IT’S DANEHILL DAY AT ASCOT HEADLINE p1, 2 & 5 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2006 HEAD OF STATE KING OF THE HILL With a furlong to run, everybody was wondering After purchasing King of the Roxy (Littleexpectations) what all the worry had been about. George Washington off his July 2 maiden victory, Team Valor=s Barry Irwin (Ire) (Danehill) scythed through the high-class field said, AHe=s potentially a $2 million horse with an assembled for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot $8,000 pedigree.@ While the future value of the two- yesterday and asserted his au- year-old colt--the third horse through the ring on the thority with a decisive victory. final day of last year=s There had been much talk of his Keeneland September sale-- quirks, the injury that had kept will be determined over him off the scene throughout the time, he took a promising summer and the rain-softened first step yesterday, coming ground, but in the end Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Der- from just off the pace to land the GII Futurity S. at racingpost.co.uk rick Smith=s flagship took it all in impressive stride. Coming off the Belmont Park. A dull and bridle only to dismiss Araafa (Ire) (Mull of Kintyre) at green fifth in his racetrack debut at Hollywood Park the eighth pole, the crowd=s choice recorded a cozy King of the Roxy Adam Coglianese success at the line. AHe=s unbelievably special,@ trainer May 18, the Ohio-bred was Aidan O=Brien commented. Cont. p2 fitted with blinkers for his next start and put it all to- gether, graduating by 2 3/4 lengths in a very profes- Saturday, Ascot, Britain sional effort July 2. He proved he belonged with this QUEEN ELIZABETH II S.-G1, ,250,000, Ascot, 9-23, kind of horse when finishing runner-up in the GII 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:40.06, gd/sf. Saratoga Special S. Aug. 17 and went one better yes- 1--GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE), 125, c, 3, by Danehill terday, rallying four wide on the turn before staying on 1st Dam: Bordighera (SP-Fr), by Alysheba 2nd Dam: Blue Tip (Fr), by Tip Moss (Fr) gamely for the win. AI thought he got some good expe- 3rd Dam: As Blue (GB), by Blue Tom rience out of his last race,@ said winning trainer Todd (1,150,000gns yrl >04 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Pletcher. AHe is still learning a little bit. He is still look- Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lael Stables; ing around a little bit. Each race and each work, he gets T-Aidan O=Brien; J-Michael Kinane; ,141,950. a little more focused.@ Futurity S. chart p4 Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Eur, Hwt. 2yo Colt-Ire, MG1SW-Ire, 9-6-1-2, ,710,202. *1/2 to Grandera STRONG CONTENDER LAYS DOWN THE LAW (Ire) (Grand Lodge), Ch. Older Horse-Eur, Hwt. Older John Oxley=s Strong Contender (Maria=s Mon) sat a Horse-Ire & GB at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Ire, GB & Mal, perfect ground-saving trip beneath Robby Albarado, GSW-UAE, G1SP-Fr & Aus, $2,873,271. switched out three wide for the drive and ran down 2--Araafa (Ire), 125, c, 3, Mull of Kintyre--Resurgence odds-on Lawyer Ron (Langfuhr) to post a one-length (GB), by Polar Falcon. (48,000gns wnl '03 TATDEC; victory in yesterday=s 27th running of the GII Super 150,000gns yrl '04 TATOCT). O-Saleh Al Homaizi & Derby S. at Louisiana Downs. Super Derby cont. p4 Imad Al Sagar; B-Sweetmans Bloodstock; T-Jeremy Noseda; ,53,800. 3--Court Masterpiece (GB), 129, h, 6, Polish Precedent-- MEADOW BREEZE BLOWS THRU MATRON Easy Option, by Prince Sabo (GB). O/B-Gainsborough Unheralded Meadow Breeze (Meadowlake), racing at Stud; T-Ed Dunlop; ,26,925. the fifth different track in her six-race career, raced Margins: 1 1/4, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 13-8, 7-1, 13-2. prominently throughout and dug in gamely for a head Also Ran: Killybegs (Ire), Proclamation (Ire), Librettist, victory at odds of 34-1 in yesterday=s GI Matron S. at River Tiber (GB), Ivan Denisovich (Ire). Scr.: Nannina. Belmont Park. Matron cont. p3 TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 9/24/06 • PAGE 2 of 10 Queen Elizabeth II S. cont. The word was out about George Washington before P R E S U L T S P he set foot on a racecourse and he proved it was for real when winning the G1 Phoenix S. by eight lengths Saturday, Ascot, Britain last August. Put away for the winter after a follow-up MEON VALLEY STUD FILLIES= MILE-G1, ,200,000, in the G1 National S. the next month, he arrived at Ascot, 9-23, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:41.89, gd/sf. Newmarket for the May 6 G1 2000 Guineas with a tidal 1--sSIMPLY PERFECT (GB), 124, f, 2, by Danehill wave of expectation behind him. The bay treated a 1st Dam: Hotelgenie Dot Com (GB) high-quality field with disdain there, cruising to a 22- (G1SP-GB & Ire), by Selkirk length tally over subsequent G1 Epsom Derby winner 2nd Dam: Birch Creek (GB), by Carwhite (Ire) Sir Percy (GB), but he tore muscles in his hindquarters 3rd Dam: Deed (GB), by Derring-Do (GB) when second to Araafa in the Irish equivalent at The (220,000gns yrl '05 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Curragh three weeks later. Nursed back to health for Michael Tabor & Susan Magnier; B-Trehedyn Stud & Goodwood=s G2 Celebration Mile, he got going late Quarry Bloodstock; T-Jeremy Noseda; J-Darryll after a slow start to be third in that contest Aug. 27, Holland; 134,324. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-1, but was just warming up for his tour de force here. , Steadied in mid-pack early as his pacemakers carved ,200,277. out the fractions, he was boxed in between rivals turn- 2--Treat (GB), 124, f, 2, Barathea (Ire)--Cream Tease ing into the straight, with Mick Kinane keeping a tight (GB), by Pursuit Of Love (GB). (39,000gns wnlg '04 hold. Allowed some rein approaching the final furlong, TATDEC; 80,000gns yrl '05 TATOCT). O-Highclere he responded to pick up Araafa and Christophe Thoroughbred Racing XXXVI; B-A J Coleing; T-Mick Soumillon in a matter of strides before being coaxed to Channon; ,50,910. a facile score. AThey went a nice pace and we got in 3--English Ballet (Ire), 124, f, 2, Danehill Dancer (Ire)-- behind [trainer] Jeremy [Noseda]=s colt, as I knew he=d Stage Presence (Ire), by Selkirk. (i70,000 yrl '05 take me where I wanted to go,@ said winning rider Mick TATIRE). O-David Reid Scott & Sangster Family; Kinane. AWhen I asked him, he went by him very easily. B-Swettenham Stud; T-Barry Hills; ,25,479. I=ve ridden good milers, but none better than him and Margins: 1HF, 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 11-4, 16-1, 5-2. there were never any worries today--he behaved impec- Also Ran: Satulagi, Gaudeamus, Sesmen (GB), Alexan- cably and he was very content going out and going der Tango (Ire), Lost In Wonder. down before the start, showing a great attitude. People were probably all too quick to knock him down after a Fillies Mile cont. p3 farce of a race at Goodwood on his comeback with a penalty, but I got on well with him that day and he=s an exceptionally good horse.@ Aidan O=Brien is looking to TDN CRITERIA Churchill Downs Nov. 4 and the GI Breeders= Cup Mile The races covered in the TDN are as follows: with George Washington. AEverybody saw it today and Stakes - purses of $40,000/up Mick said he was just half-speeding, the conditioner @ Allowance Races - purses of $20,000/up added. He grew up great after Goodwood and Mick A Optional Claiming Races - purses of $20,000/up and learnt a lot about him that day. He=s becoming a man a minimum claiming price of $25,000 now--he=s been a little bit immature, but he walked into Maiden Special Weight Races - purses of $18,000/up the parade ring fine. We=d love to go for the Mile and I Maiden Claiming Races - purses of $18,000/up and think that=s where we=ll go.@ Click for the Racing Post a minimum claiming price of $40,000 chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. www.stonewallstallions.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 9/24/06 • PAGE 3 of 10 Fillies Mile cont. Saturday, Belmont Park It has been a case of perfect progression as far as MATRON S.-GI, $250,000, BEL, 9-23, 2yo, f, 7f, Simply Perfect is concerned this term and she contin- 1:24 4/5, ft. ued the upward trend with a game success in this 1--s@#MEADOW BREEZE, 119, f, 2, by Meadowlake contest. Beaten only by the subsequent G1 Prix Morny 1st Dam: Unacloud, by Unaccounted For hero Dutch Art (GB) at Windsor on debut June 5, she 2nd Dam: Cloud's Ambre, by Two Punch filled the same spot 16 days later in the G2 Queen 3rd Dam: Arctic Cloud, by Yukon Mary S. over five furlongs at the Royal meeting here. ($45,000 yrl '05 FTKJUL). O-Willow Rock Stable Trying a furlong further, she graduated in a Lingfield LLC; B-Stoneriggs Farm, Inc (FL); T-Carl J Deville; maiden July 14 before returning to this venue to finish J-K J Desormeaux; $150,000.