Tremendous Royal Ascot first day for Godolphin ends on a high
Sound And Silence led home a one-two for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby in the Listed five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, completing a fantastic treble for Godolphin on the opening day of the meeting, Tuesday, June 20.
Runner-up Roussel (James Doyle) raced on the pace in the early stages while Sound And Silence (William Buick) was settled in mid division.
Roussel fought his way to the front and was joined by Sound And Silence with under a furlong to race. Both horses battled gamely, with Sound And Silence edging a neck ahead near the line in a time of 59.20s.
A delighted Appleby said: “The two-year-olds have been in great order. The team have done a fantastic job.
“We’ve been lucky with the way the horses have been coming into the meeting at home and I couldn’t have been any happier with the way they looked.
“With Sound And Silence, I was disappointed with him last time in the National Stakes [Sandown, finished fourth] where he just emptied out there but he had a dirty scope that day.
“I put the cheekpieces on him today as I thought it is a big day and there are lots of horses, so let’s not take any chances and let’s keep the horse honest.
“William said that they just couldn’t go quick enough for him and he was travelling so well, that he had to take him back.
“I’m pleased with the second horse Roussel as well. He came from the breeze-ups and we’ve eased off on him since he won at Leicester.
“I’m just delighted to get a winner on the board. It’s been a fantastic day for Godolphin.”
William Buick said: “I came there to win my race and he’s a real fast horse – five furlongs is his absolute maximum – and he probably had to dig deep into the basement in the last 50 yards, which he really did for me.
“The second horse is going to improve a lot – it’s only his second run. They are two nice horses, two fast two-year-olds, and it was a great result for Charlie. It’s obviously lovely to win but in the Godolphin silks and for Charlie, it’s particularly special.
“We’ve always thought a lot of Sound And Silence at home; he showed up early; a real natural horse and a lovely mover.
“He won very well at Newmarket first time and he wasn’t really tuned to win first time – he did it through quality – and it confused me when he got beat at Sandown. But a fast-run race today really suited him.”
Asked what it meant to ride a double on the first day of Royal Ascot, Buick replied: “You come into this week and the mood changes in the house the week before.
“It’s really special and it has an effect on you. It’s such a prestigious meeting and to get on the board here means everything for everyone involved.”
James Doyle said of Roussel: “He ran a good race. I travelled almost too well and I was getting there quite easily.
“William came to me quickly and to be fair to my mount he stuck his head out and rallied again.
“They have been working quite closely at home so it was about the right result. It is a good day for the team – I can’t complain.”
Barney Roy strikes in St James’s Palace Stakes
Barney Roy smashed the course record to gain a first G1 success in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 20, with Thunder Snow taking third in the mile contest for three-year-old colts.
An eventful start saw Barney Roy’s saddle slip backwards leaving the stalls, but James Doyle soon recovered on the Richard Hannon-trained colt, who raced in fourth of the eight runners, a place behind Thunder Snow.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Thunder Snow was switched out by Christophe Soumillon to press Lancaster Bomber for the lead over a furlong out, with Barney Roy quickening strongly to pass both horses just inside the final furlong.
Barney Roy asserted in the closing stages to beat Lancaster Bomber by a length in 1m 37.22s on good to firm ground, shaving more than a second off the previous best time for the round mile, with Thunder Snow a head back in third.
It was a G1 double on the day for Godolphin after Ribchester won the Queen Anne Stakes, also in a course record time.
Richard Hannon said: “We felt Barney Roy was unlucky in the Guineas [when stumbling in the dip], and if he was lucky he would win today, and so it proved. We have massive respect for Churchill, and I don’t think he has run his true race today (in fourth), but we were there to take advantage.
“I was frustrated after the Guineas because he was a little inexperienced – that was what beat him. He nodded going into the dip, lost his stride, and I thought he had broken down. To his credit he quickened up against horses that were already quickening, while Churchill got a lovely run, which was well executed by them.
“I felt that a flatter track here, without any undulations, would play to his strengths. James came down and rode him around a right-hand bend at Kempton last week, and he worked brilliantly on Sunday, and it’s all paid off.
“I’m sure our horse will get further – he’s in the Eclipse Stakes [10 furlongs] and the Arc [12 furlongs] – he takes time to pick up and he’s very relaxed, but a horse having just his fourth race, and to beat a Guineas winner, is very good.
“We’ll take him home, see how he is, and talk to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. He’s done nothing wrong over a mile, so don’t get me wrong, but he will get further.
“You don’t get another crack at the Guineas, but the season rolls on and he’ll have a few chances along the way. We brought him here as a fresh horse, so didn’t go to the Irish Guineas or anywhere else. That was what Sheikh Mohammed wanted, and he was dead right.
“It means everything to win this – we’ve had a lot of good milers through our hands and when they leave there is a big hole in the yard, so we are frantically searching for the next one. We thought we had one, and after the Guineas we knew we had one – we just had to get the best out of him.”
James Doyle commented: “That is only the fourth run of his life and he is still learning. In my mind, I just wanted to give him plenty of time to pick up and allow for that inexperience to kick in and he straightened up well and galloped all the way to the line.
“He has learnt a lot from the 2000 Guineas. We’ve done a few bits with him at home. I sat on him a couple of weeks ago at the Hannons’ and then we took him to Kempton, more for the experience really.
“He is very babyish, but he is learning all the time and he has come out on top at the line. I knew that given a bit of time and some room, he would be motoring and he proved that today.
“I knew we could draw a line through the 2000 Guineas as that race was a complete mess. We knew he had an engine and it was just about channeling that in the right direction.
“I think he will learn so much that he will sharpen up with racing. He is going to get quicker and I am sure he is going to stay a mile and a quarter no doubt, but he is a pretty good miler at the minute.
“It has been an up-and-down season, but when I knew I got the ride on this fellow, I was pretty excited.
“He felt good at Newbury and then things did not go our way in the Guineas, but he proved there what a tough horse he is.
“The tack slipped a bit today which was a bit of a worry. I sat still for a bit and was able to get it back up there. It is bit nerve-racking because you can never tell how far it has gone back.
“I committed Barney Roy off of the turn and he stuck at it really well. It was great. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it.”
The jockey is an integral part of the Godolphin operation and he was delighted to provide Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed with another big-race success.
He continued: “Today means everything. This is why I joined the team to ride big winners like this. To get one on a day like today with Sheikh Mohammed here makes me feel very proud. It’s very important and there’s a great sense of pride to ride him a proper Group One winner at Royal Ascot.
“Looking at Churchill’s replays again and again, trying to find a chink in his armour, it did not look like there was one. I thought he was either an outstanding horse who only does enough or he is just a good horse. Luckily, he is just a good horse and we have got one a bit better.”
Saeed bin Suroor reported about Thunder Snow: “I’m happy with him – he ran really well. I think he would be better with easy ground, but I’m happy with the way he ran.”
Ribchester gets Godolphin off to a flyer
Ribchester smashed the course record for Ascot’s famous ‘straight mile’ and gave Godolphin the perfect start to the 2017 Royal Meeting when triumphing in the opening G1 Queen Anne Stakes.
It was 40 years to the day that a young Emirati with a growing passion for racing welcomed home his first winner on a British racecourse, Hatta, ridden by Ron Hutchinson, at Brighton on 20 June 1977.
Sheikh Mohammed, in the Ascot winner’s enclosure, happily recalled his first winner. But he quickly added that since that day, he had been moving forward and enjoying it.
“In life, there is no winning post. You have to keep going, otherwise the rest will catch up with you,” he said.
The Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester was skillfully handled by William Buick, angling the colt over from the far side of the course to be positioned behind the leaders at half-way.
The Iffraaj colt then took it up, and although drifting a little to his left, he raced away to win by a length and a quarter from Mutakayyef, with a neck back to Deauville in third.
Toscanini, the Godolphin pacemaker, set a scorching gallop for the first half of the race, which enabled the winner to set a new mark for one mile, 1 min 36.60 secs – which was 0.49 secs faster than the previous best, set by Integral in 2014.
Ribchester has now won 5 of his 12 starts, and there is scope to step up in trip. But Fahey is in no hurry. “He is an exceptional horse. I was always hoping he would stay further but at the moment, I don’t need to do further,” the trainer said.
fonte : Godolphin
Godolphin storm back to centre stage with dazzling treble
When the manifesto declares an aspiration to be the pre-eminent force in the world of horseracing there can be few better outcomes than three wins, including two of the day’s three Group 1 races, on day one of Royal Ascot.
It was an occasion fit for the 40th anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed’s first winner in Britain, a day even Godophin’s founder, accompanied by his young children, had not experienced before with his elite team.
Ribchester’s victory in the Queen Anne Stakes and Barney Roy’s triumph in the St James’s Palace delivered the first Group 1 double on a single day at the royal meeting in Godolphin’s history.
The last time the team enjoyed two Group 1 wins across the week was 13 years ago, when Refuse To Bend landed the Queen Anne and Papineau the Gold Cup.
These were results rivals Coolmore, with trainer Aidan O’Brien, have been delivering with greater regularity.
Nevertheless with Sound And Silence and Roussel sealing a one-two for Godolphin in the day’s closing race, the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, it was a significant enough statement to prompt Betway to cut the sheikh’s operation to 1-2 (from 3-1) to have more winners than Coolmore at the meeting. After a blank day for Ballydoyle, Coolmore were 100-30 from 2-5.
Joe Osborne, who has replaced John Ferguson as Godolphin’s interim group chief executive, said: “Especially with Sheikh Mohammed and his family here, these are the days that count for everybody, having two Group 1s and a first and second in the Windsor Castle.
“It’s great to see the next generation collecting the trophies as well. I’m delighted for everybody. The boss deserves it and it’s great to see him getting the reward on a day like this. We’re always looking for results and this is what we’re in it for.”
It was left to the jockeys to sum up the mood in the camp, which recently lost the long-serving Ferguson when he resigned as chief executive following criticism from Saeed Bin Suroor published in the Racing Post.
It was Ferguson who bought both Ribchester and Barney Roy for Godolphin and was key in the appointments of William Buick, who rode Ribchester and Sound And Silence, and James Doyle, who partnered Barney Roy, as retained riders.
Buick said: “This is the biggest week in our sport, and to wear the royal blue of Godolphin for Sheikh Mohammed here is fantastic.”
Doyle displayed most emotion, evident when he planted his index finger to his lips after guiding Barney Roy to the jockey’s most significant win in Godolphin colours.
Having seen his 2,000 Guineas ambitions dashed when the colt stumbled at a vital stage of the Classic won by Churchill, Doyle was thrilled at gaining revenge.
Since last summer Doyle’s opportunities in Group 1 races had diminished since being discarded by Bin Suroor, resulting in his spending some of his time riding for the team in Australia
“It was important today to get it right after the Guineas,” he said. “It was great that Sheikh Mohammed was here on a massive day like today. I feel proud to do the horse justice and bring him home in a Group 1.
“The Guineas was a mess. It’s a race I’ve watched back numerous times. The fact of the matter was I couldn’t do much about it. It’s nice to put the record straight. It was very frustrating, similar to when Kingman got beaten in the Guineas. He bolted up here, so the scenario is not unfamiliar.
“It feels massively good. I probably went a bit overboard in my celebrations. I’ve had Royal Ascot winners but this one was very important. It’s been a while since a winner has meant that much to me.”
fonte : RacingPost
#RoyalAscot, i 2 anni. #Rajasinghe vince le Coventry Stakes, altro record. Doppietta Godolphin nelle Windsor Castle
Ed ora i puledri. Le Coventry Stakes G2 sono una corsa che generano stalloni vincendole da subito. L’edizione 2017 è stata vinta da un team non molto noto, grazie a Rajasinghe (Choisir), allenato da Richard Spencer con la monta di Stevie Donohoe, che a 11/1 ha battuto Headway (Havana Gold), a 33/1, in lotta con Murillo (Scat Daddy), rinvenuto nelle retrovie e prossimo ad una affermazione di livello prossimamente. Rajasinghe ha realizzato sui 1200 un tempo di 1m 12.39s (fast by 0.01s), altro record della giornata con i 2 anni, condita da un caldo infernale con 31 gradi sul posto. Mai vista una cosa del genere. Il vincitore aveva debuttato il 19 Maggio sui 1200 metri in Tapeta a Newcastle, vincendo francamente per 4 lunghezze e mezzo nei confronti di un cavallo come Indomeneo (Piccolo) che lunedì ha vinto a Wetherby la sua maiden con stile.
Rajasinghe è un figlio dello stallone australiano Choisir (Danehill Dancer), salito agli onori delle cronache per essere stato il primo vincitore australiano al Royal Ascot nel 2003 con le King’s Stand, allora di G2, e qualche giorno dopo vincendo anche le Golden Jubilee Stakes G1, ora chiamate Diamond Jubilee. La mamma è Bunditten (Soviet Star), ed è stato pagato £85,000 alle Goffs UK Premier Sale dell’Agosto 2016.
IL VIDEO DELLE COVENTRY STAKES QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
La perfetta giornata per Godolphin si è conclusa con una bella doppietta nelle Windsor Castle Stakes Lr sui 1000 metri. A vincere, con bel finale, è stato Sound And Silence (Exceed And Excel) montato da William Buick ed allenato da Charlie Appleby che ha piazzato al secondo anche Roussel (Kodiac), sempre per i colori blues, mentre al terzo è arrivato Garfield (Exceed And Excel). Il vincitore ha concluso in 59,20s. Si tratta di un figlio di Exceed And Excel (Danehill) (scheda stallone QUI) fatto in casa Mohammed, che aveva debuttato a Newmarket vincendo e poi è andato a Sandown a prendere un quarto posto in Listed alle spalle di Havana Grey. Si tratta di un bellissimo cavallo che pagava 16/1. E Coolmore, almeno nel primo giorno, ha fatto zero alla casella vittorie. Domani ci sono le Prince Of Wales’s Stakes dove la partita si preannuncia apertissima. E Sheikh Mohammed stasera sboccia alla grande…
#RoyalAscot: Barney Roy pronta rivincita nelle St James’s Palace Stakes. Battuto Lancaster Bomber, quarto Churchill
Boooom! Colpo Barney Roy (Excelebration) che ha vinto le St James Palace’s Stakes G1 al Royal Ascot sul miglio con la curva, prendendosi una sonora rivincita rispetto alle 2000 Ghinee di Newmarket con riferimento ribaltato con il favoritissimo a mezzo, o qualcosa meno, Churchill (Galileo), solo quarto, forse passato di condizione rispetto alla prima Classica inglese.
Barney Roy, un figlio di Excelebration (Exceed And Excel), ha battuto Lancaster Bomber (War Front), proprio un fratellastro dello stesso Excelebration, mentre al terzo posto è giunto un onesto Thunder Snow (Helmet). Barney Roy allenato da Richard Hannon e con in sella James Doyle, è rimasto all’attesa dietro ai 2 battistrada e ai 200 ha spostato verso l’esterno ed è stato autore di un grandissimo finale, il migliore di tutti, per finire il miglio in un buonissimo 1m 37.22s (fast by 1.88s), altro record di un tracciato definito molto ma molto scorrevole oggi. E non è un caso che hanno fatto 3 record in un giorno…
Per il sire Excelebration, stallone Coolmore che nel primo giorno non ha toccato palla, è il primo rappresentante di G1. Il primo giorno scivola via così, con una bella soddisfazione doppia per il team di Sheikh Mohammed che ha vinto 2 dei 3 G1 di giornata, ed ha ottenuto anche un secondo nelle King’s Stand. Tutti con allenatori differenti da Saeed Bin Suroor, e ciò significa che la nuova politica di affidare ad allenatori diversi i propri cavalli, sta pagando. E non solo. Quello che abbiamo visto potrebbe essere l’inizio di una nuova storia per le fattrici Darley. Sembra infatti che lo Sceiccone voglia togliere l’embargo del foal sharing con i vari gruppi Coolmore, Juddmonte, Cheveley etc, per poter unire la propria potenza di fuoco a quella degli altri colossi europei. Quindi, non meravigliatevi se prossimamente vedrete figli di Galileo con fattrici Darley.
Questa vittoria, comunque, poco c’entra con la discussione con John Ferguson nei giorni scorsi. Barney Roy, un bestione di 500 chili almeno, era stato impressionante al debutto ad Haydock vincendo e replicando al rientro nei confronti di Dream Castle. Controfavorito a Newmarket nelle 2000 Ghinee, ottenne un secondo posto ad una lunghezza da Churchill ma con problemi di percorso e galoppando almeno 50 metri in più dell’avversario. Barney Roy è prodotto della fattrice Alina (Galileo), allenata in corsa da Freddy Head, ed è stato pagato £70,000 alle Doncaster Premier Yearlings Sale dell’Agosto del 2015.
#RoyalAscot: Lady Aurelia dinamite pura, una freccia nelle King’s Stand Stakes! 8° vittoria al Royal per Wesley Ward
Lancia la freccia Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy)! La yankee è tornata sul luogo del “delitto” ed ha largheggiato in una edizione aperta delle King’s Stand Stakes G1 sui 1000 metri. La femmina di Wesley Ward montata da Johnny “V” Velazquez, in sostituzione di Frankie Dettori, è volata sul plotone dei 17 partecipanti e pur non partendo alla grandissima, è stata posizionata tranquilla in mezzo al gruppo stand side, ma quando ha visto la luce è partita come una meteora piombando per prima sul traguardo e fermando il cronometro in un esaltante 57,54s sui 1000 metri del tracciato reale.
La figlia di Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), quando correva montato da John Velazquez, qualche giorno fa aveva rifinito benissimo sul tracciato, tanto da suscitare le ire di Fahad Al Thani (rimesso al suo posto da Nick Smith), ha sorvolato la compagnia dall’esterno e verso lo steccato delle tribune e vinto dominando nei confronti di Profitable (Invincible Spirit), con qualcosa da recriminare, mentre l’attesa Marsha (Acclamation) ha rifatto il gruppo per accaparrarsi un terzo posto interessante, mentre conferme della bontà del Gros Chene sono arrivate dal quarto di Muthmir (Invincible Spirit), vincitore in Francia nella corsa dove fu terzo Plusquemavie.
Solito arrivo serrato per tutti, tranne che per la terribile femmina americana dotata di grandissima frazione di gamba. Per Wesley Ward, ex fantino della AJB in Italia negli anni 90, ha ottenuto così la 8° vittoria al Royal meeting. Per la cavalla americana una probabile chiusura di carriera in America, a Del Mar, in autunno ma prima potrebbe correre le Nunthorpe Stakes G1 di York. Ma ne sapremo di più nelle prossime ore.
Lady Aurelia, acquistata nel 2015 alle Keeneland September Yearling Sale per $350,000, dopo una vittoria al debutto in USA si era presentata lo scorso anno qui al Royal con una scintillante affermazione nelle Queen Mary G2, ora è titolare di 5 vittorie in 6 uscite, avendo perso solo le Cheveley Park Stakes G1 in chiusura di stagione ma avendo impreziosito il suo score in Europa anche del Morny G1, oltre che ora anche delle delle King’s Stand contro tutto e tutti e di una Listed in America servita per rifinire la condizione in vista di questa corsa.
IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. IL VIDEO DELLE KING’S STAND QUI.
PUBBLICATO DA GABRIELE CANDI A MARTEDÌ, GIUGNO 20, 2017
#RoyalAscot day 1: #Ribchester vola sulle Queen Anne con record della corsa. Quinto un buon Kaspersky..
Record della pista. Forza da vendere. Questo è Ribchester (Iffraaj) che, dando seguito alla vittoria delle Lockinge Stakes G1, ha dominato in lungo ed in largo l’edizione 2017 delle Queen Anne Stakes G1 all’apertura del Royal Meeting. Il figlio di Iffraaj (Zafonic), pur venendo gradualmente verso lo steccato delle tribune, non ha mai sofferto l’opposizione finendo in souplesse in un tempo di 1m 36.60s (fast by 2.00s), il record della corsa. Montato da William Buick, il portacolori di Godolphin, con Sheikh Mohammed che ha esultato come se non ci fosse un domani, era il favorito (sebbene in salita) ed è stato presentato in ottimo assetto dal simpaticissimo Richard Fahey (che nei giorni scorsi ha detto che non sa cosa farsene dei soldi, puntando tutto sulla passione), ha battuto Mutakhayef (Sea The Stars) e Deauville (Galileo) il quale quest’ultimo era stato supplementato per l’occasione.
Dall’altra parte dello steccato sono finiti vicini Spectre (Siyouni) e soprattutto un onestissimo Kaspersky (Footstepsinthesand) autore di un vero e proprio corsone. Le delusioni sono americane, in particolare American Patriot (War Front) che galoppava come un canguro sul duro in pista dritta inglese. Jallota (Rock Of Gibraltar), il secondo del Di Capua G1 lo scorso anno, è giunto decimo.
Ribchester è un figlio di Iffraaj (scheda stallone QUI), la cui mamma è una Marju, è stato pagato €78,000 da puledro alle Goffs November del 2013 e rivenduto per €105,000 da yearling alle Goffs Orby. Il baio ha uno score che parla di 5 vittorie in 12 uscite, compresi 6 piazzamenti. A 3 anni ha vinto il Jacques Le Marois G1 e le Jersey Stakes G3 sempre ad Ascot. Poi è finito secondo nelle Queen Elizabeth II Stakes G1 e terzo nelle 2000 Ghinee. A 4 anni ha vinto le Lockinge G1, ma prima era giunto terzo nel Dubai Turf G1. Questa è la sua terza vittoria di G1 al massimo livello ed ora è il favorito in antepost delle Sussex Stakes G1 di Goodwood.
IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. IL VIDEO DELLE QUEEN ANNE STAKES QUI.
Exceed and Excel’s Sound and Silence On Song For Godolphin in the Windsor Castle
| 6th at ASC, Lst Stk, £80,000 | Listed Windsor Castle S. | (5f) | Winner: Sound and Silence (GB), c, 2 by Exceed and Excel (Aus) |
Sound and Silence | racingfotos.com
By Sean Cronin
Sound and Silence (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) backed up an Apr. 18 debut score at Newmarket with a fourth in last month’s Listed National S. at Sandown and, fitted with cheekpieces for Tuesday’s Listed Windsor Castle S., led home a Godolphin exacta to provide Operation Blue with a 124-1 treble on Royal Ascot’s opening day. Reined back in an attempt to find cover after a sharp getaway, the 16-1 chance arrived on the scene to launch his bid entering the final furlong and kept on strongly under stern urging in the latter stages to deny stablemate Roussel (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by a neck, with James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) 1 1/4 lengths further away in third. “He’s a real fast horse, five furlongs is his absolute maximum, and he probably had to dig deep into the basement in the last 50 yards, which he really did for me,” said winning rider William Buick after adding to his earlier score aboard Ribchester. “[Runner-up] Roussel is going to improve a lot, it was only his second run, and they are two nice horses. They are two fast 2-year-olds and it was a great result for Charlie [Appleby]. It’s obviously lovely to win, but in the Godolphin silks and for Charlie it’s particularly special. We’ve always thought a lot of Sound and Silence at home. He showed up early, he’s a real natural and a lovely mover. He won very well at Newmarket first time although he wasn’t really tuned to win. He did it through quality and it confused me when he got beat at Sandown, but a fast-run race really suited him today.”
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
WINDSOR CASTLE S.-Listed, £80,000, ASC, 6-20, 2yo, 5fT, :59.20, g/f.
1–#SOUND AND SILENCE (GB), 129, c, 2, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Veil of Silence (Ire), by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Gossamer (GB), by Sadler’s Wells
3rd Dam: Brocade (GB), by Habitat
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $65,287.
2–Roussel (Ire), 129, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Sodashy (Ire), by Noverre. (€68,000 Wlg ’15 GOFNOV; €58,000 RNA Ylg ’16 GOFORB; £360,000 2yo ’17 GOFBRE). O-Godolphin. £17,200.
3–James Garfield (Ire), 129, c, 2, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Whazzat (GB), by Daylami (Ire). (£60,000 RNA Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-W J & T C O Gredley. £8,608.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 16.00, 12.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Mokaatil (GB), Last Page (GB), Elizabeth Darcy (Ire), Dragons Tail (Ire), Another Batt (Ire), Corinthia Knight (Ire), Excellently Poised (GB), Marchingontogether (GB), Simmy’s Copshop (GB), Declarationoflove (Ire), T For Tango (Ire), Areen Faisal (Ire), Autumn Lodge (GB), Nootka Sound, Magnus (Ire), City Guest (Ire), Dahik (Ire), June Dog (GB), Declarationofpeace. Scratched: Black Orange (GB), Chatburn (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
While Richards Fahey and Hannon enjoyed earlier Group 1 success with the royal-blue silks, Charlie Appleby’s exacta was a first Royal triumph for one of the traditional arms of the Godolphin operation and he was understandably delighted at registering his third Royal winner. “The 2-year-olds have been in great order and the team have done a fantastic job,” he said. “We’ve been lucky with the way the horses have been coming into the meeting at home and I couldn’t have been any happier with the way they looked. “I was disappointed with Sound and Silence last time in the National S. last time. He just emptied out there, but scoped dirty that day. I put the cheekpieces on him today as I thought it is a big day and there are lots of horses so let’s not take any chances and let’s keep the horses honest. William [Buick] told me that they just couldn’t go quick enough for him and was travelling so well that he had to take him back. I’m pleased with Roussel as well. He came from the breeze-ups and we’ve eased him off on since he won at Leicester [May 30]. I’m delighted to get a winner on the board and it’s been a fantastic day for Godolphin.”
Sound and Silence, half-brother to a yearling filly by Pivotal (GB) and a filly foal by Dubawi (Ire), is the first stakes scorer produced by an unraced daughter of MG1SW British and Irish highweight distaffer Gossamer (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), who registered a career highlight in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. Gossamer is herself a full-sister to MG1SW European Horse of the Year and sire Barathea (Ire), and her three black-type performers are headed by G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Ibn Khaldun (Dubai Destination).
Excelebration’s Barney Roy Powers to St James’s Palace Triumph
| 4th at ASC, Gr. Stk, 400000 | G1 St James’s Palace S. | (8f) | Winner: Barney Roy (GB), c, 3 by Excelebration (Ire) |
Barney Roy | racingfotos.com
By Sean Cronin
Godolphin’s Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) played second fiddle to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in last month’s G1 2000 Guineas after annexing April’s G3 Greenham S. at Newbury and, after skipping an early re-match with his Newmarket conqueror in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, rejoined battle to exact revenge on that rival in Tuesday’s G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot. Ridden with a degree of patience in fourth as first Lancaster Bomber (War Front) and then Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) set the tone, the 5-2 second choice inched forward under pressure off the home turn to challenge wide approaching the final eighth and would not be denied under a forceful drive in the closing stages to deny the tenacious Lancaster Bomber by a length, with Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) a head adrift in third. Churchill was unable to feature at the business end and the 1-2 favourite was 3 1/4 lengths back in fourth. “I thought he was off the bridle a little early, but we have a lot of confidence in this horse and I’m delighted,” said winning trainer Richard Hannon Jr, whose father Richard Sr took this contest with Canford Cliffs (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) in 2010. “We think he’s a good horse, I was confident he’d run his race and all we wanted to do was to give him a chance to prove that, which I don’t think he did in the Guineas.”
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ST JAMES’S PALACE S.-G1, £400,000, ASC, 6-20, 3yo, c, 7f 213yT, 1:37.22 (NTR), g/f.
1–&BARNEY ROY (GB), 126, c, 3, by Excelebration (Ire)
1st Dam: Alina (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cheyenne Star (Ire), by Mujahid
3rd Dam: Charita (Ire), by Lycius
(30,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; £70,000 Ylg ’15 DNPRM). O-Godolphin; B-Eliza Park International Pty Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-James Doyle. £226,840. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $477,626. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lancaster Bomber, 126, c, 3, War Front–Sun Shower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Sun Shower Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. £86,000.3–Thunder Snow (Ire), 126, c, 3, Helmet (Aus)–Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. £43,040.
Margins: 1, HD, 3 1/4. Odds: 2.50, 12.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Churchill (Ire), Forest Ranger (Ire), Rivet (Ire), Mr Scaramanga (GB), Peace Envoy (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Expanding further on his stable star’s lone defeat, Hannon added, “We felt he was unlucky in the Guineas and I was frustrated afterwards because he was a little inexperienced and that was what beat him. He nodded going into the dip, lost his stride and I thought he had broken down. To his credit, he quickened up against horses that were already quickening. I felt that a flatter track here, without any undulations, would play to his strengths. James [Doyle] came down and rode him around a right-hand bend at Kempton last week, he worked brilliantly and it’s all paid off.” Looking ahead, with the possibility of stepping up in trip, he continued, “I’m sure our horse will get further. He’s in the [July 8 G1] Eclipse S. [at Sandown] and the [Oct. 1 G1] Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe [at Chantilly]. He takes time to pick up and he’s very relaxed, but a horse having just his fourth race beating a Guineas winner is very good. We’ll take him home, see how he is and talk to Sheikh Mohammed. He’s done nothing wrong over a mile, but he will get further. You don’t get a second crack at the Guineas, but the season rolls on and he’ll have a few chances along the way. We brought him here as a fresh horse, so didn’t go to the Irish Guineas or anywhere else. That was what Sheikh Mohammed wanted and he was dead right.”
With Godolphin resurgent in the wake of recent tribulations, Thunder Snow continued on his path to redemption after his storied misfire in the GI Kentucky Derby and backed up his G1 Irish 2000 Guineas second with a highly creditable third here. “I’m happy with him and he ran really well,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “I think he would be better with easier ground, but I’m happy with the way he ran.”
Ballydoyle, on the other hand, enjoyed mixed fortunes on the day with Lancaster Bomber keeping on in determined fashion for second, having raced prominently throughout. “The lad ran well and he loved the [good-to-firm] ground,” opined rider Donnacha O’Brien. Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), however, was unable to latch on when it mattered and the odds-on favourite could not deliver a telling blow as had been the case at Newmarket and The Curragh. Trainer Aidan O’Brien was not downcast in defeat and reflected, “He ran very well and that looked like it was his form. He ran a very solid race, I don’t think the ground was an issue and I don’t have any plans for him.” Ryan Moore’s insight shed little light on the defeat and added, “He was never comfortable and I’m not sure why.”
Barney Roy is the sole performer out of Alina (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a daughter of G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. and G3 Brownstown S. victress Cheyenne Star (Ire) (Mujahid). The next dam Charita (Ire) (Lycius), who is kin to G2 Premio Emilio Turati scorer and G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua runner-up Stanott (Ire) (Mukaddamah), won the Listed Garnet S. and is the granddam of G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 George Ryder S. victor Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}), from the family of champions Capote (Seattle Slew) and Exceller (Vaguely Noble). Alina has also produced a yearling filly by Dark Angel (Ire) and a filly foal by Kodiac (Ire).
It’s a King’s Stand Domination by Lady Aurelia
| 3rd at ASC, Gr. Stk, £400,000 | G1 King’s Stand S. | (5f) | Winner: Lady Aurelia, f, 3 by Scat Daddy |
Lady Aurelia | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
No one has changed the Royal Ascot landscape in recent times like Wesley Ward and he delivered Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in pitch-perfect mood to capture Tuesday’s G1 King’s Stand S. and provide his stable with a scarcely-believable eighth success at the meeting. Always travelling easily for John Velazquez towards the stand’s side, the 7-2 second favourite who was so imperious in last year’s G2 Queen Mary S. was in the overall lead approaching the quarter pole and was clear and out of danger over 100 yards from the finish. At the line, she had three lengths to spare over last year’s winner Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), with the 11-4 favourite Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) a head away in third. “I wasn’t quite so sure this year and she had to show it to me, but she did,” Ward said. “She really came through again. She had a good winter off and I’m so happy for everyone at the farm and everyone who works with me. This is going to be a big summer, as this is a once-in-a-lifetime horse and the [G1] Nunthorpe [S. at York Aug. 25] is where I’d like to go next. We’ll get her home and do what we did with the other one [Acapulco]. I would say, as the owners are so sporting, as long as she is healthy, happy and sound she will continue on next year.”
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING’S STAND S.-G1, £400,000, ASC, 6-20, 3yo/up, 5fT, :57.45, g/f.
1–LADY AURELIA, 121, f, 3, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: D’ Wildcat Speed (HotY & Ch. Imp. 3yo Filly-PR, GSW, $530,755), by Forest Wildcat
2nd Dam: Velvet Panther, by Pentaquod
3rd Dam: Blue Eyed Cat, by Great Above
($350,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Stonestreet Stables/G Bolton/P Leidel; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Wesley Ward; J-John Velazquez. £226,840. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & SW-US, 6-5-0-1, $718,617. *1/2 to Titletown Five (Tiznow), SP-US, $105,078. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Profitable (Ire), 130, h, 5, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Dani Ridge (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). (95,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Con Harrington (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £86,000.
3–Marsha (Ire), 127, f, 4, Acclamation (GB)–Marlinka (GB), by Marju (Ire). O/B-Elite Racing Club (IRE); T-Sir Mark Prescott. £43,040.
Margins: 3, HD, HF. Odds: 3.50, 14.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Muthmir (Ire), Take Cover (GB), Alpha Delphini (GB), Cotai Glory (GB), Signs of Blessing (Ire), Final Venture (GB), Goldream (GB), Ardhoomey (Ire), Priceless (GB), Willytheconqueror (Ire), Gracious John (Ire), Washington DC (Ire), Medicean Man (GB), Just Glamorous (Ire). Scratched: Ornate (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
TDN Rising Star Lady Aurelia set this meeting alight last year with her seven-length success in soft ground before capturing the G1 Prix Morny over six at Deauville in August, but was caught late on when third in Newmarket’s G1 Cheveley Park S. in September. Reported to have bled during that contest, she was sent to Stonestreet to recuperate and it is testament to her toughness that she has re-emerged with such a vengeance. Showing why she broke new ground when becoming the first American-trained horse to receive a Cartier Award, she stepped up markedly on her return success in Keeneland’s Giant’s Causeway S. Apr. 15 with this demolition of some crack European sprinters.
Drawn away from the main pace early on, Lady Aurelia was unhurried by Johnny Velazquez who was content to use her natural speed to work her way into contention. As the habitual front-runner Take Cover (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) continued to turn the screw far side, the sole 3-year-old in the line-up was looming large in front of the packed stands and she was in control by the time the two-furlong marker was reached. As Profitable worked his way past Take Cover and Marsha stayed on in her usual manner in behind, Lady Aurelia found the extra gears that characterised her Queen Mary romp and scampered clear to just miss the race record by 1/100 second set by Miss Andretti (Aus) (Ihtiram {Ire}) in 2007.
Ward has no doubt that the winner can go on from here. “She loves it over here. We look forward to a really big summer and then the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “The owners are so excited. It is wonderful for American racing. She has immense talent and immense speed. Hopefully, with the experience she has now, she should get better and better.” Velasquez added, “It makes my job a lot easier when they do it like that. All I was worried about was her just using up too much energy in the first part of the race. What a feeling, when you ask a horse to run and they respond like that. You feel so comfortable and know they are running as fast as they can. It was a great feeling. When a horse is travelling so beautifully and responds right away when you ask, you can’t get better than that. To come back here for a second time and do what she did today, she’s got to be a special horse.”
Profitable was just adding to a red-letter day for the boys in blue and trainer Clive Cox said, “He is a proven group one performer and he has rubber-stamped that today. It would have been nicer if we had been drawn a bit closer together [with Lady Aurelia], but fair play to her.” Jockey James Doyle added, “The winner was drawn away from us. To be fair the better horses were all drawn high and I was drawn one and I had nothing to take me into it. He is a horse that only does enough when he gets there. I think if things had gone our way we could have been a little bit closer to the winner–but she is very good.” Sir Mark Prescott said of Marsha, “She got beaten a head by last year’s winner and, of course, then there is Lady Aurelia. You know how fast this filly is and she was never on the bridle. It shows what a great race it was. She will just run in the group ones and twos from here. We cannot just wait for the l’Abbaye–we were quite lucky to get fast ground for that race last year–but we will run her somewhere before. I don’t think Goodwood would quite suit her, but if she were in good knick we might go.”
D’ Wildcat Speed was Horse of the Year and champion imported 3-year-old filly in Puerto Rico before capturing the nine-furlong GII Rampart H. by six lengths in the States. Her dam is the dual champion imported older mare in Puerto Rico who also produced two other stakes performers. There is one more to come after Lady Aurelia and that is a filly foal by Munnings.
Choisir’s Rajasinghe Gains Narrow Coventry Verdict
| 2nd at ASC, Gr. Stk, 150000 | G2 Coventry S. | (6f) | Winner: Rajasinghe (Ire), c, 2 by Choisir (Aus) |
Rajasinghe | Racing Post
By Sean Cronin
Rajasinghe (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) graduated by four lengths, from subsequent winner Indomeneo (GB) (Piccolo {GB}), in a May 19 six-furlong heat atop Newcastle’s Tapeta surface in his only prior start, and provided trainer Richard Spencer with a career high in Tuesday’s G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. Bounced along to race in mid division after breaking in company with the back markers, the 11-1 chance made headway throughout to move into contention approaching the quarter-mile marker and kept on resolutely under Stevie Donohoe’s power drive inside the final furlong to deny Headway (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) and Murillo (Scat Daddy), by a head and a neck, in a thrilling conclusion to Britain’s first juvenile Group race of the season. “He was a bit reluctant to start and didn’t really get into it,” admitted Donohoe, who claimed a first Royal winner in another track-record time. “He came good about 1 1/2 furlongs out, he stayed well and I think he was more impressive than it looked. He’s a big horse, he’s a kind goer and is full of life at home. We love him to bits, he’ll progress again and will be a fantastic horse going forward.” The rider had a minor injury problem overnight and added, “I dislocated my fingers last night and they have been giving me trouble. I took the strapping off at the start and the adrenaline got me through the race.”
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £150,000, ASC, 6-20, 2yo, 6fT, 1:12.39 (NTR), g/f.
1–#@RAJASINGHE (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Choisir (Aus)
1st Dam: Bunditten (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Soviet Star
2nd Dam: Felicita (Ire), by Catrail
3rd Dam: Abergwrle (GB), by Absalom (GB)
(€65,000 Wlg ’15 GOFNOV; £85,000 Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-Rebel Racing; B-James & Geoff Mulcahy (IRE); T-Richard Spencer; J-Stevie Donohoe. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $117,566. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Headway (GB), 127, c, 2, Havana Gold (Ire)–On Her Way (GB), by Medicean (GB). (38,000gns Wlg ’15 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg ’16 TAOCT). O-The Royal Ascot Racing Club; B-Whatton Manor-Global Equine-L Stratton (GB); T-William Haggas. £32,250.
3–Murillo, 127, c, 2, Scat Daddy–Mostaqeleh, by Rahy. ($500,000 Wlg ’15 KEENOV). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages LTD (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. £16,140.
Margins: HD, NK, NK. Odds: 11.00, 33.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Brother Bear (Ire), Aqabah, Prince of the Dark (GB), Romanised (Ire), De Bruyne Horse (GB), Nebo (Ire), Chookie Dunedin (GB), Denaar (Ire), Arawak, Zaman (GB), U S Navy Flag, Connery (Ire), Red Roman (GB), Haddaf (Ire), Ivy Leaguer (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Winning owner Phil Cunningham, whose previous racetrack highs were provided by Cockney Rebel (Ire) (Val Royal {Fr}) in the 2007 G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, commented, “It was always the dream to have a Royal Ascot winner, it’s happened at last and I’m so delighted for the team. It’s hard to win here, he was slowly away and got left a little bit, but he’s a super horse and we’ve liked him for a long time.”
For trainer Richard Spencer, in just his second season with a licence, it was a first Royal Ascot winner with his first runner at the meet and he was understanably delighted. “Words can’t describe how I feel, but he’s a top horse and we’ve liked him from day one,” he said. “We sent him to Newcastle and thought he would take a lot of beating, and he wasn’t cooked for that run. He’s going to stay further and is great natured and tough. We have 23 horses at home, and a lovely bunch of owners at a great location [in Newmarket] and I cannot thank Phil Cunningham enough for giving me the opportunity. I broke my back two years ago in a fall at Warwick, so from that to be standing here is just amazing and I’d like to thank people who have helped me along the way. I was a stable lad with Peter Bowen at 16 and learned a lot there, and then worked for Barry Hills, becoming his assistant. I stayed there for seven years, eventually working for Barry’s son Charlie, and then I went to Michael Bell’s to complete my training.”
Never one to be content with second, trainer William Haggas was still satisfied to come so close to breaking through at this year’s meet with runner-up Headway. “He ran very well, we expected him to run a good race and he did,” the Newmarket conditioner said. “It was nearly fantastic and I don’t know where we will go next as he has had a hard race today.” The Royal Ascot Racing Club’s Harry Herbert added, “He has run a fantastic race and you just can’t crab him. The signals William [Haggas] was giving out was that he was really pleased with him at home. He was very impressive at Chester and this was a terrific run. We are just thrilled that the horse has run so well, though to be beaten a head in a race at Royal Ascot and of this calibre was agony as well. It took a course record to beat him and it is a fantastic result for the Royal Ascot Racing Club as they only have five horses in training. We will be happy to take on the winner again, but Headway has had a hard race today and it is a very hot day. We will have to see how he comes out of the race and William won’t rush him back. He is a horse with a future and has enough scope.”
Aidan O’Brien was pleased with the performance Murillo, who closed late to finish third. “I’m delighted with him and he has run a great race,” said the Ballydoyle conditioner. Jessica Harrington also expressed staisfaction with the run of 4-1 favourite Brother Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who finished fourth after holding every chance inside the final quarter mile. “I’m very happy with him,” she said. “The race sort of broke up around him and he had to race on his own. However, it’s only the third run of his career and he has run really well.”
Rajasinghe, half-brother to Listed Roses S. placegetter Kurland (Ire) (Kheleyf), is the first black-type winner produced by Listed National S. third Bunditten (Ire) (Soviet Star) and is also kin to a yearling filly by Born To Sea (Ire). His second dam is the dual stakes-winning G3 Prix Eclipse third Felicita (Ire) (Catrail), whose own granddam is 1000 Guineas heroine Caergwrle (GB) (Crepello {GB}).
Godolphin’s Ribchester Takes the Queen Anne
| 1st at ASC, Gr. Stk, £685,000 | G1 Queen Anne S. | (8f) | Winner: Ribchester (Ire), c, 4 by Iffraaj (GB) |
Ribchester | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
THE OPENING SALVO
During a turbulent period in Godolphin’s history, it was the horse who did the talking in the Royal meeting’s opener as Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) justified 11-10 favouritism in Tuesday’s G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. Clear best on soft ground in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 20, last year’s G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner was able to come out on top on vastly contrasting conditions here, showing his increasingly customary kink in the process. Always happy travelling in fourth under William Buick as the field ignored the two pacemakers, the bay was left in front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and despite giving his rivals a chance by veering left soon after was always in control as he eventually registered a new course record time in beating Mutakayyef (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by 1 1/4 lengths. “He is an absolute jockey’s dream and, as I said after Newbury, he is very versatile and an exceptional miler,” his rider said. “He travels so well and sees it out so well. It doesn’t get much better than this. All the work we do is towards getting to the winner’s enclosure and that’s where Sheikh Mohammed deserves to be.”
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ANNE S.-G1, £685,000, ASC, 6-20, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.60 (NTR), g/f.
1–RIBCHESTER (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Mujarah (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tanaghum (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Mehthaaf, by Nureyev
(€78,000 Wlg ’13 GOFNOV; €105,000 Ylg ’14 GOFORB). O-Godolphin; B-A Thompson & M O’Brien (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-William Buick. £388,464. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Fr & G1SP-UAE, 12-5-3-3, $2,540,614. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mutakayyef (GB), 126, g, 6, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Infallible (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (260,000gns Ylg ’12 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £147,275.
3–Deauville (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Walklikeanegyptian (Ire), by Danehill. O-Mrs Fitri Hay, Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier & Derrick Smith; B-Mrs Fitri Hay (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £73,706.Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 1.10, 5.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Spectre (Fr), Kaspersky (Ire), Dutch Connection (GB), Cougar Mountain (Ire), Oh This Is Us (Ire), Lightning Spear (GB), Jallota (GB), American Patriot, Kool Kompany (Ire), Miss Temple City, Toscanini (Ire), Ennaadd (GB), Dutch Uncle (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Since maturing into a formidable miler, only three rivals have got the better of Ribchester over this trip and they are The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). For various reasons, they were all absent from this Queen Anne but it is plausible that the Richard Fahey trainee has progressed past the form standard of at least two of them at this point in his career. Early showings when second in York’s G2 Gimcrack S. and when winning the G2 Mill Reef S. at Newbury suggested he had ample ability and it was only after finishing third in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last April that he truly blossomed. Overcoming a five-pound penalty in the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S. here 12 months ago, he was considered slightly unlucky when a strong-finishing third behind The Gurkha and Galileo Gold in Goodwood’s G1 Sussex S. in July and made up for any misfortune there when taking the Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. Brought back here to be a half-length second to Minding in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Champions Day, he was stretching out to nine furlongs when third in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 25.
Unlike in the Lockinge, stablemate Toscanini (Ire) (Shamardal) was quickly away here but when he set off too fast William Buick opted to take a lead from the Royal Ascot regular Miss Temple City (Temple City) who led the main group. As Toscanini backtracked, Ribchester was still cruising and although he had to sidstep his rabbit and wandered in front there never seemed a doubt that he had everything covered in behind. “You can never be confident, but everything dropped into place there,” trainer Richard Fahey said. “He has huge gears and he is never in trouble. It wasn’t really the plan to go that quick with Toscanini and I did tell Paul [Hanagan] to bounce out this time. He more or less took off and probably didn’t lead Ribchester far enough. He broke the track record here today and that’s not being disrespectful to the others, but he is just exceptional.” Of Ribchester’s tendency to wander in front, he added, “He gets lonely out in front sometimes. I don’t think it is pressure and he just went walkabouts. William doesn’t feel that the tank is empty with him and that he is getting stronger the whole time. Mentally, he is also getting better which is a great attitude to have in a racehorse–he is starting to think he is good.” Fahey is looking at the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood Aug. 2 next. “The Sussex Stakes is where he has to go really,” he continued. “The French race [the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois] which he won last year is only 10 days after the Sussex so we can’t go to both. I was always hoping that he would stay further but at the moment, I don’t need to go further.”
Mutakayyef was running another big race and jockey Jim Crowley said, “That was a good run–he just couldn’t get to the winner.” Dr Jim Hay, part-owner of Deauville, said of then third, “That was a fantastic run. He is a very flexible horse and probably nine furlongs is his perfect distance. But he needs it like today–he needs firm going and he doesn’t get it very often. No doubt Aidan and the rest of the lads will have a chat and work out where to go next.”
Ribchester’s dam Mujarah, who also has a yearling colt by Raven’s Pass and a colt foal by Dubawi (Ire), is a half to the G3 Curragh Cup scorer Tactic (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and the G3 Prix Minerve runner-up Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). She is a granddaughter of Mehthaaf, who captured the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G2 Celebration Mile and G3 Nell Gwyn S. for Shadwell. Later the dam of the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio-winning highweight Najah (Ire) (Nashwan), she is a half to four other black-type performers headed by the G1 July Cup-winning sire Elnadim and also to the dam of the high-class Occupandiste (Ire) (Kaldoun {Fr}). That G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Prix de la Foret heroine produced last year’s GI Arlington Million hero Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner and G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches runner-up Impressionnante (GB) (Danehill), who in turn is responsible for the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club-winning sire Intello (Ger) (Galileo). The G1 Prix d’Astarte-winning fourth dam Elle Seule (Exclusive Native) is out of Fall Aspen, which connects her to Timber Country, Bianconi, Fort Wood and Hamas (Ire), and also the great Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold).
Dubai Millennium still represents the high point of Sheikh Mohammed’s ongoing racing saga which began with the win of the John Dunlop-trained filly Hatta (GB) at Brighton 40 years ago to the day. He reflected, “From that day we have moved forward and we are enjoying it. You have to keep going. This is a very difficult place to win at, but it is a great place to win at.”
fonte : TDN
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Trade proved strong at yesterday’s fourth renewal of the Goffs London Sale in association with QIPCO which took place in glorious sunshine at The Orangery, Kensington Palace. The Classic placed Lockheed was the top lot selling for £900,000 to Australian agent, Chris McAnulty on behalf of Hong Kong based owner, Henry Cheng Kar Shum. The three-year-old son of Exceed and Excel was sold by the China Horse Club and had been in training with William Haggas. Chris McAnulty commented: “He will be gelded and given a couple of months here in the UK before being shipped to John Sizer’s yard in Hong Kong. He’s for a long-time owner, Henry Cheng Kar Shum and this is the first time he has purchased at a European sale. I must pay particular thanks to his personal assistant Eric Wong who was instrumental in facilitating the purchase. I would also like to thank Goffs and the China Horse Club for entering such an exciting horse. It’s my first time here at the sale and there is a terrific atmosphere which really sets the scene for the week ahead.” A key player on the evening’s proceedings was SackvilleDonald on behalf of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner of Leicester City who scooped up a total of six horses in training for just over £2 million, headed by the Listed winning Straight Right who sold for £450,000. Alastair Donald on behalf Mr Srivaddhanaprabha commented: “He has been looking to expand his interest in racing for a while and was keen to have greater presence at the Royal Meeting.” Other notable sales included Born to Play who was sold for £500,000 to Bahen Bloodstock HK, while one of the stories of the sale was Whitefountainfairy who cost just €3,000 at the Goffs Sportsman Sale last September and was sold to SackvilleDonald for £300,000 following her recent impressive maiden win for Jessie Harrington. Henry Beeby, CEO of Goffs on the evening’s trade said: “We’re delighted with the fourth renewal of the London Sale. We welcomed a huge international audience once again to the Orangery at Kensington Palace which got Royal Ascot week kicked off in some style. Spirited bidding saw the key statistics advance with average rising by 26% to over £375,000 and median was up almost 80% to £340,000. These figures speak for themselves and demonstrate the enormous hunger for the quality and class that is offered at the sale. We would like to thank our title sponsor QIPCO for their continued support and all our partners Selfridges, Chateau Leoube, JetSmarter, Select Mobile and Rolls Royce who added so much to everyone’s enjoyment of the evening”.
Goffs London Sale 2017: Offered: 19 |
