Gran Alegria Adds New Dimension To Deep Impact Legacy

Deep Impact (Jpn) added another feather to his cap posthumously on Sunday when, for the first time, one of his progeny won a Group 1 race over 1200 metres. Gran Alegria (Jpn) had shown enough pace at two to win her first two starts over a mile before finishing third against the colts in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity. She earned her first Group 1 rosette going that same mile trip in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) on seasonal debut the following April. Connections clearly knew what they had and thereafter kept her to a mile or below. A fourth-place finish (demoted to fifth) in the G1 NHK Mile followed Gran Alegria’s Classic score and, when dropped below that trip for the first time following a lengthy holiday last December, the filly bounced back to win the seven-furlong G2 Hanshin Cup by five lengths on Dec. 21. Gran Alegria was bested a short head by Mozu Superflare (Jpn) (Speightstown) in the six furlong G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen on Mar. 29, and her talents were fully exposed on June 7 when she upset Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) when back up to a mile in the G1 Yasuda Kinen.

Chasing her third Group 1 score on Sunday, Gran Alegria was slow from the gate and briefly in last and under a ride from Christophe Lemaire as Mozu Superflare rocketed away to set the pace. Turning for home Gran Alegria had just one rival beaten and a good 15 lengths between she and Mozu Superflare, but she unleashed a scintillating turn of foot inside the final 200 metres to cut down the deficit and score by two lengths under a handride.

Lemaire-who along with trainer Kazuo Fujisawa was winning his second consecutive Sprinters S. following Tower Of London (Jpn) (Raven’s Pass)-said, “I can’t believe how strong she is. She was a little slow to get into the rhythm and we were much further back than expected but we did not panic if not a little worried that we may not be in time as the pace was fast—in a normal situation we may not have made it. But she certainly showed what she is made of and she just carried on while some of the front runners started to weaken.”

Pedigree Notes

Gran Alegria’s dam Tapitsfly (Tapit) can likely take a significant share of credit for her daughter’s brilliance, that Dale Romans trainee having won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to cap a six-race juvenile campaign. Tapitsfly was off the scene at three and won just once at allowance level in 11 tries at four, but completed her resurgence in a major way at five when winning the GI Just A Game S., GI First Lady S. and GII Honey Fox S. all going a mile on the grass before being bought by Katsumi Yoshida for $1.85-million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2012. Gran Alegria is her first foal.

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SPRINTERS S.-G1, ¥252,860,000, Nakayama, 9-29, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.30, fm.
1–GRAN ALEGRIA (JPN), 121, f, 4, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Tapitsfly (MGISW-US, $1,495,503), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Flying Marlin, by Marlin
                3rd Dam: Morning Dove, by Fortunate Prospect
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Kazuo Fujisawa;
J-Kenichi Ikezoe; ¥133,402,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Filly-
Jpn, 9-6-1-1. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for
   the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Danon Smash (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) Spinning
Wildcat, by Hard Spun. O-Danox Inc; B-K.I. Farm; ¥52,972,000.
3–A Will a Way (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Just a Way (Jpn)–Will Power
(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Katsumi Yoshida;
B-Northern Farm; ¥ 28,492,000.
Margins: 2, HF, HF. Odds: 1.20, 4.10, 59.90.
Also Ran: Mr Melody, Kurino Gaudi (Jpn), Red en Ciel (Jpn), Meisho Glocke (Jpn), Daimei Princess (Jpn), Right on Cue (Jpn), Mozu Superflare, Eighteen Girl (Jpn), King Heart (Jpn), Diatonic (Jpn), Daimei Fuji (Jpn), Love Kampf (Jpn), Bien Fait (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Daughter Of Stacelita Unveiled At ParisLongchamp

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Insights features the latest progeny of a Classic-winning mare.

2.35 ParisLongchamp, Mdn, €22,000, 2yo, f, 8fT

SENTIMENTAL MAMBO (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the latest progeny out of Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), heroine of six top-level contests including the G1 Prix de Diane. Andre Fabre has charge of Teruya Yoshida’s February-foaled bay, who is a half-sister to the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}). The only unraced member of the seven-strong field, she tackles the Wertheimers’ Virtuosite (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), a Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained daughter of the G2 Prix de Malleret scorer Legerete (Rahy).

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‘I Am Very Lucky’: Donnacha O’Brien Saddles Fancy Blue To Second Group 1 Win In Nassau

Fancy Blue was Donnacha O'Brien's first runner as a trainer in the UK and gave the Irish handler reason to celebrate as she became his first UK winner in the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday. It was a second success at the top level for the daughter of Deep Impact, following her win in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) on 5 July.

It was favorite Magic Wand (Aidan O'Brien IRE/Frankie Dettori) who took the seven runners along. She continued to lead until facing a strong challenge from Fancy Blue two furlongs out. Fancy Blue took the lead entering the final furlong and then had to see off the strong late challenge of One Voice (Jessica Harrington/Tom Marquand). Fancy Blue held on by a neck, with Nazeef (John Gosden/Jim Crowley) staying on for third, another two and three-quarter lengths behind.

Donnacha O'Brien said: “That was a lovely performance from Fancy Blue.

“Fancy Blue is unbelievable, and it is massive. You never believe you will get one like her in your first year of training. When you have the pedigrees that Coolmore have, you always have a chance and I am very lucky.

“I was given Fancy Blue as a yearling and you don't really expect these kind of things, but when they come along, it is more unlikely that the majority will be up to this sort of Group One class, but you do right by them so that they will fulfill their full potential and thankfully she has reached that class.

“It is unbelievable that I get a filly like her in my first year. People go a lifetime without getting a filly like her. I am no under no illusions as to how lucky I am, and I just need to do the best I can with her.

“I was looking after her as a yearling and I was responsible for her but I didn't have my licence, so she was not under my name.

“Ryan is employed by Coolmore and that is why he rode Fancy Blue.

“I was hopeful of a good performance due to the weight she was getting, and this race fitted in well after her win in the French Oaks.

“Every race she has won she has had to battle for and work for it. Jessie's filly [One Voice] came at her today and if she had got into a proper battle with her, I think she would have found more. She is a very tough, high-class filly who has shown how good she is today.

“We came here today unsure as to what she would think of the ground. I was speaking to Dad during the race that she was swapping and changing her lead leg coming down the hill. She didn't look particularly comfortable and I think a little bit of juice in the ground won't be any harm for her in the future.

“We will give her a little break now. She has had a busy start to the year. We might look at Irish Champions Weekend to bring her back. That could be in the Matron which I know is back down in trip or in the Irish Champion Stakes. She will then go to Arc weekend where she has the option of the Prix de l'Opera or the Arc itself.

“After that, it will probably be the Breeders' Cup or a trip to Japan for the Queen Elizabeth where there is big money on offer over a mile and three, and there is a bonus for winning the Prix de Diane.

“We're not really sure what is going on with America at the minute, but they are the options at the minute.

“All the people in Japan are massive supporters of racing and I know myself from riding Saxon Warrior and him being by Deep Impact that we got a good following from the Japanese fans. It is always somewhere I have wanted to go and whilst it is not set in stone, she could go there.

“Arc weekend fits nicely so whether it is the Opera or the Arc, we will sit down and speak with the owners. Taking in the Vermeille could maybe be a possibility, but we will have to see. There are a lot of good races around and I think she would be competitive anywhere from a mile to a mile and a half. With a fillies' allowance in the Arc, I wouldn't be writing her off either so we'll have to see how strong the Opera is and Coolmore could have Love for the Arc too. Nothing is set in stone.

“Love has a higher rating at the minute, but my filly Fancy Blue showed in France that she is suited to that style of racing. She relaxes and can quicken and whether Love can do it in the same – she looks like she is suited to a more galloping track like Epsom or Newmarket off a fast pace. Although she might not have been as impressive as Love yet, I think she has shown attributes that maybe Love hasn't just yet – that's all thoughts at the minute.

“If you had told me with everything that is going on in the world that I would have a dual Group One winner I wouldn't have believed you. Everything is a bit strange and I certainly wasn't expecting this.”

Discussing the difference between riding and training Group One winners, O'Brien continued: “It's strange. They are different and I think you get a different kick out of it. When you are riding, you feel under pressure and want to do good for the horse and give the horse a fair chance.

“When you are training, I nearly feel pressure for the guys who are working with her every day and working in the yard – you want her to achieve her best for them. They are the ones putting the hard yards in.

“They are the ones you are thinking of when you are training whereas when you are riding, you kind of just nearly think of yourself.

“I liked her last year. When she was going to her maiden which she won at Naas, I thought she would run well but I didn't fancy her to win it. She quickened up really nicely and gave me a lovely feel. Every time we have stepped her up in class, she has pleasantly surprised us, and she just continues to do so – she is just a filly who wants to please and she is improving the whole time. Hopefully, she continues to do that.

