Everything will need to go to plan for Porta Fortuna to make her comeback in the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes on September 13.
Donnacha O’Brien’s stable star has been absent since making a winning reappearance in the Lanwades Stud Stakes in May.
The winner of two Group Ones last year, including the Matron at Leopardstown, as well as the Cheveley Park at two, a setback forced her to miss Royal Ascot and the Deauville mile races.
O’Brien said: “As everyone knows she had a setback, but she’s on the way back.
“We’ll just have to see whether we make Champions Weekend or not.
“Obviously if we’re going to make it we can’t have any hold ups with her between now and then, but the plan is to go there for now.
“It’s one of those where everything will need to go in the right direction.”
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A Bit Of Spirit will bid to regain the winning thread when he returns to the familiar territory of Salisbury to step up to a mile in the British Stallion Studs EBF Stonehenge Stakes on Wednesday.
Clive Cox’s talented youngster impressed at the Wiltshire track when defying a penalty there on his second start, and after being narrowly denied when upped in class for Ascot’s Pat Eddery Stakes he now tries his hand once again at Listed level, against just two rivals.
Although low in numbers, however, the race is not devoid of quality and Cox has the utmost respect for John and Thady Gosden’s Vintage Stakes runner-up Morris Dancer, who looks set to present a stern challenge in a race the Lambourn handler won with Cobh in 2020.
“Obviously there’s only three runners, but there is healthy competition and Morris Dancer was a very respectful second in the Group Two at Goodwood,” said Cox.
“I’m very happy though that my fellow is in good form and he ran a blinder at Ascot. He’s a course winner at Salisbury as well so I’m relishing the opportunity to run him and fingers crossed he can run well.
“We always thought he could take the step up to a mile and this seems like a sensible opportunity on a course he has won at. He’s hit the line really well each time he has run, so I see no reason not to go to a mile and I really hope it is in his compass.”
The Stonehenge Stakes is one of two Listed events on the Salisbury card, with a field of nine assembled for the British Stallion Studs EBF Upavon Fillies’ Stakes.
Ralph Beckett’s Revoir was not disgraced in the Oaks on her penultimate start and is fancied to be one of the leading players, with Owen Burrows’ Azaniya going in search of a hat-trick after wins in a Newmarket novice event then a Windsor handicap.
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Jack Channon is eager to strike while the iron is hot with recent Deauville scorer Miss Attitude and add her into the mix for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York next week.
The five-year-old won stylishly at Listed level at the weekend and holds an entry for Naas’ Ballyogan Stakes two days after the Nunthorpe.
However, the West Isley handler would prefer to pay the £40,000 required to supplement and take on the best around on the Knavesmire, feeling his in-form mare has the chance to make her mark in an open division.
Channon said: “I would love to be able to supplement her for the Nunthorpe next week, the quick ground which we should get there and the fast pace which always comes with the Nunthorpe should suit her down to the ground.
“This year and previous years, it’s so tight at the top of the five-furlong division and there is no real standout. On their day pretty much anything in the field could win the race if things go to plan.
“I’m not saying she’ll win it, but even if she could go and be placed in it, it would be massive for her pedigree and she’s a great mare for the team at Norman Court Stud (owners) where I’m sure she will be going at some point to be a broodmare.
“I would be really keen to give it a go, but if we don’t then we do have lots of other options as well.”
Miss Attitude is a 25-1 shot with William Hill for the Nunthorpe and reflecting on her Deauville victory, Channon added: “It was a great performance at Deauville and she did it very well.
“She’s had everything in her favour in terms of the strong pace to aim at and quick ground, but Rob (Hornby) gave her a peach of a ride.
“She’s arrived back and had a day back in the pens and we’ll see her canter tomorrow, but she seems to have come back really well and she travelled well so all looks good to the future.”
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Lazy Griff is firmly on course for a third tilt at Classic glory in the Betfred St Leger, as he prepares to head straight to Doncaster.
Charlie Johnston’s charge has performed admirably in defeat on each of his three starts so far this season, finishing second in both the Chester Vase and the Derby before taking third in the Irish Derby, on each occasion chasing home Aidan O’Brien’s Lambourn.
Owners Middleham Park Racing considered a trip overseas in a bid for a Group One breakthrough with Lazy Griff, but have instead elected to keep their powder dry for the world’s oldest Classic on September 13.
“We thought about going to Germany for the race Rebel’s Romance won (on Sunday), but it was quite a warm race and we didn’t really want to leave any Leger chances over there,” said Middleham Park’s Mike Prince.
Christophe Soumillon returns aboard Lazy Griff after his runner-up finish at Epsom (PA)
“There’s the Great Voltigeur next week, but we felt there wasn’t going to be enough time between that and Doncaster. I think the ground will be plenty quick at York for him anyway and waiting for September just gives us the chance for hopefully a little bit softer ground if the weather breaks in the next couple of weeks.
“Charlie has had the Leger in mind for him all year and we’ll go straight there now, that is absolutely the plan.”
Paddy Power make Lazy Griff the 7-1 third-favourite for the St Leger, with the O’Brien-trained pair of Scandinavia and his old rival Lambourn the two ahead of him in the betting at 5-4 and 7-2 respectively.
Prince added: “I’d say Scandinavia might be the favourite (to run) out of the two, just because of the trips he’s been running over. I wonder whether they’ll go for the Arc with Lambourn, you never know.
“Whatever Aidan sends will probably go off favourite, whether it’s Scandinavia or Lambourn, and if he sends both then I suspect they’ll both be ahead of us in the market.
Scandinavia will be one of the big dangers to Lazy Griff at Doncaster (Matt Alexander/PA)
“He’s got plenty of ammo, but we’re all geared up and ready to go.”
The Middleham Park team have also started to make plans beyond Doncaster, with Prince saying: “We’ve given him an entry in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot and I suppose the options after the St Leger are that and the Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud at the end of October.
“It’ll probably be the Leger and then one of those.”
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More Thunder is all set to have his first run in Pattern company in Saturday’s Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes.
William Haggas’ rapidly improving four-year-old won over 10 furlongs for Sir Michael Stoute last season, but his new trainer wasted no time in reverting to sprinting.
He won a six-furlong handicap at the Craven meeting off 87, followed up at the Guineas meeting off 92, was beaten a head off 98 in the Wokingham and won the Bunbury Cup over seven furlongs last time out off the same mark.
Now up to 103, connections feel it is time to test the water at a higher level, starting with this Group Two contest.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to More Thunder’s owner Saeed Suhail, said: “I can’t see why he won’t be up to it, he’s unlucky not to be unbeaten this season.
“Because he’s only been running in handicaps his rating is still pretty low compared to some in the race, but I’d be very disappointed if he wasn’t up to this level.
“He’s very versatile regarding trip. For now I think seven suits him, but I know his jockey (Tom Marquand) thinks he’s at his best over a strong-run six, which is quite hard to believe given Sir Michael started off with him at 10 furlongs.”
With More Thunder in action this weekend, Never So Brave, in the same ownership and trained by Andrew Balding, has the Sky Bet City of York Stakes on his agenda.
“He’ll be going to the new Group One at York, he’s improving with every run and looked good at Ascot,” said Raymond.
Also in contention for the Newbury race are Lennox Stakes winner Witness Stand, the Charlie Appleby pair of Notable Speech and Shadow Of Light, Marco Botti’s Great Generation and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby.
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Donnacha O’Brien is not concerned A Boy Named Susie will be dropping in trip when he lines up in the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh later in the month.
The Starspangledbanner colt was very impressive in giving weight away on his debut in a race at Killarney which has produced the likes of Luxembourg and Lambourn in recent years.
For O’Brien it is a real family affair as A Boy Named Susie is owned by his sister, Ana, who has so far resisted the temptation to cash in after his hugely likeable debut.
“The plan is to go to the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in about a fortnight,” said O’Brien.
Impressive 👀
Group 1-entered A Boy Named Susie shows his rivals a clean pair of heels on debut.
“I don’t think coming back a furlong will bother him. He showed plenty on his debut and that turned into a sprint so it wasn’t really like a mile maiden anyway. I don’t have any concerns coming back to seven.
“There was a lot of interest in him, which was to be expected, but we decided to keep hold of him, for now anyway. Obviously it’s a gamble when you hold on to impressive maiden winners, but we’re keeping him for now anyway.”
Another nice juvenile in the yard is Havana Anna, a Listed winner in good style at Naas last month.
“She’s going to go to Longchamp on August 31 for a Group Three,” said O’Brien.
“We’ve entered her in the Cheveley Park, so long term we see her going back over six, but we wanted to keep her at five for now which is why she’s going to France.”
Falling Snow with trainer Donnacha O’Brien (left) (Brian Lawless/PA)
One of O’Brien’s most promising juveniles last year was Falling Snow, by Justify out of Winter, who made a winning debut against Ballet Slippers, who went on to be third in the Fillies’ Mile. She has not been seen since but her return is imminent.
“She’s on the comeback trial. I’d planned to start her back in the Snow Fairy Stakes on August 30,” he said.
“On paper it looks a very hot race, but there’s not many options for her so it’s possible she runs there. She’ll obviously need the run, we wouldn’t be expecting her to win first time but we need to get her started.
“I think she’ll probably need further in time, but she only won over seven so I wouldn’t send her straight over a mile and a half or anything. This is a mile and one so this is what I have in my head, for all it will be a tough ask first time out on only her second ever run.”
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Spicy Marg is set to be supplemented for next week’s Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell’s charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago.
As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice.
He said: “The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form.
“I think it’s very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it’s in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will.
“We’re very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.”
Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride.
“Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that’s a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,” said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did.
“She wants good, fast ground. We’ll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.”
Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood.
Knight said: “She doesn’t need to do much between now and then, she’s put her weight back on already.
“I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it’s good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race.
“I think she’s in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track.
“I just think it’s key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.”
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After a weekend to remember, Adrian Murray is relishing another bid for Group One glory at York next week, when Arizona Blaze goes for gold in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe.
While stablemate Power Blue caused a major shock against the long odds-on True Love in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on Saturday and Bucanero Fuerte ran out a Group Three winner on the same Curragh card, Arizona Blaze is vying for favouritism in the five-furlong feature on the Friday of the four-day Ebor Festival.
Second at the Breeders’ Cup, he has been running to a remarkably consistent level this season in a division that continues to surprise, finishing second in the Commonwealth Cup to Time For Sandals and then winning the Sapphire Stakes by a clear-cut two lengths.
Trainer Adrian Murray is in a rich vein of form (Brian Lawless/PA)
“He’s among the favourites and that is because he always turns up on the day – hopefully he will do again in the Nunthorpe,” said Murray.
“He’s a very exciting horse, he never runs a bad race and the sprint division is wide open this year. There’s no standout horse this season, all the big sprints are being won by different horses. Ours is one of the favourites, but it’s wide open.
“I was talking to Roger O’Callaghan (owner of star two-year-old Lady Iman) the other day and they are going to York because of that, it could be a big field. It’s exciting times ahead, for sure.”
Reflecting on a big-race double for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing he described as “unbelievable”, Murray said: “We expected a run from Bucanero, well we expected a big run from both of them, but we were taking on Aidan O’Brien in the Group One.
Power Blue and jockey David Egan with owner Kia Joorabchian at the Curragh in the winner’s enclosure (Damien Eagers/PA)
“I was always told never be afraid to run, they don’t win anything stood in their stable.
“Power Blue ran very quick sectionals all the way and that is what won him it, he has a high cruising speed but isn’t a horse who finds a whole lot off that speed. He can maintain a very high cruising speed.
“He’ll probably go for the National Stakes now on Champions Weekend, that will be his next target I think. He’s in at York in the sales race, but he’s a Group One winner now.
“Bucanero was just very comfortable the whole way through the race and the further they went, the more it looked like he was going to win.
“He was never out of his comfort zone and is a very good horse.”
Bucanero Fuerte in winning action (Damien Eagers/PA)
Murray went on to praise his assistant Robson Aguiar and his role in the victories.
“We’re very lucky to have these horses and it’s all down to Robson, he’s sourced them and didn’t really spend fortunes on them. He’s a brilliant man at picking these horses,” said Murray.
“None of the good ones were that expensive in the grand scheme of things, but I think we got a little bit lucky with Bucanero as he’s by Wootton Bassett and we got him just before he really took off.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2.76320000-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-08-11 12:53:202025-08-11 12:53:20Arizona Blaze ready to light up York for Murray team
Unbeaten French colt Daryz faces a crucial workout on Thursday as connections ponder whether to take on the challenge of next week’s Juddmonte International at York.
The Sea The Stars colt has won each of his four starts to date, most recently impressing in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud in late June.
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard saddled Calandagan to finish a close second to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International 12 months ago and Daryz could bid to go one better on the Knavesmire.
Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: “He won’t run in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano this weekend, that’s for sure.
“We’re going to work him on Thursday and then make a decision about whether he goes to York or whether we run him next in the Prix Niel and follow a more traditional route towards the Arc, so we’ll see what he does on Thursday and make that decision then.
“He’s in good shape, we just want to be 100 per cent sure that we’re making the right call because it’s going to be a big ask going to York and we just want to see that last piece of work and make sure we’re making the right decision.
“By Thursday we’ll know a bit more about the field and the ground. The horse is in great form, but it’s going to be a big step for him so we’ll work him on Thursday, Mickael (Barzalona) will ride him, and we’ll make a decision then.”
The team have already ruled out a return to York for recent King George hero Calandagan, who has the Japan Cup as his major target for the second half of the season.
“He came out of Ascot absolutely fine and we could have gone to York, but we just felt we didn’t want to keep asking him to run at Group One level over the summer when we know we want to run him internationally at the end of the year,” Routh added.
“He’s not going back to the stud or anything, he’s staying in the yard, but we’re just not working towards a race.
“The main objective is the Japan Cup and he’ll have one run before, either in a Group Two in France or in the Champion Stakes.”
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Anthelia has already scooped a huge prize for connections this season and Rod Millman’s Super Sprint scorer is set to go in quest of further riches at York next week.
The four-time winner – who was bought for just £6,000 by her handler at the sales as a yearling – denied Eve Johnson Houghton’s Havana Hurricane by a short head at Newbury and will now try to replicate those heroics on the Knavesmire in the valuable Harry’s Half Million By Goffs sales race.
“She’s come out of the race perfectly well,” said Tim Palin of owners Middleham Park Racing. “It’s a good form line as well, Havana Hurricane has come out and franked the form in the Richmond and I know he didn’t win it, but he was arguably a little bit unlucky.
“She’s won four of her first five races, and Rod slightly blames himself for the Empress Stakes for getting the tactics slightly wrong, but other than that blip, she’s been flawless.
“Obviously there are decisions to make of where do we go, but in theory, we’ll probably go to Harry’s Half Million at the Ebor meeting in York.”
Anthelia’s sole defeat came when upped to six furlongs in the Empress Stakes at Newmarket, but connections have no fears about tackling the distance for a second time in a race that has a total prize-fund of over £500,000 and the Middleham team won with Shouldvebeenaring in 2022.
“Seeing is believing, but her pedigree and her style of racing suggests she will get six (furlongs) and it was just the tactics that got her beat last time,” continued Palin.
“She was very strong through the line at Salisbury, she was strong through the line in the National Stakes and she was strong through the line at five furlongs at Newbury.
“In a race like the Harry’s Half Million, they are going to go a mad pace and you are going to have to have five-furlong pace and stay six furlongs to win the race.
“She ought to get six furlongs and she only just got up on the line in the Super Sprint, so with another half-furlong she might have won another half-length.
“It is such a lucrative pot with almost £250,000 to the winner and you’re probably going to win more for finishing third in the Harry’s Half Million than you would next year for winning a Group Three. It’s definitely worth going down that route.”
Connections are inclined to dream big with the bargain buy who has turned to gold and a strong showing in Yorkshire could see the daughter of Supremacy step into Group company later in the campaign.
The Anthelia team have their eye on a visit to Salisbury next month, which could prove a suitable stepping stone to a Cheveley Park Stakes tilt against some of the best sprinting juvenile fillies of the season.
“She’s going to have an entry in the Cheveley Park because it could be a small field,” added Palin.
“She might go to the Dick Poole as well, and it could be Harry’s Half Million, Dick Poole, then potentially Newmarket if she wins one or both of those.
“If we come up a little bit short and we aren’t quite a Group filly, then we’ve always got the Listed race which we’ve already won and then the Redcar Trophy in October.
“So if we come unstuck in the Harry’s Half Million or the Dick Poole, we probably wouldn’t go down the Cheveley Park route but go down the Redcar route.”
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Centigrade will attempt to get the mercury rising in his eagerly-anticipated return to the racetrack this autumn.
The son of Too Darn Hot showed great potential in two starts as a juvenile, beaten only a short head by Jonquil on debut before wasting little time opening his account when downing subsequent Queen’s Vase runner-up Further in impressive fashion.
Ralph Beckett’s one-time Derby hope is yet to hit the track this term after suffering an early-season injury, but the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned colt is soon to return to Kimpton Down to begin building up to very belated seasonal reappearance.
Highclere’s Harry Herbert said: “He’s had his issues, but he’s now back into canter exercise and if all goes to plan he will have an autumn campaign.
“This is a very important horse physically and his form is outstanding. The way he has progressed physically is great and he could be a very important horse not only maybe later this season but also next season.
“If he stood up in front of you he would knock your socks off and along with (William Haggas’) Merchant, they are two very important and exciting physicals. We’re excited to get him back to Ralph’s and hopefully get him back to the racetrack later this autumn.”
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Sajir excelled at Deauville to give master trainer Andre Fabre a first success in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
A winner of the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the season, the mount of Oisin Murphy was somewhat unfancied with Jerome Reynier’s Royal Ascot hero Lazzat a heavy favourite to defend the crown he wore 12 months ago.
James Doyle had attempted to keep things simple by sending his mount forward, but a furlong from home the challengers were gathering on either side with the eye drawn to Murphy aboard Sajir.
Lazzat could soon give no more and it was left to Sajir to surge to glory, with the defending champion an honourable second and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna a fast-finishing third.
Fabre said: “This is the first time I’ve had him 100 per cent, he was in great condition.
“Prince Faisal is a great breeder, a great owner and a great person.”
The son of Prince Faisal’s Make Believe now looks set for an appearance at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend, with Fabre adding: “Obviously, like his father, the Prix de la Foret will be his path.”
Oisin Murphy tasted Group One glory at Deauville (PA)
It was Murphy’s third Group One win of the year after Lead Artist’s Lockinge win and striking aboard Tornado Alert in Germany recently.
He was delighted to make a successful visit to the Normandy coast to reclaim the mount on Sajir and said: “He was brilliant today. Andre had him spot on and he travelled beautifully for me.
“He relaxed very well. I was a little bit behind but I tried not to get there too soon.
“I think the horse improved 7lb on any form he’d shown before and he delivered.
“Today he switched his leads and powered to the line. The way he bends his knee he feels like a horse that will handle juice. I’m so happy for Prince Faisal.”
Meanwhile, Reynier has his sights on an Ascot return for Lazzat having felt conditions may have been too quick for his star four-year-old.
