Equinties - making his mark

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MAKING HIS MARK

You’ll find it tough to find someone who has a bad word to say about ST MARK’S BASILICA. To one set of people, it’s a beautiful cathedral in Venice that people go out of their way to visit.

To another set of people, who have a bigger interest in four-legged animals than old buildings, he was a pretty special horse on the track for Aidan O’Brien that was campaigned quite aggressively.

By SIYOUNI out of the GALILEO mare CABARET (the horse, that is, not the building), the 1.3 million guineas purchase raced five times as a juvenile, the last of which was in the Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes, a race he won under Lanfranco Dettori.

He then went unbeaten as a three-year-old, sweeping up the French Guineas, French Derby, Coral-Eclipse, and Irish Champion Stakes. That’s quite the CV, and he showed that he was a pretty hardy character.

It’s no wonder then that his offspring are having a good time on the track in his debut season. DIAMOND NECKLACE has won a Listed contest, THESECRETADVERSARY has also won a Listed contest as well as his second to HUMIDITY at Royal Ascot, and AYLIN was successful Group 2 May Hill Stakes last Thursday.

She really dug in deep on the rain-softened ground at Doncaster last week to not only reverse the form with MOON TARGET, but also beat the Juddmonte filly PACIFIC MISSION and Aidan O’Brien’s SUGAR ISLAND.

Having been a bit unlucky behind MOON TARGET and PRECISE in the Group 3 Prestige Fillies’ Stakes in August, she was well within her rights to improve, and the money came for her at Doncaster, so someone knew something.

So, does last week’s win for AYLIN facilitate a potential first Classic runner for ST MARK’S BASILICA next season? Well, that would be the obvious path, and connections might give her a run over the same course and distance as the 1000 Guineas on October 10th.

Alison Begley, racing manager to Al Shaqab, said: "She enjoyed that bit of ease in the ground at Doncaster and the further she goes the better. She looked in trouble at halfway but she just stays very well. She's very straightforward and honest, and we were delighted with her.

"It's very exciting for Sheikh Joaan and the whole team. We went to the sales last year trying to buy these Classic-type pedigrees and we've got a lot of two-year-olds who are just coming out now.

"The May Hill is always a prestigious race and, interestingly, all the data said her stride was quite a long way clear of the others, which was interesting. Everything suggests she could get further than a mile.

"She's a very good-moving filly, but she enjoys give in the ground like her dam [Angelic Light] and sire [St Mark's Basilica]. Karl was worried about running her on soft ground when she won her maiden as she's got a lovely action, but she loved it.
"We'll have to see what the ground is doing and what's in each race, but Karl said she'd come out of the race well and he's delighted with her. He said he's just trying to keep her ticking over until those Group 1 races, but plans are up in the air regarding which way she'll go."

Begley may be playing with a straight bat in her quotes, but the Fillies’ Mile and Prix Marcel Boussac have been mentioned for her, so it would surely be one of these Group 1s next. She could even be an outside chance for the Oaks, as she did stay very well at Donny last week.

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OVER THE HILLS

Charlie Hills has had 255 winners from 1897 runners over the last five years, which is a strike rate of 13%.

Of that total, how many winners do you think have come this year? Go on, ask yourself the question without looking further down this newsletter.

The answer is 22. That’s an 8% strike rate, which is pretty poor, but it doesn’t come as a surprise, as we all know this year has been bad for Wetherdown House. Has there been any shining lights for him this year? Not even KHAADEM has been able to save him in a Group 1 sprint, but CICERO’S GIFT was back in the winners’ enclosure yesterday after landing the Listed Fortune Stakes.

It’s a testament to the horse that he can continue to run well and win season after season, as long as he gets his conditions. He loves soft ground, and as we all know, the country has been hit by a bout of rain over the last few weeks, so he got his conditions yesterday.

And he was very good. BALMACARA nearly got his way in front, but Jason Watson reeled him in nicely, and he wasn’t stopping at the line. This is a good job, as Hills has a Group 1 target for him next.

Hills said: "As long as the ground's on the easy side, the QEII is the plan. You never know what can happen, a lot of those horses have had long seasons and he's coming in pretty fresh.

"Plenty of them aren't proven on soft ground, whereas he is, so it might be a bit of a different line-up he's up against compared to usual in those mile races.
"They went hard and I'm delighted with how well he saw it out. We've been very patient with him this summer and it's been frustrating having to wait all those months of the season but we've always had the QEII in our minds as it can often be heavy going there.

"Back in the spring he wasn't beaten far here by horses like Dancing Gemini. He's got the form, he's been as sound as a pound this season and hopefully his owners' patience can be rewarded."

Look, he’s a good horse, and horses like KING OF CHANGE and BAYSIDE BOY have gone from this race to win the QEII, but one would imagine that FIELD OF GOLD could be hard to beat. Still, it’s not a vintage renewal, and if he gets his ground, he could well be a player.

CUP HORSES GALORE

We spoke on Monday about SCANDINAVIA, and how he could be a Cup horse next year. Aidan O’Brien and the lads will decide on his potential Melbourne Cup bid next week, but one thing we can say is that he has to be the heir to the throne regarding ‘Cup’ races next season.

It’ll be hard to see ILLINOIS come back for Ballydoyle, and he looks like a natural to step into his shoes. Obviously, he won the St Leger on Saturday, and he did stay on well over 1m6f, but what about the horse who arguably stayed on even better than SCANDINAVIA?

We’re talking about the runner-up, RAHIEBB, who was doing his best work late, having been held up at the rear of the field.

O’Brien may not have said what he thinks about SCANDINAVIA and his prospects to be a Cup horse next season, but it seems like Roger Varian is pretty sure RAHIEBB can make the step up when the time comes.

He said: "I didn’t get tempted by the Voltigeur [at York] as I thought we’d get him right for Leger day as I’ve always believed, even from a long time ago but certainly from the Queen’s Vase, that he was a Leger prospect.

"I was happy to draw a line through his Goodwood run as I feel I was too kind to him after Royal Ascot and I think he went there a bit heavy. Also, he ran after the storm which was not ideal.

"We had six weeks from then to get him right for the Leger and we had him in great shape and he ran a great race.

"It looks like he’s got a big future in the staying division and he could well be a nice Cup prospect for next year. I'd think that is him done for this year as he had his first race in March, so has had quite a long year already.

"Even though it was a small field this year it was a strong Leger as we had a dual Derby winner behind us. The winner has improved since Ascot and is a real top horse and we pushed him all the way to the line.

"I think it’s a strong piece of form and he shaped as if he would get two miles next year, which opens up a lot of opportunities."

This bullishness has to be a bit of a positive for SCANDINAVIA. If Varian is confident that his horse can make up into a pretty smart type, then SCANDINAVIA must be a little bit special. Cup races could be the making of him next year, and if he goes to the Melbourne Cup, how well-handicapped would he be? Could he be on the same level as what JAN BRUEGHEL was last year before he was ruled out of the race? Maybe.

RISK ON

A poor day yesterday betting low grade horses in bad races but lesson learned.

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