6th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 2:39p.m. ET
Against a field where several have high-profile connections and purple catalog pages, the Albaugh Family Stables look to be counted present with MILAN MISCHIEF (Into Mischief), their $440,000 KEESEP daughter of America's four-time reigning champion general sire. Hailing from the female line of Irish Mare of the Year, several time European/Irish champion, and four-time High-weight runner MG1SW Kooyonga (Ire) (Persian Bold {Ire}), the Dale Romans trainee is a full-sister to SW Little Menace. Their dam is herself a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Balance the Books (Lemon Drop Kid) as well as seven-time winner, SP Photo Shoot (Giant's Causeway). This is also the extended female family of G1SP Princess Sinead (Ire) (jeremy); MGSW & G1SP Mondragon (Brz); South African Champion 3-year-old filly, GISW Kundalini (El Gran Senor); and G1SP Jaljuli (Ire) (Jalmood). TJCIS PPs
7th-FG, $50k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 5:15p.m. ET
Godolphin's royal blue silks are carried to post here on the back of HECKLED (Hard Spun), a homebred half-sister to MGSW Pixelate (City Zip). Out of SP Speckled (Street Cry {Ire}), herself half to MGSW Skylighter (Sky Mesa)–granddam of Wet Paint (Blame)–as well as SW Cave Hill (Frosted) and the dam of GSP Meru (Sky Mesa), Heckled claims three other winning half-siblings. Michael Stidham sends her to post with a steady string of works and one off the rail for this unveiling. This is the female line of MGISW Nastique (Naskra), herself responsible for 11-time winner, Japanese multi-millionaire Nobo True (Broad Brush) and GSW Thunder Kitten (Storm Cat), dam of five Graded/Group performers including MG1SP Michita (Dynaformer) and GI Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup-placed Cat O'Mountain (Street Cry {Ire}); among others. TJCIS PPs
You've heard of Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})? How about Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {Ire}), Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) or Promising Run (Hard Spun)? What do they have in common? Godolphin, for one, and they are all the winning alums from the past five years of the G2 Ballanchine S. at Meydan Racecourse.
Either of the 4-year-old blue-clad torchbearers that are drawn into Friday's edition could carry on that tradition. Out of With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), both of whom are trained by Charlie Appleby, the former will probably serve as the prima based on the European markets. Despite a last place in the 2022 G1 Epsom Oaks behind the winner, Tuesday (Ire) Galileo {Ire}) and her new stablemate, Tranquil Lady (sixth), the filly did find success in the GIII Saratoga Oaks later that summer. After an autumn break, she won the G2 Cape Verdi S. three weeks ago over this very turf course and will have the services of William Buick once more.
“With The Moonlight has come forward since the Cape Verdi and the step back up in distance is going to suit,” said Appleby. “She has a penalty to carry, but is clear on ratings and has already won at the track this season. She looks the one they all have to beat.”
Tranquil Lady is obviously no understudy. Lest we forget, she was a 2.7-million gns Tattersalls December purchase by Godolphin, and even though the former Joseph O'Brien trainee has not been seen since she won the G3 Prix de Flore S. at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 22, she's no nap, as James Doyle gets the call for the first time.
“This will be her first start for us, so we are on a slight learning curve, but we are confident that she will run a nice race,” the trainer said. “We will potentially see her at her best over further and this will be our first opportunity to get a handle on her ahead of the forthcoming season.”
With six other longshots at the bar for this year's Balanchine, it could be Lyrical Poetry (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) or even Katoucha (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) that could rise to the occasion. If not, it will be Godolphin once more that poses in the winner's enclosure on Friday.
Sarah Guest, the yard manager for trainer John O'Shea, was named the Employee of the Year during the 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin in ceremonies held Monday evening at York Racecourse. It was the first in-person event since 2020 and was held for the first time in Yorkshire.
Guest took home a cash prize of £10,000 and an additional £10,000 to be divided among her colleagues at the John O'Shea yard.
Earlier in the evening, Guest was also presented with the Leadership Award, carrying a £5,000 prize and a similar amount for the yard, meaning she and her coworkers each ended with £15,000 following the ceremony.
“Sarah is a richly deserving winner of this prestigious award and, despite the high quality of the finalists brought forward to this evening's ceremony, she was a stand-out selection to be named the Employee of the Year,” said Nick Luck, chair of the judging panel. “There can be no doubting the importance of Sarah to the John O'Shea operation, which was demonstrated to greatest effect during 2022 when John O'Shea was unwell. Sarah is a shining example of the sort of hard work and dedication that keeps yards up and down the country running, and we as an industry can be rightly proud of her dedication to ensuring the well-being of her colleagues and the horses in her care.”
The £30,000 awared to Guest and her colleagues was part of a total of £128,500 offered by Godolphin. The ceremonies were hosted by Francesca Cumani and were organised by the British Horseracing Authority in conjunction with Racing Post and Racing TV.
Prime Minister Sunak Pays Tribute
In a message, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recognised the hard work and dedication of those who work in the Thoroughbred industry across Britain.
Sunak, whose Richmond Parliamentary constituency includes Middleham training centre and Catterick Racecourse, said: “I am delighted that the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards are taking place in Yorkshire for the first time.
“From my visits to Middleham, and Catterick Raceourse, both in my constituency, I have seen the sheer hard work, grit and dedication of all in British racing for the horses in their care.
“Tonight's finalists exemplify all that is best about British racing and breeding–an industry which does so much for communities across our country, generates over £4 billion for our economy, and showcases Britain on the global stage.
“I want to see British racing and breeding stay at the front of this global race in the years ahead.
“I wish the best of luck and congratulations to all of tonight's finalists.
“Though, if I may be a bit partisan, I do hope that Becky Smith can do the double for Middleham after Paddy Trainor's victory last year!”
