Wandering Eyes

Rusty Arnold contemplated shipping Miss Kentucky out of town for her next stakes try. Instead, the venerable trainer opted to keep the hometown girl in her own backyard—and she responded by delivering her most impressive outing yet. View the full article

Are You Kidding Me split horses with a commanding move May 26 in the $175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Woodbine, then held off a late run from Melmich to secure his third victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race. View the full article

The way the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) was playing out, Hronis Racing's Accelerate was either going to run into trouble or run away. View the full article

ACCELERATE (h, 5, Lookin At Lucky-Issues, by Awesome Again), a romping winner of the GI Santa Anita H. over this track and trip Mar. 10, settled for second behind race favorite City of Light (Quality Road) in the GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 14, but turned the tables on that one and the rest of his foes here to post a convincing success. Settled in just off an honest pace, the 9-5 shot proved much too much for his competition to handle, as he powered away in the lane by about four lengths in 2:01.38. Pacesetter Dr. Dorr (Lookin At Lucky) completed an exacta for his sire, while City of Light faded a bit late to settle for third. Sales history: $380,000 yrl ’14 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 19-7-5-5. O-Hronis Racing LLC. B-Mike Abraham (Ky). T-John Sadler. View the full article

Belvoir Bay has proven most adept over the downhill course at Santa Anita Park, and she will return to the venue May 28 against nine other rivals in the $200,000 Monrovia Stakes (G2T) going about 6 1/2 furlongs. View the full article

Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited's Gronkowski put in his first work for trainer Chad Brown May 26, when he went four furlongs in :47.99 over Belmont Park's main track in preparation for the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1). View the full article

Southern Legend (AUS) romped home by three lengths in the Kranji Mile (G1), followed by fellow traveler Horse of Fortune (SAF). View the full article

Coolmore runners headline both top-level contests at the Curragh May 27, with Cliffs Of Moher (IRE) facing four rivals in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) before Happily (IRE) squares off against 12 in the Tattersalls Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1). View the full article

Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ GI Belmont S. hopeful Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) put in his first work for new trainer Chad Brown over Big Sandy Saturday, going a half-mile in company with GII Woody Stephens S. contender Engage (Into Mischief) in :47.99 (3/35) (video). “He breezed great. It was his first work for us,” Brown said. “We gave him a couple of weeks to acclimate over here and get used to the main track, and it went better than expected.” With jockey Jose Ortiz in the irons, Gronkowski registered splits of :24 2/5 and :47 4/5, galloping out in 1:00 1/5, according to the NYRA clockers. “[Jose] was very pleased,” Brown said. “It just worked out today that he could come out and work him. He gave me some really good feedback that was positive and helpful for me.” Beginning his career in Europe, Gronkowski won his last four starts for previous trainer Jeremy Noseda, most recently taking the Burradon S. at Newcastle Mar. 30. That win earned him a spot in the gate for the GI Kentucky Derby, but he was forced to miss that race due to a minor infection. His connections opted to reroute him to the Triple Crown’s final leg and place him under Brown’s care. “Not having had the horse very long, I’m limited to what I can do and what kind of training regimen I can set up,” Brown said. “Based on this unique situation, I set up a plan that I feel is fair to try and get him to the race if he’s fit enough and good enough.” The trainer continued, “It takes a special horse to get there, and based on what I saw [Saturday], he looked good out there. I’m excited to see what he does next weekend. He came to me in outstanding condition. He’s a very sound and easy to transition into what we’re doing here. The horse is smart and all class, he has [the] true signs of a really good racehorse.” GIII Peter Pan S. winner Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen) also worked in preparation for the Belmont Saturday, breezing a best-of-35 half-mile in :47.55 in Elmont (video). With trainer Nick Esler at the controls, the Doug O’Neill pupil clocked splits of :12 3/5 and :25 with a five-panel gallop out in 1:00 flat and six furlongs in 1:13. “He’s always worked well on the dirt,” O’Neill said. “I think the blinkers helped him focus and not run immaturely or spotty. The blinkers also helped the rider place him in his races easier [and have] more early speed away from the gate.” View the full article

