Doncaster Test For Auguste Rodin

Heavy rain hit Doncaster's Town Moor track on Thursday and refused to relent during the following afternoon, so the Saturday feature G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy is certain to be a thorough examination for its protagonists. It will ask a question of Ballydoyle's latest hot favourite for the juvenile endgame, the TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who would have preferred the ground was in the other direction and now has to prove his mental resolve as well as his physical prowess.

While the son of the high-class Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) got away with soft as he idled when in front too far out in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown Sept. 10, this could be a different proposition with Ryan Moore having to judge when to unleash him on a tacky, holding surface. Nevertheless, Aidan O'Brien's number one for this race is always the first to look at, with six winning favourites from his last seven saddled and one more would see him usurp the late Sir Henry Cecil with whom he is currently tied on 10.

Speaking on Saturday evening, Aidan O'Brien revealed that he is not a certain runner with the weather turning so drastically on Friday. “He's really fit, but whether we want to bottom him in that ground is up to the lads to decide,” he said. “We're very happy with how he is and it's a case of whether we let him run for experience or whether we don't and keep him for next year. He's done enough this year and it all depends on what that ground is like tomorrow.”

These races are the most exciting for the unknown element they carry and Moore was adding fuel to the fire as he pondered his ride on Auguste Rodin on his betfair blog on Friday. “He is a horse I have rated highly since day one,” he said. I was impressed by him at Leopardstown last time. That may not have been the strongest of Group 2s, but I think he is a Group 1 horse and hopefully he will show that here.”

Unsurprisingly, history tells us that wide-margin maiden winners from Ballydoyle are more often than not class acts and so Auguste Rodin's stablemate Salt Lake City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looms large here, with the potential of getting away on the front end as he did at Navan last time Oct. 5. Whether he is the High Chaparral (Ire) or Aristotle (Ire) in this renewal remains to be seen and he will relish the heavy ground.

That could also apply to the impressive Nottingham maiden winner King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who took the same race won by Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in soft ground with some authority 10 days ago. Trainer David Loughnane is hoping to provide Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing with the Group 1 winner they have been seeking all year. “We don't know what we beat, but Nottingham was nice, both visually and on the clock,” he said. “He's come out of it absolutely fine and he's got an exceptional mind.”

“He's a monster,” Lougnane added. “He's just over 17 hands and he weighs nearly 600 kilos. Everything about him since he first came into the yard has been a bit abnormal and Adam [Kirby] commented he'd never ridden a bigger juvenile, but for such a big horse he's very agile and well-balanced.”

All was relatively quiet where John and Thady Gosden's 2-year-olds were concerned throughout the summer months, but in the last month things have started to hot up and George Strawbridge's TDN Rising Star Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) is perfectly poised. After winning that Newmarket maiden July 8, the son of Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk) took the Kingston Hill (GB) and Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) route of the G3 Autumn S. Like the latter, he was a narrow second in that Newmarket staging post a fortnight ago and adds intrigue along with Jeff Smith's impressive Sept. 16 Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions S. winner Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

 

A Case Of Espionage At Saint-Cloud

While fellow Ballydoyle representatives Auguste Rodin and Salt Lake City are sent to Doncaster, TDN Rising Star Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) takes in the G1 Criterium International for the stable which leads the honour roll with five previous winners. Ioritz Mendizabal is called upon and the yard's go-to French rider who steered St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Joan Of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) to high-profile success for them has an enviable ride on the son of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who had such poise when breaking his maiden at The Curragh last time Sept. 25.

This is just as tough as the Doncaster feature, with the July 21 G3 Tyros S. scorer and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. runner-up Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and White Birch Farm's Sept. 8 G3 Prix des Chenes winner Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in attendance along with another TDN Rising Star in Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great), while Valmont's Salt Bay (Ger) (Farhh {GB}) adds another later. Impressive on his sole start at Haydock Sept. 24, the Ralph Beckett-trained relative of some useful German middle-distance performers looks tailor-made for this kind of test on deep autumn ground.

