Tag: Aidan O’Brien

Longines HKIR 2023: All Four Favourites Can Be Taken On

Some 44 horses representing England, France, Ireland, Japan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates in addition to a typically deep group representing the home team will line up for Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, with record prizemoney of HK$118 million (£12 million/US$15.1 million) up for grabs across the four events.

There figure to be clear favourites in each of the four races, but each come with his own set of question marks.

 

  • Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) loves the Sha Tin 2000 metres–his local C & D record is nearly unassailable–but having endured a tough race when just winning the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley six weeks ago, how short a price is one willing to accept? He looks to become the first repeat winner of the Cup since California Memory in 2011/2012.

 

  • Three-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) goes for a third Mile in four years, but takes on a serious group of Japanese milers while returning from a 224-day absence.

 

  • Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) is the best of the local sprinters and had no luck in running last year, but he's been curiously managed this term and has been lacking a killer instinct, albeit with some excuses.

 

  • Four of the last seven runnings of the Vase have gone to Japan, and Carrot Racing's Lebensstil (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) has been the talking horse this week, but he's never faced a test as strong as this, even on the back of a victory over a ring-rusty G1 Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) winner Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G2 St Lite Kinen last time.

 

So, let's take a contrarian approach to Sunday's meeting and build arguments for others, some well-backed in the markets and others with rougher chances:

Longines Hong Kong Cup

The progressive Japanese duo of Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})–a pace-disadvantaged runner-up to Romantic Warrior in the G1 FWD QE II Cup in April and a latest third to horse of the world Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn)–and Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) will have their supporters, as will G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), awkward draw and all.

Gousserie Racing's Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) may be the one they're trying to beat in next year's Cup, but the G2 Prix Dollar Sept. 30 capped a four-race winning streak at home and he was scarcely disgraced when beaten under two lengths by King of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. Oct. 21, where the ground was unsuitably easy and he was perhaps asked for his effort sooner than optimal by Mickael Barzalona. It'll be quicker underfoot Sunday and, while not necessarily tipping him to win, he's an each-way chance.

Horizon Dore has a puncher's chance in the Cup | HKJC

Longines Hong Kong Mile

Golden Sixty won this race in 2020 and defended his title 12 months later, but couldn't reel in loose leader California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) last December. The latter figures to take some pressure up front from Godolphin's Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}), who must go forward from gate 13. A quicker-than-standard pace would certainly suit Golden Sixty, but the riverside draw in 14 is a serious concern. Double-digit barriers have been overcome before by the likes of Ambitious Dragon (NZ) and Maurice (Jpn) and less-accomplished horses like Beauty Only (Ire), so it's obviously not out of the question, and while few would be shocked if he pulled it off, we're inclined to look elsewhere.

The G1 Mile Championship has been used as a Hong Kong Mile lead-up for Hat Trick (Jpn) (2005) and Maurice (Jpn) (2015)–each of whom won the Kyoto feature before doubling up in Hong Kong. Four of the five Japanese raiders for this year's Mile prepped there–including the victorious Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and narrowly beaten Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn})–but we are opting for Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

Spelled following his runner-up effort to Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in June's G1 Yasuda Kinen, he was first-up in the Mile Championship, sat a three- or four-wide trip ahead of midfield without the benefit of cover, came to win the race 200 metres out and ran out of fitness in eighth. He has an inside draw and could settle further back, then make one late dash for glory as he did when winning the Mile Championship in 2022. Here's hoping the speed is on.

Japan's Serifos races second-up in the Mile | HKJC

Longines Hong Kong Sprint

The presence of Japanese speedball Jasper Krone (Frosted), the locally based Victor the Winner (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Sight Success (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) should insure that the Sprint is run at a sound tempo. Now, that fact is as likely to benefit a horse like Lucky Sweynesse as anyone else, but evens seems difficult to take on a horse that–at least to now–hasn't shown that he is materially better than last year. Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) was the chief beneficiary last year and is likely to improve in his second run of the season and second start for trainer Jamie Richards and is not without a shot at a more attractive quote.

Cristian Demuro takes the ride on Japan's Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who exits a runner-up effort–beaten a nose–in the G1 Sprinters S. at Nakayama, the same placing earned by Danon Smash (Jpn) before causing a 21-1 boilover in the 2020 Sprint. If that effort is not an aberration, the Sunday Racing runner has an upset chance of his own in a race lacking a true standout.

Longines Hong Kong Vase

It may well eventuate that Lebensstil backs up the hype and should he do so, I'll tip my cap to him and move along. The Vase lost a bit of its lustre when Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was not declared Thursday, but Sunday Racing will also have the regally bred Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), who would be a threat on her very best. With the early scratching of Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a victory from any of the remaining locals is highly unlikely.

Three-year-old fillies have performed well when tried in the Vase, as the pint-sized Vallee Enchantee (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) (815 pounds) beat the boys in 2003, while Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk)–all 941 pounds of her–followed suit in 2009. Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) weighed in at 978 at the time declarations were made Thursday and she will try to give both Aidan O'Brien and her majestic late sire a fourth win in the race. Impressive in winning the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 22, she was disappointing in the soft when fifth in the G1 Irish Oaks the following month.

