Monday, 20 July 2009
International Group 1 winners - Week ending July 12
UNITED STATES
11/7...HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP (G1) HOLLYWOOD PK 2000M
1. RAIL TRIP 4g Jump Start--Sweet Trip, by Carson City
O-Jay Em Ess Stable, B-Donarra Thoroughbreds; T-Ron Ellis
2. Tres Borrachos 4g Ecton Park--Pete's Fancy, by Peteski
3. Life Is Sweet 4f Storm Cat--Sweet Life, by Kris S.
Rail Trip was undefeated in his first five starts culminating with a Listed victory in the Santana Mile in April 4. Connections raised the bar to G2 level for seconds in the Mervyn LeRoy Hcp in May and Californian Stakes in June but a further step up to G1 company at Hollywood Park presented no problems for the gelding last Saturday. Rail Trip tracked pacemaker Tres Borrachos into the straight and then pulled away for a three length victory in a record time of 2:00.60s.
Bred in Kentucky, Rail Trip has now earned $667,000 from an 8: 6-2-0 record which more than makes up for his $200,000 purchase price at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale. His dam Sweet Trip is a winning half-sister to stakes-producing mare Whisperifyoudare (Red Ransom). 11/7...MAN O' WAR STAKES (G1) BELMONT 2200M
1. GIO PONTI 4c Tale of the Cat--Chipeta Springs by Alydar
O-Castleton Lyons, B-Kilboy Estate; T-Christophe Clement
2. Musketier (Ger) 7h Acatenango - Myth and Reality by Linamix
3. Quijano (Ger) 7g Acatenango - Quila by Unfuwain
Gio Ponti extended his Group 1 winning streak to three on end with a convincing victory in the $500,000 Man o' War last Saturday. It followed scores in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) and Manhattan Hcp (G1). The Arlington Million (G1) on August 8 at Arlington Park is next on the agenda.
Gio Ponti is now a leading candidate for turf division honours this season. "It's nice when they're that good," trainer Christophe Clement said. "He did not have the best trip, being wide, but Ramon (Dominguez) gave him a great ride. He did not panic and he still had enough to finish and finished very well. That's the great thing about good horses -- they overcome a few things."
Gio Ponti has compiled a 13-8-2-0 record with over $1.5 million in earnings. At two, he captured the Bourbon St (LR) at Keeneland and added to his haul at three in the Virginia Derby (G2), Hill Prince Stakes (G3) and Sir Beaufort Stakes (G3). He also finished second in the Del Mar Derby (G2).
Bred in Kentucky, Gio Ponti is a half-brother to three-year-old filly Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon), who romped by eight lengths in the Susan's Girl Stakes (LR) at Delaware Park in May. Their dam Chipeta Springs has also produced 2002 Lawrence Realization Hcp (LR) winner Fisher Pond (A.P. Indy).
Gio Ponti's second dam is Argentinean Group 1 queen Salt Spring (Salt Marsh). This is the extended family of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar (Palace Music). 11/7...PRINCESS ROONEY HCP (G1) CALDER 1200M
1. GAME FACE 4f Menifee--Galleon of Gold, by Gone West
O-Zabeel Racing; B-Marilyn Seltzer; T-Todd Pletcher
2. Keep the Peace 4f Touch Gold--Look Upon, by Carson City
3. Orinoquia 4f Whywhywhy--Nice Boots Baby by Storm Boot
Game Face outclassed her rivals by six lengths in the Princess Rooney Hcp in Florida last Saturday. Under an Edgar Prado hand and heels ride, the favourite made amends for defeats in the Vagrancy Hcp (G2) and Humana Distaff (G1) at he previous two starts. Earlier, she had won at black-type level in the Inside Information St (G2), La Troienne St (G3) and Old Hat St (G3). She now owns a14-7-3-2 career card and almost $690,000.
Bred in Kentucky, Game Face is out of an unraced daughter of G1 performer Harbour Club (Danzig). She was a $280,000 buy at the 2007 Barretts 2yo Sale. ENGLAND 8/7...FALMOUTH STAKES (G1) NEWMARKET 1600M
1. GOLDIKOVA (Ire) 4f Anabaa--Born Gold, by Blushing Groom
O/B-Wertheimer & Frere; T-Freddy Head
2. Heaven Sent 6m Pivotal - Heavenly Ray, by Rahy
3. Spacious 4f Nayef--Palatial by Green Desert
A day after the death of her sire Anabaa, the Freddie Head trained filly Goldikova returned to form with a Group 1 victory in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. Goldikova won the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita last October prompting Head to compare her with champion filly Miesque who he piloted to victory in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Mile.
The Irish bred filly raced close to the early leader Spacious and was perfectly poised as the pace lifted. Rolling to the front approaching the final furlong, Goldikova was ridden hands-and-heels by Olivier Peslier to comfortably hold Heaven Sent by a half length.
"She was always on the bridle and would have been more impressive if they had gone faster," Peslier said. "She takes a little bit of time to pick up but found another gear."
Goldikova had been disappointing when she resumed this year in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp, however, she was still sent off a pronounced favourite in the Falmouth.
"The ground at Longchamp was so bad and the filly could not get out of it," Head revealed yesterday. "She has been working well and I came here very confident."
It was Goldikova's fourth win at the elite level. She was runner-up to champion filly Zarkava in the 2008 French 1000 Guineas prior to reeling off G1 victories in the Prix Prix d'Astarte at Deauville and the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp that earned her a berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
"She has a couple of options at Deauville in August," Head continued. "But going back to California to win the Breeders' Cup Mile again is the ultimate aim." 10/7...JULY CUP (G1) NEWMARKET 1200M
1. FLEETING SPIRIT (Ire) 4f Invincible Spirit - Millennium Tale by Distant Relative
O-The Searchers; B-Bernadette Hayden; T-Jeremy Noseda
2. Main Aim 4c Oasis Dream - Orford Ness by Selkirk
3. J J The Jet Plane (SAf) 5g Jet Master - Majestic Guest by Northern Guest
Fleeting Spirit made an impressive breakthrough in the July Cup but had to survive a subsequent inquiry after swerving in front of eventual runner-up Main Aim at the furlong. The Jeremy Noseda trained filly had been runner-up at the elite level in the 2007 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket and the 2009 King's Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
The July Cup triumph justify the decision by connections to keep her in training this term. Not satisfied to retire her with a record that boasted wins in the Flying Childers St (G2) and Temple Stakes (Eng-G2), her owners tried again here despite the presence of her Ascot conqueror Scenic Blast.
"This wasn't really the original plan after Ascot, as we made the decision to give her a break but hang around in case Scenic Blast didn't turn up," trainer Jeremy Noseda added. "She had been working well and had come on a bundle since the King's Stand."
Takeover Target fractured a cannon bone during the July Cup. Seventh after helping to carve out the early pace, the Aussie raider fared better than his compatriot Scenic Blast, who was only 10th as the 11-8 favourite. Fleeting Spirit is a half-sister to Irish stakes performer Alone He Stands (Flying Spur). IRELAND 12/7...IRISH OAKS (G1) CURRAGH 2400M
1. SARISKA (GB) 3f Pivotal - Maycocks Bay by Muhtarram
O/B-Lady Bamford; T-Michael Bell
2. Roses for the Lady 3f Sadler's Wells--Head in the Clouds by Rainbow Quest
3. Midday (GB) 3f Oasis Dream - Midsummer by Kingmambo
Sariska backed up her victory in last month's English Oaks (G1) with a three length victory in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh. Racing in second gear throughout, the even-money favourite never had a moment's worry as jockey Jamie Spencer chanced a cheeky wave to Fran Berry (Roses for the Lady) inside the final furlong.
"The race couldn't have gone any smoother and she was galloping all over the others," Spencer explained. "It was an amazing performance and she was just electric."
Sariska hit the ground running with a victory at Newmarket last November and returned in April to suffer her only defeat to date in the Fred Darling Stakes (G3). She followed up with a G3 victory in the Musidora Stakes at York and she confirmed that promise with a narrow verdict at Epsom on June 5.
Trainer Michael Bell said the Pivotal filly will head for the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and there is the option of the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp or the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in November. "She ticks all the boxes and I can't believe how lucky I am to have her to train," Bell beamed. "She is a machine and is the perfect filly."
Sariska is by champion Cheveley Park sire Pivotal and is a half-sister to English stakjes winner Gull Wing (In The Wings). CANADA 12/7...PRINCE OF WALES STAKES (R1) FORT ERIE 1900M
1. GALLANT 3c Aptitude--Quintessa, by Touch Gold
O-Woodford Racing; B-Robert Costigan; T-M Casse
2. Milwaukee Appeal 3f Milwaukee Brew--Appealing Forum, by Open Forum
3. Eye of the Leopard 3c A.P. Indy--Eye of the Sphynx, by Smart Strike
Gallant lived up to his name when a 15/1 upset winner of the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes in Ontario. He defeated outstanding filly Milwaukee Appeal by a nose in the middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
The Prince of Wales shaped up as a rematch of the opening leg in the Queen's Plate. The first three home at Woodbine - Eye of the Leopard (A.P. Indy), Mr. Foricos Two U (Porto Foricos) and Milwaukee Appeal - were favoured to fight out the finish once again. But, with no pace up front, confirmed closer Gallant went to the front under jockey Corey Fraser. He got away with leisurely sectionals until Milwaukee Appeal ranged up to his girth. They dueled for the length of the straight and the filly appeared to gain a slim lead, but Gallant refused to crack under pressure.
Gallant is by Juddmonte Farms sire Aptitude (A P Indy) and was purchased for $90,000 as a Canadian October yearling . He is out of the unraced Quintessa who has a yearling filly by Fusaichi Pegasus and a filly foal by El Corredor. The dam is a half-sister to G2 winner Dr. Kashnikow (El Gran Senor).
The Canadian Triple Crown is restricted to Canadian bred 3YOs and they are rated Restricted G1 events. The third and final leg is the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes to be run at Woodbine on August 2. SINGAPORE 12/7...SINGAPORE DERBY (G1) KRANJI 2000M
1. JOLIE'S SHINJU (Jpn) 4f Jolie's Halo--Endearing Quality by Danzig
O-Tan Kai Chah; B-Hideyuki Takaoka; T-Hideyuki Takaoka
2. Big Maverick 4g (NZ) O'Reilly--Ajfan by Woodman
3. Marco Kid (Aus) 4g Keltrice--Tristram Power by Sir Tristram
Jolie's Shinju will be set for the G1 W S Cox Plate after scoring a breath-taking five length victory in the Emirates Singapore Derby. The filly ran her rivals into the ground, leading all the way to complete the 4YO Triple Crown. She had won the first two legs in the Patrons' Bowl and the Singapore Derby Trial and is the first horse to clean-sweep the Challenge since Bocelli. She also became the first mare to win the Derby since Showgirl V in 1973.
With champion sprinter Rocket Man sidelined for the rest of the year, the capacity crowd didn't wait long before they cheered a new Kranji superstar home to victory.
Jolie's Shinju gave the colts and geldings no mercy right from the moment she hit the ground. She was always in command and, making her own luck in front, kept up a relentless gallop to demoralise her rivals.
Hideyuki Takaoka, who won last year's Singapore Gold Cup winner El Dorado, said the filly is the best horse he has ever trained. "I was confident she could run 2000m and she didn't let me down," said Takaoka. "I thought she might have gone a little bit too fast at one stage, but when I saw Ronnie (Stewart) still had plenty underneath him, I knew she would be hard to catch. Cox Plate? Yes, yes, I think she will go for it."
Jolie's Shinju is by Jolie's Halo who was a US G1 winner of the Donn Hcp and Phillip H. Iselin Hcp. A son of Halo, he stood at Bridlewood Farm in Florida before relocating to Japan's East Stud in 1996. Jolie's Halo died there, aged 18, in 2005.
- Thoroughbred Express
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