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Maurice de Gheest Glory For Dubawi’s Space Blues

Godolphin had two livewires in a renewal of Deauville’s G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest that looked well up to standard but also tough to call and it was the white cap of the second-string Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) that emerged on top in a thriller. Third in this 6 1/2-furlong feature 12 months ago, the Charlie Appleby representative had yet to win over this short a trip but gave all the right signals with the way he travelled through the seven-furlong G2 Lennox S. when registering a career-best success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival July 28. Upping his game again here, the TDN Rising Star was ridden with supreme confidence by William Buick and justified that faith with a late surge to overhaul Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the final 50 metres. At the line, the 3/4-of-a-length margin to the former probably underestimated the superiority of the 9-2 shot, while the G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up Lope Y Fernandez was a head away in third and Godolphin’s 11-10 favourite Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) surrendered his unbeaten record a further short neck behind in fourth. “Space Blues has everything–it’s amazing to see a turn of foot like that in a top sprint race,” Buick said. “Charlie told me that he was a better horse this year, which I felt as well at Goodwood in the Lennox. He is a very, very good horse and it is his first group 1, which he really deserves.”

Labelled a TDN Rising Star when off the mark on his sole juvenile start over an extended mile at Nottingham in November 2018, Space Blues spent the first part of last Spring being trained for middle-distances and when that failed was brought back to this trip to gain a confidence boost in a York handicap in May. Following up in the Listed Surrey S. at Epsom later that month, he was denied a head by Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) when going too soon in Royal Ascot’s G3 Jersey S. in June and stepped up to be three-lengths second to Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over this course and distance in July. Again improving to be a close third in this, the bay was next seen flopping when seventh ridden too forward in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint over six furlongs at Meydan Mar. 7.

Returning to European action to deny the Haydock specialist Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) in the June 7 Listed Spring Trophy there, he reaffirmed his aptitude for seven furlongs when taking the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp June 25 before his display of power in the Lennox. Anchored in rear early having broken fast here, he was hard against the stand’s rail with Buick finding an able target-horse in Hello Youmzain as Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) led Earthlight away to his right. Comfortably in touch and notably keen for action, Space Blues was only let go after the two Royal Ascot-winning sprinters had begun their prolonged duel in front and while Lope Y Fernandez and Earthlight stayed on resolutely, the winning of the race was the superior acceleration of the British raider.

On this evidence, he would be more than a match for stablemate Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) and it may be that Appleby will have to keep them apart from here. “We all know what Dubawi’s progeny can do as they get older and that’s true for most sprinters as well,” he commented. “His profile this year has been faultless. Every time he has stepped up in grade, he has been more impressive and a lot of credit goes to the team at home. Paolo [Sirigu], who rides him, does a fantastic job looking after him and he is a Christian of a horse. There isn’t a great amount of opportunities at group 1 level for a horse like Space Blues and I was keen to try and win one with him, because he deserves it. He is a lovely horse to have around and it is fantastic for the team. Most importantly, it is fantastic for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin.”

“It is hard to be on the front end at Deauville and the gallop was strong early doors. I felt that the race was always going to develop for a finisher and William’s instructions were to go out there and ride him to come home. He has given the horse a lovely ride. From halfway, William said he only needed for the gaps to appear and, thankfully, they came in time. We will look at bringing him back to France again for the G1 Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend [Oct. 4]. We will give him a well-deserved break first and then head to Longchamp.”

Nicolas de Chambure said of Hello Youmzain, “We’re delighted to see him back to his best. In the July Cup last time, he didn’t appreciate the ‘dip’ and once again he hit a flat spot around halfway and then found more. It’s a good result and we’re proud of him. We’ll follow the same program as last year, go for Haydock [for the G1 Sprint Cup] and then Ascot [for the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S.]. Next year, he will stand at Etreham.” Lisa-Jane Graffard said of Earthlight, “Mickael said he was a little bit flat in the last 100 yards, but it’s only his second run and that will help him improve his condition. He still has a very bright future, wherever he goes next, and we will take some time to reflect on everything.”

Space Blues is a half-brother to the four-times group-winning Shuruq (Elusive Quality), who is in turn the dam of the stakes-winning and GI American Oaks and GII Fair Grounds Oaks-placed Antoinette (Hard Spun). The dam is the G2 Challenge S. winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre), a granddaughter of High Spirited (Ire) (Shirley Heights {GB}) who is a full-sister to the G1 Premio Roma heroine High Hawk (Ire) who produced the triple group 1 hero and leading sire In the Wings (GB) (Sadler’s Wells). High Spirited’s progeny include the G2 King Edward VII S. scorer Amfortas (Ire) (Caerleon) and the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Legend Maker (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) who was responsible for the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) and the G3 Gallinule S. scorer Alexander of Hales (Danehill). His full-sister Canterbury Lace produced the G1 Matron S. winner Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the G3 Pinnacle S. winner Klassique (GB) (Gaileo {Ire}). Miss Lucifer also has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly by Exceed and Excel (Aus) named Next Victory (Ire), a 2-year-old filly by Night of Thunder (Ire) named Beautiful Future (Ire) and a filly foal by Dark Angel (Ire).

Sunday, Deauville, France
LARC PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST-G1, €230,000, Deauville, 8-9, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:15.76, gd.
1–SPACE BLUES (IRE), 130, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Miss Lucifer (Fr) (GSW-Eng, $193,403), by Noverre
                2nd Dam: Devil’s Imp (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
                3rd Dam: High Spirited (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €131,422. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 13-7-3-1, €451,723. *1/2 to Shuruq (Elusive Quality), Hwt. Older Mare-UAE at 7-9.5f, MGSW-UAE, GSW-Tur & GSP-Eng, $658,709. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hello Youmzain (Fr), 130, c, 4, Kodiac (GB)–Spasha (GB), by Shamardal. O-Haras d’Etreham & Cambridge Stud; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (FR); T-Kevin Ryan. €52,578.
3–Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), 126, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Black Dahlia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€900,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €26,289.
Margins: 3/4, HD, SNK. Odds: 4.40, 17.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Earthlight (Ire), Golden Horde (Ire), Wooded (Ire), Reshabar (Fr), Wichita (Ire), Spinning Memories (Ire), Roncey (Fr), Batwan (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Zoffany’s Thunder Moon a New Rising Star At The Curragh

Sunday’s seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at The Curragh looked as if it could be storing something exciting beforehand and so it proved as Anne Marie O’Brien’s Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) exploded onto the scene to earn TDN Rising Star status. Keen early tracking the leading trio, the 10-1 shot who had won a Dundalk barrier trial July 29 travelled with supreme ease once Declan McDonogh had got a grip on him. Given the command approaching the final furlong, the homebred split rivals and surged to the front soon after and was pushed out to put 3 3/4 lengths between him and the solid yardstick Colour Sergeant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), with Ballydoyle’s Baton Rouge (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a length away in third.

“I think he’s a smart horse. He went to a barrier trial a couple of weeks ago and did it well,” Joseph O’Brien’s representative Brendan Powell commented. “He’s typical of a Zoffany, very relaxed and a lovely-natured horse. He’s got a lot of filling out to do. Declan said he didn’t even have to hit him. He was just niggling him and as soon as he really grabbed hold of him, gave him a squeeze, he picked up and found that turn of foot. That’s a good asset to have. He’ll make up into a lovely three-year-old. He stays the trip well and he’s got a good future.”

Thunder Moon’s unraced Moyglare Stud-bred dam Small Sacrifice (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) was bought by Anne Marie O’Brien for just €18,000 at the 2007 Goffs November Mares Sale. She has subsequently produced the Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. winner Table Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was later renamed Anticipation (Ire) in Hong Kong, SW-Eng, SP-HK, $643,136. Small Sacrifice is a half to the G3 Horris Hill S. third Aahaykid (Ire) (Intikhab) and is a full-sister to Out of Thanks (Ire) who produced the G3 Sirenia S. winner Love Lockdown (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}). Another of her half-siblings Tiny Petal (Ire) (Grand Lodge) threw the G1 Criterium International hero Vert de Grece (Ire) also by Verglas. The third dam is the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Trusted Partner (Affirmed), whose leading performer was the high-class GI Matriarch S. heroine Dress To Thrill (Ire) (Danehill) and her full-sister Polished Gem (Ire). She in turn is responsible for six black-type winners, including the G1 Prince of Wales’s S.-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), last year’s G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G2 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Small Sacrifice also has a yearling colt by Caravaggio.

1st-Curragh, €16,500, Mdn, 8-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.67, gd.
THUNDER MOON (IRE), c, 2, by Zoffany (Ire)
1st Dam: Small Sacrifice (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Trust In Luck (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Trusted Partner, by Affirmed
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,667. O-Mrs A M O’Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O’Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Bodhicitta, Prat Nose Out Tonahutu In Yellow Ribbon At Del Mar

Calvin Nguyen's Bodhicitta, a filly on the rise, came running late to get up by a whisker and take honors in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.

The British-bred daughter of Showcasing packed 120 pounds and got a picture-perfect ride from Flavien Prat and caught DRJ Racing, Kenney or Strauss' Tonahutu just in the shadow of the wire. Finishing third was Agave Racing Stable's Harmless.

