Tag: Racing

Juddmonte homebred Westover emphatically rebounded from his unlucky third in the Cazoo Epsom Derby (G1) earlier this month when he cruised unchallenged to a dominating victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) Saturday at The Curragh.

Westover, quick from the start, dueled for command early before settling to track pacesetter French Claim from second throughout, then drew even to challenge that rival with three furlongs to run. Eagerly responding on cue from jockey Colin Keane, the Frankel colt unleashed a strong rally in the straight and soon went clear, stamping his superiority as he drew away inside the final furlong to post a seven-length triumph.

Trained in England by Ralph Beckett, Westover covered 1 ½ miles in 2:34.80 on turf rated as good. He returned $4.80 in North American pools.

Aidan O'Brien-trained Piz Badile atoned for his 12^th at Epsom by finishing best of the rest Saturday, overtaking French Claim a furlong out but could not catch the winner.

French Claim held on to finish third, another two lengths back, in the field of eight 3-year-olds, and Irish Oaks (G1) victress Tuesday, whom O'Brien supplemented to the Irish Derby Tuesday, rallied to finish fourth after racing toward the back of the field.

“I was (a bit keen for a furlong) but once he got in behind one, he gave me a beautiful ride,” Keane told England's Press Association. “He's a monster of a horse, so he is only going to be a better horse next year.”

Beckett said he also expects Westover will get better with age.

“It's important that you go out with your boots on in these occasions and Colin certainly did that today. I really didn't think he would win like that at this stage. He's a big horse and still a work in progress.

“I never felt he was going to stop when he got into his stride. He drifted out a bit into the middle of the track and is still, as I say, a work in progress. I hope there is more to come with him. He has a great temperament and that shone through today.

“This was always a race that would fit in well. The track suits him and it's wonderful to get it done. It's a big day for us.”

Westover won the bet365 Classic Trial (G3) at Sandown on April 22 in his season debut and to the Epsom Derby, where he had traffic trouble in the straight with Rob Hornby aboard. He has a 3-2-1 record from six career starts.

Westover is Juddmonte's 30th homebred classic winner and second Irish Derby winner following Commander in Chief in 1993. He was produced by the Lear Fan mare Mirabilis, who won the 2006 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G3) for trainer Bobby Frankel and finished second in the 2005 Prix de la Foret (G1) at Longchamp. His is a full brother to Monarchs Glen, a stakes winner this year at Royal Ascot.

The post ‘He’s A Monster Of A Horse’: Westover Storms To Irish Derby Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Graham Motion said Gainesway Farm's Spendarella arrived stateside Thursday following her strong second in the Group 1 Coronation on June 17 at Royal Ascot.

The 3-year-old New York-bred daughter of Karakontie won her first three starts, including scores in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park and Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland ahead of her 4 3/4-length defeat by the undefeated Inspiral in the one-mile Coronation.

Motion, who finished second in the 2020 Coronation with Sharing, said he was proud of the runner-up effort engineered by William Buick.

“I've never had so many accolades for finishing second in a race,” said Motion, with a laugh. “While it was a little frustrating to come up second again in that race, it was very rewarding that she proved that she belonged. There were several Group 1 winners behind her.”

Motion said he will take his time finding a next spot for the homebred, although the nine-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on August 20 is a possibility.

“It's a little tricky to place her going forward,” Motion said. “William felt pretty strongly she's a miler and I think he's probably right, although over here maybe you would get away with a mile and an eighth with our firm flat turf courses. We'll probably look at anything up to a mile and an eighth from here on out, but I'm not in a hurry to run her back. I think she's a Grade 1 filly and I'd like to keep her in Grade 1s. We'll see how the summer goes.

“She ran so well and has had four races now this year,” Motion added. “There's a couple races in the fall I'd like to have her around for. She came back pretty well and is actually in quarantine at Churchill right now.”

Motion said he was pleased with the fourth-place finish from Highland Chief in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 11 here, which came on the heels of an upset score in the 11-furlong Grade 1 Man o' War on May 14.

He said the 5-year-old Gleneagles horse will target the 12-furlong Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 27 at Saratoga which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Keeneland.

“He ran a good race. I was a little concerned running him back in a month, but I didn't have a better option and I thought he was doing well,” Motion sad. “He had a license to regress after such a big race in the Man o' War. I'll point him to the Sword Dancer and find one race to get him there. I think that horse will appreciate a little more distance over here. I think a mile and a quarter is a little quick for him.”

Motion said True Valour, a pacesetting third in the Grade 1 Jaipur sprinting six-furlongs over the Belmont turf on June 11, will return at Saratoga with an eye towards the Grade 3, $300,000 Troy going 5 1/2-furlongs on August 5.

The 8-year-old multiple graded-stakes winning son of Kodiac garnered a 99 Beyer for the one-length loss to defending champion Casa Creed.

“I love that horse. For an 8-year-old to come out running like that at his age [was impressive],” Motion said, noting it reminded him of the 8-year-old Nature Strip, who captured the Group 1 Kings Stand at Ascot. “These sprinters seem to get better and better with age. He came out of it great and we'll point for the race at Saratoga.”

Motion said Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Long Valley Stables' Divine Huntress has enjoyed a little down time after her runner-up effort to Matareya in the Grade 1 Acorn on Belmont Stakes Day.

The sophomore daughter of Divining Rod was purchased privately from a maiden win in December at Parx and followed with an optional-claiming score there in January before fading to ninth in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at 1 1/16-miles in February at Fair Grounds.

Divine Huntress was an even fifth in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Gazelle in April ahead of a fourth-place finish in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan in May at Pimlico.

Motion said the cut back to one-mile in the Acorn may have suited the talented bay.

“Each time we run her we've learned something about her,” Motion said. “I feel she had excuses in New Orleans and when we came to Aqueduct she probably benefited from the race. I thought her Black-Eyed Susan run was pretty solid. I think the mile suits her.

“She could come to Saratoga, but I ran her back quickly and I don't want to be in a hurry to run her back,” he added. “I've given her a pretty easy couple of weeks here.”

The post ‘Never Had So Many Accolades For Finishing Second’: Spendarella Returns Stateside After Big Ascot Effort appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Royal Patronage, winner of last year's Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, will make his next start in the $1 million Belmont Derby on July 9. After that, ownership Highclere Thoroughbred Racing will leave the 3-year-old Wootton Bassett colt in the United States with trainer Graham Motion, according to the Racing Post.

Currently conditioned by Charlie and Mark Johnston, Royal Patronage appeared to struggle with the going last out in the Epsom Derby. Transferring the colt to the U.S., where the turf courses are often much firmer than those found in Europe, could help Royal Patronage achieve his full potential.

“He's a horse who loves good or faster ground and is not short of tactical speed, probably more mile and a quarter than mile and a half,” said Highclere's managing director Harry Herbert. “He's got really good form and we just felt it might give him the best chance of earning very big prize-money and running in Group 1 turf races in the States versus here where you might get soft ground.”

Royal Patronage will run in Johnston's name in the Belmont Derby, then be transferred to Motion's stable. Overall, the colt has a record of three wins and two seconds from nine starts, with earnings of $211,893.

“He's the first of our horses at this level to go out there and stay there and it's a great adventure for everyone,” added Herbert.

Read more at Racing Post.

The post Graham Motion Will Take Over Training Of Group 2 Winner Royal Patronage After Belmont Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Golden Vision, a 6-year-old daughter of Court Vision-Good as Gold, looks to defend her title in Sunday's $100,000 Ballade Stakes at Woodbine.

​A six-furlong main track event for Ontario Sired fillies & mares, 4-year-olds and upward, the Ballade has attracted a competitive field of 13 starters.

​Trained by Tino Attard for owners/breeders Elizabeth and Gordon Lickrish, Golden Vision rallied to take last year's running by a half-length at 6-1.

​Although the dark bay hasn't returned to the winner's circle since that score, the lifetime winner of five races from 19 starts has finished in the top four over her past four engagements.

​Golden Vision arrives at the Ballade off a runner-up effort on May 14, finishing strongly in the six-furlong main track race won by Spanish Ballerina (third in last year's race), whom she'll meet again on Sunday.

​“She ran a very good race,” said Attard, who has 1,365 career wins. “She came into that race well and she's coming into this one in really good order too. She's been training well and hopefully she can do what she did in this race last year.”

​Launching her career on December 1, 2018, Golden Vision won her debut, rallying from eighth of 12 at the half-mile call to take the six-furlong main track race by a length, in what was her only start of the season.

​She would finish in the top four in her first nine starts, including a fourth in the Passing Mood, her first stakes try, and a third in the La Prevoyante Stakes, both in 2019.

​“From day one, she has been a really nice horse for us,” said Attard. “She's one of those horses you love to have because she tries hard every time. She has a big heart. Around the barn, she's very quiet. When she races, she's a very honest horse. She's always been very consistent.”

​Golden Vision could join Barlee Mist (1999-2000), Mysterious Affair (2001-02) and Brass in Pocket (2003-04) as back-to-back winners of the Ballade.

​Other starters include multiple stakes winner Lorena, graded stakes winner Artie's Princess, and 2020 South Ocean Stakes winner Jilli Marie.

​The race is part of Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program Ontario Sired Stakes Program. For more information on the program, click here.

​The Ballade is race seven on Sunday's 10-race card. First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

​$100,000 BALLADE STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – November Fog – Antonio Gallardo – Sarah Ritchie
​2 – Red Equinox – Luis Contreras – Jamie Attard
​3 – Jilli Marie – Rafael Hernandez – Katerina Vassilieva
​4 – Hello Friends – Emma-Jayne Wilson – John LeBlanc, Jr.
​5 – Mrs. Del – Skye Chernetz – Jordan Lay
​6 – Golden Vision – Kazushi Kimura – Tino Attard
​7 – Silent Causeway – Sahin Civaci – Laura Krasauskaite
​8 – Ishiyaya – Daisuke Fukumoto – Michael Mattine
​9 – Artie's Princess – Patrick Husbands – Saffie Joseph, Jr.
​10 – Lorena – Gary Boulanger – Stuart Simon
​11 – Souper Pecan – Juan Crawford – George Billers
​12 – Trading Bay – Declan Carroll – Darren Glennon
​13 – Spanish Ballerina – David Moran – Frank Huarte

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