International Latest
22 for Hello Youmzain
Cambridge Stud shuttler Hello Youmzain (Kodiac) chalked up his 22nd individual winner on Friday when Rosapenna (2 c ex Obedient by Motivator) proved too strong for his rivals in a 1600-metre conditions contest at Chantilly. The Nicolas Clement-trained colt ran out a length and a half winner over Breizhy Boy (Goken), with a further length and a quarter back to Zodd (U S Navy Flag) in third place. A half-brother to winner Eddy’s Dream (Intello), Rosapenna is out of the Listed-placed winning Motivator (Montjeu) mare Obedient. Hello Youmzain shuttled to Cambridge Stud in 2024 at a fee of NZ$30,000 (plus GST).
19 for Too Darn Hot
Darley stallion Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) scored his 19th individual stakes winner on Friday when the Charlie Appleby-trained Native Approach (3 g ex Sperry by Shamardal) took out the Business Bay Challenge (Listed, 1400m) at Meydan. Having won and finished second in his opening two starts, the now gelding couldn’t land a telling blow when stepped up to Group 3 company on his third start but bounced back here on his first start overseas, defeating San Donato (Lope De Vega) by three-quarters of a length. There was a further neck back to the third-placed Danyah (Invincible Spirit) in third place. Bred and raced by Godolphin, Native Approach is closely related to Group 3 scorer Discovery Island (Dubawi) being out of the Listed-winning mare Sperry (Shamardal), herself a half-sister to Group 2-placed Listed winner Dunelight (Desert Sun). Too Darn Hot did not return to Darley Australia in 2024, but was made available for covers on southern hemisphere time at a fee of £50,000 (approx. AU$100,360). The stallion will stand the upcoming northern hemisphere season at Dalham Hall in Newmarket for a career-high fee of £90,000 (approx. AU$180,900).
219 for Exceed And Excel
Cover Up (4 g ex Hushing by Pivotal) became the 219th individual stakes winner for now retired Darley stallion Exceed And Excel (Danehill) when scoring in the Dubai Dash (Listed, 1000m) at Meydan on Friday. Ridden by William Buick and making his first start for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, having moved from the John and Thady Gosden yard, the four-year-old gelding defeated Bilhayl (Shamardal) by a neck with the same distance further back to Bombay Bazaar (Kodiac) in third. Cover Up is the second foal out of the winning Pivotal (Polar Falcon) mare Hushing, herself a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Gr 1, 5.5f) winner Mischief Magic (Exceed And Excel) and to Group 3 scorer Sound And Silence (Exceed And Excel).
58 for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) sired his 58th individual stakes winner on Thursday when Presage Nocturne (4 c ex Kyurem by Verglas) landed the Prix Arcangues (Listed, 2500m) at Deauville. Ridden by Stephane Pasquier for trainers Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti, the four-year-old entire defeated Goya Senora (Anodin) by a short-neck with a further length and a quarter back to Hooking (Lope De Vega) in third place. The fourth foal out of the Listed-placed winning Verglas (Highest Honor) mare Kyurem, Presage Nocturne is a half-brother to the Listed-placed winner Titanium (Zarak). Wootton Bassett shuttled to Coolmore Australia in 2024 for a fee of $192,500 (inc GST).
US: Uncle Mo dies aged 16
Coolmore America and owner Mike Repole have paid tribute to Grade 1 winner and top-class sire Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) after the 16-year-old was euthanised due to an injury to his left foreleg on Thursday. Bred by Dr Michael Cavey and a US$220,000 purchase by Repole Stables from the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Uncle Mo went unbeaten as a juvenile for Todd Pletcher. It was a campaign which resulted in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 8f) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Gr 1, 8.5f), both commanding victories by over four lengths. The son of Indian Charlie (In Excess) went on to land the Kelso Handicap (Gr 2, 8f) and place in the King’s Bishop (Gr 1, 7f) and Wood Memorial Stakes (Gr 1, 9f) the following year. He retired to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud for an opening fee of US$35,000 in 2012, rising all the way up to US$150,000 in 2017 and then a career-best of US$175,000 in 2021. His progeny are headed by 56 individual Graded winners, including 15 at the highest level. Among them are fellow Breeders’ Cup winner and Ashford resident Golden Pal, Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) hero Nyquist, Belmont Stakes (Gr 1, 12f) winner Mo Donegal, as well as this year’s Stephen Foster Stakes (Gr 1, 9f) victor Kingsbarns and Adare Manor, a three-time scorer at the highest level.