The opening days of Royal Ascot have demanded plenty of its guests. Amid pizza-oven heat better associated with the Bahamas than Berkshire, sweat and stamina have gatecrashed the usual style and panache off the track.

But having soared into the 30s on Wednesday, the mercury is set to descend to a more sensible level for day three, allowing the crowd –on what is traditionally known as ladies’ day but is not marketed as such – a more relaxing ambience in which to savour the action.

There is no such respite for the runners in the day’s – and meeting’s – feature race, however, a contest that demands bottomless stamina and endless courage of its competitors.

Ascot might be synonymous with the world’s best sprinters, milers and middle-distance maestros but its centrepiece is all about grit, determination and staying power.

Four years ago the meeting’s longest-standing race celebrated a royal success thanks to victory for the Queen’s Estimate, a win that sent temperatures soaring on a grey afternoon.  

Before that came the domination of Yeats, a freakish athlete blessed with the speed to win at the highest level over a mile and a half and the engine capacity to not only last out the mile-longer Gold Cup trip but to win it four years in succession.

There may never be a horse who matches that achievement but, not unfairly, comparisons were drawn when Order Of St George – already a Group 1 winner over shorter – stepped into the unknown in last year’s Gold Cup and rose to the challenge with an inspiring three-length success.

There is good reason, though, to believe Order Of St George has the required arsenal to join past legends such as Sagaro, Le Moss, Ardross and, of course, Yeats as a multiple winner.

After last year’s success he put in a barnstorming effort to finish third behind two stablemates in the Arc and limbered up for his defence with a smooth victory at Leopardstown last month.

However, his armour is not without chinks and while certainly the standard bearer, he is not invincible. Indeed, three times in his career he has been beaten at odds-on, including at prohibitive odds of 1-7 in last year’s Irish St Leger, while his 2016 Gold Cup win came after a soggy start to the week.    

Big Orange out to put squeeze on rivals

There would be celebrations to match Estimate’s win should Big Orange squeeze out another staying success. The giant galloper, whose never-say-die front-running style has made him one of the most popular Flat horses in training, has his first crack at the Gold Cup, having missed the race last year when his chance was washed away with the rain.

Big Orange thrives when the sun is on his back and his hooves are rattling against firm ground, and the tropical climes that have been prevalent this week are his ideal.

Another who has hinted this first try at an extreme distance could bring out more improvement is Simple Verse. The mare, who famously won the 2015 St Leger, then lost it in the stewards’ room before winning it back on appeal, was a close third on Champions Day on her first try at two miles and an extra half-mile could be to her advantage.

Queen hoping to rule in Britannia

Not even the state opening of parliament could keep the Queen away from her favourite sporting occasion on Wednesday, and there is an extra interest for Her Majesty on Thursday, with her first runner of the week coming as Maths Prize tackles 29 others in the Britannia Handicap.

The Queen has managed 23 winners at her favourite meeting – and quite probably her favourite week of the year – of whom four have come this century.

There’d be no more popular winner this week and Maths Prize does have a form chance and a low weight.

Quick off the mark

In contrast to the Gold Cup, the card opens with a test of speed for the juveniles in the Norfolk Stakes, in which US-trainer Wesley Ward fields favourite McErin.

Having caught the eye of those in Newmarket since his arrival in Britain, a bold show is anticipated, and with McErin billed as something of a beast to behold, if you intend to make it to the paddock for at least one race this one might be it.

The home team – led by two of the fastest youngsters from the north in Santry and Havana Grey – have already shown they too are not short of speed to burn, so McErin should have a fight on his hands.

fonte : RacingPost

Highland Reel | racingfotos.com

By Tom Frary

Registering a sixth group 1 triumph in his inimitable iron-willed style, Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) put Ballydoyle back on top at one of the meetings where it really matters as he scotched fears that he would not prove as effective over 10 furlongs in Wednesday’s G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot. Despite his recent big days happening over a mile and a half, the bay had won a firm-ground GI Secretariat S. over this trip and Ryan Moore had no concerns regarding his pace as he accepted a lead from Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Hard at work in the straight, the 9-4 second favourite found plenty as he had in the G1 Coronation Cup to gain the advantage with 150 yards remaining and secure an ultimately authoritative 1 1/4-length success from Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who denied Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the runner’s-up spot by a short head. “He’s concrete–a brilliant horse and Davy, who rides him every day, felt he was getting better and better,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “He is unbelievable, an incredible horse with pace and courage and tactical speed–he has everything. He won’t stop, he’s so brave. He was a very good group two winner over seven furlongs as a two-year-old, so he had that pace.”

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES’S S.-G1, £750,000, ASC, 6-21, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:05.04, g/f.
1–HIGHLAND REEL (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Hveger (Aus) (MGSW-Aus), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Circles of Gold (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
3rd Dam: Olympic Aim, by Zamazaan (Fr)
(460,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Hveger Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore; £425,325. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 11-14f, MGISW-US, G1SW-HK, MG1SP-Fr & G1SP-Aus, 23-9-6-1, $8,591,214. *Full to Idaho (Ire), GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $743,699; and 1/2 to Valdemoro (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), MG1SP-Aus, $337,006. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Decorated Knight (GB), 126, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Pearling, by Storm Cat. O/B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-Roger Charlton. £161,250.
3–Ulysses (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Light Shift, by Kingmambo. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £80,700.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 10.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Queen’s Trust (GB), Scottish (Ire), Mekhtaal (GB), Johannes Vermeer (Ire), Jack Hobbs (GB). Scratched: Nezwaah (GB). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The juvenile race that Aidan O’Brien referred to in his post-race interview was the G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood, which offered confirmation that he possessed an above-average level of ability first hinted at previously with his 12-length maiden win at Gowran Park. That residual class was not always at the fore during the next 12 months, but from time to time he was exciting again such as when second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and when beating Scottish in the G3 Gordon S. back at the Glorious meeting. After his rout in the Secretariat, which was his first go at making all with Seamie Heffernan opting for the aggressive tactics that would serve him so well for the next part of his career, he began his development into a formidable international presence when shipping to Moonee Valley and chasing home Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) at a respectable distance when third in the G1 Cox Plate. On to Sha Tin next, he belied his raw age by downing the seasoned Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the G1 Hong Kong Vase and while things did not fall right for the first six months of 2016 he sprang forward from a second in the G2 Hardwicke S. at this meeting to capture this venue’s feature G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II S. Given another front-running masterclass there by Ryan Moore, he went on to beat all bar Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York in August and after a seventh in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown the following month rose his level again to be second in the ground-breaking G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe dominated by his stable.

Seamie Heffernan’s second stellar ride in the States when steering him to glory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf gave Highland Reel another key prize and he maintained his standard when second back to defend his crown in the Hong Kong Vase. Possibly compromised by the rain when last of seven in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Mar. 25, he re-appeared in the June 2 G1 Coronation Cup which he almost missed after flight delays en route to Epsom and he was able to overcome a tight schedule to prevail from the front again. After that Aidan O’Brien talked about the Hardwicke and he was possibly only here because Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was unable to be, but he still attracted his customary market support without being as strong in the betting as some of his stable’s big guns in these prestige events.

Settled in a handy second from the outset, he had only Scottish to aim at throughout and when Ulysses loomed on his outer to get past the Godolphin front-runner first the writing briefly looked to be on the wall. When the Stoute representative and Decorated Knight failed to draw away from Highland Reel, the door was ajar for his renewed rally and after he had gained the advantage 150 yards out he was not for catching in another strong staying effort. He was providing Aidan O’Brien with a 300th group or grade success on the flat and jumps and, barring injury, is almost certain to add to that tally over the coming months. “He has passed every test that you would want a thoroughbred to go through,” his trainer said. “His first group race was as a two-year-old and we have toured the world with him since then. He is like his sire Galileo, because he also had so much courage and he has passed it on to Highland Reel ten-fold. We always thought the world of him because he has always been a natural, brilliant athlete. Sometimes he gets beat, but if the pace is strong and if it comes anywhere near courage, then he will be there fighting. He has awful lot of tactical speed and that is a huge asset to have in a horse. I’m not sure we have ever had a horse with the constitution that he has.”

O’Brien is looking at a defence of his crown in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. July 29. “The plan was to come here for this race and then come back to Ascot again for the King George, but we’ll see what the lads want to do,” he added, while Ryan Moore paid his own tribute. “He has a marvellous attitude, like so many of these Galileos and they were one-two-three here. He’s been everywhere and keeps coming back. It was a tough performance at Epsom and he has come back after not that long a break, so I’d say it was probably a career-best from him today. He had a difficult day that day and to then come here and win, it is a massive performance by him. We knew he would see it out real well and the last furlong was his best. Obviously he’s a very tough horse, but he’s a high-class horse as well. For me this is the highlight of the week and I’m delighted he’s come and done it.”

Connections of Decorated Knight were buoyed by the result, with trainer Roger Charlton saying, “He was a 10-1 shot and fourth favourite in the betting, but every time he runs he improves. Every time he finds a bit more. Ulysses looked as though he had gone past him, but he battled back. I’m really pleased and it’s no disgrace to be beaten by Highland Reel. I think he is suited by being trained mainly by himself and in the nice, calm environment of Beckhampton, which is quite different from Newmarket where he was trained before. He travels well and we know, that like a lot of Galileos, he can get quite sweaty but it doesn’t affect his performance. I need to talk to the owners, but the Arlington Million is a possibility again, as is the G1 Eclipse [at Sandown July 8]–after a performance like today that is a race that could come on the agenda.”

Sir Michael Stoute was also pleased with the effort of Ulysses and also the fourth Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and said, “I think that’s his best performance to date. He’s developed very pleasingly from three to four and he is mentally more mature–he relaxes more. I can’t make a decision about what he does next when he’s just run in 100 degrees heat–we’ll have to see how he recovers. Queen’s Trust ran a blinder. She was interfered with soon after the jump off, but came home as well, or better, than any of them.” John Gosden reported the 2-1 favourite Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) to have been unsuited by the fast ground as he faded to finish last. “Obviously, that trip on that ground is not his scene,” he commented. “A mile and a quarter here in the Autumn on soft–no problem–but this just isn’t his ground. He didn’t let himself down on it. He came with every chance in the straight. You always notice with a horse whether they get low and race but just stay on the same lead coming back off the ground.”

Highland Reel’s dam was second in the G2 South Australian Oaks and third in the G2 Schweppes Oaks prior to her second career which is proving a resounding success. Her first foal was Valdemoro, who finished runner-up in the G1 Crown VRC Oaks and G1 Vinery Stud Storm Queen S., while a year after Highland Reel she threw his stablemate Idaho who could still be anything. Unseating when hot favourite for the G1 St Leger in September, he has time to revive the form of his prior placings in the G1 English and Irish Derby and success in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. The second dam is the G1 Australian Oaks heroine Circles of Gold, whose Elvstroem (Aus) also by Danehill won five times at the highest level including in the Caulfield Cup and Victoria Derby and whose Haradasun (Aus) was successful three times in group 1 company including the G1 Queen Anne S. here. Descendants of the third dam Olympic Aim include the champion sprinter of both hemispheres Starspangledbanner (Aus) and also the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas heroine Amicus (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Hveger has a 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt also by Galileo, with the former named Via Condotti (Ire).

Danehill Dancer’s Qemah Prevails in the Duke of Cambridge

 

Qemah | racingfotos.com

By Sean Cronin

   Al Shaqab Racing’s Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who annexed last year’s G1 Coronation S. at this meet and the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville, lined up for Wednesday’s G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot coming off a third in Leopardstown’s Sept. 10 G1 Matron S. and a second in last month’s G3 Chartwell Fillies’ S. at Lingfield. Reserved off the pace in rear initially, the 5-2 favourite inched ever closer from halfway and was driven out once quickening smartly to challenge approaching the final eighth to comfortably hold Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal) by 3/4 of a length. Last year’s winner and 11-4 second choice Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) was shuffled back through rivals after breaking with the leaders and closed fast and late to finish a neck further back in third. “She was a little too excited before her run at Lingfield last time, but was very quiet today,” explained winning rider Gregory Benoist. “She was ready for this race, the pace and ground suited her and she had a good day. She goes on any ground and is a very good filly. Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget added, “I was happy beforehand as she was a different proposition from the one which ran at Lingfield. We will now look to the [July 30 G1] Prix Rothschild at Deauville and the [Sept. 9 G1] Matron S. [at Leopardstown] after that.” 

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE S.-G2, £201,500, ASC, 6-21, 4yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:38.34, g/f.
1–QEMAH (IRE), 126, f, 4, by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
1st Dam: Kartica (GB) (GSP-Fr, $132,100), by Rainbow Quest
2nd Dam: Cayman Sunset (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Robinia, by Roberto
(€200,000 Ylg ’14 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Ecurie Cadran Bissons SAS IEI (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Gregory Benoist. £114,271. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & Eng, 10-5-2-3, $876,667. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Aljazzi (GB), 126, f, 4, Shamardal–Nouriya (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-Marco Botti. £43,323.
3–Usherette (Ire), 126, m, 5, Shamardal–Monday Show, by Maria’s Mon. O-Godolphin S.N.C.; B-Darley (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. £21,681.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 40.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Smart Call (SAf), Aim to Please (Fr), Turret Rocks (Ire), Dawn of Hope (Ire), Pirouette (GB), Greta G (Arg), Furia Cruzada (Chi), Same Jurisdiction (SAf), Mix and Mingle (Ire), Opal Tiara (Ire), Summer Icon (GB). Scratched: Absolute Blast (Ire), Laugh Aloud (GB). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

   Qemah, who closed her juvenile campaign in 2015 with a third in Longchamp’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, opened her sophomore term last year with victory in Chantilly’s G3 Prix de la Grotte and hit the board in Deauville’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches before registering a Group 1 double in the summer. “She needed her run at Lingfield last time to get the buzziness out of her, but she was calmer today and much more settled,” commented Al Shaqab’s racing manager Harry Herbert. “Gregory said she was the same filly this year as when she won the Coronation S. [at this meeting last year]. She is a high-class filly and, as a Group 1-winning filly running in here without a penalty, she should have been winning this. It was fantastic viewing and the conditions of the race suited her. She still had to do it on the day, but she was very impressive.”
   Runner-up Aljazzi, who bagged the Listed Snowdrop Fillies’ S. at Kempton earlier this term, appears set for a Stateside adventure according to trainer Marco Botti, who said, “I actually thought dropping back to a mile would be her best trip. She likes the [good-to-firm] ground and tries very hard. It’s great that she’s got some [more] black type. We try to achieve as much black type as we can so we might aim for something in America like the [GI] Beverley D. S. [at Arlington Park] in August. She wants a bit of time between races and she obviously had a hard race today so we aren’t in a rush to do anything.”
   Qemah is one of two scorers, and the leading performer, out of G3 Prix Fille de l’Air placegetter Kartica (GB) (Rainbow Quest). Her second dam is the stakes-winning MGSP British highweight Cayman Sunset (Ire) (Night Shift), herself kin to the Group-placed I’m Supposin (Posen) and Tarfaa (Ire) (Night Shift), who were produced by a winning half-sister to MG1SP Seal Ring (Known Fact).

 

Kyllachy’s Heartache Downs the Fool In the Queen Mary

2nd at ASC, Gr. Stk, £110,000

G2 Queen Mary S.

(5f)

Winner: Heartache (GB), f, 2 by Kyllachy (GB)

 

 

Heartache | Racing Post

By Tom Frary

Royal Ascot’s eye was firmly trained on the latest potential queen bee from the Wesley Ward camp Happy Like a Fool (Distorted Humor) in Wednesday’s G2 Queen Mary S., but ultimately she more than met her match as Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) brushed her aside for an authoritative success. Not immune to support herself as the 5-1 second favourite, the bay who scored by six lengths on her racecourse bow on Bath’s unwatered firm ground May 26 took a tow from the 10-11 favourite until two out. Committed by Adam Kirby there, she soon had her market rival’s measure and at the line had extended her advantage to 2 1/2 lengths. “I had her beat at halfway,” winning jockey Adam Kirby said with reference to the American challenger. “She was half-pacing. She’s very good. It’s only her second run and she’ll improve again from today. I thought she’d come here with a live chance and she’s improved a lot from Bath. She’s mentally very stable and an easy mover with a big future. She listens to you and is very sweet and easy to ride. She’s special.”

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN MARY S.-G2, £110,000, ASC, 6-21, 2yo, f, 5fT, :59.63, g/f.
1–#@HEARTACHE (GB), 126, f, 2, by Kyllachy (GB)
1st Dam: Place In My Heart (GB) (SW-Eng & GSP-Fr), by Compton Place (GB)
2nd Dam: Lonely Heart (GB), by Midyan
3rd Dam: Take Heart (GB), by Electric (GB)
O-The Hot to Trot Syndicate – Heartache; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. £62,381. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $84,641. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Happy Like a Fool, 126, f, 2, Distorted Humor–Lastofthsummerwine, by Sky Mesa. O-Merriebelle Stable, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B/T-Wesley Ward (KY). £23,650.

3–Out of the Flames (GB), 126, f, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Primo Lady (GB), by Lucky Story. (30,000gns RNA Wlg ’15 TATFOA; 37,000gns Ylg ’16 TAOCT; £190,000 2yo ’17 GOFBRE). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Gary Hodson & Peter Moule (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £11,836.
Margins: 2HF, HF, HD. Odds: 5.00, 0.90, 14.00.

Also Ran: Now You’re Talking (Ire), Neola (GB), Pursuing the Dream (Ire), Darkanna (Ire), Treasuring (GB), Missy Mischief, Maybride (GB), Mrs Gallagher (GB), Lady Anjorica (Ire), Mamba Noire (Fr), Sirici (Ire), Mother of Dragons (Ire), Formidable Kitt (GB), Bath and Tennis (Ire), Rioticism (Fr), Debutante’s Ball (Ire), Wings of the Rock (Ire), Chica La Habana (Ire), Go Bananas (GB), Emilia James (GB). Scratched: One Minute (Ire). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Heartache, who was bred by the Harper family at their Whitsbury Manor Stud in Hampshire, was providing a Royal Ascot fairytale as she is leased to Sam Hoskins and Luke Lillingston’s Hot To Trot Syndicate which consists of seven two-year-olds and has no less than 75 members who paid just £2,000 each. She is leased for two seasons before she returns to the stud for a mating with its star resident Showcasing (GB), who sired the winner’s yearling half-sister. Trainer Clive Cox has a big week ahead with his sprinters and he was basking in another major result for his burgeoning stable. “She did it very well at Bath and I couldn’t believe the time of that race,” he said. “She’s no different from the rest of mine in that she has improved for a bit of racing and she’s lovely to deal with. Her mother was very quick–we won a Listed race with her at Bath–and today’s run was awesome. To share it with this wonderful Hot To Trot Syndicate is great–there are all manner of people here today who are so buoyed by the experience. We knew she was nice, but we were not sure how nice–to win at this level is what it is all about. I was a bit worried when I saw the American filly, who looked pretty special in the paddock, and when Adam took her on as early as he did I was a bit concerned. Adam rode her with complete confidence, and is a pretty good fellow in the saddle. Two-year-olds are my passion, the stars of the future, and she is. She could go for the [G1] Nunthorpe [S. at York Aug. 25].” Lillingston added, “We lease all our horses from breeders which means this is very, very affordable. Everybody who is here today, it has cost them a couple of thousand to have seven horses in training. This is one of the best days of my life.”

Wesley Ward said of the runner-up, “When Ryan [Moore] came back in, he just said that we got beat by a better filly and I kind of agree with him. She broke well and was there throughout like all mine have been in the past, but the other filly was just a little bit more talented than our filly today. Hopefully, we can turn the tables in the future. All these horses are young two-year-olds, even though mine are more forward. With that in mind, I do think that this filly is a big filly and I feel that she will mature into something special in the future. We will see what happens in the future, but I’m happy right now. She will go to the [G3] Molecomb [S. at Goodwood Aug. 2] and that should really put her forward for the race.” Out of the Flames’s trainer Richard Hannon commented, “We are delighted that there is a very big run in this filly one day. We might look at the [G2] Prix Robert Papin [at Maisons-Laffitte July 23] or similar races. She is a very sensible filly who looks after herself. She will last.”

Heartache’s aforementioned dam Place In My Heart was also third in the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges for the same stable, having won Bath’s Listed Lansdown Fillies’ S. A half-sister to the G3 Tetrarch S. winner Leitrim House (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), she is a daughter of the Listed Festival S. third Lonely Heart who is herself a half to the dam of the G2 Sapphire S. and G3 Flying Five S. winner Stepper Point (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}). In the former contest, Stepper Point managed to beat Mecca’s Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), so the raw material for top-class sprinting prowess was always latent in this pedigree.

 

Siyouni’s Le Brivido Gets Up in the Jersey

1st at RAS, Gr. Stk, 90000

G3 Jersey S.

(7f)

Winner: Le Brivido (Fr), c, 3 by Siyouni (Fr)

 

 

Le Brivido | Racing Post

By Sean Cronin

   Le Brivido (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who opened his career with victories at Chantilly in November and April, was narrowly denied by subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) in Deauville’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains last month and rebounded in style to claim Wednesday’s G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot. Well away to shadow the pace in the centre of the track, the 2-1 favourite was shaken up to find open runway approaching the final quarter mile and kept on relentlessly under continued urging in the closing stages to inhale 66-1 outsider Spirit of Valor (War Front) in the dying strides for a neck success. Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) closed strongly underneath the stands’ side rail and finished 2 1/4 lengths adrift in third. “He was a little bit excited at the gate, but he’s a very nice horse and we had a good race,” explained rider Pierre-Charles Boudot. “He showed a good turn of foot when I asked him.” Trainer Andre Fabre, registering a ninth Royal winner, added, “He looked beat with a furlong to go, but he showed his class and courage to come back and win. He raced a little freely, but his action was good and he did it well. He is a relatively inexperienced horse and coming to [Royal] Ascot was a new experience for him. I had no doubt he was a good horse and what I liked is that he showed he will get a mile. We will probably run him in the [Aug. 13 G1 ] Prix Jacques Le Marois [at Deauville].”

 

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
JERSEY S.-G3, £90,000, ASC, 6-21, 3yo, 7fT, 1:25.05, g/f.
1–#@LE BRIVIDO (FR), 127, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: La Bugatty (Ire), by Dr Fong
2nd Dam: La Balagna (GB), by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Belle Tempete, by Lovely Dancer (Ire)
(€42,000 Ylg ’15 AR15; €105,000 2yo ’16 ARQMAY). O-HRH Prince Faisal bin Khaled; B-Jean Bugada & Brigitte Bugada (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. £51,039. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 4-3-1-0, $246,939. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spirit of Valor, 127, c, 3, War Front–Stone Hope, by Grindstone. ($850,000 Wlg ’14 KEENOV). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Stonestreet Stables; B-Nursery Place (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. £19,350.
3–Mubtasim (Ire), 127, c, 3, Arcano (Ire)–Start the Music (Ire), by King’s Best. (€22,000 Wlg ’14 GOFNOV; 38,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Mrs Natasha Drennan (IRE); T-William Haggas. £9,684.
Margins: NK, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 2.00, 66.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Parfait (Ire), Dream Castle (GB), Daban (Ire), Chessman (Ire), True Valour (Ire), Bacchus (GB), Beat the Bank (GB), Winning Ways (Ire), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Escobar (Ire), Taamol (Ire), Whitecliffsofdover, Solomon’s Bay (Ire), Sutter County (GB), Barrington (Ire), Top Score (GB), Glastonbury Song (Ire). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

   Reflecting on the performance of runner-up Spirit of Valor, Aidan O’Brien commented, “We always thought he was a nice horse, but would be much better on fast ground and that has helped today. On fast ground he might even get a mile.” Son and rider Donnacha O’Brien added, “He ran very well, but I just got left on my own in front a little too long and the winner came late and got me.”
   Bruce Raymond, on behalf of third-placed Mubtasim’s owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, said, “Pat [Cosgrave] was very pleased and thinks the trip suited him better than six furlongs, but he wants the ground very fast. Any movement in the ground and the horse just isn’t happy.” Raymond, also representing sixth-placed Daban’s owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, continued, “Daban was following the winner for a long way and that effort probably meant she didn’t quite finish. She might have been better coming from a little way off the pace. I’m not sure if that’s an excuse, but she’s a filly taking on some very good colts.”
   Le Brivido, half-brother to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly La Blizzia (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), is out of a half-sister to Dansant (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who registered a sextet of stakes victories, and his third dam is MGSP Listed Prix Phil Drake victress Belle Tempete (Fr) (Lovely Dancer {Ire}), herself the dam of five-time stakes placegetter Folle Tempete (Fr) (Fabulous Dancer) and Listed Prix Panacee runner-up Tempete d’Honneur (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}).

 

War Front Filly Graduates in Maisons-Laffitte Unveiling

2nd at MLF, Mdn, €27,000

Prix Mary Tudor (Mdn)

(7f)

Winner: Silent War, f, 2 by War Front

 

 

Silent War | Scoop Dyga

By Sean Cronin

2nd-MLF, €27,000, Mdn, 6-21, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.10, gd.
+SILENT WAR (f, 2, War Front–Lady of Shamrock {MGISW-US, $950,400}, by Scat Daddy) improved on an early fifth to stalk the pace in second after the initial stages of this unveiling. Coming under pressure soon after turning for home, the 8-5 favourite led approaching the final eighth and was pushed out to score by 1 1/4 lengths from Environs (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The homebred bay is the first winner produced by GI American Oaks and GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Lady of Shamrock (Scat Daddy), who in turn is kin to three stakes performers, including GII Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup S. victress Smooth Jazz (Storm Boot), from a family which includes GI Hollywood Turf Cup winner Royal Chariot (Strawberry Road {Aus}). The winner is also kin to the yearling filly Celtic (Ire) (Speightstown) and a colt foal by Invincible Spirit (Ire). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (KY); T-Freddy Head.

 

MERCOLEDÌ 21 GIUGNO 2017. #RoyalAscot, day 2: Mastodontico Highland Reel, vince anche a 2000 metri delle Prince Of Wales’s Stakes!

 

 

Prima di tutto qualcosa relativa al day 1, in particolare sulla defaillance di Churchill (Galileo) nelle St James Palace’s Stakes g1 che potrebbe avere un motivo nascosto. Aidan O’Brien, parlando ai quotidiani irlandesi, ha dichiarato che sembrava fosse tutto ok almeno fisicamente ma il cavallo ieri dopo la corsa ha lasciato la biada, cosa a lui non consueta. Si seguiranno gli sviluppi nei prossimi giorni e l’obiettivo dichiarato è ancora quello delle Sussex Stakes G1. Ed ora il day 2. 

Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series): Un cavallo veramente con le palle. Il Coolmore ha dovuto aggrapparsi con le unghie e con i denti a quel vecchio leone che risponde al nome di Highland Reel (Galileo) consentendo al gruppo irlandese di piazzare la prima bandierina per Aidan O’Brien al Royal Ascot che ha usato parole di elogio e meglio non potrebbero descrivere questa affermazione: “What can I say? Unbelievable. Highland Reel has pace, courage, tactical speed – he’s an amazing horse.”. Appunto. Highland Reel, seppure sudatissimo come sempre, ha risolto una corsa non semplicissima con Ryan Moore facendosi stare bene anche i 2000 metri sul duro filtrando all’interno, come se non volesse proprio saperne di perdere, di Decorated Knight (Galileo), altro che ha fatto un corsone, ed Ulysses (Galileo) che si era presentato benissimo salvo poi subire la ripartenza dei primi 2. Tre figli di Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) ai primi 3 gradini del podio. Coolmore batte un colpo, dunque. Il tempo finale è stato di 2m 5.04s (slow by 0.74s). Highland Reel, al 6° G1 in carriera, a 5 anni, sembra ancora più forte che a 3 e 4 anni. Già dimenticata la sconfitta subita a Meydan quando l’alfiere di O’Brien prese 12 lunghezze da Jack Hobbs (Halling), ricacciato sul duro indietro in una prestazione negativa. Per il Godolphin un ultimo posto. Per il vecchio giramondo di  Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor è la 9° vittoria in 23 uscite, con 7 piazzamenti. Dopo la Coronation Cup G1 di Epsom, ecco le Prince Of Wales’s Stakes su una distanza che non gli è consueta (anche se a 3 anni vinse le Secretariat Stakes G1 in America). Con questa vittoria Highland Reel è arrivato a vincere sul palo la cifra di £5,974,719, in terza posizione rispetto ai £6,179,490 di Cirrus Des Aigles ed i £6,002,918 di Treve. Il record europeo è ad un passo. 

IL VIDEO DELLE PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. 

Jersey Stakes (Group 3). In apertura di pomeriggio le tradizionali Jersey Stakes G3 sui 1400 metri in pista dritta, dove abbiamo assistito alla vittoria francese di Le Brivido (Siyouni) per Andre Fabre (9° vincitore per il Maestro al Royal Ascot) con in sella Pierre-Charles Boudot. Il 3 anni del Prince Faisal Bin Khaled, secondo nelle Poule maschili di Brametot, ha battuto in lotta il “longshot” Spirit Of Valor (War Front) con Donnacha O’Brien e Mubtasim (Arcano), due sorprese. In particolare è stata una bella vittoria in spinta per il jockey francese che dal centro della pista, vedendo che il suo stava perdendo riferimenti, ha cercato l’avversario per ripartire di slancio. 

Le Brivido, da favorito, ha vinto ed ora punterà al Jacques Le Marois G1 contro gli anziani, in un probabile scontro con Ribchester. Tornare in Inghilterra, a questo punto, è difficile. Comunque il figlio di Siyouni (Pivotal) e La Bugatty (Dr Fong) arriva tranquillamente al miglio. Il tempo finale è stato di 1m 25.05s (fast by 0.65s). Le Brivido è passato di mano da yearling per €42,000 e poi passato ancora alle aste Arqana al Breeze Up per €105,000 dalla Voute Sales per conto del Principe Faisal. IL VIDEO QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. IL VIDEO QUI.

Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies): Qui Wesley Ward non è riuscito a vincere con la favorita Happy Like A Fool (Distorted Humor), fin sotto la pari, perchè non è partita in maniera adeguata e perchè ha trovato una come Heartache (Kyllachy), a 6/1, sulla sua strada che le ha tolto la testa e lo spunto, anticipando nel momento giusto. In sella Adamo Kirby (che non vinceva una corsa da 2 settimane) per conto di Clive Cox, specializzato con i velocisti, ed in questo caso con una figlia di Kyllachy (Pivotal) e mamma da Compton Place. Al terzo è finita Out Of The Flames (Showcasing), non male, mentre quarta la Joseph O’Brien Now You’re Talking (Zoffany), con in sella Donnacha. Ma la vincitrice aveva impressionato a Bath al debutto di fine Maggio, con 6 lunghezze rifilate al secondo arrivato Fas nell’occasione. Heartache è di proprietà del sindacato The Hot To Trot Syndicate, è stata allevata dal Whitsbury Manor Stud ed acquistata privatamente. Velocità pura, sembra con i metri contati. Il tempo finale è stato di 59.63s (slow by 0.63s). Quanto ad Happy Like A Fool, dopo un buon debutto a Keeneland, si ipotizza possa tornare in America con un programma in sabbia. IL VIDEO QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2): Questa se l’è un pò ballata Mickael Barzalona. A vincere è stata la Al Shaqab Qemah (Danehill Dancer) per Jean Claude Rouget, tornata sul luogo del delitto dopo l’affermazione nelle Coronation Stakes G1 e rientrata con un secondo posto con molte recriminaazioni, che è stata montata in maniera pulita da Gregory Benoist. Seconda è arrivata Aljazzi (Shamardal), per Marco Botti a cui vanno i nostri complimenti, con ancora un ispirato Adamo Kirby on board, mentre meno ispirato il fantino francese sulla Godolphin Usherette (Shamardal) che da una posizione impossibile ha tentato una rimonta, vana, che le ha consentito di prendere solamente un terzo posto ma filtrando bene lungo lo steccato delle tribune. A monta pulita, forse parleremmo della sua vittoria. Nulla da togliere a Qemah, la favorita, che ha seguito la scia della sudafricana Smart Call (Ideal World), e l’ha sopravanzata nettamente quando le è stato chiesto qualcosa di più. 

Qemah lo scorso anno aveva vinto il Prix de la Grotte G3 in preparazione alle Poule, dove trovò sulla sua strada una come La Cressonniere. Si rifece nelle Coronation Stakes G1, vinse anche il Rothschild G1 e poi ha chiuso la stagione in Settembre arrivando terza nelle Matron Stakes G1 di Alice Springs. Al rientro a Lingfield, su distanza corta e con vicissitudini tattiche non favorevoli, ha perso da Mix And Mingle strabattuta in questa occasione. Il tempo finale è stato di 1m 38.34s (fast by 0.26s). IL VIDEO DELLE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE QUI. IL RISULTATO QUI.

 

PUBBLICATO DA GABRIELE CANDI A MERCOLEDÌ, GIUGNO 21, 2017