Ascot Gold Cup winner Subjectivist (GB) is new to Alne Park Stud this year and he will be joined at Doncaster by his stud-mates Dink (Fr), Ocovango (GB) and Midnights Legacy (GB). Also in attendance will be Ito (Ger), who is about to undertake his second season at Yorton Farm, and his fellow recent recruit Postponed (Ire).

Capri (Ire) is new to Britain and Willow Wood Farm for this season, and he is one of three St Leger winners who will be returning to Doncaster, along with Logician (GB) and Kingston Hill (GB). Completing the line-up are Telescope (Ire) and Dragon Dancer (GB).

“We look forward to welcoming breeding and bloodstock enthusiasts to this ever-popular event in the TBA hospitality space,” said TBA National Hunt Committee chairman Simon Cox. “We are thankful to Goffs and the participating stallion studs for their ongoing support of this important event for National Hunt breeders.”

Grace Skelton of Alne Park Stud added, “Getting a new stallion like Subjectivist in front of breeders is vitally important and this event provides a well-timed opportunity to do this.”

A nomination to each of the stallions which have been submitted to the 2024 Elite NH Mares' Scheme and those on show at the sale have been donated by their owners for an online silent auction between January 19 and 25. Funds raised will support the TBA's National Hunt activities in 2024.

The TBA will also be holding its annual Flat stallion parade at Tattersalls on February 1.

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Jim Bolger's homebred raced solely at seven furlongs that year, and his subsequent injury in the spring of 2007 meant that we could only guess at what he might have achieved at three and beyond. By that August he had been retired without ever returning to the track. His racing career may have been cut short, but his stud career has dropped plenty of hints as to what his profile may have been had he raced on.

Teofilo has been far from a one-dimensional stallion in his 16 years spent continuously at Kidangan Stud. This week, he has been back in the news courtesy of his third Melbourne Cup winner in the last six years, Without A Fight (Ire) having followed Cross Counter (Ire) and Twilight Payment (Ire) onto that particular roll of honour. While there are a good number of stayers among Teofilo's top runners – the Gold Cup winner Subjectivist (GB) and Prix du Cadran winner Quest For More (Ire) included – this is by no means his hallmark. If anything is, it's his versatility.

In his first crop Teofilo sired the Dewhurst winner Parish Hall (Ire), and if he looked like the second coming it was perhaps no surprise, as the colt, inbred 3×3 to Sadler's Wells, raced in the same familiar colours of Jackie Bolger, having been bred by her husband Jim, the man born on Christmas Day who masterminded Teofilo's own racing career and has bred a number of his best offspring.

The Irish St Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs (Ire) was another member of that first crop, and since then Teofilo has been represented by a Group 1 winner from every year of production through to his current crop of four-year-olds, including Irish Derby winner Trading Leather (Ire), Irish 1,000 Guineas and Yorkshire Oaks winner Pleascach (Ire) and the Prix Jean Prat winner Havana Gold (Ire). The latter is of course the sire of the G1 Flying Five winner and rising young sire Havana Grey (GB), giving the line an extra speedy dimension. Among this season's three-year-olds has been the GII Sands Point S. winner Eternal Point (Ire), who has won two graded stakes races this autumn.

About to turn 20, Teofilo is at that stage where, if his influence is strong enough, he should be appearing as the broodmare sire of top winners, and this he has started to do with regularity. Last season's 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) and Coroebus (Ire) were both out of Teofilo mares, giving him a notable Classic double. A son of Dubawi (Ire), the ill-fated Coroebus was bred on the reserve cross to that which produced Without A Fight.

Teofilo's run in this sphere is extended by last season's G1 Preis der Diana winner Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan  {Fr}) and by the previous year's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), while the dual Group 1 winner Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is also out of one of his daughters.

Given his location, it is no surprise that Teofilo has ended up covering a number of Dubawi mares, and there are now seven stakes winners bred on this cross from 49 named foals. His 24th Group 1 winner, Without A Fight, who started his career with Simon and Ed Crisford before staying permanently in Australia with Anthony and Sam Freedman, was bred by Dubawi's owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. His dam Khor Sheed was bought for the sheikh as a yearling for 42,000gns by Luca Cumani. The half-sister to the Group 1 winner Prince Kirk (Fr) (Selkirk) had already passed through the Tattersalls sale ring as a foal, where she was signed for by Joe Foley at 22,000gns.

Khor Sheed, later trained by Cumani, won the Listed Empress S. at Newmarket on only her second start at two, and the following year claimed another Listed win as well as the G3 Premio Sergio Cumani, named in honour of the trainer's father. She has produced four winners to date, Without A Fight being way out in front on the list with an impressive 11 wins from his 23 starts. He became only the twelfth horse to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and he has won a further two group races in Australia this year, as well as the G3 John Smith's Silver Cup and two Listed contests in England.

The December before Without A Fight made his debut, Khor Sheed returned to Tattersalls and was bought from Godolphin by Harry Dutfield for 26,000gns.  The Havana Gold foal she was carrying was born dead and she produced two subsequent fillies for Dutfield before being returned barren to the Tattersalls February Sale this year. By this stage, Without A Fight was a Group 3 winner and the mare's first foal, the unraced Sharja Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), had produced the Grade II winner Avenue De France (GB) (Cityscape {GB}).

Mick Donohoe signed for Khor Sheed on her fourth visit to the sale ring, buying the 15-year-old on behalf of Yulong for 28,000gns.

“She is in foal to Lucky Vega so that was a nice little update,” Donohoe confirmed. “She's a stakes-winning Dubawi mare and she had bred a stakes winner, and one of her daughters had bred a stakes winner, too.”

He added, “Harry Dutfield was very forthcoming with a genuine reason why she was barren, so she just made sense, and obviously the Teofilo horse was a good horse anyway, so it all worked out.”

On Wednesday, it was announced that Subjectivist, the aforementioned Royal Ascot winner, who also won the G1 Prix Royal Oak and G2 Dubai Gold Cup along with the most coveted staying prize of them all, would be standing at Alne Park Stud next year.  Havana Gold sadly died earlier this year, leaving only Massaat (Ire) and Parish Hall (Ire) of Teofilo's sons at stud, through it is easy to imagine the line continuing, at least in the immediate future, through his grandson Havana Grey.

As for Teofilo himself, he is reported to be in rude health ahead of his 17th covering season at Darley's Kildangan Stud, where his fee remains at €30,000. Unlike some, it hasn't fluctuated that much over the years. He started out at €40,000 and dipped to €15,000 in 'that difficult fourth season' that so frustrates stallion owners, and reached a high point of €50,000 in 2014.

Understandably, Kildangan's nominations manager Eamon Moloney is a big fan of Teofilo, having worked with him for years. He told TDN, “He's the most extraordinary horse and I just wish he got the credit he deserves.

“We make no secret of the fact that his fertility has slipped slightly through the years as he's got older, so he's been covering 80 mares per year and at that we can keep his fertility to a very high level.

“He's a very important member of Kildangan. Once Teo has started then the lads can start up the rest of the day. He's a big, substantial horse and he charges out to his paddock. He's a tough sort of a horse, but there's a gentle giant behind it.”

Moloney added, “He's in great health at 19, rising 20, and he very much has pride of place here.”

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Wherever and whenever horses from Japan show up on the world stage, recent history dictates that they are to be taken very seriously.

As recently as 12 months ago at the Saudi Cup meeting, horses representing the island nation accounted for four of the evening's six big races, and a month later in yet another desert destination, they somehow managed to one-up themselves with a spectacular five-timer on Dubai World Cup night. The nation has yet–repeat, yet–to break through in either of the world's eight-figure races on the dirt, but they will have every chance to rewrite history just past 8:30 local time Saturday when a half-dozen accomplished Japanese runners take on seven others in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

The most accomplished of the group at Saturday's nine-furlong distance on the dirt is Jun Light Bolt (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), who earned an automatic berth in the Cup via his last-gasp defeat of 2022 G2 UAE Derby hero Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo last December (see below). Purchased for better than $1 million as a yearling at the JRHA Select Sale, the bay won four of 21 starts on the grass, but has been reborn with the surface switch; the Champions Cup was his third win from four runs on the main track. He'll carry saddle towel six from barrier number six.

“Several front-runners drew inside so there is going to be plenty of early speed,” said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. “I believe he can settle anywhere the jockey wants to be.”

WATCH: Jun Light Bolt up late in the Champions Cup

Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is expected to be part of the early pace, as he drew the inside stall Wednesday. Having dead-heated for the victory in last year's G1 Dubai Turf, he ran a couple of blinders in defeat in the G2 Sapporo Kinen and particularly in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), where he dared them to catch him after opening a monstrous lead and was only run down in the final yards. He makes a second start on dirt for the charismatic Yoshito Yahagi, who was matter of fact as relates to the draw.

“I never think about the numbers but number one should be a good number,” he said. “There's only one instruction–gotta go!”

Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) is the most prolific Japanese Group 1 dirt horse and passed up an opportunity for a third straight February S. in favour of Saudi riches. He'll have to negotiate a trip from gate 13 with Joao Moreira up.

“Cafe Pharoah has won the [February S.], and if you're able to win that race, you have to have a lot of ability,” the 'Magic Man' said. “I'd be very surprised if he runs a poor race. He's solid, strong, big, and apparently he knows what his job is. I'll be very surprised if he's not finishing in the top four.”

Though it would be no shock to see them run well, G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Geoglyph (Jpn), a son of American dirt sprint champion Drefong, and the well-traveled Vin de Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), right there in last year's Dubai Turf, would be nevertheless be considered upset winners, all things considered.

Don't Sleep On The Locals…

Emblem Road (Quality Road) gave the home team its first win with a stunning victory over Country Grammer (Tonalist) in the big race last year and is back to defend his title. Fifth as the surprising favourite in the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy–a lone start on the turf–last July, the 5-year-old resumed with a smooth four-length conditions success in strong time Jan. 13 (video, SC 4).

“I'm so happy with the number eight, he's a late horse from the gate, so I can be outside easily,” said jockey Alexis Moreno. “He's doing very well, he's run well and I hope he can do it again.”

The commonly owned Scotland Yard (Quality Road), a graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale, has earned his way into the Saudi Cup with three wins on the trot, including a 10 1/4-length romp over Electability (Quality Road)–winner of a $500,000 handicap Friday–in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup Jan. 28 (video, SC 16).

Saudi Arabia is also represented by the two females in the race, former Polish champion Lagertha Rhyme (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and Sunset Flash (Ire) (Mayson {GB}).

Remorse (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) ships over from Dubai for Bhupat Seemar, having run a distant third to the G1 Dubai World Cup-bound Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 at Meydan three weeks ago. —Alan Carasso

Will Waters Part For Subjectivist In Red Sea Turf?

A baker's dozen line up in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. over 3000 metres on grass, and the $2.5-million dollar question is if multiple Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) has returned to his formidable best after overcoming a tendon injury and 600-plus days away from the races.

Trainer Charlie Johnston was still an assistant to his father, Mark, when the bay stormed to victories in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak in October of 2020, the G2 Dubai Gold Cup in March of 2021 and the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot later that June. It is a big ask for the 6-year-old, but Johnston is happy with his star's progress.

“It is a feeling of the unknown,” said Johnston. “We wouldn't be here if we didn't feel we would be competitive. Can I have the same confidence I had two years ago? No. This horse is coming back from a serious tendon injury, a tendon injury that in a lot of cases is career-ending. It is not like a bone injury that you know would have repaired to 100%.

“Stall 13 wouldn't have been my first choice of where to jump from, but it is what we've got and we just have to make the best of the situation.

“The horse seems in good fettle with himself and it's all systems go. I think he is showing the signs of a horse who has spent 20 months away from the track and he was always quite a difficult horse to lead up, particularly on a raceday going back a couple of years, so it doesn't concern me to see him full of himself.”

HE'S BACK!

Gold Cup winner SUBJECTIVIST will return to action in the Red Sea Turf Handicap after a 20 month break

Hear from trainer Charlie Johnston about his road to recovery @Johnston_Racing #TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/GXbTHF5ePE

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) February 23, 2023

John and Thady Gosden won the second running of the Saudi Cup with Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), and are back in Riyadh with Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) for this marathon affair. The 2022 Ebor H. winner carries the Godolphin blue, and was third after briefly leading in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup in October.

“He's an Ebor winner who was able to make the step-up to group class when he was third in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot, so you would like to think he will continue to develop into a good stayer,” the younger Gosden said. “But this is a very good race, not least with the return of Subjectivist, and he faces very tough competition in a very competitive handicap.”

Japan's Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) will be cutting back in trip on Saturday, after running out an 3/4-length winner of the 3600-metre G2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers S. first off a seven-month hiatus on Dec. 3. The Shadai colourbearer is slotted into post one, near Darius Racing and Michael Motschmann's 2021 G1 Deutsches Derby victor Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}), who leaves from stall three for trainer Henk Grewe. In between them is the outstandingly well-bred Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), third in the G3 Sagaro S. for owners Tracey Bell and Caroline Lyons, from the yard of Ian Williams. If the last-named were to triumph, he would be the fourth group winner for his stakes-winning dam Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). –Heather Anderson

Missed The Cut A Warm Order For Neom Turf Cup

Can George Boughey and Oisin Murphy get off to the best possible start together with Missed The Cut (Quality Road) in the G3 Neom Turf Cup?

Murphy has committed to riding Boughey's Royal Ascot winner this season and they will be bidding to get off to the best possible start in the $1.5-million contest.

Missed The Cut is a short-priced favourite to get his campaign off with a bang and Boughey says that he is happy from what he is seeing from the 4-year-old in the build-up to the race.

“We're happy with him,” Boughey said. “He beat the Dubai World Cup favourite [Algiers {Ire} (Shamardal)] on the all-weather at Lingfield back in November and he comes here in super shape so we are looking forward to it.

“The Algiers form is obviously good form. Algiers has taken his form to a different level on the dirt in Meydan and this is a whole different kettle of fish for Missed The Cut. It is a tight 10 and a bit furlongs [2100m] around the turf here. He has got plenty of pace and I'm hoping he should go well.”

Missed The Cut could face stiffest opposition from fellow British raiders Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), trained by William Knight, and John and Thady Gosden's Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

John Gosden said, “Mostahdaf is training well having had a nice break after the Arc when he didn't handle the very heavy conditions.

“He looks great and seems to be enjoying the warmer climate. He is a lightly raced colt, still with plenty of potential and he has Group-winning form between 10 and 12 furlongs [2000m to 2400m].”

The trainer added, “We don't have any campaign mapped out for him yet, we would like to take it step-by-step, but I'd be hopeful of a good showing tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Sir Busker comes into the Neom Cup off the back of a blowout under Ryan Moore on the all-weather, and the leading jockey remains loyal in Saturday's contest.

Knight said, “He's been in good order here and he arrives on the back of career-best form last year with a Group 2 win and a Group 1 place.

“He has come out of his prep a few weeks ago at Lingfield very well and Ryan Moore is back on him. We're hopeful of a big run.”

Bahrain-based veteran trainer Allan Smith will be hoping to grab the headlines with Byline (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). Consistent throughout his career, the six-year-old comes into the contest after finishing third in the Listed Crown Prince Cup over 2000m on Feb. 3.

Speaking after morning track work on Friday, Smith said, “He breezed very well today. He galloped out good and was clean-winded. I'm very pleased with him.”

In 2021, Al Adiyat and Smith were a close second in the 1351 Turf Sprint on Saudi Cup day with Dark Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This year, they bring a similarly overlooked type into the meeting. Veteran jockey Gerald Mosse takes the reins from post three.

“He's taken everything in stride since he arrived and is a happy horse,” Smith continued. “There wasn't much to do with him since he got over here from Bahrain. He's had a nice busy season and ran just a couple weeks ago. He ran a good race, but was a bit unlucky with a high draw and being wide throughout the entire race. He's better than that.

“He ran 10 furlongs [2000m] last time and this race is a little farther than that, but Bahrain has a big, sweeping track and this is a tighter track, which makes me think the distance won't be a problem. He's doing very well and we're hopeful for a good run.” —Brian Sheerin

MISSED THE CUT was unraced one year ago. He is now a Royal Ascot winner, a Listed winner and lines up in the Neom Turf at @thesaudicup on Saturday.

