Tag Archive for: Hand of God

Charlton rues the one that got away with King’s Gambit a York possible

The Sky Bet York Stakes has emerged as a potential next port of call for King’s Gambit following his luckless defeat at Royal Ascot last week.

Harry Charlton’s Saxon Warrior colt was a hot favourite for Thursday’s Hampton Court Stakes after routing his rivals in the London Gold Cup at Newbury, but connections were left wondering what might have been after he charged home from an unpromising position to finish a close second to Brian Meehan’s Jayarebe.

King’s Gambit already holds an entry in the Group Two Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket over a mile and a half, but he could instead stick to a mile and a quarter and seek compensation on the Knavesmire on July 27.

“Take nothing away from Brian’s horse, who is a lovely horse. He won the race and we can’t forget that,” Charlton told Sky Sports Racing.

“From the moment the gates opened William (Buick) was never able to get where he wanted to, we were a long way back and even in the straight we got a bump or two. He made up an exceptional amount of ground and was closing the winner down, but it was just too much of an effort for him.

“He’s run with huge credit and we’re very proud of him, but had things panned out a little differently in the first two furlongs, I’m sure a victory was possible for him. In that sense it’s frustrating, but we need to be realistic and say that’s racing – and he’s a horse to look forward to.”

Considering future plans, Charlton added: “He’s in the Group Two at Newmarket against older horses. It’s a possible, that’s obviously up in trip, and he might stay at 10 furlongs, so maybe something like the Sky Bet at York is a possibility.

“There are a few other races – there are some three-year-old only 10-furlong races at Deauville in August – but I suspect we might be leaning towards York.

“We’ll discuss it with Mohammed Jaber (owner) once we’ve got through this week and just see how he’s come out of the race. I think when you go and run a big effort like that, it takes more out of you than you think because you’ve run a lot further than some other horses and made up a lot of ground.”

Hand Of God winning at Royal Ascot
Hand Of God winning at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Charlton saddled just four horses across the five-day meeting, striking gold with Hand Of God in Saturday’s Golden Gates Stakes after Kikkuli had pushed Haatem to a short head in the Jersey Stakes earlier that afternoon. His only runner not placed was Roarin’ Success in the Kensington Palace Stakes and she effectively lost all chance by rearing in the stalls.

The trainer admitted to having mixed emotions, saying: “You go there hoping for a winner and we came away with a winner and two seconds.

“We have to be delighted, but obviously you’re always thinking what could have been. Maybe we were due another one, but it didn’t quite happen.

“Hand Of God was well handicapped on the basis that we hadn’t run him since Sandown. We went into the week thinking and hoping that we had a horse with quite a few pounds in hand and that’s how it transpired.”

He went on: “He’s got a huge stride for the size of horse he is and he’s always had a wonderful attitude. He’s a horse we’ve always liked and when you’ve got horses like King’s Gambit and Kikkuli around, it makes it a lot easier to put a gauge on where the horses are in terms of ability.

“He was showing plenty of ability before, so went into the week thinking he was our best chance of a win and that’s how it proved.

“I guess he’s heading for a 10lb rise, we’ll see what the handicapper does tomorrow (Tuesday) and make plans from there. He’s in the John Smith’s Cup and the weights are already out. He’s on 7st 11lb and he’ll get a 5lb penalty, but I’d be surprised if that’s enough to get in.

“He is in the valuable 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting for three-year-olds, that’s also an option, but Mohammed Jaber might say he wants to step up in class and he would be perfectly entitled to do so, so we’ll have a few discussions and see where we get to.

“He’s exciting because we haven’t got the max of him yet.”

Kikkuli (pink hat) is touched off by Haatem in the Jersey Stakes
Kikkuli (pink hat) is touched off by Haatem in the Jersey Stakes (John Walton/PA)

Kikkuli is bred in the purple as a half-brother to the great Frankel by crack sire Kingman and Charlton is excited to see what the rest of the season has in store following his narrow Jersey defeat.

“I haven’t watched it back as many times as some, but I’m told before the line and after the line he was ahead,” he added.

“He travelled exceptionally strong and I actually don’t think they went a great pace.

“Haatem is an incredible horse and has had lots of runs and for Kikkuli to run him that close is mighty impressive in what I thought was a very deep Jersey.

“It’s exciting to think what he might be able to do down the line.”



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Siyola justifies being held in high regard by Gosdens

John and Thady Gosden could have a talented filly on their hands having unleashed Siyola in the bet365 “Wild Card” Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Sandown.

Unraced as a two-year-old, the Juddmonte-owned daughter of Siyouni was sent off at 4-1 for her racecourse debut in the hands of William Buick and showed plenty of potential to run down the 5-2 favourite and Clarehaven stablemate Beeley in the closing stages.

It is a race the Gosden team have won with Emily Upjohn in the past and hopes are now high they could have another high-ranking prospect in their midst.

“We liked her a lot and were always coming for this race – she was the one who was selected for this race and I have always liked this race a lot,” said John Gosden.

“When the other horse (Beeley) got loose at Newbury, it kind of concertinaed things and she had to come here and they had to race against each other. I have a high opinion of both fillies and I think they have shown it today, the winner has always looked a classy type.

“She’s a very leggy girl and does not carry massive weight to her or anything, but she has always shown us a lovely level of ability. She was just very immature last year, we did educational work but she was never ready to race.”

Victory in this race gives Siyola automatic entry into the Betfred Oaks if connections wish, but her handler sounded a note of caution on any Epsom participation, suggesting her main summer target could well be the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, there is a chance she may follow in the footsteps of previous winner Emily Upjohn if heading to York for her next start, with Gosden highlighting the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes as a possible option.

John Gosden was delighted with Siyola's debut
John Gosden was delighted with Siyola’s debut (John Walton/PA)

“It might all come a bit soon for her, the hurly-burly of Epsom, and she could be more of a Ribblesdale filly,” continued Gosden.

“I think we will sit down and we may go to a novice with a penalty, or you could look at a Musidora – that comes a bit quick but you could look at that on a nice, flat, galloping track – and you could look at the Listed race at Newbury as well.

“The thing I hate about novice races is giving away 7lb, especially if there is a nice maiden in there. So maybe we will look at the two Listed races.”

Hand Of God advertised his class to get on the scoresheet and provide Harry Charlton with a notable victory in the bet365 Esher Cup.

The Beckhampton-trained colt had shown good ability as a two-year-old, signing off with a taking success in a Newmarket maiden, and put his stamina to good use in this one-mile event, as he beat off all challengers to make all in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Charlton, who took over sole control of his family’s Berkshire operation at the beginning of this season, is now toying with the idea of stepping the son of Churchill up to 10 furlongs, with Newbury’s London Gold Cup a possible next port of call for the successful even-money favourite.

“The Esher Cup is one of the famous handicaps and it is nice to win it,” said Charlton.

“I was told after he won at Newmarket that if he had run in the Sun Chariot that day, he would have finished fourth, so my time people told me it was a good performance, even if the form around it wasn’t.

“I said to Ryan that I thought he would stay and some of the other horses are seven-furlong horses that have been keen, that are now stepping up in trip. I said to go and make it and he should stay up the hill.

“He’s a great physical, who was always going to be better this year. In our heads, last year he was going to stay 12 furlongs but he probably won’t stay that far. Ryan said he has enough tactical speed for a mile but I think he will stay 10.

“I think he will ultimately be a 10-furlong horse and something like the London Gold Cup springs to mind if owner Mohammed Jaber wants to go down that route. We will talk to him and see what he thinks.”

Equity Law sprints clear of his rivals
Equity Law sprints clear of his rivals (John Walton/PA)

Also with the London Gold Cup in mind is David Menuisier after seeing Goodwood Odyssey (5-1) claim the Nordoff & Robbins Judy Martin Memorial Handicap, while Andrew Balding’s Equity Law (15-2) bounced back from an underwhelming return at Bath to oblige in the five-furlong bet365 Handicap.

Owned by Jeff Smith, the mount of Oisin Murphy brought some smart course form from last season to the table and showed a good attitude to see off Shagraan by three-quarters of a length.

“He disappointed us first time out and we thought he’d go really well, he just got stuck in the mud, but that was much more like it today,” said Balding.

“He’s a smart sprint handicapper, so there’s lots to look forward to and he should keep improving. We will stick to five furlongs until after Royal Ascot.

“We will probably look at the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes and he will probably have to go up to about 90 to be safe to get into that.”



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Hand Of God on target for Esher Cup success

Hand Of God advertised his class to get on the scoresheet and provide Harry Charlton with a notable victory in Sandown’s bet365 Esher Cup.

The Beckhampton-trained colt had shown good ability as a two-year-old, signing off with a taking success in a Newmarket maiden, and put his stamina to good use in this one-mile event, as he beat off all challengers to make all in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Charlton, who took over sole control of his family’s Berkshire operation at the beginning of this season, is now toying with the idea of stepping the son of Churchill up to 10 furlongs, with Newbury’s London Gold Cup a possible next port of call for the successful even-money favourite.

“The Esher Cup is one of the famous handicaps and it is nice to win it,” said Charlton.

“I was told after he won at Newmarket that if he had run in the Sun Chariot that day, he would have finished fourth, so my time people told me it was a good performance, even if the form around it wasn’t.

“I said to Ryan that I thought he would stay and some of the other horses are seven-furlong horses that have been keen, that are now stepping up in trip. I said to go and make it and he should stay up the hill.

“He’s a great physical, who was always going to be better this year. In our heads, last year he was going to stay 12 furlongs but he probably won’t stay that far. Ryan said he has enough tactical speed for a mile but I think he will stay 10.

“I think he will ultimately be a 10-furlong horse and something like the London Gold Cup springs to mind if owner Mohammed Jaber wants to go down that route. We will talk to him and see what he thinks.”

Equity Law sprints clear of his rivals
Equity Law sprints clear of his rivals (John Walton/PA)

In the opening bet365 Handicap, Andrew Balding’s Equity Law bounced back from an underwhelming return at Bath to oblige at odds of 15-2.

Owned by Jeff Smith, the mount of Oisin Murphy brought some smart course form from last season to the table and showed a good attitude to see off Shagraan by three-quarters of a length.

“He disappointed us first time out and we thought he’d go really well, he just got stuck in the mud, but that was much more like it today,” said Balding.

“He’s a smart sprint handicapper, so there’s lots to look forward to and he should keep improving. We will stick to five furlongs until after Royal Ascot.

“We will probably look at the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes and he will probably have to go up to about 90 to be safe to get into that.”



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