Tag: Tom Marquand

Blue Point’s Big Evs Blitzes Flying Childers Rivals

RP Racing's Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Hana Lina {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) finished among the tailenders in last month's G1 Nunthorpe at York and rebounded in style with a scintillating pillar-to-post triumph in Friday's G2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers S. at Doncaster.

The Michael Appleby trainee, who had earlier left his stamp on Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle and Glorious Goodwood's G3 Molecomb, hit the ground running as the traps opened and held an immediate advantage before turning the screw with a 10.72 second furlong. Clear of threats on the front end throughout, the 9-4 favourite was asked to stretch by Tom Marquand with a quarter-mile remaining and enjoyed splendid isolation in the closing stages, hitting the line with a 2 3/4-length buffer back to Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Rosario (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}), who became upset in the stalls beforehand, was best of the rest and finished 1 3/4 lengths adrift in third.

“After he jumped out of the stalls there wasn't really a doubt,” said Appleby after claiming a career high of his own. “You've got to be up the front on this [soft] ground and once he got three or four lengths on them they weren't going to catch him. It is not the ideal ground for him, but he's got the job done well and he's won a Molecomb and a Flying Childers on soft ground now. We just had to put a line through the Nunthorpe. I think he had an exceptionally hard race at Goodwood and that just took its toll.”    Looking forward to loftier targets, the trainer added, “I think it will be the Breeders' Cup next for the [GI] Juvenile Turf Sprint and he'll go straight there. It's five furlongs at Santa Anita which should be ideal and, if he can get the rail, he could be difficult to peg back. He's been an amazing horse, the owners have turned down some big bids and there'll be more now, but luckily he's not for sale.”

Pedigree Notes

Big Evs, the sixth of eight foals, is one of four scorers thrown by a daughter of G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning European champion Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge), herself a half-sister to MG1SW sire Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) and G1 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Queen's Logic's leading performer is G2 Lowther S., G2 Diadem S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. victrix Lady Of The Desert (Rahy), who also hit the board in the G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. Lady Of The Desert, in turn, is the dam of G2 Lowther S. winner Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}), herself the dam of Lowther runner-up and G3 Firth Of Clyde S. third Queen Me (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The March-foaled bay, whose family also features G1 Derby hero Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is kin to a yearling filly by Ribchester (Ire) and a weanling colt by Earthlight (Ire).

 

 

Friday, Doncaster, Britain
CARLSBERG DANISH PILSNER FLYING CHILDERS S.-G2, £115,000, Doncaster, 9-15, 2yo, 5f 3yT, :59.89, sf.
1–BIG EVS (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Hana Lina (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Queen's Logic (Ire), by Grand Lodge
3rd Dam: Lagrion, by Diesis (GB)
(50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Tom Marquand. £65,217. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $228,283. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Flora Of Bermuda (Ire), 126, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Dubai Power (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€65,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €52,500 Ylg '22 ARAUG; £340,000 2yo '23 GOUKB). O-Bermuda Racing Ltd; B-Francisco Bernal (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £24,725.
3–Rosario (Ire), 129, g, 2, Harry Angel (Ire)–City Glam (Arg), by Grand Reward. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€36,000 Ylg '22 GOFFEB; 20,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs Sue Teal; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Roger Teal. £12,374.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.25, 5.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Malc (GB), Kylian (Ire), Graceful Thunder (GB), Fool's Gold (Ire), Francis Meynell (Ire). Scratched: Inquisitively (GB), Toca Madera (Ire), Valiant Force, Zoulu Chief (GB).

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Haggas Has Leger Double in His Sights 

In 2017 and 2018, Aidan O'Brien won both the St Leger and Irish St Leger, first with Capri (Ire) and Order Of St George (Ire), and the following year with Kew Gardens (Ire) and Flag Of Honour (Ire). Given the dominance of both the trainer and his not-so-secret weapon Galileo (Ire), it has perhaps passed beyond being remarkable that all four of those horses are by the late former champion sire, but it is worth noting nonetheless.

