The Coolmore partners' runner won his first three starts and had been the 3-1 morning line favourite for Friday's contest. He also finished third to Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in both the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. and looked primed for a big effort. River Tiber was due to be ridden by Ryan Moore. Moore will instead pilot fellow Coolmore runner Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was second in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. He had been due to be ridden by Frankie Dettori.

The team of runners from Ballydoyle has also been depleted by Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) being declared a non-runner in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

River Tiber is not the only high-profile European raider to be scratched on Friday morning. Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), trained by Jessica Harrington, is out of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint earlier on the card, the result of a vet scratch, confirmed by his part-owner Con Marnane. Following his withdrawal, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Asean (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) has been bumped up from his reserve slot to take his place in stall 14 under Tyler Gaffalione.

Enhanced veterinary protocols are in place for the Breeders' Cup meeting, with on-site examinations having been taking place on site at Santa Anita from last Friday. Dr Will Farmer, the co-team lead for the Breeders' Cup veterinary team, explained the process for race-morning scratchings to the TDN at Santa Anita on Friday morning.

He said, “We have seven teams of veterinarians that went out and did the stall-side and trot-up exams on all runners today. They were examined this morning.

“Any time that there is a question that arises from these large event days, we have a second team of veterinarians who come in as kind of a referee, as a second pair of eyes. So we have the pair that would look at the horse and if there are any questions or disagreements between the two veterinarians, that second team, which is comprised of CHRB and Breeders' Cup veterinarians on that panel. They would go in and do their exam and confer with the first team of veterinarians that had looked at the horse, and then ultimately come with whatever recommendation or decision that had to be made.”

Dr Farmer added, “The safety of the horse is at the forefront of every decision we make. Whether it's the trainer or the veterinarian scratching the horse, we're all aligned in doing what's in their best interest.

“Scratch decisions are informed by multiple hands-on veterinary inspections in addition to observation of the horse at the jog in the stabling area and on the track while training in the days leading up to the World Championships.”

The post River Tiber, Givemethebeatboys, Bolshoi Ballet Out of Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Into a split approaching two out, the writing was soon on the wall for his rivals as the 625,000gns joint-topper of the Tatts Craven Breeze-Up took command a furlong later. Putting to bed any fears that he lacked the versatility to excel first time on this kind of fast ground, the beau ideal was quickly into the clear to score by 2 1/4 lengths from the sponsors' TDN Rising Star Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who denied Ballydoyle's G2 Coventry S.-winning fellow TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) the consolation prize by a head.

“He's beautiful with a wonderful temperament and all of the talent to match,” Simon Crisford said. “That race took a lot of winning today and the Prix Morny was an exceptional race. When he hits the front he does tend to idle and look around a bit, but I couldn't see anything running him down so I was pretty hopeful in the last 100 yards.”

“We came here pretty confident, we knew we had something special,” Crisford Sr added. “He's been working exceptionally well and he's been such a kind horse to go with it, everything was great. He was flat out asleep today until noon today. We couldn't get him up to come to the races. His mind is so good, which is important as it makes our job easy. This is something really special. He is one of the best two-year-olds in the world and has never let us down.”

Make that 2 Group 1s for VANDEEK!

The @gainsboroughHQ colt takes the Middle Park under @the_doyler! pic.twitter.com/wZ2kmke2sg

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) September 30, 2023

Crisford was also not discounting a return to the track for the G1 Dewhurst S. in a fortnight and added, “I think we're going to let the horse tell us as much as he can and we'll take it from there. He's a tall, leggy horse and he stands over a lot of ground, he could easily go further. Never say never, I think the person that will decide whether he comes back for the Dewhurst is the horse himself. If he tells us he wants to come here then we will.”

James Doyle added, “I think he has shown all the qualities you need in a potential champion. He has shown he can do it on soft ground and fast ground on a variety of tracks. It didn't go entirely to plan, as we kind of missed the break so I just came across and used Ryan as a bit of a target as I wasn't convinced the ones drawn around us were the ones to be tracking so it actually panned out okay. By zooming across, I set him alight a bit so he took a bit of managing early. He is just a big ball of speed and when the gap came, he went through it pretty good.”

