Tag: Europe

Bucanero Fuerte and Unquestionable Register Wootton Bassett Exacta In Railway Thriller

Usurped for favouritism by 'TDN Rising Star' Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Sunday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at the Curragh, Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G2 Coventry S. third Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) gained a measure of compensation for that Royal Ascot reversal with a thrilling victory over his main rival in Sunday's renewal of the six-furlong staging post.

Bucanero Fuerte, a debut scorer over five furlongs on opening day here in March, was swiftly into stride and allowed a gap to build while racing second behind stablemate Lightening Army (GB) (Soldier's Call {GB}), who established a clear advantage by halfway. Easing closer approaching the quarter-mile marker, he locked horns with Unquestionable with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and refused to yield under a late drive, outbobbing the 15-8 favourite by a short-head in a nip-and-tuck thriller. The pair were 4 1/2 lengths clear of the remainder, headed by the runner-up's Listed First Flier-winning stablemate His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never) in third.

“He's a tough horse, we took a chance running him back so quickly after [Royal] Ascot and he didn't let us down,” trainer Adrian Murray said. “[Assistant trainer] Robson [Aguair] said he was on fire during the week and we had no other option only to go for it. He's entered in the [G1] Phoenix S. and he could go to France, but we are not sure yet. We'll give him a bit of a break now as he's had two quick runs. He's a big, backward horse and we are not going to rush him. We'll definitely step him up in trip as that's what won it for him today. We made plenty of use of him because we knew he would see it out. He likes a bit of dig in the ground and, if anything, it was a bit quick for him today.”

Winning rider Rossa Ryan added, “He was very gutsy, the other horse never laid down and this lad stuck his neck out. I'd imagine he'll be a lot happier when he goes up to seven [furlongs] with a bit more juice in the ground. He's got a lovely cruise control and he gave me a super feel throughout. He's got a great mind to top it all off, so I'd say the future is bright with him. Credit to Adrian Murray and his team, they were confident he'd bounced out of Ascot well and it was a big test coming up against one of Aidan's that was fresh and hadn't been to Ascot. They've pulled a nice way clear of the rest.”

Pedigree Notes

Bucanero Fuerte, who becomes the 24th pattern-race winner for his sire, is a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Abbaye hero Wooded (Ire) and G3 Sovereign S. runner-up Beat Le Bon (Fr). He is also kin to a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire). The February-foaled bay's dam is out of stakes-winning G2 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas) runner-up Firm Friend (Ire) (Affirmed) and thus a half-sister to dual stakes-winning G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis second Fred Lalloupet (GB) (Elusive City) and stakes-winning G3 Prix de Cabourg third Mon Pote Le Gitan (Thunder Gulch). Bucanero Fuerte's third dam Cherie Amie (Fr) (Gay Mecene) is kin to the dam of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye third and MGSW sire Magic Ring (Ire) (Green Desert).

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Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GAIN RAILWAY S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 7-2, 2yo, 6fT, 1:09.97, gd.
1–BUCANERO FUERTE (GB), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Frida La Blonde (Fr), by Elusive City
2nd Dam: Firm Friend (Ire), by Affirmed
3rd Dam: Chere Amie (Fr), by Gay Mecene
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€165,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Amo Racing Ltd & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (GB); T-Adrian Murray; J-Rossa Ryan. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $111,904. *Full to Wooded (Ire), G1SW-Fr, $274,930; and Beat Le Bon (Fr), GSP-Eng, $406,172. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Unquestionable (Fr), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€340,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore & Westerberg; B-Mme Camille Vitse, Mme Axelle Vitse, Mme Valentine Vitse & Guillaume Vitse (FR); T-Aidan O'Brien. €24,000.
3–His Majesty (Ire), 131, c, 2, No Nay Never–Czabo (GB), by Sixties Icon (GB). (325,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Brant; B-Newstead Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: SHD, 4HF, 1HF. Odds: 3.33, 1.88, 2.50.
Also Ran: I Am Invictus (Ire), Mythology (Ire), Supersonic Man (GB), Democracy (Ire), Devious (GB), Lightening Army (GB).

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Sea The Moon’s Fantastic Moon Emulates Sire With Deutsches Derby Triumph

Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered to a wide-margin triumph underneath Hamburg's stands' side rail in the 2014 G1 Deutsches Derby and his Sarah Steinberg-trained son Fantastic Moon (Ger) ploughed the same furrow to claim a clear-cut success of his own in Sunday's latest renewal of the German highlight.

The 31-5 third favourite was positioned well off the pace with just one of his 19 rivals in arrears for the most part. Inching forward on the home turn, he was sent wide into the straight to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and kept on powerfully under late rousting to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths from 'TDN Rising Star' Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}). Gestut Ebbesloh's homebred Weracruz (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}), the lone filly in a field of 20, stayed on well to finish 2 1/2 lengths adrift in third.

Fantastic Moon's triumph was a first win in the contest for Rene Piechulek, whose career high came aboard Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ge}) in 2021's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. “I was able to keep him well relaxed at the back of field as we knew the trip might be at the extent of his stamina,” he explained. “He galloped easily throughout and quickened really well into the straight where I was able to make full use of his great finishing speed. It is a very emotional moment for my wife and I, we are extremely happy.” The win was also a first edition for trainer Sarah Steinberg, who added, “This almost unbelievable. Fantastic Moon is a very ambitious horse with a big heart and it was good that Rene could settle him way behind and then make use of his great turn of foot.”

Fantastic Moon's pathway to glory began with a perfect two-race 2022 campaign which featured a win in Germany's premier juvenile contest, Cologne's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten, and he met with his only defeat when third behind My Hollywood in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic on seasonal debut at the beginning of May. He regained winning ways in his latest start, accounting for a clutch of reopposing contenders going 10 furlongs in Baden-Baden's May 20 Derby-Trial.

Pedigree Notes
Fantastic Moon, who becomes the third Group 1 winner for his sire, is the second foal and lone scorer produced by a winning half-sister to G3 Sveaas Minnelop victor Fearless Hunter (Ger) (Alhaarth {Ire}) and Listed Arnfinn Lund Minnelop third Fil Rouge (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}). The March-foaled bay, who is from the family of MGISW sire Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}), is kin to a yearling filly by Starspangledbanner (Aus) and a weanling filly by Masar (Ire). His second dam Firedance (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) is a half-sister to G3 Rockfel S. victrix Germane (GB) (Distant Relative [Ire}) and the dual stakes-winning G3 Preis der Deutschen Einheit runner-up Fabriano (GB) (Shardari {Ire}). Germane, in turn, is the dam of stakes-winning GI Hollywood Derby third Lucky Chappy (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Listed Kolner Stuten Meile runner-up Granted (Fr) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}).

 

 

Sunday, Hamburg, Germany
IDEE 154TH DEUTSCHES DERBY-G1, €650,000, Hamburg, 7-2, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:39.11, g/s.
1–FANTASTIC MOON (GER), 128, c, 3, by Sea The Moon (Ger)
1st Dam: Frangipani (Ger), by Jukebox Jury (Ire)
2nd Dam: Firedance (Ger), by Lomitas (GB)
3rd Dam: Fraulein Tobin, by J. O. Tobin
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€49,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Liberty Racing 2021; B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg; J-Rene Piechulek. €390,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, €516,600. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mr Hollywood (Ire), 128, c, 3, Iquitos (Ger)–Margie's Music (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€15,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Wanja Soren Oberhof & Sebastian Weiss; B-Gestut Ammerland (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €130,000.
3–Weracruz (Ger), 125, f, 3, Cracksman (GB)–Winnemark (Ger), by Lando (Ger). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Gestut Ebbesloh (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €78,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 6.20, 4.40, 59.60.
Also Ran: Winning Spirit (Ger), If Not Now (GB), Pivotal Trigger (GB), Lips Freedom (Ger), Napolitano (Ire), Vintage Moon (Ger), Sirjan (Ger), I Fight For Lips (Ger), Merkur (Fr), Skylo (Ger), Saint Cloud (Ger), Straight (Ger), Quality Road (Ger), Wales (Ger), See Paris (Ger), Aspirant (Ger), Nachtgeist (Ire).

