Seven Days: Reawakening 

The curtain came up at Longchamp on Sunday, with the 'réouverture' being conducted in extremely testing conditions but nevertheless providing a welcome return to action at France's premier racecourse.

The most important thing on arrival in the Bois de Boulogne is to make it into the track without being mown down by one or more of the cyclists within the relentless peloton that streams past the gates of Longchamp of a weekend. Everything after that feels like a blessing. 

And indeed we were blessed with an almost dry and definitely warm day. Every trainer, breeder, farmer and clerk of the course has been preoccupied with the exceptionally wet spring that has seen race meetings abandoned and paddocks poached. In assessing the results from Leopardstown to Longchamp on Sunday it will be hard to gauge how well these three-year-olds will fare on faster underfoot conditions but Christophe Ferland believes that his G3 Prix La Force winner Atlast (Fr) (Farhh {GB}) is simply a good horse who, as the old adage goes, will go on any ground. 

A solid and flashy chestnut, the Wertheimers' homebred is certainly an imposing specimen and won decisively despite his slightly awkward head carriage. His Sangster-bred granddam Pitamakan (Danzig) had been bought as a Keeneland yearling for $400,000 and is herself a third-generation descendant of the influential matriarch Courtly Dee (Never Bend). 

It remains regrettable that Atlast's sire Farhh is only able to cover small books of mares owing to his poor fertility, but perhaps that is key to his success, and this looks another really interesting prospect for the son of Pivotal (GB), who on Monday was represented by the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc winner Tribalist (GB). Atlast will surely now be aimed with the intention that he joins Fonteyn (GB) and King Of Change (GB) on the list of Group 1 winners by Farhh. The latter of that pair has his first two-year-old runners this season, as does Farhh's unusually fast son Far Above (Ire).

Hernon Dreams On

Gavin Hernon, who eschewed his native Ireland to start training in Chantilly six years ago, was the toast of the winner's enclosure at Longchamp on Sunday. His fellow Chantilly trainer Tim Donworth shouted “The Irish are taking over” as Hernon collected his trophy from sponsor Kieran Lalor after Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) opened her season in portentous fashion with victory in the G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Prix Vanteaux.

Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, Meridian International and Scuderia Waldeck, Dare To Dream was well bought by her trainer at €67,000 from Arqana's October Yearling Sale, especially when one considers that the mission Hernon was given by owner Dun Shing Lee was to buy a filly good enough to run in the Oaks. And that's not just any Oaks, either. Lee meant the original Oaks, at Epsom, where he was born and raised. 

So far, so good, as Dare To Dream is the only French-trained filly among the 58 entries for the Betfred Oaks on May 31. With a Classic trial under her belt, a Derby winner as a sire and Arc winner Danedream (Ger) as her aunt, she will have every right to be there. 

Another Ballysax Star?

I've always loved the Ballysax Stakes. For a particularly heady period at the turn of this century its roll of honour featured Galileo (Ire), High Chaparral (Ire) and Yeats (Ire) in just four years. It ebbs and flows, of course, but since then there have been some proper names added, such as Fame And Glory (GB), Banimpire (Ire), Fascinating Rock (Ire) and Rekindling (GB). The most recent Derby winner to emanate from the Ballysax was Harzand (Ire) in 2016. 

Dallas Star (Fr) took the 2024 Ballysax on Sunday and could be the horse to elevate the profile of his sire Cloth Of Stars (Ire), who was eighth behind Harzand at Epsom and went on to win the G1 Prix Ganay as well as finishing second and third in consecutive Arcs won by Enable (GB).

Dallas Star is another to have been sold by Monceaux, this time as a foal for breeders Eliane Dieuaide and Domaine Billard et Fils, for €30,000. He was picked up by Robson Aguiar for 50,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls and, when he failed to sell, was retained at the Craven Breeze-up Sale for 180,000gns and now runs in the Amo Racing colours, which were so narrowly vanquished in last year's Derby aboard King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

Sent off at 50/1, Dallas Star's victory was clearly not expected, and he had two better fancied rivals from Ballydoyle behind him. The third home, Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), had been sent off favourite and he is a half-brother to Debutante (Fr) (Gold Away {Fr}), dam of the above-mentioned Dare To Dream, and to Danedream.

Cloth Of Stars was also responsible for the third-placed Birr Castle (Fr) in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt. The race provided yet another triumph for Jerome Reynier, and was won by Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) on his second start for Ecurie Benaroussi Sofiane after being bought for €500,000 at Arqana's Arc Sale.

The previous weekend, Reynier, who is currently top of the French trainers' table, had enjoyed his first winner on Dubai World Cup night when Facteur Cheval (Ire) won the G1 Dubai Turf. 

Third Classic Contender for Wellenspiel

If you saddle a horse with the name Weltbeste (Ger) you'd better hope that she can live up to it, but Gestut Rottgen had something of a clue in the fact that the daughter of Soldier Hollow (GB) is a full-sister to a Deutsches Derby winner, Weltstar (Ger), and a half-sister to another, Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco Ger}). 

Now two from two in her races to date following victory at Mulheim on Sunday for Rottgen's new trainer Maxim Pecheur, Weltbeste heads the market for the G1 Preis der Diana on August 4. That's a long way off, of course, but if it seems too fantastical to imagine that their dam Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}) could produce three German Classic winners, it is worth remembering that that feat was achieved not too long ago by Sacarina (GB) (Old Vic {GB}), the dam of Samum (Ger), Schiaparelli (Ger) and Salve Regina (Ger), all sired by Monsun (Ger),

Ward Starts Ascot Hype Rolling

These days, nothing quite says spring is here like a Wesley Ward speedball rocketing from the gates to tear up the early Keeneland juvenile races and book a place on the plane for Royal Ascot.

Step forward Shoot It True, a daughter of Munnings, who claimed a TDN Rising Star with her victory in the first two-year-old race of the season after scoring in emphatic fashion by an eased-down seven and a half lengths. 

Queen Mary ahoy? It would be no surprise.

Stefano Cherchi Remembered at Santa Anita and Beyond

At Santa Anita on Saturday, Frankie Dettori stole the show as only he can do, winning six races in a row, including the GII Santa Anita Oaks aboard Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon) for his main ally Bob Baffert.

Dettori wasn't the only Italian to triumph at the 'Great Race Place', however, with Umberto Rispoli winning the GIII Monrovia S., before Antonio Fresu claimed the major race of the day, the GI Santa Anita Derby, on the Phil d'Amato-trained Stronghold (Ghostzapper). 

Of course, the Italian jockey who has been in the thoughts of racing folk the world over this week is Stefano Cherchi, who died last Wednesday, a fortnight after sustaining devastating head injuries in a race fall at Canberra, Australia. 

Fresu paid an emotional tribute to his compatriot after his first Grade I win on American soil. He said, “I want to dedicate this to my friend who passed away the other day. I felt like he was there with me today. Stefano Cherchi was an amazing guy.”

The death of Cherchi at the age of just 23 has rocked so many of his friends and colleagues in the business. In Newmarket, where the Sardinian had been based since the age of 16 with Marco Botti, the trainer said simply, “I feel like I've lost a son.”

Cherchi's former weighing-room colleague in Britain, Callum Shepherd, perhaps summed up his loss most eloquently. 

“He was not defined by his abilities in the saddle, or by the races he has won,” Shepherd said. “What defined him to us, those lucky enough to have known him, and I really do mean lucky, was the human being he was.

“He was a great friend, he was incredibly kind, and I think he thrived off making those around him happy. Certainly he was far more bothered about others than he was about himself.”

There can really be no finer tribute than that. It has been a terribly sad week, and we offer sincere condolences to Stefano Cherchi's family and friends. His life was celebrated at a remembrance mass in Sydney on Monday and another service will take place on Sunday, April 28, at Our Lady Immaculate and Saint Etheldreda Church in Newmarket. He will not be forgotten. 

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Sea The Stars Looms Large in French Covering Numbers

The mighty Sea The Stars (Ire) seems to have had more sons retired to the National Hunt stallion division than to the Flat, and he is of course represented by some notable new recruits to the stallion ranks this year in Britain in two of his most celebrated sons, Baaeed (GB) and Stradivarius (GB).

Another son, Crystal Ocean (GB), topped the charts for the number of mares covered in Britain and Ireland in 2022, though of those 338 he of course covered predominantly jump mares at the Beeches Stud in Ireland. Over in France, however, the two busiest Flat stallions were both sons of Sea the Stars, the Group 1 winners Zelzal (Fr) and Cloth Of Stars (Ire), both of whom are bred on the same cross with Kingmambo as Baaeed. Zelzal had the edge and was sent 189 mares at Haras de Bouquetot at his elevated fee of €15,000, with Cloth Of Stars covered 173 at Haras du Logis at €7,000.

The covering shed at Bouquetot was well used last spring. It may surprise some to see Hurricane Run's son Ectot (Ire) so well supported this year following early crops born from 2019 and numbering 43, 52 then 37. But his early runners, which included 'TDN Rising Star' Good Too (Fr) and the listed-placed Al Shaqab homebred Bennetot (Fr), have given his profile a real boost to the point that the well-bred dual Group/Grade 1 winner from Gerry Oldham's prolific black-type family has been lent the level of support his pedigree deserves. Ectot was the sixth busiest Flat stallion in France, and his studmate Toronado (Ire), who is still well supported in both hemispheres, was sent 148 mares. Alongside them at Bouquetot is Romanised (Ire), whose second book numbered 141, while the Group 1-winning sprinter Wooded (Fr), who is at the same stage of his stallion career, covered 112.

Galiway (GB), whose Group 1-winning son Sealiway (Fr) is just about to take up stud duties in Normandy, has taken over from Kendargent (Fr) as the most in-demand stallion at Guy Pariente's Haras de Colleville. The son of Galileo (Ire) was sent 170 mares, while Dubawi's leading son in France, the Aga Khan Studs' Zarak (Fr), a son of the great mare Zarkava (Fr), surpassed celebrated studmate Siyouni (Fr) with 159 disposals; the latter, who was French champion sire in 2021, covered 132.

At Julian Ince's Haras du Logis the stallion ranks increased by two last year, with Victor Ludorum (GB), one of Shamardal's three Group 1-winning juvenile colts of 2019 and later winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the busiest newcomer this year on 155.

In a changing landscape on the French stallion stud scene, those sires previously standing at Haras du Quesnay have moved to various pastures new, with Intello (Ger) joining Sealiway next door at Haras de Beaumont and Recoletos (Fr) moving to Haras du Petit Tellier. Goldikova's brother Anodin (Ire) had already moved last year and had a revival of fortunes in covering numbers when sent 140 mares at Haras de la Haie Neuve.

Haras d'Etreham operates a maximum book policy of 140 for its stallions, and four on the Flat roster were all in three figures, with Almanzor (Fr) on 129, Hello Youmzain (Fr) 128, Persian King (GB) 115, and City Light (Fr) 112.

The Grey Gatsby (Ire), who has been at Petit Tellier throughout his stallion career, has made an interesting start at stud with three Group 3 winners to his credit in France, Germany and Italy. His fee jumps from €8,000 to €12,000 in 2023 after a year in which he was sent 120 mares.

The final stallion who just sneaked into three-figure territory is certainly worthy of mention as the Shadwell-bred Motamarris (Ire) entered stud earlier this year just as his popular sire Le Havre (Ire) died. The latter leaves a hole in the French ranks, and Motamarris is of extra interest as he is out of an Anabaa mare of rich heritage. His dam Thamarat (GB) has two stakes-producing daughters–the dams of G1 Irish Derby winner Santiago (Ire) and treble Group 3-winning sprinter Tantheem (GB) respectively–and she is a half-sister to the underrated and now-retired Tamayuz (GB). The family also includes Group 1 winner Eshaada (GB), while Motamarris's third dam is Allez Les Trois, dam of a Classic winner and sister of two Group 1 winners, one of whom just happens to be a mare by the name of Urban Sea.

It will be very interesting to monitor the progress of Motamarris at Matthieu Talleux's Haras du Mazet near Pompadour in the heart of France. His best win was in the Listed Prix de Compiegne, but his third place behind Sottsass (Fr) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and fourth behind Persian King in the G1 Prix d'Isaphan show that he wasn't too far shy of the top level and it is good to see that he has been given support in his first year at a fee of just €1,800.

Bubbling slightly under the three-figure book mark in France this year were the Colleville father-and-son duo of Kendargent and Goken (Fr) on 80 and 87, respectively. Golden Horde (Ire) covered 84 mares at Sumbe, where he has recently been joined by Mishriff (Ire), while Gutaifan (Ire)'s move from Ireland to Haras des Faunes in south-west France brought about a book of 82, and Haras de Bonneval's Dariyan (Fr) covered 73 mares.

French Flat stallions who covered 100+ mares in 2022

Name, Mares, Sire

Zelzal (Fr) 189 Sea The Stars (Ire)

Cloth Of Stars (Ire) 173 Sea The Stars (Ire)

Galiway (GB) 170 Galileo (Ire)

Zarak (Fr) 159 Dubawi (Ire)

Victor Ludorum (GB) 155 Shamardal

Ectot (GB) 154 Hurricane Run (Ire)

Toronado (Ire) 148 High Chaparral (Ire)

Romanised (Ire) 141 Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)

Anodin (Ire) 140 Anabaa

Siyouni (Fr) 132 Pivotal (GB)

Almanzor (Fr) 129 Wootton Bassett (GB)

Hello Youmzain (Fr) 128 Kodiac (GB)

The Grey Gatsby (Ire) 120 Mastercraftsman (Ire)

Persian King (Ire) 115 Kingman (GB)

Wooded (Fr) 112 Wootton Bassett (GB)

City Light (Fr) 112 Siyouni (Fr)

Motamarris (Fr) 102 Le Havre (Ire)

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First Winner For Cloth Of Stars

Cloth Of Stars (Ire), twice placed in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a winner at the highest level when landing the Prix Ganay, enjoyed a breakthrough winner as a stallion on Monday with Kenmaya (Fr) scoring at Vichy.

Trained by Christophe Escuder, Kenmaya bagged the opening juvenile claimer over six furlongs by a short head. She was ridden by Cristian Demuro and was getting off the mark at the second attempt.

Kenmaya is just the fourth individual runner Cloth Of Stars, who stands for €7,000 at Haras du Logis, has had to hit the track in Europe. 

He himself was a winner at two. After landing his maiden on debut at Deauville, he followed up in the G3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp before signing off on his 2-year-old campaign by finishing second in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

But it was in his 4-year-old campaign that Cloth Of Stars played a starring role. A hardy performer, Cloth Of Stars got his 2017 season off to a terrific start, winning the G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud followed by the G2 Prix d'Harcourt at Chantilly en route to recording that memorable G1 Prix Ganay triumph back at Saint-Cloud. 

Just a short neck separated Cloth Of Stars and Zarak (Fr) at the winning line in that race, with admirable performers Silverware (Fr) and Hawkbill finishing behind them. 

Trained by Andre Fabre to run 20 times over four seasons, winning seven races–six of which were at Group level–and place on a further 10 occasions, the Godolphin-owned Cloth Of Stars amassed over £2,500,000 in earnings. 

He signed off on his career in 2018 after finishing just a length behind Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in third in the 2018 Arc de Triomphe and embarked on his stud career the following year.  

1st-Vichy, €17,000, Claimer, 7-18, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.24, sf.
KENMYA (FR) (f, 2, Cloth Of Stars {Ire}–Wataany {Fr}, by Linda's Lad {GB}) Sales history: €18,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, €8,500. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Scuderia Il Fino; B-Teddy Poirier, Bruno-Roland Poirier & Mlle Laetytia Poirier (FR); T-Christophe Escuder.

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Weekend Lineup: Closing Day At Keeneland, Churchill’s Stars Of Tomorrow

Keeneland's Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) on Saturday and Santa Anita's Twilight Derby (G2T) on Halloween Sunday highlight the weekend graded stakes schedule. Additionally, Belmont Park hosts Empire Showcase Day on Saturday, featuring eight New York-bred stakes and Churchill Downs offers Stars of Tomorrow I, an 11-race Halloween Sunday program dedicated exclusively to 2-year-old racing.

Races in this weekend's rundown are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews, when available, can be found through the link for each race.

TVG will feature racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Woodbine and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be broadcasting live from Belmont Park on Saturday, Oct. 30 on FS1 from 12:30 – 4:00 pm and on FS2 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. On Sunday, Oct. 31, “America's Day at the Races” will broadcast from Belmont Park on FS1 from 12:30 – 4:00 pm and on FS2 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm.

Friday, Oct. 29

5:16 PM ET – $150,000 Rubicon Valley View Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland on TVG

An overflow field of 16 was entered in the 1 1/6-mile Rubicon Valley View Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies. Trainer Kenny McPeek is represented by the duo of Crazy Beautiful, a main track multiple Grade 2 stakes winner and Grade 1 stakes placed Kentucky-bred daughter of Liam's Map, and multiple stakes winner Oliviaofthedesert, a Kentucky-bred daughter of the late Bernardini. Undefeated Lady Speightspeare, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Speightstown, won the Natalma Stakes (G1T) over Woodbine's turf course as a 2-year-old and won her only start of 2021 last month over that same course. Trainer Joseph O'Brien sends Queenship (IRE), a winner of three of four lifetime starts, for her first United States race.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE102921USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, Oct. 30

5:16 PM ET – $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on TVG

Independence Hall, fresh off a runner-up finish to NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll leader Knicks Go in last month's Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, is the morning line favorite in the nine-horse Fayette field. The Kentucky-bred son of Constitution will break from post five under Javier Castellano for trainer Michael McCarthy. Trainer Shug McGaughey has entered Code of Honor, a multiple-Grade 1 winner and earner of nearly $3 million. Tyler Gaffalione will ride the Kentucky-bred son of Noble Mission (GB).

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE103021USA9-EQB.html

7:08 PM ET – $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita on TVG

Zero Tolerance, winner of two of three career starts, looks for her first graded stakes win in the one-mile Autumn Miss (G3T) for trainer Peter Miller. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Mizzen Mast rallied late to win the listed Unzip Me Stakes earlier this month over Santa Anita's downhill turf course. Ego Trip (IRE), a maiden in three starts and trained by Brendan Walsh, finished third to Technical Analysis (IRE) in Saratoga's Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) in August.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA103021USA8-EQB.html

Sunday, Oct. 31

3:49 PM ET – $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park on FS1

A four-time winner in seven 2021 starts, Plainsman enters the seven-furlong Bold Ruler off a win in the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, the Kentucky-bred son of Flatter will visit his sixth track this year. Wonderwherecraigis crossed the line first last out in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes (G3) but was disqualified for interference with a rival in the stretch and placed second. The Brittany Russell-trained gelding has won three of five starts this year.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL103121USA7-EQB.html

4:30 PM ET – $150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine on TVG

A field of eight 3-year-olds is entered in the 1-1/8-mile main track Ontario Derby (G3). Ontario-bred Riptide Rock was upset as the favorite by 25-1 shot British Royalty in Woodbine's Breeders' Stakes last month. Sid Attard, a Canadian Hall of Fame inductee, trains the Point of Entry gelding for Stronach Stables. Swot Analysis returned from a nearly 10-month layoff to win a seven-furlong allowance race over Woodbine's All Weather Track in his last start. The Louisiana-bred Anchor Down colt is trained by and will be making just his fifth career start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO103121CAN8-EQB.html

8:00 PM ET – $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita on TVG

This year's Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner, Rock Your World, returns to the turf for the first time after beginning his career a perfect two for two on the surface earlier this year. The Kentucky-bred son of Candy Ride (ARG) ran unplaced in both the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) before finishing second most recently to Medina Spirit in Del Mar's Shared Belief Stakes. California-bred None Above the Law enters the 1-1/8-mile Twilight Derby off consecutive wins, including the Del Mar Derby presented by Caesars Sportsbook (G2) most recently. The Karakontie (JPN) gelding has won half of his 10 stars in 2021.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA103121USA10-EQB.html

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