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Guineas Weekend Begins In The Sales Ring

NEWMARKET, UK–The profile of breeze-up sales has changed over the years, and perhaps nowhere is this more obvious than at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-up, which can count top-class stayers Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) among its graduates. There will doubtless be a helping of whizz-bang juvenile types but, overall, the sale is better known as one at which you might find a horse with a more progressive outlook who still has the potential to take you to all the best places, just perhaps a year or so later.

As has already been well documented in these pages we are in the middle of a stellar year for the breeze-up sector, with graduates Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) and Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) having all recently won formal Classic trials and about to line up for the Guineas this weekend in Newmarket. Underlining the truly international aspect of the bloodstock industry more generally, next week's Kentucky Derby line-up is likely to feature Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front). Bred in the U.S. by Brereton C Jones, the colt was bought privately by Mickey Cleere when unsold at $14,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Exported to Ireland, he was then presented in Cleere's draft for last year's Arqana Breeze-up Sale, which was held in Doncaster as Covid restrictions continued to make travel tricky. The multiple UAE champion jockey Tadhg O'Shea visited the sale on behalf of trainer Bhupat Seemar and signed for the colt for the Burke family at £120,000. Following yet another move for the horse, this time to Dubai, O'Shea subsequently rode Summer Is Tomorrow in his first five starts at Meydan but was aboard his better-fancied stable-mate when Summer Is Tomorrow took second in the G2 UAE Derby, thus earning crucial points for a trip 'back home' to Churchill Downs.

It was only just over a month ago that the breeze-up season kicked off in Dubai, with Cleere faring well from the off when selling two of that sale's six top lots. Two more sales have been consigned to the books since then, and his M.C. Thoroughbreds operation is represented again at Tattersalls on Thursday by three juveniles, including another colt picked up in America. Lot 167 is from the first crop of Spendthrift Farm's dual Grade I-winning juvenile Bolt d'Oro, a son of the widely popular Medaglia d'Oro, and he was bought inexpensively at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale for $5,500.

“He's a nice horse and I hope someone good gets him because he's very genuine,” said Cleere of the half-brother to Grade III winner Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy). “I try to base myself on getting horses together without bursting the clock. It's a fine line, but I like to get them to point their toe.”

Casting his mind back to his star graduate of last year, Summer Is Tomorrow, Cleere added, “He had a great mind in everything he did. He was such an intelligent horse and a good ride. He was one of those horses that you were hoping he had a bit of speed because he had the mind to match.”

He continued, “It's absolutely brilliant that he's going there. I've been in touch with everyone and the horse has now been in Kentucky for a few days. I'm told he travelled well.

“You could't write it really, and if he ran well it will just be fantastic. It's great for the breeze-up industry.”

As for the prospects of this week based on the season so far, Cleere said, “There's definitely an appetite still for good horses. As always the middle market is more difficult. The prize-money really needs to improve and until that happens it will be harder. There'll be plenty of nice horses at this sale but I feel it will be a buyers' market.

“I had a great sale in Dubai and it was great to get off to a good start. It relieves some of the pressure.”

Another half-brother to a stakes winner is set to pass through the ring just ahead of Cleere's colt. Lot 161 is offered by Roderick Kavanagh's Glending Stables and is by Time Test (GB) out of the Listed-placed Noah's Ark (Ire) (Charnwood Forest {Ire}), and thus a sibling to the Listed Prix Herod winner Temps Au Temps (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The colt's half-sister After (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) also earned black type when placing in three Group 3 races and now features as the dam of dual Group 2 winner Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Street Cry (Ire) has featured as the broodmare sire of at least two stakes winners worldwide in the last week, and he performs that role for Lot 168, a daughter of leading young sire Mehmas (Ire) offered by Tally-Ho Stud. The filly's unraced dam Peronism is a half-sister to one of the best older horses in training in Europe, the treble Group 1 winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

In Platinum Jubilee year, the monarchists among the buyers at Tattersalls on Thursday may feel like treating themselves to a colt from one of the Queen's families, and they need look no further than Lot 182, from the A. C. Bloodstock draft. The first-crop son of Cracksman (GB) is a half-brother to Listed Fairway S. winner Peacock (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and his dam Rainbow's Edge (GB) (Rainbow Quest) is a half-sister to Her Majesty's Royal Ascot winner Free Agent (GB) (Dr Fong).

Bushypark Stables claimed the top spot at last week's Goffs UK Breeze-up when turning a 14,000gns Tasleet (GB) yearling into a £230,000 breezer, and Matt Whyte's team has brought two juveniles to Tattersalls this week, including a filly with justifiably Classic pretensions. Lot 212 is from the first crop of the 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and is a grand-daughter of the champion racemare Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre), whose finest moment also came on the Rowley Mile when winning the G1 Champion S.

As ever, the Guineas Breeze-up Sale is preceded by a morning session of horses in training, with around 80 set to go under the hammer from 9.30am. A further 190 breezers will follow during the afternoon and evening.

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St Mark’s Basilica Named Cartier Horse Of The Year

St Mark's Basilica has been announced as the Cartier Horse Of The Year at the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards during a glittering ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday evening.

The Siyouni colt, who races for Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, becomes the sixth horse owned by a member of a Coolmore partnership to be crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year following Giant's Causeway (2000), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Hurricane Run (2005), Dylan Thomas (2007) and Minding (2016).

The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. There are eight equine awards – the Cartier Horse Of The Year, the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.

European horseracing's top awards are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35%).

In addition to the equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 16-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

Highlights of the prestigious evening will be shown on Sky Sports Racing on the evening of Friday, Nov. 12.

Winner of the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes as a two-year-old, St Mark's Basilica has sparkled this season with four G1 victories across France, Britain and Ireland during an unbeaten campaign.

He annexed the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, the Coral-Eclipse and the Irish Champion Stakes. The other nominees for the Cartier Horse of the Year were Baaeed, Mishriff and Torquator Tasso.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, St Mark's Basilica also takes the honors in the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt category ahead of Adayar, Baaeed and Hurricane Lane.

Palace Pier, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and trained by John and Thady Gosden, takes the Cartier Older Horse award following a superb season that included G1 wins in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes and the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois. The other nominees were Lady Bowthorpe, Mishriff and Torquator Tasso. Palace Pier was previously crowned the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt at the 2020 Cartier Racing Awards.

Snowfall recorded the largest winning margin in the history of the G1 Cazoo Oaks when capturing the Epsom Downs Classic by 16 lengths and the daughter of Deep Impact is named the Cartier 3-Year-Old Filly.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien for a Coolmore syndicate, Snowfall also recorded dominant wins in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks and G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Also nominated for Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly were Alcohol Free, Mother Earth and Saffron Beach.

Starman takes the Cartier Sprinter honors for trainer Ed Walker and owner David Ward following an admirable season headlined by success in the G1 Darley July Cup. The Dutch Art colt also placed in the G1 Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest and was narrowly denied in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup. Fellow G1 winners Creative Force, Emaraaty Ana and Winter Power were also nominated.

One of the most popular horses in training, Trueshan, is named the Cartier Stayer. Trained by Alan King for the Singula Partnership, the five-year-old is unbeaten in his last three starts having won the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup, the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran and the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. Also nominated for Cartier Stayer were Hurricane Lane, Stradivarius and Subjectivist.

Native Trail is the Cartier 2-Year-Old Colt. Owned by the Maktoum family's Godolphin operation and trained by Charlie Appleby, the Oasis Dream colt is unbeaten in four starts and recorded a brace of G1 successes in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Native Trail saw off competition from Angel Bleu, Luxembourg and Perfect Power to win the award.

Inspiral takes the honours in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly category. Trained by John and Thady Gosden for Cheveley Park Stud, the Frankel filly has won all four of her starts and finished her campaign with victory in the G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile. Also nominated were Discoveries, Tenebrism and Zellie.

The recipient of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2021 is David Elsworth, one of the most successful dual-purpose trainers Britain has produced. In a racing career spanning 67 years, Elsworth has scaled the pinnacles of both Flat and Jump racing, combining Classic success with victories in the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Equally adept at saddling winners at Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival, the trainer also oversaw the careers of two of the most popular horses in racing history – Desert Orchid and Persian Punch.

Harry Herbert, Cartier's Racing Consultant commented: “The 2021 European Flat season has once again highlighted all that is wonderful in this great sport.

“With capacity crowds back at racecourses and some brilliant equine performances, we were ultimately rewarded with a season to savour.

“Racing cannot continue without the ongoing support of owners and I would like to extend my congratulations to tonight's winners – Coolmore, Godolphin, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Cheveley Park Stud, David Ward and the Singula Partnership.

“David Elsworth has truly reached the summit of his profession and is the perfect recipient for the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2021. A man whose life has been steeped in racing, Elsworth's career spans 67 years and has scaled the heights of both Jump and Flat racing. One of the most successful dual-purpose trainers Britain has produced, the sport is lucky to call him one of our own.

“I would like to end by extending special thanks to Cartier, Sky Sports Racing, The Daily Telegraph and Racing Post.

“Cartier's support of these prestigious awards stretches right back to 1991 and is ongoing as we once again enjoy all coming together at the Dorchester Hotel for such a wonderful event. We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy such tremendous support.”

Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, commented: “The 2021 European Flat season has lived up to its billing as horseracing once again highlighted the magic and brilliance of the sport following a challenging 2020.

“I am delighted for the Cartier Racing Awards to be taking place once again at the Dorchester Hotel celebrating another wonderful year of sport.

“It is an honour to celebrate the very best of horseracing and it is a privilege for Cartier to be celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Cartier Racing Awards. My heartfelt congratulations go out to this year's exceptional winners.

“I would like to thank our long-standing media partners, the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph, as well as Sky Sports Racing for their involvement in the awards again.”

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Torquator Tasso Climbs The Ladder in Longines WBRR

By virtue of his stunning upset in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp Oct. 3, Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) now shares fourth position with Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were published Oct. 14.

The Marcel Weiss-trained 4-year-old was given a rating of 125 for his 71-1 upset of Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) (120) in the Paris feature. Farther behind in third was Godolphin's G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who sits on 123, while his G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth S.-winning stablemate Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was three lengths adrift in fourth. On 127, Adayar remains the joint-highest ranking horse on the WBRR alongside Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB})–whom he is set to face in Saturday's G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot–and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) got underfoot conditions to suit in the Oct. 2 Qatar Prix du Cadran and easily defeated Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to be newly rated on 120 in the WBRR. The two rivals are drawn alongside each other in barriers nine and 10 for Satuday's G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles.

Knicks Go (Paynter), who will vie for favoritism in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6, remains the top-rated American galloper on 124–tied for sixth with Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus})–and is one point superior to GI Kentucky Derby first past the post Medina Spirit (Protonico), who is ranked 123 following a comprehensive defeat of his elders in the GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita Oct. 2. Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) has been assigned a rating of 121 for his victory over Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25.

The next edition of the Longines WBRR is due Thursday, Nov. 11.

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Another Day At The Office For “Strad”

Friday at Doncaster's St Leger festival means Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), and after John and Thady Gosden and Frankie Dettori's Group 2 double and a treble overall on Thursday the tide is rising for the esteemed combo as the G2 Doncaster Cup looms. Bjorn Nielsen's golden boy of the staying scene since 2018 needs no introduction and this special week on Town Moor is there for turf's icons such as him to enjoy widespread adulation. If there were any doubts as to the appetite of the 7-year-old, those were dispelled in York's G2 Lonsdale Cup Aug. 20, where one of the chief younger stayers Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) was unable to subdue him after a prolonged pugilistic tussle. This task could be made far simpler by the removal of the ground-dependant July 27 G1 Goodwood Cup winner Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and with the way the weather is heading, that looks a likely scenario.

Dettori is relishing the opportunity to do battle in front of the crowds once again. “He's been great for the sport, I love him dearly,” he said. “He got a tremendous reception at York and he'll probably get one at Doncaster. He's not going to be here forever, so let's enjoy him. I think he only does what needs to be done these days and as for tactics, I usually improvise with him and play it by ear. Luckily, he knows where the winning post is.”

Trueshan was taken out of the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Lonsdale Cup and trainer Alan King is ready to pull him from this test if the rain fails to come. “I won't get up to walk the course, because I'm at Sandown tomorrow and I've been at the sales all day today,” he explained. “If the current forecast of very little rain is correct then he won't run, unfortunately but I will just wait until the morning to make the decision. We needed plenty of rain and it did look promising at one stage that we might get it, but we wouldn't run him as it is.”

Surprisingly, given the weight-for-age scenario, few 3-year-olds have been asked to tackle this near 18-furlong test but there have been a trio of winners in that age group since 1990 including the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Alleluia (GB) (Caerleon) in 2001. The master of Heath House is involved again here, with Kirsten Rausing's unexposed Alerta Roja (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) who gets a huge 18 pounds from Stradivarius and 20 from Trueshan with the penalties added in. Whether the relative of Alleluia is up to this level remains to be seen, with her only try in black-type company being a latest second in the 14-furlong Listed Hoppegartener Steher-Preis Aug. 8, but she is a fascinating contender from one of the most astute yards in Europe.

“Alerta Roja is wonderfully tough and she's already exceeded what we thought was possible for her,” Prescott commented. “On the figures she doesn't have a chance, but we did win it with Alleluia who was very similar and was also a 3-year-old filly. Alleluia won five and this one, who is from the same family, has won three and been listed-placed. While ostensibly she's got no chance, she seems in good form and she gets a lot of weight. Nothing is impossible with this family.”

Preceding the marathon encounter is the five-furlong G2 Wainwright Flying Childers S. for juveniles, offering a contrast rarely so wide in such a short space of time on a racecard. Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) will be looking to regain the winning thread after his fourth in the six-furlong G1 Prix Morny at Deauville Aug. 22, where he may have run out of gas late having dominated the quick five of Goodwood's G3 Molecomb S. July 28. Among his rivals is Nick Bradley Racing's Sept. 2 G3 Prix d'Arenberg-winning filly Corazon (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) and Clipper Logistics' Aug. 21 Listed Roses S. scorer Attagirl (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

In the Listed Cazoo Flying Scotsman S., Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's 'TDN Rising Star' Razzle Dazzle (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) bids to build on his 5 1/2-length success over this seven-furlong trip at Newmarket Aug. 27. Ahmad Al Shaikh's Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who captured the Aug. 20 Convivial Maiden at York, offers stern opposition in this often-informative affair along with Shadwell's impressive Aug. 11 Salisbury six-furlong novice scorer Ribhi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Oisin Murphy said of Hoo Ya Mal, who hails from the Andrew Balding stable strong with their 2-year-olds this season. “He's a gorgeous horse who bolted up in the Convivial at York,” he said. “His work before then was good and though he probably wants to go a mile, hopefully he'll have sharpened up since his last run. I have a high opinion of him and hope he'll be bang there.”

Thursday saw the draws for Saturday's key contests, with Ballydoyle's St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) set to take on The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and just one other in what is certain to be a tactical renewal of Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. As he suggested earlier this month, Aidan O'Brien has taken out all other entries for the 10-furlong contest, which is made up by last year's G3 Meld S. winner Patrick Sarsfield (Fr) (Australia {GB}). Small and select fields have been the order of the day in 2021, with the G1 Eclipse S. and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. attracting no more than five runners so this feature fits in with that trend and presents a fascinating quandary for Ryan Moore, Colin Keane and Kevin Manning. In contrast, there will be 13 fillies lining up in the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron S. where Ballydoyle's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) will be a warm order.

At Doncaster the same afternoon, the G1 Cazoo St Leger will see Godolphin's G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) face nine rivals including Amo Racing's G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien has confirmed a quartet including 'TDN Rising Star' High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the unexposed Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will sport the Peter Brant silks. Frankie Dettori is on the supplemented High Definition, with Wayne Lordan partnering the G2 Great Voltigeur S. runner-up The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), James Doyle on that race's fourth Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Hollie Doyle aboard the Aug. 12 Listed Vinnie Roe S. winner Interpretation.

Having impressed with two prior front-running rides for Ballydoyle including a third in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks on the 150-1 outsider La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), it was no surprise to see Hollie Doyle booked for one of the team's contenders here. “It's a great ride to pick up. He looks highly progressive and is unbeaten this year,” she said. “He's certain to stay and it's my first ride in the Leger and I'm really looking forward to it.” They help to make up a six-strong Irish representation in the extended 14-furlong Classic, with Johnny Murtagh looking for a breakthrough English Classic success with the G3 Gordon S. winner Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}).

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