Tag: Europe

No Nay Never’s Alcohol Free Prevails In The July Cup

She wasn't supposed to like fast ground, but Jeff Smith's G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) skipped the light fantastic on Newmarket's balmy July Course to stamp her class on Saturday's feature G1 Darley July Cup. Back to this six-furlong trip for the first time since winning the G1 Cheveley Park S. as a juvenile when under three-lengths ninth in Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S., the 14-1 shot was drawn in the right place with that race's winner Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) blazing the trail towards the far side. Delivered by Rob Hornby to subdue that rival inside the final furlong, the Andrew Balding-trained homebred asserted to beat the Godolphin runner by 1 1/2 lengths, with half a length back to Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) in third as the Platinum Jubilee form of the older horses came to the fore. “She's now won four group ones at two, three and four, which is a very unusual feat,” trainer Andrew Balding said after greeting his first July Cup winner. “She's a very talented filly and this is her time of year as well, she's twice the horse she was in the spring and it's just lovely to have her back on song.”

 

Since the failed attempt by connections to stretch her to an extended 10 furlongs in the G1 Juddmonte International last August, Alcohol Free's record of one placing in four subsequent starts seemed to tell a story but closer analysis afforded her leeway heading into the most extreme speed test she had yet to face. Apart from the re-entry to the sprinting world in the Platinum Jubilee, she had probably needed her seasonal return when third in the Apr. 22 G2 Sandown Mile and it was only her fourth in the May 14 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury and eighth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. that cast any doubt as to her retained ability. This represented a return to the pomp of her defeat of Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the Goodwood feature last term, with her deadly acceleration the key in a deep contest full of sprinting talent proven in the international sphere.

As it turned out, the 2022 July Cup was a case of being in the right place with Naval Crown and James Doyle the one to target and Alcohol Free able to sit over two lengths off him with Artorius in her wake. Despite pace pressure from Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal), Naval Crown was able to fend off all bar the filly heading to two out and the rest never stood a chance with the front three following that straight path towards the far rail. As on Friday, it was Rob Hornby who was judging things to a tee and it is fitting that he was becoming the first to ride the winners of the Falmouth and this at the same meeting since Johnny Murtagh in 2004.

“It just goes to show her guts and bravery, because she has form on every bit of ground now,” her rider commented. “Coming back to six furlongs, we were unsure if the ground was a bit quick and she was a bit disorganised in the first half of the race which she can sometimes be. From half way I felt her really kick in and she had a real fire in her belly today. It is a hell of a training performance from Andrew and everyone back at Park House. She is a fiery character and she has got a lot of personality. She has always shown lots of natural speed, but stamina as well.”

Balding is intent on heading back to the Sussex now to add to a star-studded line-up. “We needed to run somewhere between Ascot and Goodwood really–the Sussex Stakes has always been her main target, having won the race last year and we were just trying to find the best plan to get her there,” her trainer added. “She's obviously a speed miler rather than an attritional miler, so Goodwood should suit her really well and we look forward to it.”

Charlie Appleby was delighted with the performance of the runner-up and said, “Naval Crown has run a rock-solid race. The plan with him was to go and be forward. He set a good clip there and it was only the filly that has come and dived on us late. It was another solid performance at that level as well, and at sprinting more importantly. I think going forward we will probably head towards Haydock [for the Sprint Cup] with him, as the ground doesn't worry him at all.”

Sam Freedman said of Artorius, “Frustrating is the wrong word, because he always runs very well and a frustrating horse is probably one who mixes his form. He's very honest and reliable in the sense he's always finishing his races off and the 1300 metres for his next target would suit him nicely. He needs them to come back to him a little bit and today it's probably not been the easiest thing to do to make up ground.”

Christophe Soumillon reported that the seventh-placed 9-4 favourite Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) was unlucky. “Unfortunately, when I asked him to come through horses I never had a clear run and we shifted from the left to the right. He finished well and it wasn't a bad run,” he said.

Alcohol Free, who becomes her sire's second July Cup winner after Ten Sovereigns (Ire), is out of Plying (Hard Spun) who also produced the Listed Prix Le Fabuleux winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The second dam is the Listed National S.-placed Nasaieb (Ire) (Fairy King), who was responsible for the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Princess Margaret S.-placed Kissing Lights (Ire) (Machiavellian) and is a half to the G3 Solario S. scorer Raise A Grand (Ire) (Grand Lodge). From the family of the champion juvenile filly Numbered Account (Buckpasser), Plying's unraced 2-year-old colt by Dandy Man (Ire) is named Hidden Ambush (Ire) while she also has a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
DARLEY JULY CUP-G1, £628,500, Newmarket, 7-9, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:09.47, g/f.
1–ALCOHOL FREE (IRE), 131, f, 4, by No Nay Never
     1st Dam: Plying, by Hard Spun
     2nd Dam: Nasaieb (Ire), by Fairy King
     3rd Dam: Atyaaf, by Irish River (Fr)
(€40,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV). O-Mr J C Smith; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Rob Hornby. £356,422. Lifetime Record: 14-6-1-2, $1,864,597. *1/2 to Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW-Fr, $108,819. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Naval Crown (GB), 134, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Come Alive (GB), by Dansili (GB). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £135,128.
3–Artorius (Aus), 134, c, 4, Flying Artie (Aus)–Gracie's Lass (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). (120,000 Ylg '20 MMGYRL). O-Newgate, China Horse Club & Partners; B-Mr G J Perry (AUS); T-Anthony & Sam Freedman. £67,627.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 1HF. Odds: 14.00, 4.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Creative Force (Ire), Double Or Bubble (Ire), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Perfect Power (Ire), Happy Romance (Ire), Flaming Rib (Ire), Romantic Proposal (Ire), King Hermes (Jpn), Cadamosto (Ire), Twilight Jet (Ire). Scratched: Blackrod (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Summer Mile Victory For Wootton Bassett’s Chindit

Earning compensation for respectable efforts in the top league, Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) battled to a typically game success in Saturday's G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot. Third in the May 14 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury and fourth in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 14, the 85-40 second favourite was in shallower waters here and took to the lead early to establish his presence. Looking likely to surrender as the 7-4 favourite Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) edged ahead over a furlong from home, the Richard Hannon trainee rallied for Pat Dobbs to wrest back the advantage late on and score by a head. “He is relaxing a bit better and he is finishing his races off,” the winning rider said. “He used to be a little bit headstrong. He kept plenty in the tank and I always thought he would get ten, so we'll see.”

 

First coming to prominence at this venue when taking the Listed Pat Eddery S. as a juvenile, Chindit went on to win the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster later that term and although he added the G3 Greenham S. to his tally the following Spring he was unable to make a serious impact in four attempts at the highest level. Back with purpose in 2022 with a fluent score in the Listed Doncaster Mile Mar. 26, the bay had continued to provide honest service to connections by sticking as respectably close to Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as possible at Newbury and Royal Ascot.

Pescod is keen to take on the Shadwell rocket once again. “I have a nose-bleed now,” he quipped. “I am in territory I don't understand. I have never had a group one winner and if you tell me where Baaeed is going to go, I will tell you if this is the horse who could be the first. We are entered at Goodwood and we have to do it really. We are not going to duck him. He is certainly one of the best horses I have owned.”

Chindit is the first foal out of Always A Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a granddaughter of the famed Out West (Gone West) who produced the G1 Derby hero and successful sire Motivator (GB) and his G2 Hardwicke S.-winning full-brother Macarthur (GB). From the family of the GI Haskell Invitational H. and GI San Fernando S. hero and leading sire Wavering Monarch, her yearling filly is by Bated Breath (GB).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
FRED COWLEY MBE MEMORIAL SUMMER MILE-G2, £140,000, Ascot, 7-9, 4yo/up, 7f 213yT, 1:41.89, g/f.
1–CHINDIT (IRE), 129, c, 4, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
     1st Dam: Always A Dream (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
     2nd Dam: Always Remembered (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Out West, by Gone West
(65,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael Pescod; B-J C Bloodstock & R Mahon (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Pat Dobbs. £79,394. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 14-6-0-2, $407,618. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mutasaabeq (GB), 129, c, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (GB); T-Charles Hills. £30,100.
3–My Oberon (Ire), 129, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–My Titania (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William Haggas. £15,064.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 3HF. Odds: 2.13, 1.75, 3.50.
Also Ran: Tactical (GB), Best Lightning (Fr), Perotto (GB). Scratched: Modern News (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Son Of Deep Field Tops HK International Sale

Courtesy TDN AusNZ

The popularity of Deep Field (Aus) in Hong Kong went to another level on Saturday, as a 2-year-old by the stallion was snapped up by Yue Yun Hing for HK$7.8 million (£825,803/€975,829/$993,744/A$1,400,000) at the Hong Kong International Sale.

The sale, which takes place in the Sha Tin parade ring, had 17 lots realise a total of HK$71 million (£7,516,925/€8,882,549/$9,045,627/A$13,190,000) and they also included a chestnut gelding by Snitzel (Aus) out of Encosta de Lago (Aus) mare Houston Benefactor (Aus), who was snapped up by Yip Wing Kui for HK$5.8 million (AU$1,078,000).

Meanwhile, a gelding by Fastnet Rock (Aus) out of Northern Meteor (Aus) mare Diana's Star (Aus)–was secured by Philip Liu Chun Hang for HK$5 million (AU$929,000).

“With significant increases in average and gross turnover, the Club is overall really happy with the outcome of the sale–the strong results are a reflection of the Hong Kong Jockey Club members' confidence in the horses that have been selected for the sale, the results of the graduates that have come out of the sale but most importantly the confidence and strength of Hong Kong racing and this is a reflection of the significant increases in prize-money for next season,” said Danny Rolston, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's executive manager, international sale/owners advisory services.

“I think the two top lots were fairly obviously going to be the highlight horses, they breezed particularly well and they're both by stallions that are very popular. Beyond that it's really hard to predict what the horses are going to sell for and just how much the turnover will be but we're very happy to see such a significant increase in gross turnover.”

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Night Of Thunder’s Isaac Shelby Prevails In Superlative Thriller

Manton Thoroughbreds' hitherto undefeated 2-year-old colt Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Kentucky Belle {Ire}), by Heliostatic {Ire}) registered a taking 3 1/2-length success in his May 31 unveiling going 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury, the chestnut's only prior start, and doubled up in game fashion after a ding-dong tussle with Godolphin's Victory Dance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) throughout the closing stages of Saturday's seven-furlong G2 bet365 Superlative S. at Newmarket. The 3-1 chance was the sharpest of five into stride and accepted a tow from Dark Thirty (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in second after the early shuffling. Coming under pressure, as did all four rivals, passing the quarter-mile marker, he gained a narrow advantage approaching the final furlong and was driven out up the hill to withstand the persistent threat of Victory Dance by a head after a thrilling duel. Dark Thirty kept on once headed to finish 3 3/4 lengths back in third. 'TDN Rising Star' Lion Of War (GB) (Roaring Lion) was unable to feature when it mattered and finished last of the five contenders. The local stewards were back in session to conduct another official post mortem. Looking specifically at interference passing the furlong marker, where Isaac Shelby drifted across Dark Thirty's lane, the placings were allowed stand without amendment. Winning jockey Sean Levey received a two-day ban for his troubles.

“You're always tempted to make predictions, but he's very nice and really is the business I think,” commented Brian Meehan after annexing his first win in the contest. “He looks really special and could even be a [G1 2000] Guineas horse. He's got a good temperament and Sean [Levey] knows him well, so they're a good package. We'd stay at seven [furlongs] now, which I think is ideal, but we won't be in any hurry [to go up in trip]. I think we'd train him as a Guineas horse now. These horses are special and they're the reason you do it. You get the most enjoyment out of training winners of course, but when you get horses like him with serious potential it's exciting. All winter he's looked like a nice horse, he's straightforward with a lovely temperament and is very easy to deal with. We've got a great team at home with some very good judges and they've always liked him. It's easy to think that he was going to be nice, but this is high-end stuff and he's really proven himself. We'll take it step by step and won't rush into things, but he's a horse that we think is going to improve and physically there's still massive improvement there. We'll get him back and sit round the table and make a little plan after a week or so. Goodwood would come too soon, but the [G2] Champagne [at Doncaster in September] is a race I've thought about. I love the Breeders' Cup so the [GI] Juvenile Turf is one we'll definitely factor into our thoughts as well. I'm so pleased for Sam [Sangster], we do a lot together. He buys horses for me and my clients as a bloodstock agent and he runs these partnerships as well. It keeps the [Robert Sangster] colours alive which is really cool, he's a great guy and I can't thank him enough for his support.”

Charlie Appleby was not downcast after the narrow defeat of Victory Dance, who remains on target for the Curragh's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., according to the trainer, despite the reversal. “The winner is a nice horse as he won that maiden at Newbury nicely and I feel we have more to go forward with as well,” he said. “We saw him there on his first start only just getting the hang of it and, when he got into a battle, he did well for his inexperience. I think going forward we have got all the options now, but I won't take him to somewhere like the [G2] Vintage [at Goodwood]. If we seek significant improvement at home we will carry on with Plan A and head to the [G1 Vincent O'Brien] National.”

Richard Hannon, a dual winner of this contest, was satisfied with the display of Dark Thirty and reflected, “It was a step up from his [Listed] Chesham run and I'm very happy with it. The interference wasn't ideal, but the best horse has won. We are delighted with our fellow as he has got home very well and he will get further in time. He would have finished closer, but I don't think he would have finished a position closer. He is a very nice horse and a class horse to look forward to the rest of the year. We wouldn't be far away in some of those seven-furlong Group 3s and he is definitely not average. There is the [G3] Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville, which would be ideal.”

Isaac Shelby, who becomes the 17th pattern-race scorer for his sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), is the third of four foals and one of two winners produced by an unraced half-sister to GII Mac Diarmida H. victor Ramazotti (Honor Grades) and to the dam of dual stakes winner Vow To Recover (Broken Vow). The April-foaled chestnut is a half-brother to a yearling colt by Al Kazeem (GB). The April-foaled chestnut's dam Kentucky Belle (Ire) (Heliostatic {Ire}) is a daughter of Listed Prom S. placegetter Mine Inning (Mining), herself out of Listed Revidere S. runner-up Weed It Out (Clever Trick). Descendants of Weed It Out also include Listed Debutante S. victrix She's My Warrior (Warrior's Reward), Listed Minnesota Derby scorer Thealligatorhunter (Overanalyze), Listed Oak Tree Sprint S. heroine Annie's Candy (Twirling Candy) and the Puerto Rican champion juvenile Wicked Runner (Wicked Strong). Weed It Out's siblings include GI American Derby hero Pocket Zipper (Full Pocket).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 SUPERLATIVE S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 7-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.13, g/f.
1–ISAAC SHELBY (GB), 129, c, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Kentucky Belle (Ire), by Heliostatic (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mine Inning, by Mining
3rd Dam: Weed It Out, by Clever Trick
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£92,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Manton Thoroughbreds VII; B-Elaine Chivers (GB); T-Brian Meehan; J-Sean Levey. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $72,686. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Victory Dance (Ire), 129, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Dane Street, by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (700,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Godolphin; B-Airlie Stud & Mrs S Rogers (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £21,500.
3–Dark Thirty (Ire), 129, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Beach Wedding (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£90,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Martin Hughes & Michael Kerr-Dineen; B-Lynn Lodge Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £10,760.
Margins: HD, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 1.25, 10.00.
Also Ran: For A Laugh (Ire), Lion of War (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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