Godolphin | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘So Effortless’: Maxfield Completes Final Preparations For Clark Swansong

Godolphin's multiple graded stakes-winning colt Maxfield completed his major preparation Friday for next week's Grade 1, $750,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare with a five-furlong move at Churchill Downs in 1:01.20.

Under the watchful eye of trainer Brendan Walsh, Maxfield completed his final work before the Nov. 26 Clark under assistant trainer and exercise rider Tom Molloy. The seven-time winner is set to retire from racing following the Clark and stand at Godolphin's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Ky.

“We'll certainly all miss him around the barn,” Walsh said. “This horse just cruises over this racetrack. He simply loves it at Churchill. He's doing everything great leading into this race and we'll be ready to go come Friday.”

Molloy, who regularly gallops and works some of Walsh's top horses, is set to begin his own training career following the Clark. The Ireland-native and former jockey has worked as an assistant trainer since 2015 and is poised to make his first start at Turfway Park in December.

“I've been on Maxfield at various racetracks around the country and I've never seen a horse that likes it at Churchill as much as he does,” Molloy said. “He's just so effortless when he hits the ground here.”

Maxfield holds a perfect record from four starts at Churchill Downs. The Street Sense colt won the $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2) in June and the $400,000 Alysheba (G2) on the undercard of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Entries for Friday's 1 1/8-mile Clark will be taken Sunday. The 147th renewal of the race is expected to include a talented field of colts and geldings such as Winchell Thoroughbreds' Grade 3 winner and multiple Grade 1 placed colt Midnight Bourbon. The Steve Asmussen runner has been training consistently at Churchill Downs following his eventful runner-up effort to Hot Rod Charlie in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) where he was forced very wide into the final turn.

The post ‘So Effortless’: Maxfield Completes Final Preparations For Clark Swansong appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Half To Aesop’s Fables Set For Bow

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a sister a Group 1-winning filly.

12.31 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
Godolphin's Andre Fabre trainee AMIRAVATI (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a homebred half-sister to G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Aesop's Fables (Distorted Humor). She encounters six opponents in this low-key unveiling, headed by Berend van Dalfsen's once-raced Roselyne (Fr) (Dariyan {Fr}), who is a homebred half-sister to G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis victor Danceteria (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), from the Mauricio Delcher Sanchez stable.

The post Half To Aesop’s Fables Set For Bow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

International Trophy Is Just The Start For Bahrain

SAKHIR, Bahrain–Old habits die hard. Neil MacKenzie Ross may have been Clerk of the Course at Sakhir racecourse in Bahrain for the last seven years but even in 24-degree heat at 7am, the British ex-pat was easy to spot in the green wellies in which he doubtless completed plenty of laps of Lingfield when he filled the same role at the Sussex course.

“There is quite a thick dew,” he said with a defensive grin as he awaited the arrival of the 14 runners for Friday's Bahrain International Trophy for their morning exercise on the pristine turf track.

Just ahead of the horses, the chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club, Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, appeared on course to greet the growing team of international visitors at Sakhir racecourse for the big race.

In just its third year, the early highlight of Bahrain's 27-meet racing calendar has been elevated to Group 3 level for the first time in 2021 and it has attracted a cast of runners from Bahrain, Britain, Ireland, France and Germany which fully befits that status.

There are few people more passionate about the development of horse racing in Bahrain than Shaikh Isa, the grandson of the King and a lifelong equestrian who also has horses in training in Britain. Following Friday's meeting, his focus will turn to the impending start of the new 10-race Bahrain Turf Series which it is hoped will draw similar international participation.

“I was worried when I saw Neil's wellies this morning,” said a smiling Shaikh Isa at the draw for the International Trophy. “As it was in year one with the Bahrain International, it was a strong race but people I felt were just testing the water, and now I feel they have taken the plunge in year two and year three. The Turf Series is also going in that direction.”

Worth a total of £500,000, this year's Bahrain International Trophy has drawn four Godolphin entries from three different trainers. Charlie Appleby, fresh from his Breeders' Cup treble and en route to being crowned champion trainer in Britain for the first time, fields two of those, the current favourite Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal), winner last month of the listed Ben Marshall S. on his first start for 261 days, and the 7-year-old four-time Group 1 winner Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}). The latter notched the first of those top-level wins at three in the St James's Palace S. when trained by Richard Hannon and, following a stud stint shelved through infertility, he joined Appleby's stable in 2019 and added a trio of Group 1s to his record last year in Dubai and Germany.

