Aidan O'Brien | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dubawi’s Concert Hall Wins The Park

After a shift in tone on Saturday, Team Ballydoyle continued to reach a pitch with their 2-year-old crop at The Curragh on Sunday as the regally-bred Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) built to her own crescendo in the G3 Weld Park S. As if the juveniles at Rosegreen have been moved stealthily towards a peak for the all-important autumn scene, the daughter of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) put two uninspiring efforts behind her to deliver on her early promise under Seamie Heffernan. Held up in rear early, the 9-2 shot who had shaped as if she was coming forward with a fourth placing in the course-and-distance G1 Moyglare Stud S. Sept. 12 delivered a sustained run down the outer to collar Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}) 50 yards from the line and score by a length. “I'm delighted with her and if she comes out of this okay she'll probably step up and go on to the [Oct. 8 G1] Fillies' Mile [at Newmarket]. She's a hardy lady and is going to improve from racing. She stays well and is a good strong build.”

Runner-up on debut over six furlongs at Fairyhouse July 7, Concert Hall went one better over this track and trip 11 days later before failing to get involved in the Aug. 21 G2 Debutante S. on soft ground again over seven here. In the Moyglare, she was staying on to real effect late to get within a length of the third Sunset Shiraz and so this represented improvement on that bare form. In a race where it paid to come from behind, the winner overcame a bump from Cigamia (Karakontie {Jpn}) a furlong out to wear down the game runner-up who might have been paying for chasing the strong early tempo.

Concert Hall is the fourth foal and first black-type winner out of the aforementioned Was, who is a full-sister to this year's G2 Curragh Cup winner and 2020 G1 Epsom Derby third Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire), the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. scorer Douglas MacArthur (Ire) and the G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up Al Naamah (Ire). She is also a full-sibling of the unraced dam of the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte winner and G3 Prix de Flore runner-up Mashael (Fr) who shares Dubawi as a sire with Concert Hall.

The second dam is the Listed Blenheim S. and Listed Rochestown S.-placed Alluring Park (Ire) (Green Desert), a daughter of the high-class dual champion Park Express (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}) which makes her a half-sister to the brilliant five-times group 1-winning champion, Derby hero and prolific sire New Approach (Ire) by Was's sire Galileo. She is also a half to the G3 Matron S. winner and G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas-placed Dazzling Park (Ire) (Warning {GB}) who is the second dam of Ballydoyle's past G1 Phoenix S. hero Alfred Nobel (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). This is also the family of the GII Royal Heroine Mile S. winner and GI Gamely S. runner-up Quiet Oasis (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who produced this stable's dual G3 Gladness S. winner Lancaster House (Ire) also by Galileo, and this year's G1 Newmarket H. hero Zoutori (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}). Was's yearling is a full-brother to Concert Hall.

Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland
WELD PARK S.-G3, €50,000, Curragh, 9-26, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.70, gd.
1–CONCERT HALL (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Was (Ire) (G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $496,294), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Alluring Park (Ire), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Park Express (Ire), by Ahonoora (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg; B-Was Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamie Heffernan. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $63,966. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sunset Shiraz (Ire), 128, f, 2, Time Test (GB)–Sunny Again (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (£100,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Lindsay Laroche; B-Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell. €10,000.
3–Seisai (Ire), 128, f, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Lillebonne (Fr), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€40,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £78,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; B-Peter Henley, John Connolly & Pattern Blds (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.50, 3.30, 7.00.
Also Ran: Trevaunance (Ire), Cigamia, Albula (Ire), Lovely Mana (Ire), Madonnadelrosario (Ire), Pink Fire Lilly (Ire).
Scratched: Hello You (Ire), Tranquil Lady (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Caravaggio’s Tenebrism Notches Landmark Score in the G1 Cheveley Park

Westerberg, Coolmore and Merriebelle Stables' 2-year-old filly Tenebrism (Caravaggio) was the first runner for her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy), attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status in an instant when posting an impressive 3 3/4-length success in a Mar. 28 five-furlong Naas maiden, and notched another first for the now Ashford Stud incumbent with another taking performance on her comeback in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket. The March-foaled dark bay was under a patient ride through halfway and raced off the tempo in rear. Nudged along to close passing the quarter-mile marker, she quickened smartly to go third entering the final furlong and went through an array of gears on the rise to the line to inhale 'TDN Rising Star' Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the dying embers for a one-length success. Kirsten Rausing's G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. victrix Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), coming back off a second to Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) in last month's G2 Lowther S., ran on well to finish three lengths adrift in third. Zain Claudette never featured at the business end and ran 10th while Juddmonte's hitherto unbeaten G3 Round Tower S. winner Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) tanked into contention at halfway, but was unable to land a telling blow in the closing stages and finished eighth.

“I didn't think it was possible for her to do that, not because of ability but because of the [181-day] lay-off she'd had,” admitted trainer Aidan O'Brien after claiming a fourth renewal. “She had a setback after the last day and was off for a long time. She was just literally ready to come racing and I had a knot in my stomach whether it was fair to be running her or not. But there is only one Cheveley Park and you don't get horses with the speed and the turn of foot she has very often. That's why she's here really. Her dad had a terribly good turn of speed as well and that's what she has. I asked Ryan [Moore] to just get her to relax and find herself and see what's going to happen. She did the very same thing in her maiden and it's a rare thing when you see them able to quicken like that. How far would she stay is the next thing. I had her entered over seven furlongs at the weekend and, usually, if they get seven they might get a mile. Wherever she is, you'll be riding her for speed. You have to train her now as a [G1 1000] Guineas filly and you can come back in trip any time.”

O'Brien, looking to the immediate future, indicated a trip Stateside is an option. “I would say if she's going to go again this year it will be in America,” he said. “The lads will decide if they want to go to the Breeders' Cup and it will depend how she comes out of today. To go travelling would be a great experience for next year and I'd say, if she comes out of it well and the lads want to do it, we'd be delighted to go. It's definitely something we'd have to think about.”

Flotus appeared set fair for victory when bursting clear inside the final quarter mile, but first lady status was denied by the unrelenting surge of Tenebrism in the dying strides. “I thought there was nothing coming out of the pack to catch her, and then you just saw Aidan's filly coming and I thought 'oh, no!',” said trainer Ed Crisford. “She's a proper filly, she ran a huge race and showed what we've been seeing at home. We'll see how she is, there's not that many options left this year. Whether we go to America or not, I'm not sure. She's definitely got the size and scope to make a 3-year-old, which is exciting.”

Tenebrism, half-sister to a yearling filly by Justify, becomes the second pattern-race and first top-level winner for her first-crop sire (by Scat Daddy). She also becomes the first black-type and Group 1 winner for her dam Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), whose career highlights include victories in the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Immortal Verse is the leading performer for Listed Prix La Camargo victrix and G3 Prix Fille de l'Air runner-up Side of Paradise (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), whose descendants include stakes-winning G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. runner-up Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Side of Paradise is a full-sister to Listed Rose Bowl S. winner Flowerdrum (Ire) as well as being a half-sister to MG1SW sire Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best), G3 Prix du Bois victrix The Perfect Life (Ire) (Try My Best) and dual G3 Goldene Peitsche-winning sire Astronef (Ire) (Be My Guest). Side of Paradise is also kin to the stakes-placed dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest) and G1 Matron S. victrix Sense of Style (Thunder Gulch). Black-type descendants of Tenebrism's third dam Mill Princess (Ire) (Mill Reef) also include top-level winners Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Tie Black (Ire) (Machiavellian).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE CHEVELEY PARK S.-G1, £283,750, Newmarket, 9-25, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.00, g/f.
1–TENEBRISM, 126, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Immortal Verse (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-.5f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, $1,053,873), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Side of Paradise (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Mill Princess (Ire), by Mill Reef
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Westerberg, Coolmore & Merribelle Stables; B-Merriebelle Stables, Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £160,915. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $229,777. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flotus (Ire), 126, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Floriade (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€65,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 125,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-J-E Dubois, B Kwok, E Babington, et al; B-Newtown Stud & T J Pabst (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £61,006.
3–Sandrine (GB), 126, f, 2, Bobby's Kitten–Seychelloise (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £30,532.
Margins: 1, 3, 3/4. Odds: 14.00, 11.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Guilded (Ire), Desert Dreamer (GB), Illustrating (GB), Have A Good Day (Ire), Sacred Bridge (GB), Eve Lodge (GB), Zain Claudette (Ire), Corazon (Ire), Thunder Love (GB). Scratched: Velocidad (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Camelot’s Luxembourg Impressive In The Beresford

Aidan O'Brien's crop of juveniles had looked short of the usual standard up to Saturday, but five minutes of action across Newmarket and The Curragh changed the conversation with the hugely exciting Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) doing his bit for Ballydoyle in the G2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford S. Not seen since winning in style on debut in a conditions event over this mile trip at Killarney July 14, the imposing Westerberg-Coolmore representative was the subject of heavy support into 8-13 favouritism for this prize Aidan O'Brien had already won an astounding 20 times. Racing in a detached last early with Seamie Heffernan downing anchor, the bay was green initially when switched wide to challenge in the straight but accelerated when the whip was shown to seize the advantage a furlong from home and surge to an impressive 4 3/4-length success from Manu Et Corde (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Speaking from Newmarket, Aidan O'Brien simply said, “We've always thought the world of that horse.”

When it comes to the Beresford, it is now customary that a future star is on display. While in the 1980s, the likes of Assert (Ire) and Sadler's Wells prevailed, it was not until the early 2000s that it became a more consistent marker of excellence. After Alamshar (Ire), Azamour (Ire), Sea the Stars (Ire) and St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) came Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and although the opposition here might not have been top-class, there is reason to believe that Luxembourg could fit into that category with the potent turn of foot he displayed. Incredibly, none of the previous 20 winners from the current set-up at Ballydoyle went on to win the G1 Epsom Derby and only Capri (Ire) and Saxon Warrior were Classic winners thereafter, so Luxembourg's immediate short odds quoted for the blue riband seem premature even allowing for the impression he created.

Seamie Heffernan has been around long enough to know what a top prospect feels like and his enthusiasm was as noteworthy as it was unsurprising. “He's very smart at home and he's proven it twice now. I was very impressed–very talented, very smooth,” he said. “The most impressive thing about him is he knows he's good and he doesn't show it off. He doesn't show you until you press the button and say 'give us a look'. When you have that turn of foot a mile is well within his comfort zone. His dad was a good staying horse that had the pace and class to win a Guineas. If Aidan wants to run him in the Guineas he'll change his galloping procedures and if he's targeting the Derby he'll go a different route. The turn of foot he showed me today was pretty exciting. I'm not sure what he's going to be targeted at, but he couldn't have done that any easier.”

Luxembourg's dam Attire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) raced over seven furlongs and a mile and has also produced the 10-furlong G2 Mooresbridge S. winner Leo de Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Sense of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who was placed in the G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial and G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial S. The second dam Asnieres (Spend a Buck) is a half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}) who produced the versatile Forgotten Voice (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). He had the speed to win the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile and the stamina to add the 12-furlong G3 Glorious S. to his tally before finishing third in the two-mile Listed Esher S. during a spell when he also raced over hurdles.

Attire, whose yearling full-brother to Luxembourg sells during Wednesday's session of the Goffs Orby, is also kin to the G3 Prix de Flore winner Australie (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) who produced the Listed Carlingford S. winner and G3 Diamond S.-placed Hawke (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and the Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr scorer Mireille (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Also the second dam of the Listed Criterium de Lyon scorer and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Private Jet (Fr) (Aussie Rules) and the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or winner and G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis second Princedargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), the relative of the distinguished G1 Prix de Diane heroine Aqarelliste (Fr) (Danehill) visited Camelot again last year and has a filly foal as a result.

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
ALAN SMURFIT MEMORIAL BERESFORD S.-G2, €112,000, Curragh, 9-25, 2yo, 8fT, 1:40.88, gd.
1–LUXEMBOURG (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Asnieres, by Spend a Buck
3rd Dam: Albertine (Fr), by Irish River (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamie Heffernan. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $91,171. *1/2 to Leo de Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}), GSW-Ire, $150,238. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Manu Et Corde (Ire), 131, c, 2, Teofilo (Ire)–Tiffilia (Ire), by Macho Uno. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €20,000.
3–Tuwaiq (Ire), 131, c, 2, Elzaam (Aus)–Nutshell (GB), by Dubai Destination. (€8,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOCT). O-Dr Ali Al Mutairi; B-BHL (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €10,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, NO, HF. Odds: 0.62, 14.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Swan Bay (Ire), Chicago Soldier (Ire). Scratched: Piz Badile (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Grade I Winner Santa Barbara Dies

Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}-Senta's Dream {GB}, by Danehill), the winner of this year's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and GI Beverly D. S., has died after suffering complications from a fractured pelvis.

“Unfortunately she had fractured her pelvis and that displaced overnight,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “It's terrible really, when it displaced it caused internal bleeding and we didn't have any choice as she was in a lot of pain. It's such a shame.”

Bred by Aidan and Annemarie O'Brien's Whisperview Trading, Santa Barbara won her lone start at two at The Curragh last September and was early favourite for the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Cazoo Oaks. She missed the board in both those races, but bounced back to be a neck second in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh on July 27 before reeling off an American Grade I double. Santa Barbara was a half-sister to Breeders' Cup winners Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) and Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and their second dam, Starine (Fr) (Mendocino), won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf for Bobby Frankel.

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