Tag: Top News Europe

Golden Sixty Named Hong Kong HOTY–Again

During a season that saw him become the richest-ever horse and most prolific winner of Group 1 races in Hong Kong history, Stanley Chan Ka Leung's Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) was named Horse of the Year in the jurisdiction for an unprecedented third straight season during a black-tie affair held Friday evening at the Grand Ballroom of the Rosewood Hotel.

The son of Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor) won four of his five trips to the post during a well-managed 7-year-old campaign, his only loss coming at the hooves of the very talented California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) when looking for a third consecutive victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December. In one of the most anticipated races in recent memory, Golden Sixty squared off with his Mile conqueror and G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup romper Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Stewards' Cup in January, a race in which Golden Sixty had a 16-race winning streak snapped in 2022. The three top-rated horses in Hong Kong had the race to themselves when push came to shove, and $2.50 (3-2) second favourite Golden Sixty proved equal to the task with a one-length defeat of $2 (evens) pick Romantic Warrior.

It was $1.50 (1-2) Romantic Warrior and $2.30 Golden Sixty in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over a 2000-metre trip that was sure to favour Romantic Warrior. But Golden Sixty had the final say yet again, scoring by a head (video), before adding his ninth Hong Kong Group 1 tally with a third straight win in the G1 FWD Champions Mile in April (video), also securing champion miler honours. Golden Sixty, who will train on as an 8-year-old, has a record of 25-2-1 from 29 starts and earnings of nearly US$18.8 million to date.

 

 

Other luminaries to have been named Horse of the Year on multiple occasions include Silver Lining (Aus), Quicken Away (Ire), River Verdon (Ire), Fairy King Prawn (Aus), Silent Witness (Aus), Ambitious Dragon (NZ) and Beauty Generation (NZ). The first two named were also three-time Horses of the Year, but non-consecutively.

Romantic Warrior did not go home empty-handed, as his efforts were rewarded with champion middle-distance horse honours for the second straight season. He managed to bounce back from his Gold Cup effort–for which he was reportedly not 100%–to defend his title handsomely in the G1 FWD QE II Cup to lock up his championship.

But for an unlucky defeat when favoured in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) would have given Golden Sixty a tussle for Horse of the Year. As it was, the 4-year-old had a much more rigorous campaign that Golden Sixty, winning seven of his nine starts, including a maiden Group 1 in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and additional elite-level successes in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m). He carried 135 pounds to victory in the G3 Sha Tin Vase H. June 4, spotting his rivals 14 to 20 pounds. With no standout horse among those that competed in the Classic series, Lucky Sweynesse was also recognized as champion 4-year-old.

 

 

Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was the only Hong Kong horse to win a race on foreign soil this season, having impressed in the HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar, but it was his victory over Romantic Warrior in his title defence in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) that secured the 6-year-old the award as champion stayer for the second year in a row.

 

 

Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) finished his first Hong Kong preparation with four wins from 12 starts and was named champion griffin (2- and 3-year-old horses unraced upon arrival into Hong Kong). His rating lifted from the standard debut mark of 52 to 96 by season's end. Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) saw his rating rise from 52 to 117 to be named the most improved horse. Third as the favourite in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, he closed the season with a pair of victories at Group 3 level.

Trainer John Size won a 12th Hong Kong premiership, while Zac Purton will be crowned champion jockey for the sixth time after breaking Joao Moreira's record 170 victories for a season. He currently sits on 176 heading into Sunday's final meeting of the season, 82 clear of Vincent Ho, who received the Tony Cruz Award as leading homegrown jockey. Purton also became the second rider in history to register better than 1600 winners in Hong Kong, joining Russian Emperor's trainer Douglas Whyte.

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Dubawi’s Arabic Legend A New TDN Rising Star

Newmarket's Weatherbys British EBF Maiden S. is one of those key races that can uncover a class act and Friday's renewal of the seven-furlong July Festival test may have witnessed another as Arabic Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Sheikha Reika {Fr}, by Shamardal) earned a TDN Rising Star tag. Withdrawn from his intended start at Doncaster last month after becoming upset in the stalls, the second foal out of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's GI E.P.Taylor S. heroine was always travelling strongly on the wing with Rob Hornby trying to contain him off the moderate pace.

Looming on the front end approaching the furlong pole as the even-money favourite Emperor's Star (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) appeared at the fore on the other side, the 17-2 shot mastered that well-touted rival in the final 100 yards. At the line, the Andrew Balding trainee had 1 1/2 lengths to spare over the Godolphin relative of Cloth Of Stars (Ire), with another three lengths back to that sire's son Dallas Star (Fr) who had been beaten under three lengths in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S.

“He's got a lot of ability and he's an exciting prospect,” Balding said of the winner, who was adding his name to a recent list that includes the future group winners Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and the group 1-placed Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). This is also the maiden that saw Alhaarth (Ire) beat Mark Of Esteem (Ire) in 1995 and was won by Bahhare a year later, by Dubai Destination in 2001 and by Rio De La Plata in 2007.

“He is a very well-bred horse and we think a little bit of him,” Balding added. “He quickened up nicely and when the rain came it was encouraging. That certainly wasn't going to inconvenience him. I'm sure he will stay a mile and I'm sure he will get further in time. Anything's possible, as he's a high-class horse who is bred to be. He'd be right up towards the top of our two-year-olds.”

Dubawi now has 38 TDN Rising Stars, with the likes of In Italian (GB), Space Blues (Ire), Too Darn Hot (GB), Benbatl (GB) and Zarak (Fr) among them.

5th-Newmarket, £15,000, Mdn, 7-14, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:30.51, g/s.
ARABIC LEGEND (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Sheikha Reika (Fr) (GISW-Can, SW-Eng,
                                $287,753), by Shamardal
                2nd Dam: Screen Star (Ire), by Tobougg (Ire)
3rd Dam: Actoris, by Diesis (GB)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,640. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Andrew Balding.

 

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Coursetrack Set to Roll Out at Irish Tracks for 2024

Starting in 2024, all 26 Irish Racecourses will have live in-race timing information for all races broadcast on-screen and published online, the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR), Sports Information Services (SIS) and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) announced on Friday. The feature is part of the recently concluded media rights renewal between the organizations.

The system is operated by RMG's timing partners, Coursetrack. Runners will carry lightweight GPS trackers designed to fit within the saddlecloths and transmit data directly to a centralised operation at Racing TV's London studios. Coursetrack already is in operation at Leopardstown, Dundalk and Fairyhouse.

More transmitted data includes race clock, leader's speed, leader's time per furlong and distance to finish.

“Racecourses in Ireland enter a new media rights environment from January and it is imperative that we ensure there is as much information as possible for those who want to bet on the action on our tracks,” Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse  Racing Ireland, said. The rollout of timing data from Coursetrack will be a key element in that, and I warmly welcome today's announcement.”

Sectional time reports for each race will be published in the results section on RacingTV and other affiliated websites the day after racing.

“Pace is arguably the single most important factor of a horse race–horses generally run best when their energy is used optimally, which means regulating their effort as evenly as possible,” Ruby Walsh, former 12-time champion jockey and now RTE, ITV and Racing TV presenter and pundit, said. “Get the pace wrong and you'll usually get the result wrong. Sectional times are vital for my role as an analyst, especially in upgrading and downgrading a horse's performance depending on how the race and their individual race was run. And while watching a race, it's just vital to have the clock to back up what your eyes are telling you about the pace of a race.”

The post Coursetrack Set to Roll Out at Irish Tracks for 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Royal Ascot-Placed Filly Hits The High Notes At Tattersalls With 330k Sale

Royal Ascot-placed Balalaika (Ire) (No Nay Never) was the headline act at the July Sale on Thursday when selling to BBA Ireland's Eamonn Reilly for 330,000gns with the agent coming out best in an entertaining tussle for the Rebecca Menzies-trained filly. 

Bred by the late Sir Robert Ogden, Balalaika is out of an unraced Frankel (GB) daughter of G1 Matron S. winner Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and boasts a rating of 90. 

Also involved in the bidding for the Sandringham third were Gavin Hernon, Matt Coleman, and Mark McStay but Reilly battled off the attention of Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock to land Balalaika.  

“There are no plans, but she will stay in training and although no trainer has been decided on, she will probably stay in the UK,” Reilly said.

“Her last run was very promising and she has been bought as a long-term broodmare prospect for an existing client. She is good-topped filly, has a good walk and behaved very well up here. There is plenty happening with the pedigree.”

Six horses broke the six-figure mark on the day to make it 34 all told at the July Sale this year. Thursday's trade was solid with 147 of the 156 lots offered selling at a 94% clearance rate. The aggregate was 4,445,500gns while the average was 30,241gns.

Duarte Hopes Whisky Turns Out To Be Sweet Investment For Australian Clients

It's fair to say that Whisky On The Hill (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) did not stand out as a horse who would ever rock into six figures earlier in the spring. 

After three low-key efforts in maidens, Whiskey On The Hill offered his first crackle of potential for trainer Ado McGuinness when finishing third on handicap debut at Cork as an unfancied 33-1 shot. 

He has since been sent off favourite on his next three starts and won every one of them for his owner Alex Zevenbergen, climbing 24lbs in the process.

Armando Duarte was of the opinion that there is more improvement left in the good-looking gelding and went to 135,000gns to secure him on behalf of the same owners of his flagship buy Alenquer (Fr).

The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner is now plying his trade in Australia for Ballymore Stables and trainer Michael Moroney and Whiskey On The Hill will chart a similar path. 

Duarte said, “He's for the same team of people-Ballymore Stables and Paul Moroney [bloodstock agent]–who bought Alenquer and English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). That's the only horse we looked at here at the sales who we liked and who fitted our profile. Let's hope he will be lucky for them now as well.”

He added, “Whiskey On The Hill fits the bill and was not over-expensive. He is very similar to Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who we bought off Juddmonte a couple of years ago.”

Jasour Team Keep The Party Going At Tattersalls

Just a few hours after Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) stormed to G2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July S. glory a couple of miles up the road on the Newmarket July course, HH Sheikh Sultan's Al Mohamediya Racing made a splash in the sales ring when going to 125,000gns to secure Vega Sicilia (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

A smart performer for Harry and Roger Charlton, Vega Sicilia was bought with the aim of competing in the top races in Bahrain for the leading owner in that jurisdiction. 

Vega Sicilia came to the July Sale off the back of winning a Goodwood handicap over 1m4f in the style of a progressive horse. Now rated 91, he boasts a high enough rating to compete in some of the top races in Bahrain.

Ali Majeed, who purchased Vega Sicilia on behalf of Al Mohamediya Racing, said, “We bought this horse because we bought a sprint horse [Edward Cornelius (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB})] and were looking for a Classic horse. We think this horse will be for a-mile-and-a-quarter or a-mile-and-a-half. He will handle fast ground and is rated 86 so he can run in the Bahrain Series directly. He has the rating.”

He added, “Al Mohamediya Racing is the leading owner in Bahrain for two years now and we wanted a Classic horse. There is the Crown Prince and the King Cup if we are happy with him. 

“It's amazing for Al Mohamediya Racing and for every Bahraini. To win with Jasour in a Group 2 at Newmarket in the race sponsored by the Kingdom Of Bahrain was very good. Everybody was very happy and the celebrations were very fun.”

It was a busy week on and off the track for Al Mohamediya Racing. Along with Jasour landing the July S., the owner recorded wins at Windsor and Newcastle and signed for seven horses for 444,000gns.

Another Bound For Bahrain As Donald Takes Home The Parent

The Parent (GB) (Frankel {GB}), was another six-figure lot sold on Thursday when Alastair Donald of Sackville Donald went to 105,000gns to secure the three-year-old on behalf of a Bahraini client. 

A winner of a Goodwood maiden last year, the gelding placed in two of his three starts this term and is rated 81. 

Donald said, “He is for a Bahrain-based client and goes to Bahrain for the Turf series. He was the only horse we wanted. He should be perfect for the series. 

“He is a fast-ground horse, a cracking-looking horse, and he is bred to be good. I am very pleased to get him.”

He added, “I don't think he stayed the trip on his last run and the form of his other runs look very strong. He should do well in Bahrain and will be trained by Alan Smith.”

Tiverton Off To America After 100k Sale

Be it mares or horses-in-training, the Juddmonte draft always commands plenty of interest and the Dermot Weld-trained Tiverton (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}) proved exactly that when selling to Jerry McGrath for 100,000gns. 

“Tiverton is going to the US,” McGrath said. “As a young man I worked for Dermot Weld. I have a few contacts there and they told me how highly this horse was regarded, particularly as a 2-year-old.”

Indeed, Tiverton showed good form as a juvenile, winning a Listowel maiden before being pitched into Group 3 company. He has run just twice this season, finishing down the field in both starts. 

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