Ralph Beckett said of the runner-up, “He is a horse that we have crept here with, as you can see he is not the finished article by any means. This is a horse that has done it all on his own as we have not been keen to turn the screw on him. I think it is unlikely he will show up in the Dewhurst, but I'm really pleased with what he has done today. He has split two very good horses, so I'm delighted. He handled it very well today, better than I thought he would. He learnt again today. I'd say on the back of today I'd be keen to turn up here on the first weekend in May and you might not see him again until then.”

Pedigree Notes

Vandeek's dam Mosa Mine is a daughter of Baldemosa (Fr) (Lead On Time), who is kin to the G1 Prix Robert Papin heroine Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene) who in turn produced the G1 July Cup-winning champion sprinter and leading sire Anabaa as well as the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal (Zilzal) and the successful sire Key Of Luck. She is also the second dam of Danzig's G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Country Reel and the ancestress of the latter's daughter Baine (Fr) who was second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Saturday, Newmaket, Britain
JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK S.-G1, £291,580, Newmarket, 9-30, 2yo, c, 6fT, 1:10.76, g/f.
1–VANDEEK (GB), 128, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
   1st Dam: Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
   2nd Dam: Baldemosa (Fr), by Lead On Time
   3rd Dam: Bamieres (Fr), by Riverman
(52,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 42,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY; 625,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-KHK Racing; B-Maywood Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-James Doyle. £165,355. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 4-4-0-0, $550,438. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Task Force (GB), 128, c, 2, Frankel (GB)–Special Duty (GB), by Hennessy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £62,690.
3–River Tiber (Ire), 128, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire). (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £31,374.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.25, 7.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Givemethebeatboys (Ire), Starlust (GB), Sketch (Ire), Lake Forest (GB), Elite Status (GB), Jasour (GB).

The post Havana Grey’s Vandeek Has The Answer In The Middle Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Since 2012, five winners of the Morny have followed up here including three of the last four in Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) and Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), so the Crisfords' leading light has history on his side. Ed Crisford is keen to see if he can become the latest to do the tough double.

“It's a good field, as you'd expect for a race of this stature, but I'd say he goes in there with a favourite's chance,” he said. “It will be the first time he's encountered ground this fast, but he's a nice-moving colt by Havana Grey so that shouldn't be a problem.”

   Third in the Morny after his well-documented training troubles, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the obvious thorn in Vandeek's side now that he has a clear preparation for this highlight. He had a host of smart peers behind including Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. on ground similar to the unseasonably fast conditions he encounters here and Ryan Moore is happy to tackle Vandeek again and another quintet of group winners including the G2 July S. hero Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) from the always-to-be-feared Clive Cox stable.

“He wasn't at peak fitness [for the Morny] and I thought he shaped very well in the circumstances,” Moore said of River Tiber, who represents the stable successful in three of the last six runnings. “I would expect him to get a lot closer to the winner here and I'd say we had a very fair shot at winning this group one. He's in good shape.”

Vandeek, in front, stretching his legs up Warren Hill ahead of his run in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at @NewmarketRace next weekend. @GrahamClark85 tells us more. @gainsboroughHQ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 24, 2023

Relief Rally Poised For Cheveley Park Coronation

Whatever wins Newmarket's Cheveley Park S. will first have to see off Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose sole defeat in five starts was as a result of coming out the wrong side of a head-bobber with Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot. Having dealt with every European rival thrown at her so far, including Ballydoyle's Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) in York's G2 Lowther S. last month, the William Haggas trainee has some new contenders to front up to here but the willingness to fight is almost her forte.

Jockey Tom Marquand has faith that she can come through her most important bout to date. “She has taken big steps forward with each of her runs and she was unfortunate not to win at Ascot, but she has shown a high level of form,” he said. “I was really looking forward to riding her over six furlongs at York, as I thought it would suit her so well and she proved us right.”

One of the lesser-known rivals to Relief Rally is Wathnan Racing's Criterium d'Ete scorer Jasna's Secret (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), who saw off the smart yardstick Zorken (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) in that valuable Deauville prize and is entitled to due respect as a result. Whether Carlos and Yann Lerner's bargain €42,000 Arqana Deauville September purchase has the know-how to cope with some hardened opponents remains to be seen, with the G3 Albany S. scorer Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and the G3 Princess Margaret S. scorer Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) boasting the touch of class necessary to win one of these.

Capulet Heads Strong Royal Lodge Cast

Newmarket's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. is one of the day's more intriguing contests, with Ballydoyle's G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Capulet (Justify) taking on Godolphin's G3 Solario S. winner Aablan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Listed Ascendant S. scorer Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Another in the mix for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf qualifier is Jeff Smith's unbeaten Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the recent winner of a seven-furlong Ascot novice from which the impressive subsequent winner Military Artist (Munnings) emerged.

Ryan Moore said of Capulet, “He did it nicely on his debut at Dundalk last month and he obviously improved a good deal when running Diego Velazquez to half a length at Leopardstown last time. That form looked strong at the time and it looks even better now with the well-beaten fourth, Deepone, coming out and winning the Beresford next time. All of these have the potential to take a big step forward, most notably Ghostwriter maybe, but he deserves to be the favourite as it stands as the Leopardstown form is the best on offer going into the race.”

Clive Cox said of Ghostwriter, “His first success at Newmarket on the July course, and the way he was balanced and produced a winning debut, gives me confidence he will handle the track. He followed that up with a really impressive success at Ascot and showed a lot of class. He has thrived throughout, he is a wonderful physical, big, strong colt and I'm looking forward to seeing him step up to a mile. He is very deserving of running in this sort of grade. He's a horse we have always loved and he definitely sets the pulse racing.”

Trueshan Looks For Second Cadran

At ParisLongchamp, the Cadran sees Alan King's star stayer Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) bid to double his tally in the prestige marathon having mastered Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in style on easy ground two years ago. Back with a bang after a second wind operation in the G2 Doncaster Cup earlier this month, he has no genuine staying star of that calibre to contend with in a disappointing turnout but he does have Ballydoyle's ever-reliable Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). While the ground is not as easy as she would like it, neither is it for Trueshan and a repeat of the form of her latest second in the G1 Goodwood Cup would be good enough should the veteran giant deliver one of his deflating efforts.

Aidan O'Brien said of her, “We think the trip will suit her and any ease in the ground will suit her as well. If the ground had come up soft or heavy, we probably would have had a good, strong think about the Arc, but we thought over the Cadran trip she would be more comfortable. She does stay very well and she seems in good form. When she ran in the Gold Cup she ran very well even though the ground was quick–she didn't have any problems with it.”

As selected by you, @HollieDoyle1's ride on Trueshan is the MOMENT OF THE MEETING from the @Betfred St Leger Festival #DoncasterRaces | #MadeinDoncaster pic.twitter.com/ukohcbO2Pw

— Doncaster Racecourse (@DoncasterRaces) September 21, 2023

All To Play For In Open Royallieu

There is no stand-out in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu and it is fair to say that there have been better editions of the 14-furlong contest since it was elevated to top-level status in 2019. They have included an Oaks heroine in Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the top-class Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), but this is a line-up of wannabes at present headed on the formbook by Wathnan Racing's G2 Prix de Pomone winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Most of her rivals have had plenty of chances at a lesser level and missed the target, so perhaps The Aga Khan's progressive G3 Stanerra S. and G3 Irish St Leger Trial S. winner Shamida (Ire) (Australia {GB}) could be the answer or the Arbibs' G2 Lillie Langtry S. and G2 Park Hill S. scorer Sumo Sam (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) if she can transfer her soft-ground dominance to this livelier surface.

Big Things On The Horizon?

ParisLongchamp's trio of Group 2 races see Moyglare Stud's exciting Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) look to enhance his reputation in the staying category in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay; Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's G3 Sovereign S. dead-heater Embesto (GB) (Roaring Lion) act as one of the more promising types lining up for the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein; and one of the day's more exciting runners in Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) look to boss the Qatar Prix Dollar.

Horizon Dore, who has flaunted his wares in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, is one of the more lively outsiders at present for next month's G1 Champion S. and he sports the Gousserie silks already renowned at that Ascot fixture. Compatriots Cirrus Des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) and Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and also the British raider Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) have taken this en route to making a major play at the Champion and so Saturday's closing act of ParisLongchamp's pattern-race bonanza takes on extra weight.

Sunday's Supporting Group 1s Confirmed

Friday saw ParisLongchamp's five other Arc-supporting Group 1 contests finalised, with the opening two being the big juvenile prizes. The Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere features Philippe Allaire and Haras d'Etreham's unbeaten G3 Prix la Rochette-winning TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac includes Newtown Anner Stud Farm's impressive G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prestige S. winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Haras d'Etreham and Craig Bernick's G2 Prix du Calvados-winning  TDN Rising Star Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never).

In the Prix de l'Opera Longines, Yeguada Centurion SL's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) takes on 11 rivals, while the 19 due to assemble for the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines include the star sprinting mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret sees last year's winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) favourably drawn in two bidding to provide Frankie Dettori with the ultimate Paris send-off.

All roads to the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère! Hot favourite Beauvatier makes it a perfect four with a smooth success in the Group 3 Prix la Rochette at @paris_longchamp… pic.twitter.com/sHB7fEWMC2

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 3, 2023

The post Newmarket: “He Goes In There With A Favourite’s Chance.” Vandeek To Star On Super Saturday? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Vandeek wins the Prix Morny after a thrilling finish at @fgdeauville! @Atzenijockey | @gainsboroughHQ pic.twitter.com/u1qDLhF7R2

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 20, 2023

“It was a huge display and a big performance,” Ed Crisford said of his cold, who has now earned a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November. “I thought the filly's turn of foot was fantastic and I thought we weren't going to claw her back, but to be fair to him he's stuck to his guns and stuck his head down and he's a really high-quality colt. We were behind a few horses and I saw Andrea looking for a gap and he couldn't quite find one, but once he got out he's picked up really well in that ground and he's a proper horse with a big future, hopefully. He could go further in time, but I think he's got so much speed being by Havana Grey that we'll aim for the Middle Park and then take it from there.”

This was a top-class renewal of the Morny and there was never a question that the pace would not be strong and it could be a slowly-run tactical affair. The G2 July S. winner Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was electric from the gates, denying Thunder Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) who was acting as the pacemaker for the G2 Norfolk S. winner Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) the lead. That set it up for the smoother-travelling closers in behind, of which Vandeek was always the most striking from a visual standpoint and also on paper once the sectional times had been released.

Every horse was dragged into a speed test here, with such strong splits leading to halfway meaning that this was turning into one for the stayers. With the testing ground accentuating the stamina test, Ramatuelle was faster than Vandeek between three out and the furlong pole but she paid for that in the run to the line as the British raider clawed back the deficit and edge it late as she tired.

Ramatuelle's trainer Christopher Head was not downcast afterwards. “She ran a blinder again–it's amazing what this filly is capable of,” he said. “A small tiny filly among those gigantic colts! It was a great performance, there is no shame in losing. We will discuss the next race with all the partners, but she is in the Cheveley Park and the Lagardere.”

Aidan O'Brien was also delighted with the run of River Tiber following his well-documented training troubles. “He had a muscle pull behind a little over two weeks ago and I really didn't think he'd make it,” he said. “He just lacked a little bit of drive early, so he was back a long ways and Ryan had to give him a chance to loosen up. When he did, he came home very well so we were very happy with the run. We'll see how he is and then make a plan.”

Pedigree Notes

Vandeek, who becomes the first group 1 winner for his excellent sire, is a grandson of Baldemosa (Fr) (Lead On Time) whose half-sister is the G1 Prix Robert Papin heroine Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene). Her trio of top-class performers are the G1 July Cup S. and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Anabaa, the GI Pimlico Special runner-up Key Of Luck and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal (Zilzal).

Always Loyal is the second dam of the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies-winning champion Shonan Adela (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while another of Balbonella's progeny was the G3 Prix de la Grotte-placed Country Belle (Seattle Slew) who was the dam of the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Country Reel (Danzig). Also connected to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Baine (Fr) by Country Reel, Mosa Mine's colt foal is by Starspangledbanner (Aus).

Sunday, Deauville, France
SUMBE PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, Deauville, 8-20, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:09.84, vsf.
1–VANDEEK (GB), 126, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Baldemosa (Fr), by Lead On Time
3rd Dam: Bamieres (Fr), by Riverman
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (52,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 42,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY; 625,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-KHK Racing; B-Maywood Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-Andrea Atzeni. €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 3-2-0-0, €316,055. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ramatuelle, 122, f, 2, Justify–Raven's Lady (GB), by Raven's Pass. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€100,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Chun Wai Kwok, Arthur Hoyeau, Mme Ilse Smits & Clement Tropres; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (KY); T-Christopher Head. €80,010.
3–River Tiber (Ire), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €40,005.
Margins: SNK, 2, 2HF. Odds: 4.40, 1.00, 3.70.
Also Ran: Sacred Angel (Ire), Valiant Force, Sajir (Ire), Elite Status (GB), Jasour (GB), Thunder Blue (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Havana Grey’s Vandeek Denies Ramatuelle In Morny Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“The plan is to run River Tiber [this weekend],” O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing. “He had a setback a couple of weeks ago so there will be a cloud over him when we do run him as we're a bit worried about his fitness, but the plan at the moment is to run.

A runaway winner in his career bow at Navan Apr. 22, the colt followed up with another victory at Naas May 21.

O'Brien continued, “He had a hold-up and missed his second-last piece of work so he had that week off, but he did a piece of work this week so that gave him a chance to go.

“He seems to be in good form since, but the ground that we lost you couldn't make back up with him.”

O'Brien also indicated MG1SW Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), last year's Gold Cup winner, may mark his return in the Sept. 10 G1 Irish St Leger. The chestnut was last seen destroying his rivals in the G1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp Oct. 1.

“Kyprios was at the Curragh for a canter last weekend after racing and that went well. He seems to have come out of that well,” said O'Brien. “We're looking at maybe starting at the [Irish] Leger, but that's a tough enough race to come back in so we'd be hoping he could run a good race, come out of it OK and then have a look at something on Arc weekend, something like that, because you couldn't expect him to perform at his best after such a traumatic year. If it all went well we could look at next year with him.”

The post O’Brien Charts Course for River Tiber, Kyprios appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Students of Ryan Moore's body language would have noted that he sat motionless for the first four furlongs and as he asked the question two out River Tiber picked up as expected to wear down Monday night's Goffs London sensation with just over half a furlong to race. From there the sense of inevitability became reality as he found the line a neck ahead of the Archie Watson-trained Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}), who was a few horse-widths away up the centre with another son of Wootton Bassett in Bucanero Fuerte (GB) 3/4 of a length behind him in third.

There had been trouble in the stalls, with the outsider Buyin Buyin (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle (GB) becoming upset and affecting his next-door neighbough Chief Mankato (GB) (Sioux Nation) in the process, leading to their withdrawal.

“It was a tricky start, with those horses getting upset and he didn't settle like he usually does in the stalls,” commented Moore, who was riding the first winner of an afternoon treble which would ultimately take him to 76 at Royal Ascot. “He travelled really well in the race and I probably put him to sleep a bit too much. I had to wake him up to get to them and I think he had a bit more in hand. We've always loved him and he'll probably go on to be a Dewhurst horse I'd have thought. For me, he stood over all of these–he looked different class.”

Aidan O'Brien, who was about to become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history, was not holding back as to his regard for the winner, who probably ranks up with the likes of Fasliyev, Landseer (Ire), Henrythenavigator, Power (GB) and Caravaggio. “He always looked very good,” he said. “He was never disappointing in any of his work and the stronger the work got, the stronger he became. His last piece of work he was almost doing too well, so that was my worry. We knew when he went over five last time that he was going to get six and seven comfortably.”

“You need the best horse to win the Coventry,” O'Brien added of the winner, whose inherent stamina probably made the difference off a hot early pace. “He has matured a lot, put on a lot of weight and just finds it very easy. We always thought he was a Guineas horse. If you think you have a Coventry horse, you almost know you have.”

Archie Watson, who was soon to have his moment in the sun with last year's Coventry winner Bradsell, was delighted with another big performance for a Victorious Racing colour-bearer in Army Ethos. “He's always had so much class from the moment Oliver [St Lawrence] bought him at the Somerville Yearling Sale,” he said. “Hollie [Doyle] felt Ryan got a better tow into the race and she had to do it all herself when they started falling away on our side of the track. For a horse on his second run, it was a massive effort and I'm very proud of him.”

Pedigree Notes

The second TDN Rising Star to win the Coventry in successive years and the fourth to win a Royal Ascot juvenile contest since the start of the 2022 meeting, River Tiber is the second foal and first winner for the unraced dam, a daughter of the Swedish listed winner Cover Girl (Ire) (Common Grounds {GB}) who produced the Listed Harry Rosebery S. scorer and G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Molecomb S.-placed Mister Manannan (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}) and his Luther Burbank H.-winning and G3 Cornwallis S. and GIII Senorita S.-placed full-sister Shermeen (Ire).

Shermeen is responsible for a trio who represented Coolmore in some form in the G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. runner-up Sudirman (Henrythenavigator), the G3 Hampton Court S. runner-up Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the latter's full-brother Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who captured last year's Listed Dee S. and has gone on to add Australia's Listed Rosehill Gold Cup to his tally. Transcendence's yearling colt is by Mehmas (Ire).

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-20, 2yo, 6fT, 1:15.49, gd.
1–RIVER TIBER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cover Girl (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
3rd Dam: Peace Carrier (Ire), by Doulab
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $144,735. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Army Ethos (GB), 129, c, 2, Shalaa (Ire)–Dream Dana (Ire), by Dream Ahead. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (20,000gns RNA Wlg '21 TADEWE; 120,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass; B-Plantation Stud (GB); T-Archie Watson. £32,250.
3–Bucanero Fuerte (GB), 129, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Frida La Blonde (Fr), by Elusive City. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€165,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Amo Racing Ltd & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (GB); T-Adrian Murray. £16,140.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.38, 20.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Givemethebeatboys (Ire), Haatem (Ire), Bobsleigh (Ire), Watch My Tracer (Ire), Spanish Phoenix (Ire), Asadna (Ire), Cuban Thunder (Ire), Fandom (GB), Emperor's Son (Ire), The Camden Colt (Ire), Prince X J (Ire), Ticktyboo (GB), Flag Of St George (Ire), Politico (Ire), Alfa Whiteburd (Ire), Packard (Ire), Zoulu Chief (GB). Scratched: Buyin Buyin (Ire), Chief Mankato (GB).

River Tiber is the real deal and wins the Coventry for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien! #RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/r8yQ2truYB

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2023

The post Coventry Glory For Wootton Bassett’s TDN Rising Star River Tiber appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

One thing is for sure and that is that Inspiral needs to jump from the stalls a lot faster than she did when dropping the baton in the QEII here in October. Frankel, who also became prone to delivering that slow-breaking party trick late in his career, is on his way to becoming a pre-eminent presence here in his second career. That said, he still has work to do to catch Royal Ascot's true ruler in Dubawi (Ire) whose multiple winners almost every year come over all distances. Sheikh Mohammed's emperor sire is currently staying ahead of his Juddmonte nemesis, so it is fitting that their paths cross instantly in 2023. Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire), whose professionalism and straightforward nature has seen him jump from Charlie Appleby's third-choice miler a year ago to leading light, shades favouritism for the Queen Anne as this is written.

Frankel's influence on the meeting that witnessed one of his incredulous displays continues all week, with the opening fixture's G1 St James's Palace S. hosting his high-achieving son Chaldean (GB), another Dettori posting. There is a touch of The Rock about Juddmonte's no-fuss Dewhurst and 2000 Guineas winner and the way he is going he could end up another Kingsclere legend. First, he has to suppress the Curragh Classic winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), the season's stealth bomber. A key component of Team Ballydoyle's opening salvo, which is perhaps a touch light for them, he has to overcome a wide draw as well as a Newmarket Classic winner as he bids for edition number nine for Aidan O'Brien.

Galileo's influence, so longstanding here, is sadly confined on Tuesday to one of the yard's second division performers in Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) in the Listed Wolferton S., a kind of Princes of Wales's S. consolation prize. If his omnipotence has diminished with his reduced representation, then the opportunity is there for a new Coolmore figurehead to emerge. Wootton Bassett (GB) is doing just that at present and his son River Tiber (Ire) heads into a battle of the TDN Rising Stars in the G2 Coventry S. With George Boughey's Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The latter's scintillating time trial at Ripon put him into another dimension where his age group is concerned and recent Royal Ascots have proven how crucial the study of individual sectional time performances have been ahead of these tests.

Despite the Asadna effect, River Tiber has some of the best in the business already excited. As Ryan Moore discussed the operation's new 2-year-old sensation in his betfair blog, it felt almost like a warning. “Confidence is not a word I would use with so many similarly-unexposed promising two-year-olds in here, but I'll just say he is in very good shape for this,” he stated, which could translate as “watch which way he goes”.

Where the premier Royal Ascot sprints are concerned, 2023 marks a special anniversary with it being 20 years since the hemisphere-breaching revolution set in motion by Choisir (Aus). Prior to that moment, the idea of a strong Australasian, North American and Asian presence at this meeting was a flight of fancy, not the perennial certainty it is now. A barometer of how much respect overseas sprinters generate was evident again twelve months ago as Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) dominated the market for the G1 King's Stand S.

This year's renewal, which seems one for the fillies and mares, is not nearly so pre-destined for export with the Boadicea-like Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) standing firm. Not since Britain celebrated the likes of Habibti (Ire) in the 1980s has a sprinting mare captured the imagination as she did during her golden summer in 2022 and her task is to ward off the chief Antipodean challenger Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) here. United with Nature Strip's rider James McDonald, having gone the tried-and-trusted Lightning route, she is Australia's apparent flag-bearer. Then there is the seriously-fast TDN Rising Star Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who tries to do a “Lady Aurelia” for the Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old generation.

With all the subplots to a day at Royal Ascot, burning questions remain ahead of Tuesday's action. Will Irad Ortiz Jr be able to impose himself this year after a forgettable intro in 2022? Wesley Ward's Keeneland dynamo Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB})–the first horse to be double-entered this week having been confirmed for Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S.–and established sprinter Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) can possibly help get him more into the Ascot groove. Can Amo Racing break their Royal meeting duck? The juvenile Bucanero Fuerte (GB), another Wootton Bassett owned in partnership with Giselle De Aguiar, is their first representative of the week in the Coventry. Can the pair of TDN Rising Stars Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) defy the inexperience gap and make their mark in the St James's Palace? Can Willie Mullins tighten his grip on the staying handicaps with the dual-purpose stars Bring On The Night (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB})? The latter is undoubtedly the classiest hurdler that his trainer has brought here and could conceivably have won Thursday's Gold Cup. Ryan Moore is on both supposed “good things” and a double on top of any earlier successes could see him stake an early claim for a landmark 10th leading rider title. With such firepower this week, what can stop him? Ah, yes. Frankie.

The post Royal Ascot: Inspiral Kicks Off Frankie’s Long Farewell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“His homework has been strong at home and it is great that he brought the same to the track,” stable representative Chris Armstrong said. “He's a lovely horse and you love everything about him–athletic, physical and a good mind. He's one that could go to the winners' race in Naas or maybe something like the Marble Hill at the Curragh, and then hopefully on to Ascot. Something like the Coventry.”

“He's very exciting and another nice horse hopefully for Wootton Bassett,” Armstrong added. “It is unfortunate the rain coming today, but Navan is a lovely track to start them. Aidan has brought a lot of good horses here before–we start them here and they have always progressed plenty from it. It is a lovely track and always well-presented. I suppose his class got him through, he travelled very strongly and when Ryan asked him to lengthen and pick up, the response was there immediately.”

River Tiber, who was a 480,000gns Book 1 purchase, is the fourth TDN Rising Star for Wootton Bassett with the promising 3-year-old colt Padishakh (Fr) also in his armoury for this season. He is the second foal and first winner for the unraced dam, a daughter of the Swedish listed winner Cover Girl (Ire) (Common Grounds {GB}) who produced the Listed Harry Rosebery S. scorer and G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Molecomb S.-placed Mister Manannan (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}) and his Luther Burbank H.-winning and G3 Cornwallis S. and GIII Senorita S.-placed full-sister Shermeen (Ire).

Shermeen is responsible for a trio who represented Coolmore in some form in the G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. runner-up Sudirman (Henrythenavigator), the G3 Hampton Court S. runner-up Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the latter's full-brother Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who captured last year's Listed Dee S. and has gone on to add Australia's Listed Rosehill Gold Cup to his tally. Transcendence's yearling colt is by Mehmas (Ire).

https://twitter.com/i/status/1649766618837180416

1st-Navan, €16,000, Mdn, 4-22, 2yo, 5f 164yT, 1:19.59, sf.
RIVER TIBER (IRE), c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
     1st Dam: Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Cover Girl (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
     3rd Dam: Peace Carrier (Ire), by Doulab
(480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,550. O-Tabor/Smith/Magnier/Westerberg/Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Wootton Bassett’s River Tiber A New TDN Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post