Michael O’Callaghan’s Copacabana Sands remained in good form to the take the Barberstown Castle Stakes at Leopardstown.
The three-year-old filly landed the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas last time out, prior to which she was a respectable fifth in the Priory Belle despite encountering very little luck in running.
At Leopardstown she returned at the same Group Three level as the latter contest, and under Wayne Lordan was an 11-2 chance when prevailing by a length and three quarters.
“She won her Listed race on good ground the last day but Wayne felt she probably improved for that (soft) ground,” said O’Callaghan.
“She found trouble again in running, she seems to do that, but she showed a bit of class and a bit of grit to get out and quicken up to win well.
“We’ll probably plan an autumn campaign for her. The ground would be a factor and she’s also been on the go from early in the spring.
“She tries very hard, so she leaves nothing behind and deserves a break.”
Gavin Cromwell’s Brownstown could have a smart future after making a winning introduction in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.
Sent off the 3-1 second favourite in the hands of Gary Carroll, the daughter of Cracksman showed a likeable attitude once kicking clear of the field to hold on for a half-length success.
Carroll said: “She’s a filly we like a lot. She’s a big, long-striding filly who travels well and has a gear.
“She picked up to win well and has got tired inside the furlong pole. She had a good blow, and the ground is probably as slow as she wants it. She has a bit of class.
“She won a barrier trial well and stepped forward. She’s a very straightforward filly and I think as the year goes on, she’ll keep improving.”
There was also a first victory for Dermot Weld’s Sindria (3-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, with the daughter of Kodiac running on strongly in the hands of Chris Hayes to pip Johnny Murtagh’s 6-4 favourite Shakazia.
Dermot Weld’s Sindria won nicely (PA)
Weld said: “She ran a very good race on her only run as a two-year-old and at Naas the ground was probably a bit quick for her, and she ran too free early on.
“She only finished about four lengths behind the favourite in Naas having done a lot wrong. We’ve spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks just getting her to relax and settle to enjoy her work. The proof of the pudding was winning there today.
“She’s by Kodiac out of a Galileo mare and that’s why she came home well there. A good ride from the winning jockey.”
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Colin Keane made the perfect start as Juddmonte retained jockey when Blue Bolt recorded a bloodless victory at Newbury on Thursday.
It was the first time the six-time Irish champion had donned the famous colours of the Abdullah family since his appointment was announced on Monday, as he took the reins aboard Andrew Balding’s Windsor scorer Blue Bolt, who was sent off the 6-4 second-favourite for the Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
The Irishman left little to chance with a positive ride and having asked his mount to quicken and put the race to bed passing the two-furlong pole, Blue Bolt soon put distance between his rivals.
Although seeing her advantage shortened by Roger Varian’ Majaz in the closing stages, Blue Bolt was still a length and a quarter clear at the winning post to help rubber stamp Keane’s position as first choice to one of the leading ownership operations in racing.
His first ride and it's a first winner for Colin Keane in the @JuddmonteFarms silks since his appointment!
Keane said: “It’s the perfect start and she is a nice filly who was a good winner the last day and seems to have stepped forward again.
“She’s very uncomplicated, she just gallops on and is a nice filly. It felt very easy for her in the first half of the race and I was trying to take her back a little bit and she just got a bit lonely once she had quickened away from them. But I would say she is a filly with a nice future.
“I’m very privileged to be asked to wear these colours and they are iconic in racing. I have grown up looking at them and their farm is only up the road so I’m in a very privileged position.”
Although this was Keane’s first ride on a member of the Juddmonte string in an official capacity, he has twice tasted Classic honours in their silks when winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas with both Siskin in 2020 and John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold only last month.
Field of Gold dazzled in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Niall Carson/PA)
It is the latter that could prove Keane’s trump card at Royal Ascot next week and speaking to Sky Sports Racing he added: “He was very good on the day (in the Irish Guineas) and he felt like a proper horse. I don’t think I’ve ridden one as good as him to be honest.
“Only time will tell, but I think a fast pace would help him and bring him along further (in the St James’s Palace) and hopefully he’s then good enough to pick them off.”
Earlier on the card George Boughey’s 8-11 favourite Moonfall opened his account at the third attempt when a two-length winner of the first division of the Local IQ EBF Novice Stakes, while Charlie Appleby’s heavy odds-on favourite Time To Turn was turned over in the second division by Clive Cox’s 28-1 outsider A Bit Of Spirit.
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After leaving a big-money offer on the table, Basher Watts is a mix of nerves and excitement ahead of Shes Perfect’s quest for Prix de Diane glory at Chantilly on Sunday.
Owned by the social media influencer’s burgeoning racing club, the Charlie Fellowes-trained filly showed her star quality when first past the post in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, with Watts revealing her owners had no hesitation in turning down a $2.5million offer from Japan to head back to France in search of Classic compensation.
“I’m nervous, but there’s also a lot of excitement there,” said Watts.
“We had a big offer for her last week but we put it to all her 38 owners and 37 instantly said no. You get into horse racing with a dream of owning a horse like her and sometimes some things are worth more than money.
This is so bittersweet to watch. They can’t take away that feeling we all experienced. The best feeling in the world. I could not be prouder of our horse, the people I have brought together and the journey we are all on together.
“That 15 minutes when we thought we had won the race at Longchamp is worth more money than anyone would be willing to pay and I just couldn’t ever enjoy watching her in someone else’s silks. There are so many big races to come and we want to be the ones enjoying that journey with her.
“I went in to see her do her last piece of work last week and I’ve been in to see her again today and it all still doesn’t feel real that we own the favourite for the Prix de Diane.”
After losing the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards’ room and then also failing with their subsequent attempt to appeal the decision, the Shes Perfect team were left to contemplate a Royal Ascot rematch in the Coronation Stakes with ParisLongchamp rival Zarigana or stepping up in distance for another tilt at a Classic and also redemption in France.
However, with her handler keen to explore options up in trip and a tantalising ticket to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe waiting to be stamped for later in the season, it was decided Shes Perfect could be aptly named for the challenge of the French Oaks, with connections buoyant after being handed stall seven at Chantilly.
“We definitely spoke in depth about where to go and there were a few different factors why we decided to go back to France,” explained Watts.
Breaking: The French 1000 Guineas appeal has been dismissed and Zarigana keeps the race over Shes Perfect pic.twitter.com/M1mvmaTBdZ
“One of them is we need to know whether she stays and this will only be the fifth run of her career, so let’s find out sooner or later if she does. She has an Arc entry and it’s unbelievable to think she could even be running in a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“This is the perfect step up for her without stretching her too far and we do think French racing suits her style of racing.”
He went on: “There is also the competitor in me who thinks how sweet would it be to go back to France and win the second Classic for fillies and this time keep it. This is our last ever shot at a Classic with her, so why not roll the dice and see.
“Last time out wasn’t the ending we wanted, but even going out to France with all her owners is an amazing experience and amazing trip and we’ll go back there and hope we can ‘win’ again.”
“We were happy with the draw in seven and I thought it would be typical if we got 12 of 12, but we’ll happily take seven. Let’s hope it’s the French paying us back a little bit and we’ll keep everything crossed.”
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Exciting filly See The Fire has been supplemented to join the likes of Los Angeles and Anmaat in a mouthwatering renewal of Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Having performed well at Group One level on several occasions last season, Andrew Balding’s See The Fire could only finish fifth on her Sandown comeback, but bounced back to form with a spectacular 12-length success in last month’s Middleton Stakes at York.
She is now set to take on the boys in the feature event on day two of the Royal meeting after being added to the £1million Prince of Wales’s Stakes at a cost of £70,000.
Los Angeles (left) and Anmaat will lock horns again at Ascot (Niall Carson/PA)
Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles denied the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat by half a length in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month, with last year’s winner White Birch back in fourth.
All three horses look set to line up on Wednesday, with Anmaat arguably the one open to most improvement given his Tattersalls Gold Cup appearance was his first since winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.
O’Brien has also left in Continuous, while French hopes are set to be carried by Francis-Henri Graffard’s Map Of Stars and Facteur Cheval from Jerome Reynier’s yard. The former has won five of his seven starts to date and was touched off by Sosie in the Prix Ganay on his most recent outing.
Ombudsman (John and Thady Gosden), Certain Lad (Jack Channon) and Royal Champion (Karl Burke) are the others to stand their ground.
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The chances of veteran stayer Trueshan finally getting the chance to bid for Gold Cup glory at Royal Ascot next week appear remote, with trainer Alan King yet again left praying for rain.
King’s stable stalwart has won a whole host of top-class races over the years, including the Goodwood Cup, three Long Distance Cups at Ascot and two editions of the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp.
However, he has missed the Gold Cup in each of the past four seasons due to unsuitable ground and with dry weather forecast, an appearance at the Royal meeting at the fifth time of asking seems unlikely.
Reflecting on his creditable comeback fourth behind leading Gold Cup contender Candelari in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in Paris last month, King said: “He ran very well. The ground was a lot quicker than they were calling it and he came back a little bit jarry after that, but he worked yesterday and will work again at the weekend.
“The forecast is not looking terribly encouraging for me really, as usual. I’d like to see a change in the forecast, but I don’t think it’s going to be too likely.
“He’s never got to run at Royal Ascot and the old boy seems in good order, so I’ll certainly put him in the Gold Cup and see.”
The Barbury Castle handler has made a number of entries at Royal Ascot, and added: “I’ll run the two in the mile-and-six race on Tuesday (Copper Horse Handicap), but Tritonic won’t get in the Ascot Stakes.
“I’ve got Daiquiri Bay in the King George V Handicap and the mile-and-a-quarter race and Paradias could go for the mile-and-a-half handicap on the Friday, so I’ve got a few to run and it’s just a question of what gets in.”
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Confidence is building that Satono Reve can become the first Japanese-trained winner at Royal Ascot.
The sprinter is in the care of Noriyuki Hori, who is a leading handler in his homeland and will have his first runner at the Royal meeting when his six-year-old lines up in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in the hands of top international jockey Joao Moreira.
Satono Reve had the assistance of Ryan Moore as he underwent his final preparations for his Ascot assignment on Newmarket’s July course on Wednesday morning, with Hori happy with how his contender has settled into his temporary surroundings in British racing’s heartland.
Ryan Moore rode Satono Reve at Newmarket (Adam Morgan/PA)
“After arriving from Hong Kong, Satono Reve had some time to recover before steadily building up his training,” said Hori.
“We completed his final gallop before the race – a five-furlong piece on the July course at Newmarket, ridden by Ryan Moore.
“Although it’s a different environment from what he’s used to, he’s been coming along well thanks to the warm support of James Horton, his team and everyone involved.”
Ride on-board SATONO REVE as Ryan Moore puts the star Japanese sprinter through his paces at Newmarket ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at #RoyalAscot next Saturday #サトノレーヴ | #ロイヤルアスコットpic.twitter.com/34I6pPP0A8
There have been 10 previous attempts to find the Royal Ascot scoresheet by Japanese challengers, but Satono Reve brings top-class form to the table having enjoyed Grade One success at home and also twice chasing home Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising.
His odds for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes have tumbled in recent days, as the case for his challenge has become more evident, with Paddy Power making him a 6-1 chance for the final Group One of the meeting on Saturday week.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “There’s been a bit of interest for the Japanese raider and while it’s hard to equate winning a Grade One at Chukyo with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the volume we’ve seen has forced us into evasive action and the Hori-trained runner is into 6-1.”
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Following a couple of significant boosts to Great Generation’s form at the weekend, Marco Botti is trying to pick the best route to give him chance of further success with the filly.
Having won Lingfield’s Group Three Chartwell Stakes for the second successive year on her seasonal return, a step back up in class beckoned.
But having seen Jabaara win at Musselburgh and Spiritual bolt up at Epsom, with that pair both behind Great Generation, Botti may just be a little bolder with his planning.
“Obviously she’s a tough filly, but the seven-furlong trip is not an easy distance to make plans for as there are very few options,” said Botti.
“She’s in at Royal Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, but I’m not sure if we go there or wait for the July Cup, or we could wait for the City of York and there’s the Lennox at Goodwood. We want to improve her CV now. She’s won a few Group Threes, so we want to be placed in a Group Two or even a Group One.
“I don’t know if we’ll skip Ascot. The ground will be considered as she needs top of the ground. I think the stiff six furlongs of the July Cup, I wouldn’t rule that out as that will suit her.
“The Lingfield form is very strong with both Jabaara and Spiritual winning at the weekend. We were very pleased with her there.”
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For the first time in well over a decade Wesley Ward will not saddle a runner at Royal Ascot, with his exciting juvenile Outfielder ruled out of the showpiece meeting following a late setback.
Hugely impressive on his Churchill Downs debut, the Speightstown colt looked a major contender for the Norfolk Stakes but will not be making the trip across the Atlantic.
Ward said: “He had a a nice breeze yesterday (Tuesday) on the grass here in Keeneland and unfortunately he came out with just a hair of a shin (problem), which 90 per cent of all two-year-olds get and it’s just unfortunate it’s right on the heels of Ascot.
“We’re here and not over there though, that’s one good thing. He didn’t have to leave Keeneland, so that was good.”
Part-owned by Amo Racing, Outfielder could still be seen in action on European soil this summer, with August’s Prix Morny at Deauville – a Group One Ward has previously won with No Nay Never (2013), Lady Aurelia (2016) and Campanelle (2020) – under consideration.
“Our original plan was to go for the Norfolk and then the Prix Morny, so we’ll just train him into the Morny if all goes to plan,” the trainer added.
Few in Europe had heard of Washington-born Ward when he first came to Ascot in 2009, but it did not take him long to make a big impression, with Strike The Tiger becoming the first American-trained horse to win at the Royal meeting when landing the Windsor Castle Stakes.
The very next day Ward was on the mark again with Jealous Again in the Queen Mary and he has sent horses to Berkshire in all but one of the subsequent 14 years, amassing a dozen winners in the process.
Wesley Ward (right) celebrating at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
The ebullient handler will be conspicuous by his absence in 2025, but he is not too downbeat.
“I’ll still enjoy watching it here, that’s for sure,” he said.
“This was the 16th year we were getting ready to go over there. My eldest son Riley has been going every year since I started and he’s got all these friends that he’s met that go back and forward between American and the the UK, so he’s the one that’s gutted the most out of the whole family.
“Outfielder was obviously meant to be making the trip and we had another couple lined up and had some breezes on Monday, but while the breezes were good they weren’t Royal Ascot-winning good.
“You know me, I’m pretty positive and excited, but if I’m not thinking they’ve got big chances when it’s a lot of money to go over there for the owners… I want to make sure at least going into it that you think you have a winner.”
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Zarigana is on course for a trip to Royal Ascot after connections resisted the temptation to bid for a Classic double in this weekend’s Prix de Diane in favour of a tilt at the Coronation Stakes.
Successful on three of her first four starts for Francis-Henri Graffard in the colours of the late Aga Khan, the Siyouni filly passed the post second to the Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect in the French 1000 Guineas, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, before being promoted to first by the stewards.
Zarigana could have taken on Shes Perfect again in the French Oaks at Chantilly on Sunday, but she will instead stick to a mile on the penultimate day of the Royal meeting next week.
Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said: “The trainer was very keen to run Zarigana in Ascot. We obviously did consider the Prix de Diane because I think she relaxed a lot more last time and she seems to be gaining maturity in her races, so it did become more of an option to consider the Diane for her.
“But I think Francis has trained her more to race over a mile in this first part of the season, that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t stretch her out later in the year. I think he felt it was always part of the programme that he had set aside for her that she would go to Royal Ascot after the Pouliches, especially as we had other fillies for the Diane.
“Zarigana is due to have her last piece of work tomorrow (Thursday) morning. She worked last week and is in good form, so provided all goes well tomorrow, I imagine it’s all systems go for Royal Ascot.”
In Zarigana’s absence, the Aga Khan’s team will be doubly represented in the Prix de Diane Longines, with French Guineas third Mandanaba carrying the colours of the late owner’s daughter Princess Zahra and Listed scorer Cankoura also in the mix.
Routh added: “Principally I think His Highness and Princess Zahra identify themselves as breeders who like to race their horses, and having fillies that are capable of running well in this race is one of our principal objectives of the year.
“We love to have fillies that can perform at the top level, the Prix de Diane is a race His Highness loved to have runners in and obviously he holds the record for the winning-most owner, and all of those fillies were bred by him as well.
“It’s a very special race for our organisation and we’re very happy to have two runners this year in the two different silks’.”
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Asfoora will sport blinkers in search of a “little one per cent”, as the defence of her King Charles III Stakes title marks the start of another European adventure for the Australian ace.
The six-year-old is one of 26 confirmations for the Royal Ascot feature over the minimum distance and she has happily settled back into familiar surroundings on Newmarket’s Hamilton Road ahead of her bid for back-to-back victories at the meeting.
“Everything is going well and she has travelled over really well,” said trainer Henry Dwyer.
Asfoora is on course for an Ascot repeat (Adam Morgan/PA)
“We were a bit apprehensive over the logistics of it because last year we were here eight weeks before Ascot and had a lead-up run at Haydock which I thought was vital, whereas this year we’ve tried to do as much as we could at home and arrived later and then straight to Royal Ascot.
“We simply couldn’t get a flight and in an ideal world we would have been here earlier. We were thinking of going to France and having a lead-up run there which would have been good, but as it turned out we couldn’t get here in time.
“I think she’s a different horse this year and seems to be recovering really well and reserving herself a little bit.
“Even in her work she’s a different horse and she used to be really lit up and bouncy and blowy for a bit after her work because she was revved up, but now she’s sort of come back to us a bit.
“I think the blinkers may have been the missing link and I’ve always wanted to put blinkers on her as she is quite a ‘looky’ horse and now I think she has been holding back a little bit, the blinkers might add that little one per cent we need.”
Oisin Murphy rode Asfoora last term and the champion jockey is set to renew his association having been impressed when partnering the antipodean challenger in a racecourse gallop earlier this week.
“I think her fitness is good and she seems in a good place, Oisin seems confident so I just hope he’s right,” added Dwyer.
“Oisin galloped her on Monday on the July course which was a luxury as it was like a bowling green, it was beautiful ground.
“They ran an easy furlong from the five furlong to the four, then went sharp for 600 metres and she steamed through the line with the blinkers on and pulled up like she hadn’t been round.”
Royal Ascot is set to be the first leg of an extended stay in the northern hemisphere for Asfoora, with Dwyer ambitiously eyeing races into the autumn after seeing his stable star thrive in Britain last term.
Henry Dwyer is eyeing another summer of excitement in the UK (John Walton/PA)
“Knowing that we wanted to get past York this time, we gave her two runs less in Australia this year,” explained Dwyer.
“She will run at Goodwood and York again, and then we would like to go to Ireland and France, but it depends on her. If she is in good order, we will be doing that and two less runs might mean heading to Ireland and France and I would love to get her there.
“It would be a real feather in the cap and bucket list item to just turn up there and would be a really special experience.”
Ed Bethell’s Regional and George Boughey’s Believing were second and fourth behind Asfoora last year and are in line for another crack at their conqueror of 12 months ago, while others to feature amongst the confirmations include new Wathnan Racing recruits Flora Of Bermuda (Andrew Balding) and Night Raider (Karl Burke), who finished second and third respectively behind Inisherin at York last month.
Mgheera is unbeaten in two stars for Ed Walker and heads to the race in peak condition, while Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Cecil Frail Stakes second Prime Art has been supplemented at a cost of £46,000.
The four-year-old underwent a racecourse gallop on Wednesday morning in the hands of Billy Loughnane and Chapple-Hyam said: “I was very happy with her, Billy was happy as well. She’s come on a ton since finishing second in the Listed race at Haydock and I’m very happy.”
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Colin Keane is known as ‘baby Mick Kinane’ to some of those closest to him and hopes to prove just as deadly as the great Irish rider at Royal Ascot, with excitement building ahead of a key week in his new role at Juddmonte
The six-time Irish champion jockey was named retained rider to the leading owners earlier in the week and can look forward to a stellar book of mounts as he dives straight in at the deep end for his new employers at one of the year’s most important meetings.
Keane is embracing the challenge as he pays thanks to the role long-time ally Ger Lyons – one of the men who gave Keane his ‘baby Mick’ moniker – has played in his rise to becoming the weighing room’s most wanted man.
Colin Keane will be wearing the Juddmonte colours on a regular basis (Brian Lawless/PA)
“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be on the stage I’ve got to. I was with him from when I was an apprentice, I went straight there from my father’s and he has backed me 100 per cent,” said Keane.
“Ger has never hidden that and I’m very fortunate. I wouldn’t be where I am without him. It was a pretty straightforward decision (to take the Juddmonte job) and once I had a chat with Ger and he was happy enough, we were all happy.
“I think Pat (Healy, racing photographer) and Ger came up with ‘baby Mick’ and it’s not a bad nickname to have. But we try to keep it as relaxed as possible and get the job done.
“Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of our sport. It’s the place where everyone wants to go – owners, trainers and jockeys – and so I’m very fortunate to have some nice rides to look forward to next week.”
Keane is the first jockey since James Doyle to be committed to Juddmonte, joining the likes of Pat Eddery and Richard Hughes amongst those who have donned the famous pink, white and green silks on a regular basis for the Abdullah family’s operation.
Colin Keane was in Newmarket to ride Lead Artist on Wednesday (Adam Morgan/PA)
It is not just decorated names in the saddle that are inextricably linked with Juddmonte but also some of the finest racehorses of all time, with the 30-year-old well aware of the history of his new role.
Keane added: “It was a ‘pinch yourself’ moment when the call came and I had to double check that it was actually Barry Mahon (Juddmonte’s European racing manager) on the other end of the phone!
“When you get opportunities like this, you have to take them and we could be talking here for a while now about the horses that have come and gone in these colours. Hopefully there will be more to come.
“I’ll be coming over whenever I am told and finding things out. I’ll be talking to Barry Mahon and he’ll be telling me where I need to go. I’ll go over and back from Ireland and maybe having the odd day in France. I’ll be kept busy, that’s for sure.”
First up for Keane will be his Ascot baptism of fire where his new associations will be put to the test on the grandest stage of racing.
Colin Keane tasted Classic glory on Field Of Gold (Niall Carson/PA)
However, the Irishman is content to ride the waves of his brief honeymoon period ahead of a week in the spotlight in Berkshire, where Field Of Gold could prove the ace in his swelling pack as he looks to add to his two previous triumphs at the Royal meeting.
“I won’t be able to tell you what the pressure is like until next week and we’ll take it as it comes,” Keane added.
“I’ve a nice book of rides and the hardest problem is often getting on these horses, so it’s a nice problem to have. You just have to take your chances.
“You are riding these horses for brilliant trainers and they will guide you the best way possible and you will have done your homework for sure. You’re more looking forward to it than anything.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/280192365-scaled.jpg12802560https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.png2025-06-11 13:46:102025-06-11 13:46:10Keane eager for flying Ascot start in new Juddmonte role
Lead Artist will face some familiar rivals as the Lockinge winner headlined 11 confirmations for Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The opening contest of the 2025 fixture is one of the highlights of the week, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained Lead Artist set to clash again with Newbury second Dancing Gemini, third-placed Rosallion and the fourth Notable Speech.
Both Notable Speech and Rosallion were Classic winners last year, taking the English and Irish 2000 Guineas respectively, and while John Gosden expects the pair to improve for their seasonal bows, he is backing Lead Artist to again make his presence felt.
He said: “Rosallion and Notable Speech are both going to come on for that Lockinge run and it is as good a Queen Anne as I have seen in a long time. Now those two have a race under their belt, it’s quite a humdinger to start the meeting with.
“Lead Artist has matured a lot mentally, which some of us do as we get older, and I like his enthusiasm as you can put him anywhere in a race, even though handy is where we would all like to be.”
Lead Artist has not run since that neck defeat of Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini, but enjoyed a racecourse gallop at Newmarket on Wednesday morning under owner Juddmonte’s new retained rider Colin Keane.
Oisin Murphy was in the saddle for last month’s Lockinge and Gosden felt it was a worthwhile exercise for Keane to get a feel for his mount ahead of the Group One.
He added: “It’s been a long time since the Lockinge so it’s great to come here and of course there has been not much rain, so we have been pretty much stuck on the all-weather all spring.
“Colin hasn’t ridden him before and maybe hasn’t seen him before, so it was good he could come here and get a feel for him.
“He does hold his condition really well and he’s a well-covered, powerful horse. But that comes from the sire line and they do hold their condition incredibly well.
“We’ve been pleased with him and he’s had a nice blow here which should set him up nicely for next Tuesday.”
The Gosden team has a powerful second string in Sardinian Warrior, who was just denied in the Prix d’Ispahan last time out while last year’s second Docklands, the supplemented Carl Spackler, Lake Forest, Diego Velazquez, Quddwah and Cairo are also in the mix
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/277781886-scaled.jpg12802560https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.png2025-06-11 12:01:352025-06-11 12:01:35Colin Keane familiarises himself with Lead Artist ahead of Queen Anne
John Gosden is relishing the Royal Ascot rematch between stable star Field Of Gold and his 2000 Guineas conqueror Ruling Court in a mouthwatering St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Clarehaven hotshot suffered defeat at Newmarket to Charlie Appleby’s Justify colt – who was a late withdrawal from the Derby due to rain-softened ground – but gained Classic redemption in sublime style at the Curragh last month.
“Round two with Ruling Court is exciting and is what Royal Ascot is all about. There will be a fabulous line-up of horses in a lot of races,” said Gosden, who watched some of his team for the Royal meeting work on Newmarket’s July course on Wednesday morning.
“There was no need for him to come and have a gallop today as he’s only just run in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, but he’s fine and heading to the St James’s Palace.”
Having followed in the footsteps of his sire Kingman almost symmetrically to this point, Gosden is now hoping he can replicate his father once again by scoring in a blockbuster opening-day clash also contains Aidan O’Brien’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains champion Henri Matisse.
However, to do so the long-striding grey could need the draw gods to shine favourably and Gosden continued: “We will have to see how the race works out and you have to take a good look at the draw haven’t you over the mile at Ascot.
“If you’re drawn on the inside you might never see daylight and we’ll see how that draw goes and take things from there.”
Gosden, who has won the St James’s Palace Stakes three times among his 66 Royal Ascot winners, also gave his backing to Colin Keane, who was on the July course assisting in preparations after securing the prime position of Juddmonte retained jockey ahead of the summer’s showpiece meeting.
The six-time Irish champion stepped in aboard Field Of Gold when the colt scorched to Irish 2,000 Guineas glory and although it was Queen Anne Stakes hope Lead Artist instead of the his Classic hero that he partnered in Wednesday morning work, Gosden hailed the 30-year-old’s class in the saddle.
In a morning of Queen Anne contenders, Lead Artist and Colin Keane stride out on the July Course pic.twitter.com/2wt1LJLd8Q
“He’s a very talented jockey and horseman and an extremely nice fellow,” explained Gosden.
“The travelling will be demanding, but I’m sure he will fit in well once he gets to know all the horses. I think if you travel regularly on Ryanair you might be seeing him. He’ll be over plenty riding work as well as at the races and he’s come over today especially.
“He’s a classy jockey and you’re not six-time Irish champion without being at the top of your game as racing over there is tough and no one gives a quarter to anyone. So to that extent he is very talented and it’s an exciting opportunity for him.”
As well as Ruling Court, Appleby has Guineas third Shadow Of Light and Opera Ballo in contention, while Juddmonte can also call on the Andrew Balding-trained pair of Jonquil and Windlord.
O’Brien also has a total of three contenders, with First Wave and Officer still in the mix alongside Henri Matisse, as Rashabar (Brian Meehan) and Scorthy Champ (Joseph O’Brien) complete the 11-strong list.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/280355630-scaled.jpg12802560https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.png2025-06-11 11:53:152025-06-11 11:53:15Field Of Gold on course for ’round two’ with Ruling Court
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