Lincoln Kicks Off Turf Action

It's a case of all eyes on Doncaster on Saturday with the wheel set to turn once again as the Town Moor track stages the opening act of the British Flat Turf season. Alongside the traditional curtain-raiser of the Lincoln H. for the hardened older milers is the Brocklesby S. for juveniles, the annual show of precocity where the focus will inevitably be on Royal Ascot. First-season sires represented include Mohaather (GB) and Without Parole (GB), with the former's son Dukes Of Haather (GB) from the Adrian Keatley stable looking primed for a big debut effort. Perhaps the classiest runner on display is in the Listed Doncaster Mile, where Nurlan Bizakov's G1 St James's Palace S. and Sussex S. third Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looks to provide the Roger Varian stable with a strong start to the campaign.

“He had a good year last year and it was a shame he drew a blank in terms of wins, but he put up some fine performances,” Varian said. “We're looking forward to him this year and he's training nicely. He looks like he's matured a bit more and we're going to get his season started on Saturday.”

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York: “Hopefully We’ll See the Nostrum We Saw At Newmarket Again.” Saturday Bonanza Begins with Juddmonte’s Rising Star

Saturday's European black-type count stands at a baker's dozen, with eight group races in Britain and Ireland alone featuring several movers and shakers towards the elite level kicking off with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in York's G3 Strensall S. and culminating five hours later with the fellow Sir Michael Stoute-trained Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) in the G3 Weatherbys Global Stallions Winter Hill S. at Windsor.

Nostrum was surprisingly beaten by fellow TDN Rising Star Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Goodwood's G3 Thoroughbred S. last time, but is back on quick ground in this contest over what could prove an ideal trip of nearly nine furlongs so it is a case of game on again. His previous performance when upstaging some smart peers including the subsequent G3 Sovereign S. dead-heater Embesto (GB) (Roaring Lion) and G2 Hungerford S. runner-up New Endeavour (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in Newmarket's Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. stands up as one of the key pieces of mile form this year and connections retain full faith.

“We all called it wrong, we thought he'd have liked the ground the last day as he's a big horse and he bends his knee a bit,” Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said. “We were all wrong and Ryan just felt that he couldn't pull himself out of it, it was gluey. There was the factor too that he'd been off the track for so long, there may have been a bounce on his second start–we don't know but he's training well and we're looking forward to seeing him. We think he'll have come forward for the run and we're looking forward to getting him back on a better surface and a more conventional track. Hopefully we'll see the Nostrum we saw at Newmarket again.”

Epictetus Poised For Celebration…
Less than an hour after Nostrum graces York's Knavesmire, the Gosdens send Epictetus back to Goodwood for the G2 Celebration Mile as he builds towards the major autumn tests. With the G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Sussex S. third Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in attendance, this will provide a gauge as to where George Strawbridge's son of Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk) is among the leading milers. “He's stepping up in grade again on Saturday, but the drop down to a mile has suited him well and he's been in good order since his last run,” Thady Gosden said. “I don't think he necessarily needs soft ground–he's relatively versatile as regards to it.”

Prestige Contests Continue Thick And Fast…
In between these two contests, there is the G3 Prestige Fillies' S. for 2-year-old fillies at Goodwood where Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) gets the chance to atone for a disappointing effort in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. with Newtown Anner Stud Farm's 10-length Thirsk novice winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in opposition. Back at York minutes later, the £500,000 G2 City of York S. features Marc Chan's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint S.-winning TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who is just about the best there is at this seven-furlong trip.

“It's amazing that York can put up that much prize-money for a group two race,” Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said. “They deserve the race to get upgraded to a group one when they can come up with that sort of money. He certainly doesn't owe us anything right now, but as Frankie says, he's like an ATM machine so let's hope that will continue.”

