Crystal Ocean new King George favourite after giving Stoute 11th Hardwicke
It has been a memorable week for Sir Michael Stoute and the trainer, who like winning rider Ryan Moore was enjoying his fourth Royal Ascot success of the week, gained his 11th Hardwicke Stakes courtesy of Crystal Ocean.
Betway reacted by making Crystal Ocean the 9-4 favourite for the King George, with Cracksman, who was vanquished in Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes, at 7-2. Cracksman’s conqueror and Crystal Ocean’s stablemate Poet’s Word is a 5-1 chance.
Idaho set a muddling pace but the 4-7 favourite Crystal Ocean was always close by under Moore as Barsanti, Red Verdon and Cliffs Of Moher – who ran in the Prince of Wales’s on Wednesday – followed.
The field were well grouped as they sprinted for home, and although Red Verdon and Barsanti travelled into the race well, Moore committed first on Crystal Ocean and the progressive colt was soon away – he eventually won by two and a half lengths.
Red Verdon ran a massive race to be second at 33-1, with Cliffs Of Moher in third. Idaho weakened rapidly when asked to quicken and finished last of the five runners.
Crystal Ocean, who had won the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown and the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury this season (both of which are Group 3s), was Stoute’s final runner of the week at Royal Ascot. Moore rides Van Beethoven in the upcoming Windsor Castle Stakes.
Final foal out of Ceiling Kitty takes home the Chesham Stakes
Arthur Kitt remains unbeaten with Listed success
Four years after his late dam Ceiling Kitty ran away with the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, Arthur Kitt carried on the family tradition with a gutsy success to win the Listed Chesham Stakes on Saturday.
The colt is the third and final foal out of Betfair founder and Chasemore Farm owner Andrew Black’s Royal Ascot heroine - whose life was tragically cut short after Arthur Kitt was born.
A daughter of Red Clubs, Ceiling Kitty produced three foals for Black – all of whom bear the distinction of being winners. Arthur Kitt is a half-brother to the winning Formidable Kitt and is a half-brother to the Listed scorer Eartha Kitt.
This is the further family of Japanese 1,000 Guineas heroine Jeweler and the Grade 3-winning One Carat.
Arthur Kitt is by dual Derby hero Camelot and becomes the second winner to be sired by the son of Montjeu at Royal Ascot this week. He was on the board on Thursday thanks to Hunting Horn’s impressive victory in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes.
The pair are part of six stakes winners Camelot has supplied since retiring to Coolmore’s Irish base in County Tipperary with his progeny headed by the Group 2-winning Fighting Irish.
Archie Watson in wonderland as Soldier’s Call gives him first Royal Ascot win
After narrowly missing out with Nate The Great in the Chesham Stakes, trainer Archie Watson enjoyed a first win at Royal Ascot as Soldier’s Call bolted down the stands’ side to land the Windsor Castle Stakes under Danny Tudhope.
Sabre finished second for Richard Fahey having followed the winner through on the near side, with Dom Carlos back in third.
Whereas Nate The Great was denied by a neck in the opening race, Soldier’s Call was well on top at the finish, having burst through under Tudhope, who was getting off the mark for the week at Ascot.
“It’s been a long week but it’s very hard to get winners here,” said Tudhope. “I’m delighted for Archie and seeing how much it means to him.
“This horse has so much speed and won nicely in the end.”
After a sparkling campaign on the all-weather, Watson has carried the momentum through to the turf season and was overjoyed to saddle his first Royal Ascot winner.
He said: “After Nate, I was delighted but gutted. It’s only our second year with runners here and I thought I might have to wait a little longer than an hour.
“He’s a very good horse. He’s always shown a lot of speed at home. He surprised me on debut when winning and breaking the course record, but he’s blisteringly fast and it was a great ride from Danny.”
Watson added that the Molecomb Stakes would probably be next with a trip to the Breeders’ Cup a possible longer-term goal.
Merchant Navy noses out City Light in dramatic race
Ascot has not been a lucky place for Harry Angel and the star sprinter became upset in the stalls before missing the break in a pulsating Diamond Jubilee Stakes won by Merchant Navy.
Merchant Navy, who won the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes on his Irish debut, came out on top in a photo with City Light, the French-trained colt, who won on All-Weather Championships Day in March.
As Harry Angel dwelt, Wesley Ward’s Bound For Nowhere bounded into a clear lead in the early stages. Challengers fanned across the track in the closing stages but Merchant Navy stuck on best to deny the fast-finishing French colt.
fonte : RacingPost
Fastnet Rock’s Merchant Navy Wins a Dramatic Diamond Jubilee
| 4th at RAS, Gr. Stk, £600,000 | G1 Diamond Jubilee S. | (6f) | Winner: Merchant Navy (Aus), c, 4 by Fastnet Rock (Aus) |
Merchant Navy (purple) | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Royal Ascot is never short in supply of drama, but the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. ensured it will be the most talked-about race of the meeting as Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) reverted to his former stalls panic and threw away his chance at the start before the ex-Australian and now Irish-trained Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) denied the French raider City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and US rep Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) in a thrilling finale. With the 5-2 favourite Harry Angel trying to break out of the stalls before missing the start by several lengths only to finish 10th, this renewal was thrown open and it was Bound For Nowhere who set out to make all up the centre with Spirit of Valor (War Front) leading up Merchant Navy in his group. The Wesley Ward runner began to lug left and into Ballydoyle’s 4-1 second favourite as that rival was grinding his way ahead passing the furlong pole, where City Light got motoring the other side under Christophe Soumillon. City Light was in front before and after the line, but Merchant Navy’s head was down in time for the photo and the bobbing finish resulted in a short-head verdict for Ryan Moore, with 3/4 of a length back to a gallant Bound For Nowhere in third. “He’s a remarkable horse,” Moore said of the winner, whose weight-for-age advantage had been stripped away prematurely in this hemisphere. “He hasn’t been up here long and is only a young horse, but he’s come and beat a high-class field. I thought I’d win easier, but the American horse leaned into me and he lost his rhythm for a second. If I’d got beaten I’d have been unlucky.”
It later transpired that Harry Angel’s near-hind leg was stuck on the running board when the stalls opened, having kicked out with both hind legs in the gate. This was a repeat of his antics in the early days, which the Clive Cox stable had worked so hard to overcome and which had not been a problem for many outings. He is now 0-5 at this track, so the curse continues. With him effectively discounted, it was a case of whether Bound For Nowhere could maintain the gallop he set under Joel Rosario but Moore looked happy tracking the pace set by Spirit of Valor towards the stand’s side and his mount is a renowned strong finisher as he proved when third in Flemington’s G1 Newmarket H. Mar. 10. With Merchant Navy and Bound For Nowhere becoming entangled as the race’s final moments sapped the runners, last year’s winner The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) was building momentum and City Light bore down on the duelling leaders but it was the Irish and French who forged on to make the pulsating finale.
Merchant Navy had shown the same desire to fight at the end of his prior top-level success in the Flemington’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. Nov. 4 and the manner of his success on his European bow suggested he would still be a potent force despite taking on these sprinters on less favourable weight terms. In The Curragh’s G2 Greenlands S. May 26, he beat some smart sprinters including last year’s Diamond Jubilee runner-up Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {Aus}) and that form worked out here with The Tin Man so close up. Aidan O’Brien said, “He was travelling very well and we knew looking at him that Ryan was very happy on him. He’s always been very straightforward since he arrived. He did five half-speeds before he went to the Curragh, so we weren’t really sure what was going to happen but we wanted to get a run into him before he came here. We thought it was an impossible task for him here as he was 12 pounds worse off than he would have been in Australia. He’s being treated as a four-year-old here and he’s really a three-year-old. I came here prepared that he couldn’t win, reading what everyone was saying.”
Stephane Wattel said of the fast-progressing City Light, who could be targeted at the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 5. “There were horses everywhere, but it was a great effort. This horse has come a long way and I thought for a minute I was going to have a group one winner.” Wesley Ward said of Bound For Nowhere, “He ran fantastic. I was proud of him. He’s a miler and was not meant to be in front, but I guess there wasn’t much pace. I’ve always had a lot of faith in him and for him to step up and finish in the top three in a group one at Royal Ascot is fantastic. He can only get better and we’ll try for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.” Clive Cox was downcast after witnessing the stalls debacle of Harry Angel, who has an injury as a result. “His leg was still in the stall when it opened,” he said. “He’s not straightforward in the stalls, as you can see. It’s a shame it’s happened and it obviously affected the whole day. He’s got a nasty puncture wound, which we’re concerned enough about. He wasn’t sound behind when he came in. Not dreadful, but he wasn’t sound. I’m just sorry for everyone and it’s a shame, but I hope he’ll be fine.”
Merchant Navy is one of three black-type performers by Fastnet Rock out of the G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Legally Bay (Aus) (Snippets {Aus}), who was also third in the G1 Oakleigh Plate and G1 Australia S. His most notable sibling is the G2 Roman Consul S. winner and G1 Ascot Vale S. runner-up Jolie Bay (Aus), while the dam is kin to the G1 Myer Classic heroine Bonaria (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and the G3 Mercury Two-Year-Old Classic scorer Time Out (Aus) (Rory’s Jester {Aus}), as well as the dam of the GSW Montsegur (Aus) (New Approach {Ire}) and Tessera (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro). This is the family of the multiple group 1-winning Australian champion and sire Gypsy Kingdom (Aus) (Planet Kingdom {Aus}) and the latter’s G1 Queensland Derby-winning full-brother Our Planet (Aus). Legally Bay also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by All Too Hard (Aus) and a yearling full-brother to Merchant Navy.
Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
DIAMOND JUBILEE S.-G1, £600,000, Ascot, 6-23, 4yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.09, g/f.
1–MERCHANT NAVY (AUS), 129, c, 4, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Legally Bay (Aus) (GSW & MG1SP-Aus, $430,193), by Snippets (Aus)
2nd Dam: Decidity (Aus), by Last Tycoon (Ire)
3rd Dam: Class (Aus), by Twig Moss (Fr)
(350,000 Ylg ’16 INGEAY). O-Merchant Navy Syndicate, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-C Barham (AUS); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 10-7-0-2, $1,257,833. *Full to Jolie Bay (Aus), GSW & G1SP-Aus, $242,860. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–City Light (Fr), 129, c, 4, Siyouni (Fr)–Light Saber (Fr), by Kendor (Fr). (€55,000 Ylg ’15 AR15). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Isabelle Corbani; B-Jedburgh Stud & Isabelle Corbani (FR); T-Stephane Wattel. £129,000.
3–Bound for Nowhere, 129, c, 4, The Factor–Fancy Deed, by Alydeed. ($310,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O/T-Wesley Ward; B-Wayne Lyster, Gray Lyster & Bryan Lyster (KY). £64,560.
Margins: NO, 3/4, NK. Odds: 4.00, 12.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: The Tin Man (GB), Projection (GB), D’Bai (Ire), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Spirit of Valor, Librisa Breeze (GB), Redkirk Warrior (GB), Harry Angel (Ire), Intelligence Cross.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Showcasing’s Soldier’s Call Wins the Windsor Castle
| 3rd at RAS, Lst Stk, £90,000 | Listed Windsor Castle S. | (5f) | Winner: Soldier’s Call (GB), c, 2 by Showcasing (GB) |
Soldier’s Call | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Impressive when making all over this five-furlong trip at Haydock June 7, Clipper Logistics’ Soldier’s Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) dominated his stand’s-side group and eventually the entire field in the Listed Windsor Castle S. for a first Royal success for the Archie Watson stable. Allowed to roll by Danny Tudhope, the 12-1 shot was always too quick for his contemporaries on his side but it was not until the furlong pole that he got to those racing up the centre and far side. Tackled by Sabre (GB) (Mayson {GB}) from there, the bay held on to score by a half length, with Dom Carlos (Ire) (Gale Force Ten {GB}) 1 3/4 lengths away in third. “It was a great performance–he has so much speed,” his rider said. “I was a bit behind the far side, but I was able to do my own thing and wasn’t hassled.” Watson commented, “It’s only our second season training and I thought I might have to wait longer for this. Joe Foley, Steve Parkin, Clipper Logistics and Federico Barberini have put a lot of faith in me and sent me some proper kit, so I’m just delighted I can repay that. I would imagine the [G3] Molecomb [at Glorious Goodwood Aug. 1] would be his aim. We would love to go to Churchill Downs for the new Breeders’ Cup race over five and half furlongs in November if that’s the way the season progresses. He and [the Chesham runner-up] Nate the Great are two very natural horses and there is nice strength in depth to our two-year-olds.”
Trainer Richard Fahey said of Sabre, “He flew home and we do like the horse. He probably didn’t handle coming down the hill that well and got himself out of position and into one where he probably shouldn’t have been, but that is not his fault–that’s racing. Once he hit the rising ground, he took off. He could go up to six furlongs or we could stay at five furlongs–he is a nice horse. I like him and I thought he would win, so I’m disappointed.”
Soldier’s Call is out of Dijarvo (Iceman {GB}), who as a juvenile was the winner of the Listed Prix la Fleche before finishing third in the G3 Railway S. She is kin to Bailey’s Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), who is in turn the dam of Mamba Noire (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) whose three group placings include a third in the G2 Lowther S. Dijarvo also has an as-yet unnamed yearling filly by Canford Cliffs (Ire).
Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
WINDSOR CASTLE S.-Listed, £90,000, Ascot, 6-23, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.25, g/f.
1–SOLDIER’S CALL (GB), 129, c, 2, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Dijarvo (GB) (SW-Fr & GSP-US), by Iceman (GB)
2nd Dam: Thicket (GB), by Wolfhound
3rd Dam: Sharpthorne, by Sharpen Up (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (85,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Llety Farms (GB); T-Archie Watson; J-Daniel Tudhope. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $78,924.
2–Sabre (GB), 129, c, 2, Mayson (GB)–Crinkle (Ire), by Distant Relative (Ire). (28,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Mrs Janis MacPherson. £19,350.
3–Dom Carlos (Ire), 129, c, 2, Gale Force Ten (GB)–Fancy Feathers (Ire), by Redback (GB). (€34,000 Wlg ’16 GOFNOV; £45,000 Ylg ’17 GOUKPR). O-M O’Sullivan & Annus Mirabilis Syndicate. £9,684.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 12.00, 12.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Van Beethoven, Tin Hat (Ire), Junius Brutus (Fr), Rockin Roy (Ire), Well Done Fox (GB), Life of Riley (GB), James Watt (Ire), Lihou (GB), Rolling King, Moonlight Romance, North Wind (Ire), World Order (Ire), Thegreatestshowman (GB), Queen of Bermuda (Ire), Isle of Innisfree, Mayson Mac (GB), Chapelli (GB), Mutawaffer (Ire), Cococabala (Ire), Murqaab (GB), Kapono (GB), Kessaar (Ire), Jungle Inthebungle (Ire), Hit The Track Jack (GB), Li Kui (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Easy Pickings for Sea the Stars’ Crystal Ocean
| 2nd at RAS, Gr. Stk, £225,000 | G2 Hardwicke S. | (11f 211y) | Winner: Crystal Ocean (GB), c, 4 by Sea the Stars (Ire) |
Crystal Ocean | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Sir Michael Stoute has enjoyed a stellar week and it was fitting that his 4-7 favourite Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) put the cherry on the cake as he bestowed his trainer an 11th success in the G2 Hardwicke S. Sir Evelyn De Rothschild’s TDN Rising Star, who was runner-up in a strong renewal of Doncaster’s G1 St Leger in September, came into this on the back of a win in the G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury May 19 and with Coolmore allowing Ryan Moore to ride for his old boss the writing was on the wall before the gates opened. Always content tracking Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the homebred bay was sent past that rival approaching the quarter pole and without being fully extended asserted for a 2 1/2-length verdict over Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid), with Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “He’s continued to progress with his racing and has a lovely temperament–he is a joy to train,” this meeting’s winningmost trainer said. “He’s a relaxed horse and is very straightforward–you could do what you want with him in a race really. I would have thought it is likely he’ll go for the [G1] King George [back at Ascot July 28], but we’ll take him home and look at him for a little while.”
Sir Michael Stoute looked to have two nice older horses in Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and this colt, but few would have believed that they would be anything other than bit-players once Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) came on the scene. With the former now looking vulnerable and the latter still on the bench, the Freemason Lodge duo have centre stage to themselves as the big middle-distance contests of summer loom. Crystal Ocean was described as a work in progress when third in the G2 King Edward VII S. at this meeting 12 months ago and after a win in the G3 Gordon S. at Glorious Goodwood in August and second in the Leger he reappeared the finished article ready to repay his trainer’s renowned patience. “Mrs Robeson, Sir Evelyn’s sister, did all the matings. This is the fruits of her labour,” Stoute added as he basked in a 79th Royal winner.
Red Verdon is coming back to form and trainer Ed Dunlop has Australia in mind. “He’s so consistent and he’s improving and we came here because there wasn’t a huge field and we wanted to get our rating up a little bit–we’ve discussed a little while ago the likely option is to go to Australia in the autumn,” he explained. “We’ll work back from the [Oct. 20 G1] Caulfield Cup and the [Nov. 6 G1] Melbourne Cup. On ratings he probably was a 33-1 shot, but it was small field and little bit tactical and James [Doyle] said he could have finished a little bit closer. The horse of Sir Michael’s is one of the most progressive horses in training at the moment, but Red Verdon has beaten some serious yardsticks. It is a vastly improved run, but he is adaptable, he was second in the Henry II Stakes run over two miles the other day. We’ll take him Down Under and he’ll probably have one more run before travelling.”
Crystal Ocean is one of four separate black-type winners out of the Listed Radley S. winner and G3 Dubai Duty Free S. runner-up Crystal Star (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) alongside the GI Canadian International and G2 King Edward VII S. hero Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the four-times group winner Crystal Capella (GB) whose sire Cape Cross (Ire) is also the sire of Crystal Ocean’s sire Sea the Stars. Crystal Star is kin to the Listed Aphrodite S. winner Waila (GB) (Notnowcato (GB), while the third dam Krisalya (GB) (Kris {GB}) is a half-sister to the G1 Prix d’Ispahan hero Sasuru (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}). She produced the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Rose Gypsy (GB) to a mating with Cape Cross’ sire Green Desert. Crystal Star’s last known foal is the 3-year-old maiden colt Crystal King (GB) (Frankel (GB).
Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HARDWICKE S.-G2, £225,000, Ascot, 6-23, 4yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:28.08, g/f.
1–CRYSTAL OCEAN (GB), 127, c, 4, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Crystal Star (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crystal Cavern, by Be My Guest
3rd Dam: Krisalya (GB), by Kris (GB)
O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £127,689. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 9-5-2-2, $642,121. *1/2 to Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, GISW-Can, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $1,221,978; Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Eng, $550,532; and Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Red Verdon, 127, h, 5, Lemon Drop Kid–Porto Marmay (Ire), by Choisir (Aus). ($85,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP; 90,000gns 2yo ’15 TATBRE). O-The Hon R J Arculli; B-Liberty Road Stables (KY); T-Ed Dunlop. £48,375.
3–Cliffs of Moher (Ire), 127, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Wave (Ire), by Dansili (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Markus Jooste; B-Wave Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £24,210.
Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.55, 33.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Barsanti (Ire), Idaho (Ire). Scratched: Rare Rhythm (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Camelot’s Arthur Kitt an Emotive Winner of the Chesham
| 1st at RAS, Lst Stk, £90,000 | Listed Chesham S. | (7f) | Winner: Arthur Kitt (GB), c, 2 by Camelot (GB) |
Arthur Kitt and Richard Kingscote | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Royal Ascot’s final day opened with one of the stories of the week, as Chasemore Farm’s Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}) emerged from a story of genuine adversity to prevail in the Listed Chesham S. Having almost died at birth when his dam, the 2012 G2 Queen Mary S. heroine Ceiling Kitty (GB) (Red Clubs {Ire}) had to be euthanized, the winner needed resuscitating several times and had a twisted leg but came through all that to be raised by a foster mare en route to his eventual debut at Haydock May 25. Successful by 2 1/2 lengths in that six-furlong contest, the bay traded at 13-2 here and after being in touch early on the outer of the group racing up the centre was ridden before halfway and given reminders three out. Staying on stoutly to gain the lead with a furlong to race, he veered left but held on from Nate the Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to score by a neck, with Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) 3 1/4 lengths behind in third. The red-hot 5-4 favourite Natalie’s Joy (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was only seventh.
For owner Andrew Black, the success of Arthur Kitt must have felt almost pre-ordained. “It’s the most special moment,” he said. “I have more emotional attachment to him than I’ve ever had to a horse–the night he was born was such an incredibly difficult and painful time, so I always hoped he’d be special. He was always much more friendly than the other horses, which is often the case with foals raised by foster mares. I think Royal Applause was brought up by a foster mare. We put her to Camelot and I just thought we would win the Chesham and make it right somehow.” Chasemore Farm’s in-house vet Patrick Sells was on hand to explain the details of the night in question. “We had the panic when we knew something badly had gone wrong, the sorrow when you know you can’t save the mare, then the relief when the foal is responding to resuscitation–it took a good five minutes for him to breathe,” he said. “We were thinking of giving up and he was like a phoenix through the flames to get through that. The joy of then seeing him with his black-and-white nanny mare on the farm and he was always very calm and collected and this is the realisation of all our dreams. Andrew bred him for this race–and that is no exaggeration. Looking at Arthur now, the scope of him, I’ll say he’ll be a very exciting three-year-old.”
Trainer Archie Watson said of Nate the Great, “I couldn’t be happier. I’ve loved the horse from the moment he came in the yard. I’m sure there’s a lot of improvement in him. It may be that we just mind him now until the first mile stakes race and he’s got a big future as a middle-distance horse next year.”
Ceiling Kitty’s first foal was the Listed Boadicea S. winner Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who was also third in the G3 Summer S. The third dam Baldwina (Fr) (Pistolet Bleu {Ire}), herself kin to the Listed Prix Finlande winner and G3 Prix de Psyche and G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up Baie (Fr) (Green Tune), annexed the G3 Prix Penelope and boasts the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas heroine Jeweller (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) and the MGSW One Carat (Jpn) (Falbrav {Ire}) among her progeny list.
Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CHESHAM S.-Listed, £90,000, Ascot, 6-23, 2yo, 7fT, 1:28.08, g/f.
1–ARTHUR KITT (GB), 129, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Ceiling Kitty (GB) (GSW-Eng, $122,988), by Red Clubs (Ire)
2nd Dam: Baldovina (GB), by Tale of the Cat
3rd Dam: Baldwina (Fr), by Pistolet Bleu (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Chasemore Farm (GB); T-Tom Dascombe; J-Richard Kingscote. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $76,353. *1/2 to Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), SW-Eng.
2–Nate the Great (GB), 129, c, 2, Nathaniel (Ire)–Theladyinquestion (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). (30,000gns RNA Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Mildmay Racing & D H Caslon. £19,350.
3–Duke of Hazzard (Fr), 129, c, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–With Your Spirit (Fr), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€130,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Mrs Fitri Hay. £9,684.
Margins: NK, 3 1/4, HF. Odds: 6.50, 11.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Beyond Reason (Ire), Cardini, New Winds (GB), Natalie’s Joy (GB), San Donato (Ire), Aussie View (Ire), On a Session, Azor Ahai (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
fonte : TDN
