Newmarket: Inspiral Ready for Marquise Sun Chariot Showdown

Four-times group 1 winners who boast two editions of Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois are rare commodities, so Saturday's G1 Sun Chariot S. is all the richer for the presence of Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who could be Frankie's 500th Newmarket winner if all goes to plan. First, they will have to master one of those big improvers that Andre Fabre has aimed at his favourite track, and Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) showed distinct appetite for battle in both Deauville's race named in honour of the owner-breeder's family and the G1 Prix Jean Romanet.

Fortunately for Inspiral, the autumn damp has been delayed and the Gosdens' filly has ideal conditions as she returns to the course and distance of her Fillies' Mile success two years ago. “She's in good form and the ground will suit. Softer ground can dampen her finish, but I think the ground on Saturday will be perfect,” Cheveley Park's managing director Chris Richardson said. “I think the French filly is the one we've got to be worried about, but if you're not in you can't win, so let's hope Frankie can work some more magic.”

This is unlikely to be Inspiral's grand finale, however.

“She's obviously lightly-raced, so we can see after Saturday whether Mrs Thompson will consider the Breeders' Cup option as her swansong, or indeed whether she might stay in training next year, which hasn't been decided yet,” Richardson added.

Andre Fabre said of Mqse De Sevigne, “I don't think the ground is too much of a concern, maybe over this distance it might be a bit sharp for her but she has done well over this distance before. She will go for the Breeders' Cup [Filly And Mare Turf] after this.”

With two 16-1 winners in the last four years, this is never an open-and-shut case and St Albans Bloodstock's Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is exactly the kind of progressive type which this late-season race favours. Her wins in the Listed Dick Hern S. at Haydock in August and G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown last month saw her back to the form of her success in Royal Ascot's Sandringham H. last year and she showed she handled faster ground there.

“Richard Hannon has been really pleased with her since Sandown, she has bounced out of that race,” the owners's racing manager Richard Brown said. “We took our time and said we would only do it if you were completely happy and Richard says she has never been better, so we're happy to take a chance.”

Lupini Waits On Ground For Kitty Rose Staffordstown Bid…
One of Irish racing's big stories of 2023, the Natalia Lupini-trained unbeaten filly Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) is one of the main attractions on Saturday's Curragh card. Impressive when stamping her class on an up-to-scratch renewal of Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. last month, she will line up for the G3 Staffordstown Stud S. if the ground is suitable according to her handler.

“She has been in good form and she's ready to run, the only thing is we're monitoring the ground as we had a lot of rain yesterday and today,” Lupini said of the revelation, who is set to be re-opposed in the mile contest by the Ingabelle runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Cork maiden winner Unreasonable (Ire) (No Nay Never). “We'll just have to keep a close eye on the ground as she probably doesn't want it too soft, so we're not going to run her on very soft ground. She seems to have stepped up a gear in her work since Leopardstown and everything looks good apart from the weather, unfortunately! The current owners are thinking this will be her last run of the year. She's a big filly and she will definitely benefit from a winter break.”

The post Newmarket: Inspiral Ready for Marquise Sun Chariot Showdown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Nashwa Will Skip Breeders’ Cup In Favour Of Champions Day; Will Remain In Training Next Year

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud silks will be carried by his star filly Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for another year, but the multiple Group 1 winner will skip the Breeders' Cup in favour of competing at QIPCO British Champions Day later this month, The Sun reported on Thursday.

Both the one-mile G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. or the 1 1/4-mile G1 QIPCO Champion S. are under consideration for the 4-year-old at Ascot on Oct. 21. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the regular mount of Hollie Doyle was third in last year's G1 Oaks before taking the French equivalent and the G1 Nassau S. and running second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last November, Nashwa added a second at Group 3 level in June before padding her Group 1 resume in the Falmouth S. in July. She has run third in both the Aug. 3 G1 Nassau S. and Sept. 9 G1 Irish Champion S. in her last three starts, with a second in the G1 International S. in late August in between.

Al Sagar told The Sun's Matt Chapman, “Nashwa is heading to Ascot and is entered in both the QEII and Champion. She will run on one or the other.

“There will be no Breeders' Cup for her but Ascot is not her last race. She will train on as a 5-year-old.”

The post Nashwa Will Skip Breeders’ Cup In Favour Of Champions Day; Will Remain In Training Next Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gregory To Be Rested, But Will Return For 4-Year-Old Campaign

Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who won the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, is headed for some time off, with connections opting for a 4-year-old staying campaign, according to racing advisor Richard Brown.

The John and Thady Gosden trainee won his first three starts, before running third in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and fifth in the G1 St Leger, both times to Heart's Cry (Jpn) colt Continuous (Jpn).

“I think he's going to be better on top of the ground and he still ran an admirable race,” said Brown, reflecting on the colt's St Leger performance.

“He's a big colt and by the far the biggest, most scopey horse in that field and he's only going to get better from three to four. He still ran with credit, but we'll put him away now and we'll look at turning him into a Cup horse next year.”

The post Gregory To Be Rested, But Will Return For 4-Year-Old Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

St Leger: Where Did They Come From?

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin

The final leg of the original Triple Crown, the G1 Betfred St Leger features nine colts, with several homebreds and auction graduates, including two at €440,000. If Their Majesties' Desert Hero (GB) pulls off the victory, he would be the first royal winner since Queen Elizabeth's Dunfermline (GB) in 1977. Aidan O'Brien, gunning for his seventh edition, will saddle a quartet of individuals, all in with a chance, and the choice of Ryan Moore is the G2 Great Voltigeur S. hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).

 

ALEXANDROUPOLIS (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Jazz Cat (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB})
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Mrs Fitri Hay
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: 240,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Maiden winner over an extended mile at the back end last year; sent off odds-on favourite for the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown, a key Derby trial, on his seasonal return, but couldn't rival White Birch (GB) (Ire) back in third; mid-season break of 144 days before disappointing in the Vinnie Roe S. on his first attempt at 1m6f and, while he is from the family of this stable's 2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens (Ire), he still has plenty to prove at this level; outsider.

 

ARREST (IRE), Frankel (GB)–Nisriyna (Ire) (Intikhab)
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Swordlestown Little
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Sales History: €440,000 Goffs November foal
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The seventh foal out of his unraced dam and her third black-type horse, this half-brother to group winner and G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup third Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) has already won a brace of Group 3s, including when collecting the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. just 100 yards shy of the St Leger trip last month. One of the most highly rated in the field, it would be no surprise to see him give Juddmonte their third St Leger.

 

 

CHESSPIECE (GB), Nathaniel (Ire)–Royal Solitaire (Ire) (Shamardal)
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Ammerland GMBH & Co Kg
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Sales History: €100,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The most decorated offspring of his dam, who won the G2 Badener Meille and was second in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches, this stakes winner already found the re-opposing Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) too tough to handle in the G2 Queen's Vase at this distance. However, he was only a neck shy of Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood last month. Several of these would have to run below par for Chesspiece to prevail.

 

CONTINUOUS (JPN), Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Fluff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Dished out a comprehensive beating to Gregory in the Great Voltigeur at York, the form of which is up there with the best on offer in this race, and his chance is bolstered by the fact that he is Ryan Moore's pick of a Ballydoyle four-pronged attack. In truth, the rider would not have had much to think about, as this colt has gone from strength to strength this season and appears ground versatile; gave the impression that he would see out the 1m6f at York and rates a leading player on form and pedigree. His dam Fluff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a sister to the formerly smart stayer Barbados (Ire), which gives hope that he should be as effective over the extra two furlongs, while she is also a sister to the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Maybe (Ire), now the dam of Saxon Warrior (Jpn); classy sort.

 

 

DENMARK (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Board Meeting (Ire) (Anabaa)
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Dayton Investments (Breeding) Limited
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: €440,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: From the family of French Oaks winner Bright Sky (Ire) (Wolfhound) and, while there is plenty of stamina in the pedigree, he didn't appear to have any excuses when beaten by Middle Earth on his penultimate start at York. He hung left-handed when third in a handicap at Haydock last time; plenty to prove.

 

DESERT HERO (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire)–Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})
Owner: HM The King & HM The Queen
Breeder: The Queen
Trainer: William Haggas
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Bred by The Queen, Desert Hero is closely related to four-time group winner and dual top-level placed Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gritty performer who has advertised his St Leger credentials in grinding out victories in a handicap at Royal Ascot followed by the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood. Could be open to even further progression upped in trip.

 

 

GREGORY (GB), Golden Horn (GB)–Gretchen (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Normandie Stud Ltd
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: This Queen's Vase winner was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the Great Voltigeur, after winning his first three starts. Retiring jockey Frankie Dettori has opted for fellow Gosden trainee Arrest, so Kieran Shoemark will partner the son of G2 Park Hill S. heroine Gretchen. A Cocked Hat S. hero like his half-brother Lionel (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Gregory's staying proclivities come naturally, and his dam's half-brother Duncan (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) won the G1 Irish St Leger. One to watch.

 

 

MIDDLE EARTH (GB), Roaring Lion–Roheryn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Qatar Racing Limited
Breeder: The Roheryn Partnership
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Although yet to earn black-type and by a classy sire who was just found out at the 12-furlong distance in the Derby, this half-brother to the multiple group-placed stakes-winning Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet {Aus}), has inherited his stamina from his King George V Cup-winning dam, whose four group placings were anchored by a second in the G3 Ballyroan S. Already a winner at this trip defeating Denmark (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Melrose H. at York, Middle Earth's connections thought highly enough of his chances and paid the supplementary fee. However, the waters are a great deal deeper in this contest.

 

 

TOWER OF LONDON (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr) (Anabaa)
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Capri (Ire) and fellow smart stayers Cypress Creek (Ire) and Passion (Ire); denied a third win on the trot when narrowly beaten in a Group 3 over 1m5f at Newmarket in July and, while this is his first start since then, fitness will not be an issue hailing from this camp. One of the more lively outsiders and he certainly commands respect.

The post St Leger: Where Did They Come From? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights