Equinties - the newsletter awards

Gm Equinauts

Well, what a year it has been and what moments the sport has given us; SHAQUILLE in the Commonwealth Cup, City of Troy in the Dewhurst, QUICKTHORN in the Goodwood Cup, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS in the Gold Cup, MARINE NATIONAL in the Surpeme, EQUINOX in the Sheema Classic breaking the track record and smashing it up in the Japan Cup, CORACH RAMBLER in the Grand National for Scotland and our Festival darling HONEYSUCKLE powering up the Cheltenham Hill was the Fairy tale ending for an amazing career.

There are too many great victories to list but here are the moments we in particular will savour:

The Mares Hurdle was one of the best races of festival, definitely one of the most competitive as the runners had won a combined 23 Grade 1 wins between them, but Honeysuckle was at her best though, and made a mockery of the field to win her 13th Grade 1 that has included 2 Champion Hurdles!

One of the best rides of the whole National Hunt Season and Paul Townend saves it for the Gold Cup. GALOPIN DES CHAMPS provided Mullins and Townend with their 3rd Gold Cup in 5 years. He looks a monster this year and he is only turning 8 years old!

Frankie. His supposed farewell tour, he was on a mission for his own fairy tale ending to his career so was on a mission to come out on top in the 2000 Guineas and win it for the 4th and last time. This newsletter selected his mount CHALDEAN who duly obliged in the muddy Newmarket conditions at 7/2, although bigger in the morning before the rain had come in. HI ROYAL was 2nd at 125/1 (we didn’t back him), whilst AUGUSTE RODIN flopped.

Lucky Stall 10 at Epsom. Both AUGUSTE RODIN and SOUL SISTER won the Epsom Classics from the outside draw. Frankie was at it again on Frankel’s daughter, and so were Equinties newsletter readers. We were all over her after her brilliant win in the Musidora.

Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of the Summer programme. PADDINGTON was rated 97 in March, by June he had notched up his 2nd Group 1 win in the St James’ Palace and would continue through the season as the ‘Iron Horse’ of Ballydoyle winning the Sussex Stakes and Eclipse and now standing at Coolmore for €55,000. BRADSELL cost connections £35,000 to supplement him for the King’s Stand. HIGHFIELD PRINCESS lay in his way, and the only time we didn’t plough into him - he was 40/1 the night before.

The most important horse that will retire to Coolmore since Galileo, AUGUSTE RODIN , a dual Derby winner who flopped in the King George but regained a win in the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders Cup Turf. By the Champion DEEP IMPACT, out of the Champion RHODODENDRON, who is in turn by the Champion GALILEO. A Group 1 winner at 2 years old and a multiple Group 1 winner at 3 years old, excitingly he stays in training in 2024.

Yes, we know, we’re bound to have missed some moments out which deserve a mention, but those were the moments which we will remember most.

Now for the awards, let’s dive in!

THE 2023 EQUINTIES AWARDS

TEAM OF THE YEAR -  SHADWELL

Shadwell have had a year to remember. Okay fine, the Maktoum family have an endless money pit with now some serious ammunition, but as we know, they still have to deliver on the track!

In recent times, the stallion roster has swelled and now includes the legend BAAEED, Group 1 miler and Jim Crowley soft spot MOHAATHER (a sire we have used) and the top sprinter MINZAAL. Their homebred MOSTAHDAF, which translates to ‘targeted’, joins the stallion ranks at a price of £15,000. A dual Gr1 winner this year, when taking the scalps of PADDINGTON, NASHWA and LUXEMBOURG in the Prince of Wales and Juddmonte International. He became the second horse in 50 years to complete the double.

On the track they celebrated their homebred DUBAWI filly AL HUSN when she captured the Nassau Stakes; HUKUM the full brother to BAAEED, winning the Gr1 King George and Queen Elizabeth stakes;

ISRAR, a son of Shadwell champion TAGHEOODA won the Gr2 Princess of Wales Stakes; MUTASAABEEQ, now standing at the National Stud for £6,500, won a pair of Gr2s this year; ALFAILA won the Gr2 Sky Bet York Stakes; ANMAAT in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp; ALYANAABI also ran a gallant 2nd to CITY OF TROY in the Dewhurst to give the team Classic hopes.

Thankfully, Sheikha Hissa and the Shadwell team have restocked in the sales ring, a notable $4 million spending spree on yearlings in America and a 1.6million Guineas filly from Tattersalls Bk1 to add to their string. Let’s hope the success continues.

We’re sure it would give Sheikha Hissa Al Maktoum, Sheikh Mohammed’s niece, great pride in winning the Equinties award after her father passed away last year

GOLDEN BALLS - JUSTIFY

This was a tough decision with several sires needing recognition for their efforts, none more so than new sire on the block HAVANA GREY who has blasted all before him this year notching up his first Group 1 winner, and now stands for £55,000 from an initial fee of £8,000.

Obviously the flat GOAT FRANKEL has to get a mention. His fee has risen to a deserved £350,000 after producing 11 Group 1 winners alone in 2023. 

But the narrow vote goes to JUSTIFY for the Golden Balls award.

Retired in ‘19, the same year as HAVANA GREY, he retired as a Triple Crown winner which only gave him a great chance of success with the mares he covered. 

He has, unlike a lot of other stallions, injected his talent into his offspring:

CITY OF TROY is his best 2yo colt after winning the Dewhurst stakes and looking almighty champion juvenile in Europe, receiving a rating of 125, one point below FRANKEL himself. 

OPERA SINGER routed her rivals when winning the Marcel Boussac and becoming the champion 2yo filly Europe. JUST FYI, another filly of JUSTIFY is now a dual Gr1 winner when she won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Dirt.

HARD TO JUSTIFY won the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, securing an impressive Group 1 double on the day. In Australia, he sired the highest rated 2yo filly in LEARNING TO FLY. ASPEN GROVE and ARABIAN LION also got their heads in front in Group 1 company. In France, RAMATUELLE only narrowly got beaten in the Gr1 Prix Morny.

JUSTIFY is fast becoming one of the hottest sires in the world, whether it’s Europe, America or Australia and with the backing of Coolmore he is going to reach Mega Golden Balls soon enough! 

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - ACE IMPACT

ACE IMPACT in the Prix du Jockey Club, the French Derby. It was just scintillatingly good. Firstly, it was a track record, a race previously won by NEW BAY, ST MARKS BASILICA and VADENI.

In behind, was Gr1 winner BIG ROCK who smashed up his rivals in the Champion Stakes, Gr1 St Leger winner CONTINUOUS, French Guineas winner MARHABA YA SANAFI, Gr1 Grand Prix de Paris winner FEED THE FLAME (watch out for him in next years Arc), Gr3 winner EPICTETUS and AMERICAN FLAG who had previously beaten the French Guineas winner in a Gr3. 

ACE IMPACT  has retired as the best 3yo colt in the World and the European Horse of The Year. Of course, his win in the Arc was equally as impressive as it out him 1lb shy of the Japanese legend and Horse of the year Equinox. In fact, a special mention to EQUINOX who obliterated his rivals in the Japan Cup and we must say HEWICK in the King George at Kempton a few days ago.

TRAINER OF THE YEAR  - WILLIE MULLINS

Big Willie is a special type of force. He is the boss of the National Hunt ranks plain and simple but can win on the flat too, his Royal Ascot winner in 2023 with VAUBAN a case in point. He picked up another Cheltenham Festival leading trainers title and won the champion trainer in Ireland for the 17th time. Let’s look back to March though, and try and condense the superiority of the Closutton yard:

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS put in a powerful display to win the Gold Cup and give Mullins his 3rd victory (runner up 6 times in the past) in the race, a perfectly executed ride by Paul Townend it has to be said.

Mullins ended the week with a ridiculous 6 winners to his name; ENERGUMENE won the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second consecutive year, EL FABIOLA won the Arkle, IMPAIRE ET PASSE dominated in the Ballymore, LOSSIEMOUTH was electric in the Triumph Hurdle and Festival banker GAILLARD DU MESNIL took home the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.

Other wins elsewhere included STATE MAN winning 3 times at the highest level; FLAMEBEARER in the Boylesports Gold Cup; IL ETAIT TEMPS and GALA MARCEAU both winning Gr1 over hurdles as well as CHAMP KIELY and GAELIC WARRIOR. Whatever the boys can do the girls can do too as ECHOES IN RAIN won the Mares Champion Hurdle, which Willie has won 9 times in the past. Another race he has won 9 times is the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, this year with FACILE VEGA. To win 9 renewals of anything is almost unheard of, but what about 12? That’s right, Willie has won the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle 12, yes 12(!!!) times this year with IMPAIRE ET PASSE. The list just goes on, KLASSICAL DREAM in the Punchestown stayers…

He is the master trainer.  

