Tag: st. leger

Classic Winner Hurricane Lane Among 18 Pointed To St Leger

Classic winner Hurricane Lane, who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris already this summer, will line up for Godolphin in the G1 Cazoo St Leger on Sept. 11, one of 18 colts and fillies left in the fall Classic. G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar, who also races for Godolphin, will not take part, and instead target the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Richard Hannon's Mojo Star, one better than Hurricane Lane's third in the Derby and fifth in the Irish equivalent, is also signed on. The progressive G3 Gordon S. winner Ottoman Emperor for Johnny Murtagh and Martyn Meade's Irish Derby second Lone Eagle also remain at the latest forfeit stage. One of two for Andrew Balding is G2 Great Voltigeur third Youth Spirit.

Aidan O'Brien fields an octet at this point for the race, including Sir Lamorak, listed winner and G3 Gordon S. second Sir Lucan and G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up The Mediterranean.

A pair of listed-winning fillies have also stood their ground in Roger Varian's Save A Forest and Ralph Beckett's Yesyes.

Murtagh said of Ottoman Emperor, “That is the plan so far–we've had no problems, touch wood. I've not been speaking much to the OTI people [owners] since after Goodwood-[but] the English St Leger is the next stop.

“That last run was good, and the form of that race stood up at York. I think he deserves his chance in the St Leger–whether he stays the mile and six is a question mark, but we'll have to pay to find out.”

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Logician Retired To Shade Oak Stud

Juddmonte's St Leger winner Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Scuffle {GB}, by Daylami {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duties at Shade Oak Stud in Shropshire from 2022.

The 5-year-old has been bought by a partnership with includes Shade Oak's owner Peter Hockenhull, Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning breeder Bryan Mayoh and Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland. Juddmonte will also retain some breeding rights in the son of the Daylami (Ire) mare Scuffle (GB), a listed-placed treble winner who is a half-sister to the stallions Bated Breath (GB) and Cityscape (GB).

“The purchase of Logician is the culmination of a four-year search to bring another top-class stallion prospect to Shade Oak, one with all the qualities needed in a champion National Hunt sire. Logician ticks every box,” said Peter Hockenhull, who currently stands Dartmouth (GB), Telescope (Ire), Scorpion (Ire) and Recharge (Ire).

He added, “He is by Frankel, the best racehorse I have ever seen and now succeeding his own sire, Galileo, as the world's best stallion, from a black-type mare that has bred six winners from six runners, including four black-type horses, and is herself a half-sister to Cityscape and Bated Breath. He stands 16.2hh with great bone, plenty of strength and substance, a lovely walk and a fantastic temperament.”

Unraced at two, Logician was faultless in a five-start 3-year-old campaign, which saw him break his maiden at Newbury in May over 10 furlongs and culminated in back-to-back wins in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G1 St Leger, in which he beat future classy stayers Sir Ron Priestley (GB) and Nayef Road (Ire), as well as subsequent G1 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Ire). He returned to the track almost exactly a year later, having survived a life-threatening attack of peritonitis and pleurisy at the end of his 3-year-old season.

Despite Shade Oak Stud and the horse's new connections being predominantly active in the National Hunt sphere, Hockenhull said that he hopes to encourage Flat breeders to send mares to Logician.

He continued, “I am encouraged that Juddmonte were keen to retain breeding rights in the horse for use on their own mares, so I look forward to some high-class runners by him not only over jumps but also on the Flat. I am extremely grateful to the Abdullah family for supporting British breeding by selling Logician to a stud in this country, and to Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock, whose long-term association with Juddmonte, Prince Khalid's family and this pedigree helped us greatly in this transaction.”

Hockenhull added, “The Great British Bonus and NH Elite Mares Schemes, championed by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and supported by the Levy Board, are transforming the prospects for British breeders, making it possible for studs here to purchase stallions of the quality of Logician.”

As a 3-year-old, Logician, who became Frankel's first Classic-winning son, earned a Timeform rating of 126p. He won on his comeback at four in a Doncaster conditions race, and has been placed in his only starts this season, in the G3 Al Rayyan S. and listed Fred Archer S.

His former trainer John Gosden said, “Logician was still improving when he won the St Leger, quickening in the style of his sire. We planned a major Group 1 campaign over 10 and 12 furlongs as a 4-year-old–he was that good——but unfortunately illness got in the way. As well as fantastic physique and tremendous stride, Logician has a great mind. Nothing fazes him and he puts everything into his racing. He has all the ingredients to be an outstanding dual-purpose sire.”

Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon added, “From the start, Logician was a special horse, a standout yearling among the Juddmonte crop that year. His size, strength and beautiful action, combined with good conformation, had everyone excited from an early stage and he didn't disappoint. His unbeaten 3-year-old season ended with a dominant victory in the St Leger. 

“We have no doubt he was one of the very best middle-distance horses around. Being by Frankel, and given his exceptional physique and performance, Logician is a huge asset to British breeding. Shade Oak have guided many top-class stallions through their careers and I'm sure they have another top-class prospect on their hands.”

A fee for Logician will be announced at a later date.

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Racing Review of the Year: Part I

The Classic Generation

At the start of June, with France and Germany having already crept cautiously back into play after the COVID full-stop, Britain joined in with the beginning of a flourish of catch-up fare. In under a week of racing, we had a new star to gaze at, and time experts were in awe of Bjorn Nielsen’s English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). While he looked super-slick in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial, he was to be given the justifiably dreaded number one draw at Epsom and gave up any chance in the first handful of yards in the blue riband itself. His tardiness was punished by a performance of front-running power rarely seen in the Derby from Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose rise from obscurity to the sacred heights was astonishing even given that he emanated from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable. Neither English King nor Serpentine were able to finish in the first three again, while the other main players at Epsom also disappeared almost without trace, giving the Coronavirus renewal a shabby look in general.

Arguably the best horse to come out of the Classic was Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), whose finest hours came in the international tests of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Hong Kong Vase. Beaten convincingly by Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in York’s G2 Great Voltigeur S., the classiest member of the millionaire offspring of Shastye (Ire) (Danehill) shot up the rankings on Sunday and it will be fascinating to witness the clashes between the prides of Ballydoyle and Willie Muir’s Lambourn base in 2021. If the Derby was a disappointing affair, the G1 2000 Guineas, held four weeks earlier, at least stood up where the juvenile form was concerned as Qatar Racing’s Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) held off the ill-fated Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) and 2019 champion Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) at Newmarket. Pinatubo came up short again next time in Royal Ascot’s G1 St James’s Palace S. behind Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) before landing the G1 Prix Jean Prat and finishing runner-up in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp to another high-class son of Kingman in Persian King (Ire). None of the first three home in the Guineas will  be with us next term for varying reasons and that situation was confounded with the recent announcement that the G1 St Leger hero Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) has also been retired.

Aidan O’Brien will have much to look forward to over the winter, however, as Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be back after a brief but electrifying campaign which saw her become the latest and possibly the easiest 1000 Guineas-Epsom Oaks double act. Denied a run in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as the ground began to deteriorate rapidly across Europe from the end of September, she was spared the ordeal faced by the likes of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) at ParisLongchamp. It was Gestut Schlenderhan’s G1 Deutsches Derby hero In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) who ended up in the mix of the year’s best European Classic winners as he earned second in the Arc.

In France, the John Gosden-trained Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) upstaged the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on the day that Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) denied the G1 Coronation S. winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a strong edition of the G1 Prix de Diane. The Niarchos Family’s Alpine Star, who had the misfortune to run up against Palace Pier in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, and Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix de l’Opera, where the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was back in third, could prove to be the most intriguing of all the French Classic players to emerge next season.

Of Ireland’s Classic winners, there is a sense that they operated below the usual level in 2020. Khalid Abdullah’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Siskin (First Defence), the aforementioned Peaceful, the Oaks heroine Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Derby scorer Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) all failed to win again. That underlines a general weakness in Classic form throughout the year, with all the customary patterns and staging posts disturbed or wiped out by the Spring lockdown. The last-named was unable to subdue his compatriot Galileo Chrome in the Leger, but he is being trained with the staying “Cup” races in mind in 2021 and looks tailor-made for the division Aidan O’Brien has reaped such rich dividends in.

The Older Horses

This was supposed to be the year of Enable, as Juddmonte’s monarch returned to her stomping ground, but it actually turned out to be the year of Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). In the mould of former Godolphin greats such as Dubai Millennium (GB), Daylami (Ire) and Fantastic Light, he established himself centrally in the firmament with an astounding front-running performance in the G1 Coronation Cup, which was switched to Newmarket just days after the British Flat season had launched. While his subsequent successes in the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and G1 Juddmonte International at York may have achieved loftier ratings, the world champion of 2020 was never more visually impressive than on his European comeback. It will be a long time before the Coronation Cup is either graced by such a presence or is staged at the Suffolk venue which contrasts so greatly with Epsom and so the uniqueness of this event will live long. Enable ended up rated six pounds below him, which seemed perfectly fair given that her campaign was highlighted by a win in a three-runner G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.

That the old jewel in British racing’s crown could deteriorate to such an extent gives major cause for concern, even allowing for the strangeness of the year and a mix of circumstance. Ascot’s QIPCO Champions Day was also blighted, this time by the weather as the worst of October’s promise of dour conditions came to light. While respected commentators questioned the views of connections of well-beaten fancied horses that the ground was desperate, the eclipse of Stradivarius, Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Palace Pier cast a shadow over the current edition. Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) was one of a quartet of geldings to plunder the group prizes open to them and that surely was not ideal at a meeting designed to showcase the breed. Stradivarius, whose tame exit from the action in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup gave cause for concern, will be back at the track in June hoping for better ground as he bids for a fourth Gold Cup.

Champions Day saw the continued rise of Hollie Doyle, who was nominated for the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and already the recipient of the Sports Journalists’ Association Sportswoman of the Year among others. At this stage, she is almost guaranteed to become the first female champion jockey in her native country with her momentum set to continue at a relentless pace. A Classic win in 2021 too, perhaps? Cieren Fallon, Jr., who took the G1 July Cup on Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}), is another young rider on the rise with his style so reminiscent of his oh-so-talented father.

Other headline acts in 2020 were Shadwell’s high-class miler Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who won a G1 Sussex S. which stands up to any recent renewal, the same operation’s imperturbable sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Peter Brant’s Arc hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Battaash will be back again next term, bidding to add to his remarkable tally of four Group 1s and four editions of the G2 King George S. in which he is nigh-on unbeatable. Saeed Suhail’s G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) will also be back

After the retirement of Magical was announced on Dec. 22, Ireland now has another star mare in His Highness The Aga Khan’s Tarnawa. Her trio of victories in the G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix de l’Opera and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf mark her as special, and her lethal turn of foot will be a major asset as she looks to add to her haul next year. The Arc, which was arguably within her sights this year, will surely be in 2021, and if Dermot Weld can keep her at this level she could be the one to provide him with that missing monument. Time will tell whether the much-discussed three-pound mares’ allowance stands, but while it does the likes of Tarnawa and Love will always have a distinct edge in top competition.

Dark Horses

The ‘lurkers’ who just failed to make it in 2020 but could be big presences next year include Shadwell’s G3 Geoffrey Freer S. winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Kirsten Rausing’s G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), David Ward’s promising sprinter Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Godolphin’s 2000 Guineas fourth Military March (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Also, a Sir Michael Stoute special perhaps? Saeed Suhail’s impressive novice winner My Frankel (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who heads into a 4-year-old campaign lightly-raced and unexposed. Sounds like a few we’ve known in the past.

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Addeybb Proves Too Good In QIPCO Champion Stakes

It rounded off a remarkable day for jockey power-couple Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand who combined for 3 victories during Britain's richest race day.

It's been a memorable season for Marqaund and Addeybb who dominated down under throughout the winter as the duo claimed Group 1 victories in Australia. However, his main targets were always going to be during the Autumn as the Haggis team aimed him at his preferred soft ground and that paid off as Addeybb came home in front in this year's QIPCO Champion Stakes

During the race, it was Derby hero Serpentine who took up the running as expected. The eventual winner Addeybb sat just of the Classic winner in his favored position towards the front of the field. Favorite Magical settled in mid-division with Frankie Dettori with second-choice Mishriff just one off the rail.

The places didn't alter throughout the early stages with most content on holding position. As the pace began to quicken it was James Doyle and Lord North who made the first move as the duo began to make a move around the outside. The rest responded as Mishriff picked up the bridle and Skaletti continued to run on alongside the rail. Ryan Moore asked plenty of Magical but she was caught ever so slightly flat footed and couldn't quite pick up the leaders.

Into the final stages Addeybb continued to thunder on, ploughing his way through the softer ground as Sklatetti failed to really throw down a challenge.

Tom Marqaund only won his first Group 1 just a month ago in the St Leger but this performance will be right up there with his best of the season. A hugely satisfying win for the young jockey on the biggest stage of all and a wonderful victory for all connections.

Addeybb went one better in the 2020 G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes, putting up an authoritative display to take the 10-furlong showpiece. The 6-year-old had finished the three-quarter length runner-up to Magical 12 months ago.

Tom Marquand was the winning rider and is the boyfriend of Hollie Doyle, who rode the first two winners today.

A six-year-old son of Pivotal trained by William Haggas, Addeybb was always in a prominent position and travelled well throughout. Taking a clear advantage quarter of a mile from home, Addeybb was never in trouble thereafter and held off the challenge of Skalleti to win by a comfortable two and a quarter lengths.

Last year's winner Magical, the 15/8 favourite, did not seem to be going particularly well before making good late progress to take third, a further half a length back.

William Haggas said: “Addeybb is a marvellous horse. He was really up for it today. He is fantastic and I am absolutely thrilled for everyone.

“He didn't mind [the draw, 11]. He was in a great position and he stays. He is tough, he loves the ground and loves it here.

“He has been absolutely fantastic. Since he won the Wolferton last year and we put the cheek-pieces on, he has just been so consistent. He was really on it today. He looked fantastic beforehand, we thought, but he was grumpy and difficult to saddle, which is a good sign for him. He has such a marvellous nature and this is tailor-made for him. We all know that he loves this ground.

“The filly [Verry Elleegant] that he beat in both his G1 races in Australia won the Caulfield Cup today, beating Anthony Van Dyck, so they were smart performances, but he had never won a G1 in England. He had been second a few times, so that for us is the great joy – we have finally won a championship race with such a good horse.

“It has been quite interesting. I said after six-year-old One Master won the Foret for a third time that, if you can keep them happy, sound and not abuse them when they are young, they will reward you when they are older. This is exactly what he has done. Look at today – the QEII winner is five, the sprint winner is six – if they are sound, healthy and keep their enthusiasm, which he has done, then they can enjoy life. I think that was his best ever performance at the age of six.

“He is great at home and Safid, who rides him every day, said this morning that he would win and that he was really on form. I have been not very well for a bit and then have been at the sales when I have been better, so I have hardly seen him. I have seen him at first lot but that is it really, so all credit to my team at home and to Safid in particular, who dotes on this horse. I think he is looking for another couple of months in Australia next spring!

“I have no idea yet [on going back to Australia] because there are horses from Europe in Melbourne and they had 11,000 people at the races in Sydney today. If we can get there, we will obviously consider it. We also might consider Saudi Arabia as well, which is dirt but that dirt track is terrific. I was there last year and I thought it was terrific and possibly worth a short. We shall see and we are going to enjoy this day very much.

“Addeybb is a special horse for us and has done lots of things that we can only dream of.

“The first time he wore cheekpieces in the Wolferton last year he put up a pretty smart performance, and ever since then he's either been first or second in top company.

“He likes the ground and he goes well fresh. It seems a bit ridiculous taking him to Ayr to run in a Listed race, but actually it was a nice thing for him – Arc weekend was too close to this at two weeks – and it gave him a month in between. He loves it fresh and we try to keep him fresh, and he was fresh going into Australia.

“We always hoped he had it in him. I personally couldn't see Magical being beaten, because I thought she beat us comprehensively last year, not by very far, and I was frightened that the ground had dried a bit too much today. But it's pretty horrible and he loves it when it's horrible. He is at his best when there's a ground inspection in the morning and it passes. He is pretty versatile, but he's deadly on this ground.

“If you watched him all the way round, he was in the perfect position and never looked like being beaten.

“Tom [Marquand]'s a young guy who has a girlfriend kicking him up the backside every day, but he's a very personable, strong rider with a big future. I have no doubt he will be champion one day. They need to be riding on days like this, and he's got there very young, but he has a great future ahead of him.”

Tom Marquand said: “Honestly what a credit to Safid [Alam], William and Maureen and the whole team at home. He has gone to Australia, conquered down under and now he's come back up, he deserved that Group One up here so much because all he's done is knock on the door, show he's a champion and he's never got his real swansong today, but today's he's got it.

“He travelled like a true good horse throughout the race and to be honest when I started getting going, I just bombed the straight. It is remarkable, I've never ridden a horse like him. He goes over ground that's as bad as you can get and he makes it feel like you are on quick ground. That is why he's so good on it.

“It is just incredible. He has shown that he is top-class in Australia, winning two G1s, and Verry Elleegant went and beat our Derby winner from last year Anthony Van Dyck this morning, who Addeybb beat in the Ranvet and QEII. He has come here today and has torn the field apart, beating the likes of Magical. You have to be a champion to do that.

“Genuinely, the draw was the primary and only concern that I had about the race. It can be a pretty tricky start coming down to that sharp bend straight away and to settle into the race is the main concern. Again, in the straight, he is so powerful through the line and just trucks on as if the ground is not an issue, which is phenomenal.”

Referring to girlfriend Hollie Doyle, Marquand said: “I'm so, so proud of her.

“All she does is get up every day and graft, and to ride her first G1 for Archie Watson is brilliant because he's played such a big part, but also for Alan King because he's played a big part for both of us in the last few years. Our first Royal Ascot winners were for him and he's had a cracking year. There is no one, genuinely no one, who deserves it more.”

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