Tag Archive for: Inspiral

Thanks for the memories – Inspiral bows at Newmarket

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“She’s right at the top of our tree”. That was the verdict from Cheveley Park Stud after the curtain came down on the brilliant career of Inspiral following a brave effort in defence of her Virgin Bet Sun Chariot crown at Newmarket.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of Frankel has been a star for connections since her two-year-old days, striking at the highest level at two, three and four.

A winner at Royal Ascot and of the Prix Jacques le Marois twice, she amassed six Group One victories in total during a stellar on-track career.

Arguably her finest hour came in the shadows of the Hollywood mountains when landing the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but there was to be no blockbuster ending, despite showing her old spark to run Tamfana close in her Rowley Mile swansong.

Inspiral was exceptional at Santa Anita
Inspiral was exceptional at Santa Anita (PA)

She ends her final year in training without adding to her nine career victories, but bows out as one of the best to don her owners’ red, white and blue silks and will now head back to their Newmarket base in preparation of the next stage of her career as a broodmare.

Richard Thompson, whose mother Patricia owns the famous stud, said: “She’s been brilliant and we have had a hell of a journey with her.

“She’s won six Group Ones over four seasons and run in about 12 Group Ones and to breed her and then the days we have had with her have been marvellous. For my mother, the family, myself, it has just been brilliant.

“She’s just finished second there in a good Group One and she has run her heart out and the ground hasn’t suited her totally. She was travelling beautifully there and then when she was asked to quicken she was just struggling.

Inspiral after her final race at Newmarket
Inspiral after her final race at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

“It was three years ago that she won the Fillies’ Mile here and she’s still run very well. Fingers crossed hopefully we can breed a champion now and we can own it.

“With six Group Ones she’s right at the top of our tree with Russian Rhythm. We’ve had a lot of very good fillies, but a Breeders’ Cup and two Jacques le Marois’ against the colts – two great days in Deauville – she has been nothing short of fantastic.”

Inspiral – who built up a fine association with Frankie Dettori before his relocation to America – has spent all of her years in training at Clarehaven, with the Gosdens overseeing her many phenomenal achievements on the racecourse.

John Gosden provided his own assessment of the five-year-old who has long been a standard bearer at his Newmarket yard.

John Gosden with the Cheveley Park Stud team at Newmarket
John Gosden with the Cheveley Park Stud team at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

He said: “She won here on fast ground last year and obviously won on fast ground at the Breeders’ Cup, but this ground has never really been to her liking.

“The Thompsons have very sportingly wanted to run her here then retire her and she has run a great race. Take nothing away from the winner there who is very smart, but Rab was very clear that was not her ground.

“She’s had a wonderful career, she was champion at two, champion in Europe at three and then a champion in America at four.

“This year we have run into a couple of little issues and then in this race we have been caught out by the ground. She’s run a magnificent race on ground she didn’t like.”

Menuisier Keane on Tamfana Chariot chance

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David Menuisier’s Tamfana will be ridden by a new jockey when she bids to edge out the Gosden-trained duo of Inspiral and Nashwa in Saturday’s Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes.

The three-year-old has held her own all season for owners Quantum Leap Racing, finishing fourth when beaten only a length in the 1000 Guineas and then missing out by an even smaller margin when third in the Prix de Diane.

A step up in trip for the Grand Prix de Paris proved educational as she did not appear to stay, but when dropped back to a mile for Sandown’s Atalanta Stakes, she got her head in front to claim the Group Three in good style.

She will now return to Group One level at Newmarket, this time with a new pilot on board as Oisin Murphy is committed to ride See The Fire for Andrew Balding, leaving four-time Irish champion Colin Keane to deputise in his absence.

“It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year so it’s very difficult to replace a jockey like Oisin at the last minute,” said Menuisier.

“When you’re favourite or fancied in a Group One, you want all the positives on your side.

“There weren’t many top, top, top jockeys available and I’m extremely grateful that Colin decided to come and ride the filly rather than go to the Curragh on Saturday. Luckily she is pretty straightforward so it should be absolutely fine.”

He added: “The Sun Chariot looks a good opportunity for her.

“She’s had a good prep for it, with plenty of time to recuperate between her races, and she ran probably her best race of the season over the course and distance in the Guineas, so it makes perfect sense to go back to the scene of the crime. She goes on any ground, so soft going won’t be any problem for her.”

John and Thady Gosden have two of the most prolific mares in training in Inspiral and Nashwa and will pit them against one another for the first time at the weekend.

John and Thady Gosden's Inspiral
John and Thady Gosden’s Inspiral (Tim Goode/PA)

Inspiral will be ridden by Robert Havlin for the first time since her winning career debut in 2021 having predominantly been the mount of Frankie Dettori in past seasons.

“We wouldn’t want any more rain between now and then, but Newmarket does dry really quick,” he said of the four-time Group One winner and reigning Sun Chariot heroine.

“Her preferred surface is fast ground, she obviously loves fast ground, but she’s coped with a bit slower in previous occasions.

“I led her on a racecourse gallop and Ryan (Moore) was really happy with her, I was happy with the way she quickened away from me and she’d done a nice piece of work the other morning.

“Hopefully the signs are there (for another big run), she’s had plausible excuses for the season so we are hoping we have got her somewhere back to her best.”

Nashwa winning the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in 2022
Nashwa winning the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in 2022 (Steven Paston/PA)

Nashwa is the other Clarehaven star to line up for the team and makes a return to action in the race having last been seen at Meydan in March.

She will be ridden as always by Hollie Doyle, who has to forfeit another regular ride to be present and leave James Doyle to team up with Trueshan in ParisLongchamp for the Prix du Cadran.

“It’s been a blow having Nashwa out of action for most of the season and her return has been a long time coming, but these things happen and it’s just great that the team have got her back on track for the Sun Chariot,” she said of Nashwa, who bids for a fourth Group One.

“I’ve only sat on her once since Dubai and that was last week, when she felt great. She’s a filly who in the past has taken a few runs to come to herself, but I was pleased with her and whatever happens here we hopefully have Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot to look forward to in two weeks’ time.”

She added: “It’s just such a shame my two superstars are running at different tracks on the same day, but I can’t be in two places at once. When I missed Trueshan in the Cadran three years ago it was through suspension and James won on him. That was a heartbreaking day, but I can’t complain too much this time.

“I’ll be watching him from Newmarket of course and wishing him well. He’s been such a star for Alan (King) and all of us who have been lucky enough to be connected with him.”

Elmalka and Silvestre de Sousa after winning the 1000 Guineas
Elmalka and Silvestre de Sousa after winning the 1000 Guineas (David Davies/PA)

Roger Varian’s Elmalka, the winner of the 1000 Guineas over course and distance in May, is the mount of William Buick and drops back to the mile after finishing fourth in the Nassau over 10 furlongs when last seen.

“Elmalka is in good form and we are looking forward to seeing her back over a mile on Saturday,” said Varian.

“The Guineas form worked out and in fairness to her she hasn’t done much wrong since, as she ran well at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes (fourth) and she ran well again at Goodwood in the Nassau. Both times were on fast ground and I think she’ll be more comfortable getting her toe in at Newmarket.”

Karl Burke’s Darnation completes the six-strong field.

Havlin thrilled to be partnering Inspiral in Chariot race

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Robert Havlin could come full circle with Inspiral after being confirmed as the jockey for her potential swansong at Newmarket on Saturday.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained superstar mare is set to make what might well be the final appearance of her illustrious career in the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes, the Group One race which she dominated by three and three-quarter lengths last year.

It is a busy weekend in the racing calendar, as Newmarket and Ascot host black-type races, while across the English Channel at ParisLongchamp, many of Britain and Ireland’s top talent will contest the two days of the Arc meeting.

With Ryan Moore heading to France, speculation was rife about his replacement until Havlin was confirmed on Thursday morning.

If it proves to be Inspiral’s farewell, it is fitting the 50-year-old Scot is on board after guiding her to victory on debut back in July 2021 at Headquarters – the only time he has ridden her during her 16-start career.

The daughter of Frankel has gone on to win six Group One races and Havlin is thrilled to be the pick of owners Cheveley Park, for whom he won the Lockinge Stakes aboard Audience in May.

“I ride her on Saturday, so that’s good. Obviously she’s a filly I know extremely well,” he said. “She’s won six Group Ones so I think anyone would be delighted to pick up the ride on her.

“It was all up in the air because we didn’t know if Sweet William was going to run in the Cadran or not and where everyone was going. Ryan obviously has to ride Kyprios now, my name was mentioned so it’s nice to be confirmed.

Inspiral was exceptional at Santa Anita
Inspiral was exceptional at Santa Anita (PA)

“I know the filly really well, that was the angle they (owners Cheveley Park) were kind of looking at. I won on her first time out, I’ve ridden her out – I’ve lost count how many times I’ve ridden her work – and I also did some stalls work on her on Monday. Trying to get her out of the stalls a bit quicker, so just tweaking a few things.

“It would obviously be lovely to get the win as it might be her last run and it would be nice to win on her first time and if it was to be her last run.

“Her last couple of pieces of work have been nice and she’s a filly that, apart from her two-year-old career, has never actually been through the whole year without being beaten a couple of times before hitting a winning streak, so let’s hope.

“She’s never been beaten on the Rowley Mile, even though she’s only been there twice, but they were both Group Ones so it’s a track she knows well and we are hoping for a big run.

“When Frankie (Dettori) was on his sabbatical, I was meant to ride her in the Falmouth that year and she got beat at 1-7 and luckily Frankie was back just in time to ride her so I’m glad I didn’t take the ride that day!

“Winning six Group Ones speaks for itself, but when she’s won them she’s been brilliant. She’s demolished fields when she’s won them.

“I think in the Breeders’ Cup, it was amazing to watch last year. That was probably my best memory of her, but I hope my best memory of her is on Saturday.

“Watching the Breeders’ Cup last year was just sensational and she’s given us plenty of good days.”

The jockey merry-go-round continues among Inspiral’s five rivals over the mile, with five-time Irish champion Colin Keane partnering Tamfana for the first time for David Menuisier.

Hollie Doyle misses Trueshan in France to ride Nashwa for the Gosdens and retained owner Imad Al Sagar, while Oisin Murphy is aboard Andrew Balding’s See The Fire.

William Buick is the plum booking for the Roger Varian-trained 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka and Karl Burke’s Darnation completes the line-up with Sam James on board.

Tamfana among Sun Chariot field as Inspiral and Nashwa set to clash

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Tamfana will continue her search for a Group One win on Saturday with David Menuisier’s star filly featuring amongst the 11 confirmations for the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

Many will be relishing a possible first-ever clash between the John and Thady Gosden-trained pair of Inspiral and Nashwa in the Rowley Mile contest, but Menuisier’s filly is a proven performer herself at the highest level and will arrive on the back of a confidence-boosting success at Sandown.

She advertised both her class and suitability to compete back down at a mile when winning the Group Three Atalanta Stakes in late August and fresh from saddling Sirona to win in stakes company at HQ, the Sussex-based Frenchman is excited to run his talented daughter of Soldier Hollow.

Menuisier said: “Hopefully Sirona winning on Friday will prove a dress rehearsal!

David Menuisier is searching for a first Group One of the season
David Menuisier is searching for a first Group One of the season (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Tamfana is in great form, hopefully we have some luck, she deserves to win a Group One. The owners need a Group One and so does the trainer!

“She was good at Sandown and has been placed in three Group Ones before that.

“It’s been one of those seasons, but let’s hope somebody can hear us up there.”

As well as defending champion Inspiral, her returning stablemate Nashwa and fellow Gosden fillies Running Lion and Friendly Soul, the race could also feature Roger Varian’s 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka, Rogue Millennium, Darnation, See The Fire and Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Wingspan and Ylang Ylang.

Inspiral looks set for Sun Chariot swansong

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Inspiral has been given the go-ahead for what could be the final start of her glorious career in the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes early next month.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel claimed the Newmarket contest in style 12 months ago, the middle leg of a Group One treble that culminated in Breeders’ Cup glory at Santa Anita.

Although a return stateside for the end of season championships – this year at Del Mar – has not been ruled out by connections, it is likely her anticipated Rowley Mile appearance could be the last action of a stellar career that has seen her win at the highest level aged two, three and four.

“She’s fine and green for go, all being well – and subject to ground – for Newmarket and the Sun Chariot and we’ll see what happens there,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.

Inspiral was exceptional at Santa Anita
Inspiral was exceptional at Santa Anita (PA)

“I think she’s happier back at a mile, but you can’t miss the break and give the field five lengths in those top-level Group One races.

“She’s her own personality and she is probably telling us she is ready to have babies, but it makes sense to have one more swansong – and if she surprises us, then who knows. We haven’t discounted America, but I think it’s unlikely.”

Inspiral may be at the tail end of her career, but the future looks bright for Cheveley Park in the fillies department with Sir Michael Stoute-trained pair Formal and Anna Swan both impressing in the early stages of their respective careers.

Formal enhanced her reputation with a decisive victory at Leicester on Tuesday and could be bound for bigger assignments before the season ends, while hopes also remain high for her stablemate, who shone at Yarmouth first time out.

“Anna Swan is just needing a bit more time after her last run and we’re just being patient with her,” continued Richardson.

“There’s no one more patient than Sir Michael and it is nice to have a couple of nice fillies.”

Cheveley Park could also bid for top honours with their Royal Ascot winner Unequal Love.

Trained by William Haggas, she is set to return to the scene of her finest hour to contest the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes on October 19 after her third-placed effort in Group One company at Haydock in the Betfair Sprint Cup.

Richardson added: “We were delighted with Unequal Love’s performance at Haydock and she will probably go to Ascot now.”

Inspiral team to hold fire before confirming future plans

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Future plans for Inspiral are “up for debate” after a tardy start effectively ruined her chance of winning a third Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday.

John and Thady Gosden’s top-class mare has carried the Cheveley Park Stud colours to six Group One victories in all, including back-to-back wins in one of Deauville’s midsummer highlights.

After finishing fourth in the Lockinge at Newbury and sixth in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on her first two starts of the current campaign, Ryan Moore took over in the saddle from Kieran Shoemark for her return to France.

But not for the first time, the daughter of Frankel missed the break and she ultimately had to make do with minor honours behind her fellow British raider Charyn.

“She ran very well considering the start – you can’t give five or six lengths away, or whatever it was, in those sorts of races,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson.

“The winner was very impressive and was always going to be the main danger. She certainly didn’t help herself, but she’s run well.

“Ryan was obviously wishing that she’d jumped (on terms), but she did well to get back into the race and she finished it off as well as she could have done having lost that much distance.”

While Inspiral’s performance was a step up on her first two efforts as a five-year-old, there is little doubt it was still some way short of her brilliant best.

After successfully defending her Marois crown last term, she dominated the Sun Chariot at Newmarket in October before flashing home under an inspired Frankie Dettori to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf the following month.

