Seven Days: Many Indicators of Success

In the European edition we really shouldn't be overstepping our boundary to encroach on the territory of our American colleagues who did such a fine job in conveying the stories from Belmont Park last week.

Racing faces different problems in different jurisdictions and, from an outsider's perspective, it is hard to get fully behind racing in America when a number of its major participants remain overly reliant on medication. But if you read Cynthia Holt's wonderful account of being at Belmont 50 years ago to bear witness to arguably the greatest-ever performance by a Thoroughbred as Secretariat went for the Triple Crown, it is impossible not to wish for that situation to improve and for racing to be able to hold its head high. The only way it can survive and thrive around the world is if everyone involved pledges to do the the very best for the horses who make it possible to work in such an engaging and vibrant sport.

That is why the result of the 155th Belmont S. was so uplifting. For a start, it heralded yet another important marker in the advancement of women within the sport, with Jena Antonucci becoming the first female trainer of the winner of an American Triple Crown race. But more importantly, Arcangelo's victory was a major triumph for a smaller trainer who is apparently prepared to prioritise the welfare of her horses above all else. Coming with a horse who cost his owner Jon Ebbert $35,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, it is also a result which sends a message to other small operators: it can be done.

It should not be underestimated how much stories of this ilk are needed, and how much rarer they are becoming. It is hard now to imagine a trainer like Joe Janiak, a former taxi driver, turning up at Royal Ascot with his cast-off sprinter Takeover Target (Aus) and waltzing off with one of the week's biggest prizes. In three years and six starts at the royal meeting, the gelding with chipped knees was never out of the first four in the major sprints. And yes, his success had no bearing on the betterment of the breed, but what a battler, what a story. 

Somehow, it is harder to get behind the horses owned by major investment syndicates, and that is not to denigrate the people funding those runners. Financial investment is vital for racing to continue, and for the breeders to be able to go on producing the goods, but emotional investment is just as important, and that is what you hear and feel when you read Jena Antonucci's story. The spotlight should always be on the horses, but racing is so much more compelling when you can root for their people, too.

I will confess that, until this past week, I knew barely anything about Antonucci. Some engaging interviews following her Belmont S. victory led me to her website and I was taken by one of the sub-headings on her homepage which stated 'Statistics aren't the only indicator of success'. It was an apposite line to read following the release of a video by a major syndicate trying to sell shares in a new recruit, in which the manager pours scorn on the record and percentages of the horse's former trainer. It was an act of quite staggering ignorance, bad manners and, ultimately, self-harm. 

The colt in question is New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who until last week was the top-rated horse in Sheila Lavery's stable. He is a horse who, since this time last year following his second-place finish in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, has been running with an official mark of 112 or 113. In other words, consistent and classy. Those two facts are surely the reason he was such a desirable purchase, and he was likely bought for many multiples of the £65,000 it took for his trainer and Ted Durcan to secure him at the breeze-up sales two years ago.

He's not a one-off for Lavery, either, for she regularly gets a good tune out of horses who could be overlooked in bigger yards. Four years ago, she trained the €15,000 weanling purchase Lady Kaya (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) to run second in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. I can still hear the devastation in her voice when she spoke of that filly's fatal injury on the gallops in the countdown to her next appearance at Royal Ascot. She will have been almost similarly upset to have lost New Energy to an Australian stable which has hundreds and hundreds of horses on its books. Lavery will have understood, though, that the horse had a greater chance of being a high earner in a jurisdiction endowed with plentiful prize-money, and in a sector where he may encounter weaker opposition than he has done in Europe. 

Lavery and Antonucci have had 59 and 52 starters this year respectively, and it is well within the bounds of possibility that we will see Lavery follow Antonucci in becoming a Group/Grade 1-winning trainer. That of course becomes harder to achieve for every smaller operation as the good horses get whisked away by those with large cheque books. But in the cases of both women, and many other trainers of a similar size, a strong argument can be made for them not to be overlooked in the stampede towards the superstables.

Al Asifah a Potential Star for Shadwell

There is no such thing as a quiet week in racing, but with Royal Ascot now only a week away, and Epsom a week behind us, the fare of the last seven days has been more muted. However, there have been plenty of impressive performances to note, and none perhaps more so than the win of Shadwell's Al Asifah (GB) in the Listed Weatherbys/British EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' S. The daughter of Frankel (GB) and Aneen (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), herself a half-sister to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), may have missed most of the Classics but it would be no surprise to see her engaged in Group 1 races before too long, despite her inexperience. 

Similarly, it was hard not to be impressed by the performance of Beautiful Diamond (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) in her winning debut for Karl Burke and Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum at Nottingham. A pinhooking triumph for Tradewinds Stud, she went from being a 30,000gns yearling to a £360,000 breezer when becoming the most expensive filly sold at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale in April. 

Richard Fahey spoke eloquently in these pages last week of his approach to two-year-olds, and he has plenty of his stable's youngsters firing ahead of an important week. That was particularly notable by his twin strike at Beverley on Saturday with Midnight Affair (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Hilary Needler and Bombay Bazaar (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in the Two-Year-Old Trophy.

From Rome to Hokkaido 

Three nations combined in the winner of the Tattersalls-sponsored G2 Oaks d'Italia. Trainer Stefano Botti won the race for the fifth time since 2012 with Shavasana (Ire), who is now unbeaten in five starts, including the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas). This time, however, she was ridden by Britain's Hollie Doyle, whose first Classic success came aboard Nashwa (GB) in last year's Prix de Diane, and won in the colours of leading Japanese owner/breeder Katsumi Yoshida, who bought the filly after her first Classic win.

Remarkably, Botti's first three wins in the Italian Oaks came in consecutive years with the half-sisters Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), Charity Line (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) and Final Score (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). Another of their half-sisters, Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), later won the Irish Oaks, making their dam, Holy Moon (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), a most prized member of the broodmare band owned by the Botti family's Razza del Velino, who also bred Shavasana.

The Holy Moon family and the Oaks d'Italia are also clearly prized in Japan as all three of those aforementioned winning half-sisters are now in the ownership of either Katsumi or Teruya Yoshida. 

Straight Ahead to Hamburg

The G2 Union-Rennen at Cologne provided the latest shake-up to the market of the G1 Deutsches Derby on July 2, which is now headed by Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}). The Gestut Karlshof homebred has every right to be considered a serious Classic prospect, not just on his win in the 188th Union-Rennen but also for the names found on his page. 

Straight's fourth dam Sacarina (GB) (Old Vic {GB}) has been a key player in the success of the Faust family's Karlshof operation. His third dam Sahel (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is a full-sister to the Deutsches Derby winners Samum (Ger) and Schiaparelli (Ger) as well as to the Preis der Diana winner Salve Regine (Ger). Another sister, Sanwa (Ger), is the dam of the 2014 Deutsches Derby winner Sea The Moon (Ger), who is in turn the sire of the another of the leading fancies for this year's race, Fantastic Moon (Ger), who was champion two-year-old last year in Germany. 

Another Zarak colt from the immediate family of Straight also features in the Derby betting: Sirjan (Ger), a Group 3 winner in Italy last year, was also bred at Karlshof and is a half-brother to Straight's dam Seductive (Ger) (Henrythenavigator).

It is a family which has already tasted Classic success in Europe this season as yet another of Sacarina's daughters by Monsun, Sortita (Ger), features as the grand-dam of the G2 Derby Italiano winner Goldenas (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).

And Now For Something Completely Different

If you wander into the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, you might expect to find exhibitions pertaining to the horse in some form or other. 

This summer, however, the museum has spread its wings to become involved in a show named The Urban Frame: Mutiny In Colour, which opened last week and is being staged across three venues in Suffolk. The exhibition includes more than 50 works from some renowned contemporary artists, including Banksy, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

The street artist and international man (or woman) of mystery, Banksy, is also represented at the National Horseracing Museum in The 7: Banksy Under Siege, which features replicas of life-size 'walls' created during the artist's visit to Ukraine last year. 

It is a world-first for this exhibition, which runs until October 1. Who says Newmarket is boring? 

 

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New Energy To Continue Career in Australia

New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), the 40-1 runner-up behind Native Trail (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the 2022 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, will be gelded and will ultimately continue his career under the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Australia after being acquired by Jamie Lovett's Australian Bloodstock following a lengthy courtship.

Trained in England by Sheila Lavery for her brother John, the £65,000 Tattersalls Goresbridge breezer won his maiden at first asking in June 2021, his lone victory to date, but he has run with credit at group level, as he was eighth and not beaten far in last year's G1 St James's Palace S. while also finishing runner-up to Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 Park S. at Doncaster last September. Fourth as the 5-4 favourite on his seasonal return in the May 7 G3 Amethyst S. at Leopardstown, he was a latest third in the Listed Owenstown Stud S. at the Curragh May 21.

New Energy will be transferred to Harry Eustace and pre-trained in Newmarket before heading to Melbourne, where he will be trained towards a start in the G1 Cox Plate in the Australian springtime.

“He's probably the best performed horse we have ever bought,” Lovett told racenet.com.au.

“I think when we bought [G1 Melbourne Cup winner] Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), he'd had 11 starts and run fourth in an Arc, this bloke has had 11 starts but run second in an Irish Group 1 classic, the 2000 Guineas, his form card is exceptional and we think with gelding and Maher/Eustace, we can find some improvement.

“He has been on everyone's radar. We couldn't get near him last year as the stable [Sheila Lavery] had stallion aspirations for him, but he's a 4-year-old now and we kept chasing him and finalised a deal last week, he was paid for on Tuesday.”

Lovett is comfortable that New Energy will pass the stringent veterinary examinations in Victoria.

“He was A1 on X-rays, scans and scopes, so we would have to be pretty confident he will pass all the tests that are required,” he told racenet.

Sheila Lavery told PA Sport: “They've been trying to buy him for over a year and in the end it just made economical sense for the owner to sell him.

“They've some very deep pockets and I was at a bit of a crossroads with him. It makes economical sense for the owner for him to go to Australia, so I'm delighted for John but heartbroken to see him go.

“I'm gutted. I didn't think I'd be as upset as I am, but it's the right thing and it's the right business decision. I've been very privileged and proud to train him.”

Ballylinch Stud's New Bay is the sire of three winners from as many to race in Australia, including the Chris Waller-trained New Mandate (Ire), winner of the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup this past April. New Bay's three top-level scorers include 3.6-million gns Tattersalls November seller Saffron Beach (Ire).

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Royal Ascot Next for Irish Guineas Runner-Up New Energy

Sheila Lavery is eyeing a tilt at Royal Ascot for New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who out-ran his odds of 40-1 to chase home Native Trail  (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday. 

New Energy, a £65,000 purchase by Lavery and bloodstock agent Ted Durcan from Ballylinch Stud at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale last year, is on course to run in the St James's Palace S. at the royal meeting. 

“He's come out of the race really well and our next target will be Ascot, most probably the St James's Palace,” said Lavery on Monday.

“We'll enter him up for the Jersey as well, just in case, but I think that will be our next step. I think he deserves to run in the St James's Palace, that's the best way of putting it.”

Lavery, who sent out Lady Kaya (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) to finish second in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2019, added, “We were absolutely thrilled, we always thought he'd be better at Group One pace and he got that at the weekend. I was really thrilled with him.

“It was a beautiful ride from Billy Lee, too. I do think Native Trail was just idling in front and if we'd have got to him he'd have just pulled out more, but we were delighted and it's really exciting.”

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TDN Rising Star For New Bay’s New Energy at The Curragh

Sunday's William Hill Ireland Play Responsibly Irish EBF Maiden over seven furlongs at The Curragh looked deep on paper and a deeply impressive display it produced, with John Lavery's 2-year-old colt New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), a £65,000 Goresbridge breeze-up graduate, attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status in exciting fashion. The eventual winner, 'fifth' and 'first' in recent Dundalk barrier trials, was not without support at 11-1 odds and made a slick getaway to hold sway under a firm hold from flagfall. Hard on the steel with all rivals under pressure passing the two pole, he was allowed an inch of rein by Robbie Colgan entering the final furlong and powered clear in style to outpoint Sir Antonino (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths. Paris Lights (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), a full-brother to five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr), shaped with promise and ran on well in the closing stages to finish fifth.

“I really have to thank Gary Halpin, who gave this horse a big recommendation,” said trainer Sheila Lavery. “He didn't put the gun to his head at the Breeze-Ups because he was suffering a little bit from sore shins. I left him in today, but I was praying for rain just to ease the ground a bit. I thought so much of him that he had an entry in the [G2] Beresford, but I didn't want his first run to be at that level and have a hard race. He has a [G1 Irish 2000] Guineas entry and I think he's something very special. He has a very natural high cruising speed and ran twice in barrier trails. He was very green the first time, when I didn't put a cross noseband on him, and he won the second time. I would love to run him in a winners-of-one, but those sort of races are really missing from the programme. He could go for something like the [G3] Killavullan S. at Leopardstown.”

New Energy is the seventh of eight foals and becomes the fifth scorer produced by For Joy (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), whose leading performer to date is G3 Premio Elena E Sergio Cumani victrix Victoria Regina (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). For Joy, who has a yearling colt by Profitable (Ire) to come, is a winning full-sister to G3 Autumn S. victor Abjer (Fr) and G3 Henry II S. victrix Gloomy Sunday (Ire). The winner's second dam, Listed Prix Scaramouche winner Fine and Mellow (Fr) (Lando {Ger}), is one of four black-type winners bred from the Belgian champion and Listed Belgian St Leger heroine Mika Red (Bel) (Red Steps). Descendants of the latter include Listed Belgian 1000 Guineas-winning duo Mika Gallery (Ire) (Tate Gallery) and Baie des Anges (Bel) (Pas de Seul {GB}). For Joy's Profitable yearling is catalogued as Lot 566 in next month's Tattersalls October Book 2.

.2nd-Curragh, €16,500, Mdn, 9-26, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.51, gd.
NEW ENERGY (IRE), c, 2, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: For Joy (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Fine and Mellow (Fr), by Lando (Ger)
3rd Dam: Mika Red (Bel), by Red Steps
1ST-TIME STARTER. (£65,000 2yo '21 TATGOR). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,601. O-John Lavery; B-Anne Hallinan & John O'Connor (IRE); T-Sheila Lavery. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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