Tag: Europe

Traces of Frankel as City Of Troy Rules Old Rowley

NEWMARKET, UK–Friday's biblical rains had cleared by the early hours of Saturday to ensure City Of Troy's coronation was brightly lit against the big East Anglian sky. And make no mistake, however good Vandeek had been across most of the same turf just a fortnight earlier, this was the two-year-old performance of the year.

Across the Devil's Dyke, City Of Troy had already stormed the July Course to take the Superlative S. in imperious fashion, with braking the only problem for Ryan Moore as he attempted to pull up the young son of Justify. More superlatives were needed after the Dewhurst, and co-owner Michael Tabor perhaps had the most enticing of them when he said, “I really think he is our Frankel.” No pressure then.

City Of Troy did actually win the Dewhurst by a wider margin than Frankel did 13 years ago, and though not physically imposing in stature, he has that ease and length of stride that sets him apart from other decent colts in his class. As if to emphasise his athleticism, he delivered a flying change just shy of the winning line, but that was really his only nod towards flamboyance. In the parade rings, and walking in to greet his public, City Of Troy was a model, almost meek, pupil. A professional mindset to match his moves. 

He is of course by a Triple Crown winner of the American variety and, let's face it, it's high time we had another one of our own on these shores. MV Magnier wasted no time in uttering the words that some of us still want to hear. With the 2,000 Guineas already being regarded as a shoo-in for City Of Troy, and most bookmakers offering evens about his chances back in Newmarket next May, talk turned to the Derby.

“It's what everyone wants to do,” said Magnier. “It's all about the Derby, it's all about the Triple Crown.”

He went on to outline the positive pedigree elements that point towards City Of Troy at least being able to get the trip at Epsom: his sire won the Belmont over 1m4f, while his dam, Together Forever, boasting that rather special Derby winner Galileo as her sire, and a winner of the G1 Fillies' Mile herself, is also a sister to the Oaks winner Forever Together.

He added, “Put it this way, we won't stop trying to win the Triple Crown.”

These are not empty words. There is little doubt that had Auguste Rodin not flopped in the Guineas he would have made an assault on the St Leger after winning the Derby. Instead Aidan O'Brien won the latter with Continuous, while Auguste Rodin's season consisted of a different triple of the Derby, Irish Derby and Irish Champion S. 

Before we get too carried away, the Derby is still more than seven months in the future. And there were other pretensions made towards that race at Newmarket on Saturday with two impressive performances from runners trained by Charlie Appleby, whose stable appears to be returning to the form we have become accustomed to seeing. Both sons of Dubawi, Ancient Wisdom took the G3 Autumn S., followed by a third victory this season for Arabian Crown, in the G3 Zetland S.

Overlooking the anomaly that was a 10-year-old hurdler winning the Cesarewitch on Dubai Future Champions Day, Saturday really did feel all about next spring, which is a heartening prospect as the wind starts to blow colder across Newmarket Heath.

For three wonderful years in Newmarket we had Frankel to warm the cockles. It is scarcely believable that he's already been gone for more than a decade, through his prowess at stud means that he will never be forgotten. 

What now for City Of Troy?

“Let's hope he is as popular as Frankel was,” said Tabor. “He will only get that popularity as time goes on. And hopefully, as time goes on, he will win all those big races and get those accolades given to him. It is easy to talk. But I like to talk before they achieve and that is what we believe.

“Maybe down the line we will have egg on our face. But I really believe it: this horse could be anything.”

The frailties of the Thoroughbred have indeed left many a bold predictor looking foolish. But for now at least, the eyes don't deceive, and we too can believe.

 

 

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Golden Horde Colt Leads Final Day Of October Yearling Sale At Tattersalls

A Golden Horde (Ire) colt topped Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale at 35,000gns bringing the two-week selling bonanza to a close on Saturday. 

The top lot was sourced by Middleham Park and was described as “a standout” on the day by the operation's Tom Palin. 

“We loved him, we thought he was a standout,” said Palin of lot 1919. “He walked around there with a bit of presence. He goes to Eve Johnson Houghton, he's our first horse with her and he's a strong, racy, two-year-old sort and looks to be the type that she'll do well with. Golden Horde was such an impressive racehorse and his stock looks racy. We're delighted to get him.”

Of this week's business Palin added: “We've got stuck in, we got eight since the start of Book 1. It's been competitive for the better lots and we've had to stretch a bit on some of them but it hasn't been silly. It's been sensible but strong. We're delighted with what we've bought.”

Golden Horde is best known for scorching to G1 Commonwealth Cup glory for Clive Cox in 2020. He stands for €8,000 at Montfort et Preaux  and his first yearlings have been well received by the market. 

Of the 1,862 yearlings offered across Book 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1,531 were sold at a clearance rate of 82%. That represented a drop of 4% on last year. 

The aggregate was down 20% to 158,567,500gns while the median fell 10% to 52,000gns and the average by 18% to 103,571gns.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented, “More than 165 million guineas has been spent on yearlings at Tattersalls in the past few weeks which, although some way below last year's runaway record-breaking returns, is a substantial sum that has only been bettered once.

“There have been some memorable highlights in amongst those impressive sums, including the 2,000,000gns October Book 1 sale-topping Frankel colt, who is the highest-priced yearling to be sold in Europe this year, the 725,000gns Dubawi filly, who headed Book 2 and is the second highest-priced filly ever sold at Europe's largest yearling sale, and some astounding pinhooking triumphs throughout the past two weeks which, as ever, reflect the professionalism and commitment of the consignors.

“The pre-eminent status of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales owes everything to the support of the breeders and consignors, primarily from Britain and Ireland, but also from France, Germany and Italy, who entrust us with the cream of the European yearling crop year after year.

“Evidence of this support and the peerless quality of the yearlings is to be seen on racecourses around the world with Tattersalls yearlings consistently winning at the highest level on the global stage. To date in 2023 Tattersalls yearlings bought for as little as 5,000gns have won Group 1 races in Britain, Ireland and France, as well as Australia, Hong Kong and the US. It is this unrivalled level of achievement which brings buyers to yearling sales at Tattersalls from throughout the world, alongside the domestic British and Irish buyers for whom the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales are unmissable.

“While the total 2023 yearling spend at Tattersalls has been the second highest ever, we should recognise that there has been a recalibration from the dizzy heights of last year and we should pay heed to this.

“With specific regard to Books 3 and 4 it has not been ideal to have coincided with the top-class racing at Newmarket, but this will not be the case again for the foreseeable future. With a wider perspective, our industry faces challenges which we all acknowledge.

“Nevertheless we should not lose sight of the fact that we have an outstanding internationally admired product, much of which has been showcased over the past two weeks at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales and which we will continue to work tirelessly to promote.”

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Arabian Crowns Memorable Day For Dubawi With Zetland Rout

Charlie Appleby trainee Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Dubai Rose {GB}, by Dubai Destination), a €600,000 Arqana August purchase, provided Godolphin with a third straight win in Salisbury's Listed Stonehenge S. when last seen and duly obliged in Saturday's G3 Ghaiyyath Zetland S. at Newmarket to become the operation's third straight winner of the 10-furlong contest.

The 10-11 favourite, who backed up a debut third at Sandown with a breakthrough score back there in July, was the sharpest of four into stride and seized an immediate lead. Turning the screw in effortless fashion inside the final half-mile, he was beyond recall passing the quarter-mile marker and raced in splendid isolation thereafter before gearing down nearing the line to easily account for Gaspar De Lemos (Ire) (Justify) by an untroubled 5 1/2 lengths.

Pedigree Notes

Arabian Crown, the latest of nine foals, is one of seven scorers produced by Listed Kolner Stuten-Trophy victrix Dubai Rose (GB) (Dubai Destination), herself a half-sister to G2 Pretty Polly S. victrix Hanami (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and Listed Grosser Dresdner Sachsischer Herbst Preis winner Soho Rose (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}). Soho Rose, in turn, is the dam of G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G3 Bahrain Trophy victor Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the Group 3-placed Dean Street Doll (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The February-foaled bay is a full-brother to the stakes-winning Everest Rose (GB) and a half to MGSW G1 Prix Vermeille third The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) and the dual stakes-placed Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

 

 

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
GHAIYYATH ZETLAND S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-14, 2yo, 10fT, 2:05.93, sf.
1–ARABIAN CROWN (FR), 130, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Dubai Rose (GB) (SW-Ger), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: Russian Rose (Ire), by Soviet Lad
3rd Dam: Thornbeam, by Beldale Flutter
1ST GROUP WIN. (€600,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-GB Partnership (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $79,442. *1/2 to The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), MGSW & G1SP-Fr, $554,634; Everest Rose (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Ger; and Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SP-Eng & Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gasper De Lemos (Ire), 130, c, 2, Justify–Hence (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £12,900.
3–Dallas Star (Fr), 130, c, 2, Cloth Of Stars (Ire)–Agathe Rare (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€30,000 Wlg '21 ARQDEC; 50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; 180,000gns RNA 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Mme Eliane Dieuaide & SAS Domaine Billard Pere Et Fils (FR); T-Dominic Ffrench Davis. £6,456.
Margins: 5HF, 3HF, 22. Odds: 0.91, 2.20, 33.00.
Also Ran: Dambuster (GB). Scratched: Meribella (GB).

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Justify’s City Of Troy Outclasses Dewhurst Opposition

Assuaging any and all fears presented by softened conditions, Coolmore's impressive G2 Superlative S. victor City Of Troy (Justify–Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) set the seal on European  champion juvenile status with a performance brimming with pure brilliance in Saturday's G1 Native Trail's Dewhurst S. at Newmarket.

The 'TDN Rising Star' was the sharpest of eight into stride and floated along on the lead through halfway. Committed by Ryan Moore when stirred into action approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 8-15 favourite lengthened clear in effortless fashion to take an insurmountable buffer into the final furlong and moved like a tremendous machine on the ascent to hit the line strong with a 3 1/2-length advantage back to G3 Somerville Tattersall S. winner Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). Fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}) performed with credit on unsuitable ground and finished one length adrift in third. The success provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-equalling eighth victory in the seven-furlong contest.

 

 

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
NATIVE TRAIL'S DEWHURST S.-G1, £528,750, Newmarket, 10-14, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.85, sf.
1–CITY OF TROY, 129, c, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Together Forever (Ire) (G1SW-Eng & SW-Ire, $318,729), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Green Room, by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Chain Fern, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £299,854. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $451,293. *1/2 to Military Style (War Front), GSW-Ire; Absolute Ruler (War Front), GSP-Ire; and King Of Athens (War Front), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Alyanaabi (Ire), 129, c, 2, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Alyamaama, by Kitten's Joy. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £113,681.
3–Eben Shaddad, 129, c, 2, Calyx (GB)–Galileo's Lady, by Galileo (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. ($100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; €190,000 2yo '23 ARQMAY). O-HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled & Najd Stud; B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-John & Thady Gosden. £56,894.
Margins: 3HF, 1, 1HF. Odds: Scratched: 0.53, 6.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Henry Adams (Ire), Haatem (Ire), Iberian (Ire), Array (Ire), Indian Run (Ire).

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