Alpha female: Centauri smashes Barney Roy’s track record in devastating style
Alpha Centauri, the filly named after the closest star system to our own, was truly out of this world in thumping a high-class Coronation Stakes field by six lengths in a track record time of 1m 35.89, more than a second faster than previous title-holder Barney Roy.
It was a breathtaking performance from the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, who loomed up under Colm into a challenging position with two furlongs to go and had the race won half a furlong later. The remainder of the race was merely an opportunity for the Niarchos Family’s filly to show us just how much better she was than the others. And the answer was very.
Her victory was a first at Royal Ascot for Jessica Harrington, whose mastery with the whole gamut of thoroughbreds has long been established, and her relief was palpable, especially as this special filly had been beaten favourite in the Albany Stakes last year.
“My first feeling after that is relief,” she said. “I’ve really got to calm down a bit as I got very nervous before the race – I’d probably say about an eight-and-a-half out of ten.
“We were very much under the radar going into the Guineas after two races on soft ground, where she didn’t run as well as she could, and there was no pressure on us. Today a lot of people expected her to win as she was favourite and that brings a lot of pressure.”
She added: “Last year we were disappointed, but that’s racing. Sometimes that happens and that’s why it’s so great when it goes right.”
The reception Alpha Centauri received in the winner’s enclosure was more orderly and restrained than the raw emotion and jubilation Harrington will have experienced with past Cheltenham Festival winners. What wasn’t different was that indescribable winning feeling.
“Whether it’s a Grade 1 steeplechase or a Group 1 on the Flat it feels special – there’s no difference between them,” Harrington said. “It’s over quicker on the Flat, which is good. Over jumps they have to go a long distance and over obstacles, which gives you a lot of heart-in-mouth moments.
“I’ve always been very confident about her. I felt she hit the front too soon, but the further she went the better she was.”
With Billesdon Brook and Teppal, winners of the 1,000 Guineas and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, well beaten in fourth and ninth, Alpha Centauri raised herself up head and shoulders above her contemporaries.
However, there had been considerable fretting from connections prior to the stalls opening about the relative merits of the Classic fillies.
Result, analysis and race replay
Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos Family, said: “Going into the race, we were very nervous looking through the form and trying to match up the form lines and see who was best. I think she showed them today.
“It’s an amazing day and fabulous for Jessie. I don’t need to say anything about Jessie. Her record and everything you see here today says all you need to know. She’s always had absolute belief in the filly.”
While no firm plans were offered for Alpha Centauri – the Niarchos-sponsored Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville was put forward as a potential option – Mark Johnston, trainer of the runner-up Threading, was already eyeing a possible rematch.
He said: “She was struggling to get in touch early on and she’s come from quite a far way back. She’s ran right up to form and had two Guineas winners behind her.
“The winner was exceptional and ran in an excellent time. A rematch will be likely down the line – you can’t run away from one horse.”
A step up in trip will be considered for third Veracious, who continued the excellent form of her trainer Sir Michael Stoute at the meeting, and the same move may be in order for Billesdon Brook after she finished fourth.
Her trainer Richard Hannon said: “She just didn’t pick up the way she did in the Guineas, despite staying on all the way to the line. I’m a little bit disappointed, but she’s a very good filly and we might go up to a mile and a quarter with her.”
Elsworth heaps praise on Smith and Spice after notching latest royal win
David Elsworth insisted he was not emotional, but that is the sort of thing David Elsworth says.
Even with his eyes hidden behind dark glasses you could see what returning to the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure meant to him – and rightly so.
Eleven years had passed since the man who orchestrated the careers of racing icons Desert Orchid and Persian Punch was triumphant at the Flat festival that towers over all others. That last winner came with a horse who raced in the colours of Jeff Smith. So did this one.
Smith has been a devoted supporter of the trainer who in 2007 delivered him Sandringham Handicap success with Barshiba. This time he won him the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap and did so with a horse whose improvement has been marked.
His name is Dash Of Spice and it is one worth remembering.
“I would have been fed up if we’d been beat,” said Elsworth, who had produced the four-year-old to romp home in a Derby day handicap at Epsom. It triggered an 11lb ratings rise but that was nowhere near enough to stop Silvestre de Sousa’s mount justifying 7-2 favouritism, having unleashed a turn of foot that propelled him to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory.
Watch Dash Of Spice’s Duke of Edinburgh win
Fittingly, one training great received his prize from another, with Sir Mark Prescott called upon to present the trophies to a fellow Newmarket resident.
Elsworth, now 78, trained his first Royal Ascot winner in 1980. After seeing Dash Of Spice take that tally to 16, he said: “Ascot comes around every year and with my own increasing years I thought perhaps that was it. For that reason it’s nice to turn up with a good one. I won’t say it’s emotional but it’s nice to win for someone who has supported me so well.
“This is a bloody good horse. He’s only run seven times and he’s lovely.
“Jeff has had great patience. I’m just a trainer, playing around and plying my trade. You need someone to support you like Jeff supports me, saying: ‘Whatever you think, Elsie, you get on with it.’ Jeff is a great man to have on your side.”
In 2003 Elsworth won what is now the Sky Bet Ebor with Saint Alebe, a horse owned by a syndicate put together by his great friend Jeannie Brown. She was here at Ascot. You can bet she will be at York in August if Dash Of Spice turns up.
“I would love to win the Ebor again,” said Elsworth.
So many friends and admirers will have loved seeing him win at Royal Ascot again as well.
ROYAL ASCOT REPORTS COMMONWEALTH CUP
Stoute’s faith in Eqtidaar rewarded as Hamdan’s new star delivers
You need a fast horse to win the Commonwealth Cup. Fortunately, Sir Michael Stoute knows all about speed. He often deploys it impressively to escape a television camera or journalist.
The great man did so again here, but only after Eqtidaar continued a wonderful week for the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history.
Stoute’s third winner of the meeting, and 78th in total, had won only the first of his four career outings heading into the three-year-old sprint championship but Angus Gold, racing manager to owner-breeder Hamdan Al Maktoum, made clear on the contest’s eve that Stoute still had “plenty of time” for the son of Invincible Spirit.
It became obvious why when Eqtidaar came out on top in a 22-runner Group 1 prize, in which Jim Crowley’s mount drifted left from the far side of the track under pressure but with sufficient momentum to hold off the powerful late surge of Sands Of Mali.
Emblazoned took third under Frankie Dettori, but leading fancies Invincible Army, Equilateral and Sioux Nation failed to fire in ninth, 12th and 16th.
The horse who finished first was naturally the last to return to the winner’s enclosure. While awaiting his arrival, Stoute was spotted by ITV’s Oli Bell, who advised the master trainer he had something in his teeth.
“I can’t talk then,” said Stoute before attempting to do one of his rapid standing starts. At Bell’s request, however, he talked to the nation.
“We’ve always liked this horse,” said Stoute. “I thought the first time he ran here in the Pavilion it just didn’t go quite right for him and then at Newbury he was on the wrong side of the track.
“He was beaten at halfway as he was too far out of his ground the way the race panned out.
“He worked very well at the weekend under Jim Crowley so we were hopeful.”
Asked to assess Eqtidaar’s talent, Stoute told Bell: “He showed you just now. He’s pretty good. We’ve have some good ones, like Marwell, Ajdal and Green Desert, but he’s progressing nicely.”
Very nicely indeed, as Crowley, who had ridden three seconds at the festival prior to the Commonwealth, was able to testify.
After describing Stoute as “a genius”, Crowley said: “I knew Eqtidaar had potential. He’d been working fantastic at home and I knew today he had a great chance. He’s progressing all the time and I think he’ll keep improving.”
Also improving is Sands Of Mali, who simply ran out of racecourse, to the frustration of his owner, Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann.
“I think the ground has beaten him,” said Swann. “I’m disappointed not to win because he’s not been beaten that far, but he has finished second in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot, and that’s the best we’ve had for a while. We think the Prix Maurice de Gheest is made for him.”
Sheikh Hamdan, who has possibly never yet visited Scunthorpe, will ultimately be the one who decides where Eqtidaar heads next, with Stoute noting future plans will be determined by the gentleman who pays the bills.
“I think he liked the ground today,” said Sheikh Hamdan. “In his previous races he was held up behind and didn’t quicken like a sprinter but lengthened. Today Jim asked him to be very close to the front and the result was better.”
Asked for a few words about the trainer who orchestrated that result, Sheikh Hamdan added: “I have congratulated him on the record. I wished him good luck.”
That was a kind thing to do – but when you are a genius like Stoute, not too much luck is required.
fonte : RacingPost
Mastercraftsman’s Alpha Centauri Hammers Coronation Rivals
| 4th at RAS, Gr. Stk, £538,750 | G1 Coronation S. | (7f 213y) | Winner: Alpha Centauri (Ire), f, 3 by Mastercraftsman (Ire) |
Alpha Centauri and Colm O’Donoghue | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
Coming of age when winning the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh May 27, TDN Rising Star Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) progressed again to provide trainer Jessie Harrington with a first Royal Ascot success in track-record time in the G1 Coronation S. Confidently-backed into 11-4 favouritism, the Niarchos homebred travelled with ease in behind the early leaders as the returning TDN Rising Star Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) tanked along in front. Moving wide on the turn to travel up to that rival with two furlongs remaining, the grey was sent on by Colm O’Donoghue and pounded her opposition into the ground from there to beat the previous time by over a second in one of this race’s all-time great performances. At the line, there was a six-length margin back to Threading (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in second, with Veracious putting up a bold show 1 3/4 lengths behind in third on her seasonal debut. “The further she went the further she was going away,” her trainer said. “She’s a very big filly and physically she can’t get her feet out of the ground when it’s soft, so she needs this ground.”
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CORONATION S.-G1, £538,750, Ascot, 6-22, 3yo, f, 7f 213yT, 1:35.89 (NTR), g/f.
1–ALPHA CENTAURI (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
1st Dam: Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy
2nd Dam: East of the Moon, by Private Account
3rd Dam: Miesque, by Nureyev
O/B-Niarchos Family; B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Colm O’Donoghue. £305,525. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $760,840. *1/2 to Tenth Star (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), SW & GSP-Ire, GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Threading (Ire), 126, f, 3, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Chaquiras, by Seeking the Gold. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. £115,831.
3–Veracious (GB), 126, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Infallible (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £57,970.
Margins: 6, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.75, 7.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Billesdon Brook (GB), Clemmie (Ire), Coeur de Beaute (Fr), Aim of Artemis (Ire), Anna Nerium (GB), Teppal (Fr), Nkosikazi (GB), Whitefountainfairy (Ire), Adorable (Ire). Scratched: Capla Temptress (Ire). Click for the Racing Post resultor the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Invincible Spirit’s Eqtidaar Comes Alive In Commonwealth Cup
| 3rd at RAS, Gr. Stk, £500,000 | G1 Commonwealth Cup | (6f) | Winner: Eqtidaar (Ire), c, 3 by Invincible Spirit (Ire) |
Eqtidaar | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
Sir Michael Stoute was uncharacteristically bullish about the prospects of the G1 Commonwealth Cup’s “dark horse” Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) prior to his Royal Ascot baptism of fire and that proved well-founded as the Shadwell homebred leapt forward to prevail over some high-class peers. Handed an ideal lead from Emblazoned (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the centre group, the 12-1 shot who had been second in the course-and-distance G3 Pavilion S. on his penultimate start May 2 was sent up to tackle that rival with a furlong remaining by Jim Crowley. Gaining the edge shortly after, the bay began to veer left and carried the long-time leader with him but was straightened in time to hold the stand’s-side group “winner” Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) by a half length, with Emblazoned clinging on to third, a length away. “He was one of my best rides of the week and he’s trained by a genius,” Crowley said. “It went like clockwork really and I knew he’d been working unbelievably well and you could make excuses for his last two starts. It’s a massive step up and massive performance.” Stoute is now on 78 Royal winners and added, “We’ve always liked this horse and we were hopeful, as he’s progressing nicely.”
Off the mark over this trip at Nottingham on debut in August, Eqtidaar was a disappointing fourth behind Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G3 Sirenia S. on Kempton’s Polytrack in September and entered winter quarters off that effort. Putting up a respectable display on his comeback when again in arrears of that rival in the Pavilion, he took part in a strange renewal of Newbury’s Listed Carnarvon S. May 19 where the very quick ground saw the leader Never Back Down (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) skip away from the field and he was probably worth more than his fourth placing there. This time, the homebred was in the right place from the outset as the much-vaunted Juddmonte representative Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) gave him a tow while the G2 Sandy Lane S. third Emblazoned gained the advantage after the first quarter mile.
On the stand’s side, Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was just off the overall pace leading that smaller pack which featured Sands of Mali but Eqtidaar always had the edge over the horses racing away from the main action and it was only his late drift which threatened the result. Sprinters have not featured prominently at Freemason Lodge in recent years, but Sir Michael Stoute did handle the fast stars Green Desert, Ajdal and Marwell (Ire) (Habitat). “I thought things just didn’t go quite right for him the first time he ran here in the Pavilion Stakes and then at Newbury last time, he was on the wrong side of the track and at halfway was too far out of his ground. He worked very well the other weekend under Jim Crowley and he just showed how talented he is.”
Sands of Mali’s rider Paul Hanagan was inclined to believe that the ground was a touch too slick for the runner-up, who was putting up another solid effort after his success in the G2 Sandy Lane S. “They went a really nice pace on my side which suited me, he was able to drop his head and he was relaxed and he came home,” he said. “The ground might just have been a shade too quick for my lad, maybe he was just feeling it and not letting himself down completely, but he’s run a great race. There are not any excuses. I have been beaten by a very good horse, but I think it was the ground a little bit.” Frankie Dettori said of Emblazoned, “My horse has run a superb race, he’s improved and I was closer to the Fahey horse [Sands of mali] than at Haydock.” Trainer John Gosden added, “I am very pleased with that. It was not the plan to be so forward, but the horse took himself there. The form is rock-solid.” Gidu was a fine sixth after taking no prisoners and jockey John Velazquez commented, “I thought he went and ran well. It was a good effort. It was a tough race. Winning is the most important bit, but as long as they run and try hard, you can’t beat that. Especially here.” Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) was heavily-supported into 11-4 favouritism, but found disappointingly little and was 16th.
Eqtidaar is the latest luminary from an esteemed family and is a half-brother to Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who took the G2 Hungerford S. and finished runner-up in the G1 2000 Guineas S. and G1 Dewhurst S. and third in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. The dam Madany (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was a fast and versatile filly for the Charlie Hills yard, is a half to the MSW Zeiting (Ire) (Zieten) who was responsible for five black-type performers headed by the G3 Strensall S. winner and G1 Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Her daughter Zut Alors (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) was third in the G3 Prix Miesque before producing last year’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and also the useful sprint handicapper Baccarat (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}). Zeiting is also a half to the G3 Prix du Bois winner Dolled Up (Ire) (Whipper). The dam, who was purchased by Shadwell for just 130,000gns at the 2009 Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale, also has a 2-year-old colt by Kodiac (GB) named Baraajeel (GB) and a colt foal by their previous Commonwealth Cup winner Muhaarar (GB).
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COMMONWEALTH CUP-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 6-22, 3yo, 6fT, 1:12.12, g/f.
1–EQTIDAAR (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Madany (Ire), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Belle de Cadix (Ire), by Law Society
3rd Dam: Gourgandine (Ire), by Auction Ring
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Jim Crowley. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $411,260. *1/2 to Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), GSDW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $539,369. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sands of Mali (Fr), 129, c, 3, Panis–Kadiania (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB). (€20,000 Ylg ’16 OSLATE; £75,000 2yo ’17 TATABR). O-The Cool Silk Partnership; B-Simon Urizzi (FR); T-Richard Fahey. £107,500.
3–Emblazoned (Ire), 129, c, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Sendmylovetorose (GB), by Bahamian Bounty (GB). (€340,000 Ylg ’16 GOFORB). O-HRH Princess Haya of Jordan; B-M Enright (IRE); T-John Gosden. £53,800.
Margins: HF, 1, HD. Odds: 12.00, 7.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Stone of Destiny (GB), Hey Jonesy (Ire), Gidu (Ire), Heartache (GB), Fighting Irish (Ire), Invincible Army (Ire), Unfortunately (Ire), Roussel (Ire), Equilateral (GB), Cardsharp (GB), Speak In Colours (GB), Fleet Review, Sioux Nation, Actress (Ire), Laugh A Minute (GB), Main Desire (Ire), Enjazaat (GB), Now You’re Talking (Ire), Abel Handy (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Dubawi’s Old Persian Wins The King Edward
| 2nd at RAS, Gr. Stk, £225,000 | G2 King Edward VII S. | (11f 211y) | Winner: Old Persian (GB), c, 3 by Dubawi (Ire) |
Old Persian | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Granted a soft first black-type success when bettering two over-matched rivals in Newmarket’s Listed Fairway S. last time, Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) had anything but an easy time in the G2 King Edward VII S. but he was man enough to hold off some tough rivals and give Godolphin further Royal Ascot glory. Ridden from his high draw by William Buick to gain a position in a close-up second, the 9-2 shot earned the lead before the quarter pole and stayed on tenaciously to beat Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths, with another Ballydoyle representative in Giuseppe Garibaldi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a neck back in third. “Charlie [Appleby] has always said that Old Persian wants a mile and a half and this was his first time over the trip–we hoped he would improve for it and he did,” commented William Buick, riding his 23rd Royal winner. “I wanted to make sure that stamina came into play, I wanted to be in a position that I could do something about it in the straight. As you could see, his last furlong was his strongest so it is a very, very pleasing performance. He is a lovely horse for the future.”
Like so many winners here this week, Old Persian had earlier been successful on an artificial surface as he broke his maiden at Chelmsford in September before winning another novice stakes giving the now famous Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) six pounds and a 4 1/2-length beating at Newmarket in early October. Disappointing when seventh in the Listed Silver Tankard S. at a mile at Pontefract later that month, the bay returned to win what is traditionally a strong 10-furlong 3-year-old handicap back at Newmarket Apr. 18 before running second to stablemate Key Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Listed Newmarket S. May 5. Buoyed by his Fairway win in the interim, he was always travelling within himself applying the pressure to the leader Raa Atoll (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) throughout the early stages of this biggest test. Sent upsides to do battle turning into the straight, he gained the upper hand soon after and gradually worked his way into the clear as the Ballydoyle pair Rostropovich and Giuseppe Garibaldi stayed on without threatening.
For Appleby, the result was further affirmation of his belief in his current team of horses. “We had a great team of two-year-olds last year and I felt they all wintered well and came into the spring in great nick,” he said. “This horse has done nothing but progress through the spring and we felt this was the right race for him and that stepping up in trip would suit. I was so pleased half a mile out with the way Old Persian was travelling and once this horse hit the front I was confident he would see it out well given the pace they had gone. He had shown a turn of foot over a mile and a quarter so I knew what he could do. He’s a typical son of Dubawi–he’s improved from two to three and I’m sure he will progress from three to four. We wanted to mind him because we liked him and felt he had the scope to become a good horse. I’m happy to stay at a mile and a half given the pace he has shown at shorter trips. I’ve put him in the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris [at ParisLongchamp July 14] and that is one for option.”
Aidan O’Brien was pleased with the efforts of his trio, with the well-backed 5-2 favourite and TDN Rising Star Delano Roosevelt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) coming off worst in fifth. “They all had chances and they all ran very well,” he commented. “Rostropovich ran a very good race as we were a bit disappointed with him in France. This is his first run over a mile and a half, so you would have to be very happy with that. Giuseppe Garibaldi is still improving and Ryan’s horse [Delano Roosevelt] will improve with time. Ryan said he ran well and he was happy with him.”
Old Persian, whose sire’s stock go particularly well at this meeting, is the first live foal out of Indian Petal (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), a full-sister to Silkwood (GB) who captured the G2 Ribblesdale S. in style here back in 2007 and also to the dam of the operation’s G2 Anatolia Trophy scorer Leshlaa (Street Cry {Ire}). Indian Petal, whose 2-year-old filly Chapelli (GB) by Dubawi’s son Poet’s Voice (GB) is now two-for-two for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Mark Johnston, is also a half to the G2 Cherry Hinton S. winner Silent Honor (Ire) (Sunday Silence) and the listed-paced Shrill (GB) (Shamardal). The third dam is the Listed Prix Amandine winner Massaraat (Nureyev), who is a full-sister to the great Miesque (Nureyev) who features so prominently in the pedigree of the day’s G1 Coronation S. heroine Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Therefore connected to Kingmambo, East of the Moon (Private Account), Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein), Rumplestiltskin (Ire) (Danehill) and Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Indian Petal also has a yearling filly by Pivotal (GB) and a foal full-brother to Old Persian.
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £225,000, Ascot, 6-22, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:29.95, g/f.
1–OLD PERSIAN (GB), 126, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Indian Petal (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Wood Vine, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Massaraat, by Nureyev
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £127,598. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-1, $248,960. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rostropovich (Ire), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Tyranny (GB), by Machiavellian. (1,100,000gns Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Markus Jooste; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £48,375.
3–Giuseppe Garibaldi (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Queenscliff (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £24,210.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 7.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Raa Atoll (GB), Delano Roosevelt (Ire), Wells Farhh Go (Ire), Elector (GB), Alternative Fact (GB), Highbrow (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Zoffany’s Unbeaten Main Edition Takes the Albany
| 1st at RAS, Gr. Stk, £90,000 | G3 Albany S. | (6f) | Winner: Main Edition (Ire), f, 2 by Zoffany (Ire) |
Main Edition | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Saif Ali’s unbeaten Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) entered the G3 Albany S. in the shadow of two imposing TDN Rising Stars from Ballydoyle, but ultimately she proved best in a quality renewal which is sure to have an impact on next year’s Classics. Off the mark by 3 3/4 lengths on ground similar to this at Windsor May 21 before deying a penalty by 3 1/4 lengths on a soft surface in a Goodwood novice stakes June 1, the 7-1 shot was forced to race away from the early pace set by the Wesley Ward-trained Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) who blazed the trail far side. Pulling the centre-group along throughout under James Doyle, she stayed on gamely to hold Godolphin’s determined La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) by a neck at the line, with the far-side “winner” Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) a half length away for Aidan O’Brien and her stablemate and 2-1 favourite Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) only 14th. “It wasn’t easy for her from our draw, but I went straight up where the [Royal] carriage went earlier,” Doyle explained. “That’s where I found myself and the pressure going onto the ground meant it must be slightly quicker, but that’s all I had as I was doing it all on my own. I had such a willing partner and she’s so brave.” Trainer Mark Johnston was recording a 43rd victory at Royal Ascot and added, “I knew she was pretty useful and we think our 2-year-old fillies are very strong. She is one of the leading bunch, which says a lot for all the others. We’ll take one step at a time, we are only in June and obviously we’ll think about the Cheveley Park at the end of the year, but there will be other races before then.”
Godolphin’s La Pelosa covered herself in glory in second and trainer Charlie Appleby commented, “The winner had run twice, so had a bit more experience than our filly but as William [Buick] just said we have had a peach of a run. A furlong down I thought we were going to pick the winner up because James [Doyle] had gone for his filly. I’m pleased because she’s going to be a fun filly for the summer and I’m sure that stepping up in trip is going to be our next step forward. I would not imagine the Cherry Hinton [G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket July 13] would be for her–we will see some of those Queen Mary types stepping up for that–and La Pelosa is a nice scopey filly who looks like she will handle further. She has substance and a great head on her.”
Main Edition’s dam Maine Lobster (Woodman) unfortunately died after producing her, having also been responsible for the G2 Sandown Mile winner and G1 Sussex S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois-placed sire Major Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), as well as Beachfire (GB) (Indian Haven {GB}) who took this meeting’s Listed Wolferton H. The second dam, the GI Selima S. winner Capades (Overskate), is a stakes-placed half-sister to Capades Dancer (Gate Dancer) who produced the MGSW and GISP sire Vangelis (Highest Honor {Fr}).
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ALBANY S.-G3, £90,000, Ascot, 6-22, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:13.67, g/f.
1–MAIN EDITION (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Zoffany (Ire)
1st Dam: Maine Lobster, by Woodman
2nd Dam: Capades, by Overskate
3rd Dam: Medal of Valor, by Damascus
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (62,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Saif Ali; B-Minch Bloodstock (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-James Doyle. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $82,661. *1/2 to Major Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr & GSP-Ire, $541,713; and Beachfire (GB) (Indian Haven {GB}), SW-Eng, $146,581. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–La Pelosa (Ire), 126, f, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)–Lauren’s Girl (Ire), by Bushranger (Ire). (€52,000 Wlg ’16 GOFNOV; €40,000 RNA Ylg ’17 GOFOR; 280,000gns 2yo ’18 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Elton Lodge Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £19,350.
3–Fairyland (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Queenofthefairies (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (925,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Evie Stockwell, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £9,684.
Margins: NK, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.00, 12.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: Angel’s Hideaway (Ire), Pretty Pollyanna (GB), Byron Bay (Fr), Chicas Amigas (Ire), Satisfying (Ire), Nakakande (Ire), Cotubanama (GB), Octave (Ire), Reponse Exacte (Fr), Stillwater Cove, Just Wonderful, Jensue (Ire), Hawayel (Ire), Merry Go Round (Fr), No More Regrets (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
fonte : TDN
