The Curragh: O’Brien Prepares Beresford Assault

It is the time of year when ideas begin to form about the following season's Classics and with Derbys in mind, Saturday's G2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford S. at The Curragh offers food for thought. Aidan O'Brien's record in this mile staging post is plain remarkable, even by his standards, with a tally of 21 winners including St Nicholas Abbey (Ire), Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Japan (GB) and Luxembourg (Ire) and the fact that he has a trio engaged in the race he missed out in 12 months ago for the first time since 2010 suggests he is looking to resume normal procedure.

With Ryan Moore in Australia, Frankie Dettori flies in to partner Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and full-brother to Never Ending Story (Ire) who put a debut fifth at Killarney behind him when scoring over an extended mile on heavy ground at the Galway festival in August. Colin Keane rides Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-brother to Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) who also won over that same course and distance this month, while the mile Leopardstown maiden winner Chief Little Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the mount of Gavin Ryan.

“Chief Little Rock came forward nicely to win at Leopardstown but he only just won, we thought he'd win easier than he did,” O'Brien said. “He's in good form and we think he's a horse who is going to progress more. He's got a stout pedigree and will be staying well next year. Grosvenor Square won nicely at Galway, that was only 11 days ago. He's a lovely, big horse but he was babyish and green there, so we think the experience will do him well. He's another with plenty of stamina in his pedigree. Frankie is riding Navy Seal for us. He won nicely at Galway the last day, but he was a little but green. He ended up winning nicely at the end and we think he's ready to go again. The first day we were a bit disappointed, we expected him to run better but he was very green. He was still green the last day, so we're just hoping that he keeps coming forward.”

Joseph O'Brien attempts to stem the tide of Ballydoyle winners in this with Teme Valley Racing's Stromberg (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), who steps up from seven furlongs for the first time having a Galway maiden and Roscommon conditions race by a total of 17 lengths, while Vimal Khosla's Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) brings the form of the Leopardstown's G2 Champions Juvenile S. into focus having been four-lengths fourth behind Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Mister Sketch In Mill Reef Test…

Newbury's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. is the other juvenile feature on Saturday, with speed as the contrast for the six-furlong feature of the card. Wathnan Racing's acquisition Mister Sketch (GB) (Territories {Ire}) won by 9 1/2 lengths over this trip at Salisbury last month and trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is hoping he can cope with this easy ground. “It's not ideal ground for him, but it's the same for everyone and I think he'll run a big race,” she said. “He's a lovely, strong horse, so I hope he'll be able to handle the ground.”

This renewal is dominated by those who have danced a few dances already and with conditions demanding toughness, that could play into the hands of the G3 Sirenia S. second and third Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Array (Ire) (No Nay Never). The latter is a relative of Frankel (GB), so this is a big opportunity for the Juddmonte homebred. “I think the ground won't be an issue for him, Andrew [Balding] always felt he'd go with a bit of ease in the ground and obviously he ran well at Goodwood on desperate ground,” Barry Mahon said. “He's a nice horse who probably hasn't been the luckiest, but he looked good winning his maiden and he's shown a good level of form to partake in such a race.”

Sense Of Duty Returns…

In the five-furlong G3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy at Newbury, St Albans Bloodstock's exciting filly Sense Of Duty (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) is back in action having been absent since her impressive 4 1/2-length success in Newcastle's G3 Chipchase S. last June. This looks an ideal starting point for the William Haggas-trained 4-year-old, who has a class edge over her four rivals if retaining her ability.

“She's never run over five furlongs, but she has to run somewhere with as big a gap as possible between Champions Day,” Haggas said. “She will need the run, but she's pretty useful. She was very good the day she won the Chipchase at Newcastle. I think she'll enjoy the ground.”

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Bauhinia At Saint-Cloud For Second Test

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 return of a 'TDN Rising Star'.

13.40 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT
BAUHINIA (IRE) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status at ParisLongchamp last month and Godolphin's daughter of the G2 Rockfel S.-placed Desert Blossom (Ire) (Shamardal) is kept away from black-type company for now by Andre Fabre. Among her opponents is Ecurie des Charmes's Deauville conditions scorer Opera Mundi (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a Carlos & Yann Lerner-trained relative of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) and G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

 

14.25 Newbury, Cond, £20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
INVERSION (GB) (Frankel {GB}) makes her debut in this Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises British EBF Fillies' Conditions S. which obviously enjoys a special resonance with the Charlton stable, having won it for three of the last five years including with the subsequent G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Quadrilateral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and with this Juddmonte homebred's half-sister Lucid Dreamer (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Also successful with L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) in 2002, their runner this time is also a half-sister to the recent GI Diana S. winner Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio).

 

16.40 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT
MILITARY LEADER (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is introduced by Charlie Appleby at a track at which he likes to run his smart juveniles and this is a half-brother to this year's G1 Coronation S. third Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}). A 1.5million gns Tatts Book 1 purchase, he hails from the spectacularly successful Kilfrush Stud family of Galileo's Hydrangea (Ire), The United States (Ire) and Hermosa (Ire).

 

17.15 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT
AGE OF BAROQUE (FR) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is another Godolphin-Appleby project starting out on the Polytrack, being a grandson of the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Grey Lilas (Ire) (Danehill) from the immediate family of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Golden Lilac (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Costing €575,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, the Februray-foaled bay has some experienced peers to overcome including Victorious Racing's 360,000gns Tatts Craven Breeze-Up graduate Military Artist (Munnings) from the Roger Varian stable.

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Making Waves: A Masterful 56 For Dubawi

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Master Of The Seas in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile at Woodbine on Saturday.

 

Dubawi Gelding Masters Woodbine Mile Foes

The Classic-placed Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) won his first race at the Grade I level for breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Saturday (video).

Already a five-time group winner who was second in the 2021 edition of the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the 5-year-old was last seen taking the G2 Summer Mile S. at Ascot. One of four stakes winners for his listed-winning and G1 French 1000 Guineas second dam, Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), Master Of The Seas is a half-brother to the dam of top-level winners Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The 56th Grade/Group 1 winner worldwide for his Darley sire, Master Of The Seas is one of 37 winners from 76 runners (48%) in the U.S. Dubawi has accumulated 20 stakes winners (26%) in North America, including 10 Grade I winners.

 

 

Jockey Club Oaks Goes To Teofilo Filly

Godolphin homebred Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) secured her first victory at the graded level with a win in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. for trainer Charlie Appleby on Saturday (video).

Already a listed winner and second in the G2 Prix Alex Head during her 2023 European campaign, the chestnut is the second foal and first winner for the winning Dubawi (Ire) mare Voice Of Truth (Ire), herself a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner and Classic-placed sire Rio De La Plata (Rahy). Eternal Hope is a half-sister to Blue Point (Ire) juvenile filly Word's Out (Ire), a yearling full-sister who is lot 168 as part of the Baroda Stud draft at the Goffs Orby Sale, and an Australia (GB) half-brother born this year. Voice Of Truth was picked up for €35,000 out of the Godolphin consignment by Gary Mullins carrying her Teofilo yearling at Goffs November in 2021.

Darley's Teofilo is responsible for 17 winners from 27 runners (63%) in North America. His four stakes winners (15%) are anchored by GI Saratoga Derby victor Nations Pride, and Eternal Hope is his third graded winner in that locale.

 

 

Sea Venture A Success

Lael Stables' Ready To Venture (GB) (Kingman {GB}) claimed a career high in the GIII Seaway S. at Woodbine on Sunday (video). Trained by Mike Stidham, the 5-year-old was making her first start in graded company.

A homebred for Roy and Gretchen Jackson who raced GI Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (Dynaformer) and bred George Washington (Ire) (Danehill), the two-time U.S. stakes winner is the first foal out of the G3 Pinnacle S. third Wonderstruck (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). A half-sister to the aforementioned Classic winner George Washington and to three-time Group 1 winner Grandera (Ire) (Grand Lodge), her latest is a weanling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB).

Juddmonte's Kingman is responsible for 30 winners from 55 runners in the U.S. (54.5%). Eight of that cohort (14.5%) are stakes winners, with three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) his best.

 

 

Sweet Like Sugar

Gregory Hoffman, R.T Racing Stable and Clay Scherer's Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) followed up a runner-up performance at Saratoga into a Belmont at the Big A victory on Saturday (video).

The Brad Cox trainee was bred by G. H. S. Bloodstock and J. C. Bloodstock, and brought €150,000 from Scherer as a Goffs Orby yearling in 2022. Ever So Sweet is one of three foals for her dam, the Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Shine (GB), who is a full-sister to the listed winner and black-type producer Shamandar (Fr) and a half-sister to the listed winner and G3 Prix la Rochette second Hung Parliament (Fr) (Numerous). Third dam Blushing Heiress (Blushing John) won both the GII Wilshire H. and GIII Palomar H.

The progeny of Coolmore stallion Calyx are thriving as autumn arrives, and all three of his U.S. runners have now won, including the stakes-placed Angiolleta (Ire). Internationally, the G2 Coventry S. hero has 14 winners anchored by G2 Duchess of Cambridge heroine Persian Dreamer.

 

 

Too Darn Hot Filly Shines At The Meadowlands

It's Hot In Here (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who runs in the silks of Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, LLC, Michael Kisber and William Rucker, won at Monmouth Park at the Meadowlands late last week for trainer Chad Brown (video). She is the first runner and winner in North America for her Darley sire.

Part of the Ballylinch Stud breeding programme, she was making her second start after running third to future GI Natalma S. fourth Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at Saratoga in August. The €110,000 Arqana August yearling selection of Mandore International Agency, the bay is the sixth foal and fifth winner produced by Listed Flaming Page S. second and GIII My Charmer H. third Janicellaine (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}). The dam has a yearling filly by Lope De Vega (Ire), who is consigned as lot 428 by Ballylinch to the Goffs Orby Sale next week and a weanling filly by Make Believe (GB). Janicellaine is also a half-sister to the star-crossed GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) among others.

Worldwide, Too Darn Hot has sired 15 winners. G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G3 Sweet Solera S. victress Fallen Angel (GB), G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prestige S. winner Darnation (Ire) and Carolina Reaper (GB), who claimed the G3 Zukunfts Rennen, are his trio of stakes winners so far.

 

 

Kodiac Filly Game Beneath The Twin Spires

Stonestreet Stables' Salt Spray (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) made her second start a winning one at Churchill Downs for trainer Wesley Ward on Thursday (video).

Bred by Denis Brosnan's Epona Bloodstock, Ltd., the 285,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling, who was picked up by Ben McElroy for Barbara Banke's operation, is out of Taste The Salt (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), who is a half-sister to G2 Norfolk S. winner Baitha Alga (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}). Taste The Salt has the juvenile filly Lady Of War (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire) who will be offered by Croom House Stud as lot 132 at the Goffs Orby Sale later this month, and a full-sister to the winner born this year, yet to come.

Tally-Ho's Kodiac has sired 38 winners from 76 (50%) to race in the U.S. Seven (9%) of them have won stakes, led by GII City of Hope Mile S. hero True Valour (Ire), and Grade III winners Campanelle (Ire), Island Of Love (Ire), and Spirit Of Xian (Ire). Dual Group 1 winner Campanelle, too, raced in the marigold-with-a-burgundy-vee Stonestreet silks.

 

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Daughter of Siyarafina Debuts in Fascinating Chantilly Affair

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. Wednesday's Insights features a daughter of G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) at Chantilly.

12.50 Chantilly, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, f, 8fT
SIYANDRA (IRE) (Medaglia d'Oro) is the first foal out of The Aga Khan's G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), who was out of a listed-winning and dual group-placed half-sister to the owner-breeder's sire sensation Siyouni (Fr) and the G1 Sun Chariot S. and GI E. P. Taylor S. heroine Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Francis-Henri Graffard has charge of the March-foaled homebred, whose peers include Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard's Million Miles Away (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a Pascal Bary-trained daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) bought for €400,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville August; and a Wertheimer pair in the Christophe Ferland-trained Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half to the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and the Andre Fabre-trained Solite (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud scorer Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) and a full-sister to the G2 Prix du Muguet winner Plumatic (GB).

15.05 Sandown, Novice, £12,000, 2yo, 7fT
DUKE'S COMMAND (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) cost Godolphin 1.6million gns at last year's Tatts Book 1, with his dam being a daughter of the revered Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and therefore a full-sister to the Classic heroines Minding (Ire), Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire). Connections will be buoyed by the fact that Minding's Dubawi colt Henry Longfellow (Ire) placed himself in the elite of his generation in the recent G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. and Charlie Appleby opts for a track that he often sends his better juveniles to.

14.30 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 8fT
DAMBUSTER (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was a 750,000gns buy-back by his breeder Chasemore Farm at Tatts Book 1 and is now one of Andrew Balding's Kingsclere stable as he prepares for his debut. A full-brother to the G3 Prestige S. winner Boomer (GB), the relative of The Cheka (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) meets a rare Shadwell runner for the Harry Eustace stable in Muttasil (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a colt from the immediate family of Tamayuz (GB).

HOW THEY FARED

19.00 Newcastle, Novice, £6,600, 2yo, f, 6fT
Leveret (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}) may have had the pedigree, being a half-sister to the recent GI Beverly D S. heroine Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), but was not expected to make waves on this debut at 33-1. Belying those odds despite a tardy break, the Manister House Stud homebred finished off strongly to be runner-up which augurs well for her future.

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