Tag: Charles Hills

Lope De Vega’s Iberian On Top In The Champagne

Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Bella Estrella {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) backed up a debut success at Newbury in June with a second in last month's G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood and continued on the upgrade with a decisive victory in Saturday's G2 Betfred Champagne S. at Doncaster.

Racing fourth of five behind a modest pace through halfway, the 3-1 chance powered forward inside the final quarter mile to gain a narrow advantage passing the furlong pole and was driven out to easily assert superiority by two lengths from Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}). Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's hitherto undefeated Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) was unable to land a telling blow as the 4-5 favorite and finished 1 1/2 lengths away in third.

“He's a very exciting horse and that was just what the doctor ordered,” commented winning trainer Charlie Hills. “Listening to Tom [Marquand] when he came back, he said he gave him some feel, he's got an electric turn of foot and put the race to bed very well. His work had been unbelievable at home, so we just wanted him to show that on a racecourse and I think he's done that today. He learned plenty at Goodwood, where he was unlucky as he was drawn one, and I think William [Buick] was conscious to teach him how to do things properly. He was probably just a bit far out of his racing ground that day and inexperience caught him out, but he did finish well. The ground is still pretty soft today, but when the ground is quicker I think you'll see a better horse. It will be the [G1] Dewhurst next. He'll get a mile no problem, his dam stayed really well and I don't see why he can't be a [2000] Guineas horse. He's straightforward, with a great attitude, and he's so professional.”

Pedigree Notes

Iberian is the second of four foals and lone first scorer out of Listed Cairn Rouge S. victrix Bella Estrella (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself a full-sister to G3 St Simon S. winner and G1 Oaks and G1 Coronation Cup third High Heeled (Ire). High Heeled, a daughter of dual Grade II winner Uncharted Haven (GB) (Turtle Island {Ire}), is also a half-sister to the dam of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and GI E P Taylor S. heroine Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). The February-foaled bay is full to a yearling colt and half to a weanling colt by No Nay Never.

 

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
BETFRED CHAMPAGNE S.-G2, £120,000, Doncaster, 9-16, 2yo, c/g, 7f 6yT, 1:27.35, sf.
1–IBERIAN (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Bella Estrella (Ire) (SW-Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Uncharted Haven (GB), by Turtle Island (Ire)
3rd Dam: Tochar Ban, by Assert (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Teme Valley & Ballylinch Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Tom Marquand. £71,040. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $143,100. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sunway (Fr), 128, c, 2, Galiway (GB)–Kensea (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€300,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Guy Pariente Holding, T Lines & Qatar Racing; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-David Menuisier. £26,868.
3–Rosallion (Ire), 128, c, 2, Blue Point (Ire)–Rosaline (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £13,428.
Margins: 2, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 6.00, 0.80.
Also Ran: Mountain Bear (Ire), Power Mode.

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Dark Angel’s Khaadem Upsets The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee

There are very few, if any, riders able to navigate Royal Ascot's straight course like Jamie Spencer and he used every bit of his mix of talent, guile and experience to steer the Charlie Hills-trained 80-1 shot Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) to glory in Saturday's feature G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. Like sweet medicine for these old campaigners who seem to have lost their way, the jockey who had partnered a 50-1 winner up the same strip on Thursday could be spotted some way out getting a rare tune out of Jim and Fitri Hay's flagbearer who had unshipped him behind the stalls and who had failed to come out of them in last year's G1 King's Stand S.

Relishing the hold-up tactics, last year's G2 King George V S. winner cut through the pack to overhaul Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) close home and had a neck to spare over Cheveley Park Stud's mare where it counted. There was a further 1 1/4 lengths back to the 11-4 favourite Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was having her second group 1 start and was achieving her second placing of the week. Like her, the Australian raider Cannonball (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}) was also coming back after the King's Stand but lost Danny Tudhope in the stalls.

“It's just amazing that we've got to where we have now at his age, but I have always had massive faith in this horse and that's why I've kept him for so long,” Charlie Hills said of the former Shadwell representative. “He won a group 2 last year over five, but this year I wanted to try and race him properly again and drop him in to make sure we got the six furlongs well. He is a high-energised horse who has just taken time to come to himself. Jamie Insole rides him out every morning and there has been a great team effort with this horse through his career. It really is the icing on the cake today.”

 

It is a challenge to summarise the story of Khaadem, who started out in the royal blue and white and won Goodwood's prestigious Stewards' Cup as a 3-year-old before finishing fourth in this and the G1 July Cup the following season. One win in eight in 2021 meant he was let go by Shadwell and was reinvented as a five-furlong performer when bagging Newmarket's G3 Palace House S. and the King George back at Goodwood before another spell in the doldrums. After an uninspiring period in Meydan, he was back in Britain to warm up for this with a third in Salisbury's Listed Cathedral S. last month but had still offered little evidence that such a late career breakthrough was on the cards.

Reserved at the back of the six-strong group racing up the centre led by The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), at halfway Khaadem was about to unleash his full ability getting the Spencer treatment for the first time. Spencer just waits and waits up the straight course here and being the last to be asked a question was the key as the eventual winner was willing to give his all with Sacred his final target. Highfield Princess was forced to do her own work towards the stands' rail and gave another highly creditable display as she dominated that side.

“I felt no pressure,” Spencer said. “I followed Frankie and Tom and could see Tom was going well at halfway. So, just like in a cycling race, you let him do the work for you and you hope that when you pull out you have a little bit to fire. It's difficult for me to put into words what Jim and Fitri have been like as friends to me for a long time. Getting on the horses in group ones is the hardest part, but it's a fantastic day and I'm going to enjoy it.”

Sacred's trainer William Haggas said, “It is mixed emotions. I am thrilled with the way she has run, but gutted that she has got caught. She got left a bit in front, that was the problem. She has run a great race and I am very proud of her.” Jason Hart said of Highfield Princess, “I don't know how many times we have run against Khaadem, but every time we have beaten him. Maybe it is down to different track position and they were always up on me on the other side. I felt her battle for me all the way to the line and she has run her race.”

Pedigree Notes
By one of Royal Ascot's sire stars, Khaadem is out of White Daffodil whose prior best was Dark Angel's Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy winner and G2 Norfolk S. and G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Log Out Island (Ire). She is kin to three black-type performers headed by the Listed Carnarvon S. and Listed Prix Saraca winner Lady Links (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), who is also the dam of the Listed Oh So Sharp S. winner Selinka (GB) (Selkirk) who in turn produced the G3 Curragh S. and G3 Mercury S. winner Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and the Limestone S. scorer Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}). From the family of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Bold Edge (GB) (Beveled), White Daffodil's 3-year-old full-brother to Khaadem, Themainprotagonist (Ire), is a winner for this yard, while she also has a yearling filly again by Dark Angel.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE S.-G1, £1,000,000, Ascot, 6-24, 4yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.42, g/f.
1–KHAADEM (IRE), 131, g, 7, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
2nd Dam: Sparky's Song (GB), by Electric (GB)
3rd Dam: Daring Ditty (GB), by Daring March (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (750,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jamie Spencer. £567,100. Lifetime Record: SP-UAE, 30-8-2-4, $1,412,909. *Full to Log Out Island (Ire), SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire & SP-Fr, $250,585. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sacred (GB), 128, m, 5, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Sacre Caroline, by Blame. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £215,000.
3–Highfield Princess (Fr), 128, m, 6, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £107,600.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 80.00, 9.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Artorius (Aus), The Astrologist (Aus), Al Suhail (GB), Kinross (GB), Coeur de Pierre (Fr), Run To Freedom (GB), Wellington (Aus), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Art Power (Ire), Big Invasion, Sandrine (GB), Rohaan (Ire).

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Mutasaabeq Dominates HQ’s G2 bet365 Mile

Shadwell's 5-year-old entire Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway) was rewarded for his consistency in pattern-race company with a course-and-distance win in September's G2 Joel S. and, penalised three pounds for that success, made a winning seasonal return in Friday's rescheduled G2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket. Racing on the front end after a slick getaway, the 4-1 chance poached a decisive advantage approaching the quarter-mile marker and kept on powerfully under continued urging inside the final furlong to easily account for MG1SW G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by three lengths.

