Richard Kingscote Named Retained Jockey For Green Team Racing

Richard Kingscote, who won the G1 Derby aboard Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in 2022, will become the new retained jockey for Ahmad Al Shaikh's Green Team Racing.

The jockey, who will continue his association with trainer Sir Michael Stoute, already celebrated his first victory in the Green Team colours, when Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) won a novice at Kempton on Wednesday. Kingscote's other notable wins include the G1 Champion S. aboard Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), as well as the G1 Irish St Leger aboard Brown Panther (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) and with rising sire star Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), victorious in the 2018 G1 Flying Five S.

“Green Team Racing are delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached with the star jockey Richard Kingscote to be the team's number one jockey, and for him to have Green Team Racing as his first option after his commitments to trainer Sir Michael Stoute,” the organisation said on X/Twitter.

Al Shaikh, who prefers to focus on middle-distance horses with an eye to winning the Derby, has already run second in two Derbys–in 2020 with Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) and in 2022 with Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

The post Richard Kingscote Named Retained Jockey For Green Team Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Roaring Lion Colt Battles To Criterium de Saint-Cloud Triumph

Ahmad Al Shaikh's Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion–Beach Bunny {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) backed up victories at Windsor and Kempton in August with a half-length second in last month's G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket and stepped forward to register a determined success in Saturday's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, becoming the first Group 1 winner from the lone crop of his sire (by Kitten's Joy). The 49-10 chance was swiftly into stride and led through the early fractions of this 10-furlong test. Headed on the turn for home, he came under pressure at the top of the straight to regain a slender advantage passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out in the closing stages to deny fellow British challenger Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) by a head after a to-and-fro tussle, the duo six lengths clear of the remainder headed by Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

“He came second in the Royal Lodge so, in that sense, he has exactly the same profile to [2020 winner] Gear Up,” said trainer Mark Johnston after claiming a second win in the contest. “They are similar horses in other ways and this fellow clearly looks like he stays and will stay further. It's sad that the sire's no longer with us and we've had a lot of success with his first crop.”

Reflecting on Dubai Mile's performance, Johnston added, “It's fantastic the way he has come back and it was a tremendous ride by the jockey. I think we all thought we were looking for fourth place on the bend and Daniel [Muscutt] said he felt it would have been a mistake to rush the horse when he was headed and he gradually worked back into it. That was clearly the right decision. The horse has surprised a lot of people, including us, along the way because he has a style of racing where he looks green in every race. That was his fifth race and he still looks a little bit green, but he's clearly got a tremendous attitude. When he's got something to aim at he keeps finding a bit more.”

Looking ahead, the trainer continued, “[Owner] Ahmad Al Shaikh has some very clever ideas and has helped campaign the horse very well. He was due to be sold before the Royal Lodge, but the deal was never completed. He's in the [Tattersalls] Horses-in-Training sale next week and he may yet go there.”

Pedigree Notes
Dubai Mile is the ninth foal and scorer produced by stakes-winning G1 Pretty Polly S. runner-up Beach Bunny (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself the leading performer out of an unraced half-sister to G1 1000 Guineas heroine Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Beach Bunny is kin to the dam of G3 Grosser Preis von Lotto Hamburg victor King David (Den) (Elusive City). The March-foaled chestnut is kin to stakes-winning dual Group 3 placegetter Naadirr (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Listed Naas Fillies Sprint victrix Beach Belle (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a weanling colt by Sottsass (Fr). Beach Belle, in turn, is the dam of Listed King Charles II S. winner Surf Dancer (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 2yo, c/f, 10fT, 2:20.57, hy.
1–DUBAI MILE (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Roaring Lion
1st Dam: Beach Bunny (Ire) (SW & G1SP-Ire, $263,884), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Miss Hawai (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Miss Tahiti (Ire), by Tirol (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€20,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Charlie & Mark Johnston; J-Daniel Muscutt. €142,850. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 5-3-1-0, €184,225. *1/2 to Naadirr (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), MSW & GSP-Eng, GSP-Ity, $307,838; and Beach Belle (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Arrest (Ire), 126, c, 2, Frankel (GB)–Nisriyna (Ire), by Intikhab. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€440,000 Wlg '20 GOFNOV). O-Juddmonte; B-Swordlestown Little (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. €57,150.
3–Adelaide River (Ire), 126, c, 2, Australia (GB)–Could It Be Love, by War Front. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,575.
Margins: HD, 6, NK. Odds: 4.90, 2.30, 3.50.
Also Ran: Gan Teorainn (Ire), Sylphid (GB), Cite d'Or (Fr), Ndaawi (GB), Covent Garden (Ire), Strako (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

