France
Quinella for Lope De Vega in G1 Prix du Jockey Club
Haras de la Morsangliere's Look De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) took the required leap forward on a remarkable stakes debut to win the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on Sunday at only his third start. Stretching out for a 2l triumph, the 5-1 shot was followed home by the outsider First Look (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who made it a one-two for their sire, who won this race in 2010. Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was third, a further neck away with Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) fourth as he had been in the G1 2,000 Guineas.
“I am so excited and so happy–this horse is a machine,” said co-trainer Carlos Lerner, who trains with son Yann Lerner. “I have always had in the back of my mind that he would be a top horse and now I can say he is the best I ever trained. Twenty three years is a long wait to come across a top one again, but we have been lucky. He will stay further–he is in the Arc and that will be his target.”
Carlos won this race with Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa {USA}) in 2001, while it was a first for his son. “My father won this race 23 years ago and I was very young, so my feelings are totally different. I share the responsibilities with my father, and I understand better what they said then about waking up early every morning to eventually live these moments,” said Yann.
Unbeaten in three starts, Look De Vega is the 21st Group 1 winner for his sire who has 130 stakes winners. The fourth foal and fourth winner, and first stakes winner, out of winning mare Lucelle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who is a half-sister to G2 Lancashire Oaks and G3 Prix Allez France winner The Black Princess (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), Lucelle is a granddaughter of Laramie (USA) (Gulch {USA}) who left G1 Prix du Jockey winner Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Latice (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}).
G2 Prix de Chantilly won by Junko
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's 5-year-old gelding Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}), who collected two Group 1 contests last term, won a pulsating renewal of Sunday's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. “I love this horse and we're very proud of him,” said racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau.
“We know his ideal distance is a mile-and-a-half and Dubai probably came a little bit too soon after a long end-of-season, but it is good to see him back to winning ways. If everything is okay, he will likely go for the (June 30 G1) Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, a race in which he ran (third) last year.”
Kingman filly wins Group 2 in France
Jean-Pierre Dubois's homebred 3-year-old filly Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) added to her victory in last season's Listed Prix Delahante with a power-packed display - coming from last to first and outclassing five rivals in Sunday's G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly.
“She had not been too lucky in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, but she really was able to show her true quality today,” said Dubois. “It was a very good ride by (Cristian) Demuro and he made a difference. She is in the (G1 Prix de) Diane, but it could come too soon and we will see. I am convinced she has a future later on in the USA, she will be suited by American racing and faster ground.”
Trained by P Cottier, she took her record to four wins from seven starts. A full sister to Group 3 winner Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), Sparkling Plenty is out of an unraced half-sister to six-time Group 1 winner and US champion Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). Kingman is available to breeders on Southern Hemisphere time.
Power son Ponntos wins Group 2 in France
Eva Nieslanikova's 6-year-old entire Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}), undefeated in Europe since returning from a five-race winter jaunt to the Middle East, made it three-for-three this term with a dominant performance in Sunday's G2 Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly. “He's a big horse with a big heart and we're all very proud of him,” said connections' representative Aisha Dachiel.
“It is a very big day for us, he's in good form and we're delighted with the win. He's a 6-year-old now, he's totally calm in the head and he was born for winning. Once he is fully recovered and rested, we might consider Goodwood (for the August 2 G2 King George S.). Maybe, we will see.”
He took his record to nine wins from 37 starts, and his sire Power previously shuttled to Oaklands Stud in Queensland.
Stunning Group 3 win for Sea The Stars filly
Relishing the step up to a mile and a half for the first time, the Wertheimers' blueblooded 3-year-old filly Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) turned Sunday's G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly into a procession to book her ticket to the G1 Prix de Diane.
“She had run a good race on her seasonal debut and had been working brilliantly since,” trainer Christophe Ferland said.
“We had decided to run this race first, as a security, and see from there if we could try the Prix de Diane. She was most impressive, no doubt. There was good rhythm in the race, she closed on the bridle and when Maxime switched her out she was flying. She is not very tall, but she has a real kick and a great action. She will tell us how she is and I'll then talk with the owners and Pierre Yves Bureau to reach a decision.”
A half-sister to G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Aventure is out of G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Balladeuse (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}) who has now produced three stakes winners, the other being Listed winner Blissie (GB) (Dansili {GB}) whose son First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was second in the card's feature G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Balladeuse has also produced G1 Prix Jean Romanet-placed Romanciere (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). This is also the family of Australian Group 1 winners Nettoyer (Sebring), Absolutely (Redoute's Choice) and Abbey Marie (Redoute's Choice).
Hong Kong
Exciting Ka Ying Rising wins G3 Sha Tin Trophy
Stepping into group company at just his seventh start, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) lived up to his $1.7 favourite tag when winning the G3 Sha Tin Vase on Sunday night in Hong Kong.
“What I loved is Karis could just put him in the one-one and give him a beautiful trip,” trainer David Hayes told scmp.com.
“He reminds me a lot of All Thrills Too, who won the (2002 Hong Kong Sprint) – and he will just keep getting better and getting stronger. He sent me a bit of a message tonight. He was a bit more up on his toes and he’s probably just had enough now. It’s a good time to stop him and bring him back for, maybe, the Chief Executive’s Cup in September. We’ll probably go to the international races on his third or fourth race.”
Ka Ying Rising took his record to five wins and two seconds from seven starts and became the 12th stakes winner for his sire who stands at Windsor Park Stud for NZ$8000 (plus GST) in 2024.
G3 Lion Rock Trophy goes to progressive Galaxy Patch
Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) won the G3 Lion Rock Trophy on Sunday at Sha Tin after promising to be a very good horse with several stakes placings leading into this run.
“A special horse does that – he brings the rider – and of course Vincent (Ho) has got enough experience to do that as well,” trainer Pierre Ng told scmp.com of the way Galaxy Patch drove through the gap between second placed Chancheng Glory (USA) (Mor Spirit {USA}) and the rail.
“I’ve just never known how good he’ll be but definitely top (level). He might have a go at the Premier.” The G3 Premier Plate runs on June 23.
Galaxy Patch ran second in the Listed Hong Kong Derby two starts ago, and second in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup prior to that. All up, he has six wins and three seconds from 12 starts which includes his only start in Australia (a win in South Australia on debut).
Hong Kong Trainer’s Championship will be tight for 2023/24
Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin showed how tight the trainer’s premiership in Hong Kong will be this season with only a few weeks to run. Pierre Ng won two races on Sunday night with Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) and Super Bonus (Ire) (Bungle inthejungle {GB}) to take him to 61 wins for the season, while Francis Liu won with King Miles (Exceed and Excel) to sit one behind on 60 wins for the season.
Pierre Ng | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
United States of America
New group winner for Medaglia d’Oro
Delahaye (USA) (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) closed powerfully to earn her first graded victory in the G3 Mint Julep S. on Sunday at Churchill Downs. “All credit goes to (trainer) Chad (Brown) and his team,” said winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
“His team did a great job of getting her ready for this start. Today was her second race this year at Churchill and I could tell I had a lot of horse beneath me. She was traveling very well throughout the entire race and turning for home she had a really nice kick.”
One of 177 stakes winners for her sire, 4-year-old mare Delahaye had previously won a Listed race two starts ago and now has a record of four wins from six starts. She is the first foal out of the unraced Bella Carina (USA), who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Malibu Prayer (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) and to multiple Graded winner Valid (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}).
She was a US$550,000 (AU$827,000) purchase by Meridian from Denali Stud (agent) at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
