Tag: Desert Hero (GB)

St Leger: Where Did They Come From?

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin

The final leg of the original Triple Crown, the G1 Betfred St Leger features nine colts, with several homebreds and auction graduates, including two at €440,000. If Their Majesties' Desert Hero (GB) pulls off the victory, he would be the first royal winner since Queen Elizabeth's Dunfermline (GB) in 1977. Aidan O'Brien, gunning for his seventh edition, will saddle a quartet of individuals, all in with a chance, and the choice of Ryan Moore is the G2 Great Voltigeur S. hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).

 

ALEXANDROUPOLIS (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Jazz Cat (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB})
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Mrs Fitri Hay
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: 240,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Maiden winner over an extended mile at the back end last year; sent off odds-on favourite for the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown, a key Derby trial, on his seasonal return, but couldn't rival White Birch (GB) (Ire) back in third; mid-season break of 144 days before disappointing in the Vinnie Roe S. on his first attempt at 1m6f and, while he is from the family of this stable's 2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens (Ire), he still has plenty to prove at this level; outsider.

 

ARREST (IRE), Frankel (GB)–Nisriyna (Ire) (Intikhab)
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Swordlestown Little
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Sales History: €440,000 Goffs November foal
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The seventh foal out of his unraced dam and her third black-type horse, this half-brother to group winner and G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup third Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) has already won a brace of Group 3s, including when collecting the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. just 100 yards shy of the St Leger trip last month. One of the most highly rated in the field, it would be no surprise to see him give Juddmonte their third St Leger.

 

 

CHESSPIECE (GB), Nathaniel (Ire)–Royal Solitaire (Ire) (Shamardal)
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Ammerland GMBH & Co Kg
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Sales History: €100,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The most decorated offspring of his dam, who won the G2 Badener Meille and was second in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches, this stakes winner already found the re-opposing Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) too tough to handle in the G2 Queen's Vase at this distance. However, he was only a neck shy of Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood last month. Several of these would have to run below par for Chesspiece to prevail.

 

CONTINUOUS (JPN), Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Fluff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Dished out a comprehensive beating to Gregory in the Great Voltigeur at York, the form of which is up there with the best on offer in this race, and his chance is bolstered by the fact that he is Ryan Moore's pick of a Ballydoyle four-pronged attack. In truth, the rider would not have had much to think about, as this colt has gone from strength to strength this season and appears ground versatile; gave the impression that he would see out the 1m6f at York and rates a leading player on form and pedigree. His dam Fluff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a sister to the formerly smart stayer Barbados (Ire), which gives hope that he should be as effective over the extra two furlongs, while she is also a sister to the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Maybe (Ire), now the dam of Saxon Warrior (Jpn); classy sort.

 

 

DENMARK (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Board Meeting (Ire) (Anabaa)
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Dayton Investments (Breeding) Limited
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: €440,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: From the family of French Oaks winner Bright Sky (Ire) (Wolfhound) and, while there is plenty of stamina in the pedigree, he didn't appear to have any excuses when beaten by Middle Earth on his penultimate start at York. He hung left-handed when third in a handicap at Haydock last time; plenty to prove.

 

DESERT HERO (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire)–Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})
Owner: HM The King & HM The Queen
Breeder: The Queen
Trainer: William Haggas
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Bred by The Queen, Desert Hero is closely related to four-time group winner and dual top-level placed Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gritty performer who has advertised his St Leger credentials in grinding out victories in a handicap at Royal Ascot followed by the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood. Could be open to even further progression upped in trip.

 

 

GREGORY (GB), Golden Horn (GB)–Gretchen (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Normandie Stud Ltd
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: This Queen's Vase winner was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the Great Voltigeur, after winning his first three starts. Retiring jockey Frankie Dettori has opted for fellow Gosden trainee Arrest, so Kieran Shoemark will partner the son of G2 Park Hill S. heroine Gretchen. A Cocked Hat S. hero like his half-brother Lionel (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Gregory's staying proclivities come naturally, and his dam's half-brother Duncan (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) won the G1 Irish St Leger. One to watch.

 

 

MIDDLE EARTH (GB), Roaring Lion–Roheryn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Qatar Racing Limited
Breeder: The Roheryn Partnership
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Although yet to earn black-type and by a classy sire who was just found out at the 12-furlong distance in the Derby, this half-brother to the multiple group-placed stakes-winning Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet {Aus}), has inherited his stamina from his King George V Cup-winning dam, whose four group placings were anchored by a second in the G3 Ballyroan S. Already a winner at this trip defeating Denmark (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Melrose H. at York, Middle Earth's connections thought highly enough of his chances and paid the supplementary fee. However, the waters are a great deal deeper in this contest.

 

 

TOWER OF LONDON (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr) (Anabaa)
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Capri (Ire) and fellow smart stayers Cypress Creek (Ire) and Passion (Ire); denied a third win on the trot when narrowly beaten in a Group 3 over 1m5f at Newmarket in July and, while this is his first start since then, fitness will not be an issue hailing from this camp. One of the more lively outsiders and he certainly commands respect.

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Doncaster: Can Coltrane Do It Again In The Doncaster Cup?

Causing an upset when edging out Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in a thriller for last year's G2 Doncaster Cup, one of the staying division's leaders Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) returns to Town Moor for another encounter with his nemesis on Friday. Having won Ascot's G3 Sagaro S. and the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York and been runner-up in the G1 Gold Cup in the interim, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's stalwart is better than ever at the age of six and is the one with the target on his back this time.

Andrew Balding holds Coltrane close to his heart and is relishing another battle royal. “The great thing about him is he seems to be effective on any ground and in any sort of style of race, which is a big help for these stayers,” he said. “He obviously won the race last year, but he does carry a penalty this year which makes life a lot tougher. It is not a straightforward task, but the horse is really well and he seems to thrive on his racing.”

Trueshan has been absent since finishing fourth behind Coltrane in the Sagaro in May and has undergone a wind operation, so the star stayer of 2021 has questions to answer here. Normandie Stud's progressive Ebor H. runner-up Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) represents the Gosdens, who have a line on these through their Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

“We think there's more improvement to come and we think he might make up into an Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup type of horse next year,” jockey Robert Havlin said of the Normandie Stud homebred. “Since we put blinkers on he's been ultra consistent. He's won over two miles and the Ebor was obviously a drop back in trip. He gets the trip well so there are a lot of positives, especially after all the rain. He doesn't need soft ground, but he handles it very well.”

 

Inquisitively Takes On Big Evs In The Flying Childers

Also at Doncaster on Friday is the G2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers S., where Wee Sean Gan's Listed Roses S. scorer Inquisitively (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) looks to turn the tables on Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) after their prior meeting in Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle S. Trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy is concerned about the slower ground for Inquisitively, however. “The ground would be a question mark, he won on fast ground at York and so there is a question mark over soft conditions,” he said.  “The horse won well at York and I think the course will suit him. It's a very flat, straight course and very straightforward. He has been in good form since his race at York, I think he took a step forward from that race. He's very straightforward and professional, I don't think anything will be an issue other than the question over the ground.”

 

All Nine Stand Their Ground For St Leger

There were no withdrawals from Saturday's G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on Thursday, with the major news concerning the decision of Frankie Dettori to ride Juddmonte's Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) ahead of the fellow Gosden representative Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}). That leaves Kieran Shoemark with the task of steering the latter, who captured the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot for Wathnan Racing.

“I'm very happy with my mount in the race and wouldn't swap him,” Shoemark said. “As soon as Frankie made up his mind I found out. He's a high-profile horse in a high-profile race. He's one of the market leaders and to be riding a favourite in a British Classic is hugely exciting. It's where I want to be, so it's a privilege not pressure and I look forward to it.”

Also representing the Gosdens is Qatar Racing's Melrose H. winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion), while The King & The Queen's G3 Gordon S.-winning TDN Rising Star Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Ballydoyle number one Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who catapulted himself into the picture with his impressive G2 Great Voltigeur S. success, are other notables.

