Tag Archive for: Hardwicke Stakes

Isle Of Jura way too hot for Hardwicke rivals

The remarkable Isle Of Jura continued his fairytale campaign with a brilliant victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

George Scott’s charge was rated in the low 70s last year, but is fast becoming a middle-distance operator to be reckoned with after winning five races on the spin.

Following a winter hat-trick in Bahrain, the four-year-old made a successful return to Britain in the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood last month – but with Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe fifth Continuous among his rivals, he was sent off at 16-1 stepping up to Group Two level.

Callum Shepherd returns aboard Isle Of Jura
Callum Shepherd returns aboard Isle Of Jura (PA)

Partnered by Callum Shepherd, who earlier this season lost the ride on Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly, the New Approach gelding moved to the heels of the pacesetters at the top of the home straight before finding a gear his rivals simply could not match.

Such was the authority with which he won, Shepherd was able to take a look at the big screen in the closing strides before standing up in the stirrups to salute the crowd, with three and three-quarter lengths separating him and French raider Goliath at the line.

Middle Earth was third, with 13-8 favourite Continuous back in fifth on what was his first competitive appearance since the Arc in October.

Scott said: “He’s an exceptional racehorse and it was an exceptional race from start to finish. He was the right horse at the right time (in his career).

Isle Of Jura after taking down some big names in the Hardwicke
Isle Of Jura after taking down some big names in the Hardwicke (PA)

“It’s amazing. Just over a year ago he was well beaten in a Thirsk maiden. To do this for Sheikh Nasser (Victorious Racing), such a big supporter of mine, is very special.

“We are just blessed to have him, he’s repaid us time and time again and the journey from hereon in is going to be very very special.

“Most best-laid plans go to pot, but this has been a long-term plan. This was an obvious race for him. We knew Goodwood would bring him on, and it has. We knew he would get the ground, and he has. It was a scintillating performance, so we shall enjoy it.

“Callum is a top-class rider he had his horse in the right position all the way, kicked nice and early and put the race to bed. It was a perfect ride. All roads lead to the King George, 100 per cent.”

Shepherd said: “I’m really struggling to compose myself.

“He’s such a special horse for George and the team. Make no mistake, he never lets us down.

“Obviously the last six weeks have been very difficult, but that just feels very special.”

Goliath (yellow hat) got closest to Isle Of Jura
Goliath (yellow hat) got closest to Isle Of Jura (John Walton/PA)

Fresh from his winner on Friday, Francis-Henri Graffard said of Goliath: “We came here because we wanted to avoid the French style of racing, with no pace, and unfortunately today they decided to do a little bit of the same. My horse was a bit too keen through the race; he’s difficult to manage, but not too bad today.

“I walked the course and there was a good cover of grass and I thought it was safe ground for him, but he’s probably better with a bit of cut.

“He has to settle in his races to be able to stay and to produce a good turn of foot, but we are very pleased with the run – he’s a very nice horse and we beat some very nice horses, too. He’s entered in the King George, but we’ll see what the weather forecast is. I don’t know – it’s a long journey and a tough race, but why not?”



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George Scott harbouring Hardwicke hopes for Isle Of Jura

Isle Of Jura will captain George Scott’s select team for Royal Ascot when he attempts to extend his four-race winning run in the Hardwicke Stakes.

The Victorious Racing-owned four-year-old thrived for his Bahrain-based connections in the winter, winning four of his five outings in the Persian Gulf, and proved he was still a horse on the upgrade when making a successful return to the UK at Goodwood last month.

Scott feels that Listed triumph tees his charge up nicely for a move into Pattern company at the Royal meeting, where he will also race over a mile and a half for just the second time.

“I guess our team will be headed by Isle Of Jura in the Hardwicke,” said Scott.

“He’s come forward well since winning at Goodwood and we’re very pleased with him.

“He really hasn’t done much wrong for the last eight months or so and it is clear a mile and a half and a strong pace suits him very well.

“I thought he looked rusty at Goodwood when they didn’t go very quick, but he has improved since then and he will go to the Hardwicke as a horse that has some upside.”

Prydwen could take part in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot
Prydwen could take part in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (Richard Sellers/PA)

Scott is also poised to saddle a runner in one of the biggest races of the week, with All-Weather Championships Finals Day hero Prydwen set to be given the chance to showcase his staying ability in the Gold Cup.

“Prydwen will probably run in the Gold Cup if it stays dry, he’s been a big improver this year,” continued Scott.

“He’s currently stuck between a rock and a hard place off his current rating, so why not have a go in the Gold Cup? It’s one of the most exciting races of the season and I would be delighted if he could get involved in it.

“We’ve also got three or four for handicaps. They are horses with pieces of good form but will probably need to step forwards quite significantly to win at Royal Ascot.”

One horse who will not be on display at Ascot is Scott’s star sprinter Seven Questions, with the Palace House Stakes winner and Temple Stakes third set to participate in calmer waters before sights are potentially raised later in the season.

Scott added: “He won’t go to Ascot and I feel this year he has just got himself into a good headspace and doesn’t need to run at Ascot this time around.

“He will go to Sandown for the three-year-old Listed sprint on June 15 (Scurry Stakes) and then we will decide if he has a crack at something like the July Cup or Nunthorpe.

“He will certainly be running in Group One sprints by the end of the year and I guess anything he does this year will be a positive as three-year-old sprinters often find it difficult. I think he will improve physically for another year.”



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Pyledriver doing everything right en route to King George defence

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pyledriver is on course for the defence of his title and could use the Hardwicke Stakes as a stepping stone as he nears a return from injury.

William Muir and Chris Grassick’s stable star has not run since taking the all-aged midsummer Group One highlight last July.

He was being prepared for a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when he suffered setback and plans for a return to the Dubai Sheema Classic, in which he finished fourth in the spring of 2022, were similarly scotched when he met with an injury to his near foreleg.

Pyledriver, who runs in the colours of the La Pyle Partnership, also won the Coronation Cup in 2021 and finished second in that race to Hukum last year.

Muir is hopeful the six-year-old can return to Ascot for the Group Two Hardwicke on June 24.

“Pyledriver is just starting to come along now,” he said. “He did his first piece of work on Friday.

“We have brought him along nice and gently this time and he’s doing it really nicely. He is doing plenty of cantering.

“He did his first gallop on Friday and he swims every night, which is something a bit new, because we have not done that before, but we thought we would try to get him to the Hardwicke, which is just under three weeks away.

“He swims like a natural. It scares me, because I don’t like going swimming, but he doesn’t mind it.”

However, the Lambourn trainer is mindful the horse’s primary targets are towards the end of the year and the option of missing his King George prep is still on the table.

“It is not a big issue if he doesn’t go there, but he’ll only go if I’m happy he’s 90-95 per cent straight fitness-wise,” Muir added.

“Those type of races are big races. The object was to go to the King George again, then prioritise getting to the Arc. Then you have all these international races at the back-end of the year.

“The Hardwicke, though it sounds stupid to say it, is a race to bring him on for the King George.

Pyledriver and jockey Martin Dwyer took the Coronation Cup in 2021
Pyledriver and jockey Martin Dwyer took the Coronation Cup in 2021 (Mile Egerton/PA)

“The best races for him, and for the prize-money, are later on in the year, so the longer I wait now, he won’t be over the top when we get to the end of the year.

“You can over-do it by racing a lot, and when you get to internationals like Kong Kong and the Breeders’ Cup, you can go past your best.

“If in the next two weeks we can get him where we want him – which we can do, as when we were getting him ready for Lingfield I thought I was struggling to get to the Winter Derby, he had two gallops and then ‘bang’ he was there and he was bouncing – if he says to me ‘yes’, he’ll be there.

“And if he says ‘no’, he won’t be. We’ll see how he gets on, but there’s no big issue if he doesn’t go to the Hardwicke.”



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Hardwicke date for Hukum uppermost in Burrows’ mind

Royal Ascot’s Hardwicke Stakes is still the aim for Brigadier Gerard Stakes winner Hukum, who handed Derby winner Desert Crown his first defeat at Sandown earlier this month.

Owen Burrows was happy to report the Shadwell-owned six-year-old returned to his Lambourn yard in fine fettle after his first run for 11 months.

Hukum had three screws inserted in a hind leg after suffering an injury when winning last year’s Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Having made a remarkable recovery, under a fine ride from Jim Crowley, he produced a telling burst to collar Desert Crown and take the Group Three 10-furlong prize by half a length.

“Hukum thankfully trotted up sound the next morning all good and had a little canter on Saturday. That was the most important bit,” said Burrows.

Victory over the trip opens a few more doors for the year-older brother to the brilliant Baaeed. Hukum had won over a mile and three-quarters in the past, although he has predominately raced over a mile and a half.

Burrows added: “He is trip versatile. We are just going to be in the lap of the gods to see what sort of summer we have this year.

“He doesn’t need it soft, but he does need it safe, good ground.

“Jim has always made that point and I’m in agreement. Talking to (Shadwell owner) Sheikha Hissa the following day, she was in agreement as well.

“I’ve not got him in the Prince of Wales’s or an Eclipse, but as you know well with the British summertime, if the forecast is a bit wet, we might just have to have a conversation.

“We will be watching the weather with Hukum and I always said the Brigadier Gerard would be a prep for the Hardwicke, but if the Hardwicke turned up good to firm, we might have to wait.

“There is the Eclipse at the beginning of July and a race in France in early July over a mile and a half. There is the King George at the end of July, but we will be on a constant weather watch.”



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Pyledriver preparing for Hardwicke return at Royal Ascot

Pyledriver has been handed a pair of Ascot objectives for when he makes his return to the track later this summer.

William Muir and Chris Grassick’s stable star was last sighted winning the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the Berkshire track last July, but has been on the sidelines since.

He was being prepared for a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when he suffered an injury and with a trip to Paris ruled out, sights were set on Meydan and an attempt at bettering the Dubai Sheema Classic fourth Pyledriver achieved in the spring of 2022.

A further setback early in the year once again curtailed those plans with connections fearing the final chapter for their seven-time scorer may have already been written.

However, Grassick reports he is now back training well and being prepared for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot before moving on to a defence of his King George title at the track in July.

He said: “He’s cantering back and William has done the entry for the Hardwicke, so that’s the plan.

“Touch wood, everything is looking lovely, he looks great and strong.

“I think from there we would be going to the King George and after that it would be just how he comes out of each race. He remains in good form and hopefully if he remains as good as last year, then we will have a big year again.

“He’s slowly becoming a bit of a fan favourite. He’s developing a bit of a following now because he comes back year in, year out, so hopefully he can keep going and get the results he deserves both for himself and the owners.”



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