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Exceed and Excel’s Sacred Too Strong In The Hungerford

Saturday belonged to William Haggas, with two of the Newmarket handler's pattern-race successes coming at the same time during an action-packed period mid-afternoon. While Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) was causing an upset at Deauville in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, the yard's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was tearing it up in Newbury's G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. Back from a weather-enforced break having failed to see out the mile of the G1 1000 Guineas when seventh at Newmarket May 2, Cheveley Park Stud's impressive G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner was anchored in rear early by a confident Tom Marquand. Slicing between rivals passing two out, the 6-1 shot surged to the fore with 150 yards remaining and comfortably held the seasonal debutante Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) by a length as the 3-year-olds dominated. “They said she was top-class. To jump into the race like that was very impressive,” her rider said.

Kept to five and six furlongs as a juvenile, Sacred was runner-up in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, G2 Lowther S. at York and G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster before finishing last of eight in Newmarket's G1 Cheveley Park S. in late September. Back with a bang trying this trip for the first time in the Apr. 14 Nell Gwyn, the homebred had been prepared for the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G3 Oak Tree S. after the Guineas but had missed out due to the summer storms. This was confirmation of her earlier promise and she remains unbeaten at this trip.”When Ryan [Moore] won the Nell Gwyn on her, he said it was like riding a motorbike,” Maureen Haggas said. “We've timed her with the latest equipment at home and some of her figures are unbelievable. She grew two inches through the winter and I hope that after her light season the owners might keep her in training at four. She's in the [G2] City of York [on Saturday], but that is very quick and could undo all the good that's happened for her break. Then there's the [Oct. 3 G1 Prix de la] Foret [at ParisLongchamp], but she would only go if it stayed dry.”

Sacred is the first foal out of Sacre Caroline (Blame), a half-sister to the five-times grade I-winning champion turf female Lady Eli (Divine Park) who cost the operation 300,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Also a half to the GIII Regret S. and GIII Mint Julep H. winner Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex), the dam is connected to the high-class Sweet Loretta (Tapit), Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger), Spring in the Air (Spring at Last), Palace Episode (Machiavellian), Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley), Pays to Dream (High Yield) and The Last Zip (City Zip). Her unraced 2-year-old filly is Enshrine (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), while she also has a 2020 colt by that sire who is due to sell at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
BETVICTOR HUNGERFORD S.-G2, £100,000, Newbury, 8-14, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.99, gd.
1–SACRED (GB), 123, f, 3, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Sacre Caroline, by Blame
2nd Dam: Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: Kazadancoa (Fr), by Green Dancer
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 8-3-3-0, $170,432. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Laneqash (GB), 126, c, 3, Cable Bay (Ire)–Bonhomie (GB), by Shamardal. (£175,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Highclere Stud (GB); T-Roger Varian. £21,500.
3–Njord (Ire), 132, g, 5, Roderic O'Connor (Ire)–Rosalind Franklin (GB), by Intikhab. (€1,000 Wlg '16 GOFNOV; €14,000 Ylg '17 TIRSEP; €54,000 3yo '19 GOFHIT). O-Blessingndisguise Partnership; B-Mrs Eithne McDonnell (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £10,760.
Margins: 1, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 6.00, 22.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Dreamloper (Ire), Nando Parrado (GB), Al Suhail (GB), Tactical (GB), Motakhayyel (GB), D'bai (Ire), Line of Departure (Ire). Scratched: Danyah (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Hungerford Takes Centre Stage

Newbury and Deauville provide the focus on Saturday, with the former venue featuring one of the key seven-furlong contests of the season in the G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. Charlie Appleby has a pair engaged with William Buick settling for the unexposed 4-year-old Al Suhail (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who reverts to this trip for the first time since his juvenile days. Third in the nine-furlong G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Mar. 6, the half-brother to Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was in the same spot in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot July 10 with his stamina looking to ebb late on. “We were delighted with Al Suhail's first start back in the UK at Ascot, finishing third over the mile in soft conditions,” his trainer said. “Dropping back to seven furlongs I feel will suit him–he travels very well through his races. He's definitely come forward for that run and we feel the style of the race on Saturday will suit, so there are plenty of positives going into the race with him.”

