In America, the other Mutasaabeq of the same vintage was bought by Shadwell for $425,000 and is by Into Mischief. Winner of the GII Bourbon S. and placed in the GI Hopeful S., he is about to embark on his first season at stud at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida. 

But let's return to Shadwell's homebred Mutasaabeq (GB). His seven wins, including three Group 2s, from 17 starts tell of an honourable racing career for Charlie Hills. Not one at the absolute highest echelon, but admirable and consistent nonetheless, conducted over four seasons, during which he showed a distinctive love of Newmarket's Rowley Mile. Perhaps that was ingrained in his DNA, because Mutasaabeq is out of the record-breaking 1,000 Guineas winner Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway). Her half-sister Rumoush (Rahy) won the Listed Feilden S. at the track before running third in the Oaks, and half-brother Mawatheeq (Danzig) was beaten only half a length by Twice Over (GB) in the G1 Champion S. when it was still run at its rightful home of Newmarket.

It doesn't stop there, of course, because this is Shadwell's signature family, which blossomed for Sheikh Hamdan after his purchase of Ghanaati's granddam Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}) from the late Queen more than 40 years ago. 

Height Of Fashion's celebrated offspring include the stallions Nashwan, Unfuwain and Nayef, as well as Ghanaati's dam Sarayir (Mr Prospector), who also had a fondness for the Rowley Mile, where she won the Oh So Sharp S. Go back another generation from the multiple group winner Height Of Fashion and you find another 1,000 Guineas winner, Queen Elizabeth II's Highclere (GB) (Queen's Hussar {GB}). There is yet another one, King George VI's Hypericum (GB) (Hyperion {GB}), two generations back again. 

Recent recruits to the global stallions ranks who share this family are the brothers Baaeed (GB) and Hukum (Ire). In short, Mutasaabeq is regally bred in every sense of the word.

“Mutasaabeq was raced by Shadwell, so we're very grateful to Sheikha Hissa to be able to have the opportunity to purchase a horse of his calibre,” says the National Stud's head of bloodstock Joe Bradley. “He was incredibly well performed, has a sensational pedigree, and for us, placing him at the right price point was was key to everything.”

That price is £6,500, and Mutasaabeq joins the stud at a time when expectations are high. Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), who had 40 of first foals sell for an average just shy of £22,000, roughly two and a half times his fee, has his first yearlings on show next year, while the first foals of Stradivarius (Ire) will start to appear from next month.

Mutasaabeq, who is rising six, did all of his racing between 7f and 8.5f, winning his only start at two – at Newmarket, where else? – and then landing a conditions race on his three-year-old debut before bouncing straight into the 2,000 Guineas, in which he finished midfield. His four-year-old season was speckled with group placings until he landed the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Joel S., a race he returned to win this year for the second time, having kicked off his final season in training with victory over Goldolphin's Classic winner Native Trail (GB) in the G2 Bet365 Mile.

Bradley says, “I think his record really speaks volumes for the horse. Invincible Spirit is such a sensational stallion that gets plenty of two-year-old winners. But really, I think if you look at profiles of his progeny, they always train on and that's vital to what we're doing here, and to the industry as a whole, to have that longevity. “He was a two-year-old winner who really came to the fore as an older horse. At four in the Joel Stakes, he made all that day, which became a trend in his races this year. On a seasonal debut in the Bet365 Mile Group, he beat Group 1 performers that day by three lengths. That was a sensational performance, if you look back on it. 

“And to be able to finish his racing career with a group victory is something that that really stood out to us. His highest rating this year is 120, so he's really proved that he's one of the best colts of his generation.”

The National Studs of England and Ireland are both more than just stallion and boarding farms. Both are centres of excellence when it comes to providing tailored education for those wanting to work in the bloodstock industry. In Newmarket, the training courses have been reimagined of late in order to adapt to changing working practices.  That includes a shift in the calendar for the 'Level 3' Stud Management and Sales Consigning course, which takes place over 26 weeks.

Anna Kerr, the chief executive officer of the National Stud, explains, “One of the biggest shifts in the last 18 to 24 months has been that we are consciously trying to make the education programme more flexible for people, because we are living in a world where there is a requirement to be more flexible. Previously our diploma students were leaving in June and would be going straight to the yearling prep and quite a few of them wouldn't have had done yearling prep before coming to us, which is quite a crucial part of the handling. So we moved the start date of the course forward to mid-September and it now runs to mid-April. The students come in, their learning curve is quite steep, but we always see that when students immerse themselves in the environment, they learn so quickly.”

She continues, “They all did paid work placements at the yearling sales or foal sales this year. Some employers were a bit nervous initially, but once they saw the calibre and the the standard that they were bringing, they were in very high demand then for December. A couple of them got offers to go to Goffs as well.

“The feedback has been really positive. When the students come in, they're not just mucking out for six months, they're immersed in that whole excitement of the sales season and seeing what the end product is and then going on and really having their skills honed during the breeding season. We're really pleased with how it's going thus far.”

There is even greater flexibility in the eight-week 'Level 2' Entry to Stud Employment Course, run in conjunction with the TBA, and after which students are guaranteed a paid placement with a stud over six to nine months.

“With Level 2, there isn't a dedicated start date for that in the same way that there was previously,” says Kerr. “So people can come in to that course any time. Again, that's working well. It's just so that if someone comes to us and wants to enrol in something you're not saying, 'Okay, that's great, come back to us in October.' You're actually saying, 'Yeah, you can start tomorrow.' We can get them in and get them going quite quickly.

“They work alongside the stud team, and there'll always be about three or four students at a time. When we had big groups of 15 to 20 coming through the attrition rate was high, but once you can get them through the training, the retention is very solid within industry. It's about 81% retention for the last five years of our graduates.”

She adds, “And all the qualifications are deliverable in the workplace. If there are employers who want to upskill their workforce, they can register with us and the training can be delivered in the workplace so they don't have to lose their staff to a residential course.

“We need people and we need to develop the workplace culture so that they're being looked after in the right way.”

Another new venture for the National Stud, or rather a return to previous ways, is its investment in a select number of broodmares. 

“We want to be supporting our own stallions,”says Kerr, who recently bought the Le Havre (Ire) mare Sacred Valley (Fr) for the National Stud at Goffs for €52,000.

“We feel that we not only need to support our stallions, but we also need to be British breeders. They're not only our customers, but also our community. And with the number of British breeders contracting, we think it's ever more important that the National Stud is helping. We need active breeders.

“Last year we bought four and a half new mares, one in partnership with MyRacehorse.com. Our plan is just that each year we would buy at least one mare to support our stallions. Sacred Valley is in foal to Saxon Warrior and she'll be going to Mutasaabeq.”

The aforementioned mare owned in partnership with MyRacehorse is Blackbird Power (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is one of the 120 mares in the first book of Stradivarius. 

“She's carrying a colt and she's due reasonably early. We should have three Stradivarius foals at the stud so we're extremely excited by that,” Kerr notes. 

The collective excitement building up to Blackbird Power's first foal is likely to be greater than any other imminent arrival in the country as there are 1,000 micro shareholders involved in the mare.

“The last Saturday of every month we have a My Racehorse tour. Joe does them and he loves it,” says Kerr.

Joe is likely to be very busy indeed when 1,000 owners are clamouring to see the mare's Stradivarius foal in January, but what a fantastic way to spread the excitement of breeding racehorses. 

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He joins Time Test (GB), whose fee is unchanged at £15,000, while Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) will also remain at his fee of £8,500 as he embarks on his second season at stud.

Rajasinghe (Ire), who has a strike-rate of 67% winners to runners from his first crop of juveniles this year, is also unchanged at £3,000.

“Time Test has had a steady stream of high-quality winners throughout the year, his biggest and best quality books are still to come and we are very excited about what the future for him,” said the National Stud's head of bloodstock Joe Bradley.

“Lope Y Fernandez was very well received by breeders covering a stellar first book of 134 mares in his first season. As the only son of Lope De Vega standing in the UK, he provides access to one of the best international sire lines at a very attractive price. The partnership involved has such faith in the horse and we are now very excited to see his first foals in 2023.”

He added, “It is a privilege to welcome Stradivarius to The National Stud's roster for 2023. His exhilarating turn of foot, soundness and will to win all combined to make him a true icon of the modern racing era.”

