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Exceed And Excel’s Mawj Survives Enquiry In The Duchess Of Cambridge

Godolphin's homebred 2-year-old distaffer Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}–Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) exhibited an impressive array of gears when earning 'TDN Rising Star' status by daylight in her May 14 debut over six furlongs at Newmarket's Rowley Mile venue and followed up with a second in Royal Ascot's June 17 G3 Albany S. in her only other start last time. Lining up as a 4-1 chance for Friday's bet365-sponsored G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at HQ's July course, the G1 Moyglare Stud S. nominee bounced back in style, and survived a stewards' enquiry, to claim a first black-type triumph in the six-furlong test. Positioned on the lead after a slick getaway, she was bustled along when threatened on both sides at the foot of the hill and kept on strongly, despite a leftward drift, in the closing stages to deny the hitherto unbeaten Listed Empress S. victrix Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) by a half length for a career high.

“The way she won the race is exciting and now we're looking at the [G1] Cheveley Park,” revealed trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who notched his second win, and first since 1997, in the contest. “She's a tiny filly, but she obviously has class. I remember when she won first time out, off the back of one piece of work, because she was light and she won well. She was behind a good filly at [Royal] Ascot and now winning this is a good result for her. I hope she grows and if she does it would be great. I'll take her to Dubai to find nice races for her in the winter, but her next target is the Cheveley Park and she will have a break now. Seven furlongs will be better for her at the end of the season.”

Winning rider Ray Dawson incurred a three-day suspension for careless riding in the closing stages and added, “Obviously there was interference, I was unaware where Frankie [Dettori on Lezoo] was until probably the last furlong and it was a little bit late then. I straightened my filly up and she was always going to stay in front. We kept the race, but it's mandatory that you're going to get between two and four days. I got three which is fair enough. I watched the video of the head-on and I did let her drift across and I've got to be punished for that. I am over the moon for this filly and we got very excited when she won first time out at Newmarket. Ascot didn't work out the way we hoped and she ran a great race [in the Albany], but we bumped into a very good horse on the day. She jumped and was very professional today. She wanted to please me the whole way and wanted to get her head in front. She was tough when she needed to be and she's got a lot of scope for the future. She's definitely heading towards a Group 1, she's ticking all the boxes and the [G1] Cheveley Park sounds about right at this moment.”

Ralph Beckett, trainer of runner-up Lezoo, commented, “I was very pleased with the run, she ran her race and left it all there. We just couldn't quite get it done. She was ready for it, from the way she was training, and I was happy to come back here after her Listed win here 13 days ago. Six furlongs on this [good-to-firm] ground appears her gig. Her dam was very much a soft-ground filly that won the [G3] Firth Of Clyde, so I wouldn't mind trying her on it.”

Mawj is the fifth of six foals and one of four scorers out of a half-sister to G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), G3 Prix Minerve victrix Synopsis (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Epic Similie (GB) (Lomitas {GB}), herself the dam of G2 July S. and G3 Sirenia S. runner-up Figure of Speech (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Her dam Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is also kin to the dam of Listed Prix Pelleas second Lackeen (GB) (Shamardal). Descendants of her MGSW third dam Proskona (Mr. Prospector), herself a half-sister to MG1SP sire Keos (Riverman) and GSW matriarch Korveya (Riverman), include MG1SW sire Act One (GB) (In the Wings {GB}), G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains third Gharir (Ire) (Machiavellian), G1 Fillies' Mile second Summer Symphony (Ire) (Caerleon) and GI Belmont Oaks Invitational third Summer Solo (Arch). The April-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), stakes-winning G3 Diomed S. second Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) and a yearling filly by Mastercraftsman (Ire).

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE S. (SPONSORED BY BET365)-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 7-8, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.02, g/f.
1–MAWJ (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Proskona, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Ray Dawson. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $102,467. *1/2 to Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), GISW-US, G1SW-Fr & GSW-Eng, $1,136,105; and Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), SW & GSP-Eng, SP-UAE, $176,814. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lezoo (GB), 128, f, 2, Zoustar (Aus)–Roger Sez (Ire), by Red Clubs (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (77,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; €110,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-Marc Chan & Andrew Rosen; B-Chasemore Farm (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £21,500.
3–Queen Olly (Ire), 128, f, 2, No Nay Never–Surprisingly (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€300,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Diamond Creek Farm (IRE); T-David Loughnane. £10,760.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.00, 1.88, 9.00.
Also Ran: Tagline (GB), Carmela (Ire), Maylandsea (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Kingman’s Epictetus Oozes Class In TDN Rising Star Display

George Strawbridge's 2-year-old colt Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–Thistle Bird {GB}, by Selkirk) was the pick of a baker's dozen on breeding, but not so in the betting, for Friday's Weatherbys British EBF Maiden S. at Newmarket and made a mockery of 11-1 odds with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in a heat won last term by subsequent G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up and G3 Jersey S. victor Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}). The 2022 G1 Derby entry was swiftly into a comfortable rhythm behind the leaders and raced on the bridle through halfway in this seven-furlong contest. Making eyecatching headway under a motionless Martin Harley to ease ahead at the quarter-mile marker, he was given a shake of the reins when threatened approaching the final furlong and kept on powerfully up the hill to easily outpoint Leadman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths in impressive fashion.

“He's done nothing at home, he's worked gently on the bridle with another horse and wasn't wound up in any way for the race,” explained trainer John Gosden. “He was so sensible in the proceedings beforehand and in the race he did it all very professionally. He's not been on the grass for seven weeks, he's just been on the all-weather. Martin [Harley] gave him a lovely ride and I'm overjoyed. James Wigan bought the mare for Mr Strawbridge at the Rothschild dispersal and she was an exceptionally talented Group 1 winner that Roger [Charlton] trained. We'll go a step at a time and won't go jumping in the deep end. I think he'll be very comfortable over a mile, we'll go to a novice and then see where we go from there.”

Epictetus is the fifth foal and winner for G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk), herself a half-sister to dual Group 3-winning G1 Cantala S. second McCreery (GB) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) out of the dual stakes-winning G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third Dolma (Fr) (Marchand de Sable). Thistle Bird was a 750,000gns purchase, carrying the winner, at Tattersalls' 2019 December Mares fixture and has also produced Listed Radley S. victrix and G3 Fred Darling S. runner-up Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire). The May-foaled bay's stakes-placed third dam Young Manila (Manila) is kin to a trio of stakes performers headed by MGSW G2 Prix de Royallieu victrix Fabulous Hostess (Fabulous Dancer).

1st-Newmarket, £15,000, Mdn, 7-8, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:24.28, g/f.
EPICTETUS (IRE), c, 2, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Thistle Bird (GB) (Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Ire, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $577,634), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Dolma (Fr), by Marchand de Sable
3rd Dam: Young Manila, by Manila
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £8,100. O/B-George Strawbridge (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Hugely Popular Group 1 Winner Lord Glitters Retired

Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper–Lady Glitters {Fr}, by Homme de Loi {Ire}), one of the most popular horses in training, has bowed out from racing and been retired, according to his trainer David O'Meara.

The Group 1-winning grey amassed £2.2 million in prize-money throughout a glittering career on the track. He won 11 of his 46 starts and netted connections another massive payday when bagging the G2 Singspiel S. at Meydan back in February.

From the same family as French Group 3 winner Petit Chevalier (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Lord Glitters carried the colours of the late Geoff Turnbull and his wife Sandra and the undoubted highlight of his career came when he won the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot in 2019.

He also won the G1 Jebel Hatta in Dubai last year, the Balmoral H. at Ascot and the G3 Strensall S. at York.

O'Meara said, “Obviously, if he was still going, we'd go back to Bahrain, as he had each of the past few winters abroad, but we feel he's had enough. He's had a lot of racing on his old body and it now looks like it is time to pack up.

“He had a good winter. He won the Bahrain Trophy and the Singspiel again and I don't want him to decline–I want him to finish off having a good year and this seems to be the right time now.”

The trainer added, “He's had a good career. He's won a lot of prize-money and won a lot of big races and has been brilliant for us and a huge flag-bearer for the yard.

“I know he has been campaigned a lot abroad, but to win almost two-and-a-quarter million in prize money is very good for a horse based in England.”

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Shadwell Shine Again as Albasheer Shares Top Lot at 130,000gns

Shadwell were responsible for the record-breaking sales-topper on Wednesday when Rihaam (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), in foal to Dark Angel (Ire), sold for 540,000gns, and Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal), another from the draft, was the co-top lot on Thursday at 130,000gns. 

Boasting a rating of 107 and some top-notch form to go with it, having finished second in the G2 Champagne S. in 2020, Albasheer (lot 453) was knocked down to Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock. He has yet to race this season and was last seen finishing mid-division in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup over seven furlongs at Newbury in December.  

He was bought on behalf of Andy Taylor to join Archie Watson who, according to Biggs, will bid to ignite the classy form the Shamardal 4-year-old showed as a juvenile. 

“He has been bought for Andy Taylor, who races his horses under Taylor Bloodstock, and he goes to Archie Watson,” Biggs said. 

“We have been looking for a horse with his profile for a time-a horse with form over six to seven furlongs. 

“He has had a few niggling training problems, but has vetted fine. He had high-class form as a young horse and hopefully we can get back to that. We are delighted to have bought one from the Shadwell draft as we have tried on a few.”

On a day with the staggeringly high clearance rate of 99%, when all bar two of the 156 horses offered found new homes, overall the figures were up marginally on the equivalent session 12 months ago. 

At 24,864gns, the average was up by 4% while the median rose by 7% to 15,000gns. Another 3,829,000gns was added to the record takings of the opening session.

Australians Make Presence Felt

William Johnson may have been cooped up in his hotel room after becoming ill but it didn't stop the Australian making his presence felt at the sale as he bagged the William Haggas-trained Grenoble (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 540) for 130,000gns. 

Signed for by Johnson Bloodstock and Mark Pilkington Management, the 94-rated and Newsells Park Stud-bred Grenoble will continue his career for Darren Thomas of Seymour Bloodstock in Australia. 

Speaking later via telephone, Johnson commented, “He is a lightly-raced horse and comes into Australia with a rating that enables him to work through the grades.

“He falls straight into Saturday class in Australia and with prize money continuing to improve there are plenty of options from him over a mile to a mile-and-a-half.”

Seymour Bloodstock is best known for owning Merchant Navy (Aus), who landed the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot in 2018, and Johnson, along with his bloodstock agent Pilkington, identified his latest recruit. 

Johnson explained, “He is for Darren Thomas of Seymour Bloodstock who, along with his racing manager Mark Pilkington, identified the horse. 

“I have helped them on the ground with inspections and organising the vetting and the finer details. We will have a bit more of a plan as regards the trainer when they wake up with the news they have bought the horse!”

He added, “Siyouni is an extremely good stallion and he goes well in Australia, his horses bred on southern hemisphere time, their stakes winners to runners is extremely strong, and he has got Amelia's Jewel (Aus) in western Australia. Sottsass (Fr) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) are standing at Coolmore Australia this year, which ensures everyone knows the stallion. It always helps whatever horse you buy if they have a bit of a pedigree and are by the right stallion.”

Bahrain Buyers Prominent

Oliver St Lawrence punched in the hours and signed for notable lots either side of the afternoon break. Rollajam (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) was the most interesting of the pair and is off to Bahrain after St Lawrence went to 120,000gns to purchase the gelding on behalf of Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

“He's a lovely big, strong horse,” St Lawrence said of lot 564 in the baking evening sun. “I spoke to Jedd O'Keeffe beforehand-had done some business with Jedd in the past-and he highly recommended the horse.”

He added, “I have actually known the horse since he was a foal as he was bred by Tim and Gill Bostwick of Biddestone Stud, so I've known him a long time. Hopefully he'll do well in that part of the world.”

Asked if horses like Rollajam have become harder to buy, St Lawrence responded, “I don't know if they have been harder to buy but the English trainers have better class horses and they know what is needed. Sadly, the English [trainers] have worked out what they need to be doing and we have found it a bit harder this year.”

Nietzsche's Star (GB) (lot 397), a rock-solid three-time-winning son of Exceed And Excel (Aus), is also Bahrain-bound. He was the first horse to break into the 100,000gns mark in the morning session and was bought by St Lawrence to join Fawzi Nass.

The bloodstock agent said, “He is a scopey sort, goes on the firm and he seems to be progressing. Andrew tells us there is more in him.

“He seems to fit the profile for Bahrain, he has got to go up a few pounds to get into the Bahrain series, but that looks perfectly possible. He won't run here and will tick over until he can travel.”

Trained by Andrew Balding, Nietzsche's Star is out of Whim (GB) (Nayef), who was Listed-placed in France, and is a grandson of the Group 3 scorer Whazzis (GB) (Desert Prince {GB}). 

Rollajam is out of the Teofilo (Ire) mare Papaya (Ire), who is a half-sister to Lend A Hand (GB), a champion juvenile in Italy and winner of the G1 Gran Criterium (G1).

Foy To The Fore

Kevin Philippart de Foy, on course to record his best tally of winners this season, was bolstered by the addition of another smart recruit from Ireland to his Newmarket stable. 

Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah went to £500,000 to secure Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to join the trainer at the Goffs London Sale in June and he bolstered his string with the addition of National Gallery (Ire) (Caravaggio) for 110,000gns on Thursday. 

A winner on the turf and on the all-weather for Joseph O'Brien, including at Limerick last month, National Gallery (lot 548) is rated 85. 

Cadillac, a Group 2 winner for Jessica Harrington, provided his new connections with an immediate payday when finishing second in the Wolferton S. at Royal Ascot and, while there are no plans in place for their latest recruit, hopes are high National Gallery can enjoy a fruitful time in Britain. 

The hammer fell to Adel Mohommed, who said, “He will go to Kevin Philippart de Foy and we'll see.” 

Hurdles Beckon For New Year Honours

Gordon Elliott and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani enjoyed notable success when Pallasator (GB) (Motivator {GB}) landed the Queen Alexandra S. at Royal Ascot and it was on the recommendation of the man behind Qatar Racing that the leading jumps trainer secured New Year Honours (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) for 80,000gns. 

Signed for by Mouse O'Ryan, who took instruction on the phone just below the rostrum and had to wrestle off interest from a number of notable potential buyers, New Year Honours (lot 362) will now embark on a hurdling career with Elliott. 

Of course, Elliott enjoyed huge success with the Nathaniel gelding Zanahiyr (Ire), who finished third in this year's G1 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, and hopes are high in the Cullentra House camp that New Year Honours can make a big impact in that sphere. 

O'Ryan said, “She is a lovely filly and  is progressive. Her sire speaks for himself and we were delighted to get her. She goes to Gordon Elliott and came very well-recommended by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani.”

He added, “There is a fantastic programme for juveniles, especially for fillies, and you'd have to be thinking that the Listed juvenile hurdle at Aintree in December would be one of a number of races that Gordon could target her at. She is for sale and she should do well.”

New Year Honours was trained by Ralph Beckett and is out of Coquette Noire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a half-sister to Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), the dam of Line Of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Buy of the Day

By Emma Berry

Pivotal (GB) fillies will be in increasingly short supply, so buying one of his daughters from the farm which bred him and nurtured his sensational stallion career is a good place to start when seeking a young broodmare prospect.

Lot 380, Isakova (GB), has so far raced just once earlier this year for Clive Cox and Cheveley Park Stud and, as a 3-year-old, could still have plenty to come on the track. Down the line in a broodmare career she has much to recommend her as a grand-daughter of the great Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo), and being out of her dual-winning daughter Russian Heroine (GB) (Incvincible Spirit {Ire}).

The family has been boosted of late by two more of Russian Rhythm's grand-daughters, Bashkirova (GB) and Potapova (GB) – by Isakova's sire and maternal grandsire, Pivotal and Invincible Spirit, respectively – who finished first and second in the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom on Derby day. The 4-year-old fillies both hold entries for the G2 Kilboy Estate S. at the Curragh a week on Sunday. 

With plenty of female members of the family remaining within the Cheveley Park Stud broodmare band, further updates are likely and, at 27,000gns, signed for by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for the Grunt Syndicate, Isakova could well be viewed as a bargain buy in years to come.

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