Snowfall sets record in Cazoo Oaks
Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) put on a show to remember in Friday’s G1 Cazoo Oaks when her 16l win was the biggest in the race’s history.
Frankie Dettori settled his mount among the midpack runners in the 2400 metre affair and let her enjoy running there. As the field entered the final 600 metres of the race after leaving Tattenham Corner, Snowfall was marching to the front and she had command as they raced passed the 400 metre marker. It was a procession from there with Dettori enjoying the ride as his mount crossed the line with her ears pricked.
The longtime pacesetter Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) broke up an Aidan O’Brien exacta when finishing 1.75l in front of Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for a true family affair in the top three placings with Divinely a full sister to Snowfall’s dam.
“It was quite remarkable, because I pulled up by the stables and everybody else pulled up by the winning post! I've won many Classics, but none as easy as this one. Enable did the Irish Oaks, King George and Arc as a 3-year-old after this and I wouldn't put that past her, she's that good,” Dettori told Thoroughbred Daily News.
Snowfall is out of Divinely’s Group 3-winning full sister Best In The World (Ire) with Divinely also a full sister to top racemare Found (Ire). Found in Snowfall’s extended family are the Australian stakes-placed half-siblings Alcohol (Bianconi), Alcobro (Bianconi), and Montepulciano (All Too Hard). Their dam is also a half-sister to the dam of Adelaide Guineas winner Hypercane (Toronado {Ire}), who is spelling for Richard and Chantelle Jolly.
Pyledriver puts in gutsy performance in Coronation Cup
It was a career best run for Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) on Friday as he dug deep to hold off Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Coral Coronation Cup over 2400 metres.
The 4-year-old colt disputed the lead out of the barrier before letting Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) take over the pacesetting duties. As they entered Tattenham Corner, Pyledriver was tired of running behind another and took over the lead. Racing into the final 400 metres, it looked like Al Aasy was easily going to take over from the leader but though he got headed, Pyledriver came back at him. It took nearly the whole distance until the wire but Pyledriver was able to take his lead back to win by 0.25l with Japan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 7l behind them in third.
“With the rail out (to save ground for Derby day), we were actually racing on the steepest part of the camber and so I was conscious to get to the rail,” jockey Martin Dwyer told Thoroughbred Daily News. “Jim (Crowley) growls in a finish and gave me no room whatsoever, so it was a real ding-dong battle and I have to say my horse was very brave and pulled out all stops.”
Third in last year’s G1 St. Leger, Pyledriver joins his dam’s half-brother Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) and grandam’s half-brother Linngari (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) as Group 1 winners in the family. Pyledriver’s dam is also a full sister to Group 3 winner Normandel (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) with another half-sister producing two stakes performers.
Baron Samedi wins Belmont Gold Cup
Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) showed he may be one to watch when thinking of the G1 Melbourne Cup in coming months after he scored a win in the G1 Belmont Gold Cup at Belmont Park.
Racing over 3200 metres on the turf, Baron Samedi was among the back markers in the spread out field. He enjoyed staying in that position as two horses entered their own little battle well ahead of everyone else. In the final 600 metres, that duo started coming back and Baron Samedi was one of the first to take advantage. Angling out from the rail position he’d enjoyed, Baron Samedi had clear running room to pass the leaders but was his own worst enemy as he drifted out. While it kept him from running away with the victory, it didn’t prove to be a game loser with the 4-year-old gelding winning by 2.75l over Fantasioso (Arg) (Strategic Prince {GB}) with Ajourneytofreedom (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) third.
“I’m really proud of both my horses,” said trainer Joseph O’Brien. “Baron Samedi is a very good horse and Johnny (Velazquez) gave him a great ride. He hadn’t been that far before, but he had handled that kind of track before, so we weren’t worried about the rain. We just worried about them taking the race off the turf. I’m very proud of our team and a big thanks to the owners for allowing us to do this.”
The second stakes winner for Harbour Watch (Ire) today, Baron Samedi is out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Fityaan (GB) (Haafhd {GB}). Baron Samedi’s Group 3-winning grandam is a full sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Trans Island (GB) (Selkirk {USA}).
Firenze Fire defends True North title
No horse loves Belmont Park more than Firenze Fire (USA) (Poseidon’s Warrior {USA}) and he showed that on Friday with his second straight victory in the True North S. – and sixth at the track in 10 Belmont starts.
The 6-year-old went straight to the lead in the 1300 metre dirt race and had to fend off last out Grade 1 winner Flagstaff (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) all the way around the oval. It wasn’t until the final 200 metres that Flagstaff finally gave in and Firenze Fire was able to pull away to a 1.5l victory with American Power (USA) (Power Broker {USA}) in third.
“He's been training great,” said trainer Kelly Breen. “I think he's more even-keel now. I'm getting to know him even more than last year and maybe he's getting to know me, also. It's a pretty good combo right now.”
A homebred for Mr. Amore Stables, Firenze Fire is one of two stakes performers from two to race out of My Every Wish (USA) (Langfuhr {Can}). His grandam is a full sister to 2011 US Broodmare of the Year Oatsee (USA) (Unbridled {USA}), whose runners include triple Grade 1 winner Shackleford (USA) (Forestry {USA}) and G1 Alabama S. winner Jady Joanne (USA) (Orientate {USA}).
Mean Mary goes wire-to-wire in New York
Mean Mary (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) went straight to the lead in the G2 New York S. over 2000 metres on the Belmont turf and held on from a late charge to win her second straight race.
It looked like Mean Mary had the race easily in hand as she entered the straight but with 200 metres left to run, that wasn’t a sure bet. The mare had to dig in deep to hold the late running Irish invader Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) off by nose with the pair 2l ahead of My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}).
“I was really anxious when I saw (Thundering Nights) closing so fast, but I had felt pretty confident to that point,” said trainer Graham Motion. “She was really running. She came out of the gate like a rabbit. I’d never seen her break like that. She really does love it. She’s such a cool filly.”
Mean Mary is from the final crop of Scat Daddy (USA) and is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Bye Bye Melvin (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), who runs in tomorrow’s G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. at the same track. Their dam is Grade 1 winner Karlovy Vary (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}) and comes from the family of US Champion War Pass (USA) (Cherokee Run {USA}) and Grade 1 winner Jack Milton (USA) (War Front {USA}).
Mehmento takes out Surrey S.
It was Mehmento’s (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) race nearly from the start and he wasn’t going to give up the opportunity, winning the Listed Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Surrey S. over 1400 metres by 2.75l.
Meu Amor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) tried to threaten the winner with 400 metres left to go but Mehmento shrugged off the filly’s challenge under Hollie Doyle. Legal Attack (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) then made a run at the leader but in the end, it wasn’t enough with Mehmento earning his first stakes victory. Legal Attack was solidly in second with Meu Amor 1.5l back in third.
Mehmento hails from the extended family of multiple Australian Group winner Star Of The Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and the stakes winning, Group 1-placed Spieth (NZ). The colt also has another connection to Australia with Windsor Park Stud’s Charm Spirit (Ire) a three-quarter sister to his own dam. Spieth is about to enter his fourth season at Aquis.
Territories’ Rhoscolyn romps at Epsom
Rhoscolyn (GB) closed out Friday’s Epsom Downs card on a high note when registering his fourth career win with a 4l victory in a handicap.
Racing over 1400 metres, he was just behind the leaders for much of the race before James Doyle asked him to take a more active role as they entered the final stages of the race. Taking the lead just outside the 200 metre mark, he continued to do his job well when pulling away with Shelir (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in second.
Rhoscolyn is from the first crop of Darley shuttler Territories (Ire), who has first Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds this season. The 3-year-old gelding hails from the family of New Zealand stakes winner Another Coup (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), whose oldest foal is a 2-year-old filly by Dissident. The mare also has a yearling colt by Vancouver, a weanling colt by Trapeze Artist, and returned to that stallion last year.
Astern registers first Northern Hemisphere winner
New Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star Mainstay (USA) (Astern) got her sire off to a flying start on Friday as a 7.75l debut winner for Astern at Monmouth Park.
Racing over 900 metres on the dirt, the filly broke strongly and immediately assumed command. Widening her margin with every step, when jockey Frankie Pennington asked for just a little more she bolted home. There was no catching her with Next Tuesday (USA) (Kantharos {USA}) a clear second after following her around the track.
Bred by racing co-owner Swilcan Stables, Mainstay is a half-sister to last year’s US Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Vequist (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) and one of four winners from four to race out of her Grade 2-winning dam. This is the extended family of another Champion in Storm Song (USA) (Summer Squall {USA}), with that mare the grandam of multiple Champion Stayer Order of Saint George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and his G3 Bart Cummings-placed full brother Kellstorm (Ire), who stands in Queensland.
US$700,000 Malhaamel gives Into Mischief another Rising Star
Shadwell’s US$700,000 (AU$904,626) yearling purchase Mahaamel (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) added to the Belmont Park excitement on Friday when the colt romped to Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star status by 3.5l over 1400 metres.
Having to fend off pressure from two others who wanted his lead for much of the early running on the dirt track, as they entered the stretch he was ready to run. Quickly clear, Mahaamel added to his lead in the final furlong to put his maiden victory behind him in his second start.
Mahaamel is the second winner from as many to run out of Grade 3 winner Hot Stones (USA) (Bustin Stones {USA}). This is also the extended family of G2 Charles Town Classic winner Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) (Paddy O’Prado {USA}). Mahaamel is the 23rd Rising Star for Spendthrift Farm’s flagship stallion Into Mischief (USA).
