Angel Bleu To Wait For The French Guineas

Dual Group 1 winner Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will pass on the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Apr. 30 and wait for the May 15 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains in France. Successful in the G2 Vintage S. in July, the grey earned a pair of Group 1 wins in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp and in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud, both in October. The Marc Chan silkbearer resumed with a third-place effort in the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury on Apr. 16.

Trainer Ralph Beckett said, “Angel Bleu certainly won't run [in the Guineas]. He is going to go to France. He is in good shape. It is just the ground.

“There is the slight element that the form book indicates all his best form is round a bend. There is an element of that as well.”

In other Guineas news, trainer Dermot Weld indicated that Apr. 2 G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S. victress Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) would skip the fillies' equivalent in Newmarket and wait for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

“I just feel that she might appreciate more time since her group win at Leopardstown and her style of running might suit Longchamp better than Newmarket,” Weld told Racing Post of the Moyglare Stud homebred on Wednesday.

The post Angel Bleu To Wait For The French Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Frankel’s Homeless Songs Bursts Into The Guineas Picture

Another Classic trial, another TDN Rising Star in the headlines as Moyglare's Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) surged to an impressive success in Saturday's G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown. Things had gone awry since her debut defeat of Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) over this seven-furlong trip and course in July, but Dermot Weld had the homebred fine-tuned for this competitive affair and all roads now lead to the May 1 G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Held up worse than mid-division by Chris Hayes after missing the break, the 6-1 shot let it all play out ahead until being unleashed two out. Producing a scintillating effort down the outer to swamp her old rival passing the furlong pole, the homebred had a length in hand at the line over Agartha, who was racing under a three-pound penalty with Villanova Queen (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) denying the 5-4 favourite Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) third place 3/4 of a length further away. “She'd been working extremely well and is a quality filly with a lot of pace,” Weld said. “That was a very good performance from her-things didn't go her way last year, but I was confident she would come back this year and show what she was capable of. We'll see how she comes out of this and I'll speak with Eva Maria [Bucher-Haefner], but I would say Newmarket is a strong possibility. She may well get 10 furlongs in time.”

Homeless Songs, who had slipped from the radar having been only fifth as Agartha filled the runner-up spot in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in September and sixth in the course-and-distance G3 Killavullan S. the following month, is a half-sister to the ill-fated Listed Orby S. winner Reve de Vol (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was also placed in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. and G3 Royal Whip S. Bred on the same cross as Adayar (Ire), she is the second foal out of Joailliere (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was placed in the G3 Concorde S., G3 Park Express S. and G3 Gladness S. before gaining that vital black-type success in the Listed Frankfurt Sprint Trophy.

Joailliere's unraced dam Majestic Silver (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}) is also responsible for the G3 Dance Design S. and G3 Meld S. winner Carla Bianca (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and the G2 Beresford S. runner-up True Solitaire (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). She is out of the listed scorer Diamond Trim (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}), dam of this stable's star stayer Profound Beauty (Ire) (Danehill) whose winning exploits included seven black-type contests and who was also runner-up in the G1 Irish St Leger. Diamond Trim is a daughter of the Stud's famed In Anticipation (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), which connects her to the likes of Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (Danehill), Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}), Royal Diamond (Ire) (King's Best) and Mad About You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Joailliere has the 2-year-old colt Time Tells All (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and a yearling full-brother to Homeless Songs in the wings.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD PRIORY BELLE 1,000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-G3, €55,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:28.96, gd.
1–HOMELESS SONGS (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Joailliere (Ire) (Hwt. Older Mare-Ger at 5-7f, SW-Ger, MGSP-Ire), by Dubawi (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Majestic Silver (Ire), by Linamix (Fr)
     3rd Dam: Diamond Trim (Ire), by Highest Honor (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Chris Hayes. €33,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $55,607. *1/2 to Reve de Vol (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), SW & MGSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Agartha (Ire), 131, f, 3, Caravaggio–Arya Tara (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). O-Scott C Heider; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €11,000.
3–Villanova Queen (Ire), 128, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Quads (Ire), by Shamardal.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£60,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-William Crager; B-Old Carhue Stud & Graeng Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Jessie Harrington. €5,500.
Margins: 1, 3/4, HD. Odds: 6.00, 7.50, 22.00.
Also Ran: Sacred Bridge (GB), Cigamia, Panama Red (Ire), Seisai (Ire), Viareggio (Ire), Beautiful Sunshine (GB), Pennine Hills (Ire), Contarelli Chapel (Ire). Scratched: Star Girls Aalmal (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Frankel’s Homeless Songs Bursts Into The Guineas Picture appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Determination, Talent, And Class’: Breeders’ Cup Turf Winner Tarnawa Retired

Last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Tarnawa has officially been retired from racing, trainer Dermot Weld told racingpost.com on Thursday. The Aga Khan's 5-year-old daughter of Shamardal retires with a record of nine wins from 18 career starts, and earnings of $4,508,464.

“We saw her race for four seasons and she got better with every run,” Weld told racingpost.com. “She's right up there with the very best I've ever trained because she had some terrific qualities of determination, talent and class.”

Tarnawa was undefeated in 2020, capturing the Group 1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l'Opera before beating the boys in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, giving the world-travelling Weld his first win at the World Championships. She returned in 2021 to run second in both the G1 Irish Champion Stakes and the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, then did not fire in this year's edition of the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar.

“She was in great form coming into the race but had an exceptionally tough race in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on extremely testing ground. She gave her all in trying to win the Arc,” Weld continued. “Combining that with the long travel to California just took the edge off her. She looked magnificent and everything was right with her, but the mental sharpness just wasn't quite there.”

Read more at racingpost.com.

The post ‘Determination, Talent, And Class’: Breeders’ Cup Turf Winner Tarnawa Retired appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Icing On The Cake’: Yibir Completes Appleby’s Del Mar Trifecta In Breeders’ Cup Turf

Trainer Charlie Appleby has experienced the entire rollercoaster of emotions that horse racing has to offer within the microcosm of a single weekend where the turf meets the surf. On Friday, one of his Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf entrants was scratched at the gate, while the other was mistakenly scratched, then reinstated to run for purse money only before winning convincingly. Again on Saturday in the Mile, one entrant was scratched at the gate while the other, Space Blues, galloped to victory.

The trainer's trifecta was completed on Saturday evening with a strong victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf by the quirky sophomore gelding Yibir.

“A fantastic weekend, though I'll be taking a couple of them home fresh,” Appleby said. “I don't know quite how to describe it, really… Today, obviously standing there again to see potentially what was unfolding in front of us, it took a little bit of stepping back and having to take a breath again. But I just knew the right horse was left in the gate in Space Blues, so he was always going to be the main player. And then that in the last, that was the icing on the cake, really. We felt this horse had a lot of talent, he was galloping really good with all our 3-year-old middle distance horses and he's gone and finished it off today.”

The Goldolphin homebred by Dubawi had just one horse beat around the far turn, so jockey William Buick had to be patient before unleashing his rally down the center of the course. That well-timed ride saw 8-1 chance Yibir run down Broome (9-1) to win by a half-length, completing 1 1/2 miles over Del Mar's firm turf course in 2:25.90, a new course record.

“It's been unbelievable,” Buick said. “An amazing weekend. I've been coming to Breeders' Cup for many years and many times things have not gone my way. I understand how hard it is to have winners here so I appreciate every bit of success. The luck has gone my way this year. I couldn't pull him up after the line as he finished that strong. He's a very special horse.”

Yibir was not particularly quick into stride when all 14 entrants broke from the starting gate, and labored at the back of the field in the early going. He seemed to settle in after the first half-mile, and Buick said he started to get confident in his chances from that point.

Up front, Tribhuvan and Acclimate pulled away from the rest of the pack by five lengths to set all the early fractions: :24.04, :48.38, 1:12.41. Closest to the frontrunning pair was Channel Maker, with Bolshoi Ballet and Walton Street also near the front. Meanwhile, defending Breeders' Cup Turf winner Tarnawa traveled just ahead of Yibir at the back of the field.

The field took closer order after a mile in 1:36.76, and Ryan Moore set about moving Broome up from the rear of the field. Buick tracked that move, and followed Moore's path to build up Yibir's momentum with a wide move around the far turn.

In the stretch run, Broome got away from the field by about two lengths, but Yibir switched to his right lead and mowed her down with a powerful late rally. At the line, Yibir was a half-length ahead of the Aidan O'Brien-trained mare, while 3-year-old filly Teona ran a bang-up race to finish third. Japan checked in fourth, while Channel Maker hung around to finish fifth.

The remaining order of finish was: Bolshoi Ballet, Sisfahan, Rockemperor, Walton Street, Gufo, Tarnawa, Astronaut, Tribhuvan, and Acclimate.

“It was the one race this weekend that I didn't know how to assess it,” Buick said of the Turf. “There was a lot of pace in the race but I didn't know what my horse, how he would be able to react. He's a bit of a complex character and you saw him at Belmont last time where he dropped himself out and I had that scenario in my head that he might be a bit rank, and anyway, he broke well, and he pulled hard.

“To be honest with you, I thought he was doing too much. But then once we turned into the back he dropped and he was in a good mile and a half steady rhythm and I was just hoping that he stayed there for the finish because he's got an amazingly strong finish, and halfway around the home turn I could see Broome had gone, but I was always confident of picking him up. He has an amazing turn of foot and I couldn't pull him up after the line. Amazing horse, and I think he did something that not many horses can do, so all credit to him and great weekend. Well done to Charlie and everyone at Godolphin, all the team at home, everyone. It's fantastic.”

Bred in Great Britain by Godolphin, Yibir is out of the winning German-bred Monsun mare Rumh. That mare, a $502,236 yearling purchase at the 2009 Tattersalls sale, is also the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and 2018 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Wild Illusion.

Yibir has had an up-and-down career for Appleby, though his final two runs ahead of the Breeders' Cup were both convincing victories, including the $1 million Jockye Club Derby Invitational at Belmont Park. Overall, the gelding has compiled a record of six wins from 12 starts with earnings of $2,895,580.

“It's just a tribute to the job that Charlie does with his horses with the team he's got behind him, and certainly what William does on the afternoon,” said Godolphin's Jimmy Bell. “So it's been, I'm sure, a big team effort and a lot of credit goes to Charlie and his team for being able to present him on a day like today.”

Quotes from other connections:

Trainer Aiden O'Brien (Broome (IRE), second and Japan, fourth) – “They've all run well, but just not quite good enough today. The winner has done it well and is very smart.”

Trainer Roger Varian (Teona (IRE), third) – “As she angled for home I thought we had a big chance. Watching the race again I don't think it's an ideal track for her. Hopefully she's fine after the race. She'll be aimed at all the big races next year and it's very exciting. If having runners at Breeders' Cup doesn't get your blood up nothing will!”

Trainer Bill Mott (Channel Maker, fifth) – “He ran a super race. Luis (Saez) rode him great. There were two very fast horses in there, so we just laid in behind them. He ran hard. He ran is heart out. We were fifth, but if they give you a good effort you can't complain.”

Jockey Luis Saez (Channel Maker, fifth) – “He did everything right and I did everything they asked for. I just got beat. When I got to the quarter pole, he responded really well and I had some horse and thought I can win this race. I kept trying but the winner just kept coming.”

Jockey Colin Keane (defending winner Tarnawa, 11th) – “She ran flat. I think France last time on very soft ground took plenty out of her. She seemed fine after the race.”

The post ‘Icing On The Cake’: Yibir Completes Appleby’s Del Mar Trifecta In Breeders’ Cup Turf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights