Blue Point shocks Battaash and Lady Aurelia with Group 1 success for Godolphin
Charlie Appleby was out walking the dogs, before lunch and a helicopter flight to Ascot to watch Blue Point mow down Battaash for a first Group 1 win.
You can afford to be a little bit more relaxed when you have just won the Derby, and with the pressure off – or at least turned down – Appleby confessed he enjoyed this day as much as Epsom.
Last year’s winner Lady Aurelia and Battaash – joint-best sprinter in the world in 2017 on Racing Post Ratings with Harry Angel – had rightly claimed the spotlight in the build up to their face-off.
But, just as Appleby was content to stay in the shadows, so William Buick aboard Blue Point was happy to watch Lady Aurelia and Battaash trade punches before pouncing.
Battaash, the Abbaye winner, had been last to go to post and looked like being first home as he broke quickly and seemingly took control, with Lady Aurelia wilting in behind.
But in his slipstream were Buick and Blue Point, who slowly eroded the lead to prevail by a comfortable length and three-quarters.
The spring was not kind to Blue Point, who was withdrawn at the start of Meydan’s Al Quoz Sprint because of blood in his nostrils and then flopped in Hong Kong before being shaken by turbulence on the plane home. But he likes it at Ascot.
“He brings his A game’ here,” said Appleby. “The stiff track suits him. I’ve always thought a lot of this horse since his two-year-old career. That’s why you’ve got to give a lot credit to Harry Angel and Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup last year, where we finished third.
“Plenty of pace suits him too. William gave him a copybook ride. He got a lovely lead into him and picked up well.
“He was my banker going into World Cup night. Unfortunately it didn’t materialise and the Hong Kong experience taught us a few manners about what we need to do next time we’re out there.
“The horse has a torrid time on the flight back but we gave him a nice break and the team have done a fantastic job getting him back.”
He added: “I couldn’t have been happier with his preparation. He put in a really good piece of work the other day, and hopefully he’s back where he needs to be.”
Buick said: “He’s a very quick horse and I was always very comfortable where I was and I knew he would see the race out better than Battaash.”
Bookmakers trimmed Blue Point to a top-priced 7-1 (from 16) for the Darley July Cup, the market for which is headed by Harry Angel.
Victory for either would bring more smiles to the face of Sheikh Mohammed. The Godolphin supremo said: “After Masar and the Derby, we’re taking it very easy. We’re enjoying ourselves and Royal Ascot. We’re relaxing now. But we have some ammunition for the rest of the week.”
fonte : RacingPost
Frankel’s Without Parole Remains Unbeaten In the St James’s Palace
| 4th at RAS, Gr. Stk, £538,750 | G1 St James’s Palace S. | (7f 213y) | Winner: Without Parole (GB), c, 3 by Frankel (GB) |
Owner/breeder Tanya Gunther leads in Without Parole | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
John Gunther’s run of luck is bordering on the obscene and just days after the colt he bred Justify (Scat Daddy) completed the Triple Crown he was able to live out a longtime dream of owning a Royal Ascot homebred winner as Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) justified 9-4 favouritism for a John Gosden-Frankie Dettori axis in firm forward motion. Settled third early as US Navy Flag (War Front) set off to prove the stamina question once and for all, the bay who took the Listed Heron S. at Sandown May 24 swooped on that tiring leader passing the quarter pole and stayed on strongly as Ballydoyle’s other runner Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bore down on him. At the line, he had a half length to spare, with 3 1/4 lengths back to Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in third as the 3-year-old miling division finally sorted itself out. “He had gone very fast on US Navy Flag and it was a brave performance from my horse, as he had to commit early,” Gosden said. “The horse would have learned a lot and there is a lot more to come.”
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ST JAMES’S PALACE S.-G1, £538,750, Ascot, 6-19, 3yo, c, 7f 213yT, 1:38.64, g/f.
1–WITHOUT PAROLE (GB), 126, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Without You Babe, by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Marozia, by Storm Bird
3rd Dam: Make Change, by Roberto
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (650,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-John Gunther & Tanya Gunther; B-John Gunther (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £305,525. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $446,209. *1/2 to Tamarkuz (Speightstown), GISW-US & MGSP-UAE, $1,840,444. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Gustav Klimt (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Massarra (GB), by Danehill. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £115,831.
3–Wootton (Fr), 126, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–American Nizzy (Fr), by American Post (GB). O-Godolphin SNC; B-SARL Ecurie Haras de Quetieville (FR); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. £57,970.
Margins: HF, 3 1/4, HD. Odds: 2.25, 8.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Tip Two Win (GB), Kings Shield, Gabr (GB), Romanised (Ire), Threeandfourpence, U S Navy Flag, Chilean (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
King’s Stand Goes to Shamardal’s Blue Point
| 3rd at RAS, Gr. Stk, £538,750 | G1 King’s Stand S. | (5f) | Winner: Blue Point (Ire), c, 4 by Shamardal |
Blue Point and William Buick | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
There was to be no third Royal victory for Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in the G1 King’s Stand S. as TDN Rising Star Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) provided another red-letter day for Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick. Sent off at 6-1 coming back to Europe off a last-of-nine finish in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin Apr. 29, he stuck within two lengths of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s trail-blazing leader Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) throughout and wore him down with 100 yards remaining en route to a 1 3/4-length success, with a neck back to Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in third. Lady Aurelia, the 2-1 favourite, was only seventh after failing to live with the potent pace. “There is a list of people I can thank,” his trainer said. “We’ve loved him since he was a two-year-old and I knew this was the right race for him.”
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KINGS STAND S.-G1, £538,750, Ascot, 6-19, 3yo/up, 5fT, :58.14, g/f.
1–BLUE POINT (IRE), 130, c, 4, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Scarlett Rose (GB), by Royal Applause (GB)
2nd Dam: Billie Blue (GB), by Ballad Rock (Ire)
3rd Dam: Blue Nose (Ire), by Windjammer
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (110,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; 200,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Oak Lodge Bloodstock (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £305,525. Lifetime Record: 13-6-3-2, $970,949. *1/2 to Formosina (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $185,830. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Battaash (Ire), 130, g, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (200,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills. £115,831.
3–Mabs Cross (GB), 127, f, 4, Dutch Art (GB)–Miss Meggy (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (£3,000 Ylg ’15 DONNOV). O-David W Armstrong; B-Highfield Farm LLP (GB); T-Michael Dods. £57,970.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 2 3/4. Odds: 6.00, 2.25, 20.00.
Also Ran: Finsbury Square (Ire), Bucchero, Different League (Fr), Lady Aurelia, Washington DC (Ire), Kachy (GB), Gifted Master (Ire), Battle of Jericho, Ornate (GB), Primo Uomo (Ire), Declarationofpeace. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Calyx Gives Kingman a Major Boost In the Coventry
| 2nd at RAS, Gr. Stk, £150,000 | G2 Coventry S. | (6f) | Winner: Calyx (GB), c, 2 by Kingman (GB) |
Calyx wins the Coventry | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
Having sent the pundits jumping up and down when registering fast fractions en route to a five-length Newmarket debut success, TDN Rising Star Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) justified the boldness of John Gosden to come to the G2 Coventry S. just 10 days after that effort by supplying another Juddmonte spectacular at Royal Ascot. Always travelling with vigour behind Cosmic Law (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Indigo Balance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on the stand’s side, the heavily-supported 2-1 favourite surged clear of his group under Frankie Dettori from two out and at the line had a length and a neck to spare over the far-side bosses Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy). A total of 6 1/2 lengths in front of the nearest peer on his side in Blown By Wind (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Calyx rates as a serious Coventry winner in anybody’s book and Gosden is aware he has something special on his hands. “We’ve won this race before, but he does make you get up in the morning,” he said. “His father was exceptionally talented and Calyx has all of those attributes.”
Kingman’s first representative on the track last Saturday, Calyx could hardly have given his Royal Ascot-winning sire a greater lift-off when towering over his rivals up the July Course as he himself had done on his debut five years earlier. Earning similar plaudits all round after that ostentatious display, he had exited the encounter in such ebullient mood that his normally cautious handler was forced into running here. Despite his racecourse inexperience and the fact that he would have to cope with this tempestuous atmosphere while still raw, Calyx was the only one the punters wanted to know and long-time ante-post favourite Sergei Prokofiev went on an outward drift in the market as a result. Quickly away like the pure natural he is, the Juddmonte homebred had an ideal target up ahead as the Woodcote winner Cosmic Law set off in the clear but that rival was unable to take him much further than halfway. Frankie faced a quandary there, but he really had no other choice than to let his mount go at the point that Ryan Moore was well adrift and in a pocket on Ballydoyle’s main contender across the way. Delivering the same propulsion he had on debut, Calyx was soon beyond recall and although Sergei Prokofiev made up notable ground late on it was just as significant how the Newbury maiden winner Advertise performed over there too. The recent Phoenix Thoroughbred acquisition outstayed the eventual third to make up a classy trifecta of colts who are already almost certainly of group 1 standard in a strong renewal of this ever-prestigious affair.
“I think the high draw might not be the best draw, as in the Queen Anne low numbers were first, second and third, so I couldn’t believe that Calyx hung on like he did,” Gosden continued. “It was a tough ordeal for him to race on his own on just his second start. If he had horses to race with him, I think that would have been better. It was a big achievement and he is worth more than the winning margin of a length to say the least. He’s a bit of show-off and I have to give him a bit of time now. His father never ran until July, whereas this boy has been out in June.” Attentions were naturally turned towards the 2000 Guineas afterwards and Gosden was not ruling out that possibility for the speedy and precocious winner. “I don’t see why not,” he said when asked about the mile Classic. “He’s rateable and was relaxed enough early here and has a good bit of scope. At the moment, let’s see if we can win a [G1] Prix Morny [at Deauville Aug. 19] with him and then we will think about stepping up a bit later on. He’s a lovely horse to be around. Like his jockey, he is a bit full of himself.”
Frankie Dettori, who was recording the first part of an opening day treble from three rides and his 57th Royal winner in the process, was also smitten. “He’s pretty special. He’s still a bit green, a bit quirky, but he has a real natural talent,” he explained. “My two lead horses kind of ran out of petrol and Calyx was going so easily that I had to make my own way home because it is very hard to judge how close the other side are. To be able to put the race to bed between the three and the one is pretty spectacular. Lady Aurelia over five furlongs was sensational, but over six furlongs he is right up there.”
Martyn Meade was delighted with the performance of the runner-up, who won on his side, but was left wondering what might have been had the field not split. “He’s run a fantastic race, because he’s a horse for another day,” he commented. “It’s a bonus to be able to run him so early in the summer and he will have learned a lot from that. Whether he was drawn on the right side or not doesn’t matter now, but it’s quite difficult if the runners split and you are racing away from the horse who is making the running. When it came to the race on our side of the track he did it well. He showed a bit of greenness, but what he did is the sign of a good horse–he’s not just a two-year-old who came here for a day in the sun, but is a horse with a future. I’m quite a believer in taking things slowly, but we’ll see how he is at home–maybe the way he went here suggests we should go again and we will certainly consider it.”
Interestingly, Calyx’s dam Helleborine (GB) (Observatory) also flashed notable talent at two and looked a potential star when winning the G3 Prix d’Aumale, but after finishing second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac never reached those heights. Her full-sister was the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose (GB), but she produced another exciting juvenile in the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Fair Eva (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who also failed to go on at three. His second dam, the G3 Lancashire Oaks third New Orchid (Quest For Fame {GB}) is a half-sister to Distant Music (Distant View), who captured the G1 Dewhurst S. in his first season but despite showing smart form at three was also unable to break through in the major league again. Helleborine’s colt foal is by another Royal Ascot sensation in Muhaarar (GB).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-19, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.51, g/f.
1–CALYX (GB), 127, c, 2, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Helleborine (GB) (GSW & G1SP-Fr, $218,924), by Observatory
2nd Dam: New Orchid, by Quest For Fame (GB)
3rd Dam: Musicanti, by Nijinsky II
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $119,609. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Advertise (GB), 127, c, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Furbelow (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (£60,000 Ylg ’17 GOUKPR). O-Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd 1; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Martyn Meade. £32,250.
3–Sergei Prokofiev, 127, c, 2, Scat Daddy–Orchard Beach, by Tapit. ($1,100,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Anderson Farms (Ontario) Inc (ON); T-Aidan O’Brien. £16,140.
Margins: 1, NK, 1. Odds: 2.00, 10.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Vange (GB), Shine So Bright (GB), Ninetythreetwenty (Ire), Blown By Wind (GB), Gee Rex (Ire), Cosmic Law (Ire), Dubai Legacy, Getchagetchagetcha (GB), Shaybani (Ire), The Irish Rover (Ire), Midnight Sands, Pogo (Ire), I Am A Dreamer (GB), Barbill (Ire), Boa Nova (Ire), Alfie Solomons (Ire), Burj (GB), No Needs Never (Ire), Indigo Balance (Ire), Kuwait Station (Ire). Scratched: Fox Champion (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Delegator’s Accidental Agent Shocks Queen Anne Rivals
| 1st at RAS, Gr. Stk, £647,500 | G1 Queen Anne S. | (8f) | Winner: Accidental Agent (GB), c, 4 by Delegator (GB) |
Accidental Agent (orange cap) | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
If ever there was a G1 Queen Anne S. set up for an outsider than it was Tuesday’s renewal and ultimately it was the Johnson Houghton-bred 8,000gns buy-back Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) who delivered the upset at 33-1 to kick of Royal Ascot week 2018. Having put up two eye-catching efforts over this course and distance on soft ground, the bay was only sixth when put to the biggest test in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 19 but his connections still aimed high for an edition which starred no milers of distinction. Anchored with one behind early, he gradually worked his way between more-vaunted rivals and to the lead 50 yards out under Charlie Bishop to provide his trainer and jockey with a first top-level and Royal success as a blanket was laid in behind. Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), who beat him in the Balmoral H. here in October, was a half length back in second, a neck in front of Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who was in turn a nose ahead of his Listed Paradise S. conqueror Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). There was another half length to the US raider Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in fifth, while Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) attracted a wave of support into 11-4 favouritism but after racing prominently faded to 10th. “This is just ridiculous,” Eve Johnson Houghton said. “My mum bred him, we have the mare in the field and nobody wanted to buy him. I thought I was tilting at windmills and dreamt about being third but he loves Ascot and had a chance. I can’t believe it has happened and for it to happen for my mum is incredible.”
Bred by Gaie Johnson Houghton, whose husband Fulke trained 10 Royal Ascot winners between 1965 and 1988, most notably with the 1979 King’s Stand S. hero Double Form (Ire), Accidental Agent was a fairytale waiting to happen as he was named after Eve’s grandfather John Goldsmith, who wrote the book “Accidental Agent: Behind Enemy Lines with the French Resistance” and was in the Special Operations Executive (SEO) during the war. Having been unable to get any kind of price for him at Tattersalls October Book 2 as a yearling, the Johnson Houghton family had little to lose by racing him in their colours and he provided them with instant return when successful in Newmarket’s £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction S. in October 2016. Kept to handicaps thereafter, he scored over seven furlongs at Kempton in September before running second in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Cup over that trip at Newbury in September. Sticking at that distance to beat Lord Glitters in the prestigious Challenge Cup heritage handicap here in early October, he was fourth behind that rival in the Balmoral on Champions Day and may have been past his best when eighth in the Listed Hyde S. over a mile back on Kempton’s Polytrack in November. Leaving that form behind and resuming his progression on his comeback when third to Century Dream in the Listed Paradise S. over this track and trip on an easy surface May 2, he was understandably largely ignored after appearing to be outclassed in the Lockinge. What he did bring to this party was his track experience and when the group 1 winners Benbatl, Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) all began to flounder approaching the two-furlong pole it was clear that the race was cracked wide-open.
Inside the last furlong, the race was primed for a shock with Lightning Spear promising to make it third time lucky in this as he loomed alongside Century Dream, but Lord Glitters and Yoshida were also coming and Charlie Bishop had to remain positive as he hunted them all down. On a day when Dettori and Buick shone yet again, the Herefordshire-born Bishop was the first to strike and the moment was not lost on him. “I’m glad I’m getting the opportunities and am good enough to deliver–to get a group one winner, let alone a Royal Ascot winner, is incredible,” he said. “I’ve been riding out at Eve’s for quite a few years and when I first went there she said she couldn’t promise me rides, but thought I should stick my head down and see what happens. From there she got some better horses and things took off. Hopefully, there are a lot more to come. I never dreamt I could come this far. Along the way I’ve had a bit of belief in myself, but you have to just keep grafting and hoping for the best. It was great to ride my first winner, then to lose my claim, and while it went a bit quiet for a while I kept working away and hoping for the best. Luckily things have taken off again.”
Eve Johnson Houghton was committed to coming here despite the Newbury performance and said, “This horse takes so much getting ready and getting fit. I knew he wasn’t fully fit first time out and then second time out [in the Lockinge] we just had tiny setbacks. I did say to mum, ‘whatever happens, I have got him here as well as he can be. He is the best horse he can be. If he’s good enough he’s good enough; if he’s not he’s not.’ Charlie [Bishop] and the horse have grown together. I said ‘just go and enjoy it’ and he said that he was going to so I said could he please make sure I did too. He certainly did.”
David O’Meara was getting into the frame yet again at a meeting he performs well in with Lord Glitters, who represents Geoff and Sandra Turnbull of Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) fame and who was sent here instead of Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup. “He has a huge engine and I think like a lot of the horses in the race, he would have preferred a stronger gallop but I’m delighted with him,” he said. “He was the lowest-rated horse in the race, but he’s run a blinder. He really likes it at this track and he always seems to run well here, but I don’t know where we will go next–we’ll talk to the owners.” David Simcock said of Lightning Spear, “Lightning Spear has run really well again, but he does seem to sometimes flatten up the hill here as he hasn’t sustained his run. I’m very proud of him and he’s run very well. I think the other two horses came from off the pace, which helped them but I’m very pleased. We’ll go for the [G1] Sussex Stakes [at Goodwood Aug. 1] with him now. Jose Ortiz said of Yoshida, “It was a great run and I thought at one stage that he might have a chance of winning. He travelled really well and I’m pleased with the performance.”
Accidental Agent is the first foal out of the Johnson Houghton mare Roodle (GB) (Xaar {GB}), whose best performance was a sixth in the 2009 G3 Princess Margaret S. here. Out of the same connections’ listed-placed and G3 Oak Tree S. fourth Roodeye (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), she is a half-sister to the four-times graded-stakes scorer Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) whose best moment came in the GII Monrovia S. and who was also third in the GI Del Mar Oaks. The third dam Roo (GB) (Rudimentary) was also homebred and managed a second in the Listed Firth of Clyde S. before producing four black-type performers including the G1 Prix Morny runner-up Gallagher (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). This is also the family of Godolphin’s smart Quick Wit (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the G2 Gimcrack S. hero Bannister (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and the G1 Middle Park S. winner Astaire (Ire) (Intense Focus). Roodle’s as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly by Champs Elysees (GB) is named Madame Tantzy (GB), while she also has a yearling filly by Due Diligence.
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ANNE S.-G1, £647,500, Ascot, 6-19, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:38.85, g/f.
1–ACCIDENTAL AGENT (GB), 126, c, 4, by Delegator (GB)
1st Dam: Roodle (GB), by Xaar (GB)
2nd Dam: Roodeye (GB), by Inchinor (GB)
3rd Dam: Roo (GB), by Rudimentary
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (8,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O/B-Mrs R F Johnson Houghton (GB); T-Eve Johnson Houghton; J-Charles Bishop. £367,197. Lifetime Record: 14-5-2-1, $792,621. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lord Glitters (Fr), 126, g, 5, Whipper–Lady Glitters (Fr), by Homme de Loi (Ire). (€25,000 Ylg ’14 AR14; €270,000 4yo ’17 ARJUN). O-Geoff & Sandra Turnbull; B-SCA Elevage de Tourgeville & Mme Hilary Erculiani (FR); T-David O’Meara. £139,213.
3–Lightning Spear (GB), 126, h, 7, Pivotal (GB)–Atlantic Destiny (Ire), by Royal Academy. (260,000gns Ylg ’12 TAOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-David Simcock. £69,671.
Margins: HF, NK, NO. Odds: 33.00, 20.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Century Dream (Ire), Yoshida (Jpn), Beat the Bank (GB), Recoletos (Fr), So Beloved (GB), Rhododendron (Ire), Benbatl (GB), Oh This Is Us (Ire), Deauville (Ire), Limato (Ire), Suedois (Fr), Zonderland (GB). Click for the Racing Post resultor the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
fonte : TDN
Blue Point streaks home in G1 King’s Stand Stakes
Four-year-old sprinter Blue Point gained a breakthrough first G1 success with a scintillating display in the King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, 19 June.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Shamardal colt, third in the six-furlong G1 Commonwealth Cup at the same meeting in 2017, showed good early speed from the gates and soon raced behind the leaders in a close fourth as Battaash set a searching pace at the head of the 14-strong field.
Blue Point moved up to go second under William Buick with a furlong and a half left and reeled in Battaash just inside the final half-furlong before running on strongly to prevail by a length and three-quarters in a fast 58.14s on good to firm ground.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Godolphin’s founder and driving force, said: “Blue Point was following the fast pace and was travelling very well. He hit the rise and gave more. I think that he is a very good horse.
“We raced him in Dubai and he was sweating very much but today he was very, very good. Charlie has been with us for a long time and he knows what we want – we always talk to each other about things. William is a very good jockey. They are two very good people.
“After Masar and the Derby, we are taking it very easy. We are enjoying ourselves and at Royal Ascot – whoever wins, we will clap for them. We are relaxing now, but we have some ammunition for the rest of the week.”
Charlie Appleby, celebrating his first G1 winner at Royal Ascot, declared: “Full credit has to go to the team at home who have done a fantastic job with Blue Point and getting him back to where he is.
“I couldn’t have been happier with his preparation in the last two weeks and I felt he was back at a level where he could compete after he did a great piece of work the other week.
“To have a Derby winner and then have a G1 winner at Royal Ascot is great and I don’t think I could have had Blue Point in any better nick. Sheikh Mohammed is a great man and coming into today, there was no pressure on us following Epsom as he just wanted to enjoy the week.
“I think the stiff five furlongs and strong pace has suited Blue Point here. I have always thought a lot of this horse and he ran really well in the Commonwealth Cup last year. For whatever reason, he brings his A game here.
“I was delighted with him at the start of the year in Dubai and, whilst things didn’t materialise on Dubai World Cup night, we went on to learn a lot in Hong Kong which taught us a few matters. The horse had a torrid time on his way back from Hong Kong, but we gave him a nice break after that and I’m delighted with him.
“Good horses sometimes need to be beaten to appreciate winning and, as a team, we felt Blue Point was one of the best juveniles we had ever seen in respect to his natural pace. He has got stronger from three to four and is built for speed.”
William Buick added: “This means a lot to Charlie, Sheikh Mohammed and the whole team at home at Moulton Paddocks.
“Everyone stuck their neck out about Blue Point as a two-year-old. Things have not gone his way in a lot of races, whereas today everything fell right today and to make him a G1 winner is very satisfying.
“I am pleased for the horse most of all because he deserves it more than anyone. Last time out [at Sha Tin], we got it wrong and it was a race we had to put a line through – there was no point judging him on that and he’s been in great form since.
“He is a very quick horse, and I was always very comfortable where I was and I knew he would see the race out better than Battaash because he’s proven at six furlongs. It was just a case of whether I would be close enough where it mattered.
“Things are going very well at the moment, I’m enjoying it and I’m not going to hide that. Everyone is working very hard, but it is important to look forward and there are a lot more important races to come this week for important horses.
“No one puts more pressure on me than myself, because I want to do well and win races. We are led by Sheikh Mohammed who has got to where he is by setting very high standards, and he expects that from everyone around him.” (fonte : Godolphin)
