Tag: Darley

Shamardal’s Earthlight Back With A Bang In France

Recovered from an injury which forced the abandonment of any and all plans for this term’s rescheduled one-mile Classics, the belated reintroduction of Godolphin’s homebred Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) in Sunday’s Listed Qatar Prix Kistena at Deauville was as straightforward as starting odds of 2-5 might suggest and the Andre Fabre trainee maintained his perfect record, going six-for-six, with an impressive 2 1/2-length dismissal of Wanaway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the six-furlong dash. Settled under cover in sixth after an alert departure from the outside stall, last term’s G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. hero eased into the clear at halfway and was hard on the steel until shaken up for control passing the eighth pole, powering clear with familiar gusto to score by daylight.

“It is a relief to see him win like he did,” said Godolphin’s Lisa Jane Graffard. “He was relaxed and very professional and you can see that the quality is still there. It has been almost a year off, but the lockdown and the setback might have been a blessing in disguise as it gave him more time to grow and mature. We will see how he comes out of the race and Sheikh Mohamed and Andre Fabre will decide on his near future.”

Earthlight is the first foal bred from G1 Fillies’ Mile runner-up Winters Moon (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), whose own dam Summertime Legacy (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) took the G3 Prix des Reservoirs and ran third in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary. Summertime Legacy has four stakes performers to her credit, headed by G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victor Mandaean (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Wavering (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}). Summertime Legacy is herself the leading performer for Zawaahy (El Gran Senor), who in turn is kin to G1 Epsom Derby hero Golden Fleece (Nijinsky) and the stakes-producing Listed Modesty H. victrix Office Wife (Secretariat). From a family featuring GI Belmont S.-winning sire Jaipur (Nasrullah) and GSW sire Be My Guest (Northern Dancer), Winters Moon has a 2-year-old filly by Dubawi (Ire) and a yearling full-sister to Earthlight to come.

Sunday, Deauville, France
QATAR PRIX KISTENA-Listed, €38,000, Deauville, 7-12, 3yo, 6fT, 1:10.29, gd.
1–EARTHLIGHT (IRE), 123, c, 3, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Winters Moon (Ire) (G1SP-Eng), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Summertime Legacy (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Zawaahy, by El Gran Senor
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €19,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & Fr, 6-6-0-0, €463,835.
2–Wanaway (Fr), 125, f, 3, Galiway (GB)–Matwan (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB). O/B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €7,600.
3–Crew Dragon (Fr), 123, c, 3, Poet’s Voice (GB)–Vintage Red (Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire). (€75,000 RNA Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O/B-Berend van Dalfsen (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €5,700.
Margins: 2HF, 1HF, 1. Odds: 0.40, 16.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Queen Kahlua (GB), Hurricane Ivor (Ire), Gadea (Ire), Jolie (Fr), Additional (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Dubawi’s Master of the Seas Dominant In the Superlative

Newmarket’s G2 bet365 Superlative S. was the launchpad for Dubawi (Ire) in 2004 and 16 years on his son Master of the Seas (Ire) came to the fore in the latest edition on Saturday. Sent off at 4-1 having won a soft-ground maiden over this seven-furlong trip on the Rowley Mile June 18, the bay tracked the pace up the centre and was travelling with menace when sent forward apporaching the final two furlongs. In front soon after, he drew away to score with authority by three lengths from Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), with Seventh Kingdom (GB) (Frankel {GB}) a length away in third.

Charlie Appleby, who also trained the ill-fated Dubawi colt Quorto (Ire) to land this two years ago, may have found another challenger for division leader on this evidence. There were echoes of a certain 2019 champion juvenile in his post-race comments. “He has been very straightforward and, dare I say it, one of the horses that has been under the radar slightly. He was entered to run in France next Tuesday in a listed race, but did a nice piece of work on Thursday so we thought that we should aim our sights a little higher and run here,” he explained. “He does everything very simply. He goes out with the string and, whatever we pair him up with, he finds it easy to gallop well with them. He handled soft ground on the Rowley Mile, when Brett Doyle said he was both very professional and willing. Those are two nice boxes to tick with a racehorse and I told William today not to be frightened to let him roll is he was travelling. He said that he probably hit the front too soon, but everything else just fell away.”

