GODOLPHIN GET ONE BACK – AT LAST

Frankie Dettori celebrates Blue Bunting’s Irish Oaks victory
(Photo : The Guardian)

BLUE BUNTING
Irish Oaks

It’s been a tough year for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, with Coolmore and their associates sweeping all before them. Sunday things turned around for Sheikh Mohammed though, as Blue Bunting got up in the dying strides to take the Irish Oaks (Gr1) and grab the laurels by a nose. It doesn’t get much closer than that, though Coolmore-sired horses filled the next two places with Banimpire and Wonder Of Wonders.

The extent of the Irish domination of the European classic season thus far is apparent in the accompanying table, which reflects victory in 8 of the 10 classics in 2011.

Race	Cheque Earners	Sire
Epsom Derby (Gr.1)	1st Pour Moi	Montjeu
	2nd Treasure Beach	Galileo
	4th Memphis Tennessee	Hurricane Run
Irish Derby (Gr.1)	1st Treasure Beach	Galileo
	2nd Seville	Galileo
	3rd Memphis Tennessee	Hurricane Run
Epsom Oaks (Gr.1)	1st Dancing Rain	Danehill Dancer
	2nd Wonder Of Wonders	Kingmambo
Irish Oaks (Gr.1)	1st Blue Bunting	Dynaformer
	2nd Banimpire	Holy Roman Emperor
	3rd Wonder Of Wonders	Kingmambo
English 2000 Guineas (Gr.1)	1st Frankel	Galileo
	2nd Dubawi Gold	Dubawi
Irish 2000 Guineas (Gr.1)	1st Roderic O’Connor	Galileo
	2nd Dubawi Gold	Dubawi
	3rd Oracle	Danehill Dancer
English 1000 Guineas (Gr.1)	1st Blue Bunting	Dynaformer
	2nd Together	Galileo
Irish 1000 Guineas (Gr.1)	1st Misty For Me	Galileo
	2nd Together	Galileo

Bold denotes Coolmore Sires

Time was when Godolphin enjoyed their own dominance of the classic scene, but it was in the days when they still patronised the progeny of the Coolmore stallions in the sales ring. The “stand-off” has altered things somewhat, and while Dubawi and Shamardal put in an ominous run last year, they are notable by their absence this year. This can only be a temporary “blip” though, as they’re as decent a pair as there is, and we’re bound to see more of them and their runners in years to come.

TREASURE BEACH HEADS IRISH DERBY 1-2-3 FOR BALLYDOYLE

Click above to watch Treasure Beach winning the Irish Derby (G1)
(Image : SportingLife - Footage : Horseracing AUS)

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY (Group 1)
26 June 2011

Since taking over at Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien has retrieved all the former glories of the legendary stable, and when Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo) led home stable companions Seville (Ger) (Galileo) and Memphis Tennessee (Ire) (Hurricane Run) in yesterday’s G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, another historic milestone was reached. That result meant a sixth consecutive renewal for the Rosegreen establishment, a ninth overall for its trainer and a remarkable fourth one-two-three in the race since 2002.

Having been denied in the final yards of the June 4 G1 Epsom Investec Derby, Treasure Beach had no Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu) to spoil his party this time, and the 7-2 second choice was delivered with accurate timing by Colm O’Donoghue to work his way past Seville and the pacesetting Memphis Tennessee in the final 150 yards and win by 3/4 of a length. Carlton House (USA) (Street Cry), who was again the hot favorite as he had been at Epsom, never looked like justifying odds of 5-4 and was a one-paced fourth.

IRISH DERBY (G1)
Final Result

#	Horse	Sire	Jockey	Trainer
1	TREASURE BEACH (GB)	Galileo	C O’Donoghue	Aidan O’Brien
2	SEVILLE (GER)	Galileo	J Heffernan	Aidan O’Brien
3	MEMPHIS TENNESSEE (IRE)	Hurricane Run	J O’Brien	Aidan O’Brien
4	CARLTON HOUSE (USA)	Street Cry	R Moore	Sir Michael Stoute
5	DUNBOYNE EXPRESS (IRE)	Shamardal	D McDonogh	Kevin Prendergast
6	RODERIC O’CONNOR (IRE)	Galileo	W Lordan	Aidan O’Brien
7	NATIVE KHAN (FR)	Azamour	J Murtagh	Ed Dunlop
8	NOTABLE GRADUATE (IRE)	Galileo	P Smullen	Dermot Weld

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

FULFILLING PEDIGREE POTENTIAL

Sadler’s Wells and Darshaan
(Image : Sport Horse Data/Aga Khan Studs)

PEDIGREE INSIGHTS
Andrew Caulfield

For investors in high-class bloodstock, there was something very reassuring about the results of all three European Classics contested over the weekend. They all fell to animals that were fulfilling the Classic potential of both sides of pedigrees, as all three are by stallions with previous Classic winners to their credit, and all three come from families that had produced winners of the Epsom Derby or Oaks.

The Investec Oaks went to Dancing Rain, who became the first mile-and-a-half Classic winner for Danehill Dancer, following his Group 1 Classic successes over a mile with Speciosa, Again and Mastercraftsman. Dancing Rain also became the third female Classic winner out of a daughter of Indian Ridge, this particular daughter of Indian Ridge being Rain Flower, a three-parts sister to the 1992 Epsom Derby winner Dr Devious.

Next in the sequence came Pour Moi, whose startling last-to-first effort provided Montjeu with his third winner of the Investec Derby in the space of seven years. Those seven years have also seen three other Montjeu colts win the Irish Derby and another two win the Grand Prix de Paris (many people’s idea of France’s true equivalent to the Derby). Consequently, Montjeu has unrivaled claims to being Europe’s most prolific source of mile-and-a-half Classic colts.

Pour Moi’s third dam is Northern Dancer’s famous daughter Royal Statute, who also ranks as the second dam of Snow Bride, the filly awarded the 1989 Oaks prior to becoming the dam of the 1995 Derby winner Lammtarra.

Finally, the Prix du Jockey-Club fell to the unbeaten Reliable Man, whose sire Dalakhani won the same race in the days before its distance was shortened. Some would argue that victory should have gone to another son of Dalakhani, the slow-starting Baraan, but that doesn’t change the fact that Dalakhani now has three Classic winners from his first four crops, the others being Conduit (St Leger) and Moonstone (Irish Oaks). Dalakhani’s crops haven’t been as large as those of some of his rivals - his three Classic winners come from a total of 288 foals in his first four crops.

Reliable Man’s Classic connection on his dam’s side comes from his second dam Fair Salinia, winner of the Oaks in 1978 before adding the Irish equivalent with the help of the stewards.

The other common denominator between Pour Moi and Reliable Man is the presence in their pedigrees of Sadler’s Wells and his old rival Darshaan. Whereas Pour Moi is by a son of Sadler’s Wells and has a dam by Darshaan, Reliable Man is by a son of Darshaan and has a dam by Sadler’s Wells.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

POUR MOI WINS INVESTEC DERBY IN SCINTILLATING STYLE

Pour Moi wins the Investec Derby (Gr1)
(Image : Guardian)

INVESTEC DERBY (Gr1)
Epsom Downs, 4 June 2011 

Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu), who burst onto the Epsom scene only after a successful run in the Gr2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on May 7, finally provided Andre Fabre with a victory in the Gr1 Investec Derby after nine failed attempts. Brought with his familiar rattle from last to first by the 19-year-old jockey prodigy Mickael Barzalona, the 4-1 second choice grabbed the Ballydoyle outsider Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo) in the shade of the post with his jockey standing up in the irons in celebration.

“He’s a good horse, and is the one I wanted to win this race with,” Fabre said after saddling the first French-trained Blue Riband winner since Empery in 1976. “It is no accident that he has won. I was surprised to see he had two accelerations, one to catch up and another gear to win. Running a mile and a half for the first time helped him. It is such a pleasure to win this race with my young jockey - I couldn’t be happier.” He continued, “He gave everything today and deserves a rest. I will probably give him a summer break and bring him back for a prep ahead of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (at Longchamp October 2). All horses improve with time.”

In the end, a head separated the front two, with The Queen’s 5-2 favorite Carlton House (Street Cry) 3/4 of a length behind in third, having run a genuine race after missing the kick and losing a shoe late on.

Trainer of Carlton House, Sir Michael Stoute told PA Sport, “He’s run very well, but things just haven’t gone right. He had a hold-up close to the race and during it he got too far back and then had to run wide into the straight. He’s still a high-class colt, and he will have a big day.”

Aidan O’Brien expressed himself pleased with all his four runners, three of whom made the first six.

INVESTEC DERBY (Gr1)
Final Results

#	LBH	Horse	Sire	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	POUR MOI	Montjeu	7	M Barzalona	Andre Fabre
2	hd	TREASURE BEACH	Galileo	12	C O’Donoghue	Aidan O”Brien
3	3/4	CARLTON HOUSE	Street Cry	13	R Moore	Sir Michael Stoute
4	3/4	MEMPHIS TENNESSEE	Hurricane Run	6	J O’Brien	Aidan O”Brien
5	3/4	NATIVE KHAN	Azamour	3	J Murtagh	Ed Dunlop
6	2	RECITAL	Montjeu	4	P Smullen	Aidan O”Brien
7	nk	VADAMAR	Dalakhani	9	C Lemaire	Alain de Royer-Dupre
8	4	MASKED MARVEL	Montjeu	5	W Buick	John Gosden
9	19	PISCO SOUR	Lemon Drop Kid	1	J Fortune	Hughie Morrison
10	3	SEVILLE	Galileo	2	C Soumillon	Aidan O”Brien
11	7	OCEAN WAR	Dalakhani	10	L Dettori	Mahmoud Al Zarooni
12	3 1/4	CASTLEMORRIS KING	And Beyond	11	M Coumbe	Michael Attwater
13	55	MARHABA MALYOON	Tiger Hill	8	J Spencer	David Simcock

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

CARLTON HOUSE : KING FOR THE QUEEN

Carlton House
(Photo : Racingbase)

INVESTEC DERBY (Gr1)
Epsom Downs Racecourse
4 June 2011

The Queen’s Carlton House (Street Cry) will face a maximum of 16 rivals in Saturday’s G1 Investec Derby after the six-day declarations were made Monday. Almost certain to start favorite for the blue riband, the Sir Michael Stoute trainee will face a clutch of colts from Coolmore interests with the list showing a quintet from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable alongside the Andre Fabre-trained Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu).

The Queen’s Racing Manager John Warren had nothing but good news for fans of the G2 Dante Stakes winner yesterday. “Carlton House is all on target for Epsom,” Warren said. “He had a nice blow yesterday at Newmarket and the trainer is very happy with him at this point. Carlton House will be kept ticking over this week. There is excitement all round and I think the whole country is starting to focus on it and everyone is excited by the prospect.”

Godolphin left in a trio, but are expected to field a sole representative in the general 16-1 shot Ocean War (GB) (Dalakhani). Nevertheless, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be watching the unfolding story of Carlton House keenly, as he bred the colt and presented him to the monarch as a present. “I am sure he would be absolutely thrilled, almost as excited as The Queen,” Racing Manager Simon Crisford commented yesterday. “Obviously, everyone wants The Queen to win and we’ll all be trying our best to beat Carlton House, but having gifted the colt to The Queen I think it would mean a huge amount to Sheikh Mohammed. He’s incredibly excited about the whole possibility.”

Queen Elizabeth comes to Derby Day every year, usually accompanied by Prince Philip.

As a racehourse owner, The Queen has had nine attempts to win the Epsom Derby - with a second place (Aureole, Coronation year, 1953) the best. Her last entry was thirty years ago. Her previous entries are detailed below:

AUREOLE (1953 - 2nd)
Aureole came closest to giving the Queen a Derby victory when runner-up to Pinza at Epsom Downs. Ridden by Harry Carr, the colt was sixth into the home straight and made headway in the final three furlongs but was unable to peg back Pinza.

LANDAU (1954 - 8th)
Landau finished a length second to Rowston Manor in the Lingfield Derby Trial but in the Derby itself, the colt led from three furlongs out until the quarter-mile mark, at which point he weakened tamely to finish eighth under Willie Snaith as Never Say Die went on to win.

ATLAS (1956 - 5th)
Sent off a 50/1 shot, Atlas made late headway at Epsom, coming home strongly under Harry Carr, to take fifth, a little over three lengths behind the victorious Lavandin.

DOUTELLE (1957 - 10th)
A winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial, Doutelle was at 100/6 chance for the Derby. But he was never in contention, trailing in tenth behind the winner Crepello under jockey Harry Carr.

MINER’S LAMP (1958 - 6th)
Miner’s Lamp’s won Epsom’s Blue Riband Trial Stakes but was never able to challenge the front rank in the Derby and shared sixth place behind the winner, Hard Ridden.

ABOVE SUSPICION (1959 - 5th)
Sent off at 100/6 for the Derby, Above Suspicion raced towards the rear under Doug Smith before making strong progress in the home straight, running on to take fifth, three lengths behind his victorious stablemate, Parthia.

ENGLISH HARBOUR (1978 - 18th)
Ridden by Joe Mercer, English Harbour was never a factor in the Derby as he trailed home a distant 18th behind Shirley Heights, a horse he had finished fifth behind on his two-year-old debut in Newmarket’s Limekiln Stakes.

MILFORD (1979 - 10th)
Sent off the 15/2 third favourite under Lester Piggott, the Royal colt weakened in the straight to finish about 15 lengths behind the triumphant Troy.

CHURCH PARADE (1981 - 5th)
Church Parade kept on at one pace under Willie Carson to take fifth, 18 lengths behind the imperious Shergar.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News