Cazoo Derby Features Desert Crown Among 21 Remaining

Saeed Suhail's Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) anchors the 21 colts remaining at this entry stage for the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt is a perfect two-for-two after winning the G2 Dante S. at York on May 12. He is joined by the Godolphin duo of Listed Blue Riband Trial winner Nahanni (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the stakes-placed Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), both trained by Charlie Appleby. Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners have a quintet of colts still entered-Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G3 Boodles Chester Vase S., G3 Amethyst S. runner-up Ivy League (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Listed Dee S. winner Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Derby Trial S. scorer Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Listed SBK Derby Trial S. victor United Nations (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

One horse no longer taking part in the Epsom Downs Classic is Cash (Ire) (Shamardal), who finished second in the Listed bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown on Apr. 22.

The post Cazoo Derby Features Desert Crown Among 21 Remaining appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Galileo’s Star of India Battles to Dee Success at Chester

Chester's May meeting, day two, status quo. Fresh off a day for the ages, Galileo extended his record tally of stakes winners to 350 when Aidan O'Brien trainee Star of India (Ire) displayed all the battling traits of his sire by finding plenty in the latter stages of Thursday's Listed Homeserve Dee S. to claim first black-type rosette in ultimately impressive style. Star of India became a 'TDN Rising Star' with a taking score over seven furlongs in his debut at Leopardstown last October, but slipped to fifth when attempting to make all upped to one mile for Newmarket's G3 Craven S. in his only other start on seasonal return last month. The well-backed 6-4 favourite required early encouragement from the inside box and occupied a slot along the fence in third after passing the judge first time in this extended 10-furlong test. Back under urging with a half mile remaining, he was guided to the outside off the home turn for his challenge passing the furlong marker and lengthened clear powered by continued coaxing to stop the clock with a 2 1/4-length buffer. Comfortably on top through the line, Star of India was a notch above Cresta (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), who outbobbed Sonny Liston (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) by a head for second.

The post Galileo’s Star of India Battles to Dee Success at Chester appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

On The Trail Again

Charlie Appleby has two strong hands to play in the upcoming 2000 Guineas and one of them, the European champion juvenile Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB), enjoys a surprise if welcome prep in Wednesday's G3 bet365 Craven S. at Newmarket. It's the age-old question, can the one who was at the apex the previous year maintain his dominion after the winter sojourn? It is necessary to go back to the mid-nineties and the likes of Alhaarth (Ire) (Unfuwain) and Xaar (GB) (Zafonic) to recall reigning champions taking in this trial en route to the first Classic and Godolphin's chief sophomore provides the race with a shot in the arm. There is nothing in his trainer's recent emissions to suggest that he has any concerns about the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Dewhurst S. hero, with this being more of a wake-up call than anything else.

“We are very confident at the moment and the team is in good form,” he said. “He has wintered very well and we have been pleased with his preparation, so we don't have any negatives going into this. It's only two and a half weeks until the 2000 Guineas, so we feel he is not going to need the run in the Craven, but it will help click his racing brain back into gear. It's of more benefit mentally rather than physically.”

 

TDN Rising Stars Assembling

   Taking on Native Trail are two TDN Rising Stars in Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Al Mubhir (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who represent Ballydoyle and William Haggas respectively. The former took the eye when scoring on debut over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in October, while Al Mubhir beat a clutch of subsequent winners in a maiden over that trip on this course earlier that month.

Tom Marquand takes the mount on Al Mubhir and said, “He is a beautiful model, but he has done well for having that break. It is a stiff task second time out to try and win a Craven, but there is a reason he is in there and that is because William likes him and the team likes him. Our lad will be learning on the job a little bit and hopefully we will learn a bit more about him at the same time and what will be will be with Native Trail.”

 

A River Runs Through It

   In the six-furlong G3 Connaught Access Flooring Abernant S., Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) is the main player following his success in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh in August. With no stand-out older sprinter in attendance, Hugo Palmer's stable star will be a warm order to get his campaign off to a flyer.

“We've decided to put a line through trying to make him stay, but I'm just really looking forward to running him at Newmarket. It wouldn't surprise me if we ended up going back to five for the King's Stand if he's good enough.”

Click here for the group fields.

The post On The Trail Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

O’Brien Charts Plans for Classic Hopefuls

Aidan O'Brien outlined plans after several members of his team galloped Saturday, chief among them G1 Futurity Trophy winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), undefeated in three starts at two, and MGSW Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who was last seen finishing second in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National last September. Campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, the pair are likely to reappear in the Apr. 30 G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

“Luxembourg was in the first lot and everything went very well,” said O'Brien. “He did everything very nicely and he finished off nicely and Ryan [Moore] seemed very happy with him.”

Of his stablemate, he added, “I was very happy as well with Point Lonsdale. Seamus [Heffernan] said he relaxed and quickened nicely and you'd have to be very happy.”

“You'd have to see how they come out of it, but we're thinking of aiming both of them at Newmarket.”

Also included among the first grouping of gallopers were Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“I thought they could be Irish Guineas horses,” he said. “They won't go to Leopardstown for the Trial now, because it comes too quick. The two could go for the [May 21 G1] Irish Guineas or they could go to France for the [May 15 G1] French Guineas like [2021 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner] St Mark's Basilica and step up to a mile and a quarter after that.”

Heading the fillies Saturday was undefeated G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio).

“Tenebrism worked very well. Ryan was very happy with her. They went a strong seven [furlongs] and she came home very well. She will go straight for the [1000] Guineas [May 1].”

The post O’Brien Charts Plans for Classic Hopefuls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights