Half to Tenebrism Starts at Navan

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-sister to Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio).

1.05 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 5f 162yT
STATUETTE (Justify) is the fifth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), making her a half-sister to last year's G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio). Coolmore, Westerberg and Merriebelle Stables' March-foaled chestnut is joined by fellow Ballydoyle trainee Unless (Justify), another by the Triple Crown winner and the first foal out of another Cheveley Park heroine in Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). They will have to be smart to deal with Amo Coutinho Partnership's Curragh runner-up Olivia Maralda (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the Michael O'Callaghan trainee who at 460,000gns was the second-highest-priced lot and top-priced filly at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.

 

1.40 Navan, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 5fT
AGE OF KINGS (IRE) (Kingman {GB}), the 1.1-million gns Book 1 graduate who went down by a whisker on debut at Naas earlier this month, appears to have things easier in this maiden won three years ago by the G2 July S.-winning sire Royal Lytham (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Like him, Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Brant's son of the G2 May Hill S. winner Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) bears the Ballydoyle standard and after such a promising debut it is anybody's guess what he can achieve.

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Bolt d’Oro’s Owen’s Leap Strikes at First Asking

1st-Churchill Downs, $117,143, Msw, 5-27, 2yo, 5f, :58.78, ft, 1 3/4 lengths.
OWEN'S LEAP (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Defy Gravity {SW, $171,240}, by Bandini) became his freshman sire (by Medaglia d'Oro)'s third winner with a powerful performance here on unveiling. Sent off at 5-2 for the contest, the Tom Amoss trainee stalked the early pace of :22.86 and :46.35 from third, challenged outside through the far turn, and came five wide into the lane to take over in the upper stretch. Kept under strong handling, the $175,000 KEESEP alumnus came home 1 3/4 lengths best over 9-5 favorite Justafever (Justify) and $500,000 KEESEP purchase Summonyourcourage (Practical Joke). Owen's Leap hails from a productive racing and producing family being a half-brother to Ellis Park Debutante S. winner Green Destiny (Super Saver) and three other winners from four of racing age. His 3-year-old half-sister by Uncle Mo named Gravitation is unraced, and he has a yearling half-brother by Justify. Defy Gravity is a half-sister to GISW Callback (Street Sense)–the dam of recent Caesars S. runner-up Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro)–and is expecting a foal by McKinzie this season. This is the female family of several sires including Cyrus Alexander, Brethren, Accelerator, Harborage, Girolamo, Imagining, Bluegrass Cat, and Super Saver. There are no fewer than 12 graded-stakes winners beneath his second and third dams. Sales history: $175,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,460. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Michael McLoughlin; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss.

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$500k Practical Joke Colt Debuts at Churchill Downs for Todd Pletcher

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

1st-CD, $120K, MSW, 2yo, 5f, 12:45 p.m.

Todd Pletcher takes the wraps off SUMMONYOURCOURAGE (Practical Joke), a $500,000 KEESEP purchase by Repole Stable and St Elias Stable. The colt is out of a half-sister to GSW Seeking the Sky, who herself went on to produce GI Metropolitan H. winner Sahara Sky (Pleasant Tap). Another half-sister to his dam, Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry), produced GI Kentucky Derby winner and current Darley stallion Nyquist (Uncle Mo). Summonyourcourage enters this off a half-mile breeze from the gate at Belmont in :48.05 (2/24) May 20 and picks up Tyler Gaffalione for his debut.

Also making his career bow is Justafever, a colt from the first crop of Triple Crown champion Justify. The bay is out of stakes-placed Nina Fever (Borrego) and is a half-brother to GI Frizette S. winner Nickname (Scat Daddy), who was purchased for $3 million by Kerri Radcliffe at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Justafever worked four furlongs from the gate at Churchill Downs in :47.60 (2/20) May 18. Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. gets the ride for trainer Michael Maker. TJCIS PPs

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TDN Snippets: Week of May 16 – 22

It was certainly a busy week of action on both sides of the Atlantic. Here's a sample of what went on, and what should be on your radar.

Headline Maker…
With Early Voting's Classic win at Pimlico Saturday, the colt became Gun Runner's fifth Grade I winner. It's a remarkable stat for any stallion, especially one so early in his stud career. It looks likely the Three Chimneys stallion will vie with the mighty Into Mischief for the honor of being America's most expensive sire over the next few years.

Ferguson/Natalma Making Waves…
Natalma has been appearing on buyers' sheets here and in the U.K. since 2021 with the investment portfolio, spearheaded by John Ferguson, having purchased 21 fillies and mares at public auction for an aggregate of $4.6 million during that time. Three of these purchases were at Tattersalls July, three at Fasig-Tipton November, 11 at Keeneland November and four at Tattersalls December. Natalma are also active in the private market. Ferguson is currently at Magic Millions selling three mares, via the Arrowfield consignment, all in foal to Frankel. Watch this space…

Wellman The Explorer…
Following the theme of international expansion, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman recently plucked a filly out of Europe, with the guidance of Mike Levy/Jamie Lloyd, and she's now Royal Ascot-bound. Manhattan Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle), trained by the talented Amy Murphy, won a listed race at Vichy (video), France Friday and looks to have a bright future.

Wellman summed it up nicely, “The world is getting so small, particularly in our industry, and it's wonderful to have an Irish-bred filly, who is three-for-three in France and now destined for Royal Ascot in England and will be supported by a strong contingent of American owners. Very cool stuff!”

First (U.S.) Starter, First Winner…
Social media was buzzing Sunday after Tahoma became Justify's first winner, from his first American runner. Craig Bernick's Aspen Grove had run a promising fifth at the Curragh earlier in the day, in what appeared to be a strong maiden.

Tahoma, a $160,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Dennis O'Neill, is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Legends of War (Scat Daddy). Legends of War, who won the 2019 GIII Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs for brother Doug, was actually named a TDN Rising Star May 23, 2018 at Yarmouth under the tutelage of John Gosden. Legends of War is now back in England standing at March Hare Stud for £4,000.

Appleby Can Do No Wrong…
Native Trail (Oasis Dream)'s win in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas gave Charlie Appleby/Godolphin its third 2000 Guineas win of the year. What's even more staggering is that they did it with three different horses; Coroebus (English 1000 Guineas), Modern Games (Poule d'Essai des Poulains aka French 2000 Guineas) and now Native Trail. Aidan O'Brien won the three races back in 2002 but with two different horses; Rock Of Gibraltar (England & Ireland) and Landseer (France).

The team at Dalham Hall/Kildangan Stud in Europe better start building new stallion boxes to accommodate the array of stallion prospects Appleby is churning out.

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