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July Festival Gets Underway

With the skies free of cloud, Newmarket begins its three-day July Festival on Thursday which for many afficionados of the turf is their highlight of the year. The feature on day one is the G2 Princess Of Wales's Close Brothers S., which sees Godolphin's international bigwig Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) face off against Shadwell's still-improving Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Yibir may have slipped a little of late, with a surprise second to Living Legend (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Rowley Mile's G2 Jockey Club S. presaging another disappointing reversal when third in the May 14 GI Man o'War, but the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Turf title holder has enjoyed a freshener and returns to the scene of his G3 Bahrain Trophy win at last year's Festival.

“He had a break after coming back from New York in May, he looks great and he's in good order for this,” Charlie Appleby said of Yibir. “He will be aimed at the [GI] Sword Dancer back in the States early next month.”

Mostahdaf's second in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot June 18 was his first try at this mile and a half and it may be that Jim Crowley can be more positive now that his stamina is proven as tactics promise to play a big part. “He's quite a tough horse,” Angus Gold said of the Shadwell representative. “As a 3-year-old he was quite immature, but now he's more mature he should be able to cope with the quick turnaround with any luck.”

Big Noise

As the 2-year-old form slowly unfolds in 2022, the reputation of Ballydoyle's 'TDN Rising Star' Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) just gets further inflated and the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. winner cuts a formidable figure in Thursday's G2 Close Brothers July S. In his three starts to date, he has beaten three subsequent black-type scorers including the G2 Railway S. hero Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a host of other winners, all done with a degree of comfort suggesting he has an abundance in reserve. He meets Amo Racing's June 14 G2 Coventry S. runner-up Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in a fascinating encounter, with Brian Goodyear's unlucky G2 Norfolk S. fourth Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and Charlie Appleby's unexposed June 9 Newbury novice scorer Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) adding intrigue.

“His sire Mehmas was second in the Coventry before going on to win the July Stakes, so I'm hoping he can do the same,” Persian Force's trainer Richard Hannon said. “He's got the right profile going into the race and he is still the horse we hope he is.”

Masekela Goes Trophy Hunting

In the 13-furlong G3 Bahrain Trophy which acts as an early St Leger pointer, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Derby fourth Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) bids to put down his marker for the Doncaster Classic as he returns to the scene of his short-head defeat by Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G2 Superlative S. at last year's July Festival. Whereas he chose Epsom to burst back onto the scene, Aquis Farm and Manton Park's Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) had Royal Ascot as the backdrop to his revival as he went down by an agonising margin to the leader Leger fancy Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the June 15 G2 Queen's Vase. As a juvenile, the Freddie and Martyn Meade-trained Zechariah had a 2 1/4-length margin to spare over Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Newbury's Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions S. Form which looks very healthy as of this moment in time. Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) began his heady ascent in this card's Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil S. and a year on, the race which pays tribute to the Town's much-missed great sees the Gosdens-Dettori link re-established with Saeed Suhail's G1 St James's Palace S. fifth Mighty Ulysses (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}).

Inspiral And Frankie Face Four In Falmouth

John and Thady Gosdens' Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will remain the mount of Frankie Dettori in Friday's G1 Falmouth S., which drew four rivals set to line up against last year's champion filly. The Cheveley Park Stud homebred is unbeaten and swept to an imperious G1 Coronation S. victory at Royal Ascot.

“Inspiral hasn't done much since then [the Coronation], but all has been well with her and she enjoyed a nice stretch on Saturday with Robert Havlin on board,” said Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director Chris Richardson. “Frankie knows her well, having ridden her in all her races bar her first, and Mrs. Thompson is pleased that John [Gosden, joint trainer] is happy for him to ride her again on Friday.”

Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) is next in the ratings, and will attempt to build on her G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. third, while G1 1000 Guineas second Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and group winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) attempt to return to form after unplaced efforts behind Inspiral in the Coronation. 'TDN Rising Star' Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) enters on the back of a gritty victory in the G2 Prix du Muguet in May.

Click here for the group fields.

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‘It’s Rare That We See Stats Like That’: Rimaud on Zarak

The Aga Khan Studs is celebrating 100 years of success in 2022, making the emergence of Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) as one of the most talented colts in training and Zarak (Fr) being one of the hottest young stallion prospects in Europe all the more fitting.

Georges Rimaud has played an integral role in the success of the organisation. The manager of HH Aga Khan's studs in France, Rimaud reflected on the success of Vadeni in Saturday's

G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and shared his delight at the popularity of Zarak among breeders in this week's Q&A.

For all of the joy the G1 Irish Champion S.-bound Vadeni has generated in strutting his stuff in the top European races, those associated with the iconic Aga Khan studs in France have enjoyed similar levels of excitement with the impressive numbers posted by the up-and-coming sire Zarak.

His blistering start at stud earned a fee rise from €12,000 to €25,000 and Rimaud shared how breeders have been unwavering in their support of the young stallion who, in being out of the champion racemare Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), carries a tremendous legacy.

Brian Sheerin: You have spent over 20 years managing the breeding interests of HH Aga Khan and have enjoyed huge success. Where does Saturday's Coral-Eclipse S. victory with Vadeni rank?

Georges Rimaud: We have had a lot of success in England before, but Saturday was a great day. The opportunity to be a part of the Coral-Eclipse, which is such a difficult race to win, was one thing but to win it and beat some very solid race horses along the way was something very special.

BS: The decision to send Vaderana (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) [Vadeni's dam] to Churchill is looking like an inspired one now.

GR: Obviously we have consultations over every mating and it's always a joint effort. The dam was at a stage in her life where she could go to an unproven stallion like Churchill and, because she needed a bit of size, he provided that element. The dam is not very big and Churchill is a good model. He was a champion 2-year-old, a very fast son of Galileo (Ire), and that's what we felt we needed for this mare. It has worked out, thank God!

BS: What has Vaderana got coming through?

GR: She is in foal to Sea The Stars (Ire). She has a colt foal by Too Darn Hot (GB) and she was barren the year before that. She also has a 2-year-old Camelot (GB) gelding in training with Jean-Claude Rouget.

BS: And Jean-Claude Rouget is aiming Vadeni to the Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. He has charted a similar path to victory in that race before with Almanzor (Fr).

GR: That has been the plan for some time with this horse. The Irish Champion S. is known as a very good race in the second half of the season and some very good horses have won it–including Azamour (Ire) in 2004. It's a race we'd like to participate in and Jean-Claude [Rouget] has had some good luck at Leopardstown with Almanzor. We are looking forward to it. Vadeni will probably have a nice break and will go directly to Leopardstown for that race.

BS: Speaking of Ireland, the stud enjoyed big-race success there on Irish Derby weekend when Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) landed the G2 Railway S. at the Curragh. He looks an unusually quick horse for the Aga Khan.

GR: It's interesting how people perceive that we breed slow racehorses. He is fast. He could be quite talented but it is obviously very early in his career. It is nice to have a young trainer like Johnny Murtagh and to have horses like Shartash coming through, especially in this year, which is the 100-year anniversary of the Aga Khan breeding operation. All of this is happening in good time, which is great, and we can only be honoured to serve in this excellent organisation.

BS: There is obviously an extra significance to these big-race successes.

GR: If it were happening last year we'd be just as thrilled but this is a funny business in that some years are slow. We are very happy that we are having good success this year. But in the case of Shartash, Pat Downes would obviously have more of an association with him and with Johnny, but it is great to have these nice horses who can compete at every level and at different age groups. It makes it very satisfying for the breeding operation with a view towards the future.

BS: Along with Vadeni, one of the main reasons I wanted to speak with you was to discuss the phenomenal start Zarak has had at stud. His numbers are quite impressive.

GR: Zarak has obviously done very well so far. He posted some excellent stats with his first crop. It's very gratifying to have a stallion like him, especially with his pedigree. He is by Dubawi (Ire) and out of Zarkava (Ire), which is very satisfying. When you speak of the centenary in that light, I think it is quite special. When Zarkava won the Arc, His Highness said that it epitomised his breeding operation. Now, with a son of Zarkava emerging to be one of the leading stallions in Europe, it's very promising. It's rare that we see stats like that and hopefully the quality can be maintained in his next crops. He seems to really improve the mares that he has been bred with but he has had a steady flow of good mares. It's been good; he covered 160 mares this year so hopefully there will be some nice stock coming through by him.

BS: Like you said, he has a pedigree to die for and did it on the track. However, you can never be sure that they will make it at stud. The early signs are that Zarak is on the cusp of being a high-class stallion.

GR: There are interesting elements that would make you gain confidence as you go along. The popularity of the horse is quite interesting. He is very popular among breeders and a lot of people have come back to him after the first foal was born. Generally, the numbers drop considerably with stallions in their second and third year at stud. But he has had a steady flow of mares and actually it has even increased. That is a strong indication that the breeders are confident in the horse if they are sending their mares back to him. When you have a good number of breeders supporting him like they are, you can't really go wrong, and they are coming back with good reports. That is very significant.

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Daughter Of Stellar Wind On Deck At Leopardstown

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. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of American champion Stellar Wind (Curlin).

14.35 Doncaster, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, 6f 2yT
John Deer's homebred RUSSET GOLD (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}) is a Roger Varian-trained full-brother Listed Denford S. winner Saint Lawrence (Ire). The April-foaled chestnut, also a half-brother to dual group-winning GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), is confronted by 15 in a contest won in 2017 by subsequent G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up and sire James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

17.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced A MOMENT LIKE THIS (Galileo {Ire}), a Donnacha O'Brien trainee, is the second foal and first runner produced by six-time Grade I heroine and $6-million Keeneland November sensation Stellar Wind (Curlin). She faces seven rivals in a heat won last year by G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), including Aidan O'Brien-trained debutante Maybe Just Maybe (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who is the second of three foals out of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Criterium International placegetter Promise To Be True (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself a full-sister to G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine–and dam of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})–Maybe (Ire).

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Grant Harris To Head Alborada Trust

British Racing School Chief Executive Grant Harris will move on to a new role as the Chief Executive of the Alborada Trust on Jan. 1, 2023. A search for his successor will begin immediately. The Alborada Trust is Kirsten Rausing's private philanthropic charitable trust. Harris replaced Rory MacDonald when he retired in 2014. Prior to working with the BRS, Harris was a journalist for the NTF, BHB and Weatherbys.

Harris said, “It's been my great privilege to run the British Racing School. I took over a thriving organisation and I like to think have carried on where Rory left off. I have loved every minute as no two days are the same as the school responds to the challenges of having many masters from the Dept. of Education, Ofsted, the BHA and its customers–racehorse trainers. It's a challenging role but anything worthwhile is challenging. The pupils and the staff are what make the school. I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with good people, but now is the time to move on. I will miss school life but joining the Alborada Trust is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Kirsten and the Trust's work helps so many fantastic charitable organisations change the lives of people and animals. The impact of the Trust around the world is staggering.”

BRS Chair Julia Budd said, “Grant's contribution to the BRS over the last nine years leaves the school in a strong position. It's a centre of excellence for training of which the industry can be proud. Under Grant's leadership we have developed a strong team, who not only deliver for the industry, but also contribute through initiatives such as the Riding A Dream Academy and Newmarket Pony Academy. On behalf of the Board of Trustees I would like to thank Grant and extend our best wishes to him for the future.”

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