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Niarchos Family Awarded 2021 Longines and IFHA Award of Merit

The Niarchos Family was awarded the 2021 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit at Del Mar during the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Champions on Friday, Nov. 5. Started in 2013 by Longines and the IFHA and given to horsemen and horsewomen who make lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing, the award was accepted by Maria Niarchos-Gouaze on behalf of her family. More than 125 Group or Grade 1 winners have been bred and/or campaigned under their banner, and they have been long-time supporters of the Breeders' Cup. Representatives from Longines, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the Breeders' Cup and The Jockey Club were in attendance.

“On behalf of my brothers and myself, I would like to thank Longines, the IFHA, the Breeders' Cup, and The Jockey Club for this great honour,” said Niarchos-Gouazé. “I would also like to thank all of our horses, the jockeys who mainly found the winning post, our trainers, our veterinarians and farriers, and all of the individuals who have worked on the studs and in our trainers' yards.

“In particular, I would like to thank my home team, Alan Cooper and Karen Clark, who have been with us since inception, for their dedication and loyalty, and also Jamie McCalmont and Bill Oppenheim, and those who have worked alongside them. Lastly, and the most deserving of all, I would like to thank my father, Stavros, for his vision.”

The late Stavros Niarchos, a Greek shipping magnate, first became involved with Thoroughbred racing in the 1950s. After a break, he returned in the 1970s. The 1956 Middle Park S. winner Pipe of Peace (GB) (Supreme Court {GB}) was his first major winner. Niarchos-Gouaze, his daughter, took over the Thoroughbred business upon his passing in 1996. Alan Cooper serves as the family's racing manager.

Seven Breeders' Cup races have gone to Niarchos Family colourbearers, six of them homebreds. A total of six editions of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile have been won by the family: Miesque (Kingmambo) (1987, 1988), Spinning World (Nureyev) (1997), Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) (2002), Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}) (2003), and Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) (2014). Additionally, Main Sequence (Aldebaran) won the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf in 2014.

Other notable horses to have raced for the Niarchos Family are: 2004 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Bago (Fr) (Nashwan); Classic winners Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) Light Shift (Kingmambo), Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), and War of Will (War Front); Light Shift's son Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (2017 Eclipse S. and International S.); 2018 Irish Horse of the Year Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}); and Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (2019 St James's Palace S. and 2020 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot).

“We are delighted to celebrate tonight the Niarchos Family, whose strong commitment and dedication to Thoroughbred racing have been rewarded by so many remarkable successes over the years,” said Matthieu Baumgartner, Longines Vice President Marketing. “The history of the family proves that equestrian sport is one of passion, a passion that Longines has been sharing for a century and a half. Today, we are the partner of some of the major international institutions, including the IFHA, and provide our timekeeping expertise to prestigious events all around the world in the disciplines show jumping, dressage, eventing and of course, horse racing.”

“I would like to congratulate the Niarchos Family as this year's recipient of the Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit,” said IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “Reflecting upon the significance and the values associated with this award, I am struck by the level of success achieved by the Niarchos Family in nearly every corner of the globe, spanning multiple generations.

“On racetrack achievement alone, the Niarchos Family would be worthy recipients of this award, but their steadfast support of our industry is what sets them apart. Their unwavering partnership and development of international racing and breeding is a special feat, and it must be celebrated.”

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Amid Drama, Modern Games A Top-Class Breeders’ Cup Winner

Del Mar, CA–Friday's Breeders' Cup card was not short of drama, both the kind one welcomes-like when Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {Ire}) flew the barriers and held off a late charge by the plucky Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) to win the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-and also the type one dreads.

Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided team Europe with its first victory of the 2022 World Championships when roaring down the middle the stretch to take the card-closing GI Juvenile Turf by 1 1/2 lengths, but it was roars of dismay, not joy, that William Buick and Godolphin's chestnut colt returned to from the Del Mar crowd, with a frenzy of confusion just moments before the start leading to the post-time favourite being withdrawn and, sensationally, re-instated into the field, but permitted to run not as a wagering entity but purse-money only.

The drama began when Modern Games reared in the one stall, causing his Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to become upset in the two stall, flipping over under Frankie Dettori. As the remainder of the field was backed out, Modern Games and William Buick were released out the front of the one gate by a stalls handlers, cantering up the track for a few strides before being corralled by an outrider. Albahr was withdrawn from the race-he and Dettori each pronounced healthy, minus a few cuts on Albahr, in the aftermath-and amidst the confusion Modern Games was likewise withdrawn, with attending veterinarians behind the gate under the impression that Modern Games had broken through the front of the gate, unaware that an attendant had released him, and the assumed breakthrough and prior rearing incident, where he had also hit the back of the stalls, presumed grounds for scratching.

There were contrasting scenes, then, of elation from connections and uproar from disgruntled punters denied their chance to play the 'favourite' as Modern Games-the last-out eye-catching winner of the G3 Somerville S. at Newmarket on Sept. 23-registered his third straight win, and provided Appleby with his third win in the race and fourth Breeders' Cup tally overall.

Modern Games has earned the right to be genuinely considered among the leading contenders for next year's Classics as the juveniles head into winter quarters. Buick said in the post-race press conference that he hoped the drama surrounding the race wouldn't cast a shadow over the horse's performance or future potential.

“There was no need for what happened to happen,” Buick said. “It was unfortunate but thankfully everyone came around to do the right thing and let the horse run, because that was the only fair outcome. It's unfortunate because Breeders' Cup is a great event, it's the world championships and it's a bit disappointing because it takes some of the shine away from the horse, and he was a great winner of the race. He was very impressive and showed a lot of good qualities, and he's a good Juvenile Turf winner. But it was no one's fault, it was just what happened.”

The Juvenile Turf Sprint kicked off the five Breeders' Cup races on Future Stars Friday, and there was no haziness in that result, with Barbara Banke's £75,000 Goffs Orby purchase Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {Ire}) pinging the gates and leading the field a merry dance before holding off a late surge from Amo Racing's G2 Railway S. winner Go Bears Go to provide her young Irish National Stud-based sire with a first group winner.

Twilight Gleaming was, in fact, the first winner for the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner National Defense when graduating by 7 1/2 lengths in a 'TDN Rising Star' performance at Belmont Park in May before shipping to Royal Ascot to finish a narrow second in the G2 Queen Mary S. Twilight Gleaming and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) are the poster children of the recent strategy undertaken by Banke to raid the European yearling sales-largely with the assist of agent Ben McElroy-and hand-pick Royal Ascot prospects for Ward. While Campanelle could be considered something of a Royal Ascot specialist, having returned this year to win a drama-filled G1 Commonwealth Cup, Twilight Gleaming will surely hold a special place in the mind of her owner, winning the first Breeders' Cup race staged less than two months since Banke was appointed the organization's chairman.

Twilight Gleaming had cut an eye-catching figure training at Del Mar throughout the week, and in fact such is her constitution that Ward explained post-race that she had been sent to France for her win in the Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge in August as a traveling companion to Campanelle, who herself leapt off all fours leaving the gates before trailing in a puzzling last. Little doubt, then, that Twilight Gleaming will head off on her travels again next year, with redemption at Royal Ascot among the likely goals with Ward nominating the Commonwealth Cup or the King's Stand as targets.

In the aftermath of Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus})'s victory in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, her jubilant owner/breeder Bobby Flay noted that Royal Ascot could likewise be on his filly's agenda. Like Banke, Flay has long been a proponent of farming the best bloodstock worldwide and bringing it back to America, and Pizza Bianca is the first foal out of White Hot (Ire), a Galileo (Ire) three-quarter sister to Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) bought by Flay for 1.25-million gns from Camas Park Stud at Tattersalls October in 2014. Near the rear early, Pizza Bianca threaded her way through the field to lead home a blanket finish for the minor placings that was topped in the end by the Francis Graffard-trained Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), with George Boughey's Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) taking fourth and Dave Loughnane's Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) fifth. All three trainers were narrowly denied their first Breeders' Cup wins, but will also doubtlessly be back with chances in the near future. It must have been a particularly encouraging first visit to Del Mar for Loughnane, trainer of both Hello You and Go Bears Go.

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Duke Of Marmalade Dies at 17

Multiple Group 1 winner and sire Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill–Love Me True, by Kingmambo) died in his paddock at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa on Friday. The 17-year-old had been pensioned in October.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Duke Of Marmalade,” Drakenstein Stud tweeted on Friday. “He died peacefully in his paddock this morning. He was a hero to many on the racetrack including ourselves, and a true gentleman at stud.

“His legacy will live on through his progeny to come and his already growing influence as a broodmare sire around the world. He will be sorely missed by all of us at Drakenstein Stud. He lived up to his title as a Duke in every way. RIP.”

Bred by Southern Bloodstock and raced by the Coolmore Partners, the bay showed ability at two when placed in the G2 Vintage S. Winless at three, he did place thrice at the highest table in the St. James's Palace S., the Irish Champion S. and Queen Elizabeth II S. At four the son of Love Me True dazzled with five consecutive Group 1 wins–the Prix Ganay, the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Prince of Wales's S., the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and finally the G1 Juddmonte International S.

Originally based at Coolmore Stud in Ireland from 2009 to 2013, the half-brother to G1 Derby hero Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) moved to Drakenstein Stud in 2014. The bay sired a total of 46 black-type winners internationally, 26 at the group level. His best runners were a septet of Group 1 winners led by G1 St Leger winner Simple Verse (Ire), G1 Gold Cup hero Big Orange (GB), and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Star of Seville (GB).

As a broodmare sire, his daughters have foaled seven black-type winners with six group scorers in England, France and Italy. His grandson Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby this year, and the filly Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ran third in the GI Belmont Oaks.

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Simon Cox Appointed to TBA Board of Directors

Simon Cox has been appointed to the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Board of Trustees as a co-opted member. Cox is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Molson Coors EMEA & APAC, a brewing and beverage business of circa €2-billion turnover and 6,500 employees. Already a member of the TBA's National Hunt Committee, Cox has worked in the brewing industry for 32 years. He is also a member of the board of the Professional Jockeys Association and has owned National Hunt horses for a decade. His current string is with Ian Williams. More recently Cox also has ventured into thoroughbred breeding and has mares boarded at Shade Oak Stud. He is a shareholder in Shade Oak's new stallion Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Simon Cox said, “I'm first and foremost a passionate racing fan and over the last decade have deepened my involvement in racing through owning and breeding National Hunt racehorses. I'm delighted to join the board of trustees of the TBA and am really looking forward to supporting the ongoing growth and health of the breeding industry. I want to continue to learn about the wider industry but I hope my knowledge of jump racing and my business experience will be of use to the team from the start.”

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