Tag: Invincible Spirit (Ire)

Invincible Spirit’s Pearls Galore Makes All For Matron Glory

Second in Leopardstown's G1 Coolmore America Justify Matron S. when just running out of runway in the one-mile contest last term, Paddy Twomey trainee Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Pearl Banks {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) left nothing to chance in this year's renewal back at the Foxrock venue and led every step of the way this time around to secure her first victory at the highest level. The Matron victory also booked Pearls Galore's ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November.

Haras de Saint Pair's consistent 5-year-old mare had followed up last year's reversal with a second in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de la Foret before bringing the curtain down on 2021 with a close-up sixth in Del Mar's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Back in tune when annexing April's Listed Heritage S. over this course and distance on seasonal return, she added to that with a narrow score in the Curragh's G2 Lanwades Stud S. the following month, but was out of luck when second in July's G2 Minstrel S. back at the Co. Kildare track and fifth behind Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Tenebrism (Caracaggio) in Deauville's Aug. 2 G1 Prix Rothschild last time.

Sharply into stride to set the tone from flagfall, the 16-1 chance was bustled along at the top of the straight and maintained a relentless tempo under a drive inside the final quarter mile to exact revenge on her Rothschild opponents in style, hitting the line with a three-length advantage.

“The best race of her life was this race last year, she's been in good form and I said to Billy [Lee] we'd put the cheekpieces on her,” explained Twomey. “She's five years old and does what she has to do. It didn't work out for her in France [last time] where the ground was quick and it was a straight mile. This is more her jazz, ease in the ground and a turning mile. She was walking around the pre-parade ring and throwing herself around the place and I knew she was in good form. I told Billy, with the cheekpieces on, I don't think we should be taking her back and it worked. She has the ability to travel at a high pace and burn off horses. That's her true running there and I'm delighted for her.”

Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, native Lee added, “She has been very good to me. The race went nicely and, when she bounced from the gates well, I was happy to let her lead the way. She likes it here, she likes the turning mile and, when I asked her in the straight, she picked up well. She's all heart and kept galloping all the way to the line. I thought for a few strides at the top of the straight Hollie Doyle [aboard Saffron Beach] might have had me, but my one picked up again. I was quite surprised we won by three lengths, but she just kept galloping away and galloped them into the ground. These home Group 1s are very hard to win and I'm delighted she's won her Group 1. Her career deserved it and she has it now.”

Pearls Galore, who becomes the 21st Group 1 scorer for her sire (by Green Desert), is the fifth of seven foals and one of five winners from as many runners produced by G3 Dirk Elbers-Preis victrix Pearl Banks (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), herself a daughter of G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}). Pearly Shells, kin to GI Hollywood Turf Cup-winning sire Frenchpark (GB) (Fools Holme), is also the dam of last term's G2 Prix Greffulhe runner-up Smile Makers (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and Listed Prix Panacee victrix Pearls Or Passion (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), herself the dam of G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Pelligrina (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Listed Floodlit S. placegetter Podemos (Ger) (Shamardal). The May-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to G3 Grosser Preis der Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung victrix Lucky Lycra (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), Listed Prix des Lilas winner Pearly Steph (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt L'Ambassadeur (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}). Pearly Steph, in turn, is the dam of this year's G3 Prix Minerve victrix Eternal Pearl (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the family also features multiple Group 1-winning sires St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
COOLMORE AMERICA 'JUSTIFY' MATRON S.-G1, €400,000, Leopardstown, 9-10, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:44.36, sf.
1–PEARLS GALORE (FR), 133, m, 5, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Pearl Banks (GB) (GSW-Ger & SW-Fr, $127,537), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Pearly Shells (GB), by Efisio (GB)
3rd Dam: Piffle (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair du Mont (FR); T-Paddy Twomey; J-Billy Lee. €240,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 17-7-4-1, $697,983. *1/2 to Lucky Lycra (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), GSW-Ger & SW-Fr; and Pearly Steph (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Saffron Beach (Ire), 133, f, 4, New Bay (GB)–Falling Petals (Ire), by Raven's Pass. (55,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA). O-Mrs B V Sangster, J Wigan & O Sangster; B-China Horse Club International Ltd (IRE); T-Jane Chapple-Hyam. €80,000.
3–Tenebrism, 128, f, 3, Caravaggio–Immortal Verse (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Westerberg, Coolmore & Merriebelle Stables; B-Merriebelle Stables, Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €40,000.
Margins: 3, 1, 1HF. Odds: 16.00, 2.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Homeless Songs (Ire), Honey Girl (GB), Affogato (Ire), Star Girls Aalmal (Ire), Concert Hall (Ire), Lights On (GB). Scratched: Agartha (Ire), Panama Red (Ire).

 

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Invincible Spirit Colt Earns TDN Rising Star Tag At Deauville

Fresh from the high of Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) annexing Monday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville, the in-form team of Al Shaqab Racing, Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro was back in the winner's circle once more after the hitherto untried 2-year-old colt Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Gherdaiya {GB}, by Shamardal) unleashed a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in Tuesday's Prix de Vernon over 6 1/2 furlongs at the Normandy venue. Bowling along on the front end after a swift getaway, the 9-10 favourite held sway throughout and kept on powerfully under minimal coaxing once shaken up with 350 metres remaining to easily outpoint Piano Man (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths.

“He wasn't easy at the gates beforehand, but was very professional during the race itself,” said winning rider Cristian Demuro. “He has a lovely, huge action and quickens well. He will stay further and there's no doubt in my mind that he can go up in class.”

Beylerbeyi is the third foal and winner out of G3 Prix d'Aumale third Gherdaiya (GB) (Shamardal), herself a full-sister to G3 Prix des Chenes, G3 Diomed S. and G3 Earl of Sefton S.-winning sire French Navy (GB). His dam is also kin to G3 Sovereign S. victor Sea Lord (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The March-foaled homebred bay, who hails from the family of dual Grade I-winning sire Private Account (Damascus) and GI Beldame S. heroine Dance Number (Northern Dancer), is a half-brother to this term's Listed Derby du Midi runner-up Subahiyah (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) and a weanling colt by Le Havre (Ire).

1st-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 8-16, unraced 2yo, c/g, 6 1/2fT, 1:17.83, gd.
BEYLERBEYI (GB), c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Gherdaiya (GB) (GSP-Fr), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: First Fleet, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Frankova, by Nureyev
1ST-TIME STARTER. O/B-Al Shaqab Racing (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Invincible Spirit’s Shartash Wins The Railway

It is rare that The Aga Khan's silks are at the forefront this early in the major two-year-old contests, but when they are it is always a good sign and Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Shamreen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) showed he had the precocity to go with his illustrious pedigree in Saturday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at The Curragh. Kept fresh by Johnny Murtagh following his Naas conditions win May 7, the son of the dual G2 Blandford S. winner was held up early as the Listed First Flier S. and G3 Marble Hill S. winner Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) set off in front. Needing the gaps late on, the 9-1 shot was produced in time by Ben Coen to oust the rallying 5-6 favourite by a short head, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Apache Outlaw (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in third. “This is where these colours should be on Irish Derby weekend and it's my job to get them there,” Murtagh said. “He's a Guineas type of horse to me, he's got that pace.”

The last juvenile that the owner-breeder enjoyed such early-season success with was the great Siyouni (Fr), so Shartash's every move from here on warrants the closest examination. Third on debut behind the subsequent Marble Hill runner-up Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and the Windsor Castle-winning TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) over this course and distance Apr. 10, the bay managed to edge out Age of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) at Naas before being held back from the demands of Royal Ascot. Rewarding that patience, he was able to subdue the more-experienced Blackbeard who was demonstrating his unquenchable appetite for the game by coming back at the line.

“He's improved and got a bit more streetwise–he was always sharp, but now he's relaxing and he showed a very good turn of foot today when he needed it,” Murtagh added. “Ben had to be brave there, but I have great confidence in him and a good horse is usually able to get you out of trouble. He's always had plenty of speed and when I entered him up in April, Pat Downes said 'are you sure?' but I knew that this is a real two-year-old. He's tough and hardy and the Phoenix is the next logical step. Maybe it will be the National Stakes later on–he has to get seven and that is not a guarantee at the moment, but he's starting to do it right now.”

There is no obvious reason why Shartash should not get at least seven furlongs on pedigree, with Shamreen at her best over a mile and a quarter as she showed when garnering her brace of Blandfords and also the G3 Royal Whip S. here. The second dam Shahreen (Ire) (Bahri) captured the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies' S. and also produced the GIII Singspiel S. winner Shahroze (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), while she is kin to the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. scorer Sharestan (Ire) (Shamardal). From the family of the 1986 Irish Derby hero Shahrastani, Shamreen's second foal and first winner Shartash is followed by a yearling colt by the aforementioned Siyouni.

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
GAIN RAILWAY-G2, €142,800, Curragh, 6-25, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.44, gd.
1–SHARTASH (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
     1st Dam: Shamreen (Ire) (MGSW-Ire, $364,530), by Dubawi (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Shareen (Ire), by Bahri
     3rd Dam: Sharesha (Ire), by Ashkalani (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Ben Coen. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $91,449. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Blackbeard (Ire), 131, c, 2, No Nay Never–Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire). (270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €24,000.
3–Apache Outlaw (Ire), 131, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Focus of Attention (Ire), by Intense Focus.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£21,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-E & S Racing; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 9.00, 0.83, 22.00.
Also Ran: Age of Kings (Ire), Borletti (Ire), Crispy Cat (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Irish Sires Shine Down Under

The veteran stallions Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) each sired a new Group 2 winner Down Under at Eagle Farm on Saturday. First to strike was Irish Sequel (Ire), formerly known as Bashiyr (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Northern Hemisphere, for trainer Chris Waller. Waller is currently in the UK overseeing the preparation of crack sprinters Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) for their Royal Ascot bids.

The gelding, the 70th group winner for his sire, clawed his way to a head victory in the A$200,000 G2 Brisbane Cup over 3200 metres, just besting Through Irish Eyes (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), (VIDEO). The 6-year-old made his first 10 starts in Ireland and sported two victories there before catching Waller's eye for €50,000 at the 2020 Goffs Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale. Bred by His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs, he now races for a large ownership group. Successful in the June 4 Listed Winter Cup over 2400 metres at Rosehill, Irish Sequel was making his first start at the two-mile trip. His dam claimed the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial as a sophomore, and produced the Group 3-placed Balansiya (Ire) (Shamardal) as her first foal. Since foaling the winner, Baliyana (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) has the winning 5-year-old entire Balmari (Ire) (Mukhadram {GB}) and the winning Kodiac (GB) 3-year-old colt Equos Allez (Ire) to her name. A half-sister to G2 King Edward VII S. scorer Balakheri (Ire) (Theatrical {Ire}), her most recent foal is a juvenile colt by No Nay Never.

Later on the card was the A$1.2-million G2 Sky Racing Q22 (Eagle Farm Cup) over 2200 metres, and it was Teme Valley's Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who prevailed by a length over Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ), (VIDEO) for trainer Annabel Neasham. Turning into the straight on the lead, the 6-year-old gelding fended off all comers for a first group score and became his sire's 52nd at that level. Prior to racing in Australia, the son of the unraced Kantikoy (GB) (Alzao) who was bred by Annmarie O'Brien's Whisperview Trading, had won the Listed Devoy S. and was placed four times at group level in Ireland. He'd trotted up by three-quarters of a length in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup on May 7. His dam has a 3-year-old colt by Kingston Hill (GB) and a 2-year-old full-brother to the winner named Montesilvano (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). This is the extended family of Classic winner and GI Breeders' Cup Turf second Milan (GB) (Sadler's Wells).

Teme Valley has enjoyed success this year in the G3 Blue Wind S. with Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who ran sixth in the G1 Cazoo Oaks behind Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) earlier this month. The filly's older half-brother and three-time Group 1 winner State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) originally raced for the operation, but was sold on and now bears the colours of the State Of Rest Partnership. He will stand for Newgate Farm in the Southern Hemisphere and Rathbarry Stud in the Northern Hemisphere at the conclusion of his racing career.

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