Tag: Al Shaqab Racing

Wootton Bassett’s Unquestionable Impresses With TDN Rising Star Display At The Curragh

Team Ballydoyle got off to a perfect start on Irish 2000 Guineas day when the once-raced Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered clear of his five rivals in Saturday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette.

The July 2 G2 Railway S. entry lined up as the 4-6 favourite coming back off a promising debut third in this month's Listed First Flier S. and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead upped to six furlongs for this test. In command throughout, he was asked to stretch passing the quarter-mile marker and, with the benefit of the stands' side rail, quickened clear in taking fashion inside the final 150 yards to hit the line with an impressive 4 1/4-length buffer back to Mr Saturday (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}). Unquestionable becomes the fifth Rising Star for his sire (by Iffraaj {GB}), and second this term, following in the hoofprints of stablemate River Tiber (Ire).

“It was big ask to throw him in over five [furlongs] first time in a stakes race and we felt he'd appreciate the step up [in trip],” said Aidan O'Brien. “We're delighted with him and he's going to get even further than this. Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him and he went to the line very strong. It's very hard to beat a run and he had a good run. He looks like a [G2] Coventry horse.”

Unquestionable is the second of three foals and first winner, from two runners, produced by a daughter of Listed October S. victrix and G3 Sweet Solera S. runner-up Crying Lightening (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Crying Lightening is a half-sister to Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick second Lucky Bridle (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and a granddaughter of GII Dahlia H. winner and GI Gamely H. third Didina (GB) (Nashwan). Descendants of Didina include G1 Dubai Duty Free-winning sire Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk), G2 Temple S. victor and MG1SP sire Bated Breath (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Ajaya (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The April-foaled bay, a €340,000 Arqana August graduate, is kin to a yearling colt by Almanzor (Fr).

1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 5-27, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:16.42, gd.
UNQUESTIONABLE (FR), c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crying Lightening (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
3rd Dam: Auction Room, by Chester House
(€340,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG) Lifetime Record: SP-Ire, 2-1-0-1, $16,849. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore & Westerberg; B-Mme Camille Vitse, Mme Axelle Vitse, Mme Valentine Vitse & Guillaume Vitse (FR); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore.

 

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Observations: Unquestionable Kicks Off Big Day for Ballydoyle

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. Saturday's Insights features the unusual step down in class when Unquestionable tries a maiden off a Listed stakes placing.

15.20 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 6fT
UNQUESTIONABLE (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) takes the unusual step of dropping in class for a maiden on his second start, having caught the eye when third in the Listed First Flier S. here at the start of the month. Sent off the favourite of the Ballydoyle duo in that five-furlong contest, Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore and Westerberg's €340,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate is joined by the stable's newcomer City Of Troy (Justify), a son of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) whose 3-year-old full-brother Bertinelli won Saturday's London Gold Cup.

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Wootton Bassett’s Balsam Annexes Vichy Feature In Style

Al Shaqab Racing's juvenile filly Balsam (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Bea Remembered {GB}, by Doyen {Ire}) was a two-race maiden heading into Wednesday's Listed Prix des Reves d'Or at Vichy and went home with a stakes rosette and a breakthrough success in the bag after denting a pair of unbeaten records.

Balsam, let go as the 13-2 fourth choice of seven, was sharply into stride from the outside gate and occupied a prominent slot in second through halfway. Looming large on the bridle out wide to threaten the pacesetting 'TDN Rising Star' Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing the quarter-mile pole, she inched ahead of that rival entering the final furlong and onward to an ultimately comfortable 3/4-of-a-length triumph. Amo Racing's homebred Komat (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), hitherto undefeated, ran on well in the closing stages to finish a half-length adrift in third.

Balsam is the latest of eight foals and becomes the sixth winner for G3 Meld S. third Bea Remembered (GB) (Doyen {Ire}). The April-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to MGSW globetrotter Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic), who placed five times at elite level, and G2 Queen Mary and G2 Prix Robert Papin runner-up Al Johrah (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). Bea Remembered is the leading performer thrown by multiple scorer Leinster Mills (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}), herself kin to Listed Mooresbridge S. victrix Cheviot Amble (Ire) (Pennine Walk {Ire}) and Listed Debutante S. winner Alalja (Ire) (Entitled {Ire}). Cheviot Amble is the dam of Listed Hoppings S. victrix Amalia (Ire) (Danehill) while Alalja produced Listed Premio Nastro d'Oro di Sicilia victor Absolute Taft (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}). The family also features G1 Deutsches Derby second Taishan (Ger) (Armistice Day {GB}).

Wednesday, Vichy, France
HARAS DE BEAUMONT – PRIX DES REVES D'OR – JACQUES BOUCHARA-Listed, €60,000, Vichy, 5-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:03.30, sf.
1–BALSAM (FR), 122, f, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Bea Remembered (GB) (GSP-Ire, SP-Eng & Swe), by Doyen (Ire)
2nd Dam: Leinster Mills (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire)
3rd Dam: Miss Turnberry (Ire), by Mummy's Pet (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Al Shaqab Racing (FR); T-Henri-Francois Devin; J-Clement Lecoeuvre. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, €41,400. *1/2 to Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic), MGSW & G1SP-Ger, GSW & MG1SP-Fr, GSW-Eng & Ity, GISP-Can, $986,165; and Al Johrah (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), GSP-Eng & Fr, $129,933.
2–Les Pavots (Ire), 122, f, 2, No Nay Never–Sparrow (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Craig Bernick & Haras d'Etreham; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €12,000.
3–Komat (GB), 122, f, 2, Cable Bay (Ire)–Tamok (Ire), by Australia (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Amo Racing Ltd (GB); T-Dominic Ffrench Davis. €9,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 2. Odds: 6.50, 0.90, 3.00.
Also Ran: Eclaire La Vie (Fr), Chataigne (Fr), Arizona (Fr), Daiquiberry (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Lope De Vega’s Place Du Carrousel Swoops For Opera Triumph

Al Shaqab Racing's Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Traffic Jam {Ire}, by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), off the track since failing to land a blow in Chantilly's June 19 G1 Prix de Diane, exacted revenge on that Classic's winner, 'TDN Rising Star' Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), with a late rush to secure a career high in the flickering embers of Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp.

The €260,000 Arqana August graduate had earlier annexed Saint-Cloud's Apr. 29 G3 Prix Cleopatre before taking second behind another 'TDN Rising Star', Above The Curve (American Pharoah), when contesting the May 29 G1 Prix Saint-Alary over this 10-furlong course and distance in her penultimate start. With this effort, she has punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November.

Shuffled back through the pack to race towards the rear after a sharp getaway, the 41-1 outsider responded to pressure from the turn into the straight to go fifth entering the final furlong and pounced inside the final 50 yards to deny Nashwa and Above The Curve by 3/4-of-a-length and a short head.

It was most certainly a case of right time, right place for Place Du Carrousel and breeder Ballylinch Stud, whose yearling half-sister by Kingman (GB) is due under the hammer as lot 261 on day two of Tattersalls' upcoming October Book 1 sale.

“Andre Fabre has done a magnificent job with the filly,” said Al Shaqab's racing manager Rupert Pritchard-Gordon. “He told me that she needed a break after the Prix de Diane as the filly had a hard race that day. He was worried because she hadn't had a prep race beforehand and that's why we went to Compiegne for a public gallop, which did her good. She's a tough filly, she got some good cover during the race and displayed neat powers of acceleration. To see these colours win on Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day is very important.”

“We had a good race,” continued Mickael Barzalona. “They went off fast from the gates, but I managed to hold a good position on my filly. She did backpedal a bit during the race, but that enabled her to get a breather. She didn't expend any unnecessary energy in this ground and came with a steady run. Once she swung around [eventual fifth] Rumi, she finished with great gusto.”

The ground was a compromising factor for G1 Prix de Diane heroine Nashwa, who made a bold effort from the front only to be collared by the winner in the final metres. “She ran very well and, given her draw, it was not an easy task,” said John Gosden. “She had to make her effort quite early on and, furthermore, the very soft ground did not help her. We have no idea where she will go next. It's hard to get beaten, but she ran a good race.”

Above The Curve's trainer Joseph O'Brien reflected, “Above The Curve ran a good race on this ground. I'm proud of her as she was keeping very good company.”

Pedigree Notes

Place Du Carrousel, who becomes the 17th Group 1 winner for her sire (by Shamardal), is the first of four foals out of G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris victrix Traffic Jam (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), herself the leading performer produced by a multiple-winning sibling of stakes-winning G1 Racing Post Trophy second Winged Cupid (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}). Descendants of her fourth dam Hiwaayati (GB) (Shadeed), herself a half-sister to G2 Prix Maurice de Gheest victor Lead On Time (Nureyev) and Group winning G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 July Cup runner-up Great Commotion (Nureyev), include G1 Coronation S. victrix Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and this year's G1 Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Traffic Jam has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Nariman Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the aforementioned yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and a weanling filly by Sea The Stars {Ire}) to come.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L'OPERA LONGINES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:12.64, vsf.
1–PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Traffic Jam (Ire) (GSW-Fr, $211,247), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire)
2nd Dam: Place De l'Etoile (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Sweet Emotion (Ire), by Bering (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€260,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Al Shaqab Racing & Ballylinch Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud, Alexis Adamian & Mme Fan Adamian (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €285,700. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, €401,750. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nashwa (GB), 123, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. €114,300.
3–Above The Curve, 123, f, 3, American Pharoah–Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien. €57,150.
Margins: 3/4, SHD, 1. Odds: 41.00, 1.50, 3.80.
Also Ran: My Astra (Ire), Rumi (Fr), Tuesday (Ire), Mqse De Sevigne (Ire), Trevaunance (Ire), Jupyra (Fr), Fall In Love (Ire), Insinuendo (Ire), Agave (GB), Rosacea (Ire), La Parisienne (Fr), Zefania (Fr), Ebaiyra. Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

 

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