CITYSCAPE BREAKS COURSE RECORD IN DUBAI DUTY FREE

Click above to watch Cityscape winning the Dubai Duty Free (G1)…
(Image : Oliver Clarke/Gulf News - Footage : Dubai Racing Meydan)

US$5,000,000 DUBAI DUTY FREE (Group 1)
Meydan, Turf, 1800m
31 March 2012

In the lead up to Saturday’s G1 Dubai Duty Free over 1800m at Meydan, there was at least some question as to how, or rather whether, Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk) would A: see out the 1800 meters of the race at his first attempt and B: handle reasonably quick ground.

The lightly raced chestnut with the big bald face answered in no uncertain terms, streaking clear from pacesetting Await The Dawn (USA) (Giant’s Causeway) in the upper stretch before reporting home an easy 4 1/4-length winner. “I can’t believe it,” commented winning trainer Roger Charlton. “The race panned out absolutely as we thought it would. Await The Dawn weakened pretty quickly to leave us in front plenty early enough, but that wasn’t a problem.”

A well-beaten eighth at 50-1 in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville August 15, Cityscape was far too good for his rivals in the G3 Solonaway Stakes at The Curragh September 11, winning by 2 1/2 lengths in the soft. Shipped to Milan for the G1 Gran Premio Vittorio di Capua 13 days later, he missed by a nose to the top-class Dick Turpin (Ire) (Arakan), then relished the soft going at Saint-Cloud to land the G3 Prix Perth October 30. Connections had the misfortune of drawing the 12 hole for the G1 Hong Kong Mile December 11, but despite racing five wide on the turn, nearly got the job done while failing by a nose.

Cityscape was away smartly from the 11 hole, and jockey James Doyle used his mount just a touch to get over to be forwardly placed three wide, as Await The Dawn settled into an easy pace up front. Given a bit more rein as they approached the turn, the 6-year-old tugged his way past Musir (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice) up into second, and, by the time they’d reached the 700-meter marker, Cityscape was sent to the head of affairs. Shaken up at the quarter pole while traveling best of anything, he quickened clear and was never in any danger while establishing a new course record. The Mike de Kock-trained Mutahadee (Ire) (Encosta De Lago) and Mahmoud Al Zarooni-trained City Style (USA) (City Zip) completed an outstanding run at the Carnival, finishing second and third, respectively.

“This horse has an amazing turn of foot,” the winning jockey said. “He just kept finding; he was even idling a little in the closing stages. It was a great feeling and the biggest day in my life.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

DAZZLING DANEHILL

Danehill
(Photo : Racehorse HK)

DAZZLING DANEHILL

The dust has finally settled on Australia’s Magic Millions Premier Yearling sales marathon week, and once again it was a triumph for the greatest stallion in Southern Hemisphere history. If you did any advance work on the catalogue, you couldn’t help but notice the plethora of entries descended from Danehill in the first or second generation, to the point of virtual saturation. With the enormous books Australian stallions are serving these days, the catalogue is obviously dominated by his male descendants, and there’s no shortage of those who carry his influence on the distaff side, an amazing reflection of how quickly he has supplanted Star Kingdom as the principal source of quality racehorses Down Under.

Who would’ve thought that within little more than a decade, a stallion of the pervasive presence in their pedigrees such as Star Kingdom, would face the prospect of extinction as a male-line provider, given that for decades he carried that burden and shaped the Australian breed almost singlehandedly.

Students of the Danehill story would’ve been forgiven in the early years of his life as a “shuttler”, for believing that it was the suitability of his mates in Australasia that set him up for immortality, and especially those descending from Star Kingdom. In his initial years, Danehill’s mark as a stallion was undeniably Australian. The truth though, probably lies more in the fact that as a horse with obvious physical flaws and perhaps a little suspect on the performance side, he was considered surplus to requirements in Europe. His breeders, Juddmonte, do not lightly let a prospect go and it certainly wasn’t money that induced the sale. Juddmonte’s principal, Prince Khalid Abdullah, a first cousin to the King of Saudi Arabia, is not a man in need, but is one of the world’s foremost breeders of racehorses, and he was astute enough to retain a breeding interest in the horse he was parting with. In the end, Danehill was just as successful in the Northern Hemisphere, but only once European breeders came to appreciate his value, though in sheer numbers, his recognition there came much later in the day, and was therefore somewhat short-lived, as he died prematurely in 2003.

Anyone who knows Arrowfield’s John Messara as well as we do, would count him among the rare international visionaries of our sport, and when it comes to analysing and spotting a prospect, his record stands alone. This man bred Zabeel, he made Danehill and his three champion sons Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur and Danzero, and his record as a “kingmaker” rivals that of Lord Derby, Federico Tesio and “Bull” Hancock. It didn’t take him long to identify the merits of this European champion sprinter of 1989, and it didn’t take Danehill long to sire the winner of the world’s richest two-year-old contest, Australia’s Golden Slipper. Indeed, it didn’t take him to long to sire his first three Golden Slipper winners; he did so in each of his first three crops, and while he did that in short time, his time at the top of Australia’s sire premiership was enduring.

No-one was surprised then, that the top lot at Aus $960,000 at last week’s Gold Coast sale, was a colt by Danehill’s son, Fastnet Rock, who in the same week, sired the winners of the New Zealand and Australian 1000 Guineas to boot. Neither was anyone surprised when the famous “split” between the original owners of Danehill, Messara’s Arrowfield and John Magnier’s Coolmore, made him the most valuable stallion in Australian history. The matter was settled in a Dutch auction before a former Chief Justice of Australia, and the horse was turned over at a reported $24million. That was a helluva lot of money in those days, but in retrospect, it was peanuts.

Read more about Danehill…

FRANKEL EXPLOSIVE IN DEWHURST STAKES VICTORY

Click above to watch Frankel winning the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1)
(Photo : Dailymail / Footage : Racing UK)

DUBAI DEWHURST STAKES (GR1)

It was billed as a three-horse war, but it turned into a one-man show in yesterday’s Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket.

Odds-on chalk Frankel (Galileo) swept to the front inside the quarter pole and strode up the hill under a hand ride to best Roderic O’Connor (Galileo) by 2 1/4 lengths.

The unbeaten Frankel had raced keenly through the early strides following trouble leaving the gate, but picked up impressively, causing winning jockey Tom Queally to comment, “He’s a superstar, and he’s done it when it mattered. He’s something very special.”

First coming to attention when winning a mile maiden on soft ground at Newmarket’s July course on debut 13 August, Frankel showed what he was really capable of when he strolled home by 13 lengths from subsequent Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1) third Rainbow Springs (Selkirik) in a Doncaster conditions event on his next outing 10 September.

The homebred stunned the crowd at Ascot on his last run, quickening clear at the quarter pole to destroy his rivals in the Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr2) by 10 lengths.

With news emanating from Newmarket of a spectacular piece of work last Saturday, further improvement seemed possible, and he was sent postward as a strong favorite despite the ground apparently softening in favor of his main market rival and dual Group 1 winner Dream Ahead (Diktat). Squeezed out as he broke from the stalls, the eventual winner pulled for his head at the rear of the field as Roderic O’Connor towed them through the early stages.

Queally allowed the muscular bay to stride on up to the leaders at the two-furlong marker, and his whip was not deployed as Frankel took it up 100 yards later before running on strongly to the line. Queally explained, “He received a bump leaving the stalls and it set him alight, whereas at Ascot he put his head down and relaxed, but he quickened up well and put the race to bed. Probably on the ground he wandered off a true line, but we’ll forgive him that.”

Trainer Henry Cecil, taking this prestigious contest for the first time since Diesis in 1982, opined, “In his work he’s very relaxed, but when you get a nasty bump like that, it makes a difference and it set him alight. He won well and Tom didn’t need to hit him with the whip. It was lovely. I have to thank the Prince (Khalid Abdullah) for sending him to me.” Regarding plans for next year, the veteran conditioner said, “I’m hopeful that he will make a 2000 Guineas (Gr1) horse and maybe the St James’ Palace (Gr1); whether he will get further, we’ll have to see, and I’ll need to talk to the Prince about that.”

The owner’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, expressed the view that his targets were not yet set in stone. “I think that we’re not going to dismiss the Epsom Derby (Gr1) lightly. He’ll go straight to the 2000 Guineas and we’ll see how he develops over the winter. The Guineas is the first part, and the second part will obviously be the issue. The Derby is a very important race for all concerned, and we’ll have to look at him in the spring. Henry will be the best judge of that, and he’s likely to have an extensive programme as a three-year-old.” Frankel is a general even-money favourite with British bookmakers for the 2000 Guineas, and trades as the 3-1 favorite for the Epsom Derby.

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of the runner-up, reflected, “He set a nice sensible gallop, and he’s very straightforward. Everything’s open to him.” A disappointed David Simcock said of the previously unbeaten Dream Ahead, “It might have just come too quick for him, he just never picked up.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

WORKFORCE REDEMPTION IN PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE

Click above to watch Workforce winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1)
(Photo : Guardian - Footage : Vision Direct)

QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE (GR1)

Only a handful of horses have won the Epsom Derby by as much as Workforce’s seven-length margin and none had covered the mile-and-a-half distance faster, but such brilliant displays have proved to be false dawns in the past and he needed to reproduce that level of form to enter into champion territory.

Workforce (King’s Best) had hung back and looked uncomfortable previously when runner-up in the Dante Stakes (Gr1) at York on 13 May and when he dropped out in Ascot’s home straight to finish nearly 17 lengths behind Harbinger (Dansili) in the King George the vibes were becoming increasingly negative.

With that in mind, the Sir Michael Stoute stable went down to brass tacks and his recent racecourse spin at Sandown - which was not received with glowing reports from those present - was the only public sighting of the Classic hero subsequently. For those who kept the faith in the time-honored Stoute magic, they were rewarded with a starting price that looked impossible in the immediate aftermath of the Derby.

Kept tight to the rail by Ryan Moore early, he had only a handful of rivals behind at the top of the “false straight,” but had gone the shortest way round and that proved a crucial factor as he started his challenge before the quarter pole. Lope de Vega, who had headed the field at the top of the stretch, was tiring when getting the worse of the interference which caused the lengthy enquiry - and which was eventually judged to have been caused by the subsequently - disqualified seventh Planteur (Danehill Dancer) - as Workforce surged alongside him. With Nakayama Festa and Masayoshi Ebina of El Condor Pasa fame now in front, Workforce had to grind and in a few yards he had put his head in front before answering every call from his rider in a pulsating finale.

“He was back to his best today,” winning jockey Ryan Moore said. “We got a nice run through and when it all got a bit tight at the top of the false straight, there was half a gap there and he was very brave and really quickened into it well. The Japanese horse kept at him, but he kept doing enough and has a great attitude. Ascot wasn’t him - this was only the fifth race of his life and he’s won a Derby and an Arc.” His conditioner added, “Ryan blames himself for Ascot and felt he should have switched him off more, but I think I may have trained him too hard for the race. I said that to Prince Khalid afterwards and I think I was proved right on that, so we took a different path this time. I don’t know if I’m likely to train him next year, but I’d love to.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

INVESTEC DERBY WHIRLWIND FOR WORKFORCE

Workforce - Investec Derby (Gr1)
(Photo : Reuters)

INVESTEC DERBY (Gr1)
Epson Downs, 5 June 2010

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Workforce (by King’s Best) had little to recommend him on the form book and entered today’s Investec Derby (Gr.1) the least experienced in the line-up, but his performance was one for the ages as he surged to a seven-length victory in course record time.

Hanging and workmanlike in the wake of Cape Blanco (Galileo) in York’s Dante Stakes (Gr.2) on 13 May, the imposing homebred was a different proposition here and after settling in mid-division quickened up the stretch to reel in the runaway Ballydoyle outsider At First Sight (Galileo) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Keeping rolling to the line, the 6-1 shot provided Sir Michael Stoute with a fifth renewal as he knocked a second off the previous best set by Lammtarra in 1995.

“It’s always a great thrill and seems to get more thrilling,” his trainer commented. “The Dante didn’t go as we wanted it, but he was seriously good today. I’m particularly delighted that Ryan (Moore) won it, as he has put a lot of work into this horse and I’m also delighted for Prince Khalid (Abdullah) and the Juddmonte team, who is a great supporter of the stable and racing all over the world.”

Workforce was electric on debut when establishing a reputation as big as his considerable frame by beating the subsequent Tattersalls Timeform Million winner Oasis Dancer (Oasis Dream) by six lengths in a seven-furlong Goodwood maiden in September. Not risked in the end-of-term pattern-race tests thereafter, the home-bred took time to come to himself in the spring and despite attracting ante-post support for the 2000 Guineas, was left alone until the Dante.

In the event, his reappearance there raised question marks as he failed to find a rhythm behind the freewheeling Cape Blanco and battled into the runner’s-up spot with the bit pulled through his mouth. In the short space of time between that trial and this test, the Sir Michael Stoute stable made the necessary adjustments with a Lingfield racecourse spin for extra experience and the fitting of a crossed noseband to aid the steering. Surrounded by the hoodoo that no beaten Dante runner had gone on to Epsom glory, Workforce was all professionalism as he put that statistic to bed in the owner-breeder’s second colors also carried to glory by Commander In Chief in 1993.

Breaking well, the bay was reined back to race in mid-pack as Seamus Heffernan set the necessary fractions on At First Sight and Ryan Moore refused to panic as the front-runner stole a march running down to Tattenham Corner. Engaging top gear in early stretch, his imperious burst devoured the long-time leader passing the quarter pole and carried his rider to a memorable Oaks-Derby double. “I got a clean run and I was happy where I was early,” Ryan Moore said. “He traveled beautifully and turning in, he quickened up exceptionally well and although this ground is fast enough for him, he kept extending and is a real good horse. This is a really special day. This is the most important race to me, so it’s great to ride for the boss and Prince Khalid.” A proud Prince Khalid Abdullah added, “I am delighted and this was special. He is a wonderful horse and we saw that here.”

Aidan O’Brien was delighted with the effort of the shock runner-up and was forgiving of the run of the favorite Jan Vermeer (Montjeu), who never threatened and stayed on into a distant fourth. “Jan Vermeer lost both his front shoes, but the second horse stays really well,” Aidan O’Brien told PA Sport. “The winner looked exceptional.”

RACE RESULTS

#	LBH	Horse	Age	Dr	Sex	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	WORKFORCE (GB)	3	8	C	R Moore	Sir Michael Stoute
2	7.00	AT FIRST SIGHT (IRE)	3	6	C	J Heffernan	Aidan O’Brien
3	0.50	REWILDING (GB)	3	11	C	L Dettori	Mahmood Al Zarooni
4	4.00	JAN VERMEER (IRE)	3	12	C	J Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien
5	0.00	MIDAS TOUCH (GB)	3	4	C	C O’Donoghue	Aidan O’Brien
6	0.50	AL ZIR (USA)	3	2	C	K Fallon	Saeed bin Suroor
7	0.00	COORDINATED CUT (IRE)	3	9	C	J Spencer	Michael Bell
8	3.75	BUZZWORD (GB)	3	10	C	A Ajtebi	Mahmood Al Zarooni
9	1.75	HOT PROSPECT (GB)	3	3	C	P Robinson	Michael Jarvis
10	16.00	AZMEEL (GB)	3	5	C	W Buick	John Gosden
11	1.75	TED SPREAD (GB)	3	7	C	M Hills	Mark Tompkins
12	2.00	BULLET TRAIN (GB)	3	1	C	T Queally	Henry Cecil

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News