April, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bramble Bay Named NJ-Bred Horse of the Year

Bramble Bay (Bullet Train) has been named the 2022 New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year, as well as champion turf runner and champion older female, by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey. The bay mare won last summer's Jersey Girl H. at Monmouth Park for breeder/owner Ballybrit Stable, LLC and trainer Mike Dini. Claimed for $62,500 by trainer Mike Maker and owner Michael Dubb, the then-6-year-old added the Pinot Grigio H. She won three of 10 starts in 2022 and earned $160,170. To date, the mare has won eight of 35 career starts with earnings of $474,623.

Also honored as New Jersey-bred champions of 2022 are: champion 3-year-old and sprinter Speaking (Mr Speaker); champion older male He'spuregold (Vancouver); champion 2-year-old filly Girl Trouble (Fast Anna); champion 2-year-old male Great Navigator (Sea Wizard); and champion 3-year-old filly I Can Run (Tourist).

Adorabella (Ghostzapper) was named the state's 2022 Broodmare of the Year and Hey Chub was named Stallion of the Year.

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What’s In A Name: Cicero’s Gift, Gooloogong

4th-Navan, Mdn, 3-29, 3yo, 10fT.
GOOLOOGONG (IRE) (c, 3, Australia {GB}–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (Ire); T-Aidan O'Brien.

The name of Navan winner Gooloogong has an impeccable Down Under connection, being by renowned sire (and Epsom & Irish Derby winner) Australia. In fact, “Gooloogong is a village located in New South Wales, Australia, population 295”, according to Wikipedia. The name of the hamlet also evokes (with a very slightly different spelling) that of Australian tennis phenomenon Evonne Goolagong, who was born in Griffith (a town) and grew up in Barellan (a village)–both locations are in New South Wales and not that far from, yes!, Gooloogong. Evonne Goolagong won seven Grand Slam tournaments between 1971 and 1980; she was a true champion and could have shined even more if not for interruptions caused by motherhood and injuries. The colt in question is also expected to shine and have a bright future at the Derby distance, so race commentators better start practicing the pronunciations of his lovely name, which is spelt with only one vowel recurring five times–exotically challenging.

4th-Wolverhampton, £17,600, Novice, 3-30, 3yo, 8f 142y.
CICERO'S GIFT (GB) (c, 3, Muhaarar {GB}–Terentia {GB}, by Diktat {GB}). O-Rosehill Racing; B-Mrs F S Williams (GB); T-Charles Hills.

Cicero's Gift, a 3-year-old winner, has an intriguing name–deeply rooted in ancient Roman history. Terentia is the name of the dam of our promising colt, but also of the rich, engaged and dutiful wife of the famous writer/politician/lawyer Cicero (106BC-43BC), a colossus of the turbulent last century of the Roman Republic and contemporary of history heavyweights Julius Caesar, Crassus, Pompey. Cicero was both a philosopher and a man of action (or inaction, at times, as some critics say). The marriage eventually ended in divorce; Cicero soon had a new wife but was eventually assassinated by hitmen sent by rival Mark Anthony (Cleopatra's future beau). Terentia remarried too (twice), survived and prospered. What the “gift” in the name of our colt may allude to, we will probably never know–maybe that behind every great Roman consul there is a remarkable lady, clearly contributing to the good times.

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Observations: Zoology Returns at Southwell

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features Classic aspirant Zoology (GB).

6.00 Southwell, Novice, £8,000, 3yo, 7f 14y (AWT)
ZOOLOGY (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) is back in novice company, having tried to mix it with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) and co in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in September. Earning that tilt with a dynamic debut success at Yarmouth just 11 days prior, the Qatar Racing representative will tell trainer James Ferguson if his entry in the 2000 Guineas is realistic or not here operating under a seven-pound penalty.

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Dual Group 1 Winner Kinross Handed July Cup Aim

Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is to be targeted at the July Cup at Newmarket as Ralph Beckett's dual Group 1 winner bids to provide Frankie Dettori with a breakthrough victory in the summer highlight.

The July Cup is one of the few top races in Europe that is missing from Dettori's CV, but last season's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint winner could rectify that for the legendary jockey.

Kinross has started off in Haydock's John Of Gaunt S. for the past two campaigns, however, connections have decided to delay his return until Royal Ascot this term, before moving on to Newmarket's July Course in a bid to land a signature blow during Dettori's season-long swansong.

“Kinross has wintered really well,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for the horse's owner, Marc Chan.

“He has come out of a hard end-of-season campaign in great form and we will be concentrating on a latter-half of the year campaign with him again.

“He will start off at Royal Ascot and I think both the trainer and jockey are keen to try to win the July Cup. That is the one Group One race I think that Frankie hasn't won in England. That is the major target for now and then after that, do we try to stretch him out to a mile?”

He added, “Kinross can't run in the Jacques Le Marois because geldings can't run in that race, while we know he loves Goodwood. If the ground was to his liking at Goodwood, I could easily see him running in the Sussex S. But for now he isn't going to run until Ascot.”

Kinross could bring the curtain down on his campaign in Hong Kong, where his owner is based.

McCalmont explained, “He's now a six-year-old and Marc quite rightly thinks we should only run in Group One races and not waste our bullets. I think Hong Kong is more than likely and that is kind of really why we are starting off later in the season.

“With Marc living in Hong Kong, he naturally would love to have a horse run on Longines Day and Hong Kong is very much in our plans. It would definitely be the mile race, there's no doubt about that, but it's a long way away from now.”

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