Europeans Rule Turkey's International Races
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The Jockey Club of Turkey presented its International Racing Festival this weekend at Istanbul's Veliefendi Race Course, with the top three events—all group races—captured by European-based horses.
The Sept. 8 card featured a pair of group II events. Jonathan Palmer-Brown's Producer raced from last and produced a powerful thrust in the final strides to win the Topkapi Trophy (Tur-II), and Godolphin's Lost In The Moment also completed a last-to-first rally in the Bosphorus Cup (Tur-II).
Trained by Richard Hannon, Producer overtook trainer Hugh Morrision's Chil The Kite, who was seeking a breakthrough group victory, and tallied his second group win of the season with a one-length triumph.
Producer's stablemante Libranno, a multiple group winner, finished fifth, and Godolphin's Quick Wit finished seventh in the nine-horse field.
In the winner's two previous starts, both a seven furlongs, the 4-year-old Dutch Art colt won the Betfred Criterion Stakes (Eng-III) in June at Newmarket but followed up with a disappointing run in the Lennox Stakes (Eng-II), finishing last behind favorite Garswood.
Stretched out to a mile in the Topkapi Trophy, he emphatically rebounded under Richard Hughes, finishing the trip in 1:35.33 on turf rated as good for his eighth win in 20 career starts. His record includes a win in the 2012 Greene King Supreme Stakes (Eng-III).
Bred in Great Britain by Cheveley Park Stud, Producer is out of the Irish River mare River Saint, a half sister to United States champion and Racing Hall of Fame member Serena's Song.
Lost In The Moment drew away to a one-length victory over a pair of European group I winners in the Bosphorus Cup.
Ridden by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, the 6-year-old Danehill Dancer won from 2013 Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-I) victress Ambivalent, who outfinished 2013 Grosser Pries von Berlin (Ger-I) winner Nymphea by a nose for second.
Last year's Bosphorus Cup winner, Mitico, finished last in the 11-horse field.
Lost In The Moment was timed in 2:28.87 for 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) on turf to post his first group victory.
"He has run a huge race to win like that," trainer bin Suroor said on Godolphin's website.
"He was behind but finished well and has the class to succeed over a mile and a half though he might be better at two miles.
"Lost In The Moment seems to be improving still at the age of 6. There are no plans at the moment for him but we will bring him home and see how he comes out of this victory."
Winner of the Fred Archer Stakes June 29 at Newmarket, Lost In The Moment finished a close second to Forgotten Voice in the Coutts Glorious Stakes (Eng-III) Aug. 2 at Goodwood. He entered the Bosphorus Cup off a third-place finish behind Royal Empire and Red Cadeaux in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Eng-II) Aug. 17 at Newbury.
Lost In The Moment has six wins, six seconds, and four thirds from 28 career starts. His dam is the In the Wings mare Streetcar. Irish-bred Lost in the Moment is a three-quarter brother to U.S. grade I winner Luas Line.
France-based Beatrice won the Istanbull Trophy (Tur-III), the featured international event on the Sept. 7 card.
The 4-year-old Dr Fong filly, trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, scored by a half-length from William Haggas' Arsaadi, who was third in last year's edition of the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) turf race for fillies and mares.
Beatrice covered the distance in 1:36.28 under Fabrice Veron to win her second group race of the season. In May, she won the Schwartzgold-Rennen (Ger-III).
Bred in Great Britain by of owner Alexandre Pereira, Beatrice is out of Czech Republic stakes winner Brangane, by Anita's Prince. She is a half sister to German group II winner Belcore.
Trainer Luca Cumani enjoyed a remarkable career achievement when Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum's Danadana won the France Galop FRBC Anatolia Trophy.
The 4-year-old Dubawi colt romped by 3 1/2 lengths in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) race, considered a group II race in Turkey. Cumani's Newmarket-based Bedford House Stables has now won a group or graded stakes in 12 nations, also including Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Dubai, Canada, the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.
"For a stable of our size this is a remarkable achievement and testament to the ambition and meticulous planning across the whole team that has made our foreign forays such a success," Cumani said on his website.
Jockey Andrea Atzenia guided Danadana across the finish line in 2:03.79. He defeated locally based King Drok for his second stakes win of the year. Danadana captured the Stella Artois Huxley Stakes (Eng-II) on May 30 at Sandown while making his first start since sustaining a leg nearly a year ago that that sidelined him for nearly nine months.
Bred in Ireland by Darley, Danadana has six wins, two seconds, and a third from 15 career starts. His dam is the winning Barathea mare Zeeba. Notable members of the family included Canadian grade I winner French Glory.