CAPE TOWN Seeking the Gold S Seaside Attraction by Seattle Slew CLASSIC WINNER in His FIRST CROP
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PLAN C... “EMPIRE” WORKS ON HEADLINE TURF... p8 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT call 732-747-8060. BY FAX AND INTERNET www.thoroughbreddailynews.com MONDAY, MAY 26, 2003 TROUBLES FAR AWAY FOR YESTERDAY CONGAREE’S RACE TO LOSE Defeat for Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}) Arguably the best horse in the country under nine was unthinkable according to the market, but Yesterday furlongs, trainer Bob Baffert’s Congaree (Arazi) will (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) hadn’t attempt to notch his second consecutive Grade I vic- read the script, edging the tory as he heads the field in this afternoon’s GI Metro- 3-10 favourite by a short politan Mile H. at Belmont Park. He romped by 3 1/2 head in the G1 Entenmann’s lengths in the GI Carter H. over a muddy Aqueduct Irish 1000 Guineas at The track on the GI Wood Memorial S. undercard Apr. 12. Curragh Sunday as the 11-2 “He’s really showing signs of second choice. While the win- greatness,” said Baffert, who ner had a dream run, stalking will not make the trip east for L’Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan the race. “I don’t like compar- {GB}) early before making a ing my horses, but Congaree decisive move with 100 yards is right up there with Point remaining, it was a case of Given. At a mile, he’s the best Yesterday (left) Takes 1000 further bad fortune for Six horse I’ve ever trained.” In- © Inpho/Tom Honan Perfections, who was trapped consistent during much of his Congaree Benoit Photo on the inner until finding day- 2002 campaign, Congaree light too late. Yesterday battled bravely as the market looked a horse reborn when taking his season finale, leader came at her to earn the narrow decision. “Mick the GI Cigar Mile H., by 5 1/2 lengths at the Big A last [Kinane] was perfection on her today,” a delighted November. Kicking off 2003 with a pair of Grade II winning trainer Aidan O’Brien commented. “When she wins at Santa Anita, the striking chestnut put forth a gets to the front she starts to pull herself up. Mick valiant effort when a head runner-up to Milwaukee knew he was going to have it to leave it as late as Brew in the 1 1/4-mile GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 1. He possible.” More on the Irish 1000, p2 then showed his versatility, scaling back in distance and winning the seven-furlong Carter for fun. The Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland second-place finisher in that event, Flaxman Stables’ ENTENMANN’S IRISH 1000 GUINEAS-G1, i397,200, Aldebaran (Mr. Prospector), has done much in recent The Curragh, 5-25, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:40.80, yl/sf. months to dispel the idea that he suffers from chronic 1--s@YESTERDAY (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Sadler’s Wells seconditis. After completing the exacta in six of eight 1st Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB) starts in 2002, including last year’s renewal of this 2nd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr) race, he scored his first Grade I triumph in his seasonal 3rd Dam: Allara (GB), by Zeddaan (GB) bow when annexing the San Carlos H. at Santa Anita O-Susan Magnier & Mrs Richard Henry; B-Premier Mar. 2. He followed the Carter with a sharp victory in Bloodstock; T-A O’Brien; J-M Kinane; i233,200. the seven-panel GII Churchill Downs H. on Derby Day. Lifetime Record: 8-3-1-1, i300,428. *Full to Quarter “He always shows up,” said trainer Bobby Frankel. “A Moon, G1SW-Ire, MG1SP-GB, $460,788. lot of people think he’s better as a five-year-old, but I 2--Six Perfections (Fr), 126, f, 3, Celtic Swing (GB)-- think he’s the same horse he was last year. He just had Yogya, by Riverman. O/B-Niarchos Family; i80,000. bad luck.” Anyone who saw Najran (Runaway Groom) 3--Dimitrova, 126, f, 3, Swain (Ire)--The Caretaker (Ire), blaze the May 7 GIII Westchester H. in a record 1:32 by Caerleon. O-J Higgins; B-Muirfield Ventures; 1/5 had to be impressed. But the track was lightning i40,000. fast that day and the gray earned a career-best Beyer Margins: SHD, 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 11-2, 30-100, 16-1. figure of “only” 111, which likely wouldn’t get it done Also ran: L’Ancresse (Ire), Plume Rouge (GB), Cat here. Still, he and Congaree are the speed, and he could Belling (Ire), Luminata (Ire), Wayalef. be tough if left alone on the lead. Field, p5 CAPE TOWN Seeking the Gold S Seaside Attraction by Seattle Slew CLASSIC WINNER in his FIRST CROP... (859) 273-1514 P Fax (859) 273-0034 www.overbrookfarm.com BIRD TOWN wins the KENTUCKY OAKS-G1. 2003 Fee: $7,500 Live Foal Bird Town Horsephotos TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 5/26/03 • PAGE 2 of 8 Irish 1000 Guineas cont. The Luck of the Irish... P R E S U L T S P Jockey Mick Kinane was humble in his post-race comments. “I was lucky,” he said. “She got the cover Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland that she needs and she did it nicely...fortunately, she TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP-G1, i244,400, The held on.” Yesterday had faded after racing prominently Curragh, 5-25, 4yo/up, 1 5/16mT, 2:14.80, yl/sf. in the Newmarket equivalent on good-to-firm ground 1--BLACK SAM BELLAMY (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Sadler’s Wells May 4, but relished the softer conditions in this Classic. 1st Dam: Urban Sea (Hwt Older Mare-Fr at 11-14f, Sixth to Six Perfections in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac G1SW-Fr, GSP-Ger & GB, $1,698,901), by Miswaki at Longchamp and third in the G2 Rockfel S. at 2nd Dam: Allegretta (GB), by Lombard (Ger) Newmarket on livelier ground last season, she had 3rd Dam: Anatevka (Ger), by *Espresso shown her liking for an easy surface when winning the O-Michael Tabor & Susan Magnier; B-Sunderland Hold- Listed Eyrefield S. at Leopardstown in November. The ings Ltd & Orpendale; T-A O'Brien; J-M Kinane; filly, who completed a Group 1 double for connections i161,200. Lifetime Record: 12-4-1-2, i457,086. *1/2 after the exploits of Black Sam Bellamy (Ire) in the to Urban Ocean (Fr) (Bering {GB}), Hwt 3yo-Ire at 9.5- Tattersalls Gold Cup an hour earlier, will head to the 11f, GSW-Ire; Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra), SW-GB, G1SP- GB & Ire, $127,600; and full to Galileo (Ire) (Sadler’s June 6 G1 Vodafone Oaks. There she will bid to emu- Wells), MG1SW-GB, G1SW-Ire, $2,250,614. late the stable’s Imagine (Ire), who took both races in 2--Highdown (GB), 126, c, 4, Selkirk--Rispoto (GB), by 2001, and improve on the runner-up finish of sister Mtoto (GB). (34,000gns yrl ‘00 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; Quarter Moon (Ire) in 2002. “It was always the plan to B-Abbeville & Meadow Court Studs; i49,400. go to Epsom,” Aidan O’Brien said. “We’ve always 3--Narrative (Ire), 126, h, 5, Sadler’s Wells--Barger, by thought she would be fine over a mile and a half and, Riverman. O-Godolphin; B-Sheikh Mohammed bin although she’s gone on fast before, this ground might Rashid Al Maktoum; i23,400. inconvenience the others. She showed us she has Margins: 8, 1HF, NK. Odds: 6-1, 5-1, 14-1. plenty of stamina when she won over a mile and a Also ran: In Time’s Eye (GB), Burning Sun, Chancellor furlong last season.” Click for the racingpost.co.uk (GB), Imperial Dancer (GB), Wrong Key (Ire). chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Black Sam Bellamy scorched The Curragh turf with an electrifying performance that sees him finally step out Far from Perfect... of the shadow of his illustrious sibling Galileo (Ire). The Jockey Thierry Thulliez was much maligned by the subject of intense interest as a juvenile, Black Sam press for his ride on Six Perfections in the G1 1000 Bellamy ended his campaign winless, but did manage a Guineas at Newmarket May 4 and subsequently lost the third in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. He took time ride to Johnny Murtagh, but it was the same story at to find his feet at three, saving his best efforts for the The Curragh. Held up in rear early, Six Perfections was fall, and performed better than his 10th placing sug- hemmed in on the rail inside the final quarter before gests in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The colt being switched wide for her challenge. Her powerful ended the year with a win in the G1 Gran Premio del closing run took her to within a short head of the game Jockey Club in Milan in October, then returned to take winner, but she was out of real estate. “What can you the Listed Alleged S. at Leopardstown Mar. 29. Last say? Nothing,” said a disconsolate Pascal Bary. “To time out, he was a disappointing last in the G1 Prix lose two Guineas is a lot to take, but I knew very early Ganay Apr. 27. Bouncing back from that tame effort, on it was going to be difficult--she was on the rail and he chased the early pacesetter Narrative before quick- it wasn’t a very good pace. She is a very, very good ening to the front with 2½ furlongs remaining.