Tag: Blue Rose Cen (Ire)

Friday’s Graded Turf Stakes Get The Weekend Started Early

With the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a bevy of graded stakes–marked by Saturday's GI Whitney S.–plus, the annual Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale which begins Monday, Upstate New York once again makes its case as the Thoroughbred fulcrum. To get the weekend started early, we have a pair of Friday graded turf stakes scheduled which will crown winners.

First, the $400,000 GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. for 3-year-old fillies serves as the middle sparkler in NYRA's Fasig-Tipton Turf Tiara series. Since Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) has elected to take on the boys in Saturday's GI Saratoga Derby, Papilio (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will not have the opportunity to avenge her third-place finish when the pair faced one another in the GI Belmont Oaks July 8, a race which Aspen Grove won. Since arriving from Ireland, the Mark Casse trainee has continued to be a mark of consistency against graded company with her best finish coming with a victory in the GII Appalachian S. at Keeneland back in April.

Opposing her bid to wear the tiara will be a number of European challengers, including Caroline Street (No Nay Never) and American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) from Joseph O'Brien's yard. The former is a Group 3 winner in Ireland and she was well beaten last time out by Blue Rose Cen (Churchill {Ire}) June 18 in the G1 French Oaks at Chantilly. Also present here, from that same race, is Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}), who finished a respectable fifth. Trained by Jean-Phillippe Dubois, she was second in the G1 Prix Saint Alary at Longchamp May 14.

As for North American-based entries, Solo Album (Curlin), also from Casse's shedrow, won the GIII Selene S. July 1 at Woodbine, and Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) from Jonathan Thomas's barn, who comes to New York after winning the GIII Honeymoon S. June 10 at Santa Anita, arrive in-form.

More Than Looks | Sarah Andrew

To mark the induction ceremony into horse racing's hallowed pantheon, the $500,000 GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. for 3-year-old colts going a mile on the Inner Turf brings together an interesting mix of American and European invaders.

Trainer Chad Brown saddles three entries with GISP Appraise (Ire) Kodiac {GB}), Mischievous Angel (Into Mischief) and Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), while Graham Motion sends GSW and GISP Nagirroc (Lea) to the post after the bay colt finished third in the GIII Manila S. July 7 at Belmont Park. The winner of that race, More Than Looks (More Than Ready) from the stable of Cherie DeVaux, is also present.

The European contingent includes Ocean Vision (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), who has competed in Ireland, France and Qatar and is trained by Godolphin Flying Start program grad Tim Donworth, and Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby, who will look to harness some of that late speed that he flashed the last time he was in North America when he won the GI Summer S. at Woodbine as a juvenile.

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Dubawi’s Al Husn Upsets Nashwa And Blue Rose Cen In The Nassau

Shadwell's Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Hadaatha {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) caused an upset when usurping Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the dying strides of Newcastle's G3 Hoppings S. when last seen and repeated the dose with a game performance for a career high in a stellar renewal of Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood.

This year's G2 Dahlia S. runner-up and Listed Rothesay S. victrix was let go at generous odds of 9-1 and broke smartly from the outside stall to find a smooth rhythm in a close-up second for the most part. Shaken up to gain a narrow advantage from the pacesetting Above The Curve (American Pharoah) passing the quarter-mile marker, she refused to yield thereafter and was driven out inside the final furlong to withstand the rallying effort of that rival by a half-length. Last year's winner Nashwa posed an ominous threat on the outside throughout the final quarter-mile, but was unable to find the necessary kick when it mattered most and was the same margin further adrift in third. Christopher Head trainee and dual Classic heroine Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) fell foul to Goodwood's notorious traffic problems and was unable to produce her usual flourish along the far-side rail, finishing a neck away in fourth.

“Al Husn is a remarkable filly and she has won seven of her last eight now,” said Roger Varian after his charge joined the who's-who of elite-level distaffers and became his breakthrough in the 183-year-old contest. “The truth is none of us really knew how good she was, because she is one of those who just beats what is in front of her and is never particularly flashy. She has such an admirable attitude. We thought we would come here and run very well, but I am obviously delighted, and delighted Sheihka Hissa is here. To have a Group 1 for her and with a homebred filly like this, it's fantastic. The Nassau is a fantastic race, steeped in prestige and history. It is one of the magical races for fillies to win. It will be forever in her stud book and hopefully when she's done racing, she can go to the farm and be a great mare for them. It is very special for us, we went very close a couple of years ago in the same colours with Zeyaadah, so it's nice to go one better today. She is not the biggest filly, but she is very well made. We trained her mum, Hadaatha, who was third in the [G1] Prix de l'Opera, so we always had faith that Hadaatha would breed a very good one.”

Looking ahead to Group 1 options down the line, Varian added, “Let's enjoy today and see how she is tomorrow. She is in the [G1] Prix Jean Romanet [at Deauville] in two-and-a-half weeks' and the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks, if we fancy going up to a mile and a half, although I'm not sure about that. Later in the year, races like the [G1] Prix de l'Opera I'm sure will be considered and who knows, perhaps something at Santa Anita for her.”

Crowley Back Where He Belongs
Rider Jim Crowley's fortunes took an upward turn and his winning percentage was a small measure of compensation to offset an excessive sanction imposed earlier in the week for his ride aboard Hukum in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot. “Al Husn was so tough there,” he said. “She is not a big filly, but she is a little terrier who tries and is so tough. She has improved with every run and it's just great to nick a race like that with her. She is a very good filly and we were in the right place at the right time. It is the nature of the track and, when I saw the French filly get that [inside] draw, I thought they were going to need a bit of luck. I had to commit on her a long way out and we had the luck today. It was a steady, tactical affair and she was in the right place, but she still had to kick on two out and fend them off, which she did. It was a great performance, Roger's done a fantastic job with her and she's just kept on improving all season. Coming here today, she still had to step up, and she did. She might possibly get further, but we have never really thought about it. It is something we can talk about.”

No Repeat For Nashwa
Nashwa's rider Hollie Doyle felt the tactical nature of the contest contributed to defeat of the reigning champion, as did a fast-emptying tank in the conditions, and explained, “There was no pace early on and they got racing early coming down the hill. Nashwa relaxed beautifully, I tried to hold on to her for as long as I could and I went there with a double handful at the two-furlong pole. One-and-a-half furlongs out I went to win my race, pushed the button and she quickened. I just think, in the final furlong, I lacked a bit of stamina. It has happened a few times now and it confirmed what we might have thought. Take nothing away from the winner, who is very good.”

Thady Gosden was in agreement with Doyle's musings and said, “She has run a very good race, but they went a slow pace and it's very difficult to pick up in this ground. She travelled into the race well, but you can't quicken on ground like this and that has sucked the class out of her. She won last time over a mile and showed a brilliant turn-of-foot in ground that was not as soft and easier to quicken through. Today she has run a very good race, but couldn't quite show that brilliance we have seen before.”

Head Positive Despite Blue Rose Cen Reversal
Fourth-place finisher Blue Rose Cen was experiencing defeat for just the second time in her nine latest starts and Christophe Head uplifted spirits with a positive attitude in the aftermath. “She ran a nice race, she did her race, and for sure would have been closer in a different position,” he said of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine. “It was a very tactical race so, of course, it was a possibility that kind of thing could happen. It's different here, so we need to accept that, even with a strong possibility of winning, there is still a possibility to fail. I think Blue Rose Cen ran a very nice race and she will now get into the rest of her programme. We will have to discuss with Leopoldo to see what the team want to do with her. This was a nice opportunity because we need to exist at this level. It hasn't been won by France since the beginning, so it was a challenge.”

