Bolger homebred Poetic Flare wins 2000 Guineas
Becoming the sixth straight generation of his sireline – and third straight bred by Bolger – to win a Classic, Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) had his nose in front when it counted at the end of the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Also owned and trained by the Bolgers, Poetic Flare is a prominent runner as he raced keenly just behind the leaders down the straight. Half way through, it looked like Poetic Flare may be done as he started falling back but he was just taking a breather under Kevin Manning before they hit the final 600 metres.
Manning got to work on his mount from there with Poetic Flare and two others the only ones to go on. It was a battle between Poetic Flare and Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with 200 metres left to run as Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) ran 0.5l back between the two. Master Of The Seas had his head in front with every stride except the last when Poetic Flare put himself just a few inches in front of the rival.
“He was a little bit keen with me today and caught me on a long rein, but it was a huge performance,” Manning told Thoroughbred Daily News. “Going into the 'dip' I was getting there too soon, but I had no choice and had to keep going. He was idling that little bit going to the line and is a pleasure to ride–he's bomb-proof.”
Poetic Flare comes from a family Bolger has developed over the generations with his sire and grandsire both Bolger-bred and trained Classic winners with the Irish stalwart also breeding Poetic Flare’s first two dams. Poetic Flare is a three-quarter brother to multiple stakes winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) with their grandam a full sister to the dam of Bolger’s Champion Teofilo (Ire).
Sir Ron Priestley continues roll in G2 Jockey Club
Taking all of 2020 proved to be a smart decision for Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) with the entire winning his second straight 2021 race in the G2 Betfair Exchange Jockey Club S. over 2400 metres at Newmarket.
The 5-year-old went straight to the lead from the start and had a smooth run from there under Franny Norton. Norton had to ask his mount for a bit more in the closing stakes when Thunderous (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) both made runs at him but in the end won by a comfortable 2.25l over Pyledriver with Thunderous 2l behind that foe in third.
“In a small field on a track like this there were going to be no excuses and we were going to come out of here either knowing he wasn't good enough at this trip and we were going to have to go back to Plan A of being a stayer, or have the result we have had,” his trainer’s representative Charlie Johnston told Thoroughbred Daily News.
A half-brother to Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), Sir Ron Priestley is also a half-brother to Group 2 winner Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and out of the stakes-placed Reckoning (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). This is also the family of Champions Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), Soldier Of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Skitter Scatter (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
Lazuli holds on for Palace House victory
One of two winners on the card for Dubawi (Ire), Lazuli (GB) earned his third stakes victory of the year with a win in the G3 Betfair Palace House S. over 1000 metres.
Always among the front runners, when jockey William Buick asked Lazuli to go after the leaders inside the final 400 metres he was game for the challenge. He secured the lead in the final stages but had to work hard to keep that lead with Came From The Dark (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) racing after him to just miss by 0.25l with Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) another 0.25l behind in third.
Lazuli is a half-brother to stakes winner Inspiriter (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is the dam of Exceed And Excel’s Group 3-placed Leading Spirit (Ire). Their grandam is a half-sister to multiple Australian Group 1-placed Carlton House (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) and G1 Irish St. Leger winner Duncan (GB) (Dalaakhani {Ire}).
Mohaafeth jumps into Derby conversation after Newmarket win
Shadwell’s Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) alerted everyone that they may see him in next month’s G1 Epsom Derby with a dominating performance in the Listed Betfair Newmarket S. over 2000 metres.
Racing against three others, Mohaafeth was kept a close-up last by Jim Crowley until let go in the final 600 metres. Mohaafeth glided away from the field from there to pull away with every stride even when eased down to cross the line 5l ahead of Secret Protector (USA) (War Front {USA}) with third placed Inigo Jones (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) 0.5l behind that runner.
Continuing an outstanding streak for Frankel (GB), Mohaafeth is his seventh stakes winner and 14th stakes performer since April 1. Mohaafeth is out of a stakes-winning Sea The Stars (Ire) mare, giving him a three by three cross to Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}) with his dam a half-sister to Dalvina (GB) (Grand Lodge {USA}). Dalvina’s winners include European stakes winner multiple Australian Group-placed Dal Harraild (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), who was retired last July.
Malathaat “excellent” morning after Oaks
As her jockey John Velazquez prepared to pull off the G1 Kentucky Oaks/G1 Kentucky Derby double, Malathaat (USA) (Curlin {USA}) was in “excellent” condition on Saturday morning, trainer Todd Pletcher reported to Thoroughbred Daily News.
The filly won Friday’s Kentucky Oaks narrowly over Search Results (USA) (Flatter {USA}), who also came out of the race in fine fettle according to trainer Chad Brown when talking to TDN.
“We checked her out this morning and she looks fine,” Brown said. “She came back good and will ride back to New York on Monday. Right now, we'll look at the (June 5 Group 1) Acorn and (July 24 Group 1) Coaching Club American Oaks; those are the two most likely things we'll discuss.”
While Brown laid out closer plans for his filly, Pletcher said the big goal for Malathaat is the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November if she stays in this form.
Got The Greenlight wins Champions Challenge
It was supposed to be a match-up between three of the best horses in South African racing but when all was said and done, Got The Greenlight (SAF) (Gimmethegreenlight) was an easy winner of the G1 4racing Premier’s Champions Challenge.
The 1800 metre race saw Got The Greenlight racing just behind Triple Crown winner Malmoos (SAF) (Captain Al {SAF}) and Horse of the Year Summer Pudding (SAF) (Silvano {Ger}) early on. Neither of those rivals had an answer when Got The Greenlight went to challenge for the lead with the winner going right on past them in the final 400 metres.
Munzi Yeni looked extremely confident on Got The Greenlight when just giving him a hand ride in the final 200 metres to cross the line 0.75l ahead of Second Base (SAF) (Gimmethegreenlight) with third-placed Cirillo (Pomodoro {SAF}) beating home Summer Pudding and Malmoos in fourth and fifth.
Leading home a one-two finish for Australian-bred sire Gimmethegreenlight, Got The Greenlight is a grandson of Australian stakes place Chivana (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}). Chivana’s New Zealand Champion dam Giovana (NZ) (Blues Traveller {Ire}) is also the dam of Group 3-placed Medici (NZ) (Encosta De Lago). Chivana had a Mongolian Khan filly in 2019 and after missing to him the following year, is currently carrying a foal by the stallion for 2021.
Duhail takes home G2 Prix du Muguet
Lope De Vega (Ire) son Duhail (Ire) added a stakes victory to his resume at Saint-Cloud with a victory in the G2 Prix du Muguet over 1600 metres.
The Al Shaqab Racing runner raced in fourth in front of the bulk of the field a few lengths behind the leading Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}). As they turned into the straight, Duhail was swung outside of the leading group and went from fourth to first in 100 metres. The final 200 metres of the race were spent extending his lead to 1.5l over Pretreville with Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) in third.
Duhail is out of the Group 3-placed Single (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}), a half-sister to the Robert Hickmott-trained Irish Grade 3 winner Kenya (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Single is also a half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Zantenda (GB) (Zamindar {USA}) and stakes-placed Elusif (Fr) (Elusive Quality {USA}) while Single herself is the dam of three winners from three to race.
Baby Rider wins stakes debut
Gleneagles’ (Ire) Baby Rider (Fr) made his stakes debut a winning one on Saturday with a G2 Prix Greffulhe win at Saint-Cloud.
Racing over 2100 metres, Baby Rider was just behind the leader throughout the run until the final 450 metres. The flashy colt ran up to challenge Smile Makers at that point and the pair entered a duel that lasted until the final 75 metres when Smile Makers (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) grudgingly gave way to lose by 0.25l.
“He had come on a lot on for his first win of the year when he won a conditions race here,” trainer Pascal Bary told Thoroughbred Daily News. “He is easy to train, he has a lovely temperament and I think there is more improvement to come. He is a legitimate contender for the (June 6 Group 1) Prix du Jockey Club.”
The second winner on the card for his sire, Baby Rider’s dam is a half-sister to the dam of Australian stakes-placed Haky (Ire) (Mutahir {GB}). That grandam is also the Group 1-placed dam of G1 Epsom Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) among four stakes horses – including Baby Rider’s own stakes-placed dam.
Exceed And Excel granddaughter wins Sheepshead Bay
A Grade 1 winner out of Exceed And Excel’s Champion daughter Margot Did (Ire), Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) added another Graded stakes win to her record at Belmont Park with a win in the G2 Sheepshead Bay S. over 2200 metres.
Magic Attitude was happy to race last under Trevor McCarthy until around the far turn. Coming down the centre of the course as they turned into the stretch, the filly chased down the leader with 1000 metres to go and once she was past, McCarthy let her roll to a widening 3l win over Mutamakina (GB) (Nanthaniel {Ire}).
“They weren’t going fast, but there’s no other way to really ride her,” said trainer Arnaud Delacour. “She needs to be switched off behind, and she has an explosive turn-of-foot, so it’s nice to train a filly of that calibre.”
Magic Attitude is a full sister to Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Mission Impassible (Ire). Their grandam is a half-sister to Australian stakes winner Very Sydney (Danehill {USA}) and the dam of Australian stakes-placed Merimbula (Lonhro). The family also includes Australian runner Paret (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who was exported to the US in 2019 is finished second in the G1 United Nations S. last summer.
Illykato provides first half of stakes double for Toronado
Toronado’s (Ire) 3-year-old daughter Illykato (GB) was a determined winner of the Listed MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Conqueror Fillies' S. at Goodwood on Saturday.
Racing over 1600 metres, the filly broke just a step slowly to race next to last in the tightly packed field. She had plenty to do as they entered the final 600 metres and looked like she may have to settle for a placing until a hole opened next to the leader in the final 100 metres. Time was running out for Illykato to get her head in front but she dived at the line to win by a nose over Agincourt (Ire) (Declaration Of War {USA}) with four horses within 0.5l of each other at the line.
Illykato is one of two stakes winners for her dam alongside Group 2 winner Beacon (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) with heir grandam the Group 1 winner Eva Luna (Ire) (Double Schwartz {Ire}). The filly also hails from the family of Group 1 winner Loch Garman (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Rehn’s Nest (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}).
Tribhuvan gives Toronado second stakes win of day
Hours after Illykato (GB) won her stakes, Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) became another new stakes winner for his sire with a win in the G2 Fort Marcy S. at Belmont Park in the United States.
Racing over 1800 metres on the Belmont turf, Tribhuvan wasn’t going to give the others any chance to glance the lead. He immediately set off to open over 5l on the field by the time they completed the first 400 metres. That margin was cut down from there but he had enough left at the end when Eric Cancel asked him for another spurt in the stretch to hold off City Man (USA) (Mucho Macho Man {USA}) by 1.5l with Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) another 2l back in third.
“They said they wanted me to go and I did what I was told to do,” Cancel said. “The trip worked out very well. I settled on the pace and got my horse to relax. He made a really nice run from the quarter-pole to the wire."
Tribhuvan is out of a half-sister to Group winners Macleya (Ger) (Winged Love {Ire}) and Montclair (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) with four daughters of Minaccia (Ger) (Plantini {Ger}) now producing stakes winners after Tribhivan’s win. Out of a mare from the Green Desert (USA) line, Tribhivan is bred similarly to Toronado’s G1 William Reid winner Masked Crusader.
Vancouver’s Madone returns a winner in Senorita S.
The winner of three of her four starts last year, Madone (USA) (Vancouver) kicked off her 3-year-old season with an authoritative victory in the G3 Senorita S. at Santa Anita.
Racing over 1600 metres on the California turf, Madone was settled on the rail in about fourth. The two leaders opened up lengths on the field with Madone and a partner galloping at the front of the rest of the pack. As they entered the final 400 metres, a hole opened in front of Madone and she took full advantage. In just a few strides she was in front and won in-hand by 1l over Closing Remarks (USA) (Vronsky {USA}) after Golden (USA) (Tapit {USA}) was disqualified from the runner-up spot to sixth.
Trainer Simon Callaghan is eying a Grade 1 race this summer with the G1 Del Mar Oaks on August 21 her major target. The trainer said she will run one more time before that race – though he isn’t sure if it will be at Santa Anita or Del Mar.
“I think that’s the way she was today, I think she’ll improve and the Oaks will be the main target from here,” he said. “We’ll have one race in between, whether it’s here or in Del Mar but that’s our main target for this filly, I felt she’s very good, were looking forward to it.”
Madone is one of five winners out of the Cherokee Run (USA) mare Indian Love Call (USA). That mare is a half-sister to a stakes winner and the dam of another with her dam a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Gold Fever (USA) (Forty Niner {USA}) and the dam of Grade 1 winner Boisterous (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}). Madone’s extended family includes multiple Australian Group winner Perast (Snitzel) and stakes winners Thousand Veils (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Respin (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Rio Querari secures first Group 1 in Computaform Sprint
Sprinting over 1000 metres, Rio Querari (SAF) (Querari {Ger}) won his first career Group 1 in the G1 4racing Computaform Sprint at Turffontein.
Racing down the straight, the South African was just off the pace in the early stages of the dash and angled to the far side as they raced past the 300 metres mark to quickly take over the lead. The 4-year-old colt made easy work from there with a 2.25l win over Bohica (SAF) (Capetown Noir {SAF}) in the end.
Rio Querari is out of a half-sister to three South African stakes winners and comes from the same family as the card’s G2 Gerald Rosenberg S. winner Netta (SAF) (Where’s That Tiger {USA}) and G1 4racing Premier’s Champions Challenge third Cirillo (Pomodoro {SAF}).
