Tag: Godolphin

The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Feb. 22

We have a new No. 1. Tarifa (Bernardini) beat a stellar field in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds to soar up the list to the top spot. We've dropped Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}), who has only had two three furlongs works so far this year, raising the possibility that she won't be ready for the GI Kentucky Oaks. We've also dropped Alpine Princess (Classic Empire) after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Rachel Alexandra and Life Talk (Gun Runner), who was a disappointing sixth in the Suncoast S. for Repole/Pletcher. The spotlight this weekend will be on the GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn Park, which includes two members of our top 10.

Here's a look at the third installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10:

1) TARIFA (f, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-0, $278,925. Last start: WON Feb. 17 GII Rachel Alexandra S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 23 or GI Ashland S., Kee, Apr. 5

We didn't even have this filly on prior Top 10 lists, but she did enough in her win in the Rachel Alexandra to move all the way up to the top spot. Making her first start in a stakes and going up against some tough, more experienced horses, this was no easy spot for the daughter of Bernardini as she was facing, among others, GII Golden Rod S. winner Intricate (Gun Runner). But she made it look easy, drawing off to win by 2 3/4 lengths under Flavien Prat, picking up a Beyer figure of 90, the same number given to GII Risen Star S. winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). As usual, trainer Brad Cox is loaded with talent in the 3-year-old filly division and will be searching for his third win in the race since 2018. With the sire's death in 2021, Tarifa is a member of Bernardini's penultimate crop to hit the track.

2) JUST F Y I (f, Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-George Krikorian (Ky); T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly, GISW, 3-3-0-0, $1,317,750. Last start: WON Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

Just F Y I | Benoit Photography

Hard to knock the champ down a spot in this poll when she hasn't done anything wrong. But it's becoming apparent with each prep that she's going to have to step up her game when it comes to how fast she is. While a horse like Tarifa picked up a 90 Beyer in her last start, Just FYI has never run faster than a 79. That's not to say she can't do it. Horses can improve dramatically from two to three and in Bill Mott she is being trained by one of the very best in the business. She's had five workouts so far this winter at Payson Park, the latest being a five-furlong breeze on Feb. 17 in 1:03.60, so look for Mott to tighten the screws in the coming weeks.

3) JODY'S PRIDE (f, American Pharoah–Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy) O-Parkland Thoroughbreds & Sportsmen Stable; B-Mr. Steve Weston (Ky); T-Jorge R Abreu. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 3-2-1-0, $480,250. Last start: 2nd Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

The runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Jody's Pride is also being pointed for the GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream, which will mark her 3-year-old debut. The Davona Dale looks like it's going to come up very strong. The knock on Jody's Pride is the same as it is on Just F Y I. She's not particularly fast and the 79 she got in the Juvenile Fillies is her all-time best number. If this doesn't work out she can always try the turf as she is by American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile). In the Juvenile Fillies, she was ridden by Flavien Prat, who also has the mount on Tarifa.

4) KOPION (f, Omaha Beach—Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) O-Spendthrift Farm; B-Tall Oaks Farm (Ky); T-Richard Mandella. Sales history: $270,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $116,600. Last start: 2nd Feb. 10 GIII Las Virgenes S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 6

Kopion | Benoit

Kopion is not the best 3-year-old filly based in Southern California. Kinza (Carpe Diem) is, and she beat her handily in the GIII Las Virgenes S. on Feb. 10. But Kinza is trained by Bob Baffert, which means she is effectively banned from running in the Oaks. Kopion might be second on the Southern California depth chart, but she's a good filly in her own right. In just three lifetime starts, she's won a Grade III and placed in another. Is trained by Richard Mandella, who likes to take his time with his horses, so it may be that we haven't seen her best yet. Still another filly ridden by Flavien Prat, who is the regular rider of three of the top four horses in this poll.

5) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Whisper Hill Farm; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $1,150,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $89,950. Last start: WON Jan. 11 AOC at Gulfstream Park. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

Has an interesting pedigree. Is by Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) out of an unraced Galileo (Ire) mare and she wasn't cheap. Owner Mandy Pope paid $1,150,000 for her at Keeneland September. She's only raced twice, has yet to run in a stakes race and has never gone beyond seven furlongs, so she has some catching up to do. In her last race, she won a Gulfstream allowance by a length and had to fight off a challenge from Gun Song (Gun Runner). That filly came back and won her next start by 5 3/4 lengths. Leslie's Rose will have to do more to solidify her status as a top Kentucky Oaks threat, but it's clear that she has a world of potential.

6) POWER SQUEEZE (f, Union Rags–Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again) O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Forging Oaks Farm (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. Sales history: $50,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MSW, 5-3-1-0, $188,650. Last start: WON Feb. 10 Suncoast S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GP, Mar. 30.

Trained by up-and-coming trainer Jorge Delgado, she's been carefully managed so far this year. After she broke her maiden at Delaware Park in October, she came back to win two non-graded races this year, the Cash Run S. and the Suncoast S. Will have a much stiffer test in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, but very well could be up to the task. Life Talk was supposed to dominate in the Suncoast, but threw in a clunker, so there's no telling how good the competition behind Power Squeeze was. Was ridden by Daniel Centeno in the Suncoast. Will be interesting to see if Delgado goes for a more high profile jockey for the next start.

7) WEST OMAHA (f, West Coast–Birthday Bash, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-2-0, $203,000. Last start: WON Jan. 20 Sillverbulletday S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 24.

She was last seen winning the Jan. 20 Silverbulletday S. at the Fair Grounds and is now slated to run in Saturday's GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn Park. The Silverbulletday was a fairly soft spot so she may need to improve to win the Honeybee. Is a Brad Cox trainee and a homebred from the Gary and Mary West operation. The Wests have yet to win a Kentucky Oaks. She was entered in the Rachel Alexandra and was one of three trained by Cox entered. But he scratched West Omaha and put her on a van to Oaklawn, no doubt trying to find a way to keep some of his horses apart.

8) INTRICATE (f, Gun Runner–Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor) O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scot Estes & Cambron Equine, LLC; B-LBD Stable, LLC (Ky); T-Brendan Walsh. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $362,180. Last start: 2nd GII Rachel Alexandra S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 35. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 23

Didn't run a bad race at all when second in the Rachel Alexandra when beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Tarifa. But she was the 17-10 favorite, so the race should go down as a mild disappointment. Has drawn comparisons to last year's Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) because both are trained by Brendan Walsh. Pretty Mischievous also had one off day on her way to Oaks glory, finishing second in the Fair Grounds Oaks. No reason why Intricate can't rebound.

9) BAND OF GOLD (f, Preservationist–Play for Gold by Cairo Prince) O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (Ky); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales history: $70,000 wnlg '21 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $206,000. Last start: WON Feb. 3 Martha Washington S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 24.

Band of Gold | Coady

The Honeybee will be a big test for this Kenny McPeek trainee. She's coming off a 2 3/4-length win in the Martha Washington, but some may want to downgrade the effort since she was 24-1 that day and she was not good in her previous start, the Untapable S. Was it a fluke? With her having gone from a 63 Beyer to a 86 in the Martha Washington, may also be a bounce candidate.

10) RECHARGE (f, Gun Runner–Remit, by Tapit) O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-3-0-0, $189,498. Last start: WON Feb. 18 Sunland Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Fantasy S., OP, Mar. 30.

It looks Steve Asmussen has his horse for the Oaks. Recharge is undefeated in three starts and was last seen winning the Sunland Park Oaks. Prior to that, she broke her maiden at Remington and then won an allowance at Sam Houston, so, apparently, was not part of Asmussen's first string. There are definitely questions regarding who she has beaten, but there's also plenty of time for Asmussen to improve her and have her ready for tougher spots.

The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Feb. 22 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Deja Vu! Godolphin’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Tarifa Best in Rachel Alexandra

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: a 3-year-old filly in the Godolphin blue captured the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds to earn 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

So far, Tarifa (f, 3, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) is following the script laid out last year by Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) perfectly. Like her year-older fellow Godolphin homebred, she, too, was named a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut. In a replay of last year, she, too, won the Rachel Alexandra for her first graded score. Will she follow suit with a GI Kentucky Oaks win and ultimately an Eclipse championship after a stellar 3-year-old campaign?

Over a sloppy and sealed Fair Grounds track darkened by both the weather and the hour, Tarifa bounded cleanly out of the inside gate. She held on to her rail spot as Flavien Prat restrained her lightly in third while letting SP Perfect Shot (Gun Runner) and Untapable S. winner Alpine Princess (Classic Empire) lead the way through :24.37 and :48.55 early quarters. With positions unchanged going into the turn, GSW & GISP V V's Dream (Mitole), also a 'TDN Rising Star', joined Tarifa to the outside briefly until Tarifa was let loose. She tipped out with great energy, swapped to her wrong lead for several strides as her momentum carried her past the leaders, and quickly refocused when corrected back to her proper lead. She found another gear to finish a much-the-best, 2 3/4-length winner over GSW Intricate (Gun Runner). Final time for the 8 1/2 furlongs was 1:45.28.

“She jumped very well and showed some early speed. From there we got to the first turn and I was able to get myself to the pocket,” said Prat. “She traveled well all the way around and kicked home.”

Tarifa made her sophomore debut Jan. 20 over a fast Fair Grounds surface at a mile and 70 yards with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure with Florent Geroux in the irons and blinkers removed. Geroux, who had ridden her in all three previous starts, stuck with Tarifa's Brad Cox-trained stablemate, Alpine Princess, Saturday. Sandwiched between that Jan. 20 win and her ultra-impressive, six-length 'Rising Star' Keeneland debut in October, Tarifa had finished flat in an off-the-board November optional allowance at Churchill.

“She acted like she could run before we debuted her at Keeneland,” said Cox. “I thought running her on the Beard Course made sense for her. The second race at Churchill going a mile was a head scratcher. She responded well here in January. She jumped out well, got a good early position, tracked the leaders, and really stretched out well. The Rachel Alexandra has been a great path to the Kentucky Oaks and we've had some success with that route. This is a good filly and we will keep marching forward.”

As has been well documented, four winners of the Rachel Alexandra in the past decade have won the Kentucky Oaks. The Rachel Alexandra offers 105 qualifying points for the Oaks, with the first five finishers earning points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. While Godolphin's win in the Rachel Alexandra last year was with trainer Brendan Walsh, who trains runner-up Intricate here, Cox previously won the race in 2022 with Turnerloose (Nyquist) and in 2018 with Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). The latter was one of the four who pulled off the Rachel Alexandra/Kentucky Oaks double in the last 10 years.

 

Pedigree Notes:

Classic winner, Eclipse champion, and leading sire Bernardini, a Darley homebred who stood at Darley's Jonabell Farm in Central Kentucky before his death at 18 due to complications from laminitis, is the sire of 87 worldwide black-type winners. While Tarifa is the first Rachel Alexandra winner among his 53 graded winners, he is the sire of the lone filly out of the race's namesake and that daughter–Rachel's Valentina–won the 2015 GI Spinaway S. Bernardini has top-class winners in nearly all categories and is also well established as one of the sport's leading broodmare sires. His final crop will race this year.

Although Tarifa is Bernardini's first stakes winner out of an Awesome Again mare, he has three graded winners out of daughters of Awesome Again's sire, Deputy Minister. They include Grade I winners To Honor and Serve and Angela Renee. Awesome Again has 102 stakes winners out of his own daughters.

Kite Beach, the unraced dam of Tarifa, was a Godolphin homebred after her dam, GSW Tizdubai (Cee's Tizzy), was purchased by the operation for $950,000 at the Keeneland November sale of 2001. Tizdubai is a full-sister to Horse of the Year and two-time GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, as well as to MGSW and Classic runner-up Budroyale. Kite Beach was sold twice after Tarifa was born and most recently went to Calumet Farm for $115,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed sale. She has a 2-year-old full-sister to Tarifa named Josie's Girl, who was sold to Matthew Davis for $105,000 at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale, and a yearling Knicks Go colt. She was bred to Calumet's Lexitonian for 2024.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
RACHEL ALEXANDRA S. PRESENTED BY FASIG-TIPTON-GII, $291,000, Fair Grounds, 2-17, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.28, sy.
1–TARIFA, 122, f, 3, by Bernardini
           1st Dam: Kite Beach, by Awesome Again
           2nd Dam: Tizdubai, by Cee's Tizzy
           3rd Dam: Cee's Song, by Seattle Song
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $278,925. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Intricate, 122, f, 3, Gun Runner–Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor. ($200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes and Cambron Equine, LLC; B-LBD Stable, LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $60,000.
3–Perfect Shot, 122, f, 3, Gun Runner–Meister Legend, by Bodemeister. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $285,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC; B-Sierra Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $30,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 3, 3 1/4. Odds: 2.50, 1.70, 17.60.
Also Ran: Alpine Princess, V V's Dream, Pennick. Scratched: West Omaha.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Rebel’s Romance Leaves Rivals In the Doha Dust

Godolphin's globetrotting  Rebel's Romance (Ire) (g, 6, Dubawi {Ire}–Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) entered Saturday's $2.5-million G3 H.H. The Amir Trophy as one of three Group 1 winners in the field of 11, yet still had something to prove.

Winless since causing a mild surprise in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, the homebred failed–for a variety of reasons–in two tries in America last summer, but hinted at a return to his best with an eye-catching victory at Kempton in December. He was a somewhat unexpected entry for this newly upgraded race, but his class was on full display as he dispatched of the best field ever assembled in Qatar with complete authority.

Drawn gate 10, Rebel's Romance was ridden positively by William Buick and sat three deep outside Japan's North Bridge (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) and Satono Glanz (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) passing the stands for the first time and was allowed to edge in front with a circuit to travel. Bowling along, ears straight-forward, turning down the back of the track at Al Rayyan, Rebel's Romance dropped anchor, and things got a bit messy behind him as a result, with North Bridge hard on the bridle for Yasunari Iwata, and Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) also firing up from midfield.

Rebel's Romance was holding firm on the run around the second bend, but Joao Moreira began to feel for Zeffiro (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) 600 metres out and he looped the field, appearing a real threat. The G1 Hong Kong Vase runner-up had dead aim on the front-runner a furlong and a half from home, but drifted badly towards the stands, and Rebel's Romance ran out a comfortable winner. Satono Glanz outfinished North Bridge for third, while defending champion Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished off his race soundly to be fifth.

“He really enjoyed it,” Buick said. “It wasn't plan A, but Charlie was keen to go forward from stall 10. He relaxed lovely in front. It wasn't so long ago he won a Breeders' Cup Turf, so he seems to be back to his best and it's great to come to Qatar and ride a winner. It's a big festival and I'm absolutely delighted. That was a good race, with Japanese horses, Irish and English. He had to be somewhere near his best and I'm pretty sure he was.”

Added Appleby: “We were delighted with Rebel's Romance. It was a great ride by William, and we felt the horse was back to his best heading here following a confidence-boosting win at Kempton Park.

“This is an event that is growing with importance every year and the strength of today's field showed how its status is increasing on the international stage. We are very proud to be able to support these big races on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin.

“I would imagine that we will look towards the Dubai Sheema Classic for Rebel's Romance, and then possibly head back out to America for the summer.”

The only treble Group 1 winner in the field, Rebel's Romance had gone winless since the Breeders' Cup. A minor issue dictated that he raced in last year's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic without a prep and he was duly beaten into a distant seventh by world champion Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) at Meydan last March. Sent to America over the summer, he clipped heels in the GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga in July, throwing Richard Mullen heavily to the turf, and caught unsuitably easy ground during an abnormally wet period in New York when fourth at odds-on in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in October. Forced to regroup with a Breeders' Cup bid now out of play, he returned to action with a visually impressive victory in the Listed Wild Flower S. over the Kempton all-weather in December. From here, all roads lead back to Meydan in six weeks' time where the competition could include Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Japanese Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), among others.

Pedigree Notes:

Rebel's Romance is one of two potential starters on World Cup night for his stakes-placed dam, whose exciting son Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took out this year's G1 Jebel Hatta, customarily a pointer to the G1 Dubai Turf.

Second dam Short Skirt was a leading member of her generation in 2006, defeating hot favourite Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in the the G3 Musidora S. at York for Sir Michael Stoute before finishing third to that foe in the G1 Epsom Oaks. Short Skirt was subsequently second to Alexandrova in that year's G1 Yorkshire Oaks and was purchased by John Ferguson for 1.4 million guineas at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale a few months later. Short Skirt produced five winners from eight to race, including G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy hero Volcanic Sky (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) and the dam of Japanese listed winner and Group 3-placed Due Process (GB) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

There is a further connection to Japan under the third dam, as Much Too Risky's champion daughter and G1 St Leger third Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian) produced Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), a two-time champion who famously won the G1 Dubai World Cup only weeks after the devastating Japanese earthquake of 2011. Victoire Pisa's half-brother Asakusa Den'en (Jpn) (Singspiel {Ire}) won the G1 Yasuda Kinen in 2005.

Minidress is represented by a yearling full-brother to Rebel's Romance.

Saturday, Al Rayyan (Doha), Qatar
H.H. THE AMIR TROPHY (Sponsored by Longines)-G3, $2,500,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 4yo/up, 2400mT, 2:28.84, gd.
1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 128, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick; $1,425,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Ger, GISW-US, GSW-UAE & Eng, 17-11-0-0, $4,485,232. *1/2 to Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G1SW-UAE, SP-Eng, $479,650. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zeffiro (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Wild Wind (Ger), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd; B-Shadai Farm; T-Yasutoshi Ikee; J-Joao Moreira; $550,000.
3–Satono Glanz (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Satono Diamond (Jpn)–Cherry Collect (Ire), by Oratorio (Ire). (¥105,000,000 Ylg '21 JHRAJUL). O-Hajime Satomi; B-Northern Racing; T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yuga Kawada; $275,000.
Margins: 3, 1 3/4, HF.
Also Ran: North Bridge (Jpn), Russian Emperor (Ire), Simca Mille (Ire), Haunted Dream (Ire), Jeff Koons (Ire), Israr (GB), Passion And Glory (Ire), Point Lonsdale (Ire).

 

Brave Emperor Hong Kong Bound Following ITM Cup

Overseas runners captured two of the three supporting features held Saturday in Doha.

In the opening event of the program, Middleham Park Racing's Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation) raced prominently throughout and managed to stave off a stinging late rally down the centre of the course from Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) to take the $500,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup for Archie Watson and Luke Morris. According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the 4-year-old is set to take on Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 FWD Champions Mile in late April.

IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING CUP (Qat-G2, NBT), $500,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 4yo/up, 1600mT, 1:35.10, gd.
1–BRAVE EMPEROR (IRE), 128, g, 4, Sioux Nation–Roman Gal (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). (£19,000 Ylg '21 GOFAUG). O-Middleham Park Racing; B-Caroline Hanly & Sean Ronan; T-Archie Watson; J-Luke Morris; $285,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Ity & Ger at 7-9.5f, MGSW-Ger, GSW-Fr & Ity, GSP-Swe, 16-10-3-1, $676,757.
2–Cairo (Ire), 128, c, 4, Quality Road–Cuff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore; T-Ryan Moore; J-Aidan O'Brien; $110,000.
3–Real World (Ire), 128, g, 7, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nafura (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed Bin Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy; $55,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, NK.

 

Oddyssey Causes Minor Upset In Al Rayyan Mile

Al Shaqab Racing's G3 Horris Hill S. winner Orne (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was expected to be a tough nut to crack in the $400,000 Al Rayyan Mile for John and Thady Gosden, but the Gassim Ghazali-conditioned Oddyssey (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) more than covered his 80,000gns pricetag from last fall's Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale when driving home by two lengths in a time quicker than the older horses posted in the ITM Cup.

AL RAYYAN MILE (Qat-G2, NBT), $400,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:34.84, gd.
1–ODDYSSEY (GB), 128, c, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–Last Echo (Ire), by Whipper. (10,500gns Wlg '22 TATDEF; 80,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Salman M Al-Thani; B-Culworth Grounds Farm; T-Gassim Ghazali; J-Maxime Guyon; $228,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 8-3-0-3, $279,073.
2–Orne (Ire), 128, c, 3, Acclamation (GB)–Pellucid (GB), by Excelebration (Ire). (120,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Rahtbarry Stud; T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Robert Havlin; $88,000.
3–Soldier's Gold (Ire), 128, c, 3, Soldier's Call (GB)–Copperbeech (Ire), by Red Ransom. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Bernard & Eugene Heary; T-Alban de Mieulle; J-Mickael Barzalona; $44,000.
Margins: 2, HF, NK.

 

Team Osborne Back At It In Qatar

Less than 24 hours after making history as the first female rider to win a race at Meydan, Saffie Osborne repeated the dose–again for her father Jamie–in Saturday's $400,000 Dukhan Sprint, Sponsored By Breeders' Cup, getting home aboard Group 1 winner Emaraaty Ana (GB) just ahead of the locally based Monsieur Noir (Ire). Remarkably, each of the top two finishers is an 8-year-old gelding by Shamardal. Godolphin's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was a good third and could accompany his stablemate back to the States later in the year.

“We will probably travel out to America for the summer as we know he likes the tracks and style of racing out there,” Appleby said.

DUKHAN SPRINT (Sponsored by Breeders' Cup) (Qat-G3, NBT), $400,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:09.19, gd.
1–EMARAATY ANA (GB), 128, g, 8, Shamardal–Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Cape Cross (Ire). (160,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Barratt Racing; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited; T-Jamie Osborne; J-Saffie Osborne; $228,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, GISP-US, 34-7-5-7, $1,265,929.
2–Monsieur Noir (Ire), 128, g, 8, Shamardal–Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift. (500,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT; 75,000gns HRA '19 TATAUT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming; T-Alban de Mieulle; J-Oisin Murphy; $88,000.
3–Mischief Magic (Ire), 128, c, 4, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Veil of Silence (Ire), by Elusive Quality. O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick; $44,000.
Margins: HD, HF, NK.

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Cross Counter’s Brother A New Rising Star

Introduced as Charlie Appleby's second-string in Monday's novice at Wolverhampton, Godolphin's 3-year-old Endless Victory (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}–Waitress {SP-Fr}, by Kingmambo) emerged clear best with a striking debut display to earn instant TDN Rising Star status.

A full-brother to the operation's G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB), the 7-4 second favourite was able to follow the moderate pace set by Cupid's Dream (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) without any issue and when asked to tackle that stablemate turning for home really turned it on for Danny Tudhope. In command approaching the furlong pole, the homebred hit the line strong having completed the final two furlongs in 23.10. Cupid's Dream, who had shown useful form on his debut in November, wilted to be third, beaten 7 1/4 lengths in total with the Karl Burke-trained unraced colt Ancient Myth (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a 425,000gns Tatts Book 1 purchase, 4 3/4 lengths in arrears of the impressive winner.

“That was a lovely performance–he was a bit green and it's probably a bit sharp for him around here, but he got away with it and hit the line well,” Tudhope said of Teofilo's fifth TDN Rising Star, with the multiple group winner West Wind Blows (Ire) the pick so far. “He'll be better when he goes up in trip.”

The listed-placed dam Waitress, whose 2-year-old filly is by Frankel (GB), is out of the G3 Prix de Meautry winner Do The Honours (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}) who is in turn a daughter of the well-connected Persian Secret (Fr) (Persian Heights {GB}). Kin to the top-class sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and the ill-fated sire of note Verglas (Ire), she links to the Classic heroine and stellar broodmare Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and therefore to Galileo's Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire) and last year's Derby-winning sensation Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

 

3rd-Wolverhampton, £11,400, Novice, 2-12, 3yo, 9f 104y (AWT), 2:01.24, st.
ENDLESS VICTORY (GB), c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
     1st Dam: Waitress (SP-Fr), by Kingmambo
     2nd Dam: Do The Honours (Ire), by Highest Honor (Fr)
     3rd Dam: Persian Secret (Fr), by Persian Heights (GB)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $7,772. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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