 

An Arresting Presence

As always, abundant stamina really will be a prerequisite in the 10-furlong G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud which occupies a curious space on the 2-year-old Group 1 roster. Few of those who fit the bill in this go on to anything of major note at three, with the 2016 winner Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) the exception of late. There is the trio of Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) and Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) bringing European Group 1 and Group 2 form to the race, but if there is one to go forward to the 2023 Classics it could be Juddmonte's Arrest (GB) (Frankel {GB}). One of the operation's successful purchases in 2020 and 2021, the co-topper at the Goffs November Foal Sale gave Friday's winner Sea Of Roses (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) 11 pounds and a 5 1/2-length beating at the unlikely venue of Wales's Ffos Las Sept. 26. He also hails from the Gosdens' academy and Thady said, “It's a big switch up from Ffos Las, but he won't mind the easy ground as he has a nice round action on him. He should appreciate the mile and a quarter and he's a horse we've always liked.”

 

The Dirty Dozen

All 12 of Saturday's black-type events staged at Doncaster, Newbury, Saint-Cloud and Leopardstown will demand grit and determination as well as class from their winners with the stormy conditions making for gruelling ground everywhere. Key players in the remaining prizes are The King's Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), whose 2011 G2 Champagne S. second to Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) suddenly looks a lot better as he heads to Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Perth over a mile; KHK Racing's TDN Rising Star Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who is put to the test in a fascinating and deep renewal of Newbury's seven-furlong G3 Virgin Bet Horris Hill S. by Simon and Ed Crisford following his Sept. 25 Yarmouth maiden success; Ballylinch Stud and Aquis Farm's “forgotten horse” Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) prepping for a potential Hong Kong date in that track's G3 Virgin Bet St Simon S.; and Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) who accompanies Auguste Rodin to England and bids to give upwards of five pounds to his peers as a result of his Aug. 20 G2 Futurity S. success in the six-furlong Listed Carlsberg Marstons Doncaster S.

The King's racing manager John Warren said of Reach For The Moon, “We think the ground and trip should be just what we have been looking for. He needs to get back racing again and it's a shame we are nearly at the end of the season as John Gosden is very happy with him.

“We are hopeful of showing his best form, especially as his form with Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) looks very solid.”

 

Click here for the group fields.

The post Doncaster Test For Auguste Rodin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Auguste Rodin Heads Field Of Eight For Doncaster’s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy

Aidan O'Brien has trimmed his overnight entry of eight down to two for Saturday's £200,000 G1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster, Europe's final juvenile Group 1 contest of the season. TDN Rising Star and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the mount of Ryan Moore and has been allocated stall six for the one-mile test. He is set to be joined by Navan maiden winner Salt Lake City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will depart from the eight box. The home defence is spearheaded by John and Thady Gosden's G3 Autumn S. runner-up Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), another TDN Rising Star who has drawn post seven. Ballydoyle also sends a contingent of three for the two Group 1 contests at Saint-Cloud, with Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to tackle the one-mile G1 Criterium International earlier in the afternoon and Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Covent Garden (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) declared for the 10-furlong G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. TDN Rising Star and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) leads the home defence in the former contest while just two French-trained runners–Strako (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and Sylphid (GB) (Zoffany {Ire})–line up against a seven-strong overseas challenge in the latter.

The post Auguste Rodin Heads Field Of Eight For Doncaster’s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Camelot’s Luxembourg In Control In The Futurity Trophy

Backed down to 4-6 favouritism as the heavy-hitters came out to play on Saturday, the new beau of Ballydoyle Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) gave his supporters a comfortable ride in Saturday's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster to head into winter quarters one of the leading members of his generation. Not the quicksilver he was when taking The Curragh's G2 Beresford S. on good going Sept. 25, the Westerberg colour-bearer instead moved through this soft-ground renewal with straightforward ease as Ryan Moore sought to collect without asking a serious question. After taking over passing two out, the rangy bay was quickly able to carve out safe advantage and extended that late on with a couple of light flicks with the whip to 1 3/4 lengths at the line. Compatriot Sissoko (GB) (Australia {GB}), who had helped force the pace, held on for second by a short head from Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) after Luxembourg had secured a record-equalling 10th edition for Aidan O'Brien. “He's a really smart horse, very scopey and he travelled easy,” Moore said. “I lost my cover at halfway and I had to keep going. He took me to the front and when I asked him the question, he just waited a bit. I grabbed hold of the him the last 100 yards and he found a bit more. We're delighted with what he's done and he's an exciting horse to look forward to. It couldn't have gone smoother and there's more improvement to come.”

Luxembourg had not looked an obvious star on his winning debut over this trip at Killarney July 14, but that 2 1/4-length defeat of Tuwaiq (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) was followed by a performance of genuine dash as he put 4 3/4 lengths between them in the Beresford. Demonstrating an ability to accelerate sharply as he dispatched that rival and the eventual runner-up Manu Et Corde (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), he was following a familiar path to this taken in recent times by the likes of the stable's St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Kept back initially by Ryan Moore racing on the wing as Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was kept honest by Sissoko on the front end, the imposing bay went forward as if in a piece of work at Rosegreen and at no stage did this look anything other than a comfortable stroll.

With the last four winners of this race going to win either and English or Irish 2000 Guineas the following spring, there is certain to be much debate over the intervening period as to the prospects of Luxembourg following in the steps of his sire who came back from this to land the Newmarket Classic in 2012. Given the snug nature of his two pattern-race wins, he goes into the recess with confidence high and ego boosted. “What he's able to do over four furlongs at home says that he probably wouldn't have any problems starting in the Guineas if that's what the lads wanted to do,” commented O'Brien, who was drawing level with Sir Henry Cecil in the race's annuls. “He would have preferred a stronger gallop, but he's a high cruiser and he got there a little bit after halfway. He was very babyish in front, but he's a lovely horse.”

“He's been coming along slowly and he's got a lot of class,” the Ballydoyle handler said. “Ryan was impressed with him. He's always been very exciting. The work he's been doing he shouldn't have been able to do over four furlongs, but that is what good horses usually do. He has a big, open stride, but that's what good horses have. Like human beings–the good athletes cover the most ground, don't they?”

Wayne Lordan said of Sissoko, “Donnacha has always thought he was a very nice colt. He only won his maiden a week and a bit ago. It was huge step up, but he looked like he could run very well and Donnacha was duly right. He feels like he's going to be a better 3-year-old. It was a very good run going into the winter with prospects for next season.” Roger Varian was pleased with the effort of Bayside Boy, who was third again as he had been in the G1 Dewhurst S. “He's a smart colt and ran a good race,” he commented. “He was a touch unlucky. When he needed room he didn't have any. I don't think it stopped him winning, but he'd have been a good second with a clear run. We'll winter him and aim him at a Newmarket Guineas, because I think he deserves that.”

Luxembourg, whose yearling full-brother was the highest-priced colt sold at this week's Goffs Orby Sale at €1.2million when secured by M V Magnier, is the third black-type performer out of Attire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) alongside the G2 Mooresbridge S. winner Leo de Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial and G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial S.-placed Sense of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The second dam Asnieres (Spend a Buck) is a half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}) who was responsible for Forgotten Voice (Ire) by Attire's sire who captured the G3 Glorious S. and Listed Wolferton H. before going over hurdles.

Attire is also kin to the G3 Prix de Flore winner Australie (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who produced the Listed Carlingford S. winner and G3 Diamond S.-placed Hawke (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and the Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr scorer Mireille (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), and to the dam of the Listed Criterium de Lyon scorer and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Private Jet (Fr) (Aussie Rules) and the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or winner and G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis second Princedargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). This the Wildenstein family of the G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix Ganay heroine Aqarelliste (Fr) (Danehill) and an abundance of top-level performers including Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill), Cape Verdi (Ire) (Caerleon) and Angara (GB) (Alzao). Attire's filly foal is also by Camelot.

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
VERTEM FUTURITY TROPHY S.-G1, £200,000, Doncaster, 10-23, 2yo, 8fT, 1:43.61, sf.
1–LUXEMBOURG (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
     1st Dam: Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Asnieres, by Spend a Buck
     3rd Dam: Albertine (Fr), by Irish River (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £118,400. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 3-3-0-0, $254,100. *1/2 to Leo de Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}), GSW-Ire, $154,153. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sissoko (Ire), 127, c, 2, Australia (GB)–Love Excelling (Fr), by Polish Precedent. (65,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Justin Carthy; B-John Connaughton (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. £44,780.
3–Bayside Boy (Ire), 127, c, 2, New Bay (GB)–Alava (Ire), by Anabaa. (200,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Teme Valley & Ballylinch Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £22,380.
Margins: 1 3/4, SHD, HD. Odds: 0.67, 9.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Hannibal Barca (Ire), Imperial Fighter (Ire), McTigue (Ire), Bullet Force (Ire), Royal Patronage (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

The post Camelot’s Luxembourg In Control In The Futurity Trophy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights