8-1? 'Shirl'-y you must be joking, but the March-foaled bay rewarded her backers in becoming the second 'TDN Rising Star' out of the mare and the fourth from the first two dams with a spectacular effort on career debut.

A half-step slow to begin from gate nine and a detached last passing the stands for the first time, Ready for Shirl was allowed to find her feet by Florent Geroux and she had some pace up ahead of her, as Tempting Lady (Enticed) went the opening quarter in a swift :22.64 over a course which as recently as Friday still had plenty of ease in it. The homebred had passed a couple of rivals by the time they reached the backstretch, and Ready for Shirl was asked to commence a rally with the better part of 5 1/2 furlongs to go, improving her position with a two-path run before angling down towards the inside at the half-mile pole.

Forced to take evasive action around a weakening rival three furlongs from home, Ready for Shirl was consigned to a very wide run around the second turn, but nevertheless made ominous headway, circling up into contention nearing the stretch. Some six wide at the top of the lane, Ready for Shirl surged to a narrow lead at the furlong grounds and bounded clear late to an eye-catching victory. Pin Up Betty (Constitution) sat a perfect inside trip and narrowly outfinished odds-on Spaliday (More Than Ready–Dayatthespa) for second.

The late Jack Werk acquired then 18-year-old Illinois-bred Grade I winner Lady Shirl for $485,000 on behalf of Fipke at the 2005 Keeneland November sale, and the Theatrical (Ire) filly she was carrying at the time got her new owner off to a flying start. Lady Shakespeare, whose full-brother Shakespeare won the GI Woodbine Mile a year after her birth, would go on to a pair of graded wins–including Keeneland's GIII Bewitch S.

Lady Shirl's first Fipke-planned mating was a date with his 2004 GI Maker's Mark Mile hero Perfect Soul and the result was Perfect Shirl, upset winner of the 2010 GII Lake George S. and whose lone victory in nine subsequent trips to the post was a 27-1 upset of the 2011 Filly and Mare Turf. In her first two years at stud, Perfect Shirl was covered by More Than Ready, but neither of those produce managed a victory. A switch to More Than Ready's barnmate Speightstown seemed to do the trick, as Shirl's Speight, GISW-US, GSW & GISP-Can, $1,408,033, became a 'TDN Rising Star' on Woodbine debut in 2020 and recorded his biggest victory to date in the 2022 Maker's Mark. He was fourth to Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Friday's renewal.

Perfect Shirl's half-sister Fantastic Shirl (Fantastic Light), a homebred for Dell Ridge Farm, was accorded 'Rising Star' status on Gulfstream debut in 2006, while Lady Shakespeare was responsible for 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of the GI Natalma S. at two and later third in the 2022 GI Jenny Wiley S. and Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland. The latter's half-sister Ready Lady (More Than Ready) scored at 7-1 on her seven-furlong debut at Woodbine in 2021 before going on to finish third in last year's GII Dance Smartly S.

Perfect Shirl is also the dam of Speightstown Shirl (Speightstown), GSP, $119,038, the 2-year-old filly Perfectshirlstown (Speightstown) and is due to the late WinStar sire this year.

Ready for Shirl is the 17th 'TDN Rising Star' for her sadly departed stallion.

5th-Keeneland, $98,495, Msw, 4-13, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.39, gd, 3 1/2 lengths.
READY FOR SHIRL, f, 3, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Perfect Shirl (GISW-USA, GSP-Can, $1,390,729), by Perfect Soul (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lady Shirl, by That's a Nice
3rd Dam: Canonization, by Native Heritage
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $56,575. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

O/B-Charles E Fipke (KY); T-Roger L Attfield.

#9 READY FOR SHIRL ($17.86) pulled clear down the lane to make her first start a winning one in race 5 at Keeneland! @flothejock was in the irons for Roger Attfield and Charles Fipke.

