Dubawi’s Space Blues Takes The City Of York

Godolphin's Saturday at York had started in ideal fashion and got better as TDN Rising Star Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) came back to near his peak over his favoured trip in the seven-furlong G2 Sky Bet City of York S. Last year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero had needed his European return when fourth in Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. July 27 and was kept away from the frantic speed duel up ahead anchored towards the rear by William Buick. Making smooth progress wide to take control passing the two-furlong pole, the 11-8 favourite employed his superior speed from there to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), with another Godolphin runner in Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a neck away in third. “He settles well in his races nowadays, but the loose ground on top was a bit of an unknown–it's shifting a bit beneath the horses–and he was struggling with it early on,” Buick explained. “When he changed gear and lowered himself, he really found his stride. The Lennox didn't work out as we hoped it would and he was entitled to come on for that run. I think he is quick enough for six furlongs, but I'm not sure that he is at his best over that distance. A stiff six on good or softer ground might suit but, when you look through his form, the best of it is over six and a half and seven.”

Space Blues, whose record at this distance reads seven wins from 10 starts, had continued his winning sequence in Riyadh's 1351 Turf Sprint Feb. 20 but lost his sheen of invulnerability when only ninth in the six-furlong G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 27. Charlie Appleby was happy to see him back to his smooth-travelling best here and said, “We were very pleased with Space Blues, who went into the race as the one to beat and did it nicely. The aim now will be to go straight to the [Oct. 3] G1 Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend. We have tried to get him to that race for the last couple of years, but hopefully we can get a clean run with him this time.”

The dam Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre) was also at her best over seven furlongs, winning the G2 Challenge S. and Listed October S. at the trip. She is also responsible for the four times group-winning Shuruq (Elusive Quality), who is in turn the dam of the GIII The Very One S. winner and the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. runner-up Antoinette (Hard Spun) and the GIII Jimmy Durante S. runner-up Javanica (Medaglia d'Oro). This is the family of the G1 Premio Roma heroine High Hawk (Ire), who is renowned as the dam of the triple group 1-winning Breeders' Cup Turf hero and leading sire In the Wings (GB), the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) and the G1 Matron S. heroine Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Miss Lucifer has the unraced 3-year-old filly Beautiful Future (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Dark Angel (Ire).

Saturday, York, Britain
SKY BET CITY OF YORK S.-G2, £213,000, York, 8-21, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.60, gd.
1–SPACE BLUES (IRE), 132, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Miss Lucifer (Fr) (GSW-Eng, $193,403), by Noverre
2nd Dam: Devil's Imp (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: High Spirited (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £120,792. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Fr at 5-7f & G1SW-Fr, 17-9-3-1, $1,313,807. *1/2 to Shuruq (Elusive Quality), Hwt. Older Mare-UAE at 7-9.5f, MGSW-UAE, GSW-Tur & GSP-Eng, $658,709. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Highfield Princess (Fr), 129, f, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £45,795.
3–Glorious Journey (GB), 132, g, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Fallen For You (GB), by Dansili (GB). (2,600,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £22,919.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.38, 8.50, 8.50.
Also Ran: Sir Busker (Ire), Safe Voyage (Ire), Pogo (Ire), Fivethousandtoone (Ire), Primo Bacio (Ire), Lord of the Lodge (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Dubawi’s Space Blues Takes The City Of York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dubawi’s Yibir Takes The Voltigeur

Further evidence that Charlie Appleby holds all the aces in the 3-year-old middle-distance colt department was in plain view on Wednesday as Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) had his turn on the Moulton Paddocks carrousel of success in York's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. Backed into 6-1 before the off, the July 8 G3 Bahrain Trophy winner who was last seen finishing sixth in the G3 Gordon S. over this 12-furlong trip at Goodwood July 29 was dropped out in rear early by James Doyle as Ballydoyle's outsider The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set a searching pace. Making up the margin with ease to take command approaching the furlong pole, the chestnut stayed on to secure a 1 1/4-length success from the long-time leader, with Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) half a length behind in third. “When Yibir is like he was today and in the Bahrain Trophy, he is pretty straightforward,” Doyle said. “He drops his head and relaxes really well. We wanted to get the first part of the race right and then build away from there. It couldn't have worked out much better, really. He has won the Bahrain Trophy and stays very well, but he has got quite a potent kick.”

Yibir came back from a juvenile campaign which culminated in success in Newbury's prestigious Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions S. to run third behind Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in one of the strongest renewals of the G3 Sandown Classic Trial of recent times Apr. 23. Dropping his level when fourth in Chester's Listed Dee S. May 6 and when four-lengths second to the subsequent G1 Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Goodwood's Listed Cocked Hat S. May 21, the imposing homebred was gelded and showed instant benefit by dominating the 13-furlong Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket's July festival before flopping again in the Gordon.

With William Buick on the G2 Queen's Vase winner Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), James Doyle was able to extend his tally to three-for-three on Yibir as that stablemate and another notable contender in High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) failed to fire. With the G1 Grand Prix de Paris fourth The Mediterranean and the Juddmonte International runner-up Alenquer upholding the form of the current hot favourite for that Doncaster Classic in Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), it may be this edition diverts from its usual guise as a font of St Leger candidates. Yibir, who is unable to line up in the final Classic, came from the back in a first-time hood here along with the Gordon runner-up Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Youth Spirit and the race was ultimately run perfectly to suit.

Appleby is looking at a tilt at Belmont's GI Jockey Club Derby Sept. 18 with Yibir. “We've always held him in high regard, because he is such a powerful galloper in the mornings and I have to give a lot of credit to Shane Fetherstonhaugh, who rides him and all the team at home who have handled him,” he said. “The plan was always to leave the hood on today, bury him and get him racing the right way round. He is gelded, so we plan to have him around hopefully for the next few years and I thought it was important to get him racing back in the right manner. He is in the [Sept. 12] G1 Irish St Leger [at The Curragh], but one of our potential plans was to go to North America with him for the Jockey Club Derby. I think he would take a lot of experience there–he hasn't missed a beat this year and is a horse with some constitution. Hopefully, he can become one of those fun international campaigners. I'm disappointed with Kemari, as the drop in trip was not a concern beforehand and he didn't gallop out. We'll see if anything comes out in the wash.”

Yibir is the third black-type winner for the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. scorer Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) alongside his G1 Nassau S., G1 Prix de l'Opera and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac-winning full-sister Wild Illusion (GB) and the Listed Montrose Fillies' S. scorer Really Special (GB) (Shamardal). Also a half to the G3 Prix d'Aumale runner-up Ceratonia (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), he is a grandson of the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Royal Dubai (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}) connected to the GI Beverly D. heroine Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Also from the family of the G1 Dubai World Cup and G1 Juddmonte International hero Electrocutionist (Red Ransom), Rumh's 2-year-old colt Wild Crusade (GB) is a full-brother to the winner and Wild Illusion while her yearling colt is by Golden Horn (GB).

Wednesday, York, Britain
SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR S.-G2, £150,000, York, 8-18, 3yo, c/g, 11f 188yT, 2:28.27, gd.
1–YIBIR (GB), 126, g, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
   1st Dam: Rumh (Ger) (SW-Eng), by Monsun (Ger)
   2nd Dam: Royal Dubai (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
   3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 10-4-1-2, $280,580. *1/2 to Really Special (GB) (Shamardal), SW-Eng, SP-UAE, $108,180; Full to Wild Illusion (GB), G1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Fr, GISP-US, $1,590,217. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Mediterranean (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Flashy Wings (GB), by Zafonic. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £32,250.
3–Youth Spirit (Ire), 126, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (€60,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV; €100,000 RNA Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £16,140.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, NO. Odds: 6.00, 16.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Sir Lucan (Ire), Scope (Ire), High Definition (Ire), Third Realm (GB), Kemari (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Dubawi’s Yibir Takes The Voltigeur appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dubawi on Top Again as Arqana Lights Up

DEAUVILLE, France–The second and final session of the select part of the Arqana August Sale lit up in ebullient fashion with two seven-figure yearlings, including the €2.4-million sale topper by Dubawi, a half-sister to Group 2 winner Babylone (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Charlie Gordon-Watson made a significant impact on the day's action when acting for an unnamed client and signed for the filly (lot 108) out of Typique (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) shortly after bidding €525,000 for lot 99, a filly by Frankel (GB).

The sale leader was consigned by Haras d'Etreham for relatively new breeder Thierry Gillier of Haras Voltaire, who bought Typique, a daughter of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Denebola (Storm Cat), at the Goffs November Sale of 2016 for €450,000 through Laurent Benoit's Broadhurst Agency.

“It's just such a fantastic Niarchos family with Group 1-winning 2-year-olds as the second and third dams, and she's beautiful. She's the best-looking Dubawi filly I've ever seen and the mare's first two foals both look pretty good,” said Gordon-Watson.  “André Fabre loved her and he will train her.”

The filly's page boasts plenty of depth, with Group 1 winners Senga (Blame), Coup De Genie (Mr. Prospector), Machiavellian (Mr. Prospector), Bago (Fr) (Nashwan) and Maxios (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) all prominent. Furthermore, Typique, who achieved little on the racecourse in her two starts, has made a promising start to her broodmare career. Her first foal Babylone (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is also trained by Fabre, has won three of her five starts in her breeder's colours, most recently landing the G2 Prix de Malleret at Longchamp in July. Her year-younger full-sister Assyrian Queen (Fr) made a promising debut when second at Deauville on Aug. 5.