Shadwell's silks are also carried by a duo, with the Owen Burrows-trained Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) having won Ascot's International H. over this trip July 24 where the Richard Hannon-trained impressive Bunbury Cup hero Motakhayyel (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) was back in sixth under top weight. “It was a big performance at Ascot, but it was only a handicap and we'll see where we sit now against these group horses,” Burrows said of the former. “He'd been fourth in the Lincoln, second in the Spring Mile and second at Royal Ascot to a filly who has since won a listed race and didn't run bad at all in a Group 3 at Goodwood from a wide draw. We were giving her plenty of weight at the Royal meeting and she's been able to mix it up in stakes company, so fingers crossed he can do the same.”

There was no fluke about the impressive G3 Valiant S. of Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and if the Ed Walker trainee can improve on her 4 1/2-length defeat of the smart Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), subsequent listed scorer Waliyak (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Indigo Girl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in that Ascot contest July 23 she will pose a major threat to the colts and geldings. Another filly in the mix is Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who took the G3 Nell Gwyn S. over this trip at Newmarket Apr. 14 and has been waiting for fast ground ever since her subsequent seventh when a non-stayer in the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas there.

At Deauville, the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain sees 'TDN Rising Star' Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) bid to emulate the operation's Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who came from Britain to score here in 2019. The John and Thady Gosden-trained half-brother to Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was run down late by Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Listed Steventon S. over this 10-furlong trip at Newbury July 17. Godolphin, Ecurie des Monceaux and Ecurie Skymarc Farm's June 20 G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two to represent the owners alongside the Apr. 13 Listed Feilden S. winner Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the former, “Philomene is in great form and Andre Fabre has been very happy with her progress since the Prix de Diane. This looks a good option for her as a springboard to an autumn campaign.” Charlie Appleby added of the visitor, “We have been looking forward to stepping Highland Avenue up in trip and his preparation has gone well. He has yet to prove himself at this level, but we feel that he is a group horse in the making. He has done well physically since Ascot and looks a proper mature horse now.”

Gerard Augustin-Normand's June 6 G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) returns off a break to try and give his country something to shout about come the Arc, while Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) who was sixth in that June 6 Chantilly Classic has since collected the G2 Prix Eugene Adam over this trip at Saint-Cloud July 4. That form received a boost when the runner-up Caprice Des Dieux (Fr) (Declaration of War) was subsequently an impressive winner of the Listed Prix Pelleas at Compiegne July 27.

Also on the card is the G3 Prix de Lieurey over a mile, where Ivan Furtado's stable star Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) represents the red-hot form of the G1 Falmouth S., having been sixth and beaten just over two lengths in that Newmarket feature July 9. Back at Newbury, the G3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer S. over an extended 13 furlongs sees Shadwell's 2021 winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) look for a repeat having taken York's G3 Silver Cup July 10. His trainer Owen Burrows said, “He was in at Goodwood the other day, but we've waited for this race and, touch wood, he's in great form. He'll have to carry a three-pound penalty, but there isn't really a suitable Group 2 option for him in Britain. I'm actually going to enter him in the [G2] Grand Prix de Deauville at the end of the month.” In the opening Academy Insurance British EBF Maiden S. over a mile and a half, the June 5 G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) will be the day's shortest-priced favourite as he bids to shed his unwanted tag ahead of a return to much bigger things.

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Wildcards Added To Tattersalls Online Sale

Five wildcards have been added to the Tattersalls Online August 17th Sale, bringing the catalogue to 37. Four National Hunt offerings are headed by the Joseph O'Brien-trained Rotten Row (Ire) (Leading Light {Ire}), the winner of a National Hunt flat race at first asking at Roscommon last week. The lone flat offering among the supplementaries is the 3-year-old filly Beija Flor (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) who will be offered from the yard of trainer Stuart Williams. Owned by Essex Racing Club, Beija Flor has run 14 times this year and has been placed on three occasions.

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Hotellerie Drawn One To Kick Off Yearling Season

DEAUVILLE, France–Somebody has to be the trailblazer and the first yearling into the ring for the 2021 European season will be a first-crop daughter of U S Navy Flag. The filly hails from the consignment of Haras de l'Hotellerie which offers its biggest draft this year, nine years on from making its Arqana August debut.

The Garcon family's operation made quite a splash back then, selling a Dubawi (Ire) colt to Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock for €450,000, and he was no one-hit wonder. Named Mubtaahij (Ire) and sent into training with Mike de Kock, the sales-ring splash was followed by victory in the G2 UAE Derby for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and, later transferred to America, Mubtaahij also won the GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita.

This time around the star of the 19-strong Hotellerie draft, on paper at least, is also by Dubawi. Lot 117, out of the dual-winning Konigstiger (Ger) mare Wiwilia (GB) and from a distinguished German family, is a half-sister to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Wonderment (Ire) and was bred at the farm for clients Manfred Wurtenberger and Reinhard Stockli.

“This is our second Dubawi and she is a very exciting filly,” says Guillaume Garcon, who runs the farm with his father Jean-Pierre and mother Isabelle. “It is great to have another one to sell and she is a half-sister to a Group 1 winner at two by Camelot (GB). We bred her at the farm for a client and I am so happy to have such a nice horse for good clients who trusts us.”

He continues, “This is our biggest draft, usually we have 10 or 15 yearlings but we are always trying to improve the quality, so it's exciting for this year.”

A notable element of the Hotellerie consignment is the trio of American-sired yearlings, by champion sire Into Mischief, Ghostzapper and a member of the first crop of the Scat Daddy stallion Mendelssohn. The three youngsters were bred by Leopoldo Fernández Pujals of Yeguada Centurion, who keeps around 30 mares at Hotellerie, including the dams of the trio, who were bought during a $3.3 million shopping spree at Keeneland in 2019.

First up is the Ghostzapper full-sister to dual Grade I winner Shaman Ghost (lot 12), followed by the Into Mischief filly (lot 74) who is the first foal of the stakes-placed Pera (Drosselmeyer). Early in Sunday's session is the Mendelssohn filly out of the winning and stakes-placed Lemon Drop Kid mare Royal Story (lot 90).

Garcon says, “He bought mares in foal so the offspring have French premiums and it's quite exciting as he has brought new pedigrees into France. He also bought a stud near to our farm a few weeks ago so we will keep working with him. He's a lovely person who loves his horses and has his own ideas about things.”

The relationship with Fernández Pujals also means that the Hotellerie name will feature for the first time among the list of consignors for the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket.

Garcon explains, “He wants to have horses in training but also here he wants to try the market and we are also selling five yearlings at Tattersalls for the first time this year in Book 1. They all have American pedigrees, including a very good filly by Candy Ride.”

The Garcon family's own interest in Thoroughbreds started in the National Hunt sphere. Jean-Pierre was manager at Haras de Montaigu for 26 years and he and Isabelle always kept a handful of their own National Hunt mares. The link with Montaigu remains through a 4-year-old homebred currently in training with Francois Nicolle. Lawrence d'Arabie (Fr) is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles and is by Montaiugu's late stallion Martaline (GB).

Guillaume Garcon says, “I travelled to Australia, America, Ireland and England and when I returned to France I thought I would try to find a little place for myself, but my parents said why not try something together. So we found a cattle farm and now we have 220 hectares one hour from Deauville. There are 90 mares on the farm some of them are ours and the rest for clients from Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, England, and of course France. We have 15 mares in partnership with our clients.”

He adds, “We still love National Hunt and have a few jumping mares but most of our clients are involved in the Flat.”

One of the most recent high-flying graduates from the Hotellerie draft is Marc Chan's New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who was bought at the August Sale two years ago by Alex Elliott for €35,000 and won the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S.

This time around Garcon declares himself happy with strong traffic to his draft over the last few days and is not worried about being having to open the show on Saturday with the U S Navy Flag second foal of the well named Sixties Icon (GB) mare Epsom Icon (GB), who won the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. on Derby day. The filly (lot 1) is another bred by Yeguada Centurion.

“Somebody has to go first,” he says. “She is a very nice, good-moving filly and we love the mare, who has a Siyouni (Fr) 2-year-old in training with Christopher Head. We also have a very nice Frankel (GB) filly and, for precocity, a No Nay Never filly out of a mare by Kyllachy (GB), who looks all speed. We have something to suit everyone.”

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