Buick Set to Partner Eclipse Favourite Emily Upjohn

John and Thady Gosden had some of their star fillies on the July Course early on Saturday morning with their former stable jockey William Buick replacing Frankie Dettori on Emily Upjohn (GB) for the first time ahead of their engagement in next Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse S.

The Coronation Cup winner was joined by her fellow Epsom heroine, the Oaks winner Soul Sister (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and they were led in their mile-long gallop by last season's G2 Park Hill Fillies' S. winner Mimikyu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). 

Emily Upjohn, whose sire Sea The Stars (Ire) won the Eclipse in 2009, will aim to become her stable's fifth winner of the race. John Gosden said of the statuesque four-year-old, “She is very laidback in the mornings but I'm very happy with her and William was happy with her. I was pleased with all three fillies' work.

“Mimikyu always works well but the other two are always a bit more laidback about life but I'm pleased with them.”

He added that no decision has yet been taken as to where Lady Bamford's Soul Sister will run next. While Emily Upjohn heads to Sandown for the Shack family and Watership Down Stud, the options for George Strawbridge's homebred Mimikyu include the G2 Lancashire Oaks and G2 Lillie Langtry S.

On Thursday, Dettori failed in his appeal to overturn the nine-day suspension he received for interference at Royal Ascot. He also picked up an eight-day whip ban, which will be served immediately after the interference suspension, ruling him out of action from July 4 to 22.

Explaining the booking for the Eclipse, Gosden, who has previously won the race with Nathaniel (Ire), Golden Horn (GB), Roaring Lion and Enable (GB), said, “The owners talked after the appeal hadn't worked out for Frankie and they wanted William and it makes total sense. The owners all know each other well and the fact that William didn't have a ride in the race made it easy. ”

He continued “She was impressive the other day at Epsom. She has had a good winter and come to herself well.  We said after the Coronation Cup we were going to go to the Eclipse and that remains the plan. She is coming back to a mile and a quarter but [Sandown] should suit her as she won her novice there in good style so she has been round there before.”

 

The post Buick Set to Partner Eclipse Favourite Emily Upjohn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Seven Days: We Three Kings?

So begins the campaign for Auguste Rodin (Ire) to meet Desert Crown (GB) and Adayar (Ire) in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. This column has precisely zero influence over anything at all, but as a racing fan increasingly concerned at the sidestepping of the greatest prize of high summer then it would be remiss of me not to bang the drum and rattle the tambourine a little. 

How often have the last three winners of the Derby all still been in training? (We can make that four, actually, but Serpentine has long since ventured down under and is now a gelding.) To have three remaining in Europe offers an opportunity unprecedented in the modern era for this trio to engage in a battle of the generations. That could happen in the Coral-Eclipse, of course, which may also include Sunday's hugely impressive Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact (Ire), and for which last year's winner Vadeni (Fr), Emily Upjohn (GB), Luxembourg (Ire) and Nashwa (GB) are all among the entries. But, with no intended offence to Sandown, it really should be all about Ascot, and I mean in July rather than June.

For a start, the King George, as Britain's second-most valuable race after the Derby, is worth £500,000 more than the Eclipse at £1,250,000. At this level, it is not only about prize-money of course. For the colts, the level of support in a future stallion career is at stake. Despite the Derby remaining a coveted prize, it is mystifying that so often the rest of the winner's career revolves around trying to pretend that he hasn't won it and would really be better suited by ten furlongs. Of course, the perfect stallion prospect is one who has excelled at a mile, ten furlongs, and a mile and a half. Step forward, Sea The Stars (Ire), who remains the beau ideal.

The more we see of the progeny of Frankel, the more convincing it becomes that he too could have been a top-level 12-furlong performer. It is a moot point, however, and the exuberance of his early years could well have been his undoing had he been asked to go for the Derby. But what he gave us a racehorse is, almost unbelievably, being matched by his stallion career as Frankel adds stakes winner after stakes winner to his record. 

Lady Bamford's Soul Sister (GB) became his second Oaks winner after Anapurna (GB), both of whom were ridden to victory for the Gosden stable by the inimitable Frankie Dettori. John Gosden first won the King George with Frankel's great rival, Nathaniel (Ire), and later with two more of his Oaks winners, Taghrooda (GB) and Nathaniel's daughter Enable (GB). The latter of course won it three times in four years and her dominance may well have been part of the reason that there were only three runners when she claimed her third victory in 2020. That year's Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) had been supposed to run but was a late scratching. 

