Tag: Top News Europe

Cosmo Kuranda Punches Ticket to Japanese 2000 Guineas

Showing modest form throughout most of his career, Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) broke through with a convincing victory as a 33-1 outsider in Sunday's Deep Impact Kinen (Japanese 2000 Guineas Trial) at Nakayama. Supported by a single win in 2023-recorded at Niigata Oct. 29–the colt kicked off this season with a workmanlike fifth over this course and trip Jan. 8.

He settled near the back of the field early as longshot Sirius Colt (Jpn) (Makfi {GB}) cruised uncontested in front. Quickly picking off his rivals from a wide berth with 800 meters left to negotiate, the dark bay caught the pacesetter turning for home, poked his head in front midstretch and drew clear to score by 1 1/4 lengths over the fast-closing third choice Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) with Sirius Colt holding on for third. Favored Trovatore (Jpn) (Rey de Oro {Jpn}) ran an even race throughout to finish sixth.

Pedigree Notes:
Cosmo Kuranda, a member Al Ain's limited first crop of runners, becomes the Japanese 2000 Guineas victor's first black-type/group winner. Dam Southern Speed posted her most important scores in the G1 Caulfield Cup and G2 Makybe Diva S. in addition to placing in three additional events at the highest level. The 17-year-old mare hails from the family of champion 3-year-old filly and G1 Golden Slipper heroine Ha Ha (Aus) (Danehill).

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
HOCHI HAI YAYOI SHO DEEP IMPACT KINEN-G2, ¥104,620,000, Nakayama, 3-3, 3yo, 2000mT, 1:59.80, fm.
1–COSMO KURANDA (JPN), 126, c, 3, Al Ain (Jpn)
1st Dam: Southern Speed (Aus) (G1SW-Aus), by Southern Image
2nd Dam: Golden Eagle (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)
3rd Dam: Rising Eagle (Aus), by Danehill
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Big Red Farm; T-Shizuya Kato; J-Mirco Demuro; ¥54,784,000. Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-0. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Shin Emperor (Fr), 126, c, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Starlet's Sister (Ire),
by Galileo (Ire). (€2,100,000 yrl '22 ARQAUG). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Ecurie Des Monceaux; ¥22,208,000.
3–Sirius Colt (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Makfi (GB)–Old Flame (Jpn), by
Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn). O-Masatake Iida; B-Chiyoda Farm; ¥4,112,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, NK; Odds: 33.90, 2.50, 75.60.
Click for the JRA chart & video.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree

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“He’s A Group Horse” – Davison Has Royal Ascot Plan For Rapid Improver

Trainer Jack Davison says he is convinced that rapid improver Bergamasco (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) is a Group horse in the making and is preparing the colt for a tilt at the Britannia S. at Royal Ascot following a career-best performance in winning the Patton Race at Dundalk on Friday. 

Bergamasco has gone from strength to strength at Dundalk over the winter by winning three times, including when accounting for Nerano (War Front) and the 104-rated Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the one-mile contest, which was recently downgraded from Listed status. 

Despite that silky smooth success, the handler confirmed that no offers have been levelled at connections, who are happy to roll the big dice with a horse that was acquired for just €12,000 as a yearling.

Davison said, “Bergamasco has loads of options now. I think he'll get nine or 10 pounds for Friday, which would get him into the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. Hopefully he'd have a live chance in a race like that.”

He added, “I think he's a Group horse. I really fancied him on Friday because I thought it would take a Stakes horse to win it. I watched his replay of his previous win and, when a race is run to suit, he's capable of quickening up off a fast pace. The time of the race on Friday was quite good as well.”

Bergamasco races in the colours of the trainer's parents, John and Paula, who are hugely distinguished breeders in their own right under the banner of Killarkin Stud. Davison explained how, from humble beginnings, Bergamasco has provided the family with a great amount of enjoyment, and says he is confident that there is plenty more fun to be had with the improving three-year-old. 

