Tag: Oisin Orr

‘My Best Day In Racing’ – Sir Alex Ferguson Nets $1m Bahrain Riches

In the pantheon of the promotional stakes, the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) winning the $1-million G2 Bahrain International Trophy would have ranked pretty highly as a dream result for everyone associated with this relatively new race. 

To have one of the most recognisable sporting figures in the world in attendance all week was something, but for Spirit Dancer to play with his rivals in a similar fashion to some of the best teams Ferguson assembled at the helm of Manchester United exceeded all expectations. 

You don't last 26 years at Manchester United, manage the careers of some of the biggest names in football–think Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo–and amass 38 trophies without being a tough task master. 

But Ferguson has been nothing but warm to anyone in Bahrain this week who has politely asked for a photograph or to simply reminisce about previous glories. The reaction the 81-year-old met Spirit Dancer taking care of a Group 1 field in all but name was one of genuine delight with the Scottsman labelling the victory as his greatest ever in racing. 

“That's the best ever in racing, without question,” Ferguson said moments after Spirit Dancer crossed the line over two lengths clear of the John and Thady Gosden-trained Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in second with Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) a close-up third.”

He continued, “When you looked at the field I was worried. I'm seeing Godolphin with five, [Aidan] O'Brien's got a runner, [Andre] Fabre's got a horse there. And we're just a wee stable from Yorkshire.

“He won well, too, very well. It was Ged [Mason] who jumped on me–100 yards away he looked as though he was going to win but I'm not counting my chickens at that point, I'm just praying. He carried me over the line with him.”

Ferguson has enjoyed his fair share of success in racing. Few will forget his association with Coolmore in the late nineties and early noughties, highlighted by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), but more recently he has been concentrating on the jumps and enjoyed a host of success with trainer Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton, with Clan Des Obeaux (Fr), What A Friend (GB) and Protektorat (Fr), respectively. 

But Spirit Dancer represents the latest chapter in Ferguson's racing endeavors as the Richard Fahey-trained 6-year-old is one of the first horses to have graduated from the owner's stud farm in Hemel Hempstead.

Ferguson explained, “He was my first foal. It was a new adventure for me to get into breeding to be honest. I bought a mare from Germany. She's at Hemel Hempstead and is from a good family. 

“The first foal was a Frankel, and that's why we're down here today. We've had other horses that have done well but the Frankel has been fantastic. I told Oisin [Orr, jockey] going out there to remember he's [Spirit Dancer] a Frankel.”

He added, “And the hospitality has been amazing here. I know I was signing a lot of autographs and taking a lot of photos but it's only a photograph, it only takes a second and you shouldn't ignore people wanting your photo, especially kids. You have to have patience for that type of thing and I've always shown that anyway. It's fantastic, I can't believe it.”

It may have been lost in the occasion somewhat the brilliant job that Fahey has done with Spirit Dancer. He delivered the horse in peak condition for the day that mattered and took great satisfaction in the result, even if the trainer admitted to being slightly surprised at the ease in which it was achieved. 

Fahey said, “It was an easy race to watch because we always felt we were going to win. Once he hit the front he wouldn't be stopping and it would take a good one to beat us. The fancied ones were in front of us, we passed them and they don't often come back. I'm absolutely over the moon. It's a special moment for everyone. We did see the trophy the other night, it looked like the FA Cup, Sir Alex is used to picking up the FA Cup. It was a fantastic result.”

On future plans, he added of his G2 Neom Turf Cup qualifier, “We were mentioning going to Saudi in February, we'd see how he ran today. Have horse, will travel, so we'll see how he comes home. I genuinely thought it was a tough race and he needed to step up but it was a comfortable race to watch. It's a huge moment for me. We've had Royal Ascot winners and things like that but with Sir Alex there it's been a great week with the build up.  He put no pressure on me, the horse, or anybody. It was 'lets enjoy this'. He's an absolute gentleman. Some great stories and a great man.”

The win also represented a special success for jockey Oisin Orr. The Classic-winning pilot made the decision to join the Fahey stable earlier this year due to a shortage of rides in his native Ireland and the Donegal man has not looked back. 

He said, “The horse was a big price but I think he really needed his last run because Richard had given him a break after the horse had won three in a short space of time. So, he did need it at Newmarket and Richard had him spot on for today. 

“I thought I was actually getting there a bit soon. All he does is gallop-he's tough and he was very good there today. It's right up there with my best days in racing. You never complain when you come over here and win something big like that. It's good when it works out.”

He added, “It was great to get the opportunity to come over to England to ride for Richard Fahey this year and I haven't looked back since. Then to go and win a million-pound race, it's great.”

Just one thing Orr didn't tell Ferguson in the razzmatazz of it all. He's a Liverpool fan. But something says even that couldn't take the gloss of the whole occasion.

Pedigree Notes

The G3 Strensall S.-winning gelding who was fourth in the G3 Darley S. last month, counts as part of Frankel's 133-strong battalion of stakes winners and is one of 91 group/graded winners. He is bred on the same cross as G1 Prix de la Foret winner Kelina (Ire), G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Obligate (GB), and fellow group winners Eternal Pearl (GB) and Delaware (GB), who are all out of daughters of his Juddmonte studmate Oasis Dream (GB).

The third foal and one of five winners for his unraced dam Queen's Dream (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Spirit Dancer is the best of the lot. His yearling half-brother is by Masar (Ire). Queen's Dream is a sister to a quartet of stakes winners led by her full-brother, Group 1 winner and sire Querari (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), and her half-sister, multiple group winner Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was thrice placed at the highest level in the U.S. Spirit Dancer's third dam is the G2 German 1000 Guineas heroine Quebrada (Ire) (Devil's Bag).

Friday, Sakhir, Bahrain
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY-G2, $1,000,000, Sakhir, 11-17, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:06.82, gd.
1–SPIRIT DANCER (GB), 128, g, 6, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Queen's Dream (Ger), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Quetena (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
3rd Dam: Quebrada (Ire), by Devil's Bag
O-Done Ferguson Mason; B-Sir Alex Ferguson & Niall
McLoughlin; T-Richard Fahey; J-Oisin Orr; $600,000. Lifetime
Record: GSW-Eng, 23-7-6-2, $906,075. Werk Nick Rating:
   A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross
   pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style
   pedigree.
2–Israr (GB), 128, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Taghrooda (GB), by Sea
The Stars (Ire). O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited; T-John
& Thady Gosden; J-Jim Crowley; $200,000.
3–Point Lonsdale (Ire), 128, c, 4, Australia (GB)–Sweepstake
(Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (575,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT).
O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor &
Westerberg; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan
Moore; $100,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, SHD, NK.
Also Ran: Real World (Ire), Birr Castle (Fr), Astro King (Ire), Nations Pride (Ire), Above the Curve, Calif, Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire), Highland Avenue (Ire), . Qaader (Ire), Dubai Future (GB), Layfayette (Ire). Scratched: Goemon (GB), Tawaareq (Ire), Zagato (GB). Click for the Bahrain Turf Club chart.

VIDEO.

 

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Hollie Doyle Keeps Ride On Breeders’ Cup-Bound The Platinum Queen 

Hollie Doyle will maintain the partnership with The Platinum Queen (Ire) as the pair bid to follow up on their brilliant Prix de l'Abbaye success with victory at the Breeders' Cup.

Oisin Orr, who joined The Platinum Queen's trainer Richard Fahey earlier this year, does most of the work with the speedster. However, Orr was unable to do the weight about the daughter of Cotai Glory (GB) in France.

With the Middleham Park Racing-owned youngster set to carry just 8st 7lb in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, the Irishman will once again be forced to sit the big race out. 

Fahey told Sportinglife, “I feel sorry for Oisin as he's done so much work with The Platinum Queen at home, but he can't do the weight.

“The owners Middleham Park very much want him to have the ride when he can, but unfortunately that won't be in America.

“Hollie has done a fine job on her twice before, including when winning the Abbaye, so she knows her well.”

 

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No Nay Never’s Midnight Mile Pounces Late For Oh So Sharp Triumph

Roisin Henry's once-raced Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never–Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), who opened her account with a July 16 debut score tackling six furlongs at Doncaster, returned in style with a last-gasp victory in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp S. upped to seven for her black-type debut at Newmarket. The 22-1 chance was steadied and shuffled back through the pack to race in rear after a slick exit. Nudged along to reduce arrears approaching the dip, she negotiated traffic to go seventh entering the final furlong and kept on powerfully up the hill to deny Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by a head in the dying strides for a career high.

“She had her first run at Doncaster and Richard [Fahey] said we will let her have a learning experience and she won which was fantastic,” the winning owner explained. “She then had a bit of break and we said we would let her have a bit of a run here today if the ground was soft enough. We didn't expect anything, we thought it was another bit of education as it was another step up, but that was fantastic. She was checked and I thought that had knocked the wind out of her sails. She was running well prior to that, but she battled on and she did that in her first race to. She is a battler.”

Reflecting on a difficult start to life for the filly, Mrs Henry added, “This filly was born by caesarean section as they knew that the mare was in trouble so the veterinary team in Coolmore and the Fethard Veterinary Hospital were amazing. When she was born they must have had 15 guys standing around her awaiting this foal. It was incredible. The fact we got a live foal was amazing and the fact the mare is still alive is amazing. She is really special. You don't expect these kind of ones to go on to be race fillies. She is very well bred and we thought we would hang on to her. It is so exciting. I've dreamt enough now, but if it doesn't get any better than this that's fine. The jockey [Oisin Orr] gave her a super ride and he was very confident with her. He rides her at home so he knows her which is lovely.”

Orr continued, “Through the race I was on and off the bridle and when we can down to the two [-furlong pole] I really asked her. I was just tight of room for a stride or two, but I switched left she has quickened up nicely and done it well. She does everything well at home and has done nothing wrong on the racetrack so far. Hopefully she can keep on improving.”

Midnight Mile, full-sister to a yearling colt, is the third of four reported foals and lone runner out of a full-sister to G3 Noblesse S. and Listed Cheshire Oaks runner-up Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The January-foaled bay's dam is also kin to an additional five black-type performers headed by G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and the multiple Classic-placed G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Descendants of the latter include G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and G1 Fillies' Mile third You'll Be Mine (Kingmambo), herself the dam of multiple Group-winning G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Ranvet S. placegetter Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Midnight Mile's third dam is Lanwades Stud stalwart Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}).

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
GODOLPHIN LIFETIME CARE OH SO SHARP S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-7, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.75, gd.
1–MIDNIGHT MILE (IRE), 128, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Ruby Tuesday (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs Roisin Henry; B-Premier Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Oisin Orr. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $44,354. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lose Yourself (Ire), 128, f, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Stellar Path (Fr), by Astronomer Royal. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (260,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Valmont; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & T Stewart (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £12,900.
3–Small Oasis (GB), 128, f, 2, Sioux Nation–Collegiate (Ire), by Declaration of War. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (2,500gns RNA Ylg '21 TATSOM). O-John Nolan; B-Scarlett Knipe (GB); T-Michael Grassick. £6,456.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 22.00, 4.50, 10.00.
Also Ran: Tagline (GB), Crystallium (GB), Red N Blue Candy, Believing (Ire), Queen Olly (Ire), Rage Of Bamby (Ire), Youngest (GB), Immortal Beauty (Ire).

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Aloha Star Phoenix Appeal Fails

The appeal lodged by connections of Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for her demotion from second to third for interference in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh was dismissed by the Appeals Body, The Irish Field reported on Tuesday. Aloha Star’s jockey and trainer, Chris Hayes and Fozzy Stack, respectively, gave evidence, as did The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire})’s pilot Oisin Orr. The Lir Jet was promoted to second after there was contact from Aloha Star during the running of the race. It was determined that the stewards had acted correctly on the day and the disqualification allowed to stand. The prize money difference between second and third in the Phoenix is €20,000.

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