This century, only Galileo (Ire) and Adayar have won the King George in the year they also won the Derby, while Alamshar (Ire) triumphed after winning the Irish Derby, and the aforementioned Taghrooda and Enable both won in their Classic seasons. You don't need to scroll back too far to see the names of the brilliant three-year-old King George winners Nijinsky, Mill Reef, The Minstrel, Troy, Shergar (Ire), Reference Point (GB), Nashwan, Generous (Ire) and Lammtarra to know that it was once almost de rigueur for the Derby winner to make a mid-season appearance at Ascot in late July.

Look Back to Look Forward

There have been many changes within the sport of horseracing over the last century; some good, some bad. One comforting aspect for anyone interested in the breeding side is the sense of continuity conveyed by a horse's pedigree, even if a family has gone quiet for several generations. 

Had we access to a time machine, we could go back 99 years to the 1,000 Guineas and watch Mumtaz Mahal (GB) and Straitlace (GB) being beaten into second and third by Plack (GB). The winner later featured as the third dam of the 1966 King George winner Aunt Edith (GB). Mumtaz Mahal, known as 'The Flying Filly', returned to sprinting after the Guineas and her contribution to the breed, through her position in the Aga Khan's broodmare band and beyond, has been immense. Last year, she featured as the tenth dam of the Arc winner Alpinista (GB). 

Straitlace, meanwhile, went from Newmarket to win the Oaks, and her Epsom triumph was most recently copied by her twelfth-generation descendant Auguste Rodin (Ire). The female line of the Derby winner's family has been to America and back since those days, with Sheikh Mohammed having been the owner for a time of his fourth dam Rahaam (Secreto). Bred by Calumet Farm and Stephen Peskoff, Rahaam went on to produce the lightning-fast Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who then lends the heft of her Group 1-winning daughter and grand-daughter, Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), as Auguste Rodin's first and second dams.

No Stopping on the Branch Line 

It has for a while now been apparent that Frankel is becoming to his sire what Galileo was in turn to Sadler's Wells, who was himself responsible for establishing a hugely significant branch of the Northern Dancer sire-line.

It wasn't just Soul Sister's Oaks triumph that made for a good weekend for the Banstead Manor Stud resident. Kelina (Ire) took the G2 Prix de Sandringham for her owner-breeders Wertheimer & Frere, further enhancing a family that already boasts the Group 1 winners With You (GB), Call The Wind (GB) and We Are (Ire) as half-siblings to her dam Incahoots (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

It is too early to talk of Frankel as a sire of sires but it is encouraging to see his son Cracksman (GB) represented by such an impressive individual as the Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact (Ire). Fizzy in the parade ring with a handler each side, he put that nervous energy to good use on the track when coming from a long way back to make the highly-regarded Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) appear almost to be standing still when he passed him in the straight to win by clear daylight. 

Bred by German breeder Waltraut Spanner, who raced his dam Absolutly Me (Fr), Ace Impact is inbred to one of Germany's most influential mares of all time in Allegretta (GB), who is the grand-dam of Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa), a Prix du Jockey Club winner himself and the broodmare sire of Ace Impact. 

Farther back this family has roots in Lord Derby's Stanley House Stud, breeder of his fourth dam Rosia Bay (GB), who is a half-sister to Selection (GB), dam of the brilliant Ouija Board (GB). Rosia Bay's daughter Roseate Tern (GB), by the Derby winner Blakeney (GB), won the Yorkshire Oaks as well as being placed in the Oaks and the St Leger.

And while we reflect on the passing of the baton down this particular sire-line, it is worth noting the similar situation in Japan, where Sunday Silence was succeeded by Deep Impact (Jpn), among whose many sons at stud there appears to be a particular rising star in Kizuna (Jpn). A Derby winner like his sire, Kizuna was the leading first-crop sire of 2019 and for the last three years has not been out of the first five in the general sires' table. He was third last year and currently occupies that same position following the second consecutive GI Yasuda Kinen win at the weekend for his daughter Songline (Jpn). The five-year-old mare is now a three-time Grade 1 winner in Japan and appears to have the Breeders' Cup on her agenda for later in the year.

The New Normal? 

The hitherto unseen levels of security at Epsom were described by the Jockey Club's chief executive Nevin Truesdale as “sadly necessary” when he spoke on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday show in the aftermath of the Derby. 

