Today's Edition:  Record-Setting $1.4M Justify Filly Leads The Way at OBS · Baeza Set for Summer Showdown · Royal Ascot Coverage 3

Mehmas (Ire)

Mehmas's Caturra Pounces For Flying Childers Triumph

Saeed bin Mohammed Al Qassimi's 2-year-old colt Caturra (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) rebounded off a runner-up finish in last month's Listed Roses S. at York to swoop late for a career high in Friday's G2 Wainwright Flying Childers S at Doncaster. The April-foaled bay, who had earlier finished a close-up seventh in Royal Ascot's June 15 G2 Coventry S., made a stakes breakthrough with victory in Newbury's July 16 Listed Rose Bowl S. next time and posted a last-of-seven contesting Goodwood's July 29 G2 Richmond S. in his penultimate start. Caturra,...

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Going Global Makes Amends in Del Mar Oaks

Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) was given a letter-perfect steer from the in-form Flavien Prat and outkicked an unlucky Closing Remarks (Vronsky) to salute in Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks. Looking to avenge her defeat at the hands of Madone (Vancouver {Aus}) in the GII San Clemente S., Going Global was off without incident from gate three and took up a mid-field position as Javanica (Medaglia d'Oro) led at a moderate tempo from 60-1 Feathers (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Ivy League (Medaglia d'Oro) into the first turn. Switched off nicely...

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Mehmas's Lusail Wins The Gimcrack

Defying a three-pound penalty for his success in the G2 July S., Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) continued Al Shaqab Racing's purple patch with the juveniles in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York. Always perfectly placed behind the pace-setters by Pat Dobbs, the 7-2 second favourite stayed on past Gis a Sub (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) just inside the final furlong en route to a 1 1/4-length success from that long-time leader, with Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) 3/4 of a length behind in third. "He's very...

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Minzaal Sustains Minor Setback

Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), winner of the G2 Gimcrack S. and third in the G1 Middle Park S., has suffered another setback and will miss an intended return in a conditions stakes at Nottingham. The Shadwell runner required surgery on a leg injury sustained in his box which ruled him out of the first half of this campaign, and, after a work on Wednesday, had another minor setback. Trainer Owen Burrows is undeterred however and said, "Unfortunately Minzaal has had a bit of a setback, and we won't be declaring...

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Mehmas's Beauty Inspire Takes The Anglesey

Hammered down to 1-2 favourite for Saturday's G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey S. at The Curragh following his impressive winning debut over six furlongs here June 25, Beauty Inspire (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) duly landed the gamble after a tussle with Andreas Vesalius (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Hadman (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Keen early tracking that duo, the Ger Lyons trainee looked poised for a facile win two out but ultimately had to work to get to the front passing the furlong pole. Grinding it out from there, the Beauty Stable...

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Lusail Emulates Sire Mehmas With July S. Win at Newmarket

Fresh off a one-length novice win tackling seven furlongs at Newmarket last month, Al Shaqab Racing's Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) emulated his prolific sire (by Acclamation {GB}) in winning Thursday's G2 Tattersalls July S. dropped down to six furlongs back at the town's Summer venue. He had previously annexed a May 13 York maiden and hit the board on soft ground in a May 28 Pontefract conditions heat. The 15-2 chance was sharply into stride and tracked the duelling speedsters Project Dante (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Dig Two (Ire) (Cotai...

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Poor Bloodwork Likely Culprit in Supremacy's Pavilion Run

Group 1 winner Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who ran eighth and last in the G3 Pavilion S. as the 10-11 crowd's pick at Ascot on Apr. 28, returned a poor blood test after the race, trainer Clive Cox announced on Wednesday. Trainer Clive Cox said, "We have had a less than perfect blood result from him. We're leaving no stone unturned in the hope of rectifying the situation, which was far below expectations. We've had many tests--and without having a complete conclusion yet, we're hoping we can get him back...

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A Joke to Be Taken Very Seriously

NEWMARKET, UK—After such giddy disruption to the last cycle, the first session of the European breeze-up calendar gave the sector a comforting sense that its world might be easing back on its axis. But those seeking continuity could find it, not between the market that was eventually salvaged last summer and the one that was tested here on Tuesday, but extending from the 2-year-old sales already staged this year across the ocean. Practical Joke has been the toast of the Florida sales, not least with the $750,000 filly who topped...

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Shock At Leopardstown As Mehmas Filly Strikes

Sunday's G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" 1000 Guineas Trial was one of the most competitive in recent times, with last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) topping the list, and so it was with a deal of surprise that the winner was duly announced as the 80-1 shot Keeper of Time (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) for the John Feane stable. Fifth on her 3-year-old bow in the well-contested Madrid H. over this seven-furlong trip at The Curragh Mar. 21, the bargain €3,000 purchase at the 2019 Goffs...

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From Dundalk to California

Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) made an impressive U.S. debut for trainer Phil D'Amato by taking Sunday's GIII Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita. Formerly trained by Mick Halford in Ireland, the 3-year-old filly was purchased privately this winter in a deal structured by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and Niall Dalton. Gary King caught up with Donohoe on Monday morning to chat about the win. GK: What attracted you to Going Global? MD: Her first run at Limerick really caught my eye and Niall's [Dalton]. We liked her action and...

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Mehmas Filly Flies Home in Sweet Life

The Phil D'Amato barn continued its hot streak with European imports in turf sprints as Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) uncorked a powerful rally to take Sunday's GIII Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita. Fourth in her best of three turf tries for Mick Halford in her native country, the bay broke through over seven furlongs of all-weather at Dundalk Nov. 11 before being acquired privately. She was let go at 8-1 in a full and competitive field despite her trainer's excellent numbers with European acquisitions, including four wins from...

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Goffs to Ride Online Momentum

Goffs kicks off its 2021 sales season on Tuesday and Wednesday with Part I of its February Sale. Prevailing unprecedented circumstances mean that the mixed sale of yearlings, 2-year-old, fillies and mares and horses in training will take place as a live online auction, with no horses, vendors or purchasers on the grounds at Kildare Paddocks. COVID-19 safety measures late last year meant that Goffs staged its Autumn Horses-In-Training and Yearling sales in the live online format, and the positive results spoke to the resilience of the bloodstock market as...

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