The post Roaring Lion Colt Battles To Criterium de Saint-Cloud Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Roaring Lion Colt Becomes Mark Johnston’s 5,000th Winner

Ahmad Al Shaikh's twice-raced 2-year-old colt Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion–Beach Bunny {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}), a €20,000 Goffs Orby graduate, notched a landmark score for Mark Johnston when making all in Wednesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice S. at Kempton. The March-foaled chestnut, who was let go as the 6-5 favourite, became the trainer's 5,000th winner when annexing the one-mile test by an impressive four lengths from 13-8 market rival Super Mo (Uncle Mo).

1st-Kempton, £6,800, Nov, 8-24, 2yo, 8f (AWT), 1:42.35, st/sl.
DUBAI MILE (IRE) (c, 2, Roaring Lion–Beach Bunny {Ire} {SW & G1SP-Ire, $263,884}, by High Chaparral {Ire}), a €20,000 Goffs Orby graduate penalised seven pounds for breaking through in an extended-mile test at Windsor earlier this month, broke sharply and raced on the lead from flagfall here. Scrubbed along to maintain control approaching the final quarter mile, the 6-5 favourite was safely clear passing the eighth pole and kept on powerfully in the closing stages to easily defeat 13-8 market rival Super Mo (Uncle Mo) by an impressive four lengths, becoming trainer Mark Johnston's 5,000th winner. “I liked him a lot when I won on him at Windsor, he was fairly raw and made his own running that day too,” said rider Daniel Muscutt of the G2 Royal Lodge S. entry. “He didn't really engage until horses came to him last time and he put himself in the right position again today. He travelled much smoother through the early part of the race, with a bit of company, and as soon as I gave him the office in the straight he dropped his head to the floor and galloped away. That seems to be a trait of the few Roaring Lions I have ridden. He's a big baby and has plenty of scope and, next year, he'll be a nice 3-year-old over a little bit further. He's got a great action, he's a well-balanced colt and covers a lot of ground. He's a nice horse and, hopefully, he'll keep improving.” Reflecting on his unique achievement, Johnston added, “It's obviously a bit different from breaking the [British] record in 2018, you could say no one has reached 4,194 winners, so it's not as if I'm breaking new ground. It's just another landmark and setting the bar higher for people to try to reach. The main thing is the whole business revolves around winners and a lot of winners means a lot of happy owners and, hopefully, we can continue doing the same thing. The most important thing is Charlie's now getting credit for something that he's been doing for quite some time in the business. It's certainly part of the plan that he will take over at some stage in the relatively near future, but we don't know when that will be.” Dubai Mile is the ninth foal and winner produced by stakes-winning G1 Pretty Polly S. runner-up Beach Bunny (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself the leading performer out of an unraced half to G1 1000 Guineas heroine Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). The March-foaled chestnut is kin to stakes-winning dual Group 3 placegetter Naadirr (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Listed Naas Fillies Sprint victrix Beach Belle (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a weanling colt by Sottsass (Fr). Beach Belle, in turn, is the dam of Listed King Charles II S. winner Surf Dancer (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Sales history: €20,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $9,379.
O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Charlie & Mark Johnston.

The post Roaring Lion Colt Becomes Mark Johnston’s 5,000th Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

£1.2 Million Derby Second Set for Australia

LONDON, UK–There has been an awful lot of water under the bridge since Goffs UK last convened its London Sale in the royal parks, but somehow the bloodstock market has meanwhile stayed buoyantly afloat. In this country, demand for horses in training has remained a priceless lifeline, and the additional kudos of a Royal Ascot entry for the majority of lots elevated the bidding along with the thermometer as summer made a timely arrival in Kensington Palace Gardens.

That proved equally true among those defending reserves and those managing to overcome them, who were split 50-50 through two dozen lots. It was striking, however, that the biggest investments of the evening were both animated by agendas extending far beyond what may or may not be achieved down the road this week.

