“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.

UPSET

50/1 outsider Dallas Star causes an almighty shock in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes @LeopardstownRC.

What on earth do we make of that?@amoracingltd | @AMurrayRacing pic.twitter.com/ltHqYlJjqr

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 7, 2024

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).

.

The post Cloth Of Stars’ Dallas Star In Ballysax Shock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“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).

The post Ulysses’s White Birch In Ballysax Upset appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.

The post Alexandroupois Centre Stage On Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.

The post First Black Type Winner For Ulysses As Piz Badile Prevails appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dr Zempf Returns at Leopardstown

Lyons has the ace in the pack in the same card's Listed Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., with Peter Brant's G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) making the long-awaited step up from six furlongs which promises to suit his running style. In what could be a big day for Co. Meath, the Summerhill base of Sheila Lavery also puts forward TDN Rising Star New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in this and he remains an exciting prospect forgiving his flop when eighth behind the re-opposing Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the course-and-distance G3 Killavullan S. in October.

Ballydoyle Brigade Out In Force

As ever, the O'Brien triumvirate are omnipresent across the Foxrock fixture, with patriarch Aidan fielding Guineas and Derby hopefuls aplenty. This is a huge year for Westerberg and the silks are carried by a potential Guineas move-and-shaker in TDN Rising Star Contarelli Chapel (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the 1000 Trial. Not seen since running below-par when fourth in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas in May, the half-sister to Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) retains the x-factor for connections who already have Tenebrism steered towards the May 1 Classic. Ryan Moore has begun his Irish campaign with gusto and after partnering her and Glounthaune will bid to provide O'Brien, Sr. with a dozen winners of the 10-furlong G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. on Bluegrass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The Brothers O'brien Hold Strong Hands on Saturday

Joseph's day revolves around Scott Heider's G2 Debutante S. and G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), but her three-pound penalty disadvantages her against Sacred Bridge and co. In the Ballysax, where the O'Brien clan are responsible for six of the nine runners, it is Donnacha who may have the edge with Flaxman Stables Ireland's Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}). He has a three-pound swing with Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), having finished a half-length second to that TDN Rising Star in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. here in October. Duke de Sessa's trainer Dermot Weld saddles another TDN Rising Star on the card in Moyglare's Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), making this a key afternoon for Rosewell House as it is for other major figures such as Jim Bolger and Jessie Harrington who also fire their opening salvos.

Agave Poised to Show True Ability in Penelope

At Saint-Cloud, the 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Penelope sees Andre Fabre and Olivier Peslier team up again with the impressive Mar. 10 Listed Prix Rose de Mai scorer Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). While the action at Leopardstown sees a notable rise in the temperature, the spectacle of this seemingly-revived partnership of two of France's most revered figures of the sport cannot be underplayed. Juddmonte's relative of Enable (GB) is as fascinating a 3-year-old filly as there is in France and this Prix de Diane prep will provide further enlightenment as to her ability, with Eric Feurtet's G3 Prix des Reservoirs runner-up Queen Trezy (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) lying in wait. What Fabre and Peslier bring to the Penelope in terms of experience and achievement is in stark contrast to the proverbial blooding of rookie Tim Donworth, who pitches Kirsten Rausing's authoritative Deauville debutante winner Allada (GB) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) into what amounts to a personal baptism of fire.

The Revenant Versus 'Spain' In The Edmond Blanc

Away from the 3-year-olds, there is the not-insignificant matter of the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc with Al Asayl France's The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) out to re-establish his dominion of the country's miling scene. He is met by Yeguada Centurion SL's TDN Rising Star Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), an intriguing contender tackling this trip for the first time having run so well when a close fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane.

The post Saturday Previews: The Lyons Share of the Action appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Bolshoi Ballet is a full-brother to the stable's classy stayer Southern France (Ire), who captured the G2 Sandown Classic and G3 Irish St Leger Trial winner and was third in both the G1 English and Irish St Legers, and to the dam of the GII Miss Grillo S. third Editor At Large (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The unraced dam Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa) is a half-sister to the G3 Prix Penelope winner and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Abbatiale (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) and her full-sister Aubergade (Fr) who was listed winner who was second in the Penelope. Abbatiale produced the four-times group 3 scorer Bewitched (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who was in turn responsible for the G3 Glorious S. scorer Pablo Escobarr (Ire) by Galileo and Oodnadatta (Ire) by his son Australia (GB) who was third in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Abbatiale's half-sister Attachante (Ire) by another son of Galileo in Teofilo (Ire) is the dam of last year's G3 Dortmund Grand Prix winner Aviateur (Fr) (Intense Focus). This is the Wildenstein family of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}) and the G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix Ganay heroine Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill), among others. Alta Anna's yearling filly is by No Nay Never.

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
P.W. MCGRATH MEMORIAL BALLYSAX S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 4-11, 3yo, 10fT, 2:11.61, gd.
1–BOLSHOI BALLET (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
     1st Dam: Alta Anna (Fr), by Anabaa
     2nd Dam: Anna Edes (Fr), by Fabulous Dancer
     3rd Dam: Abbey (Fr), by Jim French
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $53,813. *Full to Southern France (Ire), GSW-Aus, GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $618,689. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flying Visit (Ire), 134, g, 3, Pride of Dubai (Aus)–Fionnuar (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €10,000.
3–Taipan (Fr), 131, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Kenzadargent (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€500,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ms Fiona Carmichael; B-Chasemore Farm LLP (FR); T-Jessica Harrington. €5,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, NO, 3/4. Odds: 2.00, 33.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Lough Derg (Ire), Isle of Sark, Fernando Vichi (Ire), Wuqood (GB), Catena Zapata (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Bolshoi Ballet Stretches Ballydoyle’s Ballysax Tally appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post