“She's had a setback and there will be no Guineas,” said Sangster of the filly, who is owned by his mother Lucy and the Ballylinch Partnership. “She was training great and had wintered well. She had grown and strengthened up and her work had been very good this spring. She was in very good shape and we were looking forward to it [the Guineas].

“I'm not sure on a timescale, we will just have to see how the rehab goes in the next few weeks and then we will have a better guide on it.”

Sangster also provided an update on Wathnan Racing's Per Contra (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who is two-for-three. After winning a Chepstow maiden last July, the colt made his first start in his new colours when running out a 4 3/4-length winner in a Ffos Las novice. He most recently ran fifth in the G3 Autumn S. in October.

“He's in good form, he's going galloping tomorrow and Monday and then we will begin plotting a bit of a route for him,” added Sangster.

“I think he will go up in trip this year. I don't think he will be a big stayer but he will go up to 10 furlongs anyway. I think he is off quite a nice mark, so we will see.”

The post Setback Derails Shuwari’s Guineas Plans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

From Frankie Dettori returning to the saddle in Europe to Wathnan Racing continuing its march in Britain, here are 10 predictions-some fun and some serious-for the new year. 

Dettori's Groundhog Day To Continue Into 2024

We've all seen the movie Groundhog Day, haven't we? The one where Bill Murray gets caught in a time loop? Well, if you haven't, the same script could well be playing out for real through Frankie Dettori's retirement [or lack thereof].

For all the people who had convinced themselves that Dettori had achieved a dream send-off when guiding King Of Steel to victory in the Champion S. at Ascot, there were just as many people rolling their eyes at the idea that one of the world's greatest riders was ready to set off into the sunset. 

Of course, Dettori has committed to ride on in America for the winter but, what happens after that? What happens if a big-ticket ride becomes available for a Guineas or a Derby? Don't tell me that Dettori, who arguably rode as well last year as he has in years, is going to give up on that opportunity for the sake of staying true to his word?

The farewell tour served its purpose and generated a subplot for almost every major meeting that Dettori rode at in 2023. However, the thought that we have seen the last of Frankie in Europe is not something I'd be taking short odds on this year. 

Classic Glory On The Cards For Blue Point?

From a bloodstock perspective, Blue Point hogged just as many headlines as Frankie did throughout 2023. Tipped by many to scoop first-season sire honours, Blue Point delivered in no uncertain terms, coming up trumps with two genuine top-notchers in Big Evs and Rosallion. 

The latter has real claims of bagging Classic glory for his young sire sensation this year and is just 12-1 to land the 2,000 Guineas. Big Evs proved he is a classy sprinter to look forward to when bagging the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and the likelihood of him landing a major sprint in Europe is strong. 

It's worth noting that Blue Point's most famous triumphs, his back-to-back Royal Ascot successes in the King's Stand S. and Diamond Jubilee S. back in 2019, came in his five-year-old campaign. The best may yet be to come from his progeny in 2024 and beyond and, if he is to bag a breakthrough Classic success, perhaps it may come through Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas provided City Of Troy stays away. 

Bank On Sangster To Have A Big Year

Oliver Sangster | Keeneland

Speaking of breakthrough successes at the highest level, there is a chance that up-and-coming trainer Ollie Sangster can bag a first Group 1 or even Classic victory with stable star Shuwari this season. 

Grandson of the late Robert Sangster, Ollie has done his bit to keep the family name in lights and enjoyed a stellar debut season as a trainer by sending out 13 winners from 81 runners, highlighted by the Fillies' Mile runner-up Shuwari. 

According to those who know Sangster best, there are few trainers who work as hard as the 27-year-old, who would be thoroughly deserving of a major day in the sun in 2024. Here's hoping Shuwari can provide Sangster just that and her 1,000 Guineas claims would be greatly aided by the word soft appearing in the going description. 

Tough Task For City Of Troy To Live Up To Lofty Reputation

City Of Troy proved himself to be something out of the ordinary as a two-year-old by going unbeaten in three starts, culminating with a jaw-dropping performance in the Dewhurst. 

It was after the Dewhurst where Aidan O'Brien described City Of Troy as being the best two-year-old he has ever trained while Michael Tabor took it up a notch or two by comparing the horse to Frankel.

City Of Troy has generated much debate since that brilliant Dewhurst display but perhaps it might be wisest to side with Mick Kinane, who, in acknowledging the awesome talent the Ballydoyle-trained colt clearly has, said that he still has a lot to prove in order to be compared with the likes of Sea The Stars and Frankel. 

Certainly at this juncture, City Of Troy would appear the most likely winner of the 2,000 Guineas, which his general even-money odds reflects. However, whether we will be speaking of him in the same ilk as Frankel come the end of the season, now that is a big ask. 

One thing that isn't up for debate is that Justify is quickly confirming himself as a very serious stallion, not only in America and Australia, but also in Europe. Not long after City Of Troy recorded his Dewhurst demolition, Justify's daughter Opera Singer did something similar in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

Both horses sit at the head of the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas betting respectively and it will be fascinating to see how their careers progress this term. 

Japan To Win The Derby

Yoshito Yahagi | Emma Berry

Now this would be a bit of fun; what if Japan were to win the Derby? Or, if I was to be more specific, what if trainer Yoshito Yahagi was to take out another major prize on the international circuit by sending out a brother to Sottsass to score at Epsom? You know, it's not impossible. 

Shin Emperor is clearly bred for the job. Bought by Yahagi, who has recorded major success at the Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup and Saudi Cup meetings in recent years, for €2.1 million at Arqana in 2021, Shin Emperor has always been held in high regard. 

A Group 3 winner already in Japan, he went down by less than a length in the G1 Hopeful S. at Nakayama over the festive period, doing his reputation no harm in the process. 

Yahagi is famous for travelling his horses all over the world and, in Shin Emperor, he has a colt who clearly fits the Derby profile being a brother to the Arc winner Sottsass. In betting terms, this is one of the more fanciful predictions for 2024, but what a story it would be. 

Pinatubo To Emulate Blue Point 

Sottsass, of course, is one of the first-season stallions that many enthusiasts are looking forward to this year. While his stock has gone down extremely well, highlighted by the sale of a €525,000 colt at Arqana last year, it seems as though everyone who is anyone is tipping Pinatubo to emulate Blue Point by coming up trumps for Darley yet again. 

Many of the top industry judges hitched their wagon to Blue Point's wheel last year and we all know how that ended. The same theme developed at the yearling and foal sales last year with Pinatubo and to a similar extent with fellow Darley stallions Earthlight and Ghaiyyath. One thing's for certain: Darley appears to hold all the aces with a view towards this year's first-season sires' championship and, while it is only January, few people will be betting against Pinatubo being a big success. 

It should also be noted how well Hello Youmzain performed with his stock at the sales in France. He could be well placed to clinch champion first-season honours in France. 

Breeze-Up Market To Stay Strong Despite Market Correction

There were some tough moments in 2023 and it's fair to say that the yearling and breeding stock sales were a struggle for many. Market correction was a term we heard plenty of as many of the key figures at some of the major sales in Europe settled back into pre-Covid levels. 

With that in mind, there is understandably some apprehension heading into the new year and the first major metric into how well things are going in 2024 will come at the breeze-up sales.

But just how much of a correction can we expect to see here? There seems to be a huge demand for the ready-to-run horses and the breeze-up sales have never been a more popular shopping outlet for international buyers than it is now. 

It should also be noted that unbeaten two-year-old and dual Group 1 winner Vandeek, who sold to Anthony Stroud for 625,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale at Tattersalls last year, did his bit to fly the flag for this sector of the market. 

In many ways, the breeze-up market could be viewed as something of an anomaly as, similar to the point-to-point sphere, there should, in theory, always be a demand for a good horse. 

The middle to upper tiers can be expected to be solid at the breeze-up sales come the spring but it will be interesting to see how the median and clearance rates hold up. 

Wathnan Racing To Continue Its March

Richard Brown: buys on behalf of Wathnan Racing | Zuzanna Lupa

One man who is sure to be out in force at the breeze-up sales is Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown but, perhaps most interesting of all, will be the bloodstock agent's buying on behalf of Wathnan Racing. 

Wathnan Racing embarked on ownership in Britain with a number of statement victories, none more so than when private purchase Courage Mon Ami won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on just his fourth career start. 

It's likely that Wathnan Racing, which is the ownership vehicle of the Emir Of Qatar, can go from strength to strength in 2024. 

Tough Times Ahead For Smaller Breeders 

Ed Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud said something frightening in a recent TDN Q&A. When commenting on some of the smaller clients of his who enjoyed a touch when selling foals by the stud's superstar stallion Havana Grey, he revealed that for many, their big payday would be just enough to keep them going for just a few more years, such are the choppy waters the smaller breeders are navigating through right now. 

If you were to take an x-ray of the breeding game in its current form and peg it into the light, it wouldn't make for pretty reading, especially in Britain. That was there for everyone to see on the first and last days of the foal sales at Tattersalls in December where many key stakeholders voiced their concerns about the future of the smaller breeder in Britain. 

Of course, this is not a problem exclusive to Britain, but Brexit and the lack of small-time buyers and pinhookers getting into the game compared to Ireland clearly contributed to some of those frightening figures. 

It begs the question; for how long can this continue? Where there is a will there's a way, and in that same Q&A, Harper called on smaller breeders to take a look at themselves in the mirror when it comes to breeding horses for the sales ring. 

Some will take that advice and reinvest but, inevitably, more will slip away. It appears as though there could be some tough times ahead for the smaller breeders. 

No Sign Of Polarisation Slowing Down Over Jumps

On a similarly depressing theme, there doesn't appear to be any pause to polarisation in the markets, particularly when it comes to the National Hunt game. There could be a different winner to ever race at the Cheltenham festival and, chances are, people will still be honing in on the same two stallions at the major store sales. 

King George hero Hewick once again reminded that a good horse can come from anywhere. Shark Hanlon's 800 quid wonder is by Virtual, a son of Pivotal and, without doing the horse a disservice, is what many would describe as a non descript stallion. 

But here he is, siring the winner of one of the most important jumps races of the year, and once again proving that the love is more readily shared than what some would lead you to believe over jumps.

The post Racing’s Crystal Ball – 10 Predictions For 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Shuwari's trainer Ollie Sangster commented, “She's a straightforward horse who relaxes and settles well and I can't see the step up in trip being a problem. It's nice to have a chance in a race like this and hopefully she will run well for us.” Ryan Moore said of Ylang Ylang, “She was taken off her feet a bit on quick ground over seven furlongs here last time, so the step up to a mile will suit and she has form on soft if we get a lot of rain. I'd like to think she is the filly to beat if returning to the form of her Leopardstown win.”

This is probably no match, with Doreen Tabor's Sandown maiden winner Classical Song (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) one of the lesser-exposed types held in high regard. Jeff Smith's G2 May Hill S. runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Anthony O'Callaghan and Sabina Kelly's G3 Weld Park S. scorer Caught U Looking (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) look capable of better and have little to find to get to the level of the main protagonists.

Smith's racing manager David Bowe said, “She still ran a bit green in the May Hill and has come on since then mentally. We're hoping that she will do us proud and she is obviously a really smart filly and we'll see how she fares. She has a really stout pedigree and she has the looks to go with it. She's a beautifully-proportioned filly and just neat and tidy for a two-year-old. We're very lucky that both her and Ghostwriter seem to be in good shape for the obvious next year. We don't want to tempt fate and get too excited, but it's nice to have a couple of nice horses on the books and we're in good shape.”

Skellet To The Test In The Oh So Sharp…
Also on the card is the seven-furlong G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp S., which features Juddmonte's recent acquisition Skellet (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Earning TDN Rising Star status over this trip at Salisbury last month, the Ralph Beckett-trained half-sister to Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) is met by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's comparatively vastly-experienced four-times winner Chic Colombine  (Fr) (Seahenge) and Godolphin's course-and-distance scorer Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said of Skellet, “We're looking forward to seeing her out and we'll find out a bit more about her. It looks a good race–Charlie Appleby's filly looked very good the day she won. Ours is a big filly and it's all about next year with her, but it will be good to give her a bit more experience. She has a beautiful pedigree [and] the fact she's by Kingman made her extra appealing.”

City Of Troy Faces Seven In The Dewhurst…
Saturday's G1 Native Trail's Dewhurst S. at Newmarket will see Coolmore's TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify) make his eagerly-awaited third start as he looks to seal juvenile champion honours. Kept away from slow ground after his win in the July Festival's G2 Superlative S., he may have to deal with those conditions with rain expected ahead of the seven-furlong highlight. He will be joined by stablemate Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is to be partnered by Frankie Dettori, with Aidan O'Brien withdrawing Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Three of the main rivals to the favourite will be Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's G2 Champagne S. winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Shadwell's G3 Tattersalls S. scorer Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Juddmonte's supplemented G2 Mill Reef S. winner Array (Ire) (No Nay Never).

The post Newmarket: Shuwari Faces Ylang Ylang Again in Fillies’ Mile Decider appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Life in the Highlands certainly has its appeal. Over the last week there have been peregrine falcons, seals, sheep and cattle, not to mention my faithful lurcher, to fan my love of fur and feather, but I miss the horses. I missed being at Ascot, too, for a proper humdinger of a 'King George'.

With August now upon us, the Arc is just two months away. It may still feel like we've only just dried out from a horribly wet Guineas weekend but the season, and life, gallops on. It appears that it will be at Longchamp that we next see Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in public, and thank goodness that he was allowed to gallop on, eventually, after the injury he sustained when winning the Coronation Cup last season. 

The Classics are, of course, important tests by which we measure Thoroughbreds and, with such a premium on precocity, some budding young stars are never allowed to perform beyond even their juvenile season. The later-maturing types, however, may not even be ready to show their mettle in a Classic. Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), beaten only a head by Hukum in the King George, is clearly still improving, despite having been a brilliant three-year-old who was third in the Derby before winning the Irish Derby. Hukum, whose Classic year was the Covid-delayed season of 2020, was given a Derby entry but didn't run at Epsom after winning the King George V H. and being struck into during that race. (Royal Ascot, in that strange season, was run before the Derby meeting.) It is impossible to say how much that may have been a blessing in disguise, and Hukum did run fifth in the St Leger, but the initial softly-softly approach of his trainer Owen Burrows, perhaps as much by necessity as by design, is certainly paying dividends now. Hukum's progression has been immense: from solid multiple Group 3 winner in the shadow of his celebrated younger brother Baaeed (GB) to star status himself.

Baaeed was the top-rated turf horse in the world last year. Hukum would have to win the Arc in sensational fashion to overturn Equinox (Jpn) or his fellow Shadwell colour-bearer Mostahdaf (Ire), but he is bearing down on them and, as we saw on Saturday, he doesn't shirk a battle. 

It is not the first time, either, that siblings from this family, passed on from the late Queen to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum through the sale of Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}), have excelled. In 1989, Height Of Fashion's son Nashwan (Blushing Groom {Fr}) added the King George to his victories in the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, and Eclipse. That same year, his half-brother Unfuwain (Northern Dancer) won the G2 Jockey Club S. after landing the previous year's G2 Princess of Wales's S. Later, another half-brother, Nayef (Gulch), piled extra glory on the family with four Group 1 victories, including the Prince of Wales's and Champion S. Previously, for the Queen, both Height Of Fashion and her half-brother Milford (GB) (Mill Reef) won the the G2 Princess of Wales's S.

However long Burrows holds a training licence, it is unlikely any horse will ever surpass Hukum in his regard. The trainer's first Royal Ascot winner, first winner in Dubai at a crucial and emotional time for the Shadwell operation, and his first Group 1 winner, the six-year-old has been the most wonderful advertisement for the talents of Burrows, who spent many a year learning from Sir Michael Stoute, himself a master at handling progressive, middle-distance horses of this ilk.

Following a banner weekend for his stable, when Alfaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) also won the G2 York S. for his major patron, it is worth reflecting that Burrows has but a fraction of the equine ammunition gifted to some of the country's biggest stables. Of the top 20 trainers in Britain, he has been represented by the fewest number of runs (62 for 29 horses) with the next lowest in that group having been 142 runs for Julie Camacho's 53 runners. How wonderful, too, to have seen her stable shine through with a serious horse this year in the dual Group 1 winner Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).

It is, of course, each owner's prerogative to send their horse wherever they like to be trained, and to run them where and when they like, even if the braying mob on Twitter (yes, I'm still calling it that) may think otherwise. But at a time when the trainer numbers are falling in Britain and Ireland, and racing could do with extra diversity in its stories, it would be refreshing to see some of the major owners consider their options more widely. 

With so many of the better horses in increasingly fewer hands, one can't help wondering about the knock-on effect this has, not just on field sizes, but on that key tier of horses just below the top level who appear to be missing from our racecourses. Admittedly, a number of them are sold to race on abroad for more lucrative prize-money. But how many perhaps do not contest as many big races as they might do in other hands when situations might arise in which a trainer could have several realistic chances for a Pattern race but only wishes to run one, or maybe two, in it? A more even spread among a wider range of trainers would surely increase the competitiveness of a good number of Pattern races. 

What next for Epsom heroes?

It was not a good week for Derby winners. Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who also won the 2021 King George, was officially retired after being well beaten into second in the G2 Princess of Wales's S. at Newmarket, having added the rescheduled G3 Gordon Richards S. to his wins' tally on his seasonal resumption. 

Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was again stood down, this time with a leg infection, while Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who started favourite for the King George, continued his 'all duck or no dinner' season when being eased down a long way out and cantering over the line in last place.

It is fervently hoped that both Desert Crown and Auguste Rodin will return to the fray and to the level of form that it took to win at Epsom in the first place. Racing careers for colts at this level are of course always conducted with a weather eye on a future stallion career. Losses can be costly, but the level of interest in Saturday's big race and those major weight-for-age contests to come show just how much giving such horses a chance to race beyond their Classic season enhances the level of engagement with the racing public. 

It is worth considering, too, how much the World Pool is boosted by a decent double-figure field. For the King George card on Saturday, World Pool turnover reached a new high of HK$287.3m (£28.8m), up from HK$253.4m last year, albeit the number of races on the day increased from seven to eight. Of that, HK$49.4m (£4.9m), the highest turnover for any race on the day, was bet on the King George, which was up from HK$29.9m (£3.2m) in 2022 when there were only six runners.

The Rothschild for Rothschild

While Sea The Stars had bragging rights through Hukum at Ascot, it was his fellow Aga Khan Studs stallion Siyouni (Fr) who had a major say in events during Deauville's opening meeting on Sunday.

While being responsible for a new TDN Rising Star in the juvenile Elbaz (Fr), from the family of Siyouni's first Classic winner Ervedya (Fr), most notably he was represented by a new Group 1 winner, Mqse de Sevgine (Fr). The four-year-old's win was extra special for her owner/breeder Baron Edouard de Rothschild, whose family gave the race its name.

Rothschild, who under more normal circumstances would have been presenting the trophy, instead accepted it from his son Louis, and he admitted that his thoughts were very much with his father. The latter, Baron Guy de Rothschild, who died in 2007, not only bred the winner's dam, Penne (Fr), but also her sire, Sevres Rose (Fr), granddam Une Pensee (Fr), and that mare's sire, Kenmare (Fr).

The name Sevres Rose won't be jumping off too many pedigree pages. The son of Caerleon was unraced but, as a son of Rothschild's homebred G1 Prix Vermeille winner Indian Rose (Fr) (General Holme) and grandson of the classy stayer and top producer Lady Berry (Fr) (Violin d'Ingres {Fr}), he was afforded a place at stud, standing for several years at Haras du Quesnay and later at the Rothschild family's Haras de Meautry.

As a Listed place-getter and dual winner, Penne, one of six foals by her sire born in 2003, was certainly to the forefront of Sevres Rose's runners, though his best is arguably the G3 Prix de la Nonette winner Viane Rose (Fr), who was later bought as a broodmare prospect by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm. Her group success in 2005 may well have helped Sevres Rose to his record number of foals in his 14 years of covering. From a total of 127 foals born through those years, 42 of them arrived in 2007.

Although Viane Rose has a pair of Listed winners among her seven winning offspring in Japan, she has been far outdone by Penne at stud. Mqse De Sevigne is the latter's second Group 1 winner following Meandre (Fr) (Slickly {Fr}), whose four wins at the highest level included the Grand Prix de Paris. A top-class winning filly ensures the line of succession for the equine family as much as it will encourage the humans involved to continue in their successful endeavours which have seen the Haras de Meautry remain in the family's ownership since its inception in 1875.

Renaissance

Hardly anyone will have been more delighted with the French resurgence on the track this season than Edouard de Rothschild, who combines his breeding activities with being president of France Galop.

All four French Classics run in 2023 have been won by French-trained horses, as well as five other Group 1s. Only Ralph Beckett and Owen Burrows have so far made off with a French Group 1 trophy, courtesy of Westover and Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). In Ace Impact (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}), Blue Rose Cen (Fr), and Feed The Flame (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the French also look to have three of the best three-year-olds in Europe.

Sangster's Winning Combination 

A chestnut filly by New Bay (GB), bred at Ballylinch Stud, winning a stakes race in the silks of Lucy Sangster? One could be forgiven for thinking that this was Saffron Beach (Ire) all over again, but there is one key difference for the young filly following in her considerable wake.

While Ollie Sangster was the co-owner, with his mother and James Wigan, of the dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach, he is the trainer of Shuwari (Ire), the latest black-type winner for New Bay and the first to score at stakes level for Sangster, who is in his first season training at Manton. With seven winners from 29 starts to date, he has made a promising start to his career with his 27 horses on the books. 

Shuwari, who is co-owned by her breeder Ballylinch Stud, added the Listed EBF Star S. to her maiden success at Newbury a month earlier, and is the stand-out of the string so far. The young trainer also now has one of the rising forces of the ownership ranks in his stable following the private sale of Per Contra (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {Ire}) to Wathnan Racing after his winning debut at Chepstow. Ruled out of a start in the G2 Vintage S. this week, the colt holds an entry for the G2 Champagne S. next month.

The post Seven Days: Hooked on Hukum appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“Oisin [Murphy] gave her a lovely ride and I'm delighted,” said Sangster. “I was on the fence this morning having seen the [weather] report from last night, but I spoke to [Ballylinch Stud's] John O'Connor and he was fairly confident New Bays go on the [soft] ground, so we thought we would take our chance. It was probably not ideal ground, but she dug deep. She is a tenacious and courageous filly and, hopefully, we might have some nice targets later in the year. I've some nice juveniles, but she is at the top at the pile at the moment.” Looking forward to possible future targets, he added, “The [G3] Prestige at Goodwood might be for her and then I suppose something like the [G2] Rockfel and maybe the [G1] Fillies' Mile. That is ambitious and we will see how we progress between now and then. I'd like to think she will stay the mile next year and she strikes me as a filly that will stay as she relaxes well and she finishes out well too. I'm lucky to have a horse like this in the yard and it is nice to have good support and nice horses to work with.”

Shuwari is the fourth of five foals and one of three scorers produced by GIII Rober J Frankel S. victrix Lady Pimpernel (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}), herself a granddaughter of G3 Deutscher Stutenpreis winner and G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) third Anno Luce (GB) (Old Vic {GB}). Her second dam Angeleno (Ire) (Belong To Me) is a half-sister to Listed Prix de l'Avre winner Air Trooper (GB) (Monsun {Ger}). Shuwari's fourth dam is G2 Preis der Diana-winning dual German champion Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}). The March-foaled chestnut is kin to a yearling filly by Nathaniel (Ire).

Friday, Sandown, Britain
EUROPEAN BLOODSTOCK NEWS EBF STAR S.-Listed, £40,000, Sandown, 7-27, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:32.83, sf.
1–SHUWARI (IRE), 128, f, 2, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Lady Pimpernel (GB) (GSW-US & SW-Eng, $193,557), by Sir Percy (GB)
2nd Dam: Angeleno (Ire), by Belong To Me
3rd Dam: Anno Luce (GB), by Old Vic (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (80,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs B V Sangster & Ballylinch Partnership; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Ollie Sangster; J-Oisin Murphy. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $36,222.
2–Fallen Angel (GB), 128, f, 2, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Agnes Stewart (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Clipper Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke. £8,600.
3–Soprano (Ire), 128, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Lealas Daughter (Ire), by Excelebration (Ire). (€45,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 100,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Da Vinci); B-Empire Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-George Boughey. £4,304.
Margins: HF, 1, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.25, 4.00, 1.38.
Also Ran: Gray's Inn (Ire), Expensive Queen (Ire), Eminny (Ire), Romanova (GB), Lava Stream (Ire), The African Queen (GB). Scratched: Catena (Ire).

