Naran Huleg (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) prevailed in a desperately close finish in the 1200-metre G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo on Sunday.
The 6-year-old entire was a 26-1 shot, and took up his customary position near the tail of the field against the rail. The 6-5 crowd's pick Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), meanwhile, cut out fractions of :22.40 and :44.40, while pressed by Gendarme (Kitten's Joy). Ridden for luck on the far turn, the Katsushige Muraki runner still needed to pass most of his rivals when turning into the straight, but an animated Kyosuke Maruta gunned the blaze-faced chestnut through the rail gaps at just the right moments.
Resistencia was sending out distress signals 200 metres from home, and a host of foes were still in with a chance. Naran Huleg's strong drive had already carried him to within a couple lengths of the lead. He dove between Resistencia and Travesura (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) 100 metres from the wire and clawed out a neck victory over the closing Lotus Land (Point of Entry), who bested Kir Lord (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) by a nose for second. It was another neck back to Travesura in fourth. Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Yell {Jpn}) was also part of the blanket finish, a neck behind in fifth, one length better than Resistencia.
“Racing from the rear is his usual style so I just concentrated on keeping the horse's rhythm,” said jockey Kyosuke Maruta, who was winning his first Group 1 in 16 seasons in the saddle. “He has never experienced heavy ground before but handled it well. I took him through the inner course with confidence as I did in the Tanzanite S. I was really happy when we were able to break free before the wire.”
“I'm very happy and a bit relieved to have been able to win a Group 1 race, thanks to Naran Huleg,” added trainer Yoshitada Munakata. “Though we would have preferred a better ground, he showed his usual strong charge in the stretch against a strong field.”
Second in the Listed Yukan Fuji Hai Opal S. at Hanshin in October, Naran Huleg took the Tanzanite S. there in December and was third in Chukyo's G3 Silk Road S. on Jan. 30. He went one better going this trip at Nakayama in the G3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean S. on Mar. 5, in his most recent trip to the post prior to Sunday's heroics.
Pedigree Notes
The late Gold Allure (Jpn), a former leading sire on the NAR circuit, now has 27 black-type winners to his credit, 12 at the group level. Naran Huleg is his sixth Group 1 winner, and is bred on the same cross as G1 Japan Cup Dirt, and G1 February S. hero Espoir City (Jpn), who is also out of a Brian's Time mare. That sire's daughters have foaled 38 black-type winners, 22 of them group scorers. Other Group 1 winners besides Naran Huleg and Espoir City in that sphere for Brian's Time are Dee Majesty (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Time Flyer (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Beat Black (Jpn) (Miscast {Jpn}), all by sons of Sunday Silence.
A winner at both three and four, Kelley's Beauty (Jpn) (Brian's Time) threw Listed Oro Cup winner and G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup-placed Impress Winner (Jpn) (Fusaichi Concorde {Jpn}) as her first foal in 2007. Her produce record currently stands at 10 runners and nine winners, with Naran Huleg the best of the lot. Her filly of 2018, Diamond Canon (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) has been placed, while her Talismanic (GB) juvenile filly Isa Chil Cute (Jpn) has yet to race. She did not produce a foal last year, but was bred to Discreet Cat for this spring.
Aidan O'Brien outlined plans after several members of his team galloped Saturday, chief among them G1 Futurity Trophy winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), undefeated in three starts at two, and MGSW Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who was last seen finishing second in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National last September. Campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, the pair are likely to reappear in the Apr. 30 G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
“Luxembourg was in the first lot and everything went very well,” said O'Brien. “He did everything very nicely and he finished off nicely and Ryan [Moore] seemed very happy with him.”
Of his stablemate, he added, “I was very happy as well with Point Lonsdale. Seamus [Heffernan] said he relaxed and quickened nicely and you'd have to be very happy.”
“You'd have to see how they come out of it, but we're thinking of aiming both of them at Newmarket.”
Also included among the first grouping of gallopers were Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
“I thought they could be Irish Guineas horses,” he said. “They won't go to Leopardstown for the Trial now, because it comes too quick. The two could go for the [May 21 G1] Irish Guineas or they could go to France for the [May 15 G1] French Guineas like [2021 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner] St Mark's Basilica and step up to a mile and a quarter after that.”
Heading the fillies Saturday was undefeated G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio).
“Tenebrism worked very well. Ryan was very happy with her. They went a strong seven [furlongs] and she came home very well. She will go straight for the [1000] Guineas [May 1].”
Tom Marquand will represent Ireland in Racing League 2022 having been the first pick at this morning's jockey draft at Doncaster Racecourse. A total of 108 jockeys signed up for the inaugural draft, with the seven team managers each selecting seven riders in a pre-agreed order to ensure a fair allocation.
Ireland team manager Kevin Blake said, “I am really happy. Six out of the seven were selections I thought I might get and the exception to that I am very happy with. It is a nice mix of British-based and Irish-based jockeys, with some of the top lads in Ireland keen to support the concept. Gavin Ryan and Dylan Browne McMonagle rode in the Racing League last year and were very keen to be involved again, as was Billy Lee. It will be great to get them over alongside the British-based jockeys headed by Tom Marquand, who was obviously the number one pick.”
Each region will have at least one Group 1-winning rider, with notable picks including Frankie Dettori for Wales and The West, Jamie Spencer for The North and last year's leading jockey Jack Mitchell for The East.
Added Rupert Bell, team manager for The East, “That was great fun to do. I am delighted as I got most of what I wanted. I kicked off with Jack Mitchell as he was the star of the show last year, helping team talkSPORT win. We have Hayley Turner, Grace McEntee and Luke Morris–some very reliable jockeys who will do our team proud.”
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — On paper, it was horseracing's version of the 'Dream Team.'
Trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup, and the charismatic Frankie Dettori, still riding at the peak of his powers into his early 50s, also with three World Cup trophies to his name. Each of those victories was achieved as the retained rider for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor, but the Italian maestro hadn't hoisted the hardware since Electrocutionist (Red Ransom) took the 2006 renewal at old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
Flavien Prat was in the irons when Country Grammer (Tonalist), winner of last year's GI Hollywood Gold Cup, came home a gallant second to Emblem Road (Quality Road) in the Feb. 26 G1 Saudi Cup first off a May absence. With Prat committed to G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) and with other top-drawer riders having been snapped up, Baffert reached out to Dettori.
Strange bedfellows? Maybe so, but an effective combination it was, as Dettori gave the 5-year-old entire a positive ride and Country Grammer did the rest, running past a tiring 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) before holding off a resurgent Hot Rod Charlie to score by 1 3/4 lengths. Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) couldn't quite add an incredible sixth victory on the program for his country, but covered himself in glory once again, finishing third after filling the runner-up spot 12 months ago. Life Is Good failed to see out the trip after setting a strong early pace and settled for fourth.
The World Cup win was especially sweet for Amr Zedan, who has experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows the Thoroughbred business can throw at an owner, all in the space of nine months. Having lost GI Kentucky Derby first-past-the-post Medina Spirit (Protonico) to a fatal incident last December, Zedan bought into Country Grammer with an eye on the 5-year-old's participation in the Saudi Cup in his homeland. On Saturday four weeks removed from the Saudi Cup and 600 miles of desert to the east in Dubai, all his emotions came to the surface.
“This win reminds me of Medina Spirit,” Zedan said. “He was a champion and these horses are all heart. I hope Medina Spirit is reinstalled as the Kentucky Derby winner, God willing. I can't believe I'm sitting here and my silks are here!”
An Inside Ride…
Heading into Saturday's race, the majority opinion was that if Life Is Good was to be stymied in adding the World Cup to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup, it would be because he beat himself. Gate one was potentially a fly in the ointment, but the burly 4-year-old pinged the gates and was allowed to make the running from off the rail, with Saudi Cup third Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) his bay shadow. Hot Rod Charlie was momentarily closest to the dueling leaders, but Dettori had made a key decision from the start to be positive with Country Grammer, hustling him along before railing through underneath Hot Rod Charlie to sit the box-seat trip.
There were no significant changes in the plot as they raced down the Meydan backstretch, as Life Is Good looked to be bowling along comfortably, still in the two or three path and going apparently better than Midnight Bourbon. Country Grammer was shaken up a touch with about a half-mile to race so as not to lose touch, while Hot Rod Charlie hit a flat spot at the three-eighths and looked to have run his race.
Life Is Good turned them in with a touch more than 400 meters to race, having once and for all turned away Midnight Bourbon. But as they entered the final furlong, it was clear that the favorite was running on fumes and was there to be had. Back into the bit, Hot Rod Charlie made ominous headway up the fence to loom a danger, but Country Grammer–a bit one-paced in upper stretch–did the best work and was along in time. Chuwa Wizard, near the tail early on, slalomed his way home to cash another good check.
“When the draw came out, I had just wanted to put him on the fence,” said Dettori, who treated the many fans on hand to one of his patented flying dismounts. “At the half-mile, I wasn't able to keep on with the front two, but in the end they came back to me. At the furlong pole, it was surreal as I knew I was going to win. It's just unbelievable. It's like a dream!”
Dettori won his first World Cup in 2000 aboard Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold) and added the 2003 renewal aboard Moon Ballad (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}). He is now tied with Jerry Bailey for most World Cup wins by a jockey.
Longtime Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes oversaw Country Grammer's preparation into the World Cup, having also been along for the ride with Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) five years ago.
“It's been a long trip, Frankie just rode him awesome,” said Barnes. “He couldn't have done any better. The speed worked out just as we thought it would, he put him in a close enough spot that when he called upon him, he's a true mile-and-a-quarter horse and it kicked in.”
He added, “I give a lot of credit to Bob Baffert for his ability to come back and perform, it's what we do, we're great off a lay-off. I'm just so excited. This is my second with Bob and it is very, very special.”
Trainer Doug O'Neill suggested that some equipment changes might be in the offing for the runner-up.
“I think maybe blinkers might need to go back on–he broke okay, but then when he got behind horses, maybe that was it,” he said. “[Jockey] Flavien [Prat] said he took the kickback pretty well though, so we'll re-group and we'll give him plenty of time now and we'll huddle up and think of a game plan.”
Life Is Good's rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. put the defeat down to his mount's stamina.
“We led like we wanted. It was just the distance. The extra distance told,” he said.
The Finished Product…
A $60,000 Keeneland September graduate, Country Grammer fetched $450,000 as an OBS April breezer and would go on to win the GIII Peter Pan S. for Paul Pompa and Chad Brown in the summer of 2020. Following Pompa's sad passing late that year, Country Grammer changed hands for $110,000 at the dispersal of the owner's racing and breeding stock at Keeneland January in 2021, a number WinStar's Elliott Walden called 'surprising.' Second while racing handier to the pace than he had before in the GII Californian S., he stretched out nicely to 10 furlongs and struck from close up to take out the Hollywood Gold Cup before hitting the shelf. So well was he training that the decision was made to send him to Saudi without a prep and that approach has been richly rewarded.
Pedigree Notes:
Country Grammer's dam Arabian Song has a connection to the Emirates, as she was purchased by the Dubai-affiliated Rabbah Bloodstock for $40,000 at Keeneland September in 2009. Country Grammer is the fifth foal from the mare, who is also responsible for the 4-year-old filly Joyful Cadence (Runhappy), third in last year's GIII Miss Preakness S. and the three-length winner of a Mar. 20 Oaklawn allowance for owner William Simon's WSS Racing and trainer John Ortiz. Arabian Song was sold for $5,000 to Abdul Aziz Al-Ateeqi at Keeneland November in 2018 and foaled a filly in Saudi Arabia in 2019. Now named Gharz (KSA), she is twice placed from four starts at King Abdulaziz.
Country Grammer's third dam includes such Juddmonte standouts as GISW Etoile Montante (Miswaki); her MGSW daughter Starformer (Dynformer); recent GIII Hurricane Bertie S. winner Obligatory (Curlin); and MGSW Bonny South (Munnings).
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai DUBAI WORLD CUP SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G1, $12,000,000, Meydan, 3-26, 3yo/up, 10f, 2:04.97, fs.
1–COUNTRY GRAMMER, 126, h, 5, by Tonalist                1st Dam: Arabian Song, by Forestry                2nd Dam: Prima Centauri, by Distant View                3rd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev
($60,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $450,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR; $110,000
'21 KEEJAN). O-Zedan Racing Stables, WinStar Farm &
Commonwealth TBreds; B-Scott & Debbie Pierce (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Frankie Dettori. $6,960,000. Lifetime Record:
GISW-US, 10-4-2-1, $10,851,685. *1/2 to Joyful Cadence
(Runhappy), GSP-US, $242,167. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hot Rod Charlie, 126, c, 4, Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian
Charlie. ($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT).
O-Roadrunner, Boat Racing, Strauss & Gainesway; B-Edward A.
Cox (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $2,400,000.
3–Chuwa Wizard (Jpn), 126, h, 7, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–
Chuwa Blossom (Jpn), by Durandal (Jpn). O-Shinobu Nakanishi;
B-Northern Racing (JPN); T-Ryuji Okubo. $1,200,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, SHD.
Also Ran: Life Is Good, Midnight Bourbon, Remorse (Ire), Hypothetical (Ire), Aero Trem (Brz), Real World (Ire), Magny Cours. Scratched: Grocer Jack (Ger). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
