Asia
Yankee’s daughter seventh filly to win Triple Crown
Given a Yuga Kawada ride befitting a $1.10 (1/10) moral, Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.'s Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), a daughter of the Australian Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American) became the seventh filly to win the Japanese Triple Tiara with a deceptively easy 1l victory in Sunday's G1 Shuka Sho before a packed grandstand of better than 45,000 onlookers at Kyoto Racecourse. Masked Diva (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), the 12-1 third favourite, flashed home for second ahead of narrow second pick Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).
“I'm grateful that we were able to achieve the Triple Crown,” said Kawada, riding a 25th Group 1 winner in the JRA. “She is a horse with great ability, so I placed top priority on letting her run comfortably and finding a good path for her. I was confident of her victory when we had an open space at the third corner. She has great potential, and her dreams for the future are wide open, but first of all, I would like to praise her for achieving the Triple Crown.”
Named Champion of her generation after winning the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December, Liberty Island returned in the April 9 G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and looked to have it all to do in the straight, but rattled home to score a touch cosily. There were no such worries when last seen in the Oaks, as she waited until the final 200 metres before blowing the race apart at Tokyo.
Should she have another run this season, options include the sex restricted G1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup going 11 furlongs at Kyoto on November 12 or a potential clash of the titans with Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup two weeks later.
California Spangle back-to-back in Trophy
On Sunday, the star Hong Kong galloper California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) defended his title in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy.
The race further illustrated the super weekend enjoyed by Coolmore-based stallions with the third placegetter Beauty Eternal, a son of Starspangledbanner, while the second-placed horse Encountered (Ire), is a son of Churchill (Ire).
Tony Cruz, trainer of California Spangle, told local media, “The horse showed his class today (Sunday), and the jockey (Hugh Bowman) rode a perfect race,” he said.
“After the second trial, California Spangle seemed to be going badly, but he came on after that trial. That was the big difference.”
Bowman rides four
Hugh Bowman rode at Randwick, Sydney on Saturday, before returning to Hong Kong on Sunday, where the Champion hoop rode four winners, including the Group 2 feature aboard California Spangle.
Hugh Bowman | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Bowman rode the opener aboard the David Hall-trained Kyrus Unicorn (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) and followed up on the stablemate Summit Cheers (Zoustar) in the second. Interestingly, Summit Cheers was a $500,000 purchase by Orbis Bloodstock from the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Rounding out the Bowman winners was the Caspar Fownes-trained Noble Pursuit (NZ) (Savabeel).
Europe
Job done for Iresine in the Conseil de Paris
It was harder work than expected, but Bertrand Milliere's leading veteran Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) ultimately made his class tell in Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris.
Trainer Jean Pierre Gauvin revealed that Iresine, who had been second on his first start since April in the G2 Prix Foy last month, has an important date in his diary now. “I was concerned to see him so far back, but also confident because he looked very relaxed and when he is like that the good Iresine can really quicken and make up ground,” he said. “He always needs a race to be at his best and on his last run he was a bit too fresh and rusty after five months off. Marie's opinion is also important, and she said it was the right Iresine today.”
“We want to travel with him now, we felt it was too early last year but he is now ready for that,” he added. “We will go to Japan, because the JRA has been very nice to us and human relations are also an important part of this game and they have been very kind. They have allowed us to let Iresine travel with a stablemate, because travelling is not his forte. Even to come from our base in Lyon, he can be difficult, so we worry for the long trip to Asia. Also the ground might be too quick for him, but it is a nice challenge and when you have to go you have to go.”
Twelfth Pattern winner for Zarak
Just a head separated Shagara (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) and Lady Mary (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}) when they ran second and third in last month's Listed Winterkonigin-Trial at Cologne, and it was a case of as you were as the pair fought out an exciting finish to Sunday's G3 BBAG Preis der Winterkonigin at Baden-Baden. Shagara had earlier defeated the reopposing New York City (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) over seven furlongs in her August 19 debut at Mulheim and that rival provided an added boost to the form by finishing on the podium in this one-mile test.
“She has the heart of a lion and fought incredibly hard,” said winning rider Andrasch Starke. “She was really strong at the finish and what a racehorse she is.” Trainer Markus Klug added, “It's crazy what a fighter's heart Shagara has. She put in so much effort to win and now she will take her well-deserved winter break.” Gestut Schlenderhan's general manager Gebhard Apelt continued, “She wasn't in the best position at first and it is very rare to see a 2-year-old fight like that.”
Shagara becomes the 12th Pattern-race winner for her sire Zarak (Fr).
United States of America
Tony Ann bests Caravel at the Wire in Thrilling Franklin S. at Keeneland
Tony Ann (USA) (Cairo Prince {USA}), a 7-1 shot, outkicked heavily favored Caravel (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) to the wire to earn the first stakes victory of her career in the G2 Franklin S. at Keeneland on Sunday.
“It felt like the pace was strong enough, and I was travelling really well behind Caravel, so I was pleased with my trip,” said winning jockey Flavien Prat. “When I tipped her out, she responded really well. I was a bit worried by the sixteenth pole because Caravel came back on us, but she was really game. To go by Caravel, you've got to go all out, but she was really game today.”
Trained by California-based Phil D'Amato, Tony Ann was making just her third start of the year after opening the campaign with a runner-up effort in the July 28 Daisycutter S.
Caravel, who followed her win in last year's Franklin with a victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, encountered her second-straight loss on Sunday.
“The filly tried hard, but we just weren't able to get her head in front today,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard the beaten favourite. “The fractions were solid, very fast, but I was content with where I was. I think my filly really struggled with the ground a bit today.”
Trainer Brad Cox said a return trip to the Breeders' Cup was still in the plans for Caravel.
“Good run, just came up a touch short,” Cox said. “I am proud of the effort. She likes it here at Keeneland and ran another great race. Breeders' Cup is definitely still something we are pointing towards. We'll see how she comes out of this race and go from there.”
