Dettori lands 500th Newmarket winner with Inspiral
Jockey Frankie Dettori claims a landmark victory as his retirement approaches with his 500th Newmarket winner courtesy of Inspiral.
Month: October 2023
Inspiral Gives Frankie His 500th Newmarket Win In The Sun Chariot
Frankie's farewell tour took another notable turn on Saturday as Cheveley Park Stud's brilliant Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}– Starscope {GB}, by Selkirk) dominated the G1 Sun Chariot S. to provide the rider with his 500th Newmarket winner.
Always travelling like the clear-best filly in the line-up with Dettori keen to wait behind the leader, the 10-11 favourite was unleashed towards the far rail three out and surged to the line with relish to score by 3 3/4 lengths from Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), with Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third.
“She showed the world today what a superstar horse she is,” Dettori said after the expected warm welcome back to the winner's enclosure he knows so well and where he received a curtsey from the filly's owner-breeder Patricia Thompson. “We knew the pace wasn't going to be that strong and she wants a much stronger tempo. She has got a crescendo of three furlongs and I didn't want to mess around so I thought 'come on let's go and let them come and try to catch you'. She has strode out really well.”
“She gave me a nightmare ride in France, but today she was good,” Dettori added. “I was quite worried when she was so quiet, as when they are quiet it is maybe because they are over the top or maybe they are in season, but that wasn't the case. She was quiet because she was having a good day. It has been my home for 38 years. It is fantastic to be able to do it in a Group 1 on a special filly. I couldn't have written a better ending.”
On her day and when conditions suit, Inspiral is a force to be reckoned with as she proved with impressive wins in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation S. last June and in the last two editions of Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Not at her best when second in last year's G1 Falmouth S. on the July Course here and in the G1 Queen Anne S. on her 2023 bow, she had testing ground as the excuse when out of the frame in both the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in October and in the G1 Sussex S. in August.
Now the Gosdens are rightly thinking of the Breeders' Cup Mile, with Inspiral's dynamic acceleration and powerful finish clear indication that this is a filly heading into the autumn in rare form. Her two splits between three out and the furlong pole were completed in :11.21 and :11.01 and that is the kind of speed on demand that wins out at next month's World Championships. “She is in the QEII and she could be entered at the Breeders' Cup, but we won't make a decision for at least a week or two,” Gosden Sr said.
“She was in top form today,” he added. “She showed a lot of class today there is no doubt about it. She travelled well and there was a good pace. Andre's dual Group 1 winner from Deauville was second, so it is solid form. We missed the Lockinge as she had a muscle spasm problem, so by the time we got to Royal Ascot she was only about 80% fit. She was only beaten a neck that day and she got a touch tired in the last half a furlong, but she has been faultless since.”
“There was a lot more pressure on today as she is a very good filly and the ground is quicker here than we would expect to find here in the autumn. It is real fast summer ground, but she has run absolutely superbly and I couldn't be more pleased. One lady will decide if she races on and that is Mrs. Thompson. That was only her fourth run this year and she is weighing the heaviest she has ever weighed.”
Pedigree Notes
Inspiral's dam Starscope was runner-up over this course and distance in the G1 1000 Guineas and also in the Coronation S. that her daughter so dominated last summer. Also responsible for the listed-placed middle-distance performer Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}), she is a daughter of the Stud's Moon Goddess (GB) (Rainbow Quest) whose half-siblings include the G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Juddmonte International-winning leading sire Medicean (GB). From the dynasty of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and leading sire Caro (Ire), Starscope's unraced 2-year-old colt by Siyouni (Fr) is named Megastar (GB), while she also has a yearling colt by Ulysses (Ire) and a foal full-sister to Inspiral.
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
VIRGIN BET SUN CHARIOT S.-G1, £291,580, Newmarket, 10-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:35.65, g/f.
1–INSPIRAL (GB), 131, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Starscope (GB) (MG1SP-Eng, $251,626), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Moon Goddess (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Mystic Goddess, by Storm Bird
O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-Cheveley Park Stud Limited (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. £165,355. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Fr, 12-8-2-0, $2,599,932. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mqse de Sevigne (Ire), 131, f, 4, Siyouni (Fr)–Penne (Fr), by Sevres Rose (Ire). O-Baron Edouard De Rothschild; B-SC Ecurie De Meautry (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. £62,690.
3–Heredia (GB), 131, f, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nakuti (Ire), by Mastercraftsman (Ire).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-St Albans Bloodstock Limited; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £31,374.
Margins: 3 3/4, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 0.91, 3.30, 6.00.
Also Ran: Coppice (GB), Meditate (Ire), Random Harvest (Ire), Roman Mist (Ire), Goldana (Ire).
The Farwell Tour script continues to write itself!
A straightforward victory for Inspiral in the Group 1 @VirginBet Sun Chariot Stakes for John & @thadygosden
A 5⃣0⃣0⃣ th win @NewmarketRace for @FrankieDettori pic.twitter.com/oFd81mcJqL
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 7, 2023
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Classic Flower Doubles Pattern-Race Tally For Calyx With Chantilly Triumph
Patrice Cottier trainee Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}–Crown Of Flowers {GB}, by Garswood {GB}) had collected prizemoney for the Gousserie Racing and Jean-Etienne Dubois partnership in all three prior black-type outings and held firm against a strong British raiding party to double her freshman sire's pattern-race tally in Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly.
The 28-5 chance, who had hit the board in the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix Six Perfections earlier in the campaign, was well away to stalk the leading duo in a handy third from flagfall. Inching into second at halfway, she was shaken up passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out once gaining an edge with 150 metres remaining to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length from G3 Prix Eclipse victrix Dawn Charger (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}). Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was up with the pace throughout and kept on well to finish 1 3/4 lengths back in third.
“Classic Flower had not been blessed with luck in her last couple of races [over seven furlongs] and six is probably her optimum trip,” said Pauline Chebhoub. “She was freshened up, the break did her a lot of good and she looked outstanding in the preliminaries today. Travelling handy is probably better for her and she deserved to win at this level. She will come back next year with Classic ambition.”
Pedigree Notes
Classic Flower is the first of two reported foals out of a half-sister to MGSP Listed Pipalong S. and Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' S. victrix Bahia Breeze (GB) (Mister Baileys {GB}), herself the dam of G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. winner Beshaayir (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Brioniya (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). The March-foaled chestnut's dam is also kin to the dam of the dual stakes-placed Rock On Baileys (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) while Brioniya threw Listed Grand Prix de Marseille third Bakhchisaray (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). Half-sister to a yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB), she is from the family of Preakness-winning US champion Tom Rolfe (Ribot {GB}), MGISW sire Bates Motel (Sir Ivor) and GI San Antonio H. hero Hatim (Exclusive Native).
Smart performance! Classic Flower continues the good form of Patrice Cottier with victory in the Group 2 Criterium De Maisons-Laffitte at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/u7sfdgLO06
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 7, 2023
Saturday, Chantilly, France
CRITERIUM DE MAISONS-LAFFITTE-G2, €190,000, Chantilly, 10-7, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.03, g/s.
1–CLASSIC FLOWER (GB), 125, f, 2, by Calyx (GB)
1st Dam: Crown Of Flowers (GB), by Garswood (GB)
2nd Dam: Ring Of Love (GB), by Magic Ring (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fine Honey, by Drone
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (45,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA). O-Gousserie Racing & Jean-Etienne Dubois; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Patrice Cottier; J-Mickael Barzalona. €108,300. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, €167,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dawn Charger (Ire), 125, f, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Dushlan (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). (€40,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY). O-Saif Mohammad Alketbi & Elaine Burke; B-Jim Bolger (IRE); T-Karl Burke. €41,800.
3–Seven Questions (Ire), 128, g, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Get Up And Dance (GB), by Makfi (GB). (£58,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-George Scott. €19,950.
Margins: 3/4, 1 3/4, 2. Odds: 5.60, 1.30, 3.00.
Also Ran: Inishfallen (Ire), Spanish Phoenix (Ire), Shady Lady (Fr), Gaenari (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
The post Classic Flower Doubles Pattern-Race Tally For Calyx With Chantilly Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Vets’ Attorney in Bisphosphonate Suspension Says Drs. Followed the Rules
The attorney for veterinarians Scott Shell and Barbara Hippie, who have been provisionally suspended by the Horse Racing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) for possession of bisphosphonates and two other medications told the TDN Saturday morning that the veterinarians were operating under the rule as published.
“Drs. Shell and Hippie vehemently deny any violation of the veterinary rules as posted pursuant to HISA,” said Drew Mollica by phone Saturday. “We look forward an immediate hearing so that all of the facts may be explored and their good names and reputations restored. Dr. Shell's practice is known for its integrity, and any substances in his possession were used properly, and were in his possession pursuant to the rules.”
Covered horses are defined by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority “any Thoroughbred horse, or any other horse made subject to the Act by election of the applicable State Racing Commission or the breed governing organization for such horse under section 3054(l), during the period: (A) beginning on the date of the horse's first Timed and Reported Workout at a Racetrack that participates in Covered Horseraces or at a training facility; and (B) ending on the date on which the horse is deemed retired.”
Dr. Shell's three-person practice, for which Dr. Hippie works, covers a HISA-covered area in Ohio—Thistledown–as well as West Virginia, where HISA is not in effect.
Drs. Shell and Hippie are charged with violating Rule 3214 (a), which reads:
Rule 3214. Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations Involving Banned Substances or Banned Methods
The following acts and omissions constitute Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Covered Person(s) in question:
(a) Possession of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method, unless there is compelling justification for such Possession.
Mollica said that there is no violation of the rules for veterinarians possessing the substances to treat non-covered horses on farms or in other situations. “Both Dr. Shell and Hippie will show unequivocally that they were using the medication for the health and safety of non-covered horses. There's not one allegation of any banned substance being used on a covered horse.”
Earlier in September, Shell testified in person before a HIWU-related arbitration panel on behalf of trainer Dennis VanMeter, whose horse, Templement, had tested positive for isoxsuprine and phenylbutazone. VanMeter was facing a possible two-year ban as a result of the isoxsuprine positive alone.
At the hearing, it was established that Templement had been placed into one of trainer John Brown's stalls at Thistledown previously occupied by a pony routinely administered Isoxsuprine.
In the ruling, it notes that Shell “credibly testified that he and veterinarians in his practice had prescribed isoxsuprine to Mr. John Brown's pony Bucky for the last five years for a condition with its feet that would make it lame without medication.”
The arbitrator found the positive a likely instance of environmental contamination, and that VanMeter bore “no fault or negligence” for the isoxsuprine positive.
That hearing was on Sept. 12, a little over two weeks before Shell and his associate, Hippie, were allegedly found in possession of isoxsuprine and other banned substances, including bisphosphonates.
Additional reporting by Dan Ross.
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