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Godolphin Duo Pose Threat In Balanchine S.

You've heard of Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})? How about Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {Ire}), Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) or Promising Run (Hard Spun)? What do they have in common? Godolphin, for one, and they are all the winning alums from the past five years of the G2 Ballanchine S. at Meydan Racecourse.

Either of the 4-year-old blue-clad torchbearers that are drawn into Friday's edition could carry on that tradition. Out of With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), both of whom are trained by Charlie Appleby, the former will probably serve as the prima based on the European markets. Despite a last place in the 2022 G1 Epsom Oaks behind the winner, Tuesday (Ire) Galileo {Ire}) and her new stablemate, Tranquil Lady (sixth), the filly did find success in the GIII Saratoga Oaks later that summer. After an autumn break, she won the G2 Cape Verdi S. three weeks ago over this very turf course and will have the services of William Buick once more.

“With The Moonlight has come forward since the Cape Verdi and the step back up in distance is going to suit,” said Appleby. “She has a penalty to carry, but is clear on ratings and has already won at the track this season. She looks the one they all have to beat.”

Tranquil Lady is obviously no understudy. Lest we forget, she was a 2.7-million gns Tattersalls December purchase by Godolphin, and even though the former Joseph O'Brien trainee has not been seen since she won the G3 Prix de Flore S. at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 22, she's no nap, as James Doyle gets the call for the first time.

“This will be her first start for us, so we are on a slight learning curve, but we are confident that she will run a nice race,” the trainer said. “We will potentially see her at her best over further and this will be our first opportunity to get a handle on her ahead of the forthcoming season.”

With six other longshots at the bar for this year's Balanchine, it could be Lyrical Poetry (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) or even Katoucha (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) that could rise to the occasion. If not, it will be Godolphin once more that poses in the winner's enclosure on Friday.

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Masked Marvel Share Brings 50k At Auctav February Sale

A 1/50th share in prominent jumps stallion Masked Marvel (GB) (lot 18) made €50,000 as a private sale to Trotting Bloodstock during Auctav's February Sale on Wednesday.

The stallion has sired G1 Grand Steeple Chase de Paris winner Sel Jem (Fr), as well as numerous other black-type winners across Europe.

Trotting Bloodstock's Florent Fonteyne said, “I bought Masked Marvel's share for a client who is an established breeder who owns young NH broodmares.”

Fonteyne also snapped up lot 13, 10 shares in young stallion Van Beethoven for €22,000. The Scat Daddy 7-year-old is standing his third season at Karwin Farm.

Fonteyne added, “Van Beethoven is a nice horse in his third year of breeding. This purchase, made with a partner, was an excellent opportunity. I have a broodmare myself who is stationed up there, and I am happy to support Karwin Farm.”

The broodmare Kourouka (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) (lot 7), carrying to Masked Marvel, was also acquired by Fonteyne's Trotting Bloodstock for €22,000. She will be covered by Goliath Du Berlais (Fr).

Fonteyne said, “I spotted this broodmare as soon as she came out of the catalogue because of her pedigree. A daughter of No Risk At All and out of a dam by Martaline (GB), Kourouka is also a sister to Kapkiline (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) who belongs to a friend of mine and whom I follow closely for a long time. The fact that she is in foal to Masked Marvel was another plus.”

Other lots of note included a share in Nirvana Du Berlais (Fr) (lot 1), which made €48,000 from Julien Dubois; and a breeding right to Harry Angel (Ire) (lot 19) was bought by Oliver St. Lawrence for €38,000.

“My client and I have faith that Harry Angel could be a decent stallion,” said St. Lawrence. “We were keen to have a breeding right in him. He's a stallion for the future, and we hope his [first] 3-year-olds will prove it further.”

Arnaud Angéliaume, Managing Director Auctav, said, “At the beginning of the year, our customers' expectations were focused on breeding. We have therefore put together a catalogue to meet this demand with a majority of stallion shares and breeding rights, in particular with stallions that are difficult to reach directly today and which have been the most sought after. We are pleased that Auctav's clientele is growing with, once again, new clients who have placed their trust in us with a first lot for sale for some, and a first purchase for others.”

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French Wildfire Survivors Bid For Remarkable Win At Saudi Cup

There is added significance to a portion of the French challenge at the Saudi Cup because, a little under a year ago, 480 horses trained at the famous La Teste-de-Buch racecourse in the south-western part of the country had to be evacuated due to wildfires.

The Christophe Ferland-trained Big Call (Animal Kingdom), who runs in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. and Elisabeth Bernard's Sultana (GB) (Af Al Buraw {AE}), a runner in Friday's G2 Al Mneefah Cup presented by the Ministry of Culture, were among the horses that had to flee their stables.

“It was a nightmare,” recalls Elisabeth Bernard, who trains 75 Purebred Arabians. “We had been told by the firefighters in the morning that the fire wouldn't reach us and then suddenly, in the afternoon, the wind changed and there it was. It was like an apocalypse. The villagers had already been evacuated, but you can imagine it is not that easy to get horses evacuated. However, the smoke was toxic and we had to move quickly.”

Evacuating 480 horses in a rush was no easy task and after the transport companies had filled their horse boxes, there were still plenty of horses left at the La Teste-de-Buch racecourse.

“We started calling our friends and Xavier [Thomas-Demeaulte] sent me his horsebox,” Bernard continues. “And Didier Guillemin sent me his as well. But then we still had to find a yard for them, as I didn't want to split my horses.

“Also, there was a lot of panic amongst the staff and I thought if I don't keep my eyes on everything it won't work. There was only one place I could go and that was Pau, which has the infrastructure to accommodate 20 staff and 75 horses.”

It was an anxious 24 hours for the trainers based at the famous racecourse, but Bernard concludes, “In the end, the people were more panicked than the horses, who took it all remarkably well. No horses were injured, but it was quite an operation.

“I think Christophe [Ferland] had to put some of his horses up at a stud, some went to the Bordeaux Racecourse and some to Deauville. Logistically, it was a challenge, but the racing world was great, because they all helped out and all ended well.”

Luckily, the flames did not reach the racecourse and it remains operational, with Big Call and Sultana proving that the training centre is still capable of producing top-class runners.

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Frankie Dettori: Country Grammer Has ‘Rock-Solid Saudi Cup Credentials’

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA–Country Grammer (Tonalist) brings rock-solid credentials to the G1 Saudi Cup at Riyadh, according to his legendary rider Frankie Dettori, who says the Bob Baffert-trained 6-year-old can go one better than last year in Saturday's showpiece.

Dettori also described Baffert's other runner in the race, the unexposed Taiba (Gun Runner), as a force to be reckoned with as the 52-year-old spoke alongside fellow luminary in the saddle, Joao Moreira, in the build-up to the world's richest race.

“Country Grammer is very solid and never runs a bad race–touch wood he doesn't start now,” Dettori joked at a media event at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Thursday morning.

“He was second last year, is tough and has travelled before, which is a plus. I would be foolish to say that I am confident but I am very pleased to ride him and he will give his best.”

Baffert has had the Saudi Cup on Country Grammer's agenda for a while now and elected to sidestep taking on the unbeaten champion Flightline (Tapit) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in November, a decision Dettori hopes will be vindicated on Saturday.

He explained, “Bob and the Zedan Racing Stables, they skipped the [Breeders' Cup] Classic because they thought it would be tough to beat the good horse [Flightline]. He has been aimed at these two races, the Saudi Cup and then on to Dubai, so this was always the plan. We have 48 hours to go so fingers crossed we can get there and everything goes to plan.”

On Baffert's other runner Taiba, Dettori added, “He is also very solid. He has very little mileage on the clock and is a horse who I feel is still improving. He will be thereabouts as well.”

Moreira will partner the Noriyuki Hori-trained Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), a general 14-1 chance for the Saudi Cup, and said that the 6-year-old has been filling him with confidence in track work this week.

“Being realistic, this is probably one of the strongest dirt races in the world,” Moreira said. “However, this horse has impressed me in track work and is taking me into the race with a bit of confidence. I know we are challenging good horses but I am faithful that this horse can give his best.”

The Saudi Cup meeting will be the biggest event that Dettori has ridden at since announcing his farewell tour over Christmas. Like Dettori, Moreira is planning on exiting the stage, but said that he is hopeful of riding for another two seasons before calling time on his career.

He said, “I don't know if many people know but I have developed some health issue, which is pretty much a hip joint. People think I can just go there and get a hip replacement but it's been recommended by the doctors not to do it right now. I am in a great deal of pain and, what's best for me psychologically is to decide to do it [retire] on my terms. I'm not doing it right now and will continue to ride for another year and a half, maybe two years.”

Dettori, who was described as being an “idol” by Moreira, is more definitive on his retirement and explained that the Breeders' Cup remains the most likely curtain call.

He said, “I gave myself a year to do my last farewell. I am in Saudi Arabia just because I was asked to be here, I'd usually be in Dubai, and after that I will do the European programme. Royal Ascot should be my last meeting in England and then possibly the Breeders' Cup will be my last, or if something in the Melbourne Cup or other things materialise. But this year is my last. I will be 53 in December and I will finish on the top. It's hard to choose the right moment and my heart wants to carry on but I want to have another life after racing.”

Asked if he thinks that he will change his mind about retiring this year, Dettori responded, “At the moment, the plan is to stop at the end of the season. I am sure I am going to be asked that question a million times before then.”

On the next chapter, he added, “I have my eye on working in the media. That is the route that I am thinking of taking. There are other things, like buying a few horses and becoming a bloodstock agent, things like that, but I will have a couple of months to sit back and look at the whole picture. Not training, no, I wouldn't have the patience.”

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