Tag: Blandford Bloodstock

Galileo’s Free Wind Overcomes Traffic To Plunder Haydock Feature

George Strawbridge's 4-year-old filly Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Alive Alive Oh {GB}, by Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) prevailed in three out of four starts last term and closed her sophomore campaign with a seven-length rout in September's G3 Park Hill S. at Doncaster. She was sent postward as the 11-4 joint-favourite for Saturday's G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks, her seasonal return, and overcame severe traffic problems in the closing stages of the 12-furlong test to register a career high in taking fashion. The eventual winner settled into a smooth rhythm behind the leading duo in third from flagfall, but was badly hampered and made heavy contact with the far-side rail for several strides when launching her bid soon after passing the quarter-mile marker. Finding a clear passage and returned on an even keel entering the final furlong, she displayed an impressive array of gears to hunt down Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) with 100 yards remaining en route to a 2 1/4-length triumph.

“She's done well to pick up again after that,” reflected rider Rab Havlin. “The gap was there and my filly was going well. We just got tight, but credit to the filly as she organised herself and picked up. We always thought she was a proper filly last year and she did it today. She doesn't show a great deal at home and never has, but on the track she's been really progressive and looks like a Group 1 filly. I'd say we'd probably aim her a bit higher than the [G2] Lillie Langtry, that's an obvious race to consider at Goodwood, but I'd imagine connections will want to go for a Group 1.”

There was a sting in the tail for Havlin, who picked up a five-day suspension for being the one deemed to have initiated his own interference. “Sometimes horses will lean off the rail and I thought I gave Jim [Crowley on Eshaada] half a furlong to see if he was going to go back on,” he explained. “The gap was there and my filly was going well, but we just got tight. Normally, if it opens straight away, you would just wait as they can roll on and off the rail. I felt he was off the rail for long enough and his filly looked as if she was leaning into the Haggas filly [Sea La Rose], so I thought I was going to take the opportunity as I was going well. When I got halfway there it got tight.”

Free Wind, full-sister to a yearling colt, is the second of four foals and one of two scorers for MSW G3 Dance Design S. third 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 GSW 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).

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BET365 LANCASHIRE OAKS-G2, £115,000, Haydock, 7-2, 3yo/up, f, 11f 175yT, 2:37.89, sf.
1–FREE WIND (IRE), 133, f, 4, 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-Robert Havlin. £65,217. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 7-5-1-0, $238,855. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sea La Rosa (Ire), 133, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Soho Rose (Ire), by Hernando (Fr). (€200,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-G&B Partnership (IRE); T-William Haggas. £24,725.
3–Eshaada (GB), 133, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Muhawalah (Ire), by Nayef. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Roger Varian. £12,374.
Margins: 2 1/4, NK, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.75, 4.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Believe In Love (Ire), Stay Alert (GB), Nell Quickly (Ire), Kawida (GB). Scratched: Invite (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Ardad’s Perfect Power Takes The Commonwealth Cup

Confirming his position as the chief three-year-old sprinting colt, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) came out on top in a highly-competitive G1 Commonwealth Cup on Friday. Successful in the G2 Norfolk S. at last year's meeting, the subsequent G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner had been seventh in the 2000 Guineas following his success in Newbury's seven-furlong G3 Greenham S. Apr. 16 and started as the 7-2 joint-favourite back sprinting. Settled halfway down the field initially by Christophe Soumillon racing far side, the Richard Fahey-trained bay gave his familiar surge to take over from TDN Rising Star Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) passing the furlong pole and win by 1 1/4 lengths from Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) who denied Flotus by half a length.

 

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‘Sir Michael Stoute Gave Me a Bollocking and Told Me Not to Be a Pessimist’ 

He has been branded a pessimist by Sir Michael Stoute for admitting as much, but Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, who bought Cazoo Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), believes Saturday's achievement will never be topped.

Brown, a renowned bloodstock agent with over 20 years of experience in the game, went to 280,000gns to secure Desert Crown on behalf of Saeed Suhail at Book 2 at Tattersalls in 2020 and counts himself as extremely lucky to have sourced what he believes is a once-in-a-lifetime colt. 

“I ended up at Sir Michael's for quite a few glasses of wine on Saturday night,” said Brown on Monday. “I called him yesterday [Sunday] to thank him and I said, 'look, you've done this before but I haven't and I'm sure I never will again.' 

“He gave me a bollocking and told me not to be a pessimist. I think it's once-in-a-lifetime stuff, mainly because so few Derby winners are offered up at public auction and you are up against the might of the top breeding operations like Coolmore, Juddmonte, Aga Khan and Godolphin. The chance of buying a horse like Desert Crown is so slim. We got very lucky.”

Desert Crown became Stoute's sixth Derby winner when powering home at Epsom under Richard Kingscote who, like Brown, was securing his first Derby. Prior to Saturday, Brown may have been best known for sourcing dual Group 1-winning juvenile Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) and top-notch sprinter Dream Ahead. However, Desert Crown eclipses all other achievements in the business and Brown is convinced he will never come across one better. 

He explained, “This won't be topped. It can't be topped. Rabbah Bloodstock was formed in 2006 and Jono Mills, who is one of my greatest mates, is the managing director and I work very closely with him, Bruce Raymond and Philip Robinson. It's through them that I have been able to buy for the people that I do. Also, I have known Sir Michael for a long time and, while we haven't done a lot of business together, we share a pretty big passion for cricket, which is all we ever seem to talk about. To be a small part of that team and to do it with these guys is very special.”

Brown added, “I am fortunate to buy for the people I do. I get to go to the sales and pick out the horses I like for people who trust me. It gives you a sporting chance. I spent many years going to the sales and not being able to buy these types of horses so I realise how fortunate I am that I have people who will back me to stretch out if I like one.”

Brown clearly liked Desert Crown as a yearling, as did plenty of others, given the colt fetched 280,000gns, above average for a colt by Nathaniel. But Brown was never going to be beaten to Desert Crown. Such was his love for him as a yearling, Brown revealed how he even ignored his own advice by laying his cards on the table and declaring his interest in the colt before he walked into the ring.

He recalled, “It's easy to say it now but he was outstanding, just a gorgeous horse with a great temperament, which he is showing now as a racehorse. We put a lot of emphasis on temperament at the sales and he just showed fantastically well. 

“I actually pride myself on my poker face at the sales but I couldn't hide my love for this guy. I told Gary Robinson, who bred the horse, what an outstanding specimen that he was and, as the words were coming out of my mouth, I was thinking 'what are you doing, what about your poker face?' He was just bombproof, such a cool dude, and he showed that on Saturday. He walked around the paddock and down to the start like a pro and he was a pro during the race as well.”

Brown has been buying for Desert Crown's owner Saeed Suhail, whose colours were also carried to Derby glory by Kris Kin (Kris S) in 2003, for three years. He sources between eight and 10 yearlings for the owner every year and, while the first batch were forgettable, Brown believes he is making up for his mistakes with Desert Crown. 

He explained, “Desert Crown is part of the second crop of horses I bought for Saeed Suhail. I didn't do a very good job with the first crop. We had some winners but didn't have a good horse. “I don't think I got the brief properly in the first year but we gave a good throw for a few horses in the second crop and luckily it's working out. To produce a Derby winner for Saeed Suhail is fantastic and there's some very positive reports about a couple of the 2-year-olds so hopefully that first crop is well and truly forgotten now.”

Brown added, “Nathaniel is a top-class stallion. You can't sire a mare like Enable (GB) without being top class. Andrew Stone of St Albans Bloodstock, who I do a lot of work for, had God Given (GB). She won a Group 2 in Britain before winning a Group 1 in Italy and was actually Luca Cumani's last Group 1 winner, so we have been huge fans of Nathaniel all the way through and the market does not give him the respect that he deserves. 

“That can happen. I have always thought he was a very underappreciated stallion so, when I saw a colt as nice as Desert Crown, I knew we had a chance. If he was by Frankel (GB), Dubawi (Ire) or Sea The Stars (Ire), I wouldn't have been able to buy him. He's an absolute beauty and the exciting thing is that he was still one of the more unfurnished colts in the Derby field so there should be a lot more to come from him.”

There is still an amount of celebrating to do before a plan is drawn up for the rest of the season but Brown is convinced that Desert Crown can build on Saturday's heroics. 

He said, “Sir Michael's training was exemplary. This horse had a minor setback in the spring. I went to see him in March and he was standing in his box so he was definitely undercooked heading into the Dante. When he won the Dante, I did think we had something special on our hands and it's looking that way now.”

“We are all having dinner tonight and I am sure it [future plans] will be discussed but that's well above my pay grade. The great thing is that, when you have guys as experienced as Bruce Raymond, Saeed's racing manager, and Sir Michael, you don't need to worry about it. They'll get things right. Where they decide to go next, that's down to them, I'm just lucky to be a small part of the team.”

 

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Emily Upjohn Trounces Musidora Rivals

John and Thady Gosden's team has yet to reach the giddy heights of Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien this term, but TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}–Hidden Brief {GB} {SP-Fr}, by Barathea {Ire}) provided the Clarehaven stable with hopes of Classic glory after another impressive display in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. The 60,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling had opened up with a narrow victory in her Nov. 23 unveiling at Wolverhampton before earning this publication's seal of approval with a 9 1/2-length demolition in a 10-furlong Sandown novices' heat on seasonal return last month. Sent off as the odds-on favourite for this black-type debut, she was a shade keen through the early strides until finding a smooth rhythm in second as Team Valor and Steven Rocco's Luna Dorada (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) led the way at a solid clip. Looming large in the straight, the 4-7 pick was in control passing the quarter-mile marker and powered clear thereafter to easily account for Godolphin's running-on Life of Dreams (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 5 1/2 lengths. Kirsten Rausing's David Simcock trainee Ching Shih (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a daughter of 2014 heroine Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko), was next best and two lengths further adrift in third.

“She was keen early on, but she's in control and you want her like that,” explained Frankie Dettori after claiming an outright record of six winners in the contest. “The ground is a lot deeper than you guys think and everybody was struggling from four furlongs out. I kept her together and, from two-and-a-half to the winning post, I didn't see another horse. She won in good style by 5 1/2 lengths and what more do you want? We never had any worries about staying a mile-and-a-half. She's getting there, Enable won at Chester and at this stage she was probably on the same par. With every race this filly is improving, we've liked her since day one and I'm delighted. We can sleep nicely tonight.”

https://twitter.com/theTDN/status/1524401489220976640?s=20&t=1_WZCvj9tevQzQL8FRVqhw

John Gosden, moving up to within two of Sir Henry Cecil's race-record nine editions, added, “It's interesting that Frankie said the ground was quite tiring after the little bit of rain they've had on it. A few of them were struggling four or five out. Frankie waited to go and she's picked up well and looked like a mile-and-a-half would be right up her alley. She couldn't have done it any better really. She was saddled in the stables at Sandown and saddled in the stables at Wolverhampton, so it's the first time she's been saddled in front of a crowd today. She got a bit edgy, but I think she settled after a furlong and found a lovely rhythm, which is what it's all about. She's very well balanced, but there's no reason we won't get some sausage and bacon on the [May 23] breakfast morning at Epsom. We can have a canter round the track there to see how she handles it. She's a lovely filly, and well-balanced with a good stride, and she's learnt a lot today. We've been lucky to win the Oaks three times and she very much deserves to be in that league.”

Reflecting on the performance of Life of Dreams, Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said, “We were pleased, that was only her second run and I think she's run into a very nice horse. We'll see how she is and hope things go to plan. The Oaks might still be a possibility, but I haven't spoken to Charlie yet. She'd either run there or the [G2] Ribblesdale [at Royal Ascot]. Charlie will speak to His Highness [Sheikh Mohammed] and we'll see how we go.”

Ching Shih's trainer David Simcock is disinclined to go for a rematch with the winner in next month's G1 Cazoo Oaks. “Obviously the winner is pretty smart and it doesn't take a genius to work that out,” he commented. “I said, before the race, they were just five novice winners and they were all in the same boat. The winner looks exceptional, but our filly has acquitted herself well. She was the only one out of the first four not to have had a run [this year] and she'll come forward for it. I think, when she gets her mother's [preferred soft] ground, she'll improve for it as it will actually make her quicker, if that doesn't sound stupid. I don't know where she will go, but it won't be Epsom, unless the winner scares everything off.”

Emily Upjohn, half to a yearling filly by Capella Sansevero (GB), is the sixth of seven foals and one of three scorers out of Listed Prix Petite Etoile third Hidden Brief (GB) (Barathea {Ire}). Her dam is a full-sister to GSW G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks placegetter Hazarista (Ire) and a half to the stakes-winning dam of G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Descendants of the March-foaled bay's second dam Hazaradjat (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) include G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares victrix Seal of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), whose 3-year-old daughter Royal Scandal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made a successful debut at Newcastle on Tuesday, and last term's G1 Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS MUSIDORA S.-G3, £125,000, York, 5-11, 3yo, f, 10f 56yT, 2:10.86, gd.
1–EMILY UPJOHN (GB), 128, f, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Hidden Brief (GB) (SP-Fr), by Barathea (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hazaradjat (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Hazy Idea, by Hethersett (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (60,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Tactful Finance & S Roden; B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $100,110. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Life of Dreams (GB), 128, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Endless Time (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £26,875.
3–Ching Shih (Ire), 128, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Madame Chiang (GB), by Archipenko. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Kirsten Rausing (IRE); T-David Simcock. £13,450.
Margins: 5HF, 2, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.57, 2.75, 28.00.
Also Ran: The Algarve, Luna Dorada (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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