With The Moonlight (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Heralds Close To Blockbuster Graded Weekend

With a nod to Chicago motorsport legend Jan Gabriel's famous call of Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!, the blockbuster weekend of horse racing isn't in the books just yet with 11 graded stakes scheduled. Out of those, three guarantee a starting spot in next month's 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships –'Win and You're In'.

In Toronto, Woodbine Racetrack cards the GI E.P. Taylor S. A renewal of the celebrated 1 1/4 grass event, this year's edition includes Godolphin homebred and Dubai multiple group stakes winner With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The 4-year-old filly ran second in the GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland back in the spring before finishing out of the money the next month at Newmarket in the G2 Dahlia S.

Receiving Lasix for the first time, the Charlie Appleby trainee will tangle with Canadian Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper), who won for the first time in over a year in the GII Canadian S. Sept. 9.

“She's doing well,” said Moira's trainer, Kevin Attard. “She's coming off a big win, obviously, and she's had some good works since then.”

With The Moonlight's stablemate, GISW Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), also returns to contest the GI Canadian International S. at Woodbine after winning a Group 1 in Germany over the summer. With Lasix too, the 4-year-old colt is up against GISW Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) from Chad Brown's shedrow, who sends out Juddmonte homebred GSW Masen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for the Sunday finale in the GII Nearctic S.

Nations Pride | Sarah Andrew

Elsewhere, the tip-top Sunday racing continues at both the Belmont at the Big A meet and at Keeneland.

First, Aqueduct hosts a trio of Grade III events. The Futurity S., which is an opportunity for 2-year-olds to earn a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, is a chance for second out maiden breaker Apollo Ten (Violence) to strut his grass ability. The Christophe Clement trainee will have to grapple from the outside gate with SW Book'em Danno (Bucchero), who tries turf for the first time. Sticking with the lawn, the Noble Damsel S. features veteran MGSW Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}), while the Matron S. could be the stakes coming out party for Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}).

The action at Keeneland isn't quite on the level of Saturday's, but the Association cards a pair of 'Win and You're In' contests. The GI Spinster S. is always a highlight in October, as older females look to gain entry into the GI Breeders' Cup Longines Distaff. A slugfest is in the offing, as champion 3-year-old Nest (Curlin) looks to avenge her loss in the GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 25 at Saratoga when Idiomatic (Curlin) took home the prize from the first jump. The daughters of multiple leading sire Curlin are in for an epic battle.

“We know she likes this track,” said Nest's Hall of Fame trainer, Todd Pletcher. “We feel good about her that we got two races in her.”

Moving to the Haggin Course where the GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. will fill a position in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, we find a well-matched field of 2-year-olds. Noted (Cairo Prince) recorded his first stakes victory in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Aug. 26 for Repole Stable and should be the favorite come post time. However, don't miss First World War (War Front) who debuted a winner coming from just off the pace at Kentucky Downs last month for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Finally, swinging out to Santa Anita Park, the GIII Zuma Beach S. includes four 2-year-old colts who will be making their first start, while their filly counterpart, the GIII Surfer Girl S. beckons a pair of undefeated runners making their third start in SW Flattery (Flatter) and GSW Dreamfyre (Flameaway).

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Stars Align For Tahiyra In Guineas

Saturday's dour weather at Newmarket means that only the tough need apply in Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. A preference for testing ground is a must and so TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) seems in pole position given how electric she was on it when dealing with Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in September. Dermot Weld resisted the temptation to come here with Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) 12 months ago, despite the fact that she could have ended his long drought in the race and his unerring judgment could be rewarded quickly by The Aga Khan's half-sister to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal). Despite his reservations about whether she is at a peak, it speaks volumes that such a sage is happy to let her run and suggests we are dealing with something as special as she looked when we last witnessed her at The Curragh.

Ready For Remarquee

Newbury's ground for the G3 Fred Darling S. was worse than it is here, so Julian Richmond-Watson's Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) comes into play particularly as she is bred to stay at least this mile and probably further. From the family of the Oaks heroine Look Here (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and the G1 Prix Royal Oak winner Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the homebred has enjoyed the injection of pace that Kingman provides and looks a deadly proposition here. “She didn't really get the run of the race and Rob [Hornby] dropped his stick with half a furlong to run, yet she still won with one ear pricked, having wandered around. She'll have learned a lot,” trainer Ralph Beckett said. “We've been here before, having won a few Fred Darlings, and it can be tough getting a filly back in time for the Guineas but all of the signs are good. She didn't have a hard race and I'm very happy with her.”

Loaded Amo

Amo Racing's season has started with a bang and their G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was the main contributor as she dominated the G3 Nell Gwyn S. here last month. Richard Hannon has either been the name next to or been directly involved with the winner of this twice in the last 10 years and racing and operations manager Tom Pennington is hoping it can be three. “She goes there having won twice at the track and some experts have said she is not going to get the trip, but I disagree,” he said. “She's a relaxed and laid-back filly and I really don't see the mile being an issue.”

Second behind her in the Nell Gwyn was the solid Fairy Cross (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), but it has been clear for a while that Charlie Appleby's number one is Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal).

Lively Longshots

Anybody who witnessed the G2 May Hill S. success of Polly Pott (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) at Doncaster in September will remember how effective she is on rain-softened ground and it may be that her subsequent fourth to Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile here was one run too many. Now with Ben Pauling, she rates as having a genuine squeak along with Jaber Abdullah's Listed Star S. winner Dance In The Grass (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) and Hunscote Stud's Listed Montrose Fillies' S. scorer Caernarfon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) who will both relish the ground.

Mick Channon made an instant impact in his training career, but missed out on Guineas success a few times so it would be fitting if his son Jack could land one on his first attempt. “She is in great form and trained really well all winter and her work, touch wood, has been perfect,” he said of Caernarfon. “I think we've got her exactly where we want her and it will be down to simply whether she is good enough now. She had a decent amount of experience as a 2-year-old, she won over course and distance last time and she is not a filly who is too hard to get fit.”

Time For Adayar

Following the romp of Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) on Friday, Godolphin's other star Frankel Adayar (Ire) also comes to the Rowley Mile for the rescheduled G3 Gordon Richards S. lost from Sandown last week. The 2021 Derby and King George hero is up against Shadwell's G2 Prix Dollar winner Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) as he would have been last Friday, but also White Birch Farm's unbeaten and unexposed Francesco Clemente (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Charlie Appleby also saddles two in the Listed Pretty Polly S., with William Buick on the impressive Southwell novice scorer Queen Of Fairies (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), and last year's winner of that Oaks trial With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Dahlia S. Already successful in the G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine in 2023, she is back from an encounter with the high-class In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley S. and has it easier here despite carrying three pounds more than her rivals. She is joined by last year's G1 Falmouth S. heroine Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and fellow Godolphin representative and TDN Rising Star Life In Motion (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), another of Andre Fabre's keenly-aimed arrows at a race he has won twice since 2014 at the track he loves.

“With The Moonlight came back from Keeneland in great order and is a rock-solid filly,” Appleby said. “Nine furlongs is a perfect distance for her and she should be a big player, even with her penalty, providing the ground doesn't get too testing.”

London Calling

With Aidan O'Brien relying solely on Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the 1000 Guineas, Wayne Lordan stays at Leopardstown to take the mount on the stable's TDN Rising Star Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Derby Trial S. The full-brother to Capri (Ire) did everything the wrong way round in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. when last seen here in September and looks a stronger candidate than the yard's G3 Prix Noailles fourth Londoner (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Both have a high bar to reach to get to the G1 Criterium International winner Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the G3 Ballysax S. runner-up Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) adds further intrigue in another O'Brien-dominated Classic trial.

“We're not 100% sure what his trip is going to be, whether he will be a 10- or 12-furlong horse or maybe even he drops back to a mile, but it is great to get him started,” Donnacha said of Proud And Regal. “The hope is that he becomes a Derby horse, that's the dream, but I guess we will find out more on Sunday. If he goes and wins well, we will for sure have to have a look at Epsom, but if he didn't we may have to alter our plans.”

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Godolphin Will Send Modern Games Back To Keeneland

A pair of Godolphin's stable stars are headed back to contest Grade I races in America, the owner confirmed in a tweet on Wednesday.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the American champion Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will ship to Keeneland's Spring Meet to run over the Haggin Turf Course in the GI Maker's Mark Mile on Friday, Apr. 14. With the Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. and was second in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S., will contest the GI Jenny Wiley S. on Saturday, Apr. 15.

“The team are advancing nicely in preparation for the 2023 season,” Godolphin tweeted. “Stable star Modern Games will head straight to the G1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland. With The Moonlight heads to the G1 Jenny Wiley.”

Set to begin his 4-year-old campaign, the bay colt has never lost in North America. As for With the Moonlight, the now-4-year-old filly swept the G2 Cape Verdi and the G2 Balanchine in February.

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Godolphin Duo Pose Threat In Balanchine S.

You've heard of Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})? How about Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {Ire}), Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) or Promising Run (Hard Spun)? What do they have in common? Godolphin, for one, and they are all the winning alums from the past five years of the G2 Ballanchine S. at Meydan Racecourse.

Either of the 4-year-old blue-clad torchbearers that are drawn into Friday's edition could carry on that tradition. Out of With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), both of whom are trained by Charlie Appleby, the former will probably serve as the prima based on the European markets. Despite a last place in the 2022 G1 Epsom Oaks behind the winner, Tuesday (Ire) Galileo {Ire}) and her new stablemate, Tranquil Lady (sixth), the filly did find success in the GIII Saratoga Oaks later that summer. After an autumn break, she won the G2 Cape Verdi S. three weeks ago over this very turf course and will have the services of William Buick once more.

“With The Moonlight has come forward since the Cape Verdi and the step back up in distance is going to suit,” said Appleby. “She has a penalty to carry, but is clear on ratings and has already won at the track this season. She looks the one they all have to beat.”

Tranquil Lady is obviously no understudy. Lest we forget, she was a 2.7-million gns Tattersalls December purchase by Godolphin, and even though the former Joseph O'Brien trainee has not been seen since she won the G3 Prix de Flore S. at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 22, she's no nap, as James Doyle gets the call for the first time.

“This will be her first start for us, so we are on a slight learning curve, but we are confident that she will run a nice race,” the trainer said. “We will potentially see her at her best over further and this will be our first opportunity to get a handle on her ahead of the forthcoming season.”

With six other longshots at the bar for this year's Balanchine, it could be Lyrical Poetry (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) or even Katoucha (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) that could rise to the occasion. If not, it will be Godolphin once more that poses in the winner's enclosure on Friday.

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