Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Irish-bred Blackbeard showed his class to win the Darley Prix Morny (G1) for 2-year-olds Sunday at Deauville in France.

The half-length victory secured Blackbeard a guaranteed start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) in November at Keeneland through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Blackbeard, who is owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Westerberg, scored his first Group 1 success in the Prix Morny.

Settled on the inside rail under jockey Ryan Moore, Blackbeard was prominent throughout the race before knuckling down in the closing stages to hold off Persian Force for the narrow win. Aidan O'Brien's other runner in the race, The Antarctic, finished 1½ lengths behind in third.

A bay son of No Nay Never out of the Born To Sea mare Muirin, bred by Newstead Breeding, Blackbeard completed the about six-furlong trip in 1:09:91 over a turf course listed as good.

Blackbeard improved his record to five wins from seven starts, which includes a victory in the Darley Prix Robert Papin (G2) July 17 at Chantilly in his previous start. Blackbeard also becomes the second horse to gain a “Win and You're In” berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint this year, joining Norfolk Stakes (G2) winner The Ridler, who finished last of the five runners in the Prix Morny.

“We're very happy with him,” said O'Brien, celebrating his Prix Morny win. “He always feels like he has a little bit more, but he [Ryan] was delighted with him. He's a proper fast, early, mature 2-year-old; he jumps and takes loads of racing.”

Both the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) at about seven furlongs at Longchamp, a “Win And You're In” for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), and the six-furlong Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket are now under consideration for Blackbeard.

“Blackbeard's obviously very speed orientated, he might get further but he has a lot of speed,” O'Brien said. “He would have the option to come back [to France] for the Group 1 [Lagardere] or the Middle Park, so I think all those races are options for him.”

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on November 4-5.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Blackbeard to start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, which will be run at 5 ½ furlongs. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 24 to receive the rewards.

The post O’Brien-Trained Blackbeard Captures Prix Morny, Secures Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Berth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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As his horse glided down the stretch at Del Mar Saturday morning, trainer John Sadler was heard to exclaim “gorgeous” as the colt breezed by the grandstand. The ease with which Flightline gets over the ground provokes spontaneous responses like that.

Flightline put in his second-to-last work under overcast skies as he continues preparations for the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) on September 3. The undefeated son of Tapit went seven furlongs in 1:24 with splits of :12.20; :35.20; :47.40, and 1:11.40.

“I was very pleased,” Sadler said. “Very similar to last week. He's essentially already ready so we just wanted to maintain an even keel with him.”

Flightline was ridden by regular exercise rider and Sadler's assistant trainer Juan Leyva. He was the only horse to work at the distance on a busy morning of training at Del Mar.

“You could see he was going very nice,” Sadler said, “well within himself. He'll have a little soft work next week and then he's ready to go.”

Flightline's penultimate work caught the attention of a lot people. Among those on hand when the work went off at 6:30 a.m. (PT) were trainers Jerry Hollendorfer, Phil D'Amato, and Bob Baffert, who even got in a little ribbing, asking Sadler if he got any sleep last night.

Uunbeaten in four career starts, including the Metropolitan (G1) June 11 and 2021 Runhappy Malibu (G1), Flghtline is owned by the partnership of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, breeder Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. He is top-ranked horse pointing to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) November 5 at Keeneland.

Baffert plans to run Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, et al.'s Country Grammer against Flightline in the Pacific Classic. The Dubai World Cup winner also worked Saturday morning, going six furlongs in 1:12.00. Baffert also may run Juddmonte Farm's Laurel River and Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Defunded, who also put in a six-furlong work, stopping the clock at 1:11.

Trainer Ed Moger is pointing his brother Steve's Stilleto Boy to the Pacific Classic. He worked the son of Shackleford five furlongs in 1:00.40 Saturday.

Other possible challengers include Foxhill Farms and Sienna Farm's Royal Ship, winner of the San Diego (G2) last month; MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm's Tizamagician, runner-up last out in the Cougar II (G3), and Jay Em Ess Stable's Extra Hope, who worked five furlongs in 1:00.00 Saturday. All three reside in the Richard Mandella barn.

Trainer John Shirreffs has hinted that C R K Stable's Express Train may run in the Pacific Classic. The Santa Anita Handicap(G1) winner worked six furlongs in 1:12.40 Saturday morning, and Sadler may add the Cougar II winner Hronis Racing's Heywoods Beach to the mix.

Nominations for the Pacific Classic close Thursday, August 25.

The post ‘He’s Essentially Already Ready’: Sadler Keeps Flightline On Even Keel With Saturday Workout For Pacific Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Steve Bradley's Royal Ascot winner The Ridler will take on four rivals Sunday in the Darley Prix Morny (G1) for 2-year-olds over the straight course at Deauville.

The winner of the about six-furlong contest is guaranteed an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) this fall at Keeneland through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.

TVG will televise the Darley Prix Morny live, with post time scheduled for 8:33 a.m. ET.

The Ridler, a son of Brazen Beau, already secured an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint when he scored a shocking 50-1 win in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot on June 16. He represents Yorkshire-based trainer Richard Fahey, who won the Prix Morny race 12 months ago with Perfect Power.

“He came out of the Norfolk great but when you're a Group 2 winner there aren't a lot of places you can go,” Fahey said of The Ridler. “He's working very well and we're very happy with him. It's the first Group 1 2-year-old race of the year; we can race without a penalty and we're looking forward to it.”

Amo Racing Limited's Persian Force won the Close Brothers July Stakes (G2) at Newmarket on July 7 but finished a distant second behind the impressive Little Big Bear in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) at The Curragh on August 6.

Trainer Richard Hannon is hopeful his colt can return to winning ways here.

“He ran a good race in Ireland,” said Hannon. “I didn't think there was a 2-year-old that could beat him seven lengths, but there we are. He came back in good shape.”

It was in 2001 with Johannesburg when Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien last won the Darley Prix Morny before going on to win that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park. On Sunday, he runs the first two finishers from the Darley Prix Robert Papin (G2) on July 17 at Chantilly in Blackbeard and The Antarctic.

The only filly in the race is the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Manhattan Jungle. The daughter of Bungle Inthejungle, trained in Newmarket by Amy Murphy, has won three of five starts. She finished a length behind The Antarctic over the same course and distance in last week's Darley Prix de Cabourg (G3).

Notable fillies to have won the Prix Morny in recent years include the Wesley Ward-trained pair of Lady Aurelia in 2016 and Campanelle in 2020.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington on November 4-5.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Darley Prix Morny winner to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 ½ furlongs at Keeneland. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 24 to receive the rewards.

The post Fahey Seeks Second Straight Prix Morny Win, To Send Out The Ridler In Breeders’ Cup Qualifier At Deauville appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Trainers House Enterprises Ltd-owned and bred Highfield Princess (FR) produced a brilliant display to win the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York on Friday. The victory secured Highfield Princess a guaranteed start in the US$1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5.

Highfield Princess becomes the third horse to gain a Win and You're In berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this year, joining Casa Creed, the Jaipur Stakes (G1) winner at Belmont Park on June 11, and Nature Strip (AUS), who won the King's Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 14.

Highfield Princess will now be aimed at another top-level contest in France, before heading to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November, according to her trainer John Quinn: “She's the most extraordinary horse I've ever trained, and I'll put her in the (Prix de la) Foret and Prix de l' Abbaye (at ParisLongchamp) now before running her in the Breeders' Cup.”

A blistering pace was set in the early stages by Hollie Doyle on the 2-year-old filly The Platinum Queen (IRE), but Highfield Princess, under Jason Hart, showed an electric turn of foot to quicken past the leader and win by 2 ½ lengths. Emaraaty Ana (GB), second in this contest last year and fifth in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, put in another big performance to finish 1 ½ lengths behind in third and complete a Yorkshire-trained 1-2-3 in the sprint highlight.

Highfield Princess, a 5-year-old daughter of Night of Thunder (IRE) out of the Danehill mare Pure Illusion (IRE), completed the 5 furlongs in 57.18 on a course listed as good-to-firm. She became the seventh filly or mare to win the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes in the last 11 runnings.

It was her second Group 1 success in just two weeks having won the Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) at Deauville on Aug. 7 and reflecting on victory at York, Quinn said: “She's a wonderful mare. She didn't run as a 2-year-old and has taken a while to learn her trade.

“This year she won the all-weather final at Newcastle, and then romped home in the Duke of York (G2) before running well in the Platinum Jubilee (G1) and winning the Group 1 at Deauville.”

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Highfield Princess to start in the US$1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland, which will be run at 5 ½ furlongs. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards.

The post Highfield Princess Will Head To Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint After Nunthorpe Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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