Ready for Shirl is out of the GISW Perfect Shirl and is a half to GISW Shirl's Speight. pic.twitter.com/LI6Jn6HUEe

— TVG (@TVG) April 13, 2024

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“The filly's been working very nicely,” said trainer Bill Mott. “She's an aggressive type, but she really hasn't made any mistakes. She's put in some useful works and she's very athletic.”

Alongside her mother Helen Groves, who passed away in 2022, Helen Alexander bred and raced the winner's dam. A GISP/MGSP competitor whose signature win came in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S., Acoma hails from a deep female line which includes her dam SW Aurora (Danzig), who is out of champion 2-year-old filly Althea (Alydar). Aurora produced GISW Arch (Kris S.) in addition to Antics (Unbridled), the dam of dual Eclipse Award winner Covfefe (Into Mischief). Alexander bred Acoma to Nyquist, a colt foaled in 2022, and the mare visited Life Is Good last spring. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Helen C. Alexander; B-Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds (KY); T-William I. Mott.

Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) first time starter ROSWELL ($25.00) ran a professional stalking trip to take @GulfstreamPark race 4. A perfect trip by jockey @JuniorandKellyA for trainer Bill Mott.

It's time for the Pick 6 on the @FDSportsbook: https://t.co/oYmxMv5Lmg pic.twitter.com/CeaClvntEc

— TVG (@TVG) January 14, 2024

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Kicked straight into the lead by Irad Ortiz, Jr., El Terreno set the pace from a couple of paths off the inside down the backstretch and got her opening quarter-mile in a solid :22.15. Traveling well in hand on the turn with her jockey riding high in the saddle, the dark bay opened up on her rivals into the final furlong and was never out of a high gallop while reporting home an eased-down, 4 1/4-length winner. Bubbly Champagne (Bee Jersey), who just missed in the Our Dear Peg S. two starts back and the second choice here at 33-10, made some late headway from the latter half of the field to round out a chalky exacta while never any sort of danger to the winner.

“She was very impressive. She did everything on her own,” the winning jockey commented. “She broke out of there. I didn't have to ask her. She was quick and then she relaxed. Turning [for] home, I just motioned to her and showed her the stick one time and she finished on her own.”

A 25th 'Rising Star' for the sadly lost Speightstown, is out of a half-sister to Argentinian stakes winner and Group 1-placed Meguial, the dam of GISW I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even), SP A Story of Revenge (Tale of the Cat) and Meg Fitz (Tapit), whose son Real Men Violin (Mendelssohn) was runner-up in last month's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs.

Palma, bred in New York by Newtown Anner Stud, was purchased for $500,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale by Castleton Lyons, where her sire stood from 2004-2007 after relocating from Country Life Farm in Maryland. From 2008 to his death in May 2021, Malibu Moon resided at Spendthrift Farm.

The mare's yearling colt by Volatile was knocked down to Starlight Racing and Harrell Ventures for $135,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale and she foaled a Knicks Go filly this past Mar. 18 before visiting Dialed In.

2nd-Gulfstream, $61,000, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($75,000), 12-15, 2yo, f, 5f (AWT) (off turf), :55.67, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.
EL TERRENO, f, 2, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Palma, by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Meguial (Arg), by Roy
3rd Dam: Starry Night (Arg), by Fitzcarraldo (Arg)
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $54,600.
O-Castleton Lyons; B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY); T-Christophe Clement. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Post-time favorite #3 EL TERRENO ($2.80) doesn't let us down as she and @iradortiz go gate to wire in Race 2 at Gulfstream for @clementstable. The 2 year old filly by Speightstown is owned by @castletonlyons.

LIVE racing continues on @FanDuelTV. Bet on @FDSportsbook. pic.twitter.com/jYyYghfYZU

— TVG (@TVG) December 15, 2023

The post Speightstown’s El Terreno Blitzes Over Gulfstream Tapeta To ‘TDN Rising Stardom’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Romantic Vision is also responsible for a yearling colt by Nyquist, who just sold during Keeneland September for $700,000 to the Three Amigos, foaled a colt by Essential Quality Apr. 1 and she was bred to City of Light for next year.

Rare Affair hails from a deep family of Humphrey homebreds which includes second dam GSP Perfect for You (Giant's Causeway), fourth dam GSW Dream Scheme (Danzig) and her half-sister, MGISW Clear Mandate (Deputy Mininster), herself the dam of MGSW and MGISP Newfoundland (Storm Cat) and GISW Strong Mandate (Tiznow), among others. TJCIS PPS

7th-WO, $111K, Msw, 2yo,, f, 7fT, 4:37 p.m. ET.
Switching to the E.P. Taylor Course at Woodbine, a $550,000 Keeneland September purchase by Tracy Farmer named Aspen Dawn (Quality Road) makes her first start for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Out of unraced dam Aspen Light (Bernardini), who went to Eaton Sales for $360,000 at the '20 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale with the bay filly in-utero, Aspen Dawn counts GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. hero Owendale (into Mischief) as a half-brother.

This is an extended female family which includes GI Lane's End Breeders' Futurity winner Great Hunter (Aptitude), GIII Peter Pan S. champ Promise Keeper (Constitution) and champion 3-year-old filly Stellar Wind (Curlin). TJCIS PPS

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Last seen having his picture taken July 1 at Ellis Park in the Kelly's Landing S. July 1, the experienced even-money favorite here stayed close to Strobe (Into Mischief) up the backstretch, but entering the lane he seized the lead. Despite a strong late performance by Gulfstream Way (Gemologist), Bango finished the job to notch his eleventh victory under the Twin Spires.

Out of an extended female family which includes GII Louisiana Derby hero Revolutionary (War Pass), the winner has an unraced 2-year-old full-brother named Evan On Earth (Congrats) and a yearling half-brother by Flatter. His dam visited Jack Christopher for 2024.

LOUISVILLE THOROUGHBRED SOCIETY S., $300,000, Churchill Downs, 9-16, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.02, ft.
1–BANGO, 123, h, 6, Congrats–Josaka, by Smart Strike. O/B-Tamaroak Stable (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $183,450. Lifetime Record: 33-14-4-2, $1,459,261. *1/2 to Eton Ridge (Stephen Got Even), SW-PR, $274,962.
2–Gulfstream Way, 121, g, 5, Gemologist–Clever Cookie, by Smart Strike. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Kueber Racing, LLC; B-Timber Bay Farm (KY); T-Norm W. Casse. $59,500.
3–Necker Island, 123, h, 6, Hard Spun–Jenny's Rocket, by Mr. Greeley. ($250,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-The Scherr Boys; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Chris A. Hartman. $29,750.
Margins: HD, 3 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.16, 5.30, 11.14.
Also Ran: Awesome Aaron, Baytown Bear, Strobe.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#4 Bango does it!!! He ties the record for 11 wins at Churchill Downs in the G3 Locust Grove S.! @Tyler_Gaff @Foley_Racing @Alex11Foley

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ZxjHNab3KH

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 16, 2023

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Idiomatic broke from the rail and quickly skipped to the lead, ears pricked while under a hold as 45-1 longshot and Midwest shipper Malloy (Outwork) tracked her through a :24.53 first quarter and a :48.84 half. Nest was third early while Secret Oath followed and the pair of Sixtythreecaliber (Gun Runner), a July 19 Spa allowance winner, and Clairiere trailed. The tempo quickened with a half-mile to go; Idiomatic still traveled easily. Approaching the eighth pole, Geroux started riding as Nest attacked from Idiomatic's outside and Secret Oath countered from the inside. Despite drifting late, Idiomatic put both away to win by a healthy four-length margin as runner-up Secret Oath outpunched Nest by just a neck. Final time for the nine furlongs was 1:49.12.

Eclipse champion Nest suffered her first defeat at the Spa, while four-time GISW Clairiere was off the board for the first time since an uncharacteristic poor effort in last year's Personal Ensign.

“Based off the paper, I felt pretty confident [my filly] could establish a pretty solid lead,” said Cox. “I liked her [on a wet track], just the way she's made, she's big but she's not real heavy. I thought she could bounce through it, I really did.”

Cox continued when asked about his thoughts on defeating Nest and Clairiere: “It's huge. They're champions. They've accomplished so much and they're still in good form. I'm very proud of her to win by a few lengths there. Big race and I'm very proud of her.”

Fresh off back-to-back wins in the July 8 GII Delaware H., despite an ugly stumble at the break, and the June 3 GIII Shawnee S. with corresponding dual triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, Idiomatic has done her best running when loose on the lead. She's taken an interesting path to this level, debuting with a win in April of her sophomore year at Turfway Park. Five of her first six starts–sandwiched around a seven-month, mid-year break–were on the all-weather surface at Turfway. After posting three consecutive wins there to kick off her 4-year-old campaign, which included a first stakes try in the Latonia S. Mar. 25, Cox shipped her to Belmont, where she made her graded debut May 6 with a distant second behind Pass the Champagne (Flatter) in the GII Ruffian S. Idiomatic hasn't lost since.

“I want to congratulate Juddmonte, Prince Khalid, and his family for keeping the legacy going,” said Cox. “They have a tremendous operation worldwide and this is a huge update for the farm and their operation. This filly is a homebred, so it means a lot.

“The week before I ran her in the Ruffian, I told [Juddmonte's] Garrett [O'Rourke] this filly will run on the dirt. It was an unbelievable breeze. She was second that day to Pass the Champagne, but her works on the dirt have been great all spring and into the summer. She gave us a lot of confidence this spring and summer. I've been confident in her for a while.”

An upset in the slop, as IDIOMATIC (Curlin) wins the GI Personal Ensign S. ahead of Secret Oath and Nest! pic.twitter.com/NpiygKtw0j

— TDN (@theTDN) August 25, 2023

Pedigree Notes:

Not too many significant racing weekends in recent memory don't involve a son or daughter of Curlin as a major player. It's impossible to overstate the chestnut's prowess as a sire of racehorses. The Hill 'n' Dale stallion is indisputably one of the best stallions of this generation and, with the Personal Ensign result, currently ranks second on the leading sire list behind only Into Mischief. Those two, along with Tapit, harken back to the days of Mr. Prospector, Danzig, and Seattle Slew, a trio who also interchangeably dominated just a few decades ago. Idiomatic is one of 54 graded winners and 96 black-type winners for Curlin, and his 21st at the Grade I level.

Idiomatic is a fourth-generation Juddmonte-bred and hails from the direct female line of Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic Judge), whose daughters have been brilliant producers and are responsible for a plethora of top horses over the last 50 or so years. One of those top horses was Juddmonte homebred, 'TDN Rising Star', and champion Close Hatches (First Defence), a full-sister to Idiomatic's stakes-winning and multiple Grade I-placed dam, Lockdown. Close Hatches is the dam of Tacitus (Tapit), whose big wins included the 2019 GII Wood Memorial S. and whose placings included the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S.

Broodmare sire First Defence, another Juddmonte homebred descending from the operation's wonderful Broodmare of the Year Toussuad (El Gran Senor), has 14 stakes winners out of his daughters. He now stands in Saudi Arabia.

Lockdown died in 2022 after producing just three foals. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly named Abditory (Medaglia d'Oro) and a yearling filly by Into Mischief.

Friday, Saratoga
PERSONAL ENSIGN S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-25, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49.12, sy.
1–IDIOMATIC, 120, f, 4, by Curlin
          1st Dam: Lockdown (SW & MGISP, $445,900), by First Defence
          2nd Dam: Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat
          3rd Dam: Silver Star (GB), by Zafonic
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 10-7-1-2, $1,049,490. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Secret Oath, 122, f, 4, by Arrogate
          1st Dam: Absinthe Minded (MSW & MGISP, $607,747), by Quiet American
          2nd Dam: Rockford Peach, by Great Above
          3rd Dam: Strawberry Skyline, by Hatchet Man
O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. $100,000.
3–Nest, 124, f, 4, by Curlin
          1st Dam: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598), by A.P. Indy
          2nd Dam: Andujar, by Quiet American
          3rd Dam: Nureyev's Best, by Nureyev
($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $60,000.
Margins: 4, NK, 12. Odds: 4.00, 7.20, 0.75.
Also Ran: Malloy, Clairiere, Sixtythreecaliber.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Off at 9-5 here, the Godolphin homebred settled midpack up the backstretch as a trio vied for the lead into the far turn. Taking aim at that bunch, Alder took the overland route with a sweeping four-wide move before the quarter pole, shifted to another gear running down the lane and won impressively by 6 1/4 lengths over fellow firster Honky Tonk Highway (City of Light).

The winner's dam foaled a colt by Street Boss Mar. 2 and she was bred to Mystic Guide for 2024. Second dam Forest Heiress (Forest Wildcat) is a multiple Grade III winner and counts GI Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. hero Wildcat Heir as a full-brother. This is Hard Spun's 13th 'TDN Rising Star'.

7th-Ellis, $70,000, Msw, 8-20, 2yo, 5f, :58.42, ft, 6 1/4 lengths.
ALDER, c, 2, Hard Spun
                1st Dam: Arbol by Elusive Quality
                2nd Dam: Forest Heiress by Forest Wildcat
                3rd Dam: Penniless Heiress by Pentelicus
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $40,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

#6 Alder dominates in R7 at Ellis Park, making it back-to-back wins for both @bradcoxracing and Gerardo Corrales!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/3cFnzfWgIv

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 20, 2023

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He lines up opposite the widely-drawn WinStar homebred and Brad Cox trainee Paddington (Curlin), whose GISP dam Sea Island (Pulpit)–out of GISP Resort (Pleasant Colony)–counts GII Peter Pan S. hero Sightseeing as a full-brother. TJCIS PPS

5th-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1 1/16thT, 3:03 p.m.
Peter Brant's Double Dream (Curlin), from Chad Brown's shedrow, is out of Enchanted Rock (Giant's Causeway), who is also responsible for Grade I & Group 1 winner Verrazano (More Than Ready) and GII Risen Star S. victor El Padrino (Pulpit). Second dam GISW Chic Shirine (Mr. Prospector), a full-sister to champion older mare & MGISW Queena, heads a female family which includes Grade I winners such as Serra Lake (Seattle Slew), Keen Ice (Curlin), Preservationist (Arch) and Olympiad (Speightstown). TJCIS PPS

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“He's going,” Fernando said of the 2022 GI Maker's Mark Mile hero. “He's doing well with Roger Attfield down in Florida.”

The February S. is one of only two Group 1 races alongside the Champions Cup conducted on dirt by the Japanese Racing Association (JRA), but the competition is no less fierce, as illustrated by last year's Japanese Champion Dirt Horse, Café Pharoah (American Pharoah, who earned his year-end accolade partially by setting a new stakes record of 1:33.80 in the 2022 edition, his second consecutive victory in the event.

“It's a very complex thing to get to this race, because unlike other races that are usually international races that are invitational races, this is not an invitational,” he said. “We had to nominate, get accepted, etc. Then, Mr. Fipke's got to pay for everything to go there. It's a pretty expensive proposition too.”

The magnitude of the Fipke team's February S. attempt is not lost on Fernando, who said of Fipke's vision, “[It's] really two things–he's one of the few North American owners who are actually licensed to race in Japan. That's number one. Number two, he also breeds a few mares in Japan every year. He's got a good relationship with Northern Farm and Katsumi Yoshida. He's got a runner in Japan, as well, who last year won a couple of races–Kana Tape (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and he's an adventurer. He's a guy that is very interested in the international game. He's raced in South Africa before and bred in South Africa. He's a guy that's got horses in Australia, won races last year in Australia, races in Dubai. His entire career was built on a bunch of adventuring and discovering diamond mines. This all fits his sensibilities.

“And, on top of all of that, he'd like to also try to win a Grade 1 race on dirt with Shirl's Speight. With his Japanese contacts and everything, it's showcasing that horse over there as a potential stallion prospect, not that he plans on selling the horse or anything. For Japanese breeders, it's exposure.”

A versatile campaigner, the son of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare shocker Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}) has not graced the racetrack since running a good second to likely Eclipse Champion Turf Male Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in November. Shirl's Speight is already a graded winner on two surfaces, having won the GIII Marine S. over the Woodbine all-weather as a juvenile. The GIII Tampa Bay S. on turf went his way at four to go with his Maker's Mark heroics, and, most encouragingly, the 5-year-old did run third in the GIII Salvator Mile S. over the Monmouth main track last June.

A major feather in the Fipke camp's cap is their rider selection for the 2023 February S. None other than legendary Brazilian jockey Joao “Magic Man” Moreira, a four-time champion rider in Hong Kong, has signed on to ride the 5-year-old. Moreira booted home 76 winners from 217 starters in 2018, the year he rode predominantly in Japan.

Added Fernando, “We've booked the Magic Man, Joao Moreira to ride. He's got a [job] to ride in Australia two weeks before he goes to Japan with [Australian Champion Trainer Chris] Waller.”

Shirl's Speight's international engagements will not end in Japan either, as Fernando revealed that the 1800-metre G1 Dubai Turf on grass at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Mar. 25 would be next on the entire's dance card.

“The bigger plan, is that he's going to go there, then he's going to fly to Dubai for the 1800-metre Group 1 race on turf in Dubai on Dubai World Cup day,” said Fernando.

“It's a very complex logistical thing with quarantine, flights, etc.,” said Fernando. “I have to give a shout out to [Fipke's] administrative assistant Fawn Seminoff, who has really done an incredible job organizing all of the moving parts.”

Targets Set For Budding Stars

Fipke also has multiple opportunities to enjoy international action in 2023, besides his stable star. He enjoyed a winner over the Dundalk synthetic as recently as Wednesday evening when homebred Stormy Entry (Point Of Entry), a son of Fipke's GI Natalma S. bridesmaid Stormy Perfection (Tale of the Cat), won the seven-furlong nightcap. In addition, Irish listed heroine Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who took Fipke to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland, will be prepared for a run in the G1 French 1000 Guineas in May.

“He's got horses in Europe–he just won a race last night in fact, at Dundalk, a Point Of Entry colt,” said Fernando. “And he's got a stakes-winning filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire), Spirit Gal (Fr), that's with Andre Fabre and is being prepared for the G1 French 1000 Guineas.”

Back in 2017, Fipke homebred, eventual GI Metropolitan H. victor and sire Bee Jersey (Jersey Town) ran second to subsequent dual G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas. Fast forward to Dec. 23, 2022 and Bee Jersey colt Shirl's Bee graduated at first asking at Meydan. Trained by American ex-pat Doug Watson, the chestnut is aiming to go one better for his sire on Feb. 10.

Said Fernando, “He's got Shirl's Bee who won his debut really impressively there and is going next in the [G3] UAE 2000 Guineas.

For Fipke, 2023 will be a year dedicated to exploring the next frontier in the Thoroughbred world beginning with an exclusive visit to Japan.

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“Yes, that looks like happening,” Beckett confirmed on his star's pending 4-year-old campaign.

“I thought he ran close to his Irish Derby run, if not his Derby run, on ground which perhaps didn't play to his strengths, and it was great to get him back on track and that close to what his best is.

“He's a big horse, he's been growing through the year as well and he should improve from three to four. He's come out of the race really well, I'm really pleased with him and the way he's come out of it. We haven't made any plans yet, but I'm sure we will.”

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