Europe
Dewhurst glory for Night Of Thunder's Gewan
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
Left out of most equations following his fourth in the Champagne, Yuesheng Zhang's Gewan (Night Of Thunder) bounced back in style on unseasonably quick ground to cause a 25-1 upset in Saturday's G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Always in the front line under James Doyle, the Andrew Balding-trained grey, who had earlier won the Acomb at York drifted over to the stand's rail but maintained his momentum to deny Ballydoyle's well-backed 7-4 favourite Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) by 3/4 of a length. Godolphin's Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) was 1 1/2 lengths away in third.
“The Champagne was on slow ground and he moved beautifully on the way to post–he has a nice, flowing action so I can see why soft ground at Doncaster didn't suit him,” James Doyle said. “He is very straightforward to deal with and he found an early rhythm, which is so important on this track.”
“He really whooshed down into the dip and I let him flow down into it as Kieren Fallon says he used to like doing,” he added. “Track is fine and a mile will be fine, so the Guineas is there for him–he's very uncomplicated and has ticks in all the boxes. There was no fluke whatsoever about that, he felt like a good horse”.
Intriguingly, Gewan had won the same Newbury novice as Andrew Balding's 2022 Dewhurst winner Chaldean and followed the same path as that subsequent 2000 Guineas hero when winning the Acomb. Disappointing behind Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) in the Champagne, which the Frankel colt had also garnered three years ago, he was back on track here.
This race was won either side of halfway, as the winner began to turn it on from a more advantageous position than the runner-up. Gewan was fractionally slower over each of the last three furlongs than Gstaad, who was restrained early by Christophe Soumillon after showing keenness. Distant Storm was a shade too far out of his ground to get involved, while the unbeaten July Stakes, Vintage Stakes and National Stakes winner Zavateri (Without Parole) looked all at sea coming down into the dip and appeared to run out of steam late as he finished fourth.
“We were saying before the race that he was overpriced, because his York performance was very good and we thought you had to forgive him Doncaster,” Balding said. “He was given a brilliant ride by James and he's a very good horse. The soft ground didn't help at Doncaster, but I don't think it was just that, for whatever reason he wasn't at his best.”
“He's very similar to Chaldean–the only thing he hasn't done is win at Doncaster,” he added. “If you could forgive that Doncaster run he came here with every chance as the Acomb form was rock-solid. It's a relief, but his work at home suggested he would play a part today.”
Aidan O'Brien said of the runner-up, who was filling that spot for the third consecutive time at this level, “He ran really well, he ran a lovely race. I think going up to a mile next season will be fine for him, he will be older and stronger. He's run in lots of good races this year and he just keeps bumping into one, but he's still run well and I'm very happy with him. I think he will be one for the Guineas, any of the three.”
Charlie Appleby said of Distant Storm, who posted the race's fastest sectional when putting in a 11.07 penultimate split before paying for that in the last furlong, “We were a little bit drawn into a Dewhurst on the back of his win last time and he will be given the winter to develop and strengthen now. William said that, among those horses, he felt as though immaturity was coming out a bit.”
“He has lost nothing in defeat and we will put him away for the winter and bring him out in the spring and decide whether to go for a Craven or have a racecourse gallop and come for the Guineas,” he added. “He switched off lovely and the last twice he has raced the right way around. I think he is a horse that will be in contention as a Guineas horse in the spring.”
Pedigree Notes: Gewan, who capped another big day for his sire, is the second foal out of the Listed-placed Grey Mystere (Lethal Force), who is kin to another Listed-placed filly in Ginalyah (Chachnak). The third dam Cracovie (Caerleon) produced the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Coquerelle (Zamindar) and the G3 Prix du Lys winner Spring Master (Mastercraftsman), and is the third dam of the recent G3 Sceptre Stakes scorer Fair Angellica (Harry Angel).
Ballydoyle's exciting Pierre Bonnard in command in the Zetland
By Tom Frary
The subject of a major gamble prior to Saturday's G3 Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes at Newmarket, Ballydoyle's Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) went through the 10-furlong test smoothly to stake his 2026 Derby claims. Delivered from the pack by Christophe Soumillon to lead passing the two pole, the 6-4 favourite was coaxed clear of stablemate Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with Godolphin's €850,000 (AU$1.52 million) BBAG September topper Del Maro (Camelot) a further length away in third.
“He looked amazing in the paddock and went to the start so calm with so much power,” Soumillon said of the son of the Nassau winner Sultanina (New Approach) who had broken his maiden at Dundalk in August. “I was wanted to teach him and he settled really well for cover and was able to quicken well.”
“He is still very immature, but after the line he kept going which is a good sign,” he added. “He looks an amazing prospect for next year. He's well-balanced–he didn't really change leads during the race, so will improve and be a good horse next year.”
Aidan O'Brien added, “Christophe seemed very happy with him. He is a lovely big horse and still a big baby at home. He does everything very easy, is a straightforward horse and is going to improve a lot over the winter. I think at the moment he looks like a Derby trial horse for next year. Endorsement ran a lovely race too, it was very solid.”
“We'll get through the winter, but he's a big, straightforward cruiser and he can handle a tight track, having been round Dundalk,” he added. “He's nimble obviously and handles fast ground, which is lovely. We've always liked him a lot and as a very big horse he's only going to improve.”
Pedigree Notes: Pierre Bonnard's aforementioned dam Sultanina, who also captured the G3 Pinnacle Stakes over a mile and a half, is also responsible for the recent Park Hill Stakes third Crepe Suzette (Saxon Warrior). Sold for just 78,000gns (AU$168,900) at the 2022 Tattersalls December, her yearling filly by Coulsty was a €200,000 (AU$359,000) purchase by Amo Racing at last month's Goffs Orby Book 1.
The winner shares his Listed Lupe Stakes-winning second dam Soft Centre (Zafonic) with the Del Mar Oaks, Gamely and American Oaks heroine Anisette (Awtaad). The third dam is the G2 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up Foodbroker Fancy (Halling), producer of the G3 Long Island Handicap winner Dalvina (Grand Lodge) and the Listed scorer French Dressing (Sea The Stars), who is in turn the dam of the G3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Mohaafeth (Frankel).
Night Of Thunder's Hankelow makes all in the Autumn Stakes
By Sean Cronin
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's Listed Flying Scotsman runner-up Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) exhibited an unflinching attitude and led from pillar to post for a career high in Saturday's G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket, a contest won last year by subsequent G1 Eclipse and G1 Irish Champion hero Delacroix (Dubawi).
“He has got such a great mind on him and can only get better,” insisted trainer Karl Burke. “I think he will be better on a more level track and I'll see what (jockey) Cliff (Lee) has to say. He'd certainly want more juice in the ground. He didn't have the best of preps going into Doncaster last time. It was nothing major, but it was just a bit stop-start in the weeks before.
“I think that is what got him beat that day and the step up in trip suited him today. You only have to looking at him going round in the prelims to see he is a very relaxed horse. He a good horse. Whether he is quick enough for a Guineas, or whether we step up to a mile-and-a-quarter, we have plenty of time to think about that.”
The 750,000gns (AU$1.62 million) Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate and 5-2 favourite broke sharply and gained immediate control of this straight one-mile test. In command throughout, he was scrubbed along as threats loomed in both sides approaching the quarter-mile marker and stayed on powerfully under a drive from the foot of the hill to hold the keen-running Al Zanati (Dubawi) by 1 1/4 lengths in game fashion. Glacius (Too Darn Hot) fared best of the rest and finished a head adrift in a blanket finish for the minor placings.
Pedigree Notes: Hankelow is the third of four foals and becomes the second black-type winner out of Listed Upavon Fillies' Stakes runner-up Sagaciously (Lawman), herself a half-sister to the dam of G1 Prix Morny, G1 Middle Park Stakes and G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power (Ardad), last month's Middle Park hero Wise Approach (Mehmas) and Listed Chesham Stakes third Golden Mind (Galileo Gold).
The January-foaled bay is full to a yearling colt and a half-brother to multiple Group 2-placed Listed Prix Pelleas victor Epic Poet (Lope De Vega) and Listed Prix Melisande third La Filomena (Lope De Vega). Hankelow becomes the 40th Group-race winner for his sire.
America
Lush Lips hands Laurelin a first defeat in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup upset
By Stefanie Grimm
Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) inherited a late lead and held off a closing charge from the previously-undefeated Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) to claim her first Grade 1 win in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday.
It was redemption in a way for a filly who took a chance in California last out, shipping from Churchill Downs to wind up just a half-length back of Velocity (Nyquist) in the G1 Del Mar Oaks August 16.
Finally in a race without the presence of top 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) after losing to her twice earlier this year, Lush Lips made the most of her inside draw, showing speed and sitting a stalking second as Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) rushed out from the middle of the pack to lead with one lap to run. Giving that pacesetter plenty of rope, the 8-1 shot was happy to sit in her tracks on the fence as Laurelin ran a joint third and GI Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Fionn (Twirling Candy), the 3-2 race favorite, trailing the field through the opening quarter in 0:23.23. The top three remained unchanged and by the half-mile pole, Laurelin had pulled into a solo third and was picking up a bit of ground on Lush Lips who also was tightening up the margin up front.
With a quarter-mile left to run, Opulent Restraint turned for home still in the lead but facing plenty of pressure while on her wrong lead. It was Lush Lips who got the first jump, powering to even terms inside the final furlong and blowing right on past. Laurelin, wider still of that pair, was also moving late but Lush Lips hit the front and refused to be pulled back in, staying clear in the final strides to earn the crown. It was another several lengths back to Fionn who kicked into gear down the stretch but could do no better than winning the photo finish for fourth.
This is the first Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes win for trainer Brendan Walsh and the ownership group of Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Mrs. M.V. Magnier. Lush Lips is the only active runner for this partnership.
Now a four-time winner in the United States, Lush Lips has never run worse than second since joining Walsh's string, winning her first two starts in the country before running second to Nitrogen twice at both Tampa in the G3 Florida Oaks and at Churchill in the G2 Edgewood Stakes May 2.
“As a kid growing up, I didn't know a lot about the Breeders' Cup,” said Medallion Racing Manager Phillip Shelton. “I just knew we could come to it (here at Keeneland). I think my parents didn't bring me opening weekend because it was going to be too crowded. But this (Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup) was the one race we had to come to every year. If you'd have said, 'Pick any race the partnership could win, it would be this one here at Keeneland.' The (credit) goes to (trainer) Brendan (Walsh) and his team and the filly. She's just got a ton of heart, and we're very lucky.”
“Surprisingly, we did (gain confidence from her runner-up finish at today's distance in the Aug. 16 Del Mar Oaks-G1 Presented by Keeneland Sales), because that was always in the back of our minds, that maybe it was as far as she wanted to go,” Walsh added. “But I think she went against the grain, and it seems she has no problem going the mile and an eighth. It was fantastic. (Her ability to lay off the pace gives us options) without a doubt. It opens a big door for her, especially for next year, because we always thought this filly was going to be a good 4-year-old. It's fantastic to win a Grade 1 with her.”
Fionn, who suffered her first off-the-board finish Saturday, seems set to go on for a 4-year-old campaign as well.
“We won a (turf) race earlier today (with Chapman's Peak in Race 7) on the lead, and it seems that is where you need to be early,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Where she was (far back), she wasn't going to get it done from there. She's had a long year. We'll talk it over with the owners, but she would be OK to take a breather. We will come up with a game plan to maybe race her again in 2026.”
Pedigree Notes: Lush Lips is the third Graded stakes winner for Ten Sovereigns who was exported to stand in Turkey last year from his previous base at Coolmore Ireland. She is also his second Grade 1 winner joining Zulu Kingdom who took down the G1 Churchill Downs American Turf Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard this year.
BBA Ireland picked up first dam Lamyaa (GB), a daughter of Arcano (Ire), for €28,000 (AU$50,200) as a broodmare out of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale in 2016. The dam is a half to high-weighted German older horse Electric Beat (GB) (Shinko Forest {Ire}) and to GSP Gray Pearl (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) while another half-sister produced both GSW/G1SP Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and MGSW Treasuring (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}).
She's since produced six foals of which five have races and two have won. Lush Lips herself was a £82,000 (AU$169,100) yearling grad from Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in 2023. Her younger siblings have also gone come under the hammer at Goffs with her yearling half-brother by Harry Angel (Ire) bringing €55,000 (AU$98,680) out of Book 1 at the Orby Sale just last month. That colt is the last reported foal out of Lamyaa who has not been bred since.
