Muhaarar pictured winning at Royal Ascot
PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)
Hills has concerns over Muhaarar’s July Cup bid
CHARLIE HILLS is worried the bounce factor could have an impact on Muhaarar’s challenge in Saturday’s Group 1 Darley July Cup.
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Victory for the impressive winner of the inaugural Commonwealth Cup in one of Europe’s signature sprint events would rank among Hills’s greatest successes.
But while the evidence at home suggests Muhaarar continues to thrive, Hills is concerned that effort on quick ground might have left a mark.
The trainer said: “I have one reservation and that is he could bounce having had a hard race at Ascot.
“He’s showing the right signs at home but you never know until they get into a battle how much Royal Ascot has taken out of them. Some horses have run flat since.”
Muhaarar started the campaign with victory in the Greenham Stakes before finishing eighth from a poor draw in the French Guineas and then landing the Commonwealth Cup by three and three-quarter lengths.
Hills said: “I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of him. He’s improving, which is the beauty of it.”
Victory in the July Cup, which Hills’s brother Richard won on Elnadim in 1998, would be a major milestone for the trainer.
Hills said: “It would be well up there. To win back-to-back Group 1s is what all of us want to do. It is certainly high up there among the races you want to win.”
Muhaarar faces 14 rivals in the race for which he is disputing favourtism with Australian sprinter Brazen Beau who finished second in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Amazing Maria takes another giant step forward at Newmarket
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Maria amazes again in Falmouth Stakes
Report: Newmarket, Friday
Qipco Falmouth Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) 1m, 3yo+ fillies & mares
AMAZING MARIA continued her phenomenal transformation since being switched to trainer David O’Meara when proving her Royal Ascot success was no fluke with a determined victory.
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After causing some head-scratching when returning the 25-1 winner of the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, the four-year-old, sent off at 17-2 this time, took another giant step forward to strike at the highest level.
An early move up the home straight by James Doyle proved decisive as Amazing Maria was well placed to attack and then go past runner-up Euro Charline in the final half furlong.
O’Meara praised the quick-thinking Doyle, who made sure his mount had a clear shot at victory as a sprint to the line developed.
The jockeys said: “I rode her with plenty of confidence and I knew at halfway it was a game of cat and mouse as we were going real steady.
“I knew if I got first jump on them, she’s honest and would hit the line well. She goes on this ground, which is a big plus, as it’s quick out there.
“A lot of people thought it might have been a fluke at Ascot, but I could only say what I felt on the day and I felt she was a class filly.
“She was a good two-year-old and her form dipped slightly. She’s a big girl, so I don’t know if she went a bit light or whatever, but she’s certainly all class.”
The success of a filly, who lost her way for previous trainer Ed Dunlop after winning Group 3 at Goodwood, vindicated owner-breeder Sir Robert Ogden’s decision to supplement her for the race and further big-race riches will be targeted.
Connections mentioned the possibility of going for the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville next month, but for now O’Meara was keen to enjoy “probably the most special moment” of his burgeoning career.
“She’s confirmed that she’s a proper filly,” said the trainer, who claimed a brace of Group 1 sprints with G Force and Move In Time last season.
“She’s a nice big type and travelling well today. She moved into a position to strike quite easily and found plenty.”
Marco Botti was delighted with the performance of Euro Charline(11-1), who put her best foot forward after being withdrawn at Royal Ascot following problems with the stalls.
He said: “In hindsight she’d have got some cover as she likes to be behind horses but Andrea [Atzeni] said there was no pace and I think he did well to relax her. He said she probably got there a bit too soon but once she saw the other fillies she picked up again and ran well.
“She walked straight into the stalls today – no hesitation and that is in the past. Last year she won the Beverly D. and suspect the owners are keen to have another shot at that race in August.”
Avenir Certain, Bawina and Fintry, as well 2-1 favourite Lucinda, all finished in a bunch just out of the places in a field reduced to seven following the morning withdrawals of last year’s winner Integral and Lady Dutch.
Illuminate: took unbeaten record to three
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
Illuminate shades it in three-way tussle
Report: Newmarket, Friday
Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 2) 6f, 2yo fillies
ROYAL ASCOT winner Illuminate got the better of Besharah in a photo-finish, with Blue Bayou also close up in a thrilling three-way finish to a race formerly known as the Cherry Hinton.
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The margin of victory might have been minimal but there was no disguising the huge esteem Richard Hannon holds for the 7-4 winner, who was branded by the trainer in the winner’s enclosure as “a very good filly – as good as we’ve ever had”.
Illuminate tracked Rah Rah at the sharp end through most of the contest before taking it up a furlong out. She looked to have the race in the bag, but tied up slightly in the final strides to give Besharah and Blue Bayou a chance as the trio flashed past the post.
“I thought she was going to go on and win by a length but the other filly has stayed on,” said Hannon.
Illuminate, who came into the race off the back of victory in the Albany Stakes, was extending her unbeaten record to three and is now a general 16-1 chance for next season’s Qipco 1,000 Guineas.
“She’s a pleasure to deal with and can do the whole lot – the Cheveley Park and things like that,” added Hannon. “She’s a dreamboat and we will see plenty more of her, I hope.”
Fellow joint-favourite Easton Angel, second in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, endured a rough passage through and finished adrift of the front three.
The stewards looked into the interference she suffered at the hands of Rah Rah and following an inquiry promoted her to fourth and demoted the Godolphin filly to fifth.
NEWMARKET (JULY) RESULTSGOING: GOOD TO FIRM (Overall 7.8; Stands’ side 7.6; Centre 7.9; Far side 7.9; Watered). Weather conditions: sunny and warm.STALLS: Stands side course: All rails stands side |
2:10 - Price Bailey EBF Stallions Fillies’ Handicap7f, Class 2, £15,562.50 1 Spangled 9/2 12 ran Distances: 1l, ½l, ¾l Jockey: Andrea Atzeni WIN £5.50 PL £2.10, £4.10, £1.70 |
2:40 - Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 2) (Fillies)6f, Class 1, £45,368.00 1 Illuminate 7/4J 9 ran Distances: nse, shd, hd Jockey: Richard Hughes WIN £2.70 PL £1.10, £2.50, £4.10 |
3:15 - Qipco Falmouth Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)1m, Class 1, £123,344.25 1 Amazing Maria 17/2 NR: Integral, Lady Dutch 7 ran Distances: 1l, hd, nse Jockey: James Doyle WIN £6.60 PL £2.90, £3.40 |
3:45 - Betfred Mobile (Heritage Handicap)6f, Class 2, £62,250.00 1 Magical Memory 7/1 NR: Ahlan Emarati (IRE), Indescribable(IRE), Lacing 17 ran Distances: 2l, hd, nk Jockey: Frankie Dettori WIN £6.70 PL £1.70, £5.30, £6.00, £2.30 |
4:20 - Weatherbys EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Colts & Geldings)7f, Class 4, £6,469.00 1 Manaafidh 10/1 NR: Rivers Of Asia 13 ran Distances: hd, ½l, 1¼l, dht Jockey: Paul Hanagan WIN £14.60 PL £3.40, £4.60, £3.10 |
4:55 - Take The Abellio Greater Anglia Train Handicap (Silver Bunbury Cup)7f, Class 2, £18,675.00 1 Mr Win 5/1F NR: Orion’s Bow, Tiger Jim, Twin Appeal (IRE) 16 ran Distances: hd, nse, shd Jockey: William Buick WIN £4.20 PL £1.40, £1.80, £6.20, £7.80 |
5:30 - Arrowpak International Movers Handicap1m, Class 3, £9,703.50 1 Mitraad 9/4F NR: Early Morning (IRE) 8 ran Distances: 1l, 2¼l, ½l Jockey: Paul Hanagan WIN £3.70 PL £1.70, £1.30, £2.50 |
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fonte : RacingPost
