Christopher Head's star completed a rare treble at Chantilly when strolling to victory in the Prix de Diane earlier this month, adding to victories in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and last year's Marcel Boussac-a feat previously achieved by the likes of Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) and Allez France (Sea Bird {Fr}).

Blue Rose Cen, who has won seven of her nine outings, was stepping up to an extended 10 furlongs for the first time at Chantilly and Head is eager to stick at that trip as the Churchill (Ire) filly takes on older rivals for the first time at Goodwood.

He told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, “The main idea is to still keep up with the challenges. The owner has always been bold and daring in racing challenges and we have been talking about the next stage for Blue Rose Cen and he wants to go to the Nassau to do the same as Nashwa did with the Prix de Diane and Nassau double and we really have great faith in her with that programme.

“I don't think we have got to the limit of that filly yet. I still want to encounter the older fillies without getting into a new distance, so we'll keep with the distance we know she is best at right now and try to encounter a new panel of fillies to be able to know if she is capable of getting into the Vermeille and then we will pretty much know if she is an Arc or an Opera (horse).

“Even if she is not in the race, it is a possibility she can still be supplemented into the Arc. Leopoldo Fernández Pujals of Yeguada Centurion is a really a bold and daring individual, embracing challenges, so we're trying to do our best to get the horses to those kind of challenges, and that's why we're happy to go to the Nassau.”

Head also trains Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) for the same owner, but he failed in his Classic mission when beaten three-and-a-half lengths by Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in the Prix du Jockey Club.

That was his first attempt over further than nine furlongs and Head feels his future now lies over a mile.

He added: “He's pretty much a mile horse or a 1800-metre horse and we learned that in the Jockey Club. We will put him onto another path which is the Jacques Le Marois and probably the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes too.”

The post Nassau Mission Handed To Superstar French Filly Blue Rose Cen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A dominant winner of last year's GII Kelso H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and this term's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Life Is Good spent some time at WinStar after his return from Dubai and has been breezing steadily at Belmont for Pletcher since Memorial Day weekend. Flavien Prat climbs aboard the fleet-footed bay for the first time Saturday.

“Flavien has proven he rides really well in any occasion,” said Pletcher, who indicated this race is a prep for the GI Whitney S. “There might be some similarities to Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good, but we'll have a talk about the horse a little bit. He's got kind of a quiet touch, so that should suit him well.”

While Life Is Good will certainly be the heavy favorite, there is one member of this five-horse field who could give him a run for his money. Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) kicked off 2022 with a trio of seemingly effortless victories in the GIII Fred Hooper S., GII Gulfstream Park Mile and GI Carter H. He received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for that win, which trumps Life Is Good's best figure of 110 in the Pegasus. The bay enters this off a third-place finish behind unbeaten sensation Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11 and Jose Ortiz takes over the controls from Junior Alvarado, who will be riding for trainer Bill Mott in Kentucky.

The Nerud certainly looks like a match race between these two formidable foes as Repo Rocks (Tapiture), Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) and War Tocsin (Violence) are overmatched to say the least.

Also on tap at Belmont Saturday is the GIII Dwyer S. for sophomore colts. The regally bred Charge It (Tapit) looks to rebound in this cutback in trip after a poor effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 17th. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a green, but good second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in April and the Run for the Roses may have just been too much too soon. You can count on Pletcher to have the colt ready to roll in this softer spot and his back-to-back bullets on the local training track affirm that. With the colt's regular rider Luis Saez at Churchill Downs for Americanrevolution (Constitution), the Hall of Famer calls on his right-hand man John Velazquez to take over the reins.

Chad Brown has an intriguing runner in the Dwyer in Peter Brant's Nabokov (Uncle Mo). The $775,000 KEESEP buy earned his diploma at this oval when extended to two turns last time in his second start May 15.

Cox Holds Strong Hand at Churchill

Churchill Downs also offers a pair of intriguing graded events and Brad Cox has a strong chance to take both. He sends out Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (Into Mischief)–who is making his first start since a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup–in the GII Stephen Foster H., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event. The colt was promoted to first via DQ in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. last year and crossed the line first in the GIII Louisiana S. in January. Cox also saddles Caddo River (Hard Spun) off a trio of optional claimer scores.

Olympiad | Coady

That pair face some stiff competition from New York in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Americanrevolution (Constitution). The Bill Mott-trained Olympiad is a perfect four-for-four this season, topped by wins in the GIII Mineshaft S., GII New Orleans Classic and GII Alysheba S. Meanwhile, Americanrevolution, who shares the same connections as Life is Good, looks to return to winning ways. Capturing the GI Cigar Mile Dec. 4, the chestnut spent six months on the shelf and was a disappointing fourth in his return in the track-and-trip Blame S. June 4.

The GII Fleur de Lis S. attracted just five distaffers, but two of them are Grade I winners. Cox sends out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), whose trio of Grade I wins includes the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay was run down last time by this field's other top-level scorer Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) in this venue's GI La Troienne S. May 6. That Stonestreet homebred ran back in the local Shawnee S. June 4, finishing fourth as the heavy favorite behind She's All Wolfe (Magna Graduate).

Sprinters Star at Gulfstream

Female sprinters get a chance to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Saturday at Gulfstream in the GII Princess Rooney S., a 'Win and You're In.' Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) won this event last term en route to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint and she will be heavily favored to defend her title. Winner of the GII Azeri S. earlier this year, the chestnut was third behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) and last-out GI Ogden Phipps S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Her biggest competition will come from claim-to-fame Glass Ceiling (Constitution), winner of the GIII Barbare Fritchie S. and GIII Distaff H. The bay enters off a third to Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 10.

Male sprinters get a chance at graded glory in Hallandale too in the GIII Smile Sprint S. The race will go through GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), who makes his first start since finishing seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. Mar. 26.

Delaware & Canada Also Offer Graded Action

Sophomores will be in the spotlight at Delaware Park Saturday with the GIII Delaware Oaks and GIII Kent S. Ruthless S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) looks like the one to beat. The bay receives Lasix for the first time off a third-place finish in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 9.

The GIII Kent S. features 3-year-old colts on the grass and the likely favorite is Harrell Ventures' Main Event (Bernardini), winner of the Cutler Bay S. He was last seen finishing ninth in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 7. He faces Brad Cox runner Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in a trio of listed stakes.

Woodbine hosts four graded events Saturday: the GIII Selene S. for 3-year-old fillies, the GIII Marine S. for sophomore colts, the GII Nassau S. for older fillies and mares, and the GII Highlander S. for older male turf sprinters. Jonathan Thomas could win both the sophomore events with Catiche (Arrogate) in the Selene and Fuerteventura (Summer Front) in the Marine.

Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of this venue's GII Bessarabian S., faces SW & MGSP Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and GSW Plum Ali (First Samurai) in the Nassau. The Highlander is topped by the Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), a two-time winner of the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland.

The post Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dreamloper started her season in fine form with high-profile victories in the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket before beating the boys in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan.

While she couldn't land a blow in the Pretty Polly on Derby weekend at the Curragh, better is expected from Dreamloper when she gets her desired conditions.

“It was bad ground, it was just too soft for her,” said Walker, reflecting on the disappointing Curragh run.

“She got set alight early on, so she was a bit keen on bad ground over further than she had gone before.”

He added, “She didn't run badly but I think it was probably a warmer race than the d'Ispahan, it was a good race, the Pretty Polly, and the Nassau will be even stronger.

“She'll need to step up to win the Nassau but I wouldn't be surprised if she does, especially if it's her ground.”

Walker also has a Group 1 target for the 4-year-old filly Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), who finished third behind Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot, and will now be aimed at the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket.

“She ran a really good race and I think she'll come a lot for that,” Walker said. “I was very, very pleased with her, she's had an interrupted prep into that race and a few respiratory infections.

“It was a last-minute call to go there and she did us proud. I think she'll come on a lot for it and that's why we're prepared to have a shot at the Falmouth next month, that's the plan with her.”

The post Nassau Next For Ed Walker’s Group 1 Winner Dreamloper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The 10/3 winner Lady Bowthorpe had been running well in prestigious contests all season and appeared to relish her first assignment over 10 furlongs. Like her jockey, the popular 5-year-old mare was registering a first Group 1 success.

Trained by William Jarvis, Lady Bowthorpe sat fourth for much of the contest as 9/4 joint-favourite Joan Of Arc made the running. Shoemark challenged wide as the race developed in the home straight, quickening clear for a length and a half victory from Zeyaadah (7/1).

Joan Of Arc held on for third, a half-length behind the runner-up, with the other 9/4 joint-favorite Audarya never threatening in fifth.

Shoemark said: “I'm pretty speechless to be honest. Lady Bowthorpe is such a special mare. I just feel lucky to be a part of her. It's fantastic for the whole team, Emma Banks, William Jarvis.

“I know this horse so well and I can tell what form she is in just by cantering to the start. She took a hold of me cantering down and I knew she was in good form. She likes a bit of give in the ground, the question mark was the 10 furlongs. In all her previous races, her last furlong has been her best furlong so it didn't concern me too much.

“Lady Bowthorpe bumped into an absolute champion in Palace Pier in the Lockinge. She was unlucky in the Falmouth where things didn't go her way as we hit traffic problems that day. It's all worthwhile now. I'm delighted that we're going to be able to celebrate tonight and really enjoy this. It's a massive team effort.

“She's a special filly and has done nothing but improve with age. She is a credit to her owner Emma who is an incredible woman who fills me with absolute confidence. I'm just delighted.

“In the last day or so, I've been imagining crossing the line in front, but I think it will not sink in until later. Without sounding too confident, I always believed if I got myself clean and sober that I would get to where I wanted to be.

“My career is back on track now. I'm really enjoying the racing and to be involved in these huge days is what it's all about. I've won a Group One today, but I'm already looking forward to the next one.”

This was a first Group 1 success for Jarvis since Grand Lodge captured the St James's Palace Stakes in 1994.

The trainer said: “We knew Lady Bowthorpe was smart when she won the Valiant Stakes at Ascot as a four-year-old. She was exceptional in the Dahlia Stakes and she's a very, very smart filly.

“I think after she won the Dahlia Stakes that was when I, personally, thought that she should have the Nassau Stakes on her radar and we sort of worked back a little bit.

“Having said that, she hasn't missed a beat, we went Dahlia, Lockinge, Royal Ascot, Newmarket, she's a very tough mare.

“I've been dying to run her over 10 furlongs for a long time but events transpired against us until today. Anyway, I think she has proved that she's even better over 10 than she is at a mile.

“I've never lost faith in myself as a trainer. Quite a lot of other people may well have done, which is why we've only got 28 or 29 horses in the yard.

“However, I've got a lovely bunch of staff working for me and they've never lost faith in the way that we operate and they give me everything.

“We are a family unit and there is a lot of loyalty involved, including with Kieran who I am delighted for.

“There was a lot of pressure from outside people saying should we do this or that or leave Oisin Murphy sitting in the weighing room, but it never really crossed out minds.

“I am thrilled for Kieran. He is a delightful young man who has impeccable manners. He obviously went through a bad place but he came out through the other end. He is a delight to work with.”

Lady Bowthorpe's owner Emma Banks said: “Kieran gave Lady Bowthorpe an amazing ride. He deserves this, it is his first Group One – it's all of our first Group One apart from William who had one back when the dinosaurs were doing it.

“It's fantastic. I was sitting next to Luca Cumani who half a furlong out looked at me and said 'you've got this'. If Luca Cumani says that then you know you've got it.

“I'm so proud of Lady Bowthorpe. I'm proud of Kieran who had a lot of pressure and he has had some bad luck on her and today we won.

“I pay the bills, that's all I do really. William is a fantastic trainer, he has lots of my horses. They are not all as good as this one unfortunately.”

Shadwell's Angus Gold said of the runner-up: “If you told me a year ago Zeyaadah would win a Listed, a Group 3 and be second in a Group 1, I would have been very excited at the thought of that. So I am thrilled.

“She will stick at that sort of trip. Jim [Crowley] didn't mention the ground. She won on bottomless, but I don't think that was for her. Jim did say she was moving beautifully.

“It a great result for Emma Banks and William Jarvis.”

Audarya's rider William Buick said: “I would say that Audarya just didn't pick up on that ground. She won on fast ground at Royal Ascot and whilst she has run well in some big races on similar ground to today, the difference was that it is just so tacky and gluey. For me, it was the ground that was the issue today.”

The post Lady Bowthorpe Provides Popular Triumph In Nassau Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, commenced the sequence with graded stakes action, as Jolie Olimpica won the $175,000 Grade 2 Nassau for older fillies and mares going one mile on the turf in Race 6. Trained by Josie Carroll and ridden by Luis Contreras, the Brazilian-bred Jolie Olimpica's three-quarters of a length victory in a final time of 1:34.83 paid $5.30 on $2 win wager.

The first of three races at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., came in the second leg, as Luis Saez piloted 10-1 Midnight Worker to a victory by a head over Bourbon Heist in a six-furlong maiden sprint over the main track in Race 6. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Midnight Worker paid $22.20 in hitting the wire in 1:11.92.

Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., also got in on the stakes action, with He'spuregold besting slight favorite Quiberon Bay by one length in the $85,000 Irish War Cry for New Jersey-breds 3-years-old and up going one mile on the turf in Race 9. The Kelly Breen trainee, who posted a final time of 1:35.53, returned $5.40.

Saratoga concluded the last two legs, starting when Sifting Sands topped Never Explain by a head in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming tilt on the turf in Race 7. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Manny Franco, the British-bred Sifting Sands won at 28-1, paying $58.

A Brown-trained horse completed the Cross Country Pick 5 when the Irish-bred Rastafara won a one-mile inner turf contest for maidens 3-years-old and up going one mile on the inner turf in Race 8. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Rastafara paid $7.10 in notching a final time of 1:36.47.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

The post Cross Country Pick 5 Pays $6,000 Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Making her Woodbine debut on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Jolie Olimpica stalked the pacesetter Honey Cake while racing outside of 2020 Nassau runner-up Another Time through fractions of :23.94, :47.63, and 1:10.69. The Brazilian-bred daughter of Drosselmeyer rallied three-wide on the turn and pulled ahead down the lane en route to victory in 1:34.83 over the 'firm' course.

Jolie Olimpica paid $5.30 to win as the 8-5 favorite as she finished three-quarters of a length ahead of 7-2 second choice Abscond, who closed strongly from the backfield to place. Our Secret Agent rounded out the top three finish order, 2 ½ lengths behind.

“She was so nice and great the whole way,” said winning jockey Luis Contreras. “I was confident every single step of the way and turning for home, it felt like she was just breaking from the gate again.”

Bred by Stud T N T, the classy chestnut mare has finished no worse than third in 10 lifetime starts. A Group 1 winner in Brazil, Jolie Olimpica has earned more than $450,000 in purses and six career victories, including last year's Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes and Grade 3 Las Cienegas at Santa Anita.

The multiple graded stakes-winning 5-year-old was previously trained by Richard Mandella stateside before joining the stable of Canadian Hall of Famer Josie Carroll this season at Woodbine.

Carroll noted the mare has been ready to run for a long time with the delayed season and opted for the Nassau's one-turn mile to allow her to relax better in the race and make an easier lead.

“What an honour to have these silks,” said Carroll in reference to the white and red colours representing Fox Hill and its late founder Rick Porter. “It was wonderful that Mr. Porter sent this horse here and that his family left her with me with his passing. I'm delighted that she won in his honour in one of the big choices that he made. He's made such great choices and had such great horses over the years that I hope we can carry on his tradition.”

The post Jolie Olimpica Takes Nassau Over Firm Turf At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Bred by Machmer Hall, owned by Hoolie Racing and trained by Barb Minshall, Another Time just missed taking last year's running of the one-mile E.P. Taylor Turf Course event, finishing a neck behind Elizabeth Way for all the spoils.

The dark bay arrives at the Nassau off a strong two-length score at 7 ½-furlongs over the Toronto oval's Inner Turf on June 12. Sent off as the 9-5 choice, Another Time was settled into second spot by jockey David Moran, before the duo assumed command at the stretch call and then easily held off their rivals.

The performance was even more impressive, offered Minshall, considering the Kentucky-bred had a rough beginning to her journey.

“She's always been a nice filly,” said Minshall, who won back-to-back editions (1995-96) of the Nassau with Bold Ruritana. “I was expecting her to run well. She had been ready to run for quite a while before that. She was definitely ready to run. She gets over the turf very well and she does everything right. She actually stumbled a little bit coming out of the gate, so it was a really nice recovery and effort.”

Another Time launched her career on October 21, 2018, at Woodbine, finishing third in a six-furlong main track race as the 7-5 choice. She broke her maiden one race later, doubling up in December to close out her rookie season.

In 2019, Another Time posted a third (in the Gasparilla Stakes, at Tampa Bay Downs) in three starts.

She returned to action with a winning effort at Tampa Bay in March 2020, and went on to contest four consecutive graded events – Grade 2 Nassau, Grade 3 Trillium, Grade 3 Seaway, and Grade 2 Canadian – ending her year with a 2-1-1 mark from seven appearances.

Sporting a lifetime mark of 5-1-3 from 14 starts, Another Time's connections are looking to add a stakes victory to her stat sheet.

“She runs well off the layoff,” said Minshall. “She got injured in the last race [Canadian] before the layoff and was off quite a while. I don't think it was the [1 1/8-mile] distance of the race – she just wasn't right after that race. I think she's more than capable up to that distance and she's really good right now, knock on wood. She doesn't need to be on the lead. She can be close. If someone wants the lead, she can sit off it. She's also the type of horse that's more than willing to carry on in front. She gives the rider a lot of options on where to be and I think that makes her dangerous in that regard.”

Dangerous enough, hopes Minshall, to see her go one better than she did in last year's Nassau.

“She almost had that race. I'm hoping she can get that graded stakes win on her résumé. It would be nice for the long-term plan for her.”

Eight horses have won the Nassau twice, including Eternal Search (1982-83). Augustin Stable took a division of the 1985 edition with Annie Edge, who won the Grade 2 New York Handicap one year earlier.

The Nassau is Race 6 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$175,000 Nassau Stakes (Grade 2)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Abby Hatcher – Kazushi Kimura – Anne Meah

2 – Another Time – David Moran – Barb Minshall

3 – Tappitty Tappitty – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Saratoga Vision – Jeffery Alderson – Alexander Patykewich

5 – Abscond – Justin Stein – Eddie Kenneally

6 – Our Secret Agent – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

7 – Crystal Glacier – Shaun Bridgmohan – Mark Casse

8 – Sunset Kiss – Gary Boulanger – J. Kent Sweezey

9 – Honey Cake – Antonio Gallardo – Jonathan Thomas

10 – Jolie Olimpica – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

11 – Royal Wedding – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

12 – Merveilleux – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

Nine starters, including veteran campaigner Woodbridge, will travel 'about' 1 1/8 miles over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in Sunday's $100,000 Niagara Stakes, at Woodbine.

The running of the Niagara, for four-year-olds & upwards, includes Mike Keogh trainee Woodbridge, a gelded son of Langfuhr bred by the late Gus Schickedanz.

The bay, owned by The Estate of Gus Schickedanz and Donald Howard, will be making his first appearance since contesting a pair of graded stakes events in 2020, both of them at Woodbine.

Woodbridge finished fifth – two lengths behind Count Again – in the Grade 3 Singspiel in September and followed it up with another fifth, this time in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf in mid-October.

“It's really the only spot I've got to run because he's not eligible for 'two other than' yet,” noted Keogh. “He won last year in late August, so I don't want to run him for a tag. So, this is the spot to start. The distance is okay, but I think further down the road he's better going a mile and a quarter, and a mile and a half, maybe. He ran some big races going long last year, in the Singspiel and Northern Dancer.”

Prior to those engagements, the Ontario-bred lit up the toteboard on August 29 in a 1 ¼-mile turf race at the Toronto oval.

Sent off at 50-1, Woodbridge took the lead an eighth of a mile from home and dug in gamely to secure a neck score in a time of 2:02.65 over firm going.

Keogh, inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame last April, would relish a duplicate of that performance.

“That would be great, wouldn't it?” said Keogh. “He runs well fresh, and I've had some stiff works into him, a few seven-eighths and a mile.”

Woodbridge started his career with four straight top-three placings, including a maiden-breaking score in his fourth start on October 2, 2016.

The multiple stakes placed gelding has compiled a record of 3-2-7 from 28 career starts.

“He's lovely to be around. He's a happy, little horse. When you're setting his feed, he hollers like crazy, which I love to hear horses do. They don't all do that, but he does.”

Also contesting the Nassau is six-year-old Admiralty Pier.

Owned by Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford, the graded stakes winning son of English Channel heads into Sunday's added-money affair off a winning effort at Woodbine on July 4.

Trained by Barb Minshall, the chestnut gelding, bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, has assembled a 6-4-3 mark from 26 lifetime starts.

“He's doing great and he's a very solid horse,” noted Minshall. “I expect him to run very well. He's all class. He's a two-year-old Sovereign [Award] champion still going at six. That in itself says a lot.”

The Niagara is Race 7 on Sunday's 11-race card. First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$100,000 Niagara Stakes

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Mnemba Island (S) – Shaun Bridgmohan – Julia Carey

2 – Current – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Jamie Begg

3 – Woodbridge – David Moran – Mike Keogh

4 – Belichick – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

5 – March to the Arch – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

6 – Admiralty Pier – Steven Bahen – Barbara Minshall

7 – Sir Sahib – Daisuke Fukumoto – Michael Doyle

8 – Primo Tough – Sunny Singh – Harold Ladouceur

9 – Theregoesjojo – Rafael Hernandez – Michael De Paulo

The post Another Time Gives It Another Try In Saturday’s Nassau Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

“I've been training a long time and we've been very lucky to have had some very decent horses through our hands, but it's been a bit of a barren spell probably since Gravitation won the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood in 2008. To have a filly as high class as Lady Bowthorpe is great for all of us,” said Jarvis.

Lady Bowthorpe has run a series of brilliant races in defeat since winning the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket in May and Jarvis believes she's a different horse this season.

“She's grown up as a five-year-old mare and she's much more amenable now. As a three and four-year-old, we thought she was very much a soft ground filly but her run in both the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket and more recently in the Falmouth Stakes were on good-to-firm ground and I think she's pretty adaptable.”

The daughter of Nathaniel was flying late on having met trouble in running in the Falmouth Stakes and she has come out of that run in flying form.

“She was very tired when she came out of the Lockinge Stakes, but we had a very good preparation between Ascot and Newmarket, and she's really been pleasing me since the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes.”

“In the Falmouth Stakes, I didn't think she got the rub of the green, but Snow Lantern is a very good filly. I felt at the time that we were the best horse in the race.”

The highest rated miler in the world, Palace Pier, was on Tuesday ruled out of the Qatar Sussex Stakes which has given Jarvis and Lady Bowthorpe's owner Emma Banks reasons to ponder which Group 1 contest they should head to at Goodwood next week.

“Our initial thoughts after the Falmouth were to head to the Qatar Nassau Stakes, to keep her against her own sex and step her up to 10 furlongs. I'm very confident that she'll stay the extra two furlongs. With Palace Pier ruled out, we'll certainly have a look at the opposition in the Qatar Sussex Stakes but I'm certainly leaning towards the Nassau.”

The post Goodwood: Lady Bowthorpe Poised To End 27-Year ‘Barren’ Spell For Trainer William Jarvis appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The daughter of Wootton Basset made an excellent seasonal reappearance at Royal Ascot when just failing to reel in Love in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, and her trainer is delighted with her preparation for the Nassau Stakes, a 1 1/4-mile British Champions Series contest next Thursday, July 29.

Fanshawe, speaking from his Pegasus Stables in Newmarket on Monday morning, said:

“Audarya seems in really good form. We've had the Qatar Nassau Stakes in mind for a while and she's been training well since Ascot. You never quite know how fit they are after such a long gap between races, but she put in a good performance and we've been steering her towards this race ever since Ascot.”

Fanshawe is hopeful that Audarya will come on for that reappearance behind Love.

“The handicapper kept her rating at 117 after the Prince Of Wales's Stakes but I felt it was a really good performance. I hope she can improve again. It shows how far she's come, given that she started off in a Group 1 this year. Last year, her first win of the season came on her third start when winning a handicap off 99 on the 2nd August at Newcastle, so this season already looks very different.

An undoubted strength of Audarya is her versatility, with Fanshawe very relaxed by both the undulations at Goodwood and the ground.

“She won her Group 1s at Deauville and Keeneland which are both flat tracks, but she did win a handicap at Goodwood over 1-mile as a three-year-old where she proved she can handle the track. In terms of ground, she has run on everything! It was very testing when she won the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville and they broke the track record on firm ground when she won the Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland, she's very versatile.”

Talented 3-year-old fillies, including Snow Lantern, Snowfall and Santa Barbara, are all entered into the Qatar Nassau Stakes and if any of them turn, up will receive 9lbs from Audarya.

Fanshawe said: “I was having a look at the record of 3-year-olds in the race which is very good – five of the last six winners have been three. They get 9lbs from the older fillies and mares which is a lot of weight, but it's the same as at Ascot and we go there with a filly who is in good form and hopefully we can overcome that.”

Audarya has had five different jockeys in her 14 career starts but Fanshawe is hoping to retain the services of William Buick who rode her at Royal Ascot.

“Circumstances have meant that we've had a few different jockeys ride her, but William (Buick) seemed to get on well with her in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and hopefully he can ride her next Thursday.”

One other significant James Fanshawe runner at the Qatar Goodwood Festival could come in the shape of Fresh, who finished secondin the Wokingham Handicap on the final day of Royal Ascot. The 4-year-old will head to the Unibet Stewards' Cup on Saturday, July 31, so long as the ground isn't too fast.

Speaking about the son of Bated Breath, Fanshawe said: “Fresh is in really good form, he worked nicely on Saturday. One proviso with him is that he needs to have some ease in the ground, he's just a better horse with give in the ground. Hopefully we'll get plenty of rain after the Nassau Stakes – it can chuck it down as much as it likes on Friday before the Stewards' Cup!”

The post Breeders’ Cup Winner Audarya ‘In Really Good Form’ Ahead Of Nassau Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The duo both ran mighty races on their seasonal returns to finish first and second against the boys in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Love coming out on top by three-parts of a length.

Audarya was having her first start since providing trainer James Fanshawe with a memorable first Breeders' Cup success in the G1 Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November. The daughter of Wootton Basset also captured the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.

Fanshawe said: “Audarya has only been doing steady canters since Royal Ascot, but she seems very well.

“The Prince Of Wales's Stakes was her first run of the year, so you are never totally sure what to expect, and the same applied to Love obviously, but I was just really pleased with her performance and the way she has come out of the race.

“She has a couple of other entries beforehand, but the Qatar Nassau Stakes is a really nice race to aim for. Thanks to the support of Qatar, the prize money is fantastic, and it usually throws up a good clash between the three-year-olds and the older fillies and mares.”

Love's trainer Aidan O'Brien has a formidable eight-strong team in total, with Love joined by Classic winners Snowfall, Mother Earth, Joan Of Arc and Empress Josephine.

Snow Lantern (Richard Hannon) could tackle a mile and a quarter for the first time following her encouraging second in the G1 Coronation Stakes, as could G1 Lockinge Stakes runner-up Lady Bowthorpe (William Jarvis).

Ebaiyra (Alain de Royer-Dupre) is the sole French-trained entry following a decisive success in the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in May.

The Qatar Nassau Stakes is part of the British Champions Series.

The post Love, Audarya May Face Off Again In July 29 Nassau Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post