Both races will again come under consideration if Inspiral is to continue her racing career, but that appears uncertain at this stage.

Richardson added: “We’ll see how she comes out of the race and we’ll make a decision about the future.

“Certainly, it was a much-improved performance and we know she does like to come (into form) at this time of year, but what happens is obviously up for debate and we’ll see how she comes out of the race.

“I think if that is the decision (to continue racing), then the Sun Chariot makes perfect sense – I’m sure that would be her next race and we’d make a call after that regarding going to America.

“I think she was much happier yesterday and it was a bit frustrating really. Maybe she’s had enough and maybe she’ll tell us that in due course, but obviously at this point, it’s too early to say.”

Charyn ready to lay down mile marker in Prix Jacques le Marois

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Charyn can make a claim for being the best older miler in training if he can follow up his Royal Ascot win in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.

Roger Varian’s grey has won three of his four starts this season, with his sole defeat coming in the Lockinge behind Audience, a winner at Goodwood recently.

The four-year-old then ran out a dominant winner of the Queen Anne Stakes under his regular partner Silvestre de Sousa and the pair combine again in what looks a top-notch renewal in France.

Varian said: “He’s in great form and I’m happy with him. We’re nearly there now and we’re looking forward to seeing how we get on.

“He’s grown into himself this year and is starting to look the finished article. He’s always been a good horse and he just seems to have found a new level this year, which is great for everyone involved.

“We’re enjoying the journey and had a great day at Royal Ascot and hopefully he has another big run in him on Sunday.”

In what is a clash of the generations, Richard Hannon fields Haatem, just behind his brilliant stablemate Rosallion in the Irish Guineas.

Haatem (red hat) just held on to win the Jersey
Haatem (red hat) just held on to win the Jersey (John Walton/PA)

He then dropped to seven furlongs to win the Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting and takes on his elders for the first time.

“We gave him a little bit of time off to freshen up after Ascot, but Richard reports he’s in very good form,” said Richard Brown, European racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“It is obviously a very deep race, but he deserves to take his chance and we’re looking forward to seeing him run.

“We know he is tough and wears his heart on his sleeve, so he will put in a brave performance, I’m sure.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Inspiral, twice a winner of this race already, needs Ryan Moore to have a positive effect after two poor outings this season, while French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan also runs.

Quddwah has kept on progressing this season
Quddwah has kept on progressing this season (Adam Davy/PA)

The one horse defending an unbeaten record is Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quddwah, who faces his toughest test to date.

“We discussed the Sussex, but we felt the track at Deauville, the straight mile would be more suitable for him. It’s a high-quality field, a very good race, but he’s got form to suggest he should be in the mix,” Ed Crisford told Sky Sports Racing.

“Callum (Shepherd) got on well with him at Ascot and has ridden him at home so it was an easy decision really to leave him on.

“The way Charyn won the Queen Anne was very impressive and if Inspiral can bounce back to form she’s a two-time winner of the race already, there’s the French Guineas winner there and Richard Hannon’s Haatem so they are all dangers. But we’re just hoping to run a really good race and we’ll learn a lot about him.

“I think he’ll suit a nice strong pace. When he hits the front Callum said he felt he was always doing enough and if they’d got to him (in the Summer Mile at Ascot) he would have gone again. I’m sure there will be pace with Big Rock in there.”

Maurizio Guarnieri is doing a rain dance ahead of Big Rock’s attempt to go one better than 12 months ago.

He showed what he was capable of when the mud is flying when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, but has struggled this season on quicker ground.

His owners moved him to Guarnieri from Christopher Head in the winter, but he has disappointed in both the Lockinge under last year’s jockey Aurelian Lemaitre and Christophe Soumillon in the Queen Anne. Now Cristian Demuro takes over.

“Big Rock has pleased me since he came back from England when the ground was too quick,” said Guarnieri.

“We know what he wants to be at his best so I have been dancing before the race for the rain!

“He was second in the Marois last year so we know he likes Deauville, but it is a very, very good race.

“The owners wanted Cristian to ride him this time so we will see how he gets on with him.”

Ryan Moore aboard Inspiral for Prix Jacques le Marois hat-trick bid

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Ryan Moore will ride Inspiral when she attempts to land a hat-trick in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the five-year-old is bidding to score at the highest level for the fourth successive season and she returns to familiar territory having claimed the mile Group One on the Normandy Coast in the past two seasons.

She was ridden by Frankie Dettori for both those victories but since his switch to America, the daughter of Frankel has been ridden by Kieran Shoemark in her two outings this season.

Ryan Moore before a ride in the July Cup at Newmarket
Ryan Moore will ride Inspiral in Deauville on Sunday (Nigel French/PA)

On those occasions she has failed to sparkle in both the Lockinge and when upped to 10 furlongs for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Now keen to use the best available option in the weighing room owners Cheveley Park Stud have called upon an old ally to don the famous red, white and blue silks aboard Inspiral, with Moore getting the leg-up on Sunday afternoon.

“Ryan Moore rides Inspiral in the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday,” said Cheveley Park Stud’s managing director Chris Richardson.

