“He’s A Group Horse” – Davison Has Royal Ascot Plan For Rapid Improver

Trainer Jack Davison says he is convinced that rapid improver Bergamasco (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) is a Group horse in the making and is preparing the colt for a tilt at the Britannia S. at Royal Ascot following a career-best performance in winning the Patton Race at Dundalk on Friday. 

Bergamasco has gone from strength to strength at Dundalk over the winter by winning three times, including when accounting for Nerano (War Front) and the 104-rated Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the one-mile contest, which was recently downgraded from Listed status. 

Despite that silky smooth success, the handler confirmed that no offers have been levelled at connections, who are happy to roll the big dice with a horse that was acquired for just €12,000 as a yearling.

Davison said, “Bergamasco has loads of options now. I think he'll get nine or 10 pounds for Friday, which would get him into the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. Hopefully he'd have a live chance in a race like that.”

He added, “I think he's a Group horse. I really fancied him on Friday because I thought it would take a Stakes horse to win it. I watched his replay of his previous win and, when a race is run to suit, he's capable of quickening up off a fast pace. The time of the race on Friday was quite good as well.”

Bergamasco races in the colours of the trainer's parents, John and Paula, who are hugely distinguished breeders in their own right under the banner of Killarkin Stud. Davison explained how, from humble beginnings, Bergamasco has provided the family with a great amount of enjoyment, and says he is confident that there is plenty more fun to be had with the improving three-year-old. 

He said, “I bought him off Tally-Ho Stud and a good friend of mine, Tommy Burns, who bred him, for just €12,000 at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale. I bought a lot of yearlings that year–some expensive ones–and then my parents said that they'd quite like a colt to race and he was the cheapest one we bought. He's pretty highly-rated now and has won almost €50,000 in prize-money so he has worked out well. It's a good story.”

Davison added, “There hasn't been much interest in the horse since Friday. I think people underestimate a horse like him just because of his sire, really. It was just a three-runner race at Dundalk and I suppose all of his winning has been at Dundalk. Maybe people want to see some turf form from him? I haven't had any solid offers for the horse since he won on Friday and I certainly won't be giving him away either because I think there is loads to come from him. He could be a horse to go to a London Sale with an entry in the Britannia Stakes. That could be an option.

“I'm very much a, 'have horse will travel,' kind of trainer, which is why I won't be giving this lad away. If you look beyond Ascot, there is a lot of money on offer in places like Saudi Arabia, which could be right up his street. He could be ideal for big-race international targets. We're under no pressure with him.”

Away from Bergamasco, Davison has big plans for classy prospect She's Quality (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), talented sprinter Thunderbear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and some smart youngsters who have yet to hit the track. 

He explained, “I think highly of She's Quality. She might make a reappearance in a six-furlong conditions race at Dundalk in a fortnight's time. She was always going to be more of a three-year-old as she's very big. I'd say she's a nice sprinter in the making. Thunderbear really thrives for soft underfoot conditions. We might run him in a handicap on the opening day of the season at the Curragh. He'll be top weight, no doubt, but we'll probably claim off him and try and get a bit of confidence into him.”

Davison added, “I have one really nice three-year-old colt but I won't say his name for fear of jinxing him! But he's a nicer horse than Bergamasco and he hasn't even seen a racecourse yet. “We have a lovely team of 25 horses. Everything we have is worth having in training in Ireland so we're really happy with how things are building towards the season ahead. It's all about stats now. If I bring a runner to the races, I want people to take note. If we can keep that going forward, we'll be very happy.”

 

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Share in Royal Ascot-bound Thunderbear Sells for £75,000 via Thoroughbid

A 50% share in Royal Ascot G3 Jersey S. probable Thunderbear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), most recently fourth in the G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Nass on May 21, was sold for £75,000 through ThoroughBid on Thursday. City Bloodstock was the high bidder and County Meath-based trainer Jack Davison retained his 50% share in the 3-year-old gelding,

“I think it's a fair price and, at that money, it's makes a lot of sense for the new partner too,” Davison said. “They've now got a significant share in a good, progressive horse who's got plenty of big days ahead of him.

“He's bouncing at the moment! I think the horse will run very well in Ascot and he'll give the new owner a lot of pleasure going forward. He is in great nick, but he's only a baby and there's plenty ahead of him.”

The Jersey is set to take place on Saturday, June 24.

“Selling a 50% share in a Royal Ascot runner a week before the meeting has been a great success, not least going for £75,000,” ThoroughBid CEO James Richardson said. “ThoroughBid has broken new ground with this sale; tailoring an online auction to fit the needs of a part-sale, and positioning on a specific date ahead of it's intended run at Royal Ascot hopefully shows how flexible we can be. It's a new and important string to our bow.”

