Addeybb wins again at Ascot
Dual Australian Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) continued a stellar year on Saturday with a victory in the G1 Qipco Champion S. over 2000 metres.
Showing that his early-season travel didn’t wear him out for this race, Addeybb gave jockey Tom Marquand another top effort to win by 2.25l over Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) with Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) beaten into third.
The third time running on British Champions Day proved to be the charm with the gelding off the board in the 2018 G1 Queen Elizabeth before finishing second in this race to Magical last year.
"I said after 6-year-old One Master won the Foret for a third time that, if you can keep them happy, sound and not abuse them when they are young, they will reward you when they are older. Addeybb is a special horse for us and has done lots of things that we can only dream of,” trainer William Haggas said after the race.
As for another trip to Australia, it hasn’t been decided if he’ll be heading there or to the February races in Saudi Arabia.
“I think he is looking for another couple of months in Australia next spring! If we can get there, we will obviously consider it,” Haggas said. “We also might consider Saudi Arabia as well, which is dirt but that dirt track is terrific. I was there last year and I thought it was terrific and possibly worth a shot. We shall see and we are going to enjoy this day very much.”
Giving Pivotal two wins on the card in addition to a second and a third, Addeybb is one of two stakes horses for his dam Bush Cat (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), who is out of a full sister Group 2 winner Nicholas (USA) (Danzig {USA}) and the dam of dual Group 1 winner Strategic Choice (USA) (Alleged {USA}).
Golden Sixty dominant again in Hong Kong
Golden Sixty (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) extended his winning streak to nine and took his overall record to 12 wins from 13 starts with victory in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy on Sunday.
The Hong Kong Derby winner from last season secured his second win to start the new campaign, saw off the resistance of Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) after swooping on the lead down the straight and winning by 0.5l, with Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) filling third spot another 1.75l behind.
The Frankie Lui-trained star looks set for a huge season off the back of this win and his previous success in the G3 Celebration Cup in September.
The Element Hill-bred Golden Sixty has proven an excellent $300,000 purchase for Lui on behalf of owner Stanley Chan from draft of Riversley Park at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Wonderful Tonight continues top October
October has proved to be Wonderful Tonight’s (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) month with the filly winning her second Group 1 on Saturday in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. after winning a Group 1 in France.
Eager to run, the filly was also among the leading runners and took over command with 600 metres left to run. The filly was happiest in that position and easily galloped to a 2.5l win over Champs Elysees’s (GB) Dame Malliot (GB) with Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third.
"We know that she is very good,” trainer David Menuisier said. “The only question mark was whether she had recuperated from the Arc weekend or not. I hadn't, but I am glad she did!”
A half-sister to stakes-winning Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) herself, Wonderful Tonight is out of a half-sister to Australian stakes-placed Mr Garcia (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}).
The family has Australian connections throughout the generations with G3 Easter Cup winner Inverloch (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) under her third dam along with former shuttle stallion Camelot (GB).
The Revenant gets revenge in Queen Elizabeth
Second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. over 1600 metres last year, The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) had to work for it but in the end, avenged last year’s loss.
The 5-year-old gelding was able to finish a head in front of Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) while Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) finished third before returning to the paddock sans a shoe.
"He loved the ground, and the trip has been perfect behind Circus Maximus,” jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot commented. “My horse was very relaxed behind him and when I asked him, he gave me a nice and long turn of foot. He was courageous in the last furlong. "
One of three runners for his dam, last year’s German Champion Older Male Miler is one of two champions in his first two generations with his Group 3-winning dam a half-sister to Italian champion Leo Gali (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Glen Shiel gives Doyle Champions Day double
Hollie Doyle swept the first two races of the day at Ascot Saturday when Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) toughed out a victory in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. over 1200 metres.
Breaking strongly, the gelding faced pressure in the final 200 metres when on the lead and briefly lost it before taking command yet again. From there he had another challenge as Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was produced late to get within a nose of the winner at the line.
The exacta for Pivotal was also a first career Group 1 win for Doyle, who had won the opening race over 3200 metres just half an hour before.
"This is not about me, it's about Archie Watson, as he has campaigned this horse unbelievably. No one else would have won a Group 1 with this horse,” said Doyle. "It is a dream come true, a massive dream come true, especially on this horse. Everyone in the yard adores him. "
The 6-year-old is one of two stakes horses for Gonfilia (Ger) (Big Shuffle {USA}), who is out of a half-sister to the Group 1-winning dam of Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) with champions Fame And Glory (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) among those in Glen Shiel’s family.
Trueshan owns Long Distance Cup
Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) kicked off jockey Hollie Doyle’s day on a high note with a victory in the G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup over 3200 metres.
The gelding by Planteur (Ire) made his best running late when he took the lead in the final 400 metres and ended the race in only a matter of strides. At the wire, he had 7.5l on the rest of the field with dual G1 Irish St. Leger winner Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) closing for second and Fujaria Prince (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in third.
"I have to pinch myself really, that was absolutely amazing," said Doyle. “I rode Trueshan at Wolverhampton when he won and it was a bit of a surprise, and then he went and bolted up at Ffos Las. I haven't been on him since as I haven't been able to ride him, but I am really grateful to the owners and Alan for putting me back on him today. It was great. "
Trueshan is the first Group winner for his sire and one of five winners for his dam. A 31,000 gns Breeze Up buy in 2018, Trueshan’s family includes Group 1 winners Flag Of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Houmayoun (Fr) (Shernazar {Ire}).
