Tag: Shane Foley

Harrington Has Irish Oaks Plan For Royal Ascot Winner Magical Lagoon

Jessica Harrington has Classic glory in her sights with Royal Ascot scorer Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is on course for a tilt at the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 16. 

A gritty winner of the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Ascot last month, Magical Lagoon will bid to make the step up to Group 1 company at the Curragh, with Harrington revealing that it's all systems go for the Irish Classic. 

“That is the plan,” the trainer said on Monday. “She's a very laid back filly and hopefully she will reproduce the Ascot run. It will be a tough contest, but hopefully she will run well.”

It is only four years since Harrington confirmed her arrival at the top of the flat table when securing a breakthrough Classic victory when Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) landed the Irish 1,000 Guineas. 

Magical Lagoon, who also won the G2 Flame Of Tara S. at the Curragh last season, has raced just five times, with that Royal Ascot victory representing her first start over a mile and a half. 

The post Harrington Has Irish Oaks Plan For Royal Ascot Winner Magical Lagoon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Galway Excited by Next Crop of Alpha Racing Runners After Cadillac Sale

Just over a week after selling the syndicate's flag-bearer Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega) for a cool £500,000 at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot, Alpha Racing are concentrated on sending out the stars of the future at the Curragh on Derby weekend, headed by G2 Airlie Stud S. contender It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

A winner of a Dundalk maiden on debut back in April, the Jessica Harrington-trained It's Showtime Baby achieved black type when running third in a Group 3 at Naas last month. 

Connections opted to sidestep the royal meeting in preference for the Curragh this weekend and Richie Galway, who set up the commercially-driven Alpha Racing Syndicate with Harrington, is optimistic about the next batch of 2-year-old coming through.

He said, “We have It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to look forward to in the G2 Airlie Stud S. at the Curragh on Sunday. We decided against going to Royal Ascot with her because we thought this race would suit. She has won her maiden and has black type. She looks progressive. 

“We have two nice colts running at the Curragh as well. We bought them at the breeze-ups. National Emblem (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) looks to be a lovely horse and he runs on Friday. The First And Last (Ire) (No Nay Never) runs on Sunday so it's a very exciting weekend for the group.”

Galway added, “We try to make Flat racing accessible and give people an opportunity to spread their risk. The syndicate is somewhat commercial. We have fun but we also trade and have been very conscious about that in the four years we've been up and running.

“Everything we run is for sale at a price. When we go to the yearlings sales, we have a limit and we try to limit the syndicate to 20 people at around €50,000 apiece. We all take a share ourselves; myself, Jessica [Harrington] and Patrick [Cooper] so we are all invested in it.”

Cadillac was the last of the yearlings bought in 2019 on behalf of the syndicate. His sale ensured that the owners recorded an overall profit and, according to Galway, the current crop of 3-year-olds in training with Harrington are on course to ensure it will be another lucrative investment for the 20 or so people who make up the syndicate.

He said, “Cadillac's sale was the highlight. He has been a flagship horse for the syndicate and has brought us all over the world. He ran brilliantly at the Breeders' Cup, got us to Bahrain and won at Leopardstown a few times as well. We were sorry to see him go but the objective of the syndicate is to trade.”

Galway added, “In this year's 3-year-olds, we have Nectaris (GB), who ran well in a Listed race at Longchamp, and she's a lovely filly by Sea The Moon (Ger).

“We also have Viareggio (Ire) (Caravaggio) and she has been third now in two Listed races and Cowboy Justice (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who is another solid horse. We also had an unraced Zoffany (Ire) colt in that year. I'd be disappointed if that syndicate doesn't make a profit on their initial investment as well.”

Excitement levels are on the rise among the syndicate members as Harrington lifts the wraps on the next batch of runners this weekend and Galway is cautiously optimistic about the future, outlining an ability to sell horses all over the world after they show a level of ability in Ireland.

He said, “It's an exciting weekend. But it's been an exciting couple of weeks with the sale of Cadillac and the two runners–Nectaris and Viareggio-at Longchamp. 

“The benefit of having a small stake in all of these horses is that you get consistent and regular action. There are people involved from all over the world–Asia, America, Britain and Ireland.”

He added, “Last year for example, we bought a horse called Pioneering Spirit (American Pharoah) at the breeze-ups. We paid 100,000gns for him and ran him four weeks later in a Curragh maiden.

“He finished fourth and we got him sold straight after that. The syndicate owned the horse for six weeks and got a nice return on the purchase price in that short space of time. Irish racing is held in high regard all over the world. If you can win or be placed in a maiden here you have a pretty good commodity on your hands.”

The post Galway Excited by Next Crop of Alpha Racing Runners After Cadillac Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Galileo’s Magical Lagoon Fights For Ribblesdale Glory

Adding to the remarkable diversity of the Platinum Jubilee Royal Ascot, Jessie Harrington became the 16th trainer to celebrate success from 17 races run by the time Yuesheng Zhang's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had prevailed in Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S. Freshened for this following her second in Navan's Listed Salsabil S. over a mile and a quarter Apr. 23, the 11-4 second favourite tracked the pace in a distant third early and worked her way to the lead two out before Sea Silk Road (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) emerged on her left. That 15-8 market-leader gained a slight advantage soon after, but as she veered away from Tom Marquand's whip Magical Lagoon reached into her reserves for Shane Foley and ultimately outstayed her chief rival in the last 50 yards. At the line, there was half a length between the race's two most progressive fillies, with 2 3/4 lengths back to History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third.

It was a first Royal winner for Foley, who said, “This filly responds really well for pressure. The day she won at the Curragh, she was the same. She really fights for you and digs deep. The pace was on and she wasn't travelling as nicely as I thought, but I was happy enough because this filly does not do a lot when she gets there. She stays very well and only goes through the motions.”

Sent off as favourite when introduced over a mile at Naas in August, Magical Lagoon was only fourth there but Harrington opted to pitch the bay into The Curragh's G3 Flame of Tara S. later that month and she duly obliged before finishing seventh behind Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October. Posting a respectable comeback effort in a decent renewal of the Salsabil, she had been kept back for this meeting and rewarded all that patience with a gritty performance to deny the Haggas filly at the venue at which her illustrious half-brother Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) dominated the 2013 King George.

“I always knew that if she got into a battle, she'd be really tough,” Harrington said. “She's a beautiful, powerful filly and she loves that quick ground. She's very easy to train–she has a lovely temperament and is very relaxed about life. The plan was to come here and then go to the Irish Oaks. She's a proper mile and a half filly.”

Haggas said of the runner-up, “She came to win and the other horse outstayed her, that was my take on the race. We thought she'd prefer the ground and she did. It didn't quite look like she is a real true stayer to me, but maybe the other horse is. The Yorkshire Oaks is quite a tough thing, so I don't think that will be on the agenda, maybe the Lyric Stakes at the track. The [G2] Prix de Malleret on July 14 might be possible.”

Magical Lagoon is the last known foal out of the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), whose claim to fame came in the producing of the aforementioned Novellist who also took the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club as well as this track's midsummer jewel. Her other black-type performers include the G3 Preis der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe runner-up Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), while she is kin to the G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Night Tango (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}). This is also the family of the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Novelle (Ger) (Northfields).

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £200,000, Ascot, 6-16, 3yo, f, 11f 211yT, 2:31.36, g/f.
1–MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Night Lagoon (Ger) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ger, Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ger & GSW-Ger), by Lagunas (GB)
2nd Dam: Nenuphar (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Narola (Ger), by Nebos (Ger)
(305,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Yuesheng Zhang; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. £113,420. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 5-2-1-0, $193,580. *1/2 to Novellist (IRE) (Monsun (GER)), Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, Fr, Ger & Ity, $1,873,588; Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSP-Ger; Ninfea (Ger) (Selkirk), SP-Ger; and Nerud (Bernardini), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sea Silk Road (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Oriental Magic (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (190,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas. £43,000.
3–History (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Prize Exhibit (GB), by Showcasing (GB). (2,800,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,520.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.75, 1.88, 6.50.
Also Ran: Mukaddamah (GB), Life of Dreams (GB), Mystic Wells. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

The post Galileo’s Magical Lagoon Fights For Ribblesdale Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

It’s Australia Day in Saudi Arabia

One of the greatest riders in the history of the Australian turf, Glen Boss, officially brought the curtain down on his illustrious career with a final victory aboard Raeed (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the second of four legs of Friday's stc International Jockey Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. But the veteran reinsman was outdone by his South Australia-based compatriot Caitlin Jones, with the pair finishing first and third. For her efforts, Jones earned first-place prizemoney of US$100,000.

Jones, who calls Morphettville in Adelaide home, has been riding in Dubai this winter, most notably as the partner of the Will Clarken-trained He's A Balter (Aus) (Spirit of Boom {Aus}), a latest fourth in the G2 Blue Point Sprint. Jones was making her first visit to Saudi Arabia to participate in Friday's event, which pitted seven male riders against their female counterparts. In addition to a victory in the third leg of the challenge (see below), she was runner-up in the opening leg and finished on 25 points, three clear of Joel Rosario, who capped a double on the afternoon with success in the final leg.

 

Caitlin Jones wins leg three aboard #5 Koheylan Alkheil

 

“To win a series like this, doing it on the world stage, there is nothing more rewarding,” said Jones. “My filly in the last race ran well enough to get points, but we got a winner earlier in the night and had a second straight off the bat, so it has been a really awesome experience for me.

She continued: “It is sensational for Australia that myself and 'Bossy' have won races here tonight. I had some really nice horses to help and I have to thank those connections, and the racecourse has been presented perfectly. My opportunity came from being over in Dubai and I was actually invited as a reserve– there was another girl in front of me but she couldn't make it. I found out last Friday I'd got an email to say that I was coming.

“I have a lot of people to thank, especially trainer Will Clarken who brought me to Dubai to ride his horses, and without that I would not be here tonight. To be rewarded with this is overwhelming.”

Rosario, who rides Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup, was thrilled with his result.

“It means a lot to finish second in this Jockey Challenge,” the Dominican said. “It already meant a lot to be part of it and I want to thank everyone for having me. It is special for me to be here in Saudi. I'm very blessed. It was very nice to win a race in the Challenge, so that was very good. It's unique to be here, to ride against the best in the world.”

Boss originally announced his retirement from the saddle in November 2021 following a 37-year career that included three wins in the G1 Melbourne Cup and an additional four in the G1 Cox Plate.

“I don't feel sad that it is over,” Boss said, reflecting on his retirement. “I was happy to come and do this and if I'd won, it would have been fantastic but it wasn't about winning really. I got a few tingles today, so that was good.”

In three years of the stc International Jockey Challenge, it has twice been won by female jockeys, with Sybille Vogt of Switzerland landing the inaugural series and Ireland's Shane Foley taking the title last year. Foley won the first leg of the 2022 Challenge, commenting: “I was lucky here last year, and obviously we picked up where we left off.”

 

 

The post It’s Australia Day in Saudi Arabia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights