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Japan Gets His Campaign Underway

Ballydoyle missed out with an unusually low-key representation at the Chester May meeting on Wednesday, but one of their big guns is rolled out on Thursday as Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is relaunched in the G3 Ormonde S. Tackling the extended 13-furlong trip which is the furthest he has gone so far in his career, the 2019 G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero looks to put a disappointing end to his 2020 season behind him. Tailing off following his third placing in the G1 Eclipse at Sandown in July, the 5-year-old will have his stamina tested by the impressive G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup winner Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), who races under a five-pound penalty due to those exploits.

Ryan Moore is looking forward to being reunited with Japan. “Ideally, we probably could have done without all the recent rain, but he finished fourth in a deep ground Arc a couple of years ago and is pretty versatile and hopefully his Group 1 class will see him through,” he said. “This is the longest trip he has faced, but the way in which he has finished off his races over a mile and a half when at his best suggests it should not be an issue. It'll take a very good one to beat him if he is on his A-game.”

In the Listed Dee S., Godolphin's Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to build on his comeback effort when third in the Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial. “He's sharpened up for that run at Sandown quite noticeably at home,” trainer Charlie Appleby commented. “We're putting the cheekpieces on him, just because he's got similar characteristics to his sister [Wild Illusion]–it's not that he's ungenuine, it's just to keep him focused. We didn't want to put the cheekpieces on and step him up to a mile and a half at the same time, so we opted to keep him to 10 furlongs.”

With eight wins in this, Aidan O'Brien knows what kind of material is required and last year's G2 Royal Lodge S. runner-up and G2 Futurity S. third Ontario (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the stable pick. Third over seven furlongs on his return in Newmarket's Listed European Free H. Apr. 14, he should appreciate this step up in trip. “He looks to hold pretty strong claims,” Ryan Moore said. “He finished a good third in what appears a decent Free Handicap on his return, and his pedigree would give you every encouragement that the step up from seven to 10 furlongs or so here will suit this Galileo colt a lot better. He finished second in a Royal Lodge at two, while he also finished third to Mac Swiney in soft ground in the Futurity at The Curragh, so you'd have to be pretty hopeful, though his draw [in stall seven] could have been better, obviously.”

Click here for the group fields.

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What’s In a Name: Hester Prynne (GB)

Congratulations to whoever named the very first winner by the Galileo (Ire) stallion Mondialiste (Ire). The 2-year-old filly won a novice at Beverley on May 3 for trainer David O'Meara and is out of Dame Hester (Ire) (Diktat {GB}). The Geoff and Sandra Turnbull-owned filly is named after the most famous Hester of all: Hester Prynne (GB), the complex and dignified heroine of the American classic The Scarlet Letter–the 1850 novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The narrative takes place in a Puritan community in Massachusetts in the 1640s; the protagonist of the book has a child out of wedlock and is sentenced to have the letter “A” stitched to the front of her dress for the rest of her life. The abominable nature of this cruel public humiliation has resonated for decades, and the novel has drawn the attention and the praise of other great writers (George Eliot, DH Lawrence, etc), not to speak of the eternal interest from songwriters, playwrights, and film directors. Good luck to the equine Hester Prynne, hopefully as independent and hard-headed as her namesake–and a bit more fortunate.

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Saliva Testing Trial Under Way at UK Racecourses

A saliva testing trial, a screening method for cocaine and some other banned substances, is now under way at UK racecourses, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Wednesday.

Utilising oral swabs, the testing method results are provided near-instantly indicating whether substances are present in a rider's system above existing thresholds. If the trial is successful, British racing will become the first major sport in Britain to utilise on-the-day screening for banned substances through oral swabs. If a jockey does not test negative during the trial, they would be stood down from riding that day, which brings with it added benefits in safeguarding human and equine welfare on raceday.

At this time, all jockeys have tested negative-at Kempton on Monday and Lingfield on Tuesday. The pilot will continue for a two-month period. Saliva testing is highly cost effective and, if the pilot is successful, it is likely that there would be an increase in raceday testing, which would be further supported by an increased budget for more testing.

Brant Dunshea, Chief Regulatory Officer for the BHA, said, “Saliva testing is a progressive next step for our testing and surveillance of prohibited substances. In particular, the fact that it provides near-instant results means that we are now able to screen for the substance on the day of race.

“The fact that it is a more cost-effective methodology will also allow us to significantly ramp up our testing capacity–something that we are supporting further through the allocation of an enhanced testing budget. This should serve to act both as a deterrent to those who might consider using prohibited substances and provide reassurance to those who are competing on raceday.

“We are grateful to the Professional Jockeys Association for working alongside us in developing this methodology. It is important that it is assessed through a substantive trial period before we commit to it in the longer term, but this trial period is the final step in what has been an extensive process.”

“We see the introduction of saliva testing as a tremendously important development, and it is supported by our members,” said Paul Struthers, Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, who assisted with the development of the pilot.

“An effective deterrent against the use of prohibited substances is an essential piece of the jigsaw in terms of keeping our jockeys healthy and safe. The increased testing which this methodology will allow, alongside the ability for on-the-day screening, represents a significant step towards that ambition.”

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Camelot’s Youth Spirit Battles to Chester Vase Win

Bouncing back from a fourth in last month's Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket on seasonal comeback, Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) dented a number of Classic aspirations with a determined victory in Wednesday's G3 Chester Vase. He had bettered a debut fourth over seven furlongs at Haydock when annexing a hot Newmarket maiden tackling the same trip next time and hit the board contesting Goodwood's July 28 G2 Vintage S. in the last of three juvenile outings. The April-foaled bay was let go at 15-2 and settled third along the fence, in the wake of 6-4 pick and eventual fourth Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), through halfway in this extended 12-furlong Classic trial. Bustled along as the tempo increased approaching the quarter-mile marker, he straightened for home in second–as Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus})'s forward thrust carried that rival to the front on the final turn–and stayed on strongly under a late drive to withstand the running-on effort of Sandhurst (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths. Fancy Man ultimately suffered for his home-turn burst and finished one length back in third, with Listed Blue Riband Trial victor Wirko fading late to finish another seven lengths adrift in fourth.

“He's always been a horse we've rated very highly, but the question mark was whether he stayed or not,” admitted Andrew Balding. “There is stamina on the sire's side, obviously, but there is plenty of speed on the dam's side. He saw the trip out really well and I'm thrilled. I knew he'd improve a good bit from Newmarket, because he'd been off the track a long while before running there, and everything happened a bit quick for him. He's obviously come on for it and I thought he did everything really nicely today.”

Looking ahead to a date with Classic destiny, Balding indicated Youth Spirit will bid to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ian Balding-trained Mill Reef making an indelible mark on the Blue Riband honour roll by going one better than connections' runner-up finish with Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) last year. “The plan, as long as everything goes all right between now and then, is to head for Epsom [for the June 5 G1 Derby]. I obviously can't compare him with Mill Reef because I wasn't around then and, in any case, Youth Spirit is a long way from ticking the boxes that Mill Reef had, but he could have a live chance in the Derby.”

Jockey Tom Marquand added, “It's great for [owner] Ahmad Al Shaikh to have another one for the Derby. Last year that was a fairy story with Khalifa Sat finishing second and, hopefully, they can go one better. Khalifa Sat surprised me in the Derby because he looked more of a staying type. This lad is the other way around and 12 furlongs is as far as he'll want. He is really game and genuine and I'm sure we'll have a go. It will have been a real good experience to have been around here because it is pretty different compared to everywhere else. It should stand him in good stead for Epsom.”

Youth Spirit, half-brother to a 2-year-old colt by Tamayuz (GB) and a yearling colt by Australia (GB), is the first of two foals produced by an unraced half-sister to G2 Gimcrack S. hero Blaine (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}), Two-Year-Old Trophy victor Bogart (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and last term's G3 Prix Eclipse second Legal Attack (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}). His dam Rocana (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is out of a winning half-sister to Listed Prix Urban Sea placegetter Golden Accolade (GB) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and hails from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Lit de Justice (El Gran Senor), G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Commander Collins (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby third Colonel Collins (El Gran Senor) and G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up City Leader (Ire) (Fasliyev).

Wednesday, Chester, Britain
CHESTER VASE S.-G3, £80,000, Chester, 5-5, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT, 2:45.83, g/s.
1–YOUTH SPIRIT (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Lauren Louise (GB), by Tagula (Ire)
3rd Dam: Movie Star (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€60,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV; €100,000 RNA Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Tom Marquand. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-1, $80,680. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sandhurst (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–How's She Cuttin' (Ire), by Shinko Forest (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £17,200.
3–Fancy Man (Ire), 126, c, 3, Pride of Dubai (Aus)–Fancy (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Michael Pescod; B-Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £8,608.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1, 7. Odds: 7.50, 6.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Wirko (Ger), Pleasant Man (GB), Law of the Sea (GB). Scratched: San Martino (Ire), Sir Lamorak (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigreex. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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