Tag: Spendarella

Karakontie’s Spendarella Wins For Fun in Del Mar Oaks

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}), a huge second in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17, put on a show in Saturday evening's GI Del Mar Oaks.

Favored at 6-5 after suffering her first career defeat overseas, the New York-bred stalked the early leaders in third, hit the gas while three wide on the far turn, and kicked clear impressively in the stretch to win for fun by 4 1/2 lengths over Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}).

Spendarella began her career with three straight victories, including Gulfstream's GIII Herecomesthebride S. Mar. 5 and Keeneland's GII Appalachian S. Apr. 9.

Pedigree Notes:

Spendarella is the first Grade I winner for GI Breeders' Cup Mile victor Karakontie, who resides in her owner/breeder Gainesway's stallion barn. She is a half-sister to GI American Oaks winner Spanish Queen (Tribal Rule) and a full to MSW & MGSP Spanish Loveaffair. Gainesway acquired her dam Spanish Bunny for $130,000 at the 2015 KEENOV sale. Spanish Loveaffair was her second foal for Antony Beck's operation and she brought $775,000 at the 2021 KEENOV sale. Spendarella came next and was followed by the now 2-year-old filly Spanish Destiny (Destin). Spanish Bunny failed to get back in foal to Destin for 2021, but had an Uncle Mo colt Feb. 17 of this year. She was bred back to both Quality Road and Karakontie.

Saturday, Del Mar
DEL MAR OAKS-GI, $304,000, Del Mar, 8-20, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.09, fm.
1–SPENDARELLA, 122, f, 3, by Karakontie (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat
                2nd Dam: Spanish Beam, by El Gran Senor
                3rd Dam: Solar Beam, by Majestic Light
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($220,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Gainesway
Stable (Antony Beck); B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (NY);
T-H. Graham Motion; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-4-1-0, $596,459. *Full to Spanish Loveaffair, MSW &
MGSP, $284,090; 1/2 to Spanish Queen (Tribal Rule), GISW,
$423,600. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Bellabel (Ire), 122, f, 3, by Belardo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Fashion Line (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Shadow Roll (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Warning Shadows (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€33,000 Ylg '20 TATFB). O-Agave Racing
Stable, Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig & Ray
Pagano; B-Fergus Cousins (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $60,000.
3–Cairo Memories, 122, f, 3, by Cairo Prince
                1st Dam: Incarnate Memories, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Witness Post, by Gone West
                3rd Dam: Most Likely, by Fappiano
'TDN Rising Star'. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-David A.
Bernsen, LLC & Schroeder Farms LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY);
T-Robert B. Hess, Jr. $36,000.
Margins: 4HF, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.20, 3.70, 4.60.
Also Ran: Tezzaray (GB), Ballet Dancing, Lucky Girl (Ire), Lady Clementine (GB), Sixteen Arches (Ire), Island of Love (Ire), Txope (Fr), Gold Dragon Queen, Lady T, Gracelund Gray. Scratched: Rhea Moon (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Saturday Preview: Rubber Match in the Alabama

There is plenty to play for in Saturday's 142nd running of the $600,000 GI Alabama S. at Saratoga, where Nest (Curlin) and Secret Oath (Arrogate) face one another for the third time head-to-head–each with one victory to their credit–with divisional supremacy awaiting the winner.

An 8 1/4-length tour-de-force tally in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. accorded Nest the role of favoritism in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, but she was no match for the somewhat forgotten Secret Oath, dropping a two-length decision. A meritorious second to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GI Belmont S., the $350,000 Keeneland September grad reversed the Oaks form with a 12 1/4-length thumping of Secret Oath in the GI CCA Oaks July 23, good for a 104 Beyer Speed Figure that is a half-dozen points stronger than anything her six rivals has earned and nine more than Secret Oath's top. A GI Runhappy Travers S. start was an option next weekend, but she sticks with a path of lesser resistance for the Alabama.

“Whenever you're running four weeks off a huge effort like that, you're always concerned about if you're running back too soon,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who won his third Alabama with 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) last year. “But, in her case, she's done so well since the race there's no reason not to.”

Wayne Lukas, who won the Alabama twice in the 1980s with Life's Magic in 1984 and with Oaks winner Open Mind five years later, looks to equal his former pupil. Secret Oath's second clash of the season with the boys in the GI Preakness S. resulted in a non-threatening fourth and she figures to strip fitter off the CCA Oaks, her first start in 63 days.

“She's really had a good month since that debacle in the [CCA Oaks],” Lukas said. “In fact, I feel like she's better now than any time I've had her. She's really flourished here at Saratoga. [Jockey] Luis [Saez] has worked her three times since that race so he's getting more familiar every day with her, too. So, that should help us as much as anything. We're anxious to run her.”

Gerrymander (Into Mischief) defeated next-out GIII Monmouth Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Shahama (Munnings) in the GII Mother Goose S. June 25, but will probably need to find a few lengths to trouble the heavy hitters.

 

 

 

Spendarella Vulnerable in Del Mar Oaks?

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) took her career record to three wins from as many starts with a convincing 1 3/4-length success in the GII Appalachian S. at Keeneland in April and, with trainer Graham Motion unafraid to tackle the deepest of deep waters, took that undefeated mark into the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17. The $220,000 Keeneland September purchase had the misfortune of running into her fellow flawless rival Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who scored by 4 3/4 lengths first off the layoff and has since defeated the boys in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

But Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks figures something other than a walk in the park for Spendarella, who faces a fresh challenge from Euro import Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The bay, previously trained by Philippe Decouz, was stakes-placed in France earlier this season on the synthetic and on the turf and was last seen posting a mild upset when proving 3/4 of a length too strong in the G2 German 1000 Guineas at Duesseldorf June 12. The bay most recently topped the Arqana Summer Mixed Sale on a bid of €1.2 million from the BBA Ireland on behalf of Yulong Investments. She makes her U.S. debut for the John Sadler barn and can be the fly in the favorite's ointment.

 

 

 

With The Moonlight Backs Up For Lake Placid

Godolphin's With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) makes her third start in the last six weeks as the expected favorite in the GII Lake Placid S. back at the Spa. After failing to see out the 12-furlong distance of the G1 Cazoo Oaks June 3, the homebred completed a Frankel exacta behind McKulick (GB) in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational July 9 but turned the tables on that foe last time in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational. The latter is missing this time around, but the Chad Brown barn is represented by a quartet–each lined up next to the other–including GIII Lake George S. one-two finishers Dolce Zel (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}, gate 5) and Eminent Victor (Mr. Z, post three); Consumer Spending (More Than Ready, post four), winner of the GII Wonder Again S. and third in the Belmont Oaks; and 'TDN Rising Star' Haughty (Empire Maker, gate six).

In non-graded stakes action Saturday, Grade I winner Rattle N Roll (Connect), who lost all chance at the start of the GIII Indiana Derby July 9, looks to return to winning ways in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at FanDuel Racing (results in Monday's TDN), while 2-year-old males and females prep for next month's GI Pattison Summer S. and GI Natalma S., respectively, in the Soaring Free S. and Catch a Glimpse S. at Woodbine.

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The Major Talking Points From Day Four at Royal Ascot

Hard to keep a rider as talented as Frankie Dettori out of the spotlight and, after a difficult start to the royal meeting, the legendary rider answered his critics aboard Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who produced a stunning performance to win the G1 Coronation S.

From Dettori bouncing back to Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) confirming himself one of the fastest horses in training, in doing so sparking debate about where he may stand as a stallion, Brian Sheerin discusses some of the main talking points from another hugely entertaining afternoon's racing at Royal Ascot.

Inspiral Another Cheveley Park Superstar

What's the first thing you think about when Cheveley Park is mentioned? Most likely it's outstanding racemares.

From Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo) and Nannina (GB) (Medicean {GB}) to Echelon (GB) (Danehill) and more recently Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the list of high-class racemares to carry the stud's renowned red, white and blue silks has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Add Inspiral to that list. The G1 Coronation S. had been billed as one of the races of the week with the G1 1000 Guineas winner, the G1 French 1000 Guineas scorer and a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine in the line-up, but Inspiral stamped her authority on the field.

The only filly missing from the line-up was Dermot Weld's brilliant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who missed the royal meeting due to unsuitably quick ground.

It will be fascinating to see if Homeless Songs and Inspiral lock horns between now and the end of the season, although John Gosden did suggest the latter could well step up in trip.

Regardless of where she goes next, Inspiral looks as though she will be very hard to beat and is another top-class racemare for Cheveley Park Stud to look forward to.

And what about the rider? Frankie Dettori had endured a hellish week up until the Coronation S. but trusted his instincts aboard Inspiral and class came to the fore.

Let's not forget the performance of Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}), either. She may have lost her unbeaten record to Inspiral but, if anything, enhanced her reputation in defeat.

Trained by American-based handler Graham Motion, who sent out Sharing (Speightstown) to fill the same spot in this race in 2020, Spendarella ran a cracking race and is a hugely exciting filly in her own right.

