Tag: Top News Europe

Westover Powers To Record-Breaking Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Triumph

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) failed to contend with subsequent G1 Coral-Eclipse runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in last month's G1 Coronation Cup, but regained the winning thread in emphatic style with a record-breaking performance in Saturday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Westover raced in a handy third behind Ralph Beckett-trained chaperone Malabu Drive (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was usurped for the lead by last term's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern victor Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), and eased into second when his stablemate faded quickly with a half-mile remaining. Shaken up to seize control from Tunnes in early straight, the 1-2 favourite refused to yield when strongly pressed by Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) inside the final quarter-mile and was driven out to double his elite-level tally by two lengths from that rival. The winning time of 2:25.46 lowered Alpinista's race record, set last year, by nearly 3/4-of-a-second.

Westover's journey at the highest level began with an unlucky-in-running third in Epsom's G1 Derby before gaining a measure of compensation at the Curragh. He emptied quickly when facing elders for the first time in Ascot's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at the end of July and closed his 2022 campaign with a sixth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He faced a stiff task on seasonal return in Meydan's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, but was no match for galactico Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and ran on with gusto after Emily Upjohn's gears had sealed victory at Epsom last time.

“Inevitably there was pressure as it was a long time since he won, over a year, and the longer that goes on the harder it gets,” reflected Beckett. “There was nothing wrong with his two runs this year and he's only had the one blip in the [G1] King George [last year]. He was great today and it was a very fast time. For so long we had a reputation for training long-distance fillies, so it's important to change the dial. We'll enjoy today and see what comes next. This was important.” Looking ahead to targets down the line, the trainer continued, “I think we'll either stay at a mile-and-a-half or even have a conversation about going up in trip. The peloton came to him, but he stretched away in the last half-furlong. We'll certainly consider the [G1] King George [& Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot] and see how he is closer to the time. There will be a bit of a monkey on the shoulder saying is this a good idea after what happened last year, but we'll see. The Arc will be under consideration too and he ran a great race in it last year, but got stuck in the ground [when sixth].”

It was a landmark success for rider Rob Hornby, with it being his first Group 1 in the Juddmonte silks. “Winning a Group 1 in these colours is the stuff of dreams,” he said. “I was brought up watching these colours win prestigious races and to be able to do it at Group 1 level is the highest honour. I'm grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way. Ralph has trained this horse so well from two to three and three to four, so to win a Group 1 at four is so important. These are things you dream of, so when they come true you don't know how to think.” Reflecting on a record-breaking performance, he added, “The pace was really good early on and Dougie [Costello aboard Malabu Drive] was able to keep it honest the whole way. When he dropped the bit he was able to work into it and hit the line strong. This is my third Group 1 for Ralph and fourth overall, but it's nearly a year since my last one and they are so important for a jockey.”

Pedigree Notes

Westover, one of his sire's 31 Group 1 winners, is one of two black-type scorers and the leading performer out of GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. victrix Mirabilis (Lear Fan), who also ran third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. The April-foaled bay is a full-brother to G3 Darley S. victor Monarchs Glen (GB). Mirabilis, a daughter of GII Buena Vista H. and G3 Prix du Bois winner Media Nox (GB) (Lycius), is a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) and G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Burning Sun (Danzig). Media Nox, in turn, is kin to MGSW G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Bonash (GB) (Rainbow Quest), whose descendants include G3 Earl of Sefton S. scorer and four-time Group 1-placed sire Phoenix Tower (Chester House) and G1 South Africa Classic hero Anfields Rocket (SAf) (Coup De Grace).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €400,000, Saint-Cloud, 7-8, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:25.46 (NSR), g/s.
1–WESTOVER (GB), 128, c, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Mirabilis (GSW-US, SW & G1SP-Fr, $275,664), by Lear Fan
2nd Dam: Media Nox (GB), by Lycius
3rd Dam: Sky Love, by Nijinsky II
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Rob Hornby. €228,560. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-UAE, 11-4-4-1, €2,3570,770. *Full to Monarchs Glen (GB), GSW-Eng, SW & GSP-US, $472,081. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zagrey (Fr), 128, c, 4, Zarak (Fr)–Grey Anatomy (GB), by Slickly (Fr). (€32,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Ecurie Altima & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Ecurie Euroling (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €91,440.
3–Junko (GB), 128, g, 4, Intello (Ger)–Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €45,720.
Margins: 2, 3, 9. Odds: 0.50, 3.20, 5.70.
Also Ran: Tunnes (Ger), Malabu Drive (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Westover Powers To Record-Breaking Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Eclipse Glory For Siyouni’s TDN Rising Star Paddington

Known for some time as “the first clash of the generations”, Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse proved the absolute epitome of that sentiment on Saturday as Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}–Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) mastered fellow TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to do it for the Classic crop. Providing Aidan O'Brien with the outright historical record of seven renewals in the process, the heavily-supported 8-11 favourite got a lead from West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and proceeded to glide through his most demanding examination yet.

