Written by Melissa Bauer-Herzog
Knicks Go impressive winner of Whitney
Knicks Go (USA) (Paynter {USA}) was given his favourite kind of race in the G1 Whitney S. at Saratoga on Saturday and took advantage to win his fourth career Grade 1.
Left alone on the front end in the 1800 metre race, Knicks Go cruised at his own pace and never came back to the field. Godolphin homebred Maxfield (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) tried to run him down but could only get within 4.5l at the end with Silver State (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) 1.75l back in third.
“The way he was moving he just skipped to the last quarter-pole,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “He loved what he was doing. He was very relaxed and going forward. I was really happy with the way he was going turning for home.”
Owned by the Korea Racing Authority, Knicks Go is out of multiple stakes winner Kosmo’s Buddy (USA) (Outflanker {USA}). Kosmo’s Buddy has produced four winners from five to race and is a fifth generation stakes producer with each of Knicks Go’s first four dams producing a stakes winner or placer.
Bella Sofia upsets Test
Bella Sofia (USA) (Awesome Patriot {USA}) pulled a minor upset on Saturday with a 4.25l victory in the G1 Test S. at Saratoga.
Tracking the leader for the early half of the 1400 metre dirt race, Bella Sofia was happy to take the lead when asked by Luis Saez. Though she drifted down the stretch, she had a big enough lead to win by 4.25l over Souper Sensational (USA) (Curlin {USA}) with race favourite Search Results (USA) (Flatter {USA}) another 1.5l back in third.
“She was nice and comfortable and she was running very well for him and when (jockey Luis Saez) asked her, she was there for him,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “To win on Whitney Day is extra special, for sure.”
Bella Sofia is the third winner from three to race out of the stakes-placed Love Contract (USA) (Consolidator {USA}). That mare is a half-sister to stakes winner Shake The Dice (USA) (Boundary {USA}) and two stakes-producing dams. The family also includes Grade 1 winner Hot Cha Cha (USA) (Cactus Ridge {USA}) and top US racemares Inside Information (USA) (Private Account {USA}) and Educated Risk (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}).
Princess Grace wins third stakes in a row
It was a third straight Graded stakes victory in three different states for Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}) on Saturday when she shipped to California to win the G2 Yellow Ribbon H. at Del Mar.
The 1700 metre turf race saw Princess Grace settle in the back of the tightly packed front group. Princess Grace weaved through traffic to take over with less than 400 metres left to run and in only a blink had a few lengths on the field. Dogtag (USA) (War Front {USA}) tried to run her down but there was no hope with Princess Grace winning by 1.25l over Dogtag and Maxim Rate (USA) (Exchange Rate {USA}) another 1.25l back in third.
“Michael (Stidham, trainer) told me one thing before the race that I used to advantage today: He said, ‘She’s brave.’ When that hole opened turning for home, I sent her through and she went right on with it,” said jockey Kent Desoremeaux.
Princess Grace is the first runner out of the stakes-placed Masquerade (USA) (Silent Name {Jpn}). That mare is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Svea Dahl (USA) (Honor Grade {USA}), who in turn produced the stakes winner Amazing Tale (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}). Amazing Tale was imported into Australia in 2010 and has produced five Australian-born winners. Amazing Tale’s youngest is a yearling filly by Nicconi and wasn’t served last year.
Twilight Gleaming first stakes winner for National Defense
Shipping to France from the United States, Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) became a stakes winner with a victory in the Listed Prix de la Vallee d’Auge at Deauville.
As to be expected from a Wesley Ward trainee, Twilight Gleaming took an early command in the 1000 metre dash and never let a rival get their nose in front. She had to repel a late challenge from Delmona (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) but kept her neck in front at the line with Royal Ashirah (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) 3.5l back in third.
National Defense has recently arrived back in Australia to stand this season for $9900 (inc GST) at Widden’s new Victoria base. His daughter is out of a full sister to G1 Winx S. second Invictus Prince (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was retired from racing in March. The family also includes G2 Moonee Valley Cup fourth Bold Sniper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) as well.
Her World third stakes winner for Caravaggio
The highly anticipated debut of Her World (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}) went exactly as planned on Saturday when the filly took on boys in the Tyro S. and galloped out a 6l winner at Monmouth Park.
Just like fellow Wesley Ward trainee Twilight Gleaming, Her World went straight to the lead and never looked back. The filly had a few runners try to pressure her early on but Her World laughed them off and steadily pulled away in the 1000 metre race to earn TDN Rising Star honours with the victory. American Pharoah’s (USA) Trust Our Journey (USA) was a clear second when 1.75l ahead of third-placed Baytown Warrior (USA) (First Samurai {USA}).
“We’re excited. She did exactly what we thought she would,” said Ward. “We don’t have to change much after watching that race moving forward. We’re going to bring her next to Keeneland, and then we plan on bringing her to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Her World is a half-brother to former Hong Kong runner Consort (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) among her dam’s five other winners. Mundus Novus (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) is a three-quarter sister to Grade 2 winner Surya (USA) (Unbridled {USA}), who produced Grade 1 winner Aruna (USA) (Mr Greeley {USA}). Their dam has Australian connections as the half-sister to multiple Australian winner Salatin (USA) (Seattle Dancer {USA}), who also stood in Australia from 1997 to 2002.