On a big day for Chan, last year's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) enjoys a class drop in Newmarket's Listed Hopeful S. after her break since flopping in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. This is also the farewell ride for Andrea Atzeni, who departs for Hong Kong after the meeting. “Andrea is a great guy and the way he's ridden over the last couple of months is as well as he's ever ridden,” McCalmont added. “This is a good stepping stone back, she loves the course, we get her ground and she's fine over the distance, so fingers crossed.”

Best Of The Rest…
As the afternoon action winds down in Britain, The Curragh gets going with the G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S. over a mile hosting some big middle-distance Classic prospects for 2023. When it comes to these kind of juvenile tests, there is always added intrigue where The Aga Khan's representatives are concerned and so the Dermot Weld-trained Tipperary maiden scorer Shelaka (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) will have plenty of eyes on her. The card also features another significant prize for the juveniles in the six-furlong G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower S., while the fillies and mares get their shot in the nine-furlong G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S.

Elsewhere, York's Listed Julia Graves Roses S. features Opulence Thoroughbreds and Teme Valley's TDN Rising Star and G3 Molecomb S. runner-up Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}), while another TDN Rising Star lines up in Windsor's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions August S. over an extended 11 furlongs. That is Anthony Oppenheimer's Kempton novice winner Lion's Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion), who holds an entry in the G1 St Leger and while this is an unorthodox prep for that Classic, the half-brother to Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) could yet become a leading light for Doncaster.

 

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‘He’s Much Faster Than The Giant’ – O’Brien Lauds Ballydoyle’s New Iron Horse

As expected, Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. was all about TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was able to dictate and dominate in Goodwood's heavily rain-softened ground and register a fourth straight top-level success. While his 1 1/2-length verdict over Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) is hardly inspiring stuff, the 4-9 favourite never looked likely to surrender his admirable sequence with Ryan Moore on the stand's rail throughout the closing stages which probably made for more tense watching than the winner's connections had expected.

The time of 1:47.16 was over 10 seconds outside standard time and represented more of a “French-style” mostly slow and then quick test which is not what the eventual last Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) least wants. She was the only one to truly put it up to the Ballydoyle colt, but she was spent two out, with the minor placings filled out by Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) three lengths behind Facteur Cheval in third in this GI Breeders' Cup Mile qualifier.

“He is thriving on racing and is a very uncomplicated horse,” Moore said. “He's won on fast and very bad ground here over a mile and a mile and a quarter and you can ride him however you like, it doesn't matter. He's a very unique horse–every time he comes to the races he feels like he loves it. Some people say he's taken us by surprise, but I can assure you he hasn't because all this year he's shown he's a very good horse.”

“I had everything on my own terms early on and wanted to go as gently as I could and get to the fence, but Frankie did what he could and we started racing too early really,” Moore added. “His filly was gone at the two and look where she ended up, but he's still got plenty left. There is every chance he could stay a mile and a half, he's out of a Montjeu mare, but we've got a bit of time and we'll see how he comes out of this race. It is a hard thing to say, but he gives you the feel that he might be as good a horse as I have ridden. He is exceptional. Someone asked me yesterday if he would go on this ground and I said 'he would go on snow'.”

The tale of this race was already largely predictable even before the persistent rain, with the presence of the favourite having already scared some meaningful opposition off to Deauville. With only Inspiral on his wavelength, his task was made all the easier as it dictated how the tactics would play out. It was a case of “after you” from the start and given how rapid Paddington always is from the gates it quickly became a matter of when Frankie would attack and a play for second from the other three.

Inspiral was inclined to pull off the moderate pace, which only served to further diminish her threat already lessened by the way the ground was riding and the moment of truth came as she was placed alongside Paddington straightening for home. Forcing the favourite into a sectional of :11.58 from the three to the two, she was soon tired and backtracking with a Jacques le Marois defence in Dettori's mind as Paddington forged a :11.92 penultimate split to kill the contest. Facteur Cheval was impressively fast for most of the final three furlongs and for all that he failed to get alongside the winner, he at least made Moore employ the whip.

