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Returning to the racing wars last Sunday, August 1st, the handsome bay – who cost $475,000 as a two-year-old in training – was sent out as the 6 to 5 favourite in the Izod Haskell Invitational Stakes (Gr.1) over 9 furlongs at New Jersey's Monmouth Park. Here he matched strides with the Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (by Maria's Mon) and runner-up Ice Box (by Pulpit), the Preakness runner-up First Dude (by Stephen Got Even), the progressive Trappe Shot (by Tapit), and a couple of other lesser lights.
From his inside draw, Martin Garcia guided Lookin At Lucky away from the rail, taking the clubhouse turn in the four path, even though there was nothing inside him. If this seemed a shade eccentric at the time, it turned out to be the masterstroke, for Lookin At Lucky was able to mount his challenge on the outside, completely unimpeded. The Western challenger locked eyeballs with Super Saver at the head of the stretch before pulling well clear to score by 4 lengths from Trappe Shot, as Super Saver weakened to be fourth. The latter's rider, Calvin Borel, said his mount was "in need of the race" – perhaps he will bounce back in the Travers Stakes (Gr.1) at Saratoga later this month.
Dirt-loving females had their equivalent the same afternoon in the Ruffian Invitational Stakes (Gr.1) at Saratoga, four hours drive up Interstate 87 from Oceanport, where Monmouth Park is located. Unrivalled Belle was an odds-on choice but stumbled slightly as the field got under way, allowing the unimaginatively-named Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon – Grand Prayer, by Grand Slam) the opportunity to make the running. At no stage did the latter, who is a home-bred for Edward P. Evans, look likely to relinquish the lead and the Todd Pletcher-trainee prevailed comfortably under a confident ride by Johnny Velasquez.
The previous day at the same track, seven fillies and mares had clashed in the 9 fur. Diana Stakes (Gr.1) on turf. This turned out to be a humdinger of a race as the Juddmonte-bred Proviso (Dansili – Binche, by Woodman) made it three Grade 1 wins in a row with a gutsy effort. Under inspired riding by Mike Smith, the Bill Mott-trainee spared a head to Shared Account, who in turn was a nose in front of public choice Forever Together.
Meanwhile, in the current Rachel Alexandra vs. Zenyatta saga, the latest episode was the announcement that the former will make her next public appearance at Saratoga on August 29th in the Personal Ensign Stakes (Gr.1). Any hopes of a match-up between this pair were dashed when the unbeaten Zenyatta's connections confirmed they would not be headed out East. "She will stay in California," said her trainer John Shirreffs, after she had worked 6 furlongs at Hollywood Park. The Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on August 7th, a race which she has won in each of the past two years, is her near-term target.
European update
Glorious Goodwood ended with yet another triumph for the ubiquitous "Green, Pink sash" colours sported by the many runners representing Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah. Last year's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr.1) heroine Midday (Oasis Dream – Midsummer, by Kingmambo) found the winner's circle for the first time since that occasion in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes (Gr.1). Henry Cecil had done his usual masterful job in getting his ward tuned to perfection and stable rider Tom Queally did the rest.
The meet was noteworthy also for the phenomenal training feat of East Everleigh, Marlborough, schooler Richard Hannon, coupled with the riding efforts of his son-in-law, Richard Hughes – the pair joined hands to break the all-time records for the festival with 9 wins apiece. Icing on the cake was the sensational effort of Canford Cliffs (by Tagula) in the Sussex Stakes (Gr.1); other Pattern Race winners included the juveniles Zebedee (by Invincible Spirit), King Torus (by Oratorio) and Libranno (by Librettist). Admittedly there are plenty to choose from – there were 204 head in training at Hannon's Wiltshire establishment listed in "Horses In Training 2010". Still, to get all the many pieces that make up a successful racehorse to fall precisely in place in such a concentrated period of time is brilliant.
Over in France, perhaps the best racehorse of her sex currently in training anywhere in the world brought joy to the assembled throng at Deauville on Sunday. Goldikova (Anabaa – Born Gold, by Blushing Groom) recorded an incredible tenth Gr.1 victory when taking the Prix Rothschild (formerly the Prix d'Astarte) over the metric mile. Trainer Freddie Head can take a bow for keeping his ward in fine fettle. "She is a fantastic filly and I have said that many times, but it is the plain truth," he said with pride. "It looks like nothing can stop her, and it is obvious that she enjoys Deauville a lot - running here and training here every morning."
Olivier Peslier continued his association with the grand racemare; indeed, she has known no other rider in any of her 18 races. An attempt to equal Dahlia's record of eleven Gr.1 wins is likely to be made in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1) over course and distance in a couple of weeks. How great then must have been Zarkava (by Zamindar), who inflicted two painless defeats on Goldikova in 2008 during the course of her own unbeaten career!!
With every passing day it is becoming clearer that the sale of Noverre (by Rahy) to the Sohna Stud in Haryana is India's gain and Europe's loss. His game daughter, Music Show, finished second to Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild while on the same afternoon Dusseldorf in Germany saw another daughter, Enora (out of Enrica, by Niniski) annexing the Gr.1 Henkel 152nd Preis der Diana (German Oaks) run at 2200 m. Trained by former rider Torsten Mundry and steered by Terence Hellier, the lightly-raced filly was winning for the second time in a career that to date spans just three starts.
