COUNTDOWN TO RACING POST TROPHY AT DONCASTER SATURDAY OCTOBER 24th 2009

Excitement is building to fever pitch ahead of tomorrow's Racing Post Trophy. The Doncaster showpiece has attracted a field replete with high achievers and intriguing dark horses, and after the Middle Park Stakes fell to Awzaan, a colt whose pedigree suggests he may not stay beyond sprint distances, and the exposed Beethoven scrambled home first in a below par-looking Dewhurst, it looks as though it could be the most informative trial for next year's Classics.
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Racing Post's support of the Group 1 event, and to mark the milestone the newspaper has this week been celebrating the superstars to have emerged from the race under its sponsorship. And there's plenty to celebrate, with no fewer than 20 subsequent individual top-level winners, including four Epsom Derby heroes, among the graduates. The race also deserves plenty of credit as one of the first stepping stones to a successful career in the stallion ranks.
From the first winner of the race under the Racing Post banner, Be My Chief, who provided the Grade 1 winner Donna Viola and became damsire of Hong Kong superstar Viva Pataca, through to the most recent scorer with foals of racing age, Motivator, whose first crop of two-year-olds this year has yielded the May Hill Stakes heroine Pollenator, the event has thrown up more than its fair share of good sires. Among the best achievers in the breeding shed have been Celtic Swing, a dazzling 12-length winner of the 1994 renewal who sired the outstanding pair Six Perfections and Takeover Target, and 2001 winner High Chaparral, who is compiling a strong stud record with progeny such as Unsung Heroine and Golden Sword. So as this year's winner crosses the line tomorrow afternoon, we could be looking not just at a future Classic winner, but at a Classic sire too.--------------------------------------------------------------


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Don't miss Pricewise's column with the value bets in tomorrow's Racing Post and online from noon with Pricewise Extra.----------------------------------------------------------


Maiden winner of the weekTertiary2yo b cSingspiel - Allez Les Trois (Riverman) Trainer: Saeed Bin SuroorOwner: GodolphinBreeder: DarleyRace: EBF / Sapphire Anniversary Maiden StakesSingspiel may not be known as a rich source of two-year-old talent, but his juveniles have been in flying form recently. Not only did the Darley stallion provide the Fillies' Mile heroine Hibaayeb in September, but he also enjoyed a continental two-year-old Group race double at the weekend when one son, Zeitoper, won the Prix de Conde at Longchamp and another, Glad Tiger, landed the Preis der Winterfavoriten at Cologne. Tertiary's debut victory in a competitive maiden race at Brighton on Thursday provided the icing on the cake. The colt is a half-brother to Prix du Jockey-Club scorer Anabaa Blue, to the Listed-winning pair Reunite and Measured Tempo, and to Al Ishq, the dam of last season's top French miler Tamayuz. He shares his maternal grand-dam Allegretta with none other than Sea The Stars.
--------------------------------------------------------------Bloodstock quotes to noteCause for optimism"Stiff challenges remain and it would be wrong to pretend that everything is now rosy, but the past two weeks have demonstrated an enduring global appetite for the sport of racing which has been a pleasure to see"Edmond Mahony reflects on the end of two weeks of action at the Tattersalls October yearling saleRacing Post, October 17Trust in luck"It's easy to look like an expert when things just happen to turn out well"Seamus Murphy, breeder of Racing Post Trophy contender Morana, concedes that good fortune played a big part in his successRacing Post, October 19Best by a mile"Ghanaati was an exceptional filly. I've been very fortunate in that I've been associated with some very high-class milers, but she's the best I've ridden over that trip. She was awesome."Richard Hills toasts the recently retired 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine GhanaatiRacing Post, October 20Bargain of the day"I have bought the horse on spec - I didn't come to the sale expecting to buy him, but I am always open to a good deal and I thought he would sell for three times as much"French bloodstock agent Guy Petit, who bought Kauto Star's yearling half-brother by Priolo for only ?20,000 at the Arqana October yearling saleRacing Post, October 20Casting off the cast-offs"We usually get horses in training but I decided to have a change of tack this year and, instead of trying to improve other people's cast-offs, to go for yearlings who have the potential to be anything"Trainer David Pinder adjusts his strategy at the Doncaster October yearling saleRacing Post, October 21Act One, scene two"It is a great boon for jumps breeders that Shadwell and the other shareholders have allowed him to be moved to Bill Bromley's [Wood Farm Stud]"Highflyer Bloodstock's David Minton on the decision to tranfer Act One to the dual-purpose stallion ranksRacing Post, October 22Linamix leaves it late"The Pride Stakes was a landmark occasion not just for Ashalanda's trainer and jockey. The filly comes from the 15th crop of her now retired sire, Linamix, who was twice champion in France and has been responsible for winners of 73 European Pattern races - but this was the first such success to be registered on a British course"Tony Morris describes how Ashalanda ended a hoodoo for her sire LinamixRacing Post, October 22Superior premium"When you get 75 per cent on top of prize-money for winning a two-year-old race it makes a difference, and it means that one and a half wins will cover a year's training expenses"Robert Nataf of Horse France, purchaser of Wednesday's top lot at the Arqana October yearling sale, a daughter of Whipper for ?125,000Racing Post, October 22--------------------------------------------------------------


JONJO O'NEIL STABLE TOUR ON RPTVOur cameras delve inside Jackdaws Castle to take a look at the trainer's string, including classy chaser Alberta's Run.WATCH NOWDon't forget - Paul Nicholls stable tour in Monday's paper.

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SEA THE STARS: The Story of a Perfect Racehorse Edited by Sean MageeThe perfect book on the perfect racehorse. This is the full life story of what many consider the best racehorse ever to run on the Flat. He captured the hearts of racegoers all over the world, with his unflappable temperament and awesome ability. This is a must read. SPECIAL PRICE: £15 - RRP £20 Free p&p for UK customers ORDER NOW
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LIFE IN TECHNICOLOURWe're celebrating going full-colour every day from this Saturday with a BUMPER week of brilliant pullouts in the Racing Post.MONDAY - PAUL NICHOLLS STABLE TOUR PULLOUT: the one you've all been waiting for, plus the insight from the leading Irish yard of Noel MeadeTUESDAY - JUMPS PULLOUT: An unbeatable 24-page preview of the jumps season. Interviews with Gordon Elliott and Tim Vaughan plus Matt Williams twenty to follow and loads moreTHURSDAY - SEA THE STARS 16-PAGE COMMEMORATIVE PULLOUT: The legend in all his glory in this stunning full-colour picture-led pullout, with great new content and featuresFRIDAY - 20 YEARS OF ALL-WEATHER RACING ANNIVERSARY PULLOUTDON'T MISS A DAY OF THE RACING POST NEXT WEEK!