First stakes winner for Pharoah

Scratched from his engagement last week at Royal Ascot by trainer Wesley Ward, Maven (USA) was shipped to France to run this week instead of shipping back to the United States. The move paid off in spades when he became American Pharoah’s (USA) first stakes winner in the Group 3 Connolly Redmills Prix du Bois.

The first North American winner for American Pharoah, Maven jumped quickly from the barriers and went straight to the lead in the 1000 metre race. The colt was pushed down the straight course in a tightly packed field but was able to break away with 300 metres left to run, gaining a length lead.

That lead was nearly lost near the wire when Jolie (Fr) (Power {GB}) showed a big turn of foot to lose by only a head with the rest of the field three lengths behind them. It was the second big result of the day for American Pharoah, who had registered his first stakes horse in the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes second Monarch Of Egypt (USA).

American Pharoah returns to Coolmore Australia this year for his third season, with his first Australian yearlings selling in 2020. Second placed Jolie also has an Australian-based sire with Power a permanent resident of Oaklands Stud in Queensland.

Sovereign pulls upset in Irish Derby

In a Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby field dominated by Aidan O’Brien, it was one of the trainer’s outsiders who pulled off the victory with Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) taking the lead from the beginning and never giving it up.

Padraig Beggy sent his mount straight to the lead to take up pacemaking duties for his stablemates with stablemate Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) joining him up front. The pair opened up multiple lengths on the field with Norway content to settle right behind his stablemate.

With 2000 metres left to run, all but Norway were galloping over five lengths behind the leader with Beggy looking comfortable on his mount. Sovereign took a little pressure from Norway as they hit the final 800 metres when his stablemate closed to within a length of him. That challenge was shortly lived with Norway dropping back and Sovereign keeping his large advantage on the rest of the field with time running out.

Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was able to overtake a fading Norway and move into second in the final 200 metres but there was no catching Sovereign. The colt held a six length advantage at the line to give O’Brien a 13th victory in the race and a sixth one-two-three finish with Norway finishing third to also give their sire the trifecta.

Beggy won the Epsom Derby in 2017 on Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) but told Thoroughbred Daily News this win was a bigger highlight in his career.

“I’m over the moon. This would be more important to me as an Irishman growing up wanting to win it and it was my main aim as an apprentice,” he said.

“I am very lucky and it’s down to a big group of people, but mainly to Aidan O’Brien who put me on this horse. I got into a lovely comfortable rhythm and always felt I could go quicker. He really enjoyed it here - he’s a big galloper and kept going. I did think something would come to me, but when I saw the screen I knew I was clear and just needed to keep him organised to the line.”

Sovereign is from Group 2 placed Devoted To You (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), whose family includes multiple Northern Hemisphere stakes winners.

Australia was again represented in a major European race with the second and third place finishers here. Anthony Van Dyck’s dam Believe’n’Succeed (Danehill {USA}) is an Australian Group 3 winner herself and the dam of New Zealand champion Bounding (Lonhro), with both mares now based in the Northern Hemisphere. He was followed in by Norway, who is a half-brother to Australian Group 2 winner Annus Mirabilis (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and a full brother to New Zealand Listed placed Giovanni Canaletto (Ire).

Siskin stays undefeated in Railway Stakes

Coming into the race with a perfect record in two starts, Siskin (USA) (First Defence {USA}) wasn’t to be denied his first group victory in the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes over 1200 metres.

The Juddmonte colt raced in third soon after the break in the five horse field with Fort Meyers (USA) (War Front {USA}) setting the pace alongside Romero (Ire) (Brazen Beau). At the 400 metre mark, Siskin ranged up alongside the leader and pulled away as Monarch Of Egypt (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) tried to chase him down. Siskin proved to be much the best when winning by 2 ½ lengths over Monarch Of Egypt to give trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane a double on the card.

The race was also notable for American Pharoah, the sire of the second placed runner as the Triple Crown winner registered his first stakes horse as a sire with Monarch Of Egypt’s second place finish.

Coming from a prolific Juddmonte family, Siskin shares a page with Australian Group 2 winners Permit (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Domesday (Red Ransom {USA}), and Trick Of Light (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Summer Romance adds to family success

In what has been a successful spring for Princess Serena’s (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) family, her 2-year-old granddaughter Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {Ire}) registered her first stakes victory in the Listed Rando Health Empress Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket.

Summer Romance was keen early on and jockey James Doyle gave her cover right behind the leader to get her to settle in the 1200 metre race. That proved to work with the Godolphin filly relaxing until she was roused with 400 metres to go and easily took over the lead. She showed she has more good days ahead when making easy work of the field to pull away by six lengths and stay unbeaten in two starts.

The €800,000 Arqana Deauville May Breeze-Up purchase is a half-sister to Ireland’s 2013 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). The pair are from Serena’s Storm (Ire) (Statue Of Liberty {USA}), who is a half-sister to Swettenham Stud stallion Puissance de Lune (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}).

Serena’s Storm’s siblings Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) have both won stakes in recent months with Zabeel Prince taking out the G1 Prix d’Ispahan in late May.

Brazen Beau registers seventh 2yo victor

On Saturday at Lingfield, 2-year-old Raahy (GB) put on an impressive display to become Brazen Beau’s seventh Northern Hemisphere winner.

Racing over 1000 metres, the gelding went off as the race favourite and raced immediately to the lead down the straight course. Hugging the stands’ side rail, Raahy was put under pressure by jockey Pat Cosgrave and responded in the final 300 metres to start pulling away from the field. Cosgrave sat quietly on his mount in the final 100 metres to win by four lengths over X Force (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

Raahy is from the same family as Australian Group 1 winner Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) and Australian Group 3 winners Noble Protector (GB) (Haafhd {GB}), Under The Eiffel (Mossman), Martree (Marscay), and The Pinnacle (So You Think {NZ}).

Wet Your Whistle keeps streak alive

Wet Your Whistle (USA) (Stroll {USA}) added a fourth straight victory to his resume when winning the G1 Highland Stakes at Woodbine for his first career Grade 1 score.

The gelding went to the tail of the field in the 1200 metre race but was in prime position to strike on the outside of the field as they ran down the straight. Wet Your Whistle showed a good turn of foot to race from the back of the field to first in 200 metres, winning by 1 ½ lengths over Extravagant Kid (USA) (Kiss The Kid {USA}).

The first Grade 1 winner for Pulpit's (USA) son Stroll (USA), Wet Your Whistle has an interesting pedigree as a grandson of Winloc’s Millie (USA) (Mr. Prospector {USA}). Winloc’s Millie herself was the product of breeding Mr. Prospector daughter Our Millie (USA) back to her own sire to give Winloc’s Millie a 1 x 2 cross to the influential stallion. Wet Your Whistle also hails from the family of former shuttle stallion Lookin At Lucky (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}) and champions Leadership (GB) (Selkirk {USA}), Les Beaufs (Fr) (Apsis {GB}), and Wait A While (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}).

Magic Dance pushes More Than Ready closer to 200 mark

More Than Ready's (USA) daughter Magic Dance (USA) followed up an impressive debut victory earlier this month with a win in the Listed Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday to give her sire his 194th worldwide stakes winner.

Running among the leaders straight out of the barrier in the 1200 metre race, the filly briefly dropped back to a length behind the leaders before being asked to run again with 500 metres left to run. The filly had to fight with a determined Cholula Lips (USA) (Empire Way {USA}) as they raced down the Churchill Downs straight with that rival proving hard to beat.

In the final 200 metres Magic Dance gained the advantage and stayed undefeated for a 1 ½ length victory with Cholula Lips 2 ¼ lengths ahead of the third place finisher.

“This is a very special win for us for Three Chimneys Farm and this horse was broken in at my parent’s ranch in Laredo, Texas. She proved today that the three-quarter distance was no problem,” said trainer Steve Asmussen after the victory.

The victory came less than an hour after More Than Ready’s 5-year-old daughter Uni (GB) registered a victory in the Listed Perfect Sting Stakes at Belmont Park to kick off her season and take her win streak to five races.

Magic Dance’s dam Magical World (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) has had an active few weeks. Her 3-year-old daughter Guarana (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) registered her first Grade 1 victory in her second career start on the Belmont Stakes undercard earlier this month. Magic Dance’s second dam is Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home (USA) (Seeking the Gold {USA}).

One Bad Boy kicks off Canadian classic season

One Bad Boy (Can) (Twirling Candy {USA}) repaid his connections’ faith in shipping him to Woodbine from California on Saturday when winning the Queen’s Plate – the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

The 3-year-old colt went straight to the lead from the barriers and controlled the pace with his ears pricked. Avie’s Flatter (Can) (Flatter {USA}) galloped at his hip and made a challenge as the field entered the stretch. It looked like Avie’s Flatter may be able to take the lead with 200 metres to run as he headed the leader but that was short lived. One Bad Boy pulled away to win by 3 ½ lengths in the 2000 metre race with Avie’s Flatter a clear second.

A half-brother to Listed winner Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}), One Bad Boy hails from the family of Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Personal Hope (USA) (Storm Bird {Can}).