Tag: Bradsell (GB)

Can Royal Scotsman Deliver in the Irish Guineas?

There was a time around three decades ago when Paul Cole's name was synonymous with the turf's leading lights left, right and centre around Europe. Over 30 years on from his last win in any of the British, Irish or French Classics, the Whatcombe Estate frontiersman who now runs his stable along with son Oliver has found one again. Not since the heady days of Generous (Ire) and co has the Berkshire stable been as electrified as it is at present thanks to Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and it is with great expectations and some jitters that they await the reckoning of Jim and Fitri Hays' flag-bearer  in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh.

What is beyond doubt is that Royal Scotsman is a class act, with his close second to Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. possibly even better form than his third in the 2000 Guineas itself, with the Newmarket Classic's cutting edge blunted by nagging heavy rain. When the sun burned and the turf rode slick at the Goodwood Festival in July, he was able to take apart the six-furlong G2 Richmond S. with pace that will be lethal if he can carry it this far.

Strongly-supported by the hard hitters on Friday, Royal Scotsman will most likely head to post the favourite and Oliver Cole is abuzz with the cross-sea travelling having gone to plan. “He's in great form, he left for Ireland on Thursday night and arrived Friday morning and has eaten up, so we couldn't be happier with him,” he said. “To do what he did at Newmarket, to be keen and pull for four furlongs and then finish shows he's pretty good. He broke the track record in the Richmond at Goodwood and he was in the second-fastest ever Dewhurst–his sectionals were amazing after the first furlong. He is a very, very good horse, everything just needs to go right for him.”

A Classic Conundrum...
While it is too early to say, the 2000 Guineas looks far from vintage at this stage and this version follows the same narrative on paper at least. Newmarket's Classic was stacked even more than usual with fast colts, who bar Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) seemed the most exciting of those lining up but so many hopes were ultimately dashed as the ground deepened and stretched staying power all around. While the Irish 2000 is set to take place on far livelier terrain, those who helped light up the Classic three weeks ago are already firmly on the road to the Commonwealth Cup.

So what are we left with? TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) exceeded all expectations to be an errant second, one of a long line of rank outsiders to make the frame in the Guineas, but it is impossible to tell how he will back up here. Royal Scotsman may have been third after over-racing, but he far from convinced with how well he ultimately saw out the mile.

The O'Brien Factor…
Six of the last 10 winners of this hadn't been to Newmarket, which of course brings in the Aidan O'Brien contingent (is there ever a time when they could be safely counted out?) and in particular the Listed Tetrarch S.-winning TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) with all his upside. While he will have his many supporters, it is perhaps Donnacha who has charge of the colt with all the boxes ticked. Step forward Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who went the Mac Swiney route of Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial only to fall short against Jessie Harrington's genuine Derby contender Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).

Proud And Regal won on debut here in June, went too fast early in the Futurity on his second visit and already needed further than seven furlongs when denied in the Vincent O'Brien National S. tackling the Kildare venue for the third time. His one try at a mile yielded a Criterium International, but the heavy ground there would have been against the chestnut son of Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) so his defeat of Ballydoyle's classy Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could even be upgraded.

In The Fast Lane…
A Classic is a Classic, but few would forgive those who are placing Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane S. over the Curragh feature on Saturday, such is the pull of the 3-year-old sprinting generation this year. As mentioned above, the Guineas boasted the likes of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) and while the former has since disappointed, the latter is very much alive and kicking in the category. This is a case of clean slate for the brilliant juvenile of 2022, who has everything in his favour and defeat here will not be enough to stop the worries that he is not the force he was. Physically, the beast who took apart the Phoenix assembly including the beleaguered fellow TDN Rising Star Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) must be at least as good this year and with the calendar stacked against Ryan Moore, it is Frankie who gets to push the buttons for possibly the only time. Lucky man.

What Now For Bradsell?
We see it every year. A wide-margin, dynamic Spring success for a juvenile blessed with “early”, possibly a Royal Ascot sprint wrapped up while that precocity still dominates and then a slow slide into the wilderness. For Bradsell, the latter scenario has thankfully not played out with injury stopping him after his unlucky experience in the Phoenix and a highly respectable comeback effort in Ascot's G3 Pavilion S. last month. While the re-opposing winner Cold Case (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) had his measure that day, Victorious Racing's Coventry hero is on a sounder surface here and Archie Watson has him in a good place. “He travelled very well at Ascot and got a bit tired late, which was to be expected,” he said. “I hope he can take a good step forwards fitness-wise from there. It looks a very strong trial for the Commonwealth Cup. I'd say whatever wins will be the one to beat at Ascot, so at least we'll all know after the weekend.”

Back In Her Comfort Zone?
One of the big performances of the two Guineas at Newmarket was that of Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the 1000 as she effectively “won” the race behind Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) despite having appeared to have gone off too quickly. Having been third in the Lowther when possibly York's fast six furlongs proved too slick, she made all in Newmarket's Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' S. as the ground eased in the autumn so it is a question of whether it will all be happening too quickly again here. “Her Guineas run puts her in the picture and we should be bang there,” trainer Kieran Cotter said. “In an ideal situation we would have liked a bit of rain, but she handled quick ground when she ran at York in the Lowther and she is pretty versatile.”

Fields Of Stars…
Saturday's cluttered action across Britain and Ireland requires a whistle-stop preview and much analysis after with Royal Ascot particularly in mind. The Curragh's card sees the TDN Rising Stars Noche Magica (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never) go the “Blackbeard route” to Berkshire, while the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp heroine The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) makes her debut for Katsumi Yoshida and Roger Varian in Haydock's G2 Temple S. White Birch Farm's unbeaten Prince of Wales's S. and Eclipse entry Francesco Clemente (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) faces his first black-type test in Goodwood's Listed Festival S., while York's G3 Bronte Cup plays host to George Strawbridge's G2 Park Hill S.-winning 4-year-old Mimikyu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Her sister Journey (GB) really got going at that age, so its still all to play for the quirky but talented representative of the Gosdens.

Tahiyra Heads Sunday Delights…
Dermot Weld would have been heartened by the inside draw handed to Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh as The Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star was the key member of the 10-strong cast confirmed on Friday. Also set to be represented by live contender Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal), the Rosewell House handler has booked Billy Lee for that G3 Cornelscourt S. runner-up. Aidan O'Brien's trio is headed by Tahiyra's old rival Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is alongside the likely favourite in two and set for a Moyglare rematch on the faster ground she relishes so that scores can finally be settled. A thrilling G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup was confirmed, with Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) good to go in the first big older horse encounter of the European season.

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Bradsell Back At Ascot

Ascot's Wednesday fixture features some interesting pointers to the Royal meeting and, while the card needs some work to be seen as a true “trials” event, the G3 British Racing School 40th Anniversary Commonwealth Cup Trial is likely to provide some meaningful clues ahead of the main event. The six-furlong test, registered as the Pavilion S., sees the return of Victorious Racing's impressive G2 Coventry S. winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) who has not been seen since sustaining an injury during the G1 Phoenix S. in August.

“He's looking like a typical sprinter now and he's a chunky little horse,” jockey Hollie Doyle said of the TDN Rising Star. “His work has been pretty solid and it's a great starting point. It's practically the Commonwealth Cup minus a few, so it's a very hot race. He has his course-and-distance form and although he may be unknown on the ground, a few of them are in the same boat.”

Paying The Penalty

Forced to race under a four-pound extra burden are Godolphin's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Rockcliffe Stud's G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Molecomb S. scorer Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never), with Charlie Appleby saying of the former, “He is better suited to a bigger field and a sounder surface, but it's very much a starting point for the season and hopefully a stepping stone to the Commonwealth Cup.” Both failed to make a serious impact in their Newmarket Group 1 tests in the autumn and Trillium needs to prove she can see out this sixth furlong and race with more restraint.

New Route For Marbaan

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's G2 Vintage S. winner Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) failed in two Group 1 contests at two, leaving Charlie Fellowes keen to test the waters back at sprinting. “I felt towards the end of last year that maybe he didn't quite see out the seven furlongs,” he said. “Being by Oasis Dream, I think there's a good chance he might be happier over six furlongs and I think Ascot will really suit him. I think the ground will be perfect and I guess we'll find out where we really stand for this year. He took a while to come to hand this year but he did a really nice piece of work last week and that's given me the confidence that six furlongs should be fine.”

The Long And The Short Of It

Wednesday's G3 Longines Sagaro S. and Listed Howden Bloodstock Paradise S. offer the chance for the Gold Cup and Queen Anne hopefuls to stretch their legs, with the former hosting another encounter between gunslingers Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who duked it out in the course-and-distance G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup in October while the Paradise sees Sunderland Holdings' G1 Champion S. third My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) revert to the mile over which he was third in last year's G1 St James's Palace S.

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No Nay Never’s Little Big Bear Destroys Phoenix Opposition

Not even favourite for Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., it is no wild statement that TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) could be the best juvenile Aidan O'Brien has had though his hands after a display of power to scintillate the Curragh faithful. Always in his comfort zone on the front under Ryan Moore as chief rival Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) blew the start, the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. and July 16 G3 Anglesey S. winner was shaken up by Ryan Moore to put the seal on the race approaching the furlong pole. Surging away, the 13-8 second favourite issued a seven-length beating to Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), with half a length back to Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and another length to the 11-8 market-leader Bradsell.

“He couldn't have been more impressive–he did everything beautifully today,” Moore said. “These looked good and had the form in the book, so it looked a strong race but he was on a different level. He gave me a super feel the last day, he felt really good and it's hard to know what he's going to do. He's very exciting–he's a big, scopey horse and it's a surprise he was beaten the first day, but that happens and he's stepped forward every time since. There's every chance he'll be a Guineas horse next year–he's very straightforward and is doing that on pure ability.”

 

Very few juveniles are able to put such sizeable margins between them and their contemporaries over this sort of trip at this level, with the stable's George Washington (Ire) (Danehill) the last to do so when scoring by eight lengths in 2005 when there was another Coventry winner in Red Clubs (Ire) (Red Ransom) in opposition. The Juddmonte trio of superjuveniles Frankel (GB), Zafonic and Xaar (GB) were able to distance their rivals over further, but it takes something special to open up daylight at six furlongs especially when the line-up appeared so strong beforehand. Bradsell's sluggish start may have aided the winner's cause to a small degree, but there is nothing that can be subtracted from this vastly superior show of strength from Ballydoyle's new idol.

As much as Little Big Bear's wins at Naas and Royal Ascot marked him as above-average, perhaps the greatest early sign that he is held in the highest regard was the fact that connections were unwilling to risk him on fast ground at Newmarket's July Festival. Taken out of the G2 July S. ultimately won by Persian Force, the imposing bay came here to issue a warning that he could be a colossus in the Anglesey over 63 yards further and backed that up with this impressive production.

Whether Little Big Bear goes up in trip or down remains to be seen, but plans are elastic as O'Brien revealed after greeting his 17th Phoenix hero on a landmark day for the family as Joseph saddled his 1000th winner. “The lads can decide what they want to do. He has plenty of options and he can do anything I suppose,” he said of the G1 Nunthorpe S. and G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. entry. “He's a big, powerful, strong horse. He cruises and quickens, is strong and mature. Before the race we had a bit of a scare with him when he came up here. He kicked a wall and the clip of the shoe went into the sole of his foot. He was a little bit tender when the shoe was put back on. It could have gone either way very easily, so it was a great call by John Halley and Lynn Hillyer to let him run.”

“Ryan said when he let him go it was all over,” added O'Brien, who had earlier made way for Little Big Bear to be the sole representative by withdrawing Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never). “He loves good ground so he can show his speed. It was a very good race, but he has serious class. From day one we thought he was a bit special and different. At Ascot we thought he would get away with five, even though we were happy going six with him. I'm not sure we ever had one to do that in this race. It was a deep field and we were going to find out today. Ryan was very complimentary about him and he's a realist, so there aren't many he would be that complimentary about.”

Little Big Bear's dam, the Listed Prix de Liancourt winner and G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up Adventure Seeker (Fr) (Bering {GB}) whose first foal was the G3 Hobart Cup runner-up Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway), is kin to the G3 Princess Margaret S.-placed Along Again (Ire) (Elusive City). The third dam is the French champion and 1983 US Horse of the Year All Along (Fr), courtesy of her G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, GI Turf Classic, G1 Rothmans International and GI Washington D. C. International victories. Also connected to the G2 Prix Greffulhe winner Along All (GB) (Mill Reef) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-placed Art Francais (Lyphard's Wish {Fr}), Adventure Seeker has yearling and colt full-brothers to Little Big Bear to come, with the former part of the Camas Park Stud draft in the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
KEENELAND PHOENIX-G1, €300,000, The Curragh, 8-6, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:11.27, gd.
1–LITTLE BIG BEAR (IRE), 131, c, 2, by No Nay Never
     1st Dam: Adventure Seeker (Fr), by Bering (GB)
     2nd Dam: American Adventure, by Miswaki
     3rd Dam: All Along (Fr), by Targowice
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. (€320,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Camas Park Stud & Summerhill (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €180,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $300,650. *1/2 to Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway), GSP-Aus, $352,585. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Persian Force (Ire), 131, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Vida Amorosa (Ire), by Lope de Vega (Ire).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€75,000 Wlg '20 GOFNOV; €225,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Tom Lacy (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. €60,000.
3–Shartash (Ire), 131, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Shamreen (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-H H Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. €30,000.
Margins: 7, HF, 1. Odds: 1.63, 4.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: Bradsell (GB), Apache Outlaw (Ire). Scratched: Blackbeard (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Phoenix Clash One To Savour

