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Pyledriver On Track For Hong Kong Bid

Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will return in the Betway Churchill S. at Lingfield next weekend before an intended start in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in December. The 4-year-old, who claimed the G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. at three, had an abbreviated two-start campaign this season. Second by 2 1/4 length in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket making his 4-year-old bow, Pyledriver clawed his way to a neck victory in Epsom's G1 Coronation Cup over Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) on June 4. He was due to run in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern on Sunday, but co-trainer William Muir opted for the Lingfield contest instead. After his Asian target, the entire will be aimed at the Saudi Cup meeting at the end of February prior to a Dubai campaign.

Muir said, “We decided after Martin [Dwyer] rode him on Tuesday not to go to Germany. Martin asked what our target was–I told him the Hong Kong Vase, and he said that he'd run well in Germany but he'd come on for the run.

“The train we'd planned to take was cancelled, so we'd have to have gone via ferry and we thought we'd go to Lingfield on Saturday instead. While that is not his ideal trip [10 furlongs], we'll use it as a prep for Hong Kong.

“It's the sort of thing the big trainers do quite often, run them over a trip short of their best so it doesn't push them as much. He'll give everything, as he always does, but Martin felt a run would put him spot on–and he said he's never felt as strong.

“It was only a minor setback he had–we went through the exact programme the vet said, and we've not had a hiccup or anything. But our main target had to be the Hong Kong Vase, and then his winter campaign starts, Saudi in February and then Dubai–three very big races.”

He added, “To have started off throwing him straight back into a Group 1 may have been tough on him. I was also worried about the ground, but in fairness it's good out there. I think he'd have gone close if we'd gone, but Martin just felt he'd come on for a run.

“He's won a Group 1. He's going to be a horse to campaign all around the world now. Had it been a week later, I might have gone to Germany, but I'm looking forward to Lingfield now.”

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Dee Ex Bee Joins Arctic Tack Stud

Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}–Dubai Sunrise, by Seeking the Gold) will stand his first season as a National Hunt stallion alongside Jet Away (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) at Arctic Tack Stud in Ireland. The son of Farrh's debut fee will be €3,500 with a concession for filly foals.

Bred by Godolphin, the bay raced for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and raced for all bar his final two starts for trainer Mark Johnston. Dual listed-placed as a juvenile, Dee Ex Bee ran second in the 2018 G3 Chester Vase that May, second in the G1 Derby that June and later that summer added another Classic placing with a third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Another third, this time in Germany's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern, ended his sophomore year. Never off the board in six starts at group level in 2019, Dee Ex Bee added wins in the G3 Henry II S. and G3 Sagaro S. to his ledger alongside a trio of Group 1 placings-the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, and Prix du Cadran. He retires with a record of 21-4-7-5 and earnings of $1,181,563.

Arctic Tack Stud's Eoin Banville said, “We are thrilled to be able to bring Dee Ex Bee to Arctic Tack Stud to offer a valuable outcross for Irish breeders.

“Dee Ex Bee's talent was matched by his versatility, with his performances on ground described as good to firm all the way through to heavy and over a variety of different trips. His sire has already demonstrated his value as a stallion and I have no doubt Dee Ex Bee will prove as popular and important as Jet Away in the coming years with us.”

Although his dam was unraced, she is a full-sister to the outstanding racehorse Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold), who would sire only one crop of foals, but in that group was the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Dubawi (Ire). Second dam Colorado Dancer (Ire) (Shareef Dancer) won a brace of French group races and placed twice at Group 1 level, while her dam is the bluehen Fall Aspen (Pretense).

“Dee Ex Bee was the type of horse you dream of as a stayer,” said former trainer Mark Johnston. “He had Group 1 quality, was tremendously versatile and ticked all the boxes physically.

“He competed against some of the very best horses around during his time in training and played his part in some tremendous races, including a Derby, Gold Cup at Ascot and a Goodwood Cup. I am delighted that he will have this opportunity at Arctic Tack Stud and have no doubt Irish breeders will benefit greatly from his presence.”

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Group 1 Winner Skalleti on Show in Rome

Likeable gelding Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a Group 1 winner in France and Germany, continued to pad his admirable record with a second victory in the G2 Premio Roma at Capannelle on Sunday. The grey won his first edition in 2019.

Sent off at 6-5, the crowd's pick raced last of all in the bog-like going, as Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) cut out the early running. Making up ground down the long straight, Skalleti raced out in the center of the course and was within striking distance with a quarter mile to travel. He quickly took over leadership duties shortly thereafter and resisted the late charge of Flag's Up (Ire) (War Command) and Brentford Hope (GB) (Camelot {GB}) to win by two lengths. The margin between the latter pair was 3 1/4 lengths at the line.

