SUNDAY, 12 MARCH, 2017 TEOFILO GELDING TOPS AUSTRALIAN CUP NOBLE MISSION THRIVING Humidor (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) had missed the winner=s enclosure by less than a length on his three prior starts this IN THIRD YEAR AT STUD term, but he put it all together when it mattered most on Saturday, earning a first Group 1 win in the A$1.5-million Australian Cup at Flemington. The bay, who was purchased in part by his new ownership group from New Zealand in the spring, made a lone start in Australia last season, finishing ninth in the G1 Cantala S. He was beaten 3/4 of a length first-up over 1400 metres in the Listed John Dillon S. at Caulfield on Jan. 26, and shortened the margin to just a quarter-length when second in the G3 Carlyon Cup on Feb. 11 and the G2 Peter Young S. on Feb. 25. Traveling with just two behind down the backstretch on Saturday as Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) set the pace from Awesome Rock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) on his outside, Humidor began to gradually pick off rivals on the outside rounding the turn. Widest of all at the top of the lane as Jameka struck the front, Humidor worked his way down the middle of the track under Damian Lane, drawing even with the mare at the 50-metre mark and Noble Mission at Lane=s End Farm in Kentucky | Matt Goins ultimately getting her measure by a neck. Cont. in Worldwide News p8 By Kelsey Riley The imminent beginning of the flat season in Europe means the first crop of Frankel (GB) will soon get its chance at Classic success. Those first 2-year-olds by the peerless unbeaten champion could hardly have made a better first impression, and not only in Europe; he notched a Group 1 winner in Japan in the form of Classic hopeful Soul Stirring (Jpn), and he also has >TDN Rising Star= and Group 3 winner Mi Suerte (Jpn) going for him in the same country. All this bodes well for Frankel=s year-younger full-brother Noble Mission (GB) who, across the Atlantic in Kentucky, is standing his third season at Lane=s End Farm. AWe=re very encouraged by Frankel=s start over in Europe and how well he=s started out with his first-crop 2-year-olds,@ said Humidor wins the Australian Cup from Jameka | Bronwen Healy Lane=s End=s Bill Farish. AI don=t think it surprises anyone that he would start off well, but a lot of times when horses start in that kind of stud fee range and with those kinds of expectations it=s IN TDN AMERICA TODAY hard to live up to them, and he=s certainly done that. That bodes MASTERY SUSTAINS INJURY IN SAN FELIPE WIN well for Noble Mission, being a full-brother.@ ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mastery (Candy Ride {Arg}) romped in the GII Farish noted that those same expectations placed on Frankel San Felipe S. Saturday, but sustained a condylar fracture to his have almost become a burden for Noble Mission as well. left front leg. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 12 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 12 MARCH, 2017 Noble Mission Thriving in Third Year at Stud Cont. from p1 While he is best known as >Frankel=s little brother,= Noble Mission=s qualifications stand on their own. A Group 3 winner at three and a listed winner at four, Noble Mission blossomed as a 5-year-old for trainer Lady Jane Cecil, winning five of seven starts and three Group 1s--the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and QIPCO Champion S. He was named Cartier Champion Older Male of 2014 around the same time a deal was done to stand the horse at Lane=s End, with breeder Juddmonte remaining in the ownership syndicate. AIt almost becomes a bit of a negative being Frankel=s brother because he=s overshadowed by him, but I think it was a very good move to stand him over here because American breeders have been incredibly supportive of him,@ said Farish. AIt=s gratifying to see that. There are 148 individual breeders that have supported him in only three seasons. He=s had very widespread support.@ In addition to Juddmonte and Lane=s End, those breeders include Shell Evans, Flaxman Holdings, Richard Santulli, Courtlandt Farms, Dell Ridge Farm, Dixiana Farm, W.S. Kilroy, Earle Mack, G. Watts Humphrey, Green Lantern Stable, KatieRich Farms, Mt Brilliant Farm, Nursery Place, Zayat Stables and Vegso Racing Stable. Noble Mission=s fee has remained at $25,000 through his first three seasons. He covered 146 mares in his first year in 2015, including 19 graded stakes performers, 29 siblings to Grade I winners and 63 siblings to graded winners. Things didn=t go quite as smoothly for Noble Mission last year, Noble Mission has been in good health since his scare early however; the bay suffered a colic attack that saw his book last year, and his 2017 book currently sits at Awell north of 100" reduced to just 65 mares. Farish explained, AHe colicked about a mares. month into the breeding season and it knocked him out of AIt was going to be crucial that we get another really good action for two crucial months. As a result he only had a book of book to him this year,@ Farish added. AHe=s going to be well 65 mares. He was only able to breed very early ones and very north of 100 mares and that=s great to see in the third year late ones. It really had an effect after having a good book of 146 when you=re holding the stud fee steady for the first three years mares in his first year. He=ll only have 65 in that second year so like he has.@ this year was very important, and luckily the breeders have been very supportive.@ With a strong syndicate behind him Noble Mission has enjoyed the support of some well-credentialed mares. Those include GII Honeymoon S. winner Sarah=s Secret (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}); GIII Matchmaker S. winner Casual Smile (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of G1 Epsom Oaks winner Casual Look (Red Ransom); G3 Atalanta S. winner Waterhole (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}); GIII Thoroughbred Club of America S. winner and stakes producer Reunited (Dixie Union); three-time graded winner Ender=s Sister (A.P. Indy), the dam of dual Grade I winner A.P. Indian (Indian Charlie) and GII Indiana Derby winner Tiz Shea D (Tiznow); Trappings (Seeking The Gold), the dam of champion She Be Wild (Offlee Wild); and Gateway (A.P. Indy), the last daughter of Juddmonte=s blue hen producer Toussaud (El Gran Senor) and therefore a half-sister to Empire Maker (Unbridled). Noble Mission and trainer Lady Jane Cecil | Racing Post Cont. p3 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 12 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 12 MARCH, 2017 Noble Mission Thriving in Third Year at Stud Cont. Noble Mission was America=s second-leading first-crop sire at last year=s foal sales behind only Will Take Charge (Unbridled=s Song). He had 11 sell of 16 offered for an average of $76,181 and a median of $60,000. AHe did very well, he had a very good year at the foal sales,@ said Farish. AHis highest price was $210,000. We have 10 yearlings here at the farm by him that we=re very excited about. VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Gary King I think he=ll have a very good year at the yearling sales.@ Twitter: @garykingTDN AHe really does stamp them,@ Farish added. AHe=s a very good- [email protected] looking horse and he=s putting a little chrome on them, like he + 1.732.320.0975 has. They=re very flashy, attractive individuals with predictably International Editor very good walks.@ Kelsey Riley If Noble Mission can keep the family tradition alive, his Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN [email protected] progeny should have no problem excelling in the years to come. European Editor Emma Berry Twitter: @collingsberry [email protected] Contributing Editors Heather Anderson Alan Carasso Newmarket Bureau, Cafe Racing Sean Cronin Tom Frary [email protected] Irish Correspondent Daithi Harvey Regular Columnists Bill Oppenheim Andrew Caulfield John Berry Kevin Blake Tom Peacock Noble Mission colt out of stakes producer Seal Of Approval (Vindication) | Mathea Kelley Send Press Releases to: [email protected] Send Advertisements to: [email protected] WITH RICHARD FITZSIMONS Horse you are most looking forward to seeing this season? RF: Psychedelic Funk (GB) (Choisir {Aus})--hopefully he will return as a 3-year-old and live up to his reputation and reward Sean Jones, who is a great patron of Irish racing for the past number of years. Cont. p3 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 4 OF 12 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 12 MARCH, 2017 A Look Ahead w/Richard Fitzsimons Cont. A stallion who could feature prominently (doesn=t have to be first season)? RF: Dawn Approach (Ire)--his toughness and consistency winning the top 2-year-old and 3-year-old races along with his father New Approach (Ire) siring three Royal Ascot winners (including Dawn Approach) in his first year at stud excites me. Positive change you would like to see for the industry in 2017? RF: For the racing powers to take a U-turn and amend the decision to run the Irish Derby and the second day of Irish Champions weekend at a reduced capacity.