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Home , Al Quoz Sprint, Balanchine (horse), Balanchine (horse race), Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Clemmie

A special look at the top stories from thoroughbredracing.com. March 2018

The big talking points after a stunning World Cup night

Also inside: A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under

/ThoroughbredRacingCommentary @TRCommentary Ten things we learned at the Meydan spectacular

Michele MacDonald | April 02, 2018 Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood comes home unchallenged in the on the Meydan dirt. He has already won two G1s on turf (including one on very soft ground). Photo: Michele MacDonald

Amid a blur of booming fireworks, high- and Coolmore’s thrilling 3-year-old performed brilliantly on flying aerialists and a collision of dozens of dirt after earlier excelling on turf. They thus have marked languages and cultures, the 23rd the Dubai themselves as exceptional horses World Cup program yielded several intriguing who can achieve in international settings and hopefully will have scenarios to ponder going into the rest of the much more to give, both in racing and eventually at stud, while also season and the future at large. encouraging others to take a chances on both dirt and turf. Foremost is perhaps a return to the Both ’s Dubai World Cup Other major takeaways from the simple notion that a good horse can winner Thunder Snow — one of four world’s richest day of racing, a $30 run on anything, and there is no more winners on the night for the blue team million extravaganza held in the inspiring result than a runner proving and such a delight to Sheikh Mohammed sprawling lap of the globe’s largest himself at the highest levels on varying that he broke into a spontaneous racing temple, , surfaces and anywhere in the world. dance during the trophy ceremony — included:

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P2 and with the Dubai World Cup trophy on Saturday. They will be hoping to get their hands on another prestigious trophy at Downs in November. Photo: Michele MacDonald

• The superior of jockeys in last year’s as he Coast finished a neck in front of his Bob Christophe Soumillon and ; departed the gate bucking and had Baffert-trained stablemate Mubtaahij, • A return to center stage by Godolphin to be pulled up, left two American dirt who had finished second in the 2016 trainer Saeed bin Suroor after a champions in his wake as he barreled Dubai World Cup and fourth in the period in which he had struggled with around the 2000m of the Dubai World race last year. not receiving the stable’s best horses; Cup unthreatened under a bold front- • The continuing impact of American- running Soumillon ride. Breeders’ Cup Classic is the bred speed on global racing; A giddy Soumillon reported that he target now • An ongoing demonstration of female was surprised not to be challenged Looking ahead, Bin Suroor reported in mixed competition, even if early by the likes of American 3-year-old that he wants to eventually take there were no filly or mare winners on , and that he had Thunder Snow back to the United the night, and to keep Thunder Snow focused coming States, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic • A pronounced bias toward speed that down the stretch, knowing that the colt this autumn could be a goal. has developed on the Meydan dirt can be quirky. Just the thought of going back to track that proved difficult, although “When I came in the straight, I could Churchill Downs for that race made not impossible, to overcome. feel nobody was following me [see video Soumillon cover his face with his hands First and foremost, Thunder Snow above]. I knew I had to concentrate and laugh at the memory of the Derby and Mendelssohn undoubtedly were the because when he sees the big screen, debacle, but Thunder Snow’s ability, brightest stars of this eclectic show. he can do something sometimes,” when he chooses to employ it, is no Soumillon said, referring to the Derby laughing matter. Thunder Snow: How’s this for bucking. He has now won seven of 18 starts versatility? Thunder Snow defeated runner-up and placed seven times while banking a Thunder Snow, a two-time G1 winner West Coast by 5¾ lengths in track record sum calculated at $8,381,476 by Equibase on grass who famously pitched a fit time of 2:01.38 for the 2000m. West and at £6,302,421 by the Racing Post

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P3 In a league of his own: Mendelssohn draws just further and further clearn down the stretch in the UAE Derby. Photo: Michele MacDonald

based on relevant exchange rates. That son Audible won the hours Moore and Soumillon: Getting figure will make him 19th in the TRC list of after Mendelssohn’s tour de force. it done no matter what the highest earners in world “We will look forward to going to surface racing history, putting him second only to Kentucky with him now,” said trainer Aidan Likewise, Moore and Soumillon among European horses. O’Brien of Mendelssohn, who earned proved yet that they are A son of Australian-bred Helmet, by enough Kentucky Derby qualifying points unmatched riding wizards no matter , Thunder Snow is from to guarantee a spot in the starting gate the track. Together, they took home the female family of American champion for the Run for the Roses. “He is a terrific half the trophies of the Dubai World It’s In The Air and the remarkable Irish horse, really very exciting.” Cup program’s eight Thoroughbred Derby-winning filly . A mid-May foal, Mendelssohn is well races, with Soumillon also piloting known for his whinnying while training, the Aga Khan’s to an Mendelssohn: ‘He’s going to get and the colt came back to the Meydan unprecedented third win in the $1 even better’ winner’s circle while loudly announcing million , and Moore Yet there are few individuals that his arrival. O’Brien has described him as also steering home Heavy Metal to can match the pedigree excellence still “babyish” but Moore said he victory in the $1 million Godolphin of Mendelssohn, who delivered a is a very impressive classic candidate. Mile. scintillating 18½-length romp in the $2 “You’d have to go a long way to see a World-ranked 8, Soumillon, a million UAE Derby, his first start on dirt better performance than that,” Moore nine-time champion rider in , (see video below). He set a track record said of his UAE Derby experience. “He’s is coming off a year in which he set a for the 1900m (about 9½ furlongs, a horse with a lot of speed. He still feels European record with 306 winners, roughly equivalent to the distance of like there’s more physical improvement while Moore, the world #1, produced the Preakness Stakes) of 1:55.18 and in him, there’s more strengthening to in 2017 perhaps the finest year by now has run farther than any of his come — he’s going to get better. He’s a jockey in history. While they have anticipated rivals for the upcoming grown up a lot, but he’s still learning.” distinctively different personalities, Kentucky Derby. Mendelssohn won last year’s with the flamboyant Soumillon Coolmore paid $3 million for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and the declaring that there would be a big Mendelssohn when he was offered as a possibilities for him are basically party after the Dubai World Cup, and yearling. He is a son of the late brilliant unlimited due to his versatility. He is the shy Moore typically avoiding any sire and a half brother to now favorite for the Kentucky Derby spotlights, they share the innate ability multiple champion and to G1 virtually across the board with British to connect with their horses and get winner and top sire , whose bookmakers at a general 5/1. the best out of them.

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P4 TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P5

TB10411 GBRI TB Racing Commentary - Americans to Breeze Up Sales TRC A4 ad V2.indd 1 05/02/2018 17:20 Bin Suroor: Is his stable on the upswing again? Another star on the Dubai World Cup program was Bin Suroor, who returned to glory by marking an incredible eighth win the World Cup, which for long was the world’s richest race until the last two runnings of the owner-funded Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. Bin Suroor’s complaints last year that he had been mistreated by Sheikh Mohammed’s former top advisor, John Ferguson, in the allotment of Godolphin’s young horses led to Ferguson’s resignation. With Thunder Snow and $6 million winner , Suroor celebrated a huge night at Meydan, perhaps an indication that his stable is on the upswing again. “We have the best owner in Sheikh Mohammed. He is the best leader and gives us the best horses. It is a brilliant win,” an ecstatic Suroor said while Royal Ascot is on the agenda now for Benbatle, who was Saeed Bin Suroor’s sixth winner of the Dubai Turf. waving the gold whip he received as Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood the winning Dubai World Cup trainer.

Benbatl: ‘Europe needs to see him’ In addition to celebrating his eighth Dubai World Cup win, Suroor marked his sixth training triumph in the rich Dubai Turf. He said Benbatl would go on to Royal Ascot, since “Europe needs to see” the son of .

Two for Appleby too as Godolphin dominate Overall, Godolphin scored four big wins at Meydan, with Charlie Appleby registering his first two Dubai World Cup card triumphs via Jungle Cat in the $1 million and in the $6 million .

A showcase for U.S. sprinting Mind Your Biscuits (1) edging out XY Jet (2) in the Golden Shaheen. is just behind in third. Meanwhile, American sprinters hoto: Michele MacDonald also left their mark. Mind Your Biscuits led home a 1-2-3 finish in the $2 million Conquest Tsunami ran admirably Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1200m, getting up to defeat front- in the 1200m grass dash, finishing Sprint, Stormy Liberal fared poorly on running X Y Jet by a head with 2017 second and third, respectively. Miller his trip to last December and American champion sprinter Roy H also sent out Richard’s Boy, who struggled home 11th in the Hong Kong just three-quarters of a length back finished sixth of 13 runners in the race. Sprint. His Dubai performance against in third. “All three ran great. I couldn’t be Jungle Cat, an experienced runner on And, while Godolphin took home happier,” said Miller. “As for Stormy the course, impressively redeemed the Al Quoz Sprint trophy, Peter Miller’s Liberal, it was great to see him run to his credentials as an internationally American duo of Stormy Liberal and form. He just got beat.” competitive sprinter.

