Racing Weekly Issue 7

ISSUE 7 • 14 DECEMBER 2018

YOUR RACING DESTINATION

DUBAI ON CARDS FOR BEAUTY GENERATION

TEN YEAR OLD FORJATT LANDS LISTED NATIONAL DAY CUP

ALSAYEGH PAYS TRIBUTE TO DARLEY FLYING STAR

Celebrating the achievements of the industry from all over the world, we are

From all of us at The

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BEAUTY GENERATION DUBAI ON CARDS FOR ‘BRUTALLY GOOD’ BEAUTY GENERATION AFTER HONG KONG MILE DEMOLITION

WINSTAR WINSTAR FORMING 2019 PLANS FOR YOSHIDA, BULLETIN AND MORE

NATIONAL DAY CUP TEN YEAR OLD FORJATT LANDS LISTED NATIONAL DAY CUP

BAHRAIN RACING CARTAGO CAPTURES ARABIAN HORSE CUP

JEBEL ALI AL SAYEGH PAYS TRIBUTE TO DARLEY FLYING STAR AND MASAR GODOLPHIN

DUBAI ON CARDS FOR ‘BRUTALLY GOOD’ BEAUTY GENERATION AFTER HONG KONG MILE DEMOLITION TRAINER JOHN MOORE SAYS HE ‘NEEDS TO BE PINCHED TO TAKE IN WHAT JUST HAPPENED’ HKIR

There is now no doubt, Beauty Generation is one

But once he got there, the reigning Horse of the

of the best horses on the planet. With the eyes of

Year did what he does best, kicking clear at the top

the world watching, John Moore’s superstar

of the straight and breaking his rivals’

produced the performance of the day, running his

hearts. When it became clear nothing would get

Longines Hong Kong Mile rivals ragged to cement

near Beauty Generation, the packed crowd

his status as the territory’s finest – and the trainer

unleashed a massive roar and Purton enjoyed the

is hoping he can now showcase him across the

moment, easing down the last 50 metres and

globe. Beauty Generation jumped a $1.5 favourite,

giving the horse a big pat. Japanese raider Vivlos,

but carrying the weight of expectation proved not

having her final start before heading to the

to be an issue, with top jockey Zac Purton

breeding barn, was the best of the rest finishing

remaining calm under early pressure before

three lengths away, while Caspar Fownes’

coming away to win untouched. Starting from

Southern Legend held on for third. But the

barrier 12, the six-year-old worked forward but a

margins were irrelevant – it was the manner of the

host of challengers pushed up underneath him

victory that left Sha Tin buzzing. “That’s what we

early, forcing him to do some extra work to find

all hoped we would see today,” Purton said. “I’m

the lead just before the turn.

just happy for the horse that he’s come out and produced it on a big stage. .

He showed everyone how brutally good he can

expectations. There were a lot detractors out there

be “He’s got a really high cruising speed – he’s very

saying he’s this and he’s that, but now those

comfortable rolling along at that speed and then he

detractors have to say he’s a champion. “I need to

can kick off it. “So for the horses back in the field,

be pinched I think, to take in what’s happened.”

they are already struggling to go with the pace and

Beauty Generation holds the title – undisputed –

then they’ve got to try to reel him in – it’s not an

as the best horse in the Hong Kong and now

easy thing to do.” There had been whispers about

Moore wants to take on the world. “He needs to go

Beauty Generation’s condition earlier in the week,

away to make him a global great, so from that point

but Purton revealed a final piece of work on

of view I will be speaking to the [owners] about

Saturday morning put his mind at ease. “John

going to Dubai. That would be my preference,” he

asked me to specifically come in [Saturday]

said. “If we are going to prove him, we have to do it

morning and give him a canter on the big track and

on the world stage. We have done it here on the

when I got off him I thought ‘they’re not going to

home ground.” Of the others, 2016 champion

beat him’, so I slept pretty well,” he said. Moore has

Beauty Only put in an eye-catching run to finish

built a reputation as the best big-race trainer in

fourth after blowing the start, while second

Hong Kong and even he was caught up in the

favourite, Yasutoshi Ikee’s Persian Knight, came

moment. “That’s the most impressive [winner I’ve

fifth. But the Group One will only ever be

had in Hong Kong] – by far,” he said. “What he did

remembered for Beauty Generation’s performance

today, he was taken on inside – he had to do it the

– one that goes down among the best in Hong

hard way as far as I was concerned. He wasn’t even

Kong International Races history.

hit – he did it facile. “He’s just lived up to

WINSTAR FORMING 2019 PLANS FOR YOSHIDA, BULLETIN AND MORE HORSE RACING NATION Having campaigned Triple Crown winner Justify

on Santa Anita’s opening day, Dec. 26. Tugel said

this year, along with other big-name stakes horses,

multiple Grade 1 winner Yoshida, trained by Bill

WinStar Farm is forming plans to again compete

Mott, will likely pass on the Pegasus. oshida made

on the world scale in 2019. International events,

the switch from turf to dirt when he won

top domestic Grade 1 races and, of course, the

Saratoga’s Woodward (G1) and rallied to a fourth-

Kentucky Derby were all mentioned as targets in a

place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The

recent interview with Sean Tugel, WinStar’s

Japanese-bred is now being pointed to an overseas

director of bloodstock services and assistant

target. “He is in light training down at Payson Park.

racing manager. First on the agenda in 2019 is the

The Dubai World Cup will be the ultimate goal,”

Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park,

Tugel said. "Whether he runs once before that is

which could include both Audible and Battle of

kind of up in the air. We’re looking for possible

Midway. Todd Pletcher-trained Audible is slated

spots to get him going. Most likely not the

prep in the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3) there on

Pegasus, because we have Audible going there and

Saturday. On the West Coast, trainer Jerry

possibly Battle of Midway, but looking for a dirt

Hollendorfer is expected to send Battle of Midway

option for him between now and the Dubai World

for his final prep in the San Antonio Stakes (G2)

Cup probably.”

The Dubai World Cup is scheduled for March 30.

stretch out but she’s very fast. We like her.”

At Meydan, Yoshida could run up against

As for the 2-year-olds, Bob Baffert-trained

Breeders’ Cup Classic third-place finisher

Improbable leads the WinStar juveniles. He is

Thunder Snow, who won last year's World Cup.

undefeated in three starts and earned 10 points

Yoshida has traveled overseas before having

on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” with his Los

gone to Royal Ascot last June, when he was fifth

Alamitos Futurity (G1) victory over the weekend.

in the Queen Anne (G1). Entering the older horse

Although Justify never raced at 2, there's an

ranks in 2019 is Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner

obvious physical comparison to be made

Quip. The Rodolphe Brisset trainee was last seen

between the Triple Crown winner and

running eighth in the Preakness Stakes following

Improbable. “We like chestnuts with big white

a runner-up performance in the Arkansas Derby

blazes,” Tugel said. Improbable’s next race plans

(G1). Despite success on the Derby trail, Tugel

are pending. “I’m sure they’ll look at all the

said connections are thinking Quip will cut back

different 3-year-old great prep races – Oaklawn

in distance at 4. After the Preakness he kind of

or Santa Anita – then whenever he’s ready to run,

came out with pretty good bone bruising,” Tugel

Bob knows what he’s doing,” Tugel added, “so

said. “At that point, we weren’t going to get him

I’m sure he’ll have two races and third will be the

back for those mid-summer classics. He’ll

Derby hopefully. Fingers crossed.” Five Star

probably be like a seven-furlong/miler type, is

General could potentially make an appearance

what we ultimately think he may be. Stretch out

on the Derby trail as well. The Arnaud Delacour

to a mile and a sixteenth.

trainee debuted at Parx in September, finishing

“We’re looking at races. Don’t know if he’ll be

sixth on the dirt before entered in two turf races.

ready in time for the Met Mile, or if he’s good

He broke his maiden at Laurel Park over a sloppy

enough, but races like that this year. Around

main track a month later and led every step in

one-turn is probably what we’re going to try and

an off-the-turf version of Aqueduct’s Central Park

focus on with him. Maybe the Vanderbilt and

Stakes. He’s just getting a small, little break

Forego at Saratoga if he can get us there.”

down in Tampa and then we’re going to look at

The Met Mile (G1) now runs annually on Belmont

either probably the Dania Beach or the Sam

Stakes day with the six-furlong Alfred G.

Davis for him,” Tugel said. “He’s a horse that we

Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) and the seven-furlong

think he actually really wants turf, but he’s run

Forego Stakes (G1) in July and August,

very well on dirt so far. He’s a horse that we have

respectively. Quip posted his first workout back

options with.”

last Saturday at Payson Park. He traveled three

The Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) is part of Tampa

furlongs in 38.60. Another horse entering the

Bay Downs’ Derby prep series on Feb. 9, while

older horse division Tugel says WinStar has “really

the Dania Beach Stakes runs a week earlier over

high hopes for” is the filly Abounding Joy, owned

Gulfstream Park’s turf course. WinStar is also

by the WinStar StableMates racing syndicate.

