retirement | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dual Grade I Winner Althiqa Retired

Godolphin homebred Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}– Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal), a dual Grade I winner, has been retired for broodmare duty, trainer Charlie Appleby announced on Tuesday.

“We've retired Althiqa,” Appleby told Dubai Racing Channel's Michael Adolphson in an interview. “There were no more options for her. She could have gone to Del Mar, there's a Grade II on the card there, but bless her, she owes us nothing. She's pulled up safe and sound and she'll head to the breeding shed.”

A winner of her only start at two at Thirsk, the grey took the Listed Prix Amandine and was placed at Group 3 level three times last year from six starts. It was at four, however, that the daughter of Listed Boadicea Fillies S. heroine Mistrusting, who also bore the royal blue, really shone, taking the G2 Cape Verdi at Meydan in January prior to running third in the G2 Balanchine there in February.

Given some time off, she shipped Stateside and defeated stablemate Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the GI Just a Game S. at Belmont Park in June. Brought back for Saratoga's GI Diana S., Althiqa once again had Summer Romance back in second on July 17. Her final start was a fourth after some traffic issues in the GI First Lady S. at Keeneland on Oct. 9. A granddaughter of G2 Cherry Hinton S. heroine and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Misheer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), she retires with a mark of 12-6-2-3 and $761,213 in earnings.

The post Dual Grade I Winner Althiqa Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Group 1 Winner No Speak Alexander Retired

Group 1 winner No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}–Rapacity Alexander {Ire}, by Dandy Man {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will begin broodmare duties from 2022, trainer Jessica Harrington announced via Twitter on Wednesday.

Bred by Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud, the €190,000 Goffs Orby RNA yearling raced for Charles, Noel and Paul O'Callaghan. She won at second asking at Roscommon last July and ran fourth in the G2 Prix du Calvados in August of 2020 before taking second in a listed race at Leopardstown that September. The bay ended her juvenile season with another fourth, this time in the G3 Weld Park S.

No Speak Alexander kicked off this season with a win in the G3 Athasi S. at The Curragh in May before running third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. Unplaced in the G1 Prix Rothschild, she ecked out a neck victory in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 11 and ended her career with a sixth in the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket on Oct. 2. The daughter of listed winner Rapacity Alexander retires with a mark of 10-3-1-1 and $347,921 in earnings.

“No Speak Alexander headed off to her retirement yesterday,” Harrington tweeted. “She won three of 10 including [the] G1 Coolmore Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend and also [was] a brilliant third in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas. Best of luck for the future, we look forward to your progeny.”

Her dam is a full-sister to Hong Kong champion Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), as well as a half to the GI Molecomb S. third Safari Sunset (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}).

The post Group 1 Winner No Speak Alexander Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Julian Lloyd to Retire From Staffordstown, John Oxx Appointed Director

Staffordstown Stud Manager Julian Lloyd, who runs the yearling operation for Lanwades Stud's Kirsten Rausing, will retire at the end of 2021. Lloyd's current role will then be split between retired trainer John Oxx as Director and long-term Stud Groom Paddy Moloney, who will be the new Manager of Staffordstown.

“After 30 years at Staffordstown, with my 75th birthday on the horizon, it is time for my work here to come to a close and for me to change gear for the last couple of furlongs of my allotted span,” said Lloyd. “I have been friends with Kirsten since we first met in 1976 as enthusiastic youngsters with Capt Tim and Sonia Rogers at Airlie Stud, where we both swept the same yards. When Kirsten started this farm in 1991, Stud Groom Paddy Moloney and myself were the first two through the gate and we are still here today. Staffordstown has been a happy family home and place of work.

“It will be a wrench to leave this wonderful farm, now 475 acres of Co Meath's best old permanent pasture. Under Kirsten's beady eye I have no doubt that Staffordstown will continue to rear strong and useful horses from her wonderful band of broodmares. I have never met a better horseman than Paddy Moloney. He knows every inch of the farm and is the right man for the job to succeed me on site.

“The added input of John Oxx will indubitably be a great asset. There is no better-respected or liked man in the business. Paddy and John are fortunate in that they will be working with our long-established 'family' of staff, virtually all of whom have been here for between 10 and 25 years.”

“I am immensely grateful to Julian for all his marvellously dedicated work at Staffordstown for three decades,” said Kirsten Rausing. “We have remained friends and colleagues through times good and bad, and seen some good animals through their weanling to yearling process at Staffordstown. In fact the winners of over 1,800 races (160 of them group or listed winners) have been produced during our 30 years of operating the farm.

“At the end of this year, Julian leaves Staffordstown in the best of hands with Paddy Moloney and his team. I take this opportunity to warmly welcome John Oxx, trainer of 35 Group 1 winners including Sea The Stars and a former Chairman of The Irish National Stud, to the Staffordstown team.”

The post Julian Lloyd to Retire From Staffordstown, John Oxx Appointed Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘She Owes Us Nothing’: Cox Reflects On Monomoy Girl’s Career

Spendthrift Farm and trainer Brad Cox announced Wednesday afternoon the retirement of multiple champion mare Monomoy Girl. Cox reflected Thursday about Monomoy Girl and what she's meant to his career.

“She's simply a remarkable mare and has meant the world to my career,” Cox said. “She's given her owners a lot of joy throughout her career. We knew as a barn we weren't going to do anything with her if she wasn't 100 percent. It took us awhile to get her back last year. She's rewarded us in such a big way. She owes us nothing and will always be special to us. She was our first (Kentucky) Oaks winner and Breeders' Cup winner and a multiple champion. She matured a lot throughout her career. Going into the Breeders' Cup (in 2020) she trained with such a purpose each day. It was hard to imagine her works being better than when she was a 3-year-old but she was more aggressive in her training and really blossomed on the racetrack.”

Owned in partnership by My Racehorse Stable, Spendthrift Farm and Madaket Stables, Monomoy Girl – a sure-fire future Hall of Famer – retired Wednesday with $4,776,818 in career purse earnings with an outstanding record of 17-14-3-0.

The speedy daughter of Tapizar grew to stardom after starting her career a perfect 3-for-3. Following a neck defeat in the 2017 Golden Rod (G2), Monomoy Girl stormed to victory in five straight races including the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). She ended her 3-year-old campaign with one-length win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). At the end of the season, she was awarded the Eclipse Award for outstanding 3-year-old filly.

Monomoy Girl spent the next 18 months on the sidelines due to injury but returned for her 5-year-old campaign which included victories in the La Troienne (G1) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). She was awarded the Eclipse Award for Older Dirt Female in 2020.

There were only two races Monomoy Girl didn't go off as the favorite: the 2017 Rags to Riches (3-1) and Kentucky Oaks (5-2).

Monomoy Girl raced at eight different racetracks and recorded victories on the dirt and turf. Jockey Florent Geroux was partnered with Monomoy Girl for 16 starts. Marcelino Pedroza rode her to victory in her debut at Indiana Grand.

Monomoy Girl was purchased at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by BSW Bloodstock and agent Liz Crow for $100,000. Crow reflected Wednesday on social media about the career of Monomoy Girl.

“(She) was the mare of a lifetime,” Crow said. “There is truly no way to thank her for what she's done for everyone involved. Monomoy Girl brought people together and changed lives.”

Cox stated Monomoy Girl will be retired to Spendthrift Farm.

The post ‘She Owes Us Nothing’: Cox Reflects On Monomoy Girl’s Career appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post