Tag: Lord North

Lord North Looking to Build on Historic Exploits

Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) might not be the most talented horse his breed-shaping sire has ever produced, but few can claim to have shown the same longevity as John and Thady Gosden's stable stalwart, the star name among 22 entries for the G3 BetUK Winter Derby at Southwell on Saturday, February 24.

Successful on his sole two-year-old start at Redcar in October 2018, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's Lord North embarks on his seventh year in training at Clarehaven Stables with relatively few miles on the clock for one of his age, boasting a career record of 10 wins from 20 starts.

After climbing through the ranks in handicaps as a three-year-old, notably winning the prestigious Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, Lord North took his form to a new level altogether during the 2020 campaign when he won the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Haydock and G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot, beating the multiple top-level winners Addeybb (Ire), Barney Roy (GB) and Japan (GB).

That remains Lord North's only Group 1 victory on European soil, but his subsequent exploits in the Middle East have guaranteed his place in history as the first three-time winner of the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan. His £6.3 million in career earnings also makes him the richest-ever racehorse by Dubawi ahead of Benbatl (GB) (£5.9 million), whose three Group 1 wins included the 2018 Dubai Turf.

Lord North–who had the Lord North H. run in his honour at Meydan on Friday, January 12–has been on the sidelines since March last year when his trademark turn of foot sealed him his third straight win in the Dubai Turf, beating Danon Beluga (Jpn), previously Group 1-placed in Japan, by three quarters of a length.

A few weeks earlier Lord North had returned from eight months off with an emphatic success in the Winter Derby, while his dead-heat with Panthalassa (Jpn) in the 2022 Dubai Turf followed a runner-up finish when returning from an even longer absence at Lingfield.

All roads surely lead back to Meydan for the eight-year-old Lord North, who could try to complete a remarkable four-timer in the Dubai Turf on Saturday, March 30, though it won't quite be the usual tried-and-tested path if he takes up his entry in the Winter Derby along the way, with that Group 3 set to be run at Southwell for the first time this year.

The other Group 1 winner among the 22 entries is the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}), who won the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in Australia in the first part of 2023, while there would arguably be no more fascinating runner than the long-absent Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}), last seen since finishing fourth in the 2022 G1 2000 Guineas when trained by Roger Varian.

Now in the care of Andrew Balding, Eydon needs to prove that he retains all his ability after such a significant absence, but there is certainly nothing wrong with his Newmarket form which saw him chase home a trio of multiple Group 1 winners in Coroebus (Ire), Native Trail (GB) and Luxembourg (Ire).

Balding said, “Eydon has a very high level of form, although it has been some time since he was last on the track. He has had a few niggles, but we are really pleased with him at the moment and the Winter Derby is very much the plan. The intention is to go straight there without a run–we feel that is the right thing to do.”

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Coronation Cup Eyed for Emily Upjohn Comeback

John and Thady Gosden's Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will possibly return in Epsom's G1 Coronation Cup June 2 as her first start since capturing the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Oct. 15. She was initially set to return in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan but missed the opportunity having not come to hand as quickly as liked and returns to Epsom after being narrowly denied when sent off the 6-4 favourite for the Oaks at the Surrey venue last year.

“She ran a huge race in the Oaks when just beaten there and had a nice swansong (at Ascot) at the end of last year,” Thady Gosden told Racing TV's Luck On Sunday. “She was heading towards Dubai but with the cold weather in the spring, it didn't quite work out. Obviously she would have been taking on Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) which would have been an interesting one. The Coronation Cup would be a nice early one to start with if she's ready in time, but we'll see how she is and she'll tell us.”

Another star filly from the Gosden string staying in training as a 4-year-old is G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who could head to Newbury on May 20 for the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S., with all the top mile races on her radar this term.

“She's wintered well and is in good order, enjoying her training and looks great,” continued Gosden. “She is obviously a top-class miler and all these mile races will be the ones for her. She is certainly an independently minded filly. She has plenty of character but is exceptionally talented.”

A return to Royal Ascot could be on the cards for three-time G1 Dubai Turf winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 7-year-old could bid to repeat his G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes success of 2020 when running on home soil this summer.

“He had a slightly curtailed one last year and it was fantastic to get him back for the Dubai Turf–it was a good team effort there,” Gosden said. “He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes two years ago and he is a horse you could look towards that with.”

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World Pool Wagering on Dubai World Cup Shows Increases

Saturday's G1 Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan saw World Pool's globally commingled turnover hit HK$315,177,810 (approx. $40.1m) across the eight-race card, a rise of $33.6 million (approx. $4.2m) over 2022.

The $12 million feature, won by Japanese raider Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), drew the highest handle of the night, with pari-mutuel organisations from over 20 countries betting HK$54,521,829 (approx. $6.9m) on the race. It became World Pool's highest turnover race of 2023 so far, surpassing the HK$48.4m (approx. $6.1m) wagered on the G1 Saudi Cup in February.

The two races that preceded the Dubai World Cup–the G1 Dubai Turf won by Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic won by Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) also saw large turnover, with HK$46,031,449 (approx. $5.8m) and HK$46,460,790 (approx. $5.9m) wagered, respectively.

Equinox's win was selected as the World Pool Moment of the Day and his groom will receive a prize of HK$40,000 as well as entry into the World Pool Moment of the Year competition, which rewards the winner with a VIP trip to Hong Kong.

World Pool is next in operation on G1 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket on May 6.

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History-Making Lord North Secures Third Dubai Turf Victory

“What a star,” exclaimed Frankie Dettori as he returned to the winner's circle aboard Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who reaffirmed his love affair with Meydan with an historic third win in the $5-million G1 Dubai Turf Sponsorsed By DP World.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained gelding, who races in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed's son Sheikh Zayed's racing banner, launched his attack under Dettori with just over a furlong left to run, coming wide down the home straight from way off the pace to relegate fellow late challenger Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) to second. Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) faded to third having taken the lead from front-running El Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) after turning for home.

Another triumph for longevity on the World Cup card, the 7-year-old Lord North landed his first stakes success late in his 3-year-old campaign, but it was the following year when the extent of his talent was first properly exhibited when he bounced straight from success in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. to Group 1 glory at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales's S. He was five when he made his first foray to Meydan, setting up what would transpire to be a Dubai Turf hat-trick with his three-length victory over Vin De Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who reopposed him this year but finished last of the 14 runners.

That first win in the Turf was Lord North's sole appearance in 2021, with illness keeping him off the track until his prep run for a repeat bid last year. His runner-up spot behind Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in a strong renewal of the G3 Winter Derby had him perfectly primed for Meydan but, famously, Lord North had to settle for a dead-heat with Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who went on to win this year's G1 Saudi Cup and finished down the field in 10th in the Dubai World Cup later in the evening.

A winning return to the Winter Derby last month again saw Lord North arrive in perfect shape to provide Dettori with a memorable top-flight success at Meydan in his final year in the saddle.

The 52-year-old, who has had a long association with Dubai throughout his former role as Godolphin's retained jockey, said as he returned to scale, “Amazing. To win once, but three times. Thady [Gosden] has done an amazing job because this horse can get sick quite easily, that's why he doesn't run that often. But the boys get him ready for the race and full credit to everyone. They've done an amazing job, and credit to Lord North himself. What a star.”

Dettori, the most successful jockey at the Dubai World Cup with 23 wins since the inaugural meeting of 1996 and four in the Sheema Classic, added, “I came here with some decent rides and to get one on the board in this beautiful place which has been my home for so many winters, it really is special.”

Lord North had provided Thady Gosden with his first Group 1 success after he joined his father John as co-trainer early in 2021. Back at Meydan with his parents and sister Thea, Gosden, Jr. said, “The first time he won the race he showed a nice turn of foot, but last year it wasn't quite as straightforward a preparation as it was this year. We were very happy with him coming into the race, but obviously you can't say that before in case it all goes wrong.

“It was a little bit messy in the mid-part of the race coming into the bend, but he got out of trouble and showed a great turn of foot to get to the front. The strong pace up front definitely helped him and he got a nice tow into it and picked up like we know he can.”

He added, “It's fantastic, and thanks to everyone at home in the yard, to the horse and to Frankie as well. He's a homebred gelding and it's fantastic for him to come here and win a race of this quality three times on the trot.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Bred by Godolphin, and by a sire who is synonymous with success at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, Lord North is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Najoum, a half-sister to GI Blue Grass S. winner Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus) and G3 Sweet Solera S victrix Discourse (Street Cry {Ire}). A dual winner at two for Saeed bin Suroor, Najoum ran her final race at Meydan in 2011 when eighth in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial. Lord North was her third foal and one of only two winners to date. The mare died last year, having foaled a full-brother to Lord North on May 1. She also has a 3-year-old filly by New Approach (Ire) and a juvenile filly from the first crop of Dubawi's Darley-based son Too Darn Hot (GB).

 

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI TURF SPONSORED BY DP WORLD-G1, $5,000,000, Meydan, 3-25, NH 4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:47.39, gd.
1–LORD NORTH (IRE), 126, 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-Frankie Dettori. $2,900,000.
Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-UAE at 7-9 1/2f, G1SW-Eng,
20-10-3-1, $8,054,571. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Danon Beluga (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Coasted, by
Tizway. (¥160,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL). O-Danox Co Ltd;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Noriyuki Hori. $1,000,000.
3–Nations Pride (Ire), 126, c, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Important Time
(Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). O/B-Godolphin (Ire); T-Charlie
Appleby. $500,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 2.
Also Ran: Shirl's Speight, Serifos (Jpn), Junko (GB), Alfareeq (Ire), El Drama (Ire), Real World (Ire), Sir Busker (Ire), Order Of Australia (Ire), Glorious Dragon (Ire), Master Of The Seas (Ire), Vin De Garde (Jpn). Scratched: Do Deuce (Jpn), Shelir (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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