United States of America
Tenma wins G1 Debutante S.
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert trained 2-year-old filly Tenma (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) delivered at odds of 3-1 for in Saturday's G1 Fanduel Racing Del Mar Debutante S. Fifth early as they sped up front, Tenma hit the gas on the far turn and needed the length of the stretch to reel in Vodka With a Twist (USA) (Thousand Words {USA}) by a head. So There She Was (USA) (Munnings {USA}) was third. Tenma took her record to two from two and it was her first stakes win.
Tenma's heavily favoured stablemate Nooni (USA) (Win Win Win {USA}), unbeaten in two previous career starts, set a pressured pace and tired badly after checking in some traffic on the far turn. The result stood following a stewards' inquiry — not involving the winner — looking into the run around the far turn.
The seventh Group 1 winner for Nquist (USA), Tenma was sold by Stone Farm at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for US$200,000 (AU$300,000) to Allstar Bloodstock, and was on-sold via Wavertree Stables at the Ocala Spring 2YO Sale for US$850,000 (AU$1.3 million) to Donato Lani as agent Baoma Corporation.
Tenma is the second foal of unraced mare Amagansett (USA) (Tapit {USA}) who is a daughter of Listed winner Twirl (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full sister to four-time Group 1 winner Misty For Me (Ire), the dam of Group 1 winners Roly Poly (USA) (War Front {USA}) and U S Navy Flag (USA) who stands at The Oaks Stud in NZ. Misty For Me has also produced Group 3 winner Cover Song (USA) (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Greenfinch (USA) (Justify {USA}). Twirl is also a full sister to Group 1 winner Ballydoyle (Ire) who is the dam of Group 3 winner Red Riding Hood (Ire) (Justify {USA}) and Listed winner Monday (USA) (Fastnet Rock).
Howard wins G1 Franklin-Simpson S.
Gold Square LLC's 3-year-old colt Howard Wolowitz (USA) (Munnings {USA}) came with an irresistible run three or four off the inside at the eighth pole and turned back a late challenge from the well-backed Yellow Card (USA) (Lost Treasure {Ire}) to take out the $2 million Aristocrat G1 Franklin-Simpson S. on Saturday afternoon. He took his record to two wins from four starts.
Away alertly from his high draw, Howard Wolowitz was ridden positively by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and raced wide, until he hit the lead at the eighth pole. Howard Wolowitz was joined to his outside by Yellow Card - a 15-1 chance on the morning line and away at 6-1–but he turned away that bid and skipped clear to score in the time of 1:14.20 for the 6.5 furlongs on the firm turf, just 0.01s off the course record. A claim of foul by John Velazquez aboard Yellow Card against the eventual winner for interference inside the final furlong was quickly dismissed and the result allowed to stand. Mansa Musa (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) was third.
“I really was very confident in him, he is a nice horse,” said trainer Jose D'Angelo, earning the first Grade 1 of his career. “He is hard to train; he has his own personality, like his name! So, I was pretty sure that the more ground for him and the long stretch was going to help him. And when Irad asked him, turning for home he responded very well.”
Howard Wolowitz becomes the sixth elite-level winner for Coolmore America's Munnings (USA) and he is the fourth Grade 1 winner out of a daughter of Uncle Mo (USA). His dam Forget Me Not (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), whose stakes-placed dam was also responsible for two-time black-type winner Needs Supervision (USA) (Paynter {USA}), was acquired by Fred and Nancy Mitchell's Clarkland Farm for US$80,000 (AU$120,000) in foal to Practical Joke (USA) at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. The Mitchells' daughter Marty Buckner is listed as the co-breeder of Howard Wolowitz.
Thought Process wins G3 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S.
On Sunday, 2-year-old filly Thought Process (USA) (Collected {USA}) held her ground in the stretch of the G3 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S. to secure her first career black-type.
Third on debut July 27 when sprinting on the main track, the chestnut found grass to her liking less than a month later, breaking her maiden August 17 when stretched out to a mile and flopped to the turf for the first time. On the back of that performance, which garnered her a Beyer of 82, the betting public crowned her the 2-5 favorite and she did not disappoint.
Spurting clear as the closers came calling, she was 2l in front of Supa Speed (USA) (Justify {USA}), who claimed second, and Sea Runner (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) held on for third. She now has a record of two wins from three starts.
“She does things real easy. Has a great mind on her and that helps. And Hector (Berrios) has given her some very nice rides,” said Philip D'Amato. “We got a nice ground-saving trip and Hector was able to angle out and run down the horse on the lead and not look back. She's definitely going in the right direction and hopefully toward the Breeders' Cup.”
Her dam Creative Thinking (USA) (Creative Cause {USA}) won the Listed Keertana Overnight S.
South African Isivunguvungu wins in USA
A multiple Grade 1 winner in his native South Africa, and the 2023 champion sprinter, Isivunguvungu (Saf) (What A Winter {Saf}) made his North American debut a winning one with a gutsy effort in the Da Hoss S. at Colonial Downs.
Victorious in the G1 Mercury Sprint last July in Greyville, and also able to claim the G1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform S. earlier that year in April at Turffontein, he also picked up a placing at the highest level via a blanket finish to run third in the G1 Pongracz Cape Flying Champions S. to start his 2023. Second this year on January 6 at Kenilworth for his final start at home for Peter Brian Muscutt, Isivunguvungu spent the last several months in some stage of the import process and then having to work back into form at Fair Hill once released to new trainer Graham Motion.
Taking charge and holding firm, he hit the wire a neck best over Nothing Better (USA) (Munnings {USA}). Maya Prince (USA) (Astern) motored in to claim third. Isivunguvungu now has seven wins from 16 starts and will head to the Breeders’ Cup next.
“I can't say enough about what a good effort this was today,” Motion said. “He spent two months in quarantine at the beginning of the year. He is a very special horse. He has a big following in South Africa and I am so happy for those guys. Super happy for the Hollywood Syndicate. Manny (Franco) gave him a great ride. He's a lovely horse. They've just lifted some of those (quarantine) restrictions (on South African horses). I think we are going to see a lot more (of them), especially after the performance of this horse. South African horses by nature are very tough.”
“We have to decide if we are going to run him again; we have to decide if he is going to be able to get in the Breeders' Cup, which is what we'd really like to do. There's a fine line now with this guy. I think he's done enough fitness wise to get there without another race, so we'll just decide.”
He is one of five Group 1 winners for What A Winter (Saf) who has 27 stakes winners, and is out of Miss Tweedy (Saf) (Tiger Ridge {USA}) who won four races and has produced two other winners. Miss Tweedy is a daughter of Listed Breeders’ Guineas winner Dancing Penny (Danske {NZ}) who was sold by Turangga Farm at the 2006 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $20,000 to Snaith Racing in South Africa.
Cogburn dazzles again
Clark Brewster and William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Cogburn (Not This Time) made it a perfect three-for-three on the year with another powerhouse performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' $2 million G2 Ainsworth Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs.
The favourite blasted out to the front, raced under pressure while setting fast fractions of 0:21.82 and 0:44.14 and kept on motoring down the stretch to win going away by 3.25l.
Second-place finisher Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and third-placed Axthelm (Into Mischief) both rallied from far back to collect the minors. Last year's G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) was fourth.
The final time for six furlongs was a very sharp 1:07.68. The course record of 1:07.41 was established in 2022.
It was announced earlier this summer that Cogburn will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement.
"What an amazing horse Cogburn is," winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. "What a wonderful ownership group. I'm so proud that it's the first time that he ran since WinStar bought into him, bought his breeding rights. For him to validate the form that he has shown all year long in his turf sprints is very special."
The next stop for Cogburn is the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
England
Haydock Sprint Cup won by Exceed And Excel son
The Montassib Partnership's selectively campaigned 6-year-old gelding Montassib (GB) (Exceed And Excel) notched a first Pattern-race triumph in June's G3 Chipchase S. and outstripped all prior form to claim a career high in a thrilling renewal of Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Nudged closer once past halfway, he came under sterner urging when moving into contention approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to deny Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) by a head in a bobbing finish. Montassib's William Haggas-trained stablemate Unequal Love (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) kept on well to finish 0.75l adrift in third.
“This is my first Group 1 for Mr Haggas, who's supported me since I was a kid, and I dedicate this race to Stefano (Cherchi), who we lost earlier this year,” said winning rider Cieren Fallon. “Mr Haggas has been like a father to me in the sport and without him and Maureen I wouldn't be in the position I'm in today. With all my jockey coaches and everyone who's helped me get me to where I am, I'm just very lucky and very blessed to be in this position and getting on good horses. It's incredible, my family is here and it's great to ride a Group 1 winner for the boss, so it is special. It's been an up-and-down season, I was out at the start with my leg (injury) and then I came back and things were going really well before I broke my back and had a month out at a crucial part of the season. I have been lucky enough to ride some great horses since I came back and today is just so special.”
Haggas, who was saddling his first Haydock Sprint Cup winner, commented, “I would have laughed if you'd said I was going to have a first and third today. I thought Unequal Love might run well, but I wasn't expecting Montassib to enjoy the ground. … Montassib is the most genuine horse at home. Alison Samuel, who rides him every day, is from Wales and never stops talking. She has been singing his praises for so long and has done a great job with him. Cieren thinks there is always more to come and if the trainer hadn't run him over seven furlongs and a mile as a young horse then he would have done really well. He had a heart condition as a 2-year-old and didn't run as a 3-year-old, but patience has paid off with him. The (G1 British) Champions Sprint at Ascot will be next and you would think it should suit him.”
Montassib is the third foal and leading performer produced by four-time winner Felwah (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}), herself out of an unraced sibling of dual Group 3 victrix Lady Gloria (GB) (Diktat {GB}) and Listed Snowdrop S. third Light And Shade (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}). Felwah's third dam Tarf (Diesis {GB}) is a daughter of Listed Hopeful S. winner and G3 Flying Five S. runner-up Tadwin (GB) (Never So Bold {Ire}), who is also responsible for G3 Queen Mary S. victrix Nadwah (USA) (Shadeed {USA}) and Nadwah's G3 Polar Cup-winning full brother Musadif (USA).
Juddmonte’s Kalpana has Group 1 aims
Juddmonte’s 3-year-old filly Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) will likely head to British Champions Day at Ascot after winning the G3 September S. at Kempton on Saturday. She won by 4.75l from Lion’s Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) and God’s Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Kalpana has now won four of her seven starts, all at three, and placed in the other three starts.
“What happens next is a discussion for (winning trainer) Andrew Balding and (Juddmonte racing manager) Barry Mahon to have, and a longer discussion with the family. I'm sure they'll make the right decision but, the way she has finished off her race today, why not (aim for Ascot)?” said Juddmonte general manager Simon Mockridge.
“To do that on her seventh run of the year, against good seasoned campaigners, was very impressive. She's put on about seven kilos since her last run and physically she looked very well today. She's got size and I think whatever she achieves this year, she's going to do better next season and I know Andrew is very much looking forward to training her next year.”
Study Of Man (Ire), a son of Deep Impact (Jpn) who stands at Lanwades Stud, has five stakes winners from his first crop of only 55 foals who are currently 3-year-olds.
Kalpana is the fifth winner and first stakes winner for Listed winner Zero Gravity (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who is a sister to Group 1 winner Zambezi Sun (GB), and a half-sister to Group 2 winner Kalabar (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Group-placed winner World Heritage (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}). Another full sister, stakes-placed winner Shared Account (GB) is the dam of dual Group 3 winner Pocket Square (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Listed winner Yesyes (GB) (Camelot {GB}).
Century of stakes winners for Kodiac
Setting the form standard in Saturday's G3 Sirenia S. at Kempton, having finished third in York's G3 Gimcrack S., Adrian Keatley's 2-year-old colt Symbol Of Strength (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) mastered the challenge to continue his upward trajectory on the Polytrack. Settled in mid-division early by Tom Marquand, the 5-2 favourite was delivered to overwhelm Jouncy (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) inside the last 100 yards en route to a 0.5l verdict over that rival, with Brian (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}) another head back in third. He now has two wins from four starts.
“I think he hated the slow surface - he wants quicker ground,” Keatley said of Tally-Ho stallion Kodiac's 100th stakes winner. “Tom said he was having a look around in front and had plenty left in the tank. It very much depends on the ground, but the (G2) Mill Reef and (G1) Middle Park are options. His form is right up there and he's not just a 2-year-old, he could get seven next year no problem.”
Symbol Of Strength is the first foal out of Symbol Of Love (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) a half to the Listed winner Firebird Song (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) from the family of that sire's G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Territories (Ire), the G1 Dubai World Cup hero and leading sire Street Cry (Ire) and Symbol Of Love's sire Shamardal (USA).
Frankel’s Luther adds black type
Charlie Fellowes trained 2-year-old colt Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}) followed up a debut success at Salisbury with a runner-up finish back there in last month's Listed Stonehenge S. and regained the winning thread with a dominant performance in Saturday's Listed Ascendant S. at Haydock.
“He won his maiden nicely and he had a very minor setback between his maiden and his second start,” said Fellowes. “He's a horse we've always thought a lot of. His work at home has been very good, he's got a great mind on him and hopefully he's an exciting horse for next year. He's not overly big, but he's a strong and really well-made powerful colt. He's got as good a mind as I've trained and wants it, which is a big factor.
“He's in the (G2) Royal Lodge and I guess that's probably the most obvious place to go next. After that we'll see whether we stay here for a (G1) Futurity Trophy or we put him away. The Breeders' Cup is an option as well and it's lovely to talk about these races. He's got a lot of options and hopefully he'll be a (G1 2000) Guineas horse next year.”
Luther, who also holds a G1 Dewhurst S. entry, is the third foal and scorer produced by G3 Musidora S. victrix Give And Take (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), herself out of an unraced full sister to multiple Group 1-winning European champion Fame And Glory (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). The February-foaled bay, who becomes the 149th stakes winner for his sire, is a half-brother to the dual stakes-placed Good Gracious (GB) (Kingman {GB}). His second dam Grace And Glory (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) is also a full sister to the dam of multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and hails from the family of G1 Deutschland-Preis heroine Gonbarda (Ger) (Lando {Ger}), herself the dam of dual Group 1-winning sire Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
Japan
Kitasan Black filly sets stakes record at Nakayama
G1 Racing's 3-year-old filly Christmas Parade (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) earned her first stakes victory and group win in the G2 Shion S. on Saturday. The filly blitzed the 2000 metres in a new stakes record of 1:56.60. In second was Mi Anhelo (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Bond Girl (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) was third. The top three finishers have all booked their spots in the G1 Shuka Sho on Oct. 13. Christmas Parade has now won three of her five starts.
Jockey Yukito Ishikawa told NetKeiba, “The track was in great condition, and I had a feeling it could produce a record time, but it still surprised me. She's still a bit immature mentally, but the stable has done a fantastic job fine-tuning her, and I think she has a bright future ahead.”
She is the 10th stakes winner and seventh group winner for her Shadai-based sire who stood for ¥20,000,000 (AU$210,000) this season. Kitasan Black (Jpn) is the sire of worldwide star Equinox (Jpn), who entered stud this year, and fellow Group 1 winner Sol Oriens (Jpn). Christmas Parade's dam, the US$285,000 (AU$430,000) Keeneland September yearling Miss Erika (USA) (Blame {USA}), was consigned by Elm Tree Farm for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings before selling to Katsumi Yoshida in 2013. She would go on to win five times over turf and dirt in her adopted country in the colours of Masami Aramaki. Miss Erika is a half-sister to G2 Fountain Of Youth S. and G3 With Anticipation S. winner and sire Soldat (USA) (War Front {USA}).
