By Alan Carasso
Fresh off a spectacular four-timer during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, Wathnan Racing–the horse racing operation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani–saw its blue-and-tan colors cross the line first and second, respectively, in Sunday's Hanshin Stakes by the progressive Cagliostro (Upstart) and Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), each acquired by Wathnan over the last several months.
Placed in last year's GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Smarty Jones S. and fifth in the GIII Oklahoma Derby for a partnership including West Point and David Ingordo, Cagliostro narrowly annexed a two-turn Keeneland allowance in April before changing hands. Making his first start for Wathnan, but still under the care of Cherie DeVaux in the June 1 GIII Blame S., the bay colt carried a daylight advantage into the final furlong before being run down late by Godolphin's promising Highland Falls (Curlin).
With 'TDN Rising Star' Extra Anejo (Into Mischief) taking the lion's share of the action, Cagliostro was no better than the third betting favorite and broke running from a wide alley while cutting back in trip and sat just outside the rail-skimming 'Rising Star' and defending champion Zozos (Munnings) and Extra Anejo through sound fractions of :23.09 and :46.09. The pacesetter backed out of it abruptly leaving the half-mile pole behind, and Cagliostro continued to shadow Extra Anejo, an impressive comeback allowance winner May 30, in hand approaching the stretch. Cagliostro soon claimed the front-runner, pinched a break entering the final furlong and held sway as Tumbarumba gave game chase. Raise Cain (Violence) loomed boldly into the lane and finished a good third.
“We thought the cut back in distance would really suit him today to keep him and Pyrenees (Into Mischief) separated from running against one another in the Stephen Foster,” the winning trainer said. “It worked out very well with Pyrenees running second in the Foster. We're very happy for our entire team and this ownership group.”
Having become registered owners in England just over a year ago, Wathnan Racing–advised by Richard Brown and Olly Tait–had a week for the ages during the Royal meeting, particularly with their 2-year-olds. The operation won the G2 Norfolk Stakes with American-bred Shareholder (Not This Time), the G2 Queen Mary Stakes with Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), the G3 Jersey Stakes with Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix of Spain {Ire}) and the valuable Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap with English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Their other American interests include Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify), acquired following his runner-up effort in the GI Santa Anita Handicap.
A 16th stakes winner for his Airdrie Stud-based stallion, Cagliostro is out of a half-sister to Water White (Conveyance), a stakes winner and third in the GI Acorn S. in 2020. The dam of the 2-year-old colt Hey Finch (Bucchero), A Rosefor Isabelle was most recently covered by City of Light. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
HANSHIN S. PRESENTED BY JRA, $279,875, Churchill Downs, 6-30, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:34.87, ft.
1–CAGLIOSTRO, 118, c, 4, Upstart–A Rosefor Isabelle, by Hard Spun. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($385,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lance Colwell & Janice Clark (FL); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Flavien Prat. $163,680. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 11-3-4-1, $436,668.
2–Tumbarumba, 120, g, 4, Oscar Performance–Naive Enough, by Street Sense. ($30,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Coteau Grove Farms LLC (LA); T-Brian A Lynch. $52,800.
3–Raise Cain, 118, c, 4, Violence–Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid. ($180,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $65,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Andrew N & Rania Warren; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Ben Colebrook. $28,900.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 4.22, 6.74, 20.08.
Also Ran: Three Technique, Charge It, Happy American, Extra Anejo, Frosted Grace, Zozos. Scratched: Best Actor, Injunction.
Cagliostro wins The Hanshin Stakes presented by @JRA_WorldRacing! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/5WwfGKE32O
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 30, 2024
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