Noble Mission pipped as Lucky Lion roars home
Report: Germany, Sunday
Munich: Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Group 1) 1m2f, turf, 3yo+
NOBLE MISSION’S bid for Group 1 glory in Germany on Sunday afternoon was foiled when he went down to Lucky Lion (Andreas Lowe/Ioritz Mendizabal), who was no match for leading Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe contender Sea The Moon in the Germany Derby last time.
The Lady Cecil-trained five-year-old, a brother to the fabulous Frankel, had registered his first Group 1 success in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May, but was agonisingly denied another at the top level when reeled in late by Spiritjim in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last month.
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Nevertheless, he was sent off favourite to add his name to list of British-trained Bayerisches Zuchtrennen winners such as Greek Dance (2000), Linngari (2008) and Pressing (2009).
Second favourite Lucky Lion, getting 10lb from his older rival, proved too good though.
Ridden by James Doyle, Noble Mission did not break quickly from stall 12 and was unable to get the lead, a tactic which has been a key part of his victories this season. He was trapped wide early, although he managed to get himself close enough to the front-running Nausica Time.
The Khalid Abdullah homebred struck for home in the straight, but Lucky Lion emerged with a telling run to clinch the £83,333 first prize.
A son of Coolmore’s 2002 Derby winner High Chaparral, Lucky Lion was unbeaten in three starts this term until the German Derby when he met Sea The Moon, who powered to a stunning 11-length success.
Winning trainer Lowe said the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in August is on the German 2,000 Guineas winner’s agenda, while a return to Ireland for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 13 might be next for Noble Mission.
Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “We are very satisfied. He ran a great race and was just run out of it in the final 100 yards by another very good horse. We could consider the Irish Champion Stakes.”
High Jinx: smart stayer had not won since June 2012
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
York-bound High Jinx back to winning ways
Report: France, Sunday
Maisons-Laffitte: Prix de Carrousel (Listed) 1m7½f, turf, 4yo+
HIGH JINX (James Fanshawe) will head to York for the Weatherbys-backed Lonsdale Cup at the Ebor meeting after Christophe Soumillon steered him to a first success in more than two years at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday.
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Fanshawe, unable to travel to France as he was entertaining 255 members of the Elite Racing Club at an open day arranged some time ago, was thrilled and said: “I wanted to find him a race he could win, and he’s French-bred, so there was a premium.
“Christophe gave him a lovely ride and he pretty much made all, battling on really well after looking for a moment as if he might get outpaced.
“Hopefully he has his confidence back and he’ll now go for the Lonsdale Cup as he loves York.”
Garswood (second right) wins the Lennox Stakes last season
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Visored Garswood goes for second Lennox win
GARSWOOD will wear a visor for the first time as he bids to fend off nine rivals and claim back-to-back wins in the Group 2 bet365 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Tuesday.
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Trained by Richard Fahey for David Armstrong and Cheveley Park Stud, Garswood has failed to add to his win haul since beating Caspar Netscher at Goodwood last year.
He was defeated on his latest start by Gregorian in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket and John Gosden’s runner is among the opposition again on Tuesday.
Three runners will be representing Richard Hannon with Toormore, Anjaal and Professor all lining up for the trainer at his first Glorious Goodwood meeting.
Hannon is also set to have three runners in the Group 3 bet365 Molecomb Stakes, the other highlight on Goodwood’s opening day.
The trio is headed by Beacon, a comfortable winner of a Listed race at Sandown on his last start, while stablemates Spirit Of Xian and Dougal are declared as well.
The going at Goodwood is good, good to firm in places on the round course.
Wicked Strong: will be targeted at the Travers Stakes at Saratoga
PICTURE: Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos
Wicked too strong for his rivals Jim Dandy Stakes
Report: Saratoga, Saturday, Jim Dandy Stakes (Grade 2) 1m1f, 3yo, dirt
WICKED STRONG (Jimmy Jerkens/Rajiv Maragh) put a disappointing Classic campaign behind him showing unusual dash to see off Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist at Saratoga on Saturday.
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Wearing blinkers for the first time, Wicked Strong broke smartly from his outside gate and was not for catching in the homestretch winning by two and a quarter lengths from Tonalist.
Wicked Strong had entered the Kentucky Derby as a leading contender having landed the Grade 1 Wood Memorial but could only finish fourth behind California Chrome before taking the same position in the Belmont Stakes. He will now bid to take the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 23.
“This is great. This is really great. The way he works in the morning, I don’t think Secretariat worked any better than this horse does in the morning,” Jerkens told bloodhorse.com. “I know the talent’s there. It’s just getting him to put it all together.”
Maragh added: “He always runs very good, very close to winning some more days; he kind of put it all together today and put on a good performance.
“He was running into a nice rhythm and didn’t go on and off the bridle, which he was doing in his prior starts. He was more focused today and more aggressive.”
Also on Saturday, Saratoga: Amsterdam Stakes (Grade 2) 6½f, 3yo, dirt
Coup De Grace (Larry Jones/Rosie Napravnik) picked up the pieces after a speed duel up front set the race up for his closing style.
C Zee and Big Guy Ian had gone head-to-head from the start and favourite Captain Serious had also been pulled along by the front duo meaning he had nothing to prevent Coup De Grace sweeping past him.
The three-year-old will be back for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga on August 23 and owner Rick Porter told bloodhorse.com: “I don’t know all the best three-year-old sprinters in the country, but our numbers are good. We’ve got to keep him healthy and bring him back in four weeks, hopefully. We’ll find out how good he is.”
Del Mar: San Diego Handicap (Grade 2) 1m1½f, 3yo+ all-weather
Fed Biz (Bob Baffert/Martin Garcia) broke the track record as he made all the running on his first start since running sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita last year.
fonte: RacingPost
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Trainer Brett Crawford and jockey Glen Hatt ended off the KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season as they had started it: with a big race victory at Greyville. Hatt rode a superbly-timed race aboard Wavin’ Flag (SAF) (pink cap) to land the Gr 1 Elan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m on Saturday, getting the better of a late three-way tussle with Wild One (SAF) and Gold Onyx (NZ) as topweight Hot Ticket (SAF) ran on for fourth. As expected, there were a few different formations in evidence as the race unfolded, with Canterbury Tale the initial leader ahead of Wild One, Crown Of Gold, Shogunnar, Ash Cloud and Jeppe’s Reef. Habitual front-runner Serissa raced in midfield on this occasion ahead of Alexander, Gothic and Wavin’ Flag. Master Sabina raced among the back-markers, with only Run For It, Paddy O’Reilly, Hot Ticket and Gold Onyx behind him. There was drama approaching the 1800m mark as things went horribly awry with Shogunnar, who went off the course. Up front, Serissa, had made a forward move to press Canterbury Tale for the lead and he eventually took over at the head of affairs, bringing the field in for home. Canterbury Tale briefly regained the lead in the straight but could not sustain his effort as stablemate Wild One emerged as the live wire. Ash Cloud was trying to stay in touch as Gold Onyx took off and briefly looked as if he might finish best of all. Wavin’ Flag, meanwhile, had crept into contention and he got to the front close to home to land a memorable victory. Crawford and Hatt had won the first major event of the province’s Champions Season, the KRA Fillies Guineas, at the beginning of May, and can look back at a successful winter campaign in this part of the world. Wavin’ Flag, in particular, has gone from strength to strength, having come to Durban somewhat under the radar. He seemed to thrive in the conditions, though, and was full value for his victory here, following good placed efforts in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup and Gold Vase at this track. Wild One always looked the safest each-way bet in a wide open event and he ran accordingly. He’s come into his own as a stayer and looks well set to add to his winning tally next season. Gold Onyx seems to have found a new lease of life. His previous form suggested he wouldn’t get the trip but he ran another cracker here. Those with long enough memories will know that he was a Gr 1 winner at this very meeting four years ago and he seems to spring to life at this time of year. Hot Ticket has to be ridden from off the pace and, with the gallop never much better than steady, he was always going to have his work cut making up ground under his big weight. He was not disgraced by any means and would appear to have done enough to land the Equus award for the stayers’ division, having notched up four feature races over ground this season. 4 b g Silvano (GER) – Garland by Capture Him (USA)
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fonte: SAH Racing
