Tag Archive for: Detain

Juddmonte bidding for Guineas redemption in France

/in /by

Eight days on from a narrow reverse in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, owner-breeders Juddmonte are double-handed in their bid for victory in the French equivalent at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Hot favourite Field Of Gold flashed home when beaten half a length by Ruling Court over the Rowley Mile last Saturday and connections will be hoping for better fortune this weekend, with his John and Thady Gosden-trained stablemate Detain and Andrew Balding’s Jonquil contesting the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

Jonquil appears Juddmonte’s number one hope following his successful stable debut in last month’s Greenham Stakes at Newbury, while Detain has his sights raised after winning a valuable conditions race at Chelmsford on his first start as a three-year-old.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “Jonquil was impressive when winning the Greenham and Andrew had been very happy with him in the lead-up to the race. His work had been good, so he delivered what we had been expecting, which was good.

“We think the track on Sunday will really suit him and the ground is fine, so we would be hopeful of a good run.

“Detain won a very strong race at Chelmsford and it was a big pot of prize-money, so it was well supported. John and Thady had both said to me back in February that was the plan, to go to Chelmsford and then on to France.

“John and Thady were keen to avoid soft ground as we found at Doncaster last year (when sixth in the Futurity Trophy) he doesn’t like it and it was always the plan to start on the all-weather before hopefully getting nice ground in France.

“I thought he did it well at Chelmsford and I imagine there will be plenty of improvement to come from that run as well.”

Henri Matisse is well fancied for the French 2000 Guineas
Henri Matisse is well fancied for the French 2000 Guineas (Brian Lawless/PA)

Detain renews rivalry with the runner-up from Chelmsford, the Charlie Fellowes-trained Luther, while Aidan O’Brien runs Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Henri Matisse, as well as Camille Pissarro and Serengeti.

Another leading contender from Ireland is Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell, who won four of his six juvenile starts, including a narrow Group One success over Derby contender Delacroix in Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy in late October.

“We’re drawn two, which I’m happy with rather than 18, and he’s fairly straightforward, so we’re hoping for the best,” said Harrington.

“His preparation has been very straightforward. Good to soft ground would be ideal, I think it might be a bit tighter than that, but he’s won on good ground.

“I can see him going a mile and a quarter, but we’ll see how Sunday goes first.”

The raiding party is completed by Charlie Appleby’s Aomori City, who was last seen finishing third behind Field Of Gold in the Craven Stakes, while the chief hope for the home team appears to be Ridari, winner of two of his three starts for Mikel Delzangles in the colours of the Aga Khan Studs.

Nemone Routh, the owner’s racing manager in France, said: “Ridari has been doing well since his win in the Prix de Fontainebleau. Mikel Delzangles finds that the colt has calmed down, especially in his morning work.

“He’s a horse who can be keen, which is why he wears a hood. So it’s very positive if he’s calmer in training, and we hope he behaves the same in the afternoon.

“He’s in good form. There are a lot of runners, so it won’t be easy, but if we get a good run we believe he can run well.”

Kind draw key to Gosden French Guineas hopes with Detain

/in /by

Having hit the crossbar with Field Of Gold at Newmarket, John Gosden is willing the draw gods to be kind when Detain flies the flag for Clarehaven in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Sunday.

The son of Wootton Bassett impressed on the all-weather at two before a below-par display in the Doncaster mud rounded off his juvenile campaign.

But after a winning return at Chelmsford in the Cardinal Stakes, the talented colt is now back on the Classic trail and is one of 21 contenders to stand their ground for the ParisLongchamp Classic.

“He’s in good form and is French Guineas-bound,” said Gosden, who trains the colt alongside son Thady.

“That’s where we plan to send him, and I think the track will suit him.”

He added: “The only thing about the French Guineas is, well just please draw a single number, because if you get from 10 out to 16 or 18, you may as well trot back.

“I used to walk the track every year with Frankie (Dettori) and if you ever stand at the start over a mile at Longchamp, you’ll see what happens to the track, it immediately turns right downhill, and you have to stay straight. Those on the inside have already taken two lengths out of you and it can be a problem, the mile start at Longchamp.”

Detain might not be the only Juddmonte-owned colt crossing the Channel for action in the French capital, with Andrew Balding’s impressive Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil still in the mix.

“Hopefully the rain stays away from Longchamp and he seems in good form,” said Balding.

“We were expecting a good run at Newbury and he’s been working like a high-class horse.”

Other potential challengers from the UK include Aomori City from Charlie Appleby’s in-form team, Charlie Fellowes’ Luther – who was not far behind Detain at Chelmsford – and Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Harvey.

Brian Meehan’s Rashabar misses the race, however.

Aidan O’Brien has left in Rock Of Cashel, Henri Matisse, Officer, a winner at the Curragh on Monday, Serengeti and Camille Pissarro, while Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell is another potential runner.

There are 16 left in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, with O’Brien able to choose from Bedtime Story, Exactly, Merrily and Heavens Gate.

Ollie Sangster, second and third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, has left in Celestial Orbit, with Zanzoun another big player for the Gosdens and Fellowes set to field Shes Perfect.

Vertical Blue and Zarigana form part of the home team.

Detain camp keen to see rain stay away from Doncaster

/in /by

Heavy ground may prevent Detain from running in the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster next week.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the half-brother to St Leger runner-up Arrest has made the perfect start to his career.

He made a winning debut at Kempton in August and recently returned to the Sunbury venue to score under a penalty by seven lengths.

While soft ground would not be too much of a deterrent to connections, should it turn heavy, they would likely have second thoughts about running him.

Barry Mahon of owners Juddmonte said: “Doncaster is under consideration for Detain, as long as he’s fit and well.

“One thing that might prevent him is the going. John and Thady have said they wouldn’t like to run him on heavy ground at this stage of his career.

“Obviously, he’s won on the all-weather twice, so we know he likes a good surface, but being a brother to Arrest, I’m sure a bit of cut in the ground won’t be a problem.

“I just don’t think we’d want to run him on heavy ground at this stage of his life.”

Detain’s dominance puts him into Futurity Trophy equation

/in /by

Detain emerged as a real live player for the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on October 26 with an authoritative win at Kempton on Wednesday.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained juvenile had won by two lengths on his debut at the Sunbury venue in August and was conceding a 7lb penalty in the second division of the seven-furlong novice stakes.

Kieran Shoemark wasted no time in sending him into an early lead and despite the race being won with a furlong to run, the jockey rode his mount out to see what was under the bonnet and he powered to a seven-length success.

As a result, the sponsors cut him to 7-1 from 20s for the final Group One of the UK season.

Speaking to Racing TV after the race, Shoemark said of the Doncaster entry: “He’s got the right profile going into a race like that. It’s likely to be soft ground on the day, he’s a half-brother to Arrest and he likes soft ground.

“He’s half the size of Arrest, who is large, wants a mile and a half, probably further, and has a big, long stride, whereas he’s a lot neater, a lot tighter and he’s got more speed.

“I’m not sure we beat a whole lot there but he’s a proper stakes horse. I wouldn’t like to say too much but he gave me a good feel.”

Lee Phelps, a spokesman for William Hill, said: “The Juddmonte team are flying at present after they won the Arc with Bluestocking at the weekend, and they look to have another very useful horse on their hands in likely William Hill Futurity contender Detain.

“The Wootton Bassett colt remained unbeaten in stunning style at Kempton on Wednesday night, and as a result we’ve cut him into 7-1 from 20-1 for the final Group One of the UK Flat season.”