Caravaggio delivers another masterpiece to remain unbeaten
A brilliant surge of speed carried Caravaggio to a thrilling victory in the Commonwealth Cup, with the Aidan O’Brien colt retaining his unbeaten record and putting up a career-best performance in the Group 1 contest.
Anticipating fireworks in a major race can often lead to disappointment, but this was a glorious exception with the first three in the market producing a marvellous battle for speed supremacy and Caravaggio emerging on top to bring his tally to six from six.
The Darley July Cup and Australia’s new mega-rich Everest Sprint in October were mentioned as possible targets for the winner.
Regarded by his trainer as the fastest horse he has trained, Caravaggio cut down the Godolphin pair Harry Angel and Blue Point in the closing stages of the six-furlong sprint to win by three-quarters of a length and half a length.
Two furlongs from the finish the 5-6 favourite had plenty of work to do, but when Ryan Moore set him alight, the son of Scat Daddy went into overdrive and fully lived up to his big reputation.
O’Brien said: “He’s a brilliant horse. His change of pace is unreal. He’s just an unbelievably quick horse. Ryan [Moore] was very confident. He said he wasn’t going to rush him, he was going to come late and that’s what he did.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a quicker horse. It was only his second start of the season and we knew it was three-year-olds today but it would be older horses next time, so I’m delighted.
O’Brien added: “He only raced for about two and a half furlongs. He was just ready to step up another notch. I was very nervous, but Ryan was very cool.
“The owners wanted to come here and then take on the older horses a bit later on, maybe in the Darley July Cup.” Paddy Power make him 11-10 favourite (from 9-4) for that event.
Moore said: “Caravaggio is a very, very good horse. He’s done everything right, as his record shows. He won the Coventry and the Phoenix Stakes last year and was good on his return at Naas, but today was his biggest test and he showed what ability he has.
“That was an exceptional race and he beat two very good horses. There’s quite a headwind and it has been hard to make up ground today and yesterday.
“They made him work, but he picked them up really well in the end. He reared in the stalls before the starter let them go but soon got into a good rhythm.”
Looking further ahead, a trip to Australia for the world’s richest race in October could be on the cards. O’Brien said: “The lads have it in their heads about the Everest Sprint in the autumn.”
Coolmore chief John Magnier, back at his favourite meeting having had a tough time with illness in recent years, said: “That was wonderful – a very good performance. It came along at the right time, just like the cavalry.”
Commonwealth Cup result and analysis
Wonderful Winter breezes to third straight Group 1
Winter led home a Coronation Stakes one-two-three for Aidan O’Brien, beating stablemates Roly Poly and Hydrangea in a Ballydoyle clean sweep to secure a third successive Group 1.
Having produced explosive performances in winning the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, this comfortable two-and-a-quarter-length success may have lacked the fireworks of those Classic triumphs.
But it was no less authoritative as she lengthened clear inside the final furlong to provide O’Brien and rider Ryan Moore with a Group 1 double on the day, following Caravaggio’s Commonwealth Cup victory.
“She’s a grand big mare. She’s getting relaxed, isn’t she?” O’Brien said. “I thought she was a little bit lazy early in the race, but when Ryan got her together she galloped out strongly. She’s doing very well [physically].
“All these Group 1 races are hard to win, so we just go from one race to another. She’s obviously a very good filly to make it [the Group 1 treble] happen. She was very good at Newmarket and the Curragh and did it well again here.”
The first filly to complete this Group 1 treble since Attraction in 2004, Winter has proved her dominance among the three-year-old fillies, but could be given the opportunity to test her mettle against the older mares in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket next month, for which she was introduced as the 5-4 favourite with Paddy Power.
O’Brien mentioned the Falmouth as a possible target, but also raised the tantalising prospect of seeing Winter upped in trip.
“We’ll see how she is and how her training goes,” he said. “She’s had four races in quick enough time but she’s thriving.
“I’d say she’d go further. Her best furlong was the last furlong – she galloped out. Two and a half out you’d almost say, ‘Is she going to go away?’ But then she got going.”
Moore praised the filly’s professionalism, suggesting there was plenty still in the tank. He said: “She’s only doing what she has to do, really. She travelled beautifully through the race and is getting very professional. She’s got a lot of class.”
O’Brien declared himself delighted with the performances of Roly Poly and Hydrangea, who filled the places without threatening to challenge the decisive winner, saying they had “both run crackers”.
However, there was a sting in the tail for Seamie Heffernan, rider of second Roly Poly, and Padraig Beggy, rider of Hydrangea, who picked up suspensions.
Heffernan was found guilty of careless riding and picked up a five-day ban, while Derby-winning rider Beggy was deemed to have used his whip above the permitted level and was suspended for two days.
Minding on comeback trail
Aidan O’Brien had news of last season’s superstar filly Minding, who was forced to miss Ascot having suffered a setback before an intended run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
“She’s good. She’s back on long reins on Monday for three weeks and then hopefully she’ll be ready to ride again, and then it will probably take a couple of months after that [before she runs again].”
Of Rhododendron, who was pulled up in Sunday’s Prix de Diane, he added: “She’s okay, a little bit quiet in herself. We’ll go gentle and wait for her for a couple of weeks.”
Sea the Stars’s Stradivarius Calls the Tune in the Queen’s Vase
| 5th at RAS, Gr. Stk, 161250 | G2 Queen’s Vase | (13f 211y) | Winner: Stradivarius (Ire), c, 3 by Sea the Stars (Ire) |
Stradivarius | racingfotos.com
By Sean Cronin
Royal Ascot’s G2 Queen’s Vase has been the exclusive domain of Sir Michael Stoute, Saeed bin Suroor, Mark Johnston and Aidan O’Brien this century, but it was the turn of John Gosden–who registered his sole success in 1992 with Landowner (Ire) (Kris {GB})–to crash the party as the Bjorn Nielsen homebred Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) outstayed his rivals to prevail in Friday’s latest edition. Fresh from an Apr. 19 10-furlong handicap score at Beverley and a last out second upped to an extended 12 panels around Chester’s tight turns last time May 10, the 11-2 chance was buried under cover along the fence in seventh as Johnston’s Time to Study (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) bounded along on the front end. Andrea Atzeni remained unflustered when caught in traffic off the home turn and weaved a passage to the front with 100 yards remaining, driving out his mount to assert by a neck from Count Octave (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as Secret Advisor (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) ran on from the rear to finish two lengths back in third. “We planned this race for some time after Chester, Andrea’s ridden him beautifully from an outside draw and saved ground all the way,” Gosden explained. “He slipped here, he slipped there, wriggle, wriggle, and found his way through. He’s not a big horse and won it in good style. He’s a [G1] St Leger type, he’s improving all the time and has a great attitude.”
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEENS VASE-G2, £161,250, ASC, 6-23, 3yo, 13f 211yT, 3:01.47, g/f.
1–#@STRADIVARIUS (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Private Life (Fr), by Bering (GB)
2nd Dam: Poughkeepsie (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
3rd Dam: Pawneese (Ire), by Carvin II
(330,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Andrea Atzeni. £91,445. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $130,943. *1/2 to Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Ger, $121,198; and Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), GSP-Eng, $163,881. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Count Octave (GB), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Honorine (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O/B-Qatar Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £34,669.
3–Secret Advisor (Fr), 126, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Sub Rose (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Godolphin; B-Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Charlie Appleby. £17,351.
Margins: NK, 2, HD. Odds: 5.50, 8.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Belgravia (Ire), Time To Study (Fr), Desert Skyline (Ire), Mister Manduro (Fr), Face the Facts (Ire), Alqamar (GB), Night of Glory (GB), Haripour (Ire), Wisconsin (Jpn), Fierce Impact (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Reduced in distance from two miles and upgraded to Group 2 status for the first time this year, the contest is an ideal trial for Doncaster’s Sept. 16 G1 St Leger, notwithstanding Leading Light (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire})’s victories in both four years ago. John Gosden confirmed the world’s oldest Classic as the chestnut’s target and said, “He enjoyed the distance and all being well, we will point him to the St Leger. I think he might just have one more run before then. He is a light-framed horse and I want to keep him fresh. He doesn’t need over-racing so he can just have a prep run and then go.”
Runner-up Count Octave is also a St Leger possible, according to trainer Andrew Balding, and may take in that race’s traditional stepping stone, York’s Aug. 23 G2 Great Voltigeur S., en route to Doncaster. “This is only his fourth career start, he’s still learning and we’re delighted with him,” Balding said. “He’s a horse for the future and is a lovely stayer going forward. He might just be a Leger horse this year, but he wouldn’t want the ground too soft as he’s a top-of-the-ground horse. I think York would suit him very well as a track. Obviously we’ve got to discuss it with Sheikh Fahad, but to me it would be the obvious place for him.”
Charlie Appleby was equally pleased after Secret Advisor made up ground from rear in the straight to get up for third nearing the line. “I am delighted with that,” he said. “We always felt he’d improve with stepping up in trip and he is a nice horse for the future. This is only the fourth race of his career and he should improve more. Staying is going to be his game, that is what he is bred to do.” Rider William Buick added, “It was a good run, but he wasn’t really travelling early on so I had to settle at the back. They didn’t go a great gallop, he made up great ground at the end and is one for the future.”
Stradivarius is out of the dual stakes-placed Private Life (Fr) (Bering {GB}) and is a half-brother to G3 Bavarian Classic and G3 Furstenberg-Rennen-winning German highweight Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), G3 John Porter S. third Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and the stakes-placed Magical Eve (Ger) (Oratorio {Ire}). His winning granddam Poughkeepsie (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) is the third dam of G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and G1 Melbourne Cup-winning Australian champion stayer Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). His third dam is the Pawneese (Ire), who was French champion 3-year-old filly in 1976 courtesy of her triumphs in the G1 Prix de Diane and Horse of the Year in England in the same year having captured the G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at this track.
Galileo’s Winter Dominates the Coronation
| 4th at RAS, Gr. Stk, 430000 | G1 Coronation S. | (7f 213y) | Winner: Winter (Ire), f, 3 by Galileo (Ire) |
Winter alone at the wire in the Coronation| racingfotos.com
By Sean Cronin
Susan Magnier’s Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) lit up Newmarket’s Rowley Mile when annexing last month’s G1 1000 Guineas, repeating the dose more impressively when besting stablemates Roly Poly (War Front) and Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish equivalent three weeks later, and she powered home in Friday’s G1 Coronation S. as that trifecta was replicated at Royal Ascot. Allowed time to find a rhythm under cover in fourth after exiting the outside box, the 4-9 favourite cruised into contention off the home turn and dominated under urging once pouncing for control with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining to comfortably account for Roly Poly by 2 1/4 lengths, with Hydrangea a further neck away in third. “She was really impressive and did that really well,” said Anne-Marie O’Brien. “She’s really good and had to battle, but was by far the most superior there.” Husband and trainer Aidan added, “She’s a filly thriving from race to race. She travelled well, Ryan [Moore] had her in a lovely position and she came home really well. She’s very classy, she gets the [one-mile] trip really well and gallops out strong when asked. [Former trainer] David [Wachman] thought the world of her last year and she’s just getting better and better.” Moore heaped further praise on the winner and continued, “She travelled beautifully through the race, she’s very professional and only does what she has to do. It’s a hard task to win two Guineas and then come here, but the trainer can do those magic things. She’s beaten good horses from France and America, it’s concrete form and she’s a high-class filly.”
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CORONATION S.-G1, £430,000, ASC, 6-23, 3yo, f, 7f 213yT, 1:39.39, g/f.
1–WINTER (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Laddies Poker Two (Ire), by Choisir (Aus)
2nd Dam: Break of Day, by Favorite Trick
3rd Dam: Quelle Affaire, by Riverman
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Laddies Poker Two Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £243,853. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 7-4-1-2, $894,352. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Roly Poly, 126, f, 3, War Front–Misty For Me (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). ($575,000 RNA Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Misty For Me Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. £92,450.3–Hydrangea (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Beauty Is Truth (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Beauty Is Truth Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £46,268.Margins: 2 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 0.40, 12.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Dabyah (Ire), La Coronel, Tomyris (GB), Precieuse (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Winter becomes just the second filly to complete the 1000 Guineas-Irish 1000 Guineas-Coronation S. treble, following Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) in 2004, and may tread a similar path to that trailblazer, who lost her perfect record in Newmarket’s G1 Falmouth S. backing up her win here. “We might head to the [July 14] Falmouth in three weeks’ time, but we will see how she is as she has had four quick races in not a lot of time,” O’Brien revealed.
Reflecting on the performances of Roly Poly and Hydrangea, O’Brien continued, “We’re delighted with them both and they have run crackers.” Roly Poly’s jockey Seamus Heffernan was in agreement and said, “It was a good run and they are three really good fillies.” Hydrangea’s rider Padraig Beggy was reading from the same script and opined, “Hydrangea has run a cracker, she does not know how to run a bad race and always tries her best. I got a little outpaced on that ground, but she tries her best and it doesn’t really matter what the ground is. On that surface, she’d get a mile-and-a-quarter.”
Winter is the second foal and sole black-type performer out of the impressive 2010 Wokingham H. scorer Laddies Poker Two (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}). She descends from French champion juvenile and G1 Prix Morny winner Ancient Regime (Olden Times), who also produced G3 Concorde S.-winning sire Rami (Riverman), G3 Prix Eclipse-winning sire Crack Regiment (El Gran Senor) and Listed Prix Yacowlef-winning G1 Prix de l’Abbaye runner-up La Grande Epoque (Lyphard). Winter is followed by two more sired by Galileo–the 2-year-old filly Snowflakes (Ire), who ran eighth in the G3 Albany S. earlier in the day, and a yearling filly.
Scat Daddy’s Caravaggio Wins Commonwealth Cup Battle
| 3rd at ASC, Gr. Stk, £400,000 | G1 Commonwealth Cup | (6f) | Winner: Caravaggio, c, 3 by Scat Daddy |
Caravaggio | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
It was billed by many as the race of the current Royal meeting and Friday’s G1 Commonwealth Cup did not disappoint, with Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) getting the better of the Godolphin pair of Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) close home to provide the middle part of a group 1 treble for Ballydoyle this week. Hardening into 5-6 favouritism despite the healthy respect shown to his opponents, Susan Magnier’s unbeaten grey who had given notice that he was back when powering to success in Naas’s G3 Lacken S. gave a moment of concern when rearing in the stalls before racing mid-pack as Harry Angel served it up on the front end. It took until the last 100 yards for last year’s G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Coventry S. winner to get to the royal blue contingent, but at the line he had 3/4 of a length to spare with Harry Angel, who heroically held off Blue Point by a half length. “He got into a good rhythm in the race and they were two very good colts leading him, so I had to wake him up to do it and it is hard to make up ground here today for whatever reason,” jockey Ryan Moore explained. “It’s the first time he’s been asked a serious question and he was a bit unsure at first. Although they made him work, he picked them up well in the end. I think that was a fairly exceptional race and he beat two very good horses who weren’t stopping. I think there is some more improvement in him.”
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COMMONWEALTH CUP-G1, £400,000, ASC, 6-23, 3yo, 6fT, 1:13.49, g/f.
1–CARAVAGGIO, 129, c, 3, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Mekko Hokte (SW-US), by Holy Bull
2nd Dam: Aerosilver, by Relaunch
3rd Dam: Silver in Flight, by Silver Series
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Windmill Manor Farms Inc & Petaluma Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £226,840. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 6-6-0-0, $659,513. *1/2 to My Jen (Fusaichi Pegasus), GSW-US, $203,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.2–Harry Angel (Ire), 129, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Beatrix Potter (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (£44,000 Ylg ’15 DNPRM). O-Godolphin; B-CBS Bloodstock (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £86,000.
3–Blue Point (Ire), 129, c, 3, Shamardal–Scarlett Rose (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). (110,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; 200,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Oak Lodge Bloodstock (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £43,040.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 3. Odds: 0.80, 2.75, 4.50.
Also Ran: Bound for Nowhere, Mr Scarlet (GB), Tis Marvellous (GB), Straight Right (Fr), Visionary (Ire), Intelligence Cross, Legendary Lunch (Ire), Victory Angel (Ire), Yalta (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Whatever has been thrown at Caravaggio, he has dealt with with an admirable professionalism alongside his obvious class. Contending with rain-eased going when landing the Listed Marble Hill S. at The Curragh last May, he had those conditions again when also overcoming a draw which placed him away from the pace in this meeting’s G2 Coventry S. the following month. His 2-year-old farewell was a premature one, as after his stroll in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh in August he was ruled out of the G1 Middle Park S. with a setback and as he was prepared for his sophomore season there was talk of a Guineas bid which only went away in the lead-up to the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Set fair for a sprinting route which began with the G3 Lacken S. at Naas May 21, Caravaggio beat the Coventry placegetter Psychedelic Funk by the same margin that he had at last year’s Royal meeting which showed he was at least where he was in 2016.
With Harry Angel blazing the trail up ahead, the much-vaunted pride of Ballydoyle was able to take his time in mid-division and move into the race just as the pace was becoming too hard to sustain. Despite Harry Angel having done too much early on, Caravaggio had to fight to get alongside the talented Clive Cox representative and the determined Blue Point with a half furlong left and it was only in the final drag to the line that he asserted his superiority. Interestingly, the Lacken third Mr Scarlet (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was 6 1/4 lengths behind Caravaggio this time, having been 6 1/2 behind in the Lacken. As if this success in such a strong renewal of this new contest was not enough, Aidan O’Brien was suggesting there was plenty to come. “We were treating it as a second stage race, as he had a lovely race at Naas when he won last time,” he said. “He was racing against three-year-olds again today and after that, we thought he would be stepping up against older horses. He was just ready for his next step today. The lads had it in their mind to come here and then maybe somewhere like the [July 15 G1] July Cup [at Newmarket] and then somewhere else after that. The lads have a plan in their mind that he might go to Australia for the [G1] Everest [at Randwick Oct. 14], so we have to be very conscious now if we want him to last for the autumn.”
There was a genuine sense of occasion from the associated Coolmore members at Ascot on Friday and O’Brien revealed that he was feeling some pressure. “I was very nervous as he was just ready to come through today–he was just ready as we hadn’t really chased him but we always knew he was very brave,” he said. “Ryan was super confident on him and put him to sleep in the race. He said he would have a look at halfway where everybody was and that is what he did. He had plenty to do at halfway behind two good horses and he only raced for two and a half furlongs. He was very relaxed in himself before the race–he was very natural and there was no edge to him. He is a natural free sweater anyway, but I was surprised by how cool he was–he is a very calm horse. He is very quick, I would be happier at two furlongs than six furlongs with this fella. He is the fastest horse we have ever had. We felt that, because it was his second run back, we were afraid to do too much because we didn’t want to lose that brilliance that he has. I’d say there’s plenty left, as he wasn’t worked up to it in any way and we were letting him come along slowly.” John Magnier added, “Every time we get a winner here, it always means something. We were unlucky to lose Scat Daddy a few years ago and this horse is his fourth winner at Royal Ascot this year. Hopefully, this fellow will take his place. He is unbeaten so far, so fingers crossed. He is a better racehorse than Scat Daddy and it is a cross that we need. It’s just fortunate for us that he has come at the right time, like the cavalry.”
Harry Angel lived up to his billing and trainer Clive Cox was delighted afterwards. “It was a great run, a great horse race,” he commented. “He wore his heart on his sleeve a little bit there, but when you take the blindfold off them and they jump that quick there’s not a lot you can do about it. Adam [Kirby] has given him a great ride and it was a very, very special race. I don’t think it will be long before he takes his revenge in a group one race. We’ll see how he comes back from this race, but we’re just very pleased with this.” Blue Point’s trainer Charlie Appleby said of the third, “It was a great race to watch and it was billed as a great sprint, so none of them let it down. William [Buick] said coming back in that he’s a machine and a group 1 horse, but that he is unfortunate to meet two better ones in front. From my personal point of view, he needs to get on a flatter track as he has all the attributes for that. He travels very well and has got a turn of foot, so he has an array of options.”
Caravaggio is a half-brother to the GII Gallant Bloom H. winner My Jen who descends from the stakes-winning and GII Black Helen H. runner-up Silver in Flight. She in turn is the second dam of the GIII Lexington S. and GIII Lawrence Realization H. winner and GI Secretariat S. third Sharp Performance (Kris S.). Silver In Flight’s stakes-winning half-sister Stark Winter (Graustark) is the dam of the four-times grade I-winning sire Bien Bien and the GIII Long Branch S. and GIII Royal Palm H.-winning sire Dr. Schwartzman. This is also the family of the GI Donn H. winner Spring At Last and the GI Las Virgenes S. heroine Sharp Lisa (Dixieland Band), who was responsible for this stable’s group performers by Galileo (Ire), Foundry (Ire) and Housesofparliament (Ire), the latter of which was third in last year’s G1 St Leger. Mekko Hokte also has a yearling full-sister to Caravaggio and a 2017 colt by American Pharoah.
Teofilo’s Permian Battles to King Edward VII Success
Permian | Racing Post
By Sean Cronin
Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) weakened to finish tenth in the June 3 G1 Epsom Derby after beating subsequent G3 Hampton Court S. hero Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in last month’s G2 Dante S. at York, and his aptitude for a battle was in evidence once again as he delivered another Royal winner for trainer Mark Johnston in Friday’s G2 King Edward VII S. at Ascot. Positioned in a prominent second after William Buick steadily angled his mount across the track from a wide gate, the 6-1 chance was stoked up on the home turn to seize control at the top of the straight and he kept on ruggedly under a final-quarter drive to bravely hold Khalidi (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) by a half length, with Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) becoming yet another placegetter for the Sir Michael Stoute team a further 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third. “Mark [Johnston] gave me a lot of confidence beforehand, in the sense that he just wanted the horse to go forward and get across,” explained Buick after registering his third win of the week. “I wanted to go forward without asking him too much and the horse did exactly that. You don’t want to be travelling too wide around here and he got a nice pitch when they steadied the tempo down. Mark and the team were surprised how bad he ran in the Derby and I wasn’t any help as I had no explanation either. He certainly felt like a much better horse today and it was a good performance.”
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £225,000, ASC, 6-23, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:30.10, g/f.
1–PERMIAN (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Tessa Reef (Ire) (MSW-Fr), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Massaraat, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Pasadoble, by Prove Out
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-William Buick. £127,598. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-2, $374,105. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Khalidi (GB), 126, c, 3, High Chaparral (Ire)–Bezique (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (170,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Nizar Anwar; B-Aston House Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. £48,375.
3–Crystal Ocean (GB), 126, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Crystal Star (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £24,210.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 6.00, 10.00, 2.25.
Also Ran: Raheen House (Ire), Glencadam Glory (GB), Call To Mind (GB), Salouen (Ire), Frankuus (Ire), Sir John Lavery (Ire), Best Solution (Ire), Intern (Ire), Best of Days (GB). Scratched: Wolf Country (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s bay was second to Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Epsom’s Apr. 26 Investec Derby Trial before adding the May 6 Listed Newmarket S. to a resume which now reads six wins from a dozen starts. He is not the first to bounce back from a 10th in the Derby to win this “Ascot Derby” as the feat had already been achieved by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained duo Papal Bull (GB) in 2006 and Across the Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) last year.
Khalidi fared worse than Permian at Epsom, finishing 14th, and he too bounced back here. John Gosden was understandably delighted with his performance and said, “He ran a great race and I am thrilled with him. He’s had a lot of racing, as has the winner, and both have run exceptional races for horses who have been so busy. We’ll see where we are and where we go from here, but he’s a real tough cookie. It was difficult in the race for Olivier [Peslier] to get where he wanted to get. The winner had first run on us, but Khalidi has run his heart out and done nothing wrong at all. It was a great performance.” Peslier added, “He has run well, but we just could not get there and the line came too soon.”
Sir Michael Stoute remains tied atop Royal Ascot’s all-time leaderboard with Sir Henry Cecil on 75 winners after yet another placing this week, but he was nonetheless happy with the run of Crystal Ocean. “It was a good run and it shows he is consistent,” said the Newmarket-based conditioner. “He is a horse with a lot of scope and will progress.” Crystal Ocean’s rider Andrea Atzeni added, “The pace was a bit to slow, but it was good run and he is improving. He is a horse for the future.”
Permian is a son of the dual stakes winner Tessa Reef (Ire) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) and is a half-brother to Listed Wolferton H. second Second Wave (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), the three-time stakes placegetter Samana Cay (Authorized {Ire}) and a yearling colt by New Approach (Ire). Tessa Reef is a daughter of Listed Prix Amandine victress Massaraat (Nureyev), herself a full-sister to the storied MG1SW multiple champion Miesque, who in turn produced MG1SW sire Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector), MG1SW European highweight East of the Moon (Private Account) and the GSW sires Miesque’s Son (Mr. Prospector) and Mingun (A.P. Indy). Massaraat is also kin to the unraced dam of MG1SW European champion Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}).
Dabirsim’s Different League Upsets Alpha Centauri In the Albany
| 1st at ASC, Gr. Stk, £80,000 | G3 Albany S. | (6f) | Winner: Different League (Fr), f, 2 by Dabirsim (Fr) |
Different League holds off Alpha Centauri | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Largely ignored at 20-1, Different League (Fr) provided her first-season sire Dabirsim (Fr) with a momentous result as she upstaged the 2-1 favourite Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in a thrilling finish to Friday’s G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot. Last seen doubling her tally over this trip at Angers May 23, the bay tanked her way to the front of the far-side group before the furlong pole under Antoine Hamelin. Kicking decisively passing the quarter pole, she was always holding the similarly unbeaten market-leader in the run to the line where she held a neck advantage. “She’s a great filly and this is a dream,” Hamelin said. “Beforehand, I wanted to sit fourth or fifth, but she got to the front and was not at her maximum. The other filly just pushed me on.”
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ALBANY S.-G3, £80,000, ASC, 6-23, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:14.60, g/f.
1–#@DIFFERENT LEAGUE (FR), 126, f, 2, by Dabirsim (Fr)
1st Dam: Danseuse Corse (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Corse (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Par Un Nez (Ire), by Cyrano de Bergerac (Ire)
(€8,000 Wlg ’15 ARQDEC; £14,000 RNA Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-Mme Theresa Marnane; B-Lotfi Kohli (FR); T-Matthieu Palussiere; J-Antoine Hamelin. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $80,805. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Alpha Centauri (Ire), 126, f, 2, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £17,200.
3–Take Me With You, 126, f, 2, Scat Daddy–Me and Miss Jones, by Smarty Jones. ($205,000 Wlg ’15 KEENOV; $285,000 Ylg ’16 FTSAUG; $800,000 2yo ’17 FTFMAR). O-Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Mane Chance LLC (KY); T-Jeremy Noseda. £8,608.Margins: NK, 3, HF. Odds: 20.00, 2.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Mistress of Venice (GB), Madeline (Ire), Actress (Ire), Clemmie (Ire), Snowflakes (Ire), Miss Bar Beach (Ire), Princess Peggy, Black Sails (GB), Fairyland, Starlight Mystery (Ire), Natural (Ire), Jo’s Girl (Ire), Ertiyad (GB), Whitefountainfairy (Ire), Electric Landlady (Ire), Summer Shamal (Fr), Armum (Ire). Scratched: Time For Wine (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Sent to the Maisons-Laffitte-based trainer Matthieu Palussiere after failing to make her reserve at Doncaster in August, Different League became the second winner for her Haras du Grandcamp-based freshman sire when scoring on debut over five furlongs at Lyon-Parilly May 11 and 12 days later followed up by two lengths at Angers with the first two clear of the remainder. Showing the kind of natural pace expected of a Wesley Ward trainee throughout the early stages, she had that trainer’s Fairyland (Scat Daddy) covered inside the last two furlongs as the chief American raider started to tire having led the stand’s-side bunch. It was just the Irish sensation Alpha Centauri who could go with the filly who had raced solely in the French provinces as the line approached and although the runner-up never gave up the chase she never looked likely to get there.
Palussiere was entirely surprised by the result, which marks a watershed moment in his career. “I was confident of a very good run, but to win I didn’t know,” he said. “I was a little worried as she jumped out, but she has a great temperament and is very professional. After two or three furlongs I was confident–the jockey knows her well. Her first start was just an educational, but her performance at Angers on her second start was exceptional. We were always going to come here for this. She has many options now, we have a few ideas in our heads.” Palussiere, who previously spent 18 years in Ireland, including four with the Aga Khan Studs and four with trainer Michael Halford, was reflecting on a pinnacle of that period. “It means everything to me, I have always wanted to win a big one in England–at Royal Ascot or Cheltenham, as I have a few jumpers too,” he added. Bansha House Stables maestro Con Marnane was on hand for the celebrations and said, “We picked her up for eight grand, but we couldn’t sell her as a yearling–we had her in at Doncaster Sales last year, but couldn’t sell her. Nobody wanted her, but I am glad they didn’t–she’s an absolute beauty. We’d love to put her away for the Breeders’ Cup, if failing that returning after the summer for some of the autumn group ones.”
Jessica Harrington was unperturbed after Alpha Centauri’s first defeat. “The other filly just got first run on her,” she commented. “She’s never had to race that hard before, she’s done everything very easily. The further she was going, the more she was putting her head down. Another couple of strides, she might have got it.” Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited’s Take Me With You (Scat Daddy) managed to gain third place and come out best of the stand’s side, but trainer Jeremy Noseda had his own ideas about a track bias. ” ‘m just infuriated by watering policies,” he said. “Why are they watering this ground? Why 4mm of water last night? The whole bias of the track has changed. The watering in this country has become absurd and ridiculous. and I’m frustrated. I’ve never encouraged anyone to water the track. Watering of these racecourses has come to a point where it’s absolutely ridiculous. If the Clerk of the Course, by his watering, wants to make results, then make results. But watering is changing results, it’s not natural. Watering is not creating fair racing.”
The winner shares her second dam Corse with the G3 Mariano Procopio runner-up Energia Galileo (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) and her full-brother Energia Impact (Brz), who was third in the G3 Jose Buarque de Macedo. Corse is herself a half-sister to the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire and G1 Middle Park S. runner-up Carrowkeel (Ire).
fonte : TDN
#RoyalAscot, day 4: #Caravaggio resta imbattuto nella Commonwealth Cup, #Winter miglior femmina di 3 anni in Europa!
Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series): Questo va veramente forte e forse per la prima volta crediamo ciecamente alle parole di Aidan O’Brien quando dice che Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) è il miglior velocista che abbia mai allenato.
Certo, Starspangledbanner andava forte, ma Caravaggio sinora ha fatto tutto con molta semplicità e non solo, risolvendo corse anche complicate come accaduto stavolta; Dopo una partenza lenta è servita tutta la freddezza e l’equilibrismo in sella da parte di Ryan Moore (redento dopo le corse ballate nel day 3) che ha preso il pennello (ci scusi il Merisi se ne abusiamo) e dipinto una traiettoria imprendibile per Harry Angel (Dark Angel) e Blue Point (Shamardal), due blues ma di allenatori diversi che hanno speso e hanno pagato i 1200 metri, filtrando all’interno di loro per scivolare via lungo la corda. Casomai qualche recriminazione ce l’ha Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) con in sella un non impeccabile David Romero Flores. Questo in America lavora meglio di Lady Aurelia secondo il suo allenatore, ma in corsa non ha fatto subito sentire il parziale “americaneggiante” ma piuttosto ha aspettato prima di aggiustarsi per poi finire bene in progresso, utile a prendere il quarto posto. Ma nulla a che vedere con il ritmo di Caravaggio, che aveva altra velocità nelle gambe anche se ha rischiato di brutto. I bookmakers esultano, perchè avevano un multiplo da £1 milione che scadeva sulla vittoria americana. Speriamo si siano coperti, almeno.
Caravaggio è ora imbattuto in 6 uscite e dopo la vittoria nel 2016 nelle Coventry eccolo tornare protagonista in un contesto selettivo, in una corsa giovane ma che genera stalloni e campioni.
Caravaggio infatti è un figlio dello scomparso Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) (4 vincitori al Royal per i suoi figli), la mamma è americana da Holy Bull, dal quale ha preso il mantello. Scat Daddy non c’è più ma ha lasciato una bella eredità, dunque verrà soppiantato in razza proprio da un cavallo che ha tutto per essere un eccellente velocista e razzatore. Livrea grigia su un telaio da carrarmato, il futuro è suo. La domanda è casomai dove funzionerà, se in America o Europa. IL VIDEO DELLA COMMONWEALTH CUP QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
Coronation Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Fillies): Altro grigio, altro regalo. Altro hat trick. Altra vittoria. Il Coolmore è partito. Crediamo non ci siano assolutamente dubbi sul fatto che Winter (Galileo) sia la miglior femmina di 3 anni in Europa e, a memoria, non ricordiamo una vincitrice di 1000 Ghinee inglesi, irlandesi e di Coronation Stakes G1. La grigia da Galileo ha completato l’hat trick crescendo sempre di più sia agonisticamente che fisicamente, al tondino era statuaria ed in corsa ha prodotto una buona performance nonostante un andamento tattico inatteso. Il tempo certifica un 1m 39s e spiccioli, significa che sono andati piano e difatti le 2 deputate a dare ritmo hanno creato solo caos a Precieuse (Tamayuz), supplementata, che è andata davanti e si è ritrovata a gestire i parziali per poi essere messa sotto attacco da Roly Poly (War Front) la quale ha fatto il gioco di Winter, presentatasi in mano ed in completo assetto da guerra. Dabyah ci ha provato restando in scia, ma subendo gli scarichi della Galileo con mamma da Choisir. Terza dall’esterno Hydrangea (Galileo), che ad un certo punto sembrava arrivare ultima. Insomma, a parte Winter, le altre sembrano normalissime. IL VIDEO DELLE CORONATION STAKES QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
Albany Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) (2yo): Sorpresa francese, grazie all’imbattuta Different League (Dabirsim), a 20/1, allenata da Matthieu Palussiere o meglio preparata, da colui il quale collabora con uno dei master del breeze up nel mondo quale Con Marnane. Di solito vende tutto, ma qualcuno lo tiene quando nessuno li vuole. Tra questi proprio Different League, ora titolare di 3 vittorie su 3, che grazie ad una monta efficace di Antoine Hamelin ha battuto la favorita Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman), forse a causa di una monta un pò troppo “semplice” da parte di Colm O’Donoghue sulla portacolori Niarchos, quando le 2 si sono staccate in lotta sullo steccato far side. Al terzo posto Take Me With You (Scat Daddy), mentre deludenti le altre attese.
La vincitrice è una figlia di Dabirsim (Hat Trick), stallone alla prima annata di produzione in pista, che ha cominciato fortissimo con i puledri. Al momento si contano 6 vincitori, tra cui una al Royal Ascot ed in G2, appunto Different League. Tra l’altro a 2 anni è stato colui che ha regalato, vincendo il Lagardere G1, la vittoria numero 500 in corse di gruppo per Frankie Dettori. Ma questa è un’altra storia. Different League, che non ha trovato un acquirente per 14,000 alle Goffs dello scorso anno, è prodotto della fattrice Danseuse Course (Danehill Dancer).
IL VIDEO DELLE ALBANY STAKES QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings): Pigia Permian! Il Johnston che non si ferma mai ha vinto anche ad Ascot quello che è definito il “Derby” del Berkshire. Il figlio di Teofilo (Galileo), tipico Johnston corsaiolo, alla settima corsa in stagione e dopo aver fatto Epsom (da supplementato) senza trovarsi sul sali e scendi, prendendo botte a destra e manca, è partito lungo con William Buick in sella ed ha respinto tutta strada Crystal Ocean (Sea The Stars) che aveva già subito Permian nelle Dante Stakes, ma con la convinzione da parte di tutti che questo avrebbe ribaltato il riferimento. Invece no, perchè Permian più corre e più sta bene. E più pigiaaa. Secondo alla fine è emerso Khalidi (High Chaparral), il figlio dell’ex italiana Bezique, anche lui reduce dal Derby. Solo sesto Call To Mind (Galileo), il cavallo della Regina. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. IL VIDEO QUI.
Nel Queen’s Vase G3, lezione di monta da parte di Andrea Atzeni in sella a Stradivarius (Sea The Stars) che ha atteso si aprisse il varco giusto per lanciare il cavallo di Johnny “G” verso la vittoria battendo Count Octave (Frankel) e Secret Advisor (Dubawi), in una corsa molto confusionaria. Resta comunque la bella interpretazione del jockey italiano, alla prima vittoria nel meeting reale, con un cavallo che ha montato da califfo, perfetto in gestione dell’azione e nell’attacco. Obiettivo St Leger per il cavallo di Nielsen.
