Lezoo Takes The Lead At Tattersalls When Selling for 2.2m Gns To Narvick International

Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) (lot 1776), who won the G1 Cheveley Park S., was knocked down to Narvick International for 2.2 million gns at Tattersalls on Tuesday and could race on. Consigned by Kimpton Down Stables, the current sale topper also won the G3 Princess Margaret S. and is out of the Group 3 winner Roger Sez (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}). The Chasemore Farm-bred was a 77,000gns Tattersalls Book 3 yearling turned €110,000 Arqana Breeze-Up grad by Atlas Bloodstock.

 

 

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“Real Quality” On Offer At Tattersalls December Mares Sale

A quintet of Group 1-winning race fillies anchor the 1,062-strong Tattersalls December Mares Sale from Dec. 4-7, headlined by the Sceptre Sessions on Monday, Dec. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Inaugurated last year, the Sceptre Sessions feature 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) (1433); Pretty Polly S. victress Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 1788); top-level winners Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) (lot 1776) and Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 1811), both trained by Ralph Beckett; and South African Grade 1 winner Vernichey (SAf) (Vercingetorix {SAf}) (lot 1802). Prix Vermeille winner Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 1786), who is in foal to champion sire Frankel (GB), will also go through the ring.

The sale features 33 group and listed-winning race fillies that will be offered across the two Sceptre Sessions. There are also numerous top-class mares carrying their first foals like Group 3 winner Nazanin (Declaratio Of War) (lot 1810) in foal to Frankel (GB). Other lots of note include Cruella De Vill (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1540) who is a half-sister to star broodmare Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}); Galileo Gal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1789), herself a half-sister to three Classic/Group 1 winners among them Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) carrying to New Bay (GB); and a sextet of Group/Grade 1 producers led by Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1823), the dam of Via Sistina, who is in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB).

Large consignments from some of the top owner/breeders are also the order of the sale, with Godolphin's Group 1 winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer) (lot 1398), pregnant to Teofilo (Ire), part of their 46-strong draft. A total of 29 fillies and mares will be offered by Juddmonte, among them the listed-placed Radiator (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1511), who is a daughter of Grade I winner Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert) and a half-sister to top-level winner Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in foal to Nathaniel (Ire). A select consignment of eight from Shadwell is highlighted by a full-sister to star filly Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Taqaareed (Ire) (lot 1638), in foal to Pinatubo (Ire). The Castlebridge Consignment will send 105 lots to Park Paddocks for the sale, including Podium (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1727), a full-sister to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Peaceful (Ire) in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB). Barton Sales' 65 lots include a Shamardal half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 1379), Hidden Gem (GB), in foal to State Of Rest (Ire).

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Sale were introduced last year to widespread international acclaim and made an immediate impact. This year's Sceptre Sessions look set to follow suit with an outstanding array of Classic and Group 1 winning fillies and producers amongst some of the finest fillies and mares to be offered for sale anywhere in the world.

“In addition to the extraordinary quality showcased in the Sceptre Sessions the Tattersalls December Mares Sale features consignments of real quality from so many of Europe's leading owner/breeders including the much sought after drafts from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates all of which combine to enhance the reputation of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale as the most influential breeding stock sale in Europe.”

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York: “Hopefully We’ll See the Nostrum We Saw At Newmarket Again.” Saturday Bonanza Begins with Juddmonte’s Rising Star

Saturday's European black-type count stands at a baker's dozen, with eight group races in Britain and Ireland alone featuring several movers and shakers towards the elite level kicking off with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in York's G3 Strensall S. and culminating five hours later with the fellow Sir Michael Stoute-trained Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) in the G3 Weatherbys Global Stallions Winter Hill S. at Windsor.

Nostrum was surprisingly beaten by fellow TDN Rising Star Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Goodwood's G3 Thoroughbred S. last time, but is back on quick ground in this contest over what could prove an ideal trip of nearly nine furlongs so it is a case of game on again. His previous performance when upstaging some smart peers including the subsequent G3 Sovereign S. dead-heater Embesto (GB) (Roaring Lion) and G2 Hungerford S. runner-up New Endeavour (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in Newmarket's Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. stands up as one of the key pieces of mile form this year and connections retain full faith.

