Russian Emperor Set to Fly the Australian Flag in Tonight's Epsom
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Saturday, July 4, 2020 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here INGLIS EASTER ROUND 2 PREVIEW - paGE 12 YESterdaY'S race RESUlts - paGE 16 Russian Emperor set to What's on Stakes races: Flemington (VIC) - Winter fly the Australian flag in Championship Series Final (Listed, 1600m), Taj Rossi Series Final (Listed, 1600m), Victorian Sprint Series Final (Listed, 1200m). Eagle Farm (QLD) - Bright Shadow Stakes tonight’s Epsom Derby (Listed, 1200m), Tattersall’s Club Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Belmont (WA) - Aquanita Owner-breeder Lauri Macri details how the son of champion Stakes (Listed, 2000m), Belmont Oaks mare Atlantic Jewel came to be (Listed, 2000m) Metropolitan meetings: Randwick (NSW), Flemington (VIC), Eagle Farm (QLD), Murray Bridge (SA), Belmont (WA), Darwin (NT) Race meetings: Newcastle (NSW), Port Macquarie (NSW), Echuca (VIC), Gold Coast (QLD), Toowoomba (QLD), Townsville (QLD), Te Rapa (NZ), Awapuni (NZ) International Group races: Epsom (UK) - The Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f), The Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f), Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 1f). Naas (IRE) - Lacken Stakes (Gr 3, 6f), Fillies’ Sprint Stakes (Gr 3, 6f). Scottsville (SAF) - Allan Robertson Championship (Gr 1, 1200m), Golden Horse Medallion (Gr 1, 1200m), South African Fillies Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m), Golden Horse Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m), World Sports Betting Cup Trial (Gr 3, 1800m). Belmont (USA) - Met Mile (Gr 1, 1m), Manhattan Stakes (Gr 1, 10f), Suburban Russian Emperor (right) EDWARD WHITAKER (RACING POST) Handicap (Gr 2, 10f), Poker Handicap (Gr 3, 1m), Victory Ride Stakes (Gr 3, 6.5f). of a long-range plan stemming from 2011. He BY GEORGIE DENNIS | @ANZ_NEWS was bred by Coolmore along with former ATC n a time of uncertainty and gloom, there chairman Laurie Macri among others, who raced will be something for Australians to Atlantic Jewel after teaming up to purchase her cheer for in tonight’s Epsom Derby (Gr 1, at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 1m 4f) as Russian Emperor (Galileo), the 2010. thirdI foal produced by champion mare Atlantic “Since I’ve been involved in racing, just about Jewel (Fastnet Rock), heads into the race with a every good horse that I’ve raced has been selected legitimate chance. by James Bester,” Macri told ANZ Bloodstock The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is the result News on Thursday. Continued on page 2>> INTERNATIONAL CARDS | PAGE 28 Follow us @anz_news | 1 | Brought to you by Russian Emperor set to fly the Australian flag in tonight’s Epsom Derby | 2 | Saturday, July 4, 2020 << Continued from page 1 “So the year before, James and I of the progress reports that Mark Kavangh had put together and clearly bought a really nice Fastnet Rock filly called Upon This Rock which won a she was running some very good sectionals at track work at Flemington. couple of Listed races. “As bad luck as it seemed to be with Atlantic Jewel, as she was coming “And James had Identified what he said was an absolutely outstanding off the track one morning, she got kicked by another horse and didn't filly at the Magic Millions and I happened to be on holiday over in Perth actually start as a two-year-old. and obviously had the book with me. At the time you could look up “Clearly she had some great success at three but had an injury there some of the dam’s races online and she had three starts for two wins and so she missed the Oaks and she missed all of her four-year-old season. probably an unlucky placing on debut and we didn’t quite know why she Patience and the journey became really important and to be fair, no one didn’t go on with it. in the group was pushing Mark Kavanaugh to get her back to the races. “So James and I said ‘let’s see if we can buy the filly’. As it turned out, “We were delighted that we got another chance to run her in the spring Coolmore also thought she was the best filly at the complex and so out of of 2014 and I’ve got to say, and I think I speak for everyone in the group from that we decided that ‘we’re all friends, lets actually buy her together.’ So it Mark Kavanagh down, we were shattered to be the firm favourite going into was quite fortuitous that we didn’t decide to outbid each other.” a Cox Plate and it was maybe the one that got away. That’s no disrespect to In an era that has seen some incredible mares grace the Australian Shamus Award who actually won the race, but that was a pretty trying time. turf, Atlantic Jewel had the potential to add her name to the list, winning “I think almost immediately and universally we decided that we ten of 11 career starts including elite-level victories in the MRC Thousand would retire the mare. It was one thing to bring her back a couple of times Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), Memsie Stakes (Gr from injury but I don’t think anyone thought it would be fair to the mare 1, 1400m) and Caulfield Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m). to bring her back a third time.” But her career was hampered by injury and culminated with a tendon Atlantic Jewel has spent the best part of her career at stud at problem which saw her retired just days out from heading into the 2013 Coolmore’s base in Ireland, producing five foals, including Russian Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) as the firm favourite. Emperor, by champion stallion Galileo (Sadler’s Wells). Macri said that “We probably didn’t realise how good she was,” Macri said. “She didn’t the decision to send her to the northern hemisphere was made long race at two but she was getting ready to race at two and I looked at some before her retirement. Continued on page 4>> Follow us @anz_news | 2 | Brought to you by 44 SWs including Gr.1 winners… Atlantic Jewel, Savvy Coup, Global Glamour and Srikandi as well as the likes of Formality, Invincible Star, Peron, I’ll Have A Bit, Princess Posh, Celebrity Dream, Savapinski, Enticing Star, Pedrena, Ennis Hill, Legless Veuve, Jazz Song, Hips Don’t Lie, Badawiya, Lady Melksham etc. Dams of 17 SWs including Gr.1 winners… Loving Gaby, Le Romain, Mighty Boss and Go Indy Go as well as the likes of Pohutukawa, Oceanex, Zululand, Super One, Lumosty, Fiesta, Mickey Blue Eyes, Lake Geneva, Russian Emperor etc. Atlantic Jewel’s Royal Ascot-winning son Russian Emperor Maastricht’s daughter Loving Gaby wins the William (by GALILEO) is a leading fancy for today’s Epsom Derby-Gr.1 Reid Stakes-Gr.1 at Moonee Valley on 20th March The only American Triple Crown winner to retire to stud unbeaten The best son of champion 2YO sire & Gr.1 sire of sires SCAT DADDY, 129 SWs including the Royal Ascot Gr.1/Gr.2 winning sprinters No Nay Never, Caravaggio, Lady Aurelia, Sioux Nation & Acapulco. Fee $66,000 (INC. GST) Colm Santry, John Kennedy, Paddy Oman, Tom Moore, Rob Archibald or Emma Pugsley Tel: 02 6576 4200. New Zealand: Gordon Calder Tel:+64 218 41612. www.coolmore.com Russian Emperor set to fly the Australian flag in tonight’s Epsom Derby | 4 | Saturday, July 4, 2020 << Continued from page 2 “We agreed to send her to Ireland on the night after the Thousand Guineas back in 2011. Michael Kirwan who was an owner, Tom (Magnier) obviously representing his family, and a couple of others were having dinner after it, and landed on Galileo. “Clearly Coolmore are a fan of Galileo and we sort or hatched a plan, albeit with no guarantees, that she would head to Ireland at the conclusion of her racing career.” Fast forward eight and a half years and a couple of foals later, the plan hatched over a celebratory dinner has produced an impeccably bred Epsom Derby runner. Atlantic Jewel’s half-sister, Commanding Jewel (Commands), was also a Thousand Guineas winner, while her granddam Nanshan (Nashwan) produced Lady Beckworth (General Nediym) who is responsible for this Atlantic Jewel GETTY IMAGES year’s Galaxy Handicap (Gr 1, 1100m) scorer I Am Excited (Snitzel) and Group 3 victor Flippant (Hinchinbrook). After producing her first five foals in Ireland, last year Atlantic Jewel Further down the page is Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) winner Pass relocated back to Australia and is now in foal to American Triple Crown- The Peace (Alzao), who also produced a Cheveley Park scorer in Embassy winning shuttler Justify (Scat Daddy) and Macri said the decision to bring (Cadeaux Genereux), as well as Group 1 victors King’s Apostle (King’s her home was an easy one. Best) and Pacific Trader (Sail From Seattle). “I’d like to say we debated it for hours but I had one conversation with As a proven stallion making race, a win in the Derby almost guarantees Tom (Magnier) and he suggested that we might bring the mare home and a spot at stud upon retirement, and while winning the the Classic is no easy send her to Justify,” he said. feat, a placing could be enough to secure the son of Galileo, who himself is a “I was fortunate enough to be at the stallion parade last season and renowned sire of sires, a slot on a roster somewhere in the world. I did see Justify. He is a remarkable physical specimen and obviously his With a pedigree so familiar to Australia and a lack of staying blood on race record speaks for itself.