She bounced back with determined victories in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille and she might have added the 10-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last time but for an other-worldly finish from Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). She can sit handy to what figures a modest pace and get first run on those that choose to race farther back. She'll get a nine-pound pull in the weights from the older stayers and Ryan Moore rides at 117 for the first time in quite a while.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club proudly calls the HKIR the 'Turf World Championships' and with the quantity of quality on display Sunday, who's to argue, really?

 

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‘It’s Going To Be Difficult’: Golden Sixty Draws Widest For Hong Kong Mile

The obstacles were already considerable for three-time reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) long before connections of the 44 runners for Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting took their seats for Thursday's morning barrier draw in the Sha Tin parade ring.

Already a nine-time Group 1 winner and victorious in 25 of his 29 career starts, the 8-year-old has not started since defeating Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G1 Champions Mile in late April, a 224-day hiatus. Only twice in his career has he been dealt a double-digit gate, and his chances to register a third victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile took a serious blow when owner Stanley Chan selected gate 14 in a field of 14.

“Of course, it's not an ideal draw and it makes things difficult for Vincent,” said trainer Frances Lui. “Midfield with cover, of course (would be best). If you look at the field, I think California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will lead and he will slow down the pace. Probably this race will be run at a slow pace. It's going to be difficult.”

California Spangle, who prevented a Golden Sixty three-peat 12 months ago, fared far better, as he will break from stall three with Christophe Soumillon taking the ride. Whether he is loose up front is another question, as the Andre Fabre-trained Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) will have to roll forward from the 13.

No horse as old as eight has won the mile, though Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), whose record Golden Sixty is trying to equal, won the last of his three Miles aged seven. Beauty Flash (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) won the 2010 Mile from the 14, though he was an on-pace runner, while standout milers like Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) won from double-digit draws.

Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will be favoured to successfully defend his title in the richest of the afternoon's four events, the HK$36-million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over his pet distance of 2000 metres, and while he drew a decent middle gate in seven, he, too, has a few questions to answer. The 5-year-old makes his first local appearance this season, having finished fourth in the G1 Turnbull S. at Flemington Oct. 7 ahead of a hard-fought success in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley three weeks later. Since clearing quarantine, he's had a winning barrier trial, and connections remain bullish on his chances.

“He's been good. In the morning, that kind of horse is always good,” trainer Danny Shum said of Romantic Warrior, who cost Mick Kinane and the Hong Kong Jockey Club team 300,000gns at Tattersalls October in 2019 before selling to owner Peter Lau for HK$4,800,000 (€517,894) at the Hong Kong International Sale in 2021. “But I think he's still improving. He's been great since Australia, no problem at all.”

Aidan O'Brien is the only trainer with runners in each of Sunday's four races, selecting gate one for G1 Yorkshire Oaks and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) for the Vase and Sprint, respectively. Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), who will be a longshot in the Mile, drew barrier nine, while Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) has a potentially tricky alley in 10 with a short run to the first corner in the Cup.

The Ballydoyle maestro has started 29 horses at the HKIR for a record of 3-2-1, each of the victories coming in the Vase (Highland Reel, 2015 & 2016, Mogul, 2020). But he feels he's got the right horses to make an impact this year.

“I think there is no doubt that it is,” O'Brien replied when asked if this was the best team he'd brought to Hong Kong. “It's very difficult to win races here and you don't come with second-raters.”

Champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) will jump favoured in the Sprint from gate five, while G1 Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) will try to become the first European-based winner of the race from gate nine, with Japanese multiple group-winning speedball Jasper Krone (Frosted) leaving just to her inside.

Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a latest third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, was not among the declared runners for the Vase. According to a HKJC release, he has been identified to have 'a potential health issue' and will return to Japan for further assessment.

 

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‘We’re Delighted’ – O’Brien Reveals Auguste Rodin To Stay In Training

It may be November but Aidan O'Brien has already whet the appetite for next season by announcing that dual Derby and Breeders' Cup winner Auguste Rodin will stay in training as a four-year-old.

Auguste Rodin capped off a brilliant campaign with a sensational success in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita under an inspired Ryan Moore just over a week ago. 

It was viewed by many as the perfect swansong by the coveted son of Deep Impact but, when Auguste Rodin did not feature on the list of stallion fees published by Coolmore recently, tongues were sent wagging. 

 

Indeed, O'Brien confirmed on Monday morning that Auguste Rodin's stallion duties will be put on hold for another year, and agreed that the colt was up there with the most exciting older horses ever to stay in training at Ballydoyle.

O'Brien told TDN Europe, “We're obviously delighted. The lads had to see that he came back okay from the Breeders' Cup and then they made their decision. It's brilliant for us all, really.”

Auguste Rodin has won seven of his 10 starts. Along with his Derby triumphs at Epsom and the Curragh, he also landed the prestigious G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. All told, Auguste Rodin's Group 1 tally stands at five with promise of more to come.

