Tag: Saturday preview

Doncaster: St Leger Holding Out For A Hero

   It would be brave to call the winner of Saturday's G1 Betfred St Leger and at this stage difficult to even decide what will start favourite for a wide-open renewal of the Doncaster Classic. There is very little separating the obvious trio of Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), while even Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) could yet threaten for pole position in the market given his Royal status. Each one has yet to prove themselves at this level, with Continuous and Arrest well-beaten when contesting the European Classics this summer before staging their comebacks in their preps. Doncaster's unforgiving final Classic of the season will stretch the elastic and only one will truly stay the course.

Ballydoyle know what it takes to win this and the number one is Continuous, who comes from the race's premier trial, York's G2 Great Voltigeur S. While the race was set up perfectly for his hold-up style, there was much to like about the fluency with which he dealt with Gregory and co. and Ryan Moore was never going to ride anything else.

“People talk about the tactics that day, but just focus on the fact that he won the best trial for this Classic by nearly four lengths, with Gregory back in third, and he was very strong at the line,” he stated. “Of course, you never know they stay until you try and maybe quicker ground may have been ideal with stamina in mind, but he won on soft ground in France at two and he has very strong credentials.”

Gregory was carrying a three-pound penalty returning from a break in the Voltigeur, having won Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase, and probably set off too fast on the Knavesmire but that performance has obviously failed to keep Frankie interested. This is a big day for the soon-to-be-retired figurehead of the sport, so it is significant that he opts instead for Juddmonte's Arrest.

Siding with Arrest is a gamble, given he was beating probably a substandard field in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. at Newbury last month, but if it gets softer there is the memory of his heavy defeat of Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G3 Chester Vase on testing ground in May. Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon is aware of the gravitas surrounding Frankie's decision. “It would be special and it's a hot race, it's certainly hard to dismiss much in the race. They are all of a similar level and it's definitely quality over quantity,” he said.

“In fairness to the horse, his record is pretty solid and we made two bad calls with the horse running him on good-to-firm ground at Epsom and [Royal] Ascot. We know he likes an ease in the ground and if you forget those two runs, then his record is pretty outstanding. Over a mile and five and a half at Newbury he looked comfortable enough, so we just have to be hopeful he gets the extra furlong.”

Arrest's trainer John Gosden also has Gregory and Qatar Racing's Melrose H. winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion) and he started with Wathnan Racing's representative. “He's got a great mind and he is a pretty laid-back character,” he said. “I trained both the mother and father and he's inherited all the good traits of their mental attitude towards racing. We gave him all the time he required and he's done nothing but shine this year. I think he'll enjoy the distance, although we are perfectly aware it looks like being a vintage St Leger.”

Of Middle Earth, he added, “He's proven he stays the trip and the long straight here tests the tactical speed and the stamina, so he looks like he should be able to answer those two calls. If you'd won a handicap in the style he did at York, that was a tougher race than some of the trials. If you've got the right horse at the right time and he handles the ground, then he has every right to be there.”

The King & The Queen's G3 Gordon S.-winning TDN Rising Star Desert Hero would be the first winner in the Royal colours in this since Dunfermline in 1977, so it would be some landmark. Trainer William Haggas told QIPCO British Champions Series, “I think it would mean the world to everyone in our industry. We have been fortunate for so long to have such stoic Royal patronage, and anything that can enhance that will be good. He won on soft ground at Goodwood and on faster ground at Ascot, so I don't think the ground is a worry. Soft ground will put more emphasis on stamina, but if he relaxes he should stay.”

 

Rosallion Kicks Off Action In The Champagne

Doncaster's action starts with the G2 Betfred Champagne S., where Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's impressive Listed Pat Eddery S. winner Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) has command on all known form. His four-length defeat of Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks even better now that the runner-up has won the Listed Ascendant S. and we could be dealing with one of Britain's leading 2000 Guineas hopes. Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's G2 Vintage S. runner-up Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is the main threat, having finished ahead of Ballydoyle's Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) in that Goodwood contest, but anything other than a convincing win for the Richard Hannon trainee will be an anti-climax.

Hannon said of Rosallion, “We were delighted with his run at Ascot and he's come forward a good bit since then. Al Musmak won very well at Haydock and he looks a nice horse, so that was very pleasing. We've won it with Threat, Chindit and Estidhkaar. It's a nice race and it comes at a good time for the big races in the autumn and hopefully this is a nice race on the way to the Dewhurst.”

Charlie Hills said of Iberian, “He ran a good race at Goodwood, but second time out round that track from a bad draw, a combination of track, inexperience and ground caught him out that day. He was a bit on and off the bridle. I was really pleased with how he finished up the straight and I've always liked him. His work has been really good leading up to this race and I would say this racecourse is going to suit him better. He is a very straightforward horse to train at home and his temperament and everything about him is really good.”

 

 

Cachet Confirmed For Sceptre Return

Sunday's card at Doncaster has been boosted by the first sighting of last year's G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in the seven-furlong G3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' S. Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's star has been off since finishing fifth in the G1 Coronation S. last June and trainer George Boughey is happy to get her back on the track. “She's in as good a form as I could have her considering the lay-off she's had,” he said. “She's been away to Chelmsford and we worked her at Kempton on Thursday morning. She's worked in between on fast ground at home in Newmarket.”

Also on Sunday, Frankie Dettori continue his farewell tour as he takes to Bro Park to partner the defending G3 Stockholm Cup International winner Hard One To Please (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) in his defence of the feature contest.

The post Doncaster: St Leger Holding Out For A Hero appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Goodwood: All Boxes Ticked For Free Wind In The Lillie Langtry

Saturday's closing card of the Qatar Goodwood Festival sees the focus fall on one of Britain's most prestigious handicaps in the Stewards' Cup, with just the one pattern race being the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. George Strawbridge's Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who met with a reversal for the first time in two years when fifth in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot, lost nothing in defeat there when fifth from a compromising position on too-fast ground. The G2 Park Hill S., G2 Lancashire Oaks and G2 Middleton S. winner has to carry a penalty here, but appears to have more than three pounds in hand and also has her favoured easy surface.

Thady Gosden is happy with conditions for the 5-year-old. “She won the Middleton over a trip below her optimum on her first run of the year and then she found the ground a little too fast for her by the Saturday of Ascot,” he explained. “Obviously we've had rain at Goodwood this week and there's more forecast. She has course form and we're looking forward to running her.”

Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC's River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won over this 14-furlong trip in York's G3 Bronte Cup Fillies' S. in May before finishing second in ParisLongchamp's G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil last month and may offer the biggest threat to Free Wind, whose stable companion Sweet Memories (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is one of the more intriguing types in the line-up for Newmarket's Listed British EBF 40th Anniversary Chalice S.

 

No Little Big Bear In The Maurice de Gheest

There was a surprise twist on Friday to the declaration for Sunday's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, as TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) was ruled out of the 6 1/2-furlong feature 24 hours after his supplementary entry. “He just has a stone bruise so he doesn't run,”  Aidan O'Brien said. That left 10 sprinters set to line up for what looks a substandard edition on paper, with seven from Britain headed by King Power Racing's Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who has the remarkable record of having won every time he has raced outside of his native country.

The post Goodwood: All Boxes Ticked For Free Wind In The Lillie Langtry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday Preview: Rubber Match in the Alabama

There is plenty to play for in Saturday's 142nd running of the $600,000 GI Alabama S. at Saratoga, where Nest (Curlin) and Secret Oath (Arrogate) face one another for the third time head-to-head–each with one victory to their credit–with divisional supremacy awaiting the winner.

An 8 1/4-length tour-de-force tally in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. accorded Nest the role of favoritism in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, but she was no match for the somewhat forgotten Secret Oath, dropping a two-length decision. A meritorious second to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GI Belmont S., the $350,000 Keeneland September grad reversed the Oaks form with a 12 1/4-length thumping of Secret Oath in the GI CCA Oaks July 23, good for a 104 Beyer Speed Figure that is a half-dozen points stronger than anything her six rivals has earned and nine more than Secret Oath's top. A GI Runhappy Travers S. start was an option next weekend, but she sticks with a path of lesser resistance for the Alabama.

“Whenever you're running four weeks off a huge effort like that, you're always concerned about if you're running back too soon,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who won his third Alabama with 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) last year. “But, in her case, she's done so well since the race there's no reason not to.”

Wayne Lukas, who won the Alabama twice in the 1980s with Life's Magic in 1984 and with Oaks winner Open Mind five years later, looks to equal his former pupil. Secret Oath's second clash of the season with the boys in the GI Preakness S. resulted in a non-threatening fourth and she figures to strip fitter off the CCA Oaks, her first start in 63 days.

“She's really had a good month since that debacle in the [CCA Oaks],” Lukas said. “In fact, I feel like she's better now than any time I've had her. She's really flourished here at Saratoga. [Jockey] Luis [Saez] has worked her three times since that race so he's getting more familiar every day with her, too. So, that should help us as much as anything. We're anxious to run her.”

Gerrymander (Into Mischief) defeated next-out GIII Monmouth Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Shahama (Munnings) in the GII Mother Goose S. June 25, but will probably need to find a few lengths to trouble the heavy hitters.

 

 

 

Spendarella Vulnerable in Del Mar Oaks?

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) took her career record to three wins from as many starts with a convincing 1 3/4-length success in the GII Appalachian S. at Keeneland in April and, with trainer Graham Motion unafraid to tackle the deepest of deep waters, took that undefeated mark into the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17. The $220,000 Keeneland September purchase had the misfortune of running into her fellow flawless rival Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who scored by 4 3/4 lengths first off the layoff and has since defeated the boys in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

But Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks figures something other than a walk in the park for Spendarella, who faces a fresh challenge from Euro import Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The bay, previously trained by Philippe Decouz, was stakes-placed in France earlier this season on the synthetic and on the turf and was last seen posting a mild upset when proving 3/4 of a length too strong in the G2 German 1000 Guineas at Duesseldorf June 12. The bay most recently topped the Arqana Summer Mixed Sale on a bid of €1.2 million from the BBA Ireland on behalf of Yulong Investments. She makes her U.S. debut for the John Sadler barn and can be the fly in the favorite's ointment.

 

 

 

With The Moonlight Backs Up For Lake Placid

Godolphin's With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) makes her third start in the last six weeks as the expected favorite in the GII Lake Placid S. back at the Spa. After failing to see out the 12-furlong distance of the G1 Cazoo Oaks June 3, the homebred completed a Frankel exacta behind McKulick (GB) in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational July 9 but turned the tables on that foe last time in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational. The latter is missing this time around, but the Chad Brown barn is represented by a quartet–each lined up next to the other–including GIII Lake George S. one-two finishers Dolce Zel (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}, gate 5) and Eminent Victor (Mr. Z, post three); Consumer Spending (More Than Ready, post four), winner of the GII Wonder Again S. and third in the Belmont Oaks; and 'TDN Rising Star' Haughty (Empire Maker, gate six).

In non-graded stakes action Saturday, Grade I winner Rattle N Roll (Connect), who lost all chance at the start of the GIII Indiana Derby July 9, looks to return to winning ways in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at FanDuel Racing (results in Monday's TDN), while 2-year-old males and females prep for next month's GI Pattison Summer S. and GI Natalma S., respectively, in the Soaring Free S. and Catch a Glimpse S. at Woodbine.

The post Saturday Preview: Rubber Match in the Alabama appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trail Leads Back To The Curragh

The emphasis is on speed on Saturday, with a quartet of Europe's six pattern races being sprints and only one taking place beyond a mile. Glinting in the midst of them is the jewel that is the first of the Curragh's 2022 Classics, the €500,000 G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. With a distinct form edge, it seems on paper to be simply be a case of going through the motions for Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) with Godolphin's Guineas treble hanging tantalisingly within reach. However, this is a tough race to dominate on that basis alone as the experience of the likes of Too Darn Hot (Dubawi {Ire}) and Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) testify in recent times. On the sacred Kidare turf you can be king for a day but then you have to go and prove it time and again as the opposition ramps up in response. Where there is a son of Galileo (Ire) from Ballydoyle there is always danger, regardless of the deficit that Ivy League (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has to overcome, and that is not mentioning the power of Jim Bolger with his still-unexposed 'TDN Rising Star' Wexford Native (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the colt that blitzed him in the May 2 Listed Tetrarch S., Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

 

Backers Beware

Drawn in one, Native Trail appears to have a lot of boxes ticked but with his racing style it might be that he needs some luck in a tactical affair with no obvious pace provider. Unless William Buick sends him on from the outset and uses his advantage which is his huge stride, there is the chance that he could get pinned on the fence at a crucial stage. Is his form so superior that he can justifiably be long odds-on here? Joseph O'Brien has a line through the Appleby runner via Ultramarine (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a maiden still after nine starts who was beaten just six lengths by the favourite in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. here in September. There is a fair chance that Buckaroo is much better than that and the way he operated in the Tetrarch over this course and distance means that Native Trail might need to have improved from his 2000 Guineas effort and his juvenile form.

 

Royal Clues At Haydock

Haydock stage a crucial pair of Group 2 sprints, the six-furlong Cazoo Sandy Lane S. and Temple S. over five, with last year's G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) the star turn in the latter. King Power Racing's racing manager Alastair Donald said, “She's a very quick filly and it's almost about reining in the speed sometimes–a few times she's ran with the choke out a little bit. But I think in the slower ground it might just be able to keep her in a good rhythm early on, rather than going too quick. Tim [Easterby] is very pleased with her and says she's bigger and stronger now, so fingers crossed we can look forward to getting her back to her best.” At the Curragh, another top-level winner is in action in Gary Devlin's Prix de l'Abbaye and Al Quoz Sprint hero A Case of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}), who takes in the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S.

 

From The Horse's Mouth

   A fascinating Sandy Lane sees the improving El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) tackle some likely lads among the Commonwealth Cup hopefuls, none more so than the proven Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}). What makes El Caballo interesting is the fact that he is on a winning streak which shows no sign of arresting despite most of it coming on the all-weather. His defeat of Tiber Flow (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Newcastle's 3-Year-Old All-Weather Championships Conditions S. Apr. 15 was boosted by the subsequent Listed Carnarvon S. success of the runner-up and trainer Karl Burke is bullish. “I don't think we've got to the bottom of him yet,” he said. “It's a very strong race and it will be a very truly-run race as well, so we'll know how good he is after Saturday. He has a different action to [former Commonwealth Cup winner] Quiet Reflection and I'd say he probably has more scope than her too. She loved heavy ground, whereas I'm not so sure this fella would want it to be extremely slow–good, good-to-soft should be perfect for him.”

 

Tough Talk Poised For Marble Hill

Also at the Curragh, the 2-year-olds have their Royal Ascot credentials put to the test in the six-furlong G3 GAIN Marble Hill S., where Moyglare Stud Farm's Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) carries gravitas having beaten the subsequent winners Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on debut over this course and distance Apr. 10. Ryan Moore has opted for Ballydoyle's unbeaten colt Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) over the stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Deneuve (Ire) (No Nay Never), who could make a leap forward from her narrow winning debut over this trip at Naas Apr. 25. At Goodwood, the 12-furlong Listed William Hill Tapster S. sees the return of last year's G1 Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

 

Fourteen Set For Irish 1000 Guineas

Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh has attracted a final field for 14, with Godolphin's Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) the only withdrawal on Friday. Coolmore and Westerberg's May 1 G1 1000 Guineas third Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of four nominees from the Aidan O'Brien stable seeking a fourth-straight renewal and the lone contender representing Newmarket's Classic form. She has drawn stall three, with Ryan Moore set to ride her having chosen elsewhere in the Guineas. Ballydoyle also have strong claims with the May 8 G3 Cornelscourt S. winner History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will be partnered by Seamie Heffernan, and the Apr. 23 Listed Salsabil S. winner Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is ridden by Wayne Lordan with the Rosegreen trio drawn three, four and five respectively. Moyglare Stud's Apr. 2 G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will depart from stall 11, while the G1 Criterium International third Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who was knocked down to Lael Stable for €2 million at Arqana's December sale, is set to make her first start for trainer William Haggas from stall seven.

Click here for the group fields.

The post Trail Leads Back To The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights