Bloodlines: A Toast To The Elder ‘Stakesmen’ Of Horse Racing

Fans of the sport and others involved in racing have to listen to a lot of foolishness from those with a dim view of the breed. Many of us can hear the darling, nasal whine of the PETA-phile: “Thoroughbreds are too fragile; they're born to break down.”

Phooey.

Clearly, some horses are hustled off for breeding too early, frequently sound and healthy to race, but those are economic decisions; I'm not here to argue with that. Might as well fuss about the rain coming down.

The results of racing over the weekend, however, put a sizable dent in the argument for anyone suggesting that the breed isn't sound and capable of racing at a high level well past the early years we tend to feature in the headlines.

By my count, seven 5-year-olds won stakes on the weekend, along with multiple stakes winners aged six or seven. Among the 5-year-olds were the Afleet Alex horse Tiergan (Ashley T. Cole Stakes), the Stay Thirsty horse Mind Control (Parx Dirt Mile), the Curlin mare Golden Curl (Ricks Memorial), and the Galileo horse Nayef Road, winner of the Rose Bowl Stakes at Newmarket in England.

These are solid performers, some with quite good pedigrees, and yet they are mere colts and fillies in comparison to the genuine elder stakesmen (sic) of the racing community.

Consider, for example, that Pink Lloyd won again, this for the 27th time. He's a chestnut beast by Canada's leading sire, Old Forester (by Forestry), and is also a Horse of the Year in that lovely racing jurisdiction north of the 49th Parallel.

Unraced at two and three, Pink Lloyd won three of five at age four, was third in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road. The next year at five, Pink Lloyd became Canada's Horse of the Year. That was the same year that the 5-year-olds mentioned above were yearlings. Every year since, Pink Lloyd has won a Sovereign Award as champion in at least one division in his homeland.

From 36 starts to date, the gelding has won 27, with three seconds and two thirds, for lifetime earnings to date of $1,737,917.

A regular homebody who loves his Woodbine racecourse, Pink Lloyd has never raced anywhere else, and his triumph on Saturday in the G3 Bold Venture Stakes was the 9-year-old's 24th black-type success. He practically fills a catalog page by himself.

Others among the elder stakesmen include the world traveler Benbatl, a homebred in England for Darley who races under the banner of Godolphin. Benbatl has raced in five countries (England, Germany, UAE, Australia, and Saudi Arabia).

Unraced at two, Benbatl progressed so rapidly at three that he was entered in the Derby as the winner of a maiden, although placed second in the G2 Dante Stakes in his prep for the main event, and finished a creditable fifth. The son of Dubawi won his first G1 in the Dubai Turf as a 4-year-old, then followed with another G1 in Germany and the G1 Caulfield Stakes in Australia in the span of slightly more than six months.

At times in his career, then now-7-year-old Benbatl has been ranked the highweight on year-end handicaps in England, Germany, and the UAE. The winner of 11 races so far, Benbatl has earned more than $7.8 million.

Although Pink Lloyd and Benbatl are horses of championship level who have continued to race past the typical age for modern Thoroughbreds, the majority of older races are not so exalted. They make no headlines, earn no awards, but show the spirit of their forefathers and the quality of their foremothers.

Some campaign to quite an age, and the eldest stakesman of the weekend was the Talent Search sprinter Hollywood Talent, who won the Parx Turf Monster Stakes at five furlongs in :59.51.

Age 10, Hollywood Talent won his first graded stakes in the G3 Turf Monster, and that made an even dozen victories for the gelding, who has 11 seconds and seven thirds for total earnings of $635,071.

A quick horse from the start, Hollywood Talent won his debut at Keeneland in April of his juvenile season, then was second in the G3 Bashford Manor Stakes and third in the G2 Saratoga Special. In between those races and the Turf Monster, Hollywood Talent has plied his trade in minor stakes and allowance, occasionally dropping into claiming races and then starter allowances.

Brave and fast, Hollywood Talent is an example of the Thoroughbred who is an athlete to the core, and on his day of days, he rose to the occasion and stood in the winner's circle as a graded stakes winner and an ambassador for the breed.

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Majestic To Bid For Rockfel Glory

Day two of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire Festival plays host to five black-type heats with the Unibet-sponsored G2 Rockfel S. and G2 Joel S. sharing top billing on the seven-race card. The former contest's honour roll features a swathe of subsequent Group 1 winners since the turn of the century, headed by Classic heroines Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) and Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). However, the seven-furlong juvenile fillies' prize has never made its way to Kingsclere, and last month's G3 Sweet Solera S. victrix Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}), acquired by Doreen Tabor from Gearoid Costelloe in the interim, bids to break that sequence for the Andrew Balding stable in an open renewal. The 350,000gns Tattersalls December foal will head postward as the likely favourite.

George Boughey is set to saddle G3 Prix Six Perfections winner Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), who also ran third in the G2 Prix du Calvados, and Listed Empress Fillies' S. and Listed Winkfield S. third Cachet (Ire) (Time Test {GB}). The trainer has enjoyed a banner campaign with his juvenile band and has high hopes for both. “Oscula just got caught late on last time, but she got bumped into and that lit her up and she ran keen, which she's never done before,” he said. “I think she's up to this level and I think she'll run a massive race, but she's got to handle Newmarket. She wouldn't have done a huge amount of work on the track so that's a little bit new to her, but her style of racing should suit it. Cachet and Oscula both worked nicely on Tuesday morning. Cachet was slow out of the gate and unlucky in France. She jumps out fine at home so hopefully we'll tidy that up before this. I think you'll see a different Cachet as the race wasn't run to suit her in France, but she looks great now.”

Cachet's first-crop sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) gets two shots at the prize with G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner Romantic Time (GB) (Time Test {GB}) seeking to push conditioner William Stone another rung up the ladder after achieving a career high in that Salisbury contest earlier in the month. Amo Racing's Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has finished just off the board in two outings for David Loughnane since placing in both the G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. for Ralph Beckett. She goes postward coming back from a close-up fourth in last month's G3 Prestige S. at Goodwood. “Hello You is improving with every run,” explained Loughnane. “She's starting to settle down as she's been overly keen on her last two starts and was arguably a bit unlucky in running. She's definitely up to this level and deserves to get a group win beside her name. She's been very consistent and has run some solid races so hopefully we'll have a good run.” Other contenders of note include the hitherto undefeated duo Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}, who snagged wins at Leicester and Kempton for Roger Charlton, and John and Tanya Gunther's Girl On Film (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), a Ralph Beckett trainee coming back off a seven-furlong maiden win at the town's Summer venue last month. “It's a big ask, but her homework indicates she's ready for it and we'll see what happens,” said Beckett. “She's a big, raw-boned filly and I'm very hopeful that it works out on Friday. If it doesn't, she'll be a better filly next year. I'm looking forward to it.”

Benbatl Seeks Joel Record

Godolphin's three-time top-level scorer Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) annexed the penultimate renewal of his home town's G2 Joel S. and, if successful this time around, will become the first dual winner of the one-mile contest. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained veteran globetrotter also ran third last year and came back off a 337-day break to be denied by pixels in last month's G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood in his only subsequent outing. “He has done well since his last race and he's in good form,” said bin Suroor. “He ran a big race in the Celebration Mile after missing the break from the stalls. This has been his target since Goodwood and his last piece of work was very good. It's going to be a good race, but we are looking to see a big run from him.” His seven rivals include the Charlie Appleby-trained 3-year-old Master Of The Seas (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who garnered last term's G2 Superlative S. and this year's G3 Craven S., lining up off a short-head second over course and distance in May's G1 2000 Guineas. “Master Of The Seas was unfortunate to meet with a setback after the 2000 Guineas, but his preparation into this has gone well and we are very pleased with him,” revealed Appleby. “There will be improvement to come on whatever he does here as we have an eye on the Breeders' Cup or Champions Day afterwards.” Former Mike de Kock trainee and dual winner of South Africa's G1 Paddock S. Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) adds flavour to an already spicy affair and makes her debut for the Andrew Balding team. “This is her first run since January, but she was a Grade 1 winner in South Africa when trained by Mike de Kock,” said rider Ryan Moore. “She would have had a tough trip over here and would have had to spend time in quarantine. She's running against two very good horses in Master Of The Seas and Benbatl so it's a tough ask, but we'll see how she goes.”

Albaflora A Late Bloomer?

Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud nursery has enjoyed a season for the ages and is represented by homebred G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G2 Lillie Langtry S. placegetter Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in the G3 Princess Royal S. over 12 furlongs. The 4-year-old distaffer, who also ran fourth in this term's G1 Coronation Cup, will go postward as a likely warm order and faces a competitive cast of 10 in a sixth attempt to break her pattern-race duck. Elsewhere on the card, Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor join forces to launch a three-strong Godolphin assault on the one-mile Listed Rosemary S. with last year's G3 Prix Six Perfections second Wedding Dance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) coming back off a 419-day sabbatical and representing the former. Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who has had a wind procedure since earning minor prizes in this year's G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine at Meydan, returns for this distaffers' test off a 218-day break of her own. Her Saeed bin Suroor-trained stablemate Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another on the comeback trail after finishing lame in Meydan's Mar. 27 G2 UAE Derby and makes her first start since. Appleby's G2 Princess of Wales's S. third Star Safari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) encountered soft ground for the first time when a close-up seventh in last month's G3 Prix de Reux at Deauville and is back on a sounder surface for the Listed Godolphin S. over 12 furlongs.

HQ Juvenile Contests Take Shape

Newmarket's week of bloodstock sales and racing builds to a crescendo on Saturday with a trio of Juddmonte-sponsored juvenile contests–the G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Royal Lodge S.–sitting alongside the Cambridgeshire meeting's titular event. The six-furlong Cheveley Park has attracted a 13-strong field, headed by the hitherto undefeated Ger Lyons trainee Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who has drawn stall three, with last month's G2 Lowther S. exacta of Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) in one and two, respectively. Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) is the one to beat in the 10-runner Middle Park and has drawn the one hole while Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) will be up, up and away from stall five in the seven-runner Royal Lodge.

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Murphy’s Law At Newmarket On Friday

   Newmarket’s Friday fixture is replete with black-type events and it is Oisin Murphy who holds the key to the featured G2 Shadwell Joel S. Having partnered the impressive 2019 winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), he hands that ride to Frankie Dettori this time as he helps prepare Qatar Racing’s G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Kameko has by dint of fate and circumstance failed to make the places in three starts after his finest hour when taking that mile Classic on June 6 and he is back over the same course and distance here in a no-excuse exercise. “Benbatl is one of the highest-rated horses in the world and Kameko is a Classic winner who ran the fastest-ever Guineas, so it’s a mouthwatering prospect,” Murphy said. “It will be hard for Kameko with the penalty–we have to give Benbatl a pound–but there were limited options and he’s in super form and ready to run. I obviously love Benbatl. I only raced against him once and that was in the Juddmonte International when I won on Roaring Lion. I’ve ridden Benbatl in work recently as well and he’s also in super form.”

With two of Kameko’s subsequent defeats coming over further than 10 furlongs and his only other outing at this trip resulting in a luckless fourth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 29, his rider is happy that he is at the right distance. “He travelled very well in the Sussex and got into second place in the Juddmonte, having sat last, and then his run petered out at the line,” he explained. “Hopefully the ground continues to dry today–both he and Benbatl want top of the ground.”

Last year, Benbatl was winning this off a 10-month gap before finishing a tailed-off last in the QEII at Ascot but he proved in the spring that he retains all his ability and was last seen finishing third in the inaugural Saudi Cup on dirt at Riyadh on Feb. 29. Saeed bin Suroor said he wants the rain to stay away. “He did his last piece of work on the Watered Gallop here in Newmarket and he is doing really well,” he commented. “It is his first run in Europe since he went to Dubai and Saudi Arabia. We are looking for a good result from him. It’s a tough race, but he won it last year and it’s the right race for him. We don’t want the ground to be too soft–good ground would be good for him.”

This is no two-horse race, with Cheveley Park Stud’s talented but mercurial Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}), Saeed Manana’s Sept. 5 G3 Superior Mile winner Top Rank (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Khalid Abdullah’s July 31 G3 Thoroughbred S. scorer Tilsit (First Defence) also in contention.

Also on the card is the G2 Shadwell Rockfel S., where Ballydoyle’s Sept. 12 Listed Ingabelle S. winner Monday (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Paul and Clare Rooney’s seven-length Aug. 29 G3 Prestige S. scorer Isabella Giles (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) appear to be the main protagonists.

The G3 Princess Royal Muhaarar S. sees Kirsten Rausing’s Aug. 20 G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) set the standard, but she faces some up-and-comers including Qatar Racing’s impressive Aug. 1 Listed Chalice S. winner Katara (Fr) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

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Joel Date For Benbatl

Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will make his belated return to action in Friday’s G2 Joel S. at Newmarket. The 6-year-old won a pair of Group 2s at Meydan over the winter but hasn’t been seen since finishing third in the Saudi Cup. He was scratched from the G2 Celebration Mile on Aug. 29 after the ground went soft.

“He’ll go for the Joel, he’s working well and he’s in good form. We’ve been waiting for a while to run him,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “We wanted to go to Goodwood and then there was a race at Haydock, but the ground was heavy. Instead we’ll go to Newmarket for the race he won last year–he won it well. We’re looking forward to it and looking to see a good performance from him. The timing is also right for Champions Day, but he will only go there if the ground is suitable. We took him last year when it was soft and he didn’t like it. He’s got the option over a mile [the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.] and 10 furlongs (the G1 Champion S.). We’ll wait and see, we just need to get him started.”

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