Ballydoyle | Horse Racing Free Tips

War Front’s Battleground Bounds to Vintage Triumph

Fresh from an impressive tally in Royal Ascot’s Listed Chesham S., Coolmore’s Battleground (War Front) emulated last year’s winner of that contest–Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal)–by doubling up in Tuesday’s G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. at Goodwood. Employing patient tactics trapped three wide in sixth after a level break in the seven-furlong contest, the 13-8 favourite made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge at the quarter-mile marker and he was driven out once seizing control soon after to deny G2 Superlative S. runner-up Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) by two lengths. Newmarket maiden winner Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) ran on well from the rear to finish 1 1/4 lengths further adrift in third. “He travelled very easily through the race, he picked up Devious Company quite quickly and was just doing enough in front,” explained winning rider Ryan Moore. “He’s a beautiful horse, he has plenty of speed and we’ll see how he develops.”

The May-foaled bay had opened up with a maiden fifth over six furlongs in his June 8 debut at Naas and jumped to the head of all ante-post lists as favourite for next year’s G1 2000 Guineas in the aftermath of this latest victory. His short-term target is back on home soil in The Curragh’s Sept. 13 G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S., with trainer Aidan O’Brien explaining, “This was his first run after [Royal] Ascot, we were very happy with him at home and we thought it was a lovely race for him to get experience from. The ground was lovely and safe and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him. We think his next run will be the National S., everything being well, but he is a horse we have always loved. He is a big, powerful horse and very genuine, and that’s the way his dam was as well. We think he will be a miler. He is a strong traveller, but he is by War Front, and being out of Found we thought he might get a mile and that is what we would be hoping for. Obviously all the 2-year-olds got a little bit messed up, with the start of the season not being there, and then we had to rush some of them to get them to Ascot. A lot of stuff wasn’t ideal, but he was lovely. It is very early for horses. Some will improve, some will stand still and some will go back, but we are delighted with this horse.”

Battleground is the first and only foal to date produced by G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, GI Breeders’ Cup Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was bred to Justify last year. Found is a daughter of G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Matron S. victress Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab), herself out of stakes-winning G3 Prix du Calvados third Malefemmena (Ire) (Nordico), and thus a full-sister to G3 C L Weld Parks S. winner Magical Dream (Ire) and G3 Give Thanks S. winner Best in the World (Ire). His G3 Athasi S.-winning fourth dam Martinova (Ire) (Martinmas {GB}) ran third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and produced MGSW sire Export Price (Fr) (Habitat).

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
VEUVE CLICQUOT VINTAGE S.-G2, £50,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 2yo, 7fT, 1:28.80, gd.
1–BATTLEGROUND, 127, c, 2, by War Front
1st Dam: Found (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Fr at 9.5-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Fr, GISW-US, MGSW & MG1SP-Ire, MG1SP-Eng, $7,610,405), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Deriick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $66,599. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Devious Company (Ire), 127, c, 2, Fast Company (Ire)–Seren Devious (GB), by Dr Devious (Ire). (£45,000 Ylg ’19 GOFFPR). O-Russell Jones; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Dascombe. £10,750.
3–Youth Spirit (Ire), 127, c, 2, Camelot (GB)–Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (€60,000 Wlg ’18 GOFNOV; €100,000 RNA Ylg ’19 ARAUG). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £5,380.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.63, 4.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Gorytus (Ire), Fountain Cross (GB), Dark Lion (Ire), Kraken Power (Ire), King Zain (Ire), Painless Potter (Ire), Thunder of Niagara (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Back-To-Back Tattersalls Gold Cups For Magical

With racemares like Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), there is a sense of point-and-shoot and Wayne Lordan had little trouble in steering her to a sixth top-level success in Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh. Sent to the front almost from the outset, the 2-9 favourite merely had to repeat her effort when winning the course-and-distance G1 Pretty Polly S. June 28 and she gave generously to issue another beating to over-matched rivals. Kicking off the home turn, she stayed on strongly as expected as stablemate Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) earned second, 2 1/4 lengths behind. He was in turn two lengths ahead of last year’s G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was putting up her best effort of 2020. “It went perfectly–she’s top-class,” Lordan said. “She’s very straightforward and gets into a lovely rhythm–she went by the line not in top gear. She’s a massive mare to ride and has a big, powerful action so with a small field with not a whole lot of pace I opted to keep it simple. I was riding the best horse and she’s uncomplicated with a great attitude. As we know, she can fight when she has to but she hasn’t had to in her last two starts.”

Were it not for Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Magical would have another three group 1s to boast of and in this era of the supermares she stands as one of the trailblazers for her sex. Her career has particularly taken off since September, when she captured the first leg of a notable G1 Irish-English Champion S. double at Leopardstown. Forcing connections into keeping her in training for one more season, she now has four group 1 wins from her last five starts and has justified that decision in no uncertain terms. Now that she is accustomed to making her own running, it could be that she is able to put it up to the Juddmonte sensation the next time their paths cross.

Lordan is of the opinion that the change in tactics is beneficial. “She jumped and she bowled away, she has a big easy action. She made it the last day and zinged along, today she was a little bit more relaxed out there in front,” he added. “I felt if anyone got to me, it would only help me. From the minute you sit on her till you get off, she feels like she has a presence. She’s a high-quality filly and she is definitely up there with the top ones, we know that by her form.”
Aidan O’Brien was at home and told the Racing Post, “She is a great mare. The only reason she is here now is because of the progress she made over the winter and she had progressed again from the Pretty Polly, so we are delighted the lads kept her in training. She might get a little bit of an easy time of it now, but the options would be the [G1] Juddmonte International and the [G1] Irish Champion Stakes. She could wait for the Irish Champion, but we’ll see.”

Magical’s dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was bred by Trevor Stewart, won the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. and is making her own special mark within the Coolmore broodmare band. Covered by Galileo throughout her second career, she has produced the G1 Lockinge S., G1 Fillies Mile and G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Rhododendron (Ire), as well as the G3 International S. scorer Flying the Flag (Ire). Halfway To Heaven is out of Stewart’s triple group-winning sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who also produced the G3 Summer S. scorer Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire). She has become a star producer in her own right, throwing the GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo S. heroine Photo Call (Ire) from a mating with Galileo and also the G2 Richmond S. scorer Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never). Halfway To Heaven’s daughter Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) raced for her owner-breeder and took the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S.

The third dam Rahaam (Secreto) was responsible for the notable sire Verglas (Ire) and the listed scorer Persian Secret (Fr) (Persian Heights {GB}), who is the ancestress of several classy performers. Her daughters Seba (GB) (Alzao) and Do the Honours (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}) were decent types, with the former capturing the Listed Chesham S. and finishing third in the GI Mother Goose S. and Do the Honours winning the G3 Prix de Meautry. The latter is the second dam of the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) by Galileo’s son Teofilo (Ire). Halfway To Heaven also has a yearling full-brother to Magical.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP-G1, €250,000, Curragh, 7-26, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:10.39, g/y.
1–MAGICAL (IRE), 135, m, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ire, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire, G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
O-Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €150,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng & GISP-US, 23-11-6-0, $4,631,071. *Full to Rhododendron (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 7-9.5f, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-USA, $1,786,763; Flying the Flag (IRE), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sir Dragonet (Ire), 138, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Sparrow (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €50,000.
3–Search For A Song (Ire), 135, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Polished Gem (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €25,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2, HF. Odds: 0.22, 18.00, 50.00.
Also Ran: Armory (Ire), Leo de Fury (Ire), Buckhurst (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Enable Has Come Forward Since Eclipse, Will Face Three Ballydoyle Rivals In Saturday’s King George

Superstar Enable will face three rivals in her bid to win an historic third King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. The champion racemare began her 2020 campaign with a second-place finish to Ghaiyyath in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse.

“I was very clear with everyone before Sandown that she had found it difficult to get to racing fitness since she is now a 6-year-old mare,” trainer John Gosden told racingpost.com. “She is a big powerful lady and certainly not of the neater, lighter-framed, type. She ran very well in the Eclipse and the race has had the desired effect of bringing her on.”

Ryan Moore will ride Japan, while Oisin Murphy picks up the mount on Anthony Van Dyck and William Buick will ride Sovereign.

Enable would become the only horse to win three King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes with herself (2017,2019), Swain (1997,1998) and Dahlia (1973,1974) all on two wins currently.

More history could be made as Enable's evergreen jockey Frankie Dettori bids to equal Lester Piggott's record of seven victories in the prestigious Group 1.

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Freshman Sire The Gurkha Off the Mark at Limerick

Coolmore’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and G1 Sussex S. hero The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who operated at an initial fee of €25,000, became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when Aidan O’Brien trainee Finest (Ire) graduated in Friday’s Well Done To All Frontline Staff From Limerick Racecourse Fillies Maiden at Limerick.

1st-Limerick, €11,000, Mdn, 7-17, 2yo, f, 6f 150yT, 1:25.45, gd.
FINEST (IRE) (f, 2, The Gurkha {Ire}–Pearl Grey {GB} {SW & GSP-Eng}, by Gone West) was caught out by the intricacies of Bellewstown when fifth going one mile there last month and tanked to the front after the initial strides of this fourth start. Comfortable in front for the most part, the 15-2 chance was punched along passing the quarter-mile marker and came under a drive inside the final 100 yards to bravely hold the late charge of Amber Kite (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) by a nose, becoming the first winner for her freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}). “She did that well from an outside draw and I got it a little bit easy in front,” admitted winning rider Wayne Lordan. “She tried and battled well and the line came in time.” Full-sister to a yearling colt, Finest is the sixth scorer produced by Listed Empress S. victress and G2 Cherry Hinton S. runner-up Pearl Grey (GB) (Gone West). Her dam is a herself kin to G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis victor Time Prisoner (Elusive Quality) and to the dam of G3 Superior Mile winner Balty Boys (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Sales history: €250,000 Ylg ’19 ARAUG. Lifetime Record: 4-1-0-1, $10,595.
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien.

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