Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Chrono Genesis Defends Takarazuka Kinen Title

Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) justified 4-5 favouritism and took her second consecutive G1 Takarazuka Kinen title at Hanshin on Sunday. The 2200-metre contest is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in November, as well as the Oct. 23 G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Down Under.

Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never) led the charge into the first turn while shadowed by Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Chrono Genesis sat third a few lengths back. A touch keen, pilot Christophe Lemaire found a bit of cover for the grey who had drifted to fourth. Primed to take off after the leaders rounding the final bend, Chrono Genesis immediately scythed in between horses when given the opportunity 1 ½ furlongs from home, as Lei Papale engaged Unicorn Lion on the front end. She employed her superior turn of foot-covering her final three furlongs in a race-best :34.40–and dashed past the pacesetting duo to win by 2 ½ lengths with her ears pricked.

“The mare was in very good condition and looked great at the paddock,” said Christophe Lemaire, who was deputising for the injured Yuichi Kitamura. “We were able to race in good position behind Lei Papale. She stretched really well and was able to run the last 200 meters easily. She can race really well in soft track, so I think she will perform well especially in France.”

The Oct. 3 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a potential long-term target for Chrono Genesis.

Third in the first two legs of the 2019 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown, Chrono Genesis delivered in the third leg, the G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto in October of that year, her first top-level triumph. Her next win did not arrive until last February's G2 Kyoto Kinen, and, after a second-place showing in the G1 Osaka Hai that April, she captured her first Takarazuka Kinen at the end of June. Benched until Nov. 1, she ran third in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) to Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), and claimed the G1 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) on Dec. 27. Her only prior 2021 start was a good second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar. 27.

Pedigree Notes

Chrono Genesis is French champion Bago's most decorated progeny. One of two Group 1 winners for the 2004 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, the grey is joined by G1 Kikuka Sho victor Big Week (Jpn). The pair lead seven group winners and 11 black-type winners overall.

The eighth foal, and one of eight winners out of her winning dam who captured a 1700-metre maiden in two starts, Chrono Genesis is also one of two black-type winners, alongside her year-older half-sister Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). The latter, also grey, was first past the post in both the G1 Victoria Mile in her native land and also a winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. Chronologist's 2017 filly, Clotho Nona (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) is followed by 2018 colt Klug (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). Covered by Drefong later that year, Chronologist did not produce a foal in 2019, but has since produced fillies of 2020 and 2021 by Maurice (Jpn) and Rey de Oro (Jpn), respectively.

Her second dam is an unraced full-sister to Fusaichi Airedale (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), a MSW in Japan and the dam of Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fusaichi Richard (Jpn) (Kurofune), MSW Lailaps (Jpn) (French Deputy) and the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies third Beach Samba (Jpn) (Kurofune).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥290,020,000, Hanshin, 6-27, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.90, fm.
1–CHRONO GENESIS (JPN), 123, m, 5, Bago (Fr)
                1st Dam: Chronologist (Jpn), by Kurofune
                2nd Dam: In This Unison (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Rustic Belle, by Mr. Prospector
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Takashi Saito;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥152,814,000. Lifetime Record:
15-8-3-3. *1/2 to Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), G1SW-Jpn
& HK, $5,619,785. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Unicorn Lion (Ire), 128, h, 5, No Nay Never–Muravka (Ire), by
High Chaparral (Ire). (850,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Lion Race
Horse; B-Desert Star Phoenix Jvc (Ire); ¥60,804,000.
3–Lei Papale (Jpn), 123, m, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Shells Lei
(Jpn), by Kurofune. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥38,402,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 2. Odds: 0.80, 26.80, 2.50.
Also Ran: Curren Bouquetd'or (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Miss Mamma Mia (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Aristoteles (Jpn), Wipe Tears (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Admire Alba (Jpn), Shironii (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Chrono Genesis Defends Takarazuka Kinen Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Night Of Thunder’s Thundering Nights Wins The Pretty Polly

Narrowly denied in the GII New York S. earlier this month, Shapoor Mistry's Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) was able to come out on top of another tight finish on Sunday when garnering The Curragh's G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. Settled behind the leading trio early by Shane Crosse, the 16-5 shot seized the advantage approaching the final furlong and held off the strong challenge of TDN Rising Star Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) to score by a neck, with 2 1/2 lengths back to the 11-4 favourite Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in third. “She's a great mare, she's very tough and every time you ask her a question she rises to the occasion,” trainer Joseph O'Brien said. “She always has a bit of a look around when she goes to the front and she did that again today, but when the other one came to her she really fought back.”

First coming to prominence when beating the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the nine-furlong G3 Snow Fairy S. here in August, Thundering Nights was a well-beaten third to Cayenne Pepper in the course-and-distance G2 Blandford S. in September before finishing seventh in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot the following month. Back with a half-length second to Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G3 Alleged S. again over this track and trip Apr. 17, the bay came up short by a nose to Mean Mary (Scat Daddy) in the New York June 4 and upped her game again to strike for the older fillies and mares here.

This was straightforward for Thundering Nights, who enjoyed a clear trip all the way and who had time to wait on Santa Barbara inside the closing stages before giving extra. “Broome just nabbed her here on the line, but she had an opportunity to fight back today and she did that,” Joseph O'Brien said. “In America, she would have won in another stride, the tight track caught her out a little bit as it was her first time around the bends over there. She had to spend a week after the race over there, so she's only been back a couple of weeks. She trained there for a week, then shipped straight back and came straight here. She has a great constitution. She has options back in America, like the [Aug. 9 GI] Beverly D., and she also has the likes of the [G1] Nassau [at Goodwood July 29] and [the G1] Matron [at Leopardstown Sept. 11]. She's a group 1 winner now, so she's a very exciting broodmare prospect no matter what happens.”

Aidan O'Brien believes that Santa Barbara finally had the chance to show what she is made of here with ideal trip and ground. “I'm delighted she ran well, I was very happy with her,” he said. “After Epsom, we were hoping it was the trip and the ground and it looks like she wants a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter as she's not short of pace. She did everything right, Joseph's filly was very unlucky in America the last day and she's tough. When she got to her, she didn't surrender and his horses are running well. We were thinking of going to the Nassau with Joan of Arc and maybe to split them up this filly could have the option of going to the [G1] Belmont Oaks in a couple of weeks' time. She's a big powerful filly and hopefully she'll be there for next year as well.”

Raised at Manjri Farm in India, Thundering Nights is the first foal out of the multiple-winning middle-distance performer Cape Castle (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 32,000gns carrying the winner at the 2017 Tattersalls February Sale. She is a granddaughter of the G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Cloud Castle (GB) (In the Wings {GB}), whose trio of black-type winners are headed by the G3 Winter Hill S. winner Queen's Best (GB) (King's Best). She in turn produced the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), while Cloud Castle is also the second dam of this year's GI Turf Classic S., GI Manhattan S. and GI Hollywood Derby hero Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the G3 Fred Darling S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Dabyah (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) and the G2 Badener Meile winner Royal Solitaire (Ire) (Shamardal). Cloud Castle is kin to the four-times group 1-winning dual Coronation Cup hero Warrsan (Ire) (Caerleon) from the dynasty of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Cape Castle's 2-year-old filly is by the stud's resident Phoenix Tower.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
ALWASMIYAH PRETTY POLLY S.-G1, €250,000, Curragh, 6-27, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:08.72, g/f.
1–THUNDERING NIGHTS (IRE), 138, f, 4, by Night of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Cape Castle (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Kaabari, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Cloud Castle (GB), by In the Wings (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€17,000 RNA Wlg '17 GOFNOV; €19,000 RNA Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-Shapoor Mistry; B-Manjri Farm (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Shane Crosse. €150,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-US, 11-4-3-1, $412,193. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Santa Barbara (Ire), 126, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €50,000.
3–Cayenne Pepper (Ire), 138, f, 4, Australia (GB)–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality. (195,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-Mrs S Kelly; B-G H S Bloodstock & J C Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €25,000.
Margins: NK, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.20, 3.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Insinuendo (Ire), Epona Plays (Ire), Shale (Ire), Silence Please (Ire), Oodnadatta (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Night Of Thunder’s Thundering Nights Wins The Pretty Polly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gleneagles’s Velocidad Powers To Curragh Triumph

Joseph O'Brien trainee Velocidad (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) took the eye when making an impressive winning debut tackling six furlongs at Fairyhouse last month and doubled up in style to claim a first black-type score over the same trip in Sunday's G2 Airlie Stud S. at The Curragh. Racing a shade keenly in second after breaking third of the four runners, the 85-40 second choice loomed large on the bridle at the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly once seizing control soon after to comfortably account for Coolmore and Westerberg's Yet (War Front) by 2 1/2 lengths. Even-money favourite and G2 Queen Mary S. placegetter Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was unable to land a telling blow and finished 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

“Declan [McDonogh] gave her a lovely ride, she's a good filly and won nicely,” said winning trainer Joseph O'Brien. “She's always shown a lot of speed at home, but she's from a staying family. Today she looked quick and she's a Group 2 winner now so whatever happens from here on in is a bonus. I suppose the [G1] Cheveley Park [S. at Newmarket] would be the longer term target. Gleneagles probably wasn't very fashionable last year, but he's a good stallion and trade is very fashion orientated.”

Velocidad, half-sister to a yearling filly by Adaay (Ire), becomes the sixth pattern-race winner for her sire and the first at group level for her dam. She is the fifth of six foals and one of two scorers produced by Astrantia (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who is a full-sister to MGSW sire Strategic Prince (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The February-foaled chestnut's granddam, MGSP Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial victrix Ausherra (Diesis {GB}), is a full-sister to MG1SW European champion Ramruma. Ausherra's descendants also include G1 Spring Champion S. heroine and G1 VRC Oaks placegetter Montefilia (Aus) (Kermadec {NZ}). Ausherra is a daughter of Princess of Man (Ire) (Green God {Ire}), who won the G3 Musidora S. and threw Listed Chester H. victor Royal Scimitar (Diesis {GB}). Princess of Man is also the second dam of G1 Caulfield Cup hero All The Good (Ire) (Diesis {GB}).

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
AIRLIE STUD S. (BALANCHINE S.)-G2, €100,000, Curragh, 6-27, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:15.29, g/f.
1–VELOCIDAD (GB), 128, f, 2, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Astrantia (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Ausherra, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Princess of Man (Ire), by Green God (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (25,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Bugley Stud & D B Clark (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $85,999. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Yet, 128, f, 2, War Front–Butterflies (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €20,000.
3–Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr), 128, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Time Will Tell (Fr), by Wootton Bassett (GB). (€35,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; £35,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Mrs Paul Shanahan, Mrs M V Magnier & Mrs T Stack; B-Xavier Malaviolle (FR); T-Fozzy Stack. €10,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 2.13, 4.00, 1.00.
Also Ran: Missing Matron (Ire). Scratched: Eternal Gold (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Gleneagles’s Velocidad Powers To Curragh Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Santa Barbara to the Test in Pretty Polly

There have been valid excuses for her missing the target so far in 2021, but Sunday's G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh offers the ideal opportunity for 'TDN Rising Star' Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) to deliver on her promise. Lacking vital experience when fourth in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2 she was probably undone by a combination of a 12-furlong trip and testing ground when fifth in the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks. “She clearly ran a hugely promising race for a horse coming off the back of just a maiden win when fourth in the Guineas and that was always going to be a big ask for her over a mile on fast ground in a Classic first time up,” Ryan Moore commented. “It looks like the trip proved beyond her in bad conditions when fifth in the Oaks last time, so this 10-furlong trip could prove her optimum. Hopefully she can take a step forward here, but she is up against some horses of a similar ability and in some cases higher-rated opposition so this is another tough Group 1 assignment for her.”

Santa Barbara takes on a different challenge here, meeting the older fillies and mares headed by the Australia (GB) duo, Cayenne Pepper (Ire) and Epona Plays (Ire). Cayenne Pepper is back over the course and distance of her four-length success in the G2 Blandford S. in September, where the re-opposing Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) was in third. She was fourth on her return in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on contrasting ground here May 23 and trainer Jessie Harrington believes the more lively conditions will bring out the best in her. “We think she's come forward from the Tattersalls Gold Cup and that she will appreciate the good ground, as she doesn't like it soft,” she said.

Improving at a rate of knots, Epona Plays is one of the country's leading milers following her wins in the G3 Park Express S. at Naas Mar. 28 and G2 Lanwades Stud S. at this venue May 22. She has been over this trip before and won the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park in September, so she warrants maximum respect while Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) needs to bounce back after a lean spell. She had another Jessie Harrington representative Oodnadatta (Ire) (Australia {GB}) back in third when winning the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over seven furlongs here in September and the ground was against her when 10th in last Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot.

Joseph O'Brien believes that Thundering Nights can build on her narrow second in the June 4 GII New York S. and said, “Thundering Nights has been a brilliant filly for us and was unlucky not to win earlier this month. She was interfered with on the first bend and got a bit further back than ideal. She finished off like a train in the closing stages, but came up a nose short. It was a fantastic run and she has come back from it in great shape. The big aim of bringing her back into training this year was for her to be competitive in Group 1 company and her form entitles her to be in the mix in this race. Conditions will suit and hopefully she'll run a big race.”

In the six-furlong G2 Airlie Stud S., last Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. third Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) backs up quickly having caught the eye when making up ground in that five-furlong contest where the front-runners looked to have an advantage. Aidan O'Brien puts 'TDN Rising Star' Yet (War Front) into the mix after she was 17th in that race, while Joseph O'Brien saddles the May 28 Fairyhouse auction series maiden winner Velocidad (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

Stayers get their chance in the G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, where Ballydoyle's Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) makes her seasonal bow having signed off in 2020 with a career-best third in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot in October. Last year's G3 Stanerra S. winner and G1 Irish Oaks third is joined by stablemate Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {GB}), last year's G1 Epsom Derby third who was 11th after setting the pace in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last Thursday. In Germany, the G3 Wettstar.de Dortmund Grand Prix sees Stall TMB's May 24 G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen winner Mythico (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) take on the older horses.

Click here for the group fields.

The post Santa Barbara to the Test in Pretty Polly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post