Tag: G1 Betfred St Leger

Heart’s Cry’s Continuous Clinches The Leger For Ballydoyle

The tale of success of Aidan O'Brien could be no better summed up than the title of the hero of Saturday's G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster, with Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}–Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) the latest to excel for the Ballydoyle trainer who had surpassed the 4,000-winner landmark on Sunday. Coming of age when taking York's G2 Great Voltigeur S. in commanding fashion last month, the key member of Derrick Smith's four-strong contingent was sent off the 3-1 second favourite with the Frankie factor kicking in for Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Held up with two behind early rear by a confident Ryan Moore, the relative of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) proved the only member of the line-up with true acceleration as he cut through the pack to take control two out. Soon clear, he had 2 3/4 lengths to spare over the 11-4 favourite Arrest at the line, with the Royal runner Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) half a length away in third.

 

The post Heart’s Cry’s Continuous Clinches The Leger For Ballydoyle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Doncaster: St Leger Holding Out For A Hero

   It would be brave to call the winner of Saturday's G1 Betfred St Leger and at this stage difficult to even decide what will start favourite for a wide-open renewal of the Doncaster Classic. There is very little separating the obvious trio of Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), while even Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) could yet threaten for pole position in the market given his Royal status. Each one has yet to prove themselves at this level, with Continuous and Arrest well-beaten when contesting the European Classics this summer before staging their comebacks in their preps. Doncaster's unforgiving final Classic of the season will stretch the elastic and only one will truly stay the course.

Ballydoyle know what it takes to win this and the number one is Continuous, who comes from the race's premier trial, York's G2 Great Voltigeur S. While the race was set up perfectly for his hold-up style, there was much to like about the fluency with which he dealt with Gregory and co. and Ryan Moore was never going to ride anything else.

“People talk about the tactics that day, but just focus on the fact that he won the best trial for this Classic by nearly four lengths, with Gregory back in third, and he was very strong at the line,” he stated. “Of course, you never know they stay until you try and maybe quicker ground may have been ideal with stamina in mind, but he won on soft ground in France at two and he has very strong credentials.”

Gregory was carrying a three-pound penalty returning from a break in the Voltigeur, having won Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase, and probably set off too fast on the Knavesmire but that performance has obviously failed to keep Frankie interested. This is a big day for the soon-to-be-retired figurehead of the sport, so it is significant that he opts instead for Juddmonte's Arrest.

Siding with Arrest is a gamble, given he was beating probably a substandard field in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. at Newbury last month, but if it gets softer there is the memory of his heavy defeat of Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G3 Chester Vase on testing ground in May. Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon is aware of the gravitas surrounding Frankie's decision. “It would be special and it's a hot race, it's certainly hard to dismiss much in the race. They are all of a similar level and it's definitely quality over quantity,” he said.

“In fairness to the horse, his record is pretty solid and we made two bad calls with the horse running him on good-to-firm ground at Epsom and [Royal] Ascot. We know he likes an ease in the ground and if you forget those two runs, then his record is pretty outstanding. Over a mile and five and a half at Newbury he looked comfortable enough, so we just have to be hopeful he gets the extra furlong.”

Arrest's trainer John Gosden also has Gregory and Qatar Racing's Melrose H. winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion) and he started with Wathnan Racing's representative. “He's got a great mind and he is a pretty laid-back character,” he said. “I trained both the mother and father and he's inherited all the good traits of their mental attitude towards racing. We gave him all the time he required and he's done nothing but shine this year. I think he'll enjoy the distance, although we are perfectly aware it looks like being a vintage St Leger.”

Of Middle Earth, he added, “He's proven he stays the trip and the long straight here tests the tactical speed and the stamina, so he looks like he should be able to answer those two calls. If you'd won a handicap in the style he did at York, that was a tougher race than some of the trials. If you've got the right horse at the right time and he handles the ground, then he has every right to be there.”

The King & The Queen's G3 Gordon S.-winning TDN Rising Star Desert Hero would be the first winner in the Royal colours in this since Dunfermline in 1977, so it would be some landmark. Trainer William Haggas told QIPCO British Champions Series, “I think it would mean the world to everyone in our industry. We have been fortunate for so long to have such stoic Royal patronage, and anything that can enhance that will be good. He won on soft ground at Goodwood and on faster ground at Ascot, so I don't think the ground is a worry. Soft ground will put more emphasis on stamina, but if he relaxes he should stay.”

 

Rosallion Kicks Off Action In The Champagne

Doncaster's action starts with the G2 Betfred Champagne S., where Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's impressive Listed Pat Eddery S. winner Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) has command on all known form. His four-length defeat of Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks even better now that the runner-up has won the Listed Ascendant S. and we could be dealing with one of Britain's leading 2000 Guineas hopes. Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's G2 Vintage S. runner-up Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is the main threat, having finished ahead of Ballydoyle's Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) in that Goodwood contest, but anything other than a convincing win for the Richard Hannon trainee will be an anti-climax.

Hannon said of Rosallion, “We were delighted with his run at Ascot and he's come forward a good bit since then. Al Musmak won very well at Haydock and he looks a nice horse, so that was very pleasing. We've won it with Threat, Chindit and Estidhkaar. It's a nice race and it comes at a good time for the big races in the autumn and hopefully this is a nice race on the way to the Dewhurst.”

Charlie Hills said of Iberian, “He ran a good race at Goodwood, but second time out round that track from a bad draw, a combination of track, inexperience and ground caught him out that day. He was a bit on and off the bridle. I was really pleased with how he finished up the straight and I've always liked him. His work has been really good leading up to this race and I would say this racecourse is going to suit him better. He is a very straightforward horse to train at home and his temperament and everything about him is really good.”

 

 

Cachet Confirmed For Sceptre Return

Sunday's card at Doncaster has been boosted by the first sighting of last year's G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in the seven-furlong G3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' S. Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's star has been off since finishing fifth in the G1 Coronation S. last June and trainer George Boughey is happy to get her back on the track. “She's in as good a form as I could have her considering the lay-off she's had,” he said. “She's been away to Chelmsford and we worked her at Kempton on Thursday morning. She's worked in between on fast ground at home in Newmarket.”

Also on Sunday, Frankie Dettori continue his farewell tour as he takes to Bro Park to partner the defending G3 Stockholm Cup International winner Hard One To Please (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) in his defence of the feature contest.

The post Doncaster: St Leger Holding Out For A Hero appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

St Leger: Where Did They Come From?

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin

The final leg of the original Triple Crown, the G1 Betfred St Leger features nine colts, with several homebreds and auction graduates, including two at €440,000. If Their Majesties' Desert Hero (GB) pulls off the victory, he would be the first royal winner since Queen Elizabeth's Dunfermline (GB) in 1977. Aidan O'Brien, gunning for his seventh edition, will saddle a quartet of individuals, all in with a chance, and the choice of Ryan Moore is the G2 Great Voltigeur S. hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).

 

ALEXANDROUPOLIS (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Jazz Cat (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB})
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Mrs Fitri Hay
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: 240,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Maiden winner over an extended mile at the back end last year; sent off odds-on favourite for the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown, a key Derby trial, on his seasonal return, but couldn't rival White Birch (GB) (Ire) back in third; mid-season break of 144 days before disappointing in the Vinnie Roe S. on his first attempt at 1m6f and, while he is from the family of this stable's 2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens (Ire), he still has plenty to prove at this level; outsider.

 

ARREST (IRE), Frankel (GB)–Nisriyna (Ire) (Intikhab)
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Swordlestown Little
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Sales History: €440,000 Goffs November foal
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The seventh foal out of his unraced dam and her third black-type horse, this half-brother to group winner and G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup third Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) has already won a brace of Group 3s, including when collecting the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. just 100 yards shy of the St Leger trip last month. One of the most highly rated in the field, it would be no surprise to see him give Juddmonte their third St Leger.

 

 

CHESSPIECE (GB), Nathaniel (Ire)–Royal Solitaire (Ire) (Shamardal)
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Ammerland GMBH & Co Kg
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Sales History: €100,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The most decorated offspring of his dam, who won the G2 Badener Meille and was second in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches, this stakes winner already found the re-opposing Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) too tough to handle in the G2 Queen's Vase at this distance. However, he was only a neck shy of Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood last month. Several of these would have to run below par for Chesspiece to prevail.

 

CONTINUOUS (JPN), Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Fluff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Dished out a comprehensive beating to Gregory in the Great Voltigeur at York, the form of which is up there with the best on offer in this race, and his chance is bolstered by the fact that he is Ryan Moore's pick of a Ballydoyle four-pronged attack. In truth, the rider would not have had much to think about, as this colt has gone from strength to strength this season and appears ground versatile; gave the impression that he would see out the 1m6f at York and rates a leading player on form and pedigree. His dam Fluff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a sister to the formerly smart stayer Barbados (Ire), which gives hope that he should be as effective over the extra two furlongs, while she is also a sister to the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Maybe (Ire), now the dam of Saxon Warrior (Jpn); classy sort.

 

 

DENMARK (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Board Meeting (Ire) (Anabaa)
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Dayton Investments (Breeding) Limited
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: €440,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: From the family of French Oaks winner Bright Sky (Ire) (Wolfhound) and, while there is plenty of stamina in the pedigree, he didn't appear to have any excuses when beaten by Middle Earth on his penultimate start at York. He hung left-handed when third in a handicap at Haydock last time; plenty to prove.

 

DESERT HERO (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire)–Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})
Owner: HM The King & HM The Queen
Breeder: The Queen
Trainer: William Haggas
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Bred by The Queen, Desert Hero is closely related to four-time group winner and dual top-level placed Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gritty performer who has advertised his St Leger credentials in grinding out victories in a handicap at Royal Ascot followed by the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood. Could be open to even further progression upped in trip.

 

 

GREGORY (GB), Golden Horn (GB)–Gretchen (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Normandie Stud Ltd
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: This Queen's Vase winner was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the Great Voltigeur, after winning his first three starts. Retiring jockey Frankie Dettori has opted for fellow Gosden trainee Arrest, so Kieran Shoemark will partner the son of G2 Park Hill S. heroine Gretchen. A Cocked Hat S. hero like his half-brother Lionel (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Gregory's staying proclivities come naturally, and his dam's half-brother Duncan (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) won the G1 Irish St Leger. One to watch.

 

 

MIDDLE EARTH (GB), Roaring Lion–Roheryn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Qatar Racing Limited
Breeder: The Roheryn Partnership
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Although yet to earn black-type and by a classy sire who was just found out at the 12-furlong distance in the Derby, this half-brother to the multiple group-placed stakes-winning Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet {Aus}), has inherited his stamina from his King George V Cup-winning dam, whose four group placings were anchored by a second in the G3 Ballyroan S. Already a winner at this trip defeating Denmark (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Melrose H. at York, Middle Earth's connections thought highly enough of his chances and paid the supplementary fee. However, the waters are a great deal deeper in this contest.

 

 

TOWER OF LONDON (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr) (Anabaa)
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Capri (Ire) and fellow smart stayers Cypress Creek (Ire) and Passion (Ire); denied a third win on the trot when narrowly beaten in a Group 3 over 1m5f at Newmarket in July and, while this is his first start since then, fitness will not be an issue hailing from this camp. One of the more lively outsiders and he certainly commands respect.

The post St Leger: 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

Doncaster: Can Coltrane Do It Again In The Doncaster Cup?

Causing an upset when edging out Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in a thriller for last year's G2 Doncaster Cup, one of the staying division's leaders Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) returns to Town Moor for another encounter with his nemesis on Friday. Having won Ascot's G3 Sagaro S. and the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York and been runner-up in the G1 Gold Cup in the interim, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's stalwart is better than ever at the age of six and is the one with the target on his back this time.

Andrew Balding holds Coltrane close to his heart and is relishing another battle royal. “The great thing about him is he seems to be effective on any ground and in any sort of style of race, which is a big help for these stayers,” he said. “He obviously won the race last year, but he does carry a penalty this year which makes life a lot tougher. It is not a straightforward task, but the horse is really well and he seems to thrive on his racing.”

Trueshan has been absent since finishing fourth behind Coltrane in the Sagaro in May and has undergone a wind operation, so the star stayer of 2021 has questions to answer here. Normandie Stud's progressive Ebor H. runner-up Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) represents the Gosdens, who have a line on these through their Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

“We think there's more improvement to come and we think he might make up into an Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup type of horse next year,” jockey Robert Havlin said of the Normandie Stud homebred. “Since we put blinkers on he's been ultra consistent. He's won over two miles and the Ebor was obviously a drop back in trip. He gets the trip well so there are a lot of positives, especially after all the rain. He doesn't need soft ground, but he handles it very well.”

 

Inquisitively Takes On Big Evs In The Flying Childers

Also at Doncaster on Friday is the G2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers S., where Wee Sean Gan's Listed Roses S. scorer Inquisitively (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) looks to turn the tables on Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) after their prior meeting in Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle S. Trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy is concerned about the slower ground for Inquisitively, however. “The ground would be a question mark, he won on fast ground at York and so there is a question mark over soft conditions,” he said.  “The horse won well at York and I think the course will suit him. It's a very flat, straight course and very straightforward. He has been in good form since his race at York, I think he took a step forward from that race. He's very straightforward and professional, I don't think anything will be an issue other than the question over the ground.”

 

All Nine Stand Their Ground For St Leger

There were no withdrawals from Saturday's G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on Thursday, with the major news concerning the decision of Frankie Dettori to ride Juddmonte's Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) ahead of the fellow Gosden representative Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}). That leaves Kieran Shoemark with the task of steering the latter, who captured the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot for Wathnan Racing.

“I'm very happy with my mount in the race and wouldn't swap him,” Shoemark said. “As soon as Frankie made up his mind I found out. He's a high-profile horse in a high-profile race. He's one of the market leaders and to be riding a favourite in a British Classic is hugely exciting. It's where I want to be, so it's a privilege not pressure and I look forward to it.”

Also representing the Gosdens is Qatar Racing's Melrose H. winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion), while The King & The Queen's G3 Gordon S.-winning TDN Rising Star Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Ballydoyle number one Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who catapulted himself into the picture with his impressive G2 Great Voltigeur S. success, are other notables.

 

The post Doncaster: Can Coltrane Do It Again In The Doncaster Cup? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights