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Changingoftheguard Extends Galileo Record in the Chester Vase

Westerberg and Coolmore's Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) may have face markings in the form of a question mark, but there was no doubting his class in Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase as the 10-3 chance bounded to an impressive 6 1/2-length triumph and extended sire Galileo's world-record tally of stakes winners to 349 in the day's extended 12-furlong feature. He had previously graduated by six lengths in an April Fools' Day maiden at Dundalk in his fourth start on seasonal return. Ryan Moore, who had made all aboard Ballydoyle's Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Listed Cheshire Oaks earlier on the card, set out to repeat the dose and was clear of his three rivals passing the judge first time. Allowed a breather as the others took closer order at halfway, the April-foaled bay was stirred into action with a half mile remaining and powered clear under mild urging in the latter stages to easily rout Godolphin's hitherto undefeated New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by daylight for a career high. Adding to Thoughts of June's Listed Cheshire Oaks prize, Changingoftheguard extended the aforementioned new world record for Galileo to 349 and joined an honour roll which has amassed a tally approaching $200-million in stakes earnings for his 12-time champion sire. The April-foaled bay has been installed at ante-post odds of 8-1 second favourite for Epsom's June 4 G1 Cazoo Derby where, in addition to two winners as damsire, he will bid to become a record-extending sixth winner of the Blue Riband for Galileo.

“Aidan [O'Brien] felt that the horse had improved substantially since his win at Dundalk and he felt he was going to appreciate the step up in trip, so we're happy with that,” said Coolmore's Kevin Buckley. “These trials help us see what we've got and where they are and now we know with him. I would presume it's highly likely that he will head to Epsom. Aidan will have to speak to the owners, obviously, but why not? We all love the Derby and we want to win it so the more representation we have, the better. I think he's fairly flexible in terms of the ground. He acted on the all-weather at Dundalk and he handled those [soft] conditions today, so he's versatile. He's just won a trial emphatically and it's a record-breaking 10th Chester Vase for Aidan. We felt he'd improved and we're finding out where we are at the moment so we could not be happier with that performance and the winning distance too. We're in the middle of the trials now, we'll have runners in them all and see where we are after the Dante.”

“He was impressive there and we always thought he'd stay well,” O'Brien said. “He was just chinned in his [Sept. 14] maiden at Punchestown before he then went and won his maiden really well at Dundalk. There was no doubt on our part that he would take a step forward from that and improve for going up in trip. The one thing we weren't sure about today was the [soft] ground when it rained as he's such a fluid mover, but he seems to have handled it fine. We were delighted with the run and I think off the back of that, you'd have to say he'd go to Epsom now.”

Ryan Moore, collecting a record eighth Chester Vase of his own, added, “He was very impressive today. Stepping up in trip suited him and you never know with these 3-year-olds how much they're going to improve as they go up in trip. He beat a well-regarded colt, he's only just beginning to come so we wouldn't be sure what he's going to be yet, but it's a very good performance.”

Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam conceded the 4-11 favourite New London was undone by the better horse and reflected, “He just never got into it for whatever reason and Will [Buick] said he couldn't put his finger on it. Whether it was the ground or the track, it's back to the drawing board and there are a couple more trials to go. We don't want to blame the track or the ground, we were beaten by the better horse on the day.” Buick added, “The winner piled it on from the front and stayed at it. I'm sure the winner is a decent horse, but this lad has got a lot to learn still.”

Changingoftheguard, the third of five foals, is the lone scorer for GII Honey Fox S. and GIII My Charmer H. victrix Lady Lara (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}), herself the leading performer out of a full-sister to Listed Hyde S. victor and G3 Criterion S. runner-up Edinburgh Knight (Ire) (Selkirk). His third dam Pippas Song (GB) (Reference Point {GB}), a daughter of G2 Nassau S. winner Dancing Rocks (GB) (Green Dancer), is a half-sister to G3 Prestige S. victrix Glatisant (GB) (Rainbow Quest), who produced G1SW sires Footstepsinthesand (GB) (Giant's Causeway) and Pedro The Great (Henrythenavigator). Descendants of Dancing Rocks also include G1 Yorkshire Oaks third Rockerlong (GB) (Deploy {GB}), MG1SP sire Mahler (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and MG1SP European champion Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}).

Wednesday, Chester, Britain
BOODLES CHESTER VASE S.-G3, £110,000, Chester, 5-4, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT, 2:43.36, sf.
1–CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Lady Lara (Ire) (MGSW-US, SW & MGSP-Eng, $781,203), by Excellent Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Shanty (GB), by Selkirk
3rd Dam: Pippas Song (GB), by Reference Point (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £62,381. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $90,298. *349th stakes winner for sire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–New London (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Bright Beacon (GB), by Manduro (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £23,650.
3–Savvy Victory (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Highlands Queen (Fr), by Mount Nelson (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£240,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Julian Hui; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Sean Woods. £11,836.
Margins: 6HF, 6, HF. Odds: 3.33, 0.36, 20.00.
Also Ran: Berkshire Rebel (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Thoughts of June A World Record 348th Stakes Winner For Galileo

