Piz Badile Camp Snap Up Dettori for Derby Ride

Connections of leading G1 Cazoo Derby hope Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses) have been provided with a massive boost ahead of Epsom after legendary rider Frankie Dettori committed to ride the Donnacha O'Brien-trained colt in the Classic on June 4.

Dettori made his Derby breakthrough in 2007 aboard Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Peter Chapple-Hyam as well as partnering John Gosden's Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) to victory in the race back in 2015 and he will bid to win the iconic race for a third time aboard the impressive G3 Ballsax S. winner.

A general 10-1 chance for the Derby, Piz Badile has raced just three times, but that reappearance win in the Ballysax at Leopardstown received a major advertisement when the runner-up, Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), ran out an impressive winner of the Listed Tetrarch S. at the Curragh last month.

Confirming Dettori for the ride, Alan Cooper, racing manager to Piz Badile's owners the Niarchos Family, said: “Frankie is going to ride at Epsom. The horse is in good form. We've got just under three weeks to go, so hopefully he stays in good form between now and then.”

He added, “I think Donnacha is very happy with his horse and the decision was made not to go to the Derrinstown (Derby Trial), which would have been the horse's third trip to Leopardstown.

“I'm in regular contact with Donnacha and he's delighted with his horse. They all need luck in running and we'll go from there.”

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Will Walden Gets First Training Victory at Churchill

2nd-Churchill Downs, $86,540, Msw, 5-13, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.73, ft, 1 length.
DAZZLINGDOMINIKA (f, 2, Ghostzapper–Trappingsofsilver, by Trappe Shot) improved for a seventh to 'TDN Rising Star' Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) sprinting over the Keeneland turf course Apr. 29 to become the first winner in the young career of trainer Will Walden Friday at Churchill Downs. Quickly into stride from her outside draw, the chestnut was overtaken to her outside by Ski Slope (Frosted) with 3 1/2 furlongs to race, but held her spot at the fence for the run around the turn. Kept to task by Gerardo Corrales, Dazzlingdominika was back in front approaching the eighth pole and held sway late to hold the debuting Vicki Rose (Jimmy Creed) by a length at odds of 7-1. The first foal out of a half-sister to 2013 GI La Brea S. winner Heir Kitty (Wildcat Heir), Dazzlingdominika has a yearling half-brother by Mastery and a foal half-sister by Complexity. Sales history: $33,000 RNA Wlg '20 KEENOV; $30,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $53,720. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Ready Made Racing LLC; B-Halcyon Farm, Tim Wickes & Elizabeth Barr (KY); T-William Walden.

 

 

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Big Shoes To Fill In Victoria Mile

A deep and diverse field of 18 distaff turf milers will take to the Fuchu course at Toyko Sunday afternoon for the G1 Victoria Mile, a race won in its last three renewals by the outstanding Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}, 2019), two-time Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}, 2020) and treble champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}, 2021). The Victoria Mile serves as a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland this November.

Several of Sunday's entrants are on a similar trajectory to those world-class gallopers, including Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who completed the Filly Triple Crown in 2020 and makes her first appearance since finishing third to countrymates Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 FWD QE II Cup over 2000 metres last April. She has since recovered from ligamentitis in her right foreleg and is capable of a good showing first-up.

“She feels a little bigger now, but I've been able to see her improvement these past three weeks,” her jockey Kohei Matsuyama commented. “A mile might be her best trip now. It will be her first time over a mile at Tokyo, but she's won over a mile, so it shouldn't be a problem. It feels like a fresh start with her now, so I want to do my best.”

Runner-up to the high-class Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) in last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup over Sunday's course and distance, Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) won Tokyo's 1600-metre G2 Fuji S. last October and most recently gave Japan one of its four winners on the Saudi Cup program Feb. 26, taking out the G3 1351 Turf.

“She ran well in last year's NHK Mile Cup and Fuji S., both over a mile at Tokyo, so I think she can run a big race in the Victoria Mile, too,” jockey Kenichi Ikezoe said. “The field's strong this time as well, but I think Songline has a good enough chance and I look forward to her run on the day.”

Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) proved narrowly best in last year's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) going the metric mile and defeated Loves Only You in the 2000-metre G2 Sapporo Kinen in August. Following a pair of below-par performances, she hinted at better to come with a strong third in the G1 February S. over the local dirt course Feb. 20 and gets back to perhaps her best game Sunday.

 

 

 

Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), sixth to Gran Alegria here a year ago, came from off the speed to be second in an incident-marred G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December, then made the running in the six-furlong G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen Mar. 27 before yielding late to be sixth. Quieter riding tactics may be in the cards Sunday.

Fresh off a trip to the GI Kentucky Derby, Christophe Lemaire takes the ride on Fine Rouge (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) here. Third in the Guineas and second in the G1 Shuka Sho in October, she resumed with a sound runner-up effort in the G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai over track and trip Feb. 6 and has been trained to peak Sunday.

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Yibir Blows Out for Man o’ War

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning turf male Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) took to the Belmont turf course Thursday morning for some light work ahead of his appearance in Saturday's GI Man o' War S.

With rider Shane Fetherstonhaugh aboard, the 4-year-old schooled a bit in the Belmont paddock before heading out to the track around 9 a.m., where he was allowed to stretch out through the final stages.

“He went out to the turf so he could have a light canter and then he just had a little blowout down the straight for a couple of furlongs to open up his lungs and stretch his legs,” said Chris Connett, traveling assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby. “Shane was very happy with him and the way he was moving and covering the ground.”

Impressive winner of the $1-million Jockey Club Derby Invitational at the Long Island oval last term, Yibir made his 4-year-old debut in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, dropping a heartbreaking decision to G1 Japanese Derby hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Last seen finishing second in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket Apr. 29, Yibir arrived in New York early Sunday and cleared quarantine Tuesday.

“The longer he's been here the better he's looking,” Connett added. “He's matured from three to four and he's showing that he's taking it all in stride. We're very pleased with him.”

Yibir has the services of regular rider William Buick in the Man o' War.

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