Wandering Eyes

Tested against older competitors, Zanjabeel delivered a five-length victory May 12, when he drew away from hard-luck Modem to win the $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (NSA-1) at Percy Warner Park. View the full article

Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing's Blended Citizen, making his third straight start in graded company, took control of the field seventy yards shy of the finish line to win the May 12 $350,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. View the full article

Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing's Blended Citizen made his comeback to graded company a big one May 12, taking control seventy yards shy of the finish line to win the $350,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3). View the full article

The GI Calvin Houghland Iroquois pitted youth against experience. On a sweltering Saturday afternoon in Nashville, youth won out. Zanjabeel (GB) (Aussie Rules) marked himself as a star of today and tomorrow when the 5-year-old swept past perennial runner-up Modem (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and pulled away steadily to the wire to win by five lengths. Jamarjo (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) finished third, and Mr. Hot Stuff (Tiznow) was fourth. The Iroquois, the richest race on the National Steeplechase Association’s spring schedule, attracted the top four finishers in last fall’s GI Grand National, in which Mr. Hot Stuff nosed out Modem, who was a nose ahead of All the Way Jose (Senor Swinger). Jamarjo was fourth. Zanjabeel also had run on the Grand National card, and he easily won the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle for novices-jump racing’s newcomers-for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott. A Maryland partnership of George Mahoney Jr.’s Rosbrian Farm and Wendy and Ben Griswold bought Zanjabeel, then four, and turned him over to Ricky Hendriks, who won another novice stakes with him two weeks later. Hendriks did not hesitate to send Zanjabeel into top company this year, and he registered two second-place finishes, in the GI Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup and the GII Temple Gwathmey earlier in the spring. The Iroquois was time for him to graduate into top company if he could handle three miles, the longest hurdle stakes on the schedule. He handled it with aplomb and was where jockey Ross Geraghty needed him to be at every stage of the Iroquois. After All the Way Jose fell on the second run down the backstretch, Modem inherited the lead and appeared to be ready to break his run of four second-place finishes in Grade I races coming into the Iroquois. But Zanjabeel had other ideas. He and Geraghty crept closer to the lead and challenged two fences from home. Both jumped the final fences well, but Zanjabeel showed off his staying power when he quickly seized the lead after the last and drew away to the wire. Now a Grade I winner over fences, Zanjabeel ran the Iroquois’ three miles in 5:36.40 on firm turf. View the full article

Emboldened was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ off an impressive wire-to-wire debut score in Arcadia Jan. 5 and was third next out behind the reopposing Show It N Moe It (Grace Upon Grace) over this strip Feb. 9. A bit overlooked on the tote with the presence of comebacking MGISW Moonshine Memories, the chestnut was unhurried early, running well back off the rest of the field in second last as the longshot pacesetter zipped through opening splits of :22.26 and :44.97. Way out in the center of the track turning for home, Emboldened rallied alongside Moonshine Memories in the stretch, powering clear of that rival in a matter of strides to score an impressive victory. The winner’s dam Al Andaleeb, a daughter of champion Ajina (Strawberry Road {Aus}), is also responsible for the juvenile colt Homefield (Into Mischief) and a yearling colt by Ghostzapper. She was bred back to Street Boss. This is also the family of MGISW and red hot sire Quality Road (Elusive Quality) and GSW ‘TDN Rising Star’ Bitumen (Mineshaft). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. ANGELS FLIGHT S., $83,225, SA, 5-12, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.59, ft. 1–EMBOLDENED, 120, f, 3, by Elusive Quality 1st Dam: Al Andaleeb, by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Ajina, by Strawberry Road (Aus) 3rd Dam: Winglet, by Alydar 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. ‘TDN Rising Star’ O/B-Godolphin LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Martin Garcia. $48,900. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $88,020. 2–Moonshine Memories, 124, f, 3, Malibu Moon— Unenchantedevening, by Unbridled’s Song. ($650,000 Ylg ’16 FTSAUG). O-Bridlewood Farm, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael B. Tabor; B-Summer Wind Farm (KY); T-Simon Callaghan. $16,300. 3–First Dudette, 120, f, 3, First Dude–Noontime Diva, by Full Mandate. O-Blinkers On Racing Stable, Lyons, J., Robin, C., VanDrie, J. and Wagner, L.; B-Gerald Bennet & Mary Bennett (FL); T-Brian J. Koriner. $9,780. Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 14.00, 1.50, 39.70. Also Ran: Thirteen Squared, True Royalty, Show It N Moe It, Highland Lass, Film Actress, Surrender Now, Uppercut. View the full article