Where next for Paddington? With a constitution like his, turning up in Normandy in 11 days' time for the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois is not out of the question, but it seems to be all about the Giant's Causeway route with Aidan O'Brien mentioning York's Ebor Festival in the immediate aftermath. “I think the Juddmonte International definitely has to be on the cards,” he said. “It's amazing that he is getting ready to run again so quickly after each race–he was three to four kilos heavier today than the last day which wasn't that long ago.”

“Paddington is much quicker than the Giant was,” the master of Ballydoyle added. “He's tactically quick but he can quicken as well. The Giant was tactically quick and was dour after that. This horse can really turn it on when you have to, on all types of ground. He is unique.”

“You always worry about having that extra weight on him in that ground, as it makes it more of a test of endurance rather than speed and speed is his big thing,” O'Brien concluded. “The tougher the race, the better he is getting and he wasn't stressed after the race here. Everything is open to him–Tom has mentioned the option of going to Australia, so we'll maybe look at York with him next time and see then. He could do anything–he's very special, we think. We made the Arc entry also, because Ryan says there doesn't seem to be any end to his stamina.”

Peter Brant, who has an interest in Paddington, was on hand to witness the race on his first visit to Goodwood and said, “I must say this is among the greatest horses I've been proud enough to own. We won the Kentucky Derby in 1984 with a horse called Swale who was a great racehorse, but this horse has done a lot of special things that are hard to do. To win four Group 1s like this in such a short space of time and to look as grand as he does and to be gaining weight and not losing it is extraordinary.”

Jerome Reynier was understandably delighted with the effort of the runner-up, who is set to come back to England later in the year. “It's like a victory today,” he said. “We really thought he was going to beat Paddington, but he had the stands rail and we were in the middle of the track and he was stuck in the middle of traffic. He ran a great race, he was third in a Group 1 the other day and second today in a very nice group one and I hope the next time we will be able to win at that level.”

“We never thought he was going to be able to run that way, but he keeps improving mentally and physically so probably the best is yet to come,” Reynier added. “Fingers crossed, he will be coming back in good shape and we can aim for the Queen Elizabeth at the end of the year with him. There are two options beforehand–the Moulin de Longchamp or the Woodbine Mile in Canada. Maybe we will wait until his is a 5-year-old for an international campaign.”

Frankie Dettori said of Inspiral, “We tried, but it was very obvious that she doesn't cope with this kind of ground. If the ground dries up and she comes out of this race, we can back her up in the race she won in France last year. It was obvious what was going to happen–Paddington got a lead and everything his own way, but I had to make a race of it.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Paddington, who was bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins, achieved the joint-second-highest price of €420,000 at the 2021 Arqana October Sale. As far as Arc claims are concerned, his dam Modern Eagle stayed 12 1/2 furlongs on heavy ground when winning the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit and was also responsible for Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who stayed 14 furlongs when third in the 2020 Khor Al Adaid Cup at Doha.

Modern Eagle, a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), is also kin to Mighty Blue (Fr) by Montjeu's son Authorized (Ire) who was successful in the 14-furlong Listed Vintage Tipple S. and third in the two-mile G3 Loughbrown S. before going hurdling. The third dam is the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), whose other descendants include the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best) and the G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}).

 

Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR SUSSEX S.-G1, £1,000,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:47.16, sf.
1–PADDINGTON (GB), 129, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
                1st Dam: Modern Eagle (Ger) (SW-Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Millionaia (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
                3rd Dam: Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba
TDN Rising Star. (€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Tabor/Smith/
Magnier/Westerberg/Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB);
T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £567,100. Lifetime Record:
G1SW-Ire, 8-7-0-0, $2,082,332. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
   *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree,
   or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Facteur Cheval (Ire), 136, g, 4, Ribchester (Ire)–Jawlaat (Ire),
by Shamardal. (145,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; €120,000 Ylg '20
ARDEAY). O-Team Valor International LLC & Gary Barber;
B-McCracken Farms (IRE); T-Jerome Reynier. £215,000.
3–Charyn (Ire), 129, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by
Kodiac (GB). (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mr Nurlan
Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £107,600.
Margins: 1HF, 3, HF. Odds: 0.44, 11.00, 40.00.
Also Ran: Aldaary (GB), Inspiral (GB). Scratched: Chindit (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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Siyouni’s TDN Rising Star Paddington Makes History In The St James’s Palace

In the battle of the 2000 Guineas winners in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S., it was the Irish Classic victor Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) who proved much the best as he overwhelmed the Newmarket hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to make Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot's winningmost trainer on 83.

Settled behind the leaders from his wide draw by Ryan Moore as Frankie took the Juddmonte representative to the front, the 11-5 second favourite moved to his chief rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and was cajoled clear to score by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths. Chaldean finished like a non-stayer, but the 13-8 market-leader held on for second by a neck from Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“He's a very good colt who is improving and improving and has a big engine and a lot of class,” Moore said after registering his 75th Royal success. “Maybe I should have ridden him colder, as he quickened up past them and then probably shut down. He took me there quite easy and, when he put his foot down, he found plenty.”

Delivered to the Irish 2000 Guineas via Naas's Madrid H. and The Curragh's Listed Tetrarch S., Paddington came into the Curragh Classic with a lower profile than usual for his stable only to emerge very much the real deal en route to this moment of truth. Forced to travel wide from his outside post, he fortunately proved more tractable than he had in the initial stages of the Irish Guineas and was at least granted a true pace with Frankie going out to put the gun to the heads of his rivals.

Heading to the three pole, Chaldean looked strong but a furlong later the writing was already on the wall with Frankie at work and Ryan looming large to his right. Whereas Andrew Balding's charge tended to tread water from there, Paddington was hands and heels to the line to win with comfort. Intriguingly, the winner was faster than the runner-up for six of the eight furlongs and for all of the last five in a race that ended up being run too fast too early.

O'Brien, who now boasts nine St James's Palace S., was opening the door to a program over more than a mile in time. “He is able to quicken very well–that is his big thing,” he said. “John [Magnier] said to me that this horse would get further than a mile if you wanted him to, no problem. The lads will have to think about whether they want to go to Goodwood [for the Sussex S.]. He has all the options, because he has the speed to be a top miler as we see, so it's very exciting.”

Andrew Balding said of Chaldean, “Frankie has felt he probably just overdid it a little early, but I'm not sure whether that would have made a difference to the result. They are two very high-class horses.”

Roger Varian said of Charyn, who put up a personal best in third, “I am delighted with how he ran–he seems to be improving. He was beaten the same distance today by Paddington as he was at The Curragh. He's versatile, tough and genuine. I don't think he's out of place in this company and I think he'll keep improving all year.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins, Paddington who was the joint-second highest-priced lot when realising €420,000 at the 2021 Arqana October Sale is currently the last known foal out of the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit winner Modern Eagle (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}). Her first progeny was Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was twice listed-placed in France while she is a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and a half to the Listed Vintage Tipple S. winner and G3 Loughbrown S.-placed Mighty Blue (Fr) by Montjeu's son Authorized (Ire). Millionaia is out of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), who is also the second dam of the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best) while the fourth dam Madelia (Fr) (Caro) scored three times at the highest level including in the Diane.

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ST JAMES'S PALACE S.-G1, £600,000, Ascot, 6-20, 3yo, c, 7f 213yT, 1:40.74, gd.
1–PADDINGTON (GB), 128, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Modern Eagle (Ger) (SW-Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Millionaia (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba
(€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 6-5-0-0, $811,659. Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Chaldean (GB), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Suelita (GB), by Dutch Art (GB). (550,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Juddmonte; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £129,000.
3–Charyn (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £64,560.
Margins: 3 3/4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 2.20, 1.63, 33.00.
Also Ran: Isaac Shelby (GB), Indestructible (Ire), Mostabshir (GB), Cicero's Gift (GB), Royal Scotsman (GB), Galeron (Ire).

 

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