Tag Archive for: Charlie Fellowes

Shes Perfect just denied Prix de la Grotte glory

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Charlie Fellowes was bursting with pride after seeing Shes Perfect push star French filly Zarigana close in the Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp.

Zarigana looked a potential superstar in the making after winning her first two juvenile starts for Francis-Henri Graffard, but suffered a nose defeat at the hands of her stablemate Vertical Blue when stepped up to Group One level for the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc weekend in October.

She was again an odds-on favourite for her return at Group Three level and travelled strongly throughout in the hands of Mickael Barzalona, while Shes Perfect was free in the early stages and was soon bowling along in front under Kieran Shoemark.

It looked a question of how far Zarigana would win by when she produced with her challenge racing inside the final two furlongs, but Shes Perfect refused to go down without a fight and as there was only a neck between the pair at the line, Fellowes is eyeing a potential rematch in next month’s French 1000 Guineas – the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

“It was a fantastic run, especially as I think that everything that could go wrong did go wrong,” the Newmarket handler said of the filly, who is owned by a syndicate established by social media influencer Basher Watts.

“We did not intend to lead and I think she did plenty in front, but the way she stuck to the line, put her head out and made a very, very good filly fight was really encouraging.

“When they turned into the straight I thought ‘God, we’re a sitting duck here’, but she’s got the heart of a lion, she’s talented and I think she loved that ground as well – being able to get her toe in a bit helps her.

“I think we’ll probably come back for the French Guineas, I don’t see why not. She’s entered, so we don’t have to supplement her or anything like that, and I’d take the winner on again. She’s very good, but we’ve been beaten a neck and I think she warrants a trip back here in May.”

Shes Perfect is owned by a syndicate led by social media influencer Basher Watts and Fellowes added: “Basher and the rest of the guys are absolutely over the moon.

“It’s a great story, 90 per cent of the people in that syndicate have never owned any part of a racehorse before and Bash is doing a great job. He’s bringing people into the sport, which is what we need, and he’s got his hands on quite a good filly.”

Paddy Power make Zarigana their 6-4 favourite for the Pouliches, while she is a 16-1 shot with the same firm for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Royal Ascot
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: “With this filly there is so much expectation and it’s a shame we have a bit of pressure.

“Mickael said as soon as she saw daylight she changed gear very strongly and as soon as she hit the front she stopped, so that is why he had to touch her a little bit to get the job done today.

“She needed mentally to come back to the races big time, so I’m glad everything went well for her and we’ll regroup and have her spot-on for the big one (French Guineas).”

The French 2000 Guineas is on the agenda for the Mikel Delzangles-trained Ridari after swooping fast and late to claim Group Three honours in the Prix de Fontainebleau.

A winner on his second and final juvenile start at Chantilly in November, the Churchill colt faced a rise in class on his three-year-old debut, but quickened up smartly for Barzalona to get up and beat Sahlan by a nose.

Delzangles said: “I’m very pleased because he’s not an easy horse – he can be quite keen. The jockey really gets on well with him and gave him a really good prep race.

“We know how he behaves, but he’s able to deal with that and even if he was a bit keen, he managed to breeze and to quicken to finish.

“It’s a good lesson and a good prep race for the big one in four weeks.”

Barzalona made it a Group Three treble on the card and a four-timer overall by steering Christophe Ferland’s Uther to victory in the Prix Noailles.

Ferland said: “It’s very good to win today. The horse was fit, but he will progress and he’s a very nice horse from a nice family.

“The horse will do a mile and a half easily.”

Basher Watts syndicate hoping Shes Perfect is just that in Paris

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Social media influencer Basher Watts is preparing for a huge afternoon in France as his pride and joy Shes Perfect flies the flag for Britain in the Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp.

Trained by Charlie Fellowes and representing the syndicate which Watts heads, Shes Perfect is the only British-trained runner in action in the French capital on Sunday, where rivals include Francis-Henri Graffard’s exciting Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Zarigana – a granddaughter of the great Zarkava.

Watts said: “We’re rolling the dice and we’ll see, it’s a fact-finding mission. But we think really highly of her and at some point we’ve got to see properly how good she is, so why not do it at Longchamp.

“There’s plenty of us going over and we’re so excited and to be taking on horses like Zarigana in the Aga Khan colours is a dream.

“Zarigana looks a bit of a superstar so as long as Shes Perfect comes home safe and sound, we’ll enjoy it and party like there is no tomorrow.”

Shes Perfect holds entries for the French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks later in the summer, with connections hopeful they have picked the right starting point for the new season.

Watts explained: “When she ran at Goodwood last time out we almost didn’t run her as it was very heavy ground.

Charlie Fellowes is the trainer of Shes Perfect
Charlie Fellowes is the trainer of Shes Perfect (Mike Egerton/PA)

“However, Ryan Moore who rode her that day said she was absolutely fine on the ground, so we looked and thought there’s not many options for her here over a mile and the Prix de la Grotte looked the obvious choice.

“We know she goes on the ground, a mile should be ideal for her and we were thinking it’s often not the biggest of fields so could be weaker than a Group Three in Britain.

“She went and had a nice winter break and and she’s really strengthened and grown over the winter. She look a picture and she’s a big girl and we’re really hoping she will step forward as a three-year-old.”

Watts has developed a strong following on TikTok and Instagram, with his ‘an honest day’ content proving a hit with racing fans and social media lovers alike.

Basher Watts with Shes Perfect at Charlie Fellowes' stables
Basher Watts with Shes Perfect at Charlie Fellowes’ stables (Basher Watts)

It was the success of his social media channels and interaction from followers which persuaded Watts to set up the Basher Watts Racing syndicates, with his horses running in the white and dark blue silks of his beloved Tottenham Hostpur.

Watts said: “I’ve never had a horsey background, ridden a horse or grown up with ponies or anything like that. I’m just an avid racing fan.

“I started posting content on my TikTok just before the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and just managed to grow a nice base of viewers who enjoyed my content and also liked horse racing.

“I had shares in a few horses with syndicates myself and I used to post ‘an honest day as a racehorse owner’ and I then got loads of people asking how they get involved and who I would recommend they join as a syndicate owner.

“I ended up just putting it out there to see if anyone would be interested and it has always been a lifelong dream of mine to start my own syndicate.”

Now the 31-year-old and up to 20 of Shes Perfect’s syndicate members are ready to hit the continent for what could be a day to remember.

Watts added: “It’s like Christmas Eve at the moment for her owners. There’s about 45 owners in her and for the majority of them this is their first experience at owning a racehorse, so I keep trying to tell them it’s not this easy!

“The thing that makes syndicates really good is it is such a social thing and there will be 20 of us out in Paris. It will be a fantastic occasion no matter how she runs and to share that with such lovely owners makes it all the more special.

“I’ve a fantastic bunch of owners and my socials are really growing and hopefully we’re building something really special.”

Vadream and Shoemark ready to shine in Champions Sprint

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Charlie Fellowes believes the booking of Kieran Shoemark will be a major boost for the chances of Vadream in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The six-year-old has consistently run with credit this season without managing to get her nose in front, and Fellowes is confident of another big effort in what could potentially be her final visit to a racecourse.

Last seen earlier this month in the Bengough Stakes at Ascot, she was only beaten one and half lengths in that Group Three contest.

Fellowes thinks the ground – which is sure to be testing – can bring out the best in her and said: “The ground is in her favour. She’s been in arguably as good form as I think she’s ever been in this season.

“I think she did a career-best in the Haydock Sprint Cup (beaten less than two lengths in fourth).

“She’s put in a huge amount of very solid efforts in defeat elsewhere, beaten four lengths in a July Cup, beaten four lengths in the Diamond Jubilee, fourth in the Haydock Sprint Cup.

“You know really she’s thrown in three below-par runs – twice over five furlongs when the ground was too quick in Ireland and in the King’s Stand and then I don’t really know what happened at Haydock in the Temple.

“But otherwise she has been absolutely rock-solid. I was keen to run her in the Bengough, she loves the slop, she loves Ascot and she’s got a very good record in the race. She usually finishes about fifth or sixth and not beaten far.”

Away from the ground, Fellowes sees the relationship between Vadream and Shoemark as the biggest factor in her favour for the return trip to the Berkshire track.

“One thing that is a big, big plus is that we’ve got Kieran Shoemark back on board. No offence to any of the other jockeys that have ridden her, they’ve all done a very good job, but Kieran has always got on with her the best.

“They have a real affinity so having him back on board is a big plus for us. She loves being ridden by him and that’s very important.”

The Champions Sprint will be the last time Vadream runs this year and could even be her last race before retirement.

Fellowes added: “That will be her for the season and then I need to have a chat with the owner and see whether we call it a day and whether we let her go to the breeding shed and have babies or whether we go again next year, and I have a feeling I know what he’s going to say.”

Swift Lagardere return not ruled out for Luther

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After failing to run up to expectations in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, Luther is under consideration for a quick return to action in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Visually impressive when claiming a second win from his first three starts in the Listed Ascendant Stakes at Haydock, the Charlie Fellowes-trained juvenile was well fancied on his step up to Group Two level on the Rowley Mile on Saturday, but finished a well-beaten fifth of seven runners.

Fellowes feels the undulating track was to blame for the Frankel colt’s below-par performance and he is eyeing a possible swift shot at redemption on Arc day this weekend.

Charlie Fellowes trains Luther
Charlie Fellowes trains Luther (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We obviously came away from Newmarket disappointed,” he said.

“He was (drawn) on the end again and I find with inexperienced two-year-olds, they always break a stride slowly when they don’t have horses either side of them. I think he broke a stride slowly and from then on he slightly always had the gun to his head.

“I thought he travelled into it nicely and then got very unbalanced going into the dip and I just think he hated the track. Maybe he needs a flat track, possibly around a bend.”

When asked whether the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on October 26 was an option, Fellowes added: “I’m not considering considering Doncaster, but there is a very faint possibility that he could run in the Lagardere.

Vadream has two options this weekend
Vadream has two options this weekend (Nigel French/PA)

“We’ll leave him in and possibly consider that. I think if he runs again this season that will be where he goes. We’ll make a call later this week.

“I don’t think he had a race the other day, so it wouldn’t worry me too much turning him out again.”

Another Fellowes inmate who could be bound for Paris is star sprinter Vadream, although she does hold an alternative engagement on home soil in Saturday’s Bengough Stakes at Ascot.

“Vadream is in the Bengough and the Prix de l’Abbaye and we’ll make a call closer to the time,” said the trainer.

“If the ground is good to soft over in France we won’t go there and will probably go to Ascot.”

Luther aiming to hit high note in Royal Lodge

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Charlie Fellowes’ Luther takes the next step in his promising career in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.

The colt, who is by Frankel and out of the Musidora winner Give And Take, started his career in a Salisbury maiden in late June and made an instant impression with a comfortable success.

His next start was then at the same track, where he stepped up in grade to take on the Listed Stonehenge Stakes and went down by just half a length to Andrew Balding’s New Century.

The latter horse boosted the form when travelling to Woodbine in Canada to win the Grade One Summer Stakes in good style, whereas Luther remained in Listed company next time out in the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock.

There he met eight rivals and proved himself to be much the best, striding to a two-length victory under Daniel Tudhope, with Fellowes hoping his class can help him negotiate an outside draw.

Charlie Fellowes has high hopes for Luther
Charlie Fellowes has high hopes for Luther (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s been very well, he’s been training well and we’ve had a clear run, so we’re very happy,” said Fellowes.

“The New Century form has worked out great and when he won the Haydock race, he did it as well as you could possibly ask.

“Who knows what he beat at this point, but he beat them nicely. This is another step up, so we hope he can take the step forward. He’s a horse we really like and we think he’s good enough.

“The first two times at Salisbury, he looked a bit green, whereas at Haydock he looked more like the finished article.

“Newmarket is a different course, it is undulating and the draw gods have not been too kind to us as he’s drawn on the end (stall seven) again and I’d much rather he was in the middle, but he’s a lovely horse and we’re hoping for the best.”

Luther winning the Ascendant Stakes
Luther winning the Ascendant Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

James Owen will be represented by Wimbledon Hawkeye, a Gredley Family-owned Kameko colt out of the owners’ Sea The Stars mare Eva Maria.

The bay made a winning debut on the all-weather at Kempton in May before finishing third in the Group Two Superlative Stakes on Newmarket’s July course.

The Acomb Stakes at York was the next port of call and there the colt was the runner-up, coming home a length and three-quarters behind Aidan O’Brien’s highly-regarded Classic hope The Lion In Winter.

The form from the race was further strengthened when the fourth-placed The Waco Kid went on to win Thursday’s Tattersalls Stakes.

Owen said: “We were really pleased with his run at York and hopefully he can put up a similar performance or even improve on that Acomb run. Hopefully there is lots more to come.

“He’s always shown a fair level of ability and it’s our first season training two-year-olds. When he won on debut, he was 100-1 in places, but had always shown plenty at home.”

Andrew Balding’s Royal Playwright steps up to a mile after attempting to make all when third to the high-class Field Of Gold in the Solario Stakes.

Big-race pilot Oisin Murphy is optimistic of another bold bid and has been buoyed by some encouraging signs at home.

He said: “His work was very good last Saturday and I think he will improve for going a mile. I think he is getting better all the time and I’m looking forward to riding him.

“You could say at Sandown he was not suited by me making the running on him, but I was wary of them putting the brakes on and meeting traffic from an inside draw. Hopefully he is really stepping up.”

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore team up with Galway Festival winner Puppet Master, with Moore telling Betfair: “This is my first time aboard Puppet Master, but he looks to have an obvious chance off the back of his two runs to date.

“He made his debut over a mile at Killarney when green throughout, but ran on well in the final stages when the penny started to drop. The colt improved for that debut when last seen at Galway, handling the soft ground to run away an easy winner by four lengths.

“This looks an interesting race with tough competition from Luther, Wimbledon Hawkeye and Angelo Buonarroti, who all hold strong form claims, but my lad should handle conditions well and can run a nice race.”

Luther never too much for Fellowes at Haydock

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Luther produced a fine turn of foot to take Listed honours in the Betfair Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes at Haydock.

A winner over seven furlongs at Salisbury on debut for Charlie Fellowes in June, he returned to that track for his last run and found only New Century too good in the Stonehenge Stakes.

Kept to Listed level and a mile again on Merseyside, Luther (16-5) made amends for that half-length defeat in real style, easily accounting for a classy field.

Godolphin’s Age Of Gold was sent off favourite but he was already beaten a couple of furlongs from home as Luther sat in behind horses, looking full of running for Danny Tudhope.

When the rider eventually delivered his challenge a furlong out, Luther’s response was immediate and he quickly went clear, cruising to victory by two lengths over outsider Qilin Queen.

Fellowes said: “He won his maiden nicely and he had a very minor setback between his maiden and his second start. I’d intended to go to Ascot for a Listed race there, but we missed that and ended up at Salisbury.

“I just wonder if he needed the run a little bit that day, mentally more than anything. We were impressed with his run and he was more the finished article today.

“I wasn’t worried about the ground today, in fact I thought a bit of cut would suit him a little bit better, being by Frankel.

Luther (yellow) was just too good for his Haydock rivals
Luther (yellow) was just too good for his Haydock rivals (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I was just hoping that he was good enough to go and put in a performance like that and it’s great.

“He’s a horse we’ve always thought a lot of, his work at home has been very good, he’s got a great mind on him and hopefully he’s an exciting horse for next year.

“He’s not overly-big, but he’s a strong and really well made powerful colt. He’s got as good a mind as I’ve trained and wants it, which is a big factor.”

A son of Frankel out a Musidora winner in Give And Take, Luther was a 250,000 guineas purchase as a yearling last year and has entries that befit his pedigree in both the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket later this month and the Group One Dewhurst Stakes on October 12.

Luther is a 10-1 chance for the Royal Lodge and 20-1 for the Dewhurst with Betfair, with the first-named Group Two contest Fellowes’ favoured option at present and a later run at either Doncaster or the Breeders’ Cup not ruled out.

He added: “He’s in the Royal Lodge and I guess that’s probably the most obvious place to go next.

“After that we’ll see whether we stay here for a Futurity Trophy or we put him away and the Breeders’ Cup is an option as well – it’s lovely to talk about these races.

“He’s got a lot of options and hopefully he’ll be a Guineas horse next year.”

Fellowes hopes to have Luther tuned up for Haydock

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Charlie Fellowes feels Luther is as good a two-year-old he has ever possessed as he prepares to saddle the youngster in the Betfair Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes on Saturday.

The son of Frankel cost connections 250,000 guineas as a yearling and has lived up to his star billing in two outings, hinting at a very bright future.

After a winning debut at Salisbury, he returned to the Wiltshire venue for the Stonehenge Stakes where he paid for a lack of experience when denied by Andrew Balding’s well-regarded New Century.

Buoyed by that performance and feeling Luther has plenty left to learn before he becomes the finished article, the colt will now head to Haydock for another outing at Listed level.

“I think he did everything wrong at Salisbury which was why it was so taking,” said Fellowes.

“He had a setback after his debut win and I really wanted to run him at Ascot in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes, but we missed that race and his lack of experience told.

“The winner was battle-hardened and finished second in the Ascot race, so I was really pleased with how Luther did.

“The plan is to go to the Ascendent at Haydock over a mile and I hope he will be very competitive. After that we could maybe head to the Royal Lodge or something at the end of September.

“He is a good horse and as nice a two-year-old as I have had, so I’m looking forward to him.”

Another of Fellowes’ Bedford House inmates, The Wizard Of Eye, could also return to the track at the weekend.

Having won the Victoria Cup on stable debut, he ran a huge race in Group One company at Royal Ascot before an injury setback has kept him sidelined.

Deep into his recovery, Fellowes feels he is nearing a return which could come at his beloved Ascot in the seven-furlong bet365 Handicap or a week later in the Betfred Park Stakes on St Leger day at Doncaster.

“He is good and we are taking it a day at a time, but he galloped on Tuesday and worked good.

“He could go to Ascot for the seven-furlong handicap or we could wait and go to Doncaster if I feel he needs another week. It’s a bit of a balancing act.

“We’ve got options and he looks great and hopefully his setback is behind him.”

Fellowes pondering options for The Wizard Of Eye

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All options are on the table for The Wizard Of Eye as he nears his return to the track

The five-year-old has thrived since switching to Charlie Fellowes this season and after following up Victoria Cup success at Ascot with a bold effort in Group One company at the Royal meeting, he was installed as was the ante-post favourite for the International Stakes back at the Berkshire track on King George day.

He missed that assignment through a small setback but is now working towards his next start, which is still to be determined after Fellowes elected to miss Newbury’s Hungerford Stakes.

A trip to York for the Sky Bet City of York Stakes has been deemed unlikely, although on the same afternoon (August 24) The Wizard Of Eye could move up to a mile to contest Goodwood’s William Hill Celebration Mile.

The Wizard Of Eye could also be seen bolstering the East region’s Racing League cause with the valuable seven-furlong event that concludes Newcastle’s action on August 22 another race mooted by the Bedford Lodge handler.

“He worked on Saturday and worked great, but he had a good blow afterwards having had some time off and I didn’t confirm him for the Hungerford,” said Fellowes.

“We’ve got options, I’m not in love with sending him to York as even though we are entered there I don’t think it is his track.

“We could step up to a mile and run in the Celebration and he has run really well at Goodwood in the past. If he relaxes like he has done so far, going over a mile is a possibility.

“There is a seven-furlong handicap as well at Goodwood that is worth a bit of money and there is potentially the Racing League (at Newcastle) that may suit him.

“There’s lots of options for him, but he just had a longer blow than I thought he was going to after his work and he might be at least a week or so away from running again.”

Fellowes expecting bold Temple bid from Vadream

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Charlie Fellowes expects conditions at Haydock to bring out the best in his star sprinter Vadream when she lines up in the Betfred Temple Stakes.

The six-year-old has produced the keynote performances of her career so far when the mud has been flying, with victories in the Bengough Stakes at Ascot, the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster and the Palace House at Newmarket all achieved on soft or heavy ground.

She notably inflicted a half-length defeat on the reopposing subsequent Nunthorpe hero Live In The Dream in the Palace House at Newmarket last spring – and having come within a head of successfully defending her crown last time out, Fellowes is confident she will make her presence felt on Saturday.

Vadream (right) beating Live In The Dream in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket
Vadream (right) beating Live In The Dream in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA)

“She’s had a really good start to the year. She normally takes two or three runs to really get into a rhythm, but she’s already run two really good races this spring,” said the Newmarket handler.

“I said before her seasonal debut at Bath I felt like we’d had a really good preparation and she’s put in two big runs on ground that she’s absolutely fine on, but if you are a mudlark and handle those testing conditions it’s such a big advantage, and it looks like she’s going to get them this weekend.

“She beat Live In The Dream last year on this ground, she goes there in cracking order, we’ve got a top jockey on board (Danny Tudhope) and when she gets this ground, she is very, very, very good.

“It was a massive shame that last year she never got her ground in the big ones. Bar the King’s Stand, we sidestepped all the big ones over five furlongs, which I’m convinced is her best trip, because the ground was just too quick in all of them – the Nunthorpe, the Flying Five and the Prix de l’Abbaye.

“One of them has got to come up on soft ground this year and if they do, she’ll be very dangerous.”

Live In The Dream is set to make his first competitive appearance since finishing fourth at the Breeders’ Cup in November for Epsom-based trainer Adam West, who said: “Touch wood, everything has been going really well, I’m very happy with him and he looks the most mature he’s been, so we’re hopeful for another big year.

“We’ve trained him this year with the Breeders’ Cup down the line in mind. He’s going to Haydock with the best amount of ability that I’ve seen him with, but maybe this race will bring him on.

“He’s the best I’ve ever seen him mentally and physically, but fitness-wise sprinters will normally need a run, especially at this top level.”

Australian challenger Asfoora brings an international flavour to proceedings as she warms up for an appearance at Royal Ascot next month.

Asfoora (right) working on the gallops at Newmarket
Asfoora (right) working on the gallops at Newmarket (Jockey Club)

Trainer Henry Dwyer said: “She’s terrific, she’s been here three and a half weeks now. We’ve given her a fair bit of breathing space since she’s been here, we haven’t really tightened the screws yet, and I couldn’t be any happier with how she looks, how she is and how her work’s been.

“We’re pretty adaptable, she’s a good mare who has won races on pretty firm tracks but her best ground in my opinion is what we’d call a soft five or a soft six.

“She broke the track record at Sandown (in Australia) one day early on in her career on a soft six, which is pretty much unheard of. Your track records here are usually set on flint-hard tracks, but she really appreciates getting her toe in.

“Her best asset is, to state the obvious, she’s a fast horse, but she’s not one of the hard-going sprinters that you see that gets tired late. She’s a sprinter that can sit on a really high cruising speed and she can either take a seat or she can lead, it doesn’t really matter.”

Further strength in depth is added by Tom Clover’s Rogue Lightning, who will carry the Wathnan Racing colours for the first time after being bought for £1million from former owners The Rogues Gallery at the Goffs Qipco Champions Day sale in October.

The four-year-old won two handicaps and a Listed prize prior to finishing a close-up fifth in the Prix de l’Abbaye last season and remains in training with Clover, who is looking forward to his return.

He said: “He’s trained lovely this spring and he won on reasonably testing ground at Doncaster in what was the Scarbrough Stakes, so I think he handles soft ground OK.

“Ideally, I’d love to be running him on good to firm ground because you can use the speed he has, he’s a very fast horse, but at the same time I think he’ll handle this ground and it shouldn’t be a problem.

“He’s done some lovely work at home and has just improved each week. He’s coming to hand nicely now and I would hope he’ll be peaking through the summer, but I hope he’s straight enough to go to Haydock and run a really nice race.”

Fellowes has sights set on Royal Ascot magic from The Wizard Of Eye

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The Wizard Of Eye has Royal Ascot on his agenda after a taking Victoria Cup display.

The chestnut was running for the first time since switching yards, leaving Stan Moore to join Charlie Fellowes’ stable and also undergoing a gelding procedure.

Prior to that he had shown plenty of ability in previous runs, going close when third in the Group Three Prix Francois Boutin as a juvenile and finishing second in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood in 2022.

He is also a Listed winner after claiming the Hyde Stakes over a mile at Kempton during the same year, though prior to Saturday he had not won since.

Under Tom Marquand at Ascot he was a 7-1 chance in the Victoria Cup, a 21-runner handicap worth over £50,000 to the winner and run over seven furlongs.

Towards the rear of the field for much of the race, the five-year-old began to weave his way through the pack in the latter stages and showed a neat turn of foot to take up the lead in the final strides and prevail by a head.

“I was delighted, I think he won quite impressively considering they didn’t go overly quick early doors,” Fellowes said.

“He was maybe not in the best position, although that was exactly where I wanted him, I just loved the way he put his head down and quickened.

“It was everything I wanted to see, his work at home had been very good but you never quite know what they’re going to do until they hit the racetrack.

“I’m sure it will do his confidence a bit of good, he didn’t win a race last year and he’s had some pretty tough assignments on the way.”

The Wizard Of Eye has been tried over trips ranging from six to 10 furlongs and Fellowes is still pondering what will prove to be his optimum, though regardless of the distance his next outing is almost certainly going to come at Royal Ascot.

“I think there are a few question marks regarding trip, the fact that they went steady clouded the issue a little bit,” the trainer said.

“I’m not convinced it was a truly-run seven and the way he was able to quicken from the back was very eyecatching.

“I said before the race that I’ll try him over six at some stage and my view hasn’t changed, I think he’s got the speed for six and he’s shown a lot of speed at home, I think a truly-run six would suit him, but when I try that is the big question.

“He’s probably the sort of horse that is best kept a bit fresh, I think that suits him so I’ve no intention to run between now and Royal Ascot – he’ll go straight there.

“From there on we’ll see, a race like the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half (furlongs) may be a lovely spot for him at some point.

“He’ll have to improve again for a race like that, but I think pretty highly of this horse and I think he’s got a lot of ability.”

Fellowes enthused by likely Ascot going for Vadream

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Charlie Fellowes is being encouraged by the Ascot weather forecast ahead of Vadream’s tilt at the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes on Saturday.

Fellowes’ five-year-old, who is owned by Coventry City supremo Doug King, has twice run with credit at the end-of-season showpiece, finishing a respectable fifth in 2021 and then a place further back when sixth behind Kinross 12 months ago.

However, both of those appearances on British Champions Day came on good to soft ground and she is yet to encounter her preferred testing conditions at the meeting.

Vadream winning the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket
Vadream winning the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA)

She was seen thriving with plenty of cut in the ground at the beginning of the current campaign when picking up both the Cammidge Trophy and Palace House Stakes and having tuned up for a third crack at this Group One prize with a pleasing effort in the recent Bengough Stakes, her handler is hoping the weather forecasters have got it right.

“We might be in business,” said Fellowes. “I’ve been keeping a close eye on the forecast and every time I look at it, more rain seems to be coming into it.

“It’s a Group One and a very good Group One as always. But as everyone knows, she is excellent when the ground gets horrible.

“This year she has put in three of her best ever runs and if she does what she did at Ascot (last time) and behaves the way she did before the race and is able to jump out and get a position close to the pace like she did there, then she will go there with as good a chance as she’s ever had because she loves that ground and there are not many horses who are as good as her on that ground.”

Atrium raises the roof for Fellowes in the Challenge Cup

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Atrium registered the biggest success of his career as he prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Howden Challenge Cup at Ascot.

The stands side was the place to be in the ultra-competitive handicap – the most valuable race on the card – and both Charlie Fellowes’ winner and the in-form Popmaster emerged from the shadows of pacemakers Lethal Levi and Ancestral Land to engage in a titanic tussle in the closing stages.

Ed Walker’s Popmaster was attempting to add to a Listed win he notched up at Newbury last time, but he could not shrug off the Harry Davies-ridden, Highclere-owned Atrium, who got the nod in a photo finish after the two protagonists passed the winning post in unison.

The winner returned an official winning verdict of a nose as he landed an upset at 25-1 and Fellowes was thrilled to see the four-year-old back to his best.

He said: “He’s been a star of a horse and he’s won five or six times over the last couple of years, but has never really won a big one. He’s always won nice handicaps but never one of the big ones.

“He deserved to win a big one and I’m over the moon for the horse and I’m over the moon for the owners because there is no better place to win a big handicap than Ascot and he did it really well.

“He had a really, really hard race at Doncaster when he won about three starts ago. It was on really soft ground and he had a hard race and when he came back from that his enthusiasm for racing just wasn’t the same. He was coming out the stalls very slowly and half thinking about things.

“We did a few things at home to just try and spark him up again and rekindle some enthusiasm. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but when it does it is particularly satisfying and today he raced like a horse in love with racing. He jumped out the gates good and travelled as well as anything and he really fought against a really tough horse in Popmaster.”

Atrium and jockey Harry Davies after winning the Howden Challenge Cup
Atrium and jockey Harry Davies after winning the Howden Challenge Cup (Steven Paston/PA)

Atrium holds an entry for the Balmoral Handicap on Qipco British Champions Day but a return to Ascot is not guaranteed, with Fellowes cautious of asking his charge to go into battle again with a big date in the sales ring looming.

“I do very much have in the back of mind how hard the Doncaster race hit him,” he added.

“He’s in the horses in training sale and I think if the owners were keeping him next year I would be more interested in running again. But he’s due to be sold and potentially it would be a silly move to go and run him again quickly two weeks later after he’s had a hard race and if he was to run poorly it may give potential buyers a question mark over him.

“We’ll see. I would love to run him if we were keeping him, but he’s going to go to the sales and there is a decision to be made.”

Setback scuppers Grand Alliance’s Cadran hopes

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Grand Alliance will not take up his entry in the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp on Saturday after suffering a season-ending setback.

Winner of the Group Three John Porter Stakes at Newbury in the spring, the four-year-old was subsequently well held in both the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting.

However, stepped up to just shy of two miles for the Group Two Prix Kergorlay at Deauville last month, Grand Alliance bounced back to form to finish second under Ryan Moore, giving trainer Charlie Fellowes more options for the future.

But while the Newmarket handler had the option of sending his stable star back to France on Arc weekend, he has now been forced to draw stumps for the year.

Charlie Fellowes had hoped Grand Alliance would run in France
Charlie Fellowes had hoped Grand Alliance would run in France (Mike Egerton/PA)

He said: “Unfortunately Grand Alliance had a setback after France and we just decided to call it a day for the year. We’ll give him some time and hopefully he’ll be a nice stayer next year.

“He stayed the two miles well at Deauville, so it opens up a lot of doors. Ryan felt he’d stay as far as you want him to.”

Another horse who held an entry at ParisLongchamp for Fellowes is Marbaan, winner of last year’s Vintage Stakes at Goodwood and third in the Lennox on his return to the Sussex Downs last month.

However, the trainer revealed the son of Oasis Dream will not contest Prix de la Foret, having left his yard to continue his career in Dubai.

Staying campaign on Grand Alliance agenda

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Grand Alliance opened up a new range of options when going down gallantly to Sober in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville on Sunday.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained four-year-old split the two best stayers in France with Prix Maurice de Nieuil winner The Good Man back in third.

Despite being a half-brother to top seven-furlong specialist Dutch Connection, the gelding, who was bred by owners Paul and Susan Roy, now looks to have found his niche.

“He ran very well. In fairness, we stepped him up in trip on the advice of Ryan Moore after he had only ridden him once and as Ryan so often is, he was right,” said Fellowes.

“We always thought he was very ground dependent but going over two miles, he can run round in third gear rather than fifth.

“Sober and The Good Man are the two best stayers in France and he’s split them. The ground drying out probably just suited Sober more than us.

“Looking at his pedigree, you wouldn’t think he would stay a yard further than a mile, but the staying trips seem to suit him and it’s opened up a load more doors.

“There’s obviously the Cadran (September 30) and the Doncaster Cup (September 15) but that is not too far apart, so it will be one or the other on the way to Ascot.

“That’s two and a quarter miles at Donny, but Ryan suggested it and it makes sense as he’s won there before, it’s left-handed and Flat, so it could well be Donny and then Ascot on Champions Day.

“With the Prix Royal-Oak being two-five, that might just be stretching him a bit too far, but hopefully his owners can now have some fun with him.”

Fellowes considering international targets for Marbaan

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International assignments could be on the radar for Marbaan following his return to form at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Winner of the Vintage Stakes over track and trip as a juvenile, Charlie Fellowes’ three-year-old had only top-class performers Kinross and Isaac Shelby ahead of him when running over seven furlongs for the first time this season in the Lennox Stakes.

He will now be aimed at either Newbury’s Hungerford Stakes or the City of York Stakes during York’s Ebor meeting, which could tee up a trip oversees, with options in both America and Australia on the table for the son of Oasis Dream.

“He’s taken his race at Goodwood really well and it was great to get him back on track, even though the ground was a little bit softer than ideal,” said Fellowes.

“He’s got options of the Hungerford or the City of York and after that things are slightly up in the air.

“We may consider going a bit further afield and look at something in America or possibly the Golden Eagle in Sydney. I guess that will depend how the next run goes but I think he’s definitely better on better ground, so that is why that has come into our thinking.

“A race like the Prix de la Foret would have been ideal but the likelihood of it being on good ground is extremely rare, so you kind of have to start thinking a bit imaginatively and there’s incredible prize-money to be won in Australia and also options on quicker ground in America.”

Although set to remain at seven furlongs for his next outing, Fellowes would have no hesitation dropping back to six furlongs again in the future and is keen to point out his underwhelming effort in the Commonwealth Cup is his only poor showing at that distance.

He continued: “I actually think he has the speed for six furlongs and he proved that at Salisbury where he split a Group One winner (Khaadem) and a Group One second (Run To Freedom). The form of that race could not have worked out any better.

“I just think the race at Ascot was a line through job, he’s just not the sort of horse you can be aggressive on. He had to make most of his running in a small group of three that day and that is not the way to ride him. He’s much better with a bit of cover, sitting in behind one or two and I think he would be just as fine over six.”

Whereas Marbaan requires quick ground to be seen at his best, one who relishes testing conditions is stablemate Vadream, who claimed both the Cammidge Trophy and Palace House Stakes earlier in the season, but has been on the sidelines of late.

Owned by Coventry City chairman Doug King, the five-year-old has been out of action with injury at a time when underfoot conditions have been in her favour.

However, having been on the go since February, Fellowes is happy to have been handed an unexpected opportunity to give the daughter of Brazen Beau a mid-season breather ahead of her big-race targets towards the end of the campaign.

“Vadream had a small setback a couple of weeks ago. She’s had a bruised foot and she had a very easy week last week and she’s back cantering now,” said the Bedford House handler.

“She’s got lots and lots of entries, but she kind of needed a freshen up anyway. So although there has been soft ground around while she has been out and she could have run in the Maurice de Gheest I guess, it won’t have done her any harm having a little bit of a freshen up mid-season.

“We have all the races like the Flying Five, the Prix de l’Abbaye and then the Champion Sprint, along with races like the Bengough Stakes at a slightly lower level as options. When she gets her ground she is going to be very dangerous.

“I’d love to run her in an Abbaye or at the Curragh in the Flying Five, I think that would be a lovely option if she got some soft ground over there in Ireland.”