Stakes success for the unbeaten Shuwari under @oismurphy in the Star Stakes at @Sandownpark, bought by @OllieSangster at #TattsOctober Book 2 for 80,000gns from @BallylinchStud. pic.twitter.com/TsfXmZHkdj

— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) July 27, 2023

The post First Stakes Winner For Ollie Sangster At Sandown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Inquisitively, a barely-beaten second at Windsor in his May 29 debut, is entered in Wednesday's Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, and will carry his owners' hopes as well as a bit of history on his back.

Inquisitively sold for 40,000gns euros at the 2022 Tattersalls October yearling sale from the Glenvale Stud consignment to trainer Ollie Sangster.

“He was a very nice yearling,” said Sangster. “It's easy to say that now. Flash Conroy had bought him as a foal, and he actually had a setback the week before the yearling sale, and was lame at the sale. But he was a very nice model and I know Flash and I liked the horse, so I bought the horse under the condition that if I wasn't happy, they would take him back. But the issue was something of a nothing, something he had done right before the sale, and in a few weeks would right itself. In that respect, he's a horse I never would have been able to afford working with a limited budget, and I was able to buy a much nicer physical that I would have been able to buy.”

American bloodstock agent Justin Casse was at the sale, and had inspected Inquisitively, and also had liked him, but left before Book 2.

“He looked like a very precocious type, great hind quarter, good balance, a very good mover,” said Casse. “And Flash is a tremendous judge with whom I've had a bit of luck. He's actually who I bought (G1 Fillies Mile winner) Pretty Gorgeous from.

He was a nice horse and I thought there was value there. And I'm trying to align myself with young people in the industry who I know who have spent time with great trainers or who have learned from the right people.”

So Casse called Sangster and offered to buy half of the horse from him.

In Sangster's case, those great trainers and right people included Wesley Ward, the first American trainer to ever saddle a winner at Royal Ascot, and who has dominated there in recent years, winning 12 races. Sangster spent several formative years with Ward, working at Keeneland in the spring, taking his Ascot horses over, and then coming back with Ward to Saratoga. He has helped Ward out at every Ascot since 2018.

The family connection between the Casses and the Sangsters goes back even further. Justin's father Norman Casse was the breeder of Beldale Ball, who won the 1980 Melbourne Cup for Sangster's grandfather Robert, and he considered it one of his greatest breeding achievements, said Justin, who was born the year of the win and keeps the plaque given to his father for the achievement hanging in his office today.

“To me, the whole thing is interesting,” said Casse. “I've traveled all over the world. I've won the richest race in South Africa. I've won a Group 2 in Australia. And all these things have come full circle in my life to this connection between young Ollie Sangster and my father who has passed away, and our families, and is still going on. And here we are. We have American connections through Australian connections to running at Ascot and it really is a dream come true. My first experience at Ascot, literally the first race on the first day of the first time I was at Ascot was Tepin winning.” Tepin, who won the 2017 G1 Queen Anne S., was trained by Justin's brother Mark. “That experience was extremely special and continues to grow in significance,” he said.

But if Inquisitively isn't quite Tepin, at least not yet, Sangster is serious about giving him a chance.

“His first start was particularly pleasing because he had a very difficult draw,” he said. “Windsor has a bend in the track and he had drawn 14 and had to move a good few lengths to get across, and did the hard work at the front that day. If he had had a nicer draw, he would have won the race nicely. It was visually quite impressive, the times were good and and subsequently the third and fourth finishers out of that race have won their next start. That has confirmed what the times were showing us. He deserves to have a chance there, and the winner of the race (Chief Mankato {GB} {Sioux Nation}) is going to Ascot himself.”

Sangster will also be the trainer of record for Bledsoe (Iqbaal), who Wesley Ward trained to win the opening race of the spring meet at Keeneland. Ward is also the horse's owner and breeder, and owns and stands his sire. Sangster said that Bledsoe arrived at his training center, Manton, in April with the intention of getting a prep in, and while that hadn't worked out, he'll now go into the Windsor Castle off the Keeneland maiden win.

Sangster said he realized how special it was to have two starters at the meet in his first year of training.

“I think Inquisitively is about 25-1, but if someone had asked me at the beginning of the year what my chances of getting to Ascot were this year, they would have been significantly longer!” he said. “It means everything. The reason we get up at the crack of dawn is to have the winners, and hopefully–not that I've had it yet–but a winner on a big stage. We're a close-knit team, and everyone works really hard, and we're looking forward to having a runner. I think we have a little bit of an each-way chance and it's exciting. Hopefully a few people will notice us.”

