New Stud Farm Launches With Foundation Sire
Expert Eye (GB) winning the Vintage Stakes G2, Goodwood, by 4,5 lengths over 1400m. Photo credit – © Dan Abraham
EXPERT EYE (Acclamation) sold to PAARDEBERG STUD in South Africa
Sally Bruss, The Former Lammerskraal-based Horsewoman Extraordinaire, To Be Stud Manager
EXPERT EYE, the 2015 Breeders Cup Champion Turf Mile (Gr.1) Winner, has been sold by Juddmonte to Paardeberg Stud in South Africa to serve as the cornerstone sire for the launch of their new stud venture.
Paardeberg Stud is a collaboration between British businessmen, Steve Ajax and Charles Palmer, along with renowned South African breeder Sally Bruss. The new stud was created following the acquisition of 200 hectares of land in the well known Paarl region of Western Cape, 45 minutes from Cape Town.
Steve and Charles are most recognised in the racing world as the creators of the ground breaking and award winning Global Team Horse Racing. This innovative concept made its debut at the Greyville racetrack in 2022.
Steve, who has been actively involved in South African racing for over a decade, attributes much of his success to his partnership with the late Neil Bruss. He emphasises that all of his sixteen victories during this period were achieved with horses bred by Sally Bruss during her tenure as the manager of Lammerskraal Stud.
According to Steve, “Since Sally’s departure from Lammerskraal, she has faced challenges in finding her footing. Notwithstanding these challenges, her unwavering passion for breeding racehorses has always been at the forefront of everything she does. Sally’s remarkable track record spans more than 25 years of consistently producing champion racehorses. Her expertise and dedication are unequivocal, positioning her alongside some of the world’s most renowned thoroughbred racehorse breeders.”
Picture: Sally Bruss leading in a winner with her daughter Caitlin. Sally bred and raised 20 Gr 1 winners whilst stud manager at Lammerskraal Stud. (Picture: Gold Circle)
Sally and Caitlin on the new farm with farm manager Steven Wasmuth (Picture: Jeremy Nelson)
Juddmonte bred and raced Expert Eye (Acclamation – Exemplify by Dansili) won 5 of his 10 starts at 2 and 3 years in the hands of Sir Michael Stoute and earned £1,416,000. He was a high class 2-year-old, winning Goodwood’s Vintage S. Gr.2 by 5 lengths, in a performance Timeform described as “arguably the most striking performance in a pattern race by a 2-year-old all year!”
After a sluggish start at three, Expert Eye sprung back to form with a dominant performance in Royal Ascot’s Jersey Stakes, spreadeagling a high class field and winning by the biggest margin this century. He also won the City of York S. Gr.2, was 2nd in the Sussex S. Gr.1 and 3rd in the Prix du Moulin Gr.1. Expert Eye capped off his career with a scintillating performance in the G1 Breeders Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, held up off the pace he swooped fast and late under Frankie Dettori to win emphatically. Dettori later described him as “A proper racehorse!”
Retired to Juddmonte, Expert Eye’s first crop raced in England last year and yielded 22 individual 2-year-old winners to put him 4th in the Rankings of 1st Crop Sires. His second crop in 2023, has already yielded 14 individual 2-year-old winners, including two very smart Stakes Winners: Snellen, who won the Royal Ascot Chesham S. over 7f., in June and Juniper Berries, who was 4th in Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary S. (Gr.2), before winning the £45,000 Dick Poole Fillies (Gr.3) over 6f.
Expert Eye has recently touched down in South Africa and is presently undergoing the mandatory quarantine process. He will commence covering at Paardeberg Stud in 2024. South African agent Robin Bruss, who negotiated the sale in collaboration with Felipe Lopes Bloodstock, expressed great optimism about Expert Eye’s reception in South Africa. He commended Expert Eye as a stallion possessing exceptional looks and correctness, boasting remarkable speed at age 2, achieving world class status as a miler at 3 and establishing himself as a successful sire of precocious 2-year-olds that continue to excel as they mature. He also noted that Expert Eye carries the esteemed Juddmonte tradition of meticulously selective breeding.
Expert Eye (Melanie Sauer Photography)
On the establishment of Paardeberg Stud, Co-Owner and Director Steve Ajax remarks, “South African racing has endured its share of challenges, from export/import complications and the Phumelela crash to the impact of the Covid pandemic. Nonetheless, there is a newfound optimism in the air, spearheaded by the fresh leadership at Cape Racing. Charles and I have made a deliberate choice to actively contribute to this resurgence. This commitment involves substantial investments in state of the art facilities, high quality broodmares and a top tier management team.”
Fellow Co-Owner and Director Charles Palmer added, “Paardeberg Stud represents an ambitious undertaking. It was imperative for us to secure a distinguished stallion as a testament to our dedication to the stud and the broader South African thoroughbred racing industry. We consider ourselves exceptionally fortunate to have acquired such an exceptional performer to serve as our standard bearer. We plan to make a limited number of shares available to breeders and make him accessible by standing him at a realistic fee.”
  (GB) b. H, 2015 {23-b} DP = 1-1-4-0-0 (6) DI = 2.00 CD = 0.50 – 10 Starts, 5 Wins, 2 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: £1,369,750 in GB/Fr/USA |
| ACCLAMATION (GB) b. 1999 |
ROYAL APPLAUSE (GB) b. 1993 |
WAAJIB (IRE) b. 1983 |
TRY MY BEST (USA) b. 1975 |
NORTHERN DANCER (CAN) | b. 1961 [BC] | |||||
| SEX APPEAL (USA) | ch. 1970 * | |||||||||
| CORYANA (IRE) b. 1976 |
SASSAFRAS (FR) | b. 1967 | ||||||||
| ROSOLINI (IRE) | b. 1970 | |||||||||
| FLYING MELODY (IRE) b. 1979 |
AUCTION RING (USA) b. 1972 |
BOLD BIDDER (USA) | b. 1962 [IC] | |||||||
| HOOPLAH (USA) | b. 1965 * | |||||||||
| WHISPERING STAR (GB) ch. 1963 |
SOUND TRACK (IRE) | ch. 1957 | ||||||||
| PEGGY WEST (IRE) | ch. 1956 | |||||||||
| PRINCESS ATHENA (IRE) b. 1985 |
AHONOORA (GB) ch. 1975 |
LORENZACCIO (GB) ch. 1965 |
KLAIRON (FR) | b. 1952 | ||||||
| PHOENISSA (GB) | b. 1951 | |||||||||
| HELEN NICHOLS (GB) ch. 1966 |
MARTIAL (IRE) | ch. 1957 | ||||||||
| QUAKER GIRL (GB) | gr. 1961 | |||||||||
| SHOPPING WISE (IRE) b. 1965 |
FLORIBUNDA (GB) b. 1958 |
PRINCELY GIFT (GB) | b. 1951 | |||||||
| ASTRENTIA (IRE) | ch. 1953 | |||||||||
| SEA MELODY (GB) b. 1957 |
TUDOR MINSTREL (GB) | br. 1944 [B] | ||||||||
| COWES (GB) | b. 1949 | |||||||||
| EXEMPLIFY (GB) b. 2008 |
DANSILI (GB) br. 1996 |
DANEHILL (USA) b. 1986 |
DANZIG (USA) b. 1977 [IC] |
NORTHERN DANCER (CAN) | b. 1961 [BC] | |||||
| PAS DE NOM (USA) | dkb/br. 1968 | |||||||||
| RAZYANA (USA) b. 1981 |
HIS MAJESTY (USA) | b. 1968 [C] | ||||||||
| SPRING ADIEU (CAN) | b. 1974 | |||||||||
| HASILI (IRE)* br. 1991 |
KAHYASI (IRE) br. 1985 |
ILE DE BOURBON (USA) | br. 1975 | |||||||
| KADISSYA (USA) | b. 1979 | |||||||||
| KERALI (GB) ch. 1984 |
HIGH LINE (GB) | ch. 1966 | ||||||||
| SOOKERA (USA) | dkb/br. 1975 * | |||||||||
| QUEST TO PEAK (USA) b. 2002 |
DISTANT VIEW (USA) ch. 1991 |
MR. PROSPECTOR (USA) b. 1970 [BC] |
RAISE A NATIVE (USA) | ch. 1961 [B] | ||||||
| GOLD DIGGER (USA) | b. 1962 * | |||||||||
| SEVEN SPRINGS (USA) ch. 1982 |
IRISH RIVER (FR) | ch. 1976 | ||||||||
| LA TRINITE (FR) | ch. 1976 | |||||||||
| VIVIANA (USA) b. 1990 |
NUREYEV (USA) b. 1977 [C] |
NORTHERN DANCER (CAN) | b. 1961 [BC] | |||||||
| SPECIAL (USA) | b. 1969 * | |||||||||
| NIJINSKY STAR (USA)* b. 1980 |
NIJINSKY (CAN) | b. 1967 [CS] | ||||||||
| CHRIS EVERT (USA) | ch. 1971 * | |||||||||
Expert Eye’s pedigree
Can Bingwa Do The Charity Mile Treble?
Bingwa retains his crown in last year’s Gr 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile (JC Photos).
The now six-year-old Pathfork gelding Bingwa was a 10/1 chance last year to defend his Gr 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Mile crown and from pole position he made a mockery of that price, sauntering home by 2,50 lengths from subsequent twice Gr 1-winning Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained stablemate Puerto Manzano.
In his first win in 2021 he was trained by Dorrie Sham and jumped from a wide draw but Chase Maujean converted it into a low draw with a sublime early move which saw him claim the rail in a handy spot.
Sham said afterwards about Bingwa, “He has a huge stride. It is so big you don’t really notice him quickening because he just gets flatter and longer. He doesn’t get uptight and is very easy to train.”
That is why this horse is so hard to catch if it pans out well for him.
He is once again drawn in pole and he has S’Manga Khumalo up, so there is every chance of it panning out well for him again.
Furthermore, he is merit rated just one point higher than last year’s race, so on paper has a fine chance of repeating the feat, considering how easily he won it back then.
He comes in off the identical prep, taking in a Pinnacle on the second weekend of September over 1450m on Turffontein Inside followed by the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge in early October.
On the downside, he finished a 3,75 length third in the Spring Challenge last year and this year was beaten 11,15 lengths into sixth.
An interesting point though is that he finished 3,75 lengths behind William Robertson in last year’s Spring Challenge and this year was only 1,65 lengths behind him.
Gavin Lerena, who won on Bingwa last year, is the first choice jockey for Janse van Vuuren and has opted for Puerto Manzano. However, that might be a long term decision as the latter will be defending his Betway Summer Cup crown next month.
Bingwa has only had two Graded wins in his career, both in the same event, and put in Gr 1-like performances on both occasions.
Horses for courses is true but what about horses for races?
Will owners Colin and Lyn Stonebridge be celebrating their homebred stalwart for the third year in succession?
Dorrie Sham trained Bingwa‘s mother Marauding Lady for about a month in Port Elizabeth before the mare’s retirement and believes Bingwa inherited his big stride from both her and his father Pathfork. The Stonebridges are Zimbabweans and Marauding Lady won the Fillies Classic over 1600m at Borrowdale for them just over 12 years ago.Marauding Lady is by Century Stand, famous for finishing second to Clifton King in the race in which the great Horse Chestnut suffered his only defeat.
The Stonebridges live in Tanzania these days and if they are not on course they will likely be tuning in online.
Melech appeals as win and place wager in R1m Charity Mile
Four-year-old is trained by Roy Magner and will be ridden by Muzi Yeni
David Mollett (Business Day)
Tarry Not Expecting Major Fireworks On Charity Mile Day
Cousin Casey has his first run for the powerful Sean Tarry yard in the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Mile at the Big T Tomorrow (Saturday).
Danie Toerien (Tab4Racing)
Although Sean Tarry will be saddling 15 runners on Saturday at Turffontein, contesting all but one of the ten races on the card, he is not expecting any fireworks.
“It’s a big meeting, but honestly, I’m just getting going,” said the multiple champion trainer this week ahead of Charity Mile Day.
“My expectations for Saturday are not high. I just want to see good runs because there is a long, long road ahead.”
With that said, Tarry does hold a strong hand in a number of races, most notably the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile, where he has three runners, as well as a reserve runner.
Cousin Casey will probably attract the most attention as this Grade 1-winner will be making his debut for the Tarry yard having relocated to the Highveld.
“He’s doing well. Obviously, it’s not his main mission. It’s his first run for me. We have to see how he goes. I haven’t had him a long time so I’m giving him a run so we can see what to expect for the rest of the season,” said Tarry.
“He is doing reasonably well and I’m expecting a decent run.
“The distance is good for him and he’s got a good draw. He probably does want a bit further than a mile. His earlier form as a two-year-old shows he was enjoying the mile. As a three-year-old he may just want a bit further.”
Tarry does have big plans for Cousin Casey later in the season.
“Depending on his run in the Charity Mile, we will then have to decide whether it’s the Summer Cup, or the Met, or even both,” he said when asked about future plans for this colt by Vercingetorix.
“Obviously there are options. We are running him to learn something. It’s a good time of the year, early in the season, because there are plenty of options. It’s just a matter of how he comes through it.”
Tarry’s other two runners in the main event, Bless My Stars and Future Pearl, must also not be ignored.
“I think the Charity Mile will be a bit short for both of them,” said Tarry.
“Bless My Stars will be more comfortable over the distance than Future Pearl, but it’s pretty much the same kind of story. They are both prepping for the Summer Cup.
“There is a little bit of meat left on the bone with all three of them so they will come on for this run.
“They definitely are all three solid runners, and just because this isn’t the main mission for any of them, doesn’t mean they can’t win.
“Cousin Casey has the most in his favour, very closely followed by Bless My Stars.
“Anything can happen. Based on the facts that we can all see it might just be a bit too sharp for Future Pearl.”
Unlike Tarry’s threesome in the Charity Mile, Let’s Go Now goes into the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes over 1400m on the back of an excellent comeback run and must be considered a serious contender.
“She is a filly that I would consider for the Triple Tiara races later on in the season,” said Tarry.
“She looks like that type of filly because she looks like she can stay.
“1400m is probably on the short end of her range, but it is the standside at Turffontein, and because it’s the standside, I’m running her to see where we are. And with that I mean to see where we are off the rest of the fillies – where she fits in.
“Her mile run was very good (last time out when second to My Soul Mate in her first run of the season).
“She’s in good order and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her running on very strongly.”
Most pundits, including Tarry, consider the Grade 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m a three-horse affair.
“This is a match race. It doesn’t look as if anything will challenge the top three. Sandringham Summit and Main Defender are the main contenders, but you have to respect De Kock’s horse, Gimmeanotherchance.
“That’s probably where it ends.”
But one cannot write off Tarry’s The Africa House.
“We were very happy with his last run.
“This horse had very good form going into the Durban season. But at Scottsville he suffered interference, and then he wasn’t right for July Day so we had to run him on Gold Cup Day but he wasn’t quite right. He had another run thereafter.
“His Durban form was obviously not good, but we are quite happy with his comeback run. He looks like a horse that’s going to get a bit more ground. He should appreciate the Standside track a lot more than the Inside Track,” said Tarry.
“But having said that, we are all just preparing for the season ahead. We have to know where our horses fit in at the end of the day.”
Highvelder Comments Will Buoy Sovereign State’s Connections
Hitherto unbeaten Visionaire gelding Sovereign State put up a phenomenal 400m to finish time over 1000m on debut after missing the break and did it with ears pricked. He stays a mile too, so how good is he? (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Rugby World Cup proves that pundits can often do their team a disservice by making over bold predictions, because all it does is give the opposition extra resolve.
Before the 2019 RWC final English former player and pundit Matt Dawson said if a team was choosen from the two finalist teams every single one of them would be English.
32-12 later!
The reverse nearly happened this year.
Apparently Joel Stransky said before the semi-final game that England were the weakest team still in the semi-finals and had no chance of beating the Boks.
The Bokke of course were behind for 77 minutes and scraped in by one point.
South Africans love banter before a game and one hopes this article is also veiewed in the spirit of banter, because racing folk can take intended banter a bit too seriously on occasion.
It is just that the preceding article to this one contained the following:
Most pundits, including Tarry, consider the Grade 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m a three-horse affair.
“This is a match race. It doesn’t look as if anything will challenge the top three. Sandringham Summit and Main Defender are the main contenders, but you have to respect De Kock’s horse, Gimmeanotherchance.
“That’s probably where it ends.”
What will the connections of the exciting unbeaten gelding Sovereign State think of those statements?!
One of the exciting points about this gelding is that he clearly stays a mile and yet put up a quite astonishingly fast 400m to finish time on debut over 1000m after being slowly away … and he did it with ears pricked!
Trainer Frank Robinson, owner Sid Moodley and jockey Muzi Yeni might have some extra resolve after being written off.
Unfortunately, Sovereign State has a wide draw, but he does have a fine turn of foot and he could defy some predictions!
Aemilianus Heads Fourth Day of Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale
Lot 1243: Aemilianus (GER)
The fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale saw strong international demand continue and the Group 3 winner AEMILIANUS top proceedings at 250,000 guineas.
Ghazali Strikes for Aemilianus at 250,000 Guineas
Group 3 winner AEMILIANUS was one of the day’s most eagerly anticipated lots and proved the session highlight when knocked down for 250,000 guineas to Gassim Ghazali, standing with bloodstock agent Will Douglass. Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman made a bold opening bid of 100,000 guineas but gave way as bidding developed into a duel between the leading Qatari trainer and bloodstock agent Marco Bozzi, with the former emerging triumphant for the four-year-old German bred son of HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR.
Consigned by Barton Sales, AEMILIANUS has won three of his eleven starts including the Group 3 Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Dusseldorf and has placed a further three times in Group company, including since catalogue publication.
“I am delighted, I have been waiting for this horse – three days I have waited for him!” said Ghazali. “Some quality horses have been through the ring, but I have been outbid by Wathnan Racing and Najd Stud. I hope this horse will make it to some good races in Qatar, the pedigree should suit Qatar.”
“I like the sire and I won the Qatar Derby last season with a son of Holy Roman Emperor called Emperor Maximus, the sire’s progeny tend to like the track in Qatar and the good ground.”
Ghazali added: “I am not too sure of the horse’s level and how that will slot in once he gets to Qatar. I know the horses from England and how they will work into the Qatari programme, Germany is a little different. I am hoping this horse will be good enough for either the ITM Cup or the HH The Amir Trophy.”
AEMILIANUS was previously trained by Markus Klug for owner-breeder Gestut Schlenderhan and was consigned by Barton Sales. The four-year-old is a half-brother to Group 1 Critérium International winning sire ALSON and the German 2,000 Guineas winner ANCIENT SPIRIT out of the GALILEO mare ASSISI, a daughter of Gestut Schlenderhan’s Group 1 German Oaks winner AMARETTE.
Lot 1283: Tchaikovsky (GB)
Tchaikovsky Bound for Saudi Arabia at 100,000 Guineas
The second highest priced lot of the fourth day was the promising two-year-old TCHAIKOVSKY and as so often at this year’s Autumn Horses in Training Sale there was spirited competition from Middle Eastern buyers for the BATED BREATH colt. Underbidder Gassim Ghazali nearly secured both of the session’s six figure lots having seen off the efforts of bloodstock agents Matt Coleman and Will Douglass, but it was Najd Stud who struck again for the colt with a successful bid of 100,000 guineas. It was the thirteenth purchase of the week for Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz’s Saudi Arabian-based racing and breeding organisation.
Consigned by the Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of John & Thady Gosden’s Clarehaven Stables and owner Lady Ogden, TCHAIKOVSKY claimed a stylish maiden win last week in a seven furlong novice at Kempton beating the 83 rated AMERICAN BAY with the 81 rated KINGS VALLEY, who realised 140,000 guineas on Monday, further down the field.
“This horse goes to Saudi, his starts have been good and hopefully he will do well for us in Saudi,” said Najd Stud’s Saad Bin Mishraf. “We are looking for differing types of horses all the time as we have a variety of races in the country.”
Bred by the late Sir Robert Ogden, TCHAIKOVSKY is out of the OASIS DREAM mare CANONBURY, a daughter of Ballymacoll’s exceptional dual Champion racemare ISLINGTON. CANONBURY will be sold by New England Stud as part of a complete dispersal of Lady Ogden’s stock at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and is catalogued as lot 1943, with her colt foal by TOO DARN HOT due to be sold at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale as lot 644.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues with the fifth and final session at 9.30am on Friday, 27th October.
Gaynor Rupert homebred Dubawi colt Faces Strong Field Kameko Futurity Trophy
The 2.4 million gns Aidan O’Brien-trained Diego Velazquez (Photo: Healy Racing Ltd)
At The Races Horse By Horse Guide
Our Senior Form Analyst Jamie Lynch on the top 2yos out for Group 1 glory on Town Moor on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing.
If it’s an important race for Aidan O’Brien – and 11 wins says it is – then it’s an important race for each season and each generation, and ironically this renewal is perhaps more important to Charlie Appleby than anyone given a season spent in the shadow of Ballydoyle.
It’s unlikely to be simple, straight shootout between Ancient Wisdom and Diego Velazquez, as the ground might see to that, as could Dancing Gemini who was so good in the Flying Scotsman at the St Leger Festival where God’s Window made a significant starting statement. It’s a fascinating edition of the Kameko Futurity Trophy, live on Channel 240 at 15H10 SA Time on Saturday.
ANCIENT WISDOM
Jockey: W Buick | Trainer: C Appleby
The £17,500 might be small change to them but the very fact he has been supplemented adds weight to the belief that this might be now or never, for Ancient Wisdom to get one over on Diego Velazquez and for Godolphin to at least land a punch against Ballydoyle in what’s been a one-sided fight this season.
Supplementing says something about the horse but also about the race, with eyes wide open to the Gladiators waiting in the arena, and there’s some sense that Ancient Wisdom – at this stage at least – might be the worst nightmare for Diego Velazquez because in theory he has a few edges on him: an indisputable edge in experience and rating and a theoretical edge in pace and professionalism. His togetherness that saw him pass the Autumn Stakes straight-mile test with flying colours – by a long-looking 3¾ lengths, in a very good time – puts him in pole position for the Futurity. Ready and able. Whether or not he’s more able then Diego Velazquez, Ancient Wisdom is more ready, which may tip the balance of power his way.
BATTLE CRY
B A Curtis | A P O’Brien
Exposed after five starts and beaten at listed level the last twice, some way adrift in fourth of Dancing Gemini at Doncaster. There’s a good chance he’s here to hold the hand of Diego Velazquez up to a point, helped by being drawn next to each other.
DANCING GEMINI
Lewis Edmunds | R A Teal
There are three 2-y-os this season who’ve generated a 115 timefigure – purely a time-based assessment – by Timeform’s reckoning: City Of Troy in the Dewhurst, Ancient Wisdom in the Autumn, and Dancing Gemini in the Flying Scotsman. In short, his performance at Doncaster was every bit as good as it looked, much better than Tip Two Win’s when he also won that race for Roger Teal in 2017.
And it hardly came from out of the blue, treated like a smart one from day one (favourite for debut), and in deep in the remarkable renewal of the Pat Eddery (Ancient Wisdom third) for just his second start, faith justified when he ran riot in the Flying Scotsman, over 7f, and he projects to be more powerful with the stiffer test of a race won by his sire Camelot, who has already produced a Futurity winner with Luxembourg in a heavy-ground edition. There’s naturally something of a David versus Goliath(s) feel as Dancing Gemini goes up against the monetary might of Ballydoyle and Godolphin, but he brings an official rating that’s higher than all bar Ancient Wisdom, plus he’s bound to better it under conditions which tap into his stamina all the more.
DEIRA MILE
R Kingscote | Owen Burrows
Has switched stables (from Charlie Johnston) since beaten at odds of 5-1-on against three rivals in a novice at Chelmsford, which had everything to do with his temperament and nothing to do with his trainer. Prior to that he’d finished behind God’s Window at Doncaster, despite an edge in experience and positioning. Mission impossible.
DEVIL’S POINT
Oisin Murphy | D Menuisier
Trainer and rider teamed up with Sunway to win the Group 1 Criterium International last weekend, a guideline if not a form-line to the top 2-y-os. Devil’s Point has been on the periphery in two Group 3s, in Britain and France, putting in place some limits, at least on decent ground, but it’s just in the back of my mind that he looked a real off-roader when sluicing through the mud en route to a maiden win at Ffos Las, and that it could be bottomless at Doncaster by Saturday afternoon.
DIEGO VELAZQUEZ
James Doyle | A P O’Brien
Broome and Point Lonsdale, brothers in arms, took to the stage on Champions Day, the former in the twilight of his career and the latter trying to resurrect his, though both were high-achieving two-year-olds, and their close relative Diego Velazquez is following the family footsteps. Like his half-siblings, who incidentally and influentially both relish testing ground, he’s more of a galloper than a quickener, but at the same time Aidan O’Brien himself has expressed slight surprise at how “babyish” Diego Velazquez has been, not that it has stopped him winning both his races at odds-on, prices of 2-5 and 8-15 indicative that his homework was within the city limits, the City Of Troy limits.
His success in the Champions Juvenile at Leopardstown wasn’t so suggestive nor seductive as Auguste Rodin’s the year before as it was all a bit shoulder-shruggey from Diego Velazquez who was well placed as the race went but niggled by halfway and needed five sharp ones by Moore to master team-mate Capulet who was beaten favourite (into third) subsequently in the Royal Lodge, though the third and fourth – Atlantic Coast and Deepone – have since put a better spin on the form. Not that form is the foremost consideration as, of Aidan O’Brien’s 11 Futurity winners, at least five were false favourites on form but won regardless, because he knows what he’s got and what it takes. The Ballydoyle barometer matters more than the form book regards this race in particular, and Diego Velazquez has probably had this date for a long time.
GOD’S WINDOW
K Shoemark | J & T Gosden
It can be done, as Camelot and Kingsbarns did it in successive years a little over a decade ago, but it’s a tall order indeed to win a Futurity after just the one race, especially this Futurity in which the bar is higher than usual.
It was an impressive start and a true test run over the course and distance, the end margin unflattering on him, as a fast-forward move whilst on the wing taking some doing, and both the second and third are likewise coming to play too, but this is a world away for competition. Put it this way, if God’s Window was able to overwhelm Diego Velazquez and Ancient Wisdom on only his second start then he’d be right behind City Of Troy in the Derby betting.
REDHOT WHISPER
Stefano Cherchi | B F Brookhouse
Positive platform in two maidens, second to God’s Window at Doncaster latterly, but it’s a platform for handicaps and not a Group 1. Rookie trainer making a name for himself (has won with 12 of his last 30 runners under both codes), but Redhot Whisper is surely biting off more than he can chew in this company.
JAMIE LYNCH’S VERDICT
More often than not it’s Aidan O’Brien, and not the form book, who decides who wins the Futurity, and Diego Velazquez has seemingly been on that tried-and-tested targeting treadmill for some time, with plenty left to work on ahead of this ringfenced day. It’s hard to believe, however, that the honed-and-zoned ANCIENT WISDOM, with his hardened edges, won’t get the jump on him at some point in the race, and his talent (and time) from the Autumn Stakes suggests he’ll be a very tough nut to crack.
Today’s Question
The subject of the question pictured above
Which rugby player who is the most capped for his country is a horseracing fanatic?
Today’s Question Answer
Nick Hewson is Hong Kong’s most capped player.
How Hong Kong captain Nick Hewson became a rugby thoroughbred
Kiwi’s connection in horse racing runs deep as does his rugby roots
