Tag: Ben Coen

Invincible Spirit’s Shartash Wins The Railway

It is rare that The Aga Khan's silks are at the forefront this early in the major two-year-old contests, but when they are it is always a good sign and Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Shamreen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) showed he had the precocity to go with his illustrious pedigree in Saturday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at The Curragh. Kept fresh by Johnny Murtagh following his Naas conditions win May 7, the son of the dual G2 Blandford S. winner was held up early as the Listed First Flier S. and G3 Marble Hill S. winner Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) set off in front. Needing the gaps late on, the 9-1 shot was produced in time by Ben Coen to oust the rallying 5-6 favourite by a short head, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Apache Outlaw (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in third. “This is where these colours should be on Irish Derby weekend and it's my job to get them there,” Murtagh said. “He's a Guineas type of horse to me, he's got that pace.”

The last juvenile that the owner-breeder enjoyed such early-season success with was the great Siyouni (Fr), so Shartash's every move from here on warrants the closest examination. Third on debut behind the subsequent Marble Hill runner-up Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and the Windsor Castle-winning TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) over this course and distance Apr. 10, the bay managed to edge out Age of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) at Naas before being held back from the demands of Royal Ascot. Rewarding that patience, he was able to subdue the more-experienced Blackbeard who was demonstrating his unquenchable appetite for the game by coming back at the line.

“He's improved and got a bit more streetwise–he was always sharp, but now he's relaxing and he showed a very good turn of foot today when he needed it,” Murtagh added. “Ben had to be brave there, but I have great confidence in him and a good horse is usually able to get you out of trouble. He's always had plenty of speed and when I entered him up in April, Pat Downes said 'are you sure?' but I knew that this is a real two-year-old. He's tough and hardy and the Phoenix is the next logical step. Maybe it will be the National Stakes later on–he has to get seven and that is not a guarantee at the moment, but he's starting to do it right now.”

There is no obvious reason why Shartash should not get at least seven furlongs on pedigree, with Shamreen at her best over a mile and a quarter as she showed when garnering her brace of Blandfords and also the G3 Royal Whip S. here. The second dam Shahreen (Ire) (Bahri) captured the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies' S. and also produced the GIII Singspiel S. winner Shahroze (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), while she is kin to the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. scorer Sharestan (Ire) (Shamardal). From the family of the 1986 Irish Derby hero Shahrastani, Shamreen's second foal and first winner Shartash is followed by a yearling colt by the aforementioned Siyouni.

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
GAIN RAILWAY-G2, €142,800, Curragh, 6-25, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.44, gd.
1–SHARTASH (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
     1st Dam: Shamreen (Ire) (MGSW-Ire, $364,530), by Dubawi (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Shareen (Ire), by Bahri
     3rd Dam: Sharesha (Ire), by Ashkalani (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Ben Coen. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $91,449. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Blackbeard (Ire), 131, c, 2, No Nay Never–Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire). (270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €24,000.
3–Apache Outlaw (Ire), 131, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Focus of Attention (Ire), by Intense Focus.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£21,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-E & S Racing; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 9.00, 0.83, 22.00.
Also Ran: Age of Kings (Ire), Borletti (Ire), Crispy Cat (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Invincible Spirit’s Shartash Wins The Railway appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dark Angel Filly A New Rising Star At Dundalk

Dundalk's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden had the feel of a must-watch race beforehand and Friday's seven-furlong contest lived up to expectations playing host to a new TDN Rising Star in Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Angels Wrath (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Flaunting her wares in a barrier trial here prior to this debut against some smart yardsticks, the 9-2 shot was restrained in mid-division early showing keenness under Ben Coen. Looming with menace when pulled wide in the straight, the Johnny Murtagh-trained homebred showed sharp acceleration to hit the front with a furlong remaining and despite veering left soon after dominated fellow newcomer Kitty Kitana (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) to win by 3 1/4 lengths. There was 1 1/4 lengths back to Ballydoyle's well-supported 2-1 favourite West Coast (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third, with others such as the proven Livia Celeste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the newcomer Lustre (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the full-sister to Cliffs of Moher (Ire), well beaten in fifth and 10th respectively.

“She won a barrier trial a way back and was keen then, so I wanted to get her settled and she did things right today,” Coen explained. “She was still plenty green, so there's a lot to work on. We liked her coming here, as she quickened very smart in her barrier trial and that experience was a big help to her. Johnny's improve no end from them and I probably would have been disappointed if I wasn't bang there. She really galloped out strong and took a bit of pulling up too. She has plenty of options and I'm looking forward to her. She has a huge frame, so next year will be her year and anything that comes this year is a bonus.”

Angels Wrath, who becomes the fourth TDN Rising Star for her sire, was offered at the Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale 12 months ago, but came back to her breeders after failing to make her reserve. She is the third foal out of the useful Cailini Alainn (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), whose career-best came when winning a 13-furlong handicap at Leopardstown in 2015. She is a half to Dark Crusader (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), winner of York's Melrose H. over the Ebor trip and runner-up in the G3 Give Thanks S. before producing this year's other TDN Rising Star Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Another of Cailini Alainn's half-siblings is Naughty Or Nice (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was also a strong stayer who took the 13-furlong Listed Yeats S. and finished third in the 14-furlong G3 Stanerra S. This is also the family of the GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. and G2 King Edward VII S. hero Subtle Power (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and of Mutahadee (Ire) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) who was runner-up in the G1 Dubai Duty Free. Cailini Alainn's yearling filly is by Tamayuz (GB).

4th-Dundalk, €14,000, Mdn, 9-24, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT), 1:26.00, st.
ANGELS WRATH (IRE), f, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Cailini Alainn (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Monty's Girl (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Mosaique Bleue (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
Sales history: £48,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFSPT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $9,861. O-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd; B-Newtownanner Stud (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Dark Angel Filly A New Rising Star At Dundalk appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Irish Leger Success For Sonnyboyliston

Underlining the strength of York's revamped Ebor H., the Kildare Racing Club's Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) bounced out of his success in that prestigious affair to bring up a notable double in Sunday's G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger at The Curragh. With the dual winner Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) unable to make an impact this time, the Johnny Murtagh-trained 4-year-old had the Joseph O'Brien pair Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) to contend with and proved toughest to carry off the prize. Settled fifth off the gruelling pace which strung the field out, the 4-1 second favourite mastered Twilight Payment approaching the furlong pole and battled to a 3/4-of-a-length verdict over that rival, with Baron Samedi 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “I couldn't have asked it to go any better, we jumped and he got a lovely tow into the race,” Coen said. “They turned it into a real staying race and this lad keeps improving and keeps finding a way to win. This is my first proper year as number one jockey to Johnny and we've had a few good spins in England, but I really wanted to get this group 1 winner. For it to be a Classic and for Johnny is unbelievable.”

It was on this card 12 months ago that Sonnyboyliston burst onto the scene with a 4 1/4-length success in the 10-furlong “Northfields” H., where the subsequent G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) was back in third. That followed a narrow verdict over Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) over the same course and distance in July and the eventual exploits of that filly now show that performance in a positive light. Starting this term with third placings behind the Ballydoyle duo Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Listed Devoy S. at Naas Mar. 28 and the May 6 G3 Ormonde S. at Chester respectively, the chestnut took Limerick's Listed Martin Molony S. over 12 1/2 furlongs June 18 before finishing sixth over the Ebor track and trip in the July 10 G3 Silver Cup.

Coming out on top in his battle with the talented Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who has also come out to score subsequently in dramatic style in a conditions race at Salisbury, Sonnyboyliston had every bit of resilience tested here with the G2 Curragh Cup winner Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) storming off in front. Twilight Payment attacked first in the straight and at first glance he looked to be travelling sweeter than the Murtagh stalwart in behind, but as soon as it became a true grind the winner came into his own to give the best time performance of the day. Search For a Song, who was sent off the 10-3 favourite, flattered briefly in the straight but was unable to get involved in the fight and ended up sixth.

Murtagh was keen to deflect praise afterwards. “I'm just a front man to a lot of people who do a lot of hard work,” he said. “I'm so proud of everybody behind the scenes and my family also. It means a lot to win a Classic on your local track. This horse never disappoints and I thought he did very well to win today. It looked like a proper race and he had a good position all the way. He comes off the bridle, but I thought from two furlongs out Ben looked confident on him. He got into a battle, but he never lacks in a battle. I can't say enough about the horse and enough about Liam Clarke and the Kildare Racing Club. They have been great supporters of mine from the word go. It would take a fair offer to take him away from the owners now, but the Melbourne Cup is worth €2.5million. It mightn't be for him this year, but he's only four and could end up down there for us sometime yet.”

Sonnyboyliston's seven-times-winning dam Miss Macnamara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) is a half to the Argentinian group 3 winner Karamela (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the Listed Silken Glider S. winner and G3 Park Express S. runner-up Gemstone (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The latter is the dam of the Listed Newmarket S. scorer UAE Jewel (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), while the family also features the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Bachelor Duke (Miswaki) and the GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Talco (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}). Miss Macnamara's 2-year-old filly is by Starspangledbanner (Aus), while she also has a filly foal by Gleneagles (Ire).

Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland
COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL IRISH ST LEGER-G1, €560,000, Curragh, 9-12, 3yo/up, 14fT, 3:02.05, gd.
1–SONNYBOYLISTON (IRE), 137, g, 4, by Power (GB)
     1st Dam: Miss Macnamara (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Kincob, by Kingmambo
     3rd Dam: Gossamer, by Seattle Slew
1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€26,000 Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-Kildare Racing Club; B-Diane O'Neill (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Ben Coen. €290,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 14-6-0-3, $906,133. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Twilight Payment (Ire), 137, g, 8, Teofilo (Ire)–Dream On Buddy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (€200,000 HRA '18 GOFHIT). O-Lloyd J Williams Syndicate; B-J. S. Bolger (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €100,000.
3–Baron Samedi (GB), 137, g, 4, Harbour Watch (Ire)–Dame Shirley (GB), by Haafhd (GB). (3,500gns Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-LECH Racing Limited; B-Usk Valley Stud (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien. €50,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 4.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: King of the Castle (Ire), Emperor of the Sun (Ire), Search For a Song (Ire), Carlisle Bay (Ire), Aircraft Carrier (Ire), Seattle Creek (GB), Barbados (Ire), Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire), Passion (Ire), Master of Reality (Ire). Scratched: Barrington Court (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Irish Leger Success For Sonnyboyliston appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Sligo Abandons Due To Safety Concerns

Friday’s card at Sligo was abandoned after four races after four horses met with trouble on the same part of the track during a 10-furlong handicap. Ideal Pal (Ire) (Tough As Nails {Ire}) stumbled and unseated his rider Donagh O’Connor during the race, while the others slipped in the same spot while galloping out after the race. One of the jockeys involved in the latter incident, Ben Coen, broke his collarbone. Coen had been scheduled to ride The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) in Sunday’s G1 Keeneland Phoenix S.

The post Sligo Abandons Due To Safety Concerns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights