Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Cercene upstages Zarigana in Coronation Stakes

/in /by

Cercene gave jockey Gary Carroll and trainer Joseph Murphy a day to remember when bravely holding off French hotpot Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Billed as a clash between French 1,000 Guineas winner Zarigana and Owen Burrows’ supplemented Falakeyah, it was the Irish outsider who stole the show to become the race’s longest-priced winner at 33-1.

Falakeyah’s challenge faded tamely having raced keenly, but 6-4 favourite Zarigana looked prime to pounce in hands of Mickael Barzalona and in fact looked to briefly have passed Cercene.

However, Irish 1,000 third Cercene was not to be denied and proved her Curragh performance was no fluke as she battled back to secure a half-length verdict.

Murphy said: “We always liked her. We left her a little longer but good fillies you always leave a little longer, you never put them over.

“He got her switched off, he’s confident and he’s ridden for me 17 years now.

“This is 50 years of work, that’s what it is, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people, it’s just a whole group of people together. This is heaven on earth.

“It’s a lifetime’s ambition to have a Group One winner. She’s by Australia – a sire I love – and her half-brother (Perotto) won the Britannia so the pedigree was there and if she was an inch bigger I wouldn’t have her!

“I was hoping Lake Victoria stayed in because we’d have a lesser race and then we’d have pace and ride her easier, you know what I mean.

“She travelled well, Gary gave her a great ride, and we were thinking that being by Australia she’d stay as well. She was headed and came back again. She waited for something to head her, but she’s very tough and a dream to train. The plan was today so now we’ll draw new plans.”

Jockey Gary Carroll with the winning trophy
Jockey Gary Carroll with the winning trophy (David Davies/PA)

Carroll said: “It’s unbelievable. I’ve been riding a long time now and been placed in plenty of Group Ones. This is my first one and if I was ever to ride a Group One winner it was for Joe Murphy.

“I’ve been riding for him since I was a 7lb claimer and he’s been very, very good to me so I’m delighted I can repay him.

“She ran a blinder at the Curragh where the slow pace didn’t suit. We went a bit better gallop there today, got to the front a furlong and a half out and she waited, the French horse came and headed me; to be fair to this one she’s not big but she’s very tough and she stuck her head out for me.

“It’s hugely satisfying to win a Group One. They’re so hard to come by. Good horses are very hard to come by. To do this, Royal Ascot, magic.

“After the Guineas run, a better run race there she’d have finished closer again, I think she’s taken a step forward from there and she’s ultra-tough, she doesn’t know when to give up.”

Ethical Diamond sparkles for Willie Mullins

/in /by

Ethical Diamond made it a momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins when powering down the outside to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Mullins and his wife Jackie had taken part in the royal procession before racing and his dual-purpose performer had no trouble in justifying 3-1 favouritism.

Fourth last year, he was 2lb higher having also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham – but the result barely looked in doubt and he came home two lengths clear of Mutaawid and Naqeeb.

Mullins said: “Last year he just ran too free and things didn’t work out for him, but he still ran a cracker to be fourth so I thought if we get things right this year he had a real live chance and it worked out that way.

“We will give him a little break, bring him home; we will look at York next, a race like the Ebor. We’d love to (go to Australia) if we could get him qualified, that was my first thought coming in.

“I think he would handle a trip to Australia, he wears the hood because he’s a bit keen, but that’d be no problem.

“There’s a big one over hurdles in him too, but for the moment we’ll concentrate on Flat racing.”

He added: “These are just fantastic days, Jackie was just saying to me coming in here today ‘just enjoy it’, and then to have a winner on top that is the cherry on the cake.

“Tuesday was a little disappointing, but we live to fight another day and hopefully Reaching High (unlucky in the Ascot Stakes for the King and Queen) will be back for the same race next year. Ryan had nowhere to go, he was just locked in on the inside and that was that.”

Ed Walker’s profitable season continued when Never Let Go (22-1) pounced late to win the Sandringham Stakes.

Walker has enjoyed a string of Group-race successes this season but the victory will have meant plenty to the man on top, Kieran Shoemark, who has endured a trying time this season with the defeat of Field Of Gold in the 2000 Guineas.

Low numbers once again dominated on the straight track, after three days of high numbers being favoured, with Never Let Go beating Cajole – trained by the Gosdens – by a length.

The King and Queen were out of luck with their runner, Purple Rainbow, who was handy early but faded.

Walker said: “When Kieran lost the job with John and Thady (Gosden), I said, ‘I don’t mean to be selfish, but I’m thrilled because it means I can use you more!’. He’s a great jockey, a great guy and he will bounce back.”

He added of his winner: “I think she can go on. The family get better with time, she’s still very raw and unfurnished and leggy.”

Time For Sandals pulls off Commonwealth Cup shock

/in /by

Harry Eustace’s fine Royal Ascot continued when Time For Sandals blazed her way to Commonwealth Cup glory.

The Newmarket handler struck for the very first time in Group One company with Docklands in the Queen Anne Stakes and wasted little time doubling that tally with a filly who was registering just her second career victory – and first since her debut last year.

Sent off at 25-1 in the hands of Richard Kingscote, she cruised to the front on the far side with a furlong to run and showed great resolve to edge out Arizona Blaze by a neck with the supplemented Rayevka half a length further back in third.

“It’s the first time she’s had a fast horse to follow, I don’t want to say (we were) very confident, but we felt like we hadn’t seen the best from her for one reason or another,” said Eustace.

Time For Sandals came from the supposedly disadvantaged far side of the track
Time For Sandals came from the supposedly disadvantaged far side of the track (John Walton/PA)

“The voice is in dire straits, I can assure you of that! She’s always shaped to be pretty good and at home we felt we had excuses for her; she never ran a bad one, she was always right there but hadn’t quite put it all together.

“We were always confident in a race like this where there would be fast horses taking her along, that’s really what she needed; don’t get me wrong, we didn’t dream that we’d get here, but she was always pretty good.”

He added: “It’s been extraordinary (the meeting), but that’s the team at home, it’s all the little things all the way through and I can’t thank them enough. The owners will be in there, they’re relatively new, this is the second ever horse they’ve had and they’re pretty lucky people.”

Kingscote – who won the Derby for Sir Michael Stoute on Desert Crown in 2022 – said: “I’ve had nice horses to ride since Sir Michael retired, it was always going to be a year of building back up, I had a nice bit of support and I’m delighted to get on a filly like her.

“Last year she was a very unlucky placed horse in the Super Sprint and she progressed all the way through. She was unlucky last time I felt.

“She did a spectacular piece of work a couple of weeks ago at Newmarket and I’m delighted to ride Harry a big winner because he’s a gentleman and his yard is such a happy yard.

“I’m delighted, he’s a lovely man and his staff are always so positive and happy so it’s great to get them a nice winner. He’s only just trained his 100th winner, so I’d say two Group Ones at Royal Ascot is pretty special to him.”

Arizona Blaze (purple) ran a stormer for Adrian Murray
Arizona Blaze (purple) ran a stormer for Adrian Murray (Damien Eagers/PA)

Arizona Blaze may have been 28-1, but did not surprise trainer Adrian Murray with his huge performance, with the Irish handler now eyeing a tilt at York’s Nunthorpe Stakes later in the summer.

“Big run, but he never runs a bad race. He always turns up on the day so I’m delighted with him,” said Murray.

“He’s very reliable. When he came home the last day he was a bit flat within himself, so he probably was a bit under the weather when he ran, we put that behind us and we were very confident of a good run.

“It was a huge price, I couldn’t believe it!

“I think we’ll go for the Nunthorpe, he’s in the July Cup as well but I think we’ll look at York.”

Tributes paid to ‘legend’ Kevin Prendergast

/in /by

Tributes have been paid to multiple Classic-winning trainer Kevin Prendergast, who died on Friday at the age of 92.

Prendergast, who took out a licence in 1963, was the son of the legendary Paddy ‘Darkie’ Prendergast – the first Irish-based trainer to become champion in Britain in 1963 and who saddled the winners of all the British Classics except the Derby.

Prendergast jnr cut his own swathe through the racing ranks, winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with Nebbiolo in 1977 and taking the Irish equivalent twice, most recently with Awtaad in 2016. Like his father, he just missed out on the Derby when Madhmoon was beaten half a length by Anthony Van Dyck in 2019.

Both Awtaad and Madhmoon ran in the colours of the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell operation and were ridden by Chris Hayes, who had a long association with Prendergast.

Chris Hayes with Kevin Prendergast after Awtaad's Irish 2,000 Guineas
Chris Hayes with Kevin Prendergast after Awtaad’s Irish 2,000 Guineas (PA)

He said: “I started out calling him ‘sir’ and that moved on to boss and we had a very close relationship, especially in the latter years. He was like a father or grandfather figure and we spoke closely and candidly.

“I had the utmost respect for him. You could always ring Kevin at the drop of a hat and vice versa – he would have no problem ringing me even up to last week telling me if I had given one a good ride or a bad ride. I’d always enjoy ringing him up for a chat.

“The term legend is thrown about a bit loosely in this age and generation, but there is no other way to describe him.

“I had a second for him last week (aboard Glory To Be at Cork) and I was desperately hoping that our last ride together as it transpired would be a winning one, but we at least went out all guns blazing.

“I had a good chat with him afterwards and was actually planning to go in and sit on a few horses for him tomorrow so it’s a sad day and I’m a little bit numb as I’ve known nothing but him in racing, it’s a real end of an era.”

Awtaad will always remember Awtaad's Irish 2,000 Guineas victory
Awtaad will always remember Awtaad’s Irish 2,000 Guineas victory (Niall Carson/PA)

Hayes’ first Group One success for Prendergast was La Collina, but it is memories of their Classic success together at the Curragh nine years ago with Awtaad which the 37-year-old treasures most from their long association.

Hayes continued: “La Collina was my first Group One winner for Kevin, but Awtaad was the first horse that was mine – I inherited La Collina from Declan McDonogh.

“Obviously there were also some great days with Madhmoon who came after Awtaad. But Awtaad’s Guineas was phenomenal.

“It was the old Curragh and the cheer we got on the way in, I haven’t heard one like it since.

“I’ve been around a while and I never heard a cheer like that before that either and that cheer was all for Kevin and solely Kevin. People say it was for us, but it wasn’t, it was for Kevin.

“He’s a legend around Kildare and a legend in the racing game and people were 10 deep around the winner’s enclosure desperate to congratulate him.

“When I got the news this morning I couldn’t help but look back through some pictures from that day in the car. We had some phenomenal times together and today is a sad day.”

Shadwell’s long-serving racing manager Angus Gold said: “It’s the end of an era and he was one of the great men of my lifetime, we had some wonderful days together.

Angus Gold had a long-standing relationship with Kevin Prendergast
Angus Gold had a long-standing relationship with Kevin Prendergast (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He was a huge character firstly, a consummate horseman and the horses invariably won best turned out. He was just a very good trainer.

“It was spectacular to see Awtaad win the Guineas and then he had Madhmoon nearly win the Derby, which he took very phlegmatically.

“The amount of stories he had, I used to love my mornings on the gallops with him. He knew what was going all all around the world as he had daughters living abroad.

“He’d seen it all, been there and done that. I went to see him about two months ago. He hadn’t been very well last year but had made a remarkably recovery and was still sharp as a tack.”

Madhmoon went close in the Derby for Kevin Prendergast
Madhmoon went close in the Derby for Kevin Prendergast (PA)

Born in Australia on July 5, 1932, Prendergast was educated in Ireland but kicked off his racing career back in the southern hemisphere, where he was head lad to top trainer Frank Dalton.

He held that position for three years before returning home to establish himself as a leading amateur rider while serving as assistant trainer to his father.

After five years, Prendergast decided to strike out on his own in 1963 – and he did not have to wait long for his inaugural success, saddling Zara to win at Phoenix Park in May that year.

Pidget was the first to claim Classic gold for him in the 1972 Irish 1,000 Guineas, before going on to add the Irish St Leger to her tally later on that year.

Oscar Schindler was a dual winner of the Irish St Leger
Oscar Schindler was a dual winner of the Irish St Leger (PA)

After that Prendergast sent out the likes of Conor Pass (1973) and Oscar Schindler (1996 and 1997) to win two more Irish Legers, while Arctique Royal gave him another 1,000 win and Northern Treasure gave him a first Irish 2,000 Guineas in 1976.

Add into the mix top-drawer juveniles La Collina, Miss Beatrix, Termagant and Kingsfort and you get a feel for the kind of longevity Prendergast enjoyed.

One of the most consistent trainers in the Irish ranks, Prendergast sent out his 2,000th career winner in 2010.

As well as Hayes, the likes of Gary Halpin and Declan McDonogh also rode for Prendergast, demonstrating that he was not just an exceptional instructor of horses. The great Kieren Fallon began his riding career with Prendergast, serving as apprentice from 1982 to 1987 before moving on and eventually becoming a six-times champion jockey.

Venetian Sun shines brightest in Albany Stakes

/in /by

Venetian Sun backed up Karl Burke’s confidence in her ability with a dominant display in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ante-post favourite in the build up to the race following an impressive winning debut at Carlisle, she was sent off at 7-1 in the end with Burke having drawn a blank with several other fancied juvenile runners this week.

She also had to overcome what looked a disadvantageous draw in stall one under Clifford Lee, yet despite having no cover, she was in front with a furlong to run and pulled a length and a half clear of Awaken and Balantina.

Burke said of his daughter of Starman, who is owned by Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy: “She’s a beauty of a filly. She was asleep in the prelims, she’s done it the hard way, stuck on the worst draw on paper so I’m just delighted for everybody.

“Her work at home has been pretty special, I certainly haven’t had a two-year-old work the way she has. She’s kicked some proper horses out of the way, so much so that the first time she did it I had to change to another good lead horse just to prove a point and she did the same to him.

“She’s a special filly. I was gutted we got the draw that we had and to be honest, she’s won despite that because it’s not really the way we like to ride her – loads of daylight.

“She’s got a great turn of foot and she can get in amongst them and use it. She’ll stay further, I think six or seven, she’s got a great chance next year of being a Guineas filly but we’ll enjoy today and plan for the future.

“She’s a beautiful looking filly, she was an expensive Book One filly. She wasn’t a precocious early one, which sounds strange as she’s won now but she was never going to be a five-furlong filly, even though she’s won over five.

“The two older horses she’s been working with, Spycatcher and Lethal Levi, they’re good old work horses and proper Group horses – almost Group One horses – I haven’t had a two-year-old that would do that to that type of animal before.”

Bloom, who has enjoyed huge success with his runners over jumps, said: “Yes, 7-1 looks a good price now, and she was 12-1 this morning as well. Given the confidence Karl gave us, we had to have a decent bet. We’ll leave it to the boss, but we’re looking ahead to next season and to a potential 1000 Guineas, so that would be something really to look forward to.”

Inisherin returning to scene of finest hour in great form

/in /by

Confidence is high in the Inisherin camp as the top-class sprinter bids to make it back-to-back wins at Royal Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Kevin Ryan’s speedball was one of the most impressive winners of the entire meeting 12 months ago when blitzing his rivals in the Commonwealth Cup, so it was a little underwhelming that he could only finish fifth in Newmarket’s July Cup next time and he really disappointed in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

However, having undergone wind surgery during the off-season, Inisherin bounced back to form when landing the 1895 Duke of York Stakes on his seasonal debut last month and Adam Ryan, assistant to his father, expects him to take his game to another level on Saturday.

“We made no secret of the fact he was only about 80 per cent at York and we feel he’s taken a big step forward in his training since,” he said.

“We’re delighted with him and really looking forward to Saturday. The stiff six (furlongs) obviously suited him down to the ground last year, so you can’t be anything but happy coming back here.

“It’s going to be a top-class race, we’re under no illusions, but I wouldn’t swap him for anything.

“They don’t give Group Ones away, but as I say I wouldn’t be swapping our fella for anything in the world. Hopefully it’s a good race and if he runs his race he should be there or thereabouts.”

Royal Ascot sprints are international affairs these days and this year’s renewal is no exception, with Inisherin joined at the head of the market by leading contenders from France and Japan.

Satono Reve carries Japanese hopes at Royal Ascot
Satono Reve carries Japanese hopes at Royal Ascot (Adam Morgan/PA)

Satono Reve is a fascinating challenger from the Far East, who produced a sparkling workout in Newmarket last week, while Lazzat has been a star for Jerome Reynier, winning his first six career starts before being touched by the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest in the Golden Eagle in Australia.

A tilt at the Hong Kong Mile did not pay off and he was also beaten on his first start of this year at Saint-Cloud, but a dominant display on his most recent start in a Listed event at Chantilly was enough to persuade powerhouse owners Wathnan Racing to step in ahead of his British debut.

“Lazzat is a horse we’ve been following for a very long time and he was unlucky in Australia in the Golden Eagle at the back-end of last year and it was a similar story in Hong Kong, which didn’t pan out for him either,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“But we were deeply impressed with what he did in France on his comeback run, the time was very good and I think the straight six furlongs at Ascot will be right up his street. Six and seven should be his best distances, so a stiff six should be perfect for him.

“He’s a great addition to the team and we’re looking forward to seeing him in the Wathnan colours.”

The Qatar-based operation have a second string to their bow with another new recruit in Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, who was a neck second to Inisherin at York in mid-May.

Brown added: “She ran a great race behind Inisherin at York and was arguably unlucky not to have won that day, it’s great to have her on the team.

“The draw (stall four) is probably not the best, but she’s a filly who comes from behind and hopefully it won’t impede her chances too much. She’s a really admirable filly and we’re looking forward to seeing her run.”

Lazzat is joined on the trip across the Channel by Topgear, who has won his last three starts over seven furlongs for Christopher Head.

Other runners include Aidan O’Brien’s Australian recruit Storm Boy, who needs to put a disappointing Irish debut behind him, and Clive Cox’s pair of outsiders James’s Delight and Jasour, with the latter turning out quickly after finishing down the field in Tuesday’s King Charles III Stakes.

Cox said: “Jasour has come back very well after Tuesday. It wasn’t the early plan (to run again) but he has come back very well indeed and I think six furlongs is definitely more his gig.

“James’s Delight was excellent in Ireland (last time out). He’s also in good form but he wouldn’t have minded easier ground. He’s in great shape though and is looking to follow up a very exciting success on the Curragh.”

Headline buy Ghostwriter gets mile-and-a-half chance in Hardwicke

/in /by

Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter has already made the headlines this week having changed hands for £2million and now he gets the chance to let his ability do the talking in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Cox and previous owner Jeff Smith had been itching to step the four-year-old up in trip to a mile and a half following a succession of good runs over 10 furlongs last season against the likes of City Of Troy and Look De Vega.

Bought by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing at Monday’s Goffs London Sale, he will be ridden by David Egan for the first time.

“He obviously went through the ring on Monday but we’ve been wanting to step him up in trip for a little while now and this looks a good time to do it,” said Cox.

“He ran well in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and prior to that in Dubai so I’m hopeful that he’ll relish the chance to step up in trip and I hope he does well for his new connections.

“The race has changed in complexion with Kalpana not running. I’m hugely respectful to Rebel’s Romance as he’s such a consistent performer and he’s a credit to everyone involved with him, but I’m hopeful we can get involved at the finish.

“He’s run well on the straight track at Ascot before, he’s never been on the round course there but I’m happy that he’s in excellent form and I hope he can put his best foot forward.”

The aforementioned Rebel’s Romance has been an absolute star for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.

Now seven, he has won Group One races in America, Germany, Hong Kong and Dubai over a mile and a half and last time out won the Yorkshire Cup over an extra two furlongs.

“I keep telling people, if I need to explain what Rebel’s Romance is all about, they are probably not racing fans,” said Appleby on his globetrotting stable stalwart.

“He comes here in great order and he’s well renowned for what he can do. I think the trump card could be the drop back to a mile and a half and that is going to be more comfortable for him. It was his guts that got him over the line at York, he’s an absolute star.”

William Haggas, who got off the mark for the week on Thursday with Merchant, runs three, the shortest priced of them being the Wathnan Racing-owned Space Legend, who finished second in the King Edward VII last season to Calandagan

“We used the Huxley as a prep for this which was an inadequate trip and I’m not sure Chester’s tight nature would have been ideal for him,” said Wathnan’s Richard Brown.

“Ascot back up in distance will hopefully be more suitable, but he will have to perform to his very best as it’s an incredible Hardwicke and he’ll need to be on top form to make the top three – if he was to finish in the first three we would be delighted.”

Godolphin and Wathnan are to the fore in the Chesham Stakes, too, with Appleby’s Treanmor living up to his €2million price tag on debut.

Appleby said: “We were confident going into Newmarket over the six furlongs and he qualifies for the Chesham on the back of his sire Frankel.

“Frankel has phenomenal stats here at Ascot and I think he’s second only to Dubawi, so we come here confident the step up in trip will suit and I think both physically and mentally he has come forward from that first run at Newmarket.”

Humidity was bought by Wathnan following a winning Newbury debut in the Cheveley Park Stud colours.

“He was bred for this and both physically and on pedigree you would think he would want further than six furlongs,” said Brown.

“His full-brother Holloway Boy won this on debut in 2022 and hopefully it is the right spot for him.

“I was really impressed with him at Newbury but this is going to be a tough race. Aidan (O’Brien) is bringing a smart horse over (Moments Of Joy) and Charlie Appleby’s Treanmor looked special when winning at Newmarket.

“However, our lad is one from one and did it well and we’re now going to find out how good he is.”

Racing Bulletin for 20/06/2025

/in /by

Latest News and Features

Your first 30 days for just £1

Today's Racing

Click on course names to view our course guides. Click on race times to access that racecard. Times highlighted in yellow are free races of the day.

Market Rasen

Good

 14:05 14:40 15:13 15:50 16:25 17:05 17:45
Redcar

Good to Firm

 14:15 14:50 15:23 16:00 16:40 17:15
Ascot

Good to Firm

 14:30 15:05 15:40 16:20 17:00 17:35 18:10
Down Royal

Good

 16:35 17:10 17:40 18:15 18:50 19:25 20:00 20:30
Newmarket

Good

 16:47 17:25 17:57 18:37 19:15 19:50 20:25
Goodwood

Good

 17:20 17:52 18:30 19:03 19:38 20:13

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Horses for Courses report

Good luck!


Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot – In pictures

/in /by

Nothing says glamour quite like Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot, but it was not just the fashion that was scorching on a blazing day in Berkshire. Fans and water at the ready, we take in the sights at one of the summer social events of the year – oh, and there’s a couple of horses included too!

One of the day's most eyecatching hats
One of the day’s most eyecatching hats (David Davies/PA)

A fabulous hot pink number reflected the theme of the day
A fabulous hot pink number reflected the theme of the day (David Davies/PA)

Fans of more than just the racing kind were in evidence
Fans of more than just the racing kind were in evidence (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Racegoers take a seat on day three of Royal Ascot
Racegoers take a seat on day three of Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

The King and Queen have been out of luck with their runners so far, but were still smiling at the start of the day
The King and Queen have been out of luck with their runners so far, but were still smiling at the start of the day (James Manning/PA)

The drinks were flowing as racegoers tried to keep their cool
The drinks were flowing as racegoers tried to keep their cool (James Manning/PA)

The one and only Chesney Hawkes was among those taking in the action
The one and only Chesney Hawkes was among those taking in the action (Andrew Matthews/PA)

There was plenty of water on hand to cool down the equine stars
There was plenty of water on hand to cool down the equine stars (John Walton/PA)

Charles Darwin got punters off to a winning start with a stunning show of speed in the Norfolk Stakes
Charles Darwin got punters off to a winning start with a stunning show of speed in the Norfolk Stakes (David Davies/PA)

At the other end of the scale, Trawlerman and William Buick galloped their rivals into submission in the marathon Gold Cup
At the other end of the scale, Trawlerman and William Buick galloped their rivals into submission in the marathon Gold Cup (John Walton/PA)

The King and Queen congratulate Gold Cup-winning rider William Buick
The King and Queen congratulate Gold Cup-winning rider William Buick (John Walton/PA)

Trawlerman comes of age with Gold Cup haul

/in /by

It is not a common occurrence for a horse to start winning Gold Cups at seven – Yeats had two triumphs on his CV by the time he added a third in his seven-year-old season, Drums Taps was defending his title when he won in 1993, so too was Invershin in 1929.

Perhaps Trawlerman was prevented from an earlier success by the other things he clearly had on his mind as a young horse, namely a one-sided feud with the starting stalls that scuppered his chances more than once.

When that score was settled is unknown, but it is clear that with time, patience and expert handling he has developed into the kind of standing-dish stayer associated with Ascot’s oldest race.

The term ‘dour stayer’ usually enters the racing vocabulary in the wettest part of winter when the ground is hock-deep, but it was on rapid going and under a sweltering sun that Trawlerman managed to call the phrase to mind several months out of season.

The 85-40 favourite under William Buick, John and Thady Gosden’s gelding nipped into an early lead and lolloped along at the head of affairs to gain an advantage that only seemed to widen as the race progressed.

When he swung for home and passed the clanging bell there was evidently no blow that could reach him, and it was with consummate ease that he sauntered home seven lengths ahead to break the track record over the trip and take his place at the head of the staying standings.

“We came here today and William was very clear what he was going to do, he was going to set a good, even pace and gradually press them from Swinley Bottom all the way through,” said John Gosden.

“The pretenders – the Aga Khan horse (Candelari) and the Coolmore and Ballydoyle horse (Illinois) – they’d have to stay two and a half miles properly. And they didn’t stay, we took them for stamina.

“It was the plan, beyond the plan, absolutely the plan – and he carried it off to perfection. We spend months planning this, we don’t just think ‘oh, shall we run at Ascot next week?’.

“It’s months in the making and they come here in top order. He’s one of the most relentless, proper gallopers. Going wire to wire in this takes a bit of doing, as does breaking the track record,

“It gives me enormous pleasure, I love the Cup races and I always have done. I’m inclined to run one more race and then put him away and come back next year.

“That’s more important than anything, we’ve won it once now, let’s see if he can win it again.”

Of Trawlerman’s earlier waywardness and his more mannerly approach as an older horse, Gosden added: “He used to be a hooligan, an absolute hooligan!

“Now even I’d ride him, though I don’t suppose he’d particularly appreciate that.

“He’s a fabulous horse to be around, he’s like his father – incredibly brave. Golden Horn would run through a wall for you and this horse is the same.”

Trawlerman has always been a very good horse, but he has not always been a very good boy – now he is both.

Ascot Eyecatcher will not be an Understudy for long

/in /by

John and Thady Gosden’s Understudy is unlikely to be so overlooked next time she lines up after finishing second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Beaten three and a quarter lengths by the far more experienced Garden Of Eden, Understudy proved she was underestimated when a 40-1 chance under Robert Havlin.

The run was only her third racecourse start and a big leap up in class, pointing to plenty more to come from the flashy chestnut daughter of Sea The Stars.

Trinity College has all the answers in Hampton Court Stakes

/in /by

Trinity College produced a dominant front-running display in the Hampton Court Stakes to complete a treble on day three of Royal Ascot for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.

With the formidable pair having already landed the Norfolk with Charles Darwin and the Ribblesdale with Garden Of Eden, French Derby fourth Trinity College was the 5-2 favourite for his Group Three assignment and dictated at the head of affairs from the start.

Tornado Alert, fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, was Trinity College’s nearest pursuer throughout and tried to keep tabs on him in the straight, but the winner found another gear inside the final furlong and was well on top as he passed the post with three and a half lengths in hand.

