Tag: Jessica Harrington

Galway Excited by Next Crop of Alpha Racing Runners After Cadillac Sale

Just over a week after selling the syndicate's flag-bearer Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega) for a cool £500,000 at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot, Alpha Racing are concentrated on sending out the stars of the future at the Curragh on Derby weekend, headed by G2 Airlie Stud S. contender It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

A winner of a Dundalk maiden on debut back in April, the Jessica Harrington-trained It's Showtime Baby achieved black type when running third in a Group 3 at Naas last month. 

Connections opted to sidestep the royal meeting in preference for the Curragh this weekend and Richie Galway, who set up the commercially-driven Alpha Racing Syndicate with Harrington, is optimistic about the next batch of 2-year-old coming through.

He said, “We have It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to look forward to in the G2 Airlie Stud S. at the Curragh on Sunday. We decided against going to Royal Ascot with her because we thought this race would suit. She has won her maiden and has black type. She looks progressive. 

“We have two nice colts running at the Curragh as well. We bought them at the breeze-ups. National Emblem (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) looks to be a lovely horse and he runs on Friday. The First And Last (Ire) (No Nay Never) runs on Sunday so it's a very exciting weekend for the group.”

Galway added, “We try to make Flat racing accessible and give people an opportunity to spread their risk. The syndicate is somewhat commercial. We have fun but we also trade and have been very conscious about that in the four years we've been up and running.

“Everything we run is for sale at a price. When we go to the yearlings sales, we have a limit and we try to limit the syndicate to 20 people at around €50,000 apiece. We all take a share ourselves; myself, Jessica [Harrington] and Patrick [Cooper] so we are all invested in it.”

Cadillac was the last of the yearlings bought in 2019 on behalf of the syndicate. His sale ensured that the owners recorded an overall profit and, according to Galway, the current crop of 3-year-olds in training with Harrington are on course to ensure it will be another lucrative investment for the 20 or so people who make up the syndicate.

He said, “Cadillac's sale was the highlight. He has been a flagship horse for the syndicate and has brought us all over the world. He ran brilliantly at the Breeders' Cup, got us to Bahrain and won at Leopardstown a few times as well. We were sorry to see him go but the objective of the syndicate is to trade.”

Galway added, “In this year's 3-year-olds, we have Nectaris (GB), who ran well in a Listed race at Longchamp, and she's a lovely filly by Sea The Moon (Ger).

“We also have Viareggio (Ire) (Caravaggio) and she has been third now in two Listed races and Cowboy Justice (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who is another solid horse. We also had an unraced Zoffany (Ire) colt in that year. I'd be disappointed if that syndicate doesn't make a profit on their initial investment as well.”

Excitement levels are on the rise among the syndicate members as Harrington lifts the wraps on the next batch of runners this weekend and Galway is cautiously optimistic about the future, outlining an ability to sell horses all over the world after they show a level of ability in Ireland.

He said, “It's an exciting weekend. But it's been an exciting couple of weeks with the sale of Cadillac and the two runners–Nectaris and Viareggio-at Longchamp. 

“The benefit of having a small stake in all of these horses is that you get consistent and regular action. There are people involved from all over the world–Asia, America, Britain and Ireland.”

He added, “Last year for example, we bought a horse called Pioneering Spirit (American Pharoah) at the breeze-ups. We paid 100,000gns for him and ran him four weeks later in a Curragh maiden.

“He finished fourth and we got him sold straight after that. The syndicate owned the horse for six weeks and got a nice return on the purchase price in that short space of time. Irish racing is held in high regard all over the world. If you can win or be placed in a maiden here you have a pretty good commodity on your hands.”

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Galileo’s Magical Lagoon Fights For Ribblesdale Glory

Adding to the remarkable diversity of the Platinum Jubilee Royal Ascot, Jessie Harrington became the 16th trainer to celebrate success from 17 races run by the time Yuesheng Zhang's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had prevailed in Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S. Freshened for this following her second in Navan's Listed Salsabil S. over a mile and a quarter Apr. 23, the 11-4 second favourite tracked the pace in a distant third early and worked her way to the lead two out before Sea Silk Road (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) emerged on her left. That 15-8 market-leader gained a slight advantage soon after, but as she veered away from Tom Marquand's whip Magical Lagoon reached into her reserves for Shane Foley and ultimately outstayed her chief rival in the last 50 yards. At the line, there was half a length between the race's two most progressive fillies, with 2 3/4 lengths back to History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third.

