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Adlerflug’s In Swoop On Top at Chantilly

Fresh from a comfortable victory in ParisLongchamp's May 13 Prix d'Hedouville, last term's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was obliged to work somewhat harder for success in Sunday's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. Gestut Schlenderhan's 4-year-old, who also ran second in September's rescheduled G1 Grand Prix de Paris, was settled off a sedate tempo in fifth–with just the slow-starting Nagano Gold (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) in arrears–past halfway in this 12-furlong test. Tanking forward to take closer order on the home turn, the 3-5 pick was nudged along for his challenge approaching the two pole and kept on strongly under continued rousting once gaining a narrow advantage passing the furlong marker to deny Prix d'Hedouville third Sublimis (Ire) (Shamardal) and last term's G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Vaucelles (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) by a half length and a neck.

“It was a tactical race as everyone could see and there was no pace or rhythm, which was definitely not in his favour,” said trainer Francis Graffard. “Olivier [Peslier] did well to cover all moves by going forward on the final turn and it was only then that I felt that he had everything under control. He'll never win in spectacular fashion or by a wide margin, but he's getting stronger and stronger. He's certainly more professional in all that he does, his last race did him the world of good and there is more to come. He's entered in all the big races and will head to the [G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and [G1] King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. [at Ascot]. We'll give him a break after that and he'll come back for an autumn campaign with the [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe] in mind.”

In Swoop, half-brother to a 2021 Highland Reel (Ire) filly, is one of three pattern-race winners and the leading performer produced by G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Iota (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), who is also the dam of In Swoop's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern-winning full-brother Ito (Ger) and Group 3 victrix Igraine (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}). Iota is herself kin to G3 Grand Prix Premiere Aufgalopp victor Illo (Ger), G1 Preis von Europa third Ioannina (GB) (Rainbow Quest) and to the dam of G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft victor Itobo (Ger) (Areion {Ger}). In Swoop's second dam Iora (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}) is the sole produce out of Listed Festa-Rennen runner-up Incitation (Be My Guest), who in turn is a daughter of Listed Fruhjahrs Stutenpreis victrix Iberica (Ger) (Green Dancer). Descendants of the latter include G2 German 2000 Guineas hero Irian (Ger) (Tertullian) and GSW G1 Preis von Europa runner-up Ibicenco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), with this being the dam line of G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Idrissa (Ger) (Tamerlane {GB}).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
GRAND PRIX DE CHANTILLY-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 6-6, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:45.37, sf.
1–IN SWOOP (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Iota (Ger), by Tiger Hill (Ire)
2nd Dam: Iora (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger)
3rd Dam: Incitation (Ger), by Be My Guest
O-Gestut Schlenderhan; B-Stall Ullmann (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Olivier Peslier. €74,100. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, G1SW-Ger & MG1SP-Fr, 8-3-3-1, €1,398,630. *Full to Ito (Ger), Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 11-14f, G1SW-Ger & GSP-Fr, $321,458; and 1/2 to Igraine (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW-NZ, SW & MGSP-Aus, $218,379; and Iniciar (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sublimis (Ire), 126, g, 5, Shamardal–Be Fabulous (Ger), by Samum (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Vaucelles (Fr), 122, f, 4, Le Havre (Ire)–Vaunoise (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €13,650.
Margins: HF, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 3.60, 3.80.
Also Ran: Lord Achilles (Fr), Nagano Gold (GB), Influx (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Dizzy Bizu a Black-Type First For Caravaggio

Peter Savill's 2-year-old filly Dizzy Bizu (Ire) (Caravaggio) posted a May 11 debut score tackling five furlongs at Chantilly and returned over the same strip to remain perfect in Sunday's Listed Prix La Fleche, providing her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy) with a first black-type success. Breaking sharply to race in a prominent second from flagfall, the 21-5 chance came under pressure on all sides passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out inside the final furlong to assert by an ultimately comfortable 1 3/4 lengths from Anterselva (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}).

“She wasn't that impressive when winning first time out, but she is a sweet little filly and has improved a lot in her work at home since,” explained trainer Stephane Wattel. “Her dam was a precocious type, who won at Listed level as a 2-year-old, and at this stage she's all speed. I trained for Mr Savill some years ago, without getting the best results, but I think he has forgiven me. He now keeps his mares in France, this is a great result and I'm delighted for him. We will follow the programme and shall target the [G3] Prix du Bois and [G2] Prix Robert Papin. After that, we'll see.”

Dizzy Bizu, who hails from the family of G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas heroine Platinum Witness (Aus) (California Dane {Aus}), is the lone foal out of Listed Prix Six Perfections victrix Izzy Bizu (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), herself a half-sister to MGSW G2 Goldene Peitsche winner Donnerschlag (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and G3 Round Tower S. placegetter De Boss Man (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). The February-foaled grey's second dam, Listed Prix Occitanie third Dame Hester (Ire) (Diktat {GB}), is kin to G2 King's Stand S. third Funny Valentine (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and to the dam of G3 Sandown Sprint S.-winning sire Resplendent Glory (Ire) (Namid {GB}). Descendants of her third dam Aunt Hester (Ire) (Caerleon), herself a half-sister to G3 Prix Daphnis-winning sire L'Irresponsable (Ile de Bourbon), include G2 Norfolk S.-sire winning sire Prince of Lir (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX LA FLECHE-Listed, €60,000, Chantilly, 6-6, 2yo, 5fT, :59.45, sf.
1–DIZZY BIZU (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Izzy Bizu (Ire) (SW-Fr & SP-Eng), by Kodiac (GB)
2nd Dam: Dame Hester (Ire), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Aunt Hester (Ire), by Caerleon
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Peter Savill (IRE); T-Stephane Wattel; J-Theo Bachelot. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €43,500.
2–Anterselva (Fr), 122, f, 2, Fast Company (Ire)–Shimmering Sands (Fr), by Medicean (GB). (€18,000 Ylg '20 AROCT). O-Thoroughbred Bloodstock Agency; B-Thierry de la Heronniere (FR); T-Gianluca Bietolini. €12,000.
3–Ma Noire (Fr), 122, f, 2, American Devil (Fr)–Kenwysa (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€5,000 Ylg '20 AROCT). O/T-Bruno de Montzey; B-Henri Soler (FR). €9,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 4.20, 6.20, 4.40.
Also Ran: Condrieu (GB), Have A Good Day (Ire), Papa Don't Preach (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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A Horseman’s Derby

EPSOM, UK—”I'm not really a person to get over-excited about things,” said Adam Kirby as he stooped over the podium after winning his first Classic, the most important one of them all.

For the tall, gaunt jockey, so admired by his peers but with nothing like the rock star profile of Frankie Dettori, even riding at nine stone is a struggle. Slow to face the press for the post-race conference, he admitted he'd taken his time in the weighing-room so he could have a bottle of juice while gathering his thoughts.

He added, “I'm not very good at interviews, am I?” That's not a statement you'd ever hear from Dettori either, but it is Kirby all over. Just 15 minutes earlier, however, as he'd been led in to that hallowed circle at Epsom aboard Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Godolphin third colours with the red cap, there was no mistaking his elation in the crowning moment of his career.

Dettori hadn't needed the sun to shine for him at Epsom on Friday as he steered Snowfall (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to her 16-length Oaks romp; his own theatrics were enough to lift the mood following a relentlessly wet day. Being back at the same track on Saturday was like being in a different country. The sun beat down, the Red Devils parachuted onto the track before racing as usual, and the National Anthem rung out. Only The Queen, the double-decker buses and about 50,000 racegoers were missing.

As Kirby agreed, he doesn't exactly have a mega-watt personality but he is a horseman with sublime skills, and that was what shone out across the Downs on Saturday. At the beginning of the week, he was expecting to be aboard John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Cazoo Derby. As Aidan O'Brien declared only Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on Thursday and Dettori was no longer required for a Ballydoyle runner, the Italian jockey who had been original first choice for John Leeper was confirmed for the ride. Kirby was stood down.

“You wouldn't have wanted to be around me for the first hour that night, but then I got over it,” he admitted. But before long Charlie Appleby had called on Kirby to book him for Adayar. His gain was in turn Oisin Murphy's loss.

“Mad, crazy, what goes around, comes around,” said Kirby. A mantra all jockeys must live by.

Though not one of the outfit's retained riders, he has enjoyed plenty of success for Godolphin. And with his partner Megan Evans at their Vicarage Farm just outside Newmarket Kirby now plays an arguably even more crucial role for the royal blue team as breaker and pre-trainer of many of their young horses. Appleby stated that Kirby had broken in the horse who would become his Derby winner. Kirby couldn't remember, though he won't be forgetting Adayar now, or anytime soon.

“I broke in One Ruler,” he said with certainty of the Derby sixth-place finisher. “I do a lot of horses for Charlie. I love every minute of that as well. Charlie is a great supporter of us at Vicarage Farm.”

Through his winning Derby ride it's easy to see why he would be such a good pair of hands to have aboard a young colt as he surrenders to the early training process. His was a performance that was as simple as it was skilful: break well, get a good position, get your horse to switch off just behind the leaders and then strike when a gap opens up on the rail. Easy.

Except it rarely is that easy at Epsom, with its notoriously tricky camber. The modest Kirby might argue that everything simply went right for him and Adayar, but it was a ride that showed exactly why Appleby was happy to put his faith in Kirby, ahead of the reigning champion jockey, as soon as he heard he had been left without a Derby ride.

“Adam is a natural horseman. He can settle horses, he can send horses,” said Appleby, and that is exactly what he did to win the Derby, making up Adayar's mind for him, sending him on in only the fifth race of his life, as the early leader Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) weakened and rolled off the rail.

Frankel is yet to sire a Guineas winner but he had already had the Oaks winner Anapurna (GB) and St Leger winner Logician (GB) before Adayar became his first Derby winner in a field which featured two other colts by him, and another son Mohaafeth (Ire) as a late withdrawal. As brilliant as Frankel was it always rankled that he never tackled the Derby himself. There are two sides to every pedigree, of course, but Frankel's increasingly impressive record with middle-distance runners only increases that regret.

Similarly, it had been a shame to see Adayar's dam, the obviously talented Anna Salai (Dubawi {Ire}) move from Andre Fabre to Mahmood Al Zarooni and never really build on her early promise. A descendant of Anna Paola (Ger), from the same family as the 1000 Guineas winner of 2018, Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), the Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Anna Salai now claws back some deserved recognition with a Classic winner of her own in Godolphin's second homebred Derby winner in three years.

It was Appleby's retained jockey William Buick aboard Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) back in 2018, and this time around Buick looked equally thrilled as he returned to the third-place spot aboard supposed first string Hurricane Lane (Ire), another son of Frankel. He's a team player, and first and third in the Derby is some result for the team. But Buick would have been all too aware of what the result would mean to his winning colleague.

With the build more akin to a National Hunt jockey, Kirby makes daily sacrifices to keep his weight in check, and his list of achievements, which now runs to nine Group 1 wins, is all the greater given the number of rides for which his size makes him ineligible. During the covid pandemic he has at least benefited from the rise in the weights.

“It's been an absolute privilege to have the extra couple of pounds for the allowance due to there being no sauna,” he said. “It has made my life a lot easier and a lot less stressful.”

While thanking Appleby for his “unbelievable loyalty”, Kirby also remembered his former boss, the late Walter Swinburn, who wrote his name in the Derby history books on three occasions, most memorably with Shergar (Ire) 40 years ago.

“He was a top man and a very sad loss,” Kirby said. “He was great to ride for and he taught me always to be very cool and calm and relaxed about things, but I wouldn't say that's come out in me today.”

Those who watched the race may beg to differ. Similarly, those who have followed Kirby's career, from grafting away on the all-weather in midwinter to dazzling on racing's biggest day, will draw satisfaction from the fact that sometimes it's enough for innate horsemanship to do the talking.

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Adayar Gives Frankel His First Derby

He was the third-string of Godolphin, the outsider of all the colts by Frankel (GB), was drawn in the hoodoo one stall and ridden by the jockey who was banished from one of the more-fancied horses, but in the final reckoning on Saturday Godolphin's Adayar (Ire) was utterly dominant in Epsom's G1 Cazoo Derby. Highly encouraging when runner-up in the Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial, the powerful bay was less so when in the same spot in the May 8 Lingfield Derby Trial and had subsequently gone into the background behind Charlie Appleby's other duo. Tellingly, late money was to come for him and he started at only 16-1 having been much bigger this week when trading as a rank outsider. Sent up to race in fourth against the rail early, he travelled strongly for Adam Kirby who just days before had been on John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and whose availability meant that champion jockey Oisin Murphy was missing out on what would have been his own Derby breakthrough. Making his move up a slim gap on the inner to grab the lead with over two furlongs remaining, the homebred who sported the red cap was soon gone beyond recall and issued a 4 1/2-length beating to the Richard Hannon-trained maiden and 50-1 outsider Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The winner's stablemate Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was a further 3 1/4 lengths away in third to cap a memorable outcome for Appleby, while Ballydoyle's Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) never looked like justifying 11-8 favouritism in seventh. “I went a bit weak on him the last half a furlong–I couldn't believe it and all I could think of is that my mother would be watching and she would have been happy,” an emotional Kirby said. “There's been ups and downs and swings and roundabouts, but it's racing and when it comes to Charlie Appleby, he's a top man and I can't thank him enough. He's a true gentleman and a great trainer and his team is second to none.”

Adayar had shown what he could do on rain-softened ground when scoring by nine lengths in the “Golden Horn” Maiden S. over an extended mile at Nottingham in late October, just a fortnight after a debut fourth over the same course and distance. A real eye-catcher when running against the bias and staying on from rear to be second to Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the Sandown Classic Trial, he had chased home Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) with no obvious excuses in Lingfield's Derby Trial and was understandably pigeon-holed as a St Leger type as a result. Brought here nevertheless, he was part of the jockey merry-go-round which had dominated so much of the week's Derby news but the fates conspired to bring him and the man who played such a big part in his formative days together in a perfect arrangement. Brought along at Kirby's pre-training centre at Vicarage Farm outside of Newmarket, this was a sub-plot that had been ignored as the hype was focused elsewhere.

Having first lost what can now only be seen as a genuine contender in Alenquer due to a setback, William Haggas had to deal with a double blow as the unexpected 11 millimetres of rain that fell on the Downs on Friday effectively ruled out Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) as well. That significant easing in the going, which was generally described as “hard work” by jockeys riding earlier on the card, meant that while Frankel had one less contender in the ranks after the Shadwell dynamo was pulled out at least two of his other trio were coming into the mix. From the start, as Kirby sent Adayar forward from the lowest draw Bolshoi Ballet was markedly sluggish with Ryan Moore having to niggle to get him in a prominent position. Hurricane Lane's rider William Buick was also unhappy after the first half a mile as Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) led the way, but Kirby was always sitting on a lot of horse in the pocket in behind.

Penned in tight to the rail heading down the hill to Tattenham Corner, Adayar was in the right spot heading towards the strip of preserved fresh ground in the straight while Hurricane Lane kept working out wide to forge ahead of the fading Bolshoi Ballet and one-paced Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). When the eventual winner was pointed at the tight alley of light between Gear Up and the fence passing three out, he answered with an enthusiastic surge and from there it was a case of horse and jockey in perfect unison as the powerful galloper drew clear. The race's remarkable story Mojo Star, who had looked the only colt to be out of place in the line-up beforehand, excelled to champion Richard Hannon's judgement as he stayed on to separate himself from the rest.

Charlie Appleby was typically humble in his appraisal of the victory afterwards. “Firstly, all the credit goes to Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin,” he commented. “I'll be honest with you, we spoke on Wednesday night after the horses did their breezes in the morning and I said to His Highness 'I couldn't be happier with them all, but I did feel this horse was more of a Leger horse', and he said 'Charlie, run him, there's only one Derby' and as always he was right. From the team's point of view, it's fantastic, they all work so hard. I'm delighted for Adam, we saw all the trials and tribulations in the build-up to the Derby and it was a fantastic ride. He was hungry for it and he knew this horse better than most as he broke him in. It's great for all the team at Vicarage Farm, where the dam is one of the homebred mares and it's a huge team effort. I can't thank everybody enough to be in this position standing here again in this hallowed ground. It's all about His Highness and Godolphin and the whole team behind it. They bring these magical days. We'll just let the dust settle, but we always felt the Leger was going to be his target and if he hadn't run here he was going to go to the [G2 Queen's] Vase [at Royal Ascot]. He's a great big, scopey horse by Frankel and time will benefit him still. To win the way he has done, he's stamped his authority there among the three-year-old middle-distance horses.”

Aidan O'Brien was bemused by the performance of Bolshoi Ballet and said, “He just ran a bit lifeless. What the reason was, I'm not sure. It doesn't work every day. That's the way life is. I don't want to make excuses, because I don't want to take away from the other horses. He was in the perfect position. He wants nice ground and maybe that was the reason.”

Adayar is the third live foal out of the G3 Prix de la Grotte winner and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Anna Salai (Dubawi {Ire}), who took four goes to successfully deliver for the operation. She is a daughter of the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Anna Palariva (Ire) (Caerleon), who produced the four-times listed-winning and group 3-placed Advice (GB) (Seeking the Gold) and the useful Iguazu Falls (Pivotal {GB}) who took the Listed Surrey S. at this meeting. Anna Palariva, who is also the second dam of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), is the leading performer out of the G3 Park Hill S. winner Anna of Saxony (GB) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}) whose other descendants are headed by the GI Flower Bowl Invitational heroine Ave (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

Anna of Saxony, who descends from the G2 Preis der Diana-winning champion and blue hen Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}), is also connected to this year's G2 Diana-Trial winner Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) and is a half-sister to the dams of the Australian group 1-winning sires Epaulette (Aus) and Helmet (Aus) and the G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua and G2 German 1000 Guineas heroine Anna Monda (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Anna Salai's unraced 2-year-old filly by Teofilo (Ire) is named Bedouin Queen (GB), while she also has a yearling full-brother to Adayar.

Saturday, Epsom Downs, Britain
CAZOO DERBY-G1, £1,125,000, Epsom, 6-5, 3yo, 12f 6yT, 2:36.85, g/s.
1–ADAYAR (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Anna Salai (GSW-Fr, G1SP-Ire & SP-Eng, $158,818), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Anna Palariva (Ire), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Anna of Saxony (GB), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-Adam Kirby. £637,988. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, $945,547. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mojo Star (Ire), 126, c, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Galley (GB), by Zamindar. (130,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Barbara Prendergast (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £241,875.
3–Hurricane Lane (Ire), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Gale Force (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £121,050.
Margins: 4HF, 3 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 50.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Mac Swiney (Ire), Third Realm (GB), One Ruler (Ire), Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), Youth Spirit (Ire), John Leeper (Ire), Gear Up (Ire), Southern Lights (Ire). Scratched: Mohaafeth (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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