Tag: Charlie Appleby

Teofilo’s Nations Pride Gets the Trip to Capture Saratoga Derby

Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the beaten favorite with a wide trip four weeks ago in the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational S., worked out a much cozier voyage Saturday under William Buick to annex the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S.

Graduating by 4 3/4 lengths at second asking over the Lingfield all-weather last October, the Godolphin homebred reeled off three more open-lengths tallies culminating with a seven-length rout in the Newmarket S. Apr. 29. Disappointing some when finishing a distant eighth in the G1 Cazoo Derby June 4 at Epsom, he finished full of run before coming up three-quarters of a length short in second to 26-1 upsetter Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) in the July 9 Belmont Derby.

Breaking a beat slowly as the narrow favorite once again Saturday, Nations Pride was smartly sent through a narrow early opening by Buick to gain position as Classic Causeway went clear going past the stands the first time and found a perfect spot by the time the field bent into the first turn, stalking from the pocket in third. Tipping off the rail around the quarter pole, the blaze-faced bay charged past Classic Causeway inside the furlong marker and finished up smartly to win comfortably by 1 3/4 lengths in the end. Second choice Annapolis (War Front) edged out Classic Causeway for second on the wire.

“I came in yesterday and saw them train this morning [Nations Pride and filly With The Moonlight, who starts in Sunday's G3 Saratoga Oaks] and as a physical, I think they've done very well. The style of training [both recorded four breezes in an 11-day span], they've adapted to it,” said winning trainer Charlie Appleby. “On the back of Belmont, they were a touch unlucky. He was a bit slow from the gate there and had that wider trip around. It was a little bit messy, but that was by the by. We came in today confident that if we could just get him to break a bit quicker and William could get him up in behind the pace that we felt he was the right horse in the race and could go on and get the job done. It was a great ride by William.”

“He was drawn 10 at Belmont and he jumped a step slow, which he did today as well,” added Buick. “From the four gate, I managed to go to the inside and get him into a good spot and he did the rest from then on really. I expected them to go faster, but I also had in the back of my head that the horse that made the run in the Belmont race [Classic Causeway] would want to be doing the same again today. Once I saw that I knew Julien [Leparoux, aboard Classic Causeway] wasn't going to go too fas, I was happy where I was. I knew there were a couple closers in the race, but I knew my horse would stay well and the way that rain took the speed out of the track a little bit, so I was confident that my horse would stay well and hit the line well.”

Nations Pride was the first mount at Saratoga for Buick, who appreciated the occasion and the company kept in the track's star-studded jockeys' room.

“I'm very privileged to be able to come over here and ride these horses,” the 34-year-old said. “I've been riding a lot in the States on and off the last few years and I love it. The jockey colony over here is something really special. To be in that jocks' room today with all the superstars was fantastic and great to be part of it. I've never been to Saratoga before. This is my first ride. I've watched plenty of races here and last year we couldn't travel here, so when Charlie asked me to come and ride these horses, it was great to get that call.”

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Nations Pride is now the 59th graded/group stakes winner and 23rd Grade I/Group 1, as well as the first Stateside top-level scorer for the 18-year-old Kildangan Stud stalwart. His second dam Satwa Queen (Fr) was a five-time group winner in France and half-sister to G1SW Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) whose crowning achievement was a victory in the 2007 G1 Prix de l'Opera. Important Time, a minor stakes winner in Germany in 2015, has a yearling filly by Dark Angel (Ire) and produced a full-sister to the winner Mar. 8.

Saturday, Saratoga
CAESARS SARATOGA DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $1,000,000, Saratoga, 8-6, 3yo, 1 3/16mT, :00.00, fm.
1–NATIONS PRIDE (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Important Time (Ire) (SW-Ger), by Oasis Dream (GB)
                2nd Dam: Satwa Queen (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB)
                3rd Dam: Tolga, by Irish River (Fr)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Godolphin (Ire); T-Charles Appleby; J-William T. Buick. $535,000. Lifetime Record: 8-5-2-0, $899,216. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Annapolis, 122, c, 3, War Front–My Miss Sophia, by Unbridled's Song. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Bass Racing, LLC; B-Bass Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $185,000.
3–Classic Causeway, 122, c, 3, Giant's Causeway–Private World, by Thunder Gulch. O/B-Kentucky West Racing LLC & Clarke M. Cooper Family Living Trust (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $100,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HD, 1. Odds: 2.10, 2.90, 5.90.
Also Ran: Sy Dog, Stone Age (Ire), Royal Patronage (Fr), Main Event, Grand Sonata, Ethereal Road, Emmanuel. Scratched: Stolen Base.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Belmont Oaks Top Two Rematch in Saratoga Oaks to Highlight Sunday Graded Action

A half-dozen 3-year-old fillies, topped by the one-two finishers in the July 9 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S., will do battle in Sunday's GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S., one of three graded stakes taking place on the first Sunday in August.

Highly-regarded McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), named after trainer Chad Brown's first employee when he struck out on his own, was an impressive debut winner last summer at the Spa, but went winless in her next three starts while placing in the GII Miss Grillo S., GII Edgewood S. and GIII Regret S. Stretching out to 10 furlongs in the Belmont Oaks, the bay kicked clear strongly in deep stretch to earn a 1 3/4-length victory. The runner-up that day, Godolphin's With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), has stayed in America for Charlie Appleby since and breezed four times in an 11-day span at Saratoga in preparation for her rematch with McKulick. William Buick, who rode the homebred to a 4 3/4-length romp in the Betfair Pretty Polly S. May 1 at Newmarket, takes the reins back from Frankie Dettori, who flew in for the ride last out.

“Hopefully, she'll settle a little more into the race,” Appleby's traveling assistant Chris Connett told the NYRA notes team. “She jumped real handy last time and just was a little bit on the muscle going into the first turn and might have done just a little too much, but she still ran hard. If she can reproduce that, she should be right there.”

Filling out the short but high-quality field are Walkathon (Twirling Candy), who most recently bested McKulick in the Regret to keep her turf record perfect at three-for-three, Contemporary Art (Dubawi {Ire}), a super impressive 4 1/2-length maiden victress June 17 at Belmont, New Year's Eve (Kitten's Joy), a 'TDN Rising Star' who took down McKulick in the Edgewood before finishing a non-factor eighth in the Belmont Oaks, and Oakhurst (Mr Speaker), a close second in the June 15 Wild Applause S. behind Eminent Victor (Mr. Z), who came back to just miss by a nose with a troubled trip in the local GIII Lake George S. July 22.

Earlier in the card, D. Wayne Lukas will have a significant favorite in the GIII Adirondack S. when he sends out Naughty Gal (Into Mischief), a 9 1/4-length second-out winner July 4 at Churchill. The $350,000 OBS March grad earned a 75 Beyer for that effort, while none of her five opponents have topped 64.

Out west, the GIII La Jolla H. will run as the feature in race five of an 11-race card at Del Mar, with Richard Mandella's streaking Sumter (War Front), winner of the Pasadena S. and Singletary S. earlier this year at Santa Anita, coming off a four-plus month layoff in a six-horse field that includes Armagnac (Quality Road), who will make his turf debut upon return to the Bob Baffert barn. The $210,000 Keeneland September buy was last seen setting the pace in the May 21 GI Preakness S. before retreating to finish seventh.

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Dubawi Colt Struts His Stuff En Route To Rising Stardom

Well-touted and well-related, Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}-Really Special {GB}, by Shamardal) gave every impression he was idling just over two furlongs from home, before cruising past his rivals and rocketing up the rising ground for an 3 1/2-length victory at Newmarket on Friday. The 30th 'TDN Rising Star' for his Darley sire, the bay was the 15-8 favourite in this debut.

Tucked in behind in an ideal tracking position, Local Dynasty gave every appearance of sitting on a big effort, and backed that impression up in style. Nearing the 600-metre mark, James Doyle said go, and the colt began improving out on the stands' side. Given one right-hander, he hit another gear 1 1/2 furlongs from home and put the race to bed in a matter of strides. It was a two-way battle for second between Onslow Gardens (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Paisano (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the former gaining the advantage by an 1 3/4 lengths.

The race was delayed for several minutes, as the colt's Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate City Of Kings (GB) (Kingman {GB}) unseated rider Jack Mitchell, and was later scratched.

Out of the Listed Montrose Fillies S. heroine Really Special, Local Dynasty is her second foal, runner, and winner. He has a weanling half-sister by Sea The Stars (Ire). The dam, a daughter of listed winner and top-producer Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), is a half-sister to the Dubawi headliners Yibir (GB), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in 2021 and triple top-level winner Wild Illusion (GB), second in both the 2018 G1 Oaks  and the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Third dam Royal Dubai (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), successful in the 2002 G3 Preis der Winterkonigin, is a half-sister to the GI Beverly D. S. heroine Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).

Dubawi has already sired five stakes winners out of Shamardal mares, including G2 Balanchine S. heroine Creative Flair (Ire), and G3 Autumn S. winner and G1 Futurity Trophy second One Ruler (Ire), like Local Dynasty, Godolphin homebreds.

3rd-Newmarket, £8,000, Mdn, 8-5, 2yo, 7fT, 1:28.06, g/f.
LOCAL DYNASTY (IRE) (c, 2, Dubawi {Ire}–Really Special {GB} {SW-Eng, SP-UAE, $108,180}, by Shamardal) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,253. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby.

 

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Dubawi’s Rebel’s Romance Too Good For Glorious Rivals

Back on song in Newmarket's Listed Fred Archer S. last month, last term's G2 UAE Derby hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) continued his winning thread, and that of man-of-the-moment William Buick, with a game victory going two yards shy of 12 furlongs in Friday's G3 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate Glorious S. at Goodwood. The Charlie Appleby-trained 4-5 favourite was steadied to race just off the tempo in fourth initially and slipped to fifth at halfway. Nudged along to reduce arrears with a half-mile remaining, he powered to the front approaching the final furlong and was driven out to deny last year's G2 Queen's Vase-winning stablemate Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by a length. Richard Hannon trainee Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) spoilt the Godolphin trifecta ballot and finished 1 3/4 lengths further back in third.

“It was relatively straightforward,” said Buick, whose sixth winner of the meet extended his lead to three ahead of Ryan Moore in the jockeys' table. “He would probably be better off a slightly stronger pace, but he was racing far enough out. Once we got organised, I thought he saw the race off well. He had to stay today as Kemari is a strong stayer. That is only his second run on turf, and obviously his first run on a track like Goodwood, and he has always run on a flat track. I thought he did it very well. He is a good staying horse. As a 3-year-old, he was a hugely exciting horse and won the UAE Derby, so the engine is there. I think he is in the category where he can get 14 furlongs. I have ridden some wonderful horses this week and some really exciting ones for the future. This is what it's all about.”

Assistant trainer Alex Merriam added, “William was delighted with Rebel's Romance. He said he was a classy professional in the race and has seen it out well. The pace ideally could have been a little bit faster for him, but William said that once he got rolling, he has picked up and done it nicely. That is only his second run on turf. He won the UAE Derby and we sort of went down the dirt route this year thinking that might be his way forward. It didn't quite work out, so Charlie brought him back to the turf last time at Newmarket and it seems to have gone well. I spoke to Charlie and he said that today was the target. He has seen that out well, so there is the possibility of stepping up to a mile and six furlongs. We will let the dust settle and see how we go from there.” Reflecting on the performance of Kemari, Merriam continued, “He won a Queen's Vase last year, so he is a horse with plenty of ability. He got a nice lead in front and kept galloping away. Again, he might be one to step up in trip.”

Third-placed Fancy Man is now bound for York's valuable Ebor H., according to Richard Hannon. “This was his last run before the Ebor to see where we were and he has run a super race,” the trainer said. “He will definitely get further and could be a very good horse in Cup races next year. It wouldn't surprise me if he could be competitive in [the G1] Melbourne [Cup] one day.”

Rebel's Romance, one of his sire's 154 pattern-race winners, is the leading performer out of Listed Height Of Fashion S. runner-up Minidress (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), whose three scorers include Listed Cairn Rouge S. placegetter Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Minidress is a full-sister to G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy victor Volcanic Sky (GB), with both being produced by G3 Musidora S.-winning G1 Yorkshire Oaks second Short Skirt (GB) (Diktat {GB}), who also ran third in Epsom's G1 Oaks. Rebel Romance's third dam is the excellent producer Much Too Risky (GB) (Bustino {GB}), who has four stakes winners to her credit headed by G2 Prix de Pomone winner Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian), herself the dam of the multiple Group 1-winning Dubai World Cup hero Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) and G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Asakusa De'nen (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). Short Skirt's three-parts brother Little Rock (GB) (Warning {GB}) annexed the G2 Princess of Wales's S. while Much Too Risky is kin to G1 Irish St Leger hero Arctic Owl (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}) and G1 Sydney Cup winner Marooned (GB) (Mill Reef). Minidress has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a yearling filly by Golden Horn (GB) to come.

Friday, Goodwood, Britain
L'ORMARINS QUEEN'S PLATE GLORIOUS S.-G3, £100,000, Goodwood, 7-29, 4yo/up, 11f 218yT, 2:34.89, g/f.
1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 129, g, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £56,710. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, 9-6-0-0, $655,139. *1/2 to Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kemari (GB), 129, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Koora (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (400,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Fittocks Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £21,500.
3–Fancy Man (Ire), 129, c, 4, Pride Of Dubai (Aus)–Fancy (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Michael Pescod; B-Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £10,760.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 0.80, 12.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: Global Storm (Ire), John Leeper (Ire), Max Vega (Ire), Desert Encounter (Ire), Regal Reality (GB). Scratched: Foxes Tales (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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