Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lope de Vega’s Duke de Sessa Makes It A Rising Star Hat-Trick At The Curragh

Newtown Anner Stud's homebred 2-year-old colt Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) made good, and then some, on the promise of a fast-closing July 26 debut third over seven furlongs at Galway with a blistering performance upped to one mile for Saturday's Coolmore Arizona Irish EBF Maiden at The Curragh. Finding cover along the fence in fifth after a sharp getaway, the 6-4 favourite cruised into contention on the bridle once past halfway and powered clear in hand once gaining an edge at the quarter-mile marker to easily outclass Adonis (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) by a mightily impressive 4 3/4 lengths.

“He's a lovely colt, he did what we expected him to do and did that very nicely,” said trainer Dermot Weld after overseeing his second Rising Star performance of the day and sixth for the sire. “He was probably unlucky not to win in Galway, but he's progressed from that and learned from that day. You could call him the winner from a long way down today. He'll have one more run this year in a Group race and I'll speak with Maurice Regan and see which one we'll pick. He's a very smart colt and a lovely horse to look forward to and a potential [G1 2000] Guineas horse for next year.”

Duke de Sessa, full-brother to a yearling colt, is the third of four foals and becomes the second scorer from as many runners for G3 Give Thanks S. runner-up and Listed Galtres S. third Dark Crusader (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), herself kin to Listed Yeats S. winner and G3 Stanerra S. placegetter Naughty Or Nice (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The March-foaled homebred bay's third dam Mosaique Bleue (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), who threw GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. victor Subtle Power (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), is a half-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Muncie (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and G1 Prix Royal-Oak victrix Mersey (GB) (Crystal Palace {Fr}). Duke de Sessa hails from the family of G1 Prix de Diane-winning champion Madelia (Fr) (Caro {Ire}) and G1 Prix du Moulin-winning sire Monsanto (Fr) (Breton {GB}).

3rd-Curragh, €17,500, Mdn, 8-21, 2yo, 8fT, 1:42.26, sf.
DUKE DE SESSA (IRE), c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Dark Crusader (Ire) (GSP-Ire & SP-Eng, $141,387), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Monty's Girl (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Mosaique Bleue (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $14,034. (£60,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR). O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Lope de Vega’s Duke de Sessa Makes It A Rising Star Hat-Trick At The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Australia’s Point Lonsdale In Command In The Futurity

Keeping it very simple, Ryan Moore took Saturday's G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S. by the scruff of the neck on the 1-6 favourite Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and yet again the TDN Rising Star was able to gallop his rivals into the ground from the front. Returning to The Curragh at which he had made his impressive debut June 2, the 1-6 favourite was kept honest by his chief market rival Maritime Wings (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) who had chased him home in the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 22. Again stretching that rival beyond his comfort zone with his relentless gallop, the bay hit the line with 4 1/4 lengths to spare as fellow Ballydoyle runner The Acropolis (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) ended up 2 1/4 lengths back in third. On a day when Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) advertised the form of his Listed Chesham S. success at Royal Ascot June 19, the full-brother to Broome (Ire) was further enhancing his reputation as he provided Aidan O'Brien with a 14th winner of this seven-furlong staging post. “He's been slowly progressing with every run and, while he always gets a lead at home in his work, there's no point if it's going to become a slow-run race,” he said. “He's a lovely straightforward horse and the plan coming here was the [G1 Dr Vincent O'Brien] National Stakes [over this course and distance Sept. 12]. He's never finished going to the line and gets seven really well. He's very like his dad, who was just beaten in the Guineas and went on to win the Derby and he's probably slicker than his brother, a lower mover who is very genuine and relaxed in every way. He takes everything in his stride and has plenty of class.”

Point Lonsdale's dam Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), whose daughter of Lope de Vega (Ire) is due to sell at the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, was successful in the Listed National S. and Bedanken S., runner-up in the GIII Appalachian S. an third in the G3 Princess Margaret S. In the year of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud success of her 5-year-old son Broome, she looks to have unearthed another leading light in this untested colt by Galileo's Australia. Galileo's influence in this family is felt in the triple group-winning stayer Ernest Hemingway (Ire), while his son Frankel (GB) was responsible for the past Futurity winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Toulifaut (Ire). This is also the dynasty of the stable's G1 Phoenix S. hero and proven sire Zoffany (Ire) and last year's G1 St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}). It is not entirely fanciful that the Triple Crown hero Coolmore have waited over 50 years for could spring forth from this family's mix of speed and stamina.

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
GALILEO IRISH EBF FUTURITY S.-G2, €100,000, Curragh, 8-21, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.75, sf.
1–POINT LONSDALE (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng & US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
(575,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €60,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 4-4-0-0, $169,990. *Full to Broome (Ire), G1SW-Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSP-Eng, $978,825. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Maritime Wings (Ire), 131, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Celeste de La Mer (Ire), by Zoffany (Ire). (€82,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £58,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Team Valor International LLC; B-Jer Hickey & Aaron Langan (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €20,000.
3–The Acropolis (Ire), 131, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Hairy Rocket (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (€140,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Frank Dunne (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 2 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.16, 8.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Manu Et Corde (Ire), Point Gellibrand (Ire), The Entertainer (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Australia’s Point Lonsdale In Command In The Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Kodiac’s Straight Answer Another Rising Star at The Curragh

Colin Keane had already steered Eclat de Lumiere to TDN Rising Stardom in The Curragh card's opening contest and repeated the dose to bring up a quickfire double aboard Juddmonte's 2-year-old colt Straight Answer (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the DMG Media Irish EBF Maiden over six furlongs at the County Kildare venue. Breaking smartly and racing under a firm grip in a prominent third initially, the 15-8 favourite slipped to sixth when angled to the centre of the track at halfway and soon had matters in hand when swooping for control at the quarter-mile marker, keeping on powerfully under late urging to easily hold Rhea Moon (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Ire}) by 1 1/4 lengths in another TDN Rising Star performance.

“We always liked him, he's a big horse and it's all about next year with him so this is a bonus,” said assistant trainer Shane Lyons, who was saddling the third 'TDN Rising Star' for Kodiac (GB). “When we got him we were thinking the back end of the year, but he's always shown us something. He has a big stride on him and he'll prefer better ground than that [soft going]. He did that on his own, it was a genuine performance and he'll improve from it. He was doing what we've seen at home, he was very relaxed today and took it all in. We'll get him home and make a plan now.”

Straight Answer becomes the second winner from four foals and three runners for G3 Prix du Calvados, G3 Prix d'Aumale and G3 Prix de la Grotte placegetter Straight Thinking (Mizzen Mast). His dam is kin to G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Announce (GB) (Selkirk) and G3 Prix de la Grotte victrix and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Mexican Gold (Medaglia d'Oro). His Listed Prix de la Calonne-winning third dam Choice Spirit (Danzig) is a half-sister to the brillant G1 Dewhurst S. victor and record-breaking G1 2000 Guineas hero Zafonic (Mr. Prospector) and his G3 Prix de Cabourg-winning full-brother Zamindar. Straight Thinking has a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB) to come.

2nd-Curragh, €16,500, Mdn, 8-21, 2yo, 6fT, 1:16.44, sf.
STRAIGHT ANSWER (IRE), c, 2, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Straight Thinking (MGSP-Fr), by Mizzen Mast
2nd Dam: Hachita, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Choice Spirit, by Danzig
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,584. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Kodiac’s Straight Answer Another Rising Star at The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Caravaggio’s Agartha Makes All In The Debutante

Acquired by Scott Heider after her success in Leopardstown's G3 Silver Flash S. July 22, Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) led her rivals a merry dance in the next seven-furlong stepping stone for the leading juvenile fillies in Saturday's G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S. at The Curragh. Sent off the 4-1 co-favourite, the bay who was belatedly breaking her maiden last time was sent straight to the front by Declan McDonogh and never looked like being pegged back en route to a two-length defeat of the outsider Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}). One of the other co-favourites Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), the full-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire), was 2 1/2 lengths behind in third as most of the big names cracked under the pressure. “She's unreal, she's tough and Declan said she seems to go on any ground,” trainer Joseph O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell said. “Last time out he made plenty of use of her and he's done the same today. You could see them trying to come at her one by one. She seems to stay well, she gallops well and puts her head down. Most of all she's an absolute trier. It's only onwards and upwards with her. She's tough and hardy.”

Agartha, whose maiden defeats over shorter trips came behind the smart types Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), was second to TDN Rising Star Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) stepping up to this trip for the first time at Leopardstown July 8 prior to her dynamic Silver Flash display. Bred by the O'Briens, the dam Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) who started at Ballydoyle before joining this stable took the 14-furlong Listed Stanerra S. and was third in the G3 Irish St Leger Trial over that trip. Blended with the speed influence Caravaggio, Agartha is the result of that experiment and a notable first foal to be followed by a yearling son of Churchill (Ire). This is an Aga Khan family featuring the G1 Prix Ganay hero Astarabad (Alleged), the high-class Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift) and the six-times group 1-winning The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}).

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
ALPHA CENTAURI DEBUTANTE S.-G2, €100,000, Curragh, 8-21, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.49, sf.
1–AGARTHA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Arya Tara (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Anadiyla (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
O-Scott C Heider; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-2, $115,832. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sunset Shiraz (Ire), 128, f, 2, Time Test (GB)–Sunny Again (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (£100,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Lindsay Laroche; B-Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell. €20,000.
3–Discoveries (Ire), 128, f, 2, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €10,000.
Margins: 2, 2HF, HD. Odds: 4.00, 25.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Seisai (Ire), Mise Le Meas (Ire), Twinkle (Ire), Concert Hall (Ire), Hapipi Go Lucky (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Caravaggio’s Agartha Makes All In The Debutante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post