Tag: Shared News Europe

Alcantor Looks To Get Back On Track At Clairefontaine

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a returning 'TDN Rising Star'.

13.25 Clairefontaine, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 8fT
ALCANTOR (FR) (New Bay {GB}) is moved up to a mile from six furlongs by Andre Fabre, having lacked the raw pace to deal with the subsequent G3 Prix de Cabourg third Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) at Chantilly a month ago. That is no surprise given that Baron Edouard De Rothschild's TDN Rising Star is a half-brother to the G2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen winner Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and this potential confidence-booster against four fillies will hopefully see him reiterate what a class act he looked on debut over seven at Saint-Cloud in June.

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Goodwood: “I Think He Can Get Even Better.” Sussex At The Mercy Of Paddington

Last year, Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was 1-6 when extending his influence in Goodwood's G1 Qatar Sussex S. and if the forecast heavy rain leads to the withdrawal of Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) it could be that the 2023 edition sees another mortal lock in Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). With the prospect of up to 10mm of overnight rain before strong storm winds hit the area, this is going to be tough going and Cheveley Park Stud's Chris Richardson has not ruled out giving it a miss if the ground deepens too much. “At this point in time, all being well, we'll run,” he said. “Heavy ground wouldn't suit her. We have taken the chance and more rain would suit Paddington probably more perhaps than us. She handles soft ground.”

Even if Inspiral is allowed to square up to Ballydoyle's workaholic colt, it is fair to say that the Gosdens' G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine will have her work cut out in this 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in November. At least the father-and-son trainer combination now have a proper marker on him having lost out with Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Eclipse. Easy ground is of no concern to Aidan O'Brien, as it shouldn't be when we are talking about a son of Siyouni out of a Montjeu mare. He had heavy ground in the Madrid and soft in the Tetrarch, so if it gets deep this could be a complete mismatch.

Already a step ahead of Giant's Causeway, who was beaten in the Irish 2000 Guineas, Paddington is staying on the trail of the “Iron Horse” for now and Ryan Moore has a warning for those who try to obstruct him. “I think he can get even better,” he said on his betfair blog. “What this horse has done this season is little short of extraordinary, as he keeps on building and improving with every run. He won on heavy first time up and he has done it on better ground since and I get the impression there is more in the locker, even if his defeat of Emily Upjohn was obviously top-class form in its own right.”

It hasn't been plain sailing for Inspiral since her Coronation rout last June, with surprisingly only one success in her next four starts. On balance, her form is probably short of what is needed to upset Paddington and she has four pounds to give away to him in the bargain. Chris Richardson is aware of the task at hand. “Paddington is a serious horse. He is a bit of a superstar, but we're fresh and he's had a few more races than us,” he said. “We wanted to give her plenty of time after Royal Ascot. France was in the mix, but those races are too close together now and they have had plenty of rain over there.”

 

 

Big Guns Assemble For The Molecomb

Goodwood also stages the G3 Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb S. for 2-year-olds over the rapid five furlongs, where the six-length Listed Dragon S. winner Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) encounters the three-length Listed Windsor Castle S. scorer Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and the disappointing TDN Rising Stars Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}) and Barnwell Boy (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Mick Appleby said of Big Evs, “I think he will be okay on the ground, as long as it doesn't go heavy. You'd think he'd be okay on good-to-soft ground and the dam won on soft ground, so hopefully he should be all right. Obviously we have Kylian to beat. Should all go well, we'll probably go for the [G2] Gimcrack next.”

 

Nassau Battle Is On

Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) have been confirmed for Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood, with just six due to line up for the 10-furlong feature. They include Shadwell's Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who beat Nashwa in the G3 Hoppings S. at Newcastle last month, and Above The Curve (American Pharoah). John Gosden is relishing bringing the brilliant G1 Falmouth S. winner here for a tilt at back-to-back renewals.

“I think it's a fabulous race and, as in the Eclipse, the King George, and the Sussex S., we get that clash of the generations, which we all want to see. It's very healthy for the generations to meet like that and not duck and dive to avoid each other.”

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Crowley Banned, Fined for King George Ride

Jockey Jim Crowley has been banned for 20 days and fined £10,000 for his winning ride aboard Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot. Both he and Rob Hornby, who was aboard runner-up Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), were referred to the British Horseracing Authority's Whip Review Committee following the tight finish with only Crowley receiving a ban.

On Monday the whip rules were tweaked once more by the BHA following a six-month review period and under the new regulations Flat riders are only permitted to use their whip six times in a race, with a four-day ban for going one over the limit and seven days for going two over. Crowley used his whip nine times, which incurs a 10-day ban and is doubled for a class one race. Hornby benefitted from the revisions, but had the rules not been changed he would have received an eight-day ban.

Crowley will be sidelined from Aug. 15-21 and Aug. 23-Sept. 4 and will miss riding Shadwell's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 16 during the Ebor meeting at York.
“I'm extremely disappointed, obviously I had an inkling it was coming so I prepared myself,” Crowley said. “I can't change it, I've got to get on with it.