O’Brien was delighted to see the son of Dubawi get his moment in the spotlight after his fine effort at Chantilly last time and said: “It was a lovely run in the French Derby and Wayne (Lordan) rode him the last day and we were very happy.

“He wasn’t beaten that far and he turned around the form with Detain (third in Chantilly) here.

“Ryan gave him a lovely, uncomplicated ride. He’s a lovely, straightforward horse and his trip is a mile and a quarter.

“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse and he’s only really started to progress now – you would have to be very happy with that.

“I would say 10 furlongs is his trip and he’s very comfortable at that distance because he’s not slow.

“He could go to America and there is an American Derby (at Churchill Downs) he could run in but the problem is it is only in a couple of weeks, so we will have to see how he is, it could be too soon. He’s a good member of the team.”

Trinity College provided Moore with his 90th winner at the Royal meeting, 17 years on from his first at the summer showpiece aboard Sir Michael Stoute’s Colony.

Moore said: “It’s great to get to 90. I’ve rode for great people for a lot of years and a lot of people who put in a lot of hard work and sweat. Obviously having Aidan in my corner is also a massive help.”

Saeed bin Suroor is eager to get Tornado Alert’s head in front next time.

He said: “He ran well to finish sixth in the Derby, and now second in a nice race here is good. He is improving. We will see how he comes out of this, but we will look for a Group Three race.”

Glittering Legend was third for James Fanshawe but the trainer expects the horse to move to a new country now.

He said: “He ran really well. He got a bump early on, which just set him alight a bit, but he dropped his head really well and kept on well.

“Unfortunately, I think he’s off to Hong Kong now, but he’s done really well. I think it will turn out to be a good race.”

O’Brien expecting Illinois progress after Gold Cup defeat

/in /by

Aidan O’Brien feels there is room for improvement in the staying division with Illinois, after his planned super-sub had to make do with the silver medal in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Less than a month ago the Ballydoyle handler expected to be saddling dual Gold Cup hero Kyprios in his bid for a 10th victory in the two-and-a-half-mile feature, but the recurrence of an old injury and his star stayer’s subsequent retirement left O’Brien with no option but to shuffle his pack.

Illinois looked bound for the Coronation Cup at Epsom following his winning reappearance in Chester’s Ormonde Stakes, but Jan Brueghel successfully stepped in to fill that void, meaning Illinois was asked to run over a full mile further in Berkshire and he found Kyprios’ old rival Trawlerman too strong.

O’Brien said: “We thought Illinois would be a Gold Cup horse next year and obviously the plan was Kyprios would come here this year and Illinois would step up next year.

“The plan was for him to go to the Coronation and I was training him as a good mile-and-a-half horse, and then when Kyprios retired we switched him to this race.

“We have to be happy with the run and he had a lovely preparation the last day. Maybe if we knew he was coming here straight away, we might of had him going earlier and maybe lighter.”

While Illinois was seemingly put in his place by Trawlerman, O’Brien would not shirk a potential rematch in the Goodwood Cup, adding: “He might go to Goodwood and meet this horse again and I would imagine he will progress again then.

“He got tired at the two-furlong pole today, like a lot of horses do, and we will see if we can improve him another little bit for this distance.

“It shows how good Kyprios was as Trawlerman had been second to him a couple of times, I think.”

Illinois was beaten seven lengths by Trawlerman and was a further seven lengths clear of Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future in third.

“He did well and he stayed. I put a hood and cheekpieces on him which made him nice and relaxed in the race,” said bin Suroor.

“James (McDonald) gave him a good ride and he’s tough – he’s a horse who at nine years old is still young at heart. He’s doing really well and we are very happy with him.

“I think we will go to Goodwood next. The winner is a good horse, but I am pleased with my horse’s run.”

The disappointment of the race was perhaps French raider Candelari, who had won four of his five previous starts for Francis Henri-Graffard but was a well-beaten sixth on this occasion.

Graffard said: “He was travelling nicely when the pace was fine but when the winner started to quicken and upped the pace, my horse was quite surprised.

“To come here in this type of race, they need the experience. In France they don’t learn an awful lot as they crawl in races then sprint. This horse has a great turn of foot but he can’t use his turn of foot in a race like that over that distance.

“He gained a lot of experience there and he is only four and still improving, but it is still disappointing. I need to learn and think how I can get him better to be competitive.

“I think he is still an exciting stayer, as you saw from his win in France, but today was a different game over a very long distance.

“I have a lot of faith in him and six months ago he hadn’t seen a racecourse, so he has come a long way in a short space of time.”

No weather worries for O’Brien as temperatures rise at Ascot

/in /by

With Royal Ascot baking in the sunshine, and temperatures set to be even hotter for the final two days of the showpiece fixture, Aidan O’Brien praised all involved in horse welfare this week.

And the master of Ballydoyle also allayed any fears the equine athletes on show would find conditions unduly oppressive, despite the mercury rising.

