Tag: G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S.

Cloth Of Stars’ Dallas Star In Ballysax Shock

Relishing the testing ground at Leopardstown on Sunday, Amo Racing's Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}–Agathe Rare {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) sprung a 50-1 upset as he dominated the G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. Taken straight to the front by Seamie Heffernan, who recently announced his freelance status, the Adrian Murray-trained 50,000gns Tatts Book 2 graduate accepted a lead before forging ahead again passing two out. Staying on strongly to the line, the former Dominic ffrench Davis trainee who was last seen finishing a distant third in Newmarket's G3 Zetland S. in October beat the Ballydoyle pair The Euphrates (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by three lengths and 2 1/4 lengths respectively.

“We were on a mission today to see how we were going or where we were going to go next,” Murray said. “He kept finding for him. Twice during the race I thought he was done for and he kept coming back. I never thought I'd see the day where we would be competing in the same race as Aidan O'Brien. He'll be entered in all the big races now I suppose and we'll see where we go. I'll have to chat to Kia and Robson and see where they want to go.”

Pedigree Notes
Dallas Star, whose 2-year-old half-brother Virtuose Rare (Fr) (Van Beethoven) has yet to race, is the second black-type performer for the unraced Agathe Rare after the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick winner Apache Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The second dam is the G3 Prix de Psyche scorer and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane-placed Agathe (Manila), who was responsible for the Diane, G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix Ganay heroine Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill) and her GI Charles Whittingham Memorial H. and GI Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship-winning full-brother Artiste Royal (Ire). Agathe, who is also the ancestress of the top-level performers Ziyad (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Ame Bleue (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), is a daughter of the accomplished broodmare Albertine (Fr) (Irish River {Fr}) which links her to the luminaries Arcangues, Cape Verdi (Ire) (Caerleon) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), among others.

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
P W MCGRATH MEMORIAL BALLYSAX S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 4-7, 3yo, 10fT, 2:23.39, hy.
1–DALLAS STAR (FR), 131, c, 3, by Cloth Of Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Agathe Rare (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Agathe, by Manila
3rd Dam: Albertine (Fr), by Irish River (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€30,000 Wlg '21 ARQDEC; 50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; 180,000gns RNA 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Mme Eliane Dieuaide & SAS Domaine Billard Pere Et Fils (FR); T-Adrian Murray; J-Seamus Heffernan. €30,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 6-2-0-3, $57,632. *1/2 to Apache Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SW-Fr, $456,835. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Euphrates (GB), 131, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Auld Alliance (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (800,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Brant, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Smith; B-Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Illinois (Ire), 131, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 3, 2 1/4, 5HF. Odds: 50.00, 7.00, 0.73.
Also Ran: Deepone (GB), Ocean Of Dreams (Ire).

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Ulysses’s White Birch In Ballysax Upset

Conspicuous by his colour if not his presence in the betting market, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's recent acquisition White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}–Diagnostic {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) overhauled the customary representation of the O'Briens and Bolger in Leopardstown's G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. to provide the John Joseph Murphy stable with a red-letter day. Anchored at the tail of the field early by Shane Foley, the almost-white grey who had opened his account by 6 1/2 lengths over seven furlongs sporting Murphy's own silks at Dundalk in November loomed large out wide as Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) made his move in early straight. Hampered as that 4-5 favourite lugged right approaching the furlong pole which also affected the Joseph O'Brien-trained Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) before they went clear, the 22-1 shot had that bit extra inside the dying strides to prevail by half a length. There was eventually four lengths between Up And Under and Alexandroupolis, who could fare no better than third as he failed to bring up a Ballydoyle trial treble.

“We were very excited coming in, as we always thought he was a very serious horse and his work had been super,” the winning trainer said. “He was very impressive in his maiden and he did what we hoped he could do today. There is a fair bit more to come, as he has a big engine and I couldn't thank the owner enough for keeping him with us. His first run was on heavy ground at Naas and he finished out strong, so I was confident he'd get through it and the good ones can do it on anything. With the pace he showed at Dundalk, we weren't 100 per-cent confident he'd get a mile and a quarter but I don't think we'd be too worried going anywhere with him now. He's very well-balanced and moves very well, so I wouldn't be worried about going to Epsom–we'll have a serious chat with the owner and make a plan.”

Pedigree Notes
White Birch, who provided his sire with back-to-back renewals of the Ballysax after Piz Badile (Ire), is Cheveley Park breeding through and through. He is the second of two foals out of Diagnostic, who proved a useful sort in the red, white and blue of the Thompsons when winning four times at six and seven furlongs campaigned by William Haggas almost exclusively on the all-weather. Her dam Holistic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a full-sister to the Listed Kilvington Fillies' S. winner and stakes producer Prescription (GB) and a half to four further black-type winners headed by Clinical (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who proved especially adept on Epsom's unique contours when winning the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. before producing the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) runner-up and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. third Lockheed (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

Further back, White Birch boasts as one of his relatives the renowned Secreto mare Rahaam, who was not only responsible for the top-class grey Verglas (Ire) but also the G2 King's Stand S. winner and all-round sprinting talent Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who in turn threw the illustrious performer and producer Halfway To Heaven (Ire) by Cheveley Park's flagship sire Pivotal (GB). Her Galileo (Ire) daughters Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire) need no introduction, with the latter the dam of Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who at present at least looks the biggest obstacle to White Birch should connections take the grey down the Derby route.

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
P.W. MCGRATH MEMORIAL BALLYSAX S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, 10fT, 2:19.95, hy.
1–WHITE BIRCH (GB), 131, c, 3, by Ulysses (Ire)
     1st Dam: Diagnostic (GB), by Dutch Art (GB)
     2nd Dam: Holistic (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
     3rd Dam: Doctor's Glory, by Elmaamul
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (75,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 48,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Cheveley Park Stud Limited (GB); T-John Joseph Murphy; J-Shane Foley. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $42,029. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Up And Under (Fr), 131, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Hibiscus (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (220,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 130,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT; €130,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-Go Racing Limited; B-Floors Stud Roxburgh Estate Office (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Alexandroupolis (Ire), 131, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Jazz Cat (Ire), by Tamayuz (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. (240,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Mrs Fitri Hay (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: HF, 4, 1 3/4. Odds: 22.00, 7.50, 0.80.
Also Ran: Serious Challenge (Ire), Denmark (GB), Mohawk Chief. Scratched: Alder (Ire).

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Alexandroupois Centre Stage On Sunday

Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway in September won by the yard's Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) two years earlier.

Moore's Choice…

From the family of Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), staying is going to be Alexandroupolis's game and Ryan Moore places his confidence in him ahead of the unlucky Criterium Arqana runner-up Denmark (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Mohawk Chief (Quality Road), who captured the seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in October won by the stable's former talented Galileo duo Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) and Star Of India (Ire). Surprisingly, this renowned Derby trial has only supplied the Blue Riband winner once since 2002 and that was Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), not among the 11 Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to prevail which include subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire).

A Familiar Tale…

O'Brien and Moore combine earlier on the card with another 'TDN Rising Star' in Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., which unlike the proceeding G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S. is light on overall quality. Ridden too forcefully when second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August, Hans Andersen again did too much early when fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. behind Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Given that he had beaten that peer in his maiden at the Currragh, more patient tactics might see him regain his spark in a weak-looking renewal of this recently-upgraded contest.

The Story Is Still Young…

If the 2000 Trial lacks strength-in-depth, that cannot be said of the following 1000 Guineas Trial which could have a bearing on the picture for the Newmarket Classic and again it is Ballydoyle who feature prominently with the G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing in mind the improvement her dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) found from two to three, it could be that she is still some way off a peak and it would be no surprise if she can make a leap as the 2005 winner Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) did from here to Newmarket. The stable also has the 10-length Naas maiden winner Dame Kiri (Justify), while opposition to Ballydoyle includes Martin Schwartz's highly-regarded Roscommon auction series race scorer Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and John Oxley's Naas maiden winner Madly Truly (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) from the always-to-be-respected Paddy Twomey and Joseph O'Brien stables, respectively.

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First Black Type Winner For Ulysses As Piz Badile Prevails

Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien were responsible for six of the nine runners in Saturday's G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. and it was the pair of juniors who played out the finish with the youngest prevailing after a thriller involving Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) and Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Flaxman Stables Ireland's Piz Badile had been a half-length second to TDN Rising Star Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. here in October, but had a three-pound pull with that rival and a smoother trip tracking the leading quartet under cover throughout the early stages. Getting a charmed run up the inner to lead passing the two-furlong marker, the 4-1 second favourite was headed by Joseph's Buckaroo a furlong later but answered Gavin Ryan's call to get back in front near the line. There was a short head between them there and 3 3/4 lengths back to the 10-3 favourite Duke de Sessa, of whom Dermot Weld had warned would need the reintroduction and who was briefly held up in his run turning for home. “He's going to be better going a mile and a half, so it's nice to see him do that over 10 furlongs,” Donnacha said of the winner, the first in black-type company from the first crop of his Cheveley Stud-based sire (by Galileo {Ire}). “He's a beautiful horse and I think a lot of him, so I would have been disappointed if he wasn't there or thereabouts. He'll probably come back for the [G3] Derrinstown [Derby Trial] and then on to Epsom. He's still a big frame of a horse and I actually think he'll be better next year.”

Piz Badile, who had scored on his debut at Killarney in July and was considered unlucky on his only other start in the Eyrefield, hails from a high-class Niarchos family containing some of the operation's biggest names. He is the first foal out of the Listed Prix Zarkava winner and G2 Prix Corrida runner-up That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality), herself a daughter of the talented Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector) who was successful in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and a regular at the top table for Warren Place. Shiva, who is also the second dam of the G2 Gimcrack S. and G2 Champagne S. winner Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), is a full-sister to the G2 Prix Foy winner Limnos (Jpn) and a half to the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Light Shift (Kingmambo). She is the dam of Piz Badile's G1 International S. and G1 Eclipse S.-winning sire Ulysses himself, which gives this winner a 3×3 inbreeding to Lingerie (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). Also connected to the leading performers Main Sequence (Aldebaran) and Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), That Which Is Not has the 2-year-old colt Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB).

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
P.W. MCGRATH MEMORIAL BALLYSAX S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, 10fT, 2:09.80, gd.
1–PIZ BADILE (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Ulysses (Ire)
     1st Dam: That Which Is Not (SW & GSP-Fr, $116,533), by Elusive Quality
     2nd Dam: Shiva (Jpn), by Hector Protector
     3rd Dam: Lingerie (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien; J-Gavin Ryan. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $54,016. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Buckaroo (GB), 131, c, 3, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Roheryn (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP TYPE. O-Qatar Racing Limited; B-The Roheryn Partnership (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Duke de Sessa (Ire), 134, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Dark Crusader (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire).
(£60,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR). O/B-Newtown Anner Stud (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €5,000.
Margins: NO, 3 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 4.50, 3.30.
Also Ran: Bluegrass (Ire), Scriptwriter (Ire), Swan Bay (Ire), Absolute Ruler, Manu Et Corde (Ire), Vina Sena (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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