Casse said it was hard to imagine how emotional a win would be for him.

“You can't put a price on these experiences even though we try to regularly through the auction ring or private sales. But that doesn't always mean that you're going to get there. So I'm just going to try to make the most of it. And listen, leading into the race, the horse is training well against winners. He has not really put a foot wrong to this point. And from the videos that Ollie sends us, I really couldn't be happier. And then of course, these other horses winning flatters our form. So although I think we're going to go in there probably 25 or 30-1, I just get the feeling that we're going to run a big race.”

The post American Fingerprints on British-Trained Royal Ascot-Bound Inquisitively appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The 25-year-old of course has a background steeped in racing: his grandfather was the legendary Robert Sangster, known with his friends and associates MV O'Brien and John Magnier as 'The Brethren', while his father Ben is also a breeder of note, with Luxembourg (Ire) and Changingoftheguard (Ire) being among his notable current performers.

A former champion amateur rider on the Flat before his height made that pursuit a little tricky, Ollie Sangster's skills in the saddle have most recently been seen in public when accompanying Wesley Ward's runners to post aboard Strike The Tiger, who was tragically killed in a barn fire in March this year.

“I'd say that was probably my most formative time,” says Sangster of his two years spent working for Ward, which had followed stints with David Hayes in Australia and Charlie Hills in Lambourn, as well as a season of yearling prep. 

“I think the way the American system works, it's a bit like Australia, you are sometimes thrown in the deep end a bit and get to experience different stables in different states. So I'd say that was the best time for me and I have a great relationship with Wesley. 

“I've looked after his international runners for the last three years since then as well and I would say I learned more in my time there than I thought I could have learned in 10 years about hands-on horsemanship. Wesley is a real horseman.”

Sangster initially considered starting training in America, but visa issues prompted a rethink. He succeeded George Boughey as assistant trainer at Hugo Palmer's Newmarket stable before spending the last two years with Joseph O'Brien in Ireland. 

“I wanted to spread my wings a bit again and that was really great, actually,” he says of his time at Owning Hill. “Joseph is a good man and great guy to work with; he's a very wise head on young shoulders.”

Now Sangster is out on his own, pounding the yearling sales as he completes the BHA modules required for any aspiring trainer in Britain, with the hope of having everything up and running at Manton by the end of the year.

“I'm going to go to every sale I can and will be trying to pick up a few horses,” he says. 

At Manton, he will share the gallops with resident trainers Brian Meehan and Martyn and Freddie Meade, and he already has a good idea of he lie of the land having ridden out there for Meehan since the age of 12.

Sangster continues, “I get on well with Brian, Martyn and Freddie. I've obviously ridden out for Brian and I rode in races for him, and he's been a good family friend. Anything I want to talk about, well you can't beat someone who knows the gallops.

“Martyn has done a lot of work with the gallops. When I was first back not that long ago we'd had all this hot weather and Brian was working a load of horses up the grass, and I thought to myself, 'He's barking mad, it must be like a road'. And lo and behold, I watched them work and it really was beautiful summer ground. It's amazing how good the old turf is.”

One of the other trainers Sangster has been keeping a close eye on of late is Jane Chapple-Hyam as he is a part-owner of her stable star Saffron Beach (Ire) with his mother Lucy and James Wigan. The dual Group 1 winner had originally been bought as a foal for 55,000gns to pinhook until an injured foot meant she missed her subsequent sales engagements. 

“It's the luckiest thing ever,” he says. “That's partially what's going to give me the chance to get going here, having had that great ride with her. Obviously, Jane and her whole team have done a wonderful job. It's been an amazing journey and hopefully it's not quite over yet.”

While Chapple-Hyam's stable is rightly thriving on the back of some impressive results, Sangster has more humble ambitions for the launch of his own training career.

“I'm only going to be starting with a small number of horses and we'll just go from there,” he notes. “But it's a real privilege. I'm very lucky, obviously, to be getting a chance to get going here. It's always been a dream of mine and I will see how it goes. That's all you can do: trust in what you've learned, put a few things in place, and make a go of it.”

The post Ollie Sangster to Join Training Ranks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post