While he may have fallen just short of equaling the great Silent Witness (Aus)'s mark of 17 wins in a row when defeated in the G1 Stewards' Cup and G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup last winter, he has since roared back and enters the three-peat attempt off a fast-finishing score over the pace-advantaged California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 20. The latter, a €150,000 Goffs Orby acquisition for the connections of two-time Hong Kong Cup hero California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}), was 3-5 to Golden Sixty's even-money in the Jockey Club Mile, and was given every conceivable chance by Zac Purton, only to be run down late. He faces the champ at level weights this time, but is the lone speed and must be caught.

A Japanese contingent headed by Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) and Danon Scorpion (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), winners of the last two runnings of the age-restricted G1 NHK Mile Cup, stand in his way, but the connections of Golden Sixty have every reason to approach the three-peat attempt with supreme confidence.

“He's okay after the last run and, at the moment, I just try to keep him happy,” said trainer Francis Lui. “He's healthy, happy and is character is just the same. To me, I think he is a special horse. You can see every time, he just wants to pass a horse in front of him.”

Stretch those legs GOLDEN SIXTY!

See firsthand the care @Vincenthocy gives his Hong Kong champion before heading out to work… @HKJC_Racing | #HKIR pic.twitter.com/s9vtNHHjfV

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) December 9, 2022

Japan Can Cap Magical Season at Sha Tin

Even by its lofty standards, the 2022 racing season has been a landmark one for Japanese gallopers that have been sent overseas.

It all got started at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on the last Saturday of February, when Team Japan posted four victories on the G1 Saudi Cup undercard. Four weeks later at sprawling Meydan Racecourse, they somehow managed to top that incredible feat when no fewer than five horses got their pictures taken. It may not have gone swimmingly at places like Royal Ascot and Goodwood over the late spring and summer, and the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe remains the impossible dream–for now, at least–but Japan has realistic chances in three of the four races Sunday afternoon, none more so than the day's most valuable prize, the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup.

Panthalassa (Jpn), whose sire Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) was a breathtaking two-time winner of the Sprint, was one of the aforementioned scorers in Dubai, dead-heating with Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf and he figures no worse than the second betting favourite Sunday.

The 5-year-old may have found the 11 furlongs of the G1 Takarazuka Kinen a task too tall in June, but he was exceptionally game in second in his two most recent efforts–both from the front–first behind Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) after a fight in the G2 Sapporo Kinen and when given a bold ride in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), opening up by as many as 15 lengths before just failing to hold off the talented Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Panthlassa will look to channel his inner A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}, all-the-way winner of the 2015 Cup, but Jack d'Or could be the fly in the ointment if he, too, is asked to roll forward for Yutaka Take. Japan has won the last three Cups and five of the last seven.

Should a contested pace materialize, Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) looks the most likely beneficiary. Purchased for 300,000gns out of the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale by the Hong Kong Jockey Club team led by Mick Kinane and the current pin-up horse for the Hong Kong International Sale, last year's BMW Hong Derby and G1 FWD QE II Cup winner overcame an interrupted preparation with a victory over Tourbillon Diamond (Aus) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup Nov. 20.

“He's definitely going to be there when whips are cracking,” said jockey James McDonald, who was honored as the Longines World's Best Jockey Friday evening. “It's a very competitive Hong Kong Cup and he has to come up to another level taking on the Japanese but I'm sure he can.”

Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who took the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Mile at cricket-score odds, won this year's G3 Minstrel S. (1400m) and was placed in the G1 Queen Anne S., G1 Prix du Moulin and GI Coolmore Turf Mile. Connections nevertheless opt for the Cup over a trip he has not tackled in over two years.

“He's been running all the time over a mile but we always thought stepping up over a mile and a quarter would improve him more,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said. “He's obviously by Australia and we're very happy with him, we'll see what happens on Sunday.

“He has won over seven furlongs twice as well, so we kept him at a mile after the Breeders' Cup win, but we'd think there's a pretty good chance that [2000m] will be fine.”

Hong Kong Hard To Go Past in Sprint

If the Japanese have been a problem too tough to solve in the Cup, the home team has nearly totally dominated the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. In the 23 renewals of the race dating back to 1999, on just six occasions have foreign horses launched a successful raid and only once in the last 11 years with Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in 2020.

Last year's Hong Kong champion sprinter Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) was badly hampered by the spill in last year's Sprint won by Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), but recovered to close the season with a successful defence of his crown in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize. The 6-year-old returned as the 135-pound topweight in the G2 Premier Bowl H. Oct. 23 and gave the progressive Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) 11 pounds and a one-length beating. The latter turned the tables last time in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Sprint, but Wellington was found to be lame thereafter and has since been passed fit to run. Ryan Moore subs in on Wellington for the injured Alexis Badel.

