Tag: Shared News Europe

Observations: Son of So Mi Dar Debuts at Donny

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. Saturday's Observations features the son of G1 Prix de l'Opera-placed So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

4.45 Doncaster, Mdn, £8,000, 3yo, 10f 43yT
ASTRODOME (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the second foal out of the G3 Musidora S. winner and G1 Prix de l'Opera third So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who cost 1.2million gns at the Book 1 Sale. Carrying the colours of Lane's End Racing, the John and Thady Gosden-trained relative of Dubawi's Too Darn Hot (GB) and Lah Ti Dar (GB) is joined by the stable's fellow newcomer Carlton (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Godolphin's €350,000 BBAG September graduate who is a half-brother to the German Group 3 winner and triple Group 1-placed Calyx (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

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Stars on Earth Resumes In Osaka Hai

A good many of Japan's best middle-distance gallopers not named Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) are among a 16-strong field that was drawn Friday for the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse. And while the reigning Horse of the Year and towering G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic winner is recovering from his trip to the Middle East, a few of those that have form through him from last season seem poised to do a fair bit of damage over the metric 10 furlongs Sunday afternoon.

Last year's champion 3-year-old filly Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) has yet to square off with Equinox, but will attract her fair share of support off a preparation that included victories in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at the mile and the G1 Yushun Himba over 2400-metres before enduring a luckless passage in the G1 Shuka Sho in October, therefore missing out on the Filly Triple Crown. She has reportedly filled out during her time away, and Equinox's rider Christophe Lemaire is bullish on her chances this weekend.

“She's felt good in training, and I've been pleased with her responses and footwork,” the Frenchman said. “She's a lot bigger now, and as a 4-year-old more like an adult. I look forward to riding her this year.”

 

 

 

The fairer sex have won two of the three most recent renewals of the Osaka Hai, and the regally bred Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) is another who can add to the tally in her return to the races. A product of two horses of the year, the daughter of the outstanding Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) belied odds of 7-1 to best subsequent G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile heroine Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in this track's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m) in November and scarcely disgraced herself when a running-on third to Equinox in the G1 Arima Kinen (2500m) when last seen on Christmas Day.

“The distance of 2000 metres doesn't rush her into things, and hopefully she'll get into the flow of the race and run well,” said trainer Takashi Saito. “I'm looking forward to what she might be able to do this year.”

The flashy Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), fifth to Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this race last term, downed future G1 Saudi Cup hero Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen last August, then wasn't beaten far when fourth behind Equinox and Panthalassa in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last October. Down the field when well-bet in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, he makes his seasonal debut here.

Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was fourth in this last April and made just one more appearance, a runner-up effort to the high-class Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June. The lightly raced 7-year-old turned in the perfect prep for this when scoring by 3/4 of a length over the reopposing Lagulf (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800m) Feb. 26.

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Saturday Preview: The Flat Is Back

Ireland's Flat action may have already started and France's has been rumbling on for several days, but for many the real beginning to the season on the level is Doncaster's Lincoln H. on a Saturday which wrests the attention from the national hunt in no uncertain terms. Whether there is a horse of the calibre of Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) lurking in the prestigious mile handicap remains to be seen, but there is a strong vibe surrounding another member of the William Haggas tribe in 'TDN Rising Star' Al Mubhir (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is the mount of Doncaster specialist Andrea Atzeni now operating as a freelance in a 2023 that will define his future riding career. “I thought he was going to be a good horse,” Haggas said of Al Mubhir, who had looked pattern-class all over when entered in the G3 Craven S. 12 months ago. “He won his maiden very nicely at Newmarket as a two-year-old and then I thought he was going to be a nice three-year-old. Then he was very disappointing. He was pretty unruly as well and lost his way a bit, but he finished the season well. I don't know how good he is, but he's always been a nice horse and I think he's in good shape.”

Donny Delights…

Also at Doncaster are the Listed Cammidge Trophy, which sees the return of the still-unexposed G2 Sandy Lane S. winner El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) returning for the first time since beating only two home as the joint-favourite for the G1 Commonwealth Cup, and the Listed Doncaster Mile while the 2-year-olds assembled for the opening Brocklesby Conditions S.

 

Plat Du Jour…

'TDN Rising Star' Pensee Du Jour | Scoop Dyga

It is at Saint-Cloud that the high-stakes action takes place, however, with Andre Fabre seeking a third straight success with TDN Rising Star Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G3 Prix Penelope. Staged over the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the Prix de Diane, the renowned trial has surprisingly not been won by a subsequent heroine of that Classic since Pensee Du Jour 's distant relative Pawneese (Ire), the Wildensteins' champion of 1976. Fabre already holds the record of nine in this and the way the Ballymore Thoroughbred representative went through her maiden at Chantilly in February and the Listed Prix Rose de Mai here early this month suggests that number 10 is imminent.

