Europe
Group 3 winner for Counterattack
The Henk Grewe-trained See Hector (Ger) handed his German-based Australian sire Counterattack his fifth stakes win when taking on Sunday’s G3 Fritz Henkel Preis in Düsseldorf.
Counterattack - a homebred son of Redoute’s Choice for Geoff and Mary Grimish - won the G3 BTC Classic in 2016 and was placed in top company twice. He has stood at Gestüt Karlshof in Germany since 2018.
“See Hector is Germany’s current leading miler, that became absolutely clear,” Grewe said.
See Hector is from Scouting (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who has also produced last year’s G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten and G3 Zukunfts-Rennen runner-up Sea Paris (Ger) by the same sire.
German Oaks trifecta for Sea The Moon
Sunday’s G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks), which was held in driving rain, saw the Lanwades Stud-based Sea The Moon (Ger) trifecta the race.
It was another feature-race success for Grewe, whose 3-year-old filly Muskoka (Ger), touched off Kassada (Ger), with Sea The Lady (Fr) back in third.
“She’s an unbelievably good filly with an incredible heart and fights her way past every horse in front of her,” Grewe told GaloppOnline.
Sea The Moon - whose son Durston (GB) is the reigning Caulfield Cup champion - becomes the first stallion since Monsun (Ger) to sire the winner of both G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Preis der Diana in the same season.
Muskoka is the fourth elite-level winner for her sire and she is from Morning Mist (Ger) (Peintre Celebre (USA) - an unraced half-sister to the multiple Group 1 hero Brametot (Ire).
King Gold too good in G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest
Nicolas Caullery’s King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) claimed the biggest victory of his career when taking out the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in Deauville.
Under Stephane Pasquier, the 6-year-old prevailed by a short-head from the race favourite, the Hollie-Doyle handled Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}).
“What a day and what a race,” Caullery said post-race.
“He (King Gold) has always shown great potential since he was a 2-year-old, but he has had his share of problems. We had to go slowly with him as he wasn’t really that precocious and needed time to mature.”
King Gold, who becomes the first Group 1 winner for his sire, is the second foal produced by the unraced Miss Gandelia (Fr) (Kingsalsa {USA}), who is a sister to the stakes performer Queensalsa (Fr).
United States of America
Brightwork stays perfect in Adirondack
Outwork (USA) 2-year-old Brightwork (USA) had little trouble disposing of her opposition in Sunday’s G3 Adirondack S. at Saratoga to keep her perfect record intact.
The John Alexander Ortiz-trained filly bolted in by 5l in the hands of Irad Ortiz Jr.
“I told Irad that she’s sharp out of the gate and to not take anything away from her… I think she has more gears going longer.
“After she broke her maiden at Keeneland, we were very confident. We already targeted this race specifically.
“The sky is the limit with this filly.”
Ortiz Jr added: “The long-term goal is the (GI) Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita). We’re looking for that purple saddle towel.”
Brightwork is from the unraced Malibu Moon (USA) mare Clarendon Fancy (USA) and is closely related to the stakes winners Girvin (USA), Cocked And Loaded (USA) (Colonel John {USA}) and Dubini (USA) (Gio Ponti {USA}).
Asia
Mossman gelding takes SGG3 Rocket Man Sprint
Outsider Kharisma (Mossman) caused an upset with his first Group win in Sunday’s SGG3 Rocket Man Sprint - the second Leg of the STC Super Sprint series - at Kranji.
Trained by Stephen Gray, Kharisma was piloted to victory by Shafrizal Saleh and knocked off the favourite Pacific Emperor (Caravaggio {USA}).
“He (Kharisma) was our mainstay through COVID-19. He just got there (high ratings) a bit early and went quickly up in the weights and we had no races for him because these (handicap races) are the sorts of races he can win,” said Gray.
“He might not be the best horse out there but he was really fit and was given a beautiful ride by Shafrizal.”
Bred by Robrick Lodge Thoroughbreds, Kharisma made $65,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Gray bought him from the Riversdale draft.
The gelding is from the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Command More. His grandam is the stakes performer Paulini (Singspiel {Ire}) and she is closely related to the 2022 Listed Bendigo Guineas winner Gundec (Kermadec {NZ}).
