Classic Hope Vespertilio Put Forward To Fill Jannah Rose Void By Al Shira’aa

Al Shira'aa boss Kieran Lalor has admitted that it will be hard to top last season's achievements in winning the G1 Prix Saint-Alary with Jannah Rose (Ire) but nominated the Willie McCreery-trained Group 2 scorer Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) as being the operation's best chance of delivering big-race riches in 2024. 

Meanwhile, the decision has been made to retire the powerful owner-breeder's flagship performer Jannah Rose, with a visit to superstar stallion Dubawi (Ire) pencilled in for the four-year-old this spring.

Lalor explained how retiring the Group 1-winning daughter of Frankel (GB) became one of the most difficult decisions he has faced as racing and bloodstock manager at Al Shira'aa but said the outfit still has so much to look forward to on the racetrack this season with Vespertilio primed to lead the team into battle. 

He said, “Jannah Rose has been retired. We made that decision in mid-January and I tell you, it was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. Generally speaking, our fillies race on as four- and five-year-olds if they are sound but, aside from Mutamakina (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), she's our only Group 1 winner and is very important to us. 

“Not only that, but Dubawi is not getting any younger so we thought it was the right time to retire her. She's our first European Group 1 winner and has a very exciting future as a broodmare.”

Casting his mind back to that Saint-Alary victory, Lalor simply said, “Unbelievable. A day I will never forget. The fact that it was her first Group 1, it was very, very exciting. I remember being in Toronto for Mutamakina's EP Taylor. I was on my own and there wasn't another soul in the place because it took place during Covid. So, while that was our first Grade I, it was quite a lonesome celebration. We had some celebration after the Saint-Alary, though.”

Kieran Lalor with Jannah Rose's breeder John Hayes at Longchamp | Emma Berry

Vespertilio showed rare brilliance when coming from last to first in the matter of a few seconds to win the G2 Debutante S. at the Curragh last season. McCreery's ace performer followed up on that victory with a game second to Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 Moyglare S. at the Irish Champions Festival, with the pair pulling well clear of their challengers. 

Lalor says that he is optimistic that Vespertilio can confirm herself a top-notch filly in the making this season and nominated the Irish 1,000 Guineas as her most likely destination before explaining why she may not need a prep for the race.

He said, “The way she won the Debutante was extremely impressive. She was so relaxed at the rear of the field and, without being insulting, made everything else in the race appear ordinary by the way that she quickened up past them in the finish.”

Lalor added, “She's so chilled out. Even in her training, she just drops her head and trucks along-she wouldn't jump out at you in her training. That's why we think she could go straight to a Guineas rather than taking in a trial. It will be ground depending. I think she likes a bit of fast ground, at least a bit of good anyway, so she could go straight to either the French or the Irish 1,000 Guineas. 

“She's obviously French-bred so there's definitely an attraction to that. But on the other hand, she loves the Curragh, and that would appear to be her main target at the moment. You know, that would be a safer bet as it's on home soil and it's essentially a trip across the road compared to travelling over to France.”

It is not the policy of the powerful owner-breeder Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan to race the colts that come through the system but, when Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) kicked a wall and was therefore forced to miss the Goffs Orby Sale in 2022, he was put into training with Joseph O'Brien. It has turned out to be for luck with the dual winner, including at Group 3 level, on course to take in the Irish or French 2,000 Guineas this season. 

Lalor said, “Atlantic Coast is doing great. He ran very well on Irish Champions Weekend when third behind Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}, who could be anything, before winning the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown. We're looking at either the French or Irish 2,000 Guineas and he can handle a bit of cut in the ground. He'll probably go for a prep beforehand.”

High-class older filly Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) looks set to be on her travels, with top-flight races in America pencilled in for the Group 3 winner, with Lalor explaining that there are 13 two-year-olds that will be added to the system this year.

He said, “Ocean Jewel could run on the opening day at the Curragh but Willie and I have spoken about racing her in America where you are guaranteed nice ground. She's developed into a lovely filly and is from a very good family. I think she will get the mile pretty easily and we'd love to win a Group 1 with her.”

