John Shirreffs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pricey Filly ‘Justifies’ Rising Stardom

Despite her $725,000 Keeneland September price tag, C R K Stable's Justique (Justify–Grazie Mille, by Bernardini) snuck a bit under the radar Sunday evening as Bob Baffert-trained Home Cooking (Honor Code) took virtually every dollar of tote support in a salty looking Del Mar maiden special weight. But there was no missing Justique in the stretch, as she inhaled her competition super impressively to become her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy)'s sixth individual winner and second 'TDN Rising Star'.

Bidding to become the first debut winner for trainer John Shirreffs since June of 2019 (his second most recent was future GISW Hard Not to Love {Hard Spun}), the half-sister to fellow freshman sire Mo Town (Uncle Mo), GISW, $519,600, was very slowly away as 1-2 Home Cooking knocked heads with $600,000 2-year-old purchase Fourth Street (Street Sense) on the front end. Justique picked rivals off rapidly midway on the turn for home, but still had her work cut out for her as Kissed by Fire (Friesan Fire)–herself a $350,000 FTMMAY grad–ranged up and looked the most likely spoiler. But Justique really caught the eye as the top two passed the eight pole, and she bowled over the top of them under just a hand ride with a move that–dare we say–was a bit reminiscent the one made by Shirreffs' Hall of Fame mare Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) in her own unveiling. The winning margin was three lengths and the final time was 1:04.29. Kissed by Fire bested the big chalk for second.

Triple Crown winner Justify has already been represented by two graded/group-winning fillies in fellow 'Rising Star' and G2 Airlie Stud S. heroine Statuette and GIII Schuylerville S. winner Just Cindy. The Justify over Bernardini cross also produced last week's five-length Ellis debut scorer Justa Warrior. Justique's co-breeder John Gunther bred Justify too.

Mo Town, who has three winners thus far himself and stands alongside Justify at Coolmore, got the 'Rising Star' nod for a second-out romp on the stretch-out in 2016. He immediately added the GII Remsen S. and reached the highest level on the Del Mar lawn the following season when reinventing himself as a turf horse and annexing the GI Hollywood Derby.

Justique's second dam Molto Vita (Carson City) was a GSW/MGISP sprinter who also produced SW/GSPs Jaguar Paw (Giant's Causeway) and Venetian Mask (Pulpit). Third dam Princess Polonia (Danzig) was a graded winner as well.

Dam Grazie Mille produced a full-sister to Justique Mar. 29 and was bred back to 'Rising Star' factory Into Mischief for 2023.

8th-Del Mar, $80,000, Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.29, ft, 3 lengths.
JUSTIQUE, f, 2, Justify
                1st Dam: Grazie Mille, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Molto Vita, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Princess Polonia, by Danzig
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-C R K Stable LLC. B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (Ky). T-John A. Shirreffs. *$725,000 ylg '21 KEESEP. **Margin of victory and total purse not official; result chart unavailable at the time of publishing.

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Where Are They Now: Zenyatta’s Sons, Cozmic One and Ziconic

In this new TDN column, Christie DeBernardis will tell the stories of popular and/or accomplished former racehorses who are now enjoying second careers as show horses, track ponies, etc.

The first two foals out of the mighty Zenyatta, Cozmic One (Bernardini) and Ziconic (Tapit), never reached the winner's circle during their brief careers on the racetrack, but they are both thriving in their second careers as jumpers and ambassadors for off-track Thoroughbreds.

The elder brother, Cozmic One's second career has been well documented in these pages (Cozmic One: Shining New Light on OTTBs and Checking in on Cozmic One) in the past, but we checked in with Hidden Brook Farm's Sergio de Sousa and his daughter Isabela for the latest update.

When Cozmic One first came to the de Sousas, he was Isabela's charge. An accomplished equestrian, Isabela was consistently in the blue ribbons with her OTTBs at the annual Thoroughbred Makeover, which was her first goal with “Coz” back in 2018.

When Isabela started traveling to pursue her career as a professional equestrian, Sergio took over the reins on Cozmic One. The two have been competing in jumper shows, focusing on the Take2 program, which partners with United States Equestrian Federation-rated horse shows that offer C-rated Thoroughbred hunter and jumper divisions, which are restricted to Thoroughbreds registered with The Jockey Club. They will also be competing in the Real Rider Cup for the second time this year in their new Kentucky-based event July 9.

“Isabela is around this summer, so if she wants to jump him she can, but he is basically my fun horse now,” Sergio said. “I just want to continue having fun with him and doing things like the Real Rider Cup. We did the .85 [meter jumpers] last week at the [Kentucky] Horse Park. I hope to qualify for the Take2 finals with him at the Horse Park in September.”

Cozmic One is now 10, which is considered old for a racehorse, but is the prime age for show horses.

“He has really matured,” Sergio said. “He is a much stronger horse now and I have improved my riding. We are just having fun and enjoying each other.”

“Coz is doing great and him and my dad are developing a lovely partnership,” Isabela added. “They both are learning from one another and are enjoying themselves while doing it.”

Ziconic & Sarah Pollock | Told By Film

While Cozmic One is enjoying the lush Kentucky bluegrass, his year-younger half-brother Ziconic remained on the West Coast when he left trainer John Shirreffs's barn three years ago. He was placed under the care of Linda Moss and her husband George Bedar, who already had a former Shirreffs trainee campaigned by Zenyatta's owners, Jerome and Ann Holbrook Moss, in her barn in Milyone (Maria's Mon).

Linda Moss became friends with Ann Holbrook Moss and Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs back in 2011 when she honored Zenyatta at a local conference for women in business.

“I am a board advisor to the Professional Business Women of California and we have a conference every year,” Moss explained. “The theme for our conference in 2011 was connect, explore, inspire and I was responsible for producing the inspire section. I wanted a special woman to represent the inspired section and I chose Zenyatta to do that.”

The next thing Moss did was head to Hollywood Park to meet the queen herself.

“Shortly after the conference, I went down to the track and met Zenyatta,” said Moss, who had owned Arabs in the past, but always loved Thoroughbreds. “My older Thoroughbred Milyone was there, about three stalls down from Zenyatta. He just kept calling out to me as I was walking down the barn aisle. When I went up to his stall, he just put his head in my neck. John said, 'He has never done that with anyone before.' I jokingly said, 'Well if he ever needs a home, he has one.' A year and a half later, Dottie called me and said, 'Do you still want Milyone?'”

Of course, Moss said yes. Then, in June of 2019, she received another call from Ingordo-Shirreffs.

“When Ziconic was ready to be retired, Dottie called me and said John and I feel he should go to you,” Moss said. “We talked about it and that is how we got him exactly three years ago.”

According to Moss, Ziconic is well aware of his royal heritage and enjoys the attention that comes along with it.

“Ziconic is the type of horse who knows who he is and likes to be treated special,” she said. “He is extremely proud. He is probably the smartest horse I have ever been around. He is also very playful and loves an audience.”

Moss said Ziconic has taken to off-track life very well. He started his retraining as a jumper with trainer Sarah Pollock and the pair even won their first show together back in 2020. Unfortunately, Ziconic's show schedule was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and an EHV outbreak in the state of California.

“He is really enjoying his off-track life,” Moss said. “We give him a lot of diversity. He is kind of the king of the farm he is at right now, Eclipse Equine Sports Therapy Center in the Santa Ynez Valley. He was originally at a sporthorse farm, training with an amazing trainer, Sarah Pollock. She did an amazing job transitioning him.”

She continued, “He really loves to jump and be in the arena, getting all the cheers and being photographed. It has been a very inconsistent show career for him because of COVID and the EHV outbreak. We gave him the winter off. He is back in a jumping program now with the goal of showing in the fall jumping circuit. We will probably start him back at the .80 or .85 [meter], but he was jumping a meter previously.”

Under the care of Moss and the de Sousas, both of Zenyatta's boys have found their callings. They have taken the athletic ability and winning attitude they inherited from their superstar dam to new venues, shining a brighter spotlight on off-track Thoroughbreds everywhere in the process.

The post Where Are They Now: Zenyatta’s Sons, Cozmic One and Ziconic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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June 19 Insights: Pricey Uncle Mo Colt Debuts in Arcadia

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
PRICEY UNCLE MO DEBUTS IN ARCADIA
9th-SA, $67K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 8:12 p.m.
John Shirreffs unveils C R K Stable's $950,000 KEESEP acquisition CLUTCH HITTER (Uncle Mo) in this event. His unraced dam Bella Rafaela (Smart Strike) is a half-sister to GISW Twirling Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) and GSWs Dubai Sky (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Ethnic Dance (Tribal Rule). TJCIS PPs

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Could Zilkha Be the One? Zenyatta’s Youngest Daughter Shows Promise at Shirreffs Barn

The youngest progeny from Hall of Fame superstar Zenyatta recently arrived at John Shirreffs's barn at Santa Anita. The 2-year-old chestnut filly by Candy Ride (Arg) named Zilkha is already well on her way to making her debut this year.

