O’Brien Charts Course for River Tiber, Kyprios

Aidan O'Brien confirmed TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) remains on track for Sunday's G1 Prix Morny at Deauville despite missing a piece of work two weeks ago. Campaigned by Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg and Brant, the juvenile was last seen winning the June 20 G1 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot.

“The plan is to run River Tiber [this weekend],” O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing. “He had a setback a couple of weeks ago so there will be a cloud over him when we do run him as we're a bit worried about his fitness, but the plan at the moment is to run.

A runaway winner in his career bow at Navan Apr. 22, the colt followed up with another victory at Naas May 21.

O'Brien continued, “He had a hold-up and missed his second-last piece of work so he had that week off, but he did a piece of work this week so that gave him a chance to go.

“He seems to be in good form since, but the ground that we lost you couldn't make back up with him.”

O'Brien also indicated MG1SW Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), last year's Gold Cup winner, may mark his return in the Sept. 10 G1 Irish St Leger. The chestnut was last seen destroying his rivals in the G1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp Oct. 1.

“Kyprios was at the Curragh for a canter last weekend after racing and that went well. He seems to have come out of that well,” said O'Brien. “We're looking at maybe starting at the [Irish] Leger, but that's a tough enough race to come back in so we'd be hoping he could run a good race, come out of it OK and then have a look at something on Arc weekend, something like that, because you couldn't expect him to perform at his best after such a traumatic year. If it all went well we could look at next year with him.”

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No Nay Mets Headlines Skidmore

Coming in off a gate-to-wire victory in the Tyro S. on July 30, No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) looks to extend his record to three-for-four in Friday's Skidmore S. at Saratoga. Trainer George Weaver was so impressed with his juvenile pupil's recent performance at Monmouth Park that he decided to send the two-time stakes winner to another start less than three weeks after seeing the winner's circle.

“It's hard early on with these 2-year-old races to know exactly what you're running against, but when you win by five lengths, that's a pretty big margin sprinting on the grass,” Weaver said of the Tyro win. “He just sprinted away from those guys in the stretch. He's always had a bunch of quality.”

A Coolmore-bred colt out the Group 3 winner Etoile (War Front)–whose family includes GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) under the second dam–No Nay Mets was originally slated as a pinhook prospect for Houston Astros All-Star Alex Bregman when he was purchased for €180,000 at the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Although the juvenile posted a :20 4/5 breeze at the OBS Spring Sale, bidding stalled at $335,000.

Retained by his original buyer, No Nay Mets was sent to Weaver, who was tasked with preparing him for the Royal Palm Juvenile S. just a few weeks after the sale.

“He went straight from the sale to me and he's been straightforward and a very smart colt from day one,” said Weaver. “We never really had to rush him with his gate work. We shipped him to Gulfstream to work out of the gate. We shipped him to run at Gulfstream. We shipped him to England. Nothing fazed him.”

No Nay Mets was a frontrunning 3 1/2-length winner at Gulfstream, where he earned an automatic berth to compete at Royal Ascot, but the colt did not fare as well as his stablemate Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) at the prestigious meet. After failing to get the same speedy start he had shown on debut, he settled for ninth in the G2 Norfolk S.

“He didn't get away and wasn't able to cut the pace that day,” said his conditioner. “I think his speed is his asset. He came back at Monmouth and we used his speed and it just worked out a lot better.”

Owners Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Carbrera are hoping that their star can come back with a similar performance at Saratoga, but a rainy forecast Friday morning could put a damper on their plans.

“I would prefer not to run him under unfavorable circumstances,” admitted Weaver. “He's been so good to us and he just won. We're coming back on a short rest, but I'll just have to talk with Alex and we'll do what we think is best.”

For now, morning-line favorite No Nay Mets is slated to race from the seven position in a 10-horse Skidmore. The field also includes Mike Maker's Ship Cadet (Midshipman), who was second to No Nay Mets in the Tyro. Stonestreet Stables' Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was impressive in his debut at Keeneland this spring, but he finished a disappointing 11th in the G2 Coventry S. at Ascot. The MyRacehorse colorbearer Seize the Grey (Arrogate) will make his turf debut coming off a maiden win in the slop for D. Wayne Lukas on July 29 at Saratoga.

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Dettori High on Mostahdaf for Juddmonte International

Jockey Frankie Dettori expects Shadwell's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to offer a significant challenge to Westerberg, Brant and Coolmore's four-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) when the pair meet up in next week's G1 Juddmonte International at York, the rider told Nick Luck on the presenter's Daily Podcast Monday.

