Frankel’s Diego Velazquez Wins The Champions Juvenile

Aidan O'Brien had already won nine of the 16 renewals of Leopardstown's revamped G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. and delivered another on Saturday with a stable one-two in the bargain. This race is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in California. Despite the impressive attitude of Capulet (Justify) at the head of affairs, it was the 8-15 favourite Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) who proved master of ceremonies as he took over a furlong from home en route to a half-length success to earn the bragging rights. A half-brother to Australia's classy Broome (Ire) and Point Lonsdale (Ire), the winner who earned TDN Rising Star status with a 4 3/4-length success on debut at The Curragh last month was providing Ryan Moore with the first of four winners on the day. Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was 3 1/4 lengths behind in third, with the established Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) also far enough away to lend the race suitable credibility.

“We liked the second horse a lot and we knew we needed something to take him and stretch him a little bit,” O'Brien revealed. “They didn't go very fast for the first half and turned it on from halfway, so he learned a lot. We were surprised the first day that he ran in the Curragh how babyish he was, he never took a hold of the bridle. Today he was green as well, but a lot better. We think the race will leave him in a very good place. I'd imagine he'll go for the Futurity Trophy, we did it with Auguste Rodin last year, but we knew this horse had to learn a lot more than Auguste did last year.”

Of Capulet, he added, “He's a good horse. He won first time at Dundalk and we liked him. He's out of a good Galileo mare and we thought he was a fair horse. Seamus liked him a lot today. He's a typical Justify, the minute you go beyond seven furlongs they seem to grow another leg. They are really Classic-bred middle-distance horses and you'd have to be really happy with him also.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Diego Velazquez, who at 2.4million gns was upstaged only by Godolphin's 2.8million gns purchase at the Tatts Book 1 Sale, is currently the last known foal out of the Listed National S. winner and GIII Appalachian S. and G3 Princess Margaret-placed Sweepstake whose own dam Dust Flicker (GB) (Suave Dancer) is a full-sister to the G3 Prix de la Nonette scorer Dust Dancer (GB). She is in turn the second dam of the stable's G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Zoffany (Ire), Frankel's G2 Futurity S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire) and the G3 Bengough S. winner Projection (GB) also by Acclamation, while Dust Flicker's half-siblings include the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Bulaxie (GB) (Bustino {GB}).

Bulaxie produced the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Claxon (GB) (Caerleon), who is responsible for the GIII Hillsborough S. scorer Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), in turn the dam of the multiple group-winning stayer Ernest Hemingway (Ire) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale scorer Toulifaut (Ire) by Frankel himself. Recent updates to this illustrious dynasty have been provided by the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G2 Debutante S.-placed Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}) and by one of this year's faster juveniles Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who took the G3 Prix de Cabourg and has been placed in the G2 Norfolk S. The winner probably has more pace than the aforementioned Broome, whose long career has featured a win in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and also this year's G2 Huxley S. scorer Point Lonsdale who placed in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Coronation Cup.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KPMG CHAMPIONS JUVENILE S. (GOLDEN FLEECE S.)-G2, €150,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 2yo, 8fT, 1:40.46, gd.
1–DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng & US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (2,400,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Brant; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €90,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $109,221. *1/2 to Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), G1SW-Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng & UAE, GISP-US, $2,788,778; and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, $439,967. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Capulet, 131, c, 2, Justify–Wedding Vow (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €30,000.
3–Atlantic Coast (Ire), 131, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Liwa Palace (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Al Shira'aa Farms (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €15,000.
Margins: HF, 3 1/4, HD. Odds: 0.53, 9.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Deepone (GB), Bremen (Ire), Formal Display (GB), Democracy (Ire). Scratched: Bad Desire (Fr).

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Gosdens Considering Quartet For Doncaster’s St Leger

John and Thady Gosden could have as many as four runners, led by G2 Queen's Vase hero Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), in the Sept. 16 G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster next Saturday.

The Wathnan Racing colourbearer was most recently third to St Leger rival Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York last month. He will be partnered by the retiring Frankie Dettori, who has already won the Classic six times including twice for Gosden with Shantou (Alleged) in 1996 and Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in 2019.

“He came out of the race at York in very good order,” said the elder Gosden, who has already won five editions of the British Classic. “If the weather is set fair at Doncaster that won't bother him with it being top of the ground. I have had some luck going from the Voltigeur to the St Leger, but I often feel it is quite close if they have had a hard race and I have had a couple bounce, that can happen. I'm very pleased with him at this stage, he seems in great order and very content in himself.

“He's got a great mind and he is a pretty laid-back character. I trained both the mother and father and he's inherited all their good traits of their mental attitude towards racing. I think he'll enjoy the distance. We are perfectly aware it looks like being a vintage St Leger.”

Qatar Racing's Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion), a winner of the Melrose H., will need to be supplemented to run, while Anthony Oppenheimer's stakes-placed homebred Lion's Pride (GB), another by the late Tweenhills stallion, is also a St Leger prospect. The final member of the quartet is Juddmonte's one-time G1 Betfred Derby favourite Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. in August, however the colt is ground dependent.

“Middle Earth ran a lovely race in the Melrose and I'm really happy with him,” said Gosden. “He has a very strong likelihood, all being well with his bloods and scopes, to be supplemented. Qatar Racing have won the race before and I think they are game to go.

“We're very pleased with Arrest, he took his race very well at Newbury. He's in top order but I think if it's good-to-firm at Doncaster I think you'll find him heading to Paris for the [G2] Prix Chaudenay rather than Doncaster. He's a lovely horse but he rolls his knee and he'll enjoy more what I call the autumn ground.”

Of Lion's Pride Gosden added, “I think there's a likelihood he will run in the race as well, after all there's only one St Leger. His sire was the last horse off the bridle in Masar (Ire)'s Derby but he didn't get the mile-and-a-half. This boy is out of a good source of stamina on the dam's side.”

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Frankel’s Darkaniya Prevails In Baden-Baden Feature

Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Darkaniya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}–Daryakana {Fr}, by Selkirk), who ran fifth in last month's G1 Prix Jean-Romanet, added to a first black-type win in July's Listed Prix de la Pepiniere and doubled a her stakes tally with victory in Saturday's G2 T von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden.

The 9-5 favourite lobbed along in seventh passing the judge first time and bounded forward to stalk the leaders in fourth along the backstraight. Inching into second rounding the home turn, she was shaken to to seize control appoaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly under a late drive to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths from Kolossal (Ger) (Outstrip {GB}). Sophomore filly North Reliance (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) fared best of the remainder and finished a half-length back in third.

“I allowed her time to find her feet at first,” explained winning rider Bauyrzhan Murzabayev after notching a first pattern-race win in Germany for His Highness The Aga Khan since Kartajana (Ire) (Shernazar {Ire}) annexed 1991's G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich. “There was absolutely no pace, but that did not really matter as she does not tend to pull. I sent her forward in the final turn and soon realized that Kolossal was my main opponent. She fought gamely and ran on well although I might have hit the front a little too soon.”

Pedigree Notes

Darkaniya is the seventh of 10 foals and one of five winners from as many runners produced by G1 Hong Kong Vase victrix and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud third Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk). The February-foaled homebred, whose dam is a daughter of G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Daryaba (Ire) (Night Shift), is a half-sister to G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Dariyan (Fr) (Shamardal) and GII Knickerbocker S. and GIII Monmouth S. winner Devamani (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). She is also kin to stakes-winning G3 Prix Fille de l'Air third Dariyza (Fr) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), Listed Grand Prix de Clairefontaine victor Darabad (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), the unraced 2-year-old filly Darylakha (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Sea The Stars (Ire).

Saturday, Baden-Baden, Germany
T VON ZASTROW STUTENPREIS-G2, €70,000, Baden-Baden, 9-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:37.86, gd.
1–DARKANIYA (FR), 131, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Daryakana (Fr) (G1SW-HK, GSW & G1SP-Fr, $1,372,923), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Daryaba (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Darata (Ire), by Vayrann (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Fr, 10-4-0-1, €116,430. *1/2 to Dariyan (Fr) (Shamardal), G1SW-Fr, G1SP-HK & GSP-UAE, $872,592; Devamani (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), MGSW-US, $560,208; Dariyza (Fr) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), SW & GSP-Fr; and Darabad (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), SW-Fr, $145,558. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kolossal (Ger), 131, m, 5, Outstrip (GB)–Kolosseum (Ger), by Samum (Ger). (€22,000 Ylg '19 BBAGS). O-Stall Blue Diamond; B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Carmen Bocskai. €15,500.
3–North Reliance (Ger), 123, f, 3, Reliable Man (GB)–North Queen (Ire), by Desert King (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Wachowitz; B-Gestut Wittekindshof (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €8,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, NK. Odds: 1.80, 4.90, 28.80.
Also Ran: Drawn To Dream (Ire), Weracruz (Ger), Princess Zelda (Ger), Mythicara (Ire), Ultima (Ger), View Zabeel (Ire).

 

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Half-Sister To €2.2-Million Arqana August Sensation Set For ParisLongchamp Unveiling

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a half-sister to a seven-figure Arqana yearling.

14.23 ParisLongchamp, Mdn, €50,000, unraced 2yo, f, 8fT
Pascal Bary trainee LADY INVINCIBLE (FR) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is the second of three foals out of a half-sister to MG1SW sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway). The May-foaled bay is a €300,000 Arqana August graduate, whose year-younger half-brother by Siyouni (Fr) was the highest-priced colt when knocked down for €2.2 million at this month's renewal of that sale. Eight-strong opposition includes Al Shaqab Racing's homebred Silham (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is kin to two stakes performers out of GI Madison S. heroine Shotgun Gulch (Gulch), representing the Jean-Claude Rouget stable; and His Highness The Aga Khan's Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), who is a Francis-Henri Graffard-trained daughter of MGSW G1 Prix Vermeille second Candarliya (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}).

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