partnered on Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Abounding Joy, another in Brisset's care, made

winner Bulletin, another Pletcher horse who won

three starts this year. She broke her maiden at

his debut in Gulfstream’s Hollywood Beach

Keeneland before winning a Churchill Downs

Stakes in September. Current plans are to send

allowance this spring. She ran second in her

Bulletin across the pond. “He’s getting a little

debut at Fair Grounds to stablemate Talk Veuve

break here at the farm,” Tugel said, “and then

to Me, who later won the Indiana Oaks

Royal Ascot will be his ultimate goal this coming

(G3). Tugel added she could return to the races

spring.” Connections expect Bulletin will be able

for Keeneland’s April meet.

to get up to a mile. He’ll likely have one or two

“She’s probably a seven-furlong/miler type as

races before traveling for the June meeting.

well,” he said. “I don’t know how much she’ll

TEN YEAR OLD FORJATT LANDS LISTED NATIONAL DAY CUP ERA

most of his 14 opponents beaten. However, in the predominantly yellow silks of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chris Hayes looked supremely confident on Forjatt, a 10-year-old and winner of this race in 2015. Weaving through runners throughout the straight, they hit the front 100m out to gain a popular victory for new Jebel Ali Stables trainer Nicholas Bachalard. Sheikh Ahmed’s Jaasoos was a dual winner of the National Day Cup, as was Emirates Gold, but both defended their crowns in consecutive years. Forjatt became the

All eyes were on Muntazah, runner-up in the 2018

first horse to regain the title; all the more

Godolphin Mile (G2) on the Dubai World Cup card

impressive being three years apart.

on his previous outing and one of the 15 runners in

“He is a great little horse, especially for his age,”

Sunday’s 1600m Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al

Hayes said. “He jumped great and has then really

Nahyan National Day Cup (Listed) for

travelled strongly in behind. The one thing with

Thoroughbreds at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

this horse is he needs to be produced late and I

Saddled by Doug Watson for His Highness Sheikh

was able to take my time, threading through the

Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, his trainer had

gaps as they opened in the straight. That is a

warned he would improve for the outing with big

brilliant effort from all the team at home to get the

targets awaiting at Meydan during the Dubai

old boy back to win this race again.”

World Cup Carnival. Such appeared the case, as

Also over 1600m, the Purebred Arabian Sheikh

the well-fancied charge tracked the leading bunch

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA

throughout the first half of the race, only to drop

G3) was won by RB Torch, originally the first

away early in the straight under Dane O’Neill.

reserve but granted a place in the 16-strong field

Meanwhile, turning for home early leader Above N

after the defection of stable companion Abhaar,

Beyond weakened, leaving Jaaref (also owned by

who was withdrawn after spiking a temperature

Sheikh Hamdan) in front and he looked to have

over the weekend. Both,

as well as two others—making for a quarter of the

” The 1400m handicap was decided in the very last

field—are trained by Eric Lemartinel for his main

strides when Connor Beasley produced Hawafez

patron, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al

with a desperate late lunge, snaring Sam Hitchcott

Nahyan. Recording an eight career victory, fifth on

and AF Hakeem, who had only led themselves

turf and third over course and distance, RB Torch

about 100m out. Trained by Ridha ben Attia

was having his third start of the campaign, having

—saddling his first winner of the season—for Salem

twice been well beaten. Bouncing back in emphatic

Ali Murshed Al Marar, the 5-year-old Hawafez is

style, he settled in midfield under Fabrice Veron,

now a winner twice after 20 starts; both over

chasing down leading duo AF Mahshoum and AF Al

course and distance, having landed a maiden at

Sajanjle at the 200m pole and going on to victory.

this meeting 12 months ago. The 1600m maiden

“We broke reasonably, but then my horse took a

was a race trainer Saeed Al Shamsi will never

little while to get into a rhythm,” Veron said. “Once

forget after AF Shearr provided both himself and

he was settled, he was always travelling nicely and I

owner Khalid Salmeen Ali Theeban with their very

was able to give him a little breather before

first winners. Confidently ridden by Szczepan

challenging in the straight. He picked up well when

Mazur, who settled him just behind the leaders, he

I asked him and has won going away from the other

was produced to lead halfway up the straight and

at the end. You always know when riding for these

was always holding the challenge of runner-up

connections that you have a good chance. Luckily, I

Sallal Al Reef. Well-beaten on the dirt at Al Ain on

was on the right one this evening.”

debut just over two weeks ago, he was providing

Lemartinel, who was completing a double for

his jockey a second victory of the

himself and the owner, added: “Turning into the

campaign. Mazur, from Poland, said: “He has

straight, I could see him making ground and was

certainly preferred racing on turf here after a

very hopeful because he is a very tough horse who

debut on dirt and hopefully can build on this. The

has plenty of ability, especially when he is in a good

concluding 1600m handicap produced a polished

mood!” The opening 1400m maiden was contested

performance from Qader, confidently ridden by

by the maximum allowed field of 16, but very few

Adrie de Vries, who was never far off the pace

were ever able to get involved and Pat Cosgrave,

before asking his mount to win the race inside the

riding for Sheikh Khalifa and Lemartinel, was never

final 200m. The response was telling and they ran

headed aboard Eghel De Pine. They were pursued

on strongly with the pair pulling clear in the

throughout by stable companion Highh Altitude,

closing stages. Trained by Jean de Roualle for Yas

who plugged on gamely to hold on to second and

Horse Racing Management, 6-year-old Qader has

supply the Al Asayl Stables team with a one-two

now landed four of his ten UAE outings.

finish. “He ran a very good race the first day behind (RB Money to Burn),” Cosgrave said. “He learned a lot from that experience and we were pretty confident coming here today that he had progressed. He will improve again because he was looking about in the straight when he was probably getting a bit lonely out in front. Hopefully he can continue to progress with racing experience.

CARTAGO CAPTURES ARABIAN HORSE CUP GDN

CARTAGO was among seven favourites to live up to expectations at yesterday’s horse racing at Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir.

Cartago, owned by Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Gerald Mosse, beat Saajid by three lengths to win the Arabian Horse Equestrian Services Cup carrying a cash prize of BD3,000 Tonabrocky was third and Whistle Stop fourth.

Gharaieb, owned by Al-Afoo Racing Stable, trained

by Mohammed Saeed and ridden by P Convertino, beat Parchment by three-and-half-a-lengthy to win the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Cup,

also carrying a cash prize of BD3,000 Daleel was third and Farange fourth.

Manama Boy, owned by Ramadhan Stable, trained by Jaber Ramadhan and ridden by Robert Tart, beat Tom Hark by three lengths to win the Arabian Horse Equestrian Services Cup carrying a cash prize of BD2,000 Broughtons Salsa was third and Alphine Affair fourth.

Prince Bonnaire, owned by Al-Afoo Racing Stable, trained by Mohammed Saeed and ridden

by Salah Isa, pipped Punk by a head to win the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Cup carrying a cash prize of BD2,000 The Nazca Lines was third and Taking Libertys fourth.

Al Jellaby 1683, owned by Al Riffa, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti and ridden by Brett Doyle, beat Al Jellaby 1661 by three-fourth-length to win the Arabian Horse Equestrian Services Cup for Arabian horses carrying a cash prize of BD2,000 Al Jellaby 1704 was third and Al Tuwaisah 1694 fourth.

Favourites won the two support races as well with Shajer, owned by Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor NOMADIC

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and ridden by Brett Doyle, beating Remaih by two lengths to win the first race of the day which was for locally bred horses carrying a cash prize of BD2,000Â Janah was third and Al Tariq fourth.

Blues Guitar, owned by Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Al Khalifa, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Gerald Mosse, followed suit beating Blue Angel by three-fourth-length to win the race for locally bred horses, also carrying a cash prize of BD2,000Â Shomukh was third and Asir fourth.

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AL SAYEGH PAYS TRIBUTE TO DARLEY FLYING STAR AND MASAR GODOLPHIN LESLIE WILSON JR/GULF NEWS

authorities involved in horse racing to make an effort to attract the youth in our country to attend race meetings,” he said during a news conference at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Tuesday. “It is time to consider horse racing, in particular, as it is one of the best alternative actions outside the classroom.

“Horses are a part of the fabric of the UAE and by coming together at the racecourse they will learn teamwork and how to improve their social skills.”

Mirza Al Sayegh, Shareef Al Halawani, Sadiq

Al Sayegh, who is the Director of the Office of

Al Mulla and Prof. Abdullah Mohammad Al

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

Shamsi at the Jebel Ali Racecourse

Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of

yesterday.Dubai: Mirza Al Sayegh was joined

Finance, highlighted the success of

by senior faculty members from leading

professional programmes such as Darley

colleges in the UAE as he called out to

Flying Start and Masar Godolphin in opening

students to embrace horse racing and

up career paths for the younger generation.

acknowledge the importance of sports in

Darley Flying Star and Masar Godolphin are

their every day life. “I encourage the

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training programmes operating under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “I extend my thanks and gratitude to Shaikh Mohammad for introducing these invaluable scholarships related to the sport of horse racing,” Al Sayegh said. “It gives the students an insight into the thoroughbred racing industry and also opens their minds to the many careers that are available to them in the sport.” Charles Diab, Executive Director, Advancement & Alumni Affairs at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), who will sponsor one of the seven races on Friday’s card at Jebel Ali Racecourse, backed Al Sayegh’s views. “Universities are designed to open the minds of young people,” he said.

“We are not just designed to teach them in one particular subject. Most of the time graduates don’t necessarily chose careers in the area that they have studied. “Our job is to make sure that we expand their knowledge of the world. And the horse racing industry is one of those areas that we want to expose our students to. “We are aware that it is a major industry in the world that is very import to the Rulers of the country and that’s why we are taking part in this particular activity,” he concluded. Sadiq Al Mulla, Chief Administration and Finance Officer, Zayed University and Prof. Abdullah Mohammad Al Shamsi, Vice Chancellor of the British University in Dubai, also agreed that students will benefit from being exposed to horse racing. Also lending their support to Friday’s race meeting at Jebel Ali Racecourse is Shadwell, the breeding arm of Shaikh Hamdan’s global racing operation, together with Shadwell Farm and Derrinstown Stud.

Levendi set for autumn return RACING.COM Last season's ATC Derby winner Levendi is

of time he looks terrific and he is going really

shaping up for an autumn return after injury

well," Gelagotis added. "We have high

forced him to miss the spring. Following his

expectations for him when he comes back (to

emphatic Derby victory last April, Levendi

the races), he is a seriously good colt."He will

required surgery on both knees to remove

head to Sydney and take on those good races

bone chips and with the Gelagotis stable keen

up there culminating in the (Group 1) Queen

to take a conservative approach with the

Elizabeth." It could be a busy start to 2019 for

classic winner, it was decided to forget the

the Gelagotis stable with plans to race at the

spring and concentrate on his autumn

highest level not only in Sydney but Dubai as

comeback. "He obviously came through the

well. A taste of the March World Cup Carnival

surgery extremely well, we could have brought

in Dubai this year with Illustrious Lad has left

him back for the spring, but we took the view

Manny Gelagotis and his brother Peter seeking

of 'we were only going to get one chance at

a return, this time with G1-winning sprinter

this' so the time off has done him the world of

Malaguerra. "Now that we have been in Dubai

good," Manny Gelagotis explained on

a straight race like that (Al Quoz Sprint) worth

Tuesday. The son of Pierro returned to training

2 million dollars would be certainly appealing

early last month and is progressing well ahead

for a horse like him with his statue," he

of an intended assault on Sydney this coming

said. Malaguerra placed last start in the G1

autumn. "At this point

Winterbottom Stakes in Perth,

his second run back from an extended break after jarring-up badly during spring. "He hit the front there and gave us a bit of excitement in the Winterbottom he has been a grand old horse," Gelagotis said. In terms of Dubai, look it's up to Bruno Micalizzi, the owner he will have a good look at all the options certainly. "He (Micalizzi) has the details in front of him so whether we go back to Moonee Valley for the Australia Stakes and give him an autumn campaign, we will weigh up all the options. "It's up to the owner and hopefully there are a few more wins in store for him."

Unsung heroes: Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff awards' shortlists are unveiled It’s been bad enough getting each category down to a shortlist of ten from a total of 202 high-quality nominations RACING POST

The shortlist for the 2019 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff awards has been announced after a judging panel whittled down 202 nominations into six categories containing ten candidates each.

The awards, now in their 14th year, are designed to celebrate the hard work done by stud and stable staff across the country and culminate in an awards ceremony on February 18 when more than £120,000 in prize-money is awarded to winners and the yards they represent.

The awards recognise a diverse range of experiences within racing – from the

David Nicholson Newcomer Award to

Scott said: "For the judges here comes the

Dedication to Racing – and one of the

best and worst task of the year. It’s been bad

evening’s six winners is eventually named

enough getting each category down to a

Employee of the Year. Brough Scott is

shortlist of ten from a total of 202 high-quality

chairman of this year's judging panel, which

nominations. Now we have to whittle each

also includes ITV Racing's Alice Plunkett,

group down to just three.

former jockey Mick Fitzgerald and Jessica

"All I can promise them is that we will do it

McLernon, winner of the Employee of the Year

with a respect and fairness which matches the

award in 2018. The panel will select three

admiration and appreciation we have for their

finalists from each category who will be

efforts every day."

invited to next year's ceremony at the Jumeriah Carlton Tower hotel in London.