Harrington are on course to ensure it will be another lucrative investment for the 20 or so people who make up the syndicate.

He said, “Cadillac's sale was the highlight. He has been a flagship horse for the syndicate and has brought us all over the world. He ran brilliantly at the Breeders' Cup, got us to Bahrain and won at Leopardstown a few times as well. We were sorry to see him go but the objective of the syndicate is to trade.”

Galway added, “In this year's 3-year-olds, we have Nectaris (GB), who ran well in a Listed race at Longchamp, and she's a lovely filly by Sea The Moon (Ger).

“We also have Viareggio (Ire) (Caravaggio) and she has been third now in two Listed races and Cowboy Justice (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who is another solid horse. We also had an unraced Zoffany (Ire) colt in that year. I'd be disappointed if that syndicate doesn't make a profit on their initial investment as well.”

Excitement levels are on the rise among the syndicate members as Harrington lifts the wraps on the next batch of runners this weekend and Galway is cautiously optimistic about the future, outlining an ability to sell horses all over the world after they show a level of ability in Ireland.

He said, “It's an exciting weekend. But it's been an exciting couple of weeks with the sale of Cadillac and the two runners–Nectaris and Viareggio-at Longchamp. 

“The benefit of having a small stake in all of these horses is that you get consistent and regular action. There are people involved from all over the world–Asia, America, Britain and Ireland.”

He added, “Last year for example, we bought a horse called Pioneering Spirit (American Pharoah) at the breeze-ups. We paid 100,000gns for him and ran him four weeks later in a Curragh maiden.

“He finished fourth and we got him sold straight after that. The syndicate owned the horse for six weeks and got a nice return on the purchase price in that short space of time. Irish racing is held in high regard all over the world. If you can win or be placed in a maiden here you have a pretty good commodity on your hands.”

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