Dettori is deputising for regular jockey Jim Crowley, who will be sidelined while suspended for his winning ride aboard Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. on July 29.

“I rode him the other morning and he is a beautiful specimen of a horse,” Dettori said of Mostahdaf. “He's strong and has got a lovely stride. He doesn't overdo himself in the mornings, but we know exactly what he can do and I'm excited. What he did in the [June 21] Prince of Wales's, I was pretty taken, so he's going to be there with every chance.”

And while confident in the John and Thady Gosden-trained 5-year-old, the veteran reinsman indicated his utmost respect Ballydole's stable star, who is riding a six-race win skein into the 1 5/16-mile event.

“He's a good horse,” Dettori said. “The [Aug. 2] Sussex was a non-event, but Paddington is still–he put Chaldean to bed in the [June 20] St James's Palace, when I was second, in good style and he beat Emily [Upjohn] (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), so he is the best 3-year-old around at the moment.

“But I think this is his test now, he's taking on a four-length winner of the Prince of Wales's. It's going to be a different race to what he's faced (before), but I have no doubt he is a good horse because it looks like he only does what he has to do and he looks like he's still got something in the locker.

“We will give him a race and see what happens.”

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Grey Man Adds Lustre To Banner Weekend For Wootton Bassett In The Francois Boutin

Patrice Cottier trainee Grey Man (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Top Toss {Ire}, by Linamix {Fr}), successful in two of three prior outings, headed postward with crowd confidence for Sunday's G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville and returned to the winner's enclosure with a first black-type rosette having dominated late in the seven-furlong test.

The 6-5 favourite accepted a tow in second after breaking on the lead and settled into a comfortable rhythm through halfway. Looming large going well approaching the quarter-mile pole, he was beyond recall once wresting the initiative from Mythology (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) with 300 metres remaining and was easily on top in the latter stages as that rival rallied to finish one length down at the line. Listed Criterium du Bequet third Kumite (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) fared best of the remainder and finished six lengths back in third.

 

 

“We were convinced beforehand that the horse had a great chance,” said owner Jean-Philippe Dubois. “He had improved again from his last run and today it looked like he had the race won two out. He has won over 6 3/4 [furlongs], seven [furlongs] today and a mile last time, so he is quite versatile. For sure, he is a very good one. We shall see how he comes out of the race and then we'll decide what will be next. Right now I don't know, but there are plenty of opportunities.”

Grey Man had opened up with a June 3 debut score over 6 3/4 furlongs at Lyon Parilly and suffered a narrow defeat back there later in June before regaining the winning habit upped to one mile at Clairefontaine last month. His victory here adds lustre to a banner weekend for Wootton Bassett, whose Bucanero Fuerte (GB) hit the heights in Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at the Curragh.

Pedigree Notes
Grey Man, who becomes the 25th pattern-race winner for his sire, is the eighth of nine foals and one of four winners produced by G3 Prix d'Aumale and G3 Prix de Psyche victrix Top Toss (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}), herself out of Listed Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Tossup (Gone West). The January-foaled bay is a half-brother to dual Group 3-winning G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Coronation S. second Lesstalk In Paris (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Dastarhon (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and a yearling filly by Le Havre (Ire). He hails from the family of GI E P Taylor S. runner-up Tigertail (Fr) (Priolo) and his fifth dam Bold Consort (Bold Ruler) is a full-sister to US champion juvenile and leading sire Bold Lad.

Sunday, Deauville, France
CIRCUS MAXIMUS PRIX FRANCOIS BOUTIN-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 8-13, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.36, g/s.
1–GREY MAN (FR), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Top Toss (Ire) (MGSW-Fr, $240,020), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Tossup, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Tovalop, by Northern Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€39,000 RNA Wlg '21 ARQDEC; €60,000 RNA Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Julien Dubois & Jean-Philippe Dubois; B-Ecurie Skymarc Farm (FR); T-Patrice Cottier; J-Marvin Grandin. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €73,900. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mythology (Ire), 126, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Rely On Me (Ire), by Kyllachy (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (62,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; 320,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Teme Valley; B-E Smith & Cloneymore Farm (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €16,000.
3–Kumite (GB), 126, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nawassi (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (100,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA; €200,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Mme Erika Gilliar; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Jerome Reynier. €12,000.
Margins: 1, 6, 4. Odds: 1.20, 7.60, 4.30.
Also Evade (Fr), Majestic One (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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