Mid-Season Break For Tahiyra Ahead Of Likely Matron Stakes Tilt On ICW

Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) has returned home to Gilltown Stud for a well-deserved break after her Royal Ascot heroics and, according to Pat Downes, the triple Group 1 winner could kick-start her autumn campaign in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend. 

Downes, the Aga Khan's manager of the Irish studs, has said that the most impressive aspect of Tahiyra's G1 Coronation S. success was the fact that Dermot Weld's charge was able to win despite the race not being run to suit.

Downes said, “We were delighted with her performance at Ascot. It was a bit of a muddling race. It got very tactical and there wasn't much pace. That didn't suit us and we'd have preferred a stronger gallop. But she travels and she quickens and she was able to overcome a messy race which was obviously very pleasing for us.”

He added, “The good horses overcome things like that. If some issues present themselves in a race, they find a way of winning, don't they?”

Downes revealed that Tahiyra will have an easy couple of weeks before rejoining Weld with a view towards a busy autumn campaign. 

He explained, “She will be here for a couple of weeks. We wouldn't give her any longer–she might do too well if we did! It's lovely to have her back here and the staff are delighted to see her. Hopefully she will have a nice couple of weeks and head back down to Rosewell House.”

Downes added on the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, “The Matron is pretty much the way we are looking at the moment and then we can have a discussion about what comes after that. There are a lot of options on the table for her.”

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‘We Think He’s A Guineas Horse,’ – Connections Purring Over Al Riffa

Connections of Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the brilliant G1 National S. winner, are confident that they have a Guineas horse on their hands and are predicting Joseph O'Brien's exciting colt to be even better next year.

Khalifa Bin Ahmed Alattiyah, a familiar face on Irish racecourses and on the sales circuit, was at the Curragh on Sunday to see Al Riffa, owned by his cousin Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah, tower over his rivals.

Not only did Al Riffa provide crack youngster Dylan Browne McMonagle with his first Group 1 success in the saddle, but he also handed his owner with a breakthrough victory at the highest level in Ireland from as many attempts, with Alattiyah labelling his cousin as “one lucky man.”

Alattiyah, who along with his close friend Mohamed Al Mansour has run a number of horses with O'Brien under the Al Mamoura Partnership, revealed his family are now looking forward to a tilt at the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere or the G1 Dewhurst before dreaming of Classic glory for Al Riffa through the winter.

Alattiyah said, “We thought he was a horse that would do better as a 3-year-old when we bought him as a yearling. His class has allowed him to do what he has done.

“Physically, he's a really nice-looking horse and is quite unfurnished. He is only a frame of a horse and he will fill out a lot. To be honest, we haven't even seen the best of him yet.”

He added, “When you see him in the flesh, there is no way you would think that this is a horse who can win a National S. as a 2-year-old, but he has an unbelievable amount of class. He has the option of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the Dewhurst as well. The decision will be left to Joseph.

“Al Riffa runs in the colours of my cousin Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah. I was with Joseph when he bought him as a yearling [for 150,000gns at Book 1 at Tattersalls] last year. Al Riffa is actually Jassim's first runner in Ireland–he is one lucky man!”

 

Fortune has certainly favoured the connections of Al Riffa but nobody could accuse Alattiyah of not putting in the legwork along with O'Brien at the yearling sales.

While some owners prefer to take a more passive approach to securing talent, Alattiyah attends most of the sales himself, and revealed that he plans on being active at the Orby Sale at Goffs later this month.

He said, “Joseph has helped me a lot. Niall Ryan has also been a huge help to me. He's played a big role in helping secure everything that we have. He's a great guy. Any time I need help, I give him a call so, between Niall and Joseph, these are the guys who have really helped me out and taught me the most.

“Horses are in our blood. We own Arabian horses back home in Qatar and those families have been nurtured by our great, great grandfathers. We can trace some of those families back 80 to 100 years in some cases. I have loved racing since I was young and followed Sea The Stars (Ire), Frankel (GB), Camelot (GB) and Australia (GB), so I have been exploring racing in Europe since I was 18 or 19 years old.”

On striking up a relationship with O'Brien, he added, “My friend Mohamed Al Mansour introduced me to Joseph. He owns everything 50-50 with me in the Al Mamoura Partnership. “Mohamed went to work for Coolmore to build up his knowledge of horses and racing and it was there where he met Aidan [O'Brien] and Joseph. The first sale we went to with Joseph was at Doncaster in 2016 and, from then, I was really happy as I knew he was the sort of guy who had the same goals as us. We bought two yearlings that day and had some luck with them. Our luck has continued right up to Al Riffa and now it looks like we have a nice horse.

“It is a nice story and we are really lucky that everyone at Owning Hill–Tara Armstrong, Mark Power, Brendan Powell and Faisal Hayat–have helped us. We will be at the Orby Sale. The plan is to try and buy some yearlings there.”

Southern Lights (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a Leopardstown maiden winner who ran in last year's Derby and reached a rating of 104, and three-time scorer Hadman (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), are some of the better horses that Alattiyah has been associated with.

As of yet, he hasn't run in his own silks with O'Brien, but says that could change in the near future, explaining that he plans to bolster his team in Ireland.

He said, “Most of the horses I have owned in Joseph's have run in partnerships. I haven't run a horse in my own silks yet, but hopefully that will happen next month. I love going to the sales.

“We try our best to look for nice horses like Al Riffa. Finding one as good as him was our dream. I look for quality. I like the mile and middle-distance horses. First of all, we are looking at a good physical, and then we look for pedigree.”

He added, “If you were to ask me what I dream of, it's to win the Derby. Be that as an owner or a  breeder, that's what I want to do. Sometimes, when you're at the sales, you might see something that looks nice and is fast, and we don't mind buying those types either. But the main thing we look for is class.

“Joseph thinks Al Riffa is a Guineas horse. He will probably start off in the Guineas next year and, after that, our dream is to win the Derby. That would be the dream but, at the moment, Joseph thinks that if he has a good winter and doesn't get any setbacks, he has the class to be a Guineas horse, so that is exciting.”

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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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Kodiac’s Zarinsk Makes All In The Ingabelle

Irish Champions Weekend got under way with Leopardstown's €100,000 Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle S. over seven furlongs, for 2-year-old fillies, which went the way of Ger Lyons and Colin Keane for a second straight edition after Juddmonte's Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}–Pavlosk, by Arch) posted a 2 1/2-length success from Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Zarinsk, who backed up a May 22 debut success at the Curragh with a fourth in the G2 Airlie Stud S. back there the following month, was unable to feature at the business end of July's G3 Silver Flash S. over this course and distance when stumbling badly at the start and gained compensation with a pillar-to-post victory here. Breaking sharply to seize immediate control, she was shaken up when threatened by her closest pursuer Library passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly under mild urging thereafter to hold that rival with plenty to spare for a career high.

“Our fillies have been pretty precocious this year, they have all won their maidens well and she is still a work-in-progress,” said trainer Ger Lyons. “Colin [Keane] is quite confident about her getting a mile, I'll have to talk to the owners and I could see us putting her away until next year. We do a lot of work in the stalls with our horses at home and our modus [operandi] is don't take away any advantage. Wherever they bounce you ride them from and he's kept it simple. She's not overly big, but has a lovely big stride and has a lot of maturing to do. It's the biggest weekend of the year for us guys in Ireland, it's a very special day and there is always a good buzz to it.” Keane added, “We would have taken a lead, but we got it on our own terms and we went nice, even fractions. I thought we picked up well from the bottom of the straight, she ran through the line and I couldn't pull her up. She's a lovely actioned filly, her stride is very long and she's a very willing filly.”

Zarinsk, who becomes the 81st black-type winner for her sire (by Danehill), is the first stakes scorer out of Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. victrix Pavlosk (Arch), herself a full-sister to Listed Prix Casimir Delamarre winner Rostova. Pavlosk is also a half-sister to the dual Group 3-winning G1 Gran Premio di Milano third Exhibit One (Silver Hawk), herself the dam of G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai victor Maitres d'Art (Jpn) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}) and Listed Sandringham H. runner-up Auction (Ire) (Mr. Greeley). Zarinsk's third dam Bold Empress (Diesis {GB}) is kin to multiple Group 1-winning sire Zafonic (Mr. Prospector) while her descendants also include stakes-winning G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches second Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), G2 Maurice Lacroix Trophy victrix Daring Love (Ger) (Big Shuffle) and last week's G2 Oettingen-Rennen scorer Dapanago (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Pavlosk has a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and a weanling full-sister to Zarinsk to come.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD IRISH EBF INGABELLE S.-Listed, €100,000, Leopardstown, 9-10, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:31.73, sf.
1–ZARINSK (GB), 128, f, 2, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Pavlosk (SW-Eng), by Arch
2nd Dam: Tsar's Pride (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Bold Empress, by Diesis (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $79,847.
2–Library (Ire), 128, f, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Words (Ire), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €20,000.
3–Highly Desirable (Ire), 128, f, 2, Twilight Son (GB)–Exoptable (GB), by Dark Angel (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-B M D Partnership; B-P Turley (IRE); T-Natalia Lupini. €10,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 2.00, 125.00.
Also Ran: Clever And Cool (Ire), Kayhana (Ire), Easy (Ire), Ma Belle Artiste (Ire), Sheyya (Ire), Sweetest Rose (Ire), Satin (GB), Evening's Empire (Ire).

 

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