Zilkha's big personality became abundantly clear during my interview with Shirreffs. The juvenile was front and center, peering over Shirreffs's shoulder as she was hamming for the camera, and at one point put her nose right in it. Perhaps she is more like Zenyatta than we know?

When I posed that question to Shirreffs, he hedged and went on to describe Queen Z's early days. Back then, the only person to get on her was Heather Gonzales because she was bucking everyone else off.

“Heather didn't care,” he said with a chuckle. “Zenyatta would buck her off too and run back to the barn. Then she would do it all again the next day.”

As for this youngest daughter of Zenyatta, Shirreffs is enthusiastic in his praise for the regally bred filly. When I pressed him about the latest Z baby to show up at his barn, his face lit up.

“She's fabulous,” quipped the usually reserved trainer. “She really gets over the track well and she's almost the perfect size. She's got a big stride on her and a great attitude.”

Zilkha began her early training just as her famous mother did at Mayberry Farm in Ocala. Shirreffs is quick to credit the operation as Zilkha has taken her relocation to California in stride.

“She came here in great shape and is acting like she's been here for weeks, but it's been six days!”

Shirreffs is not the only one who has thought that Zilkha could be the best of Zenyatta's foals.

Back in 2020 when the filly was just a few months old, Lane's End Farm's broodmare manager Jenn Laidlaw said in a TDN interview, “She's been a superstar since day one….She's probably my favorite of Zenyatta's foals.”

Admittedly, Zenyatta's first four foals to reach the Shirreffs barn did not inherit their dam's rare athletic ability.

Shirreffs described them one by one while Zilkha eagerly searched for the carrot tucked neatly in his back pocket.

“Cozmic One (Bernardini) was a big, strong horse,” he recalled. “He probably would have done great when they had four-mile heat racing.”

It's clear that Zilkha inherited her dam's big personality | Zoe Cadman

Cozmic One was unplaced in five starts, but is now thriving as he competes in jumper classes with Sergio and Isabela de Sousa in Lexington, Kentucky. Watch our TDN interview with Isabela here.

Shirreffs described Zenyatta's next foal, Ziconic (Tapit), as one of the toughest horses the septuagenarian conditioner has ever trained.

“I can remember leading him onto the track one day and suddenly I heard a noise behind me only to turn around and see Ziconic coming towards the pony on his hind legs as fast as he could.”

Now gelded, Ziconic is enjoying a second career as a hunter jumper with Sarah Pollock in California.

Zenyatta's third foal to reach the Shirreffs barn, Zellda (Medaglia d'Oro), never made it to the races and recently retired to Lane's End. Sheriffs described her as a pretty filly, but said she didn't have the size or scope to be a racehorse.

Zenyatta's fourth foal to get to Shirreffs, Zilkha, was named after the late Cecile Zilkha, who owner and breeder Ann Holbrook-Moss described as “a beautiful and strong lifelong philanthropist.” Cecile had a significant impact in her involvement with a number of charities, including the Hospital for Special Surgery and the Metropolitan Opera, where she served as a member of the board of trustees and its vice chairman.

I followed the philanthropist's equine namesake one morning, expecting her to train at 9:30 a.m., which is when most tracks are flooded with rowdy, unraced 2-year-olds at this time of year. But Shirreffs, who literally could author his own book on training, sends her out every morning at 8 a.m., coincidentally with two other juveniles she trained with at Mayberry Farm.

“It's busy out there and it's good for them,” Shirreffs told me.

Zilkha duly galloped a mile and a quarter with regular rider Amy Vasco in the stirrups, coming home through the paddock and not even blinking as she strutted past the life-sized bronze statue of her famous mother in the paddock gardens.

I posed the question to Shirreffs: What would it mean to Zenyatta's legacy if she was ever able to replicate herself?

Shirreffs was quick to point out that he didn't think it would mean anything, as Zenyatta and her legacy stand alone. However, he later added, “It would be really great to have Zenyatta produce a winner–a nice horse, one we can all enjoy, watch run and think about the days of Zenyatta running.”

I got a stiff 'No!' when I asked Shirreffs if he ever goes back and watches some of Zenyatta's races.

“I have such great memories that I really don't need to go back and watch them,” he said.

Here's hoping we get some good ones from Zilkha!

The post Could Zilkha Be the One? Zenyatta’s Youngest Daughter Shows Promise at Shirreffs Barn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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