Second for Epaulette
New Group / Grade 1 winners
Epaulette – Darley’s Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Epaulette (Commands) registered his second Group or Grade 1 winner on Saturday, his first in the northern hemisphere, when Red Lark (3 f ex Firecrest by Darshaan) caused a shock in taking the Del Mar Oaks (Gr 1, 9f). Racing in the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners silks that were also carried by 2017 VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Pinot (Pierro), the Paddy Gallagher-trained Red Lark settled midfield under rider Drayden Van Dyke. Using momentum to her advantage, she was able to sweep up and hold her rivals at bay, scoring by a length over California Kook (Boisterous) with Warren’s Showtime (Clubhouse Ride) in third. Red Lark is from Epaulette’s third crop produced out of Kildangan Stud, with the Australian stallion serving five books of mares in Ireland. He will stand at Darley’s Kelvinside farm in the Hunter Valley at $22,000 (inc GST) this season.
War Front – War Front (Danzig) made it 22 Group or Grade 1 winners on Saturday when Halladay (4 c ex Hightap by Tapit) broke through for his first graded stakes win in the Fourstardave Handicap (Gr 1, 8f) at Saratoga. Halladay took on a strong field that included defending champion Got Stormy (Get Stormy), Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr 1, 8f) winner Uni (More Than Ready), 2018 St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) victor Without Parole (Frankel) and two-time Grade 1 winner Raging Bull (Dark Angel), with the Todd Pletcher-trained colt sent off as third favourite despite his lack of a graded stakes victory. Ridden by Luis Saez, Halladay defeated Got Stormy by a length and a quarter, with the same margin back to Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in third. War Front stood for US$250,000 at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky in 2020.
Wootton Bassett – Audarya (4 f ex Green Bananas by Green Tune) defied her huge odds to run out an impressive winner of the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr 1, 2000m) at Deauville on Sunday, providing sire Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) with a 15th individual stakes winner, and his second individual Group 1 winner, to accompany former European champion three-year-old Almanzor. The victory will no doubt have brought smiles to Coolmore’s bosses, with Wootton Bassett a recent addition to their powerful stallion ranks, having been purchased from Haras d’Etreham. Audarya, trained in Britain by James Fanshawe, was always prominent under Ioritz Mendizabal and ran on strongly to defeat Ambition (Dubawi) by a neck under just hands and heels, with a further four lengths back to Romanciere (Dansili) in third. The winner was a €125,000 purchase at the 2017 Arqana Yearling sales, whilst her sire stood for €40,000 (approx AUD$66,000) in 2020.
New stakes winners
Bated Breath – Makaloun (2 c ex Makana by Dalakhani) became the 16th individual stakes winner for Juddmonte sire Bated Breath (Dansili) when making all under a typically enterprising Christophe Soumillon ride at Deauville on Saturday in the Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage (Listed, 1600m). Makaloun defeated Euphoria (Sepoy) by a length with Shut The Box (Pedro The Great) a further head back in third. The winner raced against the far rail initially before leading the field down the centre of the track up the straight; he remains unbeaten and a colt of some potential. Bated Breath stands at Banstead Manor Stud in England for £12,500 (approx. AUD$23,000).
Excelebration – Bounce The Blues (Excelebration) stepped up from her course and distance maiden victory on August 3, where she beat Classic-placed So Wonderful (War Front), to take out the Owenstown Stud Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Naas on Sunday on her fourth start. Having her first run in stakes company, the John Feane-trained three-year-old was a shock winner at 20-1 and became the ninth individual stakes winner for her sire Excelebration (Exceed And Excel). Held up by Kevin Manning, she mounted her challenge two furlongs from home, charging down the outside and seeing off the fast-finishing Soul Search (Zoffany) to win by half a length, with Baraniya (Iffraaj) a further length and a quarter back in third. Former Coolmore shuttler Excelebration, who was bred by race sponsor Owenstown Stud, stood in Ireland until last year when he was sold to stand abroad.
Galileo – Knocking on the door in Group company since breaking her maiden last year, including third in the Irish Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f), Passion (Galileo) gained deserved success in the Stanerra Stakes (Gr 3, 1m6f) at Naas on Sunday and became the 325th individual stakes winner for Galileo (Sadler’s Wells). The Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old made all and stayed on well to see off Traisha (Invincible Spirit) by a length and three quarters, while there was a further length and a quarter back to dual stakes winner and favourite Kastasa (Rock Of Gibraltar) in third. Passion is a full-sister to Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) and St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6.5f) winner Capri and Group winner Cypress Creek, out of the winning Anabaa mare Dialafara. Champion Galileo has stood at Coolmore’s HQ in Fethard, Ireland since 2002 and his fee has been listed as private since 2009.
Golden Horn – Darley’s Golden Horn (Cape Cross) sired his third individual stakes winner when Gold Wand (3 f ex Los Ojitos by Mr Greeley) took out the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed, 1m 4f) at York. Trained by Roger Varian, the three-year-old filly followed up her second in a Listed race here last time out when beating the staying on Vivionn (Dubawi) by a length and three-quarters. Award Scheme (Siyouni) was another who was doing her best work late on, finishing another length and a quarter away in third. Gold Wand, now the winner of two of her five starts, is the second foal out of the US stakes-placed mare Los Ojitos (Mr Greeley). Golden Horn stood for £40,000 (approx AUD$73,500) at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in 2020.
Kodi Bear – Kodi Bear (Kodiac) scored a first stakes winner from his first crop when the China Horse Club-owned Cobh (2 c ex Arbeel by Royal Applause) saw off the challenge of Fancy Man (Pride Of Dubai) to win the Stonehenge Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Salisbury by half a length. Surprise Exhibit (Showcasing) was a further three and a quarter lengths back in third. A two-year-old stakes winner, Kodi Bear went on to win at Group 2 level over a mile with Cobh one of five winners from his first racing crop. Cobh, a €100,000 purchase by China Horse Club from the Goffs Orby Sale, is out of a half-sister to stakes winner Telwaar (Haafhd), while his third dam is Prix Morny (Gr 1, 1200m) winner First Waltz (Green Dancer). Kodi Bear stands for €6,000 (Approx. AU$10,980) at Rathbarry Stud.
Lawman – The Joseph O’Brien-trained Pretty Gorgeous (2 f ex Lady Gorgeous by Compton Place) turned the tables on Shale (Galileo) on Saturday at the Curragh in the Debutante Stakes (Gr 2, 7f), having run second to Donnacha O’Brien’s charge in the Silver Flash Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) earlier in the month. She stayed on well in the soft ground to win by two and a half lengths from the favourite, Shale, while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mother Earth (Zoffany) was the same distance away in third. Making just her third start after running out a five-length winner of her maiden over a mile at Bellewstown in July, Pretty Gorgeous became the 33rd individual stakes winner for her sire Lawman (Invincible Spirit). She holds an entry in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) next month. Lawman relocated from Ballylinch Stud in Ireland to Haras de Grandcamp in 2019 and his fee for 2020 was €10,000 (approx AUD$16,450).
Lonhro – Darley’s champion sire Lonhro (Octagonal) sired his 89th individual stakes winner when Roheryn (5 g ex Mannington by Danehill) landed Saturday’s Show County Quality (Gr 3, 1200m) at Randwick. Roheryn hails from a potent female family, being a daughter of the Group 3-winning juvenile and Group 1-placed sprinter Mannington (Danehill) and a grandson of Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Bint Marscay (Marscay). Roheryn is a half-brother to Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Benicio (More Than Ready) and Group 2 winner Romneya (Red Ransom), while his dam is a half-sister to Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) winner Bollinger (Dehere) and Group 3-winning two-year-old Sheraton (Woodman). Lonhro stands for $66,000 (inc GST) at Darley’s Kelvinside property this year.
Manhattan Rain – Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago) brought up his 14th individual stakes winner on Sunday when Excelling (6 g ex Princess Ruhie by Fusaichi Pegasus) took out the Merlion Trophy (Listed, 1200m) at Kranji. The Lee Freedman-trained Excelling stepped out in stakes company for the first time at his 18th start, having had eight starts in NSW before transferring to Singapore in early 2019. Sent out as a 25/1 shot in the Singapore Group 2 yesterday, Excelling came with a big run under Harry Kasim to defeat Bold Thruster (Turffontein) by a half-length with Surpass Natural (Elvstroem) a further head away in third. Manhattan Rain will stand at Blue Gum Farm for $13,200 (inc GST) this season.
Mehmas – Tally Ho Stud’s first crop stallion Mehmas (Acclamation) registered two stakes winners in two days when Minzaal (2 c ex Pardoven by Clodovil) took out York’s Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) on Friday before Acklam Express (2 g ex York Express by Vale Of York) came out on top of a blanket finish in the Roses Stakes (Listed, 5f) at York on Saturday afternoon Mehmas stands at Tally–Ho Stud in Ireland for €7,500 (approx. AUD$12,500).
New Approach – Mac Swiney (2 c ex Halla Na Saoire by Teofilo) sprung a 40-1 surprise in the Futurity Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at the Curragh on Saturday for Jim Bolger and in the process became the 53rd individual stakes winner for former Darley shuttler New Approach (Galileo). Racing in the colours of the trainer’s wife, the homebred beat the Jessica Harrington-trained favourite Cadillac (Lope De Vega) by half a length, while Ontario (Galileo) was third for Aidan O’Brien, the same distance away. Mac Swiney is the fourth foal out of the unraced Halla Na Saoire (Teofilo), the sister of Group 2 winner Light Heavy, and a half-sister to Halla Siamsa (Montjeu), the dam of Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) winner Parish Hall (Teofilo). New Approach stands at Darley’s Dalham Hall in Newmarket where his 2020 fee was £30,000 (approx. AUD$55,000).
Nyquist – Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) winner Nyquist (Uncle Mo) brought up his first stakes winner as a stallion on Sunday when the well-named Gretzky The Great (2 c ex Pearl Turn by Bernardini) took out the Soaring Free Stakes (Listed, 6.5f) at Woodbine on Sunday. Ridden by leading jockey Kazushi Kimura, Gretzky The Great settled just off the pace before making a dash turning for home on the Woodbine turf. In a great battle to the wire, the Mark Casse-trained Gretzky The Great overcame the pace-setting Into The Sunrise (Into Mischief) by a neck with favourite Ready To Repeat (More Than Ready) a length and a quarter away in third. Nyquist, who has his first two-year-olds this season, stood at Darley’s Jonabell Farm for US$40,000 in 2020.
Olympic Glory – Etonian (2 c ex Naan by Indian Charlie) made it two from two with a stylish success in the Solario Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Sandown on Sunday and became the fifth individual stakes winner for Olympic Glory (Choisir). The colt was noted travelling best 400m out but did need to be shaken up in the final stages to pull clear of the staying-on and equally promising King Vega (Lope De Vega). The winning margin was a length and a quarter, and Etonian was sent off 15-8 favourite. Third home, a further half-length back, was the ultra-game 28-1 outsider Apollo One (Equiano). Winning trainer Richard Hannon, speaking to ITV Racing, said: “I was very impressed. It’s lovely to have a good one for Julie [Wood, owner], she lives for things like this and hell’s horses wouldn’t have kept her away today. He’s a Guineas horse, definitely.” Olympic Glory (Choisir) stood the 2020 covering season at Haras de Bouquetot in Normandy, France, for €10,000 (approx AUD$16,000).
Savabeel – It was a milestone day at Hawkesbury for champion Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel (Zabeel) as he sired his 100th individual stakes winner when Savacool (6 m ex Chilled Out by Anabaa) took out Thursday’s Rowley Mile (Listed, 1600m). The Chris Waller-trained mare, who has been placed at stakes level four times, stormed home down the middle of the track to defeat Girl Tuesday (Street Cry) by half a length with Spencer (Pierro) a nose away in third. Purchased by her trainer for NZ$220,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Savacool is one of five winners from six to race out of unraced mare Chilled Out (Anabaa), who herself is a half-sister to Group 1 placed sprinter The Big Chill (O’Reilly). Savabeel, who has been the leading sire by earnings in New Zealand for the last six years, stands at Waikato for a fee of NZ$100,000 (plus GST) this season.
Soldier Hollow – Thorin (3 c ex Taita by Big Shuffle) became Soldier Hollow’s (In The Wings) 44th individual stakes winner when quickening impressively to land the Prix Daphnis (Gr 3, 1600m) at Deauville. The colt travelled well and extended past a decent field to score relatively comfortably from British raider Tammani (Make Believe) and Kenway (Galiway). Trained in Germany by Henk Grewe, Thorin is the eighth foal from his dam, who also bred Group 3 winners Tai Chi and Taraja, both by High Chaparral. Soldier Hollow stands at Gestut Auenquelle in Germany for €30,000 (approx AUD$49,500).
Teofilo – Former Darley shuttler Teofilo (Galileo) sired his 94th individual stakes winner when the Mark Johnston-trained Gear Up (2 c ex Gearanani by Toccet) made it two wins from two starts by taking out the Acomb Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at York. A winner over the course and distance on his debut last month, Gear Up provided his trainer with a fourth win in the race when getting up late on to beat Highclere’s Spycatcher (Vadamos) by half a length. Broxi (Kodi Bear) was a further three lengths away in third. The sixth foal out of the Toccet (Awesome Again) mare Gearanani, Gear Up is a full-brother to Guaranteed, a Group 3 winner in Ireland for Jim Bolger, who bred both colts. Teofilo, the sire of Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) hero Cross Counter, stood at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland for a fee of €40,000 (approx AUD$66,000).
Uncle Mo – The ever-reliable Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) brought up his 61st stakes winner on Saturday with Harvest Moon (3 f ex Qaraaba by Shamardal) taking out the Torrey Pines Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) at Del Mar. The Simon Callaghan-trained filly, racing in the Michael Tabor orange and blue, took her record to three wins from four starts with her victory; she won by a length and a quarter over Secret Keeper (Into Mischief), with a further five and a quarter lengths back to Paige Anne (Take Charge Indy) in third. “We were delighted. This filly means a lot because I trained the mother, which gives it a little extra sentiment,” Callaghan said. “She’s an exciting, big filly that we’ve been super patient with, and it’s great that she’s coming into doing what she’s doing.” Uncle Mo stood for US$125,000 at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky this year.
War Front – Having finally shed her maiden tag at the 15th time of asking last time out, the highly-tried So Wonderful (3 f ex Wonder Of Wonders by Kingmambo) provided her sire War Front (Danzig) with his 94th individual stakes winner on Friday by following up in the Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes (Listed, 1m) at a soggy Killarney. The Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old, who has twice finished third in Group 1 company, came out on top in a tight finish, beating Up Helly Aa (Galileo) and Helvic Dream (Power) by a nose and the same. So Wonderful is the fifth foal out of Epsom Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo), who herself is out of a Group 3 winner and sister to the great Galileo (Sadler’s Wells). War Front stood at Kentucky’s Claiborne Farm for a fee of US$250,000 (approx AUD$350,000) in 2020.