TDN Horses of the Year: Moss Tucker

We all have our favourites, and this week members of TDN Europe's editorial team each select a horse who provided particular enjoyment in 2023. Kicking off the series, Brian Sheerin puts forward the case for the sprinter whose victory in the G1 Flying Five was made all the more special by his human connections.

I don't know about you, but I love an underdog story. Perhaps that is why I fell in love with National Hunt racing at a young age.

Danoli (Ire), Bobbyjo (Ire) and Papillon (Ire) developed something of a cult following in the late nineties and early noughties in Ireland while Flemenstar (Ire) is another who caught the imagination when mopping up a host of Grade 1s for the late Peter Casey, one of the game's great characters.

Sadly, it has been far too long since racing has supplied its audience with a narrative to grab hold of. Not only that, but the David and Goliath stories that we used to dine out on in the jumps sphere are now few and far between.

The tables have turned. It seems as though the smaller trainers and owners can now hold genuine hopes of coming across a horse capable of mixing it at the highest level on the Flat. It's just not the same over jumps any more.

Take Moss Tucker (Ire) winning the Flying Five for example. Already a Classic-winning trainer, Ken Condon is hardly what you would describe as a smaller trainer, but this is a result that resonated with many given that the horse was bred by his owner and former Munster rugby legend Donal Spring. Part of the Munster side which famously took the scalp of the All Blacks in Thomond Park back in 1978, Spring has a history of producing sporting shocks.

Moss Tucker, named in honour of Spring's teammates, the late Moss Keane and Colm Tucker, was said to have about as much chance of winning the Flying Five as the experts gave that fabled Munster side of blindsiding the All Blacks. But therein lies the beauty of sport.

Moss Tucker embodied everything that is brilliant about the game, chewing up the script and spitting out high-class sprinters like Highfield Princess (Fr), Bradsell (GB) and Art Power (Ire) in the process.

It must be said, the heavy rain that fell before the race was in Moss Tucker's favour. But take nothing away from Condon's charge, who fought tooth and nail for his big day and was thoroughly deserving of a breakthrough win at the highest level.

But it's the human side of this story that propels Moss Tucker to being one of the results of the year. You will be hard pressed to find a man who is as well-liked and respected universally as Condon. One of racing's good guys, Condon goes about his business in an understated manner and Moss Tucker proved once again that he is deadly when given the ammunition.

By Excelebration (Ire) and out of a mare who won twice over hurdles as well as on the Flat, where she reached a modest mark of 76, Moss Tucker would have raised few predictions of Group 1 aspirations, not least over sprint distances. But here is a horse who has benefited from Condon's softly-softly approach, culminating with that big-race triumph at the Irish Champions Festival on his 30th racecourse start.

It should also be noted that Moss Tucker winning the Flying Five came off the back of a below-par season by Condon's high standards.

He has trained just nine winners in 2023, down from 17 in 2022 and 18 in the Classic-winning season the Curragh operator sent out Romanised (Ire) to land the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2020.

To produce a result like Moss Tucker winning the Flying Five, one of the most fiercely-contested sprints in Europe, off the back of a difficult season is a measure of what a good trainer Condon is.

Billy Lee riding Moss Tucker sugar-coated what was one of the sweetest successes of the year. Criminally under-appreciated, Lee is pound-for-pound one of the best riders in Britain and Ireland and would almost certainly have been crowned champion in his native country by now had God blessed him by being an inch or two shorter.

 

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Flying Five Glory For Excelebration’s Moss Tucker

First there was the Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) at 28-1 in the Nunthorpe, then Saturday's Haydock Sprint Cup turn-up courtesy of the 10-1 shot Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and now Moss Tucker (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}–Rare Symphony {Ire}, by Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) to complete the shock treble at 16-1 in Sunday's G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five S. at the Curragh, a GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint qualifier. This looked a surefire renewal for the Brits on form, but one by one Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) wilted leaving it to a triumvirate of outsiders to fight it out.

