Tag: Bay Bridge (GB)

Ganay Exam For Vadeni

Six months on from his near-miss in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, The Aga Khan's Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) returns to ParisLongchamp on Sunday for what amounts to a stern test in the G1 Prix Ganay. Last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Eclipse hero has a surprise awaiting him in James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud's G1 Champion S. winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), who was impressive on his seasonal debut in 2022 when taking the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. Ballylinch Stud also have a significant involvement in Al Shaqab Racing's high-class G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while Haras de la Perelle and Stephane Wattel's Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and even Bertrand Milliere's Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) are hard to leave out of the picture with a run under their belts when first and second in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt here Apr. 9. That could be the way of things in 2023, with so many talented older horses remaining in training to provide reliable markers in these important contests.

Christophe Soumillon is well aware of the level of opposition to Vadeni. “He worked quite well on Tuesday, we all know the horse isn't 100% fit and it is the first run of the season,” he said. “He's going to have a tough season, for sure, we couldn't believe the Ganay would be that strong. I have been doing this job for 25 years now and I haven't seen a Ganay with so many group one horses. It's like a strong Champion S. race. We're not going to give him a hard race, as his targets are at Ascot and the Irish Champion and the Arc. We know he likes soft ground and even heavy and is very versatile.”

James Wigan said of Bay Bridge, who had been entered in the eventually-abandoned G3 Gordon Richards S. this week, “Sandown was our original thought, but then he would have carried a penalty for being a Group 1 winner after August, so being seven pounds worse off with Adayar (Ire) would have meant he would have a hard race at any rate, so we felt he might as well have a hard race in a group one as in a Group 3. There will be the usual pattern of races for him. I'm sure Sir Michael knows where he'll want to go, but this is a good spot to begin.”

La Parisienne Returns

On a day of welcoming back, Peter Bradley's G1 Prix de Diane runner-up La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) who was also third in the G1 Prix Vermeille and disappointing in the Opera makes her seasonal bow in the card's G3 Prix Allez France Longines. This is a chance to start anew for the talented 4-year-old, who is another prize ride for Soumillon who has taken France by storm so far this year.

The post Ganay Exam For Vadeni appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Three Wildcards Added To Tattersalls December Sale

Half-sister to a pair of Group 1 winners and a colt foal by Mehmas (Ire) are late additions to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

Five-time winner Nataleena (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) will sell through The Castlebridge Consignment as lot 1639A. Her dam, the Multiplex (GB) mare Hayyona (GB), is a half-sister to Group 2 victor Shimraan (Fr) (Rainbow Quest). She is in foal to Harry Angel (Ire), who has already sired stakes winners in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Joining Nataleena for the Mares Sale is Houghton Bloodstock's Five Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 1639B). The sophomore is a dual winner and a half-sister to G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), as well as the GI American Oaks third Amandine (GB) (Shamardal). Their dam is Kissable (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), a listed winner and third in the G1 Moyglare Stud S.

Castlefarm Stud will consign the Mehmas colt as lot 725A. He is out of the winning Blissful Beauty (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), herself a half-sister to Group 2 hero Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).

The Tattersalls December Sale begins with the December Yearling Sale on Nov. 21, followed by the December Foal Sale from Nov. 23-26. The December Mares Sale, featuring the Sceptre Sessions, will begin on Nov. 28 and go until Dec. 1.

The post Three Wildcards Added To Tattersalls December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Bay Bridge Upsets Baaeed In The Champion

Caught off guard in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. and Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse, James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud's Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}–Hayyona {GB}, by Multiplex {GB}) made it third time lucky at the highest level when upsetting the hitherto undefeated Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and a stellar field in Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot. The race is a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland next month. Having appeared set fair to join the upper echelons when routing his rivals by five lengths and more in May's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown, the 4-year-old bay failed to justify odds-on favouritism when usurped by State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) over course and distance in June and didn't fire as expected when fifth behind Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) in Sandown's annual highlight in July. The eventual winner occupied an ideal slot in third behind a steady tempo through halfway and the 10-1 chance shifted gears rounding the home turn, moving into second at the top of the straight. Hooking up with the revitalised Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the leading wave passing the quarter-mile marker, the expected surge of Baaeed failed to materialise in speed-blunting conditions as the 1-4 favourite's stablemate My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) joined the mix inside the final furlong. An enthralling battle ensued with Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote teasing every last drop out of Bay Bridge to edge ahead in the closing stages for a career high, with Adayar outbobbing My Prospero by a nose for second. Baaeed lost no caste in defeat and ran on to finish 1 1/4 lengths further adrift in fourth.

Surprisingly, Bay Bridge's success provided Sir Michael Stoute with a first positive outcome on the programme since Champions Day was recalibrated in 2011 and a first in the contest for the veteran conditioner since Kalanisi (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}) outgunned Montjeu (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in 2000. “Bay Bridge was very brave and I am absolutely thrilled,” Stoute said. “The staff have done a great job with this horse and we are all delighted. He was in very good shape coming here. He came back from Sandown with a knock and we had to back off him, so he's been very consistent this year with the exception of that race. We thought the favourite was unbeatable, or I did, but I thought he had a great chance of being second, because he was in terrific shape. I'm delighted to have won two Group 1 races this year, the staff have been brilliant and it's down to them.”

While Stoute was rekindling memories of yore, it has been a breakthrough year for winning rider Richard Kingscote. “It is surreal really,” he said. “I guess we came here knowing we have a nice horse, but we were taking on one of the best around. You cannot be afraid of one horse. They've always liked Bay Bridge back home and it's perfect to ride beautiful horses like this. He looked like he would have a big one in him and, on that ground, he showed he is a really lovely animal. He was a bit fresh and ran with enthusiasm for the first three-quarters of the race. He was going well into the turn and, when the others tried to put a bit of pace into it, he responded and knuckled down when William [Buick] came to us on Adayar. He put in a very good effort.” Reflecting on a banner season, Kingscote continued, “I am very grateful to everyone for having me. Two spectacular horses have made it a great year.”

Last year's G1 Derby hero Adayar was making his first start in elite-level company since running fifth in last year's renewal and his renaissance thrilled Charlie Appleby. “We know Adayar's back on the top table again and I am delighted,” the trainer commented. “It is always in the back of your mind when you've won a conditions race, but he is where he was when he left off last year. There were no excuses there, William said they didn't go quite as strong a gallop as you would like, but he committed when he did. That was always the plan and he stuck to his guns well. We were beaten by a horse that we know has always had plenty of potential there and has been waiting for the ground.”

Reflecting on a first defeat in 11 starts for Baaeed, William Haggas admitted, “It is deflating, but he is still a good horse and I'm sad he didn't win for him and his connections as well as all the people at the yard who have worked tirelessly to get him there. There you go, it's horse racing. Jim [Crowley] felt Baaeed just couldn't pick up in the ground. All I know is he didn't win and I need to watch it again. I was busy watching the others as well and I tend not to make an assessment straight after. Let's hope this is eradicated from people's minds quite quickly. My Prospero couldn't quite nut Adayar on the line for second, so it looks like we'll have to wait for next year until we have a go at the Trainers' Championship. My Prospero ran a magnificent race and has lots to look forward to. He is a beautiful horse, a great big horse and I think he has a good future. Dubai Honour ran well, but James [Doyle] said they went no gallop for him.”

For rider Jim Crowley, Baaeed's defeat was down to one factor alone. “The ground, simple as that,” he insisted. “I turned into the straight and, normally, he would be able to do it on good to soft, but that kick just wasn't there. It was heavy weather really and as soon as I went for him I knew I was in trouble. In the past, it has just been instant, but it just wasn't there, simple as that. It is unbelievable the journey we have been on. He is a very special horse and it is sad that he does not finish his career unbeaten as we have come so far. Baaeed has captured the imagination and I'm sorry we couldn't do it today. He is a special horse still.”

Bay Bridge is the fourth of seven foals and one of two scorers from three runners out of a half-sister to G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Shimraan (Fr) (Rainbow Quest). He is kin to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Stormy Sea (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Time Test (GB). His stakes-winning third dam Shemaya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who produced G1 Prix du Jockey Club second Shamkiyr (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), is kin to G3 Prix Allez France victrix Shemima (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Cormorant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie victrix Shemala (Ire) (Danehill). Descendants of Shemala, herself a daughter of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}), include G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Shakeel (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO CHAMPION S.-G1, £1,300,000, Ascot, 10-15, 3yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:09.46, g/s.
1–BAY BRIDGE (GB), 133, c, 4, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Hayyona (GB), by Multiplex (GB)
2nd Dam: Shemriyna (Ire), by King Of Kings (Ire)
3rd Dam: Shemaya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-James Wigan & Ballylinch Stud; B-London Thoroughbred Services Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Richard Kingscote. £737,230. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-1, $1,284,847. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Adayar (Ire), 133, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Anna Salai, by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £279,500.
3–My Prospero (Ire), 129, c, 3, Iffraaj (GB)–My Titania (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William Haggas. £139,880.
Margins: HF, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 10.00, 6.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Baaeed (GB), Stone Age (Ire), Dubai Honour (Ire), Helvic Dream (Ire), Mac Swiney (Ire), Royal Champion (Ire).

 

The post Bay Bridge Upsets Baaeed In The Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Vadeni Poised To Deliver In Eclipse

In the centennial year of The Aga Khan's Studs, the operation's latest flame Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) could present his owner-breeder with a present of particular value in Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse S. While The Aga Khan has won most of Europe's major middle distance prizes, Sandown's much-coveted contest has so far eluded him with Kalanisi (Ire) coming closest in his epic encounter with Giant's Causeway in the millennium edition. With weight-for-age tipping the balance very much in his favour, Jean-Claude Rouget's first runner at the Esher venue is ideally positioned to become the second consecutive G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero to double up here and to provide Christophe Soumillon with a first winner at the track. He also has French pride riding on his back, with a yawning gap back to the last of the country's Eclipse heroes in Javelot (Fr) in 1960.

 

Marking The Occasion

If Vadeni is to reward his supplementary entry with victory, he will also be bridging a 70-year gap since The Aga Khan III registered the third of his three successes with the brilliant Tulyar. There is a sense that the unorthodox move from connections has been orchestrated due partly to this landmark year but mostly as a result of the colt's raw material. Still a work in progress, we might not have seen the best of the homebred whose relatives include the English Group 1 winner Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino) and the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Val Royal (Fr) (Royal Academy).

Georges Rimaud, Racing Manager to The Aga Khan, said, “We are celebrating 100 years of the Aga Khan Studs and have a few things planned later in the year. It is an honour to be able to celebrate this and if we have some good winners this year it would be great. It takes a lot of commitment from the owner and I know that His Highness is obviously very pleased with how things are going.”

 

The Haggas Factor

William Haggas's stable is bursting with good health and has continued to thrive this week and defy the logic that their early-summer purple patch must come to an end. In M M Stables' 4-year-old Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), the yard have a strong contender in this renewal with his recent record boasting a defeat of the Prince of Wales's hero State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Hardwicke hero Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in The Curragh's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup May 22. Add to that the fact that he was the winner of a vintage renewal of the course-and-distance G3 Sandown Classic Trial last April and showed impressive pace when putting Lord North to the sword in the Feb. 22 G3 Winter Derby and it is clear he is a genuine player here.

Speaking at Sandown on Friday, Maureen Haggas was playing down his chance. “He ran a brilliant race in Ireland, but he likes dig in the ground and a mile and a quarter on soft is the ideal,” she said. “He is an absolute star and is as tough as old boots–he'll give his all, as he always does, but on this ground it is a big ask.” William seemed to be more confident as he said, “He beat a [G1] Derby winner and a Breeders' Cup winner the last time he went to Sandown and he won the Tattersalls Gold Cup, beating a [G1] Cox Plate and [G1] Prince of Wales's winner. Some may think he's an outsider, but I don't–he's a good horse.”

 

A Proven Trail

Even before Charlie Appleby took off, he was saddling the 3-year-old Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) to cause a minor upset as his first runner in the Eclipse in 2016. Hawkbill was fourth two years later as his second representative, while his third was the 2020 winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). That is some tally, so the pressure is on last year's champion juvenile and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) to uphold the stable's enviable record. Impressive on his sole visit here when handing a four-length beating to Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on his debut last June, his subsequent tally of three Group 1 wins means that he enters his first battle with the older horses as one the race's most accomplished in that sphere. His stamina has to be taken on trust, however, with Distant Music (Distant View) being the only true middle-distance performer relatively close-up on the dam's side.

Appleby is not entirely convinced he will see out this tough mile and a quarter. “The question mark is the mile and a quarter trip, but you can take a few pieces out of his pedigree which suggest he has a chance of staying,” he said. “At the end of the day, in the Irish Guineas he was doing his best work in the last 200 yards, so we are confident within ourselves he can go the mile and a quarter. More importantly, he is a strong 3-year-old who won't look out of place against his elders.”

 

Free Pass

At Haydock on Saturday, the G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks looks a strong contest with George Strawbridge's impressive G2 Park Hill S. winner Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her seasonal bow on her first start since that seven-length success at Doncaster's St Leger meeting. John Gosden has won this five times since 2011 and holds the record of eight wins, so it is fair to say he knows what it takes and the exciting homebred 4-year-old has genuine talent. Clarehaven's representatives usually require a run to get up to speed, even if Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) proved the exception to the rule last month, so a win on this reintroduction will augur well for her prospects this term. Last year's G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) has had a pipe-opener in 2022, while Sunderland Holdings' Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) comes into this on the back of success in the course-and-distance G3 Pinnacle S. May 28.

 

Alert And Ready

While 3-year-old representation in this has been numerically small in recent years and the ones that have been pitched into battle have hardly been the cream of the Classic crop, it is notable that since 2012 all of that age that have tried have not succeeded and most have been soundly beaten. Looking to buck the trend and exploit a generous 12-pound weight-for-age allowance this time are Kirsten Rausing's Oaks fifth Kawida (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) and Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib's June 9 Listed Abingdon S. scorer Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), with the latter sure to appreciate the step up in trip.

“I think it is competitive enough and there is a strong group of older horses,” the latter's trainer Hughie Morrison said. “The exciting thing she showed at Newbury was she had a turn of foot. She can only get better over time and she has had quite a busy year. Whatever she achieves now through the rest of the year is going to be great, but she will be serious next year. Martyn Arbib is not getting any younger and he wants to have a go at the St Leger-we can pretend and dream about it, can't we?”

 

What Next From Torquator Tasso?

Hamburg's Derby meeting on Saturday sees the second outing in 2022 of Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), with Marcel Weiss hoping that Gestut Auenquelle's reigning Arc hero shows much more of his sparkle in the G2 wettstar.de Grosser Hansa-Preis. A shadow of the performer that turned up at ParisLongchamp in October when sixth behind the re-opposing Alter Adler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the May 29 G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft, he has some serious ground to cover if he is to return to his pomp.

 

Hurricane Blows In

As far as the Arc is concerned, Sunday is a big day with the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud attracting a star cast headed by Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Tackling Kirsten Rausing's triple Group 1 winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Ballydoyle's High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Ballylinch Stud and Aquis Farm's Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Gestut Schlenderhan's Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}), this is no easy second step for Godolphin's Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger hero.

“There's a bit of rain forecast, so it looks like being on the slower side of good for sure. Any quicker and it might have raised concerns,” Charlie Appleby said on Friday. “He'll have one more prep run before the Arc and whether that will be in Ireland, England or France, we'll make that decision closer to the time.”

Click here for the group fields.

The post Vadeni Poised To Deliver In Eclipse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights