Phil D’Amato Q&A: ‘You Don’t Have To Spend A Lot To Find A Going Global’

   One of the finest turf trainers in America, Phil D'Amato has done exceptionally well with his European imports in recent years, highlighted by Grade I winner Going Global and more recently American Oaks scorer Rhea Moon. 

   In this week's Q&A with Brian Sheerin, D'Amato explained how, with the help of Niall Dalton, Craig Rounsefell and BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, he has built one of the most competitive stables in America.  

   Read about his approach to finding 'diamonds in the rough' on a budget, his training methods and much more. 

Brian Sheerin: You do extremely well with your imports from Britain and Ireland. What is it that you look for in form horses when you go about recruiting them from Europe?

Phil D'Amato: There are a number of factors. First and foremost, you need a horse that you think will handle a firm turf course and you can gauge that by the tracks that they have been running at in Europe and how they are handling that. If you don't have a good gauge on how they would handle the American turf, then you can check how the pedigree has done in the States and if that suggests they are prone to do better on firm ground. Number two, they definitely need a turn of foot. All turf races over here, from the quarter pole home, you need to show a good turn of foot. I definitely like to see that over horses who are more staying types in Europe. Horses who go to the lead in Europe and try to make all, those horses don't tend to do well in America, you need something with acceleration. Those are the big things for us. Conformation is another. I don't think conformation plays as big a part in Europe, especially with the amount of homebreds that race and the forgiving training surfaces, but in the States, conformation plays a much bigger role as our courses are not as forgiving. You need a horse with good conformation over here, one that's going to hit the ground square, so that it will be able to stay sound for you. 

You've built up a top-class recruitment team with Michael Donohoe and Niall Dalton coming up with a lot of the goods. 

You have to give them a lot of credit. I've also had a lot of good luck with Craig Rounsefell-all of those gentlemen know what to look for. They are trying to find the diamond in the rough and prove that you don't have to spend a lot of money to find a Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).They have good connections with the trainers and know who the sellers are. There are a lot of sellers in Britain and Ireland, as that's how a lot of these guys make their money given the prize-money over there, and not everyone can train for a Sheikh or somebody who is very wealthy. They need to trade so, in that respect, Niall, Michael and Craig know the people who will lead them the right way. They continue to buy horses from those people. 

And is it purely form horses that you buy from Europe or have you ever dipped your toe into breeze-up or even yearling markets?

We have bought a breeze-up horse or two but it's mostly horses who have run. I prefer to see a horse who has run at least twice and I am not a big fan of the horses who have run just once. To me, it seems like the horses who have run at least twice or more, they come over here to America and they seem to be hardier horses. You have a better handle on them and they tend to cope with the training better as well. They are better than the one-off horse who's run third or fourth. I just like horses who have been able to show their form a couple of times but, the flip side of that means that, getting to see a bit more often means that you have to pay that bit more. It has its pluses and minuses. 

I'd love to know what expectations you had for Going Global when you bought her after she won a Dundalk nursery off a mark of 70. Could you ever have envisaged that she'd improve to the level that she has?

Well, you know what, Michael Donohoe is really good friends with her former trainer Michael Halford, and we had bought horses from him before. Going Global had gotten sick previously and hadn't run well before she won at Dundalk but they had good reasons as to why she hadn't been running well. We knew that story coming into the race and then, when she did produce at Dundalk, it was time to strike. We had a little bit of extra insight into buying her and Halford liked the way that filly had been training for a while so he guided us in the right direction. That was the story there. 

You touched on the fact that a lot of trainers over here in Ireland where I am based, their business model accounts for trading horses, and Michael Halford would be up there with one of the best at that. Are there certain trainers you like to return to?

We have a good rapport with a lot of people and there are a lot of people who lead us the right way. It's the people who are going to leave a little extra in the tank who we are interested in buying off. That's the way I train my horses and I don't like to have them fully cranked first-time up. I like to let them develop through their races and I try to buy my horses off like-minded people. You need to try and buy a horse who is likely to continue to develop over here in the States. You know the yards that are crack first-time out specialists and I try to stay away from those trainers because all of their horses usually show everything they have first-time out. It's the guys who leave a little extra in the tank and like to let them develop race to race, those are the guys we like working with. 

What would be the key differences between the European horses compared to the American-breds who you have grown up with?

Size and conformation are the big things. To buy a dirt horse versus a grass horse, it's apples and oranges. You are looking at the horse totally differently. A dirt horse has a big thick bone, and a big hind end, gaskins and forearms, that can withstand training and pushing through the dirt. Your turf horse is a bit more angular, lighter of body and bone, just a little bit more agile. You need to put two different caps on when you are looking to buy a dirt horse versus a grass horse. 

And when it comes to acclimatising a European import, what is your approach to that?

They are all different and all treated as individuals. I like to gradually build them up and let them tell me when they are ready to do more and start breezing. Some horses take a month before you breeze them and others are ready to go within two weeks. They are all different. You can't put them in a cookie-cutter training style as they all needed to be treated differently. 

When you go down through the imports that you have done well with in America, there are no Galileos, Frankels or Dubawis in there, which makes the achievements all the more impressive. 

We mostly have horses by mid-range stallions, because we can afford them. We're not looking to buy a Galileo (Ire), Frankel (GB) or Dubawi (Ire) for half a million dollars, our budget is much less than that. Those are the stallions we look at, the ones that produce the goods but who are within our price range. We bought horses by Mehmas at the right time but now that stallion is moving up the ladder. It's all about leaving that to Michael and Niall, who are great at that. What's an advantage is, they work the yearling sales as well and watch these horses develop through all of the different yards. They have keen insights from when they hit the sales ground right up until when they race. That's a big advantage. 

American Oaks winner Rhea Moon (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is the latest star European import to grab the headlines for your stable. How did she come on your radar? In many ways she was quite unexposed given she'd only had the two starts in Ireland for Ken Condon. 

She ran a really good second to a Juddmonte colt [Straight Answer (GB) (Kodiac {GB})] on her second start at the Curragh and that horse came out and won a stakes race not too long afterwards. She had good sneaky form in that she came out of a live race and ran a good second. Again, she came from a good yard that develops them the right way instead of having them cranked to the gills first-time out, so she looked a nice prospect. We went after her and thankfully we were able to get her.

You touched on how important a turn of foot is on the American turf racing scene. She showed that when winning the Oaks. Where next for her now?

She's in steady training right now and we will probably run her some time in March or April with a view towards a prep for the Gamely S., that's a Grade I, which we have in late April. Hopefully that will launch her 4-year-old campaign and lead us towards the Breeders' Cup in November. 

Given the prize-money situation in Britain and Ireland, have you had much interaction with owners from this part of the world who are interested in placing their horses in training directly with you rather than selling them abroad?

I actually have started to get overseas owners going that route as opposed to me buying them. We'll see how that goes. I got a filly sent to me, called With Love (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who is owned by Atomic Racing in Ireland. 

Look at a filly like Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}); she won a race worth €6,490 on her final start for Jessica Harrington in Ireland but has won almost $200,000 in America which is borderline insane. 

She was another nice pick by Michael Donohoe. He has many clients who have horses in training with Jessica and she recommended us to buy her as the owner wanted to sell. We were in the right place at the right time. We gave her a little break and she'll also be back towards the end of the month. Hopefully she's another nice prospect for us. 

Has it been a conscious decision for you to concentrate on turf racing in America over the dirt?

The concentration on turf has really come down to budget. In America, if you want to compete with the Bob Bafferts, Todd Pletchers and Steve Asmussens of the world, it costs a lot of money. Those gentlemen have many million-dollar yearlings to work with and, to try and compete against that, you have to have a ginormous budget. I am lucky to have good owners with good budgets but nowhere near that. You can buy a good European horse for a fifth or a tenth of that price. It seems that, in turf racing, too, these horses seem to have a little more longevity and can be campaigned for an extra year or two. The racing is really more about that last quarter burst over the punishing grind from start to finish on dirt. That's why these horses seem to last longer and get the chance to develop into stakes horses or, for the fillies, into breeding prospects. 

Where do you see the future of turf racing in America? It seems to be expanding and growing so it could be an exciting position to be in.

I really see that. I see an expansion of turf racing across the country for many of those reasons; the longevity of the horses and people seem to like the last quarter mile compared to dirt races that can be decided right out of the gate sometimes. People like to enjoy seeing their horses run over a long period of time and so turf racing fits that category. 

Could we ever see a Phil D'Amato-trained runner at Royal Ascot?

One day. That definitely is a dream. I know Wesley Ward has been successful at Royal Ascot. You definitely need to bring the right horse but, one day, it would be a dream for me to do something like that.

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What’s In A Name: Rhea Moon (Ire)

AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $303,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:00.75, fm. RHEA MOON (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus) 1st Dam: Callisto Star (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Livia Galilei (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 3rd Dam: Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB) O-Rockingham Ranch & Talla Racing LLC; B-Kevin J Molloy (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Juan J Hernandez.

For brilliant Group 1 winner RHEA MOON (Ire) (f, 3, by Starspangledbanner {Aus} out of Callisto Star {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) the sky is the limit in more ways than one. Rhea is one of the many moons of Saturn (the planet with the ring).  S The satellite was discovered in 1672 and named after the fiercely loving mother of many Greek gods, including Zeus. The name of the dam could be a celestial reference to either one of the four moons of the planet Jupiter discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 (most likely) or the constellation of Ursa Major (the Big Dipper to you and me). Callisto was a nymph turned into a bear by jealous goddess Hera for being the lover of husband Zeus, who then set up his mistress as a star, literally (Ursa = Mama Bear in Latin). Maternal granddam LIVIA GALILEI is the namesake of one of the two daughters of Galileo (the scientist), so there is plenty of astronomy and theme consistency in the pedigree. Shine on you crazy diamond (in the sky), as the words of an old song go.

7th-Laurel, $60,870, 11-4, (NW1X), 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.90, fm, 2 1/4 lengths. TOM HAGEN (g, 7, El Padrino–Frivolous Pal, by Not For Love) Lifetime Record: 27-4-5-6, $210,491. O-Gordon C. Keys; B-James A. Blackwell (MD); T-Madison F. Meyers.

Laurel winner TOM HAGEN (g, 7, El Padrino–Frivolous Pal, by Not For Love) is also ingeniously named. For those who have avoided the endless TV re-runs of “The Godfather” during the Christmas season, Tom Hagen is the only non-Italian consigliere (aide) of Vito Corleone, “padrino” being the original noun for both the godfathering position and being the chieftain of a mafia enterprise. Robert Duvall played the role of Tom Hagen perfectly, as an efficient, legal-minded and soft-spoken criminal operator, in contrast to the opera-like intensity of many Italian-Americans in the movie.

6th-Churchill Downs, $123,375, Msw, 11-13, 2yo, 1m, 1:38.32, ft, neck. LAVER (c, 2, Bernardini–Centre Court, by Smart Strike). O/B-G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. (KY); T-George R. Arnold, II

Tennis theme consistency abounds in the pedigree of Churchill Downs winner LAVER, who is out of GI winner CENTRE COURT and half-brother to GSW NAVRATILOVA. This 2020 colt by Bernardini has run well on turf and dirt, so let us hope he is as versatile as his glorious Australian namesake, who played well on all surfaces and won two Grand Slams in the 1960s.\2nd-Delta Downs, $41,000, (S), 12-17, (NW2L), 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:42.50, ft, 5 lengths. GYPSYROSELEE (f, 3, Goldencents–Iknowuthinkimsexy {MSP, $158,145}, by Count the Time) Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $48,600. O-Richard & Mary Westmark; B-Brett Brinkman & Jane Chiasson (LA); T-Brett A. Brinkman

2nd-Delta Downs, $41,000, (S), 12-17, (NW2L), 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:42.50, ft, 5 lengths. GYPSYROSELEE (f, 3, Goldencents–Iknowuthinkimsexy {MSP, $158,145}, by Count the Time) Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $48,600. O-Richard & Mary Westmark; B-Brett Brinkman & Jane Chiasson (LA); T-Brett A. Brinkman

Gypsy Rose Lee was the stage name of Rose Louise Hovick (1911-1970), the woman who supposedly invented the striptease act. So the name of the five-length winner of an allowance race at Delta Downs is a spirited one, with the filly being out of IKNOWUTHINKIMSEXY, who is out of DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. The original Gypsy Rose Lee was no one-trick-pony, as she evolved and left a quite a mark in American popular culture. Not only did her memoir “Gypsy” lead to a now classic Broadway musical with a libretto written by master lyricist Stephen Sondheim (later a very successful movie), but she authored a mystery thriller that was made into a cute 1943 film starring legendary leading lady Barbara Stanwick and she did not die poor.

 

 

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Small-Time Irish Breeder Molloy Over The Moon With American Oaks Winner

Small-time breeder Kevin Molloy was provided with the best possible Christmas present late on Monday night when Rhea Moon (Ire), the first produce out of homebred Callisto Star (Ire), became Starspangledbanner's fourth top-flight winner of 2022 when battling to Grade I American Oaks glory at Santa Anita.

Rhea Moon began her career for Ken Condon in Ireland, for whom she showed bundles of potential when placing in six-furlong maidens at Dundalk and the Curragh before being purchased privately by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and international bloodstock agent Niall Dalton to join Philip D'Amato. 

Monday night's success was described by Molloy, who sold Rhea Moon through Ballybin Stud for £24,000 to BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale in 2020, as his best experience in racing. 

He said, “I stayed up to watch the race with my family and it was very exciting. We were concerned about the draw but she has that turn of foot which gets her out of trouble. 

“It was my best day in racing. To win a Grade I and to have that on the page is great. They are keeping her in training and I see more improvement coming so it's quite exciting.”

Peter Kelly of Ballybin Stud sold Rhea Moon along with her winning full-sister There's The Door (Ire) for €80,000 at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale last year and the Magna Grecia half-brother who commanded €145,000 to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame syndicate at this year's Sportsman's Sale at Goffs. 

He recalled, “I know from talking to Ken Condon that he was mad about Rhea Moon and he went hard trying to buy the full-sister last year and the Magna Grecia this year as well. I thought she'd be a good filly but I never dreamt she could go on and win a Grade I, so it's great.”

Kelly added, “Rhea Moon was a gorgeous, big filly as a yearling. Big, scopey and strong but she was a small bit turned in in front, which spoiled it a little. I remember her being a gorgeous filly in the lunge ring-she'd a huge big action on her-and you just knew she was going to be good. I remember trying to put a few people on her. Every now and then you get a glimpse of what could be a good one and she was one that I really liked at home.

“The dam Callisto Star has had an exceptional start and I'm delighted for Kevin as he has three mares all of whom are from this family. The sister has won for David Evans and is not far off black-type while Johnny Hassett bought the Magna Grecia colt at the Sportsman's Sale off us. I'm delighted for Johnny as he was a big fan of the colt and hopefully this pedigree update will help them achieve a nice profit at the breeze-up sales next year.”

It has been a bountiful year for the progeny of Starspangledbanner. Rhea Moon capped a memorable season for the Coolmore sire by joining Aristia (Ire), State Of Rest (Ire) and California Spangle (Ire) by claiming success at the highest level. 

Rhea Moon's dam Callisto Star is back in foal to Starspangledbanner with Molloy excited about what the future might bring for a family he has nurtured for generations.

He explained, “There's stamina in the dam's side and, if you go right back, there's the Mill Reef influence in there as well. I think the match is very good and I was advised by Christy Grassick in Coolmore to bring Callisto Star to Starspangledbanner. Thankfully, the mare is back in foal to Starspangledbanner, which is good news.

“Callisto Star was unlucky during her training career. She was with Jim Bolger but got injured. To get off to a start like she has, with her first produce bagging a Grade I win in America, is great.”

Molloy added, “Her second foal, There's The Door (Ire), has won for David Evans and was not far off getting black-type. She had a lovely Magna Grecia colt sell to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame partnership at the Sportsman's Sale in September. He was a lovely colt with a great temperament and it will be interesting to see how he breezes for them.”

Molloy's enjoyment at seeing Rhea Moon achieve big-race success in America was heightened by the fact that he is surrounded by the family at his base in Luttrellstown in Dublin.

He said, “Rhea Moon is a Dublin girl. She was born in Coolmore but she was raised here in Luttrellstown. I only have a small operation here. I have kept a few different broodmares from different lines but gradually got out of them. The one line I kept is from Mohican Princess (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). 

“Mohican Princess produced a number of good horses, including dual Group 3 winner Satchem (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}) and Eye Of The Storm (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who despite only having one eye, was a very talented horse. I kept Livia Galilei (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) out of Mohican Princess and I have some of Livia Galilei's daughters here as well. I've only got three broodmares altogether.”

Molloy added, “I take a lot of advice from Peter's Dad Paddy Kelly. I am guided by him and Christy Grassick. I get good advice and it's very enjoyable to have the mares around me. As I am speaking now, I am looking out the window at Rhea Moon's dam. That adds a lot. There are ups and downs but, to be able to go out and pet these mares on the nose, it gives you a lot of satisfaction. You get very close to them all.”

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‘Moon’ Shines Over Rivals in American Oaks

Rhea Moon (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was produced by the hot-riding Juan Hernandez approaching the final furlong and fought her way past pace-pressing stablemate School Dance (Animal Kingdom) in the final couple of jumps to win Monday's GI American Oaks at Santa Anita.

A 6-1 gamble exiting a 1 1/4-length success in the GIII Autumn Miss S. going a mile over this course Oct. 29, Rhea Moon was one of the last away, but improved along the inside while tugging a bit for her head and raced fourth-last with a circuit to travel as favored East Coast shipper and 'TDN Rising Star' Salimah (Ire) (El Kabeir) pulled her way along beneath Flavien Prat with School Dance in close attendance.

Hard held as she continued to scrape paint into the backstretch, Rhea Moon was shuffled back one spot and raced with just two behind into the final half-mile, but was always traveling smoothly. Full of run as she was ridden for luck at the fence, the bay was a bit short of room and in tight quarters with two furlongs to race. But allowed to follow the move of GIII Sands Point S. heroine Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}) into the final three-sixteenths of a mile, Rhea Moon found the daylight she needed four or five off the inside and motored home to peg back School Dance on the money.

“I think going a mile and a quarter, the one hole was an advantage,” said winning trainer Phil d'Amato. “Juan took advantage, just saving every inch of ground and getting her out in time. He gets a lot of credit for developing this filly…Juan and I are really in a groove, as much as Flavien [Prat] and I do well, Juan and I just seem to really get on a hot streak and I have a lot of confidence in him as does everyone else. It is just great to see. I don't need to give him a lot of instructions and he gets the job done.”

Placed on a pair of Irish appearances for Ken Condon as a juvenile, Rhea Moon finished runner-up in her first two U.S. starts before graduating in a nine-furlong test over this course June 4. A wide-trip third in a first-level Del Mar allowance July 24, Rhea Moon cleared that hurdle Aug. 21 and overcame a bit of trouble to win the Autumn Miss by 1 1/4 lengths Oct. 29.

Pedigree Notes:

Rhea Moon completes a truly phenomenal season around the globe for the underappreciated Starspangledbanner, joining Prix Ganay and Prince of Wales's S. hero State of Rest (Ire); Longines Hong Kong Mile victor California Spangle (Ire); and G1 Prx Jean Romanet heroine Aristia (Ire) as top-level scorers in 2022. Rhea Moon is one of two winners from just two to race for Callisto Star. Her 2-year-old sister There's The Door (Ire) won her maiden at third asking at Haydock this past July and was a near-miss runner-up in a Newmarket handicap over nine furlongs Oct. 29. Rhea Moon, who is inbred 4×3 to the legendary Danehill, also has a yearling half-sister by Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Monday, Santa Anita
AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $303,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:00.75, fm.
1–RHEA MOON (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Callisto Star (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Livia Galilei (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GRADE I WIN. (£24,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY). O-Rockingham Ranch & Talla Racing LLC; B-Kevin J Molloy (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Juan J Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-3-2, $371,831. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–School Dance, 124, f, 3, by Animal Kingdom
1st Dam: Ann of the Dance (SW & GSP, $198,332), by English Channel
2nd Dam: Dans La Ville (Chi), by Winning
3rd Dam: Syracuse, by Sharp-Eyed Quillo
1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Agave Racing Stable & Rockin Robin Racing Stables; B-Betz/Lamantia/Ramsby/Strong, B & K Canetti/J Betz (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $60,000.
3–Sparkle Blue, 124, f, 3, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Silk n' Sapphire, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Golden Tiy, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Tiy, by Nalees Man
1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Augustin Stable & Catherine Parke; B-Catherine Parke (KY); T-H Graham Motion. $36,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, HD. Odds: 6.80, 11.70, 8.80.
Also Ran: Oakhurst, Skims (GB), Pizza Bianca, Salimah (Ire), Duvet Day (Ire), Lady Clementine (GB), Mise En Scene (GB), Bellstreet Bridie (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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