Month: September 2023

Poker Face Takes Wildenstein In Red-Letter Day For Crisfords

Shortly after Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) stormed to G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. success at Newmarket on Saturday, it was another group victory for the training duo of Simon and Ed Crisford, as Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) pounced in the G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein over 1600 metres at ParisLongchamp.

In midpack from the jump as G3 Sovereign S. winner Embesto (GB) (Roaring Lion) chaired the vanguard up front with Colombier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the 4-year-old gelding waited patiently for his call up, and, with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, pounced on the embattled longtime leader inside the 300-metre mark. At the line, the 43-10 shot was two lengths clear of the rallying 23-10 favourite, Group 3 winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains second Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}), a winner of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last term, was a neck behind in third and he just nipped Embesto by a head for fourth.

A winner of all three of his starts at three, the Edward Ware runner was runner-up in the G3 Earl of Sefton S. in April and earned more black-type when second in a Sandown listed affair three starts later in July. Taking the Listed Pomfret S. at Pontefract at the end of that month, he triumphed in the G3 Prix Quincey at Deauville near the end of August.

“It's been an incredible two days and I'm delighted for everyone involved,” said the Crisfords' racing manager Liam Elvidge. “It's been the plan to come here for the Daniel Wildenstein with Poker Face, expecting the ground to be a little bit softer, but he's put in a helluva performance. That's his third win on the bounce after winning a listed race at Pontefract and a Group 3 at Deauville. To come here and win on Arc weekend is an amazing achievement. We will get him home to Newmarket and see how he comes out of the race before deciding whether to give him another run this year or wait for next year.”

Pedigree Notes

Bred by Rockhart Trading, the 95,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling was snapped up by Richard Frisby Bloodstock. Poker Face is one of 122 group winners worldwide for the excellent former reverse shuttle stallion Fastnet Rock, who now resides permanently at Coolmore Australia.

A full-brother to dual American stakes winner Star Devine (Ire), who was also placed twice in Grade IIIs in the US, Poker Face is followed by full-siblings born in 2020-2022–the 3-year-old filly Star Rockette (Ire), the juvenile colt Odyssey Fox (Ire) and another yearling filly, who will be consigned by Marlhill House Stud as lot 724 during the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 in October. Stars At Night, who won at three and is a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Blue Bunting (Dynaformer), was covered by American Triple Crown winner Justify this spring.

Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DANIEL WILDENSTEIN-G2, €200,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-30, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:37.45, g/s.
1–POKER FACE (IRE), 128, g, 4, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
      1st Dam: Stars At Night (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
      2nd Dam: Miarixa (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
      3rd Dam: Mrs Arkada (Fr), by Akarad (Fr)
(95,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Edward Ware; B-Rockhart Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-Maxime Guyon. €114,000. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Eng, 10-6-2-0, €241,290. *Full to Star Devine (Ire), MSW & MGSP-US, $340,490. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Isaac Shelby (GB), 123, c, 3, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Kentucky Belle (Ire), by Heliostatic (Ire). (£92,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Elaine Chivers (GB); T-Brian Meehan. €44,000.
3–Belbek (Fr), 123, c, 3, Showcasing (GB)–Bee Queen (GB), by Makfi (GB). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €21,000.
Margins: 2, NK, HD. Odds: 4.30, 2.30, 5.70.
Also Ran: Embesto (GB), Mr Moliere (GB), Colombier (GB), Caracal (Fr), Fast Raaj (Fr), Kiloecho (Fr), Witch Hunter (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Sea Silk Road Too Good For Royallieu Rivals

Sunderland Holding's G1 Yorkshire Oaks fifth and G1 Prix Vermeille third Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Oriental Magic {Ger}, by Doyen {Ire}) added to her victory in June's G3 Pinnacle S. with a decisive three-length triumph for a career high in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp.

Employing patient tactics off the tempo in rear for most of the 14-furlong stamina test, the 38-5 chance made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to seize control entering the final furlong and powered clear of toiling rivals thereafter to easily outpoint 97-1 outsider Diva Donna (Fr) (Cima De Triomphe {Ire}) by open water. La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) was best of the remainder and finished 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third. Connections also won this contest last year with Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

“[Owner] Mrs Tsui decided to keep her in training this year and she was right to do so as the filly is having a magnificent season,” said Maureen Haggas. “Last year, she was still very immature, but she has made big strides forward this season. She has strengthened up, won a Group 3 race before being placed in a Group 1, and today she has won her Group 1. She really picked up at the finish, but has sometimes tended to prick her ears and idle once she hits the front. We're going to discuss the next step together, but I suppose she could be retired to stud. You can't improve on a Group 1 win. It's very emotional because she was bought as a yearling by John Clarke, who passed away this year. This win is dedicated to his memory and we're all very emotional.”

Julien Carayon was delighted with the performance of runner-up Diva Donna and commented, “You had to take a leap of faith and she put in a very, very good performance. Nobody wanted her when she came up for sale this summer [her owners bought her back for €55,000]. People don't look at performances, they focus too much on pedigrees. She's a very good mare and we're now going to head to the [Oct. 29 G1] Prix Royal-Oak [back here].”

Reflecting on the effort of third-place finisher La Mehana, Jean-Claude Rouget added, “We're pleased because we were backing her up again following a two week interval and my horses aren't used to that. However, La Mehana had come out of her previous race in very good order and we knew that good ground was the order of the day. Despite the soft ground in the [G2] Prix de Pomone at Deauville last time, the filly still managed to finished fifth against the same opposition. We reasoned that a place was within her compass and she proved very brave in a race in which no quarter was asked for or given. She helped set the race up by racing prominently, but she likes to run that way and dominate. She's a really good filly.”

Pedigree Notes
Sea Silk Road, who becomes the 20th Group 1 winner for her sire, is one of three winners from as many runners produced by Listed Winterkonigin-Trial and G3 Grosser Preis von Lotto Hamburg third Oriental Magic (Ger) (Doyen {Ire}). Oriental Magic is kin to G2 Gerling-Preis and G3 Deutsches St Leger victor Oriental Eagle (Ger) (Campanologist) and MGSP G2 Prix Kergorlay second Oriental Fox (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). The March-foaled bay's stakes-winning second dam Oriental Pearl (Ger) (Big Shuffle) is kin to three black-type performers and a full-sister to the dam of MGSW G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden placegetter Oriental Tiger (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). Oriental Magic has the unraced 2-year-old filly Next Trick (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) and a yearling full-sister to Sea Silk Road to come.

 

Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE ROYALLIEU-G1, €300,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-30, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT, 2:57.06, g/s.
1–SEA SILK ROAD (IRE), 131, f, 4, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
      1st Dam: Oriental Magic (Ger) (SW & GSP-Ger, SP-Fr), by Doyen (Ire)
      2nd Dam: Oriental Pearl (Ger), by Big Shuffle
      3rd Dam: Orange Bowl (Ire), by General Assembly
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (190,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €171,429. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 12-4-2-2, €446,004. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Diva Donna (Fr), 131, m, 5, Cima De Triomphe (Ire)–Grande Synthe (Fr), by Dunkerque (Fr). GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Julien Carayon & Mme Marielle Alexandre; B-GFA Du Pont Rouge (FR); T-Julien Carayon. €68,580.
3–La Mehana (Fr), 131, f, 4, Al Wukair (Ire)–Oceanie (Fr), by Dansili (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€55,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Mlle Selina Fernandez-Shaw Alvarez & Noir Et Or Elevage SA; B-Noir Et Or Elevage SA (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €34,290.
Margins: 3, 1HF, SNK. Odds: 7.60, 97.00, 19.00.
Also Ran: Rue Boissonade (Fr), Mimikyu (GB), Alpenblume (GB), Shamida (Ire), Melo Melo (GB), Poptronic (GB), Ottery (GB), Thunder Roll (Ire), Baiykara (Fr), Library (Ire), Sumo Sam (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Morena, Dam of Creator, Dies After Bout With Colic

Morena (Per) (Privately Held), the dam of the 2016 GI Arkansas Derby and Belmont S. winner Creator (Tapit), has died after a bout withcolic at Mt. Brilliant Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, according to her co-owner, Greg Goodman.

Goodman said that Morena was discovered in distress in the field on Friday, and died during treatment for the ailment. The mare was 19 years old.

Morena was a multiple graded stakes winner and Group 1-placed in her native Peru, and came to the United States in 2009, where she placed in five graded stakes for Mt. Brilliant and trainer Michael Matz, including the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga.

Upon his retirement, Creator was sold to stand at stud at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Hokkaido, Japan.

 

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