Nicolas de Chambure, who consigned the filly on Gillier's behalf through his Haras d'Etreham, said, “All the credit is for Haras Voltaire. They did the mating: it's a new owner with a new team on a new farm and it is great to see a result like this. They bought an expensive mare and they have been rewarded for their investment in French breeding. We just feel very grateful that they trusted us with this lovely filly. She is going to a great owner and it is nice to see fillies like this going to people with a long-term plan.”

The same owner/breeder will also take charge of Ecurie des Monceaux's Frankel half-sister to Group 3 winners Fas (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Silva (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who had been signed for by Gordon-Watson just 20 minutes earlier.

He said, “We love Frankel and this is a wonderful family. She's a late foal and she will only improve. She will be trained by John Gosden.”

Born on Apr. 29, the bay is a daughter of Sotka (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), a listed-placed sister to the crack sprinter Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), and she was bred at Monceaux by Zalim Bifov.

A notably livelier second session saw figures largely in line with the last time Arqana's premier yearling sale was held in August in 2019. The day's aggregate of €18,775,000 was up by 2% and the average rose by 4% to €307,787. The median dipped only slightly to €210,000 and the clearance rate was 78% for 61 of the 78 horses in the session being marked as sold. Over the two evenings of trade that make up Part I of the sale, 118 yearlings were sold (75.2%) for €30,342,000, 7% off the 2019 aggregate of €32,655,000 for 112 sold. The cumulative average was €257,136, down 11.8%, while the median dipped 16% at €185,000. The Arqana August Yearling Sale was last year staged in September as the Deauville Select Sale owing to a pandemic-induced delay, and over the first two days there 164 yearlings were sold for an average of €181,049 and a median of €105,000.

 

Siyouni Colt Leaves Them Reeling

It didn't take long for the seven-figure barrier to be breached again and that came a few moments after lot 152 entered the ring. Ecurie des Monceaux already has one Siyouni (Fr) colt from a Galileo (Ire) mare as a poster boy in last season's Arc winner Sottsass (Fr), and hopes will be high that the colt by the same sire out of Highland Reel's full-sister Cercle De La Vie (Ire) can rise to a similar level after being purchased for €1.5 million by Oliver St Lawrence.

Black-type updates are the stuff of dreams for consignors and Henri Bozo and his team gained a high-class boost when Cercle De La Vie's first foal Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) won the G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood, beating the G2 Coventry S. winner Berkshire Shadow (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“He was a standout colt with a great update,” said St Lawrence of the yearling. “The 2-year-old looks a proper horse and if he could be as good as him then we've done our jobs. I suspect he will be trained in England. He's been bought for Fawzi Nass.”

St Lawrence made his presence felt at last year's Select Sale and he has done the same again with the sale now reverted to its August slot. At the end of the first two days he was the leading buyer, with five yearlings bought for €3,335,000.

He also signed for the most expensive yearling by Coolmore freshman Saxon Warrior (Jpn) at €370,000. Lot 135 was consigned by Haras de Bourgeauville and is a son of the dual listed winner Artistic Jewel (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}).

 

Dubawi Encore

Juddmonte makes only selective forays into the yearling market and one of the world's best breeding operations dipped in at Arqana for another daughter of Dubawi (lot 117) offered by Haras de l'Hotellerie on behalf of breeders Manfred Wurtenberger and Reinhard Stockli.

It took a bid of €900,000 from Simon Mockridge to secure the half-sister to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Wonderment (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Her dam Wiwilia (GB) (Konigstiger {Ger}) was a dual winner in Switzerland and is a half-sister to the GI Man O'War S. winner Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}).

“She's a beautiful filly, very easy moving,” said Mockridge, “There are Group 1 winners under the first three dams and she has a lovely outcross pedigree for our broodmare band in time.”

The filly's sale represented the highest price achieved by the Garcon family of Haras de l'Hotellerie in nine years of consigning at Arqana.

“We are very happy that she has been bought by such a good breeder,” said Guillaume Garcon. “It is the first time Juddmonte has bought from us and it is very exciting to know that she is going to such a good place. The last time we sold a yearling by Dubawi he was a Group 1 winner [Mubtaahij (Ire)] and we hope for the same for this filly.”

The Hotellerie team has also sold the two most expensive yearlings in Europe by Coolmore's first-crop sires U S Navy Flag and Mendelssohn over the last two days. The latter, lot 90, was bought for €235,000 by Daithi Harvey and Lindsay Laroche's Highland Yard and will be trained for Laroche by Nicolas Clement.

 

Saint Pair's Kingman for Godolphin

Anthony Stroud had been one of the unsuccessful bidders on the day's top lot but it wasn't long before the agent had his way when in pursuit of Haras de Saint Pair's Kingman (GB) colt (lot 113) out of the listed winner Via Pisa (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}).

Having bought Saturday's session-topper, a Kingman half-sister to Native Trail (GB), for €950,000, the agent went to €850,000 for the colt, bred by Andreas Putsch in Normandy from a half-sister to the treble Japanese Grade 1 winner Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

“He's an athletic colt from a very organic farm in Haras de Saint Pair,” said Stroud, who has bought six yearlings for Godolphin over the last two days for €3,220,000.

They included lot 163, a Dubawi half-brother to G3 Prix Miesque winner Devant (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) from Ecurie des Monceaux for €650,000.

The consignor is in its usual slot at the head of the vendors' leaderboard with 28 yearlings sold for €8,507,000.

 

Classy Signings For Coolmore

A yearling by France's champion sire Siyouni was also on the shopping list of the Coolmore team, which stands the stallion's Arc-winning son Sottsass (Fr) and went to €650,000 for another colt by him from the Ecurie Des Monceaux draft.

Lot 160 is the first foal of Correze (GB) (Shamardal), whose lone win may have come in the provinces but she has plenty to recommend her on paper as a daughter of the G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Cloud Castle (GB) (In The Wings {GB}). She is also a half-sister to three stakes winners from a family which includes the high-class siblings Luso (GB) and Warrsan (Ire).

It was perhaps not a surprise to see MV Magnier come out on top of a bidding duel for Haras de Montaigu's Galileo half-sister to the Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}).

Having gone to €500,000 to buy the grey filly (lot 120) from the Forien family, he said, “She comes from a great breeder with a great history and she was a lovely filly. Let's hope she can run.”

The family has received further updates this season through the exploits of G2 Prix Greffulhe winner Baby Rider (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who is out of the filly's half-sister Gyrella (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

 

Father And Son Backed By Skiffington

Among three purchases at Arqana August, agent Amanda Skiffington signed for two of the more expensive yearlings of the day by Wootton Bassett (GB) and his son Almanzor (Fr) at €500,000 and €450,000, respectively.

Both were bought for Fiona Carmichael, with the colt by Wootton Bassett (lot 146) being the first foal of listed runner-up Bhageerathi (Ire) (Motivator {GB}). He was offered by Anna Sundstrom of Coulonces on behalf of Haras de Saint Laurent.

“He's just a really lovely colt by a horse I think is a seriously good stallion,” said Skiffington. “That's the sort of price you have to go to to buy a horse like that.”

Lot 121, the Almanzor filly from Haras des Capucines, received a dream update just hours before she went through the ring when her half-sister Who Knows (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) won the G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin just across the road for a partnership consisting of Ecurie de Parc Monceau, co-breeder Gerard Larrieu, Eric Puerari and Hubert Guy.

Another half-sister, Poetic Dream (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), won the G2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen and their dam Zain Al Boldan (GB) (Poliglote {GB}) was useful in her day as the winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial.

The post Dubawi on Top Again as Arqana Lights Up appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Bluebloods Abound at Newbury

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. Friday's Observations features the first foal out of Group 1 winner Persist (GB) (Frankel {GB}.

1.07 Newbury, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, f, 6fT
Cheveley Park Stud's homebred PERSIST (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the first foal out of G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. heroine Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and debuts for the William Haggas stable here. Her rivals include Juddmonte's Pluperfect (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is out of a half-sister to MG1SW sire Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and represents the John and Thady Gosden axis.

 

1.40 Newbury, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT
Qatar Racing's ELECTRESS (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the last of three foals produced by G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and GI E.P. Taylor S. victrix Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). The Ralph Beckett trainee is confronted by 14, including Sheikha Melissa Al Fahad's Franklin William (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is an Andrew Balding-trained son of MGSW G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Cheveley Park S. placegetter Kiyoshi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

 

2.10 Newbury, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT
Godolphin's 800,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition NEW KINGDOM (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a grandson of G1 Matron S. winner Echelon (GB) (Danehill) and debuts for Charlie Appleby in this 14-runner affair. His opponents feature £500,000 Arqana Breeze-Up@Doncaster graduate Kingdom Come (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who is a Clive Cox-conditioned son of MGSW G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua placegetter Monami (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}) and thus a half-brother to last term's G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Miss Yoda (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}).

 

The post Bluebloods Abound at Newbury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights