Serpentine upsets Epsom Derby
Breaking his maiden seven days before the G1 Investec Derby, Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) proved supplementing him into the race was a smart move on his connections’ part when providing Galileo the Oaks/Derby double at Epsom on Saturday.
Ridden by Emmet McNamara, the 25-1 shot went straight to the lead in the 2400 metre race and within 50 metres had the lead. Racing with his ears pricked, Serpentine steadily opened a large margin on the field reminiscent of the G1 Epsom Oaks earlier on the card.
By the time the field hit Tattenham Corner, Serpentine had opened his lead to double digits and showed no signs of slowing down. While Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) attempted to close on the winner with Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the final 200 metres, there was no beating the Aidan O’Brien trainee.
Serpentine galloped to a 5.5l victory over Khalifa Sat, who beat Amhran Na Bhfiann by 0.5l with G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) a nose back in fourth.
"I think I got a little bit of a freebie! I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse having spoken to Aidan [O’Brien] during the week,” McNamara said. “He filled me with confidence and said that he is a horse that is going to stay a mile and six furlongs for you well. He said jump, go your own tempo, from halfway after you give him a breather from the six to the five, you keep building to that winning post, he will keep going. God, he was right!”
Winning the Derby seven days after breaking his maiden by 9l and 23 days after making his 2020 debut, Serpentine is the second Derby winner in two weeks for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The colt follows the lead of last week’s G1 Irish Derby winner Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who won that race just eight days after his Group 2 win at Royal Ascot.
It was a first Derby success for 30-year-old McNamara, who was beaten by just a head in the G1 Irish Derby last Saturday aboard Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
"It's a bit surreal really, can't believe it,” he said. “I hope Eric McNamara is okay at home and hasn't died of a heart attack or anything! It is unbelievable, a huge amount of thanks and gratitude to Aidan O'Brien and all his family - I have spent a fantastic six years there - and to all the owners who have shown a bit of faith in me today. I really appreciate it."
No stranger to winning the Investec Derby, this was the record eighth victory for the trainer and fifth winner for Galileo (Ire) with O’Brien training four of his five winners.
Aidan O'Brien
"When you have Galileo and you have Aidan, anything is possible! It really is! Aidan knew he would stay well, we knew that, they let him go and he just ran for fun,” said Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick Smith. "It was an incredible race to watch, I was very, very hopeful because I knew he would get home, I really did. Once they left him alone, I thought this is going to be interesting. [Galileo] is the holy one! He is the one that they are going to be following for many, many years and long may it last."
A full brother to Group 2 winner Wedding Vow (Ire), Group 3 winners Beacon Rock (Ire) and Bye Bye Baby (Ire) and Listed winner Bound (Ire), he is also a full brother to Australian winner Yulong Captain (Ire). The colt is out of G1 Epsom Oaks second Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), a three-quarter sister to European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and half-sister to Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Queen’s Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge {USA}) and G1 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
This is the second Derby winner in as many years for the Galileo x Danehill Dancer (Ire) cross with Sovereign (Ire) winning the G1 Irish Derby in 2019.
Other classic winners bred on the cross include The Gurkha (Ire) winning the French 2000 Guineas in 2016 and Minding (Ire) one of three fillies to pull off the 1000 Guineas/Epsom Oaks double this century. In all, the cross has produced six Group 1 winners, 17 Group winners, 23 stakes winners and 37 stakes horses from 89 runners.
Love pulls off Guineas-Oaks double
While stablemate Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and John Gosden’s Tiempo Vuela (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) ran away for most of the G1 Investec Oaks, Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ended their hopes of a G1 Investec Oaks victory in the stretch when running away by 9l.
Racing over 2400 metres, Love broke on top before Ryan Moore settled her back in the field as the two pace setters started their march to open up multiple lengths on the field. Two paths off the rail when racing in the third position in the main pack, Love was fully willing to let her stablemate do the dirty work up front with the pacesetters over a dozen lengths in front.
Looking as if she may pull off the impossible and steal the race, Passion stuck her head in front of Tiempo Vuela around the turn and still had over 10l open on the field entering the straight. It wasn’t until 600 metres out that the margin shrunk to a catchable amount and in only 50 metres Passion’s hopes of winning an Oaks were over with Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Love heading her. It looked as though Ennistymon may give her stablemate a battle for the win but Love quickly put that to bed as they passed the 400 metre mark and she started her parade toward an impressive victory.
It was all over from there with Love slightly drifting toward the inside rail but not letting that stop her from building her 9l winning margin with Ennistymon holding off Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by 0.75l. The victory was the eighth for Aidan O’Brien, who has trained five of the last 10 winners of the race with his first Oaks winner coming in 1998.
Also the winner of the G1 1000 Guineas a month ago, Love became only the third filly this century to complete the double after Galileo’s other daughter Minding in 2016 and Kazzia (Ger) (Zinaad {GB}) in 2002.
"I couldn't have been happier with Love, and I don't think she could have been any more impressive today,” Moore said. "You never expect to win an Oaks - I don't know how far she won by, but it felt like a very long way. She was exceptional today, and hopefully she has got plenty to look forward to in the future. She would be a threat to anything. She wasn't stopping at all, she actually got down to the rail and picked up again. She was very impressive. She is very good, very very good.”
Bred on the same Galileo x Pivotal (GB) cross as five other Group 1 winners, including G1 Ranvet winner The United States (Ire) and 11 Group winners from 29 runners, she is one of three stakes Group winners for Galileo out of her dam Pikaboo (GB). Also the dam of Group 2 winner Lucky Kristale (GB) (Lucky Story {USA}), Pikaboo is a half-sister to two stakes winners and the dam of two others as well.
The Oaks provided another milestone for bluehen mare Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}) with her sons and grandson siring the first six home in the race with Galileo siring the first, second, and fifth place runners, Frankel (GB) the third and fourth home, and Sea The Stars’ (Ire) Bharani Star (Ger) finishing sixth.
Vekoma wins second straight Grade 1 in Met Mile
Staying undefeated in 2020, Vekoma (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) beat some of the best older horses in the nation on Saturday with a win in the G1 Metropolitan H. for his second straight Grade 1 victory.
Going straight to the lead in the 1600 metre “Met Mile”, Vekoma galloped easily around the big Belmont Park oval under Javier Castellano with Warrior’s Charge (USA) (Munnings {USA}) at his hip. The race started heating up as the field raced around the turn with McKinzie (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) and Endorsed (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) both looking like they would challenge for the lead as they turned into the straight.
Vekoma broke clear of those challengers with 100 metres to go but a large threat loomed to his outside with Code Of Honor (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) motoring down the straight and Network Effect (USA) (Mark Valeski {USA}) just to that rival’s inside.
The wire came too soon for either horse to make a true threat to the lead with Vekoma passing the wire 1.25l in front and Network Effect sticking his head in front of Code Of Honor to win that battle with another close finish less than 1l behind them for fourth.
"As the race unfolded it looked like a lot of horses were trying to make a run and come at us,” said trainer George Weaver. “At the quarter pole, for a brief moment, I didn't know if he had any horse in the tank or not, but at the eighth pole I saw him re-break and I was so proud of him. We're going to nominate to the Whitney for sure, but he's run two huge races back-to-back. The most likely scenario, to me, is that he would come back in a race like the Forego. We want to plot a campaign to get us to the Breeders' Cup, so we'll take a look at the calendar and go from there."
One of two winners from two to race out of Grade 1 winner Mona De Momma (USA) (Speightstown {USA}), Vekoma’s granddam is a half-sister to successful sire Mr. Greeley (USA) and the granddam of Champion 2-Year-Old and G1 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense (USA).
That stallion’s stakes winning half-sister Elusive Sparkle (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}) also produced Australian Listed winner Camdus (Street Cry {Ire}).
Instilled Regard secures first Grade 1 in Manhattan
Fourth in the Kentucky Derby two years ago, Instilled Regard (USA) (Arch {USA}) has proved to be just as successful a turf horse the last two seasons, securing his long-awaited first Grade 1 victory in the G1 Manhattan S. at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Racing over 2000 metres on turf, Instilled Regard broke strongly on the rail then settled near the back of the main pack under Irad Ortiz Jr. as Cross Border (USA) (English Channel {USA}) set the pace up front. The field spread out after 400 metres with Installed Regard vying for fourth to the inside of Dot Matrix (USA) (Freud {USA}) and raced that way until they hit mid-turn.
With 400 metres left to go, it looked like Instilled Regard’s race favourite stablemate Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) would win his second straight Grade 1 with Instilled Regard having only two horses beat. In the final 100 metres of the race, a hole opened at just the right moment for the entire and he shot through it.
It wasn’t until the final 25 metres that Instilled Regard was in front of the speed duel he had interrupted but he was able to get his neck in front by the line with Rockemperor winning the previous battle for the win over Sadler’s Joy (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) for second.
“His mind is getting better and better every time he runs on the grass,” said Ortiz. “With this horse, he does everything you want. I like that. I can use it to get in position and he comes back to me so well. He saved all the energy until the end. When I asked him for it, he gave it. I had to work so hard but when I tipped him out, he responded so well. I knew I had a chance to get there, and he got there on time."
Providing trainer Chad Brown his second straight winner in the race and sixth overall, Instilled Regard was coming off a win in the G2 Fort Marcy S. last out and started his season with a third in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational two starts previously.
"It's a testament to my team,” Brown said of his sixth win in the race. “Through the years a lot of different horses have passed through our hands but much of my same team is intact and they've been working with all these horses and all the credit goes to them."
Instilled Regard is a grandson of US Champion and top broodmare Heavenly Prize (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}), who produced three stakes winners including dual-Grade 1 winner Good Reward (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}) and the dams or granddams of seven stakes horses. The 5-year-old is the third G1 Manhattan winner under his first three dams along with Good Reward and Dancing Forever (USA) (Rahy {USA}).
Tacitus returns to winner’s circle in Suburban
The winner of last year’s G2 Wood Memorial, Tacitus (USA) (Tapit {USA}) had hit the board in nearly every start since that April race and on Saturday found his way back to the winner’s circle in the G2 Suburban S.
Going off as the race favourite in the 2000 metre dirt race, Tacitus raced on the rail in midpack as Parsimony (USA) (Dominus {USA}) set the pace. Down the backstretch, Parsimony was challenged by Mr Buff (USA) (Friend Or Foe {USA}) a few lengths in front of the field.
The rest of the field were happy to watch their duel until they entered the far turn and John Velazquez moved Tacitus to race just behind them. By the time they entered the stretch, it was clear that Velazquez had plenty of horse under him as he rolled on by Parsimony for the lead without any difficulty.
Tacitus made easy work of the field to win by 8.75l with Moretti (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) the best of the rest in second when beating Parsimony by a neck.
"He was going comfortable the whole way,” Velazquez said. “We had a little pressure in the first part of the race and little by little we kept reaching back and reaching back. I just wanted to be a little further back. Once we passed the five-eighths pole, I put my hands down and he got into a great rhythm. From there on, I knew he was comfortable and in a position to win."
By three-time Champion Sire Tapit (USA), Tacitus is out of US Champion Older Female Close Hatches (USA) (First Defence {USA}). That mare is a three-quarter sibling to this year’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Siskin (USA), who is out of a half-sister to Close Hatches’ dam. One of five winners for her dam, Close Hatches is also a full sister to top Listed winner and G1 Kentucky Oaks third Lockdown (USA) and a half-sister to Listed-placed Hail (USA) (Tapit {USA}).
From the family of Monroe (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}), Tacitus also shares a family with G2 Chairman’s H. winner Permit (GB) (Dansili {GB}), G2 Silver Slipper winner Domesday (Red Ransom {USA}), and G2 Queen of the South winner Trick Of Light (GB) (Dansili).
Street Boss’s Social Paranoia wins Poker
Cutting back to 1600 metres for the first time since his G3 Appleton S. win in March paid off for Street Boss’s (USA) Social Paranoia (USA) on Saturday when he won the G3 Poker S. at Belmont Park.
Breaking strongly, Social Paranoia was eased back to second last early on by Jose Ortiz as Dream Friend (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) set the pace just in front of Got Stormy (USA) (Get Stormy {USA}). The field stayed consistent until they entered the final 400 metres as Got Stormy took over the lead with Social Paranoia rolling up the outside of the field.
Challenged throughout her stretch run, Got Stormy grudgingly gave in in the final 100 metres as Social Paranoia and Seismic Wave (USA) (Tapit {USA}) went to the front at the same time. Travelling best of the two, Social Paranoia easily passed Seismic Wave to win by 1l with race favourite Value Proposition (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in third.
One of four winners from six foals out of Shutterbug (USA) (Deputy Minister {Can}), the colt’s dam is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Fantastic Fellow (USA) (Lear Fan {USA}) with Grade 1 winners Queens Court Queen (USA) (Lyphard {USA}} and Mr. Purple (USA) (Deputy Minister {Can}) also in the family.
The Street Boss x Deputy Minister (Can) cross has four stakes horses and 10 winners from 12 runners, including Listed winner Lady Alida (USA).
Godolphin’s Summer Romance wins Princess Elizabeth
Godolphin’s blue-blooded Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) added a first Group win to her resume on Saturday when holding off Cloak Of Spirits (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to win the G3 Princes Elizabeth S.
Breaking evenly in the 1700 metre race, the filly led by a small margin over Cloak Of Spirits as they galloped along at a steady pace. Cloak Of Spirits added some pressure to the leader as they entered the straight but the filly kicked off to build a length lead before Cloak Of Spirits came back at her for one final try in the final 200 metres.
Summer Romance kept her at bay throughout the stretch to flash ahead by 0.75l with Rose Of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) 3.75l back in third.
A half-sister to Iffraaj’s (GB) Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Rizeena (Ire), Summer Romance is out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Zebeel Prince (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Swettenham Stud’s multiple Group winner Puissance De Lune (Ire). Other siblings to that trio include Puissance De Lune’s Listed-winning full sister Queen Power (Ire) and Australian Listed-placed full brother His Majesty (Ire).
