Tag: Europe

Penalties Tweaked Ahead of New Whip Rule Deployment

The previously announced new whip regulations will go into force on Monday, but the way penalties are calculated has been “marginally adjusted” according to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Following feedback from jockeys, there were further amendments to the rules, and the bedding in period for jumps racing was extended by a week.

Under the new regulations, use of the whip in the forehand position will be allowed, with the BHA having reversed a previous decision to ban it after riders' objections. However, use of the whip has been reduced to six and seven strikes over the Flat and Jumps races, respectively.

The penalty structure was also strengthened, with the very worst whip offences potentially resulting in disqualification of horses and riding bans of 20 days–a tariff which will be doubled in Class 1 and 2 races.

In its latest update, the BHA confirmed only offences for use of the whip above the permitted level will be doubled and not offences for use above shoulder height. A tweak to how offences are aggregated where multiple offences are committed in the same ride has also been made.

In a statement, the BHA said, “The rules being implemented on Monday are the result of a detailed consultation process designed to foster more considered and judicious use of the whip.”

“They are being introduced after an extensive bedding-in period which has successfully allowed jockeys and officials to familiarise themselves with the new rules and guidance and identify where improvements can be made to their implementation, or where some jockeys might need to adapt their riding style. This was the purpose of the bedding-in period.”

“We are grateful for the input of the PJA (Professional Jockeys Association), NTF (National Trainers Federation) and a number of senior riders and trainers and we have now reached a position where the new rules and guidance will be implemented in the manner in which they were intended.”

“We were pleased to note jockeys stating that the responsibility now rests on them to ride within the new rules and adapt their riding style where necessary. We have already seen this happening during the bedding-in period, for which jockeys deserve great credit.”

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Lookin At Lucky’s Tall Boy Breaks Maiden In UAE 2000 Guineas

Calumet Farm's Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky) broke his maiden in stirring fashion, running out a length winner of the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas Presented by Nakheel over Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey) for trainer Doug O'Neill and jockey William Buick at Meydan on Friday evening.

Sitting just off the Charles Fipke runner after leaving the chute, the chestnut edged closer as noses pointed for home. Refusing to give his rival a breather, the pair locked horns in earnest by the 600-metre mark. Throughout the stretch drive, it appeared that Tall Boy was moving the better of the duo, but Shirl's Bee was dogged against the fence and pushed him all the way through the final furlong, as the winner inched away late. Mr Raj (Bolt d'Oro) closed to take third.

“We were going a good pace and I didn't expect to be where I was, as he struggled for pace early in America,” said Buick, winning this race for a third time. “He showed guts, good attitude and I expect connections will have one eye on the [G3] UAE Derby after that. Once we turned into the straight I felt him grow an inch and he gave me plenty in response.”

Although winless prior to his trip to Meydan, the colt has been slugged it out with some of the biggest names in the California 3-year-old division. He ran fifth when unveiled in the wake of 'TDN Rising Star' and subsequent dual Grade I-winning Juvenile Cave Rock (Arrogate) and Practical Move (Practical Joke) at Del Mar on Aug. 13. Dropped in for an $80,000 tag, he improved with a closing second in a maiden claimer still at the seaside oval on Sept. 5, and rallied for third behind fellow 'Rising Star' Spun Intended (Hard Spun) back in maiden special weight company there on Nov. 26. In his final start of 2022, Tall Boy ran fourth in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity to Practical Move in late December, and Friday's victory was O'Neill's second in the race after Fore Left (Twirling Candy) in 2020.

Pedigree Notes

Bred by Rockingham Ranch, the February-born colt was picked up by Calumet from Paramount Sales for just $40,000 as a Keeneland November weanling. He is the 72nd stakes winner for his GI Preakness S.-winning Coolmore Ashford sire. His unraced dam has fillies of 2021 and 2022 by Liam's Map, and Gun Runner, respectively. O'Neill signed for the former on behalf of Del Mar Group for $100,000 out of last autumn's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, also from Paramount.

The second dam, the winning Golden Peach, by GI Belmont victor Touch Gold, is a half-sister to Grade III winners Squadron A (Unbridled's Song) and Belgravia (Mr. Greeley), as well as the three-time graded-placed Persuading (Broken Vow). Qualique (Hawaii {SAf}), out of fourth dam Dorothy Gaylord (Sensitivo {Arg}), claimed the GI Demoiselle S. in 1983.

 

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
UAE 2000 GUINEAS PRESENTED BY NAKHEEL-G3, $150,000, Meydan, 2-10, 3yo, 8f, 1:37.32, fs.
1–TALL BOY, 121, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
1st Dam: Madame Mayra, by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Golden Peach, by Touch Gold
3rd Dam: Peaks Mill, by Stalwart
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. ($40,000 Wlg '20
KEENOV). O-Calumet Farm; B-Rockingham Ranch (KY); T-Doug
O'Neill; J-William Buick. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 5-1-1-1,
$122,186. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shirl's Bee, 121, c, 3, Bee Jersey–Shirl's Soul, by Perfect Soul
(Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Charles
Fipke (KY); T-Doug Watson. $30,000.
3–Mr Raj, 121, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Sonja's Angel, by Smoke
Glacken. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($70,000
RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; €86,773 2yo '22 GOFMAR). O-Ahmad
Bintooq Al Marri; B-John B. Penn (FL); T-Ahmad bin Harmash.
$15,000.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 9HF.
Also Ran: Legend Of Cannes, Eye On The Prize (Arg), Magic Petition, Talentum, Tiger Nation, Morning. Click for the Video.

 

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Lazuli Aims For Blue Point Sprint Double

The 2022 G2 Blue Point Sprint hero Lazuli (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is back to defend his title for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby over this minimum trip on grass. Worth $180,000, the Blue Point is the 6-year-old gelding's second run of the season after defeating Man Of Promise (Into Mischief) in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash on opening day of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

“Lazuli is tried and tested over five furlongs at Meydan and this is his optimum trip,” said Appleby. “He is in great form and, even with his draw in stall one, he has speed horses around him and looks the one to beat.

“Man Of Promise ran a good solid race over this distance in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash and seems to be taking his racing better these days.”

Shadwell's Kuzaam (Kitten's Joy), who won the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint by two lengths last February, is hoping to rebound off of a seventh-place run in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.

“Khuzaam has taken a bit of time to come around, but is really well,” said trainer Doug Watson. “The long layoff is a worry but he's a really nice horse.”

G2 Sapphire S. heroine Ladies Church (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), the only filly in the field, could also be heard from in the Mark Dobbin silks. She was 17 of 19 in the G1 Flying Five S. over this distance at the Curragh on Sept. 11.

“She is in very good form, but like all our horses who travelled to Dubai this season, she will probably need her first run of the year,” said trainer Johnny Murtagh.

2021 victor Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) is also signed on but has not won since taking that race for Mrs. Fitriani Hay and trainer Charlie Hills.

 

American-breds A Force Majeure In Guineas

The $150,000 G2 UAE 2000 Guineas run over 1600 metres on the main track sees nine American-bred colts and one Argentinean line up for one of the earliest Classics of the year.

No stranger to Meydan, trainer Doug O'Neill has sent the Calumet Farm-owned Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky), who should run with credit, despite his maiden status. Out of the unraced Madame Mayra, the colt enters with a fourth-place run in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 17.

“The reason he's in Dubai is because we think he's capable of being pointed to the [G2] UAE Derby [on Mar. 25],” said Leandro Mora, assistant trainer to Doug O'Neill. “He has two GI Kentucky Derby points already and we like him because he's run three tough races against Bob Baffert horses. He's a gentle giant with a lot of talent. We think this race might suit him as he loves the surface at Meydan.”

Charles Fipke homebred Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey) is aiming to maintain his perfect record after running out a track-and-trip victor in a Dec. 23 maiden race.

“Shirl's Bee would be the most interesting of our runners on Friday,” said Doug Watson, who has been named champion trainer in the Emirates seven times. “He has been training well and we like him a lot. He has a good draw and we're really looking forward to seeing him run.”

Tamarkuz colt Tiger Nation has an even dearer record to protect, as he made a winning debut at Jebel Ali on New Year's Day, before running out a 1 1/4-length victor of a 1400-metre conditions affair on Jan. 13. The main question is the step up in distance for the Sheikh Hamden bin Mohammed Al Maktoum-owned bay.

“Tiger Nation came out of the Guineas Trial well,” said Salem bin Ghadayer. “He has a wide draw [9] but he has natural speed and we're hoping he can control the race and be there or thereabouts.”

 

Large Godolphin Contingent Ready For “Business”

Shining Blue (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is one of four bearing the royal blue in the Listed Business Bay Challenge over 1400 metres on turf, and he is part of a Saeed bin Suroor trio mustered for this test. A last-out winner over course and distance defeating the re-opposing Spirit Of Light (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) on Jan. 20, he carries a red-capped Daniel Tudhope and they break from stall four. Bin Suroor also sends listed winner Major Partnership (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and 2021 G2 Al Fahidi Fort hero Land Of Legends (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB})

“Shining Blue won nicely in a handicap over this course and trip last month, said bin Suroor. “He has done well since and is ready to go again. Land Of Legends has won a big race over this distance in the past and we wanted to give him a chance back over seven furlongs as he displays plenty of speed in his races. Major Partnership never shows a great deal in the mornings but I'm hoping he is saving it for the racecourse.”

