Tag: G3 John Porter S.

Juddmonte Nominate Early-Season Targets for Gosden Stars

Arrest (Ire), who filled the runner-up spot in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on his final start of 2023, is being prepared to make his return to action in the G3 John Porter S. at Newbury on Saturday, April 20.

Though no match for the high-class Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) on Town Moor, Arrest showed that he belongs at the top level with an admirable effort in defeat, having previously failed to give his running when sent off the 4/1 favourite for the G1 Derby at Epsom. The son of Frankel (GB) had put himself in the picture for the blue riband when running out a wide-margin winner of the G3 Chester Vase S. on the Roodee, while his runner-up finish in the St Leger was preceded by a second pattern-race victory when landing the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. at Newbury.

A return to the last-named venue is now on the agenda for the John and Thady Gosden-trained Arrest as he embarks on what his connections hope will be a productive four-year-old campaign in the top middle-distance events.

“He was consistent all year apart from the Derby, which I think was our own fault,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte. “John, Thady and myself got wrapped up a little bit in it being the Derby and we probably shouldn't have run as the ground was a bit quick and the track obviously didn't suit.

“He showed his true form on his next couple of starts and has wintered very well. John and Thady were very happy with him when speaking to them last week and the current plan, all being well, is to start in the John Porter. I think we will start off at middle-distances and see how we go. If he shows us in the middle of the summer he wants a bit further, then we will try it. But I think he has shown enough class at a mile and a half to suggest he can be competitive in those top mile-and-a-half races throughout the year.”

Mahon also issued a positive update on fellow Gosden trainee Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has been on the sidelines since finishing down the field in last year's G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury. Beaten just once in four starts prior to that, when runner-up in the 2022 G1 Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket, Laurel reportedly has the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot as her main target in the first part of the season.

“Laurel is back in training and John and Thady are happy with her,” Mahon added. “She's just having a slow preparation with a view to getting her to Royal Ascot later in the year, so we will probably just give her a prep run at the end of May or the beginning of June and then it will be straight to Royal Ascot if all is well with her. She is in good shape and seems to have got over her little injury, so with a bit of luck, if she stays injury free she could be an exciting prospect for the year.”

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Hurricane Lane Eclipsed As Grand Alliance Annexes John Porter

Susan Roy's homebred 4-year-old gelding Grand Alliance (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}–Endless Love {Ire}, by Dubai Destination) was winless in six starts since registering early-season scores at Chelmsford and Donaster last year and, with dual Classic hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) failing to fire on seasonal return, stepped forward to notch as shock victory in Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise S. (John Porter S.) at Newbury. Fourth over course and distance in October's G3 St Simon S. when last seen, the 18-1 outsider was patiently ridden from the outset and found a comfortable rhythm off the pace in fifth. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle in the straight, he launched his challenge passing the quarter-mile pole and surged clear, despite drifting towards the far-side rail, under a drive in the closing stages to secure a career high in game fashion. At the line, he was 2 1/4 lengths too good for Farhan (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who edged Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by a neck for second.

Grand Alliance, who ran 11th in last year's G1 Derby, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when drifting late in Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII and was gelded before running third behind Max Vega in the St Simon last time. “He has done that to a pretty decent field, they were a good bunch and he has done it pretty handily in the end,” said trainer Charlie Fellowes. “I don't think he was doing a huge amount out in front. He was on and off the bridle, but that's him and he has got a lot better than he was last year. He was particularly quirky last year, but he's settled down a lot. It was rattling quick when he threw that race away at Ascot and I think he goes on any ground. He has a [G2] Yorkshire Cup entry, but James [Doyle] said afterwards he wouldn't be jumping to step up further in trip. I think I need to have a sit down and talk to the owner and make a plan.”

Doyle, celebrating his 35th birthday in style, added, “He was on and off the bridle, but that is what he has does and he has always hinted he has been pretty good. He should have won at Royal Ascot last year, but he just hung across the track. He is very versatile ground-wise and he's got such small feet that it's amazing he does go on this type of heavy ground. He does go on fast ground, so hopefully we can have a bit of fun with him. On better ground he could possibly go up to a Yorkshire Cup trip, but on testing ground like it is today, I think this trip is about right.”

Notwithstanding Hurricane Lane's eclipse, the 6-4 favourite eased when beaten on unsuitable going, there was a downbeat air to the epilogue with the news G1 Derby, G1 St Leger and G1 Gold Cup runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) may have run his final race after finishing fourth. “He came in lame and has gone straight to the vets in Newbury,” revealed trainer Richard Hannon. “He has a bit of a history, so that's why he doesn't run too often. It doesn't look great and that's all we know at the moment. I would think it might be suspensory, but he has such a big heart he's run right to the line and that's why we all love him. He's been a big part of our lives for five years, he is a gentleman and a horse very close to his owner's heart. He is in the best place and he'll be fine. Whether he continues his racing career or not, is probably doubtful. He has given us several great days, it's been a pleasure to have him about and he is a very special horse.”

Pedigree Notes
Grand Alliance, who becomes the ninth black-type winner for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}), is the ninth of 11 live foals and one of four scorers out of an unraced half to the dual stakes-placed Wittgenstein (Ire) (Shamardal). The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-brother to MGSW G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., G1 Prix Jean Prat and G1 Prix de la Foret placegetter Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), Listed Radley S. third Dutch Romance (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Gleneagles (Ire). Their second dam, Listed Montrose Fillies' S. victrix and G3 Prix Saint-Roman runner-up La Vita E Bella (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}), is kin to the dual stakes scorer Bella Tusa (Ire) (Sri Pekan), herself the second dam of stakes-winning G3 Cornwallis S. runner-up Method (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE FINEST SURPRISE S. (JOHN PORTER S.)-G3, £70,000, Newbury, 4-22, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:45.57, sf.
1–GRAND ALLIANCE (IRE), 128, g, 4, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Endless Love (Ire), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: La Vita E Bella (Ire), by Definite Article (GB)
3rd Dam: Coolrain Lady (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Mrs Susan Roy (IRE); T-Charlie Fellowes; J-James Doyle. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 11-3-2-2, $165,149. *1/2 to Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), MGSW-Eng, MG1SP-Fr & G1SP-Ire, $881,382; and Dutch Romance (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Farhan (Ire), 128, h, 5, Zoffany (Ire)–Market Forces (GB), by Lomitas (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (25,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 58,000gns RNA 2yo '20 TATAHI; 150,000gns 4yo '22 TATAHI). O-James & Susan Cookson; B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Paul Kirby. £15,050.
3–Max Vega (Ire), 131, g, 6, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Paraphernalia (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€47,000 RNA Wlg '17 GOFNOV; €25,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR). O-The Pickford Hill Partnership; B-Tullpark Ltd (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £7,532.
Margins: 2 1/4, NK, 4. Odds: 18.00, 40.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mojo Star (Ire), Lone Eagle (Ire), Surrey Mist (Fr), Hurricane Lane (Ire). Scratched: Israr (GB).

 

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All Eyes On Chaldean In Greenham Return

Now that Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) has boosted the 2000 Guineas credentials of Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) when winning Newmarket's G3 Craven S., it is up to the star of Andrew Balding's Kingsclere base to strengthen them further in a fascinating G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. at Newbury.

Relentless during a 2-year-old campaign that took in York's G3 Acomb S., Doncaster's G2 Champagne S. and the all-important G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket, the chestnut offers perhaps the sternest competition to Ballydoyle's pair of loaded guns in a fortnight's time but first he has to get through soft ground again as he did at Doncaster.

“Like all of these trials, he's not 100% tuned up, but he's fit and well and ready to run a good race and we will see where that takes us,” Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon explained. “These trials are so tight, it's only two weeks to the Guineas from Newbury, so you don't want to go there 100% and have a hard race and leave your Guineas behind. He'll be 85 to 90% and in good form and as long as he runs a race with promise, no matter where he finishes, it will build us into the Guineas in two weeks time.”

 

Into The Heat Of Battle

Up against Chaldean is KHK Racing's unbeaten TDN Rising Star Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who overcame heavy ground in the G3 Horris Hill S. over this course and seven-furlong distance in October. Into black-type company for the first time, the similarly unbeaten money-spinner Streets Of Gold (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) and impressive Doncaster novice scorer Theoryofeverything (GB) (Frankel {GB}) add weight to a Classic trial far deeper than its Newmarket equivalent.

Thady Gosden said of the latter, “He is a smartly-bred colt, so we decided he should take his chance in a very competitive race. It is as strong a Greenham as we have seen for a while, with plenty of smart horses in there and obviously it will be only his second run of his life. He is a good-moving colt who obviously handled deep ground at Doncaster and he'll handle the ground at Newbury.”

 

Is She Remarqu-able?

If the Greenham is hot, the G3 Fred Darling S. is equally intriguing despite not boasting a standout performer like Chaldean. Any one of the unexposed fillies in the line-up could burst on to the 1000 Guineas scene and one who is attracting notable support is Julian Richmond-Watson's smooth Salisbury novice winner Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}). From the family of the Oaks heroine Look Here (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), the Ralph Beckett trainee has something to find on bare form but has abundant promise and will be doing all her best work at the finish. “She has done well this winter. She will need the run, but she is training well,” Beckett simply said.

 

Clarehaven Ambitions Clear

John and Thady Gosden are still looking for Guineas candidates and throw three at this with Godolphin's Yarmouth novice scorer Bridestones (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a daughter of White Moonstone (Dynaformer), and Lady Bamford's Doncaster maiden winner Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) the ones with genuine potential. Amo Racing's golden spell could continue with Magical Sunset (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who issued a five-length beating to another Gosden runner here in Fully Wet (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in the course-and-distance Listed Radley S. in October. It is worth remembering that she beat Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) on debut at Windsor in August, a point that Amo's racing manager Tom Pennington was ken to stress on Friday.

“To beat Sakheer on debut on quick ground at Windsor was impressive and she was a bit unlucky not to win the Goffs Million at the Curragh, she suffered some really bad interference at halfway. We thought she would run well at Newbury but we didn't think she would win by five lengths, so we were delighted by that. Richard [Hannon] is very happy with her and she has been showing him all the right signs at home.”

 

Making Up For Lost Time

In Newbury's opening G3 John Porter S., Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) bids to remind all what he is made of after a frustrating 2022 campaign. Denied a clear run at any stage by the lengthy dry spell, one of the previous season's leading lights is re-opposed by old foe Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who also showed up only briefly as a 4-year-old.

“You cannot fault the horse at home. He retains all his old zest and he looks great,” Charlie Appleby said of Hurricane Lane. “We will know early in his 5-year-old campaign whether or not the Arc is a realistic target.”

In front of Hurricane Lane in the 2021 Derby but behind him in the Irish equivalent and St Leger, Amo Racing's older flagship Mojo Star split the staying giants Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's G1 Gold Cup on what was to be a notable sole visit to the races last term.

Trainer Richard Hannon said, “He's done plenty of work and been away to gallop, so should be pretty straight. But this is his first run in a while, so he's entitled to improve for it and we're working back from the Ascot Gold Cup. I'm very happy with him and while the trip is on the short side, this is a good place to kick off his season.”

 

Big Guns Re-Emerge At Navan

At Navan, the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed S. sees a star cast assemble in Ballydoyle's G1 Middle Park S. runner-up The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and G2 Futurity S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) and The Aga Khan's G2 Railway S. winner Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), with Royal Ascot's sprints on the horizon.

Starting the road to the G1 Gold Cup at that meeting are the impressive G3 Loughbrown S. scorer Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Listed Vintage Crop S. which is often the launchpad for the stable's key stayers.

The 2023 Oaks contenders take in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil S., with another from Rosegreen in the Naas maiden scorer Jackie Oh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looking set to start favourite. Out of Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), the Triermore Stud colour-bearer encounters Flaxman Stables' Foniska (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of the 2015 Salsabil winner Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) from the same Jessica Harrington yard.

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