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Frankel’s Hurricane Lane Takes the Dante

Maintaining his unbeaten record in an attritional renewal of York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on Thursday, Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) duly put himself in the picture for a fascinating G1 Epsom Derby. Coming through the Charlie Appleby ranks with a win in the 10-furlong Newbury conditions race that has acted as an important stepping stone to Epsom in recent times, the chestnut with abundant stamina was put in second early with William Buick keeping tabs on Ballydoyle's Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). As that second string cut loose in the straight under Hollie Doyle, the chasers were hard at it in behind and for more than a furlong it looked as if the pacemaker was gone but Hurricane Lane continued to pound away at the gaping margin. By the time the furlong marker loomed, the 5-1 second favourite was on the case along with Megallan (GB) (Kingman {GB}) with the 13-8 favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) running a rusty but encouraging comeback race in their wake. At the line, there was 3/4 of a length between the Appleby and Gosden runners with Ballydoyle's much-discussed G2 Beresford S. winner getting to within a further 1 1/4 lengths in what can only be seen as an ideal blue riband prep given his upset preparation. William Buick was on the winner and believes he has a genuine chance in the June 5 Classic. “This was a good Dante on paper and a true-run race, so what you saw is what you get,” he said. “He'll go there with good credentials–he's done nothing wrong and this is an important test which he's come out of with flying colours.”

Making his debut at Newmarket when beating the useful handicapper Parachute (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) over a mile on heavy ground in the “Future Stayers” Novice S. in October, Hurricane Lane had returned in the same fashion in the Apr. 16 Newbury heat which has played host to the subsequent Classic winners Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Star of Seville (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) and Light Shift (Kingmambo). Buick is happy that he has the experience to make an impact in the big one. “He did the same at Newbury–once he gets company he battles back and goes through the gears gradually and in his own time but always in time,” he added. “He answers every call and everyone was racing from two out to the line here–at the line I thought he was well on top. I was drawn 11 and so only had the option to go forward, but he relaxed nicely and was always in a nice rhythm. I wanted to give him time to build up his momentum, as he was certain to stay and is certain to improve for the step up to a mile and a half. He's a big horse who has never been on fast ground, but the Derby is usually run on good and he's done everything a little bit smoother and a little bit quicker each time he's run. The way he's going, he's going to improve and go to Epsom a better horse.”

Appleby revealed that the winner would be joined by the G1 2000 Guineas sixth One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). “We felt this horse had the best form, so we were confident that Hurricane Lane was the right one to go to the Dante,” he said. “He's got a great temperament for a big horse and is a good mover. It was lovely ground and he's jumped and travelled well and stayed well, so he ticks a lot of the boxes. I was a bit worried Hollie's horse had got away from them, but once I saw he was stopping I was confident our horse would keep galloping and that's what he's done. He's proven he's got stamina in abundance and the step up in trip at Epsom should suit him. I've been on the phone to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and he was pleased, so as long as the horse comes out of it fit and well, that is the obvious place to go.”

John Gosden said of the runner-up, “He came here on trial for the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly June 6] and if he's in good order that's where he'll go, as that is his trip. Megallan has a better turn of foot on quicker ground, so we'll have to see what it's like. I think the two best trials are the Derrinstown and the Dante, I think the winners are the two smart ones and Aidan also has two smart fillies.”

Hurricane Lane is the second foal out of the heavy-ground listed scorer Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), a homebred of Lord Vestey who was a friend of the Queen and former Master of the Horse and who died in February. Gale Force, who was most at home over two miles, boasted as her first foal the winner's full-sister Frankel's Storm (GB) who was runner-up in the Listed Junioren-Preis as a juvenile and won over a mile and a half the following season. The second dam Hannda (Ire) (Dr. Devious {Ire}), who produced the G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Seal of Approval (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), is also kin to the G3 Concorde S. winner Hamairi (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), the Listed Testimonial S. scorer and G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. runner-up Hanabad (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and to the dam of the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Hamariyna (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil winner Hunaina (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}).

The third dam is Handaza (Ire) (Be My Guest), in turn a half-sister to the G3 Blue Wind S. scorer Hazarista (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and the G3 Athasi S. winner Hazariya (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) with the latter being the dam of the G1 Epsom and Irish Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Gale Force's as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Harzand's sire is named Sweet William (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Australia (GB).

Thursday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE S.-G2, £165,000, York, 5-13, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:10.06, gd.
1–HURRICANE LANE (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Gale Force (GB) (SW-Fr & SP-Eng), by Shirocco (Ger)
2nd Dam: Hannda (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire)
3rd Dam: Handaza (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £93,572. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $156,446. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Megallan (GB), 126, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Eastern Belle (GB), by Champs Elysees (GB). O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £35,475.
3–High Definition (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Palace (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerberg; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £17,754.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 5.00, 14.00, 1.63.
Also Ran: Roman Empire (Ire), Gear Up (Ire), Pythagoras (Ire), Flying Visit (Ire), Belloccio (Fr), Royal Champion (Ire), Uncle Bryn (GB). Scratched: Alenquer (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Appleby’s Classic Colts Exit Guineas in Good Order

The Godolphin G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas team has excited the Newmarket showpiece in good order according to trainer Charlie Appleby. Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who ran second in the Guineas, is being freshening before returning in the June 15 G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot. Fourth-place finisher Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is also expected to be in action at the Royal meeting, although in the G3 Jersey S. on June 19. Rounding out the Appleby Guineas trio is One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who ran sixth and is eyeing several targets.

“They've all come out of their races well,” said Appleby. “The whole team look good–they all had an easy canter this [Tuesday] morning, and everybody is very happy with them.

“It was a great weekend for racing, and we were delighted with the way all ours ran. We had a touch of seconditis–but as I always say to the team, I'd rather finish second than second-last.

“We know the horses are in the right races and they're in good condition–and if we keep knocking on the door those doors will open.”

He added on his colts' next targets, “Master Of The Seas has had three runs this years now, so he deserves to have a little break. Hopefully we'll turn up at Ascot with some fresh legs. We'll look forward to potentially having a rematch with the winner in the St James's Palace.

“Naval Crown has got a couple of options, and I would say most likely we will look towards the Jersey with him. He's got plenty of boot, but to be fair, two of his best runs have been over the mile–beating Master Of The Seas at Meydan, and in the Guineas. He's got two solid mile performances behind him now, but it does look the most logical option for him to head to the Jersey.”

“Everyone is testing their [Derby] credentials over the next week, with the races at Chester followed by Lingfield at the weekend and then on to York next week,” said Appleby of the Chester-bound pair of Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) and Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB})at Lingfield and Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who is returning in the G2 Dante S. at York.

“One Ruler is in the mix, for sure. The way he's bounced out of the Guineas, I'm very pleased with him. It's always hard to say where your horse is going to go immediately after the race, until you start to see how they've come out of it.

“The signs with all of them have been very good, so conversations will be had during the course of the week, firming up some plans for these horses.”

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Godolphin Quartet Arrives For Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

Four Godolphin runners trained by Charlie Appleby – Rebel's Romance, Desert Peace, Summer Romance and Althiqa – arrived at Belmont Park at 11 a.m. Sunday to prepare for starts during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival that runs from Thursday, June 3, through Saturday, June 5, headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.

The geldings Rebel's Romance and Desert Peace started their journey from Dubai to Belgium, while the fillies Summer Romance and Althiqa, shipped from the U.K. to join the duo before their flight to New York. All four horses will remain in quarantine until Tuesday morning.

“They all shipped well and are very relaxed,” said traveling assistant Sophie Chretien, who will oversee training and saddling duties for the talented quartet. “We're here early so we'll have more time to get settled in and get used to Belmont.”

The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown.

Group 2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance is set to compete in the Belmont Stakes on June 5. The sophomore son of Dubawi, an Irish homebred out of the Street Cry mare Minidress, has won 4-of-5 starts.

Following a fourth in the Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February, Rebel's Romance made the grade last out with a 5 1/2-length score in the 1 3/16-mile Group 2 UAE Derby on March 27 at Meydan.

“It was a very good race and it showed he has matured a lot,” said Chretien of the UAE Derby effort. “He went to Saudi before the run at Meydan and it took him a while to mature, but he has matured a lot and he won the Derby with class. We just have to keep his mind relaxed because to do well in these big races you need a horse as cool as possible in his head.”

Chretien said the sizable gelding should appreciate the stretch out in distance.

“I think he's built that way and more distance will suit him,” said Chretien. “He's a big boy.”

Desert Peace, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, was a $1.3 million purchase at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by Doug and Felicia Branham, the colt's stakes-winning dam Stoweshoe is a full-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire mare Taris.

Desert Peace was a nose winner last out traveling one-mile on May 11 over the Meydan main track.

While no specific target is confirmed yet for Desert Peace, the Grade 2, $300,000 True North, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up on June 4 is a possibility.

“We'll see how he trains, but he could aim for the True North. Time will tell,” said Chretien.

Summer Romance and Althiqa, who finished first and third last out in the nine-furlong Group 2 Balanchine on February 18 at Meydan respectively, are targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game, a one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares.

“The two fillies are physically very similar. They both won in Dubai and will run in the same race here in New York,” said Chretien.

Summer Romance, a 4-year-old daughter of Kingman out of the Statue of Liberty mare Serena's Storm, is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning millionaire Rizeena.

Bred in Ireland by Roundhill Stud, Summer Romance captured the 1 1/16-mile Group 3 Princess Elizabeth in July at Epsom. Last out, in her second start of the season, Summer Romance won the Balanchine by 2 ¼-lengths at Meydan.

Althiqa, a British homebred by Dark Angel and out of the Shamardal mare Mistrusting, won the Prix Amandine in July at Deauville in France ahead of a trio of group placings to close out her sophomore season. The grey filly launched her 4-year-old campaign in style with a score in the Group 2 Cape Verdi at Meydan ahead of her third in the Balanchine.

Appleby previously indicated a good result in the Just a Game could see Summer Romance try her luck in the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana, a nine-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares on July 17 at Saratoga.

“Summer Romance is one who can handle a little more distance going forward,” said Chretien.

For more information, visit www.BelmontStakes.com.

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Mutasaabeq Facing Guineas Destiny

Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hosts the customary heavyweights of the previous year's scene, with the likes of Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Van Gogh (American Pharoah), One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) all bringing Group 1 form to the table, but in the year that racing lost Sheikh Hamdan could there be a sense of destiny in the inclusion of the unproven 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})? As far as visual impressions go, there is hardly any other in this line-up that can match his emphatic six-length success in a conditions race over seven furlongs on similarly fast ground at the Craven meeting here on Apr. 13. Only Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby know the merit of the dismissal of their colts Noble Dynasty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Duke of Mantua (Ire) (No Nay Never) in that select contest, but the latter came into it with solid form and was readily put in his place. Like his father Barry, Charlie Hills is not a trainer for tilting at windmills and it is significant that he, Jim Crowley and the team at Shadwell are in unison in wanting to test the son of the 2009 G1 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) here.

It is clear from Charlie's comments that the homebred has forced their hand. “We were trying to nurse him through his career, but his ability has got him where he is now,” he revealed. “Winning by six lengths is nice to see, but did it surprise me? Possibly not. He was working with the very nice horses at home and worked well with them. He's only had two runs, but they've both been at Newmarket so he's got more experience than most on a course like that. Jim came and sat on him on Wednesday and said he felt very relaxed and in good shape. It goes without saying he becomes a very valuable proposition should he win a Guineas, being out of a Guineas winner.”

Another who left a lasting imprint with a dynamic display is Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon and his moment of “wow” came at the highest level. Impressive on his winning debut over seven furlongs at The Curragh in August, the descendant of Moyglare's esteemed matriarch Trusted Partner (Affirmed) really took the eye when dashing by Wembley, St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Lucky Vega in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. over that same course and distance in September. That is arguably the strongest piece of juvenile form on this type of surface from 2020 and there is every chance that connections' assertion that soft ground was his undoing when subsequently third in the G1 Dewhurst S. here the following month was correct.

Joseph O'Brien said he is happy to see contrasting conditions on his return. “In the Dewhurst, we would have preferred better ground and a better draw. We thought better ground and a better draw would have helped us get closer and we're hoping that might happen at the weekend,” he said. “He travelled well and quickened up well, but just got run out of it. This race has been the plan, he's going in good shape, we're happy with the draw and we're looking forward to the race. He's always shown a lot of pace, he has a big turn of foot which he showed on the track last year and he's working satisfactorily at home. We're excited, we think he's the right type for the race–he's a mature, pacey type and we think a mile is a good trip for him.”

In the National, Master of the Seas was in front and looking in command a furlong from home before getting swamped by the O'Brien trio. He is favoured by William Buick over One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and will bid to complete the Apr. 15 G3 Craven S.-Guineas double from stall two. His previous form from the July meeting's G2 Superlative S. ties in closely with one of the Ballydoyle clan in Battleground (War Front) and he is race-hardened this spring having run in Dubai and won the all-important trial, the course-and-distance G3 Craven S. Apr. 15. While he has to improve on that to win this, it is significant that William Buick has cast his vote his way over the fellow Charlie Appleby-trained G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was a major mover in the ante-post market following his racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting.

Appleby gave some insight into the duo on Friday. “They're two different types of horses. Master of the Seas is a very honest traveller on the bridle, whereas One Ruler is a horse who warms into his race,” he explained. “I'm delighted with the way Master of the Seas has come out of the Craven. He's shown us his wellness during the week–William sat on him on Wednesday and was pleased with him. He ticks a lot of the boxes going into the weekend. We're taking on the same conditions as in the Craven in terms of it's going to be quick ground again. We know he handles that and handles the track and he saw the trip out well, so I always felt it was going to be hard for William to get off him. I'm excited to see One Ruler have his first start as a 3-year-old. The two horses have got different running styles, but in respect of the calibre of each horse, I think they're hard to split.”

One of the intriguing runners is Ballydoyle's true blueblood Van Gogh (American Pharoah), who bids to break new ground as the first son of the Triple Crown hero to win a British Classic. Like Mutasaabeq, he is a son of his stud's royalty with his dam Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) being the 2001 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine. That is almost back to where it all started for the current captain of Ballydoyle and has a sense of ancient history, but American Pharoah seems to have re-lit a flame judged by the prolific progress of Van Gogh last term. Second to One Ruler in the G3 Autumn S. over this track and trip before taking the G1 Criterium International in imperious fashion in the space of a fortnight in October, he received a recent boost when Policy of Truth (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was fourth at Saint-Cloud came back to win the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau.

Van Gogh has forced his way into this line-up, with Derby trials being talked of earlier in the year, and he is far from a third-string behind Wembley and Battleground according to Aidan O'Brien. “You can make very strong cases for them all–they all have their pluses and minuses,” he said. “I'd say it would be a very hard one to split. Van Gogh ran on fastish ground early on and finished at Saint-Cloud on very soft-to-heavy ground. I think it's just the way the season worked out and the way the ground was. He's a good-moving horse and we always thought he'd get further than a mile.”

Also on Saturday, Newmarket stage a wide-open renewal of the five-furlong G3 Betfair Palace House S. and the G2 Betfair Exchange Jockey Club S., with the latter seeing a fascinating clash between the established top-level performer Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Shadwell's up-and-coming Al Zaraqaan (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) who looked ready for this step up in class when winning Kempton's Rosebery H. Mar. 27. The latter's trainer William Haggas also combines with the operation's Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Listed Betfair Newmarket S. over the same course and distance of his impressive handicap win at the Craven meeting on Apr. 14.

Saint-Cloud's public holiday meeting sees the 10 1/2-furlong G2 Prix Greffulhe and G3 Prix Cleopatre for G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Prix de Diane aspirants, with Gestut Schlenderhan's impressive Apr. 6 12-furlong maiden course winner Martial Eagle (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) a potential improver in the former contest and the Wertheimers' G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Tasmania (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) setting the standard in the latter. The card's feature is the G2 Prix du Muguet over a mile, where last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is met by Godolphin's returning G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal). The latter could be in for a big year if he can overcome a tendency to start slowly which almost certainly cost him in the Chantilly Classic. Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said, “Victor Ludorum is in good form and this looks a nice starting point for the year. We are looking forward to seeing how he gets on and this will hopefully indicate where to go next with him.”

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