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Zoffany’s Thunder Moon a New Rising Star At The Curragh

Sunday’s seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at The Curragh looked as if it could be storing something exciting beforehand and so it proved as Anne Marie O’Brien’s Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) exploded onto the scene to earn TDN Rising Star status. Keen early tracking the leading trio, the 10-1 shot who had won a Dundalk barrier trial July 29 travelled with supreme ease once Declan McDonogh had got a grip on him. Given the command approaching the final furlong, the homebred split rivals and surged to the front soon after and was pushed out to put 3 3/4 lengths between him and the solid yardstick Colour Sergeant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), with Ballydoyle’s Baton Rouge (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a length away in third.

“I think he’s a smart horse. He went to a barrier trial a couple of weeks ago and did it well,” Joseph O’Brien’s representative Brendan Powell commented. “He’s typical of a Zoffany, very relaxed and a lovely-natured horse. He’s got a lot of filling out to do. Declan said he didn’t even have to hit him. He was just niggling him and as soon as he really grabbed hold of him, gave him a squeeze, he picked up and found that turn of foot. That’s a good asset to have. He’ll make up into a lovely three-year-old. He stays the trip well and he’s got a good future.”

Thunder Moon’s unraced Moyglare Stud-bred dam Small Sacrifice (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) was bought by Anne Marie O’Brien for just €18,000 at the 2007 Goffs November Mares Sale. She has subsequently produced the Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. winner Table Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was later renamed Anticipation (Ire) in Hong Kong, SW-Eng, SP-HK, $643,136. Small Sacrifice is a half to the G3 Horris Hill S. third Aahaykid (Ire) (Intikhab) and is a full-sister to Out of Thanks (Ire) who produced the G3 Sirenia S. winner Love Lockdown (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}). Another of her half-siblings Tiny Petal (Ire) (Grand Lodge) threw the G1 Criterium International hero Vert de Grece (Ire) also by Verglas. The third dam is the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Trusted Partner (Affirmed), whose leading performer was the high-class GI Matriarch S. heroine Dress To Thrill (Ire) (Danehill) and her full-sister Polished Gem (Ire). She in turn is responsible for six black-type winners, including the G1 Prince of Wales’s S.-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), last year’s G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G2 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Small Sacrifice also has a yearling colt by Caravaggio.

1st-Curragh, €16,500, Mdn, 8-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.67, gd.
THUNDER MOON (IRE), c, 2, by Zoffany (Ire)
1st Dam: Small Sacrifice (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Trust In Luck (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Trusted Partner, by Affirmed
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,667. O-Mrs A M O’Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O’Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Back-To-Back Tattersalls Gold Cups For Magical

With racemares like Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), there is a sense of point-and-shoot and Wayne Lordan had little trouble in steering her to a sixth top-level success in Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh. Sent to the front almost from the outset, the 2-9 favourite merely had to repeat her effort when winning the course-and-distance G1 Pretty Polly S. June 28 and she gave generously to issue another beating to over-matched rivals. Kicking off the home turn, she stayed on strongly as expected as stablemate Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) earned second, 2 1/4 lengths behind. He was in turn two lengths ahead of last year’s G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was putting up her best effort of 2020. “It went perfectly–she’s top-class,” Lordan said. “She’s very straightforward and gets into a lovely rhythm–she went by the line not in top gear. She’s a massive mare to ride and has a big, powerful action so with a small field with not a whole lot of pace I opted to keep it simple. I was riding the best horse and she’s uncomplicated with a great attitude. As we know, she can fight when she has to but she hasn’t had to in her last two starts.”

Were it not for Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Magical would have another three group 1s to boast of and in this era of the supermares she stands as one of the trailblazers for her sex. Her career has particularly taken off since September, when she captured the first leg of a notable G1 Irish-English Champion S. double at Leopardstown. Forcing connections into keeping her in training for one more season, she now has four group 1 wins from her last five starts and has justified that decision in no uncertain terms. Now that she is accustomed to making her own running, it could be that she is able to put it up to the Juddmonte sensation the next time their paths cross.

Lordan is of the opinion that the change in tactics is beneficial. “She jumped and she bowled away, she has a big easy action. She made it the last day and zinged along, today she was a little bit more relaxed out there in front,” he added. “I felt if anyone got to me, it would only help me. From the minute you sit on her till you get off, she feels like she has a presence. She’s a high-quality filly and she is definitely up there with the top ones, we know that by her form.”
Aidan O’Brien was at home and told the Racing Post, “She is a great mare. The only reason she is here now is because of the progress she made over the winter and she had progressed again from the Pretty Polly, so we are delighted the lads kept her in training. She might get a little bit of an easy time of it now, but the options would be the [G1] Juddmonte International and the [G1] Irish Champion Stakes. She could wait for the Irish Champion, but we’ll see.”

Magical’s dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was bred by Trevor Stewart, won the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. and is making her own special mark within the Coolmore broodmare band. Covered by Galileo throughout her second career, she has produced the G1 Lockinge S., G1 Fillies Mile and G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Rhododendron (Ire), as well as the G3 International S. scorer Flying the Flag (Ire). Halfway To Heaven is out of Stewart’s triple group-winning sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who also produced the G3 Summer S. scorer Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire). She has become a star producer in her own right, throwing the GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo S. heroine Photo Call (Ire) from a mating with Galileo and also the G2 Richmond S. scorer Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never). Halfway To Heaven’s daughter Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) raced for her owner-breeder and took the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S.

The third dam Rahaam (Secreto) was responsible for the notable sire Verglas (Ire) and the listed scorer Persian Secret (Fr) (Persian Heights {GB}), who is the ancestress of several classy performers. Her daughters Seba (GB) (Alzao) and Do the Honours (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}) were decent types, with the former capturing the Listed Chesham S. and finishing third in the GI Mother Goose S. and Do the Honours winning the G3 Prix de Meautry. The latter is the second dam of the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) by Galileo’s son Teofilo (Ire). Halfway To Heaven also has a yearling full-brother to Magical.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP-G1, €250,000, Curragh, 7-26, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:10.39, g/y.
1–MAGICAL (IRE), 135, m, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ire, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire, G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
O-Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €150,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng & GISP-US, 23-11-6-0, $4,631,071. *Full to Rhododendron (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 7-9.5f, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-USA, $1,786,763; Flying the Flag (IRE), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sir Dragonet (Ire), 138, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Sparrow (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €50,000.
3–Search For A Song (Ire), 135, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Polished Gem (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €25,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2, HF. Odds: 0.22, 18.00, 50.00.
Also Ran: Armory (Ire), Leo de Fury (Ire), Buckhurst (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Raven’s Pass’s Lemista Takes the Kilboy Estate

Ger Lyons had suffered a rare downturn at The Curragh’s weekend meeting when Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was overturned in the G2 Airlie Stud S., but the Irish Oaks-winning trainer was straight back in the game with Peter Brant’s Lemista (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) in Sunday’s G2 Kilboy Estate S. Causing an upset when upstaging Saturday’s Classic heroine Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G3 Park Express S. over a mile at Naas Mar. 23, the bay had confirmed her class when adding the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. to her tally over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park June 19 and fortunately knew nothing of the new expectations racing in these colours for the first time. If Colin Keane was aware of the pressure, he gave little away as he reserved the 3-1 second favourite towards the back before launching her to take control 150 yards from the post. At the line, she had 3/4 of a length to spare over Lovelier (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Kiss For a Jewel (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) half a length behind in third.

“There is no question she’s a good filly and she proved that Naas wasn’t a fluke,” Lyons said.”At home she doesn’t show this and nor does the filly yesterday. She wants soft ground and has been doing it on conditions which don’t suit her. I always thought at this stage she’d be running over 12 furlongs and it’s testament to her ability that she is winning this over nine. She has oodles of class and the same sort of profile as Even So and Yaxeni. They are three fillies I’m looking forward to as 4-year-olds. We took the view there was no point in having three in the Oaks yesterday when she had a nice chance today.”
Lyons is looking at Champions Day for his star duo and added, “My advice to her new owners would be that she should stay here and enjoy the fillies’ programme until at least the end of next year, as she will get her conditions here. Even So will probably have a prep after a break and then go for the Ascot race [the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S.] and this filly could go for the same race. At that time of the year the ground could be heavy and this one will handle it as will Yaxeni.”

Lemista’s dam Shortmile Lady (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) is a half to the G3 Prix de Meautry winner Indian Maiden (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), in turn responsible for the G3 World Trophy winner Maid In India (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) and the dual listed scorer and G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis runner-up Love Spirit (GB) (Elusive City). From the family of the Listed Surrey S. winner and G3 Sirenia S.-placed Lake Volta (Ire) also by Raven’s Pass, Lemista descends from All Rainbows (Bold Hour) who produced the GI Kentucky Derby heroine Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}) and is a half-sister to the US Fillies’ Triple Crown-winning champion Chris Evert (Swoon Son). She in turn is the ancestress of the eight-times grade I-winning champion sire Chief’s Crown and the GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Hometown Queen (Pleasant Colony). Shortmile Lady also has the unraced Richard Hannon-trained 2-year-old filly Mummy Bear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), a yearling colt by Australia (GB) purchased by JC Bloodstock for 58,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and a colt foal by Zoffany (Ire).

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
KILBOY ESTATE S.-G2, €94,400, Curragh, 7-19, 3yo/up, f, 9fT, 1:58.76, gd.
1–LEMISTA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Raven’s Pass
1st Dam: Shortmile Lady (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jinsiyah, by Housebuster
3rd Dam: Minifah, by Nureyev
(€16,000 Wlg ’17 GOFNOV). O-Peter M Brant; B-Drumlin Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €48,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, $144,740. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lovelier (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Laddies Poker Two (Ire), by Choisir (Aus). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €16,000.
3–Kiss For A Jewel (Ire), 137, f, 4, Kingman (GB)–Sapphire (Ire), by Medicean (GB). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €8,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, HF. Odds: 3.00, 4.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Crotchet (GB), One Voice (Ire), Snapraeceps (Ire), Cerro Bayo (Ire), Ridenza (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Raven’s Pass’s Lemista Takes the Kilboy Estate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A’Ali Bags the Sapphire

Forced to race on his own in Sunday’s G2 Holden Plant Rentals Sapphire S. at The Curragh, Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa’s burgeoning sprinting star A’Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) was admirably uncomplicated as he secured a fifth pattern-race success. Coming here on the back of a first 3-year-old success in a competitive renewal of the July 5 G3 Sandown Sprint S., the even-money favourite was detached from the main field early and out on a limb but was fortunately able to benefit from the guile and confidence of Colin Keane. Ploughing a lone furrow as Make a Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) dominated the majority of the runners on the far side, he stayed straight and true to reel in that rival in the last 75 yards for a length success, with the outsider Rapid Reaction (Ire) (Shamardal) clinging on for a valuable placing 1 3/4 lengths behind. “He’s a very speedy horse,” Keane commented. “I thought at one stage that I was in trouble. It wasn’t by design that I was away from the main group and it would have been better to get a tow into the race, but I felt I was on a fresh strip of ground. He’s very straightforward and feels like a group 1 horse.”

A’Ali, who has now won this and the G2 Norfolk S., G2 Prix Robert Papin and G2 Flying Childers S. as well as the G3 Sprint S., was like the juvenile Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) emerging from the day as a likely thorn in the side of the established speed monarch Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Nunthorpe S. His dam Motion Lass (GB) (Motivator {GB}) is a half-sister to the G3 Darley S. winner and G1 Coronation Cup-placed Enforcer (GB) (Efisio {GB}). The third dam is the GIII Tempted S. scorer Willowy Mood (Will Win), who is related to the triple grade III winner OK By Me (With Approval) and the GIII Royal Palm H. winner D J’s Rainbow (Tom Rolfe) and the triple grade I hero Sea Cadet (Bolger). Motion Lass’s yearling filly is by Cotai Glory (GB).

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
HOLDEN PLANT RENTALS SAPPHIRE S.-G2, €80,000, Curragh, 7-19, 3yo/up, 5fT, :59.85, g/y.
1–A’ALI (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Society Rock (Ire)
1st Dam: Motion Lass (GB), by Motivator (GB)
2nd Dam: Tarneem, by Zilzal
3rd Dam: Willowy Mood, by Will Win
(£35,000 Ylg ’18 GOUKPR; £135,000 2yo ’19 GOFBRE). O-Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-Colin Keane. €48,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Eng & GSW-Fr, 9-5-1-0, $300,367. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Make A Challenge (Ire), 135, g, 5, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Crinoline, by Street Cry (Ire). (£6,500 2yo ’17 GOYHIT). O-M G Hogan, Walter O’Connor & James Joseph Reilly; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Denis Hogan. €16,000.
3–Rapid Reaction (Ire), 132, m, 5, Shamardal–Bratislava (GB), by Dr Fong. O/B/T-John Grogan (IRE). €8,000.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 1.50, 33.00.
Also Ran: Punita Arora (Ire), American Lady (Ire), Southern Hills (Ire), Wheels On Fire (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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