HEADLINE NEWS For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009 ABBEY ON CLASSICS ROAD SAFE “HAVEN” IN DEFRANCIS DASH Backing up a first pattern score in last month=s He looked to be spinning his wheels as they raced G2 Juddmonte Beresford S. at The Curragh, Derrick around the bend in yesterday=s GI Frank J. DeFrancis Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor=s St Nicholas Dash at Laurel Park, but 4-5 chalk Vineyard Haven (Lido Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) laid down a spectacular Palace {Chi}) wasn=t done marker for next season=s Clas- yet. Jockey Alan Garcia sics with a hugely impressive kept the paddle-wheeling triumph in Saturday=s G1 Rac- grey on the fence as they ing Post Trophy at Doncaster. straightened for home and, Ridden with patience from the under a steady left-handed outset, the 13-8 favorite settled whip, the colt closed the Britain=s final Group 1 contest gap. He still seemed to be of the year in an instant. He up against it as they quickened to the front ap- reached the final furlong, Horsephotos proaching the final furlong and but Vineyard Haven fin- burst clear thereafter to easily ished with a flourish, driving past Ravalo (Mutakddim) defeat Elusive Pimpernel (Elu- from the inside in the shadow of the wire to win it by a Getty Images sive Quality) by 3 3/4 lengths. half-length. ADuring the first part of the race I wasn=t AI was concerned about the sure we were going to be able to get there, but when ground because he=s a very light moving horse,@ admit- the rail opened my horse just started running for the ted trainer Aidan O=Brien, who claimed his fifth renewal hole,@ said Garcia. AHe is a really nice horse. This was a with the win. AWhen you see a horse that can relax, great effort.@ Added Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer travel and quicken the way he does, it=s very exciting. Saeed bin Suroor, AGoing three-quarters instead of He=s a natural, and all we have to do is mind him. He seven-eighths makes it an entirely different race. These has that real speed a miler needs to have.@ Cont. p2 horses run hard every step. Most have a good amount of speed themselves, and they don=t stop until the wire. Saturday, Doncater, Britain This was as good a race as he has ever run. It was a RACING POST TROPHY-G1, ,200,000, Doncaster, great performance, and Alan gave him a really good 10-24, 2yo, c/f, 1mT, 1:39.62, gd/sf. ride.@ Cont. p3 1--sST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Montjeu (Ire) 1st Dam: Leaping Water (GB), by Sure Blade 2nd Dam: Flamenco Wave, by Desert Wine 3rd Dam: Armada Way, by Sadair (200,000gns yrl >08 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barton Bloodstock & Villiers Syndicate; T-Aidan O=Brien; J-Johnny Murtagh; ,113,540. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 3-3-0-0, ,197,853. *1/2 to Grammarian (Definite Article {GB}), MGSW & GISP-US, $374,966. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree. 2--Elusive Pimpernel, 124, c, 2, Elusive Quality--Cara Fantasy (Ire), by Sadler=s Wells. O/B-Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc; T-John Dunlop; ,43,040. 3--Al Zir, 124, c, 2, Medaglia d=Oro--Bayou Plans, by Bayou Hebert. ($325,000 RNA yrl >08 KEESEP; $1,600,000 2yo >09 FTFFEB). O-Godolphin; B-Jacks or Better Farm Inc; T-Saeed bin Suroor; ,21,540. Margins: 3 3/4, 2HF, NK. Odds: 13-8, 4-1, 9-2. Also Ran: Dancing David (Ire), Morana (Ire), Shake- spearean (Ire), Hanson=d (Ire), Al Ghazal, Musaafer (Ire), Coordinated Cut (Ire), Elusive Award. Scr: Big Audio (Ire). P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 10/25/09 • PAGE 2 of 8 Racing Post Trophy cont. Speed to Spare... Aidan O'Brien had trained four previous winners of AHe=s an exciting horse with great speed,@ said this end-of-season championship, but bridged a seven- Johnny Murtagh. AHe has a great cruising gear and a year gap since the 2002 success of Brian Boru (GB) great turn of foot. They went a nice gallop, but it was (Sadler=s Wells)with the nothing special. When I got him out running to the scintillating performance of furlong pole, I asked him to quicken and it was all St Nicholas Abbey. Step- over.@ O=Brien added, AThey went slow, Johnny was ping out with a four-length super cool on him, and that was very special. He=s one debut success going a mile of those unique horses who has loads of speed and at The Curragh Aug. 16, St class, and the trip doesn=t seem to be a problem.@ Vet- Nicholas Abbey confirmed eran handler John Dunlop was delighted with the per- initial promise with a cozy formance of the hitherto unbeaten Elusive Pimpernel, win in the G2 Juddmonte and told PA Sport, AHe has run a cracking race and I Beresford S. back over that think it will prove no disgrace to have been beaten by course and distance in his that winner. You have to be very pleased with that, only other go Sept. 27. although I suppose I could be more pleased, but there Jockey Johnny Murtagh you go.@ Connections of third placegetter Al Zir, who employed patience from also relinquished his unbeaten record, were content flagfall in this sterner test, with his performance. Godolphin Racing Manager Si- and positioned his mount mon Crisford told PA Sport, AAl Zir has run very well, Getty Images behind all 10 rivals. Cruis- and there are no excuses. The winner looked very spe- ing into contention passing the two pole, St Nicholas cial, and we are going to look forward to next year Abbey put the race to bed in one fell swoop, and left now. Al Zir will be a mile-and-a-quarter horse next his rivals for dust thereafter to earn quotes as low as season, although he may stay a bit further, and I think 5-2 for next term=s G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Epsom he is a horse who needs a winter on his back.@ Derby. Click for the TVG PPs, Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, cour- tesy of attheraces. RECENT WINNERS - RACING POST TROPHY Yr Winner Sire Trainer Sire of 9 Stakes Winners and 13 Stakes Wins in 2009 and ‘08 Crowded House (GB) Rainbow Quest Meehan ‘07 Ibn Khaldun Dubai Destination bin Suroor sire of 4-time stakes winner ‘06 Authorized (Ire) Montjeu (Ire) Chapple-Hyam HAYNESFIELD ($354,381), ‘05 Palace Episode Machiavellian Ryan winner of the $250,000 Empire Classic S. at Belmont ‘04 Motivator (GB) Montjeu (Ire) Bell ‘03 American Post (GB) Bering (GB) Head-Maarek ‘02 Brian Boru (GB) Sadler’s Wells O’Brien ‘01 High Chaparral (Ire) Sadler’s Wells O'Brien GI DeFrancis Dash Vineyard Haven (Lido Palace {Chi}) ‘00 Dilshaan (GB) Darshaan (GB) Stoute charges up the rail to win it at 4-5. ‘99 Aristotle (Ire) Sadler’s Wells O'Brien GII Raven Run S. Satans Quick Chick (Sky Mesa) spurts ‘98 Commander Collins (Ire) Sadler’s Wells Chapple-Hyam through from the inside, posting the 23-1 upset. P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 10/25/09 • PAGE 3 of 8 Saturday, Laurel Park Saturday, Keeneland Race Course FRANK J. DE FRANCIS MEMORIAL DASH S.-GI, LEXUS RAVEN RUN S.-GII, $300,000, KEE, 10-24, $300,000, LRL, 10-24, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09 3/5, sy. 3yo, f, 7f (AWT), 1:22 3/5, ft. 1--VINEYARD HAVEN, 116, c, 3, by Lido Palace (Chi) 1--#@SATANS QUICK CHICK, 117, f, 3, by Sky Mesa 1st Dam: Princess Aloha, by Aloha Prospector 1st Dam: Dancing Devlette (MGSP, $179,787), by Devil's Bag 2nd Dam: Prestigeous Lady, by Bold Josh 2nd Dam: Terpsichorist, by Nijinsky II 3rd Dam: Salt Meadow Lady, by La Cimas Prince 3rd Dam: *Glad Rags II, by High Hat (GB) O-Godolphin; B-L Scace (FL); T-S bin Suroor; J-A Garcia; ($37,000 yrl '07 KEESEP). O-Jerry Jamgotchian; $180,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-1-1, $671,500. *1/2 B-Hargus & Sandra Sexton (KY); T-Eric R Reed; to On the Vineyard (Lite the Fuse), MSW, $213,047. J-Leandro R Goncalves; $180,000. Lifetime Record: Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 9-4-0-1, $252,229. *1/2 to Pratella (Jade Hunter), Broken by Crupi’s New Castle Farm GSW, $459,622; and Satan's Code (Polish Numbers), MSW, $210,503. Werk Nick Rating: A. 2--Ravalo, 118, g, 5, Mutakddim--Momentary Hope, by Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Southern Halo. ($32,000 RNA wlng '04 KEENOV; SATANS QUICK CHICK SELLS AS HIP 3 AT FT NOV. $30,000 yrl '05 FTMOCT). O-Lindy M Redding; B-Heaven Trees (KY); T-Donald H Barr; $60,000. 2--Slides Choice, 119, f, 3, Devil His Due--Slide Along, 3--Fleet Valid, 118, g, 6, Montbrook--Di's Song, by by Binalong. O-Mary Crawford & Gerald Brown; Valid Appeal. ($27,000 RNA yrl '04 OBSAUG). B-Stephen Cronenwett & Mary Crawford (OH); O-Shillelagh Racing Stables; B-Joseph & Helen T-Timothy E Hamm; $60,000. Barbazon (FL); T-Scott J Volk; $33,000. 3--Don'ttalktome, 117, f, 3, Cactus Ridge--Withdrawn, Margins: HF, HF, 3HF.