Tag: Karl Burke

‘The Pressure Is Now Officially Off’: Joe Foley Lauds Breakthrough Win For Branton Court Stud

The all-grey silks of Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics have become an increasingly familiar feature at racecourses over the last two decades, and the prolific owner recently added another string to his bow in becoming a breeder. His Yorkshire-based Branton Court Stud notched a major milestone on Wednesday when Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) scorched home in the G2 Queen Mary S. to provide Parkin with a first homebred group winner.

“We started in racing 20 years ago and, through Joe Foley, I started a breeding operation,” said Parkin. “[Dramatised] has come from the farm and it is a huge thrill. We saw her as a baby, watched her develop on the farm, and to watch her come through like that is very special and very emotional.”

Emotions were also running high for Foley, who is better known as the doyen of Ballyhane Stud as well as for his roles on a number of Irish racing and breeding committees. He and Parkin had extra reason to celebrate as they are both involved in the third filly home, Maria Branwell (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}), who runs for the Bronte Collection.

“Phew!” Foley said with a huge grin. “The pressure is off now. To win the Queen Mary is fantastic. Steve loves Royal Ascot. Soldier's Call (GB) was our first winner here, and then Space Traveller (GB) won, so this is our third winner. It's not all about early, fast horses though. We've had horses by Sea The Stars (Ire), Dubawi (Ire), Frankel (GB)–we'd like to come back and win the Coronation–but this filly is a very fast filly; she's out of a big, good-looking mare and we covered her by Showcasing and luckily she did it.”

That good-looking mare is Katie's Diamond (Fr), an early star performer for her late sire Turtle Bowl (Ire) who was bought by her trainer Karl Burke for just €18,000 as a yearling before going on to win the Listed Empress S. and finish third in the G3 Prix du Calvados. Burke also now trains her highly impressive juvenile daughter, while William Haggas has Katie's Diamond's 3-year-old filly Public Opinion (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who recently broke her maiden at Lingfield.

Foley continued, “I went round the mare sale that year looking at all the good race fillies and I came to [Katie's Diamond] and she was such an outstanding-looking filly; I'd never really seen her before. But I remembered her running in the Marcel Boussac and she ran off going to the start, then they got her back to the stalls and she ran away in the race and she was in front 50 yards from the line and finished fifth, beaten about two lengths. I thought then that she must have been pretty good.

“We sent her to Dark Angel and her first filly is a good one. She also has a very nice Night Of Thunder (Ire) yearling filly and a magnificent colt foal by Pinatubo (Ire) and now she is back in foal to Showcasing.”

There could yet be more cause for celebration for the Clipper Logistics team in Berkshire this week, as Parkin has another five runners in his own right, including recent Listed Marygate S. winner Pillow Talk (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the only filly in the line-up for Thursday's G2 Norfolk S. One of their leading contenders, Romantic Proposal (Ire) (Raven's Pass), had been set for a bold dual Group 1 sprint bid but she was withdrawn from the list when found to be coughing. The Eddie Lynam-trained 6-year-old will now be prepared for the G1 Darley July Cup.

Meanwhile the Bronte Collection, a syndicate set up for Parkin and friends, remarkably has four juvenile runners in stakes races at the royal meeting. Two of the quartet were bought by Foley, including the €22,000 Goffs Autumn yearling Maria Branwell, while another, Thunder Moor (Ire) (Dandy Man {GB}), was bred by his Ballyhane Stud and the last of the four, Cathy Come Home (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), was bred by Branton Court Stud. As suggested by the syndicate name, the horses' names are inspired by the famous literary Bronte family of Yorkshire. Maria Branwell was the name of the mother of Emily, Charlotte and Anne Bronte, and their brother Branwell.

Foley said, “It's a fun syndicate. There are 13 guys in it with Steve and to have a runner placed in the Queen Mary is just magic for them. They are all here and they are having a ball. To have the winner and then for Maria Branwell to be placed is just fairytale stuff really. The pressure is now officially off.”

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Queen Mary Glory For Showcasing’s Dramatised

Making it two-for-two for the TDN Rising Stars in Royal Ascot's juvenile prizes, Clipper Logistics' Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}–Katie's Diamond {Fr}, by Turtle Bowl {Ire}) put up an impressive display in a fast time in Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. under an in-form Danny Tudhope. Handed the monicker after her dynamic four-length debut win at Newmarket Apr. 29, the filly that Karl Burke regards as the fastest he has had through his hands was backed into 5-2 favouritism and raced near the front line towards the stand's side early. Committed passing two out by Tudhope, who had won the last two races on Tuesday's card, the bay was green and possibly idling in the clear as her rider lost his whip but stayed in command to the line. She had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over Maylandsea (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) there, with Maria Branwell (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “It's job done,” her trainer stated. “She has a lot of natural speed. She lengthens and she keeps going. She's a diva, but was very good today and is definitely a group 1 filly.”

Dramatised, who beat the dual subsequent winner Malrescia (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) hollow on her racecourse bow at the Guineas meeting, could be asked to carry her considerable speed over an extra furlong now according to Burke. “We'll certainly consider the [G1] Prix Morny,” he said. “There's still more to come from her. I think she was just green at Newmarket, where she was jamming on the brakes and still clocked a fast time. I think she will stay six. We trained her dam and she was good enough to be a Guineas filly. We could be looking at the Cheveley Park at the end of the year, but I'm not sure she'd be a Guineas filly, that might be a stretch.”

Clipper Logistics' Steve Parkin added, “We started in racing 20 years ago and, through a guy called Joe Foley, I started a breeding operation and this is our first big winner in terms of something we have bred. She has come from the farm and it is a huge thrill. We saw her as a baby, watched her develop on the farm and to watch her come through like that is very special and very emotional. This is a five-to-ten-year plan, and to come here and have a homebred winner so early in the stud's life is a massive thrill. It is the biggest thrill in my life, apart from having my children.”

Foley, who acts as Parkin's bloodstock advisor, added, “Karl told me last night it was only a matter of how far today! Trainers usually get scared coming into a run, but I had to tell him to stop talking. Her dam Katie's Diamond ran away going to the start in the Boussac, she ran away in the race, and was still in front 50 yards from the line. She was a highly-talented mare, but a bit crazy. She is a beautiful-looking mare. She has a belting yearling filly by Night of Thunder, a beautiful colt foal by Pinatubo, he is gorgeous, and she is in-foal to Showcasing.”

Michael Bell said of Maylandsea, who was further advertising the prowess of first-season sire sensation Havana Grey, “That was an excellent run. She's a filly with a big future, hopefully. I think the winner is very highly-regarded and beat us fair and square today, but this is a very nice filly going forward.” Jockey Kieran Shoemark said of Maria Branwell, “She travelled nicely, but actually when I let her down, the ground was quick enough for her really. She'll get six furlongs and is an exciting filly for the rest of the year.”

The aforementioned Katie's Diamond captured the Listed Empress S. and was third in the G3 Prix du Calvados and, as Joe Foley recounted, finished fifth in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on her penultimate start. A half to the dam of the GIII Jimmy Durante S.third Quattroelle (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), she hails from the family of the G3 Prix Miesque winner Aquatinta (Ger) (Samum {Ger}).

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
QUEEN MARY S.-G2, £115,000, Ascot, 6-15, 2yo, f, 5fT, :59.34, g/f.
1–DRAMATISED (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Katie's Diamond (Fr) (SW-Eng & GSP-Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire)
2nd Dam: Aaliyah (Ger), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Arpista (Ger), by Chief Singer (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Clipper Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Daniel Tudhope. £68,080. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $91,722. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Maylandsea (GB), 128, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Different (GB), by Bahamian Bounty (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (40,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; 100,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Middleham Park Racing LXXI & Partners; B-Denniff Farms Ltd (GB); T-Michael Bell. £25,749.
3–Maria Branwell (Ire), 128, f, 2, James Garfield (Ire)–Princess Pearl (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€22,000 Ylg '21 GOAUTY). O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Barry Kennedy & Anna Murphy (IRE); T-David O'Meara. £12,869.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 2.50, 28.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Love Reigns (Ire), Miami Girl (Ire), Katey Kontent (GB), Olivia Maralda (Ire), Carmela (Ire), Funny Money Honey (Ire), Lady Tilbury (GB), Yahsat (Ire), Omniqueen (GB), The Platinum Queen (Ire), Manhattan Jungle (Ire), Primrose Ridge (GB), Queen of Deauville (Ire), Lady Beano (Ire), Grand Oak (Ire), Lost Angel (Ire), One More Olly (GB), All The Time (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Havana Gold’s El Caballo On Top In The Sandy Lane

Karl Burke-trained 3-year-old colt El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold  {Ire}–Showstoppa {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) backed up a first black-type triumph in Lingfield's Mar. 5 Listed Spring Cup with a fifth straight score in Newcastle's Apr. 15 £150,000 All-Weather 3-year-old Championship. He continued on a rapid upward trajectory with a career high–and an ideal rehearsal for Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup–in Saturday's G2 Cazoo Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. Positioned behind the leading wave through furious early fractions, the 7-2 chance responded to pressure inside the final quarter mile to gain a narrow edge approaching the furlong pole and was driven out to withstand the late rally of last term's Listed Doncaster S. winner Flaming Rib (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) by a hard-fought neck.

“I wasn't concerned about the ground, but he's had to go and prove it in that class,” said Burke. “He's a very good horse and he's tough too. It'll probably be different ground at Ascot, but as long as it's not rattling [firm] I'd be happy. I said this morning that whatever wins this race today will certainly be one of the favourites for Ascot.” Winning rider Clifford Lee added, “I'm delighted to get my first Group-race winner and it feels brilliant. He is very talented and has got a lot of ability. He has won his last six races now, he tries so hard and goes again when another horse comes to him. He is quick and also stays seven furlongs, so the Commonwealth Cup and [G3] Jersey at Royal Ascot could both be on the cards. We will have to see how he comes out of this and what the boss and everyone else chooses.”

Reflecting on the performance of Flaming Rib, trainer Hugo Palmer said, “He's a really tough horse that goes on any ground and I'm delighted he's stepped forward. It's disappointing to finish second, but I think we feel that if we were able to eyeball the winner for the whole race we might have got by him. That's the luck of the draw and that's how it goes. We certainly feel that we're justified in going to Ascot now with a real chance in the big one. He's been narrowly beaten in the main trial so we'll give it a swing.”

El Caballo is the third of five foals and one of three winners produced by a multiple-winning half-sister to G2 Mill Reef S. victor Temple Meads (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}) and G3 Firth of Clyde S. runner-up Sneak Preview (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}). The March-foaled bay is kin to Listed Premio Vittorio Crespi victrix Avengers Queen (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) and a 2-year-old filly and a yearling filly by Havana Grey (GB). Descendants of his multiple-winning second dam Harryana (GB) (Efisio {GB}) also include G3 Hackwood S. and G3 Chipchase S. placegetter Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence).

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
CAZOO SANDY LANE S.-G2, £115,000, Haydock, 5-21, 3yo, 6fT, 1:11.76, gd.
1–EL CABALLO (GB), 128, c, 3, by Havana Gold (Ire)
1st Dam: Showstoppa (GB), by Showcasing (GB)
2nd Dam: Harryana (GB), by Efisio (GB)
3rd Dam: Allyana (Ire), by Thatching (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. (17,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; £30,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Grange Park Racing XVIII & OfO Partners; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. £65,217. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0, $242,426. *1/2 to Avengers Queen (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), SW-Ity. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flaming Rib (Ire), 128, c, 3, Ribchester (Ire)–Suddenly (Ger), by Excelebration (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 35,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Dolan Dooley Owen; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £24,725.
3–Wings of War (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (£140,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £12,374.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 5.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Go Bears Go (Ire), Caturra (Ire), Tippy Toes (GB), Edward Cornelius (Ire), Ever Given (Ire), Gis A Sub (Ire), Vertiginous (Ire). Scratched: Beauty Inspire (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Harper Happy with Havana Grey’s Bright Start at Stud

No first-season sire has made an impact with his runners on the track quite like Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) has and, for all that Ed Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud is petrified to tempt fate, he agreed that the early signs are hugely positive for their up-and-coming stallion.

Havana Grey was a brilliant 2-year-old himself, winning the G3 Molecomb S. before finishing runner-up in the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Flying Childers S., but it wasn't until the end of his 3-year-old campaign until he recorded his greatest day on a racecourse.

That triumph came when he snared the G1 Flying Five S. at the Curragh in 2018 and, while Havana Grey has clearly injected precociousness into his offspring with 10 individual winners in Europe on the board already, the most of any first-season sire, Harper is confident that the stallion's offspring will progress with racing.

He said, “It's still very much early days and we're keeping our heads down but, for a horse who ran his best race at the end of his 3-year-old campaign, it's particularly exciting that his progeny appear to be very easy to get to the track.”

Harper added, “We speak with trainers all the time and the one thing we hear is of how hardy his offspring are. Things that would have upset or derailed a yearling during its prep last year, the Havana Greys seemed to just dust it off, which was quite impressive. I think we are seeing that by how many have made the track already.

“They are like the kids in the playground who fall down and scrape their knee or bang their head but get back up and keep on running. They have a great attitude. We're very happy at the moment and are just happy that our clients will hopefully benefit from his brilliant start.”

Havana Grey's progeny have amassed eight wins between them in Britain and Ireland but it's Amuninni (Ire), who broke his duck in Italy recently, who springs to mind as Harper illustrated how the stallion's runners progress from their debut.

Harper said, “They seem to come on from their first run. No-one will have watched this, but a perfect example of this was a colt [Amuninni] that we sold at the Silver Sale at Doncaster for £11,000. He wasn't perfect but he was a good strong colt who went out to Italy.

“He was a little bit lost on his first run but was slow out the gates, which they can be, and it all looked a bit much for him first time out. Second time up, he was like a bullet from a gun and he'd have won [by] 10 lengths if he wasn't eased down.”

Harper added, “Karl Burke told me of how they expected Havana Grey to win first time out and he didn't. He surprised them by how green he was first time out but he really progressed. They really do come forward.”

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