Tag: Cicero’s Gift (GB)

Royal Ascot: Inspiral Kicks Off Frankie’s Long Farewell

Frankie. Storms. A New King. It's Royal Ascot again, and all the themes and strands of the week will begin to unravel as soon as Charles III has made his way up the straight mile in his first procession as the ruling monarch. Maybe the forecast thunder will get there first, who knows? It's been a while since the meeting enjoyed the promise of clear skies over the five days and it's no safe bet we'll get that luxury this time. Once the opening Queen Anne is underway, the Italian genie will be steering the same course on the first of his week's arrows, one of the vast array of precious Frankel offerings in Inspiral (GB). She saved him during probably his worst Royal Ascot last year and depending on how Cheveley Park Stud's homebred performs here, the tone will be set for the rest of the week. A win for the filly and it could be that it's Frankie's world Tuesday to Saturday and we're all living in it.

One thing is for sure and that is that Inspiral needs to jump from the stalls a lot faster than she did when dropping the baton in the QEII here in October. Frankel, who also became prone to delivering that slow-breaking party trick late in his career, is on his way to becoming a pre-eminent presence here in his second career. That said, he still has work to do to catch Royal Ascot's true ruler in Dubawi (Ire) whose multiple winners almost every year come over all distances. Sheikh Mohammed's emperor sire is currently staying ahead of his Juddmonte nemesis, so it is fitting that their paths cross instantly in 2023. Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire), whose professionalism and straightforward nature has seen him jump from Charlie Appleby's third-choice miler a year ago to leading light, shades favouritism for the Queen Anne as this is written.

Frankel's influence on the meeting that witnessed one of his incredulous displays continues all week, with the opening fixture's G1 St James's Palace S. hosting his high-achieving son Chaldean (GB), another Dettori posting. There is a touch of The Rock about Juddmonte's no-fuss Dewhurst and 2000 Guineas winner and the way he is going he could end up another Kingsclere legend. First, he has to suppress the Curragh Classic winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), the season's stealth bomber. A key component of Team Ballydoyle's opening salvo, which is perhaps a touch light for them, he has to overcome a wide draw as well as a Newmarket Classic winner as he bids for edition number nine for Aidan O'Brien.

Galileo's influence, so longstanding here, is sadly confined on Tuesday to one of the yard's second division performers in Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) in the Listed Wolferton S., a kind of Princes of Wales's S. consolation prize. If his omnipotence has diminished with his reduced representation, then the opportunity is there for a new Coolmore figurehead to emerge. Wootton Bassett (GB) is doing just that at present and his son River Tiber (Ire) heads into a battle of the TDN Rising Stars in the G2 Coventry S. With George Boughey's Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The latter's scintillating time trial at Ripon put him into another dimension where his age group is concerned and recent Royal Ascots have proven how crucial the study of individual sectional time performances have been ahead of these tests.

Despite the Asadna effect, River Tiber has some of the best in the business already excited. As Ryan Moore discussed the operation's new 2-year-old sensation in his betfair blog, it felt almost like a warning. “Confidence is not a word I would use with so many similarly-unexposed promising two-year-olds in here, but I'll just say he is in very good shape for this,” he stated, which could translate as “watch which way he goes”.

Where the premier Royal Ascot sprints are concerned, 2023 marks a special anniversary with it being 20 years since the hemisphere-breaching revolution set in motion by Choisir (Aus). Prior to that moment, the idea of a strong Australasian, North American and Asian presence at this meeting was a flight of fancy, not the perennial certainty it is now. A barometer of how much respect overseas sprinters generate was evident again twelve months ago as Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) dominated the market for the G1 King's Stand S.

This year's renewal, which seems one for the fillies and mares, is not nearly so pre-destined for export with the Boadicea-like Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) standing firm. Not since Britain celebrated the likes of Habibti (Ire) in the 1980s has a sprinting mare captured the imagination as she did during her golden summer in 2022 and her task is to ward off the chief Antipodean challenger Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) here. United with Nature Strip's rider James McDonald, having gone the tried-and-trusted Lightning route, she is Australia's apparent flag-bearer. Then there is the seriously-fast TDN Rising Star Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who tries to do a “Lady Aurelia” for the Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old generation.

With all the subplots to a day at Royal Ascot, burning questions remain ahead of Tuesday's action. Will Irad Ortiz Jr be able to impose himself this year after a forgettable intro in 2022? Wesley Ward's Keeneland dynamo Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB})–the first horse to be double-entered this week having been confirmed for Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S.–and established sprinter Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) can possibly help get him more into the Ascot groove. Can Amo Racing break their Royal meeting duck? The juvenile Bucanero Fuerte (GB), another Wootton Bassett owned in partnership with Giselle De Aguiar, is their first representative of the week in the Coventry. Can the pair of TDN Rising Stars Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) defy the inexperience gap and make their mark in the St James's Palace? Can Willie Mullins tighten his grip on the staying handicaps with the dual-purpose stars Bring On The Night (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB})? The latter is undoubtedly the classiest hurdler that his trainer has brought here and could conceivably have won Thursday's Gold Cup. Ryan Moore is on both supposed “good things” and a double on top of any earlier successes could see him stake an early claim for a landmark 10th leading rider title. With such firepower this week, what can stop him? Ah, yes. Frankie.

The post Royal Ascot: Inspiral Kicks Off Frankie’s Long Farewell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Muhaarar Colt A New Rising Star

Bypassing the 2000 Guineas in favour of another confidence-building exercise in Goodwood's British EBF 40th Anniversary Conditions S. on Friday, Rosehill Racing's bargain 32,000gns Book 3 purchase Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}–Terentia {GB}, by Diktat {GB}) rewarded that patience by taking his record to three-for-three with consummate ease to become the latest TDN Rising Star. Sent off the 7-4 second favourite for the mile contest, the Charlie Hills-trained relative of the smart sprinter Cartimandua (GB) (Medicean {GB}) was settled under cover on the rail by Kieran Shoemark throughout the early stages.

Eased out of his pocket approaching the furlong pole, the bay who had won on testing ground at Newbury in October and on Wolverhampton's Tapeta in March quickly settled the issue before surging to a 5 1/2-length dismissal of the 11-8 favourite Kolsai (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The Roger Varian-trained runner-up provides useful context to the form, having been just a half-length second to the well-regarded Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in Newmarket's Listed Feilden S. last month.

 

Cicero's Gift, who holds an entry in the G1 St James's Palace S., brings Muhaarar's TDN Rising Star tally to four, with the P. G. Johnson S. winner and GII Miss Grillo S. third Be Your Best (Ire) winner currently chief among them. The dam, a smart five-furlong handicapper, has produced one black-type performer so far in the Listed Queen Charlotte S. runner-up Crossing The Line (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). She is out of the Listed Oh So Sharp S. scorer Agrippina (GB) (Timeless Times), who produced the aforementioned Cartimandua. Successful in the Listed Kilvington Fillies' S. and Listed Cecil Frail S. and third in the G3 Ballyogan S., she went on to throw the G2 July S. third Elronaq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Terentia's 2-year-old colt is by Golden Horn (GB), while her yearling son of Mohaather (GB) was a 52,000gns purchase by Manister House Stud at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

5th-Goodwood, £30,000, Novice, 5-5, 3yo, 8fT, 1:42.03, g/s.
CICERO'S GIFT (GB), c, 3, by Muhaarar (GB)
     1st Dam: Terentia (GB), by Diktat (GB)
     2nd Dam: Agrippina (GB), by Timeless Times
     3rd Dam: Boadicea's Chariot (Ire), by Commanche Run (GB)
(32,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $37,513. O-Rosehill Racing; B-Mrs F S Williams (GB); T-Charles Hills. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

The post Muhaarar Colt A New Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dubai Mile Put Through His Paces Over The Rowley Mile

Group 1 winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) galloped over the Rowley Mile in Newmarket on Wednesday. The Ahmad Al Shaikh silksbearer is being primed for a possible start in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas over this course on May 6.

Trained by Charlie Johnston, the 3-year-old was originally pencilled in for the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dante S. at York in mid-May, but connections are weighing the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero's chances in the run-up to the G1 Betfred Derby on June 3.

“We've been having a debate internally all spring really regarding what is the best route for this horse,” said Johnston. “We're pretty confident his optimum trip this year will be a mile and a half plus and you can see in his work there that he's not travelling hard on the bridle behind the other horse. He's a very laid-back horse who is behind the bridle and his last furlong is his best furlong.

“But, having won a Group 1 as a 2-year-old, your route to the Derby is narrowed down quite dramatically. You either have to have to step down in grade or you have to go to the Guineas. From an early point it's been either Guineas-Derby or Dante-Derby. The way they're in the calendar this year running in all three is pretty unrealistic.

“I've spent most of the spring leaning on the side that he should be going Dante-Derby, but Ahmad is always keen to take on a challenge and take the ambitious route–and when you've got a Group 1-winning 2-year-old, the reality is winning the Dante is not going to add anything to this horse's stallion profile, whereas finishing third in the Guineas would be a big asset to him.”

The chestnut won at second asking over a mile at Windsor last August and added an all-weather mile contest at Kempton later that month. Second over the Guineas course and distance in the G2 Royal Lodge S. in September behind Thursday's G3 bet365 Craven S. entry The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), the son of Beach Bunny (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) thrived in the heavy going at Saint-Cloud in his top-level score a month later.

Johnston added, “We're all well aware that this horse is being trained and going to be campaigned as a top-class mile-and-a-half horse, it's just what we do in the early season to get him there.

“I'd love a soft ground Guineas, then he really would be a player because we know he handles testing conditions, and one asset you can never take for granted here is he's run over the course and distance. Danny says you don't even notice the dip on him, he just floats down it and out the other side. The Guineas is not a race you go into as a prep race, but if he was running in many ways it would be a prep race for the Derby.”

Also taking a spin over the course on Wednesday was the Charlie Hills-trained two-for-two Circero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) with Kieran Shoemark at the controls. The Rosehill Racing-owned colt worked in company with stablemate Saratoga Gold (GB) (Mayson {GB}) under Michael Hills, however, his participation in the Newmarket Classic is not definite. He won both his Newbury debut last autumn, and a Wolverhampton all-weather affair on Mar. 30.

“He worked well and had a nice little blow afterwards as well actually, so it was just what we wanted I think,” said Hills. “He's obviously had two starts and two wins and we're just trying to feel our way really and see exactly where we are and find out a bit more about him. Today he behaved great, had a nice bit of work and did what we asked him.

“We didn't really want to run in a trial and put three quick races into him. It's going to be a long season, so we'll just try to keep him as fresh as we can.

“We'll see how the week unfolds with the trials and make a decision next week. There is a conditions race at Goodwood around the same weekend as the Guineas, so that could be another route to take, but I'm pretty open-minded at the moment.

“He's a nice horse and there's only one Guineas, isn't there? If we decide against it you've got Goodwood and the Dante at York and the [G3] Hampton Court [S.] at Royal Ascot, something like that. I think I could see him stepping him up in trip later in the year.”

The post Dubai Mile Put Through His Paces Over The Rowley Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.

 

The post What’s In A Name: Cicero’s Gift, Gooloogong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights