Ireland
Frankel's Westover dominates the Irish Derby
In the wake of a luckless third in the G1 Epsom Derby for Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), TDN AusNZ readers were told to 'expect to hear his name again', and were duly rewarded after the colt's victory in Saturday's G1 Irish Derby.
The race had been teed up as a match between Westover and the G1 Epsom Oaks winner Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but in the ultimate assessment it was really a matter of no-contest as Ralph Beckett's powerhouse colt overwhelmed all assembled for the Curragh Classic.
Always travelling in a beautiful rhythm for Colin Keane and granted a perfect lead by French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), the 11-8 joint-favourite took control at the top of the straight and had already stretched into an unassailable lead by the furlong (200 metre) pole.
All alone thereafter, the Juddmonte homebred remained unperturbed as he drew out a 7l winning margin to Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}), with French Claim holding on for third a further 2l behind. Tuesday managed fourth, but was never in it.
“It was very straightforward and I have to say a big thank you to Rob Hornby, who told me about the horse this morning,” Keane said. “He told me to just keep a lid on him going down and to keep it simple, as he gets the trip very well and will get further. He said not to be scared to make plenty of use of him turning in, as he would get to the line very well. To me, it felt like a piece of work with one horse in front of me.”
United Kingdom
Frankie delivers on Zoustar's first Northern Hemisphere-sired black-type winner
Frankie Dettori had spoken briefly of his sabbatical from the Gosdens at Newmarket on Saturday and duly made his sole ride a winning one on Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar) in the six-furlong (1200 metre) Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S.
Off the mark on debut over five furlongs at Bath on June 11, the bay who was a 77,000gns (AU$143,000) Tattersalls Book 3 and €110,000 (AU$167,000) Arqana May Breeze Up graduate becomes the first black-type winner in the Northern Hemisphere for her sire.
Buried in mid-division early, the 16-5 second-favourite was stuck behind rivals and left behind by Malrescia (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) heading down into the dip at Newmarket's July Course, but had an abundance of time to make up the deficit once in the clear. Running down that rival in the last half a furlong (100 metres), the Ralph Beckett trainee asserted to score by 1.75l, with a short head back to Tagline (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in third.
Japan
Takarazuka Kinen taken out by Titleholder
Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen, a 2200-metre open race for 3-year-olds and over, was won by Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). The 4-year-old colt dominated late on to prevail from Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) for owner Hiroshi Yamada, to add a third top-level victory to his CV and lower the course record to 2:09.7.
Titleholder's sire represents Japan's most popular bloodline, he being out of the mare Admire Groove (Jpn) who is by Sunday Silence (Jpn). His dam, Moeve (GB) is by Motivator (GB) and was herself a five-time winner.
