Territories’s Regional Takes Betfair Sprint Cup, As Shaquille Well Back at Haydock

Ed Bethell earned his first Group 1 victory as a trainer when Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}–Favulusa {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) emerged the victor in the Betfair Sprint Cup S. at Haydock by a neck over Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) with Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) a half-length back in third. The favoured dual Group 1 winner Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) fluffed his lines and finished well back in the field after making the early running on Saturday.

Bred by Razza del Sole Societa Agricola, the Future Champions Racing Regional runner was a 10-1 proposition against the aforementioned 11-10 pick, and it was the latter who broke sharply and took up the running with several others, including the winner in the mix up front. Shaquille lost position two furlongs from home and drifted back through the pack with Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Regional picking up the baton. Shouldvebeenaring was showing improvement and wound up for his run 200 metres from the winning post, about the same time Regional kicked away from Mill Stream. The Havana Grey colt pushed Regional all the way to the wire, with Believing picked up the pieces for third, three-quarters of a length in front of Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}).

Bethell said, “I never thought it would happen [becoming a Group 1-winning trainer]. I'm just incredibly lucky and I'm incredibly fortunate to have a lovely team of people around me.

“I thought I've done my job now and I thought that the owners might stick with me for a bit longer and then he has gone and done this.Tom Biggs brought him, then there is Barbara Jones who rides him every day and Keith McGlone my assistant. There are too many people to thank.

“Regional is a straightforward horse and Callum Rodriguez has done a tremendous job getting him out of the stalls because he had been inclined to miss the break. It is a massive performance. Today we were much more comfortable at this trip at this level. It has been a culmination of a fantastic year through their hard work and I'm just the lucky one to have my name on the ticket.

“They [owners Future Champions Racing Regional] are a fun syndicate that need a break and they have got it now. I hope it can be a stepping-stone for them to get bigger and better. They might want to go to America, but I will see how the horse is and then make a decision.”

It was also a first top-tier rosette for jockey Callum Rodriguez, who grew up about 40 minutes away from the track in Heysham. “What a story it has been with him this year,” said Rodriguez, who was banned for six months in 2019 after testing positive for cocaine and has had to make his way back the hard way. “It was very smooth for me today. Every time I asked him he was responding.”

He added, “I really hit the ground running as an apprentice and landed the Ebor and some other nice races along the way. It has been a little bit stop start and you kind of ask yourself if you are going to find the one. I've a lot to thank Ed for. I stepped into the yard in January to ride out and get to know the horses. There is a real strong team of horses there and he is a real loyal man, and we work really well together and I'm happy with the way things are going.”

Of the beaten favourite, James Doyle said, “Everything was fine. He had a bit of a wobble before the gates opened but that didn't affect his start as he jumped very clean. He travelled super but between the two and the three I had no power and I was beat very quick. There is Champions Day to come and there are other races.”

Originally a 35,000gns Tattersalls December foal when picked up by Emerald Bloodstock, the Sprint Cup S. winner returned to Park Paddocks and caught the eye of John and Jake Warren when a 120,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling in 2019. After winning once from three starts for trainer Richard Fahey and Isa Salman Al Khalifa, he sold for just 3,500gns out of the 2021 Tattersalls July Sale to Bethell Racing and Blandford Bloodstock. More recently, the bay had taken a York handicap in May, before lowering the colours of Group 2 winner Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in the Listed Achilles S. over five furlongs here in June. The 5-year-old gelding was less than three lengths behind Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) when fifth in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. last month.

Pedigree Notes

The second Group 1 winner for his Darley sire after €3 million Arqana Vente d'Elevage sale-topper Rougir (Fr) who won both the Prix de l'Opera in France and the EP Taylor S. in Canada, Regional is one of 11 stakes winners worldwide for Territories. Broodmare sire Dansili's daughters have 127 stakes winners (77 group) between them. Of his 19 Group 1 winners, Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) also won the Sprint Cup S. in 2020.

Out of Italian listed winner Favulusa, the gelding is one of two winners for his dam, who has the unraced juvenile filly Forestiera (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), and fillies by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Palace Pier (GB) each of the last two years. His second dam, Rosa Del Dubai (Ire) (Dubai Destination {Ire}), won the G3 Premio Mario Incisa della Rocchetta before throwing three other Italian stakes winners, among them the G2 Premio Oaks d'Italia heroine Folega (GB), a full-sister to Favulusa. Third dam Rosa Di Brema (Ity) (Lomitas {GB}) was runner-up in the Italian Oaks when it still held Group 1 status, and she too produced a quartet of stakes winners, with one, Biancarosa (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the dam of 2021 G2 Derby Italiano victor Tokyo Gold (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}).

 

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP S.-G1, £426,920, Haydock, 9-9, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.60, gd.
1–REGIONAL (GB), 131, g, 5, by Territories (Ire)
1st Dam: Favulusa (GB) (SW-Ity), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Rosa Del Dubai (Ire), by Dubai Destination
3rd Dam: Rosa Di Brema (Ity), by Lomitas (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (35,000gns Wlg '18
TATFOA; 120,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 3,500gns 3yo '21
TATTJU). O-Future Champions Racing Regional; B-Razza Del
Sole Societa Agricola SRL (GB); T-Ed Bethell; J-Callum
Rodriguez. £242,106. Lifetime Record: 17-5-3-2, $518,949.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shouldvebeenaring (GB), 129, c, 3, Havana Grey (GB)–Lady
Estella (Ire), by Equiano (Fr). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
(£40,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Middleham Park Racing XVIII;
B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £91,788.
3–Believing (Ire), 126, f, 3, Mehmas (Ire)–Misfortunate (Ire), by
Kodiac (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (70,000gns Ylg '21
TATOCT; 115,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Highclere
Thoroughbred Racing (Jane Addams); B-M Mullen &
Cloneymore Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey. £45,937.
Margins: NK, HF, 3/4. Odds: 10.00, 50.00, 66.00.
Also Ran: Swingalong (Ire), Khaadem (Ire), Mill Stream (Ire), Annaf (Ire), Garrus (Ire), Saint Lawrence (Ire), Rohaan (Ire), Run To Freedom (GB), Lezoo (GB), Rumstar (GB), The Antarctic (Ire), Sacred (GB), Shaquille (GB). Scratched: Spycatcher (Ire). VIDEO.

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Making Waves: Skimming The Surface

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Skims in a Belmont affair.

Frankel Filly Strikes In New York

Last autumn's GII Sands Point S. heroine Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}) ran out an easy winner in New York for breeder Andrew Rosen and trainer Shug McGaughey earlier this month (video).

Now with four victories to her name, the $235,000 Keeneland September buy-back is the seventh foal out of Royal Decree (Street Cry {Ire}), and she is a half-sister to G2 Vintage S. hero War Decree (War Front) and the stakes-placed Noble Quality (Elusive Quality). Her second dam is the GI American Oaks Invitational and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. heroine Ticker Tape (Royal Applause {GB}). This is also the family of crack sprinter Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who won the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, and G1 Prix Morny winner Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate).

No sire in the world is having a better few days than Juddmonte's Frankel, who fired in three Group 1 winners at Royal Ascot. However, his American record is also nothing to sneeze at, with 25 winners from 43 runners (58%). His 10 stakes winners there (23%) are anchored by GI Belmont Oaks heroine McKulick (GB).

 

 

Masseto Returns A Winner After Long Break

J. Stable LLC's Masseto (GB) (Territories {Ire}) won a Woodbine affair just over a year after his last winning effort at that venue last Thursday for trainer Mark Casse (video).

Bred by Ciaran Paterson, the 62,000gns Tattersalls December foal was sold for 65,000gns out of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Owned by J Carthy for his first two starts, the former Donnacha O'Brien trainee was placed twice at group level in Ireland.

The third foal out of the winning Never Change (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), the 4-year-old colt is from the same family as G2 Great Voltigeur S. hero Sacrament (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), who was a son of the stakes winner Blessed Event (Ire) (Kings Lake), herself second in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks.

Darley stallion Territories has now sired two winners from five runners in the U.S. (40%). His best is the GIII Beaugay S. heroine Rougir (Fr), who also won Woodbine's GI E. P. Taylor S. in Canada.

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78 Stallion Nominations Catalogued For Tattersalls Charity Auction

A total of 78 stallions will have their nominations go under the hammer in the Tattersalls Online Charity Auction of Stallion Nominations which begins at noon on Monday, Feb. 20 and ends 24 hours later on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Organised by Oliver St. Lawrence, the charity auction benefits Giving to Ukraine and the Disasters Emergency Committee's Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal charities. There are nominations to the likes of Kodiac (GB), Nathaniel (Ire), Sea The Moon (Ger), Showcasing (GB), Sottsass (Fr), Territories (Ire), Time Test (GB), and The Grey Gatsby (Ire) among others. In some cases, stud farms have offered more than one nomination per stallion, so the winning bidder and underbidder would be contacted.

For the full catalogue of nominations and to register to bid, please visit the Tattersalls website.

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Half-Sister To Bay Bridge Primes For Kempton Bow

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to QIPCO British Champions Day hero Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}).

 

17.20 Kempton, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT)
James Wigan's hitherto unraced homebred STORMY SEA (GB) (Territories {Ire}) is a Sir Michael Stoute-conditioned half-sister to last month's G1 Champion S.-winning stablemate Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}). Her eight rivals include Charles Hills trainee Labiqa (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), who is out of GSW G1 Prix Jean Prat and G1 Prix du Moulin placegetter Spectre (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), and Resonance (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a daughter of MG1SP G2 Queen Mary S. victrix Maqaasid (GB) (Green Desert), from the Marco Botti stable.

 

18.30 Kempton, Nov, £9,900, 2yo, 8f (AWT)
Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's TADSHIN (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) is a Roger Varian-trained son of G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl Invitational heroine Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk) and thus a half-brother to MG1SW globetrotter Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). He encounters a baker's dozen in this debut headed by Rabbah Racing's Manxman (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), who is a Simon and Ed Crisford-trained half-brother to last term's G1 Champion S. second Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), and Shadwell debutant Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a half-brother to G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. victrix Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire), representing John and Thady Gosden.

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