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Time Test, who was himself a dual Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed, sired black-type winners at a rate of 9.3% last year. He stands at The National Stud for £15,000. He stood for £8,500 his first four seasons.

Ross Doyle said, “He's a young sire going places, by a top sire in Dubawi out of a well-bred Dansili mare, which we love. It sounds like he's got a serious book of mares lined up for this season on the back of his stats and the physicals of his foals and yearlings on show at the recent sales. The team at the National Stud continue to do a great job with him. We have bought it for a client who will support him with a very nice mare.”

A breeding right to Time Test's National Stud barnmate Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), who enters stud in 2022, was sold to Dwayne Woods of Brook Stud for 24,000gns. The Lope Y Fernandez breeding right entitles the owner to one mare per year, plus an additional mare in 2023, 2024 or 2025.

“I had the pleasure of seeing Lope Y Fernandez recently and thought he had let down into a lovely stallion,” said Woods. “He is a great walker and lovely type and an exciting young stallion, and Brook Stud are looking forward to supporting him.”

A breeding right to A'Ali (Ire), who enters stud next year at Newsells Park Stud, was sold to Laurence Gleeson of Aughamore Stud for 22,000gns. It entitles the owner to breed one mare per year plus an additional mare each year from 2022 through 2025.

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That's small fry for a stallion, of course, and the horse who has carried his name with such distinction, both on the racecourse and at stud, could well end up with at least that many sons following him to stud. So far, in Ireland, he is represented by Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) and Lucky Vega (Ire), who has joined the former at the Irish National Stud this season, as well as Darley's Belardo (Ire), the stand-out member of his sire's first crop. In Newmarket, the National Stud has welcomed its own son of Lope De Vega (Ire) in Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), who drew plenty of praise when shown to the public during last year's December Sales. 

In fact, it is fair to say that Lope Y Fernandez had his fair share of admirers almost from the start, for he commanded a price of €900,000 as a yearling when offered by Ballylinch Stud on behalf of breeder SF Bloodstock at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. MV Magnier was the buyer, and off the handsome dark brown colt went back to Ireland to join the bluebloods at Ballydoyle. 

An easy-moving sort himself, Lope De Vega does appear to pass on this swagger to his offspring, and it was this aspect of Lope Y Fernandez, as he prowled about the National Stud's stallion unit, that had visitors talking during the early viewing rounds. 

“He does just does stand out from the crowd, and he's an amazing-looking horse,” says Jamie Jackson, who is himself also in a new role, if not completely new, at the National Stud. Previously assistant to Joe Callan, who has taken up the position of interim general manager at Market Rasen racecourse, Jackson has recently been appointed nominations manager, and his job is being made a little easier when it comes to selling the stud's new recruit. 

“He's got an exceptional walk,” Jackson continues as he watches the dark brown stallion take a turn alongside his handler Luke Strong. “He's just such a well-balanced horse; he's an oil painting.”

A winner on debut at two, Lope Y Fernandez was then placed second and third behind Pinatubo (Ire) in his next two starts in the Chesham S. at Royal Ascot and G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood. The Vintage S. had been won the previous year by his half-brother Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead), and their dam, the five-time winner and listed-placed Black Dahlia (GB) (Dansili {GB}), has also produced the stakes-placed Al Hayyah (Ire), a full-brother to Lope Y Fernandez. 

The latter, who landed his own group honours in the G3 Round Tower S. as a juvenile, went on to a 3-year-old campaign which can perhaps be described as frustratingly consistent, with four Group/Grade 1 placings in the Irish 2000 Guineas, Prix Jean Prat, Prix Maurice de Gheest, and Breeders' Cup Mile. At four he returned to win the Listed Heritage S. and was second again at the highest level behind Palace Pier (GB) in the Queen Anne S.

Lope Y Fernandez demonstrated a good deal of speed and, encouragingly, for those breeders who still like to see hardiness demonstrated on the racecourse, his dam ran 42 times, while her dam, South Rock (GB), was also a multiple winner, including at listed level, and is by the similarly hardly Rock City (GB), whose name is not seen too often in pedigrees these days but won the G2 Gimcrack S. among his five group wins for Richard Hannon Sr.

