Six Set For Phoenix Test

Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh has attracted a high-class sextet including a duo from Ballydoyle bidding to provide Aidan O'Brien with a 17th renewal. Ryan Moore is booked for the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. and July 16 G3 Anglesey S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), with Seamie Heffernan due to partner the stable's May 2 Listed First Flier S., May 21 G3 Marble Hill S. and July 17 G2 Prix Robert Papin scorer Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never). Victorious Racing's June 14 G2 Coventry S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) renews rivalry with Amo Racing Limited's Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who was second behind him in that Royal Ascot contest before garnering Newmarket's G2 July S. July 7. The Aga Khan's Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and E S Racing's Apache Outlaw (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) complete the field, having been first and third when Blackbeard was second in the course-and-distance G2 Railway S. June 25.

Bradsell's trainer Archie Watson said, “He was obviously very impressive at Ascot and the form has worked out well. He's very, very talented. I do try to keep things understated and let the horses do the talking, but his home work is very good–the best of anything I've trained in terms of what he's done on the gallops. It's very hard to find him a lead horse because he'll just gallop all over Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a Group 1 winner, and Tabdeed (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), who was second in the Stewards' Cup the other day. They'd struggle to lead him very far at all.”

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No Nay Never’s Blackbeard Powers To Robert Papin Triumph

Nailed in the dying strides of in last month's G2 Railway S. at The Curragh, Aidan O'Brien trainee Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never–Muirin {Ire}, by Born To Sea {Ire}) bounced back in style to lead home a Ballydoyle exacta in Sunday's G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly. In so doing, he provided trainer O'Brien with a first winner of the six-furlong contest this century and, adding to Rossini's win in 1999, a second overall. The February-foaled bay had earlier backed up an Apr. 28 debut triumph at Dundalk with wins at the Curragh in the May 2 Listed First Flier S. and May 21 G3 Marble Hill S. and preceded his Railway second with a fourth in the June 14 G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. Blackbeard shared pacemaking duties on the front end from the outset. Gaining outright control passing the quarter-mile pole, the 6-5 favourite was not for catching thereafter and kept on strongly under mild urging inside the final furlong to easily outpoint stablemate The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by three lengths for a career high. Listed Prix La Fleche runner-up Vicious Harry (Fr) (Harry Angel {Fr}) fared best of the remainder and was a further three lengths back in third.

“He's a nice horse and he won easy, very easy,” commented rider Ioritz Mendizabal. “Before and after the race he was not so easy, but in the race he was easy, and next time I will speak with Ryan [Moore] beforehand. When we hit the front he went a little bit left, but normally that is because they are a little bit babyish. It's incredible for me to ride for Aidan [O'Brien], my agent got me the ride and then I spoke with Aidan this morning. If Aidan wants to bring him back to France, I will be free every time.”

O'Brien added, “He's coming forward as he was a baby all along and I was delighted with him. Even though he was babyish today, Ioritz was very impressed with him. He said he's gone very professional and won very easy. He's definitely progressing. We wanted to divide them up, with Little Big Bear running at the Curragh yesterday, and he's now in the mix for the [G1] Phoenix Stakes or the [G1] Prix Morny.” Reflecting on the performance of runner-up The Antarctic, the trainer continued, “We were very happy with The Antarctic. He's coming along as well although he's probably still not really there yet, but he's definitely progressing.”

Blackbeard, one of his sire's 21 pattern-race winners, is the first foal bred from Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), whose own dam Girouette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) collected the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. and is also the second dam of Listed Prix du Grand Camp-winning Polish champion Night Tornado (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Blackbeard's stakes-placed third dam Vassiana (Fr) (Anabaa), whos decsendants include dual Group 3 winner Max Vega (Ire), is a full-sister to G3 Prix d'Arenberg victrix Villadolide (Fr) and Listed Prix Hampton and Listed Prix du Cercle scorer Victorieux (Fr). The next dam Domludge (Lyphard) is a half-sister to multiple elite-level winner and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Mrs Penny (Great Nephew {GB}) and a full-sister to G3 Prix Vanteaux third Cadeaux d'Amie (Lyphard), herself the dam of multiple Group 1-winning 1000 Guineas heroine Hatoof (Irish River {Fr}). Muirin has a yearling full-sister to Blackbeard to come.

Sunday, Chantilly, France
DARLEY PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 7-17, 2yo, 6fT, 1:08.31, gd.
1–BLACKBEARD (IRE), 128, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire)
2nd Dam: Girouette (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Vassiana (Fr), by Anabaa
(270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ioritz Mendizabal. €74,100. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 6-4-1-0, €174,740. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Antarctic (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg & Brant; B-Bally Philip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,600.
3–Vicious Harry (Fr), 126, c, 2, Harry Angel (Ire)–Umneeyatee (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€28,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT). O-Cuadra Mediterraneo; B-Medya SARL & Tarik Tekce (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €13,650.
Margins: 3, 3, NO. Odds: 1.20, 6.80, 7.80.
Also Ran: Belbek (Fr), Lova (Fr), Bottle Of Bubbles (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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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.

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No Nay Never’s Blackbeard In Command In The Marble Hill

Already a dual winner prior to Saturday's G3 GAIN Marble Hill S. at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) was the picture of professionalism as he made all under Ryan Moore to assume the mantle of generation leader. Already hardened by the experience of battle in this track's May 2 Listed First Flier S., the 5-2 second favourite set out to dictate on this first foray over six furlongs and relished the extra distance as he shook off the even-money market-leader Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to stretch to a 3 1/2-length success.

“We weren't exactly sure that he would get six, but Ryan thought the last day that he would and obviously he got it very well,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He relaxed very well and quickened very well, that's what you'd really love about him. No Nay Never is usually an influence for speed, which is good, but some of them don't get beyond sprinting distances. Looking at this horse, there is every chance that he could. We thought he'd be either a Norfolk or Coventry horse and he can go either way I think, but you'd have to say he's a Coventry type. We ran him today to see and you couldn't say he didn't pass that test.”

Blackbeard, who also scored at Dundalk Apr. 8, is the first foal out of Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), who was fourth in the 2017 G1 Moyglare Stud S. on only her second start. She is a daughter of the Curragh specialist Girouette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who captured the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. and Listed Sweet Mimosa S. and was runner-up in the G3 Renaissance S. and third in the G3 Athasi S. here. From the family of the G3 Zetland S. and G3 John Porter S. scorer Max Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and the G2 Curragh Cup-placed Camphor (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Muirin's yearling is a full-sister to Blackbeard.

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
GAIN MARBLE HILL S.-G3, €60,000, Curragh, 5-21, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.72, g/y.
1–BLACKBEARD (IRE), 131, c, 2, by No Nay Never
     1st Dam: Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Girouette (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
     3rd Dam: Vassiana (Fr), by Anabaa
1ST GROUP WIN. (270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €36,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $72,549. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tough Talk (Ire), 131, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Terrific (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €12,000.
3–Mehmar (Ire), 131, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–She's Different (Ire), by Epaulette (Aus).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (42,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; £200,000 2yo '22 GOFTY). O/T-Michael O'Callaghan; B-Tony Killoran (IRE). €6,000.
Margins: 3HF, 2 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 2.50, Evens, 5.00.
Also Ran: Ocean Vision (Ire), Deneuve (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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