Kinross Denies Isaac Shelby To Register A Second Triumph In The Lennox

The field for Tuesday's G2 World Pool Lennox S. at Goodwood was reduced by a third after three of the nine original nominees were withdrawn, but nonetheless produced a thrilling finish in which Marc Chan's 2021 winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Ceilidh House {GB}, by Selkirk) defeated G1 Poule d'Essai de Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to become the third dual winner of the seven-furlong contest.

Last term's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint hero was swiftly into stride from the inside stall and raced along the rail in third before slipping to fourth at halfway. Shaken up at the cutaway with a quarter-mile remaining, the 10-11 favourite was ridden along to launch his bid entering the final furlong and kept on well under continued urging to withstand the persistent challenge of Isaac Shelby by a neck. The pair drew three lengths clear of the remainder headed by last term's G2 Vintage S. winner and 28-1 outsider Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

“Kinross has spent a good chunk of the last 48 hours with his left fore in a bucket because he trod on a stone,” trainer Ralph Beckett said of last year's runner-up and GI Breeders' Cup Mile third. “He's got very, very thin soles and he feels every pinprick, but when he gets here he loves it. He should have won it last year, he got trapped in and got there too late, but what a horse to own and what a horse to train. He likes soft ground because he is out of a Selkirk mare, but over a mile he handles it quick and we'll take the same route [as last year] again. He'll go to York, he might go to Doncaster for the [G2] Park S. and I hope he'll go to Longchamp for the [G1 Prix de la] Foret, the [G1 British Champions] Sprint at Ascot, and Santa Anita [for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile]. He is a gelding, that's what he's there for and he's got to dance every dance. He could go to Hong Kong, particularly with his owner being Hong Kong-based, and there is an idea that that might happen as well. We might have to duck one of the races here to ensure he gets there at the end of the year, but it's a good problem to have.”

Frankie Dettori, who also annexed the 2006 renewal aboard Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic), added, “Kinross is my ATM machine and he keeps bringing in the money every year. He is super consistent, he's versatile and seven furlongs is his favourite trip. All the credit goes to the Beckett team and this horse. He is a star. He's good for Marc [Chan], who is not here today, but I'm sure he is watching on World Pool. I think Marc wants to run him in Hong Kong at the end of the season, so fingers crossed for that. There are plenty of other targets, including the race he won last year at Ascot, and he loves the soft ground although he ran a great race in the Breeders' Cup on firm.”

Reflecting on the performance of Isaac Shelby, Brian Meehan said, “I am disappointed, obviously, but I'm very pleased with my horse and he ran all the way to the line. I don't know what the official distance is, but he's that close to a genuine Group 1 horse. Sean [Levey] was very happy and said it was a solid run. I guess the cutaway helped Kinross a little bit, but he's a wonderful Group 1 horse and we were not far away. My horse is a 3-year-old and relatively lightly raced. He is very good and only going to get better. We space his runs out, so I've got to talk to the owners and see what they'd like to do. I think the Foret is an obvious target, but we'll see.”

Charlie Fellowes was thrilled with the effort of Marbaan and commented, “We have been beaten by two proper Group 1 horses and I am delighted with that. I think Jamie [Spencer] felt, had the ground been just a bit quicker, we might have been able to get a little bit closer to them, but he's run a cracker. I have always felt that he is one of those horses who is better ridden with a little bit of confidence and a little bit of patience. He has plenty of entries and I need to have a look at the calendar.”

Pedigree Notes

Kinross, third in last month's G1 July Cup when last seen, is the fifth of six foals and one of four scorers produced by Listed Gillies Fillies' S. victress Ceilidh House (GB) (Selkirk), herself kin to the dam of G3 Solario S. winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up First Selection (Spa) (Diktat {GB}). His dual stakes-winning second dam Villa Carlotta (GB) (Rainbow Quest), herself a daughter of multiple stakes-winning G3 Rockfel S. second Subya (GB) (Night Shift) from the family of G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Law Society (Alleged), is a half-sister to GI Hollywood Derby second Battle of Hastings (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and to the stakes-placed dam of South African Grade 1 performers Mljet (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) and Felix The Cat (SAf) (Black Minnaloushe).

 

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
WORLD POOL LENNOX S.-G2, £180,000, Goodwood, 8-1, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:28.75, g/s.
1–KINROSS (GB), 131, g, 6, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Ceilidh House (GB) (SW-Eng), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Villa Carlotta (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Subya (GB), by Night Shift
O-Marc Chan; B-Lawn Stud (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £102,078. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & Fr, GISP-US, 25-9-1-3, $1,600,479. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Isaac Shelby (GB), 125, c, 3, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Kentucky Belle (Ire), by Heliostatic (Ire). (£92,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Elaine Chivers (GB); T-Brian Meehan. £38,700.
3–Marbaan (GB), 125, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Zahoo (Ire), by Nayef. O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. £19,368.
Margins: NK, 3, 3/4. Odds: 0.91, 2.50, 28.00.
Also Ran: Holguin (GB), Indestructible (Ire), Audience (GB). Scratched: Al Suhail (GB), Jumby (Ire), Pogo (Ire).

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Haatem A Black-Type First For Phoenix Of Spain In Goodwood’s Vintage

Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}–Hard Walnut {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) was the most experienced of nine contenders lining up for Tuesday's G2 Nicholson Gin Vintage S. at Goodwood and paid a handsome compliment to his G2 Superlative S. conqueror City Of Troy (Justify) with a game success in the seven-furlong test. The March-foaled bay becomes the first stakes winner for freshman sire Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire) and a first winner of the contest for Richard Hannon, whose father Richard senior collected five editions.

The 9-4 favourite was positioned within range of the leaders in a handy fifth after a slick getaway. Making smooth progress once into the straight, he was ridden to seize control approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly under a drive to withstand the late threat of Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by a length. Ballydoyle representative Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) threatened out wide passing the furlong pole and ran on well to finish a neck further adrift in third.

“Haatem is a lovely horse, he deserved that after running so well in the Coventry and the Superlative and I am very pleased,” said Hannon. “I thought this was his day and could be his Derby, but he will get better as the year goes on. He is a horse big enough for next year and is not just about being a 2-year-old. He is a Group 2 winner now, so obviously we will have to look at Group 1 races, but he is getting better. He has to improve to take on the real big guys, but he is doing that with every run.”

Winning rider Sean Level added, “On paper, Haatem deserved to win this. For a big horse, he hasn't missed any dances and he's been unlucky to run into a couple of exceptional horses without getting his head in front. He ran into an exceptional horse of Mr O'Brien's last time, his form stood out today and I would have been disappointed if he did get beaten. He is a big horse with plenty of scope who will keep improving. It is a sharp track here and, as much as he has a classy way of travelling, I did feel he was a bit workmanlike through the line. He gave the impression that going up to a mile might get a little bit more out of him. He doesn't have anything else to prove this year, but we'll proceed with time in mind. With a winter on him, he could be anything next year.”

The runner-up's trainer Charlie Hills commented, “Iberian is a really nice horse and William [Buick] was very impressed by him. Obviously being drawn nine, he had to be patient with him and he has run a great race. I think we'll probably look at the [G2] Champagne S. and, if he goes well there, the [G1] Dewhurst. That softer surface probably blunted the speed out of him. He had them covered, but when William asked he just floundered a little bit on the [good-to-soft] going. I am pleased he stepped up to show us that he's up to this level.”

Pedigree Notes
Haatem, who had previously run fifth in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S., is the fifth of six foals and one of three scorers out of a dual-winning half-sister to G3 Premio Carlo Vittadini and G3 Premio del Giubileo runner-up Father Frost (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Listed Prix Pelleas, Listed Doncaster Mile and Listed Foundation S. placegetter Born To Be Alive (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}). His second dam Yaria (Ire) (Danehill), herself a daughter of G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Yara (Ire) (Sri Pekan), is a winning sibling of dual stakes scorer Emirates Gold (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}), Listed Prix Melisande victrix Yarastar (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Yario (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Haatem, half-brother to a weanling filly by Inns Of Court (Ire), hails from the family of G1SW sires Homme De Loi (Ire) (Law Society) and Mister Majestic (Ire) (Tumble Wind).

 

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
NICHOLSON GIN VINTAGE S.-G2, £175,000, Goodwood, 8-1, 2yo, 7fT, 1:30.15, g/s.
1–HAATEM (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Phoenix Of Spain (Ire)
1st Dam: Hard Walnut (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Yaria (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Yara (Ire), by Sri Pekan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€28,000 RNA Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 27,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Hyde Park Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £99,243. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-2, $183,318. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Iberian (Ire), 129, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Bella Estrella (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Teme Valley & Ballylinch Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills. £37,625.
3–Mountain Bear (Ire), 129, c, 2, No Nay Never–Holy Alliance (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £18,830.
Margins: 1, NK, HF. Odds: 2.25, 3.33, 11.00.
Also Ran: Golden Mind (Ire), Son (GB), Witness Stand (GB), Soldier's Gold (Ire), Thunder Blue (GB), Spanish Phoenix (Ire).

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Goodwood’s Major Sprint Shows Diverse Influence of Speed in the Breed

   A look back at the winners of Goodwood's King George S. illustrates how sprint lines permeate all areas of the breed, from fellow sprinters to Derby winners.

The win of Khaadem (Ire) in the G2 King George S. at the Qatar 'Glorious' Goodwood Festival has further enhanced the great record in the race of his trainer Charlie Hills, who has now saddled the winner in five of the past six years. Hills has, of course, been helped by having had the mighty Battaash (Ire) under his care, that great horse being responsible for four of those five victories. Even though Battaash at his best was in a class of his own, there are plenty of similarities between these two very fast horses, over and above being sons of Dark Angel (Ire) ideally suited by Goodwood's speed-favouring sprint course, over which Khaadem won the Stewards' Cup three years ago.  Another obvious similarity is that they are both geldings. In an age when so many fast colts are retired to stud early in life, it's no surprise to find geldings winning the King George S. However, that situation is an aberration from the race's overall profile, its roll of honour containing many horses, both male and female, who have made a sizeable contribution to the development of the breed.

First run in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V, the King George S. didn't take long to produce an outstanding winner because Tetratema (Ire) (The Tetrarch {Ire}) won it as a 3-year-old in 1920 before taking the prize again the following year. He had been Britain's dominant 2-year-old of 1919, when he had been the highest prize-money earner of the season thanks to an unbeaten six-race campaign which had begun in the National Breeders' Produce S. at Sandown and ended in the Middle Park S. at Newmarket. Although his stamina limitations were exposed in 1920 in the Derby and the Eclipse S., he was outstanding at distances up to a mile, his two King George S. victories being augmented by triumphs in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and Fern Hill S. at Ascot at three, and the King's Stand S. at Ascot and July Cup at Newmarket at four.

Retiring to stand alongside his father at Ballylinch Stud, Tetratema became champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland in 1929. He sired numerous fast horses including the 1931 1000 Guineas heroine Four Course (GB); 1927 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Fourth Hand (Ire); the brilliant fillies Tiffin (GB) and Myrobella (Ire), both of whom completed the July Cup/King George S. double; St. James's Palace S. winners Royal Minstrel (GB) and Mr Jinks (Ire); and 1938 King's Stand S. winner Foray (GB). Longer-term, his son Theft (GB), runner-up in the 1935 2000 Guineas, was champion sire of Japan for the five seasons from 1947 to 1951 inclusive; his daughter Una (Ire) produced the great sprinter/miler and sire Palestine (Ire); and another daughter Queen Of The Nore (Ire) was the granddam of Horama (Ire) from whom the Moller brothers developed the family which is responsible for the Derby winners Teenoso and Sir Percy (GB). The aforementioned Myrobella did even better at stud than she had done on the racecourse, producing King George VI's 1942 2000 Guineas winner Big Game (GB). She subsequently became ancestress of the Classic winners Snow Knight (GB), Chamossaire (GB), Linamix (Fr), the last two of this trio became champion sires.

Outstanding though Tetratema was, his claim to being the best grey sired by The Tetrarch to win the King George S. did not last long because in 1924 the race was won by HH Aga Khan III's 'Flying Filly' Mumtaz Mahal (GB). A great racehorse, she ultimately became an even greater broodmare. Her sons included the brilliantly fast Mirza II (Fr) and the 1934 Sussex S. winner Badruddin (Fr) but ultimately it was her daughters, headed by Nasrullah's dam Mumtaz Begum (Fr), who made the most lasting impact. Her other daughters included Abernant's dam Rustom Mahal (Fr) and Mahmoud's dam Mah Mahal (Fr). In subsequent generations the celebrities descending from her have included Royal Charger (GB), Migoli (GB), Petite Etoile (GB), Nishapour (Fr), Shergar (Ire), Habibti (Ire), Octagonal (NZ), Alamshar (Ire), Zarkava (Ire), Igugu (SAf)  and Golden Horn (GB), as well as the great matriarchs Eight Carat (GB) and Alruccaba (Ire).

Further Mumtaz Mahal memories flooded back to Goodwood after the Second World War when her grandson Abernant (GB) (Owen Tudor {GB)) took the King George S. in both 1949 and 1950. In both years he preceded the victory by taking the July Cup and followed it up by winning the Nunthorpe S. at  York. Along with his older close relative Tudor Minstrel (both horses were by the Hyperion stallion Owen Tudor and both had Mumtaz Mahal's dam Lady Josephine as their third dam), Abernant was one of two brilliant horses trained in Beckhampton shortly after the Second World War. Tudor Minstrel became the more influential sire of the pair, largely through his son Sing Sing (GB) and that horse's sons Song (GB) and Jukebox (GB), who were lynchpins of British sprint breeding for years. Abernant, though, also made his mark, most notably via the Classic-winning fillies Abermaid (GB) and Even Star (GB).

Mumtaz Mahal was again invoked by the 1956 King George S. result when the prize went to HH Aga Khan III's brilliant filly Palariva (GB) (Palestine {GB}). A daughter of Nasrullah's brilliantly fast full-sister Rivaz (GB), Palariva was trained in France by Alec Head but did most of her racing in England, including winning at Goodwood as a 2-year-old (when she was awarded the Molecomb S. by the stewards after passing the post in second place) before returning to Sussex 12 months later to land the King George S. She subsequently made a massive contribution to the Aga Khan Studs as granddam of the 1973 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix Jacques le Marois winner Kalamoun (GB) who was the mainstay of the organisation's sires' roster through the 1970s despite dying after only five years at stud. Kalamoun's influence has lasted well into the 21st century through his Prix Jacques le Marois-winning son Kenmare (Fr), most obviously courtesy of Kenmare's grandson Kendargent (Fr).

Several of the colts who won the King George S. from the late 1950s into the 1970s became decent stallions, most notably the Michael Jarvis-trained So Blessed (GB), successful in the race as a 3-year-old in 1968. A son of the Nasrullah stallion Princely Gift (GB), So Blessed became an excellent sire of sprinters from his base at Lord Howard de Walden's Thornton Stud in Yorkshire. One of the many fast horses whom he sired was the 1977 King George S. winner Scarcely Blessed. Trained for her breeder Tim Holland-Martin of Overbury Stud by Fulke Johnston Houghton, Scarcely Blessed was a terrific filly and then became an excellent broodmare once she returned to Overbury, most obviously producing College Chapel (GB) (Sharpo [GB}) who brought down the curtain on the long-running Vincent O'Brien/Lester Piggott Royal Ascot show with his victory in the G3 Cork & Orrery S. (now G1 Platinum Jubilee S.) in 1993.

Five years before Scarcely Blessed's victory, the King George S. had been won by a filly who became an even more notable broodmare. The redoubtable Stilvi (GB) (Derring Do {GB}) was trained in Palace House in Newmarket by Bruce Hobbs and then became a stalwart at stud for her owner George Cambanis, producing a galaxy of Hobbs-trained stars for him including the 1976 G1 Middle Park S. winner Tachypous (GB) (Hotfoot {GB}), 1978 G1 Dewhurst S. winner Tromos (Busted {GB}) and 1980 Irish Derby winner Tyrnavos (GB) (Blakeney {GB}).

The race's next winner after Stilvi was the charismatic Sandford Lad, an 1,800-guinea yearling who became a champion sprinter from Ryan Price's Findon stable. He became only modestly successful at Airlie Stud, perhaps his most notable son being Spindrifter (Ire), a 13-time winner as a 2-year-old in 1980 when trained by Sir Mark Prescott. More successful were some of the colts who won later in the '70s including Auction Ring (Bold Bidder), the Cheveley Park Stud stalwart Music Boy (GB) (Jukebox {GB}) and the remarkable Ahonoora (GB) (Lorenzaccio {GB}). The latter won the Stewards' Cup at three from Brian Swift's Epsom stable and the King George S. at four when trained in Newmarket by Frankie Durr before becoming a world-class stallion, most notably responsible for the equally influential sire Indian Ridge (Ire) and for the 1991 Derby winner Dr Devious (Ire).

The next horse to complete the Stewards' Cup (as a 3-year-old in 1982) and King George S. (at four) double was the enormously popular David Chapman-trained, David 'Dandy' Nicholls-ridden Soba (GB) (Most Secret {GB}). Bred and raced by Chapman's sister Muriel Hills, Soba showed very little as a 2-year-old, her only placing from nine starts in 1981 coming when she finished third, carrying bottom weight, in a nursery at Edinburgh (now Musselburgh) on her final run of the year. However, she improved out of all recognition over the winter, winning 11 of her 14 starts at three. She is generally held to have ended up as a disappointing broodmare but actually produced nine winners from 10 runners as well as the unraced Sadler's Wells filly Oh So Well (Ire), who became the dam of the 1999 G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Gran Premio di Milano winner Dark Moondancer (GB) (Anshan {Ire}).

Another Goodwood specialist was the 1985 King George S. winner Primo Dominie (GB) (Dominion {GB}), who had won the G2 Richmond S. at the meeting the previous year. He became a successful sprinting sire when standing alongside Music Boy at Cheveley Park Stud. The following year's winner Double Schwartz (Ire) (Double Form {Ire}) was also a terrific sprinter, going on to take the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye, while two years later the race was won by the outstanding filly Silver Fling (The Minstrel), another to follow up in France's top sprint. Her trainer, Ian Balding, subsequently won the King George S. with an even greater sprinting mare: the brilliant Lochsong, successful in both 1993 and '94 (in both of which years she too won the Prix de l'Abbaye) after taking the Stewards' Cup in 1992.

Lochsong became a useful broodmare for her owner/breeder Jeff Smith, without (inevitably) producing anything of her own calibre. That was not the case, though, for a couple of other very fast fillies who won the race soon afterwards: Land Of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), the King George S. winners of 1998 and 2000. The former is now best known as the dam of the superb Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}) and the latter as the dam of 2008 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and thus as the granddam of seven-time Group 1 winner Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and her three-time Group 1-winning full-sister Rhododendron (Ire).

The King George S. is almost certainly in a lull as regards being a source of star producers, male and female, as eight of its last 10 runnings have been won by geldings. (The jury is still out, though, on George Strawbridge's filly Suesa (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) who won it last year and for whom an interesting breeding career presumably awaits). However, it's still a race which highlights speed at its purest, and we can now look forward to York's Ebor Meeting where Khaadem will aim for the mighty Goodwood/York double completed in the Nunthorpe S. by so many great sprinters including Mumtaz Mahal, Abernant, Mickey The Greek (GB), Right Boy (Ire), Floribunda (GB), Polyfoto (GB), So Blessed and, most recently, Khaadem's erstwhile stablemate Battaash.

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Seven Days: Homebred Heroes

Goodwood's trio of Group 1 races all went the way of owner-breeders, results that are both pleasing to see for the people who invest so much thought and money into the sport over generations, and which also highlight how hard it can be for prospective owners to get into horses at the top level.

This season, ten European Classics have been won by homebreds, with two of those, Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), having been offered for sale by their breeders but bought back. Only 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) and Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) have actually changed hands in a sale ring, the former for 60,000gns as a breezer and Desert Crown for 280,000gns as a yearling. 

The victory of Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Goodwood Cup continued a banner anniversary year for his breeder Eva Bucher-Haefner of Moyglare Stud, who races him in partnership with the Coolmore team as a result of a foal-share agreement. Following the 4-year-old's victory in the Gold Cup at Ascot, and the emphatic Irish 1,000 Guineas success of Homeless Songs (Ire), it brings the tally of 2022 Group 1 wins to three for Moyglare, and counting. 

For this observer, Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has now lit up two seasons, but his absence as a 2-year-old and lack of Classic performance means that he has not quite been taken to the hearts of many as a horse of his calibre should. One of the many irksome things about social media is the 'Yeah, but what did he beat?' brigade, who clearly don't reserve their weary cynicism solely for Baaeed but were out in force last Wednesday after he posted his ninth successive victory. 

His trainer William Haggas is all too aware of the likely fleeting nature of Baaeed's tenure at the top, and in his stable. He commented at Goodwood, “I said this to Jim in the paddock, we've got him for two more races after this so let's just enjoy him and make the most of him, because he will most likely go to stud at the end of the year and I'll spend the rest of my training career trying to find the next one.”

Indeed. Here's hoping he turns up at York for the Juddmonte International and continues to delight his owner Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum by adding another dimension to his record with a win over ten furlongs. Baaeed is a mouthwatering stallion prospect, and will, thankfully, be one of the sons of Sea The Stars who does not get whisked off to a National Hunt stud. 

And then there was Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}). What a thrilling filly she has been so far for Imad Al Sagar. This sight of him almost skipping from the grandstand to the winner's enclosure to greet his star at Goodwood on Thursday after the Nassau S. was to underline the pure joy a horse of such quality, particularly a filly, can deliver for a breeder. Nashwa's second Group 1 victory after the Prix de Diane was as much about the future of Blue Diamond Stud and elevation in stature that the eventual inclusion of a Classic winner in the broodmare band can bring. But for now, and next season, she races on, likely heading to Paris next for the Prix de l'Opera, followed by America and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Godspeed.

Classic Leaders

The French Classic winners Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire) and Nashwa are certainly doing their best to uphold the 3-year-old division this season after disappointments and defections from some of the leading players, including the injured Derby winner Desert Crown, who may or may not be back before the end of the season. 

In Germany, Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) looks a special colt for Helmut von Finck and, like Vadeni and Nashwa, he has now added a Group 1 victory over ten furlongs against his elders to his German Derby success. 

Of course it is not all about the Classic winners, and two particularly plucky 3-year-old fillies stood out at Goodwood as being worthy of praise. The hardy George Boughey-trained Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) made ten starts as a juvenile, from as early as May 19, and won the Woodcote at Epsom on her third appearance. She ran right though to the end of October, winning the G3 Prix Six Perfections and earning four Group placings, including when third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. Not bad for a 4,000-guinea Book 4 purchase, and I must admit when I watched her run last in the gruelling deep dirt of the Saudi Derby in February I thought it might well be the last we saw of the light-framed filly. Happily, I was very wrong indeed. 

A good freshen-up through the early spring clearly worked wonders and, along with other notable representatives from her stable, especially Cachet, Oscula has continued to advertise the talents of her young trainer. Since returning to Epsom this Derby weekend to finish second in the Listed Surrey S., the Nick Bradley Racing-owned filly has not been out of the places in black-type contests. Her tally of wins has increased to five, with her late-lunge of a victory in the G3 Oak Tree S. being typical of her never-say-die manner, coming just four days after she was beaten a nose by Jumbly (GB) in a Group 3 at Ascot. Oscula is a lovable wonder.

More sparingly campaigned but still noteworthy is Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), who twice beat Oscula as a 2-year-old when winning the G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. She, too, notched a Group 1 placing that year, taking third in the Cheveley Park S. behind Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). 

Launched straight into the 1,000 Guineas for her 3-year-old debut, the Lanwades homebred ran a creditable fifth, less than three lengths behind Cachet, and she was a throughly deserving winner of the G2 Lennox S. at Goodwood when dropping back to seven furlongs after gaining yet more Group 1 black type in the Falmouth S.

It could be a very exciting Arc weekend for Kirsten Rausing if Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lines up for the main event and Sandrine tackles the G1 Prix de la Foret.

Coventry a Corker in Hindsight

The Coventry S. form is looking jolly good, isn't it? The winner, Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), is two-for-two and heads next to the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at the Curragh on Saturday for his first appearance since Royal Ascot.

While he's been at home with trainer Archie Watson, the rivals he left toiling in his wake on June 14 have been busily proving themselves here, there and everywhere. Runner-up Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has subsequently won the G2 July S., in which he was chased home by Show Respect (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who had been 11th in the Coventry.

Third-placed Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) landed the G2 Richmond S. on Thursday, and Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), who was fourth at Ascot, has won the G2 Prix Robert Papin as well as being beaten a short-head in the G2 Railway S.

Unsurprisingly, all four are entered in the G2 Gimcrack S. on August 19, though the G1 Prix Morny two days later will doubtless lure some away, despite the increase in prize-money at York to £250,000 for the Al Basti Equiworld-sponsored race.

Welcome To The Races – Or Not

Some racecourse wandering over the last ten days has included trips to fairly major days at Ascot, Goodwood and Newmarket, as well as to the small National Hunt course of Newton Abbot, and to Vichy for the track's Festival du Galop.

There is nothing more thrilling than seeing some of the best horses in the world up close and being able to study them in the paddock beforehand, but there is also nothing less welcoming than having your bag searched on arrival and then being marched past a sniffer dog before being allowed entry to a racecourse.

This is now the norm for major days at racecourses in the UK, and what a sad indictment it is of British society in general. It is hardly the fault of the racecourse management teams that they have to enforce such measures in the wake of on-track  brawls, behaviour which is doubtless exacerbated by alcohol and drugs. But it sets a bad tone for the day, compared to an outing to a country course in midweek, or to the laid-back, family atmosphere one finds at racecourses in France and Germany.

Two particular occasions stand out over the last year, and they really are what British racing should be aiming for in order to halt the dwindling attendance figures and encourage a love of the horse from a young age. At Baden-Baden in September, its unusual walkway of stars from the racecourse back to the winner's enclosure was lined with children patiently waiting for an up-close glimpse of the horses returning post-race. It is far less easy to interact with the horses on some courses in Britain, where people are restricted to certain areas of the racecourse depending on the badge they have. 

At Vichy last week there were umpteen small ponies wandering around the racecourse for children to ride or lead, and the demand for them from the many families on course was consistent throughout the evening. Small ponies are what led me, eventually, to a life in racing, and I am sure they would perform the same role for others if given the chance.

Compare that to a recent scene on an English racecourse where a mother with two young children who had put a rug on the floor (no picnic) was asked to pick it up and was moved along from where she was sitting. Picnic rugs (and picnics) abounded in both Germany and France, where it also doesn't cost an arm and a leg just to get through the gates. 

The problem of drink and drugs is not exclusive to racing, of course, but it would be very easy for racecourses to fix the latter issue with a bit of imagination and a more welcoming approach to families, not least with reduced entry fees. Who knows how many of those children enjoying pony rides and picnics will return to the races in later life as the owner of a proper horse who wants to book a hospitality box for the day?

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