He's not wrong. Even with an interest only as a spectator and scribbler on Saturday, my unease had grown through the week to the point of not really enjoying what is usually my favourite day of the year. That sense of dread must have been multiplied many times over for those actually connected to a runner or charged with ensuring that the meeting proceeded safely and smoothly. 

Encouragingly, Surrey Police took the threat seriously enough to be proactive. Intelligence pertaining to the protestors led to the arrests of 19 people on the morning of the Derby, while another 12 arrests were made within the racecourse grounds.

While this and the Jockey Club's forward-thinking approach in applying for a High Court injunction are all to be applauded, it is hard to see that this level of  planning and expense around major meetings is sustainable, especially at a time when British racing's finances are already squeezed.

“This probably is our new normal,” Truesdale admitted, and added in reference to the widespread disruption already seen outside racing caused by various protest groups, “I actually think we've done other sports and other activities a favour.”

The Derby itself wasn't done a favour, either by the early start time, or the train strikes on the day, both of which surely contributed to the number of attendees being just over half the previous year's figure at around 20,000.

As it transpired the number of protestors on the day was actually less than a tenth of the 1,000 promised by the group's spokesperson earlier in the week. But it only takes one, as it did, to get onto the course to cause a potentially catastrophic situation. 

Positioned near the winning post to watch the Derby, I was heartened by the cheer of relief as the race went off as scheduled, but was almost instantly distracted by one of the many security guards positioned along the stands' rail as he flinched and started to run up the track. The booing started, a crew of six guards and police rugby-tackled the invader on the track and got him out of harm's way before the horses had even approached the top of the hill. For the second year in a row we watched protestors being dragged off the track at Epsom.

There is no doubt that the support behind this group is not significant, and they have shown themselves not only to be woefully ill-informed about racing and the needs of horses, but also not above lying in an attempt to remain in the headlines. 

“I actually think we should stop talking about them now,” said Truesdale, and in this he is also right but, clearly, we cannot stop worrying about them, and that concern comes at a cost, both financial and reputational. 

The new normal? Let's hope not. 

The post Seven Days: We Three Kings? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Frankie’s Fillies Light Up Ladies’ Day

EPSOM DOWNS, UK–It was a chill wind, rather than an ill wind, that blew across the Downs as the early birds arrived at Epsom. The drive to Surrey had been peppered by racing popping up on the Radio 4 news, and that's rarely a good sign. Animal Rising may be chaotic in its reasoning but, with its threats of disruption, the protest group has done a good job of grabbing attention in the run-up to the Derby. Sure enough, there it was again, on repeat on the hourly bulletins.

The racecourse always comes as a bit of a surprise as suburbia gives way to the wide open space which, for almost 250 years, has held tightly its most prized asset. Those cambered bends of one of the world's most extraordinary racecourses are accompanied by a shining white grandstand resembling a cruise liner marooned on the turf. It's a startling sight on any day and by Friday morning it was encased by barricades: Fortress Epsom standing ready to repel those whose sole intent wasn't simply to enjoy a bloody good day at the races.

On cue, the sun emerged mid-morning to aid tens of thousands of racegoers in that pursuit. Eve Johnson Houghton and Anthony Bromley know how to unearth a value buy at the yearling sales and, after Chipotle (GB) and Streets Of Gold (Ire), the stable has another precocious youngster to take them and the members of the Woodway 20 syndicate to more big days out. Bobsleigh (Ire) (Elzaaam {Aus}) shot down the straight to win the Woodcote like he was on the Cresta Run. After tackling the weirdness of Brighton then Epsom with aplomb, Ascot will seem like a doddle.

This was Ladies' Day. In fact, it was Lady Bamford's day, and the only moment the smile slipped from the face of the diminutive owner-breeder of the Oaks winner Soul Sister (GB) was when Frankie Dettori tried to lift her off her feet and spin her round in the winner's circle. 

For Lady Bamford it was a second Oaks success after Sariska (GB), for Dettori a seventh, the first of which came almost 30 years ago with Balanchine. Will he retire to bed tonight thinking 'what the hell was I doing announcing my retirement?' He won't be the only one questioning that decision, if indeed he is. 