 

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The King’s Desert Hero Notches Gordon Success At Goodwood

King Charles III's 'TDN Rising Star' Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Desert Breeze {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) represents the last chance of a Classic winner for His Majesty in the inaugural year of his reign and the William Haggas trainee went some way to making that a reality with a narrow verdict in Thursday's G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S. at Goodwood.

Positioned at the tail of the six-runner field through halfway in this staging post for next month's G1 St Leger, the 7-1 chance was shaken up to go second approaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly under a late drive to deny Godolphin's Listed Glasgow S. scorer Chesspiece (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) by a neck in the dying strides. The latter, in turn, finished three lengths clear of Listed Feilden S. victor Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in third.

“It was not the easiest watch, but Tom [Marquand] said he always thought he was going to win,” revealed Maureen Haggas. “The important thing with this horse is getting him switched off early, which he did really well, and I think if you can do that, you can let the rest of the race unfold. Desert Hero has guts, he wants to win and that counts for a lot. Desert Hero could go further and the obvious aim would be the [G1] St Leger. You never really know until you try, but there's no reason not to try. We are so lucky to be training for The King and Queen and to have a horse as good as this, and I am sure they will be enjoying it and good luck to them.”

John Warren, racing manager to Their Majesties The King and Queen, added, “It is remarkable and so lovely to have a horse in the stable that is so committed. Royal Ascot was wonderful when he cut through horses [to win the King George V H.] and so wanted the race. Desert Hero is an incredible horse, so for The King and Queen to have a horse of this calibre in their first year, taking on from The Queen and with a horse that was bred by her, is a dream come true. They are so excited and so thrilled. The King told me many years ago that he was always going to be committed to taking on the bloodstock portfolio [from his mother] and, true to his word, he has been fascinated by it because now it is on his watch. The story is wonderful for racing in particular because The Queen [Camilla] is so interested and they get such pleasure together out of it.”

Reflecting on the performance of runner-up Chesspiece, trainer Simon Crisford said, “Chesspiece wants a mile-and-six [furlongs] and we just got outpaced at a crucial moment. He loved the ground and ran his heart out and the [G1] St Leger dream is still alive.”

Pedigree Notes

Desert Hero, half-brother to a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock (Aus) and a weanling colt by Kingman {GB}, is the first of three foals out of an unraced full-sister to multiple Group-winning GI Canadian International runner-up and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. third Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The January-foaled chesnut's dam Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is also kin to dual Group 2 winner Manatee (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), Listed Prix du Carrousel victrix Gaterie (Dubai Destination) and to the dam of dual stakes-winning GIII Red Sea Turf H. third Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). His fourth dam is the G2 Prix de l'Opera-placed matriarch Albertine (Fr) (Irish River {Fr}), whose swathe of stakes descendants is headed by GI Breeders' Cup Classic and G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}).

 

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
JOHN PEARCE RACING GORDON S.-G3, £200,000, Goodwood, 8-3, 3yo, 11f 218yT, 2:43.86, sf.
1–DESERT HERO (GB), 129, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Desert Breeze (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Galatee (Fr), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Altana, by Mountain Cat
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-HM The King & HM The Queen; B-The Queen (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1, $229,069. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Chesspiece (GB), 129, c, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Royal Solitaire (Ire), by Shamardal. (€100,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Godolphin; B-Ammerland Gmbh & Co KG (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £43,000.
3–Canberra Legend (Ire), 129, c, 3, Australia (GB)–Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (125,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 350,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-James Ferguson. £21,520.
Margins: NK, 3, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.00, 3.50, 7.00.
Also Ran: Artistic Star (Ire), Burdett Road (GB), Espionage (Ire).

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Observations: Desert Hero Graces Redcar

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. Monday's Insights features TDN Rising Star Desert Hero.

2.30 Redcar, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 9fT
DESERT HERO (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status on debut at Haydock in June before finishing third to Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in Sandown's G3 Solario S. and William Haggas has opted for a confidence boost at this North East circuit. The King's relative of Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) should relish this extra two furlongs and should be winning this with ease to stay in Classic contention for 2023.

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