Month: September 2022

Lope De Vega’s Sweet Lady Makes All For Vermeille Glory

Rebounding off a fourth in a quality renewal of July's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Gemini Stud's G2 Prix Corrida victrix Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–High Heel Sneakers {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) showed a clean set of heels to her 10 rivals and made all to register a first elite-level triumph in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp. Swiftly into stride and passing every marker in front, she was scrubbed along as the pack threatened off the home turn and called upon abundant reserves under an all-out drive inside the final quarter mile to hold on bravely for a career high.

“The plan this year has always been to target the autumn races with this filly as she loves soft ground,” revealed trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “The spring had been positive, with her victory in the Corrida, and she had an ideal preparation for this. Everything has gone very smoothly at home in the mornings and she was ready for this. When I saw her travelling nicely, with her ears pricked, I thought she could do well. She wasn't stopping in the straight and didn't stop lenghthening. She is now a Group 1 winner and I am sure that her owners will be pleased to let her take her chance in the Arc. The softer the better on the day, so who knows what might happen on the day.”

Sweet Lady, who becomes the 16th Group 1 winner for her sire (by Shamardal), is the latest of seven reported foals out of Listed River Eden S. victrix and G2 May Hill S. runner-up High Heel Sneakers (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who also produced Listed Oaks Trial winner Toujours L'Amour (GB) (Authorized {Ire}). Sweet Lady's third dam Charmie Carmie (Lyphard) is the dam of MG1SW Peruvian champion Faaz (Fappiano) and her descendants also include G1 SA Fillies' Classic heroine Zaitoon (SAf) (Count Dubois {GB}). Charmie Carmie is kin to MGISW American Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Chris Evert (Swoon's Son), whose descendants are headed by Belmont S.-winning sire Chief's Crown (Danzig), GI Frizette S. and GI Gazelle S. heroine Classic Crown (Mr. Prospector) and MGISW dual GI Beldame S. victrix Sightseek (Distant View). Charmie Carmie is also kin to stakes-winning GI Delaware Oaks third All Rainbows (Bold Hour), herself the dam of GI Kentucky Derby heroine and MGISW US champion Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:35.50, sf.
1–SWEET LADY (FR), 130, f, 4, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: High Heel Sneakers (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng, SW-US, GSP-Fr, SP-Ity, $212,137), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Sundae Girl, by Green Dancer
3rd Dam: Charmie Carmie, by Lyphard
(€100,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Gemini Stud; B-Stratford Place Stud (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Gregory Benoist. €342,840. Lifetime Record: 14-6-2-0, €593,880. *1/2 to Toujours L'Amour (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lilac Road (Ire), 130, f, 4, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Lavender Lane (Ire), by Shamardal. O/B-Jon & Julia Aisbitt (IRE); T-William Haggas. €137,160.
3–La Parisienne (Fr), 122, f, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Skysweeper (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire). (€65,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Peter R Bradley III, Ecurie JML Racing, Marc Leonetti, Meridian International SARL & Remy Dupuy-Naulot; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran, Ecurie Patrick Klein & SCEA Haras du Ma (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €68,580.
Margins: HD, SNK, 1 1/4. Odds: 12.50, 18.00, 4.60.
Also Ran: Tuesday (Ire), Baiykara (Fr), Fall In Love (Ire), Grand Glory (GB), Agave (GB), History (Ire), Love Child (Ire), Albaflora (GB). Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

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Breeders’ Cup Next For Flying Five Winner Highfield Princess

Not content with conquering Group 1s in France, Britain and now Ireland, John Quinn nominated the Breeders' Cup as the most likely destination for Highfield Princess after his superstar sprinter scorched to Flying Five S. glory under Jason Hart at the Curragh on Sunday.

Quinn, a native of Tipperary who trains in England, described Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) as the best he's trained in the build-up to Irish Champions Weekend and boy was he vindicated by such a statement.

The phenomenal improver travelled into the race with rare ease before powering clear of a Erosandpsyche (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) to provide Quinn with a breakthrough Group 1 on home soil. 

“She's an unbelievable filly,” he said, almost gobsmacked afterwards. “John (Fairley, owner) bought her dam in foal. We didn't run her at two. We thought she'd win a race or two. All she's done is improve. She's phenomenal, really.”

Quinn added, “She's by a very good sire. Her dam is well-bred and she's a good back pedigree. I think not racing her at two probably helped her and the rest is down to the wonderful staff and the filly.

“Her next run will be in the Breeders' Cup. Two turns around Keeneland could really suit her so hopefully we can get her there.”

Highfield Princess became the third British-trained winner of the race since 2018 and completed a sensational trio of Group 1 triumphs following her success in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and Nunthorpe S.

The 5-year-old's rise through the ranks in the colours of Fairely, landlord to the winning trainer, is one of the stories of the season, given it was less than two years ago when she recorded her first victory off a mark of 58 in a handicap worth just £5,593 at Ayr.

Quinn's ace sprinter could lock horns with Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and her regular rider is excited by the challenge.

Hart said, “It would be nice to go and take on Golden Pal and see how we get on over there. She's well on track to do it. She's just spectacular, really.”

The ninth foal out of Pure Illusion (Ire) (Danehill), Highfield Princess is a half-sister to the seven-time winner Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}) as well as three other winners.

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‘Rising Star’ Above The Curve Game To The Line In Blandford S.

Group 1 winner Above The Curve (American Pharoah–Fabulous {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) made it back-to-back scores with a gritty effort in the G2 Moyglare 'Jewels' Blandford S. at the Curragh on Sunday. The Joseph O'Brien-trained 'TDN Rising Star' had won the G1 St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp on May 29 in her previous start.

Caught out wide without cover in midpack early as 70-1 longshot Emphatic Answer (Ire) (No Nay Never) led the way, Above The Curve improved under her own power to fourth with seven furlongs left to travel. Perched next to favoured La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) turning back toward the stands, the filly was poised to pounce and Ryan Moore asked her for her best with a quarter-mile remaining. She locked horns with La Petite Coco to her inside at the furlong grounds, before asserting and holding off the rapidly closing Insinuendo (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to win by a neck. Galleria Borghese (Ire) (Caravaggio) was another 1 1/4 lengths back after rallying past La Petite Coco in the final strides.

Racing for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, the 3-year-old filly was third at Leopardstown in her only start as a juvenile, and graduated going 10 furlongs there when making her 2022 bow on Apr. 6, good for a 'Rising Star' nod. Second in the Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Cheshire Oaks (Robert Sangster Memorial Cup) on May 4, the bay was a 5-1 chance on Sunday.

O'Brien said, “I thought it was a fantastic ride from Ryan. It was the filly's first run back after a lay-off. I thought she'd come on a bit for the run. She's a classy filly and a Group 1 winner and her attitude showed in the last 100 yards. When the going was getting tough, she put her head out and she fought all the way to the line, beating a very good filly.

“The plan was that this would be a nice stepping stone for the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. That should set her up lovely for that and she's a course-and-distance winner already. She's a huge, big filly, she's actually 17 hands. For a 3-year-old filly that's an incredible height. She seems to have progressed from the spring and hopefully she can progress in the future.”

Pedigree Notes

One of six Group 1 winner for her American Triple Crown-winning sire, Above The Curve is bred on the same cross as G2 Park Hill S. heroine Pista, who was second in the G1 Prix de Royallieu, and similarly to G1 Criterium International hero and sire Van Gogh, who is out of a Sadler's Wells mare. Her unraced dam, from one of the best families in the stud book as a half-sister to the 'Iron Horse' and champion sire Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat), and outstanding blue hen You'resothrilling (Storm Cat)–her foals led by dual Classic winner Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})– already produced the dual Group 3-placed Thinking Of You to the cover of American Pharoah. Fabulous has visited the court of fellow Triple Crown victor Justify (Scat Daddy) 2019-2021, and has fillies of 2020 and 2021 and a weanling colt of this year to show for it. She was sent back to that first-crop sire again this season.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
MOYGLARE 'JEWELS' BLANDFORD S.-G2, €200,000, Curragh, 9-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:12.29, yl.
1–ABOVE THE CURVE, 131, f, 3, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mariah's Storm, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Immense, by Roberto
'TDN Rising Star'. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick
Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY);
T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €120,000. Lifetime Record:
G1SW-Fr & SP-Eng, 5-3-1-1, $309,497. *Full to Thinking Of
You, MGSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Insinuendo (Ire), 134, m, 5, Gleneagles (Ire)–Obama Rule
(Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€110,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR).
O-Deegan Racing Syndicate; B-Mount Armstrong Stud. (IRE);
T-Willie McCreery. €40,000.
3–Galleria Borghese (Ire), 128, f, 3, Caravaggio–On Ice (Ire), by
Galileo (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Susan
Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Mrs Ann Marie
O'Brien (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €20,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 5.00, 5.00, 66.00.
Also Ran: La Petite Coco (Ire), Lyrical Poetry (Ire), Didn'thavemuchtodo (Ire), Rumbles Of Thunder (Ire), One For Bobby (Ire), Seisai (Ire), Emphatic Answer (Ire), Sunset Shiraz (Ire), West Coast (Ire), Only (Jpn). VIDEO.

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No Nay Never’s Trillium Pips The Platinum Queen In The Flying Childers

No Nay Never's Trillium (GB), second choice at 9-5, just touched off the 7-4 heavy favourite and G1 Nunthorpe S. runner-up The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) in the final jump of the G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster on Sunday.  The Rockcliffe Stud homebred was second at first asking at Goodwood in June, but got off the mark in a Newbury maiden on July 15. Wheeled back just 12 days later, the Apr. 6 foal took the G3 Markel Molecomb S. returned to Goodwood by 1 1/4 lengths later that month.

A touch eager, the Richard Hannon trainee raced in a pocket at the end of the bunched field, as The Platinum Queen made the running. Niggled at by Pat Dobbs to improve, she began to let down inside the final 300 yards and, once a seam opened, steamed home to just touch off the pacesetter by a short head. Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) was 4 1/4 lengths back in third.

Dobbs said, “I couldn't pull her up, she wanted to go round again. Sam Hitchcott has been riding her these past couple of weeks and he's done a great job in getting her settled. Richard just keeps her sweet at home, she trains herself. She's very quick and very tough so that is everything you want.

“She actually travelled too well and never relaxed properly so it's probably a better performance than it looks.”

Hannon, who as Guineas aspirations for his filly, said, “I'm delighted with her, she's turned into the most lovely filly and she has grown a lot. She clearly wants six furlongs now, Pat couldn't pull her up, and it will be the Cheveley Park next.

“Hopefully she can develop into a Guineas filly next year if she keeps progressing.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Trillium is yet another multiple group winner for her Coolmore sire, who is enjoying a wonderful year with his progeny, led by juvenile Group 1 winners Little Big Bear (Ire) and Blackbeard (Ire). Her dam, the G3 Dick Poole S. second Marsh Hawk (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), threw the stakes-placed Mohawk King (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) as her first foal, and Sunday's heroine is her third foal and third winner.

A half-sister to the G2 Queen Mary S. third Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), she has a yearling colt by Iffraaj (GB) named Stanley Spencer (Ire) and foaled a weanling colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) this season. Under the fourth dam is the former Royal runner and G2 Dante S. hero Carlton House (Street Cry Ire}), who was second in both the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Prince Of Wales's S. across both hemispheres.

Sunday, Doncaster, Britain
CORAL FLYING CHILDERS S.-G2, £115,000, Doncaster, 9-11, 2yo, 5f 3yT, :59.34, sf.
1–TRILLIUM (GB), 126, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Marsh Hawk (GB) (GSP-Eng),
                                by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Asaawir (GB), by Royal Applause (GB)
3rd Dam: Triple Joy (GB), by Most Welcome (GB)
O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Pat Dobbs.
£65,217. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $136,652. *1/2 to Mohawk
King (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), SP-US. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
   the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Platinum Queen (Ire), 126, f, 2, Cotai Glory (GB)–Thrilled
(Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (57,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRG).
O-Middleham Park Racing XV; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard
Fahey. £24,725.
3–Crispy Cat (GB), 129, c, 2, Ardad (Ire)–Mara Grey (Ire), by
Azamour (Ire). (7,500gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; £105,000 Ylg '21
TATIRY). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Saeed Masser Al Romaithi (GB);
T-Michael O'Callaghan. £12,374.
Margins: SHD, 4 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.00, 1.75, 7.00.
Also Ran: Prince of Pillo (Ire), Lady Hamana (Aus), Funny Money Honey (Ire), Harry Time (Ire), Malrescia (Ire). VIDEO.

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