Month: October 2023

New Book Honours 100 Years of Naas Racecourse

A new book, The Centenary of Naas Racecourse, written by renowned historian and author Turtle Bunbury, will be released beginning on Nov. 17.

This fascinating book tells the story of the farmers and sportsmen who founded the racecourse, and touches on some of the politicians, film stars and royals who have visited over the last 100 years, including Walt Disney, Robert De Niro and Bono. There are countless stable yards and training operations around Naas, which has been at the epicentre of the Irish equestrian world for at least 260 years.

“Naas Racecourse has a tremendous story to tell,” Bunbury said. “The track has played such an important role in the evolution of Irish racing over the last 100 years. It's been the scene of some incredible sporting and historical moments and racing at Naas continues to be a major part of Irish social life generally. I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed piecing the story together.”

Known as 'The Nursery of Champions', the track has been where some of Europe's most talented horses have raced. To date, the winners of 30 Aintree Grand Nationals, 27 Cheltenham Gold Cups and eight King George VI Chase have either started their careers in Naas or raced on the track. In the past four years alone, horses have gone from Naas to the Cheltenham Festival and won the Gold Cup, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the Triumph Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice.

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the winner of this year's G1 Betfair Derby and G1 Irish Derby, got his start at Naas, as did last year's top-rated juvenile Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). Since 2020, the G1 Oaks, the G1 2000 Guineas, the G1 1000 Guineas, the G1 Melbourne Cup and four Breeders' Cup races have also been won by horses who started at Naas.

“We are so proud of the history and story of Naas and are delighted that it's finally been told so eloquently by Turtle Bunbury,” Dermot Cantillon, Chairman of Naas Racecourse. said. “It's remarkable to look back at all the old photographs of both famous people and horses and it gives all of us here at Naas Racecourse an enormous sense of pride to be part of something very special. Our founding members paved the way for us and it's up to us to keep evolving and to keep adding to our racegoers experience through competitive racing and through the guest experience. Huge thanks to everyone who helped us to bring this book to life, we are delighted with it.”

The Centenary of Naas Racecourse will be available in hardback and can be ordered on the Naas Racecourse website.

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Equinox Primed For Tenno Sho Autumn Defence

Perched atop the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at 129 pounds for much of the year after his sensational 3 1/2-length victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in Dubai this March, the formidable Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) will attempt to become only the third horse to claim the ¥421,420,000 G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in back-to-back years at Tokyo on Sunday.

The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year has never finished worse than second in eight starts, and landed the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin over 2200 metres–200 metres farther than Sunday's trip–at the end of June. Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, just like fellow Silk Racing colourbearer, Japanese Horse of the Year and dual Tenno Sho (Autumn) heroine Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) (2019/2020), the Tetsuya Kimura trainee's task will not be an easy one.

“Christophe Lemaire rode work last week and it was the usual work we do a week out,” said Kimura of his charge, who worked well at his Miho base last week. “Things were very routine. This week, the training was quite orthodox. In some ways the main concern was making sure everything went as usual amid all the attention. I don't think there's any problem with him.”

Of the 10 rivals that oppose the 8-5 favourite the greatest danger looks to be 14-5 shot Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), a winner of both the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in 2021 and the 2022 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). He defeated Equinox by a neck in the latter contest, and also earned a Group 2 victory in the Kyoto Kinen in February. Part of the numerous Japanese challengers for the Dubai World Cup night, he was forced to scratch after coming up lame before the big dance, but is reportedly working well since recovering.

Said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, “His fast work was on the hill course this week. His time was fast, but we didn't overdo it. I think he's in excellent shape. Jockey Yutaka Take rode him last week, and the horse was switched on mentally this week the same. After work, he was bothering the other horses, that's how full of energy he was. His breathing was good too. I'll leave the race strategy up to the jockey.”

The progressive Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) holds all the ingredients to upset the big two, and the Mitsumasa Nakauchida charge was second in the Aug. 20 G2 Sapporo Kinen after taking the G2 Kinko Sho at Chukyo in March. In between those starts was another runner-up performance in the G1 QEII Cup at Sha Tin to the classy Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).