Now embarking on his first season at stud, Lope Y Fernandez has an interesting four-strong syndicate behind him, with Coolmore retaining an interest, and the National Stud teaming up with Whitsbury Manor Stud and successful racing syndicator and breeder Nick Bradley to complete his diverse ownership group. 

Jackson continues, “We were looking for a new stallion off the back of a good season with Time Test (GB) and Aclaim (Ire). We need to keep the ball rolling, and obviously ride the waves. We had Lope Y Fernandez on our radar for a good while, and obviously Ed Harper had the same idea at Whitsbury Manor. We managed to acquire him together and it's great that Coolmore kept an interest, and Nick Bradley also got involved through Ed.”

He adds, “For us to compete and be involved with the game against all the competitors we have, I think it's a great idea moving forward and something we'd love to explore more. It's a great initiative and it gives him every chance to be successful and be very well supported with good mares.”

The stallion career of Lope Y Fernandez is to be structured in the same way as Time Test, who sired four stakes winners from his first crop of runners in 2021 and was one of the most sought-after young stallions at last year's sales. His book is already full, and the team at the National Stud has also been fielding plenty of interest in Lope Y Fernandez. 

“We've released 40 breeding rights for him and they have been very popular,” Jackson notes. “We've had some very good mares pencilled in already, with a half-sister to Showcasing (GB), a full-sister to the Tin Man (GB), and a half to Kodi Bear (Ire).”

Jackson, 25, already has a good relationship with Whitsbury Manor Stud, where he started working five years ago before completing the BHA Graduate Scheme.

“I had no horse-handling experience,” he recalls. “I just thought I'd go there for a summer and then off the back of that thought, 'this is exactly what I want to do'. I applied for the grad scheme and very luckily got placed here at the National Stud for eight weeks. Now, two and a half years later, I'm still here. I've seen the Time Test and Aclaim foals come all the way through to be successful racehorses. They have every chance to be 3-year-olds as well.

“The stud at the moment is on a massive upward trajectory. Time Test had an amazing season and is looking to cover his biggest and best book ever with some dams of Classic winners, and Classic winners themselves, which is unbelievable. Aclaim was one of the leading first-seasåon sires, the first foals of Advertise (GB) were very well received and have gone to some good homes. Rajasinghe (Ire) will have his first 2-year-olds and he will have every chance. He was a fantastic son of Choisir (Aus) and won the Coventry in record time.”

Clearly, confidence abounds at the National Stud, which welcomed a new chairman, Lord Grimthorpe, at the end of last year, and has, in the Juddmonte-bred Time Test, an in-demand stallion who links Grimthorpe to his predecessor, the late Duke of Roxburghe, who was insistent that the farm should stand the Juddmonte-bred son of Dubawi (Ire). The National Stud stallion unit is now named in the duke's memory, and there could be no more fitting a tribute to the passionate owner-breeder than if at least one of the current young incumbents could rise to the ranks of the elite.

For those breeders who missed the chance to see Lope Y Fernandez in December, he will be on one of 12 stallions on show at Tattersalls for the TBA Stallion Parade just ahead of the February Sale on on Thursday, Feb. 3.

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Jackson gained work experience at Whitsbury Manor Stud and New England Stud before joining the BHA graduate programme, during which he was placed at the National Stud for eight weeks, after which he stayed on. Jackson takes over from Joe Callan, who remains within The Jockey Club has interim general manager of Market Rasen Racecourse.

The National Stud's Stud Director Tim Lane said, “Jamie came to us in July 2019 and showed real potential and determination. He has been a brilliant asset to the team and has grown and progressed exceptionally over the last two years. He has built a good client-base here and has been a huge part of the progress the stud has made”

Jackson added, “It's a really exciting time here at the stud, and I am very lucky to be in the position I'm in. Having seen Time Test and Aclaim foals through the summer and in the sales ring when I first started, to now being successful racehorses, has been amazing. The stallion roster is at its highest standard it has been for quite some time, and Tim and I [and co] hope to further evolve it over the coming years.

“Personally, I am very excited to launch Lope Y Fernandez for the 2022 breeding season. He is a hugely exciting horse to be the only son of Lope De Vega standing in England. Also, I feel very lucky to be working alongside Ed Harper, who helped kick-start my career at Whitsbury Manor Stud.”

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Bred by SF Bloodstock, Lope Y Fernandez was bought by MV Magnier for €900,000 at Arqana's August Yearling Sale in 2018. A debut winner at The Curragh in June of his 2-year-old campaign, Lope Y Fernandez finished second and third, respectively, behind Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Listed Chesham S. the G2 Vintage S. before returning to The Curragh to take the G3 Round Tower S. Third in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, Lope Y Fernandez would go on to place in the G1 Prix Jean Prat, G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and GI Breeders' Cup Mile at three. He won the Listed Heritage S. this year at four and picked up another top-level placing when second to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S.

“Lope Y Fernandez was a lovely, easy moving horse with loads of speed,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He was probably very comfortable with anything from six furlongs to one mile. He's a great mover, has a great walk and a lovely mind.”

Out of the listed-placed Black Dahlia, Lope Y Fernandez is a half-brother to the G2 Vintage S. and G2 Kronimus Oettingen Rennen scorer Dark Vision (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

Tim Lane, managing director of The National Stud, said, “Lope Y Fernandez is a hugely exciting addition to our stallion roster at The National Stud. He is an exceptionally good-looking individual and has a standout pedigree. I am a big fan of Lope De Vega and we are delighted to be standing his first son in the UK.”

Lope Y Fernandez's fee will be announced at a later date, and a limited number of breeding rights will be available.

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The 5-year-old, a close fifth to Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in last year's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October, has run well without greeting the judge in two starts this term, a runner-up effort to Summerghand (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket Apr. 15 and a third behind Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G2 Clipper Logistics S. when last seen at York May 12.

Trainer Brendan Walsh has engaged Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid), winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 27, while trainer Wesley Ward could also be represented by 3-year-old filly Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), winner of the G2 Queen Mary S. at the Royal meeting and the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville. Aidan O'Brien has entered a trio of runners–Battleground (War Front), Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

The six-furlong July Cup forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

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Fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) has no problem with an easier surface and now that connections have decided to stick to a mile he is at a trip that he remains relatively unexposed at. Placed in the G1 Prix Jean Prat and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over shorter last summer, he had just two tries at this distance in 2020 and was third in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh and in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at the start and end of his season. The manner of his comeback win in Leopardstown's Listed Heritage S. Apr. 14 suggested he had potential to improve again this term and it could be that he is only now beginning to fulfil his potential.

“The Irish Guineas was a messy race and it didn't really tell us if he was a sprinter or a miler. After that we messed around with him a bit, but in all fairness he took it well,” Aidan O'Brien explained. “At the end of it all, we decided this horse was a miler. His last run at the Breeders' Cup was good and we decided we'd get him ready for this race. He's done very well physically and mentally and has settled down.”

Two interesting improvers who have met before are Saeed Manana's Top Rank (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Sunderland Holding's My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the former getting the better of his peer in the G3 Superior Mile on soft ground at Haydock in September. The James Tate-trained Top Rank defied a subsequent penalty when staging a successful return in the Mar.  27 Listed Doncaster Mile, while My Oberon struck for the William Haggas stable in the nine-furlong G3 Earl of Sefton S. at Newmarket Apr. 14. James Tate said of Top Rank, “He may be five, but has not been over-raced. I'm very hopeful this season will be his peak season, so it seems like the right one to be having a go at the Lockinge. He's in good form, so we'll have a go.”

William Haggas is happy that My Oberon has the right progressive profile for the race and commented, “He seems fine. I was going to run him in the Prix d'Ispahan, but it's complicated so we're going for the Lockinge. I'm not sure he'll enjoy the ground much but nothing ventured, nothing gained. He's definitely improved. It was a good run first time out–he beat a couple of solid yardsticks. Hopefully he'll show a bit more improvement.” Another lurker is Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), whose defeat of Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G2 Dahlia S. over an extra furlong at Newmarket May 2 looks all the better after the runner-up's subsequent romp at York on Thursday.

At Newmarket, 'TDN Rising Star' John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) tests his Derby credentials in the 10-furlong Listed Betway Fairway S. where he meets the solid yardstick and G3 Chester Vase third Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}). Successful by four lengths in a Newcastle novice over this trip Apr. 30, the son of Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) is the one colt left in the fray for the blue riband who has a potential x-factor. “We thought long and hard about running him in the Dante,” trainer Ed Dunlop said. “It was a serious option, but a key factor was that we got two extra days since his last run by going to Newmarket. This is a lightly-raced horse coming out of novice company, so after looking at the options and discussing it with Mrs Patino we decided upon the Fairway S. We've also had plenty of rain here, so it's beautiful ground. It should be on the easy side of good this weekend. We think an awful lot of him. If he proves not to be good enough, there's the [G2] King Edward VII S. and other races to go for.”

Back at Newbury, the G3 Al Rayyan S.–which is registered as the Aston Park–sees Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) bid to defy a three-pound penalty for his return success in the course-and-distance G3 John Porter S. This easier ground will suit better and he has a distinct fitness edge over Juddmonte's 2019 G1 St Leger hero Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who lost his unbeaten record when last of four on soft ground in York's G3 Cumberland Lodge S. in October. “Al Aasy ran very well at Newbury first time out, and William [Haggas] has been happy with him since,” Angus Gold said. “We will see how he gets on this weekend at Newbury and take it from there, but William had planned to go to the [June 4 G1] Coronation Cup.” Teddy Grimthorpe said of Logician, “We're still a bit mystified why he ran so poorly at York on his last start in the Cumberland Lodge. He checked out fine and has had a straightforward winter. I think older horses always tend to take a little bit longer to come to hand, especially a horse who has had time off. With each of his works, he's improved. He obviously had that severe peritonitis over the winter of 2019-20 and that is serious. We've always had faith in him and Prince Khalid and the family were excited about him and wanted to give him every chance. We know he's got that talent and he's in the right hands.”

Oaks clues are available in the 10-furlong Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S., where Sunderland Holding's Sea Empress (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) makes her eagerly-awaited return to action having beaten the subsequent G3 Musidora S. third Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on her sole start at Newcastle in October. Other Classic pointers could be in evidence in Navan's feature 13-furlong Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats S., where Ballydoyle's Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bids to build on his success in a 10-furlong Curragh maiden Apr. 17. He will be tested by John Kalmanson's Ger Lyons-trained filly Party House (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who created a striking impression when successful on debut over 10 furlongs at Naas Apr. 26.

Classic Doubles On The Line in Paris

Friday saw the draws made for Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Pouliches, with the former Classic seeing Jim Bolger's G1 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) handed a favourable stall four alongside the Apr. 18 G3 Prix de Fontainebleau winner Policy of Truth (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in five and the G1 Dewhurst S. winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in six with Aidan O'Brien booking Ioritz Mendizabal for the ride. In the Pouliches, the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is like her compatriot Poetic Flare in stall four with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle while Godolphin's Apr. 6 G3 Prix Penelope winner Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is in six. Less fortunate is Doreen Tabor's G2 Lowther S. winner and G1 Cheveley Park S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf-placed Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}).

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Earlier this week it was announced that Christophe Soumillon would not be able to ride at the Breeders' Cup due to testing positive twice for COVID-19, and Boudot picked up the mount in the Mile aboard Coolmore's Order of Australia for trainer Aidan O'Brien. The 3-year-old son of Australia was listed at 30-1 on the morning line and hadn't made the main body of the field; he only drew in when One Master scratched from the race.

O'Brien had three horses in the race and the finished one-two-three, though it was the longest shot on the board at 73-1 who topped the trifecta. Order of Australia defeated his stablemates Circus Maximus and Lope Y Fernandez by a neck and by a length, respectively. He completed the mile over Keeneland's “good” turf course in 1:33.73.

Boudot won his first Breeders' Cup race with another pick up mount earlier on the card, with Audarya in the Filly & Mare Turf, and was delighted to win his second just a couple races later.

“It's just unbelievable,” Boudot said. “It's just a dream come true for me.”

Order of Australia was sharp at the break, and Boudot made the most of his outside post position by getting a clear run on the outside from fourth position. Circus Maximus was at the rail in fifth, while Lope Y Fernandez was further back in the field.

Up front, Halladay set unhindered fractions of :23.48 and :46.97 while a length clear of Factor This and Kameko. Halladay still held the lead turning into the straight, but Order of Australia had moved up to be in a three-way battle for second, essentially trapping Circus Maximus on the rail for almost a sixteenth of a mile.

By the time Ryan Moore got Circus Maximus angled out, Boudot and Order of Australia were already in gear and running down the frontrunner. At the finish, Order of Australia was a neck ahead of the stronger-finishing Circus Maximus, while Lope Y Fernandez came flying late to gain third over Ivar. Defending Breeders' Cup Mile winner Uni checked in fifth.

Bred in Ireland by Whisperview Trading Ltd., which represents O'Brien's wife, Order of Australia is out of the Danehill mare Senta's Dream, making him a half-brother to last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Iridessa (trained by Joseph O'Brien). Their second dam is Starine, the millionaire mare trained by Bobby Frankel to win the 2002 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The post Boudot Picks Up Another Breeder’s Cup Winner With Longshot Order Of Australia; O’Brien Sweeps Trifecta In The Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Among the heavyweights are 2020 Group 1 winners Mogul (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will attempt to give their trainer a sixth win in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The 3-year-old Mogul earned his first top-level victory in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on Sept. 13 with the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe second In Swoop (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in his wake, but was scratched from the Arc when O’Brien’s stable was caught up in a feed contamination issue.

“We were training him for the Arc and he didn’t get to go,” O’Brien said. “The Arc was very tough ground and maybe to miss that ground wouldn’t have been any harm. He is a horse with a lot of speed. He likes racing. He’s a big, gross horse. He is made like a miler. He takes plenty of racing to keep him right. He’s an unbelievable specimen to look at.

“The track is a little bit tighter than he would be used to, but he is a horse that really quickens. I think that’s what you really need to win those races in America.”

Magical has two years on and plenty more airmiles than her stablemate, and she has had a particularly busy summer and fall, winning the G1 Pretty Polly S., G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and G1 Irish Champion S. She was third over soft ground in the G1 Champion S. on Oct. 17.

“She’s an unbelievable filly,” O’Brien said. “She has run at the top level from when she was a 2-year-old. She’s danced every dance and travelled everywhere. She is very comfortable from a mile to a mile and a half, which is very unusual. She is very brave, stays well, and has a good mind. She is an incredible mare. She ran very well the last day in very bad ground at Ascot, which wouldn’t have suited her.”

O’Brien looks to this year’s G1 Queen Anne S. winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the talented Group 1 bridesmaid Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to give him a first win in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, with Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) also possible. Circus Maximus was fourth in the race at Santa Anita last year.

“He ran well but he had a bad draw,” O’Brien recalled. “It was a little bit rough and tumble there. We always thought this year would suit him better. Santa Anita was hard fast ground. He doesn’t mind that, but a little bit of kindness in the ground won’t be any harm for him.”

O’Brien said he thinks Lope Y Fernandez’s speed will bode well for him at Keeneland.

“We think the one mile and left hand sharp track will suit him,” he said. “He quickens very well, and I think out there, for the one-mile races, you need loads of speed.”

“Lope Y Fernandez has been running over shorter distances and probably quickens better, but whether he is hard enough, or tough enough, to beat the likes of Circus Maximus, I’m not sure. If Circus Maximus gets a nice draw, it’ll be very interesting.”

G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will attempt to bounce back from a last of 12 finish in the G1 Sun Chariot S. over Newmarket’s heavy ground on Oct. 3 in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

“We ran at Newmarket in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. on bad ground when we probably shouldn’t have,” said O’Brien. “I don’t think the race at Newmarket left its mark, she seems to be in good form since and we always had our eye on the Breeders’ Cup for her. We’d like nice ground and if she gets a good draw, she’ll go forward and should be very uncomplicated.”

O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup juvenile squad is headed by Listed Chesham S. and G2 Vintage S. winner Battleground (War Front) for the GI Juvenile Turf, and will also include Group 3 winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) for the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, with Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) also possible and Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) a potential candidate for the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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