Race favorite Beau Recall put in only a mild late bid and finished fifth beaten just under two lengths in the seven-horse lineup.

The tally was the eighth stakes score in just 12 racing days for rider Prat, who now has 21 firsts at the session, second best among all riders to Umberto Rispoli, who won four races on the afternoon to forge to the top with 22 scores.

“I had a good post (#2) today, so I was able to get right on the fence and save ground,” said Prat. “I knew they were going slow, but my filly has a good turn of foot and we got it done.”

The 4-year-old Bodhicitta paid $11.20, $5.40 and $4.00 across the board and earned a winner's share of $90,000 from the Yellow Ribbon purse of $151,000. She now has amassed $265,808 in winnings with her fourth stateside score and initial stakes victory.

This was the 68th edition of the Yellow Ribbon for fillies and mares, aged 3 and up, and the winner covered the mile and one-sixteenth distance on the Del Mar turf course in 1:42.83.

“The race went about like I thought it would, I didn't see much speed in the race,” said Baltas. “She has more tactical speed than some of the horses, like Beau Recall and others who come from the back. He (Flavien Prat) saved a lot of ground and we needed all of it. When he won with her awhile back, he said 'This is my next (multiple-stakes winner) Vasilika'. It means a lot because he's ridden a lot of good horses. We may go here in the Mabee ($150,000, Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes, September 5).”

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Laurel Runs First Lasix-Free Races For 2-Year-Olds

Hope H. Jones' Tiz Ferguson put her speed on display in Maryland's first race for 2-year-old fillies of 2020, blazing to a popular front-running five-length score over first-time starter Miss Marley in Saturday's opener at Laurel Park.

Ridden by Lauralea Glaser for trainer Cal Lynch, Tiz Ferguson ($5) completed five furlongs over a fast main track in 57 seconds – more than a second faster than the gelding Ain't Da Beer Cold ran (58.11) in winning Maryland's first race for 2-year-olds Friday.

It was Glaser's fourth win this summer in her first 12 tries for Lynch, to go along with three seconds and two thirds.

“Very pleased. [Tiz Ferguson] did everything right today and Lauralea got the job done again,” Lynch said. “She started galloping for us a few months back and she gets along with a lot of these fillies that are a little quirky. She's got a good set of hands and she's very teachable, but luck is everything. I'd rather be lucky than good.”

Tiz Ferguson, a bay daughter of Tiznow out of the Limehouse mare Amy Limehouse, was lucky to avoid trouble right out of the starting gate when Who's Your Daddy, breaking two stalls to her right, broke inwardly squeezing back Proper Attire and bumping Tiz Ferguson. Glaser quickly righted the filly and sent her to the front, where she led through a quarter-mile in 22.36 seconds and a half in 45.58.

Proper Attire recovered to press Tiz Ferguson for the opening quarter before Miss Marley and Betcha by Golly took up stalking spots around the turn. Tiz Ferguson straightened for home with a 3 ½-length lead and steadily expanded it through the lane as Miss Marley kept 2 ¾ lengths between her and show finisher Betcha by Golly.

Proper Attire, My Dream Girl, Runaway Monet, Honor Your Mother, Who's Your Daddy, Kens Lady and Nine Mast completed the order of finish.

Purchased for $90,000 as a yearling last fall at Keeneland, Tiz Ferguson was making her second career start Saturday. She finished a gutsy second in her July 4 debut at Monmouth Park, getting up by a neck for the place, two lengths behind winner My Beautiful Belle in the 4 ½-length maiden special weight sprint.

“With babies, you'd rather run them home like this out of their own stall. I thought she was very professional and did everything right that day,” Lynch said. “We were very proud of the way she handled the ship and everything up there. She ran a very game second. She probably doesn't want to go 4 ½, she wants to go further, and she'll want to go further than five.”

As the boys did Friday, all 10 fillies ran Saturday without having the medication Lasix administered within 48 hours of post time. Tiz Ferguson did run on Lasix in her debut.

“We scope everything after they work and after they breeze, but we don't like to give an advantage away and I feel Lasix is definitely an advantage to run with than not. If everybody else is running on it, it's probably a disadvantage to yourself,” Lynch said. “But I don't think it's a big deal for her.”

Notes: Jockey Tais Lyapustina was unseated during Saturday's second race when her mount, 3-year-old filly My Lila, broke down in mid-stretch while on the lead and drifted inside, avoiding other horses but catapulting the rider over the inner rail. Lyapustina was taken to a local hospital for observation. My Lila was euthanized.

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