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P6 Ryan Moore (pale blue cap) took Heavy Metal into the lead soon after the gate opened in the , stuck to the inside and never looked like being beaten. Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins

Fillies and Mares: Who says mare was perhaps A hefty 75 percent of Thoroughbred they can’t compete against not at her best, according to jockey races at recent Meydan meetings the boys? Mike Smith, after being off the track before the World Cup card that were Likewise, several fillies and mares since her Breeders’ Cup Distaff win, conducted on a fast dirt surface were also ran well on the night, even if but she still finished fifth in the World won by horses who held the lead after winless, and showed yet again how Cup, ahead of the likes of Breeders’ four furlongs, according to a report special it can be when owners decide Cup Turf winner and in Racing Post. That of skewed to test them in open competition. multiple G1-placed colt . result is always questionable. Last year’s Dubai Turf heroine With a rich history that has , a daughter of , Dirt track speed bias: It’s time given us so many unforgettable earned second in this year’s edition it was addressed moments of brilliance — including of the race after having to rally from A final thought on World Cup ’s phenomenal run from behind and unable to catch winner night, which, as always, was a colorful last early to best last Benbatl, who had been forwardly spectacle unlike any other in the year to stamp himself as the leader placed. Another Japanese-bred filly, world, complete with a “half-time” of the 2017 World’s Best Racehorse , finished in a dead-heat for entertainment program of aerialists and Rankings — the World Cup program third. dancers on a rollaway stage: the dirt should always strive to create an And, while no one was going to track’s speed bias should be addressed. environment where all runners have dethrone Mendelssohn in the UAE It’s true that Mind Your Biscuits an equal chance to perform to their Derby, the filly Rayya was the one who was able to overcome a sluggish start ultimate abilities. prevailed over the other 11 runners, and run down X Y Jet, who raced Hopefully, with the best possible including multiple American stakes just off early leader Jordan Sport, surfaces in addition to the highest winner Reride, who was third, and but other dirt races yielded front- prizemoney packages, the Dubai Godolphin’s UAE 2000 Guineas winner running winners in Thunder Snow, World Cup will long continue to Gold Town, who finished fourth. Mendelssohn and Godolphin Mile deliver extraordinary performances American champion older filly or winner Heavy Metal. that will live on in sporting history.

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P7 Why 2018 could be a landmark year for so many top breeders

Nancy Sexton | March 18, 2018

Cairo Prince: “His progeny were so professional throughout the sales season. We have seen that professionalism continue during the breaking-in process at the farm,” says Airdrie Stud’s Cormac Breathnach

It’s all systems go in the North American A new racing year brings a new wave of hopes. Often investments are running and European flat seasons from next high and such is the nature of the bloodstock business that those involved weekend, with the start of the turf will know pretty swiftly whether their programs in Britain and and the decisions are to be rewarded or not. If anything, 2018 has the potential first of the 100-point trials (the Louisiana to be of greater significance for various major operations than other years. Derby) as the Road to the Kentucky Derby At Coolmore, for instance, hopes will be running high that can enters the home stretch. Here Nancy Sexton become their heir to while, at explains why this looks a particularly ’s Banstead Manor Stud, there is the mouth-watering prospect of intriguing year for the bloodstock industry. ’s first 2yos hitting the track. Over in the U.S., plenty of eyes will be on Airdrie Stud’s Cairo Prince, a member

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P8 of the hot Empire Maker sire line who himself as a truly exceptional miler, among them ’s dam Soviet made such a sparkling impression with capturing the Irish 2000 Guineas on Moon (foaled a filly named Strelka) and his first crop at the sales. Breeders bad ground before turning the tables the G1 winners Passage Of Time (foaled should also go some way to receiving a on in the St. James’s a colt named Tempus), Proportional definitive answer as to whether Galileo’s Palace Stakes. A resounding victory in (foaled a filly named Racine) and African sire line can gain a stable foothold in the the followed before a Rose (foaled a colt named Imotep). U.S. as the first foals by ’s brother career-capping win in the Prix Jacques The stallion also unsurprisingly Mission and Coolmore’s le Marois. attracted hefty support from outside take to the track. Meanwhile, Australia had followed breeders, including Sheikh Hamdan, Below is an outline of the various up his Newmarket run with bloodless who sent his Oaks and King George names for whom 2018 could become an victories in the Epsom and Irish Derbys. heroine , subsequently important year. Nor did a drop down to 1m2f hold any the dam of a filly named Jahafil, and fears as he easily went on to account Ballymacoll Stud, who sold a half-sister Young Stallions for in the Juddmonte to listed winner Abingdon for 1.7 million The 2014 edition of the 2000 Guineas International before running a creditable guineas to Moyglare Stud out of their at Newmarket is widely regarded as one if controversial second to the same dispersal at . Later named All of the best of recent years. Under an horse in the Irish . Our Tomorrows, she was the highlight inspired drive from , the Kingman stood his first season at of a bold auction showing for Kingman, 40/1 shot Night Of Thunder came with a Banstead Manor Stud for £55,000 while who ended 2017 with a yearling average rattling run to swoop and deny Kingman, Australia was priced by Coolmore at of 236,256gns. by that stage well clear of his rivals on €50,000. While Kingman bids to follow Frankel the other side of the track. Australia was Kingman, who boasts exceptional as a stallion capable of enhancing another head away in third with a cluster connections as an son Juddmonte’s future standing, many will of other G1 winners in behind. of , a classic-winning half-sister to be looking towards Australia, beautifully That was the last and only time that Banstead Manor linchpin , bred as a son of , as a Kingman and Australia clashed on the attracted a first book of 143 mares. The potential heir to Galileo for Coolmore. course. Kingman went on to establish list included 17 belonging to Juddmonte, Galileo has 11 G1-producing sons at