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Share In Royal Ascot Runner To Be Offered On ThoroughBid

A 50% share in Thunderbear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), who ran fourth in the G3 Lacken S., will be offered on ThoroughBid on Thursday, June 15. The 3-year-old gelding is pointing to a run in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot on Saturday, June 24. The sale will run from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

“We are looking forward to partnering up with somebody, or a group of people, for this horse,” trainer and part-owner Jack Davison said. “He's ideal, he's a flag bearer for me whom I would very much love to keep around the place, and it's just a great opportunity to bring some people into ownership at a really good level. He's a very good horse, he's very straightforward, and he's going to run his heart out in the Jersey S. at Royal Ascot.

“Whoever comes in to take the share can have the horse run in their colours. They will also have their name in the racecard, and hopefully they've got a live chance heading into Royal Ascot. It's a unique opportunity.”

Rated 107, Thunderbear won a Nottingham handicap in May and his granddam is GIII Glens Falls H. heroine Rosinka (Ire) (Soviet Star), who was also second in the GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. and third in the GI Spinster S.

James Richardson, CEO of ThoroughBid, said, “These one-off, one-horse sales always generate a lot of excitement. The chance to own 50% of a Royal Ascot runner, including having the horse run in their colours, is a unique offering and we're looking forward to seeing the bids fly in next Thursday.

“Thunderbear is clearly a horse on the up with plenty of raw ability. He was a very stylish winner at Nottingham two starts back and followed that up with a really good fourth in the Lacken S. to The Antarctic, who himself has serious claims in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Whoever ends up winning the bidding on Thursday looks to have a live chance in the Jersey S. and a very smart prospect for the season ahead, that's for sure.”

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Glass Slippers Tries For Second Flying Five Stakes Win At The Curragh

Irish Champions Weekend concludes at The Curragh on Sunday with two Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races headlining the card. The winner of the Group 1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes will receive an automatic starting position into the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, and the winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes earns a free spot into the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

Last year the Bearstone Stud-owned Glass Slippers (GB) earned an automatic berth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with a victory in the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes, before following up with success in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

This year, the Kevin Ryan-trained mare, a 5-year-old daughter of Dream Ahead, faces 12 rivals in the five-furlong contest. Tom Eaves, who has ridden the mare in 17 of her 18 starts, will again be in the saddle.

Heading the opposition is the King Power Racing owned 3-year-old filly Winter Power (IRE), who earned an automatic entry into the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with a victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month.

Trained in Yorkshire, England, by Tim Easterby, the daughter of Bungle Inthejungle (GB) has won six of her last eight starts and will be ridden by former British champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa.

The Archie Watson-trained Dragon Symbol (GB), was first past the post in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, but was placed second behind the Wesley Ward-trained Campanelle (IRE) following a Stewards' Enquiry, and is another strong contender from Britain.

The 3-year-old was third behind Winter Power in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes last time out and jockey Oisin Murphy believes the undulating track will suit. Murphy said: “He's been knocking on the door in Group 1 company all season and we're trying to find the key; so hopefully the stiff nature of The Curragh's five furlongs will help. Hopefully, it will bring him and Winter Power closer together. He's in very good shape.”

The Irish-trained contenders include the Jack Davison-trained Mooneista (IRE) who defeated Gustavus Weston (IRE) and Romantic Proposal (IRE) in the Group 2 Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes over course and distance in July.

Homeless Songs out to Preserve Unbeaten Record in Moyglare Stud Stakes

Impressive Leopardstown maiden winner Homeless Songs (IRE) faces seven juvenile fillies as she bids to make it two wins from two starts in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Owned by the race sponsors Moyglare Stud Farms and trained by Dermot Weld ― who enjoyed a breakthrough Breeders' Cup success with Tarnawa (IRE) at Keeneland last year ― the daughter of Frankel (GB) defeated subsequent stakes winner Agartha (IRE) by two lengths on debut.

Since finishing second behind Homeless Songs in July, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Agartha (IRE) has gone on to win the Group 3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes over course and distance last month. The second, third, and seventh-placed horses that day ― Sunset Shiraz (IRE), Discoveries (IRE), and Concert Hall (IRE) ― all take her on again here.

Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has won the seven-furlong contest a record nine times and fields two this year with Prettiest (USA), a daughter of Dubawi (IRE), and the mount of Ryan Moore, and Concert Hall, who will be ridden by Seamie Heffernan.

The eight-runner field is completed by the Ger Lyons trained Caidre Go Deo (FR) and big-priced outsider Missing Matron (IRE), trained by Jim Bolger.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series winners to start at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be run at Del Mar. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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