Tag: G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S.

4,000th Winner For O’Brien As Dubawi’s Henry Longfellow Makes Up For City Of Troy Absence In The National

As much as Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. was about the withdrawal of City Of Troy (Justify) and the impressive winning performance of fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Minding {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), it was testament to Irish racing's totemic figure Aidan O'Brien who marked the occasion with a 4,000th training career success. Who else could pull a colt of the quality of the freakish G2 Superlative S. winner from such an important status event and still win it by five lengths, burying an impressive G1 Phoenix S. scorer in the process? The answer is why at just after 4pm on Sunday we were reflecting on such a remarkable landmark statistic.

City Of Troy's participation was decided as soon as the stable's Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) trailed in last in the preceding G1 Moyglare Stud S., in turn issuing her own damning verdict on the state of the rain-affected ground. Losing such an attractive proposition from a fixture of this nature would normally have been a dampening experience to say the least, but Henry Longfellow is some deputy having won the course-and-distance G2 Futurity S. last month and the money spoke as he upstaged Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the market as the 10-11 favourite for the race his sire won in 2004.

Cuban Thunder (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) was acting as pacemaker for Bucanero Fuerte, but instead lit up his stablemate by chasing him for a few precious moments after the break until getting to the front. While Gary Halpin made sure the pace was unforgiving, Ryan Moore always looked happier than Kevin Stott setting true seven-furlong fractions as the Phoenix hero revved too high. Even before the two-furlong marker, the writing was on the wall and Henry Longfellow came into his own from there to inflict a greater defeat on Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) than he had in the Futurity. Bucanero Fuerte was a spent force at the line, beaten another 7 1/2 lengths in third.

This was as fitting a race to mark O'Brien's achievement, being the country's premier juvenile contest named in honour of his illustrious predecessor at Ballydoyle and the scene of his first group 1 success via Desert King (Ire) in 1996. Thirty years on from his first runner and winner Wandering Thoughts (Ire) at Tralee, the trainer was typically keen to deflect praise to the team around him and happier to discuss his 12th winner of one of the races in which he still trails Vincent O'Brien, who had 15 of these throughout his esteemed career.

“It's pure teamwork all the way and hard to believe,” he said. “I'm so grateful to so many people–incredible. Great people, great horses and great teamwork. This horse's pedigree is second to none. Minding was the best mare we ever trained and this was the best out-cross that she could go to,” he said. “He travels and he quickens and that is very difficult for other horses to handle. His mam won over a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half and handled the ground no problem and he's got a lot of her and his dad in him, so he looks a very special horse.”

“The plan was originally to run him in the Dewhurst, but Ryan said it was closer to soft than good-to-yielding and we promised ourselves we wouldn't run City Of Troy on soft ground,” he added. “City Of Troy hadn't run for a good while and was going to improve from the run. Sometimes in that ground they can have a hard time. He would die on his feet for you today and we didn't want to do that to him once the ground turned. Henry Longfellow ran last month with an ease and had no problem with it. He's fast and looks a miler and I don't know how much further he'll stay. We'll look at the Dewhurst for City Of Troy now.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Becoming the 55th group 1 winner for his sire, whose son Too Darn Hot (GB) sired his first on the card, Henry Longfellow is the second foal and first runner for the aforementioned seven-times group 1-winning phenomenon Minding whose successes included the Oaks, 1000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II S. Her dam Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who proved another big mover and shaker for this stable by winning the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S., produced only Galileos for Coolmore and to great effect.

They included another Oaks winner in Tuesday (Ire), who went on to glory in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, and a G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine in Empress Josephine (Ire), as well as the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Kissed by Angels (Ire). From the family of the sires Great Commotion and Lead On Time, Minding also has a yearling full-sister to Henry Longfellow and a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB). She has been bred to Gun Runner for 2024.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT O'BRIEN NATIONAL S.-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-10, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.54, g/y.
1–HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
     1st Dam: Minding (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Ire, $3,213,340), by Galileo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €240,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $347,112. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Islandsinthestream (Ire), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–A Mist Opportunity (Aus), by Foxwedge (Aus).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€135,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-Islandsinthestream Partnership; B-Haras d'Etreham & Katelanis Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Bucanero Fuerte (GB), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Frida La Blonde (Fr), by Elusive City. (€165,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Amo Racing Limited & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (GB); T-Adrian Murray. €40,000.
Margins: 5, 7HF, 22. Odds: 0.91, 12.00, Evens.
Also Ran: Cuban Thunder (Ire). Scratched: City Of Troy, Givemethebeatboys (Ire).

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No City Of Troy In The National

Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh was denied the participation of the star turn City Of Troy (Justify) after Aidan O'Brien opted to withdraw the G2 Superlative S.-winning TDN Rising Star. Following the disappointing run of the stable's Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the preceding G1 Moyglare Stud S., the ground was deemed too easy for the exciting juvenile. The Curragh was officially good-to-yielding after heavy rain before racing. Ryan Moore switches to fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the G2 Futurity S. winner, as four remain following the withdrawal of another contender in Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

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Wootton Bassett’s Al Riffa Swoops For Group 1 Glory At The Curragh

Second to the reopposing Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in his July 16 debut over seven furlongs at the Curragh, Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Love On My Mind {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) graduated over the same course and distance last month and stepped forward to provide apprentice jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle with a career high in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., his third seven-furlong outing at the Co. Kildare venue. The 9-1 chance settled into a rhythm behind all five rivals through halfway and made a move forward with three furlongs remaining. Coming under increased urging passing the quarter-mile marker, he was ridden to launch his challenge approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly in the closing stages to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths from Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“It's unbelievable,” said Browne McMonagle after claiming a maiden top-level success. “He was very straightforward from the gates. He jumped, travelled good and loved the soft conditions. I was really happy the whole way through. I was keen to move up to the boys going to the three [furlong pole]. I didn't want them to get too far in front of me in that ground because it would have been hard to peg them back. As soon as I gave him a little kick in the belly and he moved onto the bridle, I was always the winner. I was travelling over the top of them, he picked up good and put it to bed very quick. It's hard to believe and, hopefully it's the first of many. It's down to Joseph [O'Brien] and a massive thanks to everyone behind the scenes at home. I wouldn't be here without my family, Mum and Dad and everyone's here today so it's great. It means a lot, I couldn't have done it on a bigger stage and it's great to get one.”

Al Riffa, who becomes the sixth Group 1 winner for his sire (by Iffraaj {GB}), is the lone scorer produced by an unraced daughter of the stakes-winning Moments Of Joy (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who also threw the dual G3 Sagaro S. victor Mizzou (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Give Thanks S. placegetter Eternal Bounty (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Noblesse S. third Unity (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Eternal Bounty is the dam of G3 Hampton Court S. third Secret Protector (War Front) while Unity's leading performer is Listed Wild Flower S. victor Crimean Tatar (Tur) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Moments Of Joy is the leading representative of G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille-winning champion My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G1 St Leger and G1 Gold Cup hero Classic Cliche (Ire) (Salse). Love On My Mind has a yearling filly by Land Force (Ire) to come.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT O'BRIEN NATIONAL S.-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-11, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:29.31, sf.
1–AL RIFFA (FR), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Love On My Mind (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Moments Of Joy (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: My Emma (GB), by Marju (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€31,000 Wlg '20 ARQDEC; 150,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah; B-SARL de Chambure Haras d'Etreham, Benoit Chalmel & SARL Compagni (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Browne McMonagle. €240,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $256,256. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Proud And Regal (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Simply Perfect (GB), by Danehill. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Shartash (Ire), 131, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Shamreen (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. €40,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 9.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Aesop's Fables (Ire), Hans Andersen (GB), Marbaan (GB).

 

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Oasis Dream’s Native Trail Impressive In The National

Putting the seal on a stellar weekend for Godolphin's Charlie Appleby stable, Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) brushed aside TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for an emphatic 3 1/2-length success in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh. Like the operation's past winners Dubawi (Ire) and his son Quorto (Ire) coming off a win in the G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket July 10, the 7-2 second favourite was notably green throughout with William Buick needing to cajole him into action as early as the four-furlong marker. Picking up the 8-13 favourite instantly once the whip was applied, the imposing bay readily asserted from the furlong pole to race to the top of the juvenile division, with the long-time leader Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) losing a private battle with Point Lonsdale by half a length in third. “This is a hugely exciting race and a very important one that I've been fortunate enough to ride some great 2-year-olds in and this fellow is no different,” Buick said. “I was confident–he's still learning on the job, but he answered every call and I really like what he did in the last 100 yards. He felt like a very good horse–it was a good renewal of the race and the pace was on, so there is every indication that it was a good race. He's a fine big horse and even physically, there is improvement left in him and there is something to work on. Next year he should get a mile no problem.”

Native Trail was introduced over this trip at Sandown June 11 and proved an instant hit when scoring by four lengths, which put him in the frame for the Superlative that Appleby has come to target with his best. Needing time to organise on that occasion, he finished with a flourish to deny Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) and that form had since grown in stature with the runner-up denying Saturday's G2 Champagne S. winner Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) at Newbury. Nevertheless, the relentless momentum behind Point Lonsdale was again impossible to ignore and Ballydoyle's leading juvenile was backed fearlessly once more. Getting a lead this time as the G1 Phoenix S. hero Ebro River took no prisoners, the full-brother to Broome (Ire) had to work hard to subdue the Hugo Palmer representative but just as he managed to do so his real threat was unwinding out wide and was quickly gone.

Appleby had won this with the aforementioned Quorto and Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), while another son of Dubawi in Master of the Seas (Ire) was fourth 12 months ago having looked the winner a furlong from home. Native Trail looks every bit in their league on this evidence. “We took Native Trail for a racecourse gallop a couple of weeks ago and if you'd asked me then if we would be winning a National Stakes, I might have sat on the fence slightly,” he said. “Full credit to the team at home. We definitely felt the horse had come forward for that gallop and we put a cross noseband on him to help him concentrate. William said Native Trail is still very green and it felt like he was going down to the start on a maiden. He gave the horse a shove early doors to get the revs up, but I knew with two furlongs to go the one thing Native Trail was going to do was gallop out strongly. We will see how he comes out of this and discuss things, but I would say that we might give him one more start this year in the [G1] Dewhurst Stakes [at Newmarket Oct. 9].”

Native Trail, who was a 210,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up purchase, is the second live foal and first runner out of the unraced Juddmonte cast-off Needleleaf (GB) (Observatory) who was bought by the MAB Agency for a mere 60,000gns at the 2015 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She is a full-sister to the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose (GB) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Helleborine (GB), who proved to be important broodmares for Juddmonte. African Rose was responsible for the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Fair Eva (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while Helleborine produced the high-class G2 Coventry S. winner and exciting young sire Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

The second dam New Orchid (Quest For Fame {GB}), who was third in the G3 Lancashire Oaks, is a daughter of Musicanti (Nijinsky II) who also produced the G1 Dewhurst S. hero and sire Distant Music from a mating with Observatory's sire Distant View. Musicanti is kin to the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, GI Washington D.C. International and GI Suburban H.-winning champion Vanlandingham (Cox's Ridge) and to the dams of the GII Keeneland Turf Mile and G2 Prix Eugene Adam-winning sire Kirkwall (GB) (Selkirk) and to the GI American Oaks heroine Funny Moon (Malibu Moon). From the family of the GI Belmont S. hero and sire Temperence Hill, Needleleaf's yearling filly by Kingman (GB) was snapped up by Godolphin for €950,000 at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale last month. She also has a filly foal by Siyouni (Fr).

Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT OBRIEN NATIONAL S.-G1, €336,000, Curragh, 9-12, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:26.27, gd.
1–NATIVE TRAIL (GB), 131, c, 2, by Oasis Dream (GB)
     1st Dam: Needleleaf (GB), by Observatory
     2nd Dam: New Orchid, by Quest for Fame (GB)
     3rd Dam: Musicanti, by Nijinsky II
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€50,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 67,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; 210,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Le Haras D'Haspel (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €180,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 3-3-0-0, $289,599. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Point Lonsdale (Ire), 131, c, 2, Australia (GB)–Sweepstake (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (575,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/Westerberg; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €60,000.
3–Ebro River (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo Gold (GB)–Soft Power (Ire), by Balmont. (75,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. €30,000.
Margins: 3HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 0.62, 6.50.
Also Ran: Ultramarine (Ire), Great Max (Ire), Duke de Sessa (Ire), Anatoli (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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