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Nunthorpe Next Port of Call for The Lir Jet

Royal Ascot hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), second by only a nose in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on Sunday, will make his next start against elders in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in August. Originally campaigned by Nick Bell and trained by Michel Bell, the bay sparkled on debut at Yarmouth on June 3 and was subsequently purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing. The acquisition proved a shrewd one, as The Lir Jet captured the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on June 19, still in Bell’s care.

Bell said, “He’s back in the yard and seems none the worse for his exertions, thankfully. I’ve just been talking to Sheikh Fahad and I think we’re going to drop back to five furlongs for the Nunthorpe–that’s the thinking at the moment. Oisin [Murphy] is pretty emphatic that he’s better horse over five furlongs and the form book would suggest that, too.”

Facing the best European sprinters in the Nunthorpe, The Lir Jet will fortunately receive a hefty break in the weights.

“If the Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) we know turns up, he’ll be a worthy favourite, but if we don’t go there you’d be running somewhere carrying penalties, or running over six furlongs in the G1 Prix Morny, which would mean more travelling,” Bell added. “It’s not set in stone, but Sheikh Fahad’s view is you don’t succeed if you don’t try, which is a good attitude to have.”

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New Award Announced for TBA Flat Breeders’ Awards

The European Breeders’ Fund Stallion Special Merit Award, developed by the trustees and sponsored by the British European Breeders’ Fund (British EBF), was announced by the EBF on Monday. Celebrating a British-based stallion who has made significant impact during the previous Flat season, the award is a new avenue through which the British EBF thank domestic stallion owners and celebrate the achievements of their horses.

“The award was specifically designed not to be just another statistic driven accolade,” said British EBF Trustee and selection committee member James McHale. “It means stallions covering smaller numbers of mares, standing at lower fees and producing fantastic results despite having fewer runners can get the recognition they deserve for their achievements.

“There are a huge number of sires in Great Britain that far out-perform their covering fee or sales average and given that “leading sire awards” tend to focus on winners or prize money totals, meaning horses with the highest number of runners in any one season are at a perpetual advantage, this new award is a great platform through which stallions with fewer runners can be recognised.”

The EBF Stallion Special Merit Award Short List for 2019 consists of: Cable Bay (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Due Diligence (War Front), Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Night of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the winner will be announced on the day of the virtual TBA Flat Celebration event.

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Max of Eight Contest King George as Enable Eyes Hat Trick

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s champion mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is bidding to become the first horse to take three editions of the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., as she is one of eight to stand their ground at the latest entry stage. She sustained only her second career loss with a 1 3/4 second when going for a three-peat in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October and was the bridesmaid once again kicking off her 6-year-old campaign in Sandown’s G1 Coral-Eclipse S. behind Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) on July 5. The Ascot cornerstone also drew the Juddmonte colourbearer’s stablemate, fellow John Gosden trainee and MGSW Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who won the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June.

Abdullah’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said, “We’re very happy with Enable. Everything has been straightforward since the Eclipse and we think she’s come on for that run. We’re looking forward to Saturday.”

“These big races are not supposed to be easy to win,” added Grimthorpe. “It’s not going to be a very big field, obviously, but there are only so many horses at that level. It’s a shame there’s no 3-year-old in the race, but we’re just concentrating on our ourselves and Enable seems in good shape.”

The dual G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner’s stiffest competition however hails from across the Irish Sea, as Aidan O’Brien saddles six for the Coolmore partners in the 1 1/2-mile feature. Star fillies Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and MG1SW Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), second to Enable in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf back in 2018, are both slated to take part. The former, a Group 1 winner in Australia, and first in the June 13 G2 Lanwades Stud S., was a last out fourth in the Coral-Eclipse. Magical warmed up for this with an easy 4 1/2-length win in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh on June 28.

Highly regarded 2019 G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Juddmonte International S. scorer Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), third to Ghaiyyath and Enable in the Coral-Eclipse, returns for another crack at the top level after a fourth in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot on June 17. One of several other Classic winners from Rosegreen tapped for the King George is 2019 G1 Investec Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), fifth in the Hardwicke, while last year’s G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby hero Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) cuts back in trip after running third in the G3 Comer Group International Vintage Crop S. in his 4-year-old bow at The Curragh on June 27. Group 3 winner Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) completes the sextet.

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Keane To Stick With Siskin

Jockey Colin Keane confirmed on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast that he will cop the 14-day quarantine and continue his association with Siskin (First Defence) in the July 29 G1 Sussex S. Keane has ridden Siskin in all five of his starts, including a last-out win in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on June 12, and a trip to Goodwood for the rider means that he will have to quarantine for two weeks upon returning to Ireland.

“There are not too many like Siskin that I’ve got to sit on before, so when a horse like that comes around you want to be on him everyday–especially on the big days,” said Keane, who also rode Siskin’s Ger Lyons-trained stablemate Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) to victory in Saturday’s G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. “It’s definitely worth sacrificing the two weeks. Hopefully there’ll be other championships in the future, but there might not be another Siskin for a very long time, so I want to take every opportunity.

“He’s been great since the Guineas, he looks a million dollars and we couldn’t be happier with him. We’ll keep him wrapped up and it’s about getting him there in one piece.”

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