The Route des Etalons will be held in Normandy from Jan. 20-21, 2024. Featuring many of the best French stud farms, La Route des Etalons will allow breeders and racing fans to view some of the best stallions in France. For more information, please visit the La Route des Etalons website.
The post French Stallion Trail Dates Set For January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Shadwell's Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Hadaatha {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) caused an upset when usurping Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the dying strides of Newcastle's G3 Hoppings S. when last seen and repeated the dose with a game performance for a career high in a stellar renewal of Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood.
This year's G2 Dahlia S. runner-up and Listed Rothesay S. victrix was let go at generous odds of 9-1 and broke smartly from the outside stall to find a smooth rhythm in a close-up second for the most part. Shaken up to gain a narrow advantage from the pacesetting Above The Curve (American Pharoah) passing the quarter-mile marker, she refused to yield thereafter and was driven out inside the final furlong to withstand the rallying effort of that rival by a half-length. Last year's winner Nashwa posed an ominous threat on the outside throughout the final quarter-mile, but was unable to find the necessary kick when it mattered most and was the same margin further adrift in third. Christopher Head trainee and dual Classic heroine Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) fell foul to Goodwood's notorious traffic problems and was unable to produce her usual flourish along the far-side rail, finishing a neck away in fourth.
“Al Husn is a remarkable filly and she has won seven of her last eight now,” said Roger Varian after his charge joined the who's-who of elite-level distaffers and became his breakthrough in the 183-year-old contest. “The truth is none of us really knew how good she was, because she is one of those who just beats what is in front of her and is never particularly flashy. She has such an admirable attitude. We thought we would come here and run very well, but I am obviously delighted, and delighted Sheihka Hissa is here. To have a Group 1 for her and with a homebred filly like this, it's fantastic. The Nassau is a fantastic race, steeped in prestige and history. It is one of the magical races for fillies to win. It will be forever in her stud book and hopefully when she's done racing, she can go to the farm and be a great mare for them. It is very special for us, we went very close a couple of years ago in the same colours with Zeyaadah, so it's nice to go one better today. She is not the biggest filly, but she is very well made. We trained her mum, Hadaatha, who was third in the [G1] Prix de l'Opera, so we always had faith that Hadaatha would breed a very good one.”
Looking ahead to Group 1 options down the line, Varian added, “Let's enjoy today and see how she is tomorrow. She is in the [G1] Prix Jean Romanet [at Deauville] in two-and-a-half weeks' and the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks, if we fancy going up to a mile and a half, although I'm not sure about that. Later in the year, races like the [G1] Prix de l'Opera I'm sure will be considered and who knows, perhaps something at Santa Anita for her.”
Crowley Back Where He Belongs
Rider Jim Crowley's fortunes took an upward turn and his winning percentage was a small measure of compensation to offset an excessive sanction imposed earlier in the week for his ride aboard Hukum in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot. “Al Husn was so tough there,” he said. “She is not a big filly, but she is a little terrier who tries and is so tough. She has improved with every run and it's just great to nick a race like that with her. She is a very good filly and we were in the right place at the right time. It is the nature of the track and, when I saw the French filly get that [inside] draw, I thought they were going to need a bit of luck. I had to commit on her a long way out and we had the luck today. It was a steady, tactical affair and she was in the right place, but she still had to kick on two out and fend them off, which she did. It was a great performance, Roger's done a fantastic job with her and she's just kept on improving all season. Coming here today, she still had to step up, and she did. She might possibly get further, but we have never really thought about it. It is something we can talk about.”
No Repeat For Nashwa
Nashwa's rider Hollie Doyle felt the tactical nature of the contest contributed to defeat of the reigning champion, as did a fast-emptying tank in the conditions, and explained, “There was no pace early on and they got racing early coming down the hill. Nashwa relaxed beautifully, I tried to hold on to her for as long as I could and I went there with a double handful at the two-furlong pole. One-and-a-half furlongs out I went to win my race, pushed the button and she quickened. I just think, in the final furlong, I lacked a bit of stamina. It has happened a few times now and it confirmed what we might have thought. Take nothing away from the winner, who is very good.”
Thady Gosden was in agreement with Doyle's musings and said, “She has run a very good race, but they went a slow pace and it's very difficult to pick up in this ground. She travelled into the race well, but you can't quicken on ground like this and that has sucked the class out of her. She won last time over a mile and showed a brilliant turn-of-foot in ground that was not as soft and easier to quicken through. Today she has run a very good race, but couldn't quite show that brilliance we have seen before.”
Head Positive Despite Blue Rose Cen Reversal
Fourth-place finisher Blue Rose Cen was experiencing defeat for just the second time in her nine latest starts and Christophe Head uplifted spirits with a positive attitude in the aftermath. “She ran a nice race, she did her race, and for sure would have been closer in a different position,” he said of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine. “It was a very tactical race so, of course, it was a possibility that kind of thing could happen. It's different here, so we need to accept that, even with a strong possibility of winning, there is still a possibility to fail. I think Blue Rose Cen ran a very nice race and she will now get into the rest of her programme. We will have to discuss with Leopoldo to see what the team want to do with her. This was a nice opportunity because we need to exist at this level. It hasn't been won by France since the beginning, so it was a challenge.”
Al Husn is the fourth of seven foals and one of two scorers produced by stakes-winning G1 Prix de l'Opera third Hadaatha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning G1 1000 Guineas third Hathrah (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}). Hathrah is one of seven black-type performers out of the multiple stakes-placed Zivania (Ire) (Shernazar {Ire}), headed by MG1SP sire Ivan Luis (Fr) (Lycius) and G3 UAE 2000 Guineas-winning sire Stagelight (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). The April-foaled homebred bay is kin to a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr) and a weanling filly by No Nay Never.
AL HUSN WINS THE NASSAU!
More Group 1 success as the progressive and remarkably tough homebred filly upholds previous form in style at Glorious Goodwood
@varianstable | @JimCrowley1978 | @hissa_hamdan pic.twitter.com/B5xyxFZ8Uf
— Shadwell Stud (@ShadwellStud) August 3, 2023
Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR NASSAU S.-G1, £600,000, Goodwood, 8-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 197yT, 2:13.37, sf.
1–AL HUSN (IRE), 135, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hadaatha (Ire) (SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $109,194), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hathrah (Ire), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Zivania (Ire), by Shernazar (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Jim Crowley. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 10-7-1-0, $603,021. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Above The Curve, 135, f, 4, American Pharoah–Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien. £129,000.
3–Nashwa (GB), 135, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £64,560.
Margins: HF, HF, NK. Odds: 9.00, 7.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Blue Rose Cen (Ire), Caernarfon (GB), Never Ending Story (Ire).
The post Dubawi’s Al Husn Upsets Nashwa And Blue Rose Cen In The Nassau appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
King Charles III's 'TDN Rising Star' Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Desert Breeze {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) represents the last chance of a Classic winner for His Majesty in the inaugural year of his reign and the William Haggas trainee went some way to making that a reality with a narrow verdict in Thursday's G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S. at Goodwood.
Positioned at the tail of the six-runner field through halfway in this staging post for next month's G1 St Leger, the 7-1 chance was shaken up to go second approaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly under a late drive to deny Godolphin's Listed Glasgow S. scorer Chesspiece (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) by a neck in the dying strides. The latter, in turn, finished three lengths clear of Listed Feilden S. victor Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in third.
“It was not the easiest watch, but Tom [Marquand] said he always thought he was going to win,” revealed Maureen Haggas. “The important thing with this horse is getting him switched off early, which he did really well, and I think if you can do that, you can let the rest of the race unfold. Desert Hero has guts, he wants to win and that counts for a lot. Desert Hero could go further and the obvious aim would be the [G1] St Leger. You never really know until you try, but there's no reason not to try. We are so lucky to be training for The King and Queen and to have a horse as good as this, and I am sure they will be enjoying it and good luck to them.”
John Warren, racing manager to Their Majesties The King and Queen, added, “It is remarkable and so lovely to have a horse in the stable that is so committed. Royal Ascot was wonderful when he cut through horses [to win the King George V H.] and so wanted the race. Desert Hero is an incredible horse, so for The King and Queen to have a horse of this calibre in their first year, taking on from The Queen and with a horse that was bred by her, is a dream come true. They are so excited and so thrilled. The King told me many years ago that he was always going to be committed to taking on the bloodstock portfolio [from his mother] and, true to his word, he has been fascinated by it because now it is on his watch. The story is wonderful for racing in particular because The Queen [Camilla] is so interested and they get such pleasure together out of it.”
Reflecting on the performance of runner-up Chesspiece, trainer Simon Crisford said, “Chesspiece wants a mile-and-six [furlongs] and we just got outpaced at a crucial moment. He loved the ground and ran his heart out and the [G1] St Leger dream is still alive.”
Desert Hero, half-brother to a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock (Aus) and a weanling colt by Kingman {GB}, is the first of three foals out of an unraced full-sister to multiple Group-winning GI Canadian International runner-up and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. third Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The January-foaled chesnut's dam Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is also kin to dual Group 2 winner Manatee (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), Listed Prix du Carrousel victrix Gaterie (Dubai Destination) and to the dam of dual stakes-winning GIII Red Sea Turf H. third Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). His fourth dam is the G2 Prix de l'Opera-placed matriarch Albertine (Fr) (Irish River {Fr}), whose swathe of stakes descendants is headed by GI Breeders' Cup Classic and G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}).
A Royal winner of the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes as Desert Hero continues his upward progression under a fine ride from @TomMarquand for @WilliamHaggas. pic.twitter.com/4WnMMSxh4r
— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) August 3, 2023
Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
JOHN PEARCE RACING GORDON S.-G3, £200,000, Goodwood, 8-3, 3yo, 11f 218yT, 2:43.86, sf.
1–DESERT HERO (GB), 129, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Desert Breeze (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Galatee (Fr), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Altana, by Mountain Cat
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-HM The King & HM The Queen; B-The Queen (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1, $229,069. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Chesspiece (GB), 129, c, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Royal Solitaire (Ire), by Shamardal. (€100,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Godolphin; B-Ammerland Gmbh & Co KG (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £43,000.
3–Canberra Legend (Ire), 129, c, 3, Australia (GB)–Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (125,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 350,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-James Ferguson. £21,520.
Margins: NK, 3, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.00, 3.50, 7.00.
Also Ran: Artistic Star (Ire), Burdett Road (GB), Espionage (Ire).
The post The King’s Desert Hero Notches Gordon Success At Goodwood appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Impressing with his debut success over six furlongs at Nottingham last month, KHK Racing Ltd's Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Mosa Mine {GB}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) stamped his class on Thursday's G2 Markel Richmond S. at Goodwood. As the 625,000gns joint-topper at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained relative of Anabaa and Key Of Luck travelled ominously well following the pace before taking command with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Soon clear under Andrea Atzeni, the 11-8 favourite had a length to spare over Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) at the line as he in turn pulled five lengths clear of the G2 July S. third Toca Madera (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}).
This renewal lost some lustre after the withdrawals of the G2 July S. winner Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and the G2 Railway S. runner-up and TDN Rising Star Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), but in Vandeek it was showcasing a genuine talent for the operation that had enjoyed success at this level last season with another juvenile sensation Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Vandeek had blown the start at Nottingham, but showed an abundance of class to easily overcome that disadvantage and he was nobody's secret here.
“He looked pretty special when he won first time out at Nottingham,” Atzeni said. “He's got a bit of a pedigree, he's obviously improved since Nottingham and he showed today how good he is.” Simon Crisford added, “Nothing really took him into the race for as long as we would like today, he was in front too soon and he sorted of idled. I think there's tons of improvement to come and I think we'll head for the Prix Morny on Aug. 19. Obviously that is dependent on Sheikh Khalid's wishes, but he likes to be bold and brave and I'm sure he will want to go for the Group 1. Stamina-wise, he's of out an Exceed And Excel mare, there's tons of speed in his pedigree but he strikes us at home like he will go further. He's big, scopey, he stands over a lot of daylight–he will stay.”
Ballymount Boy's trainer Adrian Keatley said, “He didn't help himself early on–he was a bit slow away and slow to get into his stride, but he's a fair horse and we were expecting that kind of run from him. We'll see where we go with him next, but we might contemplate going seven furlongs.”
Vandeek's third dam Bamieres (Fr) (Riverman) was responsible for Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene), who captured the Prix Robert Papin when it carried Group 1 status before producing a trio of high-class individuals. They were the aforementioned Anabaa who was successful in the G1 July Cup S. and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, Key Of Luck who also became an notable sire having finished runner-up in the GI Pimlico Special and Always Loyal (Zilzal), heroine of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
Always Loyal is the second dam of the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies-winning champion Shonan Adela (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while another of Balbonella's progeny was the G3 Prix de la Grotte-placed Country Belle (Seattle Slew) who was the dam of the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Country Reel (Danzig). Also connected to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Baine (Fr) by Country Reel, Mosa Mine's colt foal is by Starspangledbanner (Aus).
Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
MARKEL RICHMOND S.-G2, £175,000, Goodwood, 8-3, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:13.45, sf.
1–VANDEEK (GB), 128, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Baldemosa (Fr), by Lead On Time
3rd Dam: Bamieres (Fr), by Riverman
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (52,000gns Wlg '21
TADEWE; 42,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY; 625,000gns 2yo '23
TATBRE). O-KHK Racing; B-Maywood Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed
Crisford; J-Andrea Atzeni. £99,243. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$130,900. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ballymount Boy (Ire), 128, c, 2, Camacho (GB)–Kasalla (Ire),
by Footstepsinthesand (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP
BLACK TYPE. (€8,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; €110,000 2yo '23
TATGOR). O-Keatley Racing Owners Group & D Moore;
B-Fontstown Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Adrian Keatley. £37,625.
3–Toca Madera (Ire), 128, g, 2, Bated Breath (GB)–Hala Hala
(Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€40,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1;
£45,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Family Amusements Ltd & Mr J
Botton; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock (IRE); T-Brian Meehan. £18,830.
Margins: 1, 5, 2. Odds: 1.38, 25.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Hala Emaraaty (Ire), Bobsleigh (Ire), Sketch (Ire), Nazalan (Ire). Scratched: Asadna (Ire), Emperor's Son (Ire), Jasour (GB), Unquestionable (Fr), Watch My Tracer (Ire). VIDEO.
Gr.2 Winner for HAVANA GREY
And what a performance!
VANDEEK storms clear to win the prestigious G2 Richmond Stakes @Goodwood_Races
Congratulations to breeder @maywoodstud & all connections of this exciting colt
pic.twitter.com/vmqkY1sSgG
— Whitsbury Manor Stud (@WhitsburyManor) August 3, 2023
The post Havana Grey’s Craven Breeze Up Star Vandeek Takes The Richmond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
