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Gran Alegria Seeks Fourth Group 1 in Mile Championship

A diverse group of 17 runners Sunday in Hanshin’s G1 Mile Championship, the second leg of the Japan Autumn International Series. Headlining the 1,600-meter test,

Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) accounted for a pair of Goup 1 wins in her two latest starts–the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in June followed by Nakayama’s Sprinters S. Oct. 4. The daughter of Grade I-winning Tapitsfly (Tapit) won last season’s G1 Oka Sho over the same course and distance of this weekend’s Mile.

“She was in great condition for the Sprinters S., and although she didn’t start so quickly, the blistering turn of foot she showed at the end of the race was quite amazing,” said Daisuke Tsumagari, assistant to trainer Kazuo Fujisawa. “She had a break at Northern Farm Tenei after the race, and since returning to the stable she’s been relaxed and in good order.”

Attempting to repeat in this season’s Mile Championship, Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) proved best in the 1,600-meter G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup at Kyoto in April before finishing third to Gran Alegria and the star mare Almond Eye (Jpn) in the Yasuda Kinen, a race he won in 2019. The 5-year-old boasts an impressive 50% win strike rate at the 1,600-meter distance. Assistant trainer Kenichi Shono commented: “He had some pain in his right hindquarters, so we had to skip the Sprinters S. In recent training he’s been working on the woodchip course, as the going on the uphill training track hasn’t been so good. It’ll be his first race since finishing third in this year’s Yasuda Kinen, and his regular rider, Yuichi Fukunaga, is expected to be in the saddle once more.”

Victorious in Tokyo’s G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup last fall, Salios (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) recorded a career-high victory in the

G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. over this course and distance in December. Runner-up behind Contrail (Jpn) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) earlier this spring, the 3-year-old took the 1,800-meter G2 Mainichi Okan at Tokyo Oct. 11. The colt has never finished worse than second in six career starts.

“He won well in the Mainichi Okan after being off for a while, and it just took him a bit longer to recover after that race,” said trainer Noriyuki Hori. “We’re just being careful with him and checking his condition as this race approaches.”

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Irish Stars Support CHI Foundation In Honor of Pat Smullen

In memory of the late champion jockey Pat Smullen, Irish racing stars have pledged their support in the fundraising efforts of the Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin, which aims to purchase a spinal cell saver auto transfusion device for the children’s hospital, CHI at Crumlin. In the coming weeks, jockeys and racing personalities will call on racing and sports fans for donations towards the essential blood transfusion equipment.

John Butler, Jockeys’ Sports Physiotherapist and Paul Quish, Racecourse Announcer, who spearheaded the campaign in 2019, both agreed: “Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, everyone in racing is more determined than ever to continue the much-needed fundraising for Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin. Our former colleague Pat Smullen was inspirational in his support for our project last year and we have dedicated this year’s effort to his memory. We are all focused on raising the funds to buy the spinal cell saver auto transfusion, an essential piece of equipment that CHI at Crumlin specifically identified to provide children all over Ireland with life-changing treatment. Any donations, big or small will be really appreciated.”

Additionally, Irish racecourses around the country will name a race to promote the fundraising initiative–‘Irish Racing Industry Fundraiser for Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin in memory of Pat Smullen.’

For more information, visit www.childrenshealth.ie or to make a donation, click here.

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Jockey Club Meeting Draws Hong Kong Heavies

With a few notable exceptions, Sunday’s Jockey Club programme at Sha Tin Racecourse has attracted more than two dozen of Hong Kong’s top gallopers, each of whom have an eye on the Longines Hong Kong International Races, now just over three weeks away.

Reigning Horse of the Year Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is set to face eight other rivals as he preps for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in defence of his title in the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m). Winner of 11 of his 26 local appearances, including the 2018 Vase, the 6-year-old carries a five-pound penalty, yet is six pounds better at the weights with his re-opposing stablemate Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), who bested the first-up Exultant in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse H. (1800m) Nov. 1.

Last year’s Classic Series sweeper Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) will be the long odds-on jolly to win the G2 Jockey Club Mile and take his record to 13 wins from 14 career starts. Though the 5-year-olds domestic rating has skyrocketed to 127-three clear of the veteran Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus})–Golden Sixty will enjoy one more start with a break in the weights, as he carries 123 pounds to Southern Legend’s 128 under the conditions of the race. Golden Sixty defeated Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and Southern Legend in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. over Sunday’s course and distance Oct. 18. Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power {GB}) brings a five-race winning streak into the JC Mile, while Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) is being saved for a fresh run in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile.

With The Everest winner Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) gearing up for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint without a local prep, a field of 10 is set for the G2 Jockey Club Sprint over the same 1200-metre distance. Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), second off an 11-month layoff last year, has the benefit of a tightener this time around, having finished a sound fourth to Wishful Thinker (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) and the progressive Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. Oct. 18. Hot King Prawn would go on to fill the same spot behind the now-retired Beat The Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) on international day. Big Time Baby (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) has five local wins on the dirt track, but proved his versatility with a runner-up effort to Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize last April and is not without a chance.

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Local Hope Simsir Takes The Bahrain International Trophy

Bahraini-based by globally successful trainer Fawzi Nass has cemented a reputation as a shrewd buyer of European horses in training both at public auction and privately, and his latest project Simsir (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) came good on his first start for his new yard on Friday, winning the £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir from John Gosden’s Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal) and Aidan O’Brien’s G1 Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The 4-year-old gelding Simsir was plucked privately from the yard of Mick Halford just this fall, having previously run as a homebred for the Aga Khan. Simsir was not seen until the autumn of his 3-year-old year last year, and won two of his first three starts before a campaign in Dubai earlier this year, where he won a 2000 metre turf handicap. Simsir was second in the Listed Silver S. on his second start back in Ireland in July, and the deal with Nass was made after he finished fifth of 22 runners in The Curragh’s Northfields H. on Irish Champions Weekend.

Nass finished first and fourth in his country’s most important race, with 22,000gns Tattersalls Autumn buy Port Lions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) just missing the placings. That 5-year-old gelding has been another success story for Nass; he upset Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) by a head in the Feb. 29 Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup on the inaugural Saudi Cup card.

“To win such an amazing race is an absolute thrill,” Nass said in the aftermath of Simsir’s win. “He has done it so bravely. Mick Halford always assured me that he likes it firm and he was right. For me, it was the jockey’s race. I thought he committed early in the straight, but he proved me wrong.”

That jockey was Scotsman Lee Newman, the UK champion apprentice in 2000 who has since ridden around the globe and has recently been stationed at Sakhir.

Newman said, “I took the bull by the horns at the five-furlong pole and kicked on from there. It’s a track that you can do that at if your horse is a galloper and he is that. It is down to Fawzi for putting his trust in me as he could have asked any jockey from anywhere in the world, but he asked me. I am delighted.”

Newman and Simsir broke sharply from gate two, and after hustling initially to hold a prominent position were content to take a slight hold as Coolagh Forest (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) crossed over from a wide draw to take up the running under John Egan. That rival attempt to stretch his advantage down the backstretch but Newman kept the frontrunner in his sights, and the front two had detached themselves from the rest of the pack by the time they hit the second bend. Newman drove Simsir to the front as they turned into the straight as Coolagh Forest began to pack it in, and while the longshot had a mighty target on his back with some of his more fancied rivals gobbling up ground late, he held on to win by a neck from Global Giant, with Sovereign just nosed out in third.

Following Port Lions in fourth, the order of finish was completed by Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), Deirdre, Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), What A Welcome (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling), Coolagh Forest and Lady Wannabe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Pedigree Notes
Being a product of the Aga Khan’s program, it should come as no surprise that Simsir hails from a proper pedigree, and indeed he is out of the listed placed Simawa (Ire) (Anabaa), a half-sister to none other than Sinndar (Ire). Simawa has produced two stakes winners: the Listed Loughbrown S. victress Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and this year’s G3 Amethyst S. scorer Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). The mare, who was sold to Outsider Bloodstock for €210,000 at Goffs November in 2018, has no 2-year-old of 2020, but has a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire) and a colt foal by Motivator (GB).

Sakhir, £500,000, Cond, 11-20, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.29, gd.
SIMSIR (IRE) (g, 4, Zoffany {Ire}-Simawa {Ire} {SP-Ire}, by Anabaa). Lifetime Record: 10-4-3-0, $487,783. O-Victorious. B-HH The Aga Khan Stud SC. T-Fawzi Abdulla Nass. *1/2 to Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 14f+, SW & GSP-Ire, $223,199; Summaya (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), GSP-Ire; and Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ire, $118,472.

WATCH: Simsir wins the valuable Bahrain International Trophy for Fawzi Nass

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