As well as winning the 1000 Guineas under Frankie Dettori, Mother Earth stormed to G1 Prix Rothschild glory at Deauville for Ryan Moore last term but was retired after failing to fire in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot last week. 

O'Brien told TDN Europe, “Mother Earth was a very good filly. She ran a lot as a 2-year-old and also ran a lot at three. She was a top-class mare.”

He added, “She won the Guineas and the Prix Rothschild and was a filly with loads of speed. She had an unbelievable constitution and is an absolutely beautiful filly.”

Mother Earth won four of her 21 starts on a racecourse, twice at the highest level, and landed the G3 Park Express S.  at the Curragh on her return earlier this season. TDN Europe understands that Coolmore will wait until next year before mating her.

She is a half-sister to G2 Premio Dormello-winning Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and will take up residency as a broodmare at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.

Classy filly! – it's a second (Group 1) Prix Rothschild for Aidan O'Brien, as MOTHER EARTH toughs it out to add to her 1000 Guineas success with victory at Deauville!

A double on the day for Ryan Moore!pic.twitter.com/ojRflvaZXS

— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) August 3, 2021

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“Point Lonsdale worked in the same group as Luxembourg on Saturday and that was the first time they went together. I was very happy with Point Lonsdale, the two of them came up very well,” said O'Brien on Monday morning.

“At the moment, the plan is for the two of them to go for the Guineas. Point Lonsdale is a very brave horse. He's a great traveller, he has plenty of pace, but we think he'll stay as well. He'll love the nice ground, even though he did a lot of his racing last year on softer ground.”

O'Brien added, “It looks as though Luxembourg will go straight for the Guineas as well. He travelled well in his work and finished close to Point Lonsdale so it will be interesting to see how they get on.”

Both sons of Derby winners for Ballydoyle, the pair had near faultless records as juveniles. Point Londsale won on debut at The Curragh and went on to land the Chesham S. at Royal Ascot followed by the G3 Tyros S. and G2 Irish EBF Futuruity S. His final start of 2021 saw him finish second to the champion juvenile Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G1 National S. The unbeaten Luxembourg made just three starts, including the G2 Beresford S. ahead of his Group 1 strike. His full-brother subsequently topped the Goffs Orby Sale when bought by MV Magnier for €1.2 million.

Drawing a comparison between Luxembourg and his sire, O'Brien said, “Luxembourg is probably a little bit bigger than Camelot, he's rangier, but he has the pace. Camelot was the only Montjeu horse to win the Guineas and this fella travels along. He finds it easy to go fast, which is a good sign.”

Among the 3-year-olds with Classic engagements pencilled in is the Kodiac (GB) colt Glounthaune (Ire), who will be seen out this weekend in the 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.

“He's a very big horse and we were playing catch-up with him all last season,” said O'Brien. “He could be a French Guineas horse.”

The ParisLongchamp Classic could also be the aim for Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a seven-furlong maiden winner on his sole start in October.

“He was away to The Curragh on Saturday,” the trainer added. “We wanted to see whether or not we will start him back over a mile or whether he wants a mile and a quarter. He went well at The Curragh. We took him to The Curragh to find out if he was a Derby horse or a Guineas horse. He has a lazy way of going but there's always plenty left in the tank. He could go for a French Guineas, and go on from there, he's that type of horse.”

Bluegrass (Ire), a son of Galileo (Ire) and the G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), is a likely runner in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. “He won his maiden at The Curragh and is nice,” added the trainer.

Scriptwriter (Ire), from the first crop of Churchill (Ire), is also heading to a Derby trial, while River Thames (Ire), another by the dual Guineas winner, has met with a minor setback.

“River Thames was working very well and we were very happy with him but he picked up a stone bruise a couple of days ago,” said O'Brien. “We were going to go for the Ballysax but he just won't get to make that now.”

O'Brien has won the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot once in its seven-year existence with Caravaggio, and he could be represented this year by King Of Bavaria (Ire) (No Nay Never), a dual winner last year who could take in Navan's Committed S. on April 23.

He said, “King Of Bavaria is a five- or six-furlong horse. He worked with Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) at The Curragh on Saturday and we were happy with the two of them.”

One who will not fly under the radar when he makes his debut is Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a 3-year-old half-brother to the Irish Oaks winner and Arc runner-up Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

“He could be a good bit better than a maiden and may even be a Derby horse,” noted the trainer. “He's a Derby-type horse and he goes very well. He's a very big horse and will run in maiden a before long.”

He added, “Snowfall's brother Newfoundland (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is another nice maiden.”

Distaff Division

Among what is undoubtedly a raft of smart fillies at Ballydoyle, the beautifully bred Tenebrism–a daughter of Caravaggio and crack miler Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB})–is a standout on her exploits to date. She ran just twice last year, in March and September, but returned triumphant from both starts, the latter being the G1 Cheveley Park S. on Newmarket's Rowley Mile. She would have to go an extra two furlongs in the 1000 Guineas but her trainer offered encouragement in that regard.

“There's every chance Tenebrism will stay the Guineas trip,” he said. “She worked very well after racing at The Curragh on Saturday. We went a very good gallop in front of her for seven and a half furlongs and she picked up very well and ran home strongly. You'd have to be very impressed with what she has done so far.”

Contarelli Chapel, another daughter of Caravaggio who, like Tenebrism, races in the Westerberg colours, is on the comeback trail following knee surgery. The half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) from the family of Derby winner High Chaparral (Ire) is heading for Sunday's 1000 Guineas Trail at Leopardstown.

“Contarelli Chapel is going very well,” O'Brien reported. “She had a chip taken out of her knee after she disappointed at Naas last season. She's a half-sister to Donnacha's good filly and she's classy. We've always thought the world of her.”

The trainer added that History (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) out of a full-sister to Group 1-winning miler Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), is likely to take her chance in the Irish 1000 Guineas after working well at The Curragh on Saturday.

Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a sister to the brilliant Minding (Ire), got the turf season off to a positive start for the Ballydoyle team on Sunday when breaking her maiden over a mile.

“Tuesday was very good at Naas and she will come on a lot from that,” said O'Brien. “She's relaxed and laidback and she looks like she will stay well. I think the 1000 Guineas could come too soon for her and she could benefit with another run. She could run in an Irish 1000 Guineas on the way to an Oaks, or she may even run in a Guineas Trial at Leopardstown in May.”

He added of another blueblood, Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the sister to Classic winners Gleneagles (Ire), Marvellous (Ire) and Joan Of Arc (Ire) who was runner-up to the Joseph O'Brien-trained Perfect Thunder (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) in a maiden on Saturday, “I thought she'd win at The Curragh but Joseph had other ideas. We think Toy is a good filly. Whether we go on for a maiden or go on to a trial, I don't know, but the winner on Saturday looked good.”

The mouth-watering array of fillies stabled at Ballydoyle also includes Only (Jpn), the first foal of Classic heroine Winter from the penultimate crop of Deep Impact (Jpn), while O'Brien noted that Champagne (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a sister to Arc winner Found (Ire), “goes nicely”.

Early Juveniles

Running through some of the stable's 2-year-olds who could be out in the earlier part of the season, and which include a brother to top sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), O'Brien said, “Little Big Bear (Ire) is a No Nay Never colt who goes well and Mediate (Ire) is a No Nay Never filly who will be out early as well.”

Coolmore's first-season sire Sioux Nation took an early lead in the freshman table when his daughter Ocean Quest (Ire) became his first runner and first winner at The Curragh on Saturday, and the young stallion is represented by a pair of juveniles at Ballydoyle.

“There's another colt who goes very well, Congo River, and he's by Mendelssohn,” O'Brien noted. “We also have a Sioux Nation colt called Tiger Paw (Ire). We only have two Sioux Nations–the other is on a little break–but they seem to be very fast horses. There's a Dark Angel colt out of Anna Law, so he's a brother to Battaash, and he looks smart, and there's another No Nay Never colt called Aesop's Fables (Ire) who goes nicely. They're all the early ones.”

Seasoned Campaigners

The 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) remains in training as a 5-year-old. He won last year's G2 Minstrel S. and finished third in a sensational running of the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois behind Palace Pier (GB) and Poetic Flare (Ire), as well as being runner-up to Baaeed (GB) in the G1 Prix du Moulin. Order Of Australia was found to have an issue after his most recent outing in the GI Keeneland Turf Mile.

“He might have a run or a racecourse gallop before the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. That will be his early-season target anyway,” said his trainer. “I don't know if we'll have him ready for a Lockinge. He got a fracture in America last season and we had to put a pin in it when he came back which is why he won't be out until Ascot.”

The trainer also provided an update on Point Lonsdale's 6-year-old full-brother Broome (Ire), who was runner-up to Yibir (Ire) in the Breeders' Cup Turf before running down the field in the Japan Cup.

He said, “Broome is only on his way back. When he was being untacked in Japan, a horse walked by him and kicked him. He fractured his shin and needed a long time off. It was a freak thing to happen and you'd be hoping that he'll be back in time for Ascot.”

Also returning from a fracture is the GI Belmont Derby winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “I don't think he'll be back for Ascot but we'll have him for the autumn and there are a lot of races for him. He'll be a better 4-year-old,” noted O'Brien.

Unusually for Ballydoyle, the 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is the only older filly in training this season. The stable suffered the tragic losses of last year's Oaks winner Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and dual Grade I victrix Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) to pelvic injuries in September and January, respectively.

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Nailing yet another heart-stopping win under jockey Vincent Ho, Hong Kong's champion savored the 19th win of his career to set a new record in town, surpassing the previous mantle of 18 he shared with Silent Witness and Beauty Generation, dating back to when the professional era of Hong Kong racing commenced in 1971.

Smashing a fine field of 10 others from Japan, Ireland, and Hong Kong including this year's G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) winner Danon Kingly, Golden Sixty enhanced his earnings to a mouth-watering HK$95.453 million with victory, just HK$10.78 million shy of the record mark in Hong Kong set by Beauty Generation (HK$106.233 million).

Racing in the silks of Stanley Chan Ka-Leung and trained by Francis Lui, Golden Sixty – 'The Pride of Hong Kong' – delivered a performance worthy of status as the world's best miler.

“I feel very happy, he's my champion, and I have to say thank you to my team and Vincent (Ho) and the owner – they support me,” Lui said.

Extending his winning sequence to 16, Ho dropped the Medaglia d'Oro gelding back to the second half of the field on the fence; in the straight, Ho weaved for an out, eventually taking a split at the 300m mark before his sparkling dash carried him to a one and three-quarter length victory in a time of 1:33.86.

“I knew he was at his best, gate two was a little bit tricky, I didn't want to be stuck on the inside but eventually the race panned out well and the pace was genuine,” Ho said.

More Than This filled the second spot while Salios and Mother Earth grabbed third and fourth, respectively.

“It was much better today because the pace was on, he actually relaxed very well, and as a 6-year-old, he's more mature, so it's even better,” Ho said.

The success is the second at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races for both Francis Lui and Vincent Ho, while today's performance sees Golden Sixty remain unbeaten since September 2019.

“It's all about teamwork as well, without anyone from the stable we couldn't do this,” Ho said.

A six-year-old – Golden Sixty – boasts eight wins over 1200m and 1400m, while twice he has stepped up to 2000m successfully, claiming the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby and 2021 G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.

“He's such an aggressive horse so he doesn't mind going through horses,” Ho said of the gelding's tenacity.

Sunday, Ho savored the win in front of an adoring crowd, which throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been absent at times or in a smaller capacity.

“Last year, it wasn't like this, I got to enjoy it with the crowd and it's such a great atmosphere, I just hope the other guys are ok, it's hard to enjoy it completely,” Ho said, also reflecting on the mishap that occurred earlier in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

Hong Kong racing continues this Wednesday, December 15, at Happy Valley.

The post Golden Sixty Becomes Hong Kong’s Winningest Horse With HK Mile Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Mogul, a 4-year-old son of Galileo, has not won in four starts since last year's Hong Kong success. However, that victory was his third from as many runs right-handed at 2400 metres on good ground and jockey Moore believes his 2021 performances can be excused.

“He's had a quiet year,” Moore said. “He started in Dubai and ran respectably and (then) ran a good race in Paris in the Prix Ganay (G1, 2100m) before the ground was very soft at Epsom for the Coronation and he didn't like it and it was the same again when he went back to Deauville.

“A few things haven't gone quite right for him through the summer, so he's been lightly raced. His work's been good at home and he looks great. We know he likes Sha Tin and he likes quick ground. I believe Aidan's very happy with him, so we're hoping that he can step back in the right direction.

“He showed a couple of times last year he's very talented. He's a handsome horse with a great pedigree and I still have faith that he can get back on track. Aidan would like to have put a run in him but that didn't happen but we think he's in good shape. I suppose Mogul would look our best chance on paper.”

Moore and O'Brien, of course, combined with the most recent multiple Vase winner Highland Reel who scored in 2015, was second in 2016 and won again in 2017 immediately before his retirement to stud.

Zoffany filly Mother Earth, a dual Group 1 winner in 2021, represents the stable in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Moore says she can be forgiven a last-start Breeders' Cup Mile failure and be competitive in what he describes as a “very strong” edition of the Group 1.

“She's a wonderful filly. She's strong and she's been very busy, on the go all year and late on as a two-year-old as well,” Moore said. “The race in Del Mar (G1 Breeders' Cup Mile), she drew in the middle and didn't get away that quickly, the pace was steady and it was impossible to make up ground in that very short straight there.

“She's been consistent all year. The race on Sunday is very strong with Golden Sixty and a live Japanese contingent. It's going to be tough for her but she's got a nice draw, gets a nice weight pull and she usually runs a good race. I think Sha Tin will suit and she'll enjoy the quick ground.” Moore said.

Bolshoi Ballet returns to 2000 meters (1 1/4 miles), after two failures at 2400 metres, in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and the drop in trip may be key to his prospects, according to the jockey.

“He won a Grade 1 in America at ten (furlongs) and his two wins at the start of the year were over the ten furlongs (2000 metres). He's obviously very happy at that distance. I had high hopes for him and (while) he hasn't run bad races lately I would like to have seen a little bit more from him.

“The quick ground will be in his favor and I don't think Sha Tin will be any problem. The two Japanese fillies (Lei Papale and Loves Only You) bring a high level of form and will be tough to beat but he (Bolshoi Ballet) is a nice type of horse and I still believe there's a good horse in there. He's a Group 1 winner and hopefully can run a respectable race,” Moore said.

Recently crowned LONGINES World's Best Jockey, Moore also picks up the ride on Hot King Prawn for trainer John Size in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m, six furlongs).

“He's very consistent horse and obviously a Group 1 winner around Sha Tin. He's got a nice draw. Pixie Knight might be a level above but I'm very much looking forward to riding him (Hot King Prawn). He's had his prep race and hopefully will come forward. He's in there with a definite chance,” Moore said.

The post O’Brien-Trained Mogul Returns To Defend His Title In Sunday’s Hong Kong Vase appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Fresh off Breeders' Cup success in the United States, Yoshito Yahagi's mare is just one of 22 Group 1 winners set to compete. Returning to Hong Kong in a bid for a second G1 success in the city, the daughter of Deep Impact is looking to cap a superb year and she is just one of the exciting contingent of overseas raiders aiming at this year's “Turf World Championships.”

Featuring prominently once more, Aidan O'Brien will return to Hong Kong in strength with 2020 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles) winner Mogul while stablemates Broome, Japan, Bolshoi Ballet and Mother Earth also feature.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty around many international racing events, the strength of the international presence in this year's line-up confirms that the Sha Tin showpiece retains its pre-eminent position at the top of the agenda for international horsemen.

The LONGINES HKIR is the sport's global year-end spectacular and features the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m, or 1 1/4 miles), the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m, or one mile), the HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m, or six furlongs) and the HK$20 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles). The Cup, Mile and Sprint are the world's richest G1 races on turf over their respective distances.

Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Racing, said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) is firmly established as one of the world's principal racing events and this year we will welcome an extraordinary line-up from Japan, Great Britain, Ireland and France which includes 16 individual Group 1 winners. To have runners of this caliber in any year would be notable but once again it is truly remarkable given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are delighted that the quality of the selected runners for this year's LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence and Loves Only You's return to Hong Kong after her historical Breeders' Cup victory is incredibly exciting, as is the arrival of a quintet from Aidan O'Brien's all-powerful Ballydoyle operation.

“Our hometown hero Golden Sixty is looking to enhance his astonishing unbeaten streak to 16 and also set a new all-time winning record of 19 in Hong Kong should he successfully defend his Hong Kong Mile title while star sprinter Wellington's development adds further intrigue and everything surely points to a thrilling afternoon of sport on Sunday, Dec. 12.”

Loves Only You spearheads a strong cohort from Japan, which includes first and second out of the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama Racecourse last month, Pixie Knight and Resistencia, respectively, with both plotting raids on the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. Danon Smash returns to defend his crown in the dash, while Glory Vase will attempt to recapture his LONGINES Hong Kong Vase title from Mogul – last year's victor – who also returns from Ireland to represent Aidan O'Brien.

Joining Loves Only You in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is Lei Papale, winner of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) earlier this year who is looking to remain unbeaten over 10-furlongs. Bolshoi Ballet – O'Brien's American G1 winner – plots a course for the Hong Kong Cup, as does Mac Swiney for Jim Bolger and Dubai Honour for William Haggas. Both Mac Swiney – a two-time G1 winner – and Dubai Honour placed behind Sealiway in the British Champion Stakes with the latter getting within a length.

O'Brien will be double-handed in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase as the incredibly consistent Broome – who runs in Sunday's (Nov. 28) G1 Japan Cup (2400m) – journeys to Hong Kong for the first time following his cracking second to Yibir in the G1 LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf (2400m) earlier this month at Del Mar Racecourse.

The William Muir-trained Pyledriver – winner of the 2021 G1 Coronation Cup (2420m) at Epsom Downs Racecourse – is in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. While, H H Aga Khan's Ebaiyra – trained by the iconic Alain de Royer-Dupre – is also targeting a Hong Kong Vase raid.

Eyeing a 16th consecutive win and second successive LONGINES Hong Kong Mile crown, Hong Kong's Golden Sixty will face no shortage of stiff opposition including Mother Earth for the Irish mastermind, O'Brien. Her brilliant three-year-old season boasts two G1 titles, winning the 1000 Guineas (1609m) and Prix Rothschild (1600m), while she has also placed in seven other G1 contests in Great Britain, Ireland, France and the United States.

Indy Champ and Vin de Garde join the Japanese brigade bidding to overthrow Golden Sixty, as does Danon Kingly, winner of the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) last June. Trainer Noriyuki Hori is no stranger to success in Hong Kong after the heroics of the great Maurice and he'll be represented by Hishi Iguazu in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup as well as the G1-winning Salios, who also boasts consecutive runner-up efforts to Japan's Triple Crown-winning Contrail. Salios will contest the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

Joining Golden Sixty – Hong Kong's reigning Horse of the Year – in the home team's defense is Hong Kong's Champion Stayer Panfield, who will be running in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

Hong Kong's emerging talent has always been ever-present and the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint will have no shortage of juvenile stars. Lucky Patch steps out for Hong Kong following consecutive G2 scores, while Courier Wonder, Naboo Attack and Sky Field bolster the home team's defences with established G1 stars, Hot King Prawn and Wellington spearheading the charge.

The post Breeders’ Cup Winner Loves Only You, Five From Ballydoyle Headline Hong Kong International Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“It shouldn't have happened,” O'Brien told the Racing Post. “There aren't many countries in the world where you could get away with that and not get a month's ban because to me that is dangerous riding. If the jockeys are allowed to do those things and are not given severe penalties, it will keep happening.”

Specifically, O'Brien blamed the Irish Horse Racing Board for not taking a stand against unsafe riding.

“It's worse in Ireland than anywhere else and it's letting Irish racing down,” O'Brien explained. “We had the whole world watching Leopardstown and it puts people off backing horses or following racing. I'm not just talking about the big days, I'm talking about every day. You have to be consistent.”

Read more at the Racing Post.

The post O’Brien: Jockey Shane Foley Should Have Been Given A Month’s Ban For Interference appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rockcliffe Stud's 'TDN Rising Star' Snow Lantern, who bids to emulate her dam Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) who captured this in 2013, has since been third in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 28 and fourth in the Sept. 5 G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Trainer Richard Hannon said, “She has beaten a lot of them, if not all of them before. I think the straight track will suit her and we can ride her however we want. She hasn't got to cope with a bend. If she takes a pull, Sean [Levey] said he might just let her roll and use her a little bit. Hopefully she can come back and redeem herself. After that, we might think about the Champion S. or the Queen Elizabeth II S. on Champions Day.”

Mother Earth, who excelled when beating Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) in the G1 1000 Guineas over this course and distance May 2, has also annexed Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild Aug. 3 and arguably would have added the G1 Matron S. to her tally had she not met significant trouble in running. Eventually third behind the O'Callaghans' No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) in that Sept. 11 Leopardstown contest, her enthusiasm seems undimmed at this late stage of the season and if she can maintain her consistency it might be enough. Saffron Beach, who scoped dirty when 11th in the Falmouth, beat two subsequent black-type winners in impressive fashion in Sandown's G3 Atalanta S. last time Aug. 21 and is back over the course at which she won the G3 Oh So Sharp S. last October.

Saffron Beach will be partnered by William Buick, who interestingly has stayed in Newmarket rather than gone to ParisLongchamp to ride Godolphin's newcomer Al Nafir (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the opening MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed EBF Maiden S. over a mile. The Charlie Appleby-trained €1.2-million 2019 Goffs November Foal Sale topper is a son of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and therefore a full-brother to the operation's Ghaiyyath (Ire).

Arc Weekend Kicks Off In Paris

One of the first of the stable's French raiders Buick has passed over is the exciting Manobo (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the 15-furlong G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay, which is the first of the pattern races on ParisLongchamp's star-studded weekend fixture. The homebred denied Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on debut at Newbury May 14 before recording a 4 1/4-length win in a June 2 Kempton novice and a 10-length follow-up in the 12-furlong Listed Prix Turenne at Saint-Cloud Sept. 10. He is joined by stablemate Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who took the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot June 16 before disappointing when last in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York Aug. 18 and they meet Ballydoyle's Sept. 11 G1 St Leger fourth Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“Manobo brings a nice, progressive profile into the race and I was very pleased with his latest win at Saint-Cloud,” Appleby said. “We feel that the step up in trip will produce further improvement and he ticks a lot of boxes–he has travelled over to France before and ease in the ground will suit. Kemari is on something of a recovery mission after disappointing at York. He won over a staying trip in the Queen's Vase and the drop back to a mile and a half on quicker ground at York may have worked against him. Stepping back up in distance on a softer surface can hopefully rekindle his Royal Ascot form, which will make him very competitive.”

Whether the ground deteriorates enough to rule Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) out of the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran remains to be seen and it is to be hoped that the rain abates enough for the Gosden luminary to take part in the race for the first time. Without a Group 1 win this term, the 7-year-old has shown enough in winning the Aug. 20 G2 Lonsdale Cup at York and the Sept. 10 G2 Doncaster Cup that he retains all the ability required to notch an eighth at this level.

Ease in the ground obviously detracts from the chances of Stradivarius as much as it enhances those of the July 27 G1 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and last year's Cadran winner Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}), who got nearest to Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 17 and who shaped with encouragement when second again in The Curragh's G3 Irish St Leger Trial S. Aug. 13.

France's main hopes of a Cadran win may rest with Le Haras De La Gousserie's progressive 5-year-old Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who has racked up a trio of successes in the country's leading staying contests, the G3 Prix de Barbeville and G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier here in May and Deauville's G2 Prix Kergorlay Aug. 22.

Following the Cadran is the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, where The Aga Khan's Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) bids to provide her legendary trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre with at least one more top-level success before he heads into retirement. Having beaten the aforementioned Skazino in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil over this 14-furlong trip and track July 14, last year's G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine was third under a penalty behind the Arc protagonist Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville Aug. 22.

Splitting Raabihah and Valia in the Pomone was the Aug. 1 Listed Grand Prix de Clairefontaine winner Joie de Soir (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who represents the Coolmore-Andre Fabre axis. She was getting 11 pounds from Valia there and only seven here, but as an unexposed 3-year-old from this stable rates as a genuine threat. Britain's leading contenders are the June 17 G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and the July 8 G3 Stanerra S. scorer Believe In Love (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), with the latter wanting as much rain as can fall having won Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Belle de Nuit on heavy ground over this trip last October.

Also on the card is the G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein, where Al Asayl France's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks for a third consecutive renewal en route to defending his crown at Ascot. Last seen finishing fourth in the G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud May 1, he faces a stiff task taking on Godolphin's Aug. 21 G3 Strensall S. winner Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and dual Group 1 winner Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) who returned to form last time when third in the Sept. 5 G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said, “Victor Ludorum comes here after arguably a career-best performance in the Prix du Moulin, when he recorded incredible splits having missed the break and a top-speed of over 70km/h. He won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as a 2-year-old over this course and distance and on heavy ground. His trainer reports that he is a picture of health and expects a good run.” Saeed bin Suroor has yet to commit Real World and added, “Real World worked well earlier in the week and heads to France in good form. There is a question mark over the going being too soft and we will check the ground before he runs, but he is ready to go again.”

In a competitive renewal, The Aga Khan's Dilawar (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also comes into the mix having won the Aug. 29 G3 Prix Quincey impressively at Deauville, while Katsumi Yoshida's Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) is back over the same course and distance of her victory in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches May 16. The G2 Qatar Prix Dollar sees Mohamed Obaida's Aug. 14 G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano scorer Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) tackle The Aga Khan's Sept. 5 G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange winner Saiydabad (Blame) and Anthony Oppenheimer's Aug. 12 G3 Sovereign S. scorer Megallan (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Top Two-Year-Old Returns

Ascot's four pattern races include the Listed Oakman Group Rous S. over five furlongs, where Shadwell's Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) makes his belated seasonal bow having secured his place among the elite of the 2020 juveniles with a win in the G2 Gimcrack S. and third placing in the G1 Middle Park S. Also representing that operation is the triple Group 3 winner Hukum  (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Cumberland Lodge S., who bids to get back on track after a surprise defeat in the G3 September S. on Kempton's Polytrack Sept. 4.

Owen Burrows trains both and said, “We've never run Minzaal over five furlongs, but he's not short of speed. He's not run for over a year, so we thought with the ground getting a little bit soft it would make sense to try him over a shorter trip. He's really been pleasing me at home in his work, so we hope he'll go well. Hukum seems to have been in good form since Kempton. He has to give away a penalty again, but we're happy with him and this will probably be his last run of the year.”

The fields for Sunday's supporting races at ParisLongchamp were finalised on Friday, with Juddmonte's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) due to face eight fillies in the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac and the same number tackling Al Shaqab's G1 Phoenix S. hero Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. There are 15 engaged in the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines including Alison Swinburn's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and also in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines, where the 3-year-old fillies Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) square up again. Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will have to overcome stall 10 in the seven-furlong G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret, for which 16 line up.

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One thing that can seemingly never be taken away from the Irish, however, is their resilience and fighting spirit, and in the interim 12 months Goffs has channeled considerable resources toward restoring Orby's lustre and bringing it back to its former glory when the sale returns to its home at Kildare Paddocks on Sept. 28 and 29.

“It's no secret that last year, for a variety of reasons, wasn't the most successful sale,” admitted Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “In fact, it was a disappointing sale and I've spoken at length about that. We've gone back to the drawing board and sat down and had a long, hard look at the sale.”

One of the initiatives to emerge from those discussions is the re-introduction of the revamped Goffs Million, the sale race that had served Orby well in decades past but had been shelved since 2009. Set to be run over seven furlongs at The Curragh the Saturday prior to next year's Orby sale and exclusively for 2021 Orby graduates, the €1-million Goffs Million will be Europe's richest 2-year-old race with prizemoney paid down to tenth place. Should the Goffs Million winner go on to win a Group 1 race in Ireland, Britain, France, America or Australia as a 3-year-old, they will earn an additional €100,000 bonus. Naas Racecourse will likewise stage a €100,000, six-furlong 2-year-old race for graduates of the Goffs Sportsman's Sale, which follows on from the Orby sale on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

“We gathered some customer feedback and reaction and decided we needed something that inspired people,” Beeby said. “One notable breeder said to me when we were discussing the possibility of re-introducing the Million Race, 'if you put on a race worth €1-million, Europe's richest 2-year-old race, people will have to come, because they won't want to miss out.' If they don't buy at the sale, they automatically can't have a runner in Europe's richest 2-year-old race next year.”

The winner of a €1-million juvenile race next year will come from a pool of just 444 horses, before withdrawals.

“It's a relatively small group of horses; most races are open to every horse,” Beeby said. “We're very pleased that it has gone down really well. It's not an entirely new idea; we've put a different spin on it this time, but it did great things for Goffs in the 80s, it did great things for Goffs in the 90s and we're hoping it will do great things for Goffs in what we're hoping will turn out to be the roaring 20s. It's certainly caught the interest, and a number of agents and trainers have said they're certainly coming and they're putting together groups and syndicates, and that's what it's all about.”

Beeby and his team recognize, too, that it is imperative that when those buyers come they see a set of yearlings in front of them worthy of being in Ireland's national yearling sale, and he says he believes that is what Orby will deliver this year.

“We said to our vendors and to ourselves that we really had to focus on looking for the classy racehorse,” Beeby said. “The physical specimen is at the forefront of our minds, and happily a lot of Irish breeders and vendors have backed us with what we believe is an improved draft of horses. Time will tell; I think that's for purchasers to judge, but I think if they come they will see a catalogue of very attractive horses and we hope to build the sale back from last year. Hopefully last year was a blip because the sale had been on an upward trajectory in the previous number of years.”

One front on which the Orby sale has already excelled through 2021 has been its stakes-winning graduates. Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was bred by Grenane House Stud and purchased by MV Magnier from Whitehall Stud for €150,000 at Orby in 2019, and she has progressed from a Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed juvenile last year to a G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild scorer this season, and has not missed the board in six starts at three, all in Group 1s. Bought at the same sale for €90,000 was Winter Power (Ire) (Bungleinthejungle {GB}), who provided the Orby a major boost when winning the G1 Nunthorpe S. last month.

Five-year-old mare Romantic Proposal (Ire) (Raven's Pass) has been a rapid improver this season, and she punctuated that upward mobility with a win in this month's G1 Flying Five S. Romantic Proposal was originally a €25,000 Goffs November foal and pinhooked for €55,000 at Orby by Aileen and Amy Lynam.

Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was a €90,000 purchase from the Wildenstein Dispersal at the 2016 Orby sale, and he won his third Grade I in America when taking the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in April. Likewise advertising the sale overseas has been Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who was exported to South Africa and won two Group 1s there, including the Paddock S. in January, before leaving Mike de Kock to join Andrew Balding over the summer. Other 2021 Group 1 winners who went up for sale at Orby but failed to meet their reserves were G1 Matron S. victress No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), who was led out unsold at €190,000, and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud scorer Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), whose bidding stalled at €120,000.

The 2021 Orby catalogue specifically has been a beneficiary of some of these updates, with siblings to some of Orby's star graduates set to go under the hammer this time around. Whitehall Stud offers a half-sister to Mother Earth and G2 Premio Dormello winner Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by first-season sire Sioux Nation (lot 117), and she is bookended by two more sisters to Classic winners by first-season sires: lot 110 is a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) half-sister to Orby graduate and G1 Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), while lot 120 is a US Navy Flag half-sister to this year's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. scorer Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). Another Classic pedigree that should generate interest early in the sale is Al Eile Stud's Kingman (GB) filly out of dual Guineas winner Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) (lot 29), who is a half-sister to G2 Beresford S. winner Ol' Man River (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Kingman's eight catalogued also include Mountarmstrong Stud's colt out of champion and stakes producer Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away) (lot 338).

Newlands House Stud's lot 294 is a full-brother to Winter Power and two other stakes horses, while Coulonces Sales offers a Footstepsinthesand (GB) half-brother to last year's G1 Phoenix S. winner and Orby graduate Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 196).

Six sons and daughters of Galileo (Ire) are catalogued, including a filly who is the first foal out of GI Frizette S. winner Nickname (Scat Daddy) (lot 152) and a colt out of dual Group 1 winner Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) (lot 242), who is also the dam of G3 International S. winner Mekong River (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). There is a colt and a filly each offered by Dubawi (Ire), including lot 70, a colt out of G3 Balanchine S. winner I Am Beautiful (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) from the Monevassia branch of the Miesque line that has also produced the brilliant Rumplestiltskin (Ire), Tapestry (Ire), Loves Only You (Jpn) and Real Steel (Jpn) among others.

Dark Angel (Ire's) 17 catalogued include Owenstown Stud's full-sister to G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Persuasive (Ire) and half to this season's G3 Jersey S. winner Creative Force (Ire) and the listed-winning Tisbutadream (Ire) (lot 408), all of which were sold at Orby; and a full-brother to G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Angel's Hideaway (Ire) (lot 289). Sea The Stars (Ire) has 16 catalogued including a half-sister to Hong Kong champion and Group 1 winner Irishcorrespondent (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 413). Frankel has four catalogued including Marlhill House Stud's lot 377, a colt who is a half-brother to group winners Adjusted (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Giuseppe Piazza (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and out of a half-sister to the excellent producer In Clover (GB). Another sibling to a 2021 Group 1 winner catalogued is the Starspangledbanner (Aus) half-brother to G1 Prix Jean Prat scorer Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) (lot 216).

Of particular appeal to those targeting the Goffs Million will be the yearlings catalogued from precocious families. In addition to the half-brother to Lucky Vega, those include siblings to the winners of this year's G2 Queen Mary S. as well as the last two winners of the G2 Norfolk S. Tally-Ho Stud offers a three-quarter sister by Kodiac (GB) to this year's Norfolk and G1 Prix Morny winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) (lot 214), while Kilpatrick Farm offers a Footstepsinthesand (GB) half-brother to last year's Norfolk winner and recent G2 Franklin-Simpson S. scorer The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) (lot 167). Oghill House Stud's lot 247 is a full-brother to this year's Queen Mary winner Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}). Lot 364 is a Churchill (Ire) half-brother to Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), who added the G2 Debutante S. to her win in the G3 Silver Flash S. since the catalogue was published. Lot 370 is a full-brother to G2 Lowther S. winner Living In The Past (Ire) (Bungleinthejungle {Ire}); lot 430 is a Dragon Pulse (Ire) half-brother to this year's G3 Anglesey S. winner Beauty Inspire (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}); lot 168 is a Belardo (Ire) half-brother to last year's G2 Gimcrack S. winner Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}); and lot 384 is a half-sister to this year's G3 Albany S. third Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) by first-season sire Kessaar (Ire).

Another by a first-season sire is Ballyhimikin Stud's Saxon Warrior (Jpn) colt out of Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) (lot 397), who is the second to last foal out of the highly influential mare. Other first-season sires represented include Cracksman (GB), Expert Eye (GB), Havana Grey (GB), Roaring Lion, the aforementioned Sioux Nation and US Navy Flag and Zoustar (Aus), who has his first Northern Hemisphere-bred yearlings. There is strong representation from American-based first-season sires too, including Scat Daddy sons Justify and Mendelssohn and Kitten's Joy's multiple Grade I-winning Oscar Performance.

“The catalogue reads very, very well,” Beeby said. “The sire profile is good with Galileo, Frankel, Dubawi, Sea the Stars and all the major stallions in there. We are very hopeful. We rely completely on the support of the Irish breeders and we've specifically marketed it, as we have in the past, as Ireland's national yearling sale. It's very important to Ireland as a country, to the bloodstock community in Ireland, and we've been well supported and we're very grateful for that as ever.”

With Tattersalls Ireland opting to stage its September Yearling Sale in Newmarket once again this year, the Orby will be the only flat yearling sale staged in Ireland this year.

“I do think people enjoy coming to Ireland and often this is their only trip to Ireland in the year, whether it be from England or the United States or elsewhere,” Beeby said. “They can have two or three days in a beautiful part of the world with great attractions; they can nip off to places like the Irish National Stud, Kildangan and Coolmore.”

Beeby said he was “encouraged” by the results of the Arqana August Yearling Sale and Goffs UK's Premier and Silver yearling sales to kick off the season, and that his expectations are “realistic” as Goffs works to “reboot and re-establish the Orby sale.”

“We were on an upward trajectory certainly for the previous four years,” Beeby said. “In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 we grew every year and we had six-figure averages. Our UK sale–and I think the Arqana Sale as well but certainly our UK sale–bounced back to somewhere between where we were in 2019 and 2020, and I think if we can do that with the Orby Sale we'd be delighted. Anything better would be amazing.

“Happily vendors have seen that we've reacted as proactively as we can to the reversal we endured last year. They've bought into that and we think we've put together a very good catalogue and we're hoping to welcome a big group of buyers.

“What I'd like to say to people is come to Kildare. You'll be extremely well looked after, and we believe you'll like what you see. Come and have a look at our horses and you'll see we have some very good-looking horses. It's all about potential racehorses and they'll come from all parts of the catalogue, all consignors. It's a very, very good bunch.”

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“Unfortunately Santa Barbara has had a setback,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “It doesn't look at the moment as if she's going to make the Breeders' Cup. We've now rerouted Mother Earth. She was going to go to Australia, but we're thinking she'll be going to America to take in some of the races that Santa Barbara could have run in. It's a shame for Santa Barbara, she'd been going really well of late.”

Mother Earth finished second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland and has hit the board in all six starts, all in Group 1 company, this season, most recently finishing a troubled third in the G1 Matron S. on Irish Champions Weekend. Early Oaks favourite Santa Barbara was beaten in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S. to start her campaign before traveling to America to take the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and the GI Beverly D. S.

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Despite the allure of Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Leger, it is hard to be drawn away from the Irish Champion itself as the feature event of the day with a trio of the highest order engaged in the ultimate cat-and-mouse antics around Leopardstown's demanding circuit. Will Kevin Manning have to carry the fight to the hold-up merchants St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) on the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire})? Unbeaten in two starts here, albeit in lesser company, the Bolger homebred was positively ridden when taking the G3 Killavullan S. in October and on his return in the Apr. 11 Listed 2000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs, but this is further than he has gone so far.

Ryan Moore's tactic will be to sit and wait on his star colt, who has displayed stunning acceleration on more than one occasion, most notably in the G1 Eclipse at Sandown July 3. Yet he is unproven in a fast-run mile-and-a-quarter contest on fast ground, so St Mark's Basilica will have to be at his dynamic best to put Poetic Flare to the sword and evade the onslaught of Tarnawa. Moore was weighing up the contest on Friday. “I have lots of respect for Tarnawa. She looked a super filly at the back end of last season,” he said. “Poetic Flare has been great all season, but the 2000 Guineas winner is stepping up in trip here and that could be difficult against the top two. My lad has gears though and I'm expecting a very big run in a quality race.”

Aidan O'Brien is ponderinng the opportunity for a 10th renewal with the horse he has been so effusive about this year. “He's very offhanded and very straightforward. He has a great mind, he relaxes, he has a great stride and is very genuine–he has all the things that you would love in a horse,” he commented. “The Irish Champion S. is a great race every year. For older horses having an autumn campaign, it's the tops really.”

Colin Keane has already felt the power of The Aga Khan's 5-year-old in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and in the 12-furlong G3 Ballyroan S. on her return here Aug. 5. Her ability to quicken off a moderate pace over this trip was proven in the G1 Prix de l'Opera at ParisLongchamp in October, so any holes in her have yet to be found and she will relish this stiff uphill finish. “She was good in the Ballyroan. I think they left her off for longer by design, very much thinking of a backend campaign with her,” her rider said. “She came back much stronger physically this year. We thought going to Leopardstown she was about 70% and there was plenty to work on, so to put up the performance she did I thought was very impressive. We're dropping back two furlongs at the weekend, but she's proven herself over that trip as well. It's a very good renewal of the race–you're taking on two of the best 3-year-olds in Ireland, if not Europe. It's not going to be easy, but I don't think I'd swap her for anything.”

Hurricane To The Test

If the St Leger turns out to be tactical, it will be a surprise with Aidan O'Brien fully loaded with strong stayers including The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who responded so well to forcing the pace in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York Aug. 18. 'TDN Rising Star' High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to need a severe test of stamina, while Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the only runner in the line-up who has won over the trip in the Listed Vinnie Roe S. at Leopardstown Aug. 12. All that said, Hurricane Lane is certain to stay this extended 14-furlong trip on pedigree and looks a class above based on his emphatic win in the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris which proceeded his impressive surge to take the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 26.

Charlie Appleby is not looking at the distance as a problem. “Obviously, it is the big question for all of them. Will they stay the extra two furlongs? In his case, I think he will,” he said. “He goes into the Leger with rock-solid form. He's only been beaten once–he finished third in the Derby and he lost two shoes. We feel there is enough evidence there to say he will stay. He is the class horse in the field.”

“After travelling to Ireland and France, he is a mentally sharper horse,” Appleby added. “When he went to Epsom in June, he was unbeaten in three starts and relatively inexperienced. That was his undoing on the day. But what we have seen since is a much sharper model. He is mentally stronger and more mature and he is ready for this. William [Buick] rode him in a good piece of work 10 days out from the Leger and he was delighted. He looked great, he moved well. He's been doing routine work since then, and he continues to please.”

Aidan O'Brien said of his team, “High Definition had a little slip in the Irish Derby when he stumbled and he just lost his confidence a bit. York was his first run back after that and we were happy with his run there and we thought he would come on mentally for it. He's a horse we've always thought could get further than a mile and a half. The Mediterranean is in good form and he ran very well at York the last day. We've been happy with him and it looks like he might stay a bit further. Sir Lucan is well–he ran well at Goodwood and wasn't beaten far at York as well. Frankie just thought a little bit more cover might have suited him, but he still ran a nice race. Interpretation has been gradually progressive and he looks like he stays very well–he's a very relaxed horse.”

Ahead of Hurricane Lane in the June 5 G1 Epsom Derby was Amo Racing's Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who was only fifth in the Irish equivalent before belatedly breaking his maiden at Newbury Aug. 14. Trainer Richard Hannon said he believes the trip will bring out the best in him and said, “The flat, galloping track will suit. He was probably soundly beaten at The Curragh, but we almost got knocked over and it took him a long time to get going. The extra two furlongs will suit him much more. He'll get the trip–the harder they go, the more it will be to his liking. He ran a very good race in the Derby. He's not the one to beat, but he's been underrated and deserves to take his chance.”

O T I Racing's improving Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) beat the subsequent Voltigeur fourth Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in Goodwood's G3 Gordon S. July 29 and heads into uncharted territory trip-wise, but trainer Johnny Murtagh is making waves in his second career and is expecting a bold show. “He came out of the Gordon S. at Goodwood really well and we've freshened him up–it's been a while since he ran, but that was the plan as had been busy through the early part of the season,” he said. “A mile and six is a bit of an unknown, but he races lazily so he'll give himself every chance.”

“It's a long way down that straight at Doncaster if they get racing early, but he's very well and I'm very happy going over there,” Murtagh added. “He's in good shape and Ben [Coen] is very happy with him. He never gives you 100%, so he's never really tired after his races. He's always hanging on to a little bit. I'm hoping that, when he does dig deep on Saturday, there is a bit more. We haven't got to the bottom of him yet and, although it's a big ask, we could not be happier with him.”

Matron Down To Earth

The third of the Group 1 races on the afternoon is the Matron at Leopardstown, with Ballydoyle's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) taking on last year's winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) and Haras de Saint Pair's improving July 11 G3 Brownstown S. and Aug. 26 G3 Fairy Bridge S. winner Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Also in the mix is the May 22 G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a wide-open affair should Mother Earth fail to give her customary best.

Ryan Moore has abundant faith in Mother Earth and said, “She has only been out of the first three in one of her 13 races and the last day, in the Prix Rothschild, she showed the tenacity and will to win that has been on display all season. Empress Josephine is an Irish 1000 Guineas winner on heavy ground, so any rain that falls will be in her favour. It's very competitive, but I wouldn't swap Mother Earth for anything in here.”

Champers Elysees has taken time to come to herself this term, but there were indications last time when second attempting to give Acanella (GB) (Dansili {GB}) seven pounds in The Curragh's nine-furlong G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. Aug. 27 that she is again nearing a peak. “She's coming along nicely and is in great form,” trainer Johnny Murtagh said. “She had a few little hiccups earlier in the year and we thought she ran well at Ascot. We then went over again for the Falmouth where she didn't get a great run and got a bit smashed. She came out of the Curragh race really, really well. She's fit, she's ready to go and I think she's as good as she has been all year. She has to step up again, but maybe she's a filly that comes good at this time of year. She doesn't mind any ground and it's good, fast ground, the same as last year, and a similar race.”

Future Stars

Next year's Classic stars could be on show in England and Ireland, with The Queen's Aug. 21 G3 Solario S. winner Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) tackling Al Shaqab Racing's July 8 G2 July S. and Aug. 20 G2 Gimcrack S. scorer Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the Champagne. In receipt of three pounds, the John and Thady Gosden trainee is heavily favoured to make that count, with the leader of Richard Hannon's juveniles certain to have his stamina tested moving back up to seven furlongs from the six over which he took those prestigious Newmarket and York contests. There is also Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Aug. 14 Listed Washington Singer S. runner-up Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) to consider in a fascinating affair, but Frankie Dettori is happy to be in the hotseat.

“In the last two races he hardly saw a horse, so this is the first big test,” he said of The Queen's most high-profile 2-year-old in decades. “We're building him up, he's getting more experience and he's done nothing wrong so far. This horse is a work in progress at the moment. We're keeping him busy. We feel the more experience he gets, the better he gets. Saturday will be another key point. I've got plenty of confidence in him. He's exciting, and Her Majesty is our biggest asset in racing.”

“Everybody is thinking about next year–I'm thinking one race at a time,” Dettori added. “Let's get Saturday out of the way and then progress. All the boxes are ticked and everything is going in the right direction. After the Solario, myself and John felt the experience of racing is doing him good and that is why we are getting him out. To have a colt of this calibre for The Queen is exciting.”

Hannon said of Lusail, “It looks a very good race and it always is. I'm very happy with my horse. He's won a Gimcrack, won a July S.–you don't do that unless you're a very good horse. It would obviously be easier without a penalty, but he carried a penalty in the Gimcrack and dealt with that no problem. He's a big, strong horse and he will carry a big weight. He's not just a 2-year-old. I've always known he'd get seven furlongs and maybe further. He's a Guineas horse for next year and you might even see some improvement at seven. Reach For the Moon looked a very good horse when he won the Solario. He probably is the one to beat, but it's a good race and very competitive.” Roger Varian said of Bayside Boy, “It's a strong race, but we're keen to give it a go. He's in good order and should run very well. I think there's more improvement to come from him.”

At Leopardstown, the Champions Juvenile over a mile sees Coolmore and Westerberg's Absolute Ruler (War Front) look to build on his debut success at Dundalk Aug. 15, with Sean Jones, David Spratt and Lynne Lyons's June 27 Curragh maiden winner Atomic Jones (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) another unexposed type there to test Team Valor's standard-bearer Maritime Wings (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Second to Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in both the G3 Tyros S. here July 22 and in The Curragh's G2 Futurity S. Aug. 21, the latter will be unfortunate to run into a peer of that calibre in this affair.

Joseph O'Brien saddles Maritime Wings and Qatar Racing's Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who beat Ballydoyle's re-opposing Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in an extended mile maiden at Galway at the end of July. “Maritime Wings has had a very good campaign already, making a winning debut in a maiden over this course and distance prior to twice finishing second to Point Lonsdale in group company,” he said. “He doesn't have that colt to deal with here and those runs make him the form pick in this. There are a few unexposed ones in against him that look very promising, but he sets the bar good and high for them. He shouldn't have any issue with this longer trip and he looks to have a very good chance.”

“Buckaroo is a big colt that has always showed plenty at home. He made a really promising debut in a strong maiden at Killarney, having missed the kick badly and he built on that to win a maiden at the Galway Festival last time. This track should suit him well and we feel he has improved well since that win. He's a horse we like a lot and he shouldn't be underestimated.”

Mac Is Back

Also at Leopardstown, the Boomerang Mile–which is registered as the Solonaway S.–plays host to the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who drops down in trip and class having proven a touch disappointing on each of his last three starts over further. They include a fifth in the G1 Juddmonte International at York Aug. 18, but he should be more in his comfort zone here tackling the likes of Newtown Anner Stud Farm's May 9 G3 Amethyst S. scorer and July 15 G3 Meld S. runner-up Maker of Kings (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who captured the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. in scintillating style on this weekend 12 months ago, looked to be back on track when second in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs at Deauville July 11, but it was back to the drawing board after he beat only one of his 11 rivals in that venue's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over half a furlong shorter Aug. 8.

“Thunder Moon was another one of our star 2-year-olds last season that hasn't had the smoothest of campaigns this season, but he showed that he still retains a lot of his ability when a close second in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in July,” Joseph O'Brien said. “He shouldn't be judged too harshly on his latest run in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, as he got isolated in the middle of the track following the wrong horse. His low draw is ideal and the firmer the ground, the better his chance.”

   The G3 Paddy Power S., or Kilternan as it is better known, rounds off the pattern-race action on the card with the Aug. 13 G3 Royal Whip S. winner Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) renewing rivalry with Ballydoyle's Innisfree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was fifth after a long lay-off in that Curragh contest. Johnny Murtagh said of Earlswood, “He came out of the Curragh really well and it was a nice, smooth win. It's always a very, very competitive race but we think he's in good shape and he needs a bit of rain to come. We have big targets for him now until the end of the season. I thought he might be a Leger horse one day because his brother won the Chester Cup over two miles two [furlongs], but he seems to be getting a bit sharper with racing.”

Ryan Moore retains faith in the 2019 G2 Beresford S. winner Innisfree and said, “He was a very high-class 2-year-old, but he missed his 3-year-old campaign and Aidan started him back after a 651-day absence in the Royal Whip at the Curragh last month, where he ran very well to finish fifth. The vibes seem positive about him and this looks like a good opportunity to get him back on track, but he has to turn that from around with Earlswood.”

Doncaster's Park S. lacks an obvious star turn, but in Shadwell's 3-year-old Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) surprised when runner-up on his seasonal bow in Newbury's G2 Hungerford S. over this seven-furlong trip Aug. 14 and is open to abundant progression meeting the operation's July 24 International H. winner Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). “Dane O'Neill gave him a lovely ride that day after his absence and hopefully he can build on that now he's reunited with Jim Crowley on Town Moor,” Laneqash's trainer Roger Varian said on Friday. “The trip, ground and track will be in his favour and we can hope for a strong showing tomorrow.”

Sunday's feature races took their final shape on Friday, with ParisLongchamp's day of Arc trials featuring the outstanding Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) meeting six rivals in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille, while at The Curragh the aforementioned 'TDN Rising Star' Point Lonsdale tackles some intriguing rivals including Al Shaqab's Aug. 8 G1 Phoenix S. hero Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. Moyglare Stud's Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to make it three consecutive wins in the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger, which has attracted a field of 14.

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