Justify

YORK, UK -- Those rather dangerous words issued last October after the Dewhurst don't seem quite so bold now. "He's our Frankel," said City Of Troy's part-owner Michael Tabor back then. It may still seem like sacrilege, especially on a day when Juddmonte sponsors the big race, to compare any other Thoroughbred to Frankel, but at York there has truly been no anticipation so intense, no reception so rapturous, since Henry Cecil's wonder horse took the Knavesmire by storm in the Juddmonte International Stakes 12 years ago.  Twelve years gone...

Brilliant horses like City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) are always on the line when it comes to reputation and aura and there was no disguising the fact that Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International represented his moment of truth regardless of prior achievements. Despite coming to York as a clear-cut 2-year-old champion, an impressive Derby winner and the current holder of an Eclipse, there was a tension in the atmosphere on the storied Knavesmire expanse that was accompanied by threatening and brooding clouds and a strange autumnal air....

   York's G1 Juddmonte International was designed to bring the very best to the famous Knavesmire venue and it has achieved that on Wednesday with City Of Troy (Justify) ready to rock and roll over the flat, fair mile-and-a-quarter. Due to a variety of factors beyond his control, Michael Tabor's 'Frankel' has probably yet to show his true material, with slow ground on Future Champions Day and in the Eclipse blunting his speed and heavy traffic on the contours at Epsom curtailing his impressive stride. There is a feeling that...

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- At the top of the stretch of the opener of the Saturday card at Saratoga Race Course, a 2-year-old colt named Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) was fanned six, maybe seven wide. But he was moving and, like a giant tidal wave, gathering momentum with each long, powerful stride. Out in California, Richard Rigney, who owns the colt, was watching the race on a cellphone along with bloodstock agent John Moynihan. They had hope, but they also were realists.  After all, the six-furlong race was the first in Jonathan's...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a full-brother to multiple group winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). 16.05 Newbury, Mdn, £40,000, 2yo, 7fT FITZMAURICE (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) makes his debut at the track that hosted his multiple group-winning full-brother Chindit (Ire) on five occasions, with a win in the G3 Greenham...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a Tattersalls October Book 1 millionaire. 17.45 Newmarket, Mdn, £9,000, 2yo, 8fT Godolphin's hitherto untried ARABIAN POET (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of two entries from Charlie Appleby's local nursery, made a mark when purchased for the round one million at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1...

After being purchased by Tom Magnier for AU$3.4 million ($2,250,545) at this year's Inglis Chairman's Sale, the G1 VRC Oaks winner She's Extreme (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}) will head to North America to be covered by Justify in her maiden season, according to Coolmore in an article on TTR AusNZ. As has been well-documented, the Triple Crown winner is not returning to the Southern Hemisphere this spring, but will cover a limited book to Southern Hemisphere time at Ashford Stud. "Justify has quickly emerged as a world-class stallion but despite...

  The Curragh's American Racing Channel Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race is always a race worth intense scrutiny and Saturday's renewal did not disappoint with Coolmore dominating the finish and their prized homebred Falling Snow (Ire) (Justify--Winter {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) edging it to become the second TDN Rising Star on the card. Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for this seven-furlong conditions event won in the recent past by Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and in which Opera Singer (Justify) was runner-up to A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire})...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a son of Tepin (Bernstein). 13.45 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 7fT DELACROIX (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the first big Ballydoyle runner on a big day for the stable and looks certain to start at prohibitive odds given the promise he showed when second on his Leopardstown...

5th-Saratoga, $115,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 8-8, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/8mT, 2:20.25, gd, neck. ASPEN GROVE (IRE) (f, 4, Justify--Data Dependent {GSP, $136,670}, by More Than Ready), a Group 3 winner for James Stack in Ireland at two, kicked off her U.S. tenure with a narrow score in the 10-furlong GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks just over a year ago. Fifth in the GI Saratoga Derby, she was sixth in her debut for Jack Sisterson in Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Stakes last October. Given a freshener, she returned to be an improved...

Sheikh Mohammaned bin Rashid al Maktoum's Godolphin signed for its first horse at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale approaching the midway point of Tuesday's second session, going to an even $1 million for a colt by Justify. Hip 174 was bred by Don Alberto Corporation and the Justify syndicate and is out of Dolce Lemone (Lemon Drop Kid), whose stakes-winning daughter Dolce Lili (Scat Daddy) was represented by a City of Light filly purchased by Centennial Farms for $500,000 during Monday's opening session at Saratoga. Dolce Lemone is herself a half-sister...

Next week, when the international sales scene shifts to France for the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a good chunk of American agents, owners, and trainers will head on over for the party. No one ever needs an excuse to go to Deauville, but if you're looking to justify your trip to your principals or partners, look no further. We've got you covered. The selected sessions of the Arqana sale run from the 16th to the 18th, Friday to Sunday, and are followed by the V2 sale on Monday. "This is...