Tag: William Haggas

Alenquer To Begin Campaign In Winter Derby

Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), the winner of last year's G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot, will begin his 5-year-old campaign in the G3 Winter Derby at Lingfield on Feb. 26.

After his Royal Ascot triumph, the William Haggas-trained Alenquer finished third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and second in the G1 Juddmonte International. He wrapped up his campaign with a ninth-place finish in the heavy ground G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“He's a nice horse,” Haggas said. “He ran in the Arc, which he probably shouldn't have done, but he still ran a good race and he's a pretty useful horse. He won't run before the Winter Derby. He'll run in the Winter Derby and will hopefully go on to run in Dubai in the Sheema Classic.”

Haggas also entered My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Winter Derby, but said the race is a back-up for that pair, who are being prepared for the G1 Saudi Cup, with the Neom Turf Cup also an option for Grocer Jack.

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Loves Only You Finishes Career With Hong Kong Cup Victory

Loves Only You set the perfect seal on one of international racing's most colorful careers with a spellbinding success in the HK$30 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Yoshito Yahagi's globetrotting mare has flown the Hinomaru flag from Dubai to Hong Kong and on to the USA then back to Sha Tin again in 2021, leading home a Japanese 1-2-3-4 in the G1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) in April and then creating history by becoming the first horse from her nation to score at the Breeders' Cup.

Hong Kong's richest race had been nominated as the final race of the Deep Impact mare's career soon after she crossed the line in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on November 6.

Her fifth long flight of the year took her annual distance covered to over 20,000 miles but Loves Only You was produced in perfect condition and completed the final leg of her global odyssey with a last-gasp success under the coolest of rides from Yuga Kawada.

The 36-year-old rider, who was extremely fortunate not to be brought down when previous winner Danon Smash was badly hampered in a dramatic G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) earlier in the day, was understandably thrilled to record his first HKIR success. “Thank you very much, I'm very proud,” he said.

“She jumped well. The pace was a bit slow but then she relaxed and I was able to find a good position. She's given me two big presents and is the best female horse I've ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother.”

Sent off the 2.6 market leader, Loves Only You jumped alertly from stall four and was soon traveling keenly just behind a steady early pace set by Mac Swiney, Ka Ying Star, and the wide-running Bolshoi Ballet.

Russian Emperor made a bold move to hit the front as a packing field jostled for position early in the home straight but last season's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up edged right with his tongue lolling out as he did so, placing Loves Only You in a pocket on the inner at a crucial point.

Hishi Iguazu produced a storming run from the rear on the outside soon after under Joao Moreira to draw level briefly well inside the final furlong.

However, Kawada had Loves Only You in full stride by this stage and the five-year-old repeated her Del Mar heroics, quickening valiantly between horses under pressure to lead close home and beat her fellow Japanese raider by a short head.

Russian Emperor ran the race of his life for Douglas Whyte and Blake Shinn to finish a length away in third, while British raider Dubai Honour never looked like becoming the first European runner to win the Cup since Snow Fairy in 2010 but stayed on powerfully for fourth once in the clear for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

Three years on from seeing his star filly Lys Gracieux beaten narrowly by Exultant in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi was completing an incredible end to 2021 which has also produced a 50-1 Breeders' Cup Distaff success for Marche Lorraine and a commanding Japan Cup success for his superstar colt Contrail.

The colorful 60-year-old was unable to accompany Loves Only You on the final leg of her journey but his stable representative Yusaku Oka was on hand to savor a perfect finale.

“I'm so glad to win this race for our trainer, who is watching on in Japan,” he said.

“She won the Breeders' Cup very well and in the spring she came over here and had a good result, so we were always confident she would run well.

“She's got a good pedigree – so we are looking forward to the next stage of her career – and as we have quite a lot of good horses in the stable we hope we will be back in Hong Kong with them in the future.”

Dusk was gathering over Sha Tin as an elated Kawada left the racecourse on a day that illustrated every aspect of the joy and pain that defines racing at the highest level.

The sun is also setting on Loves Only You's racing career but, if the 2021 edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races confirmed one thing, it is that the Land of the Rising Sun is now a true powerhouse on the global racing stage.

Following in the footsteps of A Shin Hikari, Maurice, Win Bright, and Normcore, this success for Loves Only You means Japan has now won five of the last seven Hong Kong Cups and four of the eight HKIR races run in the last two years.

HKJC racecaller Mark McNamara summed up the latest thrilling finish to Hong Kong's most cherished prize by saying: “It's Japan 1-2, Loves Only You says sayonara with the Cup!”

Leave them wanting more is never a bad motto. But, who knows, maybe Japan's latest Cup queen will have a son or daughter to represent her on the LONGINES HKIR stage in years to come.

The post Loves Only You Finishes Career With Hong Kong Cup Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Grocer Jack And Chipotle Join Haggas

Three horses who recently changed hands for six-figure sums at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale have joined William Haggas's stable for Prince Faisal Bin Khaled's Najd Stud.

The trio is led by sale-topper and dual Group 3 winner Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who was bought for 700,000gns from owner/breeder Dr Christoph Berglar.

“His second place in Group 1 company was behind Skalleti (Fr), who himself has good form behind Addeybb (Ire) last season,” said Haggas. “Grocer Jack was also third in the German Derby as a 3-year-old behind former Arc runner-up In Swoop (Ire) and this year's Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger), so he is clearly a high-class individual. He has settled into the way of life at Somerville Lodge very smoothly and has begun cantering as he builds up to what will hopefully be a very exciting campaign. He has possibilities all over the world and could head to Saudi Arabia or Dubai to get his season underway. He also has a host of races open to him in the UK over 10 and 12 furlongs so hopefully he can get a much deserved victory at the highest level.”

Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), a consistent and classy juvenile this season for Eve Johnson Houghton with wins in the Brocklesby S. on debut, followed by listed success in the Windsor Castle S. and Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy, has also joined the Haggas team. He could also make his first start of 2022 in his owner's home country of Saudi Arabia before targeting sprints in Europe during next summer.

Completing the set is the lightly-raced Shadwell 2-year-old Laatansa (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), who has moved from Ed Dunlop's stable having been bought for 250,000gns with a rating of 83.

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Quality Lineup For Longines HKIR

Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and a team of five from Ballydoyle headed by defending G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase hero Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) are among a list of 49 world-class gallopers that have been extended invitations to the 2021 Longines Hong Kong International Races to be staged Sunday, Dec. 12, at Sha Tin Racecourse. Some 22 of the invitees have already struck at Group 1/Grade I level.

Following her history-making performance in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6, the 5-year-old Loves Only You is set to journey from California to the same course and 2000-metre distance over which she won the G1 FWD QE II Cup on her world travels this past April as she swansongs in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. She is set to be joined in the day's richest event by Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), victorious in this year's G1 Osaka Hai and perfect in a pair of starts at 10 furlongs, as well as the less-heralded Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).

The Japanese challenge numbers fully 10 of the 21 overseas-based horses and also includes Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), one of three horses back to defend their titles from 2020. The 6-year-old, whose sire was a spectacular two-time winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, exits a sixth in the G1 Sprinters' S. behind 3-year-old Pixie Knight (Jpn) and 4-year-old filly Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}). The former is a son of Maurice (Jpn), winner of both a G1 Long Hong Kong Mile and Hong Kong Cup. While the connections of Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB})–Japan's best miler not named Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})–have passed on the Mile, four others will have a crack at Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Jpn), including Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who upset the recently retired Gran Alegria in this year's G1 Yasuda Kinen. Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) looks for a second G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in three years, having been given a peach of ride by Joao Moreira to score in 2019.

 

Mogul will try to join former Ballydoyle inmate Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as two-time winners of the Vase and will attempt to become the first to go back-to-back in the race since Doctor Dino (Fr) (Muhtathir) in 2007/2008. His Aidan O'Brien stablemates Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}, Cup), the year-older full-brother to Mogul and a latest fourth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf; and Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {Ire}, Vase) are also among those receiving invitations, though their participation hinges squarely on their performance in and well-being following this weekend's G1 Japan Cup. Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of this year's GI Belmont Derby, is also invited to the Vase, while G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is penciled in for the Mile.

The form of the G1 QIPCO Champion S. will be tested in the Cup by the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}), beaten three-parts of a length into second by Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the Ascot centrepiece Oct. 16, and the third home that day, Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), whose trainer Jim Bolger sent out Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}) to win the Cup back in 2004.

The Vase has lured an additional pair of interesting runners from Europe, including Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), upset winner of this year's G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom who resumed from a five-month break to score impressively in the Listed Churchill S. over the Lingfield all-weather Nov. 13. Aga Khan homebred Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) was a two-time winner at group level in France earlier this year for Alain de Royer-Dupre and ran Broome to one length in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July.

 

In addition to Golden Sixty, who figures a prohibitive favourite to run his current winning streak to 16 in the Mile, other top contenders from Hong Kong include Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky, Cup); the progressive Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}) and Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) in the Sprint; and Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB})–second to Panfield in the course-and-distance G1 Champions & Chater Cup–in the Vase. Reliable Team (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who won the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000mT) Nov. 21, stretches out in trip for the Vase.

“The Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) is firmly established as one of the world's principal racing events and this year we will welcome an extraordinary line-up from Japan, Great Britain, Ireland and France which includes 16 individual Group 1 winners,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “To have runners of this calibre in any year would be notable but once again it is truly remarkable given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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