Aidan O'Brien | Horse Racing Free Tips

Observations: Justify Duo Debut For Ballydoyle

Observations web blurb: 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.Wednesday's Observations features a pair of Justify colts debuting for Ballydole at Leopardstown.

1.55 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 10fT
ALL TIME GREAT (Justify) is the third foal out of the GI E. P. Taylor S. and G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Curvy (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who has produced the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. runner-up Caisson (War Front). From the family of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Power (GB), the February-foaled chestnut is partnered by Seamie Heffernan as Ballydoyle continue to put their Classic hopes under the microscope.

2.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €12,500, 3yo, c/g, 10fT
THE BLACK TIGER is another progeny of Justify to represent Rosegreen on the card, with Ryan Moore opting for this unraced half-brother to the G3 Prix des Chenes scorer and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International-placed Ancient Rome (War Front) and his full-sister Etoile, who captured the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies' Sprint S. on her debut. The dam Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who was twice a group 3 winner and was placed in three Classics including when second in the G1 Prix de Diane, is kin to the Derby hero Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Also from Ballydoyle is The Prairie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Again (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who was fourth at Killarney in October, while Jessie Harrington introduces Yuesheng Zhang's Dubawi Delight (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a gelded son of the famed Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) who was a 425,000gns Book 1 purchase.

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What’s In A Name: Cicero’s Gift, Gooloogong

4th-Navan, Mdn, 3-29, 3yo, 10fT.
GOOLOOGONG (IRE) (c, 3, Australia {GB}–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (Ire); T-Aidan O'Brien.

The name of Navan winner Gooloogong has an impeccable Down Under connection, being by renowned sire (and Epsom & Irish Derby winner) Australia. In fact, “Gooloogong is a village located in New South Wales, Australia, population 295”, according to Wikipedia. The name of the hamlet also evokes (with a very slightly different spelling) that of Australian tennis phenomenon Evonne Goolagong, who was born in Griffith (a town) and grew up in Barellan (a village)–both locations are in New South Wales and not that far from, yes!, Gooloogong. Evonne Goolagong won seven Grand Slam tournaments between 1971 and 1980; she was a true champion and could have shined even more if not for interruptions caused by motherhood and injuries. The colt in question is also expected to shine and have a bright future at the Derby distance, so race commentators better start practicing the pronunciations of his lovely name, which is spelt with only one vowel recurring five times–exotically challenging.

4th-Wolverhampton, £17,600, Novice, 3-30, 3yo, 8f 142y.
CICERO'S GIFT (GB) (c, 3, Muhaarar {GB}–Terentia {GB}, by Diktat {GB}). O-Rosehill Racing; B-Mrs F S Williams (GB); T-Charles Hills.

Cicero's Gift, a 3-year-old winner, has an intriguing name–deeply rooted in ancient Roman history. Terentia is the name of the dam of our promising colt, but also of the rich, engaged and dutiful wife of the famous writer/politician/lawyer Cicero (106BC-43BC), a colossus of the turbulent last century of the Roman Republic and contemporary of history heavyweights Julius Caesar, Crassus, Pompey. Cicero was both a philosopher and a man of action (or inaction, at times, as some critics say). The marriage eventually ended in divorce; Cicero soon had a new wife but was eventually assassinated by hitmen sent by rival Mark Anthony (Cleopatra's future beau). Terentia remarried too (twice), survived and prospered. What the “gift” in the name of our colt may allude to, we will probably never know–maybe that behind every great Roman consul there is a remarkable lady, clearly contributing to the good times.

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Dubawi’s Never Ending Story Maintains The Ballydoyle Momentum

Following on where stablemate Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) had left off half an hour earlier, Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Athena {Ire}, by Camelot {GB}) supplied further notice that Ballydoyle hold many of the aces in the Classic pack as she swept aside her rivals in Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1,000 Guineas Trial S. on Sunday. Successful in the G3 Silver Flash S. over this seven-furlong trip and track in July, the 2-1 favourite who had last been seen finishing third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac was keen initially as Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) took up the running with Ryan Moore opting to slot into mid-division. Wide throughout with no cover, the regally-bred bay was wound up to take the measure of that long-time leader with 150 yards remaining and draw away for a 2 1/2-length success as Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) finished the same margin away in third.

“We're delighted, as she hadn't come in her coat yet and so we had been minding her,” explained Aidan O'Brien, who was stretching his record to a dozen winners of this contest. “We decided rather than working her hard, we'd let her run and then back off and prime her for one of the Guineas and Ryan gave her a beautiful ride and let her go to sleep. That is tough ground, so we're very happy with her. We think she'll go a mile and a quarter in time and we might wait for the Irish Guineas as Newmarket might come too quick and Meditate is on track for that.”

