Discoveries The Next Classic Contender For Star Family

Despite the retirements of recent stable stalwarts like Group 1-winning juvenile and new Irish National Stud stallion Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), top-level performer and 2,000,000gns broodmare prospect Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and last September's G1 Matron S. victrix No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), Jessica Harrington is still loaded for bear at the start of this Flat season.

Speaking confidently from her scenic base in Moone, she went through a list to savour with the regally-bred 3-year-old Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a full-sister to the marvellous Alpha Centauri (Ire) who was triumphant in last September's G1 Moyglare Stud S., heading the list. 

“All being well Discoveries will head to the English Guineas. I won't run her unless the ground is fast. Like her sister, she wants fast ground,” said the trainer.

Harrington outlined a series of promising prospects from her stable where quality fillies and mares outnumber their male counterparts two-to-one. Magical Lagoon (Galileo {Ire}), a thrice-raced juvenile who landed a Curragh Group 3 last August, is a half-sister to Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}, the Japan-based stallion who won Group 1 races in four different European countries.

She said, “Magical Lagoon will go for the Salsabil and has an entry in the English Oaks [as well as the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks]. She did a racecourse gallop the other day and we're very happy with her. She has done well and got very strong over the winter.”

In addition, Harrington spoke highly of Group 3-winning 4-year-old Forbearance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who “will go in fillies' races from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half”. 

She added, “Forbearance needs the ground quick, quick, quick so she'll likely be making a few journeys to England again.”

The twice-raced Killarney maiden-winning 3-year-old Caroline Herschel (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), named after the famed 18th century German astronomer who discovered several comets, was described as “a stakes filly on soft ground”, while Harrington declared herself “delighted” with the talented 3-year old Villanova Queen (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who rallied strongly when third in Leopardstown's G3 1,000 Guineas trial last Saturday. 

“She's very relaxed,” said the trainer.

The stable's grand servant Barrington Court (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a tough and effective dual-purpose mare, returns for her 8-year-old campaign and “will run if ever, ever we get soft ground for her. She's in great order this year and I'm delighted with her also.” 

Meanwhile, 4-year-old filly The Blue Brilliant (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who “ran a blinder” in France last year when beaten by a narrow margin in a Deauville Group 3 is considered an “eight- to 10-furlong type, one mile if the ground is real soft.”

Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}), a 5-year-old gelding who won the G2 Boomerang Mile last September before taking an unsuccessful crack at the Breeders' Cup Mile, returns for Harrington's longstanding and supportive owner Zhang Yuesheng. 

She said, “Real Appeal heads for the Amethyst and hopefully returns to Group 1 races after that.” 

Harrington retains excitement for the 6-year-gelding Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}). She said of the Group 2 winner, “He is in a good place this year and will go for the Mooresbridge and then the Vintage Crop to see if he stays. I see no reason why he won't.”

The stable's 3-year-old colts and geldings are headed by Confident Star (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Cowboy Justice (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), with Harrington saying of the former, the winner of a seven-furlong Cork maiden last September, “I think he's a miler and I think he's a stronger horse this year so he'll go to the (Irish 2,000) Guineas Trial.”

Cowboy Justice was gelded after an attack of colic last year and is being aimed at six- and seven-furlong contests.

Harrington is off to a flying start with her 2-year-olds and wins by both the colt Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation {Ire}), a first winner for his freshman stallion, and Dundalk winning debutante It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) prove that she has plenty of forward types. 

“Training 2-year-olds is tremendously exciting because you just don't know what they are going to turn out like,” she said. “The ones that promise everything could end up doing nothing. You get surprises and you get disappointments and they can't all be good.

“We have a few here by first-season sires and I have to say I love the Saxon Warriors. I think they are very nice. I have four Saxon Warriors and we have two Sioux Nations. Ocean Quest won her maiden and we have a very smart colt by him as well. He's big and square and they all seem to have good temperaments. The Saxon Warriors are really laidback as well. I have a couple of Zoustars as well, and I like them. They look nice and they are sharp.”

In the coming months, Harrington's supporters can look forward to the debut of the colt Saturn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, the first foal of Alpha Centauri. 

“We are getting a better class of 2-year-old every year,” Harrington said. “We have 75 this year. It's lovely to have some of the pedigrees that we have. You look down through the list and some of them really could be anything. They're not just early pedigrees, and the ones that we have run just came to hand, but they should continue progressing. We have a Kuroshio colt, called Panic Alarm (Ire), Keepingupwithmyempire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Slick Chick (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), and they will be the next three to run for us.”

She added, “Alpha Centauri's first foal is called Saturn and he's pretty forward. Alpha Centauri made her debut in May and I don't think this fellow will take very long. It will depend on how he goes in the next couple of weeks. He's very mature in his mind and does everything very easily.”

Stable jockey Shane Foley also spoke of a particular affinity for the Yulong-owned unnamed Dubawi colt out of the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Spectre (Fr), a 410,000gns purchase at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

He said, “I love the Dubawi colt out of Spectre. He could be out in a seven-furlong maiden on Irish Derby weekend and should make up into a lovely middle-distance colt.”

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Sandrine Will Make 3YO Bow in 1000 Guineas

Kirsten Rausing's Group 2 winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) will make her 2022 debut in the 1600-metre G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1. A winner at first asking over the Kempton all-weather in May of 2021, the daughter of Seychelloise (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) followed up with a score in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, prior to capturing the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. back at HQ in July. Second in the G2 Lowther S. at York on Aug. 19, the consistent filly was third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. to end her year on Sept. 25. The Guineas will be her first time going beyond six furlongs.

“She's great,” trainer Andrew Balding told Sky Sports Racing. “She had a lovely winter holiday back at [the owner's] Lanwades Stud and came back in magnificent condition.

“She's really done well over the winter and we're hopeful she might stay a mile. We'll find that out in the Guineas. If she doesn't, she'll be a very smart sprinter, but she's a horse we're really looking forward to this year.”

Sandrine is not the only star of Balding's yard that holds Classic aspirations. G2 Coventry S. victor Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will also head straight to Newmarket, where he will make his 3-year-old bow in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Apr. 30. Also a winner when making his racecourse bow, Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) would go on to place second in a pair of Group 3s-the Acomb S. at York in August and the Autumn S. back at headquarters on Oct. 9. He will be pointed to a Classic trail first, as will Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who was listed placed in September.

Said Balding of his Classic colts, “Berkshire Shadow won the Coventry S. last year and ran a very good race at Goodwood, giving weight to Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) on soft ground which wasn't ideal for us. That horse subsequently won two Group 1s on soft ground so I think that's pretty good form.

“Then, bar a blip in the Gimcrack, I thought he ran a good race from a moderate draw in the Dewhurst and hit the line well. He'll go straight for the Guineas and would have an outside chance.

“Imperial Fighter and Hoo Ya Mal have a similar level of form and are two nice colts. Whether they are up to Classic standard, we'll find out. Hopefully, they will take in a trial and then we'll see where we are.”

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Nell Gwyn Goal For Zain Claudette

Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never), the winner of last year's G2 Lowther S. and G3 Princess Margaret S., is on course to run in the Apr. 12 G3 Nell Gwyn S. as a stepping stone to the G1 1000 Guineas.

Trainer Ismail Mohammed said, “She is doing well and we will run her in the trial at Newmarket over seven furlongs. I am happy with how she is working and I think she will handle seven furlongs. We have to step her up to seven before we decide to go over a mile.”

Mohammed could also have a runner on Dubai World Cup night, with Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal) possible for the G1 Golden Shaheen after finishing second in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Saudi Cup Day Feb. 26. The Betway All-Weather Championship Sprint on Apr. 15 is also under consideration for the 7-year-old.

“He ran very well [in Saudi],” said Mohammed. “We challenged the winner [Dancing Prince], but he ran away from us. He's a good horse.

“He came back home safe and we have the dirt sprint on Dubai World Cup night in our mind. We have entered him and we are waiting to hear. There is also the all-weather race in the UK, three weeks after the World Cup. We will see how it goes. He qualified for the final by winning a listed at Lingfield.”

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O’Brien-Trained Mother Earth Very Game In Prix Rothschild

The Prix Rothschild, a Group 1 race restricted to fillies and mares, and run over one mile on the straight course at La Touques racecourse, kick-started the 2021 Deauville Barrière Meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 3rd. After a superb battle, it was the Irish filly Mother Earth who carried the day at the main expense of the French pair, Sagamiyra and Speak of the Devil. The first four home finished within half a length of each other.

Mother Earth (Zoffany) didn't have the clearest of runs but the 3-year-old filly showed great courage to fend off all comers. Carrying the label of the Coolmore, the international powerhouse, Mother Earth already won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, a classic race which seeks to determine the best future breeding prospects. She followed this up with three excellent performances, having finished second in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and third in both the Coronation Stakes and Falmouth Stakes – three very prestigious Group 1 events.

“She's very tough and very consistent,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said of Mother Earth. “Ryan [Moore] gave her a lovely ride and she is very  professional. We are very lucky in France this year, Ioritz [Mendizabal] gave our horses some great rides as did Ryan today and we are very lucky to have some very well bred horses. Mother Earth has a great mind. She travels very well, she settles very well and she quickens very well. She is a very good filly. We think the mile is really her trip as she travels really well. Sometimes, when she goes to the front, she waits a little bit but the mile is her perfect trip, we think, at the moment.

“I don't think she needs a break: she is very professional and she takes her races very well and loves racing. Her races are spaced out nice that far and she has come from her races very well. The Matron or the Moulin could be options, she is on all those races. We will see how she comes from this one before picking the next one. She is very versatile regarding the ground so America could be an option and she was second there last year.”

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