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Royal Ascot: Battaash ‘Moving As Well As Ever’ Ahead Of King’s Stand Title Defense

The world's top-rated sprinter, Battaash, leads the Royal Ascot charge this week for Shadwell at the iconic meeting, headlining the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday, a race he won in 2020—one of a leading six victories for the powerhouse operation at last year's global spectacular. The famed blue and white silks of the late His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum will feature formidably once again, but all focus on Day One of the five-day showcase will be on the aforementioned champion.

Charlie Hills-trained Battaash will have a tall order in what is the day's third of seven fixtures, but he has been backed to 15/8 favoritism on the market, as of Monday morning. Owing to a miniscule joint fracture over the winter, he missed a prep run, which would likely have come in the Group 2 Temple Stakes—a race the now-7-year-old won in 2018 and 2019 prior to finishing second in the King's Stand to retired rival Blue Point. Last year, he won the King's Stand in his first start of 2020, commencing a perfect 3-for-3 season that included a fourth consecutive triumph in Goodwood's King George Qatar Stakes (G2) and a second conquering of York's Nunthorpe (G1).

Battaash has drawn barrier nine of 16 in the straight five-furlong dash, with flashy upstart filly Winter Power (9/2), G1 July Cup winner Oxted (15/2) and G1 Al Quoz Sprint victor Extravagant Kid (8/1) appearing the major dangers. He reunites with Shadwell's first jockey, Jim Crowley, who has been aboard for all four of his Group 1 victories.

“It has been well documented that he had a minor injury at the end of last year and he was at Shadwell for the whole of the winter, but everybody has been very happy with his work in the last three weeks and Charles Hills feels he has been moving as well as ever,” said Angus Gold, longtime racing manager for Shadwell. “From what they can see at home, he doesn't appear to have lost his speed, so hopefully he can get back to his best to defend his title.”

Less than half Battaash's age, but nearly as exciting on the day will be John Gosden-trained sophomore Mostahdaf, who figures well in the 3-year-old-restricted Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes just 40 minutes later. A stunning homebred son of the great Frankel and a half-brother to late-blooming Group 1 winner Nazeef—victorious last year in Royal Ascot's Duke of Cambridge (G2)—the dark bay colt is unbeaten from three tries, including Sandown's Heron Stakes (Listed) over soft going. In 2018, Gosden pulled off the Heron-St James's Palace double with Without Parole.

“It is obviously a huge step up in class,” Gold said. “He is a half-brother to Nazeef, who won the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at this meeting last year, before going on to become a dual Group 1 winner, and this horse has won his only three starts to date, with his latest performance being a game effort in a Listed race at Sandown Park. Obviously, he lacks the experience of some of these, particularly as he has only had one previous race on the grass, but John Gosden has been very happy with his progress since Sandown and obviously wouldn't be running him in this grade if he didn't think he had a chance. It would be great if he was able to make the big jump up in class.”

Mostahdaf teams with Crowley from barrier one of the baker's dozen and is currently second choice at 5/1 on the market astern Guineas winner Poetic Flare (3/1). In what appears a deep renewal, others who figure well are Group 2 winner Battleground (13/2) for Ballydoyle, Godolphin's Heron runner-up Highland Avenue (7/1) and Irish G1 winners Thunder Moon (10/1) and Lucky Vega (15/2).

Well-regarded Owen Burrows pupil Dawaam (post 7, Crowley) steps up in the Wolferton Stakes (Listed), a race that has outperformed its grade in recent years, having been won by multiple G1 winner Addeybb in 2019. In 2020, G1 winner Sir Dragonet and G1-placed Regal Reality both placed in the 10-furlong test.

By Kitten's Joy out of G1 American Oaks winner Nereid, synthetic surface-loving Dawaam is 4-for-7 and has yet to transfer winning form to the grass. He is currently a bit of an outsider at 18/1 in a 14-horse field that includes G1 Dubai Turf-placed Felix (15/2), multiple G2 winner Stormy Antarctic (14/1) and G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy winner Volcanic Sky (25/1). Improving Meld Stakes (G3) winner Patrick Sarsfield (4/1) heads the market.

“(Dawaam) is a frustrating horse in that he has a great deal of ability, but has had niggling problems that have curtailed his racing career,” Gold said. “We will probably put a pair of blinkers on him to try and get the best out of him, but he will need to step up to be competitive here.”

WEDNESDAY

Her Highness Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Haqeeqy and Shadwell's regally bred Maydanny have each shown ample talent in their careers, winning or placing in nine of their collective 16 starts, and each deserve a proper shout in the Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) on Wednesday, the fifth of seven races.

Gosden-trained Haqeeqy was stunning on his 4-year-old bow at Doncaster on March 27, but his 107 rating means he must tote second highweight of 134lbs.

Mark Johnston-conditioned Maydanny, rated 101, is a dual-winning son of Dubawi and champion Attraction who will possibly get the fast ground he seems to prefer.

“Hopefully Sheikha Hissa's Haqeeqy can run a very big race in the Royal Hunt Cup,” Gold said. “He started his season in good form winning the Lincoln at Doncaster at the end of March, though he was a little disappointing on his only subsequent start at Ascot. John and his team have freshened him up especially for this race and he looked in very good form on the gallops yesterday morning. Maydanny is a tough handicapper and it wouldn't surprise me to see him run a big race.”

THURSDAY

Thursday will feature the highly anticipated resurfacing of Mohaafeth, who slammed the Newmarket Stakes (Listed) so impressively that he was single figures for The Derby (G1), but was withdrawn hours before the race because of unsuitable ground. Slated for the Hampton Court (G3)—a race that has been won by subsequent G1 winners Cannock Chase, Benbatl and Hawbill—the son of Frankel is the 13/8 ante-post market choice in a field that may also include Roger Varian's promising Movin Time (7/1), among others. The Hampton Court goes as the day's second race.

“Having made the decision to withdraw Mohaafeth from the Derby at the 11th hour, (trainer) William Haggas will be hoping the ground stays quick for him to show his best form in the Hampton Court Stakes,” Gold explained. “Obviously this is only 10 furlongs, as opposed to the mile and a half of the Derby, but he certainly shows plenty of speed at home and it would be very interesting to see how he gets on in what is always a hugely competitive race. If he were able to win here, we could look at races such as the Eclipse or the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, if everybody feels he would be better over a mile and a half.”

Haggas added (via Sporting Life): “It wouldn't be very helpful it (the ground) were soft, let's put it that way, but if it's fast-ish ground (at Ascot), then hopefully you'll see the horse that we see. I was pretty adamant not to run (at Epsom) on slow ground. No one will ever know if it was the right decision or the wrong one, but I wanted to give the horse every chance and fortunately (Shadwell) was very kind to back me. He's impressed me and he's got better. Each run this year has been better and I think he's come on from Newmarket. I think he's got potential, he's got a very good pedigree and bred to be a good horse and he's on the way to being one. Ascot will be an important stepping-stone and, quite frankly, if he can't win at Ascot, he wasn't going to win the Derby.”

Varian will have one for Shadwell in the form of the ultra-promising Eshaada, a homebred daughter of Muhaarar and a full-sister to Tamayuz. Pre-trained at Dubai Stables before heading to Carlburg Stables, the 2-for-2 charge is 4/1 second choice in the early market for the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes over a testing 12 furlongs.

Gold: “She is not a flashy worker at home, but has won her only two starts in good fashion and has a very good attitude. We think she will stay this trip, though the only caveat would be if the ground was very fast, as we know she handles soft ground and she might not be as effective on the faster surface.”

Thursday's Britannia Stakes, which often produces a large, well-matched sophomore field over a straight mile, has three Shadwell entries, including Johnston-trained 2020 Coventry (G2) runner-up Qaader. Brian Meehan-trained Akmaam, who is unraced since a ninth in April's Craven (G3), and Gosden-trained Newmarket winner Tawleed.

Shadwell won last year's Buckingham Palace Stakes over seven furlongs with Motakhayyel and this year has a pair of capable entries in 101-rated Owen Burrows pupil Danyah and 105-rated Haggas trainee Aldaary. The latter, a winner over course and distance last month, is well-handicapped and figures to be among the logical choices in this.

FRIDAY

Day Four, Friday, will be an easy day for Shadwell, with Sir Michael Stoute-trained Samoot in the one-mile Sandringham Handicap, which goes as the fifth of seven races. Well-handicapped, the dual-winning sophomore daughter of Dubawi appears in with a chance in what is often a wide-open affair.

SATURDAY

Shadwell could finish up the Royal Meeting in style, if all goes well Saturday. Well-regarded Mutasaabeq, a blue-blooded homebred son of Invincible Spirit and Ghanaati (herself a Royal Ascot winner in the G1 Coronation), goes to war in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes after faltering in the G1 2000 Guineas at 6/1 odds. Expected to again be one of the favorites, the Hills trainee and half to Royal Ascot winner Afaak and G3 Mahab Al Shimaal victor Wafy will take a lot of beating if on song.

Gold: “On reflection, I think (the 2000 Guineas) was a step too far for an inexperienced horse at Group 1 level, but Charlie Hills and his team have been very happy with the horse leading into this, so hopefully we can get back on track back over seven furlongs.”

Hukum was a gritty winner of last year's King George V Stakes over 12 furlongs, defying his 12/1 odds, and returns this year over the same trip, but considerably higher in class in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. The son of Sea The Stars won the Tapster Stakes (Listed) last out and also won last summer's Geoffrey Freer (G3), flashing considerable stamina before ending his sophomore season with a respectable fifth in the St Leger (G1). Installed at 5/1 ante-post, he could face the likes of Juddmonte's 2019 St Leger winner Logician (12/1), Ballydoyle's in-form Broome (4/1) and HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's streaking Ilaraab (9/1).

“He has won four of his seven lifetime races and he is still a relatively inexperienced horse for a 4-year-old,” Gold explained. “He made hard work of winning a Listed race at Goodwood at the end of May in soft ground, but Owen Burrows feels he has come on for that run and he worked very well yesterday. I would be hopeful of a good showing at Ascot.”

Intriguing Roger Varian-trained sophomore Alfaadhel will likely be the last to compete when he looks to continue his positive trajectory in the 10-furlong Golden Gates Stakes for 3-year-olds. A dual winner from three starts and improving with each effort, the son of Night of Thunder hails from a strong Juddmonte family and is expected to figure well in this affair.

Gold: “He was a very immature horse last year, but is heading the right way now and has won his last two starts in the fashion of a good horse. I am sure he will improve as the year goes on, but he has a tremendous attitude, like so many by Night of Thunder, and hopefully he will be able to give a good account of himself.”

Stoute trainee Mashhoor also holds an entry in the Golden Gates, but will need a few defections from the entries to make the field.

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Mike Piazza: Transparency Key To Success With Zilla Racing Stables

When Mike Piazza formed racing syndicate Zilla Racing Stables in June 2012, the upstate New York native said he wanted to merge his love of horse racing with his analytical mindset.

Zilla Racing Stables capped 2020 with a record of 36-10-3-7 on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit, hitting the board at a 55.56 percent clip. With a record of 17-3-2-1 through June 10 this year at NYRA tracks, the partnership is building on that success.

Zilla Racing Stables, who offer fractional ownership opportunities to groups ranging from 10-25 people per horse, form partnerships during different times of the year depending on the horse's age. For 2-year-olds, partnerships commence in March; yearling partnerships commence in August; and claiming partnerships are formed throughout the year. Training and other expenses are billed at the end of each month.

Most Zilla Racing Stables' partnerships operate under a standard model where partners pay their share of the purchase price and expenses at a minimum participation rate of 3 percent.

Also offered is a “zero expense model” for a limited number of claiming partnerships; these entail a minimum participation rate of 5 percent, in which partners pay their share of the horse's purchase price plus a one-time administration fee. In this model, additional expenses are paid for by the trainer, who retains a larger portion of the earnings.

Piazza, who grew up 20 minutes from Saratoga Race Course, was introduced to racing by his parents, who were regular attendees at the Spa.

“They went to Saratoga and racing was on TV all the time,” Piazza recalled. “I was always exposed to it. I love handicapping, reading the racing form, and analyzing sheet numbers. I love analyzing things, so I just got so into it. It wasn't even about the money to me. The process of handicapping a race, watching replays, and seeing how the races unfold is what drives me.”

Piazza said he had racing syndicate experience prior to forming Zilla Racing Stables.

“I really enjoyed it and I saw a lot of areas where it could be improved,” said Piazza. “It gave me the groundwork of all the things that partners are looking for, and what things were important to other partners. When I decided I wanted to do this, I never envisioned it becoming as big as it has.”

A graduate of Siena College with an accounting degree, Piazza said he merged his passion with his occupation.

“At the time I started Zilla Racing I was an accountant, so I knew I could handle things on the financial end,” Piazza said. “Given that I loved horses and horseracing, I just merged all the skills I possess into one thing. I felt that I had the ability to put together a partnership on so many levels. With my accounting background, I didn't have to hire a bookkeeper so the cost could be more affordable to our partners.”

Piazza said transparency is paramount.

“If I'm not giving my partners all the information that they're entitled to as owners, I'm not doing my job,” Piazza said. “It's important to also let prospective new partners know exactly what it is that they're getting into. I even put it out there on Zilla's website that most horses lose money, some break even and very few earn a profit. This way, people know exactly what it is they're about to be in for, without any sort of unpleasant surprises. However, just because this business so tough, it's not an excuse to be inefficient and lose money.”

Piazza said new partners joining Zilla Racing Stables can expect an education on the day-to-day responsibilities for owners.

“Our members learn about vetting, training philosophy, what types of races we are targeting and how horses mature physically, especially through their 3-year-old season,” said Piazza. “You see horses really start to take off during their 3-year-old seasons. That's when the races get faster. I try to get them to understand not just how the horse develops, but how the racing office writes certain races. If people do decide to go out on their own, they know what they're getting into after partnering with us.”

Zilla Racing Stables offers syndicate opportunities on a wide array of racehorses.

“Sometimes partners are unsure about a claiming horse or a 2-year-old, so I tell them the pros and cons of both and let them come to a decision for themself,” Piazza explained. “To me, a claiming horse is like an unwrapped Christmas present under the tree. You pretty much know what you're going to get because it's already run, and you can see its form. The 2-year-old is like the Christmas present that's still wrapped. You're excited to see it, but you don't know what's in it, and that's what keeps us all coming back. There's something about chasing the unknown that keeps people wanting more. Often times, claiming horses simply are what they are, but you never know how good an unraced 2-year-old could be.”

Piazza teams up with agent Conor Foley of Oracle Bloodstock to scout unraced 2-year-olds.

“There are multiple things that dictate the price of a 2-year-old: how it breezes, how it bounces out, how he did it, what equipment is the horse wearing, and so on,” Piazza said. “I'll have multiple questions that I ask myself. If the horse is breezing, is it wearing a tongue tie? What kind of bit is it wearing, and I can hear its airway as it gallops by me? After the breeze, they either pass or fail. If they pass, I watch them in slow motion, making sure they are efficient in stride and then narrow it down even more from there. We ultimately narrow it down to about 100 horses that we'll go look at in person. We knock them off based off conformation and our list just gets smaller and smaller.”

In order to secure a horse at a more reasonable sale price, Piazza said he will choose horses with good conformation and an athletic demeanor over a pricier option with a more regal pedigree.

“The more boxes a horse checks, the more money that horse will cost,” Piazza said. “Our budget is limited. Ideally, you want an athlete with a pedigree, great conformation, good size and a good vet report, but I can't afford a horse with it all. So, I have to sacrifice something, sometimes more than one. I will always give on pedigree, but I can't give on the athlete. At our price points, we're looking for horses that are good movers, big strides, clear airways, good vetting, really nice conformation. We just sacrifice a little on pedigree.”

Zilla Racing Stables' top earner is the New York-bred Celtic Chaos [47-10-7-9, $751,431], a three-time stakes-winner, and the richest progeny by blue collar stallion Dublin. Celtic Chaos, a last out seventh on March 13 at Aqueduct, was recently reacquired by Zilla Racing Stables and will receive a well-earned retirement.

“We've been fortunate to have found some of those diamonds in the rough,” Piazza said. “We bought Celtic Chaos for only $55,000 and he's a stakes winner who has earned $700,000.”

Zilla Racing Stables works with a handful of trainers, including 32-year-old conditioner Ray Handal, who saddled English Soul to stakes wins in the 2018 East View at Aqueduct Racetrack and the 2018 Fleet Indian at Saratoga.

“Mike understands the game and wants to win races,” Handal said. “He is very honest and transparent, he doesn't mind taking good news or bad news, and those things always make your life easier. It speaks volumes as to why he's been so successful and runs such a good program. He also was very instrumental in boosting my training career as well.”

Handal and Zilla Racing Stables also teamed up with Kentucky-bred Dealing Justice, who recently won a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs.

“Dealing Justice was a horse who made our list, Conor's list and she was one that Ray thought was his favorite within our budget, so we all matched up on her,” Piazza recalled. “We all matched on English Soul as well and she turned out to be a multiple stakes winner.”

Zilla Racing Stables also employs reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, who conditioned Celtic Chaos to two non-consecutive scores in the John Morrissey at Saratoga, as well as six-time winner Out of Trouble, a New York-bred daughter of Into Mischief.

Piazza said working with Cox, who won the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets with Essential Quality last weekend, is a sign of the syndicate's success.

“To have a guy like Brad as one of our trainers is an absolute honor because he's selective on who he'll do business with,” Piazza said. “For him to accept our horses speaks volumes of what he thinks of us. We've been with Brad for the past few years and it's great to see him win Eclipse Awards for himself and having champion-caliber horses.”

Zilla Racing Stables has also served as a starting point for several other syndicate managers, including Blue Streak Racing's Tim McCoy.

“I've learned from Mike. I've branched out with my own connections, but whenever we chat, we'll ask each other about things. You're always learning something in this business,” McCoy said. “Mike is very hands on. He was an accountant, working full time when I met him. He's very numbers oriented and can see the big picture. He really pays attention and is always detail oriented. He makes himself accessible and I try to emulate that.”

Zilla Racing Stables currently have multiple opportunities to buy into unraced 2-year-olds. Recent $200,000 purchases at the April OBS include a First Samurai colt and a daughter of second crop sire Nyquist out of a half-sister to 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds.

For more information about Zilla Racing Stables, visit https://www.zillaracingstables.com/.

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Study Answers Key Questions About Nocardioform Placentitis, But Etiology Remains Elusive

A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Theriogenology reveals more about nocardioform placentitis, a placental infection that has plagued breeders and stud farm managers for decades. Placentitis is believed to account for 19 percent of equine infectious abortions nationwide, but much remains unknown about the disease.

A research team led by Dr. Carleigh Fedorka at the Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington, Ky., studied 264 mares — 145 who were suspected to have the disease and 119 with apparently healthy pregnancies — and compared characteristics of their pregnancies and resulting foals.

The study found that nocardioform placentitis tends to be associated with older mares, and it isn't contagious between mares in the same turnout group. One episode of nocardioform placentitis does not necessarily presuppose another in the same horse the following year, and mares did not seem to experience abnormal cycles or reduced fertility after a case of nocardioform placentitis. Mares who were given antibiotics and hormones throughout their pregnancies to stave off the disease were no less likely to develop a case of nocardioform placentitis than those who were not.

While one of the most classic symptoms of nocardioform placentitis is abortion, some mares whose placenta indicated they had the illness did produce live foals. The study found those foals were smaller than average, but were otherwise healthy and had normal blood counts at birth.

Interestingly, the size of the placentitis lesion on an infected mare's placenta seemed to vary according to the date of breeding, with mares bred later in spring showing larger lesions.

Nocardioform placentitis is believed to be caused by bacteria, but researchers don't know how the bacteria causes the inflammation of the placenta that's characteristic of the disease. It's characterized by premature mammary gland development, thickened placental and uterine walls on ultrasound, or visible separation of the placenta from the uterine walls on ultrasound. There are several forms of placentitis, but the nocardioform version is accompanied by a thick, brown mucous covering the placenta at the site of the lesion, which prevents the placenta from continuing to support the fetus in some cases. Nocardioform placentitis case numbers seem to sometimes wax and wane across breeding seasons, suggesting that season or weather conditions may play a role in its development.

Read the full study here.

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Author Jennifer Kelly To Serve As Paulick Report Weekend Editor

The Paulick Report is pleased to announce the appointment of author and historian Jennifer Kelly as its new weekend editor.

Kelly brings a wealth of writing experience to the role, having worked as a technical writer and college writing instructor before embarking on her first book titled 'Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown,' published by University Press of Kentucky in 2019. She was inspired to write the book on Sir Barton when she wanted to learn more about the first American Triple Crown winner and realized how few resources there were in place to tell his story.

Kelly is currently working on a second book titled 'Foxes of Belair: Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown.'

“We are thrilled to have someone with Jennifer's passion for racing in our weekend editor role,” said editor-in-chief Natalie Voss. “I've enjoyed her work for years and am happy to have her unique perspective on our team of contributors.”

Kelly has been a horse racing fan since watching her first Kentucky Derby in 1988 and has been a speaker at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Keeneland Library, and Kentucky Derby Museum.

Kelly has previously specialized in research and writing for academic and business settings. She holds bachelor's degrees in English and French from the University of Montevallo and a master's degree in English from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. From there, she shifted to teaching first-year composition and technical writing for over a decade at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

“I am excited to join the team at Paulick Report,” said Kelly. “This is a team deep in talent and experience and I am grateful for the chance to be a part of a roster of turfwriters like this one.”

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