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Frankel’s Alpinista Upholds Family Tradition in Germany

Kirsten Rausing's 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) had yet to taste defeat in four prior outings this term and lined up for Sunday's G1 Allianz Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich coming back off wins in Hoppegarten's Aug. 8 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and Cologne's Sept. 26 G1 Preis von Europa last time. The homebred grey's second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao), who was also conditioned by Sir Mark Prescott, had rattled off a trio of German Group 1 triumphs in a nine-week spree during 2004 and she emulated her grandmother's feat and stayed perfect for the year with a third elite-level triumph of her own in the 12-furlong feature. The vanquished at Berlin in that penultimate start included subsequent G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and the reopposing Nerium (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who also finished second in the Preis von Europa. Alpinista recovered from an awkward stumble leaving the stalls and lobbed along under a taut rein, racing in a close-up second, passing the judge first time as old foe Nerium set the tone. In situ until turning for home, the 4-5 favourite was stoked into action for her challenge alongside G2 Prix Eugene Adam fourth Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) approaching the two pole and stayed on strongly under continued rousting in the closing stages to outlast that rival by 3/4-of-a-length in game fashion. Nerium kept on well once headed in early straight and finished one length adrift in third.

“We are absolutely delighted with the mare and winning three Group 1 races is terrific,” assistant trainer William Butler told Sport-Welt. “Alpinista has progressed throughout the year and has developed into a top-class stayer. Congratulations to Miss [Kirsten] Rausing for sending us this great horse and to Luke Morris for giving her a great ride.”

Sarah Steinberg was delighted with the progress of runner-up Mendocino. “That was a great performance today and a second-place finish is a just reward for building him up so patiently,” she told GaloppOnline. “We can be absolutely satisfied today and will definitely have a lot of fun with him next year.” Nerium's trainer Peter Schiergen added, “He ran well and his rider gave him every chance. The form of the race is solid and he will stay in training next year.”

Alpinista, kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB), is one of 20 Group 1 winners by her sire and the first foal produced by a stakes-winning half to four black-type performers out of the aforementioned Albanova (GB) (Alzao). The quartet includes G3 Legacy Cup victor Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), stakes-winning G3 Geoffrey Freer S. placegetter Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and multiple stakes winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Albanova is one of four black-type performers thrown by G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose descendants also include dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) (Alzao) and stakes-winning G1 Epsom Derby second Dragon Dancer (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Alouette is kin to G3 Doncaster Cup vixtrix Alleluia (GB) Caerleon), herself the dam of G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) (Alzao), the latter being the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill).

Sunday, Munich, Germany
ALLIANZ – GROSSER PREIS VON BAYERN-G1, €150,000, Munich, 11-7, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:38.53, g/s.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 129, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €95,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 12-7-2-0, €481,683. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mendocino (Ger), 128, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Mill Marin (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). (€58,000 RNA Ylg '19 BBAGS). O-Stall Salzburg; B-Gestut Brummerhof (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg. €30,000.
3–Nerium (Ire), 132, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Nicolaia (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger). O-Stall Nizza; B-Ursula & Jurgen Imm (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €15,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1, 1. Odds: 0.80, 6.70, 7.10.
Also Ran: Control Tower (Fr), Walkaway (Ger), Believe In Love (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Niarchos Family Awarded 2021 Longines and IFHA Award of Merit

The Niarchos Family was awarded the 2021 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit at Del Mar during the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Champions on Friday, Nov. 5. Started in 2013 by Longines and the IFHA and given to horsemen and horsewomen who make lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing, the award was accepted by Maria Niarchos-Gouaze on behalf of her family. More than 125 Group or Grade 1 winners have been bred and/or campaigned under their banner, and they have been long-time supporters of the Breeders' Cup. Representatives from Longines, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the Breeders' Cup and The Jockey Club were in attendance.

“On behalf of my brothers and myself, I would like to thank Longines, the IFHA, the Breeders' Cup, and The Jockey Club for this great honour,” said Niarchos-Gouazé. “I would also like to thank all of our horses, the jockeys who mainly found the winning post, our trainers, our veterinarians and farriers, and all of the individuals who have worked on the studs and in our trainers' yards.

“In particular, I would like to thank my home team, Alan Cooper and Karen Clark, who have been with us since inception, for their dedication and loyalty, and also Jamie McCalmont and Bill Oppenheim, and those who have worked alongside them. Lastly, and the most deserving of all, I would like to thank my father, Stavros, for his vision.”

The late Stavros Niarchos, a Greek shipping magnate, first became involved with Thoroughbred racing in the 1950s. After a break, he returned in the 1970s. The 1956 Middle Park S. winner Pipe of Peace (GB) (Supreme Court {GB}) was his first major winner. Niarchos-Gouaze, his daughter, took over the Thoroughbred business upon his passing in 1996. Alan Cooper serves as the family's racing manager.

Seven Breeders' Cup races have gone to Niarchos Family colourbearers, six of them homebreds. A total of six editions of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile have been won by the family: Miesque (Kingmambo) (1987, 1988), Spinning World (Nureyev) (1997), Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) (2002), Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}) (2003), and Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) (2014). Additionally, Main Sequence (Aldebaran) won the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf in 2014.

Other notable horses to have raced for the Niarchos Family are: 2004 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Bago (Fr) (Nashwan); Classic winners Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) Light Shift (Kingmambo), Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), and War of Will (War Front); Light Shift's son Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (2017 Eclipse S. and International S.); 2018 Irish Horse of the Year Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}); and Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (2019 St James's Palace S. and 2020 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot).

“We are delighted to celebrate tonight the Niarchos Family, whose strong commitment and dedication to Thoroughbred racing have been rewarded by so many remarkable successes over the years,” said Matthieu Baumgartner, Longines Vice President Marketing. “The history of the family proves that equestrian sport is one of passion, a passion that Longines has been sharing for a century and a half. Today, we are the partner of some of the major international institutions, including the IFHA, and provide our timekeeping expertise to prestigious events all around the world in the disciplines show jumping, dressage, eventing and of course, horse racing.”

“I would like to congratulate the Niarchos Family as this year's recipient of the Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit,” said IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “Reflecting upon the significance and the values associated with this award, I am struck by the level of success achieved by the Niarchos Family in nearly every corner of the globe, spanning multiple generations.

“On racetrack achievement alone, the Niarchos Family would be worthy recipients of this award, but their steadfast support of our industry is what sets them apart. Their unwavering partnership and development of international racing and breeding is a special feat, and it must be celebrated.”

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Duke Of Marmalade Dies at 17

Multiple Group 1 winner and sire Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill–Love Me True, by Kingmambo) died in his paddock at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa on Friday. The 17-year-old had been pensioned in October.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Duke Of Marmalade,” Drakenstein Stud tweeted on Friday. “He died peacefully in his paddock this morning. He was a hero to many on the racetrack including ourselves, and a true gentleman at stud.

“His legacy will live on through his progeny to come and his already growing influence as a broodmare sire around the world. He will be sorely missed by all of us at Drakenstein Stud. He lived up to his title as a Duke in every way. RIP.”

Bred by Southern Bloodstock and raced by the Coolmore Partners, the bay showed ability at two when placed in the G2 Vintage S. Winless at three, he did place thrice at the highest table in the St. James's Palace S., the Irish Champion S. and Queen Elizabeth II S. At four the son of Love Me True dazzled with five consecutive Group 1 wins–the Prix Ganay, the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Prince of Wales's S., the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and finally the G1 Juddmonte International S.

Originally based at Coolmore Stud in Ireland from 2009 to 2013, the half-brother to G1 Derby hero Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) moved to Drakenstein Stud in 2014. The bay sired a total of 46 black-type winners internationally, 26 at the group level. His best runners were a septet of Group 1 winners led by G1 St Leger winner Simple Verse (Ire), G1 Gold Cup hero Big Orange (GB), and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Star of Seville (GB).

As a broodmare sire, his daughters have foaled seven black-type winners with six group scorers in England, France and Italy. His grandson Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby this year, and the filly Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ran third in the GI Belmont Oaks.

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Simon Cox Appointed to TBA Board of Directors

Simon Cox has been appointed to the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Board of Trustees as a co-opted member. Cox is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Molson Coors EMEA & APAC, a brewing and beverage business of circa €2-billion turnover and 6,500 employees. Already a member of the TBA's National Hunt Committee, Cox has worked in the brewing industry for 32 years. He is also a member of the board of the Professional Jockeys Association and has owned National Hunt horses for a decade. His current string is with Ian Williams. More recently Cox also has ventured into thoroughbred breeding and has mares boarded at Shade Oak Stud. He is a shareholder in Shade Oak's new stallion Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Simon Cox said, “I'm first and foremost a passionate racing fan and over the last decade have deepened my involvement in racing through owning and breeding National Hunt racehorses. I'm delighted to join the board of trustees of the TBA and am really looking forward to supporting the ongoing growth and health of the breeding industry. I want to continue to learn about the wider industry but I hope my knowledge of jump racing and my business experience will be of use to the team from the start.”

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