His trainer @gbougheyracing has been flying since last year and has had multiple international wins. #TeamBritishRacing pic.twitter.com/Ppn6uVXVoH

— GBRI (@GBRI_UK) February 21, 2023

Lemaire Bids To Call The Tune Again On Songline

While Richard Hannon is doubly represented in the following G3 1351 Turf Sprint by Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), the race appears to be dominated by Japanese-trained runners, including last year's winner Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).

Trained by Toru Hayashi, Songline will again be partnered by Christophe Lemaire, who rode four winners on this card 12 months ago.

Lemaire said of Songline's chances of a repeat win aboard the Japanese raider, “I think she is in better condition than last year. If I remember correctly last year, when I rode her in the morning, she was a little bit stiff. Today, I felt she was very smooth and her footwork was very good so I am more confident than last year.”

He added, “She will have to show that she is a Group 1 horse. She had some issues last autumn but this morning she looked brilliant. All the staff did their best to bring the mare at her best for Saturday. She can stay the mile so it means that, if the pace is strong, you will need stamina in the last furlong. She has got that stamina.”

Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}), winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup in Japan, returns to the race he finished fourth in last year. He had a breeze on the dirt track under jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev on Friday and was reported by connections to be in good form.

Shigeki Todo, assistant to trainer Takashi Saito, said, “We prefer giving just a stretching-out breeze rather than fast gallop on the week of the race–it is our stable's routine. He looked under control this morning with the jockey which I always want to see.”

Hannon's Happy Romance was third to Songline in this race last year and, along with Lusail, makes up a strong challenge for the trainer.

Hector Tournier, representing Hannon, said, “Both horses have done the work they needed at home. They travelled well and are easy horses.” —Brian Sheerin

My Map Looks To Stay Unbeaten in Derby

Locally based My Map (Liam's Map) looks to run his unbeaten mark to five-from-five as he takes on an international group in the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby Cup Saturday evening.

Winner of a pair of starts over the summer season at Ta'if, he returned from a three-month freshening to take a local allowance over 1400 metres and made it four in a row in the Saudi Derby Qualifier Jan. 27, defeating Almulhem (More Than Ready) by 2 1/4 lengths, with Atta Alghali (Karakontie {Jpn}) a further half-length adrift in third. My Map drew 13 of 13.

Japan took the first two runnings of the Derby and will have a strong chance to add to that total here. Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) makes his 3-year-old debut Saturday, having won two of his three trips to the post at home, including the Cattleya S. conditions race that serves as the first leg on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby at Tokyo Nov. 26. His lone defeat came in his second career start at the hooves of Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), who would go on to annex the second leg of the Kentucky Derby series, the Dec. 14 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. Third that day was Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), recent winner of the Listed Hyacinth S. to climb to the top of the Derby leaderboard. From Dusk (Bolt d'Oro), Group 2-placed on turf, and Ecoro Ares (Unified) look like fringe players from the barn of Hideyuki Mori, who saddled Full Flat (Speightstown) in 2020 and the late Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) the following year.

Bob Baffert won last year's renewal with Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) and is represented here by Havnameltdown (Uncaptured). Campaigned exclusively over six and seven furlongs to date, the Florida-bred won the GIII Bob Hope S. in November and tacked on a 1 1/2-length success in the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 29. He tries to see out the mile here with Frankie Dettori in the irons. —Alan Carasso

WATCH: My Map makes it four out of four in the Saudi Derby Qualifier

From 'Prince' To King In Dirt Sprint?

Like many of the Saudi Cup night races, there is a high class Japanese presence in one form or another, and in the $1.5-million G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint Presented By Sports Boulevard, three runners from the Land of the Rising Sun have signed on.

Chizu Yoshida's Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas de Trois {Jpn}) is back to defend his title in the 1200-metre dirt feature, and will leave from stall seven in the nine-horse race under Damian Lane.

More likely to wind up in the winner's circle than not, the Chizu Yoshida runner has only lost once since his victory here, and defeated the re-opposing Ryuno Yukina (Jpn) (Vermilion {Jpn}) going this trip at Morioka in the Listed JBC Sprint on Nov. 3.

However, there is also a strong American contingent headed by Juddmonte's Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Elite Power (Curlin), who has won his last five starts for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Frankie Dettori is booked for the entire, who splits the nine-horse field in gate five. A 1 1/4-length victor in the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint in November, the 5-year-old is not the only Breeders' Cup participant, as GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile fourth and GI Hopeful S. scorer Gunite (Gun Runner) enters fresh off a victory in the Jan. 28 Listed King Cotton S. at Oaklawn Park. The Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred leaves from stall two with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons for trainer Steve Asmussen, who recently celebrated his 10,000th career victory.

“Gunite has been training really well and as evidenced by his first performance as a 4-year-old, he's doing quite well,” said David Fiske, who manages owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds' racing and bloodstock. “I get videos almost every day of him since arriving in Saudi Arabia and he seems to be doing great there. The race has been in the back of our minds as an early goal since the Breeders' Cup. His race in the King Cotton increased our confidence that he could be effective in a race that, on paper, might appear to be a little short for him, distance-wise.” –Heather Anderson

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“Entries closed yesterday morning for the Saudi Cup meeting and Subjectivist has been entered in the [G3] Red Sea Turf H.–[the] 1 mile and 7-furlong race,” Johnston said.

Winner of the 2021 G1 Gold Cup June 17, the now-6-year-old was previously victorious in the 2020 G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 25 and the 2021 G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March of 2021. During his win at the Royal Meeting, he sustained a potentially career-threatening leg injury. While there were initially hopes he would return to defend his Gold Cup crown, it did not happen by the summer.

Subjectivist is now back in full work mode, and while Johnston is taking a day-to-day approach, he is pleased with what he has seen so far.

Reporting on Subjectivist's progress, “He's been back in work since early October and has been cantering all the way through December and into January now. There's still a long way to go–we haven't started to turn the screw just yet with any faster work.

“Every day the fingers are crossed watching him, but so far so good.”

Just this week, Johnston took over the training licence fully from his record-breaking father Mark. He has already celebrated a pair of winners.

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Bred by Mascalls Stud, Sir Ron Priestley was purchased by trainer Mark Johnston for 70,000gns from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2017. Racing for Paul Dean, he ran twice at two and broke his maiden at first asking at three. He added three wins at the handicap level before taking Goodwood's G3 March S. in his black-type debut, after which he ran second to Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Leger.

Sir Ron Priestley missed his 4-year-old campaign, but came back better than ever this year when winning the G2 Jockey Club S. over Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and the G2 Princess of Wales's Tattersalls S. before finishing third behind champion stayer Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in the G1 Goodwood Cup.

Sir Ron Priestley is out of the multiple listed-placed Reckoning and is a half-brother to this year's G1 Gold Cup winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

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Stradivarius has been beaten on four of his last five starts – admittedly with mitigating factors in terms of distance, ground and most recently at Royal Ascot traffic issues following poor positioning – and he might well not have been favorite but for the injury incurred since by the runaway Gold Cup winner Subjectivist.

Nielsen therefore takes less for granted these days where Stradivarius is concerned, and he admits that it's now one race at a time in terms of his racing career. That said, he is confident that while the much anticipated fourth straight Gold Cup win failed to materialize, this ought to be different – granted clear sailing.

He said: “Most of the time when you go racing as an owner you hope they run well, and you hope maybe they'll win, but Stradivarius is that rarest of horse and it's been the case since he won his first Gold Cup that you go there hoping he isn't going to lose, so the feeling watching a race is the opposite to what it normally is.

“The way it is with him now is that he's always the one they have to beat and they ride to beat him, so a lot of horses will be trying to make sure he doesn't have a good run round. They are going to try to make it difficult for him and that's what happened at Ascot. But if he's out and about he's going to win.”

Nielsen, who saw Stradivarius' beating of recent Gold Cup and dual Goodwood Cup winner Big Orange for his first success in the race as “a changing of the guard”, added: “Stradivarius had worked very well before the Gold Cup and we were pretty confident he was going to run a huge race, but things just didn't work out – no disrespect to Subjectivist, who was well trained, well ridden, and quickened up exactly as we were getting stopped.

“I was really looking forward to the rematch but we'll never know now what might have happened. But Subjectivist wouldn't have been that far ahead of us again turning in if he were here, I'm sure of that.

“There are still some very good horses there though, and any rain is going to suit Trueshan. We can't underestimate Sir Ron Priestley either, who Mark Johnston has supplemented and is no slouch. You are always going to need some luck in running at Goodwood too – things have to go your way.”

Nielsen maintains that 'summer' soft ground is not a problem for Stradivarius, so the very heavy shower which hit Goodwood on Sunday morning and was estimated by clerk of the course Ed Arkell to have possibly brought as much as 10mm of rain hopefully won't harm his chances too much.

However, it was certainly music to the ears of Alan King, whose Trueshan was a deeply impressive seven-and-a-half length winner in 'autumn' soft ground in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October, when Stradivarius coped much less well.

On hearing news of the of the rain a delighted King said: “That's very good news. I wasn't expecting that much in the morning. I thought the rain that they'd already had would make it safe enough to run, but to see Trueshan at his best it's a case of the more rain the better.”

King added: “Trueshan looked very good at Ascot on British Champions Day and we've been very pleased with him this year. I was very pleased I ran him at Newcastle in the Northumberland Plate, because you can't keep these horses simmering away forever and he had a proper race there. Everything has gone very smoothly in the build up since and we'll see what happens.”

Mark Johnston, a five-time winner of the Goodwood Cup, with Double Trigger (three times), Royal Rebel and Darasim, has paid £25,000 to supplement older half-brother Sir Ron Priestley to fly the flag in place of Subjectivist, and he also saddles last year's length second Nayef Road. However, he is all too aware that neither represents quite the threat to Stradivarius that Subjectivist would have done.

Johnston described the injury suffered earlier this month by Subjectivist, who was ante-post favourite at the time, as “a huge blow”. The 2022 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot is the earliest possible race we might see him in next, he said, and his career will be over if he is sold in the meantime to one of the studs which are currently showing interest.

Subjectivist could hardly have been held in higher regard, for Johnston said: “I'd have put him alongside Attraction and Shamardal as one of the three best I've trained. He was one of those rare horses with which you weren't really concerned about the opposition as he was better than anything out there, and I can't obviously say the same about Nayef Road or even Sir Ron Priestley.”

He added: “We agonised over paying £25,000 to supplement Sir Ron Priestley and I had to convince myself I was doing it for the owner, not myself, as there's some uncertainty about the trip. In the Yorkshire Cup it looked very much as if he didn't stay, but it's hard to equate that with his St Leger second or his Nottingham win, and at the beginning of the year we had no doubt he would stay two miles.

“The other worry is rain, but Charlie (son and assistant), rightly or wrongly, said that on good to firm ground he would put his house on the horse finishing in the first four, which is what we need to get the supplementary fee back.

“Nayef Road's recent runs have been mixed, but in some of them he's shown a glimmer of his best and he deserves to be there on past performance. I don't think any of us would be surprised if he was in the shake up, but he'd need a personal best and Stradivarius to be below form if he were to win.”

Aidan O'Brien, who won two Goodwood Cups with Yeats, saddles last year's Irish Derby winner Santiago, third inlast year's Goodwood Cup, shock Epsom Derby winner Serpentine, who hasn't finished closer than fourth in four races since Epsom, and recent Curragh Cup winner Amhran Na Bhfiann. However, all three were beaten a long way in the Gold Cup.

O'Brien said: “We think coming back to two miles will help Santiago. It was a very good run at Goodwood last year but we are not really sure he gets it (two miles) and he could have to go back to a mile and six or even a mile and a half. He's been very well since Ascot, and I'm very happy with his work.

“Amrhan Na Bhfiann ran in the Gold Cup but has won over a mile and six since. He's a horse we think likes to be ridden forward, although he doesn't have to make the running and we'd be happier if he didn't. He likes a strong tempo and we think coming back to two miles will suit. We maybe made too much use of him over the two and a half miles of the Gold Cup.”

Spanish Mission had Santiago, Sir Ron Priestley and Nayef Road behind when winning the Yorkshire Cup and went on to finish a very respectable third to Subjectivist in the Gold Cup, but trainer Andrew Balding is realistic about his prospects of beating an on-song Stradivarius.

He said: “This has been the plan for a long time and we are really pleased with him – we just wouldn't want too much rain. Stradivarius is a fairly awesome opponent, and if he's anywhere near his best he's going to be very tough to beat, but on his Yorkshire Cup win and his Gold Cup third Spanish Mission ought to be very competitive.”

A field of 11 is completed by the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Listed winner Emperor Of The Sun, who was fifth in the Gold Cup, Ismail Mohammed's Away He Goes, who finished third to Subjectivist at Meydan in March, and the Jamie Osborne-trained Mekong, who was ninth in that Meydan Group 2 and has not raced since.

The post Owner Nielsen Hopes ‘That Rarest Of Horse’ Stradivarius Gets Clear Sailing In Goodwood Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In the Eclipse, St Mark's Basilica defeated Addeybb (IRE) [121] by 3 ½ lengths, while Mishriff (IRE) [122] was a neck behind in third. St Mark's Basilica had previously been rated at 120 following his victory in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1), and he is a perfect three-for-three this season, as he also won the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) to start his 2021 campaign.

Addeybb came into the Eclipse having won the LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes G1) in Australia in April, while Mishriff was making his first start since taking the LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in March.

Meanwhile, Poetic Flare (IRE) [122] and Subjectivist (GB) [122] find themselves ranked in the co-fourth position following their impressive efforts during Royal Ascot. Poetic Flare won the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) by 4 ¼ lengths, while Subjectivist was victorious in the Gold Cup (G1) by five lengths.

In Japan, Chrono Genesis (JPN) [120] took the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) by 2 ½ lengths to join the rankings. It was her first start since finishing second to Mishriff in the LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).

Additionally, Hurricane Lane (IRE) [120] joins the rankings following his score in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1).

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Entries were revealed Wednesday for seven races during the Qatar Goodwood Festival, including the two-mile highlight and the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes.

The Qatar Goodwood Festival runs from Tuesday, July 27 to Saturday, July 31, with the first three days forming part of the Tote World Pool series.

All eyes were on the John & Thady Gosden-trained Stradivarius at Royal Ascot as he attempted to emulate Yeats' record of four Gold Cups, but it was Subjectivist who powered to an emphatic five-length victory as Stradivarius met trouble in running to finish fourth.

Mark Johnston's stable star is building quite a CV, with last week's success coming on the back of equally dominant victories in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp in October and the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, UAE, in March.

Johnston has sent out five winners of the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, including Double Trigger, who captured the race three times between 1995 and 1998 – a feat surpassed by Stradivarius last year.

Johnston said: “Subjectivist has had a very easy time of it since his run in the Gold Cup. He will have a gradual return back to full work, with the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup being the next target.

“Looking back at the Gold Cup, it was a very exciting performance. Whichever way you look at it, whether it be the form, the time, the sectional times, the distance he won by, it all points to it being an absolutely top-draw performance.

“In fairness, his win before that in Dubai was very good, but I suppose everybody is generally slightly sceptical of the Dubai form. But at Ascot he has confirmed it by running a very similar race in terms of style. I don't think there are any doubts about the horse now.

“It is well-documented that I love the stayers, and it means a huge amount to me personally to have a horse like this. With horses who run in these big two-mile plus races, the big concern is can you keep them sound, but barring any injuries or problems, he is an extremely exciting horse to have.”

Regarding a rematch with Stradivarius, Johnston added: “I think if you read my blog, you will see that I said, 'Subjectivist was bred by Susan Hearn, Barry Hearn's wife, and if this was another sport, Barry Hearn would be promoting the rematch and we'd all be making a lot of money out of it!' But seriously, a big clash between these two horses at Goodwood will be very good for racing.”

Stradivarius has made the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup his own since landing the spoils for the first time as a three-year-old in 2017. Bjorn Nielsen's homebred is chasing an unprecedented fifth straight victory, a feat unlikely to be repeated in a race that dates back to 1812.

Other high-profile entries include G2 Yorkshire Cup victor Spanish Mission (Andrew Balding), who was third behind Subjectivist at Royal Ascot, and 2019 St Leger victor Logician (John & Thady Gosden).

Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien has three entries, including Melbourne Cup victor Twilight Payment and prolific G2 Belmont Gold Cup winner Baron Samedi.

The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup is part of the British Champions Series.

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