Europe
Siyouni’s Paddington wins the Irish 2000 Guineas
Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh was one for Ballydoyle, as TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) provided his stable with compensation for their Newmarket disappointment three weeks earlier.
Prepared for this Classic 'old-school style' via the Madrid H. and Listed Tetrarch S., the dark horse of the Rosegreen 3-year-old crop attracted support into 3-1 second favoritism and enjoyed a tow from fellow TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) throughout the early stages.
Putting the pressure on that 2000 Guineas runner-up three out, the bay gave generously for Ryan Moore to get on top a furlong from home and assert for a 2l success from Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road {USA}), who put the cherry on the cake in providing a one-two for the 12-time Irish 2000 Guineas-winning trainer Aidan O'Brien.
There was an inquiry, with Paddington having bumped the eventual third inside the last furlong, but the result was allowed to stand. Hi Royal faded late to finish in third, with the well-backed 6-4 favourite Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) never a factor in ninth.
O'Brien has another top-class son of Siyouni (Fr) on his hands in Paddington, whose sole defeat came when fifth on his introduction at Ascot in September prior to earning his TDN Rising Star tag back on home soil here in October.
“We went to Ascot first time with him (Paddington) and he was very babyish, but he wintered very well, and we were very happy with him in the spring,” he explained.
“Paddington ended up in the Madrid on a lovely mark, it was a lovely place to start him as it was over seven furlongs, even though the ground was soft. Then he came back here and won the Tetrarch in soft ground again, so we weren't really sure about the ground with him. Obviously, he's a Siyouni out of a Montjeu mare. He was always a beautiful mover, but you are never sure until they do it.
“Seamus (Heffernan) loved him the last day and he had been doing everything really nice since. He's a fine, big horse and is maturing very well. He's very good-looking,” the Ballydoyle handler added. “He was a little bit slow away, but Ryan got his position very quickly on him and he didn't light him up to do it. He's a very exciting horse. The St James's Palace looks like the natural progression for him, because he doesn't look short of speed even though he will get further in time.”
Paddington (GB) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Arqana
Bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins, Paddington who was the joint-second highest-priced lot when realising €420,000 (AU$690,000) at the 2021 Arqana October Sale, is currently the last known foal out of the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit winner Modern Eagle (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Her first progeny was Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was twice Listed-placed in France while she is a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre {USA}) and a half to the Listed Vintage Tipple S. winner and G3 Loughbrown S.-placed Mighty Blue (Fr) by Montjeu's (Ire) son Authorized (Ire).
Millionaia is out of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (USA) (Alysheba {USA}), who is also the second dam of the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best {USA}) while the fourth dam Madelia (Fr) (Caro {USA}) scored three times at the highest level including in the Diane.
Paddington becomes the ninth individual Group 1 winner for Siyouni who stands at the Aga Khan Studs Haras de Bonneval.
No Nay Never's Little Big Bear rattles home an easy winner of the Sandy Lane
Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Westerberg's Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) overraced and encountered a rough journey when well back in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at the beginning of the month, but on livelier ground over Haydock's straight course, the even-money favourite ran out an open-length winner of the one-mile G2 Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane S. on Saturday.
Always forwardly placed against the fence as last year's G2 Coventry S. hero and G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial S. third Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) set the pace, the 2022 G1 Phoenix S. hero took over at the furlong grounds and surged away to a visually pleasing victory. Multiple Listed winner Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) closed with promise to take second and Bradsell reported home third.
Deputising for Ryan Moore who won the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas aboard Paddington at the Curragh later in the day, Frankie Dettori was picking up his second win on the card, after guiding Covey (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to victory in the Betfred Silver Bowl H. one race prior. It was the first victory at Haydock for Aidan O'Brien.
“In fairness, they booked me about 10 days ago,” said the Italian, who is retiring at the end of the year. “I thought I could have been in Ireland for the Guineas but things didn't materialise, so I was straight on the phone to say that I'd go to Haydock.
“Little Big Bear was the champion 2-year-old last year and the 2000 Guineas proved too far for him, but he won in good style today. He quickened up well for hands and heels and it's a big boost for the Commonwealth (Cup at Royal Ascot in June).
“I'll be honest, I eased up in the last few yards as the job was done, that was a good performance ahead of next month. He's got big figures in the book and he's come back to his best today – he'll be a big favourite.
“I don't think Ryan (Moore) is going to give me this one (ride)! I was very pleased to ride him today and wish him all the best.”
Before his Guineas hiccup, Little Big Bear was named a Rising Star at second asking at Naas last May, and sped to successive victories in the Listed Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot, the Curragh's G3 Anglesey S., and the G1 Phoenix S., prior to being shelved for the rest of the campaign due to a setback.
'My God they're racehorses' – Bungle Inthejungle colt wins Marble Hill Stakes
Continuing the stellar form of the Jessie Harrington stable, Theresa Marnane's Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) edged ahead in a thriller for Saturday's G3 Marble Hill S. at the Curragh. Off the mark a fortnight earlier at Navan, the 11-1 shot was towards the fore from the outset under Shane Foley before being left in front two out.
Headed by TDN Rising Star and 13-8 favourite Noche Magica (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) a furlong later, the bay battled hard between that rival and Ballydoyle's Listed First Flier S. winner His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) to get back up and beat Noche Magica by a head, with the same margin to His Majesty.
“He was very impressive when he won at Navan, a furlong down you'd think 'how is this horse going to win?' and he put his head down and galloped the whole way to the line,” Kate Harrington said of the winner, a bargain €11,000 (AU$18,100) Goffs Autumn Sale graduate. “He hated the ground that day and was green. He's learned an awful lot from that and will learn an awful lot from today, he'll be even more competitive the next day when we go to Ascot.”
Con Marnane added, “He was a cheap horse, Amy picked him out in Doncaster but he went lame, he got a foot abscess. I was gutted as he was my favourite horse at the sale, but we bought him at Goffs in October. We've won all the good races at Ascot with horses we've sold, or whatever, but we haven't got to Coventry yet. This is our fella.”
Givemethebeatboys is the ninth stakes winner for Bungle Inthejungle (GB), a son of Exceed And Excel who stands at Rathasker Stud.
Showcasing's Dramatised parlays Breeders' Cup second to Temple Payday
One of the premier sprints on the calendar, Haydock's G2 Betfred Temple S. went to the Clipper Logistics-owned Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) who was just ahead of Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) at the line.
The 4-1 crowd's pick received weight from each of her rivals, and the in-form William Buick kept his filly within shouting distance of the vanguard, as Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) set the pace from the bell.
Travelling well into the race, the 'TDN Rising Star' needed a gap to open at a critical juncture, but once it did, she stormed up the fence and confronted the long-time leader, as Equilateral flashed home to the left of Live In The Dream. The weight told on that rival, who grudgingly gave way, and Dramatised crossed the line a length to the good of Equilateral, who was, in turn, a half-length in front of Live In The Dream.
Trainer Karl Burke was pleased with the outcome and said, “You'd have to give her nine and a half out of 10 for that, there is a little bit of improvement to come out of her. William said she was a little bit rusty and when he asked her to quicken up she took 100 yards to really get into gear, but you have to be impressed.
“I've yet to watch the replay, but the rail was always going to be an advantage. We knew Live In The Dream was going to be up there, so the plan was just to tag onto that. William rode his luck a little bit, but he said there was always room to force his way through, so it was brilliant.
“She'll now go for the (G1) King's Stand S., which is going to be a tough task with the Australian horses coming over. After that the (G1) Nunthorpe (S.) will be on her radar too and a return trip to the Breeders' Cup – we'll work back from America.
“William has never sat on her before and he said she took a little while to get going, but he thinks she'll sharpen up for that. Danny (Tudhope) couldn't do the weight today (08-09), but he'll do it at Ascot.
“The owner (Steve Parkin) is over in Monaco enjoying the Grand Prix this weekend, I got a few videos of a party last night and I'd say they'll be partying again tonight!”
William Buick told ITV Racing, “She was so professional all throughout – she was really relaxed beforehand and Karl and all the team have done a great job with her over the winter.
“Even with the weight that they get, it's never easy taking on older sprinters but she was top class last year and it looks like it is going to carry on this year.”
Last seen running an agonising second to Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel) in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November, the Branton Court Stud-bred filly was named a Rising Star after romping by 4l at Newmarket on debut last April, before adding the G2 Queen Mary S. in good style at Royal Ascot in June. Fifth in the G2 Lowther S. tried beyond five furlongs for the first time, the Temple was her 3-year-old bow.
United States Of America
Easy Red second winner for Omaha Beach
Easy Red (USA), a first-crop daughter of Omaha Beach (USA), was hammered at the windows for her maiden debut at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
The chestnut Easy Red filly trailed early but began to make up ground around the far turn. Racing out in the centre of the track, Easy Red laid down a furious rally down the lane and with less than a sixteenth left, got up just in time over Luxuriate (USA) (Outwork {USA}) to graduate by a head. Easy Red is the second winner for Omaha Beach who recorded his first winner with Cynane (USA) on May 5 at Belmont Park.
Spirit Of Makena continues streak with Triple Bend score
Spirit Of Makena (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) continues his rise through the ranks after another stylish victory, this time in the G2 Triple Bend S. over the 9-year-old evergreen C Z Rocket (USA) (City Zip {USA}). The 5-year-old Spirit Of Makena cruised home after taking over from early pacesetter Forbidden Kingdom (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) coming off the final bend. The victory was Spirit Of Makena's third in a row and second in Graded company. The final time was 1:23.07.
