The TDN is delivered each morning by 5 a.m. Eastern. For subscription information, please call (732) 747-8060. THOROUGHBRED Sunday, DAILY NEWS August 12, 2001 P INTERNATIONAL P WHAT’S THE WORD? JOHANNESBURG THE WAIT IS OVER If Aidan O’Brien dominates any one particular race, He made his connections wait for it. Six-year-old then it is G1 Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoe- With Anticipation (Relaunch) picked up the first Grade I nix S. Successful in the last three renewals with victory of his career at Saratoga Race Course yesterday Lavery (Ire), Fasliyev and Minardi, he looks almost afternoon, holding off King Cugat (Kingmambo) to win certain to add to that in this year’s running with Jo- the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational H. by three- hannesburg (Hennessy) at Leopardstown this after- quarters of a length. The eyecatching gray nearly pulled noon. Effortlessly impressive when winning on his off a Grade I score in his last race, but after crossing debut in a Fairyhouse maiden May 30, he went on to the finish line first in the July 1 United Nations H. at Monmouth Park, he was disqualified and placed second greater things quickly, taking everything in his stride for interfering with Senure during the stretch drive. when blowing away the opposition in the G3 Norfolk “This makes up for getting disqualified in the United S. at Royal Ascot June 21. Stepped up almost another Nations, particularly for the horse,” said Hall of Fame furlong and a half on his next start in the G3 Anglesey trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who was himself winning S. at The Curragh July 14, he barely drew sweat there his first Grade I flat race at Saratoga. With Anticipation to dispose of stable companion Wiseman’s Ferry raced almost exclusively on dirt prior to this season, (Hennessy) by four lengths. He hardly has to do much winning a pair of stakes. He had tried turf once before, more to win this. His style is reminiscent of the bril- running third, but blossomed when returned to the lawn liant Fasliyev, as he seems capable of killing off his for a Keeneland allowance race in April. After winning rivals with relentless speed and he can quicken off a that race by 8 3/4 lengths, he added a six-length tally in true pace like stable companion Minardi. He will be the Louisville H. June 2, then made it three in a row in extremely hard to stop here, providing he handles the the U.N. before losing that win via the stewards’ stand. softer conditions. Wiseman’s Ferry is yet to run a bad Stretching out another furlong for the Sword Dancer, race and he is the most likely runner-up again here. the Augustin Stable homebred dueled Slew Valley (Val- Previous to his fine effort at The Curragh last time, he ley Crossing) through steady fractions, shook free of that rival at the top of the lane and held on gamely to had tried to give four pounds to the smart Irony (Ire) in beat the favorite to the wire. “I had some question the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot June 22, finish- about the distance, with him being a front-running ing just 2 1/2 lengths back in sixth. horse,” Sheppard admitted. “He obviously handled everything fine, and the course was in extremely good Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland, post time: 3:30 p.m. shape--much firmer than I thought it would be after all INDEPENDENT WATERFORD WEDGWOOD PHOENIX the rain we got. It was a great performance.” King S.-G1, Ir£225,000, 2yo, c/f, 6fT Cugat was impressive in defeat. Checked on the sec- SC PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER WT ond turn and again on the third, he angled to the out- 1 8 Highdown (Ire) Selkirk Channon 126 side for the final drive and just missed. “He had to 2 7 Johannesburg Hennessy A O Brien 126 check three different times during the race,” trainer Bill 3 10 Line Rider Danzig A O Brien 126 Mott said. “That was enough to make the difference in 4 11 Minashki (Ire) Ashkalani (Ire) Rogers 126 the margin of victory.” John’s Call (Lord at War {Arg}), 5 3 Twilight Blues (Ire) Bluebird Meehan 126 looking to repeat his 9 3/4-length Sword Dance romp of 6 4 Wiseman s Ferry Hennessy A O Brien 126 last year, pressed the pace, but tired to finish last. Still, 7 5 Agnetha (Ger) Big Shuffle Weld 123 the crowd greeted him with a cheer when he returned 8 1 Cherry Falls (Ire) Ali-Royal (Ire) Prendergast 123 to be unsaddled. (Sword Dancer chart, p3) 9 6 High Society (Ire) Key Of Luck Lynam 123 10 2 Maskaya (Ire) Machiavellian Burns 123 You may also pick up a copy of today’s TDN at: 11 9 Miss Beabea (Ire) Catrail Prendergast 123 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred Yearling Sale Fastest-ever Santa Anita Derby winner. Sire of $280,000 Saratoga colt. INDIAN CHARLIE VINERYLLC KENTUCKY TODAY at Saratoga Preferred – 2 Colts, 4 Fillies out of sisters to GSWs Able Money, Honorable Miss, Firm Stance, Half a Year, Posen, etc. 859.455.9388 vinery.net THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS H EUROPEAN EDITION H Sunday, August 12, 2001 Team “Britain and Ireland” get off to a quick start... H SHERGAR CUP H Jockey Mick Kinane scored aboard Persiano (GB) (Efisio {GB}) in the first race, the ILPH Shergar Cup Mile FLORES DRINKS FROM VICTORY CUP H., which helped his team gain a 23-17 advantage over American jockey David Flores took Ascot by storm their rivals. The seven-year-old held off the late chal- yesterday by winning the Shergar Cup for the team lenge of Mirco Demuro on Smart Ridge (GB) (Indian representing the “Rest of the World.” His winning dou- Ridge {Ire}). Kinane commented, “It’s a nice, different ble was initiated by the easy 2 1/2-length success of atmosphere for us and on Group 1 days it can be pretty Steenberg (Ire) (Flying Spur {Aus}) in the Ritz Club intense and you probably don’t enjoy it as much as you should.” Despite Flores’ win in race two, Ritz Club Shergar Cup Juvenile. Flores, enjoying success in his Shergar Cup Juvenile, “Britain and Ireland” filled the first ride at Ascot said, “It’s an honour for me to be next three places and maintained a 10-point advantage. here and be competitive at this great track. I have en- joyed it from the beginning and it has been great. I’d Team “Rest of the World” Bounces Back... love to get more opportunities to be at this track.” He Britain and Ireland’s dominance ended in the Ritz Club came back in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint Shergar Cup Distaff, race three in the series, when to win aboard Orientor (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and secure jockey Gerald Mosse brought Flying Millie (Ire) (Flying the victory for his teammates. “First of all, thanks to Spur {Aus}) up late, defeating Mirco Demuro and Sheikh Mohammed for inviting me here and to Simon Ghazal (USA) (Gone West {USA}). This time, team [Crisford] and all the group that work for Godolphin. It “Rest of the World” filled three of the first five posi- really is a pleasure for me and I’d love to come back tions, making them the leaders by 10 points on a total again. This is a great day--what an experience,” said a of 65. Mosse said, “I was sure that my filly was very jubilant Flores after his sprint win. His grand finale well and in perfect condition so I had to kick early and proved instrumental in gaining the overall victory for his make sure that I made some points for my team.” team, who finished up with 125 points. Team “Britain & Ireland” ended their day with 115 points. Flores also Team “Britain and Ireland” will not be denied... led the individual point standings with 45 points, 15 The Millennium and Copthorne Shergar Cup Stayers clear of his nearest pursuers, Pat Eddery and Mirco H. went to the late running Moon Emperor (GB) (Em- peror Jones {USA})with jockey Pat Eddery aboard. Demuro, both with 30 points to their credit. That leveled the two teams at 80 points each. Eddery commented, “It’s a lot of fun to ride in it and it’s great POINTS SCORING--SHERGAR CUP to have all the top jockeys from around the world.” The Jockey Team Points total “Britain and Ireland” team finally took command in the David Flores ROTW 45 fifth race as jockey Richard Hughes and Thundering Surf (GB) (Lugana Beach {Ire}) denied David Flores and Pat Eddery GB & IRE 30 Mana d’Argent (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}) by a short Mirco Demuro ROTW 30 head in the Carvill Shergar Cup Challenge H. The home Richard Hughes GB & IRE 27 team held an almost unassailable lead with 107 to 93 Johnny Murtagh GB & IRE 25 after filling three of the first five positions...almost. Gerald Mosse ROTW 18 “Rest of the World” back on top... Michael Kinane GB & IRE 18 It was David Flores and Orientor who led home a Frankie Dettori ROTW 15 1-2-3 finish for team “Rest of the World” in Ritz Club Kevin Darley GB & IRE 10 Shergar Cup Juvenile, final race of the challenge. He Norihiro Yokoyama ROTW 10 said after that performance, “Thanks to the trainers-- Craig Williams ROTW 7 these horses are great! I was just very grateful to be on these kind of horses today and it’s an honour for me to Kieren Fallon GB & IRE 5 be in this place.