This year, William Haggas will attempt to pull off that same staying Classic double. We'll let it pass that the Irish St Leger has not really been a Classic since 1983 when it was opened up to older horses. It remains an important and prestigious race with a roll of honour populated by some truly special names, including the four-time winner Vinnie Roe (Ire), Ireland's first Melbourne Cup hero Vintage Crop (GB), the brilliant Yeats (Ire), and the subsequent important National Hunt sires Turgeon and Kayf Tara (GB).

The Haggas duo of Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will launch respective attacks on the Curragh and Doncaster six days apart. For Hamish it is something of a revenge mission, as he was less than a length behind last year's champion stayer Kyprios (Ire) when second in last year's Irish St Leger. Since that day, the determined and quirky little horse has added another four Group 3 wins to his burgeoning record, including three on the bounce this season. 

Now seven, Hamish's popularity is growing, and he is of special importance to the Haggas family, having been bred by the trainer's 92-year-old father, Brian, in whose colours he races. Hamish is ridden each day by the trainer's wife, Maureen, with former National Hunt jockey Andrew Tinkler stepping in for most of his work mornings. 

Other members of the gelding's family have also been successful for the stable. Hamish's dam, the dual winner Tweed (GB) (Sakhee), is a half-sister to the G3 St Simon S. winner Beaten Up (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), who later won the G1 Doomben Cup for Chris Waller, as well as Group 3 and dual Listed winner Harris Tweed (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), and Vow (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who won the Lingfield Oaks Trial before finishing fourth in the Oaks. The Scottish theme in the naming is derived from Haggas snr's former ownership of the Kenneth Mackenzie mill in Stornoway, which is the oldest producer of the famed Harris Tweed cloth in the Outer Hebrides.

A fearless and accomplished horsewoman, Maureen Haggas has worked out that the path of least resistance is key to getting the best out of Hamish. She clearly dotes on him, all the while putting up with his foibles. With nine wins from 17 starts and more than £600,000 in earnings, Hamish can by now be forgiven the odd flash of recalcitrance. After all, what happens on the track is what matters most, and there, once he has deigned to enter the stalls, he is all heart.

“I've ridden him since he was a three-year-old when he was a bit tricky and didn't really want to go anywhere or do anything,” Maureen recalls. “They are all funny about the stalls, the whole family. The first time he ran he went to Redcar and he wouldn't go in, so we always have someone with him at the stalls.”

That said, he still managed to win three times as a three-year-old, breaking his maiden at Windsor over 1m2f before stepping up to 1m6f to score twice at his owner's and trainer's beloved York. Making just one start in the delayed season of 2020, when fourth in the G2 Hardwicke S., Hamish then suffered a tendon injury which kept him off the track for more than a year. When he returned to win the G3 September S. on his first run after a 442-day hiatus, he posted what now looks in hindsight a terrific piece of form, as behind him that day was the subsequent dual Group 1 winner Hukum (GB).

“He's an interesting character,” Maureen continues. “You've got to pretty much let him do his own thing most of the time. You could fight with him from the minute you went in to him to the minute you put him away, if you were that way inclined. But as long as he goes out, does his work and comes home, then I'd rather leave him be and let him do his own thing. It's just keeping him happy, really. He's seven now, so he knows all about it.”

She adds, “He never gets tired, he's a really natural athlete, which not every horse is.  He has a good, easy gait, and it's just easy for him.

“The ground is crucial. He sat all summer last year and did nothing, but we had no option. We've been a bit luckier this year, but it really is important that he has a bit of cut in the ground.”

Haggas's St Leger candidate, Desert Hero, is a horse who has already put him in the good books by providing his owners, the King and Queen, with a first Royal Ascot winner. Then, like Hamish, he struck at Group 3 level at Glorious Goodwood to win the Gordon S. and put himself firmly in the picture for the final Classic of the season.

The last time there was a royal winner of the St Leger was in the Queen's Silver Jubilee year of 1977, when Her Majesty's filly Dunfermline (GB) followed up on her victory in the Oaks. A link to the present day is provided by the fact that Desert Hero is ridden at home by Luke Carson, the grandson of Dunfermline's jockey Willie Carson. 

“What can you say? It's what dreams are made of, that you have a runner for the King at Royal Ascot,” says Carson jnr.

“We went to Ascot quietly confident and he was an absolute diamond. He put his head down. He tried really hard. You couldn't ask for any more.”

Haggas would obviously like to ask for more, and a win in the oldest Classic in his home county of Yorkshire might be just the ticket in the season following the retirement of former stable star Baaeed (GB), who, like Desert Hero, is a son of Sea The Stars. Desert Hero won twice last year and was third to Silver Knott in the G3 Solario S., but he gave his trainer pause for thought earlier this year after not wintering particularly well.

“He had a poor winter and a moderate spring,” Haggas notes. “We ran him at Newbury to try to goad him into action because we weren't getting anywhere, and he ran okay at Newbury actually. 

“Ever since then he has started to thrive. We hoped that the handicap at Ascot might be the right race for him and he did very well to win. They went very fast, and it may have flattered the horses that came from the back, but all the horses in the front at the end came from the back at the top of the straight. Then I thought it was a good win at Goodwood.”

And as the first anniversary of the Queen's death approaches, a week before the St Leger, a major victory for the Royal Studs would be welcomed by plenty in the racing world.

Haggas adds, “I think it's really important for everyone, and it's especially important for the King and the Queen. And the fact that we're training Desert Hero is just lucky for us because it's important that they have some success. Obviously the late Queen bred Desert Hero, so that's poignant in itself, and now they're taking up the mantle with gusto and enjoying every minute.”

 

 

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No Nay Never’s Lake Forest On Top In The Gimcrack

Silver Racing's G2 July S. runner-up Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never–Lady Aquitaine, by El Prado {Ire}) was unable to concede weight all round when following up in a Newmarket novices' heat earlier this month and rebounded in style to cause a 16-1 upset for the William Haggas stable in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York.

Comfortable in rear until surging into contention after halfway, he challenged the leading wave underneath the stands' side fence approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly, despite drifting left in the closing stages, to prevail by a length from 'TDN Rising Star' Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), with the same margin back to King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in third.

“He just ran awful at Newmarket last time,” reflected William Haggas after registering a third winner at the meeting. “He got upset beforehand, he was stupid to post and he was edgy in the stalls. Today he was really calm, good going down and we saddled him in the stables and walked him across. Newmarket can be like that when you box them up at home, but whatever happened he didn't run at all. Prior to that he had run a very good race in the July S. [also at Newmarket]. I had to just put a line through his last run, I had no choice. We had always planned to come for this, and after his race last time it almost put us off, but we thought why not have a go. He's owned by a new syndicate so I've no idea who will do the [traditional Gimcrack] speech. I probably put them off coming today, you couldn't fancy him really, although I did say to my son I thought he'd run well.”

Pedigree Notes
Lake Forest, the 10th of 11 foals, is one of eight scorers from nine runners out of G3 Sirenia S. third Lady Aquitaine (El Prado {Ire}), herself a half-sister to Listed October S. victrix Secret Garden (Ire) (Danehill). The April-foaled chestnut is a half-brother to stakes-winning G2 Prix de Royallieu runner-up Lady Of Kyushu (Smart Strike), the stakes-winning Clint Maroon (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). He is also kin to a yearling filly by Bated Breath (GB) and to the dam of GIII Honeymoon S. victrix Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Secret Garden, in turn, produced a trio of black-type winners headed by G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 Criterium International-winning sire Roderic O'Connor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Lake Forest's third dam is G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning British champion Durtal (Ire) (Lyphard).

 

Friday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK S.-G2, £267,500, York, 8-25, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:09.91, g/f.
1–LAKE FOREST (GB), 128, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Lady Aquitaine (GSP-Eng), by El Prado (Ire)
2nd Dam: Chalamont (Ire), by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Durtal (Ire), by Lyphard
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (130,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Silver Racing; B-Sahara Group Holdings (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £151,699. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $226,535. *1/2 to Lady Of Kyushu (Smart Strike), SW & MGSP-Fr, $151,021; Clint Maroon (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SW-US, $234,173; and Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), MSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Johannes Brahms (GB), 128, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Illaunmore, by Shamardal. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Chasemore Farm (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £57,513.
3–King's Gamble (Ire), 128, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Zondaq, by Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (190,000gns Ylg ;22 TATOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Centerville Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £28,783.
Margins: 1, 1, 3 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 3.50, 4.50.
Also Ran: Action Point (Ire), Hala Emaraaty (Ire), Kylian (Ire), Jehangeer (Ire), Power Mode, Haatem (Ire), Emperor's Son (Ire).

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Kodiac’s Relief Rally Pounces Late For Lowther Triumph

Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}–Kathoe {Ire}, by Fayruz {GB}) impressed when annexing Newbury's Weatherbys Super Sprint by daylight last month and pounced late to secure a fourth win in five starts, upped to six furlongs for the first time, in Thursday's G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York.

The 2-1 favourite, who had earlier snagged early-season wins over five furlongs at Windsor and Salisbury, was sharply into stride and settled under cover behind the leaders in fifth after the initial strides. Bustled along with a quarter-mile remaining, she was angled to the stands' side for a clear passage passing the furlong pole and quickened smartly under continued rousting in the closing stages to deny Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) by a length nearing the line. Symbology (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) finished a head adrift in third in a bunch finish for the minor placings.

“You don't get much time in a six-furlong race to worry, but I thought she had a bit to do and was really impressed with the way she picked up,” admitted William Haggas. “I think she's a pure 2-year-old. I've had a few fillies, one called Besharah won this race, and she didn't go on. I think it's really hard, especially when they are small. We don't want to get wrapped up in them being a fantastic 3-year-old and this may well be her year, in which case we want to capitalise. She's pretty good and she's good in her head, although she dances a bit in the paddock. She's easy to train. I haven't had chance to talk to Tom [Marquand], as this is [owner] Simon [Munir]'s day. It's his first ever trip to York.”

Looking over the horizon, Haggas added, “Whether we have one [more run] before her last run [this year], I don't know. If we do, it will be the [G2] Flying Childers with a Group 2 penalty, but that's 50-50. Then it will be the [G1] Cheveley Park or the [G1] Prix de l'Abbaye.”

Marquand added, “We hoped stepping up to six [furlongs] would work in her favour and I was looking forward to it. Over five, she'd hit a little flat spot before finishing really strongly and, over six, that just didn't happen today. She had plenty to pass a furlong out, but they were all within a length. To be honest she never had me worried and she hit the line hard. William has done a remarkable job to get her to win the pot she did after Royal Ascot. I hope it's the Cheveley Park [next]. If she goes for the Abbaye I won't be able to ride her [due to her low weight], but William will make the right decision.”

Pedigree Notes

Relief Rally, the latest of eight reported foals and one of five scorers for her dam, hails from the family of G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Jaazeiro (Sham) and G1SW Irish champion Woodstream (Northern Dancer). The April-foaled bay is a full-sister to G3 Chipchase S. victor Koropick (Ire). Their second dam Water Spirit (Riverman) is an unraced half-sister to Listed Grand Prix de Marseille Vivaux runner-up Private Enquiry (Ire) (Gorytus) and G2 Gallinule S. fourth and sire Northern Date (Far North).

 

Thursday, York, Britain
SKY BET LOWTHER S.-G2, £267,500, York, 8-24, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.89, g/f.
1–RELIEF RALLY (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Kathoe (Ire), by Fayruz (GB)
2nd Dam: Water Spirit, by Riverman
3rd Dam: Interviewme, by Olden Times
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (58,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; B-C M Farrell (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £151,699. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $398,425. *Full to Koropick (Ire), GSW-Eng, $104,612. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cherry Blossom (Ire), 128, f, 2, No Nay Never–Canada Water (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€360,000 Ylg '22 GOFOR). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £57,513.
3–Symbology (GB), 128, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Showstoppa (GB), by Showcasing (GB). (£230,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. £28,783.
Margins: 1, HD, HD. Odds: 2.00, 4.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Dorothy Lawrence (GB), Beautiful Diamond (GB), Star Of Mystery (GB), Gunzburg (Ire), Flora Of Bermuda (Ire). Scratched: Queen's Guard (GB).

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