PILOT OF THE YEAR - RYAN MOORE

Firstly a special mention to Brian Hughes who won his 3rd Jumps Jockey title. It takes A LOT of hard work to do that. Bravo, Hughes. 

Harry Cobden gets mention too. For years he has offered glimpses of a rising force in the saddle but 2023 is where he really stepped up to the plate and fully turned in to a beautiful rider. 

Paul Nicholls’s stable jockey is attempting to become champion jockey for the first time in the 2023/24 season and with big victories on STAGE STAR in both the Turners and Paddy Power plus his Albert Bartlett success on STAY AWAY FAY and his recent win in the Challow with CAPTAIN TEAGUE, he is causing table-topper Sean Bowen some problems.

Gentle hands complimented by his perfect judge of pace, he oozes class in the saddle over fences. Go back and watch his performances on BRAVEMANSGAME and PIC D’ORHY and you’ll understand what we mean. Team Ditcheat is lucky to have a rider like him and with Bowen’s current injury, this could be his time to capitalise. He is currently 5/2 on Wills for the title with whispers that Bowen will be out for the season.

But it’s RYAN MOORE who is different gravy. His ride on AUGUSTE RODIN in the Breeders Cup Turf showed how unbelievable he is at piloting a winning move. A similar move he made at the start of the year on SHINZO in Australia when he won the Gr1 GOLDEN SLIPPER, the world’s richest 2yo race.

Let’s check out the year Ryan’s had. In Hong Kong recently he won the famous Sprint; LUXEMBOURG powered clear in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and was denied (just) in the Hong Kong Vase; he has steered AUGUSTE RODIN to Derby glory x2 and Irish Champion Stakes stardom as well as his aforementioned win in America; let’s not forget his partnership with the new ‘Iron horse’ PADDINGTON, now standing for €55,000, they won the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James Palace, Eclipse and Sussex Stakes; he nurtured new kids on the block CITY OF TROY, YLANG YLANG and OPERA SINGER; classic glory on CONTINUOUS, it’s endless.

We’re not the only ones to sing his praises, Ryan Moore was voted Longines World’s Best Jockey but apparently over heard in the parade ring the other day, which may or may not be true, the Equinties Pilot of the Year Award 2023 has been the highest of accolades.

HORSE OF THE YEAR - CONSTITUTION HILL

He is the equivalent to FRANKEL over hurdles. His Champion hurdle win was nothing short of sensational. A high cruising speed and slick jumping puts the rest in the race under so much pressure, Constitution Hill is pricking his ears with a long reign when the rest are being scrubbed along. It will take a bad mistake from him if another horse was to beat him in 2024. He looks a good thing for this year and dare we say it, for 2025 too.

A special, special horse.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

FESTIVAL CLUES

Racing X got excited watching Punchestown yesterday thanks to a couple of nice performances, notably from MONTY’S STAR who beat the well-fancied THREE CARD BRAG on his second start over fences.

Plenty of people liked him coming into the season and he jumped with complete accuracy to lay down his marker for the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival. His victory adds to the plethora of performances we’ve seen in the three-mile novice chase division over the last few weeks, notably from FACT TO FILE, GRANGECLARE WEST, and STAY AWAY FAY.

What a race this could be in March!

An hour later, STORM HEART justified favourtism in the 3-Y-O maiden hurdle to bolt up by 22 lengths for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. 

Like we spoke about in the newsletter a few weeks ago, Willie Mullins has been without a proper Triumph Hurdle horse this season, but this horse could well be it. As such, he shot into 8/1 for the Triumph behind BURDETT ROAD who might reappear at Cheltenham on Trials Day or the DRF. 

BIG RACE PREVIEW

14.15 GRADE 3 NEW YEARS DAY CHASE

We start over in Ireland at Tramore and this race is a good contest for staying chasers. The big market move has been for CLASSIC GETAWAY who is clear favourite at even money. He impressed on his seasonal reappearance at Thurles in November having disappointed at the end of the season at Punchestown. 

One can maybe question the form of beating HAUT EN COULEURS and MINELLA COCOONER, who was well-beaten on chase seasonal debut a few days ago (though he would have needed the run), but plenty of Racing X seems to think he is a potential Gold Cup horse. If that is the case, he’ll want to be go well today. He has overtaken stablemates MONKFISH (now a NR) and BRONN in the market.

JUNGLE BOOGIE has had problems, he raced only three times for Willie Mullins between November 2020 and January 2022 before changing stables to Henry de Bromhead prior to his reappearance in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase last month. 

He is obviously an exciting horse and should come on plenty for his run lto. Furthermore, a return to three miles will help and he has been squeezed in the market. Of the rest, ROI MAGE is back racing in Ireland after his success over in France. He is lining up for another tilt at the Grand National but is unlikely to get involved today. 

Verdict: We probably will just watch this race and see if CLASSIC GETAWAY can stamp his credentials for the Gold Cup.

14.25 GRADE 3 MARES CHASE

We start over in Ireland for this one and ALLEGORIE DE VASSY heads the market for the Fairyhouse feature, looking to build on her success at Clonmel in early November. 

The seven-year-old beat INSTIT, who is also in the field at 5/1, by two-and-a-half lengths while giving 11 pounds away – INSTIT was rated 142 at the time and had sketchy form coming into the race, so ALLEGORIE DE VASSY had scope to win like that, but she must be respected today. That being said, it won’t be a cake walk for Willie Mullins’ No Risk At All mare to give eight pounds away to RIVIERE D’ETEL who is a fair mare herself. 

She has finished second to CAPTIAN GUINNESS twice in the last two Grade 2 Fortria Chases, which is good form, and she was running a good race in the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase at the Festival before falling at the third-last. She is a tricky mare to get right, but on a going day, she is also a good one.

At a big price, MY DESIGN shouldn’t be discounted for Delan Queally. She ran a great race for a while in the Porterstown Handicap Chase over 3m5f but just didn’t see out the trip. Prior to that, she beat FERONILY, a Grade 1-winning novice chaser, at Galway and she has form with MALINA GIRL who has since improved to become a solid 146-rated chaser.

Verdict: ALLEGORIE DE VASSY is 2/1 on for this and the market probably has it spot on.

15.15 GRADE 2 RELKEEL HURDLE

In what is the first day of Premierisation in horse racing (we don’t even really now what that means), just four horses have been declared for the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. That doesn’t sound premier to us!?

The market top spot is flip flopping between BOB OLIGINER and last year’s winner MARIE’S ROCK. The latter beat DRASHEL DRASHER 12 months ago, looking like a world-beater in the process:

This performance saw her go off 9/4 joint-favourite for the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival, though she was disappointing. Her second to SIRE DU BERLAIS at Aintree was promising when she was beaten by a better stayer, though her Newbury effort is concerning. That being said, she receives seven pounds today which makes her correct at the weights with BOB OLINGER.

BOB O is making his first start at Cheltenham since he infamously won THAT Turners against GALOPIN DES CHAMPS. 

Since then, he has been well-beaten in Grade 1 company and hasn’t looked like his Ballymore-winning self. A return to the winners’ enclosure lto helps confidence behind him, but HOME BY THE LEE has been well-beaten in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle since and ZANAHIYR was poor on chasing debut the other day.

Olly Murphy makes up for half of the field with both STRONG LEADER and BREWIN’UPASTORM in the race. Preference between the two would go to the improving STRONG LEADER as he gets weight from both BOB OLINGER and BREWIN’UPASTORM. He was second to INTHEPOCKET in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, though the form of that race is still sketchy, so he would have to improve to get back to this level.

Verdict: the ground is going to be deep and testing today and the market is slightly favouring BOB OLINGER to handle it best but we just know STRONG LEADER has a big pot in him. He has shown glimpses of being a monster and with today’s conditions to suit, it could be today.

YOUNG BLOOD

CHELTENHAM BUMPER

All of Racing X seem to be backing LA MARQUISE, a brilliant winner for us last time.

We like her but her bumper was quite weak and she faces stronger opposition today.

KEL DU LARGE looked good lto, another last time out winner. She was flat out to beat our cliff horse CAUSTIC. That appears good form until you realise CAUSTIC lost his head at the start and probably didn’t run to full potential and flattered the victor.

CARVED IN STONE is another who beat CAUSTIC lto. Staying on best, she should relish the conditions today and probably holds the leading form today.

Of the newcomers, AUTHENTIC LEGACY’s page reads best. By AUTHORIZED and out of a PRESENTING mare, he is a half to a handful of winners. Cost a bit at £85k and Gary Moore is BANG in form.

Verdict: we’re going to play two in this, based purely on pedigree potential, in LA MARQUISE and AUTHENTIC LEGACY, the latter being the stronger pick at 12’s

RISK ON

We’ll play the bumper picks and any other bets will be posted to X @equinties.