Equinties - Coolmore plans

Author

BGP Capital
June 10, 2024

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

Big race plans revealed by Coolmore - the worlds most exciting horses in the worlds biggest races.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Belmont at Saratoga - DORNOCH conquered the last Classic of the year in America. Continuing on from the family tradition of winning one of the American Triple Crown races after his full brother MAGE, tipped by BGP, won the Kentucky Derby. Dornoch actually ran in the KY Derby but got hampered 100 yds into the race and it was over. The Gr1 Haskell is the next intended target.

THORPEDO ANA has cemented her credentials as the best filly in America. Previously the winner of the Kentucky Oaks she won the Gr1 Acorn Stakes impressively on Friday, the winning margin of 5 1/2 lengths. All eyes will be on her when the Breeders Cup comes round, and if she were to win the Distaff at that meeting surely Horse Of The Year honours would be on offer. A couple of Group 1 wins between now and then would help her cause.

Appleby and Buick were across the pond on Saturday. MEASURED TIME and NATIONS PRIDE gave the team in blue a 1-2 in the Gr1 Manhattan Stakes. MEASURED TIME won, a son of FRANKEL and a half brother to their multiple Gr1 winner REBEL’S ROMANCE. Both brothers could run in the Breeders Cup Turf, a race REBELS ROMANCE has already won.

Premio Oaks D’Italia Gr2 - SDS won his 3rd Classic of the year. This time on TOMIKO in the Italian Oaks adding to De Sousa’s wins in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on ELMALKA and the German 2000 Guineas on DEVIL’S POINT. Tomiko was a 20k yearling purchase from Tattersalls.

BELIEVE IN ASCOT

The Listed Achilles Stakes provided plenty of intrigue ahead of the gates opening as many wondered whether LIVE IN THE DREAM, the Group 1 winner in the line-up, would translate his Nunthorpe form to Haydock.

As it turns out, fifth was the best he could muster on the day, though the race did produce a nice winner as BELIEVING beat COMMANCHE FALLS by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

George Boughey has always held this four-year-old by MEHMAS in high regard as he ran in two Group 1s at the end of last year and kicked off the season in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong.

Now she has this Listed race under her belt, Royal Ascot is on the agenda, and she could well take in two races at the royal meeting.

"She'll definitely run in the five-furlong race," Boughey said. "It wouldn't be the biggest surprise in the world if she also ran on the Saturday over six as well [in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes].

"She's very easy to train so if she's okay after Tuesday's race, she could then run on the Saturday."

In a division that is open to new talent, could she land one of the Group 1s at Royal Ascot?

One horse who BELIEVING could take on if she heads to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs is MILL STREAM, the 9/2 joint-favourite. He was second in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes on seasonal debut and then went one better in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes last month, all of which has put him spot on for his Group 1 test on the final day of Royal Ascot.

Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said: "He's come out of his York win in good order. He's not had any setbacks and I can't wait to run him.

"He had to take back twice at York and get back into a rhythm, and the fact he was able to do that in a Group race, with the competition as it was, was really encouraging.

"We're going to Royal Ascot hopeful but, as everyone will tell you with sprinters, you can run the race ten times and get ten different results. You need luck in running, a good draw and jockey, and for it all to fall into place."

CONFIRMING PLANS

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed the next race for his stable star CITY OF TROY, and that race is the Coral-Eclipse on July 6th at Sandown.

O’Brien had Sandown’s feature Flat race, the Irish Derby, and the Travers Stakes on the dirt over in the US as his main options for the Epsom Derby winner, but it is the former that gets his nod of approval.

Because of this decision, LOS ANGELES is set for the Irish Derby, AUGUSTE RODIN will head to the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, and SIERRA LEONE will go to the Travers Stakes.

Speaking of the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, AUGUSTE RODIN could take on INSPIRAL as John & Thady Gosden are thinking of stepping the five-year-old up in trip after her Lockinge disappointment.

The idea was first floated up by John Gosden when he told Gloucestershire Live immediately after the Lockinge: “[The Queen Anne Stakes] probably would be the aim, but having spoken to Mrs Thompson [of Cheveley Park Stud], we’ll still look at the mile-and-a-quarter race [Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes].

“When she won at the Breeders’ Cup, Frankie [Dettori] couldn’t pull her up, so when he came back, he said that we’ve been running over the wrong trip all her life!”

He built on these comments yesterday as he said to the Mirror: “She’s got entries in both races – it’s not all about the Queen Anne.

“She won over 10 furlongs in America and there’s no reason why she couldn’t run in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.”

This news will make ante-post backers of hers a bit nervous.

Confirmation of her running plans is sure to come out over the next few days.

WEEKEND EYE-CATCHERS

KNIGHTSWOOD – SATURDAY 14.25 HAYDOCK

Our ‘A Look Ahead’ selection from Wednesday, STRUTH, returned good place money in the £50,000 handicap at Haydock on Saturday, though it was the horse that finished ahead of him, KNIGHTSWOOD, that caught the eye.

The winner, IRON LION, was an unexposed three-year-old by ROARING LION and he got the first run on KNIGHTSWOOD who had a troubled passage through the race.

Once KNIGHTSWOOD found a route away from the rail, he quickened away with ease and gained two lengths in the final furlong.

Although he’s five, his sire, DECORATED KNIGHT, won two Group 1s as a five-year-old and he could well be in his prime.

TOIMY SON – SUNDAY 14.10 GOODWOOD

One of Norm’s bets from yesterday has made our eye-catchers section as he was never put in the race. His mark, pedigree and back form suggest he’s a winner in waiting, he just needs quick ground.

 

David Menuisier bought the five-year-old by TWILIGHT SON for €160,000 in October 2022 and has yet to get a win out of him, but as a two-year-old, he ran into MANGOUSTINE (the future French 1000 Guineas winner) in a Listed race. He also finished behind PERFECT POWER in the 2021 Group 1 Prix Morny.

Connections are probably annoyed that he has yet to translate his French form to the UK, but Sunday showed that he is more than capable in handicap company.

RISK ON

We’ve had too many seconds and near misses this month. Really frustrating but as long as you don’t chase and over bet, sticking to the process will see you re-building the bank in time. Today we’re going with a few pedigree picks:

The SMP plot didn’t come off last week, but his double at Lingfield and Carlisle. The double pays nearly 5’s.

14.20 MACCAS SYMPHONY

By a first season sire going great guns. Most unraced so just a speccy, small ew.

Norm has a bet later.