As the 22-1 shot Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and fellow outsider at 20-1, Equality (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), tried hard to bring the prize back across the Irish Sea in the closing stages, Billy Lee kept asking the Ken Condon-trained 5-year-old and the response was typically courageous and honest. Using the extra stamina he displayed when taking the six-furlong G3 Phoenix Sprint S. here last time, Moss Tucker forged ahead late to deny Get Ahead by half a length, with Equality eventually beaten another 1 1/4 lengths in third. Following the preceding rain, Highfield Princess was hammered into even-money favouritism but uncharacteristically missed the break and struggled some way out.

“It's fantastic on the Curragh, on the most important weekend in Irish racing. It's just been a great story with this horse how he has progressed and kept improving,” Condon said. “You're thinking if we got placed it would be a super effort and then the heavens opened about an hour and a half ago which helped us a good bit. He was very good here the last day a month ago. We thought that was a career-best and obviously this is another step in the right direction.”

Moss Tucker had been to The Curragh on eight occasions prior to this, with wins in the aforementioned Phoenix Sprint and also the Listed Waterford Testimonial S. in October to his name as well as a third to Art Power in the G2 Sapphire S. In July. Also responsible for upsetting Tenebrism (Caravaggio) in the Listed Woodlands S. at Naas in April, the gelding needed a slice of luck to get one of these on his file but had that in spades here with the British contingent so below-par.

Billy Lee said, “Ken and I love this horse and he has been a brilliant servant who has made his way up through the grades. He is as genuine as they come, things went lovely today–he jumped and travelled well, but when they quickened at the two I thought I was in trouble. He is all heart though, stuck to his guns and really battled hard. He is just a brilliant horse and while we have had a quietish year, this one winner makes all the difference.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Moss Tucker's dam Rare Symphony is a half-sister to the GIII Astra S. winner Pantsonfire (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}) and her Swedish Derby-winning full-brother Bomar (Ire), as well as the stakes-placed Liar Liar (Ire) (Dream Ahead). Also connected to the G1 2000 Guineas hero Island Sands (Ire) (Turtle Island {Ire}), her unraced 2-year-old gelding is by Poet's Word (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Sumbal (Ire).

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD, DUBAI FLYING FIVE S.-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-10, 3yo/up, 5fT, 1:00.89, g/y.
1–MOSS TUCKER (IRE), 132, g, 5, by Excelebration (Ire)
     1st Dam: Rare Symphony (Ire), by Pastoral Pursuits (GB)
     2nd Dam: Rubileo (GB), by Galileo (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Ruby Affair (Ire), by Night Shift
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Charlie Bit Me Syndicate; B-Mr Donal Spring (IRE); T-Ken Condon; J-Billy Lee. €240,000. Lifetime Record: 30-8-4-7, $444,181. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Get Ahead (GB), 129, f, 4, Showcasing (GB)–Suelita (GB), by Dutch Art (GB).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (200,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Hot To Trot Racing V; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. €80,000.
3–Equality (GB), 132, g, 5, Equiano (Fr)–Penny Drops (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (£50,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds II; B-Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook (GB); T-Charles Hills. €40,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 2. Odds: 16.00, 22.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Ladies Church (GB), Highfield Princess (Fr), Art Power (Ire), Bradsell (GB), Aesop's Fables (Ire), Bouttemont (Ire), Ano Syra (Ire).

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Phil D’Amato Q&A: ‘You Don’t Have To Spend A Lot To Find A Going Global’

   One of the finest turf trainers in America, Phil D'Amato has done exceptionally well with his European imports in recent years, highlighted by Grade I winner Going Global and more recently American Oaks scorer Rhea Moon. 

   In this week's Q&A with Brian Sheerin, D'Amato explained how, with the help of Niall Dalton, Craig Rounsefell and BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, he has built one of the most competitive stables in America.  

   Read about his approach to finding 'diamonds in the rough' on a budget, his training methods and much more. 

Brian Sheerin: You do extremely well with your imports from Britain and Ireland. What is it that you look for in form horses when you go about recruiting them from Europe?

Phil D'Amato: There are a number of factors. First and foremost, you need a horse that you think will handle a firm turf course and you can gauge that by the tracks that they have been running at in Europe and how they are handling that. If you don't have a good gauge on how they would handle the American turf, then you can check how the pedigree has done in the States and if that suggests they are prone to do better on firm ground. Number two, they definitely need a turn of foot. All turf races over here, from the quarter pole home, you need to show a good turn of foot. I definitely like to see that over horses who are more staying types in Europe. Horses who go to the lead in Europe and try to make all, those horses don't tend to do well in America, you need something with acceleration. Those are the big things for us. Conformation is another. I don't think conformation plays as big a part in Europe, especially with the amount of homebreds that race and the forgiving training surfaces, but in the States, conformation plays a much bigger role as our courses are not as forgiving. You need a horse with good conformation over here, one that's going to hit the ground square, so that it will be able to stay sound for you. 

You've built up a top-class recruitment team with Michael Donohoe and Niall Dalton coming up with a lot of the goods. 

You have to give them a lot of credit. I've also had a lot of good luck with Craig Rounsefell-all of those gentlemen know what to look for. They are trying to find the diamond in the rough and prove that you don't have to spend a lot of money to find a Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).They have good connections with the trainers and know who the sellers are. There are a lot of sellers in Britain and Ireland, as that's how a lot of these guys make their money given the prize-money over there, and not everyone can train for a Sheikh or somebody who is very wealthy. They need to trade so, in that respect, Niall, Michael and Craig know the people who will lead them the right way. They continue to buy horses from those people. 

And is it purely form horses that you buy from Europe or have you ever dipped your toe into breeze-up or even yearling markets?

We have bought a breeze-up horse or two but it's mostly horses who have run. I prefer to see a horse who has run at least twice and I am not a big fan of the horses who have run just once. To me, it seems like the horses who have run at least twice or more, they come over here to America and they seem to be hardier horses. You have a better handle on them and they tend to cope with the training better as well. They are better than the one-off horse who's run third or fourth. I just like horses who have been able to show their form a couple of times but, the flip side of that means that, getting to see a bit more often means that you have to pay that bit more. It has its pluses and minuses. 

I'd love to know what expectations you had for Going Global when you bought her after she won a Dundalk nursery off a mark of 70. Could you ever have envisaged that she'd improve to the level that she has?

Well, you know what, Michael Donohoe is really good friends with her former trainer Michael Halford, and we had bought horses from him before. Going Global had gotten sick previously and hadn't run well before she won at Dundalk but they had good reasons as to why she hadn't been running well. We knew that story coming into the race and then, when she did produce at Dundalk, it was time to strike. We had a little bit of extra insight into buying her and Halford liked the way that filly had been training for a while so he guided us in the right direction. That was the story there. 

You touched on the fact that a lot of trainers over here in Ireland where I am based, their business model accounts for trading horses, and Michael Halford would be up there with one of the best at that. Are there certain trainers you like to return to?

We have a good rapport with a lot of people and there are a lot of people who lead us the right way. It's the people who are going to leave a little extra in the tank who we are interested in buying off. That's the way I train my horses and I don't like to have them fully cranked first-time up. I like to let them develop through their races and I try to buy my horses off like-minded people. You need to try and buy a horse who is likely to continue to develop over here in the States. You know the yards that are crack first-time out specialists and I try to stay away from those trainers because all of their horses usually show everything they have first-time out. It's the guys who leave a little extra in the tank and like to let them develop race to race, those are the guys we like working with. 

What would be the key differences between the European horses compared to the American-breds who you have grown up with?

Size and conformation are the big things. To buy a dirt horse versus a grass horse, it's apples and oranges. You are looking at the horse totally differently. A dirt horse has a big thick bone, and a big hind end, gaskins and forearms, that can withstand training and pushing through the dirt. Your turf horse is a bit more angular, lighter of body and bone, just a little bit more agile. You need to put two different caps on when you are looking to buy a dirt horse versus a grass horse. 

And when it comes to acclimatising a European import, what is your approach to that?

They are all different and all treated as individuals. I like to gradually build them up and let them tell me when they are ready to do more and start breezing. Some horses take a month before you breeze them and others are ready to go within two weeks. They are all different. You can't put them in a cookie-cutter training style as they all needed to be treated differently. 

When you go down through the imports that you have done well with in America, there are no Galileos, Frankels or Dubawis in there, which makes the achievements all the more impressive. 

We mostly have horses by mid-range stallions, because we can afford them. We're not looking to buy a Galileo (Ire), Frankel (GB) or Dubawi (Ire) for half a million dollars, our budget is much less than that. Those are the stallions we look at, the ones that produce the goods but who are within our price range. We bought horses by Mehmas at the right time but now that stallion is moving up the ladder. It's all about leaving that to Michael and Niall, who are great at that. What's an advantage is, they work the yearling sales as well and watch these horses develop through all of the different yards. They have keen insights from when they hit the sales ground right up until when they race. That's a big advantage. 

American Oaks winner Rhea Moon (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is the latest star European import to grab the headlines for your stable. How did she come on your radar? In many ways she was quite unexposed given she'd only had the two starts in Ireland for Ken Condon. 

She ran a really good second to a Juddmonte colt [Straight Answer (GB) (Kodiac {GB})] on her second start at the Curragh and that horse came out and won a stakes race not too long afterwards. She had good sneaky form in that she came out of a live race and ran a good second. Again, she came from a good yard that develops them the right way instead of having them cranked to the gills first-time out, so she looked a nice prospect. We went after her and thankfully we were able to get her.

You touched on how important a turn of foot is on the American turf racing scene. She showed that when winning the Oaks. Where next for her now?

She's in steady training right now and we will probably run her some time in March or April with a view towards a prep for the Gamely S., that's a Grade I, which we have in late April. Hopefully that will launch her 4-year-old campaign and lead us towards the Breeders' Cup in November. 

Given the prize-money situation in Britain and Ireland, have you had much interaction with owners from this part of the world who are interested in placing their horses in training directly with you rather than selling them abroad?

I actually have started to get overseas owners going that route as opposed to me buying them. We'll see how that goes. I got a filly sent to me, called With Love (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who is owned by Atomic Racing in Ireland. 

Look at a filly like Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}); she won a race worth €6,490 on her final start for Jessica Harrington in Ireland but has won almost $200,000 in America which is borderline insane. 

She was another nice pick by Michael Donohoe. He has many clients who have horses in training with Jessica and she recommended us to buy her as the owner wanted to sell. We were in the right place at the right time. We gave her a little break and she'll also be back towards the end of the month. Hopefully she's another nice prospect for us. 

Has it been a conscious decision for you to concentrate on turf racing in America over the dirt?

The concentration on turf has really come down to budget. In America, if you want to compete with the Bob Bafferts, Todd Pletchers and Steve Asmussens of the world, it costs a lot of money. Those gentlemen have many million-dollar yearlings to work with and, to try and compete against that, you have to have a ginormous budget. I am lucky to have good owners with good budgets but nowhere near that. You can buy a good European horse for a fifth or a tenth of that price. It seems that, in turf racing, too, these horses seem to have a little more longevity and can be campaigned for an extra year or two. The racing is really more about that last quarter burst over the punishing grind from start to finish on dirt. That's why these horses seem to last longer and get the chance to develop into stakes horses or, for the fillies, into breeding prospects. 

Where do you see the future of turf racing in America? It seems to be expanding and growing so it could be an exciting position to be in.

I really see that. I see an expansion of turf racing across the country for many of those reasons; the longevity of the horses and people seem to like the last quarter mile compared to dirt races that can be decided right out of the gate sometimes. People like to enjoy seeing their horses run over a long period of time and so turf racing fits that category. 

Could we ever see a Phil D'Amato-trained runner at Royal Ascot?

One day. That definitely is a dream. I know Wesley Ward has been successful at Royal Ascot. You definitely need to bring the right horse but, one day, it would be a dream for me to do something like that.

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Ten Sovereigns Filly Fetches Record €300,000 At Sportsman’s Sale 

More records were broken at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale on Thursday as David Ryan went to €300,000, the highest price ever paid for a yearling at this sale, to secure a Ten Sovereigns (Ire) filly (lot 713) on behalf of Rabbah Bloodstock from Abbeville Stud.

Trade sky-rocketed at the Orby Sale on Tuesday and Wednesday and the opening session of the two-day Sportsman's Sale at Goffs was much the same.

Of the 245 yearlings offered, 217 found new homes, representing a clearance rate of 89%. However, what was most impressive was the amount traded, with the €6,094,500 that exchanged hands through the ring representing a 54% increase on last year's turnover.

The average and the median were also up. The average was €28,085, a 32% increase on last year, while the median was up 50% to €24,000.

Haunting Melody (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}), sold here in 2007 for €240,000, was the most expensive horse sold at the Sportsman's Sale prior to Thursday.

Despite having to pay a record price for the Ten Sovereigns filly, Ryan, manager at Kilfrush Stud, revealed the sum was pretty much where he expected to go.

He said, “She's for Rabbah Bloodstock and will come back to the farm in Kilfrush before we decide who trains.”

Ryan added, “She really should have been in the Orby as she was a standout on the day. Especially the way the fillies were selling in the Orby.

“I know that Ten Sovereigns is a first-season sire and is unproven but it has worked before with No Nay Never. She was always going to make good money.”

 

Foley Lights The Touch Paper

The Sportsman's picked up pretty much where the Orby left off when Joe Foley went to €62,000 to bag the first horse through the ring, the Newlands House Stud-drafted Bungle Inthejungle (GB) brother (lot 521) to black-type performer Funny Money Honey (Ire), on behalf of The Bronte Collection.

Foley, who has been one of the biggest players on the European yearling sale circuit so far this season and spent over €1 million on eight horses at the Orby, also revealed the colt would be trained by Karl Burke.

Foley said, “He has been bought for the Bronte Collection. I bought the Lowther S. winner Living In The Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) off Paddy Burns and I'm delighted to be able to go back to him. I liked the cross and he looks fast. He'll be trained by Karl Burke, who also trained Living In The Past.”

The proud Carlow man went on to snap up a Le Brivido (Fr) filly (lot 633) from Churchtown House Stud for €42,000 later in the afternoon.

 

Gladwell Still Going Strong

Those hoping to make hay while the Americans were away suffered something of a blow when Torie Gladwell, who picked up two yearlings at the Orby, remained for the long haul and added a colt by Invincible Army (Ire) (lot 535) and a filly by Ten Sovereigns (lot 653) for €70,000 apiece.

All of Gladwell's additions, signed for under the banner of Top Line Sales, will return to Ocala Florida, where she is based, with the long-term plan being to prepare them for a breeze-up sale.

She said, “We bought two in the Orby and two today and all will come back to America to breeze. We came to Europe to get a sportier, earlier type of horse. The Invincible Army colt is nice and, with the filly, we thought that she would mix well with the American bloodlines in time.”

Top Line Sales secured a Calyx filly (lot 8) for €85,000 and a Cable Bay filly (lot 339) for €100,000 in the Orby Sale and Gladwell's business in the Sportsman's took her total spend to €325,000.

 

Condon Comes Up Trumps For Territories Filly

In G1 Prix de l'Abbaye-bound Teresa Mendoza (Ire), Ken Condon has one of the best progeny of Territories (Ire) in his stable, and the Curragh-based trainer added another filly (lot 702) by the Dalham Hall-based stallion to his string for €80,000.

Consigned by Hollyhill Stud, the Territories filly ranked highly on Condon's list, and the trainer's confidence was boosted by the fact one of the most respected judges in racing was the underbidder.

He said, “Territories is a sire we're obviously very familiar with and Teresa Mendoza will run in France this weekend. She came well-recommended and is from a good nursery but she recommended herself.”

Condon added, “She's a very nice type. She has a bit of substance to her and has a lovely attitude. You'd take great heart from the fact that such a good judge like Kevin Prendergast was the underbidder.”

 

Dubai Calling?

Progeny of Catholic Boy in Europe are just about as rare as hen's teeth and lot 556, a colt by the dual American Grade I winner who stands for $20,000 at Claiborne Farm, was knocked down for €65,000 to top breeze-up consignors Mick and Sarah Murphy of Longways Stables.

Gerry Hogan signed for the colt, who was consigned by Arglo House Stud, and he boasted one of the more interesting pedigrees on day one at the Sportsman's.

Given his page, one would wonder if the colt, out of maiden mare by Muhaarar (GB) and from the family of multiple black-type performers in America, could rock up at the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale next March. Watch this space.

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