Europe
Dubawi's Henry Longfellow takes charge in the Futurity
Making light work of Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity S. at the Curragh, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) continued the golden spell of the yard's 2-year-olds in 2023.
Backed into 2-9 favouritism, the son of Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the brilliant 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine who had opened his account in style over this course and seven-furlong distance last month tracked the ultimately-disappointing Spanish Flame (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) until taking command under Ryan Moore. Chased to the line by Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), he had 2l to spare over that Joseph O'Brien trainee at the line, with 3l back to fellow Rosegreen runner Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third.
“It was a very good race today and there was a good solid pace,” Aidan O'Brien said after welcoming a 16th Futurity winner which ties him on the record with the late Dr Vincent O'Brien. “He looks a very smart colt and the plan was to come here today and then the (G1) Dewhurst. He would have learned plenty, he had to travel at a solid pace and quicken and Ryan taught him a lot.
“They won't go much quicker than that in any Dewhurst. He's not short of pace, but Dubawis do stay and his mother was very unusual as she won Group 1’s from a mile all the way to a mile and a half. City Of Troy is coming here for the National and they are going different ways; they haven't been put together yet at home, so I'm not sure what's between them. I'm not sure they will be unless the lads say so.”
TDN Rising Star Les Pavots impresses in Deauville's Prix du Calvados
'TDN Rising Star' Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) encountered G1 Prix Morny contender Ramatuelle (USA) (Justify {USA}) when hitting the board in June's G3 Prix du Bois at Chantilly and backed up a win in last month's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles at Vichy with an impressive performance and a career high in Saturday's G2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville.
Les Pavots prevailed from Ornellaia (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by 1.25l, while Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner) finished third.
“She is a talented filly and improving with every race,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “I had some concerns today about the (very) soft ground, but she handled it beautifully. She is in the (G1) Marcel Boussac and that is a logical next step, but we also have in mind to take her to the (G1) Breeders' cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.”
Les Pavots, a private purchase from Coolmore, is the fifth of six foals and one of four scorers from as many runners produced by G3 Ballyogan S. third Sparrow (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself out of G3 Middleton S. victrix and G1 Oaks second All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler's Wells {USA}). Les Pavots is a half-sister to the late G1 Cox Plate hero Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and the dual stakes-winning G3 Gordon S. and G3 NE Manion Cup placegetter Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).
Frankel's Arrest makes all in Geoffrey Freer test
Juddmonte's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud runner-up Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) had failed to build upon a wide-margin triumph in May's G3 Chester Vase, but regained the winning thread and punched his ticket to next month's G1 St Leger with a pillar-to-post victory in Saturday's G3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer S. at Newbury.
Arrest easily withstood the late threat of Ching Shih (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Shandoz (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) ran into third.
The G1 Derby 10th and G2 King Edward VII S. fifth finisher becomes a record-breaking fifth winner of the contest for Frankie Dettori and a first for the Gosden stable since Presenting (GB) obliged in 1995.
“Everyone expected the ground to be a bog, but it's good-to-soft, and he was the Derby favourite, so he had to do that,” said Dettori. “He's one card for the St Leger, but let's see how Gregory gets on next Wednesday (in the G2 Great Voltigeur). He's one of a bunch of top horses John (Gosden) is sending to York, it's a very strong team and I can't wait. Soft ground is not an issue with him and if it's soft at Doncaster it would be fine.”
Deauville stakes double for Graffard stable in Prix de Pomone thriller
Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) had raced exclusively in stakes company in each of her six latest starts, bagging a career best in ParisLongchamp's Listed Prix Gold River in May when last seen, and continued on a rapid upward trajectory with a game success in Saturday's G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville.
Melo Melo bravely held the late lunge of stablemate Baiykara (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), while Ottery (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) finished third.
“She was ready to run again and delivered nicely for a career high,” commented Graffard. “She likes it soft, she had the right conditions today and it was the perfect ride from Mickael (Barzalona). With this performance, she has earned the right to try her chance in the (September 30, G1) Prix Vermeille (at ParisLongchamp).”
Siyouni's Witch Hunter springs a surprise in the Hungerford
Having caused a 50-1 shock in Royal Ascot's Buckingham Palace H., William Stobart's Witch Hunter (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was at it again on Saturday as he swooped to conquer in Newbury's seven-furlong G2 Hungerford S. Tried over six furlongs after his Royal success, the Richard Hannon-trained gelding had found the action a touch too quick when third in Newcastle's G3 Chipchase S. before failing to handle Chester's tight track when third in the Listed City Plate S. and running fourth over a mile in Pontefract's Listed Pomfret S.
Witch Hunter overhauled the 3-year-old New Endeavour (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), while Witch Hunter’s stablemate Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) finished third.
“He won at Royal Ascot and you can't get better than that, but he's improved all year,” Hannon said of the winner. “I'm a bit disappointed with Chindit, but he's not as good when confronted with a rain-softened surface. Chindit was the best horse and you couldn't see Witch Hunter winning, but looking back he was very unlucky not to win the all-weather championships at Lingfield, while Jamie Spencer gave him a great ride at Ascot. Chindit will go to Mr Poonawalla's stud in India.”
Night Of Thunder's Vespertilio impresses in the Debutante
Providing a boost to her G3 Silver Flash S. conqueror Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Al Shira'aa Farms' Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), sprung forward to capture Saturday's seven-furlong (1400 metres) G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S. in style at the Curragh.
Chasing Vespertilio was Sakti (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}) and Kalispera (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}).
“She ran a lovely race the last day,” winning trainer Willie McCreery said. “Billy (Lee) apologised for sitting back last, he didn't want to sit that far back but he said she just got squeezed early and got lit up for a few strides so he just wanted to settle her. They were going a good gallop along and he was happy with her the whole way. She took him into the race beautifully and quickened up lovely.
“She gets a free entry now for the Moyglare and we'll stick her in that now, I'm always trying to save a few quid! We'll stay local, she actually qualified for a race in France today because she was bought in Arqana but I really wanted to come here instead of travelling at this time of year. She's lovely, gorgeous and she has tactical speed as well.”
United States of America
Nyquist's Randomized goes wire-to-wire in Alabama
When Joel Rosario won his first G1 Alabama S. back in 2010, he had to come from the tail of the field on Blind Luck (USA) (Pollard's Vision {USA}) in a race run at a crawl and culminating in a pulsating, driving finish with an upstart filly named Havre de Grace (USA) (Saint Liam {USA}). Leaving little to chance in pursuit of a second victory in the meet's premier race for the sophomore filly set, the Dominican native kicked Klaravich Stables' Randomized (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) straight into the lead from a wide alley Saturday afternoon and bossed his nine other rivals aboard the filly from the front in the 10-furlong affair, presented by Keeneland Sales.
Randomized won from the favoured Wet Paint (USA) (Blame {USA}) who raced closer to the pace than usual, and Defining Purpose (USA) (Cross Traffic {USA}).
Trainer Chad Brown was giving full marks to owner Seth Klarman for the decision to run Saturday.
“I wasn't really confident about the 10 furlongs. I was confident that she would run a real good race,” said the trainer, who saddled Dunbar Road (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) to win the 2019 Alabama, also her fifth career start. “I was really just going to rest her for the (G1) Cotillion. As it got closer and I reported she was breezing well, I said, 'Let's at least enter and look at the pace scenario.' We talked about it the other day and he said, 'If you're willing to do it, I have a good feeling about this.' He was right.”
Anisette takes out Del Mar Oaks
With the threat of Hurricane Hilary looming over Del Mar, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) unfurled a tempest of her own to blow the doors off the G1 Del Mar Oaks at the seaside California oval on Saturday.
Jockey Umberto Rispoli drove Anisette through a seam on the rail and unleashed a sizzling turn of acceleration to win from Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). The Del Mar Oaks was the fourth consecutive win for Anisette and followed a July 22 score in Del Mar's G2 San Clemente S.
Aspray back in winner's circle in Lake Placid
Ran Jan Racing's immaculately bred Aspray (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), who tasted defeat for the first time in her career in the G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational S. on July 8, atoned for that effort in no uncertain terms with a powerful 2l victory over her previously unbeaten stablemate Surge Capacity (USA) (Flintshire {GB}) in Saturday's G2 Lake Placid S. at Saratoga. Soviet Excess (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) charged home late to deny a Chad Brown 1-2-3 sweep, finishing just ahead of favored Tax Implications (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}).
“Aspray relished the cutback in distance and she really appreciated the ground today, too,” said Brown, winning his fifth Lake Placid in the last seven years and third straight. “She didn't mind a little cut in the ground. She worked out a beautiful trip from that inside post. Flavien (Prat) really took advantage of that.
“I trained her a little too far last time, but you had to try since it was such a prestigious race we were pointing towards. I thought she could do it. Flavien knows the horse so well, he came back after the race and he was adamant about the race being a little too far for her and that we should cut her back in distance to 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles and we'll be fine. He was right.”
Brown indicated that Aspray would likely make her next start in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland over nine panels in October, an event he won last year with Gina Romantica (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}).
Bolt D'Oro filly out of Beholder tabbed 'TDN Rising Star' after Del Mar debut victory
Just under two weeks after her yearling by Curlin (USA) lit up the ring at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, champion Beholder (USA) (Henny Hughes {USA}) enjoyed another banner result when her 2-year-old daughter Tamara (USA) (Bolt D'Oro {USA}) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her professional debut victory at Del Mar Saturday.
Tamara is the fourth foal out of Spendthrift's champion Beholder. Her year-older half-sister Teena Ella (USA) (War Front {USA}) won the G3 Senorita S. in May, while her year-younger half-brother by Curlin (USA) lit up the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sales ring two weeks ago when selling for US$4 million (AU$6.2 million) to Amr Zedan.
Beholder was bred back to Jackie's Warrior (USA) this year.
