Paul Hanagan roars with delight as Taghrooda wins the Investec Oaks
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos), BY PETER SCARGILL4:08PM 6 JUN 2014
TAGHROODA thumped her rivals in the Oaks at Epsom, just as she had at Newmarket on her seasonal return, to remain unbeaten and provide her rider Paul Hanagan with a first Classic victory.
Epsom Result, 06 Jun 2014. INVESTEC OAKS (IN MEMORY OF SIR HENRY CECIL) (GROUP 1) (FILLIES)
- (Class 1) (3yo) (1m4f10y) 1m4f Good
- £297,727.50, £112,875.00, £56,490.00, £28,140.00, £14,122.50, £7,087.50
| HORSE/SP | AGE | WGT | TRAINER/JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « |
19 |
Taghrooda 5/1  |
3 | 9-0 | John Gosden | 103 | * | * | |||
| Paul Hanagan | |||||||||||
| « |
210 |
3¾ | Tarfasha (IRE) 9/2 | 3 | 9-0 | D K Weld | 109 | * | * | ||
| Pat Smullen | |||||||||||
| « |
317 |
nse | Volume 9/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Luca Cumani | 98 | * | * | ||
| Richard Hughes | |||||||||||
| « |
46 |
nk | Inchila 40/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Peter Chapple-Hyam | 92 | * | * | ||
| Jamie Spencer | |||||||||||
| « |
57 |
½ | Ihtimal (IRE) 8/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Saeed bin Suroor | 110 | * | * | ||
| Kieren Fallon | |||||||||||
| « |
62 |
4½ | Marvellous (IRE) 4/1F | 3 | 9-0 | A P O’Brien | 116 | * | * | ||
| Joseph O’Brien | |||||||||||
| « |
73 |
shd | Palace (IRE) 16/1 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O’Brien | 102 | * | * | ||
| Ryan Moore | |||||||||||
| « |
88 |
1½ | Momentus (IRE) 50/1 | 3 | 9-0 | David Simcock | — | * | * | ||
| Harry Bentley | |||||||||||
| « |
911 |
¾ | Lily Rules (IRE) 33/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Tony Coyle | 96 | * | * | ||
| Barry McHugh | |||||||||||
| « |
101 |
3½ | Madame Chiang 9/1 | 3 | 9-0 | David Simcock | 100 | * | * | ||
| William Buick | |||||||||||
| « |
1114 |
3¾ | Island Remede 100/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Ed Dunlop | 89 | * | * | ||
| James Doyle | |||||||||||
| « |
1213 |
2¾ | Regardez 40/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Ralph Beckett | 92 | * | * | ||
| Richard Kingscote | |||||||||||
| « |
135 |
½ | Marsh Daisy 16/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Hughie Morrison | 104 | * | * | ||
| Jimmy Fortune | |||||||||||
| « |
144 |
8 | Dazzling (IRE) 33/1 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O’Brien | 103 | * | * | ||
| Seamie Heffernan | |||||||||||
| « |
1516 |
4½ | Anipa 33/1 | 3 | 9-0 h | Roger Varian | 98 | * | * | ||
| Andrea Atzeni | |||||||||||
| « |
1615 |
hd | Honor Bound 33/1 | 3 | 9-0 h1 | Ralph Beckett | 94 | * | * | ||
| Jim Crowley | |||||||||||
| « |
1712 |
1½ | Amazing Maria (IRE) 16/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Ed Dunlop | 105 | * | * | ||
| Frankie Dettori | |||||||||||
1st OWNER: Hamdan Al Maktoum BRED: Shadwell Estate Company Limited TRAINER: John Gosden
2nd OWNER: Hamdan Al Maktoum
3rd OWNER: S Stuckey
TOTE WIN £5.80 PL £2.10, £2.40, £3.20; Ex £23.70; CSF £26.03; TRICAST £204.48
Trained by John Gosden, who was winning the Oaks for the first time, Taghrooda (5-1) led home a one-two for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum as Tarfasha pipped the valiant frontrunner Volume in the final strides.
Taghrooda had highlighted her Oaks credentials with a tremendous comeback win in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last month and she was handily positioned behind Volume by Hanagan.
In contrast, favourite Marvellous was tucked in on the inside rail towards the back on the field and was struggling from the point when the runners headed into Tattenham Corner.
Taghrooda handled the hill with aplomb and was going oh so well as Volume came off the bridle. It was just a matter of time before the race was settled.
Hanagan asked for his effort entering the final two furlongs and had little to worry about in the closing stages as Tarfasha and Volume had their own private battle for second. The daughter of Derby winner Sea The Stars bolted clear to win by an impressive three and three-quarter lengths.
Asked what riding his first Classic winner felt like, Hanagan said: “It feels great. Absolutely brilliant. It’s what I’ve worked hard for.
“I’m delighted for the team, for Sheikh Hamdan and it has been a big team effort at John Gosden’s yard.”
Hanagan added: “I’d like to say we had really bad news with John Hills [dying] and he was a big part of the team so this is for him.”
The emotion attached to the win was highlighted by Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan and younger brother of John Hills.
“John said to me last week ‘Richard, good luck’. He was there with us today,” Hills said, wiping a tear from his eye. “For the Hills family it’s big for us. It’s emotional.
“This is what you work for. This filly has been working so well and doing everything right.”
Winning trainer John Gosden was out of luck when The Fugue could only manage third in the 2011 Oaks having been sent off favourite and he was delighted to have gained a first win in the race.
“She’s the best filly today and Paul [Hanagan] rode it nicely,” Gosden said. “She has won it well.
“I always thought she was a nice filly but I never boast about a horse; they have to prove it on the track.”
Paddy Power and William Hill both make Taghrooda a 16-1 shot for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
fonte: RacingPost
 |
GOING: GOOD (Overall 7.5; Home Straight: Stands’ side 7.4, Far side 7.1). Weather conditions: dry and bright.
STALLS: 1m 4f – Centre; Remainder – Inside
1:35 - Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Investec) (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares)1m½f, Class 1, £39,697.00 1 Thistle Bird 7/2 10 ran Distances: 1l, nk, 2l Jockey: James Doyle WIN £4.10 PL £1.80, £1.90, £1.40 |
2:10 - Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap1m2f, Class 2, £31,125.00 1 Farraaj 13/2 12 ran Distances: 2½l, 7l, ¾l Jockey: Andrea Atzeni WIN £7.50 PL £2.60, £2.60, £3.10 |
2:45 - Investec Diomed Stakes (Group 3)1m½f, Class 1, £39,697.00 1 French Navy 13/2 7 ran Distances: 2¼l, 1l, ¾l Jockey: Adam Kirby WIN £7.00 PL £2.60, £1.90 |
3:20 - Investec Mile Handicap1m½f, Class 2, £21,787.50 1 Abseil 5/2F 16 ran Distances: ½l, 1¼l, hd Jockey: James Doyle WIN £3.10 PL £1.30, £3.00, £4.10, £2.80 |
4:00 - Investec Oaks (In Memory of Sir Henry Cecil) (Group 1) (Fillies)1m4f, Class 1, £297,727.50 1 Taghrooda 5/1 17 ran Distances: 3¾l, nse, nk Jockey: Paul Hanagan WIN £5.80 PL £2.10, £2.40, £3.20 |
4:45 - Investec Surrey Stakes (Listed Race)7f, Class 1, £22,684.00 1 That Is The Spirit 11/10F NR: Coulsty (IRE) 5 ran Distances: nse, 2½l, 1l Jockey: Daniel Tudhope WIN £2.00 PL £1.10, £1.30 |
5:20 - Investec Asset Management Handicap (Bobis Race)7f, Class 2, £15,562.50 1 Almargo 7/1 NR: Lady Frances, Legend Rising (IRE) 13 ran Distances: 1¾l, ½l, shd Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa WIN £8.60 PL £3.20, £1.90, £8.20 |
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French Navy crosses the line in front at Epsom on Friday
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Kirby stars as French Navy sinks Diomed rivals
Investec Diomed Stakes (Group 3) 1m½f, 3yo+
FRENCH NAVY came from last to first in the home straight as jockey Adam Kirby squeezed his mount between Highland Knight and Graphic before staying on powerfully to win.
Trained by Charlie Appleby,French Navy was slowly away from the stalls and niggled for most of the way by Kirby but had too much at the end for favourite Graphic and Windhoek, who finished second and third.
Backers of French Navy may have felt like ripping up their betting slips as the gates opened with the Godolphin runner emerging in no great rush and receiving a vigorous ride from Kirby to keep up with the pace set by Highland Knight.
French Navy was never very settled for Kirby but started to make up ground running down the hill into Tattenham Corner although his route to victory was blocked by Highland Knight and Graphic who were scrapping it out in front.
However, Kirby spied a slither of light between the duelling pair in front of him and nudged French Navy between them in a daring move.
Once through, French Navy charged towards the line to take victory at 13-2 with Graphic second and Windhoek third.
Appleby said: “It’s good for the whole team to win on a day like this. I was concerned that the ground was starting to dry out but the horse is in good nick. I think he handles this ground but he will be better with more give in the ground.”
Thistle Bird and James Doyle coast to another victory at Epsom
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
Thistle Bird lands second Princess Elizabeth Stakes
Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by Investec) (Group 3) 1m½f, 3yo+ fillies and mares
THISTLE BIRD recorded back-to-back victories in the opening race on Investec Oaks day at Epsom, travelling smoothly and responding generously when asked for her effort on the outside.
By comparison, favourite Just The Judge was keen running down into Tattenham Corner and had no room to challenge at the crucial moment before staying on for third behind Odelizin second.
Punters had been undecided who to send off favourite with Just The Judge, Mango Diva and Thistle Bird all jostling to be market leader before last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Just The Judge was sent off the 100-30 favourite.
However, while the four-year-old may have won the battle to be favourite, she was out of luck in the race and found herself trapped behind rivals in the closing stages as Odeliz, who had been handy throughout, and Thistle Bird, kept out of danger on the outside by jockey James Doyle, made their decisive moves.
In the end, Thistle Bird was a comfortable winner for trainer Roger Charlton and owner Lady Rothschild emulating fellow dual winners Echelon and Antara.
Doyle said: “I said to Mr Charlton back in the spring before we even started working her that she feels stronger and that she is improving with age. This race is only the start of her season and she didn’t half improve as last year went on.”
fonte: RacingPost
