Bolshoi Ballet newest Group 1 winner for Galileo
Only hours after it was announced his sire Galileo had been euthanised, Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) became his 92nd Group 1 winner with a win in the G1 Belmont Derby in the United States.
Making his first start since finishing midpack in the G1 Cazoo Derby last month, Bolshoi Ballet was hustled into midpack by Ryan Moore in the 2000 metre race where he sat for much of the race. Asked to pick it up around the far turn, Bolshoi Ballet raced up the outside of the pack to join the battle for the lead as they raced into the final 100 metres. He provided trainer Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore with their second Group 1 on the card with his 1.25l win over Tokyo Gold (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) with Cellist (USA) (Big Blue Kitten {USA}) 0.25l back in third.
“With a furlong to run, you could see he was just waiting; having a look and his ears were going,” said Moore.
“He's still getting used to knowing what he has to do. We think there's more to come. Potentially, I suppose he could be a Breeders' Cup Turf horse."
The winner is a full brother to G2 Zipping Classic winner Southern France (Ire) and to the dam of Group 2-placed Editor At Large (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Santa Barbara gets her Group 1 victory
Entering this season with heavy expectations upon her, Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) secured her first career Group 1 victory when shipped to North America for the G1 Belmont Oaks at Belmont Park.
Providing the first of two Group 1 wins of the day for jockey Ryan Moore, Santa Barbara split the pack as they raced into the first turn of the 2000 metre race. The filly settled well under Moore as Con Lima (USA) (Commissioner {USA}) and wasn’t asked for her best until they hit the top of the stretch. Angled through a hole in the final 100 metres, Santa Barbara quickly shot into another gear as she ran down the leader to win by 0.5l with Con Lima finishing ahead of Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a nose for second.
“She’s been used to faster ground, so it probably took her a while to pick things up today on that slow ground,” said assistant trainer TJ Comerford.
“That was a good performance for her. Ryan (Moore) knows her better than anyone and he knew that she had plenty of speed, so it was never a problem.”
Santa Barbara is a half-sister to G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and four-time Group 1 winner Iriessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) and a granddaughter of dual Group 1 winner Starine (Fr) (Menocino {USA}).
Starman earns Group 1 in July Cup
The winner of five of his six career starts, Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) added a Group 1 victory to his resume on Saturday with a win in the G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
Racing on the near side in midpack with Tom Marquand aboard, Starman started his march with just over 400 metres left to run. Struggling to find room, the colt finally found what he needed with a little over 100 metres left and exploded to take the lead and win going away by 1.25l over Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) with Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) a nose back in third.
“This lad is as close to a racecar as you can get,” Marquand said
“He was pretty exceptional and you have to put him in the top tier of European sprinting after that, it was an incredible performance.”
Starman is a half-brother to multiple group-place Sunday Star (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and out of a Montjeu (Ire) half-sister to Group 2 winner King Guillermo (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) and stakes-placed Dorothy B (Ire) (Fastnet Rock). Their dam is a half-sister to Australian stakes winner Slow Pace (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) and his US Group 3-winning full brother Funny Duck (USA).
