Lord North (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Straightforward Return For Lord North In Winter Derby

Meydan's G1 Dubai Turf calls again for the now-veteran Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's pride and joy marked his 2023 debut with a comfortable success in Saturday's G3 BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield. Reported by jockey Robert Havlin to be further ahead than 12 months ago when he came up against the formidable presence of Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in this, the 8-11 favourite travelled with gusto anchored behind the early leaders. Taking time to wind up approaching the home straight, the Gosdens' flagbearer overpowered Tyrrhenian Sea (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 150 yards out en route to an authoritative 3 1/4-length success.

Havlin said of the winner, who along with his 2021 Dubai Turf and 2022 dead-heat in the same race also boasts the 2020 G1 Prince of Wales's S. on his resume, “That was like clockwork. His work has been a lot brighter and I think that was a better performance than last year, even though today did not have the depth of last year's race. He was a bit laboured through the final furlong and a half here last year, whereas today I was always confident he was going to pick up. He is better on galloping tracks, coming off a strong pace, but his class shone through. He has been showing us a bit of that at home–it was as if he was back to being a four or five-year-old. Hopefully he can get back on song and win the Dubai Turf outright this year.”

Pedigree Notes
Lord North's pedigree is a decorated one, with his dam Najoum (Giant's Causeway) being a granddaughter of the GI Santa Anita Oaks heroine Hail Atlantis (Seattle Slew). Responsible for the sires Stormy Atlantic and Mr. Katowice, her stakes-placed daughter Divine Dixie (Dixieland Band) produced the GI Blue Grass S.-winning sire Bandini and is the second dam of the GI Ashland S. scorer Out For A Spin (Hard Spun). Also related to the GI Summer S. winner Decorated Invader (Declaration Of War) and that sire's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Fire At Will, Najoum has a 2-year-old filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) and a yearling full-brother to Lord North.

Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
BETUK WINTER DERBY S.-G3, £100,000, Lingfield, 2-25, 4yo/up, 10f (AWT), 2:02.32, st.
1–LORD NORTH (IRE), 128, g, 7, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Najoum, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Divine Dixie, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew
O-HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Robert Havlin. £56,710. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-UAE, G1SW-Eng, 19-9-3-1, $5,154,571. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tyrrhenian Sea (Ire), 128, g, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nocturne (Ger), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £21,500.
3–Foxes Tales (Ire), 128, g, 5, Zoffany (Ire)–Starfish (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (400,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Manister House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £10,760.
Margins: 3 1/4, HD, 2. Odds: 0.73, 4.50, 11.00.
Also Ran: Harrovian (GB), Lucander (Ire), Forest Of Dean (GB), King Of The South (Ire), Pistoletto.

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Lord North Returns In The Winter Derby

There is a faint scent of the approaching Flat season in the air on Saturday as the Gosdens' stalwart Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) enjoys his seasonal bow in Lingfield's G3 BetUK Winter Derby. Not seen since finishing a close fourth in the G1 Eclipse at Sandown in July, the 7-year-old is at the scene of his defeat in this 12 months ago warming up for a third consecutive G1 Dubai Turf.

Robert Havlin will be on board the consistent performer and he said, “Lord North seems really well. I have ridden him in his last two pieces of work and I think he is a little sharper than he was coming into the race last year. We are using this as a prep for the Dubai Turf again but I am hoping for a real big run. He just feels that bit more switched on than he was this time last year. He is the best horse in the race by far and hopefully he can show that.”

Also representing the Gosdens is the 2021 winner Forest Of Dean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Harrovian (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {GB}) who races for Lord North's owner HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing. The former will be partnered by South African jockey Collen Storey, while Roger Varian pitches in Flaxman Stables' 2022 Easter Classic runner-up Tyrrhenian Sea (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

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Big Stars Twinkle As Entries Taken For Dubai World Cup Meeting

Defending G1 Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist) is one of over 1,600 entries, including 892 individual horses from 21 countries, entered in the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup night card.

The featured event, sponsored by Emirates Airline, attracted 171 entries. Of the 24 Group or Grade 1 winners besides the Zedan Racing-owned and Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer, is the duo's three-time Grade I winner Taiba (Gun Runner).

Joining them could be a pair of longshot headliners from last year; namely, GI Kentucky Derby champ Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and upset G1 Saudi Cup victor Emblem Road (Quality Road). Japan continues their well-documented rise on the international racing stage, and 2022 G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) holds a Dubai World Cup nomination this time.

As for the rest of the card, the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic nominations includes Japanese stars like the 2022 winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world last year. Standing in their way is Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby who has entered Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

Speaking of the Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World, the other half of the dead heat from last year in Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns, while newcomer Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) made the list. They could be facing rookie international shipper and reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). Meanwhile, the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen could pit the Steve Asmussen trainee Gunite (Gun Runner) against RRR Racing's local hero Switzerland (Speightstown).

Grass sprinting noms in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Azizi Developments, are led by the well-travelled Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) who could make the journey from Down Under. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's three wins in the G2 UAE Derby make him a logical frontrunner, especially as he has nominated GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The G2 Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, could signal the return of 2021 winner and G1 Gold Cup hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). While the rundown of entries for the G2 Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Nakheel, is marked by defending champion Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), as well as Japanese challengers like Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) and Derma Louvre (Jpn) (Pyro), plus Americans hopefuls like Pioneer Of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) and White Abarrio (Race Day).

“We are delighted by the strength and depth of entries for this year's Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for the Club. “To have horses from more than 20 countries considering the trip shows the meeting's continued global appeal.”

Invitations for the meeting are set to go out during February. Click here, for the full list of the nominations.

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Pair Of Group 1 Winners Nominated To Winter Derby

Group 1 winners Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are two of the 16 nominations for the Feb. 25 £100,000 G3 BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield.

Last seen winning the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained 6-year-old has been on the bench since that victory. He claimed the 2021 Listed Churchill S. over 10 furlongs at that track, defeating fellow Winter Derby entry Harrovian (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).

John and Thady Gosden's Lord North was runner-up in the 2022 Winter Derby to Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}). He then tied with Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Turf in March, before running off-the-board in a trio of Group 1s–the Tattersalls Gold Cup (fourth to Alenquer), the Prince Of Wales's S. (fifth to State Of Rest {Ire} {Starspangledbanner [Aus]}), and the Eclipse S. at Sandown in July, where he was fourth to Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}).

Another signed on for the Winter Derby is Charlie Johnston's Living Legend (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who won the G2 Jockey Club S. in 2022. He was most recently second in the G2 Princess Of Wales's S. in July.

Trainer Charlie Johnston said, “We have given Living Legend a BetUK Winter Derby entry and he has also been nominated for the Amir Trophy in Qatar, which takes place the week before.

“Plans are fluid at the moment. We would ultimately love to take him back to Newcastle for the Easter Classic, although with the way the programme book has fallen this year, it is going to make it difficult to qualify unless we win the Winter Derby.

“The Magnolia S. and Finals Day were three weeks apart last year, whereas this year it is only a six-day gap due to Easter falling earlier, which makes having three qualifying runs very difficult.

“There is plenty to think about and we will decide whether we go for the Winter Derby or take up the Qatar option nearer the time.”

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