USA
Business as usual for Thorpedo Anna
By Alan Carasso, TDN
It was business as usual for reigning US Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (USA) (Fast Anna {USA}) in Saturday's G1 Apple Blossom Handicap, as she pulled clear of five overmatched rivals to score by 4.25l to take her career record to 10 wins from 12 starts while barely drawing a deep breath.
Let the record show that all-time Louisiana-bred earner Free Like a Girl (USA) (El Deal {USA}) was closest to the champ at the wire and big-figure allowance winner Where's My Ring (USA) (Twirling Candy {USA}) was third as the second favourite. But make no mistake, the Apple Blossom was a one-horse affair.
“Little nerve-wracking at that price, but just really proud of her, as always,” winning trainer Ken McPeek said. “She's going to come right back in the (G1) La Troienne Stakes in three weeks (May 2). We think we've got her in good-enough shape. She's a bit of an old-school filly and we're nominated. That's the plan.”
A US$40,000 (AU$AU$63,600) find at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale, Thorpedo Anna saluted no fewer than five times at Grade 1 level during her championship season, the lone blemish coming when a head second to and subsequent G1 Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Fierceness (USA) (City of Light {USA}) in the G1 Travers Stakes last August.
Co-owner Judy Hicks bred Thorpedo Anna in Kentucky out of the unraced Sanford Robertson-bred mare Sataves (USA), a daughter of Coolmore's sadly departed Uncle Mo (USA), whose daughters have produced 25 stakes winners. Sataves traces directly to 1974 Broodmare of the Year Cosmah (USA) and has a 3-year-old colt named McAfee (USA) (Cloud Computing {USA}), a debut winner at two for Rick Dutrow Jr and a latest fifth in the G3 Gotham Stakes on March 8.
Choisya wins G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes
By Alan Carasso, TDN
Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), purchased by John Stewart's Resolute Racing for €1.6 million (AU$2.9 million) out of last year's Arqana December Sale, was made the lukewarm 3-1 favorite to give trainer Chad Brown a fourth consecutive victory and seventh in the last eight years in Saturday's G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland. But Rabbah Blooodstock's homebred Choisya (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), ridden by Luis Saez and already accustomed to playing the role of spoiler this season, had her own designs and won a sprint to the wire, surviving an objection from the favourite's jockey Flavien Prat in the process.
“I knew when I got to the top of the stretch I came out a little bit, but I don't think I bothered the other horse. I stayed in my lane,” Saez said. “She ran a big race and I'm so proud (trainer Simon Crisford and owner Rabbah Bloodstock) gave me the opportunity with this filly to win this Grade I.”
A sixth elite-level winner for Night of Thunder (Ire), Choisya is one of six winners from nine to race out of Flagrancy (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}), a full-sister to the Group 3-placed Jathabah (Ire). The black-type in Choisya's third dam is led by Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), winner of the G1 Fillies' Mile at two and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot as a 3-year-old before adding the GI Yellow Ribbon Stakes later that season for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor.
Europe
Frankel relative wins Greenham
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
Putting a disappointing juvenile finale firmly behind him at Newbury on Saturday, Juddmonte's Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) emerged best in a fascinating G3 Greenham Stakes. Jonquil was switched to Andrew Balding following the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute, asserted under Oisin Murphy to win by 1.5l over Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), with 2l back to Saracen (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in third. Whereas the preceding Fred Darling was a demanding test throughout, this was more about finishing speed with Jonquil demonstrating his ruthless pace at the close with a final three-furlong split of 0:34.42.
Andrew Balding appeared to lean towards Newmarket afterwards. “He looked a smart horse for Sir Michael last year on debut and things didn't quite go to plan second time. I think everyone connected with the horse previously was sure that Doncaster run was just a blip and they always had a very high opinion of him. He arrived at Kingsclere before Christmas, so it's been a while and he's done plenty of work.”
“We're thrilled to win a race like this and it looks like a mile will suit him,” he added. “He's settled through the race, hit the line strong and I couldn't be happier. He's a very well-balanced horse and I wouldn't have thought the Newmarket would be a problem if we decide to go there. We'll wait to see what next week's trials bring and he's in the English and French Guineas.”
Jonquil is the first foal out of the dual Listed-placed Jovial (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who found seven furlongs on a flat track as far as she wanted to go. She took after her dam in that respect, the dual Listed scorer and multiple Group-placed Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) whose tally included a third in this fixture's G3 Fred Darling Stakes. Joyeuse is responsible for five black-type performers in total, including the G2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Array (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) and Jubiloso (GB) by Lope De Vega's sire Shamardal (USA) who stayed a mile well enough to be third in the G1 Coronation Stakes.
The third dam Kind (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) needs no introduction, but the dam of Frankel (GB) et al was also a fast mare and seems to have stamped Joyeuse and passed that pace down this particular line.
Duty First wins Fred Darling
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
Upping her game on her 3-year-old bow, Victorious Racing's Duty First (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) spreadeagled some choice opposition in Saturday's G3 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury. Always travelling with gusto near the front end, the Archie Watson-trained 33-1 shot opened up under Hollie Doyle from two out to take the seven-furlong 1000 Guineas trial by 3.25l from the 40-1 fellow outsider Hey Boo (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). There was another length back to Time For Sandals (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}) in third.
“We always thought a lot of her and we knew she'd do very well from two to three, as she was a big yearling,” Watson said. “Obviously, it's a surprise that she took apart a race like that but she had been in great order this Spring. The reason she came here was there were three extra days before the Italian Guineas, but that won't be happening now! I'll speak to the owners, but I'd imagine we'll supplement her for the English Guineas.”
Duty First became shuttle stallion Showcasing (GB)’s 73rd stakes winner, and she is a half-sister to G2 Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes-placed Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}). Her winning dam, Dream Dana (Ire) (Dream Ahead {USA}), is a daughter of Lidanna (GB) (Nicholas {USA}) who won five stakes races, also producing Listed winner Yaa Wayl (Ire) (Whipper {USA}).
