Thoroughbred Racing Roundup – October 21, 2013
October 21st, 2013By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Sir Alfred J. Munnings painting “Parade to the Post” – a fitting tribute to British Champions Day.
British Champions Day crowned a champion in Farhh and may send a couple other winners in search of international glory.
The climax of the British flat racing season on Saturday at Ascot also produced an upset winner who couldn’t attract a bid when put up for auction as a yearling and the first Ascot win as a trainer for Johnny Murtagh.
About the only thing lacking was a win for Her Majesty the Queen, whose best hope finished up the track.
In Australia, Fawkner nabbed the Caulfield Cup narrowly over Dandino. But was it the barrier draw that done Dandino dirt?
Meanwhile, in North America, the high-powered runners started final preparations for the Breeders’ Cup World Championship races in two weeks’ time.
But first, Champions Day:
Farhh went out a champion, winning a thrilling renewal of the Group 1 Champion Stakes narrowly over Cirrus Des Aigles, with Kingsbarn showing promise with a good third. Farhh, a 5-year-old Sheik Mohammed homebred by Pivotal, suffered a series of second-place finishes behind the world’s top horses during his 10-race career. He also battled injuries and setbacks. Yet when jockey Silvestre de Sousa sent him to the lead with 2 furlongs to run in Saturday’s feature, he kicked in with determination and enthusiasm. Cirrus Des Aigles, who won the Champion two years ago and finished second to Frankel last year, was right behind him down the straight but could never get to even terms and finished a neck in arrears. Derby winner Ruler of the World also had every chance but could do no more than keep pace right behind the top two, finishing third, another 1/2 length back.
“I didn’t ask him for his effort until about 2 furlongs out,” de Sousa said. “He was traveling so well and, for me, most of his best form has been over a mile so I wanted him to see the race out.”
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor called Farhh “a great fighter … He has been a miler in the past but a mile and a quarter was great for him today on that ground.”
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said Farhh “has done all that we have asked of him and has been a great horse for Godolphin … We knew Farhh’s day would come.”
Crisford said Farhh will retire to stand at Dalham Stud.
Corine Barande-Barbe, trainer for Cirrus Des Aigles, said her 7-year-old gelding “ran a great race. Any horse that can run in this race three years in a row is very special.” She said Cirrus Des Aigles “might go to Hong Kong” for the Dec. 8 Longines International Races. “But I have to speak to the owner.”
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Ruler of the World and Kingsbarns, who finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II, said he hopes to have both back in training next year.
Olympic Glory, adding blinkers and relishing the soft going at Ascot, kicked away at the end to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths. Top Notch Tonto seized the lead a couple of furlongs out but Olympic Glory found room between horses and would not be denied. Top Notch Tonto, at a massive price, finished second and Kingsbarns was third. Dawn Approach, winner of the 2,000 Guineas and the St. James’s Palace, finished fourth in his final career start.
The final time of 1:44.18 for a straight mile reflected the soft going. Olympic Glory, a 3-year-old 3-year-old Choisir colt, was coming off a well-beaten, second-place finish last time out in the Group Group 1 Prix de Moulin de Longchamp but has “always shown his best on soft ground,” said Richard Hannon Jr., son of the winning trainer. “So we thought today’s conditions would suit perfectly … It was a bit of a shout putting blinkers on a good horse like him. But he certainly didn’t do his best in Paris. He lost his concentration, which was a bit disappointing.”
Olympic Glory, owned by Sheik Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, could be off to California for an exciting renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
“There is every chance we will take him to California,” Hannon said Sunday on his web site. “The turns have not been the problem. It has been more a case of him not coming down the hills, and with all the racetracks in America being flat, he would be okay with that.”
He said a decision will be taken by midweek.
Slade Power found an extra gear late to land the Group 2 British Champions Sprint Stakes by a neck over Jack Dexter, despite being previously untested on soft ground. Slade Power, leading much of the way in the center of three groups of runners, drifted slightly to the left in the final few hundred yards, giving Jack Dexter a chance. But the latter could never quite get there. Viztoria finished third. The 6 furlongs took 1:13.79. The winner, a 4-year-old Dutch Art colt, is owned by Sabena Powers, whose son, Paddy Powers, is among the noted British bookmakers.
“The Powers are very good to me,” said winning trainer Eddie Lynam. “We like getting on planes and if we get the invite to Hong Kong, we could go.”
Sabena Power, who also bred Slade Power, said her winner “stays in training next year. The breeders are chasing us a bit but we can hold on and enjoy him for a bit longer.”
Seal of Approval, who didn’t attract a single bid at auction as a yearling, stepped up in class to win the Group 1 British Champions Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes. After tracking the pace, Seal of Approval burst through between rivals in the final furlong and quickly drew away, scoring by 4 lenths from Belle De Crecy. Oaks winner Talent finished third. Seal of Approval, a 4-year-old daughter of Authorized, ran 1 1/2 miles in 2:39.09. She had fallen in her last start, tossing rider Hayley Turner, who missed Saturday’s big win with the resulting broken ankle. George Baker picked up the mount.
“We offered this filly at Tattersalls as a yearing and didn’t receive a single bid for her,” said owner and breeder Tim Vestey. “We’ve had the last laugh now.”
Royal Diamond, trained and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, won the Group 3 British Champions Long Distance Cup by a nose over Harris Tweed after running 2 miles on the soft going. The favorite, Estimate, running in the colors of Her Majesty the Queen, slogged home seventh. Murtagh was the leading rider at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting but it was his first Ascot winner as a trainer.
“I think this is the best day of my life,” he said.
Australia
Fawkner seized the lead inside the final 100 yards in Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup and held on to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Dandino. Dear Demi, who ran second late in the stretch, finished just a nose farther back in third. Hawkspur got going late and finished seventh. Fawkner, a 6-year-old Reset gelding, and British invader Dandino both could move on to the Melbourne Cup. Dandino came to Saturday’s race off a victory in the American St. Leger at Arlington Park in August and his connections said position cost him the Caulfield Cup win.
“If you had swapped barrier draws, you would have swapped the result. No doubt,” said jockey Craig Williams, who was forced to trail the winner after starting Dandino from a No. 16 draw.
Japan
Epiphaneia romped home in the final 500 meters of Sunday’s Group 1 Kikuka Sho, or Japanese St Leger, winning by 5 lengths. Satono Noblesse was a long shot second and Bande faded in the final strides to settle for third. The 3,000-meters Kikuka Sho was the third leg of the Japanese Triple Crown. Epiphaneia finished second in the first two legs — to Logotype and to Kizuna, neither of whom contested Sunday’s race. Kizuna finished fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last month in Paris. Epiphaneia, by Symboli Kris S, now has five wins and two seconds from eight career starts.
Meanwhile, back in North America:
Keeneland
Preferential split the leaders with a furlong to go in Sunday’s $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes for fillies and mares, took the lead and held off Left a Message to win by 1/2 length. Angel Terrace was third and Beijoca finished fourth. Preferential, a 4-year-old, British-bred daughter of Dansili, ran 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:33.11 with Leandro Goncalves in the irons. All four of the top finishers came out of last month’s Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon, which was won by Mystical Star.
“It was hard,” said Goncalves. “I had to stalk the whole way. Couldn’t get through. I just had to wait and hope for the best and try to get lucky. I did today.”
Madame Cactus outfinished Eden Prairie in a battle of double-digit long shots to win Saturday’s $250,000, Grade II Lexus Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a neck. It was another neck back to My Option in third while the favorite, Silsita, never fired and finished ninth. Madame Cactus, a daughter of Cactus Ridge out of the Mecke mare An Annika Moment, got 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:21.71 for jockey Joe Rocco Jr. She drew in from the also-eligible list after shipping from California for the race.
“It’s been a fun week,” said trainer Peter Eurton, “coming in on Tuesday, knowing about 9 o’clock in the morning when I’m getting on a plane that we’re possibly not gonna get in the race and she’s already there.”
Overheard came from far back to win Friday’s $150,000, Grade III Pin Oak Valley View for grass-running 3-year-old fillies by 1 length over Nellie Cashman. Summer of Fun finished third. Overheard, a Macho Uno filly, finished 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:43.35 with Eurico Da Silva up for trainer Malcolm Pierce.
“I had a very clear trip,” Da Silva said. “She was ready today.”
Woodbine
Ultimate Destiny outfinished Pender Harbour to win Sunday’s $125,000 Bunty Lawless Stakes by a neck. It was another 6 1/4 lengths back to San Nicola Thunder in the third. The race was moved from 1 mile on the turf to 1 1/16 miles on the main track, with Ultimate Destiny completing that trip in 1:43.03 with Eurico Da Silva back from Keeneland in time for the ride. Ultimate Destiny is a 4-year-old Dance to Destiny gelding.
Matador dueled with Cool Faith throughout most of Sunday’s $250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes, a restricted affair for 2-year-olds, before prevailing by a nose. Asserting Bear inserted himself into the triactor, 3/4 length farther back. Matador, a Malibu Moon colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on yielding turf in 1:47.89 with Luis Contreras in the irons.
Tens were wild for River Seven in Saturday’s $100,000 (Canadian) Labeeb Stakes at 1 mile on the turf. The 3-year-old Johannesburg gelding won by 10 lengths at odds of 10-1. Grand Arch was second and Hotep third. The favorite, Hunters Bay, finished fifth. River Seven, with Jesse Campbell up, ran 1 mile of yielding turf in 1:38.81.
Sky High Lady came from last of six to take Saturday’s $100,000 River Memories Stakes for fillies and mares, which came off the turf. Queen of the Waves seized the lead in the lane but could not deny the winner, who won by 1 length. Part the Seas completed the triactor. Sky High Lady, a 4-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa, got 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather course in 1:44.36 with Patrick Husbands up.
