Tag: Europe

First Stakes Winner For Ollie Sangster At Sandown

Ollie Sangster trainee Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}–Lady Pimpernel {GB}, by Sir Percy {GB}) recovered from a slow getaway to snag her June 27 debut at Newbury and stepped forward to register a first black-type success for the freshman conditioner in Friday's Listed European Bloodstock News Star S. at Sandown. The 9-4 second favourite was less than perfect at the break once more and occupied a midfield fifth for the most part here. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle in the straight to join the front rank passing the quarter-mile marker, she came under pressure approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to deny Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by a half-length for a career high.

“Oisin [Murphy] gave her a lovely ride and I'm delighted,” said Sangster. “I was on the fence this morning having seen the [weather] report from last night, but I spoke to [Ballylinch Stud's] John O'Connor and he was fairly confident New Bays go on the [soft] ground, so we thought we would take our chance. It was probably not ideal ground, but she dug deep. She is a tenacious and courageous filly and, hopefully, we might have some nice targets later in the year. I've some nice juveniles, but she is at the top at the pile at the moment.” Looking forward to possible future targets, he added, “The [G3] Prestige at Goodwood might be for her and then I suppose something like the [G2] Rockfel and maybe the [G1] Fillies' Mile. That is ambitious and we will see how we progress between now and then. I'd like to think she will stay the mile next year and she strikes me as a filly that will stay as she relaxes well and she finishes out well too. I'm lucky to have a horse like this in the yard and it is nice to have good support and nice horses to work with.”

Shuwari is the fourth of five foals and one of three scorers produced by GIII Rober J Frankel S. victrix Lady Pimpernel (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}), herself a granddaughter of G3 Deutscher Stutenpreis winner and G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) third Anno Luce (GB) (Old Vic {GB}). Her second dam Angeleno (Ire) (Belong To Me) is a half-sister to Listed Prix de l'Avre winner Air Trooper (GB) (Monsun {Ger}). Shuwari's fourth dam is G2 Preis der Diana-winning dual German champion Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}). The March-foaled chestnut is kin to a yearling filly by Nathaniel (Ire).

Friday, Sandown, Britain
EUROPEAN BLOODSTOCK NEWS EBF STAR S.-Listed, £40,000, Sandown, 7-27, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:32.83, sf.
1–SHUWARI (IRE), 128, f, 2, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Lady Pimpernel (GB) (GSW-US & SW-Eng, $193,557), by Sir Percy (GB)
2nd Dam: Angeleno (Ire), by Belong To Me
3rd Dam: Anno Luce (GB), by Old Vic (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (80,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs B V Sangster & Ballylinch Partnership; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Ollie Sangster; J-Oisin Murphy. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $36,222.
2–Fallen Angel (GB), 128, f, 2, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Agnes Stewart (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Clipper Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke. £8,600.
3–Soprano (Ire), 128, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Lealas Daughter (Ire), by Excelebration (Ire). (€45,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 100,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Da Vinci); B-Empire Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-George Boughey. £4,304.
Margins: HF, 1, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.25, 4.00, 1.38.
Also Ran: Gray's Inn (Ire), Expensive Queen (Ire), Eminny (Ire), Romanova (GB), Lava Stream (Ire), The African Queen (GB). Scratched: Catena (Ire).

 

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Eleven For King George, Ascot Now Soft

Eleven high-quality runners will make up one of the greatest renewals of the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth II Qipco S. in recent memory on Saturday, with Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) the biggest missing name among them. Saeed Suhail's troubled 2022 Derby hero's leg infection means that the keenly-anticipated clash of the last two Blue Riband winners in the Ascot monument is cruelly denied, while the three other withdrawals disappointingly include the sole French challenger Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), whose chance was put paid to by the 17mm of rain which fell overnight.

Aidan O'Brien removed two of his back-up entries Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}), leaving four from the stable headed by the dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) under Ryan Moore. As far as his draw is concerned, it was far from bad news for connections with the race's key 3-year-old in the widest stall. Ascot's renowned bias for middle to high numbers over this mile-and-a-half trip is even more pronounced on ground as easy as looks certain to prevail for Saturday's behemoth contest. There have been very few King Georges with double-figure fields of late, but it is notable that Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}) and Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) were all posted wide in years when there were more than six runners.

Ascot's heavy overnight rain turned the ground officially to soft on Thursday and with the prospect of more scattered showers to interrupt any drying effect, this year's renewal could be tough going for some but not for the likes of Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Not best drawn in four, the 6-year-old full-brother to Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) could nevertheless start favourite as the least likely of the race's big contenders to be inconvenienced by easy conditions. Jockey Jim Crowley is happy with the ground, but said, “He's in good form and I just want good-to-soft or good, no one wants heavy for any horse,” he said.

Hukum is next to Amo Racing's Derby runner-up and G2 King Edward VII S. winner and other 3-year-old presence King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in three, while the G1 Coronation Cup one-two Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) fared better in eight and 10, respectively. Ballydoyle's quartet includes the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in stall one, with Seamie Heffernan reunited with him for the first time since the 2021 G2 Beresford S., while Adam Kirby has been booked for Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in stall five. He is next to last year's winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in the middle in six, with Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in seven. In a twist, Desert Crown's regular rider Richard Kingscote, who was due to be replaced by William Buick on the subsequently-withdrawn Stoute luminary, has been booked for the Haggas's veteran mud-lover.

King Of Steel's owner Kia Joorabchian is relishing taking part in such a deep contest. “This is going to be one of the best races for centuries,” he said. “He's been fantastic, but I hope the ground doesn't get too heavy and we'll see a much more realistic race if it's not. He runs on both types of ground and for a big horse is light on his feet and loves his racing. He's still three, so whatever happens at the weekend he has a long way to go and the end target is the Breeders' Cup.”

Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels is expecting a slight firming up of conditions and said, “There is a chance of a passing shower–a light shower today and an occasional shower possible on both Friday and Saturday–but we are not talking about much volume of rainfall, so I expect conditions to improve a little, given a breezy and warmer forecast, with temperatures between 21C (70F) and 24C (75F).”

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Desert Crown To Miss King George Due To Leg Infection

Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will miss Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth II Qipco S. at Ascot due to a leg infection.

The 2022 Derby winner, who was off with an ankle injury for a year following his Epsom triumph, was beaten on his return by Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown in May.

Sir Michael Stoute's charge had been reported to be working well in the build-up to a clash with that rival at Ascot and was also set to take on this year's Derby one-two Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, along with the high-class filly Emily Upjohn in a mouthwatering renewal of the mile-and-a-half contest.

However, the four-year-old will now be rerouted to next month's Juddmonte International S. at York.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to the colt's owner Saeed Suhail, said, “Desert Crown doesn't run, he has got a leg infection. The plan is to go to York, but that is as much as I know.”

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McConnell Dreaming Of American Grand National With Seddon

John McConnell is gearing Seddon (Ire) (Stowaway {GB}) up for a tilt at the American Grand National, a race that was plundered by another Irish challenger 12 months back when Hewick (Ire) (Virtual {GB}) stormed to a memorable victory.

Seddon has been nothing short of a revelation for McConnell. Successful in the Plate at the Cheltenham festival, Seddon made it a spring to remember when following up over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival.

Owned by the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate, which has been a long-term supporter of the McConnell stable in North County Dublin, the 10-year-old will now take on his biggest test to date at Far Hills in October.

McConnell told TDN Europe, “I've always thought it was a race that would suit him. The trip, ground, obstacles, should all be perfect for him. Obviously, he's a high-rated horse now, so he should be competitive. The prize-money is very good. It should be the trip of a lifetime for a lot of the people [owners], as well. That's why we're a fan of having a crack at it.

“He's done so much for everybody already. He owes us nothing. It'd be hard to top what he's done, but [a victory] would certainly go close.”

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