Month: May 2023

Racing Foundation Chief Executive Rob Hezel To Step Down

Racing Foundation Chief Executive Rob Hezel will step down from his role with the organisation to pursue a portfolio career, he announced to the RF Board on Wednesday.

Hezel, who has held his position for eight years, will remain in place until a successor is found. He was recently appointed to a non-executive role on the Industry People Board. During Hezel's tenure, over £35 million in funding has been granted by the RF to areas of racing in people training and development, equine welfare, community engagement, and environmental sustainability.

Julia Budd, Chair of the Racing Foundation, said, “Rob's departure will be a true loss to the Racing Foundation and the Board would like to pay tribute to his contribution.

“Rob has led the Foundation to have a substantial impact on the industry during almost eight years as chief executive and I would personally like to thank him for his commitment to both the industry and the Foundation. He has truly embodied the Foundation's purpose and has been a catalyst for change.

“Rob's decision to announce his plans allows for an orderly process to recruit a new Chief Executive who can evolve the organisation's strategy for the future ”

Hezel added, “Having worked to develop the Foundation and its influence across the sport, I believe it is now the right time for me personally to pursue a change of career and the right time for the Foundation to benefit from a fresh approach to its leadership.

“However, I must put on record my thanks to the fantastic Chairs with whom I have worked: Sir Ian Good, Ian Barlow and Julia Budd for their support, advice and guidance.

“I would also like to thank the Foundation's amazing Trustees who have overseen and guided our work and of course the brilliant Tansy, Rhi and Antonia without whom none of what we have achieved would have been remotely possible.”

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Frankel’s Soul Sister Out On Her Own In The Musidora

Allowed to start at 18-1 for York's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. on Wednesday, Lady Bamford's Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Dream Peace {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) threw her hat into the ring for the Oaks with a dominant display under Frankie Dettori. Ignored due to her tame effort when last in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. on testing ground at Newbury last month, the homebred travelled best of all with two behind early on ground without give for the first time. As TDN Rising Stars Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Gather Ye Rosebuds (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) over-raced in front, the full-sister to the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Dreamflight (GB) took her time and built a head of steam on the outer to take command two furlong out. Soon clear, the John and Thady Gosden trainee was four lengths ahead of the G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Novakai (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at the line, as the 15-8 favourite Infinite Cosmos wound up half a length behind in third.

“We ran in the Fred Darling, but the ground was bottomless and it ended up being a nice piece of work,” Gosden Sr said of the winner, whose only 2-year-old start saw her battle to success in a mile maiden at Doncaster in October. “I didn't expect her to win by four lengths, but I did think she'd definitely be in the three. Frankie thinks she should run in the Oaks, so we will. I'd explained to Lady Bamford we needed to find out what we had and I knew the trip and ground would improve her. At the moment, I think we'll have Running Lion in the Oaks as well, so we've got two lovely fillies.”

Soul Sister may have benefitted to a degree from the fact that several of the leading fancies did too much early, but her commanding margin at the line told its own tale. “The ground and the distance at Newbury were wrong and John's horses all needed the run at the time,” Dettori added. “She gave me a great feel, travelled well and quickened twice.”

Novakai is set for the G1 Prix de Diane according to Karl Burke. “You're always a bit disappointed when you get beat, but she ran a lovely race for her first run and the winner had a run under her belt,” he said. “She got in a nice rhythm. With hindsight we probably could have gone and made the running, but they were going a nice, even gallop and she quickened up once and just keeps galloping after that. She is in the English Oaks as well and I'm sure she would stay a mile and a half, but I know Sheikh Mohammed Obaid was favouring the French Oaks beforehand.”

Sir Michael Stoute said of Infinite Cosmos, “She ran a nice, solid race and stays well. She's still a little bit raw. We would have liked a lead.” Richard Fahey said of the fourth Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never), “She ran well and there was plenty of strength in depth in the race. I just felt she got tired in the last furlong, so that will put her right. We'll keep her at that trip at the moment, definitely. On the dam's side she can go further in time, but at the moment I'm thinking of the Prix de Diane and I haven't changed my mind.”

Pedigree Notes

Soul Sister is the sixth foal out of the dam, whose career tally included a win in the G2 Prix de la Nonette and placings in two editions of the GI Diana S. and GI E. P. Taylor S. apiece and a GI Flower Bowl Invitational. Bought for 2.7million gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, she produced the stakes-placed Questionare (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Frankel's group 3-placed Herman Hesse (GB) and the ultimately disappointing TDN Rising Star Guru (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Her fourth foal was the aforementioned Andre Fabre-trained Dreamflight, winner of the 2021 G3 Prix Thomas Bryon and last year's Listed Prix Omnium II, while she is also responsible for a 2-year-old colt by Sea The Stars (Ire) and a yearling filly by Le Havre (Ire).

Dream Peace is a daughter of Truly A Dream (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who annexed the E. P. Taylor when it was staged as a grade II and who also produced Ballydoyle's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Catcher In The Rye (Ire) by Dansili's sire Danehill. Also the third dam of the G3 Lacken S. scorer Only Mine (Ire) (Pour Moi {Ire}), she hails from the high-class dynasty of the group 1-winning half-sisters Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who both proved to be top producers. This is also the family of last year's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. hero Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G1 Empire Rose S. and G1 Australian Oaks heroine Colette (Aus) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}).

Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS MUSIDORA S.-G3, £130,000, York, 5-17, 3yo, f, 10f 56yT, 2:10.11, gd.
1–SOUL SISTER (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Dream Peace (Ire) (GSW-Fr, MGISP-Can, MGISP-US, $815,242), by Dansili (GB)
     2nd Dam: Truly A Dream (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
     3rd Dam: Truly Special (Ire), by Caerleon
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Lady Bamford (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. £73,723. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $96,173. *Full to Dreamflight (GB), GSW-Fr, $127,492; Full to Herman Hesse (GB), GSP-Aus, $196,401. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Novakai (GB), 128, f, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Elasia (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (GB); T-Karl Burke. £27,950.
3–Infinite Cosmos (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Waila (GB), by Notnowcato (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. O-Exors of the late Sir E D Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £13,988.
Margins: 4, HF, SHD. Odds: 18.00, 3.30, 1.88.
Also Ran: Midnight Mile (Ire), Sea of Roses (GB), Lambada (Ire), Empress Wu (GB), Gather Ye Rosebuds (GB).

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Azure Blue Wins Duke Of York, Race Marred By Creative Force’s Death

Michael Dods trainee Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir–Sea Of Dreams {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), successful in four of her five latest starts, stepped up from listed level to claim a career high in Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper S. at York.

She had previously closed her sophomore campaign last term with a stakes breakthrough in October's Listed Boadicea Fillies' S. at Newmarket and doubled up in the May 6 Kilvington Fillies' S. back at HQ coming back off a 210-day break last time.

Azure Blue bided her time and settled back in the field through the solid early fractions of this six-furlong dash. Making smooth headway into contention after halfway, the 12-1 chance locked horns with last year's winner Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) entering the final furlong and was ridden out to subdue that multiple Group 1-winning rival by a half-length nearing the line. The winner's stablemate Commanche Falls (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) ran on well in the latter stages to finish 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third.

Sadly, the contest was tainted by the demise of Godolphin's 2021 G1 British Champions Sprint winner and last term's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint third Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who sustained an unrecoverable leg injury during the race.

Dods is somewhat familiar with the day-to-day intricacies of housing speedy fillies, having nurtured the career of dual G1 Nunthorpe heroine Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “She's done nothing but improve since the end of last season,” he insisted after notching a first win in this contest. “We didn't feel we had her ready at Newmarket [last time] as she'd had a few issues. It was nothing serious, but we just didn't feel we'd got the work in. She went there and did it well and I knew there was improvement to come. It was a big step up to go from a Listed mares' race to today, but looking at the calendar there wasn't a lot else coming up in the short-term, which is why we came here. I think today she's shown she's a proper Group 1 horse.”

Looking ahead, or possibly not, to a Royal engagement, the trainer continued, “She's not entered at Ascot and I'm not sure what the supplementary price is. We wouldn't want to run on ground any faster than today and we'll make a decision nearer the time. Today was the start of her career in these races, we hadn't made any plans and didn't have her in some of the early-closing races. I wouldn't be frightened by coming back to five furlongs with her on slow ground, so there's plenty of targets for her and a lot to look forward to. You would have to look at the [G1 Prix de l'] Abbaye and that would be on my radar. We'll have to see what we do in between times.”

Fellow conditioner John Quinn was far from downbeat in the aftermath of Highfield Princess's defeat, the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, G1 Nunthorpe and G1 Flying Five heroine having been burdened with a five-pound impost coming back off a gallant fourth in Keeneland's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. “Nobody knows from year to year if a horse is going to maintain its ability, especially going from the age of five to six for a mare, so we're delighted,” he said. “She showed all her old enthusiasm and she always comes on for her first run of the year. We're as pleased as we can be without winning as she carried a Group 1 penalty there. It will be Group 1 sprints all the way now, so she won't be giving that weight away. I think, looking at that today, it will be the [G1] King's Stand at [Royal] Ascot over five as she's got speed to burn. If we're lucky, she'll go down the Group 1 five-furlong route, so the King's Stand, Nunthorpe, Flying Five and the Abbaye.”

Pedigree Notes
Azure Blue, one of her sire's five stakes winners, is the second of five foals produced by Sea Of Dreams (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself an unraced half-sister to G3 Desmond S. victor Pincheck (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G3 Brownstown S. winner Valeria Messalina (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Sea Of Dreams is also a full-sister to the dam of Listed Eternal S. victrix Meu Amor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The March-foaled grey's second dam Arty Crafty (Arch) is a full-sister to GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H.-winning sire Prince Arch and to the dam of G3 Pride S. winner Ville De Grace (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Arty Crafty is also a half-sister to G1 Vincent O'Brien National S.-winning sire Kingsfort (War Chant). Azure Blue is kin to the unraced 2-year-old gelding Keen Interest (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who is in training with William Haggas, and a yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire).

Wednesday, York, Britain
1895 DUKE OF YORK CLIPPER S.-G2, £145,000, York, 5-17, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:09.11, gd.
1–AZURE BLUE (IRE), 133, f, 4, by El Kabeir
1st Dam: Sea Of Dreams (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Arty Crafty, by Arch
3rd Dam: Princess Kris (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (€19,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 47,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Peter Appleton & Mrs Anne Elliott; B-Debbie Kitchin & Mary Davison (IRE); T-Michael Dods; J-Paul Mulrennan. £82,230. Lifetime Record: 14-7-3-1, $252,410. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Highfield Princess (Fr), 138, m, 6, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £31,175.
3–Commanche Falls (GB), 136, g, 6, Lethal Force (Ire)–Joyeaux (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). (11,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Doug Graham, Ian Davison, Alan Drysdale; B-Redgate Bloodstock & Peter Bottowley Bloodstock (GB); T-Michael Dods. £15,602.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 12.00, 5.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Annaf (Ire), Marshman (GB), Diligent Harry (GB), The Astrologist (Aus), Art Power (Ire), Emaraaty Ana (GB). DNF: Creative Force (Ire). Scratched: Khaadem (Ire).

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