Tag: Bolshoi Ballet (Ire)

Making Waves: Grade A Ballet At Saratoga

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Bolshoi Ballet in a the Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga Race Course.

 

A Song And A Dance At Saratoga

Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) delivered his second Grade I in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga on Saturday (video). Successful in the GI Belmont Derby two years previously, the 5-year-old entire won for Aidan O'Brien.

Bred by Lynch-Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, the son of Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa) is a full-brother to G2 Sandown Classic and G3 Irish St. Leger Trial hero Southern France (Ire), who was also third in the G1 Irish St Leger.

The great Galileo was the stallion linchpin for many years at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and Bolshoi Ballet is one of 99 Grade/Group 1 winners for the deceased son of Sadler's Wells. In the U.S., 64 of his 175 runners (36%) have won, with 27 of them (15%) winning stakes. An outstanding 15 scored at the highest level (8.6%), including three-time top-level winner Cape Blanco (Ire).

 

Honourable Mention

Grade II winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) continued to pad his resume with a 3 1/2-length score in the GIII Saranac S. at Saratoga for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and trainer Chad Brown on Friday (video). The son of graded stakes winner Zindaya first featured in Making Waves in February.

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Bolshoi Ballet Romps in Sword Dancer

A return to the state of New York proved just the right tonic for Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who snapped a nine-race skid in winning Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S., getting his picture taken for the first time since the 2021 GI Belmont Derby some 25 months ago.  Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) rallied belatedly for second ahead of longshot Pioneering Spirit (American Pharoah) in third.

It was more or less a straight line out of the gates before Channel Maker (English Channel), making a sixth straight appearance in the race, kicked on beneath Manny Franco to make the running in advance of Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up making his first start for Chad Brown. John Velazquez, tabbed by Team Ballydoyle, settled Bolshoi Ballet inside in the second flight of horses and enjoyed a comfortable passage with cover following Channel Maker wherever he went.

There were few changes to the running order through six furlongs in 1:15.93, but Flavien Prat decisively sent Stone Age into the lead fully five-eighths of a mile from home. Determined not to let the chalk get too far in front, Velazquez slipped Bolshoi Ballet a bit of rein and took the race to Stone Age, counting on Bolshoi Ballet to prove the superior stayer. Stone Age battled on best he could, but Bolshoi Ballet gave him the slip in upper stretch and kicked home a comfortable winner.

“We had a great trip. Great trip,” the winning jockey commented. “The trainer told me to come out of the gate running, get him as close as you can, but give him a little break for the first half of the race. After there, the last half of the race, make sure I keep him busy. That's the way it worked out.”

Fourth in the GI Saratoga Derby and sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in 2021, Bolshoi Ballet was fourth in a single appearance at four in the Listed Churchill S. at Lingfield. Third in the Listed Vintage Crop S. over a mile and six furlongs at Navan Apr. 22, he filled the same spot in Newbury's G3 Al Rayyan S. at 12 panels May 20. A good second in the Listed Wolferton S. at Royal Ascot June 20, the bay was beaten over 21 lengths in sixth as a 125-1 chance when last seen in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. back at Ascot July 29.

Pedigree Notes:

One of 99 Group 1/Grade I winners worldwide for the immortal Galileo, Bolshoi Ballet is not only kin to the good stayer Southern France, but also to What Say You (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose daughter Editor At Large (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) carried the colors of Peter Brant to a third-place effort in the 2020 GII Miss Grillo S. at Belmont Park.

Alta Anna is a half-sister to French Group 3 winner and G1 Prix de Diane third Abbatiale (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}), the dam of four-time Group 3 winner Bewitched (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), and is also responsible for the maiden 3-year-old filly Gulf Pearl (Ire) (No Nay Never) and a weanling colt by Camelot (GB).

Saturday, Saratoga race Course
RESORTS WORLD CASINO SWORD DANCER S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 8-26, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:29.29, yl.
1–BOLSHOI BALLET (IRE), 120, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Alta Anna (Fr), by Anabaa
                2nd Dam: Anna Edes (Fr), by Fabulous Dancer
                3rd Dam: Abbey (Fr), by Jim French
'TDN Rising Star'. O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-John R. Velazquez. $412,500. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Ire, GSP-Eng, 17-5-1-3, $1,333,959. *Full to Southern France (Ire), GSW-Aus, GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $645,262. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Soldier Rising (GB), 120, g, 5, Frankel (GB)–Sahrawi (Ger), by Pivotal (GB). (240,000gns RNA Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, Bailey, Morris, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso; B-Dayton Investments Ltd. (GB); T-Christophe Clement. $150,000.
3–Pioneering Spirit, 120, g, 4, American Pharoah–Foundation Spirit, by Giant's Causeway. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; 100,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-A. Bianco Holding Limited; B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Linda Rice. $90,000.
Margins: 4HF, 5HF, 1. Odds: 5.50, 2.45, 4.00.
Also Ran: Daunt, Stone Age (Ire), Channel Maker. Scratched: Verstappen.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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O’Brien Planning Strong King George Assault Led By Auguste Rodin

As many as six horses from Aidan O'Brien's yard, including dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), will line up in the G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 29.