He said, “I bought him off Tally-Ho Stud and a good friend of mine, Tommy Burns, who bred him, for just €12,000 at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale. I bought a lot of yearlings that year–some expensive ones–and then my parents said that they'd quite like a colt to race and he was the cheapest one we bought. He's pretty highly-rated now and has won almost €50,000 in prize-money so he has worked out well. It's a good story.”

Davison added, “There hasn't been much interest in the horse since Friday. I think people underestimate a horse like him just because of his sire, really. It was just a three-runner race at Dundalk and I suppose all of his winning has been at Dundalk. Maybe people want to see some turf form from him? I haven't had any solid offers for the horse since he won on Friday and I certainly won't be giving him away either because I think there is loads to come from him. He could be a horse to go to a London Sale with an entry in the Britannia Stakes. That could be an option.

“I'm very much a, 'have horse will travel,' kind of trainer, which is why I won't be giving this lad away. If you look beyond Ascot, there is a lot of money on offer in places like Saudi Arabia, which could be right up his street. He could be ideal for big-race international targets. We're under no pressure with him.”

Away from Bergamasco, Davison has big plans for classy prospect She's Quality (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), talented sprinter Thunderbear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and some smart youngsters who have yet to hit the track. 

He explained, “I think highly of She's Quality. She might make a reappearance in a six-furlong conditions race at Dundalk in a fortnight's time. She was always going to be more of a three-year-old as she's very big. I'd say she's a nice sprinter in the making. Thunderbear really thrives for soft underfoot conditions. We might run him in a handicap on the opening day of the season at the Curragh. He'll be top weight, no doubt, but we'll probably claim off him and try and get a bit of confidence into him.”

Davison added, “I have one really nice three-year-old colt but I won't say his name for fear of jinxing him! But he's a nicer horse than Bergamasco and he hasn't even seen a racecourse yet. “We have a lovely team of 25 horses. Everything we have is worth having in training in Ireland so we're really happy with how things are building towards the season ahead. It's all about stats now. If I bring a runner to the races, I want people to take note. If we can keep that going forward, we'll be very happy.”

 

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Helios Express Leaves It Late In Hong Kong Classic Cup

Sent away as the $16.50 (65-100) jolly to add Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Cup to last month's Hong Kong Classic Mile, top-rated Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) managed to work his way out of a jackpot with 200 metres to travel and flashed home to touch off an extremely game Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) by a short head Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. He can join the likes of the late Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) and Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) as Triple Crown winners should he negotiate the step up to the 2000 metres in the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby in three weeks.

Having shown a penchant to want to do too much in the Classic Mile, Helios Express was going to need to relax in the nine-furlong contest if he was to see out the trip. He switched off well enough mid-division and against the rail in the early stages as Beauty Crescent (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Chancheng Glory came across from their wide draws to dispute whatever pace there was. But by about midway, Helios Express was tugging hard and Hugh Bowman had his hands full and his feet in the dashboard, doing everything in his power to try and save something for a finish.

The favourite went better on the turn as Beauty Crescent turned them into the Sha Tin straight, but he was going to have to be ridden for some luck. Held together inside, Helios Express quickly moved onto the leaders' heels, but his stablemate Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid) was there three off the fence and the no exit sign was illuminated for a handful of strides. But owing to the fact that Ensued lacks acceleration, Helios Express pushed away from the inside and now had dead aim on Chancheng Glory, who went to the front 250m from home. The latter, a 51-1 chance, had something left and wasn't going away, but Bowman kept after Helios Express and shoved him across the line. Ensued was a one-paced third ahead of Classic Mile third Star Mac (Aus) (Heroic Valour {Aus}), who got home well from the tail.

“There were a few anxious moments at the 700m when I couldn't hold him but I was given no option but to ride him as I rode him, given the way the race panned out,” said Bowman, a two-time Derby winner, but registering his first in the Classic Cup. “He settled really well but then when the pace started to change, it got really muddling around the corner, he didn't cope with that very well. It's hard to be too critical of him for that reason, either. With a smooth run race (in the Derby), he'll be okay.

“He needs an even tempo, he doesn't particularly need it fast. Like all horses, he's going to benefit from an even pace. It's not only him–it's the entire field.”

