Ardakan (GB) | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Superman’ Aiming For Victory In Zabeel Mile

The G2 Zabeel Mile Presented By ARN is the showpiece during Friday's Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan. The $180,000 1600-metre event has attracted a field of eight, five of which carry the Godolphin blue. However, the most intriguing runner is Michael O'Callaghan's dual group winner I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}).

Back from a successful sojourn Down Under where he landed the G2 Shannon S. in 2020 and the G2 Ajax S. in 2021 for Peter & Paul Snowden, the 7-year-old is hoping to tally a win in his third individual country. A three-time scorer in his native land and third in the G3 Desmond S. in 2019, I Am Superman was second in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield when last seen on Sept. 17.

“We're delighted with I Am Superman since arriving in Dubai,” said O'Callaghan. “He's in really good form ahead of Friday and Colin Keane is over to ride both him and Fastnet Crown (Ire) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) [in the Dubai Eye 103.8 H.].”

Bearing the coveted blue cap among the Godolphin quintet is 2021 G1 2000 Guineas runner-up and dual group hero Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby. He was last in action at HQ taking the G3 Earl Of Sefton S. in April.

Appleby, who is gunning for a sixth edition of the Zabeel Mile, said, “Master Of The Seas has settled in well in Dubai, but we are very much working back from Dubai World Cup night and Super Saturday. There will be some natural improvement from whatever he does here.”

Among trainer Saeed bin Suroor's three-pronged attack is Land Of Legends (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), whose biggest triumph was the 2021 G2 Al Fahidi Fort.

“This looks a tough race for the three of them,” said the trainer, who also saddles 2022 G2 Al Rashidiya winner Desert Fire (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Laser Show (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

Fillies To The Fore In Guineas Hunt

A select field of seven fillies vie for the first Classic crown of the season in Friday's $150,000 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Presented By ARN. The 1600-metre dirt test is anchored by Harry Eustace's Cite D'Or (Fr) (Galiway {GB}). Already a two-time winner in the UK, the sixth-place finisher in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last October is the first runner for her Haras de Colleville-based sire in Dubai and is making her dirt bow.

“She travelled out to Meydan on Dec. 29,” said majority owner Nick Bradley. “She's done everything right to date but the dirt is an unknown. She'll go from here to the [G3] UAE Oaks which has been her target since November.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Mimi Kakushi (City Of Light) makes her first run back since storming home a two-length winner over Asawer (Nyquist) and Awasef (Cairo Prince) in a local 1400-metre conditions race at third asking on Dec. 23.

“Both fillies are in top form,” said Bin Ghadayer. “They are facing the same fillies they ran against before. :”I'm happy with Mimi Kakushi, even with the extra furlong from her last race,” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer.

Al Khail Trophy Attracts Classic Hero

Bennett Racing's Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) steps up in trip to 2810 metres over the Meydan turf in the Listed Al Khail Trophy Presented By ARN, the third and final black-type race of the day. The 2022 G2 Italian Derby hero, formerly trained by Markus Klug, was placed in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in August. His final run of the year was a fourth in Belmont Park's GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. over 1 1/2 miles on Sept. 17.

“Ardakan joined us after his run in the US,” said Lucia Botti, overseeing the team in Dubai. “He's a lovely big, imposing, young horse whose plan is to run hopefully in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup. He has settled into his daily routine nicely here and we are all very excited to see him racing for us, up in distance, on Friday.”

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Hurricane Alert At Saint-Cloud

It can't always be said that the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is the strongest of the Group 1 races in Europe, but Sunday's line-up stands up to inspection with Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) looking to build on his respectable if uninspiring return effort in the G2 Hardwicke S. While excuses can be made on account of the prevalent fast ground at Royal Ascot and the fact that he would have needed his seasonal bow, there is always a concern when such a luminary fails to spark during such an important phase of his career. His achievements at three are undeniably impressive, with few colts able to pull off a rare treble of G1 Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger with such dash and authority and his parting shot of running third in the Arc only served to enhance his reputation.

“I'll be honest, I was pleased with his [Hardwicke] run,” Charlie Appleby said. “Pre-race I was confident that we'd got his level of fitness up there, but turning four he's done very well physically and he's certainly tightened up for the run, that's for sure. What we've seen since the race is a sharper, tighter model. Some might ask if 15 days is enough time between runs, but 15 days was always our plan–the Hardwicke and then the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and what we saw last year was he thrives on his races. He went English Derby, Irish Derby and then Grand Prix de Paris last year and that was probably his most impressive victory, so he thrives on his racing and we're very happy.”