Stepping up to the top level for the first time in what has already been a productive career, Godolphin's Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) ran a strong 1600 metres and comfortably held a final-furlong rally from the classy Red le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) to land Sunday's February S. at Tokyo Racecourse. A fourth consecutive American-bred winner of the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Lemon Pop will remain over shorter trips and holds an invitation to the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in five weeks' time. Despite the obvious appeal of such a journey, connections were playing it close to the vest post-race.
“Lemon Pop has been invited to Dubai, but we won't be making a decision on this for some time yet,” said Godolphin Japan President Harry Sweeney, who purchased the chestnut in the name of Paca Paca Farm for $70,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. “Thrilled that Lemon Pop has won a Group 1 race at his first attempt and won in good style. We are relieved that he now has a JRA Group 1 on his curriculum vitae which will be very important for his next career whenever he finishes racing.”
Handed a good draw in gate seven, Lemon Pop was in the vanguard early, but was content to drift back a few spots as the mare Shonan Nadeshiko (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) took the 16-strong field through an opening half-mile in a solid :46.60. Tipped out into the four path with about 600 metres to travel, Lemon Pop traveled strongly into the race and was under a long hold–having yet to be asked for his best–as the field hit the quarter pole. Finally given a dig by Ryusei Sakai approaching the final furlong, Lemon Pop pinched a break as Red le Zele flashed and loomed a momentary danger, but the favourite had the race well and truly in safe keeping and proved a clear-cut winner. Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro) nearly unseated jockey Suguru Hamanaka at the break and was a long last down the backstretch, but rallied strongly to finish third.
The other US-bred winners of the race include Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) in 2020 and Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) the last two years.
The victory was the second at group level for Lemon Pop, who rebounded from a tough loss in the G3 Musashino S. over course and distance Nov. 12 to reverse form with Gilded Mirror (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the G3 Negishi S. over seven panels Jan. 29. Jockey Keita Tosaki had ridden Lemon Pop to each of his seven previous wins, but opted for fourth-placed Dry Stout (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) Sunday, much to Sweeney's surprise.
“[We] were shocked to read in the sports papers just two weeks ago that Keita Tosaki had decided to get off Lemon Pop to ride another horse,” said Sweeney. “We then had to scramble to find a replacement and we are delighted with Sakai-san's performance today. It was a pressure ride for him too as he was riding Lemon Pop, the favourite, for the first time and in a Group 1 race.”
Added the winning jockey: “I am grateful to be given the chance to ride such a strong and favored horse and am happy we won. He responded well and pulled away strongly all the way to the wire.”
'TDN Rising Star'Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) sat an inside trip from a disadvantageous low draw and was beaten about 10 lengths into ninth.
“From what the jockey was telling me, he wasn't enjoying the kickback that much, but I think he ran an OK race,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “I just think he's a superiour turf horse, but we gave it a try.”
Pedigree Notes:
On behalf of former Darley executive Olly Tait and his wife, Blandford Bloodstock went to 165,000gns for Unreachable from the Juddmonte draft at the 2012 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Unreachable is a daughter of Harpia, a full-sister to the highly influential Danehill as well as Eagle Eyed and Shibboleth, etc., and is a half-sister to the stakes-placed First Word (Chester House) and the young American regional stallion Redesdale (Speightstown). This is also the family of Dundonnell (First Defence), a Group 3 winner in England, a listed winner in Hong Kong and Group 3-placed in Dubai.
Unreachable was offered in foal to Good Magic at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale but was led out unsold on a bid of $55,000. The mare was privately acquired by Jay and Christine Hayden's Saintsbury Farms and the colt the mare was carrying at the time–an Ontario-bred now named Equivoque–would go on to fetch $325,000 from China Horse Club/Gandharvi at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Unreachable is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Good Magic and a yearling colt by Maclean's Music. A Maximum Security colt out of Lemon Pop's half-sister Regal Rags (Union Rags) was sold for $110,000 at Keeneland November last fall. Unreachable, now 14 years of age, was entered for, but was unsurprisingly withdrawn from this year's Keeneland January Sale when again in foal to Maclean's Music.
Lemon Pop is the 10th worldwide Grade I/Group 1 winner for his sire, who was pensioned from stud duties at Lane's End in 2021 and is his second top-level winner out of a Giant's Causeway dam. The late 'Iron Horse' is now the broodmare sire of 32 G1SW/GISW.
Sunday, Tokyo, Japan FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥232,860,000, Tokyo, 2-19, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:35.60, gd.
1–LEMON POP, 128, h, 5, by Lemon Drop Kid 1st Dam: Unreachable, by Giant's Causeway 2nd Dam: Harpia, by Danzig 3rd Dam: Razyana, by His Majesty 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. ($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Godolphin; B-Mr & Mrs Oliver S Tait (KY); T-Hiroyasu Tanaka; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥123,403,000. Lifetime Record: 11-8-3-0, ¥288,439,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Red le Zele (Jpn), 128, h, 7, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–French Noir (Jpn), by French Deputy. O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Shadai Farm; ¥48,972,000.
3–Meisho Hario (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Pyro–Meisho Ohi (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). O-Yoshio Matsumoto; B-Mishima Bokujo; ¥30,486,000.
Margins: 1HF, 2HF, 1. Odds: 1.20, 8.00, 9.70.
Also Ran: Dry Stout (Jpn), Admire Lupus (Jpn), Speedy Kick (Jpn), Helios (Jpn), Soliste Thunder (Jpn), Shirl's Speight, Kenshinko (Jpn), Sekifu (Jpn), Auvergne (Jpn), Keiai Turquoise (Jpn), T M South Dan (Jpn), Shonan Nadeshiko (Jpn), Jasper Prince. Click for the JRA chart.