There is the usual feast of racing across Britain, Ireland and France on Saturday, but The Curragh is where it's at as the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. provides the first coming together of the elite among Europe's precocious juveniles. It could boil down to a battle of the TDN Rising Stars Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), with Hollie Doyle and Ryan Moore in no mood to allow their mount's considerable reputations to slide. Bradsell is in a bit deeper than he was in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 14, but his insatiable appetite for work and racing will take him a long way against Ballydoyle's leading G1 2000 Guineas hope at present.

“I've ridden him in most of his homework since Royal Ascot at Archie Watson's Saxon Gate Stables and have been delighted with his progress,” Doyle said of Bradsell in her attheraces blog. “He's definitely strengthened up and is very professional in the way he goes about his business. It's going to be a tough assignment in what looks a stellar renewal, but Bradsell has a great mind and I wouldn't swap him for anything. The stiff track and the forecasted good ground should be ideal and I'm happy enough with my draw in stall six in such a small field.”

Ryan Moore is happy to be on Little Big Bear over the high-achieving Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), with his emphatic success in the G3 Anglesey S. over an extended six furlongs here July 16 marking him out as a colt with Classic pretensions. “He really was impressive here last time. He gave me a great feel,” his rider said in his betfair blog. “We will know who the number one juvenile is after this, I would imagine, and hopefully it is one of ours.”

 

The Right Amo?

Outside of the big two in the Phoenix, Amo Racing Limited's Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) retains intrigue having bounced out of the Coventry to take Newmarket's G2 July S. July 7. Richard Hannon rates him alongside the likes of Canford Cliffs (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) and normal progression could see him usurp the market principals. Amo's racing manager Emily Scott said, “It's a small but select and strong field, we go there with a lot of confidence that we've got a very nice horse and if he's come forward from Ascot as much as Richard thinks he has, hopefully he can put it to Bradsell and the O'Brien duo. As Richard said to me, whatever beats him, if anything beats him, it's going to be good.”

 

Classic Clues Aplenty

It's that time of year that the 2-year-olds really excite and away from the Phoenix, Saturday also sees a cluster across Europe with the pedigrees to enter the Classic picture with prominent displays. On The Curragh's card, the latest offering from Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) emerges from Ballydoyle in Delightful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Loder Irish EBF Fillies Race, Newmarket's fixture opens with a maiden that hosts the Juddmonte debutante Jalapa (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), a half-sister to Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and continues with the feature seven-furlong G3 Jewson Sweet Solera S. In the latter contest, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Novakai (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) bids to back up an impressive 4 1/4-length winning debut at Doncaster July 16 and the Karl Burke-trained descendant of Ela Athena (GB) (Ezzoud {Ire}) is currently favoured over Gallop Racing's June 18 Listed Chesham S. third Lakota Sioux (Ire) (Sioux Nation) from the Charlie and Mark Johnston stable successful three times since 2014. “I was pleasantly surprised she did it so well at Doncaster and I've been delighted with her since,” Burke said of Novakai. “I wouldn't want the ground too quick, so we'll just have to keep an eye on that.”

 

Frankie Takes To The Shergar Cup

During what feels like a long goodbye tour for Frankie Dettori, he is at his favourite venue of Ascot on Saturday to take part in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for the first time since 2016. Other leading lights in the riding sphere on show include Christophe Lemaire, Kerrin McEvoy and Emma-Jayne Wilson, while at Haydock the G3 Betfred Rose of Lancaster S. sees Prince Faisal Bin Khaled's nine-length July 16 Listed Steventon S. winner Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) take on Shadwell's July 9 John Smith's Cup scorer Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) from the Owen Burrows stable.

 

Click here for the fields.

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