Tag: Snowfall

Seven Days: A St Leger Fit For a King

With a royal audience, Continuous (Jpn) became the seventh winner of the St Leger for Aidan O'Brien, relegating the King and Queen's runner Desert Hero (GB) to third, just as Pour Moi (Ire) had done in the Derby with Carlton House back in 2011 in front of the late Queen.

There were plenty of strands to an enthralling St Leger that would have made for good storylines: two of those, victory for Desert Hero with his owners present on Town Moor, or a final British Classic for Frankie Dettori, may well have propelled the dear old Classic to the front pages on Sunday. As it was, and for less obviously mainstream reasons, the win of Continuous was extremely satisfying. 

His success completed a full set of British Classics for Sunday Silence as paternal grandsire, with three of his sons having provided this quintet. The most significant contributor was of course Deep Impact (Jpn), Sunday Silence's most influential offspring, but Saturday provided the chance for Heart's Cry to have a posthumous moment in the limelight, some six months after his death at the age of 22, which came two years after he was pensioned at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.

Heart's Cry, out of the dual Grade 3 winner Irish Dance (Jpn), herself a daughter of the Arc winner Tony Bin (Ire), has lived in the shadow of his more famous stud-mate Deep Impact. This is despite Heart's Cry having been the only horse to have beaten him on Japanese soil, in the G1 Arima Kinen in the year of Deep Impact's Triple Crown success. Heart's Cry was a year older, and after winning the G2 Shimbun Hai went on to run second in the Japanese Derby to another legend of the Shadai stallion ranks, King Kamehameha (Jpn). Campaigned at three, four and five, he will doubtless be best remembered as a racehorse for his defeat of Deep Impact, but he was beaten only a nose by the English-trained raider Alkaased in the Japan Cup a month before that, and after his Christmas Day triumph went on to Nad Al Sheba, where he was the easy winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic, with Ouija Board (GB) and Alexander Goldrun (Ire) among those to have finished behind him that day.

In 2007, both he and Deep Impact retired to Shadai's imposing stallion roster, and three years later they were first and second on the first-season sires' table. By 2012, Deep Impact was champion sire, a position he is only likely to relinquish this year, four seasons after his death. Heart's Cry worked his way up the table and has never been out of the top five stallions in Japan in the last decade, with his highest placing coming in 2019 when he was once again runner-up to his old rival.

In the 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Oaks victrix Snowfall (Jpn) and this season's Derby, Irish Derby and Irish Champion S. winner Auguste Rodin (Jpn), we have seen Deep Impact blend well with mares by Galileo (Ire). It is fair to assume that that is where Fluff (Ire), the full-sister to Saxon Warrior's dam Maybe (Ire), was heading in 2019 in the season in which Deep Impact became incapacitated before his death in the August of that year. Heart's Cry stepped in and on Saturday, as Continuous unleashed a lethal injection of pace to cruise to make the front-running Gregory (GB) look as if he was standing still, it was easy to spot the thick silver lining to what may have once felt like a black cloud. 

Natagora (Fr), the 1,000 Guineas winner of 2008 after her previous season's victory in the G1 Cheveley Park S., is the only outlier to the group. Conceived during the three seasons in which her sire Divine Light (Jpn) stood in France, she is out of the Lagardere-bred Reinamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).

Deep Impact has also been represented by three French Classic winners in Study Of Man (Ire) and Beauty Parlour (GB), both out of Storm Cat-line mares, and Fancy Blue (Ire), whose dam is a full-sister to High Chaparral (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

Heart's Cry can't match him in the depth of his haul of Group 1 winners but he has been no slouch himself. In Australia, he has sired the Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux (Jpn) and the Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti (Jpn). The latter was another to have been out of a mare by an Arc winner, this one being Helissio (Fr), who also started his stud career at Shadai.

A nice postscript in the year of Heart's Cry's demise is that his son Suave Richard (Jpn), one of his two winners of the Japan Cup, is currently leading the freshman sires' table in Japan. 

What will arguably be most important to Japan on the reputational front, however, is if Heart's Cry appears as the sire of an Arc winner himself. It's a tall order to turn out a relatively lightly-raced colt again just 15 days after his St Leger triumph but it is hard not to feel that Continuous, who will need to be supplemented, has much in his favour to make an impact at Longchamp on the first Sunday of October. 

The only thing that would make the Japanese fans happier on Arc day than a win for Continuous would be if the spoils went instead to Through Seven Seas (Jpn). The five-year-old mare is by Dream Journey (Jpn), a grandson of Sunday Silence, and she was last seen running the mighty Equinox (Jpn) to a neck in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June. Trained by Tomohito Ozeki, Through Seven Seas arrived in Chantilly on Friday and is boarding at Nicolas Clement's stable in the build-up to the Arc.

A Valued Test

While there is plenty of head-shaking at the shuffling off to National Hunt studs of St Leger winners in this part of the world (NB: this doesn't prevent Flat breeders from using their services), the picture is entirely different in Japan.

As Triple Crown winners, Deep Impact and his immensely popular young stallion son Contrail (Jpn) of course both won Japan's St Leger equivalent, the Kikuka Sho. So did Kitasan Black (Jpn), the sire of Equinox and the busiest stallion in Japan this year with 242 mares covered. So too did Orfevre (Jpn), who was beaten a neck into second in the following year's Arc, and also Epipheneaia (Jpn), who went on to win the Japan Cup and sired the Fillies' Triple Crown winner Daring Tact (Jpn) in his first crop. They too remain popular members of the Shadai roster. 

Another For the Late Adlerflug

Doncaster's was not the only St Leger to be run over the weekend, as the German equivalent was also staged at Dortmund on Sunday, though this, like the Irish St Leger, has in recent years been opened up to older horses. 

This year's winner, the Gestut Hof Ittlingen homebred Lordano (Ger), is a four-year-old, and the son of Adlerflug (Ger) went one better than his full-brother Loft (Ger), who was second in the same race two years ago.

The most famous member of this family that has served Ittlingen so well, in international terms at least, is Lando (Ger) (Acetanango {Ger}), a full-brother to their grand-dam, Laurella (GB). At home, Lando took the scalp of Monsun (Ger) in the Deutsches Derby and in the following season's Grosser Preis von Baden. Twice named German Horse of the Year, he spread his wings to win two Group 1 races in Italy and, finally, the Japan Cup of 1995. He makes an appearance in modern-day pedigrees most usually as the damsire of the talented but subfertile Farhh (GB), who already has four young sons at stud: Far Above (Ire), King Of Change (GB), Wells Farhh Go (Ire) and Dee Ex Bee (GB).

Despite twice beating Monsun (Ger), Lando could not be held in the same regard as him as an influence at stud. In reflecting on Monsun's reign it is worth remembering that his sire Konigsstuhl (Ger) won the German Triple Crown, while his damsire, the Deutsches Derby winner Surumu (Ger), also features as the paternal grandsire of Lando.

Class will out, if only we give it a chance.

Hotter Still

As the two-year-old racing steps up a notch in Europe, it is hard not to be impressed with the start Too Darn Hot (GB) has made to his stud career. 

After the previous weekend's victory for his daughter Fallen Angel (GB), whose owner-breeder Steve Parkin outlined plans for his own stallion operation in Monday's TDN, Too Darn Hot was represented by another eye-catching success in the facile winner of the G2 May Hill S., Darnation (Ire), for owner-bredeer Newtown Anner Stud.

Karl Burke is the trainer behind both of these fillies and he's pretty darn hot himself at the moment with a 30% strike-rate. Burke also provided Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB) with his first group winner over the weekend in the G3 Prix Eclipse scorer Dawn Charger (Ire), as well as winning the Listed Stand Cup S. at Chester with Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). At Ireland's Champions Festival, Burke had also saddled G2 Dullingham Park S. winner Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

Another highly impressive juvenile performance at Doncaster came from Iberian (Ire), winner of the G2 Champagne S. for Charlie Hills. The son of Lope De Vega (Ire) was bred by Ballylinch Stud, who retained a share in him when he was bought by Johnny McKeever on his trainer's behalf, and Ballylinch now races him in partnership with Teme Valley Racing. With luck we will see this progressive colt next in the Dewhurst.

Lope De Vega, whose first-crop son Belardo (Ire) won the Dewhurst in 2014 and was also bred by Ballylinch, has sired more winners (138) in Europe than any other stallion so far this year, and that haul includes 14 black-type winners. 

Iberian's success capped a good 36 hours for bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, who saw two of his in-training selections for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable land group wins in Australia. Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won Saturday's G3 Kingston Town S. at Randwick after being bought from from last year's Horses-in-Training Sale, while Goffs London Sale purchase Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) landed the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup.

 

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‘A Pleasure To Train’ – Varian’s Group 1 Heroine Teona Retired After Setback

Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Ambivalent {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire}), best known for taking the scalp of Snowfall (Jpn) in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp last season, has been retired to the paddocks after suffering a setback in training.

One of the most talented horses Roger Varian has ever trained, Teona went on to finish third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf behind Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Del Mar last term, but had yet to reappear this season.

Varian revealed on Friday that Teona, owned by Ali Saeed, will embark on a career as a broodmare after picking up an injury.

Speaking on Twitter, Varian said, “We are disappointed to report that Teona has met with a season-ending injury and will be retired. She was a pleasure to train and can now enjoy her second career as a broodmare.”

Teona graced the track just seven times but, as she showed in Paris, was electric on her day. That Prix Vermeille victory was her only top-flight success but she did win a listed event at Windsor–the Sytner BMW Sunningdale August S.–during her 3-year-old campaign.

A half-sister to the G2 Prix Hocquart victor Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Teona is from a high-class family and her dam, Ambivalent, carried Saeed's colours to Group 1 glory when winning the Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh in 2013.

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Dettori, O’Brien Mourn Loss Of Top Ballydolye Filly Snowfall

Classic-winning filly Snowfall had to be euthanized after sustaining a pelvic injury in her stall, reports the Racing Post. Bred by the Coolmore partners, the 4-year-old daughter of the late Deep Impact was foaled out of a full sister to 2016 Arc de Triomphe winner Found.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien mourned the loss, telling racingpost.com: “We did everything we could for her but it wasn't to be. She is a massive loss to everyone here, from a racing and breeding perspective – she was such a high-class mare.”

A five-time winner from 14 starts, Snowfall came to prominence in 2021 with a 16-length victory in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, the largest margin of victory in the race's history. She would go on to win the G1 Irish Oaks by 8 1/2 lengths and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, her first try against older fillies and mares, by four lengths.

“I've ridden 21 British Classic winners in my life but I have never ridden an easier one than her in the Oaks,” Frankie Dettori told racingpost.com. “It was just unbelievable. I had the race won at Tattenham Corner. She was at her peak and just brilliant. She went through the field like a hot knife through butter.

“In this day and age, I don't think we will see a performance like that again. I don't expect to ever win another Classic like that in my life.”

Snowfall's dam, Best In The World, has also foaled a 2019 colt by Deep Impact named Newfoundland, who has yet to start, and an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi.

Read more at the Racing Post.

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Dual Classic Winner Snowfall Dead

Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the record 16-length winner of the G1 Cazoo Oaks last June, has been euthanised after suffering a pelvic injury in her box.

“It's very sad news, terrible,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “The lads were thinking of keeping her in training but they hadn't quite made up their minds. It was very possible.

“She had a pelvic injury in her box. Sometimes pelvic injuries go the right way or they can go the wrong way. Unfortunately this one went the wrong way. It's very sad and I feel very sorry for the lads, for Derrick [Smith], Michael [Tabor] and John [Magnier].”

Snowfall was bred by the Coolmore partners and is the first foal out of Best In The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a Group 3-winning daughter of the G1 Matron S. and G1 Lockinge S. victress Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab), and therefore a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders' Cup Turf scorer Found (Ire), the G3 Flame Of Tara S. winner and dual Oaks-placed Divinely (Ire) and the G3 Park S. winner Magical Dream (Ire). Best In The World was sent to Japan to start her stud career with consecutive matings to Deep Impact, the first resulting in Snowfall and the second the newly turned 3-year-old Newfoundland (Ire).

Snowfall broke her maiden in July of 2020 at The Curragh at third asking but failed to find the winner's enclosure in four subsequent starts as a juvenile. She first garnered headlines when a saddling enclosure error ahead of the G1 Fillies' Mile saw she and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) saddled with each other's towels and ridden by each other's jockeys; it was initially thought that she ran third at 50-1, but the mistake was soon realised and she was correctly identified as finishing eighth. Both Mother Earth and Snowfall would go on to Classic victories and multiple Group 1s at three.

Partnered with Ryan Moore for the first time in the G3 Musidora S. on seasonal debut last May, Snowfall was a surprise 14-1 winner by an eye-catching 3 3/4 lengths over the highly regarded Noon Star (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Moore nonetheless took the ride on race favourite Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Oaks, but on the first Friday in June there was no question who was best. Partnered by Frankie Dettori fresh off his win aboard Mother Earth in the G1 1000 Guineas, Snowfall traveled inconspicuously in the second half of the pack at Epsom. She began to creep closer leaving Tattenham corner and, when pressed by Dettori, burst to the lead two out, sprinting clear to win by a record 16 lengths at odds of 11-2.

Dettori drew comparisons post-race to the great Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who he won the Oaks on in 2017, saying, “four out I had everything beat. I looked in front and they were all gone. I just cut through the middle-it was like a hot knife through butter. It was quite remarkable, because I pulled up by the stables and everybody else pulled up by the winning post. I've won many Classics, but none as easy as this one. Enable did the Irish Oaks, King George and Arc as a 3-year-old after this, and I wouldn't put that past her, she's that good.”

Six weeks later, Snowfall resurfaced at The Curragh for the G1 Irish Oaks reunited with Ryan Moore. Buried midpack on the fence, she nonetheless found a seam upon straightening for home and was once again an incredibly easy winner, striding an effortless eighth lengths clear of a trio of her chasing stablemates, with her relative Divinely, who had been third in the Oaks, picking up second.

Four weeks later, it was off to York for Snowfall to face elders for the first time in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, and the result was much the same, with the bay traveling near the rear of the pack and, when asked, quickening to the lead and drawing away to win by four lengths, establishing herself as favourite for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

It came as quite a surprise then, when Snowfall suffered her first reversal when second to Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille in September. Forced to face a bottomless Arc three weeks later, Snowfall was not disgraced but off the board for the first time when beaten 4 3/4 lengths in sixth, and made what was to be her final start when third in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot on Oct. 16. Snowfall won five races from 14 starts for earnings of £885,696. Her dam, Best In The World, has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire).

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