Tag: Europe

Zoustar’s Starlust Prevails In Sirenia Thriller

Fitri Hay's dual nursery handicap second Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}–Beyond Desire {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), notched a quickfire double at Chelmsford and Newbury earlier in the year and took a step up the ladder with a narrow verdict in Saturday's G3 Unibet Zero% Mission Sirenia S. at Kempton, his sixth straight start going six furlongs.

With tasks made easier by the scratching of 'TDN Rising Star' Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}), Starlust went postward as the 2-1 second favourite and found a comfortable rhythm off the pace in sixth before improving one spot on the run to halfway. Making eyecatching headway out wide in the straight, he quickened stylishly to launch his challenge entering the final furlong and kept on in relentless fashion under hands-and-heels rousting to deny the resilient Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by a head after a thrilling tussle. Juddmonte's Array (Ire) (No Nay Never), who ran second behind Starlust at Newbury in July, was on hand throughout the final quarter-mile and tapped out late to finish a half-length back in third.

“I was pretty tight to Callum [Shepherd on Seven Questions], so I couldn't use my stick and was hands and heels for a good furlong-and-a-half,” explained winning rider Hector Crouch. “Every time Callum came to fight back, my lad kept keeping his nose in front and I was always pretty confident we were going to win. He's a classy horse, he's very tough and his attitude is impeccable. I see no reason why he won't improve further from this. He's versatile, ground-wise, and I think he's going to be a real good, fun horse.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Starlust is the seventh of nine foals and one of four scorers out of G3 Prix de Saint-Georges victrix Beyond Desire (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The April-foaled bay is full to a weanling filly and a half to Listed Lansdown Fillies' S. winner Queen Of Desire (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Ghaiyyath (Ire). Beyond Desire is out of a multiple-winning half to G3 Princess Royal S. victrix Mazuna (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), whose descendants include dual Group 2-winning distaffer Beautiful Romance (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), G2 Premio Roma third Brentford Hope (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and the stakes-placed duo Good Fortune (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Executive Force (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}).

Saturday, Kempton, Britain
UNIBET ZERO% MISSION SIRENIA S.-G3, £70,000, Kempton, 9-9, 2yo, 6f (AWT), 1:12.97, st/sl.
1–STARLUST (GB), 129, c, 2, by Zoustar (Aus)
1st Dam: Beyond Desire (GB) (GSW-Fr, MSW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire, $235,547), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Compradore (GB), by Mujtahid
3rd Dam: Keswa (Ire), by Kings Lake
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (55,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Hector Crouch. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, $110,305. Queen Of Desire (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Seven Questions (Ire), 129, g, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Get Up And Dance (GB), by Makfi (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£58,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-George Scott. £15,050.
3–Array (Ire), 129, c, 2, No Nay Never–Joyeuse (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £7,532.
Margins: HD, HF, 2. Odds: 2.00, 11.00, 1.38.
Also Ran: Who Said Go, Hala Emaraaty (Ire), Golden Trick (Ire), Asadna (Ire), Government Call (Ire). Scratched: Eben Shaddad.

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Territories’s Regional Takes Betfair Sprint Cup, As Shaquille Well Back at Haydock

Ed Bethell earned his first Group 1 victory as a trainer when Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}–Favulusa {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) emerged the victor in the Betfair Sprint Cup S. at Haydock by a neck over Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) with Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) a half-length back in third. The favoured dual Group 1 winner Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) fluffed his lines and finished well back in the field after making the early running on Saturday.

Bred by Razza del Sole Societa Agricola, the Future Champions Racing Regional runner was a 10-1 proposition against the aforementioned 11-10 pick, and it was the latter who broke sharply and took up the running with several others, including the winner in the mix up front. Shaquille lost position two furlongs from home and drifted back through the pack with Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Regional picking up the baton. Shouldvebeenaring was showing improvement and wound up for his run 200 metres from the winning post, about the same time Regional kicked away from Mill Stream. The Havana Grey colt pushed Regional all the way to the wire, with Believing picked up the pieces for third, three-quarters of a length in front of Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}).

Bethell said, “I never thought it would happen [becoming a Group 1-winning trainer]. I'm just incredibly lucky and I'm incredibly fortunate to have a lovely team of people around me.

“I thought I've done my job now and I thought that the owners might stick with me for a bit longer and then he has gone and done this.Tom Biggs brought him, then there is Barbara Jones who rides him every day and Keith McGlone my assistant. There are too many people to thank.

“Regional is a straightforward horse and Callum Rodriguez has done a tremendous job getting him out of the stalls because he had been inclined to miss the break. It is a massive performance. Today we were much more comfortable at this trip at this level. It has been a culmination of a fantastic year through their hard work and I'm just the lucky one to have my name on the ticket.

“They [owners Future Champions Racing Regional] are a fun syndicate that need a break and they have got it now. I hope it can be a stepping-stone for them to get bigger and better. They might want to go to America, but I will see how the horse is and then make a decision.”

It was also a first top-tier rosette for jockey Callum Rodriguez, who grew up about 40 minutes away from the track in Heysham. “What a story it has been with him this year,” said Rodriguez, who was banned for six months in 2019 after testing positive for cocaine and has had to make his way back the hard way. “It was very smooth for me today. Every time I asked him he was responding.”

He added, “I really hit the ground running as an apprentice and landed the Ebor and some other nice races along the way. It has been a little bit stop start and you kind of ask yourself if you are going to find the one. I've a lot to thank Ed for. I stepped into the yard in January to ride out and get to know the horses. There is a real strong team of horses there and he is a real loyal man, and we work really well together and I'm happy with the way things are going.”

Of the beaten favourite, James Doyle said, “Everything was fine. He had a bit of a wobble before the gates opened but that didn't affect his start as he jumped very clean. He travelled super but between the two and the three I had no power and I was beat very quick. There is Champions Day to come and there are other races.”

Originally a 35,000gns Tattersalls December foal when picked up by Emerald Bloodstock, the Sprint Cup S. winner returned to Park Paddocks and caught the eye of John and Jake Warren when a 120,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling in 2019. After winning once from three starts for trainer Richard Fahey and Isa Salman Al Khalifa, he sold for just 3,500gns out of the 2021 Tattersalls July Sale to Bethell Racing and Blandford Bloodstock. More recently, the bay had taken a York handicap in May, before lowering the colours of Group 2 winner Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in the Listed Achilles S. over five furlongs here in June. The 5-year-old gelding was less than three lengths behind Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) when fifth in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. last month.

Pedigree Notes

The second Group 1 winner for his Darley sire after €3 million Arqana Vente d'Elevage sale-topper Rougir (Fr) who won both the Prix de l'Opera in France and the EP Taylor S. in Canada, Regional is one of 11 stakes winners worldwide for Territories. Broodmare sire Dansili's daughters have 127 stakes winners (77 group) between them. Of his 19 Group 1 winners, Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) also won the Sprint Cup S. in 2020.

Out of Italian listed winner Favulusa, the gelding is one of two winners for his dam, who has the unraced juvenile filly Forestiera (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), and fillies by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Palace Pier (GB) each of the last two years. His second dam, Rosa Del Dubai (Ire) (Dubai Destination {Ire}), won the G3 Premio Mario Incisa della Rocchetta before throwing three other Italian stakes winners, among them the G2 Premio Oaks d'Italia heroine Folega (GB), a full-sister to Favulusa. Third dam Rosa Di Brema (Ity) (Lomitas {GB}) was runner-up in the Italian Oaks when it still held Group 1 status, and she too produced a quartet of stakes winners, with one, Biancarosa (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the dam of 2021 G2 Derby Italiano victor Tokyo Gold (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}).

 

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP S.-G1, £426,920, Haydock, 9-9, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.60, gd.
1–REGIONAL (GB), 131, g, 5, by Territories (Ire)
1st Dam: Favulusa (GB) (SW-Ity), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Rosa Del Dubai (Ire), by Dubai Destination
3rd Dam: Rosa Di Brema (Ity), by Lomitas (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (35,000gns Wlg '18
TATFOA; 120,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 3,500gns 3yo '21
TATTJU). O-Future Champions Racing Regional; B-Razza Del
Sole Societa Agricola SRL (GB); T-Ed Bethell; J-Callum
Rodriguez. £242,106. Lifetime Record: 17-5-3-2, $518,949.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shouldvebeenaring (GB), 129, c, 3, Havana Grey (GB)–Lady
Estella (Ire), by Equiano (Fr). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
(£40,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Middleham Park Racing XVIII;
B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £91,788.
3–Believing (Ire), 126, f, 3, Mehmas (Ire)–Misfortunate (Ire), by
Kodiac (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (70,000gns Ylg '21
TATOCT; 115,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Highclere
Thoroughbred Racing (Jane Addams); B-M Mullen &
Cloneymore Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey. £45,937.
Margins: NK, HF, 3/4. Odds: 10.00, 50.00, 66.00.
Also Ran: Swingalong (Ire), Khaadem (Ire), Mill Stream (Ire), Annaf (Ire), Garrus (Ire), Saint Lawrence (Ire), Rohaan (Ire), Run To Freedom (GB), Lezoo (GB), Rumstar (GB), The Antarctic (Ire), Sacred (GB), Shaquille (GB). Scratched: Spycatcher (Ire). VIDEO.

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Deep Impact’s Auguste Rodin Wins The Irish Champion

Proving once again that he belongs at the top of the tree, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) laid it all out on Saturday to prevail in a gruelling edition of Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. As he had in the Derby, when churning out historical sectionals at the business end, the 11-4 favourite was able to handle a demanding test carved out by last year's hero Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and pour it on late as the closers inevitably came into the picture.

Subduing Luxembourg a furlong from home, the third TDN Rising Star winner on the card, who is possibly the most ground-dependant elite performer that Aidan O'Brien has trained, was reportedly idling late as he led home a one-two for the yard by half a length in this “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Luxembourg, who was back to his determined best, grimly hung on to the runner's-up spot by a short head from the strong-finishing Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), as King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) finished on their heels a further half a length behind in fourth.

“We knew that Luxembourg was in a great place and Auguste Rodin is a magical horse really–a great horse, bottom line,” O'Brien said. “The little thing is he wants to get there late, as he parks in front and we always knew that. He's a beautiful mover and an easy cruiser and Ryan was delighted that he had the horse in front who was going to get him there. He has an unbelievable capacity to go a very high tempo from very early and quicken off it, but when he gets there he waits.”

Flying in the face of convention has been Auguste Rodin's hallmark from a relatively early point. First, there was the G1 Futurity Trophy success after a painful wait from connections to see whether he would be allowed to take part after Doncaster was hit by heavy rain. If he managed to navigate soft there, he was completely unable to deal with it underfoot in Newmarket's 2000 Guineas and at Ascot where he was gone long before the home turn. Even the Irish Derby was visually unexciting and so had he not delivered a masterclass at Epsom in between, he probably wouldn't have been here at all.

Whereas in the King George he couldn't lay up from the outset, this time Auguste Rodin looked for a brief spell as if he might land in front but Seamie Heffernan was intent on taking up the mantle with Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) acting as wing-man. While the Irish Derby happened in what O'Brien classes as “second gear the whole way”, this was as truly-run as any Group 1 race of recent times with Luxembourg back on-song and crunching away at the numbers in front.

Any weakness in the eventual winner would have been exposed by the time they passed the two pole, but instead of curling up Auguste Rodin continued to tick off relentless fast fractions. Understandably, Luxembourg buckled slightly though not enough to suggest his performance was anything other than a top-class one and probably a career-best but his year-younger stablemate occupies marginally higher territory.

“He is so slick, he's all action,” O'Brien added. “Soft ground has to hinder him and we were lucky Ryan was on him at Ascot so that no physical damage was done. “He is so important to the breed and you know how quickly they can be destroyed, so all credit to the lads who knew Ascot was not his run at all. I have to thank Michael [Tabor] for having the confidence in everybody to relax and calm down and come back.”

“A couple of times this year it all went totally wrong,” he continued. “He's very tough, very hardy, but a little bit peculiar. Annemarie was watching him in the stable. If things happen around his environment he stays awake all night. He doesn't sleep. He's probably just a very sensitive horse. He takes in everything.”

Moore was in no doubt cantering to post that his mount was back in the groove. “I knew he was in a real good place and he floated around there–it never really felt in any doubt and he was just waiting a bit in the last 100 yards,” Moore said. “It is very satisfying for him to come back and prove how good he is again. Aidan's done a fantastic job and I always felt this was his ideal trip–his dam didn't stay a mile and a half and won a Lockinge. It was an evenly-run race and they all had their chance.”

O'Brien is thinking of swerving ParisLongchamp and the habitual slog through the mud next month. “He probably wouldn't go to the Arc, as the ground is usually soft and the lads love the Breeders' Cup,” he said. “He'd love Santa Anita, as you know you're going to get fast ground so we'll see how he is after a week or 10 days. That's a strong possibility–I'd say the Turf rather than the Classic, and whatever after that. He went by boat to Epsom and that was one of the common denominators that wasn't stacking up, the flying. Maybe if he flies again he needs a little bit of time to get over it.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Auguste Rodin's record bodes extremely well for his five-times Group 1-winning champion dam Rhododendron, who also had her dips as well as highs but was capable of magic when at her peak. He is her first foal, with her second a colt by Dubawi (Ire) born this year. The second dam is Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), whose three top-level triumphs included an Irish 1000 Guineas and who also produced Galileo's seven-times Group 1 winner Magical (Ire).

Halfway To Heaven is out of the multiple group-winning sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who is also responsible for the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S. scorer Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the G3 Summer S. winner Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire). Tickled Pink produced the stable's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who was placed later on this card, while Theann has Galileo's GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo S. heroine Photo Call (Ire) and the G2 Richmond S.-winning first-season sire Land Force (Ire) under her auspices.

 

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
ROYAL BAHRAIN IRISH CHAMPION S.-G1, €1,250,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:02.68, gd.
1–AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rhododendron (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,786,763), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
'TDN Rising Star'. O-M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €725,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, 9-6-1-0, $2,891,914. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Luxembourg (Ire), 135, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €250,000.
3–Nashwa (GB), 132, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. €125,000.
Margins: HF, SHD, HF. Odds: 2.75, 4.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: King Of Steel, Alflaila (GB), Point Lonsdale (Ire), Onesto (Ire), Sprewell (Ire). Scratched: Al Riffa (Fr).

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Siyouni’s Tahiyra Too Good In The Matron

There were few surprise outcomes on Leopardstown's Irish Champions card on Saturday, merely simple rubber-stamping of the positions of the season's category leaders. Step forward The Aga Khan's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}–Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron S., which has a history of upsets but which this time kept to script. If Dermot Weld, who had earlier opted to withdraw Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), had concerns about the winner's readiness beforehand one look at the body language of Chris Hayes would have steadied the nerves.

Content to follow the leaders throughout the early stages in this berth for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the half-sister to the luminary Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) cruised to the fore soon into the straight and once committed took command a furlong out. Soon beyond reach, the 5-6 favourite had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the line, with half a length back to Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) in third.

“No matter how many Group 1s you're fortunate in life to win, that will always go down as a special one for us–all the pressure was on this filly and she keeps winning,” Weld said of the second of three successful TDN Rising Stars on the card. “Leopardstown has been very lucky for me and the way to ride it, like most tracks, is to just keep it simple and ride her with confidence. She's a very talented filly. She was eight to 10 kilos heavier today than when she won at Royal Ascot and I was just very happy when I saw Chris cruising there on the outside. Obviously the Breeders' Cup has to be a possibility and a decision will be made on whether she's kept in training for next year.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Tahiyra is the third foal out of the Listed Oyster S. and Listed Martin Malony S. winner and G3 Curragh Cup-placed Tarana (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), whose first was the aforementioned GI Breeders' Cup Turf, G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Tarnawa who was also second in this card's feature and the Arc. The second dam Tarakala (Ire) (Dr Fong), who captured the Listed Galtres S. and was third in the G3 Noblesse S., is connected to the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero and G1 Prix du Cadran runner-up Tiraaz (Lear Fan) and the G1 Phoenix S. heroine Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}). Tarana's 2-year-old colt by Frankel (GB) is named Tarafi (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Lope De Vega (Ire).

 

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
COOLMORE AMERICA JUSTIFY MATRON S.-G1, €400,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:37.50, gd.
1–TAHIYRA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Tarana (Ire) (MSW & GSP-Ire, $141,525), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tarakala (Ire), by Dr Fong
3rd Dam: Tarakana, by Shahrastani
'TDN Rising Star'. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Chris Hayes. €240,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 6-5-1-0, $1,382,723. *1/2 to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), MG1SW-Fr, GISW-US, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, $4,508,464. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rogue Millennium (Ire), 133, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Hawaafez (GB) (GSW-Eng, $111,512), by Nayef. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (35,000gns 2yo '21 TATMA). O-The Rogues Gallery; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover. €80,000.
3–Just Beautiful (GB), 133, m, 5, Pride Of Dubai (Aus)–Astrelle (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Makfi (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (8,000gns Ylg '19 TAOCT; 625,000gns 3yo '21 TATMA). O-Moyglare Stud Farm; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Paddy Twomey. €40,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.83, 12.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Meditate (Ire), Jumbly (GB), Zarinsk (GB), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), Ocean Jewel (Ire), Olivia Maralda (Ire), Clever And Cool (Ire), Gozen (Ire), Cadeau Belle (Fr). Scratched: Homeless Songs (Ire).

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