Tag: Sea the Stars (Ire)

Big Baaeed Looms In Lockinge

Saturday sees the resumption of the attempt by opponents of Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to find a weak spot in Shadwell's rampant miling champion as he is relaunched in Newbury's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. The last unbeaten colt to come to this older brigade's traditional season's starting point was the great Frankel (GB) in 2012 and, while comparisons with him are fanciful at the moment, the G1 Prix du Moulin and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner is as good as it gets in his category at present. Still unraced as his owner-breeder passed last March, probably the best horse that has passed through William Haggas's hands undoubtedly has more to give and it is encouraging how his full-brother Hukum (Ire) has held his form from three to four and now to five.

“Obviously I didn't think he'd go from being a maiden winner to champion miler within four months, but it was a strange one because everyone knows we are not in a rush most of the time,” Haggas said. “The burning question is what is left to come this season as he's quite deceptive. He's laid-back, not lazy, he's just nice. I don't know how much more there is to come.”

 

A Free Hit

It seems like a long while since we saw the best of Jeff Smith's G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) and all the pressure is off here with limited expectations on the talented but tricky 4-year-old. Only eighth behind Baaeed in the QEII, her previous best is not far off the Haggas star's standard if only she can retrieve it at this track at which she is unbeaten–albeit at much lower levels. With Oisin Murphy sidelined, it is a case of getting to know you for Rob Hornby and that may have been in play as she managed just a third placing in the Apr. 22 G2 Sandown Mile. Drawn towards the outside again, as she seems to have been throughout her career, her rider faces a tactical quandary but at least she is berthed next to the favourite.

“Obviously Baaeed is the standout in the race and I've got quite a nice draw next to him,” Hornby said. “We'll keep it uncomplicated, just get her relaxed in the first couple of furlongs and then ride our race from there. We thought that for her first run of the year we'd make sure we did it the right way round, she might have looked a little bit keen on television but she doesn't ride as bad as she looks.”

 

Back In The Real World

If there is an enigma in the line-up, it is Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who flew the flag for Saeed bin Suroor in 2021 before being asked what were probably two unfair questions back on dirt this year. His form is obviously short of Baaeed's peak, but he has yet to suffer a reversal on turf, beat the high-class The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on that rival's preferred testing ground in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp in October and may have a fitness edge after hard runs on Meydan's dirt. Danny Tudhope rode him when taking the Jan. 28 G2 Zabeel Mile and said, “As soon as I got on him in Dubai, he just had a lovely presence about him. He's an absolute monster of a horse and a proper sort. He's a different horse on grass and the Meydan win was his fifth in a row.”

 

Double Trouble

Shadwell's British Champions Day double with Baaeed and Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) could be repeated at Newbury, with the Roger Varian-trained G1 Fillies & Mares S. winner returning in the G3 Al Rayyan S., registered as the Aston Park S. She meets Julian Richmond-Watson's G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) there, while on the same card Imad Alsagar's 'TDN Rising Star' Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) bids to jump into the Oaks picture in the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. which saw the launch of Eshaada 12 months ago. Royal Ascot also sharpens in focus in the fixture's Listed BetVictor Carnarvon S. for Commonwealth Cup hopefuls, and at Navan with potential G2 Queen's Vase protagonists taking part in the 13-furlong Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats S. Ballydoyle's course-and-distance maiden winner Arbutus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be a warm order and he looks one for the St Leger trail.

 

The ParisLongchamp Draw Story

Friday saw the final fields drawn for Sunday's €600,000 G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and €500,000 G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp, with Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in stall 10 as she face 14 rivals in her bid to become the first filly since Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) to complete the rare double in 2010. George Boughey's 'TDN Rising Star' would be the fifth overall to add the Pouliches to her Newmarket laurels with the others being Imprudence (1947), Miesque (1987) and Ravinella (1988). The draw has been kinder to England's leading Poulains hope, with Godolphin's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in four as he bids to provide Charlie Appleby with another breakthrough Guineas victory. In contrast, compatriot Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) will have to work a minor miracle from the widest stall in 16, with Mary Slack's G3 Craven S. runner-up done no favours along with Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's G2 Champagne S. scorer Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in 14.

 

Cachet Primed

Harry Herbert explained that the decision to send Cachet straight back into action was left to her trainer. “Cachet is very tough, but that isn't really a surprise as we saw last season when she ran a lot. George [Boughey] made the decision to send her to the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and we didn't interfere when it came to this decision. She has maintained her appetite and her attitude has been excellent ever since. All the signals regarding her well-being are positive ones, she looks in great shape, the weather in Paris is good and the conditions on Sunday should be to her advantage, as should the course.”

 

Ros-y In The Garden

Stéphane Wattel had spoken of his the desire for a low draw in the Pouliches for Haras de la Perelle's G3 Prix des Reservoirs and G3 Prix de la Grotte winner Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and he got what he hoped for with the inside berth. “There have been no hitches with her preparation since she won the Prix de la Grotte–has she improved since then? I can't say, because in the mornings we do our best not to blunt her speed,” commented the Deauville-based trainer who also has Frankie Dettori booked for Teruya Yoshida's G3 Prix Francois Boutin winner Who Knows (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) out wide in stall 12. “Who Knows is in tip-top shape for Sunday. Good ground is de rigeur for her, which should be the case at ParisLongchamp on Sunday. She has a lot of speed, although there is a slight doubt concerning her ability to see out the 1600 metres.”

 

Ready To Rock

Wedged among the bluebloods in the Poulains is Team Calas' €16,000 Arqana October bargain Rock Boy (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) who will have no excuses where post position is concerned, with the unbeaten G3 Prix Djebel winner in five under Stephane Pasquier. Richard Chotard, who trains at Calas-Cabriès in the Bouches du Rhone region, is keen to see if the fairytale can play out. “He has a devastating turn of foot which is his great strength,” he said. “He has always run on very soft or heavy ground, but there's no reason why he can't be just as effective on a faster surface. The colt is in perfect shape.”

Click here for the group fields.

The post Big Baaeed Looms In Lockinge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Stradivarius Still A Force To Be Reckoned With

Twenty career wins, 18 in group company. Those that wrote off Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had to think again on Friday as Bjorn Nielsen's legendary chestnut popped up to keep his unbeaten tag on York's Knavesmire intact with a third G2 Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup. Travelling with all the gusto of his earlier days, the 6-4 favourite who was largely dogged by unsuitable ground and a dash of bad luck in 2021 sliced between younger rivals heading to two out with the crowd in raptures. Taking the measure of long-time leader Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) soon after, he ended up towards the stands which he has come to own down the years and was clearly idling en route to a snug length success. In doing so, he surpassed the record of group wins in Europe previously held jointly with Cirrus Des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}).

“My mouth is a bit dry–I'm emotional,” Frankie said as he prepared to parade the 8-year-old in front of the doting audience on his Yorkshire farewell. “Great. He actually surprised me, as he took me into the race very quickly. He pulls himself up in front, but I had no choice. The Gosdens are master trainers and changed his work and routine to keep him interested, worked him from the front and the back, taken him to different places, just to get him motivated as he's been going on those gallops for six years. I thought we had him fit, but until you try you don't know because he looks after himself. He looked the same as he usually does, travelled with zest and showed a good turn of foot and then he pulls up in front, but we know he does that. I will miss him dearly when he's retired–I'm trying to hold back the tears.”

John Gosden added, “He's totally unique. He was on his hind legs when we were saddling him, every time he saw a filly he started showing off but he came over here and he was a professional as ever. If the ground is not heavy, the plan is to go back to Ascot. It's like Desert Orchid, these horses do capture the imagination because they have longevity. To be the leading group-winning horse of all time in Europe, that takes some doing. Let's hope we can get to Ascot and the ground's not too deep, I think if he had this ground he'd take a lot of beating.”

Listing all of Stradivarius's achievements is unnecessary, but the staggering total of pattern races includes 17 at either this or group 1 level with the only group 3 coming in last year's Sagaro S. when connections changed tack. Whether that decision contributed to his subsequent reversal looking for a fourth Ascot Gold Cup will never be known, but his stable were keen to go back to basics for his preparatory run this time. With better luck in running last June, he possibly would have been second behind the now-absent Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and it could be that given his preferred lively surface that is enough in 2022.

His owner-breeder remembers the staying greats all the way back to the likes of Sagaro, Ardross and Le Moss, but was not being drawn on comparisons with his star of the present. “You can never really compare different eras–he might have won a lot more races than them, but they were great and I loved watching those horses when I was young,” he said. “I think what we've done well with him is to keep him running in England and France rather than taking him to the Middle East or Australia. The wheels can come off when you do that and that is why he has endured so long.”

“Everyone wants to stand fast horses now and people get afraid of getting beaten so that they lose value, so the pressure is on to retire but I've obviously never been under as much pressure to retire him. He's probably worth as much in prizemoney than at stud. We're focusing on nothing more than the Gold Cup, especially as he's an eight-year-old,” Nielsen added. “The day will come when he's off the bridle and doesn't do it, so it's one race at a time.”

Stradivarius descends from the richly-talented Wildenstein distaffer Pawneese (Ire), deservedly crowned Horse of the Year in England in 1976 when she was also the champion 3-year-old filly in her native France. Her wins in the G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. remain the stuff of legend, while her family also includes a chestnut like this winner who also wowed onlookers. Nureyev's Peintre Celebre was the brilliant winner of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1997, having already annexed the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Stradivarius was the last foal out of Private Life (Fr) (Bering {GB}), who acted as a vessel for no small measure of this dynasty's magic.

Friday, York, Britain
PADDY POWER YORKSHIRE CUP-G2, £175,000, York, 5-13, 4yo/up, 13f 188yT, 2:58.33, gd.
1–STRADIVARIUS (IRE), 132, h, 8, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     1st Dam: Private Life (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Bering (GB)
     2nd Dam: Poughkeepsie (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
     3rd Dam: Pawneese (Ire), by Carvin II
(330,000gns RNA Ylg '15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. £99,243. Lifetime Record: 3x Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 14f+, 3x Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 14f+, MG1SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, 33-20-4-4, $4,267,854. *1/2 to Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9 1/2-11f, MGSW-Ger, $121,198; 1/2 to Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), GSP-UAE, $167,081. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thunderous (Ire), 129, g, 5, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Souviens Toi (GB), by Dalakhani (Ire).
(70,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – George Stubbs; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Charlie & Mark Johnston. £37,625.
3–Tashkhan (Ire), 129, g, 4, Born To Sea (Ire)–Tarziyna (Ire), by Raven's Pass.
(€11,000 2yo '20 GOFAUT). O-Mr P Boyle; B-His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Brian Ellison. £18,830.
Margins: 1, 2, NO. Odds: 1.50, 8.50, 8.50.
Also Ran: Search For a Song (Ire), Max Vega (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

The post Stradivarius Still A Force To Be Reckoned With appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Emily Upjohn Trounces Musidora Rivals

John and Thady Gosden's team has yet to reach the giddy heights of Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien this term, but TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}–Hidden Brief {GB} {SP-Fr}, by Barathea {Ire}) provided the Clarehaven stable with hopes of Classic glory after another impressive display in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. The 60,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling had opened up with a narrow victory in her Nov. 23 unveiling at Wolverhampton before earning this publication's seal of approval with a 9 1/2-length demolition in a 10-furlong Sandown novices' heat on seasonal return last month. Sent off as the odds-on favourite for this black-type debut, she was a shade keen through the early strides until finding a smooth rhythm in second as Team Valor and Steven Rocco's Luna Dorada (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) led the way at a solid clip. Looming large in the straight, the 4-7 pick was in control passing the quarter-mile marker and powered clear thereafter to easily account for Godolphin's running-on Life of Dreams (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 5 1/2 lengths. Kirsten Rausing's David Simcock trainee Ching Shih (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a daughter of 2014 heroine Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko), was next best and two lengths further adrift in third.

“She was keen early on, but she's in control and you want her like that,” explained Frankie Dettori after claiming an outright record of six winners in the contest. “The ground is a lot deeper than you guys think and everybody was struggling from four furlongs out. I kept her together and, from two-and-a-half to the winning post, I didn't see another horse. She won in good style by 5 1/2 lengths and what more do you want? We never had any worries about staying a mile-and-a-half. She's getting there, Enable won at Chester and at this stage she was probably on the same par. With every race this filly is improving, we've liked her since day one and I'm delighted. We can sleep nicely tonight.”

https://twitter.com/theTDN/status/1524401489220976640?s=20&t=1_WZCvj9tevQzQL8FRVqhw

John Gosden, moving up to within two of Sir Henry Cecil's race-record nine editions, added, “It's interesting that Frankie said the ground was quite tiring after the little bit of rain they've had on it. A few of them were struggling four or five out. Frankie waited to go and she's picked up well and looked like a mile-and-a-half would be right up her alley. She couldn't have done it any better really. She was saddled in the stables at Sandown and saddled in the stables at Wolverhampton, so it's the first time she's been saddled in front of a crowd today. She got a bit edgy, but I think she settled after a furlong and found a lovely rhythm, which is what it's all about. She's very well balanced, but there's no reason we won't get some sausage and bacon on the [May 23] breakfast morning at Epsom. We can have a canter round the track there to see how she handles it. She's a lovely filly, and well-balanced with a good stride, and she's learnt a lot today. We've been lucky to win the Oaks three times and she very much deserves to be in that league.”

Reflecting on the performance of Life of Dreams, Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said, “We were pleased, that was only her second run and I think she's run into a very nice horse. We'll see how she is and hope things go to plan. The Oaks might still be a possibility, but I haven't spoken to Charlie yet. She'd either run there or the [G2] Ribblesdale [at Royal Ascot]. Charlie will speak to His Highness [Sheikh Mohammed] and we'll see how we go.”

Ching Shih's trainer David Simcock is disinclined to go for a rematch with the winner in next month's G1 Cazoo Oaks. “Obviously the winner is pretty smart and it doesn't take a genius to work that out,” he commented. “I said, before the race, they were just five novice winners and they were all in the same boat. The winner looks exceptional, but our filly has acquitted herself well. She was the only one out of the first four not to have had a run [this year] and she'll come forward for it. I think, when she gets her mother's [preferred soft] ground, she'll improve for it as it will actually make her quicker, if that doesn't sound stupid. I don't know where she will go, but it won't be Epsom, unless the winner scares everything off.”

Emily Upjohn, half to a yearling filly by Capella Sansevero (GB), is the sixth of seven foals and one of three scorers out of Listed Prix Petite Etoile third Hidden Brief (GB) (Barathea {Ire}). Her dam is a full-sister to GSW G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks placegetter Hazarista (Ire) and a half to the stakes-winning dam of G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Descendants of the March-foaled bay's second dam Hazaradjat (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) include G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares victrix Seal of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), whose 3-year-old daughter Royal Scandal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made a successful debut at Newcastle on Tuesday, and last term's G1 Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS MUSIDORA S.-G3, £125,000, York, 5-11, 3yo, f, 10f 56yT, 2:10.86, gd.
1–EMILY UPJOHN (GB), 128, f, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Hidden Brief (GB) (SP-Fr), by Barathea (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hazaradjat (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Hazy Idea, by Hethersett (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (60,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Tactful Finance & S Roden; B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $100,110. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Life of Dreams (GB), 128, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Endless Time (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £26,875.
3–Ching Shih (Ire), 128, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Madame Chiang (GB), by Archipenko. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Kirsten Rausing (IRE); T-David Simcock. £13,450.
Margins: 5HF, 2, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.57, 2.75, 28.00.
Also Ran: The Algarve, Luna Dorada (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Emily Upjohn Trounces Musidora Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Reach For The Moon To Miss Derby

John and Thady Gosden have been dealt a hammer blow over the fact that the Queen's Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will miss the G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom June 4.

Winner of the Solario S. as a 2-year-old, Reach For The Moon (GB) had been a general 7-1 chance for Derby glory, and the news of his absence at Epsom comes just a week after the Gosden team were forced to rule Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) out of the G1 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The post Reach For The Moon To Miss Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights