Month: May 2023

Dark Angel’s The Antarctic Blows Hot At Naas

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park.

The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In command throughout, he surged clear approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to hold the fast-finishing Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) by a head.

“He made good progress from Navan, he just needed that last run and I'm delighted with him,” commented Aidan O'Brien. “Navan was tough, soft ground and there wouldn't have been much of an edge put on him, but this win will leave a lovely edge on him. Ryan [Moore] was delighted with him and said he got a little bit lonely and idle in the last half-furlong. He'd progressed plenty without us really having to chase him and we couldn't be happier with him. We thought this race would bring him the rest of the way and if everything stays well we should be able to let him coast into [Royal] Ascot now. He would have the option of going to the [G3] Jersey over seven [furlongs] if Little Big Bear went to the [G1] Commonwealth Cup, but it will depend on where Little Big Bear goes. This horse is going to come forward again as he's still a little bit tubby, but he's coming. It always looked like he'd get seven and Ryan said today he was surprised that he quickened as much as he did.”

Pedigree Notes

The Antarctic, the fifth of seven foals, is one of two scorers out of Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), herself kin to four black-type performers headed by G2 Champagne S. victor and G1 July Cup third Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk). His dam's first foal is multiple Group 1-winning speedster Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and she has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Go Big Or Go Home (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Blue Point (Ire) to come. Descendants of the The Antarctic's second dam Portelet (GB) (Night Shift) also include multiple Group-winning dual Group 1-placed sire Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

Sunday, Naas, Ireland
GOFFS LACKEN S.-G3, €55,000, Naas, 5-21, 3yo, 5f 205yT, 1:09.41, gd.
1–THE ANTARCTIC (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg & Brant; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Fr, G1SP-Eng, 10-4-2-3, $256,566. *Full to Battaash (Ire), MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Fr, $2,286,611. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ocean Quest (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sioux Nation–Gold Zain (GB), by Aqlaam (GB). O-J Kirkland & Mrs J M Ryan; B-Dr T K Chah (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,000.
3–Ocean Jewel (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sioux Nation–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€230,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Willie McCreery. €5,500.
Margins: HD, HF, HF. Odds: 1.63, 2.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Thunderbear (Ire), Shartash (Ire), Torivega (Ire), Mauiewowie (GB), Maria Branwell (Ire), Apache Outlaw (Ire), Badb (Ire), Clever And Cool (Ire), Apricot Twist (Ire), Nightcliff (Ire), Running Cool (GB), Song For Whoever (Ire).

 

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Pennsylvania Leaderboard: Weigelia Opens Up Early Lead In Stallion Awards Race

After a long rein by the late Jump Start at the top of the Pennsylvania sire ranks, it appears there is a new sheriff in town.

After leading all Pennsylvania sires by stallion awards earned for the first time in 2022, Wyn Oaks Farm's Weigelia is once again setting the pace through the first quarter of 2023, leading longtime rival Jump Start by a margin of $61,206 to $44,250.

The owner of a Pennsylvania-based stallion at the time of a foal's conception is eligible for stallion awards generated by that foal. Stallion owners receive 10 percent of the purse earned when a registered Pennsylvania-bred and- sired runner finishes in the top three in any pari-mutuel race within the state.

Weigelia's rapid ascent in 2023 makes plenty of sense when one accounts for the fact that the top five individual earners of stallion awards on the racetrack were each by the leading sire.

Chief among them is Disco Ebo, who earned $9,996 in stallion awards for Weigelia's owner through the end of March.

The 4-year-old filly went three-for-three in that time frame, taking a pair of allowance races at Parx Racing in January and February, then leading at every point of call and drawing off by 6 3/4 lengths to win the Penn's Landing Stakes at the same track on March 7.

Date Night Kisses was Weigelia's second-leading earner of stallion awards, bringing in $7,728.

Also a 4-year-old filly, Date Night Kisses went unbeaten in two starts through the end of March, leading all the way around to win a Parx starter allowance on Jan. 18 by 7 3/4 lengths, then going to the front once again in a Feb. 13 Parx optional claiming race, where she hung on to win by three-quarters of a length.

Rounding out the quintet of top earners on behalf of Weigelia were Captain Chazz ($4,872); Ninetypercentbrynn ($4,872); and Beren ($4,788).

Weigelia, a 22-year-old son of Safely's Mark, stands at WynOaks Farm in Delta, Pa., for a private fee.

He won 13 of 48 starts during his on-track career and earned $1,007,708, highlighted by victories in the Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes and Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap, with four additional graded stakes placings.

Leading Pennsylvania Stallion Award Earners, Through March 2023

The post Pennsylvania Leaderboard: Weigelia Opens Up Early Lead In Stallion Awards Race appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Duramente’s Liberty Island Romps In Japanese Oaks

The G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) was not without its challenges for last month's G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) as she was trying a distance beyond a mile for the first time, but ultimately the 2400 metres held no fears, as she strolled home a sixth-length winner in 2:23.10 in Tokyo.

Sunday Racing's imperious dame became the 17th filly–following her paternal half-sister Stars On Earth (Jpn) in 2022–to win the first two legs of the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. It was the largest winning margin in the Oaks since 1975.

Bet down to 2-5 favouritism, the Mitsumasa Nakauchida trainee strode out to a dramaless beginning to sit in midfield as Light Quantum (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) clicked off fractions of :22.80 and :47.70 and 1:00 flat while stalked by Kiminonawa Maria (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). The strong pace saw the field well spaced out, and, the 2-year-old star had a fair amount of distance to make up as noses pointed toward home. Predictably, the pacesetter came under pressure from the stalkers with 600 metres left to run, and pilot Yuga Kawada was poised aboard an enthusiastic Liberty Island as the leading trio began to come back to the field.

Swung out into the six path to obtain a clear run, Liberty Island loomed up into contention at the quarter pole as Ravel took up the running on the front end, and finally Kawada asked his filly for her bid after remaining motionless for the previous 2000 metres. Generous when asked, Liberty Island collared Ravel at the furlong grounds and dashed away to a stylish victory. Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Dura (Jpn) both closed well to take second and third, by six lengths, and a neck, respectively. Group winner Ravel hung on gamely in fourth, another three-quarters of a length back.

“Having run the Oka Sho and being transported here to Tokyo for another big race, the filly was quite tense coming into this race, so I had to make an effort to reserve her energy and calm her down before the race,” said jockey Yuga Kawada, who was winning his 23rd top-level race. “She settled well once in the gate, allowing us to make a safe start, and we were able to race in good rhythm while I still had the task of keeping her under control up to the critical stages. I knew we were already in a position to finish clear of the other horses once taking the lead, but I wanted her to finish off the race strongly to the wire so I kept driving her to the wire which led to a big margin.”

A winner of a Niigata newcomer affair over a mile last July, Liberty Island suffered her only defeat at the hooves of Sunday's fourth-place finisher Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G3 Artemis S. going that trip in Tokyo in October. Kept in training through December, she swept the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies by 2 1/2 lengths, and was named the 2022 Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Filly. The Northern Racing-bred bay made her 3-year-old bow a winning one in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in early April, and the Yushun Himba was her first start beyond a mile.

Pedigree Notes

With every season that passes, the loss of dual Classic-winning sire Duramente to the Japanese industry and wider bloodstock world becomes more apparent. Liberty Island is one of five Group 1 winners for the 2015 Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. His stakes winners number 14, 10 of them at group level. Besides Liberty Island, Stars On Earth and Titleholder (Jpn) have also claimed Classic laurels in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The second foal out of Australian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Yankee Rose (Aus) (All American {Aus}), Liberty Island's year-older half brother Romneya (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is a winner, and her dam produced a colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) in 2021 and a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) last year. A winner of the G1 Inglis Sires and G1 Spring Champion S., she was covered by Japanese Triple Crown Winner Contrail (Jpn) last spring.

A half-sister to Group 3 winner Miravalle (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), Yankee Rose traces her damline to 1981 G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner and G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Condessa (Ire), by the Luthier (Fr) horse Condorcet (Fr).

 

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
YUSHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS)-G1, ¥325,180,000, Tokyo, 5-21, 3yo, f, 2400mT, 2:23.10, fm.
1–LIBERTY ISLAND (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Yankee Rose (Aus), by All American (Aus)
                2nd Dam: Condesaar (Aus), by Xaar (GB)
                3rd Dam: Condescendance, by El Gran Senor
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Mitsumasa
Nakauchida; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥177,426,000. Lifetime Record:
Ch. 2yo Filly-Jpn, 5-4-1-0, ¥429,472,000. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Harper (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Seresta (Arg), by
Jump Start. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥86,000,000 Wlg '20
JRHAJUL). O-M's Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥67,830,000.
3–Dura (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Duramente (Jpn)–Isis (Jpn), by King Halo
(Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Cypress Holdings;
B-Grande Farm (Jpn); ¥41,918,000.
Margins: 6, NK, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 7.80, 102.40.
Also Ran: Ravel (Jpn), Shinryokuka (Jpn), Hip Hop Soul (Jpn), Kona Coast (Jpn), So Dazzling (Jpn), Doe Eyes (Jpn), Remige (Jpn), Golden Hind (Jpn), Perifania (Jpn), Emu (Jpn), Mikki Gorgeous (Jpn), Kita Wing (Jpn), England Eyes (GB), Light Quantum (Jpn), Kiminonawa Maria (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video.

 

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Mehmas Colt A New TDN Rising Star At Ripon

Ripon's Sunday card threw up a surprise as the George Boughey-trained Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Looks Great {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) stormed to TDN Rising Star status in the six-furlong novice. Held up initially by William Buick, the 4-1 shot cruised to the front two out and strode further clear with distance to record a staggering 12-length debut success. Fellow newcomer Fifty Grand Slater (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was the one closest to Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's 160,000gns Tatts Craven Breeze-Up graduate, with Jesmond Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) a further four lengths behind. Providing context to the form, the fourth-placed 11-10 favourite Valadero (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who had been second in Doncaster's Brocklesby in March, was beaten a total of 16 1/2 lengths.

 

Connections are heading to the G2 Coventry S. next month with the outlandish winner, who recorded a time nearly a second faster than the dual listed scorer Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) did on ground officially faster in this 12 months ago.

Pedigree Notes

The dam, who also has a yearling filly by Belardo (Ire), was unraced for Godolphin before being sold for 10,000gns at the 2016 Tatts July Sale. She is out of the similarly-unraced Danehill Dreamer (Danehill), a half to the G1 Eclipse S. hero Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer), the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and to the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Twyla Tharp (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). She in turn produced the excellent The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}), heroine of the G1 Prince of Wales's S., G1 Yorkshire Oaks, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Irish Champion S.

2nd-Ripon, £10,000, Novice, 5-21, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.87, gd.
ASADNA (IRE), c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
     1st Dam: Looks Great (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Danehill Dreamer, by Danehill
     3rd Dam: Sumoto (GB), by Mtoto (GB)
(€62,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; 160,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,515. O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Aughamore Stud (IRE); T-George Boughey. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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