Bruce Raymond, one of the greatest jockeys of his generation and more recently a renowned racing manager for some of the biggest owners in the sport, has died at the age of 82.
Raymond’s first big win came aboard Rainstorm in the 1962 Newbury Autumn Cup, and he also won the July Cup, the Nunthorpe, the Ayr Gold Cup and guided the unconsidered Blue Judge to a runner-up finish in the 1993 Derby. Three victories in the Haydock Sprint Cup came his way, including Sheikh Albadou in 1992.
While a Classic victory ultimately proved elusive, he enjoyed a fine partnership with Michael Jarvis, including winning the 1985 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot aboard Bob Back, with the pair beating Pebbles (Steve Cauthen) and Commanche Run (Lester Piggott).
Bob Back and Bruce Raymond (right) beat Pebbles and Commanche Run at Royal Ascot (PA)
On retiring from the saddle he was to become assistant to Joe Mercer as racing manager for Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum and his associates.
When Mercer retired, Raymond assumed the role of racing manager to Rabbah Bloodstock, with the likes of Saeed Suhail, Jaber Abdullah and Saeed Manana amongst the leading owners he represented.
Former jockey Philip Robinson became assistant to his great friend and colleague in 2018 and paid tribute to a man he described as a “second father” and “racing’s Mr Nice Guy”.
He told the PA news agency: “He’s going to leave a big, big hole in my heart and also in the heart of plenty of people in racing. He was racing’s Mr Nice Guy and I don’t know anyone with a bad word to say about him.
“He’s sort of been like a second father to me ever since my father died. He was close to my father and has been a very close friend of mine and a great work colleague.
“He was someone who could find something funny in even the worst things and he could cheer up the day no matter what the circumstances, he was a joy to work with.
“He was a people person and a joy to be around. He could make you smile, even on the saddest of occasions.”
Bruce Raymond was part of the team that guided Desert Crown to glory in the Derby (Tim Goode/PA)
Although the closest Raymond came to winning the Derby was when second aboard Jim Bolger’s aforementioned 150-1 outsider Blue Judge, he twice entered the hallowed Epsom winner’s enclosure as racing manager to Suhail, thanks to the exploits of Kris Kin in 2003 and more recently Desert Crown in 2022.
Suhail’s colours were also carried to Group One glory a day before Raymond’s death when the Andrew Balding-trained Never So Brave perhaps fittingly claimed the City of York Stakes.
“I was sad in a way because I knew he would have been so happy had he been OK to watch Never So Brave, it would have been massive for him,” continued Robinson.
“I was sad driving home from York thinking Bruce had probably missed this and I know exactly what he would have been like had he been watching.
“He had many great days in the job and I know how much enjoyment he got when Desert Crown won the Derby, that was a massive great lift for him.”
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Charlie Johnston believes Ancient Egypt “could be the real deal” after he remained unbeaten at Goodwood on Sunday.
The Frankel colt cost 1,100,000 guineas as a yearling and after impressing on debut at Beverley last month, looked to face some useful opposition as he attempted to carry a penalty to success in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes on the Sussex Downs.
Sent off 11-4 in the hands of Rowan Scott, he produced a professional display, racing prominently and knuckling down well in the closing stages to not only repel his rivals but suggest a bright future lies ahead.
Ancient Egypt takes his record to a perfect two from two, taking out the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes from the front under @rowan_49 ✅ pic.twitter.com/Pvf2tULaXx
Johnston is already dreaming of what the Amo Racing-owned colt could achieve when reaching his peak next season, but for the meantime could allow Ancient Egypt to continue climbing the pyramid in Newmarket’s Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes on September 27.
“It’s a bit of an overused phrase, but it’s never easy to give away a penalty in novice race,” said the Middleham trainer.
“I felt he needed more experience before he went up in grade and he’s a bit of a playboy, as you saw in the stalls he had a bit of a go and also while saddling, so mentally he’s still quite immature.
“I think there is a lot of improvement still to come and he’s a very exciting horse for next year in particular.
Charlie Johnston (left) with Ancient Egypt and other connections after victory at Goodwood (Steven Paston/PA)
“He’s well-entered and all of our eyes will probably turn to the Royal Lodge next which looks an obvious place to go. But we’ll need to be confident it is the right thing for the horse and we’ll see how he comes out of this and progresses at home.
“I would be very keen not to over-face him too much this year with a view to next year because I do think he could be the real deal, but if we think he is ready he could reappear in the Royal Lodge.”
Earlier on the card, Tribal Chief (15-2) booked his ticket to Newmarket’s bet365 Cambridgeshire on the same afternoon as the Royal Lodge after notching a welcome local success for David Menuisier in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap.
