Wednesday, April 14, 2004
CHESTER PROMOTES BENEFITS OF MBNA EUROPE BANK CHESTER VASE AND JARDINE LLOYD THOMPSON DEE STAKES TO TRAINERS AND OWNERS
Chester is promoting the benefits of running three-year-olds in the two top-notch classic trails at the May Meeting - the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase and the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes - to trainers and owners.
Bobby McAlpine, Chester's chairman, has written and spoken to trainers about the excellent qualities of both the 12-furlong MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase, which has £65,000 in prize money, and the 10-furlong Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes worth £70,000.
The MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase, which moves to the second day of the May Meeting, Thursday, May 6, is one of the most significant trials for the Derby and the St Leger.
In addition to its status as a classic trial, the prestigious and historic race has proved a very good guide to future success in a whole host of other high-class races.
Since 1980, Derby winners Henbit (1980), Shergar (1981) and Quest For Fame (1990) and St Leger victors Light Cavalry (1980), Toulon (1991), Moonax (1994) and Millenary (2000) have all raced in the Chester Vase.
The Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes provided last year's Derby winner Kris Kin, who was the decisive scorer of the Chester trial.
Oath produced a dazzling display at Chester to defeat Little Rock by five lengths in the 1999 Dee Stakes and then captured the Derby.
The Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes, which takes place on the final day of the 2004 May Meeting, Friday, May 7, has also seen horses of the calibre of multiple Group One winner Grandera, Arc victor Saumarez, Pentire and Derby seconds Blue Stag and Blues Traveller take part since 1990.
Bobby McAlpine commented: "Chester is a fine place at which to run promising three-year-olds.
"The ground is always in excellent condition for the May Meeting, our first racing of the year, and Chester's turns test the versatility of horses before their classic attempts.
"The MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase and the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes have new sponsors this year and we are going forward on all fronts to encourage runners in both."
Early Start for Evening Race Meetings
at Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Racecourse returns to evening racing this month, the first being on Saturday 17 April, but the first race times for April and May are earlier than for previous evening fixtures.
Saturday 17 and Saturday 24 April have first race times of 6.00 p.m. while for Monday 19 April the first race is due off at 5.35 p.m. and Thursday 22nd April at 5.45 p.m.
Marketing Manager Amanda Thomas said: “Visitors need to be aware that we are starting earlier in April and May than we have done during the winter. Gates open 2 hours before racing and access to the restaurants is provided one and half hours before the first race. There is entertainment with live bands and discos on the Saturday meetings, open to restaurant diners and members, which will get under way soon after the last race.”
There is still space in the Zongalero Restaurant for the Saturday fixtures, and availability in the Members Restaurant for the midweek evening fixtures.
Pulpit Colt Brings April Sale Record $3.3 Million
Lexington, Ky (April 13, 2004)
The Keeneland record for a 2-year-old in training was shattered here Tuesday when Aisling Cross-Duignan, a representative of Coolmore Stud, made the winning bid of $3.3 million for a Pulpit colt.
The previous record for the April sale of $2 million was set in 1999 for La Salle Street with Demi O’Byrne signing the ticket. This time, Cross-Duignan signed O’Byrne’s name and the purchase was made on behalf of Coolmore and Michael Tabor. She declined to make any comments.
It is the second-highest price ever paid for a juvenile in training. The world record of $4.5 million was established in February at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Select sale for a Fusaichi Pegasus colt. Fusao Sekiguchi, who bought Fusaichi Pegasus at the 1998 Keeneland July Yearling Sale for $4 million and then won the Kentucky Derby with him, was the successful bidder.
Niall Brennan, who consigned the colt as agent, said: ‘A lot of people didn’t want to get outbid on him. The feedback was that he was a once in a lifetime opportunity for a 2-year-old sale. He has no holes in him. He’s bred to be a two-turn horse.’
Of his :10 3/5 workout prior to the sale, Brennan said: ‘He looked like he was just galloping. He trained with a tremendous amount of presence and elegance on the racetrack.’
The bay colt is out of multiple stakes winner In My Cap and is a half-brother to three stakes-placed horses, including Bright Feather, the dam of Grade 1 winner Albert the Great.
He had been purchased by Mike Ryan, as agent, at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year for $170,000.
Brennan added: ‘The weather put a damper on the sale, no pun intended. People came here to buy athletes and it was hard to look at them in the shedrow.’
For the sale, 101 horses sold for $22,012,000, an average of $217,941 and a median of $135,000.
‘We expected the Pulpit colt to top the sale, but we didn’t expect that price,’ said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. ‘It was a strong group of physicals and we were unfortunate with the weather yesterday and having to cancel the preview. But, in spite of that, we thought it was a very successful exercise.’
Cross-Duignan also bid $1.4 million for a Dixie Union colt and signed O’Byrne’s name. The bay colt, consigned by Danny Pate’s Solitary Oak Farm, as agent, is out of the stakes-winning Seeking the Gold mare Sneaky Quiet.
Fleetwood/New Wave Management bid $800,000 for She’s a Devil Slew on behalf of Stan Fulton, who owns Derby prospect St Averil as well as Sunland Park. Consigned by Robert Scanlon, agent, the dark bay filly is out of Grade 2 Walmac Int’l Alcibiades Stakes winner She’s a Devil Due.
‘She’s a class act,’ Fulton said, ‘she really, truly is. There’s nothing not to like about her. She’s a beautifully built young lady. She galloped out beautifully and she’s out of a stakes winner. That’s the kind you want to buy.’
Buzz Chace signed the ticket at $750,000 for a Fusaichi Pegasus colt on behalf of Aaron and Marie Jones. Chace, who is the Joneses racing manager, said Todd Pletcher will train the colt, named Foxglove.
Consigned by Eaton Sales as agent for phase one of the complete dispersal of Jeanne Vance, Foxglove is out of Rokeby Rosie, who is a half-sister to champion Silverbulletday.
‘He has a two-turn pedigree and is a nice individual,’ Chace said. ‘He looks like an athlete.
He galloped beautifully, very smooth and with a nice long stride. We thought we’d have to pay more for him.’
He also bought Gold Siphon, a Siphon (Brz) filly, for $500,000 from the Nick de Meric consignment, and Notta Saint, a Saint Ballado colt, for $475,000, from the Tony Bowling/Bobby Dodd consignment. Both were purchased for the Joneses.
Chace echoed the comments of Niall Brennan about the weather. ‘It affected buyers quite a bit. It was raining so hard yesterday that everyone was in the Keeneland Kitchen playing Racehorse Rummy. Everyone had to look this morning. I don’t think anyone missed any horses, but you never know.’
John Fort, of Peachtree Stable, bought a Stravinsky filly for $500,000 from Robert Scanlon, as agent.
‘She was the fastest horse in the sale,’ he said of her eighth of a mile work in :10 1/5. ‘She worked against the bias when other horses were working slower than expected.
‘She’s got a great top line and she’s a very feminine filly. She’s a little smaller version of Cherry Bomb.’ Todd Pletcher trains current 3-year-old filly Cherry Bomb.
The dark bay filly is out of the graded stakes-winning Golden Pond (Ire).
David S. Moore, a Wall Street investment banker, bought a Deputy Minister colt for $450,000. At last year’s April sale, he purchased Pollard’s Vision, recent winner of the Grade 2 Illinois Derby under the name of his Edgewood Stable. He bought his first racehorses last spring. Another is Hermione’s Magic, who ran third in the Schuylerville Stakes last year.
With his new purchase, Moore now has seven horses in training. He envisions a racing stable of from eight to 10 horses, and Todd Pletcher will train them all. ‘We want to be disciplined and run this as a business,’ Moore said.
Pedigree advisor Edward Rosen said: ‘We think we bought the best horse in the sale. I liked him on pedigree and Todd liked him on conformation. We both encouraged the purchase.’
The dark bay colt, consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent I, is a half-brother to stakes winner Deputy Warlock.
‘It’s a solid catalog from the pedigree perspective,’ Rosen added.
Yukari Sekiguchi bought a gray colt by Unbridled’s Song for $375,000 for her father, Fusao Sekiguchi. Named Imperial Wonder, the colt was consigned by Jessie and Stacy Longoria, as agent. Sekiguchi also bought a Polish Numbers colt from Kirkwood Stables, Agent V, for $500,000.
B. Wayne Hughes, owner of champion Action This Day, bought a Distorted Humor colt for $350,000 from William B. Harrigan, as agent. Named Kate’s Humor, the bay colt is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Elvi Gamble and is out of stakes-placed Dave’s Kate.
Robert Lewis bought a Pulpit filly for $330,000. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent VII, the bay filly, named Nobska, is out of Grade 2 winner Changing Ways. ‘She’s a magnificent looking filly,’ Lewis said. Asked if he would have gone higher to buy her, he replied: ‘I think we hit the mark.’ Nobska will be trained by Wally Dollase.
Lewis also bought a colt by Lemon Drop Kid, named Plunkit, for $290,000 that D. Wayne Lukas will train. Consigned by Eaton Sales, as agent for Jeanne Vance, the colt, is out of Irish stakes winner April Starlight. Later in the session, he also signed for a Pioneering colt for $410,000 from the Robert Scanlon consignment.
Ron McPeek, father of trainer Kenny McPeek, bought a Fusaichi Pegasus filly for $320,000 on behalf of his client, Randal Durham. ‘She has a tremendous pedigree and she’s by the right sire,’ McPeek said. ‘She’s one of the best-balanced foals in this sale.’ He planned to buy two other horses for Durham.
Seven older horses from the dispersal of Jeanne Vance were sold at the end of the sale for $2,025,000. Ecclesiastic, a winner at Keeneland during the current meet, was sold for $775,000 to Joseph Allen, highest price of the seven horses.
ROGERS ON A HIGH AS MOON UNIT WINS
Moon Unit, trained in County Louth by Harry Rogers, was the snug winner of the EUR50,000 Listed Cork Stakes on Easter Monday.
The race attracted two British runners but neither could get in a blow as the daughter of Intikhab led over a furlong out to win by one and a half lengths for the Mick Quinn-trained Dragon Flyer and Declan Gillespie's Peace Offering.
Moon Unit was a winner over this five furlong trip at Navan last year but was then tried over longer distances without much success. It is now likely that she will be campaigned over sprint distances only.
SADLERS WINGS BACK IN THE GROOVE
Sadlers Wings put an indifferent performance at Cheltenham firmly behind him with a smooth success in the Grade 2 Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Coming home a most impressive winner under David Casey, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old son of In The Wings landed the EUR48,000 event by three and a half lengths from Point Barrow (Arctic Lord).
Sadlers Wings now heads to Punchestown for the two and a half miles novice hurdle where he will certainly be a leading player.
GREENHALL RAMBLER WINS GRADE 3 AT FAIRYHOUSE
The Pat Fahy-trained Greenhall Rambler landed a significant end-of-season prize when taking the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The five-year-old daughter of Anshan led early on the run-in to win the EUR50,000 event, comfortably beating Burnt Out by a length and a half under jockey John Cullen. Not a bad return for a filly that was led out unsold at Ir£750gns as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland November foal sales.
The winner is yet another that will now head to the Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown in two weeks time.
PERFECT SOUL TAKES US GRADE 2
Perfect Soul, a son of the evergreen Sadler's Wells, was the game winner of the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes Grade 2 at the weekend.
A Grade 1 winner last season in the USA before a disappointing run in the Breeders Cup Mile, he was back to his best for this contest and looks like being a leading miler in the USA this year.
SEAL ADDS TO LAST YEAR'S WINS AT KEMPTON
Privy Seal, twice a winner in six starts last year, made a winning return to action when landing the Listed alanbrazilracing.com Easter Stakes at Kempton on Saturday.
The Irish-bred son of Cape Cross came from off the pace to beat Mutahayya (Pentire Celebre) by a length and will now be stepped up in class for the Classic Trial at Sandown.
Clearly suited by the good to soft ground here, it is also worth noting that the ground was good to firm when Privy Seal won at Windsor and Leopardstown as a two-year-old.
LISTED WIN FOR HATHRAH
Hathrah, a daughter of Linamix, was the easy winner of the Listed turftours.com Masaka Stakes over eight furlongs at Kempton on Saturday.
Bred by Kildaragh Stud, Hathrah was a wide margin winner at Newmarket last July on her second start and subsequently finished runner-up on two occasions.
She remains a possible for the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas.
GOFFS APPOINT NEW MARKETING EXECUTIVE
Elaine Lawlor, who previously worked with Goffs attracting US buyers in the late '80s, has been appointed as Sales and Marketing Executive for the County Kildare company.
While based in America, Elaine Lawlor also acted as PA to trainer John Gosden and later served as manager to Oak Cliff Racing, owned by Tom Tatham.
In recent years, she has been the Irish syndicate manager for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, a role in which she will continue.
PUNCHESTOWN GEARS UP FOR FESTIVAL
The introduction of a new free enclosure at Punchestown for the four-day Irish National Hunt Festival has been widely welcomed. There will be no charge for admission to the Northern Enclosure, which will be situated past the winning post.
Welcoming the idea, Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, "It's a great initiative and will help get back the spirit of Punchestown."
The racecourse's acting general manager Dick O'Sullivan confirmed that Aintree scorer Moscow Flyer, Cheltenham Gold Cup third Harbour Pilot, the brilliant Iris's Gift and Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace are all on course to run during the Festival which boasts almost EUR1.8 million in prize money.
Commenting on the quality of entries received for the Grade 1 races, Janet Williamson, Punchestown's PR Manager, said, "We are delighted by the entries for the nine early-closing races with the cream of Ireland's National Hunt talent set to face a record number of opponents from Britain."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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