United States of America
Seventh Preakness for Hall of Fame trainer Lukas
Hall Of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas might be 88 years old, but he’s just clocked up his seventh win in the G1 Preakness S. with a master class on Saturday at Pimlico by front-running Seize The Grey (USA) (Arrogate {USA}).
“We didn't have any strategy, per se,” said Lukas following the race.
“Once I felt like they were getting over the ground, I didn't think there was any chance (he'd get caught). I knew they were going to run at us, but I thought we had a great chance to dictate the race from the half-mile home. I also think you can over-coach a little bit on these riders. I didn't want to do that.”
The victory gave the 25-year-old Puerto Rican jockey Jaime Torres his first Classic win. Lukas has won the Preakness in 1980 with Codex (USA) (Arts And Letters {USA}), 1985 with Tank's Prospect (USA) (Mr. Prospector {USA}), 1994 with Tabasco Cat (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}), 1995 with Timber Country (USA) (Woodman {USA}), 1999 with Charismatic (USA) (Summer Squall {USA}), 2013 with Oxbow (USA) (Awesome Again {Can}) and now Seize The Grey. “It doesn't get old,” said Lukas. “It's still the same. In 1980, I had the first one here I ever ran, and it still feels the same.”
Lukas' latest win also represents the second Classic score for MyRacehorse, who collected their first in with Authentic (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) who won the G1 Kentucky Derby in 2020.
“Isn't that something, to make that many people happy? It's a helluva concept,” said Lukas of the 2570 shareholders in the grey. “It really is. To see that many people happy in racing is really special. I'm happy, but I love the fact I could make them happy.”
Seize The Grey became the sixth Group 1 winner for Arrogate who only had three crops and has 22 stakes winners in total.
The winner's dam, Smart Shopping (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}), was a winner as a 2-year-old and placed in the Listed Suncoast S. and her first foal is stakes placed winner Shoppingforpharoah (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}). Most recently, she produced a Justify (USA) filly in 2022 followed by a filly by Life Is Good (USA) this term. Smart Shopping is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Power Broker (USA) (Pulpit {USA}) while Group 1 winner Miss Shop (USA) (Deputy Minister {USA}) also features in this family.
Dettori wins the G3 Dinner Plate S.
The only member of the field for Saturday's G3 Dinner Party S. with proper soft-ground form, Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) was given a letter-perfect ride by Frankie Dettori and kicked home smartly to score at Pimlico. “The horse loved the soft,” Dettori said. “He went through it like a hot knife through butter. I only had to find a way out and he did the rest.”
Balnikhov who took his record to seven wins and nine placings from 26 starts is one of three group/graded winners for his sire Adaay (Ire) who is a son of Kodiac (GB), and one of eight stakes winners overall.
His dam, Leeward (USA) (First Defence {USA}) is a Juddmonte Farms bred full-sister to the stakes-placed New Line and a half to the stakes-placed Interject (Empire Maker), who was snapped up by Crispin de Moubray for 37,000gns as a 3-year-old out of training at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2016.
Not bred the following winter, she visited Adaay in 2018 and Balnikhov is her first foal. Behind him is the six-time maiden 3-year-old filly L'Ardechoise (Fr) (El Kabeir {USA}), a 2-year-old filly by Almanzor (Fr) and a yearling colt by the same stallion.
Leave No Trace sizzles in Vagrancy S.
A Group 1-winning juvenile at Saratoga, Leave No Trace (USA) (Outwork {USA}) picked up her second consecutive victory of the season in Saturday's G3 Vagrancy S. at Pimlico. “The allowance race she won in her last start kept her at the races rather than in the breeding shed,” winning trainer Phil Serpe said.
“I thought this was the right group of fillies that if she could beat this group it would get her to the next level. There's going to be tougher horses ahead for sure, but she did it right today. I thought she was impressive, and it will get her to the next spot.”
Leave No Trace took her record to four wins from eleven starts including the 2022 G1 Spinaway S. and is one of two Graded winners for young sire Outwork (USA). She is out of four-time winner Tanquerray (USA) (Good Journey {USA}).
G3 Pimlico Chick Lang S goes to Frost Free
Sent off the 9-5 choice to collect his first graded win of his career, Frost Free (USA) (Frosted {USA}) went to the front and was never headed, registering a 1.5l victory in Pimlico's G3 Chick Lang S. “As he always does, he showed some speed early in the race,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr., winner of the first two graded races on the card.
“I never had ridden him before, and I didn't want to get in his way. I let him do his thing and be happy. I saw in the other race in the slop he didn't run that well. I was a little concerned about that. I let him be happy, be free and he was there for me whenever I wanted him.”
The Chick Lang victory gave Frosted his 11th graded stakes winner. A US$27,000 (AU$40,000) Keeneland September yearling purchase, Frost Free was brought for US$100,000 (AU$149,000) from Danny Keene at the Texas 2-year-old sale in 2023. His dam D J's Favorite (USA) (Union Rags {USA}) is out of Listed Miss Preakness S. winner I'm Mom's Favorite (USA) (Indian Charlie {USA}), a granddaughter of dual Grade 1-winning Tout Charmant (USA) (Slewvescent {USA}).
G3 Pimlico Gallorette S. was won by Fluffy Socks (USA) (Slumber {USA}) and the G3 Pimlico Maryland Sprint S was won by Super Chow (USA) (Lord Nelson {USA}).
Europe
Cheveley Park Stud win the G1 Lockinge - but with the wrong horse
As expected, Cheveley Park Stud's colours were in the winner's enclosure following Newbury's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. on Saturday but it was aboard the Gosdens' 22-1 shot Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) who uber-excelled in his task of pacemaking for favoured mare Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
“He's got solid group form and he's learnt to relax more with age, if you leave a horse like that alone he's going to be very dangerous,” John Gosden said.
“He's been working very well and I didn't think Rab (Havlin) would be left in splendid isolation out in front, but I knew he would get a hell of a run out of him. We always knew he was going to be part of it and I thought he could maybe finish in the first four or five. As it was, they ignored him and all got racing on the other side. Mrs Thompson kept him in training very kindly rather than him going to Hong Kong so he could be a lead horse for Inspiral and I think he has covered himself in glory.”
Twice put in the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale only to be withdrawn, 5-year-old gelding Audience won on debut at two, then didn’t win again until he was four, where he won twice including the G3 Criterion S. over 1400 metres. Saturday’s Group 1 win was his first run in 2024 and his first at this level. His full career record is four wins and seven placings from 13 starts with earnings over £450,000 (AU$859,000).
He becomes the 12th Group 1 winner for former shuttle stallion Iffraaj (GB) who is now based at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. Iffraaj’s sons at stud include Wootton Bassett (GB) with 42 stakes winners, Ribchester (Ire) with nine stakes winners, and Turn Me Loose (NZ) with seven stakes winners.
Audience is one of three stakes winners for his Listed winning dam Ladyship (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) with the others being 3-year-old gelding Esquire (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) who won the G3 Greenham S. last month, and Group 3 winner Dark Lady (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Ladyship is a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Peeress (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who also won the G1 Lockinge S.
Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson said, “It's a family we've nurtured for 32 years, it's extraordinary how we can go back to the fourth or fifth generation. There's plenty of speed in the family and it's a family that has just come alight again. Now we'll seriously have to consider the Queen Anne for him and whether we step up in trip for Inspiral is a decision we'll make.”
The win was the eighth success for Cheveley Park Stud in the G1 Lockinge S., either under the Stud's name or the names of Patricia Thompson and her late husband David. Their super star mare Inspiral was fourth with the trainer blaming himself for her lack of condition. “She will come on a bundle for that, the trainer is so hopeless he couldn't get her fit at home… she needed this race to bring her on for Ascot and I'm delighted with her run. She's carrying rather a lot of condition.”
Ciaron Maher’s Middle Earth wins G3 Aston Park S.
Trainers John and Thady Gosden had a brilliant day out at Newbury winning the G1 Lockinge S. with Audience (GB) as well as the day’s other Group race, the G3 Aston Park S. with 4-year-old entire Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}). Owned by Qatar Racing and Ciaron Maher, Middle Earth took his record to four wins and two seconds from seven starts.
“That was good, the jockey (Oisin Murphy) saved every inch and he needed every inch,” said John Gosden. “He won well in the Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot (in October) and he’s a grand horse.
“The horse will come on for that, because it wasn’t strongly run for a horse coming from last. He’s like his father (Roaring Lion), he likes good ground, good to firm and firm. He’s not a lover of soft ground. He was slow out the gates, he usually is, but he was slower than ever and there was no pace until old Cemhaan tried to put a bit of pace in it. He did well to win off that pace, but Oisin was clever sneaking up the rail and when you are winning by a nose you need to sneak up the rail.”
From Roaring Lion’s only crop of 105 foals, he is one of five stakes winners for his sire and he will be coming to Australia for the G1 Melbourne Cup, with Gosden saying, “He’s entered in the Hardwicke and we will have to check. Ciaron Maher owns the other half in Australia so we will chat with them and see what the game plan will be, but that seems the place he is likely to go. The plan is to go down to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. We’ll probably run him a couple or more times here, we’ll not overrace him and then go down there.
“He hated the ground in the St Leger last year, it was too loose and he does not like it. So if they get one of those downpours in Melbourne we may as well all stay in the hotel.”
Middle Earth is the second stakes winner for Listed winner Roheryn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has also produced the year older dual Listed winner Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) who has also placed in Australia’s G1 Ranvet S.
Listed Fillies’ Trials S. goes to blue-blooded Diamond Rain
Godolphin's Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) will head to the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks after winning Saturday’s Listed Fillies' Trial S. at Newbury by 2.25l. “It was a slightly messy race, but it was a lovely performance,” said jockey William Buick.
“I was prepared to let her bowl along in front, but she did get a lead which was nice and she stepped up on her debut. This is more her trip I think and she's coming forward all the time. She doesn't feel like she's anywhere near the finished article yet. She's very straightforward and Charlie (Appleby) has been very pleased since Ascot. She's got a few options open for her now.”
Unbeaten in both her starts to date, Diamond Rain is the 171st black-type winner for her sire Shamardal. She is the seventh foal and third stakes winner for G1 Oaks and G1 German Oaks heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), with her siblings being dual Group 2-winning G1 Jebel Hatta runner-up and G1 Fillies' Mile third Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and stakes-winning G1 Grand Prix de Paris placegetter Jalmoud (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
Dancing Rain is a three-quarter sister to Sumora (Ire) (Danehill), who is the dam of G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Maybe, in turn, produced G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Futurity Trophy hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and hails from the immediate family of G1 Derby-winning sire Dr Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), G1 Irish Oaks heroine Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and G3 Greenlands S.-winning sire Archway (Ire) (Thatching {Ire}).
Elite Status adds Carnarvon S.
Sheikh Obaid-owned 3-year-old colt Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will head to Royal Ascot after smashing the Listed Carnarvon S. field by 2.75l. “I’ve always thought he was a high-class horse and I think if we can keep him on the right track, the world is his oyster,” said trainer Karl Burke.
“He is a very good horse with a massive engine, we just lost our way with him.” Winner of the G3 Prix de Cabourg and Listed National S. at two, Elite Status now has four wins from seven starts and this was his first run at three.
“He’s proved there today he stays six very well. He’s a horse with a big future, I think, and the Commonwealth Cup will definitely be his next run barring accidents. Clifford (Lee) was under instruction to get into a nice rhythm, let him use his big, long stride he’s got and sit comfortably. Clifford pulled it off to perfection and he doesn’t have to make the running – if he jumps and sits second or third that’s fine. He showed in the National Stakes the turn of foot he has got.”
One of seven stakes winners from the second crop of sire sensation Havana Grey, Elite Status is the first foal of his winning dam, who has an unnamed 2-year-old full brother to Elite Status and a yearling filly by Showcasing (GB). Havana Grey has seventeen stakes winners in total with his oldest progeny just turned four.
Elite Status was sold as a weanling at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale by Barton Stud for 56,000 guineas (AU$117,000) to JC Bloodstock, and then on-sold as a yearling at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (book 2) by Kilminfoyle House Stud (as agent) for 325,000 guineas (AU$679,000) to Karl and Kelly Bourke.
Unbeaten Birdman aimed at Royal Ascot
Trainer Jessica Harrington’s 3-year-old gelding Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) will head to Royal Ascot after taking his record to two from two in the Listed Yeats S. at Navan on Saturday. “It was a lovely run and it was great to see,” Harrington said.
“It was only the second run of his life and we are delighted. Most likely he'll go for the Queen’s Vase at Ascot, that’s the plan.”
He became the sixth stakes winner for his sire who is a Group 1-winning son of High Chaparral (Ire), and is the third foal of his winning dam, Carol (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).
Japan
Fourth Japan Oaks for Lemaire
The G1 Yushun Himba (Japan Oaks) at Toyko on Sunday was won by 3-year-old filly Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) ridden by Christophe Lemaire, giving him his fourth win in the Classic. Cervinia flew home to beat the favourite Stellenbosh (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) who was ridden by Keita Tosaki.
Trained by Tetsuya Kimura, Cervinia took her record to three wins from five starts, having won the G3 Artemis S. at two.
One of 28 stakes winners for Harbinger, he now has seven Group 1 winners including G1 Nassau S. and G1 Shuka Sho winner Deidre, and G1 Hong Kong Cup and G1 Victoria Mile winner Normcore.
Cervinia is the second foal and second stakes winner for Group 2 winner Cecchino (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) who ran third in this race in 2016. Her first foal is Group 3 winner Nocking Point (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). Cecchino’s dam is Listed winner Happy Path (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}).
