Tag: Zagrey (Fr)

Zagrey Becomes Zarak’s First Group 1 Winner In Baden-Baden Feature

Granted leave of absence from 'TDN Rising Star' Beauvatier's G3 Prix La Rochette victory in Paris earlier in the day, conditioner Yann Barberot was on hand to witness G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud placegetter Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}–Grey Anatomy {GB}, by Slickly {Fr}) set the seal on a notable double, and claim a Group 1 first for his sire, in Sunday's 153rd Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden.

Last term's Listed Derby du Midi and Listed Grand Prix du Nord victor had his task made slightly earier task by the withdrawal of G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) was he keen under cover, along the fence on the heels of the leaders, as 'TDN Rising Star' and Deutsches Derby runner-up Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}) set a modest pace for most of the 12-furlong trip. Caught in traffic out wide as the sprint commenced in earnest off the home turn, the 2-5 favourite was presented with a dream seam underneath the stands' side rail when Mr Hollywood drifted off a true line passing the furlong pole and stayed on relentlessy to deny that tenacious rival by a neck in the dying strides. Gestut Karlshof's Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) was on the scene throughout the thrilling final quarter-mile and only gave best nearing the line, finishing a half-length adrift in third.

Christophe Soumillon, who was winning the Grosser Preis for the first time, said, “The start was very difficult because we didn't go very fast. Luckily on the first bend the lead horse didn't turn well so that gave me the opportunity to get on the inside and let him roll a bit. After that, he was really relaxed for the whole race. He changed legs perfectly when I asked him to and when we got into the straight he was fighting with the bit a little.”

 

“When I asked him to quicken, I had to wait as there was a point when I didn't have a lot of room so I was just waiting for the gap. He's a lovely horse. We knew everything would suit him here, especially the way the race is run here as he always hangs right, so for him to get the perfect leg to the outside is always great. For sure, he would have been better with a stronger tempo in the race, but he was in great shape today.”

Barberot, who landed his second Group 1 victory and first in Germany, added, “It's never easy to win a Group 1, even with a good horse like him. It was a great race in the straight. There wasn't a lot of room in the last 500 metres, particularly when they had gone such a slow pace early on, but the horse showed a lot of courage to get there. Having said that, when they were turning into the straight I was quite worried.”

Pedigree Notes
Zagrey, who becomes the 10th pattern-race scorer and first at the highest level for his sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), is the fourth of six foals and one of three scorers out of the unraced Grey Anatomy (GB) (Slickly {Fr}). The April-foaled bay is a half to G1 Criterium International third Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), the stakes-placed Anatiya (Fr) (Dariyan {Fr}) and the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Eepha (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). His second dam, Listed Virginia S. victrix Light Step (Nureyev), produced dual stakes-winning G3 Prix des Reservoirs third Nova Step (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and is kin to three stakes winners headed by MGISP G2 Royal Lodge S. victor Eltish (Cox's Ridge). Light Step is out of Nimble Feet (Danzig), herself a full-sister to GI Arlington-Washington Lassie S. heroine Contredance and kin to MGSW distaffer Skimble (Lyphard). Skimble, in turn, is the dam of dual GI Pacific Classic-winning sire Skimming (Nureyev).

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
153RD WETTSTAR.DE GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €400,000, Baden-Baden, 9-3, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:39.77, gd.
1–ZAGREY (FR), 132, c, 4, by Zarak (Fr)
1st Dam: Grey Anatomy (GB), by Slickly (Fr)
2nd Dam: Light Step, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Nimble Feet, by Danzig
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€32,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Ecurie Altima & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Ecurie Euroling (FR); T-Yann Barberot; J-Christophe Soumillon. €230,000. Lifetime Record: MSW & G1SP-Fr, G1SP-UAE, 14-5-4-2, €1,034,716. *1/2 to Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), G1SP-Fr, $280,444; and Anatiya (Fr) (Dariyan {Fr}), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mr Hollywood (Ire), 125, c, 3, Iquitos (Ger)–Margie's Music (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire). (€15,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Wanja Soren Oberhof & Sebastian Weiss; B-Gestut Ammerland (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €90,000.
3–Straight (Ger), 125, c, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Seductive (Ger), by Henrythenavigator. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 RNA Ylg '21 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Andreas Wohler. €45,000.
Margins: NK, HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 4.50, 17.70.
Also Ran: Quantanamera (Ger), Kassada (Ger), Sisfahan (Fr). Scratched: Fantastic Moon (Ger).

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Teofilo’s Nations Pride Too Strong In The Dubai Millennium

Reappearing for the first time since his fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, last year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational and GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) got his 2023 campaign off to a flyer with a comfortable success in Friday's G3 Dubai Millennium S. at Meydan. The pick of William Buick of the Charlie Appleby duo and marginally the second favourite at 11-8 behind stablemate Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the homebred travelled notably strongly behind the leading pair throughout the early stages. Rolling to the front 300 metres from the finish, he was pushed out to score by 1 1/4 lengths from Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) as Ottoman Fleet faded late to be a further half length away in third.

Nations Pride has not raced in his native England since finishing eighth in the Derby, his sole blip having come after earning a supplementary for the Blue Riband when beating Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) by seven lengths in the Listed Newmarket S. in April. Highly effective at or around this 10-furlong trip on a conventional track, he is now the winner of this venue's inaugural Jumeirah Derby, the aforementioned Saratoga Derby Invitational and Jockey Club Derby Invitational as well as being a possibly unfortunate runner-up in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational.
Appleby, who was winning this race for the sixth consecutive year, is considering the G1 Jebel Hatta and G1 Dubai Turf. “Immediately, you'd say have a crack at the Dubai Turf, as they'll go a good gallop over the 1800 metres there, but we'll see how the cards fall,” he said.

Pedigree Notes

The dam Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who was a listed winner in Germany, is a daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) who is herself kin to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}). Satwa Queen is also the second dam of the G1 Phoenix S. hero and G1 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Middle Park S.-placed Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Also related to the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Marieta (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), she has a 2-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire) and a yearling full-sister to the winner to come.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI MILLENNIUM S.-G3, $150,000, Meydan, 2-17, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:01.16, gd.
1–NATIONS PRIDE (IRE), 136, c, 4, by Teofilo (Ire)
     1st Dam: Important Time (Ire) (SW-Ger), by Oasis Dream (GB)
     2nd Dam: Satwa Queen (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB)
     3rd Dam: Tolga, by Irish River (Fr)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. $90,000. Lifetime Record: GISW-US, SW-Eng, 11-7-2-0, $1,644,216. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zagrey (Fr), 129, c, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Grey Anatomy (GB), by Slickly (Fr). (€32,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Ecurie Altima & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Ecurie Euroling (FR); T-Yann Barberot. $30,000.
3–Ottoman Fleet (GB), 129, g, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Innevera (Fr), by Motivator (GB). (€290,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 425,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-SCEA Marmion Vauville & Alain Jathiere (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. $15,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 4HF.
Also Ran: Daramethos (Ire), Annerville (Ire), Aeonian (Ire), Good Fortune (Den), Freescape (GB), Midlife Crisis (Fr), Desert Fire (Ire), Withering (GB), Ursa Minor (Ire).

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Nations Pride Friday’s DWCC Headliner

The Dubai World Cup Carnival adds its own footnote to the study of flags, known as vexillology for the more serious, since its intent is to draw horses from all over the world. As the meet continues to march towards its big night in late March, another Friday of racing arrives with a trio of Group 3 events.

Waving Godolphin Blue

The G3 Dubai Millennium S. sports this week's headliner, as Grade I winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) returns for a new campaign after what could be considered a successful 2022. The Godolphin homebred won last year at Meydan in the Jumeirah Derby, before competing at Newmarket, Epsom, in the 'Turf Triple' at each of the NYRA courses Stateside and finally in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, where he was fifth behind stablemate Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing the blue brought him an Eclipse Award nomination in the Male Turf Division off of his victories in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. in August and the GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. in September, as well as his runner-up effort in the first leg of the Turf Triple, the GI Belmont Derby Invtiational S. in July. The 4-year-old colt should enjoy a return to 10 furlongs here as the deserving favorite in European markets.

“There will be some improvement to come for whatever he [Nations Pride] does on his seasonal return, as we hope that he has another international campaign ahead of him this year, said trainer Charlie Appleby. “Depending on how he goes here, we will consider potentially looking at the [G1] Jebel Hatta [on Super Saturday] or the [G1] Dubai Turf [on Dubai World Cup night].”

Appleby also runs multiple stakes winner and multiple group-placed Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), third in the G2 Singspiel S. last time out. “Returning to this distance looks as though it might benefit Ottoman Fleet based on his two runs so far this year,” he continued. “He goes into the race a fit horse with solid form around him, so he should be a major player.”

Dual French listed winner Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) is aiming to improve after a fourth in the G3 Al Rashidiya on Jan. 13.

Longshot in the Nad Al Sheba

As for the other group races on Friday, a true distance test and  prep race for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup will be proctored at 14 panels on the grass in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy S. Godolphin, winners on nine occasions, has the advantage with four runners in Global Heat (Ire) Toronado (Ire), Brilliant Light (GB) (Sea The Stars), Siskany (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire} and Kemari (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Siskany looks great and will be a player if he brings his best form to the table,” said Charlie Appleby. “He has won over the course and trip, so he looks the one they have to beat.

“Kemari will also be competitive if he can rekindle some of his old form. He ran some solid races last year but can be a little inconsistent these days.”

Added fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, “Global Heat won over this trip in the Al Khail Trophy and came out of his recent handicap run in good order. He stays well and I'm hoping for another good effort. Brilliant Light worked well last week and has some good form over this distance. He is ready to go again and will appreciate the step up in trip.”

Not to be overlooked is the Amy Murphy trainee Magical Morning (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who is a quality longshot and could play the role of spoiler, if the gelding can handle the stretch out in distance.

American Jaunt Continues in UAE Oaks

Rounding out Friday's Group 3 events is a Classic on the dirt oval that brings together seven fillies. Of these, Mimi Kakushi (City Of Light) looks best, not because her barn won this race last year, but because the bay filly clearly likes the Meydan surface–including a pair of wins in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial over 1400 metres on Dec. 23 and in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas upped to a mile on Jan. 20. Seven fillies have completed the UAE Guineas/Oaks double, with Shahama (Munnings), subsequently second in the GII Mother Goose S. and a winner of the GIII Monmouth Oaks in America, the latest in 2022.

Standing in her way will be the American-based Ami Please (Goldencents) for trainer Doug O'Neill. Running solely on turf since her California debut at Del Mar on Aug. 1, she was third last time out in the Blue Norther S. at Santa Anita, finishing just behind next out winner, Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Her barn collected a savory win last Friday with Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky) in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas.

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Iffraaj’s My Prospero Takes The Eugene Adam

Boasting the best form heading into Saturday's G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud, Sunderland Holdings' My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) was there to be shot at on the front end but proved as game as he is talented to make his class tell under a no-nonsense ride from Tom Marquand.

Sent forward from his outside stall to take up the running after the first two furlongs, the William Haggas-trained 3-5 favourite who had been a battling third in Royal Ascot's G1 St James's Palace S. June 14 was soon in total control. Wound up over half a mile from home, the bay looked under threat as Vagalame (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) snuck up his inner inside the final two furlongs but that rival's effort proved short-lived and the homebred kept digging deep to score by half a length from Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), with Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) 3/4 of a length away in third.

My Prospero, who encountered Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) when third at Newmarket on debut in October, beat the subsequent Britannia H. winner Thesis (GB) (Kingman {GB}) when breaking his maiden at Newbury Apr. 16 before upstaging Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Sandown's Listed Heron S. May 19. His St James's Palace effort was his last at a mile and there is a chance he could even get further than this 10-furlong trip based on the way he ground this out.

There was an incident after the finish, where the winner dislodged Marquand after proving difficult to stop, but the duo appeared fine shortly after.

“Normally here you pull up straight but I hit the line that hard that I though 'uh-oh, I'm not going to pull up there,'” Marquand told Racing Post. “I went to go left–one other came with me–and just as he got to where the cones were he changed onto his right lead and tried to go off to the right.

“It wasn't his fault, it was just one of those unfortunate things. He looks fine–that's the main worry when something like that happens–and we'll certainly have better days to come.”

“I never really intended to make the running, I just wanted to be positive,” added Marquand. “It was his first go at a mile and a quarter and I thought he'd stay very well but he still showed babyish signs. He's a beautiful horse, he's still learning and he has a big future.”

Pedigree Notes

G3 Weld Park S. heroine My Titania is turning into a budding blue hen, with her third foal, My Prospero, her second group winner. Already one of three stakes winners-all placed at Group 1 level–for the daughter of listed winner Fairy Of The Night (Ire) (Danehill), the son of Iffraaj is joined by the stakes-winning filly My Astra (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who was second in the G1 Pretty Polly S. and My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), successful in the G3 Earl Of Sefton S. and third in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan. Her latest is the unraced juvenile My Asteria (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and a weanling colt by Night Of Thunder (Ire).

A half-sister to three-time Group 2 victor and G1 King's Stand S. third Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), My Titania counts the stakes-placed stakes-producer Aneedah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as another half-sibling. This is also the extended family of GIII Orchid S. heroine Dress Rehearsal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), already the dam of two stakes winners to the cover of Invincible Spirit, as well as the stakes-placed Christophermarlowe by leading American sire Tapit.

 

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX EUGENE ADAM-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 7-16, 3yo, 10fT, 2:03.84, g/s.
1–MY PROSPERO (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Iffraaj (GB)
                1st Dam: My Titania (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $124,775),
                                by Sea The Stars (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Fairy of the Night (Ire), by Danehill
                3rd Dam: Sassenach (Ire), by Night Shift
   1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William
Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. €74,100. Lifetime Record: SW &
G1SP-Eng, 5-3-0-2, €182,294. *1/2 to My Oberon (Ire)
(Dubawi {Ire}), GSW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $436,599, & to My Astra
(Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire & SP-Fr, $131,405.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zagrey (Fr), 127, c, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Grey Anatomy (GB), by
Slickly (Fr). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€32,000 RNA Ylg '20
ARQSEP). O-Ecurie Altima & Gerard Augustin-Normand;
B-Ecurie Euroling (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €28,600.
3–Junko (GB), 127, g, 3, Intello (Ger)–Lady Zuzu, by
Dynaformer. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Andre Fabre.
€13,650.
Margins: HF, 3/4, HD. Odds: 0.60, 19.00, 3.60.
Also Ran: Vagalame (Ire), Russipant Fal (Mor), Galaxie Gold (Fr), Haya Zark (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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