Tag: Vandeek (GB)

Havana Grey’s Vandeek Has The Answer In The Middle Park

Ruthlessly efficient and utterly dominant in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket, KHK Racing's sprinter supreme Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Mosa Mine {GB}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) sealed his elevated status by becoming the sixth G1 Prix Morny winner to double up here since 2012. Sent off the heavily-supported 5-4 favourite to add to his tally which as well as the Deauville highlight also includes the G2 Richmond S., the Simon and Ed Crisford trainee was over-enthusiastic in the early stages as James Doyle struggled to contain him within a five-strong group racing up the centre.

Into a split approaching two out, the writing was soon on the wall for his rivals as the 625,000gns joint-topper of the Tatts Craven Breeze-Up took command a furlong later. Putting to bed any fears that he lacked the versatility to excel first time on this kind of fast ground, the beau ideal was quickly into the clear to score by 2 1/4 lengths from the sponsors' TDN Rising Star Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who denied Ballydoyle's G2 Coventry S.-winning fellow TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) the consolation prize by a head.

“He's beautiful with a wonderful temperament and all of the talent to match,” Simon Crisford said. “That race took a lot of winning today and the Prix Morny was an exceptional race. When he hits the front he does tend to idle and look around a bit, but I couldn't see anything running him down so I was pretty hopeful in the last 100 yards.”

“We came here pretty confident, we knew we had something special,” Crisford Sr added. “He's been working exceptionally well and he's been such a kind horse to go with it, everything was great. He was flat out asleep today until noon today. We couldn't get him up to come to the races. His mind is so good, which is important as it makes our job easy. This is something really special. He is one of the best two-year-olds in the world and has never let us down.”

Crisford was also not discounting a return to the track for the G1 Dewhurst S. in a fortnight and added, “I think we're going to let the horse tell us as much as he can and we'll take it from there. He's a tall, leggy horse and he stands over a lot of ground, he could easily go further. Never say never, I think the person that will decide whether he comes back for the Dewhurst is the horse himself. If he tells us he wants to come here then we will.”

James Doyle added, “I think he has shown all the qualities you need in a potential champion. He has shown he can do it on soft ground and fast ground on a variety of tracks. It didn't go entirely to plan, as we kind of missed the break so I just came across and used Ryan as a bit of a target as I wasn't convinced the ones drawn around us were the ones to be tracking so it actually panned out okay. By zooming across, I set him alight a bit so he took a bit of managing early. He is just a big ball of speed and when the gap came, he went through it pretty good.”

Ralph Beckett said of the runner-up, “He is a horse that we have crept here with, as you can see he is not the finished article by any means. This is a horse that has done it all on his own as we have not been keen to turn the screw on him. I think it is unlikely he will show up in the Dewhurst, but I'm really pleased with what he has done today. He has split two very good horses, so I'm delighted. He handled it very well today, better than I thought he would. He learnt again today. I'd say on the back of today I'd be keen to turn up here on the first weekend in May and you might not see him again until then.”

Pedigree Notes

Vandeek's dam Mosa Mine is a daughter of Baldemosa (Fr) (Lead On Time), who is kin to the G1 Prix Robert Papin heroine Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene) who in turn produced the G1 July Cup-winning champion sprinter and leading sire Anabaa as well as the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal (Zilzal) and the successful sire Key Of Luck. She is also the second dam of Danzig's G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Country Reel and the ancestress of the latter's daughter Baine (Fr) who was second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Saturday, Newmaket, Britain
JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK S.-G1, £291,580, Newmarket, 9-30, 2yo, c, 6fT, 1:10.76, g/f.
1–VANDEEK (GB), 128, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
   1st Dam: Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
   2nd Dam: Baldemosa (Fr), by Lead On Time
   3rd Dam: Bamieres (Fr), by Riverman
(52,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 42,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY; 625,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-KHK Racing; B-Maywood Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-James Doyle. £165,355. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 4-4-0-0, $550,438. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Task Force (GB), 128, c, 2, Frankel (GB)–Special Duty (GB), by Hennessy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £62,690.
3–River Tiber (Ire), 128, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire). (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £31,374.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.25, 7.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Givemethebeatboys (Ire), Starlust (GB), Sketch (Ire), Lake Forest (GB), Elite Status (GB), Jasour (GB).

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Newmarket: “He Goes In There With A Favourite’s Chance.” Vandeek To Star On Super Saturday?

   Saturday's action features four Group 1s and four Group 2s across Newmarket and ParisLongchamp, with all ages and distances covered from the six furlongs of the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. and G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. to the two and a half miles of the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran. It is the former pair of prizes that take centre stage, with so much at stake for the precocious stars of their generation. The onus is very much on KHK Racing's G1 Prix Morny winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the Middle Park given the manner of his success in that Deauville feature, having taken the G2 Richmond S. en route.

Since 2012, five winners of the Morny have followed up here including three of the last four in Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) and Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), so the Crisfords' leading light has history on his side. Ed Crisford is keen to see if he can become the latest to do the tough double.

“It's a good field, as you'd expect for a race of this stature, but I'd say he goes in there with a favourite's chance,” he said. “It will be the first time he's encountered ground this fast, but he's a nice-moving colt by Havana Grey so that shouldn't be a problem.”

   Third in the Morny after his well-documented training troubles, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the obvious thorn in Vandeek's side now that he has a clear preparation for this highlight. He had a host of smart peers behind including Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. on ground similar to the unseasonably fast conditions he encounters here and Ryan Moore is happy to tackle Vandeek again and another quintet of group winners including the G2 July S. hero Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) from the always-to-be-feared Clive Cox stable.

“He wasn't at peak fitness [for the Morny] and I thought he shaped very well in the circumstances,” Moore said of River Tiber, who represents the stable successful in three of the last six runnings. “I would expect him to get a lot closer to the winner here and I'd say we had a very fair shot at winning this group one. He's in good shape.”

 

 

Relief Rally Poised For Cheveley Park Coronation

Whatever wins Newmarket's Cheveley Park S. will first have to see off Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose sole defeat in five starts was as a result of coming out the wrong side of a head-bobber with Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot. Having dealt with every European rival thrown at her so far, including Ballydoyle's Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) in York's G2 Lowther S. last month, the William Haggas trainee has some new contenders to front up to here but the willingness to fight is almost her forte.

Jockey Tom Marquand has faith that she can come through her most important bout to date. “She has taken big steps forward with each of her runs and she was unfortunate not to win at Ascot, but she has shown a high level of form,” he said. “I was really looking forward to riding her over six furlongs at York, as I thought it would suit her so well and she proved us right.”

One of the lesser-known rivals to Relief Rally is Wathnan Racing's Criterium d'Ete scorer Jasna's Secret (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), who saw off the smart yardstick Zorken (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) in that valuable Deauville prize and is entitled to due respect as a result. Whether Carlos and Yann Lerner's bargain €42,000 Arqana Deauville September purchase has the know-how to cope with some hardened opponents remains to be seen, with the G3 Albany S. scorer Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and the G3 Princess Margaret S. scorer Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) boasting the touch of class necessary to win one of these.

 

Capulet Heads Strong Royal Lodge Cast

Newmarket's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. is one of the day's more intriguing contests, with Ballydoyle's G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Capulet (Justify) taking on Godolphin's G3 Solario S. winner Aablan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Listed Ascendant S. scorer Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Another in the mix for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf qualifier is Jeff Smith's unbeaten Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the recent winner of a seven-furlong Ascot novice from which the impressive subsequent winner Military Artist (Munnings) emerged.

Ryan Moore said of Capulet, “He did it nicely on his debut at Dundalk last month and he obviously improved a good deal when running Diego Velazquez to half a length at Leopardstown last time. That form looked strong at the time and it looks even better now with the well-beaten fourth, Deepone, coming out and winning the Beresford next time. All of these have the potential to take a big step forward, most notably Ghostwriter maybe, but he deserves to be the favourite as it stands as the Leopardstown form is the best on offer going into the race.”

Clive Cox said of Ghostwriter, “His first success at Newmarket on the July course, and the way he was balanced and produced a winning debut, gives me confidence he will handle the track. He followed that up with a really impressive success at Ascot and showed a lot of class. He has thrived throughout, he is a wonderful physical, big, strong colt and I'm looking forward to seeing him step up to a mile. He is very deserving of running in this sort of grade. He's a horse we have always loved and he definitely sets the pulse racing.”

 

Trueshan Looks For Second Cadran

At ParisLongchamp, the Cadran sees Alan King's star stayer Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) bid to double his tally in the prestige marathon having mastered Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in style on easy ground two years ago. Back with a bang after a second wind operation in the G2 Doncaster Cup earlier this month, he has no genuine staying star of that calibre to contend with in a disappointing turnout but he does have Ballydoyle's ever-reliable Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). While the ground is not as easy as she would like it, neither is it for Trueshan and a repeat of the form of her latest second in the G1 Goodwood Cup would be good enough should the veteran giant deliver one of his deflating efforts.

Aidan O'Brien said of her, “We think the trip will suit her and any ease in the ground will suit her as well. If the ground had come up soft or heavy, we probably would have had a good, strong think about the Arc, but we thought over the Cadran trip she would be more comfortable. She does stay very well and she seems in good form. When she ran in the Gold Cup she ran very well even though the ground was quick–she didn't have any problems with it.”

 

 

All To Play For In Open Royallieu

There is no stand-out in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu and it is fair to say that there have been better editions of the 14-furlong contest since it was elevated to top-level status in 2019. They have included an Oaks heroine in Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the top-class Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), but this is a line-up of wannabes at present headed on the formbook by Wathnan Racing's G2 Prix de Pomone winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Most of her rivals have had plenty of chances at a lesser level and missed the target, so perhaps The Aga Khan's progressive G3 Stanerra S. and G3 Irish St Leger Trial S. winner Shamida (Ire) (Australia {GB}) could be the answer or the Arbibs' G2 Lillie Langtry S. and G2 Park Hill S. scorer Sumo Sam (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) if she can transfer her soft-ground dominance to this livelier surface.

 

Big Things On The Horizon?

ParisLongchamp's trio of Group 2 races see Moyglare Stud's exciting Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) look to enhance his reputation in the staying category in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay; Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's G3 Sovereign S. dead-heater Embesto (GB) (Roaring Lion) act as one of the more promising types lining up for the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein; and one of the day's more exciting runners in Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) look to boss the Qatar Prix Dollar.

Horizon Dore, who has flaunted his wares in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, is one of the more lively outsiders at present for next month's G1 Champion S. and he sports the Gousserie silks already renowned at that Ascot fixture. Compatriots Cirrus Des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) and Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and also the British raider Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) have taken this en route to making a major play at the Champion and so Saturday's closing act of ParisLongchamp's pattern-race bonanza takes on extra weight.

 

Sunday's Supporting Group 1s Confirmed

Friday saw ParisLongchamp's five other Arc-supporting Group 1 contests finalised, with the opening two being the big juvenile prizes. The Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere features Philippe Allaire and Haras d'Etreham's unbeaten G3 Prix la Rochette-winning TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac includes Newtown Anner Stud Farm's impressive G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prestige S. winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Haras d'Etreham and Craig Bernick's G2 Prix du Calvados-winning  TDN Rising Star Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never).

In the Prix de l'Opera Longines, Yeguada Centurion SL's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) takes on 11 rivals, while the 19 due to assemble for the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines include the star sprinting mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret sees last year's winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) favourably drawn in two bidding to provide Frankie Dettori with the ultimate Paris send-off.

 

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Paddington Heads Four In Mouthwatering Juddmonte International

Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) heads a field of four for the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York with Aidan O'Brien's star three-year-old bidding for a fifth success at the highest level.

His chief threat is Shadwell's G1 Prince Of Wales's S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt will be accompanied by stablemate Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who bids to rebound off a third-placed effort in the G1 Nassau S at Goodwood.

King Power Racing's Derby fifth The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) will have his first start since last month's GI Belmont Derby Invitational in New York where he finished an unlucky second.

Opening day on the Knavesmire will also feature the five-runner Sky Bet G2 Great Voltigeur S., in which Wathnan Racing's undefeated G2 Queen's Vase victor Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) will line out in advance of a possible tilt at next month's G1 St Leger.

The pattern-race action gets under way with the seven-furlong G3 Tattersalls Acomb S., which has attracted six juveniles headed by another Wathnan Racing acquisition, Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}).

He was last seen finishing second to G1 Prix Morny hero Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in this month's G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood. The Adrian Keatley trainee will exit from gate two for his first start in fresh silks.

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Havana Grey’s Vandeek Denies Ramatuelle In Morny Thriller

Sunday's G1 Sumbe Prix Morny looked a deep one beforehand and it didn't disappoint as KHK Racing's Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Mosa Mine {GB}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) reeled in Infinity Nine Horses' TDN Rising Star Ramatuelle (Justify) close home for the bragging rights at Deauville. As he had on his winning debut at Nottingham and the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained 625,000gns Tatts Craven Breeze Up joint-topper travelled easily throughout with Andrea Atzeni notably still. Allowing the G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Ramatuelle first run passing two out, the 9-2 shot was eating into that even-money favourite's advantage with every stride and ultimately outstayed her for a short-neck success, with Ballydoyle's G2 Coventry S.-winning TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) closing to two lengths at the line.

 

“It was a huge display and a big performance,” Ed Crisford said of his cold, who has now earned a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November. “I thought the filly's turn of foot was fantastic and I thought we weren't going to claw her back, but to be fair to him he's stuck to his guns and stuck his head down and he's a really high-quality colt. We were behind a few horses and I saw Andrea looking for a gap and he couldn't quite find one, but once he got out he's picked up really well in that ground and he's a proper horse with a big future, hopefully. He could go further in time, but I think he's got so much speed being by Havana Grey that we'll aim for the Middle Park and then take it from there.”

This was a top-class renewal of the Morny and there was never a question that the pace would not be strong and it could be a slowly-run tactical affair. The G2 July S. winner Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was electric from the gates, denying Thunder Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) who was acting as the pacemaker for the G2 Norfolk S. winner Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) the lead. That set it up for the smoother-travelling closers in behind, of which Vandeek was always the most striking from a visual standpoint and also on paper once the sectional times had been released.

Every horse was dragged into a speed test here, with such strong splits leading to halfway meaning that this was turning into one for the stayers. With the testing ground accentuating the stamina test, Ramatuelle was faster than Vandeek between three out and the furlong pole but she paid for that in the run to the line as the British raider clawed back the deficit and edge it late as she tired.

Ramatuelle's trainer Christopher Head was not downcast afterwards. “She ran a blinder again–it's amazing what this filly is capable of,” he said. “A small tiny filly among those gigantic colts! It was a great performance, there is no shame in losing. We will discuss the next race with all the partners, but she is in the Cheveley Park and the Lagardere.”

Aidan O'Brien was also delighted with the run of River Tiber following his well-documented training troubles. “He had a muscle pull behind a little over two weeks ago and I really didn't think he'd make it,” he said. “He just lacked a little bit of drive early, so he was back a long ways and Ryan had to give him a chance to loosen up. When he did, he came home very well so we were very happy with the run. We'll see how he is and then make a plan.”

Pedigree Notes

Vandeek, who becomes the first group 1 winner for his excellent sire, is a grandson of Baldemosa (Fr) (Lead On Time) whose half-sister is the G1 Prix Robert Papin heroine Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene). Her trio of top-class performers are the G1 July Cup S. and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Anabaa, the GI Pimlico Special runner-up Key Of Luck and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal (Zilzal).

Always Loyal is the second dam of the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies-winning champion Shonan Adela (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while another of Balbonella's progeny was the G3 Prix de la Grotte-placed Country Belle (Seattle Slew) who was the dam of the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Country Reel (Danzig). Also connected to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Baine (Fr) by Country Reel, Mosa Mine's colt foal is by Starspangledbanner (Aus).

Sunday, Deauville, France
SUMBE PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, Deauville, 8-20, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:09.84, vsf.
1–VANDEEK (GB), 126, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Baldemosa (Fr), by Lead On Time
3rd Dam: Bamieres (Fr), by Riverman
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (52,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 42,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY; 625,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-KHK Racing; B-Maywood Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-Andrea Atzeni. €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 3-2-0-0, €316,055. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ramatuelle, 122, f, 2, Justify–Raven's Lady (GB), by Raven's Pass. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€100,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Chun Wai Kwok, Arthur Hoyeau, Mme Ilse Smits & Clement Tropres; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (KY); T-Christopher Head. €80,010.
3–River Tiber (Ire), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €40,005.
Margins: SNK, 2, 2HF. Odds: 4.40, 1.00, 3.70.
Also Ran: Sacred Angel (Ire), Valiant Force, Sajir (Ire), Elite Status (GB), Jasour (GB), Thunder Blue (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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