It was a first Royal winner for Foley, who said, “This filly responds really well for pressure. The day she won at the Curragh, she was the same. She really fights for you and digs deep. The pace was on and she wasn't travelling as nicely as I thought, but I was happy enough because this filly does not do a lot when she gets there. She stays very well and only goes through the motions.”

Sent off as favourite when introduced over a mile at Naas in August, Magical Lagoon was only fourth there but Harrington opted to pitch the bay into The Curragh's G3 Flame of Tara S. later that month and she duly obliged before finishing seventh behind Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October. Posting a respectable comeback effort in a decent renewal of the Salsabil, she had been kept back for this meeting and rewarded all that patience with a gritty performance to deny the Haggas filly at the venue at which her illustrious half-brother Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) dominated the 2013 King George.

“I always knew that if she got into a battle, she'd be really tough,” Harrington said. “She's a beautiful, powerful filly and she loves that quick ground. She's very easy to train–she has a lovely temperament and is very relaxed about life. The plan was to come here and then go to the Irish Oaks. She's a proper mile and a half filly.”

Haggas said of the runner-up, “She came to win and the other horse outstayed her, that was my take on the race. We thought she'd prefer the ground and she did. It didn't quite look like she is a real true stayer to me, but maybe the other horse is. The Yorkshire Oaks is quite a tough thing, so I don't think that will be on the agenda, maybe the Lyric Stakes at the track. The [G2] Prix de Malleret on July 14 might be possible.”

Magical Lagoon is the last known foal out of the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), whose claim to fame came in the producing of the aforementioned Novellist who also took the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club as well as this track's midsummer jewel. Her other black-type performers include the G3 Preis der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe runner-up Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), while she is kin to the G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Night Tango (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}). This is also the family of the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Novelle (Ger) (Northfields).

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £200,000, Ascot, 6-16, 3yo, f, 11f 211yT, 2:31.36, g/f.
1–MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Night Lagoon (Ger) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ger, Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ger & GSW-Ger), by Lagunas (GB)
2nd Dam: Nenuphar (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Narola (Ger), by Nebos (Ger)
(305,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Yuesheng Zhang; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. £113,420. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 5-2-1-0, $193,580. *1/2 to Novellist (IRE) (Monsun (GER)), Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, Fr, Ger & Ity, $1,873,588; Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSP-Ger; Ninfea (Ger) (Selkirk), SP-Ger; and Nerud (Bernardini), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sea Silk Road (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Oriental Magic (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (190,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas. £43,000.
3–History (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Prize Exhibit (GB), by Showcasing (GB). (2,800,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,520.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.75, 1.88, 6.50.
Also Ran: Mukaddamah (GB), Life of Dreams (GB), Mystic Wells. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Coronation Task Set For Discoveries

Group 1 winner Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is set for the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot in June, trainer Jessica Harrington revealed. The bay's full-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half-sister Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) both won the contest in 2018 and 2020, respectively. She will attempt to become the third filly out of Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy) to complete the hat trick in the Niarchos family's Flaxman colours.

Harrington said, “The plan is to go to Ascot to get the three fillies to win the Coronation S. We'll train her for that, there's lots of races for her, they have just come a bit close together.”

A winner of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. as a juvenile, Discoveries ran seventh after racing near the vanguard in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas on May 1.

She continued, “She's grand, we're very happy with her. Maybe the ground was a bit fast for her at Newmarket.”

Harrington also announced plans for Zhang Yuesheng's G3 Flame Of Tara S. heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will skip the G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 3. In action at Navan last month, the filly finished second by a short head in the Listed Salsabil S. and is also pointing to Royal Ascot.

“She's not going to go to Epsom, she's going to go straight to the [G2] Ribblesdale [S.] and then on to the Irish Oaks [on July 16],” said Harrington.

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Discoveries The Next Classic Contender For Star Family

Despite the retirements of recent stable stalwarts like Group 1-winning juvenile and new Irish National Stud stallion Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), top-level performer and 2,000,000gns broodmare prospect Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and last September's G1 Matron S. victrix No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), Jessica Harrington is still loaded for bear at the start of this Flat season.

Speaking confidently from her scenic base in Moone, she went through a list to savour with the regally-bred 3-year-old Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a full-sister to the marvellous Alpha Centauri (Ire) who was triumphant in last September's G1 Moyglare Stud S., heading the list. 

“All being well Discoveries will head to the English Guineas. I won't run her unless the ground is fast. Like her sister, she wants fast ground,” said the trainer.