Jean-Claude Seroul's 6-year-old has enjoyed his best season to date this term, which kicked off with a win in the G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud in March. ParisLongchamp's G2 Prix d'Harcourt went his way on Apr. 11 and he scored his first Group 1 win in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan on May 30. Given a brief freshening, Skalleti returned with a five-length win in Munich's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis-Bayerisches Zuchtrennen on July 25. He found several too good on Sept. 12, running fourth in the G2 Prix Foy to Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).

Pedigree Notes

The second foal and most decorated offspring of his stakes-winning dam Skallet, who was also placed in the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air, G3 Prix Penelope and G3 Prix Andre Baboin-Grand Prix des Provinces, Skalleti is followed by the triple group winner Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who was also second in this year's G1 Prix Royal-Oak. Her last reported foal is a juvenile full-brother to the winner already named Skalli (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}).

Sunday, Rome, Italy
PREMIO ROMA-G2, €231,550, Rome, 11-7, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:05.00, hy.
1–SKALLETI (FR), 129, g, 6, Kendargent (Fr)
                1st Dam: Skallet (Fr) (SW & MGSP-Fr, $181,946),
                                by Muhaymin
                2nd Dam: Siran (Fr), by R. B. Chesne (GB)
                3rd Dam: Surubinha (Fr), by Solicitor (Fr)
(€85,000 Ylg '16 ARQAUG). O-Jean-Claude Seroul. B-Guy
Pariente Holding (Fr). T-Jerome Reynier. €89,462. Lifetime
Record: G1SW-Fr & Ger, G1SP-Eng, 23-17-1-2, €1,109,080.
*Full to Skalleto (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), SP-Fr, $241,632; and
Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), MGSW & G1SP-Fr, $573,373.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flag's Up (Ire), 126, c, 3, War Command–Baby Revolution
(Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€12,000 Ylg '19 SGASEP).
O-Roberto Saggini. B-Razza Del Velino (Ire). T-A. Botti.
€39,363.
3–Brentford Hope (GB), 129, g, 4, Camelot (GB)–Miss Raven
(Ire), by Raven's Pass. (€80,000 Ylg '18 ARQOCT; €130, 2yo
'19 ARQMAY). O-Bernardin & Sean Mulryan. B-Haras du Logis
Saint-Germain (GB). T-Richard Hughes. €21,471.
Margins: 2, 3 1/4, 4. Odds: 1.29, 15.02, 6.21.
Also Ran: Dawn Intello (Fr), Brigante Sabino (Ire), Arktisz (Fr), Cima Emergency (Ire), Alastor (Ire), Thunderman (Ity), Tokyo Gold (Fr).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.

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Cotai Glory Filly Strikes in Rome

Purciaretta landed her first black-type win in the Listed Premio Divino Amore Livermore and became her first-season sire's second stakes scorer at Campannelle. A winner at first asking back in May, she won a Rome affair four starts later going 1000 metres on Sept. 24. She then took a conditions race there on Oct. 15 and was narrowly favoured on Sunday.

Breaking from the rail, the filly raced one off the fence and just behind a rival in second. Purciaretta spent the middle part of the race with her head angled toward the grandstand, but straightened out and took over by the 200-metre mark. Fellow filly Stay Kitten was second.

The fifth foal out of the winning Sharqawiyah, Purciaretta is a half-sister to the Acclamation (GB) filly Abby Hatcher (Ire), successful in the GIII Chicago S. Her dam's latest two foals are fillies-a yearling by Mastercraftsman (Ire) and a weanling by Phoenix of Spain (Ire). This is the extended family of dual Group 1 winner Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}). Video.

PREMIO DIVINO AMORE LIVERMORE-Listed, €38,500, Rome, 11-7, 2yo, 1000mT, :56.90.
1–PURCIARETTA (IRE), 118, f, 2, by Cotai Glory (GB)
                1st Dam: Sharqawiyah (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Pompey Girl (GB), by Rainbow Quest
                3rd Dam: Inchiri (GB), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€3,200 Wlg '19 TATNOV; £3,000 Ylg
'20 GOFOCT). O-Razza Latina SAS. B-Glacken View (Ire). T-E. C.
Racing Stable SRL. €14,875. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-0,
€31,955. *1/2 to Abby Hatcher (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}),
GSW-US, $97,820
2–Stay Kitten (Ity), 118, f, 2, Smokem Kitten–Stay Tuned (Ity),
by Blu Air Force (Ire). (€15,000 Ylg '20 SGASEP). O-GFT SRL.
B-Luciani Stefano (Ity). T-Sebastiano Guerrieri. €6,545.
3–Fighting King (GB), 121, c, 2, Bobby's Kitten–Noble Cause
(GB), by Showcasing (GB). O-Blue Castle Stable SRL.
B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB). T-Affe' Agostino. €3,570.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1, NK. Odds: 3.80, 7.81, 5.40.
Also Ran: Azul Bahia (Ire), Lollipop Girl (Ire), Sopran Marjorie (Ire), Regina di Roma (Ire), Lurna (Fr), Boracay (Ire), Chiaroscuro (Ire).

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