Shane Foley | Horse Racing Free Tips

Harrington Has Lively Derby Contender With Churchill Colt Sprewell

Jessica Harrington has never won the Derby but that could change this season judging by the performance Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) posted in winning a key trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Sent to post an 8-1 shot for the Group 3 Derby Trial S., Sprewell travelled into the race better than anything under Shane Foley, and quickened clear to win a cosy three lengths at the winning line.

It was a taking performance from the Churchill colt, owned by Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim, who was cut to 20-1 for Epsom.

Foley said, “He's a very, very good horse. He wouldn't excite you at home and I wasn't sure how he was going but Kate [Harrington, assistant and daughter to Jessica] told me he was fine, ready and not to worry.

“He gave me a proper feel, when I gave him a squeeze he came back underneath me. It was a proper-run race and a good one. He'll be a Derby horse, hopefully. He enjoys that soft ground. There's no reason why he shouldn't go on better ground but he handles it well.”

Favourite Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who had won the G1 Criterium International on his last start as a two-year-old, finished third.

Sprewell becomes the seventh Group winner for his sire and the first of such from five winners for the G1 E.P. Taylor S. heroine and G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback {GB}). He is also his dam's last known foal.

Lahaleeb is kin to the Listed Masaka S. victrix Precocious Star (Ire) (Bold Fact) while her full-sister Pink Flames (Ire) produced the Listed Copa de Oro Donostia victor and Spanish champion Flanders Flame (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Sprewell's third dam Dancing Debut (GB) (Polar Falcon) has the Listed John Musker S. winner Dancing Partner (GB) (Danzero {Aus}) to her credit. The next dam Exclusive Virtue (Shadeed) is a half-sister the G1 2,000 Guineas hero and sire Entrepreneur (GB) (Sadler's Wells) as well as to the G1 Coronation S. heroine and stakes producer Exclusive (GB) who shares Polar Falcon (Nureyev) as a sire with Dancing Debut and has the G1 Matron S. victrix Echelon (GB) (Danehill) heading her progeny list.

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
DERBY TRIAL S.-G3, €70,000, Leopardstown, 5-7, 3yo, 10fT, 2:15.57, sf/hy.
1–SPREWELL (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Lahaleeb (Ire) (GISW-Can, MGSW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $1,013,003), by Redback (GB)
2nd Dam: Flames (GB), by Blushing Flame
3rd Dam: Dancing Debut (GB), by Polar Falcon
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim; B-Khalid Abdul Rahaim (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €42,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $61,287. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Up And Under (Fr), 131, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Hibiscus (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (220,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 130,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT; €130,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-Go Racing Ltd; B-Floors Stud Roxburgh Estate Office (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien. €14,000.
3–Proud And Regal (Ire), 131, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Simply Perfect (GB), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €7,000.
Margins: 3, 2HF, 1HF. Odds: 8.00, 2.75, 1.50.
Also Ran: Londoner (Ire), Goldenstatewarrior (Ire), Tower Of London (Ire), Mr Lincoln (GB), Mohawk Chief.

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Sioux Nation’s Ocean Quest Impresses In The Committed

Last seen being inched out by Treasure Trove (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in The Curragh's G3 Round Tower S. in August, Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) returned with a vengeance at Navan on Saturday to stamp her authority on the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed S. Held together early by Shane Foley racing freely in third, the 10-1 shot brushed aside Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing two out en route to a categoric six-length dismissal of that G2 Futurity S.-winning TDN Rising Star, with the 4-5 favourite The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third.

“She is a very good filly and Jessie [Harrington] was contemplating stepping up to seven or a mile, but she has a lot of natural speed and was even keen there despite the fact that we were skipping along,” Foley said of the winner, the first part of a listed double for the in-form stable on the card. “She has thickened into a fine filly and is quite keen and forward-going at home and even going down today took me on for the first furlong–she has to have things her way.”

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington added, “She was going to the [G1] Cheveley Park last year and she pulled a muscle the week before, so we put her away for the rest of the season. We knew she was good last year–she won the first two-year-old race of the season and we bided our time with her and let her strengthen up. She'll go to the [G1] Commonwealth Cup, that's what mum said on the phone! Obviously, mum will have a chat with the owners and everything, but it looks like the likely aim at the moment.”

Ocean Quest, who was also third in the valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane S. at Naas at the start of August, is the second foal out of a daughter of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer and G3 Bahrain Trophy third Zain Al Boldan (GB) (Poliglote {GB}) who also produced the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen winner Poetic Dream (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}) and G3 Prix Francois Boutin scorer Who Knows (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Her 2-year-old filly Ocean Bliss (Ire) is by El Kabeir, while she also has a yearling filly by Raven's Pass.

IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF COMMITTED S.-Listed, €42,500, Navan, 4-22, 3yo, 5f 164yT, 1:18.31, hy.
1–OCEAN QUEST (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Gold Zain (GB), by Aqlaam (GB)
2nd Dam: Zain Al Boldan (GB), by Poliglote (GB)
3rd Dam: Carla (Fr), by Cardoun (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-J Kirkland & Mrs J M Ryan; B-Dr T K Chah (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €25,500. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 4-2-1-1, $78,565.
2–Aesop's Fables (Ire), 136, c, 3, No Nay Never–How's She Cuttin' (Ire), by Shinko Forest (Ire). O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €8,500.
3–The Antarctic (Ire), 134, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier,Tabor,Smith,Westerberg,Brant; B-Bally Philip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €4,250.
Margins: 6, 3/4, 14. Odds: 10.00, 3.50, 0.80.
Also Ran: Shartash (Ire), Cosmic Invasion (Ire).

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Ulysses’s White Birch In Ballysax Upset

Conspicuous by his colour if not his presence in the betting market, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's recent acquisition White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}–Diagnostic {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) overhauled the customary representation of the O'Briens and Bolger in Leopardstown's G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. to provide the John Joseph Murphy stable with a red-letter day. Anchored at the tail of the field early by Shane Foley, the almost-white grey who had opened his account by 6 1/2 lengths over seven furlongs sporting Murphy's own silks at Dundalk in November loomed large out wide as Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) made his move in early straight. Hampered as that 4-5 favourite lugged right approaching the furlong pole which also affected the Joseph O'Brien-trained Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) before they went clear, the 22-1 shot had that bit extra inside the dying strides to prevail by half a length. There was eventually four lengths between Up And Under and Alexandroupolis, who could fare no better than third as he failed to bring up a Ballydoyle trial treble.

“We were very excited coming in, as we always thought he was a very serious horse and his work had been super,” the winning trainer said. “He was very impressive in his maiden and he did what we hoped he could do today. There is a fair bit more to come, as he has a big engine and I couldn't thank the owner enough for keeping him with us. His first run was on heavy ground at Naas and he finished out strong, so I was confident he'd get through it and the good ones can do it on anything. With the pace he showed at Dundalk, we weren't 100 per-cent confident he'd get a mile and a quarter but I don't think we'd be too worried going anywhere with him now. He's very well-balanced and moves very well, so I wouldn't be worried about going to Epsom–we'll have a serious chat with the owner and make a plan.”

Pedigree Notes
White Birch, who provided his sire with back-to-back renewals of the Ballysax after Piz Badile (Ire), is Cheveley Park breeding through and through. He is the second of two foals out of Diagnostic, who proved a useful sort in the red, white and blue of the Thompsons when winning four times at six and seven furlongs campaigned by William Haggas almost exclusively on the all-weather. Her dam Holistic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a full-sister to the Listed Kilvington Fillies' S. winner and stakes producer Prescription (GB) and a half to four further black-type winners headed by Clinical (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who proved especially adept on Epsom's unique contours when winning the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. before producing the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) runner-up and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. third Lockheed (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

Further back, White Birch boasts as one of his relatives the renowned Secreto mare Rahaam, who was not only responsible for the top-class grey Verglas (Ire) but also the G2 King's Stand S. winner and all-round sprinting talent Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who in turn threw the illustrious performer and producer Halfway To Heaven (Ire) by Cheveley Park's flagship sire Pivotal (GB). Her Galileo (Ire) daughters Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire) need no introduction, with the latter the dam of Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who at present at least looks the biggest obstacle to White Birch should connections take the grey down the Derby route.

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
P.W. MCGRATH MEMORIAL BALLYSAX S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, 10fT, 2:19.95, hy.
1–WHITE BIRCH (GB), 131, c, 3, by Ulysses (Ire)
1st Dam: Diagnostic (GB), by Dutch Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Holistic (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Doctor's Glory, by Elmaamul
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (75,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 48,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Cheveley Park Stud Limited (GB); T-John Joseph Murphy; J-Shane Foley. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $42,029. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Up And Under (Fr), 131, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Hibiscus (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (220,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 130,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT; €130,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-Go Racing Limited; B-Floors Stud Roxburgh Estate Office (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Alexandroupolis (Ire), 131, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Jazz Cat (Ire), by Tamayuz (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. (240,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Mrs Fitri Hay (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: HF, 4, 1 3/4. Odds: 22.00, 7.50, 0.80.
Also Ran: Serious Challenge (Ire), Denmark (GB), Mohawk Chief. Scratched: Alder (Ire).

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‘Money Was Becoming Tight’ – Madden Happy With Australia Decision

Once viewed as one of the classiest riding prospects in Ireland, Tom 'Socks' Madden pointed to the harsh realities of competing in his home nation as the driving force behind him taking the plunge and bidding to emulate Declan Bates and Johnny Allen by turning to Australia in an effort to rejuvenate his career in the saddle.

Just over a month after he upped sticks to Australia, Madden rode his first winner for new boss Leslie Smith aboard Glitter 'N' Gold (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), after which he credited fellow Irishman Shane Jackson for advising him to make the switch.

Jackson made that same successful move a decade ago and left nothing to chance so that Tom, the son of trainer Niall 'Boots' Madden and brother to Grand National-winning pilot Niall 'Slippers' Madden, could hit the ground running down under.

The 25-year-old said, “I've been here just over a month so to mark it with my first winner in Australia was great. Things had dried up for me in Ireland so it made sense to give this a go and I am really enjoying it.”

Madden burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old back in 2013. He rode three winners in his debut season and confirmed himself one of the most promising apprentices in the country the following year by bagging 14 wins.

His best season came in 2019 when he rode 25 winners but it was in 2020 where he claimed his most memorable prizes given he partnered Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Zaffy's Pride (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and Barrington Court (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to listed race success for Jessica Harrington.

Madden remained with Harrington, where he rode as second choice to Shane Foley, until he decided to leave for Australia and pointed to the fact that the rides had largely dried up as the main reason behind the switch.

He explained, “Jessie wasn't running much towards the end of the season and, whatever she was running, Shane was riding so there weren't many rides to go around. Money was becoming tight because I wasn't getting many rides and all I was doing was riding out for people in the mornings.

“My brother Niall is good friends with Shane Jackson, who has made a good career for himself here in Australia, and he has been on to me for a good few years to come down and give it a go. I shelved those plans when Covid hit but I'd no excuse not to take the opportunity this year now that the restrictions have eased.”

Madden added, “Shane and his wife Lorna have been very good to me and had everything organised for when I arrived. Not only did they line up a job and somewhere for me to stay, but they also organised banking and a car for me, so I am very lucky.

“Even in the smaller races down here, there is great prize-money on offer. Obviously the city meetings are where you want to be riding at but the country tracks offer fantastic prize-money as well and it goes right down to eighth and ninth position so, every time you go racing, you're picking up a cheque.

“I was getting by without making a lot of money in Ireland. Prize-money at home is okay and the riding fees are fine but the riding fee is nearly double out here. It's just so competitive in Ireland. It was great when I had the claim as I could ride away in the apprentice races but, when you lose your claim, things become a lot harder and it's much tougher to compete. I just found that I was tipping away okay before Covid but never really got going after it.”

Madden is not the only Irishman to sample all that Australia has to offer. Ben Coen, Jamie Powell, Scott McCullagh and Mikey Sheehy are riding in Sydney this winter but Madden, whose agent is another Irish native Robbie Kingston, brother to trainer George Kingston, is open to an extended stay.

He said, “I have a flight back to Ireland booked for the end of January but, if things keep going the way they are going and I am still enjoying it, I could stay. I'll take things as they come and hopefully everything will work out.”

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