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Local Hope Simsir Takes The Bahrain International Trophy

Bahraini-based by globally successful trainer Fawzi Nass has cemented a reputation as a shrewd buyer of European horses in training both at public auction and privately, and his latest project Simsir (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) came good on his first start for his new yard on Friday, winning the £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir from John Gosden’s Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal) and Aidan O’Brien’s G1 Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The 4-year-old gelding Simsir was plucked privately from the yard of Mick Halford just this fall, having previously run as a homebred for the Aga Khan. Simsir was not seen until the autumn of his 3-year-old year last year, and won two of his first three starts before a campaign in Dubai earlier this year, where he won a 2000 metre turf handicap. Simsir was second in the Listed Silver S. on his second start back in Ireland in July, and the deal with Nass was made after he finished fifth of 22 runners in The Curragh’s Northfields H. on Irish Champions Weekend.

Nass finished first and fourth in his country’s most important race, with 22,000gns Tattersalls Autumn buy Port Lions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) just missing the placings. That 5-year-old gelding has been another success story for Nass; he upset Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) by a head in the Feb. 29 Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup on the inaugural Saudi Cup card.

“To win such an amazing race is an absolute thrill,” Nass said in the aftermath of Simsir’s win. “He has done it so bravely. Mick Halford always assured me that he likes it firm and he was right. For me, it was the jockey’s race. I thought he committed early in the straight, but he proved me wrong.”

That jockey was Scotsman Lee Newman, the UK champion apprentice in 2000 who has since ridden around the globe and has recently been stationed at Sakhir.

Newman said, “I took the bull by the horns at the five-furlong pole and kicked on from there. It’s a track that you can do that at if your horse is a galloper and he is that. It is down to Fawzi for putting his trust in me as he could have asked any jockey from anywhere in the world, but he asked me. I am delighted.”

Newman and Simsir broke sharply from gate two, and after hustling initially to hold a prominent position were content to take a slight hold as Coolagh Forest (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) crossed over from a wide draw to take up the running under John Egan. That rival attempt to stretch his advantage down the backstretch but Newman kept the frontrunner in his sights, and the front two had detached themselves from the rest of the pack by the time they hit the second bend. Newman drove Simsir to the front as they turned into the straight as Coolagh Forest began to pack it in, and while the longshot had a mighty target on his back with some of his more fancied rivals gobbling up ground late, he held on to win by a neck from Global Giant, with Sovereign just nosed out in third.

Following Port Lions in fourth, the order of finish was completed by Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), Deirdre, Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), What A Welcome (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling), Coolagh Forest and Lady Wannabe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Pedigree Notes
Being a product of the Aga Khan’s program, it should come as no surprise that Simsir hails from a proper pedigree, and indeed he is out of the listed placed Simawa (Ire) (Anabaa), a half-sister to none other than Sinndar (Ire). Simawa has produced two stakes winners: the Listed Loughbrown S. victress Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and this year’s G3 Amethyst S. scorer Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). The mare, who was sold to Outsider Bloodstock for €210,000 at Goffs November in 2018, has no 2-year-old of 2020, but has a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire) and a colt foal by Motivator (GB).

Sakhir, £500,000, Cond, 11-20, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.29, gd.
SIMSIR (IRE) (g, 4, Zoffany {Ire}-Simawa {Ire} {SP-Ire}, by Anabaa). Lifetime Record: 10-4-3-0, $487,783. O-Victorious. B-HH The Aga Khan Stud SC. T-Fawzi Abdulla Nass. *1/2 to Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 14f+, SW & GSP-Ire, $223,199; Summaya (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), GSP-Ire; and Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ire, $118,472.

WATCH: Simsir wins the valuable Bahrain International Trophy for Fawzi Nass

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Global Trade For Goffs Autumn Yearlings

The two-day virtual online Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale came to a close on Wednesday, with global participation pushing the average and median above last year’s figures. A heavily scratched down catalogue due to the many challenges of 2020 meant that 273 of the 475 catalogued yearlings went up for sale, with 170 (62.6%) finding new homes for an aggregate of €1,094, 200. Last year 288 were sold (74%) for €1,691,600. This year’s average and median were each up 10% (€6,436 and €4,400).

Taking top billing on Wednesday was a Zoffany (Ire) filly out of Watsdaplan (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) (lot 456), who has had two winners from two to race and is a half-sister to GI Beverly D.S. winner Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}). Consigned by Glacken View Stud, she was bought by Al and Bill Ulwelling, bidding online from America, for €33,000. The Ulwellings also bought fillies by Lawman (Fr) and Fast Company (Ire) on Tuesday.

The top-priced colt of the session was Airlie Stud’s son of Sea The Moon (Ger) (lot 317) bought by BBA Ireland and Stamina Turf for €31,000, while a first-crop daughter of Profitable (Ire) (lot 399) made €20,000 from Aoife Dunphy.

Upon the conclusion of the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Adaptability. That is one of the key words that sums up the bloodstock industry throughout this awful pandemic as all of us have had to react and adapt to circumstances that have been both out of our control and unlike anything we have experienced.

“The last two days have been a very clear example of reacting and adapting as a purely online sale, devoid of both horses and people, was never a first preference but was forced upon us by the latest Irish restrictions and the need of vendors to sell into the market place. Originally we had planned to hold the sale in January in the hope that the situation would have improved enough to hold a live sale with the usual participants in Kildare Paddocks, and we will still provide that option if the market wants it, but it became clear that the majority of vendors desired the opportunity provided by Goffs Online. Indeed, we salute the flexibility and positivity in which so many have approached the last two days and feel that the decision was vindicated by a level of trade which, although far from a cause for celebration, was acceptable in the current climate.

“We have taken 2,261 bids via Goffs Online, backed up by a lot of telephone activity, and that has led to 10% advances in the average and median although the turnover is obviously well down as we offered a significantly smaller number than 12 months ago. That said, a 62% clearance rate demonstrates the challenges for the market, but it should be noted that part of the service provided was to allow breeders the chance to qualify for 2021 Auction Races and we are grateful to both HRI and BHA for making the necessary alterations to the criteria to allow these yearlings to be eligible; obviously those ‘vendor’ sales are not included in the clearance rate we quote.

“The Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale has always relied heavily on overseas participation and Goffs Online has really come into its own over the two days with buyers from Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, UK and the U.S. The user friendly nature of this platform has made it very easy for them to engage at a time when travel is not possible and we wish all of them the best of luck with their latest Goffs purchases.

“So, whilst we will not look back on the 2020 renewal of the Autumn Yearling Sale with any affection, we extend our thanks to everyone who has helped the sale take place and, like the whole world, we just hope and pray that a degree of normality will return soon as there’s nothing like the Goffs sales ring when it is buzzing with horses, people and bids.”

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Half To Vino Rosso Steps Out For Ballydoyle

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a trio of siblings to Grade/Group 1 winners.

12.55 Leopardstown, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo f, 7f 20yT
EARTH STRIKE (IRE) (Zoffany {Ire}) is an interesting debutante in this Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden, being a half-sister to the G1 Gold Cup and dual G1 Irish St Leger hero Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Joseph O’Brien introduces the March-foaled bay, who carries the silks of her breeders Paget Bloodstock Limited and is also a half to the group and graded-stakes scorers Asperity (War Chant) and Angel Terrace (Ghostzapper).

1.30 Leopardstown, Debutantes, €16,500, 2yo, 7f 20yT
SONG OF PEACE (Uncle Mo) is a notable runner for Ballydoyle, being a John Gunther-bred half-brother to last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Vino Rosso (Curlin). The April-foaled bay, who is also half to the graded-stakes placed So Alive (Super Saver), cost $425,000 at Keeneland September.

5.58 Deauville, Debutantes, €22,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2f (AWT)
VALLORIA (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) debuts for the Haras de Saint Pair-Jean-Claude Rouget connection and is the latest progeny out of Celebre Vadala (Fr) (Peintre Celebre), whose previous includes the G1 Prix du Moulin-winning first-season sire Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). She meets Prince Faisal’s Noticeable Grace (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), an Andre Fabre-trained close relative of last year’s Listed Prix Isonomy winner Tammani (GB) (Make Believe {GB}).

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The Weekly Wrap: Ladies of a Certain Age

Let’s not forget, however great the lure of the sales ring or a wafting cheque book may be, thoroughbreds are bred to race. In the case of Prince Khalid Abdullah, Coolmore and Peter Brant, it could be said that we have three owner-breeders who are somewhat immune to commercially-based decisions when it comes to keeping a horse in training. Nevertheless, they are to be commended for racing on mares of the calibre of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}).

At ‘only’ five, Magical is the youngster of the trio. Even at six, the other two clearly still have many good years ahead of them at stud, granted a normal run. Their eventual offspring will likely race for their respective breeders, initially at least, so it’s not a case of missing out on sales of potentially lucrative yearlings, but remaining in training does present a degree of risk, however sound and talented the individual in question. It would have been all too easy to opt for the safe route and retire any of these horses after their 4-year-old seasons but, thankfully for the racing public, we are still able to enjoy their exploits on the track, putting them in an elite bracket of older racemares alongside the likes of Goldikova (Ire), Ouija Board (GB), Treve (Fr), Winx (Aus) and Black Caviar (Aus).

One vagary of this year’s disrupted and delayed season was that the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup was run two months later than its usual late May slot and only a day after the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S., thus giving Magical the option of staying at home rather than meeting Enable for a fourth time. Last year she was runner-up to the Juddmonte titan in both the G1 Coral-Eclipse and G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

Plenty has been committed to print regarding the three-runner King George and, yes, it was unsatisfactory but, as already stated last week, far more unsatisfactory was the fact that the eight remaining runners at the five-day stage hailed from just two stables. Perhaps more concerning, in a week in which Investec dropped its Derby and Oaks sponsorship six years ahead of schedule, was to see the social media comment from Sheikh Fahad, who sponsors the King George with his brothers under their QIPCO banner, that it was “such a shame” to see the race attract only three runners after the scratching of Anthony Van Dyck (Ire).

Let’s hope that this is just a blip and that, in hopefully more regular seasons to come, the race holds its appeal for connections of the top 3-year-olds. It was a desperate shame not to see Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) take on Enable—perhaps we will at York. Now a record-breaking treble winner of the King George, Enable herself won it as a 3-year-old, as did her sire Nathaniel and grandsire Galileo.

Sistercharlie, representing one of France’s pre-eminent breeding operations, Ecurie des Monceaux, was perhaps a little ring-rusty in her delayed return in Saturday’s GII Ballston Spa S., in which she could manage only third. The winner, Canadian turf champion Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind) is another in the twilight years of a Flat career at the age of seven. That has clearly been no barrier to success in 2020, as this was her fourth consecutive victory of the year and she looks likely to be asked to defend her title in the GI EP Taylor S. The admirable mare has won 18 of her 36 starts and more than $1.6 million in prize-money. Not bad for a horse plucked from a Gulfstream Park claimer for $16,000 back in 2017.

Fine Season For Maglietta Fina
Enable remains the pin-up girl for her sire Nathaniel but he was also represented over the weekend by Lady Bowthorpe (GB), who recorded her first stakes success in the G3 Betfred Valiant Fillies’ S. at Ascot. In fact, all bar two of Nathaniel’s group winners are fillies, including his other two Group 1 winners Channel (Ire) and God Given (GB).

Lady Bowthorpe was contributing to a fine spell for her dam, Maglietta Fina (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), a five-time winner over the minimum trip for her Rome-based owner-breeders Paolo and Emma Agostini of Scuderia Archi Romani. The Agostinis keep just two mares at Fittocks Stud and have had a long association with Luca and Sara Cumani, notably through their homebred G2 Challenge S. winner Le Vie Dei Colori (GB) (Efisio {GB}), who was trained by Luca.

For Maglietta Fina, Lady Bowthorpe was a second group winner of the season after her first foal Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) added the G2 Greenlands S. and G3 Ballycorus S. to his improving record. Some black type is also surely within reach of the mare’s 3-year-old Pretty In Grey (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), who won her fourth consecutive race at Newmarket on Saturday off a mark of 86. The Italian connection continues as she is trained by Speak In Colours’s former trainer Marco Botti and still races in her breeders’ colours.

“The Agostinis are very small breeders but they have done very well over the years, particularly with fast horses,” said Sara Cumani. “What we have to decide now is whether Maglietta Fina’s Muhaarar (GB) colt goes to Book 1 or Book 2 of the October Sale.”

Maglietta Fina was herself a vendor buyback when offered at the SGA Select Yearling Sale in Milan in 2010, and both Speak In Colours and Pretty In Grey were retained at 25,000gns and 24,000gns when offered as foals. The William Jarvis-trained Lady Bowthorpe was bought by James Toller for her owner Emma Banks for 82,000gns, while last year’s Mayson (GB) yearling filly was the mare’s first six-figure sale when bought by John Foote for 100,000gns. Sadly, she has subsequently died while in quarantine in Australia.

Cumani added, “Lady Bowthorpe was a very good walker but she was the exception, and the reason Maglietta Fina’s progeny have not sold so well so far is that they are not terribly good walkers, but walking is not everything, as we know.”

Maglietta Fina has no foal this year but is now in foal to Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). She is a half-sister to the multiple group winner Tullius (GB), who won 11 of his 42 races and was a member of the second crop of Le Vie Dei Colori, who stood at Rathbarry Stud for three seasons until his premature death at the age of just eight.

Le Vie Dei Colori was not the only stallion bred by the Agostinis, who were also responsible for Italian group winner Per Incanto (Street Cry {Ire}), who stands at Little Avondale Stud and is currently fourth in the New Zealand sires’ table.

Meanwhile Lady Bowthorpe became the first group winner for Emma Banks, who also owns the useful Arigato (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), who has two entries at Goodwood this week, and previously raced fellow Jarvis trainee and dual listed winner Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Santosha Memorable For Many
The form of the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S., won by Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), has been boosted twice in the last week. Firstly, runner-up Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) won the listed Star S. over seven furlongs at Sandown and, on Sunday at Ascot, third-placed Santosha (Ire) reappeared to win the G3 Princess Margaret S. The filly became not just the first group winner for her trainer David Loughnane and young jockey Tom Greatrex, but also for her freshman sire Coulsty (Ire), who stands at Rathasker Stud.

Coulsty has had just nine runners so far, four of which are now winners, and he is one of four sons of Kodiac (GB) in the first-season sires’ list along with Prince Of Lir (Ire), Adaay (Ire) and Kodi Bear (Ire).

A daughter of Princess Zoffany (Ire), Santosha also became the first group winner as a broodmare sire for Zoffany (Ire) in the same week that Tiger Tanaka (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), who was third in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, provided his first black type in this regard. To date, there are just 20 horses of racing age out of Zoffany mares.

It was also a good week for Zoffany’s father Dansili (GB) in the broodmare sire division, where he was represented by G2 York S. winner Aspetar (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}), and the listed winners Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and Valia (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Ladies First
Two breakthrough racing moments were provided in the last week by Claire Kubler and Hollie Doyle.

Kubler joined her husband Daniel as official co-trainer, the pair becoming the first husband-and-wife team in Britain to hold a training partnership. The BHA rule was changed in this regard in May to allow more than one name to appear on a training licence. To date, Paul Cole has been joined by his son Oliver, and Simon Crisford by his son Ed.

Doyle broke new ground by becoming the first female jockey in Britain to be retained officially by an owner, in this case Imad Al Sagar, who has previously raced Group 1 winners Authorized (Ire), Decorated Knight (GB) and Araafa (Ire).

Doyle has ridden 38 winners since the Flat jockeys’ championship started on June 1 and is currently lying in fifth place, ahead of former champions Jim Crowley, Ryan Moore and Silvestre de Sousa.

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