Contrail claims Japanese Triple Crown
Unbeaten Japanese star Contrail (Jpn) has emulated his sire Deep Impact (Jpn) and claimed the Japanese Triple Crown by winning the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at Kyoto.
The 3-year-old colt was pushed all the way by Aristoteles (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the 3000 metre race, but under riding from Yuichi Fukunaga, responded to claim his fourth Group 1 of his career. Satono Flag (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), finished third, another 3.5l away.
Now unbeaten across seven career starts, Contrail becomes the eighth Japanese Triple Crown winner, and the first to have emulated his own sire, who did it in 2005.
Flying Visit gives Pride Of Dubai another stakes winner
Pride Of Dubai registered his second Northern Hemisphere foaled Group winner on Saturday when Flying Visit (Ire) won the G3 Eyrefield S. in Ireland.
Racing on soft to heavy ground over 1800 metres, the Jim Bolger homebred led with 200 metres left to run and had to fend off multiple rivals to keep his victory. The line came just in time as he crossed it a head in front of Wuqood (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with Carlisle Bay (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 0.75l back in third.
Another stakes winner on the day for Teofilo (Ire), the juvenile is one of three winners out of his daughter Fionnuar (Ire). The colt also hails from the family of champions Chief’s Crown (USA) (Danzig {USA}) and Giulia (USA) (Sky Mesa {USA}).
Pride Of Dubai has registered five stakes winners from his first Northern Hemisphere crop, led by two Group winners with 11 winners overall from the crop.
Mac Swiney guts out Vertem Futurity Trophy
Group 2 winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) took his record to new heights on Saturday with a victory in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. over 1600 metres at Doncaster.
Always among the first half of the field, Mac Swiney was asked for his best with a bit before they hit the final 200 metres as One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also made a challenge for the lead. In the end, Mac Swiney was able to keep his win by 0.75l with Baradar (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) 3l behind the winner.
“When he won the Futurity it was soft, although not as testing at this, and the extra furlong was always going to suit him. He’s a real 3-year-old in the making and I think when he steps up in trip next year with another winter under his belt you’ll see the real horse,” said rider Kevin Manning.
Trained and bred by Jim Bolger, Mac Swiney is by fellow Bolger bred and trained New Approach (Ire) out of a mare by another Bolger bred and trained horse in Teofilo. That makes the colt inbred 2 x 3 to Galileo (Ire), similar to the Sadler’s Wells' (USA) 2 x 3 inbreeding that produced Enable (GB).
Mac Swiney is the first stakes winner and one of two winners from two to race out of Halla Na Saoire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). That mare is a full sister to Group 2 winner Light Heavy (Ire) and three-quarter sister to Group 1 winner Parish Hall (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})
Gear Up holds on for Group 1 victory
In a big day for 2-year-olds, Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) took home the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud to give Teofilo a unique double as the sire of one Group 1 winner and grandsire of another.
Travelling to France for the 2000-metre race, Gear Up set the pace and showed his determination as he dug down to fight off multiple rivals in the closing stages. It came down to a head but that was just enough as Gear Up held off Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) with Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) back 2l in third.
“He’s very tough and courageous, a typical Mark Johnston horse, and he stays well and has now won on all sorts of ground so hopefully he has a bright future,” said jockey James Doyle.
Gear Up is one of two Group winners out of Gearanai (USA) along with Group 3-winning full brother Guaranteed (Ire). Gearanai is a granddaughter of four-time US Grade 1 winner Dispute (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
Irish Lights son wins Doncaster S.
G1 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock) registered her second stakes winner from three to race on Saturday when Lipizzaner (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) won the Listed Vertem.co.uk Doncaster S. over 1200 metres.
Racing on the heavy ground in England, Lipizzaner spent much of his race tracking the leader. When Moore asked him to run with 400 metres left, he kicked into another gear and took over the lead just outside the final 200 metres. Building his margin in the closing strides, Lipizzaner won by 1.25l over Epaulette’s Just Frank (GB) with Night Of Thunder’s (Ire) Zamaani (Ire) in third.
The third live foal out of Irish Lights, Lipizzaner is her firstborn outside of Australia and was born just a few months before half-sister Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}) sold for $1.7 million at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
That Group 2-winning mare had a Deep Impact (Jpn) colt last year and foaled an I Am Invincible filly in August. Irish Lights had another Uncle Mo (USA) colt last year and was bred to Justify (USA) for a 2021 foal.
Mighty Heart denied Triple Crown
Looking to become racing’s newest Triple Crown winner, Mighty Heart (Can) (Dramedy {USA}) lined up for the final leg of Canada’s Triple Crown in Saturday’s Breeders’ S. at Woodbine.
Racing over 2400 metres on turf, Mighty Heart entered a duel for the lead nearly from the start as he raced through fast fractions for much of the running. As that colt started to retreat as they entered the straight, his stablemate Belichick (Can) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}) was gunning for the lead. It didn’t take long for Belichick to secure his maiden winning victory as he pulled away by 4l to give trainer Josie Carroll a sweep of the race.
Out of a Montjeu (Ire) mare, Belichick is one of three stakes winners out of his dam. His family includes Grade 1 winner Dancers Countess (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and German and Italian champion Floriot (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) among others.
