Tag: Europe

Injury Forces Retirement of Dane O’Neill 

Group 1-winning jockey Dane O'Neill has announced his retirement from the saddle. The 48-year-old's decision has been hastened by injuries sustained in a race fall last July at Wolverhampton, from which he has still not fully recovered. 

During a career spanning three decades, O'Neill took his first rides in 1992, working for Richard Hannon Sr and later as stable jockey for Henry Candy. In 2012 he was appointed second jockey to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation. 

In Sheikh Hamdan's colours he won the inaugural Commonwealth Cup on Muhaarar (GB), while his most recent Group 1 wins came aboard Danyah (Ire) and Alfareeq (Ire) in Dubai. 

“I've given it a good go but unfortunately it is just not healing,” said O'Neill of his fractured T6 vertebra. 

“There's quite a significant gap between the vertebrae and there was damage to the other vertebra as well. It's filled in a little bit, but not enough and it is mainly filled with scar tissue, so it wouldn't take another impact.

“But on a positive note, because I broke seven ribs as well, once I healed and it stabilised, I've never really suffered any pain and I'm leading a normal life, so I've got to be thankful for that.

“I got 32 years out of it, so while it isn't the way I wanted to end it, it's a good chunk of time. I was watching some old races back the other day and there's only John Egan still going now.”

Reflecting on some of the top horse he partnered during that time, O'Neill continued, “I rode Battaash before he got a bit more sensible, I had the early pleasures of him! He was exceptionally fast. I rode some fast horses but he was freakishly fast. In the early days, it was just a case of hang on and set him off in the right direction. Don't fall out with him and you'll win. He was different.

“Winning the first Commonwealth Cup on Muhaarar came at a nice point in my career for Shadwell and that day he came of age, it was nice to give something back to Shadwell and repay that faith. Unfortunately, I didn't get back on him!

“I rode Mostahdaf before he hit the heady heights he went on to achieve but another horse I didn't have a long association with was when Mohaather won the Summer Mile for Marcus (Tregoning).

“He was very good. He was probably the best I rode because when I rode Baaeed he was at a different stage of his career. That day I rode Mohaather, he was exceptional.”

 

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Louise Procter Makes It A Dozen TDN Rising Stars for Siyouni

Two days after Classic prospect Narkez (Fr) brought up an 11th TDN Rising Star for Siyouni (Fr), White Birch Farm's unbeaten filly Louise Procter (Fr) made it a dozen for the Aga Khan's star sire when dazzling at Chantilly. Coming into Thursday's Prix du Belvedere off the back of two juvenile wins at Saint-Cloud and Deauville spaced apart in May and December, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained granddaughter of Anabaa's Creation (Ire) (Anabaa) travelled easily with two behind early.

Set alight by Cristian Demuro approaching two out, the 2-1 favourite who is G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-bound swamped Godolphin's Vertbois (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) a furlong later en route to an authoritative three-length success. Last year's Criterium d'Ete winner Jasna's Secret (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), who had started favourite for the G1 Cheveley Park S. only to disappoint when last seen, was a further length behind in third.

“I think she might have hurt herself on her debut at Saint-Cloud, but she showed a lot of quality in her second race and now she will go straight to the [G1] Poule d'Essai des Pouliches,” Rouget said. “She has six weeks now and the season is long, so she will go there directly. Siyouni is extraordinary–when they are good they are good and it's not only me who thinks that, if I could only train them it would be good. We've taught her to relax and I think for now the mile will be okay.”

Louise Procter, a €360,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate, joins the likes of St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Sottsass (Fr), Paddington (GB) and Tahiyra (Ire) as she adds to her sire's TDN Rising Star tally. She is the third foal out of the Chelsey Flower S. winner Create A Dream (Oasis Dream {GB}), whose second is last year's California Derby runner-up Phosphorescence (Fr) (City Of Light).

The aforementioned Anabaa's Creation, who captured the Listed Prix Isonomy before placing in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary in this country, was also runner-up in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. She is a half-sister to the G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Leo's Starlet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose full-sibling Starlet's Sister (Ire) is the dam of the Arc hero Sottsass himself, the champion turf female Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), the multiple group and graded-stakes scorer and GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and GI Flower Bowl S. runner-up My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) and another notable Siyouni in the G1 Hopeful S. runner-up Shin Emperor (Fr).
Create A Dream also has the 2-year-old filly Say Yes To Dreams (Ire) again by Siyouni and a yearling son of Dark Angel (Ire) to come.

 

3rd-Chantilly, €35,000, Cond, 3-28, 3yo, 7f (AWT), 1:27.46, st.
LOUISE PROCTER (FR), f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
   1st Dam: Create A Dream, by Oasis Dream (GB)
   2nd Dam: Anabaa's Creation (Ire), by Anabaa
   3rd Dam: Premiere Creation (Fr), by Green Tune
Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €49,500. O-White Birch Farm; B-St Elias Stable LLC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. *€360,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Appleby’s Dubawi Double Heading to the Guineas

Godolphin's Ancient Wisdom (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks likely to use the Qipco 2,000 Guineas as a stepping stone to the Betfred Derby, according to trainer Charlie Appleby.

He said, “Ancient Wisdom won the Futurity on very soft ground and has been held in high regard from very early in his career.

“After getting beaten at Ascot he progressed physically, as you would expect from a Dubawi.”

Ancient Wisdom won four of his five starts last year, landing the G3 Autumn S at Newmarket prior to his Group 1 triumph. A return to the Rowley Mile for the first Classic of the season appears the favoured option ahead of the G2 Dante S., a traditional Derby trial, which takes place at York on May 16, just over two weeks before Epsom.

Appleby continued, “It's possible there will be slow ground for the Guineas, and we will take a look at that with the view that a mile and a half will prove his forte.

“If I waited for York and the ground was soft, there's not much time left until Derby to put things right should they go wrong, and it would be a more ambitious route to take.”

Appleby also issued an update on the unbeaten filly Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the G3 Oh So Sharp S. on her second start last season.

He said, “Dance Sequence has done well. William [Buick] sat on her the other day and was delighted. We will take her to the Nell Gwyn and then the English Guineas.”

 

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Quadrilateral’s Brother Debuts At Southwell

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. 

17.30 Southwell, Novice, £8,000, 3yo, 11f 23y (AWT)
CADOGAN PLACE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is an intriguing contender in an intriguing affair as a full-brother to the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Quadrilateral (GB). Andrew Balding unleashes Juddmonte's homebred against two other fascinating newcomers in Godolphin's Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Charlie Appleby-trained son of the Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), and Middleham Park Racing's Grebastarky (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), a half-brother to the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Rothschild heroine Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) from the John and Thady Gosden stable.

16.15 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, f, 8fT
SAHARA GOLD (GB) (Shamardal) is a significant Godolphin representative, being a full-sister to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagerdere hero Victor Ludorum (GB). Trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, she is joined by another Godolphin runner in Galaxie Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), an -Andre Fabre trainee who at 650,000gns was the top-priced filly at Tattersalls October Book 2.

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