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Mandaloun Outslugs Midnight Bourbon in Louisiana

They engaged in as good a battle on the infield tote as they did on the track, but at the end of the 8 1/2 furlongs of Satuday's GIII Louisiana S. at the Fair Grounds, and in what looked to be a two-horse race proved exactly that, as 9-10 favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun outbattled an alibi-free 6-5 second choice Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) to make a victorious return to the races.

Midnight Bourbon, last seen finishing third as the favorite to Maxfield (Street Sense) in the GI Clark S. at Churchill in November, hit the ground running and had the superior early foot, as Mandaloun–whose last trip to the races resulted in a promoted victory in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. last July–was content to take a trail and skim the rail from third after the scratch of the GI Pegasus World Cup-bound Chess Chief (Into Mischief) left him with the inside stall.

The pace was moderate for horses of this quality–the quarter was in :24.39 and the half in :48.25–and Mandaloun edged into second as they raced into the final 3 1/2 furlongs. Poised to strike at the five-sixteenths, Mandaloun was floated a bit wide by Joel Rosario and Midnight Bourbon, but the Juddmonte homebred was in for the fight. He engaged the pacesetter in earnest at the eighth pole and methodically wore that one down to take it by a measured 3/4 of a length. It was a distance back to Warrant (Constitution) in third.

It was on this program a year ago that Midnight Bourbon defeated Mandaloun into third in the GIII Lecomte S. before reversing form with a 1 1/4-length conquest in the GII Risen Star S. An inexplicable sixth–with Midnight Bourbon second to Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) in the GII Louisiana Derby, Mandaloun ran an enormous race to miss by a half-length in the GI Kentucky Derby. Connections elected to give the rest of the Triple Crown a miss and Mandaloun narrowly won the June 13 Pegasus S. before being put up to the win in the Haskell in the incident which saw Midnight Bourbon nearly go down when interfered with by Hot Rod Charlie.

Winning trainer Brad Cox confirmed that a start in next month's G1 Saudi Cup over a one-turn mile and an eighth would be under serious consideration for Mandaloun.

Pedigree Notes:

Mandaloun is one of 46 graded winners for his leading stallion and is bred on the cross over Unbridled or Unbridled-line mares responsible for the likes of dual Eclipse Award and multiple Grade I winner Covfefe, other graded winners Private Mission, Largent, fellow 'Rising Star' Maximus Mischief and recent GIII Sugar Swirl S. winner Center Aisle and the ill-fated 'Rising Star' Taraz.

Mandaloun is one of two winners from as many to race from his dam, a winner at Group 2 and Group 3 level in Ireland for Dermot Weld and a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Caponata (Selkirk) and MGSP Raymonda (Lonhro {Aus}).

Mandaloun is one of 29 'Rising Stars' for the outstanding Into Mischief, a number that also includes New York stallion Honest Mischief, who–interestingly–is out of Empire Maker's GISW half-sister Honest Lady (Seattle Slew).

Brooch is the dam of Mandaloun's 2-year-old full-brother Mullion, a yearling colt by War Front and was most recently covered once again by Into Mischief.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
LOUISIANA S.-GIII, $145,500, Fair Grounds, 1-22, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:42.52, ft.
1–MANDALOUN, 118, c, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Brooch (MGSW-Ire, $217,059), by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Daring Diva (GB), by Dansili (GB)
3rd Dam: Aspiring Diva, by Distant View
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Brad H. Cox;
J-Florent Geroux. $90,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 9-6-1-1,
$1,741,252. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Midnight Bourbon, 118, c, 4, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $30,000.
3–Warrant, 124, c, 4, Constitution–Whisper Number, by
First Samurai. O-Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC;
B-Twin Creeks Farm (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $15,000.
Margins: 3/4, 8 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 0.90, 1.20, 7.00.
Also Ran: Spa City, Sprawl, Pirate's Punch. Scratched: Chess Chief. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Millionaires Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon Square Off In Louisiana

Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and Winchell Thoroughbreds' hard-knocking Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) face each other for the fifth time in their career, each using Saturday's GIII Louisiana S. at a possible steppingstone to the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh Feb. 26.

Mandaloun makes his first start since a late-season injury derailed any hopes of making the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. Winner of half of his six starts at three, the bay was upset by Midnight Bourbon in the GIII Lecomte S. on this program last year before turning the tables in the GII Risen Star S. the following month. A dull sixth behind Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) and Midnight Bourbon in the GII Louisiana Derby, the strapping bay ran Medina Spirit (Protonico) to a half-length at odds of 26-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby and may yet be declared that race's official winner. Having passed on the rest of the Triple Crown, Mandaloun was the narrow winner of the June 13 Pegasus S. at Monmouth and was the chief beneficiary when Midnight Bourbon was interfered with in the GI TVG.com Haskell S., crossing the line a nose behind Hot Rod Charlie before being put up.

“Listen, I'm not going to tell you that he's working better than ever because he's always a very, very good work horse to begin with,” said trainer Brad Cox. “I think anybody that watched him train up to the Kentucky Derby could believe the way he ran the way he was training. He's definitely working as well as he was leading up to the Derby, or the Haskell, so we're in a good spot with him. I think this is a race that makes a lot of sense as far as getting back racing and seeing how it goes.”

Midnight Bourbon failed to recover from a slow start in the Run for the Roses, but finished a creditable sixth ahead of a runner-up effort in the GI Preakness S. Nailed by Essential Quality (Tapit) in the final strides of the GI Runhappy Travers S. in August, the bay was second to Hot Rod Charlie in the GI Pennsylvania Derby after some more stretch shenanigans and closed the season with a third as the favorite behind Maxfield (Street Sense) in the GI Clark S. back in Louisville Nov. 26. Blinkers go on for the first time this weekend.

“As good as he's been, I think there is more there,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It doesn't look like he's finishing [his races] off. He's not exhausted when he comes back. I think we can get a little more out of him. There is the possibility that it makes him more aggressive and that he gets in too big of a hurry. The Louisiana S. is the perfect time to try it.”

Brad Cox also sends out the progressive Warrant (Constitution), last-start winner of the GIII Oklahoma Derby Sept. 26, while Chess Chief (Into Mischief) will be scratched in favor of a start in next weekend's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

The post Millionaires Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon Square Off In Louisiana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Alenquer To Begin Campaign In Winter Derby

Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), the winner of last year's G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot, will begin his 5-year-old campaign in the G3 Winter Derby at Lingfield on Feb. 26.

After his Royal Ascot triumph, the William Haggas-trained Alenquer finished third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and second in the G1 Juddmonte International. He wrapped up his campaign with a ninth-place finish in the heavy ground G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“He's a nice horse,” Haggas said. “He ran in the Arc, which he probably shouldn't have done, but he still ran a good race and he's a pretty useful horse. He won't run before the Winter Derby. He'll run in the Winter Derby and will hopefully go on to run in Dubai in the Sheema Classic.”

Haggas also entered My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Winter Derby, but said the race is a back-up for that pair, who are being prepared for the G1 Saudi Cup, with the Neom Turf Cup also an option for Grocer Jack.

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71 Group 1 Winners Nominated To 2022 Saudi Cup Meeting

The 2022 Saudi Cup meeting has attracted over 700 entries from 22 different countries, including a remarkable 71 international Group 1 winners, all vying to pick up some of the $35.1 million prize money across the two-day meeting on Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26.

Reigning Saudi Cup champion Mishriff has already achieved impressive career earnings of $15 million, a figure that currently leaves him ninth in the list of all-time highest earning Thoroughbreds. If he were to record a historic second successive triumph in the third running of The Saudi Cup (1 1/8 miles), which will be run as a Group 1 for the first time, he would become the highest earning racehorse of all time, eclipsing Australian wondermare Winx.

Japan, a country that won two races on last year's Saudi Cup card, is responsible for over 90 entries at the meeting and is set to be represented in The Saudi Cup by T O Keynes, most recently seen landing the Champions Cup, a qualifying race for The Saudi Cup. Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine is another who could take her place in the $20 million contest.

There is a strong US contingent with over 150 entries, including a number of high-profile contenders for The Saudi Cup. Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 2021 Saudi Cup fourth Knicks Go has been given an entry, along with Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile champion Life Is Good. Other possible runners from the US include Hot Rod Charlie, Mandaloun, and Midnight Bourbon.

South American superstar Aero Trem, currently in Dubai, has been entered, while there are some interesting European contenders, including Group 1 winners Sealiway, Skaletti, and Pyledriver.

Saudi Cup Undercard

The $2.5 million Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) has attracted entries from 15 different countries. Japan Cup runner up Authority (JPN) and Deep Bond (JPN) could represent Japan, while Sisfahan (FR), Sonnyboyliston (IRE), Princess Zoe (GER) and Nayef Road (IRE) make up a deep European contingent.

Hollie Doyle landed the 2100m Group 3 Neom Turf Cup ($1.5 million, up from $1 million in 2021) on True Self last year, and there are some strong global entries including Lord North (IRE), Pyledriver (GB), Grand Glory (GB), Square De Luynes (FR) and the evergreen Lord Glitters (FR) from Europe. Japan have Authority (JPN), Sanrei Pocket (JPN) and So Valiant (JPN) entered, while Colonel Liam (USA) could run for America.

The Japanese have a strong entry in the Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint ($1.5 million up from $1 million in 2021), where Grenadier Guards (JPN) is guaranteed a spot after winning the Hanshin Cup. He could meet Ho O Amazon (JPN) and Songline (JPN), with Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Lieutenant Dan (USA) an interesting US entry.

In the $1.5 million Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m), the US look to hold a strong hand with Group 1 winners Dr Schivel (USA) and Kimari (USA), as well as the promising Cezanne (USA). The nine-year-old Secret Ambition (GB) could line-up, while last year's winner Copano Kicking (USA) is entered to defend his crown for Japan.

A strong Latin American entry includes both Irwin (ARG) and Prelude Rye (ARG) in the 1600m G3 Saudi Derby ($1.5 million). Smile Happy (USA), Newgrange (USA), MacKinnon (USA) and Rockefeller (USA) are possible runners from the US, and in the $2 million G2 Obaiya Arabian Classic, last year's one-two, the locally-trained stablemates Mubasher Alkhalediah (KSA) and Mutwakel Alkhalediah (KSA) are set to take each other on again.

International Jockeys Challenge, Saudi International Handicap and Al Mneefah on Friday

The highlight on the opening day of the meeting (Friday 25 February) is the stc International Jockeys Challenge where seven female and seven male jockeys from around the world compete against each other. Last year's winner Shane Foley from Ireland is back to defend his crown and other jockeys confirmed at this stage are the UK's Hayley Turner and Glen Boss from Australia.

Friday sees the second running of the $500k Saudi International Handicap, a race designed for horses trained in IFHA Part II or Part III countries, with horses entered from ten countries: Bahrain, Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay.

A new addition to the Friday card is the Listed Al Mneefah Cup, an international race for Purebred Arabians over 2100m on turf with prize money of $1 million.

Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “We couldn't be happier with the entries for the 2022 Saudi Cup meeting. Not only do we have a huge number, over 300 more than last year, but the quality is exceptional with 71 individual Group 1 winners, including last year's Saudi Cup champion Mishriff.

“We are also absolutely delighted to see that more countries have made entries, with 22 in total compared with 19 in 2021. That goes to show how quickly the Saudi Cup meeting has had an impact globally and become a key target for owners and trainers.

“It was such a proud moment for everyone at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia when The Saudi Cup was promoted to a Group 1, as well as the supporting races achieving Group 3 status and the Obaiya Classic being upgraded from a Listed content to a Group 2. The support we have received from horsemen and women all over the world has been incredible and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Riyadh next month.”

Full entries list here

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