Noel Meade: ‘The Oaks Would Be A Dream With Caught U Looking’

Noel Meade has provided an upbeat bulletin on Classic hope Caught U Looking (Ire) and said it would “be a dream” if the daughter of Harzand (Ire) proved herself good enough to compete in the Oaks this season.

Caught U Looking, winner of the G3 Weld Park S. at the Curragh last year, will get her campaign underway in the G3 Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on April 7. 

Owned by Tally-Ho Stud's Tony O'Callaghan and popular bloodstock agent Peter Kelly's wife Sabina, Caught U Looking was bought for just €27,000 by Peter Nolan and Meade at the Goffs Autumn Sale in 2022. She can be backed at odds as big as 50-1 for the Oaks. 

Meade said, “She didn't do a lot wrong as a two-year-old. We probably shouldn't have brought her to Newmarket for the Fillies' Mile because she was far from the finished article at the time. Even though she didn't run her race, she wasn't beaten that far [just over eight lengths], but I am still inclined to forgive her that effort. 

Asked if he thought Caught U Looking could develop into an Oaks candidate, Meade added, “That would be a dream. You'd love to think she could run in the Oaks at Epsom or even the Irish Oaks. 

Noel Meade and Peter Nolan: bought Caught U Looking | Tattersalls

“There is a lot of water left to go under the bridge but we live in hope that she could be that good. We are lucky to have her and to have Tony [O'Callaghan] and Peter [Kelly] involved in her ownership. The two of them are getting a great kick out of her so hopefully she can go on and do something for them this year.”

Caught U Looking is not the only filly Meade has Classic aspirations for. Impressive Curragh maiden winner Letherfly (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) is also entered in the Oaks but the trainer revealed that he views the €30,000 Tattersalls Ireland yearling purchase as more of a miler. 

He explained, “We put her in the Oaks as well as Caught U Looking but it's probably a mistake–we should have put her in the 1,000 Guineas. She has plenty of pace and obviously has plenty of ability. Even though it was only an auction maiden that she won on debut at the Curragh, she was quite impressive. She's a big, tall and leggy filly with a good back pedigree.”

Older horses Layfayette (Ire) (French Navy {GB}) and Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) will form part of what is becoming an increasingly Flat-orientated string at Meade's famous Castletown base in County Meath. The multiple champion national hunt trainer in Ireland and dominant force of his era, Meade expects to have only “a handful” of runners at this year's Cheltenham festival. Meanwhile, Group 1 hero Helvic Dream, a winner over hurdles at Navan on Sunday, could step up in trip on the Flat.

“Layfayette and Helvic Dream will continue on the Flat. We have come to the conclusion that going a bit further might suit Helvic Dream better. Both horses like an ease in the ground and are two nice horses to have. We could stretch Helvic Dream out to a mile-and-a-half. I'm not sure if many Group 1 winners have won over hurdles so he's kind of unusual in that respect but he'll definitely go back on the Flat this year.”

The theory that Meade's stable has become better stocked with Flat horses compared to jumpers is backed up by the stats. The trainer sent out 35 winners on the level last year from 322 runners while last season's tally over jumps stood at 23 wins from 179 runs. 

“It has happened almost by accident,” Meade said. “We have 30 two-year-olds in training and, it's the same story as always, none of them cost a fortune. We sold a lot of horses last year. We sold Majestic Speed (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) to Hong Kong for example. Happy Together (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) is another horse we sold to Hong Kong and he's done very well out there–he's won over a million out there. We've sold a good few.”

He added, “I saw HRI have a new Spring Series for those middle-distance horses and that's a great initiative but, it's funny, this year we have a few speedier-bred horses to what I'd usually buy. I am delighted to have them. We have a couple of Far Aboves and they go well. I have one very nice horse by Circus Maximus (Ire) as well.”

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Savethelastdance Heads O’Brien-Trained Foursome In Irish Oaks

Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will spearhead a four-pronged attack from Aidan O'Brien on Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh. The master of Ballydoyle has already won the fillies' Classic on six occasions, a joint-record alongside Sir Michael Stoute.

O'Brien looks to have every chance of going out on his own this weekend, with 22-length Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance the likely favourite on her first start since finishing runner-up behind Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Oaks at Epsom last month.

Her biggest threat could prove to be her stablemate Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who completed a third straight win in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot last month.

Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and listed winner Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) complete O'Brien's quartet.

British hopes are carried by Ralph Beckett's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), who was beaten a head by Warm Heart on her penultimate start at Newbury, but has almost four lengths to find with the same rival from their clash in the Ribblesdale just over four weeks ago.

Splitting the pair in second at the Royal meeting was the Joseph O'Brien-trained Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who adds further strength in depth to the Irish Oaks field.

Azazat (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), second in the G3 Munster Oaks last time out for Dermot Weld, and Jim Bolger's Irish 1,000 Guineas third Comhra (Ire) (Vocalised) are the other hopefuls.

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Magical Lagoon Faces Japan’s Best Females in QE II

Some eleven years have transpired since the great Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) carried Ryan Moore to a second consecutive victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and it will be up to reigning G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to put a halt to the locals' 10-race winning streak Sunday afternoon at Hanshin Racecourse.

It has been a magical season, indeed, for Yuesheng Zhang's talented bay filly, who used a runner-up effort in the Listed Salsabil S. at Navan in late April as a springboard to an 11-4 success in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot in June. The Tattersalls October graduate, trained by Jessica Harrington, got the better of a final-furlong tussle with Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to take out the Irish Oaks July 16 (video) and fought out the fractions in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks last time Aug. 18 only to fade into fifth behind future G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), recent winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

 

 

 

While G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) misses this, the season's Classic form is strongly represented. Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) defeated Pin High (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) in Group 2 company in March, but was a disappointing 10th in the G1 Oka Sho the following month. An improved third in the Oaks, she exits a runner-up effort behind perfect-trip Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G1 Shuka Sho Oct. 16 (video), in which Stars on Earth was desperately unlucky to lose her Triple Crown bid.

“She is still a young horse and there should be more to come from her,” said trainer Tomokazu Takano. “With just three weeks between races, we've been careful with her, giving her slow canters and checking how she takes the bit when running uphill. She was third in the Japanese Oaks, so the distance should be good this time.”

 

 

Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) won the 2020 Oaks, but her career has been a bit stop-start since. A good third to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Hong Kong's G1 FWD QE II Cup in 2021, the 5-year-old has made just three starts since, her best outcome a sound third behind Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June. She was most recently beaten into sixth as the favorite behind the immaculately bred Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}–Gentildonna {Jpn}) in the G2 All Comers S. Sept. 25.

Moore is in Japan on a short-term contract following his Breeders' Cup three-timer last weekend. He takes the reins aboard the Classic-placed 4-year-old filly Andvaranaut (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).

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‘We Know we are Succeeding Because John [O’Connor] is Laughing at us Less’

They have reached dizzy heights as breeders and now Gillian and Vimal Khosla are concentrating on achieving big-race success as owners with Fennela (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of their outstanding broodmare Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}), in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks.

The Khoslas know a thing or two about breeding top-notchers. Green Room is the dam of three Group 1 or Classic winners and the owner-breeders behind the 20-year-old blue hen are hoping there is still more to come. 

Lord Shanakill (Speightstown) was the first horse to put Green Room in lights. A high-class 2-year-old, he then went on to win the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly in 2009 before retiring to stud the following season. 

Then came Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who fetched €680,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2013 before going on to land the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore Stud. 

The Green Room secret was well and truly out by the time MV Magnier was forced to spend €900,000 on Together Forever's younger sister, Forever Together, at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2016. 

But it proved money well spent when, ridden by Donnacha O'Brien, Forever Together romped to Oaks glory at Epsom, again trained by Aidan O'Brien. 

Put mildly, Green Room has an outstanding track record of producing top-class racehorses and in Fennela, the only filly the Khoslas have kept out of their superstar broodmare, they are hoping that pedigree can shine through again at the Curragh on Saturday.

“The form says no but, as an owner and breeder, you couldn't do it without having hope and optimism, so we're optimistic about Saturday,” said Vimal with a heavy dollop of realism at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The Khoslas were back at Leopardstown for the first time in over two years on Thursday. It was an important visit, too, as they once again sponsored the G3 Green Room Meld S., and handed over the trophy to Jim and Jackie Bolger after Boundless Ocean (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) ran out an impressive winner.

The husband-and-wife owner-breeders will be hoping that the roles will be reversed on Saturday and that they will be collecting a trophy after the Irish Oaks but are by no means underestimating the task at hand. 

“We think she might want a mile-and-six-furlongs in time and she's only three so she may even do better next year. It's exciting to be a part of such a brilliant race and we're hopeful of a good run. Every position she finishes better than last will be a bonus.”

Asked to compare how the build-up to a Classic compares as an owner to a breeder, he added, “They're two totally different animals. I have never won a Group 1 and I would love to win one as an owner. I would feel like I have arrived if we managed to win the Oaks.”

The Khoslas made their fortune in the travel business and, with Green Room, they have been on the journey of a lifetime. 

On their star mare, Gillian said, “Green Room has a colt foal by Waldgeist (GB). It's obviously his first crop so that will be exciting. She's extremely well-looked after by everyone down in Ballylinch Stud–there were pictures taken of her recently and she still looks amazing at the age of 20. She had a couple of years off so the Waldgeist colt is all she has coming through.”

Asked why they chose to set up their breeding and racing enterprise in Ireland, she responded, “It's part of the culture over here. It's very professional but it's also very warm and comforting and people are happy to share. We've learned so much, particularly in Ireland.”

The Khoslas are learning from the best. Their seven-strong broodmare band is based at Ballylinch Stud, of which, John O'Connor has been a massive help to the couple, while Jessica Harrington has produced the goods on the track. 

“It has all happened by accident,” Vimal explains. “I bought a filly called Polly Perkins (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) back in 2004. She had won two listed races when I bought her and was shaping up to be something special but she damaged a stifle during the winter and couldn't race again. 

“I hadn't a clue about racing at the time, had only been involved in the sport a few years but someone recommended that we breed from her. She did well as a broodmare and we actually kept one of her fillies and had our first foal from her this year.”

The Khoslas describe Ballylinch Stud, based in the picturesque countryside of County Kilkenny, as an idyllic place for their broodmares to be based and O'Connor's expertise and knowledge about breeding comes in for special recognition from Gillian.

She said, “Particularly the expertise of John O'Connor and all the team at Ballylinch, the knowledge they have about breeding, and they are so good at sharing it.”

Vimal is in agreement, and adds, “John is a wonderful teacher. Of course, we take for granted that he is a wonderful horseman with tremendous knowledge but he is very generous with his knowledge and is a wonderful teacher. We wanted to learn the business and he has taught us and continues to teach us to this day. That's the main thing.”

There are plenty of wealthy businessmen and women who get involved in racing purely for the entertainment factor that goes with a good day out at the races. Not the Khoslas. They have adopted a hands-on approach to their operation and it's working.

Vimal joked, “We know we are succeeding because John is laughing at us less and less. I used to send all the mating plans to John and he'd fall around the place laughing. He would do it very kindly I must say,” to which Gillian admitted, “We still go a big rogue sometimes.”

Asked to explain, Vimal said, “We bought a Sea The Stars (Ire) mare called Compostela (GB) a few years ago. She never raced, but is a tank of a filly, and so far she has bred a Group 3 winner [Stela Star (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus})] and her other two foals of racing age have won as well. She's on the up.

“We like being quirky with sense. We're not into mini-skirts or fashion and don't pick a stallion because he's in fashion. We chose a stallion and a mare if we think we can breed something decent.

“In the early days, we went for first-season sires and made a lot of mistakes. Shamardal worked for a lot of people. He didn't work for us. The same with Duke Of Marmalade (Ire). He worked for a lot of people and was a tremendous racehorse but he just didn't work for us. 

“We went for them because the fees were relatively low, but also because they were tremendous racehorses on the track. But, you learn.”

The Khoslas have learned alright. Now it's over to Fennela to teach her rivals a thing or two on Saturday and continue the trend of Green Room's progeny hitting the heights on the racecourse. 

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