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Auguste Rodin Poised for Derby Double

Anyone privy to the sensational closing sectionals of Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Derby will be approaching Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh with great anticipation of what he can do next. While Epsom's final three furlongs lend themselves to electric fractions, the 33.01 that Ballydoyle's latest celebrity covered them in is nothing short of remarkable and already places him in exalted territory among the very elite to have conquered the demands of the Blue Riband.

Now that the only marginally less brilliant King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has underlined at Royal Ascot just what an achievement it was to give him a start and run him down on the famous Surrey Downs, the excitement continues to mount that we are in the midst of a great one.

It is therefore vital that the talented and possibly under-rated White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is here to test his merit again and provide a true measurement of his trajectory. John Joseph Murphy's grey missile likes to hand his rivals instant advantage, but at Epsom he was notably rapid throughout the final half mile with his split from three to two out of 10.67 just a tick off the race's sharpest recorded by King Of Steel. Now on a more galloping track on ground which should play more to his strengths, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's representative ensures this is an Irish Derby with real weight.

Much will be said by Aidan O'Brien but as usual, the master of Ballydoyle was keeping it low-key pre-race. “Everything has gone smooth since Epsom,” he said. “That was his first time over a mile and a half and we didn't know how it would be, but we thought he was very comfortable and it has to be a good experience to stay at that trip again. Those horses at Ascot had more time from the Derby this year, which helped, but the form looks to be standing up.”

Murphy is understandably hoping that White Birch can make the same impact here as he did last month. “I was delighted at Epsom, but I think he could have been a bit better as he starts his races quite slowly and then gallops very genuinely,” he said. “He's a very sound horse, I don't think he's ever had a vet. He's very genuine, but he doesn't break well and I think he'll get better as the race goes on. He's lightly-raced still, there's only so many times you can go to the well but he likes his racing and likes his work–every morning he has a great attitude.”

Fourth in the Derby and denied a clean passage at a crucial time, Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim's Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) still has to improve markedly to impose himself on Auguste Rodin and White Birch so the colts that followed him home at comfortable margins in Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial, Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), should be readily outclassed. Aidan O'Brien has set this up tactically to allow the favourite to get into his crushing rhythm and the useful potential pacemaker Covent Garden (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will presumably set the stage.

Straight Up?…

Of course, Ireland are not the only ones on Sunday staging a Derby, with the 154th edition of the G1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg seeing Gestut Karlshof's Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) re-opposed by TDN Rising Star Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}) following their mismatched encounter in Cologne's G2 Union-Rennen earlier this month. While there was a five-length margin between them on that occasion, Wanja Soren Oberhof and Sebastian Weiss's Mr Hollywood had been so impressive when taking Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic that Straight has to do it again for true validation.

Straight's owner-breeder Bruno Faust said, “We are very happy for him to have shown his quality in such an awesome way! He has the right genes, being very closely related to three German Derby winners, a German Oaks heroine and Derby runner-up plus this year's Derby Italiano hero Goldenas. For me, it was clear that he had the potential when he broke his maiden at two and he has continued to convinc e us. I also hope that he can handle any ground.”

Sebastian Weiss said of Mr Hollywood, “Our trainer Henk Grewe told us that he was a very good horse, but just how good he was we only began realising when he took the Bavarian Classic. We bought him without much planning, he was on a list given to me by Wilhelm Feldmann and even if it sounds like a cliche, I fell in love with him instantly. He had so much presence, he was such a good mover and athletic, if he would have been by Sea The Stars or Frankel, he probably would have been amongst the top lots, but we were lucky he was by Iquitos. I only know whoever wants to win this Derby will have to beat Straight.”