“He was supplemented for the [G1 2000] Guineas as a 3-year-old, so he's always been a good horse,” said trainer Charlie Hills. “He's got a good record here and I'm delighted with the way he's put it to bed, especially given he had the penalty to carry as well today. The blinkers seem to have helped him and we'll have to look at the [May 20 G1] Lockinge now. He's beautifully bred, being by Invincible Spirit out of Ghanaati, so that will have done him no harm today. It's obviously a week shorter now than it would have been between this and the Lockinge, had it been run at Sandown, but I think he should be fine.”

Pedigree Notes

Mutasaabeq is the sixth of seven foals out of G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) and the March-foaled homebred is a half-brother to G3 Mahab Al Shimaal winner Wafy (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Ghanaati is one of three black-type winners produced by dual stakes winner Sarayir (Mr. Prospector), herself a daughter of MGSW matriarch Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}).

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 MILE-G2, £80,000, Newmarket, 5-5, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:37.18, gd.
1–MUTASAABEQ (GB), 132, h, 5, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Ghanaati (MG1SW-Eng, $720,406), by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Sarayir, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Height Of Fashion (Fr), by Bustino (GB)
'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Charles Hills; J-Jim Crowley. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 13-6-2-1, $258,521. *1/2 to Wafy (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW-UAE, $246,592. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Native Trail (GB), 129, c, 4, Oasis Dream (GB)–Needleleaf (GB), by Observatory. (€50,000 Wlg '19 ARQDEC; 67,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; 210,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Le Haras d'Haspel (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £17,200.
3–Light Infantry (Fr), 129, c, 4, Fast Company (Ire)–Lights On Me (GB), by Kyllachy (GB). (€25,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY; £82,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-NeverSayDie & Light Infantry Partnership; B-Barbara Moser (FR); T-David Simcock. £8,608.
Margins: 3, NO, 2 1/4. Odds: 4.00, 0.73, 5.00.
Also Ran: Checkandchallenge (GB), Imperial Fighter (Ire).

 

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What’s In A Name: Cicero’s Gift, Gooloogong

4th-Navan, Mdn, 3-29, 3yo, 10fT.
GOOLOOGONG (IRE) (c, 3, Australia {GB}–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (Ire); T-Aidan O'Brien.

The name of Navan winner Gooloogong has an impeccable Down Under connection, being by renowned sire (and Epsom & Irish Derby winner) Australia. In fact, “Gooloogong is a village located in New South Wales, Australia, population 295”, according to Wikipedia. The name of the hamlet also evokes (with a very slightly different spelling) that of Australian tennis phenomenon Evonne Goolagong, who was born in Griffith (a town) and grew up in Barellan (a village)–both locations are in New South Wales and not that far from, yes!, Gooloogong. Evonne Goolagong won seven Grand Slam tournaments between 1971 and 1980; she was a true champion and could have shined even more if not for interruptions caused by motherhood and injuries. The colt in question is also expected to shine and have a bright future at the Derby distance, so race commentators better start practicing the pronunciations of his lovely name, which is spelt with only one vowel recurring five times–exotically challenging.

4th-Wolverhampton, £17,600, Novice, 3-30, 3yo, 8f 142y.
CICERO'S GIFT (GB) (c, 3, Muhaarar {GB}–Terentia {GB}, by Diktat {GB}). O-Rosehill Racing; B-Mrs F S Williams (GB); T-Charles Hills.

Cicero's Gift, a 3-year-old winner, has an intriguing name–deeply rooted in ancient Roman history. Terentia is the name of the dam of our promising colt, but also of the rich, engaged and dutiful wife of the famous writer/politician/lawyer Cicero (106BC-43BC), a colossus of the turbulent last century of the Roman Republic and contemporary of history heavyweights Julius Caesar, Crassus, Pompey. Cicero was both a philosopher and a man of action (or inaction, at times, as some critics say). The marriage eventually ended in divorce; Cicero soon had a new wife but was eventually assassinated by hitmen sent by rival Mark Anthony (Cleopatra's future beau). Terentia remarried too (twice), survived and prospered. What the “gift” in the name of our colt may allude to, we will probably never know–maybe that behind every great Roman consul there is a remarkable lady, clearly contributing to the good times.

 

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