Asked if it was fair to describe Auguste Rodin as one of the most exciting older horses to stay in training at Ballydoyle, O'Brien added, “I think that's right. This is a unique, once-off horse and the lads are very conscious of that. They love racing and, as I said, he's only a once-off and there won't ever be another one like Auguste Rodin. He's very exciting with a view towards next year.”

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Auguste Rodin Pretty As a Picture in the BC Turf

Announced as a season-ending target long before such announcements are typically made, the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf proved fertile ground for the Coolmore partners' Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who enjoyed what turned out to be a dream trip beneath Ryan Moore, got through when the real running commenced at the head of the lane and charged to the wire to defeat top U.S. hope Up to the Mark (Not This Time). It was a sixth victory in the mile-and-a-half second-richest race on the card for trainer Aidan O'Brien–three of which have occurred at Santa Anita–and first since Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took the 2016 renewal at the 'Great Race Place' under a heady ride from Seamie Heffernan. O'Brien now sits on 18 Breeders' Cup winners overall, while Ryan Moore was riding his 14th championship winner.

Sent off the 5-2 chalk on the strength of a season that has included victories in the G1 Derby at Epsom, the G1 Irish Derby and the G1 Irish Champion S., the son of 2017 Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Rhododendron settled in about midfield for the run down the hill, but jinked noticeably to his right when not handling the dirt crossing particularly well. Rebalanced when linking back up with the turf course, he was maneuvered down towards the inside before the field made their way under the wire with a circuit to travel.

Racing with cover on the back of 2022 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) as they reached halfway, Auguste Rodin was always moving sweetly and continued to follow the move of the Japanese raider past the half-mile peg and around the turn. When Cristian Demuro opted to let Shahryar drift away from the inside nearing the quarter pole, Moore gladly seized upon the opportunity to allow his mount to creep forward into striking position. Long-time leader Balladeer (Distorted Humor) still held the call after the opening 10 furlongs, but he hung to his right off the final corner and that was all that Moore and Auguste Rodin needed, as they hit the hole under a full head of steam and pinched a break before holding Up to the Mark in the run to the winning post. Shahryar, the son of 2011 Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Dubai Majesty, was a good third to complete a posthumous one-three finish for Deep Impact.

Despite the ease with which he won, the winning ride was far down in the playbook, said Moore.

“Ending up [on] the rail was like Plan F and I had to make the best of the opportunities,” he said. “My horse was getting a bad trip. He won because he's so good, I made the right call to stick to the rail but could have easily not been.

“The race didn't go to plan. The first part of the race was messy as everyone was in each other's way and I didn't really like where I was. All I wanted to do was get the horse to find his rhythm and he got there so quickly and easily and once he got to the front that's all he does. Considering how the race went against him it was probably his best performance. He's vindicated himself now. He had things do against him today and he overcame them.”

Pedigree Notes:

Auguste Rodin's granddam is Halfway To Heaven, purchased by Coolmore out of the 2006 Goffs Orby sale and winner of three top-level contests, including the 2008 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. The mating that resulted in Auguste Rodin–quite simply a match made in heaven.

Rhododendron was among what became the final book of mares that visited the legendary Deep Impact in 2019 and Auguste Rodin is the second Breeders' Cup winner in three years for the late stallion, joining 2021 Filly & Mare Turf victress Loves Only You (Jpn).

The first foal for his dam, a sister to the globetrotting seven-time Group 1 winner Magical (Ire) and Irish Group 3 winner Flying the Flag (Ire), Auguste Rodin is bred on the same cross over Galileo responsible for English and Irish Oaks heroine Snowfall (Jpn) and G1 English 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–sire of 2022 Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire)–in addition to the additional group winners Cantabile (Jpn), Vanquish Run (Jpn), Harajuku (Ire) and Drumroll (Ire).

There is a plethora of black-type under MGSW third dam Cassandra Go, as Halfway to Heaven's Group 3-winning half-sister Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) is the dam of U.S. Grade I winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and GSW sire Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never).

Rhododendron's most recent offspring is a Dubawi (Ire) colt foaled Feb. 10.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP TURF-GI, $3,680,000, Santa Anita, 11-4, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:24.30, fm.
1–AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rhododendron (Ire) (Hwt. Older Mare-Eng- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., Hwt. Filly-Ire, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., Hwt. Older Mare-Eur- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., G1SW-Fr, MG1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-USA, $1,786,763), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan L. Moore. $2,080,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng & Ire, 10-7-1-0, $4,958,538. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Up to the Mark, 126, c, 4, Not This Time–Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper. ($450,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC; B-Ramspring Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $680,000.
3–Shahryar (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Dubai Majesty, by Essence of Dubai. O-Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.; B-Northern Farm (JPN); T-Hideaki Fujiwara. $360,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.50, 3.40, 25.50.
Also Ran: Gold Phoenix (Ire), King of Steel, Onesto (Ire), War Like Goddess, Mostahdaf (Ire), Balladeer, Adhamo (Ire), Broome (Ire). Scratched: Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), Get Smokin.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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