TDN Snippets: Week of May 16 – 22

It was certainly a busy week of action on both sides of the Atlantic. Here's a sample of what went on, and what should be on your radar.

Headline Maker…
With Early Voting's Classic win at Pimlico Saturday, the colt became Gun Runner's fifth Grade I winner. It's a remarkable stat for any stallion, especially one so early in his stud career. It looks likely the Three Chimneys stallion will vie with the mighty Into Mischief for the honor of being America's most expensive sire over the next few years.

Ferguson/Natalma Making Waves…
Natalma has been appearing on buyers' sheets here and in the U.K. since 2021 with the investment portfolio, spearheaded by John Ferguson, having purchased 21 fillies and mares at public auction for an aggregate of $4.6 million during that time. Three of these purchases were at Tattersalls July, three at Fasig-Tipton November, 11 at Keeneland November and four at Tattersalls December. Natalma are also active in the private market. Ferguson is currently at Magic Millions selling three mares, via the Arrowfield consignment, all in foal to Frankel. Watch this space…

Wellman The Explorer…
Following the theme of international expansion, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman recently plucked a filly out of Europe, with the guidance of Mike Levy/Jamie Lloyd, and she's now Royal Ascot-bound. Manhattan Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle), trained by the talented Amy Murphy, won a listed race at Vichy (video), France Friday and looks to have a bright future.

Wellman summed it up nicely, “The world is getting so small, particularly in our industry, and it's wonderful to have an Irish-bred filly, who is three-for-three in France and now destined for Royal Ascot in England and will be supported by a strong contingent of American owners. Very cool stuff!”

First (U.S.) Starter, First Winner…
Social media was buzzing Sunday after Tahoma became Justify's first winner, from his first American runner. Craig Bernick's Aspen Grove had run a promising fifth at the Curragh earlier in the day, in what appeared to be a strong maiden.

Tahoma, a $160,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Dennis O'Neill, is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Legends of War (Scat Daddy). Legends of War, who won the 2019 GIII Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs for brother Doug, was actually named a TDN Rising Star May 23, 2018 at Yarmouth under the tutelage of John Gosden. Legends of War is now back in England standing at March Hare Stud for £4,000.

Appleby Can Do No Wrong…
Native Trail (Oasis Dream)'s win in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas gave Charlie Appleby/Godolphin its third 2000 Guineas win of the year. What's even more staggering is that they did it with three different horses; Coroebus (English 1000 Guineas), Modern Games (Poule d'Essai des Poulains aka French 2000 Guineas) and now Native Trail. Aidan O'Brien won the three races back in 2002 but with two different horses; Rock Of Gibraltar (England & Ireland) and Landseer (France).

The team at Dalham Hall/Kildangan Stud in Europe better start building new stallion boxes to accommodate the array of stallion prospects Appleby is churning out.

The post TDN Snippets: Week of May 16 – 22 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Eclipse Thoroughbreds’ Unbeaten Manhattan Jungle Untroubled On Black-Type Debut

Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}–Skylight {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) annexed a five-furlong newcomers' heat at Chantilly in her Apr. 13 unveiling and doubled up, at the expense of the reopposing subsequent winner Sabya (Fr) (Pedro The Great), over the same distance at Lyon Parilly in her Apr. 26 return last time. Breaking sharply to race on the front end from flagfall in this black-type debut, she went clear when asked to stretch soon after passing the two pole and was pushed out in the closing stages to easily hold the late bid of Exxtra (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) by 1 3/4 lengths for a career high and a perfect three-for-three record.

“Manhattan Jungle came onto our radar immediately after her debut at Chantilly,” said Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman. “She looked like a fast filly with gears, who could potentially be a [G2] Queen Mary prospect for Royal Ascot. I saw the race and liked it. But, in all candour, when my good friend and colleague Mike Levy pushed me on her, which is a rare thing for him to do, I got much more serious about pursuing her as a purchase for Eclipse. Then, when another good friend and colleague, Jamie Lloyd, contacted me with an in to get a deal done, it was go-time. It all came together beautifully and we turned around within two weeks and won an allowance at Lyon [Parilly], which inspired us to go for the Listed race at Vichy today as a test to see if she was, in fact, a bona fide Royal Ascot contender.”

Wellman added, “Eclipse has only run three horses at Royal Ascot, with a second from our US-based filly Sharing in the G1 Coronation S. in 2020 and we won the Queen Mary last year with a filly named Quick Suzy, who we acquired privately in Ireland after her debut, similar to how we came across Manhattan Jungle. Our partners at Eclipse have a voracious appetite for having legitimate runners at Royal Ascot and our base is becoming increasingly game for international action in Europe and Australia, so we're delighted Manhattan Jungle might take our partners back for another thrilling tilt at the Royal Meeting with a very smart, talented and classy filly. Amy Murphy has been brilliant in executing the game plan we mapped out when we acquired Manhattan Jungle and now we just have to hope that the filly can manage to maintain her pristine trajectory as we embark upon a much more serious challenge heading to Ascot. The world is getting so small, particularly in our industry, and it's wonderful to have an Irish-bred filly, who is three-for-three in France and now destined for Royal Ascot in England and will be supported by a strong contingent of American owners. Very cool stuff!”

Manhattan Jungle is the third foal and first stakes performer, from three winners, produced by a winning granddaughter of Listed Criterium de l'Ouest and Listed Prix Ronde de Nuit placegetter Plissetskaia (Fr) (Caerleon). Plissetskaia produced three black-type performers of her own, namely Listed Prix de Pontarme winner Indianski (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), MGSP G2 Union-Rennen third Palao (Ger) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Listed Prix Petite Etoile third La Gohanniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). The January-foaled bay is half to a yearling filly by Sioux Nation.

Friday, Vichy, France
PRIX DES REVES D'OR – JACQUES BOUCHARA-Listed, €60,000, Vichy, 5-20, 2yo, 5fT, :57.01, sf.
1–MANHATTAN JUNGLE (IRE), 122, f, 2, Bungle Inthejungle (GB)
1st Dam: Skylight (Ire), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Swingsky (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Plissetskaia (Fr), by Caerleon
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€20,000 Ylg '21 GOFSPT). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Patrick F Headon (IRE); T-Amy Murphy; J-Mickael Barzalona. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €57,000.
2–Exxtra (Fr), 122, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Rolling Stone (Ire), by Raven's Pass. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€26,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT). O-Mme Anja Wilde; B-Mme Isabelle Corbani & SARL Jedburgh Stud (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €12,000.
3–Sabya (Fr), 122, f, 2, Pedro The Great–Pacific Chalnetta (Fr), by Planteur (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Christian Berland, Jean-Marc Baillet & Philippe Sogorb; B-Jean-Claude Crouton & Michel Crouton (FR); T-Philippe Sogorb. €9,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 1.50, 3.10, 4.40.
Also Ran: Fix You (GB), Rosie Rocket (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

The post Eclipse Thoroughbreds’ Unbeaten Manhattan Jungle Untroubled On Black-Type Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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