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Sioux Nation’s Indian Run On Top In The Acomb

Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation–Just Wondering {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) bettered a debut third at Newbury with a breakthrough score at Ascot last month and continued on the upgrade with a decisive success in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at York.

Racing under a firm hold in a handy fifth through the early fractions of this seven-furlong test, he loomed large out wide passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out once quickening to the fore approaching the final furlong to hold the late threat of Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) by an ultimately comfortable 1 1/2 lengths.

“That was very exciting and I'm really happy,” said Johnson Houghton. “What was pleasing was that his strongest furlong was his last because he had a really bad trip all the way, trapped on the outside with no cover. This ground is perfect Flat racing ground and he just found and found and found, which is very exciting. He's in the [G1] Dewhurst, so we'll probably look there. He's so unfurnished he needs time, so we'll give him a nice break until then, I imagine. Last year's winner [Chaldean] won the [G1 2000] Guineas, so we shall dream.”

Adrian Keatley was pleased with the performance of runner-up Ballymount Boy and commented, “He's handled the ground and we're happy with how he ran. He's had a long season, having come from the breeze-ups, and we're confident that he'll handle softer ground at the back end [of the season]. He's a big fellow, he went on that soft ground at Goodwood and at least we know he handles that quicker ground today. We definitely wouldn't be losing any faith and we think we have a very nice horse on our hands. We'll back off him for a few weeks and have a look at something at the back end. The [G3] Autumn S. [at Newmarket] or something like that.”

“Well Worth Doing” – Delight For O'Connor After Acomb Result

Eve Johnson Houghton was not the only one celebrating the success of Indian Run in the G3 Acomb S., as Rea O'Connor had successfully pinhooked the youngster for 75,000gns to Ballyhane Stud's Joe Foley at the 2022 Somerville Yearling Sale at Tattersalls just under a year ago.

A farrier by trade, O'Connor had plucked the newly minted Group 3 winner out of the Goffs November Foal Sale for just €6,000 from the draft of John Banahan's Ridge Manor Stud and describes his pinhooking venture as “a hobby.”

“I wouldn't pinhook too many each year, just a couple, and I pick up a few every year, it's just a bit of a hobby,” O'Connor told TDN Europe. “This is by far the best result by a longshot. It was great. It's absolutely fantastic for Joe Foley that bought him. Glad to have him there now and it's great to see him go on, as that's what it's all about.”

As soon as the hammer fell at Goffs, O'Connor already had a yearling sale in mind for the son of the placed mare Just Wondering (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

“When I bought him as a foal, the aim, from the minute he arrived home and when I'd seen him at the sale, was to send him back through the Somerville Sale,” O'Connor added “I thought he was a good, hard-knocking straightforward colt and would suit that sale down to the ground. A nice and early sale for a nice and early horse.

“I think I'd only seen him once at Goffs and liked him. He was [a] grand, good early January foal. Good and strong in himself, quite uncomplicated, really to be honest. I'd say I was just lucky he was in the early lots and maybe a few people missed him, that I managed to buy him. The mare maybe put a few people off. She'd a good few foals and not many winners. I think she has one runner, one winner, but I suppose she was a bit exposed with foals on the ground.”

Bred by Ciaran McGrath, the Jan. 27-born colt is the eighth foal and second winner for his dam, who is a granddaughter of 1999 American Broodmare of the Year Anne Campbell (Never Bend), responsible for the Classic-placed multiple Grade I winner Menifee (Harlan), the three-time Grade I winner Desert Wine (Damascus), and Mr. P's Princess (Mr. Prospector), herself the dam of Fasliyev (Nureyev), et. al. among others.

“He was the type of horse that you wouldn't even know was around the place, he was so straightforward and anyone could do anything with him,” O'Connor continued. “He was a grand, quiet horse and great temperament. I suppose that stands him well in his racing. He was a good, strong, straightforward colt as a foal, very, very uncomplicated.”

After pleasing O'Connor in his prep, Indian Run was sold at Park Paddocks through Timmy Hillman's Castledillon Stud draft, where he caught the eye of Foley.

Reflecting on the transaction and looking toward the future, O'Connor said, “It's all well and good to get a few pounds for him and that keeps the thing going, but it's fantastic when they go on and win a race like the Acomb. It makes looking after him, going out in the morning, in the evening, before and after work worthwhile. It makes it well worth doing.

“Hopefully we can build on that. We can get something more this year hopefully. I'm delighted for everyone involved.”

Pedigree Notes

Indian Run is the latest of eight foals and one of two scorers produced by a half-sister to the stakes-placed duo Vegas Venture (Gold Fever) and Brown Linnet (Ire) (King Of Kings {Ire}). His second dam Ibtikar (Private Account) is kin to MGISW sires Menifee (Harlan) and Desert Wine (Damascus). Descendants of his dual stakes-placed third dam Anne Campbell (Never Bend) include elite-level winners Fasliyev (Nureyev), Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), U S Navy Flag (War Front), Roly Poly (War Front), Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Les Arcs (Arch), Marketsegmentation (American Pharoah) and Blueridge Mountain (Arg) (Giant's Causeway).

Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS ACOMB S.-G3, £165,000, York, 8-23, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.13, g/f.
1–INDIAN RUN (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Just Wondering (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ibtikar, by Private Account
3rd Dam: Anne Campbell, by Never Bend
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€6,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 75,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Ciaran McGrath (IRE); T-Eve Johnson Houghton; J-Daniel Tudhope. £93,572. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $155,450. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ballymount Boy (Ire), 129, c, 2, Camacho (GB)–Kasalla (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). (€8,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; €110,000 2yo '23 TATGOR). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Fontstown Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Adrian Keatley. £35,475.
3–Loose Cannon (Ire), 129, c, 2, Territories (Ire)–Varega (Fr), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€85,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-The Loose Cannons; B-Oceanic Bloodstock Inc & Eric Puerari (IRE); T-William Haggas. £17,754.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 8.50, 2.75, 4.50.
Also Ran: Hot Fuss (Ire), Cogitate (Ire), Edwardian.

 

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York: Can Paddington Run Continue in the Juddmonte International?

   When a horse like Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) comes along, the challenge is to find a new narrative as big-race win follows big-race win. There is no up-and-down to colour the story, no bouncing back from adversity, no heroic turnaround from setback. It is a clear case of superiority winning out each time, as it feels to watch Man City's relentless march through football's major tournaments on the other side of the Pennines. Sometimes, the truth is the horse does the talking and it is clear that we are dealing with a colt with a metronomic rhythm to his racing which at present shows no sign of being upset.

As far as Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International is concerned, it is up a trio with varying credentials in Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) to halt the momentum of Ballydoyle's at once unassuming and impressive colt. He needs this win to match the five-in-a-row Group 1 tally of one of the current regime's initial superstars Giant's Causeway, who was beaten in the Irish 2000 Guineas in which Paddington began his sequence. Shape shifting between supreme miler and 10-furlong horse just like the “Iron Horse” before him, he remains in pursuit of the seven consecutive elite-level triumphs of more Rosegreen royalty in Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire).

After mastering the stern uphill climax of the Eclipse and the unorthodox gradients of Goodwood, fast and deep turf, the latest test comes on the Knavesmire's level playing field which catches out only the complacent. What can possibly go wrong? Aidan O'Brien can't pinpoint a weakness. “He's an amazing horse really and all he's done is progress with each race,” he reiterated on Tuesday. “There's nothin much else I can say about him, every time we've asked him a question he keeps coming up with it. The ground is fine and we know he stays the trip. He went to the Coral-Eclipse for his first run over a mile and a quarter, so this is a little bit further on a flatter track.”

This is Frankie's last chance to edge Lester Piggott for the outright record of six wins and it would be a freakish turn of fortune if Jim Crowley's suspension meant that it came on Wednesday on Shadwell's Mostahdaf. One of the least heralded of the big guns that lined up for Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S., the Clarehaven slow-burner left nobody in any doubt that he was the only member of that particular cast made for a fast-ground mile-and-a-quarter test as he dished out a humbling beating to Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) et al.

The evidence of Riyadh and Royal Ascot suggest Mostahdaf is finally the finished article, but the question is whether that extra strength brought about by maturity is the equivalent of the seven pounds weight-for-age he advances to Paddington. John Gosden is looking forward to finding out now that the cards have fallen right with the wet spell behind us. “There's no change in Plan A, it was always to give him the time,” he said. “He benefited from time between Saudi Arabia and running in Dubai through to June and, again, we've taken a similar spacing with him.”

On Mostahdaf's surge up the Rankings, Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold admits to having underestimated the 5-year-old as he headed to the Royal meeting. “If I'm honest, I was a bit surprised to see him win [the Prince of Wales's] quite like that, but I probably shouldn't have been after the way he won in Saudi earlier this year. He was very impressive there and really quickened,” he said. “I thought he ran well in the Sheema Classic at Meydan too, where Equinox just killed him off the bend and he didn't get home but I was still surprised to see just how well he was travelling against a proper group one field at Royal Ascot and just how well he quickened.”

Ballydoyle vs The Gosdens is the modern-day customary tale in these kind of events and it is significant that the Newmarket father-and-son axis bolster their challenge with Imad Al Sagar's beloved Nashwa here. Last year's G1 Prix de Diane heroine failed to see out this trip on testing ground on her return mission in Goodwood's G1 Nassau S., but had previously looked to be peaking in the G1 Falmouth S. over a mile and this faster surface is a prerequisite over this distance these days.

Hollie Doyle is keen to put the 4-year-old's latest effort behind her and she could be the fly in the ointment with her invaluable fillies' allowance. “They had an easy time on the front end and Nashwa moved up like the best filly in the race, but she'd possibly been further back than ideal on that ground which probably blunted the turn of foot she showed in the Falmouth,” she said. “She takes her races very well and I'm hearing good reports from home through Teddy Grimthorpe.”

Already a winner over this course and distance in the G2 Dante S., King Power Racing's The Foxes (Ire) has to do much better than a subsequent fifth in the Derby and second in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational. “The others may be proven at a higher level, but I do feel The Foxes is an improving horse and we haven't seen the best of him yet,” racing manager Alastair Donald explained. “It looks like he'll get his preferred conditions of fast ground and we know he likes the course and distance. It might end up being a trappy race and, you never know, it's worth being there.”

 

Gregory The Key Player In The Great Voltigeur…

With Mostahdaf facing such a stern challenge on Wednesday, Frankie might give the York faithful the flying dismount they crave after the preceding G2 Great Voltigeur S. where Wathnan Racing's unbeaten  Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) looks a solid proposition. Despite carrying a three-pound penalty for his G2 Queen's Vase exploits over two furlongs further than this mile-and-a-half contest, he looks a genuine stayer with speed. Ballydoyle's representative Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) had the pace to be third to The Foxes in the Dante and to get closest to one of his generation's bigwigs King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in a slowly-run G2 King Edward VII S., so if Gregory can usurp him and Godolphin's G3 Bahrain Trophy winner Castle Way (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) with the odds slightly against him the St Leger will loom even larger on his horizon.

 

Big Moment For Keatley In The Acomb…

Adrian Keatley has been slowly making a name for himself from his British base and in another Wathnan Racing acquisition in Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) he has the right material to make waves in the always-important G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. Looking in need of this extra furlong when a length second to the subsequent G1 Prix Morny hero Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G2 Richmond S. over six at Goodwood earlier this month, he sets the standard and it is just a case of whether he can contain the flow of unexposed types.

“We thought a lot of our horse going to Goodwood, so we weren't by any means surprised by his run and we appreciate that the winner now looks very good as well–it's all stacking up,” his trainer said. “He went from a four-runner novice race at Hamilton into a group two and it was a massive step, a massive ask, and he answered all the questions bar one. We think he could be a top-class seven furlong horse or miler for the future.”

With two Guineas winners in Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) winning this in the last five years, it pays to watch the untested colts closely and Cogitate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) is one of the more intriguing. Trainer Charlie Hills said of the Newbury novice scorer, “His work has been good and we think he could be a nice horse for the future. He travelled very well [at Newbury], he's got a good attitude and a good temperament–I was really taken by his first run. He's a big, scopey horse and he should be a nice horse for next year as well.”

Also in the mix is Ballydoyle's Naas maiden winner Edwardian (No Nay Never), the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Ascot maiden scorer Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and the course-and-distance winner Loose Cannon (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) from the William Haggas stable.

 

Classic Rematch In Yorkshire Oaks…

Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks will see the G1 Irish Oaks one-two Savethelastdance  (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) square up again after a field of 10 was confirmed on Tuesday. Shadwell's G1 Nassau S. heroine Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the key member of the older brigade, while in the supporting card's six-furlong G2 Lowther S. the G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up and Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) encounters eight rivals including Ballydoyle's impressive Curragh maiden winner Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never).

 

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Optimism In The Air As Arqana Bids To Build On Momentum In V2 

Arqana boss Freddy Powell and consignors Guillaume Vitse and Anna Sundstrom have said that they are optimistic that the sales company's return to a V2 format will pay off in spades in Deauville on Tuesday. 

After a helter-skelter August Sale that saw figures rise dramatically across the board, including the aggregate by a massive 15% to almost €40m at an average of over €236,000, the Arqana sales complex took a well-earned pause on Monday on the eve of the V2 Sale. 

Sundstrom reported many breeze-up handlers and French trainers to have landed at her Coulonces barn while Al Mohamediya Racing, Al Shaqab and trainer Richard Fahey were also spotted inspecting the talent on offer. 

For Powell, Monday provided the opportunity to reflect on one of the most successful sales in the recent history of the company, before looking forward to V2.

He said, “The August Sale definitely exceeded our expectations. We were cautious leading up to the sale because you just never know but obviously we were quietly confident that we had some nice horses and knew some of the big buyers were coming and knew that some of the principals were coming as well. 

“That's always a good sign. We would take this opportunity to thank those people for coming. It's a really good dynamic. For the past 10 years, the French breeders have invested a lot of money and are operating at a really high level because they know they have a good marketplace here in Deauville to sell their horses. Things are going well and it's fruitful for everyone.”

He added, “The sale was competitive but not too selective, which was great. When you see the raise in the median [by €55,000 to €185,000], it means that the quality of the whole group of horses has been raised, which is great.”

Arqana is reverting to the V2 style after staging a September Yearling Sale in 2022 which, by the company's own high standards, failed to hit the target in terms of attracting footfall. There will be no excuses on that front tomorrow judging by the amount of people present for the Monday evening BBQ and Powell says he is confident that the new format will work. 

He said, “We had too many horses last year overall for some reason. The September Yearling Sale is working on the racecourse but September is a very busy period on the sales circuit with Keeneland, Tattersalls Ireland etc. There are plenty of sales at that time and the calendar is full. It is difficult to get people to Deauville for August, September and October. It is very busy this morning and this format is probably the best format. We are keen to find a good balance.”

Sundstrom will be hoping to keep the momentum going from a memorable August Sale where she sold 14 horses for over €3m while Vitse's Normandie Breeding operation is keen to make hay with its typically-sharp offering.

Vitse said, “The August Sale went okay for us. Compared to the big operations, we did okay and our clients were happy and I was happy, so that's the main thing. We have a nice bunch for V2.This is more what we do; precocity and speed. That's what I like.”

He added, “Today has been very busy. We haven't stopped. We have a nice colt by Calyx (GB), who is doing pretty well, a Golden Horde (Ire, who is a nice filly, a nice Earthlight (Ire) and a Hello Youmzain (Fr) as well. All four horses are going down well.

“There was no atmosphere here last year. It didn't work as there were no English and Irish buyers here. It was difficult for them to come because there were so many other sales at the time and, when there is no atmosphere, it's not easy. We are optimistic about tomorrow. I am always optimistic.”

Sundstrom's bonanza of an August Sale was headed by a Wootton Bassett colt to Yoshito Yahagi for €1m and she lauded Arqana for attracting the big players to Deauville which allowed such a result be possible. 

She said, “It was an incredible three days. Going into the sale, I knew we had a really strong draft but I never thought they would make that much money. It's unreal. The stars aligned and everything fell into place.

“The French horse has proved itself as good as any other. Trainers can travel all over the world and we can sell the French horse to some of the best people in the world to win Group 1 races.”

She added, “We have been really busy again today and there have been a lot of French trainers and breeze-up trainers flying in today. There are a lot of foreign people here as well. 

“We actually showed here on Sunday while a lot of people were still here. We had our V2 horses here already so we said, 'come on, see if there's anything you like.' We have a fabulous Ten Sovereigns (Ire) filly who should go well tomorrow and a nice draft overall so hopefully it goes well.”

 

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Paddington Heads Four In Mouthwatering Juddmonte International

Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) heads a field of four for the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York with Aidan O'Brien's star three-year-old bidding for a fifth success at the highest level.

His chief threat is Shadwell's G1 Prince Of Wales's S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt will be accompanied by stablemate Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who bids to rebound off a third-placed effort in the G1 Nassau S at Goodwood.

King Power Racing's Derby fifth The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) will have his first start since last month's GI Belmont Derby Invitational in New York where he finished an unlucky second.

Opening day on the Knavesmire will also feature the five-runner Sky Bet G2 Great Voltigeur S., in which Wathnan Racing's undefeated G2 Queen's Vase victor Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) will line out in advance of a possible tilt at next month's G1 St Leger.

The pattern-race action gets under way with the seven-furlong G3 Tattersalls Acomb S., which has attracted six juveniles headed by another Wathnan Racing acquisition, Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}).

He was last seen finishing second to G1 Prix Morny hero Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in this month's G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood. The Adrian Keatley trainee will exit from gate two for his first start in fresh silks.

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