Alenquer Bought By PMB Racing And Ballymore Stables For Oz Campaign

Group 1 winner Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}–Wild Blossom {Ger}, by Areion {Ger}), has been sold to Ballymore Stables and PMB Racing and will travel Down Under to compete in the Sydney autumn carnival, according to a tweet by PMB Racing's Paul Moroney.

Formerly trained by William Haggas for M.M Stables, the 4-year-old colt won the G3 Winter Derby this February and was a game victor of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May. In his latest effort, he was ninth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the wake of Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

“Delighted to announce that in conjunction with Ballymore Stables we have secured high-class European Group 1 winner Alenquer to race in Australia,” Moroney tweeted on Thursday morning. “[He] heads south next month to aim for the Sydney autumn carnival.”

Bred by Gestut Romerhof, the February foal was an €18,000 Arqana December weanling turned 80,000gns Tattersalls October yearling. He won both the G2 King Edward VII S. and G3 Classic Trial S. and was placed in both the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 International S. in 2021. His record stands at 13-5-2-1 and $1,035,568 in earnings.

He is one of two winners from three to race for the winning Wild Blossom, herself a daughter of Wind In Her Hair (Ger) (Turtle Island {Ire}), also the dam of the stakes winner Wilder Wein (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).

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‘I Had No Clue Who Adlerflug Was But I Just Loved Alenquer’ 

Few people will go through life fortunate enough to say they have had anything to do with a Group 1 winner–fewer still with one who cost just €18,000 as a foal.

But back in 2018, when not many were in a hurry to get behind the little-known Adlerflug (Fr) (In The Wings {GB}), one of the ill-fated sire's most talented sons went through the ring at Arqana for that paltry sum.

It was Gerry Burke's eye and pocket who saw something in Alenquer (Ger) long before the horse confirmed himself a colt of the highest standard in winning the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday, not that the man behind Glidawn Stud will take much credit. 

“Normally, when these horses end up becoming Group 1 winners, it's because they have been fortunate enough to have been in good hands, particularly when it comes to the trainer,” said Burke, deflecting the praise towards William Haggas.

“It's lovely when something like this happens as it gives people hope that you don't have to spend hundreds of thousands to find a Group 1 winner. 

“He [Alenquer] was a relatively inexpensive foal and was lucky for everyone he was associated with. He left me a few quid and has done very well for his new connections.” – Gerry Burke

Torquator Tasso (Ger), last season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, and In Swoop (Ire), had yet to fly the flag for Adlerflug by the time Burke re-offered Alenquer as a yearling, not that it mattered much.

Such was the quality of animal Burke was dealing with, Alenquer was accepted into Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale, and despite admitting to knowing next to nothing about the colt's sire, popular bloodstock agent Armando Duarte went to 80,000gns to secure him.

Picking up the story, Duarte, who purchased Alenquer on behalf of MM Stables, recalled, “Within three strides of seeing Alenquer walking out of his box, I thought 'wow, he is absolutely unbelievable.' He'd a great walk, a great shoulder, a lovely head with good ears and good eyes. “I went and looked at every other horse in that sale but he was the one who kept coming back to my mind. I think I looked at him 13 times. I had no clue who Adlerflug was but I just loved Alenquer.”

He added, “Bill O'Gorman, who taught me everything I know, always said to me that horses don't know how much they cost and it's a fact. He was a great mentor to me and taught me to look for the triangular shape between the withers, shoulders and the hip. Alenquer had that triangular shape that I look for.”

The Tattersalls Gold Cup has at times been rendered a damp squib, a soft touch if you like, but not Sunday's edition. 

Alenquer beat globetrotting stars State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Group 1 scorers Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) in recording his finest hour on the racetrack and Duarte believes the 4-year-old has more to offer at the highest level.

“To be honest, sometimes I have to pinch myself. Things like this don't happen very often so you have to enjoy it,” he said.

“It was as good a Tattersalls Gold Cup as I can remember. We like to give him a little break between races so I think we will go to the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown next. After that, we could look at the King George at Ascot, the Juddmonte, the Irish Champion Stakes or even the Arc. There are so many options. He's improving all the time and is exciting.” 

Alenquer was the only foal that Burke brought home from Arqana in 2018 and he counts himself “blessed” to have found him. Whether it was fate, or just sheer luck, Burke explained that Duarte was the first man to pull Alenquer out of his stable at Tattersalls and that Sunday's triumph marked the anniversary of another special day. 

The renowned pinhooker said, “I knew that Armando loved him. He was the first man to pull him out of the box. The horse was well liked by a lot of very good judges at the sales and it was nice to see the experts back up what we thought of him at home. 

“He was the only foal I bought at Arqana that year. I was blessed to find him. We sold Hula Angel (Woodman), who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas 23 years ago to the day of Alenquer's Gold Cup win, so that's how long it took me to find another one. We have been very blessed to have had him.”

Many good things come to those who deserve them least but in the case of Gwen Monneraye and Lucie Lamotte of La Motteraye, who consigned Alenquer at Arqana on behalf of Michael Andree, they have earned their place in the third and final chapter of the Alenquer story. 

Gwen and Lucie, who welcomed their first child Olivia into the world just three months ago, were zipping down to the south of France for a mini holiday when they pulled over to watch Alenquer storm to Curragh glory. 

Alenquer came from just the second crop of foals born at La Motteraye, the fast-developing stud in Normandy, with the broodmare band more than doubling since 2018 from 20 to 50 currently. 

Among them is Alenquer's dam Wild Blossom (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), happily in foal to Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal), which provided the young family with extra reason to celebrate over the weekend. 

Monneraye said, “Alenquer was born and reared on our farm. Michael Andree, of Gestut Romerhof, is the Coolmore representative in Germany and is also a very good client of ours. He sent the mare [Wild Blossom] in foal to Adlerflug and she has remained on our farm ever since.”

He added, “I can remember asking Michael about the stallion as I didn't know a lot about Adlerflug. He was a nice horse to be bringing to the sales but people were not aware of Adlerflug and he made only €18,000. His statistics are looking very smart now.

“We work hard every day and to get a result like that was amazing. We were actually on the road to go on a little holiday when we pulled over to watch the race on our phone. It was the best start ever to a holiday and we drank a lot of champagne when we arrived.”

Rare are days where a horse like Alenquer comes along. They need to be celebrated and Burke, Duarte, Andree, Monneraye and Lamotte certainly have.

The post ‘I Had No Clue Who Adlerflug Was But I Just Loved Alenquer’  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Adlerflug’s Alenquer Prevails In King Edward Test

After Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) had provided William Haggas with solace for having to watch the G1 Epsom Derby take place without his star colts, M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) also came to Royal Ascot to add further consolation in Friday's G2 King Edward VII S. There is no doubt he would have played a major role in this year's blue riband on the bare form of his defeat of Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial, but after a subsequent setback this was the path he was set upon and he duly regained all momentum in the 'Ascot Derby'. Always comfortable racing in rear in the rain-soaked ground, the 13-8 favourite was sent forward by Tom Marquand to tackle Tasman Bay (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) inside the final two furlongs and he was already in command as they passed the furlong pole. At the line, he had 1 1/2 lengths to spare over that imposing rival, with Title (GB) (Camelot {GB}) 2 1/2 lengths back in third. “When a horse does that, with a subsequent Derby winner behind, everyone expects a high level afterwards and he made my life easy,” the winning rider said. “William showed that patience is a virtue yesterday and it shows the wisdom he brings–they could have supplemented this horse and thrown him in the deep end in the Derby but instead came here and I think looking back in a few months time it will have been a blessing. On this ground, saving energy is key and I was really happy with the rhythm he found. The race opened out beautifully from the three and I always felt like I had plenty of horse to go for. It's onwards and upwards for him, I think.”

Alenquer, who was also second in the Listed Ascendant S. on testing ground at Haydock in September, could yet be Classic-bound according to Maureen Haggas. “He could easily be a [Sept. 11 G1] St Leger horse, but it's hard to know really,” she said. “He wasn't stopping here, so I think we will just see how it goes. He didn't do much wrong last year, but he was probably a bit immature still. He surprised us a little bit at Sandown, but he's more grown up this year. He's a bit of a boy at home, but at the races this year he's been really professional and focused and he's definitely going the right way.”

“I think he was a bit fresh though, a little bit keen the first furlong, but once Tom had him in behind and settled, he was great. To be honest, we didn't know whether the ground would suit or not, but this horse is German and German horses often go in the slow ground, so we thought we'd give it a go and find out. I think he is pretty versatile–just a thoroughly nice, tough, genuine horse and a good guy to have around. He's got a pretty good action on him–I wouldn't say he was ground-dependent.” William added, “He isn't in the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris, but we could go there. It is such a pain getting to France at the minute, but it's on July 14, so it's pretty good timing. We could supplement, because it's a good race. He's not a 'today' horse–he's very much for the longer term as well, so we've lots of exciting options.”

Sir Mark Todd said of Tasman Bay, “That was a super run. He is such a lovely horse–he is huge, with a massive stride. He is lovely to ride. He just got a bit keen early on, but when he kicked I thought he might have had it but the other horse just came at him. He is a beautiful mover and seems to act on anything.”

Alenquer is the second foal out of Wild Blossom (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), who is a half-sister to the Listed Junioren-Preis winner Wilder Wein (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and a granddaughter of the influential Waitotara (Ire) (Habitat). The second dam of Hong Kong's champion stayer Mr Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and the excellent producer Wild Romance (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}), she is therefore the ancestress of the likes of the G3 Prix Miesque winner and G1 Preis der Diana runner-up White Rose (Ger) (Platini {Ger}), the G2 EuropaChampionat winner Wild Side (Ger) (Sternkonig {Ire}), her triple group-winning daughter Wild Coco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and the G2 Oettingen-Rennen scorer Vintager (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Wild Blossom also has a 2-year-old filly by Zarak (Fr) and a yearling colt by Galiway (GB) bought for €100,000 by Haras de Meautry at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £173,400, Ascot, 6-18, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:41.31, hy.
1–ALENQUER (FR), 126, c, 3, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Wild Blossom (Ger), by Areion (Ger)
2nd Dam: Wind in her Hair (Ger), by Turtle Island (Ire)
3rd Dam: Waitotara (Ire), by Habitat
(€18,000 Wlg '18 ARQDE; 80,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-M M Stables; B-Gestut Romerhof (FR); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £98,335. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $183,498. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tasman Bay (Fr), 126, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Purely Priceless (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€220,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Sir Peter Vela; B-SARL de Chambure, Haras d'Etreham & SARL Ecurie des Charmes (FR); T-Sir Mark Todd. £37,281.
3–Title (Ire), 126, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Danehill's Dream (Ire), by Danehill. (€175,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Charles Church); B-Llang Bloodstock (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £18,658.
Margins: 1HF, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.63, 10.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: The Mediterranean (Ire), Gear Up (Ire), Belloccio (Fr). Scratched: Gloucestershire, Yibir (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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