International News courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News

Kodiac’s Hello Youmzain takes the Sprint Cup

Freshened up after finishing third behind Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 21, Jaber Abdullah’s Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) made the most of that contemporary’s absence in Saturday’s G1 Betfair Sprint Cup to register an early career pinnacle at Haydock.

Becoming the fifth 3-year-old to prevail in this all-aged test since 2014, the co-favourite carted James Doyle past Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and to the front after the first furlong and kept finding to prevail by a half length from last year’s winner The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}).

Trainer Kevin Ryan was reaping the reward for waiting with the homebred who was having only his seventh start here. “We decided after Ascot that we’d be patient with him, as it’s not all about this year,” he explained. “He’s such a young horse and a big horse as well. You shouldn’t wish your life away, but he’s going to mature and he’ll be a stronger horse next year. He’s very exciting.”

Stradivarius “Tremendous” after second Million

Trainer John Gosden reports Bjorn Nielsen’s champion stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to be “in tremendous form” two weeks removed from the 5-year-old’s victory in the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York which earned him a second consecutive £1-million Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million Bonus.

“He is bucking and playing away and having a shout which he likes to do,” Gosden said. “He always lets you know when he is around. For a little guy he makes a lot of noise.”

Stradivarius holds an entry in Friday’s G2 Doncaster Cup, and looking ahead to a title defense of the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup on Oct. 19, Gosden said the chestnut’s participation would be ground dependent.

“I would think that Champions Day is quite likely,” the trainer said. “If we got a lot of rain and it did go heavy, that would be the one thing that would probably stop us running. He has got a great action and he is probably happiest on top of the ground. He handled the good to soft and softish ground, but I would be worried about heavy ground.”

Gosden expects strong Arc challenge for Enable

All eyes will be on Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) as she attempts to make history as the first treble winner of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 6, but trainer John Gosden said the result is far from a foregone conclusion.

“This shaping up to be a proper Arc, which is what you want,” said the Newmarket conditioner. “She is a slightly silly price and that doesn’t reflect the quality of the opposition.”

Gosden said he considers 3-year-olds like Japan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})-as well as a pair of older rivals-in particular serious threats.

“Certainly Japan I’ve mentioned as a danger,” Gosden said. “I thought he was impressive the way he quickened in the Juddmonte International.

“The Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass I thought put in the best 3-year-old performance of the year with the way he quickened. They are mighty opponents those 3-year-old colts, getting weight.

“Then of course we see a horse [Ghaiyyath] run over a trip in Germany that he has been asking to run over for some time and absolutely destroyed the field [in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden on Sept. 1]. A horse like him and Waldgeist, who we should not underestimate, and the 3-year-olds set a very high standard.”

Nonetheless, Gosden said Enable has been in good form since winning her 10th Group 1 in the Yorkshire Oaks on Aug. 22.

“She is doing nice, normal canters and is very content in herself,” the trainer said. “I think we have her mentally where we would like to have her. Come next week we will build her up to the Arc.”

Take Charge Indy Returns

WinStar Farm has initiated the process to return Take Charge Indy (USA) to the United States for the 2020 breeding season, the farm announced on Saturday.

The 10-year-old son of A.P. Indy (USA) out of multiple Grade 1 winner, graded stakes producer and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady (USA) stood in Korea this year, but would rank as the number one third-crop sire in the U.S. with more than US$4.4 million in progeny earnings, and second on the cumulative third-crop sire list with US$10.2 million in cumulative earnings.

“Everywhere I go, breeders ask me about Take Charge Indy, especially since he’s the leading third-crop sire and No. 31 on the General Sire list,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar. “With a strong demand for proven sires, we are excited to announce that Take Charge Indy will be returning to Kentucky for the 2020 breeding season.”