Fellow American raider Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), owned by Bobby Flay and trained by Christophe Clement, didn't enjoy the clearest passage and never threatened back in eighth.

The attraction of Royal Ascot is underpinned by international competition and the American fillies played a major part in what will go down as a memorable race.

 A Perfect Fit For Power?

It is hard to believe that the G1 Commonwealth Cup was first run in 2015. In eight short years, the race has become one of the foremost stallion-making contests in Europe, with Muhaarar (GB), Caravaggio and more recently Advertise (GB) featuring among the list of winners.

Perfect Power will be in-demand as a stallion after his dazzling display in this year's edition of the race. However, the question remains, where will he stand?

A dual Group 1 winner at two, Perfect Power carried over that brilliance to his 3-year-old campaign, bouncing back from his G1 2000 Guineas defeat to prove himself one of the fastest horses in training.

There will be any number of suitors for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's talented sprinter for a stud career.

Given Tally-Ho bred Perfect Power, and the County Westmeath operation's modus operandi is to stand speedy stallions, they may well be the favourites to sign Richard Fahey's star. Time will tell.

Spencer Rolls The Big Dice

Richard Spencer, best known for sending out Rajasinghe (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) to win the G2 Coventry S. in 2017, was rewarded for rolling the big dice with Ivory Madonna (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G3 Albany S.

Picked up for 150,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April, Ivory Madonna ran with credit when third on her only start at Goodwood.

Spencer clearly felt his filly was capable of much better, and was vindicated by running her in the opener on Friday, as Ivory Madonna belied her inexperience to stay on for third, picking up valuable black-type in the process.

She should be a shoo-in to break her maiden status and looks a promising filly for connections.

A Proper Ascot Pedigree

The style in which Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) landed the G2 Duke Of Edinburgh S. would suggest William Haggas has a Pattern-class performer on his hands.

One might think that Haggas, one of the finest practitioners of his craft, thought as much given he sat on a mark of 91 and charted a path to Royal Ascot without the benefit of a prep race with the gelding.

It proved an inspired decision, with Candleford pulling six lengths clear at the winning line, in doing so, bolstering his family's fine record at the track.

Candleford's half-brother Atty Persse (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) won the King George V S. at the royal meeting in 2017 and was second on his only other start at the track.

Speaking of Ascot-loving families, the Jessica Harrington-trained Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) had a hard act to follow in the G1 Coronation S. given her sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half-sister Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) feature among the roll of honour.

Discoveries ran a hugely respectable race to finish third, looking much more comfortable on a flat track like Ascot than she did at Newmarket in the 1000 Guineas, and there should be more to come from her this season.

And let's not forget Ivory Madonna for this segment, who we have already mentioned, as her dam Clem Fandango (Fr) (Elzaam {Aus}) finished third in the G2 Queen Mary S. in 2016.

Magnier Makes An Important Appearance

John Magnier made an increasingly rare appearance at Royal Ascot on Friday but for good reason.

The Coolmore boss, who hasn't been seen on a racecourse for some time, made the hugely significant trip to the royal meeting to see Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) land the G3 Albany S. before Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ran out a fortuitous winner of the G2 King Edward VII S.

That double brought Aidan O'Brien's tally of Royal Ascot winners to 80, an amazing achievement, and one that went some way to explaining Magnier's presence on the day.

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Frankel’s Inspiral Scintillating In The Coronation

Lesser mortals than Frankie Dettori would had been in danger of imploding with his June hex, so it was with a large measure of relief that Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) timed her dramatic reintroduction perfectly for Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot. It is clear after this emphatic display that her absence from the 1000 Guineas was a big miss, but the Gosdens were right to wait out the cold Spring and choose an English summer's afternoon that was as glorious as is as gets to present her in full bloom. Heavily-supported into 15-8 favouritism despite conceding race-fitness to all rivals, the homebred daughter of the 2012 Coronation runner-up Starscope (GB) (Selkirk) was not letting Frankie off lightly as she briefly increased the tension by breaking sluggishly and getting behind. Luckily, the tardiness was not of the Emily Upjohn variety and after some early freshness she came on strong as she had in the May Hill and Fillies' Mile to scythe through the field and surge to a 4 3/4-length defeat of Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) and the short-headed Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). “When she fell out of the stalls, I thought 'here we go again' but she has put some good fillies to bed in great style,” her rider said. “It has been a very difficult week–tough, everyone at Clarehaven has been a bit down, but racing is like that and this is good for the team.”

When Royal Ascot comes around, it is generally the case that the contenders for the major events are already well into their stride and up into that hardened state that can only be achieved with racing experience. Like Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on Thursday, Inspiral was forced to enter the heat of competition with just homework as a foundation and there was an air of vulnerability surrounding her that would have been unthinkable last term as she toyed with her peers at Newmarket and Doncaster. Her poise and demeanour in the parade ring said otherwise, however, and the market was saying that the Spring's great mystery was about to be stripped away.

As soon as the gates opened, it was as if the realisation that she was racing again took a second to dawn on her and by that time more than half the field were into their business with the 200-1 outsider Rolling the Dice (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) penning her in towards the back. On the home turn, Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) who had not gone as fast on the front end as had been expected, had a yawning seven-length advantage over the favourite and with just two behind there Frankie looked in trouble again. Applying one smack with the whip approaching two out, he got a ruthless response from Inspiral whose gear change was almost audible as she swooped on Discoveries before swamping Spendarella a furlong later. All anxieties subdued there, her devouring stride and undiminished appetite for domination took care of the rest. Her last two splits were 11.27 and 11.62 and her final three furlongs were completed in a rapid 35.01, much faster than Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) managed in the G1 Commonwealth Cup.

“It took a long time for Inspiral to come to hand and John gave her the time she needed, then in her last couple of works she told us she was good to go,” Dettori said after steering his 77th Royal Ascot winner and one of his most welcome. “It was a question mark if she had trained on–she had pleased us, but we were still unsure. It didn't work out on Lord North, things didn't go right for Stradivarius, we were touched off in the Britannia and the colt [Reach For the Moon] was odds-on. I had the outsider in front of me and I had to avoid her, but I took the chance with the split and you need the horse to do that. She really took off, to the point that I was able to enjoy the last 50 yards for once!”

John and Thady Gosden were getting off the mark for the week and Gosden Sr said, “There was an element of relief at the furlong pole and surprise at the line. I asked Frankie coming in and he said we could go a mile and a quarter with her. Frankie didn't over-complicate, which he did yesterday but that's over, it's the past and we move on. You have races like the Nassau at Goodwood or you could go for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. She will meet the older horses now, but she does get weight from them which helps.”

Graham Motion, who had finished second in the race with Sharing (Speightstown) behind another Dettori-partnered seasonal debutante in Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in this two years ago, was delighted with the performance of Spendarella. “She ran great–I could not be more proud of her,” he said. “William [Buick] had her in the perfect spot, she was very brave to hang on for second I thought. The winner's very good. She'll go back to the States now. I don't come over here just for the hell of it. We've run second a couple of times now, so I feel like I know what it takes. We don't have many opportunities in the States, which is kind of why this race made sense, this early in the season, and I think she's really a miler so we didn't miss out on much in the States.”

There was to be no family treble for Discoveries, who just held on from Tenebrism (Caravaggio) to manage a placing in the race her full-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) won in similar style to Inspiral in 2018 and in which her aforementioned half-sibling Alpine Star followed suit in 2020, but Jessie Harrington was typically upbeat. “I am absolutely thrilled with Discoveries. She reversed the form from the 1000 Guineas and ran a great race,” she said. “The winner is obviously a very special filly, but I am delighted with our filly.”

As well as placing in this, Starscope was also second in the 1000 Guineas and retired as one of her Stud's more promising broodmares. Responsible for four winning foals so far, they also include the Listed Cocked Hat S. third Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}) while her fifth is a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr). The second dam Moon Goddess (GB) (Rainbow Quest) also produced the Listed Rosemary S. winner Solar Magic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and is a daughter of the Listed Sweet Solera S. winner Mystic Goddess (Storm Bird). Also second in the G3 Queen Mary S. here, she threw the leading sire Medicean (GB) (Machiavellian) whose victories included the G1 Eclipse S., G1 Lockinge S. and G2 Queen Anne S. This is also the family of the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Mondreise (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

Friday, Ascot, Britain
CORONATION S.-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 6-17, 3yo, f, 7f 213yT, 1:39.20, g/f.
1–INSPIRAL (GB), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Starscope (GB) (MG1SP-Eng, $251,626), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Moon Goddess (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Mystic Goddess, by Storm Bird
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur, 5-5-0-0, $862,797. *1/2 to Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spendarella, 128, f, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. ($220,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Gainesway Farm; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (NY); T-Graham Motion. £107,500.
3–Discoveries (Ire), 128, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-The Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £53,800.
Margins: 4 3/4, NO, NO. Odds: 1.88, 9.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Tenebrism, Cachet (Ire), Honey Girl (GB), Sandrine (GB), Pizza Bianca, Mangoustine (Fr), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), Grande Dame (GB), Rolling The Dice (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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