Tag: Billy Lee

Night Of Thunder’s Vespertilio Impresses In The Debutante

Providing a boost to her G3 Silver Flash S. conqueror Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Al Shira'aa Farms' Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Prudente {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) sprung forward to capture Saturday's seven-furlong G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S. in style at The Curragh. Beaten 1 1/2 lengths when second to Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star in that important staging post at Leopardstown last month, the Willie McCreery-trained €320,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate was held up in last early by a confident Billy Lee content to let it all play out ahead. Produced to pounce on the leaders a furlong out, the 4-1 shot surged into the clear to score by 1 3/4 lengths from Sakti (Ire) (Caravaggio), with 2 3/4 lengths back to Kalispera (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in third.

“She ran a lovely race the last day,” McCreery said. “Billy apologised for sitting back last, he didn't want to sit that far back but he said she just got squeezed early and got lit up for a few strides so he just wanted to settle her. They were going a good gallop along and he was happy with her the whole way. She took him into the race beautifully and quickened up lovely.”

“She gets a free entry now for the Moyglare and we'll stick her in that now, I'm always trying to save a few quid! We'll stay local, she actually qualified for a race in France today because she was bought in Arqana but I really wanted to come here instead of travelling at this time of year. She's lovely, gorgeous, and she has tactical speed as well.”

Pedigree Notes
Vespertilio, who becomes the 20th group winner for her sire, is the fourth foal out of Prudente who is a full-sister to the Listed Prix de la Seine winner Prudenzia (Ire). She is in turn the dam of the G1 MacKinnon S. winner and international star Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who produced the G2 Curragh Cup winner and G1 Goodwood Cup runner-up Emily Dickinson (Ire) from a mating with Night Of Thunder's sire Dubawi (Ire) and also the G1 Irish Oaks and GI American Oaks-placed Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah).
Prudenzia also produced Dubawi's G3 Prix Penelope winner and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene (Ire), while the third dam is the listed-winning Puce (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) whose leading performers were the G2 Lancashire Oaks winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) with this being the family of the G1 Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire heroine Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Prudente's yearling colt is by Camelot (GB).

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
ALPHA CENTAURI DEBUTANTE S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 8-19, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.60, g/y.
1–VESPERTILIO (FR), 128, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
     1st Dam: Prudente (Fr), by Dansili (GB)
     2nd Dam: Platonic (GB), by Zafonic
     3rd Dam: Puce (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shira'Aa Farms; B-SASU Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc (FR); T-Willie McCreery; J-Billy Lee. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $90,300. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sakti (Ire), 128, f, 2, Caravaggio–Oh Grace (Ire), by Lawman (Fr).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€52,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1). O-David Spratt & Sean Jones & Mrs Lynne Lyons; B-T Darcy & V McCarthy (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €24,000.
3–Kalispera (Ire), 128, f, 2, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Ask Me Nicely (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Ann Marie O'Brien (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 7.00, 80.00.
Also Ran: Mysteries (Ire), Pearls and Rubies, Dollerina (Ire), Betula (GB), Snellen (Ire).

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Sioux Nation’s Ocean Jewel Takes The Ballycorus

Underlining the strength of the speedier 3-year-olds this year, Al Shira'aa Farms' Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) passed a stern test against the older brigade on Thursday as she captured Leopardstown's G3 TRI Equestrian Ballycorus S. Stretching out to seven furlongs, having finished third behind The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the G3 Lacken S. over six at Naas last month, the Willie McCreery-trained half-sister to the 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was able to use her sprinting prowess to stay close to the early pace in second. Committed by Billy Lee passing two out, the 16-5 shot saw out the finale strongly to score by 1 1/4 lengths from the veteran stalwart Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}).

Also second to smart compatriot Beauty Crescent (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Listed Blenheim S. at Fairyhouse in September, having won her Down Royal maiden with authority earlier that month, Ocean Jewel is unexposed and full of promise at this trip and possibly beyond according to McCreery. “She's improving the whole time and everything worked out perfectly tactically,” he said. “I did think about the Commonwealth [Cup], but I thought 'let's not take on the boys this year' and it that was her first time over seven and Billy [Lee] said she hit the line very well.”

“She's a very sharp filly and I loved the way she settled,” the winning trainer added. “The world is her oyster and we'll take our time with her. We have next year with her and we'll try a group 1 before the year is out. We'll stick to seven this year and might go a mile next year. It's a big weekend for Kieran [Lalor, Al Shira'aa's racing and bloodstock manager]. He bought this filly a couple of years ago and he bought the second favourite for the French Oaks, Jannah Rose.”

Pedigree Notes
Ocean Jewel's aforementioned half-sister Mother Earth, who was also successful in the G1 Prix Rothschild and placed in seven other top-level contests including the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, was Al Shira'aa Racing's first winner in Ireland last term and a perfect launchpad for the operation in the country. The listed-winning and group-placed dam Many Colours (GB) (Green Desert) is also responsible for the G2 Premio Dormello winner Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). From the family of the leading sprinter and sire Dandy Man (Ire) and the Royal Ascot group-placed pair Patience Alexander (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), her full-brother to Mother Earth named Bamburgh (Ire) was a €80,000 purchase by Johnston Racing at the Goffs Orby.

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYCORUS S.-G3, €52,500, Leopardstown, 6-15, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:30.10, gd.
1–OCEAN JEWEL (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Many Colours (GB) (SW & GSP-Ire, MSP-UAE, $276,926), by Green Desert
2nd Dam: First Of Many (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Star Profile (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€230,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Willie McCreery; J-Billy Lee. €31,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $56,231. *1/2 to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), G1SW-Eng & Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,460,919; and Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), GSW-Ity, $139,607. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Real Appeal (Ger), 135, g, 6, Sidestep (Aus)–Runaway Sparkle (GB), by Green Desert. (€7,500 Wlg '17 ARQDEC; £265,000 2yo '19 GOFLON; 130,000gns 5yo '22 TATAHI). O-Shamrock Thoroughbreds, Dooley Thoroughbreds & J P Cleary; B-Gestut Kussaburg (GER); T-Adrian McGuinness. €10,500.
3–Carrytheone (GB), 135, g, 6, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Song Of Passion (Ire), by Orpen. (50,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Any Excuse For A Holiday Syndicate; B-Pevens Racing (GB); T-Johnny Murtagh. €5,250.
Margins: 1 1/4, SHD, SHD. Odds: 3.20, 20.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mutasarref (GB), Agartha (Ire), Spring Feeling (Fr). Scratched: Power Under Me (Ire), Coachello (Fr).

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First Winner For Study Of Man

The Lanwades Stud-based first-season sire Study Of Man (Ire) (by Deep Impact {Jpn}) became the latest member of that class to register a first winner as Vimal Khosla's colt Deepone (GB) scored on debut at Leopardstown on Friday. Sent off the well-supported 3-1 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over an extended seven furlongs, the Paddy Twomey-trained bay who was a 62,000gns Book 3 purchase was settled a few lengths off the pace by Billy Lee travelling smoothly. Sweeping to the front on the outer passing the furlong pole, the bay asserted to score by 2 1/2 lengths from the Jessie Harrington-trained fellow newcomer Instant Appeal (GB) by another first-season sire in Advertise {GB}).

 

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Night Of Thunder Colt A New Rising Star

Most of the attention was focused on Ballydoyle's first juvenile runner Alabama (Ire) (No Nay Never) before Cork's five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on Saturday, but ultimately it was another newcomer in the Paddy Twomey-trained Noche Magica (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Pious Alexander {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) who stole the limelight to become the first European 2-year-old TDN Rising Star of 2023. Always travelling smoothly anchored towards the back by Billy Lee, Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi's £230,000 top-priced colt of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale moved forward with ease to take control 1 1/2 furlongs out and draw away for a 3 3/4-length defeat of the experienced Sturlasson (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}). There was another 3/4 of a length back to the 6-4 favourite Alabama in third in a maiden that despite being short on numbers will probably serve as a key reference point as the season advances.

“Like plenty of mine on debut, he was green and fell out of the gates but once he was going and joined them, Billy said he was just going through the gears,” Twomey said of the dark bay, Night Of Thunder's second TDN Rising Star who had attracted support as the 7-4 second favourite. “He said that that ground actually blunted his speed. He doesn't want that heavy ground, but I felt he was ready to start and run a nice race. I don't gallop horses in the spring and he had one breeze and a little half-speed with a three-year-old last week and that's all he has done so far–it is natural ability with him.”

“Mark McStay bought him for a new owner to the yard, Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi, who is a Dubai businessman, and I'm delighted to have him and delighted he sent the horse to us. Hopefully it's onwards and upwards now and while I didn't think past today, I'd say six is no problem and we'd love to go to Ascot in June. Wherever we go before then, I think he is good enough.”

Added McStay to the TDN, “Noche Magica was a very easy horse to pick as a yearling–he was very much a standout from the moment I saw him. He is a good blend of his sire, grandsire and damsire. The Dubawi (Ire) line, the Dubawi shape, that came through. Night Of Thunder was complemented by the little bit of length that Acclamation (GB) sometimes adds.

“He had good size and good scope. Noche Magica looked like a horse who would make a good 2-year-old, but he also had the scope and the size and the look of a horse that would hopefully make into a 3-year-old in time.

“I've been a Night Of Thunder fan from day one. I've followed his career closely from my days at Godolphin and Darley. I've bred mares to him, I've purchased horses by him. I've always liked the sire and Noel O'Callaghan and Rob Tierney at Mountarmstrong breed a very nice horse and produce a very nice horse at the sales.

This pedigree goes back to Sandhurst Goddess (Ire) (Sandhurst Prince {Ire}). [Her daughter] Lady Alexander (Ire) (Night Shift), I remember beating King Of Kings (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in the Anglesey S. at the Curragh. It is one of the fastest families in the stud book with Dandy Man (Ire) (Mozart {Ire}), who was a very, very fast racehorse and a hugely influential sire when it comes to speed at the centre of the pedigree. You've got Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the family as well.

“All in all, I thought he was a pretty straightforward horse to select. I thought he was the nicest horse in the Goffs Premier Sale last year. I didn't write any notes [on his sales page]. He got a tick and a very high grade. Luckily I found a client like Mr. Al Sabousi who was willing to pay for him, because I knew he wasn't going to be cheap and thankfully we got him.”

The dam, who also has a yearling colt by Starspangledbanner (Aus), is a daughter of the G3 Anglesey S. and G3 Molecomb S. winner Lady Alexander who produced the G3 Palace House S.-winning sire of note Dandy Man who was also runner-up in the King's Stand S. when it still held Group 2 status at Royal Ascot. Another of her progeny, Anthem Alexander (Ire) by Starspangledbanner took the Royal meeting's G2 Queen Mary S. as well as finishing third in the fixture's G1 Commonwealth Cup and second in the G1 Cheveley Park S., while this is also the family of the G3 Abernant S. scorer and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp-placed Hamza (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) and of Patience Alexander (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who after winning the Listed Marygate S. went to Royal Ascot and finished third in the G3 Albany S.

 

6th-Cork, €16,000, Mdn, 4-8, 2yo, 5fT, 1:03.82, s/h.
NOCHE MAGICA (IRE), c, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
     1st Dam: Pious Alexander (Ire), by Acclamation (GB)
     2nd Dam: Lady Alexander (Ire), by Night Shift
     3rd Dam: Sandhurst Goddess (GB), by Sandhurst Prince (Ire)
£230,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,467. O-Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi; B-Mountarmstrong Stud & Alexander Bloodstock (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. Click for for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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