Pedigree Notes
Never Ending Story, who was also third in the G2 Prix du Calvados and a slightly unlucky fourth behind Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. last term, is the first foal out of the stable's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Athena who was also third in the G1 Pretty Polly S. A full-sister to the G3 Snow Fairy S. winner Goddess, she is also kin to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) and G2 Rockfel S. winner Wading (Ire) both by Camelot's sire Montjeu (Ire). Wading produced Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}), who emulated her dam by also winning the Rockfel prior to running second in the Belmont Oaks and third in the G1 Matron S.

The second dam is the G3 Blue Wind S. runner-up Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert), one of four daughters of the great Urban Sea (Miswaki) who has been either directly or indirectly responsible for a trio of Derby winners since the turn of the century. Interestingly, Dubawi has sired three black-type performers from this family in the G2 Balanchine and G3 Pride S. scorer Creative Flair (Ire), the G3 September S. winner Royal Line (GB) and Sayyida (GB) who was second in the G3 Princess Royal S. Athena's 2-year-old colt and yearling filly are full-siblings of Never Ending Story.

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD PRIORY BELLE 1,000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-G3, €55,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, f, 7f 18yT, 1:37.43, hy.
1–NEVER ENDING STORY (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Athena (Ire) (GISW-US, G1SP-Ire, SP-Eng, $732,859), by Camelot (GB)
2nd Dam: Cherry Hinton (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki
O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 7-3-0-3, $153,655. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Matilda Picotte (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sioux Nation–Hallie's Comet (Ire), by One Cool Cat. O-Matilda & Kilmichael Racing Partnership; B-Mighty Universe Ltd (IRE); T-Kieran Cotter. €11,000.
3–Zarinsk (GB), 128, f, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Pavlosk, by Arch.
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €5,500.
Margins: 2HF, 2HF, NK. Odds: 2.00, 6.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Madly Truly (Ire), Nightcliff (Ire), Dower House (Ire), Dame Kiri, Clever And Cool (Ire), Impact Warrior (Ire), La Dolce Vita (Ire). Scratched: Not Even Close (Ire), Ocean Quest (Ire), Tarawa (Ire), Thornbrook (Ire).

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Frankel’s Hans Andersen Back On Top

Just a notch below the top at two, TDN Rising Star Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Shadow Hunter {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) enjoyed the ideal confidence boost on his return in a depleted renewal of Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial S. on Sunday. Second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August and fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. back at that venue when last seen the following month, the 8-13 favourite was held up early by Ryan Moore as fellow Ballydoyle runner Carracci (Quality Road) supplied the pace. Sent forward early in the straight, the Westerberg colour-bearer took over a furlong out and stayed on strongly to score by 2 1/2 lengths from Bold Discovery (Bolt D'Oro), with Caracci three lengths back in third.

“Seven was plenty short enough for him last year and although we always felt he'd be happy at a mile we had others to slot in to those races so kept him too short,” Aidan O'Brien explained after welcoming his ninth winner of this prep. “It was my fault–he should have gone up to a mile and we think he'll get further than a mile this year. The plan is the French or Irish Guineas and maybe a French Derby.”

Pedigree Notes
Hans Andersen, who earned his TDN Rising Star tag when beating the subsequent National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at The Curragh in July, is the second foal out of the Listed Roses S. scorer and G3 Cornwallis S.-placed Shadow Hunter. She is a granddaughter of Cliveden Stud's stakes-placed Enemy Action (Forty Niner), a half-sister to the G2 Champagne S. and G2 Richmond S.-winning sire Daggers Drawn (Diesis {GB}) who produced the G3 Fred Darling S. runner-up and G1 1000 Guineas third Super Sleuth (Ire) (Selkirk). Also from the family of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Indian Haven (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), the G1 Gran Criterium scorer Count Dubois (GB) (Zafonic) and the G1 St Leger runner-up Kite Wood (Ire) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire), Shadow Hunter has a 2-year-old full-brother to Hans Andersen named Alonzo (GB).

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD RED ROCKS 2,000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-G3, €55,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, c/g, 7f 18yT, 1:38.03, hy.
1–HANS ANDERSEN (GB), 131, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Shadow Hunter (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sweet Irish (GB), by Shamardal
3rd Dam: Enemy Action, by Forty Niner
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star. (450,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-Sun Bloodstock SARL (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 5-2-2-0, $82,326. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bold Discovery, 131, c, 3, Bolt D'Oro–Caribbean Babe, by Arch. ($50,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Marc Chan; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,000.
3–Carracci, 131, c, 3, Quality Road–Butterflies (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP TYPE. O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs.J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Orpendale/Wynatt/Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,500.
Margins: 2HF, 3, 2HF. Odds: 0.62, 2.25, 5.00.
Also Ran: Empty Metaphor (Ire), Eyeeye (GB). Scratched: Sea Chariot (GB), Signatory (Ire).

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