Ebor Week Begins with Baaeed

Ten years on from that momentous day when Frankel (GB) moved a nation, York's Knavesmire has a scenario fit to mark the anniversary as Shadwell's Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) goes onwards and upwards in the G1 Juddmonte International. Just as the great gift afforded to the late Sir Henry Cecil entered unknown territory traversing an additional two furlongs and 56 yards that afternoon, so too does the colt that has come to represent the bridge between the legacy of the departed Sheikh Hamdan and his daughter Sheikha Hissa. On paper, stamina beyond a mile is as of little concern as it was for Khalid Abdullah's deity, but after so many freakish displays at a mile it is his to prove. Luckily, the always cautious William Haggas is unconcerned on that score. “He just does what he needs to do, rather like his father, and I don't think the trip will be a problem,” he said. “We think he might be better at that trip and let's see what happens, it's what it's all about.”

The Knavesmire Appreciation Society

   Betting on the Juddmonte International is of no consequence this year, as it was in 2012 when all who gathered on York's expanse were there just to witness the passing through of the one of the modern racing greats. After the Southern tracks have had their fill, it is time for Shadwell's best performer beyond sprint trips for some time to grace the renowned Yorkshire venue and provide the county with the opportunity to bear witness to his prowess.

There is nothing in this flat, speed-favouring terrain that should hold any fears to a performer who has been able to explode into life on the undulations of Goodwood and Newmarket and over the stiffer concourse of Ascot. If anything, his effort in the May 14 G1 Lockinge S. at the similarly even track of Newbury was his most deadly to date and York could be his ideal playing field.

Where Are the Weaknesses?

William Haggas is right to point to the similarities between Baaeed and Sea The Stars, with the father and son identical in the way they could and can turn it on at any point. Bred to be a mile-and-a-half-plus horse, the current world leader is also armed with an abundance of fast-twitch fibres which have served him so well over a mile. His sectionals at Royal Ascot were astonishing, but there is going to be rain from Tuesday evening onwards and there is also the fact that two of his stablemates Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) have returned dirty scopes in the last few days. Angus Gold is taking a step back from undue worry. “I've heard they've had two and a half millimetres and unless they have a three-hour storm, I can't see it is going to make too much difference to the ground and we'll take what we're given,” he said. “As far as I know, when I spoke to William last he's fine. They scoped him and he's clear. Like you and I though, if something is brewing, you're not going to perform at your best. So hopefully it is not, but until we know otherwise there's no point making a thing about that. So far, all the tests have been good and he goes there in as good form as we can have him.”

Mishriff Magic Or Misdemeanour?

Twelve months ago, Prince Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) was in domineering mood here for his finest hour on turf and, while his four subsequent runs have yielded only one up-to-standard effort, it could be that this track brings out the very best in him. Along with that, the 5-year-old has developed a tendency to give away ground at the start which almost certainly cost him the Eclipse and ruined any conceivable chance in the King George. Thady Gosden is keen to be part of the combined stress test for Baaeed in this new discipline. “It's interesting and Baaeed is obviously brilliantly talented. He relaxes well and you would be shocked if he didn't get the trip, but he's taking on top class mile-and-a-quarter horses and I think it's fair to say that it's a stronger division than the miling division at the moment,” he said. “Mishriff seems to be in similar form now as he was when he went to York last year. He ran a huge race in the Eclipse and was perhaps unlucky there. His work gives us a pretty good measure of where he's at and he's in very good form. Whatever happens, it's going to be an exceptional race.”

How Will It Play Out?

   Stamina will be required on Wednesday, with Ballydoyle's High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on hand to try and draw the sting from his rivals on the front end as he almost did at The Curragh when narrowly denied in the May 22 G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. That performance suggests the once much-vaunted 4-year-old is not too far below this level and if gifted too much of a lead may prove difficult to reel in at a track which has always favoured front-runners. Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) would probably be best-served by being placed near the front, with his stride length particularly advantageous at this track. Trainer Charlie Appleby, who suffered a disappointing reversal on Sunday as Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) dipped below his best in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, has a direct line to Baaeed through the G1 Sussex S. runner-up Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). “Baaeed is top-class with an outstanding profile, who holds everything in front of him, but we feel we have the right horse to take him on and make a race of it,” he said. “Native Trail's work has been great. The condition of this horse is second to none. He is thriving, you can see that in him as an individual. You ask, and he delivers.”

Classic Dreams At Stake

   With the St Leger just over three weeks away, the time is nigh for any latecomers on to the scene for the Doncaster Classic to show their wares. York's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. is a select affair this time, with Godolphin looking to strengthen their hand having already enjoyed G3 Gordon S. success with the ante-post favourite New London (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Fellow Charlie Appleby trainee Secret State (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of the demoted 1000 Guineas winner Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and half to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line Of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), has achieved the notable feat of winning the kind of 3-year-old handicaps at Royal Ascot and Goodwood that are hotbeds for future pattern-race performers. The re-opposing Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was getting four pounds from him when a head second in the Royal meeting's King George V S. June 16, has since been runner-up under a penalty to New London at Goodwood but Appleby is keen to wait and see when it comes to Secret State's Leger credentials. “We are lucky to have New London, who is currently favourite for the St Leger, which has always been his target. As for Secret State, we will make a decision regarding his trip after the Voltigeur,” he explained. “There's a question mark over whether he would get a strong one-mile-six. We will see in time.”

El Bodegon Back On Home Soil

James Ferguson may have Deauville Legend, but he is also in the enviable position of saddling El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the Voltigeur and any significant rain will aid his cause. Five of his last six starts have come in France, with wins in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G3 Prix de Conde last term followed by placings in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris. “He hasn't won in England since Sandown and people forget what happens abroad,” his trainer said of the flagbearer, whose one outing in that period resulted in a deflating seventh in the G2 Dante S. here May 12. “His last two runs have been very solid and back up to the level we know of him. He is very tough and he proved last time out in the Grand Prix de Paris that he stays a mile and a half no problem. He has been good from day one, while Deauville Legend has been getting progressively better and better and at the moment the plans are for them both to end the season down in Australia and this is the perfect stepping stone for both of them.”

Acomb Appetiser

There is a fascinating renewal of the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. before the big two races on day one, with Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in action just 12 days after his impressive debut over this seven-furlong trip at Newmarket. A relative of the sire's Yibir (GB), who came to the fore in the Voltigeur last year, and Wild Illusion (GB), he showed he was able to run fast in the closing stages of his racecourse bow but has no soft touch here. Even faster is the July 7 Doncaster maiden winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who gave Local Dynasty's TDN Rising Star stablemate Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) a scare also over six furlongs at Newmarket July 29. A half-brother to the speedy Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) from the family of Wunders Dream (Ire) (Averti {Ire}), he could be a pure sprinter and this test will tell Jane Chapple-Hyam more.

Classic Prospects On Trial

The Acomb has at least three other juveniles who could conceivably shape up into Guineas types, with Juddmonte's Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) particularly appealing after beating three subsequent winners over this trip at Newbury July 15. Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said of the Andrew Balding-trained 550,000gns half-brother to the G2 Mill Reef S. scorer Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), “He is a horse that Andrew likes. This has been the plan since he won his maiden. He is quite a late foal, so he is still developing and hopefully there is a bit more improvement to come. He is not a big horse, but he is progressing and I would imagine in the second half of the season he is hopefully going to be rocking and rolling.” Edward Bethell has a big week ahead and it starts with Fiona Carmichael and Ballylinch Stud's exciting Oviedo (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who showed the kind of gears needed for this level when scoring on his sole start over this trip at Doncaster July 21. One of a few with stamina in his pedigree, his dam is a half to two talents in Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Lope De Vega's Very Special (Ire).

A Hectic Start?

Also in the mix for the Acomb is Highclere's July 16 Newbury six-furlong novice winner Hectic (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), an imposing Richard Hannon-trained colt running in the same colours as last year's surprise winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “I watched him work at the weekend and he worked very nicely and looked great,” Highclere's managing director Harry Herbert said. “It's a race we won last year with Royal Patronage and were second in the year before with Spycatcher–we know when you go there you're taking on some very highly-regarded rivals. We will throw him in the deep end and hope he runs well, certainly his home work has been impressive and his debut was outstanding when he made all at Newbury and went away again when they pressed him. He's always been considered a very nice horse and we're excited to see him move up to this level.”

 

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Dependable Hukum Speaks Volumes For Burrows

DUBAI, UAE–In the week building up to Dubai's major race day, a growing throng of owners and trainers arrive at Meydan to see their horses in action, and perhaps shoot the breeze with the press pack gathered trackside. At a quiet remove behind the back stretch is the training track favoured by the European horses, with a grass circuit and a Tapeta surface, each to be enjoyed without the hullabaloo of the main racecourse, and with few onlookers present.

It is here on Thursday morning that Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum arrives with Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold and advisor Richard Hills to watch her homebred Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) have his penultimate exercise under Jim Crowley before his start in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on Saturday. It is a poignant moment, as a year ago to the day the racing world was saddened by the death of Sheikha Hissa's father, Sheikh Hamdan, a man revered and admired across the industry as one of loyalty and modesty. The latter is borne out by the fact that his many runners over his 40-year involvement with horseracing ran in the name of Hamdan Al Maktoum – his regal title dropped for his involvement in the sport he loved the most. And a glance back over the many tributes paid to Sheikh Hamdan this time last year is a reminder of how frequently the word loyal occurred when those closely associated with him, particularly his trainers, recalled their relationship.

It is not difficult to imagine that Sheikh Hamdan appreciated and rewarded loyalty in others. Over the years when visiting Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge in Newmarket he would have had many opportunities to witness Stoute's longtime assistant trainer Owen Burrows at work, and when the time came for Burrows to start training under his own name, it was Sheikh Hamdan who installed him as a private trainer, in 2016, at Kingwood House Stables in Lambourn. 

It is no secret that, with the horses now running under the banner of Shadwell Stable, the operation is significantly smaller than in Sheikh Hamdan's time, and it is a reduction that will be felt by a number of stables. It has precipitated a slight change of scenery for Burrows, his wife Lynn and their two children to Farncombe Down Stables, still in Lambourn, and a smart 40-box yard previously used by Shadwell as a spelling and rehabilitation facility. Though Burrows is now a public trainer, support from the Maktoum family remains, through Sheikh Ahmed, and also his niece Sheikha Hissa, the owner of the regally-bred stable star Hukum.

“I have a huge amount to be thankful to Sheikh Hamdan for, he was such a good man, you only had to hear the way people talked about him,” says Burrows a couple of hours after overseeing Hukum's morning exercise alongside his ownership team.

“Like him, Sheikha Hissa is really keen on racing,” he adds. “Before Super Saturday she came and watched Hukum a few times and the other morning she came out to the yard and was feeding him Polos. She's very passionate about it, which is brilliant. 

“We all understood the operation had to trim right back but it is wonderful to hear that she wants to come to England and go racing. Richard Hills said after the first conversation he had with her that it was just like speaking to a female version of her father and, to me, that is almost the biggest compliment you could give her.”

Sheikha Hissa doubtless has much to look forward to this season back in Europe. The five-time Group winner Hukum and his even starrier full-brother Baaeed (GB)–the pair descending from Height Of Fashion (Fr), the bedrock of Sheikh Hamdan's breeding operation–will be at the forefront of her equine team. Hukum has stolen a march on the unbeaten Baaeed so far in 2022 as he has run once and won once, securing his place in the Sheema Classic line-up with his victory in the G2 Dubai City of Gold. He will be one of six runners for the Shadwell Stable on Dubai World Cup night.

Hukum is an important flag-bearer for Burrows. He was his first Royal Ascot winner when landing the King George V S. on only the third start of his life, helping to make Sheikh Hamdan the leading owner at the Royal meeting of 2020. His victory earlier this month at Meydan means that Burrows now boasts a perfect record in Dubai from his sole runner there. 

“He's been so consistent, he's always run well,” says the trainer, “The Sheema Classic is a very strong race but I think he deserves his chance back in Group 1 company. We've only tried him in it once – in the St Leger as a 3-year-old – and he didn't quite get home. He won over a bit further last year but I never really felt he was going to be a Cup horse; he's got a bit more speed than people give him credit for.”

Reflecting on his Super Saturday victory, Burrows adds, “That was obviously massive for me, and also for the whole operation. That was the first horse we brought out here since Sheikh Hamdan passed and for him to go and do that was perfect. It was a prep run, and obviously on ratings he was the best horse, but he was drawn 14 of 14 and that made it a but more difficult. I'm glad we decided to come out for that race. I felt it would have been asking a lot to bring him here just a week before the Sheema Classic.”

Now five, Hukum is exactly the type of horse with which Sir Michael Stoute would have excelled. Having made just two starts at two, he went straight to Royal Ascot for his first run at three. The 12 years spent with Stoute provided a valuable lesson for Burrows, and hopefully through his progressive campaigner he will reap the rewards of that as this season gets properly underway.

“Covid interrupted Hukum's 3-year-old season a little bit,” Burrows says. “He was rated 91 so he was thrown in for the George V but he got quite badly struck into at Royal Ascot so had to have a bit of time off.

“We're under no illusion, we know he has to find seven pounds, but having had a prep run here and some sunshine for three weeks it has brought him forward. I was talking to Richard and Angus yesterday, and we agreed that if we are competitive on Saturday I think it lets us know where we sit back home in England, because these are the best in the world. It will help us to know whether we are looking later in the year – at the King George, or possibly the Arc at the end of the season. It's exciting.”

On the other side of the world on Saturday, another former Burrows star, the 2000 Guineas runner-up Massaat (Ire), will be represented by his first two runners in the Brocklesby S., the opening 2-year-old race of the British turf season. In the trainer's yard currently, there are 17 juveniles, constituting roughly half the team. There is no son or daughter of Massaat there yet, but the breeze-up sales are just around the corner.

“This has to be a building year,” he says. “We will be trying to get the numbers back up. There's room to put some more boxes in and I'd love to get up to around 60 horses.”

Burrows admits that he is not the most tech-savvy pop trainers, and he is currently learning to embrace the joys, and otherwise, of social media.

“Being Sir Michael's assistant for all those years, obviously we didn't do that kind of thing,” he says with a smile.

But even without that association, it is hard to imagine the modest Burrows enjoying the often brash, look-at-me era of Twitter and Instagram. As one who grew up in a National Hunt stable when his father was Head Lad to David 'The Duke' Nicholson, and who then rode as a conditional for such luminaries of the jumping world as Martin Pipe and Josh Gifford, Burrows seems more at home in the school of traditional horsemanship, where the horses do the talking for you.

Hukum has already done just this, and it would be no surprise to see him trumpeting his likeable trainer's abilities a little louder through this year.

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Shadwell Stud To Conduct Full Review Of Global Operations

The global racing and breeding enterprise – the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who passed away in March this year – announces that it is undertaking a full review of all its activities that will result in important changes for the business.

As a result, its operations in the U.K., Ireland and the U.S. will contract, with a focus on quality and competition at the highest level of the sport with horses of the calibre of Baaeed and Malathaat.

A number of horses in training and homebred yearlings will be sold this autumn, while its broodmare band will be further reduced through dispersals at key auctions over the coming months.

The family wish to stress that they remain extremely passionate about the sport and through the chairmanship of Sheikha Hissa, herself an accomplished horsewoman, are committed to ensuring that their father's legacy endures for many years to come. They intend to retain a significant number of homebred foals and will continue their global stallion operations.

Chris Kennard, the U.K. director of Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, said: “As part of a long-term plan for Shadwell to operate on a sustainable footing, a recent decision has been made to contract the size of the global business. This will involve the imminent sale of a substantial number of horses – including yearlings, horses in training and breeding stock, and in due course, a reorganization of each of the worldwide operations.”

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Champion Sprinter Battaash Retired

Champion sprinter and four-time Group 1 winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), has been retired from racing, connections announced on Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding raced in the Shadwell colours for the late Sheikh Hamdan and in 2021, his daughter, Sheikha Hissa. His final start was a seventh-place run aiming for a fifth-straight win in the G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on Friday.

Racing Manager Angus Gold said on behalf of Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd., “Following telephone conversations with HH Sheikha Hissa Bint Hamdan Al Maktoum last night and this morning it has been confirmed that Battaash will retire from racing with immediate effect.

“Sheikha Hissa confirmed to me how much Battaash had meant to Sheikh Hamdan and indeed to all her family and she does not want to abuse him in any way–while the ground may have been a contributory factor to his defeat yesterday it appeared that some of his old spark was missing, so ultimately the decision to retire him was an easy one.”

Bred by Ballyphilip Stud in Ireland, the bay was a 200,000gns yearling purchase out of the 2015 Tattersalls October Sale Book 2 and sent to the yard of Charlie Hills where he would stay for the entirety of his 25-start career. He was a four-length debut winner at Bath in May of 2016 and ended his five-start juvenile season with a third in the G3 Cornwallis S. at Newmarket. As a sophomore, Battaash won four of his five starts-a listed race at Sandown, the G3 Coral Charge Sprint S., the first of four G2 King George Qatar S. titles and the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. His only loss was in the G1 Nunthorpe S. and he was named the French highweighted sprinter at three.

Successful in the G2 Temple S. resuming at four, the gelding was runner-up in the G1 King's Stand S., and claimed his second King George later that summer. At the end of the year, Battaash was named the champion sprinter in England from five to seven furlongs, an achievement he would also earn in 2019/2020.

Another Temple S. went his way in 2019, and he finished runner-up again in the King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. After winning the King George, he triumphed in the Nunthorpe S. for the first time at York that August. Battaash's 6-year-old season was kept to just three starts, but he won them all-a King's Stand victory on his third try, his fourth King George and his second Nunthorpe to bring his Group 1 tally to four. Injury marked the winter of 2020/21, and Battaash got a late start with a fourth in the King's Stand, prior to his career finale at Goodwood on Friday.

Gold continued, “Battaash has been a flag-bearer for Shadwell for the last six years and has run in 19 consecutive group races, winning 11 of them, including four Group 1s and was still at his prime as a 6-year-old last year winning all three of his starts.

“Despite having had soundness issues most of his life, from poor X-rays of his knees as a 3-year-old right through to having to repair a tiny fracture in his right-fore fetlock joint in December last year, along with two different surgeries for wind abnormalities, he has raced at the top level for the last five seasons.

“As a result of overcoming all these adversities he has obviously become a huge favourite for everyone connected with Shadwell and on behalf of Sheikha Hissa and her family I would like to pay tribute to all those who have contributed to his success–obviously to Charles Hills and all his team who looked after the horse so brilliantly, particularly Bob Grace and Bluey Cannon who took over the mantle of looking after the horse this year when Bob [Battaash's former groom] retired.

“To all those who rode the horse over the years, and in particular Dane O'Neill who has ridden him in so much of his work for the last three or four years. To all the vets who have spent so much of their time making sure that the horse is in top shape and finally to Dennis O'Brien and all his team at Shadwell Stud where the horse has spent his winters for the last four years–without all their dedication and hard work he would never have achieved the heights he has and we are very grateful to everybody who has contributed to his success.

“It has been an enormous thrill to have a horse as explosive as Battaash and together with other recent stars of the turf like Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), he has lit up the last few years and given us some wonderful days on the track, and we all feel very honoured to have been associated with him.

“Battaash will live out his days in well earned retirement at Shadwell Stud.”

The first foal out of his dam herself a half-sister to G2 Champagne S. winner Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk), Battaash has a 3-year-old full-sister named Altaayshah (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})-an 800,000gns yearling purchase by Shadwell in 2019–and a yearling full-brother. This is also the family of Shadwell's G2 Duke Of York S. hero and young stallion Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who placed twice at the highest level.

Paying tribute to his stable star, Hills tweeted Saturday morning, “Thank you Battaash for all the memories-a horse of a lifetime. Also, a huge thank you to all those who worked closely with him throughout his career-it's certainly been a journey and we couldn't have done it without you.”

Added Shadwell jockey Jim Crowley, “He's been an unbelievable horse for everyone involved and Charlie Hills has done a fantastic job with him. Bob Grace deserves a special mention for looking after him until his retirement and his new lad Bluey [Cannon], too.

“He's been the horse of a lifetime and I'll miss him dearly. To get a buzz like you got off him is very difficult to find. He was so fast–too fast for his own good sometimes, but it was always exciting riding him.”

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