Aptly-named Aidan O'Brien trainee Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished behind Above The Curve (American Pharoah) tackling one mile at Leopardstown in her juvenile season closer last October and again when that reopposing rival attained TDN Rising Star status over the same course and distance last month. Sent postward at odds of 7-1 for Wednesday's Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Cheshire Oaks at Chester, she gained some measure of revenge to shed maiden status in game fashion. Thoughts of June was quickly into stride and led passing the judge first time, but required encouragement to remain in control with a half mile remaining. Under increased pressure thereafter, she dipped into plentiful reserves in the home straight and was driven out inside the final furlong to withstand the late threat of 5-4 favourite Above The Curve by a neck for a career high in this G1 Epsom Oaks trial. Thoughts of June's win thrust Galileo beyond Danehill, becoming a world-record 348th stakes winner for her sire.

Indeed, thoughts are of June, specifically Epsom's June 3 G1 Cazoo Oaks, and she now rates as a general 14-1 ante-post chance for that Classic. “I think we have to be thinking of Epsom,” Coolmore's Kevin Buckley confirmed. “Aidan [O'Brien] will have a chat with the owners, which include our partners Moyglare Stud, but I think on that performance we'd have to head to Epsom. Aidan always felt that stepping her up in trip would be to her liking, he thought she'd handle it round the bends here and Ryan [Moore] was very happy. We made plenty of use of her at Leopardstown last time and it was always the plan to do that today, but she's fairly versatile I would imagine. We'll have to see what else happens in the trials. We were very happy with Tuesday in the Guineas and she seems to have come out of it well. We're looking forward to June.”

The trainer concurred. “We've always liked her a lot and I loved her run the first day back at Leopardstown behind Joseph's filly [Above The Curve],” he added. “I thought she'd come forward from that and she clearly did. She got a great ride from Ryan and they are obviously two very good fillies as Joseph's ran a great race too. We'd been thinking of the Oaks for her and that was the reason for sending her to Chester, to see if she'd handle it and it was going to teach her plenty. I haven't had chance to speak to Ryan, but she seemed to handle the [soft] ground fine and seems versatile.”

Thoughts of June is the latest of three foals, all by Galileo (Ire), and second winner produced by GI Del Mar Oaks heroine and six-time elite-level placegetter Discreet Marq (Marquetry), herself kin to three black-type performers headed by dual stakes-winning full-brother Too Discreet, and who was acquired by the Moyglare operation for a whopping $2.4-million at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 2014 November fixture. The April-foaled grey's stakes-winning second dam To Marquet (Marquetry), who also ran second in the GIII Tempted S., is a daughter of three-time stakes victrix Pretty Momma (Concorde Bound). Pretty Momma, in turn, is a half-sister to MGSW sire Unreal Turn (Unreal Zeal) and Shananie's Boss (Shananie), who saluted four times at black-type level, and hails from the family of GI Oaklawn H. and GI Arlington Classic-winning sire Lost Code (Codex).

Wednesday, Chester, Britain
WEATHERBYS BLOODSTOCK PRO CHESHIRE OAKS (FOR THE ROBERT SANGSTER MEMORIAL CUP)-Listed, £87,500, Chester, 5-4, 3yo, f, 11f 75yT, 2:31.64, sf.
1–THOUGHTS OF JUNE (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Discreet Marq (GISW-US, $1,268,972), by Discreet Cat
2nd Dam: To Marquet, by Marquetry
3rd Dam: Pretty Momma, by Concorde Bound
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Moyglare Stud Farm, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £49,621. Lifetime Record: 4-1-2-0, $68,983 *348th stakes winner for sire.
2–Above The Curve, 128, f, 3, American Pharoah–Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien. £18,813.
3–Typewriter (Ire), 128, f, 3, Gleneagles (Ire)–On Location, by Street Cry (Ire). (19,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 26,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Castle Farm Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £9,415.
Margins: NK, 3 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 7.00, 1.25, 9.00.
Also Ran: Moon de Vega (GB), Hello Jumeirah (GB), Wynter Wildes (GB), Night Battle (Ire), Improvise (Fr), Morning Poem (GB). Scratched: Makinmedoit (Ire).

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Cotter: ‘Ascot-Bound Matilda Picotte Not For Sale At Any Price’

No amount of money will persuade the owners of impressive Curragh maiden winner Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) to give up on their dream of walking into the winner's enclosure at Royal Ascot, according to the filly's trainer Kieran Cotter, who said “everyone wants a slice” of the Queen Mary-bound speedster.

Matilda Picotte maintained the flying start of Coolmore's first-season sire Sioux Nation by making all to score on debut at the Curragh on Monday and, in doing so, she landed some hefty wagers.

The owners of the filly are not for selling, with Cotter revealing a number of potential suitors have already been turned away, and connections of Matilda Picotte are now keen to roll the dice with the classy prospect.

Cotter explained, “The phone has been hopping mad since Monday. Everyone is looking for a slice of her but she's not for sale at this point at least. The lads are going to sit quiet. There are a few lads involved in her so, if they were to sell her now, she would make a lot of money but, by the time you divided it all up, it wouldn't be a life-changing amount for everyone involved.

“As well as that, there a couple of lads involved who have had no luck with horses for years so, now that they have found one who is potentially smart enough to take them to Royal Ascot, they are prepared to roll the dice. This is the first turn they are after getting out of horses so I would say that they are in no hurry to cash in.”

Matilda Picotte is the fourth horse by Sioux Nation to have won its maiden at the first time of asking and it didn't come as a surprise to those closest to the filly given they backed her from odds as big as 40-1 down to a starting price of just 8-1.

Cotter said, “When you go to a Curragh maiden first time out, you know that you could bump into anything, but we thought it would take a very smart horse to beat her. She opened up at 40-1 and we backed her into 5-1 before she went back out to 8-1 on the off. We had a few quid on but, in hindsight, we should have had more on.”

He added, “Jim Ryan bred the filly and it was a bit of a coincidence that her half-sister Ginsburg (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) won an apprentices' handicap on the same day. She was working really well about a month ago and we said, half jokingly, Queen Mary here we come-we're going to Royal Ascot. Now it looks like it could be a reality.”

Before then, Matilda Picotte could be aimed at the Marble Hill S. at the Curragh on May 21, with Cotter making the wider point that these big-race ambitions wouldn't be possible if he were training over jumps in Ireland.

He explained, “We will go for the Marble Hill S. at the Curragh next and then hopefully it will be all systems go for Royal Ascot. The dream is alive.

“It's easier to get a good horse on the Flat in Ireland as the jumps is just monopolised by a handful of trainers. It's probably even more financially viable for owners to go and buy a horse on the Flat as well because there is a much quicker turnaround.”

He added, “None of our horses cost more than €20,000 or €30,000. You wouldn't get a third grade jumps horse at the store sales for that sort of money.”

“We've six 2-year-olds, two of which have won already, and with a bit of luck we'll have another few juvenile winners because they are a nice bunch. Most of our winners are in the speed category-five or six furlongs.”

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Piz Badile Headed to Epsom

He won the Oaks as a rider and now Donnacha O'Brien is concentrating on securing more big-race riches at Epsom by confirming Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) to be on course for the Cazoo Derby June 4.

Piz Badile announced himself as a genuine Derby contender when fighting tooth and nail to beat Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown last month and, while O'Brien suggested a return to Leopardstown for the G3 Derrinstown Derby Trial could be a possibility at the time, the trainer is happy to head straight to Epsom with colt.

The form of that Ballysax victory was given a major boost on Monday when Buckaroo bagged the Listed Tetrarch S. and O'Brien, who describes Piz Badile as by far the classiest colt he has trained, believes the general 12-1 chance for Derby glory possesses a lot of the right attributes to be successful at Epsom.

“Piz Badile is in good form, everything is perfect with him, but we decided that we will go straight to the Derby with him,” O'Brien said. “We've had a smooth run with him, everything has gone perfectly well with him since he won the Ballysax, but we think it's the right thing to go straight to Epsom with him rather than taking in another trial. So that's the plan.”

He added: “It was great to see his form boosted by Buckaroo at the Curragh. They pulled clear of their rivals in the Ballysax, so it looked like they were two smart horses at the time. But for Buckaroo to confirm that at the Curragh on Monday would obviously boost your confidence levels.

“I don't think you can ever be confident heading into a race like the Derby, but I am confident that we have a very good colt on our hands and Epsom will be a completely different test to what any of the horses in the line-up has ever faced before.

“You can't be sure about how well a horse will handle a track like Epsom, not to mention the festivities surrounding the occasion, until they go and do it. But we are very confident that he's a high class colt with a good mind. He has a lot of the attributes required for the race.”

Piz Badile burst onto the scene last summer for O'Brien by taking the same Killarney maiden the trainer won as a rider aboard Ballydoyle's subsequent Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2018. Of course, Anthony Van Dyck is not the only Derby winner to have won his maiden at the County Kerry track, as Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) also broke his duck at Killarney.

O'Brien, who won the Oaks in 2018 aboard his father Aidan's Forever Together, is hoping that quirky stat can repeat itself next month.

“You need a horse with a good mind, because they need to be able to handle the whole situation, and you need a well balanced horse as well,” he explained. “If they're not balanced, they won't be going forward around Tattenham Corner, and if you're not going forward there, you may as well give up.

“Obviously they need speed, because if you don't have the pace to hold your position, you're bunched, you're completely out of the race before it's even started. On top of all that, you stamina, because it's a long home straight with a stiff finish. You need everything to win a Derby and Piz Badile has shown us at home that he has all of those things.”

He added: “Piz Badile definitely ranks up with the best that I've trained. It's hard to compare fillies and colts. Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) obviously went and won two Group 1s, so he has to prove himself at that level but, at the same time, in terms of the colts, he's by far the classiest one I have ever had.

“I don't have any concerns about the Derby trip, if anything, the extra couple of furlongs will bring out the best in him. The one thing he has done on all three of his starts is hit the line really strong so he has plenty of stamina.”

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