Tag: Clive Cox

Unbeaten Ghostwriter has Guineas Aim

Jeff Smith's unbeaten G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. winner Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is pleasing trainer Clive Cox in his early preparation towards a potential start in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas back at the Rowley Mile.

“He's done really well, he had a super break and he's been back cantering for three or four weeks,” Cox said.

“We're thrilled with the way he's developed over the winter, he's looking even stronger.

“We were delighted with the campaign we enjoyed with him last year and we're all looking forward to this season.”

Ghostwriter made a winning debut over seven furlongs on Newmarket's July Course last August and backed it up with success at Ascot in a novice event over the same trip. He took the extra furlong in his stride when asked to go a mile in his first start in Pattern company in late September.

“I'm very much hoping to go to the Guineas, the first week in May is uppermost in our minds, especially with him winning on the track at Newmarket, on the July course, of course, but crucially the Rowley Mile,” Cox added. 

“We would be very excited about him with those Classic races in mind.”

Smith's colours were most recently carried to Group 1 glory by Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) on four occasions. Through the owner is also a renowned breeder through his Littleton Stud, both Alcohol Free and Ghostwriter were bought as foals, selected by stud manager David Bowe. 

Ghostwriter, bred in partnership by Norelands Stud and the Irish National Stud, is out of the Champs Elysees (GB) mare Moorside (GB), and was bought at Tattersalls for 100,000gns. 

 

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Invincible Spirit’s Ghostwriter Shows His Class In The Royal Lodge

Unbeaten entering Saturday's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket but untried in black-type company, Jeff Smith's Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) came through the test with flying colours to count himself among the 2024 Classic contenders. Always travelling easily in the wake of Ballydoyle's front-running G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Capulet (Justify), the 100-30 second favourite who hails from the Juddmonte family of a former giant to master this Rowley Mile in Zafonic took the measure of that 7-4 favourite when sweeping to the fore two out.

Pushed out by Richard Kingscote from there, the Clive Cox-trained 100,000gns Tatts December Foal purchase had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the Listed Ascendant S. scorer Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at the line, with half a length back to Capulet who looked every inch a Derby type as he rallied after being swamped entering the dip.

This is a “Win and You're In” to the $1 million GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, but Cox was not committing in the immediate aftermath. “He has been improving with every run and that was a big step to take,” he said. “I couldn't be more pleased with the way he has carried it out and he looks full of promise going forward. The dam won over a mile and a half and I think he has a very good middle-distance plan to go forward with. He might get and a half, it is possible.”

“He was very much in his comfort zone and Richard was able to play him exactly as he felt and he quickened nicely when he met the rising ground there and I couldn't be more pleased,” he added. “He has always been a nice horse, but he has always been maturing and having a frame to fill while keeping his strength moving forwards. This cements what we thought so far and the dream is very much alive for next year. We are normally known for our sprinters, but it is such a joy to have a horse like this on our hands as it does set the pulse racing. I'd say the way he is physically developing all the time means I'd probably be thinking about next year.”

Pedigree Notes

Ghostwriter is the second foal out of the aforementioned Listed Cheshire Oaks runner-up Moorside, a granddaughter of Zaizafon (The Minstrel) who produced the brilliant Zafonic and his G3 Prix de Cabourg-winning full-brother and fellow sire Zamindar. This is also the family of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Announce (GB) (Selkirk), the triple group-winning Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches place-getters Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and Mexican Gold (Medaglia d'Oro). Moorside, who was a 90,000gns purchase by BBA Ireland at the 2017 Tatts December Mares Sale, also has a yearling colt by New Bay (GB) who sold for 150,000gns to Joe Foley at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, and a filly foal by Australia (GB).

Saturday, Newmaket, Britain
JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 9-30, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:37.06, g/f.
1–GHOSTWRITER (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
      1st Dam: Moorside (GB) (SP-Eng), by Champs Elysees (GB)
      2nd Dam: Marching West, by Gone West
      3rd Dam: Zaizafon, by The Minstrel
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (100,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE). O-J C Smith; B-Norelands Bloodstock & Irish National Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Richard Kingscote. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $112,176. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Al Musmak (Ire), 128, c, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Parton (GB), by Kitten's Joy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (95,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £26,875.
3–Capulet, 128, c, 2, Justify–Wedding Vow (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £13,450.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, HD. Odds: 3.33, 7.00, 1.75.
Also Ran: Macduff (GB), Son (GB), Defiance (Ire), At Vimeiro (Ger), Aablan (Ire), Caviar Heights (Ire).

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Havana Grey’s Jasour Goes Last To First In The G2 July S. At HQ

Al Mohamediya Racing's twice-raced maiden winner Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Twilight Thyme {GB}, by Bahamian Bounty {GB}), previously untested at stakes level, was clearly the best of a nine-strong field in Thursday's G2 Kingdom of Bahrain July S. at Newmarket, powering by every opponent in the closing stages to win the six-furlong contest in decisive fashion. The 16-1 chance was placed under immediate restraint and trailed all eight rivals after an alert getaway from the stands' side gate. Making smooth headway into contention after halfway, he was shaken up to launch his bid approaching the final furlong and quickened impressively up the hill to win going away, by two lengths, from Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never) for a career high.

Jasour shaped with promise when a May 18 debut second over five furlongs at Salisbury and graduated over much the same trip in a low-key maiden at Nottingham last month. This black-type debut, his third start, was his first attempt at six furlongs.

“He always gave us a lot of promise and we felt that dropping him in behind was going to see bigger improvement,” explained winning trainer Clive Cox after notching a first win in the race. “He has just run in two races where nothing has been able to lead him early. Stepping up to six [furlongs] was a step into the unknown, but he is going the right way and I'm happy. I'm so pleased for Sheikh Sultan as he is a big supporter and, following on from Golden Horde, this is a real nice horse to have. He will go to the [G2] Richmond [at Goodwwod] from here, but he will have an entry in the [G1 Prix] Morny and we will see what is what.” The winning owner, His Highness Sheikh Sultan, added, “We are delighted, all of my horses are with Clive and he has been brilliant for Al Mohamediya racing. We knew that ours was good, but the others were good too. Everything worked well and we are happy. There are plenty of races for him in the season.”

Pedigree Notes

Jasour, the fifth pattern-race winner for his second-crop sire (by Havana Gold {Ire}), is the third of four foals and lone scorer out of an unraced half-sister to MG1SW sire Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), multiple Group-winning G1 Haydock Sprint Cup third Music Master (GB) (Piccolo {GB}), dual stakes-winning G1 British Champions Sprint runner-up Run To Freedom (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S. victrix Spring Fling (GB) (Assertive {GB}). The April-foaled grey's second dam Twilight Mistress (GB) (Bin Ajwaad {Ire}) is a half-sister to Listed Washington Singer S. third Romantic Evening (Ire) (Dr Fong). Jasour is kin to a yearling colt by Mohaather (GB) and hails from the family of G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Wassl (GB) (Mill Reef).

 

Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN JULY S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 7-13, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:11.11, g/f.
1–JASOUR (GB), 128, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Twilight Thyme (GB), by Bahamian Bounty (GB)
2nd Dam: Twilight Mistress (GB), by Bin Ajwaad (Ire)
3rd Dam: By Candlelight (Ire), by Roi Danzig
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£85,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-Wardley Bloodstock (GB); T-Clive Cox; J-Jim Crowley. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $81,429. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lake Forest (GB), 128, c, 2, No Nay Never–Lady Aquitaine, by El Prado (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (130,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Silver Racing; B-Sahara Group Holdings (GB); T-William Haggas. £21,500.
3–Toca Madera (Ire), 128, g, 2, Bated Breath (GB)–Hala Hala (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; £45,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Family Amusements Ltd & J Botton; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock (IRE); T-Brian Meehan. £10,760.
Margins: 2, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 7.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Thunder Blue (GB), Purosangue (GB), Malc (GB), Mountain Bear (Ire), Maximum Impact (GB), Chief Mankato (GB).

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Another Shadwell Star To Shine In the Craven?

There is no doubt that, in general, Newmarket's G3 Craven S. has lost much of its former relevance as a 2000 Guineas trial, but in the last two years it has enjoyed a revival with winners Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) going close in the mile Classic. Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have another leading man this time in the GI Summer S. and G3 Prix Francois Boutin scorer Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), but the one that really catches the eye is Shadwell's Kempton novice winner Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). A half-brother to the G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire) and four-time group winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the John and Thady Gosden-trained grey is tested earlier than that pair with extra precocity from the sire.

“They've all been happy with him at home, so with the season starting we need to know where we are with him,” Angus Gold said. “He's still entered in the Guineas and I'm imagining that will come too quick for him, but let's see how we get on Thursday. He's the least experienced in the field and it will tell us a lot more in terms of his class and the track and all those things. It's a learning curve.”

The Case For Chaldean…

He may not be running until Saturday, but Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is indirectly involved in the Craven with Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) just half a length behind Juddmonte's leading 2000 Guineas contender in York's G3 Acomb S. and 3 1/2 lengths in arrears in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster, where Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was behind. Now with Karl Burke, Amo Racing's big Guineas hope is up to a mile for the first time and racing and operations manager Tom Pennington believes that will see improvement.

“His pedigree suggests he will get a mile and he got seven furlongs well last year as a two-year-old,” he said. “The form is there. He has to make the improvement from two to three, but he definitely has the scope to do that and the form is in the book so he will be a nice three-year-old going forward hopefully.”

King Power's course-and-distance G2 Royal Lodge S. winner The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) will provide Chaldean's trainer Andrew Balding with more of an idea where he stands ahead of the May 6 Classic, while Isa Salman Al Khalifa's G3 Horris Hill S. third Ancestral Land (GB) (Sioux Nation) can not be left out of equations.

“His whole demeanour gives us the impression he will get a mile and we hope that will be possible,” trainer Clive Cox said. “I trained his dam to win over five furlongs, but he is a horse that has done exceptionally well physically and he hit the line well over seven last year.”

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