Tag: Willie McCreery

Night Of Thunder’s Vespertilio Impresses In The Debutante

Providing a boost to her G3 Silver Flash S. conqueror Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Al Shira'aa Farms' Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Prudente {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) sprung forward to capture Saturday's seven-furlong G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S. in style at The Curragh. Beaten 1 1/2 lengths when second to Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star in that important staging post at Leopardstown last month, the Willie McCreery-trained €320,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate was held up in last early by a confident Billy Lee content to let it all play out ahead. Produced to pounce on the leaders a furlong out, the 4-1 shot surged into the clear to score by 1 3/4 lengths from Sakti (Ire) (Caravaggio), with 2 3/4 lengths back to Kalispera (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in third.

“She ran a lovely race the last day,” McCreery said. “Billy apologised for sitting back last, he didn't want to sit that far back but he said she just got squeezed early and got lit up for a few strides so he just wanted to settle her. They were going a good gallop along and he was happy with her the whole way. She took him into the race beautifully and quickened up lovely.”

“She gets a free entry now for the Moyglare and we'll stick her in that now, I'm always trying to save a few quid! We'll stay local, she actually qualified for a race in France today because she was bought in Arqana but I really wanted to come here instead of travelling at this time of year. She's lovely, gorgeous, and she has tactical speed as well.”

Pedigree Notes
Vespertilio, who becomes the 20th group winner for her sire, is the fourth foal out of Prudente who is a full-sister to the Listed Prix de la Seine winner Prudenzia (Ire). She is in turn the dam of the G1 MacKinnon S. winner and international star Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who produced the G2 Curragh Cup winner and G1 Goodwood Cup runner-up Emily Dickinson (Ire) from a mating with Night Of Thunder's sire Dubawi (Ire) and also the G1 Irish Oaks and GI American Oaks-placed Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah).
Prudenzia also produced Dubawi's G3 Prix Penelope winner and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene (Ire), while the third dam is the listed-winning Puce (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) whose leading performers were the G2 Lancashire Oaks winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) with this being the family of the G1 Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire heroine Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Prudente's yearling colt is by Camelot (GB).

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
ALPHA CENTAURI DEBUTANTE S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 8-19, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.60, g/y.
1–VESPERTILIO (FR), 128, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
     1st Dam: Prudente (Fr), by Dansili (GB)
     2nd Dam: Platonic (GB), by Zafonic
     3rd Dam: Puce (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shira'Aa Farms; B-SASU Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc (FR); T-Willie McCreery; J-Billy Lee. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $90,300. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sakti (Ire), 128, f, 2, Caravaggio–Oh Grace (Ire), by Lawman (Fr).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€52,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1). O-David Spratt & Sean Jones & Mrs Lynne Lyons; B-T Darcy & V McCarthy (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €24,000.
3–Kalispera (Ire), 128, f, 2, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Ask Me Nicely (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Ann Marie O'Brien (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 7.00, 80.00.
Also Ran: Mysteries (Ire), Pearls and Rubies, Dollerina (Ire), Betula (GB), Snellen (Ire).

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Sioux Nation’s Ocean Jewel Takes The Ballycorus

Underlining the strength of the speedier 3-year-olds this year, Al Shira'aa Farms' Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) passed a stern test against the older brigade on Thursday as she captured Leopardstown's G3 TRI Equestrian Ballycorus S. Stretching out to seven furlongs, having finished third behind The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the G3 Lacken S. over six at Naas last month, the Willie McCreery-trained half-sister to the 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was able to use her sprinting prowess to stay close to the early pace in second. Committed by Billy Lee passing two out, the 16-5 shot saw out the finale strongly to score by 1 1/4 lengths from the veteran stalwart Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}).

Also second to smart compatriot Beauty Crescent (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Listed Blenheim S. at Fairyhouse in September, having won her Down Royal maiden with authority earlier that month, Ocean Jewel is unexposed and full of promise at this trip and possibly beyond according to McCreery. “She's improving the whole time and everything worked out perfectly tactically,” he said. “I did think about the Commonwealth [Cup], but I thought 'let's not take on the boys this year' and it that was her first time over seven and Billy [Lee] said she hit the line very well.”

“She's a very sharp filly and I loved the way she settled,” the winning trainer added. “The world is her oyster and we'll take our time with her. We have next year with her and we'll try a group 1 before the year is out. We'll stick to seven this year and might go a mile next year. It's a big weekend for Kieran [Lalor, Al Shira'aa's racing and bloodstock manager]. He bought this filly a couple of years ago and he bought the second favourite for the French Oaks, Jannah Rose.”

Pedigree Notes
Ocean Jewel's aforementioned half-sister Mother Earth, who was also successful in the G1 Prix Rothschild and placed in seven other top-level contests including the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, was Al Shira'aa Racing's first winner in Ireland last term and a perfect launchpad for the operation in the country. The listed-winning and group-placed dam Many Colours (GB) (Green Desert) is also responsible for the G2 Premio Dormello winner Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). From the family of the leading sprinter and sire Dandy Man (Ire) and the Royal Ascot group-placed pair Patience Alexander (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), her full-brother to Mother Earth named Bamburgh (Ire) was a €80,000 purchase by Johnston Racing at the Goffs Orby.

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYCORUS S.-G3, €52,500, Leopardstown, 6-15, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:30.10, gd.
1–OCEAN JEWEL (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Many Colours (GB) (SW & GSP-Ire, MSP-UAE, $276,926), by Green Desert
2nd Dam: First Of Many (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Star Profile (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€230,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Willie McCreery; J-Billy Lee. €31,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $56,231. *1/2 to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), G1SW-Eng & Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,460,919; and Night Colours (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), GSW-Ity, $139,607. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Real Appeal (Ger), 135, g, 6, Sidestep (Aus)–Runaway Sparkle (GB), by Green Desert. (€7,500 Wlg '17 ARQDEC; £265,000 2yo '19 GOFLON; 130,000gns 5yo '22 TATAHI). O-Shamrock Thoroughbreds, Dooley Thoroughbreds & J P Cleary; B-Gestut Kussaburg (GER); T-Adrian McGuinness. €10,500.
3–Carrytheone (GB), 135, g, 6, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Song Of Passion (Ire), by Orpen. (50,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Any Excuse For A Holiday Syndicate; B-Pevens Racing (GB); T-Johnny Murtagh. €5,250.
Margins: 1 1/4, SHD, SHD. Odds: 3.20, 20.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mutasarref (GB), Agartha (Ire), Spring Feeling (Fr). Scratched: Power Under Me (Ire), Coachello (Fr).

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Strong Godolphin Challenge for Bahrain International Trophy

SAKHIR, Bahrain–The G3 Bahrain International Trophy may have been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of the fancied Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) through injury on Monday, but Friday's highlight at the Bahrain Turf Club will still very much live up to the international part of its title.

Ten runners will face the starter, the line-up including horses from Britain, Ireland, France, Denmark, Dubai, and of course Bahrain for the fourth running of the 2000-metre contest. And it's not just the four-legged stars boasting international pedigrees as the £600,000 race has drawn some of the biggest names from the weighing-room, including newly-crowned British champion William Buick, Frankie Dettori, Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote, Oisin Orr, Mickael Barzalona, Olivier Peslier and Gerald Mosse.

The Bahrain International Trophy got off to a flying start in 2019 when the Jerome Reynier-trained Royal Julius (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}) held off John Gosden and Godolphin's Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and French trainers have lent strong support this year, with Andre Fabre returning for another crack with last year's third-placed finisher, the Godolphin homebred Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro). The well-travelled 7-year-old, who is a Group 3 winner in his home country, warmed up for this challenge with an easy victory in a Chantilly conditions race on Oct. 8 and will jump from stall five under Barzalona.

Andreas Schutz fields the 7-year-old Monty (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), who was last seen running second to Addeybb (Ire) in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris and has strong form lines with the other French challenger, Riocorvo (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}), who was runner-up to Monty in the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte in early September, having previously won the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy in July for Chantilly-based Spaniard Carlos Laffon-Parias. Monty has drawn stall nine, while Riocorvo is in two, just outside the local challenger Dilawar (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will be ridden by Dettori for Fawzi Nass. The Aga Khan-bred 5-year-old makes his first start for Nass and Victorious Racing having been bought for €500,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale.

Godolphin is represented by four runners from three different stables, with Britain's champion trainer Charlie Appleby saddling the 4-year-old Royal Fleet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is drawn widest of all in 10 and has been in good form in England this autumn, winning the Listed Bahrain Turf Club Foundation S at Goodwood before twice being placed at Newmarket in the G3 Darley S. and Listed Seymour S. Saeed Bin Suroor is doubly represented by Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who are drawn alongside each other in stalls four and five.

Willie McCreery makes his first trip to the island with Insinuendo (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a Group 2 winner on her home track at the Curragh and most recently third behind Emily Upjohn (GB) and Thunder Kiss (Ire) in the G1 QIPCO British Champion Fillies & Mares S. Whatever the outcome of Friday's race, for which she will start from gate seven, the next outing for the 5-year-old mare will be to the sale ring at Tattersalls, as Insinuendo is set to sell during the Sceptre Sessions on Nov. 29.

“She seems to have travelled really well and she has been very relaxed out on the track here so we are very happy with her,” said McCreery. “She's been a great flag-bearer and we are excited to see her run this last time.”

The pride of Danish racing, King David (Den) (Elusive City), whose eight victories include Group 3 wins in Germany, Norway and Denmark, is representing trainer Niels Petersen, who drew stall eight for his stable star and commented, “I must say that he has improved a lot this year. We had him in Dubai over the winter and he ran some decent races but this season he has stepped up, even though he is getting older.

“He had his last run in August and I said to his owner that this race could be a potential target if we could get him in. He's a good ground horse so we left him off during the autumn with this race in mind and it is fantastic to be here. We've been extremely well looked after and it has been a huge experience so far. It would mean the world [to win] but we are part of a small racing community so just to be able to come here is a big win in itself.”

Completing the line-up from gate six, is the former Marco Botti-trained Pensiero d'Amore (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a four-time winner in the UK who was bought in July to race in Bahrain for Al-Afoo Racing and trainer Mohammed Hasan.

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Tattersalls Gold Cup Possibility For Insinuendo

Dual group winner Insinuendo (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who won the G3 Blue Wind S. and G2 Kilboy Estate S. last term, is a possibility for the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at on May 22. The Deegan Racing Syndicate runner was second to Group 1 winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G3 Park Express S. at The Curragh on Mar. 26.

Trainer Willie McCreery said, “It was her first run of the season and we were very happy with her. She came out of the race well and we're looking onwards and upwards.

“Ideally you'd have loved someone to have given her a lead the other day. She had to do all her own donkey work and it's hard to beat a genuine Group 1 filly making your own pace.

“The whole idea this year is to try and get her Group 1 placed and see where we are from there.

“I'm not sure where we'll go next–it depends on the ground really. The ground is after changing from soft to very good here in the last couple of weeks, so hopefully we get some Irish weather again.

“If we can get some cut in the ground that would open up more options. The Tattersalls Gold Cup is an option for her if the ground comes right for her, definitely.”

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