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Seven Days: Super Saturday for Beckett and Chan

It's the time of year which most trainers must dread as they juggle spending time in their yards and at the races with attending yearling sales here, there and everywhere. One who will doubtless be patrolling the sales grounds of Doncaster and Baden-Baden this week with an extra pep in his step is Ralph Beckett. Marc Chan, one of Beckett's principal owners, had four runners in the past week and all four won. Even more remarkably, three of those victories came in stakes contests on the same day at three different tracks.

Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) has developed into one of the most dependable sprinter-milers in Europe, and he added Saturday's G2 City of York S. to his fine record, which includes victory in that same race last year, along with Group 1 strikes in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint and the Qatar Prix de la Foret. The latter is naturally on his radar for later this season, along with the GI Breeders' Cup Mile and possibly the G1 Hong Kong Mile.

The same afternoon, Angel Bleu (Fr) provided another fine example of both the precocity and durability of the stock of his sire Dark Angel (Ire), as outlined in yesterday's feature by John Berry, when winning the G2 Celebration Mile, to add to his three group wins as a juvenile, including the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International.

To cap a sensational afternoon for the Beckett-Chan team, another former Group 1 winner, Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who is owned in partnership with Andrew Rosen, won Newmarket's Listed Hopeful S., her first success since claiming last year's Cheveley Park S. next door on the Rowley Mile.

While Kinross was a private in-training purchase from his breeder Julian Richmond-Watson, the other two are both Arqana graduates, as is Chan's fourth winner, the juvenile Going The Distance (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who won a Ffos Las novice race last Thursday and looks one to follow as the autumn comes on. All were bought for the owner by his racing manager Jamie McCalmont.

Beckett is currently in fourth place on the British trainers' table and he has plenty of ammunition in reserve to see him through some of the season's key contests yet to come, including Westover (GB), Remarquee (GB), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), and Juddmonte's exciting juvenile Task Force (GB), who remains unbeaten after his listed victory at Ripon on Monday and has some fancy entries.

Brothers and Sisters

It has also been a successful spell for the band of brothers that makes up the Bronte Collection, a gang of friends and associates of Steve Parkin of Clipper Logistics fame. Four juvenile winners over the last fortnight have included the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. winner Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation) at Parkin's local track, York. The colt is yet another to advertise the considerable talents of his trainer Eve Johnson Houghton, who earlier this season landed the Woodcote S. with Bobsleigh (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}).

Indian Run also provided a boost for the Tattersalls Somerville Sale, one of the new kids on the block as far as yearling sales are concerned, but one that is fast gaining traction. Joe Foley, the buyer and manager for both Parkin and the Bronte Collection, signed for the Ciaran McGrath-bred Indian Run for £75,000, and he will have taken equal delight in two other Bronte winners in recent weeks. Hot Front (Ire) and Government Call (Ire) were both bred by Foley's Ballyhane Stud and are by first-season sire Soldier's Call (GB), who raced so successfully in the Clipper Logistics colours.

Johnson Houghton has nominated the G1 Dewhurst S. as Indian Run's major end-of-season target. It is a race her stable last won 21 years ago with Tout Seul (Ire) (Ali-Royal {Ire}), trained by her father Fulke.

Deauville, Over and Out

British and Irish raiders in France this year have found it harder to return with the spoils than it has been in recent years, but the final weekend of Deauville's summer meeting saw British-based trainers plunder all three group races.

France has been a particularly happy hunting ground for Simon and Ed Crisford in 2023 and, after their breakthrough Group 1 success the previous weekend with Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the Sumbe Prix Morny, they returned to take the G3 Prix Quincey with Poker Face (Ire), another member of the Fastnet Rock (Aus)-Galileo (Ire) nick club, and who had also won the Listed Pomfret S. in July for owner Edward Ware. The four-year-old's full-sister will be offered by breeder Marlhill House Stud during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam for former trainer Peter Harris, added the G3 Prix de Meautry to his previous win in the Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud at the same track and has a Group 1 engagement on British Champions Day. He is another to have provided an update for a yearling heading to the sales. His Mehmas (Ire) half-brother is in the draft of breeder Redpender Stud for Book 1 at Tattersalls.

Completing a group-race double for Gleneagles was Jack Darcy (Ire), winner of the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville for another father-and-son team, Paul and Oliver Cole. A 24,000gns Book 3 purchase, Jack Darcy has now won at two (on debut), three and four, and he has had a busy summer, which has included finishing runner-up to Hamish (GB) in the G3 Glorious S. at Goodwood. Paul Cole had previously won the Grand Prix de Deauville on five occasions between 1988 and 1999, including twice with the St Leger winner Snurge (Ire).

A Legendary Leger?

It is almost tempting fate to say it, but this year's St Leger is shaping up to be an intriguing contest. We could be treated to the sight of last week's G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner Continuous (Jpn) attempting to become the first British Classic winner for his late Shadai sire Heart's Cry (Jpn) and the seventh St Leger winner for Aidan O'Brien.

He shares the top of the betting market with Gregory (GB), who will be attempting the same breakthrough Classic win for his own Derby-winning sire Golden Horn (GB) and for owner Wathnan Racing, the coming force on the European scene.

Then of course there's Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), owned by the King and Queen and already a star of Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. A victory for him on Town Moor would make him the first royal winner of Britain's oldest Classic since Dunfermline (GB) in 1977.

Another to hold an entry is the G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Warm Heart (Ire), who led home a poignant 1-2-3 for her late sire Galileo (Ire) on the Knavesmire last week. It was in the St Leger that Galileo first dropped a major hint as to his prepotency when members of his first crop, Sixties Icon (GB), The Last Drop (Ire) and Red Rocks (Ire), filled the first three places in 2006. One last hurrah, maybe? Either way, let's hope the grand old St Leger ends up with a field that a race of its history and standing deserves.

Fond Farewells

It has been a time of sad farewells for the racing and breeding industry. There was widespread dismay at the sudden death of Lady Chryss O'Reilly last week so soon after she had been in Deauville with her draft of yearlings.

John Osborne, former CEO of the Irish National Stud (INS), added his voice to the many tributes paid to the hugely successful owner-breeder, whom he had come to know well during her time as Chair of the INS, where her Coventry S. winner Verglas (Ire) stood for the majority of his stallion career.

He said, “Chryss's knowledge of pedigrees was unsurpassed and she had boundless energy and enthusiasm for matings and then monitoring the development of the subsequent foals. She enjoyed great success at the highest level and we were lucky to be in Longchamp for her Pouliches winner Bluemamba, which was celebrated with customary gusto.

“It was a privilege to know her and it is such a shame she has been taken so soon, at her favourite time of year.”

Lady O'Reilly's passing followed that of another grand dame of the French turf, Countess Marguerite de Tarragon of Haras de Maulepaire, who died at the age of 92 on August 16. The daughter of famed breeders Jean and Elisabeth Couturié, she was born at Haras du Mesnil and took over its sister stud, Maulepaire, on her marriage to Count Bertrand de Tarragon. Her nephew Henri Devin owns and runs Haras du Mesnil with his wife Antonia, and their son Henri-Francois Devin trains in Chantilly.

Maulepaire has been the birthplace of plenty of notable Flat and National Hunt horses, including La Bague Au Roi (Fr) and Dunaden (Fr). The countess had seen her own colours carried to glory in the days immediately prior to her death by her homebred Hoola Hoop (Fr) at Le Lion d'Angers.

“Hoola Hoop will have given her great pleasure. Thanks to Gaby Leenders and team for this ultimate gift,” Pierric Rouxel, manager of Maulepaire, told France Sire.

Rouxel was one of many who had benefited from the countess's “life's work”, alongside Thoroughbred breeding, of providing a haven and upbringing to children who had had a difficult start in life.

He added, “For more than 50 years, this house has welcomed many children tossed about by life, where operating within a family has allowed them to rebuild themselves.

“Deprived of motherhood herself, she naturally knew how to open wide her wings for all the chicks that had fallen from the nest, but also for the many trainees at the stud farm, for her countless nephews and nieces, for all those who, one day or another, benefited from her inexhaustible affection. Her trust she gave without hesitation because she knew very well how to judge horses, especially young foals, but also humans.”

Hanagan the Humble Hero

Champions come in all shapes and sizes, but it would be hard to find a more modest and self-effacing owner of that title than Paul Hanagan.

The former dual champion jockey and champion apprentice was given a proper send-off at York on Friday after announcing his intention to retire on the opening day of the Ebor meeting.

There was to be no fairytale ending for the man who, in his pomp, rode 168 and 142 winners in the seasons in which he secured his championships in 2010 and 2011, and which led to him becoming the retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum for the following five years.

Hanagan has ridden just 10 winners this year, and he candidly admitted that he has not ridden with the same confidence since a fall two years ago which broke his back in three places and left him in considerable pain. One also sensed that he still cannot believe his luck in getting to the top from humble beginnings.

“I was two-time champion jockey as a kid from Warrington without a lot of racing experience, so I keep telling kids it can be done,” he said at York last Wednesday.

“The fall a couple of years ago knocked me, just fitness-wise, getting to that level again [has been hard] and I just thought of all the meetings to [retire], maybe it's here, where I've had a lot of success.”

Hanagan was rightly given a guard of honour by his fellow jockeys as he left the weighing-room for his final ride on Friday. He may not have the flamboyance of Frankie Dettori, who is set to bow out later this year (in case you hadn't heard), but Hanagan did things his way to the last, and he should be remembered not just for his great achievements in the saddle, but also for his endearing humility. He will be missed.

Cunha's Tremendous Machine

Silver Sword (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) may not be in quite the same league as Secretariat, but he does carry the same blue-and-white silks made famous by Penny Chenery's great Triple Crown winner, and for his trainer Dylan Cunha he has undoubtedly been a tremendous flag-bearer.

The South African-born trainer only joined the British ranks last year, and he has teamed up successfully with another ex-pat from his home country, jockey Greg Cheyne, for some notable success on the track this year for his small Newmarket stable.

Silver Sword, an 11,000gns yearling purchase, has been to the forefront of this good run, though admittedly his recent success did not look likely when he blotted his copybook by refusing to race on his first two starts last year. He has more than atoned, however, and the three-year-old now has a trio of wins to his name, including in a £100,000 heritage handicap at York on Friday, as well as a runner-up finish at Epsom on Derby day.

Silver Sword runs for Martians Racing in colours that were auctioned by the BHA last September for £5,500 and are identical to those registered in America and borne by one of the most celebrated horses of all time. Cunha has also had a blue-and-white bridle made for Silver Sword to further replicate Secretariat's style.

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Letters to the Editor: The St Leger

A selection of correspondence in response to Emma Berry's Op/Ed 'Long May The Leger Run':

I read your article about the St Leger in the TDN with interest and I agree totally that it would be a great loss to British racing to see the Leger distance changed. When I started training I had horses for Lord Weinstock and Dick Hollingsworth, who only bred middle-distance horses, and I really enjoyed being able to allow their horses the time to develop and mature; they also improved significantly from two to three, so if they showed any real ability at two they were going to be useful at three.

I remember, in the early days, having two two-year-olds for Dick Hollingsworth and not ringing him for ages, as I didn't know what to say. April came and I rang him one Sunday to say I was pleased with them and they were coming along nicely, to which he replied, “How on earth do you know? I hope you haven't done any work with them.”

He went on to say that there was no point ringing him before July, as his two-year-olds shouldn't be doing anything before then. Not many owners would say that to you these days!

I love the St. Leger, not only as a test of stamina but as a test of a horse's bravery–they have to be tough to win it. It produces horses that go on and mature, having longevity, which is great for the sport and audience participation.

Best wishes,

Neil Graham
(Trainer of the 1988 St Leger winner Minster Son, now director of racing at Chelmsford City Racecourse)

Shortening Classic races, doping, railing against HISA, the US (more than any other nation, in my opinion) clinging to the ridiculous notion that fillies/mares can't compete with colts/geldings simply based on their gender–so many things sadden me in regards to racing these days.

I don't want any races shortened. If anything, I'd like to see some lengthened. This is especially pertinent in the US where many 'Classic' filly and mare races are shorter even than their male counterparts. I'd love to see both the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup Distaff (just to name two) go back to being 1 1/4 races.

One of the brightest spots (again, in my opinion) is Japan. They keep showing the rest of the world what proper breeding and care can produce–and all drug free. They keep my faith and hope alive.

For me, the biggest light is the horse. Watching these beauties run (especially in the longer races) is what hooked me on the sport and keeps me coming back for more.

Jean B.

I read with interest your article of 8th March published in TDN.

This brought back memories because the question of the St Leger distance, and also if it should be open to older horses, was a much discussed question late 1970s and early 80s. In recent years I had just accepted the race as a NH stallion maker. Interestingly, I once read Tony Morris suggesting his love of thoroughbred breeding may not have developed if this had been the case in his earlier years.

I was always horrified by any thoughts of lowering the distance of the St Leger. However, I was never certain my argument was based on anything but being a traditionalist. Although Peter Willett's argument is sound from a British breeding perspective, the move from the perception I had had in the 1970s that Australian racing was stamina laden to the current sprint-dominated racing and breeding seems to have worked in extreme and ultimately to, what Australians would consider, the detriment of their more prestigious races.

The other point of interest in your article was why a picture of The Minstrel should be on the copy of a June 1980 copy of Pacemaker. The indexing of my literature clearly works better than I thought and note it was a Richard Stone Reeves painting. Incidentally, on the changing face of racing, note the advert for Moyglare Stud selling a draft of yearlings at Keeneland (and they also sold in Europe as I recall).

Kind Regards,

Neville Sibley

EB replies: Yes, indeed, The Minstrel portrait was in regard to the publication of 'Decade of Champions' by Richard Stone Reeves and Patrick Robinson, a really special book.

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Op/Ed: Long May The Leger Run

While conducting a long overdue tidy-up of my office I came across a copy of the brilliant Pacemaker International magazine of June 1980. (For the avoidance of doubt, it had not been on my desk all that time.)

There were some throwbacks, such as an advert for Leslie Combs II's draft of yearlings from Spendthrift, and another for Rover cars (imagine that in a racing publication nowadays!), as well as items that served as a reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same. To this effect, the first advertisement in the magazine was claimed by Coolmore and featured a large roster of stallions, while later in the publication the headline on the sales review exclaimed, 'Upward Trend Continues at Newmarket'. I think I may have used that one myself on more than one occasion.

There was one article, however, that stopped me in my tracks. Here was Peter Willett, bloodstock journalist of great repute and the man who, only a decade earlier, could be credited as being the architect of the Pattern, stating that the St Leger should be reduced in distance by four furlongs.

If this piece had been written by almost anyone else, the magazine would have been swiftly consigned to the bin in disgust despite its rather lovely cover image of The Minstrel. But, along with Arthur Budgett and Lord Oaksey, Peter Willett happens to be one of my all-time racing heroes. His words are always worth reading and, typically, such a potential bombshell of a topic was dealt with in his knowledgeable, analytical and reasoned manner.

Willett had been prompted to write on this controversial subject after studying data put forward by Professor Paddy Cunningham showing a deterioration in race times for the St Leger since the 1930s. Willett then conducted his own examination, comparing the decades 1920-29 and 1970-79, which showed that the average Derby time was 2.5 seconds faster in the '70s, but the average time for the St Leger was more than 3 seconds slower.

Willett wrote, “The Classic Races…form a series of races suited to the purpose of indicating the best three-year-olds over various distances, and they have provided the criteria of selection on which the evolution of the British Thoroughbred rested for nearly 150 years up to the middle of the 20th century. But, when one race in the series ceases to be an automatic target for the best horses, that race is no longer acceptable as a 'Classic Race', according to the definition.”

After suggesting a swingeing cut to 1m2f, he added, “This distance would complete a Classic series designed to assist in adapting the British Thoroughbred to a trend which, whether we like it or not, is firmly established in the final quarter of the 20th century. British breeding now accounts for only a tiny fraction of the world Thoroughbred population, and cannot exist out on a limb.”

Stirring stuff. We are now firmly established in the first quarter of the 21st century and, arguably, the sliding scale of horses being bred for a certain distance has moved even more significantly towards a great proportion of them now not even being able to stay a mile. But the St Leger is still run at one mile, six furlongs and 127 yards. Is tradition holding sway over sense?

I had only just celebrated my first birthday when Nijinsky won the Triple Crown. Since then, the only horse who has come close was Camelot in 2012, an heroic attempt that prompted a very early departure from Newmarket to Doncaster on Leger day to get a spot on the rail by the winning post in the hope of witnessing history in the making. Alas, it was not to be, but that hope remains.

Camelot is the only Derby winner this century to have run in the St Leger–a scenario that would have been unthinkable 100 years earlier– and perhaps if he hadn't won the 2,000 Guineas he would have followed a number of the others by being dropped back in trip for their next runs, for the Eclipse, or Juddmonte International, and swerved Doncaster altogether.

The list published on Tuesday of the 83 horses remaining in the reckoning for this year's Derby showed that 29 of them are in training with Aidan O'Brien. There are two ways of viewing this. On the one hand such domination of major stables, on the Flat and over jumps, dilutes some of the interest of racing's 'narrative', to use a loathed term. But on the other, here is an operation which, despite standing stallions across the range of distances and disciplines, still appears to have winning the Derby as its central aim. One could say, at its heart.

And amen to that, because we know that, if an O'Brien-trained and Coolmore-owned Guineas winner goes on to land the Derby then there is a very good chance that colt will be set on a path towards following one of Ballydoyle's greatest incumbents in attempting to achieve what is starting to seem more and more like the impossible. Perhaps though, these days, it is not so much mission impossible as mission undesirable, especially when considering the rarity of a St Leger or Gold Cup winner being given a spot at a major Flat stud. Stradivarius is a shining outlier in this regard.

There is, however, at least one glimmer of hope to be gleaned for those in favour of retaining the status quo when it comes to the St Leger, and that is when considering another of Willett's comments in the article.

Nijinsky, Lester Piggott, and Vincent O'Brien at Ascot | Getty Images

“The trend away from stamina is evident in important racing and breeding countries as diverse as the United States and Australia,” he wrote. “[…] It would be unrealistic to try to isolate the British Thoroughbred from this trend in an age when the racehorse has become a kind of international currency.”

To an extent the British (and Irish) Thoroughbred has not been isolated from this trend in the intervening years, but the continuing prestige of Europe's middle-distance races has meant that among owner-breeders at least they remain the key targets. And, as sales returns in recent years have shown, there is a growing number of American and Australian buyers flocking to Europe in pursuit of more stamina-laden blood, both in the form of proven horses in training and, increasingly, as young stock. The Thoroughbred is indeed an international currency.

This trend in itself presents an entirely different problem in raising the possibility of an eventual drain of key bloodlines in Europe, but it also suggests that in some ways our friends in those nations have gone too far in their pursuit of speed.