Lazzat could return to Ascot (David Davies/PA)
He said: “James Doyle felt he couldn’t get the horse to relax. We’ll check the tracking data, but he felt the horse was doing too much and using too much energy.
“He had a flat spot – something that rarely happens – but still picked up again to fight and take second.
“He would be more comfortable on slightly softer ground and today it was still a bit firm. Autumn is coming and for him, the target will be the Champions Sprint at Ascot, as we know he likes easier going.
“It’s a shame to lose the crown, but we were beaten fair and square. Sajir is a very good horse and now it’s up to him to confirm.
“Initially, we were thinking of running the Prix de la Foret and then the Champions Sprint Stakes, but James Doyle feels we shouldn’t stretch him too much, or he might be even more outpaced than today.”
Graffard could also look to visit Britain with Woodshauna, with Haydock a possibility for the colt who sports the colours of John Stewart’s Resolute Racing operation.
Graffard said: “Woodshauna produced a terrific turn of foot — he really ran very well. He has a lot of speed, and Christophe (Soumillon) thinks this is as far as he stays.
“Woodshauna is entered in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. That’s an option. I’ll discuss it with the owner and Christophe, who knows him well now.”
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Billy Loughnane registered his first Group One victory when guiding globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance to the Westminster 135th Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten on Sunday.
A firm favourite of trainer Charlie Appleby, the seven-year-old began his Group One haul in this very race back in 2022 and three years on he was back in the German capital to strike for the eighth time at the highest level.
Keen to keep things simple Rebel’s Romance was up with the pace throughout the early stages, keeping close tabs on Andre Fabre’s Junko and when straightening for home he showed his class to bravely hold off the French challenger.
It was in fact a fourth Group One success on German soil for the well-travelled dual Breeders’ Cup Turf hero who could return to Del Mar for another crack at the season-ending showpiece, with Coral making him the 5-1 co second-favourite for a third Stateside victory.
Appleby said: “It’s great for Billy, but more importantly great for the horse who keeps sparkling on all continents.
“To have him carry on at the top level is fantastic for Sheikh Mohammed and I see this as a pre-cursor for the Canadian International at Woodbine and then the Breeders’ Cup.”
Loughnane has ridden eight winners from 12 rides for Appleby this season and it is fitting his first success at the top table comes in Germany, having notched his first Group-race triumph at Cologne in April last year.
It caps a memorable weekend for his teenage pilot who also won the Sweet Solera Stakes in the royal blue of Appleby and Godolphin aboard Dance To The Music at Newmarket on Saturday.
Loughnane told Wettstar: “This is a feeling I can’t describe, it’s a feeling of ecstasy, what a horse and I’m very lucky to be riding in these colours and riding a horse like this.
“He’s a star of a horse and has been going for a good few seasons now. Big thanks go to William Buick and I spoke to him last night and he told me exactly what to do. He’s a superstar.”
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old’s father Mark Loughnane was the proudest man on Wolverhampton racecourse having watched his son’s finest hour from Dunstall Park.
He told Sky Sports Racing: “Words can’t describe something like that and it is something Billy has dreamt about all his life, it was amazing.
“I had an even-money favourite in the first but I was more on my phone watching Billy and we can’t thank Mr Appleby and George Boughey and people like that enough. His agent Tony Hind has done a super job and they’ve all really catapulted Billy to the next level but as a dad, I’m proud as punch.
“When it was talked about he might be riding Rebel’s Romance he rang me straight away and was like a child in a sweet shop and he said ‘I’m on this horse of Mr Appleby’s and it’s going to be great’. I told him just to relax as a lot can happen between races.
“I’ve spoken to him on the phone and he’s absolutely elated. I was the first one on the phone and he’s bouncing and for a young fellow, he’s a super young man. What he’s done in a short space of time, I’ve helped him get started, and now that’s it off he goes.
“It’s awesome for our house and as a family, his mum is here racing today and we’re all absolutely cock-a-hoop for him.”
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