Adayar follows grandsire’s footsteps in King George
Last month’s G1 Cazoo Epsom Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) followed in his grandsire’s footsteps on Saturday at Ascot when becoming the first Derby winner to win the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. since Galileo (Ire).
Eager to get on with the running in the early stages of the 2400-metre race, Adayar raced keenly under William Buick behind Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}). At the top of the straight, the 3-year-old got what he wanted when going for the lead and battling with Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) during the early stages of the stretch run. That rival yielded easily and Adayar was off and away, winning by 1.75l over Mishriff with race favourite Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) another 1.75l back in third.
“He was a great Derby winner and these horses don't come around very often, he just gives you the feeling of endless power,” Buick said. “This is what I dreamt of from when I was a young boy and it's a privilege to be able to ride these horses.”
Adayar is out of the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Anna Salai (USA) (Dubawi {Ire}) and is one of three winners and four stakes performers for her own dam. Anna Salai is a half-sister to Australian resident Anemometer (GB) (Sunday Silence {USA}), who is the dam of G3 Alexandra S.-placed Harmattan (Street Cry {Ire}) and stakes-placed Anemoi (Street Cry {Ire}) as stakes performers in Australia and South African stakes winner and Group 1-placed Dubai Gina (Dubai Destination {USA}). Anemometer’s youngest live foal is the 2-year-old Frosted (USA) gelding Run Like The Wind.
Another one of Anna Salai’s half-sisters is the dam of shuttle stallion National Defense (GB), who bred 247 mares his first two seasons and stands for $9,900 (inc GST) at Widden Victoria this year.
Hard Too Think wins Singapore Derby
The Gerry Harvey-bred Hard Too Think became the 22nd stakes winner for Vinery Stud's All Too Hard with victory in the Listed Singapore Derby.
Hard Too Think, trained by Stephen Gray and ridden by Marc Lerner, led home an Australian-bred quinella in the 1800-metre Listed race, ran as a Singapore Group 1, with Big Hearted (Hallowed Crown) in second, while Savvy Command (NZ) (Savabeel) finished third.
Hard Too Think was a $45,000 purchase through the 2018 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for Cheltenham Stables from the draft of Baramul Stud. He is out of Hussonet (USA) mare Mnemonic.
The 4-year-old gelding has won four of his 11 starts for Gray.
Maracuja outduels Malathaat in Coaching Club American Oaks
Only four fillies lined up for the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on Saturday but there was still a surprise when Maracuja (USA) (Honor Code {USA}) pulled off an upset victory.
Racing over 1800 metres on the dirt, Maracuja was never far behind the leading race favourite Malathaat (USA) (Curlin {USA}) throughout much of the race. Racing three-wide around the far turn, she chased down Malathaat and made the race interesting in the final 200 metres. At the end, Maracuja had her head in front with second choice Clairiere (USA) (Curlin {USA}) 5.75l behind Malathaat in third.
“When they turned for home, I thought we had a shot,” said trainer Rob Atras. “It looked like we were definitely going to be second but as the wire kept getting closer, she just really laid it down. That filly of Todd’s (Malathaat), I didn’t think we were going to get by her, to be honest.”
The second Grade 1 winner for sire Honor Code (USA), she is out of stakes-placed Patti’s Regal Song (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}), who is a three-quarter sister to Grade 2 winner Rockport Harbor (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Regally Appealing (USA) (Valid Appeal {USA}).
Madone leads stakes double for Vancouver
It was a 3-year-old stakes double for Vancouver in the US on Saturday when Madone (USA) followed up He’spuregold’s (USA) win in the G2 San Clemente S. at Del Mar.
Racing in the back of the pack for much of the 1600-metre race, Madone made a big move around the far turn to pass most of the field in one wide swoop. Madone stayed wide during the stretch run as Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) raced up the rail with both determined to get the win. In the end, Madone won by a widening neck with Tretragonal (Ire) in third to give sire Mehmas (Ire) a second-third place double.
Madone is out of the winning Cherokee Run (USA) mare Indian Love Call (USA), who is the dam of five winners from six to run. Indian Love Call is a half-sister to stakes winner Allegre (USA) (Orientate {USA}) and from the family of Grade 1 winner Boisterous (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}). Madone’s family also includes Snitzel’s Group 3 winner Perast and his stakes-winning dam Thousand Veils (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) among Australasians in the family.
Vancouver gelding wins Monmouth S.
He’spuregold (USA) (Vancouver) became Vancouver’s newest stakes winner on Saturday with a victory in the Irish War Cry H. at Monmouth Park.
Breaking his maiden last out, the 3-year-old gelding was put right into stakes company in the 1600 metre turf race restricted to New Jersey-breds. Racing just a few lengths off the leader, he made his move while sliding through a hole as they turned into the stretch. He’spuregold had to dig deep but as they entered the final 100 metres, he took command and won by 1l with second and third separated by a head.
He’spuregold is one of three stakes winners for his dam alongside multiple Graded stakes winner Valedictorian (USA) (Temple City {USA}) and stakes winner Stay Smart (USA) (Stay Thirsty {USA}), whose stakes victory came in a race named after their Grade 3-winning dam Smart N Classy (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}). Smart N Classy’s half-sister is also the dam of Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 fourth Pickin’ Time (USA) (Stay Thirsty {USA}).
Sea Dreamer Romps to Rising Star honours
Gainesway Stable and LNJ Foxwoods saw their 3-year-old filly Sea Dreamer (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) earn TDN Rising Star honours on Saturday with a maiden-breaking win at Del Mar.
The filly went straight to the lead out of the barriers in the 1300-metre race and never let up. She was given some pressure early on but by the time they hit the stretch, the race was all but over. Sea Dreamer pulled away with every stride and crossed the line 9.5l in front in her second career start.
Sea Dreamer is out of More Than Ready’s (USA) stakes winner More Than A Cruise (USA), who is one of two stakes performers for multiple stakes winner River Cruise (USA) (Not For A Love {USA}).