These were headed by the Australian partnership that responded to an extraordinary opportunity in G1 Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) [6] with a no less extraordinary opening bid of £1 million.

That was enough to cause a prolonged silence, if not among those present principally to sip cocktails or admire couture, then certainly among anyone else contemplating a bid. Eventually some resistance was mustered, actually by telephone from California, but the authors of this bold strategy–namely Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and clients Go Bloodstock–soon won the day at £1.2 million, the docket signed by their longstanding local agent Johnny McKeever. The underbidder turned out to be Marie Yoshida of Asian Bloodstock Services, on the line to Nick Nugent from Los Angeles.

Of the various plaudits to be shared for this coup, top billing must go to that remarkable judge Federico Barberini, who has found so many bargains in the past and discovered this one in no less a catalogue than Tattersalls October Book 1 for just 40,000gns. His client Ahmad Al Shaikh sent the horse to Kingsclere, where he had made nice progress through three juvenile starts and then a couple of the spring trials at    Newmarket, while still seeming a tier down from the elite of the crop. Hence his starting price of 150-1 at Epsom, but he outran those odds in startling fashion–and connections opted to strike while the iron was hot.

“You rarely get the chance to purchase horses of this calibre,” Bott explained afterwards. “He has a profile we think we will really suit Australia, with the Melbourne Cup obviously high up the agenda. As you know, the industry in Australia seems vibrant and healthy, so we want to try to capitalise on that, there's some great prizemoney around and he's a horse that can race at the level we want to be.

“He was on the radar when he was entered for the sale, so did a bit of homework prior to the Derby. Obviously his run there confirmed what we were thinking, and that's what you want with a lightly raced horse: continued improvement every time he's stepped out.”

As for detonating the bidding with a seven-figure opening salvo, Bott said with a shrug: “Look, you know where a horse like this is going to fit in the market and we just thought you should show your intentions at what was a fair price. Prices are dictated by their recent form and obviously not many horses at that level come onto the market too often, so you're not paying these amounts too often, either. So it's all relative. A horse like this, coming down to Australia, is hard to get hold of, so we knew we had to be strong. We've had to pay was obviously what fair amount, but we're excited to get him down there and see what he can do for us.”

His purchasers will now consult Andrew Balding about his two entries later in the week, respectively in the G3 Hampton Court S. on Thursday and the G2 King Edward VII S. the next day.

“We'll have a discussion with Andrew and see how he feels about how the horse has done after that run in the Derby,” Bott said. “First and foremost, we want to do the right thing by the horse, though obviously it would be a huge attraction for the new connections to have an Ascot runner.”

 

The Force Is with O'Callaghan

In contrast to Balding, who must soon bid farewell to one of his rising stars, Michael O'Callaghan found himself in a “win-win” situation after Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) [24] became the latest and perhaps most remarkable vindication for his business model of targeting the breeze-ups as a platform for resale.

It was less than two months ago that the Curragh trainer gave 160,000gns for this colt at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up, from the Tally-Ho consignment that had such a fine run in that sector this spring. O'Callaghan launched Crypto Force in a maiden at his home track 13 days before the sale and, while the odds-on favourite from Ballydoyle did not have the best of runs in second, that does alter the acceleration he showed to win unthreatened.

If he takes up his engagement in the Listed Chesham S. on Saturday, Crypto Force will do so in the cause of Kia Joorabchian, agent Hamish Macauley having signed a 900,000gns docket in the names of Omnihorse/Amo Racing.

“We don't have too many of that type,” explained Joorabchian, who confirmed the colt will stay in the yard. “He could potentially be a Derby horses next year. Potentially. He showed that he stays [seven furlongs] well, and now that I'm racing in Ireland I know how very, very tough the competition is there. I appreciate how hard it is to win a maiden like that. He finished very strong and he has a very strong pedigree. We came here to buy him–and we got him.”

The colt is out of a young Galileo (Ire) mare while his third dam is a stakes-winning half-sister to Pilsudski (Ire), a painful Royal Ascot memory for some of us. He somehow finished 17th off a mark of 82 in the King George V H. at Royal Ascot in 1995, before proceeding to win six Group 1s and twice finishing runner-up in the Arc!

O'Callaghan had earlier set up a superb evening's work when selling on Harry Time (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}), an 82,000gns breezer at the Craven Sale, to Meah Lloyd for £300,000 as Lot 5.

Harry Time won on debut at Navan and holds an entry in the G2 Coventry S. on Tuesday. David Meah explained that this was a return to the same well that produced G1 Commonwealth Cup fancy Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twlight Son {GB}) as an investment for Michael and Julia Iavarone.

“We bought into Twilight Jet before his run at the Breeders' Cup Our relationship with Michael has grown and grown,” the agent said. “And win or lose, they've all flown over from America and we're going to have a great week: we're all here to have fun.”

 

Cadillac Leads Bargains with Horsepower

There were a series of cracking “racetrack pinhooks” among those that did meet their reserves. The 4-year-old Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), for instance, cost BBA Ireland €40,000 as an Orby yearling but then won his debut for Jessica Harrington by nine lengths and won a Group 2 as a juvenile. He confirmed his continued potency when winning a Listed race earlier in the month and duly figures among the leading fancies for the Listed Wolferton S. on Tuesday's opening card–after which he will transfer to Kevin Philippart de Foy, whose client Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah stretched to £500,000 for Lot 20.

“Yes, he'll be coming to me at the end of the week,” his new trainer confirmed happily. “Sheikh Abdullah has been a great supporter of the yard over the last year and has Juan De Montalban (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) running in the last race tomorrow. We've followed this horse all the way through: he has shown excellent form on good ground, probably doesn't want it too soft, and could possibly be one to go to the Middle East next winter.”

Cresta (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) was another bargain sold by this auction house, found at their Premier Sale at Doncaster in 2020 by Dermot Farrington for only £21,000. Martyn and Freddy Meade have advanced his rating to 104 in just five starts, via placings in the G3 Horris Hill S. and Listed Dee S., and that forced Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock to £490,000 for Lot 23.

“He was purchased for Mohamed bin Hamad Al Attiyah,” said Douglass. “He will be exported to Qatar but will run at Royal Ascot [G3 Hampton Court S., Thursday] and perhaps once more before leaving. He's a progressive horse with a nice profile and by a sire that's on an upward curve.”

“He wasn't the biggest, but we just loved the way he moved,” recalled Meade Sr. of the young Cresta. “You've seen he has a lot of ability but I think he still has a lot of potential.”

There was no disguising the bittersweetness for Heather Main, either, after Ileach Mathan (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) catapulted his £25,000 value as an Orby yearling to £340,000 for Hong Kong clients of Richard Ryan as Lot 7. The gelding has even fewer miles on the clock, having won at Kempton on debut last autumn and then finished second on his Newbury reappearance.

“I just had to have him,” Main recalled. “He just had the deepest girth. They started calling me immediately after he ran at Newbury and I didn't want to sell, the owners didn't want to sell, but here we are. We had no choice, but it's sad to see him go. He's got a lovely temperament, he's a complete gentleman, lazy at home. He'll do very well out there, I'm sure.”

 

Happy Days Here Again

There is limited point in comparisons, with a boutique horses-in-training catalogue like this, though Goffs UK chairman and Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby naturally noted that business stacked up very well–turnover up 42 percent, average up 18 percent, and median down nine percent–compared with the last auction staged in the royal parks before derailment of the most sociable week of the British Turf.

“We're delighted to be back, after everything everyone has had to endure during the two-year hiatus, and we're absolutely delighted with the results,” Beeby said. “The team has put in a huge effort to bring this sale back to Kensington Palace Gardens, and to bring some wonderful horses to the catalogue. To get a Derby second was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he made a fitting price.

“The sale has come back in style, and we're extremely grateful to the vendors–not least of the top lot, who could probably have sold many times over before the sale. Fair play to the underbidders as well, it was obviously quite an operation, with one line from L.A. to Nick here and another line apparently open to a client in New York.”

Though half the offerings did not sell, the timing of this sale has always allowed vendors to make a bet to nothing.

“At a normal sale, a 50 percent clearance rate would obviously be very disappointing,” Beeby remarked. “But what we always say to vendors is that you might get premium, with Ascot—and if you don't, well, don't sell! Just have a shot. Some people are just as happy not to sell. We're very grateful to them all, to all our partners as well, and thankfully the weather also played its part. It was a joyful occasion.”

The post £1.2 Million Derby Second Set for Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights