Tag: Aidan O’Brien

Siyouni’s TDN Rising Star Paddington Makes History In The St James’s Palace

In the battle of the 2000 Guineas winners in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S., it was the Irish Classic victor Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) who proved much the best as he overwhelmed the Newmarket hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to make Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot's winningmost trainer on 83.

Settled behind the leaders from his wide draw by Ryan Moore as Frankie took the Juddmonte representative to the front, the 11-5 second favourite moved to his chief rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and was cajoled clear to score by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths. Chaldean finished like a non-stayer, but the 13-8 market-leader held on for second by a neck from Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“He's a very good colt who is improving and improving and has a big engine and a lot of class,” Moore said after registering his 75th Royal success. “Maybe I should have ridden him colder, as he quickened up past them and then probably shut down. He took me there quite easy and, when he put his foot down, he found plenty.”

Delivered to the Irish 2000 Guineas via Naas's Madrid H. and The Curragh's Listed Tetrarch S., Paddington came into the Curragh Classic with a lower profile than usual for his stable only to emerge very much the real deal en route to this moment of truth. Forced to travel wide from his outside post, he fortunately proved more tractable than he had in the initial stages of the Irish Guineas and was at least granted a true pace with Frankie going out to put the gun to the heads of his rivals.

Heading to the three pole, Chaldean looked strong but a furlong later the writing was already on the wall with Frankie at work and Ryan looming large to his right. Whereas Andrew Balding's charge tended to tread water from there, Paddington was hands and heels to the line to win with comfort. Intriguingly, the winner was faster than the runner-up for six of the eight furlongs and for all of the last five in a race that ended up being run too fast too early.

O'Brien, who now boasts nine St James's Palace S., was opening the door to a program over more than a mile in time. “He is able to quicken very well–that is his big thing,” he said. “John [Magnier] said to me that this horse would get further than a mile if you wanted him to, no problem. The lads will have to think about whether they want to go to Goodwood [for the Sussex S.]. He has all the options, because he has the speed to be a top miler as we see, so it's very exciting.”

Andrew Balding said of Chaldean, “Frankie has felt he probably just overdid it a little early, but I'm not sure whether that would have made a difference to the result. They are two very high-class horses.”

Roger Varian said of Charyn, who put up a personal best in third, “I am delighted with how he ran–he seems to be improving. He was beaten the same distance today by Paddington as he was at The Curragh. He's versatile, tough and genuine. I don't think he's out of place in this company and I think he'll keep improving all year.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins, Paddington who was the joint-second highest-priced lot when realising €420,000 at the 2021 Arqana October Sale is currently the last known foal out of the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit winner Modern Eagle (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}). Her first progeny was Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was twice listed-placed in France while she is a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and a half to the Listed Vintage Tipple S. winner and G3 Loughbrown S.-placed Mighty Blue (Fr) by Montjeu's son Authorized (Ire). Millionaia is out of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), who is also the second dam of the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best) while the fourth dam Madelia (Fr) (Caro) scored three times at the highest level including in the Diane.

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ST JAMES'S PALACE S.-G1, £600,000, Ascot, 6-20, 3yo, c, 7f 213yT, 1:40.74, gd.
1–PADDINGTON (GB), 128, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Modern Eagle (Ger) (SW-Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Millionaia (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba
(€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 6-5-0-0, $811,659. Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Chaldean (GB), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Suelita (GB), by Dutch Art (GB). (550,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Juddmonte; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £129,000.
3–Charyn (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £64,560.
Margins: 3 3/4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 2.20, 1.63, 33.00.
Also Ran: Isaac Shelby (GB), Indestructible (Ire), Mostabshir (GB), Cicero's Gift (GB), Royal Scotsman (GB), Galeron (Ire).

 

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Coventry Glory For Wootton Bassett’s TDN Rising Star River Tiber

Significantly-supported into 11-8 favouritism for Tuesday's G2 Coventry S., TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Transcendence {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) justified that confidence to provide Aidan O'Brien with a landmark 10th renewal of the juvenile feature which had announced his arrival back in 1997. Successful by a cumulative margin of 12 1/2 lengths in two starts at Navan and Naas, the 480,000gns Book 1 graduate could be spotted cruising near the front of the far-side group led by Bronsan Racing's oven-ready purchase Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

Students of Ryan Moore's body language would have noted that he sat motionless for the first four furlongs and as he asked the question two out River Tiber picked up as expected to wear down Monday night's Goffs London sensation with just over half a furlong to race. From there the sense of inevitability became reality as he found the line a neck ahead of the Archie Watson-trained Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}), who was a few horse-widths away up the centre with another son of Wootton Bassett in Bucanero Fuerte (GB) 3/4 of a length behind him in third.

There had been trouble in the stalls, with the outsider Buyin Buyin (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle (GB) becoming upset and affecting his next-door neighbough Chief Mankato (GB) (Sioux Nation) in the process, leading to their withdrawal.

“It was a tricky start, with those horses getting upset and he didn't settle like he usually does in the stalls,” commented Moore, who was riding the first winner of an afternoon treble which would ultimately take him to 76 at Royal Ascot. “He travelled really well in the race and I probably put him to sleep a bit too much. I had to wake him up to get to them and I think he had a bit more in hand. We've always loved him and he'll probably go on to be a Dewhurst horse I'd have thought. For me, he stood over all of these–he looked different class.”

Aidan O'Brien, who was about to become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history, was not holding back as to his regard for the winner, who probably ranks up with the likes of Fasliyev, Landseer (Ire), Henrythenavigator, Power (GB) and Caravaggio. “He always looked very good,” he said. “He was never disappointing in any of his work and the stronger the work got, the stronger he became. His last piece of work he was almost doing too well, so that was my worry. We knew when he went over five last time that he was going to get six and seven comfortably.”

“You need the best horse to win the Coventry,” O'Brien added of the winner, whose inherent stamina probably made the difference off a hot early pace. “He has matured a lot, put on a lot of weight and just finds it very easy. We always thought he was a Guineas horse. If you think you have a Coventry horse, you almost know you have.”

Archie Watson, who was soon to have his moment in the sun with last year's Coventry winner Bradsell, was delighted with another big performance for a Victorious Racing colour-bearer in Army Ethos. “He's always had so much class from the moment Oliver [St Lawrence] bought him at the Somerville Yearling Sale,” he said. “Hollie [Doyle] felt Ryan got a better tow into the race and she had to do it all herself when they started falling away on our side of the track. For a horse on his second run, it was a massive effort and I'm very proud of him.”

 

Pedigree Notes

The second TDN Rising Star to win the Coventry in successive years and the fourth to win a Royal Ascot juvenile contest since the start of the 2022 meeting, River Tiber is the second foal and first winner for the unraced dam, a daughter of the Swedish listed winner Cover Girl (Ire) (Common Grounds {GB}) who produced the Listed Harry Rosebery S. scorer and G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Molecomb S.-placed Mister Manannan (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}) and his Luther Burbank H.-winning and G3 Cornwallis S. and GIII Senorita S.-placed full-sister Shermeen (Ire).

Shermeen is responsible for a trio who represented Coolmore in some form in the G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. runner-up Sudirman (Henrythenavigator), the G3 Hampton Court S. runner-up Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the latter's full-brother Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who captured last year's Listed Dee S. and has gone on to add Australia's Listed Rosehill Gold Cup to his tally. Transcendence's yearling colt is by Mehmas (Ire).

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-20, 2yo, 6fT, 1:15.49, gd.
1–RIVER TIBER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cover Girl (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
3rd Dam: Peace Carrier (Ire), by Doulab
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $144,735. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Army Ethos (GB), 129, c, 2, Shalaa (Ire)–Dream Dana (Ire), by Dream Ahead. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (20,000gns RNA Wlg '21 TADEWE; 120,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass; B-Plantation Stud (GB); T-Archie Watson. £32,250.
3–Bucanero Fuerte (GB), 129, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Frida La Blonde (Fr), by Elusive City. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€165,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Amo Racing Ltd & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (GB); T-Adrian Murray. £16,140.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.38, 20.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Givemethebeatboys (Ire), Haatem (Ire), Bobsleigh (Ire), Watch My Tracer (Ire), Spanish Phoenix (Ire), Asadna (Ire), Cuban Thunder (Ire), Fandom (GB), Emperor's Son (Ire), The Camden Colt (Ire), Prince X J (Ire), Ticktyboo (GB), Flag Of St George (Ire), Politico (Ire), Alfa Whiteburd (Ire), Packard (Ire), Zoulu Chief (GB). Scratched: Buyin Buyin (Ire), Chief Mankato (GB).

