Wandering Eyes

Assistant David Carroll sent out four Mark Casse-trained hopefuls for the April 6 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) to work the morning of March 30 at Keeneland. View the full article

Daniel McConnell's Prince Lucky kept the Todd Pletcher stable rolling March 30 when he drew clear to win the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) and earn back-to-back graded stakes scores. View the full article

CHAMPAGNE ANYONE (f, 3, Street Sense–Lucevan, by Ghostzapper) had been knocking on the door all meet, with thirds in both the GIII Forward Gal S. Feb. 2 and GII Davona Dale a month later. She was donning first-time blinkers for this, and that proved the difference maker as the bay pressed the pace set by Cookie Dough (Brethren), took over from that rival, and held off the well-backed Dunbar Road (Quality Road) to prevail by about a half-length. Cookie Dough held on for third. The final time was 1:43.47. Sales history: $70,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-2. O-Six Column Stables LLC & Randall L Bloch. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (Ky). T-Ian Wilkes. View the full article

Trainer Mark Casse sent out four hopefuls for the April 6 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) to work the morning of March 30 at Keeneland. View the full article

Saturday’s G3 Prix Edmond Blanc looked a tight contest on paper beforehand and that proved the outcome, with just over a length covering the four main protagonists headed by the progressive The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Not the first ex-British Al Asayl homebred to make great strides under Francis-Henri Graffard, the 4-year-old, who started his career with Hugo Palmer, had opened his black-type account when taking the Listed Prix Altipan over this mile at this Saint-Cloud venue last time Mar. 10. Set a far stiffer task this time, the 3-1 shot was reserved behind the leaders by Olivier Peslier before being delivered to overhaul the 9-5 favourite Graphite (Fr) (Shamardal) in the last 50 metres for a head success. Lunch Lady (GB) (Shamardal) was a short neck away in third, while last year’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains hero Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War) was unable to land a serious blow a length away in fourth. The Revenant had shown class on the first showing when scoring at Haydock as a juvenile, but a subsequent light campaign had suggested that he had not enjoyed a straightforward journey. Now maturing after a gelding operation, the chestnut, who is out of the G3 St Simon S. winner Hazel Lavery (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}), is giving his handler hope that he can continue to scale the heights. “He doesn’t stop surprising me and gelding him obviously did him good,” Graffard said. “He is going up the ladder and proved he belongs in this company. There was a doubt about the drying ground, because he had done his racing on soft and although the jockey said it took him a while to find his best stride on it, he handled it fine. All we have to do now is keep him going and if he comes out of this in good order the [May G2] Prix du Muguet is next.” Pedigree Notes The Revenant has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old half-sister by Kingman (GB) named Albanderi (GB) and a yearling half-sister by Oasis Dream (GB). Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France PRIX EDMOND BLANC-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 3-30, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:41.73, gd. 1–THE REVENANT (GB), 126, g, 4, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Hazel Lavery (Ire) (GSW-Eng, $246,630), by Excellent Art (GB) 2nd Dam: Reprise (GB), by Darshaan (GB) 3rd Dam: Rapid Retreat (Ire), by Exactly Sharp 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Al Asayl France; B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Olivier Peslier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-1, €112,035. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Graphite (Fr), 128, g, 5, Shamardal–Fairly Grey (Fr), by Linamix (Fr). (€250,000 Ylg ’15 AROCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000. 3–Lunch Lady (GB), 122, f, 4, Shamardal–High Maintenance (Fr), by Highest Honor (Fr). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Freddy Head. €12,000. Margins: HD, SNK, 1. Odds: 3.00, 1.80, 4.60. Also Ran: Olmedo (Fr), Crown Walk (GB), Schang (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

SEISMIC WAVE (c, 3, Tapit–Conference Call {GB}, by Anabaa) wove through traffic while making an impressive last-to-first run to go from maiden winner to stakes winner in Gulfstream’s Cutler Bay S. Saturday. Beaten a neck and a head in two attempts in New York last term, the Juddmonte homebred resurfaced going nine local panels to don cap and gown by a half-length over a well-regarded Chad Brown trainee Feb. 16. Off at 2-1, the chestnut looked to have run while still caboosing the field heading for home. Irad Ortiz, Jr. opted to try a rally in between rivals in the lane, and it paid off as he got up just in time over Forever Mo (Uncle Mo). Art G Is Back (Exchange Rate) was third and favored Marquee Prince (Cairo Prince) completed the superfecta. The winner stopped the clock in 1:34.49. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1. O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (Ky). T-William I Mott. View the full article

Comments from the connections of X Y Jet after his victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen including trainer Jorge Navarro and jockey Emisael Jaramillo. Courtesy Dubai Racing Club View the full article

The first two-time winner of the storied race confronted a game rival in Gronkowski, fought with every stride on the outside, and edged ahead by the slimmest margin just as the pair flashed under the wire March 30 at Meydan. View the full article

Some of racing’s biggest names upstaged the Hong Kong contingent as international superstars Almond Eye, Cross Counter and Blue Point delivered at the Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday night.The Sha Tin-based gallopers were honest but they couldn’t match it with those at the top of their game.Gold Mount was the best performer, running on strongly to finish fourth to Melbourne Cup champion Cross Counter in the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup (3,200m).“He was beaten by three very good horses on his… View the full article

Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}–Eastern Joy {GB}, by Dubai Destination) became the first horse to win multiple G1 Dubai World Cups when getting up by a shade of a nostril to nip Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) at Meydan on Saturday night. While the inspired runner-up shadowed the pacesetting North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) through the early stages, Thunder Snow sat in their slipstream. Gronkowski looked to be getting away midway down the stretch but Thunder Snow, who also won the G2 UAE Derby here two years ago, slowly ate away the advantage under Christophe Soumillon. The two runners appeared to hit the wire in unison and it took the judge to separate them, with Gunnevera (Dialed In) checking in third. Lifetime Record: 23-8-7-3. O/B-Godolphin. T-Saeed bin Suroor. View the full article

Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Indian Petal {GB}, by Singspiel {Ire}) further solidified his middle-distance class with a victory in Saturday’s G1 Dubai Sheema Classic–the third win on the card for trainer Charlie Appleby. The 4-year-old was tucked in behind runners throughout and connections had a few anxious moments as he searched for running room in the stretch, but once he got it he kicked clear from the 2017 G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn})–whose half-sister Vivlos had been second in the Dubai Turf 40 minutes earlier–and that one’s compatriot Suave Richard (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Lifetime Record: 13-8-1-1. O/B-Godolphin. T-Charlie Appleby. View the full article

Almond Eye cemented her status as an international superstar March 30 with a clear victory in the $6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) at Meydan. View the full article

Japanese fillies’ Triple Crown and G1 Japan Cup winner Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}–Fusaichi Pandora {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) was perhaps the most anticipated horse of the night in Dubai, and she lived up to expectations with a one-length victory over compatriot Vivlos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), winner of this race two years ago. Traveling midpack and on the outside, Almond Eye began to work her way forward under Christophe Lemaire coming off the turn. It was apparent the filly was full of fuel at the top of the lane, with Lemaire sitting cool, and while he had to give her a few reminders to keep clear of the classy Vivlos late on, she hit the wire in a hand ride. Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) got up for third. Lifetime Record: 8-7-1-0. O-Silk Racing Co. Ltd. B-Northern Racing (JPN). T-Sakae Kunieda. View the full article

Resilient X Y Jet blitzed his rivals March 30 in the $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1), finding long-awaited victory at last at Meydan. View the full article

X Y Jet (Kantharos–Soldiersingsblues, by Lost Soldier) had been second in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in his prior two visits to Dubai in 2016 and 2018, and it was all smooth sailing for the grey gelding on Saturday, and he posted a 1 1/2 length victory over the stubborn Matera Sky (Speightstown), with his compatriot Imperial Hint (Imperialism) checking in third after being knocked around after the start. X Y Jet was fastest from the gate and never looked back, proving an able stand in for his owner’s Roy H (More Than Ready), who was scratched from the race on Thursday. Lifetime Record: 25-12-7-2. O-Rockingham Ranch and Gelfenstein Farm. B-Didier Plasencia (FL). T-Jorge Navarro. View the full article

Comments from the connections of Coal Front after his victory in the Godolphin Mile including jockey Jose Ortiz and co-owners Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin. Courtesy Dubai Racing Club View the full article

Plus Que Parfait took quite the journey March 30 to win the $2.5 million UAE Derby Sponsored by Saeed & Mohammad Al Naboodah Group (G2) at Meydan. View the full article

Cross Counter edged out stablemate Ispolini to give Charlie Appleby a 1-2 finish March 30, earning the trainer a first success in the Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One (G2) success at Meydan. View the full article

Trainer Brendan Walsh got off the mark with his first starter on the Dubai World Cup card when Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry–Belvedera, by Awesome Again) took the G2 UAE Derby by a half-length, setting himself up as a contender for the GI Kentucky Derby. The chestnut sat a rail trip midpack, switched out at the top of the lane for running room and charged back down the inside. Trainer Peter Miller, who had finished two-three in the previous race in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint and has had a handful of prior placings at this meeting, was again second with Gray Magician (Graydar), who put in a very admirable wide run. It was the second win on the night for jockey Jose Ortiz. Favoured Divine Image (Scat Daddy) broke tardily and after regrouping to race just off the pace, was spent at the top of the stretch and finished down the pack. Lifetime Record: 7-2-1-2. O-Imperial Racing, LLC. B-Calloway Stables, LLC (KY). T-Brendan P Walsh. View the full article

Coal Front has won three straight races, all group or graded stakes, and picked up the most lucrative win of his career in the $1.5 million Godolphin Mile. View the full article

Godolphin's Blue Point rewarded the confidence of his connections March 30 with a polished performance in the Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) at Meydan. View the full article

Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal–Scarlett Rose {GB}, by Royal Applause {GB}) handed Godolphin the first Group 1 on World Cup night 30 minutes after stablemate Cross Counter had won the G2 Dubai Gold Cup when justifying favouritism in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Racing keenly while off the pace, Blue Point turned back the game mare Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) to win by a length, with the dual Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint victor Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) back in third. Lifetime Record: 18-9-3-3. O-Godolphin. B-Oak Lodge Bloodstock. T-Charlie Appleby View the full article

In his first start since winning the G1 Melbourne Cup in November, Godolphin’s Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}–Waitress, by Kingmambo) was the 1 1/4-length victor of the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Saturday over Charlie Appleby stablemate Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Racing a few lengths off the pace and under cover throughout much of the two mile contest, Cross Counter was produced by William Buick at the top of the lane with plenty in the tank and had to fend off Ispolini, who enjoyed a ground-saving trip, but he prevailed handily by 1 1/4 lengths. Lifetime Record: 9-6-2-0. O/B-Godolphin. T-Charlie Appleby. View the full article

Coal Front has won three straight races, all group or graded stakes and picked up the most lucrative win of his career in the $1.5 million Godolphin Mile. View the full article

Coal Front (Stay Thirsty–Miner’s Secret, by Mineshaft), the last-out winner of the G3 Razorback H. at Oaklawn Park, notched a victory for the U.S. in the opening Thoroughbred race of the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan when getting up in the dying strides to clinch the G2 Godolphin Mile under Jose Ortiz. Defending Godolphin Miler winner Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) set the pace and looked to have gotten away at the top of the lane, but the lightly raced progressive 5-year-old Coal Front gradually wore away that lead and got up within the final furlong. Lifetime Record: 9-7-0-0. O-LaPenta, Robert V. and Head of Plains Partners LLC. B-Michael Edward Connelly (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article