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Yulong Buys Forbidden Love For A$4.1 Million, Spends A$19 Million Total At Magics

Offered by Newgate Consignment, Forbidden Love (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) (lot 568) topped Day 1 of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, selling to Yulong Stud for $4.1 million on a strong day of trade.

The three-time Group 1 winner was one of 35 mares snapped up by the racing and breeding entity, whose total spend was A$19,031,000 on Tuesday. Three other millionaires–there were nine during the first session overall–also made their way into the Yulong fold.

Dual top-level winner Snapdancer (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) (lot 645), from the Sullivan Bloodstock draft, was acquired for A$3.2 million, while lot 575, Isotope (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (Aus) (All American {Aus}), made A$2.3 million from the Eureka Stud consignment. Yankee Rose's daughter Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) landed her second Classic, the G1 Japanese Oaks, on Sunday. Rounding out the quartet of million-dollar mares for Yulong was Promise Of Success (GB) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 620). The Rosemond Stud draftee won at Group 2 level in Australia, and Yulong shelled out A$1.35 million for the bay from the family of Urban Sea (Miswaki) et al.

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Harrington: Horses Have Been “The Best Therapy” During Breast Cancer Battle

Jessica Harrington, who will bid to win her first Betfred Derby with Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), has described working with horses as “the best therapy” in her breast cancer battle.

Sprewell was an impressive winner of a Group 3 Derby trial at Leopardstown earlier this month and the 76-year-old trainer believes the colt has what it takes to provide her with a breakthrough victory in the Epsom Classic.

Speaking on a Zoom call organised by The Jockey Club, Harrington said, “I've been delighted with him. We knew he'd come on over the winter and he's run two good, solid races.

“He's come out of the Leopardstown run very well and we were delighted with him. He definitely stepped forward from there again and we're looking forward to Saturday week.”

Harrington added on the general 12-1 chance for the Derby, “I think the step up to a-mile-and-a-half will suit him–he ran through the line very strong (at Leopardstown) and he's a very strong and relaxed horse, which is the main thing.

“Nothing seems to faze him and I think going the mile-and-a-half will suit him because I think he'll settle well, which he had done in both of his races this year.”

Harrington was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year. The dual Classic-winning trainer has spoken about how working in a busy yard has been a therapy during her recuperation and described her daughters Emma [Galway] and Kate as a massive help in ensuring the smooth running of the yard during that time.

She explained, “Things are great and I'm lucky enough to have finished the worst part of it now that the chemo is done. We're moving on to the next stage now and it'll take a bit longer, but I hope that I'll be out and about again very shortly.

“The horses really have been a massive help to me and I'm really lucky to have a massive support team here.”

She added, “My daughters Kate and Emma and my son-in-law [Richie Galway] have been around all winter keeping things going and I did my best to get out every single day that I could to look at the horses, because that was the best therapy that I reckoned I had.

“I went racing last Friday to Leopardstown. I didn't actually go on Sunday, but I go when it's nice and near and when I can. I'd be most likely to watch the Derby from home, but I'll see how I get on.”

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Al Riffa To Miss Irish 2000, Royal Ascot Bid Still Possible

Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), winner of last year's G1 National S. and ante-post favourite for Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, has been ruled out of the race with “a little setback,” the Irish Field reported. While announcing that the Jassim Bin Al-Attiyah-owned colt would not make the Curragh this weekend, trainer Joseph O'Brien remains confident that the colt will make the G1 St James's Palace S. on opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting June 20. He is a 6-1 chance for that mile test ante-post with Coral.

“He has just had a little setback in training,” O'Brien told the Irish Field. “Hopefully it's nothing too serious and he will be back later in the summer. He has options at Ascot and further afield than that as well.”

Al Riffa also holds an entry for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh July 2.

“These things happen, so it's a long way from a problem,” O'Brien continued. “It is obviously disappointing for the owners. This race has been his target for the last while, but we will look forward to things later in the summer.

“Timing-wise, Royal Ascot will be fine, but we will have to decide whether we want to run there or in other races. We'll not be rushing into any decisions.”

The defections leaves G1 English 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as market leader for the Irish 2000, but he is expected to wait for the St James's Palace.

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Racing Season Begins In Hohhot

The Inner Mongolia Hohhot Horseracing Series kicked off at Aowei Racecourse in Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia, China, Sunday, May 21.

The series will take place each Sunday through mid-September, with total prize money on offer of RMB10 million (£1.14 million/US$1.42 million). For the first time, the Chinese Equestrian Association has approved the holding of the Chinese Horseracing Points Race during the series using a points system similar to Formula 1 racing.

According to An Zhiqiang, chairman of the Hohhot Equestrian Association and Chairman of Inner Mongolia Mengjun Horse Industry, the express goal of the series is “localizing high-end horses and actively establishing and introducing domestic an internationally renowned events.”

According to Mr An, the final raceday of the season will offer prize money of RMB3 million, with a single race worth RMB1 million restricted imported horses. The best jockey of the series will receive RMB200,000, the best trainer 300,000 and leading owner 500,000.

Mr An is one of the first Chinese owners purchasing horses out of Europe and is the biggest buyer of American-bred horses in Mainland China. His Qian Cheng Si Jin (Brody's Cause) was a winner on Sunday's program.

Hohhot is the only city in China with four racecourses, including Mengjun Racecourse, home base of Mr An, City Racecourse and Huhtala Racecourse.

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