Royal Ascot has missed Frankie Dettori, and Frankie Dettori has no doubt missed Royal Ascot, but the sport’s greatest showman was not forgotten in the aftermath of a truly epic Gold Cup.
Dettori, forced to cry off all rides on Tuesday morning with a shoulder injury, has missed four winners already. However, his advice on how to ride Big Orange was instrumental in the giant six-year-old’s victory and grateful stand-in James Doyle made sure everyone knew about it as he savoured success in Britain’s premier staying race, on Britain’s most popular stayer.
Big Orange was trying two and a half miles for the first time after back-to-back doubles in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes and the Goodwood Cup, but an attendance of 68,320 (up from 64,503 last year, boosted by the opening of the new Village Enclosure) watched as Doyle sent him on with more than a circuit to go.
There initially seemed to be an air of inevitability about the outcome when Ryan Moore launched last year’s winner Order Of St George with a long run on the outside, but Big Orange was gutsier than ever, and although he repelled the 5-6 favourite by just a short head he looked as if he was always just holding on, with the pair finishing six lengths clear of St Leger winner Harbour Law.
“Frankie is a real star and was on the phone for 20 minutes a couple of nights ago,” said Doyle, who had the pleasure of riding Michael Bell and Bill Gredley’s pride and joy for the first time. “He said don’t interfere with him. He knows what speed he wants to go at, so you just sit as a passenger. I’d better buy him a drink – more than one probably!”
Doyle added: “We were a little bit concerned when we heard that Roger Charlton’s horse [Quest For More] was going to go on, and he led us for a couple of furlongs, but I was thinking ‘I’m interfering with him, and I shouldn’t be’ and so let him go to the front and he pricked his ears nicely.
“He got a little bit lonely out in front and I think if something had joined him sooner he would have won more impressively. It’s a long way to be in front and it’s plenty of time to be lonely, but Order Of George was just lugging into him and that gave him a wake-up call.
“That was amazing. I didn’t know I was going to be on him until a couple of mornings ago and he’s a real people’s champ. It was just a pleasure to ride him. He’s a proper old-fashioned stayer who wears his heart on his sleeve. A real battle-heartened champion.”
Bell has never gone out of fashion, but it’s probably fair to say he has seldom hit the pinnacle since Motivator’s Derby and Sariska’s Oaks.
But Big Orange has taken him all over the world, including to Australia for two Melbourne Cups, to Meydan for two Dubai Gold Cups, and to Sha Tin for a Hong Kong Vase, and so has been a massive part of his life for the last four seasons.
Summing up what Big Orange means to him after being congratulated by Aidan O’Brien and the Ballydoyle team, who offered no excuse for Order Of St George, Bell said: “He’s just an absolute superstar who gives his all and has a heart as big as himself. He wants to race and he’s a colossal racehorse. On fast ground in the height of the summer he’s a monster.
“I can’t describe the feeling of pride in the horse. He’s a superstar and we’re extremely lucky to train him.”
He added: “We were happy to do the donkeywork as you have to let him use his stride. I was very happy throughout as James looked in total charge of the situation, but then towards the finish I was praying the winning post would come in time and thankfully it did.”
Gredley gave huge credit to Bell and his staff and ranked Big Orange’s Gold Cup win alongside User Friendly’s victories in the Oaks, the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks.
He added: “She was a good horse and let’s hope they keep coming.”
Gredley’s second with Ronald R in the Britannia just 40 minutes later confirmed that they are indeed still coming, and it’s not as if Big Orange is finished. Far from it.
Bell said: “He’ll head back to Goodwood and he won’t run again before then. He’s not going for the Melbourne Cup, that’s for sure as he’ll be rated 121 and so handicapped out of it.
“He could come back here for Champions Day, or he could go for the Cadran. He’ll go where the ground is fast.”
Let’s hope the sun keeps shining then, for there are few finer sights than Big Orange in full flow.
fonte : RacingPost
Godolphin one two in King George V Handicap led by impressive Atty Persse
Atty Persse, trained by Roger Charlton and partnered by Kieran Shoemark, was the impressive victor of the 18-runner King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot on Thursday, June 22 and gave Godolphin a fifth success so far at the 2017 Royal Meeting.
The three-year-old son of Frankel, who led over two out and quickened away, beat Dubawi colt First Nation, trained by Charlie Appleby with William Buick up, by three lengths. The winning time was 2m 31.68s.
Roger Charlton said: “They went very quick and you had to think whether Atty Persse would have the petrol left to keep going, but he had lots left. He stayed on really well – stamina is a strong thing with this horse.
“He ran well at Haydock last time [finished second] but they quickened from the front that day and he never really got there.
“They didn’t go much of a pace that day and clearly, what we have seen today is a horse that stays a mile and a half really well.
“The handicapper put him up after Haydock, so they didn’t think it was a bad performance, even if everyone else was disappointed. It was a good effort today and where we go next, we will see.
“I had Frankel’s first Stakes winner and now I have had his first Royal Ascot winner.
“Atty Persse is very easy to train. For a little horse, he has a very long stride.
“The jockey is good. You have to have trust and faith in people and he is a good rider, I am lucky to have him.”
Kieran Shoemark, an apprentice rider, added: “Atty Persse made my job easy today. He had lots of early speed. They went a level gallop the whole way and I was actually really surprised how much he quickened up with three furlongs to go.
“It probably shows he will get a mile and six furlongs in time; he’s obviously by Frankel but I think he will like the staying trips in time. I think having the cheek-pieces on first time today helped me a lot; they gave me the early speed and he was switched on and ready to race.
“I think he can step up to Pattern company – he’s done this pretty easily. His work’s always good at home; he always saves a little bit, never does too much and you are never sure quite where you are with him at home, but today he’s proved he’s a nice horse. Look, he’s won by three lengths – you can’t ask much more than that here at Ascot.
“It’s fantastic to have a winner here for an owner like Sheikh Mohammed; it really does mean a lot.”
Benbatl rules in Hampton Court
Benbatl stayed on powerfully for an excellent success in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday, June 22, giving Godolphin a fourth victory so far at Royal Ascot 2017.
The three-year-old Dubawi colt, dropping back to 10 furlongs for trainer Saeed bin Suroor after finishing fifth in the G1 Derby over a mile and a half on June 3, broke well and soon tracked the leaders as fifth of the 13 runners.
Benbatl travelled strongly under Oisin Murphy and was switched out to deliver his challenge at the top of the straight.
He quickened smartly to hit the front a furlong and a half from home and galloped out well to beat Orderofthegarter by half a length in 2m 5.40s on good to firm ground.
Saeed bin Suroor, enjoying his 36th winner at the Royal Meeting, said: “When Benbatl won the first time, we thought that he was the right horse for the big races.
“He finished fifth in the Derby and he ran well, but he came from too far back and finished strong, so we thought that a mile and a quarter would be better for him.
“Sheikh Mohammed made the decision to run him in today’s race and Benbatl is obviously improving all the time.
“Today’s trip was brilliant for him. He was in a nice position and kicked really well. He is a nice horse for the future.
“Last year, he was very backward, I looked after him in the winter and then early in the season, he showed some class.
“It is brilliant to win at Royal Ascot. These races are hard to win but finally we find the right horse to win.
“We will keep the options open. We might take him to York for the York Stakes (G2, July 29, 1m 2f 88y) or the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2, August 23, 12 furlongs) or we could go to Goodwood for the Gordon Stakes (G3, 1m 4f, August 5). Then later maybe give him a break before the Champion Stakes (G1, October 21, 10f) at Ascot.”
“I like him. He won really well first time at Doncaster and is a very honest horse. He could be anything for the future.
“Oisin is a jockey for the future. He is doing really well and has always done a good job for us in Dubai and here. We are going to use him even more in the future.”
Oisin Murphy added: “It’s a massive monkey off my back. I am just delighted to get my first Royal Ascot winner.
“He travelled like the best horse in today’s race because he was the best horse in the race.
“I am very fortunate to have a very good job with Qatar Racing, but Saeed puts me up sometimes as well and to get a winner for Godolphin is great, it’s a very important week, it’s fantastic.
“Benbatl is out of Nahrain and by Dubawi so 10 furlongs is likely to be his trip.”
fonte : Godolphin
Atty Persse a Royal First for Frankel in the King George V
| 6th at ASC, Hcp, £90,000 | King George V H. | (11f 211y) | Winner: Atty Persse (Ire), c, 3 by Frankel (GB) |
By Sean Cronin
6th-ASC, £90,000, Hcp, 6-22, 3yo, 11f 211yT, 2:31.68, g/f.
ATTY PERSSE (IRE) (c, 3, Frankel {GB}–Dorcas Lane {GB} {SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Fr, $120,205}, by Norse Dancer {Ire}) posted a Sept. 16 debut success for breeder Bjorn Nielsen at Sandown, doubling up in the Godolphin silks back there on seasonal return Apr. 18, and lined up for this King George V H. coming off a May 26 second at Haydock. Cutting across from the outside gate to stalk the pace in second after a sharp getaway, the 7-1 chance seized control approaching the two pole and was driven clear in the clsoing stages to stop the clock three lengths in advance of fellow Godolphin colourbearer First Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), becoming a first Royal Ascot winner for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}). Atty Persse is the lone representative for the stakes-winning G2 Ribblesdale S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks placegetter Dorcas Lane (GB) (Norse Dancer {Ire}), who is out of a half-sister to G1 1000 Guineas heroine Harayir (Gulch) and to the dual stakes-placed dam of G1 Jebel Hatta scorer Tryster (Ire) (Shamardal). His fourth dam is G1 Irish Oaks-winning Irish champion distaffer Give Thanks (GB) (Relko {GB}), whose leading performer is G2 Falmouth S. victress and G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches third Alshakr (GB) (Bahri). Sales history: 200,000gns RNA Wlg ’14 TATFOA; 160,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $99,069. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Godolphin; B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-Roger Charlton.
fonte : TDN
#RoyalAscot, day 3: Big Orange con il cuore respinge Order Of St George nella Gold Cup. Il resto del day 3..
Gold Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series): Il ruggito del leone! Big Orange (Duke Of Marmalade), ha respinto con cuore e coraggio il favorito Order Of St George (Galileo), uno dei cavalli più attesi dell’intero meeting del Royal Ascot. Il cavallo di Michael Bell, montato da James Doyle in sostituzione di Frankie Dettori, ha attuato la solita tattica d’avanguardia e quando è entrato in retta ha cominciato la sua lunga progressione proprio mentre il suo rivale diretto (sistemato nelle retrovie, forse troppo?) cercava l’azione migliore. Dopo 3800 metri percorsi con audacia, a 200 dal palo si è accesa la lotta con Big Orange all’interno e Order all’esterno, i due hanno “challengiato” con grandissima dose di agonismo tanto che si sono toccati in maniera reiterata, ma senza che i commissari potessero intervenire perchè era Order a cercare più volte il fianco del rivale.
Duello a fruste alzate anche tra Giuseppe Doyle e Rino Moore, ma sul palo il tempo migliore è stato quello del 6 anni, sceso fino a 4/1 in chiusura di gioco, che ha battuto il favorito già vincitore lo scorso anno. Terzo è finito Harbour Law (Lawman), tornato in clima St Leger.. Stupenda performance, eroico Big Orange, in una corsa che merita di essere vista e rivista. Big Orange, stavolta si può dire, è uno stayer con le “huevas” grosse come cocomeri e si è bevuto 4000 metri come una Schweppes tonica. In questo 2017 era rientrato a Meydan, dopo aver corso in Dicembre anche a Sha Tin, ottenendo un quarto nella Dubai Gold Cup alle spalle di Vazirabad (il grande assente) ma poi ha fatto capire di avere energia da vendere a fine Maggio a Sandown vincendo di 5 lunghezze le Henry II Stakes G3 e presentandosi ad Ascot con una condizione fuori dal normale. Per Big Orange era la 9° vittoria in 24 uscite.
IL VIDEO DELLA GOLD CUP QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
Norfolk Stakes (Group 2): Il Coolmore s’è desta. Dopo la botta tremenda di Highland Reel (Galileo) nelle Prince Of Wales’s, ecco che si è acceso il meeting anche per Aidan O’Brien e soci. Nelle Norfolk Stakes sui 1000 metri è emerso Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) che pagava una cifra astronomica, per il team e l’affidabilità, di 15/1. Montato in maniera pazzesca da Ryan Moore, si è posizionato far side rispetto alle tribune e con un cambio di marcia devastante ha messo di passo Santry (Harbour Watch) e Cardsharp (Lonhro), con il favorito americano McErin (Trappe Shot) solo al settimo posto. Il vincitore è un imponente figlio di Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), stallone che ha un certo feeling con il Royal Ascot, la cui quota era determinata dall’ultima brutta prestazione nelle Marble Hill Stakes Lr, dove è giunto sesto di 7, al Curragh a fine Maggio. In carriera vanta già 5 corse, nelle prime 2 uscite della carriera ha ottenuto 2 piazzamenti tra Naas e Leopardstown, poi ha vinto la sua maiden a Cork, e successivamente ha corso la Listed al Curragh senza figurare, ma su terreno soffice. Troppo, per lui. Oggi ha pescato una gabbia alta ed una fascia di terreno galoppabilissima. Risultato? Isolamento. Il tempo finale è stato di 1m 0.88s (slow by 1.88s).
IL VIDEO DELLE NORFOLK STAKES QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) (formerly The Tercentenary Stakes): Uno dei motivi principali di questo Royal, è la sfida a distanza tra i 2 colossi Godolphin e Coolmore. Una bella dimostrazione ne abbiamo avuto nelle Hampton Court Stakes G3, per reduci dei vari derbies. Alla fine Benbatl (Dubawi e la campionessa Nahrain), quinto ad Epsom, è emerso per i colori blue, la monta di Oisin Murphy ed il training di Saeed Bin Suroor che non è voluto mancare all’appuntamento. Il figlio di Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) ha seguito l’andatura del gruppo ed in retta era già in posizione predominante, ha anticipato le mosse di tutti ed ha respinto il buon serrate di Orderofthegarter (Galileo), sesto a Chantilly dietro a Brametot nel Derby francese. Al terzo posto il Juddmonte Mirage Dancer (Frankel), molto positivo. Per Godolphin era la quarta vittoria nel meeting. Ah, nel primo giorno, la tripletta blues ha in qualche modo celebrato i 40 anni dal primo vincitore ufficiale dell’avventura di Sheikh Mohammed con i cavalli da corsa con Hatta a Brighton. Alleluia. Il tempo finale è stato di 2m 5.40s (slow by 1.10s). IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. IL VIDEO QUI.
Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies): Niente, a Frankel non riesce una ciambella con il buco a questo Royal. Mori (Frankel e Midday), era molto attesa nelle Ribblesdale Stakes G2, ma sulla sua strada ha trovato una Coronet (Dubawi) in assetto spettacolare, presentata da John Gosden e con un Oliviero Peslier ispiratissimo nel lanciare la grigia all’inseguimento dei primi dopo andatura sostenuta da parte di The Sky Is Blazing (Sea The Stars). Ad un certo punto Mori non veniva avanti, Hertfort Dancer (Foxwedge) l’ha superata e si è lanciata verso il traguardo salvo poi subire il recuperone, rimanendo poi in quota per il terzo, della Juddmonte e di Coronet, che con un guizzo ha messo la testa davanti alla Mori stessa. Bella corsa per davvero, gran finale e grande monta del jockey francese. Coronet aveva corso benissimo contro i maschi, a Maggio è finita terza di Sobetsu nel Saint Alary G1 e poi nelle Oaks ha incontrato terreno soffice. Sul duro e sul miglio e mezzo ha tirato fuori una prestazione mai prodotta prima. Coronet è una homebred del Denford Stud, figlia di Dubawi e Approach (Darshaan).
IL VIDEO QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
Duke of Marmalade’s Big Orange Clings on in a Pulsating Gold Cup
| 4th at RAS, Gr. Stk, 400000 | G1 Gold Cup | (19f 210y) | Winner: Big Orange (GB), g, 6 by Duke of Marmalade (Ire) |
Big Orange outbattles Order of St George | racingfotos.com
By Sean Cronin
Surprisingly making his first attempt at Royal Ascot’s showpiece G1 Gold Cup, popular journeyman Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) slugged out a pulsating finish with reigning champion Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to gain a career high in Thursday’s feature event. The gelded bay, who was last seen annexing Sandown’s G3 Henry II S. four weeks earlier, adopted his customary frontrunning role–racing in his now familiar cheekpieces–passing the judge first time in this marathon contest and remained in situ thereafter. Seeing off all rivals and poaching a decisive advantage when stoked up approaching the final quarter mile, the 5-1 chance appeared vulnerable quarry as Ryan Moore loomed large on the 5-6 favourite at the eighth pole, but he dug deep to find abundant reserves and staved off that rival in belligerent fashion to cling on by a sliver. The pair were six lengths clear of last year’s G1 St Leger hero Harbour Law (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) as they hit the line almost in unison. “He’s as tough as they get and it was great to get the call up, but I can’t take any credit for this,” claimed rider James Doyle, who was drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Frankie Dettori. “I have to thank Frankie, he’s a star and phoned me a couple of nights ago, not to give me orders but just to talk about the horse. We spoke for about 20 minutes and he was spot on. He told me, whatever I do, not to interfere with him as he knows what speed to go. I left him do his own thing and I was just a passenger really. I had Frankie’s voice in my head all the way round and the rest is history.”
Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
GOLD CUP-G1, £400,000, ASC, 6-22, 4yo/up, 19f 210yT, 4:22.40, g/f.
1–&BIG ORANGE (GB), 128, g, 6, by Duke of Marmalade (Ire)
1st Dam: Miss Brown To You (Ire), by Fasliyev
2nd Dam: Almaaseh (Ire), by Dancing Brave
3rd Dam: Al Bahathri, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O-W J & T C O Gredley; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs (GB); T-Michael Bell; J-James Doyle. £226,840. Lifetime Record: GSP-Aus & UAE, 24-9-2-2, $1,605,813. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Order of St George (Ire), 128, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Another Storm, by Gone West. ($550,000 Ylg ’13 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Lloyd Williams; B-Paget Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £86,000.
3–Harbour Law (GB), 126, c, 4, Lawman (Fr)–Abunai (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (24,000gns RNA Ylg ’14 TATYEA; £30,000 2yo ’15 GOFLON). O-Mrs Jackie Cornwell; B-Hascombe & Valiant Studs (GB); T-Laura Mongan. £43,040.
Margins: NO, 6, HF. Odds: 5.00, 0.80, 33.00.
Also Ran: She Is No Lady (GB), Torcedor (Ire), Sheikhzayedroad (GB), Sweet Selection (GB), Prince of Arran (GB), Nearly Caught (Ire), Endless Time (Ire), Harrison (GB), Quest For More (Ire), Trip To Paris (Ire), Simple Verse (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Big Orange is something of a creature of habit and successfully defended his 2015 wins in last year’s G2 Princess of Wales’s S. and G2 Goodwood Cup. He was a creditable 10th of 24 in his second stab at Flemington’s G1 Melbourne Cup Nov. 1, backing up a fifth there the previous year, and closed last term with a third in the Nov. 12 G2 Zipping Classic, at Australia’s Sandown, and an 11th in Sha Tin’s Dec. 11 G1 Hong Kong Vase. Returning this year to run fourth in Meydan’s Mar. 25 G1 Dubai Gold Cup, he resumed European plunders with a wide-margin score in the G3 Henry II S. at his native Sandown, providing Frankie Dettori with a record sixth renewal of the latter contest, last time out. “He’s just an absolute superstar,” said trainer Michael Bell after registering a seventh Royal triumph. “He gives his all, he’s got a heart as big as himself and I can’t praise his attitude enough. He wants to race and he’s a colossal racehorse. On fast ground in the middle of the summer, he’s a monster. We knew we would probably have to do the donkey work, but we were happy to do that as you can’t check his stride. He’s got an enormous stride pattern and you’ve got to let him use it. I was very happy throughout the race and I thought James was in total charge of the situation. Then, in the closing stages, I was praying for the winning post, saying, ‘Inshallah, please God’, any religious thing I could think of to make the winning post come, and it did. It’s the feature race of the meeting, an epic race taking on a very good horse [Order of St George] in a proper horse race, and I can’t tell you the pride I have got in Big Orange. Enormous pride and great satisfaction for the team at home. I’m so pleased for them, for the horse, for the owners, for me, for everybody.”
Part-owner Bill Gredley was just as effusive in his praise and added, “He has been working well and is thriving and all credit must go to Michael Bell, who has done a fantastic job on him. His staff deserve a lot of credit, they are really good guys and have done a lot of work on him. We are here to take the applause, but there are people behind the scenes who deserve to take the applause. Frankie gave James some good advice, but he is not a horse who seems that bothered now and just gets on with everything. It is always nice to win and when he has gone that pace over two-and-a-half miles up front it takes a lot of getting, but he is very difficult to get past. This is alongside User Friendly’s [Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and St Leger] victories I suppose. She was a good horse and let’s hope they keep coming.”
Aidan O’Brien was seeking to extend his winning record of seven in the contest, but it was not to be in a renewal for the ages. “Order of St George ran a very good race,” he said, “I am not sure yet where he will go next, we’ll see how he is before making any plans.”
Laura Mongan contravened the Royal Enclosure’s strict dress code as Harbour Law produced another sterling effort and admitted, “I threw my hat off!” She continued, “We knew he was entitled to be here and he ran a cracking race. He didn’t have a great start to the year, but has come here 100 percent and is a very nice horse. He is so exciting and there is a lot more to come from him. I don’t know whether we will go to Goodwood or not [for the Aug. 1 G1 Goodwood Cup], but we will have a chat with [jockey] Jim [Crowley] and the owners and see what works out. You can see that he has had a run. The ground wasn’t really his and it was far enough for him. The right two horses were in front of us and he has done us proud. I am happy with this and will enjoy it for now.”
Big Orange, kin to the 2-year-old filly India (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and a colt foal by Fastnet Rock (Aus), is the sole black-type performer out of a winning half-sister to MG1SW Hong Kong Horse of the Year Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), MGSW Irish highweight sprinter and sire Almaty (Ire) (Dancing Dissident), and to Listed Severals S. second Salee (Ire) (Caerleon). His dam Miss Brown To You is also a half-sister to the dam of the highly popular Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), who annexed G1 Hong Kong Vase and G2 Yorkshire Cup, and ran second in the G1 Dubai World Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup, the latter race on three occasions. The winner’s third dam is G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress and G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom {Fr}), whose family also includes G1 Dubai Duty Free and G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua-winning multiple highweight Gladiatorus (Silic {Fr}).
Another For Dubawi As Coronet Gets Up In the Ribblesdale
| 3rd at ASC, Gr. Stk, £215,000 | G2 Ribblesdale S. | (11f 211y) | Winner: Coronet (GB), f, 3 by Dubawi (Ire) |
Coronet | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
TDN Rising Star Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looked to have a big day in her, as she had valid excuses on her last two starts and she duly delivered with a late show in a barnstorming edition of the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot on Thursday. One of a past legion of runners to be all at sea on Epsom’s terrain when fifth in the June 2 G1 Oaks, the 9-1 shot was back on an even keel at this venue settled towards the rear early by Olivier Peslier. With The Sky Is Blazing (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) drawing them into an early chase as she set off in isolation, the Denford Stud homebred had it all unravel in front of her and delivered her surge with unerring timing to head the 2-1 favourite Mori (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the final strides for a neck success. “The strong pace was a big help for me,” Peslier said. “John [Gosden] said Coronet would finish well, he said to be careful because she takes some time to change gear, but she’s finished like a French horse.”
Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £215,000, ASC, 6-22, 3yo, f, 11f 211yT, 2:32.06, g/f.
1–@CORONET (GB), 126, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Approach (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng, GSP-US, $187,940), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Last Second (Ire), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
O/B-Denford Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Olivier Peslier. £121,927. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 5-3-0-1, $245,225. *1/2 to Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 14f+, GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng & AUs, $799,196; and Streetcar to Stars (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mori (GB), 126, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Midday (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £46,225.
3–Hertford Dancer (GB), 126, f, 3, Foxwedge (Aus)–Tebee (GB), by Selkirk. O-5 Hertford Street Racing Club; B-Highclere Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. £23,134.
Margins: NK, 1, 1HF. Odds: 9.00, 2.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Rich Legacy (Ire), Apphia (Ire), Alluringly, Coconut Creme (GB), The Sky Is Blazing (Ire), Serenada (GB), Gracious Diana (GB), Astronomy’s Choice (GB), Naughty Or Nice (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Earning TDN Rising Star status on debut over an extended mile at Leicester in September, Coronet justified that tag when capturing a renewal of the 10-furlong Zetland S. at Newmarket with recently re-established listed status the following month. As the following months would show, the grey achieved something notable there with the second, third and fourth being the G3 Sandown Classic Trial winner Cunco (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), G2 Dante S. scorer Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) who needs no introduction as the latest hero of the G1 Epsom Derby. Unsuited by testing ground when a staying-on third on her comeback in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Deauville May 14, she was never able to put up a meaningful challenge in the Oaks and had been spared a hard race in the process with her Epsom jockey Andrea Atzeni coaxing her home.
Hemmed on the rail from the outset with more behind than in front, Coronet was helped by the antics of the runaway The Sky Is Blazing as the main protagonists were forced to reel her in with the Juddmonte homebred Mori providing a target in front of her. Squeezed out as she started her run passing the quarter pole, she was taken around rivals and after a brief delay was steaming again to rob Mori’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute of a record-breaking 76th Royal winner in the shade of the post.
John Gosden was impressed with the renewal, in which no prisoners were taken. “I’ve never seen a pace like that for a mile and a half race,” he said. “The boys said the track was riding better today because obviously they watered last night, five millilitres, then we got the cloud cover which held the moisture in. Coronet is a lovely filly. I thought the third filly had got it won; she’s a very game filly and was ridden well. It was a great run and I’m delighted with her. I told Olivier that this filly would come strong–I thought Mori was going to win and then Olivier came and grabbed it. She’s a tough filly. She loved the uphill at Epsom but not downhill. It was a proper, true Ribblesdale–I think it was still a high-class race.” Sir Michael Stoute said of the runner-up, “She has run a great race. She has just been beaten by a more experienced filly who was able to get the better of her, but we are delighted with the run. She needs about this trip for now. We brought her up to a mile and a half thinking that she would get the trip and she did.”
Coronet’s dam is the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. winner and G3 May Hill S. runner-up Approach, who went on to finish second in the GII Galaxy S. for the Graham Motion stable. Her most notable half-brother Midas Touch captured the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S., was runner-up in both the G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger and also managed a third in the G1 Underwood S. in Australia, while another Streetcar to Stars (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was third in the G3 Ballyroan S. The second dam is the G2 Nassau S. and G2 Sun Chariot S. winner and G1 Coronation S. runner-up Last Second, responsible for the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and GI Shadwell Turf S.-winning sire Aussie Rules and also the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac fourth Intrigued (GB) (Darshaan {GB}). The latter went on to produce this stable’s Listed Cocked Hat S. winner and G1 St Leger third Michelangelo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), one of many Classic performers from this prestigious Kirsten Rausing dynasty of Alborada (GB) (Alzao), Albanova (GB) (Alzao), Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). Approach also has a 2-year-old colt by New Approach (Ire) named Photographer (GB) and a yearling filly by Australia (GB) named Fly The Flag (GB).
Dubawi’s Benbatl Holds Court at Royal Ascot
| 2nd at RAS, Gr. Stk, 90000 | G3 Hampton Court S. | (9f 212y) | Winner: Benbatl (GB), c, 3 by Dubawi (Ire) |
Benbatl | Racing Post
By Sean Cronin
TDN Rising Star Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was runner-up to the race-hardened Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in last month’s G2 Dante S. at York before staying on well to run fifth in the G1 Epsom Derby, added further lustre to Godolphin’s resurgence with a thrilling victory in Thursday’s G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot. Britain’s heatwave may have subsided somewhat for this Ladies Day, but temperatures remained high as the homebred bay at last delivered on the impression provided by his Apr. 2 debut score over seven furlongs at Doncaster. Away sharply and allowed to find a rhythm in a handy fifth as Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set a solid tempo at the head of affairs, the 9-2 chance–who raced without the hood he sported first time at Epsom– was wound up to take closer order off the home turn. He was stoked up further to claim an advantage approaching the final eighth and would not be denied under an Oisin Murphy drive as the ominous threats of Orderofthegarter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) were unceremoniously doused in the dying embers of this stellar renewal. At the line, he had a half length and 3/4 of a length to spare over those rivals. “I don’t celebrate very often, but that one meant the world to me,” explained Murphy after claiming his first Royal winner. “Saeed bin Suroor has been very good to me and to reward him with a Royal Ascot winner is fantastic. We took the hood off him today, he arrived here in top order and won that with a bit in hand.”
Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HAMPTON COURT S.-G3, £90,000, ASC, 6-22, 3yo, 9f 212yT, 2:05.40, g/f.
1–#@BENBATL (GB), 126, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nahrain (GB) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Fr, GISW-US, SW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $1,041,961), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Bahr (GB), by Generous (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lady of the Sea (GB), by Mill Reef
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $185,129. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Orderofthegarter (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Kitty Kiernan (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £19,350.
3–Mirage Dancer (GB), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Heat Haze (GB), by Green Desert. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £9,684.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 3.30, 7.00.
Also Ran: Taj Mahal (Ire), Irishcorrespondent (Ire), Speedo Boy (Fr), Mucho Applause (Ire), Tamleek, Kings Gift (Ire), Grey Britain (GB), Rodaini, Bay of Poets (Ire), Savile Row (Fr). Scratched: Gold Spinner (Ire), Jake’s Hill (GB), Larchmont Lad (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Reflecting on an upturn in recent fortunes, winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor commented, “When he won the first time [at Doncaster], we thought that he was the right horse for the big races. He finished fifth in the Derby and ran well, but he came from too far back and finished strong so we thought that a mile-and-a-quarter would be better for him. Sheikh Mohammed made the decision to run him in today’s race and Benbatl is obviously improving all the time. Today’s trip was brilliant for him, he was in a nice position and kicked really well. He was very backward last year, I looked after him in the winter and then, early in the season, he showed some class. It is brilliant to win at Royal Ascot as these races are hard to win, but finally we found the right horse to win.” Looking ahead, the trainer continued, “We will keep options open and we might take him to York for the [July 29 G2] York S. or the [Aug. 23 G2] Great Voltigeur S., or we could go for the [Aug. 5 G3] Gordon S. at Goodwood. We might then give him a break before the [Oct. 21 G1] Champion S. [back here] at Ascot. I like him, he is a very honest horse and could be anything for the future.” Complimenting the talents of rider Oison Murphy, bin Suroor added, “Oisin is a jockey for the future. He is doing really well and has always done a good job for us in Dubai and here. We are going to use him even more in the future.”
Aidan O’Brien was delighted with the performance of runner-up Orderofthegarter, who was returning off a fifth in Deauville’s May 14 G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and a sixth in Chantilly’s June 4 G1 Prix du Jockey Club, and said, “He has no bother with a mile-and-a-quarter and I am delighted with his run.” Ryan Moore was equally succinct and added, “He ran a very good race and the winner is a good horse. The right horses came to the fore.”
Mirage Dancer, who was a promising fourth behind subsequent G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the May 12 Listed Dee S. at Chester, was unable to provide Sir Michael Stoute with a record-breaking 76th Royal winner having threatened to do so soon after turning for home here. However, Stoute was concentrating on what lies ahead and said,”It was very pleasing and he’s a progressive horse who is improving with each race. He’s got a great frame that he’s got to fill, he has a good mind and is a good athlete and I think he’s got a good future.”
Benbatl is the first black-type scorer out of G1 Prix de l’Opera and GI Flower Bowl Invitational-winning British highweight Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk), who was also second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and is herself a half-sister to the dual stakes winner Baharah (Elusive Quality). Their dam Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}) earned her stripes here in the G2 Ribblesdale S. and in York’s G3 Musidora S., as well as hitting the board in the G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Irish Oaks and GI Flower Bowl Invitational. Benbatl shares his third dam, Lady of the Sea (GB) (Mill Reef), with G1 Toorak H. victor Our Rokkii (NZ) (Roc de Cambes {NZ}) and the antipodean connection is enhanced by fourth dam La Mer (NZ) (Copenhagen II {GB}), a multiple champion and G1SW New Zealand Horse of the Year. The winner is kin to the 2-year-old colt Ta Allak (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a yearling colt by Dansili {GB}) and a filly foal, like himself, by Dubawi (Ire).
More Scat Daddy Magic At Royal Ascot As Sioux Nation Wins the Norfolk
| 1st at ASC, Gr. Stk, £100,000 | G2 Norfolk S. | (5f) | Winner: Sioux Nation, c, 2 by Scat Daddy |
Sioux Nation | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Amazingly for a Ballydoyle juvenile ridden by Ryan Moore, Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) was allowed to drift to 14-1 for Thursday’s G2 Norfolk S. but he turned that logic on its head to provide his late sire with another success at the Royal meeting. Settled last of the quartet racing on the far side opposite the remainder who were led by McErin (Trappe Shot), the imposing bay whose starting price was determined partly by his seemingly disadvantageous low draw and latest effort when sixth of seven in the Listed Marble Hill S. on testing ground at The Curragh May 27 made his move approaching the final furlong. Taking over from that small pack’s leader Frozen Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) passing the furlong marker, he asserted while drifting left late on and hit the line a half-length ahead of the 13-2 joint-favourite Santry (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) who surged clear of McErin’s group. “I would have been better off on the other side, as there were more horses and I would have got more of a lead but this horse would have won on either side,” Moore said. “Luckily, we had speed where we were and we were kind of always ahead. I wouldn’t read too much into the track or the draw–this is a very good colt. When you see how big he is, he needed his first run and then the ground has gone against him.”
Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
NORFOLK S.-G2, £100,000, ASC, 6-22, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.88, g/f.
1–#@SIOUX NATION, 127, c, 2, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Dream the Blues (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Catch the Blues (Ire), by Bluebird
3rd Dam: Dear Lorraine (Fr), by Nonoalco
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Fethard Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; T-Ryan Moore. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $89,189. Werk Nick Rating: First SW from this cross.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.2–Santry (Ire), 127, c, 2, Harbour Watch (Ire)–Babylonian (GB), by Shamardal. (€24,000 Ylg ’16 GOFSPT). O-Ray Flegg, John Bousfield & Steve Ryan; B-Peter Molony (IRE); T-Declan Carroll. £21,500.
3–Cardsharp (GB), 127, c, 2, Lonhro (Aus)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £10,760.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 14.00, 6.50, 8.00.
Also Ran: Frozen Angel (Ire), It Dont Come Easy (Ire), True Blue Moon (Ire), McErin, Koditime (Ire), Consequences (Ire), Havana Grey (GB), Billy Dylan (Ire), Nine Below Zero (GB), Pilkington (GB), Viscount Loftus (Ire), Gift In Time (Ire), New Empire (GB), Poorauldjosephine (GB). Scratched: Rock of Estonia (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Sioux Nation started out over this trip with a debut third on a yielding surface at Naas Apr. 9 before running second to Brother Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in a 6 1/2-furlong Leopardstown maiden May 7. Sent to Cork 12 days later to open his account in emphatic fashion over six furlongs, he beat only one rival in the Marble Hill at a rain-afflicted Curragh during Guineas weekend but gained Ryan Moore’s admiration in the process. His size and stride and the drop back to five furlongs on this rapid summer surface brought out the quality that his rider felt despite the unfavourable underfoot conditions last time and he delivered a first Ballydoyle juvenile winner at the Royal meeting in 2017 and another for his much-missed sire after Lady Aurelia, Caravaggio, No Nay Never and Acapulco. “Ryan loved him the last day at The Curragh and said he was pure raw pace. He’s a big powerful, fast horse so we were looking forward to this,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “He’s a speed horse and a sound surface is always best for them. Ryan wanted cover on him and did a marvellous job to get it in a group with just three others. He’s a massive horse and to be doing this at this time of his career is incredible, really. He’s a horse everyone at home loved from the first time he worked. Scat Daddy was a really great stallion and put pace into them. He was about pure speed and he’s a massive loss.”
Santry was the clear winner of his group and reigning champion jockey Jim Crowley was clearly upset with the way the race panned out. “If the other horse had been my side, we’d have won,” he declared. “My horse just gets to the front and thinks he’s done enough. He always had everything beat on the stand’s side, unfortunately he had nothing to battle with. He’s a very good horse and he handled the ground well.” Santry’s trainer Declan Carroll added, “He will go further, I will have a chat with Jim and we’ll see how he comes out of this race. He’s a nice horse, I am proud of him. We are just a bit unlucky.” Charlie Johnston, son of trainer Mark Johnston, said of Cardsharp, “He ran super race. After he got beat here at on his second start we thought he’d definitely want six furlongs, but after he then showed so much speed when he won at Beverley we decided to reroute and drop back to five. He can run over five or six and there are plenty options going forward. He’s a fun two-year-old for the summer, that’s for sure.”
Sioux Nation is the second foal out of Dream the Blues, successful on her only start at Redcar in 2011 for the Kevin Ryan stable. She is a daughter of the highweight sprinter Catch the Blues (Ire) (Bluebird), successful in the G3 Ballyogan S. and third in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and who is also a half to the dam of the G1 Prix Morny third and Spanish champion 2-year-old colt Vladimir (Ire) (Kheleyf) and the G3 Prix de Cabourg scorer My Catch (Ire) (Camacho {GB}). Her 2016 colt is a full-brother to Sioux Nation, while she has a colt foal by Declaration of War.
fonte : TDN
