Ito, Brother to In Swoop, Joins Yorton Stud

David Futter's Yorton Stud has announced the arrival of Ito (Ger), a Group 1-winning son of the late German champion sire Adlerflug (Ger) and full-brother to German Derby winner In Swoop (Ire).

Bred by Gestut Schlenderhan, Ito was himself the champion older horse in Germany in 2015, the year in which he won the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern. His dam is also a Classic winner, the Preis der Diana victrix Iota (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}).

“We are very excited to have acquired Ito, whose profile speaks for itself,” said Futter. 

“He is a gorgeous-looking horse, standing 16.2hh and getting very good-looking stock, and his temperament is exactly what we look for in a stallion – to us that is as important as their race record. He won as a three-year-old, excelled at four and held his form at five.

“The sad death of Adlerflug last year was a blow to breeders, but Ito provides a wonderful opportunity to get into that sire's precious bloodline.”

Along with his Group 1 win, Ito as also runner-up in the G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin and won two Group 2 races, earning a Timeform rating of 125. 

Having initially retired to stud in Germany, Ito's first crop of runners are now four-year-olds. His fee will be announced at a later date.

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‘I Had No Clue Who Adlerflug Was But I Just Loved Alenquer’ 

Few people will go through life fortunate enough to say they have had anything to do with a Group 1 winner–fewer still with one who cost just €18,000 as a foal.

But back in 2018, when not many were in a hurry to get behind the little-known Adlerflug (Fr) (In The Wings {GB}), one of the ill-fated sire's most talented sons went through the ring at Arqana for that paltry sum.

It was Gerry Burke's eye and pocket who saw something in Alenquer (Ger) long before the horse confirmed himself a colt of the highest standard in winning the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday, not that the man behind Glidawn Stud will take much credit. 

“Normally, when these horses end up becoming Group 1 winners, it's because they have been fortunate enough to have been in good hands, particularly when it comes to the trainer,” said Burke, deflecting the praise towards William Haggas.

“It's lovely when something like this happens as it gives people hope that you don't have to spend hundreds of thousands to find a Group 1 winner. 

“He [Alenquer] was a relatively inexpensive foal and was lucky for everyone he was associated with. He left me a few quid and has done very well for his new connections.” – Gerry Burke

Torquator Tasso (Ger), last season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, and In Swoop (Ire), had yet to fly the flag for Adlerflug by the time Burke re-offered Alenquer as a yearling, not that it mattered much.

Such was the quality of animal Burke was dealing with, Alenquer was accepted into Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale, and despite admitting to knowing next to nothing about the colt's sire, popular bloodstock agent Armando Duarte went to 80,000gns to secure him.

Picking up the story, Duarte, who purchased Alenquer on behalf of MM Stables, recalled, “Within three strides of seeing Alenquer walking out of his box, I thought 'wow, he is absolutely unbelievable.' He'd a great walk, a great shoulder, a lovely head with good ears and good eyes. “I went and looked at every other horse in that sale but he was the one who kept coming back to my mind. I think I looked at him 13 times. I had no clue who Adlerflug was but I just loved Alenquer.”

He added, “Bill O'Gorman, who taught me everything I know, always said to me that horses don't know how much they cost and it's a fact. He was a great mentor to me and taught me to look for the triangular shape between the withers, shoulders and the hip. Alenquer had that triangular shape that I look for.”

The Tattersalls Gold Cup has at times been rendered a damp squib, a soft touch if you like, but not Sunday's edition. 

Alenquer beat globetrotting stars State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Group 1 scorers Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) in recording his finest hour on the racetrack and Duarte believes the 4-year-old has more to offer at the highest level.

“To be honest, sometimes I have to pinch myself. Things like this don't happen very often so you have to enjoy it,” he said.

“It was as good a Tattersalls Gold Cup as I can remember. We like to give him a little break between races so I think we will go to the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown next. After that, we could look at the King George at Ascot, the Juddmonte, the Irish Champion Stakes or even the Arc. There are so many options. He's improving all the time and is exciting.” 

Alenquer was the only foal that Burke brought home from Arqana in 2018 and he counts himself “blessed” to have found him. Whether it was fate, or just sheer luck, Burke explained that Duarte was the first man to pull Alenquer out of his stable at Tattersalls and that Sunday's triumph marked the anniversary of another special day. 

The renowned pinhooker said, “I knew that Armando loved him. He was the first man to pull him out of the box. The horse was well liked by a lot of very good judges at the sales and it was nice to see the experts back up what we thought of him at home. 

“He was the only foal I bought at Arqana that year. I was blessed to find him. We sold Hula Angel (Woodman), who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas 23 years ago to the day of Alenquer's Gold Cup win, so that's how long it took me to find another one. We have been very blessed to have had him.”

Many good things come to those who deserve them least but in the case of Gwen Monneraye and Lucie Lamotte of La Motteraye, who consigned Alenquer at Arqana on behalf of Michael Andree, they have earned their place in the third and final chapter of the Alenquer story. 

Gwen and Lucie, who welcomed their first child Olivia into the world just three months ago, were zipping down to the south of France for a mini holiday when they pulled over to watch Alenquer storm to Curragh glory. 

Alenquer came from just the second crop of foals born at La Motteraye, the fast-developing stud in Normandy, with the broodmare band more than doubling since 2018 from 20 to 50 currently. 

Among them is Alenquer's dam Wild Blossom (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), happily in foal to Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal), which provided the young family with extra reason to celebrate over the weekend. 

Monneraye said, “Alenquer was born and reared on our farm. Michael Andree, of Gestut Romerhof, is the Coolmore representative in Germany and is also a very good client of ours. He sent the mare [Wild Blossom] in foal to Adlerflug and she has remained on our farm ever since.”

He added, “I can remember asking Michael about the stallion as I didn't know a lot about Adlerflug. He was a nice horse to be bringing to the sales but people were not aware of Adlerflug and he made only €18,000. His statistics are looking very smart now.

“We work hard every day and to get a result like that was amazing. We were actually on the road to go on a little holiday when we pulled over to watch the race on our phone. It was the best start ever to a holiday and we drank a lot of champagne when we arrived.”

Rare are days where a horse like Alenquer comes along. They need to be celebrated and Burke, Duarte, Andree, Monneraye and Lamotte certainly have.

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Group 1 Action In France, Germany On Sunday

France and Germany share the limelight on Sunday, with the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G1 Deutsches Derby over a mile and a half the twin focus. In the cast assembled for the former event, Gestut Schlenderhan's In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) takes prominence a year on from his victory in the latter. After his success in the Hamburg Classic, the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee proved himself on the international stage by finishing runner-up in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Returning to ParisLongchamp this term, he took the May 13 G3 Prix d'Hedouville before adding the June 6 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly to his tally and will be a tough nut to crack.

Ireland hold a strong hand, with Ballydoyle's Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) worthy challengers to the home brigade. The former met his match in the filly Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the June 19 G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot and continues to knock on the Group 1 door, while Baron Samedi gives the impression he is ready to burst it open at the first attempt. Unbeaten in his last seven starts, he denied the subsequent G1 Prix Ganay hero Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in ParisLongchamp's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris in October, defied a subsequent penalty to win the 14-furlong G3 Vintage Crop S. at Navan Apr. 25 and followed up in the two-mile GII Belmont Gold Cup June 4.

“Baron Samedi has been an absolute star for us. He surprised everyone when progressing from basement-level handicaps into a group 2 winner last season and he has improved again this season,” Joseph O'Brien said. “We took a chance in sending him to America for the Belmont Gold Cup last time, but he rewarded us by running out the easy winner. This race is a totally different test altogether, as it is back at a mile-and-a-half against world-class opposition. It is a big ask of him, but we want to find out whether he belongs in this sort of company or is best kept in staying races.”

The Aga Khan's filly Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) has proven up to a tilt at this level this term when beating last year's Arc fifth Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in both the G3 Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp May 2 and G2 Prix Corrida here May 26 and returns to a more suitable distance given last year's evidence. Successful in the G3 Prix de Royaumont at this 12-furlong trip at Chantilly last June, the homebred also captured Deauville's G2 Prix de Pomone over another half a furlong in August before finding the 14 furlongs of the G1 Prix de Royallieu possibly beyond her when third to the aforementioned Wonderful Tonight at ParisLongchamp in October.

In the Deutsches Derby, 20 colts line up in a bid to become the next In Swoop with Gestut Hony-Hof's Sea of Sands (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) looking to confirm the form of his head defeat of Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee's Lord Charming (Ger) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in the G3 Derby-Trial at Hoppegarten May 23. They set the form standard, but there could be a lurker in the mold of last year's winner in Stall Nizza's Alter Adler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). By the same sire as In Swoop, the chestnut has similarly raced solely in France so far and he looked well up to this standard when beating another Schlenderhan-Graffard project in the G2 Prix Greffulhe third Martial Eagle (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in a competitive conditions event over this trip at Saint-Cloud June 8.

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Mystery Angel Supplemented For Oaks

George Boughey, one of the rising stars of the Newmarket training ranks, is set to be represented by a first Classic runner after listed Pretty Polly S. winner Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) was supplemented for Friday's G1 Cazoo Oaks at a cost of £22,500.

Owned by the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate, which has already had a Classic place-getter this season in Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Mystery Angel was last seen running fourth to Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. The first four home in that contest all stand their ground at Epsom. 

Snowfall is currently second favourite for the Oaks behind her stable-mate Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who has raced just twice in her life and was beaten just over a length when fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The duo could be joined by up to three stable-mates from Ballydoyle, with the list of potential runners for the fillies' Classic now stretching to 15 following the latest confirmation stage.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Musidora runner-up Noon Star (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) could renew her rivalry with Snowfall, along with third-placed Teona (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from the Roger Varian stable. Her fellow Newmarket resident, the 1000 Guineas runner-up Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), had a spin round Epsom on Monday and is now an intended runner for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle team up for their first Oaks contender with the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid), who could again face the second and third home, Save A Forest (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}), for Varian and Hugo Palmer respectively. 

Varian could have as many as three runners as Cheshire Oaks runner-up Zeyaadah (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) remains in contention, as does the filly who beat her, the Mark Johnston-trained Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Eleven horses remain in the potential line-up for the second Group 1 contest on Friday's Epsom card, the Coral Coronation Cup. The list is headed by the progressive Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the impressive winner of two Group 3 contests this season for William Haggas and Shadwell.

He could take on last year's Derby and Oaks winners Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while Arc runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is a potential runner from France for Francis Graffard.

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