11 for Churchill
New first season sire winners
Churchill
Madame Ambassador (2 f ex Lady Jane Digby by Oasis Dream) gave Coolmore’s Churchill (Galileo) his 11th individual winner when scoring on her handicap debut over an extended mile at Nottingham on Tuesday evening. A seventh foal, and closely related to winners Galapiat (Galileo) and Francophilia (Frankel), Madame Ambassador was ridden prominently throughout the contest and drew away to win readily by a length and three-quarters from On The River (Heeraat) in second with Night Arc (Twilight Son) another length and a quarter away in third. Less than 24 hours later, Hamaki (2 c ex Sarawati by Haafhd) gave the sire his 12th individual winner when he took out a Pontefract maiden over six furlongs. The colt had to dig in as he was pressed by the eventual runner-up, Rambuso Creek (Tagula), in the final 100 yards but he held on well to take the contest by a head, with Sixstar (Pivotal) back in third. Hamaki was bred by Pigeon Park Stud and sold for £150,000 at the Goffs Orby Sales in 2020 to buyer Highflyer Bloodstock. Churchill will return in 2021 to stand at Coolmore Stud in Australia for a fee of AU$22,000 (inc. GST)
Ribchester
Haunui Farm shutter Ribchester (Iffraaj) brought up his seventh individual winner of what’s been an eye-catching start with his first crop. Making her debut at Deauville on Thursday, Shaikha (2 f ex Kerila by Makfi) landed the Prix Equidia (1200m) for unraced fillies. Wearing the silver and gold silks of Al Shaqab, the Andre Fabre-trained Shaikha defeated Assyrian Queen (Invincible Spirit) by a commanding three lengths, with the same margin back to Malavath (Mehmas) in third. A half-sister to juvenile stakes winner Darkness (Siyouni), Shaikha was a €240,000 purchase for Al Shaqab out of the Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale. Ribchester will stand for a fee of NZ$15,000 (Plus GST) in New Zealand this year.
New Group/Grade 1 winners
Awesome Patriot
Bella Sofia (3 f ex Love Contract by Consolidator) dominated her seven rivals in the Test Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at Saratoga on Saturday to earn Awesome Patriot (Awesome Again) a second individual elite-level winner. Bella Sofia, who also became her sire’s fifth stakes winner, stepped up from a last-start allowance win over six furlongs to win this Group 1 by four and a quarter lengths over Souper Sensational (Curlin). Race favourite Search Results (Flatter) was another length and a half back in third. Bella Sofia is the third winner from as many to race out of Love Contract (Consolidator), who is a half-sister to stakes winner Shake The Dice (Boundary). Awesome Patriot stood at Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm in 2020 for a US$2,500 (approx. AU$3,400) fee.
Daniel Boone
Vespaciano (3 c ex Vetskaia by Tiznow) got the better of favourite Shy Friend (Equal Stripes) in the Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at San Isidro on Saturday, earning Daniel Boone (Wild Event) his second elite-level winner. The Juan Etchechoury-trained colt scored by a comfortable four lengths, with Astro Latino (E Dubai) a further three lengths behind in third.
Footstepsinthesand
Marianafoot (6 h ex Marianabaa by Anabaa) continued his remarkable progression up the ranks and extended his winning sequence to seven when scorching to a one and three-quarter-length victory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr 1, 1300m) at Deauville on Sunday, providing former shuttler Footstepsinthesand (Giant’s Causeway) with a seventh individual elite-level winner in the process. The six-year-old powered clear of his rivals to provide a third career top-level success for burgeoning trainer Jerome Reynier. Rank outsider Tropbeau (Showcasing) snatched second place on the line from July Cup (Gr 1, 6f) hero Starman (Dutch Art). Out of Marianabaa (Anabaa), Marianafoot is a half-brother to stakes winner Padron (Gris De Gris). Footstepsinthesand, who shuttled to Australia for two seasons in 2005 and 2006, stands at Castlehyde Stud in Ireland for a €12,500 (approx. AU$20,000) fee.
Frankel
Sir Mark Prescott celebrated his first Group 1 for nearly four years when the high-class Alpinista (4 f ex Alwilda by Hernando) was propelled to victory in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (Gr 1, 2400m) by a brilliant Luke Morris at Hoppegarten on Sunday, earning Frankel (Galileo) his 18th individual elite-level winner. Second to Love (Galileo) in last year’s Yorkshire Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f), the four-year-old has benefited from Prescott’s patience, but also needed all of Morris’s prowess in the saddle to land this contest, defeating last year’s winner Torquator Tasso (Adlerflug) by two and three-quarter lengths. The Godolphin-raced Walton Street (Cape Cross) was another length back in third. Alpinista is the only foal to race out of Listed winner Alwilda (Hernando), who is a half-sister to three stakes winners. Frankel stands at Juddemonte’s Banstead Manor Stud for £175,000 (approx. AU$330,370).
Galileo Gold
Ebro River (2 c ex Soft Power by Balmont) landed the Phoenix Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at the Curragh on Sunday to provide first season sire Galileo Gold (Paco Boy) with a maiden elite-level winner. The Hugo Palmer-trained colt followed a Listed win at Sandown in May with three unplaced efforts in Group 2 company but took his form to a new level with a three-quarter length success over Dr Zempf (Dark Angel). Favourite Go Bears Go (Kodi Bear) was a length behind the winner in third. Galileo Gold, winner of the English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) and St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) in 2016, has so far sired eight winners from his first crop, with three of those scoring at stakes level. He stands at Tally Ho Stud in Ireland for a €5,000 (approx. AU$8,000) fee.
Starspangledbanner
Rosemont Stud shuttler Starspangledbanner (Choisir) continued his fabulous 2021 season when he was presented with a third elite-level winner as State Of Rest (3 c ex Repose by Quiet American) came to the fore for Joseph O’Brien in Saturday’s Saratoga Derby Invitational (Gr 1, 9.5f). Coolmore’s star sprinter is proving himself even more versatile as a sire despite well-documented fertility issues earlier in his career, with State Of Rest joining Millise and The Wow Signal as elite-level winners for Starspangledbanner. Ridden by John Velazquez, the colt won by a length over Soldier Rising (Frankel). Du Jour (Temple City) edged out favourite Bolshoi Ballet (Galileo) for third. State Of Rest is the second foal out of unraced dam Repose (Quiet American)l, and the first to have raced. He was bought for £45,000 as a pinhook with O’Brien and agent Mouse O’Ryan finding him for 60,000gns a year later at Tattersalls Book 2. The Australian-bred Starspangledbanner splits his time between Coolmore in Ireland and Rosemont, where he is standing for $16,500 (inc. GST) this year.
War Command
Polvorada (3 f ex Precious Time by Manipulator) impressively landed the Gran Premio Mil Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at San Isidro in Argentina on Saturday to become the second elite-level winner for War Command (War Front). Polvorada cruised to a six-length win over Lindalevesolta (Super Saver), with Verde Pipian (Treasure Beach) another two lengths back in third. War Command stands at Haras de Gelos in France for a €3,500 (approx. AU$5,600) fee.
New stakes winners
Adaay
Have A Good Day (2 f ex Black Meyeden by Black Minnaloushe) gave sire Adaay (Kodiac) a first individual stakes winner when she took the Darley Prix de Cabourg (Gr 3, 1200m) at Deauville on Tuesday. Racing close up throughout the contest, the Florian Guyader-trained filly was pushed along entering the final two furlongs but stuck on in determined fashion and with the rail to help, stayed on well in the final 75 yards to beat the fast-finishing Dizzy Bizu (Caravaggio) by half a length, with Trident (Wootton Bassett) a short head further back in third. Have A Good Day was ridden by Christophe Soumillon for owner Mrs Theresa Marnane. The filly was bred by M Phelan. Adaay stood at Whitsbury Manor Stud in 2021 for a fee of £5,000 (approx. AU$9,500).
Camacho
Mo Celita (3 f ex Asterism by Motivator) provided her sire Camacho (Danehill) with an 18th individual stakes winner when taking the Prix Moonlight Cloud (Listed, 1200m) at Deauville on Sunday. The Adrian Nicholls-trained filly was well beaten in Group 3 company at York last month but bounced back under Hollie Doyle to score by three-quarters of a length from Prince Lancelot (Sir Prancealot). Race favourite Valloria (Dubawi) was a short neck further back in third. Camacho stands at Yeomanstown Stud in Ireland for €5,000 (approx. AU$8,000).
Camelot
In an incredibly tight finish to the Prix de Psyche (Gr 3, 2000m), the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Penja (3 f ex Just With You by Sunday Break) gave Camelot (Montjeu) his 39th individual stakes winner on Tuesday at Deauville. The three-year-old settled in mid-division before being pushed along with three furlongs to go. After making limited and laboured headway on the leaders, Penja began to respond to jockey Christian Demuro’s urgings and she stayed on well to the line to snatch victory by a nose from The Blue Brilliant (Fastnet Rock), with long-time leader Mystery Angel (Kodi Bear) a further length and a quarter back in third. Penja was sold to Rouget at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale for €90,000. The filly is owned by Daniel-Yves Treves. Former shuttler Camelot stood at Coolmore Stud for a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$96,000) in 2021.
City Zip
Sprawl (4 c ex Amen Again by Awesome Again) became the 91st individual stakes winner for City Zip (Carson City) when comfortably taking the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Mountaineer Park on Saturday. The Thomas Drury jr-trained four-year-old placed in Grade 2 company on his previous start and took advantage of a drop down in class to score by one and three-quarter lengths over Mighty Heart (Dramedy). Bourbon Calling (Dialed In) was two and three-quarter lengths further back in third. Former Lane’s End stallion City Zip was euthanized due to chronic laminitis in July 2017.
Dream Ahead
Phobetor (6 g ex Oneforall by Dubai Destination) scored in the first Group race of the new Australian season, delivering a 32nd individual stakes winner for former shuttler Dream Ahead (Diktat) when winning the Missile Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. The Michael Costa-trained six-year-old, now a winner of seven of his 12 starts, defeated July Sprint (1100m) winner Chat (Deep Field), as solid winter form came to the fore for the season’s opening black-type event. Fasika (So You Think), winner of the Sapphire Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) in the autumn and the co-favourite along with Kolding (Ocean Park) for the six furlong feature, was a length behind the winner in third. Phobetor, a $55,000 purchase for his trainer and New Breed Racing from the 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, is one of two Group 2 winners for Dream Ahead in Australia, while his four Group 1 winners have all come in Europe. Phobetor is one of two winners out of Dubai Destination (Kingmambo) mare Oneforall, whose dam is out of a sister to Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Ruffles (Zeditave). Dream Ahead stands at Haras de Grandcamp in France for a fee of €12,000 (approx. AU$19,000).
Falco
Dima (3 f ex Belobaka by Sinndar) landed the Hoppegartener Stuten-Preis (Listed, 1800m) at Hoppegarten on Sunday to take Falco (Pivotal) to 11 individual stakes winners. The Mario Hofer-trained filly improved on a third-placing in Listed company last start to defeat Chilly Filly (Makfi) by a short head, with Stella (Neatico) another three-quarters of a length back in third. Falco, the sire of dual Group 1 winner Odeliz, stands at Hundred Acre Farm for £3,500 (approx. AU$6,600).
Frankel
Frankel (Galileo) sired the quinella in the Sweet Solera Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Newmarket on Saturday, as last-start winner Majestic Glory (2 f ex Bella Nouf by Dansili) got the better of her more fancied rival Wild Beauty (Frankel). Majestic Glory hit the front a furlong from home, and held a length margin to the line, with Value Theory (Gleneagles) finishing third, two lengths behind the winner. The Andrew Balding-trained winner takes her record to two wins from four starts after her 350,000gns purchase as a weanling.
Galileo Gold
British raider Oscula (2 f ex Bisous Y Besos by Big Bad Bob) not only gave her sire Galileo Gold (Paco Boy) his third individual stakes winner, but also provided trainer George Boughey with his first ever Group-race success when taking the Prix Six Perfections (Gr 3, 1400m) on Tuesday. Under another canny ride from jockey Ryan Moore, Oscula managed to get the early lead and that is where she stayed throughout, taking victory by a length and a half from odds-on favourite Zellie (Wootton Bassett), who was arguably unlucky in running, with the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Daneh (Dubawi) another neck back in third. Oscula was bred by Padraig Williams and bought by Michael Aguiar at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 4) for just 4,000gns. The filly is currently owned by Nick Bradley Racing 20. Galileo Gold stood at Tally Ho Stood in Ireland for a 2021 fee of €5,000 (approx. AU$8,000).
Gleneagles
Gleneagles (Galileo) sired his 16th individual stakes winner when his progressive daughter Seisai (2 f ex Lillebonne by Danehill Dancer) kept on well to defeat the colts in the Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes (Listed, 7.5f) at Tipperary on Friday night. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the filly was winning for the second time in four starts as she followed up her Group 3 placing with a half length success. Bred by Peter Henley, John Connolly and Pattern Bloodstock, Seisai is a half sister to the Listed winner Magnanimous (Mehmas) and the Group 3-placed Micro Manage (Rip Van Winkle). Gleneagles stood for a fee of €25,000 (approx. AU$39,975) at Coolmore Ireland in 2021.
Gun Runner
Pappacap (2 c ex Pappascat by Scat Daddy) maintained his unbeaten record when landing the Best Pal Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Del Mar on Saturday to provide his sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride) with his first stakes winner. Making his second start after winning his maiden on debut in May, the Mark Casse-trained Pappacap lit up the Del Mar track with a four-and- three-quarter length defeat of Finneus (Stay Thirsty). Bet On Mookie (Uncaptured) was one and a half lengths further back in third. Pappacap is one three winners from as many to race out of Grade 3-placed mare Pappascat (Scat Daddy). First season sire Gun Runner, winner of six elite-level contests on the track, stands at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky for $50,000 (approx. AU$68,015).
Invincible Spirit
Egot (3 c ex Entertains by Street Cry) became the first stakes winner for Australian-bred mare Entertains (Street Cry) when he landed the Prix de Tourgeville (Listed, 1600m) at Deauville on Thursday. Egot is the second foal out of the former Godolphin-raced Entertains, who won three times in Australia and also finished runner-up in the 2015 Aspiration Handicap (Gr 3, 1600m). Making his stakes debut at start four on Thursday, Egot prevailed by a short neck over Axdavali (Goken) to become the 136th individual stakes winner for Invincible Spirit (Green Desert). Mouillage (Toronado) was a short head further back in third. Former shuttler Invincible Spirit, the sire of leading Australian stallion I Am Invincible, stands at the Irish National Stud for a €80,000 (approx. AU$127,786) fee.
Jukebox Jury
Memphis (4 f ex Margarita by Lomitas) finally got off the mark in stakes company at the ninth attempt when landing the Hoppegartener Steher-Preis (Listed, 2800m) at Hoppegarten on Sunday to earn Jukebox Jury (Montjeu) his ninth individual stakes winner. Previously twice placed at Group 2 level, Memphis broke her stakes drought with a one-length success over
race favourite Alerta Roja (Golden Horn). Loft (Adlerflug) was another one and a quarter lengths back in third. Jukebox Jury, the sire of last year’s Prix du Cadran (Gr 1, 4000m) winner Princess Zoe, stands at Burgage Stud in Ireland.
Kingman
Public Sector (3 c ex Parle Moi by Montjeu) had threatened to break out at stakes level for trainer Chad Brown and owner Klaravich Stables, and he did so in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (Gr 2, 8f) at Saratoga on Friday night, as Brown landed a 2,000th career win later on the card. Public Sector, a 170,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale buy, ran second in the Pilgrim Stakes (Gr 2, 8.5f) as a juvenile, and backed up a second-placed effort in the Manila Stakes (Listed, 8f) at Belmont before claiming victory here, defeating Annex (Constitution) by a length, with In Effect (Dialed In) third, a further length and a quarter in arrears. Public Sector became the 39th individual stakes winner for Kingman (Invincible Spirit), who has sired elite-level winners in Great Britain, Japan and the US this calendar year. Kingman stands at Banstead Manor Stud, where he commanded a £150,000 (approx. AU$280,000) fee in 2021.
Kodiac
Wild Majesty (4 g ex Moojha by Forest Wildcat) became the 69th individual stakes winner for Kodiac (Danehill) when landing the Prix du Cercle (Listed, 1000m) at Deauville on Thursday. The Henri-Francois Devin-trained gelding was making his first start in stakes company under Mickael Barzalona and got the better of Wise Words (Sepoy) by three-quarters of a length, with Air De Valse (Mesnil Des Aigles) another short head further back in third. Bought for 400,000gns from the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Wild Majesty is a brother to three-time Listed-winning juvenile Frenetic and a half-brother to Big Handsome (Street Boss), who placed at Group 2 level in America. Kodiac, the sire of five elite-level winners including 2018 Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Best Solution, stands at Tally Ho Stud in Ireland for a €65,000 (approx. AU$103,825) fee.
Le Havre
Le Havre (Noverre) was provided with his 45th individual stakes winner on Tuesday when Brokeback Mountain (6 g ex Beaumont by Trempolino) scored in the Prix du Carrousel (Listed, 3000m). Trained by Yann Barberot, the six-year-old settled towards the rear of mid-division and was travelling well coming into the final couple of furlongs but had limited room to manoeuvre. Jockey Gregory Benoist spotted a gap for his mount towards the inside rail and the gelding found plenty to score with something to spare at the line to beat Nagano Gold (Sixties Icon) by half a length, with Night Tornado (Night Of Thunder) a head further away in third. Brokeback Mountain was bred and is owned by Bloodstock Agency Ltd. Le Havre saw more success on Saturday when Waliyak (4 m ex Vadariya by Sea The Stars) justified evens favouritism to win the Dick Hern Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Haydock and become the 46th individual stakes winner for Le Havre. The mare had placed third at stakes level on her last two starts, but made no mistake here, winning three and a quarter lengths over the George Baker-trained Passionova (Bated Breath). Toronado’s (High Chaparral) Listed winner Illykato finished four and a half lengths behind the winner in third. Le Havre stood the 2021 season at Monfort et Preaux for a fee of €40,000 (approx. AU$63,000).
Makfi
Ritani (7 m ex Elegant Emerald by Unbridled’s Song) caused a shock in the Winter Cup (Gr 3, 1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday, landing a first stakes win at what was her 42nd career start. The seven-year-old mare, who had finished out of the placings in six previous attempts at stakes level, earned valuable black type in becoming the 38th individual stakes winner for her sire Makfi (Dubawi). Ritani held off the challenge of Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) winner Justaskme (No Excuse Needed) by a length and a quarter, with Verry Flash (Zed), an older brother to Group 1-winning star Verry Elleegant, finishing third, two lengths from the winner. Makfi stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
Mohaymen
Elm Drive (2 f ex Lets Dance Charlie by Indian Charlie) became the first individual stakes winner for her four-time Grade 2-winning juvenile sire Mohaymen (Tapit) when landing the Sorrento Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Del Mar on Friday. The filly held off the challenge of Eda (Munnings) to win by a head, as the pair drew 13 and a quarter lengths clear of the remaining six fillies in the field. The daughter of Mohaymen was a $165,000 purchase from the Ocala March 2YO Sale, having been sold as a yearling for $40,000. She is the fifth foal out of the unraced Lets Dance Charlie (Indian Charlie), and a half-sister to stakes winner Mother Of Dragons (First Dude). Mohaymen stood for a fee of US$7,500 (approx. (AU$10,100) in 2021 at Shadwell Stud in Kentucky.
National Defense
The Wesley Ward-trained Twilight Gleaming (2 f ex Thomas Pageant by Dansili) held on for victory in an engrossing duel to the line to win the Prix de la Vallee D’Auge (Listed, 1000m) at Deauville on Saturday. Delmona (Dandy Man) battled bravely to finish a half-head second, with Royal Ashirah (Hot Streak) third. The US-trained filly was a well-fancied prospect for the Queen Mary Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Royal Ascot in June, in which she finished second, but capitalised in France to become the first individual stakes winner for Widden Stud Victoria shuttler National Defense (Invincible Spirit). Purchased by Ben McElroy out of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale for £75,000, Twilight Gleaming added a second career victory, adding to her seven-and-a-half-length win at Belmont in May. National Defense will stand at Widden Victoria for a fee of $9,900.
Neo Universe
Neo Universe (Sunday Silence) sired his 31st individual stakes winner when Meisho Murakumo (3 c ex North Pastoral by King Halo) obliged as favourite in the Leopard Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) at Niigata on Sunday. Trained by Yusuke Wada, the colt was winning for the fourth time in eight starts as he made a successful debut in stakes company with a three-length victory. Neo Universe, a dual Classic winner in his native Japan, stands at Shadai Stallion Station.
Ruler Of The World
Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Ruler Of The World (Galileo) sired his fifth individual stakes winner as La Petite Coco (3 f ex La Petite Virginia by Konigstiger) won the Give Thanks Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 4f) at Cork on Saturday. The Team Valor-owned and Paddy Twomey-trained filly defeated Thunder Kiss (Night Of Thunder) by five and a half lengths, with Federica Sophia (Galileo) third, a head further back. A winner at Killarney on her last start and second in the Naas Oaks Trial (Listed, 1m 2f) in June, the filly now has a record of three wins from six starts. She is out of the unraced mare La Petite Virginia (Kongstiger), a half-sister to German Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Lavirco (Konigsstuhl). Ruler Of The World stands for €5,000 (approx. AU$8,000) at Haras de Bouquetot in France.
Zoffany
The Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2.5f) went the way of the Andrew Balding-trained Foxes Tales (3 c ex Starfish by Galileo) who scored her first success at stakes level, becoming the 44th individual stakes winner for Coolmore’s late sire Zoffany (Dansili). Foxes Tales, wearing the colours of King Power Racing, saluted as the 5-4 favourite, three-quarters of a length ahead of Fancy Man (Pride Of Dubai) with Majestic Dawn (Dawn Approach) a further three lengths back in third. A 400,000gns buy for SackvilleDonald from the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale, Foxes Tales takes her career record to three wins from six starts.