21/10/2017. Ascot // Cracksman Destroys Champion Rivals For Frankel’s Breakthrough // Dark Angel’s Persuasive Swoops In the QEII // Galileo’s Hydrangea Registers Landmark Win for Ballydoyle in the Fillies & Mares // Mount Nelson’s Librisa Breeze Causes an Upset In the Sprint // Galileo’s Order of St George Leaves It Late In the Long Distance Cup

 

Cracksman Destroys Champion Rivals For Frankel’s Breakthrough

5th at ASC, Gr. Stk, £1,300,000 G1 Qipco Champion S. (9f 212y) Winner: Cracksman (GB), c, 3 by Frankel (GB)

By Tom Frary

   Saturday’s G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot was run against the backdrop of Storm Brian and providing the equine tempest was Anthony Oppenheimer’s Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who provided his beloved sire with a first European group 1 victory in the race that him and his brother Noble Mission (GB) both captured. Always happy tracking the strong pace, the homebred who traded as the 13-8 favourite was sent forward into the lead by Frankie Dettori turning for home and he responded in his sire’s formidable and generous-galloping style to open up and register a commanding seven-length verdict over Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), with a neck back to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third. “He’s a very talented horse and he’s done it well,” John Gosden said. “Enable and him will be fun. This is great for Frankel, it’s his first group 1 winner in Europe in a race he won himself.”

CRACKSMAN (GB), c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Rhadegunda (GB) (SW-Fr), by Pivotal (GB).
1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Studs (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £737,230. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, G1SP-Ire, 7-5-1-1, £1,352,974. *1/2 to Fantastic Moon (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSW-Eng.

 

Dark Angel’s Persuasive Swoops In the QEII

4th at ASC, Gr. Stk, £1,100,000 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. (Sponsored by Qipco) (8f) Winner: Persuasive (Ire), f, 4 by Dark Angel (Ire)
 

 

Chris Richardson & Frankie Dettori with Persuasive | racingfotos.com

By Tom Frary

At the end of a year in which Europe’s fillies and mares marched onward, Cheveley Park Stud’s Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) beat up some notable colts to provide her esteemed owners with another red-letter day in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot. Well-supported into 8-1 coming off a second to Roly Poly (War Front) in what was thought to be her swansong in Newmarket’s G1 Sun Chariot S. a fortnight previously, the grey raced off the pace under Frankie Dettori and was delivered with a rattle to brush aside the 2-1 favourite Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and win by a length, with a half length back to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third. “She travelled so good and the ground is so key for her,” commented the rider who was gaining a sixth success in the race that first launched him in 1990. “I thought the race was going to be very tough, but she showed an explosive turn of foot and she put it to bed very quickly.”

PERSUASIVE (IRE), f, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Choose Me (Ire) (SW & MGSP-Ire, $388,395), by Choisir (Aus).
1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
(€180,000 Ylg ’14 GOFORB). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-J F Tuthill (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £623,810. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Ire, 10-6-2-1, £866,052.

 

Galileo’s Hydrangea Registers Landmark Win for Ballydoyle in the Fillies & Mares

3rd at ASC, Gr. Stk, £627,500 G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. (11f 211y) Winner: Hydrangea (Ire), f, 3 by Galileo (Ire)
 

 

Hydrangea, Aidan O’Brien and connections | racingfotos.com

By Sean Cronin

Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was rewarded for her consistency with a career high in last month’s G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown before just failing to usurp stablemate Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Chantilly’s G1 Prix de l’Opera on Arc day at the beginning of this month, but bounced back in game fashion to provide Aidan O’Brien with a record-equalling 25th Group 1 win of the year in Saturday’s G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot. Settling into a smooth rhythm without cover for most of the contest, the 4-1 chance made rapid headway rounding the home turn to seize control at the quarter-mile marker and, despite the ominous attention of 7-4 favourite Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) approaching the final furlong, readily withstood that rival’s vain bid to hit the line with a decisive two lengths to spare. Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), as ever, rallied late to finish a further 1 3/4 lengths adrift in third.

HYDRANGEA (IRE), f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (MGSW-Fr, $226,426), by Pivotal (GB).
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Beauty Is Truth Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £355,855. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, 15-4-5-2, £940,613. *Full to The United States (Ire), G1SW-Aus & GSW-Ire, $1,684,244; and 1/2 to Fire Lily (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 5-7f, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Fr & GSP-Eng, $412,541.

 

Mount Nelson’s Librisa Breeze Causes an Upset In the Sprint

2nd at ASC, Gr. Stk, £600,000 G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. (6f) Winner: Librisa Breeze (GB), g, 5 by Mount Nelson (GB)
 

 

Librisa Breeze | racingfotos.com

By Tom Frary

So often out of luck with his hold-up style, Tony Bloom’s Librisa Breeze (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) came right where it mattered on Saturday as he swooped to conquer in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot. While mostly everyone was watching the likes of Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Caravaggio (Scat Daddy), trainer Dean Ivory and all those who kept the faith after a few unfortunate runs had their eyes trained on their beloved grey as he sliced his way between rivals from rear. Rushing by Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) with 150 yards to race, the 10-1 shot who was last seen finishing second in the G2 Hungerford S. over seven furlongs at Newbury Aug. 19 asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths, with 3/4 of a length back to Caravaggio as he worked his way past the fading 5-4 favourite Harry Angel. Robert Winston, whose last win at this level had come in 2004, was making no bones about the impact that the winner had made on his life. “My career was finished but for this horse,” he explained. “I gave my notice to Dean last season, but this horse kept me going. I’m riding for a great man and great staff with great owners and Dean’s got some very nice horses now. This horse is so genuine and very fast, even though he’s bred to stay further. He’s such a trier and although I’ve been criticised a couple of times with people saying I should have won, that’s the way you have to ride him. It doesn’t matter now after this.”

Librisa Breeze has been popular at this track, at which his record stood at two-from-five prior to this test, finishing second in the Royal meeting’s Royal Hunt Cup last June before taking the seven-furlong International S. and Challenge Cup in July and early October. Sixth in this as he signed off his 2016 campaign, he returned to be a strong-closing fourth after meeting trouble in running in the June 24 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in which The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), Tasleet and Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) were ahead. His ninth placing in the Aug. 1 G2 Lennox S. over seven furlongs at Goodwood told nothing of the tale of his race, as he was repeatedly stopped and again failed to get a clear passage as he filled the runner-up spot behind Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Hungerford.

This race was immediately characterised by the decision by Adam Kirby to restrain Harry Angel and wait behind the front pair, but the G1 July Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup clearly resented that tactic and by the time he was committed with two furlongs remaining much of his customary power had already been spent. That opened the contest up and for a brief period it looked as if Ryan Moore had Caravaggio perfectly poised for his usual strong finishing effort on the outside, but he could only flounder in the ground when fully stretched. It was Tasleet who emerged with the most significant challenge to the favourite approaching the furlong pole, but Librisa Breeze who had travelled strongly while balled up off the pace by Robert Winston quickly loomed between Harry Angel and Caravaggio to join the fight. As Harry Angel began to cave in, it was the grey who proved strongest and saw off the Shadwell runner with all the zest of one who has been frustrated for so long.

Dean Ivory was basking in the career-defining moment. “The ground and everything went right for us,” he said. “He has been off a long time, seven weeks, and he has been so unlucky this year–we have got the luck when it mattered. That was the hardest field in the last 10 years and to come out and do it like that, I’m thrilled. We have had a bit of a rocky road. You persevere and hope for a bit of luck and it has come good today. He is a horse that has never had a clean run. This year is his year and I’ve seen him grow into a proper horse. At one time I thought he had gone back a bit, but he got the gap this time. He is versatile and you can’t say he isn’t a six-furlong horse. You train him where the races are as really, he is a seven-furlong horse or miler.”

William Haggas said of Tasleet, who again proved his liking for testing ground, “He’s run another great race and I’d say he just got outstayed this time. I very much hope he’ll be back for next year, but that’s to be discussed. If he is, he’ll follow the same route as this year.” Clive Cox said of Harry Angel, “It wasn’t his day, but I still think he showed his usual zip and class when he went to the front here on much more testing ground than at Haydock. Great credit to the runners that finished in front of him, he was just coming to the end of his run. I don’t think anyone has lost any confidence. We know on a different day, on better ground, he will be back. I will be looking forward to next year. I would say the first thing is to give him a nice winter break, as it has been well earned.”

The freakish Librisa Breeze becomes the first group 1 winner for his Eclipse-winning sire and the first black-type winner for his dam Bruxcalina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), who finished third in the Listed Prix de Liancourt over 10 1/2 furlongs which gives a clue as to her inherent stamina. She is a half-sister to the G3 Prix la Force winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Baraan (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and the Listed Prix Michel Houyvet runner-up Brampour (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) who went on to be a smart hurdler. The third dam Chic Corine (Nureyev) was responsible for the GI Diana S. heroine Somali Lemonade (Lemon Drop Kid), while the fourth dam Chic Shirine (Mr. Prospector) landed the GI Ashland S. and includes the GI Wood Memorial and GI Haskell Invitational hero Verrazano (More Than Ready) and the GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Harmonize (Scat Daddy) among her descendants. Bruxcalina also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old full-sister to the winner and a yearling colt by Lawman (Fr).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT S.-G1, £600,000, ASC, 10-21, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:16.78, sf.
1–LIBRISA BREEZE (GB), 128, g, 5, by Mount Nelson (GB)
1st Dam: Bruxcalina (Fr) (SP-Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Brusca, by Grindstone
3rd Dam: Chic Corine, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN.
(60,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT; 90,000gns 3yo ’15 TA15). O-Tony Bloom; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Dean Ivory; J-Robert Winston. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 16-6-3-0, $889,065. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tasleet (GB), 128, c, 4, Showcasing (GB)–Bird Key (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (£52,000 Ylg ’14 DNPRM). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-William Haggas. £129,000.
3–Caravaggio, 127, c, 3, Scat Daddy–Mekko Hokte, by Holy Bull. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Windmill Manor Farms Inc & Petaluma Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. £64,560.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 10.00, 10.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Harry Angel (Ire), The Tin Man (GB), Brando (GB), Washington DC (Ire), Donjuan Triumphant (Ire), Quiet Reflection (GB), Danzeno (GB), Alphabet (GB), Intelligence Cross. Scratched: Tupi (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Galileo’s Order of St George Leaves It Late In the Long Distance Cup

1st at ASC, Gr. Stk, £464,500 G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (15f 209y) Winner: Order of St George (Ire), h, 5 by Galileo (Ire)
 

 

Order of St George | Racing Post

By Tom Frary

It looked doubtful for much of the straight, but Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) lives to engage the public and he found the line in time to kick off Ascot’s Champions Day with a victory for Ballydoyle in Saturday’s G2 Qipco Long Distance Cup. Travelling in mid-division throughout as if 4-5 favouritism was generous, the dual G1 Irish St Leger and G1 Gold Cup hero who was fourth in the Arc 20 days ago came under a drive before the home straight and appeared to be going nowhere soon after. Seemingly beaten approaching the furlong pole as old rival Torcedor (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) strode into a clear lead under Colm O’Donoghue, the market leader found something for Ryan Moore to inhale that rival near the line and win by a half length, with Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) the same margin back in third. “I was surprised,” Moore commented in reference to the manner of Order of St Gerorge’s win. “I was very happy the whole way round and I thought I had the front two covered, but it didn’t look likely for a long time. As they came back to him, he started to get motivated and he’s an unbelievably good horse who ran a very good race in the Arc and has come here at the end of a long hard year. He looked magnificent and is a beautiful horse and a pleasure to have anything to do with. He’s very talented, but that ground was very hard work–I’d call it very soft.”

Now almost a veteran of these staying contests with some middle-distance class thrown in along the way, Order of St George has a mercurial quality that ensures there is never a dull moment. His two wins in the Irish Leger in 2015 and 2017 were carried out by a cumulative margin of 20 lengths, but in between he went under to Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) when long odds-on. His 2016 Gold Cup success was marked by the same initial lethargy and finishing surge that characterised this performance, but 12 months ago in this he was only workmanlike as he ran on into fourth. Third and fourth in the last two renewals of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with the most recent possibly a stronger one, the bay provided a heart-in-mouth moment for his legion of supporters as he came back just 20 days after his Chantilly exertions.

Sluggish from the stalls as he has been of late, Order of St George was allowed to slot into mid-division as his Gold Cup conqueror Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) tried to dominate from the front without the same conviction on ground which had turned against him. As he fell away in the back straight and the 3-year-old Mount Moriah (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) took over, Moore looked poised as he brought the Ballydoyle challenger forward with Stradivarius tracking him. As Torcedor, who had beaten Order of St George in the G3 Vintage Crop S. at Navan Apr. 23, cut loose in the straight it looked as if the favourite might not even make the frame but there was something left in the locker and when it came down to a challenge he raised his game to prevail.

Aidan O’Brien, who was standing on the cusp of history, was able to enjoy the perfect warm-up for his bid to join Bobby Frankel on the world record. “He is tough and hardy and never stops,” he said. “In every race he has ever run in, he is always finishing. We saw him in the Gold Cup and sometimes the line comes too quick, but he doesn’t stop. He has had a busy time. Obviously we are delighted with him. That is him for this year, I imagine.” Torcedor was registering a career-best and trainer Jessie Harrington said, “He’s run a real cracker, I’m absolutely thrilled. He’s been beaten by a very good horse, it’s as simple as that. He put it up to him and he’s come on again since the summer and I’ve only had him a year, not even a year in training. I’m still learning and he’ll be back next year.” Stradivarius ran his usual game race in defeat on unfavourable conditions and his trainer John Gosden said, “He’s run a blinder. It’s not his favourite ground, he has this ability to quicken and you can’t really quicken in that. It was a tremendous race, Order of St George brings Arc form in here. He stays in training and we look forward to races like the Ascot Gold Cup.”

Order of St George is one of four stakes winners for his dam Another Storm, whose Angel Terrace captured the GIII Pin Oak Valley View S. and Asperity took the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. The second dam is the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and GI Frizette S.-winning champion 2-year-old filly Storm Song, who is a half to the GII Oak Leaf S. winner Diamond Omi (Giant’s Causeway). Storm Song’s descendants include the G2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora S. scorer Midsummer Fair (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}) and the Singapore champion Better Life (Aus) (Smarty Jones), while the dynasty also features the GIII Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup S.-winning sire High Cotton and the G3 Musidora S. scorer Cassis (Red Ransom). Another Storm has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt Shakour (Ire) (Declaration of War) who sold for 250,000gns to Emirates Park at Tattersalls October 2016 and a yearling colt by Australia (GB) who was snapped up by Mark Johnston Racing for 125,000gns at the latest renewal of that sale.
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP-G2, £464,500, ASC, 10-21, 3yo/up, 15f 209yT, 3:37.84, sf.
1–ORDER OF ST GEORGE (IRE), 133, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Another Storm, by Gone West
2nd Dam: Storm Song, by Summer Squall
3rd Dam: Hum Along, by Fappiano
($550,000 Ylg ’13 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Lloyd J Williams; B-Paget Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £263,418. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 14f+, Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 14f+, MG1SW-Ire, G1SP-Fr, 22-11-6-1, $2,708,101. *1/2 to Asperity (War Chant), GSW-Fr & GSP-Eng, $245,483; Angel Terrace (Ghostzapper), GSW-US, $298,848; and Sehoy (Menifee), SW-Swe, $144,199. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Torcedor (Ire), 133, g, 5, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Magnolia Lane (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells. (€70,000 Ylg ’13 ARAUG). O-Te Akau Torcedor (Mngr David Ellis); B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £99,868.
3–Stradivarius (Ire), 125, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Private Life (Fr), by Bering (GB). (330,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John Gosden. £49,980.
Margins: HF, HF, 1HF. Odds: 0.80, 25.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mount Moriah (GB), Duretto (GB), Clever Cookie (GB), Sheikhzayedroad (GB), Nearly Caught (Ire), Desert Skyline (Ire), Dartmouth (GB), Big Orange (GB), Stars Over the Sea, Cap’n (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

fonte : TDN