Dark Angel (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dark Angel’s Angel Bleu On Top In The Criterium International

Marc Chan's 2-year-old colt Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) backed up a win in Goodwood's July 27 G2 Vintage S. in July with a career high in this month's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp and doubled his elite-level tally with a game victory in Saturday's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. The Listed Pat Eddery S. runner-up had earlier collected wins at Salisbury and Pontefract and, in the absence of late scratching Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), went postward as the 17-10 second choice for the one-mile test. Steadied to race off the tempo at the tail of the six-runner field, he was angled to the outside off the home turn and kept on strongly once launching his challenge with 350 metres remaining to deny the rallying Lagardere third Ancient Rome (War Front) by a head.

“He really is extraordinary and you don't get horses like this very often,” said Ralph Beckett. “We haven't had one like him and I'd say the softest part of him is his tooth enamel. He's danced every dance and I thought [racing manager] Jamie McCalmont summed it up very well earlier in the week when he said it's a privilege to be involved with him. It really is a privilege, horses like this don't come along very often and I'm very proud of him. He had a tough race in the Lagardere and he really does have the most extraordinary constitution. Any horse that can do what he's done has to have a fantastic constitution. Soft ground is very important to him and the form book tells you that. Whatever happens next, he's done it twice inside a month in a different country, which takes a lot of doing.”

Looking ahead to Classic targets for next year, the trainer added, “If I was going to bet on it, at this stages I'd say he's likely to turn up at Longchamp [for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains] rather than Newmarket [for the G1 2000 Guineas]”

Angel Bleu, half-brother to a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr) and one of nine Group 1 winners for his sire (by Acclamation {GB}), is the first of two foals produced by a full-sister to MG1SW sire Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His dam Cercle de La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of G2 South Australian Oaks runner-up Hveger (Aus) (Danehill), is also a full-sister to G1 Caulfield S. hero Cape of Good Hope (Ire), MG1SP G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G2 Hardwicke S. victor Idaho (Ire) and G3 Ballysax S. victor Nobel Prize (Ire). The February-foaled bay's G1 Australia Oaks-winning third dam Circles of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}) threw MG1SW Australian champions Elvstroem (Aus) (Danehill) and Haradasun (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus). Circles of Gold is the leading performer for Olympic Aim (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}), whose descendants include MG1SW sire Starspangledbanner (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) and G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas victrix Amicus (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-23, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:44.40, vsf.
1–ANGEL BLEU (FR), 126, c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Cercle de la Vie (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hveger (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Circles of Gold (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
(€120,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Marc Chan; B-Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock (FR); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Frankie Dettori. €142,850. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 7-4-1-1, €492,051. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ancient Rome, 126, c, 2, War Front–Gagnoa (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Andre Fabre. €57,150.
3–Purplepay (Fr), 122, f, 2, Zarak (Fr)–Piedra (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (€100,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois; B-Mme Lisa Lemiere Dubois (FR); T-Cedric Rossi. €28,575.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 1.70, 1.20, 4.30.
Also Ran: Aikhal (Ire), Toimy Son (Fr), Oscula (Ire). Scratched: Glounthaune (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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MGISW Raging Bull to Gainesway in 2022

Multiple Grade I winner Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Rosa Bonheur, by Mr. Greeley) will stand the 2022 season at Gainesway Farm following his retirement from racing. The winner of this season's GI Maker's Mark Mile is expected to make his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Raging Bull will enter stud in 2022 with an advertised fee of $10,000 LFSN.

“Raging Bull is a knockout physically,” said Gainesway General Manager Brian Graves. “His six triple digit Beyer speed figures and his performances over 14 Grade I events are impressive. His sire, Dark Angel, has become one of the most influential sires in International racing.”

Included among his black-type victories at three, Raging Bull took the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S., GIII Saranac S. and Del Mar's GI Hollywood Derby. At four, he made five starts, all in Grade I company, placing in the GI Manhattan S., GII Fourstardave H. and GI Woodbine Mile. The Chad Brown trainee returned last season to capture the Shoemaker Mile in addition to placing in the Maker's Mark Mile and GI Shadwell Turf Mile S. at Keeneland.

“Raging Bull (FR) is the best-looking horse I have ever trained,” said Brown. “He has run fast numbers at many different tracks, winning Grade I's in three different years, the ultimate confirmation of incredible soundness.”

Bred by Dayton Investments Limited, he was campaigned by by Peter Brant. The French-bred accounted for seven wins from 21 lifetime starts, encompassing 18 consecutive starts in graded stakes company, and finishing in the top three in nine of 14 Grade I events.

“I am extremely bullish on his chances at stud. We are excited to be partnering with Gainesway on Raging Bull and will be supporting him strongly with our mares,” said Brant.

To view Raging Bull's digital flipbook: https://gainesway.com/stallions/ragingbull/

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Dual Grade I Winner Althiqa Retired

Godolphin homebred Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}– Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal), a dual Grade I winner, has been retired for broodmare duty, trainer Charlie Appleby announced on Tuesday.

“We've retired Althiqa,” Appleby told Dubai Racing Channel's Michael Adolphson in an interview. “There were no more options for her. She could have gone to Del Mar, there's a Grade II on the card there, but bless her, she owes us nothing. She's pulled up safe and sound and she'll head to the breeding shed.”

A winner of her only start at two at Thirsk, the grey took the Listed Prix Amandine and was placed at Group 3 level three times last year from six starts. It was at four, however, that the daughter of Listed Boadicea Fillies S. heroine Mistrusting, who also bore the royal blue, really shone, taking the G2 Cape Verdi at Meydan in January prior to running third in the G2 Balanchine there in February.

Given some time off, she shipped Stateside and defeated stablemate Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the GI Just a Game S. at Belmont Park in June. Brought back for Saratoga's GI Diana S., Althiqa once again had Summer Romance back in second on July 17. Her final start was a fourth after some traffic issues in the GI First Lady S. at Keeneland on Oct. 9. A granddaughter of G2 Cherry Hinton S. heroine and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Misheer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), she retires with a mark of 12-6-2-3 and $761,213 in earnings.

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Dark Angel’s Angel Bleu Pounces For Jean-Luc Lagardere Triumph

Unseen since annexing Goodwood's G2 Vintage S. in July, Marc Chan's 2-year-old colt Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), dented a host of lofty reputations and pounced late for a game success in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere – Grand Criterium at ParisLongchamp. The Listed Pat Eddery S. runner-up had snagged two low-key heats, at Salisbury and Pontefract, in his first four starts and was sent postward as an 11-2 chance for the seven-furlong test. Steadied at the break to race off the pace in a midfield sixth along the rail, he responded to Frankie Dettori's continued urgings in the straight to go second approaching the final furlong and kept on relentlessly under a late drive to deny Godolphin's pacesetting Listed Flying Scotsman S. winner Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) by 3/4-of-a-length nearing the line. Coolmore and Westerberg's 12-5 favourite Ancient Rome (War Front) came from off the pace with a late rattle, but was unable to catch the front two and finished the same margin back in third.

“We felt the bend really helped him at Goodwood and the bend helped him again today because he can be quite exuberant,” explained trainer Ralph Beckett. “We came for the ground, it all fell into place today, this is my first Group 1 win in France and it couldn't have worked out any better. It was tough as he had to go and get the other horse and then put it to bed. We were always going to come here after Goodwood, he's tough and it's all worked out. He has been great to train from day one and he's really been very straightforward. He's been brilliantly managed, [owner] Marc Chan is a very easy guy to deal with and he has taken the advice of Jamie McCalmont, who has called it right all along.”

Looking ahead to future targets, the trainer didn't commit to punching a “Win-And-You're-In” ticket to the Breeders' Cup and added, “The Breeders' Cup is a possibility, but there's not much soft ground in Del Mar. It was soft at Newmarket on Saturday, he's still in the [G1] Dewhurst [next Saturday] and I wouldn't rule that out. He's backed up quickly before and when they're in good form and the ball's at your feet it's always a good idea to kick it.”

For Frankie Dettori, it was some measure of compensation having missed on a ride in the Arc following the withdrawal of Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “I had a good draw and a good race,” claimed the rider after registering a third win in the contest. “I waited until the false straight before making my move and I always knew that we were going to win. I don't have a ride in the Arc, unfortunately, but winning a Group 1 race on this card is always special. I'm delighted for the owner, Marc Chan, who is a newcomer to racing and has acquired several horses with a view to winning the Hong Kong Derby.”

“I'm delighted and it's definitely a step up from where we've been,” said Charlie Appleby after Noble Truth had made a bold attempt to win from the front. “We've tried to hold on to him before, but he's a fairly keen horse so we tried a different tack today. We tried it at home in midweek before we decided to come here. We let him roll on the front end of a gallop and they couldn't get to him and he very nearly pulled it off today. We'll see how he comes out of it and we'll see where we are. I thought we might go to Saint-Cloud [for the one-mile Oct. 23 G1 Criterium International] with him. We know he'll handle conditions there so we might have a look at that.”

Rider Mickael Barzalona was of the opinion the draw was the most significant factor, and not the heavy going, in contributing to the defeat of Ancient Rome and elaborated, “Ancient Rome ran well and was not hampered by the ground judging by the way that he finished his race. We would have preferred to have been drawn on the inside, but, unfortunately, we were forced to deal with his number nine draw.”

Angel Bleu, half-brother to a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr), becomes the ninth Group 1 winner for his sire and is the first of two foals produced by a full-sister to MG1SW sire Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His dam Cercle de La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of G2 South Australian Oaks runner-up Hveger (Aus) (Danehill), is also full to G1 Caulfield S. hero Cape of Good Hope (Ire), MG1SP G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G2 Hardwicke S. victor Idaho (Ire) and G3 Ballysax S. victor Nobel Prize (Ire). The February-foaled bay's G1 Australia Oaks-winning third dam Circles of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}) threw MG1SW Australian champions Elvstroem (Aus) (Danehill) and Haradasun (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus). Circles of Gold is the leading performer for Olympic Aim (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}), whose descendants include MG1SW sire Starspangledbanner (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) and G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas victrix Amicus (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE (GRAND CRITERIUM)-G1, €400,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-3, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:24.58, hy.
1–ANGEL BLEU (FR), 126, c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Cercle de la Vie (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hveger (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Circles of Gold (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€120,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Marc Chan; B-Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock (FR); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Frankie Dettori. €228,560. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 7-4-1-1, €349,201. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Noble Truth (Fr), 126, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Speralita (Fr), by Frankel (GB). (€1,100,000 Ylg '20 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Charlie Appleby. €91,440.
3–Ancient Rome, 126, c, 2, War Front–Gagnoa (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Andre Fabre. €45,720.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, SNK. Odds: 5.50, 6.40, 2.40.
Also Ran: Accakaba (Ire), The Wizard of Eye (Ire), Stone Age (Ire), Rocchigiani (GB), Ebro River (Ire), Arnis Master (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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