“We all called it wrong, we thought he'd have liked the ground the last day as he's a big horse and he bends his knee a bit,” Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said. “We were all wrong and Ryan just felt that he couldn't pull himself out of it, it was gluey. There was the factor too that he'd been off the track for so long, there may have been a bounce on his second start–we don't know but he's training well and we're looking forward to seeing him. We think he'll have come forward for the run and we're looking forward to getting him back on a better surface and a more conventional track. Hopefully we'll see the Nostrum we saw at Newmarket again.”

Epictetus Poised For Celebration…
Less than an hour after Nostrum graces York's Knavesmire, the Gosdens send Epictetus back to Goodwood for the G2 Celebration Mile as he builds towards the major autumn tests. With the G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Sussex S. third Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in attendance, this will provide a gauge as to where George Strawbridge's son of Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk) is among the leading milers. “He's stepping up in grade again on Saturday, but the drop down to a mile has suited him well and he's been in good order since his last run,” Thady Gosden said. “I don't think he necessarily needs soft ground–he's relatively versatile as regards to it.”

Prestige Contests Continue Thick And Fast…
In between these two contests, there is the G3 Prestige Fillies' S. for 2-year-old fillies at Goodwood where Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) gets the chance to atone for a disappointing effort in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. with Newtown Anner Stud Farm's 10-length Thirsk novice winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in opposition. Back at York minutes later, the £500,000 G2 City of York S. features Marc Chan's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint S.-winning TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who is just about the best there is at this seven-furlong trip.

“It's amazing that York can put up that much prize-money for a group two race,” Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said. “They deserve the race to get upgraded to a group one when they can come up with that sort of money. He certainly doesn't owe us anything right now, but as Frankie says, he's like an ATM machine so let's hope that will continue.”

On a big day for Chan, last year's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) enjoys a class drop in Newmarket's Listed Hopeful S. after her break since flopping in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. This is also the farewell ride for Andrea Atzeni, who departs for Hong Kong after the meeting. “Andrea is a great guy and the way he's ridden over the last couple of months is as well as he's ever ridden,” McCalmont added. “This is a good stepping stone back, she loves the course, we get her ground and she's fine over the distance, so fingers crossed.”

Best Of The Rest…
As the afternoon action winds down in Britain, The Curragh gets going with the G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S. over a mile hosting some big middle-distance Classic prospects for 2023. When it comes to these kind of juvenile tests, there is always added intrigue where The Aga Khan's representatives are concerned and so the Dermot Weld-trained Tipperary maiden scorer Shelaka (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) will have plenty of eyes on her. The card also features another significant prize for the juveniles in the six-furlong G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower S., while the fillies and mares get their shot in the nine-furlong G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S.

Elsewhere, York's Listed Julia Graves Roses S. features Opulence Thoroughbreds and Teme Valley's TDN Rising Star and G3 Molecomb S. runner-up Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}), while another TDN Rising Star lines up in Windsor's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions August S. over an extended 11 furlongs. That is Anthony Oppenheimer's Kempton novice winner Lion's Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion), who holds an entry in the G1 St Leger and while this is an unorthodox prep for that Classic, the half-brother to Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) could yet become a leading light for Doncaster.

 

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Royal Ascot: Irish Kingpins Dominate The Features

Royal Ascot Friday sees the Irish contingent to the fore as TDN Rising Stars Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) exercise iron grips on the feature G1 Coronation S. and G1 Commonwealth Cup respectively. While the former flashed her considerable talent just twice as a juvenile, Ballydoyle's champion of 2022 domineered his way through three important black-type tests before injury halted his momentum. Now the winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, Tahiyra comfortably has the measure of chief rival Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) so far in her career but if there is one thing Dermot Weld will know about beating Ballydoyle is that you have to do it again and again and maintain your level.

Little Big Bear, who became the latest in a line of his stable's big guns to miss a beat in the 2000 Guineas, may actually get a mile in time but while he is so comfortable at these sprint trips and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is around it is a case of back to basics. As he sauntered back to winning ways in the G2 Sandy Lane S., it was as if that dull day at Newmarket where his brilliance was diminished never happened. Intriguingly, it was an experience shared with his key opponent and fellow TDN Rising Star Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who also struggled to cope with his speed edge bludgeoned by conditions on the Rowley Mile.

Sakheer's trainer Roger Varian was giving off all the right vibes on Thursday. “He looks like he could still be a high-class colt, we certainly believe he can be, and we're looking forward to Friday,” he said. “He had an easy time after the Guineas and we were always going to come to Ascot, but he's built up over the last few weeks into this race nicely, his work has been on point, he's been really well and we're hopeful.”

Newmarket woes also apply to the case of Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who was among the backwash in the 1000 Guineas and now gravitates back to her comfort zone. She has to improve even off her G1 Cheveley Park S. win, which puts her on a virtual par with the now-retired Middle Park hero Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) who was always a few pounds adrift of Ballydoyle's champion last term. She and Sakheer are joined by the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning TDN Rising Star Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), so disappointing behind the revelation Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in Newbury's Listed Carnarvon S. last time, in having a lot to find with an elite Little Big Bear but this is Royal Ascot where certainties have a way of unravelling.

The Gosdens showed on Wednesday and Thursday that they are never to be left out of the group 1 equation and despite her obvious experience deficit, Normandie Stud's TDN Rising Star Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) goes into the Coronation which her dam Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won in 2012 as very much a live contender. It's not just about pedigree with her, however, as her performance when narrowly denied by Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}) with the run of the race favouring that Jessie Harrington raider in York's Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. confirmed her as a major talent.

“She is the least experienced in the field, but improved when upped in class at York and has taken that in her stride,” Thady said. “This is another major step up, but we feel she has every right to take her chance.” Kate Harrington added of Sounds Of Heaven, “She is lovely filly and a very underestimated filly who only does as much as she has to. She has a great mind and I think Ascot will really suit her. We're hopeful of a big, big run.”

In the opening G3 Albany S., the Crisfords' impressive Doncaster maiden winner Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will have an abundance of followers now that the time performance of that defeat of the subsequent 11-length-winning TDN Rising Star Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) is known. Lezoo's half-sister Navassa Island (Ire) (Territories {Ire}), now the property of Ecurie Ama Zingteam, also wowed with her sectionals despite going down to the re-opposing Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) on a spectacular debut in Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S.

TDN Rising Stars Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Persian Dreamer (Calyx {GB}) are just two more in the mix in the Albany, which for the past three years has featured the following season's 1000 Guineas heroine in the beaten trio Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Interestingly, the Newmarket maiden taken by Mawj and Cachet prior to meeting their match here was won last month by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Jabaara (Ire), another daughter of Exceed And Excel with big hopes attached. “She will like the fast ground if it stays that way and six furlongs looks her trip for the moment,” Varian said. “She's an exciting filly, I think.”

Amo Racing broke their duck at the Royal meeting on Thursday and the racing and operations manager Tom Pennington is excited about their representative here. “I haven't lost any faith in Persian Dreamer, she was very impressive on debut,” he said. “The sharp five furlongs on quick ground at York in the Marygate has probably played against her and she didn't let herself down. She's a big, strong filly and just didn't enjoy the ground.”

In the day's other pattern race, the presence of Amo Racing's Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has ensured a small line-up, with a trio of Derby disappointments engaged headed by Juddmonte's Arrest (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Jeff Smith's Artistic Star (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Roger Varian is keen to come back quickly from the Blue Riband, the form of which received a major boost with the win of Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}) here on Thursday. “He has looked great from the day he got back from Epsom and is in good form,” he said. “He looked very good in defeat and that bodes well for this week, the rest of the season and beyond hopefully. These races are not easy to win, but he looks like a horse who will take us to the big spots and we look forward to Friday.”

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