September, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Leading Freshman Sire Girvin Relocating To Airdrie Stud

Girvin, one of the leading freshman and juvenile sires in America, will take up residence at Airdrie Stud for the 2023 breeding season after beginning his career at the O'Farrell family's Ocala Stud.

Already the sire of 12 winners from his first 23 starters, Girvin is the sire of the dominant and undefeated Grade 2 Saratoga Special winner Damon's Mound and the 5 1/4 length Astoria Stakes victress Devious Dame among his three stakes horses.

His two juvenile stakes winners trail only leading freshman sire Justify amongst all sires of 2-year-olds, and the duo join Good Magic and Bolt d'Oro as the only first-year stallions to be represented by graded stakes winners this season.

His success on the track follows his strong juvenile sales season, when 40 of his 43 offerings sold for an average of nearly $92,000. These results are particularly impressive when considering the $7,500 introductory stud fee on which his first crop was bred.

Bred in Kentucky by Bob Austin and John Witte, Girvin raced in the silks of Brad Grady for trainer Joe Sharp throughout a career highlighted by wins in the G1 Haskell Invitational, the G2 Louisiana Derby and G2 Risen Star Stakes. He was retired to Ocala Stud following his 4-year-old season and stood as a partnership between Brad and Misty Grady's Grand Oaks Farm and Airdrie Stud in a deal brokered by West Bloodstock.

Airdrie's Bret Jones said the opportunity to partner with the Grady and O'Farrell families was a major draw for the farm's investment in Girvin:

“We had great belief in Girvin's potential as a stallion, but just as importantly, we knew that every partner was going to be pulling in the same direction to give the him the greatest possible chance. Ocala Stud have done a fantastic job both supporting and promoting the horse and the commitment that Brad has made has been extraordinary. He deserves every bit of good luck that comes his way. As for Girvin, he's been tipping his hand since his first foals hit the ground. He throws beautiful babies, had a monster juvenile sales season and I think his 2-year-olds have been as impressive on the track as any first-season stallion in America. He's giving every indication that he can be a big time Kentucky stallion and we couldn't be more excited about him.”

“When Bobby Dodd and I first bought Girvin he was a beautiful, strong colt, that looked fast,” said owner Brad Grady. “As a yearling, Mr. Beau Lane told Bobby and I that we had a serious horse and explained his depth of pedigree in a way that two rednecks could understand. Bobby was always high on Girvin and gave him the accolades of a freak. He had a minor setback as a 2-year-old that kept us from pinhooking him. We had the chance to race him, and he took us on the ride of a lifetime that we will never forget. It was a very easy decision to support him for both Misty and I, and when we got a glimpse of his first foals, we knew we did the right thing for him and us. He has more than blessed our family. We are grateful to Airdrie Stud and Ocala Stud for supporting Girvin, and giving him the best possible chance for success.”

Girvin has arrived at Airdrie and is available for viewing.

The post Leading Freshman Sire Girvin Relocating To Airdrie Stud appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Veteran Stallion Include Dies At Age 25

Include, a venerable part of the Airdrie Stud stallion roster for nearly two decades, was euthanized July 18 due to complications from a long-running heart condition, Thoroughbred Daily News reports.

The 25-year-old son of Broad Brush had been residing at Airdrie as a pensioner since last fall after his heart condition was discovered. He'd stood at the Midway, Ky., farm since entering stud in 2003, with frequent shuttle trips to Argentina for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. He was that country's leading sire in 2015.

Born in Maryland, Include racked up victories in the Grade 1 Pimlico Special Handicap and G2 Massachusetts Handicap and New Orleans Handicap. He was named Marlyand's Horse of the Year in 2001, and he retired with 10 wins in 20 starts for earnings of $1,659,560.

From 17 crops of racing age, Include has sired 800 winners with combined progeny earnings of more than $63.3 million.

Include's top domestic runners include Grade 1 winners Panty Raid, Include Betty, and Include Me Out, Grade 2 winners St. John's River, Sconsin and Redeemed, and Grade 3 winner and millionaire She's All In.

Outside of the U.S., Include was responsible for 2018 Puerto Rican Horse of the Year Mishegas, Canadian champion Riker, Panamanian champion Ferox and Argentine champions Sobradora Inc, Sociologa Inc, and Samba Inc.

Fabulous Forego: A Superstar Who Commanded the Respect of All

A bank of menacing grey clouds rolled low over the barns at Belmont Park the morning of Oct. 2, 1976. A steady rain began to pelt the Long Island, N.Y., track. It was bad news for trainer Frank Whiteley. In 47 previous starts, his champion Forego had run only once on an off-track, finishing third.

Ryan Moore: “I Think We’ll See A Better Version Of Luxembourg On Saturday”

Ryan Moore has admitted that G1 French Derby and G1 Coral-Eclipse winner Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) sets the standard in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Saturday but warned that Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) should not be underestimated in the feature race of Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg got his season off to a promising start when third in the G1 2000 Guineas, but suffered a setback in the build-up to the Derby. He won in workmanlike fashion on his return from a 105-day absence in a Curragh Group 3 last month, but Moore is predicting a world of improvement from that effort on Saturday at Leopardstown.

Speaking on a Zoom call organised by Horse Racing Ireland on Tuesday morning, Moore said, “It obviously hasn't been a straightforward year for him. He had a lovely 2-year-old career and ran a big race in the 2000 Guineas. Unfortunately, he wasn't right after that race.”

Moore has won the G1 Irish Champion S. three times–St Mark's Basilica (Fr) last year, Magical (Ire) in 2019 and The Grey Gatsby (Ire) in 2014–while Aidan O'Brien is the most successful trainer in the history of the race with 10 wins. The number one rider at Ballydoyle believes Luxembourg has what it takes to bolster that record on Saturday.

He said, “Luxembourg needed his run at the Curragh last month and he got the job done. We are hopeful that he'll come forward from that and a-mile-and-a-quarter around Leopardstown with a bit of rain around, I don't think that will be a problem.

“He obviously needs to improve on what he has done this year but I think we'll see a better version of Luxembourg on Saturday.

“It was his first run for a while and he still felt a bit raw [at the Curragh]. He picked up very well, he was a bit idle in front but, when the second horse came to me, he found plenty. It was a good starting point.”

Vadeni heads the market for Saturday's showpiece at odds of 6-4. Trained by Jean Claude-Rouget, who snared the Irish Champion S. with Almanzor (Fr) in 2016, Vadeni has gone from strength to strength this season, building on his French Derby win with a victory against the older horses in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown back in July. Moore admits that form is just about the best on show and respects the French raider.

He said, “He's obviously improved a lot since he stepped into the French Derby and then beat the older horses in the Eclipse. He's probably entitled to be favourite but maybe Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) was a bit unfortunate at Sandown. But Vadeni is still open to improvement and obviously Jean-Claude Rouget targets this race.”

Moore and O'Brien also have leading claims of landing the G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. at Leopardstown on Saturday with Tenebrism (Caravaggio). A Group 1 winner at two and three, Tenebrism is set to take on G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and multiple Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}).

The rider said, “Tenebrism is still a 3-year-old filly, still getting better so I'm sure she'll run a good race. A mile around a bend might suit her better, that's what we'd be hoping. She was still a little bit green when she went to Ascot but the last day (when second to Saffron Beach at Deauville) didn't quite go as smoothly as I would have liked.”

Sunday revolves around G1 Gold Cup winner Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish St Leger while Moore can also look forward to Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and the unbeaten Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S.

He said, “Aesop's Fables is one I've always liked. He started off early at Navan, he won comfortably but unfortunately he had a minor setback and we couldn't get a run into him before the Futurity.

“I think the whole weekend is great racing, it's in a really nice place in the calendar. I'm lucky to be a part of it, hopefully it will get stronger.”

Moore added, “I'm very lucky to ride for Aidan. Aidan says it himself, it's the whole team at Coolmore and Ballydoyle that make the whole thing possible. It's the hard work of everyone involved in the operation that makes the success possible.

“They have great owners who put a lot of time, money and effort into it and it's a privilege to ride for them for quite a few years now. I'm very thankful for the opportunity they've given me.”

A cloud hangs over the Irish racing community following the death of Jack de Bromhead, the 13-year-old son of Henry and Heather de Bromhead, who was killed in a freak fall at Glenbeigh horse and pony races on Saturday.

Moore acknowledged that the de Bromhead family will be in everyone's thoughts on Irish Champions Weekend and offered his condolences to all concerned.

He said, “It's the most terrible news. I am struggling to get my head around it to be honest. There are no good words to describe what Henry, Heather and Jack's siblings must be going through. I can only just send them my best. It doesn't get any worse than what they must be going through.”

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