Welcome Back Alpinista

Whereas Hurricane Lane has had the sharpener in 2022, Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been denied that and she is in a lot deeper than she was on this weekend last year when marking her seasonal debut with a workmanlike success in the G2 Lancashire Oaks. Whatever her state of readiness, the Sir Mark Prescott-trained grey is a welcome sight coming back off her remarkable treble of G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin, G1 Preis Von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern. Given that the former of those races was taken at the expense of Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), it is clear that we are looking at a major talent among Europe's older horses.

Will The Eagle Land?

Like Hurricane Lane, Ballylinch Stud and Aquis Farm's Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was a touch flat on his return when a well-beaten third to a resurgent Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in Goodwood's Listed Tapster S. May 21, but he probably ran no worse than he had on his 2021 return when fourth behind Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial. On his next start, he had made a significant leap to hand Yibir five pounds and a four-length beating in the Listed Cocked Hat S. on soft before making Hurricane Lane pull out all the stops in the Irish Derby.

Freddie Meade said, “It was very important to get that run into him, as he showed last year. I think we're in a good spot with him and I think he's earned his place. He had some of the best form in the book last year and he's done well.”

Deutsches Delight

There is a fascinating 153rd edition of the G1 IDEE Deutsches Derby at Hamburg, where the key protagonists appear to be Darius Racing's May 22 G2 Derby Italiano winner Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}), Gestut Rottgen's impressive June 5 G3 Diana Trial scorer Wagnis (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Gestut Park Wiedingen's June 6 G2 Union-Rennen winner Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Gestut Schlenderhan's So Moonstruck (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who was a head second in that 11-furlong Cologne contest. With seven runners all with solid prospects, the real story of the race is the dominance of Markus Klug with Frankie Dettori, Hollie Doyle and Richard Kingscote among the jockey bookings. Of the 20 in the line-up, there are only seven stables represented with Henk Grewe and Andreas Wohler also saddling four apiece and the latter handler has a bright prospect in Gestut Paschberg's May 28 G3 Baden-Baden Derby-Trial winner Queroyal (Ger) who could make it an even bigger weekend for his sire Churchill (Ire). Whatever the outcome, the lessons of recent years and especially of the 2021 Arc mean that eyes need to be peeled on Sunday afternoon.

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Derby Italiano Glory For Reliable Man’s Ardakan

Favoured Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) rewarded the Capannelle faithful with a narrow score in the G2 Derby Italiano over 2200 metres on Sunday.

Tanking up to sit in midpack while glued to the rail, the Markus Klug-trained colt was a bit keen nearing the bend, but eventually settled down. He edged toward the front under his own power while still saving ground, and was tipped off the inside to make his run 800 metres from home. Employing a speedy turn of foot, he drew into contention at the 600-metre mark, but was passed by Tempesti (Ity) (Albert Dock {Jpn}), who rallied sharply and took over inside the final quarter-mile. Not letting that foe out of his sights, he dove back to the fence and just edged him by a neck. It was 3 1/4 lengths back to Frozen Day (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) in third.

Lightly raced, the grey broke his maiden in the G3 Premio Berardelli in Rome last November, his third trip to the post. He was three-quarters of a length behind Martel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Listed Prix de l'Avre at ParisLongchamp in a warm-up for this test on May 5.

Pedigree Notes

Ardakan is one of 19 black-type winners, 14 at group level, for his shuttle sire Reliable Man. The grey has three Group 1 winners to his credit–Miami Bound (NZ), Inspirational Girl (NZ), and Miss Sentimental (NZ)–from his time spent shuttling to New Zealand. Sternkoenig (Ire) counts Ardakan as one of seven group winners among his 17 stakes winners as a broodmare sire. Also grey and tracing tail-male back to Nasrullah through the Grey Sovereign (GB) line, his daughters have produced three Group 1 winners led by the globetrotting Ivanhowe (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), and the G1 Deutsches Derby winners Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). The latter pair are both out of the winning mare Wellenspiel (Ger).

Stakes placed in Germany at three, Alaskakonigin (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}) improved to take the Listed Grosser Preis der Sparkasse Dortmund over 2000 metres as a 4-year-old. Her first foal, Astor (Ger) (Siyouni {Fr}), was a winner, and the German stakes winner Alaskasonne (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who ran third in the G2 Carl Jaspers Preis was her second foal. The latter holds an engagement in Tuesday's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud. Ardakan is her third produce, while her Nathaniel (Ire) foal of 2020 died. A half-sister to multiple stakes winner and dual Group 3-placed Alicante (Ger) (Lando {Ger}), her latest produce is a yearling colt by Best Solution (Ire) already named Abanos (GB). Another half-sister to Alaskakonigin, the Dashing Blade (GB) filly Andrea (Ger), ran third in the G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) in 2009. The fourth dam, Anstandige (Ger) (Star Appeal {Ire}) was a half-sister to the high-class runner and influential matriarch Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}).

Sunday, Rome, Italy
PREMIO DERBY ITALIANO CAMPUS BIOMEDICO DI ROMA-G2, €640,200, Capannelle, 5-22, 3yo, c/f, 2200mT, 2:17.40, gd.
1–ARDAKAN (GB), 128, c, 3, Reliable Man (GB)
                1st Dam: Alaskakonigin (Ger) (SW-Ger),
                                by Sternkoenig (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Annouche (Ger), by Unfuwain
                3rd Dam: Anna Thea (Ire), by Turfkonig (Ger)
(€40,000 Ylg '20 BBASEP). O-Darius Racing. B-Gestut Rottgen
(GB). T-Markus Klug. J-Clement Lecoeuvre. €247,350. Lifetime
Record: 5-2-2-1, €292,115. *1/2 to Alaskasonne (Fr) (Soldier
Hollow {GB}), SW & GSP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tempesti (Ity), 128, c, 3, Albert Dock (Jpn)–Tender Hugs (Ire),
by Bahcelor Duke. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Razza Dormello
Olgiata Di Citai. B-Societa Agricola C.I.T.A.I. (Ity). T-Riccardo
Santini. €108,834.
3–Frozen Day (Ire), 128, c, 3, The Gurkha (Ire)–Sweet Lollipop
(Ire), by Shamardal. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€10,000 Wlg
'19 GOFNOV). O-Stefano Botti Turf SRL. B-Razza Del Velino SRL
(Ire). T-A. Botti. €59,364.
Margins: NK, 3 1/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.35, 2.65, 5.50.
Also Ran: Emperor Of Love (Ire), Lohengrin (Ity), Don Chicco (GB), Chelsea Gardens (GB), Il Grande Black (Ire), Gold Tango (Ire), Tramaglino (Ity), Di Lido, Open Skies (Ger), Lord Sakay (Ire), Vecello (GB), Arrival (Ire).
Click for the or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Reliable Man Colt Off The Mark in Premio Guido Berardelli

Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) had only faced the starter twice, good for a third in a Sept. 27 Munich seven-furlong affair and a second in a 10-furlong contest at Baden-Baden on Oct. 15, but he managed to break his maiden and earn a first black-type rosette in the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli at Capannelle.

The heavy going did not phase the grey and he perched in a tugging second shortly after the gates flew with Crystal Drake (Ity) (Full Drago {Ity}) leading the vanguard. Positions were largely unchanged as the field exited the turn and began to race up the lengthy stretch and the 5-2 chance had edged up to the leader's flank by the 600-metre mark. Switched off the rail, the Darius Racing colourbearer traded blows with Crystal Drake, before sticking his neck in front at the two pole. It was a cakewalk from there, as Ardakan burst away to win by six good-looking lengths. Crystal Drake stayed on gamely to keep second, a head in front of Wonka Willy (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}), with that pair another four lengths clear of the remainder.

Pedigree Notes
The 17th black-type winner for his sire, Ardakan is also the 11th group winner. Reliable Man's stallion resume also features a trio of Group 1 winners-Miami Bound (NZ), Inspirational Girl (NZ), and Miss Sentimental (NZ)-all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ardakan is the second stakes winner for German listed winner Alaskakonigin after Listed Diana Trial heroine Alaskasonne (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). The last known foal out of the gray is the weanling colt Abanos (GB) (Best Solution {Ire}).

Sunday, Rome, Italy
PREMIO GUIDO BERARDELLI-G3, €69,300, Rome, 11-7, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:54.90, hy.
1–ARDAKAN (GB), 123, c, 2, by Reliable Man (GB)
                1st Dam: Alaskakonigin (Ger) (SW-Ger),
                                by Sternoenig (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Annouche (Ger), by Unfuwain
                3rd Dam: Anna Thea (Ire), by Turfkonig (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (€40,000 Ylg '20
BBASEP). O-Darius Racing. B-Gestut Rottgen (GB). T-Markus
Klug. €26,775. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, €29,040. *1/2 to
Alaskasonne (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), SW-Ger. Werk Nick
   Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crystal Drake (Ire), 123, c, 2, Full Drago (Ity)–Crystal Tour
(Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). O-Stefano Botti. B-Azienda
Agricola Mariano (Ity). T-A. Botti. €11,781.
3–Wonka Willy (Ire), 123, c, 2, Estidhkaar (Ire)–Ivy Batty (Ire),
by King's Best. (€4,500 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; €4,500 RNA Ylg
'20 GOFFEB; €3,000 Ylg '20 TATDEC). O-Scuderia Semeso &
Sebastiano Guerrieri. B-Gerald Colclough (Ire). T-Sebastiano
Guerrieri. €6,426.
Margins: 6, HD, 4. Odds: 2.73, 0.83, 2.52.
Also Ran: Arc On Fire (Ire), Saidin (Fr), Blentteim Fan (Ity).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.

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