Author: News

Kodiac’s Relief Rally Pounces Late For Lowther Triumph

Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}–Kathoe {Ire}, by Fayruz {GB}) impressed when annexing Newbury's Weatherbys Super Sprint by daylight last month and pounced late to secure a fourth win in five starts, upped to six furlongs for the first time, in Thursday's G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York.

The 2-1 favourite, who had earlier snagged early-season wins over five furlongs at Windsor and Salisbury, was sharply into stride and settled under cover behind the leaders in fifth after the initial strides. Bustled along with a quarter-mile remaining, she was angled to the stands' side for a clear passage passing the furlong pole and quickened smartly under continued rousting in the closing stages to deny Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) by a length nearing the line. Symbology (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) finished a head adrift in third in a bunch finish for the minor placings.

“You don't get much time in a six-furlong race to worry, but I thought she had a bit to do and was really impressed with the way she picked up,” admitted William Haggas. “I think she's a pure 2-year-old. I've had a few fillies, one called Besharah won this race, and she didn't go on. I think it's really hard, especially when they are small. We don't want to get wrapped up in them being a fantastic 3-year-old and this may well be her year, in which case we want to capitalise. She's pretty good and she's good in her head, although she dances a bit in the paddock. She's easy to train. I haven't had chance to talk to Tom [Marquand], as this is [owner] Simon [Munir]'s day. It's his first ever trip to York.”

Looking over the horizon, Haggas added, “Whether we have one [more run] before her last run [this year], I don't know. If we do, it will be the [G2] Flying Childers with a Group 2 penalty, but that's 50-50. Then it will be the [G1] Cheveley Park or the [G1] Prix de l'Abbaye.”

Marquand added, “We hoped stepping up to six [furlongs] would work in her favour and I was looking forward to it. Over five, she'd hit a little flat spot before finishing really strongly and, over six, that just didn't happen today. She had plenty to pass a furlong out, but they were all within a length. To be honest she never had me worried and she hit the line hard. William has done a remarkable job to get her to win the pot she did after Royal Ascot. I hope it's the Cheveley Park [next]. If she goes for the Abbaye I won't be able to ride her [due to her low weight], but William will make the right decision.”

Pedigree Notes

Relief Rally, the latest of eight reported foals and one of five scorers for her dam, hails from the family of G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Jaazeiro (Sham) and G1SW Irish champion Woodstream (Northern Dancer). The April-foaled bay is a full-sister to G3 Chipchase S. victor Koropick (Ire). Their second dam Water Spirit (Riverman) is an unraced half-sister to Listed Grand Prix de Marseille Vivaux runner-up Private Enquiry (Ire) (Gorytus) and G2 Gallinule S. fourth and sire Northern Date (Far North).

 

Thursday, York, Britain
SKY BET LOWTHER S.-G2, £267,500, York, 8-24, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.89, g/f.
1–RELIEF RALLY (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Kathoe (Ire), by Fayruz (GB)
2nd Dam: Water Spirit, by Riverman
3rd Dam: Interviewme, by Olden Times
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (58,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; B-C M Farrell (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £151,699. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $398,425. *Full to Koropick (Ire), GSW-Eng, $104,612. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cherry Blossom (Ire), 128, f, 2, No Nay Never–Canada Water (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€360,000 Ylg '22 GOFOR). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £57,513.
3–Symbology (GB), 128, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Showstoppa (GB), by Showcasing (GB). (£230,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. £28,783.
Margins: 1, HD, HD. Odds: 2.00, 4.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Dorothy Lawrence (GB), Beautiful Diamond (GB), Star Of Mystery (GB), Gunzburg (Ire), Flora Of Bermuda (Ire). Scratched: Queen's Guard (GB).

The post Kodiac’s Relief Rally Pounces Late For Lowther Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A pair of champions will face off in Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, a prestigious sprint for fillies and mares taking place over seven-eighths of a mile. But the outcome won’t necessarily be what bettors expect based off a glance at the past performances.

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Blue Diamond Stud Branches Out With Acquisition of Kentucky’s Stonereath Farm

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud is the new owner of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky in a purchase which “underlines the intention of the stud to compete on the world stage”.

The Kuwaiti-born owner-breeder of Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has a burgeoning involvement in racing and breeding in North America, where his Blue Diamond Stud has been represented this season by the homebred Wonderful Justice (Justify), winner of the Black Gold S. at Fair Grounds. The 3-year-old colt is trained by Brad Cox alongside the Grade II-placed Free Look (Tapit), a recent purchase at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Situated just outside Paris in Kentucky, Stonereath Farm was previously home to the celebrated broodmare Best In Show while under the ownership of Darrell and Lindy Brown. Its most recent owner was Dr. Christoph Berglar, the German owner-breeder of international Group 1 winners Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and Novellist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Set on 252 acres, the historic farm's facilities include 60 stalls in four barns, 24 paddocks and a yearling show ring area.

“We are excited to add Stonereath Farm to the Blue Diamond Stud portfolio,” said Al Sagar, whose aforementioned filly Nashwa was runner-up to Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International, having won the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket in July as well as last year's G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S.

“With such a long history of producing such good racehorses, I am confident that it will be a valuable complement to our European division while allowing us great opportunity to diversify. We look forward to growing our presence in the US and yielding the advantages of everything that Kentucky and its differing bloodlines has to offer.”

Blue Diamond Stud chief executive officer Ted Voute has previously been involved in the launch of Clearsky Farm in Kentucky. He added: “Imad Al Sagar has incredible foresight and energy to invest in a vein of land in Bourbon County that is a proven source of Kentucky Derby winners.

“Stonereath Farm has not been over-horsed in recent times and is in pristine condition. I am excited for the future combining some of Blue Diamond's already illustrious bloodlines with this fertile land. Imad has infectious, overwhelming enthusiasm driving everyone that works with him to produce Thoroughbreds to perform either at the sales or on the racetrack at the top level.”

The team of stud staff employed during Berglar's tenure under his Narola banner will remain in place, led by Walter Nathaniel Lobato and office manager Donna Callaway.

In Britain, Blue Diamond Stud owns two Newmarket-based properties, with Blue Diamond Stud South, which is home to the mares and foals, overseen by broodmare manager Andrew Rawlin, and Blue Diamond North, which is primarily the yearling division, run by yearling manager Gerry Meehan. In 2018, Al Sagar bought out his former partner in the stud, Saleh Al Homaizi, with whom he raced the Derby winner Authorized (Ire) and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Araafa (Ire) as well as Decorated Knight.

The post Blue Diamond Stud Branches Out With Acquisition of Kentucky’s Stonereath Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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