Royal Ascot's 2023 edition produced its plethora of lip-quivering moments and there was scarcely a dry eye in this quarter when Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) halted a seven-race losing streak by annexing the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. for Tom Clover's Fordham Road yard. Purchased for 35,000gns as an unraced two-year-old out of the Shadwell draft at Tattersalls' 2021 December Sale, she became the Kremlin House incumbent's first Royal scorer and instigated joyous scenes among the multitude of Rogues Gallery syndicate members assembled in the hallowed winner's enclosure.

Her best effort, in four subsequent outings, following that career high was a runner-up finish in Leopardstown's G1 Matron S. on Irish Champions weekend, but she made little impression and was not unduly punished when finishing last of 11 in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. Earlier on the card, Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) had wowed the Bois de Boulogne throng with an Arc performance for the ages, but it was a notable performance in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye, one race and 35 minutes after the Opera, which piqued this correspondent's interest.

Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), another well-bought Rogues Gallery representative, had backed up a brace of five-furlong handicap triumphs with a black-type breakthrough in September's Listed Scarborough S. at Doncaster. An 80,000gns October Book 2 yearling-turned-42,000gns Craven Breezer, his next assignment was the final stakes race of the Arc weekend extravaganza, but Rogue Lightning was allotted a nightmare draw in the car park, stall 18 in a field of 18, for the five-furlong dash. The die had been cast and all hope was lost, or so it seemed.

The gelded three-year-old broke alertly and, with little fuss from Robert Havlin in the plate, was soon among the pack racing towards the stands' side rail. Rogue Lightning was a hostage to fortune throughout, but picked off rivals from halfway and somehow weaved a charmed passage into contention. He closed relentlessly inside the final furlong only to run out of real estate, finishing fifth in a four-way photograph for second place, just one length and a flurry of pixels adrift of Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at the line. The vastly underrated Havlin had earned every cent of his riding fee in getting his mount so close.

Rogue Lightning had one further assignment to fulfil and accompanied stablemate Rogue Millennium on the journey to Ascot for the British Champions meet, where the latter was no match for the supreme performance of Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., running a never-nearer fifth in the one-mile procession. Rogue Lightning was not in Berkshire to race, but to compete for bids as one of five lots catalogued for the boutique Goffs QIPCO Ascot Champions Day Sale. Another performance of note transpired as Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock signed the £1-million docket on behalf of Wathnan Racing's burgeoning operation. Much to the relief of Clover, Rogue Lightning will remain at Kremlin House and is set to target the majority of Europe's top sprints in 2024. 

“He's been a great horse for the Rogues and for us, as an ambitious yard, to keep him for some fantastic new owners in the yard is very exciting,” the trainer reflected. “We'll have to speak to Richard Brown, but the plan for now is that we'll bring him back fresh in the spring. He's the type of horse where you'd hope that the programme would work itself out and he should shape into a top-class sprinter.” 

Royal Ascot's G1 King's Stand, York's G1 Nunthorpe and another crack at the Abbaye are on the agenda and maybe, just maybe, Clover will be savouring his maiden Group 1 success in 2024.

The post TDN Horses of the Year: Rogue Lightning appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rogue Millennium, who was bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for just 35,000gns from Shadwell at this exact sale in 2021, has carried the colours of The Rogues Gallery with great distinction and brought Clover to some of the biggest meetings in Europe.

Not only did she justify her supplementation fee when landing the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot, but she also ran a gallant second to Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Matron S. at the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown.

She will now embark on her next chapter as a broodmare and Clover says that he is hopeful that the 4-year-old will prove quite an attractive prospect to all the big stud farms come December.

Recapping on that memorable triumph at the Royal meeting, Clover said, “It was just the most incredible day at Royal Ascot. It's the type of result you dream of when you start training. For a syndicate of really good friends and people now, who are such racing enthusiasts, to have a day like that together; we'll remember it for the rest of our lives. We'd a great big picnic in the car park beforehand and had a fantastic day. A day we'll remember forever.”

The trainer added, “She's a filly who we always had in mind to put through the ring at some stage. Being a daughter of Dubawi (Ire) and a Group 2-winning miler at Royal Ascot will hopefully make her quite attractive. Tattersalls has just been fantastic to us and the Rogues. I know Tony Elliott [syndicate manager] really wants to support them. Going there to the Spectre Sessions will be a fantastic way of seeing her off.”

Rogue Millennium reached an official rating of 110 and amassed over £300,000 in career earnings. She has won three times from 14 starts and placed on a further five occasions. She was last seen running fifth behind Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.

The post Royal Ascot Winner Rogue Millennium Set For Sceptre Sessions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

However, the man who sourced Tom Clover's brilliant G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. heroine on behalf of The Rogues Gallery Syndicate [along with the trainer's wife Jackie] shared feelings of caution on the eve of the eagerly anticipated horses-in-training sale given the amount of international footfall at Park Paddocks on Monday. 

The purchase of Rogue Millennium for just 35,000gns from Shadwell at the 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale was an inspired one. The Dubawi filly has gone from strength to strength under the care of Clover, a big supporter of Jackson-Stops, which made the Royal Ascot success extra special. 

The agent explained, “To do it on the biggest stage of all at Royal Ascot meant the world to me. But, not only that, to enjoy it with Jackie and Tom Clover, it meant so much more as we work very hard together as a team trying to find the right horses at the sales. 

“Tom was at Kempton the day we bought Rogue Millennium, so Jackie and I did all the work together at Tattersalls. We were very lucky to land on the filly and to have been given the order from Tony [Elliott, of The Rogues Gallery Syndicate], who has been a superb supporter of both myself and the Clovers. 

“He runs a very successful syndicate and told us to go out and buy a well-bred filly to run for the syndicate. Finding a Dubawi out of a stakes-placed mare, like we did, it was just great for everyone involved and then to get her to the big stage at Ascot and to win like she did, it was pretty emotional.”

Jackson-Stops added, “I have been lucky enough to have bought some nice horses, the likes of Shadn (Ire) (No Nay Never), who won a Group 2 for Andrew Balding, but to do it for a tight-knit team meant the world really. To do it for Tom Clover, who trained Rogue Millennium so well in bringing her back in trip, for Tony, game as ever in paying the supplementary fee, it was huge. “It's an angle that I like to pursue a lot, fillies in training. Tom Blain [Barton Stud managing director] and I bought a filly last year at the December Mares Sale called Wonderful Times (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) and we didn't pay a huge amount [85,000gns] for her. We managed to get a listed win out of her in France and she runs in a Group 3 in Vichy next week. There are various other fillies who we have done well with in the past and it is a good angle to explore.”

Soldanelle (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) is another. Sourced at Arqana last year for €65,000, she went on to secure black-type in Germany and is now a valuable broodmore prospect. But it's Rogue Millennium who is Jackson-Stops's shining light. She may not have been sourced at this exact sale but Jackson-Stops, a former assistant trainer to John O'Shea in Australia, explained how finding gems at the horses-in-training sales is something he has always tried to do. 

He said, “I absolutely love selecting horses in training. Buying horses for Australia is a big part of my business and, having been an assistant trainer for a long time, form is something I am very strong on. Shiraz, Future Score, and Taramansour have all done very well in Australia. I pay a lot of attention to the form and it's a great part of the business for me.”

On his expectation for the week ahead, he added, “I think the market will be very strong.  We saw fillies by Lope De Vega (Ire) and Muhaarar (GB) selling very well at Arqana last week and I think that sets the tone. The quality is here and I have already seen a lot of international clients here on Monday, including well-known faces from Australia, and one or two Americans. I have an order to find something for America this week, which I don't think will be too easy. We have a couple of fillies in mind but I suspect that they will make a lot of money. 

“I think this will be a big week. It's great that the sale has moved to a four-day sale. The momentum behind the sale is huge and it's such a great place in the middle of the season for English, American, Middle Eastern and Australians to come over and buy horses at a peak time for everyone.”

It was the well-bred mares who played a star role at this sale 12 months ago. Leading the way at 540,000gns was Rihaam (Ire), a Dansili (GB) mare who was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock from Shadwell Stud, while Sea The Rose (Ire) (Kendargent  (Fr) and Shining Bright (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) were not far behind at 500,000gns and 450,000gns respectively. 

There are plenty of classy fillies with form and well-bred mares that could rock into six figures this week, too. Of the maiden mares with top-notch form on the track, Group 3-winning juvenile Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) may lead the way. 

In achieving that Group 3 victory in the Weld Park S. at the Curragh last term, Basil Martini accounted for none other than Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who went on to chase home superstar Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac

before fetching 1 million gns here at the December Mares Sale. 

Basil Martini, who forms part of a strong draft from The Castlebridge Consignment, reached a mark of 100 in seven starts for Joseph O'Brien.

Wootton Bassett (GB) is riding the crest of the wave after River Tiber's success in the G2 Coventry S. and Bucanero Fuerte (GB) landing the G2 Railway S., and the mares in foal to the Coolmore-based stallion will command plenty of interest. 

On Tuesday, Frankel  (GB) mare Pansy (Ire), one of just who are in foal to Wootton Bassett, boasts a classy pedigree being a full-sister to Hidden Dimples (Ire). 

Pansy is out of a sister to Gregorian and is being consigned by Baroda Stud. David Cox's operation also offers White Jasmine (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a full-sister to G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S winner Khaadem, the only mare in the sale who is in foal to Baaeed (GB). 

Meanwhile, the second mare in foal to Wootton Bassett, Sweet And Lovely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), will be offered by WH Bloodstock on Tuesday. 

She is a full-sister to 2016 Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven, already the dam of a black-type horse in Boogie Woogie (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The four-day sale gets underway at 9.30am on Tuesday morning.

The post Jackson-Stops On the Lookout For Next Rogue At Tattersalls July Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rogue Millennium had done the majority of her racing over 10 furlongs prior to dropping back to the mile at Ascot last week and the move paid off in spades with the filly running out a gritty winner. 

Clover has admitted that he is still pinching himself after his royal success and is looking forward to what the rest of the season might bring with the filly. 

“It's nice when a plan comes together,” said Clover. “It was just the most incredible day–it was a really, really special day and it is only just sinking in now, I suppose. It has just been fantastic. You work your whole life towards it. It is fantastic, just superb.

“I would say she will go to the Prix Rothschild. It gives us a really nice timeframe. We didn't put her in the Falmouth. She didn't love the Rowley Mile last year and the meeting on the July course, it is quite tight between Ascot and Newmarket.

“I just feel you'd have every chance if you went straight to Deauville instead, so that's what she will be training for.”

He added, “It's lovely to see her getting quicker and she's sharpening up all the time and actually, not to go very quick and to still get up and win was great.”

Rogue Millennium has had four runs already this term and with her trip versatility now confirmed, Clover admits there are plenty of potential avenues she could follow.

“There are all these lovely options now, though how we run in France I suppose will dictate where we go to a certain extent,” he said.

“She went in her coat quite quickly last year and she comes to hand very early in the spring, so it is really hard to know where we will be later in the season.

“The dream, the absolute dream, would be to even think about taking on the boys in the QEII, but that's very far-fetched at the moment. Let's think about the Rothschild now and take it from there.” 

The post Prix Rothschild Aim For Rogue Millennium After ‘Special’ Ascot Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The daughter of Nyquist has been well travelled in her short career, racing in Kentucky, Florida and now England in the last two months. From a debut third at Keeneland, she landed the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies' S. at Gulfstream Park, a win-and-you're-in qualifier for the royal meeting. 

Among the combined ownership group is Jake Ballis's Black Type Thoroughbreds, who bought into the George Weaver-trained Crimson Advocate after her first start.

The Lexington-based syndicator said, “George really liked the filly on debut at Keeneland and I have a lot of horses with him. She ran third and George called me up after the race and said 'We've got to put some people together to buy this filly. She's very, very fast'. The people who owned her originally buy to race and then sell.”

He continued, “George said he was going to put her on the turf at Gulfstream and then we're going to Royal Ascot. When we bought into her, that was the dream, but plans in this sport don't always work out. This one did, and we brought all our friends and families here; it couldn't be better. I've brought two people here who have never owned a horse before and they're my good luck charm–they're two for two.”

Of the tight finish, in which his filly held on by a nose, Ballis added, “From my vantage view I had zero idea who had won and I just said 'Please one time just give me the photo', and then my phone started ringing.”

The Kensington Palace S. which followed the Queen Mary may not have carried black type but it was no less celebrated for myriad reasons. The Crager family, who own the 25/1 winner Villanova Queen (Ire), have horses in their native America with Graham Motion, but the daughter of Mastercraftsman (Ire) was a special Royal Ascot winner for Jessica Harrington in the joyful week that she was given the all-clear following recent treatment for cancer. It was also a first win at the meeting for Ireland's champion jockey Colin Keane.

“We have a few in training with Mrs Harrington in Ireland and a few with Roger Varian in England. We also keep a few mares at Baroda Stud,” said New York-based William Crager, whose father Bill, the CEO of Envestnet, missed out on their first Royal Ascot victory but is due to join the celebrations in England later this week.  

He continued, “We really love racing over here especially. We get treated so very well and this is just incredible. The Harringtons are incredible–they are so good at what they do. We felt hopeful about what the filly could come and do but I don't think we could have expected that. And Colin–what a ride! All in all, what an experience. We're very thankful.”

Joining the celebrations in the winner's circle was Ben McElroy, who is no stranger to success at Royal Ascot thanks to the dual winner Campanelle (Ire). The agent also bought Villanova Queen, for €60,000, at the Goffs Orby Sale and she has gone on to win twice in Ireland, as well as being Group 3-placed and finishing eighth in last year's Irish 1,000 Guineas. Bill Crager also tasted success at last year's July meeting at Newmarket with his first homebred Miss Carol Ann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) but this was the family's first runner at Royal Ascot.

“We've gone in right on top but we're in for the long ride,” William Crager said. “Dad and Paul Hondros are flying over later in the week and we'll all be celebrating. 

“Ben bought this filly at Goffs; he's a phenomenal agent. [Eventually] She'll be back at Baroda and bred here [in Europe].”

There were plenty of first-time winners at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, one of those being Wathnan Racing, a name we will surely hear plenty more if their high-profile purchases continue apace. The G2 Queen's Vase winner Gregory (GB) was bought by Wathnan Racing, the leading owner in Qatar this season, after his victory in the Listed Cocked Hat S. for owner-breeder Philippa Cooper. Similarly, the group now owns Isaac Shelby (Ire), runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and fourth in the St James's Palace S., while on Thursday Wathnan Racing will be represented by Courage Mon Ami (GB) in the Gold Cup. If their colours look familiar it is because they are only a shade away from those made famous by Germany's Gestut Rottgen.

As Gregory was led in triumphant, Frankie Dettori aboard, the inevitable roar from the crowd turned to cries in some quarters of, “Jump, Frankie, jump.”

Jump he did. How could he not? As Dettori beamed from the rostrum he was joined by Thady Gosden as the latter's father John, co-trainer of two group winners on the day ,watched on from the sidelines. Two doors about to close, perhaps, as one is pushed open, strengthened by new foreign investors in British racing. 

https://twitter.com/Ascot/status/1671560821867171840?s=20

The Royal Ascot 'firsts' continued with George Weaver being joined on the trainers' roll of honour by Tom Clover, who saddled Rogue Millennium (GB) to win the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. for The Rogues Gallery syndicate.

The story of the Dubawi (Ire) filly was widely reported last year when she ran in the Oaks as she was bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for 35,000gns as an unraced two-year-old from her breeder Shadwell during that operation's reduction of stock.

Any lingering regrets that the Shadwell team may have had about 'one who got away' will soon have been erased by the barnstorming victory of Mostahdaf (Ire) in the day's feature, the G1 Prince of Wales's S. His half-sister Nazeef (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is already a dual Group 1 winner for the operation and now Shadwell has another enticing stallion prospect in the form of Mostahdaf, who has appeared at the royal meeting in each of the last three years and is bred on the same Frankel-Dubawi cross as Adayar (Ire), whom he beat into third, half a length behind the runner-up Luxembourg (Ire).

Sheikh Hamdan was the leading owner during what would transpire to be his final Royal Ascot in 2020. It is easy to imagine that he would be delighted to see the foundations he laid being built upon by his daughter Sheikha Hissa with many of the same trusted lieutenants at her side for wise counsel. 

Since Sheikh Hamdan's passing in March 2021, Shadwell has been represented by no fewer than six Group 1 winners in Baaeed (GB), Hukum (GB), Eshaada (GB), Minzaal (Ire), Anmaat (Ire), and now Mostahdaf: four homebred, and two bred by the remarkable team at Ringfort Stud. That those results have been provided by four different trainers spreads the enjoyment further still. Sometimes the red isn't needed: the white and blue has been doing just fine for Shadwell. 

The post ‘It Couldn’t Be Better’: Living the American Dream at Ascot  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Seeking Gold has won once and placed once in five starts, his most notable performance a second, beaten just three-quarters of a length, behind subsequent G1 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), in his debut last year.

Bidding on Seeking Gold will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the Tattersalls Online website.

The post Royal Ascot Hopeful Seeking Gold To Be Offered on Tattersalls Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The victory of Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) in Saturday's Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S. on Dettori's home track of Newmarket was therefore a huge shot in the arm for him after he had given a television interview assuring viewers that he was not about to retire. There was a little wobble on landing from his customary flying dismount, but he was back to his showman best as he kissed the veteran former trainer Clive Brittain on both cheeks in the winner's enclosure and then promptly departed for Istanbul and his ride in the following day's Turkish Derby.

Lezoo's win will have been well received at Tweenhills, the northern hemisphere home of her sire Zoustar, who has his first European runners this year. He has had just three winners to date but is one of only three first-season sires to have a stakes winner to his name, along with Tasleet (GB) and James Garfield (Ire), and the second half of the season is always far more telling when it comes to the quality of runners on show.

Lezoo was bred at Chasemore Farm by Andrew Black, who has previously stated his fondness for mares by the late Red Clubs (Ire) and enjoyed notable success with that stallion's daughter Ceiling Kitty (GB), who won the G2 Queen Mary S. ten years ago. She went on to produce another Newmarket Listed winner, Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), while her final foal, Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}), emulated his mother by becoming a juvenile Royal Ascot winner when taking the Chesham S. in 2018.

Ceiling Kitty sadly died while foaling Arthur Kitt but her daughter is continuing the line at Chasemore. Eartha Kitt is now the dam of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was sold last year as a yearling for 525,000gns to Godolphin and won on debut at Ascot on May 7. It has been a good season for the Surrey-based farm so far, with homebred Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) winning the G2 Greenlands S. at the Curragh last month. 

Lionhearted

There was a further fillip for the Tweenhills/Qatar Racing team when Lion Of War (GB), unbeaten in two starts, became the latest juvenile to be awarded a TDN Rising Star on Thursday, in so doing paying his own tribute to his late sire Roaring Lion. David Redvers spoke to Brian Sheerin about the issue which meant Lion Of War cost only 7,000gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year, but his co-trainer Mark Johnston has famously put pedigree ahead of conformation in his yearling selection over the years with notable success, and he and son Charlie look to have a smart colt on their hands.

Roaring Lion has to date been represented by just five runners. The two that have won, including Swift Lioness (GB), are both inbred to Sadler's Wells.

A Summer to Savour

At this stage it is hard to know which big-race contest to look forward to the most in the coming weeks. This Saturday's Coral-Eclipse seems a good place to start, with Alenquer (Fr), Bay Bridge (GB), Native Trail (GB), Lord North (Ire), Stone Age (Ire)  and Mishriff (Ire) remaining among the confirmations at the five-day stage, while the Aga Khan's Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni (Fr) was supplemented at a cost of £50,000 on Monday. 

Then there's the potential rematch between Kyprios (Ire), Stradivarius (Ire) and Mojo Star (Ire) in the Goodwood Cup, which, if it comes up soft enough (but not too soft for Stradivarius) could include Saturday's epic weight-carrying hero Trueshan (Fr), who is working his way into the hearts of the racing public as all good stayers who return year after year are wont to do.

Most tantalising of all, however, must surely be the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. It is not out of the question that Ascot's high summer feature could include the Derby and Irish Derby winners of this year and last, not to mention the 2021 Arc winner.

On a memorable day for Ralph Beckett on Saturday, which started with Lezoo's stakes win at Newmarket, Westover (GB) franked the Derby form in emphatic fashion when bowling to a dominant success in the Irish Derby to add to Frankel's Classic haul for the season, which already included the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Prix de Diane.

A big, long-striding colt, the lightly-raced Westover looks to have plenty of maturing still to do, which can also be said of Desert Crown (GB), who was so impressive at Epsom despite still looking like a gangly teenager. 

We've so far been denied a sighting of Adayar (Ire) this year but it would be fantastic to see him attempt to defend his King George crown, while Hurricane Lane (Ire) will surely come on from his comeback third in the G2 Hardwicke S.

We also shouldn't overlook the claims of Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has drawn favourable comparisons with another Gosden star by the same sire, Taghrooda (GB), who landed the King George after winning the Oaks in 2014. At this stage, Britain's premier 1m4f weight-for-age contest really does look the race not to miss this summer.

No Slacking

It has been a good couple of weeks in Europe for South African owner/breeder Mary Slack, whose UK arm of her famous Wilgerbosdrift Stud bred Saturday's G3 International S. winner Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Slack owns the Aidan O'Brien-trained 3-year-old colt, who remains among the acceptors for this Saturday's Eclipse S., in partnership with Coolmore and Westerberg. She raced his dam Diamond Fields (Ire), a half-sister to Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), whom she bought through Form Bloodstock as a yearling. The daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus) won the G3 Gladness S. and was runner-up in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, where Slack enjoyed success this year with the G3 Hampton Court S. winner Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}).

The latter is trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, the resident trainer in Newmarket's historic Abington Place, which is also owned by Slack.

Twomey in Form: I Should Coco!

There was a time when Paddy Twomey was more regularly seen on the sales grounds as a consignor and pinhooker, but over the last ten years his training business has gradually taken hold to the point where he currently boasts the finest strike-rate in Ireland, where he is in seventh place in the table for this season with significantly less ammunition than those above him.

Some of the shine was taken off his first Group 1 victory with La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) when his third-place finisher Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Star {Ire}) was disqualified after Wayne Lordan weighed in 5lbs light, having reportedly been asked to remove 5lbs of lead from his weight cloth by the clerk of the scales when weighing out. An appeal will doubtless ensue, but when the frustration subsides, Twomey can take great pride in the progression of Team Valor's La Petite Coco, who has won her last four starts, stepping up from a median auction race success at Killarney last July to win at Group 3 and Group 2 level before returning from a 287-day absence to land the G1 Pretty Polly S.

She thus became the second winner of that race for her now-Italian-based Derby-winning sire after Iridessa (Ire), and was another feather in the cap for the small Co Offaly town of Rhode, where she was bred by Bernd and Ute Schone.

Twomey had already reached a Group 1 landmark in another field, as he was the breeder of Serious Attitude (Ire) (Mtoto {GB}), winner of the G1 Cheveley Park S. and GI Nearctic S. for Rae Guest. Since being sold to Shadai Farm, she is now the dam of Grade II winner and GI Tenno Sho runner-up Stiffelio (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}).

In what is well on its way to becoming his best season, Twomey, with a strike-rate of 35%, also saddled Sunday's Irish Derby third French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}).

Going Rogue

Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided an enormous thrill for 80 members, friends and family of the The Rogues Gallery syndicate who turned up at Epsom to watch her run seventh in the Oaks after winning the Lingfield Oaks Trial. The smartly-bred filly added more black type to her record when second in the G3 Hoppings Fillies' S on Friday evening.

Earlier that day, her trainer Tom Clover unleashed the second smart 2-year-old to race this season for the Tony Elliott-run syndicate when Rogue Lightning (Ire) ((Kodiac {GB}) bolted home at Newmarket for an easy debut success. 

That followed the second victory of Rogue Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who got off the mark at Beverley in May and then beat subsequent G2 Norfolk S. winner The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) when second in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at the same course before winning easily at Wolverhampton on June 20.

All three horses mentioned were purchased relatively inexpensively by Clover with bloodstock agent Billy Jackson-Stops, who married Lily Gredley at the weekend. 

Rogue Spirit was an 11,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls December Sale, at which Rogue Millennium was also recruited for 35,000gns, while Rogue Lightning was picked up for 42,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up Sale. All three look set to provide plenty more fun outings for the jolly band of rogues.

A Knight To Remember

The quiet achiever of the week award must go to the Irish National Stud resident Decorated Knight (GB), who was represented by a pair of smart novice winners over the weekend. Ferrari Queen (Ire) zoomed to success on her debut for Charlie and Mark Johnston, winning by six lengths at Doncaster, to become her sire's first winner from his second crop. A half-sister to two Group 2-winning stayers in Pale Mimosa (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) and Nearly Caught (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), she looks well bought by her trainers at €18,000 at last year's Orby Sale.

The following day Prince A A Faisal's 3-year-old Kind Gesture (GB) won her second race on the bounce, this time by ten lengths at Windsor for Roger Varian and David Egan, who had also ridden Ferrari Queen.

Kind Gesture was bred, like her sire, by Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, which celebrated its first homebred Classic winner the previous weekend with Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Prix de Diane. The stud will be offering Nashwa's half-sister by Decorated Knight as lot 93 in the forthcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale. It is the first time that Blue Diamond Stud will appear on the list of consignors in Deauville and its draft of three also includes an Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-brother to Kind Gesture (lot 252). Gerry Meehan took the helm as yearling manager at Blue Diamond Stud earlier this year and anyone who perused the Newsells Park Stud yearling drafts during Meehan's lengthy stint there will know to expect a well prepared consignment. 

The post Seven Days: Much Ado About Frankie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A Shadwell castoff who was picked up for just 35,000gns at the Mares Sale at Tattersalls last December, Rogue Millennium has already proved to be one of the finds of the season, building on her debut success at Wetherby to run out a gritty winner of the Listed SBK Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield last month. 

That win represented her trainer's biggest yet and new dreams abound with the rapidly-progressive filly who is just 16-1 to provide Clover with Classic glory when she lines out in the Cazoo Oaks on June 3.

“Rogue Millennium seems very well. I'm very pleased with her,” Clover said.

“She physically looks great. I think she's come on since Lingfield. She continues to improve and all being well she's very much on course [for the Oaks].”

Clover, who is based in Newmarket, began training in 2016 and is looking forward towards running what is officially the best horse he's had through his hands in the Oaks. 

He added, “I've been very happy with her and we just hope for a smooth run-up. You know what it's like with horses, until you get there and put the saddle on and get in the paddock, there's so much that could go wrong. I'm pleased with her work and we're really excited to run her.”

John and Thady Goden appear to have a stranglehold on the Oaks with Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a short-priced 10-11 ante-post favourite, and 9-2 chance Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) heading the betting for the Epsom Classic. 

The post Clover to Roll The Big Dice With Rogue Millennium in the Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Clover said, “Rogue Millennium is a lovely filly that deserves her chance to be in the Oaks and it is now very much the plan to go to Epsom. We discussed it several times and both the owners and I are keen to go there.

“For any young trainer to have a horse like her bred by Sheikh Hamdan going for the Oaks is very special. Sheikh Hamdan is part of the sport's heritage and he had so many successes with my late father-in-law Michael Jarvis including winning the Oaks with Eswarah (GB) (Unfuwain) [in 2005].

“To have the chance to train a filly for the Oaks from the same place Sheikh Hamdan won the race with my late father-in-law Michael Jarvis is really exciting.

“I don't believe we are going there simply to have a runner but because we have a chance. I hope she can make both us and The Rogues Gallery team proud.”

Added Clover, “Having a runner in a Classic is something new to us and now the focus is on getting the filly there in the best possible shape we can. It is exciting but we just want a smooth run.”

The post Rogue Millennium Will Be Supplemented to The Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“She's by the right sire and we decided, before coming here, that if she won she would be added to the Oaks field,” explained trainer Tom Clover. “She's still green and has improved with each piece of work. I actually feel a little guilty about asking her to go to Epsom, but we have to go. She's just flourished and I hope she can continue to progress. The owners [Rogues Gallery] are great sporting people, who absolutely adore it. Whether it's an owners' event or a day trip to watch the horses, their enthusiasm is boundless.” Winning rider Jack Mitchell added, “She was rolling about a bit coming down the hill, but once she levelled out she was strong right the way to the line.”

Rogue Millennium becomes the first black-type winner for G3 Cumberland Lodge S. victrix Hawaafez (GB) (Nayef), herself the leading performer bred from Merayaat (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Merayaat's second dam Wedding Bouquet (Ire) (Kings Lake) scored twice at pattern-race level, namely the G3 Park S. and GIII Monrovia H., and also ran second in both G1 Phoenix S. and G1 National S. during her juvenile campaign. Wedding Bouquet is kin to G1 Epsom Derby hero Generous (Ire) (Caerleon {GB}) and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself the dam of five pattern-race winners headed by G1 Grand Criterium victor Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill) and G1 Criterium International winner Van Gogh (American Pharoah). Wedding Bouquet is also the granddam of MG1SW distaffer and three-time G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Hawaafez has a 2-year-old filly by Awtaad (Ire) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) to come.

Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
SBK OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' S.-Listed, £43,000, Lingfield, 5-7, 3yo, f, 11f 133yT, 2:28.80, g/f.
1–ROGUE MILLENNIUM (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hawaafez (GB) (GSW-Eng, $111,512), by Nayef
2nd Dam: Merayaat (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Maddelina (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (35,000gns 2yo '21 TATMA). O-The Rogues Gallery; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover; J-Jack Mitchell. £24,716. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $36,889.
2–Mystic Wells, 128, f, 3, Kitten's Joy–Cat On a Tin Roof, by Catienus. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; 77,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Mr & Mrs R Scott & Mr & Mrs D Bevan; B-Kenneth L Ramsey & Sarah K Ramsey (KY); T-George Boughey. £9,378.
3–Makinmedoit (Ire), 128, f, 3, Golden Horn (GB)–Tranquil Star (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (10,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRG). O-Robert Levitt & Anthony Bromley; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Harry Eustace. £4,691.
Margins: HD, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.50, 4.50, 16.00.
Also Ran: Belt Buckle (GB), Emily Dickinson (Ire), Three Priests (Jpn), Nikhi (GB), Suzy's Shoes (GB). Scratched: Speak (GB).

The post Dubawi’s Rogue Millennium Pounces Late For Oaks Trial Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post