Soldier Rising To Skip Longines Hong Kong Vase

Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was set to become the first American-based participant since 2017 at the Longines Hong Kong International Races in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase a week from Sunday, will instead remain stateside and receive a break before returning to action in 2024.

“We worked him on Sunday [5f in 1:03.45 over the Belmont main track] and I was not satisfied with the work,” trainer Christophe Clement said of the 5-year-old gelding, campaigned by Madaket Stable, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso. “He came back and I don't think he is as good as he could be–not bad, but when you go for such a long trip and such a prestigious race, you want to make sure everything is OK. I wasn't comfortable about it, so we'll give him a break and bring him back next year.”

The hard-knocking bay gelding, who has raced competitively with the likes of globetrotting multiple Grade I/Group 1 winners such as champion Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) since arriving on these shores in 2021, made six trips to the post this season. Though winless, he ran with credit, with four runner-up efforts in Grade I company, and most recently charged home to miss by a neck in the GII Red Smith S. at Aqueduct Nov. 11.

It has been 30 years since Clement ran his first horse in Hong Kong when Adam Smith (GB) (Sadler's Wells) finished eighth in the race then called the Hong Kong International Cup. Since then, he has started another half-dozen horses, the last coming with Winchester in the 2010 Vase. Pure Sensation was set to represent the stable in the 2016 Sprint and did make the trip over, but was withdrawn in the days leading up to the race.

With few options at home for Soldier Rising at this late juncture, Clement once again looked to Hong Kong.

“Soldier Rising ran a really nice race in the Red Smith and I thought he was doing well, so you just look at your choices,” he said. “The Vase has a big purse of $2 million and we are sure that he stays. So it was attractive at the time to think about it and think a little bit outside the box. But I am a New York trainer, the owners are New York-based and obviously he finished second five times in graded stakes this year, including four times in Grade Is. So that is the priority for next year. For now we'll play it safe and bring him back for the same sort of a program.”

While there are potential early-season targets in the Middle East for a horse like Soldier Rising, the timing isn't quite right, Clement said.

“He could have been one for Saudi or Dubai. I am certainly not against it, but the problem with that is that my idea was to try to go once more [in 2023] and then give him a break and have a fresh horse for next year,” he offered. “Now we are passing Hong Kong and still going to give him a break, which means we also need to pass Saudi and Dubai, as it comes too early.”

Still, it will come as no surprise if Clement circles Sha Tin on his calendar come next December.

“Maybe Big Invasion (Declaration of War) for the Sprint, too,” he said. “Good horses from America compete well in the Breeders' Cup and there's no reason they can't also do so overseas. International competition is good for all of us.”

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Rivelli Reveling Following Nobals’s BC Turf Sprint Win

It's been a year of ups and downs for trainer Larry Rivelli, who saddled the very talented Two Phil's (Hard Spun) to a runner-up effort in the GI Kentucky Derby and subsequent victory in the GIII Ohio Derby before a premature retirement to stud. The conditioner was dealt another blow this week when One Timer (Trappe Shot) was ordered scratched from a potential appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, but the gelded Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) parlayed a ground-saving trip into a 12-1 upset in the five-furlong dash to ease whatever upset there may have been.

The well-supported Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) hit the ground running, but he had company from Japanese speedball Jasper Krone (Frosted) through an opening quarter in a slick :21.15. When the latter failed to handle the tight left-handed turn and began to struggle, Live In The Dream was left alone up front, but had gone very hard in the lead and the come-from-behinders were licking their chops. Defending champ Caravel (Mizzen Mast) came there with a winning chance, but it was Nobals who rode the rails into the stretch and the final furlong and drove home first. Big Invasion (Declaration of War) also rallied up the inside for second ahead of Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never), who raced over the top to claim third spot.

It was a first win at the Breeders' Cup for perennial Midwest leading trainer Rivelli–and his first Grade I of any variety–and for journeyman jockey Gerardo Corrales, who seamlessly replaced Jareth Loveberry aboard Two Phil's at the 11th hour and delivered a perfect ride in the Ohio Derby.

“Obviously you can't do this without the unbelievable team I've had for 20 years, 15 years. My assistant, Rogelio Sanchez, my assistant Pam Little, Gonzo Gonzalez, all the guys back home. No way possible this could be done without them.

“When I saw the entries, the nominations, I think you could have thrown a blanket over the whole field, to be honest with you, as far as who was better than one another.

“We had Corrales, and we had a great trip. You've got to get lucky in these kinds of races. Our plan was to be a little closer. Didn't work out. They were gone. He ended up working out a trip, and we held on.”

It was also a first elite-level success for Corrales, participating in his third Breeders' Cup.

“It's a lot of confidence in the horse,” the jockey said. “He did good work, on the money. Good solution from the trainer. Everything is good, you know.”

Nobals had made appearances at six different venues this season, defeating Saturday's favorite Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in the GII TwinSpires Turf Sprint in May and added the William Garrett H. at Horseshoe Indianapolis in July ahead of a runner-up effort in Saratoga's GIII Troy S. Aug. 5. He most recently dropped his head on the wire to win the Sept. 9 Da Hoss S. at Colonial Downs.

Pedigree Notes:

On an afternoon where his full-brother Frankel (GB) was also represented by his first Breeders' Cup winner in the form of the sensational Inspiral (GB), the expatriated Noble Mission was siring his second Grade I winner following Code of Honor.

Versatile enough to sire a top stayer like Spanish Mission, Noble Mission has had an outstanding 2023, with five stakes winners worldwide, three at the group/graded level, including GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies' Marathon S. winner Vergara and the American-bred recent Australian Group 3 winner Buffalo River.

Bred by Dr. Chandler, Nobals is out of a winning daughter of Grade III winner Western Ransom and he has a weanling half-brother by Known Agenda foaled this past Mar. 5. Pearly Blue was most recently bred to Dialed In.

 

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
BREEDERS' CUP TURF SPRINT-GI, $920,000, Santa Anita, 11-4, 3yo/up, 5fT, :55.15, fm.
1–NOBALS, 126, g, 4, by Noble Mission (GB)
       1st Dam: Pearly Blue, by Empire Maker
       2nd Dam: Western Ransom, by Red Ransom
       3rd Dam: Western Wind, by Gone West
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($3,500 Ylg '20 FTKOCT). O-Patricia's Hope LLC; B-John A. Chandler (KY); T-Larry Rivelli; J-Gerardo Corrales. $520,000. Lifetime Record: 18-10-3-0, $1,453,274. *1/2 to My First Pearl (First Samurai), SP, $202,674. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Big Invasion, 126, c, 4, Declaration of War–Curls in Place, by Curlin. ($72,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B-John O'meara (KY); T-Christophe Clement. $170,000.
3–Aesop's Fables (Ire), 124, c, 3, No Nay Never–How's She Cuttin' (Ire), by Shinko Forest (Ire). O-Westerberg, Magnier, Mrs. John, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B.; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien. $90,000.
Margins: NK, HF, HF. Odds: 12.00, 12.40, 10.10.
Also Ran: Live In The Dream (Ire), Motorious (GB), Arzak, Beer Can Man, Tony Ann, Roses for Debra, Caravel, Gear Jockey, Jasper Krone. Scratched: Bradsell (GB), Lane Way, One Timer, Twilight Gleaming (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Royal Ascot: “We Know He Is Good Enough.” Artorius Back for Jubilee Burn-Up

Royal Ascot 2023 winds up on Saturday with the centrepiece the meeting's now-familiar international dash, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. These are some of the fastest equine dragsters on the planet, with the 1:11.05 six-furlong course record of Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) potentially under threat as the high pressure continues to build over Berkshire. Australia's Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) returns a year older and more mature than when a close third 12 months ago as he covered the final three furlongs faster than any. Hong Kong's Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) gets the dual benefit of an overseas holiday in the English sun and some time away from his nemesis Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}). He's also got Ryan Moore, which can't be bad.

Sam Freedman is not feeling the same pressure with the current favourite Artorius as 12 months ago.

“He is a lot shorter in the market and there is a bit more expectation, but last year it was the unknown and whether he was going to measure up–this year we know he is good enough,” he explained. “I am not so concerned about the opposition, but more where he will end up and where he will get to in the run. I am confident taking on any of the sprinters in the world, but it is a case of getting the right transit and a bit of luck.”

US interest comes in the form of the Christophe Clement-trained Big Invasion (Declaration Of War) on a big day for Dean and Patti Reeves who had a share of the Albany success of Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) on Friday. He faces a stark new challenge here, but looked the kind of strong closer in the GI Jaipur that will enjoy this stiff six. English queen Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is back on the track four days after her gallant effort in the G1 King's Stand S., where she was definitely compromised by Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) who due to his drift looked a more worthy winner than he actually was. The good news for fans of John Quinn's triple group 1 winner is that she is not the type to let such an injustice fester and the vibe from her accomplished trainer straight after was that the experience will even bring her to a peak.

“We left her down all week and looked at her on Thursday morning and she seems fine, so we're quite happy to roll the dice,” her Malton-based trainer said. “Plenty of horses have run well in both races, so it's doable. She seems bright and she's no travelling to do, which is important.”

Marc Chan's G1 British Champions Sprint S. hero Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will have to travel faster than he's ever done, something that won't be a problem for the dual Wokingham winner Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) who finally gets his crack at the meeting's big one on the fast ground he loves. Based on his times when taking his second renewal of the day's big handicap, he would have been in the mix in this especially as he was carrying seven pounds more than the Platinum Jubilee winner Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and clocked a final three furlongs 2/10 second faster than Artorius.

With the ground quickening with each passing day, Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. could be robbed of its star turn as connections of Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) revealed they will be checking out the lay of the land ahead of the mile-and-a-half test. Trainer Owen Burrows has avoided this kind of surface since the debut of Shadwell's G1 Coronation Cup winner and would welcome some storms in Berkshire. “This was the obvious race for him, our only slight worry is the ground being a bit quick for him, so I think we'll walk the track at midday on Saturday and make sure we're happy with it,” he said of the 6-year-old who was so impressive in last month's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. “He's won on a range of grounds, but I know speaking to Sheikha Hissa after he won at Sandown that Jim [Crowley] had mentioned to her that he's so much better on good ground and we want to look after him this year–we won't risk him on fast ground.”

George Strawbridge's talented Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is hardly the biggest fan of fast ground either, but she handled something near this when accounting for Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton S. at York last month. Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was on a quick surface when landing the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. over the course and distance when last seen and Willie Muir is relishing the end of the long wait. “As I've said all the way through, this is hopefully a prep race for the King George and will put the edge on him,” he said. “I've got no doubt his ability is all still there, but he's been off the course for a long time and we just want to get through this race and move on. As long as he goes through the race nice and comes home nice, we're laughing.”

Opening the card is the seven-furlong Listed Chesham S., where Ballydoyle's strong collection of juveniles is represented by the Navan scorer Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never) and the eye-catching Leopardstown third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). In a renewal dominated by Irish-trained fillies, others to note are Lindsay Laroche's Limerick winner Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and The Curragh scorer Nemonte (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) who is another to represent Reeves Thoroughbred Racing owned in partnership with Steven Rocco.

Shadwell's TDN Rising Star Enfjaar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ballydoyle's proven The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Juddmonte's Covey (GB) (Frankel {GB}) seem the trio to focus on in the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S., with the latter unusually impressive in the always-competitive Silver Bowl H. at Haydock last month. “He's a very exciting horse and we look forward to seeing him out again,” Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said. “He looks to have plenty of pace for seven furlongs and he gets a mile, so the stiff seven in Ascot should be fine for him.”

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BC Champ Caravel Beats the Boys Again in Jaipur

How good is Caravel (m, 6, Mizzen Mast-Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats)? The defending GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner skipped the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot and instead stayed closer to home in the GI Jaipur S. at Belmont Park, once again plundering the turf sprint division over males. The $400,000, six-furlong Jaipur is a 'Win and You're In' race for the Turf Sprint and a title defense in the Nov. 4 Santa Anita edition is in the cards for Caravel, reiterated after the Jaipur by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Racing, which owns Caravel with Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables.

In the Jaipur, Caravel broke evenly and tracked in second early, breathing menacingly down the neck of the :22.19 first quarter pace set by 13-1 Nothing Better (Munnings). The 5-2 choice drew on even terms coming off the turn as the timer tripped in :44.80 and drew clear to get the five-furlong mark in a scintillating :56.15. The flashy gray had enough left to hold off a late rush by GSW Big Invasion (Declaration of War), who finished three-quarters of a length in arrears, while defending two-time Jaipur winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) was just a neck back in third. The final time was 1:07.23.

The Jaipur marked Caravel's fifth win in a row, third win over males, and second victory at the highest level.

“She's in incredible form right now,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “This is two Grade Is for her against the boys. I don't think I've ever had a filly to beat the boys.

“The Breeders' Cup is our main target. There are some races up at Saratoga but I'm not sure yet how many more times we would need to run prior to the Breeders' Cup. We'll just try to keep her happy and healthy.

“She never ceases to amaze me. She is absolutely amazing. She just never lets you down. She is spot on. I'm very proud of her.”

Originally trained by her breeder, Elizabeth M. Merryman, Caravel won seven of first nine starts, including Saratoga's GIII Caress S. and four other black-type races. Bobby Flay bought into the then-4-year-old in 2021 and she was transferred to the barn of Graham Motion, but she failed to win in three starts and went through the Fasig-Tipton November sales ring days after trailing the field home in the 2021 Turf Sprint. Her current ownership picked her up for $500,000 and transferred the gray to Cox.

Caravel opened her 2022 campaign under Cox with a win in Turfway's Queen S. and added Belmont's GIII Intercontinental S., as well as Saratoga's Smart N Fancy S. after losing a race here and there. She then went on her current tear, beginning with Keeneland's GIII Franklin S. last October. The Turf Sprint was next and her first win over the boys, as well as her first triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure (107). She doubled up on wins over males in her 2023 debut, Keeneland's GII Shakertown S., and dropped back to softer female company for a win on the Kentucky Oaks undercard in the Unbridled Sidney S. at Churchill Downs. With her victory in the Jaipur, Caravel is not only riding a five-race win streak but is also undefeated in 2023.

Pedigree Notes:

Mizzen Mast, a 25-year-old pensioner at his long-time Juddmonte home, is the sire of 63 black-type winners, nearly equal to the average size of his foal crops over 18 seasons. Most of his 26 graded winners and nine Grade I/Group 1 winners have been in the U.S., but he's also responsible for winners at the highest level in both France and Hong Kong. His progeny have won four Breeders' Cup races: Flotilla (Fr) in the 2012 GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, Mizdirection in the 2012-13 GI Turf Sprint, and Caravel in last year's Turf Sprint.

Zeezee Zoomzoom has produced two of the 19 stakes winners out of daughters of WinStar's pensioned Congrats. The mare also has an unraced 2-year-old colt named Enzo (Great Notion)–a full-brother to MSW Witty–and a yearling filly by Street Boss, all, like Caravel, bred by Merryman.

Saturday, Belmont Park
JAIPUR S.-GI, $400,000, Belmont, 6-10, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:07.93, fm.
1–CARAVEL, 121, m, 6, by Mizzen Mast
                1st Dam: Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats
                2nd Dam: Zee Zee, by Exchange Rate
                3rd Dam: Emblem of Hope, by Dynaformer
($330,000 RNA 3yo '20 WANOCT; $500,000 4yo '21 FTKNOV).
O-Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables LLC;
B-Elizabeth M. Merryman (PA); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Tyler
Gaffalione. $220,000. Lifetime Record: 23-15-0-3, $1,897,577.
*1/2 to Witty (Great Notion), MSW, $337,460.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Big Invasion, 122, c, 4, Declaration of War–Curls in Place, by
Curlin. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($72,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B-John O'meara (KY);
T-Christophe Clement. $80,000.
3–Casa Creed, 124, h, 7, Jimmy Creed–Achalaya, by Bellamy
Road. ($15,000 Ylg '17 OBSWIN; $105,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP).
O-LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC; B-Silver Springs
Stud, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. $48,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.90, 4.30, 3.95.
Also Ran: Dr Zempf (GB), Nothing Better, Ice Chocolat (Brz), Arrest Me Red, Front Run the Fed, Yes and Yes, Thin White Duke, Coppola, Air Force Red, Go Bears Go (Ire), Surprise Boss. Scratched: Mid Day Image, Our Shot.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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