Tag: Top News Europe

Highfield Princess Poised For Turf Clash With Golden Pal

Trainer John Quinn is “happy” with three-time Group 1 winner Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) ahead of a start in the 5 1/2-furlong $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 5. The 5-year-old drew stall six in the field of 16, two to the inside of crack American sprinter Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). She also carries three pounds less than the colt, and Quinn is relishing a clash with the Wesley Ward trainee. Ward also has multiple Group 1 winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (stall four) and Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof The Nile) (stall seven) signed on for the Keeneland contest.

“She's in good form as you can see,” said Quinn. “She's well in herself, she's ready and hopefully we'll get her there. She's been ticking over well; her work has been pleasing and she still looks well so I'm happy with her.

“Golden Pal is the best sprinter they've had in America for a long time. I watched him win in Keeneland in the Breeders Cup trial two weeks ago. He made all the running; he came out like a bullet. I thought his stall wasn't closed he came out so quick. He was well in control and broke the track record. I thought he was good but so is she.”

Quinn noted that the Breeders' Cup was always on his radar for the winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, G1 Nunthorpe S. and G1 Flying Five S.

“The Breeders' Cup is something we've been thinking about all year,” he added. “I said to my son, Sean, in the spring, if this filly improves seven to 10 pounds, I'd love to see her around Keeneland over 5 ½-furlongs round a bend. She's won round a bend at both Chelmsford and Haydock, she's good going left-handed. The bonus is wonderful but the fact she is good enough and we're happy with her is the clincher really.

“They've had a very dry time at Keeneland. She's got very good form on fast ground, but you just wouldn't like it to be rock hard. I believe there is some rain forecast. She has won on all grounds, but I just hope they get some rain and its decent ground.”

As long as the Trainers House Enterprises, Ltd. colourbearer exits her Breeders' Cup start in good order, there is every chance she would return as a 6-year-old.

“If she's fit, well and has got the appetite for it, he'll [owner John Fairley] race her next year,” Quinn said. “It's fantastic that he's thinking of keeping her for next year.”

 

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TDN’s Emma Berry Shortlisted For HWPA Award

The TDN's European Editor Emma Berry is among the writers shortlisted for the 2022 HWPA Awards, which take place in London on December 5.

Berry, whose work was depicted by the judges as “authoritative and well-informed articles, written in a very clear and entertaining style, most enjoyable to read”, is nominated in the Specialist Writer of the Year category along with Jonathan Harding and Alan Sweetman of the Racing Post, and Jon Lees of Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

The Racing Writer of the Year nominees are freelance journalists Lydia Hislop and Daragh Ó Conchúir, Adam Houghton of the Sporting Life, and the Racing Post's Peter Thomas. Ó Conchúir and Harding are also shortlisted in the Reporter of the Year category, along with Nick Luck for his Nick Luck Daily podcast and Lee Mottershead of the Racing Post.

The post TDN’s Emma Berry Shortlisted For HWPA Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Vente d’Elevage Catalogue Online

The catalogue for Arqana's Vente d'Elevage, to be held Dec. 3-6 in Deauville, is now online. This year's sale features a total of 1,024 mares, fillies and foals and will also include dispersals from the legendary Haras du Quesnay and the Saudi entity Marbat LLC.

The opening session of the auction will see the first 248 lots go under the hammer, including 40 stakes winners in and out of training. Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), winner of this year's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille, will be offered by trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. A graduate of the 2019 Arqana August Yearling Sale, Sweet Lady–owned by Gemini Stud–is out of the stakes-winning High Heel Sneakers (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) is set to make a second trip through the December sale, having fetched €2.5 million from Yohea on behalf of Haras de Hus last year. Winner of the 2021 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet, the 6-year-old added the G3 Prix Allez France Longines this past May and was a latest admirable fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Prior to her date in the sales ring, she will take part in the G1 Longines Japan Cup, in which she was fifth last term.

The post Vente d’Elevage Catalogue Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Baaeed Welcomed To Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud

Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has officially joined Nunnery Stud from trainer William Haggas and is now the headline act for Shadwell's 2023 stallion roster.

Shadwell's European bloodstock manager Stephen Collins and racing manager Angus Gold were at Haggas's Sommerville Lodge to watch Baaeed's groom Ricky Hall lead the superstar colt onto the horsebox where stallion manager Mark Dean was waiting to oversee the 30-minute journey to Nunnery Stud. 

Baaeed's jockey Jim Crowley, along with Richard Hills and Michael Hills, were also in attendance as those closest to Baaeed turned out in force to oversee the next chapter.

Collins said, “This is a fantastic day for Sheikha Hissa, her family, Shadwell and for Nunnery Stud-it's very exciting for us all. It's a wonderful testament to Sheikh Hamdan's legacy, bearing in mind that this story began nearly 40 years ago when he bought Height Of Fashion and here we are today with the arrival of Baaeed, who's a direct descendant of the mare. 

“It's important to thank William and everyone at Somerville Lodge for the superb job that they did with Baaeed. The team at Nunnery Stud will now look to continue that excellent work preparing the horse for his new career as a stallion.

“We've just been overwhelmed with interest in Baaeed from breeders from all over Europe and beyond, including America and Japan. I have no doubt he will be heavily oversubscribed for his first season. He ticks all the boxes. He was a magnificent racehorse, has a great pedigree, poise and athleticism. When you have a package like that, you'd very confident this is a horse that could serve us well for many years.”

Baaeed won 10 races, including six Group 1s, under the care of Haggas and his team who gave their stable star a round of applause as he left the yard for the final time.

Haggas said, “It's tinged with sadness, but it's exciting to think that one day sons and daughters of Baaeed might come back here. He has been very sound, has got a great temperament, a lot of ability and a turn of foot. If you package all those things together, you're going to get the real deal and he's been that.

“Sheikh Hamdan was a fabulous supporter of ours and it just means a lot to have a horse of this nature and quality for Sheikha Hissa and the family. I'm very sad that Sheikh Hamdan wasn't here to witness it, but he would've loved the journey, just as we've done.”    

 

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