Invincible Spirit’s Nazeef Brings Up a Royal Shadwell Treble
Nazeef | Racing Post
Capping an amazing opening day for Shadwell and Jim Crowley, Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) completed a notable treble with a hard-fought victory in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. Also providing John Gosden with a double on the day, the impressive June 3 Listed Snowdrop Fillies’ S. winner confirmed her continuing upward mobility arriving from mid-division to wear down Agincourt (Ire) (Declaration of War) in the final 100 yards and score by a head, with 2 1/2 lengths back to Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) in third. While this year’s Royal meeting will forever be remembered for the lack of people in attendance, it will linger long for Crowley who said, “This is a special day. I thought Motakhayyel (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) would win when no-one else did. It was great to make it third time lucky on Battaash and Nazeef was coming into this race off the back of a nice win in the Snowdrop and she toughed it out really well. She has done nothing but improve with every run.”
Nazeef has come a long way in a brief period, having shed her maiden tag only in July in over seven furlongs at Newmarket. Adding a Chelmsford mile novice contest to her tally in early September, the bay followed that with a six-length handicap success over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile before capitalising on the penalty carried by the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) in the Snowdrop on Kempton’s Polytrack.
Gosden holds the winner in the highest regard. “She is the sweetest filly–you go into the barn and she is the first to come and say hello to you. She is very affectionate and very genuine and very brave,” he said. “She did nothing but improve last year. She went right through the handicap ranks and came into listed this year. I think she deserves a little rest now, a good four weeks and there’s a great race called the [G1] Falmouth [at Newmarket]. She is by Invincible Spirit and they take a little dig in the ground. In the end they went hard and she outstayed them.”
“The owner has never kept fillies in training. I did ask to keep Taghrooda in training as a four-year-old, because I thought she would have been invincible, but actually he doesn’t believe in that,” he added. “He did keep Enbihaar in training last year and she won all those group 2s, so Angus Gold got down on the other knee and asked if we could keep this filly in training and here she is winning a Royal Ascot group 2 at four. I think if you select the right ones to keep in training, it can be a wonderful time for them. Sheikh Hamdan is a huge part of our industry and I think for him to have a treble on the first day of Ascot–what a huge achievement.”
Nazeef is a daughter of the Listed Garnet S. winner Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is in turn a half to the GII San Gabriel S. winner and GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile third Desert Stone (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the G3 Darley S. scorer Euginio (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The unraced second dam Starstone (GB) (Diktat {GB}) is a half to the Bahamian Bounty (GB) pair of group 1-winning sprinters Pastoral Pursuits (GB) and Goodricke (GB). Handassa’s 3-year-old colt Musahaba (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) is yet to race, while she also has the 2-year-old colt Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE S.-G2, £100,000, Ascot, 6-16, 4yo/up, f, 8fT, 1:40.57, g/s.
1–NAZEEF (GB), 126, f, 4, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Handassa (GB) (SW-Ire), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Starstone (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Star (GB), by Most Welcome (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Jim Crowley. £59,200. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, $123,958. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Agincourt (Ire), 126, m, 5, Declaration of War–El Diamante (Fr), by Royal Applause (GB). O/B-Sir Robert Ogden (IRE); T-David O’Meara. £22,390.
3–Queen Power (Ire), 126, f, 4, Shamardal–Princess Serena, by Unbridled’s Song. (500,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Roundhill Stud (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £11,190.
Margins: HD, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.33, 28.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Iconic Choice (GB), Posted (GB), Wasmya (Fr), Lavender’s Blue (Ire), Invitational (GB), Magic Lily (GB), Jubiloso (GB). Scratched: Miss O Connor (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Battaash Brilliant In the King’s Stand
Battaash | Racing Post
Twice cruelly denied by his nemesis Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the last two runnings of the G1 King’s Stand S., Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was on Tuesday the undisputed ruler of Royal Ascot’s five-furlong strip of verdant racing ground to provide the opener’s undisputed highlight. Out of the first four for only the second time in his career when last seen trailing in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, Shadwell’s 6-year-old may have had a slight question mark over his head as he exited the stalls but within a furlong all doubt was firmly cast. Jim Crowley’s main task where this particular customer is concerned has always been to hold on and by halfway the writing was once again already on the wall for all who had dared to dream he might have one of his rare off-days. Pursuit was merely futile by the furlong pole, with the 5-6 favourite having opened up and at the line there was a comfortable 2 1/4-length margin back to his stablemate Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), with a short head back to Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in third.
“He was on a bit of a going day and wanting to charge off, so my only concern was to try to get the fractions right on him because he was quite keen,” man-of-the-day Jim Crowley commented. “There was nothing quick enough to lead him and I wanted to save enough for the finish, which worked out. Every time he wins it feels special, he’s a real superstar and hopefully we’re not finished yet. He was really good going down to the start, but when those gates opened he was gone. He is just such a naturally fast horse, it’s hard to find anything quick enough to lead him. He has got better as time has gone on–obviously two years ago at York, he completely blew his lid before the race and I think not having the crowd did help today.”
The winning time of 58.64 narrowly missed last year’s and was half a second off the 2018 renewal staged on a slicker good-to-firm surface, demonstrating that Battaash is indeed as good as ever. Having buried a hoodoo when winning last year’s G1 Nunthorpe S. also at the third attempt, the 2017 Abbaye hero now has the well-deserved clean sweep of Europe’s group 1 five-furlong sprints. Charlie Hills, who was stamping this edition, is relishing going back to Goodwood for the G2 King George S. that he has proven so categorically unbeatable in. “Obviously, we will have to speak with Sheikh Hamdan, but I am really looking forward to going back to Goodwood to try and win the King George there for the fourth time–I think that would be some achievement to do that,” he said. “It is a real shame that Sheikh Hamdan is not here to witness it, but it’s great to finally win a King’s Stand with him.”
“He was really on his ‘A’ game today,” Hills added. “He was beautifully relaxed before the race and as soon as the gates opened you could see he was going to be very hard to beat. He has been quite relaxed in his work at home, until Saturday when Jane rode him and he was really quite strong in the first half of the gallop. I think he’d got to the point really when we needed to get a race into him. The race will do him the world of good, we can train him off today. I’ve lived every emotion with him now. We have been beaten here twice before and, had it been three times, I don’t think I could have dealt with that. We always think his ace card from the two to the one-furlong pole is that he can get horses off the bridle and he gets them all going whilst he is still cruising.”
Hills also had praise for Battaash’s popular groom Bob Grace, who was leading up his first Royal Ascot winner. “Bob probably gets a stride slower every year, but the horse now goes at the same pace that he does,” he joked. “It is amazing the connection the two have. He might be one of the fastest horses in the world, but he walks so slowly.” Of the runner-up, he said, “Equilateral has run brilliantly and I always thought he was going to run a really big race. He has always shown that he is a really good horse. I know a lot of people has lost a lot of money on him over the years. He deserves to win a big one in time, but he hasn’t even won a group race yet so we’ll try and find one for him somewhere if we can.”
Battaash’s top speed was 43.4 mph, with his first and last furlongs being the fastest of the field, while Equilateral’s last three furlongs were finished off in 33.8 seconds which made them the quickest.
Battaash is the first foal out of Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), a half-sister to four black-type performers including this Stud’s smart Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk) who captured the G2 Champagne S. and was third in the G1 July Cup. Her other half-sibling Bird Key (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) produced another leading sprinter for the operation in the G2 Duke of York S. winner and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S.-placed Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Anna Law also has Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ unraced 3-year-old filly Valletta Gold (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) who is in training with John Quinn, and the 2-year-old full-sister to Battaash who was bought by Shadwell for 800,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. She is named Altaayshah (Ire).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING’S STAND S.-G1, £250,000, Ascot, 6-16, 3yo/up, 5fT, :58.64, g/s.
1–BATTAASH (IRE), 130, g, 6, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(200,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jim Crowley. £148,000. Lifetime Record: 2x Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 5-7f, Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 5-7f & G1SW-Fr, 21-11-2-3, $1,979,968. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Equilateral (GB), 130, g, 5, Equiano (Fr)–Tarentaise (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Charles Hills. £55,975.
3–Liberty Beach (GB), 121, f, 3, Cable Bay (Ire)–Flirtinaskirt (GB), by Avonbridge (GB). (£16,000 RNA Ylg ’18 TASAYG). O/B-Phillip Wilkins (GB); T-John Quinn. £27,975.
Margins: 2 1/4, NO, 1. Odds: 0.83, 9.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Tis Marvellous (GB), Glass Slippers (GB), Shades of Blue (Ire), Kurious (GB), Rocket Action (GB), Well Done Fox (GB), Hit The Bid (GB), Sergei Prokofiev. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Harbour Watch’s Pyledriver Causes an Upset In the King Edward VII
Pyledriver | Racing Post
In the midst of some predictable results on Royal Ascot’s opener, there was the shock of a hammer blow to some big reputations as the 18-1 shot Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) took the G2 King Edward VII S. without any hint of fluke. Largely disregarded despite flashing talent at two and when runner-up in the June 3 G3 Classic Trial at Kempton, Guy and Hugh Leach and Roger Devlin’s bay was also low-profile in the race itself, anchored towards the rear early by Martin Dwyer along with the 10-11 favourite and TDN Rising Star Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the 4-1 second favourite Mohican Heights (Ire) (Australia {GB}). While eyes were fixed on that pair, it was the Willie Muir trainee who was sneaking up the rail and into contention as the strong pace began to tell on the leader Sound of Cannons (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Slicing between that tiring front-runner and Ballydoyle’s second-string Arthur’s Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) approaching two out, Pyledriver kept the latter at bay for a two-length verdict as Mohican Heights stayed on into third the same margin away.
Muir, who had saddled the 66-1 runner-up Jack’s Point (GB) (Slade Power {Ire}) in the opening Buckingham Palace H., was pinching himself afterwards. “I dreamt last night I had two winners, so a second and a first I can live with,” he said. “On day one this horse was a big price and I remember saying to the owners that if he was by Frankel he’d be favourite, as he’s gorgeous. He’s a big, weak baby and he’s got lots to come. The owners got offered masses for this horse and said they weren’t interested–they said we could come here and go for the Derby and I said he can’t do the two because he is big and weak, but in the last few days he’s come alive. He’s done that, so I’m not going to say he can’t go to the Derby. We are at a different level to some trainer, but we’re all trying to get here.”
Successful at 50-1 on debut at Salisbury in July, Pyledriver was only fourth in the seven-furlong Listed Washington Singer S. at Newbury the following month but with that lesson under his belt came back stronger to beat Sound of Cannons in the Listed Ascendant S. over a mile on soft ground at Haydock in September. Last of seven in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket later that month, he was 40-1 when second to Berlin Tango (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the re-routed Classic Trial over a mile and a quarter with the likes of Max Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Born With Pride (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) behind. Now proven at this trip, he is likely to make his history bid as the first King Edward VII winner to head to the Derby.
If committed to the July 4 blue riband, he will be aided by the 2006 Derby-winning jockey and Dwyer was keen for the opportunity in the immediate aftermath. “He’s got a progressive profile and has done everything right there–he settled well and showed a good turn of foot to win going away,” he said. “There is more improvement in him and, fair play to Willie, he’s said all year that he’s going to win a big one with this horse. He ran in the Royal Lodge last year, but it was like Bambi on ice as he was all legs that day. I probably hit the front too soon, but he was just a bit lazy and when the runner-up was coming, he did go again. They are really good attributes. I don’t get the rides I used to and when you get them you have to make it count. This is a tricky contest, so I was watching videos to get it right in my head. Even though I’ve ridden here for 20 years, these mile-and-a-half races are so tactically-run you need to be so switched on.”
Muir is tempted by the prospect. “I suppose we will have to think about the Derby,” he added. “I thought we would run a big race, but there were one or two horses in here that were well-touted, well-talked about. Aidan O’Brien said that Mogul was probably his best Derby hope. He is such an athletic, nimble, easy mover. You can never say that a horse will handle Epsom, but this horse has such a balanced way about him, I think he probably would. The owners have got the mare, we’ve got a New Approach two-year-old, she’s beautiful, going really nice, just gently until the back-end, we’ve got an Oasis Dream yearling coming through and a Frankel filly foal on the ground which is stunning. And the mare is in foal to Kingman, so we’ve got enough to come. I might have to keep on training now!”
Part-owner Guy Leach said of the homebred, who was led out unsold at 10,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, “We are in Wales and not allowed to travel more than five miles, it is all very different, but I will still enjoy the night with a glass and watch the race over and over again. We must remember we would have never have been in the Derby in a normal year and we would never have supplemented him. If the horse is well enough, I am sure we’ll take our chance.”
Looking to upstage this year’s G1 Stewards’ Cup winner Waikuku (Ire) as the best progeny so far by Tweenhills’ resident Harbour Watch (Ire), Pyledriver is the first foal out of a full-sister to the G3 Park Express S. winner Normandel (Fr) and a half to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}). The third dam Lidakiya (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) was responsible for Linngari (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who captured the G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis. As outlined by the trainer, the 2-year-old filly by New Approach (Ire) is joined by a yearling son of Oasis Dream (GB), a foal daughter of Frankel (GB).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £110,000, Ascot, 6-16, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:32.21, g/s.
1–PYLEDRIVER (GB), 126, c, 3, by Harbour Watch (Ire)
1st Dam: La Pyle (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lidana (Ire), by King’s Best
3rd Dam: Lidakiya (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. (10,000gns RNA Wlg ’17 TATFOA). O/B-Knox & Wells Ltd & R W Devlin (GB); T-William Muir; J-Martin Dwyer. £65,120. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $118,953. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Arthur’s Kingdom (Ire), 126, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Madeira Mist (Ire), by Grand Lodge. (€260,000 Ylg ’18 GOFOR). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £24,629.
3–Mohican Heights (Ire), 126, c, 3, Australia (GB)–Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB). (€100,000 Ylg ’18 GOFOR; £520,000 2yo ’19 GOFLON). O-Sun Bloodstock SARL; B-Kevin J Molloy (IRE); T-David Simcock. £12,309.
Margins: 2, 2, 3/4. Odds: 18.00, 4.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mogul (GB), Sound of Cannons (GB), Papa Power (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Frankel’s Frankly Darling Wins the Ribblesdale
Frankly Darling | Racing Post
Narrowly denied in the Queen Anne, Frankie Dettori was quick to gain compensation getting off the mark at Royal Ascot 2020 on Anthony Oppenheimer’s Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. Free early despite being provided with an ideal lead from Golden Lips (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), the 11-8 favourite who scored at Newcastle on the opening day of the season June 1 nevertheless had abundant fuel when committed at the two-furlong pole. Chased up the straight by Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the homebred had already sealed the outcome and was eased late to record an impressive 1 3/4-length success from that rival, with another Ballydoyle runner Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 2 1/2 lengths away in third.
“She ran with the choke out a bit and I was pleased that Josephine [Gordon] was there to make a good pace,” commented Dettori after his flying dismount from his 68th Royal and eighth Ribblesdale winner. “I got her to relax on the turn for home and she had every chance to get tired, but found another gear and it was a very good performance. We were burning plenty of petrol in the first half of the race and she has got some lungs, let me tell you. She showed she stays well and that was a good experience for her today.”
For John Gosden, it was a landmark 50th Royal winner and a third renewal from the last four. “She’s done it well. Luckily, she got in to her race at Newcastle on the first day which meant that we could come here and she will have learnt a bit about racing there. She is still raw and green, but powered away and we’ll see how she is in the next 10 days before we make our mind up about the [July 4 G1 Epsom] Oaks. It is some achievement for Mr. Oppenheimer to win two of these and he’s a sportsman, so if we’re happy with her I think he’d like to go to Epsom.”
Frankly Darling, who will be making history if successful at Epsom as the first to win this and then the Oaks in that order, had been runner-up to TDN Rising Star Cabaletta (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) on her sole start over a mile at Yarmouth in October before her five-length success over 10 furlongs on Newcastle’s Tapeta as the British racing scene swung back into play. She very much fits the profile of Gosden’s previous Oaks winners and this performance echoed that of Star Catcher (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) at last year’s meeting prior to her Irish Oaks triumph.
“She was a big, rangy girl and a bit unfurnished who needed time to develop,” Gosden continued. “We got a run in and she ran well, and of course she would have gone to the April meeting at Newbury and run in a mile-and-a-quarter fillies’ maiden there and then gone to an Oaks trial, then maybe gone to the Oaks but obviously that all changed. She was a little wild–there’s a bit of Frankel about her–but she showed an awful lot of class today. If I have an Oaks filly, it’s her.”
James Doyle said of the runner-up, “Ennistymon has run well. It was hard to come from where we did and the pace was quick. It was hard to make ground, but it was a good effort.”
Frankly Darling is a daughter of Hidden Hope (GB) (Daylami {Ire}), who was successful in the Listed Cheshire Oaks before finishing runner-up in the G2 Lancashire Oaks and G2 Prix de Pomone. Her previous black-type performer Our Obsession (Ire) (Shamardal) captured the Listed Galtres S. before producing last year’s G3 Musidora S. runner-up Frankellina (GB) to a mating with Frankel, while her 4-year-old colt First In Line (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was third in the recent Listed Buckhounds S. Hidden Hope’s half-sister Rebecca Sharp (GB) (Machiavellian) took the G1 Coronation S., while another half-sibling is the G3 Lingfield Derby Trial scorer Mystic Knight (GB) (Caerleon).
Hidden Hope is out of Nuryana (GB) (Nureyev), whose unraced daughter Fleche D’Or (GB) (Dubai Destination) achieved notoriety when producing the G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Eclipse S., G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 Irish Champion S. hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), as well as the listed-winning and multiple graded-stakes-placed Eastern Belle (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). This is also the family of Frankel’s best performer to date in Cracksman (GB), who went so close to providing this owner-breeder with a Derby in 2017.
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £110,000, Ascot, 6-16, 3yo, f, 11f 211yT, 2:33.29, g/s.
1–FRANKLY DARLING (GB), 126, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Hidden Hope (GB) (SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Fr, $142,832), by Daylami (Ire)
2nd Dam: Nuryana (GB), by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Loralane (GB), by Habitat
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £65,120. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $88,118. *1/2 to Our Obsession (Ire) (Shamardal), SW-Eng; and First In Line (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), SP-Eng, $110,871. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ennistymon (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Lahinch (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O/B-Mrs Evie Stockwell (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £24,629.
3–Passion (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa. (800,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £12,309.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.38, 11.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Bharani Star (Ger), Golden Lips (Ire), Miss Yoda (Ger), Anastarsia (Ire), So I Told You (Ire), Trefoil (GB), West End Girl (GB), Hold Fast (Ire). Scratched: Born With Pride (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
