United States of America
US$875K Authentic heads Keeneland Book 3 opener
A bevy of high-priced yearlings provided a late spark to the first Book 3 session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, but the auction, which had kept pace with its record-setting 2022 renewal during Books 1 and 2, lost a bit of its steam as it entered into its second week.
A total of 289 yearlings sold Saturday for US$46,697,000 (AU$72.6 million). The average of US$164,000 (AU$255,000) dipped 7.3 per cent from last year's Book 3 opener and the median fell 7.1 per cent to US$130,000 (AU$202,000). The buy-back rate remained steady at 22 per cent.
The stallion-making partnership of SF Racing/Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables acquired its third son of Authentic (USA) of the Keeneland September sale when going to US$875,000 (AU$1.36 million) for a colt by the GI Kentucky Derby winner on Saturday. The yearling, out of multiple Graded-placed Sweetgrass (USA) (Street Sense {USA}), was bred by Seclusive Farm, Brad Stephens and Breeze Easy and was consigned by Eaton Sales.
Earlier at the Keeneland sale, SF/Starlight/Madaket purchased a colt by Authentic (Hip 533) for US$700,000 (AU$1.01 million) and another (Hip 821) for US$485,000 (AU$754,000). The group also purchased a son of Authentic (Hip 56) for US$875,000 (AU$1.36 million) at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale last month.
Through five sessions, SF/Starlight/Madaket has purchased 15 yearlings for US$10,070,000 (AU$15.6 million). The partners were the second-leading buyers of the 2022 September sale, buying 21 yearlings for US$12,825,000 (AU$19.9 million).
Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables joined forces with different partners to make a couple of high-priced purchases at Keeneland on Saturday. The operation teamed with Spendthrift Farm and Mike Talla to acquire a colt from the first crop of Vekoma (USA) (Hip 1498) for US$775,000 (AU$1.2 million). Hip 1498, consigned by Legacy Bloodstock on behalf of his breeder, Spendthrift Farm, is out of Grade 1-placed Summer of Fun (USA) (Include {USA}).
That purchase came just a few hips after St. Elias teamed with Starlight Racing and the Harrell family's Harrell Ventures to acquire a colt by Army Mule (USA) (Hip 1455) for US$600,000 (AU$933,000).
Teo Ah Khing of China Horse Club and Sheikh Fahad of Qatar Racing have joined forces for the first time at this year's Keeneland September sale in search of a quality group of colts.
The new partners acquired their sixth colt of the auction when purchasing a son of Kitten's Joy (Hip 1285) for US$585,000 (AU$909,000) on Saturday. The six yearlings have grossed US$2,960,000 (AU$4.6 million). Leading the way was a son of Authentic (Hip 1046) purchased for US$875,000 (AU$1.36 million).
“It's something that Sheikh Fahad and Teo put together before the sale to buy colts,” Fergus Galvin said of the partnership. “They are mainly to race in the US. but this one (Hip 1285) will go to England to race for obvious reasons. Sheikh Fahad has had incredible success with Kitten's Joy.”
Master Of The Seas in the Woodbine Mile
Twelve months after Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) made light work of the race, Godolphin's Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) proved an equally decisive winner of the G1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick. With the victory, the homebred has earned a fees-paid berth into the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in early November, a race won last year by Modern Games.
Narrowly beaten into second by Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in 2021, Master Of The Seas won the G3 Earl of Sefton S. in a single start at four, but has had a more complete season in 2023. The bay wintered in Dubai, winning the G2 Zabeel Mile on January 20 and was a close third in the G1 Jebel Hatta S. on March 4 before finishing well down the field in the G1 Dubai Turf three weeks later. Given plenty of time to regroup, he was exiting a 4l success in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot on July 15.
Master Of The Seas is the 56th worldwide Group 1 winner for the legendary Dubawi and the 83 Group 1 winner produced by a daughter of Danehill (USA).
Master Of The Seas is the latest Godolphin/Charlie Appleby success story at Woodbine and is not the first from this family to win on this program. His G3 UAE Oaks-winning half-sister Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) is not only the dam of Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a triple Group 1 winner in Australia for James Cummings, but also of Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), an impressive winner of the 2021 Summer S.
She Feels Pretty takes out Natalma
Lael Stables' She Feels Pretty (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}) came with a stinging rally down the center of the E. P. Taylor turf course to punch her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with an impressive victory in Saturday's G1 Johnnie Walker Natalma S. at Woodbine. It marks the first elite-level scorer for the barn of Cherie DeVaux.
“I was very confident, I got to say she was feeling very confident,” said John Velazquez, winning his first Natalma. “When we turned for home, I moved her to the clear and her ears went up and I said, ‘Wow, look at this’. I went after her and she instantly responded. The way she did it was very impressive.”
Arthur Hancock's Stone Farm raised and sold She Feels Pretty to the second Book 4 session of last year's Keeneland September sale, where she caught the eye of Roy and Gretchen Jackson's high-class operation for US$240,000 (AU$373,000). Payson Stud acquired dam Summer Sweet for US$550,000 (AU$855,000) as an early 2-year-old from the partial dispersal of the Estate of Sarah Leigh at Keeneland January in 2016, the most expensive horse of racing age during the sale.
Spendthrift announce three new stallions for 2024
Grade 1 winners and 'TDN Rising Stars' Taiba (USA) by Gun Runner (USA), and Arabian Lion (USA) by Justify (USA), will join Zandon (USA) by Upstart (USA) standing at Spendthrift Farm for the 2024 breeding season.
“We are really excited to be bringing in three new stallion prospects of the calibre of Taiba, Arabian Lion and Zandon for the 2024 breeding season,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey.
“All three are superior physicals, and all three displayed immense talent in winning some of America's biggest 3-year-old races on dirt. Obviously, the Breeders' Cup is ahead and some of them will be looking to finish strong. These are the kind of stallion prospects we have looked to bring in and will continue to try to bring in at Spendthrift.”
Stud fees for all three horses will be announced at the end of their respective racing careers.
England
Heart's Cry's Continuous clinches The Leger for Ballydoyle
The tale of success of Aidan O'Brien could be no better summed up than the title of the hero of Saturday's G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster, with Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Fluff (Ire), by Galileo {Ire}) the latest to excel for the Ballydoyle trainer who had surpassed the 4000-winner landmark on Sunday.
Held up with two behind early in rear by a confident Ryan Moore, the relative of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) proved the only member of the lineup with true acceleration as he cut through the pack to take control two out. Soon clear, he had 2.75l to spare over the favourite Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) at the line, with the Royal runner Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) 0.5l away in third.
O'Brien, who was registering a seventh Leger success, was suitably impressed to point to the Paris Longchamp feature at the beginning of next month.
“We were not sure about the distance, but he has got it well and has a lot of class,” he said. “He does stay and he does handle soft ground; it will be down to the lads, the Arc is only in two weeks and we'll talk to Ryan (Moore, jockey) and see what they want to do. There is every chance he could, he's a hardy horse and he could back up.”
Lope De Vega's Iberian on top in the Champagne
Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) backed up a debut success at Newbury in June with a second in last month's G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood and continued on the upgrade with a decisive victory in Saturday's G2 Betfred Champagne S. at Doncaster.
Racing fourth of five behind a modest pace through halfway, the 3-1 chance powered forward inside the final quarter mile to gain a narrow advantage passing the furlong pole and was driven out to easily assert superiority by 2l from Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}). Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's hitherto undefeated Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) was unable to land a telling blow as the 4-5 favorite and finished 1.5l away in third.
“He's a very exciting horse and that was just what the doctor ordered,” commented winning trainer Charlie Hills. “It will be the (G1) Dewhurst next. He'll get a mile no problem, his dam stayed really well and I don't see why he can't be a (2000) Guineas horse. He's straightforward, with a great attitude, and he's so professional.”
Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega (Ire) will cover Southern Hemisphere time for €60,000 (AU$99,000).
France
Olympic Glory's Shiffrin dominates Prix de Conde rivals
Haras d'Etreham's homebred Shiffrin (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) followed up a pair of wins at Clairefontaine with a third on stakes bow in last month's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and stepped forward to notch a career best in Saturday's G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly.
“To win my first Group race here at Chantilly, I am almost speechless,” said trainer Nicolas Le Roch after registering a landmark success.
“We always loved this filly, even though she ran moderately first time out, but we kept the faith and all has gone well since. She did all we expected from her and all we had planned. She stays well, she had a great ride and she will come back for the (G1) Criterium de Saint-Cloud.”
