Native American (Ire) (Sioux Nation) repaid some of the Wathnan Racing investment by running out an authoritative winner of the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale S. to provide the operation with its first winner on Irish soil from as many attempts.
Trained by Richard Fahey, Native American overcame an absence of over 100 days to land the €300,000 contest by over two lengths to Mercian Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
The race appeared in the balance a furlong down but, when reigning Irish champion jockey Colin Keane asked the 4-5 favourite to go and win the race, the response was immediate.
The winning rider said, “He was a good winner of his maiden at York and I was talking to Oisin [Orr, jockey] beforehand and he was very complimentary about him. I'd say he could be a stakes horse in time. The ground was as slow as he'd have wanted it.”
Native American was a €75,000 purchase at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale last year by Robin O'Ryan and Richard Fahey and bought privately by bloodstock agent Richard Brown on behalf of the owner after the horse won on debut at York. Part of the same clan as GI Hollywood Derby winner and sire Labeeb (GB) (Lear Fan), he was bred by Patricia Casement and Dr Dean Harron.
7th-Curragh, €300,000, Cond, 9-10, 2yo, 6f 63yT, 1:19.00, g/y. NATIVE AMERICAN (IRE) (c, 2, Sioux Nation–Pencarrow {GB}, by Green Desert. Sales history: €12,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €75,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $173,967.
O-Wathnan Racing; B-Patricia Casement & Dr Dean Harron (IRE); T-Richard Fahey.
Japanese horses flexed their muscles at the Saudi Cup meeting in February and again in Dubai the following month and a quartet of gallopers that made the short trip over for Sunday's Korea Cup (1800m) and Korea Sprint (1200m)–each carrying international Group 3 status–made their presence felt yet again in front of a packed house at Seoul Racecourse.
Japan took the first three runnings of the Cup in which they were represented from 2016-2018 and finished third with favored Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) last year as Winner's Man (Kor) (Musket Man) led home a local 1-2 over Raon the Fighter (Kor) (Bayern) following a two-year, COVID-enforced postponement of the features. Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}), last year's G2 UAE Derby hero and GI Kentucky Derby participant, was joined on the trip over by Gloria Mundi (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), less heralded, but six-from-eight on dirt, including a Group 3 when last seen in May.
With Yuga Kawada in for the afternoon, Crown Pride was bet into $1.30 (3-10) favoritism and made light work of it, taking over at the midway stage, turning back a mild bid from Gloria Mundi nearing the straight and careering away under a hold to take it by 10 lengths over his compatriot. Winner's Man ran on for third, while Hong Kong raider Apache Star (Aus) (War Chant) faded into ninth after racing prominently early.
' ?!?!
Training assistant to Koichi Shintani, Matsuda has travelled the world with CROWN PRIDE and is very excitable after the horse's 10-length Korea Cup win! #クラウンプライド#競馬pic.twitter.com/wAAJdIhu5H
Koji Maeda's Remake (Jpn) (Lani) was third in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and a troubled fifth in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen earlier in the year and prepped for the Korea Sprint with a facile success in listed company at Morioka last month. Also favoured at 30 cents on the dollar, the homebred sat a midfield trip for Kawada, went for an inside run into the stretch and raced past pacesetting Beolmaui Star (Kor) (To Honor and Serve) to score by four easy lengths in track-record time. The well-traveled Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), a winner at group level in Dubai in 2022 and in Saudi Arabia this term, ran on for third ahead of Hong Kong's Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto), who rallied from well back for fourth. Defending champ Eoma Eoma (Algorithms) was fifth.
Foreign targets in the immediate future for the winners could include Breeders' Cup appearances, though Crown Pride could be pointed for the valuable JBC Classic in November or December's G1 Champions Cup, in which he was narrowly defeated last season. Remake is also a candidate for the JBC Sprint and/or the G3 Capella S., which marked his first win at stakes level in 2022.
Sunday, Seoul, South Korea KOREA CUP-G3, ₩1,600,000,000 ($1,196,000), Seoul, 9-10, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:51.5, gd.
1–CROWN PRIDE (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Reach the Crown (Jpn) 1st Dam: Emmy's Pride (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Emmy's Smile (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn) 3rd Dam: Hemisphere (Jpn), by White Muzzle (GB)
O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm; T-Koichi Shintani; J-Yuga Kawada; ₩880,000,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, G1SP-Jpn, 12-4-4-0, $3,632,652. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Gloria Mundi (Jpn), 126, h, 5, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–Bettolle (Ity), by Blu Air Force (Ire). O-Kazumi Yoshida; B-Northern Racing; T-Ryuji Okubo; J-Ryusei Sakai; ₩352,000,000.
3–Winner's Man (Kor), 126, h, 5, Musket Man–Winner's Marine (Kor), by Volponi. O-Lee Gyeong Hui; B-Kim Gi Seok; T-Choi Ki Hong; J-Seo Seung Un; ₩224,000,000.
Margins: 10, 5, HF. Odds: 0.30, 3.40, 17.40.
Also Ran: Success Macho (Kor), Haengbok Wangja, Tuhonui Banseok, Crazy Conti, Global Hit (Kor), Apache Pass (Aus), Simjangui Godong (Kor), Brigadier General (Aus), Tiz Barows (Kor), The Gumpu, Moohnak Chief. Scratched: Complete Value (Kor).
Sunday, Seoul, South Korea KOREA SPRINT-G3, ₩1,200,000,000 ($897,000), Seoul, 9-10, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:10 (NTR), gd.
1–REMAKE (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Lani 1st Dam: Sariel (Jpn) (GSP-Jpn, $888,410), by King Kamehameha (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Shinko Nobby, by Nashwan 3rd Dam: Christabelle, by Northern Dancer
O-Koji Maeda; B-North Hills Co Ltd; T-Koichi Shintani; J-Yuga Kawada; ₩770,000,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn, GSP-KSA, 14-7-2-2, $1,891,484. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Beolmaui Star (Kor), 126, c, 4, To Honor and Serve–Gaya Gongju (Kor), by War Zone. O-Lee Jong Hun; B-Kim Geun Young; T-Baik Kwang Yeol; J-Seo Seung Un; ₩308,000,000.
3–Bathrat Leon (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Kizuna (Jpn)–Bathrat Amal (Jpn), by New Approach (Ire). O-Hiroo Race Co Ltd; B-Mishima Bokujo; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; ₩196,000,000.
Margins: 4, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 0.30, 47.80, 3.70.
Also Ran: Duke Wai (NZ), Eoma Eoma, Daehan Jilju, Morfhis, Ssonsal, Calm Strong, Raon Tap Man (Kor), Black Musk, Clean Up Happy (Kor), Yes Perfect, Good Pilseung, East Jet (Kor).
Canterbury Park's leading jockey Harry Hernandez won five of the 10 races Saturday on the Minnesota Festival of Champions program for state-breds, including three of the evening's six stakes.
Hernandez's first stakes victory came in the $75,000 Blair's Cove Minnesota Turf Championship for 3-year-olds taking Jose Patio (by Cinco Charlie) gate to wire for trainer Mike Biehler and owners Barry and Joni Butzow. His second stakes win was aboard prohibitive favorite Midnight Current (by Midnight Lute) in the $75,000 Princess Elaine Distaff Turf for trainer Joel Berndt. The two teamed up again to win the $100,000 Northern Lights Futurity with Frosty View (by Frosted).
Both Midnight Current and Frosty View are owned and were bred by Bob Lothenbach's Lothenbach Stables Inc, the leading owner at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack. Berndt and Lothenbach have now won the Northern Lights Futurity four consecutive years. Jose Patio paid $10.60 to win, Midnight Current $2.60, and Frosty View $6.80.
Hernandez, last season's top rider, also won two turf allowance races for trainer Tony Rengstorf guiding West Island and Sunshine Fever to victory.
Berndt and Lothenbach found the winner's circle again with Charlie's Penn, who won the $75,000 Bella Notte Distaff Sprint by 4 3/4 lengths with Lindey Wade riding. The 5-year-old Race Day mare beat favorite Cupids Crush and jockey Eduardo Gallardo, who was riding for Xtreme Racing Stables LLC and trainer Mac Robertson. Charlie's Penny, who won the Bella Notte in 2022, paid $6.60.
Gallardo, Xtreme Racing, and Robertson won earlier on the card with Xtreme Diva in the $100,000 Northern Lights Debutante. The 2-year-old Coal Front filly, who paid $2.80 as the favorite, covered six furlongs in 1:10.89, much faster than the 2-year-old gelding Frosty View whose final time was 1:12.33.
The fastest six furlongs of the night was recorded by Doctor Oscar who won the $75,000 Crocrock Sprint by six lengths in 1:09.66 under jockey Alonzo Quinonez. The 4-year-old Shackleford colt is trained by Tim Padilla and is owned and was bred by Pete Mattson. Doctor Oscar was favored and paid $3.00.
Handle for the 10-race Minnesota Festival of Champions card was $1,431,366, the fourth largest handle total in the event's history.
Connections of Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) can be satisfied that Sunday's G1 Irish St Leger went by without drama, but the glory was with KHK Racing's TDN Rising Star Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–All At Sea {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) as he returned to form to provide his sire with a group 1 double on the Curragh's star-studded card. Putting a largely underwhelming summer behind him, having been seventh in the G1 Gold Cup and fourth in the G1 Goodwood Cup, the 16-5 second favourite enjoyed a perfect tow from Yashin (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) until taking over approaching two out.
With the 4-6 favourite Kyprios in pursuit, the Roger Varian-trained G1 St Leger hero had to keep it up but he kept answering David Egan to beat the Ballydoyle star by 3 1/2 lengths, with Dawn Rising (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 2 3/4 lengths away in third. The field had been cut to four following the withdrawal of Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), but what this renewal lost in numbers it made up for in terms of quality with the market confidence in Kyprios notable.
For Egan, the win was especially important given his connection to the area. “I had my first Classic winner last year, but to do it where I grew up at Osborne Lodge, which is at the five-furlong pole, means a lot,” he said. “It's what dreams are made of and for all the team connected with the horse. My first main job was riding out for Willie McCreery, who I saw today, and he was a great man to learn from and gave me a lot of experience and taught me a lot. He has a tendency to miss the break, but the race went so smooth, he was a race-fit horse today and was as tough as nails.”
Eldar Eldarov, who had earned TDN Rising Star status on his debut at Nottingham in October 2021, also won the G2 Queen's Vase last June but with three of his four outings after the St Leger seeing him finish out of the frame there were the beginnings of doubts as to whether he was going the wrong way. Varian was relieved, but unwilling to accept that he had been disappointing this year. “He's run some great races in defeat this year and it's nice to win two Legers,” he said. “He's entered up in France on Arc weekend and there is the two-mile race at Ascot. He seems to be really best at a mile and six furlongs, but there aren't too many of those races around. He deserves to run one more time this year and it's most likely Ascot.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Kyprios, “A lot of people have done a lot of work to get him to here–all of the vets have done incredible work to get him back. We didn't think we would ever see this day, so to have him back and be happy and for Ryan to be happy is something. He's going to come on a lot and Ascot looks lovely for him. He will have a nice bit of time before now and then and will love going round there. It would be great to see him come back to what he was and this was a great comeback run.”
Putting the icing on the cake for Dubawi on the afternoon, Eldar Eldarov hails from a family of Kirsten Rausing's finest performers. Out of the Listed Prix de Liancourt winner All At Sea, whose first foal was the listed-placed A La Voile (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and fourth is this year's G3 Gallinule S. third Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion). The second dam is the three-times group 1-winning Albanova (GB) (Alzao), responsible for the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup winner Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), the Listed Stand Cup S. scorer Alignak (GB) by the Sea The Stars's son Sea The Moon (Ger) and the listed winner Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}).
Alwilda has made her name by producing the six-times group 1-winning Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while the listed-winning third dam Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) also produced Albanova's dual G1 Champion S.-winning full-sister Alborada (GB) whose descendants include the G2 City of York S. winner Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).
All At Sea is also connected to the G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Alzao's G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) who is in turn the dam of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulians-winning sire Aussie Rules, as well as the pair of Sadler's Wells group 1 winners Yesterday (Ire) and Quarter Moon (Ire). Her unraced 2-year-old filly by Study of Man (Ire) is named A La Belle Etoile (Ire), she has a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) bought as a foal for 300,000gns by Brooklyn Bloodstock at Tatts December who is due to sell at next month's Tatts Book 1 Sale, and a filly foal again by Study Of Man.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL IRISH ST LEGER-G1, €600,000, Curragh, 9-10, 3yo/up, 14fT, 3:01.72, g/y.
1–ELDAR ELDAROV (GB), 137, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: All At Sea (GB) (MSW-Fr, $133,622), by Sea The Stars (Ire) 2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao 3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB) TDN Rising Star. (£110,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR; £480,000 2yo '21 ARQDEA). O-KHK Racing Ltd; B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. €348,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 10-5-1-0, $1,202,836. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kyprios (Ire), 137, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Polished Gem (Ire), by Danehill. O-Moyglare/Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €120,000.
3–Dawn Rising (Ire), 137, g, 6, Galileo (Ire)–Devoted To You (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-J P McManus; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €60,000.
Margins: 3HF, 2 3/4, 5. Odds: 3.20, 0.67, 3.50.
Also Ran: Yashin (Ire). Scratched: Emily Dickinson (Ire).
.