Equinties - Princess gone

Author

BGP Capital
March 25, 2024

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

Before we dive into reviewing the action, we can’t go on without mentioning the sad passing of HIGHFIELD PRINCESS. 

Her sudden death is simply heart breaking for connections as she was the mare owners dream of. From getting beat in a handicaps off 57 and 70, to winning the Buckingham Palace off 92 in June 2021, the Group 2 Duke Of York in May 2022, and then, amazingly, four more Group 1s after that. 

A wonderful career as a broodmare awaited the pride of Yorkshire but this tragic accident sadly means now racing fans will be starved of seeing her babies on track.

You can only feel for connections at this moment. RIP, Highfield Princess.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

VARIAN’S RACE

Roger Varian kicked off the start of the flat season with a win in the Doncaster Mile with CHARYN. A 250k yearling purchase, he had the field strung out like washing making it four wins in nine renewals of the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes.

In what was our Newsletter NAP of the Saturday, his classy profile certainly came to the fore. With form behind PADDINGTON on three occasions last season and form behind the Group 1-placed ISAAC SHELBY, he gave Silvestre De Sousa a flying start to life back in Britain with a facile success. He’s certainly a talented horse and he’s out of FUTOON, a KODIAC mare who achieved her highest RPR as a four-year-old, so his dams side would suggest he’ll continue to to progress with age.

Connections will be hoping this is the case as they are planning to go to a Group 2 at Sandown before heading to the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.

SHAGGAS SHAGGING AGAIN

Haggas always hits the ground running and eye-catching MONTASSIB won the 6f Cammidge Trophy for him and looks a potential group horse whilst serving up the performance of the weekend.

When racing fans’ eyes were zeroed in on MARSHMAN in the closing stages, they’d be forgiven for thinking MONTASSIB was out of it - he was stone cold last between the 2 furlong marker.

But then did this:

Down under, POST IMPRESSIONIST gave Haggas a third win in the N E Manion Cup after YOUNG RASCAL in 2020 and FAVOURITE MOON last year. The son of TEOFILO picked up a handy £74,866 from the Gr3 Handicap and the Sydney Cup is next on the agenda for the former Shadwell horse.

QUICK FIRE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE NEWS

VIA SISTINA and PLACE DU CARROUSSEL 

They cost $7.3million combined last December and it was a first and second in that order in the $1million Gr1 Ranvet S at Rosehill over the weekend. Interestingly WRITTEN TYCOON who is the jewel in the Yulong Investment crown at the moment sired the winner of the Gr1 Golden Slipper Stakes which was out of a FASTNET ROCK mare, just like VIA SISTINA so no prizes to guessing who’ll be on her dance card later this year.

But before that date night, the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth S is the target and interestingly Champion trainer Chris Walker said “We prepared her in Newmarket, I kept a close eye on what Mr Haggas has done with a few of his horses which have beaten VERRY ELLEEGANT a number of times. He just gets it right every year.”

DARK ANGEL

DARK ANGEL wasn’t just repped by CHARYN at Doncaster, he also sired a Gr1 winner in Japan over the weekend. MAD COOL was a €225,000 foal purchase by the biggest owners in Japan and if not the world in the Yoshida Family. Bred by Moyglare Stud, Mad Cool won the Takamatsunomiyo Kinenand in doing so have his sire a 16th top level success.

HK DERBY

BROADHURST (formerly named MASSIVE SOVEREIGN when with Coolmore) won the €3 million Hong Kong Derby under Zac Purton. Sold by Coolmore, who also sold the 3rd home, the Aiden O’Brien bred KA YONG GENERATION.

MASSIVE SOVEREIGN was a €620,000 yearling purchase by MV Magnier in 2021. A strong good walking son of No Nay Never who stands at the Tipperary operation for €150,000. The son of Scat Daddy should have another productive season with his runners, ARRAY and LAKE FOREST are two to watch in the sprinting division.

EYECATCHERS OF THE WEEKEND 

ATHERSTONE WARRIOR – SATURDAY 13.50 DONCASTER

The Brocklesby is always a nightmare of a race to work out (though we did it three years in a row!) but it can be a good race to watch going forward. 

ATHERSTONE WARRIOR was the one that caught the eye as he was staying on nicely at the finish for Alice Haynes and Kieran O’Neill. 

He looked a bit keen in the final stages of the contest, but once he switched to the left after PADDY’S COURAGE faded to the right, he stuck to the task. He could be one to watch going forward, as could DUKES OF HAATHER who finished seventh. He got a bad break from the stalls and certainly caught the eye further back in the field.

PRETENDING – SATURDAY 14.10 NEWBURY

Lucy Wadham has had a few horses that have caught our eye over the last month or so, and PRETENDING is another who ran a good race behind I LOVE MY BAIE in the valuable novices’ handicap hurdle.

I LOVE MY BAIE was a willing winner on the day and deserved to do so, but PRETENDING pulled nearly 12 lengths clear of the third – the highly-touted BREAK MY SOUL – and did it well. The former Flat recruit has some nice form in the book, notably when second to UNDER CONTROL at Cheltenham in a valuable handicap for mares, and she is a horse to keep onside (in the mud) going forward.

LATTAM – SATURDAY 15.35 DONCASTER

MR PROFESSOR landed a bit of a surprise in the Lincoln, though it was arguably the second, LATTAM, who could have won the race. 

On his first start for Julie Camacho, he had a rough route through and Ryan Sexton was one of the last off the bridle, but the gap opened up too late and his late challenge wasn’t good enough. He might get a few pounds from the handicapper for that, but if they keep him fresh this season, he could be a horse to have fun with.

RATH GAUL HILL - SATURDAY 16.25 NEWBURY

Watch this:

RISK ON

Very bad racing today and not worth getting involved in.

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