 

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Plays And Lays: Who Are The Juveniles To Side With And Against At Ascot?

It never ceases to amaze how much debate the two-year-old races at Royal Ascot generate each year. A quick scan on racing Twitter over the past few days confirmed as much. 

For all the fascinating puzzles that the royal meeting will serve up this week, including whether Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) can cope with Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace, what will reign supreme in the Prince Of Wales's or if any of the Australian sprinters can land a blow in the King's Stand S., it's the juvenile races that seem to be generating the most chatter.

TDN Europe's Brian Sheerin has taken a look at the main juvenile races to be run at Ascot and tried to decipher who to be on and who to side against this week. 

G2 Coventry S. – Tuesday

Play

The Coventry features a battle between TDN Rising Stars River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and it's hard to argue that the market has not got this one right. 

Favourites have a good record in the Coventry, with five of the past 12 doing the business, and River Tiber does not appear to have many chinks in his armour. 

A 10-length winner on soft ground at Navan on debut, Aidan O'Brien's charge proved just as effective on good ground when carrying a winner's penalty in a conditions event at Naas. 

The form of that race has worked out well since, with the fourth home, Supersonic Man (GB) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), now a 16-1 chance for the Windsor Castle after winning nicely at Tipperary last time. 

Wootton Bassett has had a couple of high-class juvenile performers, including Al Riffa (Fr) and Chindit (Ire), and River Tiber has already posted some decent figures. 

It's unoriginal but there's very little not to like about the Ballydoyle colt and he may well prove another winning favourite of the Coventry. 

Lay

Asadna put in one of the most visually impressive two-year-old performances of the season so far when streaking 12 lengths clear of his rivals on debut at Ripon but the case could be made that odds of 7-2 about him in the Coventry look skimpy. 

For all that he was mightily impressive, the form of that race has not worked out, and he obviously hadn't been showing connections that brilliance at home given he was allowed to go off a 4-1 chance on the day. 

Compared to River Tiber, who has gone on and beaten better opposition after his wide-margin debut win, the George Boughey-trained Asadna has not been tested since that emphatic Ripon success. 

Asadna could well be a freak, but River Tiber represents an altogether different test to what he faced on debut and he could be worth taking on at the prices. 

Dark horse

Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) could be the one who is slipping in under the radar in the Coventry. 

Amo Racing may have had the runner-up in the Derby this year but the modus operandi of the operation has been to unearth classy two-year-olds, and this guy looked just that when winning the opening juvenile maiden of the year in Ireland at the Curragh. 

Not seen since then, Bucanero Fuerte will need to overcome the fact that 11 out of the past 12 Coventry runners had run within a month of Royal Ascot, but fitness shouldn't be a worry given he hails from such a professional operation. 

He's drawn beside the speedy Asadna so should get a good tow into the race. At odds of 16-1, this brother to Wooded (Ire) could represent better each-way value than the Boughey runner. 

G2 Queen Mary S. – Wednesday

Play

Beautiful Diamond (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) would appear the one to be on. Karl Burke is operating at a whopping 26% strike-rate with his juveniles this term and he probably doesn't have many more exciting young fillies in his yard than this daughter of Twilight Son. 

Snapped up by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for £360,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale from Tradewinds Stud, Beautiful Diamond made a perfect start to her career at Nottingham. 

There was a lot to like about the performance given she won by over three lengths going away at the line without having to be asked for maximum effort. 

Hailing from a stable who won this race last year and carrying the yellow and black silks of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, which have been synonymous with Royal Ascot winners, it's hard to get away from Beautiful Diamond in the Queen Mary. 

Lay

Like Bright Diamond, Born To Rock (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) was snapped up from breeze-up sales and made an immediate impact when landing a Yarmouth maiden in good style. 

However, the form of the race has not worked out as well as one might have hoped and, given she was installed as a 10-1 chance immediately afterwards, it's hard to be too enthused by the 9-2 on offer. 

Not only have the second and third from that Yarmouth maiden disappointed on their subsequent starts but the fourth home, Mantra (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who was beaten just over five lengths by Born To Rock, was then beaten by over 15 lengths by Beautiful Diamond at Nottingham.

Given Mantra had the advantage of a run under her belt, one would have thought that she ought to be getting closer to Beautiful Diamond than she did. At roughly the same prices, Beautiful Diamond would have to represent the better value. 

Dark horse

Conrad Allen is not a trainer that one would associate with Royal Ascot-winning two-year-olds and, prior to Princess Chizara (Ire) winning on debut at Brighton, the stable was 0-28 with its juveniles in the past five years. 

Admittedly, that is a small sample size, but the point stands that Princess Chizara is clearly one of the smartest juveniles the trainer has got his hands on in a very long time. 

It may only have been a Brighton maiden but there was a lot to like about how Princess Chizara  accounted for a Richard Hannon-trained 2-9 favourite to win by over four lengths at the line. 

The Cotai Glory (GB) filly was clearly well-produced by Stevie Byrne of Knockgraffon Stables at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, where she was knocked down to Allen for 65,000gns after recording one of the fastest times. 

What she lacks for in size, Princess Chizara more than makes up for in ability, and she could well out-run her 33-1 odds in what looks a deep race. 

G2 Norfolk S. – Thursday

Play

Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) looked the real deal when landing a listed contest at Sandown last month and is another high-class juvenile that Karl Burke can look forward to running at the royal meeting. 

Unbeaten in both of his starts to date, Elite Status was described as a 'potential superstar sprinter' by his trainer after Sandown and it was easy to see why given he has such an honest and natural way of galloping. 

Of all the juvenile favourites running this week, Elite Status probably has the most rock-solid credentials, and he looks the one to be on in the Norfolk. 

Lay

In a normal year, American Rascal (Curlin) may well have been expected to go off favourite but the presence of Elite Status in the race means that will be unlikely. 

It's also worth noting that Wesley Ward's runners tend to be over-bet at this meeting, for all that he has enjoyed colossal success down through the years.

American Rascal looked very good when winning on debut at Keeneland but he'll need to be up there with the best of what Ward has targeted at this meeting with to give Elite Status something to think about. 

Dark horse

This is not just about the top two in the betting as Donnacha O'Brien's Devious (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) needs to be respected. 

He showed natural speed and talent when landing the odds on debut over the minimum trip at Naas where he looked a bona fide Norfolk horse and earned a TDN Rising Star in the process. He's smart.

Others to note

It is interesting that Donnacha O'Brien has secured Frankie Dettori to ride Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Friday's G3 Albany S. She looked good when winning a five-furlong Curragh maiden on debut and was even better when winning a Group 3 at Naas over a furlong further last month. She's clearly a filly on the up and could well go off shorter than the 8-1 that is available now. 

There are no entries for Saturday's Chesham S. but, if Pink Satin (GB) turns up, which was reported to be the plan after she won on debut at Windsor, she would have to be respected. There was plenty of each-way support around for Pink Satin at Windsor and she put a well-regarded filly to the sword to win going away by just over a length in the finish. 

She will have a relatively quick turnaround to overcome, given that debut win came just last Monday, but Paul and Oliver Cole didn't appear to be too worried about that in the winner's enclosure at Windsor. 

She looks to be another strapping daughter of Churchill (Ire) and, given it is not too uncommon for fillies to pop up in the Chesham every now and again [Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2011 and September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2017], she could be one to keep on side. 

 

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Daughter Of Diamondsandrubies Debuts At Navan

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. Sunday's Observations features a No Nay Never daughter of a Group 1 winner.

14.00 Navan, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 5fT
PEARLS AND RUBIES (No Nay Never) is bred on the same lines as Roisin Henry's G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Midnight Mile (Ire), being by the same sire from the family of their G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Aidan O'Brien has charge of the daughter of the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who meets nine rivals on this debut with Ryan Moore on board.

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