Haras de Bouquetot has a classy son of Mehmas (Ire) to look forward to in the stallion ranks for 2024 after announcing that the G2 Gimcrack S. winner Lusail (Ire) will join the roster.
Trained by Richard Hannon, Lusail also landed the G2 July S. as a juvenile. He was beaten just a head in the St James's Palace S. as a three-year-old and was also placed in the Prix Jean Prat that same season. He retires to stud aged four and will embark on stallion duties next year as a five-year-old.
Hannon heaped praise on the speedster upon his retirement on Monday, and said, “Lusail is a speed car, one of the easiest and most relaxed horses I have ever trained. Showing exceptional quality on courses from 1200m to 1600m, Lusail has an excellent temperament, equal to his talent.”
Haras de Bouquetot manager Benoit Jeffroy commented, “We are delighted to welcome a multiple Group-winning two-year-old, precocious and fast, of the quality of Lusail, and to give French breeders the opportunity to access a son of our rising star Mehmas, who also won the July Stakes at two.”
He added, “Lusail is a tough and consistent horse, who has also performed at the highest level at three, and whose mother is a sister of a champion sprinter who won a Group 1 at Royal Ascot.”
Lusail's stud fee will be announced soon. He will be available for visits at Haras de Bouquetot during the Arqana breeding stock sales.
Given a Yuga Kawada ride befitting a $1.10 (1-10) mortal, Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.'s Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) became the seventh filly to win the Japanese Triple Tiara with a deceptively easy one-length victory in Sunday's G1 Shuka Sho before a packed grandstand of better than 45,000 onlookers at Kyoto Racecourse. Masked Diva (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), the 12-1 third favourite, flashed home for second ahead of narrow second pick Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).
Making her first start since smashing her rivals by six lengths in the 2400-metre G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Oaks) some 147 days ago, Liberty Island bounced away nicely from stall six and took up a position in and amongst rivals as the commonly owned Kona Coast (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) took them along over ground officially rated good, but perhaps riding softer given the clods of turf being kicked up. Leaving little to chance, Kawada had Liberty Island in about seventh position and in the clear four or five off the inside passing halfway and the duo was committed to an overland run around the second bend. Asked to circle her rivals with 600 metres standing between her and history, Liberty Island quickly went to the leaders five or six deep on the swing for home, accelerated sharply to put a gap on them at the entrance to the final furlong and reported home a comfortable winner. Masked Diva closed off her final three furlongs in a race-fastest :33.5–Liberty Island was home in :33.6–while Harper just got the better of a photo with Dura (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) to earn a second Classic placing, having finished the distant runner-up in the Oaks.
“I'm grateful that we were able to achieve the Triple Crown,” said Kawada, riding a 25th Group 1 winner on the JRA. “She is a horse with great ability, so I placed top priority on letting her run comfortably and finding a good path for her. I was confident of her victory when we had an open space at the third corner. She has great potential, and her dreams for the future are wide open, but first of all, I would like to praise her for achieving the Triple Crown.”
Named champion of her generation after winning the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December, Liberty Island returned in the Apr. 9 G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and looked to have it all to do in the straight, but rattled home to score a touch cosily. There were no such worries when last seen in the Oaks, as she was waited with until the final 200 metres before blowing the race apart at Tokyo.
Should she have another run this season, options include the sex-restricted G1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup going 11 furlongs at Kyoto Nov. 12 or a potential clash of the titans with Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup two weeks late.
Pedigree Notes:
The sadly departed Duramente joins Almond Eye (Jpn)'s sire Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) as sons of the late King Kamehameha (Jpn) to account for a Triple Tiara winner, while King Kamehameha was himself responsible for 2010 Triple Tiara heroine Apapane (Jpn). Duramente's daughter Stars On Earth (Jpn) was on a Triple Tiara bid of her own 12 months ago, but fell just short in third behind Sunday Racing's Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).
Yankee Rose, who cost just A$10,000 at the 2015 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale before going on to become a two-time champion and dual Group 1 winner, was acquired privately by the Yoshida family and her progeny have excelled in the sales ring and at the races. Her first foal, the filly Romneya (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), fetched ¥210 million (US$1.9m) from the latter's owner Makoto Kaneko as a foal at the 2019 JRHA Select Sale and her now 2-year-old colt by Lord Kanaloa was the second-dearest offering at the same event in 2021, selling to Danox Co. Ltd for ¥370 million ($2.6m).
Yankee Rose is also responsible for a yearling Kizuna (Jpn) filly and a weanling filly from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn). Each has been retained by their breeder.
Just a head separated Shagara (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}–She Bang {Fr}, by Monsun {Ger}) and Lady Mary (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}) when they ran second and third in last month's Listed Winterkonigin-Trial at Cologne, and it was a case of as you were as the pair fought out an exciting finish to Sunday's G3 BBAG Preis der Winterkonigin at Baden-Baden. Shagara had earlier defeated the reopposing New York City (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) over seven furlongs in her Aug. 19 debut at Mulheim and that rival provided an added boost to the form by finishing on the podium in this one-mile test.
The eventual winner, sent postward as the crowd's 13-5 pick, raced in mid division during the opening exchanges and went through halfway in fifth. Bustled along rounding the home turn, Shagara made relentless headway in the straight to take a share of third entering the final furlong–where she received a hefty bump from Lady Mary–and kept on strongly under continued rousting to deny that rival by a head on the line for a career high. New York City held a slender advantage inside the furlong pole, but was usurped in the closing stages and finished 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third.
“She has the heart of a lion and fought incredibly hard,” said winning rider Andrasch Starke. “She was really strong at the finish and what a racehorse she is.” Trainer Markus Klug added, “It's crazy what a fighter's heart Shagara has. She put in so much effort to win and now she will take her well-deserved winter break.” Gestut Schlenderhan's general manager Gebhard Apelt continued, “She wasn't in the best position at first and it is very rare to see a 2-year-old fight like that.”
Pedigree Notes
Shagara, who becomes the 12th pattern-race winner for her sire, is the sixth of seven foals and one of five scorers produced by a winning sibling of Listed Hannover Derby-Trial runner-up Sargas (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}). Her second dam, Listed Henkel-Trial victrix Servenya (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), is a full-sister to G2 Maurice Lacroix-Trophy runner-up Slawomira (Ger) and a half to Listed Preis der Hotellerie Baden-Baden victor Skythe (Ger) (Spectrum {Ire}) and the stakes-placed duo Stoikov (Ger) (Platini {Ger}) and Salomea (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). Servenya is also kin to the dam of this race's 2004 winner Sorrent (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to G2 Union-Rennen third Sky Out (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and a weanling colt by Ito (Ger) named Shejtan (Ire).
BBAG – Preis der Winterkönigin (G3)
1.600 m – 155.000 EUR – for 2yo fillies
Baden – Baden
Shagara (IRE)
( Zarak – She Bang , by Monsun)
J : Andrasch Starke
T :Markus Klug
O :Gestüt Schlenderhan
Lady Mary (Lawman)
New York City (Sea The Moon) pic.twitter.com/9AD9ised7N
It was harder work than expected, but Bertrand Milliere's leading veteran Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) ultimately made his class tell in Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris. Held up with two behind early, the 11-10 favourite looked momentarily in trouble two out as Marie Velon asked him to close on the leaders. Staying on gamely in response, the G1 Prix Royal Oak and G1 Prix Ganay winner got to Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) a furlong later before asserting to score by a length.
Trainer Jean Pierre Gauvin revealed that Iresine, who had been second on his first start since April in the G2 Prix Foy last month, has an important date in his diary now. “I was concerned to see him so far back, but also confident because he looked very relaxed and when he is like that the good Iresine can really quicken and make up ground,” he said. “He always needs a race to be at his best and on his last run he was a bit too fresh and rusty after five months off. Marie's opinion is also important and she said it was the right Irsesine today.”
“We want to travel with him now, we felt it was too early last year but he is now ready for that,” he added. “We will go to Japan, because the JRA has been very nice to us and human relations are also an important part of this game and they have been very kind. They have allowed us to let Iresine travel with a stablemate, because travelling is not his forte. Even to come from our base in Lyon, he can be difficult so we worry for the long trip to Asia. Also the ground might be too quick for him, but it is a nice challenge and when you have to go you have to go.”
Pedigree Notes
Iresine's dam Inanga (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a full-sister to the G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix Daphnis runner-up In Chambers (GB) and a half to the dam of the G3 Sagaro S. runner-up Earth Amber (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). The fourth dam Riverqueen (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}), who captured the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix Saint-Alary here, counts among her descendants the likes of the G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Rouvres (Fr) (Anabaa), the dual G1 Premio Presidente della Repubblica scorer Altieri (GB) (Selkirk) and the multiple Australian group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). Inanga's youngest progeny is a yearling colt by Mondialiste (Ire) named Morus {Fr}).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX DU CONSEIL DE PARIS-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-15, 3yo/up, 11fT, 2:17.99, g/s.
1–IRESINE (FR), 128, g, 6, by Manduro (Ger) 1st Dam: Inanga (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: Cas Royaux, by Woodman 3rd Dam: Reve De Reine, by Lyphard
(€6,000 Ylg '18 ARQOCT). O-Bertrand Milliere, Ecurie Jean-Paul Gauvin, Christian Goutelle et al; B-Pierre Soyaux & Marie-Louise van Dedem (FR); T-Jean-Pierre Gauvin; J-Marie Velon. €74,100. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Fr, 19-13-2-3, €776.810. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Marquisat (Ire), 122, g, 3, Zarak (Fr)–La Marchesa (Ire), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. (42,000gns Ylg '21 TATYEA). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Mark Dixon & Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Junko (GB), 128, g, 4, Intello (Ger)–Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer.O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 3. Odds: 1.10, 3.80, 4.20.
Also Ran: Monty (Fr), True Testament (Ire), Zarakem (Fr), Good Fortune (Den), Jack Darcy (Ire), Max Vega (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
