Tag: Europe

Half-Sister To Almanzor Powers To TDN Rising Stardom at Kempton

Green when runner-up in her Aug. 2 unveiling tackling one mile at Kempton, George Strawbridge's homebred 2-year-old filly Natasha (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a half-sister to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), returned to the scene of that defeat to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status with an imperious performance in Friday's Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Fillies' Novice S. over the same one-mile strip. Sent forward to gain an early lead after breaking fourth from the outside gate, the 8-11 favourite  was untroubled on the front end throughout and powered clear of toiling rivals inside the final quarter mile to easily outclass Moon Island (GB) (Oasis Dream) by an impressive five lengths.

“She had a real good blow last time and come on a fair bit for that first run,” said winning rider Rab Havlin. “She was green when I put her in daylight the last day and was like a rabbit caught in the headlights when I took her into space. She had a wide draw here, but is a quick learner. She was getting a little bit lonely in front and I was mindful to make her work to the line. I think she will improve again and will be a nice middle-distance filly for next year.”

Natasha is the seventh of eight foals and fifth scorer from as many runners produced by an unraced daughter of Listed Prix des Tourelles victrix Darkara (Ire) (Halling). The March-foaled homebred chestnut is a half-sister to G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Champion S. and G1 Irish Champion S. hero Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G3 Prix de Guiche placegetter Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Listed Derby du Midi runner-up Troarn (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and a yearling colt by Dubawi {Ire}). Descendants of her third dam Daralbayda (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}) include MG1SW European champion Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar) and G3 Prix de Lutece victor Darbuzan (Fr) (Zamindar).

2nd-Kempton, £6,500, Nov, 8-20, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT), 1:40.01, st/sl.
NATASHA (GB), f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Darkova, by Maria's Mon
2nd Dam: Darkara (Ire), by Halling
3rd Dam: Daralbayda (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $8,312. O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Mehmas’s Lusail Wins The Gimcrack

Defying a three-pound penalty for his success in the G2 July S., Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) continued Al Shaqab Racing's purple patch with the juveniles in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York. Always perfectly placed behind the pace-setters by Pat Dobbs, the 7-2 second favourite stayed on past Gis a Sub (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) just inside the final furlong en route to a 1 1/4-length success from that long-time leader, with Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) 3/4 of a length behind in third. “He's very babyish and we haven't got to the bottom of him yet,” the winning rider said. “I got to the front about half a furlong earlier than I wanted. He's quick enough for six, but seven is not a problem for him either and he's so laid-back. He's a nicer type of a horse than Mehmas with a lot more scope. This guy has everything you need.”

Trading at 28-1 when springing a surprise on his debut over this course and distance May 13, Lusail ran into two smart opponents in Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Khunan (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) when third behind the subsequent G2 Vintage S. winner and G2 Richmond S. runner-up over this trip on soft ground at Pontefract 15 days later. Making all over seven furlongs at Newmarket June 19, the bay returned to the latter venue to upstage Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) in the G2 July S. and after that rival took the G2 Richmond S. and the fourth Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) the G1 Phoenix S. the form of that July 8 contest was looking rock-solid. With the operation already boasting this stable's G3 Molecomb S. winner Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) and Ebro River, the hardest task may be keeping the trio apart from here.

Richard Hannon said, “He's never done much at home, but often I find they are the best 2-year-olds. He wasn't there in his coat even in the July Stakes and didn't look great that day, but that's just him. Of all our 2-year-olds, he is the one with the most scope and he's going to be a big powerful horse next year. He's already got seven and I'd love to take him to the [G1] Dewhurst [at Newmarket Oct. 9], but he's in the [G1] Middle Park [at Newmarket Sept. 25] and the [G1 Prix] Jean-Luc Lagardere [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 3] so they are all possibilities. He's done it both ways, as in the July he was up with two others who dropped out and he was the only one who kept going and today he had a lead. That's hugely encouraging and he's an amenable horse and lovely to have anything to do with. Him getting beaten at Pontefract might have been the making of him, as we didn't go to Royal Ascot on the back of that defeat but he won't go on soft at all. He didn't go to Goodwood for that reason and that was the right decision. The Guineas is the long-term objective and he's big and strong enough, so that's the end-game. He's doing this in spite of his size, as he's a big physical.”

A useful type for Alan Jarvis, Lusail's dam Diaminda (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}) was tried in the 2013 G1 1000 Guineas won by this stable's Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) but trailed in last and was retired with her best effort being a fourth in the Listed Dick Poole Fillies' S. over this trip. She is a half to Fayr Jag (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}), one of man-of-the-moment Tim Easterby's best as the winner of the G1 Golden Jubilee S., G3 Ridgewood Pearl S., G3 Chipchase S. and G3 Hackwood S. Her daughter of Kodiac (GB) is due to sell at the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, while she also has a filly foal by Cotai Glory (GB).

Friday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK S.-G2, £150,000, York, 8-20, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:10.13, g/f.
1–LUSAIL (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
1st Dam: Diaminda (Ire), by Diamond Green (Fr)
2nd Dam: Lominda (Ire), by Lomond
3rd Dam: Olinda, by Sassafras (Fr)
(160,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Pat Dobbs. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, $206,996. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Gis A Sub (Ire), 126, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Monclaire (Ger), by Sholokhov (Ire). (£60,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR; 140,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Steve Ryan; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £32,250.
3–Twilight Jet (Ire), 126, c, 2, Twilight Son (GB)–My Lucky Liz (Ire), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). (€28,000 Ylg '20 GOFFEB; £210,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O/T-Michael O'Callaghan; B-Tom Radley (IRE). £16,140.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 3.50, 8.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: Fearby (Ire), Eldrickjones (Ire), Last Crusader (Ire), Berkshire Shadow (GB), Vintage Clarets (GB), American Star (Ire), Spitting Feathers (Ire), Orazio (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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No Doubting Stradivarius In The Lonsdale Cup

With the drying ground ruling out the G1 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York was teed up perfectly for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to register an inspiring third success in this marathon. Open to questioning following his fourth in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 17, Bjorn Nielsen's staying star was settled in second early by Frankie Dettori as The Grand Visir (GB) (Frankel {GB}) set off in isolation. Joined by Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) approaching two out as they loomed on the front end, William Buick had the upper hand for much of the rest of the distance and looked likely to prevail until the final yards. It was then that the 4-6 favourite was lifted by the crowd to give extra and outstay his chief rival for an 18th career and 16th pattern-race win by a head as The Grand Visir finished seven lengths adrift in third. “I'm feeling emotional,” Frankie said. “It was always going to be a messy race and I was using Richard [Kingscote on The Grand Visir] as a reference point, but Strad likes a target and so I pushed him close to William [Buick] and it worked–he only does enough and William would not go away, so it was a tremendous horse race. The reception he got–he's loved by everyone.”

One of the most consistent staying stars of all time, Stradivarius has drawn on his incredible constitution to maintain a level of ability that is still unattainable to much-younger rivals. Spanish Mission had shown when winning the G2 Yorkshire Cup and last year's G2 Doncaster Cup that he is a stayer of considerable merit and he held every chance of subduing the Gosden A-lister with everything to suit but ultimately came up short. With Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) out of action for now, Stradivarius has the opportunity to garner more of these before time is called.

Dettori thinks there is more to come from the 7-year-old. “Every time he's run here I've felt he is below-par–he fell in the last two times he won this for the bonus–and I feel he's much better at Ascot,” he said of the hero of two Yorkshire Cups and the 2018 and 2019 renewals of this race. “He's getting older, he's getting wiser. He got the job done and knows exactly what he's got to do.”

