“I thought she brought the best form into the race, so I was confident and she's strengthened up so much from two to three,” Hernon said. “Quite a lot of Montjeu comes through in her via Camelot, so I was impressed with how much she relaxed and settled through the race. We haven't turned any screws yet, so I think there is quite a bit of progression to come. I would imagine she'll come back here for the [G1] Prix Saint-Alary and her owner has entered her in the Oaks, but I entered her in the Irish Oaks and July might be the time to step her up to a mile and a half.”

“I had it in my head all winter that she would go Vanteaux-Saint-Alary-Diane and then the Irish Oaks if we wanted to go a mile and a half. She'd be best on good-to-soft, but she wouldn't want it too firm. We've got the right to dare to dream with her and she was very well named by Mr Lee. We always thought that she was going to take us to the top table and I think today she's proved that she can. Mr Lee was born and raised in Epsom, but he lives in Hong Kong and he didn't want to come for her first run knowing that she was only 80 per-cent fit. He'll be here the next time for sure.”

Pedigree Notes
Dare To Dream's dam, the dual listed-placed Debutante (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}), is kin to three pattern-race winners including the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. heroine Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and the G3 Chester Vase S. winner and G1 Grand Prix de Paris-placed Venice Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). From the family of the G1 Prix Vermeille-winning champion Indian Rose (Fr) (General Holme) and sires Vert Amande and Le Nain Jaune (Fr), she is also connected to last year's G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud third Illinois (Ire) by Venice Beach's sire who was third in Sunday's Ballysax. Debutante's 2-year-old filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) was a €260,000 purchase by Sumbe at Arqana Deauville October, while she also has a yearling filly by Zelzal (Fr).

Rentrée probante pour 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 (A.Pouchin) !

La pouliche de Gavin Hernon s'adjuge l'Al Shira'aa Racing Prix Vanteaux (Gr.3) devant Almara et Survie.

La fille de Camelot avait montré d'évidents moyens à 2 ans, se classant quatrième du Prix d'Aumale (Gr.3). pic.twitter.com/v8Ii5JOqXm

— Equidia (@equidia) April 7, 2024

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
AL SHIRA'AA RACING PRIX VANTEAUX-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-7, 3yo, f, 9fT, 2:00.58, vhy.
1–DARE TO DREAM (FR), 126, f, 3, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Debutante (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Gold Away (Ire)
2nd Dam: Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rose Bonbon (Fr), by High Top (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€67,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Dun Shing Lee; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Meridian International SARL & Scuderia Waldeck SNC (FR); T-Gavin Hernon; J-Alexis Pouchin. €40,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 4-2-0-1, €68,500. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Almara (Fr), 126, f, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Molly Mara (Ger), by Big Shuffle. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€10,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O/B-Zied Ben M'Rad (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €16,000.
3–Survie (Ire), 126, f, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Sotteville (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (IRE); T-Nicolas Clement. €12,000.
Margins: 2, 3HF, 4. Odds: 9.20, 11.00, 4.90.
Also Ran: Molten Rock (Ire), Mlle Moliere (Ire), Blush (Ire), La Mandala (Fr), Around The World (Fr), Shiffrin (Ire), The First Dance (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

.

The post Vanteaux Win For Camelot’s Dare To Dream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The 67-10 chance found the necessary gears late on to register an ultimately impressive debut success tackling nine furlongs at Tipperary at the beginning of last month and was well away to track the leaders in fourth through halfway here. Sent wide to the stands' side rail off the home turn, he was bustled along to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and stayed on strongly under continued urging to deny Joseph O'Brien trainee and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. second Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by a neck. The podium was an O'Brien family affair with the winner's stablemate Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) keeping on well to finish 3/4-of-a-length adrift in third.

“He's a very big horse, I imagine he will be even better next year and we're very happy,” the winning trainer commented after collecting a fifth edition. “He won very well, going left-handed, at Tipperary and Seamus [Heffernan] loved him when he rode him [there]. Christophe [Soumillon] was a bit worried because he wasn't changing his legs throughout the race, but he said he picked up very nicely. He'd only had the one run and this was great experience for him. He's obviously still a bit babyish, but I'm delighted that he won. He could get a mile-and-a-half next year and he's something to look forward to.”

Los Angeles will seek to break an alarming trend set by recent winners. The gold medal has become something of a millstone since Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) prevailed in 2016, with 2020 victor Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) the only one of five to have added to his tally, in that quintet's 41 aggregate starts, after claiming a career high in the contest.

Reflecting on the effort of runner-up Islandsinthestream, Joseph O'Brien said, “It was a very good run and I'm proud of the horse's performance. It was a very good ride from Maxime [Guyon], but it's always frustrating when you get beaten in a Group 1. He'll have a holiday now and we'll look forward to some of those 3-year-old Group 1 races next summer. He's a horse we'll probably campaign internationally as well as at home.”

2024 Derby clues

The Irish dominate the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as Los Angeles just gets his head in front for @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/KlG06q21au

— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) October 22, 2023

Pedigree Notes
Los Angeles, half-brother to a yearling colt by No Nay Never, is one of three winners from as many runners produced by an unraced half-sister to G3 Prix Messidor victor Impulsif (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The February-foaled dark bay is a full-brother to G3 Ballyroan S. third Hector De Maris (Ire) and this year's G3 Prix Penelope third Be Happy (Ire). His third dam, G3 Prix de Flore victrix Allez Les Trois (Riverman), produced G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa) and is a half-sister to storied blue hen Urban Sea (Miswaki).

Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 2yo, c/f, 10fT, 2:15.25, vsf.
1–LOS ANGELES (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Frequential (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Violante, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Allez Les Trois, by Riverman
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Christophe Soumillon. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €151,850. *Full to Be Happy (Ire), GSP-Fr & SP-Ire; and Hector De Maris (Ire), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Islandsinthestream (Ire), 128, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–A Mist Opportunity (Aus), by Foxwedge (Aus). (€135,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Islandsinthestream Partnership; B-Haras d'Etreham & Katelanis Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €57,150.
3–Illinois (Ire), 128, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,575.
Margins: NK, 3/4, NK. Odds: 6.70, 1.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Ramadan (Fr), Bracken's Laugh (Ire), Shiffrin (Ire), Casapueblo (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Camelot’s Los Angeles Prevails In Thrilling Criterium de Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“The lads love the Breeders' Cup and he's a lovely horse for it,” O'Brien said. “They will decide, but he'd love that ground. He's a beautiful mover. He won in Doncaster [the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. as a juvenile] on heavy and we couldn't believe that he did it, but it was probably just sheer ability.

“We'll take our time and see how he is, but I'd imagine it will be something like [the Breeders' Cup].”

O'Brien also indicated Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), runner-up to his stablemate in the Irish Champion S., could head to France in an attempt to improve off of his seventh-place finish in last year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“He could go to the Arc,” O'Brien said. “He wouldn't mind as long as the ground is not heavy, and over a mile and a half we know to ride him like a horse that just gets a mile and a half.

“He doesn't want to go any further, but we are learning about him all the time. It was a massive run yesterday.”

The post Auguste Rodin Likely Breeders’ Cup-Bound appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

18.55 Leopardstown, Listed, €40,000, 3yo, 14fT
Coolmore and Westerberg's ALEXANDROUPOLIS (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) followed up his 'TDN Rising Star' performance at Galway last September with a third here in the Apr. 2 G3 Ballysax S. and encounters seven rivals in this Listed Aer Lingus College Football Classic Vinnie Roe S. over 14 furlongs. They include Juddmonte's hitherto undefeated Waltham (GB) (Roaring Lion), who is a Ger Lyons-trained grandson of G3 Park Hill S.-winning matriarch Eva Luna (Alleged).

16.35 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
Dermot Weld debutante EZELIYA (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who heads a trio of Aga Khan nominees, is out of MGSW G1 Irish Oaks, G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Hong Kong Vase third Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Her opposition features Ballydoyle bluebloods Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a twice-raced daughter of dual G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}); and the once-raced Mayfair (Ire) (Justify), who is out of G1 Cheveley Park S. victrix Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The post Observations: ‘TDN Rising Star’ Alexandroupolis Set for Vinnie Roe Comeback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trained by Ralph Beckett, the daughter of 2011 G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has never been off the board in four starts. After breaking her maiden at Salisbury in September, she ran second in a listed at Newbury behind Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her 3-year-old bow, and was third behind that filly in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot in June.

Mahon said, “Whilst we thought the world of her, her form before the Irish Oaks wouldn't have suggested she was going to put in a run like that, but we sort of always felt she had that in her.

“We'll look towards York for her. It will more than likely be the Yorkshire Oaks, but because she hasn't won yet this year she has the option of the race we won with Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) last year [Listed Galtres S.].”

The post Yorkshire Oaks An Option For Classic-Placed Bluestocking appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

17.20 Killarney, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f 20yT
NAVY SEAL (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is introduced by Aidan O'Brien over the longest trip for a maiden in Britain and Ireland so far in 2023, going two furlongs further than his high-class full-sister Never Ending Story (Ire) did as she debuted last term. That first foal out of the GI Belmont Oaks heroine Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) turned into a dual group 3 winner and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up, so this February-foaled bay has a hard act to follow. Descended from Urban Sea (Miswaki) and also connected to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), his mettle will be tested against fellow Derrick Smith colour-bearer Bremen (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the Donnacha O'Brien-trained son of the triple Australian group 1 heroine Sea Siren (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and full-brother to last month's G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Warm Heart (Ire) who created such a strong impression when narrowly failing on debut at Tipperary earlier this month.

The post Never Ending Story’s Brother Debuts at Killarney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

What a performance!

Luxembourg (11-4) returns to form with an absolute bang in a white-hot heat renewal of the @tatts_ireland Gold Cup@curraghrace @Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/PnHbQqFEEI

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 28, 2023

The post Luxembourg Denies Bay Bridge In Curragh Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Mare Trouble…
Interestingly, Luxembourg who comes with the customary “will-improve” tag, encounters the mare Insinuendo (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) who so nearly upset the odds when he was returning from his first injury-enforced rehab period in the G3 Royal Whip over this course and distance in August. These races don't always come easy and that is certainly the case this time, with another femme fatale lying in wait in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G2 Blandford S.-winning TDN Rising Star Above The Curve (American Pharoah), not to mention the G2 Prix de la Nonette winner Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}). Like Vadeni and Bay Bridge on Sunday, Luxembourg might have to wait a bit longer for that familiar taste of success…

Off To A Flier…
The Curragh's card gets swinging with the Listed GAIN First Flier S., the first of its kind for the domestic juvenile crop of 2023 which includes the Paddy Twomey-trained TDN Rising Star Noche Magica (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Having made such an instant impact at Cork earlier this month, Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi's slick traveller looks ready-made to be one of the top early 2-year-olds as Royal Ascot looms. Interestingly, Aidan O'Brien has a pair of newcomers engaged including His Majesty (Ire) by No Nay Never, sire of last year's winner Blackbeard (Ire). Does the title give a clue as to the regard in which the 325,000gns son of the group 3 scorer Czabo (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) is held?

The Next Stop…
There is a chance that by the time the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains comes around, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) will have a fitness and experience edge as well as possibly a class edge over several of his peers. Already the winner of the historic Madrid Handicap at Naas, he preps for the ParisLongchamp Classic in the Listed Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Irish EBF Tetrarch S. in which he is joined by the stable's Drumroll (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a full-brother to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) who opened his account first time at Navan in March. The Tetrarch used to be an important Guineas trial and it can still promote a future star of that ilk as the 2016 winner Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) testified.

Muguet Offerings…
   Saint-Cloud stages its traditional May 1 la Fête du Travail fixture, where another Classic trial on the wane is the Prix Greffulhe, newly downgraded from group 2 to group 3 status despite its honour roll which features Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). That future luminary was incredibly 12-1 last year, but there doesn't on the face of it appear to be one of his ilk lining up this time. This therefore is surely a must-win for Ballydoyle's Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who trailed the under-rated Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) when third in the G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp last month. That aperitif is served before the feature G2 Prix du Muguet, where The Aga Khan's exciting G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein-winning TDN Rising Star Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) starts his big year in preparation for Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne S.

See The Classic Stars…
Not to be undone by its French and Irish counterparts, Munich hosts a tantalising renewal of its showcase 10-furlong G3 WETTSTAR.de – Bavarian Classic in which Wanja Soren Oberhof and Sebastian Weiss's TDN Rising Star Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}). Winning his Mulheim maiden by 16 lengths last month, the Henk Grewe-trained bay takes on Liberty Racing 2021's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Stall Nizza's mightily-impressive G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen scorer Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}) in a Deutsches Derby pointer to savour.

The post Luxembourg The Star of Bank Holiday Bonanza appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Moore's Choice…

From the family of Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), staying is going to be Alexandroupolis's game and Ryan Moore places his confidence in him ahead of the unlucky Criterium Arqana runner-up Denmark (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Mohawk Chief (Quality Road), who captured the seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in October won by the stable's former talented Galileo duo Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) and Star Of India (Ire). Surprisingly, this renowned Derby trial has only supplied the Blue Riband winner once since 2002 and that was Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), not among the 11 Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to prevail which include subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire).

A Familiar Tale…

O'Brien and Moore combine earlier on the card with another 'TDN Rising Star' in Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., which unlike the proceeding G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S. is light on overall quality. Ridden too forcefully when second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August, Hans Andersen again did too much early when fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. behind Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Given that he had beaten that peer in his maiden at the Currragh, more patient tactics might see him regain his spark in a weak-looking renewal of this recently-upgraded contest.

The Story Is Still Young…

If the 2000 Trial lacks strength-in-depth, that cannot be said of the following 1000 Guineas Trial which could have a bearing on the picture for the Newmarket Classic and again it is Ballydoyle who feature prominently with the G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing in mind the improvement her dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) found from two to three, it could be that she is still some way off a peak and it would be no surprise if she can make a leap as the 2005 winner Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) did from here to Newmarket. The stable also has the 10-length Naas maiden winner Dame Kiri (Justify), while opposition to Ballydoyle includes Martin Schwartz's highly-regarded Roscommon auction series race scorer Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and John Oxley's Naas maiden winner Madly Truly (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) from the always-to-be-respected Paddy Twomey and Joseph O'Brien stables, respectively.

The post Alexandroupois Centre Stage On Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

She's very good! Pensee Du Jour takes the Group 3 Prix Penelope and remains unbeaten for Bauyrzhan Murzabayev and André Fabre at Saint-Cloud… pic.twitter.com/QTyMdVpESr

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 1, 2023

The post No Mistake For Pensee Du Jour In The Penelope appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post