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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
When Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac she led home a one-two for her trainer Francis Graffard as she pipped the Aga Khan Studs' Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}) on the line. The runner-up, who went into the race unbeaten, including a victory in the G3 Prix d'Aumale, had started odds-on favourite with Vertical Blue as one of the outsiders of the field, but the latter's success came as no surprise to Graffard, who had held her in high regard from the outset. “She's a big filly with a lot of attitude – but a good attitude, I've always liked her,” he says. Vertical Blue now presents the rare opportunity to buy a readymade Classic prospect. The Group 1 winner, owned by Gemini Stud and Argella Racing, heads to the second Sceptre Session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale next Tuesday as a wildcard entry, lot 1770A. The filly who thwarted the Aga Khan's runner on Arc weekend traces back to a family which has been incorporated into the Aga Khan Studs as her fourth dam is Vadsagreya (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), who was bred by Jean-Luc Lagardere. Closer up in the family, Vertical Blue's granddam Spinacre (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) won the listed Flame of Tara Stakes, while her dam Krunch (GB) is a dual-winning daughter of Sea The Stars (Ire) who made €310,000 when sold at Arqana as a yearling. Vertical Blue is her first foal. Graffard recalls, “She showed some precocity so she started early in Saint-Cloud. She had a bad draw but she showed an impressive turn of foot so we were pleased with that run and the form of that race has worked out really well.” From her debut runner-up slot, Vertical Blue had to settle for second again when she appeared next at Chantilly. “She was again unlucky on her second start and again showed a good turn of foot, but for me as her trainer, these two runs were very important for the filly for the rest of her career because she matured without having a hard race,” Graffard says. At Clairefontaine in July, Vertical Blue stepped up to a mile and made it a case of third time lucky. “She showed what we all thought about her at that stage,” says the trainer. “Then the plan was to go for a listed race and get some black type. She was very unlucky in that listed race at Lyon. She got too far back and finished strongly but too late. Mickael [Barzalona, jockey], when he saw he wasn't going to catch the winner, just gave her an easy race.” Another second-place finish in the book and some black type earned. It may well have been off to winter quarters for Vertical Blue then had it not been for the fact that she was indicating to Graffard that she was still very well in herself. “We always thought she would make a nice three-year-old but she was so well we decided to give her one more run on Arc weekend because I was very pleased with the condition of the filly,” he says. “We put absolutely no pressure on [jockey] Alexis Pouchin. We were just hoping for her to run well. My Aga Khan filly took her with her when she accelerated and Vertical Blue is a fighter and she put her head in front. “My other filly is a very nice prospect for next year and the form was really strong. I think it will work out well.” Despite her achievements of this year, Graffard says that he fully expects Vertical Blue to improve again at three. He notes, “She's a big, scopey filly with a big stride and she is very nice and relaxed during her races so I don't see why she won't stay a trip next year. Her mother is by Sea The Stars and for me she is very effective over a mile. She has experience because she has run five times this year, and she could be an Oaks filly too in France over 10 furlongs. I don't see why not. She has run on fast ground and obviously she can also cope with soft ground. “She's the highest-rated two-year-old in France, even above the colts, so it's good to have her in the boxes.” Vertical Blue is one of three juvenile Group 1 winners for her sire this year, along with the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Magnum Force (Ire) and National Stakes winner Scorthy Champ (Ire). “My wife and myself recommended to the owner to buy a Mehmas,” Graffard says. “I've been very lucky with him – I've had [group/graded winners] Malavath and Chez Pierre – so they bought this filly, and obviously he's been a lucky stallion for me but also for lots of other people as well.” He adds of Vertical Blue, “She has a good eye on her, she's happy, and I can't wait for next year with her.” The post France’s Top Juvenile Vertical Blue Bound for Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Tattersalls December Sale is played out, akin to panto season, over two weeks, matinees and evening performances, incorporating almost every facet of the bloodstock sales business, from foals to yearlings, horses in training, broodmares, and sometimes the odd stallion or two. The Sceptre Sessions are only in their third year but they are already embedded as an integral part of the annual finale at Park Paddocks. And there is little doubt that the theatrical highlights come on the Monday and Tuesday of the second week, as dusk settles in and and the ring fills up. Few who were there will forget Dancing Rain (Ire) going through that ring carrying would would become one of the first-crop foals of Frankel (GB). Then there was Marsha (Ire), a six-million-guinea showstopper who rendered even her loquacious trainer Sir Mark Prescott speechless for a moment or two. In Dancing Rain's year, Immortal Verse (Ire) topped the sale at 4,700,000gns. An eye-watering price for many, but in hindsight, and in the fevered tier that is the top end of the bloodstock market, one could almost call that money well spent. Her offspring now include the dual Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio), Group 2 winner Statuette (Justify) and, most recently, the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “That was a great December Mares Sale day,” says Jimmy George, hijacking Breeders' Cup Friday as only a marketing man could but, as it turns out, with some justification. “Henri Matisse is out of Immortal Verse, [Juvenile Turf Fillies winner] Lake Victoria is out of Quiet Reflection, who made 2,100,000gns, and [Juvenile Turf Sprint winner] Magnum Force is out of a mare that cost 38,000gns. “So that's the December Sale encapsulated. With sales like this, you want people to feel confident at all levels of the market. And when you are shelling out huge sums of money, like 4,700,000 on Immortal Verse, well, Coolmore have now got a stallion.” He adds, “Then last year there was the extraordinary Via Sistina, turning 2,700,000gns into about £3,500,000 in prize-money, within a year, and she's still going.” The example of Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is all the more remarkable given that she first appeared at the December Sale in the yearling section, when she was sold for 5,000gns to Stephen and Rebecca Hillen, in whose colours she later won the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. The race was sponsored by Yulong, who five months later owned the winner. If you'd like a quick historical reminder of how the elite sale within a sale got its name, here's an account of the life of the great racemare Sceptre from TDN two years ago. Looking ahead to this year's Sceptre Sessions, it is easy to imagine a few more footnotes in the 258-year history of Tattersalls will be written. While Goffs had Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal), the dam of Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), the mother of another of this year's Japan Cup runners, Fantastic Moon (Ger), is catalogued at Tattersalls. Frangipani (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) is being offered by The Castlebridge Consignment as lot 1747 on behalf of her breeders Philip and Marion Stauffenberg and the 10-year-old mare is again carrying to Fantastic Moon's sire Sea The Moon (Ger). The 2023 German Classics were kind to Sea The Moon. As well as the Fantastic Moon's Deutsches Derby win, he was also responsible for the G1 Preis der Diana winner Muskoka (Ger), and her dam Morning Mist (Ger) (Peintre Celebre), who is from the family of one of the modern-day German greats in Monsun (Ger), is also in the Sceptre Sessions as lot 1464 from Ronald Rauscher. She is carrying to Sea The Moon once more. Remaining on the German theme for one moment, there is the chance, also within the Rauscher draft, to buy a full-sister to the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the form of Tiara Hilleshage (Ger). The four-year-old filly has not one but two Group 1-winning brothers, including Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ger}), and she is herself a winner, in the colours of her Dutch breeder Paul H Vandeburg. From The Track To The Ring Some of this year's star performers on the track will doubtless produce notable performances of a different kind at Park Paddocks next week. The Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is still very much a racing prospect and is naturally a major draw in that prime Tuesday slot, selling as lot 1753, just one lot after the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for what will be her third appearance in this sale in just four years. As an unraced two-year-old she was a good buy by Billy Jackson-Stops at 35,000gns. Last year she fetched 1,650,000gns when sold from Tom Clover's stable. The four-year-old Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), offered as lot 1740 from Highclere Stud, has had a busy and fruitful year highlighted by her win in the G2 Sapphire Stakes. She was also twice runner-up to Bradsell (GB) – in the G1 Nunthorpe and G1 Flying Five. You Got To Me wins the Irish Oaks | Racingfotos “I think it caught the imagination from the word go, some innovations do, some don't. But this one very definitely has,”says George of the Sceptre Sessions. “I think it's slightly aspirational as well, for people who've got smart fillies and mares. And the buyers, as well, recognise it as a hallmark of quality – these are elite fillies and mares. It doesn't mean there aren't elite fillies and mares throughout the catalogue, because of course there are others. And we've always got these very smart consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell, that are mini annual dispersals of some very smart stock. So it's not just about the Sceptre Sessions, but they are a focal point.” Alex Elliott manages to juggle various responsibilities come sales time, and as well as being a busy agent he also set up his own consigning business, Imperium Sales, several years ago. He has his most important client to date among the owners of the horses in this year's draft as lot 1733, Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir), whose eight wins include the G2 Duke of York Stakes, is owned by his mother, Anne, in partnership with Peter Appleton. Another notable 'blue' is Mehmas's daughter and Classic prospect Vertical Blue (Ire), the winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, who is making her way over from Francis Graffard's Chantilly stable to come under the hammer in Newmarket as lot 1770. George's tenure at Tattersalls, which stretches back to 1986 with a brief three-year hiatus in the early days, will soon be coming to an end, so he speaks with experience when he notes significant purchases from the lower end of the price spectrum. He says, “There's quality throughout the December Sale. And as we all know, a jewel can be found anywhere. Looking back, I think it was my first year here, 1986, the lowest-priced filly or mare of the Jim Joel Dispersal turned out to be the most influential. [Regal Beauty] became the dam of High Estate and King's Theatre, and Michael Poland bought her for 5,200 guineas.” George continues, “Then there was Senta's Dream, the dam of Order Of Australia, Iridessa and Santa Barbara. She was bought on the last day of the December Sale, back in 2013, for 14,000gns. “You never know where your life-changing filly or mare is going to spring from and I think that's the hallmark of the December Sales, and it's what brings so many people from so many different parts of the world every year. Certain people will have their own pet families, their own favourites, and it might not be that obvious on the catalogue page.” Another last-day purchase in 2023 was the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Zurigha (Ire), herself a listed winner and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Lily's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) from the high-flying family of Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Fr}). At 25,000gns she was the fourth-top lot of that final session and, though she had been covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) she was not in foal when sold. In the interim, however, her Too Darn Hot three-year-old Oversubscribed (GB) – a 400,000gns Book 1 purchase by Mike Ryan for Klaravich Stables – has won the listed Wild Applause Stakes at Aqueduct and was recently runner-up in the G3 Pebbles Stakes. Unsurprisingly, Zurigha, now in foal again to the young Darley sire, returns to Park Paddocks next week as lot 1687 with Barton Sales. Blue Chip Bloodstock, her purchaser last year, looks set to make a nice profit. International Outlook, Inward Investment Along with the buyers attending Tattersalls with a view to exporting mares around the world, the new wave of high-spending owners to have based their racing interests in the UK and Ireland will doubtless start to be felt at the mares sales as well as in the yearling and breeze-up sector. Emerging international operations such as Amo, Wathnan, Victorious and KHK Racing, all have or will have stallions to support, even if they are not standing under their own banner – think King Of Steel, Bucanero Fuerte (Fr) Persian Force (Ire) at Tally-Ho Stud, Isaac Shelby (GB) at Newsells Park Stud, Vandeek (GB) at Cheveley Park Stud, and Bradsell (GB) at the National Stud. Amo's Kia Joorabchian was explicit in his intentions when buying well-bred individuals during Book 1, stating that he and his partners have their hearts set on competing consistently at the top level. That is likely to include the purchase of some established broodmares or well-credentialed race fillies too. “It's hugely important and demonstrates that enduring appeal, and a diverse appeal,” George says. “Apart from anything else, it's bringing overseas investment into Britain, something that might be lost on the current government, given their stance on all things agricultural, but might be something that should be drawn to their attention. That inward investment in the rural community and rural-based industries is massively important, and it is encouraging to see.” He continues, “There's no shortage of quality in the catalogue. You've got an Irish Oaks winner in the shape of You Got To Me, you've got the highest rated two-year-old in France, in the shape of Vertical Blue, and the likes of Believing, and Idea Generation and Rogue Millennium, and the dam of Kalpana as well, Zero Gravity. And of course there's a handful of very well-bred mares, in foal to Southern Hemisphere time, all of them to Too Darn Hot.” George adds, “We have a Tattersalls Online Sale in association with Inglis Online, where we'll be featuring mares bred to Southern Hemisphere time as well, taking place in the middle of December. This is a part of the market that's growing, and the online platforms make that easier to do.” The post December Mares Sale: ‘A Jewel Can Be Found Anywhere’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Veteran handler attends a race meeting for the first time this season at Sha Tin on Sunday.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose (NZ) (Reliable Man) continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park. Prepared at the course by Jo-Ann Gordon, The Grey Goose rose through the grades last term culminating in a victory in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m), before finishing a game fourth in the TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m). Returning from a lengthy spell, the daughter of Reliable Man showed her customary strong finish to win fresh-up at Wingatui on Melbourne Cup Day, and with Rohan Mudhoo back in the saddle, she was rated a $2 chance ahead of Willis ($4.50) in the local feature. The Grey Goose was away positively from barrier five but soon settled back, with the only runner in her rearview being Willis, who missed the start by five lengths. Racing fiercely at times behind a slow tempo, Mudhoo angled The Grey Goose out three and four-wide approaching the home turn and she soon was in the fight with pacemaker The Good Shepherd, who didn’t lay down and was only beaten a half-length by the mare at the post. Willis was an eye-catcher in the field, storming into third under Tina Comignaghi. Often seen settling well back in her races, Gordon was pleased to see The Grey Goose so prominent in the running on Sunday. “It’s nice to see this year that she’s keeping up with them a lot more, last year she could be five-six lengths off the second last horse at times,” she said. I thought this may be too short for her and the track has dried out, so I thought she might struggle. “They do usually run off the front, but today, they didn’t go too hard and she sat there quite comfortably, in fact she was over-racing. It was a good win, really nice. “We’ve always really rated her but I’ve always spaced her races to keep head right. This year, she’s grown up a lot, she’s been lovely to be with all day. “We’re getting there slowly.” Before the race, Gordon had indicated the upcoming Southern Staying Series was an appeal for The Grey Goose, but her performance over 1400m could warrant a change in plans. “I was looking at the Southern Staying Series after Christmas, but I always thought a mile was her distance,” she said. “We’ll just keep her shorter, around 1400 for a bit and go from there.” The Grey Goose was a $2000 purchase through gavelhouse.com as a weanling and she is raced by Maurice Paskell. From just 16 starts, she has won six races and over $245,000 in stakes. The five-year-old is out of an unraced Sakhee’s Secret mare Out Of The Barn, who also produced Mother Goose, a winner of two races for Gordon’s stable. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Local jockey overcomes recent run-ins with stewards to land three-timer, including Class Two Chevalier Cup (1,600m).View the full article
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