Another change since 1980 has been the emergence of Japan as a major force in world racing. The difference in Japanese breeding compared to other regions is that there has been no move away from producing horses along middle-distance and staying lines. In fact, Japanese breeders' adherence to these principles has seen their horses playing an increasingly dominant role at international meetings, which in turn has increased the general appreciation of stamina.

Let's not forget that Deep Impact ran to the top level over two miles, and if his son Auguste Rodin manages to clinch the 2,000 Guineas and Derby this season, you know exactly where you will find me on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 16.

In the matter of reducing the distance of the St Leger, I do not agree with Peter Willett, despite his very well argued piece which provides much food for thought. But I would be interested to hear the views of TDN readers if you feel agreeable or disagreeable enough to drop me a line on emmaberry@thoroughbreddailynews.com.

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St Leger Switched To Sunday As Racing In Britain Remains In Mourning

The St Leger meeting at Doncaster has been switched to Sunday, Sept. 11, with all racing on Saturday, Sept. 10, being cancelled as British racing remains in mourning following the death of Her Majesty, The Queen.

As an ongoing mark of respect the BHA has determined that, alongside the cancellation of fixtures on Sept. 8-9, all racing will also be cancelled tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 10. Scheduled fixtures and racing events will return on Sunday, Sept. 11.

An additional day of racing at Doncaster will also be scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11, to ensure that the G1 Cazoo St Leger and other important races lost as result of the cancellations can take place.

However, the fixture scheduled for Musselburgh racecourse on Sunday will be cancelled as a mark of respect for the fact that the Queen's body will be lying in rest in Edinburgh.

Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of the BHA, said, “Her Majesty, The Queen's affinity and bond with British racing was enduring and unique, and a number of our sport's participants have a close, direct relationship with her. It is out of respect for this, and in sympathy with her family including King Charles III, that the sport has taken the decision to continue our suspension of fixtures into Saturday.

“The return of racing on Sunday will see the running of the Cazoo St Leger, one of Britain's five Classic races and a race which The Queen won with her filly Dunfermline in 1977. This will also provide an opportunity for the sport and its supporters to pay its respects to Her Majesty, for the contribution which she has made to the sport to be marked, and for racing to express its deep gratitude to her and sympathies to her family.”

Cancelling racing on Saturday will also allow the sport, and in particular those people involved who had a close relationship with the royal family, to take in the formal proclamation of King Charles III's reign on Saturday afternoon. There will now be a nine-race card at Doncaster on Sunday.

David Thorpe, Chairman of Arena Racing Company, said “The British horse racing industry has lost a true patron and figurehead. As a mark of respect, we collectively took the decision to cease all racing from Thursday evening but will return with meetings on Sunday, including the amended fixture at Doncaster. It will feature the Cazoo St Leger S. and other races that were due to take place on Friday and Saturday. Our gratitude goes to all of our customers, our sponsors and our fellow industry stakeholders and hope that the day might offer an opportunity to mark Her Majesty's lifelong love for our wonderful sport.”

The five races from 1:35 p.m. through to 3:55 p.m. will be shown live on ITV4, whose coverage will run from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as all races being broadcast on Sky Sports Racing.

All racecourses racing from Sunday and over the mourning period will continue to mark Her Majesty's passing with tributes on-course. Flags will fly at half-mast, jockeys will wear black armbands while riding in each race and a period of silence will be observed prior to the opening race at each meeting. These marks of respect will continue to be observed until Her Majesty's funeral next week, and further updates will follow in due course.

Decisions will be made in due course about other important days in the mourning period, such as the commencement of Her Majesty lying in state and the day of the funeral, as details are confirmed. We remain in close consultation with Government as part of this process. We would highlight that this decision has been made to reflect Her Majesty the Queen's special relationship with racing, and that other sports will, in line with national mourning guidance, make their own decisions as they see appropriate.

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