La Providencia's homebred Hi Happy continued his steady improvement for trainer Todd Pletcher with his first top-level win in the U.S. May 12, when he edged past pacesetter One Go All Go to win the $700,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. View the full article

A Raving Beauty (GER) found herself right at home May 12 on the Belmont Park lawn and aced her United States debut in the $200,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3T). View the full article

Here Comes When withdrawn from Kranji Mile through injury View the full article

Coming off a fourth-place finish in the West Virginia Derby (G3) that capped his sophomore year, 4-year-old Patch returned to racing May 12 with an allowance win at Belmont Park. View the full article

A Raving Beauty (GER) found herself right at home May 12 on the Belmont Park lawn, and aced her United States debut in the $200,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3T). View the full article

La Providencia's homebred Hi Happy continued his steady improvement for trainer Todd Pletcher with his first top-level win in the U.S. May 12, when he edged past pacesetter One Go All Go to win the $700,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. View the full article

HI HAPPY (ARG) (h, 6, Pure Prize-Historia {Arg}, by French Deputy)justified 9-5 favoritism while earning his first Northern Hemisphere win at the highest level in Saturday’s evening’s GI Man o’ War S. at Belmont. A three-time Group 1 winner in his native country, the chestnut made four starts in California for Felipe Souza before being transferred to the powerful Todd Pletcher barn. He was third in the GI Gulfstream Park Turf Feb. 10 before besting One Go All Go (Fairbanks) by a convincing margin in the GII Pan American S. back in Hallandale Mar. 31. One Go All Go had annexed the GII Elkhorn S. at Keeneland in the interim, and went right to the front here as Hi Happy tracked him. The pacesetter threatened to get away from them heading for home, but Hi Happy called on all his stamina to wear that one down and then hold off Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy) by 3/4 of a length in 2:14.79. One Go All Go held third. Lifetime Record: 13-8-0-2. O/B-La Providencia (Arg). T-Todd A Pletcher. View the full article

A picture-perfect ride from jockey Flavien Prat in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) May 12 at Santa Anita Park led to Kanthaka's second graded victory. View the full article

Coming off a fourth place finish in the West Virginia Derby (G3) that capped off his sophomore year, 4-year-old Patch returned to racing May 12 with an allowance win at Belmont Park. View the full article

Jockeys delayed the start of the first race at Belmont Park by 37 minutes May 12 to register their dissatisfaction with the state of ongoing contract negotiations between the Jockeys' Guild and the New York Racing Association. View the full article

Kent Spellman's Kirby's Penny surprised the Belmont Park crowd May 12 when she sailed past the favorites on the outside to take the $200,000 Vagrancy Handicap (G3) by 1 1/2 lengths. View the full article

5.15 Curragh, Mdn, €13,000, 3yo, 12fT MAKE THE SWITCH (IRE) (Dansili {GB}) is Moyglare Stud’s first representative of the GI La Brea S. and GI Santa Monica S. heroine Switch (Quiet American) that they snapped up for $4.3-million in November 2012. Dermot Weld tries the newcomer in against some experienced bluebloods such as Ballydoyle’s Cypress Creek (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-brother to last year’s G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger hero Capri (Ire) who was off the board in two juvenile starts. View the full article

Classic racing returns to ParisLongchamp May 13, with the running of both the €600,000 The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) and the €500,000 The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1). View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France—It was a case of saving the best until last as the final offering from a sextet of Scat Daddy juveniles at Arqana’s Breeze-up Sale brought Eric Hoyeau’s gavel down at €825,000 in favour of Jamie McCalmont, bidding on behalf of the Coolmore partners. Members of the last crop of the late Coolmore stallion have been in demand throughout the breeze-up season and five of the six for sale in Deauville changed hands for a total of €2,355,000. “This is one of the last opportunities to buy a horse by him,” said McCalmont. “He was an amazing stallion and his son No Nay Never had another winner today. We couldn’t leave behind a horse like this and it’s very sad that there will be no more. He didn’t look like he was breezing very fast but he actually did a very good time.” Just as last year, the name Mocklershill featured as the vendor of the top lot, with Willie Browne having bought the half-brother to GII Futurity S. runner-up Carried Interest (Henny Hughes) privately after he failed to sell at $370,000 at Keeneland’s September Sale. The 20 breezers sold by Mocklershill at an average of €201,800 accounted for just over €4 million, or more than a quarter of the day’s turnover of €14,768,000. That figure was up by 14% on last year but from 19 more horses sold. Seasoned breeze-up vendors had understandably approached the sale with a degree of trepidation. After all, €7.2 million had collectively been spent on assembling the majority of the horses who comprised what was generally felt to be a strong catalogue, both on paper and physically. Trade kicked off on a reasonably upbeat note but as the day wore on and the rain refused to relent, the mood around the sales ground turned a little off key throughout a prolonged flat spell. Ultimately, the sale’s indicators don’t read too badly—at €80,000 the median fell from €82,500 last year and the average of €130,673 again reflected only a slight drop of 5%. The clearance rate picked up towards the end of the day as private sales were agreed on a few individuals and the sale finished with a flourish but a significant number of the horses offered throughout the session failed to match their yearling price. Brendan Holland, whose Grove Stud enjoyed yet another good run at Arqana, sounded a note of caution which has been echoed by a number of his counterparts. He said, “We’ve had a good day and we’ve done well here in the past, both in the ring and on the track. We brought a really good bunch of horses here in a tough year and we’re very grateful for these results but the overall situation this season has been exacerbated by the fact that there have been way too many horses consigned to the breeze-up sales as a result of overproduction, and I hope that will be redressed. Those extra numbers make it look worse than it is but there is still a market there for a quality breezer and I’ll certainly be going back to the yearling sales to stock up for next year.” Leading the way from the Grove Stud draft was one of the Scat Daddy juveniles (lot 140), a colt out of the dual French listed winner Kaloura (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), who was unsold at Fasig-Tipton last August at $195,000, but was one of two purchases by Tom Ludt and Dermot Farrington on behalf of Phoenix Thoroughbreds at €700,000. The duo also bought the first Scat Daddy to be offered, lot 10, from Gaybrook Lodge Stud. The $160,000 Keeneland September pinhook was bought this time for €320,000. Farrington said of the half-brother to listed winner Crimson China (Giant’s Causeway), “He’s a nice big horse, and obviously this is the last chance to buy the progeny of Scat Daddy.” A new name on the breeze-up consignors’ list, Ecurie de la Frenee, made quite a debut at Arqana, consigning the session’s second-top lot (144), a son of Frankel (GB), bought by Mark McStay for €770,000. Having dipped a toe in the water at Osarus last month, Jennifer Pardanaud and Ronan Le Dantec, who run a pre-training operation at Ommeel in Normandy alongside their fledgling consigning business, brought their first select consignment of three to Deauville, including the half-brother to GI Garden City S. winner Backseat Rhythm (El Corredor) on behalf of his breeder Mitab Abdullah. The identity of the colt’s new owner was not revealed by McStay, who signed for the horse under the name Avenue Bloodstock and said, “He’s for a new client who asked me to buy him a special horse. He’s by a special horse who looks like he’s becoming a very special sire and he’s a half-brother to a Group 1 winner. He may not have been the fastest on the clock but they don’t have to do a fast time to be a good horse and I found it hard to fault him. Hopefully we’ll be hearing plenty more about him next year.” Among the bold pinhooks that did pay off was another Grove Stud-consigned colt by More Than Ready, already named Gift, who will be racing in Hong Kong for an undisclosed owner. Agent Matt Coleman tucked himself away in the restaurant to launch his bid for the colt out of the listed winner Generosity (Unbridled’s Song) who has already produced a stakes winner in seven-time victor Integrity (Hard Spun). Coleman’s major rival and eventual underbidder turned out to be his business partner Anthony Stroud, who had been busy throughout the session, largely on Godolphin’s behalf. At €525,000 Stroud cried enough leaving Coleman to sign for the colt who turned two just a week ago and had cost Brendan Holland $160,000 at Keeneland in September. “I thought he was the best horse in the sale. He looks to have a fantastic action, he breezed well and More Than Ready works well in Hong Kong,” Coleman said. On a horse-by-horse basis, Grove Stud was the most successful consignor of the day, with seven sold for an average of €311,000. For much of the day another member of the same draft, a Sea The Stars filly out of Ninas Terz (Ger) (Tertullian), had held the top spot after Jamie McCalmont secured lot 5 for owner Andrew Rosen at €400,000. “Andrew raced another Sea The Stars filly called September Stars, who was a stakes winner in America for Paddy Gallagher, and this filly is very similar to her. Not only is she a very pretty filly but she has a lovely pedigree,” said the agent, who confirmed that she will be trained by Roger Charlton. While Ninas Terz—a half-sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal)—was listed-placed in Germany, the filly’s second, third and fourth dams are all black-type winners. Her damsire Tertullian, who is out of a half-sister to Sea The Stars’s dam Urban Sea, throws up some interesting inbreeding to Allegretta. McCalmont added, “She’s not likely to be running too soon but she did one of the top 20 times in the breeze which was impressive considering she’s not a Kodiac-type sprinter.” Kerri Radcliffe bought the top lot at last year’s Arqana Breeze-up and she played a prominent role again on Saturday, stepping in with a successful bid of €400,000 for Mocklershill’s filly by Exchange Rate (lot 111). “She’s very fast and hopefully she’ll be going to Royal Ascot,” said the agent. “She’s for George Bolton and I hope she’ll be another Lady Aurelia.” The filly’s dam Dying To Dance (Street Cry) ran just once but has already produced a clean sweep of winners with her four runners to date, including the Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. winner Encumbered (Violence). Anthony Stroud made the first big splash of the sale when signing for lot 2 at €385,000 on behalf of an undisclosed client. The first foal of Nayara (Fr) (Nayef) had been selected from Book 2 of Tattersalls’ October Sale by Longways Stables for 100,000gns. Mick Murphy and Sarah O’Connell of Longways had previously enjoyed success with a Siyouni colt at the breeze-ups when selling subsequent G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains runner-up and G3 Jersey S. winner Le Brivido (Fr) for €105,000 at this same auction two years ago. The pair sold seven horses this time around for an average of €128,286. Walk In The Sun, the top price at last year’s sale at €1.4 million and bought originally at Keeneland for $15,000, had been a sensational pinhook for Willie Browne, and his Mocklershill draft was responsible for several profitable returns this time around. Most notable was the colt by the recently deceased Poet’s Voice (GB) (lot 18), bought as a yearling from October Book 3 for 42,000gns and sold on to Godolphin for 380,000gns. “He breezed very well and he’s from a very good consignor,” said Anthony Stroud after signing for the colt in company with David Loder and Richard Frisby. “He’ll go back to the UK and the boss will decide where he goes. The fact that his sire isn’t around any more was a bit of a factor but overall he was just a very nice horse.” Another who will eventually race in the Godolphin blue is lot 51, a Scat Daddy filly out of the listed-placed multiple winner Sure Route (Ishiguru) who was a decent pinhook for Yeomanstown Stud. Bought for $125,000 at Keeneland, she was resold for €360,000. Mocklershill also consigned the sole juvenile by Motivator (GB) in the catalogue (lot 53), a €60,000 August yearling from Haras du Quesnay bought by Alex Elliott. Charlie Gordon-Watson outlasted Richard Brown in the quest for the colt when going to €280,000 and later said that that the son of listed winner Treasure (Fr) (Anabaa) will be trained in Newmarket by Charlie Fellowes for an unnamed British owner. Al Shaqab Racing has been conspicuous by its relative inactivity so far this breeze-up season but Sheikh Joaan’s operation returned to the buyers’ bench at Arqana and snared five juveniles for a total of €785,000. The collection included lot 40, a Lope De Vega colt out of the G2 Prix d’Aumale runner-up Single (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}) offered by Star Bloodstock and sold for €300,000—double the price he fetched when bought at Arqana last August. View the full article

Ballydoyle experimented with running their horses in familiar groupings last year and in Leopardstown’s G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. it was a one-two-three with Douglas Macarthur (Ire) on top of fellow Galileo colts Yucatan (Ire) and Capri (Ire). This time there is a duo by Coolmore’s resident monarch in ‘TDN Rising Stars’ The Pentagon (Ire) and Delano Roosevelt (Ire), and they are joined by a product of Galileo’s best, Frankel (GB), in Nelson (GB). All three are true Derby colts that have been heading towards Tesio’s winning post since conception and help make up an embarrassment of riches in that department for their stable. The former is a product of Lagardere/Aga Khan breeding which Aidan O’Brien has had little access to in the past, but now that Barronstown Stud have the high-class dam Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain) there is a way in. The fact that he was able to get so close to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in Doncaster’s G1 Racing Post Trophy in October speaks well of his ability which he had flaunted earlier in the season. Delano Roosevelt has given the impression he is a colt building to something big and Wayne Lordan is back on, which may be significant as he rode him to win his maiden over a mile here in July. Nelson had his measure last time in the G3 Ballysax S. over this course and distance Apr. 14 and he has that Frankel willingness to run through a brick wall allied to an abundance of stamina being out of the stable’s G1 Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). “All three are well and have come on great for their runs,” O’Brien said. “The Pentagon has probably moved up a nice bit [from his nine-lengths third in the Ballysax]. We’re looking forward to seeing them run.” Although tied in with The Pentagon, His Highness The Aga Khan’s presence is more directly felt here in the Dermot Weld-trained Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal), a relative of the 2016 G1 Epsom Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) who was third when last seen in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. here in October. View the full article

A stakes race will be next for Tijori (Will Take Charge), who posted a ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance on debut at Santa Anita Friday afternoon. She brought $525,000 from owner Kaleem Shah at this year’s OBS March Sale. “She’d been showing us an awful lot in the mornings,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “We thought she was a pretty exceptional 2-year-old, so it was nice to see her do it, run a 77 Beyer.” Callaghan added, “There’s nothing for her in California, so we’ll either go to New York for the Astoria [June 7 at BelmontPark] or Royal Ascot [Queen Mary June 20].” View the full article

Leopardstown’s G3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial can sometimes be a victim of its place in the calendar so soon after Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas, but Sunday’s renewal seems particularly strong with some “faces” from last year and some unexposed types bidding to check into the Curragh Classic in two weeks’ time. It’s been a case of so near yet so far since Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) upset Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh in August and it may be significant that she was tried in blinkers when fourth to Musis Amica (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix de la Grotte Apr. 15 and now has cheekpieces fitted. She has to give three pounds to another of George Strawbridge’s recents acquisitions Who’s Steph (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who bids to become the first since Carribean Sunset (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) to complete the double of this track’s two 1,000 Guineas Trials. Interestingly, that ex-Dermot Weld trainee beat Magical’s dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in the former before the runner-up went on to win the Irish 1000 itself. Ger Lyons’s representative was positively-ridden in that Ballylinch Stud-sponsored seven-furlong contest Apr. 14 and showed tenacity which will be required again here. “She’s a lovely, honest filly who has been training well since the last day and this looked the obvious race to aim towards as she is able to line up without a penalty,” her trainer said. “We hope she will run well on Sunday and that race will help us to make a plan going forward. We’re blessed to have a new owner to have joined the team and it’s just great to have those colours in the yard.” Godophin’s Mary Tudor (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) was just behind Magical on two occasions last year and came back to break her maiden in the 10-furlong Listed Salsabil S. at Navan Apr. 22. Trainer Willie McCreery said, “Mary Tudor has come out of her first run of the season really well. Sunday will be on better ground again and back over the Guineas trip, so it will be a nice trial for her. I feel the better the ground, the better she will be and it was just nice to get that win with her as she had some very good form last year. She is growing and maturing all the time and she’s getting more relaxed too, so we are looking forward to Sunday.” View the full article

Unlike the colts’ Classic, the G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches has fallen to wide-drawn fillies more often with three of the last six winners when it was staged at ParisLongchamp defying double-figure stalls. That bodes well for Godolphin’s burgeoning prospect Musis Amica (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who is unbeaten and comes into Sunday’s renewal off an impressive display in the G3 Prix de la Grotte here Apr. 15. The highly-regarded fellow Andre Fabre-trained Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was back in fifth on that occasion and her draw in 10 should not inconvenience her as a hold-up filly. “She comes into the race in great form,” Fabre said. “She is a progressive filly, who handles the track well. She lacks a bit of experience compared to some of the others, but she should give a good account of herself.” Drawn one inside is the Wertheimers’ Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who beat Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Deauville’s G3 Prix du Calvados over seven furlongs in August but who is making her seasonal bow in a tough race to win first time up. Her last start saw her split Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Mission Impassible (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly in October and it was notable that trainer Freddy Head was disappointed afterwards. “She had a minor hold-up and, with such bad weather this spring, it hasn’t been possible to get a run into her,” he told the Racing Post. “I’m very happy with her and the better the ground, the better for her.” White Birch Farm and The Allen Stable’s Barkaa (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has to be considered based on her latest four-length success in the nine-furlong G3 Prix Vanteaux here Apr. 8, while Jean-Claude Rouget’s representative must be considered having saddled four of the last nine winners. Mohamed Fahad Al-Attiyah’s Mission Impassible (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has something to find on her third in the Marcel Boussac and return sixth in the Prix de a Grotte, but a strong gallop will bring her into play. “In the Grotte the ground was heavy and she was drawn wide, so she had it to do,” Rouget told the Post. “She’s progressed well since her comeback. She wouldn’t want too much rain.” Ballydoyle rely on the clear-cut Dundalk maiden scorer Could It Be Love (War Front) and Aidan O’Brien said, “She is a half-sister to Uncle Mo. She won nicely so hopefully the ground is nice.” If she stays a mile, Ahmed Mouknass and Teruya Yoshida’s Coeur de Beaute (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) holds claims and she looked to benefit from a step up to seven furlongs when landing the G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville Apr. 9. View the full article

Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Tenfold has officially joined the Preakness Stakes (G1) fray, according to his connections, and galloped 1 1/2 miles May 12 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

ParisLongchamp is unforgiving on those drawn out wide at the mile start, and despite the employment of the kinder “Moyenne Piste” and introduction of an “open stretch” or cutaway rail this year, post position remains critical in the G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains. That is bad news for Ballydoyle’s US Navy Flag (War Front) on Sunday, as Ryan Moore will have to navigate the outside stall on last year’s European champion juvenile. Ground is also vital to the G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Dewhurst S. hero and that has become a controversial issue in recent days, with some jockeys and trainers openly critical of the state of the turf here. His ability to stay a mile is also in question, but all that aside if such Classics were decided on juvenile merit then he has a comfortable margin to play with as he bids to provide his sire with a first European Classic. Aidan O’Brien is happy with where he is at after a 15-lengths fourth of four in Leopardstown’s Listed Ballylinch Stud 2,000 Guineas Trial S. on heavy ground Apr. 14. “He’s a real good-ground horse and he’s a fast horse, obviously,” he said. “We wanted to start and get a run into him. The ground wasn’t ideal, but now going to his next run, we’re delighted we did get him started.” Jean-Claude Rouget broke his duck in this with Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) when it was staged for the second time on Deauville’s straight course last year and has received good fortune here as Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War) has drawn three. Dogged by soft ground since gaining ‘TDN Rising Star’ status on his emphatic debut over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville in August, Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand’s latest prodigy needs the forecast rain to stay away. Narrowly denied in Chantilly’s G3 Prix des Chenes in September and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in October, he was second again on his return as Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) had the edge in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau Apr. 15. The fourth home there, Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), boosted the form in style at Chester this week and Rouget was firm in his belief after that race that the front two are the best of the home-trained colts heading here. He reiterated that in an interview on Equidia. “He has grown up mentally since last year, though he has always been pretty straightforward,” he said. “For me, Olmedo and Wootton are the two form horses, though I don’t know what order they’ll finish in.” Henri-Alex Pantall last enjoyed Classic glory with West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian) in 2007 and has every chance of bridging that gap with Godolphin’s unbeaten Wootton, who had won the Listed Prix Isonomy by five lengths when signing off as a juvenile at Deauville in October. “Wootton is in top order,” his trainer said of the game colt, who made all the running in this Classic’s premier trial last month. “He worked very well on Tuesday and he has improved at home since his prep race. I couldn’t be happier with him. He appears to be at his optimum racing weight.” He is drawn next to Olmedo in four, with a possible pace angle to run at in the British raider Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in two. Last year’s Listed Washington Singer S. winner wears his heart on his sleeve and was only caught late when runner-up to Seahenge (Scat Daddy) in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster in September and when third in Newbury’s G3 Greenham S. on his return over seven furlongs Apr. 21. Trainer James Tate expects improvement from the imposing bay. “He’s in really good form and he’s improved a lot since his Greenham third,” he commented. “Obviously a Classic is a tough ask, but he couldn’t be in better shape. It’s never really crossed my mind he won’t stay the trip. We did use the Greenham very much as a trial and he will be 100% for this race.” Successful by five lengths in the G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville Apr. 9, Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) enters the equation but that was on a straight track and he has to navigate his way around here from stall eight. View the full article