“I train at David Wachman's yard [in County Tipperary] and this is great. Last year that was really a satellite yard and I was training her.”

Ryan Moore, enjoying a 19.6/1 day three double following the earlier success of Mogul and also recording his 50th career success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, said: “I think there were some solid horses in there – Nazeef had done nothing wrong all year. I know very well how good Magic Wand is and she is proven in the best mile and a quarter races in America, Hong Kong and Australia, and obviously Deirdre (the 2019 Qatar Nassau Stakes winner) was in there. My filly [Fancy Blue] showed that she is very straightforward and has a very good attitude. She is tough.

“This filly has done nothing wrong. She ran a good race in the Irish Guineas and she has won a Diane, and a Diane is very hard to win, and now she has beaten the older fillies, and you have got to be pleased with what she has done so far. I am sure Donnacha [O'Brien, trainer] will get her home, see how she is and make a plan for the future.

“She was happy enough today on this ground, I would just say that she just wouldn't want extremes of either.”

Speaking about his success on Mogul in the G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes earlier in the afternoon, Moore said: “Mogul has improved from both of his races this year. On form it was a very solid race; everything in there had shown form this year. He traveled nicely, and I was happy with what he did in the last furlong and a half – he put his head down and really wanted it. I thought it was a good, even pace; we just sat a little bit back off them and my horse was comfortable. He is a mile and a half horse really – I think that's his trip. I think he could end up being a Grand Prix [de Paris] horse, which is a bit later this year.”

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Familiar Names Front and Center at JRHA Select Yearling Sale

As reported in more detail by European Editor Emma Berry in Tuesday’s TDN European Edition, members of the final crop of the late Deep Impact (Jpn) predictably dominated the yearling section of the JRHA Select Sale Monday on the island of Hokkaido, accounting for the day’s top six sellers and eight of the top nine. Lot 114, the second Japanese foal from Sheave (Mineshaft)–the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss)–led the way on a record final bid of ¥510 million ($4,766,356), as the offspring of American-bred and -raced mares acquired by the Yoshida family lit up the board one after the next.

Sheave, an unraced daughter of GSW & GISP Belterra (Unbridled), was bred by the late Bob Manfuso and was carrying a full-sister to Cathryn Sophia when she was acquired privately and exported to Japan. In February 2017, she produced Sharie al Malika (Jpn), who was a close second on debut in a Nakayama dirt maiden this past March. Sheave is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Satono Sky Turf (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and her colt foal by Heart’s Cry (Jpn) sells Tuesday as lot 383.

The session’s second-dearest offering at ¥400 million ($3,738,318) was lot 56, a colt out of Forever Darling (Congrats), who won the 2016 GII Santa Ynez S. for owner/trainer Richard Baltas and partners before continuing her career in the colors of Katsumi Yoshida. Forever Darling is a daughter of MSW & MGISP Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister), whose half-brother Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) won the 2004 G1 Japan Cup en route to Horse of the Year honors. Forever Darling’s first produce, Mon Favori (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), won a newcomers’ event on turf over 1200 meters June 20 at Hakodate, scoring by five lengths in 1:08.7 (see below, gate 9). Daughters of Congrats have produced eight winners from nine starters in Japan, including Group 2 winner Hartley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

 

During her racing career, Teddy’s Promise (Salt Lake) registered her biggest victory in the 2011 GI La Brea S. and her Deep Impact foal of 2019 (lot 36) was the session’s most expensive filly on a bid of ¥240 million ($2,242,991). Teddy’s Promise is the dam of two winners from as many to race in Japan, most prominently My Rhapsody (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), victorious in Group 3 company last year and ninth, but not beaten far, behind Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact) in this year’s G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). Teddy’s Promise’s current 2-year-old, a filly by 2015 Derby hero Duramente (Jpn), fetched ¥52 million last year.

In other results of note, lot 108, a Deep Impact son of GI American Oaks winner Cambina (Ire) (Hawk Wing) and kin to two group-placed runners, hammered at ¥200 million ($1,869,159); lot 92, a Deep Impact half-brother to Classic winner and Three Chimneys stallion Palace Malice (Curlin) made ¥190 million ($1,775,701); lot 23, a colt by Duramente out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell (Proud Citizen), sold early in the session for ¥160 million ($1,495,328); a Deep Impact daughter of GI Beverly D. S. winner Euro Charline (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) realized ¥145 million ($1,335,141) as lot 171; and lot 106, a Screen Hero (Jpn) half-brother to recent Listed Japan Dirt Derby winner Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah) fetched ¥96 million ($897,197).

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