Tag: Passenger

Passenger Joins the Derby Fray

Saturday's Betfred Derby at Epsom has been boosted by one supplementary entry, with the Niarchos family opting to pay the £85,000 fee to add Dante S. third Passenger (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) to the line-up.  At the confirmation stage, 16 colts remain in contention, with Coolmore's Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Godolphin's Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) vying for favouritism. 

The latter is trained by Charlie Appleby, who will be aiming for a third Derby success following Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in 2018 and Military Order's full-brother Adayar (Ire) two years ago. 

Issuing an update on his sole runner via the Godolphin website, Appleby said, “He came out of his Lingfield Derby Trial win very well and we've been very pleased with him since. He's improving week on week physically, and we can't fault him to date on what he has been doing in his work and on the racecourse. He goes out and gets the job done in the mornings without being flash.”

He continued, “He's a mile-and-a-half horse, so you don't expect flashy work. That hasn't changed from his two-year-old days and I wouldn't expect it to change.”

Passenger's trainer Sir Michael Stoute will be aiming for back-to-back Derby wins following the success of Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) last year, and his seventh victory in the race overall, while Aidan O'Brien is seeking a ninth Derby win. The Ballydoyle trainer has a quarter of the horses remaining in the entries, with the quartet being completed by Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Covent Garden (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 

Godolphin has also supplemented Lingfield Oaks trial winner Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) for the Oaks at Epsom on Friday.

“She bought her own ticket to the race,” Appleby said. “She's a filly who started her career in a Wolverhampton novice in February and all she has done is improve ever since.

“She's a trial winner, at a track that tests a horse's ability to handle sharp bends, and she acquitted herself very well. It is seen as a test for Epsom, which shouldn't pose any problem for her.”

Godolphin has already secured one British Classic this season with the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Mawj (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). The 1,000 Guineas winner is now being aimed at the Coronation S. at Royal Ascot, where she could face a rematch with her runner-up Tahiyra (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), the winner of Sunday's Irish 1,000 Guineas.

“She is in good form,” reported Bin Suroor on the Godolphin website. “Her win meant a lot. It was the third time we won the 1,000 Guineas, but it had been a long time since the last one–21 years.

“We knew last year she was a good filly, but she is a tiny filly and you have to look after her. I gave her a break between races, just to allow her to recover.”

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‘His Training Has Been Very Smooth Up To Now’: Desert Crown Set for Sandown Return

NEWMARKET, UK–Oh, to be in England now that April's there. So wrote Robert Browning in 1845, though it is unconfirmed that this had anything to do with Classic trials. An unusually wet and cold April did little to lift the spirits this year, so we shall fast-forward to another line of his lovely poem. And after April, when May follows.

May is becoming more marvellous by the day. There's York, of course, and who doesn't love York? It is a racecourse which comes close to perfection, from its location in one of the country's most beautiful cities, to the welcoming folk who greet you at the entrance, the candy-striped pillars of the old stand, superb racing, and last but very much not least, the plumptious Yorkshire puddings in the press room.

The results of the Musidora and the Dante made the great puzzles of Epsom even more intriguing with now just a fortnight left to ponder. The only one black mark in York's book, and that of many other tracks, is the tendency to play loud music as the winners return to scale. We were blasted with Train's irritating Hey, Soul Sister after the Musidora. At least if Passenger had won the Dante we could have had a decent bit of Iggy Pop. 

Passenger, who dead-heated for third with Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) behind Andrew Balding's The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), didn't get a clear run when he needed it and, having only first set foot on a racecourse to win the Wood Ditton, the son of Ulysses (Ire) does not currently hold a Derby entry. He surely soon will, and, if supplemented, he will reoppose another Ulysses colt in White Birch (Ire), who was an impressive runner-up in the Dante after winning the G3 Ballysax S. and will be a very welcome contender at Epsom for John Joseph Murphy. Twenty-one colts remain in the Derby after the May 19 deadline for scratchings, with 24 fillies standing their ground for the Oaks. 

Passenger, owned and bred by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings, who also bred his sire, has a profile not unlike that 12 months ago of his stable-mate Desert Crown (GB). The word had got out about the latter ahead of last year's Dante, however, and he arrived at York with a justifiable buzz about him. 

Sarah Denniff, one of Sir Michael Stoute's most trusted lieutenants, rarely leaves Desert Crown's side except to let him gallop, as he did on Friday morning. A video produced recently to celebrate Stoute's induction into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, included a reminiscence from Denniff as to an upward shift in mood from “the boss” after a key piece of work for Desert Crown ahead of the Dante. Those in Stoute's team who know the trainer well may have been able to read into his musical accompaniment to Friday morning's work. He was humming while he waited for the gallopers, and later performed his own brilliant impression of a kazoo without the need of the instrument in question. 

Stoute, his assistant trainer James Savage, and Saeed Suhail's racing team of Bruce Raymond and Philip Robinson were among those watching on the green-carpeted slice of heaven that is the Limekilns. In a fleeting moment, Desert Crown breezed past in the heady company of Bay Bridge (GB) and Solid Stone (Ire). Richard Kingscote was back on the horse who gave him his Derby win, while Kevin Bradshaw led the gallop initially aboard Solid Stone until Desert Crown eased clear of his work companions. Bay Bridge bowled along readily under a motionless Ted Durcan.

Both Desert Crown and Solid Stone were subsequently given entries for Thursday's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown, a race which could potentially see the return of last year's Prix de Diane winner Nashwa (GB) and Hukum (GB), who, like Desert Crown, has not been seen at the races since last year at Epsom, where he won the G1 Coronation Cup.

Issuing an update later in the day to TDN, James Savage said, “That was Desert Crown's last strong piece of work and we've been lucky to use some lovely ground, with the Round Gallop on the Limekilns this morning and [Newmarket] racecourse last Saturday. His training has been very smooth up to now, so fingers crossed that we stay healthy for Sandown.”

Of the eight entries for the Brigadier Gerard, he added, “It looks a very strong renewal this year but it is a great starting point for us.”

Solid Stone, now seven and an eight-time winner for Saeed Suhail, won last year's G2 Huxley S. at Chester and he too is heading to Sandown.

Savage continued, “He's a hard horse to place and with the Huxley Stakes being so soft we didn't go there. Again, it's an ideal place for him to start, and he can probably go to the Wolferton [at Royal Ascot] after that.”

James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud's Bay Bridge, who was third on his seasonal resumption in the G1 Prix Ganay, could head to Ireland for the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. 

Savage continued, “He is a fit horse and he generally works on his own but Sir Michael wanted him to have a bit of company this morning, so it was just a leg-stretcher. He will work early next week and then hopefully go to Ireland, all being well, next weekend.”

He also noted that Passenger has come out of the Dante in good order. “He didn't have a hard race,” he said. “I'm just looking at him out in the paddock now. He has taken it really well. It was a bit frustrating but we have learnt that he can be rated with the top three-year-olds, so we're happy.”

 

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Churchill’s The Foxes Best In The Dante

There was as much uncertainty as to what would start favourite for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. than what would emerge on top in York's time-honoured Derby trial, but in the end it was one of the benchmark horses The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}–Tanaghum {GB}, by Darshaan {GB}) who held the bragging rights. King Power Racing's G2 Royal Lodge S. winner had been undone by Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket last month but appreciated this step up to an extended 10 furlongs and travelled sweetly under cover on the rail for Oisin Murphy throughout the early stages. Arriving on the front end passing the furlong pole, the Andrew Balding-trained 6-1 shot veered right but held the slow-starting White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) to score by a neck, with 1 1/4 lengths back to the slightly unlucky 9-2 market-leader Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) and Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) who shared third.

“He did a bit of meandering across the track, but he's a very good horse and it looked a deep Dante,” Balding said. “He's very professional, he was the most beautiful yearling and he's been a star to train so far. You'd have to think Epsom is the next step as long as you take the usual caveats into account, it comes close enough for example, but if he comes out of it well I think we'd have to give it a go. I think the main thing is he'd give himself every chance of staying because of his demeanour.”

The Foxes, whose juvenile form also included a maiden win at tricky Goodwood, has his trainer full of hope heading to the Blue Riband. “We've gone close in the Derby a few times, but I think he'd be the best chance we've had going there as both [runners-up] Hoo Ya Mal and Khalifa Sat were big prices,” he added. “His half-brother Bangkok went there after winning this well-fancied, but he ran poorly. We always thought he'd stay, but he was a real 10-furlong horse. I think he'll stay, as his dam got a mile and a half well.”

John Murphy's son and assistant George said of the G3 Ballysax S. winner White Birch, who was compromised by missing the break, “He ran a super race, quickened up really well and just bumped into one on the day, but we couldn't be happier with the run. He's a super mover and a big, powerful horse–ground doesn't seem to bother him. We'll take him home and see how he comes out of it, but I think he's more entitled to take his chance in the Derby now. If the owners are happy to go there and he comes out of it well, I think he definitely deserves a crack at it.”