Harrington outlined a series of promising prospects from her stable where quality fillies and mares outnumber their male counterparts two-to-one. Magical Lagoon (Galileo {Ire}), a thrice-raced juvenile who landed a Curragh Group 3 last August, is a half-sister to Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}, the Japan-based stallion who won Group 1 races in four different European countries.

She said, “Magical Lagoon will go for the Salsabil and has an entry in the English Oaks [as well as the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks]. She did a racecourse gallop the other day and we're very happy with her. She has done well and got very strong over the winter.”

In addition, Harrington spoke highly of Group 3-winning 4-year-old Forbearance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who “will go in fillies' races from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half”. 

She added, “Forbearance needs the ground quick, quick, quick so she'll likely be making a few journeys to England again.”

The twice-raced Killarney maiden-winning 3-year-old Caroline Herschel (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), named after the famed 18th century German astronomer who discovered several comets, was described as “a stakes filly on soft ground”, while Harrington declared herself “delighted” with the talented 3-year old Villanova Queen (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who rallied strongly when third in Leopardstown's G3 1,000 Guineas trial last Saturday. 

“She's very relaxed,” said the trainer.

The stable's grand servant Barrington Court (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a tough and effective dual-purpose mare, returns for her 8-year-old campaign and “will run if ever, ever we get soft ground for her. She's in great order this year and I'm delighted with her also.” 

Meanwhile, 4-year-old filly The Blue Brilliant (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who “ran a blinder” in France last year when beaten by a narrow margin in a Deauville Group 3 is considered an “eight- to 10-furlong type, one mile if the ground is real soft.”

Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}), a 5-year-old gelding who won the G2 Boomerang Mile last September before taking an unsuccessful crack at the Breeders' Cup Mile, returns for Harrington's longstanding and supportive owner Zhang Yuesheng. 

She said, “Real Appeal heads for the Amethyst and hopefully returns to Group 1 races after that.” 

Harrington retains excitement for the 6-year-gelding Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}). She said of the Group 2 winner, “He is in a good place this year and will go for the Mooresbridge and then the Vintage Crop to see if he stays. I see no reason why he won't.”

The stable's 3-year-old colts and geldings are headed by Confident Star (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Cowboy Justice (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), with Harrington saying of the former, the winner of a seven-furlong Cork maiden last September, “I think he's a miler and I think he's a stronger horse this year so he'll go to the (Irish 2,000) Guineas Trial.”

Cowboy Justice was gelded after an attack of colic last year and is being aimed at six- and seven-furlong contests.

Harrington is off to a flying start with her 2-year-olds and wins by both the colt Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation {Ire}), a first winner for his freshman stallion, and Dundalk winning debutante It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) prove that she has plenty of forward types. 

“Training 2-year-olds is tremendously exciting because you just don't know what they are going to turn out like,” she said. “The ones that promise everything could end up doing nothing. You get surprises and you get disappointments and they can't all be good.

“We have a few here by first-season sires and I have to say I love the Saxon Warriors. I think they are very nice. I have four Saxon Warriors and we have two Sioux Nations. Ocean Quest won her maiden and we have a very smart colt by him as well. He's big and square and they all seem to have good temperaments. The Saxon Warriors are really laidback as well. I have a couple of Zoustars as well, and I like them. They look nice and they are sharp.”

In the coming months, Harrington's supporters can look forward to the debut of the colt Saturn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, the first foal of Alpha Centauri. 

“We are getting a better class of 2-year-old every year,” Harrington said. “We have 75 this year. It's lovely to have some of the pedigrees that we have. You look down through the list and some of them really could be anything. They're not just early pedigrees, and the ones that we have run just came to hand, but they should continue progressing. We have a Kuroshio colt, called Panic Alarm (Ire), Keepingupwithmyempire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Slick Chick (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), and they will be the next three to run for us.”

She added, “Alpha Centauri's first foal is called Saturn and he's pretty forward. Alpha Centauri made her debut in May and I don't think this fellow will take very long. It will depend on how he goes in the next couple of weeks. He's very mature in his mind and does everything very easily.”

Stable jockey Shane Foley also spoke of a particular affinity for the Yulong-owned unnamed Dubawi colt out of the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Spectre (Fr), a 410,000gns purchase at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

He said, “I love the Dubawi colt out of Spectre. He could be out in a seven-furlong maiden on Irish Derby weekend and should make up into a lovely middle-distance colt.”

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