Irish Derby Third French Claim Sold To Saudi Arabia At Tattersalls

Last year's Irish Derby third French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}) was sold to continue his career in Saudi Arabia at the Tattersalls August Sale and was one of eight six-figure lots to go through the ring on Friday.

Bloodstock agent Marco Bozzi bought French Claim (lot 195) and recent winner Pivotal Revive (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 114) on behalf of Prince Saud Bin Salman and SBS Global.

French Claim, who was trained by Paddy Twomey to win three times and achieve a rating of 108, was sold for 115,000gns while the Jessica Harrington-trained Pivotal Revive was a narrow winner of a Leopardstown maiden on his fourth start last time and commanded 100,000gns.

Speaking about the latter, Bozzi said, “He is for my client Prince Saud Bin Salman and SBS Global. The horse will go to Saudi for the autumn season. He is by Pivotal, looks progressive, is a nice type and vetted well.

“He will be trained by the prince's trainer Ahmad Abdulwahed, who trained Emblem Road (Quality Road) to Saudi Cup success. The trainer will make a plan for the colt once the horse settles into the new routine.”

On French Claim, the agent added, “Prince Saud Bin Salman loved the horse, he liked the rating and his races. The horse is very nice, he moves very well. In Saudi they don't really have such fast ground and the dirt is quite deep at both Riyadh and Taif so it might work for him. He has not run since April, but his trainer [Paddy Twomey] said that as the ground has been too fast for him.”

It was the twice-raced Maximum Dividend (Ire) (lot 287), an American Pharoah colt owned by the Coolmore partners, who topped the sale at 200,000gns when selling to Sam Haggas on behalf of Australian trainer John O'Shea.

That sale rounded off a busy afternoon for Haggas, operating under the Hurworth Bloodstock banner, who said he expects the Richard Hannon-trained Maximum Dividend to progress with racing for his new connections.

Haggas said, “He is the first foal out of a good staying Galileo (Ire) mare and by a sire whose stock improves a lot with age–American Pharoah himself got better with racing. I hope this horse will do the same and is going to be a horse to improve from two to three and a bit beyond–and stay a bit further than the seven furlongs.

“He has run two very good races, the first was particularly eye-catching at Sandown and the form looks good. The winner goes for the Solario tomorrow and the third is a Listed winner. He is sound and looks sound of mind, too.”

He added, “Maximum Dividend is a nice straightforward horse who I hope will go and do well in Australia. He is going into training with John O'Shea and I have been working with him and his team. I like this horse's profile–he should improve and if he does he should be competitive for his new connections.”

Of the 354 horses catalogued, just 237 were offered and 189 sold (80%). The aggregate was down 39% on last year's figures to 3,235,700gns while the average fell 29% to 17,120gns. The median was 8,000gns.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented, “This is only the fourth renewal of the Tattersalls August Sale and numerically the smallest and while we may have been a little short of obvious stars there has been solid demand throughout the day with overseas buyers very much to the fore.

“Typically for sales of this nature at Tattersalls, buyers from throughout the Gulf region have been particularly active, most notably from Saudi Arabia where the racing continues to go from strength to strength. European, Australian and American buyers have also been active and the domestic demand, both Flat and National Hunt, has been evident at all levels of the market as has the widespread use of the online bidding platform which continues to prove its worth in a busy sales calendar.”

He added, “While the figures have fallen short of previous renewals of the Tattersalls August Sale, the fixture offers a valuable service for owners and trainers and is immediately followed by the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, which takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 5 and has enjoyed a run of spectacular results in recent weeks.

“The Group and Grade 1 winners Bradsell (GB) and Anisette (GB) have flown the Somerville flag at the very highest level in Britain and America alongside last week's G2 Lowther winner Relief Rally (Ire) and G3 Tattersalls Acomb winner Indian Run (Ire) and we look forward to building on this success next week.”

The post Irish Derby Third French Claim Sold To Saudi Arabia At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby: Where Did They Come From?

Once again Galileo (Ire) looms large over Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, featuring in the first, second or third generations of every runner. The owner/breeders hold sway, but Glory Daze (Ire) and French Claim (Fr) were picked up for €3,000 and €9,000 as yearlings, respectively. Tuesday bids to follow the example of fellow Oaks-winning fillies Salsabil (Ire) and Balanchine, both of whom went on to win the Irish Derby.

TUESDAY (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})
Owners: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: The Oaks winner is a full-sister to the brilliant 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner Minding (Ire), Irish 1,000 Guineas scorer Empress Josephine (Ire) and Group 3 scorer Kissed By Angels (Ire), out of top-class racemare Lillie Langtry, who won the G1 Matron and G1 Coronation S. Her 2-year-old full-sister has been named Delightful (Ire), but has yet to grace the track.

PIZ BADILE (IRE), Ulysses (Ire)–That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality)
Owner/Breeder: Flaxman Stables Ireland
Trainer: Donnacha O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: A Niarchos homebred top and bottom, Piz Badile is inbred to Lingerie through his grand-dams, the Group 1-winning half-sisters Light Shift and Shiva. That Which Is Not has a 2-year-old colt named Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal), a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and was covered last year by Frankel (GB).

BOUNDLESS OCEAN (IRE), Teofilo (Ire)–Novel Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire})
Owner: Jackie Bolger
Breeder/Trainer: Jim Bolger
Sales History: A vendor buy-back at €22,000 when offered online as a yearling through Goffs.
Pedigree Notes: Two of his full-brothers have won over hurdles for Nigel Hawke and their dam was winless from six starts. Her grand-dam is the Wildenstein-bred Ange Bleu (Alleged), dam of dual Grade I winner Angara (GB) (Alzao) among her four black-type winners. Boundless Ocean is inbred 2×3 to Galileo (Ire). The mare has a yearling colt by Teofilo and was covered by him again this year.

LIONEL (GB), Lope de Vega (Ire)–Gretchen (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Normandie Stud
Trainer: David Menuisier
Pedigree Notes: From the breeder of last year's Irish Derby winner, Hurricane Lane (Ire), Lionel races in the colours of Philippa Cooper's Normandie Stud and represents her signature family, being a great grandson of foundation mare Agnus (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}). His dam Gretchen is a half-sister to the G1 Irish St Leger winner Duncan (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and G2 Doncaster Cup winner Samuel (GB) (Sakhee). She has a 2-year-old Golden Horn (GB) colt named Gregory (GB) and a colt foal by Kingman (GB) named Kenneth (GB).

WESTOVER (GB), Frankel (GB)–Mirabilis (Lear Fan)
Owner/Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Pedigree Notes: A full-brother to the Group 3 winner Monarchs Glen (GB) out of a Grade 3-winning turf miler whose half-sister Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) won the G1 Prix de Diane. Mirabilis has a 2-year-old filly by Expert Eye (GB) named Jalapa (GB).

HANNIBAL BARCA (IRE), Zoffany (Ire)–Innocent Air (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Ecurie Ama Zing-team
Breeder: Brittas House Stud
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Sales History: Sold for €16,000 as a Goffs November foal, £55,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, and 500,000gns at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale last autumn.
Pedigree Notes: His Juddmonte-bred dam win two Listed races over 7f and 1of and has produced six winners, including this colt's 2-year-old full-sister Zoinnocent (Ire). The mare also a yearling filly by the late Zoffany and was covered by N0 Nay Never in 2021.

GLORY DAZE (IRE), Cotai Glory (GB)–Pioneer Alexander (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire})
Owner: Glory Gold Partnership
Breeder: Mountarmstrong Stud
Trainer: Andy Oliver
Sales History: A £3,000 Goffs Sportsman's Sale yearling.
Pedigree Notes: His half-sister Rita Levi (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) won three times at up to 1m4f. Their dam was unplaced in three starts and is a half-sister to the Listed Rockingham S. winner Bannock (Ire). Grand-dam won the UAE Oaks over 9f. The mare has had no foal since Glory Daze and died in 2021.

FRENCH CLAIM (FR), French Fifteen (Fr)–Zahrada (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Teme Valley Racing
Breeder: Mathieu Daguzan-Garros and Jean-Claude Gour
Trainer: Paddy Twomey
Sales History: Sold for €9,000 at the Arqana Autumn Yearling Sale and later for £36,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale.
Pedigree Notes: His dam was a maiden on the Flat and over jumps and is a half-sister to a Turkish Listed winner. Her 2-year-old filly by No Risk At All (Fr) is catalogued to sell next Thursday at Arqana and she also has a yearling full-sister to French Claim.

The post Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby: Where Did They Come From? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Her Brother State Of Rest Made Rapid Improvement At Three’: Teme Valley Racing’s Tranquil Lady On Oaks Quest

Richard Ryan knows a thing or two about Epsom, having spent many years there as assistant trainer to the late Terry Mills. He also knows a good deal about buying horses, with his apprenticeship served under the man who is generally considered a maestro in this field, Richard Galpin. These two strands in Ryan's bloodstock armoury have now entwined in the prospect of an Oaks runner for Teme Valley Racing, for which he is both buyer and racing manager. 

Remarkably, Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is the second of two group winners in two years from the same immediate family for Teme Valley Racing. Her year-older brother State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) carried the claret-and-gold-hooped colours with distinction across the globe last year to win the Saratoga Derby followed by the Cox Plate–quite something for an operation named after a peaceful part of the English countryside in Shropshire. 

No sooner had State Of Rest been sold on for an Irish-Australian partnership which secures his future dual-hemisphere stud career at Newgate Farm and Rathbarry Stud than his sister stepped up to present herself as a genuine Classic contender. 

“She put her best foot forward in the Blue Wind S.,” says Ryan of the filly's four-length win in Group 3 company following a seasonal reappearance in the Listed Salsabil S., in which she was fourth. 

“Her first run was almost a typical first run, where the vagaries of the way that race was run just caught her out on the day. Her asset is looking like stamina, so it was quite a clear decision that we take in Epsom, Ascot or the Irish Oaks. The gap that now exists between Epsom and the Irish Oaks means that you can do the two.”

Bought from her breeder Tinnakill House Stud for £160,000 in the year the Goffs Orby Sale was relocated to England, Tranquil Lady returned to Ireland to take up residence alongside her brother at Joseph O'Brien's yard, running three times as a juvenile for a win and some black type when listed-placed at the Curragh in October.

Ryan continues, “She's a daughter of Australia and her brother State Of Rest made rapid improvement at three. It led us to believe that it was always likely that she was going to change physically and indeed she did. She is developing more of a top line by the week. We just hope that the performances come with that visual impression.”

Having spent 19 years with the Mills stable and a spell with David Elsworth, along with stints at Juddmonte and Whitsbury Manor Stud after cutting his teeth at Harthill Stud with Neville Dent, Ryan is well placed to understand the delicate balancing act which trainers are required to perform at this time of year. Members of the Classic generation are still very much in the development stage, and a button being pressed too soon or too hard can take its toll on the remainder of the season. It was a lesson, if not learned but reinforced, last year with State Of Rest, who raced for Teme Valley at two and three.

“It was a very frustrating 2-year-old year in which the wider public didn't really get a chance to appreciate how useful he was,” Ryan recalls. “He was incredibly unlucky in a number of top stakes races. He got forced wide in the Tyros, and arguably should have been very close there. He got drawn very wide in the Ballyhane and had to pull across the back of the field then run along the rail from an impossible position. Arguably he could have won that. Then he lost a shoe early in the Champagne S. and nearly won that. It was a tale of misfortune really at two, and Joseph never lost faith in the horse.”

He continues, “He was very bold about him going into his 3-year-old season and we were keen on our chances in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, which he was being trained for, and then a small muscle strain in his quarter, which is very insignificant in a horse's wellbeing, prevented us from seeing out the race plan at that time.

“But Joseph was absolutely adamant that this was a very high-class horse and that we should be patient that it would all come right. And indeed how right he was.”

State Of Rest would reward both owner and trainer for their patience with his top-level wins in August and October, and this season, for the State Of Rest Partnership, he travelled to France to win the G1 Prix Ganay before being beaten just half a length when third in a highly competitive running of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.

“He's a unique horse in a couple of respects, let alone his ability,” says Ryan. “He has a constitution almost as rare as hens' teeth. He had a 60-hour non-stop journey returning to Joseph's yard from Australia and he bowled down the ramp like he'd just gone round the corner. He had a roll, shout, buck and a kick and Jospeh had to canter him the next day because he was so fresh.

“As well as being immensely talented he's mentally strong. You have to have the mind if you're going to be great.”

[State Of Rest] has a constitution almost as rare as hens' teeth; he had a 60-hour non-stop journey returning from Australia and he bowled down the ramp like he'd just gone round the corner.

This no doubt helped when State Of Rest had to face the stringent testing regime brought in last year by Racing Victoria for overseas runners at Melbourne's Spring Carnival.

“It mustn't be underestimated how much he had to handle in what was asked in getting down to Australia and being able to compete on even remotely level terms,” Ryan notes. “The veterinary checks and tests were verging on the ridiculous, but we stuck to our task. He virtually had to give up three or four days of exercise completely to be boxed to two different venues because of the high-tech equipment that was required for full-body scans. He had to maintain a decent level of fitness and then travel and train completely on his own for a month. To then show Group 1 top-class form off the back of it was a testament to the horse and to Joseph's staff that they were able to achieve it. It was a unique year when the goalposts were moved so far, and Newgate were aware of what he had achieved.”

He adds, “We have retained some breeding rights and we enjoy cheering him on. I hope he continues to do well for his new owners. I am sure he is a long way from finished for this season. That uniqueness in terms of his ability, toughness and soundness must surely stand him in great stead as a stallion.”

It is not just these two siblings to have represented Teme Valley Racing in stakes company in recent seasons. Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) won the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in 2020 after landing the G3 Acomb S. Last year Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), owned in partnership with his breeder Ballylinch Stud, beat the Queen's Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) to win the G2 Champagne S. and then finished placed in the Dewhurst and the Vertem Futurity. Another with Classic pretensions this season is French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), the dual winner who was recently placed in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. By a relatively unheralded French-based sire, French Claim was recruited by Ryan at the Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale for £36,000.

“I had the benefit of a career path that was mapped partly by Joss Collins from an early meeting as a teenager, and I stuck virtually religiously to that with the aim of getting along in the racing industry,” says Ryan, whose judgement has been regularly vindicated by the select number of horses he purchases. 

“I was trained by one of the best as a young lad in Richard Galpin. The bigger thing now is that you have to have an eye with the global markets in your mind, and as we have a strong eye on commerciality at Teme Valley we are not afraid to trade at the right time. So you have to have a global eye, and that being for strong, well-made horses that have good attitudes and that you think will remain sound over a long period.”

I was trained by one of the best as a young lad in Richard Galpin.

He adds, “That takes away some of the luxury of going with your gut sometimes on a slightly lesser individual that you believe may well have the attitude to overcome those vagaries of its physique. The idea is to try to combine a strong physical with the attitude that gets the job done. Pedigree is secondary almost. Once I like the individual I've then got to like the pedigree and feel that it is capable of producing a stakes-level horse.

“Budget ties your hands and can make you more imaginative with your decisions but if you stay loyal to the parameters that you have in your mind then you put all your years' experience at the coal face, and with the various people you've been around over the years, and try to make credible decisions.”

That he has clearly been doing well for Teme Valley Racing which, contrary to popular belief, is not a syndicate but a private individual.

“Teme Valley is the brainchild of a man who had a long-held ambition to be involved in the higher echelons of Flat racing after many years as an owner in National Hunt racing,” Ryan explains. “We hatched a plan and the last few years have been the culmination of that plan.”

And both owner and agent appear to have much still to look forward to this season. Lively ground and a wide draw scuppered Bayside Boy's chances in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but Ryan says of his thirteenth-place finish, “That's one to completely draw a line through. He'll probably go to Ascot for the St James's Palace but we have half a thought for the Jersey. We have some reputation rebuilding to do with him but I feel confident that will happen as the season goes on.”

The Paddy Twomey-trained French Claim has later-season big-race targets. 

 “He is a very impressive individual and he breezed well with good manners in a style that I like to see,” Ryan notes. “He has exceeded expectations and has given the trainer great cause for enthusiasm. We feel the best is yet to come. The ground was a little quicker [at Leopardstown] than we would have liked for his trial. We wanted more of a test of stamina. The Derby was under consideration at one point but his action may not lend itself to Epsom. He's not ruled out of the Irish Derby yet, as that can often be wet and a proper test of stamina. But we are thinking something like the Grand Prix de Paris on the way to the St Leger. That's our loose theory at the moment.”

Then, with a range of trainers that includes O'Brien, Twomey, Varian, Clive Cox and William Haggas, Ryan points to a group of juveniles starting out on the path to becoming full-fledged racehorses. The first to come to hand among that group is Hellsing (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), the winner on debut of a maiden on Irish Guineas weekend for Ger Lyons.

“Ger was very pleased with the horse for a long period,” he says. “As a big horse his future lies over seven [furlongs] and possibly a touch more. He has always shown a fair bit of talent and we had half an idea when the hammer came down that he would be a type for the Goffs Million, as he was bought at the Orby Sale. That's still a strong consideration but it won't be the be-all and end-all in terms of stifling any considerations at stakes level.”

Ryan warns, “We've got an awfully nice bunch of 2-year-olds for this year.”

The post ‘Her Brother State Of Rest Made Rapid Improvement At Three’: Teme Valley Racing’s Tranquil Lady On Oaks Quest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Twomey Hoping Pearls Can Shine At The Curragh

He may be without one of the most exciting horses in his stable this weekend after being forced to rule Limiti Di Greccio (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) out of Sunday's Irish G1 1000 Guineas but Paddy Twomey has talked up the chances of Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) ahead of the G2 Lanwades Stud S on the same day.

Pearls Galore was beaten just a neck in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown last season before chasing home Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp and Twomey is hoping to achieve top-level success with the 5-year-old at some stage during the campaign.

He explained, “Pearls Galore will run in the Lanwades Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. That has been the plan since she won at Leopardstown on her return and she has been kept in training with the distinct aim of winning a Group 1. This looks the logical next step and then I'd be hopeful of targeting Group 1s for the rest of the year with her.”

On future plans, Twomey added, “She's in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot but I don't fancy taking on Baaeed with a filly so I'd say the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes, the Prix Rothschild and even the Prix Maurice de Gheest, races like that could suit. Any of those mile or seven-furlong Group races, she could be aimed at those.”

Rumbles Of Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) maintained the strong start to the season for the stable in carrying Twomey's own white and green colours to victory on just her second start for the trainer in the Listed McCalmont Memorial S. at Gowran Park last month.

A Listed winner in France last term, Rumbles Of Thunder was picked up privately by Twomey, who shared that Group races will be on the agenda before a possible appearance at the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls.

He said, “Rumbles Of Thunder was very good at Gowran Park. We had her a little bit fresh going there, we didn't over-train her going to Cork and thought she'd come on for that, which she did at Gowran Park, and I think she's a filly who can progress throughout the season. She will have a Group campaign.”

Twomey added, “The plan is to race her throughout the year and, if everything went to plan, we might send her to the December Sales if she is not sold beforehand. I think she will end up being traded at some stage.

“She's a nice filly, is well-bred, and showed a nice level of form before joining us. She showed an ability to quicken when winning at Toulouse, came from the back of the field to win a Stakes race quite readily, so we said we'd roll the dice on her.”

La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), who mowed down Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Blandford S. at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend last season, the recent Moyglare Stud-owned addition Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}) are others that Twomey is quietly hopeful about this term.

He said, “La Petite Coco is in great form and we purposely didn't run her in the first half of the season. She will probably start her season off in the Munster Oaks at Cork and her owners would like to have a tilt at the Breeders' Cup later in the year. The Pretty Polly and the Yorkshire Oaks could also be on her radar. We'll keep her to fillies' races for the first part of the campaign and if we have a good time we could look at taking on the colts at some stage.

“Just Beautiful has settled in well but, again, we're looking towards the second half of the season with her. She's a nice addition to the team and is training well.”

Twomey added, “French Claim will be aimed at the St Leger. He won well at Cork on soft ground and we ran him in a Derby trial as connections were keen to explore the Epsom option but that faster ground didn't play to his strengths. He likes an ease in the ground and will be aimed at Doncaster.”

The post Twomey Hoping Pearls Can Shine At The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights