Rogue Millennium

Big-Race Winners In Waiting? Five To Follow From The Mares Sales

The breeding stock sales are, by definition, where many of the best broodmares and foals are offered under the hammer, but many fine racing prospects have emerged from these sessions in recent years.

Some farm the sales better than others, notably trainers Joseph O'Brien and Paddy Twomey, who have made a habit of replenishing their stables with high-class runners each winter.

So who fared best this winter? O'Brien and Twomey were back again, with the pair signing for some interesting prospects with a view towards next season, while a number of mares with interesting profiles were sold abroad or to new partnerships with the aim of enhancing their profiles over the coming 12 months. Here are five to follow from the breeding stock sales.

The case for Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was an obvious one and it was bloodstock agents David Lanigan and Ted Durcan, working on behalf of American owner Scott Heider, who secured the classy filly to go into training with Joseph O'Brien.

Rogue Millennium deservedly occupied star billing in the Sceptre Sessions and she lived up to her reputation when selling for 1.65 million gns.

Fillies with genuine Group 1 form and the ability to race on don't come up on the market too often, and Heider, who has already had some classy performers with O'Brien, was forced to pay to secure the four-year-old.

However, Rogue Millennium showed top-notch form for former trainer Tom Clover and owners The Rogues Gallery, with her runner-up effort behind the brilliant Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) suggesting that she is not far off making the breakthrough at the highest level.

A Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot this season, Rogue Millennium rarely disappointed and her ability to handle quick ground could mean she is a candidate to take in races abroad.

Given that O'Brien is a dab hand at travelling horses all over the world, Rogue Millennium could well be the type to be on her travels next year. Now, that would be exciting.

It must be said that Rogue Millennium was not the only classy prospect that O'Brien snapped up at the mares sales this winter. At the opposite end of the spectrum, classy youngster Without Words (Mendelssohn), who Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell of Longways Stables put into training after failing to sell the filly at the breeze-ups, went the way of Justin Casse on behalf of the trainer for €450,000.

Without Words looked a smart prospect in the making when winning second time up for trainer Francois Rohaut at Toulouse and commanded a price tag to reflect that ability. She's another to note.

Lady Tilbury: has an interesting profile | Racingfotos.com

Lady Tilbury

Word on the street is that Lady Tilbury (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a four-time winner over sprint trips for David Marnane, is off to Paddy Twomey after being knocked down to BBA Ireland for 150,000gns at Tattersalls.

On the face of things, Lady Tilbury may not scream Group performer in the making, but the four-year-old has offered flashes of high-class form for Marnane.

One thing we know about Lady Tilbury is that she is very quick. Something of a Tipperary specialist, she won three times at that track over the minimum distance, with her sole other victory coming at another speed favouring course in Cork.

It may not be the craziest idea to compare Lady Tilbury's profile to that of Sonnaiyla (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who joined Twomey rated 82, but improved 26lbs and bagged a Group 3 success for the Golden-based trainer.

It will be a big ask for Lady Tilbury to improve to that extent but it's worth noting that Marnane thought highly enough of the filly to pitch her into Group 3 company on her final start for the stable at Dundalk in October.

Things may not have gone to plan on that occasion but an argument could be made that Lady Tilbury's best days are still ahead of her and she is one to keep an eye on in 2024.

It's no secret that Twomey has done extremely well out of the mares sales in recent years and La Isla Mujeres (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was another interesting recruit to his yard at 330,000gns.

Signed for alongside bloodstock agent Jason Kelly, La Isla Mujeres showed classy form for Ralph Beckett on behalf of Valmont, winning twice and reaching a rating of 93.

She was not far off achieving black-type for her former connections and, given her lightly-raced profile, rates another interesting prospect for next season.

Relief Rally

It's fair to say the Yulong team likes to keep everyone guessing. Between buying online and signing under different pseudonyms, Yuesheng Zhang's major ownership vehicle made things interesting at Goffs, Tattersalls and more recently at Arqana.

The top lot at Arqana, Place Du Carrousel, was rumoured to have been bought by the Yulong outfit under the banner of Portofino Bloodstock for the unusual sum of €4,025,000. It was also suggested by some in the know that the Group 1 winner would be continuing her career in Australia for the powerful operation, similarly to Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never).

Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) could be another interesting one to have joined the Yulong team. One of the star juveniles this term, Relief Rally won four of her five starts for William Haggas, culminating with a brilliant victory in the G2 Lowther S.

She was knocked down to the unknown entity of Mrs A Sullivan for 800,000gns during a helter-skelter edition of the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls.

Should time reveal Relief Rally to be another big-name signing for Yulong, she would form part of a strong group of older mares for the team to look forward to next year and definitely has Group 1 aspirations.

Pipsy

Young trainer Will Walden marked his first trip to Tattersalls by snapping up three quality fillies for just over 1.8million gns and Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) could well prove the pick.

Pipsy went from strength to strength in three starts for trainer Ger Lyons, building on her debut second at Cork to run out an authoritative winner of a Curragh maiden before making the breakthrough at listed level back over the minimum trip at Dundalk.

The juvenile is just the type who could suit the style of racing in America and has already proved that she handles a quick surface in winning at Dundalk.

She could be a name to note for Walden who also landed Aussie Girl (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for 380,000gns and Olivia Maralda (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for 725,000gns at the Sceptre Sessions.

Royal Grey

Nobody could accuse John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud of being a rigid thinker and, while some people would turn their noses up at Italian form, he thought it worthwhile to partner up and buy Royal Grey (GB) from Endo Botti for €135,000 at Arqana last week.

By the sire of the moment, Havana Grey (GB), Royal Grey showed a likeable attitude to win at listed level in Italy. What that form amounts to is hard to weigh up but she's clearly a filly who tries hard and is deserving of a tilt at black-type races in France.

That's exactly what the plan is for Royal Grey, who was purchased alongside an unnamed partner to go into training with Nicolas Clement. There could be a lot of fun to be had with her over sprint trips in France next season.

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Jackson-Stops On the Lookout For Next Rogue At Tattersalls July Sale

Buoyed by one of his biggest results this summer with Royal Ascot winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) putting his name in lights, leading bloodstock agent Billy Jackson-Stops will be on the lookout for his next headline act at the Tattersalls July Sale this week.

However, the man who sourced Tom Clover's brilliant G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. heroine on behalf of The Rogues Gallery Syndicate [along with the trainer's wife Jackie] shared feelings of caution on the eve of the eagerly anticipated horses-in-training sale given the amount of international footfall at Park Paddocks on Monday.

The purchase of Rogue Millennium for just 35,000gns from Shadwell at the 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale was an inspired one. The Dubawi filly has gone from strength to strength under the care of Clover, a big supporter of Jackson-Stops, which made the Royal Ascot success extra special.

The agent explained, “To do it on the biggest stage of all at Royal Ascot meant the world to me. But, not only that, to enjoy it with Jackie and Tom Clover, it meant so much more as we work very hard together as a team trying to find the right horses at the sales.

“Tom was at Kempton the day we bought Rogue Millennium, so Jackie and I did all the work together at Tattersalls. We were very lucky to land on the filly and to have been given the order from Tony [Elliott, of The Rogues Gallery Syndicate], who has been a superb supporter of both myself and the Clovers.

“He runs a very successful syndicate and told us to go out and buy a well-bred filly to run for the syndicate. Finding a Dubawi out of a stakes-placed mare, like we did, it was just great for everyone involved and then to get her to the big stage at Ascot and to win like she did, it was pretty emotional.”

Jackson-Stops added, “I have been lucky enough to have bought some nice horses, the likes of Shadn (Ire) (No Nay Never), who won a Group 2 for Andrew Balding, but to do it for a tight-knit team meant the world really. To do it for Tom Clover, who trained Rogue Millennium so well in bringing her back in trip, for Tony, game as ever in paying the supplementary fee, it was huge. “It's an angle that I like to pursue a lot, fillies in training. Tom Blain [Barton Stud managing director] and I bought a filly last year at the December Mares Sale called Wonderful Times (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) and we didn't pay a huge amount [85,000gns] for her. We managed to get a listed win out of her in France and she runs in a Group 3 in Vichy next week. There are various other fillies who we have done well with in the past and it is a good angle to explore.”

Soldanelle (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) is another. Sourced at Arqana last year for €65,000, she went on to secure black-type in Germany and is now a valuable broodmore prospect. But it's Rogue Millennium who is Jackson-Stops's shining light. She may not have been sourced at this exact sale but Jackson-Stops, a former assistant trainer to John O'Shea in Australia, explained how finding gems at the horses-in-training sales is something he has always tried to do.

He said, “I absolutely love selecting horses in training. Buying horses for Australia is a big part of my business and, having been an assistant trainer for a long time, form is something I am very strong on. Shiraz, Future Score, and Taramansour have all done very well in Australia. I pay a lot of attention to the form and it's a great part of the business for me.”

On his expectation for the week ahead, he added, “I think the market will be very strong. We saw fillies by Lope De Vega (Ire) and Muhaarar (GB) selling very well at Arqana last week and I think that sets the tone. The quality is here and I have already seen a lot of international clients here on Monday, including well-known faces from Australia, and one or two Americans. I have an order to find something for America this week, which I don't think will be too easy. We have a couple of fillies in mind but I suspect that they will make a lot of money.

“I think this will be a big week. It's great that the sale has moved to a four-day sale. The momentum behind the sale is huge and it's such a great place in the middle of the season for English, American, Middle Eastern and Australians to come over and buy horses at a peak time for everyone.”

It was the well-bred mares who played a star role at this sale 12 months ago. Leading the way at 540,000gns was Rihaam (Ire), a Dansili (GB) mare who was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock from Shadwell Stud, while Sea The Rose (Ire) (Kendargent (Fr) and Shining Bright (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) were not far behind at 500,000gns and 450,000gns respectively.

There are plenty of classy fillies with form and well-bred mares that could rock into six figures this week, too. Of the maiden mares with top-notch form on the track, Group 3-winning juvenile Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) may lead the way.

In achieving that Group 3 victory in the Weld Park S. at the Curragh last term, Basil Martini accounted for none other than Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who went on to chase home superstar Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac

before fetching 1 million gns here at the December Mares Sale.

Basil Martini, who forms part of a strong draft from The Castlebridge Consignment, reached a mark of 100 in seven starts for Joseph O'Brien.

Wootton Bassett (GB) is riding the crest of the wave after River Tiber's success in the G2 Coventry S. and Bucanero Fuerte (GB) landing the G2 Railway S., and the mares in foal to the Coolmore-based stallion will command plenty of interest.

On Tuesday, Frankel (GB) mare Pansy (Ire), one of just who are in foal to Wootton Bassett, boasts a classy pedigree being a full-sister to Hidden Dimples (Ire).

Pansy is out of a sister to Gregorian and is being consigned by Baroda Stud. David Cox's operation also offers White Jasmine (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a full-sister to G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S winner Khaadem, the only mare in the sale who is in foal to Baaeed (GB).

Meanwhile, the second mare in foal to Wootton Bassett, Sweet And Lovely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), will be offered by WH Bloodstock on Tuesday.

She is a full-sister to 2016 Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven, already the dam of a black-type horse in Boogie Woogie (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The four-day sale gets underway at 9.30am on Tuesday morning.

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Prix Rothschild Aim For Rogue Millennium After ‘Special’ Ascot Success

Tom Clover will keep Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to a mile after her Royal Ascot heroics in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. and is now targeting the G1 Prix Rothschild.

Rogue Millennium had done the majority of her racing over 10 furlongs prior to dropping back to the mile at Ascot last week and the move paid off in spades with the filly running out a gritty winner.

Clover has admitted that he is still pinching himself after his royal success and is looking forward to what the rest of the season might bring with the filly.

“It's nice when a plan comes together,” said Clover. “It was just the most incredible day–it was a really, really special day and it is only just sinking in now, I suppose. It has just been fantastic. You work your whole life towards it. It is fantastic, just superb.

“I would say she will go to the Prix Rothschild. It gives us a really nice timeframe. We didn't put her in the Falmouth. She didn't love the Rowley Mile last year and the meeting on the July course, it is quite tight between Ascot and Newmarket.

“I just feel you'd have every chance if you went straight to Deauville instead, so that's what she will be training for.”

He added, “It's lovely to see her getting quicker and she's sharpening up all the time and actually, not to go very quick and to still get up and win was great.”

Rogue Millennium has had four runs already this term and with her trip versatility now confirmed, Clover admits there are plenty of potential avenues she could follow.

“There are all these lovely options now, though how we run in France I suppose will dictate where we go to a certain extent,” he said.

“She went in her coat quite quickly last year and she comes to hand very early in the spring, so it is really hard to know where we will be later in the season.

“The dream, the absolute dream, would be to even think about taking on the boys in the QEII, but that's very far-fetched at the moment. Let's think about the Rothschild now and take it from there.”

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‘It Couldn’t Be Better’: Living the American Dream at Ascot

ASCOT, UK–There's plenty of red, white and blue draped about this most patriotic of race meetings, but the Union Jack had to give way for the Star-Spangled Banner during the early rounds of Royal Ascot's Wednesday fare. First Crimson Advocate blazed a trail in the G2 Queen Mary S., and even through she was all out at the line in an attempt to repel the fast-finishing Relief Rally (Ire), her nose was down where it mattered, providing the 27 owners who had travelled from America in support with a day they will never forget.

The daughter of Nyquist has been well travelled in her short career, racing in Kentucky, Florida and now England in the last two months. From a debut third at Keeneland, she landed the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies' S. at Gulfstream Park, a win-and-you're-in qualifier for the royal meeting.

Among the combined ownership group is Jake Ballis's Black Type Thoroughbreds, who bought into the George Weaver-trained Crimson Advocate after her first start.

The Lexington-based syndicator said, “George really liked the filly on debut at Keeneland and I have a lot of horses with him. She ran third and George called me up after the race and said 'We've got to put some people together to buy this filly. She's very, very fast'. The people who owned her originally buy to race and then sell.”

He continued, “George said he was going to put her on the turf at Gulfstream and then we're going to Royal Ascot. When we bought into her, that was the dream, but plans in this sport don't always work out. This one did, and we brought all our friends and families here; it couldn't be better. I've brought two people here who have never owned a horse before and they're my good luck charm–they're two for two.”

Of the tight finish, in which his filly held on by a nose, Ballis added, “From my vantage view I had zero idea who had won and I just said 'Please one time just give me the photo', and then my phone started ringing.”

The Kensington Palace S. which followed the Queen Mary may not have carried black type but it was no less celebrated for myriad reasons. The Crager family, who own the 25/1 winner Villanova Queen (Ire), have horses in their native America with Graham Motion, but the daughter of Mastercraftsman (Ire) was a special Royal Ascot winner for Jessica Harrington in the joyful week that she was given the all-clear following recent treatment for cancer. It was also a first win at the meeting for Ireland's champion jockey Colin Keane.

“We have a few in training with Mrs Harrington in Ireland and a few with Roger Varian in England. We also keep a few mares at Baroda Stud,” said New York-based William Crager, whose father Bill, the CEO of Envestnet, missed out on their first Royal Ascot victory but is due to join the celebrations in England later this week.

He continued, “We really love racing over here especially. We get treated so very well and this is just incredible. The Harringtons are incredible–they are so good at what they do. We felt hopeful about what the filly could come and do but I don't think we could have expected that. And Colin–what a ride! All in all, what an experience. We're very thankful.”

Joining the celebrations in the winner's circle was Ben McElroy, who is no stranger to success at Royal Ascot thanks to the dual winner Campanelle (Ire). The agent also bought Villanova Queen, for €60,000, at the Goffs Orby Sale and she has gone on to win twice in Ireland, as well as being Group 3-placed and finishing eighth in last year's Irish 1,000 Guineas. Bill Crager also tasted success at last year's July meeting at Newmarket with his first homebred Miss Carol Ann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) but this was the family's first runner at Royal Ascot.

“We've gone in right on top but we're in for the long ride,” William Crager said. “Dad and Paul Hondros are flying over later in the week and we'll all be celebrating.

“Ben bought this filly at Goffs; he's a phenomenal agent. [Eventually] She'll be back at Baroda and bred here [in Europe].”

There were plenty of first-time winners at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, one of those being Wathnan Racing, a name we will surely hear plenty more if their high-profile purchases continue apace. The G2 Queen's Vase winner Gregory (GB) was bought by Wathnan Racing, the leading owner in Qatar this season, after his victory in the Listed Cocked Hat S. for owner-breeder Philippa Cooper. Similarly, the group now owns Isaac Shelby (Ire), runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and fourth in the St James's Palace S., while on Thursday Wathnan Racing will be represented by Courage Mon Ami (GB) in the Gold Cup. If their colours look familiar it is because they are only a shade away from those made famous by Germany's Gestut Rottgen.

As Gregory was led in triumphant, Frankie Dettori aboard, the inevitable roar from the crowd turned to cries in some quarters of, “Jump, Frankie, jump.”

Jump he did. How could he not? As Dettori beamed from the rostrum he was joined by Thady Gosden as the latter's father John, co-trainer of two group winners on the day ,watched on from the sidelines. Two doors about to close, perhaps, as one is pushed open, strengthened by new foreign investors in British racing.

https://twitter.com/Ascot/status/1671560821867171840?s=20

The Royal Ascot 'firsts' continued with George Weaver being joined on the trainers' roll of honour by Tom Clover, who saddled Rogue Millennium (GB) to win the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. for The Rogues Gallery syndicate.

The story of the Dubawi (Ire) filly was widely reported last year when she ran in the Oaks as she was bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for 35,000gns as an unraced two-year-old from her breeder Shadwell during that operation's reduction of stock.

Any lingering regrets that the Shadwell team may have had about 'one who got away' will soon have been erased by the barnstorming victory of Mostahdaf (Ire) in the day's feature, the G1 Prince of Wales's S. His half-sister Nazeef (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is already a dual Group 1 winner for the operation and now Shadwell has another enticing stallion prospect in the form of Mostahdaf, who has appeared at the royal meeting in each of the last three years and is bred on the same Frankel-Dubawi cross as Adayar (Ire), whom he beat into third, half a length behind the runner-up Luxembourg (Ire).

Sheikh Hamdan was the leading owner during what would transpire to be his final Royal Ascot in 2020. It is easy to imagine that he would be delighted to see the foundations he laid being built upon by his daughter Sheikha Hissa with many of the same trusted lieutenants at her side for wise counsel.

Since Sheikh Hamdan's passing in March 2021, Shadwell has been represented by no fewer than six Group 1 winners in Baaeed (GB), Hukum (GB), Eshaada (GB), Minzaal (Ire), Anmaat (Ire), and now Mostahdaf: four homebred, and two bred by the remarkable team at Ringfort Stud. That those results have been provided by four different trainers spreads the enjoyment further still. Sometimes the red isn't needed: the white and blue has been doing just fine for Shadwell.

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