Ebaiyra | Horse Racing Free Tips

Starspangledbanner’s Aristia Wins The Romanet

There was no fairytale at Deauville on Sunday as Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) failed to fire on her European bow in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet won from the front by Elizabeth “Bunny” Roberts's Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Aristia had found only Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) too strong in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time July 28 and that form saw to it that the Richard Hannon trainee traded at only 4-1 as Sean Levey sought to dictate to suit. Kept company by Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) throughout, the bay ultimately had too much pace where it counted and found the line a neck ahead of that rival, with another 1 1/4 lengths back to Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) in third. The 12-5 favourite Verry Elleegant went to post with positive vibes surrounding her, but was detached early and failed to get out of last place at any stage.

“It's amazing. Winning a Group 1 race here in France is hard to achieve–we've had many places, including an hour ago, but she is a very brave and tough filly,” Hannon said. “She can dictate the pace or come from behind, but from the one draw, Sean did well to let her go on. She's had her ups and downs, but she came in her coat very late in the season and that is why she is doing real well only now. She is a genuine filly. Jamie Magee had her for a period over the winter and he has done an excellent job and deserves a mention. The Opera on Arc day is a possibility, but also the Fillies' and Mares' race on Champions day.”

Roberts, president of Jersey's race club and sister of Robert Barnett whose Time Charter (Ire) achieved renown in the '80s, has had offers to refuse along the way for the winner, whose career began with a win at 20-1 at Newbury last April. Third in that track's Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial before upsetting Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in York's Listed Lyric Fillies' S. either side of an eighth in the G2 Ribblesdale S., she rounded off her 2021 campaign with a below-par ninth in the G2 Prix de la Nonette here 12 months ago. Returning to be second in the G2 Middleton Fillies' S. back at York May 12, she threw in another bad one when ninth in Royal Ascot's Listed Wolferton S. June 14 before taking it to a new level in the Nassau and this prize which often falls to an improver.

Pedigree Notes:

Aristia's dam Aloisi (GB) (Kalanisi {Ire}), who also produced the Australian stakes winner Glorious Sinndar {Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), is a daughter of the Listed Prix Rose de Mai winner and G3 Prix Penelope-placed Bellona (Ire) (Bering {GB}). She is in turn responsible for Es Que (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), whose four stakes winners are headed by the G1 Hong Kong Vase hero Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) and the G2 Lennox S.-winning sire Es Que Love (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}). The third dam is the G3 Prix de Royaumont scorer Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Ire}), whose G3 Prix de Flore-winning daughter In Clover (GB), also by Inchinor, produced a trio of top-level winners in Dansili's We Are (Ire) and With You (GB) and Frankel's Call The Wind (GB). Aloisi's 2-year-old colt by Aclaim (Ire) was a 52,000gns purchase by Rabbah Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, while she also has a yearling colt by Bungle Inthejungle (GB) due to sell at the upcoming Goffs Orby and a filly foal by Gregorian (Ire).

Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX JEAN ROMANET-G1, €250,000, Deauville, 8-21, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:08.03, gd.
1–ARISTIA (IRE), 126, f, 4, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
                1st Dam: Aloisi (GB), by Kalanisi (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Bellona (Ire), by Bering (GB)
                3rd Dam: Bellarida (Fr), by Bellypha (Ire)
   1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST G1 WIN. O-Mrs E Roberts; B-Rathasker
Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. €142,850.
Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Eng, 9-3-2-1, $378,428. *1/2 to
Glorious Sinndar (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), SW-Aus, $220,422. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating:
   A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Rosscarbery (Ger), 126, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Rose Rized
(Ger), by Authorized (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (130,000gns
Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Robert J W Moran; B-Gestut Wittekindshof
(GER); T-Paddy Twomey; J-Billy Lee. €57,150.
3–Ebaiyra, 126, m, 5, Distorted Humor–Ebiyza (Ire), by Rock of
Gibraltar (Ire). O-H H Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan Studs SC
(KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €28,575.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 4.20, 3.80, 4.60.
Also Ran: Rumi (Fr), Sundoro (Ire), Burgarita (GB), Verry Elleegant (NZ). Scratched: Ville De Grace (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

The post Starspangledbanner’s Aristia Wins The Romanet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Ebaiyra Takes Up Munich Challenge

In The Aga Khan's centenary year, Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) looks to provide another highlight in Sunday's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen. Having enjoyed a confidence-boosting win in the Listed Prix de la Pepiniere at Chantilly July 12, last year's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud runner-up is looking for a first success at the highest level at which she has been placed on three occasions. Intriguingly, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained 5-year-old meets Gestut Park Wiedingen's July 3 G1 Deutsches Derby and June 6 G2 Union-Rennen hero Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Gestut Paschberg's fellow 3-year-old Queroyal (Ger) (Churchill {Ire}) who took the Baden-Baden's G3 Derby-Trial May 28 before finishing ninth behind Sammarco in the domestic Derby.

