With the purchase of Dubai Excellence for $300,000, Australian breeder Ted van Heemst thought he was buying into the bloodlines of the late Dubai Millennium. Instead, he has a stallion whose identity is unknown but who is definitely not Dubai Excellence.
DNA tests have proved that the horse exported from England by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud to stand in Australia at Evergreen Stud in Perth is not Dubai Excellence, according to the Racing Post.
The mystery of Dubai Excellence took on Sherlock Holmesian proportions this weekend when DNA tests proved that the horse exported from England by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud to stand in Australia at Evergreen Stud in Perth is definitely not the purported half brother to Dubai Millennium.
With the purchase of Dubai Excellence for $300,000, Australiian breeder Ted van Heemst thought he was buying into the bloodlines of the great, ill-fated Dubai Millennium.
Horatio Nelson maintained his undefeated record with a handy victory in the Group 2, $150,000 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
A 2-year-old Danehill colt, Horatio Nelson ran out a 2 1/2-length winner as the 1-5 choice in the seven-furlong race, giving the 28-1 longshot and runner-up Galantas no chance.
With Kieren Fallon aboard, Horatio Nelson prompted the pace and led at the three-sixteenths pole, a slight reversal of the front-running tactics employed in his first two victories. The time on good ground was a quick 1:23.32.
Ivan Denisovich will test the mettle of the undefeated juvenile fillies New Girlfriend and Mauralakana in the Group 1, $426,000 Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday.
The winner of the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket over the Morny distance of six furlongs, Ivan Denisovich is a Danehill colt out of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Hollywood Wildcat, and thus is a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Mile champ War Chant. Trained by Aidan O'Brien and to be ridden by Kieren Fallon, he will have to be at his best as he invades the home turf of the unbeaten French fillies.
La Cucaracha sped to victory in the $396,000 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Thursday, adding a Group 1 victory to her listed and Group 3 scores earlier this spring.
A Barry Hills-trained daughter of Piccolo, La Cucaracha (7-1) was guided through the straight five furlongs by Michael Hills in 56.82 seconds, just .62 of a second off Oasis Dream's 2003 track record. The Tatling was an unlucky head behind in second. His rider, Ryan Moore, said after the race that his saddle had slipped late in the game.
Electrocutionist set sparks flying at York on Tuesday when he came late to nip Zenno Rob Roy in a thrilling renewal of the Group 1, $832,000 Juddmonte International Stakes.
The victorious Italian invader, a Kentucky-bred son of Red Ransom owned by New Yorker Earle Mack, defeated Japanese champion Zenno Rob Roy by a neck, with Maraahel a head back in third. The 9-4 favorite, Ace, was just another half-length behind in fourth.
Divine Proportions suffered her first loss in 10 starts Sunday at Deauville when Dubawi powered his way to victory for Godolphin in the Group 1, $744,000 Prix Jacques le Marois.
Sent off as the 4-5 favorite, Divine Proportions was rated nicely under Christophe Lemaire but came up empty when asked to quicken and finished fourth, 4 3/4 lengths behind Dubawi.
Lune d'Or can defeat recent classic winners Eswarah and Iota in a highly competitive renewal of the $452,000 Yorkshire Oaks at York on Wednesday.
A Richard Gibson-trained French invader, Lune d'Or won one Group 1 and two Group 2 races last year, then returned from an eight-month vacation on July 20 to finish third against males in the Group 3 Grand Prix de Vichy. The return to filly-and-mare company at 1 1/2 miles sets her up for a big effort with Thierry Jarnet at the controls.
