STORM FLAG FLYING Injured HEADLINE P
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
STORM FLAG FLYING injured HEADLINE p. 2 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT call 732-747-8060. BY FAX AND INTERNET www.thoroughbreddailynews.com MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2003 HIGH POINT FOR AGA KHAN SAINT-CLOUD REDUX His Highness the Aga Khan can have few finer mo- In scenes identical to those witnessed 12 months ments to savour than watching his colts Alamshar (Ire) ago, Ange Gabriel (Fr) (Kaldounevees {Fr}) beat Polish (Key of Luck) and Dalakhani (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) bat- Summer (GB) (Polish Patriot) to win his second straight tling out the finish of yesterday’s G1 Budweiser Irish renewal of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud yesterday Derby at The Curragh. At the afternoon. As he had last year, Thierry Jarnet chose to wire, it was the former win- follow the early pace and that proved wise. Positioned ning the duel by a a half in a stalking role as Richard Hills enjoyed a soft lead on length. Alamshar gave the Godolphin’s rabbit Millstreet (GB) (Polish Precedent), Aga Khan his fifth success in Ange Gabriel quickened in the straight to take control the Classic, following in the with 100 yards remaining and asserted from there for a hoofsteps of Shergar (GB), comfortable score. Polish Summer closed to deny the 1981; Shahrastani, ‘86; game long-time leader the runner-up spot, producing Kahyasi (Ire), ‘88; and Sinndar the same exacta as last year. For Ange Gabriel, it was (Ire), 2000. Settled in mid-divi- his third Group 1 triumph. In addition to his Saint-Cloud sion by Johnny Murtagh off double, the colt defeated Aquarelliste (Fr) to win the G1 Alamshar INPHO/M Treacy the strong early pace, Alamshar traveled smoothly before quickening to join Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December. Given a short 4-7 favorite Dalakhani with three furlongs remaining. break after that effort, he returned to fall 3/4 of a Gaining the upper hand at the quarter-mile marker, length short behind Sulamani (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) in Alamshar showed determination to hold his rival as the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad al Sheba Mar. 29 they pulled into splendid isolation for the remainder. before warming up for this by winning the G2 Grand “That was pure magic,” Murtagh said. Click for the Prix de Chantilly last time June 8. “This is a great horse racingpost.co.uk chart or the free brisnet.com who has never let us down,” trainer Eric Libaud com- catalogue-style pedigree. mented. “He is so brave and got a great ride from Thierry, who didn’t ask him to quicken too early. When BUDWEISER IRISH DERBY-G1, i1,233,300, Curragh, he did [ask him to quicken], Ange Gabriel took off--this 6-29, 3yo, c/f, 1 1/2mT, 2:28.20, gd. was a great performance.” As for future plans, the 1--sALAMSHAR (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Key Of Luck trainer said, “I will have to discuss whether he goes for 1st Dam: Alaiyda, by Shahrastani the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. 2nd Dam: Aliysa (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) [at Ascot July 26].” Click for the racingpost.co.uk chart 3rd Dam: Alannya (Fr), by Relko (GB) or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC; T-John Oxx; J-Johnny Murtagh; i745,150. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-1, i1,151,505. An Off Day for Sulamani... 2--Dalakhani (Ire), 126, c, 3, Darshaan (GB)--Daltawa Sulamani raced keenly without cover in mid-division (Ire), by Miswaki. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The throughout the early stages as Frankie Dettori ignored Aga Khan’s Studs SC; T-A de Royer-Dupre; Millstreet to track Ange Gabriel. He stayed on into fifth J-C Soumillon; i260,000. in the closing stages, but did not stretch out as the 3--Roosevelt (Ire), 126, c, 3, Danehill--Star Begonia winner had on the fast ground, which had concerned (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Susan Magnier; connections beforehand. “We knew he needed the B-Orpendale; T-A O’Brien; J-C O’Donoghue; i130,000. run,” Dettori commented. “Probably also the ground Margins: HF, 3HF, 2HF. Odds: 4-1, 4-7, 150-1. was too firm for him.” Sulamani will be pointed for the Also ran: Brian Boru (GB), The Great Gatsby (Ire), King George VI. Millstreet was subsequently disqualified Powerscourt (GB), Napper Tandy (Ire), Handel (Ire), for causing interference in the closing stages and High Country (Ire). Scratched: Alisar (Ire). placed sixth. Grand Prix chart, p2 STORM CAT Sire of 108 Stakes Winners, (859) 273-1514 P Fax (859) 273-0034 www.overbrookfarm.com 69 Graded TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 6/30/03 • PAGE 2 of 5 Irish Derby cont. Clear Sailing for Classic Winner... P N E W S T O D A Y P Johnny Murtagh enjoyed smooth sailing aboard Alamshar throughout the Irish Derby. “They were going STORM FLAG FLYING SIDELINED Last year’s very fast up front, so I just sat in and had a beautiful champion juvenile filly Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat) run,” he said. “I got up behind Dalakhani turning into suffered a small fracture in her right hind leg and will be the straight and upsides him two down and there was shelved for approximately 60 days. “We’ve sent her only going to be one winner.” Alamshar, who took the home,” explained trainer Shug McGaughey. “We dis- G3 Beresford S. at this track in October, was caught up covered a small--and I mean small--fracture of her right in a tactical affair when second to Balestrini (Ire) in the hind cannon bone. She was never lame, but I knew G3 Ballysax S. on his return at Leopardstown Apr. 13. something wasn’t right. I couldn’t figure it out, so we He came back to beat The Great Gatsby (Ire) (Sadler’s sent her to Rood and Riddle [Equine Hospital in Wells) in the G2 Derrinstown Derby Trial May 11 before Lexington, Ky] as a place to start. That’s what they finishing third behind Kris Kin and that rival in the G1 found.” The regally bred Phipps colorbearer was unde- Epsom Derby June 7. “I was a bit disappointed with feated in four 2002 starts, including a strong perfor- him at Epsom,” Murtagh continued. “He just came up a mance in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She bit flat with me and I said to the boss, ‘Don’t worry, I disappointed in two starts this year, however, most think it was the track,’ and I think it was. Today, he recently finishing sixth in the GI Acorn S. at Belmont really ground it out. He stays really well and gets his June 6. A cautious McCaughey was optimistic about a head down and gallops. For a small horse, he’s all heart 2003 return for the three-year-old daughter of My Flag. and guts and his will to win is second to none.” “They said it would take about 30 days of walking and Alamshar suffered a pulled muscle in his back after the 30 days of turn out, then we will re-evaluate,” he con- Epsom Derby and his participation yesterday was in tinued. “We’re hoping to have her ready for late fall or doubt until conditioner John Oxx confirmed him fit to for next year.” race Saturday. “I was a bit worried on Friday when I rode him and, although he was going well, he was not going like a Derby winner,” Murtagh said. “John Oxx P R E S U L T S P got the physio in and he and all the staff have done a great job.” Oxx, collecting his second Irish Derby after Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France the exploits of Sinndar (Ire) three years ago, was GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, i350,000, Saint- thrilled with the finish of this year’s edition. “It’s won- Cloud, 6-29, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:30.90, gd. derful to see two horses fight it out like that,” he said. 1--ANGE GABRIEL (FR), 134, h, 5, by Kaldounevees (Fr) “I didn’t really know whether to laugh or cry as they 1st Dam: Mount Gable (GB), by Head For Heights (GB) passed the post, because Dalakhani is a great horse and 2nd Dam: Cupids Hill (Ire), by Sallust (Ire) it is a shame to see him beaten.” As for what’s next, 3rd Dam: Sweet Jewel (GB), by Will Somers (GB) he added, “All being well, the G1 King George VI and O/B-Mme Henri Devin; T-Eric Libaud; J-Thierry Jarnet; Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. [at Ascot July 26] is the i199,990. Lifetime Record: G1SW-HK, G1SP-UAE, plan. He is a summer horse who likes fast ground, and 18 starts, 11 wins, 6 places, i2,178,881. not necessarily a horse you would want to keep for the 2--Polish Summer (GB), 134, h, 6, Polish Patriot--Hunt autumn.” The Sun (GB), by Rainbow Quest. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; i80,010. *3--Loxias (Fr), 134, c, 4, Saumarez (GB)--Loxandra TELL IT TO THE TDN... (GB), by Last Tycoon (Ire). O-Leonidas Marinopoulos; Want to send a “Letter to the Editor” of the B-Stilvi Compania Financiera SA; i40,005. Thoroughbred Daily News? Our address is 27 Margins: 1HF, (HF, 2). Odds: 2.00, 26.40, 9.90. Monmouth St., Red Bank, NJ, 07701; or send a Also ran: Sulamani (Ire), Ana Marie (Fr), Millstreet (GB), fax to: (732) 747-8955; or an e-mail to: Trumbaka (Ire), Labirinto, Tigertail (Fr), Dance Routine (GB).