Search For A Song doubles up in St Leger

Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made history for trainer Dermot Weld on Sunday when her second consecutive win in the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger gave the trainer his ninth win in the race to tie him with Vincent O’Brien.

Racing near the back of the eight horse field in the 2800 metre race, Search For A Song made her move with less than 400 metres left to run and easily pulled away to win by 2l over Fujaira Prince (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) with Lloyd Williams’ Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in third, 2.25l behind the winner.

“She was very free in the early part of the year as well, but that’s my job to train them and teach them. I had to get the confidence of the filly to learn to relax–it took time to her get her right, but it just shows that patience still pays dividends,” Weld told Thoroughbred Daily News.

From successful broodmare Polished Gem (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), Search For A Song’s multiple stakes wining half-brother Valac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is in training with Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes. The filly is also a half-sister to shuttle stallion Free Eagle (Ire).

Dream Ahead’s Glass Slippers wins Flying Five

Autumn has proven to be Glass Slippers'(GB) (Dream Ahead {USA}) favourite season, with the mare securing her second Group 1 victory nearly a year after the first with a G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five S. victory.

The 4-year-old filly thrived over the 1000 metres at The Curragh, breaking strongly and racing on the far rail in midpack. Urged on with 400 metres to run, the filly entered a three-way battle late before taking the advantage and winning by 0.5l over Keep Busy (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) with Sonaiyla (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third.

By former shuttle stallion Dream Ahead (USA), Glass Slippers is one of two stakes winners out of her dam and the first Group winner under her first two dams.

Shale turns table in Moyglare

Second to Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) in a Group 2 last out, Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) turned the tables on Sunday in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over 1400 metres.

With Ryan Moore aboard, the filly sat just behind the leaders and took command in the final 400 metres. Her rival came up to her just outside the final 200 metres but Shale wasn’t going to give in and started to pull away for a .75l victory in the end for a Donnacha O’Brien - Joseph O’Brien trained top two with Oodnadatta (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in third.

“She was the first off the bridle and I didn’t think she was going to do anything at halfway, but she found a lot for pressure, toughed it out and was going away at the line. These Galileo fillies can keep improving and she has with every start,” the winning O’Brien told Thoroughbred Daily News.

One of three Group 1 winners for Galileo (Ire) on Sunday, Shale is the first Group 1 winner for her G1 1000 Guineas-winning dam Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The dam of three stakes horses, that mare is also a three-quarter sister to European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill {Ire}) and half-sister to Group I winner and stakes producer Queen’s Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge {USA}).

Homecoming Queen’s half-sister, G1 Oaks second Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) is also the dam of this year’s G1 Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Mogul follows brother’s footsteps in Grand Prix de Paris

Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) became the second G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris winner in two years for dam Shastye (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) at Parislongchamp after full brother Japan (GB).

Racing over 2400 metres, Mogul had only two horses beat for much of the race. Racing down the rail, he cleared most of the field in only a few strides when a hole opened and had the lead with 300 metres left. There was no catching the colt from there as he pulled away to win by 2l over In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) with Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) in third by a nose.

Mogul is now one of three Group 1 performers for Shastye with both he and his brother winning at the level and full sister Secret Gesture (GB) runner-up in two races at the level. Shastye has had two runners imported to Australia, Listed Ipswich Cup winner Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and G3 JRA Cup third Sir Isaac Newton (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

Thunder Moon completes O’Brien treble

It was a memorable weekend for the O’Brien family, headlined by a Sunday where Aidan and his sons all trained Group 1 winners in less than an hour and a half.

Joseph O’Brien-trained 2-year-old Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was the last of the trio with a 1.5l victory in the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes over 1400 metres. Racing in mid pack, the colt encountered trouble when trying to make his move inside the final 400 metres but after he secured the lead, won easily.

“Even when I checked, he didn’t lose a whole lot of momentum and was straight back into his stride and powered on again. He has a great will-to-win and a great heart–he really wants to please you,” Declan McDonogh told Thoroughbred Daily News.

The colt finished 1.5l over the Aidan O’Brien trained duo of Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who were separated by a nose.

By Zoffany (Ire), Thunder Moon comes from the same family as G1 Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song. The filly’s G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winning granddam Trusted Partner (USA) (Affirmed {USA}) is also the third dam of this colt. Thunder Moon is also a half-brother to Fastnet Rock’s stakes-winning Table Rock (Ire).

Barney Roy back to winning ways in Germany

It was a third Group 1 win of the year for Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) when he returned to Germany to win the G1 148th Longines Grosser Preis von Baden over 2400 metres. The 6-year-old gelding followed the leaders before taking over the lead with 300 metres to race and it was all over.

Since returning from a failed stint at stud, Godolphin’s now-gelding has won five of his nine starts with only one result worse than fourth.

“He’s always been full of enthusiasm, as he’s shown this season, he’s had some great races and we’re delighted to see him win another Group 1,” Godolphin’s Alex Merriam told Thoroughbred Daily News.

Bred by Eliza Park International, Barney Roy is a half-brother to listed placed Wisdom Mind (Ire) (Dark Angel {GB}) from the family of G1 George Ryder winner Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}).

10 for Shalaa

Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (Ire) sired his 10th first-crop winner on Sunday when Shalaa Asker (GB) broke his maiden over five furlongs at Chelmsford.

The Adrian Paul Keatley-trained colt defeated Eye Of Heaven (GB) (Exceed And Excel) by 1.75l with Asadjumeirah (GB) (Adaay {Ire}) finishing 1l back in third.

Shalaa Asker was purchased by Ontoawinner for €55,000 (AU$89,497) at the Arqana Deauville May 2YO Breeze-Up Sale earlier this year after being bought as a yearling by Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock for €45,000 (AU$73,225) at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

He is the fifth winner out of Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Miracle Seeker (GB) (Rainbow Quest {Ire}), who is also responsible for stakes-placed filly Loaves And Fishes (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Shalaa is standing his fourth season at Arrowfield Stud this season for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).

Tarnawa gives Shamardal Paris double

It was a two win day for the late Shamardal (USA) on the Parislongchamp card, headlined by Tarnawa (Ire) in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille then wrapped up by Earthlight (Ire) in the G3 Qatar Prix du Pin.

Racing over 2400 metres, Tarnawa raced near the back throughout much of the race. Racing wide, the filly left her cover in the final 400 metres and showed a late kick to win easily by 3l over Raabihah (USA) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who finished a nose in front of Dame Malliot (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}).

It was the first of two big wins for trainer Dermot Weld, who also won the G1 Irish St Leger in his home country.

“She is nice, she is consistent and won well. She is not in the Arc, but today she won the supplementation [fee] so it is a possibility that she will come back on the first Sunday in October,” Aga Khan stud manager Georges Rimaud told Thoroughbred Daily News.

The Aga Khan-bred Tarnawa is the first foal to race out of Listed winner Tarnana (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who is a stakes winning daughter of fellow stakes winner Tarakala (Ire) (Dr. Fong {USA}).

Anthony Van Dyck on course for Arc

It was the perfect final Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe prep for Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on Sunday when he held off Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for a win in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy over 2400 metres.

Searching for his first win since last year’s G1 Epsom Derby victory, the 4-year-old colt led throughout the race. He had to dig deep when Stradivarius came to him, but held him off throughout the final 400 metres to win by a head with Nagano Gold (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) 1.25l back in third.

“I had a bit of trouble getting him to stretch out, but once he sensed the danger of Stradivarius he fought back gamely and found more with every stride,” Mickael Barzalona told Thoroughbred Daily News. “We know Stradivarius makes up ground easily, but sometimes gets caught for a bit of acceleration so I wasn’t too worried.”

Out of Group 3 winning and Group 1-placed racemare Believe’N’Succeed (Exceed And Excel), Anthony Van Dyck is also a half-brother to New Zealand champion Bounding (Lonhro). Believe’N’Succeed is a full sister to Group 2 winner Kuroshio and stakes winner Agulhas and a granddaughter of US dual Grade 1 winner November Snow (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}).

Cayenne Pepper completes memorable weekend for Australia

Less than 24 hours after Australia (GB) registered his first Group 1 winner in the St Leger with Galileo Chrome (Ire), his daughter Cayenne Pepper kicked off the Sunday stakes at the Curragh with a romp in the G2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford S.

The 3-year-old raced behind the leader until just outside the 200 metre mark then ended the race is easy style under Shane Foley. She was 4l clear of Amman Grace (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the full sister to the G1 Irish St Leger winner later on the card with Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in third.

One of four winners from five runners out of Muwakaba (USA), the filly’s third dam is Allegretta (GB) (Lombard {Ger}), giving her a 3 x 4 cross to that mare through Galileo’s dam Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}) and Cayenne Pepper’s second dam Saleela (USA) (Nureyev {USA}).