Tag: Europe

Starspangledbanner’s California Spangle Shatters Record In Al Quoz Sprint

Saturday's G1 Al Quoz Sprint resulted in a track record-setting victory for Hong Kong, with one of their star gallopers–CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Pearlitas Passion {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire})–running out an emotional winner in more ways than one. Originally racing for Howard Liang, the Michael Enright-bred 6-year-old gelding now races for Liang's estate, as he died several months ago. It was also the first victory for Hong Kong in the race since Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) captured a 1000-metre version 10 years previously.

The winner cruised up to track the early leader Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}) in this straight test. Always moving freely well off the fence, California Spangle seized the baton with 400 metres to travel, while in a smooth rhythm under Brenton Avdulla. Not asked for much while just ahead on the front end, the bay nevertheless was holding his rivals safe, despite never opening up daylight. Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), a 'TDN Rising Star' in the capable hands of Frankie Dettori, was weaving her way toward the Hong Kong raider while in receipt of 13 pounds, but no matter how hard she tried, she was unable to bridge the gap and settled for second, three-quarters of a length behind. It was the same margin back to Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence), who had also made up ground to be third.

The time of 1:07.50 lowered the course record of 1:07.61 set by Wildman Jack (Goldencents) in the 2020 G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

Winning trainer Tony Cruz said, “I knew it would happen sooner or later. I got this opportunity and I came with a lot of confidence that we would win this race today.

“The family–the 'California family'–is here today. Howard Liang, whose horses usually are named California, passed away recently so I would like to dedicate this win to him. We are over the moon with this, the owner's wish was always to win these big races. I wish he was here tonight but his whole family is here and we're going to celebrate together.”

Representing the owners, Chester Liang said, “The horse means a lot to my family and I and I'm really happy that we were able to win. Tony said if he won last time in Hong Kong, then we'd come. He did, we decided the horse was in good form, so we came. This was my dad's favourite horse, so he always means a lot. He is probably looking down on us.”

An €150,000 yearling out of the Goffs Orby Sale in 2019, the bay was later bought by Badgers Bloodstock for the late Howard Liang. He first began accruing group victories in 2022, and signed off that campaign with a neck victory in the G1 Hong Kong Mile over Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) that December. The consistent gelding continued to burnish his resume with scores in the G2 Chairman's Trophy and G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. last term. However, he would go winless in his next four starts, until claiming the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup by a length earlier this month.

“I think we'll go into sprint races back in Hong Kong, that's the end of April [the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize],” Cruz added. “We'll take on Lucky Sweynesse (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}). He's always been a sprinter-miler and I believe he's more a sprinter than a miler.”

Asked about Royal Ascot, he said, “It's a possibility. I've got to try to work it out.”

 

Pedigree Notes

A winner of the G1 Golden Jubilee S. just like his sire, Starspangledbanner has sired 38 stakes winners (25 group) worldwide and spends his time shuttling between Coolmore Stud in Ireland and Coolmore Australia. With his Al Quoz Sprint victory, California Spangle has now taken four top-level races, which puts him on par with his sire's other four-time Group/Grade 1 winner–Rathbarry Stud stallion State Of Rest (Ire). Other Group 1 winners sired by Starspangledbanner include G1 Prix Morny hero The Wow Signal (Ire) who was bred on the same Starspangledbanner–High Chaparral cross, G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Millisle (Ire), GI American Oaks victress Rhea Moon (Ire), and G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Aristia (Ire).

The late High Chaparral did his best work at stud from the Southern Hemisphere. Already the sire of 75 stakes winners (42 group) internationally as a broodmare sire, High Chaparral has 14 Grade/Group 1 winners worldwide. California Spangle is his best runner in that sphere.

The deceased Pearlitas Passion delivered nine foals, and five of them are winners anchored by Saturday's winner. The Lope De Vega (Ire) gelding Wychwood Warrior (Ire) was placed in both the Listed Platinum S. and Listed Patton S. in Ireland, as well as once at that level in the UAE. The 4-year-old filly Alchimia (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) has yet to race, as does Pearlitas Passion's final foal–a full-brother to the winner who just turned two. The last-named horse did not meet his reserve when unsold for €400,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2023.

Under the placed second dam Paimpolaise (Ire) (Priolo) is the G2 Hungerford S. and G3 Solario S. hero Shakespearean (Ire) (Shamardal). However, Paimpolaise is a half-sister to three stakes horses, with the best of them the four-time stakes producer Pont-Aven (Ire) (Try My Best), a winner of the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges, who played bridesmaid in the 1990 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
AL QUOZ SPRINT SPONSORED BY AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS-G1, AED1,500,000, Meydan, 3-30, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:07.50, gd.
1–CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE), 130, g, 6, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
                1st Dam: Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Paimpolaise (Ire), by Priolo
                3rd Dam: Basilea (Fr), by Frere Basile (Fr)
(€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFOCT). O-The Executors of the Estate of
the Late Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-Michael Enright (IRE);
T-Tony Cruz; J-Brenton Avdulla. $870,000. Lifetime Record:
MG1SW-HK, 25-13-6-2, $9,500,774. *1/2 to Wychwood
Warrior (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), MSP-Ire. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Star Of Mystery (GB), 117, f, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Mistrusting (Ire),
by Shamardal. TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
O/B-Godolphin (Ire); T-Charlie Appleby. $300,000.
3–Diligent Harry (GB), 130, g, 6, Due Diligence–Harryana To
(GB), by Compton Place (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
(£38,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-The Dilinquents; B-Whitsbury
Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. $150,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 3/4.
Also Ran: Bilhayl (Ire), Sight Success (Aus), Casa Creed, Emaraaty Ana (GB), King Gold (Fr), Danyah (Ire), Frost At Dawn, Jasper Krone, Ponntos (Ire). Click for the ERA chart & video.

 

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“He Was Impressive” – Tower Of London All Class In Dubai Gold Cup

Class came to the fore in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup as Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ran out an authoritative winner for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

A brother to St Leger hero Capri (Ire), Tower Of London came into the Group 2 contest at Meydan off the back of a cheeky victory in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. in Saudi Arabia.

Tower Of London built on that victory to post a career best at odds of 2-1, storming home from the rear to run out two lengths too strong for 80-1 shot Al Nayyir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) just over a length further behind in third.

Moore said, “He was better again again. The pace slackened up down the back [straight] and I had to move him forward but he quickened up very well. He was impressive.”

Tower Of London's victory represented the perfect start at Meydan for O'Brien and Moore, who had Auguste Rodin to look forward to in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic later on the card.

All roads will lead to Royal Ascot for Tower Of London, according to O'Brien, who revealed the G2 Hardwick S. rather than the G1 Gold Cup could be the plan.

O'Brian said, “He's an Ascot-type horse, he could go for the Hardwicke–or something like the [G1] Coronation Cup. Ryan was very adamant he doesn't need to go two miles. I don't think Ryan thought he'd get the Gold Cup trip. He's classy.”

Pedigree Notes

Tower Of London's dam Dialafara (Fr) (Anabaa), who was a €175,000 purchase from The Aga Khan Studs' draft at the 2010 Arqana December Mixed Sale, was exclusively bred to Galileo until the giant's passing and now has a resulting 2-year-old colt by Camelot (GB). She has proven remarkable value for that price tag, producing the G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger hero Capri (Ire), the G3 Loughbrown S. winner Cypress Creek (Ire) and the G3 Stanerra S. winner Passion (Ire) who was also third in the G1 Irish Oaks, the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Ribblesdale S. Her daughter Sovereign Parade (Ire) is in turn responsible for the G1 Fillies Mile and G2 Rockfel S. heroine Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}), while she also threw a Cheltenham Festival winner in Brazil (Ire) for good measure.

Dialafara is out of the G2 Prix de Malleret winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Diamilina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), a half-sister to the sire Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert) who was runner-up in the G1 St James's Palace S., G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. She is also connected to the G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer (Ire) (Halling).

 

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLD CUP SPONSORED BY AL TAYER MOTORS-G2, AED1,000,000, Meydan, 3-30, 3yo/up, 16fT, 3:17.29, gd.
1–TOWER OF LONDON (IRE), 122, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa
                2nd Dam: Diamilina (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Diamonaka, by Akarad (Fr)
   TDN Rising Star. O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier, M
Tabor,Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE);
T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. $580,000. Lifetime Record:
GSW-Sau, SW-Ire, GSP-Eng, 10-5-1-0, $2,869,593. *Full to
Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Euro at 14f+, Hwt. 3yo-Ire
at 11-14f & 14f+, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Eng
at 14f+, G1SW-Ire & Eng, G1SP-Fr, $2,067,692; Cypress Creek
(Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW-Ire, GSP-Eng, $102,373; and Passion
(Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), SW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $200,604. Click
   for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk
   Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Al Nayyir (GB), 128, g, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Bright Beacon (GB), by
Manduro (Ger). (UAE40,000 HRA '21 ERASEP). O-Elbashir
Salem AB Elhrari; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Georges Doleuze.
$200,000.
3–Trawlerman (Ire), 128, g, 6, Golden Horn (GB)–Tidespring
(Ire), by Monsun (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-John & Thady
Gosden. $100,000.
Margins: 2, 1HF, SHD.
Also Ran: Siskany (GB), Giavellotto (Ire), Sevenna's Knight (Ire), Enemy (GB), Iron Barows (Jpn), Sober (Fr), Passion And Glory (Ire), Libyan Glass (Jpn), Coltrane (Ire), Roberto Escobarr (Ire), Daramethos (Ire), Sea Stone (Ire). Scratched: Eldar Eldarov (GB).
Click for the ERA chart & video.

 

All roads will lead to Royal Ascot for Tower Of London, according to O'Brien, who revealed the Hardwick rather than the Gold Cup could be the plan.

O'Brian said, “He's an Ascot-type horse, he could go for the Hardwicke–or something like the Coronation Cup. Ryan was very adamant he doesn't need to go two miles. I don't think Ryan thought he'd get the Gold Cup trip. He's classy.”

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Tamarkuz’s ‘Rivers’ Runs Through Godolphin Mile, Defending Champ Isolate Third

Todd Cady and Ty Leatherman's TWO RIVERS OVER (g, 4, Tamarkuz–American Cowgirl, by Cowboy Cal) closed resolutely to pip dueling leaders Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Isolate (Mark Valeski) and win the $1-million G2 Godolphin Mile. Walk Of Stars was 3/4 of a length back in second, only a nostril in front of a very game Isolate. It was the first group win for the 2023 Listed Zia Park Derby winner.

Both defending Godolphin Mile winner Isolate and G2 Al Maktoum Classic second Walk of Stars flashed good early speed and that pair soon slugged it out on the front end with G1 Saudi Cup third Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) sitting third and the eventual winner just off their heels with rivals to either side. Walk of Stars prevented Isolate from taking the inside path, and pressed that foe doggedly as they rounded the bend.

Edwin Maldonado gave Two Rivers Over a right-handed tap at the 600-metre mark and he soon edged closer with Saudi Crown to his immediate outside. Making ground with every stride after Saudi Crown folded, he closed resolutely on the leading pair down the lane, shifted to the outside for his attack and inched ahead to win well and give trainer Doug O'Neill his second winner of the race since sending out Grade I sire Spring At Last (Silver Deputy) to victory in 2007.

“He is not a horse that takes the kickback well so I was hoping he would be close in the run and he was,” said Maldonado. “When he came into the stretch I was confident I would get there because I had him in the clear, outside of kickback. He's very genuine. He gave me everything.”

Co-owner Cady said, “What an experience! We were happy to be a part of the occasion but we knew it would be hard to win with the likes of Saudi Crown and Isolate in the field. He was so tough and classy in the finish.

“What a job by Edwin and Doug and Leandro [Mora, assistant trainer]. We are so thrilled.”

Speaking from California, trainer O'Neill said, “I am so proud of this horse. The owners are the ones who picked him out to claim. They have been super-patient and supportive. He's a young 4-year-old on the rise.”

Winless from three starts at two, the bay was eventually claimed for $30,000 by O'Neill on behalf of his current connections at Ellis Park last June. After taking a starter allowance at Del Mar one start later in July, Two Rivers Over won a Del Mar optional claimer in September, prior to a two-length win going 1 1/16 miles in the Derby at Zia. He was most recently fourth in the GII San Pasqual S. to Newgrange (Violence).

 

Pedigree Notes:

Two Rivers Over's sire Tamarkuz  won the 2015 edition of this race in the Shadwell silks and, a year later, took the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Based first in Kentucky and then in Louisiana in 2022, Tamarkuz moved to Ballycroy Bloodstock in Ontario beginning in the 2023 season and he currently stands for C$4,000. His three stakes winners include Red Flag, successful in the GIII Bob Hope S., and stakes winner Lady Lottie.

The first foal for his winning dam, Two Rivers Over is also the only known produce for American Cowgirl. She, in turn, is a full-sister to MSW Special Relativity, who was second in the GIII Ontario Fashion S. and third in both the GI Ballerina S. and GII Bessarabian S.
B-Allied Racing Stable, LLC (KY).

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
GODOLPHIN MILE SPONSORED BY EMAAR-G2, AED1,000,000, Meydan, 3-30, 3yo/up, 8f, 1:37.49, fs.
1–TWO RIVERS OVER, 126, g, 4, by Tamarkuz
                1st Dam: American Cowgirl, by Cowboy Cal
                2nd Dam: Lil American, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: A Woman's Quest, by Coronado's Quest
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Todd Cady & Ty Leatherman; B-Allied
Racing Stable, LLC (KY); T-Doug O'Neill; J-Edwin A Maldonado.
$580,000. Lifetime Record: 15-5-0-5, $905,851. Click for
   the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Walk Of Stars (GB), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Sound Reflection,
by Street Cry (Ire). (AED1,200,000 HRA '23 ERAAPR). O-Athbah
Racing; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Bhupat Seemar. $200,000.
3–Isolate, 126, h, 6, Mark Valeski–Tranquil Song, by Unbridled's
Song. ($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-RRR Racing; B-Woodford
Thoroughbreds (FL); T-Doug Watson. $100,000.
Margins: 3/4, NO, 4HF.
Also Ran: Southern Artist, Desert Wisdom (GB), Caramel Chip, Scotland Yard, Swing Vote (GB), Eastern World (Ire), Qareeb, Remorse (Ire), Saudi Crown, Pacholli (Uru).
Click for the ERA chart & video.

 

 

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One Look Returns At Cork

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. Saturday's Observations features the return of Goffs Million winner One Look (Ire (Gleneagles {Ire}).

13.45 Cork, Cond, €22,000, 3yo, 7fT
ONE LOOK (IRE) (Gleneagles {Ire}) faces the starter for only the second time on this seasonal debut, but has already made a big impact by winning the Goffs Million on what was a stunning racecourse bow. Not only did she collect the huge purse, but she did so by six lengths from Ballydoyle's G2 Lowther S. runner-up Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never), who had previously been beaten just over two lengths in the G1 Cheveley Park S. Entered by Paddy Twomey in the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas as well as the G1 Irish Oaks, Connolly Racing Syndicate's bargain €65,000 Orby purchase faces a straightforward task in this weak five-runner affair consisting of peers several levels below her sensational debut form.

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