Quick International Update from Joe Porter & Peter Sheridan
New 2 year olds
Easter Island - Giant's Causeway - Awesome Maria, by Maria's Mon)
Filly - Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Owner:Tabor & Smith & Magnier
Tickety Boo - Giant's Causeway - Love Numbers, (by Unbridled's Song)
Filly - Trainer: Wesley A. Ward Owner: Tabor & Magnier & Smith
Cupid won the G2 West Virginia Derby at the weekend for Coolmore (Report
below and Fact Finding won a Maiden for Todd Pletcher/Coolmore and
Stonestreet.
Bejarano Keeps Cupid Off The Rail To Win West Virginia Derby
From Paulick Report
Regardless of which racetrack he choses and what horse he sends to the post, trainer Bob Baffert always seem to pick the right spot his major stakes competitors. On Saturday, Baffert registered his third victory in the past seven editions of the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.
This time it was a colt named Cupid, who took the lead all but immediately out of the gate under 34-year-old jockey Rafael Bejarano. From there it was an exercise in catch-me-if-you-can, and while the 33-1 longshot Pinson drew with a half-length at the half-mile pole, no horse in the remainder of the ten-horse field mounted any sort of serious threat during the entirety of the race.
Mountaineer's inside rail has been unusually deep and slow in recent months, and Bejarano steered Cupid wide going around the first turn and even wider on the turn into the stretch. “Bejarano's done his homework!” said track announcer Peter Berry midway through his stretch call. Seems he did.
Cupid's margin of victory was four lengths. His fractions were :23.51 for the quarter, :47.97 for the half, 1:11.69 for three-quarters, and 1:37.37 for the mile. Cupid's final time was 1:50.54, the fastest for a West Virginia Derby in three years. He returned $5, $3,80, and $3 across the board. Track conditions were fast.
Whateverybodywants, sent off at 74-1 with Robby Albarado aboard, finished two lengths clear for second. He returned $36.60 for place and $11 for show. Name Changer, another longshot at 16-1, finished third by a length and returned $8.40 to show.
Completing the order were Anaximandros, the 2-1 post-time second choice Suddenbreakingingnews, Forevamo, Adventist, Pinson, Van Damme, and No Distortion. Mo Tom was a scratch from the race, as was Economic Model.
Previous West Virginia Derby winners trained by Baffert include Concord Point in 2010 and Prayer for Relief in 2011. Baffert was not at Mountaineer for this year's edition of the race. Saddling chores were handled by Baffert's 56-year-old assistant, Jimmy Barnes
“I won this race before (with Sir Shackleton in 2004 and with Prayer for Relief),” said Bejarano in the winner's circle. “They (Baffert and company) have really been working hard with Cupid. Bejarano further noted that when he rode Cupid in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby on July 16, had to in effect push the colt out of the gate. “I let him go (this time) and gave him some confidence.”
Cupid is now thrice a Grade 2 winner, on the strength of his triumphs in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March, the Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand, and at Mountaineer. His career record includes eight starts, from which he has gained four victories and a second-place finish. His $446,250 share of the West Virginia Derby purse elevated Cupid's career purse earnings to $1,326,803.
The Mountaineer effort by Cupid came only three weeks after his Indiana Derby score, which “was a quick turnaround,” acknowledged Barnes. During that period, Cupid was shipped back to his Southern California base at Del Mar, then from there to West Virginia's upper panhandle track.
“Any time (racehorses) are going well, you have to take advantage of it,” said Barnes. “(Cupid) is a good feeling colt.” According to Barnes, Cupid will now ship back to California again, and a future race for him as yet to be picked out.
Co-owned by Coolmore associates Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith, Cupid was purchased for $900,000 as a yearling. He is the third son of the top North American Tapit to win the West Virginia Derby – the others are Concord Point and Tapiture in 2014.
Group 1 Winner Precious Gem has Date With Vancouver
Mark Smith - Sunday, 26 June 2016
The curtain came down on the race career of Precious Gem after finishing unplaced in Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Winner of the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide for trainer Henry Dwyer, Precious Gem was purchased by The China Horse Club for $825,000 at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare sale on the Gold Coast.
In a testament to her resilience and undoubted ability the daughter of Econsul started 65 times with 13 wins and 16 placings while banking $660,400. (photo Grant Courtney)
Precious Gem's unraced dam Gem Of Gems is a daughter of Pentre Celebre out of the Kaapstad mare Gem's Box a half-sister to Group 1 winner Alynda herself the dam of four stakes winners.
It’s the hugely productive family descending from Sovereign Edition's sister Royal News.
Precious Gem has a date with Golden Slipper hero Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro) and she may not be the lone China Horse Club purchase to visit high-profile Coolmore’s newcomer.
The leading purchaser on the Gold Coast, China Horse Club outlaid $10 million on 14 lots that included the $3.4 million sales topper Listen Here who was purchased with Bruce Perry on behalf of Cressfield.
A further $1 million was outlaid on four lots at the Inglis Easter broodmare sale in addition to a $580,000 purchase with Coolmore for the Encosta de Lago mare Haiku.
NEW COOLMORE 2yo in Australia - (Southern Hemisphere foaling date)
2013 Colt - So You Think (NZ) x Aspen Falls by Hennessy = COLORADO RIVER (AUS)
Owned by Coolmore, Anthony Cummings Thorougbreds, Michael Kirwan & 8 other minority owners. - 2015 Magic Millions Yearling Sale Purchase $350,000 - Trainer: Anthony Cummings - Trials at Royal Randwick on the 24th
Back to Nunthorpe Stakes at York for 2015 runner-up Acapulco
Acapulco: Set to return to York
Acapulco is set to return to York for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes following her defeat in the five-furlong dash last summer.
American trainer Wesley Ward reports the three-year-old filly to be heading to the Knavesmire on August 19 in a bid to atone for finishing second to Mecca's Angel after leading until the last 50 yards.
Acapulco won last year's Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot but was taken out of the King's Stand Stakes there last week because of the rain-softened ground.
Miss Temple City and jockey Drayden Van Dyke win the Maker's 46 Mile by 1 1/4 lengths on April 15.
Miss Temple City returned from a six-month layoff in striking fashion at Keeneland, becoming the first filly or mare to win the Grade 1 Maker's 46 Mile. As an encore, she will be flown to England on Tuesday with her sights set on the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trainer Graham Motion plans to work Miss Temple City over turf at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland on Friday or Saturday. She will then van to Keeeneland, where on Monday she will join up with Tepin, who is set to take on males at Ascot in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. The pair will travel to Indianapolis for a Tuesday morning Federal Express flight to Stansted Airport north of London.
This will be Miss Temple City's second trip to Ascot. Last year at 3, she finished fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes. In 2013, Motion sent out Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom for his career finale in the Queen Anne. He finished 11th.
"After doing this a few times, it's nice to have some familiarity," Motion said. "We'll be in David Lanigan's yard."
Motion, who was raised in Newmarket, will fly to England the same day as Miss Temple City.
"I want to be there to supervise her training," Motion said. "My assistant, Alice Clapham, who traveled with Animal Kingdom, will be there also."
Drayden Van Dyke rode Miss Temple City to victory in the Maker's 46 Mile on April 15, but Motion has arranged for Ryan Moore to ride in the Duke of Cambridge. Moore set a Royal Ascot record last year by winning nine of the 30 races held at the five-day meet.
"We decided to use a European rider this year, and he is the best, or at the very least, one of the best," Motion said. "We're lucky to have him."
Both the Duke of Cambridge, which will be run June 15, and the opening-day Queen Anne on June 14 are at a mile over the Royal Hunt Course at Ascot.
"It's an undulating straight mile with the final quarter-mile mainly uphill," Motion said.
Motion said "everything has been textbook" with Miss Temple City's training since the Maker's 46 Mile.
"Obviously, since she's only raced once this year, her conditioning is a bit of a concern," Motion said. "But we're very happy with her."
