Wootton Bassett’s Gala Real Powers to TDN Rising Stardom at Saint-Cloud

Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti trainee Gala Real (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) notched an 11-length tally when shedding maiden status at Lyon-Parilly last November and continued on the upgrade with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in Friday's Prix Durban at Saint-Cloud.

The 73-10 chance, who had previously finished last of seven runners in her July 16 debut over seven furlongs at Chantilly, employed patient tactics from flagfall in this 10 1/2-furlong distaffers' test and settled off the tempo in sixth for the most part. Inching closer on the home turn, the daughter of Cala Violina (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) cruised to the front on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker and was not for catching thereafter, lengthening clear under minimal urging inside the final 300 metres to easily outclass Wootton Zi (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths. Gala Real becomes the sixth Rising Star for Wootton Bassett, whose existing quintet of inductees is headed by last term's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Unquestionable (Fr).

“I was devastated when she lost first time out, but she won very well on her second start and I am not surprised she won so easily today,” admitted trainer Alessandro Botti. “She enjoyed a good winter, she worked with [Christophe] Soumillon and he said she sent him great vibes. The idea, and it was already the case before she ran today, is to have her at her best for the [June 16 G1] Prix de Diane [at Chantilly] and we will try to find a race for her between now and then.”

Gala Real is the first of three foals produced by a winning half-sister to multiple stakes-winning G2 Grand Prix de Deauville third Fenelon (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Her dual Grade III-winning second dam Aigue Marine (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of G3 Prix Fille de l'Air victrix Aiglonne (Silver Hawk), is a half-sister to four black-type performers headed by G1 Prix d'Ispahan-winning sire Mekhtaal (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), G2 Prix Hocquart winner Democrate (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon victor and G1 Criterium International runner-up Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is kin to the unraced 2-year-old colt Ipso Facto (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and a yearling filly by Camelot (GB).

2nd-Saint-Cloud, €28,000, Cond, 4-12, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:30.89, hy.
GALA REAL (GB), f, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Cala Violina (Fr), by Lope De Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Aigue Marine (GB), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk
Sales history: €270,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €25,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Scuderia Dei Duepi, Ballylinch Stud, Ecurie des Charmes & Hisham Abdulwahed; B-Noir et Or Elevage SA & Ecurie Skymarc Farm (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti; J-Christophe Soumillon.

 

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Diverse Catalogue Revealed For The Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale

The catalogue for the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale, set for Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24, was announced on Friday. Featuring 252 lots, the sale will begin at 10 a.m. on May 24, with the breezes beginning the day prior at 8:30 a.m. at Fairyhouse Racecourse.

Graduates of the sale have been flying high in recent years, with G3 Anglesey S. winner Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}), listed winners Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) and Fun With Flags (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), all alumni of the 2023 edition. 'TDN Rising Star' Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) is also a 2023 graduate, and she is entered in both the G1 1000 Guineas, and the Irish equivalent, as well as the G1 Oaks at Epsom.

Among the lots on offer are: a Ribchester (Ire) half-brother (lot 6) to GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}); Group 3 winner Jaameh (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB})'s Mehmas (Ire) half-brother (lot 176); a half-sister (lot 14) by Starspangledbanner (Aus) to Group 1-placed Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}); and a Persian King (Ire) half-brother (lot 3) to G1 Prix Jean Prat hero and stallion Territories (Ire). Wootton Bassett (GB)'s lot 78 is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road); American Grade I winner Sophie P (GB) (Bushranger {Ire}) is the dam of a colt by No Nay Never (lot 240); and there is also a Vino Rosso colt (lot 89) out of Grade III winner Dreaming Of Liz (El Prado {Ire}). A 2-year-old with a Classic connection is a Blue Point (Ire) filly (lot 12) out of a sister to multiple stakes winner and G1 Irish Oaks second Venus De Milo (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}); while Earthlight (Ire) is represented by a filly (lot 62) out of a sister to multiple Group 1 winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “The Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale is Ireland's only breeze-up sale, and I'm confident the quality of this catalogue will meet the expectations of our clients. The quality on offer at this sale has risen year on year, with stakes class performers and Classic contenders among our graduates in recent editions. I'm certain our purchasers will be satisfied with the choice, diversity and depth of the catalogue. We look forward to working alongside the team at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, and extending a warm welcome to our clients from Ireland, the UK and further afield in May.”

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Rogue Millennium “Exciting Prospect” For Joseph O’Brien

Group 2 winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the Duke of Cambridge S. and second in the G1 Matron S. last term for Tom Clover, is an “exciting prospect” for 2024, according to new trainer Joseph O'Brien.

Formerly owned by the Rogues Gallery, who picked her up for 35,000gns at the Tattersalls Mare December Sale as an unraced 2-year-old in 2021, the now-5-year-old mare was fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO Champions Day last out in October. She was knocked down for 1.65 million gns at that same sale in December, with Lanigan/Durcan agent on the ticket on behalf of Heider Family Stables.

“She gives the impression that she'll always appreciate better ground and she shows plenty of pace,” said O'Brien. “We won't be shy about travelling her and have a long list of potential options for her in America where we think the style of racing will suit her. She's a very exciting prospect to have in the yard.”

O'Brien also had updates on several other stable stars, among them G2 Blandford S. winner Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). A good third to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera last October, she was not disgraced in the colours of Michael O'Flynn when sixth to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf a month later in California. The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in May is first on her assignment sheet this term.

“She had a busy campaign last season, but never let us down and kept improving,” said O'Brien. “We all got a real thrill from her win in the Blandford S., and it was great that her owner Michael O'Flynn was there on the day to enjoy it with us.

“We are looking at the Tattersalls Gold Cup as an early-season target and will drive on from there.”

Group 1-winning juvenile Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a winner of the 2022 G1 National S., enjoyed a brief campaign at three in 2023. Second in the G3 International S. at the beginning of July, he filled that spot again in the wake of undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano in August. The 4-year-old entire is also pleasing O'Brien, and has been handed French targets, including the G1 Prix Ganay in April.

O'Brien said, “We are delighted with him. He was always a tall, rangy horse and has filled out into a magnificent athlete now.

“We were very sweet on him for the Irish Champion S., but a little issue the day before meant we couldn't run. Everything has gone very smoothly with him this preparation and we are steadily stepping up his work.

“We are working him towards the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp in late April. Longer term, I could see him stepping up to a mile and a half.

“He won a Group 1 over seven furlongs as a 2-year-old and has never looked short of pace, but he has the most lovely, relaxed way of going and it will give him a great chance to carry his pace over further if we ask him to. I'd be very hopeful he can win another Group 1.”

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O’Brien Pair To Race On In Hong Kong

Group 1 second Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and the group-placed Mythology (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) have both been sold to Hong Kong interests and will race on in that jurisdiction, Joseph O'Brien confirmed to The Irish Field on Tuesday. The former is now in the barn of Tony Cruz, with Mythology settled in with Pierre Ng.

“Everybody needs to keep trading for the bottom line,” O'Brien told The Irish Field. “We're lucky to have had 2-year-olds who could compete in those top juvenile races and now it's all about looking forward to the next generation.”

Formerly owned by Islandsinthestream Partnership, the dual winner is out of A Mist Opportunity (Aus) (Foxwedge {Aus}), herself a half-sister to three stakes winners. Bred by Haras d'Etreham and Katelanis Bloodstock, the bay brought €135,000 as an Arqana October yearling in 2022. For O'Brien, he broke his maiden at the Curragh, before running second in both the G2 Futurity S. and G1 National S. to Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Successful in an allowance at ParisLongchamp in September, he finished his year with a close second in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October.

Sold for 62,000gns out of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Mythology made 320,000gns as a juvenile during the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale last April before racing for a Coolmore partnership which included Teme Valley. The second foal of Rely On Me (Ire) (Kyllach {GB}), he was bred by E. Smith and Cloneymore Farm. Second to Henry Longfellow at the Curragh prior to that colt's group heroics, the bay won a maiden at Galway and ran second in the G3 Prix Francois Boutin in his fifth start and 2-year-old finale. Mythology is kin to G1 Italian Oaks heroine Menhoubah (Dixieland Band).

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