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Classic Siblings Aid Orby Revival

By now, the story is well known: after six consecutive years of healthy trade punctuated by six-figure averages and seven-figure leading lots, Goffs is on a recovery mission with its Orby Sale after it was dealt a massive blow in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. With a 14-day mandatory quarantine steadfastly in place for any visitors to Ireland throughout last year's sale season, Goffs was forced to make some gut-wrenching decisions about its flagship sale that included relocating it to its Goffs UK headquarters in Doncaster. That disruption added to the general challenges of the pandemic saw the Orby average drop 35% year-on-year to £67,981–the sale's lowest average since 2011– while the aggregate dropped 44.5% to £21,142,000. While eight yearlings passed the half-million mark in 2019, none did so last year, the top price dropping from €3-million to £450,000.

One thing that can seemingly never be taken away from the Irish, however, is their resilience and fighting spirit, and in the interim 12 months Goffs has channeled considerable resources toward restoring Orby's lustre and bringing it back to its former glory when the sale returns to its home at Kildare Paddocks on Sept. 28 and 29.

“It's no secret that last year, for a variety of reasons, wasn't the most successful sale,” admitted Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “In fact, it was a disappointing sale and I've spoken at length about that. We've gone back to the drawing board and sat down and had a long, hard look at the sale.”

One of the initiatives to emerge from those discussions is the re-introduction of the revamped Goffs Million, the sale race that had served Orby well in decades past but had been shelved since 2009. Set to be run over seven furlongs at The Curragh the Saturday prior to next year's Orby sale and exclusively for 2021 Orby graduates, the €1-million Goffs Million will be Europe's richest 2-year-old race with prizemoney paid down to tenth place. Should the Goffs Million winner go on to win a Group 1 race in Ireland, Britain, France, America or Australia as a 3-year-old, they will earn an additional €100,000 bonus. Naas Racecourse will likewise stage a €100,000, six-furlong 2-year-old race for graduates of the Goffs Sportsman's Sale, which follows on from the Orby sale on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

“We gathered some customer feedback and reaction and decided we needed something that inspired people,” Beeby said. “One notable breeder said to me when we were discussing the possibility of re-introducing the Million Race, 'if you put on a race worth €1-million, Europe's richest 2-year-old race, people will have to come, because they won't want to miss out.' If they don't buy at the sale, they automatically can't have a runner in Europe's richest 2-year-old race next year.”

The winner of a €1-million juvenile race next year will come from a pool of just 444 horses, before withdrawals.

“It's a relatively small group of horses; most races are open to every horse,” Beeby said. “We're very pleased that it has gone down really well. It's not an entirely new idea; we've put a different spin on it this time, but it did great things for Goffs in the 80s, it did great things for Goffs in the 90s and we're hoping it will do great things for Goffs in what we're hoping will turn out to be the roaring 20s. It's certainly caught the interest, and a number of agents and trainers have said they're certainly coming and they're putting together groups and syndicates, and that's what it's all about.”

Beeby and his team recognize, too, that it is imperative that when those buyers come they see a set of yearlings in front of them worthy of being in Ireland's national yearling sale, and he says he believes that is what Orby will deliver this year.

“We said to our vendors and to ourselves that we really had to focus on looking for the classy racehorse,” Beeby said. “The physical specimen is at the forefront of our minds, and happily a lot of Irish breeders and vendors have backed us with what we believe is an improved draft of horses. Time will tell; I think that's for purchasers to judge, but I think if they come they will see a catalogue of very attractive horses and we hope to build the sale back from last year. Hopefully last year was a blip because the sale had been on an upward trajectory in the previous number of years.”

One front on which the Orby sale has already excelled through 2021 has been its stakes-winning graduates. Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was bred by Grenane House Stud and purchased by MV Magnier from Whitehall Stud for €150,000 at Orby in 2019, and she has progressed from a Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed juvenile last year to a G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild scorer this season, and has not missed the board in six starts at three, all in Group 1s. Bought at the same sale for €90,000 was Winter Power (Ire) (Bungleinthejungle {GB}), who provided the Orby a major boost when winning the G1 Nunthorpe S. last month.

Five-year-old mare Romantic Proposal (Ire) (Raven's Pass) has been a rapid improver this season, and she punctuated that upward mobility with a win in this month's G1 Flying Five S. Romantic Proposal was originally a €25,000 Goffs November foal and pinhooked for €55,000 at Orby by Aileen and Amy Lynam.

Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was a €90,000 purchase from the Wildenstein Dispersal at the 2016 Orby sale, and he won his third Grade I in America when taking the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in April. Likewise advertising the sale overseas has been Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who was exported to South Africa and won two Group 1s there, including the Paddock S. in January, before leaving Mike de Kock to join Andrew Balding over the summer. Other 2021 Group 1 winners who went up for sale at Orby but failed to meet their reserves were G1 Matron S. victress No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), who was led out unsold at €190,000, and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud scorer Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), whose bidding stalled at €120,000.

The 2021 Orby catalogue specifically has been a beneficiary of some of these updates, with siblings to some of Orby's star graduates set to go under the hammer this time around. Whitehall Stud offers a half-sister to Mother Earth and G2 Premio Dormello winner Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by first-season sire Sioux Nation (lot 117), and she is bookended by two more sisters to Classic winners by first-season sires: lot 110 is a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) half-sister to Orby graduate and G1 Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), while lot 120 is a US Navy Flag half-sister to this year's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. scorer Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). Another Classic pedigree that should generate interest early in the sale is Al Eile Stud's Kingman (GB) filly out of dual Guineas winner Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) (lot 29), who is a half-sister to G2 Beresford S. winner Ol' Man River (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Kingman's eight catalogued also include Mountarmstrong Stud's colt out of champion and stakes producer Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away) (lot 338).

Newlands House Stud's lot 294 is a full-brother to Winter Power and two other stakes horses, while Coulonces Sales offers a Footstepsinthesand (GB) half-brother to last year's G1 Phoenix S. winner and Orby graduate Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 196).

Six sons and daughters of Galileo (Ire) are catalogued, including a filly who is the first foal out of GI Frizette S. winner Nickname (Scat Daddy) (lot 152) and a colt out of dual Group 1 winner Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) (lot 242), who is also the dam of G3 International S. winner Mekong River (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). There is a colt and a filly each offered by Dubawi (Ire), including lot 70, a colt out of G3 Balanchine S. winner I Am Beautiful (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) from the Monevassia branch of the Miesque line that has also produced the brilliant Rumplestiltskin (Ire), Tapestry (Ire), Loves Only You (Jpn) and Real Steel (Jpn) among others.

Dark Angel (Ire's) 17 catalogued include Owenstown Stud's full-sister to G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Persuasive (Ire) and half to this season's G3 Jersey S. winner Creative Force (Ire) and the listed-winning Tisbutadream (Ire) (lot 408), all of which were sold at Orby; and a full-brother to G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Angel's Hideaway (Ire) (lot 289). Sea The Stars (Ire) has 16 catalogued including a half-sister to Hong Kong champion and Group 1 winner Irishcorrespondent (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 413). Frankel has four catalogued including Marlhill House Stud's lot 377, a colt who is a half-brother to group winners Adjusted (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Giuseppe Piazza (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and out of a half-sister to the excellent producer In Clover (GB). Another sibling to a 2021 Group 1 winner catalogued is the Starspangledbanner (Aus) half-brother to G1 Prix Jean Prat scorer Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) (lot 216).

Of particular appeal to those targeting the Goffs Million will be the yearlings catalogued from precocious families. In addition to the half-brother to Lucky Vega, those include siblings to the winners of this year's G2 Queen Mary S. as well as the last two winners of the G2 Norfolk S. Tally-Ho Stud offers a three-quarter sister by Kodiac (GB) to this year's Norfolk and G1 Prix Morny winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) (lot 214), while Kilpatrick Farm offers a Footstepsinthesand (GB) half-brother to last year's Norfolk winner and recent G2 Franklin-Simpson S. scorer The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) (lot 167). Oghill House Stud's lot 247 is a full-brother to this year's Queen Mary winner Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}). Lot 364 is a Churchill (Ire) half-brother to Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), who added the G2 Debutante S. to her win in the G3 Silver Flash S. since the catalogue was published. Lot 370 is a full-brother to G2 Lowther S. winner Living In The Past (Ire) (Bungleinthejungle {Ire}); lot 430 is a Dragon Pulse (Ire) half-brother to this year's G3 Anglesey S. winner Beauty Inspire (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}); lot 168 is a Belardo (Ire) half-brother to last year's G2 Gimcrack S. winner Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}); and lot 384 is a half-sister to this year's G3 Albany S. third Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) by first-season sire Kessaar (Ire).

Another by a first-season sire is Ballyhimikin Stud's Saxon Warrior (Jpn) colt out of Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) (lot 397), who is the second to last foal out of the highly influential mare. Other first-season sires represented include Cracksman (GB), Expert Eye (GB), Havana Grey (GB), Roaring Lion, the aforementioned Sioux Nation and US Navy Flag and Zoustar (Aus), who has his first Northern Hemisphere-bred yearlings. There is strong representation from American-based first-season sires too, including Scat Daddy sons Justify and Mendelssohn and Kitten's Joy's multiple Grade I-winning Oscar Performance.

“The catalogue reads very, very well,” Beeby said. “The sire profile is good with Galileo, Frankel, Dubawi, Sea the Stars and all the major stallions in there. We are very hopeful. We rely completely on the support of the Irish breeders and we've specifically marketed it, as we have in the past, as Ireland's national yearling sale. It's very important to Ireland as a country, to the bloodstock community in Ireland, and we've been well supported and we're very grateful for that as ever.”

With Tattersalls Ireland opting to stage its September Yearling Sale in Newmarket once again this year, the Orby will be the only flat yearling sale staged in Ireland this year.

“I do think people enjoy coming to Ireland and often this is their only trip to Ireland in the year, whether it be from England or the United States or elsewhere,” Beeby said. “They can have two or three days in a beautiful part of the world with great attractions; they can nip off to places like the Irish National Stud, Kildangan and Coolmore.”

Beeby said he was “encouraged” by the results of the Arqana August Yearling Sale and Goffs UK's Premier and Silver yearling sales to kick off the season, and that his expectations are “realistic” as Goffs works to “reboot and re-establish the Orby sale.”

“We were on an upward trajectory certainly for the previous four years,” Beeby said. “In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 we grew every year and we had six-figure averages. Our UK sale–and I think the Arqana Sale as well but certainly our UK sale–bounced back to somewhere between where we were in 2019 and 2020, and I think if we can do that with the Orby Sale we'd be delighted. Anything better would be amazing.

“Happily vendors have seen that we've reacted as proactively as we can to the reversal we endured last year. They've bought into that and we think we've put together a very good catalogue and we're hoping to welcome a big group of buyers.

“What I'd like to say to people is come to Kildare. You'll be extremely well looked after, and we believe you'll like what you see. Come and have a look at our horses and you'll see we have some very good-looking horses. It's all about potential racehorses and they'll come from all parts of the catalogue, all consignors. It's a very, very good bunch.”

The post Classic Siblings Aid Orby Revival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Irish Champion Victory Sends St Mark’s Basilica To Top Of Cartier Horse Of The Year Standings

Irish Champion Stakes winner St Mark's Basilica is the narrow leader in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings following the latest points update for the Cartier Racing Awards.

The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. There are eight equine awards – the Cartier Horse Of The Year, the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.

The 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards will be awarded in November. Cartier continues its ongoing support with the presentation of the Cartier Racing Awards.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained St Mark's Basilica boasts 160 points having recorded his fourth G1 victory of the season when getting the better of Tarnawa and Poetic Flare in a thrilling battle for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 11. St Mark's Basilica had already enjoyed G1 success this year in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and Coral-Eclipse.

Jim Bolger's homebred Poetic Flare finished a creditable third at Leopardstown and the dual G1 winner is hot on the heels of St Mark's Basilica with 156 points.

Other leading Cartier Horse Of The Year contenders include Palace Pier (144) who cemented his status as the world's best miler when defeating Poetic Flare in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15.

Hurricane Lane completed a G1 hat-trick when capturing the final British Classic of the season, the Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster on September 15. The Godolphin colt had previously won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris and has 140 points.

English and Irish Oaks heroine Snowfall has 136 points but suffered a shock defeat in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 14 as she finished second to the Roger Varian-trained Teona.

Mother Earth (128), trained like Snowfall by Aidan O'Brien for a Coolmore partnership, endured a luckless passage when third to No Speak Alexander in the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11.

Juddmonte International winner Mishriff has 108 points ahead of Godolphin's Adayar (100) who has already captured the Cazoo Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes this term.

Palace Pier (144) also leads the way in the Cartier Older Horse standings ahead of Mishriff (108). The Aidan O'Brien-trained Broome has 88 points having finished second in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy on Arc Trials day at Longchamp, a contest which saw Jerome Reynier's Skalleti (80) finish fourth. Love (80), who was runner-up in the G2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes at the Curragh on September 12, also has 80 points.

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St Mark's Basilica (160) is a narrow leader over Poetic Flare in the Cartier Three-Year-Old category. Hurricane Lane (144) and Adayar (100) are also challenging for the award and the duo could clash in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 3.

Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category with four of the top five contenders. Snowfall leads the race with 136 points, ahead of Mother Earth on 128, with the Andrew Balding-trained Alcohol Free on 96 points. O'Brien is also responsible for Joan Of Arc (64), who finished seventh in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille last time out and Santa Barbara (64), an easy winner of two G1 events in America this summer.

The Cartier Sprinter Award is headed by the Ed Walker-trained Starman on 64 points. The four-year-old landed the G1 Darley July Cup earlier this season and finished a short-head second on his latest start to Emaraaty Ana (52) in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 4.

Dragon Symbol (56) is still chasing a first G1 success but continues to run well in defeat and took fourth in the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on September 12 – a race won by the Eddie Lynam-trained Romantic Proposal (40).

Subjectivist (60) remains the leader in the Cartier Stayer division following his success in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Godolphin's Hurricane Lane has 48 points in this division following his Cazoo St Leger victory at Doncaster, ahead of Cedric Rossi's Skazino (48).

Stradivarius is bidding to win the Cartier Stayer Award for the fourth successive year and has 40 points, having landed his second G2 Doncaster Cup at Doncaster on September 10. G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan and Spanish Mission both have 36 points.

There is nothing to separate Native Trail and Perfect Power at the top of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt category. Godolphin's Native Trail is unbeaten in three starts and produced a seismic performance to capture the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh on September 12, defeating Point Lonsdale (40) and Ebro River (40).

Meanwhile, the Richard Fahey-trained Perfect Power (48), followed up success in the G2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot with a smart victory in the G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville in August.

David Loughnane's G2 scorer Go Bears Go, G2 Unibet Richmond Stakes winner Asymmetric and the Richard Hannon-trained Lusail, who was fourth in the G2 Champagne Stakes on September 11 at Doncaster, are others in contention with 32 points each.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Agartha (40) tops the Cartier Two-Year-Old category following a second-placed finish to Jessica Harrington's Discoveries (36) in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on September 11.

Also in contention are the Andrew Balding-trained Sandrine (32), who won the G3 Albany Stakes and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes earlier this term. Kirsten Rausing's homebred was second to Zain Claudette (24) in the G2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York last month.

The Cartier Racing Awards are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35%).

The participation of the public plays a crucial role in determining the winners of each year's Cartier Racing Awards and gives horseracing fans the chance to put forward their favourite horses in a meaningful way.

In addition to the equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 16-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

The 10 most recent recipients have been John Gosden, Pat Smullen, Richard Hannon, Barry Hills, Team Frankel, Jim Bolger, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Jack Berry and Aidan O'Brien.

The post Irish Champion Victory Sends St Mark’s Basilica To Top Of Cartier Horse Of The Year Standings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hurricane Force On Sensational Saturday

Many open questions surrounding some of Europe's best will be answered in the space of less than an hour on Saturday, with Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. and Doncaster's G1 Cazoo St Leger condensed in the middle of an absorbing spell of action. There will barely be time to reflect on the promise of the winner of the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. that forms part of Irish Champions weekend before the focus is switched to Town Moor for its own glimpse of futurity in the G2 Champagne S. In between is the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron S. and G2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile back at Foxrock and the seven-furlong G2 Cazoo Park S. which is the penultimate pattern race of Doncaster's St Leger festival. Within 145 minutes, eight group races will be run across the two venues featuring five individual 2021 Classics winners and a plethora of galacticos from all the right places.

Despite the allure of Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Leger, it is hard to be drawn away from the Irish Champion itself as the feature event of the day with a trio of the highest order engaged in the ultimate cat-and-mouse antics around Leopardstown's demanding circuit. Will Kevin Manning have to carry the fight to the hold-up merchants St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) on the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire})? Unbeaten in two starts here, albeit in lesser company, the Bolger homebred was positively ridden when taking the G3 Killavullan S. in October and on his return in the Apr. 11 Listed 2000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs, but this is further than he has gone so far.

Ryan Moore's tactic will be to sit and wait on his star colt, who has displayed stunning acceleration on more than one occasion, most notably in the G1 Eclipse at Sandown July 3. Yet he is unproven in a fast-run mile-and-a-quarter contest on fast ground, so St Mark's Basilica will have to be at his dynamic best to put Poetic Flare to the sword and evade the onslaught of Tarnawa. Moore was weighing up the contest on Friday. “I have lots of respect for Tarnawa. She looked a super filly at the back end of last season,” he said. “Poetic Flare has been great all season, but the 2000 Guineas winner is stepping up in trip here and that could be difficult against the top two. My lad has gears though and I'm expecting a very big run in a quality race.”

Aidan O'Brien is ponderinng the opportunity for a 10th renewal with the horse he has been so effusive about this year. “He's very offhanded and very straightforward. He has a great mind, he relaxes, he has a great stride and is very genuine–he has all the things that you would love in a horse,” he commented. “The Irish Champion S. is a great race every year. For older horses having an autumn campaign, it's the tops really.”

Colin Keane has already felt the power of The Aga Khan's 5-year-old in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and in the 12-furlong G3 Ballyroan S. on her return here Aug. 5. Her ability to quicken off a moderate pace over this trip was proven in the G1 Prix de l'Opera at ParisLongchamp in October, so any holes in her have yet to be found and she will relish this stiff uphill finish. “She was good in the Ballyroan. I think they left her off for longer by design, very much thinking of a backend campaign with her,” her rider said. “She came back much stronger physically this year. We thought going to Leopardstown she was about 70% and there was plenty to work on, so to put up the performance she did I thought was very impressive. We're dropping back two furlongs at the weekend, but she's proven herself over that trip as well. It's a very good renewal of the race–you're taking on two of the best 3-year-olds in Ireland, if not Europe. It's not going to be easy, but I don't think I'd swap her for anything.”

Hurricane To The Test

If the St Leger turns out to be tactical, it will be a surprise with Aidan O'Brien fully loaded with strong stayers including The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who responded so well to forcing the pace in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York Aug. 18. 'TDN Rising Star' High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to need a severe test of stamina, while Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the only runner in the line-up who has won over the trip in the Listed Vinnie Roe S. at Leopardstown Aug. 12. All that said, Hurricane Lane is certain to stay this extended 14-furlong trip on pedigree and looks a class above based on his emphatic win in the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris which proceeded his impressive surge to take the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 26.

Charlie Appleby is not looking at the distance as a problem. “Obviously, it is the big question for all of them. Will they stay the extra two furlongs? In his case, I think he will,” he said. “He goes into the Leger with rock-solid form. He's only been beaten once–he finished third in the Derby and he lost two shoes. We feel there is enough evidence there to say he will stay. He is the class horse in the field.”

“After travelling to Ireland and France, he is a mentally sharper horse,” Appleby added. “When he went to Epsom in June, he was unbeaten in three starts and relatively inexperienced. That was his undoing on the day. But what we have seen since is a much sharper model. He is mentally stronger and more mature and he is ready for this. William [Buick] rode him in a good piece of work 10 days out from the Leger and he was delighted. He looked great, he moved well. He's been doing routine work since then, and he continues to please.”