On the youngsters, he added, “We have 13 two-year-olds and shopped the sales pretty hard last year. It was a very difficult sales season and we might have ended the year as the champion underbidder! We bought five lovely fillies who will add to the nice group of homebreds that we will be putting into training. We're trying mostly to focus on those Classic types and, while we haven't picked trainers for the youngsters yet, we have some lovely types. 

“We have the American Pharoah half-sister to Onesto (Ire), the Wootton Bassett (GB) out of a sister to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), the Siyouni (Fr) half-sister to Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Sea The Stars (Ire) filly out of Jumooh (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) and then we have a blast of our own homebreds who we are very excited about as well.”

Al Shira'aa has quickly established itself as a leading international player. The modus operandi is quality over quantity and, in a week where a host of Classic plans have been hatched for some of the less-exposed fillies in training in France and decisions made to send some of the more ground-dependant runners to continue their careers stateside, there seems to be unparalleled levels of excitement building for the upcoming campaign even in the absence of the star performer Jannah Rose. 

Lalor said, “We've Saadiyat (Ire), a lovely Lope De Vega (Ire) filly who is a sister to Broome (Ire), Point Lonsdale (Ire) and Diego Velazquez, who was with Carlos Laffon-Parias last year. She is going to head out to America this year to Christophe Clement. Foxtrot Zulu (Ire), a Saxon Warrior half-sister to Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), is going to join Christophe as well. I think they will prefer the ground out there.”

He added, “And then we have Rumi's sister Jannah Pearl (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) who is entered for the French Oaks. She is yet to run but we're not too far away with her. The Siyouni (Fr) half-sister to Native Trail (GB), named Native Pearl (Fr), is actually a very good filly. We ran her once last year on bottomless ground and that was a mistake. She is a much better filly than that and will be entered in the French 1,000 Guineas and the French Oaks. 

“A filly we have a lot of hope for this year is [Waldgeist's half-sister] Caelestis (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). She's a filly who has just taken a bit of time mentally but she's won her maiden we're hoping for some good black-type from her this year. It's going to be very hard to match the achievements of last year but God loves a dreamer.”

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Frankel’s Jannah Rose Back With A Win In The Prix Alec Head

Al Shira'aa Farms' bonanza weekend continued apace at Deauville on Sunday, with their star filly Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) coming back from her midsummer break to win the 10-furlong G2 Sumbe Prix Alec Head which is the re-named Prix de la Nonette. Off since her anti-climactic sixth in the G1 Prix de Diane, the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine was restrained to race in third by Christophe Soumillon off the moderate pace set by the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up and G1 Irish Oaks fourth Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Having to fight once she had got alongside that rival 150 metres from the finish, the 7-10 favourite proved equal to the task to prevail by a head. “It's a great honour as, to me, the Head family are one of the biggest families in the racing world so to win the first one under Alec Head's name means a lot to me,” the rider said. “We had a lot of good wins together and while it's always sad to lose somebody so important in racing, he has left a great legacy.”

 

The win had added import, with Carlos Laffon-Parias being the husband of Alec Head's granddaughter Patricia. “It's nice to see her leave her race in the Prix de Diane behind,” the trainer said. “This is the real Jannah Rose. She was a bit fresh and the pace wasn't quick enough for her, but in the end she quickened well and won safely I think. I will keep her over that trip and she will come back in the [G1] Prix de l'Opera.”

For Soumillon, success in the race in its inaugural new guise also carried significant weight. “It's a great honour as, to me, the Head family are one of the biggest families in the racing world so to win the first one under Alec Head's name means a lot to me,” the rider said. “We had a lot of good wins together and while it's always sad to lose somebody so important in racing, he has left a great legacy.”

Pedigree Notes

Jannah Rose's unraced dam Sophie Germain (Ire) (Indian Ridge [Ire}) is also responsible for the G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. winner Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and the listed-placed Silver Spear (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}). The second dam is the G1 Oaks d'Italia heroine Nydrion (Critique), whose family includes the GI Breeders' Futurity hero and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Square Eddie (Smart Strike). She also has a 2-year-old filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire) bought by David Redvers for €280,000 at the Goffs Orby and a colt foal by Oasis Dream (GB).

Sunday, Deauville, France
SUMBE PRIX ALEC HEAD (PRIX DE LA NONETTE)-G2, €130,000, Deauville, 8-20, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:13.18, vsf.
1–JANNAH ROSE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sophie Germain (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
2nd Dam: Nydrion, by Critique
3rd Dam: Nabila, by Foolish Pleasure
(€650,000 Ylg '21 GOFORB). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-John Hayes (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Christophe Soumillon. €130,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 5-4-0-0, €270,450. *1/2 to Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), GSW-Ire, $289,014; and Silver Spear (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lumiere Rock (Ire), 126, f, 3, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Last Gold (Fr), by Gold Away (Ire). (55,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Michael O'Flynn; B-The Last Partnership (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €28,600.
3–Eternal Hope (Ire), 123, f, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Voice Of Truth (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €13,650.
Margins: HD, 1HF, 2. Odds: 0.70, 5.10, 9.00.
Also Ran: Pensee Du Jour (Ire), Abha (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Night Of Thunder’s Vespertilio Impresses In The Debutante

Providing a boost to her G3 Silver Flash S. conqueror Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Al Shira'aa Farms' Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Prudente {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) sprung forward to capture Saturday's seven-furlong G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S. in style at The Curragh. Beaten 1 1/2 lengths when second to Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star in that important staging post at Leopardstown last month, the Willie McCreery-trained €320,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate was held up in last early by a confident Billy Lee content to let it all play out ahead. Produced to pounce on the leaders a furlong out, the 4-1 shot surged into the clear to score by 1 3/4 lengths from Sakti (Ire) (Caravaggio), with 2 3/4 lengths back to Kalispera (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in third.

“She ran a lovely race the last day,” McCreery said. “Billy apologised for sitting back last, he didn't want to sit that far back but he said she just got squeezed early and got lit up for a few strides so he just wanted to settle her. They were going a good gallop along and he was happy with her the whole way. She took him into the race beautifully and quickened up lovely.”

“She gets a free entry now for the Moyglare and we'll stick her in that now, I'm always trying to save a few quid! We'll stay local, she actually qualified for a race in France today because she was bought in Arqana but I really wanted to come here instead of travelling at this time of year. She's lovely, gorgeous, and she has tactical speed as well.”

Pedigree Notes
Vespertilio, who becomes the 20th group winner for her sire, is the fourth foal out of Prudente who is a full-sister to the Listed Prix de la Seine winner Prudenzia (Ire). She is in turn the dam of the G1 MacKinnon S. winner and international star Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who produced the G2 Curragh Cup winner and G1 Goodwood Cup runner-up Emily Dickinson (Ire) from a mating with Night Of Thunder's sire Dubawi (Ire) and also the G1 Irish Oaks and GI American Oaks-placed Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah).
Prudenzia also produced Dubawi's G3 Prix Penelope winner and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene (Ire), while the third dam is the listed-winning Puce (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) whose leading performers were the G2 Lancashire Oaks winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) with this being the family of the G1 Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire heroine Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Prudente's yearling colt is by Camelot (GB).

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
ALPHA CENTAURI DEBUTANTE S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 8-19, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.60, g/y.
1–VESPERTILIO (FR), 128, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
     1st Dam: Prudente (Fr), by Dansili (GB)
     2nd Dam: Platonic (GB), by Zafonic
     3rd Dam: Puce (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shira'Aa Farms; B-SASU Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc (FR); T-Willie McCreery; J-Billy Lee. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $90,300. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sakti (Ire), 128, f, 2, Caravaggio–Oh Grace (Ire), by Lawman (Fr).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€52,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1). O-David Spratt & Sean Jones & Mrs Lynne Lyons; B-T Darcy & V McCarthy (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €24,000.
3–Kalispera (Ire), 128, f, 2, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Ask Me Nicely (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Ann Marie O'Brien (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 7.00, 80.00.
Also Ran: Mysteries (Ire), Pearls and Rubies, Dollerina (Ire), Betula (GB), Snellen (Ire).

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Sioux Nation’s Ocean Jewel Takes The Ballycorus

Underlining the strength of the speedier 3-year-olds this year, Al Shira'aa Farms' Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) passed a stern test against the older brigade on Thursday as she captured Leopardstown's G3 TRI Equestrian Ballycorus S. Stretching out to seven furlongs, having finished third behind The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the G3 Lacken S. over six at Naas last month, the Willie McCreery-trained half-sister to the 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was able to use her sprinting prowess to stay close to the early pace in second. Committed by Billy Lee passing two out, the 16-5 shot saw out the finale strongly to score by 1 1/4 lengths from the veteran stalwart Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}).

Also second to smart compatriot Beauty Crescent (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Listed Blenheim S. at Fairyhouse in September, having won her Down Royal maiden with authority earlier that month, Ocean Jewel is unexposed and full of promise at this trip and possibly beyond according to McCreery. “She's improving the whole time and everything worked out perfectly tactically,” he said. “I did think about the Commonwealth [Cup], but I thought 'let's not take on the boys this year' and it that was her first time over seven and Billy [Lee] said she hit the line very well.”

“She's a very sharp filly and I loved the way she settled,” the winning trainer added. “The world is her oyster and we'll take our time with her. We have next year with her and we'll try a group 1 before the year is out. We'll stick to seven this year and might go a mile next year. It's a big weekend for Kieran [Lalor, Al Shira'aa's racing and bloodstock manager]. He bought this filly a couple of years ago and he bought the second favourite for the French Oaks, Jannah Rose.”

Pedigree Notes
Ocean Jewel's aforementioned half-sister Mother Earth, who was also successful in the G1 Prix Rothschild and placed in seven other top-level contests including the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, was Al Shira'aa Racing's first winner in Ireland last term and a perfect launchpad for the operation in the country. The listed-winning and group-placed dam Many Colours (GB) (Green Desert) is also responsible for the G2 Premio Dormello winner Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). From the family of the leading sprinter and sire Dandy Man (Ire) and the Royal Ascot group-placed pair Patience Alexander (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), her full-brother to Mother Earth named Bamburgh (Ire) was a €80,000 purchase by Johnston Racing at the Goffs Orby.

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYCORUS S.-G3, €52,500, Leopardstown, 6-15, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:30.10, gd.
1–OCEAN JEWEL (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Many Colours (GB) (SW & GSP-Ire, MSP-UAE, $276,926), by Green Desert
2nd Dam: First Of Many (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Star Profile (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€230,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Willie McCreery; J-Billy Lee. €31,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $56,231. *1/2 to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), G1SW-Eng & Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,460,919; and Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), GSW-Ity, $139,607. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Real Appeal (Ger), 135, g, 6, Sidestep (Aus)–Runaway Sparkle (GB), by Green Desert. (€7,500 Wlg '17 ARQDEC; £265,000 2yo '19 GOFLON; 130,000gns 5yo '22 TATAHI). O-Shamrock Thoroughbreds, Dooley Thoroughbreds & J P Cleary; B-Gestut Kussaburg (GER); T-Adrian McGuinness. €10,500.
3–Carrytheone (GB), 135, g, 6, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Song Of Passion (Ire), by Orpen. (50,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Any Excuse For A Holiday Syndicate; B-Pevens Racing (GB); T-Johnny Murtagh. €5,250.
Margins: 1 1/4, SHD, SHD. Odds: 3.20, 20.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mutasarref (GB), Agartha (Ire), Spring Feeling (Fr). Scratched: Power Under Me (Ire), Coachello (Fr).

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