Click here for the group field.

The post Ebaiyra Takes Up Munich Challenge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Glory Vase Wins Second Hong Kong Vase At Sha Tin

Champion jockey Joao Moreira combined with the Tomohito Ozeki-trained Japanese stayer Glory Vase for a stunning win in the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong Sunday.

It was a repeat of their 2019 success but achieved in different style as Moreira registered his seventh Hong Kong International win and his third in the Vase having also been successful on the Japanese-trained Satono Crown in 2016.

Glory Vase unleashed a withering burst from second last turning for home, in contrast to the handier stalking passage he enjoyed in 2019, to deny fairytale results for the trainers of the placegetters. Briton William Muir with his Hong Kong debut runner in second-placed Pyledriver and Frenchman Alain de Royer-Dupre – twice a HKIR winner – who prepared third place Ebaiyra, who'll be his final Hong Kong runner as the trainer retires at the end of the year.

Local challenger Reliable Team led, as expected, but was exposed early to significant pressure from Stay Foolish, the one other Japanese-trained runner, with Martin Dwyer – who won the Vase in 2004 – ensuring that Pyledriver enjoyed the slipstream run behind the pacemakers and the Muir-trained stayer looked the likely winner on straightening but could not hold out the indefatigable Glory Vase.

Dwyer was delighted with the performance of his mount but conceded, which was apparent for all to see, that the winner was simply too good.

“Really pleased, good run but I think the winner is very good,” Dwyer said.

Moreira, meanwhile, was understandably upbeat about the winner whom he described as his “best chance” in the International Races in the preamble to the meeting.

“No doubts about it, I did enjoy it so much,” Moreira said, “this win and everything in my life is to the honor of Jesus Christ, who has been in my life always and today has been a very good example.

“I felt Him with me and everything went as I expected. I had a smooth run, going to the fence and saving ground. I just made sure I got into the clear and I know he's a very strong horse at the finish and there was not a fight.

“He has proven to be the best horse today.”

Christophe Soumillon, who rode minor placegetter Ebaiyra, said the French filly performed creditably. “She ran well, she was a bit keen in the first part of the race. When we came to the last turn, I thought she would probably fight for the win but the last 200 (meters), she got tired.”

Last year's winner Mogul conceded meekly in the home straight after being poised to challenge coming to the home turn and jockey Ryan Moore said he was “disappointing”.

Glory Vase won by one length from Pyledriver with Ebaiyra a further two and a half lengths back in third. Glory Vase was competing in Hong Kong for the second time this year having finished second to Loves Only You in the G1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) in April.

Hong Kong racing continues this Wednesday, December 15, at Happy Valley.

The post Glory Vase Wins Second Hong Kong Vase At Sha Tin appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer Of Over 70 Grade 1 Winners, Alain De Royer-Dupre Bids For Fairytale Ending With Talented Ebaiyra

One of the great training careers of the modern era will officially come to an end on Dec. 31 when Alain de Royer-Dupre heads into retirement, the winner of more than 70 G1s around the world, including 19 French Classics.

The man who will be forever identified with the careers of a stellar trio in Dalakhani, Pride, and Zarkava, will send out Ebaiyra on Sunday (Dec. 12) in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles).

All three of the aforementioned champions signed off with a valedictory success – Pride herself at Sha Tin in December, 2006 – and should Ebaiyra do the same then there could be no more fitting end for Royer-Dupre's own journey, 49 years after he saddled his first winner.

“We have the older Japanese horse Glory Vase who is obviously pretty good and I don't know how we measure up, but if Ebaiyra runs well it will be very satisfying,” says Royer-Dupre, who turned 77 in September. “It will put a full stop on my career and it's a great way to go out. It's possible she could be my final runner.”

For the last four decades Royer-Dupre has served as principal trainer to H H the Aga Khan and it is those famous emerald green silks that Christophe Soumillon will carry aboard Ebaiyra, who her handler hopes has rebounded from a mid-season blip and whose best form puts her right in the mix with Glory Vase, Pyledriver and Mogul among the international challengers for the HK$20 million (about US$2.57 million) LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

“She ran poorly at Deauville in August and so I preferred to ease off on her at that stage,” says Royer-Dupre. “We hoped to run in the G1 Prix de l'Opera (2000m, 1 1/4 miles) but she hadn't come back to herself by then so we waited,” he said.

“Now she seems in much better form so this is a good target for her. She is fresh and well and it is a case of how she takes the trip. She didn't eat up very well when she first arrived but she has adapted well during the week.”

Seasoned work-watchers during LONGINES HKIR week are well used to the idea that many of the French visitors do their morning tours of Sha Tin in a leisurely low gear, and Royer-Dupre's horses have never excited the clockers in the run-up to the big day.

The 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor has been no different this week, lobbing around the sand in a relaxed manner, just as her half-sister Edisa did in 2019 before finishing fifth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, six years after their dam Ebiyza was sixth in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Ebaiyra's work at Chantilly Racecourse last month was much smarter as she dropped two work companions on her way up the all-weather, while Royer-Dupre also gave her a blow on the revered Les Aigles turf gallop in the days before she left.

“We've had plenty of horses run well in Hong Kong on top of the two winners, they regularly run up to form,” he says. “My experience is that you work them normally before they travel and then only very lightly once they arrive. You want to give them the minimum, just to freshen them up, without looking for another proper piece of work. It's not worth trying to find out before the day.

Royer-Dupre adds: “If she can run up to the form she showed in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) or even improve slightly, that would be ideal.

“She would have benefited from a prep run but she is a filly with plenty of experience, it's not like she's a young horse.

“On her French form Ebaiyra has shown herself a better horse than both her dam Ebiyza and her sister Edisa.”

Golden memories of Pride and Daryakana

Royer-Dupre's record in Hong Kong stands comparison with all comers, with two wins and seven placed efforts from his 21 runners at the LONGINES HKIR meeting.

Pride arrived in 2006 as arguably the form turf horse in the world, having split Rail Link and Deep Impact in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) before dominating her rivals 13 days later in the G1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

She also arrived back in Hong Kong with a score to settle, having failed by a neck to reel in Vengeance Of Rain in the Hong Kong Cup 12 months earlier under Soumillon.

With Christophe Lemaire in the plate most were expecting another hold up ride before unleashing her trademark turn of foot but, as Royer-Dupre recalls, the plan almost went awry.

“The mare had remained in very good shape after her runs in the Arc and the Champion Stakes,” he says. “She was a bit unlucky in the Arc and got there just too late whereas in Hong Kong it was the opposite problem and she hit the front too soon.”

Lemaire rode to beat Vengeance Of Rain once again but David Ferraris's champion was not in quite the same form and suddenly hunter became hunted, as Yutaka Take took dead aim with Admire Moon in one of the most memorable Cup finished in LONGINES HKIR history.

Royer-Dupre says: “The horse she was following didn't take her deep enough into the race and she was left out in front for Admire Moon to run at. In another few strides we'd have been beaten.

“It was a case of going from one extreme to the other which can happen. I think we were a bit lucky to win.”

There was much less pressure on Royer-Dupre and Gerald Mosse three years later when Daryakana arrived for the 2009 Vase, unbeaten in four starts and a G2 winner at Longchamp on her most recent outing.

Mosse's white gloves had Daryakana on a loose rein at the very rear of the field and, after angling his filly wide at the top of the straight, they still had 11 horses to pass at the 400 meter mark.

Royer-Dupre says: “Daryakana was very impressive. Turning into the straight she had a lot of ground to make up but Gerald Mosse knows Hong Kong very well and she finished in magnificent style.

“She was very backward and hadn't seen the track before July of that year and so the advantage was that she was very much still on the upgrade.”

Daryakana was the daughter of a French Oaks winner and went on to be a fabulous broodmare for H H Aga Khan, producing G1 winner Dariyan, himself third in the 2015 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Pride has also been represented at the meeting, with her son One Foot In Heaven filling third spot in the 2016 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Ebaiyra doesn't lack for family history at Sha Tin, while preparations will have been timed to the minute by her meticulous trainer one last time.

The post Trainer Of Over 70 Grade 1 Winners, Alain De Royer-Dupre Bids For Fairytale Ending With Talented Ebaiyra appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post