“He has done nothing wrong in two starts and is a lovely specimen by Dubawi,” he added. “We will get back and see how he pops out of this, but the likelihood is that we will hopefully go down the same route as Pinatubo and take a look at the G1 [Vincent O’Brien] National Stakes [at The Curragh] in September. It is unlikely that he will go to Goodwood and we will probably give him a bit of a break. He is a big horse and a bit more time won’t do him any harm. It is a bit early to be getting too excited where we might be next year, but he is definitely a horse that has got the right attitude and physique to see him go beyond a mile with a bit of luck.”

Master of the Seas becomes the fifth black-type performer for the talented dam Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), who captured the Listed Prix des Sablonnets and was runner-up in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. Also third in the G3 Prix de la Grotte, GII San Gorgonio H. and GIII Cardinal H., she was quick to transmit her quality with her first three foals being winners and the third Etive (Elusive Quality) scoring at listed level in Germany having just failed to emulate her dam when second in the Sablonnets. Her fourth foal Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) took the G3 UAE Oaks and Listed Distaff S. and was third in the G2 Cape Verdi before producing Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), the G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up who annexed the G3 Doncaster Prelude and was third in the G1 Kennedy Cantala.

Firth of Lorne’s best progeny was possibly Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}), who was runner-up in the G1 St James’s Palace S. for this stable and third in the G3 Thoroughbred S., while she also threw the listed-placed Tipstaff (GB) by Falls of Lora’s sire Street Cry. Like the G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise third Shmoose (Ire) (Caerleon), she is a daughter of the G3 Cherry Hinton S. scorer and G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Kerrera (Ire) (Diesis {GB}) who is also the second dam of the G2 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) and G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) winner Dupont (GB) (Zafonic) and his full-brother and fellow sire Pacino (GB) who also took that German Classic and was runner-up in the G1 Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1. Also connected to the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Rock City (Ire), Firth of Lorne’s yearling is a daughter of Ribchester (Ire).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 SUPERLATIVE S.-G2, £40,700, Newmarket, 7-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.95, gd.
1–MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Firth of Lorne (Ire) (SW & G1SP-Fr, MGSP-USA, $163,189), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Kerrera (Ire), by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Rimosa’s Pet (GB), by Petingo (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £23,081. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $34,333. *1/2 to Falls of Lora (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE)), GSW-UAE & SW-Eng, $246,417; Latharnach (Iffraaj (GB)), SW & G1SP-Eng, $217,472; Etive (Elusive Quality), SW-Ger & MSP-Fr, $126,693; and Tipstaff (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Devious Company (Ire), 127, c, 2, Fast Company (Ire)–Seren Devious (GB), by Dr Devious (Ire). (£45,000 Ylg ’19 GOFFPR). O-Russell Jones; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Dascombe. £8,751.
3–Seventh Kingdom (GB), 127, c, 2, Frankel (GB)–Nayarra (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £4,379.
Margins: 3, 1, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 7.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Saint Lawrence (Ire), Ventura Tormenta (Ire), King Zain (Ire), Snash (Ire), Hudson River (Ire), Bright Devil (Ire), Miami Joy (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Dante Glory For Night of Thunder’s Thunderous

Completing a notable double on the York card for Mark Johnston and Franny Norton, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) outstayed the Niarchos Family’s TDN Rising Star Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to land Thursday’s G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. Unbeaten at two and possibly in need of his comeback when runner-up in Newmarket’s Listed Fairway S., the 13-2 shot tracked Ballydoyle’s Cormorant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) throughout the early stages but looked booked for second as Oisin Murphy sent Highest Ground to the front with two furlongs remaining. Sticking to his guns, the bay whose previous best had come in last year’s Listed Washington Singer S. wore down the 8-11 favourite in the dying strides to prevail by a neck, with Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}) two lengths further behind in third. “He was off the bridle, but he was behind the bridle a little bit at Newmarket as well. He had to dig in deep today, but he did,” Norton said. “I was quite confident and comfortable where I was. He loved that ground and I think there’s more to come–I don’t think he’s quite there just yet.”

Following a brace of seven-furlong novice wins at Doncaster in June and Redcar the following month with success in Newbury’s Listed Denford S., or Washington Singer, also over that trip in August, Thunderous then found his momentum stopped jarringly through injury. Nursed back for the Spring, he met with another derailing which meant that his return in the Fairway June 27 was a much-needed one. Second to the more streetwise Volkan Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in that 10-furlong contest staged on good-to-firm ground, he had conditions more in his favour here but had the requisite class to prove. In getting to the hot favourite and much-vaunted Highest Ground, he was putting himself back in the picture as the major middle-distance all-aged contests loom.

“He’s had his ups and downs and just as we were starting to dream of races like the Royal Lodge and the Vertem Futurity Trophy he had an injury after winning at Newbury,” Charlie Johnston explained. “He had another setback in March, although the consequences of that weren’t quite as dramatic as there was no racing in the early part of the year. When we left Newbury last year, we felt he was a Derby horse and the way things have panned out, we’ve never had a clean run at that but he’s a horse we’ve always thought a huge amount of and he’s got a big future. He’s very laid-back and we were quite rushed getting him to Newmarket. We knew running him there would give us the best chance of winning here today and that’s how it’s proved.”

“His attitude and racing style would suggest he could be a St Leger horse, but his pedigree wouldn’t give you a lot of confidence for that sort of distance,” the trainer’s son and assistant added. “It’s hard to make plans this year. There is the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris [at ParisLongchamp Sept. 13]. These races still matter a huge amount and to win them both today still means a huge amount to the team.”

Oisin Murphy was at his usual self-critical best after getting run down late on the favourite. “I was a bit frustrated with myself as no-one wants to finish second, but Highest Ground is gorgeous, if still a bit immature physically and mentally,” he said. “He’d had only two starts before today, but I think he’ll go to a high level. It’s a shame he didn’t get his head in front this afternoon. We went an even enough gallop and I just thought, on that ground, he got a bit tired late on. He hasn’t had a hard race, I hope, and the Niarchos family have a lovely horse.”

Thunderous’s prospects of staying more than a mile and a half are reasonable, being out of the useful Italian listed scorer Souviens Toi (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) who was also fourth in the G3 Pinnacle S. and G3 Lille Langtry S. A half-sister to the G2 Oaks d’Italia third Whippy Cream (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), she hails from the family of the German group 3 winner and G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 runner-up Empire Storm (Ger) (Storming Home {GB}). Her 2-year-old colt by Exceed and Excel (Aus) was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 150,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 Sale, while she also has a filly foal by Frankel (GB).

Thursday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE S.-G2, £55,000, York, 7-9, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:08.62, g/s.
1–THUNDEROUS (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Night of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Souviens Toi (GB) (SW-Ity & MSP-Eng), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Diavla, by Bahri
3rd Dam: Change My Heart, by El Gran Senor
1ST GROUP WIN. (70,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (George Stubbs); B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-Francis Norton. £31,191. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $84,571. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Highest Ground (Ire), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Celestial Lagoon (Jpn), by Sunday Silence. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £11,825.
3–Juan Elcano (GB), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Whatami (GB), by Daylami (Ire). (360,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Mr & Mrs David Brown (GB); T-Kevin Ryan. £5,918.
Margins: NK, 2, NK. Odds: 6.50, 0.73, 7.00.
Also Ran: Cormorant (Ire), Encipher (GB), Al Madhar (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Dubawi’s Ghaiyyath Takes the Eclipse

Charlie Appleby had relayed loud and clear that Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was now the horse he had been waiting for and Godolphin’s dynamic performer proved the point in style in Sunday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Casual this time getting to the front after the first half a furlong, the 9-4 second favourite was stalked by Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) taken back early racing four lengths off his tempo. Tackling the headwind up the straight as Japan chased hard, the G1 Coronation Cup hero had to draw on his significant reserves to plough on uphill to the line as the returning even-money favourite Enable stayed on down the outer. Her progress was a touch laboured, as John Gosden had suggested it might be when declaring her “85%” beforehand, and the leader was ultra-game to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths, with Enable denying Japan the runner’s-up spot by a head.

Jockey William Buick had every fraction right and he said, “He’s got a huge cruising speed and he knows how to use it. It was his first go over a mile and a quarter in a group one and he was in a nice rhythm the whole way. Charlie had him in great shape. We were obviously concerned about Enable coming into the race, but it was her first run of the season and I’m sure she’ll improve from the race.”

Re-setting Newmarket’s Rowley Mile’s mile-and-a-half track record a month previously when leading Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) a merry dance in the Coronation Cup, Ghaiyyath was putting two big efforts back-to-back after his 8 1/2-length success in the Feb. 20 G3 Dubai Millennium at Meydan. That suggested that the 5-year-old had turned a corner from last term, when one of his typically audacious front-running displays tended to be followed by a drop-off the next time. That was the case when his remarkable 14-length win in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden preceded a dive in fortunes in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, but it is widely-held that he went off too fast in testing ground there.

Having not always been comfortable on ground with some bounce, it holds no fears for the imposing bay these days and he was unhurried by William Buick despite not breaking best. It may have taken him a few strides to get into his customary position, but when he got there he was free to do as he pleased with the only other pace angles Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) restrained. Frankie was intent on keeping Enable away from the possibility of a prolonged duel, but when the time came to join pursuit she had a touch less than her customary zip. Japan gave way eventually as Ghaiyyath maintained his momentum and it was clear on the rising ground to the line that Juddmonte’s mare would not be adding another prestige event to her illustrious tally.

“As a horse, you go with what Ghaiyyath wants to do–he’s not a horse who likes to be controlled,” Buick added. “You just sit against him, let him use his huge stride and go when he’s ready. He’s a joy to ride and a very, very good horse. As a five-year-old he’s mature physically and mentally–he’s becoming the finished article. I think a mile and a quarter will be his optimum trip, as he’s very fast. Sometimes when you ride him over a mile and a half you’re always worried the last furlong is going to be a long one, but he keeps going.”

Charlie Appleby, 45 on Sunday, was enjoying the perfect gift and said, “He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard and we’ve seen the performances he can put up. Obviously he’d been an emphatic winner in France and in Germany and out in Dubai, but I think the Coronation Cup win gained him a lot of fans and support. We were never concerned about dropping him back to the 10 furlongs today. He’s got loads of pace and statistically this track suits front-runners. We had immense respect for Enable, who I felt lost nothing in defeat–it was a great battle up the straight.”

“This year he seems to be taking his races better,” he added. “We toyed with the idea of going for the [G2] Prince of Wales’s Stakes after the Coronation Cup, but we thought we’d give ourselves an extra couple of weeks and we know this track can favour a front runner. The [G1] Juddmonte International at York would be up there. He’s shown his versatility now, winning over 10 and 12 furlongs. You don’t beat Enable having an easy run, so we’ll see where we are over the next week and then decide whether we head to York or whether he needs a bit more time. There’s plenty of racing coming up over the autumn, so I don’t think we need to be making any rash decisions. Our plan was always to work back from another crack at the Arc. If Enable is in it, we’ll just have to take her on again.”

John Gosden was thinking about Ascot in three weeks’ time and a third King George for the runner-up. “I’m delighted with her,” he said. “She ran a gorgeous race. We know Ghaiyyath and as I warned everybody it is a great front-runners track, Sandown. If he gets free on the front, as he is a fabulous horse, you are never going to get to him. We found that out in the Coronation. She has put in a perfect performance and has come with a lovely run. I’m delighted with the way she came there. Frankie said the last half a furlong she just needed it, so he looked after her. It is the perfect platform we were looking for for the King George. We were very happy.”

“She enjoyed it and her zest and desire is there, but trying to get involved with a front-running horse like him was never going to be her deal. I think I did warn everybody about that left, right and centre. She is an older mare now and it has taken a great deal more to get her to this point, but she has run a beautiful race and I couldn’t be more thrilled with her. We knew coming we were 85 per cent and you are not going to beat a front-running horse like that around here. She has run the most perfect race to point towards the King George.”

Ghaiyyath is a son of the dominant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has also produced the GI Man o’War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. winner Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War). From the family of the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King’s Drama (Ire) (King’s Theatre {Ire}), Nightime has understandably become something of a legend at the major sales auction houses.

Zhukova was bought by Sheikh Mohammed for 3.7million gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, while the following year’s auction saw Stroud Coleman Bloodstock pay 700,000gns for the Foal Sale’s top-priced full-brother to Ghaiyyath who is now named New Kingdom (Ire). At the Goffs November Foals Sale in November, Nightime’s latest son of Dubawi set a new record when again being knocked down to Godolphin for €1.2million.

Sunday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £250,000, Sandown, 7-5, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:04.48, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 129, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
(€1,100,000 Wlg ’15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £141,775. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 11-14, G1SW-Ger, MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-UAE, 11-8-0-2, $762,840. *1/2 to Zhukova (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS)), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-USA & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Enable (GB), 126, m, 6, Nathaniel (Ire)–Concentric (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £53,750.
3–Japan (GB), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Shastye (Ire), by Danehill. (1,300,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Masaaki Matsushima; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O’Brien. £26,900.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1HF. Odds: 2.25, 1.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Magic Wand (Ire), Deirdre (Jpn), Regal Reality (GB), Bangkok (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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