Making Waves: Granny Budgie Is Off The Mark At Santa Anita

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Granny Budgie in California.

 

Massaat Filly Sparkles At Santa Anita

Mickley Stud-bred Granny Budgie (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) won a Santa Anita contest for trainer Phil D'Amato earlier this month. The 3-year-old filly races in the colours of David Bernsen, Omar Aldabbagh and Jeffrey Lambert (video).

Originally an £18,000 Goffs UK Premier & Silver yearling on the bid of JS Bloodstock, the bay won on debut for owner/trainer George Scott and earned two more wins for Knights & Kings Racing Stable from a total of five UK starts before changing hands again privately and running sixth in the Listed Sweet Life S. locally in February. Her dam raced until she was six and earned her lone win that year. A half-sister to Group 3 winner Caledonia Lady (GB) (Firebreak {GB}), Caledonia Duchess (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) has been bred exclusively to Massaat. Her juvenile colt brought £21,000 at the 2023 edition of the Goffs UK sale from Compas Equine/Iain Jardine, while she also has a yearling filly.

Mickley stallion Massaat, a son of Teofilo (Ire) who won the G2 Hungerford S. and was second in both the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Dewhurst S., has a flawless North American record with two winners from two runners. His Mas Rapido (GB) was also second in Santa Anita's Listed John Shear S. in 2023.

 

 

Bull's Lil Bro Shines At Tampa

White Birch homebred Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-brother to multiple Grade I winner and Gainesway stallion Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), earned his Making Waves badge at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this month for trainer Chad Brown (video).

The 2022 G3 Prix des Chenes hero is out of the stakes-placed Rosa Bonheur (Mr. Greeley), the dam of three winners overall, who also has a 3-year-old filly named Roseannadanna (Ire) (No Nay Never) and a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB). His granddam Rolly Polly (Ire) (Mukaddamah), well regarded in Italy, and a graded/group winner in France, the US, Italy and England, is also the ancestress of G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise heroine Exxtra (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).

Darley stalwart Dubawi now has 41 winners (51%) from 80 runners in the US and Canada. His 22 stakes winners (28%) in that jurisdiction include 17 graded winners with 10 Grade I winners among them. His best has been In Italian (GB), Dubawi Heights (GB) and Modern Games (Ire), all of which have at least two top-level victories to their names.

 

Repeat Honoree

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Michael Kisber's Chili Flag (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}) added the GIII Honey Fox S. to her resume for trainer Ian Wilkes in the first week of March (video). The 5-year-old was making her second start this term following a sixth in the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational S. in January and taking the Forever Together S. in 2023.

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Lord North Treads A Familiar Path

It is the G3 Winter Derby, so it must be time for the return from hibernation of the Clarehaven stalwart and late-winter specialist Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gearing up for his attempt at a fourth consecutive G1 Dubai Turf, the 8-year-old will be reunited with Robert Havlin who has partnered him in the last two editions of this prize formerly staged over 10 furlongs at Lingfield. Now at Southwell with an extra furlong added on, it will represent a different test for the high-class veteran whose probable limit is a mile and a quarter.

“We think he is where he was this time last year before the Winter Derby–working slightly better than the year before, when he was second to Alenquer,” Havlin said. “Lord North is an eight-year-old now and takes a bit of getting fit, but he seems to be bright in himself. From a fitness perspective, he will improve as he always needs this first run to get all the lights switched on, but he is the class act and we are expecting a big run.”

“He is quite an uncomplicated horse, as he relaxes into a race and it is up to you when to press the button. His optimum trip is probably nine furlongs given his record in the Dubai Turf, but he has run well over a mile and a half at the Breeders' Cup.”

While Godolphin's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) failed to go on after that promising performance last May, the now-gelded full-brother to Adayar (Ire) showed form strong enough to be a major player here when second in the course-and-distance Winter Derby Trial Conditions S. in January. Possibly more attuned to the greater stamina test than Lord North, he represents a worthy rival alongside Prince Faisal's long-absent Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) who is seen for the first time since finishing fourth in the 2022 G1 2000 Guineas.

“Military Order has definitely come forward since his last start,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He ticks a couple of boxes in that he has run well already this year over the track and trip. He should be a big player based on the pick of his three-year-old form and what he achieved in the trial.”

Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince Faisal, said of Eydon, “Andrew [Balding] has been pleased with him and was pleased with his gallop at Kempton. It's a pretty even field and they are all rated around the same figures apart from Lord North and we will see.”

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Making Waves: Florida Graded Success For Galileo And Dubawi

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column reflects on success at Gulfstream Park for Warm Heart and Francesco Clemente.

 The highlight of recent weeks has been the Coolmore partners' Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won her third top-level race in a third different country when taking the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. in Florida in late January (video). Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore-bred set a new course record, and is now bound for a date with Justify.

The late Galileo has sired 65 winners from 177 runners (37%) in America. She is also his 28th stakes winner in the U.S. (16%). His final crop just turned two.

 

 

Dubawi Entire Lands McKnight

Peter Brant homebred Francesco Clemente (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) earned a career high in the GIII William L. McKnight S. on Pegasus World Cup day at Gulfstream Park for trainer Chad Brown (video).

Listed-placed at four at Goodwood last May for John and Thady Gosden, he then ran second in the GII Hollywood Turf Cup S. in November two starts later before his graded win. His dam, Justlookdontouch (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), also responsible for stakes winner and multiple group-placed Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}), is a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Francesco Clemente is also from the former Ballymacoll Stud family of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and fellow Group 1 winners Greek Dance (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Mountain High (Ire) (Danehill).

Darley kingpin Dubawi now sports a record of 40 winners from 78 runners (51%) in the US. With Francesco Clemente's Grade III win, Dubawi's American stakes winners number 22 (28%) with 17 striking at the graded level.

 

 

Bells Are Ringing At Santa Anita

Phil D'Amato trainee Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) showed no rust after a lengthy layoff and won the GIII Megahertz S. at Santa Anita earlier this month (video).

Bred by Fergus Cousins, the dark bay sold for €33,000 as a yearling to BBA Ireland and finished her Irish career with one win at handicap level in September of 2021 for Jessica Harrington and It's All About The Girls. A graded winner in America and placed in two Grade I events in 2022, she was reoffered at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale, but was a $425,000 buy-back. Racing for Agave Racing Stable, Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, the mare was making her first start in over 13 months. Out of the winning Fashion Line (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Bellabel's latest half-sibling is a two-year-old filly by Profitable (Ire) named Miss Birkin (Ire), and a yearling full-brother. This is the extended family of G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Princess Yaiza (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).

Belardo's best runners are based in America, among them is the Grade I winner Gold Phoenix (Ire). He has five winners from seven runners (71%) in the US.

 

 

Churchill Filly Off The Mark At Gulfstream

Poolside With Slim (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) proved that second time was the charm in a Gulfstream maiden for trainer George Arnold (video).

Bo Bramagen bought the Kilweelran-bred filly for €110,000 out of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale in 2022, and she races for Bromagen and Patrick Lewis. Her unraced dam Kissepal (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) now has two runners and two winners from two foals of racing age. Kissepal, a half-sister to multiple group winner and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Besharah (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), has a yearling filly by Mehmas (Ire) still to come. GIII Affirmed H. hero Nonios (Pleasantly Perfect), placed in both the GI Haskell Invitational S. and GI Awesome Again S., is also in this family.

Coolmore's Churchill has seven winners from 12 runners (58%) in the US. His group winner The Foxes (Ire) was runner-up in the GI Belmont Derby in 2023.

 

 

Repeat Winners

Kingman (GB)'s Equitize (GB) won for the second time in three starts when taking a Tampa Bay Downs allowance for trainer Chad Brown (video). A debut winner last March, the Klaravich Stables runner was unplaced in Aqueduct's GII Hill Prince S. in November.

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Trevaunance A First Moyglare Runner In Dubai On Friday

Friday's Meydan card is anchored by the AED700,000 G3 Dubai Millennium S. over 2000 metres on grass, and Jessica Harrington sends out Group 2 heroine Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) to face the boys, which includes a strong challenge by Godolphin.

The first runner for Moyglare Stud in the UAE, the G2 Prix de la Nonette winner ran second to India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G1 Preis von Europa last out at Cologne in September. She carries only 121 pounds in the eight-horse field, anywhere from three to six pounds less than her rivals.

“Trevaunance has travelled over to Dubai very well and Zara, her rider, has been delighted with her,” said Kate Harrington, the trainer's daughter and assistant. “Shane [Foley, jockey] sat on her this morning [Wednesday] and was very happy with how she was.”

G3 Gordon S. winner New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has been gelded since running second at listed level in September, and Bahraini stakes winner Warren Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) are ridden by William Buick and Michael Barzalona, respectively.

“We are hoping that dropping back to a mile and a quarter is going to suit New London,” said trainer Charlie Appleby of the Godolphin pair. “This race has always been the plan for him and, if you take the best of his 3-year-old form, he looks a serious contender.

“Warren Point proved what he could do in Bahrain and Qatar last year. He has wintered out in Dubai for a couple of years without actually running at Meydan, but I think the trip and track will suit.”

 

Supporting Cast Anchored By Dubai Sprint

The AED500,000 Listed Dubai Sprint attracted a strong field of 14, and 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) returns after running fourth in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash in December.

“Mischief Magic came out of the Ertijaal Dubai Dash well and coming back to six furlongs should play to his strengths,” said trainer Charlie Appleby of the Godolphin runner.

The one-for-one Nadelia (Fr) (Spanish Moon) will attempt to emulate subsequent dual top-level scorer and G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the Jumeirah Fillies' Classic. In the male equivalent, the Jumeirah Guineas also over 1400 metres of turf, Team Valor International's Shamrock Glitter (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}) squares off against Godolphin's Legend Of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) once more after running second to that foe at the beginning of January over this course and distance.

“She's a [half-]sister to [Group 1 winner] King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) and we do like her, that's why we've brought her to Dubai,” said assistant trainer Marine Henry of Nadelia, who is trained by her husband, Nicolas Caullery. “She did a piece of work really well last week and we're looking forward to her race.”

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