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Japanese Horses Clash With Locals on FWD Champions Day

Japanese-based gallopers have left their mark on FWD Champions Day at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse, and as many as five raiders from the nearby island nation will attempt to continue that trend this weekend in front of as many as 6,000 racegoers as COVID restrictions ease in the region.

The day's richest event at HK$25 million is the G1 FWD QE II Cup (2000mT), in which Japan owns four of the seven entries with a cloud hanging over the participation of 2019 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase hero Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Reigning Filly Triple Crown winner and champion 3-year-old filly Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) looms the one to beat, even as she suffered a shock defeat as the $1.40 (2-5) favourite in the G2 Kinko Sho in her lone outing this season Mar. 14. Her stiffest challenge could come from Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), like Daring Tact winner of the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at home and exiting a tough third to Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410mT) at Meydan Mar. 27. Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), whose sire took out this event in 2012, won the 2017 G1 Kikuka Sho (3000mT) and could be a pace factor, while Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) defends his title as one of three Hong Kong entries. Japanese runners have won the QE II five times since 2002 and twice in its last four runnings.

Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint at longshot odds before adding last month's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200mT), is clearly the one to beat from gate five in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, a race won just once by a foreign entry (Chautauqua {Aus}, 2016). It can be said that trainer Takayuki Yasuda, who also conditioned Danon Smash's two-time Hong Kong Sprint-winning sire, holds the 6-year-old in fairly high regard.

“Last December I honestly thought Danon Smash was not equal to the level of Lord Kanaloa at that stage, but after winning that race, he improved a lot,” Yasuda said. “I think Danon Smash has reached the same point as Lord Kanaloa now.”

With top sprinter Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) on the shelf, the locals have a chance to sort themselves out in the pecking order. Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) had won six of eight, but was no better than fifth to 178-1 Amazing Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) in the G2 Sprint Cup Apr. 5. Stronger (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) has just a single win in Class 2 to his credit this season, but was runner-up to Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in a Class 1 at Happy Valley two back and missed by a short-head in the Sprint Cup last time.

Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) will be a long odds-on selection in the G1 FWD Champions Mile, a victory in which would take his current winning streak to 14. Only five others are signed on, including last year's winner Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), but Golden Sixty is likely to stay out of trouble and his late turn of foot should get the job done.

“I'm happy. I just had an easy gallop over six furlongs on him this morning and everything is good,” his regular rider Vincent Ho said. “There are no any concerns over him in any way. He feels very good.”

The last-start winner of the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 10 furlongs, Golden Sixty was for a time under consideration for the QE II, but lands in his sweet spot for this.

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Adlerflug’s Alenquer Prevails In the Classic Trial

One of the lesser-fancied 3-year-old colts in the line-up for Friday's G3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown, M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) nevertheless emerged front and centre with no hint of fluke as he split the Godolphin duo of Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Runner-up in the Listed Ascendant S. on soft ground at Haydock in September, the William Haggas-trained 25-1 shot was sent forward from the break by Tom Marquand and made certain that Yibir was unable to enjoy an easy time there. Attacking that rival three out with stamina assured as Adayar tried to emerge from a pocket back in the pack, the bay had first run on the imposing Charlie Appleby second-string and kept galloping relentlessly to score by half a length. Adayar, the race's major eye-catcher, had a neck to spare over his stablemate Yibir at the line. “He had only had two runs last year and the second was on horrific ground at Haydock, so he's certainly not the finished article yet,” Marquand said. “Every time he was joined, he fought back and is still learning. He'd never really had the chance to flatten out and run to the line before, so he's still quite raw. He's obviously got plenty of talent and promises to stay an extra couple of furlongs, but when he straightens out it might be that he shows us more speed than we thought.”

Alenquer had impressed when winning by 2 3/4 lengths on testing ground over seven furlongs at Newbury in August before meeting his match in the smart Hannon trainee Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) in the Ascendant, but remained unexposed in what is widely-regarded as the best renewal of this Derby prep for some years. With the G3 Zetland S. scorer and 7-2 favourite Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 4 1/2 lengths back in fourth and the unbeaten Listed Criterium du Languedoc winner Belloccio (Fr) (Belardo {Ire}), the G3 Solario S. winner Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and Ballydoyle's Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) well beaten this stood up to its billing. It also comes in the month that the German bloodstock industry was hit by the early demise of Adlerflug, Germany's champion sire last year who was responsible for the talented In Swoop (Ire).

Charlie Appleby said of the second and third, “Adayar and Yibir have finished off their races well and I am very pleased with their efforts. Yibir has stuck at it all the way to the line, while Adayar stayed on well. They have put up two very solid performances and a step up in distance could be on the cards for both colts, who look nice middle-distance horses for the rest of the season.” Yibir's jockey William Buick added, “I'm delighted with him–he ran a great race and as last year he got better with racing I expect it will be the same this year. I loved the way he battled back and he'll definitely get further. The runner-up is a lovely horse too and I guess he could step up as well.”

Alenquer is the second foal out of Wild Blossom (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), who is a half-sister to the Listed Junioren-Preis winner Wilder Wein (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). This is the family of the Hong Kong champion stayer Mr Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and group-winning top producers White Rose (Ger) (Platini {Ger}) and Wild Side (Ger) (Sternkonig {Ire}), with the latter being responsible for the G2 Park Hill S. winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Wild Coco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}). The dam's 2-year-old filly is by Zarak (Fr), while her yearling colt by Galiway (GB) was a €100,000 purchase by Haras de Meautry at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.

Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 CLASSIC TRIAL-G3, £45,000, Sandown, 4-23, 3yo, 9f 209yT, 2:12.13, gd.
1–ALENQUER (FR), 127, c, 3, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Wild Blossom (Ger), by Areion (Ger)
2nd Dam: Wind In Her Hair (Ger), by Turtle Island (Ire)
3rd Dam: Waitotara (Ire), by Habitat
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€18,000 Wlg '18 ARQDE; 80,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-M M Stables; B-Gestut Romerhof (FR); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $46,562. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Adayar (Ire), 127, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Anna Salai, by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £9,675.
3–Yibir (GB), 127, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Rumh (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £4,842.
Margins: HF, NK, 3 3/4. Odds: 25.00, 8.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Lone Eagle (Ire), Belloccio (Fr), Trawlerman (Ire), Etonian (Ire), Sir Lucan (Ire), Recovery Run (GB), Irish Legend (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Kingman’s Palace Pier Dominant In the Sandown Mile

Sandown played host to the TDN Rising Star Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Friday and Clarehaven's heir apparent did not disappoint on his return in the G2 bet365 Mile. Still an unknown quantity despite wins in the G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last term, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's 4-11 favourite who signed off 2020 with a third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot shadowed Shadwell's well-regarded Khuzaam (Kitten's Joy) throughout the early stages. Left in front passing three out as that All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions S. winner started to fade, the bay was pushed out to assert for a comfortable eight-length defeat of the outsider Bless Him (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), with the G2 Challenge S. winner Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 4 1/2 lengths further behind.

John Gosden had stated beforehand that Palace Pier had yet to get on the Newmarket grass gallops this Spring, so this comeback effort can be upgraded. “It was a good performance–I was very clear he was at about 80%, but luckily nobody put it up to him today,” he said. “He enjoys this track–he won as a two-year-old here and Frankie was very happy with him. He was having a very good blow afterwards, but this has saved me going up and down the all-weather gallops at home hundreds of times so in terms of going to the [G1] Lockinge [at Newbury May 15] next this is the right place. He's a lovely horse and hopefully we can go to the Lockinge and then Royal Ascot.”

Gosden is looking at stepping Palace Pier up in trip after his immediate mile targets, with this track's G1 Eclipse S. mooted July 3. “We'll take it as we go, but it was nice to come here and the race has worked out well for him,” he added. “He'll go further in time when we want to, but for the time being we'll concentrate on this. He was a top miler last year and I'll concentrate on those right now. At some stage, we'll go a mile and a quarter with him as he's always shown me that in his work. The Eclipse is a possibility, but it's very close to Royal Ascot. It's always tight for a horse if they've had a hard-ish race, but we'll put him in and take a look.”

Palace Pier, whose sole defeat came in the QEII after he had lost a shoe, is out of the unraced Beach Frolic (GB) (Nayef) who is a half to the G2 Dante S. winner Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and this stable's G2 Windsor Forest S. and G3 Musidora S. scorer Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who was also third in the GI Beverly D S. She is a granddaughter of Miss d'Ouilly (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}), a half-sister to the Jacques le Marois heroine Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who produced the GIII Cardinal H. winner Miss Caerleona (Fr) (Caerleon). She is in turn the dam of another former Gosden luminary in Karen's Caper (War Chant), who was successful in the G3 Nell Gwyn S., GIII Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup H. and GIII Eatontown S. and also runner-up in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and G1 Coronation S. before producing the G3 UAE Two Thousand Guineas winner Kinglet (Kingmambo) and G2 Derby Italiano runner-up King's Caper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).

Miss Caerleona's other class act was the GII Davona Dale H. winner Miss Coronado (Coronado's Quest), later the dam of the stakes-winning Arethusa (A.P. Indy) who was also third in the GI Las Virgenes S. This is also the family of the triple group 1-winning 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks heroine Blue Bunting (Dynaformer) and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). Beach Frolic's 2-year-old colt by Highland Reel (Ire) was sold for 320,000gns to McCalmont Bloodstock at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, while she also has a yearling son of Almanzor (Fr).

Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 MILE-G2, £67,500, Sandown, 4-23, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:44.43, gd.
1–PALACE PIER (GB), 127, c, 4, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Beach Frolic (GB), by Nayef
2nd Dam: Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Miss d'Ouilly (Fr), by Bikala (Ire)
(600,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £38,279. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, 7-6-0-1, $809,979. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bless Him (Ire), 127, g, 7, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Happy Land (Ire), by Refuse To Bend (Ire). (65,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; 100,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT; €600,000 2yo '16 ARQMAY; 31,000gns 4yo '18 TATAHI). O-Tony Perkins & Partners; B-Knocklong House Stud (IRE); T-David Simcock. £14,513.
3–Happy Power (Ire), 130, h, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Tamarisk (Ger), by Selkirk. (625,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £7,263.
Margins: 8, 4HF, 12. Odds: 0.36, 28.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Khuzaam. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Kingman’s Waldkonig In Charge In the Gordon Richards

It has taken longer than initially expected, but Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}) finally got his Pattern-race win at the right end of his 4-year-old campaign in Friday's G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown. Labelled a TDN Rising Star at two, Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park Stud's half-brother to Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was winning for the first time subsequently in a handicap over this 10-furlong trip at Pontefract Apr. 6 and it was significant that he attracted support into 6-4 favouritism despite this looking competitive. Ridden up with the pace from the outset before getting a lead from Extra Elusive (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), the bay was sent past that rival by Frankie Dettori with two furlongs remaining and was always doing enough to hold the veteran Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) by 1 1/4 lengths, with Extra Elusive 2 1/2 lengths away in third. “We thought he was going to be our Derby horse last year, but he grew and got weak and John was brilliant to give him time to develop,” Dettori explained. “It was the first time I have ridden him since last year and he has come on a lot physically. He gave me a real good feel there and is a good horse in the making. His pedigree suggests a mile and a half is not beyond his reach and he is very easy to handle, so I don't see why he couldn't go up in trip. He has fresh legs and I'm sure he will improve again.”

Off the mark on debut by nine lengths over an extended mile at Wolverhampton in December 2019, Waldkonig carried a tall reputation into the following June's Listed Newmarket S. and started as the 8-11 market-leader but was readily left behind when third to his stable's burgeoning star Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). Second-best but with a valid excuse when 2 1/2 lengths in arrears of fellow TDN Rising Star Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in an extended 10-furlong novice at Haydock later that month, he was sidelined thereafter and with 2020 a write-off reappeared a fresh horse with an all-too-tempting handicap mark to exploit at Pontefract. This was another step forward from a colt who can only progress with age, as did his renowned sibling whose career sign-off was that remarkable Arc triumph two years ago.

John Gosden was delighted that Waldkonig had made his mark in this company and said, “He won well at Wolverhampton as a young horse, then in a delayed start to last season people were disappointed when he ran third behind Mishriff but I don't think that was a bad run. He then went to Haydock and he was beaten there, but he came back and had a discharge and it turned out he had a horribly infected tooth and a blocked sinus and needed two operations. He was very ill and luckily he came back and we got him to where we wanted him, but the autumn had gone so he has had a long period off. He has benefitted from that. He has strengthened up and done well. I couldn't be more pleased with him. He went to Pontefract and won well on fast ground and he has won here on well watered ground. He is a versatile horse over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. We could look at the [G2] Hardwicke at Royal Ascot [June 19] with something else in between, maybe back here with a three-pound penalty for the [Apr. 27 G3] Brigadier Gerard.”

Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) earned TDN Rising Star status herself before taking the G3 Prix Penelope and has excelled in her second career, producing the aforementioned G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Waldgeist and the G2 Prix de Malleret winner Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Her 3-year-old filly Wildfeder (GB) also by Galileo is in training with Andre Fabre and broke her maiden at Saint-Cloud earlier this month, while she also has a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire). Waldlerche is a daughter of the G2 Falmouth S. runner-up Waldmark (Ger) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), which makes her a half to this stable's G1 St Leger hero Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and to the dam of the Listed Pat Eddery S. winner and multiple group-placed Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The third dam is the four-times group-winning German champion and runaway G2 Deutsches St Leger heroine Wurftaube (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), who was also responsible for the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Waldpark (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G2 Diana Trial runner-up Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory). Waldmark's full-sister Waldbeere (GB) is the dam of the six-times group-winning sire Wiesenpfad (Fr) (Waky Nao {GB}), the G3 Hackwood S. winner Waldpfad (Ger) (Shamardal) and the listed scorer and G1 Preis der Diana third Waldtraut (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 GORDON RICHARDS S.-G3, £45,000, Sandown, 4-23, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:13.56, gd.
1–WALDKONIG (GB), 126, c, 4, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Waldlerche (GB) (GSW-Fr & SP-Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Waldmark (Ger), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Wurftaube (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (600,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park Stud; B-Newsells Park & Ammerland GmbH & Co KG (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1, $58,220. *1/2 to Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Fr at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Fr & MG1SP-Eng, $5,401,859; and Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $123,344. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Desert Encounter (Ire), 126, g, 9, Halling–La Chicana (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (32,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-David Simcock. £9,675.
3–Extra Elusive (GB), 126, g, 6, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Nessina, by Hennessy. (300,000gns 3yo '18 TATAHI). O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-Roger Charlton. £4,842.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 1.50, 40.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Hukum (Ire), Winter Reprise (Fr), Highest Ground (Ire), Thunderous (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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