Pedigree Notes

Al Husn is the fourth of seven foals and one of two scorers produced by stakes-winning G1 Prix de l'Opera third Hadaatha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning G1 1000 Guineas third Hathrah (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}). Hathrah is one of seven black-type performers out of the multiple stakes-placed Zivania (Ire) (Shernazar {Ire}), headed by MG1SP sire Ivan Luis (Fr) (Lycius) and G3 UAE 2000 Guineas-winning sire Stagelight (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). The April-foaled homebred bay is kin to a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr) and a weanling filly by No Nay Never.

 

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR NASSAU S.-G1, £600,000, Goodwood, 8-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 197yT, 2:13.37, sf.
1–AL HUSN (IRE), 135, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hadaatha (Ire) (SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $109,194), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hathrah (Ire), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Zivania (Ire), by Shernazar (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Jim Crowley. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 10-7-1-0, $603,021. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Above The Curve, 135, f, 4, American Pharoah–Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien. £129,000.
3–Nashwa (GB), 135, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £64,560.
Margins: HF, HF, NK. Odds: 9.00, 7.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Blue Rose Cen (Ire), Caernarfon (GB), Never Ending Story (Ire).

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Goodwood: “I Can’t Wait To Get Into It.” Head Relishing Blue Rose Cen’s Nassau Test

So far at Goodwood this week, the front end has been the place to be in the races that matter most and that is good news for connections of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) as she prepares to battle her elders for the first time in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. They include the gilt-edged 4-year-old Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but Hollie Doyle no doubt has a far greater tactical task than Aurelien Lemaitre on the French raider who is even drawn in one to add more bolster to her cause.

Yeguada Centurion's homebred is admirably straightforward, as she proved on her last three Group 1 starts which included the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane and that is always an advantage on this notoriously difficult track. “I think it is a very tactical racetrack and a very interesting one,” trainer Christopher Head said. “She has had a brilliant preparation and we are very happy with her and we can't wait to get to Goodwood races. She is a wonderful filly, the filly of my life for now, and I'm really happy to have the luck to train her. I can't wait to get into it, because there is such a good atmosphere at the races in the UK and it is really a unique feeling when you run a horse there.”

“The ground should not be any issue for her,” he added. “She has already encountered various tracks and there is no problem at any of them. We will need to see her run, but there is a project about seeing what she is capable of doing in a staying capacity, such as the Vermeille, just to see if she is capable of going further. We don't have the limit of the filly now–she looks like she can do everything! For now, she has the benefit of choice.”

Nashwa, who excelled on a contrastingly fast surface 12 months ago, was back to her excellent best last time in the G1 Falmouth S. but this is no doubt as far as she wants to go these days and the ground will only serve to make it a genuine test. Imad Al Sagar's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe is hoping the Newmarket run will serve as a relaunch of the filly in 2023. “I think it was so encouraging the way she did it at Newmarket,” he said. “Everybody's faith has been repaid, as it were. She looked good and had done well over the winter and, if anything, might have done a bit too well.”

“She is a big, scopey filly and sometimes they just take a little while to come to themselves,” Grimthorpe added. “It was never that she worked badly, she was always going nicely, but I think after Newcastle it looked like she suddenly began to take hold of the bridle. It is a very interesting race and the French filly looks exceptional. We are always hopeful, but the good thing is she is going into the race how we'd want her to.”

With the French challenger new to this kind of test and Nashwa not certain to perform to last year's standard, the way could be open to either Shadwell's fast-improving G3 Hoppings S. winner Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) or to last year's G1 Prix Saint-Alary-winning TDN Rising Star Above The Curve (American Pharoah). Both have had Nashwa behind this season and if the latter is allowed an easy time in front she will be dangerous as she proved in the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in May.

 

 

Is Vandeek The Answer In Beleaguered Richmond?

With Clive Cox withdrawing the G2 July S. winner and likely hot favourite Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Aidan O'Brien also opting to leave TDN Rising Star Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at home, Goodwood's G2 Markel Richmond S. has become much more open on Thursday. KHK Racing Ltd's 625,000gns joint-topper at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) made the ideal start to his career over this six-furlong trip at Nottingham last month and has all the upside that is required for one of these.

“He looked a bit inexperienced at Nottingham and just fell out the stalls, but with the ground the way it is–it was soft when he won there–it will help,” Ed Crisford said. “He seems to have come on for that mentally for the last few weeks, so we thought we'd take a chance. If he can take a step forward from his maiden win, we'll be pleased. He is one for the future and it is not all about this.”

That also applies to Manton Park Racing's five-length Newbury novice winner Sketch (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) from the Freddie and Martyn Meade stable. The dam, by Siyouni (Fr), is kin to Prolific (Ire) (Compton Place {GB}) who took this on good-to-firm in 2008. “Obviously it is quite a quick turnaround, but he was a true professional at Newbury,” Freddie said. “It looks a tough renewal, but I think he showed he's entitled to be there and he is a big, strong horse and it is not all about this season. Not many can do what he did first time out and the sectional times were good if you compare them to the Hackwood.”

 

I Spy A Leger Horse?

Goodwood's G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S. is all about St Leger prospects, with the mile-and-a-half contest attracting Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Last year's G1 Criterium International runner-up was up to near this trip for the first time when making a belated start to the season in Roscommon's Listed Lenebane S. and is on that familiar upward curve that the Rosegreen runners do so well. Also here is The King's last chance of a Classic winner in his inaugural year as owner of the Royal runners, the King George V H.-winning fellow TDN Rising Star Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), while Godolphin's Listed Glasgow S. scorer Chesspiece (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) looks the type to relish the deep ground.

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Goodwood: English Rain? Courage Mon Ami

While the 2023 English summer staggers on in dour misery, Britain looks to the Qatar Goodwood Festival which in terms of the weather is a far cry from its prior “Glorious Goodwood” standing but in terms of thoroughbred quality is up there with any of its counterparts. This week, we get to see the Royal Ascot heroes Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and the likes of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), to name a few. If the rain that presaged the action at Ascot last week continues, soft-ground specialists will be the order of each day with the opening fixture set to take place on good-to-soft, soft in places.

That makes the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup even more of a stamina test than usual, which should be no hindrance to Wathnan Racing's Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami given how strongly he saw out that race over a further half a mile. Pointed here instead of the same connections' 3-year-old option Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), the Gosdens' unbeaten representative has experience of this tricky circuit having won a handicap here in May.

“John [Gosden] was keen to train both him and Gregory for the race and soft ground or probable soft ground swayed the decision towards running Courage Mon Ami, while Gregory will now take a different route, with his main aim being the St Leger,” the owners' racing adviser Richard Brown said. “He's back in trip, but he won there impressively before the Gold Cup and we know he handles the track. I don't think it will be a problem coming back to two miles, it was always the question before Ascot if he would he stay two and a half.”

Fourth here last year, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is back an improved horse and has just 3/4 of a length to turn around with Courage Mon Ami from the Gold Cup. Oisin Murphy believes the high-class veteran has conditions in his favour to do so. “All the signs at home are positive and I think this two miles will suit him better than the two and a half at Ascot,” he said. “I don't think the quick ground was a problem in the Gold Cup as he obviously let himself down on it, but we know from his past form that he enjoys some dig in the ground, so that's a plus for him.”

Also helped by the rain is Ballydoyle's Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who bounced out of the Gold Cup in which she was fourth to win last Sunday's G2 Curragh Cup. “She loved the ease in the ground at the Curragh,” Aidan O'Brien said. “She comes out of races on fast ground perfectly, which suggests it does not bother her, but she appears much better with an ease in the ground.” In a deep renewal, the first four home from the G2 Yorkshire Cup re-oppose with the winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) a fresh horse and the runner-up Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) back on a more suitable surface after flopping in the Gold Cup.

Marco Botti is hoping that Giavellotto can repay the resisted temptation to run at the Royal meeting. “He won well at York and it has always been the plan to skip the Gold Cup at Ascot and go to Goodwood,” he said. “He is well and his prep has gone to plan, we think he is fit and he looks in good order. We know he stays and we're looking forward to it. Two miles is not an issue, but we felt the Ascot Gold Cup may have stretched him a little bit. He settles well and he looks a stronger horse than last year. I just worry about the ground, I hope it will be nice ground for everyone and not extremes. Good-to-soft would be what he wants.”

All Boxes Ticked For Kinross…
Also on Tuesday is the G2 World Pool Lennox S., the next in the sequence of seven-furlong features which have been enhanced in recent years and which now provide a welcome narrative throughout the season. One of the finest in this category is Marc Chan's TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has the rain and return to the trip over which he is most comfortable to suit. He also has Frankie Dettori back on board, with the partnership temporarily ruptured by a spurious riding ban in the G1 July Cup in which the high-class gelding again showed his versatility to be third. Having beaten Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2021, he was an unlucky second 12 months ago so this is clearly his bag. “There is no doubt this is his best distance,” Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said of the Ralph Beckett yard's stalwart, who is set to be an integral part of Dettori's farewell tour. “He likes the course and he's justifiably the favourite, even though that doesn't mean he will win the race.”

Of this year's 3-year-olds, Wathnan Racing's G3 Greenham S. winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks tailor-made for this after finishing fourth on ground that was too fast in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot. “He's back to seven and hopefully that will see him in his best light,” Richard Brown said. “He got lit up and things didn't really go to plan at Ascot. I'm not trying to use an excuse and saying he would have won there, but back in trip and back in grade here, he should be thereabouts.”

Revived by a gelding operation last year, Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) showed what he is capable of when making all in Newmarket's G3 Criterion S. and the stud's Chris Richardson is hoping he can back that up. “This race is the natural progression really and he came out of the Newmarket race well. He has not been straightforward, but gelding seems to have worked and we are now seeing what we were seeing on the gallops but not on the racecourse. It was just one of those rather frustrating things, but it was lovely to see him bounce back and follow up the previous win with such an emphatic success.”

Is Iberian Of The Right Vintage?
In the G2 Nicholson Gin Vintage S., Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Newbury novice scorer Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of the less-exposed types who was spared the beating by City Of Troy (Justify) that the Hannon stable's solid yardstick Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) had to endure in the G2 Superlative S. Richard Ryan, racing manager for Teme Valley, said of the former, “We're hopeful we have a nice horse and this race will answer a lot of questions. He is an impressive horse at home and Charlie [Hills] is having a great season with his two-year-olds.”
“He looks to have a number of promising horses, so we are in the slightly excited camp until proven otherwise,” Ryan added. “Although it is probably going to be wet at Goodwood, it's unwatered and well maintained for this meeting and probably with it being the first day, it won't have the same issues the July Course had at the time with conditions in the pouring rain.”

One of the eyecatchers of the Royal Ascot 2-year-old events was Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Golden Mind (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), a half-brother to the fellow Richard Fahey-trained star Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) who was finishing to real effect when third in the Listed Chesham S. over this seven-furlong trip. He gets the Dettori treatment and Fahey has a special wish. “He's a horse that is improving the whole time, he's a bit of a laid-back character and with racing he's going to get better,” his trainer said. “He's in good order and I would love Frankie to ride me a winner before he retires, he's a legend.”

Paddington Set For Select Sussex…
Only five will take on this season's sensation Paddington in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S., the feature race of the meeting, with the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Eclipse S. hero scaring off much opposition. One who hasn't been spared is Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while soft ground means that Shadwell at least have an outside chance of another surprise with the William Haggas-trained Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

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