Godolphin’s Eternal Hope Completes Turf Triple European Invasion in JC Oaks

After then-Irish-based Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) took the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks and French filly Elusive Princess won the GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks, it was only fitting another European, Godolphin homebred Eternal Hope (Ire) (f, 3, Teofilo {Ire}–Voice of Truth {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}), should capture the GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. Saturday for her first graded/group win. Last-out Parx stakes winner Neecie Marie (Cross Traffic) was second, while Leopardstown G3 winner Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {(Ire}), sixth in the Belmont Oaks behind Aspen Grove, finished third.

Sporting that distinctive Godolphin blue, Eternal Hope dismissed her usual in-touch style and surprised with a trailing trip. She bided her time at the very back of the pack while Stephanie's Charm (Distorted Humor), intent on the lead, opened up by as many as 15 lengths through early fractions of :24.12 and :47.52. After the mile marker passed in 1:38.71, the field began reeling in the frontrunner, but it was Eternal Hope who caught the eye, kicking it into gear and sprouting wings down the center of the lane to gut out a last-strides win in the Belmont at the Big A feature. The winning margin may have been only a neck, but it didn't tell the whole tale with Eternal Hope's wide and fast charge from as many as 25 lengths back.

“It wasn't the plan to be that far back, but thankfully we have a world class jockey like Jamie [Spencer] on her and we were able to go to 'Plan B' or 'C' and ride a race from there,” said Chris Connett, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby. “Ideally, we'd be in the box seat right off the pace and start making a run a little earlier. But she was a bit tardy and Jamie lost a bit of ground going wide, but he needed to get her rolling because it's quite sharp around here. When she straightened up and leveled out, she ran to the line so that was good.

“Very happy to get the win on the board. Jamie came back and said the ground is a bit on the quick side for her, so it was nice that she was able to put forth a performance on ground that's probably not ideal for her.”

Fresh off a third-place finish Aug. 20 in the G2 Sumbe Prix Alec Head at Deauville, Eternal Hope never got going in Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB})'s win in the GI Epsom Oaks. She had won two in a row on the synthetic earlier this year in England, including the Fitzdares Oaks Trial Fillies S. Connett said she is scheduled to travel back to Appleby's yard early in the week, with no plans regarding a next start yet set.

 

Pedigree Notes:

Kildangan Stud's Teofilo (Ire) may be one of several top-class Galileo (Ire) sire sons across the pond, but he is making a name for himself in America. In addition to Eternal Hope, he has also sired his share of U.S. winners, topped by 2022 GI Caesars Saratoga Derby and GIII Caesars Jockey Club Derby winner Nations Pride (Ire). Overall, Teofilo counts 50 graded/group winners among his 93 Northern Hemisphere-foaled black-type winners.

Eternal Hope is one of seven of Teofilo's stakes winners out of a Dubawi (Ire) mare. Dubawi, one of Europe's elite stallions, has 63 black-type winners out of his daughters. Interestingly, Teofilo also has one stakes winner out a mare by Dubawi's grandsire, Seeking the Gold, but none out of any Dubai Millennium (GB) mares. The latter's daughters are incredibly scant due to his tragic and abbreviated single season at stud.

Voice of Truth (Ire), the Jockey Club Oaks winner's dam, was a €35,000 purchase at the 2021 Goffs November sale while carrying a full-sister to Eternal Hope, who was a yearling at the time. Gary Mullins signed the ticket. The mare delivered an Australia (GB) colt for Mullins Feb. 24. Her 2-year-old filly, Word's Out (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), has not been sold publicly by Godolphin. Voice of Truth is a half to French G1SW Rio de la Plata (Rahy) and Argentinean G1SW El Expresivo (Arg) (Candy Stripes).

