Keeneland September ready to begin

While the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc with sales across the globe from March through August, the calendar will return to some semblance of normalcy when the Keeneland September Yearling Sale kicks off right on schedule in Lexington on Sunday .

“So many sales companies in the Northern Hemisphere have had to rearrange some things, but we have been very fortunate that the September Sale is taking place in September at Keeneland,” said Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell.

“We are resilient and I think we’ve had great cooperation from our industry,” added Keeneland’s President-Elect, Shannon Arvin. “I think people are so happy to be here. I think people are happy to be back with a little bit of normalcy, even if we are all wearing masks.”

Keeneland was part of a group of industry stakeholders lobbying US government officials to allow foreign buyers to attend the Sale, despite a travel ban on people travelling from several countries. While it was announced Friday that the ban will end Monday, bloodstock agents like Kerri Radcliffe, direct from last week’s Arqana sale, were on the grounds Saturday morning after receiving waivers to enter the country.

With no travel ban in place for buyers coming from Asia, Russell is expecting to see entities from those countries shopping at Keeneland in the coming days.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation was the leading buyer at last year’s September Sale, purchasing 10 lots for US$16 million (AU$22 million), while his brother Sheikh Hamdan purchased 18 yearlings for US$11,070,000 (AU$15.2 million) for his Shadwell Estate Company to be the second leading buyer. While both were in attendance at the sale a year ago, neither are expected to attend this year.

Another dazzling Sha Tin win for Sky Field

The buzz on Sky Field (NZ) (Deep Field) was further validated on Sunday evening when he delivered another arrogant win for the second time in four starts. After making a statement with his impressive 1200 metre win before the season break, Casper Fownes announced he would be targeting the G1 Hong Kong Classic Mile with the son of Deep Field.

"There's not many horses that have that ability to get that explosive turn of foot, and so quickly. We look forward to getting him back into his next race and learning a bit more," Fownes said.

When asked if he thought Sky Field was the best he had ever saddled, Fownes remarked, "It's a big call at this stage, but he's certainly going the right way to being a horse that is going to make a name for himself in Hong Kong."

Sky Field was sold by Trelawney Stud at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sale for NZ$175,000.

No spectators at Breeders’ Cup

It was announced Saturday that the 2020 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland Racecourse will be run without fans on November 6 and 7 in Lexington, Kentucky. Only participants and essential personnel will be allowed at the track during the races with protocols for the meet to be announced closer to the event.

“The decision to hold this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships without fans in attendance was not made lightly,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup. “However, after many months of careful deliberation, planning and consultation, it has become abundantly clear that this is the right decision in order to proceed with our event while still protecting the collective health of our community.”

The event also announced that purses will remain unchanged for this year’s races and that the Breeders’ Cup will be returning to Keeneland in 2022 after being held at Del Mar in 2021.

Fastnet Rock’s Monday kicks off Irish Champion Weekend

Coming back just 10 days after her debut, Fastnet Rock’s well-bred daughter Monday (Ire) broke her maiden in the Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle S. on Saturday at Leopardstown.

Racing over 1700 metres, the Coolmore filly made most of the running and was never in serious danger of losing. She finished 0.75l in front of No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) as a 12-1 shot.

“I’d say she won’t have any problem stepping up quickly to a Group race. The [G1 Prix Marcel] Boussac at ParisLongchamp, the [G1] Fillies’ Mile [at Newmarket] and all those races will be open to her,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said of future targets.

Monday is the first foal out of Group 1 winner Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the Prix Marcel Boussac on her way toward becoming France’s Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in 2006. Ballydoyle is a sister to another champion in Misty For Me (Ire), whose champion son U S Navy Flag (USA) is standing his second season in New Zealand this year.

Magical weaves spell in Irish Champion

It has been said for months that the only way to beat Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was to push him from the start and that’s exactly what Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) did in the 2000 metre G1 Irish Champion S. on Saturday.

Looking for her second win in the race, Magical raced at Ghaiyyath’s hip from the start with stablemate Japan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also adding the pressure on the inside. The 5-year-old mare got the best of the Godolphin runner in the final 300 metres at Leopardstown and went on to a 0.75l victory with Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third.

“She eyeballed him all the way and when you do that, there’s always a chance that the ones coming from behind will get you but we took a chance and let him and her match up all the way,” trainer Aidan O’Brien told Thoroughbred Daily News. “There are no excuses here at this track and she’s incredibly tough and genuine with speed and determination–she has everything and Seamie gave her a brilliant ride.”

While Magical holds entries for multiple Australian Spring Carnival races, O’Brien named two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend races as likelier spots for her in addition to a potential trip to Kentucky for the Breeders’ Cup.

Magical is one of three Group winners for Classic winner Halfway to Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) with full sister Rhododendron (Ire) a three-time Group 1 winner herself. The pair also comes from the extended family of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Murtagh scores first Group 1 win in Matron

It was an Australian-bred sire who helped former jockey Johnny Murtagh get his first Group 1 win as a trainer on Saturday in the G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. when Elzaam’s daughter Champers Elysees (Ire) put on an impressive display.

Racing over 1600 metres at Leopardstown, the filly was placed in the rear of the field under Colin Keane and didn’t see the lead until the final 50 metres. The filly finished 1.25l ahead of Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) with Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in third, just ahead of Champers Elysees' stablemate Know It All (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).

“I was sick of everyone saying you’d had a great career as a jockey, that was in the past, it’s the here and now I’m worried about,” Murtagh told Thoroughbred Daily News. “It’s been a brilliant year, but to win a Group 1 on Champions Weekend means everything. This is not for Johnny Murtagh, this is for the whole team and this end result makes all the work worthwhile.”

Sent to stand permanently in Ireland after one season in Australia, Elzaam was registering his first Group 1 winner in this race with 10 stakes horses to his name. Champers Elysees comes from the extended family of Group 3 winner California Zimbol (I Am Invincible) and his two stakes-winning siblings with his grand dam imported to Australia in 1997.

Galileo Chrome gives O’Brien first Leger victory

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien registered his first G1 Pertemps St Leger victory as a trainer on Saturday with Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) winning the race by a neck. It was a bittersweet victory for the team with regular jockey Shane Crosse testing positive for COVID-19 in the days leading up to the race and having to abandon the journey to England, leaving the mount to Tom Marquand.

The colt was ridden in midfield for most of the Doncaster classic and only found victory in the final 100 metres over Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}). Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) looked a likely winner in the final 400 metres but drifted in the closing stages to be beaten by 1l into third.

“The racing game is a leveller and it was a case of me being in the right place at the right time. I was extremely lucky just to get the ride, which was a great story in itself, but to win it is something else,” Marquand told Thoroughbred Daily News after the race.

Helping his trainer match Harry Wragg on the feat of winning the St Leger as both a jockey and trainer, Galileo Chrome is by dual Derby winner Australia (GB), who O’Brien partnered with throughout his whole career. The colt is out of a half-sister to G1 St Leger third Michaelangelo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and from the family of G1 Underwood S. winner Midas Touch (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Australian stakes winner My Nordic Hero (GB) (Archipenko {USA}) among a stacked page.

Wichita breaks through in G2 Park

G1 2000 Guineas second Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) broke through at stakes level for the first time in nearly a year on Saturday in the G2 bet365 Park S. over 1400 metres at Doncaster.

Always in a prominent position, the colt took the lead inside the final 200 metres but had to work hard to keep the win with Fastnet Rock’s One Master (GB) nearly taking away the win in the final strides. Wichita won the photo with Molatham (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) 2l back in third.

“He was a bit lazy after getting rid of the two on either side, but Tom [Marquand] came very quick at me. It was hard to tell if we’d won, but he’s a lovely horse who deserved it,” jockey Frankie Dettori told Thoroughbred Daily News.

By No Nay Never (USA), whose first Australian foals hit the track last season, Wichita is the first stakes winner for the stakes-winning Lumiere Noire (Fr) (Dashing Blade {GB}). That mare is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Desert Blanc (GB) (Desert Style {Ire}).

Cadillac newest Group winner for Lope De Vega

Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) made easy work of the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown on Saturday when racing just being the leaders over 1600 metres. Taking the lead was no issue for the colt, who took command in the final 200 metres and pulled away to win by 0.5l over Van Gogh (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}).

It was the second win for the colt, who broke his maiden by 9l in July before finishing second last time in the G2 Futurity S.

“He had a dogfight there and it stood to him. He was more of a man today–he was stuck on the wing, but is a good laid-back horse who only goes through the motions and you know there is something under the tank,” jockey Shane Foley told Thoroughbred Daily News after Saturday’s race of the lessons learned from his second.

Cadillac is the 39th Group winner for his sire and the third Group winner by Lope De Vega (Ire) out of a Dansili (GB) mare.

Chindit stays undefeated in G2 Champagne

It was the third victory for 2-year-old Chindit (Ire) on Saturday with a 1l victory in the G2 bet365 Champagne S. over 1400 metres to stay undefeated.

The Wootton Bassett (GB) colt raced toward the back of the pack before moving closer in the final 400 metres. Pat Dobbs sent him after the lead with a little over 200 metres left to run and it was over from there. The Richard Hannon trainee won by 1l over Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) with Starspangledbanner’s State of Rest (Ire) just a nose back in third.

“He had to come over to find the race today, to where the other two were and he got there quite easily. I thought the first two travelled well and the first three were a long way clear of the fourth,” Hannon told Thoroughbred Daily News.

The seventh Group winner for his sire, Chindit comes from the family of Derby winner and champion sire Motivator (Ire).