The indefatigable jockey had already given one masterclass aboard Emily Upjohn (GB) to win the G1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup, setting up the first half of a memorable Group 1 double for John and Thady Gosden. The runners-up of last year's Derby and Oaks went toe to toe down the hill for home, with the only certainty being that one of them would once again have to settle for second. Westover (GB) gave way, perhaps not graciously, to the powerhouse that is Emily Upjohn, now resplendent in the huge frame that once made her a backward-looking yearling deemed worth a bid that was half the price of her illustrious sire's covering fee. She's showing them now. 

Last summer, an early morning July Course gallop for Emily Upjohn, and the sudden appearance of Dettori to ride her, was the first sign of a rapprochement between the jockey and John Gosden, a temporary parting of ways having ensued in the wake of a few irksome results at Royal Ascot. Whether it was that public chiding or merely his wish to go out on top that first prompted Dettori's thoughts of retirement, he will certainly be granted the latter. He already has two British Classics under his belt this season and, as his twin triumphs on those glorious fillies at Epsom show, he remains very much in his pomp as a rider.

He is still the public's darling, too, and boy does racing need a figure of such recognisable vibrance right now.  “I'll have a few quid on Frankie,” said the lady on the paddock rail to her friend before the Coronation Cup. She wasn't the only one with thoughts of backing Frankie blind. By late afternoon on Friday, the plunge on Dettori's Gosden-trained Derby runner Arrest (Ire) had gathered pace to push him to the head of the market past Auguste Rodin (Ire). A Frankie-Frankel Oaks-Derby double would certainly help to propel racing to the front pages for all the right reasons, providing that's the only prominent Arrest at Epsom on Saturday. 

There's a saying that goes 'show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser'. But when you own a share in a stallion who has contributed in a homebred filly running third in the Oaks, then you are entitled to feel pretty cock-a-hoop, as Steven Smith and Andy Lloyd of Hunscote Stud did by late afternoon. Their battler of a filly, Caernarfon (GB), had already belied her odds to run fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and now here she was again, challenging the favourite Savethelastdance (Ire) for second on the line in the biggest fillies' Classic of them all.

“Her sister was bulletproof, and she's bulletproof,” said Smith of Caernarfon and her Group 3-winning sibling Dan's Dream (GB), both daughters of Cityscape (GB).

“She's small, she's agile, she doesn't appear to need much work. She just didn't quite get the trip,” he added, before turning to the subject of a potential run in the marginally shorter Prix de Diane.

“A physical specimen she is not but, like all Cityscapes, she has a good mind and she tries. And if you have those two things in a racehorse you have a chance.”

A major share-holder in Cityscape, a former resident of Overbury Stud who is currently in Argentina, Smith is already musing the return of the Juddmonte-bred son of Selkirk.

“We found out today that she is a 10-furlong horse and we can crack on,” he said. “She goes on soft as well, so there are plenty of options. She floats. I have a video of her galloping and I draw a line and look at her eye and her eye doesn't move. Whatever is happening down below is very smooth and economical. She's like Seb Coe. Why did he win? Because of his action. She has an amazing action.”

The beaming owner-breeder then brought the conversation to a close with, “Right, I'm off to get hammered.” And with the uplifting thought that last year's Oaks third Nashwa (GB) went on to win the Prix de Diane, he has no need to drown any sorrows.

The post Frankie’s Fillies Light Up Ladies’ Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The Oaks: Where Did They Come From?

Looks can be deceiving, but it is hard to argue with Savethelastdance's 22-length winning margin in the Listed Cheshire Oaks. The Coolmore filly faces 10 rivals in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks, among them G3 Musidora S. heroine Soul Sister for Lady Bamford.

BE HAPPY (IRE), Camelot (GB) – Frequential (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

A 340,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, she is a sister to the Group 3-placed Hector De Maris (Ire) and hails from the family of Classic winners Galileo (Ire), Sea the Stars (Ire) and King's Best, her fourth dam being Allegretta (GB). Runner-up to the supplemented Eternal Hope in the Lingfield Derby Trial and not without a chance.

BRIGHT DIAMOND (IRE), El Kabeir – Starlite Sienna (Ire) (Elusive Pimpernel)
TDN Rising Star.
Owner: Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum
Breeder: T Molan
Trainer: Karl Burke

A graduate of the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale for €52,000, she is out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Realtra (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and was a highly impressive maiden winner on debut last year before finishing third in the G1 Fillies' Mile. Down the field in fifth but not beaten far in the Lingfield Oaks Trial on her only start this year.

CAERNARFON (GB), Cityscape (GB) – Royal Ffanci (GB) (Royal Applause {GB})
Owner: Hunscote Stud, P Humphreys & J Sweeney
Breeder: Hunscote Stud
Trainer: Jack Channon

A full-sister to the G3 Fred Darling winner Dan's Dream (GB) out of an unraced mare, she won the Listed Montrose Fillies' S. over a mile on the last of her seven starts at two, and came out strongly on debut this season to take fourth in the 1,000 Guineas. What she lacks in size she makes up for in toughness. The Oaks trip may just be a stretch.

ETERNAL HOPE (IRE), Teofilo (Ire) – Voice Of Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby

The second foal of a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Rio De La Plata (Arg), and all three of her runs have come this year. She won on her second start at Chelmsford in February then took to the turf with aplomb to win the Lingfield Oaks Trial, thereby demanding to be supplemented for this Classic test. Big chance. 

HEARTACHE TONIGHT (FR), Recorder (GB) – Salvation (GB) (Montjeu {Ire})
Owner: Chris Wright and Andy MacDonald
Breeder: Sylvain Vidal
Trainer David Menuisier

A first British Classic runner for her trainer and for her French-based sire, she is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) and bred on very similar lines to the 2019 Oaks winner Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}). One for the placepot.

MAMAN JOON (IRE), Sea the Stars (Ire) – Dorcas Lane (GB) (Norse Dancer {Ire})
Owner: Amo Racing Ltd
Breeder: Barnane Stud Ltd
Trainer: Richard Hannon

A half-sister to the Royal Ascot winners Candleford (Ire) and Atty Persse (Ire), she was bought for 400,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. She has raced just once to date when second, more than nine lengths adrift of Gather Ye Rosebuds (Ire), in a 10-furlong Newbury maiden in April. Stamina won't be a problem but this is a dive into the deep end for an inexperienced filly.

RED RIDING HOOD (IRE), Justify – Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owners: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

From a deep Coolmore family and one Aidan O'Brien knows well, as he sent out her dam Ballydoyle to win the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and finish second in the 1,000 Guineas. Dam is a sister to Misty For Me (Ire), a four-time Group 1 winner and the dam of US Navy Flag, as well as Twirl (Ire) and April Showers (Ire). It's a mouthwatering pedigree but she appears to be the Ballydoyle third string and improvement is required.

RUNNING LION (GB), Roaring Lion – Bella Nouf (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: D P Howden
Breeder: The Bella Nouf Partnership
Trainers: John and Thady Gosden

A half-sister to Group 3 winner Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}), her dam is a dual-winning half-sister to three black-type performers. Ultra-impressive winner at Newmarket back in May and forms part of a strong Gosden hand in the race. She is one of two Classic runners at Epsom from the sole crop of Roaring Lion, along with Dubai Mile (Ire) in the Derby.

 

SAVETHELASTDANCE (IRE), Galileo (Ire) – Daddy's Lil Darling (Scat Daddy)
Owners: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg
Breeder: Daddys Lil Darling Syndicate
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

The family has unfinished business in this race given the dam Daddys Lil Darling bolted to the start and was withdrawn from the 2017 Oaks after getting loose. The mare was a top performer in America, won at the highest level, and Savethelastdance appears to have inherited all of her ability and more judging by a breathtaking 22-length win in the Cheshire Oaks. Deserving favourite.

 

SEA OF ROSES (GB), Sea The Moon (Ger) – Plume Rose (GB) (Marchand De Sable)
Owner: Weldspec Glasgow Limited
Breeder: Overbury Stallions Ltd
Trainer: Andrew Balding

Bought by Grangemore Stud for 115,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2020. Reoffered at Book 1 and sold for 170,000gns to Andrew Balding. A half-sister to five winners, including the classy Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Gardol City (Fr) (Elusive City). Lots to find on form and ratings.

SOUL SISTER (IRE), Frankel (GB) – Dream Peace (Ire) (Dansili {GB})
Owner/breeder: Lady Bamford
Trainers: John & Thady Gosden

Lady Bamford's homebred is a sister to the Australian performer Herman Hesse (GB) and Dreamflight (GB), and a half-sister to Questionaire (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Traces back to Kilfrish Stud's successful matriarch Arctique Royale (GB). Ticks a lot of boxes on paper, couldn't have been more impressive in winning the G3 Musidora S., and provides the final ride in the Oaks for Frankie Dettori.

 

The post The Oaks: Where Did They Come From? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights