Tag: Aidan O’Brien

Frankel’s Hans Andersen Powers To Rising Stardom In Ireland

Westerberg and Coolmore's 450,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Shadow Hunter {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) gained much benefit for his debut run, tackling an extended seven furlongs at Tipperary last month, and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' badge with a dominant display down to seven furlongs for Saturday's Juddmonte Farms Expert Eye Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh. The 10-11 favourite was sharply into stride to gain immediate control. Nudged along when the pack threatened approaching the quarter-mile marker, he held a comfortable buffer entering the final furlong and quickened beyond recall in style before easily holding the late rush of Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths.

“He had a lovely run the first day, he learned plenty and we're delighted with him,” said Aidan O'Brien. “He was a little bit green turning in in Tipperary and came forward lovely. He won well today and should have no problem stepping into stakes company now. He should have no problem going further, but there is no rush to step him up [in trip]. He could come back here for the [G2] Futurity or something like that.”

Hans Andersen, full-brother to a yearling colt, is the second of three foals and lone runner produced by Listed Roses S. victrix and G3 Cornwallis S. third Shadow Hunter (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), herself the leading performer out of a winning half to G1 1000 Guineas placegetter Super Sleuth (Ire) (Selkirk). The January-foaled bay's stakes-placed third dam Enemy Action (Forty Niner), herself a daughter of the stakes-placed Sun And Shade (GB) (Ajdal), is a half-sister to dual Group 2-winning sire Daggers Drawn (Diesis {GB}) and to the dams of GI Garden City S. third Concise (GB) (Lemon Drop Kid) and G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas) heroine Evading Tempete (GB) (by Dubai Destination).

1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 7-16, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:26.95, gd.
HANS ANDERSEN (GB), c, 2, 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
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €15,600. O-Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith; B-Sun Bloodstock SARL (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. Sales history: 450,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Irish Oaks Conundrum

Emily Upjohn (GB) (Frankel {GB}) couldn't make the flight, so it's time to move on and focus on those left to fight out Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh, which unusually features none of the fillies who participated in the Oaks.

That means that it is even more of a puzzle, with Zhang Yuesheng's June 16 G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) left as short-priced favourite even though she is yet to tackle Group 1 company. What her half-length defeat of Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at Royal Ascot represents is hard to know, but it may be telling that Aidan O'Brien has opted to take her on again with the well-beaten third History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Stable form is a plus for Jessie Harrington, who also saddles Vimal Khosla's course-and-distance June 1 maiden winner Fennela (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), but a trio of Ballydoyle contenders stand in her way.

 

Another Emily To The Rescue

   Emily Upjohn's absence leaves a large dent in the 2022 renewal, but there is a chance that another of that name will come out on top in Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). One of Rosegreen's trio, she came back from a lengthy absence having disappointed in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial to run the year-older Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to a short head in Leopardstown's 14-furlong G3 Stanerra S. last Thursday. A daughter of the 2013 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), she produced a rare surge at the end of that contest and in another stride would have been past the vastly-improved Twomey runner. Ryan Moore has opted for the daughter of You'resothrilling (Storm Cat), Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has been 11th in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp May 15 and 12th in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 19. It is an unorthodox route to this race, but her rider's faith in her ability shines through. “We believe she is better than she has shown to date,” he said.

 

Best Of The Rest

The Curragh's Saturday card also features the G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey S., where Ballydoyle's 'TDN Rising Star' Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) is slated to run having been taken out of the G2 July S. due to the fast ground prevalent at Newmarket. The June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. winner will have the June 24 course maiden scorer Slan Abhaile (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) to contend with, while in the G2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire S., Craig Bernick and Antony Beck's G3 Marble Hill S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. runner-up Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) makes his reappearance after a 294-day layoff.

“He had a little hiccup in the spring, so is a little later starting back,” trainer Fozzy Stack explained. “He seems in good order, he's ready to start back, but will probably need the run as he hasn't run for quite a while.”

Scott Heider's Joseph O'Brien-trained Brostaigh (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) comes off the back of a win in the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly June 5 and has developed a granite exterior the more sprinting practice she has been given.

Later in the day, Saint-Cloud stages a fascinating G2 Prix Eugene Adam, where Sunderland Holdings' June 14 G1 St James's Palace S. third My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) takes on the Wertheimers' unbeaten Apr. 17 G3 Prix Noailles scorer Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) and Vagalame (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who dead-heated for fifth with Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the June 5 Prix du Jockey Club.

Click here for the group fields.

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‘We Know we are Succeeding Because John [O’Connor] is Laughing at us Less’

They have reached dizzy heights as breeders and now Gillian and Vimal Khosla are concentrating on achieving big-race success as owners with Fennela (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of their outstanding broodmare Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}), in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks.

The Khoslas know a thing or two about breeding top-notchers. Green Room is the dam of three Group 1 or Classic winners and the owner-breeders behind the 20-year-old blue hen are hoping there is still more to come. 

Lord Shanakill (Speightstown) was the first horse to put Green Room in lights. A high-class 2-year-old, he then went on to win the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly in 2009 before retiring to stud the following season. 

Then came Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who fetched €680,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2013 before going on to land the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore Stud. 

The Green Room secret was well and truly out by the time MV Magnier was forced to spend €900,000 on Together Forever's younger sister, Forever Together, at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2016. 

But it proved money well spent when, ridden by Donnacha O'Brien, Forever Together romped to Oaks glory at Epsom, again trained by Aidan O'Brien. 

Put mildly, Green Room has an outstanding track record of producing top-class racehorses and in Fennela, the only filly the Khoslas have kept out of their superstar broodmare, they are hoping that pedigree can shine through again at the Curragh on Saturday.

“The form says no but, as an owner and breeder, you couldn't do it without having hope and optimism, so we're optimistic about Saturday,” said Vimal with a heavy dollop of realism at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The Khoslas were back at Leopardstown for the first time in over two years on Thursday. It was an important visit, too, as they once again sponsored the G3 Green Room Meld S., and handed over the trophy to Jim and Jackie Bolger after Boundless Ocean (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) ran out an impressive winner.

The husband-and-wife owner-breeders will be hoping that the roles will be reversed on Saturday and that they will be collecting a trophy after the Irish Oaks but are by no means underestimating the task at hand. 

“We think she might want a mile-and-six-furlongs in time and she's only three so she may even do better next year. It's exciting to be a part of such a brilliant race and we're hopeful of a good run. Every position she finishes better than last will be a bonus.”

Asked to compare how the build-up to a Classic compares as an owner to a breeder, he added, “They're two totally different animals. I have never won a Group 1 and I would love to win one as an owner. I would feel like I have arrived if we managed to win the Oaks.”

The Khoslas made their fortune in the travel business and, with Green Room, they have been on the journey of a lifetime. 

On their star mare, Gillian said, “Green Room has a colt foal by Waldgeist (GB). It's obviously his first crop so that will be exciting. She's extremely well-looked after by everyone down in Ballylinch Stud–there were pictures taken of her recently and she still looks amazing at the age of 20. She had a couple of years off so the Waldgeist colt is all she has coming through.”

Asked why they chose to set up their breeding and racing enterprise in Ireland, she responded, “It's part of the culture over here. It's very professional but it's also very warm and comforting and people are happy to share. We've learned so much, particularly in Ireland.”

The Khoslas are learning from the best. Their seven-strong broodmare band is based at Ballylinch Stud, of which, John O'Connor has been a massive help to the couple, while Jessica Harrington has produced the goods on the track. 

“It has all happened by accident,” Vimal explains. “I bought a filly called Polly Perkins (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) back in 2004. She had won two listed races when I bought her and was shaping up to be something special but she damaged a stifle during the winter and couldn't race again. 

“I hadn't a clue about racing at the time, had only been involved in the sport a few years but someone recommended that we breed from her. She did well as a broodmare and we actually kept one of her fillies and had our first foal from her this year.”

The Khoslas describe Ballylinch Stud, based in the picturesque countryside of County Kilkenny, as an idyllic place for their broodmares to be based and O'Connor's expertise and knowledge about breeding comes in for special recognition from Gillian.

She said, “Particularly the expertise of John O'Connor and all the team at Ballylinch, the knowledge they have about breeding, and they are so good at sharing it.”

Vimal is in agreement, and adds, “John is a wonderful teacher. Of course, we take for granted that he is a wonderful horseman with tremendous knowledge but he is very generous with his knowledge and is a wonderful teacher. We wanted to learn the business and he has taught us and continues to teach us to this day. That's the main thing.”

There are plenty of wealthy businessmen and women who get involved in racing purely for the entertainment factor that goes with a good day out at the races. Not the Khoslas. They have adopted a hands-on approach to their operation and it's working.

Vimal joked, “We know we are succeeding because John is laughing at us less and less. I used to send all the mating plans to John and he'd fall around the place laughing. He would do it very kindly I must say,” to which Gillian admitted, “We still go a big rogue sometimes.”

Asked to explain, Vimal said, “We bought a Sea The Stars (Ire) mare called Compostela (GB) a few years ago. She never raced, but is a tank of a filly, and so far she has bred a Group 3 winner [Stela Star (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus})] and her other two foals of racing age have won as well. She's on the up.

“We like being quirky with sense. We're not into mini-skirts or fashion and don't pick a stallion because he's in fashion. We chose a stallion and a mare if we think we can breed something decent.

“In the early days, we went for first-season sires and made a lot of mistakes. Shamardal worked for a lot of people. He didn't work for us. The same with Duke Of Marmalade (Ire). He worked for a lot of people and was a tremendous racehorse but he just didn't work for us. 

“We went for them because the fees were relatively low, but also because they were tremendous racehorses on the track. But, you learn.”

The Khoslas have learned alright. Now it's over to Fennela to teach her rivals a thing or two on Saturday and continue the trend of Green Room's progeny hitting the heights on the racecourse. 

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This Side Up: Iron Legacy Will Never Rust

He's a rebel with a Causeway. But he is a rebel, all the same; or a maverick, at least; an outlier. Certainly we can't expect everyone to train horses like Kenny McPeek, nor indeed to buy them the same way. Apart from anything else, most people simply wouldn't be good enough.

McPeek's 10 millionaires to date have been sired by the likes of Cuvee, Louis Quatorze, Daredevil, Hit It a Bomb and Tejano–and he signed for most of them himself. As one who marches to his own drum, his style obviously wouldn't work for everyone. Think outside the box, and you'll have to manage without the many investors who feel nervous straying beyond the comforting confines of convention. They will seek sanctuary in the kind of strike rates available with trainers who start horses about as often as Halley does his Comet. Nonetheless, there are some pretty universal lessons to be drawn from the success of Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) in the big race at Belmont last weekend, just two weeks after his barn debut.

Because if McPeek is too much of a one-off to be categorized simply as “old school”, there's no doubting the throwback element in Classic Causeway himself, famously one of just three foals from the final crop of the Iron Horse. And if McPeek is to some degree a victim of his own success, in that you tend not to be sent too many yards of silk if you can contrive such fine purses of a relative sow's ear, let's not forget that one of the world's most lavishly resourced stables is supervised by another who believes that Thoroughbreds actually thrive on competition.

 

 

Click the play button below to listen to this week's episode of This Side Up. 

 

Very few elite trainers in Europe, nevermind America, would have drawn out the reserves of Giant's Causeway as boldly as Aidan O'Brien. Already a Group 1 winner at two, Giant's Causeway started his sophomore campaign by fending off a battle-hardened, race-fit 6-year-old in April. Between May 6 and Sept. 23, he then finished first or second in eight Group 1 races, constantly switching distance. After that, as nobody will need reminding, he shipped to run the dirt monster Tiznow to a neck in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 'Iron Horse,' Giant's Causeway | Coolmore

We're talking about an exceptional specimen here, clearly, but O'Brien has always operated on the basis that his patrons at Coolmore require reliable exposure of genes they might wish to replicate. And like his mentor Jim Bolger, who last year ran 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in two other Classics over the next three weeks, he additionally believes that maturing horses flourish for racetrack experience. Peeping Fawn (Danehill) had an aristocratic pedigree, nothing to prove there, but O'Brien still worked her like a stevedore. She had already been beaten three times in April when breaking her maiden on May 16. Eleven days later she ran third in a Classic over a mile. FIVE days later she was beaten half a length in the G1 Oaks at Epsom, over a mile and a half. Did she recoil from this dazing sequence of examinations? She did not. Instead, going up and down in distance every time, she won four Group 1 prizes in 54 days.

As it happens, Peeping Fawn has proved a fairly disappointing producer, albeit unlucky that her best daughter derailed. Giant's Causeway, however, has emulated his sire Storm Cat as a hugely important crossover influence. That's unsurprising, after his own slick transfer to the American racing environment, and he stands as a withering rebuke to the prescriptive approach we see, both sides of the water, to racing surfaces. He came up with a worthy heir in Europe at the first attempt in Shamardal, whose maternal pedigree was shaded very green, but has book-ended his career with an outstanding young Kentucky sire in Not This Time, whose own family obviously contains no less resonant dirt names.

Interestingly, Classic Causeway is out of a mare by Thunder Gulch, whose breeder Peter Brant has always been so far-sighted in this regard. Thunder Gulch himself, of course, combined a sire who had won benchmark races for the recycling of dirt speed–the GI Hopeful S., the GI Met Mile H. twice, the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint–with a turf mare whose dam had finished second in the G1 Gold Cup at Ascot over two and a half miles.

Most horses are more versatile than we will ever know. We should always start with the animal in front of us, and how it all fits together, rather than meekly obey herd presumptions. Sure enough, having only recently taken Classic Causeway into his care (after Brian Lynch laid some excellent foundations), McPeek urged a switch to turf because “the horse has a foot like a pancake”.

But often it's simply a question of opportunity. It was only the search for outcross blood at Coolmore, for instance, that allowed War Front and Scat Daddy to penetrate European myopia as coveted “turf” influences. And while John Magnier and his partners seem to be doing pretty well without my advice, I will just dust off my plea that they might indulge European mare owners by allowing American Pharoah at least one spring in Co Tipperary. (Especially as I keep reading that the home farm may apparently be a little short of fresh blood just now.)

Bleecker Street | Sarah Andrew

After last week's glimpse of how a more wholesome future might look, we revert to business as usual in the first Grade I of the Saratoga meet, with Chad Brown having to generate his own competition on grass. In fact, just one other American trainer has mustered a runner in the Diana S. It's striking, however, that most exciting member of the field is also the only one bred in America.

Bleecker Street was hardly a blatant turf prospect the day Brant purchased her as a yearling, down the road at Fasig-Tipton, but her sire Quality Road has a very flexible genetic background. (Just his first two dams will tell you that, as daughters of Strawberry Road and Alydar–and there's plenty more when you get down in the wheat.) Even Chad Brown has been prepared to start Bleecker Street in four graded stakes already this year, so presumably McPeek or O'Brien would by this stage have sent her to the moon and back.

Just as surface aptitude tends to be self-fulfilling, so you have to wonder to what extent pessimism about the constitution of the modern racehorse would stand up to horsemen actually going out there and testing it properly. But if we won't train them like McPeek, then the least we can do is breed them like Classic Causeway. As it was, no farm in Europe or Kentucky offered Bolger enough for Poetic Flare. And that's why, when so much of our commercial glister washes out the moment a horse has to break sweat, it will be the Japanese who end up with the horses of iron.

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