Tag Archive for: Atalanta Stakes

Tamfana impresses in Atalanta triumph

Tamfana stamped her class on the Sky Bet Atalanta Stakes at Sandown for Oisin Murphy and David Menuisier.

Admittedly down in class, she was also dropping half a mile in trip from her last outing when she finished fourth in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris over 12 furlongs.

While she was head and shoulders above her rivals on form having finished a one-length fourth in the 1000 Guineas and third in the Prix de Diane, she did have to prove she had the speed back over a mile.

The result never looked in much doubt, with Murphy holding on to her for as long as possible, cruising up to the leader Spiritual before quickening away impressively.

A step back up in class will now follow for the 13-8 favourite, who beat Doha by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I’m absolutely delighted and she has done it with style, which was what we were expecting to see really, despite the fact she has had a break,” said Menuisier.

“She was in need of the run and without being cheeky, that is how she should have won the race, the form was there.

“We were confident but you want things to go the right way. As you can see, she has a nick on her hind leg there and things like this could stop a horse in a race and that is why you always hope for a dream run. That’s pretty much what happened.

“It was important to win today and there was a fair amount of pressure. When you run at Group One level, anything can happen and you are hopeful. Today hopeful wasn’t enough – but it is good pressure. It was an important stepping stone to the autumn.

“She is entered in the Sun Chariot and the Prix de l’Opera the next day, so we will have the choice, we won’t make the call right now. She is also entered in the QEII.

“She’s versatile and she is not ground dependent – you can run on good, quick, heavy, all-weather, but we haven’t tried dirt!”

Tamfana stretches out to win well
Tamfana stretches out to win well (Steven Paston/PA)

He went on: “I’ve enjoyed her since day one and she has been challenging at times, but rewarding and then frustrating and then rewarding again.

“She has a very strong personality and she is not easy to train everyday but at the end of the day, they need to have a bit of spark if they are good – Wonderful Tonight was the same. If she doesn’t want you in her box, she won’t let you.

“She is fantastic and I am lucky to have three, four, five high-class horses and they are the ones you look forward to all your life. It is a dream come true to train horses like that.”

Murphy added: “She has plenty of class and it was all very smooth. That’s the beauty with her, she is so rideable.

“Speaking to David, maybe she will stay at a mile now, I don’t know what mile race. She’s versatile and handles dig in the ground well. David and the owners will decide where she goes and they will have a good think about it.

“She didn’t stay in the Grand Prix de Paris which was my fault, as I thought she would stay 12 furlongs. She doesn’t and thanks have to go to connections for retaining the faith and allowing me to get the job done this afternoon.

“One thing to note today was that she was always comfortable against some speedy types over a mile.”

Sat TV Trends: 31st Aug 2024

More LIVE horse racing action this weekend as the ITV cameras head to Sandown, Chester and Beverley – we’ve got it all covered with the key trends and stats to help you whittle down the runners and find the best profiles of past winners.

Chester Horse Racing Trends

3.15 Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m 6 1/2f ITV

10/11 – Aged 6 or younger
9/11 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
9/11 – Carried 9-5 or less in weight
9/11 – Have 4 or less past wins
9/11 – Drawn in stalls 5 or lower
9/11 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
9/11 – Won over 1m4f+ in the past
8/11 - Didn’t win last time out
8/11 – Favourites placed in the top 3
8/11 – Aged 5 or younger
5/11 – Ran at either Ascot (3) or Newmarket (2) last time out
5/11 – Aged 3 years-old
4/11 – Had run at Chester before (2 won)
4/11 – Winning favourites
2/11 – Trained by Andrew Balding
2/11 – Trained by Ralph Beckett (2 of the last )

Beverley Horse Racing Trends

1:30 - William Hill Silver Cup Handicap Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m2f ITV

13/13 - Returned 9/1 or shorter in the betting
11/13 - Ran in the last 6 weeks
10/13 - Carried 9st or less in weight
10/13 - Drawn in stalls 4 or lower
10/13 - Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
10/13 - Favourites placed
9/13 - Placed in the top 3 last time out
8/13 - Irish bred
5/13 - Winning favourite
4/13 - Ran at Newmarket last time out
2/13 - Trained by Richard Fahey
2/13 - Trained by Karl Burke

2:05 - William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 5f ITV

13/13 - Previous winners over 5f
13/13 - Returned 10/1 or shorter
12/13 - Aged 4 or older
12/13 - Rated 100+
11/13 - Aged 5 or older
11/13 - Had won 5+ races before
11/13 - Placed favourites
10/13 - Ran in the last 4 weeks
10/13 - Ran at Ascot (5), York (2) or Goodwood (3) last time
8/13 - Had run at the track before
8/13 - Drawn in stalls 4 or lower
4/13 - Winning favourite
3/13 – Trained by Clive Cox (last 3)
2/13 - Ridden by Jamie Spencer
9 of the last 11 winners drawn 7 or lower
6 of the last 10 winners drawn 4 or lower

SANDOWN Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)

1.50 Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Cl3 (3yo+ 0-90) 7f ITV

Just 3 previous runnings
3/3 – Drawn in stall 6 or lower
2/3 – Winning favourites
2/3 – Drawn in stall 6
2/3 – Carried 9-11 or more in weight
Trainer Michael Herrington has a 67% strike-rate at Sandown
Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is just 3-from-51 with her runners at the track
Trainer Karl Burke is just is just 4-from-43 with his runners at the track
Jockey William Buick has a 22% strike-rate riding at the track

2.25 –Sky Bet Atalanta Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 1m14y ITV

18/22 – Had 3 or more runs that season
17/22 – Winning distance 1 1/2 or less
16/22 – Had won over a mile before
15/22 – Priced 9/2 or shorter
14/22 – Aged 3 years-old
14/22 – Rated between 98 and 108
13/22 – Placed last time out
13/22 – Had won 3 or more times before
13/22 – Had won a Listed or Group class race
8/22 – Winning favourites
7/22 – Won last time out
7/22 – Had run at Sandown before
6/22 – Trained by Sir Michael Stoute
5/22 – Ran at Ascot last time out
The last 10 winners were aged 3 or 4 years-old

3.00 – Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap Cl2 (3yo+) 1m2f ITV

11/11 – Aged 3, 4 or 5
10/11 – Carried 9-1 or less in weight
10/11 – Ran in the last 4 weeks
10/11 – Won over at least 1m2f before
9/11 – Carried 8-12 or less in weight
9/11 – Top 5 finish last time out
9/11 – Won between 1-4 times before
8/11 – Unplaced favourites
8/11 – Rated between 82-95
5/11 – Ridden by a claiming jockey
5/11 – Won last time out
5/11 – Had run at the track before
3/11 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
1/11 – Winning favourites
3 of the last 6 winners came from stall 3
Trainer James Ferguson has a 43% record with his horses at the track
Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam has a 33% record with his horses at the track
Trainer Simon and Ed Crisford are just 3 from 47 with his horses at the track
Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is just 3 from 51 with his horses at the track

3.35 –Sky Bet Solario Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 7f16y ITV

21/22 – Had won at least one race before
20/22 – Never raced at Sandown before
20/22 – Had won over 6 or 7f before
19/22 – Foaled in Jan, Feb or March
16/22 – Placed favourites
14/22 – Had 2 or more previous runs
15/22– Won last time out
13/22 – Had won over 7f before
11/22 – Winning favourites
9/22 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
6/22 – Won by trainer John Gosden (2 of the last 6)
3/22 – Trained by Charlie Appleby (3 of the last 7)
Trainer Charlie Appleby has a 33% record with this 2 year-olds at the track
The last winners came from stall 5

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Heredia charges to Atalanta Stakes success

Heredia finished with a flourish to land the Virgin Bet Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.

Richard Hannon’s charge was a convincing Listed winner at Haydock last time out and was duly sent off the 5-2 favourite to add to her tally in this Group Three affair.

Settled towards the back of the field as Roman Mist cut out the early running, Heredia was clearly travelling well coming into the straight and when Sean Levey gave the signal, she made rapid strides down the middle of the track.

Heredia seized the advantage inside the final furlong and while Queen For You tried to match her, the winner proved three-quarters of a length too good at the line. Last year’s race winner was a further length and a quarter back in third.

Heredia was introduced at 20-1 for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November by Paddy Power and Hannon feels his charge would merit a shot at a big race.

Heredia was reaching a new career high in victory at Sandown
Heredia was reaching a new career high in victory at Sandown (Adam Davy/PA)

Hannon said: “She was drawn 10 of 10 which makes things a lot more difficult. I don’t think they went overly quick, although I haven’t seen the time, and he (Sean Levey) had to come a bit wide.

“After her last run I thought she would run very well. She is clearly in the form of her life and she has never been moving better. She was a little bit of a madam before the gates today.

“We were talking about some of the big races in America and she has justified going for one or two of those opportunities after this. I thought we would be lucky to win a Listed race earlier in the year, but she has thrived throughout the year.

“For St Albans Bloodstock, who bred her, they admitted she gave them one of them one of the best days of their lives when she won at Royal Ascot (in last year’s Sandringham Stakes). She won a Listed race last time and no one was there, but they were here today and it is a great day for them.

“She looks great, and she almost looks like she will need the race as she is carrying a bit of weight as she is getting older. She was a very fast two-year-old and she won first time and normally if ours do, they are pretty good and she has shown that.

“She won’t be going stateside until she is a squeezed lemon (over here), but it is up to them and I think they have got to try a big one in America in my name before one of those big trainers in America gets her.”

While America appears to be Heredia’s ultimate destination, the four-year-old could yet be supplemented for next month’s Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

Richard Brown, spokesman for St Albans Bloodstock, said: “We will just enjoy this and have a look. There are some American options, but there are also options here.

“A Sun Chariot might come into the equation. She is not entered in that, but after that we could supplement her.

“We will pitch her in now. I’d say it will either be the Sun Chariot or we will look at one of those American options.

“I read that Inspiral is going to go (to the Sun Chariot), which is pretty scary, so we will have to see who is going where and take our time.

“In America, she can quicken and travel off a strong pace and potentially that will suit her.

“I think she will end up there (America) and we could take her there, run her there and leave her there. She keeps stepping up and I would say we would exhaust opportunities here first.”