If there is one who could shake up the domestic team it is the Ralph Beckett-trained If Not Now (Ger) (Iffraaj {GB}). Bred by Gestut Fahrhof and bought at the BBAG September Yearling Sale for €67,000 by Jeremy Brummitt for Quantum Leap Racing, the relative of the 1999 Deutsches Derby runner-up Acambaro (Ger) (Goofalik) produced a noteworthy performance when winning a Sandown handicap by seven lengths on his latest outing. “He's done well from two to three and it was a good effort last time. He's a very straightforward individual and his owners were keen to have a go, so it all made very good sense,” Beckett said.

Unquestionable Faith…

Sunday's G2 GAIN Railway S. is always an important staging post en route to the following year's Classics, particularly where Aidan O'Brien is concerned, and there are three potential Guineas colts from Ballydoyle this time. Successful on debut in the Listed First Flier S. and a close third in the G3 Marble Hill S. here before finishing fourth and beating all on his side in last Thursday's G2 Norfolk S., His Majesty  (Ire) (No Nay Never) would ordinarily have been expected to be Ryan Moore's pick. That he is not speaks volumes for the regard in which the TDN Rising Star Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is held. Third behind His Majesty as they made their debuts in the First Flier, Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore and Westerberg's relative of Cityscape (GB) and Bated Breath (GB) looked so comfortable in the course-and-distance Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Maiden at the Irish Guineas meeting that he has made a deep impression on Moore.

Opting for him over His Majesty and fellow TDN Rising Star Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never), who was last of six in the Marble Hill, the rider explained, “There isn't much to choose between any of them. I do think His Majesty holds the best form claims of our trio heading into the race, especially as you have to mark up his fourth in the Norfolk last week and I think the return to six furlongs will suit him too but Unquestionable clearly has a lot of potential and I was very impressed by him when he won his maiden here last month. I think there is a lot of improvement in this Wootton Bassett colt. Democracy is better than he showed in the Marble Hill last time too.”

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Havana Grey Colt Storms To TDN Rising Stardom At Chantilly

Jean-Claude Rouget trainee Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Speculating {Ire}, by Xtension {Ire}) created a favourable impression when notching a two-length debut triumph going six furlongs at Saint-Cloud last month and delivered a performance of raw power to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' badge over the same trip in Saturday's Prix de la Croix des Veneurs at Chantilly.

Havana Cigar failed to make best use of his stands' side draw and was steadied at the tail of the six-runner field after missing a beat at the kick. Powering by rivals inside the final quarter-mile, the 12-5 second favourite surged beyond the pacesetting 'TDN Rising Star' Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) entering the final furlong and quickened clear in highly impressive fashion to hit the line strong and five lengths ahead of the outclassed Gotta Skedaddle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) in second.

“I'm aware the horse of Monsieur Fabre's [Alcantor] started as the [1-2] favourite, but Havana Cigar is a very nice colt too and he had won well at Saint-Cloud first time out,” the winning trainer said. “Maybe he didn't have the best possible trip, being positioned where he was in rear early, but he has good speed and quality and quickened well. He will be fine for Deauville with his next start possibly in the [July 30 G3] Prix de Cabourg.”

Pedigree Notes
Havana Cigar is the first of two foals produced by an unraced half-sister to G3 Cumberland Lodge S. victor Danehill Kodiac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The February-foaled grey, a 21,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned 150,000gns October Book 2 yearling, is kin to a yearling colt by Showcasing (GB). Descendants of his third dam Marl (GB) (Lycius) include G1 Australian Cup hero Spillway (GB) (Rail Link {GB}) and G3 Summer S. victrix Light Refrain (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

6th-Chantilly, €34,000, Cond, 7-1, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.28, g/s.
HAVANA CIGAR (GB), c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Speculating (Ire), by Xtension (Ire)
2nd Dam: Meadow (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Marl (GB), by Lycius
(21,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA; 150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT) Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €32,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-White Birch Farm; B-Josh Cameron (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro.

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