John Gosden added, “He's phenomenal. All those miles of racing. I always think flat horses are at their peak at five, but some of the great jumpers race on so we'll see how he is. He's a very happy horse and he's got a very good sense of humour as well. As long as he's happy, we can keep racing. He was a really angry chap when he came home from Goodwood and hadn't run. He used to sting like a butterfly and float like a bee, but he's a little more rope a dope now! He's still up for it and it was a proper race for everyone to watch between two fabulous horses. The [Sept. 10 G2] Doncaster Cup is a possibility and there is Champions Day, I hope it's decent ground but if it's bottomless we might have to reroute.”

Anna Lisa Balding said of the runner-up, who is bound for the G1 Melbourne Cup, “He's run a hell of a race and I actually thought we'd won when he went ahead. I thought we'd got him, but we didn't. We'll stick to Plan A, Australia here we come and let's hope he does his stuff out there.”
Stradivarius is the last foal out of Private Life (Fr) (Bering {GB}), who was bought by Nielsen for 70,000gns at the 2006 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She also produced the G3 Bavarian Classic and G3 Furstenberg-Rennen scorer Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), the group-placed Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and the stakes-placed Magical Eve (Ger) (Oratorio {Ire}). Like Peintre Celebre a descendant of the great Pawneese (Ire), who captured the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 Prix de Diane, she is also connected to the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).

Friday, York, Britain
WEATHERBYS HAMILTON LONSDALE CUP S.-G2, £150,000, York, 8-20, 3yo/up, 16f 56yT, 3:30.87, g/f.
1–STRADIVARIUS (IRE), 129, h, 7, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Private Life (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Bering (GB)
2nd Dam: Poughkeepsie (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Pawneese (Ire), by Carvin II
(330,000gns RNA Ylg '15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 3x Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 14f+, MG1SW-Eng & GSP-Fr, 29-18-3-3, $3,906,991. *1/2 to Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger})), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Ger, $121,198; Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), GSP-UAE, $167,081; and Magical Eve (Ger) (Oratorio {Ire}), SP-SAf. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spanish Mission, 129, h, 5, Noble Mission (GB)–Limonar (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). ($125,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP; 60,000gns RNA 2yo '18 TATBRE). O-Team Valor LLC & Gary Barber; B-St Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Andrew Balding. £32,250.
3–The Grand Visir (GB), 129, g, 7, Frankel (GB)–Piping (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (€750,000 Ylg '15 ARAUG; 170,000gns 4yo '18 TATAHI; £40,000 6yo '20 GOFJAN). O-Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons; B-Qatar Bloodstock, Ecurie Monceaux & Skymarc (GB); T-Ian Williams. £16,140.
Margins: HD, 7, 13. Odds: 0.67, 1.88, 28.00.
Also Ran: Stratum (GB). Scratched: Trueshan (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Mishriff Out On His Own In the International

Gaining the British group 1 his record demanded in devastating style on Wednesday, Prince Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) proved a class apart in one of the finest performances witnessed in the history of York's Juddmonte International. Third to the race's absentee St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on his European return in Sandown's G1 Eclipse July 3, the high-level worldwide campaigner had moved forward considerably in the subsequent three-week period to be runner-up in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot. This represented a further leap, with David Egan able to bask in the moment after launching the homebred on to the lead approaching the two-furlong pole en route to a six-length defeat of Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) with Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) half a length away in third. “A lot of people had questioned whether he could do it on home soil, so I'm thrilled for the horse and this is really special,” Egan said. “The way he cruises into his races between the three and the two, I really think he'd have put it up to St Mark's Basilica today. I'm just so privileged to be put in the position to ride for Prince Faisal and ride a horse like Mishriff. Winning the Juddmonte International, it's stuff I've dreamt of my whole life.”

Mishriff, whose early career involved a second on dirt in the Saudi Derby in February 2020 and a four-length success in the delayed Listed Newmarket S., had proved himself at this level on his first attempt by capturing Chantilly's G1 Prix du Jockey Club last July. Following up in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in August, he was only eighth in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot in October but was back in the groove returning to Riyadh's dirt to garner the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup. Switching back to turf to take the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on his first try at a mile and a half Mar. 27, he looked to have run into something special as St Mark's Basilica swept him aside at Sandown. What would have happened in the proposed rematch is conjecture, but John Gosden believes he had him undercooked for that contest and it is debatable whether the Ballydoyle sensation would have been able to live with this version of Mishriff.

Coming out of his tussle with Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the King George in buoyant form, the bay raced evenly in fourth early alongside Love as they tracked Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Alenquer. Always moving smoothly, Mishriff challenged up the centre of the track as all rivals were flat out and he was soon well beyond reach to recall memories of wide-margin winners of this in Sakhee, Royal Anthem and Assert (Ire) without quite hitting the dizzying heights of Frankel (GB). What he does have over the last three of that quartet is the ability to race with equal prowess on the dirt, which is where comparisons with the highly-talented Sakhee are apt as that Shadwell luminary went so close in the Breeders' Cup Classic 20 years ago. Giant's Causeway was another to lose out in agonising fashion in that monument, while this race's honor roll includes the similarly-versatile duo Singspiel (Ire) and Electrocutionist who managed to win the G1 Dubai World Cup.

“I was in the ideal position, one out and one back and everything worked out perfectly,” Egan said. “He got into a nice rhythm and he stays this flat mile and a quarter really well, so I was inclined to ask him to hit top gear and stretch the opposition. He prob will stay a flat mile and a half really well, so the Arc could suit. I had thought that over a mile and a quarter he had to be ridden prominently, but I couldn't believe how well he cruised into the race. He's a bit of a freak to do what he does on dirt and turf and I can't think of another one.”

John Gosden is looking to give the winner a break now ahead of big end-of-year targets. “I want to freshen him up again, as there's a campaign for him deep into the autumn,” he explained. “There's QIPCO Champions Day and the Arc, but I wouldn't run him on very testing ground. Then the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Japan Cup too. He wouldn't be one for the Breeders' Cup Classic this year. It's a very short straight at Del Mar and that wouldn't suit him at all. He needs a Belmont straight, not a Del Mar one. I think we've seen the finished article. This is the race we've talked about since last December, this has been THE race we've wanted to win with him and make him a stallion.”

Mishriff is currently the last of three foals out of Contradict (GB) (Raven's Pass) alongside the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick winner Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) who was second in the G3 Craven S. and G3 Supreme S. The G3 Princess Royal S.-winning second dam Acts of Grace (Bahri) is a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), the famed matriarch who produced the stellar Invincible Spirit (Ire) and fellow sire of note Kodiac (GB) as well as the latter's full-sister Massarra (GB) (Danehill) who is in turn responsible for Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). This is also the family of the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Chinese White (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and the dual group 1-winning young sire Pride of Dubai (Aus).

Wednesday, York, Britain
JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL S.-G1, £1,000,000, York, 8-18, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 1:59.25, gd.
1–MISHRIFF (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Make Believe (GB)
   1st Dam: Contradict (GB), by Raven's Pass
   2nd Dam: Acts of Grace, by Bahri
   3rd Dam: Rafha (GB), by Kris (GB)
O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Limited (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-David Egan. £567,100. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur, Eng & Fr at 9 1/2-11f, G1SW-UAE & Fr, 13-7-2-2, $15,074,636. *1/2 to Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), MGSP-Eng, $172,676. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Alenquer (Fr), 125, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Wild Blossom (Ger), by Areion (Ger). (€18,000 Wlg '18 ARQDE; 80,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-M M Stables; B-Gestut Romerhof (FR); T-William Haggas. £215,000.
3–Love (Ire), 129, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Pikaboo (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £107,600.
Margins: 6, HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 8.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Mohaafeth (Ire), Mac Swiney (Ire), Alcohol Free (Ire), Juan Elcano (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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