Moving to the front passing two out, the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. hero with his weight-for-age boon had first run on the G1 Coronation Cup winner who consented to put it up to her year-younger rival on the rise to the line. Ultimately, it was Ryan Moore in charge there with a half-length winning margin and another six back to West Wind Blows who completed a TDN Rising Star one-two-three.

Fears that this four-runner edition could result in a trappy, unsatisfactory pace scenario failed to be born out and this looked straightforward stuff. Surprisingly given that outcome, the jockey's post-race conclusion will only serve to dampen the spirits of the connections of the rest of Europe's elite. “It did go to plan, but at the same time I don't think we saw the best of my horse,” he warned.

“Tactics didn't play any part at all–he was just the best horse on the day,” Moore added. “He was in a good rhythm, travelled down to the two very easy and found plenty. I was vulnerable there in the middle of the track, but he was always doing enough and he's a legitimate high-class colt.”

Ensuring that the once-important Madrid H. is brought further back to its early prominence as a Classic pointer, Paddington is now only 15 weeks on from that key part of Naas's season curtain-raiser and he has already muscled his way into elevated territory. Insatiable in his progress, his equine ambition has continued to peak beyond whatever tests the Tetrarch, the Irish Guineas and Royal Ascot could offer but this represented an altogether different level.

West Wind Blows has proven on more than one occasion how dangerous he can be on the front end and was coming off a gallant second in the G2 Hardwicke S., while Emily Upjohn had been sensational in the G1 Coronation Cup and arrived a fresh filly at a track certain to suit. Tellingly, Paddington was instantly able to take more than two lengths out of his chief rival exiting the stalls as she proved tardy and the die was cast there and then. Heading up the centre of the track to the two pole, Paddington had total control with Ryan Moore notably quiet and his three colleagues all already animated in the saddle.

From there it was a case of deja vu as the second son of Siyouni to take this prize for Ballydoyle gave a more than passable impression of the 2021 hero St Mark's Basilica (Fr). Moore barely moved his whip hand and while the filly once again flashed her talent in pursuit and got to his girth, she never looked like getting any further along. “She was there from one and a half out and she didn't quit, but he's proved he's a very tough and durable horse,” a clearly energised Moore added of his third winner of the race that in 2007 acted as an accelerator of the appreciation of his talents as he steered his own course on Notnowcato (GB) (Inchinor {GB}). “He's turned up and given his best every time and come forward all year. I just think he's a real high-quality colt with lots of pace and gears and class and Aidan can keep backing him up. He could get further. We'll enjoy him.”

This made it a dozen Eclipses for Ballydoyle, with it all beginning in 1958 courtesy of Ballymoss (GB) for Dr Vincent O'Brien. The rest of the original master of Rosegreen's haul was made up of 3-year-old colts and Aidan has followed on that trend with some of the stable's finest in Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing and the aforementioned St Mark's Basilica. While the sizeable weight-for-age concession this early in the year lends an indisputable edge to the Classic generation, they still have to possess the right material to deal with toughened and seasoned opponents.

Aidan O'Brien, who has now usurped the legendary figures of epochs past and present in Alec Taylor Jr and Sir Michael Stoute, has known for some time that Paddington was made of the right stuff but nonetheless admitted to a degree of wonder in the winner's rate of progress throughout the past fortnight. His ticket to Esher was apparently punched with a stunning final workout on the Ballydoyle gallops. “Seamus [Heffernan] rode him the other morning and he couldn't talk when he got off him–that's how aggressive and quick he has become ,” he explained. “When that happens to fellows that have ridden that many good horses, it takes you aback a little bit.”

“He is a serious horse and Ryan was very confident going out, but when you have an older filly like that they don't lie down,” O'Brien added. “We knew how good she was and didn't underestimate her in any way. Ryan said he got there a bit early, but he didn't want to break his rhythm and disappoint him and that was 100% the right thing to do. It would have been perfect for her, because she had a target to take her there but Ryan said he was surprised how easily he went through the race. I don't think he hit him at all.”

It is now a question of satiating the winner's appetite for competition and so inevitably Goodwood at the end of the month is on Paddington's agenda as he looks to follow the lead of the revered 'Iron Horse'. “There's a good chance he'll be back for the Sussex–that was the plan, but because he had thrived so much and John [Magnier] was so confident he'd get the trip he was here beforehand,” O'Brien said. “He is quicker than Giant's Causeway and his constitution is amazing–Giant always ran at the same weight, but this horse is getting heavier which is strange and unusual, but he is obviously turning into a very quick horse. He's a dream. Ryan's very excited about him.”

As Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is poised on the verge of a possibly groundbreaking campaign, with Michael Tabor this week floating the idea of backing up the Derby winner from the King George in the Juddmonte International, the “lads” now have two colts with the potential to dominate the major summer prizes. O'Brien gave a heavy hint that the Rodin-Paddington bonanza has only just begun. “The big thing is the lads love their racing and that is rising above everything else now,” he stated. “They love going racing and thinking about those horses. It is becoming more of a love and a passion than it has ever been before. I can't tell you how passionate they are about the racing.”

John Gosden said of Emily Upjohn, “It was a proper match race and she's run a blinder giving him seven pounds, but this is obviously below her best trip. She's a big unit and stands 17′ 2 and was awkward out of the stalls, so you've got to remember she had to go nearly a length and a half to get level but she battled all the way. Lester Piggott always told me that the three-year-olds have the advantage in the Eclipse and the winner's a lovely horse and a real stallion prospect. If she's in good form, we'll look at the King George and her year-end target is the Arc.”

Ed Crisford said of West Wind Blows, “Jamie set nice, honest fractions and he ran his heart out. I think we will definitely be looking at international races with him. I think he could be very competitive in Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong.”

Pedigree Notes

Like stablemate and fellow luminary Little Big Bear, Paddington emerged from blue Wildenstein blood being a son of the strong-staying Listed Prix Belle de Nuit winner Modern Eagle (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}). Her last known foal, he was bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins before achieving the joint-second-highest price of €420,000 at the 2021 Arqana October Sale. Modern Eagle, who also produced dual listed-placed Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), is a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and a half to the Listed Vintage Tipple S. winner and G3 Loughbrown S.-placed Mighty Blue (Fr) by Montjeu's son Authorized (Ire).

Millionaia is a half to Ballydoyle's former G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up Fencing Master (GB) (Oratorio {Ire}) and is a daughter of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), who is also the second dam of the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best). The fourth dam Madelia (Fr) (Caro) captured the Diane as well as the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix Saint-Alary, while those looking for stamina clues with a possible Arc bid in mind have plenty of positive pointers including the family's G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}).

Saturday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £750,000, Sandown, 7-8, 3yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:05.16, gd.
1–PADDINGTON (GB), 125, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
     1st Dam: Modern Eagle (Ger) (SW-Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Millionaia (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
     3rd Dam: Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba
TDN Rising Star. (€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Tabor/Smith/Magnier/Westerberg/Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £425,325. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 7-6-0-0, $1,357,748. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Emily Upjohn (GB), 132, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Hidden Brief (GB), by Barathea (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (60,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Lloyd Webber, Tactful Finance, S Roden; B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £161,250.
3–West Wind Blows (Ire), 135, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–West Wind (GB), by Machiavellian.
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. O-Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £80,700.
Margins: HF, 6, 2. Odds: 0.73, 2.13, 12.00.
Also Ran: Dubai Honour (Ire).

The post Eclipse Glory For Siyouni’s TDN Rising Star Paddington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Star Graduates Point to Hot Trade at JRHA 

HOKKAIDO, Japan–Things are hotting up in the Northern Horse Park, literally and figuratively. As the mercury nudged 30 degrees on Saturday, the English and Irish in town for the JRHA Select Sale swooned and wilted while the many attendants showing the horses, mostly clad in jackets, went manfully and womanfully about their hot and tiring work without so much as a whimper.

Both they and the young horses in their care are well prepared for the two inspection days ahead, despite having only arrived on the sales ground that morning. For months now, the Japanese trainers and agents have been doing the rounds of the farms on Hokkaido and will have their lists, long and short, ready for refinement. Visitors only now arriving in Japan need not fear, however, as this is almost certainly the best organised sale they are ever likely to attend. 

Reams of staff are on hand at each consignment, with the next horse waiting patiently alongside the viewer's allotted runway for the one in front of him to finish. Crib sheets are available, detailing weights and heights, and, perhaps most usefully, their reserve prices. One can only imagine the hullabaloo that would break out were this system to be suggested for use at European sales, but really it would save an awful lot of faffing and faking.

Katsumi Yoshida, whose Northern Farm bred the world's top-rated horse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), is very much the man at the helm of Japan's biggest bloodstock auction. It is, after all, held in his vast park, which is both a tourist destination and competition ground for all manner of equines, from ponies to showjumpers. Extraordinarily, in the midst of it all, one of the most celebrated broodmares in Japan lives here in her dotage. Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao), a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II's dual Classic winner Highclere (GB), is now 32 and has outlived her most famous son, Deep Impact (Ire), while another, Black Tide (Jpn), and many of their descendants, continue to feature prominently in the pedigrees of the young stock to be offered for sale on Monday and Tuesday. 

