Jackson Named National Stud Nominations Manager

Jamie Jackson has been appointed nominations manager for The National Stud.

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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Lope Y Fernandez Retired To The National Stud

Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}-Black Dahlia {GB}, by Dansili {GB}), a Group 3-winning 2-year-old who was five times Group 1-placed throughout his career, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at the National Stud in 2022. The Coolmore partners will retain part ownership alongside new owners The National Stud, Whitsbury Manor Stud and Nick Bradley Racing.

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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Oxted Among 42 July Cup Entries

The G1 Darley July Cup, scheduled for day three of the Moet & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket July 10, has attracted 42 entries, led by trainer Roger Teal's defending race champion Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}).

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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Pier Sets Sights On The Lockinge

There is still a sense of the unknown where 'TDN Rising Star' Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is concerned, despite his already-impressive achievements, and Saturday's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury should provide more evidence as to the level of his ability. Staying on powerfully to win the G2 Sandown Mile by eight lengths on his seasonal return Apr. 23, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois hero has slower ground to contend with here but it should be nowhere near the testing surface he hated when third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot in October. “It looks a good edition of the race and we wouldn't want to see a lot more rain,” John Gosden said. “He lost a shoe and had a slight injury in the QEII when the ground got very soft, so hopefully it's not that–it can happen at Newbury. We're pleased with him, but I have plenty of respect for the opposition. Sometimes the Lockinge can come up a little bit weak, but not this year.”

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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