Al Shaqab Racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ebro River Likely For Middle Park Instead of Morny

Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) is likely for the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 25 provided that fellow Al Shaqab Racing runner and G3 Molecomb S. winner Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) runs in the Aug. 22 G1 Prix Morny according to trainer Hugo Palmer.

“He's come back [from Ireland] great, you wouldn't know he'd had a run to be honest,” said the Newmarket handler of Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. hero. “I think Al Shaqab are very keen to run Armor in the Prix Morny. I think that's been his plan since Goodwood.

“I've said that we'll leave Ebro River in the Morny, in case for whatever reason Armor didn't or couldn't run. On the assumption Armor does go there, I would have thought the Middle Park will be Ebro River's next target.

“He's had seven races by Aug. 8, so he's allowed a little bit of time.”

A winner of a Sandown listed in May on his third start, the chestnut ran just out of the frame in a trio of group races earlier this summer. Fifth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot in June, he went one better in the G2 Tattersalls July S. at Newmarket last month. Prior to his first Group 1 victory, the colt ran fourth again, this time in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. on July 29.

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First Group 1 For Galileo Gold As Ebro River Best In The Phoenix

On the premises but off the board in a trio of group 2s in his native Britain, Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) benefitted from a change in tactics to make virtually all in Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. In front before racing a furlong, the Hugo Palmer-trained 12-1 shot had the stand's rail to help and gave generously for Shane Foley as TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) joined battle approaching the furlong pole. As that rival and the G2 Railway S. first and second Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made it four across the track there, it was the British raider who gave most to see off Dr Zempf by 3/4 of a length with the 6-4 favourite Go Bears Go a head behind in third. Foley, who was in Saratoga on Saturday and returned to home soil in the morning, said, “Hugo fancied the horse. He's tough and genuine and I just said I wouldn't mind changing tactics, as they had been dropping him in. It looked like there wasn't much pace today and with that tailwind it's hard to get them back.”

Impressive when the 3 1/4-length winner of the Listed National S. over five furlongs at Sandown May 27, Ebro River was a creditable fifth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 15 before finishing fourth in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 8. Again in that position in a slowly-run renewal of the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood July 29, the chestnut enjoyed being allowed to bowl along and as his sire had done in the 2016 G1 2000 Guineas got the rail and refused to relinquish. “He jumped and probably travelled too strongly if anything–we went end-to-end but I had a willing partner,” Foley said. “He had a good run in the Coventry, but had been keen and awkward and doing things wrong. It was an ideal day to make it, as we had the draw and it's all come together. I thought he'd be vulnerable, as he'd travelled so strong in my hands for the first three and I thought they might swallow him but he dug in and I was comfortable in the last 100 yards. I think he's a horse with a lot of talent and the softer the ground the better you'll see of him. He felt like he would get seven furlongs no problem if he learns to relax. He was a lot better today and I felt that even if they went another half a furlong he'd still be in front.”

Ebro River has a chance of emulating the last two years' Phoenix winners Siskin (First Defence) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in getting a mile next year, but his dam Soft Power (Ire) (Balmont) has mainly sprinters in her immediate family. She is kin to Key Rose (Ire) (Key of Luck), who was third in the Listed Flame of Tara S. in its former guise as a six-furlong contest and is a full-sister to the dam of the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 July Cup hero Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}). This is the dynasty of the GI King's Bishop S. hero The Big Beast (Yes It's True) and the GI Hollywood Derby hero Slew the Dragon (Seattle Slew). Soft Power's yearling filly is by Mehmas (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Inns of Court (Ire).

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Ribchester Filly Earns Rising Star Tag at Deauville

Al Shaqab Racing's Shaikha (Fr) (Ribchester {Ire}) was one of three supplementary nominations for Thursday's Prix Equidia at Deauville and justified the additional expenditure with a taking performance in the six-furlong debutantes' heat to earn 'TDN Rising Stardom'. She was sharply into stride and tracked the pace in second through the early fractions. Looming large on the bridle soon after passing the halfway mark, the 9-2 chance was not for catching once inching ahead approaching the final quarter mile and kept on powerfully under miminal urging in the latter stages to easily outclass Assyrian Queen (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) by an impressive three lengths.

Shaikha is the second foal and scorer produced by a winning half-sister to four black-type performers headed by G3 Prix du Bois victrix Keratiya (Fr) (Iron Mask) and Listed Prix Hampton winner Kerasona (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The €240,000 Arqana September yearling is a half-sister to Listed Criterium de Lyon victor and G3 Prix La Force placegetter Darkness (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The March-foaled dark bay's second dam Kerasha (Fr) (Daylami {Ire}), herself a daughter of G3 Anglesey S. winner Keraka (Storm Bird), is a half-sister to Listed Brownstown S. victrix Kermiyana (Ire) (Green Desert) and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot third Keramani (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).

2nd-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 8-5, unraced 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:08.64, gd.
SHAIKHA (FR), f, 2, by Ribchester (Ire)
1st Dam: Kerila (Fr), by Makfi (GB)
2nd Dam: Kerasha (Fr), by Daylami (Ire)
3rd Dam: Keraka, by Storm Bird
1ST-TIME STARTER. Sales history: €240,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran & Ecurie Melanie (FR); T-Andre Fabre. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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No Nay Never’s Armor Impresses in the Molecomb

Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) backed up an Apr. 24 maiden score at Doncaster with a close-up fifth, to the reopposing Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), in Royal Ascot's June 16 Listed Windsor Castle S. and announced his arrival on the juvenile scene with a devastating closing burst to seal an impressive triumph in Wednesday's G3 Markel Molecomb S. at Goodwood. The 6-1 chance was sharply into stride from the stands' side stall and occupied a forward berth in sixth through the early fractions of this five-furlong dash. Nudged along to close soon after halfway, he was ridden to join the front rank passing the eighth pole and surged clear once engaging turbo under a drive inside the final 100 yards for a taking 3 1/4-length success from Fearby (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}).

“We have always thought a lot of him and he worked very well on Sunday morning,” revealed trainer Richard Hannon. “He ran very well at Royal Ascot, even though he still looked a little inexperienced, and he's won very well today. He was tapped for speed a little bit coming down to the furlong-and-a-half marker, but he would have loved that ground. Ryan [Moore] said he would like the ground, I think he knows what he's on about, and he did. He's not a big horse and, if he makes a 3-year-old, then great. This is his year and he is good enough now. I've not made too many flash entries for him, but we'll look at something like the [Aug. 22 G1] Prix Morny [at Deauville] and, maybe, the [Sept. 10 G2] Flying Childers [at Doncaster]. He will get six furlongs and we'll have to have a go at a Group 1 race over that trip now.”

Reflecting on the preformance of 13-8 favourite Fearby, rider PJ McDonald said of the runner-up, “He has run a brilliant race. He is an honest little horse, who has never run a bad race, and there is more to come from him. I challenged on the wing and he handled the ground, but he would be better on better ground.”

Armor is the latest of four foals and becomes the first stakes scorer for Hestia (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself a winning daughter of Listed Prix La Sorellina second Tadorne (Fr) (Inchinor {Ire}). Tadorne, who also produced G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and G3 Prix Daphnis victor Pinson (Ire) (Halling), is kin to four black-type winners. They are G1 Grand Criterium third Ximb (Fr) (Septieme Ciel), G3 Prix Miesque and G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. placegetter Verba (Fr) (Anabaa), MGSP Listed Criterium du Bequet victrix Welcome Millenium (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) and G3 Prix Miesque runner-up Kambura (Fr) (Literato {Fr}). Tadorne is also a half-sister to the dam of MGSW G1 2000 Guineas third Native Khan (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}).

Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
MARKEL MOLECOMB S.-G3, £75,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 2yo, 5fT, :59.26, sf.
1–ARMOR (GB), 127, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Hestia (Fr), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Perruche Grise (Fr), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Tadorne (Fr), by Inchinor (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€55,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-C E Stedman (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Ryan Moore. £42,533. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $63,378. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fearby (Ire), 127, c, 2, Havana Gold (Ire)–Coolminx (Ire), by One Cool Cat. (13,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 21,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing; B-Ringfort Stud (IRE); T-Ed Bethell. £16,125.
3–Boonie (Ire), 127, c, 2, Brazen Beau (Aus)–Dice Game (GB), by Shamardal. O-Seymour Bloodstock & Mark Balnaves; B-Seymour Bloodstock (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £8,070.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 6.00, 1.63, 9.00.
Also Ran: Nymphadora (GB), Mojomaker (Ire), Chipotle (GB), Kingboard Star (Ire), Swayze (GB), Arboy Will (GB), Kaboo, Chimgan (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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