Tag: Shared News Europe

Gran Alegria Back To Mile For Swansong

A carefully managed career comes to a close Sunday afternoon for three-times champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who faces a crack group of Japanese milers in defence of her title in the G1 Mile Championship S. at Hanshin Racecourse.

The daughter of the late multiple Grade I and Breeders' Cup winner Tapitsfly (Tapit) has finished outside the top three just twice in her 14 starts to date, including a fourth in the G1 Osaka Hai in April, contested in unsuitably wet ground and over a 2000-metre trip that likely stretches her. Bouncing back with authority to best fellow females by four lengths in the G1 Victoria Mile the following month, the 5-year-old missed by a head at odds-on when looking for a second straight G1 Yasuda Kinen June 6 and exits a strong third to the world-class Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) and Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) when first up in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over a mile and a quarter Oct. 31.

“With her speed, I thought she'd be able to do well over 2000 metres, but turning into the stretch in the Tenno Sho, she had to be urged on sooner than usual,” said trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, a five-time winner of the race who–like Gran Alegria–is nearing retirement. “It was a familiar course for her, but I think the distance was a bit too long. This year, there's a fantastic young horse in the mix and this one is retiring. She's a horse who has given it her all from the time she was two years old, but I'm asking her this, to please give it your all just one more time.”

 

The up-and-comer Fujisawa refers to is Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), also campaigned in the Sunday Racing colours, but trained by Takahisa Tezuka. Lightly raced with just six starts under his belt, the son of G1 Preis der Diana heroine Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) was second in the G2 Deep Impact Kinen going 10 panels in March, but was sensational when dropping back in trip to best the filly Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Grenadier Guards (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 NHK Mile Cup May 9, leading home a Sunday Racing 1-2-3 sweep. The bay flashed home to defeat Yasuda Kinen hero Danon Kingly in the G2 Mainichi Okan going nine furlongs Oct. 10.

Grenadier Guards was an intended member of the Japanese raid on the Breeders' Cup meeting two weekends ago, but fearing that he would not gain a run in the GI Mile, connections elected to stay put with this race in mind. Winner of last year's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity, the son of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint victress Wavell Aenue (Harlington) has yet to salute in three appearances this term, but ran with credit in the NHK Mile and exits a third to Catedral (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G2 Keisei Hai Autumn H. over this trip Sept. 12.

Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) won this event in 2019 before finishing third to Gran Alegria last year. The consistent 6-year-old mas his first run since finishing a close fourth, beaten under a length, in the Yasuda Kinen.

The post Gran Alegria Back To Mile For Swansong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Mehmas Colt Tops Final Goffs Foal Session

KILDARE, Ireland–The fourth and final day of the Goffs Foal Sale saw prices return to a more affordable level for the average working man or woman, and while there were no dizzying highs there was a decent level of trade for those present. With an extra day of foals compared to last year, Thursday was always going to test the resilience of the market and not surprisingly the clearance rate dropped a couple of points from the day before to 79% while the session topper, a Mehmas (Ire) colt, fetched €70,000.

Taken as a whole, the Goffs November Foal Sale returned a solid set of results with €25,560,300 worth of foals sold over the four days at an average of €34,966 and a median of €22,000. The overall clearance rate came in at a very respectable 82%. Last year's three-day foal sale saw 482 of 637 offered (75.6%) change hands for €17,578,600. The average was €36,470, and the median 20,000.

Speaking after the sale, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “What an amazing business. As we progress through this depressing pandemic it is so uplifting to be involved in an industry that is always looking forward with positivity. And there is no better example of planning for the future than buying foals so, once again, we salute all the mighty foal pinhookers who have driven a trade of strength, depth and vibrancy over the last four days as they look for the next touch. The strong home team have been joined by a multitude of English and overseas speculators along with several end users, and the result has been intense competition and often frenzied bidding especially for those that stood out. Of course they have flocked to Goffs as our vendors have provided us with the cream of the Irish foal crop and we thank every one of them for their ongoing support of the Irish National Foal Sale. As ever our mantra is proven-'we can't do it without you'–and it is only with such a strong catalogue that we can deliver the kind of sustained demand that has clearly been in evidence from Lot 1 right through to the close of business today.”

He continued, “The top of the market proved robust with the new star Frankel leading the way for the second year in succession but bidding has been as keen on each day and at all levels to vindicate so many Irish breeders' choice of Goffs for their best. Indeed, a clearance rate of 82%, up from 76% despite a far bigger catalogue, makes the point and we are so pleased to have received so much positive feedback from so many about so much. We now turn our attention to our two day Breeding Stock catalogue, which reads better than for many a year following yet more wonderful support from breeders.”

Mehmas Magic Continues

Breeders who have supported Mehmas (Ire) since his retirement to Tally-Ho Stud have by and large been well rewarded, especially considering his 2020 covering fee was just €7,500, and lot 813 provided his breeder Golden Vale Stud with a great return when selling to Tally-Ho Stud for €70,000. The colt, consigned by Meadagh Stud, is a half-brother to five winners out of Ishimagic (GB) (Ishiguru) who is a half-sister to the U.S. multiple graded stakes winner Foxysox (GB) (Foxhound). Another son of Mehmas that proved popular was lot 947 from the McEnery's Vinesgrove Stud that sold to Paula Flannery for €56,000. The colt, bred by Billy & Paul McEnery, is out of Zambezi Queen (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), who was bought by Billy four years ago for 16,000gns.

In what has been a fairly hectic week for the Tally-Ho team between purchasing, selling and monitoring the progeny of their stallions, the O'Callaghans also added a filly on Thursday by their own young stallion Kessaar (Ire) to the team. Lot 931 cost €44,000 and is a granddaughter of the G3 Dance Design S. winner Obama Rule (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the dam, Trump Alexander (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), is a half-sister to this year's G2 Kilboy Estate S. winner Insinuendo (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

Derek Veitch's Ringfort Stud offered a Churchill (Ire) colt on behalf of breeder Rory O'Brien and lot 846 was snapped up by John Cullinan and Roger Marley for €68,000. The colt is out of the dual winner Mistime (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) who was bought by O'Brien for 32,000gns three years ago and is proving a sound investment.

While many of these foals are bought as pinhook investments, many are offered as a result of a recent mare investment such as the above lot and another that reaped a very good return for a shrewd breeder was lot 960 from Ardrums Stud. The farm bought the dual winner Amber Spark (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), a half-sister to stakes winner Ventura Diamond (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), two years ago for only 16,000 gns and sent her to Dandy Man (Ire) soon after for her first cover at an advertised fee of €15,000. The resulting colt went the way of Whiteoaks for €52,000 on Thursday.

As the session continued, Tom Monaghan gave €41,000 for a son of New Bay (GB) from Albany Stud, lot 899, a half-brother to this year's winning Kevin Ryan-trained juvenile Lady Raeburn (Ire) (Mehmas {GB}). Fifteen minutes later, Mark McStay gave €40,000 for lot 904, a son of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) from Derrymore Farm. Michael Fitzpatrick of JC Bloodstock will be hoping his early purchase of lot 805, a colt by Profitable (Ire), will prove just that when he no doubt returns to a sale ring next year. The colt out of the unraced Iffa Red (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) cost Fitzpatrick €36,000 and was offered by Skara Stud.

Paul and Marie McCartan have honed their craft in both breeding and unearthing future stars, and their Ballyphilip Stud took home a son of US Navy Flag for €32,000. Lot 783 is the second produce out of the unraced Fascinated (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) from the family of G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Saffron Walden (Fr).

The focus switches to breeding stock on Friday with a 10 a.m. start featuring exciting and sizeable drafts from several global breeding operations in addition to the dam of a triple Group 1 winner.

The post Mehmas Colt Tops Final Goffs Foal Session appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Moore, McDonald Lead International Cast For Longines IJC

Eight high-profile overseas jockeys will join four Hong Kong-based riders to compete for the HK$500,000 top prize in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship to be held at the iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island Wednesday, Dec. 8.

Ryan Moore is set to jet in to make a 15th appearance at the IJC, having dead-heated for the spoils with John Murtagh and Christophe Lemaire in 2009 before winning the title outright 12 months hence. Moore, who has finished on the podium four times since his most recent victory, currently sits atop the Longines World's Best Jockey standings, having partnered this season with the likes of G1 Prince of Wales's S. victress Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), four times a Group 1 winner this term; treble Oaks winner Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); and G1 Cheveley Park S. hero Tenebrism (Caravaggio), to name only a few.

New Zealand-born, but Sydney-based James McDonald comes into the IJC in flying form, as he rode a record-setting 10 winners during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, including the main event aboard Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), one of four top-level scores. McDonald is the clear leader for the jockeys' premiership in both Sydney and New South Wales.

Yuga Kawada is Japan's second-leading jockey by number of winners (trailing only Lemaire) and is winning with 28.3% of his rides, a remarkable strike rate on the very competitive JRA circuit. He helped make history for the island nation at the Breeders' Cup meeting, guiding Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to a slashing landmark success in the GI Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar. He also booted home 46-1 gamble Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this year's G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo.

Hollie Doyle and partner Tom Marquand make a return visit to Happy Valley this year. Doyle made a bit of history of her own at the 2020 IJC, becoming the first female rider to win one of the legs to finish in a share of third with Alexis Badel. The couple were fifth and third, respectively, in this year's British Flat Racing Jockeys' Championship.

South Africa's Lyle Hewitson makes his IJC debut this year, having recently secured a third South Africa Champion Jockey title in the 2020/2021 season.

Other foreign invitees include: IJC debuter Damian Lane (Australia) and Mickael Barzalona (France).

Defending champion Zac Purton and his arch-rival Joao Moreira–winner of the 2012 IJC when representing Singapore–fly the Bauhinia flag and will be joined by the highest-ranked rider in Hong Kong as well as the leading homegrown rider.

The four races that comprise the IJC are worth HK$6.2 million and each of the races–two Class 3 handicaps and two in Class four–is set to receive a 20% boost in prize money for the event. Trainers will also be incentivised to enter their horses, as a total of HK$350,000 will be split among the three trainers whose horses accumulate the most points.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has gained approval from the HKSAR government to host the IJC and the weekend's Longines Hong Kong International Races with stringent COVID-related protocols in place.

The post Moore, McDonald Lead International Cast For Longines IJC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Half To Aesop’s Fables Set For Bow

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a sister a Group 1-winning filly.

12.31 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
Godolphin's Andre Fabre trainee AMIRAVATI (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a homebred half-sister to G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Aesop's Fables (Distorted Humor). She encounters six opponents in this low-key unveiling, headed by Berend van Dalfsen's once-raced Roselyne (Fr) (Dariyan {Fr}), who is a homebred half-sister to G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis victor Danceteria (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), from the Mauricio Delcher Sanchez stable.

The post Half To Aesop’s Fables Set For Bow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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