“Ryan has ridden many of our best horses over the years and we are always keen to use him when he is available.”

Opera Singer and Emily Upjohn on course for Nassau clash

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Opera Singer, Inspiral and the supplemented Emily Upjohn are among 12 fillies confirmed for the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.

Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer looked a star in the making after rounding off her juvenile campaign with a jaw-dropping victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp, but she has had to make do with minor honours on each of her two starts as a three-year-old so far.

After a spring setback delayed her return, the daughter of Justify finished third on her comeback in the Irish 1,000 Guineas before filling the runner-up spot in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Porta Fortuna, who has since added another Group One to her haul in the Falmouth at Newmarket.

Emily Upjohn winning last year's Coronation Cup at Epsom
Emily Upjohn winning last year’s Coronation Cup at Epsom (Mike Egerton/PA)

Opera Singer is set to step up to a mile and a quarter on the Sussex Downs, where she will also meet her elders for the first time.

Chief among her rivals is John and Thady Gosden’s Emily Upjohn, who has been added to the field at a cost of £40,000 after connections opted against a rematch with her Pretty Polly Stakes conqueror Bluestocking in the King George at Ascot on Saturday.

The Gosdens have also left in the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Inspiral, who was last seen finishing sixth against the boys in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the royal meeting.

However, the six-time Group One winner could yet sidestep Goodwood in favour of the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 11, a race she has won in each of the past two seasons.

“It will be Goodwood or the Jacques le Marois and we can’t do both, so we’re just keeping all options open,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson.

“We will see what happens and we’re just going to keep our options open and try and get it right this time and know where we are going.

“But she seems in good form and she looks great.”

Opera Singer is one of five three-year-olds in contention, with Roger Varian’s 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka and Patrice Cottier’s French Oaks winner Sparkling Plenty also in the mix along with the Paddy Twomey-trained Irish Oaks third Purple Lily and Andrew Balding’s Eclipse fourth See The Fire.

Ralph Beckett’s pair of Doha and Lady Boba, Joseph O’Brien’s Lumiere Rock, Gary and Josh Moore’s Novus and Stay Alert from Hughie Morrison’s yard are the other hopefuls.

Connections open-minded regarding Inspiral after Royal Ascot defeat

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All options are open for Inspiral as connections look to get their star mare back on track following two below-par efforts so far this season.

The daughter of Frankel has carried the Cheveley Park Stud colours to six Group One victories over the course of the past three years, perhaps most notably claiming a thrilling victory at last year’s Breeders’ Cup under an inspired Frankie Dettori ride when stepped up to a mile and a quarter.

After being upstaged by her lesser-fancied Cheveley Park-owned stablemate Audience on her reappearance over a mile in the Lockinge at Newbury, the five-year-old was stepped back up in trip for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, but not for the first time Inspiral missed the break and she ultimately finished well beaten in sixth behind Auguste Rodin.

Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson is not ruling out the possibility of the five-year-old running over a mile and a quarter again under different circumstances, but races back at a mile will also be considered.

Reflecting on her Ascot run, he said: “She was slowly away again unfortunately and then of course she was long way back and they turned it into a real test of stamina.

“It was plainly obvious when she came into the straight and made her short-lived burst that we weren’t going to be troubling the winner.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Everyone has been pushing to try her over a mile and a quarter, but maybe, with hindsight, we should have run in the Queen Anne.

“I haven’t caught up with John (Gosden) yet, but she’s come out of the race fine and all options are open. She’s in the Nassau, she’s in the Jacques le Marois and the Sussex and all the right races.

“We don’t really want to rush her back so we didn’t put her in the Falmouth as we didn’t see any point in trying to rush her back for the July meeting.

“We’ll consider all the options and ground conditions and see where we end up.”

The decision to run Inspiral in the Prince of Wales’s allowed Audience to line up as Cheveley Park’s chief hope in the Queen Anne, but the front-running tactics that worked so well in the Lockinge were not so effective in Berkshire as he weakened into fifth behind Charyn.

Richardson added: “They were never going to give him an easy lead and he probably just didn’t quite get home over the mile there.

“He’s in the Lennox and the Sussex at Goodwood. He’s come out of it fine so we’ll make a decision where we go nearer the time.”

Prince of Wales’s stamina test proves too much for Inspiral on the day

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John Gosden felt that tackling a stiff 10 furlongs off a fast pace proved too much for Inspiral to cope with after she could only manage sixth place behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

The five-year-old mare was making her third trip to Royal Ascot, having won the 2022 Coronation Stakes before going down by just a neck when second in last season’s Queen Anne, both over a mile.

With Inspiral subsequently claiming victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf over an extra two furlongs at Santa Anita in November, connections opted to try their luck at that trip again, but what was a brave move to be applauded ultimately backfired.

Gosden told Sky Sports Racing: “She was pretty slowly away, sitting at the back of the field. They’ve gone very, very hard and I think, quite frankly, over the (stiff) mile and a quarter here, she’s just been caught out for stamina.

“She’s won Group Ones over a mile and over a very easy mile and a quarter at Santa Anita and I think stamina-wise, she just got caught today. She came with a run and the last furlong was too far for her.

“A Derby winner has won it, he’s got the trip well and shown a lot of grit at the end.”

With Inspiral faltering, it was left to French raiders Zarakem and Horizon Dore to ensure Auguste Rodin had to pull out all the stops.

Zarakem kept on well to finish second at 33-1, losing out by three-quarters of a length, and his handler Jerome Reynier was more than pleased with that performance.

He said: “I am very happy with him. On his reappearance this year, he won a Group Two on heavy ground, and today he’s been second in a very hot race at Royal Ascot in a Group One on firm ground, so he can do everything.

“He’s a very complete athlete; he’s improving with age, mentally and physically. He’s entered in the Arc at the end of the year, because he does Longchamp so well and he seems to have plenty of stamina, because he ran on today and he’s been chasing up Auguste Rodin to the post.

“For Zarakem, this was his first time abroad and a very interesting first time out of France, so it opens many, many doors, and we’ll see if we’ll be back for the King George in a few weeks’ time. We will see – we don’t want to rush him and we can keep the Arc as a final target for the year.

“You see the improvement in him month after month – he’s really improving mentally and I think that was the right time to test him outside of France in a very hot race like that.”

Horizon Dore followed up his third-place finish in last year’s Champion Stakes at Ascot by picking up another bronze medal.

Patrice Cottier said: “We are very pleased with the performance. He showed again he is a Group One horse and we are very happy.

“We will see the plan for the second half of the season, but maybe it will be the Champion Stakes. He’s an easy horse, more and more macho with age – he’s a super horse.”

Inspiral ‘ready to step up’ in Prince of Wales’s

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Chris Richardson is confident Inspiral can recover from her disappointment in the Lockinge Stakes with a bold effort in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Inspiral was sent off a short-priced favourite at Newbury, but it was her stablemate, the 22-1 shot Audience, who took the honours by a length and three-quarters, with the five-year-old mare beaten 13 lengths in fourth.

John Gosden, who trains Inspiral with his son Thady, and big-race jockey Kieran Shoemark both felt she was in need of the run and are expecting a far better showing at the Royal meeting, where connections have opted to step up in trip to 10 furlongs from what had been thought her most likely target of the Queen Anne over a mile.

Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: “It will be exciting to see how she does. I think she’s ready to step up, that is the indication John has got from her work this spring.

“It’s obviously a very good race and Auguste Rodin is there as a worthy favourite.

“Like Inspiral he was impressive at the Breeders’ Cup, although I know he was beaten by White Birch last time in Ireland.

“It’ll be an exciting race full of class horses.”

Blue Rose Cen
Blue Rose Cen was last seen at Longchamp (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Maurizio Guarnieri is hoping for a big run from Blue Rose Cen after she made her seasonal debut following an extended break with a fifth-place finish in the Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp.

That was her first run for Guarnieri since switching from the care of Christopher Head and he is happy with how she has come out of the race after only being beaten two lengths.

Christophe Soumillon has been booked for the ride due his greater experience of Ascot as Guarnieri hopes she can rediscover the form that saw her win four times in Group One company for Head.

Christophe Soumillon will ride Blue Rose Cen
Christophe Soumillon will ride Blue Rose Cen (Mike Egerton/PA)

Guarnieri said: “Blue Rose Cen did a really good canter after her run in the Group One Prix d’Ispahan and everything has been good with her after the race.

“She did a good trial recently with Soumillon on board and everything went well.

“After the race at Longchamp she has had a good time. She is in good condition and eats everything every day.

“It will be very hard to take on colts like Auguste Rodin and a filly like Inspiral who has changed distance. But we hope Blue Rose Cen can run a really good race.”

Auguste Rodin was second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Auguste Rodin was second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Brian Lawless/PA)

Aidan O’Brien expects better ground will help last year’s dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin in his bid to get back on track.

He was beaten into second by White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, after finishing last of the 12 runners in a disappointing display in the Dubai Sheema Classic in his only other run this season.

O’Brien told Racing TV: “We were happy with his run at the Curragh and have been very happy with him since. At the Curragh the ground got a little bit slower than he would have liked and he had a bit of a wobble coming down the hill.

“We have always had our eye on this race for a long time and all the other races were kind of stepping stones along the way.

“You can’t win every race every day, but we’ve been very happy with him.”

Zarakem is another French raider and trainer Jerome Reynier is looking to put a disappointing effort in the Prix Ganay behind him in Berkshire.

Reynier said: “He’s done nothing wrong and won five in a row last year as a three-year-old, including two Listed races.

“His reappearance was really good when he won the Prix d’Harcourt in early April and then we supplemented him for the Prix Ganay where everything went wrong.

“We will ride him like we did in the Harcourt, riding him from the back for a place and you never know what could happen.

“If there is enough pace he will be able to come from behind and he is a really nice, improving horse and is behaving much better than he did as a three-year-old. Now it is time to take this shot and a gamble.”

Auguste Rodin’s conqueror White Birch was taken out at the declaration stage following an imperfect blood test, but Horizon Dore, Alflaila, Royal Rhyme, Lord North, Hans Andersen and Snobbish have all stood their ground.

Inspiral looks set to swerve Queen Anne in preference of Prince of Wales’s Stakes

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Inspiral appears increasingly likely to sidestep the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday in favour of a tilt at the Prince of Wales’s Stakes the following afternoon.

Cheveley Park Stud’s Frankel mare has won six times at Group One level for John and Thady Gosden including a sensational victory in the 2022 Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting, while she was beaten only a neck by shock winner Triple Time in the Queen Anne 12 months ago.

The five-year-old was fourth to her pacemaking stablemate and fellow Cheveley Park-owned runner Audience in the Lockinge at Newbury on her seasonal debut last month, and connections are now leaning towards stepping up to a mile and a quarter.

Inspiral has already proven herself effective over the longer trip, winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf at Santa Anita in November under an inspired Frankie Dettori.

Cheveley Park’s managing director, Chris Richardson, said: “It has obviously been given serious consideration and following her success at Santa Anita over a mile and a quarter, where she was very effective, I think it makes sense to step her up.

“The Lockinge was a good starting point, but she was slowly away, which she can be on occasions, and if she is a little tardy away next time at least over a mile and a quarter it will be less important hopefully.”

Audience upset his better fancied stablemate in the Lockinge at Newbury
Audience upset his better fancied stablemate in the Lockinge at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)

Switching their star mare to the day two feature event will allow Cheveley Park to split their aces, with Audience therefore lining up as the prominent owners’ first string in the Queen Anne.

Richardson added: “I think he’s got the ability and I think he still remains a progressive horse.

“I hope he will dispel any thoughts that his win in the Lockinge was a bit a fluke.”

Shoemark hoping to start high-profile week with Queen Anne glory for Inspiral

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With big shoes to fill next week, Kieran Shoemark is hoping to get off to the perfect start at Royal Ascot with Inspiral in the Queen Anne.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained five-year-old is a general 3-1 favourite for the opening contest of the showpiece meeting, and Shoemark – who has taken over as number one rider at the powerful Gosden yard from Frankie Dettori – is hopeful she will come on from her run in the Lockinge Stakes last month.

Sent off the 2-1 market leader at Newbury, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned mare had to settle for fourth place, four and a half lengths behind stablemate Audience, who made all for a surprise victory in the mile feature.

Inspiral came home fourth in the Lockinge
Inspiral came home fourth in the Lockinge (John Walton/PA)

Shoemark felt Inspiral needed that run and can give a better account of herself at Ascot, in a race she finished second in last year.

The 27-year-old is preparing for the busiest Royal Ascot of his career having taken over as stable jockey from Dettori, but is refusing to set any targets for himself over the week.

Speaking to BoyleSports, Shoemark said: “The biggest and the busiest (Royal Ascot) for me, that is fair to say.

“Over the five days I will be looking at between 15 and 20 rides and some high-profile ones among them.

Inspiral won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot under Dettori in 2022
Inspiral won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot under Dettori in 2022 (David Davies/PA)

“Inspiral in the Queen Anne is one. She had a fantastic year last year, capping it off at the Breeders’ Cup. She returned in the Lockinge and needed the run, maybe more so than we anticipated. She has been in great order since.

“Theory Of Tides – I think he’ll run in the King Edward. Emily Upjohn has a couple of entries in the Prince of Wales’s and in the Hardwicke. Eben Shaddad had some nice juvenile form and ran well in the French Guineas I thought, and he will run in the Jersey Stakes. Jack Darcy could run in the Wolverton.

“I will take it day by day – I don’t have a target in mind. At the moment all I am thinking about is winning the Queen Anne as that would be a great way to kick off. I have only ever had one winner at Royal Ascot so I can’t be going there thinking about targets.”

Shoemark does not feel overwhelmed by the task of replacing Dettori at one of the biggest operations in racing, and says he has benefited from advice from the Italian.

He said: “Frankie was on his farewell tour (last year) and I was asked to come in and ride out and it propelled from there. I started riding a few and Frankie decided in his last year he didn’t want to ride any two-year-olds, so I did some maidens and novice races in his place and it went from there.

“It wasn’t daunting really because it was a gradual transition. Frankie was very much still around – I was just going in and riding when I was needed. I was still riding for Charlie Hills, but there was no real pressure.

“I am there to do a job for John and Thady. I don’t look at it as if I am replacing Frankie Dettori, because I can’t. I know he was associated with Clarehaven for many years and if I did look at it like that, then it could have been very daunting.

“It is one of the biggest jobs in racing. John and Thady were champion trainers last year. It is a huge opportunity and one I am going to grab with both hands.

Frankie Dettori has been the king of Royal Ascot
Frankie Dettori has been the king of Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“I look forward to what is to come. It is fair to say it has been a little bit of a steady start, but we are still early into the season and hopefully we have some nice horses to appear very soon.”

He added of Dettori: “He has been so helpful. I speak to him often in America, I give him a call if I am riding a horse I don’t know much about, such as Arrest or Emily Upjohn or Inspiral. I gave him a call because I was riding these horses for the first time and I know these horses a bit better now. Frankie is very willing to offer his advice.

“He is over here next week and I will definitely be speaking to him on Monday before Royal Ascot. I’ll look forward to seeing him there – he won’t be far from the action!”

Audience leaves Lockinge onlookers in disbelief

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Audience was a shock winner of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The 22-1 shot was very much the second string for John and Thady Gosden, with stablemate Inspiral considered the real chance for Cheveley Park Stud, who own both horses.

Big Rock was another obvious major player on his first run for Maurizio Guarnieri, but the runaway Queen Elizabeth II hero never got involved as Audience – trying a mile for the first time having been a proven Group Two/Three performer at seven furlongs – was sent to the head of the field under Robert Havlin to set the fractions early on.

The sizeable lead he had built up then began to look insurmountable, with only Roger Varian’s Charyn able to give valiant chase, crossing the line a length and a quarter in arrears.

“When you know what this horse is and what he’s done, then don’t leave him alone,” said John Gosden.

Audience winning the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes
Audience winning the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s been working very well and I didn’t think Rab would be left in splendid isolation out in front, but I knew he would get a hell of a run out of him. I told Rab to go straight and he followed his line of mowing and no one came near him. It’s wonderful for Rab as he puts all the work in with him.

“He’s a wild boy, but he’s a horse with ability – look at the Kinross race, the City of York.

“He’s got solid Group form and he’s learnt to relax more with age, if you leave a horse like that alone he’s going to be very dangerous. We always knew he was going to be part of it and I thought he could maybe finish in the first four or five. As it was they ignored him and all got racing on the other side.

“The idea was he was there with Big Rock and softens up Big Rock, but he never really saw Big Rock. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and is a grand horse. Mrs (Patricia) Thompson kept him in training very kindly rather than him going to Hong Kong so he could be a lead horse for Inspiral and I think he has covered himself in glory.”

Thompson added of the winner: “That was amazing, we’re getting very good with geldings I think!

Audience and Robert Havlin en route to Lockinge success
Audience and Robert Havlin en route to Lockinge success (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s the half-brother to Esquire, the gelding who won the Group Three the other day (Greenham). It must be a fiery family, he was very fiery.”

Neither owner nor trainer were disappointed with the performance of Inspiral, who was fourth under Kieran Shoemark having started as the 2-1 favourite.

“The filly will come on a bundle for that, the trainer is so hopeless he couldn’t get her fit at home. I didn’t want to take her away for gallops at racecourses, that’s not her game,” Gosden said.

“She was always going to need it, but there will be another day with her and we’re on the road with her. She’s run a lovely race and has rather come across right across which is what she did in the Jacques le Marois last year with Frankie (Dettori). She’s come to make her run and has just got tired – she’s ‘blown up’ as they call it.

Audience takes centre stage
Audience takes centre stage (Steven Paston/PA)

“In her work at home, she’s a lot older and wiser and I’m not going to tell her what she’s got to do, so she’s been quietly doing what she’s happier doing and she needed this race to bring her on for Ascot and I’m delighted with her run. She’s carrying rather a lot of condition.

“The Queen Anne would probably be the aim, as it would be for Audience as well, but talking to Mrs Thompson we would also look at the mile-and-a-quarter race (Prince of Wales’s Stakes) because when she won at the Breeders’ Cup – and I know it’s an easy mile and a quarter at Santa Anita – Frankie could not pull her up. He came back and said I think we’ve been running her over the wrong trip all the time. So we will leave our options open and see how she is over the next week.”

Thompson opted to give Inspiral another season in training instead of sending her off to stud, and added: “Inspiral always tells us when she wants to win, nobody knows before her!

“So rarely one gets a filly like that so you want to enjoy them as much as you can. We can wait until next year for the covering.”

Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, was delighted to see the bloodline come to the fore and had Royal Ascot on his mind for the winner.

“It’s a family we’ve nurtured for 32 years, it’s extraordinary how we can go back to the fourth or fifth generation,” he said.

“There’s plenty of speed in the family and it’s a family that, as they can do, has just come alight again.

“Now we’ll seriously have to consider the Queen Anne for him, whether we step up in trip for Inspiral – that will be a decision we’ll make.

“We’ll enjoy the moment and it’s just fantastic, we can’t really believe it!”

For Havlin the success was a second at Group One level, and on a horse he knows well as he has ridden him in nearly all of his career starts.

“It’s a nice surprise, last year we ran him over sprinting trips at the start,” he said.

“He’s a little bit of a thug, he ran some great races last year and really stayed on at the end.

“This was always going to be a starting point, I didn’t think he’d be good enough to beat Inspiral but he’s always threatened to have a good one in him.

“He gave himself a breather, you’re a little bit of a passenger on him. You just let him get on with it, we’ve learnt from experience that you don’t try to organise him.

“You let him do what he wants. He’s super talented. It’s his first run over a mile and last year he would never have got a mile, he was just too much like a bull in a China shop.

“He’s had good horses around him and if he can improve over a mile, which he obviously has, there’ll be some nice races to win with him.”