Seven Days: Bring on the Classic Trials 

I love Paris in the springtime, sang Ella Fitzgerald, and I'm pretty sure it was a thinly-veiled reference to her secret passion for heavy ground three-year-old maidens at Saint-Cloud.

What Classic clues may we glean there? Well, maybe none. But I liked the look of Narkez (Fr), who gave his rivals a six-length walloping in the Prix Comrade last Tuesday, picking up where he left off after winning at Clairefontaine last October. Bred by Nurlan Bizakov under his Sumbe banner, the colt represents that magic Siyouni (Fr)-Galileo (Ire) cross, though let's face it, Galileo mares work well all over the place. Narkez, trained by Andre Fabre, has helped to give his owner a great start to the season following the Listed win of Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Doncaster Mile. 

One person who is entitled to love Siyouni more than most is Peter Brant, who celebrated his first European Classic victory when Sottsass (Fr) won the Prix du Jockey Club before going on to deliver the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for Brant as well. We're looking forward to seeing his first runners emerge this season, but in the meantime Brant looks to have another decent prospect by Siyouni on his hands in the form of Louise Procter (Fr). Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, she became the second TDN Rising Star of the week for her sire when remaining unbeaten in her third start in the Prix du Belvedere at Chantilly on Thursday. She looks smart and has the entries to match. 

Making Dreams (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) kept up her trainer Karl Burke's great strike-rate in French stakes races by winning the G3 Prix Penelope by six lengths on her seasonal debut at Saint-Cloud. She is another who should enter considerations for the Classics, as should the Prix Caracalla winner Mister Gatz (Fr), who was born in the spring in which his sire Adlerflug (Ger) died. The flashy chestnut colt was somewhat reminiscent of his father as he bowled around the lush Parisian turf looking like he was having a mighty time before putting his head down to stride clear of the field by five lengths. Trained in Deauville by Stephanie Nigge for a collection of owners which includes his breeder Mathieu Boutin and Gerard Augustin-Normand, Mister Gatz holds an entry for the Deutsches Derby. 

O'Shea Shines on Dubai's Big Day

Of course last week, or more specifically Saturday, was really all about the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan which could certainly be considered a triumph for internationalism. The trophies for the eight Group races were shared between horses trained in America, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, France, Britain and Dubai (x2).

It was also a great advertisement for keeping classy horses in training beyond the age of three. The winners of the five Group 1 contests were aged between five and seven, with Jerome Reynier's Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) being the youngest of those, and the wide-margin Golden Shaheen winner, the former Russian-trained Tuz (Oxbow), enjoying his finest hour as a seven-year-old on his fourth appearance on Dubai World Cup night. 

Tuz and the Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (Into Mischief) won their races in a manner which must still have their trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Tadhg O'Shea blinking in disbelief. By six and a half and eight and a half lengths respectively, they each set a new record for the winning distance, with Laurel River, who broke from the outside gate, overturning that held by Dubai Millennium (GB) for 24 years. 

O'Shea, now 42, has been champion jockey in the UAE 11 times and he is in pole position to claim his 12th title this season. But despite that consistent success, the Irishman had a sole Group 1 victory to his name until Saturday.

A modest and loyal grafter, O'Shea praised Laurel River's owner Juddmonte for keeping him on the horse, saying, “They could have any jockey in the world on him and they kept the faith with me. I'll be forever indebted to them.”

Juddmonte didn't need any other jockey to claim a second Dubai World Cup after Arrogate's victory in 2017. O'Shea, bold from the outset from the number 12 stall, simply rode his rivals ragged and very much deserved his night in the spotlight. 

The Auguste Enigma

The last three winners of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) were all in action over the weekend, with Shahryar (Jpn) a good second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, which also featured the last two Japanese Oaks winners Liberty Island (Jpn) and Stars On Earth (Jpn), while Do Deuce (Jpn) was not beaten far when fifth in the G1 Dubai Turf. Lest we think that Japan is completely depleted of its best runners during the big meetings in the Middle East, then look no further than Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin. It featured last year's Japanese Derby and 2,000 Guineas winners, Tastiera (Jpn) and Sol Oriens (Jpn), along with Geoglyph (Jpn), who beat Equinox (Jpn) to win the Guineas in 2022, and the G1 Shuka Sho winner of that same year, Stunning Rose (Jpn).

So much of the Sheema Classic build-up had centred on the clash between Liberty Island and Auguste Rodin (Ire), but the latter, who won last year's Derby and Irish Derby before going on to land the Irish Champion and Breeders' Cup Turf, added to his enigmatic status by finishing last of the 12 runners. 

Don't despair. When 12th in the Guineas on debut last season, Auguste Rodin bounced back to win at Epsom, and he put his last-place finish in the King George behind him to triumph next time out on Irish Champions Weekend. This column, at least, still holds the faith that when he's good, he's very, very good. 

Epsom's honour was however upheld in Sydney over the weekend, where the 2020 Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) claimed his second consecutive stakes win for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the G3 Neville Selwood S. 

It's Whitsbury's World

It is important not to get too carried away with the early two-year-old races. Despite the annual hullabaloo over Royal Ascot, nothing really matters until the autumn, right? But it's impossible not to watch the early skirmishes with interest and Whitsbury Manor Stud's Sergei Prokofiev was represented by his second winner from just two runners when Flicka's Girl triumphed at Wolverhampton on Easter Monday. The David Loughnane-trained filly was also bred by Whitsbury Manor and sold, as is the stud's usual practice, at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 22,000gns.

Britain's other juvenile race on Monday over at Kempton went the way of Pont Neuf (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), a winner on debut for Eve Johnston Houghton, who also struck with the two-year-old Tanager (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) at Chelmsford on Good Friday. 

The trainer has a well established partnership with bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock when it comes to working the sales and the pair has once again unearthed a couple of useful looking prospects for 24,000gns (Tattersalls Somerville) and €22,000 (Tattersalls Ireland) respectively.

Johnson Houghton has made a flying start to the new season with four winners and three placed horses from nine runners since the official 'start of the Flat'.

Jack Came Back

It was announced last week that Ben Curtis, who was been riding at Fair Grounds in New Orleans over the winter, would remain in America for “the foreseeable future” after riding 43 winners and netting more than $1.5 million in prize-money.

Last September, Curtis had ridden his 1,000th winner aboard Merrijig (GB) (Schiaparelli {Ger}) and as that horse resumed on Good Friday, the absent Curtis was replaced in the saddle by Jack Gilligan, who has recently returned after a decade in the US and now has Curtis's former agent Simon Dodds representing him.

Merrijig was the first of two winners for Gilligan from three rides on Good Friday, and the jockey struck again 24 hours later on his sole ride at Wolverhampton. 

Not to be confused with the Irish conditional of the same name, Gilligan was born in Newmarket but left Britain at the age of 17 with his parents Pat, a racing writer and trainer, and Vicky, a barn foreman at WinStar Farm. With more than 400 wins in America, including two Grade III victories aboard Silver Dust (Tapit), he has been making the most of the opportunities handed to him since returning to his home town.

There are not many names in the jockeys' table with a better strike-rate than Gilligan so far this year. He is currently operating at 20% winners to rides. Backing all of his 45 mounts would have yielded a profit of almost £43 to a £1 stake.

Pecheur Swaps Roles for Rottgen

German Classic-winning jockey Maxim Pecheur retired at the end of last season to succeed Markus Klug as the trainer at Gestut Rottgen near Cologne. He had previously ridden Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the famous Rottgen colours to win the 2017 G1 Deutsches Derby. The colt was trained by Klug, as was Pecheur's G1 Preis der Diana winner, Diamanta (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), for Gestut Brummerhof. 

Pecheur is clearly adjusting well to his new role at the historic training centre and he could well have a Derby contender of his own this year after his first runner, Anspruch (Ger) (New Bay {GB}), won on debut at Cologne on Monday. The Rottgen-bred colt is out of the Group 3 winner Anna Katharina (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}).

 

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Sioux Nation’s Indian Run On Top In The Acomb

Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation–Just Wondering {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) bettered a debut third at Newbury with a breakthrough score at Ascot last month and continued on the upgrade with a decisive success in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at York.

Racing under a firm hold in a handy fifth through the early fractions of this seven-furlong test, he loomed large out wide passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out once quickening to the fore approaching the final furlong to hold the late threat of Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) by an ultimately comfortable 1 1/2 lengths.

“That was very exciting and I'm really happy,” said Johnson Houghton. “What was pleasing was that his strongest furlong was his last because he had a really bad trip all the way, trapped on the outside with no cover. This ground is perfect Flat racing ground and he just found and found and found, which is very exciting. He's in the [G1] Dewhurst, so we'll probably look there. He's so unfurnished he needs time, so we'll give him a nice break until then, I imagine. Last year's winner [Chaldean] won the [G1 2000] Guineas, so we shall dream.”

Adrian Keatley was pleased with the performance of runner-up Ballymount Boy and commented, “He's handled the ground and we're happy with how he ran. He's had a long season, having come from the breeze-ups, and we're confident that he'll handle softer ground at the back end [of the season]. He's a big fellow, he went on that soft ground at Goodwood and at least we know he handles that quicker ground today. We definitely wouldn't be losing any faith and we think we have a very nice horse on our hands. We'll back off him for a few weeks and have a look at something at the back end. The [G3] Autumn S. [at Newmarket] or something like that.”

“Well Worth Doing” – Delight For O'Connor After Acomb Result

Eve Johnson Houghton was not the only one celebrating the success of Indian Run in the G3 Acomb S., as Rea O'Connor had successfully pinhooked the youngster for 75,000gns to Ballyhane Stud's Joe Foley at the 2022 Somerville Yearling Sale at Tattersalls just under a year ago.

A farrier by trade, O'Connor had plucked the newly minted Group 3 winner out of the Goffs November Foal Sale for just €6,000 from the draft of John Banahan's Ridge Manor Stud and describes his pinhooking venture as “a hobby.”

“I wouldn't pinhook too many each year, just a couple, and I pick up a few every year, it's just a bit of a hobby,” O'Connor told TDN Europe. “This is by far the best result by a longshot. It was great. It's absolutely fantastic for Joe Foley that bought him. Glad to have him there now and it's great to see him go on, as that's what it's all about.”

As soon as the hammer fell at Goffs, O'Connor already had a yearling sale in mind for the son of the placed mare Just Wondering (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

“When I bought him as a foal, the aim, from the minute he arrived home and when I'd seen him at the sale, was to send him back through the Somerville Sale,” O'Connor added “I thought he was a good, hard-knocking straightforward colt and would suit that sale down to the ground. A nice and early sale for a nice and early horse.

“I think I'd only seen him once at Goffs and liked him. He was [a] grand, good early January foal. Good and strong in himself, quite uncomplicated, really to be honest. I'd say I was just lucky he was in the early lots and maybe a few people missed him, that I managed to buy him. The mare maybe put a few people off. She'd a good few foals and not many winners. I think she has one runner, one winner, but I suppose she was a bit exposed with foals on the ground.”

Bred by Ciaran McGrath, the Jan. 27-born colt is the eighth foal and second winner for his dam, who is a granddaughter of 1999 American Broodmare of the Year Anne Campbell (Never Bend), responsible for the Classic-placed multiple Grade I winner Menifee (Harlan), the three-time Grade I winner Desert Wine (Damascus), and Mr. P's Princess (Mr. Prospector), herself the dam of Fasliyev (Nureyev), et. al. among others.

“He was the type of horse that you wouldn't even know was around the place, he was so straightforward and anyone could do anything with him,” O'Connor continued. “He was a grand, quiet horse and great temperament. I suppose that stands him well in his racing. He was a good, strong, straightforward colt as a foal, very, very uncomplicated.”

After pleasing O'Connor in his prep, Indian Run was sold at Park Paddocks through Timmy Hillman's Castledillon Stud draft, where he caught the eye of Foley.

Reflecting on the transaction and looking toward the future, O'Connor said, “It's all well and good to get a few pounds for him and that keeps the thing going, but it's fantastic when they go on and win a race like the Acomb. It makes looking after him, going out in the morning, in the evening, before and after work worthwhile. It makes it well worth doing.

“Hopefully we can build on that. We can get something more this year hopefully. I'm delighted for everyone involved.”

Pedigree Notes

Indian Run is the latest of eight foals and one of two scorers produced by a half-sister to the stakes-placed duo Vegas Venture (Gold Fever) and Brown Linnet (Ire) (King Of Kings {Ire}). His second dam Ibtikar (Private Account) is kin to MGISW sires Menifee (Harlan) and Desert Wine (Damascus). Descendants of his dual stakes-placed third dam Anne Campbell (Never Bend) include elite-level winners Fasliyev (Nureyev), Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), U S Navy Flag (War Front), Roly Poly (War Front), Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Les Arcs (Arch), Marketsegmentation (American Pharoah) and Blueridge Mountain (Arg) (Giant's Causeway).

Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS ACOMB S.-G3, £165,000, York, 8-23, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.13, g/f.
1–INDIAN RUN (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Just Wondering (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ibtikar, by Private Account
3rd Dam: Anne Campbell, by Never Bend
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€6,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 75,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Ciaran McGrath (IRE); T-Eve Johnson Houghton; J-Daniel Tudhope. £93,572. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $155,450. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ballymount Boy (Ire), 129, c, 2, Camacho (GB)–Kasalla (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). (€8,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; €110,000 2yo '23 TATGOR). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Fontstown Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Adrian Keatley. £35,475.
3–Loose Cannon (Ire), 129, c, 2, Territories (Ire)–Varega (Fr), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€85,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-The Loose Cannons; B-Oceanic Bloodstock Inc & Eric Puerari (IRE); T-William Haggas. £17,754.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 8.50, 2.75, 4.50.
Also Ran: Hot Fuss (Ire), Cogitate (Ire), Edwardian.

 

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New Bay’s Jumby Takes The Hungerford

Saturday's G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. at Newbury had the feel of a contest primed for an upset and that was duly provided by Jumby (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) who managed to win the seven-furlong feature with a deal of authority. Last seen finishing an inauspicious 14th in Ascot's International H. July 23, Anthony Pye-Jeary and David Ian's 4-year-old cut a different figure on his biggest class jump yet with the on-fire William Buick to guide him to a career-best. Always happy held up off the pace set by Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}), the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained 9-1 shot was delivered to lead passing the furlong pole and assert for a 1 3/4-length success from Dubai Poet (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

Almost equally effective at six as this trip, Jumby ended 2021 with wins in a Salisbury conditions event and a Newmarket handicap which marked him as a pattern-race performer in all but title. Proving that with a third on his return in the latter venue's G3 Abernant S. over six Apr. 13, the bay was switched back to handicaps and filled the same placing in the prestigious Wokingham at Royal Ascot June 18 and in the July Festival's Bunbury Cup July 9. Tried in cheekpieces when running below his optimum last time, he was able to produce his best at a distance over which he was relatively unexposed heading to Saturday.

Johnson Houghton said, “I have always believed in this horse and it is great to get it right. William has also always believed in him and he rides Godolphin horses, so if he believes in him then everyone can. He is in the [G2] City of York next Saturday and while he probably won't run, all options are open because he loves firm ground and I don't want to wait until it goes soft. I don't want to miss the ground with him. We'll see how he comes out of it, but he is full of himself. The Foret closes next week, so we will probably go there.”

Jumby, who becomes the seventh group winner for his sire, is out of the G2 Flying Childers S.-placed Sound Of Guns (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) whose dam is the stakes-placed Eastern Lily (Eastern Echo). Further back is the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S.-winning sire Shaadi (Danzig) and the G1 Cheveley Park S. scorer Regal Rose (GB) (Danehill). The dam's yearling filly by Waldgeist (GB) is entered in the upcoming Book 2 Sale, while she also has a foal full-sister to Jumby.

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
BETVICTOR HUNGERFORD S.-G2, £100,000, Newbury, 8-13, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.50, g/f.
1–JUMBY (IRE), 134, c, 4, by New Bay (GB)
     1st Dam: Sound Of Guns (GB) (GSP-Eng), by Acclamation (GB)
     2nd Dam: Eastern Lily, by Eastern Echo
     3rd Dam: Raawiyeh, by Raja Baba
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (45,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Anthony Pye-Jeary and David Ian; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Eve Johnson Houghton; J-William Buick. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 16-5-0-6, $198,482. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dubai Poet (GB), 128, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Hundi (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (140,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-New England Stud & Sir Peter Vela (GB); T-Roger Varian. £21,500.
3–Wings Of War (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (£140,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £10,760.
Margins: 1 3/4, SHD, NK. Odds: 9.00, 6.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Primo Bacio (Ire), Pogo (Ire), Tiber Flow (Ire), Happy Romance (Ire), Chindit (Ire), Run To Freedom (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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First Winner For Lightning Spear At Chepstow

Tweenhills Farm and Stud's Lightning Spear (GB) (by Pivotal {GB}) became the latest first-season sire to get off the mark in 2022 when the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Greased Lightning (GB) scored on debut at Chepstow. Sent to post as a 6-1 shot, Anthony Pye-Jeary and David Ian's chestnut quickly recovered from a tardy start to occupy the perfect stalking position on the rail in the card's seven-furlong maiden. Having to go around the front trio inside the last two furlongs, he gained the advantage 50 yards from the line en route to a neck verdict over Evolicatt (GB) (Massaat {Ire}). The unraced dam is a half to three black-type winners including the G3 Prix de Conde and G3 Prix La Force winner High Rock (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and the G3 Prix Andre Baboin scorer Homeland (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}). Also connected to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Silver Frost (Ire) and the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner Spiritjim (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), her yearling colt is by City Light (Fr).

2nd-Chepstow, £7,300, Mdn, 6-28, 2yo, 7f 16yT, 1:24.01, gd.
GREASED LIGHTNING (GB) (c, 2, Lightning Spear {GB}–How High The Sky {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) Sales history: 26,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,835.
O-Anthony Pye-Jeary and David Ian; B-Whatton Manor Stud & Robert Cornelius (GB); T-Eve Johnson Houghton.

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