Tag: TDN Rising Star

4,000th Winner For O’Brien As Dubawi’s Henry Longfellow Makes Up For City Of Troy Absence In The National

As much as Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. was about the withdrawal of City Of Troy (Justify) and the impressive winning performance of fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Minding {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), it was testament to Irish racing's totemic figure Aidan O'Brien who marked the occasion with a 4,000th training career success. Who else could pull a colt of the quality of the freakish G2 Superlative S. winner from such an important status event and still win it by five lengths, burying an impressive G1 Phoenix S. scorer in the process? The answer is why at just after 4pm on Sunday we were reflecting on such a remarkable landmark statistic.

City Of Troy's participation was decided as soon as the stable's Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) trailed in last in the preceding G1 Moyglare Stud S., in turn issuing her own damning verdict on the state of the rain-affected ground. Losing such an attractive proposition from a fixture of this nature would normally have been a dampening experience to say the least, but Henry Longfellow is some deputy having won the course-and-distance G2 Futurity S. last month and the money spoke as he upstaged Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the market as the 10-11 favourite for the race his sire won in 2004.

Cuban Thunder (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) was acting as pacemaker for Bucanero Fuerte, but instead lit up his stablemate by chasing him for a few precious moments after the break until getting to the front. While Gary Halpin made sure the pace was unforgiving, Ryan Moore always looked happier than Kevin Stott setting true seven-furlong fractions as the Phoenix hero revved too high. Even before the two-furlong marker, the writing was on the wall and Henry Longfellow came into his own from there to inflict a greater defeat on Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) than he had in the Futurity. Bucanero Fuerte was a spent force at the line, beaten another 7 1/2 lengths in third.

This was as fitting a race to mark O'Brien's achievement, being the country's premier juvenile contest named in honour of his illustrious predecessor at Ballydoyle and the scene of his first group 1 success via Desert King (Ire) in 1996. Thirty years on from his first runner and winner Wandering Thoughts (Ire) at Tralee, the trainer was typically keen to deflect praise to the team around him and happier to discuss his 12th winner of one of the races in which he still trails Vincent O'Brien, who had 15 of these throughout his esteemed career.

“It's pure teamwork all the way and hard to believe,” he said. “I'm so grateful to so many people–incredible. Great people, great horses and great teamwork. This horse's pedigree is second to none. Minding was the best mare we ever trained and this was the best out-cross that she could go to,” he said. “He travels and he quickens and that is very difficult for other horses to handle. His mam won over a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half and handled the ground no problem and he's got a lot of her and his dad in him, so he looks a very special horse.”

“The plan was originally to run him in the Dewhurst, but Ryan said it was closer to soft than good-to-yielding and we promised ourselves we wouldn't run City Of Troy on soft ground,” he added. “City Of Troy hadn't run for a good while and was going to improve from the run. Sometimes in that ground they can have a hard time. He would die on his feet for you today and we didn't want to do that to him once the ground turned. Henry Longfellow ran last month with an ease and had no problem with it. He's fast and looks a miler and I don't know how much further he'll stay. We'll look at the Dewhurst for City Of Troy now.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Becoming the 55th group 1 winner for his sire, whose son Too Darn Hot (GB) sired his first on the card, Henry Longfellow is the second foal and first runner for the aforementioned seven-times group 1-winning phenomenon Minding whose successes included the Oaks, 1000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II S. Her dam Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who proved another big mover and shaker for this stable by winning the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S., produced only Galileos for Coolmore and to great effect.

They included another Oaks winner in Tuesday (Ire), who went on to glory in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, and a G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine in Empress Josephine (Ire), as well as the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Kissed by Angels (Ire). From the family of the sires Great Commotion and Lead On Time, Minding also has a yearling full-sister to Henry Longfellow and a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB). She has been bred to Gun Runner for 2024.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT O'BRIEN NATIONAL S.-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-10, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.54, g/y.
1–HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
     1st Dam: Minding (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Ire, $3,213,340), by Galileo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €240,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $347,112. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Islandsinthestream (Ire), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–A Mist Opportunity (Aus), by Foxwedge (Aus).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€135,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-Islandsinthestream Partnership; B-Haras d'Etreham & Katelanis Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Bucanero Fuerte (GB), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Frida La Blonde (Fr), by Elusive City. (€165,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Amo Racing Limited & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (GB); T-Adrian Murray. €40,000.
Margins: 5, 7HF, 22. Odds: 0.91, 12.00, Evens.
Also Ran: Cuban Thunder (Ire). Scratched: City Of Troy, Givemethebeatboys (Ire).

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No City Of Troy In The National

Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh was denied the participation of the star turn City Of Troy (Justify) after Aidan O'Brien opted to withdraw the G2 Superlative S.-winning TDN Rising Star. Following the disappointing run of the stable's Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the preceding G1 Moyglare Stud S., the ground was deemed too easy for the exciting juvenile. The Curragh was officially good-to-yielding after heavy rain before racing. Ryan Moore switches to fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the G2 Futurity S. winner, as four remain following the withdrawal of another contender in Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

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Behold! Champ’s ‘Rising Star’ Daughter Tamara Rolls In DMR Debutante

Some eleven years after her multiple champion dam Beholder (Henny Hughes) was just nosed out of a victory, 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) did her momma proud with a thoroughly dominating performance in the GI FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante on closing weekend at the seaside oval.

It was an effort that even exceeded the already lofty expectations of her Hall of Fame connections.

“She's been doing things in her training that 2-year-olds aren't supposed to do,” said her jockey Mile Smith. “She's really special. She's like her mother. You don't see that usually. Those great mares they normally don't have great foals. But this one might be. I just held on today. I didn't want to fall off. She was doing it all herself. What can I say. She's very special.”

Added trainer Richard Mandella: “I expected her to run good but that was a little beyond. Watching it, he [Smith] had so much horse he didn't want to restrict her. He just had her do what she wanted to do. She's very quick, so I thought he would put her right there [lay second and up close] and we both agreed to that, just see what everybody else does.”

Named in honor of the late B. Wayne Hughes's daughter, Tamara was the 31-10 second choice when debuting against the once-raced and well-regarded Hope Road (Quality Road–Marley's Freedom) Aug. 19, but overcame a stumbling start to graduate by a professional 2 1/4 lengths. The Debutante was the next logical spot, but only three weeks away, meaning there could be no hiccups if she was going to make the race. Tamara was back on the worktab Aug. 30, going three-eighths of a mile in a smart :36 2/5 (2/6) and she blew out three furlongs in :34 4/5 (1/18) Sept. 4, four ticks faster than stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Boltage (Bolt d'Oro), who goes in Sunday's GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

The 13-10 favorite was bumped soundly to her outside by 143-1 Motet (Mo Town), but immediately recovered from that to sit just off the early pace set by Cal-bred Pushiness (Kantharos). Knowing precisely what he had underneath him, Smith allowed Tamara to stride into the lead fully three furlongs from home, and the race was over from there for all intents and purposes. Well clear entering the stretch, Tamara lengthened her stride beautifully while scarcely asked for an effort and glided under the wire a comprehensive winner. Laurent (Practical Joke) stayed on into second ahead of Gate to Paradise (Arrogate) in third, neither in the same league as Tamara.

Pedigree Notes:

Tamara is the fourth foal out of Beholder and she is the year-younger half-sister to Teena Ella (War Front), who won the GIII Senorita S. in May. Beholder's yearling colt by Curlin topped last month's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale when selling for $4 million to Amr Zedan.

Tamara's deeper female family needs little introduction. Beholder, a $180,000 purchase by Spendthrift at Keeneland September in 2011, was bred by Clarkland Farm, who purchased dam Leslie's Lady for $100,000 in foal to Orientate at the 2006 Keeneland November Sale. Just over a year later, Into Mischief made that decision look good when taking out the GI CashCall Futurity for Hughes and Richard Mandella. Into Mischief has since gone on to become one of the most successful sires in the world, with 134 black-type winners to date.

By the time Leslie's Lady's Scat Daddy colt sold to Coolmore for a sales-topping price of $3 million at Keeneland September in 2016, Beholder had won 10 Grade Is and three Eclipse Awards before adding to both totals when going out a winner in a memorable renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Mendelssohn became a Breeders' Cup champion in his own right in the 2018 GI Juvenile Turf–at Del Mar–and is also off to a promising start at stud. Leslie's Lady is also the dam of Clarkland's 'TDN Rising Star' Marr Time (Not This Time).

Barren to Gun Runner for 2023, Beholder was bred back to Spendthrift's Jackie's Warrior this year.

 

Saturday, Del Mar
FANDUEL RACING DEL MAR DEBUTANTE S.-GI, $303,500, Del Mar, 9-9, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:22.41, ft.
1–TAMARA, 120, f, 2, by Bolt d'Oro
1st Dam: Beholder (Ch. 2-year-old Filly, Ch. 3-year-old Filly, Ch. Older Mare, Ch. Older Mare, MGISW, $6,156,600), by Henny Hughes
2nd Dam: Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek
3rd Dam: Crystal Lady, by Stop the Music
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Mike E. Smith. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $229,200. *1/2 to Teena Ella (War Front), GSW, $128,740. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Laurent, 120, f, 2, by Practical Joke
1st Dam: She Rocks the Look, by Trappe Shot
2nd Dam: London Mist, by Afleet Alex
3rd Dam: Saratoga Cat, by Sir Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($185,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Exline-Border Racing LLC, Burns Racing LLC, Aaron Kennedy, and Richard Hausman; B-Tim Thornton & Eric Buckley (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $60,000.
3–Gate to Paradise, 120, f, 2, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Heart of Paradise (GSP), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Paradise Playgirl, by Speightstown
3rd Dam: Bigger Half, by Megaturn
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $950,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich lll & John D. Fielding (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $36,000.
Margins: 6 3/4, 2 1/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 1.30, 7.50, 10.40.
Also Ran: Chatalas, Next Right Thing, Motet, Pushiness, Julias Dream, Benedetta, Pretty Layla, Hope Road, Cheeky Gal. Scratched: Dreamfyre, Where's My Ring.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Deep Impact’s Auguste Rodin Wins The Irish Champion

Proving once again that he belongs at the top of the tree, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) laid it all out on Saturday to prevail in a gruelling edition of Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. As he had in the Derby, when churning out historical sectionals at the business end, the 11-4 favourite was able to handle a demanding test carved out by last year's hero Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and pour it on late as the closers inevitably came into the picture.

Subduing Luxembourg a furlong from home, the third TDN Rising Star winner on the card, who is possibly the most ground-dependant elite performer that Aidan O'Brien has trained, was reportedly idling late as he led home a one-two for the yard by half a length in this “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Luxembourg, who was back to his determined best, grimly hung on to the runner's-up spot by a short head from the strong-finishing Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), as King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) finished on their heels a further half a length behind in fourth.

“We knew that Luxembourg was in a great place and Auguste Rodin is a magical horse really–a great horse, bottom line,” O'Brien said. “The little thing is he wants to get there late, as he parks in front and we always knew that. He's a beautiful mover and an easy cruiser and Ryan was delighted that he had the horse in front who was going to get him there. He has an unbelievable capacity to go a very high tempo from very early and quicken off it, but when he gets there he waits.”

Flying in the face of convention has been Auguste Rodin's hallmark from a relatively early point. First, there was the G1 Futurity Trophy success after a painful wait from connections to see whether he would be allowed to take part after Doncaster was hit by heavy rain. If he managed to navigate soft there, he was completely unable to deal with it underfoot in Newmarket's 2000 Guineas and at Ascot where he was gone long before the home turn. Even the Irish Derby was visually unexciting and so had he not delivered a masterclass at Epsom in between, he probably wouldn't have been here at all.

Whereas in the King George he couldn't lay up from the outset, this time Auguste Rodin looked for a brief spell as if he might land in front but Seamie Heffernan was intent on taking up the mantle with Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) acting as wing-man. While the Irish Derby happened in what O'Brien classes as “second gear the whole way”, this was as truly-run as any Group 1 race of recent times with Luxembourg back on-song and crunching away at the numbers in front.

Any weakness in the eventual winner would have been exposed by the time they passed the two pole, but instead of curling up Auguste Rodin continued to tick off relentless fast fractions. Understandably, Luxembourg buckled slightly though not enough to suggest his performance was anything other than a top-class one and probably a career-best but his year-younger stablemate occupies marginally higher territory.

“He is so slick, he's all action,” O'Brien added. “Soft ground has to hinder him and we were lucky Ryan was on him at Ascot so that no physical damage was done. “He is so important to the breed and you know how quickly they can be destroyed, so all credit to the lads who knew Ascot was not his run at all. I have to thank Michael [Tabor] for having the confidence in everybody to relax and calm down and come back.”

“A couple of times this year it all went totally wrong,” he continued. “He's very tough, very hardy, but a little bit peculiar. Annemarie was watching him in the stable. If things happen around his environment he stays awake all night. He doesn't sleep. He's probably just a very sensitive horse. He takes in everything.”

Moore was in no doubt cantering to post that his mount was back in the groove. “I knew he was in a real good place and he floated around there–it never really felt in any doubt and he was just waiting a bit in the last 100 yards,” Moore said. “It is very satisfying for him to come back and prove how good he is again. Aidan's done a fantastic job and I always felt this was his ideal trip–his dam didn't stay a mile and a half and won a Lockinge. It was an evenly-run race and they all had their chance.”

O'Brien is thinking of swerving ParisLongchamp and the habitual slog through the mud next month. “He probably wouldn't go to the Arc, as the ground is usually soft and the lads love the Breeders' Cup,” he said. “He'd love Santa Anita, as you know you're going to get fast ground so we'll see how he is after a week or 10 days. That's a strong possibility–I'd say the Turf rather than the Classic, and whatever after that. He went by boat to Epsom and that was one of the common denominators that wasn't stacking up, the flying. Maybe if he flies again he needs a little bit of time to get over it.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Auguste Rodin's record bodes extremely well for his five-times Group 1-winning champion dam Rhododendron, who also had her dips as well as highs but was capable of magic when at her peak. He is her first foal, with her second a colt by Dubawi (Ire) born this year. The second dam is Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), whose three top-level triumphs included an Irish 1000 Guineas and who also produced Galileo's seven-times Group 1 winner Magical (Ire).

Halfway To Heaven is out of the multiple group-winning sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who is also responsible for the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S. scorer Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the G3 Summer S. winner Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire). Tickled Pink produced the stable's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who was placed later on this card, while Theann has Galileo's GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo S. heroine Photo Call (Ire) and the G2 Richmond S.-winning first-season sire Land Force (Ire) under her auspices.

 

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
ROYAL BAHRAIN IRISH CHAMPION S.-G1, €1,250,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:02.68, gd.
1–AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rhododendron (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,786,763), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
'TDN Rising Star'. O-M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €725,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, 9-6-1-0, $2,891,914. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Luxembourg (Ire), 135, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €250,000.
3–Nashwa (GB), 132, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. €125,000.
Margins: HF, SHD, HF. Odds: 2.75, 4.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: King Of Steel, Alflaila (GB), Point Lonsdale (Ire), Onesto (Ire), Sprewell (Ire). Scratched: Al Riffa (Fr).

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