Shamardal’s Emaraaty Ana Prevails In Sprint Cup Thriller

It was tight at the end of Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, with Andrea Atzeni celebrating a black-type treble on the day on Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) who denied Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in a photo. Revived of late, the 5-year-old who had been second in the five-furlong G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20 tanked along early off the pace but had plenty left to take over approaching the final furlong. Clinging on late as the even-money favourite found his stride under a Tom Marquand drive, the line came in time for the 11-1 shot who held a short-head verdict there, with Chil Chil (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) 3/4 of a length away in third. “He deserves it–we've started riding him patiently and the horse has come alive for doing that,” trainer Kevin Ryan said. “I've had huge faith in the horse and I'm delighted he's done it. He's as good a horse as I've trained–his work in a morning is brilliant and all my team at home have done a great job.”

Emaraaty Ana's future was already bright as he landed York's G2 Gimcrack S. three years ago, but after a flirtation with the mile Classics the following Spring he gradually slid into relative obscurity. By the time the decision was made to geld following his last-of-eight in the G1 Nunthorpe S. last August, the bay was already something of a forgotten horse but on his return this year had a clean slate to work from. Positive tactics, which had been employed in the 2019 G1 2000 Guineas, were again used for his first five starts this term beginning with an underwhelming second in Doncaster's Listed Cammidge Trophy Mar. 27. Third in Newmarket's G3 Abernant S. Apr. 15, he was dropped from six furlongs to five for the G3 Palace House S. at Newmarket May 1 but the result was the same as he wound up at the bottom of the trifecta once again before trailing in seventh and 11th behind Starman in York's G2 Duke of York S. May 12 and in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket July 10.

It was only when connections opted to stop trying to force the issue and give him a chance in a five-furlong Hamilton conditions race at the end of last month that the real Emaraaty Ana stepped forward on the slick summer surface he needs. Visibly revitalised by the switch to hold-up tactics and a soaring sense of belief, he got closest to the flying Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) in the Nunthorpe with the likes of Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) and Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) behind so it was a surprise to see double-figure odds freely available here. Still tending to over-race despite the customary generosity of Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) up ahead and the more immediate target of last year's G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), he was able to capitalise on Starman's “flat spot” to get first run on the favourite and get to the post in the nick of time.

“He was a great 2-year-old and he lost his way a little bit. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has been very patient,” Kevin Ryan said. “We were riding him wrong. This is his trip. Last year he was a little bit disappointing, but he has come back to this level and I've had every belief in this horse. I always thought he would get back to the top level. I would say we would go for the Breeders' Cup. I can't see why not, as he would be tailor-made for it as they would go a fast pace on fast ground.”

Atzeni, who had earlier partnered the exciting juvenile Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to win the Listed Ascendant S. for these connections before doubling up on the G3 Superior Mile winner Artistic Rifles (Ire) (War Command), was ending a relative drought at this level. “He's a horse that everyone kept faith with throughout his career and I can't tell you what it means to me to win another group 1, it's been a couple of years since the last one,” he said. “Things can go a bit quiet, but it's all about the horses and I had a very good one underneath me here. He is a horse that we usually ride fairly forward, but as he ran so well in the Nunthorpe giving him a chance we wanted to do the same. He travelled like the best horse in the race and when I let him down he picked up good. To be fair to the horse, when the second horse came to him he found a little bit more and held on.” Starman's trainer Ed Walker said, “There are no excuses, it's disappointing.”

Given that Emaraaty Ana's dam Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) signed off her career with success in the 12-furlong Listed Princess Royal S., it is no surprise that Kevin Ryan had the Guineas in mind but this is clearly a runner who is defying his pedigree. Spirit of Dubai is kin to another middle-distance performer in the G3 Prix Corrida and G3 Prix de Flore winner and stakes producer Trumbaka (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}), while this is the family of the G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Alexandrie (Val de l'Orne {Fr}). She is the dam of five black-type winners headed by the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-placed sire Poliglote (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and is also the second dam of the GI Eddie Read H. scorer Special Ring (Nureyev). Spirit of Dubai's as-yet unnamed 2-year-old filly by Ribchester (Ire) was bought by Nigel Tinkler Racing and Jamie Piggott for 140,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP S.-G1, £275,000, Haydock, 9-4, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:09.10, g/f.
1–EMARAATY ANA (GB), 129, g, 5, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Questina, by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Soviet Squaw, by Nureyev
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Andrea Atzeni. £162,800. Lifetime Record: 19-5-2-5, $586,617. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Starman (GB), 129, c, 4, Dutch Art (GB)–Northern Star (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O/B-David Ward (GB); T-Ed Walker. £61,573.
3–Chil Chil (GB), 126, m, 5, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Tiana (GB), by Diktat (GB). (500,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-A S Denniff (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £30,773.
Margins: NO, 3/4, HD. Odds: 11.00, 1.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Happy Romance (Ire), Art Power (Ire), Creative Force (Ire), Garrus (Ire), Summerghand (Ire), Supremacy (Ire), Glen Shiel (GB), Nando Parrado (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Frankel’s Triple Time In The Ascendant At Haydock

Both Godolphin's Book 1 sensation Hafit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred blueblood Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) were breaking their maidens Aug. 6, but as the latter was doing so at the third attempt it was the 2.1 million guineas purchase Hafit that elicited the greater excitement in a fascinating renewal of Saturday's Listed Betfair Exchange Ascendant S. Triple Time, who had been started over an inadequate six furlongs when third behind the subsequent G2 Superlative S. third Dhabab (Ire) (No Nay Never) at Leicester June 1, was a touch disappointing when runner-up to Mr McCann (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) over seven here a month later but that rival went on to finish fourth in the Superlative to add some symmetry to the form.

It was only when tackling this trip returning to this venue that he was able to grow into his early promise with a 9 1/2-length dismissal of the seven-race maiden but solid yardstick Point Lynas (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and despite a tardy break here was once again sent straight to the front by Andrea Atzeni. As the Listed Stonehenge S. runner-up Power of Beauty (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}), who had got upset and reared in the stalls, waved the white flag in midstraight it was only Hafit who was able to pose a threat. Galloping relentlessly to ward off the favourite, Triple Time had the most to give in the run to the line to decide a contest that may be used as a reference point several times in the future.

Trainer Kevin Ryan is understandably excited about Triple Time and said, “Even in the Spring, we thought he was very special but he's taken a bit of time. Physically he's there, but mentally he's just taken racing to really learn the job. He was very impressive today. We were very worried about the ground, but Sheikh Mohammed Obaid is never afraid to get them beat and we decided we'd find out if he handled it or not. He's handled it and he's probably handled it because he's a very good horse. He's done everything we've needed to do this year and he's obviously identified himself as a very talented horse.”

Future targets and optimum trip have yet to be decided, but Ryan is not in a rush to decide the next race. “We'll do what's right by the horse. He's going to be a very exciting horse for next year,” he added. “Sheikh Mohammed Obaid said about going 10 furlongs and I said that is probably as far as we want to go. We are both on the same hymn sheet. You have to think of him as a Guineas horse, as that is the best trial for any race. I would presume that is what we will be leading to next year. He has loads of speed and you need a sprinter to go with him. He is a big striding horse and that is why Andrea has let him go to the front. If you try to break his stride he will try take you on. If you let him use his stride he will switch off and settle for you.”

Triple Time is a half-brother to four black-type winners who carried these silks with distinction. They are the G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Ajman Princess, this year's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial scorer and G3 Gordon S.-placed Third Realm, the G3 Bengough S. winner Cape Byron and the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner Ostilio who all plied their trade over a variety of trips. Reem Three, who is also responsible for the G1 Prix Saint Alary third Imperial Charm and is a half-sister to the G2 Celebration Mile winner and GI Arlington Million runner-up Afsare (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), has a yearling colt by Lope de Vega (Ire) and a filly foal by Kingman (GB) to follow.

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR EXCHANGE ASCENDANT S.-Listed, £40,500, Haydock, 9-4, 2yo, 8f 37yT, 1:41.21, g/f.
1–TRIPLE TIME (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Reem Three (GB) (SP-Eng), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jumaireyah (GB), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Donya (Ire), by Mill Reef
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Andrea Atzeni. £22,968. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $44,283. *1/2 to Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Fr at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Fr, SW & MGSP-Eng, $306,567; Ostilio (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), GSW-Fr, SW & GSP-Eng, $346,723; Cape Byron (GB) (Shamardal), GSW-Eng & SP-Fr, $401,954; Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), SW & GSP-Eng, $121,235; and Imperial Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), G1SP-Fr, $136,125.
2–Hafit (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Cushion (GB), by Galileo (Ire). (2,100,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Floors Farming & Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £8,708.
3–Dukebox (Ire), 128, g, 2, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Broadway Duchess (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). (£65,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-J K Powell Racing; B-The Broadway Partnership (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £4,358.
Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, 9. Odds: 3.00, 0.73, 40.00.
Also Ran: Power of Beauty (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result.

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Mahon’s Ban Reduced on Appeal

Irish trainer Stephen Mahon, who was banned for four years and fined for animal neglect, has had his ban reduced by six months on appeal, The Irish Field reported on Friday. His ban was originally going to expire on Apr. 14, 2025. Under investigation for alleged sampling interference with one of his former horses in mid-July, Mahon's appeal was heard on July 31, with the decision published on Friday.

Mahon's licence was withdrawn in June after an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Referrals Committee hearing. The hearing found he had neglected and had not adequately cared for up to 10 horses in his yard in Kilcolgan, County Galway.

Mahon's appeal focused on his claim that Geoffrey's Girl (Fr) (Croco Rouge {Ire}) had suffered a catastrophic fetlock injury only the morning of the IHRB inspection on Apr. 13, 2021. The IHRB asserted that the injury was over a week old. However, the IHRB Appeals Panel did not feel there was enough evidence to uphold the IHRB's view of what happened, thus his ban was reduced. However, despite the shorter ban, Mahon is not guaranteed of gaining a training licence should he reapply for one in the future.

The IHRB Appeals Panel said in a statement, “…that having regard to the totality of the evidence… Mr. Mahon's conduct as a licenced trainer fell well below the standard reasonably expected. It is manifestly clear that Mr. Mahon's conduct is injurious to the good reputation of horse racing. As a licence holder, he failed in his duties towards the horses in his care by failing to adequately supervise them and to identify even their most basic welfare needs.”

Although barred from training, Mahon is not forbidden from attending race meetings or from working in racing and he has been representing Pat Kelly at the races over the summer.

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Middle Market Strong As Frankel Colt Heads BBAG

BADEN-BADEN, Germany–After a day of a few false starts and high-priced vendor buy-backs, BBAG's major yearling sale presented its headline act late in the afternoon when Gestüt Haus Ittlingen's Frankel (GB) half-brother to the G3 Hamburger Meile victrix Calyxa (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) sold for €350,000 to Godolphin.

From a smaller catalogue this year,195 horses went through the ring and though some of potential star acts were returned to their breeders, the day's clearance rate was greatly improved on recent years at 79.5%, with 155 yearlings sold. That upturn from 66.5% in 2020 led to a small boost in the figures for all sectors, with the average up by 5% at €43,448 and the turnover of €6,734,500 representing an improvement of 4%.

“I'm delighted to see a very strong middle market, which is a really good sign for the German racing industry,” said BBAG managing director Klaus Eulenberger as the sale concluded.

Janet Ostermann's Gestüt Haus Ittlingen offered the only two yearlings by Frankel in the catalogue, sons of mother and daughter Chantra (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) and Calyxa, and though the latter's colt was bought in at €475,000, later in the session, the bay son (lot 176) of 17-year-old dual listed winner Chantra hit the mark.

Anthony Stroud is a regular visitor to BBAG on behalf of Godolphin, which has enjoyed notable success with Frankel this year via its homebred Derby winner Adayar (Ire) and Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane (Ire).

“Of course Frankel goes without saying,” Stroud noted. “This colt was a really good walker, very athletic. He'll go back to England.”

Godolphin are not only good supporters of the main German yearling sale but also regularly field runners over the road at Baden-Baden racecourse. The team's royal blue silks have made it to the winner's enclosure following the last three runnings of the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and this Sunday Saeed Bin Suroor is set to saddle Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who will be ridden by Oisin Murphy. Among his opponents will be this year's G1 Deutsches Derby winner Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}), the current leading light of Dr Stefan Oschmann's Darius Racing operation. 

Oschmann's racing manager and agent Holger Faust was active at BBAG through the day and among his purchases was an Australia (GB) half-brother to another of the outfit's Group 1 winners, Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}). Sold for €240,000 as lot 181, the colt was bred and consigned by Gestüt Karlshof.

Miss Yoda (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is one of the leading graduates of the BBAG Yearling Sale in recent years. After selling for €280,000 to Georg Von Opel three years ago and sent into training in Newmarket she progressed to win last year's G1 Preis der Diana. Her breeder Gestüt Etzean repeated that Classic success with this year's winner of the German Oaks equivalent, Palmas (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}), and took the decision to buy out Ling Tsui in the foal share agreement for Miss Yoda's yearling full-sister, offered as lot 192. 

Ralf Kredel of Etzean went to the same price as her elder sister had made, €280,000, to keep the chestnut daughter of G2 Diana Trial winner Monami (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}). He said, “She is a May foal and she'll go back to the stud. We'll take our time and break her in in the spring.”

One of the potential box-office lots, Gestüt Rottgen's Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to Derby winners Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), was led out unsold at €680,000 but the next lot into the ring (55), a half-brother to Godolphin's listed Blue Riband Trial winner Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) from the same stud, was the leading light for much of the day when knocked down at €220,000 to second-season Berlin trainer Friederike Schloms.

The son of Reliable Man (GB) out of the treble listed winner Weltmacht (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) was bought for owner Jurgen Sartori, who later added lot 43 to his string for next year. The Lope De Vega (Ire) filly from Gestüt Fahrhof had earlier been led out of the ring unsold until a private deal was struck by Andreas Suborics to buy her on Sartori's behalf for €200,000. 

Moritz Becher of Stall Hanse stepped in to buy lot 63, a Lord Of England colt, whose illustrious family has been enhanced further this year by the Derby and King George winner Adayar, at €120,000. His Sea The Stars half-sister had set a new BBAG record when selling to Godolphin for €820,000 in 2019. Now named Anne d'Autriche (Ger), she is as yet unraced. Her younger sibling will remain in Germany to be trained by Peter Schiergen.

Gestüt Park Wiedingen's sister to Group 1 winner and young sire Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) caused a flurry of excitement when bringing the hammer down at €700,000 before it was confirmed by breeder Helmut von Finck that she had been bought back. The stud did however provide a notable result for Coolmore's freshman sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn) when lot 72 was signed for at €160,000 by Peter Brauer of Panorama Bloodstock.

The agent confirmed that the second foal of Faizeh (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) had been bought for owner Hans Bierkamper of Stall Mandarin. A grand-daughter of Von Finck's champion 3-year-old Flamingo Road (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), she will be trained at Mulheim by Yasmin Almenrader.

The Deutsches Derby winner Sea The Moon (Ger) may stand in Newmarket at Lanwades Stud but he retains his popularity in his native country and was the leading sire at the sale with 11 yearlings sold at an average of €64,364. Heading that group was a filly from the sire's breeder Gestüt Gorlsdorf (lot 75), who will go into training in England having been bought by Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock for €115,000.

“She'll be going to Newmarket,” said Goff. “The stallion is going great guns and she was a delightful filly, one of the nicest here, and she is out of a good Iffraaj mare.”

That mare is Gülden Gorl (Ger), who was a winner and listed-placed at two and is a half-sister to French listed winner Princess Charm (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).

There were a number of French trainers on the sales ground at Iffezheim and though Fabrice Chappet was not among them he will be receiving one of the leading lots of the day. Lot 60, the only yearling by France's champion sire Siyouni (Fr) in the catalogue was bought for €100,000 by Ghislain Bozo of Meridian International, who said that the Gestüt Brummerhof-bred son of the German 1000 Guineas winner Akua'da (Ger) (Shamardal) will go into training at Chappet's Chantilly stable.

Ongoing uncertainty over access for potential overseas buyers to the U.S. for the forthcoming Keeneland September Sale led to an increase in breeze-up pinhookers at BBAG.

Tom Whitehouse, Roger Marley and Johnny Collins all appeared on the buyers' sheet, as did Brendan Holland of Grove Stud, who made three purchases on the day. The trio included lot 135, a son of the Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist (Ger) out of a Soldier Hollow half-sister to the 2016 German Derby winner and second-season stallion Isfahan (Ger). The colt was bought in partnership with Marley of Church Farm Stables.

“We still don't know if we will be able to travel to Keeneland, so that's the reason I'm here and I'm glad I came,” Holland said. “I haven't been for a few years and there's a lovely selection of quality, scopey horses. I've bought three and I will definitely come back in the future.”

He added of the Protectionist colt from Ronald Rauscher's consignment, “I'll bring him back to Arqana in May. He's not a typical breeze-up horse, he's a quality staying horse. And while he's a staying horse in the making he looked quite together physically and I'm quite sure he'll be capable of galloping two furlongs in May. I loved him, he's such a lovely horse.”

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