O’Brien said: “Horses love heat, it’s in their nature and when you are training horses they thrive in the heat and in the cold they don’t always try, they don’t like the cold weather.

A horse is washed down on the track at Ascot
A horse is washed down on the track at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“Heat is always an advantage for horses and as long as there is plenty of water at hand, you would prefer it to be warm – if you asked the horse what weather he would like, I would know what he would say.

“Ascot do an incredible job and we’ve had beautiful weather this week. I promise you, if you are training horses you would see the difference. When it’s warm horses train better and get bigger and stronger, they eat better and drink better. When it’s cold they put all their energy into keeping warm, so it’s better it is warm any day.”

Ascot’s clerk of the course Chris Stickels underlined the amount of water that is readily available at the track.

He said: “We’ve got plenty of water available and there is over 3,000 litres in the unsaddling enclosures.

“We also ice the water and there is a 1,000-litre water bowser which sits on the finishing line of the jumps course and is able to be towed anywhere on the racecourse it is needed.

“There is also 800 litres at the winning line and pull-out area to be dished out by the dedicated team, who are not only there to top up the buckets but help out stable staff as required.

Ascot has cooling fans to hand for the equine stars
Ascot has cooling fans to hand for the equine stars (Adam Morgan/PA)

“We’ve got the misting fans and there are a lot of resources available. Horses get used to the heat and they do get acclimatised and it’s worse if it suddenly gets hot, but the key thing is just to have a team on hand to keep on top of the resources.”

Dr Sally Taylor, head of equine regulation, safety and welfare for the British Horseracing Authority, told ITV Racing: “The most important thing to realise is horses are very able to acclimatise to hot weather. When horses sweat it is their primary mechanism of losing heat, as the sweat evaporates it takes with it the heat so that is what you see when a horse sweats at the start.

“When they finish racing we are able to mimic that process by applying cold water and creating a breeze. Ascot does a fantastic job, there is iced water available, horses are supervised by vets at all stages of their journey across the racecourse and they have state-of-the-art fans here to create a breeze.”

Trawlerman nets biggest staying prize of them all

/in /by

Trawlerman made every yard of the running in the Gold Cup to go one better than last year for John and Thady Gosden in the Royal Ascot highlight.

Second to Kyprios 12 months ago, the Godolphin-owned seven-year-old took full advantage of the dual winner’s retirement under an excellently-judged ride from William Buick.

Illinois, who had stepped into Kyprios’ shoes for Aidan O’Brien, was well placed if good enough, but inside the final furlong Trawlerman (85-40 favourite) began to pull away and ran out an impressive seven-length winner. Dubai Future was third for Saeed bin Suroor in the Godolphin colours.

Buick said: “It’s an extreme distance, two and a half miles, so you need an extraordinary horse with an extraordinary set of skills.

“He’s got that lung capacity and stamina. He got in a great rhythm – it’s a tough thing to do, be in front for two and a half miles like that, but he’s so genuine.

“I knew he would stay, which is a big help. It’s taken me a long time to win this – I knew he was the right horse, I just hoped I would get it right on him.”

Winning connections with Trawlerman
Winning connections with Trawlerman (PA)

John Gosden spoke of his relief after what felt like a long final furlong for the Clarehaven handler.

He said: “I didn’t enjoy it (final furlong) because anything can happen, you never know until they cross the line. He’s part of the furniture you know. It’s absolutely amazing. He’s the most grand, lovely horse he really is. The other horse, Sweet William (fourth), they’re great old friends.”

Trawlerman set a new course record and Gosden praised Buick’s ride, repeating the tactics he employed to such good effect when also winning at Sandown last time out.

“We ran him in the Henry II at Sandown and William got it spot on,” said Gosden.

“He went what they call in America ‘wire to wire’, that was two miles around Sandown.

“He’s an out-and-out galloper and he rode him beautifully, judged it perfectly – not an easy thing to do over two and a half miles.

“The only way we were going to win was to just say, ‘if you’re going to beat me, you’re going to know you’ve been in a race, as you’re going to have to go two and a half miles at a proper gallop’.”

William Buick aboard Trawlerman salutes the Ascot crowd
William Buick aboard Trawlerman salutes the Ascot crowd (John Walton/PA)

Gosden already has a title defence on his mind and given Trawlerman will be eight next year, he is eager to measure the gelding’s efforts ahead of that long-range target.

He added: “I think he should be aimed at coming back next year, and he shouldn’t be over-raced at all in between time. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see him again until the Henry II next year. That could be a reality.

“I’ll discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed, but he doesn’t need to be going to all these races. He might come back here in the autumn (for the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day), he’s won that, we might go for that, and then put him away.”

Your first 30 days for just £1