Godolphin's French-trained Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) is currently second-favourite for the 10-furlong contest on the back of some consistent performances this season, including a last-start win in the G3 Prix Perth and a third-place finish in the Dubai World Cup in March. The 6-year-old, who will carry the red cap from stall 10, is set to become the first runner for Andre Fabre in Bahrain. The quartet in the royal blue is completed by the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is the mount of Frankie Dettori.

The betting may suggest otherwise, but the fan favourite for Friday's main event is the Turnbull family's striking grey Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper). The popular 8-year-old was last seen in winning action in the G1 Jebel Hatta in March but appears to retain plenty of enthusiasm. His trainer David O'Meara and jockey Jason Watson arrived in Bahrain on Tuesday evening, and Watson was aboard Lord Glitters as he pranced to the track in the company of Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) some 12 hours later.

“He's an older horse now but the ability is still there and he thrives out in this part of the world with the heat in his joints,” said O'Meara after drawing gate 12 for his dual Group 1 winner.

Fellow Yorkshire-based Fev Rover is one of two 3-year-old fillies in the field and her trainer Richard Fahey has also made the trip to Bahrain. He fared better at the draw with stall four for the Nick Bradley Racing-owned filly who was third in the 1000 Guineas.

“I'm delighted to get the opportunity to run this filly over a mile and a quarter on quick ground,” said Fahey, who added with a laugh, “I've been trying to find quick ground all season in Europe and every time I've entered her it's rained all week, so I'm just warning everyone it's probably going to rain heavily tomorrow in Bahrain.”

German trainer Andreas Suborics has recently taken over the training of Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) from Jean-Claude Rouget after the Group 3 winner sold for €1.2 million to Jurgen Sartori at the Arqana Arc Sale. The 3-year-old will be reunited on Friday with Cristian Demuro, who has ridden her in all five starts in France this season.

“She only arrived in my stable six weeks ago but she arrived in perfect condition,” said Suborics of Penja after drawing stall eight. “I couldn't be happier than I am with her at the moment. She had a good, fresh canter this morning and we have a good gate number. She will love the fast ground and there's nowhere else we can find good ground at this time of the year so everything is positive so far. Of course as a 3-year-old it is not easy to run against these older, experienced group horses but we are confident that she will perform well and if she is in the first four we will be happy.”

Ireland is represented by the Jessica Harrington-trained Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was ridden by Shane Foley during an easy canter on the turf and who has Richie and Emma Galway and Patrick Cooper among his support crew in Bahrain this week.

Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) and Victory Chime (Ire) (Campanologist) boost the British challenge, representing the stables of Charlie Hills and Ralph Beckett respectively, while a strong local defence will be launched by leading Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass, who won last year's International Trophy with Simsir (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).

The leading light from Nass's trio of runners appears to be his recent recruit Emperor Of The Sun (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 4-year-old half-brother to Zoustar (Aus) who was previously trained by Donnacha O'Brien.

“I've only had him for a few days–for the last six weeks he has been with John O'Donoghue in Ireland so we have only got to see him here for the last five or six days but he seems fine,” said Nass, who will also saddle Naamoos (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Qaader (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), while his compatriot A Jaleel Al Mallah fields the outsider What A Welcome (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).

It is clear that the team behind racing in the Kingdom of Bahrain has its sights set on bigger things to come, starting with the launch of the £550,000 Turf Series on Dec. 10. But for now, International Pattern recognition is a source of satisfaction for Shaikh Isa.

“It's been three years in the works now and we now have our Group 3 status but we need to build on that,” he said. “We won't stop at just one Group 3.”

The post International Trophy Is Just The Start For Bahrain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Essential Quality’s Jonabell Farm Homecoming

It was a blustery autumn day last week when champion Essential Quality (Tapit – Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality) stepped out of his new stall in Darley's eminent stud barn to make his paces in front of onlooking breeders for his first stallion show, but the regally-bred grey didn't so much as bat an eye as the winds picked up and the surrounding crowd grew thicker.

“I think what has been evident about Essential Quality from the get-go has been his class and his mind,” said Darley's Sales Manager Darren Fox. “He rolled off the van like a pro and he came out and stood up for his first show like a star who had done it 500 times. His intelligence is certainly one of his strengths and one that I think he's going to pass on to his progeny.”

It was a celebratory homecoming for the Godolphin homebred, who was foaled at Jonabell Farm in 2018.