Also set for Epsom is the unexposed Wood Ditton winner Passenger, who was stopped in his run inside the final two furlongs. After jockey Richard Kingscote stated, “It was my fault, I couldn't get him a run. It's very frustrating,” Sir Michael Stoute's assistant James Savage added, “It was a bit of a hard-luck story. He was in the stalls a long time, he jumped well and did everything brilliantly for a horse having only his second start after running on a straight mile at Newmarket. There are a lot of positives to be taken out of the race. It didn't happen for Richard up the straight, but that's just one of those things.”

The Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper also said of the third, who was the subject of a significant late gamble and who would need to be supplemented for the Derby at a cost of £85,000, “He's shown that he's a good horse on only his second start. Let's regroup. The family will follow Sir Michael's advice.”

Pedigree Notes
The Foxes is one of six black-type winners for Tanaghum including the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 scorer Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), the aforementioned G2 York S. winner Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 Curragh Cup winner Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells). She is also the second dam of the four-times group 1-winning star miler and sire Ribchester (Ire), last year's G2 Vintage S. scorer Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the G3 Ballycorus S. winner Convergence (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

Tanaghum is out of Mehthaaf (Nureyev), who captured the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and is kin to Danzig's G1 July Cup hero and sire Elnadim and the Lyphard mare Only Seule, who went on to prove an important broodmare for the Wertheimers by producing the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Occupandiste (Ire) (Kaldoun {Fr}) whose own progeny list is headed by the GI Arlington Million hero Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and who is the second dam of Galileo's G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Intello (Ger). Tanaghum's yearling is a full-sister to The Foxes.

Thursday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE S.-G2, £192,250, York, 5-18, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:05.84, g/f.
1–THE FOXES (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Tanaghum (GB) (SP-Eng), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Mehthaaf, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Elle Seule, by Exclusive Native
(440,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £109,025. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $253,979. *Full to Perotan (Ire), SW-Ire; and 1/2 to Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), G1SW-UAE, SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire, $780,089; Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW-Eng, SP-Qat, $926,107; Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells), GSW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, $142,213; Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Fr; and Zahoo (Ire) (Nayef), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–White Birch (GB), 128, c, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–Diagnostic (GB), by Dutch Art (GB). (75,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 48,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Joseph Murphy. £41,334.
3(DH)–Continuous (Jpn), 128, c, 3, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Fluff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien. £20,686.
3(DH)–Passenger, 128, c, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–Dilmun, by War Front.  1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd (KY); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £20,686.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, DHT. Odds: 6.00, 9.00, 6.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Epictetus (Ire), Killybegs Warrior (Ire), Liberty Lane (Ire), Dear My Friend (GB). Scratched: King Of Steel.

 

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Wood Ditton Hero Passenger Supplemented To Dante Field

The Niarcho Family's Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) has been supplemented to the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York on May 18. His addition brings the potential field to 14 runners.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the Wood Ditton Maiden S. winner will follow the path of last year's G1 Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won the Dante en route to Classic honours at Epsom. Connections paid £14,000 to supplement Passenger, who was scratched from the Listed Dee S. at Chester earlier this week due to ground concerns. The Betfred Derby will take place on Saturday, June 3, and Stoute's colt would also need to be supplemented to that contest, if all goes well on the Knavesmire.

Other entries for the York feature include Listed Blue Riband Trial hero Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) from John and Thady Gosden, Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby, and Dear My Friend (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) from the Charlie Johnston yard.

“We've got lots of excited owners on our hands at the moment,” said Middleham Park's Mike Prince of Listed Burradon S. winner Dear My Friend. “Very much the dream is still alive! We'll have a big crowd there next Thursday and they're just really excited, just to see how his season develops. The syndicate were absolutely delighted with his run at Newcastle–the form is working out nicely.

“Him and Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) had a ding-dong battle in the final furlong but he was quite comfortably on top in the last 100 yards and looked to be extending away.

“He's got a lovely, long stride on him and we think that stride-length will come into play when we step him up to a mile and two. We're pretty adamant that the step up in trip will suit him.”

Never to be discounted in a Classic prep is Aidan O'Brien, who has both the stakes-winning Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) and two-for-two Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) entered, while John Murphy's G3 Ballysax S. hero White Birch (GB) (Uyllses {Ire}) is another possible starter. Listed winner Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}), G2 Royal Lodge S. hero The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and the Group 3-placed Dancing Magic (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), are also signed on.

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