Racing commentator Mike Cattermole looks ahead to Eminent's run in the Irish Champion Stakes in his latest weekly column.
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS!
Although the numbers in his Newmarket stable have dropped over the past few years, there has never been any doubt that Jeremy Noseda remains a classy trainer.
Ever since his days assisting the fledgling Godolphin operation, when he oversaw Lammtarra’s brilliant season in 1995, Noseda has known instinctively how to train a high-class racehorse, witness the Classic winners Sixties Icon and Araafa and the top-class miler Proclamation, to name just three.
Given that he spent a part of his formative training years in California, the Breeders’ Cup meeting is close to his heart and, alongside Royal Ascot, the ardent Spurs fan likes nothing better than having a shot at a winning a big one there.
Wilko was targeted successfully at the BC Juvenile at Lone Star Park in 2004, springing a 20/1 shock under Frankie Dettori; he had looked pretty exposed and it was a surprise to many, but not to Noseda.
The first part of this decade has been quieter than he would have liked but the touch is still there. In 2015, Nemoralia made her debut in June and four months later was running second in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park and third in the BC Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Keeneland.
Take Me With You, who won her maiden in style at Windsor on Monday by an easy nine lengths, is not quite at Nemoralia’s level yet but Noseda is already thinking about Del Mar and the Juvenile Fillies’ in early November with a possible prep in Keeneland.
The daughter of Scat Daddy had been plunged into the deep end when third in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and apparently it took her a while to get over the experience as she is not the easiest to train. But she is clearly very talented and has an impressive stride on her.
Take Me With You is owned by the recently formed Phoenix Thoroughbreds, a Luxembourg-based bloodstock investment fund whose European interests are managed by Noseda’s wife, Kerri.
It was notable that Take Me With You was ridden at Windsor by Jamie Spencer and not Gerald Mosse, who had been signed up as the retained jockey for the syndicate.
Things have clearly moved on, as it was confirmed to me that the arrangement has already come to a premature end.
LA FIGLIA HAS A FUTURE
Noseda was at Kempton on Tuesday night to saddle La Figlia, the daughter of Frankel and Finsceal Beo, who is already famous because she cost owner Paul Makin an eye-watering 1.8m euros at the sales, a record for a foal sold at auction in Ireland.
La Figlia, Italian for “the daughter”, had been due to make her debut in the spring but suffered a setback. This six-furlong trip seemed a bit on the sharp side as it all seemed to happen a bit quickly for La Figlia, who was very green but demonstrated a big stride up the straight as she stayed on well enough into second place. She will certainly do better when faced with a stiffer test of stamina.
However, it looks clear that she will not be scaling the heights of her two illustrious parents, winners of three Guineas between them. But then again, that was a bar set too high for most.
Connections will be hoping that she can at least record a win to help further secure her future as a broodmare, although that has never been a doubt of course since she was born.
ANGEL A GIFT FROM ABOVE? MAYBE NOT...
Harry Angel heads off to Haydock for the 32Red Sprint Cup with his reputation as high as it has ever been after his July Cup success.
However, that win was gained on quick ground and although he has won on good to soft, there is a chance that by Saturday, conditions could be pretty testing with more heavy rain forecast on Thursday evening and showers for the following two days up until race time.
I think it is more open than the betting suggests (Harry Angel is 2/1 with Sky Bet) although Limato won’t show up and the ground is a total unknown for Harry’s old rival, Blue Point.
I recall The Tin Man’s heroic efforts in soft ground last season to chase home Quiet Reflection after missing the break. He is a 7/1 with Sky Bet and no bigger than 8s, which could shorten with every drop of rainfall.
Also, Tasleet’s acceleration in winning the Duke Of York in soft ground in May remains bright in the memory. He is a serious player too at 5/1.
It is sure to be a cracker!
MAROON AND WHITE A WELCOME SIGHT
Maroon and white sleeves, maroon cap and white star, were perhaps the most consistently successful colours of the 1980s and 90s when the likes of Pebbles, Oh So Sharp, Old Vic, Indian Skimmer and Singspiel picked up big races all over the globe for Sheikh Mohammed.
The Sheikh has turned to the royal blue of Godolphin in recent seasons over here but had continued to use them in Australia. Now these iconic silks are making a comeback in Europe as they have been passed onto his young daughter Sheikha Al Jalila.
So have several choicely-bred horses to carry them, including Royal Line who won on his debut at Windsor on Monday to become the first for a decade to win in these silks in this country.
The son of Dubawi is also a nephew of both Galileo and Sea The Stars, being out of Melikah, whose dam is the amazing Urban Sea. It doesn’t get much better than that.
The Sheikh has also passed on Glorious Journey, another Dubawi and out of Group One winner Fallen For You, who won for Godolphin at Newmarket in July. He cost £2.6m guineas as a yearling.
The two-year-old Graffiti Master, who made his debut for the Sheikha at Sandown a few days ago, was a comparative snip at 575,000 guineas as a yearling and is also by Dubawi and a half-brother to Mount Nelson.
Meanwhile, the Sheikh’s first ever winning colours, the blue and white carried by Hatta at Brighton way back in 1977, are being passed onto his young son Sheikh Zayed.
It is an extraordinary gesture by Sheikh Mohammed to encourage his two youngest to develop their interest in the sport.
I just hope that the two children don’t get involved in a spat if they start comparing sales prices of their respective strings. It could turn nasty.
BIRTHDAY JOY FOR FRY
Losing a horse like Neon Wolf was a huge blow to Harry Fry. Speaking to him at Newton Abbot on Saturday, it was clear that this would take some getting over. Understandably so.
So it was good to see a smile back on the trainer’s face after Golden Birthday had smashed up a field of useful performers in the Class 2 Bet totequadpot Handicap Hurdle at the Devon track.
Golden Birthday hardly came off the bridle to beat Wait For Me by ten lengths and the handicapper has duly upped his mark 15lb from 132 to 147. It was the second successive time that the six-year-old had romped home around Newton Abbot’s tight turns and he has clearly taken big steps forward lately.
Fry explained that Golden Birthday used to be a bit too keen for his own good but now that he has settled down, he has started to fulfil his potential. He is the sort of horse that could line up for the Greatwood Hurdle in a couple of months’ time.
By then, Fry’s team should be just about in full flow, led by top staying hurdler Unowhatimeanharry and the exciting staying chase prospect American, who has won all three of his starts over fences to date.
Masterson Holdings, who owned Neon Wolf, also have Minella Awards to look forward to after he ended last season with wins in the EBF Final at Sandown and the 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown. Whether he sticks to hurdles or goes chasing, he looks one to follow.
EMINENTLY POSSIBLE!
So, Martyn Meade has followed my suggestion to run Eminent in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday!
Eminent certainly goes there with a fighting chance of spoiling Aidan O’Brien’s hopes of gaining an eighth win in the race.
He does of course have ground to make up on Churchill on 2,000 Guineas form but things didn’t really pan out for him that day when he was given a tactical, hold-up ride.
This time, expect Frankie Dettori, a six-time winner of the race, to kick on and let Eminent use his stride. I am still not convinced he will be quite good enough but he should give it a good go and I am sure he will get closer to Churchill this time.
Sky Bet offer even-money Churchill, with Eminent priced up as the big danger at 9/2.
The O’Brien team must have high hopes of winning all five Group One races in Ireland this weekend. There’s a strong team in the Champion, Winter looks a shoe-in for the Matron and Order Of St George has obvious claims in the Irish St Leger.
Sunday’s Moyglare Stud and National Stakes will tell us much more about the O’Brien juveniles. The feeling is that their fillies look strong but what about the colts? Eleven of the 18 in the National hail from Ballydoyle but which one will shine brightest and show some true star quality?
Another enlightening weekend lies ahead before I return next week to mark your card throughout Doncaster’s St Leger Festival.