“I don't think anything untoward has happened to those horses in any way, it was a brilliant race. I used my whip in a very correct manner, how I've been brought up to use it. I gave the horse time to respond, we never used it in any incorrect place or at shoulder height or anything like that. Unfortunately it's not something I was aware that I'd done, and neither was Rob. It's very difficult to count in that scenario.”

Crowley hasn't decided if he will appeal his punishment.

“Although I broke the rules and I wasn't aware I broke the rules, I didn't think it was a problem watching the race. The horse's welfare always comes first and to me that wasn't a problem. I think they've been very severe and ruled with an iron fist, they don't want the win-at-all cost races. Jockeys aren't aware they're doing it, that's the problem.

“It's very unfortunate but it shouldn't take away from a brilliant race and a fantastic horse. I hope this doesn't overshadow that.”

Hornby also didn't think he had violated the whip rule.

“I wasn't aware on the day, not at all,” Hornby said. “In fact I was kicking myself as I thought I'd only done five (strokes)–that shows what my counting is like in that situation. I'm sure Jim is the same. It's a shame that it has cast a shadow over such a brilliant race, it should be remembered for two great horses.”

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Hats Off For Haatem – Bourke Back In The Big Time With Another Bargain Buy

If anyone had been chalking John Bourke's Classic success down to pure fluke, well then they may have been forced to reevaluate the Hyde Park Stud operator's method to breeding high-class horses on a budget after Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) stormed to G2 Vintage S. glory at Goodwood on Tuesday. 

Bourke famously bought Poyle Sophie (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) carrying last year's 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) for just 3,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018. 

Haatem is the latest triumph for his approach to sourcing mares on a budget, given he shelled out just 11,000gns for Hard Walnut (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), the dam of the Richard Hannon-trained runner at the same sale in 2020. 

Speaking shortly after the Goodwood win, Bourke said, “It's brilliant. I'm watching the racing at home here and I've watched the replay about five times already! I was very worried when Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) appeared on the outside but Haatem was very good. 

“He's a tough horse and this was his sixth run. Listen, he's a good solid horse and I have the mare here still. She's in foal to Far Above (Ire) and is a strong, good-looking mare but she lacks a bit of size. Far Above is a fast and scopey horse so the cross should work well. She has an Inns Of Court (Ire) filly at foot as well.”

Haatem was consigned by Sherbourne Lodge at Book 2 at Tattersalls last year. He sold to Peter and Ross Doyle on behalf of Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah for 27,000gns and has gone from strength to strength for the Hannon team. 

Bourke commented, “I sold Haatem as a yearling through Sherbourne Lodge at Book 2. I was buying yearlings at Book 2 and Book 3 so it's very hard to buy and sell at the same time. That's why he went through with Sherbourne Lodge. I just want to thank Sherbourne Lodge, Richard Hannon and Peter and Ross Doyle for everything. They've all done a brilliant job.”

But the real success story here, according to Bourke, is Haatem's sire Phoenix Of Spain. The Irish National Stud resident has had an electric start at stud, on the strength of which Bourke has decided to send him two mares next year, including Hard Walnut. 

Speaking about what attracted him to Hard Walnut in the first place, he recalled, “The match suited because Phoenix Of Spain is a big scopey horse and Hard Walnut isn't the biggest herself. She's a very strong, good-looking mare but she does lack a bit of size. 

“I have to say, I'd be respecting everything that Phoenix Of Spain is doing. Even if I'd nothing to do with Haatem, what Phoenix Of Spain is doing is quite impressive. I've a mare in foal to him on the farm and I am going to send him two mares next year as well.”

Bourke added, “Hard Walnut will go back to him next year, that's if they do me a good deal! Phoenix Of Spain was a very good horse himself but what he is doing now wasn't really scripted because he is more of a horse to produce two-year-olds for the second half of the season. 

“Haatem was unlucky in the Woodcote at Epsom. He was left in the stalls and still managed to finish third. He was fifth in the Coventry and was second to a machine in City Of Troy (Justify) in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket so he deserved his Group 2 win today.”

Bourke may have an uncanny knack when it comes to pulling a rabbit out of the hat at the sales but you won't see him taking any credit for the whirlwind success the farm has enjoyed in recent years. 

Asked to put the past two years into words, he said, “I'm going to start stuttering and stammering now! We all work hard here on the farm and we just like to buy those good-looking, fast and strong mares. For me, just because you spend a hundred grand on a mare doesn't mean you are going to get paid for the foals in year one or two. 

“I like these trading mares if I can use that word. Some people call them second-hand mares but you just have to cover them right and hope for the best. There are some good farms in Westmeath. We have Tally-Ho Stud and Lynn Lodge around here so it's a good area.”

Providing an update on the most famous mare on the farm, Poyle Sophie, he added, “She foaled at the end of April but didn't go back in foal so we left her off for the year. I have a Mehmas (Ire) colt going to Book 1 out of her and she has a Mehmas filly foal on the ground. We'll sell the colt first and then we will see what we do with the filly. We have a nice bunch of mares to cover next season.”

 

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