Galileo Yearling Breaks European Record

Tuesday, 08 October 2013 21:59

A full brother to Secret Gesture has set a new European record for a yearling sold at auction with John Magnier paying 3.6 million guineas ($A6.49 million) at the Tattersalls sale.

The colt attracted an opening bid of 1 million guineas but it was Magnier who emerged on top after first David Redvers, then owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, tried to secure the son of Galileo.

"He has the pedigree, he ticks all the right boxes, he is by Galileo out of a Danehill mare - let's hope he has an engine," said MV Magnier, the Coolmore supremo's son.

"Galileo, of course, speaks for himself, but you'd never think you'd have to go that far."

River Dancer held the previous yearling record when he changed hands for 3.4 million guineas at Tattersalls in 2000.

Treve Breaks Japanese Hearts Again In Arc

Sunday, 06 October 2013 15:30

Treve demolished a high class field to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and emulate the great Zarkava in 2008 in landing the French Oaks, Prix Vermeille and Arc in the same season.

Jockey Thierry Jarnet, winning Europe's most prestigious race on Sunday for the first time since 1994, was a late replacement after intended rider Frankie Dettori cruelly fractured his ankle last week.

Criquette Head-Maarek's unbeaten filly, a well-fancied 9-2 chance, beat Japanese favourite Orfevre by five lengths with Intello in third while the other Japanese runner Kizuna was fourth.

Treve, owned by Sheikh Joann al-Thani son of the Emir of Qatar, took control of the race with three furlongs (600 metres) remaining opening up a sizeable lead which Orfevre valiantly tried to reduce.

However, Christophe Soumillon was unable to conjure up a similar burst of acceleration from last year's runner-up and instead he had to battle to fend off French Derby winner Intello for second.

Kizuna looked to have every chance but failed to quicken under Yutaka Take leaving Japan still without a winner in the race they dream of winning after 44 years of trying.

For Head-Maarek it was her second win in the race after Three Troikas in 1979.

"My husband turned to me at one point and said he was worried, I replied I'm not she's cantering!" said Head-Maarek.

"At one point her head went up in the air and looked bored but she has so much class and is simply a wonder filly that she focused and was never going to be beaten."

She also had words of sympathy for Dettori, who is the owner's retained jockey and rode her to victory in the Vermeille.

"I send my love to Frankie, he looked after her in the Vermeille because he knew the Arc was the target and I send him a big kiss."

Jarnet, 46 who last won the Arc in 1994, said: "My English is not good but this is fantastic, magic!"

For Sheikh Joann Al-Thani it was due reward for splashing out a reported 8million euros to then owner Alec Head - father of Criquette and himself trainer of four Arc winners - after she won the French Oaks in June.

Treve's charge to the top of the racing tree is all the more remarkable considering that when she was offered for sale as a yearling no one was willing to buy her for just 22,000 euros.

Simenon Set To Step Out In Herbert Power

Monday, 07 October 2013 23:59

Simenon is set make his Australian debut in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Runner-up to Estimate in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot before being narrowly denied in the Lonsdale Cup at York in August, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old made the journey Down Under less than two weeks ago but is not yet being guaranteed a place in next month's Melbourne Cup.

Having settled into his new surroundings well, Simenon is now ready for a competitive start as he goes in search of the penalty that would earn him a starting berth in the Melbourne Cup.

"At the moment the plan is to run on Saturday. He travelled very well and we're happy with him," Mullins said.

Johnny Murtagh has been on board Simenon for his last two starts, but will not be riding in the Melbourne Cup as he is unable to do the weight.

Mullins has yet to nail down a rider for this weekend.

Asked whether he wanted to find a jockey who would be able to ride Simenon in both the Herbert Power Stakes and the Melbourne Cup, Mullins said: "That might be hard. It's not a must."

Longchamp Attracts Japan Fans

Sunday, 06 October 2013 13:30

Thousands of Japanese racing fans have turned out at Longchamp racecourse hoping to see one of their two highly-fancied runners finally win Europe's most prestigious race the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

About 6000 fans - some dressed in traditional kimonos - flew in from Japan bringing with them small and large sized national flags and banners emblazoned the names of their two runners, last year's runner-up and likely favourite Orfevre and this year's Japanese Derby winner Kizuna.

A huge banner with hundreds of messages of goodwill for Orfevre, the banner topped with his colours of black with red cross belts and yellow and black striped sleeves, was draped across a pedestrian bridge near to the statue of French racing legend Gladiateur.

Mirusuki Chibata, from Tokyo, said he had travelled with five other turfistes to watch the race with great expectations it would prove more fruitful than his last trip to Longchamp to see Orfevre lose last year after he threw the race away in the final furlong.

"This year he is older and he has a better draw. He deserves so much to win the race and be Japan's history maker," he said.

Kizuna too had his supporters, dressed in his colours of blue with red cross belts, and carries a lot of emotional baggage.

His name, in English 'ties' or bonds', is the sentiment his breeder hoped would be embraced by the Japanese people following the devastating tsunami and earthquake that hit north eastern Japan in 2011 leaving over 18,000 people dead.

A Japanese win - 44 years after their first runner Speed Symboli finished 11th - would round off a memorable few weeks for Japan, after Tokyo won the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in a vote by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members in Buenos Aires last month.

Moonlight Cloud Team Consider Hong Kong

Monday, 07 October 2013 21:59

Trainer Freddie Head has all but ruled out a second trip to the Breeders' Cup for Moonlight Cloud following her scintillating display at Longchamp on Sunday.

The five-year-old clinched her third Group One of the year and sixth overall with an incredible performance in the Prix de la Foret.

Ridden with maximum confidence by Thierry Jarnet, who had earlier won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Treve trained by Head's sister Criquette Head-Maarek, Moonlight Cloud made up rapid headway in the final furlong (200m) to swoop from last to first.

Her only truly disappointing run last season was in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita and Head is not keen on a return to California.

A trip to Hong Kong, however, looks increasingly likely.

"She is very well this morning," Head said. "She is something special.

"I think it is doubtful she will go to Santa Anita but she probably will go to Hong Kong, that seems for sure.

"She ran badly at the Breeders' Cup last year, it's two turns. We're not that keen on taking her there.

"It is one turn in Hong Kong, which is better for her."

Whether her likely outing in Hong Kong will be her final competitive start remains unclear, with Head not ruling out the chances of her staying in training as a six-year-old in 2014.

Japanese Fans To Flood Longchamp For Arc

Saturday, 05 October 2013 23:45

Around 5000 Japanese racing fans are expected to descend on Longchamp racecourse as expectation builds they will at last win Europe's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, 44 years after their first runner.

Orfevre, last year's unlucky runner-up, and this year's Japanese Derby winner Kizuna, provide Japan's strongest ever challenge for a race that to the Japanese is the one they dream of winning.

Orefevre, who will be once again ridden by crack Belgian-born jockey Christophe Soumillon, is set to start a short-priced favourite after landing a key Arc trial the Prix Foy, over the course and distance, for a second time last month.

Orfevre's trainer Yasutoshi Ikee was buoyed also by the number eight draw he got which is far more convenient than the 18 he drew last year.

"Eight is also a lucky number for us," said the 44-year-old.

He certainly won't be short of support in the stands as thousands of Japanese fly in for the race.

"We expect around 5000 Japanese racegoers to fly over from Japan to support their horses," a France Galop spokesman said.

Orfevre and Kizuna, who also won his Arc trial the Prix Niel on the same day, will face 15 opponents on Sunday (Monday AEDT) on what is likely to be soft going after German star Novellist was withdrawn with a temperature.

This is the second successive year that German racing has been robbed of fielding a major fancy for the French feature as Danedream was unable to mount a title defence due to an outbreak of swamp fever in Cologne.

The soft going is unlikely to suit the highly-fancied Flintshire, one of Andre Fabre's five runners, but the trainer is the Arc specialist of the modern era having saddled seven winners, and in French Derby winner Intello he has another major chance.

Criquette Head-Maarek by contrast has just one Arc win to her credit, filly Three Troikas in 1979, but in unbeaten Treve she holds a great opportunity to deny the Japanese.

Proud Ikee Vows To Return And Win Arc

Monday, 07 October 2013 02:45

Yasutoshi Ikee brushed aside the disappointment of his Japanese superstar Orfevre finishing second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the second successive year and pledged to return to claim the victory his country craves.

The 44-year-old trainer, whose father Yasuo also failed to land the race when his champion Deep Impact finished third in 2006, said he was extremely proud of Orfevre's performance to finish five lengths second to unbeaten French filly Treve.

It was a more comprehensive defeat than last year when the horse's quirky temperament cost him the race when he veered across the track, allowing unheralded filly Solemia to steal the honours.

However, Ikee, who kept his emotions to himself unlike many of his 6000 compatriots who flew in for the race and openly wept, said it was a greater performance as he came second in a renewal regarded by many as the best since Dancing Brave won in 1986.

"For me it was his greatest performance," said Ikee, who in 2011 trained Orfevre to become only the seventh horse to win the Japanese Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger).

"He didn't lose his head this year. He wouldn't let Intello (who finished third) get past him all the way down the finishing straight, It was very impressive.

"He had got a bit excited on the bend into the final straight but he calmed down which a year ago he would not have done."

Ikee said defeat only made him keener to make history for Japan.

"I will be back and try to win the Arc. This experience only makes me hungrier to win it," he said.

Orfevre's jockey Christophe Soumillon, who had been instructed not to try to get his mount to the front as early this year, said he had no complaints about the result.

"He ran a great race, he was a lot more tense this year, but he was also a lot stronger mentally," he said.

"The only time he got slightly unnerved was when Treve came alongside us on the run down to the final bend but he refocused.

"We got slightly jammed in and Treve took her chance to go clear.

"I hoped that Treve would run out of gas but it wasn't to be and my fellow lacked the turn of foot he had last year to reel her in."

The other Japanese runner, Kizuna, finished fourth.

Cirrus Des Aigles Wins At Longchamp

Saturday, 05 October 2013 23:30

French star Cirrus des Aigles became the first horse to win the Group Two Prix Dollar at Longchamp three times and set himself up for a return to England for the Champions Stakes.

The seven-year-old gelding, who was recording his 18th career win, dispelled any notions of a waning of his talent as he coasted to victory under Christophe Soumillon.

Soumillon, who only regained the ride on him earlier this year, had the ideal preparation for his ride on Japanese star Orfevre in Europe's most prestigious race the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday as Cirrus completed a Group Two race double for him.

"This horse is remarkable. I felt like he had four extra gears compared to the other runners when I sent him to the front two furlongs out," Soumillon said.

"Like all intelligent horses he knows when to make the effort and when to restrain himself, he accepts his limits.

"We have the target of the Champion Stakes at Ascot in a fortnight and as long as it isn't too soft there we have a real chance as this year there is no Frankel!".

Soumillon rode Cirrus des Aigles to victory in the Champion Stakes two years ago but wasn't on him when he finished second to the unbeaten Frankel last year.

Cirrus des Aigles' trainer Corinne Barbe was almost in tears at the latest chapter in the horse's extraordinary career.

"He really touches me this horse, with his generous spirit, his courage and his ability, he is truly very special," she said.

Soumillon had got his weekend off in perfect style when he brought the Aga Khan-owned Valirann home in the Group Two Prix Chaudenay for his fourth successive win

International Flavour To Arc Day

Monday, 07 October 2013 01:59

Not content with winning Europe's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Thierry Jarnet also partnered the prolific Moonlight Cloud to victory in the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Sunday.

The 46-year-old jockey, who recorded his third Arc win on Treve, brought the remarkable five-year-old mare with a stunning burst of speed from last to first for her third Group One win in two months.

It was the sixth Group One victory in a career that includes a famous second to Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the closest the Australian champion came to defeat in 25 starts.

Moonlight Cloud is trained by Freddie Head, the brother of Treve's trainer Criquette Head-Maarek.

"She just has an extraordinary ability to accelerate, an extra gear that none of her rivals have," Jarnet said.

The Japanese may have been once again frustrated in their quest of winning the Arc - Orfevre finishing second like last year and Kizuna fourth - but they had a Group One winner of sorts earlier on Sunday.

The Japanese-bred Karamontie won the Group One Prix Jean Luc Lagardere for two-year-old colts, Stephane Pasquier bringing him with a well-timed run to beat Spanish colt Noozoh Canarias.

Karamontie is trained in Chantilly by Englishman Jonathan Pease for Greek owners and the horse's breeders, the Niarchos Family.

"It is a truly international victory this, bred in Japan, trained in France by an Englishman. It is absolutely fabulous," racing manager Alan Cooper said.

The Aga Khan didn't go home empty-handed as his filly Dalkala got up in the last few yards under Christophe Soumillon to beat the Andre Fabre-trained Tasaday on the line in the Group One Prix de L'Opera for the Belgian-born jockey's third win in the race.

Young jockey Flavian Prat gave another indication of his talent.

A day after winning his first Group race, he captured his first Group One with outsider Indonesienne in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

The first Group One race, the Prix de L'Abbaye, went to Ireland as Maarek got up on the line to edge out French runner Catcall and give jockey Declan McDonogh his first Group One winner.

"To break one's maiden at this level on Arc day is what dreams are made of," he said.

For trainer Barry Lalor, who only took over training the winner earlier this year, it made all the hard work worth it.

"This is the reason that all of us, trainers, jockeys and work riders get up early in the morning, and that owners invest their money in, this is the moment they cherish," he said.

Germany rounded off the proceedings in terms of Group One fare when Andreas Wohler gained some compensation for his star Novellist not being able to run in the Arc, because of a fever, when his stayer Altano won the Prix du Cadran.

Ikee Seeks To Fulfil Japan's Arc Dream

Saturday, 05 October 2013 16:16

Yasutoshi Ikee came agonisingly close last year to achieving Japan's dream of winning Europe's most prestigious race and on Sunday he intends to set that right with the same horse Orfevre.

The 44-year-old trainer, who was born in 1969 the same year that Japan first had a runner in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when Speed Symboli finished 11th, said he had disappointed the Japanese people last year when Orfevre's contrary temperament cost him the race at Longchamp.

Orfevre, who captured the Japanese Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger) in 2011, burst clear in the final two furlongs (400m) only to lose concentration and veer towards the rails, allowing unheralded filly Solemia to steal the honours.

"The Arc counts a lot to me, but it is not just about me because it also counts a lot for the Japanese racing world and the Japanese people," Ikee said.

"It is the big dream of Japan to win this race. It is the best race in the world and I hope to be the person who brings that dream to fruition.

"Last year I disappointed hugely the Japanese people. This year they are counting on me for victory.

"I have all but finished my part, the preparation, then it will be for Orfevre and his jockey Christophe Soumillon to execute the plan to perfection."

Ikee, whose father Yasuo also suffered Arc disappointment as a trainer with his Triple Crown winner Deep Impact in 2006, admitted his greatest challenge has been to try to rectify Orfevre's habit of losing concentration when he hits the front.

"I don't fear any of his rivals on Sunday," said Ikee.

"I fear Orfrevre, for he is his biggest rival."

To that end Ikee along with Soumillon, who rode Orfevre last year and has described him as a "War Machine", galloped him on Wednesday with three other horses with the goal of bringing him through the middle of the front two to see how he reacted once he passed them.

"I was pleased and relieved with what I saw, as was Soumillon," Ikee said.

"He didn't look at either of the two horses as he passed them and he kept to a straight line once he took the lead in the final 300 metres.

"Now we must hope that what he did in practice he will also do in the heat of battle."

Ikee said although last year's race remained etched in his mind, the pressure was not getting to him.

"I have a lot of pressure but it is not at a level where I'm not eating or unable to sleep.

"I am going out every night with the team and eating good food and drinking some alcohol, leading a normal life," he said.