“I have strong feelings for Alexis Badel,” Gibson said. “It's a very big day for him to miss. He's got a very good relationship with Wellington. He understands the horse very well, so my thoughts are with him but obviously delighted to call on Ryan's expertise and experience for the big one.”

Moore was aboard Danon Smash from the 14 hole two years ago.

The 2022 Japanese challenge is spearheaded by the winners of the nation's two Group 1 sprints. Naran Huleg (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) rallied furiously to just take out the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in the spring, while Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) belied odds of nearly 20-1 from close range in the G1 Sprinters' S. Oct. 2.

Singapore adds a bit more international flavour to the meeting and is represented by Lim's Kosciuszko (Aus) (Kermadec {NZ}), winner of 11 from 14 at home, including the country's signature sprint test, the Lion City Cup in August, and he was versatile enough to win a Singapore Derby (1800m) prior to that effort.

What a stunning photoby @ashbrennanphoto of our mouse #kosi
We absolutely love this https://t.co/d59HLWJ5mB

— (@meagherracingsg) December 9, 2022

Vase Sets The Table

The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase for the middle-distance set has attracted a two-time champion and an interesting collection of European shippers to face a somewhat suspect group of locals.

Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) doesn't make too many trips to the races and seems to save his best for Sha Tin. The 4-5 favourite when accounting for Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) last December, having won the Vase for the first time two years prior, the 7-year-old was eighth to Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March and was a fair sixth to Jack d'Or in the Sapporo Kinen. He will benefit from the extra 400 metres and has the services of Joao Moreira, who also rides Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Cup and Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the Sprint in what is expected to be his final day in the saddle in Hong Kong.

Of the Euros, Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) owns the single most important piece of recent form, having run second to Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 5. A likely pacesetter from the inside gate, the 3-year-old is one of two for Aidan O'Brien, who also saddles the well-traveled Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

“We were delighted with him in the Breeders' Cup, he ran a very good race and had progressed from his previous run at Ascot,” O'Brien said of Stone Age. “We've been happy with everything we've seen from him since then. It had been on my mind to go to Hong Kong since after the Breeders' Cup, we thought the track, trip and ground should all suit him fine, we're all looking forward to it.”

Making his first visit to Hong Kong, Broome was an impressive winner of the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot, and has since made fruitless appearances back at Ascot, Saratoga, Leopardstown, ParisLongchamp and Keeneland, where he was five lengths' sixth in the Breeders' Cup.

“We had it in our heads that we might go to the [G1 Longines] Japan Cup, it just came maybe a week or two too early and that's why we waited. We were delighted to have the opportunity to come to Hong Kong with him. He's in good form and is a very good natured, very sound horse,” explained O'Brien, who has won the Vase twice with Highland Reel (Ire) and most recently with Mogul (GB) two years ago.

Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) upset last year's Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in September, but did not get through the deep ground in Paris when 12th in the Arc. The chestnut can go better on a sounder surface this weekend, provided he is on his best behaviour.

Bubble Gift (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is winless from five this season, but has run with credit, including a close third to future Arc heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Trainer Mikel Delzangles won the 2011 Vase with Dunaden (Fr). Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) represents Godolphin France and Andre Fabre and owns a victory over Saudi and Dubai winner Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville this past August.

THE PICKS:

Cup—Panthalassa will be winging it, but I expect Jack d'Or to keep him honest enough. That should give Romantic Warrior a fair shot at them late.

Mile–Not trying to beat Golden Sixty, especially from a favourable draw. Schnell Meister for second?

Sprint—Naran Huleg will be completely under the radar and probably shouldn't be. Rattled home in both of Japan's Group 1 sprints, good for a smashing win and a third.

Vase–Trying Mendocino, who was all heart to beat the Arc winner at Iffezheim and even has a close second to Alpinista going back. Must handle the quicker ground, but rates a chance. Glory Vase clearly the one to beat at his favourite track.

We're all set for Sunday's (11 Dec) @LONGINES #HKIR at Sha Tin!

Golden Sixty
Romantic Warrior
Wellington
Jack d'Or
Panthalassa
Bubble Gift
Mendocino
Stone Age
+ more…
x4 Group 1s
HK$110 million#競馬 | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/SNpPsUUnfL

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 8, 2022

The post Hong Kong’s ‘Golden’ Boy On the Verge of More History appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The sire of last Friday's breathtakingly-good G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Highfield Princess (Fr), Night Of Thunder was labelled a rock solid stallion by McStay, who felt lot 170-for all that he looked like a son of Dubawi-was the standout colt on day one.

So much so, the leading agent, who would not disclose who the Mountarmstrong-consigned colt was bought for, went to £230,000 to secure him.

“Lovely colt by a proven sire at this stage in his career, Night Of Thunder,” McStay said. “He actually looked like a Dubawi (Ire) to me. He was well-produced and comes from a very good nursery in Mountarmstrong. Noel O'Callaghan breeds and sells good horses and I thought he was the standout colt on offer here today.”

He added, “We had to stretch to buy him. I thought we'd get him for quite a bit less but my client is brave and encouraged me to keep going and to secure him.

“Look, we're seeing what Night Of Thunders are doing on the track and I don't think that they are going to get any cheaper. I can't say who he has been bought for but he's been bought for an existing client. He'll be broken in Ireland and plans are fluid.”

Lot 170 sells for £230,000 @GoffsUK. This colt is by Night of Thunder @DarleyEurope and was consigned by Mountarmstrong Stud. @mcstayagent was the winning bidder. pic.twitter.com/Sk8KFOW058

— TDN (@theTDN) August 23, 2022

The Night Of Thunder colt hails from a cracking family. He is out of Pious Alexander (Ire), a winner by Acclamation (GB), who is out of dual Group 3 winner Lady Alexander (Ire) (Night Shift). She is the dam of 10 winners, including Dandy Man (Ire) and Anthem Alexander (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).

McStay also signed for WH Bloodstock's inspired Kuroshio {Aus} pinhook [lot171] for £120,000, Baroda Stud's Zoustar {Aus} colt [lot 19, for £72,000] out of black-type performer Golden Spell (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}), a US Navy Flag colt consigned by Monksland Stables for £38,000 and the first horse through the ring, Grove Stud's grey filly by Starspangledbanner (Aus) for £35,000.

It proved a bountiful day for consignors, with many buyers-be they agents, trainers and breeze-up operators-relaying that there was stiff competition for the nicest horses, which was evident in the figures.
Of the 218 lots offered, 199 were sold, representing a clearance rate of 91%. The aggregate, average and median were all up as well. An aggregate of £8,954,500 represented a 28% rise on last year while the average was up 15% to £44,997 and a median of £38,000 cemented a 27% rise on 2021.

Renowned bloodstock agent Ross Doyle reflected on an encouraging day's trade after purchasing lot 211, a Baroda Stud-consigned colt by New Bay (GB), late in the day for £200,000. That brought Doyle's total spend on day one to £642,000 across nine yearlings and he was quick to praise Goffs for assembling a fantastic bunch.

Doyle said, “It's been very good, very strong, which is great to see. I've never seen so many people here than over the past few days, which is a testimony to Goffs and all their team. You only have to look around the pictures on the walls, some very good horses have come out of this sale so they deserve people to turn up and get stuck in. We'd a very good shortlist and we're the same tomorrow.”

On lot 211, he added, “I thought he was outstanding. I thought he was the best-moving horse here today. He's obviously by a sire doing extremely well and he seems to upgrade everything. “He's out of a black-type mare [Rubira {Aus} Lope De Vega {Ire})] and comes from a good home. We put him down as the best individual that we've seen, as far as movement goes, for a long time. He covers serious ground and it's all very natural and relaxed, which is a good sign. “He's been bought for an existing client who has plenty of horses with Richard [Hannon] and has been a very good supporter of this sale in particular.”

Hesketh and Wadham in Clover With Cracking Kuroshio

Violet Hesketh and Mimi Wadham, who run WH Bloodstock, have rightly earned a reputation for being one of the shrewdest young operators in the business. The pinhook of lot 171, purchased by the pair as a foal at Goffs for €38,000 before selling on Tuesday to Avenue Bloodstock for £120,000, confirmed that reputation to be bang on the money.

Some of the top buyers were on to the son of Starfield Stud's Kuroshio. In the end, it was Mark McStay, flanked by trainer Fozzy Stack, who secured him.

Hesketh said, “I am delighted. We knew we had a nice colt but you never expect to get that sort of a price. We bought him in the February Sale at Goffs for €38,000 and he has just improved and improved.

“He was an absolute pro and didn't miss a beat in every show. Some of the top judges were on him. We'll be sad to see him go but very happy with the price we got. We'll look forward to seeing him racing.”

Wooo what a result – over the moon to have a small part of this brilliant pinhook with @violethesketh @mimi_wadham! €38,000 buy in February turns into £120,000 @GoffsUK #kuroshio Good luck @fozzystack pic.twitter.com/fgE9wEUKmO

— Jess Stafford (@jess_stafford_) August 23, 2022

A lovely colt, lot 171 was out of the Pivotal (GB) mare Pivotal Era (GB), herself a full-sister to Humouresque (GB), who carried the Cheveley Park silks to Group 3 glory at Saint-Cloud in 2003.

Hesketh added, “He was a gorgeous foal and is out of a good Pivotal mare, which obviously everyone loves. He had such a good attitude. We're very happy.”

Jamie Railton's pinhook with lot 21, a filly by Ten Sovereigns (Ire), was another shrewd piece of business. Bought by Railton for €26,000 at Goffs last November, the filly was knocked down to Richard Hughes for £110,000.

Hughes, who is operating at a 25% strike-rate with his 2-year-olds this season and has nine winners on the board in that sphere, bought four yearlings all told for a combined sum of £224,000.

Kinane on the Hunt for Hong Kong

In his role of sourcing European horses on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mick Kinane has already come up trumps with this year's Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), and the legendary jockey revealed that lot 57, a £200,000 colt by the same sire, will chart a similar path.

The Trinity Park Stud-consigned son of Acclamation is from the family of Puncher Clynch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), who did well in Hong Kong, and Kinane is hopeful that his latest acquisition can forge out a career for himself in that jurisdiction in time.

Kinane said, “He has a champion in Hong Kong [Puncher Clynch] and is a similar type. He's a nice horse. I was here the past two years but I didn't find them [good horses]. There's nicer horses here this year.

“He'll be broken and will go into pre-training and then we'll see what he can do. Hopefully he'll do well in Hong Kong.”

Lot 57 makes £200,000 @GoffsUK and is heading to @HKJC_Racing. This colt is by Acclamation @RathbarryStud and was consigned by @TrinityParkStud. pic.twitter.com/IRr4XFqepe

— TDN (@theTDN) August 23, 2022

The Acclamation colt was consigned by Trinity Park Stud on behalf of Peter Gleeson, who bought and raced the dam Isole Canarie (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), a dual listed winner in Italy. From the family of Puncher Clynch (Ire), who did well in Hong Kong, lot 57 was fancied by those closest to him to go down well with the buyers, but the £200,000 fetched in the ring exceeded all expectations.

Becky Marsh, of Trinity Park Stud, said, “I thought we had a very nice horse but I wasn't expecting that. I said to Henry Beeby this morning when he came to look at the horse before he auctioned him that I would be delighted if he made £100,000. Obviously I'm overwhelmed.”

She added, “We foaled and raised this yearling-he's been with us since day one and he's always shown a lot of class. Since he came here he's not put a foot wrong. He's walked out perfectly every day and he had the right people on him.

“Isole Canarie was bought by Peter Gleeson, who raced her in Italy and then France, then brought her back here to breed. He's been lucky with Italian mares before and it's worked really well for him. The mare has an Oasis Dream (GB) colt at foot, but was not bred back this year.”

Warren Tips Land Force For First-Season Sire Honours

Jake Warren of Highclere Stud, who stands Land Force (Ire), is confident that the young stallion has what it takes to be champion first-season sire in 2023. A total of 17 yearlings by the son of No Nay Never were catalogued in the sale, eight of which found new homes on day one, averaging at a highly-respectable £34,500 for a stallion who stands for just £5,000 [stood at £6,500 in his first season].

However, what was most notable were the hotels that the Land Force yearlings have joined as multiple Group 1-winning trainer Clive Cox and renowned breeze-up consignors Katie Walsh and Con Marnane featured among the list of buyers.

Warren said, “It's always a nervous time when you bring a new stallion to the market but, the thing with Land Force is, and one of the main reasons why we've had the confidence to keep breeding to him over the past three years, is he throws these powerful, strong, good-shouldered, big physicals that are just what breeders are looking to produce. It's also what 2-year-old buyers are trying to secure. He's just ticking those boxes.”

He added, “There's no first-season sires with more offerings at this sale so he has the numbers to back him up. No Nay Never has had an amazing year with his 2-year-olds and there's no reason why Land Force can't be the champion first-season sire next year. It's exciting.”

It was lot 71 who shot the lights out for Land Force at £85,000. On the eve of the sale, Natalie Folland and her partner Matt Bowen told TDN about how they wanted to make their clients proud with the first yearlings they offered under the Folland-Bowen Bloodstock banner this week.

Well, the couple could hardly have done a better job with their Land Force colt, the first yearling they sent through the ring together, who walked around like a pro en route to commanding that impressive price tag.

Fighting back the tears in Barn J shortly after the sale, Folland said, “I'm going to cry. The owner has just been on the phone, she's bawling crying telling us how delighted she is. He's gone to Clive Cox, who has the half-brother Ascot Adventure (GB) (Mayson {GB}) and Joe Foley was the underbidder. He was vetted four or five times so it's great to have received such support.”

She added, “I knew he was busy but we would have been happy with £50,000 so, to get £80,000, we're over the moon. His owner, Fiona Trenchard, is delighted. She's such a pedigree fanatic and has tried really hard with this mare as she's been very hard to keep in foal. It hasn't been easy so, to have a result like that, I'm more emotional for her really.”

Marnane went to £30,000 to secure lot 26, a Mickley Stud-consigned filly by Land Force, while Walsh bought a colt by the stallion, lot 63, off Anna Sundstrom's Coulonces for £40,000.

Soldier Answers Foley's Call

Land Force was not the only young sire making waves. Joe Foley expressed his confidence behind the progeny of his own Ballyhane Stallion Soldier's Call in Monday's TDN and, less than 24 hours later, he put his money where his mouth was in securing Tinnakill's chestnut colt by the classy sprinter for £105,000.

Lot 212 is a half-brother to Marygate S. winner Sardinia Sunset (Ire) (Guitafan) and was sold by Tinnakill House Stud on behalf of Kevin Blake's Golden Farm Thoroughbreds.

Don't miss this fella later today at @GoffsUK. Lot 212, from the first crop of Soldier's Call, he's a half-brother to the Marygate Stakes winner Sardinia Sunset. Speed on speed. He is the first yearling produced for Golden Farm Thoroughbreds. @TinnakillHouse @BallyhaneStud pic.twitter.com/8Gx2LdLZk2

— Kevin Blake (@kevinblake2011) August 23, 2022

Seven of the eight yearlings by Soldier's Call were sold on day one with Mick Easterby forking out £65,000 to bag Trickledown Stud's colt by the sire [48] and Oliver St Lawrence going to £50,000 for Manister House Stud's offering [190].

Andrew Balding also picked up two by the sire, Ballyhane's lot 59 for £30,000 and 109 for £22,000. Of the seven yearlings sold by Soldier's Call, they averaged at just under £50,000 apiece.

The post McStay Strikes For £230k Night Of Thunder Colt At Doncaster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), a graduate of the unique Hong Kong International Sale, took his record to five-from-five with a tough victory over pacesetting California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in Sunday's HK$12-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first of three legs of the 4YO Series in the jurisdiction. The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) rallied from midfield to finish a clear third.

Winner of five of his six starts, California Spangle–the top-rated galloper in the field–crossed and cleared his rivals from barrier 13 and set a reasonable gallop, as Karis Teetan aboard Romantic Warrior made full use of the rail draw to scrape paint down the back from a centerfield position. California Spangle, trying a distance beyond 1200 metres for the first time, went for home traveling nicely, but Teetan threaded the needle on Romantic Warrior at the quarter pole and was poised behind the pacesetter in upper stretch. A touch one-paced into the final furlong, Romantic Warrior knuckled down to split rivals and was doing his best work through the line. California Spangle, the only member of this 14-strong field without a BMW Hong Kong Derby entry, easily held second from The Irishman, who finished well while no menace to the top two. Turin Redstar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a two-time winner and sixth in the Brittania H. at Royal Ascot for John and Thady Gosden last June when raced as Mithras, made good ground from well back to be an eye-catching fourth at cricket-score odds.

“He had the draw and I think it helped him,” Teetan said. “I just wanted to follow California Spangle and I knew he would take me into the race but when this horse got the clear run, he really let down and I think he's got a very bright future. Man, the last 100 metres, when he got a clear run, he gave me a really good feel.”

Romantic Warrior was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000gns from the draft of David and Henrietta Egan's Corduff Stud at Tattersalls October in 2019 by a team headed up by legendary former jockey Mick Kinane. He is the third foal from his dam, a daughter of Folk Opera, whose biggest racetrack success came in the 10-furlong GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine and whose resume also includes a victory in the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. Folk Melody's last listed produce is a 2-year-old colt of this season named Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who fetched 160,000gns from Bryan Smart Racing at last year's Tattersalls October Sale.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE-LR, HK$12,000,000 (£1,149,106/€1,381,100/A$2,200,825/US$1,539,981), Sha Tin, 1-30, NH/SH4yo, 1600mT, 1:33.80, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
1ST STAKES WIN. (300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 2yo '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum Chap-Shing; J-Karis Teetan; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, HK$10,415,400.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$2,640,000.
3–The Irishman (NZ), 126, g, 4, Tavistock (NZ)–Zeranti (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ). (NZ$170,000 Ylg '19 NZBJAN). O-Edmond Lee Man Bun; B-Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan; T-Francis Lui Kin-Wai; J-Vincent Ho Chak-Yiu; HK$1,380,000.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 39-10, 18-5, 34-5.
Also Ran: Turin Redsun (GB), Ima Single Man (Aus), Sight Spirit (Aus), Setanta (Aus), Lucky With You (Aus), Blaze Warrior (Aus), Rocket Space (Aus), Master Delight (Aus), Fa Fa (NZ), Cobhfield (Ire), Packing Victory (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

WATCH: Romantic Warrior makes it five on the trot in the Classic Mile

The post Acclamation’s Romantic Warrior Remains Perfect In Classic Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A colt by Night of Thunder proved the star turn on the opening day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when selling for 375,000 guineas to Dwayne Woods, alongside his brothers, trainer Sean and Brook Stud's Wendyll. The successful team saw off the persistent efforts of Ross Doyle and Richard Hannon, standing with Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian.

“He is a stunning colt, for me the best colt in the sale,” said Woods, adding: “He is very strong, and probably the cleanest Night of Thunder I have ever seen – conformationally, strength, he has it all for me. Rathbarry is a wonderful producer of horses and he goes to Sean.”

Sean Woods said of the immediate plans for the colt: “He'll have a bit of time out, and he'll come to us in January at Shalfleet. He is for a client.”

The March-born colt is out of Harlequin Girl, a half-sister to three blacktype horses including Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Blaine and Listed Two Year Old Trophy victor Bogart, Harlequin Girl is already the dam of two winners, including his full-sister Hanaady who won at Nottingham last week on her second career start.

Rathbarry Stud's Franny Woods, who bought the colt privately as a foal from Genesis Green Stud, commented:

“He is a lovely colt, and a horse with a great mind. He is lovely to do anything with, just a pleasure. The full-sister won for Ed Dunlop, which just brought everything together – it has proved that the mare can get a winner by the full-sister, it gave some people some confidence. He looks fast, he vetted very well and everything went according to plan.”

The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Mick Kinane secured a son of Kingman consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud for 300,000 guineas. Bred by Trevor Stewart, James Hanley and Anthony Stroud, the colt is the first foal out of the Group 3 winning Tamayuz mare Hunaina from a deep Aga Khan family represented in recent years by the dual Classic winner Hurricane Lane and dual Derby winner Harzand. Hunaina is also a half-sister to the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Hamariyna.

“He's by a great stallion and he's a lovely correct model for what I want,” commented Kinane. “That's the first one I've tried on today, but good horses are hard to buy! I bought five last week.”

“We bought the mare as a 3-year-old in training and sent her to trainer Henri Devin, and she won a Listed race and a Group 3,” recalled joint-breeder Stewart.

“We are very happy with the result. He was a really nice first foal, good walking and a good strong individual. It is a nice start for the mare, who is at Ballyhimikin and had a colt by Sea The Stars this spring.”

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

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Juddmonte's sires, likewise, have started the season off with a bang. In this space last week we were singing the praises of Frankel (GB) off the back of a week of intercontinental successes. While Frankel remains poised to have an excellent season, in the space of 35 minutes at Sandown on Friday along came his Banstead Manor barnmate Kingman (GB) to steal the spotlight with a pair of exciting 4-year-olds. First up was Waldkonig (GB), who had flashed talent early last season before being sent to the sidelines by setbacks. He earned a first black-type victory second up in the 2000 metre G3 Gordon Richards S. in just his fifth start, and considering the bottom half of his pedigree, connections-including trainers John and Thady Gosden–should be enthusiastic that he will keep improving: his half-brother, Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was at his best at five when he beat Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to win the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-his fourth win at the highest level.

The Gosdens and Frankie Dettori barely had time to digest Waldkonig's win before last year's champion 3-year-old Palace Pier (GB) upstaged him to win the G2 bet365 Mile by eight lengths. John Gosden insisted that Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed's colt was only at 80% for his comeback, and while last year's G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner will stick to a mile for the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Queen Anne S., Gosden said that longer races are on the radar for the second half of the season.

Waldkonig became Kingman's 34th stakes winner last week, three days after the sire had notched his 33rd in the form of Godolphin's Listed Blue Riband Trial scorer Wirko (GB), a €700,000 Baden-Baden yearling bred by Gestut Rottgen. Wirko is out of the listed-winning Mount Nelson (GB) mare Weltmacht (GB), herself a daughter of the Group 2 winner and multiple stakes producer Wild Side (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}), and thus a sturdy template has been written for crossing Kingman with German pedigrees.

Mehmas On The Up

Kingman has consistently proven the class leader of his sire crop and another who looks like doing so, Mehmas, likewise had a productive week. On the same Sandown card on which Palace Pier and Waldkonig starred, 3-year-old Nelson Gay (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) won the five furlong bet365 H. by 6 1/2 lengths, igniting Royal Ascot dreams for trainer Richard Hughes. On Sunday Fayathaan (Ire) became Mehmas's eighth stakes winner in Rome's G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas). After comfortably breaking the record for winners for a first-season sire last year, Mehmas has kicked on with 20 at this early stage of the year. While he presented something of a question mark last year based on the fact that he himself didn't race beyond two, Mehmas appears to be supplying progeny with scope. Fayathaan was his third stakes winner of 2021, joining the G3 Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial scorer Keeper Of Time (Ire) and Going Global (Ire), who has won a pair of Grade IIIs this year since being sold to California connections. Keeper Of Time was in the news this weekend after it was revealed that she too has been sold to race on in America, where Mehmas has had two stakes winners (last year's Listed Blue Norther S. winner Quattroelle {Ire} in addition to Going Global). With Acklam Express (Ire), Mystery Smiles (Ire) and Mehmento (Ire) having also picked up placings in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, G3 Craven S. and G3 Greenham S. in the past month, Mehmas looks to be continuing on his upward trajectory.

Amid all the excitement of the young pretenders, it was nice to see a headline horse on Sunday for Coolmore stalwart Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) in the form of the 4 1/2-length Listed Salsabil S. winner Rocky Sky (Ire). Standing for €5,000, Rock Of Gibraltar certainly wouldn't be the flashiest horse in the sire ranks, but he has compiled an admirable body of work in 19 years at stud that places him currently fifth on the TDN's Cumulative Lifetime Active Sire List for European stallions, behind only his barnmate Galileo and Dubawi (Ire), Exceed and Excel (Aus) and Invincible Spirit (Ire). Rock Of Gibraltar has sired 135 stakes winners at a rate of 6.2% of his starters, and in Rocky Sky-who also provided trainer Ross O'Sullivan and jockey Gary Halpin with their first stakes wins-he looks to have one that could take him back to the top table. Rocky Sky races as a homebred for Catherine Kinane, whose husband Mick partnered Rock Of Gibraltar to six of his seven Group 1 wins.

More Derby Dreams For Adlerflug

Another star rising through the sire ranks in recent seasons has been Gestut Schlenderhan's Adlerflug (Ger), and his loss at age 17 earlier this month has already been keenly felt through the opening weeks of the turf season. Adlerflug's 2020 G1 Deutsches Derby winner and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop (Ire) made an encouraging start to his 4-year-old campaign when a narrow second to the race-fit Sublimis (Ire) (Shamardal) in a mile-and-a-half listed race at ParisLongchamp two weeks ago, and Adlerflug has another Classic contender on the books in Alenquer (Fr), who sprang a 25-1 upset in Friday's 2000 metre G3 Classic Trial at Sandown. Alenquer is another feather in the cap for trainer William Haggas, who has made a bright start to the season, and the trainer insisted Alenquer would be better upped in trip and could target the German Derby or be supplemented to the G1 Cazoo Derby. Rider Tom Marquand picked up exactly where he had left off last weekend in Australia; Alenquer was his first ride since piloting Addeybb (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) to victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in Sydney.

Euro-Breds Star At Keeneland

The exodus of European-bred horses to America with aim on the country's lucrative turf purses is no new phenomenon, and last week saw a rapid-fire double for Stonestreet Stables and trainer Wesley Ward in that sphere at Keeneland. Last autumn, bloodstock agent Ben McElroy was dispatched to Europe with the memorandum to find a select team of yearlings that could excel on both continents. McElroy possessed the track record for the job, having plucked last year's G2 Queen Mary S. and G1 Prix Morny winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) out of Book 1 at Tattersalls October for 190,000gns, and his 2020 class has gotten off to a bright start, with Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) (350,000gns at Book 1) and Napa Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (£420,000 at Goffs Orby) each breaking their maidens in professional fashion at Keeneland last week. Ruthin, in fact, was the first winner for Ribchester and she achieved that accomplishment in memorable fashion, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status.

McElroy admitted to the TDN that he felt more relieved than excited in the aftermath of Ruthin and Napa Spirit's races, which is understandable considering that both horses were relatively large outlays. The risk on them as yearlings, however, must have been somewhat lessened by the fact that they had $60,000 2-year-old maiden special weight purses to run for at Keeneland. American buyers have become a growing force at European yearling sales in recent years, and though at a disadvantage currency-wise, the promise of fat purses back home gives them considerable spending power. Successes at Royal Ascot for Ruthin or Napa Spirit would only fuel that fire, and all going well, that's where they are headed. It's probably a safe bet, too, that McElroy will be headed back this year's European yearling sales.

Breeze-Ups Looking Bright

On the subject of the sales, we were afforded a deeper look into the breeze-up market last week with the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale following on from Tattersalls's Craven Sale a week prior, and happily the outlook was once again bright. The aggregate of £6,219,500, average of £48,590 and median of £34,000 were all records for the sale, as was the number of six-figure lots (15). Likewise, the clearance rate of 89% (it had been 88% at Craven, the highest at that sale since 2000) pointed to a strong desire for bloodstock, and indeed there appeared to be a wide cross-section of buyers at both Doncaster and Craven, with no entities dominating the buyers' sheets. It is interesting that at the first two breeze-up sales of the season we have seen strong trade, but no true fireworks; the Tattersalls top lot was 360,000gns, while the joint top lots at Doncaster sold for £210,000. It appears thus far that there has been a slight weakening at the top of the market with simultaneously a strengthening in the middle market. The next clues will be provided by the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale on Friday.

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Over the next three weeks, the Dubai Racing Club will pay tribute to each of the previous Dubai World Cup winners. Today, we rewind to 1998, when Silver Charm won the Dubai World Cup title for Bob Baffert. It was the first of many successful outings in the UAE for the American trainer.

For those outside of the USA any chance of seeing a winner of any of America's Triple Crown races used to be limited to the television screen. However, all of that changed in 1996 when the Dubai World Cup created a truly viable option for owners and trainers of America's best to consider international raids.

Cigar was the leader and he paved the way for another history making event in 1998 when Silver Charm, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, made his way to Dubai.

Silver Charm's trainer Bob Baffert, who had never left the USA, was able to make the trip to the United Arab Emirates through a hastily arranged passport, to prepare his grey champion for the event.

Just when it was thought that nothing could better the inaugural victory of Cigar and then Singspiel came the epic battle of Silver Charm and Swain, and their jockeys Gary Stevens and Mick Kinane, where it appeared that honor was more valuable than the world's richest prize.

Such was the excitement of that contest that few remember who finished third. For the record books it was the French raider Loup Sauvage, who turned in a personal best.

Silver Charm returned to America with his best performances being a narrow second to Awesome Again (with Swain just behind him in third) in the Breeders' Cup Classic before a win in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap. He returned the following year to win the Grade 2 San Pasqual Handicap, was third in the Donn and Santa Anita Handicaps before returning to defend his Dubai World Cup crown.

He couldn't repeat his heroics of 12 months previously and was beaten a long way from home when only sixth behind Almutawakel. He was retired after his next start when unplaced in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Silver Charm was one of the narrowest winners of the Dubai World Cup, however that was his usual method of success, never actually winning his races by big margins, but in winning the Dubai World Cup he defeated a champion in Swain and must be rated as one of the race's very best winners.

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He was bought by Mick Kinane, signing on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the day's leading buyer by aggregate spend.

The colt, bred by trainer Jim Bolger, is a full-brother to two Group 3 winners – the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes winner Guaranteed and this year's G3 Acomb Stakes winner Gear Up, whose success is an update on the catalog page.

The March-born yearling was sold by Bolger's grand-daughter Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud in just her second season consigning yearlings.

“He has been a superstar since he has been here,” Manning said. “He has the pedigree and the physique, he was busy and had a number of vettings, but it was difficult in this climate to gauge what he would fetch.

“He came to prep eight weeks ago and has always been straightforward, he is one of those that just have got something about them. I have had a brief chat with grand-dad and he is absolutely delighted.”

Kinane, standing outside the ring, said: “He is a lovely horse, and we didn't think we'd be pushed that hard. He was a stand-out, he could have been sold here in a few weeks at the October Sale. Hopefully, he can run like his brother, he was a good horse.”

The sale was the highlight on a day which produced a strong clearance rate of 83 percent (206 horses offered and 172 sold), an average price of €25,706 (US$30,251), a slight increase of 1 percent on the same session in 2019, a median of €20,330 (US$23,924), a drop of just 3 percent. The day's aggregate sales totaled €4,421,441 (US$5,203,244).

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