However, the blue cap is bestowed on Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) from the Charlie Appleby barn. A listed winner at Windsor last June, the 5-year-old gelding has also been placed three times in group company, including when second in the G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury in August. He weakened to sixth after setting the pace in the G2 Zabeel Mile here on Jan. 20.

 

Curlin S. Springboard To Dubai World Cup

The race re-named in honour of the dual American Horse of the Year, Curlin, who won the 2000-metre Jaguar Trophy H. in 2008 one start before his G1 Dubai World Cup victory, has attracted a field of one dozen aspirants for the $12-million big dance on Mar. 25.

On rankings, Salem bin Ghadayer trainee Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) towers over the field at 112. The 2022 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 hero was last seen finishing seventh in the Dubai World Cup at the end of March.

“I need to give him one race before [the] Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Super Saturday,” said bin Ghadayer. “He has a wide draw and top weight, but it's a prep race and he's 80-85% fit.”

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Galileo Mare Tops Goffs February Sale As Baroda Completes Clean Sweep

Baroda Stud finished as strong as it started at the Goffs February Sale by sending out the top three lots on Thursday, headed by Galileo (Ire) mare Red Azalea (Ire) (lot 482A), knocked down to Mick Donohoe of BBA Ireland for €340,000.

Red Azalea was a supplementary entry to the sale. A winner in her own right when trained by Donnacha O'Brien, she is a daughter of the classy Music Box (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who scored at Group 3 level.

Donohoe also signed for the unraced Frankel (GB) filly, Nomadland (GB) (468), while Barry Lynch secured black-type performer Romanosa (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 410), as Baroda's mares played starring roles late in the day.

Lynch said, “Romanosa is a very nice filly and has a good back pedigree. I think she'll make a lovely mare and she'll come back to auction next year in foal to a high profile stallion, fingers crossed. She's been bought by a number of guys who want to buy a mare to reoffer at a public auction so fingers crossed it will all work out.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Boherguy Stud enjoyed a good result with a Blue Point (Ire) colt (lot 256) selling to Hamish McCauley for €60,000 while Jill Lamb went to €52,000 to secure a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly (lot 266)) from Clare Manning's draft.

Lamb, buying on behalf of Mike Watson's Trebles Holford Thoroughbreds, also snapped up a €56,000 Dandy Man filly (lot 328) from Church View Stables with Lamb labelling the visit as productive.

She said, “I absolutely loved the Dandy Man (Ire) but didn't think it would cost that much to buy her. She looks a real racey filly. We may keep her to race or we may reoffer her as a yearling. I loved the Too Darn Hot as well. She had a great pedigree and I am very keen on Too Darn Hot's yearlings. Hopefully she will come good. They are for Mike Watson who has Trebles Holford Thoroughbreds. It's been a productive afternoon and I'm really pleased with the two fillies I've bought.”

Goffs chief Henry Beeby was particularly pleased to see Lamb and her fellow raiders in action at the two-day sale where turnover dropped 28% to €4,348,550.

The caveat being that there were 66 less horses offered at the February sale this year compared to in 2022. Of the 424 offered, 273 were sold, which represented a 64% clearance rate. The average over the two days was €15,929, down 7% on last year, while the median stayed the same at €9,000.

Beeby commented, “Goffs February fulfils an important function in the sales calendar as it provides another opportunity for foal (weanling) sellers and buyers. Sometimes the youngster needed more time and on other occasions they did not make our superb November or December Foal Sales for some reason or failed to hit the target on that visit to the ring.

“When November and December are strong it sometimes leads to a weaker February as orders might be filled and/or the better lots already sold. Whether or not that is the case this week is debatable but the common theme over the last two days has been a vibrant trade for those that held most appeal, especially to the pinhooking fraternity, but an altogether different story for those deemed not to be as commercial. Suggesting otherwise would be foolhardy as it is very much the case in the times in which we live.”

He added, “We probably enjoyed a post pandemic bounce last year in terms of numbers with the expansion to three days for the first time since 2018 and so this year's two-day affair was always going to show a reduced turnover. However, it is interesting to note that the median price remained the same as 2022 which demonstrates a consistency to the market for a sale in which the size of the entry is largely reactive to the autumn sales.

“Trade for the breeding stock session mirrored the weanlings with keen competition for some and less interest in others but we have been pleased to welcome another strong overseas contingent to Kildare Paddocks who are enticed year after year by the enduring quality of Irish bloodlines and the endeavours of ITM working alongside the Goffs Buyer Recruitment Team and our excellent international agents.

“The market leading status of Goffs February has been confirmed once again with the highest February prices for Flat weanling, NH weanling and breeding stock with the latter recording the fourth best price for this sale and the best since 2014. As ever, we extend our thanks to each vendor and all our purchasers for we are nothing without them.”

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