Equinties - a wanted man

Gm Equinauts

As most you reading this will know, Newbury is our home track and when we go (which is near enough every meeting), we like to mark the card and preview it in the newsletter. Most of today’s races are low level and too competitive but there is one very nice novice race with some stand out pedigree’s along side a few stinky ‘could be plot jobs’ in the handicaps.

See Risk ON for Newbury comms and bets.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

RECORD BREAKING

The Tattersalls Online Sale record was broken yesterday as HOT DARLING, bought as a yearling for 25,000gns, sold for 460,000gns.

Trained by Amy Murphy, the two-year-old filly by TOO DARN HOT is unbeaten having won on debut at Chantilly before her half-a-length Listed success at Vichy in May.

Who’s her new owner? Sumbe, Nurlan Bizakov’s stud farm at which MISHRIFF and GOLDEN HORDE stand.

As for the future, she has an entry in the Queen Mary and Albany at Royal Ascot and when she appears at the Royal meeting (as that is the plan), she will now be sporting the same silks as the likes of CHARYN.

On the purchase, Sumbe’s general manager, Tony Fry, said: “We are going to go to Royal Ascot with her, either for the Queen Mary or the Albany but most likely the Queen Mary.

“We now sponsor the Prix Morny and we would hope that she may get there eventually but, for now, we will take it one race at a time.

“She has an active pedigree, her sire Too Darn Hot is doing fantastically and looking to the future the plan would be for her to come back for our broodmare band. We have a selection of our own stallions that would suit her and she would be a lovely cross for them.”

HOT DARLING is out of the HELMET mare BOATER who won by seven lengths on debut and then placed in the 2016 Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/sales-reports/amy-murphys-unbeaten-hot-darling-sets-new-tattersalls-online-record-at-460000gns-and-next-stop-is-royal-ascot-a10hS4Z8xcX6/ 

A WANTED MAN

Oisin Murphy is a wanted man for some of the upcoming top races and why not, he’s riding out his skin.

His first task is set to be in Chantilly on Sunday as he will ride TAMFANA – the 1000 Guineas fourth – in the Group 1 Prix de Diane. The Prix de Diane has been the long-term target for TAMFANA ever since her luckless run through the British Classic under Jamie Spencer, though the jocking-off of Spencer has nothing to do with his ride.

Trainer David Menuisier said: "He came down a few times this year and last year to work the filly and other horses in the yard and I've always made it clear to Jamie's agent that whenever Oisin is available, he was going to ride the horse.

"It has nothing to do with the ride in the Guineas. Jamie did absolutely nothing wrong – I said it at the time and I'll say it again. We decided to ride the filly cold to give her a chance to travel, handle the track and pick up the pieces. Jamie ended up having no gap whatsoever and I can't see what else he could have done. Sadly whether Jamie does right or wrong there are always people to criticise him, which isn't fair.”

As for his other high-profile jockey booking, Murphy is set to get the leg-up on Christopher Head’s RAMATUELLE in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Like TAMFANA, the French raider had an interesting run through the race, though this was more due to jockey error as one could argue Aurelien Lemaitre kicked for home too early in the 1000 Guineas.

The JUSTIFY filly is 7/1 to land the Group 1 contest on the fourth day of the royal meeting with OPERA SINGER 5/2, FALLEN ANGEL 4/1, and ELMALKA 5/1.

WELL-BRED ALPHA

Yesterday, we highlighted a very well-bred Juddmonte filly ahead of debut and she went and won over at Kempton despite going off at 7/1.

Well, we have another horse bred in the purple to look forward to today as PROXIMA CENTAURI, a two-year-old filly out of ALPHA CENTAURI, is set to make her debut in the 16.45 at Leopardstown.

Bred and owned by the Niarchos Family, her dam needs no introduction thanks to her four Group 1s in 2018, though she is by CIRCUS MAXIMUS who won three Group 1s (St James’s Palace, Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and Queen Anne) during his career.

As for the race she is in, she has another filly by CIRCUS MAXIMUS to take on as NOW (a half to RIP VAN WINKLE) represents Coolmore and Donnacha O’Brien while the top two in the market already have runs under their belt.

More: https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/daughter-of-alpha-centauri-set-for-leopardstown-unveiling/

WATHNAN…AGAIN

The big spending Qatari Royal Family love their racing, and thank goodness it is British racing that they are investing in.

Sheikh Fahad has invested and sponsored British Racing for a few years now. Admittedly Sheikh Joaan is based in France, with his Al Shaqab operation that obviously campaigned the incredible TREVE. But they have purchased at Tattersalls over the years. The Emir Of Qatar is ‘Bertie big b*llocks’ compared to them. He’s the boss. The father to Sheikh Joaan and the Uncle to Sheikh Fahad. The Al Thani Family is quite large (in British terms), the Emir Sheikh Tamin and the owner of Wathnan Racing has 13 children from 3 different wives.

Mind you, the family’s net worth is estimated at $355 Billion, so there is plenty of money to keep everyone happy.

SPACE LEGEND is the most recent acquisition to the Wathnan squad. Last seen when finishing 2nd in the Cocked Hat at Goodwood, a race that used to be a trial for the Derby. In training with Mr (s)Haggas, he has an entry at Royal Ascot in the King Edward. The St Leger at the end of the year has got to be a target as well. He was storming home at Goodwood, and being by SEA THE STARS he should turn out into a proper middle distance horse. Currently 14/1 for the St Leger.

RISK ON

Another day, another second yesterday with no harm done. The winners will be even sweeter…if they ever come.

14.20 MIGHTY RULER

ANNO DOMINI was bought for mega money - half a milli. He clocked a good time at the breeze up and looks classy as well in photos but…but, he doesn’t walk that well. At the price, defo worth finding an ew swing.

The dirty ew play could be Baldings who debuted in a hot Goodwood race. His sire KAMEKO banging in winners early.

There’s a horse we know fairly well, yep you guessed it - MIGHTY RULER for Eve. Lovely yearling and working well enough to be in the mix. More places the better but he’ll be the play. Was too big at 33’s - took only a couple hundred quid to move that. 20’s is a small ew. Buy extra places if you’ll be upset a 20/1 shot is just out the top 3!

16.00 CLOVE HITCH

There are some nice pedigree’s in this race, namely FIOR DI BOSCO who is GALILEO GOLD’s half sister by TOO DARN HOT. Beautiful pedigree. Like most of his debutants, Haggas is sure to take his time with this potentially special horse so she night need the run. Track this girl!

CLOVE HITCH for Balding undoubtedly looks the horse to beat. With her experience, it’ll take a very good one to beat her today at even money.

17.40 WONDER KID

Nice pedigree for this type of race - trip and ground perfect. Loads of winners close family, some winners suggesting this mark might be laughable Post-race. Hugo palmer yard flying too (surprisingly!).

Don’t like Menuisier fave showed guts to win but filly and gone up in weights. Not sure how good form is.

To this point RAKKI looks a big waste of money, pretty sure AULIS needs soft., Tregoning’s looks moderate danger. Millman has one but Oisin not riding and those two are chums? Woods’ NORTH WINTERFELL over priced but maybe for a reason? He has a chance but price says no.

WONDER KID could be plot with improvement expected up in trip. The main man booked. 8/1 ew.

NOTE: We’re eyeing up the first race too. It’s a bad one which won’t take much winning. The fave for Todd really should have won at Bath but for a bad ride. The ground might be a bit too quick for her today so we’ll take on.

The most interesting horse in the race is BLUE YONDER for Watson. He’s been running over 7f and is now back down to a winning mark. His trip 10f so this stinks. Any late money should be noted. Currently 24.0 on the exchange. We’ll only be on this if the money comes late and heavy. If it’s a drifter we’ll leave it. Will tweet.

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