Frankel’s Mostahdaf Makes All For International Glory And A Record Sixth Success For Dettori

Just 35 minutes after Ryan Moore had given a copybook off-the-pace ride in the G2 Great Voltigeur, Frankie Dettori provided a masterclass of his own with a pillar-to-post exhibition aboard Shadwell's Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Handassa {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) in a stellar renewal of York's G1 Juddmonte International as the Knavesmire crowd was treated to high-end examples of elite horsemanship on the opening day of the Ebor Festival.

The G1 Prince Of Wales's S. victor was sharply into stride and soon held a three-length buffer, with Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) his closest pursuer through halfway. Dettori offered his rivals an opportunity to close when checking on their proximity and allowing his mount to fill his lungs approaching the half-mile pole. Shaken up in front with a quarter-mile remaining, the 3-1 second favourite was not for catching when push came to shove and he kept on strongly under a late urging to provide the rider with an outright record sixth triumph in the extended 10-furlong contest. Mostahdaf hit the line with one-length advantage as stablemate Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) rallied late and usurped the valiant Paddington for second in the dying strides.

Last term's G3 Gordon Richards S. and G3 September S. victor was undone by ground conditions when last of 20 in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and embellished his earnings column with a wide-margin tally in Riyadh's G3 Neom Turf Cup on seasonal return. Mostahdaf was no match for Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), finishing fourth in Meydan's Mar. 25 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, before bouncing back in style with a four-length triumph at Royal Ascot last time. His winning time of 2:06.40 here was the quickest since Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) outgunned three rivals in 2009.

“I've always thought he was a very good horse and he was electric when he won the Neom Cup,” said John Gosden of his charge, who punched his ticket for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November. “We then stupidly tried him over a mile-and-a-half again, against the Japanese world champion [Equinox], and got put in our box. I think it will be 10 furlongs all the way now. You could probably get away with a mile-and-a-half at the Breeders' Cup, round a few bends and down a hill, but I don't think we'll see that. I'll see what the owner wants to do. She's done wonderfully well and her father would be so proud of her. The Irish Champion has to be a possibility, but I always like to get home and make a decision after 10 days. Some are trying to persuade me to run him in the Breeders' Cup Classic on the dirt, but I don't know about that. I don't think he has to have a big gap between his races, it was just that he'd raced in the winter and then took on the great Equinox over a mile-and-a-half. You then need a holiday and he did well for it.”

Analysing Dettori's pitch-perfect ride and the effort of runner-up Nashwa, the trainer continued, “I think Frankie is like many of us, he's getting better with age. It was the plan to make it a real test today as there was no point letting Ryan [Moore] do his own thing. It was like Roberto and Brigadier Gerard all over again, but the filly finished second and the other boy [Paddington] has been very busy. Nashwa showed her class today, having got stuck in the mud in the Nassau, and it was brave of the owner to run her.”

Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold added: “To win the races we've done this year has been incredible; the Prince of Wales's, the King George, the Nassau and now this. It's been an amazing year. We have to enjoy it and be grateful. This was a proper race, but I was sad for York and the crowd there were only four runners. It was a quality race on paper and it lived up to its billing. We knew if we stood any chance of beating Paddington, we had to do something different rather than let him have his own way out in front again. Frankie proved a good substitute [for the suspended Jim Crowley] to have on the day. We weren't too worried changing tack as long as Frankie got the pace right.”

Aidan O'Brien admitted it may have been too much of a stretch to bring 'TDN Rising Star' Paddington back so soon after Goodwood's G1 Sussex S. and explained, “He ran a great race, but maybe I just pulled the elastic band too long and that's the reality. He had a tough race in Goodwood on soft ground and it just told today. He was just a little bit down in himself and maybe I should have waited and gone to Leopardstown [for the G1 Irish Champion] to give him a bit more time. He's only a baby 3-year-old and Ryan felt he was just a little bit flat. He was in good form and obviously we were happy to come here, but you don't really know until the speedometer goes to red. Frankie went evenly strong all the way and Ryan said he didn't travel with his usual fluency, but he still ran very well.” Looking to the future, O'Brien added, “We'll see how he is and everything's a possibility, but he definitely won't go to the Irish Champion. It will depend on what the lads want to do. We have fairly given it to him, we backed him up fairly tough and he did have a tough one the last day. I would have to say maybe I shouldn't have ran him, but that's the way it is.”

Pedigree Notes

Mostahdaf, the fifth of nine foals, is one of four scorers out of Listed Garnet S. victrix Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), herself kin to GII San Gabriel S.-winning GI Frank E Kilroe Mile placegetter Desert Stone (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and G3 Earl of Sefton S. third Euginio (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The March-foaled homebred is full to the unraced 2-year-old colt Mutaawid (GB) and a weanling filly. He is also a half-brother to G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Kingman (GB). His second dam Starstone (GB) (Diktat {GB}) is an unraced half-sister to Group 1-winning sires Pastoral Pursuits (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and Goodricke (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}).

Wednesday, York, Britain
JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL S.-G1, £1,000,000, York, 8-23, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 2:06.40, g/f.
1–MOSTAHDAF (IRE), 134, h, 5, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Handassa (GB) (SW-Ire), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Starstone (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Star (GB), by Most Welcome (GB)
O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £567,100. Lifetime Record: GSW-KSA, 16-10-2-0, $3,000,193. *1/2 to Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), MG1SW-Eng, $409,959. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nashwa (GB), 131, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £215,000.
3–Paddington (GB), 127, c, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Modern Eagle (Ger), by Montjeu (Ire). (€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £107,600.
Margins: 1, NK, 6. Odds: 3.00, 6.50, 0.67.
Also Ran: The Foxes (Ire).

 

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Tammy O’Brien Appointed to Tattersalls Ireland Board

Tattersalls Ireland has appointed Tammy O'Brien to the Board with immediate effect. She joined Tattersalls in March 2017 as International Client Relations & Strategic Development Manager, will continue with her existing role.

A native of Cork, O'Brien, from a well-known equestrian and racing family, was a former international showjumper at pony and junior level and subsequently worked for 20 years as racing manager with Coolmore in Tipperary.

“We are delighted to welcome Tammy to the Board of Tattersalls Ireland. Tammy has played a pivotal role in Tattersalls' growth and has become an invaluable member of the group,” said Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins. “Having known Tammy for nearly 40 years, I can attest to her extraordinary work ethic, and I believe she is ideally placed to drive the ongoing development of Tattersalls Ireland. Her deep industry knowledge, strategic acumen and professionalism will undoubtedly be a great asset to us and our clients over the coming years.”

O'Brien added, “I am delighted to accept this appointment to the Board of Tattersalls Ireland, while also maintaining my current role with Tattersalls in Newmarket. Tattersalls Ireland has achieved sustained growth in recent years and I am looking forward to contributing to its continued success alongside Simon Kerins, my fellow Board members and the whole team at Tattersalls Ireland, all of whom share a commitment to the very highest standards which have always been the hallmark of the Tattersalls group.”

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Heart’s Cry’s Continuous Impresses In The Great Voltigeur

Coolmore and Westerberg's Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}–Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had failed to get his nose in front in three starts since saluting in last term's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud and bounced back under a Ryan Moore masterclass to claim a career high in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York. Detached in rear and patiently ridden as the hitherto undefeated Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) set searching fractions up front, the 4-1 chance inched ever closer in the straight to launch his challenge passing the quarter-mile marker and powered clear thereafter to easily account for Godolphin's Castle Way (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths. Gregory stayed on well once headed to finish one length adrift in third.

Continuous opened his sophomore campaign with a third in May's G2 Dante S. at this venue, but was no match for Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) when eighth in the June 4 G1 Prix du Jockey Club next time and went postward for this G1 St Leger staging post coming back off a second behind King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the June 23 G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot.

“He's a lovely horse who is progressing, he has enough class for a mile-and-a-half and could stay further,” revealed Aidan O'Brien. “He's an exciting horse and he handles an ease in the ground well as he has a bit of a round action. That was fast ground today, Ryan [Moore] said it was quicker than it was at Royal Ascot, and he didn't seem to have any problem with it. He came here in the Dante and needed the run very badly and ran a massive race. A little bit of class usually outs, especially if the pace is even. I asked Ryan about the St Leger trip and he said he doesn't need a mile-and-six, but he said you wouldn't rule it out.”

Charlie Appleby expects Castle Way to bypass the St Leger and will look to North America for the runner-up's next outing. “The fractions looked very quick and William [Buick] said he was close enough, but fair play to the winner, he was the fastest horse in the race,” the trainer reflected. “The main thing to take out of it is that William did say the mile-and-six in the Leger will probably stretch him. I think I'll most definitely put him on the radar for [the Jockey Club Derby at] Belmont, where the quick ground will suit him, and that will most likely be our next stop. He's got a great attitude and he tries, but he was beaten by a better horse today.”

John Gosden felt Gregory ran the ideal St Leger trial and said, “We felt we couldn't go from Royal Ascot [straight] to the Leger so we had to come here, even with a three-pound penalty. They went a strong pace and there were two others forcing it, but what I loved about it was that a furlong out he got going again. To me he's run the perfect trial for the Leger. I couldn't be more pleased and you can see by the size of him he's all about next year. One more run in the Leger and then Cup races next year.”

Pedigree Notes

Continuous is the third of six foals and one of two scorers out of a winning full-sister to G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, herself the dam of G1 2000 Guineas-winning sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The March-foaled bay's dam is also a full-sister to dual Group 1-placed G3 Silver Flash S. victrix Promise To Be True (Ire). His stakes-winning second dam Sumora (Ire) (Danehill) is kin to G1 Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) from the family of multiple Group 1-winning sire Dr Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}). Continuous is half to the unraced 2-year-old filly Angelica Tree (Ire) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and a yearling colt and a weanling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Wednesday, York, Britain
SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR S.-G2, £250,000, York, 8-23, 3yo, c/g, 11f 188yT, 2:27.45, g/f.
1–CONTINUOUS (JPN), 128, c, 3, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Fluff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sumora (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rain Flower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
O-D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg; B-Wynatt, Chelston Ireland & Orpendale Bloodstock (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £141,775. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 6-3-1-1, $317,416. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Castle Way (GB), 128, c, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Beach Frolic (GB), by Nayef. (425,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £53,750.
3–Gregory (GB), 131, c, 3, Golden Horn (GB)–Gretchen (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £26,900.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1, 11. Odds: 4.00, 6.50, 0.73.
Also Ran: Artistic Star (Ire), Canberra Legend (Ire).

 

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Paul Hanagan to Retire on Friday

Paul Hanagan, the former dual champion jockey in Britain, has announced that he will retire from the saddle at York on Friday. The 42-year-old will take one ride at the track in the first race for Richard Fahey, the trainer with whom he has enjoyed a significant portion of his success.

Hanagan was crowned champion apprentice in 2002 and eight years later gained the first of his two consecutive championships in the senior ranks, becoming the only jockey based in the north of England to have landed the title more than once. He notched his first Group 1 victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on the Fahey-trained Wootton Bassett (GB), who is now one of the most sought-after stallions in Europe.

In 2012, Hanagan was named as first jockey for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum on the retirement of Richard Hills and was retained to ride the Shadwell horses for five years. During that period he won his first British Classic on Taghrooda (GB) in the Oaks as well as a trio of Group 1 sprints on Muhaarar (GB). Simultaneously maintaining his association with Fahey's Musley Bank Stables, he also partnered Mayson (GB) in the July Cup to post a first Group 1 in Britain for both himself and the trainer, and later Sands Of Mali (Fr) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint.

Speaking on Racing TV during the first day of York's Ebor meeting, Hanagan said, “As you can imagine it's quite emotional. It's difficult, I think any professional sportsperson will tell you, especially doing it as long as I've been doing it for.

“There are a few things involved in making my decision, I had a pretty bad fall about two years ago and I've never quite been the same after it, I fractured my back in three places. It's not so much painful riding, but it's getting to the level of fitness you need to be at to be a professional jockey and I don't think I was getting to that standard.”

He added, “Looking back, I was very proud of myself for getting where I have [after the fall]. I managed to ride a couple of Royal Ascot winners after coming back, but keeping the fitness right was causing me a bit of pain and retiring here at the Ebor meeting feels right.

“I was two-times champion jockey as a kid from Warrington without a lot of racing experience, so I keep telling kids it can be done.”

Reflecting on his career highlights, Hanagan continued, “I've been blessed to ride some beautiful horses for some wonderful people. To win a Classic on Taghrooda was special – I don't think I'll ever forget my family's faces that day.

“Muhaarar is probably one of the best sprinters I rode and I was honoured to have a five-year association with Sheikh Hamdan and I had an even longer career with Richard Fahey, who I owe a lot to.”

One of an elite band of jockeys to have ridden more than 2,000 winners, a landmark he reached in November 2020, he has had two winners in the last week, including on Macarone (GB) at Beverley for Rob Burrow, the rugby league star who is battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Hanagan will take up a new role with the Good Racing Company in the near future. 

He said, “I'm really looking forward to working with The Good Racing Company, a charity that raises funds for different charities, namely working with Rob Burrow, and I'm going to be guiding them on which horses to buy.

“I rode Rob Burrow's first winner at Beverley the other day and that was very special. I've been riding for 26 years and it would be criminal of me not to do something more in racing.”

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