Leopardstown Racecourse | Horse Racing Free Tips

Shalaa’s No Speak Alexander Springs 25-1 Matron Upset

Jessica Harrington trainee No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) came back off a break to finish 10th behind the reopposing G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in last month's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and stepped forward to shock a stellar field in Saturday's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. at Leopardstown. She had previously backed up a solid five-race juvenile campaign to snag The Curragh's May 3 Athasi S. on seasonal return and hit the board back there in the May 23 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in her penultimate start. The 25-1 outsider was positioned along the rail in a forward third after the initial exchanges of the one-mile test. Scrubbed along at the top of the straight, she was ridden to the fore entering the final furlong and kept on in resolute fashion to hold the persistent threat of Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) by a neck for a career high. Coolmore's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild heroine Mother Earth endured a nightmare passage in the straight and was allowed to coast home in the closing stages to finish 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

“I was worried because I could see a bit of interference, but we ended up keeping the race and, to me, that's the main thing,” commented Jessica Harrington. “After the Irish [1000] Guineas, we wanted to go the Group 1 route and we thought we'd go to [Royal] Ascot [for the G1 Coronation S.], but that didn't happen. We then thought we'd go for the [G1] Falmouth S. [at Newmarket] and that didn't happen. We took her to France, but she got very badly interfered with a furlong down and that was a no race for her. We ended up coming here and, thank goodness, we got the result. She's now a Group 1 winner, which is absolutely fantastic. She's a beautifully bred filly, it's lovely for all the O'Callaghans and she'll be a big asset to their stud. Her best form is with a bit of cut, but it's beautiful ground out there with a lovely covering of grass. It's totally fair ground for anyone and, if she can win on it, any horse can win on it.”

No Speak Alexander, who becomes the first top-level winner for her second-crop sire (by Invincible Spirit), is the first foal out of Listed Prix La Fleche victrix Rapacity Alexander (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), herself a full-sister to G1 Hong Kong Sprint victor Peniaphobia (Ire). The April-foaled bay is a half to the twice-placed 2-year-old filly Making Music (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). No Speak Alexander's fourth dam Quiet Harbour (Ire) (Mill Reef) is the dam of Listed Prix Right Royal victrix and stakes producer Cutting Reef (Ire) (Kris {GB}), the stakes-winning Jazz Ballet (Ire) (Jaazeiro) and G3 Premio Ambrosiano placegetter Guest Harbour (Ire) (Be My Guest). Guest Harbour, herself the dam of G1 Gran Premio di Milano hero Benvenue (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), is kin to five stakes winners headed by G1 Coronation Cup hero Quiet Fling (Nijinsky), whose full-sister De Stael produced four black-type winners headed by MGISW GI Matriarch S. heroine Wandesta (GB) (Nashwan).

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
COOLMORE AMERICA 'JUSTIFY' MATRON S.-G1, €300,000, Leopardstown, 9-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:41.98, gd.
1–NO SPEAK ALEXANDER (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Shalaa (Ire)
1st Dam: Rapacity Alexander (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Dandy Man (Ire)
2nd Dam: Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion
3rd Dam: Travel Magic (Ire), by Henbit
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€190,000 RNA Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Charles O'Callaghan, Noel O'Callaghan & Paul O'Callaghan; B-Mount Armstrong Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-1-1, $346,893. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pearls Galore (Fr), 133, f, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pearl Banks (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Paddy Twomey. €60,000.
3–Mother Earth (Ire), 128, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €30,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 25.00, 7.00, 1.20.
Also Ran: Empress Josephine (Ire), Epona Plays (Ire), Champers Elysees (Ire), Acanella (GB), Belle Image (Ire), Pretty Gorgeous (Fr), Dreamloper (Ire), Shale (Ire), Flirting Bridge (Ire), Friendly (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Tarnawa Back With a Bang at Leopardstown

Leading up to Thursday's G3 Grant Thornton Ballyroan S. at Leopardstown, Dermot Weld raised concerns that star distaffer Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal)) may not be as forward as in previous years, but His Highness The Aga Khan's 5-year-old showed little sign of ring-rustiness and plundered the Foxrock card's 12-furlong feature by daylight. The homebred chestnut enjoyed a banner 2020 season, going unbeaten through a four-race campaign which included wins in the G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Sent postward as the heavily backed 1-2 favourite, she was settled several lengths off the pace, with just one rival behind, in seventh until improving to go fifth at halfway. Making smooth headway on the bridle in the straight, Tarnawa cruised to the front approaching the final furlong and lengthened clear in imperious fashion to easily account for the overmatched Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by 6 1/2 lengths. Silence Please, in turn, finished 13 lengths clear of the remainder headed by Hector de Maris (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

“It was her first run back after a long absence and, as you could see, she was carrying a few kilos extra compared to last year,” said trainer Dermot Weld. “I had to be extra careful with her, after the wonderful dry spell that we've had, and my only concern was that I may have left her a little too short. She has not been away to a racetrack and has done all her work at home. I'd love to have got her away about two weeks ago. but it just wasn't possible. She has been training extremely well and has probably strengthened since last year. She just cruised there and I thought she was very impressive. It was always the plan to start here or the [G3] Give Thanks in Cork which she has won the last two years. The forecast was for plenty of rain in Cork so I thought it might be more prudent to come here. It was a very true run race. She is a wonderful mare as she won the Breeders' Cup on firm ground and at Longchamp on heavy.” Looking ahead to targets later in the season, the trainer added, “The [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe] is the plan and the main reason for keeping her in training, while the [G1] Irish Champion probably fits into the programme. The [G1] Prix Vermeille would be a possibility, but the Irish Champion is probably favourite for her next race. This year's crop of horses look outstanding and she has joined an outstanding team of horses to look forward to in the Autumn.”

Tarnawa, half-sister to a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr), is the first of three foals bred from MSW dual G3 Curragh Cup third Tarana (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), herself the leading performer produced by G3 Noblesse S. third Tarakala (Ire) (Dr Fong). Tarakala is the best horse out of Listed Oyster S. second Tarakana (Shahrastani), who in turn is the leading representative of Tarafa (Ire) (Akarad {Fr}). Tarafa is a half-sister to five black-type winners headed by G3 Princess Royal S. victress Tashtiya (Ire) (Shergar {GB}), G3 Prix Messidor victor Tassmoun (Kalamoun {GB}) and Listed Chester S. winner Tarikhana (Ire) (Mouktar {Ire}), who in turn is the dam of G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Tiraaz (Lear Fan). Tarafa is also kin to the dam G1 Phoenix S. heroine Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}).

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
GRANT THORNTON BALLYROAN S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 8-5, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:36.45, yl/sf.
1–TARNAWA (IRE), 133, m, 5, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Tarana (Ire) (MSW & GSP-Ire, $141,525), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tarakala (Ire), by Dr Fong
3rd Dam: Tarakana, by Shahrastani
O-H H Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Colin Keane. €30,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Fr at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Fr & GISW-US, 15-9-2-2, $2,959,177. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Silence Please (Ire), 133, f, 4, Gleneagles (Ire)–Crazy Volume (Ire), by Machiavellian. (27,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Gary Barber & Team Valor International LLC; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €10,000.
3–Hector de Maris (Ire), 126, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Frequential (GB), by Dansili (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 6HF, 13, HF. Odds: 0.50, 6.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Benaud (Ire), Taipan (Fr), Questionare (GB), Seattle Sound (Ire), Effernock Fizz (Ire). Scratched: Layfayette (Ire), Wembley (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Australia’s Point Lonsdale Takes The Tyros

It looked straightforward on paper for Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) ahead of Thursday's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros S. and that was the case as the full-brother to Broome (Ire) justified 1-8 favouritism in Leopardstown's juvenile pointer. Racing in second early after a slightly tardy start, the June 19 Listed Chesham S. winner took control two out and stayed on strongly to register a three-length verdict over Maritime Wings (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). “He got a lead today, which was nice as in his last two races he had to be very forward,” commented Aidan O'Brien, who was registering an eighth consecutive success in this often-informative contest. “He was around a bend for the first time, he loved that ground, put his head down and quickened well. It will be the [G2] Futurity [at The Curragh Aug. 21] and, all being well, then the [G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien] National [at The Curragh Sept. 12]. He is very off-handed and straightforward and he has no problem over seven furlongs, so he won't be stepping up yet. He looks like he'll stay well, but has loads of speed. From the first day we worked him he was exciting–he was so forward and showing so much, which is why he's where he is today.”

Point Lonsdale, who had the third-placed Unconquerable (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) 5 1/2 lengths back on his impressive debut at The Curragh June 2 and 6 1/2 lengths behind in this race, is a more precocious sort than his full-sibling who was making his debut at around this time three years ago. Broome, who lines up in Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S., was runner-up in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at two before winning the G3 Ballysax S. and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and finishing fourth in the G1 Epsom Derby the following season. Back better than ever this term, he has won the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, G2 Mooresbridge S. and G3 Alleged S. and been second in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and G2 Hardwicke S.

The dam Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who also has a yearling filly by Lope de Vega (Ire), was a speedy performer who was successful in the Listed National S. over five furlongs and was third in the G3 Princess Margaret S. over an extra furlong for the Richard Hannon stable. Later second in the GIII Appalachian S. at a mile for the David Carroll barn, she hails from the Hesmonds Stud family of the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Bulaxie (GB) (Bustino {GB}) and the G3 Prix de la Nonette scorer Dust Dancer (GB) (Suave Dancer). Under Bulaxie are the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio scorer Claxon (GB) (Caerleon) and the GIII Hillsborough S. winner and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), with the latter responsible for the dual G3 Curragh Cup scorer Ernest Hemingway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), his listed-winning full-sister South Sea Pearl (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Toulifaut (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Dust Dancer produced Spotlight (GB) (Dr Fong), who took the GII Lake Placid H. before throwing the G3 Bengough S. winner Projection (GB), who shares Acclamation (GB) as a sire with Sweepstake. She is also the third dam of last yer's G1 St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}) and of Tyranny (GB) (Machiavellian) who was responsible for the G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who was second in the G1 Irish Derby and Wilshire Boulevard (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) who captured the G3 Anglesey S.

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TYROS S.-G3, €56,000, Leopardstown, 7-22, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.47, gd.
1–POINT LONSDALE (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng, SW & GSP-US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST GROUP WIN. (575,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerberg; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €30,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 3-3-0-0, $100,376. *Full to Broome (Ire), G1SW-Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSP-Eng, $914,346. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Maritime Wings (Ire), 131, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Celeste de La Mer (Ire), by Zoffany (Ire). (€82,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £58,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Team Valor International LLC; B-Jer Hickey & Aaron Langan (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Unconquerable (Ire), 131, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Rien Ne Vas Plus (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (210,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Atlantic Thoroughbreds; B-Rien Ne Vas Plus Syndicate (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 3, 3HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.13, 8.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Chicago Soldier (Ire), Gabbys Girl (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Caravaggio’s Agartha On Top in the Silver Flash

Joseph O'Brien trainee Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) was winless in four prior outings and went postward for Thursday evening's G3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown as an almost unconsidered 16-1 outsider coming back off a two-length second to the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) tackling this seven-furlong strip at the Foxrock venue earlier in the month. The February-foaled bay had placed behind decent sorts in all races contested to date, including a third to the reopposing G3 Albany S. fourth Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) in a May 30 Navan maiden and a second to subsequent Listed Tipperary S. victrix Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) contesting a June 23 maiden over six furlongs at Naas in her penultimate start. The eventual winner was sharply into stride and soon held sway with a two-length buffer. Allowed a breather rounding the home turn, she was asked to stretch passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out inside the final furlong to shed maiden status in style, becoming the second black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy). Agartha hit the line with 2 3/4 lengths to spare from Juncture (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), with a half-length back to Seisai (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in third.

“We've always had a very high opinion of her, she's done nothing but improve with each run and she's been running very well,” said winning trainer Joseph O'Brien. “Today we said we'd let her bowl along and she loved it. Maybe we were restricting her a bit much before and letting her bowl along today allowed her to get into a great rhythm. She galloped, they didn't let her go and they followed her along all the way. She's a good filly and I'd say she'll go further too. The dam won a mile-and-six [furlong] Listed race so she could certainly go a mile at two anyway. We'll probably head for the [G2] Debutante with her now.”

Agartha, half-sister to a yearling colt by Churchill (Ire), is the first of two foals produced by Listed Stanerra S. victrix and G3 Irish St Leger Trial third Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). Arya Tara is the leading performer out of a winning half-sister to G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Astarabad (alleged) and Listed Trigo S. victrix Asmara (Lear Fan). Descendants of the latter include MG1SW sire Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift), MG1SW Australian champion The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and G1SP G2 Futurity S.-winning sire Arazan (Ire) (Anabaa).

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
FRANK CONROY SILVER FLASH S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 7-22, 2yo, f, 7f 20yT, 1:29.55, gd.
1–AGARTHA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Arya Tara (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Anadiyla (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 5-1-2-2, $46,218. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Juncture (GB), 128, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Occurrence (GB), by Frankel (GB). O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €10,000.
3–Seisai (Ire), 128, f, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Lillebonne (Fr), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€40,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £78,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; B-Peter Henley, John Connolly & Pattern Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 16.00, 2.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Prettiest, Sablonne (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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