There was plenty of British and Irish interest in North America over the weekend with Godolphin and Ballydoyle both sending horses to compete across the pond.
Woodbine welcomed jockey Frankie Dettori, whilst Jamie Spencer and Ryan Moore both travelled to Belmont Park. Dettori’s trip was made worth it by his mounts, riding three winners over the course of both days.
Both of Dettori’s Sunday rides were in the blue of Godolphin and were equally impressive. Godolphin have been firing on all cylinders this summer, winning globally.
At Woodbine, in the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes, Godolphin’s Walton Street broke well and raced in second, shadowing the leader, Primo Touch. Dettori settled his mount, as the leader extended his lead. Walton Street began chasing and quickly went clear of the rest of the field, keen not to let the leader go too far ahead.
Walton Street ran very comfortably, and quickly put the race to bed coming into the strait and won easily by almost 6-lengths to second-placed Desert Encounter.
Desert Encounter, David Simcock’s 9-year-old gelding, is an old favourite for flat racing fans. Racing since 2014, his appearance at Woodbine was the 47th race of his career. Pairing up with jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson, Desert Encounter gave a good account of himself in second.
Dettori’s second mount of the evening came in the form of American trained Chad C Brown horse Raging Bull. The six-year-old son of Dark Angel finished in third, beaten 3-lengths by winner Town Cruise.
The second placed horse of the race was Space Traveller, only recently switched to Brendan P Walsh’s stable in the States.
Son of Bated Breath and Sky Crystal (Galileo), the six-year-old had been trained by Richard Fahey and had enjoyed some success over the course of his UK racing career. A winner of a Listed race at York in June, it will be interesting to see how his North American career pans out, already showing plenty of quality by placing in this race.
Duke Of Hazzard, trained by Paul & Oliver Cole, provided us with more British interest. By Lope De Vega, the horse had failed to fire this season following wind surgery earlier on in the year. This was his North American debut, finishing in sixth, 4-lengths behind the winner.
Sunday at Woodbine continued in similar fashion for Godolphin with Wild Beauty’s run in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes. Starting very slowly, the Frankel filly seemed to bump into the stalls before being squeezed out by her rivals.
Instantly the back-marker, Dettori began moving his mount up through the field, gaining ground quickly. Wild Beauty raced away in the final furlongs on the outside, another comfortable winner for Godolphin, Appleby and Dettori.
This was the sixth race of her short career so far, and her third win having also been placed twice. The two-year-old is generally 20/1 with UK bookmakers for the 1000 Guineas.
Another Godolphin two-year-old Albahr won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes in the hands of Dettori and performed impeccably, thoroughly impressing.
The already gelded son of Dubawi, went off odds-on favourite for the race, and it was clear to see why. Starting slowly, similarly to his stablemate Wild Beauty, Dettori quickly pushed his mount on, riding him to the middle of the field. Turning around the bend, Albahr switched to the outside and impressively quickened, showing a great turn-of-foot.
Grafton Street, trained in Canada by Mark Crasse and owned by Mrs John Magnier, ran on well in second, passing a few of his rivals in the final furlong. The War Front colt out of Lahinch Classics (Galileo) was an eye-catcher, and it looked as though a step up in trip could suit.
A successful weekend for Dettori in Canada, providing three impressive winners for Appleby and Godolphin.
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At Belmont Park in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes, Creative Flair lined up for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, ridden by Spencer for the 1m3f trip.
The Dubawi filly didn’t quite fire on this occasion, finishing almost 4-lengths behind winner Shantisara for Chad C Brown and Flavien Prat. Creative Flair hasn’t had much luck internationally so far this season.
After winning the Listed Betfair British EBF Stakes at Newbury on the 10th of June, she travelled to France appearing in the Group 3 Prix Chloe at Chantilly, finishing third, only a quarter-of-a-length behind the Andre Fabre trained eventual winner Noticeable Grace.
On the 8th of August she made her US debut in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes. She finished third once again, 2-lengths behind Todd Pletcher’s filly Con Lima. Con Lima, ridden by Flavien Prat, finished second by half-a-length to Aidan O’Brien’s star filly Santa Barbara a month earlier in a Grade 1 race at Belmont Park.
The Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes followed at Belmont Park, with Appleby’s Yibir making his US debut, taking on Aidan O’Brien’s Galileo colt and once Epsom Derby favourite, Bolshoi Ballet.
Yibir had enjoyed a decent season so far, winning the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes in York after being gelded in May and the son of Dubawi has looked to be improving. His main rival Bolshoi Ballet was making his third US appearance after a disappointing Derby run.
His first run was in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes winning comfortably, Moore covering more ground than the others having had to check wide to ensure a clear run in the strait.
His second US race came in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes. A competitive renewal featuring numerous British and Irish raiders competing against Bolshoi Ballet and other rivals. The race was won by Joseph O’Brien’s colt, State Of Rest, Bolshoi Ballet finishing four-lengths behind in fourth place, who was not disgraced but perhaps expected to do better.
Yibir started slowly, as the field went a few lengths clear. Spencer pushed his mount along before sitting comfortably at the rear. Bolshoi Ballet raced closer to the pace in third, as Tango Tango Tango led. Yibir was forced wide and quickened devastatingly, running on comfortably and given a typical Spencer ride from last to first.
The win guarantees a Breeders’ Cup entry and Yibir is currently 11/1 for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Antepost betting has Tarnawa as favourite and other short-priced horses include Yibir’s stablemates Adayar and Hurricane Lane, Snowfall, Mishriff and the impressive American-trained Kingman colt Domestic Spending. It is sure to be an interesting renewal, regardless of which horses line-up on the day at Del Mar.
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 