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Perfect Power Camp Mulling Options

Dual Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), who won Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket, may be put away for the winter, rather than make another start as his connections consider their options. Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's colt graduated at second asking at Hamilton prior to winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on June 17. Only fifth in the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood at the end of July, Perfect Power rebounded with a 1 1/4-length win in the G1 Darley Prix Morny on Aug. 22, prior to his Middle Park win.

“He's come out of it well. I'm pleased with him. He's a pretty straightforward guy to deal with,” said trainer Richard Fahey. “I've got to speak to Sheikh Rashid. We haven't really sat down and had a chat yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was probably finished for the year.”

In 2022, Fahey is looking to step the bay up in trip with an eye to next year's Classics.

“We'll run him in one of the trials,” the trainer added. “We'll see how he winters first and just get him going and see which route we're going.”

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Kheleyf Passes Away at 20

Kheleyf (Green Desert–Society Lady, by Mr. Prospector) has died at Haras des Faunes. He was 20. The news was first reported by the Jour de Galop.

Bred by Darley and a great grandson of bluehen Fanfreluche (Northern Dancer), Kheleyf made his first four starts for the David Loder yard, with a second in the G3 Norfolk S. and a conditions win his best performances. Transferred to Saeed bin Suroor for his 3-year-old year, he won the G3 Jersey S. first out at three and was also third in the G2 Betfair Cup. He retired with a mark of 9-3-1-1 and $136,720 in earnings.

At stud, Kheleyf left 22 stakes winners, seven of them at the group level while standing for Darley in both Ireland and the UK from 2005-2014. Moved to Haras des Faunes in 2015, he covered mares there until his death. His best runners were Group 2 winners Penny's Picnic (Ire) and Sayif (Ire), while the latter was also second in the G1 Middle Park S. Big Time (Ire) and Vladimir/Gold Ball (Ire) (in Hong Kong) were both also Group 1 placed. A full-brother to European champion and dual group winner Bint Allayl (GB) and a half-brother to group winner Laa Rayb (Storm Cat), Kheleyf has five group winners among nine total stakes winners as a broodmare sire. Already, his daughters have produced G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) and G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who later sold for 2.1 million gns at the 2015 Tattersalls December Mares Sale to MV Magnier.

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Benbatl Likely For Champions Day

Globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is fresh off a record-breaking G2 Joel S. victory at Newmarket, has been confirmed for QIPCO Champions Day on Oct. 16, as long as the ground is not too heavy. The Godolphin colourbearer, who has earned top-drawer victories in Dubai, Germany and Australia, was winning his second Joel S. His first start of the season was a second in the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood in August after almost a year away from the racecourse. Benbatl holds entries in both the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. over a mile and the 1 1/4-mile G1 Champion S.

“He is in very good form–he has come out of the race very fresh and happy,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor of the two-time Joel S. winner. “The plan now is to run him in the QEII, as long as the ground suits him–he doesn't like soft ground. He is entered in the Champion S. on Champions Day as well, so we will see.”

The 7-year-old's future plans after Champions Day are up in the air.

“He will have one more race this year and we will see how he runs before we decide about next year,” bin Suroor added.

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Classic Winner St Mark’s Basilica Retired to Coolmore

Five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}–Cabaret {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore Stud in Ireland in 2022. A fee will be announced later.

Bred by Bob Scarborough in France, the Norelands Stud-consigned bay brought 1.3 million guineas from MV Magnier during Book 1 of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor, the half-brother to two-time Group 1 winner, G1 2000 Guineas hero and young Coolmore sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) won the G1 Dewhurst S. and was third in the G1 National S. as a juvenile.

Undefeated in a four-start 3-year-old campaign, St Mark's Basilica won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at ParisLongchamp in May, before a score in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in June. In the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown, the colt defeated his elders in multiple Group 1 winners Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in July. Making his final racecourse appearance in Leopardstown's Sept. 11 G1 Irish Champion S., St Mark's Basilica bested Breeders' Cup winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), as well as G1 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). He retires with a mark of 9-6-1-1 and $2,965,423 in earnings.

“He's the most exciting prospect we've retired from Ballydoyle since his late grandfather Galileo,” said Coolmore's David O'Loughlin of the son of G3 Silver Flash S. heroine Cabaret. “European Champion 2-Year-old, the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world, a 1,300,000-guineas yearling by a top sire in Siyouni, a half-brother to another brilliant horse in Magna Grecia, both out of Galileo's group-winning 2-year-old Cabaret. He has everything and he'll get terrific support from his owners' broodmare band too.”

“St Mark's Basilica is possibly the best horse we have ever had in Ballydoyle,” added trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He relaxes and quickens and has all the determination from Galileo and all the speed from Siyouni.”

Cabaret is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Drumfire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and stakes winner and group placed Ho Choi (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Farther back in the female family is GI Hollywood Turf Cup S. winner Frenchpark (GB) (Fools Holme) and G1 Prix Vermeille victress Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}).

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