Cover image courtesy of the Kentucky Derby
USA
Seize The Grey grabs G1 Pennsylvania Derby
Having turned 89 less than three weeks ago, the legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas pulled yet another rabbit out of his hat, saddling G1 Preakness S. hero Seize the Grey (USA) (Arrogate {USA}) to a victory in Saturday's G1 Pennsylvania Derby.
“I was very confident,” Lukas insisted. “I have been that confident with him three times and all three times he won. I was very confident in the Preakness. I told my wife it was the best bet in the 20th century. I didn't tell her that today because I wasn't as confident because of the racetrack. I have never won on a racetrack that deep. When I walked out there, that damn thing was deep! I was really surprised at how deep it was and how well he handled it.”
Lukas was celebrating his second Pennsylvania Derby, having won his first with Will Take Charge (USA) (Unbridled's Song {USA}) at the age of 78 back in 2013. Lukas already has the next target picked out for Seize the Grey for the first Saturday in November.
“I will give them my vote. I don't like to make decisions in the winner's circle,” he said. “I am thinking (Breeders' Cup Dirt) Mile, but a mile and a quarter is well within his scope, especially on that track. If you are ever going to get a mile and a quarter, you will get it there.”
Seize the Grey's stakes-placed dam, Smart Shopping (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}), who is also responsible for the stakes placed Shoppingforpharoah (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}), is a daughter of stakes winner Shop Again (USA) (Wild Again {USA}).
Thorpedo Anna adds G1 Cotillion
The look of sheer relief on the face of trainer Ken McPeek pretty much said it all. Sent off the long odds-on pop and with the bullseye squarely on her back in Saturday's $1 million G1 Cotillion S. at Parx Racing, Thorpedo Anna (USA) (Fast Anna {USA}) was forced into a perilous trip and found herself locked away for the better part of the opening seven furlongs, but the great ones find a way to win when the chips are down and she clawed her way past a very game Gun Song (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) to record a fourth elite-level victory in 2024.
“She's head over heels above the 3-year-old fillies, so as long as we didn't have something really silly happen–which almost did–I felt really confident,” said McPeek, who is fresh off shopping the Keeneland September Sale, where he signed for 37 horses for nearly US$5.7 million (AU$8.4 million) in search of the next Thorpedo Anna who has won seven of her nine starts.
Thorpedo Anna is one of two winners from as many to race from her unraced dam, Sataves (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) whose 5-year-old daughter Charlee O (USA) (Tourist {USA}) is a two-time winner for McPeek and Judy Hicks and is now worth considerably more than the US$5000 (AU$7400) for which she was bought back at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale. Second dam Pacific Sky (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}) also never made the races and is a half-sister to the expatriated Grade I winner Eskendereya (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}) and Group 1 winner Balmont (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}).
England
Powerful Glory stays unbeaten in G2 Mill Reef S.
Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. was hit with a spate of withdrawals following the heavy rain at Newbury, but Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's 2-year-old colt Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) stepped up to provide the rescue with a game win in the testing ground.
The Richard Fahey-trained £190,000 (AU$450,000) Goffs UK 2yo Breeze Up purchase was tackled and briefly headed by the maiden La Bellota (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) but stuck to his guns for Oisin Orr to prevail by a neck.
The downpour meant that the G2 Gimcrack S. second and third Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Symbol Of Strength (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Wathnan's unbeaten supplemented colt Defence Minister (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) all missed the gig, so the form should be treated with caution despite the winner's obvious promise. Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's representative Philip Robinson revealed that the Mill Reef is his juvenile finale. “We thought about not running, but as it was his last of the season we decided to take our chance. He's now won on extremes from firm to heavy and it's a big plus to know he can do that–it's onwards and upwards.”
Powerful Glory is the second foal and first runner for Wouldntitbelovely (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose family topically features Ruby Rocket (Ire) (Indian Rocket {GB}) who captured the Firth Of Clyde S. when it carried listed status. She is the dam of the high-class sprinter Maarek (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), whose career exploits include eight black-type wins headed by a G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, G2 British Champions Sprint S. and G2 Duke of York S. The family also features the G2 Gimcrack S., G3 Sirenia S. and G3 Craven S.-placed Mystery Smiles (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and the G3 King George S.-winning champion and sire Anita's Prince (Ire).
Blue Point adds G3 juvenile winner
In Saturday's G3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's 2-year-old filly Sky Majesty (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) continued her steep upward trajectory with a battling success to double her tally. Travelling strongly early settled in mid-pack by Callum Rodriguez, the William Haggas-trained 150,000gns (AU$342,000) Tattersalls Book 2 graduate worked her way into contention approaching the final furlong and after gaining a narrow advantage hung tough throughout the closing stages for a neck success from Maw Lam (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). She is now unbeaten in two starts.
“She did really well and she had to be really tough,” Haggas said. “She's come a long way in a short time, she didn't win her first race by far and she hasn't won by far today. She did well because she had no experience against some experienced horses, so it was a very pleasing performance so it was good to see.”
“I actually think a bit more cut in the ground would suit her better too,” he added. “I suspect she'll run again, but there's nothing set in stone, possibly the [G2] Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte [at Chantilly]. That's a Group 2 against the boys, but it might be worth a look on October 12.”
Sky Majesty, who becomes the fourth group winner for her sire, is one of five black-type performers out of the listed-placed Majestic Alexander (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire})) including last month's Listed Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes winner Democracy Dilemma (Ire) (Cotai Glory {Ire}) and the G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise runner-up Angel Alexander (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The second dam Tshusick (GB) (Dancing Brave) also produced five of that type including the triple group 3-winning sprinter Majestic Missile (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}) and the Listed Woodlands Stakes winner and dual group-placed Santo Padre (Ire) (Elnadim).
Majestic Alexander, who is also a half to the dam of the G1 Jebel Hatta runner-up Eqtiraan (Ire) (Helmet), hails from the family of the GI Metropolitan Handicap-winning sire Forzando (GB).
Group 1 targets for G3 World Trophy winner No Half Measures
Trainer Richard Hughes enjoyed a breakthrough group success with 3-year-old filly No Half Measures (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the G3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy, and the former jockey will now set her for the G1 Prix d’Abbaye in France.
“She's come from humble beginnings but just keeps improving and there's no reason for it,” said Hughes. “We throw her out in the field every day and she's just so easy. I decided we'd roll the dice and take a chance today. She's in the Abbaye and the reason I ran her last weekend was because I wanted her to have a try on that track. She was drawn ten and got shuffled back to halfway. She was only beaten three-quarters of a length at the line but finished sixth and didn't get her Group 3 place, which is important for a filly, so we said we'd take our chance today, especially when the rain came.”
Winner of six of her ten starts, No Half Measures won a Listed race two starts ago before running sixth in the G3 Prix du Petit Couvert at Longchamp last start. She is one of ten stakes winners for her sire who sired Group 1 winner Uncommon James in his stints in Australia.
No Half Measures is the second foal of Fascinator (GB) (Helmet) who is a half-sister to the dam of G3 Molecomb S. winner Kalchy (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}). This is a family which is light on black type and No Half Measures was herself a 34,000 gns (AU$68,000) purchase by her trainer from the Goffs Doncaster Yearling Sale.
France
Quinella for Sea The Stars in G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon
Saturday’s G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon over a mile provided a quinella for proven sire Sea The Stars (Ire). The favourite was Andromède (Fr), who had been knocking on the door of Group 3 races since the start of the season and finally found the key. It was a close call, however, as the representative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Thani narrowly resisted the finish of the unlucky Mountain Song (Ire) who was hampered several times in the final straight.
Beaten by a head, Mountain Song finished a short neck ahead of the third-placed Rose Jaipur (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}), the best 3-year-old in the race.
Andromede now has six wins from 15 starts and is one of 132 stakes winners for her sire. She is the second stakes winner for Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial S. winner Honor Bound (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), the other being Listed Roscommon Lenebane S. winner La Isla Mujeres (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Honor Bound is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Listed Further Flight S. winner Elidor (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
New Group winner for Hello Youmzain
Setting off at a blistering pace in Saturday’s G3 Prix Eclipse, 2-year-old colt Electrolyte (Ire) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) pushed hard with the leading group. Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) moved forward in the middle of the track and challenged him to the line, only to be beaten by a nose, thanks to an unfavourable stride. Fraise des Bois (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) stayed on well for third, a good length behind.
He becomes the second group winner from the first crop of Cambridge Stud shuttle horse Hello Youmzain, whose oldest NZ foals are 2-year-olds. Raced by Wathnan Racing, Electrolyte was bred in Great Britain, where he was sold as a yearling for £72,000 (AU$144,000), then at Goffs UK, for £220,000 (AU$450,000), at the breeze-ups last April, to Blandford. He is a half-brother of G3 Earl of Sefton S winner Calderon (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and his fourth dam is the great Dahlia (USA) (Vaguely Noble {Ire}), dam of six stakes winners. His dam, Bibury (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) is a winning half-sister to G1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite of Passage (GB) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}).
Griff not so Lazy in G3 Prix de Conde
Charlie Johnston trained 2-year-old colt Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) added a new stakes winner for G1 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist in winning Saturday’s G3 Prix de Conde. Lazy Griff led from the start and never weakened. In the end, Gezora (Fr) (Amanzor {Fr}), who was running for only the third time and trying to confirm her fine victory 25 days earlier over the same distance at Dieppe, finished a neck behind. Third went to Shandana (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).
A winner at Beverley at the end of July after a good debut and a failure at the Royal Ascot meeting, Lazy Griff was coming off a 3rd place in the Critérium du Fonds Européen de l'Elevage (L) over one mile at Deauville, acquired after an uncompromising run in the front rank.
Lazy Griff now has two wins from five starts and was bred in Germany by Westerberg and sold for €75,000 (AU$123,000) at the Baden-Baden sales to Jeremy Brummitt. Protectionist died in 2023 and Lazy Griff became his fifth stakes winner from less than 100 runners.
Lazy Griff is the second stakes winner for four-time winning mare Linarada (Den) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), with the other being full brother Lambo (Ger) who won the G3 Bavarian Classic. Lazy Griff’s second dam is Listed Senorita S. winner Gigi’s Skyflyer (USA) (Skywalker {USA}).