“He won the Sapporo Kinen strongly and I could see that he had matured considerably,” said trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. “The ground that day wasn't the best, but still he ran well. I think he has gotten stronger both mentally and physically. Even from before the Sapporo Kinen, I'd been thinking of sending him here.

“Last week, I had Yuga Kawada ride trackwork and the horse was more switched on than I'd thought he would. So this week, an assistant breezed him and we focused on keeping the horse relaxed and well balanced. He's in really good shape.

“As expected, the lineup is a very strong one, with horses that have proven their ability, so we'll just have to see how well Prognosis can do up against them. He has no problem racing to the left, and he's raced over 2,000 meters a number of times so the distance and course are not concerns. He won handily last start and his prep has gone well, so I think he'll be able to race to his best here.”

Former Hong Kong champion jockey Joao 'Magic Man' Moreira will be on hand to pilot Group 3 winner Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Fourth in both the 2022 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Japanese Derby behind both Do Deuce and Equinox, the 4-year-old was third to the last-named horse in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) last year, and was second to Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf on Dubai World cup night later in his career. The Noriyuki Hori-trained colt was fourth most recently in the Sapporo Kinen and his morning line odds are currently 13-1.

“It was hard before and after the Sapporo Kinen to get a reading on his condition,” said Hori. “To be honest, his fast work two weeks ago seemed slow, but from last week he started to look stronger. I don't think he's quite up to his overall best though. I think he can do better if he can show off his ability.”

Third to Equinox in the Takarazuka Kinen in June is Masahiro Miki's Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who prevailed in the 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) in April. Handed stall six, he is one to the inside of Equinox. Another Group 1 winner partaking in the Tenno Sho is Osaka Hai victor Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). He was sixth in the wake of Prognosis in the Sapporo Kinen, and departs from stall 10.

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Report of Mares Bred: Golden Pal Tops List With 293 In 2023

The Jockey Club's Report of Mares Bred (RMB) statistics reflects that through Oct. 18 of this year, 867 stallions covered 26,597 mares in North America during the breeding season, a decrease from 2022 when 925 stallions covered 27,163 mares, the organization said in a release early Friday.

They estimate an additional 2,500 to 3,500 mares will be reported as bred during the 2023 breeding season.

Kentucky traditionally leads North America in Thoroughbred breeding activity. During 2023, Kentucky's 199 reported stallions covered 16,953 mares, or 63.74% of all of the mares reported bred in North America. The number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions increased 1.58% compared with the 16,689 reported at this time last year.

Of the top 10 states and provinces by number of mares reported bred in 2023, in addition to Kentucky, stallions in New York, Ontario, and West Virginia covered more mares in 2023 than in 2022, as reported at this time last year.

Golden Pal, standing at Coolmore America, had the highest number of mares bred in 2023 with 293, followed by Epicenter (Coolmore), 262; Practical Joke (Coolmore), 252; Jack Christopher (Coolmore), 247; and Uncle Mo (Coolmore), 234.

Sires With 200+ Mares Bred:
Golden Pal (293)
Epicenter (262)
Practical Joke (252)
Jack Christopher (247)
Uncle Mo (234)
Olympiad (228)
Charlatan (223)
Cyberknife (223)
Justify (222)
Vekoma (212)
Mandaloun (211)
Nashville (204)
Yaupon (202)
Not This Time (200)

The RMB also shows that there were 14 stallions with a book size of 200 or more that covered a total of 3,213 mares in North America in 2023 as reported through Oct. 18, which is 12.1% of all coverings reported. The 45 stallions with books of 150 or more covered 8,588 mares, which is 32.3% of all mares reported bred.

For comparison, reports submitted by Oct. 10, 2013, show that one stallion covered more than 200 mares in North America, which represented 0.6% of the total for that year. Those reports also show 19 stallions covered 150 or more with a total of 3,205 mares in the 2013 breeding season, which equates to 9.4% of all mares reported bred in 2013 as of Oct. 10.

Click here to view all of the RMB statistics, which can be found in The Jockey Club Fact Book.

In addition, RMB information on stallions that bred mares in North America is available through report 36P or subscription service Equineline.

 

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