Tag: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum

Without A Fight Lands the Melbourne Cup-Caulfield Cup Double

On a sunny Tuesday, 84,492 patrons were on hand to witness the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) win the 163rd G1 Melbourne Cup.

There were so many layers to the victory of Without A Fight. The 7-year-old gelding has arguably been in career best form, winning the G1 Caulfield Cup S. last start and joined a rare collection of Thoroughbreds to claim both Cup races in the same season–the latest being the great mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm).

The victory also served as back-to-back victories for jockey Mark Zahra, who partnered Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) to success in 2022 for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Zahra made the tough decision to jump off Gold Trip (Fr) Outstrip {GB}) after riding in the G1 Cox Plate to stick with Without A Fight. There were opinions aplenty over the matter, but ultimately, Zahra's judgment was proven correct.

There were also plenty of doubts over the son of Teofilo's (Ire) ability to stay the 3200 metres, having finished 13th in the Melbourne Cup last year. However, Without A Fight has proven to be an improved horse this season, racing with great zest in the winter. The gelding added the G3 Lord Mayor's Cup at Eagle Farm and followed that up with a devastating victory in the G2 The Q22.

All those doubts were put to bed when Without A Fight ran away to win by 2.25l from the Chris Waller-trained pair Soulcombe (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the charging Sheraz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Co-trainer Sam Freedman was on course to celebrate becoming a Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, telling Racing.com, “Credit to the old man [Anthony Freedman]. He's been incredible through all this. He went to Queensland and looked after Without A Fight, and when he won The Lord Mayor's Cup and The Q22, we set our sights on the Cups.    “There's a lot of little moments, and I'm a lot younger, so I can get pretty worked up sometimes, whereas Dad [Anthony] is more relaxed, calm and collected. He's been a constant support at home. All the team behind the scenes need to be thanked. We couldn't get Without A Fight here without everybody's help.

“Without A Fight has continued to learn and improve; he was a fierce-going horse. Queensland helped him, but he's a horse that just loves to work, and he was fit and well up there. He genuinely loves his work and pins his ears back every time you train him.”

Zahra, becoming the seventh jockey to win the Melbourne Cup on more than one occasion, was understandably jubilant and told Racing.com, “My whole objective and well I thought my biggest opposition was my horse himself (Without A Fight). He can be pretty keen, and I went and worked with him the other day and he was keen. So, going to the gates, he was relaxed, which was a good sign.

“But I really wanted to find the fence, and if I could at any stage, he's a horse that relaxes much better on the fence. Slowly, I gained ground up the inside, and Ollie (Damien Oliver, Alenquer), Gold Trip and Ryan Moore (Vauban) were in front of me. and that was a tick, and felt if I could stay here as long as I can and wait for these three to make their moves, I'm going to follow them.

“I was able to travel and smoke up behind the right horses, and this horse has a good turn-of-foot. I got to the front, but I felt there was no way anything was coming from behind me, and boom! Away we went.

“For it to pay off, it's justified.”

Without A Fight, a son of Teofilo, continues the outstanding influence that stallion has held over the Melbourne Cup, siring three of the past six Cup winners.

 

Pedigree Notes

The first horse since the mighty mare Ethereal to take out the G1 Caulfield/G1 Melbourne Cup double in the same year, Without A Fight looked a happy horse as he strutted out onto the Flemington track. Coping admirably with the warm weather and the big crowd, the tough and classy 7-year-old wrote his name into the history books with a stunning 23l turnaround on his well beaten 13th last year. That was his first Australian run, and he has come along in leaps and bounds with the benefits of acclimatisation, this historic victory his four from six starts Down Under.

The third Melbourne Cup winner sired by former Darley shuttler Teofilo (Ire)–Twilight Payment (Ire) (2020) and Cross Counter (GB) (2018) the others, Without A Fight is the third recent Cup winner to descend from the acclaimed matriarch Lady Josephine (GB) (Sundridge {GB})–Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), Vow And Declare (Aus) (Declaration Of War) the others. A dual Group 1 winner over 1400 metres Teofilo–who last shuttled in 2017–calls Kildangan Stud home. A homebred for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Without A Fight was successful at Group 3 level and twice in listed company in the UK. One of Teofilo's 112 stakes winners, he is out of the talented race mare Khor Sheed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Group 3 and dual listed winner. Another three of her foals are winners and she is the grandam of the G2 John C. Mabee S. winner Avenue De France (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}).

 

Tuesday, Melbourne, Australia
MELBOURNE CUP-G1, A$7,750,000, VRC, 11-07, 3yo/up, Open Handicap, 3200mT, 3:18.37, gd.
1–WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE), 56.5, g, 6, by Teofilo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Khor Sheed (GB) (MSW & GSP-Eng, GSW-Ity,
                                $235,281), by Dubawi (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Princess Manila (Can), by Manila
                3rd Dam: Halo's Princess (Can), by Halo
O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (Ire). T-Anthony &
Sam Freedman; J-M Zahra; A$5,060,000. Lifetime Record:
GSW-Eng, GSP-UAE, 23-11-3-4, A$9,464,881. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Soulcombe (GB), 53.5, g, 4, Frankel (GB)–Ribbons (GB), by
Manduro (Ger). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (190,000gns RNA
HRA '21 TATAPR). O-A Kheir, J A O'Neill, Carty Racing, S A
Lewin, V Kheir, T R Maddern, B D Nettlefold, D Edmonds, A K
Racing, B A Secatore, Mrs R T Secatore, B J O'Brien, Bromfield
Park Pty Ltd, Punt Road End, N A Greenhalgh, Mrs M T
Greenhalgh, Sneesby Racing, Sir M Arbib, B G Arbib & C M
Budgett; B-Pursuit of Success LLC (GB); T-C J Waller; J-J
Moreira; A$1,100,000.
3–Sheraz (Fr), 51.5, g, 6, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Shemiyla (Fr), by
Dalakhani (Ire). O-G C Sneesby, Mrs J T Sneesby, N A
Greenhalgh, Mrs M T Greenhalgh, I Bruce, P Aspropotamitis,
Platinum Dream (S Westwood), Jalana (D Gremmo), G W
Aldridge, A T Avramides, Mrs S Avramides, Muzben Racing (B
Stewart), M Grech, Kirk Thoroughbred Racing (G P Kirk) & G
G's Shout (D Gremmo); B-H.H. The Aga Khan's Studs Haras De
S.a. Le Prince Aga Khan; T-C J Waller; J-Beau Mertens;
A$550,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 2. Odds: 7.00, 8.50, 150.00.
Also Ran: Ashrun (Fr), Daqiansweet Junior (NZ), Interpretation (Ire), Absurde (Fr), True Marvel (Fr), Vow and Declare (Aus), Military Mission (Ire), Okita Soushi (Ire), More Felons (Ire), Lastotchka (Fr), Vauban (Fr), Future History (GB), Breakup (Jpn), Gold Trip (Fr), Virtuous Circle (NZ), Serpentine (Ire), Kalapour (Ire), Alenquer (Fr), Magical Lagoon (Ire), Right You Are (Aus).
Click for the Racing Australia chart. VIDEO.

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Blue Point’s Rosallion Brilliant In The Lagardere

   Beautiful sunshine bathed ParisLongchamp on its biggest day and Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere proved a fitting opener to the action with Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) dominating the closing stages of this up-to-scratch renewal. Brilliant in Ascot's Listed Pat Eddery S. in July but disappointing when third in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster last month, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred was truly on song here to provide Sean Levey with all the good vibrations in this qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Anchored in rear early from his compromising wide draw, the Richard Hannon-trained relative of some of the owner-breeder's best recent performers was finally unleashed 300 metres from the finish as Ryan Moore sent Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for home. Accelerating impressively as he had done at Ascot to swamp that rival inside the last half furlong, the generously-priced 6-1 shot had a length to spare at the line as the too-keen previously-unbeaten TDN Rising Star and even-money favourite Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) wound up 1 1/2 lengths behind in third.

“He felt exceptional today,” Levey said of the live 2000 Guineas contender who was providing his first-crop sire sensation with his first Group 1 winner and setting a new track record into the bargain. “At Doncaster, when I asked him he didn't know what to do on that soft ground and he's still so babyish. He has a great mind though and he'll keep learning. He had to overcome a lot today from that draw and was a bit confused when I restrained him, especially in the false straight. I was always going to win today. He had his ground and that's how good he is.”

Rosallion, who had struck on debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury just before Royal Ascot, had set almost the benchmark in terms of British-trained juveniles in the Pat Eddery, where the likes of Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) had trailed in his wake. Hannon had kept the faith after the Champagne and was relieved with this justification, completed in course-record time ahead of the previous 1:18.40 set by this race's winner Naaqoos (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in 2008.

“It was very sticky ground at Doncaster and he hated it, but I was so disappointed–I couldn't believe he got beat. We scoped him afterwards and everything was fine and the only thing I can put it down to was the ground. Sean was as gutted as I was at Doncaster–I don't think he said a word to me after he got beat in the Champagne S. He couldn't believe it either, that's the sort of horse he is. Today was a recovery mission and you don't generally come to the Lagardere on a recovery mission, as it takes an extremely good horse to win it but he showed today that he's the horse we thought he was.”

“We'll look forward to the Guineas now for next year,” Hannon added. “I wouldn't rule out the Breeders' Cup, but I'm very happy to look forward to the Guineas. I haven't had much luck at the Breeders' Cup, obviously it's got to change at some stage but I think it's unlikely.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Unquestionable and the pace-setting Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never), who finished fourth, “The trip was okay and both will be fine at a mile. Ryan said Unquestionable could be a horse for America, so we will look at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf after seeing how they are. Unquestionable is definitely a Guineas horse, we will see which one next year.”

Yann Barberot said of Beauvatier, who recorded the race's fastest individual split between the two and the one at :10.56 but who was too free throughout the early stages, “We have been helped by the quick ground, but you need a colt with a lot of speed to win the Lagardere and he is not made for speed. In future, he will run over 1600 metres or even 2000 metres. I am very happy with him, he performed well. He found himself a bit behind at the start of the race, because he was impeded by the Andre Fabre-trained horse who pulled a lot.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Rosallion's unraced dam Rosaline is one of the progeny of the owner-breeder's sensational producer Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), whose seven black-type performers include this year's G1 Queen Anne S. hero Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Rosaline is a full-sister to the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein victor Ostilio (GB), while other Reem Three notables are the G3 Bengough S. winner Cape Byron (GB) by Blue Point's sire Shamardal and this year's Listed Heron S. winner Captain Winters (GB) whose sire Lope De Vega is also by Shamardal. The third dam is Jumaireyah (GB) (Fairy King), herself responsible for the G2 Celebration Mile and G3 Sovereign S. winner and GI Arlington Million runner-up Afsare (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Next up from Rosaline is a yearling colt by Make Believe (GB).

 

 

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE (GRAND CRITERIUM)-G1, €400,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-1, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:18.23 (NTR), g/s.
1–ROSALLION (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Rosaline (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Reem Three (GB), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Jumaireyah (GB), by Fairy King
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. €228,560. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Eng, 4-3-0-1, €281,758. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Unquestionable (Fr), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€340,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore & Westerberg; B-Mme Camille Vitse, Mme Axelle Vitse, Mme Valentine Vitse & Guillaume Vitse (FR); T-Aidan O'Brien. €91,440.
3–Beauvatier (Fr), 126, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Enchanting Skies (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€160,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Philippe Allaire & Haras d'Etreham; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd & Mme Barbara M Keller (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €45,720.
Margins: 1, 1HF, 1. Odds: 6.10, 7.10, 1.00.
Also Ran: Henry Adams (Ire), Zabiari (GB), Native American (Ire), Jayarebe (Fr), Ballymount Boy (Ire), Evade (Fr), West Man (Ger). Scratched: Johannes Brahms (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Rosallion Becomes Blue Point’s Third Stakes Winner On King George Undercard

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) became his first-crop sire's third stakes winner when scooting to an impressive four-length triumph in Saturday's Listed Flexjet Pat Eddery S. at Ascot.

The 11-1 chance, who annexed his June 7 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury when last seen, raced under cover in eighth through the early fractions of this straight seven-furlong test. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle once past halfway, he cruised to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and quickened clear in impressive fashion to easily outclass fellow 11-1 chance Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by daylight. Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) was unable to match the winner's kick and finished 3/4-of-a-length further adrift in third.

“He's a good horse, we always thought he was a good horse and he's my [G1 2000] Guineas horse,” said trainer Richard Hannon after doubling his win tally in the contest. “The further he goes, the better he goes. He's in the [G1 Vincent O'Brien] National S. in Ireland and will obviously be in the [G1] Dewhurst. He's not a small horse, he has loads of scope and he behaves like a very good horse. We're thinking about next year.”

Rosallion becomes the first stakes winner out of an unraced full-sister to G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein victor Ostilio (GB). The April-foaled bay's second dam, Listed Hoppings S. runner-up Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), has six stakes winners to her credit headed by this term's G1 Queen Anne S. hero Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 Prix Jean Romanet victrix Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). She is also the dam of G3 Bengough S. victor Cape Byron (GB) (Shamardal) and Listed Heron S. winner Captain Winters (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Reem Three, who is a half-sister to G2 Celebration Mile and G3 Sovereign S. victor Afsare (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), is out of a half-sister to stakes-winning G3 Dubai City of Gold runner-up Lost Soldier Three (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}). From the family of G2 Derby Italiano hero Summer Festival (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), Rosallion is kin to a yearling colt by Make Believe (GB).

 

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
FLEXJET PAT EDDERY S. (WINKFIELD S.)-Listed, £50,000, Ascot, 7-29, 2yo, 7fT, 1:30.49, gd.
1–ROSALLION (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Rosaline (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Reem Three (GB), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Jumaireyah (GB), by Fairy King
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $43,146.
2–Al Musmak (Ire), 131, c, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Parton (GB), by Kitten's Joy. (95,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £10,750.
3–Ancient Wisdom (Fr), 131, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Golden Valentine (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods (FR); T-Charlie Appleby. £5,380.
Margins: 4, 3/4, NO. Odds: 11.00, 11.00, 1.75.
Also Ran: Alyanaabi (Ire), Dancing Gemini (Ire), Sunway (Fr), Chaturanga (Ire), Barg (Ire), Bigbertiebassett (GB), How's The Guvnor (Ire).

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Dubawi’s Arabic Legend A New TDN Rising Star

Newmarket's Weatherbys British EBF Maiden S. is one of those key races that can uncover a class act and Friday's renewal of the seven-furlong July Festival test may have witnessed another as Arabic Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Sheikha Reika {Fr}, by Shamardal) earned a TDN Rising Star tag. Withdrawn from his intended start at Doncaster last month after becoming upset in the stalls, the second foal out of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's GI E.P.Taylor S. heroine was always travelling strongly on the wing with Rob Hornby trying to contain him off the moderate pace.

Looming on the front end approaching the furlong pole as the even-money favourite Emperor's Star (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) appeared at the fore on the other side, the 17-2 shot mastered that well-touted rival in the final 100 yards. At the line, the Andrew Balding trainee had 1 1/2 lengths to spare over the Godolphin relative of Cloth Of Stars (Ire), with another three lengths back to that sire's son Dallas Star (Fr) who had been beaten under three lengths in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S.

“He's got a lot of ability and he's an exciting prospect,” Balding said of the winner, who was adding his name to a recent list that includes the future group winners Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and the group 1-placed Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). This is also the maiden that saw Alhaarth (Ire) beat Mark Of Esteem (Ire) in 1995 and was won by Bahhare a year later, by Dubai Destination in 2001 and by Rio De La Plata in 2007.

“He is a very well-bred horse and we think a little bit of him,” Balding added. “He quickened up nicely and when the rain came it was encouraging. That certainly wasn't going to inconvenience him. I'm sure he will stay a mile and I'm sure he will get further in time. Anything's possible, as he's a high-class horse who is bred to be. He'd be right up towards the top of our two-year-olds.”

Dubawi now has 38 TDN Rising Stars, with the likes of In Italian (GB), Space Blues (Ire), Too Darn Hot (GB), Benbatl (GB) and Zarak (Fr) among them.

5th-Newmarket, £15,000, Mdn, 7-14, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:30.51, g/s.
ARABIC LEGEND (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Sheikha Reika (Fr) (GISW-Can, SW-Eng,
                                $287,753), by Shamardal
                2nd Dam: Screen Star (Ire), by Tobougg (Ire)
3rd Dam: Actoris, by Diesis (GB)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,640. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Andrew Balding.

 

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