Saturday, Belmont The Big A
FASIG-TIPTON JOCKEY CLUB OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $350,000, Belmont The Big A, 9-16, 3yo, f, 1 3/8mT, 2:16.47, fm.
1–ETERNAL HOPE (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Voice of Truth (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Express Way (Arg), by Ahmad (Arg)
                3rd Dam: Escaline, by Hawk II (Brz)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles
Appleby; J-Jamie P. Spencer. $192,500. Lifetime Record:
6-3-0-2, $248,183. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Neecie Marie, 122, f, 3, Cross Traffic–Lode Lady, by Posse.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($25,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT).
O-Michael Milam; B-Jon A Marshall (PA); T-Robert E. Reid, Jr.
$70,000.
3–Speirling Beag (Ire), 122, f, 3, Mastercraftsman
(Ire)–Starscape (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€300,000 2yo '22
ARQDEC). O-Walmac Farm, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck)
and Haras d'Etreham; B-Ennistown Stud (IRE); T-H. Graham
Motion. $42,000.
Margins: NK, 1, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 14.70, 6.80.
Also Ran: Highland Grace, Quarrel, Stephanie's Charm, Last Call.

Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Saturday Preview: The Flat Is Back

Ireland's Flat action may have already started and France's has been rumbling on for several days, but for many the real beginning to the season on the level is Doncaster's Lincoln H. on a Saturday which wrests the attention from the national hunt in no uncertain terms. Whether there is a horse of the calibre of Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) lurking in the prestigious mile handicap remains to be seen, but there is a strong vibe surrounding another member of the William Haggas tribe in 'TDN Rising Star' Al Mubhir (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is the mount of Doncaster specialist Andrea Atzeni now operating as a freelance in a 2023 that will define his future riding career. “I thought he was going to be a good horse,” Haggas said of Al Mubhir, who had looked pattern-class all over when entered in the G3 Craven S. 12 months ago. “He won his maiden very nicely at Newmarket as a two-year-old and then I thought he was going to be a nice three-year-old. Then he was very disappointing. He was pretty unruly as well and lost his way a bit, but he finished the season well. I don't know how good he is, but he's always been a nice horse and I think he's in good shape.”

Donny Delights…

Also at Doncaster are the Listed Cammidge Trophy, which sees the return of the still-unexposed G2 Sandy Lane S. winner El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) returning for the first time since beating only two home as the joint-favourite for the G1 Commonwealth Cup, and the Listed Doncaster Mile while the 2-year-olds assembled for the opening Brocklesby Conditions S.

 

Plat Du Jour…

'TDN Rising Star' Pensee Du Jour | Scoop Dyga

It is at Saint-Cloud that the high-stakes action takes place, however, with Andre Fabre seeking a third straight success with TDN Rising Star Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G3 Prix Penelope. Staged over the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the Prix de Diane, the renowned trial has surprisingly not been won by a subsequent heroine of that Classic since Pensee Du Jour 's distant relative Pawneese (Ire), the Wildensteins' champion of 1976. Fabre already holds the record of nine in this and the way the Ballymore Thoroughbred representative went through her maiden at Chantilly in February and the Listed Prix Rose de Mai here early this month suggests that number 10 is imminent.

Come On, Get Happy…

Ballydoyle have begun the year with gusto and the presence of two of the stable's runners in the Penelope is certain to be an indicator of what is to come as Rosegreen look more to France than ever before. Ryan Moore is here and not on the aforementioned favourite for the Lincoln, so it is up to another daughter of Camelot in Be Happy (Ire) to make up for that missed opportunity. Impressive at Cork on debut in September, the relative of the Prix du Jockey Club hero Anabaa Blue (GB) and of the great Urban Sea was only fifth in The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. the following month but this is a new year and her rider is quietly confident. “Be Happy will enjoy the expected soft ground and she is a filly we like,” he said. “She probably didn't get the run of the race at the Curragh and this longer trip will suit.” Jean-Claude Rouget saddles Denford Stud's dual Cagnes-Sur-Mer scorer Iznik (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), while Gainesway Ventures' Arqana December purchase Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) adds weight having won Leopardstown's G3 Eyrefield S. and been in front of Be Happy when third in the Staffordstown.

Old Habits Die Hard…

In the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc, Al Asayl France's stalwart The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has everything in his favour as he bids for a third renewal following his win in the course-and-distance Listed Prix Altipan three weeks ago, with the G3 Prix Perth one-two Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and the 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) offering stern opposition. Unbeaten at this venue in five starts on ground that rode softer than good, the 8-year-old former QEII hero still sets the standard in this type of company.

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Group Winners Lastotchka and Speirling Beag Entered In Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale

New group winners Lastotchka (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}–Muthla {Fr}, by Muhtathir {GB}) and Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}–Starscape {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) have been added to the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale catalogue. They are set to sell during the opening session in Deauville on Dec. 3.

Saturday's G3 Prix Belle de Nuit heroine Lastotchka races for Ecurie Noel Forgeard, P Bonnier et. al. and Jean-Marie Beguigne and was already a winner of the Listed Prix de Thiberville earlier this year. Bred by Ecurie Touchstone, she was second to 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Prix de Malleret in July, two starts prior to her Belle de Nuit score. The April foal is from the same family as G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Linda's Lad (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rail Link (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Ennistown Stud's homebred Speirling Beag graduated at Gowan in September and was third in the G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at the Curragh on Oct. 8. She was game in Leopardtown's G3 Eyrefield S. on Saturday, winning by a short head over Hiawatha (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Her second dam is a full-sister dual Group 2 winner Land Of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), herself the dam of crack sprinter, quintuple Group 1 winner and Group 1 sire Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}).

Slated for Dec. 3-6, the sale's catalogue will be published on Oct. 31.

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Mastercraftsman’s Speirling Beag Too Strong In The Eyrefield

There were only six runners in Leopardstown's nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. on Saturday, but more than a minor share of drama as the Ennistown Stud homebred Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}–Starscape {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) prevailed in a renewal marked by an early-straight incident.

Held up in rear by Rory Cleary after a tardy start, the Jim Bolger-trained chestnut who had been third a fortnight earlier in The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. over a mile had to swing four-wide into the home turn as the Ballydoyle trio got in each other's way on the inner.

It was the 7-4 favourite Hiawatha (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who was the chief sufferer in the scrimmaging caused by the hanging Gulf Of Mexico (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but after he had muscled his way into the clear Speirling Beag had got first run approaching the furlong pole. Carried right late by that rival as they drew away on the run to the line, the 25-1 shot was headed by the imposing Ballydoyle colt but showed grit and determination to get back up in the dying stride and score by a short head.

“I had a very game filly underneath me,” the winning jockey said. “It got tight on the inside and it ended up meaning I got there too soon. If I'd got beaten I would have been kicking myself. She's a lovely, easy filly to anything with and showed her honesty there today.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Speirling Beag, who had broken her maiden at the fourth attempt when beating the Staffordstown Stud S. winner Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) over a mile at Gowran Park Sept. 17, is the second foal out of the unraced Starscape who is kin to two black-type performers including the G3 Supreme S. and G3  Acomb S.-placed Zumbi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). She is a granddaughter of the G3 Molecomb S. winner Sahara Star (GB) (Green Desert), who produced the G2 Flying Childers S. winner Land Of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) who is in turn the dam of the five-times Group 1-winning sire Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}). She is also the second dam of the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Flying Five heroine Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}). Starscape's yearling colt by one of Bolger's brightest stars in Teofilo (Ire) was a €66,000 purchase by Boherguy Stud at last year's Goffs November Foal Sale.

 

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
EYREFIELD S.-G3, €52,500, Leopardstown, 10-22, 2yo, 9fT, 2:03.05, sf.
1–SPEIRLING BEAG (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
             1st Dam: Starscape (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
             2nd Dam: Star Studded (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
             3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert
   1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Ennistown Stud
(IRE); T-Jim Bolger; J-Rory Cleary. €31,500. Lifetime Record:
6-2-0-2, $46,933. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hiawatha (Ire), 131, c, 2, Camelot (GB)–Attire (Ire), by
Danehill Dancer (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK
   TYPE. (€1,200,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Mrs J Magnier/M
Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan
O'Brien. €10,500.
3–Village Voice (GB), 128, f, 2, Zarak (Fr)–Sensible Way, by
Street Sense. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
(38,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRG). O-Mrs P K Cooper; B-Malih Al
Basti (GB); T-Jessica Harrington. €5,250.
Margins: SHD, 2 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 25.00, 1.75, 14.00.
Also Ran: Gulf of Mexico (Ire), Mister Mister (Ger), Hippodrome (Ire). Scratched: Keep In Touch (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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