The days of Deep Impact's stock dominating this auction are now long gone, with the dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) one of the members of his small final crop. There has been another sad farewell in the Japanese stallion ranks for Duramente (Jpn), a former winner of the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown who died two years ago at the age of nine, just as his offspring were starting to show real promise. 

This season, his daughter Liberty Island (Jpn) has carried the flag forward by securing the first two stages of the Triple Tiara, with just the Shuka Sho left to come on October 15. Her sire's final batch of yearlings on offer at the Select Sale numbers 14 and includes a half-sister to a filly who has already been adorned with the Triple Tiara and so much more. Offered as lot 94, the Duramente filly is the penultimate offspring of the Scottish-born Donna Blini (GB) (Bertolini), winner of the G1 Cheveley Park S. when trained by Brian Meehan and then bought by Katsumi Yohisda as a broodmare prospect for Northern Farm. And what a signing she turned out to be. Most celebrated of her offspring is her daughter Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), twice Horse of the Year in Japan and now a Group 1 producer herself, while her full-sister Donau Blue (Jpn) is a Grade 3 winner and stakes producer. What a family, and there are two chances to buy Donna Blini's offspring this week as her final foal, a Drefong filly, will enter the ring alongside her mother on Tuesday as lot 321.

This is another unusual feature of the Select Sale. Given the time of year, most of the 240 foals for sale are not yet weaned from their dams, and they appear as pairs on the morning of the sale during a viewing session of several hours before trade begins. They later return to their home farm, usually under new ownership, for weaning to take place eventually. 

Ready for action at the Northern Farm draft | Emma Berry

Before that, there are around 220 yearlings to go under the gavel on Monday. There are a few by European-based stallions, notably a full-brother to the Breeders' Cup and Prix Jean Romanet heroine Audarya (Fr), who does a very passing impression of his Coolmore sire Wootton Bassett (GB) and is catalogued in the Shadai draft as lot 102. Similarly eye-catching is his draft-mate, lot 158, a colt from the second crop of the American champion turf horse Bricks And Mortar, who appears to be stamping his stock pretty well. 

Those stallions with first-crop yearlings on offer include Classic winner Saturnalia (Jpn), whose average price at last year's foal session was almost 15 times his stud fee and who is represented by 13 yearlings and 17 foals this time around. The latter group includes a filly out of the Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) as lot 345.

Two-year-old champion and Hong Kong Mile winner Admire Mars (Jpn) also has his first yearlings at Northern Horse Park, as does Juddmonte's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin, who is now at Shadai Stallion Station. The GI Arkansas Derby winner Nadal, who has developed into an imposing animal, is also in that category, along with the Scat Daddy horse and Japanese Grade 1 winner Mr Melody, who stands at Yushun Stallion Station. 

Hotly anticipated, especially by their sire's owner Teruya Yoshida, are the first foals of Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn). One or more of his 21 youngsters may well steal the limelight during the second session, in which four foals from the first crop of Classic winner Poetic Flare (Ire) also feature.

It is the first year since the pandemic struck that visitors have been able to travel easily to Japan, and this comes at a time when Japanese horses have been riding high across world racing. The Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) graduated from this sale as a foal back in 2017 for ¥25,000,000 (£137,000/€160,000). His fellow winner at Meydan, the G2 UAE Derby hero Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), hailed from the yearling session of 2021, bought for ¥18,000,000 (£98,000/€115,000). 

Their success, along with the likes of Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and another Dubai World Cup night winner, the aforementioned Equinox, all point to this being yet another blockbuster auction for the JRHA.

The post Star Graduates Point to Hot Trade at JRHA  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Chindit Bought By Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, Will Remain In Training Prior To Indian Stud Career

Three-time group winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been purchased by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, and will remain with trainer Richard Hannon for a European campaign prior to a stallion career in India. The former Michael Pescod-owned runner will stand at Poonawalla Stud Farms upon retirement. The news was first reported by the Racing Post.

A winner of the G2 Champagne S. at two, the G3 Greenham S. at three and the G2 Summer Mile S. in 2022, the 5-year-old has also been placed twice in the G1 Lockinge S., including a second-place effort in May.

“We are pleased to announce our brilliant, seven-time winning miler Chindit, has been bought by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla,” Hannon said on Twitter. “He'll remain in training with us for the foreseeable [future] and looks to have a future stallion career in India. We wish his new connections the best of luck with him.”

Bred by J. C. Bloodstock and R. Mahon, the relative of G1 Derby hero Motivator (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) was a 65,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 graduate when purchased by Peter and Ross Doyle from Kilminfoyle House Stud. He is the first foal out of the winning Oasis Dream (GB) mare Always A Dream (GB).

The deal was brokered by bloodstock agents Gaurav Rampal, Ross Doyle, and Richard Venn.

The post Chindit Bought By Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, Will Remain In Training Prior To Indian Stud Career appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights