Observations: Half to Sioux Nation is First Juvenile for Ballydoyle

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Insights features a half sibling to Group 1-winning sire Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy).

3.30 Cork, Listed, €42,500, 3yo/up, 6fT
TENEBRISM (Caravaggio) makes her seasonal bow in this Cork S. as she embarks on a pure sprinting campaign having tried her hand over a mile for most of last term. Successful in the 2021 G1 Cheveley Park S. at this trip, Westerberg and Coolmore's daughter of the high-class Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) added to her tally over seven in the G1 Prix Jean Prat in July and the world is her oyster now that she is concentrating purely on the speed tests.

4.05 Cork, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 5fT
ALABAMA (IRE) (No Nay Never) carries the distinction of being the first juvenile of 2023 to step out from Ballydoyle and also carries some expectation, having been singled out by Aidan O'Brien at last week's press morning. Kin to the G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Norfolk S.-winning sire Sioux Nation by No Nay Never's sire Scat Daddy, the January-foaled bay will be one of the early Royal Ascot hopefuls among the Rosegreen youngbloods.

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Making Waves: Dubawi Masterpiece At Gulfstream

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Bobby Flay homebred Contemporary Art (Dubaw {Ire}) in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance.

Making her first start for Christophe Clement, the 4-year-old came from out of the clouds to win going away in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on Sunday (video). Previously a Belmont maiden special weight winner second out last June, the daughter of GIII Autumn Miss S. heroine Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was fourth in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. in August, her final start for Chad Brown.

Contemporary Art is the first foal and one of two winners from two to race for her dam, besides the Quality Road 3-year-old colt Sbagliato. Cover Song's juvenile is a full-sister to that horse, and she foaled an Into Mischief colt on Feb. 8. According to Flay in the TDN's Mating Plans series, Cover Song is set for a return to that Spendthrift stallion.

Spendthrift Farm bought Cover Song for $450,000 out of the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Taylor Made Sales Agency. She made eight starts in their orange-and-purple checked silks, culminating in a nose victory in the Autumn Miss. Snapped up by the late James Delahooke for Flay to the tune of $1.6 million out of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2016, the bay would make two more starts before being offered by ELiTE carrying Contemporary Art at the same sale in 2018, where she was a 3.9 million buyback by the chef. The 10-year-old is a half-sister to a pair of triple Group 1 winners by War Front in sire U S Navy Flag and the filly Roly Poly. The winner's second dam is 2011 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who also triumphed in an additional three top-level races.

Dubawi has already been mentioned in this column a month ago, and as it stands, his winners to runners in American stands at 35 of 70 (50%). His 18 American stakes winners (27.5%), 13 at the graded level, have won 28 stakes between them, 22 of them above listed class. Of his American graded winners, dual Grade I scorer In Italian (GB) also sports a broodmare sire by Danehill in Redoute's Choice (Aus).

Cat's Got The Cream

As mentioned in Monday's Seven Days column by Emma Berry, Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), bearing the colours of AMO Racing USA, won the five-furlong Texas Glitter S. at Gulfstream Park on Saturday (video), to become the organisation's first American stakes winner.

Overbury Stud's Ardad has given every indication he's a sire going places, and with Crispy Cat's victory, the 9-year-old now has three stakes winners to his credit. Responsible for multiple Group 1 and now-Darley sire Perfect Power (Ire), as well as G3 Sirenia S. heroine Eve Lodge (GB), Ardad has been represented by just two runners Stateside.

Honourable Mention

Wico (Ire) (No Nay Never), the little brother of G1 St. James's Palace S. third Consort (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), graduated going a mile on the all-weather at Turfway Park last week. The $440,000 Keeneland September yearling secured the victory for Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable and trainer Wesley Ward. It was the Lynch Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock-bred's first start over a synthetic surface. His juvenile full-sister, Maghra (Ire), brought $150,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling from X-Men Racing, while there is also a yearling full-brother.

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Baaeed, Minzaal Continue Reporting In-Foal Mares

Shadwell and Derrinstown Stud report that both Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the highest-rated turf racehorse in the world for a decade, and Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), the highest-rated sprinter in Europe in 2022, have over 30 mares scanning in-foal as the stallions commence covering their first books.

Baaeed's in-foal mares include G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}); Seeking Solace (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), dam of 2019 champion 3-year-old sprinter in Europe and joint champion 3-year-old colt in England & Ireland in 2019, Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never); Azafata (Spa) (Motivator {GB}), dam of Group 1-performers Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Jannah Flower (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}); and Darmoiselle (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the stakes-placed full-sister to 2018 champion 2-year-old colt in Europe and 2019 champion 3-year-old miler in Europe Too Darn Hot (GB), as well as MG1SP Lah Ti Dar (GB) and GSW & G1SP So Mi Dar (GB), among others.

Minzaal's mares scanned in-foal include Shenoya (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), his first mare scanned in foal, a stakes placed half-sister to GSP Like A Charm (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), belonging to Minzaal's breeder Ringfort Stud; G1SP Sparkling Beam (Ire) (Nayef); GSW Distinctive (GB) (Tobougg {Ire}); and Street Kitty (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), dam of MG1SP Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}).

“We are thrilled with how both Baaeed and Minzaal have commenced their first books, with each horse consistently reporting in-foal mares on a daily basis. Baaeed's extraordinary achievements on the racecourse speak for themself and he has been supported by many of the world's leading breeders with an excellent first book,” said European Bloodstock Manager Stephen Collins. “Meanwhile, Minzaal has also been incredibly well-received and has proven tremendously popular with commercial breeders as he continues to cover a high-class first book of mares. We would like to thank all our breeders for their support this season with all of our stallions, particularly our two extremely exciting new stallion prospects.”

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Gun Runner Colt Tops ‘Vibrant’ Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — A colt from the third crop of boom American stallion Gun Runner (lot 18) was hammered down to Stephen Hillen, agent for prominent owner Dr Jim Hay, for €543,210 to top Tuesday's second renewal of the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale, held in the parade ring at Meydan Racecourse. On behalf of the Scotsman, Hillen also acquired the second-dearest offering of the evening, a Justify half-brother to GISW Fog of War (War Front) (lot 2), for the equivalent of €518,519.

Following the withdrawal of 10 horses, 63 juveniles were presented to an enthusiastic group of bidders from a variety of jurisdictions and attended by Sheikh Mohammed and his advisors. Some 42 horses were reported as sold for AED25,814,178, a decrease of 18.2% from last year's AED31,580,000. The average of AED614,624 represented a 1% gain over the inaugural event, while the median of AED537,000 jumped by a whopping 37%. The clearance rate of 67% declined from 80% in 2022.

“The second renewal of the Dubai Breeze-Up in association with Goffs was another sale of vibrant sales ring action,” said Goffs' Henry Beeby. “Whilst the clearance rate was slightly down on last year, the average and particularly the median has grown considerably which demonstrated that the quality was selling extremely well.

“The old adage at these types of sales is 'breeze well, sell well', and those that caught the eye at the breeze were the most active in the sales ring. We built very solid foundations in years one and two and look forward to working with the Dubai Racing

Club to develop this sale into a truly world-class event, and the racetrack success of the first year certainly means that it has a bright future.

“Once again, I would like to extend thanks from all the team at Goffs to the Dubai Racing Club for the trust they have placed in us, and we salute the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in adding the sale to this huge week of international racing at the Dubai World Cup.”

Hay Is For Horses

It was a busy evening for Stephen Hillen and Dr Jim Hay, who ended up securing not only the sale's top two sellers, but four of the top seven overall.

Lot 2 was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt and was consigned to the sale by Willie Browne's Mocklershill on behalf of the breeder. Lead auctioneer Henry Beeby accepted an opening bid of a robust AED500,000 and bidding was steady up to and through the 2-million dirham level before Hay landed his first winning blow of the evening.

“We supported the sale last year,” said Hay, whose two purchases last year included a Gun Runner colt and a filly by Into Mischief. “We didn't do well with the purchases, but nevertheless, there are high-class pedigrees, the catalogue this year looks better. Stephen has had a good look at everything.”

Added Hillen: “He is by a top sire, Willie Browne thoroughly recommended him. I saw him at Willie's place about three weeks ago, big stride and by a good stallion. He'll probably stay here in Dubai to be trained by Bhupat Seemar.”

Hay has racing interests in all corners of the globe, but is encouraged about the trajectory of the local programme.

“The plan is to build up the stable in Dubai, this is where the prize money is and we need to race here,” he said.

“Very pleased with that,” said the consignor. “He was a beautiful horse by a stallion who is going places.”

A Justify colt also topped Monday's opening session of the OBS March Sale in Ocala, Florida, on a bid of $1.2 million.

A short time later, Hay and Hillen bought consecutive lots off Tom Whitehead's Powerstown Stud. Lot 17, a War Front own brother to the stakes-placed Stony Point, was acquired by Chad Schumer for $130,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and fetched €320,928 Tuesday, while Hay went back to the Gun Runner well once more when paying the sales-topping price.

“He was already a big horse when we got him, but he got broader and wider since,” Whitehead said of the Gun Runner son of Brazilian Group 1 winner Baby Go Far (Brz) (Elusive Quality), who was purchased for $160,000 at Keeneland last fall.

He, too, will be trained by Seemar, who said the colt reminded him a lot of his G1 Dubai World Cup hopeful Bendoog (Gun Runner), who was most recently runner-up in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3.

Hay's fourth purchase was a colt from the first crop of Mitole–Warm Breeze (Street Sense) (lot 14) for €246,914. The May 3 foal was consigned by Bushypark Stables, who bought him for $60,000 at Keeneland.

 

 

 

Schumer Happy, Surprised By Results

American agent Chad Schumer does plenty of business in the Gulf region and is responsible for having sold last-out Listed Al Bastakiya S. winner Go Soldier Go (Tapiture) at last year's Dubai Sale. He was more than satisfied with the sale of the War Front colt through Powerstown, but was generally perplexed at the end results

“It's a very good pedigree and we expected that colt to do well,” he said, taking time out from his work down at the OBS sale. “He was a beautiful yearling and vetted well. You never know until you get there so we are delighted.”

He continued, “Tom generally just tries to buy the right kind of horse. This horse was well below what we were willing to spend, so it was a nice surprise we were able to pick him up for that.”

Given the success of last year's event, he was a bit taken aback at the level of engagement this time around.

“It was a real surprise to me,” he said. “Last year it felt a bit spotty to me. If you didn't have the right type, there was no money at all and Goffs did an exceptional job in pushing to get those horses sold. This year, based on the fact that so many of the horses had won and there was the Group 1-placed horse in Japan, I would have thought there would have been voracious demand, but there wasn't. Maybe OBS going on at the same time causes a pull from this sale, I don't know.”

 

 

 

Mitole A Hot Commodity in Dubai As Well

The first-crop offerings by Mitole (Eskendereya) proved popular Monday at OBS, with three lots fetching six-figure prices, and those that went through Tuesday in Dubai made a favourable impression as well. In addition to Hay's aforementioned purchase early in the session, Oliver St Lawrence and trainer Fawzi Nass went to €222,222 for a half-brother to the multiple Canadian stakes winners Dene Court (City Zip) and Jacally (Bold Executive). Lot 66 was purchased by Roderic Kavanagh's Glending Stables for $60,000 at Keeneland in September.

“I liked this colt very much and it seems like the sire is making some good horses,” St Lawrence said. “They have good substance and are good doers.”

The Name's Stroud

Buyers at Tuesday's sale were identifiable by paddles bearing a three-digit number, and lot 42, a colt by Darley America's Street Sense was knocked down to agent Anthony Stroud–holding paddle 007–for €370,370, the joint-fourth highest price of the sale.

Bred in Kentucky by Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding, the bay colt is out of Gold Serenade (Medaglia d'Oro), whose superstar 11-times Grade I-winning dam Serena's Song (Rahy) was responsible for G1 Coronation S. heroine Sophisticat (Storm Cat) and graded-stakes winners Grand Reward (Storm Cat) and Harlington (Unbridled). This is also the family of US champion Honor Code (A.P. Indy).

 

 

 

No Nay Never Colt Leads Euro-Breds

Of the 18 2-year-olds offered during Tuesday's session by European-based stallions, lot 71 proved the most coveted, selling to the burgeoning Najd Stud for €209,877.

A son of 2012 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Princess Sinead (Ire) (Jeremy), the May-foaled bay was led out unsold on a bid of 40,000gns during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sale last fall.

“We are delighted with that,” said Colm Kennedy, whose Drumphea Stables consigned the colt as the property of a partnership. “We were very pleased with the way the horse presented and his breeze [Monday] was very nice. Certainly the sire helped him, but that was a very good result.”

Najd Stud, the operation of Saudi Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz, bought four lots Tuesday topped by a Constitution colt (lot 25) out of a half-sister to multiple graded winner and Grade I-placed Independence Hall (Constitution) for just over €395,000 off Brendan Holland's Grove Stud.

Click here for the full results.

 

 

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