The starting line-up for Cagnes-sur-Mer: Four-year-olds

Aborigene, ridden by Greg Benoist, winning the Prix de l’Etang Neuf in Chantilly.

Aborigene (George Vancouver out of a Johannesburg mare) runs for Jacques Jarnet and Paule Descargues. So far Aborigene has been the little horse that could. He runs on the turf from 2,000 to 2,400 meters and now we’ll have to see if his small size stops him from being effective against older horses. But he has a great attitude and leaves his heart on the track every time, so we’re expecting him to do well. Working off a rating of 29, his first run will be Jan. 23.

El Viso in the Maisons-Laffitte training center, rond Poniatowski, ridden by Olivier Thirion

El Viso (Camelot our of an Elusive City mare) is owned by Bryan Gusdal and Kay Minton. He seems to have plenty of ability but is a very nervous horse at the track, so hopefully the Cagnes experience will agree with him. He runs 2,000 meters and longer, and we’re still testing his distance limits. He likes to come from behind and loves the fibersand. Fairly rated at 28.5, his first run will be Jan. 18.

Glorious Emaraty at the Tattersalls July 2019 Horses in Training sale.

Glorious Emaraty (George Vancouver out of a Kheleyf mare) carries Roger Straus’s silks with co-owners Brian Dunn, Kay Minton and Susanne Born. Another horse with plenty of ability who has been reluctant to show it so far, Glorious is our only sprinter in Cagnes this year. That gives him plenty of options on both surfaces at distances from 1,300 to 1,500 meters. His last run in Deauville was promising, and he will debut in Cagnes on Jan. 14 or 15, still working off a prohibitively high rating of 34.5.

Midas Girl at the Tattersalls October 2019 Horses in Training sale.

Midas Girl (Dabirsim out of a Kodiac mare) will carry Kay Minton’s colors with co-owner Tim Rarick. Her last run in Deauville was impressive as she closed from dead last to finish third in a maiden. She was running sprint distances in England but that was clearly not her sport, despite having speed breeding. We think her distance is 2,000 meters and if she can confirm her Deauville run, she will make money in Cagnes. She is running off an initial rating of 32.5, which is higher than it should be, so will run the claimer on Opening Day, Jan. 13.

Starstruck, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, taking the Prix des Haras at St Cloud.

Starstruck (Masterstroke out of a Montjeu mare) will carry the colors of Roger Straus and is co-owned by Susanne Born, Brian Dunn and Manuela Groll. She’s been an absolute star in 2019 winning three races for us, but that means she’s coming into Cagnes with a high rating of 34. She’s a gazelle on heavy ground and runs any distance from 2,200 meters on up, the longer the better. She has already beaten older horses, so she comes with solid experience. Her comeback race will be Jan. 18.

Welcome Grey Sensation!

Grey Sensation is the latest addition to the High Street Racing stable. The 3-year-old gelding joined Bleu Astral in the High Street fold on Monday in a private deal from previous owner Michael Nelmes-Crocker.

The move is a cosmetic one for Grey Sensation as he has been under the care of High Street trainer Gina Rarick at Maisons-Laffitte since Sept. 24. He showed immediate improvement after the move, earning a check in all four of his subsequent starts, most recently on December 11 when he was a fast finishing third in a 1900-meter handicap on the Deauville fibresand.

“He’s extremely consistent, sound and tough and is effective over any distance from 1500 meters to 2000 meters (7 1/2 to 10 furlongs),” Gina said. “He seems to love the fibresand but he’s also fine on turf where he needs the top of the ground.”

Like his High Street Racing stablemate Bleu Astral, Grey Sensation is the son of a French 2000 Guineas winner, in this case Aussie Rules, who also won the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. Out of a mare by Royal Hunt Cup winner Imperial Ballet, Grey Sensation possesses a solid one-mile pedigree that frequently translates into a more versatile foundation.

For his High Street Racing debut, trainer Rarick will aim him at a 1600-meter (one-mile) handicap at Cagnes-sur-Mer on Saturday, January 16, opening day at the Hippodrome de la Cote d’Azur, and the first of 19 days of racing at the seaside winter meeting which runs through February 27. We hope all High Street Racing shareholders- and prospective shareholders- will be able to join us at Cagnes for a closer look at both Grey Sensation and Bleu Astral.

Grey Sensation, number 14, finishing third in his most recent race at Deauville.
Grey Sensation, number 14, finishing third in his most recent race at Deauville. Scoopdyga

Enjoying a sunny Saturday

Bleu Astral with Gorki Park at the Round Poniatowski in the training center in Maisons-Laffitte.
Bleu Astral with Gorki Park at the Round Poniatowski in the training center in Maisons-Laffitte.

Bleu Astral’s workout partner for the morning was Gorki Park. He’s still just doing slow work for the moment. We’ll let him relax and build a foundation for another week or so before we see what’s under the hood on the straight track.

 

Welcome Bleu Astral!

Bleu Astral at the October 2015 Tattersalls horses in training sales in Newmartket.
Bleu Astral at the October 2015 Tattersalls horses in training sales in Newmartket.

Bleu Astral is the first horse in the High Street Racing stable. Purchased by Gina Rarick for 12,750 guineas (18,600 euros; $20,500) at the Wednesday session of Tattersalls October Horses-in-Training Sale, he is a 3-year-old gelding by classic Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Astronomer Royal out of the In the Wings mare Passion Bleue, herself a 1 1/2-mile handicap winner at Longchamp.

Bleu Astral improved to win his last two starts going a mile in England this year, adding to three previous placings in six turf outings. Bred in France, he is eligible for French owners’ premiums.

Bleu Astral catalog page