Tag Archive for: Inspiral

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.”



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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.”



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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.”



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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.”



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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.



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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.”



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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.”



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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.



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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.”



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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!”



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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.”



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Big Rock ready to roll in Lockinge showdown with Inspiral

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It is very much the first day at school for Maurizio Guarnieri as he prepares to saddle Big Rock in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Big Rock was rated the best miler in the world last year when trained by Christopher Head, but Guarnieri only welcomed the four-year-old to his Chantilly stables three weeks ago after owners Yeguada Centurion SL. decided on a switch for the new season.

The French-based Italian admits he is still getting to grips with his new charge, relying on the assistance of the colt’s regular pilot Aurelien Lemaitre to guide him in the right direction.

“I received the horse three weeks ago, so I am just starting to get to know him and he is just starting to get know me,” said Guarnieri.

Big Rock delivered a dominant display at Ascot on Champions Day
Big Rock delivered a dominant display at Ascot on Champions Day (PA)

“He is a nice horse, like a nice man, he is quiet all the time and causes no problems, he is very easy.

“I did a canter with him on the racetrack at Chantilly with a lead horse and his rider Aurelien Lemaitre and he did the minimum, so I’m not sure if he is ready to run and what percent of his potential he is at or not. But his jockey said he is always this way and the horse is always quiet in the morning. A lot of good horses are this way.

“I appreciate having this horse and each day I learn a little bit more about him, but at the moment I do not understand 100 per cent of him.”

Big Rock has finished in the top two in 10 of his 11 career starts and having filled the spot of bridesmaid in races such as the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix du Moulin, finished 2023 with a deserved victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day.

The Rock Of Gibraltar colt relished the rain-softened ground at Ascot that day and Guarnieri is hoping for even more rain at Newbury as he assesses his charge’s big-race credentials.

“He’s in good condition and he’s really good mentally and this race was always the first on his programme so we will run and try,” continued the Italian.

“I think this race is very, very hard and there is not only Inspiral who can win the race. Big Rock has not run since 2023 so there is a lot we don’t know.

“But the jockey knows the horse and has ridden him every time, so there is a big feeling put on them and I hope they can do the best job for me.

“I hope it will start to rain, when it rains it is normally better for us. I’m hoping Big Rock can show his class in this race and I will be doing everything in my power to make him better.

“It’s a new start for both me and the owner and I thank them for the opportunity, we are looking forward to not just this race but also the whole season.”

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

In contrast, connections of Inspiral are hoping to see minimal rainfall ahead of her return to action.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained five-year-old claimed the scalp of Big Rock when defending her Prix Jacques le Marois crown last summer before going on to win both the Sun Chariot Stakes and land a blow over further at the Breeders’ Cup.

However, she has never been at her best when there is cut in the ground and connections will be keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts.

“We hope to run, we’ve declared, we’ll just have to watch the forecast and see what happens,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, who are also represented by the Gosden-trained Audience in the race.

“She didn’t enjoy soft ground when she ran in the Sussex and it’s still early in the year. We think she’s in good form, but we don’t want to risk her on ground which doesn’t suit as she is unlikely to put her best foot forward.

“She seems to come good in June and maybe that is the way it will work out again. We’d like to get her out earlier if we can, but we’ll see what happens between now and Saturday and see what John decides.

“The two of them (Inspiral and Audience) have been working together for the last few weeks and he is in there to make sure there’s pace in the race.”

John Gosden also has concerns about her draw in stall one: “We’re on wing of the field in one and all the pace is high, so that is a concern. At the moment she runs, but I will obviously be walking the course.”

While Big Rock and Inspiral are making their returns, Roger Varian’s consistent performer Charyn has made hay in the early part of the season, with the versatile son of Dark Angel now back to Group One company in search of a hat-trick.

Varian said: “The rain won’t harm Charyn, but he’s a versatile horse in terms of ground and we won’t mind conditions on Saturday. It’s a nice position to be in when you are not sweating on the weather and he is in good form.

Charyn has been in top form this term
Charyn has been in top form this term (John Walton/PA)

“Although he didn’t win last year, on three or four of his performances, he only had to repeat that level to win the two races he has done so far. He wasn’t facing Paddington in his last two starts.

“His fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, his third in both the St James’s Palace and the Sussex Stakes, all of those performances I think were good enough to do what he has done so far at Doncaster and Sandown.

“With that said, I was very impressed with him at Sandown and he was very powerful through the line. He will have to do more to win the Lockinge, but he goes there as one of the frontrunners in the market and deservedly so, and it is exciting.”

Charyn impressed when coming through the pack strongly to win the bet365 Mile at Sandown, with Ed and Simon Crisford’s Poker Face back in second and now looking to turn the tables.

The race also sees the return of last year’s 2000 Guineas third Royal Scotsman for Paul and Oliver Cole, while Karl Burke’s Flight Plan finished last season in the winner’s enclosure and is another dipping his toe into deeper waters.



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Inspiral poised for clash with Big Rock at Newbury

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Star mare Inspiral is firmly on course to make her eagerly-awaited return at Newbury as she heads the 11 confirmations for Saturday’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.

Victory in last year’s Prix Jacques le Marois ensured the John and Thady Gosden-trained mare was a Group One winner at two, three and four and having added the Sun Chariot Stakes against her own sex, she brought her season to a close in stunning fashion at the Breeders’ Cup.

That Santa Anita success over 10 furlongs gives connections plenty of options for the new season, but she is poised to start over the tried-and-tested mile route, where she could renew rivalry with Queen Elizabeth II Stakes hero Big Rock, who is now with Maurizio Guarnieri after moving from Christopher Head.

“Inspiral is in good form, I’m pleased with her going into her first run back,” said John Gosden.

“The plan is to run her in the Lockinge, it’s a good starting point.”

Roger Varian’s Charyn will step up to Group One level for the first time this year after impressive wins at both Doncaster and Sandown, while the Gosdens and Cheveley Park are also represented by Audience.

Royal Scotsman was seen just the twice after placing in last year’s 2000 Guineas and having recovered from some injury setbacks, Paul and Oliver Cole’s stable star is ready to make his comeback from a 300-plus day absence.

“He’s all set for the Lockinge and is in good form,” said Oliver Cole.

Big Rock was a sensational winner of the QEII
Big Rock was a sensational winner of the QEII (John Walton/PA)

“We couldn’t be happier with him at this stage. He got bone bruising and now he’s fine, that was the reason we stopped (last year). He never went forward in Ireland and he never went forward at Ascot and hopefully he will go forward on Saturday. He’s a very, very good horse, so fingers crossed.”

Flight Plan gets his Group One chance, having been a Group Two winner on Irish Champions Weekend last season for trainer Karl Burke, while Saeed bin Suroor has left in Real World, who was second to the brilliant Baaeed in this race two years ago.

Dear My Friend (Charlie Johnston), Hi Royal (Kevin Ryan), Poker Face (Simon and Ed Crisford) and Witch Hunter (Richard Hannon) complete the list of possibles.



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Lockinge date pencilled in for Inspiral return

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Inspiral is being prepared for a return in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes as owners Cheveley Park Stud look to continue riding a crest of a wave with their all-star mare.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel ensured she was a Group One winner for the third successive season when landing the Prix Jacques le Marois last summer.

Inspiral soon supplemented that impressive Deauville triumph with further top-level victories in the Sun Chariot Stakes and at the Breeders’ Cup, prompting the decision to keep the leading mare in training at five with Newbury’s one-mile event on May 18 an initial target.

However, if that high-class event comes too soon for the nine-times winner, then she will revert to plan B which, like 12 months ago, involves beginning her campaign at Royal Ascot in June.

“The Lockinge is the plan, but obviously she is a filly that likes to take her time to come in the spring as we’ve seen before,” explained Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud.

“Certainly the Lockinge looks the first engagement we can consider and if she tells us she’s not quite ready, then we can wait until the Queen Anne.

“She seems to be happy and well back in the yard and I watched her come up Warren Hill the other morning and she went up there nicely and quietly, so we will see how we go.”

Frankie Dettori and Inspiral at Santa Anita
Frankie Dettori and Inspiral at Santa Anita (PA)

Inspiral finished 2023 by successfully stepping up to 10 furlongs at Santa Anita when capturing the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and although connections are keen to start the new season at a mile, options over further could be explored as the summer goes on.

“I think John is keen to start her off at a mile and then we can build over the campaign hopefully, all being well. We will definitely be considering going a mile and a quarter,” continued Richardson.

“She’s five now and a lovely filly who is still maturing and developing. She had a lovely break at the stud after America and they are a long time in the paddocks, so she is a mare we can really enjoy.

“She had a nice visit to us and was out in the paddock with her usual companions. She is always very inquisitive with her ears pricked, seeing who is coming round the corner next.”



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Thompson revels in Inspiral Breeders’ Cup glory

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Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is targeting further top-level success next year with the brilliant Inspiral following her last-gasp victory at the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday.

A homebred daughter of Frankel, the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly headed for Santa Anita in search of a sixth Group or Grade One win in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

Stepping up to a mile and a quarter for the first time for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Inspiral was still well back in the field rounding the home turn, but her trademark acceleration soon kicked in as she fairly rocketed home under an inspired ride to get up and beat Warm Heart by a neck.

Cheveley Park has enjoyed huge success on the Flat over the past three decades and more recently taken the National Hunt game by storm – but Thompson admits the the team’s triumph in the Californian sunshine may have been the biggest highlight of his racing life.

“It’s hard to put into words, it really is. I’ve seen some big moments on the racecourse over the years, but that’s got to be right up there,” he said.

“Inspiral is a homebred filly, it was her sixth Group One and as well as that it’s the way the race unfolded – it’s California, it’s Santa Anita.

“My legs had gone after the last furlong!”

Frankie returns victorious with Inspiral
Frankie returns victorious with Inspiral (PA)

With Inspiral having now proven her stamina over the longer distance, there is every chance she will bid for further 10-furlong riches on home soil next summer.

Thompson added: “She obviously stayed the mile and a quarter. She probably needs the right ground and the right track, but she needed every inch on Saturday, didn’t she?

“That home straight at Santa Anita is a bit short, but she needed every inch of that particular straight and she was running on at the end, which is a good sign.

“You’d like to think she’ll run in another handful of Group Ones next year and let’s see what she can do. As long as she’s enjoying her racing and John and Thady tell us that she’s in great form and wants to race, she’s carrying on, which is great for us and everybody.”

Richard Thompson (second right) with Frankie Dettori and Inspiral at Deauville
Richard Thompson (second right) with Frankie Dettori and Inspiral at Deauville (PA)

Considering possible plans for 2024, Thompson said: “I guess you might see her over the stiff mile in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, but we’ll give 10 furlongs a shot at some stage during the summer, absolutely.

“You could potentially see her in the Nassau at Goodwood or the Juddmonte International at York. I wouldn’t have thought she’d run in both of those as they’d probably be too close together, but certainly one of those could come into play.

“We can look at anything from eight to 10 furlongs, depending on the track and the ground, and hopefully we’ll have another couple of great days with her. That’s the objective.”



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