Aidan O'Brien said of his team, “High Definition had a little slip in the Irish Derby when he stumbled and he just lost his confidence a bit. York was his first run back after that and we were happy with his run there and we thought he would come on mentally for it. He's a horse we've always thought could get further than a mile and a half. The Mediterranean is in good form and he ran very well at York the last day. We've been happy with him and it looks like he might stay a bit further. Sir Lucan is well–he ran well at Goodwood and wasn't beaten far at York as well. Frankie just thought a little bit more cover might have suited him, but he still ran a nice race. Interpretation has been gradually progressive and he looks like he stays very well–he's a very relaxed horse.”

Ahead of Hurricane Lane in the June 5 G1 Epsom Derby was Amo Racing's Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who was only fifth in the Irish equivalent before belatedly breaking his maiden at Newbury Aug. 14. Trainer Richard Hannon said he believes the trip will bring out the best in him and said, “The flat, galloping track will suit. He was probably soundly beaten at The Curragh, but we almost got knocked over and it took him a long time to get going. The extra two furlongs will suit him much more. He'll get the trip–the harder they go, the more it will be to his liking. He ran a very good race in the Derby. He's not the one to beat, but he's been underrated and deserves to take his chance.”

O T I Racing's improving Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) beat the subsequent Voltigeur fourth Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in Goodwood's G3 Gordon S. July 29 and heads into uncharted territory trip-wise, but trainer Johnny Murtagh is making waves in his second career and is expecting a bold show. “He came out of the Gordon S. at Goodwood really well and we've freshened him up–it's been a while since he ran, but that was the plan as had been busy through the early part of the season,” he said. “A mile and six is a bit of an unknown, but he races lazily so he'll give himself every chance.”

“It's a long way down that straight at Doncaster if they get racing early, but he's very well and I'm very happy going over there,” Murtagh added. “He's in good shape and Ben [Coen] is very happy with him. He never gives you 100%, so he's never really tired after his races. He's always hanging on to a little bit. I'm hoping that, when he does dig deep on Saturday, there is a bit more. We haven't got to the bottom of him yet and, although it's a big ask, we could not be happier with him.”

Matron Down To Earth

The third of the Group 1 races on the afternoon is the Matron at Leopardstown, with Ballydoyle's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) taking on last year's winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) and Haras de Saint Pair's improving July 11 G3 Brownstown S. and Aug. 26 G3 Fairy Bridge S. winner Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Also in the mix is the May 22 G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a wide-open affair should Mother Earth fail to give her customary best.

Ryan Moore has abundant faith in Mother Earth and said, “She has only been out of the first three in one of her 13 races and the last day, in the Prix Rothschild, she showed the tenacity and will to win that has been on display all season. Empress Josephine is an Irish 1000 Guineas winner on heavy ground, so any rain that falls will be in her favour. It's very competitive, but I wouldn't swap Mother Earth for anything in here.”

Champers Elysees has taken time to come to herself this term, but there were indications last time when second attempting to give Acanella (GB) (Dansili {GB}) seven pounds in The Curragh's nine-furlong G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. Aug. 27 that she is again nearing a peak. “She's coming along nicely and is in great form,” trainer Johnny Murtagh said. “She had a few little hiccups earlier in the year and we thought she ran well at Ascot. We then went over again for the Falmouth where she didn't get a great run and got a bit smashed. She came out of the Curragh race really, really well. She's fit, she's ready to go and I think she's as good as she has been all year. She has to step up again, but maybe she's a filly that comes good at this time of year. She doesn't mind any ground and it's good, fast ground, the same as last year, and a similar race.”

Future Stars

Next year's Classic stars could be on show in England and Ireland, with The Queen's Aug. 21 G3 Solario S. winner Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) tackling Al Shaqab Racing's July 8 G2 July S. and Aug. 20 G2 Gimcrack S. scorer Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the Champagne. In receipt of three pounds, the John and Thady Gosden trainee is heavily favoured to make that count, with the leader of Richard Hannon's juveniles certain to have his stamina tested moving back up to seven furlongs from the six over which he took those prestigious Newmarket and York contests. There is also Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Aug. 14 Listed Washington Singer S. runner-up Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) to consider in a fascinating affair, but Frankie Dettori is happy to be in the hotseat.

“In the last two races he hardly saw a horse, so this is the first big test,” he said of The Queen's most high-profile 2-year-old in decades. “We're building him up, he's getting more experience and he's done nothing wrong so far. This horse is a work in progress at the moment. We're keeping him busy. We feel the more experience he gets, the better he gets. Saturday will be another key point. I've got plenty of confidence in him. He's exciting, and Her Majesty is our biggest asset in racing.”

“Everybody is thinking about next year–I'm thinking one race at a time,” Dettori added. “Let's get Saturday out of the way and then progress. All the boxes are ticked and everything is going in the right direction. After the Solario, myself and John felt the experience of racing is doing him good and that is why we are getting him out. To have a colt of this calibre for The Queen is exciting.”

Hannon said of Lusail, “It looks a very good race and it always is. I'm very happy with my horse. He's won a Gimcrack, won a July S.–you don't do that unless you're a very good horse. It would obviously be easier without a penalty, but he carried a penalty in the Gimcrack and dealt with that no problem. He's a big, strong horse and he will carry a big weight. He's not just a 2-year-old. I've always known he'd get seven furlongs and maybe further. He's a Guineas horse for next year and you might even see some improvement at seven. Reach For the Moon looked a very good horse when he won the Solario. He probably is the one to beat, but it's a good race and very competitive.” Roger Varian said of Bayside Boy, “It's a strong race, but we're keen to give it a go. He's in good order and should run very well. I think there's more improvement to come from him.”

At Leopardstown, the Champions Juvenile over a mile sees Coolmore and Westerberg's Absolute Ruler (War Front) look to build on his debut success at Dundalk Aug. 15, with Sean Jones, David Spratt and Lynne Lyons's June 27 Curragh maiden winner Atomic Jones (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) another unexposed type there to test Team Valor's standard-bearer Maritime Wings (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Second to Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in both the G3 Tyros S. here July 22 and in The Curragh's G2 Futurity S. Aug. 21, the latter will be unfortunate to run into a peer of that calibre in this affair.

Joseph O'Brien saddles Maritime Wings and Qatar Racing's Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who beat Ballydoyle's re-opposing Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in an extended mile maiden at Galway at the end of July. “Maritime Wings has had a very good campaign already, making a winning debut in a maiden over this course and distance prior to twice finishing second to Point Lonsdale in group company,” he said. “He doesn't have that colt to deal with here and those runs make him the form pick in this. There are a few unexposed ones in against him that look very promising, but he sets the bar good and high for them. He shouldn't have any issue with this longer trip and he looks to have a very good chance.”

“Buckaroo is a big colt that has always showed plenty at home. He made a really promising debut in a strong maiden at Killarney, having missed the kick badly and he built on that to win a maiden at the Galway Festival last time. This track should suit him well and we feel he has improved well since that win. He's a horse we like a lot and he shouldn't be underestimated.”

Mac Is Back

Also at Leopardstown, the Boomerang Mile–which is registered as the Solonaway S.–plays host to the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who drops down in trip and class having proven a touch disappointing on each of his last three starts over further. They include a fifth in the G1 Juddmonte International at York Aug. 18, but he should be more in his comfort zone here tackling the likes of Newtown Anner Stud Farm's May 9 G3 Amethyst S. scorer and July 15 G3 Meld S. runner-up Maker of Kings (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who captured the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. in scintillating style on this weekend 12 months ago, looked to be back on track when second in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs at Deauville July 11, but it was back to the drawing board after he beat only one of his 11 rivals in that venue's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over half a furlong shorter Aug. 8.

“Thunder Moon was another one of our star 2-year-olds last season that hasn't had the smoothest of campaigns this season, but he showed that he still retains a lot of his ability when a close second in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in July,” Joseph O'Brien said. “He shouldn't be judged too harshly on his latest run in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, as he got isolated in the middle of the track following the wrong horse. His low draw is ideal and the firmer the ground, the better his chance.”

The G3 Paddy Power S., or Kilternan as it is better known, rounds off the pattern-race action on the card with the Aug. 13 G3 Royal Whip S. winner Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) renewing rivalry with Ballydoyle's Innisfree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was fifth after a long lay-off in that Curragh contest. Johnny Murtagh said of Earlswood, “He came out of the Curragh really well and it was a nice, smooth win. It's always a very, very competitive race but we think he's in good shape and he needs a bit of rain to come. We have big targets for him now until the end of the season. I thought he might be a Leger horse one day because his brother won the Chester Cup over two miles two [furlongs], but he seems to be getting a bit sharper with racing.”

Ryan Moore retains faith in the 2019 G2 Beresford S. winner Innisfree and said, “He was a very high-class 2-year-old, but he missed his 3-year-old campaign and Aidan started him back after a 651-day absence in the Royal Whip at the Curragh last month, where he ran very well to finish fifth. The vibes seem positive about him and this looks like a good opportunity to get him back on track, but he has to turn that from around with Earlswood.”

Doncaster's Park S. lacks an obvious star turn, but in Shadwell's 3-year-old Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) surprised when runner-up on his seasonal bow in Newbury's G2 Hungerford S. over this seven-furlong trip Aug. 14 and is open to abundant progression meeting the operation's July 24 International H. winner Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). “Dane O'Neill gave him a lovely ride that day after his absence and hopefully he can build on that now he's reunited with Jim Crowley on Town Moor,” Laneqash's trainer Roger Varian said on Friday. “The trip, ground and track will be in his favour and we can hope for a strong showing tomorrow.”

Sunday's feature races took their final shape on Friday, with ParisLongchamp's day of Arc trials featuring the outstanding Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) meeting six rivals in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille, while at The Curragh the aforementioned 'TDN Rising Star' Point Lonsdale tackles some intriguing rivals including Al Shaqab's Aug. 8 G1 Phoenix S. hero Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. Moyglare Stud's Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to make it three consecutive wins in the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger, which has attracted a field of 14.

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Breeders’ Cup Winner Tarnawa Goes Head-To-Head With St Mark’s Basilica, Poetic Flare In Irish Champion Stakes

Three exciting Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races will be featured at Leopardstown on Saturday, with the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) the standout event of an exceptional afternoon of racing.

His Highness Aga Khan's homebred Tarnawa (IRE), the defending Longines Breeders' Cup Turf champion, will go head-to-head with trainer Aidan O'Brien's star 3-year-old colt St Mark's Basilica (FR) in the 1 ¼-mile Irish Champion Stakes (G1). The winner will gain an automatic berth into the US$4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

Two other “Win and You're In” berths also will be awarded at Leopardstown. The winner of the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes (G1) will earn an automatic position into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the winner of the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) will earn a free spot into the US$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Tarnawa (IRE), a 5-year-old daughter of Shamardal, enjoyed an unbeaten campaign in 2020 with back-to-back Group 1 victories in France, capturing the Qatar Prix Vermeille and Prix de l'Opera Longines, before providing her trainer, Dermot Weld, with his first Breeders' Cup success at Keeneland. Tarnawa stormed down the stretch to win the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf by 1 length over Magical (IRE).

The top-class mare was an easy winner of the Grant Thornton Ballyroan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown on Aug. 5 in her sole start this season. Jockey Colin Keane is booked to ride once again.

Tarnawa will go head-to-head with four-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (FR). A son of Siyouni (FR) out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Cabaret (IRE), St Mark's Basilica is three for three this season, winning the French Guineas and French Derby, before striking in the Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown Park, under jockey Ryan Moore, last time out.

Connections of the 3-year-old colt will be hoping their stable star can continue his unbeaten record this season, with trainer Aidan O'Brien pleased the colt's preparations ahead of this Saturday. O'Brien said: “He's very offhanded and very straightforward. He has a great mind, he relaxes, he has a great stride and is very genuine – he has all the things that you would love in a horse.”

The duo are joined by dual Group 1 winner Poetic Flare (IRE). The Jim Bolger-trained 3-year-old colt will race over 10 furlongs for the first time, having won the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket and St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Patrick Sarsfield (FR), trained by Joseph O'Brien and ridden by Declan McDonogh, completes the four-runner field.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series winners to start at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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