Tag: Joseph O’Brien

Fasig Flash Sale Features Magnolia 1-2

Bidding is now open on Fasig-Tipton Digital for the Magnolia Racing Syndicate Flash Sale, a two-horse digital auction offering horses in training. The sale uniquely offers a pair of 2-year-old colts-both owned by Magnolia Racing Syndicate LLC and trained in Ireland by Joseph O'Brien-that finished first and second in the same maiden race in Ireland on June 17.

   Goa Gajah (Bal a Bali {Brz}) and Lakota Seven (Ire) (Sioux Nation) finished in that order (VIDEO) at Down Royal last Friday in Ireland, giving the burgeoning Magnolia Racing Syndicate helmed by Justin Casse and Joseph O'Brien their first winner.  Goa Gajah–named for a place for spiritual meditation in Bali–was purchased for $26,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. Lakota Seven, back 2 ½ lengths in second in that race, was picked up by Casse and O'Brien for €125,000 at last year's Goffs Orby, and was making his first start Friday. From just four runners making seven starts to date, the budding operation has fielded two placed efforts in addition to Goa Gajah's victory.

“It has been a good start,” said Casse. “You are always a bit nervous with how a project–an initial project–is going to start out especially in this business, where things never go as planned. That said, we are very happy with the start of things.”

There were initially 11 horses in the syndicate, four Kentucky-breds purchased at Fasig-Tipton October, and seven European-breds. All went to train with Joseph O'Brien in Ireland. They spent €562,000 at Orby, with Lakota Seven the most expensive of the bunch.

Casse said that the growth of the type of pop-up or flash sale that Fasig-Tipton is offering is exactly tailored to how the pair wanted to market the horses.

“The basis of the project itself was to be willing and open to selling any horse that ran well to capitalize on the strength of the private racehorse sales market,” said Casse. “Both of them came out of the race in great order. We are lining up their vetting and videos and photos for the sale for prospective buyers as we speak. As much as we would love to keep them, we must stick to the model. With that in mind, we still are open to maintaining a minor share when it makes sense.”

“We are excited about this idea,” said Casse, who added that from Magnolia's four to race to date, this pair would be the third and fourth to sell. “Considering what the strategy was, to be able to have the opportunity to have four out of the four first runners sold would be a tremendous start.”

Last October, after they kicked off their buying spree, Casse told the TDN that he had been kicking around the idea of a syndicate for a few years, but assembled the partners last fall in just 30 days.

“The pinhooking and breeze-up part of me is looking at these horses for their value and what they could sell for if they run well,” Casse said at the time, “as opposed to trying not to get carried away, and pay end-user prices. Joseph knows this type of horse well. Both of our families cut our teeth on trading horses at some stage in our careers.”

“When I was looking at horses at Fasig, I was being very selective about turf stallions, primarily. I didn't care so much about their commercial viability. I was more interested in physicals. For me, Goa Gajah suited a lot of the things I look for when I go to Europe to buy horses. He used himself very well. He was very fluid with his action, with both his hind end and his front end and he had a very nice walk. He was well-balanced.”

Goa Gajah will be consigned as Hip 2 by Paramount Sales. A Kentucky-bred son of Bal a Bali, the Brazilian Triple Crown winner and multiple Grade I-winning miler in the U.S., he is out of a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and track record-setter Optimizer. His elite Phipps pedigree includes current undefeated multiple Grade I winner Flightline (Tapit). Lakota Seven (Hip 1), by G1 Phoenix S. winner Sioux Nation, has a pedigree which includes Grade I winners Senure, Speak in Passing; and champions Rags to Riches, Peeping Fawn and Xaar. They will be consigned by Taylor Made Sales.

And the timing for purchasing young proven racing stock couldn't be better, he said. “To try to sell these two on the heels of Royal Ascot, when people have just come home from that experience, is ideal. They both seem like horses that are progressive types and are only going to get better. Lakota Seven will be eligible for lucrative maiden purses in America, or anywhere. He looks like he is going to be a horse that is going to want a mile to a mile and a quarter. And Goa Gajah, being a Kentucky-bred, in our mind, if we didn't sell him, we were going to run him in Saratoga with an eye towards Kentucky Downs with those lucrative purses for their 2-year-olds.”

“This is another exciting first for Fasig-Tipton Digital, offering two horses owned and trained by the same connections that finished first and second in the same maiden race in Ireland,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “Both horses offer exciting and lucrative racing opportunities, particularly in Europe or this summer in the United States.

Each horse's catalogue page provides photos, walking videos, race replays, and other useful resources. Prospective buyers may also schedule in-person inspections in Ireland by contacting each horse's consignor.

Bidding closes on Tuesday, June 28, at 2 pm EDT.

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O’Brien Supplements “Improving” Oaks Winner Tuesday For Irish Derby

Aidan O'Brien has supplemented Cazoo Oaks winner Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday. 

Tuesday will be ridden by Ryan Moore as she bids to become the third horse to win the Oaks and the Irish Derby, following on from Salsabil (GB) (Sadler's Wells) in 1990 and Balanchine (Storm Bird {Can}) four years later. 

O'Brien, a record-breaking 14-time winner of the Irish Derby, has also left Anchorage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Temple Of Artemis (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the race and, speaking to TDN Europe, revealed that Tuesday has improved again since Epsom. 

He said, “From the very start of the year, Tuesday has progressed with every week. Saying it is one thing but doing it is another and she seems to be still progressing, which is unbelievable. She came out of the Oaks well and we're very happy with her. She's improving all the time.”

O'Brien added, “We've left in a few others–Anchorage, Changingoftheguard, Stone Age and Temple Of Artemis–and they are all possibles but by no means definites.”

Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), trained by Ralph Beckett, heads the market at odds of 11-8 and will be partnered by the three-times Irish champion jockey Colin Keane, who takes over from Rob Hornby. The British-trained challenge also includes David Menuisier's Lionel (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).  

Donnacha and Joseph O'Brien are well represented, with Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) set to run for the younger sibling and Hannibal Barca (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), winner of the G3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule S. at the Curragh on his first start in Ireland last month, Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Vega Magnifico (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) possible runners for his brother. 

Paddy Twomey's French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}) remains in contention along with Jim Bolger's Boundless Ocean (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Manu Et Corde (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the Dermot Weld-trained Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Andy Oliver's Glory Daze (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}).

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The Major Talking Points From Day Two at Royal Ascot

From State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) silencing his doubters once again to Irad Ortiz's week going from bad to worse, there was plenty to digest from day two at Royal Ascot. Brian Sheerin fleshed out the main talking points from another thrilling day's action. 

Eldar Eldarov Owner is Living the Dream 

HH Shaikh Khalid, owner of Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), told ITV Racing that his dream in racing is to find a horse good enough to stand as a stallion. Eldar Eldarov could well be up to fulfilling that dream one day judging by his hard-fought victory in the G2 Queen's Vase.

What do breeders want in a stallion? A horse who showed class on the track, but also one who had a will to win and was tough. Eldar Eldarov displayed all of those qualities in keeping his unbeaten record intact by snaring Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel) in the final strides.

Kew Gardens (Ire), Stradivarius (Ire) and Leading Light (Ire) all feature among the roll of honour for the Queen's Vase throughout the past decade and it's safe to assume that Eldar Eldarov will go down as one of the better winners of the 1 3/4-mile contest given the victory represented just the third start of his career.

Eldar Eldarov looks sure to develop further as a stayer and is likely to take high rank in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster later in the season. 

It should also be noted that this horse had an abundance of options throughout the week but Roger Varian and his team chose correctly as the step up in trip has clearly seen him in an even greater light. 

He looks a smart horse in the making and, if successful in the St Leger, will go some way in delivering his owner's dream.

Time to Give State Of Rest the Respect he Deserves

What on earth does State Of Rest have to do to start getting the respect he deserves? Here is a horse who has won Group/Grade 1 races in America, Australia and France, yet he was allowed to go off at odds just shy of 10-1 on the World Pool and returned 5-1 in a five-runner Prince Of Wales's S.

Of course, this is all being said with a heavy helping of hindsight, because State Of Rest needed to bounce back from a below-par effort in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, when the race didn't go to plan. 

Like State Of Rest, Shane Crosse had a few questions to answer after that third-place effort behind Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), and he did just that with an exhibition in front-running riding. 

Crosse got the fractions right and saved enough to fend off Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {Ire}) who, despite having much more to prove than State Of Rest, was sent to post a 10-11 favourite. 

It's hard to imagine what more State Of Rest needs to do to start getting the credit he deserves. He has been brilliantly handled by Joseph O'Brien to win four races at the highest level–in three different continents–and it's about time he started getting the credit for being the top-notcher that he is. 

From Bad to Worse for Ortiz

Wesley Ward made a big call last week in pledging his Royal Ascot allegiance to Irad Ortiz, in doing so relegating leading European riders like Frankie Dettori to the substitutes bench.

The pair got off to a difficult start on Tuesday when Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) missed the kick completely in the G1 King's Stand S. before trailing home in last position, after which, Ortiz revealed he was looking at the withdrawn Mondammej (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) when the gates opened. 

Things went from bad to worse on Wednesday when Ortiz picked up a five-day ban for careless riding for a dangerous maneuver aboard Love Reigns (Ire) (US Navy Flag) in the G2 Queen Mary S. 

Unlike Golden Pal, Love Reigns broke like a bullet from the stalls in the Queen Mary S., but Ortiz then allowed the filly to drift across to her left, forcing leading fancy Katey Kontent (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) off her running line. 

Love Reigns could only manage fourth behind the hugely impressive Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and the stewards took a dim view of Ortiz's riding at the start of the race by dishing out that ban. 

Luckily for the top American-based rider, he has a number of chances to redeem himself, including with Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G1 Commonwealth Cup on Friday. 

Predictably, many people made the argument that a seasoned professional like Dettori, who knows Ascot better than most, would never make the same mistake at the gates as Ortiz did aboard Golden Pal.

Therefore, there was a certain irony that Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})'s bid for Prince Of Wales's glory was all but over after Dettori failed to move the blindfold in time, costing John and Thady Gosden's charge valuable lengths at the start.

Turns out all of these top jockeys are human, eh?

Big Bear an Important Ballydoyle Winner

Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) ran out an important winner of the Listed Windsor Castle S. for Aidan O'Brien, who had sent out 21 runners since recording his last winner, no less than Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Oaks.

There has been a school of thought that O'Brien has been dealing with an above average bunch of 2-year-olds this season, evidenced by the fact that he has sent out 13 winners from 26 runners domestically, which equates to a whopping 50% strike-rate.

Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) ran a perfectly respectable race when fourth in the G2 Coventry S. on Tuesday but nothing beats a winner and the success of Little Big Bear will provide the Ballydoyle team with confidence heading into the rest of the week. 

O'Brien has The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a brother to Battaash, to look forward to in the G2 Norfolk S. on Thursday while Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) is likely to go off a short-priced favourite for the G3 Albany S.

It may have taken the O'Brien team a little time to click into gear at the royal meeting this year but it will be a surprise if the success of Little Big Bear is not built upon. 

TDN Rising Stars Come Of Age

There is an old saying that self praise is no praise but, in the case of the TDN's 'Rising Stars', the hugely popular designation is showing a 100% strike-rate in the juvenile races at the royal meeting thus far. 

Impressive G2 Coventry S. winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), G2 Queen Mary heroine Dramatised and the Windsor Castle hero Little Big Bear were all flagged as 'TDN Rising Stars'. Don't say you weren't told. 

 

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State Of Rest Makes All In The Prince Of Wales’s

Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. came down to a display of supreme jockeyship, but it was not Moore or Dettori or even Demuro who provided it but Shane Crosse, whose masterclass from the front on the under-rated State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) proved the difference in such a tight Royal Ascot encounter. The race is a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November. While Frankie fumbled with the blindfold on Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the gates opened and lost all chance there, Crosse was out and in control quickly on the 5-1 shot with no pressure on the lead. Hard though the 10-11 favourite Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) chased in the straight, from the two pole it was a lost cause with Joseph O'Brien's flagship performer having too much of an advantage. At the line, there was a length between the accomplished G1 Cox Plate, G1 Prix Ganay and GI Saratoga Derby winner and the Stoute runner as they pulled 2 1/4 lengths clear of Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who justified her supplementary entry. “In the space of the last 12 months, this horse has done a lot. He has done it all and I am just over the moon,” Crosse said. “To get here and participate is a huge thing. To ride a horse like this in top-class races is a dream. You cannot describe it.”

While this renewal showcased the remarkable distance that racing has come since the last century in terms of international competition, there is possibly still a sense that achievements overseas can be overlooked in the Royal Ascot analysis. State of Rest had been at inflated odds before a late gamble thrust him back to 5-1, which was in hindsight an insult given that he had faced the thrust of battle on contrasting surfaces in the States, Australia and France. Having outgunned Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) at Moonee Valley in October, State of Rest was probably only in his comfort zone dealing with the French contingent in the Ganay at the start of May and connections felt that his subsequent third three weeks later in The Curragh's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup could be bettered. Running the final three furlongs there faster than the first and second Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), he was always going to be dangerous let loose on the lead.

State of Rest may have clocked a moderate overall time for the race, especially given how the ground has allowed for some rapid outcomes over the first two day, but his finishing effort up the straight was that of a top-class performer and a rematch with the still-promising runner-up will be fascinating to witness. Remarkably, this was Joseph O'Brien's first Royal Ascot winner as a trainer and it is fitting that it arrived 10 years after he won this aboard another Cox Plate hero in So You Think (NZ). “It's very special. It's been a long time coming,” he said. “We've had a lot of horses run well here. It's special to get a winner here and not only a winner, but to win a race like the Prince of Wales's Stakes is hugely special. We have a great team of owners and a special horse.”

“We had a good chat with Shane and decided to make the running. It could not have worked out better. He got the fractions perfect,” he added. “State of Rest is a very tough horse. He is very versatile and I take some of the blame myself for not using him enough last time, but it was a great run. We knew coming here today that we had a live chance of winning the race and I'm just pleased that the horse has proved himself. It is a huge day and I am very proud of everyone. This is what it is all about. We love the game, we are born and bred into the game. It is all we know. To have a big winner here is what we do it for.”

Paul Cashman of Rathbarry Stud, part-owner of the winner, said, “Things did not go to plan in the Tattersalls Gold Cup–the ground was not on our side that day. It was Joseph's plan to go forward. He knew from furlong to furlong what he wanted and that is how it panned out. It doesn't always work like that, but they had the confidence and the horse to do that. Joseph said he was unlucky in the spring of his three-year-old career. He pulled a muscle in the spring and did not have a Guineas campaign, so was a second half of the season horse. So for me he'd been under the radar for a race like this. I thought he should have been half the price he was.”

“It's just a very proud week to be an Australian,” Henry Field told TDN AusNZ on the win. “It was absolutely fantastic. It was a crack-hot field with the top-class middle distances European horses and Japanese horses. It means a lot because he has shown he is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in the world. It has taken a long time for us to step into this part of the market and find a middle distance horse to stand at stud, but after his Cox Plate win we took a leap of faith and I think that after today's [Wednesday] result that decision has been very much vindicated.

“He's a star horse. He's won Group 1s in America, France, obviously the Cox Plate and now Royal Ascot–that is quite the record. He has got one of the strongest syndicates of owners we have ever put together for a horse and it includes some breeders from New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand, so it's just a great thrill and many of them are here–it's a day we will never forget.”

“I was actually talking to Chris Waller before the horses came to Ascot and how the week could be a big one for Australia,” Field added. “We have seen the Japanese horses travel round the world and really vindicate the power of their racing. So, to see a horse like Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) win the [G1] King's Stand [S.] on Tuesday, and not just win but blow his rivals away, and then our Cox Plate winner, albeit a horse trained in Ireland, prove he is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in the world, I think all this is very important for Australian racing to showcase to the world how powerful our product is.

“This guy is trained by Joseph, who is a child prodigy and has an extraordinary brain. One of the greatest parts of investing in this horse is being able to pick Joseph's brain over the phone and I don't think I've ever spoken to a smarter younger man in the horse business. But to see both the Australian sprinting and middle-distance form stack up as it has this week, it's a week that Australians should be really proud of and it is really important for the future of our industry. It's just a very proud week to be an Australian. ”

Added Field, “Fingers crossed Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) can give us something to celebrate on Saturday, but if he doesn't we will all be cheering on Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) for Coolmore.”

Sir Michael Stoute was far from downcast following the end of Bay Bridge's sequence and said, “The race didn't pan out brilliantly for him, but he ran a very big race and we're absolutely delighted. We haven't run him on fast ground before, but that didn't inconvenience him–there was no problem there. Whether we stick at 10 furlongs or go to 12 furlongs, no decision will be taken for a little while.” Lord North was in a race of his own for much of the contest, left several lengths behind after the blindfold had become caught in the bridle, while the G1 Tokyo Yushun and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) failed to fire on another disappointing day for Japan here. “When I asked to go, he didn't have the same acceleration as last time,” rider Cristian Demuro explained.

State of Rest's unraced dam Repose (Quiet American) is now the property of Juddmonte and their recent acquisition takes on even greater import following this latest confirmation of their unerring shrewdness. Also responsible for the G3 Blue Wind S. winner Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), she is a daughter of Monaassabaat (Zilzal) who captured the Listed Virginia S. before producing the listed winners Prince Alzain (Street Sense) and Echo River (Irish River {Fr}), with the latter also second in the G3 May Hill S. She is also the second dam of the G2 Royal Lodge S. and G2 Vintage S. runner-up Artigiano (Distorted Humor).

The third dam is the 16-times-winning dual GI Vanity H. heroine and champion It's In the Air (Mr. Prospector), whose descendants include the triple group 1-winning Champion S. hero Storming Home (GB) (Machiavellian), the GI American Oaks heroine Music Note (A.P. Indy) and her G1 Dubai World Cup-winning son Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), plus the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}). Repose's 2-year-old filly Double Scoop (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was a €180,000 purchase by Anthony Dutrow at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, while she delivered a filly foal by Sea the Stars (Ire) this year.

State of Rest will stand at Rathbarry Stud, Ireland and shuttle to Newgate Farm, Australia upon his retirement.

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES'S S.-G1, £1,057,500, Ascot, 6-15, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:07.79, g/f.
1–STATE OF REST (IRE), 128, c, 4, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Repose, by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Monaassabaat, by Zilzal
3rd Dam: It's in the Air, by Mr. Prospector
(45,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-State Of Rest Partnership; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Shane Crosse. £599,708. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Aus & Fr, GISW-US & G1SP-Ire, 12-5-1-3, $3,808,013. *1/2 to Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bay Bridge (GB), 128, c, 4, New Bay (GB)–Hayyona (GB), by Multiplex (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-James Wigan & Ballylinch Stud; B-London Thoroughbred Services Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £227,363.
3–Grand Glory (GB), 125, m, 6, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Madonna Lily (Ire), by Daylami (Ire). (€18,000 Ylg '17 AROYRG; €2,500,000 5yo '21 ARQDEC). O-Haras de Hus; B-Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville (GB); T-Gianluca Bietolini. £113,787.
Margins: 1, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 5.00, 0.91, 16.00.
Also Ran: Shahryar (Jpn), Lord North (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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