“It's unbelievably special,” Fox said. “There's an immense sense of pride with breeding a horse of this caliber and it's such an endorsement for the home team. To have him go on to achieve what he has done, to become the only horse in American racing history to have won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the GI Belmont S., it's a huge statement. Now to watch it come full circle back to where it all began here at Jonabell Farm, it's hugely gratifying and in one horse epitomizes what we are trying to do here.”

Essential Quality's graded stakes-placed dam Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality) is out of Contrive (Storm Cat), who was purchased by Godolphin for $3 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale days after her first foal Folklore (Tiznow) won the 2005 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Since then, Folklore has become the second dam of Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Delightful Quality, who this year is again in foal to Tapit, has now produced five foals. Her unraced daughter Indelible, a 5-year-old Tiznow mare, brought $1.6 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale in foal to Nyquist while her most recent foal, a 2-year-old filly named Famed (Uncle Mo), joined her champion half-brother in becoming a 'TDN Rising Star' after a near eight-length win on closing day of this year's Keeneland fall meet. The Brad Cox trainee put in her most recent work at Churchill Downs on Nov. 14 and, according to Godolphin's Michael Banahan, is expected to make her next start in the Nov. 27 GII Golden Rod S.

Essential Quality caps off an undefeated juvenile season in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Horsephotos

“It's an exception female family and Essential Quality represents some of the best sires lines that we've had here in North America,” Fox noted.

Essential Quality's physical, Fox said, also reflects the best of his pedigree.

“He has plenty of size and is a very clean-limbed horse who tracks well. I would say he has a real two-turn length of body and he has a very intelligent, attractive head to him. Obviously he's straight off the track now, but I can just see when he fills into his frame that he's going to be an absolute stunner.”

Fox can remember when he first dared to imagine the son of Tapit joining the Darley stud roster. The Godolphin team had been hearing positive comments from Brad Cox as 'EQ' put in works at Churchill Downs throughout the summer last year. But in his six-furlong debut on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard last September, the colt was much the best when he defeated a well-regarded field by four lengths.

“Going into the final sixteenth, it was like he was on a travelator and all the other horses were standing still,” Fox recalled. “It was a sight to behold. I had one client text me after the race saying he wanted to book a season to him when he retires to stud. I joked that I hoped he was right, but all eyes have been on him since that maiden win and he certainly hasn't disappointed.”

Essential Quality's undefeated juvenile campaign continued with wins in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“He showed that he was quite versatile,” Fox explained of the colt's 2-year-old season. “He was more on the pace in the Breeders' Futurity and then it was a hotter pace in the Juvenile so he was back a little more and came with a devastating run. By the end of his 2-year-old year, we thought we had a horse who was still putting it together, but had immense talent and no bottom to him.”

After earning championship honors as the top 2-year-old colt of 2020, Essential Quality returned at three with back-to-back wins in the GIII Southwest S. and GII Toyota Blue Grass S. He suffered his first defeat in the GI Kentucky Derby, but came back with a vengeance in the GI Belmont S. to give his sire a record fourth winner in the Test of the Champion and become the first horse in history to win both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Belmont S.

Essential Quality fends off Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the GI Runhappy Travers S., where he earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure | Sarah Andrew

“It was a very difficult achievement and it just epitomizes Essential Quality,” Fox said. “He had the speed and precocity to win two Grade I races at a mile and a sixteenth as a 2-year-old, but the stamina to win the Belmont over an enduring mile and a half. It didn't matter what trip he had; he would find a way to win.”

In his next two starts in the GII Jim Dandy S. and GI Runhappy Travers S., Essential Quality gave similar performances where he saved his best work for late and fended off rivals in the final strides of the contest.

“You always knew with Essential Quality that he was going to be gaining with every yard to the wire,” Fox said. “He had a sixth sense for where the wire was and he would just do enough. It made for a number of thrilling finishes and it certainly gave us heart palpitations to watch some of his races, but that was just him. That's what champions do.”

After capping off his career with a third-place finish in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Essential Quality retired as a four-time Grade I winner with earnings of over $4.7 million.

Entering stud with a $75,000 stud fee, Essential Quality is currently the most expensive stallion of the incoming 2022 crop.

“He's going to one of the most sought-after– if not the most sought-after– freshman sire this year and his book will certainly reflect that status,” Fox said. “It's not easy to get a horse to amass his race record, present his physical and bring the female family. Being by Tapit out of an Elusive Quality mare who is out of a Storm Cat mare, he embodies some of the most important sire lines that we've had. We are very excited and we think he has all the ingredients to make a successful stallion.”

The post Essential Quality’s Jonabell Farm Homecoming appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post