Half to Adelaide River Starts at The Curragh

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a half to Group 1 winner Adelaide River.

13.15 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 7fT
EVERLASTING (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is one of a trio from Ballydoyle and as the only newcomer with Ryan Moore on board the clues as to her ability are already writ large. A half-sister to this year's G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}), daughter of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Could It Be Love (War Front) and relative of Uncle Mo, she encounters a well-regarded Paddy Twomey trainee in Porters Place (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) from the family of Youmzain (Ire) and some experienced peers including Juddmonte's Cork runner-up Wendla (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), a Ger Lyons-trained daughter of Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill).

 

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Australia’s Adelaide River Takes The Kilternan

Making it another Irish Champions Day winner that was easy to find on paper, the third pattern-race winner for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore came in the G3 Paddy Power S. registered as the Kilternan S. courtesy of Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Always comfortable in a clear lead, the 11-8 favourite by virtue of the class edge he held having been runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris turned the screw from the top of the straight and may have been idling late as Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) cut the deficit to half a length.

O'Brien had a surprising admission about the colt who had pushed Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) so hard in the Curragh Classic. “We always thought he was kind of like Duke Of Marmalade, as he's after competing in big ones and getting very close in them but he's such a big horse that he's definitely going to have to be a way better horse next year,” he said. “He's after having a few tough races in second so it was nice for him to come here and Ryan was able to dictate his own pace on him. He said he did quicken very well, but just got a bit lonely in the last half a furlong.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Adelaide River, who had also been third in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and second in the G2 Beresford S. as a 2-year-old, is the first foal out of Could It Be Love (War Front) who was second in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and a clutch of lesser black-type contests. A half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Champagne S.-winning champion and leading sire Uncle Mo, her unraced 2-year-old filly Everlasting (Ire) is by Kingman (GB), while she also has a yearling by the same sire due to sell on Monday at the Keeneland September Sale. She was bred to Gun Runner for 2024.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
PADDY POWER S. (KILTERNAN S.)-G3, €100,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:31.05, gd.
1–ADELAIDE RIVER (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Could It Be Love (G1SP-Ire & GSP-Eng, $163,827), by War Front
2nd Dam: Playa Maya, by Arch
3rd Dam: Dixie Slippers, by Dixieland Band
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €60,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ire & GSP-Eng, 9-2-5-1, $584,982. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Al Aasy (Ire), 138, g, 6, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Kitcara (GB), by Shamardal. (300,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William Haggas. €20,000.
3–Layfayette (Ire), 138, g, 6, French Navy (GB)–Scala Romana (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). (€4,000 Ylg '18 TIRSEP; €54,000 2yo '19 TATGOR). O-Mrs Patricia Hunt; B-Matthew Duffy (IRE); T-Noel Meade. €10,000.
Margins: HF, HF, HF. Odds: 1.38, 2.25, 25.00.
Also Ran: White Birch (GB), Valiant King (GB), Mashhoor (GB), Young Ireland (Ire).

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O’Brien Planning Strong King George Assault Led By Auguste Rodin

As many as six horses from Aidan O'Brien's yard, including dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), will line up in the G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 29.

Riding a two-race winning streak after taking Epsom's Blue Riband last month and the Irish equivalent for the Coolmore partners, Auguste Rodin beat stable-mate Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the latter. He will aim to emulate former Coolmore kingpin Galileo (Ire) with a victory in the King George after winning two Derbys.

“He's on that programme, and so far, everything is going well [for the King George],” O'Brien told the Nick Luck Daily podcast on Wednesday,

The aforementioned Adelaide River enters off another strong second-place effort in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on June 14. He is joined by Group 1-winning older horses Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the G2 Huxley S. hero and Group 1-placed Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is another possible runner.

“Luxembourg is a very strong possible at the moment,” O'Brien continued. “Point Lonsdale is a strong possible at the moment. Broome, like I said, he could go [for the King George], and probably will go to Goodwood for the two miles [G1 Goodwood Cup S. on Aug. 1]. Bolshoi Ballet is a very strong possible. And then, obviously, Auguste Rodin and Adelaide River, we'd have to see how he [Adelaide River] came out of the race [G1 Grand Prix de Paris] and give him a little bit of time to see before we make any decision about him.”

O'Brien also provided an update on likely G1 Sussex S. runner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who will potentially represent the Coolmore partners in the G1 Cox Plate in the autumn.

He said, “Everything went well since [the Eclipse], and is at the moment. He's on that plan and that programme [for the Sussex] at the moment.”

The Coolmore partners also have five of the nine fillies currently entered in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. G3 Cheshire Oaks heroine and G1 Oaks runner-up Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G2 Ribblesdale S. victress Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) were pleasing the Rosegreen handler particularly. He also has listed winner Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and winner Lambada (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) signed on.

“I suppose, we have three very strong fillies in there,” O'Brien added. “Obviously, the filly [Savethelastdance] from Chester we think is very well. This has always been her programme. And then the filly [Warm Heart] who won at Ascot. We weren't sure that stepping up the a mile and a half would suit her, but it obviously improved her.

“Another filly called Be Happy which we have always thought a lot of, [is in the race]. She was withdrawn at the last minute from the Oaks and we had her ready to run again, and she got an infection in her foot. The last three weeks everything has been very good with her. The plan is that is where she is going now at the moment, as well.”

Pair Of Contenders Pleasing Connections In Latest King George Works

Saeed Suhail's 2022 Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) also remains in contention for the Ascot showpiece. Off for over a year with an ankle injury, the 4-year-old ran second in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown earlier this season. Another minor setback kept the Sir Michael Stoute trainee out of Royal Ascot and a run in the G1 Prince of Wales's S., but he pleased his connections in a work at Newmarket on Wednesday morning.

Suhail's racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said, “He worked this morning and Ryan [Moore] rode him. Michael was very pleased with him and I think there is a good chance he will go to Ascot.

“He worked nicely. It was a pleasing gallop. I can't say he is certain for the race, but everyone was very happy with him. There's a good chance he will go to Ascot.”

Already a winner of the King George in 2022, two-time Group 1 scorer Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) also remains among the entries. He decisively won the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June for co-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick in the colours of the La Pyle Partnership.

“He just did want we wanted and we were delighted with him,” said Muir of the 6-year-old's Newbury gallop.

“It was not a serious, hard gallop, it was just a day out really. He goes to Newbury, has a warm-up little canter and then covers the distance, that's all. He did great. We're keeping our fingers crossed and we're in good shape. Fingers crossed we'll be there at Ascot.”

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Grand Prix De Paris Glory For Kingman’s TDN Rising Star Feed The Flame

Putting the “wow factor” into Friday night's G1 Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp, Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard's TDN Rising Star Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Knyazhna {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) swooped on unsuspecting victims to provide further proof of the outstanding merit of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club form. Only fourth behind Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in that 10 1/2-furlong Chantilly Classic, the Pascal Bary trainee who had dazzled on his first two starts looked an unlikely winner throughout the early stages with Cristian Demuro detached in last.

It was not until the turn into the straight that the eventual winner truly engaged and while he had all rivals still to pass there, he was in their range and ready to fire his bullets. Ryan Moore committed first on the Irish Derby runner-up Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) with the 8-5 favourite Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) chasing hard, but it was Feed The Flame who was finishing with the biggest rattle on the outside. Looking as if he had jumped in 100 metres from the finish, the 13-5 second favourite was in domineering mood as he registered a length verdict over Adelaide River, with the Oaks heroine Soul Sister a neck away in third.

“He's a great horse,” Bary said. “The Prix du Jockey Club came a little soon for him and 2400 metres is his true distance. He broke slow, but he needs time to warm up and he has terrific acceleration. I won this race for Juddmonte with Zambezi Sun and both horses had exactly the same career up to this, winning the same first two races and then finishing fourth in the Jockey Club, so history can repeat itself sometimes. We will give him a break now and wait for September and the [G2] Prix Niel and then the Arc.”

 

So demonstrative when successful by 5 1/2 lengths over 10 1/2 furlongs on the opening card of ParisLongchamp's 2023 season, Feed The Flame beat the subsequent G3 Prix Hocquart winner First Minister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and fellow TDN Rising Star Silver Crack (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}) next time over another 55 yards in this venue's Prix de Ferrieres conditions race prior to his first genuine test in the Jockey Club. This was probably an upgrade on that effort after a subsequent freshener, but it is hard to get away from how strong that race looks this year, with Ace Impact recording stunning sectionals to deny the top-class Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}).

Jean-Louis Bouchard said, “Christophe Soumillon said after his second outing that he was probably more of a 2400-metre colt rather than a Prix du Jockey Club colt and so an Arc type. We've been working together with Pascal Bary for a long time. With my trainers, it's very much a team effort and I'm also thinking of Stephane Wattel because it's thanks to him that if I own Feed the Flame as he trained the colt's brother Sacred Life for me who should have won his race.”

Soul Sister appeared to have no excuses in third and Kieran Shoemark said, “We didn't go particularly quick, which suited us because she's got a strong turn of foot and I tried to utilise that into the straight. She picked up well for me, but I struggled to peg back Ryan [Moore] and I think we've been beaten by a very good colt.”

Thady Gosden echoed that sentiment. “The winner looks an exceptional colt. He quickened by the whole field from arguably the worst position in the race like a proper horse,” he said. “He looked smart coming into this and was supplemented like our filly, he's probably one of the best mile-and-a-half horses around at the moment. She's run a very good race in defeat to him. There are options back with the fillies now, we'll see how she comes out of it and probably do that.”

Pedigree Notes

Feed The Flame is the sixth of seven foals and fourth winner out of the unraced Knyazhna, a half-sister to the dual group 2-placed sire Migwar (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who produced the aforementioned Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) whose career successes included the GIII Monmouth S., GIII Knickerbocker S. and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon. Also responsible for the G2 Prix Hocquart third Khagan (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), she is a granddaughter of the Listed Rose Bowl S. winner Crystal Crossing (Ire) (Royal Academy) who produced the G1 St Leger-winning sire and Derby runner-up Rule Of Law (Kingmambo), the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile runner-up Dame Marie (Smart Strike) and the listed-placed dam of the G3 Chartwell Fillies S. winner Tomyris (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Her unraced 2-year-old colt Gulf Legend (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a €300,000 private purchase at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale.

Friday, ParisLongchamp, France
GRAND PRIX DE PARIS-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 7-14, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:26.71, g/s.
1–FEED THE FLAME (GB), 129, c, 3, by Kingman (GB)
     1st Dam: Knyazhna (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Katyusha, by Kingmambo
     3rd Dam: Crystal Crossing (Ire), by Royal Academy
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST G1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. (€270,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud & Clear Light SAS (GB); T-Pascal Bary; J-Cristian Demuro. €342,840. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, €113,150. *1/2 to Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), MGSW-US & GSW-Fr, $920,768; and Khagan (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), MGSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Adelaide River (Ire), 129, c, 3, Australia (GB)–Could It Be Love, by War Front. O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €137,160.
3–Soul Sister (Ire), 126, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Dream Peace (Ire), by Dansili (GB). O/B-Lady Bamford (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. €68,580.
Margins: 1, NK, 3HF. Odds: 2.60, 4.20, 1.60.
Also Ran: First Minister (Ire), Winter Pudding (Fr), Rubis Vendome (GB), Peking Opera (Ire), Silawi (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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