Motion has given Miss Temple City four works at Fair Hill since May 7, three on Tapeta and the most recent on the steeplechase turf course. Her breeze this weekend will be on the steeplechase course.
"It's a seven-furlong oval, but we only use it from the 4 1/2-furlong pole," Motion said. "There's a gradual incline from the quarter pole to the finish."
ARTILLERY set to be fired at sandown for Gosden & Coolmore
Unbeaten War Front 3YO Royal Artillery runs in the Heron Stakes (Listed) at Sandown Park 8:15pm Thursday 26 May 2016 for John Gosden & Coolmore & Ryan Moore takes the Ride.
Royal Artillery was a 450,000 USD purchase in 2013 & is a Half Brother to Tenleytown who was race placed in America.
He broke his maiden smartly at Doncaster on the 23rd October 2015 winning by over 2 lengths & could be a smart prospect.
Dawn Raider was unplaced at Churchill Downs last night
From Joe Porter
2YO Dawn Raider (Scat Daddy) makes his debut for Coolmore & Wes Ward tonight 23:43 at Churchill Downs
Coolmore's part-owned Stradivari runs in the Preakness on Saturday
Stradivari Spotlight
Sired by Medaglia d'Oro and trained by Todd Pletcher, Stradivari has just three starts to his career and just one as a 3-year-old. In April, he ran a 1-1/8-mile allowance race at Keeneland in 1:48, or more than a second faster than Nyquist's time in the similarly distanced Florida Stakes.
"When he left his foes behind and kept extending his winning margin all the way to the wire, in both his wins, I had my hand covering my mouth by the end of his run and a glint of something wet and blurry in the eye (Uh, she cried again). To have a homebred run like that fills you with awe, and in that moment it makes up for all of the tough times and disappointments. My dad said that when Stradivari won at Gulfstream, the thought crossed his mind that this might be the best horse he has ever bred."
All of these things make you scratch your chin and wonder: Wait, can this relatively untested, unknown newcomer surprise everyone at the Preakness?
Sure. He could. But do you want to risk taking him against the two battle-tested favorites? Especially when he's never ran father than 1-1/8 miles or been tested in a graded race?
Yet it can be done. Look no further than Bernardini, who had just three starts to his name before winning the 2006 Preakness, for hope and inspiration.
The intrigue and the times might explain why Stradivari (8-1) is the only other colt set at better than 10-1 odds.
Knife Edge Winner of the German 2000 Guineas in Cologne for Team Coolmore
Knife Edge held on gamely to give trainer Marco Botti a second success in the German 2000 Guineas at Cologne.
Knife Edge Winner of the German 2000 Guineas in Cologne.
Jockey :
Ryan-Lee Moore
Entraîneur :
Marco Botti
Propriétaire :
Mme Susan Magnier
The Newmarket handler struck with Excelebration in 2011 and Knife Edge got on the roll of honour with a gutsy display.
Ryan Moore sent the Zoffany colt to the front from the stalls and Knife Edge, who had the benefit of two runs on the all-weather last month, proved up to the task.
Markus Klug's course-and-distance winner Degas put up a strong challenge, but Knife Edge would not be denied and got a narrow verdict to take the honours for owners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
"It was quite a tight finish, but obviously Ryan gave him a great ride," said Botti.
"He ended up making the running. There wasn't much pace and he probably just idled a little bit in front and once the runner-up came to him, he found a little bit more and kept on.
"He's entered in the St James's Palace (at Royal Ascot). We need to speak to the team and see what they want to do next.
"This was one of the main targets. After he ran in the Greenham at Chelmsford, we said we would aim him at the German Guineas and we've got it done."
Royal Ascot Heroine Acapulco Returns in Unbridled Sidney
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Acapulco, who enjoyed international success for trainer Wesley Ward last year with a stakes triumph during Britain’s prestigious Royal Ascot meet, will face older rivals for the first time in her career in Saturday’s sixth running of Churchill Downs Racetrack’s $65,000-added Unbridled Sidney Overnight Stakes.
The daughter of Scat Daddy is the only 3-year-old in a field of nine fillies and mares set to compete in the five-furlong race over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course. The Unbridled Sidney is scheduled as the eighth event on Saturday’s 10-race program that opens with its first race at 12:45 p.m. (all times EDT). Post time for the Unbridled Sidney is 4:13 p.m.
Acapulco comes into the Unbridled Sidney off a Feb. 10 victory under over six rivals as the odds-on favorite under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in a six-furlong allowance race over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Turfway Park. The 1 ½-length triumph in her season debut improved her overall record to 2-1-1 in four races and lifted her career earnings of $210,254.
Ward’s filly had finished third under jockey Robby Albarado in her career debut last May at Churchill Downs, then crossed the Atlantic to collect her first career victory just five weeks later in Royal Ascot’s five-furlong Queen Mary Stakes (Group II). British riding star Ryan Moore was aboard for her successful debut on grass. Acapulco remained in England to complete her 2-year-old season at York, this time with U.S.-based Ortiz in the saddle, in a runner-up finish to Mecca’s Angel as the favoritein the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (GI).
A favorite in each of her four career starts, Acapulco will break from post one in the Unbridled Sidney. Albarado will return to the saddle aboard Ward’s filly, who will carry 116 pounds in her first test against older rivals, all of whom have a 121-pound impost.
Ward will be looking for his second stakes victory of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. The trainer saddled Silverton Hill LLC’s Silvertoni to the win the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile during the track’s Kentucky Derby Week Thurby celebration. He also will saddle Don Alberto Stable’s Tesalina (CHI), third to Miss Double d’Oro in the March 18 Arboretum II Stakes over the 6 ½-furlong downhill turf course at Santa Anita, in the Unbridled Sydney.Julien Leparoux will ride the 5-year-old daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus who will break from post seven.
Older rivals hoping to knock off Ward’s young and emerging star in the Unbridled Sidney include KMN Racing’sLindisfarne, fourth for trainer Steve Asmussen in the listed Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland, and G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and St. George Farm Racing’s Late Spring, a 4-year-old Speightstown filly coming off a win in sprint allowance on the Keeneland grass for trainer Vicki Oliver.
The field for the Unbridled Sidney, from the inside post out (with jockey, weight): Acapulco (Albarado, 116), Late Spring (Corey Lanerie, 121), Fonepferesh (IRE) (Gary Stevens, 121),Two Wonders (Willie Martinez, 121), Amarachi (Sophie Doyle, 121), Calypso Run (Brian Hernandez Jr., 121), Tesalina (CHI) (Leparoux, 121) and Lindisfarne (Florent Geroux, 121).
Coolmore's TARIS Impressive winner in the Group One Humana Distaff
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier's Taris finally got that elusive Grade 1 win on her resume when running away with Saturday's Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old daughter of Flatter skipped home 5 3/4 lengths in front of Stonetastic to stop the clock in 1:21.03 over the fast main track for trainer Simon Callaghan.
“There's a little bit of pressure with such a high purchase price, but she deserved it and she deserved it before this,” said Callaghan, who paid $2.35 million for the mare at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Sale. “We couldn't be happier. It was a perfect trip. We thought there would be speed up to the inside and we just got a nice, clean trip and it just worked out perfectly.”
Taris broke sharply alongside Stonetastic and then was taken back to several lengths off the pace by jockey Flavien Prat, saving her run for the end of the race. As expected, Stonetastic was sent out after the early lead, drawing away by just over two lengths down the backstretch through fractions of :22.19 and :44.95. The leader was tracked by Super Saver along the inside as Taris waited patiently just off that rival's flank, with Enchanting Lady biding her time from fourth. Race-favorite Wavell Avenue was in seventh early.
Entering the far turn, Taris made her bid for Prat, easily drawing alongside Stonetastic. The two were head-and-head at the top of the lane, but Taris had something left in the tank. Drawing away with an eighth of a mile to run, Prat hand-rode Taris to the wire, finishing about five lengths in front of her rivals. Stonetastic fought on gamely to hold second over Enchanting Lady, and Wavell Avenue settled for fourth after being forced very wide on the far turn.
“I had a good trip,” said Prat. “It was the trip I was hoping for. I was happy coming into the turn and the pace was what I wanted. When she turned for home, she was gone.”
Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider, Taris was initially sold at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $90,000. After beginning her racing career with four wins, including one in the Gr. 2 Raven Run at Keeneland, Taris went through the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale in 2014. There, the well-bred filly out of Comedy (Theatrical) brought $2.35 million from Simon Callaghan as agent. Since that time, Taris has improved her career record to eight wins from 13 starts overall, including today's Grade 1 as her first top-level victory. Taris now boasts career earnings of $1.08 million.
“She just faded a little bit in her last race going a mile and an eighth,” Callaghan said, “and her better numbers were (going) shorter and we thought that earlier in the year would be the better time to stretch her out, but she's definitely better at this distance. We might stretch her back out a little bit; back in California the ($400,000) Vanity ((GI), June 4) is a mile this year. We might do that. We'll think about it, but there are lots of options. The Breeders' Cup (Filly and Mare Sprint (GI)) at the end of the year is the obvious goal.”
Taris runs in the G1 Humana Distaff at Churchill on Saturday The Great War runs in a G3 at Woodbine on Saturday
Sacred Eye for Coolmore runs in the G1 on Saturday in Australia
Hootenanny declared for G2 Twin Spires on Friday
Former Ballydoyle resident Crocodile Rock Makes impressive debut in Australia
Crocodile Rock won His Debut Race in Australia Winning the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (2100m) at Sandown Impressively for New Trainer ROBERT HICKMOTT & Jockey KATELYN MALLYON
Crocodile Rock had 2 starts as a Ballydoyle Resident winning at the second attempt in a Gowran park maiden over 10 furlongs by 3 quarters of a Length. He was since Purchased By Lloyd Willams.
Thats now 2 Wins from 3 starts for the son of Champion Sire Galileo.
Stanford Leads All The Way In Charles Town Classic for Coolmore
By Paulick Report
Stanford wins the Charles Town Classic
Stonestreet Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Stanford was the runaway winner of Saturday's Grade 2, $1.25 million Charles Town Classic, drawing away to win by two lengths on the wire. The 4-year-old son of Malibu Moon covered nine furlongs over the fast main track in 1:50.55 for trainer Todd Pletcher, ridden to the front-running victory by Javier Castellano.
“Fantastic trip,” said Pletcher. “He broke very well and got to the position we hoped for going to the first turn. He was on cruise control from there.”
Fastest out of the gate, Stanford was immediately accompanied by Page McKenney on his outside. Those two would travel the three turns on the small West Virginia oval together, with Stanford maintaining at least a half-length lead through fractions of :24.75, :48.86, and 1:13.75. The leading pair were tracked by S'Maverlous, the New Orleans Handicap winner, Sonny Inspired, and Charitable Annuity, while the favored Donworth took up position in the center of the pack. Imperative, winner of this race two years ago, was widest on the course in tracking Donworth.
Entering the third and final turn, Stanford felt additional pressure as Page McKenney reached his throatlatch. Responding to Castellano's urging, Stanford jumped into the bridle and sprinted away from the game Pennsylvania-bred, drawing away through the short stretch to win by two lengths. Page McKenney held second over a late-closing Donworth, and Imperative moved with him to finish fourth.
“He broke very sharp and there wasn't that much speed in the race,” said Castellano. “He broke well and I just enjoyed the ride. I thought the fractions were pretty comfortable.”
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Stanford was a $120,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Sale, then sold for $550,000 at the Barretts Equine Limited Sale of 2-year-olds in training. Out of a daughter of Distorted Humor, Stanford's second dam is by Storm Cat. The Charles Town Classic is the first graded stakes victory for this colt, and only his fourth overall win from 11 career starts.
Following a layoff in the summer of 2015, Stanford has put together back-to-back graded stakes placings, most recently behind his stablemate Blofeld in the Gulfstream Park Handicap. Stanford will become racing's newest millionaire with the winner's share of today's race, with overall earnings of $1.15 million. Pletcher suggested that the next stop for the colt may be the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Stradivari winning an allowance race at Keeneland by 14 1/2 lengths – Coady Photography
Whichever horse wins the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) on May 7th could be in for a challenge when they get to Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) two weeks later, because given how impressive Stradivariwas while winning an allowance race at Keeneland on April 17th, he could be a significant contender in the Preakness if his connections choose to take that route.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Stradivari finished fourth in his debut at Aqueduct last November, but burst on to the Triple Crown scene with a dominating 11 1/4-length victory in a Gulfstream maiden special weight on December 5th. He was sidelined after that race and didn’t get a chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, but gave notice at Keeneland that he will be a force to reckon with wherever he runs.
Sent off as the second choice in the 8.5-furlong race, Stradivari was content to settle in second early on as Siding Spring–dropping in class off runs in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) and Rebel Stakes (gr. II)–set fractions of :24.08 and :47.47 seconds. But as the pace picked up through six furlongs in 1:11.30 Stradivari took command in effortless fashion and starting extending his lead without urging from jockey John Velazquez. In the blink of an eye he was five lengths in front, and passing the eighth pole, he was clear by eight lengths. The fourth quarter-mile went in a sharp :24.82 and Stradivari continued to pour on the speed in the final furlong, pulling away under no urging at all to win by 14 1/2 lengths in the fast time of 1:48.64 for nine furlongs. His time compared very favorably with the time of 1:48.57 posted by the four-year-old Eagle while winning Keeneland’s Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) on April 16th.
After the race, it was reported on Twitter that Stradivari’s next start could come in a stakes race, with the Preakness being one possibility.
Stradivari is owned by John Gunther, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Mrs. John Magnier. He is a son of Medaglia d’Oro out of the American Chance mare Bending Strings.
2013 Colt STRADIVERI by Medaglia d'Oro x Bending Strings by American Chance
Bred & Owned by John D. Gunther Trained by Todd Pletcher
Record 2 - 1 - 0 - 0 $27,000 US
After a 4th place debut, Stradiveri came back to break his maiden at Gulfstream Park by 11 1/4 lengths late last year. Pletcher who trains a horses for the Coolmore outfit must have advised them on the colts potential. He is now owned by Gunther, Tabor, Magnier & Tabor. Will remain in the care of Todd Pletcher. Stradiveri is slated to make his 3yo debut at Keeneland on the 17th in an Allowance conditions race.
Update on some runners by Joe Porter
Stradivari runs for Coolmore/Todd Pletcher tomorrow at Keeneland
Coolmore's Cupid runs in the G1 Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park
Ryan booked to ride Lord Napier and Knife Edge for Coolmore on Saturday at Newbury
April 2 - Santa Anita - Freemark - Trainer Bob Baffert - Race 1
Turfway Park - Chiltern Street - Trainer Wesley Ward - Race 5
Running April 1 at Santa Anita is Dream Team, now running for owners Natalie Baffert and still trained by Bob Baffert. Privately Sold at the end of 2015.
Also running April 2, at Gulfstream Park is Galileo's Song. This filly by Galileo x Song to Remember was bred by Smythson (Derrick Smith headed syndicate). A February 27, 2013 foal, she was sold was sold at Keeneland November 2013 sale for $475,000 as a weanling. She will be making her debut for trainer Chad Brown.
Coolmore runners at Randwick Saturday - From Joe Porter & Chris Palmer
Race 5 - Lake Geneva
Race 10 - Sacred Eye
Race 9 - Winx & First Seal run in G1
Pletcher Formulating Plans for 3yo Stars; Zulu to Pass Florida Derby
Pletcher (right) after winning his 4000th race earlier this month | Leslie Martin
By Bill Finley
Todd Pletcher is beginning to put the pieces of the puzzle together and now has tentative plans for his major 3-year-old colts who are being pointed for the GI Kentucky Derby.
Though GII Fountain of Youth S. runner-up Zulu(Bernardini) would pick up a $1-million bonus courtesy Fasig-Tipton if he were to win Saturday’s GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby, Pletcher confirmed that he will pass the Gulfstream race. He does not want to run his horse against the top two in the division, Mohaymen (Tapit) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo), at least not at this point. Instead, he will point Zulu to either the GI Blue Grass S. or the GI Wood Memorial, with the Blue Grass appearing to be the more likely choice.
Outwork (Uncle Mo), the runner-up in the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, is also being considered for the Wood at Aqueduct and the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Because owner Mike Repole prefers to run his horses in New York, the Wood would seem like the more logical spot, but Pletcher said there are other factors to consider.
“Usually, with Mike’s horses it would be we’re going to New York, period,” Pletcher said. “In this particular case he’s being more open minded. Outwork is a son of Uncle Mo and the focus is trying to win a Grade I with him and trying to take him to the best possible spot to do that. You don’t want to over think these things, but the horse did win at Keeneland last year, so he got a race over the track. We know he handles it. Granted, it was only a 4 1/2-furlong race, but he did do it. Those things are in play. I would say, however, things are tilted toward him running at Aqueduct. And I would like to keep Outwork and Zulu apart.”
Pletcher’s third big gun is Destin (Giant’s Causeway), who was last seen winning the Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 12. Pletcher said one distinct possibility is that the colt will not have another prep for the Derby.
“The ownership is on board with that,” Pletcher said of the possibility of passing the next round of Derby preps. “[Owner] Steve Davison is a big Ragozin guy and the horse made a big move forward in the Tampa Bay Derby. I know that when it comes to the Derby, not too many people have tried this approach. But, generally, giving horses plenty of time between races has worked well for our stable. Liam’s Map (Unbridled’s Song) and Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) winning Breeders’ Cup races off layoffs are examples of that. It something we are thinking about.”
Pletcher said that should Destin run again between now and the Kentucky Derby, it would be in either the Blue Grass or the GI Arkansas Derby.
The trainer said he will have a better idea about where he is going with his “Big Three” after their next works. All three will work on either Friday or Saturday.
As for other 3-year-olds in his barn, Cards of Stone (Bustin Stones) could go in the Wood Memorial andDonegal Moon (Malibu Moon) is a Blue Grass possibility.
Pletcher may not have the strongest group he’s ever had heading into the Derby, but his prospects appear much better than they did around the first of the year when it seemed like he didn’t have a single top 3-year-old male in his barn.
“Going into the winter it didn’t look like we were loaded with the typical type of 2-year-old group we usually have,” the trainer admitted. “We went to Palm Beach Downs thinking we were probably behind schedule with most of the promising 2-year-olds that were about to turn three. The ones that had run hadn’t quite stepped up to that level. Destin is one we thought could step up and he certainly has. Outwork was just coming back and has accomplished as much as one could in that short amount of time and Zulu had just broken his maiden. It’s been fun to see some of those horses come around and step up. It’s always interesting…sometimes the worst thing you can have is a hot hand in January. We are pleased with the progress a lot of them have made and that we’re now targeting a lot of these big preps. Still, there’s a long way to go.”
First run in 1867 the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes has been won by some of the best juveniles of the modern era including Pierro, Sebring and Dance Hero.
Last year’s winner Pride Of Dubai (pictured) retires to Coolmore for 2016 as the fastest and most successful 2yo by Street Cry. Described by Peter Snowden as “a trainer’s dream”, Pride Of Dubai won two Group 1 races in four starts as a 2yo despite the fact his trainer “thought he would make an even better 3yo”.
With a striking physical appearance, Pride Of Dubai was always a standout. Born and raised at Coolmore he wears the ‘C’ brand just like Champion sire Fastnet Rock, and he was Peter and Paul Snowden’s “top pick of the paddock”.
His natural speed and precocity coupled with his impeccable pedigree credentials, being closely related to outstanding 2yo sires Invincible Spirit and Kodiac, make him an extremely exciting addition to Australia’s stallion ranks.
Former Ballydoyle residents sold at the 2016 ERA Horses in Training Sale
DARWIN SOLD TO JABER SAID SULAIMAN FOR $40,000.00
GENERAL MARSHALL SOLD TO MIKE DE KOCK FOR $48,000.00
JOHANN STRAUSS SOLD TO MIKE DE KOCK FOR $180,000.00
Hong Kong Derby third Giovanni Canaletto returns this weekend in a Class Two 2,200m handicap. Aiming for Queen Mother Memorial Cup.
Le Musee runs in the 13:50 Compiegne (France) Today for Coolmore + Andre Fabre. He is an unraced Galileo 3YO Half Brother to Listed winner Blue Ksar.
J Gosden trained Fastnet Blast 3yo Gleding by Fastnet Rock out of Bright Bank is entered at Doncaster on Saturday for OTI Racing and Mrs J Magnier.
Kinglike was injured in his last race hence the poor showing its not serious but will be out for a while. He pulled muscles during the race. Kinglike has also been moved to be trained by Gerald Ryan.
Cupid wins Rebel, & Books ticket to Kentucky Derby for Coolmore
BY KELLY P. KISSEL - Associated Press Writer
HOT SPRINGS, ARK. His last time out, Cupid won by 5 ¼ lengths for his maiden victory. After this time around, he's pointed toward the Kentucky Derby.
The gray colt led nearly from wire-to-wire Saturday to capture the $900,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and propel yet another Bob Baffert-trained horse toward Churchill Downs.
"Going in, I knew he was a nice horse but he never had been tested," Baffert told reporters by telephone after the race. "It was a pretty strong bunch."
While Rebel entrants Suddenbreakingnews, Whitmore and American Dubai picked up Kentucky Derby qualifying points earlier in Oaklawn's meet, Cupid toiled at Santa Anita and broke its maiden just over six weeks ago. The Rebel victory pushed him into a tie for fourth place among horses battling to run for the roses May 7.
"It's hard for horses to break their maiden and then step up to this kind of company with this many people around and win, but he did," jockey Martin Garcia said.
Whitmore ran second, but it was a disappointing Derby prep for Suddenbreakingnews after he got caught up in traffic and finished fifth.
"He was just getting his momentum going and he (jockey Luis Quinonez) basically said a horse stopped right in front of him and had to check pretty hard," said Donnie K. Von Hemel, who trains Suddenbreakingnews, the favorite among Saturday's crowd of 35,000. "Otherwise, he's probably going to be right there. That's racing."
Cupid took the rail early, opened a two-length lead in the far corner and outran Whitmore in a sprint from the top of the stretch. Creator finished third.
A Baffert-trained horse won the Rebel for the sixth time since 2010. Last year's winner, American Pharoah, also took the Arkansas Derby and went on to win the Triple Crown for the first time since 1978.
"I'm just really happy. We've been getting beat up at Oaklawn the last couple times there pretty badly," Baffert said, triggering chuckles through the press box atop the grandstand. "I kept throwing 3-year-olds at them and finally found the right one."
Cupid picked up 50 points in the Kentucky Derby standings to move into a tie with Danzing Candy and Shagaf. Mohaymen leads with 71 points and Destin and Gun Runner each have 51. Another Baffert-trained horse, Mor Spirit, is seventh. Whitmore earned 20 points and is now 10th, with 24 points.
With Mor Spirit already pointed to the April 9 Santa Anita Derby, look for Cupid to make his next start in the Arkansas Derby April 16, given Baffert's success here.
"He looked fantastic in the paddock. In the post parade he looked great," Baffert said. "He was ready to run and he ran like he loved it."
Cupid paid $7.80, $5.00 and $3.80; Whitmore paid $5.20 and $4.00 and Creator paid $4.80.
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/other-sports/article67125572.html#storylink=cpy
NEW 2 Year olds from Chris Palmer
2014 F Arcano - Cover Girl = Transcendence (IRE) ----Bought by MV Magnier
2014 F So You Think - Dombeya = Angel Island (IRE) ----Bought by MV Magnier
2014 F Rock Of Gibraltar - Zalaiyma = Gone To Russia --- Bought by MV Magnier
Former Ballydoyle ResidentLos Bardados has finished 2nd in Jebel Ali for his new connections
Superstar mare Winx who was Coolmore Raised & graised has earned all the plaudits at Rosehill for a George Ryder performance that confirms her rating as the best horse in Australia.
River Wild Finished 5th in the Rosehill Guineas & Lake Geneva Finished 8th in Australian G3
Former Ballydoyle Resident The United States wins Group One in Australia
The United States Wins The 2016 Ranvet Stakes
Coming off a tough run in the Blamey Stakes, The United States took inside splits to win the Ranvet Stakes.
The United States gets a G1 in the Ranvet Photo byRacing and Sports
Backing up after a long neck second last Saturday over the 1600m in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington, the Robert Hickmott-trained The United States settled at the tail of the field on the inside of Chris Waller’s Weary.
With a solid tempo set up front by the lone mare in the field, the Waterhouse-trained Bohemian Lily, Kool Company settled in second position while Dibayani was slightly over racing in third.
Mongolian Khan started to come along the rail to track the leader, putting himself in a challenging position.
Race favourite Hauraki settled back in the field for jockey James McDonald, with the son of Reset coming into the race off the back of a third behind Winx in the Group 1 Chipping Norton StakesAs the leaders Bohemian Lily and Kool Kompany began to weaken on the point of the turn, Dibayani began to work into the race strongly, while it appeared as if we would see the Criterion (NZ) of old as the $7 million earner commenced his run on the outside of the field.
With all the eyes on the runners down the outside, McEvoy took the opportunity to steer The United States (Galileo) towards the inside of the track and surged between Mongolian Khan and Bohemian Lily to hit the lead and take the race by three parts of a length from favourite Hauraki (Reset) in a time of 2:03.17, with a final last 600m in 34.52 on the good 4 rated track.
Starting at $5.30 on the NSW TAB and $5.50 on fixed odds the win was the first at Group 1 level for The United States.
Three and a quarter lengths back in third was the multiple Group 1 winner Criterion, indicating that next time in the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth should see him spot on for his final race start before retirement to stud.
Off the back of the results, Hauraki firmed from $26.00 to $15.00 for Queen Elizabeth betting, while Criterion and Mongolian Khan stayed at their prices of $11.00 and $15.00 respectively.
Speaking on behalf of the owners, Nick Williams clearly highlighted the Cox Plate as the next target for the six-year-old entire.
“It’s fantastic all of these guys have been in a lot of horses with us and we have had a bit of luck along the way and to win this race which is one of the biggest days of racing in NSW in the autumn is a real honour and to have all my mates in it is great,” stated Williams.
“I’m not sure I was confident but the horse came through last week well and just bounced straight off it and that made the decision very easy to come up here, we would not have brought him if he wasn’t in perfect order even off that hard race.
“He is very, very tough, you saw he had seven runs in the spring he can go to the paddock now as a Group 1 winner and we can get him ready for the Cox Plate.
When questioned about a possible run in the Melbourne Cup, Williams turned the focus clearly back to the success in the Ranvet.
“He didn’t get a very good ride last year but I guess there was probably 21 bad rides in last year’s Melbourne Cup but it’s not about the Melbourne Cup it’s about winning this race and to win a time honoured race like the Ranvet.”
Riding The United States for the first time, McEvoy was confident of a forward showing.
“He was third up today but backing up within a week so it was a great job by Rob (Robert Hickmott) and his team and Lloyd and Nick (Williams). It looked a nice race on paper.
“Well played Lloyd and Nick (Williams) for picking out this race after last start where he was only just beaten. It was a nice race for him today.”
“We came here quietly confident that he would run really well.”
“We were awkwardly placed, last on the rail but I thought to myself I would cut the corner because I’ve got a better turn of foot than these.
“He really quickened up through a gap and I was in front within 100 yards. He showed good acceleration.
“He was full of running on the line and he is a handy horse in his own right, he showed that in the spring when he was great in the Moonee Valley Cup. His two runs back have shown he has been in good order.”
“He is great to ride. Rob (Robert Hickmott) said he was push button and that is exactly what he was.”
Former Ballydoyle Resident Nevis Wins the Golden Mile
Nevis (white cap) winning the Golden Mile at Bendigo. Photo: Darryl Sherer
WATCH: Race 7 - bet365 Golden Mile
The Robert Hickmott-trained import was allowed to roll forward from barrier two by Katelyn Mallyon with another import, Big Memory, settled second.
The pair were first into the home straight, racing in the centre of the track and while he tried hard, Big Memory ($7) could not peg back Nevis ($12 - $9) which had a short head to spare at the finish.
Nevis won the Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield three years and has only raced five times in Australia for two wins.
Mallyon said she was happy in front despite racing keenly.
"He travelled sweetly for me,” Mallyon said. "Although I knew we were rolling along a bit he was happy and relaxed.
"I was trying to keep something up my sleeve for the home straight, I could see it was Big Menory close to me and I know how tough a horse he is.
"When he came alongside my horse dug deep."
Mallyon picked up the ride on the six-year-old son of Dansili after Michelle Payne lost her appeal against a careless riding suspension.
"It’s great to ride a winner for Lloyd (Williams), especially in a stakes race,” Mallyon said.
"The way he won today, I’d say there are more to come for this horse.”
New Zealand Group I-winner Survived ($21) finished 2 3/4-lengths away third in his first start for Archie Alexander.
May 6, 2013 Bay Filly Galileo (IRE) - Cash Run by Seeking the Gold
Named: Mrs. A (IRE)
Breeder: Orpendale (Ireland)
Owners: Ice Wine Stable
Trainer: Wesley A. Ward
Raced for the first time at Turfway Park on the all weather track Feb 28 and finished 9th in her debut. This is a Coolmore entity bred filly who was not sold at public auction. Could have been sold privately by Coolmore to Ice Wine. Ice Wine Stable owned No Nay Never before partnering up with Coolmore for ownership of the horse.
March 5 Turfway Park
Race 6
Sixes River debut winner for Michael Tabor & Wesley Ward onJan 3, comes back to the track in a 1 mile event for a claiming tag of $30,000. The chestnut gelded son of Cape Blanco won his debut by almost 3 lengths for a claiming tag of $7,500.
Former Ballydoyle Resident Adjusted has won a listed race in Australia but he was renamed Assign Thanks to David Betts
Mohaymen takes ZULU's unbeaten record The Coolmore owned colt finished2nd in The Fountain Of Youth Stakes G2 both look smart prospects
Mohaymen earned a first prize of $245,520, and picked up 50 points toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby, giving him a total of 70 following previous 10-point wins in the Holy Bull and Remsen.
Zulu, in only his third start, first in a stakes, and first around two turns, ran well to be second, four lengths in front of Fellowship.
“I was proud of his effort,” said Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Zulu. “He was second-best today and hopefully something we can improve on and build on.”
GIOVANNI CANALETTO Ran a Cracker in the Hong Kong Classic Cup This morning finishing a close up 5th came from right at the back off the pace and flew home he has shown some real potential there surely a step up in trip will bring out alot more.
The Race was won by Ryan Moore on Sun Jewelry Video Replay below
2015 Queen Mary winner Acapulco had to work hard but she returned to action with a bang at Turfway park on Friday Night No Hiding Place also won well at
Turfway for Michael Tabor
Sent off the prohibitive 1-5 favorite while facing six seemingly overmatched 3-year-old fillies, Acapulco (f, 3, Scat Daddy–Global Finance, by End Sweep) was made to work for it, but came away with a 1 1/4-length victory at a balmy Turfway Park Friday evening. Scratched down into gate two, the hulking chestnut was away in good order, but allowed a few others to go on with it early and was guided out into about the four path with some cover as they raced into the turn. Irad Ortiz Jr., who flew in from New York for the ride, asked Acapulco for some run as they left the quarter pole and she quickly joined pacesetting Sweet Ruth E. (Twirling Candy) at the top of the stretch. Acapulco looked as if she might roll right past that one, but the front-runner proved tenacious and it was not until the final 40 yards that the result was settled. The $180,000 Fasig-Tipton July purchase turned $750,000 OBS March juvenile validated 5-2 favoritism in breaking her maiden in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot last June and was last seen finishing a game second in York’s G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in August. Acapulco is expected to return to Royal Ascot for the G1 Commonwealth Cup this coming June. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1. O-Magnier, Tabor & Smith. B-Dr Charles Giles (KY). T-Wesley Ward.
10/3/2014 BC FASTNET ROCK x IDEAL BY GALILEO :INVERLOCH (IRE)
8/3/2014 BF FASTNET ROCK x ROMAN EMPRESS BY SADLER'S WELLS : TAMIT (IRE)
22/5/2014 BC FASTNET ROCK x KUSHNARENKOVO BY SADLER'S WELLS: SCANLON (IRE)
8/52014 BC FASTNET ROCK x BRIGHT BANK BY SADLER'S WELLS: BURREMBEET (IRE)
11/5/2014 BF GALILEO X MILANOVA BY DANEHILL: ASANTA SANA
(Was entered at 2015 Goffs Sale but was withdrawn)
26/1/2014 BC FASTNET ROCK x DANCE TO THE TOP BY SADLER'S WELLS: DANDEDONG (IRE)
2/3/2014 BC FASTNET ROCK x MONA LISA BY GIANT'S CAUSEWAY: MANANGTANG (IRE)
NEW HORSE UPCOMING
Peace Time - 3YO - 2013 BF WAR FRONT - SANTA CATARINA (UNBRIDLED) - TRAINER: CHAD BROWN - OWNERS: TABOR, SMITH & MAGNIER - 2014 FASIG-TIPTON SARATOGA AUGUST YEARLING SALE PURCHASE $600,000
RUNNERS FOR COOLMORE
Feb 20 - Santa Anita - Adios Reality - Race 3 Trainer Bob Baffert
Feb 20 - Gulfstream Park - Auburn Avenue - Race 12 Trainer Todd Pletcher
Feb 21 - Gulfstream Park - Peace Time - Race 7 Trainer Chad C. Brown
Feb 25 - Fair Grounds - Chiltern Street - Race 7 Trainer Wesley Ward
Acapulco returns tomorrow in race 9 at Turfway Park it looks a straight forward job for her
When Acapulco last raced Aug. 21, she was across the Atlantic Ocean, a rare 2-year-old filly racing against older horses in York's Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, a contest in which she ran an admirable second. Making her season debut Friday night, another second wouldn't be described the same way given she is running at Turfway Park in a first-level, $20,900 allowance at six furlongs.
Coolmore's Rookie Kinglike pitched into G1 Lightning
Peter Moody takes heart that Kinglike has performed well on the Flemington straight course as he prepares the colt for the Lightning Stakes.
Kinglike's inexperience is a concern for Peter Moody as the trainer prepares for the colt for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
The three-year-old will be lining up for his fifth start when he contests the Group One sprint at Flemington on Saturday."He lacks experience on some of his competition, even his three-year-old competition," Moody said.
"That's probably the slight issue as he's still learning his craft. "He was doing a few things wrong in his races last time and he's not going to be able to do that on Saturday."
The trainer reported the son of Exceed And Excel has trialled well and galloped impressively for his racetrack return.
While his trackwork and a Cranbourne barrier trial victory suggest Kinglike has made improvement from a spring colt to an autumn three-year-old, Moody still wants to see him perform on race day. "I think he's only going to improve with racing under his belt but I'm mindful of the fact that he's an entire with very good breeding upside," he said.
"You don't want to be running these horses for the sake of running them but at the end of the day they are racehorses and he needs that experience."He's going to get some of it on Saturday."
Moody is confident Kinglike will acquit himself well but at the same time has respect for the opposition.
Entries for Saturday's 1000m dash include Chautauqua, Australia's equal highest-rated galloper on world rankings, Flemington straight-track Group One winner Terravista and high class three-year-olds Exosphere and Japonisme.
But Moody takes heart that Kinglike has shown a liking for the straight Flemington track with his two defeats, from four starts, coming on his home track at Caulfield."It's no small task but he was good up the straight in the Danehill back in the spring and shows a liking for that track," Moody said. "It's a good Group One field but he's a colt that I've got a very good opinion of."
With a 10-meeting suspension handed out to Glen Boss last Saturday, Damian Lane has been booked for the Kinglike ride. Moody is looking for a fourth Lightning win having prepared the unbeaten Black Caviar to win the race three times
Their son Never So Few finished 6th at Gulfstream Park yesterday it was his 2nd run & he is the 3rd offspring of the duo to hit the racetrack and thus far has not been a fruitful partnership lets hope the Juvenile Filly will change the trend of these 2 great champions.
Galileo x Rags To Riches Progeny
Unnamed 2YO Filly - Yet To Hit The Track
Never So Few 3YO Colt - 2 Races - Best Finish 6th - Never Won
Rich And Righteous 4YO Stallion - 9 Races - Best Finish 2nd - Never Won
Former Ballydoyle resident Oscar Dominguez (Zoffany x American Queen) Ran with credit in the 2016 El Camino Real Derby Grade 3 he finished in 9th spot but showed some real potential and promise you can see the video replay below Oscar carries The all red Colours. Thanks to Nick @n_rogers53for the pictures.
Enchantress finished 5th for Coolmore in the G2 Royal Delta Stakes.
It is only a matter of opinion whether 2015 Cox Plate winner Winx can be labelled a champion but she is certainly a star and proved that with a determined first-up win in the Group II Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Star mare Winx drives through to extend her winning sequence to six in taking out the Apollo Stakes (1400m). Photo: Steve Hart
A one length victory over Solicit in the $250,000 feature stretched Winx’s winning sequence to six and made it 10 career victories from only 16 starts.
Bowman rode the perfect race from gate one aboard the $1.60 favourite, settling fifth on the fence, trailing a genuine tempo set by Kerrin McEvoy aboard Solicit ($5.50).
Bowman saved ground turning for home but had work to do, gradually overhauling Solicit before forging clear inside the final 100m. Godolphin’s Hauraki ($41) wound-up late to claim third a further 2-3/4 lengths away.
For trainer Chris Waller a Group II win is par for the course, but he carries a self-imposed burden with Winx, wanting her to win for the racing public as much as for himself and connections.
"Today’s the most nervous I’ve been in recent years,” Waller said.
"There is a sense of importance about a horse almost on the cusp of (being) a superstar. In our eyes she already is.
"I feel it’s important for racing to keep winning. I hope everyone is with us.
"With elite horses like this every race is important now.
"I’d say there will be a Group I next start for her and hopefully she can get that as well.”
Waller has the Group I Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in a fortnight as the most likely second-up target.
"That was perfect for her,” Waller said. "The good draw. She’s had a good blow and a good sweat.
"She’ll improve a lot. She’s not a big, masculine, gross horse so she’ll tighten-up a little bit more.”
Bowman also noted the sense of occasion and the wave of support which Winx generates.
"I started to feel as though we were her for an occasion when everyone started lining the fence to take a photo of her on the way out,” Bowman said.
"She’s really drawn the attention of anyone in racing and beyond.
"It’s still early on for her. She’s still in the infancy of her career.
"She put the writing on the wall in the spring and that’s a good return.”
As for the race, Bowman couldn’t have timed it any better.
"The pace was genuine and I suspected it might have been,” Bowman said. "I’ve ridden Solicit and I thought she’s fit enough to make it a bit of a test.
"In the middle stages I felt I may have been getting a little too far out of touch but I needed to do that to keep my mare comfortable.
"I wanted to make sure she was comfortable and she certainly didn’t let me down when I needed her.
"She’s only going to improve as the distances increase. She’s a special mare and it’s a privilege to be on her.”
Other Coolmore Results
Lake Geneva Finished 4th in Race 5 Sailing By Finished 2nd in Race 6 at Caulfield Harlem RiverFinished 4th in Race 3 & at Randwick on Saturday Morning GMT
Former Ballydoyle Resident Oscar Domiguez runs for his new trainer Patrick Gallagher in G3 El Camino Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Staurday Night at 11:45pm Julien Couton Takes the ride.
Enchantress runs for Coolmore in the G2 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Saturday at 7:00 Tyler Gaffalione rides for Todd Pletcher.
Coolmore's Kinglike Books Black Caviar Lightning 2016 Run
Peter Moody’s Group 2 winning colt Kinglike put in a sizzling trial win at Cranbourne on Monday morning booking his first-up Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival run in Saturday week’s 2016 Black Caviar Lightning.
Smart colt Kinglike is 2016 Lightning Stakes bound after a fast Cranbourne trial win on Monday morning. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Exceed And Excel three-year-old has won two from four to date including the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) last September down the Flemington straight.
He was last seen crossing three and a half lengths away sixth to Lumosty in the Group 2 Caulfield Spring (1000m) when stepped back down in distance on Caulfield Cup Day.
In his first official hit-out since in lined up over 800m at Cranbourne on Monday in the morning’s 15th heat with Glen Boss guiding him to an easy two and a half-length success in 45.28 seconds, the second quickest time of the day, over Del Piero.
“He had a jump-out at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago but he was a bit fresh and a bit above himself,” Moody told Racing Victoria on Monday.
“So a nice course proper gallop last week was complimented by a good, strong gallop this morning. I wanted him to take benefit from it and I asked Glen to let him do a bit in the trial and he did it nicely.”
It was the ideal trial according to Moody ahead of the colt’s first-up run, which is now looking to be a highly anticipated clash with John O’Shea’s Golden Rose Stakes winner Exosphere in the $750,000 Group 1Black Caviar Lightning Stakes(1000m) on February 20.
“The Lightning is the first option but it’s not set in stone,” Moody, who prepared superstar mare the race’s now namesake Black Caviar for her three consecutive Lightning Stakes wins from 2011-13, said.
“It’s the first race I’d probably consider as it’s 12 days’ away. I’ll probably assess him again after he works next Tuesday and if we’re pleased there, that’s (Lightning) the first serious thought.
“He is one for one down the straight.”
The Godolphin-raced Lonhro colt Exosphere has won four from six so far including the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) last September and Randwick’s Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) in October.
His last start was a fourth to Chris Waller’s Japonisme in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Victoria Derby Day.
Defending TJ Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua leads all-in TJ Smith Stakes betting at $3.50 through Ladbrokes.com.au followed closely in the futures markets for the Doncaster Mile Day classic by Exosphere ($4.40).
The last three-year-old Lightning Stakes winner meanwhile was Fastnet Rock (2005) who was the third youngster on the trot to beat home the older galloper’s in the famous Flemington sprint.
Exosphere and Kinglike are likely to be at short odds in Black Caviar Lightning Stakes betting to break the 10-plus year drought of three-year-olds in the race this autumn however.
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Tapit’s Cupid On Target at Santa Anita for Coolmore
Cupid | Benoit Photo
3rd-SA, $56,690, Msw, 2-7, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.78, ft. CUPID (c, 3, Tapit–Pretty ‘n Smart {GSP}, by Beau Genius)was backed down to even-money in this first route attempt, and ran to the public’s opinion to reveal yet another promising sophomore in trainer Bob Baffert’s arsenal. Fourth going six furlongs at Los Alamitos Racecourse Dec. 20, the $900,000 KEESEP yearling was second over just 5 1/2 panels here Jan. 9. He had recorded three sharp works since that effort, and was content to stalk the pace out wide here through opening splits of :23.98 and :48.62. Spinning wide as he asserted into the lane, the grey got his feet under him and leveled off very nicely to stretch his margin of victory to a facile six lengths. Pacesetter Inhibition (Street Sense) held on for second. The winner is a half to Heart Ashley (Lion Heart), MGSW, $395,896; Ashley’s Kitty (Tale of the Cat), GSW, $349,268; and Indianapolis (Medaglia d’Oro), SW, $127,200. His dam is a half to the useful MGSW turfer Hostess (Chester House). Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $47,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith,; B-JKG Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
Coolmore's Pride Of Dubai retired after sustaining recurrence of bone bruising
Retired: Pride of Dubai. Photo: Getty Images
Dual group 1 winner Pride Of Dubai has been retired after a veterinary examination on Monday revealed he sustained a similar injury in his Eskimo Prince Stakes flop to the one that kept him off the track for almost 10 months.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden made the decision after it was revealed Pride Of Dubai had suffered deep bone bruising after beating just one one runner home in the group 3 race at Randwick on Saturday.
He will be shipped off to stud to prepare for the next breeding season where he will stand for a partnership including Coolmore, China Horse Club, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Emmaroo Bloodstock.
Pride Of Dubai won the Blue Diamond-Sires Produce Stakes double during his two-year-old season - his only two wins on the track - but his three-year-old campaign began in earnest on a wet surface at Randwick.
Jockey Hugh Bowman could offer no excuses for his performance in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, won comprehensively by Gerald Ryan's Spill The Beans.
Pride Of Dubai reaped more than $1.3 million in prize money from just five career starts.
His retirement capped a bad morning for the Snowdens, who also announced they would retire beaten Breeders Classic favourite Dublin Lass after she struggled in the group 2 sprint at Randwick.
Adios Reality & Cupid run in race 3 for Bob Baffert
Feb 6 Gulfstream Park
Stanford runs in race 5 Fred W. Hopper Stakes for Todd Pletcher
Feb 7 Tampa Bay Downs
Chiltern Street runs in race 7 Allowance for Wesley Ward
Also Pride Of Dubai returns Tomorrow in Australia in the Eskimo Prince Stakes group 3 at Randwick (race 7)
Finishes
Feb 4 Park Walk by Canford Cliffs wins at Turfway Park by 1 1/2 lengths for Michael Tabor & Wesley Ward. In the process he is claimed for $7,500 and is in a new stable.
Coolmore's River Wild flows towards a Guineas start
Gai Waterhouse has added another Group I contender to her autumn team with River Wild lumping 61kg to win at Rosehill on Saturday and being earmarked for a start in either the Randwick or Australian Guineas.
River Wild (centre) gets the job done at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart
River Wild was sent out a $2.20 favourite in the TAB More Than Just Winning 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) but favourite punters were seeking relief turning for home with Brenton Avdulla hard at work on the Coolmore-owned Fastnet Rock colt.
Tim Clark had skipped clear aboard the Tony McEvoy-trained Niccoco ($3.20) and appeared to have a winning break but felt the pinch 100m from home.
The David Pfieffer-trained Denmagic ($5.50) then loomed as the likely winner with River Wild splitting the pair, but on the line it was River Wild sticking his head out to beat Niccoco by a short head with Denmagic a further long head away in third.
"He was never going to win by far but I always thought I was going to get there,” Avdulla said.
"I couldn’t really lead early. I didn’t have the speed to. Even though I was three deep I always had cover because they raced off the fence.
"I had a good cart into the race. He dropped the bridle for me on the point of the corner but I knew once I got stuck into him and once Tommy (Berry) came around me he really got his mind on the job.”
River Wild has now won three of his five career starts.
"The further he goes the better he goes,” Waterhouse said.
"He’ll head to the Guineas – the boys can decide if they want to go north or south.”
Waterhouse was referring to the Coolmore owners and whether they want to head to Flemington for the Group I Australian Guineas (1600m) or stay in Sydney for the Group I Randwick Guineas (1600m) as the two races are crazily scheduled for the same date – Saturday, March 5.
Zulu Impresses again & Remains unbeaten for Coolmore
From PAULICK REPORT
Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Stonestreet Stables' Zulu, an impressive debut winner Dec. 5 at Gulfstream Park, returned to brighten a gray afternoon with his 7 ¼-length victory Friday.
Confidently ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the 3-year-old bay Bernardini colt improved to 2-0 for Championship Meet-leading trainer Todd Pletcher, running seven furlongs in 1:23.33 over a sloppy main track.
“I thought it was a good effort,” Pletcher said. “It was nice to see him step up after only one start and stretch out a little bit, and he seemed to do it pretty professionally.”
Breaking alertly from outside post eight in the $44,000 optional claiming allowance, Zulu ($2.40) rated three wide behind a quarter-mile of 22.76 seconds and half-mile of 45.64 set by 25-1 long shot Pilot House. Zulu assumed the lead without resistance rounding the far turn, tracked by Avast Matey to his outside, but straightened out and sprinted clear in the stretch.
“Everything about his pedigree suggests he's going to want to stretch out: (being) by Bernardini, (out of a) Summer Squall mare, the way he finished today,” Pletcher said. “All those things are encouraging, so the next step is to find out.”
Pletcher, who spoke with Tabor by phone in the winner's circle following the victory, mentioned the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream as a possible next step for Zulu.
“I was just telling (Tabor) he's two-for-two at Gulfstream and at some point we have to test the waters; whether it would be in there or not is still up in the air,” he said. “We've got some options in front of us and that is one of them.”
Pletcher has had success in recent years with later-developing 2-year-olds that have had early success as 3-year-olds at Gulfstream including the past two winners of the $1 million Florida Derby (G1),Constitution in 2014 and Materiality last year. The 65th Florida Derby will be run April 2.
“We felt like our 2-year-olds were a little slow to come around this summer and got down here and thought we had a few that were promising and he was certainly one of them,” Pletcher said. “It's nice to see him step up with a couple of nice wins. Now we'll see if he's ready for that next level.”
Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry) confirmed his well being with a successful return to action in a competitive barrier trial at Randwick-Kensington yesterday. The colt, who is part-owned by Coolmore and has not been seen since winning the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) in April due to bone bruising, has overcome his injury issues and will now be primed for an autumn campaign with the Expressway Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on 30 January a first up target. After breaking sharply, the three-year-old took a strong hold under Brenton Avdulla in the early stages, before rounding the bend in a wide position. The colt moved powerfully on entering the straight and was not fully extended when asserting his dominance in the closing stages. Co-trainer Peter Snowden told ANZ Bloodstock News: “We are pleased with Pride Of Dubai’s effort this morning. “Being keen was not a concern, he was just fresh within himself. He will trial again, and at this stage the Expressway is the plan.” Yesterday’s 880 metre trial was a star-studded affair, with Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) running out a pleasing third behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained runner-up Dark Eyes (Snitzel). The Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner raced prominently under Jason Collett and comfortably held his position from the fast-finishing Cannyescent (Canny Lad), who made an eye-catching move from the rear of the field to take fourth spot. Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Vanbrugh (Encosta De Lago) and five-time Group One winner Boban (Bernardini) were fifth and sixth respectively for trainer Chris Waller, while Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up, English (Encosta De Lago), was scratched from the heat. Coolmore Australia general manager Michael Kirwan was buoyed by Pride Of Dubai’s performance and believes the two-time Group One-winning juvenile has progressed. Kirwan said: “It’s hard not to be very excited about him after that trial. “We saw him on Monday morning and he’s matured into a real man of a horse. You couldn’t but be impressed with him physically and considering he’s a young colt, he’s got the most fantastic mind – he just seems to take everything in his stride. “He’s carrying plenty of condition, so the expectation is that he’ll find any amount of improvement from the outing and hopefully, with a bit of luck, he looks set for a good autumn. It’s just great to see him back on a racecourse.”
Andrew O'Brien Has highlighted some of the yearlings for sale this week in Australia
MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE 2016
Sales Times (UK TIME)
Wed 6 January Midnight - Book 1 Lots 1-216
Thu 7 January Midnight - Book 1 Lots 217-432
Fri 8 January Midnight - Book 1 Lots 433-648
Sat 9 January 8am - Book 1 Lots 649-746
Sun 10 January Midnight - Book 2 Lots 747-1016
Tue 12 January Midnight - Book 3 Lots 1017-1068
LOT 81 – FILLY - ANIMAL KINGDOM – CAT BY THE TALE (TALE OF THE CAT)
Half-sister to promising stakes-placed Raphael’s Cat (Redoute’s Choice) out of the Grade Two winner in America Cat By The Tale (Tale Of The Cat). Linebred 4f x 4m to influential sire Ahonoora (Lorenzaccio)
LOT 92 – FILLY - CHOISIR – CHAMPALOU (ENCOSTA DE LAGO)
Bred on the same Choisir x Encosta De Lago mare cross as Japonisme, Proisir and Frespanol. Encosta De Lago mares have produced a number of other stakes winners by other Danehill-line sires. The filly’s second dam is the Group One winner Vouvray (Zabeel)
LOT 168 – FILLY - FASTNET ROCK – DREAM PLAY (HENNESSY)
This sister to Zululand is out of Dream Play, a Grade Two winner in New York by a son of Storm Cat (Storm Bird), a line which has crossed with Fastnet Rock to also produce classic winner Irish Lights and Fast ‘N’ Rocking (both also from Hennessy mares), Foxwedge and others.
LOT 271 – COLT - SNITZEL – GOPANA (GALILEO)
Out of a talented racemare from a successful French family, this colt is bred on a variation of the dynamic blend of Danehill and Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) blood and his dam brings some important stamina to the mix.
Really well balanced mating between two top class performers. The Group One winning Hurtle Myrtle descends from a very good female line and the mating produces a 5m x 4m double of Mr Prospector.
LOT 444 – COLT - DALAKHANI – MISS WITH ATTITUDE (GALILEO)
Out of a stakes-placed winner of five races from 1000 metres to 1600 metres, this colt’s next two dams are by Flying Spur (Danehill) and Mill Reef (Never Bend). His 3f x 4f double of Miswaki (Mr Prospector) and 4m x 4f cross of Mill Reef could make him versatile in terms of race distances.
LOT 488 – FILLY - FASTNET ROCK – OUR PRIDE AND JOY (CANNY LAD)
Her dam, a good Melbourne winner, is a half-sister to Criterion (Sebring), Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice) and Silently (Anabaa) giving this filly great value as a future broodmare. Canny Lad (Bletchingly) mares have produced many major winners by Danehill-line sires like Fastnet Rock.
LOT 498 – FILLY - SNITZEL – PERFECT TRUTH (GALILEO)
Bred on similar lines to her Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 12 furlongs) winning half-brother Magicool (Fastnet Rock) on a variation of the super successful Danehill/Galileo cross. Her dam won the Cheshire Oaks (Listed, 11 ½ furlongs), traces to former star British juvenile filly Durtal (Lyphard) and introduces some high quality stamina to the pedigree.
LOT 596 – FILLY - ZOFFANY – SHE’S SIRIUS (GALILEO)
Bred on the broad Danehill/ Galileo cross, this filly is by Europe’s leading first crop sire of 2015 and has plenty of short distance speed plus a dash of classic stamina and class in her background.
LOT 710 – FILLY - COMMANDS – VINTAGE ROCK (THUNDER GULCH)
Half-sister to promising recent stakes winner Ayers Rock (Nicconi) from a stakes placed Sydney-winning mare whose dam Rock Review (Take Your Partner) was among the best two-year-old fillies of her generation.
January 7 at Turfway Park, No Hiding Place makes his return for Wesley Ward in a allowance race
Never So Few Galileo x Rags to Richeswill make his debut at Gulfstream Park for Todd Pletcher on Jan 2 in race 6
Park Walk by Canford Cliffs is gelded and is now in the the care of Wesley Ward for Michael Tabor. He will run on the 3rd at Turfway Park in a maiden claiming event for $15k.
Acapulco: Set to return to York
