Qatar Racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kitten’s Joy’s Kameko Back On Top In the Joel

Saddled with a five-pound penalty as a result of his G1 2000 Guineas triumph, Qatar Racing’s Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) proved himself one of the better winners of that Classic in recent times when overcoming the extra burden to take the G2 Shadwell Joel S. over the same Newmarket mile on Friday. Settled behind the leading duo early by Oisin Murphy, the 85-40 second favourite needed rousing to get to last year’s winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) but responded by usurping that rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. At the line, he had half a length to spare over the strong-finishing Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) who was having one of his better days, as the 7-4 favourite Benbatl faded late to be the same margin behind in third. “I’m delighted for Sheikh Fahad and everyone,” Murphy said. “To give weight away to older horses is a very difficult task and he stuck his head out and did everything right in the race. He ran straight as a die. He is so tough and consistent and, on ratings, I think that will rate higher than his Guineas win as to give weight away to older horses shows what a top horse he is. He is a very intelligent horse. I took him down in a hack canter and I had him really quiet at the gate. If I lit him up at all, he would have travelled really on the bridle. I was happy for him to race a little lazily today.”

Kameko was coming back from some reversals here, but he had also done that at two when following runner-up placings in Sandown’s G3 Solario S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S. also over this track and trip with a dominating success in the G1 Futurity Trophy on Newcastle’s Tapeta in November. Having conquered Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the June 6 Classic here, he has surprisingly gone three starts without making the frame but each effort had a valid excuse attached. Out of his ground over a mile and a half when tried in the July 4 G1 Epsom Derby, he was denied a clear run in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 29 and was again stretched too far when fourth for the third consecutive time in York’s G1 Juddmonte International over an extended 10 furlongs last time Aug. 19.

While he was slightly lethargic during the Guineas, he was markedly more so here as early as halfway but was still able to gain the advantage well before the final furlong and there was a feeling from there that he was only doing enough to stay in command. Regal Reality had shown when winning the Aug. 9 G3 Sovereign S. that he can be a force to be reckoned with at this trip and his proximity does not undermine Kameko’s prospects of shaking up Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in next month’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. That target is set in stone according to Andrew Balding. “It’s a bit of a relief, as this was a tough task giving weight away to older horses,” he said. “I thought that Benbatl would have gone a slightly stronger gallop and he hit a flat spot but picked up well, so it’s nice to get back on track. The QEII has been on his agenda the whole season and I just hope the ground isn’t too soft by then. He hasn’t had a lucky season at all and it has felt like trying to put a square peg in a round hole since the Guineas.”

Kameko will be the second member of his immediate family to tackle the QEII, with the dam Sweeter Still (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) a half to the G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Kingsbarns (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was third in the 2013 edition. Sweeter Still, who was successful in the GIII Senorita S. and placed in the GII Providencia S. and GII Honeymoon H., is also a half to the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S. winner Belle Artiste (Ire) (Namid {GB}). This is the family of the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Ace (Ire) (Danehill), who was fifth in the 2004 QEII, and his G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup-winning full-brother Danish (Ire) and the triple group 1 runner-up Hawkeye (Ire) also by that sire. Her 2-year-old daughter of Big Blue Kitten had sold to Atlantic Bloodstock for only $5,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, but went to David Redvers for £200,000 at the Arqana 2020 Breeze Up Sale at Goffs UK. Eleven days before this race, Capital System Co. paid $190,000 for her yearling filly by Optimizer.

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
SHADWELL JOEL S.-G2, £80,000, Newmarket, 9-25, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:34.41, gd.
1–KAMEKO, 131, c, 3, by Kitten’s Joy
1st Dam: Sweeter Still (Ire) (GSW-US, $311,603), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Beltisaal (Fr), by Belmez
3rd Dam: Ittisaal (GB), by Caerleon
($90,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £45,368. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, 9-4-2-0, $510,817. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Regal Reality (GB), 130, g, 5, Intello (Ger)–Regal Realm (GB), by Medicean (GB). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £17,200.
3–Benbatl (GB), 130, h, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Nahrain (GB), by Selkirk. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor. £8,608.
Margins: HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.13, 8.50, 1.75.
Also Ran: Tilsit, Zabeel Prince (Ire), Top Rank (Ire). Scratched: Duke of Hazzard (Fr), Urban Icon (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Kitten’s Joy’s Kameko Back On Top In the Joel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Middle Park Next for The Lir Jet

Group winner The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) will resurface in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 26. The Qatar Racing runner was originally slated for a return in the G2 Flyer Childers S. earlier this month, but was a non-runner that day. After winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot in June, the colt missed by only a short head in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chanitlly in mid-July and was third promoted to second in the Aug. 9 G1 Phoenix S.

“We just felt five furlongs on drying ground wouldn’t necessarily be his thing,” said conditioner Michael Bell. “We had the Middle Park as an alternative and, all being well, we’ll head to Newmarket.

“I’m sure it will be a very good race, but the horse is in very good form and good order, so we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully Newmarket will produce a nice, safe surface for everybody, which I’m sure they will.”

Also making his next start in the Middle Park is undefeated Listed Rose Bowl S. hero Method (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The colt opened his account with a 4 1/4-length win in a Doncaster novice affair in June prior to his listed win on July 18 for owner Manton Park Racing.

“He’s doing his final bits of prep for that and, at the moment, it’s all systems go for Saturday,” said trainer Martyn Meade. “Everything is going to plan. He’s definitely on course for that. He’s fine and we’re hoping for a big run from him. It’s very exciting and we’d love to win that to make a miserable season a bit better.”

The post Middle Park Next for The Lir Jet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Guildsman Prevails In Closing-Day Franklin-Simpson Stakes At Kentucky Downs

Tyler Gaffalione put an exclamation mark on his first riding title at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., completing a three-win day as Qatar Racing's French-bred 9-1 shot Guildsman came from far back to beat 21-1 shot Island Commish by a neck in the $500,000, Grade 3 Franklin-Simpson Stakes.

It was another neck back to 47-1 Souper Dormy in the capacity field of 12 3-year-old sprinters in the final stakes of the six-date RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs.

The Brendan Walsh-trained Guildsman provided the 26-year-old Gaffalione his meet-leading 11th win one race after clinching the 2020 Kentucky Downs riding title. He nailed at least one race on five of the meet's six days.

“That was nice,” Gaffalione said. “It was a great meet. My agent (Matt Muzikar) has done an incredible job preparing for this meet. I'm so thrilled for Brendan. He's been helping me for a long time. We've been trying to hook up with this colt. The distance was key today, just a little extra ground. He kept coming and really proved his stuff today. It was a great race all around.”

Johnny Unleashed led through blistering opening fractions of 21.47 and 44.77 seconds for the quarter- and half-mile, most closely followed by Maven, Island Commish and 2-1 favorite Turned Aside. Meanwhile, Guildsman had one horse beat and was 6 1/2 lengths off the pace entering the stretch run in the seven path.

From there, Guildsman did his best running, and by mid-stretch only 21-1 longshot Island Commish was in front of him with Souper Dormy, longest odds in the field at 47-1, looming after being far behind early.

Guildsman was best in the closing yards to prevail by a neck over Island Commish, the only horse in the early pace that stayed on. Souper Dormy just missed second by another neck. Flap Jack, who was sent off at 37-1 odds, finished fourth, beaten three lengths.

Named after the host town and county of the south-central Kentucky track venue, the 6 1/2-furlong Franklin Simpson yielded among the highest exotics payoffs of the meet.

The foursome fueled a 10-cent superfecta payoff of $6,919.15; the $2 exacta paid $364.00; and the $1 trifecta returned $3,956.30. As for the $2 win-place-show money, Guildsman tickets were worth $21.80, $10.60 and $6.40. Island Commish paid $19.80 and $12.00, and Souper Dormy tickets were redeemed for $18.20.

Following the top four across the finish line were, in order, Turned Aside, Old Chestnut, Another Miracle, Johnny Unleashed, Fore Left, Embolden, Maven and Competitive Saint.

Guildsman was timed in 1:15.87 for 6 1/2 furlongs on turf rated firm. The win pushed Guildsman's record to three wins from 11 starts, with a second and two thirds. The value of the race turned out to be $343,875 because no Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund money was available to the French-bred gelding Guildsman. With the winner's share of $144,150, he upped his earnings to $254,636.

Guildsman made his first six starts in England, France and Ireland last year. Sent to Walsh, he was making his fifth start in America, racing well each time against quality competition. He came into the Franklin-Simpson off his first U.S. win, that coming in Presque Isle's $75,000 Tom Ridge Stakes over a synthetic surface.

“They just sent him over here,” Walsh said. “I guess they just thought maybe he'd fit here. The 5 and the 5 1/2 races, he's been running well but they're a little bit on the short side for him, maybe. We were going six at Presque Isle last time and the 6 1/2 today was right in his wheelhouses. I'm not actually surprised. He's a really talented horse.”

The victory was the third of the meet for Walsh, who also won Wednesday's fourth race with Born Great, the only two-time winner at the meet.

“I'm not just a one-horse trainer,” Walsh said with a laugh.

The victory capped a huge two-week run for Qatar Racing's Sheikh Fahad al Thani. Sheikh Fahad is partners on the Brad Cox-trained Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil. Guildsman also provided Qatar Racing its second straight victory in the Franklin-Simpson, being the co-owner of last year's Doug O'Neill-trained winner Legends of War.

“Sheikh Fahad was watching closely at home in England,” said his representative, Fergus Galvin, who was at the Keeneland yearling sales. “He was thrilled. He had a big couple of weeks with Shedaresthedevil. Brendan has done a great job with the horse. He had it mapped out from a few months ago. but Sheikh Fahad has gotten a massive thrill out of him. He's always shown a lot of promise, this horse. He ran in some of the bigger 2-year-old races over there. The distance, 6 1/2 furlongs, and the configuration of the track obviously played to his advantage. But it certainly made Sheikh Fahad a big fan of Kentucky Downs. He's already wanting to stock up the stable to point to the meeting next year.”

The post Guildsman Prevails In Closing-Day Franklin-Simpson Stakes At Kentucky Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Déjà Vu: Shedaresthedevil Springs 15-1 Upset For Cox, Geroux In Kentucky Oaks

Nothing is quite the same in 2020, and horse racing has been no exception. Churchill Downs' cavernous, nearly empty grandstands stood watch over Friday's Kentucky Oaks, delayed from the first Friday in May to September by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Fans may not have been present this year, but trainer Brad Cox must have felt a strong sense of déjà vu when he saddled Staton Flurry and Qatar Racing's Shedaresthedevil to post a 15-1 upset in the 3-year-old fillies' classic. Just one race prior, Cox had sent out his 2018 Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl to win the Grade 1 La Troienne.

“This is why you wake up every morning to get to win races like this,” Cox said. “This filly has been really impressive coming into the race and when she breezed with Monomoy Girl a couple weeks ago, we knew how well she was training. There were some tough fillies in the Oaks this year with Swiss Skydiver and Gamine. We are so thrilled to win a race like this, again, in our backyard. This has been a phenomenal day with Monomoy Girl winning the La Troienne then winning the Oaks with Shedaresthedevil. These are the days you dream of.”

Jockey Florent Geroux rode both champion Monomoy Girl and Shedaresthedevil to victory on Friday, and booted home a total of four winners on the Kentucky Oaks card.

“She had a great trip,” said Geroux. “She broke very sharp and I was able to stalk Gamine all the way. That was the plan, but sometimes plans don't always work out. Perfect plan today. The only question was whether or not I was going to be able to run her down. My filly ran an amazing race. It's been an amazing day.”

Shedaresthedevil came into the Oaks with wins in three of her five starts this year, but her long odds reflected the fact that she hadn't been successful against the division's top contenders. Her wins came in the G3 Indiana Oaks, an allowance race, and the G3 Honeybee, while she'd been beaten 13 1/4 lengths by Kentucky Oaks rival Swiss Skydiver in Oaklawn's G3 Fantasy Stakes back in May.

“We've taken the conservative route with this filly, kind of dodged the bullets,” Flurry explained. “We did that with the hope that we'd have a fresh horse for this.”

The strategy seems to have worked out, as Shedaresthedevil pulled away to win the Kentucky Oaks by 1 1/2 lengths. It was also the fastest Kentucky Oaks in history as Shedaresthedevil ran 1 1/8 miles over the fast main track in 1:48.28, besting Bird Town's 2003 time of 1:48.64.

A total of nine 3-year-old fillies lined up for the nine-furlong contest, including the supremely talented Gamine, who'd won her last two races by a combined total of over 35 lengths. Gamine went off at odds of 3-5, while G1 Alabama winner Swiss Skydiver, who'd also earned 40 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby by facing males in the G3 Blue Grass Stakes, was the second choice at 5-2.

As expected, the speedy Gamine went straight to the lead from post position five, and Swiss Skydiver pushed through from her position on the rail to try to be second. Shedaresthedevil broke to her left, and muscled her way over to keep pace pressure on Gamine through the early stages, keeping Swiss Skydiver boxed in on the inside.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez kept a tight hold on Gamine through a first quarter in 23.39 seconds, but Geroux also had Shedaresthedevil under a good hold just a length off the leader. Swiss Skydiver and Tyler Gaffalione were at the rail in third, while Donna Veloce tried to push her way into contention between rivals in fourth.

Just after the half-mile in :47.92, Velazquez left the rail open for a few strides and Gaffalione tried to send Swiss Skydiver on through. He didn't make the gap and Velazquez aimed Gamine back at the rail, causing Gaffalione to check and wait for the overland route along the outside.

That veteran move by Velazquez gave Geroux an opportunity with Shedaresthedevil, and he took full advantage, getting first run on Gamine around the far turn. Swiss Skydiver ended up swinging three-wide at the head of the lane, but Shedaresthedevil had already set her sights on the passing Gamine and hitting the wire first.

Shedaresthedevil dug in to put away Gamine by the three-sixteenths pole, then held of the late bid from Swiss Skydiver on her outside to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Gamine checked in third, while Speech got up to finish fourth. The remaining order of finish was: Tempers Rising, Hopeful Growth, Bayerness, Donna Veloce, and Dream Marie.

Trainer Ken McPeek wasn't displeased with the effort from runner-up Swiss Skydiver.

“She ran super,” McPeek said. “That other filly (Shedaresthedevil) has been training extremely well. I've been watching her. Tyler (Gaffalione) rode her good. That's horse racing. There's no guarantees. She's been training super. I actually wasn't as worried about Gamine as I was about another filly running a bang-up race. That's what happened.”

Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert had been hoping for a stronger return to two-turn racing for the super-talented Gamine.

“She hadn't gone long and we can always second guess ourselves,” Baffert lamented. “Maybe I should have run her longer or whatever. But the winner was tough, you have to give her credit.

“(Gamine) just didn't have it. Turning for home, she was in a good spot and she was late switching leads and she never does that. I don't know if she just got tired or whatever. But down the backside he couldn't have been any better, he was in the perfect spot. She just didn't have it there.”

Shedaresthedevil (center, maroon cap) out-finishes both Swiss Skydiver (left) and Gamine (right) to win the Kentucky Oaks

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Shedaresthedevil is out of the winning Congrats mare Starship Warpspeed. Initially sold for $100,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale, the filly returned and did not meet her reserve when bidding stopped at $20,000 at the following year's Keeneland September sale.

Entered in race training with Norm Casse, Shedaresthedevil won on debut and was the first winner for her freshman sire, Daredevil, in June of 2019 at Churchill Downs. Qatar Racing purchased an interest in the filly and she was sent to west coast trainer Simon Callaghan, for whom she ran third in the G2 Sorrento, fourth in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, and second in the Anoakia Stakes.

Sent back through the Keeneland November sale at the end of her juvenile season, Shedaresthedevil brought a final bid of $280,000 from Staton Flurry, and Qatar Racing stayed in for the ride. The filly was sent to trainer Brad Cox, and kicked off her sophomore year with a second-place finish to stablemate Bonny South in an allowance at Oaklawn Park. She added the pair of graded stakes wins to her resume over the course of 2020, and the Kentucky Oaks win improves her overall record to 5-2-2 from 10 starts for earnings of over $1.2 million.

“As bad as 2020's been for everybody, this makes it a little bit better, for us,” Flurry said from the winner's circle.

Co-owner Staton Flurry celebrates with friends after Shedaresthedevil brings home the Kentucky Oaks trophy

The post Déjà Vu: Shedaresthedevil Springs 15-1 Upset For Cox, Geroux In Kentucky Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post