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TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P9 stud, including Frankel in addition to Stars to stud, as well as , and pinhookers and everything so far has Darley’s and Teofilo, yet another top miling son of Invincible been extremely positive. Cairo Prince will only one of that group, the ultimately Spirit who has alternated between have strong representation at the 2-year- disappointing , has Tweenhills Farm and Haras du Bonneval old sales, but also has a lot of progeny passed through Coolmore hands. during his stud career to date. in the hands of end-users, including the However, they have a stack of sons Meanwhile in the U.S., few young Airdrie homebreds. Ours were broken waiting in the , starting with stallions standing for under $15,000 in on the farm, and just recently started Australia and fellow Derby winner Ruler have caught the imagination in the track work at the Thoroughbred Center Of The World. manner of Cairo Prince. on Pike. They are coming along very Australia’s first 2yos include the Successful in the Nashua and Holy well. There is a great sense of excitement half-siblings to , and Bull Stakes, the son of Pioneerof The and anticipation. He couldn’t be set up Order Of St George as well as progeny Nile made an immediate commercial any better.” out of , impact when his first yearlings made up Cairo Prince’s fee has since been and . It has to help to $900,000 and averaged $138,279 - off raised to $25,000, the same figure initially that a sizeable number, including the a fee of just $10,000. By the same sire as commanded by Frankel’s brother Noble 525,000gns half-brother to Rekindling, American Pharoah and from the Empire Mission at Lane’s End Farm. A tough have headed to . Maker sire line also responsible for campaigner who swept the Tattersalls In what could become a Bodemeister, it’s not hard to see how he Gold Cup, Champion Stakes and Grand year for Coolmore, 2018 also sees the has gained such a depth of support. Prix de Saint-Cloud of 2014, spotlight turn to the first 2yos by their “The Cairo Princes are a very has benefitted from the support of his winner No Nay Never. uniform, consistent group,” says Cormac powerful connections, including breeder No Nay Never, a horse whose Breathnach, of Airdrie Stud. “He throws Juddmonte Farms, who have exported G1 record was underpinned by the his own likeness, which is everything several to race in Europe. With Frankel precocity so typical of his sire line, was you could hope for. Physically they are having made such an exceptional start, the first major son of Scat Daddy to stud leggy and athletic with good minds, there must be real hope within the Noble so, should he hit the ground running, it and they move very well – all the Mission camp that he can become that will lend confidence to those looking to attributes the market wants to see. His anticipated successful Kentucky-based support the likes of while temperament is a bonus. His progeny son of Galileo. providing Coolmore with a proven were so professional throughout There was also a good word for the option away from Sadler’s Wells and the sales season. We have seen that first crop of Coolmore’s Verrazano, the blood. And, while it is still very professionalism continue during the 2013 Haskell Invitational and Wood early days for Scat Daddy as a sire of breaking-in process at the farm.” Memorial winner whose yearlings sires, some encouragement should be Airdrie are renowned for strongly averaged $96,820 and sold for up to taken from the promising start made by supporting their stallions to the extent $650,000, as well as Three Chimneys winner Daddy Long that they have bred and/or campaigned Farm’s Will Take Charge, whose Legs in Chile. many of the leading runners by past and performances in 21 starts included a win No Nay Never’s first crop are present stallions. This year, the farm has in the and narrow defeat in scattered across some of Europe’s best five homebreds by Cairo Prince with the Breeders’ Cup Classic. With a strong trainers and include the half-siblings which to go to war. pedigree to back him up, some investors to Rule Of Law, The Last Lion and The “It is such an exciting group,” says were willing to take the view that this Wow Signal. The latter, a colt, sold Breathnach. “There is a beautiful filly out sound horse might just be the son of for 850,000gns to the JS Company at of the granddam of American Pharoah, Unbridled’s Song that clicks, and his first Tattersalls last October; he contributed as well as half siblings to stakes winners yearlings averaged $166,015 as a result. to an overall average of 114,643gns My Boy Jack, Divine Miss Grey and In , the tribe of first-crop names for his sire, who in turn stands for an Atigun, and a filly out of a War Front are led by Shadai Farm’s , increased €25,000 this season. mare who is as nice as any of them.” winner of the 2014 Dubai Duty Free. 2018 is also the year when we have He adds: “There is a great deal of By the stallion Heart’s the chance to evaluate the first runners excitement about how well his first Cry, he returned a yearling average of by Lanwades Stud’s German Derby hero 2-year-olds are training. We have heard 46,400,000 yen ($426,000) at last year’s , the first son of Sea The from a variety of the leading pre-trainers JRHA Select Yearling Sale.

Physically they are leggy and athletic with good minds, and they move very well – all the attributes the market wants to see.

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P10 in 2017 in 2017 Gr.1Gr.1 winners winners inin every every category category

MARSHA Sold inSold 2017 for in European 2017 Record for of 6,000,000 European Gns Record of 6,000,000 Gns Tattersalls DecemberTattersalls Mare Sale December Mare Sale

Foal FoalYearling 2yo YearlingHorse in Training Mare 2yo Horse in Training Mare

REKINDLINGREKINDLING HIGHLAND REEL HIGHLANDBRANDO LIBRISA REEL BREEZE LADDIES POKERBRANDO LIBRISA BREEZE LADDIES POKER MelbourneMelbourne Cup Gr. 1 HongCup Kong Gr. Vase Gr.1 1 Prix MauriceHong de Gheest KongGr. 1 BritishVase Champions Gr. 1 Sprint TWO Prixdam of WINTERMaurice de Gheest Gr. 1 British Champions Sprint TWO dam of Sold at TattersallsSold at PrinceTattersalls Of Wales’s Stakes Gr. 1 SoldPrince at Tattersalls Of Craven Wales’s StakesStakes Gr. 1 Gr. 1 NassauSold Stakes Gr.at 1 Tattersalls Gr. 1 Gr. 1 DecemberDecember Foal Sale CoronationFoal Sale Cup Gr. 1 BreezeCoronation Up Sale Sold Cup at Tattersalls Gr. 1 Autumn Coronation StakesBreeze Gr. 1 Up Sale Sold at Tattersalls Autumn Gr. 1 Sold at Tattersalls October Sold at TattersallsHorses in October Training Sale Irish 1000 Guineas Gr. 1 Horses in Training Sale Irish 1000 Guineas Gr. 1 Yearling Sale, Book 1 Yearling Sale, Book 1 1000 Guineas Gr. 1 1000 Guineas Gr. 1 Sold at Tattersalls Sold at Tattersalls December Mare Sale December Mare Sale

T: +44 1638 665931 [email protected]: +44www.tattersalls.com 1638 665931 [email protected] www.tattersalls.com TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P11 The Older Brigade Stoute, Ambition, the first foal out of out of listed winner Soon bought for 1.3 Among the older brigade in Europe, it Oaks heroine , who is with Richard million guineas and Beat The Bank’s 2yo is hard to any horse preventing Hughes, and Lord and Lady Lloyd- half-sister, a daughter of Exceed And Excel Galileo from landing yet another Webber’s Fughetta, the first foal out of who was acquired for 500,000gns. champion sires’ title. their multiple G1 winner . Another new force, Phoenix As has become the annual norm, “Fughetta is a very nice filly,” says , was also quick out of the Galileo headed into winter with an Simon Marsh, general manager of the blocks in 2017. One of the first regulated abundance of 2yo talent - think , Lloyd-Webber’s Watership Down Stud. Thoroughbred investment funds in the , Gustav Klimt and The Pentagon “She’s very like her mother - she has world, Phoenix Thoroughbred were among others - although he may not similar markings - but hopefully she significant players in the breeze-up have it all his own way across the classics might be a bit more precocious. market through Kerri Radcliffe, notably given that Ballydoyle also houses Saxon “She’s already with when paying a sale-topping $1.7 million Warrior and September, two top-class whereas The Fugue didn’t go to him until for a Congrats filly at the OBS March Sale prospects by Deep Impact. the first week of September. And what is and €1.4 million for a colt at There is also the ongoing upward lovely is the fact that she’s being ridden Arqana’s May Sale. ascent of Galileo’s own son Frankel to by Gary Foster, who rode The Fugue Results were swiftly forthcoming. The consider. Frankel signed off 2017 having every day, and looked after by Emily Congrats filly, Diamondsandpearls, ran sired the year’s highest-rated European Scragg, who also did The Fugue.” out the easy winner of her first start at 3yo colt, , out of his first Santa Anita, while the Street Sense colt, crop and with the likes of Elarqam, New Forces Walk In The Sun, recently lived up to the Rostropovich, Nelson and impressive Frankel’s band of newly turned 2yos hype with a winning debut for Jeremy Leopardstown debutant Contingent includes one very special filly in the Noseda at Kempton. among his 3yos for 2018, he looks half-sister to Talent who commanded 2.5 The young operation also has a live certain to assume even higher ranking. million guineas at last year’s Tattersalls chance for the in the As ever, Galileo also has a regal crop October Sale. The filly was snapped up unbeaten Starlet Stakes winner Dream Tree. of newly turned 2yos to represent him, by Alastair Donald on behalf of Vichai She complements a cluster of promising including Gloam, the filly out of Srivaddhanaprabha’s King Power Racing, European-based 3yos with Noseda that who topped the Tattersalls October a new force within the sport whose include Lansky, Take Me With You and Sale at 4 million guineas. She was one horses are split between , Gronkowski, allowing for the real prospect of several by her sire at auction last year Richard Hannon and Ralph . of a breakthrough season in 2018. to head to Godolphin in a move that King Power tasted early success It also promises to be an interesting confirmed the end of their sale-ring through the private purchase of Beat The year for Peter Brant, a returning player to boycott of Coolmore-sired progeny. Bank, who progressed under Balding’s the sport, whose burgeoning string with In return, Coolmore themselves came guidance from a Newmarket conditions Chad Brown in the U.S. includes the Prix away from Tattersalls with the Dubawi race win to a five-length success in the G2 de Diane and Invitational colt out of 1000 Guineas heroine Sky . However, Srivaddhanaprabha runner-up Sistercharlie. Lantern, who cost 2 million guineas. is set to assume far greater prominence Brant also has a legitimate European Dubawi’s current crop of 2yos were this season if last year’s auction presence classic contender on his hands in bred when he stood for £125,000 and is anything to go by. In addition to the Albany Stakes winner Different League, also include Calculation, the first foal Frankel - Prowess filly, who has been purchased in partnership with MV out of The Queen’s handed the ambitious name of King Magnier for 1.5 million guineas at the winner , who is with Sir Michael Power, their string includes a Dubawi filly Tattersalls December Sale.

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P12 American Pharoah: just one of the Triple Crown winners you’ll find floating down the Mississippi

Amanda Duckworth | March 19, 2018

The 120-foot long American Pharoah is the largest of the Turn Services New Orleans fleet. Photos: Turn Services

Anyone in New Orleans for the Louisiana Derby when he came to the United States to make his way in the world, he should keep an eye out on the river for American started as a groom at Spendthrift Farm. Pharoah. Not THE American Pharoah, of course, “He decided to try to make the but rather M/V American Pharoah, one of American Dream happen, and he moved to Lexington to become about two dozen tow boats named after famous a farm hand,” said Mario Muñoz, the president of Turn Services. racehorses that make up Turn Services’ fleet. “Mucking stalls and doing whatever he could do, that was his first foray into business here. He came to the While it might be unexpected to see of the largest independent fleeting and U.S. with about $400 in his pocket, the likes of and shifting companies in the United States. got a job at Spendthrift, and the floating down the Mississippi River, Turn The company’s current chairman, rest is history. He’s always loved Services was founded in 1990 and is one David Fennelly, was born in Ireland, and horses.”

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P13 Fennelly worked at Spendthrift for several years then got into the coal transportation business on the rivers before eventually buying Turn Services. “Back in 2004, when David and his business partner actually purchased Turn Services from the founder, Frank Morton, we had one boat and that’s it,” said Muñoz. “It was a one-boat fleet. We knew that we were going to grow, though, and, as we had a plan to start acquiring new boats, there was a discussion about what to name them.” While many companies traditionally name boats after people, the powers-that-be decided they would rather go for a theme. The : “There are a lot of great horses from the past that have captured the hearts and minds of the Morton suggested using Triple Crown world when they were racing, and we try to honor them,” says Turn Services president Mario Muñoz winners, and Fennelly loved the idea. “He always loved racehorses, and their strength and determination is exactly the kind of motto we want Other horses who did not win Full circle with our organization, both when it the Triple Crown but are celebrated has become part of the comes to our teammates and to the include the likes of tradition at Turn Services, and so each services we provide our customers,” and , as well as the newest Triple Crown season brings with it a said Muñoz. “We named the first one member of the fleet, Barbaro. certain amount of anticipation. after Secretariat. We never would “We thought it would be fun to “Obviously, with the Fair Grounds have thought the company would do an online poll on Facebook for down here, New Orleans is a pretty big grow beyond the number of Triple our newest boat,” said Muñoz. “The horse racing town,” said Muñoz. “It is Crown winners, but we soon did.” three names we had people vote just exciting, and people get involved on were Barbaro, War Emblem, and and follow these horses, especially Delving deeper Alysheba, and Barbaro got the most when you have a horse win the Derby At the time Turn Services began votes.” and the Preakness, and the energy using racehorse names, there were Of course, after American starts. 11 Triple Crown winners. When the Pharoah’s exploits in 2015, there “Every year, if a horse has won the complete list had been run through, was no debate about what the next first two legs of the Triple Crown, we it was time to find another set of boat would be named. After all, he throw a huge Belmont Stakes party criteria for its ever-growing fleet. was the first horse to capture the for all of our friends and clients and “After we ran out of Triple Crown Triple Crown since Turn Services customers. With American Pharoah, we winners, we started looking at began naming its vessels after such had rented out a restaurant, and, boy, other famous Thoroughbreds,” champions. was that a great time when he actually said Muñoz. “It is actually a pretty Last February, the tow boat won. It is a lot of fun, and people all involved process when we decide we American Pharoah had its official over our industry have had a lot of fun are either going to acquire or build christening. Rather appropriately, it with it.” another vessel. We all get together stood out among the crowd as well. Much like Fennelly, Muñoz also has internally and look at the history of At 120 feet by 34 feet with an 11-foot a tie to horse racing. Prior to working these racehorses. draft and rated at 4,000 horsepower, for Turn Services, he spent most of his “We have boats like the Man o’ War the American Pharoah became the professional career in Louisville, where and the Native Dancer. The names largest towboat in the company’s it is almost impossible to avoid the have to be interesting, but it also has fleet. impact of the Kentucky Derby. to be a Thoroughbred that has got “It is typical with our boats “From years and years of attending winning traditions. There are a lot of to celebrate the christening, but the Kentucky Derby, I got excited about great horses from the past that have indeed it was a much bigger event horse racing,” said Muñoz. “When you captured the hearts and minds of the because he was a Triple Crown live in Kentucky, it is all around you. world when they were racing, and we winner and all the excitement that I personally don’t have any ties to try to honor them.” revolved around that,” said Muñoz. Thoroughbreds, but I really enjoy horse

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P14 racing. Now, I have been at Turn Services five years, and it’s pretty cool we have this tradition.” As for Fennelly, he has gone from naming boats after Thoroughbreds to owning his own. “He has bought a horse farm in Lexington, and he is now in the Thoroughbred business,” said Muñoz. “He went from being a hand at Spendthrift to buying and raising Thoroughbreds on his own farm. He spends a lot of time in Lexington, and he really loves having his farm and coming back full circle to his roots.” Being based in New Orleans, Turn Services is aware of the importance of the Louisiana Derby to its local track. The Man o’ War, named after the great champion of the 1920s As such, it traditionally has named crew boats — which are smaller, passenger vessels used to shuttle crews around — after Louisiana Derby winners, so fans of will be given to a tow boat rather than a will have two more that we will name Black Gold, Risen Star, Dixieland Heat, crew boat. It would only be fair since he after Thoroughbreds,” said Muñoz. “Gun and Pyro, to name a few, should also went on to be the 2017 Horse of the Year. Runner will definitely be in the mix when keep an eye out. “We are actually in the process of it comes time to decide, and I think it However, there is a good chance that building two new boats that we will take would be a really great name for a boat the 2016 Louisiana Derby winner’s name delivery of at the end of this year, so we on the river.”

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P15 Is moving down under the only realistic option for a talented female jockey?

Chris Smith | March 16, 2018

Rachel King: “If I was to go back home [to ], I would have to stop riding.” Photo: Racing NSW

Rachel King is a classic example of two things: She decided to stay, to see if things would be any better for an aspiring jockey there. how hard work and perseverance can pay off They were. But she had to knuckle down before she got the chances she craved. if you keep at it, and how female jockeys have a Apprenticed to the Gai Waterhouse/ massively better chance of succeeding if they are Adrian Bott training partnership, King was put to work without getting a ride for riding in Australia or New Zealand. several months. Eventually, she began to get a few opportunities, first at country and provincial tracks, more recently at the King, 27, is British. She rode with some moment after winning an ‘amateur lady big city tracks like Randwick and Rosehill success in her homeland, with 27 wins on jockeys’ hurdle’ on a rainswept winter’s (Waterhouse and Bott are based in ). the flat and over jumps during five years as day at racecourse in England in She began to impress. “She has a great an amateur and a period as an apprentice. December, 2012. nature with horses and they just run for She had some great times. Just look It all changed a few months later, when her,” Bott told the Sydney Morning Herald at the picture below of her enjoying the she went on a short holiday to Australia. last June. “She is a very good judge of

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P16 speed, which is so important to us. She is going to get a lot of chances in the next year because she knows our horses very well.” King has now ridden 174 winners, 27 of them for Waterhouse and Bott, and her mounts have earned over A$6 million in prize money. Last Friday she partnered her first Group winner when Lanciato took a seven-furlong G3 at north of Sydney for trainer Mark Newnham. King had been placed several times in 25 previous Group-race rides (all in the last six months), and the TRC algorithm is sufficiently impressed to push her up into a tie for #283 in the world jockeys’ rankings. Ironically, she now has one point more than her boyfriend, fellow rider Blake Mud-spattered but delighted: Rachel King after a victory over hurdles at Ludlow, England, in 2012. Photo: Spriggs. amateurjockeys.org.uk This week’s rise puts King comfortably into the top ten of female jockeys worldwide in the standings, which measure Which explains why King is unlikely to And later she told the Melbourne success in Group and Graded races return to ride in the UK anytime soon. Herald-Sun: “My intention was to go back to worldwide. “If I was to go back home I would have England and ride over there. But I realised Click here to see the table showing how to stop riding,” she told the Sydney Morning there are more opportunities for the girls the top females ranked at the end of the Herald. “I wouldn’t be able to have a career here, so I changed my plans. I would be January. You will notice there were only back in England. It is just a struggle. I don’t happy if I had five rides in a week at home, 16 in the top 500, and that 13 of those are see there is a place for female jockeys over whereas here I can sometimes have five based in either Australia or New Zealand. there.” rides in a day.”

Dante Festival Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 and Friday 18 May.

To book your raceday experience go to yorkracecourse.co.uk or call 01904 620911

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P17 Sign up for our free newsletter

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Join the conversation on social media... /ThoroughbredRacingCommentary @TRCommentary TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P18 25 March 2018

Jockeys Owners

Modal Modal Rank Name Points Rank Name Points Country Country

1 Ryan Moore Great Britain 1103 1 Coolmore Partners Ireland 1097

2 Australia 1056 2 Godolphin Australia 1068

3 Mirco Demuro Japan 1054 3 Magic Bloodstock Et Al Australia 1035

4 Great Britain 1035 3 Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum Great Britain 1035

4 Mike E Smith USA 1035 5 Juddmonte Farms USA 1028

6 Javier Castellano USA 1030 6 Sunday Racing Co Ltd Japan 1022

7 Christophe-Patrice Lemaire Japan 1025 7 Al Shaqab Racing France 1017

8 Christophe Soumillon France 1012 8 WinStar Farm Et Al USA 1013

9 Kerrin McEvoy Australia 1010 9 H H Aga Khan France 1011

10 Jose L Ortiz USA 1006 10 Hajime Satomi Japan 1007

11 Yutaka Take Japan 1002 11 Mayfair Speculators Et Al South Africa 1001

12 Florent Geroux USA 999 12 China Horse Club Et Al Australia 999

12 Great Britain 999 13 U Carrot Farm Japan 995

14 Joao Moreira Australia 997 14 Australian Bloodstock Australia 993

15 Julien R Leparoux USA 994 15 Sheep Pond Partners Et Al USA 991

Trainers Sires

Modal Modal Rank Name Points Rank Name Points Country Country

1 A P O'Brien Ireland 1078 1 Galileo Great Britain 1054

2 USA 1047 2 Dubawi Great Britain 1044

3 Chad C Brown USA 1038 3 Deep Impact Japan 1022

4 Darren Weir Australia 1037 4 Snitzel Australia 1020

5 Charlie Appleby Great Britain 1032 5 Frankel Great Britain 1018

6 John Gosden Great Britain 1026 6 I Am Invincible Australia 1008

7 John Moore Hong Kong 1022 6 Not A Single Doubt Australia 1008

8 J Size Hong Kong 1014 8 Medaglia D'oro USA 1005

9 Chris Waller Australia 1009 8 Scat Daddy USA 1005

10 A Fabre France 1007 8 Australia 1005

11 Saeed bin Suroor Great Britain 1006 11 Dark Angel Great Britain 1004

12 D Hayes, B Hayes & T Dabernig Australia 1003 12 Fastnet Rock Australia 1002

12 USA 1003 13 USA 1001

14 Yasutoshi Ikee Japan 1000 13 Iffraaj Great Britain 1001

15 A S Cruz Hong Kong 999 13 Kitten's Joy USA 1001

TRC March 2018 / The Meydan spectacular/ A landmark year for so many top breeders? / Triple Crown winners floating down the Mississippi / It’s so much better for female riders down under / P19