Pan American Win For Kertez

Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey and West Point Thoroughbreds' Kertez (GB) (Intello {Ger}) put it all together for a victory in the GII Pan American S. at Gulfstream Park at the end of March (video). The Christophe Clement trainee was bred by Wertheimer et Frere.

Trained earlier in his career by Andre Fabre in France, he made 19 starts over four seasons in the storied light blue and white, winning five contests while placing in seven stakes. Nicolas Clement and EDC Agency snapped up the then-5-year-old for €150,000 out of the Arqana Arc Sale last September before he joined Clement's barn. A half-brother to GII City Of Hope Mile S. third Twist (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), Kertez is out of Distortion (GB) (Distorted Humor). Her latest are a fillies by Nathaniel (Ire)–named Contorsion–and War Front born in 2022 and 2023, respectively. His dam is a half-sister to G1 French 2000 Guineas winner and sire Falco (Pivotal {GB}).

Haras de Beaumont's Intello is responsible for six winners from nine runners (66%) in America. His two stakes winners in that locale are anchored by GI United Nations S. hero Adhamo (Ire).

Kertez (GB) prevails in the Pan American S. G2 presented @roodandriddle, @JRosarioJockey up for @clementstable. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/pVZafmEbb6

— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) March 30, 2024

Nadette Prevails In Wilshire

Outstrip (GB)'s Nadette (Fr) gained her first victory since May of 2022 in the GIII Wilshire S. for Team Valor International and Neil Drysdale last week (video).

A product of the Herve Dardenne breeding programme, the €50,000 Arqana October yearling sold for just €17,000 during the Arqana Summer Mixed June Sale as a juvenile to Zied Romdhane. After running second in July of her 2-year-old season at Deauville for trainer Romain Le Dren Doleuze and Marco Saviozzi, Team Valor joined the ownership and she would go on to win the Listed Prix Finlande in eight more French starts. Once she transferred to America, she raced solely for Team Valor, and was a $340,000 buy-back out of the Keeneland November Sale in 2023.

Far and away the best runner for her winning dam Ciboulette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), Nadette counts three-time Classic winner and quintuple Group 1 winner User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}) as her fourth dam.

Nadette is one of two Grade III winners for Outstrip in the States, joining Outburst (GB). Three other runners have competed in that jurisdiction, and his overall record stands at five runners and four winners (80%) there.

Nadette earns breakthrough victory in GIII, $100,000 Wilshire Stakes pic.twitter.com/qjFf4JAZbK

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) April 5, 2024

Laulne Gains Her Wings

Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a winner of the G3 Prix Six Perfections in France, earned her first American stakes rosette with a tally in the Listed Angels Flight S. at Santa Anita for trainer Phil D'Amato on Sunday (video). Racing for the ownership group of Madaket Stables, LLC, Panic Stable, LLC, Gerald Augustin-Normand, Robert LaPenta, and William Strauss, the bay filly was bred by Franklin Finance S. A.

Originally owned by Augustin-Normand and trained by Yann Barberot, she brought €750,000 out of the Arqana Arc Sale in 2023 after placing in two other French group races. Her dam, the Montjeu (Ire) mare Lady Francesca (GB), placed twice in European stakes and has also thrown Australian listed winner Bartholomeu Dias (GB) to the cover of Mount Nelson (GB). Dual Group 3 winner Purr Along (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) is Lady Francesca's half-sister.

Coolmore's Starspangledbanner now has seven stakes winners (30%) from 23 runners in the U.S., as well as 13 winners (56%). His best from that bunch are Grade I winners Rhea Moon (Ire) and multiple top-level winner State Of Rest (Ire), who is standing his second season at Rathbarry Stud for €20,000.

#7 LAULNE ($7.40) gets her nose down on the wire in the $100,000 Angels Flight Stakes to make her first start since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf a winning one. @PhilDamato11 trains this three-year-old Starspangledbanner filly. @Antonio1Fresu was aboard. pic.twitter.com/BDq2peGV8M

— TVG (@TVG) April 8, 2024

Fandom Makes Winning Return

Stonestreet Stables, LLC's Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) made a winning return in the Listed Palisades S. at Keeneland this past weekend, his first start since running unplaced in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. last June (video).

Bred by Chasemore Farm, the Wesley Ward-trained bay was plucked from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 by Ben McElroy on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet for 170,000gns in the autumn of 2022. Brogan (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the dam of the Palisades hero, is a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). Since foaling Fandom, she has delivered a juvenile filly by Masar (Ire) and a yearling filly by Zoustar.

Whitsbury Manor stallion Showcasing has sired 13 winners (54%) and five stakes winners (21%) from just 24 American runners. Besides Fandom, his other U.S. stakes winners include Grade II winners Prize Exhibit (GB), Projected (GB), and Bodhicitta (GB).

#6 FANDOM (GB) ($17.50) shows an explosive turn of foot to get up in Keeneland's $250,000 Palisades Stakes!

This is the third start–and first stakes score–for the @StonestreetFarm-owned son of @WhitsburyManor's Showcasing (GB). @jose93_ortiz was riding for Wesley Ward. pic.twitter.com/lbYMpUids8

— TVG (@TVG) April 7, 2024

By Royal Decree

Apple Tree Stud's Royal Charter (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), making her U.S. debut, won at Santa Anita for trainer Leonard Powell (video). A product of Biddestone Stud, the 85,000gns Tattersalls December yearling was a €240,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up juvenile and won twice from five European starts for Apple Tree and trainer William Haggas before being relocated.

Since foaling Royal Charter, Queen's Charter (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) has 2-year-old Al Hussar (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a 30,000gns Tattersalls Somerville yearling pick up by Grant Tuer, and a yearling full-brother to that colt to come. Second dam Queen's Best (King's Best) also produced GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), while Royal Charter's third dam was G3 Nell Gwyn S. and multiple Group 1-placed Cloud Castle (GB) (In The Wings {GB}).

Now a resident of South Africa, Expert Eye has had seven U.S. runners with four of them visiting the winner's circle (57%). Three of them have earned black type, among them Isabel Alexandra (Ire).

Yesterday, Frankie Dettori rode 6 winners at Santa Anita. The last leg of his 6 victories came aboard Royal Charter, who was born and raised at Barton Stud and bred by Tim and Gill Bostwick #BartonStud pic.twitter.com/WeqMhbVIm7

— Barton Stud (@BartonStud1) April 7, 2024

Gustav Klimt Filly Wins In California

Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's The Wild Grazer (Ire) (Gustav Klimt {Ire}) graduated at Santa Anita in late March (video). She started twice in Ireland for trainer Andrew Slattery and breeder Patrick McGree without a win before changing hands.

Placed in both the Lady of Shamrock S. and the GIII Senorita S. at Santa Anita, the 4-year-old now has three wins from nine starts. Her dam, Texas Katie (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}) who is a half-sister to multiple group winner Plainchant (Ire) (Gregorian {Ire}), has a yearling filly by Coulsty (Ire).

The Wild Grazer is the lone American runner to date for Haras d'Annebault's Gustav Klimt.

The Wild Grazer makes it 2/2 in . Winning impressively @santaanitapark. Congratulations @RanchoTemescal and @Jmullinsracing. Purchased privately with @MillerJoe7. Exciting filly pic.twitter.com/cytyfBfFAm

— Lillingston_Bloodstock (@KernLillingston) January 9, 2023

Prince Of Lir's Sky Graduates At Santa Anita

Sorrento Sky (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) won at third asking in his U.S. unveiling at Santa Anita for conditioner Phil D'Amato this month (video). Racing in the colours of the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig, the dark bay was bred by Colleen Dwyer.

The first foal for the unraced Briarfield Lady (Ire) (Battle Of Marengo {Ire}), Sorrento Sky has a yearling half-sister by Elzaam (Aus). He ran second in a pair of Dundalk maidens for Matt Dwyer and trainer Gavin Cromwell in November and December of last year, before being purchased by these connections. G2 Temple S. winner and stallion Pearl Secret (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) is under the third dam.

Prince Of Lir has a 75% winners-to-runners ratio in the U.S., as three of his four starters have won. GII Franklin-Simpson S. hero The Lir Jet (Ire) is the best of them so far.

#6 SORRENTO SKY ($8) gets to the lead late and holds off a fast closing #1 Hurricane Way to win an exciting race 3 at Santa Anita. @Antonio1Fresu was in the irons for @PhilDamato11.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/rq8mShpcjt

— TVG (@TVG) April 4, 2024

Repeat Winners

Grade I winner McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who races for Klaravich Stables, Inc., added the GIII Orchid S. to her resume earlier this spring (video). The Chad Brown charge has now won four stakes, including the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S.

Phil D'Amato trainee King Of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) became his sire's 53rd stakes winner–first in North America–with a victory in the John Shear S. at Santa Anita earlier this month for the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff (video). He previously featured in the Mar. 22 edition of this column.

Jockey Club Oaks (G3)
2200 m, 700.000 USD, for 3yo mares
Belmont Park

McKulick (GB)
(Frankel – Astrelle, by Makfi)
J : Irad Ortiz, Jr.
T :Chad C. Brown
O :Klaravich Stables
B :Essafinaat UK Ltd
Toskana Belle (Shamalgan) pic.twitter.com/edCYUen1Nw

— (@WorldRacing1) September 17, 2022

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David Eustace said, “Coolangatta galloped yesterday and will have her first proper workout next week. She has improved again physically from the Lightning S. and we feel we are ahead of the game in terms of her preparation.

“We are stepping into the unknown when it comes to international travel but Coolangatta has done a lot of travelling around Australia and is used to being in unfamiliar places. We are hopeful that she will handle that side of things well but you never know until you do it. We think the 1000 metres of the King's Stand, with the uphill finish, looks ideal and genuine fast ground will be to her advantage as well.”

Coolangatta is not the only Australian runner signed on to the royal meeting, as both Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who are trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, and Leon and Troy Corstens, respectively, are both aiming for the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. Artorius finished third in the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and enters off a victory in the G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick earlier this year. In The Astrologist's case, he ran too good to lose when second by a head in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan at the end of March.

Sam Freedman said, “Artorius had his first improving gallop the other day, having come off a bit of a fresh. He seems to be shaping up really well and will have a couple of trials over here before we put him on the plane.

“I think he is definitely hitting Royal Ascot this year in better form than he was 12 months ago.His form lines are strong and I think you guys over there will see a more tactically versatile horse. He will be able to sit a lot closer, which will be important, whereas last year he was rattling home.”

Troy Corstens said, “We were delighted with The Astrologist's effort in Dubai. He ran to expectations and came very close, which gave us the confidence to continue the journey with him.

“He has settled beautifully in Newmarket–he is a very adaptable horse and enjoys the travel. The plan is for him to have a racecourse gallop this week on the Rowley Mile in preparation for the G2 1895 Duke Of York S.

“He will then head to Royal Ascot for the Platinum Jubilee. We feel that this will be the perfect race for him. He is a renowned straight-track horse in Australia and we feel the testing course of Ascot will suit him immensely.”

Strong American Contingent Ready To Go

Twelve-time Royal Ascot-winning trainer Wesley Ward is bringing a slew of Royal Ascot runners, anchored by Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) and Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) for Stonestreet Stables to Royal Ascot. Both enter off of stakes victories at the recently concluded Keeneland Spring Meet, with the former pointing to the King's Stand S. and the latter eyeing both the King's Stand and the G1 Commonwealth Cup S.

Ward said, “Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming are doing great. They are both coming off nice comeback wins and their owner Barbara Banke [of Stonestreet Stables] is really looking forward to getting them over there. She loves Ascot as much as me and we are all excited.

“I was really happy with Love Reigns in the Limestone S. She had to switch a couple of times in the run but showed a great attitude to get up on the line, while Twilight Gleaming showed a lot of speed in her comeback race.

“Twilight Gleaming will definitely go for the King's Stand S., whereas Love Reigns will have an entry there and in the Commonwealth Cup.”

Besides Ward's older horses, he has at least three juveniles making the trip for the storied 2-year-old prizes in 'TDN Rising Star' American Rascal (Curlin) out of King's Stand and G2 Queen Mary S. victress Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy); Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), and Bledsoe (Igbaal).

Ward added, “American Rascal has come out of his first race in super shape. The team at Stonestreet really liked him and it was exciting to see him produce a performance like that.

“Fandom looks another good prospect after his debut win on the grass and we also have some nice 2-year-olds to run at Belmont, so we will see what else unfolds in the coming days.

“Bledsoe has already travelled over to England and will run in a novice race at Ascot on 13 May. He won America's first 2-year-old race of the year on the dirt at Keeneland but his mother Shrinking Violet was a multiple stakes winner of the turf, so we are looking forward to getting him on the grass.”

Brad Cox's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Caravel (Mizzen Mast) is pencilled in to make the trip, and GI Belmont Derby victor Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) for trainer Ken McPeek is a potential starter in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S.

McPeek said, “Classic Causeway had a nice run first time up this year on the dirt at Oaklawn. Then we came back for the [GII] Oaklawn H. and he was off the board, so we have decided to switch back to the turf.

“He is going for a prep race in Kentucky on 3 June in the Arlington S. and, if he runs well there, we will point him towards the Prince Of Wales's S.”

New York Thunder (Nyquist) for trainer Jorge Delgado holds a Commonwealth Cup entry, while Hong Kong runner Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard) has been nominated for both the Platinum Jubilee and King's Stand.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We are very pleased to see entries for Royal Ascot 2023 from across the world including Group 1 winners from Britain, Ireland, France, the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.

“It is particularly exciting to see so many strong entries from Australia, including the Black Caviar Lightning S. winner Coolangatta, who looks set to try and follow Nature Strip's victory in the King's Stand S. It's also exciting to see Artorius is on track to try and go two better than when third in the Platinum Jubilee S. last year.

“Wesley Ward again has a strong team headed by Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming along with the 2-year-olds while it will also be great to see Breeders' Cup winner Caravel represent America.”

The post Strong Australian and American Support Among Overseas Entries For Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Belouni Finds His Haven at Aqueduct

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Michael Kisber and William Rucker's Belouni ran out a 1 1/2-length winner of Aqueduct's Woodhaven S. last Saturday (video). The son of Vienna View (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was making his second U.S. start.

Bred by Le Thenney and offered by Arcadia Elevage, the colt brought €20,000 as an Arqana October yearling from future trainer Christophe Escuder. He would subsequently win two of his four starts for Scuderia Il Fino culminating with a second in the Listed Criterium de Lyon last September. Sent back through the Arqana ring, he attracted a bid of €180,000 during the Arc Sale from Hubert Guy before joining the Chad Brown barn.

One of four winners for his placed dam, Belouni is followed by a 2-year-old colt by Sommerabend (GB). He is kin to numerous top-level winners including Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {GB}), Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}), and the In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) foals–Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}), With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), and We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}).

Deceased in 2020, the Danehill Dancer (Ire)-line stallion Fast Company now has two stakes winners to his name in the U.S. (14%), with the Woodhaven scorer joining 2018 GI Arlington Million hero Robert Bruce (Chi). Altogether, the former Darley stallion has eight winners out of 14 runners (57%).

Glen Hill Homebred Brings Frankel West

Wide West (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) led gate-to-wire to take a Gulfstream Park all-weather allowance optional claimer by a neck last Saturday and put a second notch in her win column in the process (video). The Tom Proctor trainee is bred and raced by Craig Bernick's Glen Hill Farm.

Wide West was shipped Stateside before ever racing, and got off the mark sprinting over the Gulfstream Park all-weather in August of 2022. One start later, she was a good fourth in the Hollywood Beach S. there, and Saturday's tally was her sixth start.

A half-sister to GI Santa Anita Oaks winner Crisp (El Corredor), Deer Valley was picked up by Glen Hill Farm for $340,000 out of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015. She would go on to win a Monmouth Park stakes in the orange, black and white Glen Hill colours back in 2017, and Wide West is her first foal. Her juvenile Kingman (GB) colt is named King Julien, and she was covered by both Candy Ride (Arg) and Quality Road last spring. GI Futurity S. hero Whywhywhy (Mr. Greeley) and multiple graded winner Spellbinder (Tale Of The Cat), both sires, are under the third dam.

Few stallions are more sought after on an international stage than Juddmonte's Frankel, and Wide West is one of 25 winners from 43 runners (58%) in America. Of his nine stakes winners (21%) in the U.S., five are graded winners led by GI Belmont Oaks heroine McKulick (GB).

#2 WIDE WEST ($8) goes wire to wire to win race 10 at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of Frankel was ridden by Edwin Gonzalez and is trained by Thomas Proctor. Watch more on @FanDuelTV and wager at https://t.co/nBYFHiPrdh. pic.twitter.com/iMNzAMe6JA

— TVG (@TVG) April 22, 2023

Showcasing Colt All The Rage At Keeneland

Wesley Ward unveiled favoured Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) at Keeneland on Thursday, and the Stonestreet Stables silksbearer did not disappoint, reporting home 6 3/4 lengths to the good of his nearest rival (video).

Part of the Chasemore Farm breeding programme, the March foal sold for 170,000gns during Book 2 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to Barbara Banke's agent Ben McElroy. His year-younger half-sister is by Masar (Ire), while their dam, the Chasemore homebred Brogan (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), won over 1400 metres at Haydock as a juvenile. Brogan is a half-sister to none other than 2022 Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus), one of the leading fancies for the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in one week's time.

Twenty-two progeny of Whitsbury Manor Stud's Showcasing have competed in the U.S., with an even 50% winning at least once. His quartet of stakes winners in that jurisdiction stands at four (18%), with Prize Exhibit (GB), Projected (GB), and Bodhicitta (GB) all striking at Grade II level.

King For A Day

Already featured in Making Waves this February, Turf King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) maintained his perfect record with a narrow score in a one-mile Keeneland grass allowance for trainer Chad Brown and Wise Racing (video) on Friday.

The relative of Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) is one of 26 winners from 49 runners (53%) for his Juddmonte sire in the U.S. Seven of Kingman's get (13%) have won stakes, among them multiple Group 1 winner Domestic Spending (GB), who is also trained by Brown.

From an international standpoint since the turn of the year, five of Kingman's progeny have take black-type races led by Group 1 winner Schnell Meister (Ger) in the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup in Japan. Remarquee (GB) claimed the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury, and 'TDN Rising Star' Epictetus (Ire) and Laurel (GB) both won listed races in England. In France, Sauterne (Fr) landed the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf earlier this past week.

The Keeneland Spring Meet ends with a finish!

#3 TURF KING noses out #5 More Than Looks to complete the meeting. @Tyler_Gaff up for Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/pqEH8APQWo

— TVG (@TVG) April 28, 2023

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