Tag Archive for: Babouche

Keane and Babouche looking to turn on the style in Commonwealth Cup

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Colin Keane has made a blistering start to his role as Juddmonte retained rider and it would be fitting if he could cap a fine week at Royal Ascot with victory for his mentor Ger Lyons aboard Babouche in the Commonwealth Cup.

The Group One-winning daughter of Kodiac has been a standout performer for the duo of late and is part of a strong hand for her owners, who also have Andrew Balding’s Greenham hero Jonquil dropping back in distance following his fine second in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “Babouche is in good form and won the trial for this race in Ireland in good style. We would be hopeful of a good run, but we wouldn’t be fussy which one won.

“I think it would have been tough for Colin to get off Babouche having ridden her in all her starts and his association with Ger, but both horses are in good form and ready to run well.”

Jonquil (left) is a high-class second string for owners Juddmonte
Jonquil (left) is a high-class second string for owners Juddmonte (David Davies/PA)

On Jonquil, who will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Mahon added: “Dropping back to six furlongs is a bit of an unknown, but he showed a lot of speed when winning the Greenham at Newbury and also showed plenty of speed in France and hit the front a furlong down. Oisin (Murphy) and Andrew both felt it was a good option for him.”

Babouche got the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket in the Lacken Stakes last time, with the Ballydoyle runner fourth in the Norfolk Stakes at this meeting last year before winning the Prix Morny at two.

Meanwhile, another colt dropping back in distance after an honourable third in Classic action is Charlie Appleby’s Middle Park and Dewhurst champion Shadow Of Light, who lost nothing when chasing home Ruling Court and Field Of Gold at Newmarket.

Speaking on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “Shadow Of Light is in great order, and I’m pleased with the draw (stall 19).

“He ran a great race in the 2000 Guineas and we are confident that the drop back to six furlongs is going to suit. I can’t give any negatives and I’m hopeful he is the one to beat.”

Mick Appleby’s Big Mojo won the Pavilion Stakes over course and distance in April and after no luck in running in the Sandy Lane at Haydock bids to give his connections another magical moment at the summer showpiece, as Hollie Doyle takes over the steering from husband Tom Marquand.

“He’s in good order and hopefully he has a decent chance,” said Appleby.

“It’s a shame Tom (Marquand) can’t ride him, but Hollie isn’t a bad substitute – hopefully Tom has given her the lowdown.

“He had no luck in running at Haydock last time and I think with a clear run he could have gone close. He just got stuck behind a wall of horses with nowhere to go.

“He won well at Ascot earlier in the year and is drawn in the middle which is nice as it should be good to go either way. Fingers crossed he can run really well.”

International interest is provided by Jose Francisco D’Angelo’s prolific US winner Shisospicy, who will be the mount of the aforementioned Murphy, while Francis-Henri Graffard’s Rayevka was also supplemented along with the American challenger after impressing at Chantilly earlier this month.

“It’s a very tough race and a big field and a bit of a cavalry charge, but she’s a three-year-old sprinting filly and if we’d waited we were going to have to run in a Group Three against older horses,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs.

“She won a Listed race well last time and this was her last opportunity to run in a Group race against her own age group. It is a big ask and we’d be really chuffed if she was to run into a place.

“She’s in good form, sprinting is her game and she is a top of the ground horse.”

Lady Iman likely to swerve Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot

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Lady Iman, a leading fancy for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot next week, is not a definite runner.

Trainer Ger Lyons is considering other options for the unbeaten Starman filly, with the Balanchine Stakes on June 28 at the Curragh – better known as the Airlie Stud Stakes – a likely target before she steps up to Group One class.

“I’ll talk to the owners before I make the entry or not but as we stand I can only tell you that my understanding is we might stay at home for the Balanchine/Phoenix/Moyglare or Cheveley Park later on, that’s the route we are thinking at the minute,” Lyons told the Nick Luck Daily podcast.

“She’s in good order, she’s been push-button for me and I know I’ll get slated by the perceived experts for not lining up in Ascot but anybody who knows me knows Ascot is not the be-all-and-end-all for me, it’s all about the future of the horse going forward.”

One who Lyons is taking over the water is Babouche, winner of the Phoenix Stakes last year and a horse who impressed when winning at Naas last time out.

“I’m never confident. Babouche is a star and if she never runs again she owes us all nothing,” said Lyons.

“I loved what she did at Naas, is that good enough? I don’t know.

“It’s a very strong race and I’d be very worried of the Godolphin horse (Shadow Of Light) who was placed in the Guineas dropping back and there’s more than that.

“Then you need luck in running. I wouldn’t be overly confident with my string at the moment, the way they are performing.

“I wouldn’t be jumping up and down about my string heading into Ascot, I’d rather be in a better frame of mind with them but if I’m happy with them I’ll send them.”