United Kingdom
Stay Alert comes of age at Newbury
Returning to the scene of her prior career-best success in the Listed Abingdon S., Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib’s Stay Alert - a son of Coolmore Stud stallion Fastnet Rock - mastered the colts ahead of a potentially fruitful autumn in Saturday’s G3 Legacy Cup at Newbury.
Off the track since finishing fifth in the G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock on July 2, the 5-1 shot was dropped out in last early by David Egan to overcome her wide draw and was able to creep up the rail to enter contention by the three-furlong (600-metre) marker.
Short of room there, the homebred was angled out in time to reel in Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) in the closing stages and score by a 0.3l.
Trainer Hughie Morrison has his eye on Ascot’s Champions Day now. “She had three quick races and it was important after the Lancashire Oaks that we settled her, so that’s why she was dropped in today. She was completely relaxed and actually shows a decent turn of foot. It’s my inclination to take her to Ascot on Champions Day for the fillies’ Group 1 over a mile and a half and hopefully, Martyn and Ben will have a go and keep her in training next year.”
France
Mrs Fitzherbert rules the roost
Hughie Morrison saddled Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock) to win the G3 Legacy Cup at Newbury early on Saturday and his Mrs Fitzherbert (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) handed him a double on the day when she landed the G3 Prix Bertrand De Tarragon at Chantilly.
Successful in the Listed Conqueror Fillies’ S. at Goodwood on April 30 and third in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown on August 20, the homebred was always travelling with zest for Cristian Demuro who sought to take a lead throughout the early stages. Sent to the front two out, the 12-5 favourite stayed on strongly to beat Sundoro (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by 1.4l.
Saxon Warrior's Victoria Road notches landmark score In The Conde
Westerberg and Coolmore's 2-year-old colt Victoria Road (Ire) - a son of Coolmore shuttler Saxon Warrior (Jpn) - earned his black-type stripes with a game win in last month's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville and continued his upward momentum with another narrow success, and a first Pattern-race victory for his freshman sire, in Saturday's G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly.
The colt, who came fifth at Gowran Park last month, was sharply into stride and settled off the tempo in seventh after the early shuffling. Taking closer order in the home straight, he came under a drive once leaving the quarter-mile marker behind and found extra inside the final 100 metres to edge Rashford (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) by a neck nearing the line, the duo 3.5l clear of the remainder headed by Nasomo (Ire) (Australia {GB}).
“We are delighted with the horse and delighted for Saxon Warrior as this is his first Group winner,” reflected Coolmore representative Hermine Bastide. “Ryan (Moore, jockey) says that the horse does the minimum, but hasn't stopped improving. He is a late foal, so that is a very good sign. He is in the (G1 Prix Jean-Luc) Lagardere, but that is over seven furlongs (1400 metres). I am sure Aidan (O’Brien) will have a look at the program and decide which race is best for the horse. He will most certainly be entered in the (G1) Criterium de Saint Cloud.”
Canada
Modern Games 'miles' the Best at Woodbine
When last seen on these shores, Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was embroiled in the controversy of all controversies, when erroneously scratched, then allowed to run–albeit for purse money only–in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, which he duly won. The homebred is likely back on his way to the G1 Breeders' Cup after pummelling overmatched rivals by five lengths in Saturday's G1 Woodbine Mile, for which Modern Games earns an all-expenses-paid trip to Keeneland.
Allowed to drift back to sit worse than midfield as Get Smokin (USA) (Got Stormy {USA}) set a strong tempo in advance of War Bomber (Ire) (War Front {USA}), the chestnut still found himself in the latter half of the field, in some traffic and very much on hold as they raced into the final three-eighths of a mile. Waiting for the precise moment to pull the trigger, William Buick set Modern Games alight once heads were turned for home, beating G1 Maker's Mark Mile winner Shirl's Speight (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) to a spot while angling out and around fellow European raider Finest Sound (Ire) (Exceed And Excel). Once into the clear, Modern Games let down beautifully and motored through the final couple of furlongs to score decisively. Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) was along late to take a photo for second over Finest Sound. Modern Games is the first 3-year-old to win the Woodbine Mile.
Winner of this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) in his first post Breeders' Cup appearance in May, Modern Games failed to see out the extended 10-furlong trip when beaten 5.4l into third by the exciting Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on June 5. Fractionally disappointing when fifth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville on July 10, Modern Games ran Europe's top horse Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to 1.8l when last seen in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 27.
Mysterious Night by daylight in Summer
Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) made it back-to-back victories for Godolphin in the G1 Summer S. on Saturday, careering away to score by 5.8l in the finish from Klaravich Stables' Appraise (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for an Irish-bred exacta. The Summer S., won last year by Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), is a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland the first weekend of November.
The homebred–who wore a hood in the preliminaries–jumped alertly from the inside stall and raced keenly, but not overly so, while scraping paint, as Ninetyfour Expos (USA) (Outwork {USA}) galloped them along from Chiseler (USA) (Speightstown {USA}). With William Buick sitting very chilly in the saddle as they raced around the turn, Mysterious Night crept closer on the swing for home, ranged up to Ninetyfour Expos while under no encouragement whatsoever in upper stretch and the race was all but over two furlongs (1200 metres) down.
Finally given his head with three-sixteenths of a mile to travel, Mysterious Night opened up readily on his rivals and hit the line hard, despite swapping over to his incorrect lead inside the final half-furlong. The previously unbeaten Philip My Dear (USA) (Silent Name {Jpn}).
“He rode beautiful and the track is in great condition,” said Buick. “I walked it before, and you know, it's as good as it always is. We knew the horse was going to like it, fast ground. He travelled through the race beautifully. He was giving me plenty of confidence throughout the race and he was happy travelling away, so it was perfect for him and hopefully, he can go on from here.”
English Channel's Last Call Upsets the Natalma
X-Men Racing 2 LLC and SF Racing's Last Call (USA) (English Channel {USA}) broke her maiden in style with a 21-1 upset in the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Keeneland.
Second, on debut at this venue on July 23, Last Call was racing in second last off the rail as Star Candy (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) dictated terms. Advancing rapidly up the outside approaching the bend, Last Call was four wide at the top of the lane and hit the front halfway home, holding off favoured Cairo Consort (USA) (Cairo Prince {USA}) to score by a 1l.
“We put the blinkers on early because she just wasn't showing a whole lot in the beginning and then the lightbulb kind of kicked in and she just started working more impressively each time,” said winning trainer Kevin Attard. “And we were obviously a little disappointed in her last start, but we thought she was a little rank, she wouldn't relax and settle so we've taken the blinkers off. I think just now with a couple of races experience under her belt and obviously, her pedigree leans to more distance she put it all together today.”
United States
McKulick back in front
McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) returned to winning ways Saturday, justifying heavy favouritism in the G3 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. run at Aqueduct as part of the Belmont at the Big A meet.
Moving up into a joint third, McKulick charged up the outside approaching the far turn. Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}) attempted to run with her in the lane, but McKulick forged clear late to secure the victory. Miss Yearwood (USA) (Will Take Charge {USA}) rallied for third.
AIrad (Ortiz, Jr.) rode a great race,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “He was tracking the eventual runner-up [Toskana Belle] the whole way. It was a beautiful trip. I thought maybe he was moving a little early, but he knew what he was doing. He timed it right. I’m so proud of him. He’s really come through for us every race and ridden her great.”
AI moved a little earlier because she’s that kind of filly that needs to start going a little earlier,” Ortiz said. “The horse I had to beat (Toskana Belle) was in front of me, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ I let her go and do her thing a little earlier than usual and she got the job done. She still had something in the tank. After the trip I got, I was confident that I would still have some horse if I decide to do that. After we made the lead, I think she spooked a little bit. She saw something maybe inside the field because she went out a little bit. I was able to correct her right away. I switched my stick and she responded really well. She was there for me.”
Nations Pride wins Grade 1
A close second in the GI Belmont Derby on July 9, Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) took the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational S. August 6 and captured the third leg of NYRA's Triple Turf Series with a dominant score in the G3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. Saturday. The heavy favourite settled in a stalking third as Belmont Derby and G3 Tampa Bay Derby hero Classic Causeway (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}).
Maintaining his position through three-quarters, Nations Pride switched to the outside to tackle the pacesetter turning for home and charged clear in the lane to win for fun. The Grey
Wizard (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}) got up for second and Classic Causeway held third.
Nations Pride won four straight races overseas, the first two being on synthetic last fall. Capturing the Jumeirah Derby at Meydan in February, the homebred captured the Newmarket S. on April 29 and was eighth in the G1 Epsom Derby on June 4.
13th winner for Justify
Coolmore’s first-season shuttler Justify (USA) sired his 13th first-crop winner on Saturday when How Lovely (USA) broke her maiden at Pimlico.
The 2-year-old filly scooted away in the closing stages to beat Opus Forty Two (USA) (Mendelssohn {USA}) by a decisive 1.5l.
Justify’s first crop of Southern Hemisphere-bred 2-year-olds are about to hit the track in Australia and his Northern Hemisphere crop is headed by four stakes winners.
