Frankel’s Hurricane Lane Dominates The Leger

Considered by some an antiquity against racing's commercial backdrop, Doncaster's G1 Cazoo St Leger is nevertheless kept close to the hearts of all enthusiasts and in Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) it had a winner on Saturday that stands tall among some of its very best. Having scythed through the tasks of the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris earlier this summer, the powerhouse chestnut looked to have outstanding claims for this and he duly delivered as the G1 Epsom Derby form came to the fore. Suffering his sole reversal in the June 4 blue riband, the 8-11 favourite waited until all bar that Classic's runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had dropped away to make his move and he brushed him aside two out to settle the result there and then. Galloping out to the line despite running away from William Buick's whip, he registered a commanding 2 3/4-length success from Mojo Star as The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) fared best of the Ballydoyle quartet two lengths away in third. “He was the class horse in the race and it worked out beautifully,” Buick said as he relished a third renewal. “You never know until they go this far, but he took me into the race so nicely and has that turn of foot at the end. He's a great horse and it's been a fantastic season for everyone in the yard. There is always pressure, but that just shows you are on the best horse and it was just a case of keeping it smooth.”

If there was one Classic named as suitable for Hurricane Lane after his debut success over a mile on heavy ground at Newmarket in October, it would have been this but he had demonstrated so much speed by the time he romped on Bastille Day that there had to be a slight doubt about the extended 14-furlong trip. Starting out in 2021 with a win in the Apr. 16 Newbury 10-furlong conditions event that played host to Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Star of Seville (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) and Light Shift (Kingmambo) in recent times, he added York's G2 Dante S. to his tally over that trip May 13 to force Buick's hand heading to Epsom. Behind Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Mojo Star there having lost both front shoes, he bounced out of an encounter that would have left a mark on lesser horses to surge to victory in the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 26 prior to his emphatic six-length success in the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris.

Kept wide and out of trouble by Buick in mid-division as Hollie Doyle took Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to the front with Mojo Star in close attendance and High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) racing handy. Little changed until the half-mile marker, where Rossa Ryan loomed threateningly on Mojo Star but Hurricane Lane was biding his time out wide and no sooner had the Richard Hannon trainee swooped than the royal blue was arriving at his side. Pounding his way to the finish, the winner produced by far the day's outstanding time performance to add another major prize to his stable's tally.

It was a first St Leger for Charlie Appleby, who said, “It was a fantastic performance. Congratulations to Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. It's great to win any Classic, but this is historic and so it's extra special. He had a lovely pitch and all the room he needed and the great thing about this horse is he quickens and has a gear change. You couldn't have been more comfortable watching it the whole way round. The ground isn't key to him, but he is more comfortable under these conditions on the slower side.”

“I thought it was a great performance and the Derby form held up as well, with Mojo Star running a great race. It's got strength-in-depth, which is what we want to see in a Classic. This horse has given us a couple of days where he has challenged us–he's a boy and he likes to do things his own way in the mornings sometimes. He takes a bit of managing, so the team have done a great job. The Arc is on everybody's mind. I think it is something we will keep an eye on, but we'll let the dust settle. I see no reason why we wouldn't potentially turn up.”

“As for next year, with him and Adayar that is for everyone to talk about towards the end of the season after the Arc. As two physicals, you can only get excited about them as 4-year-olds. His Highness is such a great sporting man and he loves to see his horses stay in training. We have seen so many of the greats from Godolphin down the years and I'm just fortunate I'm bringing a couple of them along myself.”

This represented a triumph for Normandie Stud, who also bred the previous race's winner Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on a day to remember for Philippa Cooper's operation. Hurricane Lane's dam is the Listed Prix Denisy winner Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), whose first foal was his full-sister Frankel's Storm (GB) who was runner-up in the Listed Junioren-Preis. The second dam Hannda (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}) also produced the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Seal of Approval (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who was in turn responsible for the G3 March S. and G3 Princess Royal S.-placed Promissory (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), while another of Gale Force's half-siblings is the G3 Oak Tree S. third Instance (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Hannda is kin to the G3 Concorde S. winner Hamairi (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), the Listed Testimonial S. scorer and G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. runner-up Hanabad (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and to the dam of the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Hamariyna (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil winner Hunaina (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). This is also the family of the G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby hero and sire Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Gale Force, who was bought for 300,000gns by Charlie Gordon Watson Bloodstock at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, also has the unraced 2-year-old colt by Harzand's sire named Sweet William (Ire) and a yearling filly by Australia (GB).

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
CAZOO ST LEGER S.-G1, £743,000, Doncaster, 9-11, 3yo, 14f 115yT, 3:04.28, g/s.
1–HURRICANE LANE (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Gale Force (GB) (SW-Fr, SP-Eng), by Shirocco (Ger)
     2nd Dam: Hannda (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Handaza (Ire), by Be My Guest
(200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £421,355. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire & Fr, 7-6-0-1, $1,994,712. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mojo Star (Ire), 127, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Galley (GB), by Zamindar. (130,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Barbara Prendergast (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £159,745.
3–The Mediterranean (Ire), 127, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Flashy Wings (GB), by Zafonic. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £79,947.
Margins: 2 3/4, 2, 2HF. Odds: 0.73, 8.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Interpretation (Ire), Youth Spirit (Ire), Scope (Ire), Fernando Vichi (Ire), Sir Lucan (Ire), High Definition (Ire), Ottoman Emperor (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

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Hurricane Lane Leads Baker’s Dozen in St Leger

Classic winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is one of 13 confirmed for the G1 Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday. The Godolphin colt, who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and the G1 Grand Prix de Paris in June and July respectively, also ran third in the G1 Cazoo Derby for trainer Charlie Appleby.

'TDN Rising Star' High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of six for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien. The 2020 G2 Beresford S. victor was the winter book favourite for the Derby, but has yet to fully live up to that potential this season and exits the G2 Great Voltigeur S. with a sixth on Aug. 18. Second in that York Classic pointer was The Mediterranea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), two better than stablemate Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The three-for-four Leopardstown listed winner Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and winners Carlisle Bay (Ire) (Gaileo {Ire}), third in a Group 3 at two, and King Of The Castle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) make up the sextet.

Runner-up at Epsom, Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) takes part for Richard Hannon, while Johnny Murtagh sends out G3 Gordon S. hero Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Andrew Balding saddles Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), third in the Great Voltigeur. Listed winner and Group 3-placed Fernando Vichi (Ire) (Australia {GB}) represents Donnacha O'Brien. The field is rounded out by Ralph Beckett trainee and listed-placed Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Roger Varian's listed heroine Save A Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who ran fourth in the G1 Cazoo Oaks.

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Hurricane Lane Leads 18 St Leger Nominations

Classic winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris already this summer, will line up for Godolphin in the G1 Cazoo St Leger on Sept. 11, one of 18 colts and fillies left in the fall Classic. G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who also races for Godolphin, will not take part, and instead target the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Richard Hannon's Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), one better than Hurricane Lane's third in the Derby and fifth in the Irish equivalent is also signed on. The progressive G3 Gordon S. winner Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) for Johnny Murtagh and Martyn Meade's Irish Derby second Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also remain at the latest forfeit stage. One of two for Andrew Balding is G2 Great Voltigeur third Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Aidan O'Brien fields an octet at this point for the race, including Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), listed winner and G3 Gordon S. second Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

A pair of listed-winning fillies have also stood their ground in Roger Varian's Save A Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Ralph Beckett's Yesyes (GB) (Camelot {GB}).

Murtagh said of Ottoman Emperor, “That is the plan so far–we've had no problems, touch wood. I've not been speaking much to the OTI people [owners] since after Goodwood-[but] the English St Leger is the next stop.

“That last run was good, and the form of that race stood up at York. I think he deserves his chance in the St Leger–whether he stays the mile and six is a question mark, but we'll have to pay to find out.”

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Mojo Star Camp Eyeing St Leger Bid

Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), runner-up in the G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom at the beginning of June and fifth after a rough trip in the Irish equivalent on Saturday, has emerged from his latest effort in good order. Trainer Richard Hannon is considering the Sept. 11 G1 St Leger at Doncaster, as well as targets earlier in the summer. Second at Newbury in October, the bay filled the same position there when making his 3-year-old bow on May 14, prior to his runner-up effort in the blue riband.

“He's come back fine,” said Hannon. “He's just been out in the pen since and had a trot yesterday and today. He's none the worse for it and we'll have a chat to connections about where we go from here.”

The July 24 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot is under consideration, as Newmarket's G2 Princess of Wales's S. on July 8.

He added, “He's in the King George and the Princess of Wales's S. and obviously the St Leger is an option later on in the year. He's fit and he doesn't need to do any more [work]. At some stage we'll take an easy run and then go back into something big. I'd love to have a crack at the Leger, but we'll see how we go.”

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