Riding a two-race winning streak after taking Epsom's Blue Riband last month and the Irish equivalent for the Coolmore partners, Auguste Rodin beat stable-mate Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the latter. He will aim to emulate former Coolmore kingpin Galileo (Ire) with a victory in the King George after winning two Derbys.

“He's on that programme, and so far, everything is going well [for the King George],” O'Brien told the Nick Luck Daily podcast on Wednesday,

The aforementioned Adelaide River enters off another strong second-place effort in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on June 14. He is joined by Group 1-winning older horses Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the G2 Huxley S. hero and Group 1-placed Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is another possible runner.

“Luxembourg is a very strong possible at the moment,” O'Brien continued. “Point Lonsdale is a strong possible at the moment. Broome, like I said, he could go [for the King George], and probably will go to Goodwood for the two miles [G1 Goodwood Cup S. on Aug. 1]. Bolshoi Ballet is a very strong possible. And then, obviously, Auguste Rodin and Adelaide River, we'd have to see how he [Adelaide River] came out of the race [G1 Grand Prix de Paris] and give him a little bit of time to see before we make any decision about him.”

O'Brien also provided an update on likely G1 Sussex S. runner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who will potentially represent the Coolmore partners in the G1 Cox Plate in the autumn.

He said, “Everything went well since [the Eclipse], and is at the moment. He's on that plan and that programme [for the Sussex] at the moment.”

The Coolmore partners also have five of the nine fillies currently entered in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. G3 Cheshire Oaks heroine and G1 Oaks runner-up Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G2 Ribblesdale S. victress Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) were pleasing the Rosegreen handler particularly. He also has listed winner Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and winner Lambada (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) signed on.

“I suppose, we have three very strong fillies in there,” O'Brien added. “Obviously, the filly [Savethelastdance] from Chester we think is very well. This has always been her programme. And then the filly [Warm Heart] who won at Ascot. We weren't sure that stepping up the a mile and a half would suit her, but it obviously improved her.

“Another filly called Be Happy which we have always thought a lot of, [is in the race]. She was withdrawn at the last minute from the Oaks and we had her ready to run again, and she got an infection in her foot. The last three weeks everything has been very good with her. The plan is that is where she is going now at the moment, as well.”

Pair Of Contenders Pleasing Connections In Latest King George Works

Saeed Suhail's 2022 Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) also remains in contention for the Ascot showpiece. Off for over a year with an ankle injury, the 4-year-old ran second in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown earlier this season. Another minor setback kept the Sir Michael Stoute trainee out of Royal Ascot and a run in the G1 Prince of Wales's S., but he pleased his connections in a work at Newmarket on Wednesday morning.

Suhail's racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said, “He worked this morning and Ryan [Moore] rode him. Michael was very pleased with him and I think there is a good chance he will go to Ascot.

“He worked nicely. It was a pleasing gallop. I can't say he is certain for the race, but everyone was very happy with him. There's a good chance he will go to Ascot.”

Already a winner of the King George in 2022, two-time Group 1 scorer Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) also remains among the entries. He decisively won the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June for co-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick in the colours of the La Pyle Partnership.

“He just did want we wanted and we were delighted with him,” said Muir of the 6-year-old's Newbury gallop.

“It was not a serious, hard gallop, it was just a day out really. He goes to Newbury, has a warm-up little canter and then covers the distance, that's all. He did great. We're keeping our fingers crossed and we're in good shape. Fingers crossed we'll be there at Ascot.”

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Royal Ascot: Inspiral Kicks Off Frankie’s Long Farewell

Frankie. Storms. A New King. It's Royal Ascot again, and all the themes and strands of the week will begin to unravel as soon as Charles III has made his way up the straight mile in his first procession as the ruling monarch. Maybe the forecast thunder will get there first, who knows? It's been a while since the meeting enjoyed the promise of clear skies over the five days and it's no safe bet we'll get that luxury this time. Once the opening Queen Anne is underway, the Italian genie will be steering the same course on the first of his week's arrows, one of the vast array of precious Frankel offerings in Inspiral (GB). She saved him during probably his worst Royal Ascot last year and depending on how Cheveley Park Stud's homebred performs here, the tone will be set for the rest of the week. A win for the filly and it could be that it's Frankie's world Tuesday to Saturday and we're all living in it.

One thing is for sure and that is that Inspiral needs to jump from the stalls a lot faster than she did when dropping the baton in the QEII here in October. Frankel, who also became prone to delivering that slow-breaking party trick late in his career, is on his way to becoming a pre-eminent presence here in his second career. That said, he still has work to do to catch Royal Ascot's true ruler in Dubawi (Ire) whose multiple winners almost every year come over all distances. Sheikh Mohammed's emperor sire is currently staying ahead of his Juddmonte nemesis, so it is fitting that their paths cross instantly in 2023. Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire), whose professionalism and straightforward nature has seen him jump from Charlie Appleby's third-choice miler a year ago to leading light, shades favouritism for the Queen Anne as this is written.

Frankel's influence on the meeting that witnessed one of his incredulous displays continues all week, with the opening fixture's G1 St James's Palace S. hosting his high-achieving son Chaldean (GB), another Dettori posting. There is a touch of The Rock about Juddmonte's no-fuss Dewhurst and 2000 Guineas winner and the way he is going he could end up another Kingsclere legend. First, he has to suppress the Curragh Classic winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), the season's stealth bomber. A key component of Team Ballydoyle's opening salvo, which is perhaps a touch light for them, he has to overcome a wide draw as well as a Newmarket Classic winner as he bids for edition number nine for Aidan O'Brien.

Galileo's influence, so longstanding here, is sadly confined on Tuesday to one of the yard's second division performers in Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) in the Listed Wolferton S., a kind of Princes of Wales's S. consolation prize. If his omnipotence has diminished with his reduced representation, then the opportunity is there for a new Coolmore figurehead to emerge. Wootton Bassett (GB) is doing just that at present and his son River Tiber (Ire) heads into a battle of the TDN Rising Stars in the G2 Coventry S. With George Boughey's Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The latter's scintillating time trial at Ripon put him into another dimension where his age group is concerned and recent Royal Ascots have proven how crucial the study of individual sectional time performances have been ahead of these tests.

Despite the Asadna effect, River Tiber has some of the best in the business already excited. As Ryan Moore discussed the operation's new 2-year-old sensation in his betfair blog, it felt almost like a warning. “Confidence is not a word I would use with so many similarly-unexposed promising two-year-olds in here, but I'll just say he is in very good shape for this,” he stated, which could translate as “watch which way he goes”.

Where the premier Royal Ascot sprints are concerned, 2023 marks a special anniversary with it being 20 years since the hemisphere-breaching revolution set in motion by Choisir (Aus). Prior to that moment, the idea of a strong Australasian, North American and Asian presence at this meeting was a flight of fancy, not the perennial certainty it is now. A barometer of how much respect overseas sprinters generate was evident again twelve months ago as Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) dominated the market for the G1 King's Stand S.

This year's renewal, which seems one for the fillies and mares, is not nearly so pre-destined for export with the Boadicea-like Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) standing firm. Not since Britain celebrated the likes of Habibti (Ire) in the 1980s has a sprinting mare captured the imagination as she did during her golden summer in 2022 and her task is to ward off the chief Antipodean challenger Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) here. United with Nature Strip's rider James McDonald, having gone the tried-and-trusted Lightning route, she is Australia's apparent flag-bearer. Then there is the seriously-fast TDN Rising Star Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who tries to do a “Lady Aurelia” for the Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old generation.

With all the subplots to a day at Royal Ascot, burning questions remain ahead of Tuesday's action. Will Irad Ortiz Jr be able to impose himself this year after a forgettable intro in 2022? Wesley Ward's Keeneland dynamo Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB})–the first horse to be double-entered this week having been confirmed for Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S.–and established sprinter Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) can possibly help get him more into the Ascot groove. Can Amo Racing break their Royal meeting duck? The juvenile Bucanero Fuerte (GB), another Wootton Bassett owned in partnership with Giselle De Aguiar, is their first representative of the week in the Coventry. Can the pair of TDN Rising Stars Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) defy the inexperience gap and make their mark in the St James's Palace? Can Willie Mullins tighten his grip on the staying handicaps with the dual-purpose stars Bring On The Night (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB})? The latter is undoubtedly the classiest hurdler that his trainer has brought here and could conceivably have won Thursday's Gold Cup. Ryan Moore is on both supposed “good things” and a double on top of any earlier successes could see him stake an early claim for a landmark 10th leading rider title. With such firepower this week, what can stop him? Ah, yes. Frankie.

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