Tag: Top News Europe

Frankel’s Alpinista Secures Fifth Group 1 On The Knavesmire

Kirsten Rausing's homebred 5-year-old mare Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), unbeaten through five tests last term, disposed of esteemed rivals in last month's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on seasonal return and maintained her winning streak with a decisive success as the 7-4 favourite in a stellar edition of Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire, a “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November. Successful in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, G1 Preis von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern last year, she became Sir Mark Prescott's first domestic Group 1 winner since Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) annexed 2017's G1 Nunthorpe S. at this meeting. The grey's second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) rattled off the same trio of German Group 1 triumphs in 2004 and she embellished her record with a fifth straight elite-level triumph in the 12-furlong test. Trainer Sir Mark Prescott had voiced pace concerns beforehand, going so far as to say she may have to make her own running, but his worries were assuaged as G1 Pretty Polly S. victrix La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) and G1 Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) disputed a solid tempo up front with Alpinista positioned in behind in a stalking third. Urged closer once into the long home straight, she went to the front approaching the quarter-mile marker and was driven out in the closing stages as Epsom's G1 Oaks winner Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gave vain chase. At the line, Alpinista held a one-length advantage with La Petite Coco staying on well once headed to finish 1 3/4 lengths further adrift in third.

“They are all great, but Group 1 races are hard to come by and, for a smallish stable, every five or six years you get good ones come along and it's tremendous when it happens,” said Prescott. “We trained this one's dam, granddam and great granddam. It's been a marvellous family. The original intention was to go [G1] Coronation Cup and [G1] King George [VI & Queen Elizabeth S.], but she wouldn't come in her coat in time for the Coronation, so it then became Saint-Cloud and then either here or the [G1 Prix] Vermeille. Miss Rausing was very keen to come here as she hadn't won a Group 1 in England. She has really done it all now, she's won Group 1s in England, France and Germany.”

Looking ahead, the veteran Heath House conditioner added, “The [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe] has always been her aim. Last year we rather patted ourselves on the back for being so clever winning three Group 1s in Germany, then, when the one behind us [Torquator Tasso] came and won the Arc, we rather felt we might not have been as clever as we thought we were. When she stayed in training this year that was always the aim.”

Winning jockey Luke Morris is also relishing the prospect of going to ParisLongchamp on the first Sunday in October. “Since she has been on better ground this year she has looked like a filly with more class so we can dream about Paris now,” he said. “Generally the Yorkshire Oaks can look a little top heavy with a superstar of Aidan's, but I thought it had a lot of depth and she had to give nine pounds away to the second. I thought it was a great performance and it's great she's been able to show in Britain what she is capable of. It's a massive effort from the teams at Heath House and Lanwades Stud. I'm just the lucky one that gets to sit on her a couple of times a year.”

Aidan O'Brien was not too downcast, despite Tuesday's defeat, and looked ahead to future targets after the G1 Oaks heroine failed to reel in the winner. “She will go on Irish Champions weekend somewhere, whether she will stay here [in England], or whether she will go to Ireland or whether she will go to France or whatever. Hopefully she will go somewhere. We were happy enough with that. It was her first run back, she ran very well and I don't think she was losing any ground going to the line. She has come back to form after [finishing fourth in the G1 Irish Derby at] the Curragh. She was a bit hot before the race, but I didn't mind that as I was hot myself. She is in the mix for the Arc and other races.”

Team Valor's La Petite Coco would have preferred more juice in the ground, but nonetheless produced a display of star quality in third. “She is not the type to set the pace, but nobody else wanted to so that was somewhat less than ideal,” admitted Barry Irwin. “I think the difference between her finishing right there with the first two and where she did finish was somewhat quality, because they are two fantastic horses for sure, but our filly needs the soft. The ground had a good cover on top, but underneath it was firm and she can't lay her body down like that. On soft turf, not that the others would not have run as well, I think we would have been able to hang with them better if the ground was softer. The fact that the race turned into something of a sprint, and that she wasn't going to let herself down as well, played against her somewhat.” It's unlikely connections will be tempted into a rematch with Alpinista in Paris. “Paddy [Twomey] is talking about the [G1] Prix de l'Opera or the [G1] Champion S. [at Ascot]. That is what he is looking at, we need to wait for the ground to soften and we are going to forget about the Arc this year. When she won at the Curragh it was like a miracle, where it rained just before the race and she got her ground. Even though she wasn't really totally fit, she was able to win anyway because of the ground.”

Alpinista, kin to a 2-year-old colt by Oasis Dream (GB) and a weanling filly by Iffraaj (GB), is the first of four foals and one of two winners produced by a stakes-winning half-sister to four black-type performers out of the aforementioned Albanova (GB) (Alzao). The quartet includes G3 Legacy Cup victor Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), stakes-winning G3 Geoffrey Freer S. third Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and multiple stakes scorer All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Albanova is one of four black-type performers thrown by G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose descendants also include dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) (Alzao) and stakes-winning G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Dragon Dancer (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Alouette is a half-sister to G3 Doncaster Cup vixtrix Alleluia (GB) Caerleon), who produced G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) (Alzao), with the latter being the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill).

Thursday, York, Britain
DARLEY YORKSHIRE OAKS-G1, £533,750, York, 8-18, 3yo/up, f, 11f 188yT, 2:29.92, gd.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 135, m, 5, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. £302,690. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Ger & G1SW-Fr, 14-9-2-0, $1,165,186. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tuesday (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £114,756.
3–La Petite Coco (Ire), 135, f, 4, Ruler Of The World (Ire)–La Petite Virginia (Ger), by Konigstiger (Ger). O-Team Valor International LLC; B-Mr B Schone (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. £57,432.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.75, 3.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Lilac Road (Ire), Magical Lagoon (Ire), Raclette (GB), Poptronic (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Frankel Filly A New Rising Star At Deauville

Leaving a deep impression on debut at Deauville on Thursday, the Wertheimers' Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Left Hand {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status with a five-length success in the Prix de la Reboursiere over a mile. A daughter of their G1 Prix Vermeille heroine from the family of Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), the Carlos Laffon-Parias trained bay was nobody's secret as the 8-5 favourite and was allowed to establish an instant lead by Maxime Guyon. Kicking in early straight, the homebred registered a penultimate sectional of 11.19 as she stretched to the impressive winning margin over the Freddy Head-trained Brandywine (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), with another 1 1/2 lengths back to Dschingis Grace (Fr) (Dschingis Secret {Ger}) in third. “She is a very nice filly and we always liked her,” Laffon-Parias commented. “She has confirmed what we have seen at home and is in all the major races, including the Fillies' Mile.” Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

The sire's second TDN Rising Star at the current Deauville August Festival after Kelina (Ire) and his 33rd in total, Left Sea is the second and currently last known foal out of the aforementioned Vermeille heroine and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Left Hand, who is a daughter of the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer Balladeuse (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}). Balladeuse also produced the listed scorer Bilissie (GB) by Dansili (GB) and her full-sister Romanciere (Ire), who was placed on several occasions at group level including when third in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet.

The third dam Featherquest (GB) (Rainbow Quest) also threw the aforementioned Plumania, a past TDN Rising Star who went on to glory in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud before producing the G2 Prix du Muguet winner Plumatic (GB) from a mating with Left Hand's sire Dubawi. Other descendants of Featherquest, who is a half to the leading sire Groom Dancer, include Solsticia (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) who was third in the G1 Prix Saint Alary and Frankel's smart Rumi (Fr) who captured last year's G2 Prix de la Nonette and G3 Prix Vanteaux.

1st-Deauville, €27,000, Debutantes, 8-18, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:48.22, g/s.
LEFT SEA (GB), f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Left Hand (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Balladeuse (Fr), by Singspiel (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Featherquest (GB), by Rainbow Quest
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (GB); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

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Showcasing’s Swingalong Surprises In The Lowther

That Karl Burke collected in Thursday's G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York was a surprise to nobody, but the fact that it was with the 25-1 stable second-string Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) as Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) finished out of the frame certainly was. On the pace from the outset racing up the centre under Clifford Lee, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's 120,000gns Book 2 graduate who had scored by six lengths on her third start over this six-furlong trip at Ripon at the start of the month was marginally behind her G2 Queen Mary S.-winning stablemate overall. Just before the furlong pole, that even-money favourite was starting to feel the pinch about to enter unknown territory but Swingalong was coming on strong and found the line a neck in front of the Kevin Ryan-trained Queen Me (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Remarkably, the runner-up was just failing to become the fourth generation winner of this prize for Jaber Abdullah after her dam Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}), second dam Lady Of The Desert (Rahy) and third dam Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge). There was a further 2 1/2 lengths back to Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) as Dramatised ended up fifth. “She was green on her first couple of runs and has improved a lot since Ripon,” the winning jockey said. “I kept it simple and all she did was gallop to the line–it wouldn't surprise me if she gets seven next year.”

 

Introduced over five furlongs at Nottingham at the beginning of June, Swingalong was five-lengths second to the subsequently disappointing All The Time (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) before moving up to this distance after a six-week break for a Newbury maiden July 15. Shaping like a stayer there, the chestnut was flat-footed before keeping on into fourth behind the subsequent G3 Molecomb S. winner Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never) but next time at Ripon she cut a dramatically different figure showing speed from the get-go and romping to a confidence-boosting success. Had it not been for the significant shadow cast by Dramatised, the evidence of that performance allied to the fact that she represented the Burke stable replete with classy 2-year-olds would have seen her sent off significantly shorter than her insulting starting price and there was no fluke about this powerful display in a time two seconds faster than the unbeaten colt Streets Of Gold (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) managed over the same trip in the closing nursery on Wednesday.

“She's got a huge stride and has only just filled into her frame,” Burke said of the winner. “She's got a lot stronger over the last six weeks. I know it was a different class of race, but she had them all beat after two furlongs at Ripon and I knew then we were on the right track so I said straight away we'd come here. At the time I didn't think she'd be good enough to beat Dramatised, but the difference was one stayed and one didn't. The Cheveley Park looks the obvious next step, but I'll talk to connections. I think she will stay an extra furlong, but she's got a lot of natural speed so I think we'll use that and not step her up just yet. All dreams are still alive at the minute.”

Of Dramatised, he added, “To be fair to Danny [Tudhope], all along he had his doubts. He rode her work over six furlongs two weeks ago, but I wouldn't have it that she wouldn't stay. Danny was right and I was wrong. She'll revert back to five furlongs now. I was never that keen on the Nunthorpe for her, but I suppose the only saving grace is that we didn't find out she didn't stay in France in the Prix Morny. Luckily, I made an entry in the Abbaye this week with Danny putting that element of doubt in my mind and she could go there and then to the Breeders' Cup.”

Kevin Ryan said of Queen Me, “It was a great run and lack of experience midway through the race probably just cost her. She'd only had the one start and did it very easy first time. Unfortunately we haven't been able to get another run into her, which we would have liked, through no other reason than the ground being so firm. We wanted to mind her and run her on nice ground so we waited to come here. We've always liked the filly and she'll progress again from that. We'll go home and sit on the fence, but she's proved now she's up to this level and galloped all the way through the line, which is always a good sign.”

Swingalong's dam Pilates (Ire) (Shamardal), who won over a mile, is fittingly a half to the useful filly Knavesmire (Ire) (One Cool Cat) who took the Hilary Needler Trophy when it held listed status. The family includes the Listed Abernant S. winner Splice (GB) (Sharpo {GB}), who produced a past Lowther S. winner in Soar (GB) (Danzero {Aus}) who also captured the G3 Princess Margaret S. before producing the G2 July S. runner-up Konchek (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}). Splice is also responsible for the smart dual listed scorer Feet So Fast (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who is the second dam of the group 3-winning Scandinavian champion Entangle (GB) also by Pivotal. Pilates's son of Profitable (Ire) sells at the upcoming Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, while she also has a 2022 colt by New Bay (GB).

Thursday, York, Britain
SKY BET LOWTHER S.-G2, £267,500, York, 8-18, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.80, gd.
1–SWINGALONG (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Showcasing (GB)
     1st Dam: Pilates (Ire), by Shamardal
     2nd Dam: Caribbean Escape (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
     3rd Dam: Soluce (Ire), by Junius
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (120,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Mount Armstrong Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. £151,699. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $191,700. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Queen Me (Ire), 128, f, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Queen Kindly (GB), by Frankel (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £57,513.
3–Matilda Picotte (Ire), 128, f, 2, Sioux Nation–Hallie's Comet (Ire), by One Cool Cat. O-Matilda & Kilmichael Racing Partnership; B-Mighty Universe Ltd (IRE); T-Kieran Cotter. £28,783.
Margins: NK, 2HF, NK. Odds: 25.00, 20.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Mawj (Ire), Dramatised (Ire), Maria Branwell (Ire), Lady Tilbury (GB), Glenlaurel (Ire), Kerindia (Ire), Sweet Harmony (Ire), Lady Hollywood (GB), Kinta (Ire), Desert Illusion (Ire). Scratched: Miami Girl (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Bahrain Turf Club Announce Prize-Money Increase

The Bahrain Turf Club has announced an increase in purse money to the tune of 20% for the 2022 Bahrain International Trophy and the Bahrain Turf Series. That means that the total prize fund for the G3 Bahrain International Trophy will rise to £600,000 for 2022. Along with that, the 10 Bahrain Turf Series races will be run for £60,000 apiece.

First run in 2019 as a conditions race, the Bahrain International Trophy was upgraded to G3 status last year, with Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) edging out Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) in a tight finish to the 1m2f contest. 

Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al Khalifa, Executive Director of The Bahrain Turf Club, thinks the increased prize-money on offer will further cement the fixture on the international calendar. 

He explained, “We are delighted to announce an increase in prize money for our feature race, the G3 Bahrain International Trophy. We are continually looking to develop horse racing in The Kingdom and by making this race more valuable, we believe that it is now firmly established on the international programme. We look forward to this year's renewal and hope that we will attract some of the best horses from around the world.”

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