Equinties - Rod(not)in list

Gm Equinauts

We imagine MINNIE WILDES’ performance last night went some way to repair the emotional damage LUTHER caused Charlie Fellowes in the Royal Lodge.

Fellowes has several nice horses to look forward to next season, namely MINNIE WILDES, SHES PERFECT and of course LUTHER who simply didn’t handle the track at Newmarket.

Perhaps more owners will want to start sending Charlie horses now they’ve seen what he can do with a good one?

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

ARC UPDATE

Regular updates about the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe throughout the week are something we’re going to try to do until Sunday.

Yesterday, not much changed regarding the ground as it is still riding on the easy side.

This, however, does mean that Ballydoyle will not be running AUGUSTE RODIN in the race.

He is still technically in the race, but he was not listed as an intended runner on the Coolmore website, with CONTINUOUS and LOS ANGELES set to represent the mighty organisation.

LOS ANGELES is likely to be the number-one pick for Aidan O’Brien

He is a three-year-old, so he gets the weight from his elders, and he is more ground versatile than CONTINUOUS as he has won on good to firm and very soft.

He also brings the ECONOMICS and AUGUSTE RODIN form to the table from the Irish Champion Stakes, so there’s a lot to like, but so does SHIN EMPEROR who finished one place ahead.

O’Brien is also of the same mind, as he said: “He's a very big horse and he's improving physically. There's no doubt a mile and a half will be right up his alley. He won an Irish Derby right-handed like Longchamp and we've been very happy with his two preps for the Arc. Hopefully we've done as much as we can for him to run as well as he can.

"It's been the plan since the Irish Derby. We knew he could be a Leger horse at any time, but we had other horses for that race as well, so after the Irish Derby that was what we had in our heads. That's why we went to York to get a run into him, even though he had a penalty over a mile and a half, and then the plan was to come back to a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown.”

As for CONTINUOUS, although he won last year’s Leger on soft (which wasn’t a vintage renewal), he is by the Japanese sire HEART’S CRY, so it’s hard to see him winning on a softer surface. He also has to give weight away to his stablemate.

Anyway, our full preview will be out this weekend.

ROLLING IN

It was a big day for the bloodstock world yesterday for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, and something that wasn’t the biggest news but still warrants a mention, the Racing Post’s Aisling Crowe produced a fascinating article on the life of a small-scale foal seller.

It’s full of emotion and explains a lot of truths about the business. It’s well worth a read:

Away from this, it was day one of the Goffs Orby Sale and an improving pedigree was put under the spotlight.

BLOOMFIELD, the TEOFILO mare who won two Listed races in 2018, has produced three horses that have hit the track so far.

BOTANICAL, second in this year’s John Smith’s Cup, and BAY CITY ROLLER, the recent winner of the Group 2 Champagne Stakes.

With the page prospering, it came as no surprise to see a BLUE POINT filly from Church View Stables sell for €850,000 to Agrolexica International Trading BV to go into training with Joseph O’Brien.

Just quickly on the ownership group, they are fairly unknown, but they have put their name next to plenty of foals, yearlings, and broodmares over the last 12 months, including purchasing GOUACHE for €200,000 who is the dam of the King George winner GOLAITH.

Tom Whelan of Church View Stables loves her, notably calling her “a Queen”, so there’s plenty to be excited about going forward.

Elsewhere, a FRANKEL colt out of TISA RIVER (making him a half to the Listed-placed BOLT ACTION) sold to agent Oliver St Lawrence for €780,000 and Godolphin bought a MAKFI filly out of the Grade 2 winner BLETCHLEY.

NO MORE FIGHTING

No we’re not talking about the sh*tshow that is the middle east right now, we’re talking about last year’s winner of the Melbourne Cup, WITHOUT A FIGHT, who will not defend his title as he was not confirmed for the race yesterday.

This comes as no real surprise as he hasn’t been seen on track since last year’s victory, but it was confirmed yesterday, leaving VIA SISTINA – formerly trained by George Boughey – at the head of the weights at 56kg.

Other non-confirmers included NIGHT SPARKLE, RELENTLESS VOYAGER, and ARREST.

We are just about a month away from the race that stops a nation which makes it the perfect time to cast our eye over to Australia for some upcoming important races.

That starts on Saturday with the Group 1 Turnball Stakes, a race GOLD TRIP won in 2022 before going on to Melbourne Cup glory.

The current top weight VIA SISTINA is in contention to run, but if the winner doesn’t come from this race, the Caufield Cup, Cox Plate, and Moonee Valley Gold Cup will also offer good pointers.

RISK ON

After hour of studying last night, we awake to find Nottingham has been called off!

But Catterick is still on… and it’s slop.

14.48 TROY STORY

Well beat lto at Sandown but that could still prove Group race form in time. The pedigree of this one suggests he’ll be best in ground too so we’re happy to take on the well backed Bethell horse. 7/4 NAP.

15.55 SHELBOURNE & 16.35 WEST ACRE

Rocket for Scott who should be hard to beat again today. 11/8 could look big post-race. Scott could have a good day with SHERBOURNE too who will enjoy the mud at Catterick and could be an ew to nothing at 11/2. Singles and win & place double paying 3/1.

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