Equinties - buying history

Gm Equinauts

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

THE DERBY HORSE

“You’ve been second in two Derbys. There’s every chance this horse can take you one place more.”

That’s what Alex Elliott said to Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing after he went to 4.3 million guineas for the WOOTTON BASSETT colt out of the full sister to 2012 Epsom Oaks winner WAS, Group 2 Curragh Cup winner AMHRAN NA BHFIANN, and Group 3 winner DOUGLAS MACARTHUR.

That above-mentioned family were all Ballydoyle horses, so obviously it was both easy and hard, in equal measure, to understand how Coolmore were the underbidders to Joorabchian on this sale - they want to keep the blood at home, but how on earth did they get outbid!?

They were unwilling to go to the lengths actioned by Kia to secure the regally bred colt. 4.3 million guineas actually makes him the most expensive yearling colt sold in Europe this year.

So, we all know Joorabchian is, how should we put this, a well-known racing personality for many reasons, but this sales strategy at Book 1 has caught a lot of us off guard.

People were impressed when he bought ANGELO BUONARROTI for a million at the Arqana May Breeze-Up this year, but the sheer volume of money spent over the last three days has been insane.

So, what the hell is he doing?

Well, he want’s to run with the big dogs.

Initially Kia would buy the speedy, first time up winning 2yo’s who’d never really been seen again. That’s fun, but to be taken seriously in the game, you need to win Classics and Classics horses is what he’s buying.

“We had a lot of stock that is good, but for us to go to the next level we’re going to have to target the best,” he said.

Cue the spending frenzy.

SEA THE STARS’, LOPE DE VEGA’s, FRANKEL’s, WOOTTON BASSETTs, CAMELOT’s, DUBAWI’s and TOO DARN HOT’s - the best horses out the best mares.

In one feel swoop, he’s bought himself an entire breeding operation!

“So we’ve targeted two sales, Keeneland and Tatts Book 1 and 2. Every member of my team, when they saw that horse, they all said we can’t leave without him, so we decided we weren’t going to leave without him. This colt and the Frankel fillies were our main targets and we managed to hit all three, so we’re very happy.

“Our team has a strategy; we’ve spoken about it, sat around and gone through the catalogue, and every member of the team has been involved and given their opinions. We came here with a shortlist and we’re going for it . . . so everyone’s neck is on the line!”

Kia only needs one of these expensive purchases to hit the target. With their pedigrees, coupled with a good racing record, they’ve got a 50k a cover stallion. Pays for nearly the whole lot. Get two and you’re well in the green. It just takes time, and a lot of money to get there!

Elsewhere, Godolphin spent big (3.7 million) on a SIYOUNI half to YLANG YLANG, and William Haggas brought back the WOOTTON BASSETT half to MY PROSPERO for 1.7 million. Love it!

BIG RACE PREVIEWS

There are several Group/Graded races from the UK today, so we’re going to preview one from each code because it’s not often you can!

15.15 GRADE 2 PERSIAN WAR NOVICES’ HURDLE

The Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle is the first Graded race of the proper jumps season but that doesn’t mean it’s vintage.

From a potential BRECHIN CASTLE vs TEESHAN battle at the entry stage, we don’t have either, and RYAN’S ROCKET (who?) heads the market.

This has been the plan according to Fergal O’Brien, and he has some solid form in the book. He was second to FIERCELY PROUD on hurdles debut who has form with LUMP SUM and JERIKO DU REPONET from two separate Grade 2s, and not many others have that level of form.

FLYING FORTUNE is next best in the market for Peter & Michael Bowen and she has been in great form having won three in a row. That run started with a handicap win off 109 and he has since won another handicap off 115. Stepping up to a Grade 2, even one of this level, is a different league.

INTENSE APPROACH represents the Irish yard of John McConnell and he has Harry Cobden to help.

His last win was facile and he was a bit unexposed in Ireland before coming over. He could step up to this.

JUVENTUS DE BRION has had just the two starts, the latest when behind PIC ROC at Ascot. Admittedly, that form with him and INTHEWATERSIDE is good, but this will be tough.

The same can be said for VINCENZO who was behind JUVENTUS DE BRION in that Ascot race when a 10/3 second favourite. His form with DIAMOND RI, GEEZAR ROCKSTAR, and BIG CITY ROLLER is okay considering they are all a bit unexposed, but it’s hard to see him winning.

That final line can be copied and pasted onto the final two runners, HANDLETHEKETLE and BULLETS HILL as well, but the preference of the two is to the former who won at Worcester lto and has race fitness on his side.

Verdict: You kind of just have to believe Fergal when he says only Burke can get RYANS ROCKET beat but 9/4 isn’t too appealing, we feel he should be a bit bigger. JUVENTUS DE BRION is a mega-drifter and only those close to him might know why. If he’s fit and ready to go, then 13/2 is nice for a horse who has good form in the book and will LOVE todays slop.

15.35 1M GROUP 1 FILLIES’ MILE

The Group 1 Fillies’ Mile is Newmarket’s feature race, and not only do Godolphin have market leader DESERT FLOWER but they also have top weight… the tremendous weight of carrying the Racing Bloggers ante-post money!

She’s unbeaten and was a great bet for us last time, so she is clearly of interest. It’s hard to know what the form of her Group 2 May Hill Stakes success is worth, but one thing to note is JANUARY – the second – was not the choice of Ryan Moore from the duo of Ballydoyle runners. Does that suggest there was a lack of confidence in JANUARY?

She can only beat what’s in front of her, but it’s worth nothing she is out of PROMISING RUN who had poor form on good to soft or slower.

TABITI is also unbeaten for Juddmonte and Ralph Beckett, one of the most in-form trainers atm. Her form is also hard to read, but she is a KINGMAN half to the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes Handicap winner OLD FLAME and he didn’t mind a bit of cut.

The Beckett yard still consider her to be their Guineas filly.

JANUARY’s form ties in with DESERT FLOWER, obviously, but she also has different form with the now Group 3 winner HEAVENS GATE having chased home her stablemate in a Curragh maiden. Although DESERT FLOWER won snug lto, she stayed on through the line and it’s not out of the realms of possibility to reverse the form.

DREAMY, the second string of the Aidan O’Brien runners, is very interesting despite Ryan Moore choosing her stablemate. She was a nice winner of the Group 3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes lto and the form doesn’t look bad.

The second, FIERY LUCY, went on to nearly beat HEAVENS GATE in a Group 3, so that was a nice boost, and the turn of foot she showed was impressive. She is also out of the 2014 Yorkshire Oaks winner TAPESTRY.

At the bigger prices, ANNA SWAN is the final unbeaten filly for Cheveley Park and Sir Michael Stoute. Her great-grandmother won the Fillies’ Mile in 2004, funnily enough, and she comes from a very elsewhere. Nothing can be taken away from the style of her Newbury win, so if you want to take a chance on one, you can’t go too far wrong with her.

And CALIFORNIER DREAMER is interesting at 40/1. She was in front of JANUARY in the Airlie Stud Stakes and more, just touched off for 3rd in Anglessy Stakes won by BABOUCHE with CAMILLE PISARRO in second who has since won a Gr1!

Verdict: We’ll play two to take on the Bloggers ante-post bet. We made good money of TABITI last time and she’s one to follow if she is their Guineas horse. At a bigger price? Kia will be high as a kite if CALIFORNIA DREAMER can either win or grab a bit of black type at 40/1 it might be worth buying extra places?

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RISK ON

13.35 PESO

Our first winter jumpers bet here! The point form of this lad is good and he’ll like the ground. There are reasons to take on Nicholls’, Skelton’s might need time to acclimatise and the others can’t win. at 8/1 this should make a great ew in a race the yard target, so we can trust he’ fit and firing. EW.

16.20 FONDO BLANCO & 17.15 JETTIES RUN

Singles and double - both expected to win easily.

16/1 EVE DOUBLE WITH LEV

14.40 FOREST GATE to place top 3, 16.20 FONDO BLANCO to win & 16.38 GLAMOUR SHOW to win. 16/1 is a good bet.

FONDO BOANCO the big bet of the day in the mud, major eye-catcher lto:

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