Come On, Get Happy…

Ballydoyle have begun the year with gusto and the presence of two of the stable's runners in the Penelope is certain to be an indicator of what is to come as Rosegreen look more to France than ever before. Ryan Moore is here and not on the aforementioned favourite for the Lincoln, so it is up to another daughter of Camelot in Be Happy (Ire) to make up for that missed opportunity. Impressive at Cork on debut in September, the relative of the Prix du Jockey Club hero Anabaa Blue (GB) and of the great Urban Sea was only fifth in The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. the following month but this is a new year and her rider is quietly confident. “Be Happy will enjoy the expected soft ground and she is a filly we like,” he said. “She probably didn't get the run of the race at the Curragh and this longer trip will suit.” Jean-Claude Rouget saddles Denford Stud's dual Cagnes-Sur-Mer scorer Iznik (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), while Gainesway Ventures' Arqana December purchase Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) adds weight having won Leopardstown's G3 Eyrefield S. and been in front of Be Happy when third in the Staffordstown.

Old Habits Die Hard…

In the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc, Al Asayl France's stalwart The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has everything in his favour as he bids for a third renewal following his win in the course-and-distance Listed Prix Altipan three weeks ago, with the G3 Prix Perth one-two Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and the 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) offering stern opposition. Unbeaten at this venue in five starts on ground that rode softer than good, the 8-year-old former QEII hero still sets the standard in this type of company.

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Brocklesby the First Test for British Juveniles

Saturday may be April Fools' Day but there will be no fool's errand for the 17 juveniles charged with getting their racing careers off to a bright start in Britain's traditional turf season opener, the Pertemps Network EBF Brocklesby S.

Love it or loathe it, the Brocklesby carries with it that great sigh of relief from Flat fans that winter is at last over and 'proper racing' can now commence. For the men and women behind the stallions with their first runners this season, it is also an important marker, and four of the 17 runners this year represent three freshman sires.

Magna Grecia (Ire) drew first blood in the first-season sires' title race of 2023 when the Amy Murphy-trained Myconian (Ire) won the Prix du Debut at Saint-Cloud. The 2019 2,000 Guineas winner, whose half-brother St Mark's Basilica (Fr) has since followed him to the Coolmore stallion yard, also features among the sires of the Brocklesby runners, with the Andrew Balding-trained Loaded Gun (Ire) high up in the betting at Doncaster. A half-brother to the dual sprint winner Another Bertie (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Loaded Gun was bred by Khalid Mishref and Joe Hernon, and is a son of the Cheveley Park Stud-bred mare Temerity (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), won won over seven furlongs at two.

Karl Burke enjoys plenty of success with his juveniles and is represented by Indication Call (Ire), a son of Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB), who has had two runners to date in Ireland including Friday's Dundalk runner-up Lightening Army (Ire). Bred by Mcr Bloodstock, Indication Call hails from a family that the trainer knows well, as his dam Queen Elsa (Ire) is a Frozen Power (Ire) half-sister to the Burke-trained G2 Mill Reef S. winner Toocoolforschool (Ire), who is by Soldier's Call's sire Showcasing (GB).

Eyeros (Ire), trained by Stan Moore and bred by Gleann Ard Stud, is another by Soldier's Call in the field and is out of the unraced Aga Khan-bred mare Tildiyna (Ire) (Sinner {Ire}), a grand-daughter of Timarida (Ire) (Kalaglow {Ire}), the winner of three Group 1 races in Ireland, America and Germany, including the Irish Champion S.

Dave Evans will saddle Go To Work (Ire), bred by Tally-Ho Stud, which is also home to his sire Inns Of Court (Ire). The gelding is out of the New Approach (Ire) mare Forgiving Flower (GB), a half-sister to Japanese Grade 3 winner Live Concert (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) and to the Listed winner Charleston Lady (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}).

Tally-Ho Stud is also now home to last year's Brocklesby winner, Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who went on to win the G2 July S. and finish runner-up to Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Prix Morny for Amo Racing. The 2021 winner Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) also proved to be a smart and hardy campaigner, winning four times at two for Eve Johnson Houghton, including at Royal Ascot, while arguably the smartest recent winner of them all was The Last Lion (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), whose busy juvenile campaign of 2016 culminated in victory in the G1 Middle Park S.

Amo Racing also has the favourite for this year's contest in the Starspangledbanner (Aus) colt Valadero (Ire). A €250,000 yearling bred by the Irish National Stud, Valadero is trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis.

“Persian Force was obviously an incredibly special horse who was verging on Group 1 standard,” said Tom Pennington, Amo's racing and operations manager. “Valadero is a very nice colt who has been very straightforward to deal with and his work's been good. I wouldn't say we're confident, but he does go there in very good shape.”

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