 

 

 

Pedigree Notes:

Western Australian-bred Helios Express continues an outstanding run in Hong Kong for his sire, who sits second behind Deep Field (Aus) in progeny earnings for the current season and his two stakes winners ranks as joint-best alongside Starspangledbanner (Aus). His other black-type scorer this term is G1 Centenary Sprint Cup hero Victor the Winner (Aus), who is a probable starter in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chuyko Racecourse Mar. 24.

A three-time winner at the races, Paris Texas passed away in September 2021 according to the Australian Stud Book, but has left behind Helios Express's unraced 3-year-old full-sister Isolation Ridge (Aus), who is in training with Lindsey Smith at Linton in Victoria.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP-LR, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 3-3, NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:47.73, gd.
1–HELIOS EXPRESS (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Toronado (Ire)
1st Dam: Paris Texas (Aus), by Hinchinbrook (Aus)
2nd Dam: Hialeah Star (Aus), by Luskin Star (Aus)
3rd Dam: Hialeah Gold (Aus), by Sovereign Red (NZ)
O-Andy Yung Ming Tai; B-C Wells (WA); T-John Size; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$7,280,000. Lifetime Record: 9-7-1-1, HK$23,070,200. *Formerly Tex Mex (Aus). Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Chancheng Glory, 126, g, 4, Mor Spirit–Solid Scam, by Consolidator. ($50,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $110,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $220,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Chancheng Racing Syndicate; B-H Allen Poindexter (IA); T-Francis Lui; J-Keegan de Melo; HK$2,730,000.
3–Ensued, 126, g, 4, Lemon Drop Kid–Alluvial Gold (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). ($120,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; €260,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-Ada Wong Yin Man; B-T/C Stable LLC (KY); T-John Size; J-Ryan Moore; HK$1,495,000.
Margins: SHD, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 65-100, 51-1, 69-10.
Also Ran: Star Mac (Aus), Beauty Crescent (Ire), Helene Feeling (Ire), Chill Chibi (NZ), Unbelievable, Speed Dragon (NZ), Fallon (Ire), Elliptical (Aus), Simply Maverick (Aus), Ka Ying Generation (Ire), Awesome Fluke (Aus). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing.

 

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Lordan Buzzing To Be Back Riding Eight Months After Horror Spill In Irish Derby

Wayne Lordan described his return to race-riding at Dundalk on Friday following an eight-month spell on the sidelines through injury as “a great feeling” and admitted to not realising how much he missed competitive action until he got the leg up aboard Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Patton Race.

Alas, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt could not provide Lordan with a dream return, as he trailed home last of the three runners, but Lordan's spirits could not have been dented after completing the comeback. 

The multiple Group 1 and Classic-winning rider, who has been a key cog in the Ballydoyle operation for some years now, suffered career-threatening injuries when he was unshipped from the ill-fated San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Irish Derby last July.

That left Lordan with fractures to his legs and elbow, along with a laceration to his arm, but Cork native said he never doubted that he would make a return to the saddle during his recovery. 

He explained, “It was great to get back–a great feeling. A lot of the time spent off was purely recovery. I had a lot of tests that I needed to pass in order to get back and that takes time. 

“I had to wait to get all of the right results back and thankfully they did. The other side to it was the injury took place towards the end of the year, so my recovery was over the winter, and that made things a bit easier. It's not a crazy busy time of the year for a jockey and it made it a bit easier watching on.”

He added, “I was always confident that everything was going well. You're just waiting for the right boxes to be ticked and everyone else to be happy. I've felt good for a while now. I started back in the gym back in November.”

Lordan is one of the most decorated riders in Ireland. He cemented his relationship with O'Brien when partnering Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to victory in the 2017 1,000 Guineas. He has since been associated with top-notch horses like Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), for whom he was at his brilliant best aboard in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and more. 

On his return, Lordan continued, “It's not until you get back race-riding that you realise how much you've missed it. I got back into Ballydoyle on January 3 and it was just a brilliant feeling to go back in there. It's a nice time of year. From finding two-year-olds, to looking forward to the three-year-olds, there's a lot of excitement in the air. Time will tell as the season goes on.”

 

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