Free Wind Survives Middleton Enquiry

George Strawbridge's 5-year-old mare Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Alive Alive Oh {GB}, by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), seen out just once since 2021, was fit and raring to go for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York and collected a fourth straight pattern-race rosette with a narrow victory in the extended 10-furlong contest.

The April-foaled bay, whose resume also features wins in the G3 Prix Minerve, G2 Park Hill S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks, was settled off a sedate pace in sixth until turning for home. Making eyecatching progress on the bridle once into the straight, the 6-5 favourite assumed control passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly, despite edging right in the closing stages, to withstand the persistent threat of last term's Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial victrix Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by a neck. The Knavesmire's stewards were called into action in the immediate aftermath, but allowed the finishing order to remain unchanged.

“She [nearly] got put through the rails at Haydock [in the Lancashire Oaks last year] and won despite that near fatal accident,” reflected John Gosden after notching a fourth win in the contest. “She has come back from a nasty injury and 10 months off and it was a long way for her to come back, physically and mentally. She's done that and showed a great attitude, so we couldn't be more pleased with her. She was running way below her [optimum] trip today. She wasn't originally in the race, but [owner] Mr [George] Strawbridge is over from America to see Epictetus run in the Dante and we thought we'd supplement Free Wind and run her, too. She's done great as this trip is a bit sharp for her. She's won a Park Hill over a mile-and-six furlongs, which is a slightly different ball game, and we're very clear that we're going a mile-and-a-half next time. She's in the [G2] Hardwicke [at Royal Ascot] and that would be a strong possibility at this stage.”

Rogue Millennium holds a special place in Tom Clover's heart and the Newmarket-based conditioner was delighted by the performance of his stable star. “She ran a lovely race and Jack [Mitchell] gave her a lovely ride,” he said. “He followed Frankie the whole way and she takes a step forward with each run. She ran well in France and ran well in the Magnolia at Kempton, when she didn't get a clear run. She didn't have a clear run in France either. She's a really lovely filly, she's improved from three to four and was well sourced by the [Rogues Gallery] team. It's great to have a high-class filly of this nature and it would be lovely to win a Group race with her this year. The obvious targets would either be the [G3] Hoppings [S. at Newcastle] or the [G1] Pretty Polly in Ireland, so we'll see.”

Pedigree Notes
Free Wind, one of her late sire's 242 pattern-race winners, is the second of four foals and one of two scorers for multiple stakes-winning G3 Dance Design S. placegetter Alive Alive Oh (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), herself half to G3 Fukushima Kinen and G3 Tanabata Sho victor Crescendo Love (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}). Alive Alive Oh is also kin to the dam of the dual stakes-placed Soldier's Minute (GB) (Raven's Pass). The April-foaled bay's second dam Higher Love (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who was runner-up in the Listed Cheshire Oaks, is out of Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Dollar Bird (Ire) (Kris {GB}), herself a half-sister to G2 King Edward VII S.-winning sire Amfortas (Ire) (Caerleon) and to the dam of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) and G1SP sires Chevalier (Ire) (Danehill) and Alexander of Hales (Danehill). Alive Alive Oh has a 2-year-old full-brother to Free Wind yet to come.

Thursday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI MIDDLETON FILLIES' S.-G2, £154,800, York, 5-18, 4yo/up, f, 10f 56yT, 2:10.06, g/f.
1–FREE WIND (IRE), 128, m, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Alive Alive Oh (GB) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire)
2nd Dam: Higher Love (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Dollar Bird (Ire), by Kris (GB)
(325,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-George Strawbridge; B-Mrs Sue Ann Foley (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £87,787. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 8-6-1-0, $348,472. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rogue Millennium (Ire), 128, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Hawaafez (GB), by Nayef. (35,000gns 2yo '21 TATMA). O-The Rogues Gallery; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover. £33,282.
3–Poptronic (GB), 128, f, 4, Nathaniel (Ire)–Alpine Dream (Ire), by Dream Ahead. O/B-David & Yvonne Blunt (GB); T-Karl Burke. £16,656.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.20, 20.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: State Occasion (GB), Stay Alert (GB), Sea Silk Road (Ire), Aristia (Ire). Scratched: Toskana Belle (Fr).

 

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Freshman Sire Soldier’s Call Off The Mark At Ripon

Minutes after freshman sire Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) notched his first winner at Leicester, Ballyhane Stud incumbent Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) repeated the feat when Archie Watson trainee Dreadpirateroberts (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}–Gangster Squad {Fr}, by Astronomer Royal) graduated in Saturday's Black-A-Moor Inn Half A Mile Away EBF Restricted Novice S. at Ripon.

The 85-40 favourite ran second in his Brighton debut last week and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead in this return. In command throughout, he was last to come off the bridle after halfway and kept on strongly under a final-furlong drive to hold the late bid of Innvincible Friend (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}) by a length.

Dreadpirateroberts is the fifth of six foals and third scorer out of a winning half to Listed Landaluce S. third Ridemetothemoon (Malibu Moon). The April-foaled bay's dual stakes-placed third dam Catcher (Storm Cat) is a full-sister to G1 Breeders' Cup Classic and GI Swaps S.-winning sire Cat Thief.

 

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Zarak Share Leads The Way At Tattersalls Online January Sale

Aga Khan Studs' sire Zarak (Fr) continued to prove popular at the sales, as Tom Goff's Blandford Bloodstock shelled out 350,000gns on behalf of Chasemore Farm for a 1/50th share (lot 63) in the rising sire star to top the Tattersalls Online January Sale on Thursday.

The son of Arc heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) has gone from strength to strength with his progeny in the past few years. Among his many stakes winners are group winners Purplepay (Fr), Sirjan (Ger), Baiykara (Fr), Lavello (Ire), and Lizaid (Ger), while La Parisienne (Fr) was runner-up in the G1 Prix de Diane.

Goff said, “I'm delighted to have secured the share in Zarak on behalf of Chasemore Farm. Andrew and Jane Black have a number of mares that they would like to send to France to be covered by Zarak over the next few seasons so, after some discussion, the decision was to give it a go.

“The sire has done tremendously well so far. At 11% stakes winners to runners and 68% winners to runners to date, his statistics sit comfortably with Dubawi (Ire)'s other successful sons Night Of Thunder (Ire) and New Bay (GB) at the same stage. In addition to his stakes winners, Zarak has also sired La Parisienne (Fr), who was second in the [G1] Prix de Diane, so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he sires his first Group 1 winner.

“The fact that he is managed by Georges Rimaud at Haras de Bonneval is another massive plus for me personally. We have first-hand experience of their stallion syndicates–they are absolutely blue chip and are exceptionally well managed.”

The other lot to make six figures was a breeding right in one of last year's star first-crop sires, Whitsbury Manor Stud's Havana Grey (GB) (lot 66). Heather Raw came out the winning bidder at 105,000gns. The grey already has 16% stakes performers to runners, highlighted by group winners Rumstar (GB), Eddie's Boy (GB), and Lady Hollywood (GB), as well as listed winners Shouldvebeenaring (GB) and Cuban Mistress (GB).

Other breeding rights also went under the hammer, with one in Time Test (GB) (lot 62) making 32,000gns to WebBloodstock, and Stephen Hillen secured a breeding right to Harry Angel (Ire) (lot 65) for 30,000gns.

Overall, 31 of the 67 lots sold for a gross of 656,500gns. The average was 21,177gns and the median was 2,600gns.

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“We Wanted A Melbourne Cup Horse” – Fancy Man Snapped Up For 675,000

Annabel Neasham's dreams of one day winning the Melbourne Cup were provided with a boost when the leading Australian-based trainer added the ultra-consistent Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) to her stable for 675,000gns.

Fancy Man, a four-time winner who rarely let the Richard Hannon side down by placing a further eight times and amassing close to £150,000, was identified as the best horse in the sale by Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock.

The big horses were making big money at Tattersalls this week and, with a rating of 108, Fancy Man fitted the profile of what Boman was looking for-a horse to win Australia's most famous race.

The leading agent said, “We wanted a Melbourne Cup horse so we thought we'd come and buy the best horse here and I genuinely think he is that. He has been running to a very high level for a long time, he has been beautifully trained by Richard Hannon and I have followed him through the year. He vetted very cleanly.”

Boman added, “Annabel is extraordinarily brave and willing to go to that sort of figure. We always knew he'd be an expensive horse. But you either get on with it and buy them and make it happen or you don't.

“He is a highly-rated horse and you are really buying the number. He has been high-class all the way through and is one of those horses who can perform over a mile-and-a-half. We think he will get two miles in Australia.

“Annabel had 200 people sign up expressing an interest to get involved with whatever horse we bought so I am sure she will be able to sell him. She has been very patient and we think we have bought a Cup horse.”

Boman and Neasham's exploits at Tattersalls are there for everyone to see; precisely on the back page of the gigantic Autumn Horses-In-Training Catalogue as the trainer's multiple Group 1 winner down under is one of the rightful poster boys for this sale.

Fancy Man was the highlight of a nine-strong draft from the Hannon stable that also featured four-time winner Pure Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), sold to Sackville Donald for 200,000gns.

Hannon's horses went for 1,130,000gns all told and, on Fancy Man, the trainer commented, “It is always sad with that much ability leaving the yard but it makes way for new horses. He has been a gentleman for us and Michael [Pescod, owner].

“He brought the money I think that he deserved. I thought he'd make that as physically he is a gorgeous horse. Trade here is unbelievable.”

For the third day in a row, figures were up. The 13,532,000gns spent represented a rise of 27% while the average was also up 20%. The clearance rate was down just 1% to 92% while the median climbed 14% to 46,027.

One World The Highlight Of Juddmonte Draft

What do Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast), Mirage Dancer (GB) and Derevo (GB) (Dansili {GB}) have in common? All three horses were previously owned and bred by Juddmonte before going on to win Group 1 races internationally for their new connections.

The stud's 22-strong draft proved predictably popular on Thursday, with the 86-rated One World (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) selling to a new Saudi Arabian-based racing owner who signed for the gelding under the name Athbah Racing for 525,000gns.

The new connections were aided by Ted Durcan, who was labelled “a good man” by the delighted racing manager, Dr Abdul Moniem.

He explained, “The plan is to take him to Saudi Arabia. We are so delighted as this is the first time for HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to buy a thoroughbred horse at Tattersalls. We have been racing Arabians, and he is a leading owner, but we are just developing our thoroughbred side of ownership.”

Moniem added on One World, “The pedigree is beautiful; he is a very well-bred horse and he was bred by Juddmonte, which we really like. We like his conformation and he vetted well. He will be trained by Lucas Gaitan, who is already training a few horses for us.”

One World won twice and placed a further three times for John and Thady Gosden and is a half-brother to narrow Listed runner-up Time Lock (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

One enthusiastic buyer provided some entertainment a couple of lots previously. The unknown man, who had been standing in the front row of the bidders area for most of the day and opened up plenty of horses at 1,000gns, tried to do the same for Special Envoy (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Upon realising that when auctioneer Matt Hall said one, he meant 100,000gns, the man stopped waving and promptly made for the exit.

All's well that ends well and Special Envoy eventually sold to Susie McKeever on behalf of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for 250,000gns.

It was McKeever who actually struck that opening bid of 100,000gns, and after securing the classy runner for Australia, said, “I couldn't see the point of the bidding starting lower. He will head down tomorrow with yesterday's purchase [Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})]. We liked his profile and he is a lovely horse.”

There was another set of Saudi owners to make a splash as Bjorn Nielsen's homebred Magisterial (GB) (Frankel {GB}) fetched 425,000gns to bloodstock agent Andre Pereira.

He said, “Sami Alhurabi will be training the horse and he liked him when he saw him here. The team likes him, being by Frankel, and he has a great pedigree, too.

“The intention for this horse is to be aimed for the Saudi World Cup day, depending on how he adapts to the new environment. And, yes, we thought we'd have to pay that for him!”

He added, “The owner is new to racing and he is ambitious and keen to get to have a runner on Saudi Cup day.”

Marco Bozzi went on to secure Going Gone (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) for Saudi-based HRH Prince Saud Bin Salman Al Saud for 330,000gns.

Gadget Goes To Australia

Guy Mulcaster signed for Monday's top lot Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) on behalf of Chris Waller and snapped up another notable runner in Ralph Beckett's The Gadget Man (GB) for the Australian-based handler on Wednesday.

The highest-rated [91] son of Irish Derby-winning stallion (Jack Hobbs {GB}), The Gadget Man won twice over staying trips, and Mulcaster said that he is confident there is more improvement in the 310,000gns buy.

“Let's hope he keeps on the upward curve,” the agent said. “I just watched his replays this morning and thought he was so tough. He is also a very athletic horse-he is light on his feet, moves well and we think he will fit into our programme pretty well.”

Mulcaster added, “He was not cheap, but judging by the way this sale has gone, he might not have been that expensive either. There were a number of people pushing us along.

“We are pretty happy to have gotten him at that sort of money. He has a pretty dour sort of pedigree.”

Mulcaster and Waller got stuck into the Juddmonte draft, buying Counter (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for 80,000gns, Pervade (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for 140,000gns and Demarcay (GB) (Postponed {Ire}) for 180,000gns.

Najd Stud Strong On Sound

Recent form has resulted in good prices in the ring all week and Finest Sound (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) boasted exactly that after placing third behind Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Woodbine Mile last month.

The five-year-old, who ran in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum for Simon and Ed Crisford and won close to £250,000 in prize-money, was sold to Najd Stud for 350,000gns.

The Saudi Arabian-based buyers have been strong all week, including when buying Beautiful Aisling (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) off the Crisfords on Monday for 240,000gns.

Speaking after adding Finest Sound to the team, Saad Bin Mishraf of Najd Stud said, “Hopefully he will acclimatise quickly and we have bought him for the Saudi Cup meeting-we don't know for which race yet.

He added, “It has been a very good market here and there are a lot of people from all around the world here to try and buy horses. We have been underbidders to three or four different groups from Australia and America.”

Few horses have captured the imagination quite like Amichi (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) this season. Ed Sackville's 15,500 yearling purchase at last year's Sommerville Sale has bagged two big auction races under the guidance of Ed Walker and netted his owner Laurence Bellman almost £140,000 in prize-money.

But the wheel needs to keep on turning and Bellman secured his last big payday from the grey on Thursday when Najd Stud added gelding to their haul at 325,000gns.

Walker said, “What a legend. He really has been a cool horse. I was just saying to Jimmy George of Tattersalls that I wished I hadn't sold him to Laurence now! I bought him on spec with Ed Sackville. It's great and Laurence has been a brilliant supporter of mine since I started training. We offered him straight to Laurence and he bought him straight away on our recommendation and never hesitated. The rest is history.”

He added, “Without banging on and being negative about the state of British racing, but we have to make our money through other avenues than through prize-money so we have to keep trading horses. I've got yearlings for sale and, the great thing about Laurence is, he will buy one or two of them. He doesn't take out of the game. He puts in. I have sold plenty of horses for big money in the past and the wheels haven't kept turning. For this one, I know that the wheels will keep turning and it's great.”

Big In Japan? Shark Buys Eight And Reveals Hewick Plan

“Hup, hup, hup,” said Shark Hanlon striding out behind Godolphin's Bold Presence, who was a little hesitant entering the ring before selling to Mouse O'Ryan for 32,000gns.

It wasn't the first time that Shark, fresh from sending out €850 buy Hewick (Ire) (Virtual {GB}) to win the American Grand National, made his presence felt at Tattersalls this week.

He may have failed to secure Bold Presence, who is heading to rival jumps trainer Gordon Elliott, but Hanlon has been riding on a crest of a wave all week and added eight horses to his County Carlow yard.

Hanlon said, “We've bought eight and we have to drive on now that we've got a few customers. I got a new owner out in America and gave 40,000gns for a horse of John Butler's [Ivasecret (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) for him.”

He added, “We're going to leave him with John and run him in an all-weather final worth £80,000 at Kempton. After that, we'll bring him home and he'll go hurdling. Everything I bought this week, the plan is to go jumping with them.”

The immediate plan for Hewick is a well-earned break but, after that, a tilt at the Nakayama Grand Jump has entered the picture for Hanlon's Gold Cup charge.

Hanlon said, “I've been here since Monday and the amount of people who have been coming up shaking my hand is unreal. I can remember Danoli (Ire) (The Parson {GB}) years ago and he was the people's horse. Hewick is the people's horse now.

“The Nakayama Jump in April is in the back of my mind for him. It's worth a lot of money and Willie [Mullins] won it before with Blackstairmountain (Ire) (Imperial Ballet {Ire}). He'll go for the Gold Cup first and then it's quite possible that he could go to Japan afterwards.”

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