Tag: G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S.

Havana Grey’s Vandeek Has The Answer In The Middle Park

Ruthlessly efficient and utterly dominant in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket, KHK Racing's sprinter supreme Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Mosa Mine {GB}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) sealed his elevated status by becoming the sixth G1 Prix Morny winner to double up here since 2012. Sent off the heavily-supported 5-4 favourite to add to his tally which as well as the Deauville highlight also includes the G2 Richmond S., the Simon and Ed Crisford trainee was over-enthusiastic in the early stages as James Doyle struggled to contain him within a five-strong group racing up the centre.

Into a split approaching two out, the writing was soon on the wall for his rivals as the 625,000gns joint-topper of the Tatts Craven Breeze-Up took command a furlong later. Putting to bed any fears that he lacked the versatility to excel first time on this kind of fast ground, the beau ideal was quickly into the clear to score by 2 1/4 lengths from the sponsors' TDN Rising Star Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who denied Ballydoyle's G2 Coventry S.-winning fellow TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) the consolation prize by a head.

“He's beautiful with a wonderful temperament and all of the talent to match,” Simon Crisford said. “That race took a lot of winning today and the Prix Morny was an exceptional race. When he hits the front he does tend to idle and look around a bit, but I couldn't see anything running him down so I was pretty hopeful in the last 100 yards.”

“We came here pretty confident, we knew we had something special,” Crisford Sr added. “He's been working exceptionally well and he's been such a kind horse to go with it, everything was great. He was flat out asleep today until noon today. We couldn't get him up to come to the races. His mind is so good, which is important as it makes our job easy. This is something really special. He is one of the best two-year-olds in the world and has never let us down.”

Crisford was also not discounting a return to the track for the G1 Dewhurst S. in a fortnight and added, “I think we're going to let the horse tell us as much as he can and we'll take it from there. He's a tall, leggy horse and he stands over a lot of ground, he could easily go further. Never say never, I think the person that will decide whether he comes back for the Dewhurst is the horse himself. If he tells us he wants to come here then we will.”

James Doyle added, “I think he has shown all the qualities you need in a potential champion. He has shown he can do it on soft ground and fast ground on a variety of tracks. It didn't go entirely to plan, as we kind of missed the break so I just came across and used Ryan as a bit of a target as I wasn't convinced the ones drawn around us were the ones to be tracking so it actually panned out okay. By zooming across, I set him alight a bit so he took a bit of managing early. He is just a big ball of speed and when the gap came, he went through it pretty good.”

Ralph Beckett said of the runner-up, “He is a horse that we have crept here with, as you can see he is not the finished article by any means. This is a horse that has done it all on his own as we have not been keen to turn the screw on him. I think it is unlikely he will show up in the Dewhurst, but I'm really pleased with what he has done today. He has split two very good horses, so I'm delighted. He handled it very well today, better than I thought he would. He learnt again today. I'd say on the back of today I'd be keen to turn up here on the first weekend in May and you might not see him again until then.”

Pedigree Notes

Vandeek's dam Mosa Mine is a daughter of Baldemosa (Fr) (Lead On Time), who is kin to the G1 Prix Robert Papin heroine Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene) who in turn produced the G1 July Cup-winning champion sprinter and leading sire Anabaa as well as the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal (Zilzal) and the successful sire Key Of Luck. She is also the second dam of Danzig's G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Country Reel and the ancestress of the latter's daughter Baine (Fr) who was second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Saturday, Newmaket, Britain
JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK S.-G1, £291,580, Newmarket, 9-30, 2yo, c, 6fT, 1:10.76, g/f.
1–VANDEEK (GB), 128, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
   1st Dam: Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
   2nd Dam: Baldemosa (Fr), by Lead On Time
   3rd Dam: Bamieres (Fr), by Riverman
(52,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 42,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY; 625,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-KHK Racing; B-Maywood Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-James Doyle. £165,355. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 4-4-0-0, $550,438. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Task Force (GB), 128, c, 2, Frankel (GB)–Special Duty (GB), by Hennessy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £62,690.
3–River Tiber (Ire), 128, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire). (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £31,374.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.25, 7.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Givemethebeatboys (Ire), Starlust (GB), Sketch (Ire), Lake Forest (GB), Elite Status (GB), Jasour (GB).

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Morny Middle Park Double For No Nay Never’s Blackbeard

Confirming the form of the G1 Prix Morny on Saturday, Ballydoyle's Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) dominated Newmarket's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. as The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) delivered a one-two for the stable. Not content with a haul that already included the G3 Marble Hill and G2 Prix Robert Papin as well as the Deauville juvenile feature, the 10-3 joint-second favourite tracked the fast pace set by the Morny runner-up Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and was coaxed to that rival approaching the furlong pole with Ryan Moore's body language telling all. Sent clear with mainly hands and heels, Coolmore and Westerberg's indomitable performer hit the line typically strongly to record a two-length verdict over his stablemate who had run third at Deauville. Persian Force faded to be third, 1 1/4 lengths away, with the 15-8 favourite Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) only fifth having raced too keenly early.

 

“He has been very progressive, always, he has been from day one,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He often has to make his own running, as they don't go quick enough for him but always in his work he quickens very well from behind and we saw that today. He takes his work easy and is thriving, he never backs away from it.”

“He throws himself around, but there is no badness in him whatsoever,” his trainer added. He just starts stamping his feet if we ask him to stand too long and is like that at home, but he is very straightforward you just don't ask him to wait too long. He's that kind of personality–he's forward-going and if he was a human being he would say 'listen, just let me at it'–he likes going forward. He's very fast–we weren't sure how far he'd go early on and I think speed is his thing. I wouldn't be sure how much further he would go, but we'll re-assess him after today.”

Of The Antarctic, O'Brien said, “He's progressed hand over fist and is doing very well physically. He's on the upgrade and the stalls thing is getting better too. Tom said he stepped a little bit slow away and he has been doing that a little bit.”

Blackbeard, whose career began in early April with a win in the Dundalk maiden won by another former stable luminary in Caravaggio, is the first foal out of Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) who is a daughter of the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. winner Girouette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). She is a half to the dam of the G3 John Porter S. and G3 Zetland S. scorer Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while the family includes the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Mrs. Penny (Great Nephew {GB}) and the 1000 Guineas heroine Hatoof (Irish River {Fr}). Muirin also has a yearling full-sister and a colt full-brother to Blackbeard, with the former selling on Tuesday as lot 93 on day one of the Goffs Orby.

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK S.-G1, £275,000, Newmarket, 9-24, 2yo, c, 6fT, 1:12.02, gd.
1–BLACKBEARD (IRE), 128, c, 2, by No Nay Never
     1st Dam: Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Girouette (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
     3rd Dam: Vassiana (Fr), by Anabaa
(270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £155,953. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, GSW-Ire, 8-6-1-0, $550,894. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Antarctic (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier,Tabor,Smith,Westerberg,Brant; B-Bally Philip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £59,125.
3–Persian Force (Ire), 128, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Vida Amorosa (Ire), by Lope de Vega (Ire). (€75,000 Wlg '20 GOFNOV; €225,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Tom Lacy (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £29,590.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.33, 16.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Mischief Magic (Ire), Marshman (GB), Once More For Luck (Ire), Zoology (GB), Never Just A Dream (Ire).

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Middle Park Glory For Ardad’s Perfect Power

Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket looked a tight affair on paper and although there were just 1 3/4 lengths covering the first seven home, there was ultimately a degree of comfort in the victory of the G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}). Freshened up since his success for Christophe Soumillon in the Morny over this six-furlong trip at Deauville Aug. 22, the Richard Fahey-trained bay was one of the last to play his hand under that rider but was a cosy half-length winner from Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to complete the prestigious juvenile double. Positioned with only Castle Star behind as the early pace proved hot, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's 11-4 favourite was cajoled into action passing halfway and arrived widest of all to hit the front 100 yards from home. Strong to the line as he had been in Normandy and in the G2 Norfolk S., he had too many guns for Castle Star who denied Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) the runner's-up spot by a neck. “For a 2-year-old, he's very special. He's very easy and has a super mind,” Fahey said. “When he's not exercising he eats and then goes to sleep. With two furlongs to run I thought we were in a bit of trouble, but when he pulled him out he picked up very well.”

Introduced over five furlongs in a May 25 Newcastle novice, Perfect Power ran a respectable third before going to Hamilton to show his now-trademark acceleration eight days before the Norfolk. That was a tight turnaround to the Royal Ascot contest, but he was in no mood to back off and delivered his closing surge to overhaul Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) there before heading to the Goodwood Festival. Tackling six furlongs for the first time in the July 29 G2 Richmond S., he enjoyed no luck in running when fifth behind Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) but enjoyed a clear run at his rivals in the Morny to regain his mantle. This was close, but he has now overcome all that has been thrown at him when able to produce his late charge unhindered.

Soumillon also believes he was able to overcome difficulties with the undulations of this track and a perceived stand's rail bias. “My horse stumbled twice going downhill. I didn't lose confidence in him, but lost a little ground there,” he said. “When I took him out and he was running uphill, he found his gear and quickened like he did last time at Deauville. I was drawn one and in the race before we saw that the rail was beneficial. I was happy on Friday with my draw, because I knew if everyone was staying in the middle of the track it would be easy for me to come from the back but after 200 metres or so everyone was going to the fence and I knew it was going to be difficult to come from so far back. The pace was good, which was the key part of it. I'm sure he's much better on a flat track, but what he did today probably showed he's the best 2-year-old in Europe at the moment. I even think he can handle seven furlongs.”

Fahey had made clear his fears about the one draw for the £110,000 Goffs UK Breeze Up graduate. “I've been watching racing all week and when we got stall one I thought 'someone down there doesn't like me!'. I was very negative in my own mind, but he is a special horse,” he said. “The way he quickened up today–it took a special ride and a special special horse to win like that today. He's a ball of a horse who has had a busy enough time. When you go to Royal Ascot, then you go to Glorious Goodwood and then Deauville and then here it's tough, but he loves it. He could step up on pedigree. His sire was a fast 2-year-old and we don't know much about his progeny, but on the dam's side we've every chance of staying.”

Perfect Power, who has flown the flag for his first-season sire whose progeny have impressed in 2021, is the first foal out of Sagely (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}) who stayed 12 furlongs. She is a granddaughter of Saga D'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), who is a full-sister to the Arc hero Sagamix (Fr) and a half to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and to Shastye (Ire) (Danehill). She needs no introduction as the dam of the high-class Galileo (Ire) trio of Japan (GB), Mogul (GB) and Secret Gesture (GB), while this is also the Aga Khan family of Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) who took this year's G3 Prix du Pin and was second in the G1 Prix Rothschild. Sagely's yearling filly by Kodiac (GB) sells on Tuesday at Goffs Orby, while she also has a colt foal by Galileo Gold (GB).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK S.-G1, £250,000, Newmarket, 9-25, 2yo, c, 6fT, 1:11.32, g/f.
1–PERFECT POWER (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Ardad (Ire)
     1st Dam: Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Saga Celebre (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
     3rd Dam: Saga d'Ouilly (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
(16,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; £110,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Christophe Soumillon. £151,345. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 6-4-0-1, $519,341. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Castle Star (Ire), 126, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Awohaam (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB). O-Craig Bernick & Antony Beck; B-Churchtown Bloodstock, Grouseridge & Carhue (IRE); T-Fozzy Stack. £57,378.
3–Armor (GB), 126, c, 2, No Nay Never–Hestia (Fr), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€55,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Mr C E Stedman (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £28,716.
Margins: HF, NK, NK. Odds: 2.75, 12.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Go Bears Go (Ire), Caturra (Ire), Twilight Jet (Ire), Asymmetric (Ire), Dr Zempf (GB), New York City (Ire), HMS Endeavour. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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