ParisLongchamp’s G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier on Sunday has attracted anyone who is anyone on the stayers’ scene in France, with Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) not short on elite company as he bids for a third consecutive renewal of this prize which he has previously garnered at Chantilly. His Highness The Aga Khan’s leading stayer showed that he remains at an elevated level when annexing the G2 Dubai Gold Cup over two miles at Meydan on World Cup day and despite a four-pound penalty he looks the standard-bearer. He was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Ice Breeze (GB) (Nayef) when attempting a third consecutive success in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud in October, with Holdthasigreen (Fr) (Hold That Tiger) two lengths back in third, but the Juddmonte winner had eight pounds weight-for-age in his favour on that occasion and now he has to mix it with Vazirabad on a level. Ice Breeze was third on his return behind Funny Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) and Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Barbeville Apr. 29 and the latter is open to progression in this sphere having proved effective at a decent level over middle distances last term, most notably when runner-up in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville in August. View the full article

Sunday’s Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup is the last of 12 Group 1 races on the annual calendar in Hong Kong, and given that just five horses have signed up for the 12-furlong test, it could very well become a riders’ race. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) has had more ups and downs this season than the tram that carts tourists up Victoria Peak, but the 5-year-old gelding enters his first try at this distance in career-best form. The Hong Kong International Sales graduate, who has had to pass the stewards for a variety of misdeeds this season, came full circle in his latest with a dominating victory from off the pace in the G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (2000m) Apr. 29, and a smashing recent barrier trial on the local dirt suggests he may yet still have a few lengths of improvement in him. However, the quirky galloper is almost certain to be unsuited by the shape of Sunday’s race. “Mentally, he likes to chase horses so this race, with no pace, is a concern,” trainer Tony Cruz, who saddles three of the quintet, told HKJC’s Andrew Hawkins. “He’s got to have some pace on. I don’t want any surprises with Pakistan Star–I don’t want him to go to the front and then stop, we haven’t got time for that kind of nonsense from him, so I want him to stick to what he has shown he appreciates.” WATCH: Pakistan Star earned his first Group 1 in the QE II Cup Though Pakistan Star is at odds-on in overnight wagering, Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) seems to be the apple of Cruz’s eye. The 4-year-old was given an enterprising ride by Zac Purton in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup May 6, taking off around his rivals at midway before staying on strongly to the line to score by a half-dozen lengths. “He’s come through the race very well, he’s in top form,” Cruz said. “I think he will run a big race again, he’s just as fit as last time. He showed last time that he could be ridden on the pace and I think he just has one speed so in this race, where there is no speed, he could be the one to take it up.” Gold Mount (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) is the third of the Cruz trio. Chemical Charge (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) makes history by becoming the first shipper to contest the Champions & Chater Cup. He was hardly embarrassed by his lone appearance in Hong Kong, where he finished a close fourth to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup last December. Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready), third in last year’s renewal, completes the field. View the full article

So often just the bridesmaid in some of Britain’s best contests last year, Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch) heads to Dusseldorf for some ample compensation on Sunday for the 98th G2 German 1000 Guineas. Proving that she retains all of her juvenile ability when winning a competitive renewal of the Listed Conqueror Fillies’ S. over this trip at at Goodwood May 5, the impressive G3 Princess Margaret S. scorer and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. and G2 Rockfel S. runner-up is clear on ratings and needs only to give her customary full effort to at least be in the mix. As last week’s German 2000 Guineas proved, there is always one of the domestic team ready to step up when the overseas raiders apply the pressure and one who is poised to accelerate up the ranks is Team Valor’s acquisition Go Rose (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Runner-up attempting to give the re-opposing Malakeh (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) five pounds in the course-and-distance Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis Apr. 29, she is one of the more interesting home-trained runners alongside last year’s G3 Prix Dormello runner-up Binti Al Nar (Ger) (Areion {Ger}). Syndikat Rapido’s chestnut was just a short neck away from upsetting ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Efaadah (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) in the Listed Prix des Lilas at ParisLongchamp May 6 and that form entitles her to respect back on home soil. View the full article

Sidestepping the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) begins her French love affair early on Sunday with Karl Burke unable to pass up the opportunity of taking care of the G1 The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary en route to the June 17 G1 Prix de Diane. Prior to running second in Newmarket’s G1 1000 Guineas three weeks ago, John Dance’s flagbearer had tasted her sole defeat in this country when runner-up to Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G3 Prix du Calvados at Deauville in August, but that was no disgrace as the winner is a genuine top-class performer and subsequent events have proven the G1 Fillies Mile and G2 May Hill S. heroine Laurens needed further than that trip. “We were beaten by a better filly on the day in the Guineas, no excuses at all,” Burke said. “We have always felt she would improve for a step up to this kind of distance. Whether travelling to France this close to the Prix de Diane, which is her main target, is ideal, I don’t know, but this looks a good opportunity.” Polydream’s stablemate With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is as exciting a 3-year-old filly in France and with Freddy Head’s stable slow to come to hand he has been patient with George Strawbridge’s homebred. She was last seen beating Altea (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})–who is now graded stakes-placed for Chad Brown–in Deauville’s G3 Prix des Reservoirs staged on very soft ground over a mile in October and the chances are that the full-sister to We Are (Ire) will be unable to match the British raider at this stage with Chantilly very much the focus. Godolphin’s Flowrider (Street Cry {Ire}) scored with some authority on debut at Saint-Cloud May 8, but the daughter of the 2011 Saint-Alary heroine Wavering (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) faces a herculean task taking on the front two. “Flowrider is taking a big step up in class from her maiden win, but goes into this race in great form,” the operation’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “Her dam won this race and physically she looks very similar. She is a filly with plenty of ability and we hope that she can run well.” View the full article

Like the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Sunday’s G1 Churchill Coolmore Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp has a slightly hollow feel and needs an illuminating feature if it is to stand up to past renewals. That may be provided by SARL Darpat’s Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper), who is unexposed at this kind of trip and looked at home when taking Saint-Cloud’s G2 Prix du Muguet over a mile at the start of the month. While this rise in trip, shedding of a three-pound penalty and the fact that he has now had a run may help Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Taareef (Kitten’s Joy) make up his 4 3/4-length deficit with the winner from that contest, there is a feeling that Recoletos is a high-class colt finally finding his niche. Denied by just a length when third in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in June, he may be ideally suited by this intermediate distance. Taareef is capable of strong form on his best days and finished second to Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G1 Prix du Moulin at Chantilly in September before winning the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein back there by the end of the month. This is far as he has gone since August 2016 and intriguingly like Recoletos has yet to run at this venue which has been closed for the majority of his career. Also running at ParisLongchamp for the first time is Haras de Saint Pair’s Trais Fluors (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and he comes into it on his second in Chantilly’s G1 Prix Jean Prat in July, but it is hard to argue that he is top-class after a latest 13th in the Mar. 31 G1 Dubai Turf. View the full article

There is no getting away from the fact that Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup has fallen short of its old standard this year even before the possibility that Roger Varian might take out the G3 John Porter S. and G2 Jockey Club S. winner Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) if he deems the ground to be too quick. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s generally reliable 4-year-old has yet to race on ground quicker than good, and so his trainer is understandably nervous that the surface will get too fast. “Defoe has been declared to run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, but his participation will depend on how quick the ground is and I intend to walk the course on Sunday,” he explained. “He has certainly earned the return to Group 1 company, winning at Group 2 and Group 3 level this season, while I don’t think the drop back in trip would inconvenience him on a track like this. He is training nicely and he would have a very live chance on form, but I wouldn’t want to compromise his season by running him on an unsuitable surface and a final decision over his participation will be made at the last minute.” Even if Defoe lines up, all points to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) over this trip and ground. Getting back to his prior slick best when beating Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) by 1 3/4 lengths in the G2 Mooresbridge S. at Naas May 7, last year’s G1 Epsom Derby runner-up will be aided by Ballydoyle’s consistent pace benchmark Lancaster Bomber (War Front), who is up in trip after a latest third in last Saturday’s G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury. This could be the Group 1 opportunity that has eluded Success Days throughout his high-achieving career. Third and fourth in the last two renewals, Robert Ng’s veteran retained enough class to beat Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 York S. in July and would be begrudged a belated top-level success by no one. View the full article

With the 66-1 outsider Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) stamping her authority on the G1 1000 Guineas, the inevitable feeling is that the 3-year-old miling division for fillies remains up for grabs. One notable name missing from that Newmarket line-up was Ballydoyle’s Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and while she is back for Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh, it will probably only be at Royal Ascot next month that we will see who tops the pecking order with last year’s G1 Cheveley Park S. scorer in need of this comeback. Introduced in this meeting’s six-furlong fillies’ maiden a year ago, the full-sister to Churchill (Ire) built momentum as the season progressed with her wins in the G3 Grangecon Stud S. here and Newmarket’s G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. and Cheveley Park characterised by a lack of any drama. Her 1 3/4-length defeat of Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) in that latter contest in September was carried out in the same uncomplicated fashion as her previous efforts, but after a troubled spring it is likely she will make less of an impact here than she would with a clean run-up. Of Aidan O’Brien’s seven winners of this, only three were at Newmarket beforehand but this is purely a reintroduction with future targets in mind. “Clemmie seems to be in good form, but we’ll be very happy if she just runs a nice race,” O’Brien said. “She will improve a ton from the race.” The “now” horse here is Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was just over two lengths behind Billesdon Brook when third in the 1000 Guineas. Everything speaks for her, with her big juvenile wins in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere coming on testing ground which would not have played to her strengths. In the latter contest, she upstaged Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War) and Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and although both of those colts may not have been at their best on that occasion, it remains the only time that one of her sex and age met with top-flight colts in 2017. The dam You’resothrilling (Giant’s Causeway) has already supplied the operation with two Irish Guineas winners in Gleneagles (Ire) and Marvellous (Ire), and it takes no jump of the imagination to see her making it a third as she approaches an elite position among the enviable Coolmore broodmare band. While Ballydoyle had the one-two-three 12 months ago, with even the place-getters subsequently proving themselves fillies out of the top drawer, there is a chance that there may not be the same air of dominance among their current crop. If that is the case, then the bombproof Who’s Steph (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) could capitalise here. Bought by George Strawbridge in between her wins in Leopardstown’s pair of G3 1000 Guineas Trials over seven furlongs Apr. 14 and May 13, she will have to do a lot more here than she did when beating Ship of Dreams (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by a length in the latter contest but she trades in toughness and resolution which will carry her a long way. “In an ideal world the slow side of good would be perfect, no extremes, just nice ground for her,” trainer Ger Lyons said. “While she won on quickish ground at Leopardstown, she was a little bit stiff on it. To me, off her current rating she’s still shy of a Guineas horse and she has to improve, but at this moment in time I think she has the ability to be in the first four.” Third and fourth respectively behind Who’s Steph in the Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial, Alghabrah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Chiara Luna (War Front) were particularly eye-catching on their first steps outside of maiden company. The latter’s trainer Dermot Weld has more than one line on Shadwell’s half-sister to the 2016 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), having saddled ‘TDN Rising Star’ Contingent (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to beat her in a Leopardstown maiden in October. Chiara Luna is a half-sister to Mad About You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who was third in the 2008 edition of this race behind Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and shaped with real promise at Leopardstown, where she was denied a clear passage in the straight before finishing off strongly. As he proved on that same card with Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal), there is no better trainer in the business in fine-tuning unexposed horses for the big events and Chiara Luna has any amount of untapped potential especially on this lively ground untypical of the track at this time of year. Weld’s 2017 was one of his most troubled in many years, with a virus hitting the yard, and so it may be that he has some serious talent that have so far flown under the radar. Godolphin’s Soliloquy (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was one of a few from the Charlie Appleby stable to light up Newmarket’s Craven meeting and she had Billesdon Brook 5 1/2 lengths back in fourth when capturing the G3 Nell Gwyn S. over seven furlongs Apr. 18. Like stablemate Masar, who was so dynamic a day later, she did not go forward on that effort in the main event and her sixth in the G1 1000 Guineas three weeks ago needs bettering here. “She’s come out of the Newmarket Guineas really well and I feel that a repeat of her win in the Nell Gwyn would put her right there,” her trainer said. “We are taking on the might of Aidan O’Brien, but I am very happy with our filly.” One year ago, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) looked a Classic filly through and through when beating the subsequent G3 Anglesey S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. third Actress (Ire) (Declaration of War) by five lengths in the Listed Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies’ Sprint S. at Naas. Subsequent events have taken the shine off, with a second in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot preceding a fifth placing when favourite for the Moyglare and a lacklustre 10th in the Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial on heavy ground. Trainer Jessie Harrington maintains faith in the Niarchos homebred, who descends from two mile Classic heroines in East of the Moon (Private Account) and Miesque (Nureyev). “She wants good ground and is ready to run,” her trainer said. View the full article

The news that the Department of Homeland Security would provide businesses another 15,500 H-2B visas this summer will have little impact on the racing industry, said the NTRA’s Alex Waldrop. The visas allow low-skilled foreign workers into the country, and as is capped by statute at 66,000. The DHS did the same thing last summer after businesses complained that their were severely hampered without the foreign workers, who typically fill restaurant, hotel and other jobs, and often work on America’s backstretches. “This increase is to the H-2B non-agriculture guest worker program so it will alleviate to some extent the shortage of visas for Thoroughbred trainers needing backstretch workers,” said Waldrop, who added that breeding farms in Kentucky, also suffering from a lack of workers, would not feel any relief from this move. “Central Kentucky farms mainly use the H-2A program for foreign temporary workers, which is burdensome to obtain but not capped at 66,000 nationwide like the H-2B program. This is the same temporary relief granted last summer and once again it is probably too little, too late since the period for these visas ends in September and the increase hardly addresses the significant demand for guest workers. H-2B visas are used by a broad range of seasonal non-agriculture employers like hotels, theme parks, landscapers and the fishing and logging industries in addition to horse trainers.” View the full article

Southern Legend (AUS) romped home by three lengths in the Kranji Mile (G1), followed by fellow traveler Horse of Fortune (SAF). View the full article

Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart (English Channel) will look for a third straight Grade I victory in Monday’s GI Shoemaker Mile, a Win and You’re In event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. Third in last year’s Shoemaker Mile, the 7-year-old went on to win the GII Bernard Baruch H. and was second in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile before concluding his season with a 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar in November. After opening 2018 with a seventh-place effort in the Jan. 13 GII Ft. Lauderdale S., he went on to win the Feb. 10 GI Gulfstream Park Turf and was a wire-to-wire victor in the Apr. 13 GI Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland. Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller) owns a pair of graded wins over the Shoemaker’s one-mile distance over the Santa Anita turf. The 4-year-old won the GII Mathis Brothers Mile in Arcadia last December and is coming off a determined score in the Mar. 10 Frank Kilroe Mile. The lightly raced Arms Runner (Overdriven), a stakes winner down the hill turf course at Santa Anita last May, blew the start and came home seventh in his lone attempt to stretch out in the Oceanside S. at Del Mar last July. He returned 10 months later to finish fourth down the hill in a May 3 optional claimer last time out. View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify galloped 1 1/2 miles May 26 at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Humberto Gomez in the saddle as the undefeated colt continued his preparations for the Belmont Stakes (G1). View the full article

Before officials at the Singapore Turf Club pulled the plug on the jurisdiction’s only two international Group 1 races in 2015, horses based in Hong Kong won the final three runnings of both the Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer Sprint. While there was no representation in the latter event, the two Hong Kong entrants bossed their rivals in the S$1.5-million Kranji Mile with even-money Southern Legend (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) scampering clear by three decisive lengths over Horse of Fortune (SAf) (Stronghold {GB}). Nova Strike (NZ) (Red Giant), off at better than 120-1, fared best of the locals in third. Drawn gate one for Zac Purton, nipping at the heels of Joao Moreira in the Hong Kong jockeys’ premiership, Southern Legend was given a dig away from the stalls and shot through at the fence to take up the running in advance of 48-1 roughie Maximus (Lemon Drop Kid). The latter may have shaded the chalk for the lead as they raced past the 600m point, but Purton kept his powder dry, and when he called upon his mount to sprint inside the final quarter-mile, Southern Legend responded with a :22.75 final sectional to win off as much the best. “It’s great to win anywhere and Singapore’s been a special place to me,” said Purton, who was in the saddle when Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) won the 2015 KrisFlyer. “It’s good for [trainer] Caspar [Fownes]’s stable to have another horse at this level.” Fownes won the KrisFlyer on three occasions. “I was just a little bit worried mid-race–Karis Teetan on Horse of Fortune kept kicking up in between myself and the horse that was three wide that kept trying to come across,” Purton added. “But my horse wasn’t travelling too fiercely, I had him in a good rhythm and I knew, when I let him down at the 400, he’d be hard to beat.” Pedigree Notes: Southern Legend is one of 56 black-type winners for the enormously successful Not a Single Doubt and is a maternal grandson of SW & GSP Donna Natalia (Aus) (Anabaa), while the extended female family includes Group 1-winning sire Charge Forward (Aus) (Red Ransom). Donna’s Appeal is the dam of a yearling full-brother to Southern Legend, that fetched A$185,000 from the Corumbene Stud consignment at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and a weanling full-sister. She was most recently bred on a late November cover to Exceed and Excel (Aus). Saturday’s Results: KRANJI MILE S., S$1,500,000 (£836,671/€954,389/A$1,478,195/US$1,115,666), Kranji, 5-26, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.79, yl. 1–SOUTHERN LEGEND (AUS), 126, g, 5, Not a Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna’s Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg ’14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Zac Purton; S$892,500. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP-Aus, G1SP-HK, 21-9-1-3, $1,876,784. 2–Horse of Fortune (SAf), 126, g, 7, Stronghold (GB)–Sweet Virginia (SAf), by Casey Tibbs (Ire). (R150,000 Ylg ’12 CAPJAN). O-Fantastic Five Syndicate; B-Northfields Stud (Pty) Ltd; T-Tony Millard; S$318,750. 3–Nova Strike (NZ), 126, g, 5, Red Giant–La Panthere (NZ), by Generous (Ire). (NZ$60,000 2yo ’14 NZBRTR). O-Nova Racing Stable; B-J G Simpson; T-H W Tan; S$161,250. Margins: 3, 1, NK. Odds: 1.00, 8.40, 123.60. Also Ran: Clarton Super (Aus), Infantry (NZ), Maximus, Preditor (NZ), Ocean Emperor (NZ), Circuit Land, Majestic Moments (NZ), Elite Excalibur (Aus), Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ), Iron Man (Arg). Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO. View the full article

Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) swept through his sophomore campaign registering wins in the Listed Scurry S., G3 Coral Charge and G2 King George S., and brought the curtain down on last year with a stunning performance in Chantilly’s Oct. 1 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye. Sent off as the odds-on chalk for this seasonal return, the world’s top-rated sprinter had undergone a wind operation in the wake of that latest triumph and was caught napping in the outside box as the gates opened. Easing into contention at halfway, having been left in rear initially, he was stoked up approaching the final eighth and kept on strongly under a late drive to get up in the dying strides, becoming the first contender to defy a penalty since Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}) did so in 2003. At the line he had a head and a short head to spare over Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Kachy (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), respectively. BATTAASH (IRE), g, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (200,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Dane O’Neill. Lifetime Record: 11-6-0-3, £497,560. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

With Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) running no sort of race, Saturday’s G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh was open to something from leftfield and so it proved as Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) sprang a 25-1 upset to provide the Ken Condon stable with a first Classic. Missing the break and racing in rear under Shane Foley, the bay who was last seen finishing sixth in the Listed Tetrarch S. over seven furlongs at Naas May 7 was delivered wide with a strong-staying effort to reel in the long-time leader U S Navy Flag (War Front) 150 yards from the line and assert for a 2 1/4-length success, with Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “I had to make up quite a bit of ground to get to them, so I just nursed him and he got there,” Foley said. “I quietly fancied this horse, so it is not a great shock to me.” Elarqam, the 2-1 favourite, was already being ridden along at halfway and ended up a very disappointing sixth. View the full article

The field for the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas is dominated by homebreds from the major operations, but Yuesheng Zhang, who is in the throes of setting up his own worldwide breeding empire, has an interesting prospect in Yulong Gold Fairy, who was secured for just €8,000 and, as a dual winner at two and a Group 3 runner-up at three, looks exceptionally well bought. Alghabrah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) A fourth generation Shadwell homebred half-sister to Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), the winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas two years ago, and from the family of 1983 2,000 Guineas winner Lomond. Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) Another homebred, this time by the Niarchos family, and a great grand-daughter of the outstanding Miesque. Chiara Luna (War Front) Racing for her breeder Moyglare Stud, she hails from a family which has served the Irish farm well since the purchase of her fourth dam, the Grade 1 winner Aptostar, at Fasig-Tipton’s Night of the Stars Sale for $750,000 back in 1989. Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) This sister to dual Guineas winner and young Coolmore sire Churchill (Ire) is a grand-daughter of the smart sprinter Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), who was bred by Richard and Tessa Watson and is a fifth-generation descendant of Midnight Dollar, a mare who first arrived at their Manor Farm Stud in Rutland to be used as a hunter. Airwave was sold to the Coolmore partners for 550,000gns as a 4-year-old. Could It Be Love (War Front) This statuesque half-sister to Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) was bred by the Playa Maya Syndicate and was a withdrawal from Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale. Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Bred and raced by Coolmore affiliates, her brother Gleneagles (Ire) won the 2000 Guineas in 2015, sister Marvellous landed the Irish 1000 Guineas and her dam You’resothrilling (Storm Cat) is a Group 2-winning sister to English and Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up to Giant’s Causeway, who went on to win five Group 1 races and sire Ghanaati and Footsepsinthesand (GB), both winners of the Newmarket Classics. Lightening Quick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) Homebred by Qatar Bloodstock from their first Group 1 winner Lightening Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), who was bought as a yearling by David Redvers from breeder Castlemartin Stud at the Goffs Orby Sale for €125,000. Most Gifted (War Front) Another Coolmore homebred, Most Gifted’s grandam Gwynn (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) was bought as a yearling from Camas Park Stud for 250,000gns back in 1998 and went on to produce the 2011 Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Scriobh Nua (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) Bred and trained by Jim Bolger for his wife Jackie, this once-raced maiden is a three-parts sister to five black-type performers by Galileo, including the 1000 Guineas-placed duo of Cuis Ghaire (Ire) and Gile Na Greine (Ire). She was offered for sale as a foal and as a yearling, each time being bought back, for €450,000 and €675,000. Soliloquy (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) A Godolphin homebred out of the Australian listed winner Dysphonia (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) from a family inherited when Sheikh Mohammed purchased the Ingham family’s Woodlands Stud in 2008. Uluru Park (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) Bred, trained and owned in partnership by Jim Bolger’s former assistant Brendan Duke, Uluru Park is the first foal of the Duke-trained maiden winner I’m Sheikra (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}), who was unsold when offered as a yearling at Tattersalls in 2010. Who’s Steph (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) Bred by Patrick Headon, Who’s Steph was sold as a foal at Goffs for €20,000 and doubled in value when offered by Whitehall Stud at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, where she was bought by her trainer Ger Lyons. Since claiming the first of her two Group 3 victories, she has been sold privately to George Strawbridge. Yulong Gold Fairy (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) The least expensive in the field of those horses offered at auction, this Lady Fairhaven-bred filly was bought for 3,000gns as a foal at Tattersalls and was reoffered by Woodtown House Stud at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale where she was bought for €8,000 by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for Yuesheng Zhang. View the full article

Aidan O’Brien had expected Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) to need his European introduction in Saturday’s G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S. at The Curragh, but the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner was classy enough to still come out on top of some serious opposition to suggest he will be a major player in the June 23 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot. Held up as he was when a strong-finishing third to Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) in the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington when last seen Mar. 10, the bay who traded at 9-2 was delivered to claim stablemate Spirit of Valor (War Front) with 200 yards remaining and assert for a length success, with Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) a possibly unlucky third, 1 1/4 lengths away. Saturday, Curragh, Ireland WEATHERBYS IRELAND GREENLANDS S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 5-26, 4yo/up, 6fT, 1:11.82, g/f. 1–MERCHANT NAVY (AUS), 132, c, 4, by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 1st Dam: Legally Bay (Aus) (GSW & MG1SP-Aus, $430,193), by Snippets (Aus) 2nd Dam: Decidity (Aus), by Last Tycoon (Ire) 3rd Dam: Class (Aus), by Twig Moss (Fr) (A$350,000 Ylg ’16 INGEAY). O-Merchant Navy Syndicate; B-C Barham (AUS); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €70,800. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Aus, 9-6-0-2, $806,512. *Full to Jolie Bay (Aus), GSW & G1SP-Aus, $242,860. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Spirit of Valor, 129, c, 4, War Front–Stone Hope, by Grindstone. ($850,000 Wlg ’14 KEENOV). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Nursery Place (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. €24,000. 3–Tasleet (GB), 129, h, 5, Showcasing (GB)–Bird Key (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (£52,000 Ylg ’14 DNPRM). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-William Haggas. €12,000. Margins: 1, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 4.50, 7.00, 2.00. Also Ran: Brando (GB), Smash Williams (Ire), Ardhoomey (Ire), Intelligence Cross, G Force (Ire), Fas (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article