Godolphin's hitherto undefeated homebred Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}–Emirates Rewards {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}), who garnered novice events at Great Yarmouth in May and Leicester last month, and is now bound for a seat at the top table after streaking to an impressive success in this black-type bow. Positioned second in the slipstream of the pacesetting Finn's Charm (GB) (Kingman {GB}) through the initial fractions, he eased into an open lane soon after halfway and powered clear once stirred into action at the two pole to easily outclass Waiting All Night (GB) (Rajasinghe {Ire}) by daylight for a career high.
“I was pleased with his first run, confident with him second time and very confident coming here over seven [furlongs],” said trainer Charlie Appleby of the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. entry. “What we have seen is an exciting horse and my feeling is that when we go up to a mile he will improve again. We will see him at his best in a Group 1 over a mile, maybe in a race like the [G1] Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. We haven't seen an unbeaten Teofilo for some time now and he couldn't have been more visually impressive.”
Naval Power, who becomes the 110th stakes scorer for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}), is the fourth of five foals and one of three winners for Emirates Rewards (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), herself a multiple-winning daughter of GI Spinster S. heroine Asi Siempre (El Prado {Ire}). Asi Siempre also threw GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf-winning sire Outstrip (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and is kin to the dam of Listed Grand Handicap de Deauville victrix Dubase (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Avante (GB) (Shamardal). Naval Power's G3 Cherry Hinton S.-winning fourth dam Turkish Treasure (Sir Ivor) has three stakes winners to her credit headed by G2 Norfolk S. winner Magic Mirror (GB) (Nureyev). Emirates Rewards has a yearling filly by Harry Angel (Ire) to come.
Saturday, Ascot, Britain FLEXJET PAT EDDERY S. (WINKFIELD S.)-Listed, £45,000, Ascot, 7-23, 2yo, 7fT, 1:28.84, g/f.
1–NAVAL POWER (GB), 131, c, 2, by Teofilo (Ire) 1st Dam: Emirates Rewards (GB), by Dubawi (Ire) 2nd Dam: Asi Siempre, by El Prado (Ire) 3rd Dam: Siempre Asi, by Silver Hawk 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $42,564.
2–Waiting All Night (GB), 131, c, 2, Rajasinghe (Ire)–Goodnightsuzy (Ire), by Azamour (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Phil Cunningham (GB); T-Richard Spencer. £9,675.
3–Mascapone (GB), 131, c, 2, Massaat (Ire)–Capelita (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€12,000 Wlg '20 GOFNOV; £4,500 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Australian Bloodstock; B-Mickley Stud & Richard Hunt (GB); T-David Simcock. £4,842.
Margins: 6HF, 1 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 0.91, 9.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Bajan Bandit (GB), Finn's Charm (GB).
Rocket! Naval Power scoots clear in the Listed Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes and maintains his unbeaten record for William Buick, Charlie Appleby and @godolphin! pic.twitter.com/9Py1ICkvcF
Charlie Appleby sent out Godolphin's subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to garner last term's renewal of Newmarket's Discover Newmarket British EBF Maiden S. and the local operation has another likely sort to go forward after 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) powered to 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a taking display in this year's edition of the seven-furlong heat. Settled off the tempo in seventh through halfway, the 4-1 chance made eyecatching headway inside the final quarter mile to gain control passing the furlong marker and quickened clear in impressive fashion to account for stablemate Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) by 3 3/4 lengths.
“He is a horse that we have got a bit of experience with the family with having had Bay Of Poets,” explained trainer Charlie Appleby. “Whatever he did today there was going to be marked improvement. He had done some good work at home and I told [rider] Jack [Mitchell] to teach him to race the right way. Today was a learning day and his class prevailed. He travelled very well and picked up well. I've not had chance to speak to Jack, but visually it was impressive. We liked Bold Act too, so hopefully that is a useful pointer, amd we will keep him at seven [furlongs] for the moment. I think he has got a lot of natural speed and we will probably look at something like the [G3] Solario S. [at Sandown]. I need to have a chat with the lads before making any firm decisions.”
Highbank is the latest of seven foals and fourth scorer out of a winning half-sister to G3 St Leger Italiano victor Burma Gold (Ire) (Java Gold) and Listed Prix Finlande runner-up Burma Sea (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 Prix Eclipse winner Devil (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to Listed Prix Pelleas victor and G2 Al Rashidiya runner-up Bay Of Poets (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Bristol Bay's full-sister Burning Heights {Ire}) is the dam of G3 Killavullan S. scorer Blue De Vega (Ger) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and the second dam of G2 Premio Lydia Tesio victrix Angel Power (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Highbank's second dam Bougainvillea (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) is a full-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden heroine Borgia (Ger) as well as being a half-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Coronation Cup-winning sire Boreal (Ger) (Java Gold).
1st-Newmarket, £8,000, Mdn, 7-23, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.30, g/f. HIGHBANK (IRE), c, 2, by Kingman (GB) 1st Dam: Bristol Bay (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire) 2nd Dam: Bougainvillea (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger) 3rd Dam: Britannia (Ger), by Tarim (GB)
1ST-TIME STARTER. (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Lynch-Bages & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,187. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.
It's admittedly very early days, but one of the more promising 2-year-olds to debut thus far at the prestigious Saratoga meeting didn't even get her picture taken.
Godolphin homebred Spelterini (f, 2, Bernardini–Keepshercool, by Smart Strike) came flying home to finish an eye-catching second on the Spa's opening day program July 14.
Last of six after a slow start from her inside draw, the 13-1 shot was ridden along by Junior Alvarado to keep pace while saving ground up one spot in fifth through an opening quarter in :22.54.
Appearing to have her work cut out for her in that same position approaching the quarter pole, she was tipped out widest of all in the five or six path as they straightened for home and came rocketing down the center to finish within a half-length of the front-running, second-time starter Half a Chance (Flatter). It was another length back to heavily favored Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter and $475,000 FTFMAR graduate Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) in third.
Spelterini, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, earned a very respectable 78 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort in the 5 1/2-furlong affair.
“We were very pleased with how she ran, especially with the winner having had a start already,” Godolphin Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said.
“She didn't break all that well, but got a good educational run out of the race and ran strong through the wire. Couple of jumps after the wire and she was out in front. We liked her. She'd been training well. We were hoping for a good run. You just never know with those 2-year-olds, especially at Saratoga. We look forward to getting her back into a maiden later on in the meet and hopefully we can take another step forward.”
Out of the unplaced Smart Strike mare Keepshercool, the cleverly named bay carries the namesake of Maria Spelterini, the Italian tightrope walker who famously crossed Niagara Falls as part of a celebration of the U.S. Centennial in 1876.
The 7-year-old Keepshercool, a well-beaten sixth in the Belmont slop in her lone trip to the post, is a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Penwith (Bernardini); MGISP Centring (A.P. Indy); GISP Tranquil Manner (A.P. Indy); and Collective (Bernardini), the dam of MGSW Shared Sense (Street Sense).
Spelterini's second dam Composure (Touch Gold), a two-time Grade I winner and runner-up in the 2002 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, brought $3.6 million from Sheikh Mohammed's operation at the 2003 KEENOV sale.
“[Keepshercool] ended up hurting herself when she was in training and had to have a fracture repair of the pastern,” Banahan said.
“We liked her as a young horse as a yearling and we were hoping that she would do well. That never really worked out, but we do like the pedigree. We've had a nice bit of luck in there. It's a family that we've done well with.”
The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags).
This term's GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GIII Westchester S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), streaking Cinema S. winner War At Sea (War Front) and next out 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) have also been featured in the series.
Other standouts include: GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); and GISP A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).
If this is seeing the future, then maybe it really will work. Among all these tiny, straggling groups negotiating the arid wastes of the dirt stakes program, we finally reach a true oasis in the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Inv. Here is a field that matches quality with quantity: a win for the owners, and a win for the bettors.
It is also, lest we forget, staged on a benign surface. As such, it is also a win for a whole community that needs to present its way of life to the wider world with absolute confidence. To a degree, you could almost say that the rapid maturity of the elite turf schedule devised by NYRA has become one way for the East Coast to complement the fantastic recent work, celebrated here a couple of weeks ago, on the dirt tracks of California.
In fact, you could even argue that it also dovetails with the progressive aspirations that have just inaugurated the HISA era. We know that some people will cling stubbornly to the wreckage, fiercely opposing federal interference with their constitutional right to treat the training of Thoroughbreds as a branch of pharmacology. But it's good to see so many industry stakeholders beginning to see the bigger picture; to recognize the trouble we've been inviting for ourselves, and to do something about it.
Click the play button below to listen to this week's edition of This Side Up.
And that's heartening, because right now we only have to look around to realize what a special product we have to share, if only we get our act together.
Look at last weekend, and look what's coming down the tracks, and shout it from the rooftops: we have a great game here. Provided we care for them as they deserve–and that includes the provision of scrupulously maintained dirt tracks, and a properly respected turf/synthetics division–we could have no more captivating advocate than these noble horses of ours.
So long as we have Saratoga, we still have a chance. Much as can again be said of Santa Anita, here's a sanctuary from the cares of life to win over even the most surly and snarling of sceptics. And the meet looks more exciting than ever after Olympiad (Speightstown) and Life Is Good (Into Mischief) threw down the gauntlet for the GI Whitney S.
The one pity is that they've dropped all talk of Flightline (Tapit) shipping back across for that race, too. Connections would evidently rather stay in his backyard, this time, even at the cost of a more abrupt step up in distance. We won't reprise our irritation that this huge talent should have become such an extreme example of the modern horseman's dread of actually racing a racehorse. But we all know that while life may indeed be good, it seldom contrives its very best possibilities. And experience sadly tells us that the idea of all three of these horses converging on the same race at the Breeders' Cup, in the same form as now, is a fanciful one.
What we do know is that right here, right now, we could put on one of the great races of our time. Nobody can be complacent about that happening in November, especially if their respective fortunes in the meantime happen to make the Dirt Mile more tempting than the Classic. Of course, we can't expect individual horsemen to base their gameplan on sheer altruism, when they need to redeem such heavy stakes already committed to the industry. But it does just seem a shame that when people start comparing horses to greats of the past, very often they don't see them measured even against the best of their contemporaries.
That became a familiar charge against Frankel (GB), albeit without eroding his status as one of the undisputed giants of the breed. The relentless style trademarked by his stock, in what is proving a no less brilliant stud career, has only heightened regret that he spurned both the Arc and the Breeders' Cup Classic.
But we have long become bleakly familiar with the schism nowadays dividing the industries either side of the pond. The only real trafficking between them today is about plugging the gaps in American grass racing. Frankel's two daughters in the GI Belmont Oaks show that this can be done by participation or trade: one, homebred by Godolphin, mounts a raid from Newmarket; the other was imported from that same town as a yearling. A third way is elaborated, however, by the presence in the colts' race of Stone Age (Ire), a White Birch-bred son of Galileo (Ire) shared by farm owner Peter Brant with partners from Coolmore. It's a massive tribute to the impresarios behind the Turf Triple that once again, as with last year's winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), this race has been chosen as the next target for Ballydoyle's principal candidate in the Epsom Derby itself.
Yet while the import market for European horses-in-training and yearlings grows ever stronger, it somehow remains impossible even for highly eligible European stallions to achieve commercial traction in Kentucky. Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was retired as the highest earner in the history of the Juddmonte program, and supplanted only by a member of his own family in Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Yet during his final spring in the Bluegrass–when his first crop had just turned three, one of its members flying into fifth of 19 in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club–he was outrageously reduced to just eight mares.
American horsemen increasingly talk a good game about turf, but in practice most of them are no less culpable than Europeans about dirt blood. I know this is a drum I have long since banged to a pulp, but it's worth reflecting that all four of Stone Age's grandparents were bred in Kentucky: the icons Sadler's Wells and Urban Sea obviously stand behind Galileo, while his dam is by Danzig's son Anabaa out of an Alysheba mare. Stone Age's maternal line actually tapers to none other than La Troienne (Fr), but as eighth dam she is also the first not to have been conceived with Kentucky seed.
For sure, some horses are more versatile than others. Tiz The Bomb (Hit It A Bomb), for instance, was plainly born for chlorophyll. His connections were originally talking about a tilt at the Classics in Britain, only to be seduced to Churchill–understandably enough–when he found himself with those coveted starting points. Look closer, however, and you'll see that this horse, too, cautions against a prescriptive view of surfaces: his first two dams are by avowed dirt influences, in Tiznow and A.P. Indy, yet both ended up on turf.
His trainer also saddles recent recruit Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway), famously one of three colts from the final crop of one of the last of the old school, a crossover force in both careers. As befits a son of the Iron Horse, he is being turned round just two weeks after his debut for the barn. That kind of thing makes Kenny McPeek a real outlier, in this day and age. And that's why, when I see the future, actually I don't see it working at all.
Not, that is, until breeders start renewing the kind of cross-pollination that previously opened such dynamic cycles in the evolution of the Thoroughbred, from Nasrullah going one way to all those sons of Northern Dancer going the other. In those days, we bred robust horses by the constant, mutual invigoration of the gene pool, either side of the water. If cynical, in-and-out, fast-buck trading in the freshman window is producing horses that can only run every couple of months, that's actually a welfare issue. So while we have found one welcome oasis, we must navigate with care if our final destination is not to prove a mirage.
