Space Blues (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maurice de Gheest Glory For Dubawi’s Space Blues

Godolphin had two livewires in a renewal of Deauville’s G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest that looked well up to standard but also tough to call and it was the white cap of the second-string Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) that emerged on top in a thriller. Third in this 6 1/2-furlong feature 12 months ago, the Charlie Appleby representative had yet to win over this short a trip but gave all the right signals with the way he travelled through the seven-furlong G2 Lennox S. when registering a career-best success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival July 28. Upping his game again here, the TDN Rising Star was ridden with supreme confidence by William Buick and justified that faith with a late surge to overhaul Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the final 50 metres. At the line, the 3/4-of-a-length margin to the former probably underestimated the superiority of the 9-2 shot, while the G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up Lope Y Fernandez was a head away in third and Godolphin’s 11-10 favourite Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) surrendered his unbeaten record a further short neck behind in fourth. “Space Blues has everything–it’s amazing to see a turn of foot like that in a top sprint race,” Buick said. “Charlie told me that he was a better horse this year, which I felt as well at Goodwood in the Lennox. He is a very, very good horse and it is his first group 1, which he really deserves.”

Labelled a TDN Rising Star when off the mark on his sole juvenile start over an extended mile at Nottingham in November 2018, Space Blues spent the first part of last Spring being trained for middle-distances and when that failed was brought back to this trip to gain a confidence boost in a York handicap in May. Following up in the Listed Surrey S. at Epsom later that month, he was denied a head by Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) when going too soon in Royal Ascot’s G3 Jersey S. in June and stepped up to be three-lengths second to Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over this course and distance in July. Again improving to be a close third in this, the bay was next seen flopping when seventh ridden too forward in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint over six furlongs at Meydan Mar. 7.

Returning to European action to deny the Haydock specialist Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) in the June 7 Listed Spring Trophy there, he reaffirmed his aptitude for seven furlongs when taking the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp June 25 before his display of power in the Lennox. Anchored in rear early having broken fast here, he was hard against the stand’s rail with Buick finding an able target-horse in Hello Youmzain as Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) led Earthlight away to his right. Comfortably in touch and notably keen for action, Space Blues was only let go after the two Royal Ascot-winning sprinters had begun their prolonged duel in front and while Lope Y Fernandez and Earthlight stayed on resolutely, the winning of the race was the superior acceleration of the British raider.

On this evidence, he would be more than a match for stablemate Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) and it may be that Appleby will have to keep them apart from here. “We all know what Dubawi’s progeny can do as they get older and that’s true for most sprinters as well,” he commented. “His profile this year has been faultless. Every time he has stepped up in grade, he has been more impressive and a lot of credit goes to the team at home. Paolo [Sirigu], who rides him, does a fantastic job looking after him and he is a Christian of a horse. There isn’t a great amount of opportunities at group 1 level for a horse like Space Blues and I was keen to try and win one with him, because he deserves it. He is a lovely horse to have around and it is fantastic for the team. Most importantly, it is fantastic for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin.”

“It is hard to be on the front end at Deauville and the gallop was strong early doors. I felt that the race was always going to develop for a finisher and William’s instructions were to go out there and ride him to come home. He has given the horse a lovely ride. From halfway, William said he only needed for the gaps to appear and, thankfully, they came in time. We will look at bringing him back to France again for the G1 Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend [Oct. 4]. We will give him a well-deserved break first and then head to Longchamp.”

Nicolas de Chambure said of Hello Youmzain, “We’re delighted to see him back to his best. In the July Cup last time, he didn’t appreciate the ‘dip’ and once again he hit a flat spot around halfway and then found more. It’s a good result and we’re proud of him. We’ll follow the same program as last year, go for Haydock [for the G1 Sprint Cup] and then Ascot [for the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S.]. Next year, he will stand at Etreham.” Lisa-Jane Graffard said of Earthlight, “Mickael said he was a little bit flat in the last 100 yards, but it’s only his second run and that will help him improve his condition. He still has a very bright future, wherever he goes next, and we will take some time to reflect on everything.”

Space Blues is a half-brother to the four-times group-winning Shuruq (Elusive Quality), who is in turn the dam of the stakes-winning and GI American Oaks and GII Fair Grounds Oaks-placed Antoinette (Hard Spun). The dam is the G2 Challenge S. winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre), a granddaughter of High Spirited (Ire) (Shirley Heights {GB}) who is a full-sister to the G1 Premio Roma heroine High Hawk (Ire) who produced the triple group 1 hero and leading sire In the Wings (GB) (Sadler’s Wells). High Spirited’s progeny include the G2 King Edward VII S. scorer Amfortas (Ire) (Caerleon) and the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Legend Maker (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) who was responsible for the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) and the G3 Gallinule S. scorer Alexander of Hales (Danehill). His full-sister Canterbury Lace produced the G1 Matron S. winner Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the G3 Pinnacle S. winner Klassique (GB) (Gaileo {Ire}). Miss Lucifer also has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly by Exceed and Excel (Aus) named Next Victory (Ire), a 2-year-old filly by Night of Thunder (Ire) named Beautiful Future (Ire) and a filly foal by Dark Angel (Ire).

Sunday, Deauville, France
LARC PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST-G1, €230,000, Deauville, 8-9, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:15.76, gd.
1–SPACE BLUES (IRE), 130, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Miss Lucifer (Fr) (GSW-Eng, $193,403), by Noverre
                2nd Dam: Devil’s Imp (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
                3rd Dam: High Spirited (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €131,422. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 13-7-3-1, €451,723. *1/2 to Shuruq (Elusive Quality), Hwt. Older Mare-UAE at 7-9.5f, MGSW-UAE, GSW-Tur & GSP-Eng, $658,709. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hello Youmzain (Fr), 130, c, 4, Kodiac (GB)–Spasha (GB), by Shamardal. O-Haras d’Etreham & Cambridge Stud; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (FR); T-Kevin Ryan. €52,578.
3–Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), 126, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Black Dahlia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€900,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €26,289.
Margins: 3/4, HD, SNK. Odds: 4.40, 17.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Earthlight (Ire), Golden Horde (Ire), Wooded (Ire), Reshabar (Fr), Wichita (Ire), Spinning Memories (Ire), Roncey (Fr), Batwan (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Dubawi’s Space Blues Powers To Lennox Success

Retaining all his old pizzazz, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) backed up victories in last month’s Listed Spring Trophy and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot with an impressive win in Tuesday’s G2 Qatar Lennox S. over seven furlongs at Goodwood. Adopting his usual patient role off the tempo in ninth through halfway, the 2-1 favourite made eyecatching headway out wide in the straight and was not for catching once quickening smartly for control approaching the final eighth to easily outpoint Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by two lengths. Escobar (Ire) (Famous Name {GB}) ran on to finish a half-length further back in third.

“He ran very well when he was third over 6 1/2 furlongs in the Maurice de Gheest last year, he’s a horse who’s still improving and he’s very professional and easy to deal with,” said in-form rider William Buick of last year’s G1 Prix Jean Prat and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest placegetter. “It’s beautiful ground out there and they’re making a print, which suits him, and I thought that was a really good performance today. Six furlongs at Meydan in the Spring didn’t work out for him, but that was not the horse’s fault, and seven is his optimum trip. Charlie [Appleby] will keep all options open for him.”

Appleby, who had teamed up with Buick to garner Sunday’s G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich, added, “He got a nice, clean run round and there was plenty of pace on. William [Buick] was keen to make sure he kept it simple with him and that’s what he did. I was always confident he was going to pick up, it was a good performance and I’m delighted.” Looking ahead to another tilt at the Deauville festival, the trainer continued, “On the back of that, it’ll be nice to see how fresh we can get him, as quick as possible, as I feel the Maurice de Gheest is a nice race for him. He ran well in it last year and he’s a stronger horse this year. He’s a great traveller in his races and he has got that gear change. It’d be nice to give him another crack at a Group 1, but it does come soon enough. He’s a seven-furlong specialist, it’s proven on paper statistically throughout his career, and there’s obviously the [G1 Prix de la] Foret [at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend] to consider too.”

Space Blues, one of four winners produced by G2 Challenge S. victress Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre), is a half-brother to MGSW G2 Al Maktoum Challenge and G3 UAE Oaks winner Shuruq (Elusive Quality), herself the dam of stakes-winning GII Fair Grounds Oaks and GIII Wonder Again S. placegetter Antoinette (Hard Spun). The homebred chestnut is also kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Beautiful Future (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and a 2020 Dark Angel (Ire) filly. Miss Lucifer is out of a winning half to G2 King Edward VII S.-winning sire Amfortas (Ire) (Caerleon) and fellow sires Chevalier (Ire) (Danehill) and Chief Lone Eagle (Giant’s Causeway). She is also kin to G3 Prix de Royaumont victress Legend Maker (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), herself the dam of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo), and to the dam of G1 Matron S. victress Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}).

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR LENNOX S.-G2, £100,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:27.48, gd.
1–SPACE BLUES (IRE), 129, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Miss Lucifer (Fr) (GSW-Eng, $193,403), by Noverre
2nd Dam: Devil’s Imp (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: High Spirited (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £56,710. Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Fr, 12-6-3-1, $357,820. *1/2 to Shuruq (Elusive Quality), Hwt. Older Mare-UAE at 7-9 1/2f, MGSW-UAE, GSW-Tur, GSP-Eng, $658,709. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Duke of Hazzard (Fr), 129, c, 4, Lope de Vega (Ire)–With Your Spirit (Fr), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€130,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Fitri Hay; B-Runnymede Farm Inc. & CW. Clay (FR); T-Paul Cole. £21,500.
3–Escobar (Ire), 129, g, 6, Famous Name (GB)–Saying Grace (Ire), by Brief Truce. (€105,000 Wlg ’14 GOFNOV; €280,000 Ylg ’15 GOFORB; 100,000gns HRA ’17 TATAHI). O-Withernsea Thoroughbred Limited; B-Peter Evans (IRE); T-David O’Meara. £10,760.
Margins: 2, HF, HF. Odds: 2.00, 5.00, 40.00.
Also Ran: Safe Voyage (Ire), Sir Dancealot (Ire), D’Bai (Ire), Marie’s Diamond (Ire), Graignes (Fr), Glorious Journey (GB), Pierre Lapin (Ire), History Writer (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Stradivarius Lines Up to Defend Goodwood Cup Title

Now that Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) has managed to establish unquestionable dominance over the older stayers, the popular chestnut has a feat of magnitude to pull off on Tuesday if he is to secure a record fourth renewal of the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. That involves surrendering a 15-pound weight-for-age advantage to a G1 Irish Derby winner in Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who like Bjorn Nielsen’s star did three years ago comes here looking to exploit that anomaly. Weeks before Stradivarius upstaged Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the 2017 edition, he had garnered the G2 Queen’s Vase and there is a symmetry in the fact that Santiago also captured that Royal Ascot contest en route to the June 27 Curragh Classic. With the long-established weight-for-age scale still generally unchallenged as an accurate measurement of relative maturity, this race will serve as one of the more thorough examinations of its logic and continued relevance in recent times.

Due to the lack of commercial value of these emotive staying races, it is rare that a Derby winner or a 3-year-old with significant class even turns up so the analysis of the effect of weight-for-age is limited. There are early indications that Santiago is set to go down the staying route permanently for a Ballydoyle stable already replete with leading middle-distance 3-year-olds and with the speed to win a mile-and-a-half Classic he is the best of his age to tackle this for a long time. Such a sizeable weight pull is almost debilitating, but there is an argument that Stradivarius still has his limitations unexposed and he is a true great based on his 10-length June 18 G1 Gold Cup romp.

John Gosden is well aware of the stiffness of the task at hand and said, “I think he has probably got one of the biggest challenges of his career. If it was run on Aug. 1 he would be giving Santiago 13 pounds, but because it is run at the end of July he is giving 15 pounds to a horse that won stylishly in the Queen’s Vase and went and won an Irish Derby. That is a big ask for Stradivarius–to give 15lb over two miles. Santiago looked pretty quick on his feet to me around Ascot and I think he will handle the track. We know our fellow handles it. We got 13 pounds from Big Orange when Stradivarius won his first Goodwood Cup, so we benefited that year but now the boot is on the other foot. That two pounds could make a difference over two miles if it is a tight finish, I will tell you.”

Aidan O’Brien has had this race in mind for Santiago since his Curragh success and he commented, “We always thought he might be a Cup horse, so we were very gentle with him last year. We thought the race in Ascot would suit him well. You have to have class to win an Irish Derby, but we always felt two miles would be within his grasp this year. We’ve had to be a bit gentle with him since the Curragh, but everything has gone very well. We just thought this would be a lovely race for him between the Irish Derby and the St Leger. Hopefully we’ll learn a lot about him and the horse will learn a lot as well.”

Preceding the Goodwood Cup is the G2 Qatar Lennox S., in which ‘TDN Rising Star’ Space Blues (Ire) headlines a three-strong Dubawi (Ire) challenge from the Charlie Appleby stable. Having beaten his re-opposing stablemate D’bai (Ire) in the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp June 25, last year’s G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third is perfectly poised for this test. D’bai has subsequently won a competitive Haydock conditions race over this seven-furlong trip July 17, while the G2 Hungerford S. and G2 Al Fahidi Fort winner Glorious Journey (GB) makes up a formidable trio for Godolphin.

“Space Blues heads to Goodwood following back-to-back wins and goes there in good shape. We feel that conditions will suit, together with the style of racing at Goodwood,” Appleby said. “Glorious Journey put up solid performances in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. He ran a decent enough race at Goodwood a couple of years ago and conditions should suit him as well. He has a penalty to defy, but this has always been his target. D’bai won at Haydock last time out and heads into this race in good order, although he has to turn around the form with Space Blues from their Longchamp run. He wasn’t beaten far in this race in 2018 and should enjoy the hustle and bustle of it again. Space Blues is the pick of the three on all evidence, but the other two aren’t without chances either.”

Away from the usual suspects, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) is worth another chance to prove his comeback flop when last in Royal Ascot’s G1 Commonwealth Cup June 19. Last year’s G2 Mill Reef S. winner is the sole 3-year-old in the line-up and will provide a gauge as to their relative merit in this niche division.

Ballydoyle supply the favourite for the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. in their precious commodity Battleground (War Front), the son of Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who captured the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot June 18. Interestingly, he is still the only winner in Britain from this stable in 2020 despite running the likes of More Beautiful (War Front), Admiral Nelson (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Hudson River (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “He’s a big, powerful horse with a lovely mind,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “He’s very uncomplicated and mentally very easy–he hasn’t shown any issues yet, either mentally or physically. This will be another step in his life. Goodwood is obviously an unusual track, so hopefully he’ll cope with it and if he doesn’t, hopefully he’ll learn from it. Found was an unbelievable mare–so tough it was incredible. She was one filly who would lay her whole soul out for you every day and always the thing with her was not to let her do too much.”

Heading the opposition to Battleground is Russell Jones’s Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), who will be providing evidence as to the merit of his July 11 G2 Superlative S. conqueror Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Beaten three lengths by Godolphin’s promising juvenile in that Newmarket staging post also over this seven-furlong trip, he beat all else including Jaber Abdullah’s sixth-placed King Zain (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and trainer Tom Dascombe is hoping he can also make his mark here.

“He beat a lot of other good horses that day and I think Goodwood should be fine for him,” he said. “He has a bit of experience now, having had the three runs. I wouldn’t want to see too much rain, but I’m pretty confident he’d handle most ground. On distances, weights and measures I think we might have the beating of the favourite on form, but obviously Aidan O’Brien’s horses do tend to improve a lot. I think we go there with a good, solid chance and if the O’Brien horse is better than us then he’ll beat us–it’s as simple as that.”

Click here for the group fields.

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Pinatubo Possible for Prix Jean Prat

Charlie Appleby will make a decision after watching Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) work at the weekend regarding his participation in the G1 Qatar Prix Jean Prat at Deauville. The Newmarket handler is leaning towards the seven-furlong Group 1 on Sunday week as the next target for last year’s champion 2-year-old, who has met with defeat in both of his starts this season. Having finished third on his first start over a mile in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Sharmardal colt subsequently found only Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) too strong in the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot.

With Appleby reporting Pinatubo to have come out of his race at the Royal meeting in good fashion, a trip to France is on the agenda.

Appleby said, “Pinatubo did an easy piece of work on Wednesday and that was his first piece of work back. The piece of work was nothing strong, but it pleased us. We have a target that is the Prix Jean Prat, but it is not rubber-stamped yet. He will do another piece of work over the weekend and we will make our decision then. So far the post-race signs after Ascot have been good.

“If he has pleased us and everything is going well, we will drop him back to seven for the Prix Jean Prat.”

Although Pinatubo has been beaten for the first time in his career, Appleby believes there are plenty of positives to take out of his efforts.

He said, “He definitely came forward a bit more from the Guineas to St James’s Palace S., which we had hoped he would. I know he has been beaten in both the St James’s Palace S. and 2000 Guineas, but what he showed us is that he has great courage.

“William [Buick] said he showed great guts to keep going in the St James’s Palace. The extra furlong just caught him out at Ascot last time having travelled so well, but what he showed us was determination and that he is a great battler.”

Despite Pinatubo being lined up for a drop back in trip, the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland in November is a potential end-of-season target.

Appleby said, “You can see how strongly he travels through his races, so dropping back to seven doesn’t worry me at all. I’m not saying that he won’t get a mile in time. What we could potentially work back from is the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland. The two-turn mile around there could really suit him.”

The G2 Qatar Lennox S. at Goodwood remains the target for Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). However, Appleby has not ruled out running the Dubawi colt in the G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket next Saturday if conditions are suitable.

He said, “Ultimately the Lennox is the aim, as we know what he can do over seven furlongs, but we might look at the July Cup. We know he is a better horse with cut in the ground, so we wouldn’t want to be dropping back on a sounder surface.

“If the conditions changed the July Cup would be worth looking at. We always had it on our mind he would be a sprinter this year.”

MG1SW Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) looks set to make his next appearance abroad, with Appleby weighing up options in France and Germany for Excelebration (Ire) gelding, who finished third last time out in the Prince of Wales’s S. at the Royal meeting.

“We are looking at either the G1 Prix D’Ispahan over nine furlongs at Chantilly or the G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennan over a mile and a quarter at Munich.

“He pulled up out of his last run well. I was pleased with the run and he put up a solid performance. The plan after this will be to give him a break and then look at going for some international races later in the year.”

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