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Colin Keane delivered Jonquil at the perfect moment to return to winning ways in the Virgin Bet Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
Winner of the Greenham Stakes on his seasonal return, the career of Andrew Balding’s talented colt has somewhat stalled since finishing second in the French 2,000 Guineas earlier in the summer.
After suffering defeats at Royal Ascot over six furlongs and at this venue over seven in the Lennox Stakes, the son of Lope De Vega relished this second try at a mile on the Sussex Downs.
With Keane showing patience, the 3-1 chance was nursed into contention by Juddmonte’s retained rider, before battling past Ralph Beckett’s course winner Saqqara Sands late on for a neck success.
Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “It’s a huge result and credit to Andrew and the team down at Kingsclere.
“He was nearly a Classic winner but for the barest of margins and obviously we then made an error of judgement dropping him back to six furlongs and it’s just taken us a little while to get him back on track.
“He’s firmly back on track today and the great thing was Colin felt he could maybe get a little bit further, which opens a few more avenues.
Jonquil with Colin Keane (left) after winning at Goodwood (Steven Paston/PA)
“We’ll have to look at the programme book and see what’s available, but he’s definitely a horse you who you wouldn’t shy away from another furlong.
“It probably wasn’t the strongest-run mile and going a better pace he may even get the mile better, but he’s a talented colt and it will be exciting to work out where we go next.
“It most definitely has to be the aim to get him back in Group One company before the end of the year, he was a nose away from being a Classic winner so we’ll be working towards Group Ones. He’s won a Group Two now so the next logical step would be to go Group One.”
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Precise proved well named as she enhanced her reputation by taking perfect aim at the Virgin Bet Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.
Off the mark at the second attempt at Cork earlier this month, Aidan O’Brien’s youngster was sent off 5-2 second-favourite on this raiding mission in the hands of Wayne Lordan.
Never far away from the pace, the daughter of Starspangledbanner fought her way to the front with a furlong to run and showed a tremendous attitude to repel the persistent challenge of Sir Mark Prescott’s 13-8 market leader Moon Target, scoring by three-quarters of a length.
It was O’Brien’s first win in the Group Three event, a race that serves as a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Del Mar in November. Paddy Power make her 25-1 from 40s for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
Lordan said: “She’s a very professional filly, she ran over six furlongs at Fairyhouse the first day and learned plenty and then stepped up to seven furlongs and won her maiden quite well.
“We always thought she could win her maiden at six and then go up in trip, but as it happened she won her maiden at seven. She has pace and what you like about her is when I get down into her she gets seven quite well.
“She looked comfortable and when I hit the front about a furlong out she pricked one ear so she was hanging on to a little bit which is always a nice sign as it shows she wasn’t doing the full limit, so that was good.”
Precise in action at Goodwood (Steven Paston/PA)
On possible future plans, he added: “I’ll leave running plans to them (Aidan and the owners), they’ve been at it years and do it very well, I’m happy to just turn up when I’m asked to.
“She’s a filly with pace, but like I say, we always thought seven would be a nice trip for her and today she travelled good. She hit the line well enough where you would think going up another furlong would be an option as well.”
Moon Target went into the race with a lofty reputation after impressing at both Newmarket and Yarmouth so far this summer.
However, she never quite looked at ease on the track and was unable to join the Heath House master’s Red Camellia on the roll of honour, instead joining the handler’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista on the list of those beaten in this race when well fancied.
Moon Target lost her unbeaten record (Steven Paston/PA)
“I thought there was a lot to be disappointed about because I hoped she would win,” Prescott told ITV Racing.
“She’s a long-striding filly and I just felt little bits and pieces went wrong, I still thought she would beat Aidan’s filly a furlong out but she kept on going very well.
“I always thought early on she was a firm ground filly and I’m maybe wrong, but she’s got a very long action so perhaps Goodwood doesn’t suit her as much as Newmarket and Yarmouth and perhaps it’s more that than the ground, that’s just my theory.
“She will run in the Fillies’ Mile probably and hope she can do better there. I was disappointed she was beat, but she probably ran OK.”
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Karl Burke was left in awe of Venetian Sun’s brilliance as the filly saw off the colts to remain unbeaten in a star-studded Sumbe Prix Morny at Deauville.
Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tony Bloom along with Ian McAleavy, the daughter of Starman was the only filly in the six-strong line-up, as she ventured to France in a bid to add to her Royal Ascot victory in the Albany Stakes and Duchess of Cambridge triumph at Newmarket.
American raider Outfielder set the early fractions seeking to give Wesley Ward a fourth win in the race, but as that rival checked out with a furlong to run, Clifford Lee was beginning to make his challenge aboard Venetian Sun who had travelled smoothly in the slipstream of Aidan O’Brien’s Coventry Stakes hero Gstaad.
Charlie Appleby’s Wise Approach was another to make late progress but Venetian Sun was ultimately too tough to crack for her high-class rivals as she showcased her electric turn of foot once again to raise her reputation to yet another level and give her big-race pilot a first winner in elite company.
It was the second time Burke has tasted success in the six-furlong Group One after Unfortunately landed the spoils in 2017 and his second big winner of the summer at Deauville after Fallen Angel’s Prix Rothschild success.
Burke said: “That was absolutely brilliant, unbelievable, she’s a superstar filly. I’ve been saying for a while she’s a special filly and I think she has proven that today.
“The whole race went exactly how we thought and hoped it would and Cliff got her in a lovely rhythm. She’s so relaxed and once she’s in behind she falls asleep and then she’s got that electric turn of foot.
“It’s a first Group One for Clifford, he probably should have won the German Derby last month but just missed out so I’m delighted for him as well.
Clifford Lee aboard Venetian Sun at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
“I’ve been very lucky to train a lot of good fillies like Quiet Reflection, then Laurens and Fallen Angel, but at this stage of her career she would be way ahead of them.
“She’s doing things on the gallops at home that a two-year-old filly should not be doing and then she goes and keeps winning as well.”
Venetian Sun was made Coral’s 6-1 favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas on the back of her triumph in France and will now put Classic aspirations to the test when stepping up to seven furlongs in the Curragh’s Moyglare Stud Stakes on September 14 – a race the Spigot Lodge handler won with Fallen Angel two years ago.
Burke added: “Hopefully she can come out of this well and we can go to the Moyglare and then we will know if we can make a plan for running over seven furlongs or further for next year.
“I would be amazed if she doesn’t get the seven furlongs well and to be honest I’ve always thought she would be better over seven furlongs.”
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Connections of Daryz are heading “back to the drawing board” after the previously unbeaten colt failed to fire in the Juddmonte International at York.
Having impressed in winning each of his four starts in France, Francis-Henri Graffard’s three-year-old headed for the Knavesmire in a bid to go one better than his stablemate Calandagan managed 12 months ago when second to City Of Troy.
But after racing keenly in a race that was blown apart by the pacesetting 150-1 shot Birr Castle, the son of Sea The Stars weakened late on and passed the post last of six runners behind the decisive winner Ombudsman.
Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan’s French studs, said: “Obviously it was a very strange race and I don’t think that really helped him because he was the least exposed and possibly the most immature horse in the field.
“We were all so happy there was a pacemaker in there and thought it was going to be a truly-run race and then that happened, but take nothing away from the winner – he did win fair and square and that’s a sign of a proper Group One horse when they can adapt to races panning out in different scenarios.
“We came out of it thinking if we’d run Calandagan he’d have been fine as he never pulls and those seasoned Group One horses know how to cope, but Daryz isn’t there yet – he’s still a bit of a baby.
“He took a little bit of a hold as they weren’t actually travelling very fast. He did kind of flatter halfway up the home straight and we thought he was going to run a big race, but then fell in a bit of a heap because I think he’d maybe done a bit too much early on.
“I just think his immaturity caught him out really. We hope he’ll have learned from it and we’ll learn from it too. He’s come out of the race fine as far as I’m aware, it was just a bit frustrating as we didn’t really learn very much.”
Connections of Daryz had been eyeing a possible tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but with opportunities for him to run again between now and Europe’s premier middle-distance contest limited, plans are up in the air.
“He certainly wouldn’t go straight to the Arc off that run, so we’re slightly scratching our heads regarding what to do with him,” Routh added.
“The Prix Niel will come too quickly, I don’t think we can even consider that, but the other option is the Prix du Prince d’Orange (September 14) and we thought we might run Calandagan in that, so we’ve really just got to sit down and figure it all out and decide what we’re going to do.
“We were thinking of that race to prepare Calandagan for the Champion Stakes at Ascot, but we need to figure out whether we want to take a look at the Arc with Daryz or not as if he is going to take a look at the Arc, we need to run him again to prove that’s where he should go.
“We’re slightly back to the drawing board and we’ll make a decision in the next week or so.”
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The Betfred St Leger appears to be the most likely next port of call for Lambourn after the dual Derby winner’s defeat in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien raised Britain’s oldest Classic and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as possible options for his Epsom and Curragh hero prior to his trip to the Knavesmire, but the son of Australia was beaten into fifth place at Group Two level.
The Ballydoyle handler houses the red-hot favourite for the St Leger in Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia, but Lambourn is also under serious consideration for the Doncaster showpiece on September 13.
O’Brien said: “The Voltigeur was only a sprint down the straight and was a waste of a race really. They only hacked and it was just a day at the races.
“It is very possible that he will go for the St Leger. He didn’t even blow after the race. We just needed to get a race into him.”
On the same day Lambourn could be in action at Doncaster, O’Brien plans to saddle Delacroix for what he hopes will be a third successive clash with Ombudsman in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Delacroix was a narrow winner when the pair met in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in early July, but Ombudsman turned the tables in a fascinating Juddmonte International on Wednesday after the latter’s pacemaker Birr Castle slipped the field before being reeled in late.
Of Delacroix, O’Brien added: “He’s good, hopefully it will be back to Leopardstown and hopefully John (Gosden) and Sheikh Mohammed will come (with Ombudsman), we’ll have something to look forward to then.
“York was just a Mickey Mouse race really.”
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Ed Dunlop’s Skukuza proved he is up to winning a Group race when a fast-finishing third in the Strensall Stakes at York.
Twice a winner in Ireland earlier this season when searching for softer ground, he had disappointed at Goodwood in conditions that were expected to suit.
He was very keen on the way to post under Ryan Moore and the jockey chose to give up a good draw to get him dropped in for some cover, which meant he was further back than ideal, but he flew home to be beaten a neck and a head, suggesting 10 furlongs will be well within his reach.
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Kalpana is set to tune up for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a run in the September Stakes at Kempton.
Enable used the Group Three as a stepping stone when successful in Paris in 2018 and she also won the Kempton contest on her penultimate outing for the same owners, Juddmonte.
Trainer Andrew Balding and racing manager Barry Mahon were choosing between Kempton and France for the Prix Vermeille after her meritorious King George run and have decided to stay closer to home.
Mahon said: “We’ve decided she’s going to go to Kempton for the September Stakes I think.
“The timing suits, she hasn’t won a race this year so I think Andrew is keen to get her head in front.
“She’s already travelled to Ireland twice and she’ll have to travel to France in October, so the attraction of staying at home is more alluring.
“The Yorkshire Oaks was never in the mix, we said after the King George that she’d had a couple of tough races and she’d freshen up.
“It was between the September Stakes or the Vermeille and we’re leaning towards the September at this stage.”
Reflecting on Minnie Hauk’s victory in the Yorkshire Oaks, he said: “The winner is class, she’s a class filly and even though there were only four runners it was a very good race.
“Wherever the winner goes in the autumn, she’s going to be difficult to beat.
“The Arc is an open race and we’re in there with a chance as one of the favourites, it’s nice to have a contender.”
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Richard Hannon offered no immediate excuse after his stable star Rosallion could finish only fourth in the City of York Stakes.
The four-year-old was rerouted to the York Group One after a bruised foot scuppered his planned run in last Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at Deauville.
Last season’s Irish Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner was dropping back to seven furlongs on the Knavesmire, having finished a creditable third in the Lockinge on his seasonal bow before being narrowly beaten in both the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Sean Levey never looked confident at any stage aboard the evens favourite though, keeping on to take fourth, beaten half a length and two heads behind Never So Brave, with his Sussex conqueror Qirat behind him in fifth.
Hannon said: “Sean said he was never really travelling like he normally does, but he’s not disgraced himself.
“I don’t think the draw (11) helped but he just didn’t travel into the race like we expected.
“I’m disappointed, obviously, I thought he’d win, but he’s a long way from disgracing himself.”
When asked whether the minor setback which ruled him out of a planned trip to France last weekend had played any part, the trainer added: “It’s got nothing to do with his foot, he was perfectly sound and healthy coming into it.
“In fairness to him, he knuckled down under pressure and tried his best but he didn’t win.
“There’s loads of options for him, all over the world, but I’m disappointed today.
“It’s an occupational hazard unfortunately, you learn to deal with it.”
William Haggas’ Lake Forest flashed home to finish second and the handler said his Golden Eagle winner would “probably” return to Australia again.
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Group One assignments await Composing after she completed her hat-trick with a decisive victory in the Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.
Fifth on her debut here in May, the daughter of Wootton Bassett improved to open her account at the second time of asking before claiming Group Three honours in the Silver Flash at Leopardstown.
She was a 4-5 favourite to follow up in a Group Two contest trainer Aidan O’Brien had previously won on 14 occasions and odds-on backers will have had few concerns, with Composing tracking her chief market rival Suzie Songs before pulling two and a half lengths clear.
Having completed a big-race double on the card for O’Brien and jockey Wayne Lordan following Constitution River’s success in the Futurity, Composing is the 11-10 favourite from 2-1 for the Moyglare Stud Stakes with Paddy Power, who also make her a 10-1 shot for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
O’Brien said: “She’s a lovely filly and Wayne said when she got there, she thought it was over.
“She’s very straight forward and professional. We thought we’d have to make it and we were delighted that Ger’s filly went on.
“If everything is right, she’ll come back here for the Moyglare.
Ethical Diamond provided all-conquering trainer Willie Mullins with a third victory in the Sky Bet Ebor at York.
Although better known for his exploits under National Hunt rules, the Closutton handler had previously landed Britain’s richest Flat handicap with Sesenta in 2009 and Absurde in 2023 and fired a three-pronged assault at this year’s renewal.
Ethical Diamond, who was last seen striking Royal Ascot gold in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, was a well backed 5-1 favourite for the £500,000 feature under William Buick, who appeared keen to play his cards as late as possible aboard a horse who has been known to race enthusiastically.
But after again travelling powerfully in the middle of the pack as the field turned for home, the five-year-old got a dream run against the stands’ rail when being delivered with his challenge and picked up well to run out an emphatic two-and-a-half-length winner over Ascending, with Queenstown in third.
Mullins said: “William said he was a copybook ride. He popped off, settled and did everything he wanted him to do.
“He said once he let him go, he quickened up well.
“He won’t go to (the) Melbourne (Cup) as he won’t pass the vets down there in Australia, so we wiped that off straight away. He’s got a screw in his leg from an old injury and that is a straight no-no from them.
“That’s fine, those are the rules and at least we know now and not when they let us get all the way down there.
“I don’t know if he’s an Irish Cesarewitch horse or we let him run in an Irish Leger, we’ll have to see but I’d definitely like to move him up in grade to a Group Two or a Group Three at some stage.”
William Buick celebrates winning the Sky Bet Ebor on Ethical Diamond (Richard Sellers/PA)
He went on: “We’ve just been trying to find the right tactics that suit him but it’s taken me 18 months to do that and now he’s won at Royal Ascot and the Ebor.
“Now that we have a way to ride him, he’d probably win a nice race over hurdles, I think tactics have been the making of him.”
Of landing a major summer prize, Mullins added: “Winning races on the Flat like this gives me exactly the same buzz as winning big races over jumps, for sure. To come here and win races like this, it’s why you do the game.”
Buick said: “He won the Duke of Edinburgh so well and any time Willie asks you to ride a horse, you’re grateful for the call-up – they don’t come over for the fun of it.
“I had a good trip from a wide draw. We were never going to fight to get in or do anything spectacular, we accepted it. Willie just said stay out there and let him get in his rhythm and if you get a tail to follow then great.
“I was comfortable throughout the whole race really and he’s got that killer turn of foot which set him apart from the others today.”
It was a one-two-three for Ireland with Henry de Bromhead training the runner-up Ascending and Aidan O’Brien saddling third-placed Queenstown.
De Bromhead said of his runner: “I’d say he just lacked a bit of speed late on, I thought he’d quicken a bit better.
“Seamie gave him a super ride and I thought we were going better than anything but the other lad quickened past him.
“He gave me my first Ascot winner, we’re delighted to be here, we’ve had a really good day and he’s ran an absolute belter.”
Constitution River made all the running to continue Aidan O’Brien’s domination of the the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes.
Giant’s Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001), Gleneagles (2014) and Henri Matisse (2024) are among 17 previous winners of the Group Two contest for the Ballydoyle handler and Constitution River was a 5-6 favourite to add to his tally under Wayne Lordan.
A close second on his Newmarket debut before bolting up at the Galway Festival, the Wootton Bassett colt put that experience to good use up the Curragh straight, bowling along in front before going through the gears with two furlongs to run to leave his four rivals trailing in his wake.
Course-and-distance winner Geryon did his best to go with the leader, but Constitution River was well on top as he passed the post with two lengths in hand.
He said: “He’s a lovely, straightforward horse. He’d a lovely run first time and was still very green when he won the next day.
“Wayne gave him a lovely ride, and he quickened well.”
Paddy Power make Constitution River a 14-1 shot for next year’s 2000 Guineas, with O’Brien looking to move up to Group One level now.
He added: “Obviously you have to look at the National Stakes with him, and he’s going to be very happy going up in trip whenever that time comes.”
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