Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Australia’s Sir Ron Priestley Dominates the Jockey Club

He was missing throughout all of last season, but Paul Dean's Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) made certain he is front and centre this year after dominating Saturday's G2 Betfair Exchange Jockey Club S. at Newmarket. Returning for the first time since finishing second in the 2019 G1 St Leger when winning Nottingham's Listed Further Flight S. over 14 furlongs Apr. 7, the 15-8 joint-favourite was always in his element out in the clear much as this race's last winner Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) had been in 2019. A true Mark Johnston special, the 5-year-old kept replying to Franny Norton's demands as the returning Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) ran away from the whip which he had shown a tendency to do on occasion last term. At the line, there was a 2 1/2-length margin between the reinvented winner and one of last year's leading members of the Classic generation. “In a small field on a track like this there were going to be no excuses and we were going to come out of here either knowing he wasn't good enough at this trip and we were going to have to go back to Plan A of being a stayer, or have the result we have had,” Charlie Johnston explained. “The [G2] Yorkshire Cup and the [G2] Hardwicke will be the next two places, I'd have thought.”

Sir Ron Priestley was proving one of this year's surprise packages with this display, as the pick of his 2019 form also included a success over a mile and three quarters in Goodwood's G3 March S. His pace from the front here justified the recent rethink at Kingsley House Stables concerning his race program. As a half-brother to the stable's live G1 Gold Cup hope Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is now the winner of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G2 Dubai Gold Cup, he may have made matters less complicated for connections after Saturday. “Given what he did as a three-year-old and largely because of who his brother is, we spent most of the winter thinking he was going to be a Cup horse this year,” the trainer's son and assistant added. “The Further Flight was a stepping-stone to the Yorkshire Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup, but the way he travelled and picked up there made us think a little bit and off the back of that we made the entry here and in the [June 19] Hardwicke at Royal Ascot. Today was a great opportunity to find out what we should be aiming for for the rest of the year. He's not in the [G1] Coronation Cup, which is a slight frustration in hindsight, but this result means that certainly in the short-term he can stay away from his brother. I wouldn't rule them out meeting at Goodwood further down the line.”

The dam is the triple listed-placed Reckoning (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who as well as the aforementioned high-achieving Subjectivist also produced this stable's 2020 G2 Rockfel S. third Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). She is kin to the GIII My Charmer H. runner-up Hope Cross (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who fittingly on a day like this hails from one of Jim Bolger's better families. It includes the G1 Gran Criterium winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the Irish Derby and G1 Coronation Cup hero Soldier of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire) and the G1 Dewhurst S. winner Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) as well as the G1 Moyglare Stud S. scorer Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy). Reckoning's as-yet unnamed 2-year-old
filly is by Ulysses (Ire), while she also has a yearling colt by Roaring Lion.

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
BETFAIR EXCHANGE JOCKEY CLUB S.-G2, £90,000, Newmarket, 5-1, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:32.54, g/f.
1–SIR RON PRIESTLEY (GB), 127, h, 5, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Reckoning (Ire) (MSP-Eng), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Great Hope (Ire), by Halling
3rd Dam: Aspiration (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
(70,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Paul Dean; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-Mark Johnston; J-Francis Norton. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 11-7-2-0, $506,964. *1/2 to Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), G1SW-Fr, GSW-Eng & UAE, $710,714; and Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pyledriver (GB), 127, c, 4, Harbour Watch (Ire)–La Pyle (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). (10,000gns RNA Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-La Pyle Partnership; B-Knox & Wells Limited & R Devlin (GB); T-Muir & Grassick. £19,350.
3–Thunderous (Ire), 127, c, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Souviens Toi (GB), by Dalakhani (Ire). (70,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (George Stubbs); B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. £9,684.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2, 3HF. Odds: 1.88, 1.88, 14.00.
Also Ran: Al Zaraqaan (GB), Pablo Escobarr (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Gleneagles Colt Takes the Greffulhe

Fit from an Apr. 3 10 1/2-furlong conditions heat triumph at Saint-Cloud, Jean-Louis Bouchard's 3-year-old colt Baby Rider (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was back over that course and distance to win Saturday's G2 Prix Greffulhe. He had earlier bettered a Sept. 3 debut second tackling one mile at ParisLongchamp with an Oct. 16 maiden score back over that trip at Fontainebleau in his only other starts. Settled second early by Stephane Pasquier–in this staging post for Chantilly's June 6 G1 Prix du Jockey Club won by Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2018–the Pascal Bary-trained 3-1 second choice began to get the upper hand over the long-time leader Smile Makers (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) from the furlong pole and battled to a neck success, with 11-10 pick Martial Eagle (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) 2 1/2 lengths behind in third.

“His debut second last year, behind a future Group 3 winner, was very good indeed,” said trainer Pascal Bary. “I was slightly disappointed by his second start, which I thought he would win more easily, but he didn't handle the course too well at Fontainebleau. He had come on a lot on for his first win of the year when he won a conditions race here. He is easy to train, he has a lovely temperament and I think there is more improvement to come. He is a legitimate contender for the [June 6 G1] Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly].” Owner Jean-Louis Bouchard added, “All credit goes to Pascal Bary and to Gerard Larrieu, who selected him at the sales, and the jockey put the last touch nicely. It was a perfect team effort and the dream is still alive.”

Baby Rider, half-brother to a yearling filly by Cracksman (GB), becomes the fifth pattern-race winner for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}) and marks the first black-type scorer for Listed Prix Ceres third Gyrella (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself one of four stakes performers out of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches placegetter Ysoldina (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}). Ysoldina, whose leading performer is G1 Epsom Derby hero Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}), is herself kin to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Belle et Celebre (Fr) (Peintre Celebre), MGSW Scandinavian champion and three-time G3 Stockholm Cup victor Appel Au Maitre (Fr) (Starborough {GB}) and MGSW G2 Premio Lydia Tesio and G2 Prix Jean Romanet victrix Whortleberry (Fr) (Starborough {GB}).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GREFFULHE-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-1, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:10.12, gd.
1–BABY RIDER (FR), 128, c, 3, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Gyrella (Ire) (SP-Fr), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Ysoldina (Fr), by Kendor (Fr)
3rd Dam: Rotina (Fr), by Crystal Glitters
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (220,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard; B-Aliette & Gilles Forien (FR); T-Pascal Bary; J-Stephane Pasquier. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €108,960. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Smile Makers (Fr), 128, c, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Pearly Shells (GB), by Efisio (GB). (€80,000 Ylg '19 OSASEP). O-Le Haras de la Gousserie; B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Frederic Rossi. €28,600.
3–Martial Eagle (Ire), 128, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Montezuma (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). O-Gestut Schlenderhan; B-Stall Ullmann (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €13,650.
Margins: NK, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 2.80, 14.00, 1.10.
Also Ran: Pouvoir Royal (Ire), Cash Equity (Fr), Sa'ad (Fr), Inside Glory (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Qatar Goodwood Festival Features’ Prize Money Returned to 2019 Levels

The Qatar Goodwood Festival, slated for July 27-31, will boast an increase in prize money for its three feature races, the racecourse announced on Tuesday. The G1 Qatar Sussex S. will once again be worth £1 million, while the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup has total prize money of £500,000. Rounding out the three Group 1s with increased prize money is the G1 Qatar Nassau S., which will be worth £600,000. Overall, the five-day festival will offer over £4.8 million in prize money in July. In 2020, purses were reduced due to COVID-19. Goodwood's ts flagship meeting will be one of the first major racing festivals to welcome back significant numbers of racegoers, as the UK Government continues to loosen restrictions.

Adam Waterworth, Events Managing Director at The Goodwood Group, added, “Prize money is incredibly important for our owners whose commitment and support we value tremendously. They are vital to the livelihood of the sport, and we're delighted to be able to return our feature races to the levels we ran them in 2019.

“The last 12 months have been extremely challenging for the business as a whole with severe financial hardships. However, despite revenues remaining challenging in 2020, and the uncertainty around crowd numbers at some of our fixtures, investment in prize money has always been a priority for Goodwood, and we accept our role in trying to ensure the higher rated horses remain in training in this country, whilst also striving to attract some of the best thoroughbreds from further afield.

“We are incredibly grateful to our official title partner, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, without whose support we would not have been able to offer these levels of prize money, and our other sponsors, broadcast, and betting media partners.

“Goodwood is very much looking forward getting racing underway this season. We will be welcoming limited spectators to the racecourse across May and June, when admission is likely to be limited to members, although hospitality experiences will be open to all.

“Ticket sales have been phenomenal for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. It's one of the best on sales we have known, and all being well, we anticipate hosting racegoers at pre-pandemic capacities come the end of July.”

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Half-Brother to Siyarafina on Deck at Saint-Cloud

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's observations features a half-brother to G1 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}).
17.05 Saint-Cloud, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, c/g, 8fT
His Highness The Aga Khan's SIYAZANN (FR) (Golden Horn {GB}) is a half-brother to G1 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) and debuts for the Alain de Royer-Dupre stable in this newcomers' test. His rivals include Dr. Christoph Berglar's $140,000 Keeneland November foal Peace Messenger (Air Force Blue), who is a Waldemar Hickst-trained half-brother to G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up Peace In Motion (Hat Trick {Jpn}).
17.35 Saint-Cloud, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, f, 8fT
Godolphin's homebred SUNDRESS (IRE) (Shamardal) encounters a cast of 17 in this unveiling and is a half-sister to G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Lyric of Light (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}). Representing Alex Pantall, she is joined by Antoine Griezmann's Neska Polita (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who is out of G1 Phoenix S. placegetter Walk On Bye (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}); and Millenial (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a daughter of G1 Premio Roma third Beautiful Heroine (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who lines up for Francis-Henri Graffard.

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