Bren O'Brien previews Day 2 at Royal Ascot picking out the horses to watch as well as those with significant connections to Australia and New Zealand.

Magical clash a highlight

The G1 Prince of Wales' Stakes takes centre stage on Day 2 at Royal Ascot, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) expected to be the one to beat, as she looks for her fourth consecutive victory.

She comes off a seven-length win in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh, which was her second Group 1 win, having been successful in the British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at this track last October.

She hails from the same family as last year's G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who contests the G1 Ascot Gold Cup later in the week.

Her main rival is Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who makes her seasonal re-appearance having been last seen when second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind the champion mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).

William Haggas's filly was beaten just twice in her six runs as a 3-year-old and her return is much anticipated.

Her connection to this part of the world comes through the Perth Group 3 winner Tinsnip (Snippetson {AUS}), with both descending from the mare New Generation (GB) (Young Generation {Ire}).

Last start G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) has built a strong record under Roger Varian with six wins from his ten starts. Not only is he by a former Australian shuttle sire, he is a three-quarter brother to Swettenham Stud stallion and Australian Group 2 winner Puissance De Lune (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}), who incidentally had his first winner last week.

The legendary Sir Michael Stoute, who has trained more winners than any other at this meeting, has Royal Ocean {GB}) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) engaged, while the French challenge comes from Andre Fabre with Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

Australian-based stallions on show in Queen Mary

The G2 Queen Mary S. is often the most open race of the week and with 28 2-year-old fillies flying down the five furlongs this year is certainly no exception.

There are a host of fillies by stallions currently standing in Australia. Boom first-season sire Cable Bay (Ire), who shuttles to Woodside Park, has two of his first crop engaged in the Michael O'Callaghan-trained Isabeau (Ire) and the John Quinn-prepared Liberty Beach (GB).

Coolmore's No Nay Never (Ire) also has two in the race in the Ballydoyle filly Tango (Ire) and the Andrew Balding-trained Shadn (Ire).

Starspangledbanner, who returns to Rosemont Stud this season, is represented by American Lady (Ire), while Cornerstone Stud's Sir Prancealot (Ire), whose first crop hit the weanling sales in Australia this season, has last-start Bath winner Applecross (Ire) entered for trainer Michael Bell.

Darley shuttler Epaulette has the French-trained Brand New Day (Ire), while Windsor Park's Charm Spirit (Ire) is represented by Lambeth Walk (GB), who is trained by Archie Watson.

Australian-based jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and James McDonald are afforded chances of wins here, aboard Charlie Appleby's Divine Spirit (GB) and Charlie Hills' Flippa The Strippa (Ire) (Outstrip {GB}) respectively.

Saeed Bin Suroor's Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) tops an open market along with the Wesley Ward pair Kimari (USA) (Munnings {USA}) and Anna's Fast (USA) (Fast Anna {USA}). Ward is looking for his fourth win in the race.

Ballydoyle attacks Queen's Vase in numbers

Aidan O'Brien is searching for his seventh win in the G2 Queen's Vase and takes a particularly strong hand into this year's renewal with Western Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Western Australia is a last start Listed winner at Navan and looks a horse on the rise, while stablemate Norway comes back in class off his eighth in the G1 Derby at Epsom last time out.

He is a half-brother to G2 Adelaide Cup winner Annus Mirabilis (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) as well as Group 1 winner Duke of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and is a full brother to G1 Derby winner Ruler Of the World (Ire).

O'Brien also has Barbados (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Harpo Marx (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) engaged and both share a connection to Australia. Harpo Marx is out of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Nechita (Fastnet Rock), while Barbados is a full brother to the dam of Saxon Warrior (Jpn), who shuttles to Coolmore Australia for the first time this season.

Joseph's O'Brien's Eminent Authority (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is from the same family as Australian stakes winner Theanswermyfriend (High Chaparral {Ire}), while Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), trained by Archie Watson, is from the family of multiple Group 1 winner and Coolmore stallion Pride of Dubai (Street Cry {Ire}).

McEvoy rides Moonlight Spirit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Appleby while McDonald is on Almost Midnight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) for David Simcock.

Flying for Fastnet

Fastnet Rock has an excellent chance of getting a feature Royal Ascot winner with I Can Fly (GB) in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S.

The Aidan O'Brien trained 4-year-old is from the same family as Skiddaw Peak (Generous {Ire}), a listed winner in Australia. She is currently on the second line of betting behind Rawdaa {GB) (Teofilo {GB}), who is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who also has Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the race.

Sun Stud's new shuttle stallion National Defense (GB) has a couple of members of his extended family engaged here in Anna Nerium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is afforded a good chance under the guidance of Richard Hannon, and Ed Walker's Indian Blessing (GB), who is by Sepoy, one of three by Australian-bred sires in the race.

The other one is Threading (Ire), who is by Exceed And Excel and hails from the family of another Darley stallion in Ribchester (Ire).

Others sharing a strong connection to Australia and New Zealand are Di Fede (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}), who is a full-sister to Australian Group 1 placegetter Dibayani, Move Swiftly (GB), who is from a half-sister to the dam of NZ Group 2 winner Mister Impatience (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch {USA}), who is a half-sister to Australian Group 2 winner Weary (Fr) (Astronomer Royal {USA}).

McEvoy rides an outsider in Preening (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Hannon aims for first Windsor Castle with Iffraaj colt

The other stakes race on the card is the Listed Windsor Castle S. with a field of 24 2-year-olds.

Ward and O'Brien again have most of the key chances, with Ward's dual attack of Karak (USA) (Karakontie (Jpn}) and Foolish Humor (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) up against O'Brien's Southern Hills (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who is from the same family as New Zealand Group 1 winner Sword of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel).

But Temple of Heaven (GB), who is by Haunui Farm's shuttler Iffraaj (GB), is favourite for Hannon, who is looking for his first win in the race.

Other Australian and New Zealand connected stallions with horses in the race include Zebedee (GB) (Glasvegas {Ire}), Epaulette (Red Epaulette {Ire}), Starspangledbanner (Symbolize {Ire}), Sidestep (Wheels On Fire {Fr}), Cable Bay (Ire) (Electric Ladyland {Ire}) and Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Lady Quickstep {Ire}).

Comin' Through in Royal Hunt Cup

The other race is the Royal Hunt Cup with a field of 30, including former Australian Group 1 winner Comin' Through (Fastnet Rock), who is now with trainer George Scott.

The half-brother to Royal Ascot competitor Criterion (NZ) (Sebring), has raced in four countries since winning the G1 Doomben Cup last year and is the outsider in the race.

By Bren O'Brien

Peter Moody's raid on the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2016 has yielded its first racetrack success with the win of Caffrey (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) at Ballarat on Tuesday.

Moody spent 115,000 guineas on five foals at that sale in 2016 with the intention of bringing them back to Australia to be trained.

Caffrey, who cost 22,000, was the most progressive of the five and having initially been prepared by Darren Weir, made his debut on Tuesday for David Brideoake in the famous Moody white and blue colours.

Sitting off the pace, the now 3-year-old grey colt came with a strong run on the synthetic surface to win by 3.25l over the 1200m to break his maiden.

"I went over to Europe about two and half years ago and I bought five colt foals and he is the first one we've taken to the track," Moody told Racing.com.

"We brought them out to New Zealand as foals and grew them out at Waikato Stud. They do a terrific job, the Chittick family, and we’ve had them here in Australia for about 12 months."

Caffrey is a full brother to the stakes-placed French filly Body Sculpt (Fr) out of Vital Body (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}), who is one of three stakes placegetters by the Zilzal (USA) mare Vaillante {Ire}). G1 Sydney Cup winner The Offer (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) is also part of the family.

He is the second winner in Australia for Kendargent, the son of Kenmare (Fr), who stands at Haras De Colleville in Normandy.

Moody feels Caffrey has substantial scope for improvement off his debut.

"The boys have been pretty happy with him. He's a big deceiving boy, who carries a lot of condition, he's a big barrelled horse and he probably looks a little fat in the yard. He's going to take nice improvement when he gets out to a mile, maybe a mile and a quarter. He'll develop into a nice middle distance horse," Moody said.

Brideoake has two of the other foals Moody purchased, both by Sea The Moon (Ger), ready to hit the track in the next month or so.

Shepard (GB) is out of a full sister to Group 1 winner Cavalryman (GB) (Halling {USA}), while Cernan (GB) was the most expensive of the quintet at 32,000 guineas and is a half-brother to six winners, including the Listed winner Azabara (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

"They are genuine, mile-and a-quarter, mile-and-a-half style horses," Moody said.

Phillip Stokes has another one of the five, a gelding called General Bordeaux (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), who is also nearing a racetrack appearance. He is out of a daughter of Group 1 winning mare Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World {USA}).

The fifth one is called Ashworth (GB) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) and is also with Stokes and is currently spelling. He is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Infamous Angel (GB) (Exceed And Excel).

Written by Paul Vettise

A former star galloper for Gary Hennessy is now playing a major role in the launch of the Matamata horseman’s new stallion Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

He purchased, part-owned and trained Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park), who won five Group 1 races, including the Cox Plate, and was a New Zealand Horse of the Year before his sale and retirement to Waikato Stud.

Hennessy invested some of the Ocean Park proceeds into Weowna Park, where Ocean Emperor will take up residency for the 2019 breeding season. The well-related and performed stallion will stand at NZ$7000 + GST.

“Weowna Park’s a 50-acre property and we bought it from our share of selling Ocean Park and his stake winnings,” Hennessy said.

“We had Ocean Emperor as a yearling when Ocean Park was winding down. Ocean Park is out of a Zabeel mare and this fellow is by Zabeel so we bought mares with him in mind long term, broodmares that have been successful with Zabeel.”

Hennessy purchased Ocean Emperor out of Waikato Stud’s draft at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$450,000 with Andrew Wong and Stephen Yan, the same trio having raced Ocean Park.

“Ocean Emperor’s such a lovely horse and I’ve probably been more attached to him than Ocean Park because of the number of years we’ve had him around the stable,” he said.

The 7-year-old won nine races, including the G2 Japan-NZ International Trophy and consecutive editions of the G2 Tauranga S. He also finished a creditable seventh in last year’s Kranji Mile in Singapore.

Brave finale

In his farewell performance he ran a gallant fourth in the G1 Captain Cook S. at Trentham last December.

“He only got beaten a nose and a head for second over a mile,” Hennessy said. “He was four wide down the back and had to go forward and sit outside the leader. It fell over 500 metres out and he was left in front, it’s not ideal with the long straight at Trentham.

“He’s a beautifully bred horse and had a massive amount of ability. He’s very much in the mould of his sire Zabeel, if not better looking.”

Ocean Emperor is a son of the G3 Mannerism S. winner and Group 1 performer Tootsie (NZ) (Pins), whose three foals to race have all been successful.

Tootsie is a sister to the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Legless Veuve with the dual Group 1 winner Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) and the Karaka Million winner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) also feature close up in the pedigree.

“It is a pedigree that Garry Chittick has fostered over many generations,” Hennessy said. “It is a very strong family that Waikato Stud has bred a huge number of stakes winners from.

Hennessy said Ocean Emperor would be a good outcross for smaller breeders at an affordable fee.

“We’ve got mares of our own to support him as well. We’ve got four Flying Spur mares and Zabeel had five winners with three stakes winners, including Preferment.

“You look at Savabeel, he’s had 15 winners out of Flying Spur mares and five stakes winners. It’s an easy make up for breeders to get themselves a stakes winner with a son of Zabeel like him.

“We’ll give him our best shot. I’m standing him on my own, but there’s a lot of small breeders like myself and it’s a chance to breed a quality horse from a horse with the pedigree and the looks.”

by Anthony Manton

Eight barrier trials were conducted at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday morning and despite recent rain in Sydney which meant the track was rated as heavy there were a handful of well-bred horses worth mentioning.

In heat two, 2-year-old colt Mandela (Sebring) put in perhaps the best performance of the morning and looks a potential stakes horse in the making.

Mandela was a $280,000 purchase at the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and its stallion syndicate.

Mandela is from the dam Lonoree (Lonhro), a half-sister to stakes-winner Fleet (Dehere {USA}), and Negotiate (Red Ransom {USA}), dam of Group 1-winner Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt). His grand dam is Group 1-winner Euphoria (Marauding {NZ}), and he’s from the family of Group 1-winners Tuesday Joy (Carnegie {Ire}) and Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}).

Mandela was first seen at the trials in December last year. In two outings he had a quiet trial at Hawkesbury finishing 2nd behind recent Rosehill winner and stable-mate Enforcement (I Am Invincible), and backed that up with an eye-catching trial win at Canterbury on December 20 before being sent for a spell.

Trained by Peter & Paul Snowden and stepping-out for his second trial this preparation, Mandela was patiently ridden by jockey Tommy Berry settling a clear last in a slowly run trial. Approaching the home turn, Berry brought Mandela to the outside and between the 400m and 200m the colt went from last to first with a terrific burst of acceleration. Despite laying-in a touch down the home straight Mandela raced away and coasted to the line to win the heat by 1.3L.

Mandela was the only 2-year-old racing against older horses in the open age maiden trial over 1030m. Given it was such a slowly run trial and Mandela was able to sprint so quickly, he looks a horse of serious potential and his debut will be eagerly awaited.

In heat four, 2-year-old colt Nombuso (Snitzel) trained by Chris Waller won his first trial this time-in after a three month break.

Nombuso was a $325,000 purchase at the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

He hails from a strong Argentinian family. His dam Estatuilla (Arg) (Southern Halo {USA}) was a multiple stakes-winner in Argentina and Group 1-placed. She is also a half-sister to Champion Sprinter in Argentina 2001 Estambul (Arg) (Kitwood {USA}). Nombuso is a half-brother to Statuette (Redoute’s Choice), dam of recent stakes-placed 2-year-old filly Deserved (Dundeel {NZ}).

Nombuso has now had five barrier trials across four preparations suggesting he has taken a good bit of time to show his best.

Ridden by Jason Collett on Tuesday morning, Nombuso began well and sat outside the leader on the home straight where he was pushed-out the last 150m to get past the leader and win the heat narrowly.

As it was his first trial back from a break, Nombuso raced like he needed the hit-out and would benefit from the outing so expect to see him trial again before a race start.

In heat five, 2-year-old filly Lola Mae (Hinchinbrook) looks ready to head to the races and will be winning a maiden sometime soon on the strength of her trial victory.

Lola Mae was a $100,000 purchase from the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She is from the dam Lola Cherry Cola (Bel Esprit), a half-sister to Disguise (Grand Lodge {USA}), dam of four-time Group 1-winner Appearance (Commands) and stakes-winner Mascareri (Commands).

Trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Lola Mae was having her second career barrier trial and was ridden by Kathy O’Hara. Settling third on the back of the leader, Lola Mae cut the corner saving-ground on the home turn and quickly took control of the trial sprinting away at the top of the straight, clearly relishing the wet conditions to easily win the heat by 1.8L.

Keep an eye-out for Lola Mae in perhaps a provincial maiden within the next few weeks.

Finally, in heat six team Hawkes sent out 2-year-old filly Lady Herbert (Star Witness) for her second career trial.

Lady Herbert is from the unraced dam Anuket (Nuclear Freeze {USA}). Her grand dam is Amwag (USA) (El Gran Senor {USA}), a half-sister to Group 1-winner Istidaad (USA) (Chief’s Crown {USA}).

Lady Herbert first trialled at Rosehill back in March finishing 2nd before going for a spell and after a four-month break was first-up at the trials on Tuesday morning.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, the filly settled fourth just behind the leaders and was eased-out for clear running at the top of the straight. Spotting the leader about 5L at the 350m, Lady Herbert closed-off very strongly under virtually no pressure to narrowly win the heat in 56.82 the fastest time of the morning for the six 900m heats.

Although it was her first trial back this preparation it was an excellent piece of work from Lady Herbert. Team Hawkes may elect to trial her again or send her to the races within the next few weeks, either way she looks a filly to follow.

Trending In TDN Europe:

1). Video: The horse that defined a generation is off to one of the best starts at stud in history. Alayna Cullen checks in with Juddmonte's Frankel (GB).

2). Op-Ed: The remarkable resurgence of Irish whiskey might be the unlikely key to horse racing's future. Jack Cantillon highlights the similarities between both industries.

"The growth of Irish whiskey—an experience echoed by flourishing bourbon (American whiskey) in Kentucky—has been fuelled by a cocktail of three simple ingredients: a focus on the heritage of the product, making craftsmanship central to its offering, and a splash of modern marketing."

3). Op-Ed: Pat Cummings discusses the reluctance in some European quarters to embrace the benefits of sectional timing.

"Time puts performance into measurable perspective. Conditions vary–going, rail placement, wind speed, wind direction, etc. Any jurisdiction that wants to persist without sectional timing as an absolutely necessary ingredient in the sport is akin to favouring a steam locomotive over a bullet train."

Trending In TDN America:

1). Video: Of all the stallions new to the breeding scene in 2017, California Chrome (USA) was certainly the most anticipated. TDN sat down with Taylor Made Farm president and CEO, Duncan Taylor, to discuss the first yearlings for California Chrome, which will be on offer this summer.

2). Feature: Andrew Caulfield explores the recent success of late foals and older stallions.

"If experience teaches us anything, it is that a hard-and-fast approach to Thoroughbred breeding is going to lead to missed opportunities. Two widespread prejudices (which are arguably more prevalent in Britain and Ireland) are a dislike of late foals and a reluctance to use veteran stallions."

3). Feature: Dan Ross takes a closer look at how immigration laws have impacted on U.S.-based trainers.

“New Orleans is a shambles. The hotwalker base down there, they don’t show up, and when they do show up, you’re delighted to see them, to be honest. You don’t fire them. It’s a case of ‘here’s a shank, get on with it.'”

Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

On Wednesday, we concentrate our efforts on Canterbury Park where we have found a pair of well-related 2-year-olds to follow and a daughter of a Group 1 winner who is returning from a spell.

Canterbury Park Race 1, 12.50pm, ANZ Bloodstock News Plate, $50,000, 1100m

Papal Warrior (Fastnet Rock) has a strong pedigree to call on as he’s a son of Cloud Song (Encosta de Lago), who is a half-sister to the Group 3 winners Tulip (Pierro) and Sacred Eye (High Chaparral {Ire}) with their dam Musidora (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) also successful to that level. The family also includes the G1 Myer Classic winner I Am A Star (I Am Invincible) and champion sires Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Papal Warrior was spelled after a debut third on this course earlier this year and is unbeaten in two trial outings at Rosehill ahead of his return. Tommy Berry rode the colt in his most recent appearance and will be aboard again.

Canterbury Park Race 2, 1.25pm, Australian Turf Club Plate, $50,000, 1100m

Trainer Brad Widdup has taken a patient approach with Darling Point (Lonhro) and she has turned in a couple of encouraging trial performances in recent times. She won at Hawkesbury in May and followed up earlier this month with a runner-up finish at Rosehill.

Darling Point’s dam Empress Rock (Fastnet Rock) was a talented race mare who won the G2 Kewney S. and the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic. Her dam Empress Jade (Encosta de Lago) is a half-sister to the two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}) and the G2 Salinger S. winner Sister Madly (Redoute’s Choice), who also placed multiple times at Group 1 level.

Canterbury Park Race 5, 3.10pm, TAB Rewards H., $50,000, 1250m

Brazilica (Redoute’s Choice) has a pedigree to be proud of and she’s already added performance to it with a win at the first time of asking on the Kensington track. She was then third at Rosehill before trainer Chris Waller put her aside and she has had a trial to fit her to resume.

The filly is out of the G1 VRC Oaks winner and G2 Wakeful S. winner Brazilian Pulse (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}), who hails from an international family. It features the North American Group 2 winner Shanaw (Ire) (Caerleon {USA}) and the European Group 3 winner Sharbayan (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}), but without doubt the most famous member is Shergar (GB) (Great Nephew {GB}), who met an untimely end after a glittering Group 1 career.

We hope you enjoyed reading today's edition of TDN AusNZ. If you have any feedback or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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