Tag Archive for: Irish Champion Stakes

All systems go for Shin Emperor at Leopardstown

Shin Emperor will fly the flag for Japan when he takes his chance in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The chestnut is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, who has enjoyed top-level success across the world with the likes of Panthalassa, winner of the Dubai Turf and the Saudi Cup, Cox Plate hero Lys Gracieux and Breeders’ Cup and Hong Kong heroine Loves Only You.

His Irish Champion contender was last seen finishing third in the Japan Derby over a mile and a half, prior to which he was campaigned successfully over 10 furlongs at Group level.

He now steps back down to the latter trip and will be ridden by Ryusei Sakai for a race which has attracted eight runners, including William Haggas’ Economics and the top-quality Aidan O’Brien-trained duo of Auguste Rodin and Los Angeles.

“I don’t have any concern for that (the step down in trip), he ran the 2400m and I’m sure a horse needs stamina for this so I’m not concerned,” said Yahagi, who is also targeting the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with his Siyouni colt, who is a full-brother to 2020 Arc hero Sottsass.

Yoshito Yahagi (right) surveys the scene at Leopardstown
Yoshito Yahagi (right) surveys the scene at Leopardstown (PA)

“I am satisfied with the ground, Japanese horses should have no issue with the ground so I am very happy with it.

“When he was in Japan he was in good condition, if we compare from Japan to now he has improved, so he’s fit.

“He is at the moment a three-year-old so he will improve, I hope he will improve to be top level and I’m sure he will be a top-level horse in the future.”

The trip to Ireland is a first for many years for Yahagi, who visited the now defunct Phoenix Park racecourse in the late 80s and makes his first visit to Leopardstown for a race he is greatly anticipating.

“I came 35 years ago at Phoenix Park and this is my first time at Leopardstown,” he said, ahead of a race in which Deirdre finished fourth for Japan to Magical in 2019.

“There are a lot of top European horses, top competitive horses, against us. I’m really looking forward to running against these top horses in Europe.”

As well as Shin Emperor, Yahagi is the trainer of Forever Young, winner of both the Saudi and UAE Derbys and most recently third when beaten only a short head in a thrilling finish to the Kentucky Derby in late May.

The Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar beckons for the Real Steel colt, where he will cross paths with Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy and others in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

First he will run in on home turf, or rather dirt, when taking in the Japan Dirt Classic on October 2 at Ohi racecourse in Tokyo as a preparation for his return to America.

“We are going to use a local Group One, as in dirt racing, on October 2 (as a prep race),” said Yahagi.

Forever Young’s Kentucky Derby defeat, the first of his career, was regarded by many as rather unlucky considering he was bumped in the straight, but Yahagi is taking the positives ahead of the Breeders’ Cup and is relishing the idea of meeting City Of Troy.

“I am really glad we had experience of the racing, the atmosphere, the dirt on the ground, everything we had experienced was great for my horse,” he said.

“Of course City Of Troy is one of the best horses, but there are also a lot of great horses in America. Also there is another great Japanese horse running too so it is a really competitive race for not just the Americans, but all horses.

“Honestly I am very honoured to run against City Of Troy, it will be a very exciting race.”



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Oxx still proud to be on Irish Champion Stakes roll of honour

John Oxx will always be remembered as the trainer of the great Sea The Stars, but his victory in the Irish Champion Stakes of 2009 was a third in the Leopardstown spectacular for the Currabeg handler.

His first success in Irish racing’s premier race came back in 1996 with the Aga Khan’s smart filly Timarida, but come the turn of the century, he was a frequent visitor to its paddock.

Alamshar was a beaten 5-4 favourite in 2003, a year later Azamour took the spoils, but in 2005 when strongly fancied to follow up he pulled a muscle when slipping on the bend.

“We had some good horses and the Irish Champion was quite a good race for us, starting with Timarida in 1996 and then into the 2000s,” said Oxx, one of the sport’s true gentleman and never one to blow his own trumpet.

John Oxx trained some high-class horses through his distinguished career
John Oxx trained some high-class horses through his distinguished career (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

“I had two great fillies at the time in Timarida and Ridgewood Pearl. Ridgewood Pearl won the four Group Ones in 1995, but Timarida was winning the other races like the Matron, the Prix de l’Opera and the E.P. Taylor. They weren’t Group Ones at the time, but are now because of fillies like her.

“We kept her on at four to win a Group One and she won three. She was high class, I never had better fillies than those two and they came at the same time.

“She won the Champion easy, she had a great turn of foot, she went all over the world, too.”

Alamshar ran in what is regarded as one of the best races ever to have been staged in Ireland.

“With Alamshar, it was obviously disappointing not to win – having won the Irish Derby beating Dalakhani and following up in the King George, we fancied him to win,” said Oxx.

“But that was a hell of a race that year, the first four were all top-class horses (High Chaparral, Falbrav, Islington, Alamshar) and I think it was the highest-rated race in the world that year and one of the best Irish Champion Stakes of all time.

“He was only beaten a couple of lengths but he was quite a small horse and the same thing happened to him that happened at Epsom in the Derby, he had horses around him and got a bit intimidated, he was 15:2 (hands), a lovely looking horse but not big.

“High Chaparral was on his outside through the race and Mick Kinane had him tight against the rail and he didn’t really like it.

“Maybe he found the ground on the fast side, too. He still ran well and got a rating of 125 or 126 for that race, but at the end of the year he was rated 131. It was a good run, even though we were initially disappointed.

“It was a controversial race of course, with a stewards’ inquiry and an appeal, but Mick did a super job that day to win on High Chaparral, who was a great horse.”

Azamour came with a late run to beat Norse Dancer
Azamour came with a late run to beat Norse Dancer (Haydn West/PA)

A year later, Azamour was on the scene for Oxx, owner the Aga Khan and Kinane and arrived widely forgotten, having not been seen since winning the St James’s Palace Stakes. But Oxx had always wanted to step him up in trip.

“Azamour had thrived physically between the spring and the autumn, he’d put on weight because he was a big, tall horse and he took time to reach his best,” he said.

“He was unfortunate in the English Guineas because the ground came up soft, but he ran a cracker looking like he needed further, then I still don’t know how he lost in the Irish Guineas to this day to Bachelor Duke.

“Instead of going up in trip to the Derby, which he would have nearly won, the owners wanted to try the St James’s Palace over a mile for his CV and with that under our belt, we could stretch him out.

“We did fancy him for the Champion Stakes, but Michael had him a long way back. He just liked riding him that way and he came thundering up the straight. He said he always knew he’d get there, but only did so in the last 50 yards.”

The following year, Azamour was a 6-4 favourite to beat the Derby winner Motivator, Alexander Goldrun and Grey Swallow, only for Oratorio to see them all off.

“In the next year, Christophe Soumillon rode him, as Michael had broken his wrist, but unfortunately he pulled a muscle when he slipped up on the bend,” said Oxx.

“We got him back for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, where he was unfortunate, he didn’t have a great run and was third to Shirocco. I thought he should have won.

“He was a horse Michael liked to hold up and come through horses, of course you’ll have good days and bad doing that. When he had a long straight like at York in the Prince of Wales’s, when Ascot was closed, and the King George at Newbury, that suited him.”

The story of Sea The Stars needs little introduction, six Group Ones in six glorious months – although only one in his homeland, the 2009 Irish Champion Stakes.

Oxx said: “We really wanted him to run in Ireland, but it almost didn’t happen as we’d had torrential rain that week and nobody thought he’d run, the bookmakers had him 6-1 to even run!

“Leopardstown has great drainage and missed the heavy rain of elsewhere and the ground was OK. We made up our minds the night before to run, a lot of people thought he wasn’t going to so made other plans, but it was great to run him.

“It was a great race to run in, the timing was perfect before the Arc and it got him his highest rating because it was the only time he went and really stretched away, as normally he only just did enough but he won by two and a half lengths – Mick always said he’d never win by more than a length!

“It’s a fantastic race, all the greats are on the roll of honour and I think it’s down to the timing. It can be a lead-up race to the Arc, the Champion Stakes in England or the Breeders’ Cup.”



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Memories of ‘phenomenal’ Roaring Lion still burn brightly for Murphy

Every jockey dreams of that one horse to take their career to another level – and in 2018 Oisin Murphy had Roaring Lion.

Already Qatar Racing’s main man at that point, the Irishman had tasted success at the highest level when steering Aclaim to victory in the Prix de la Foret and also striking aboard Blond Me in Canada the previous year.

However, Roaring Lion would confirm the promise of his juvenile season and prove the mainstay of a phenomenal 2018 season, where Murphy would win nine Group Ones across five different countries.

Roaring Lion and Oisin Murphy formed a winning combination
Roaring Lion and Oisin Murphy formed a winning combination (Tim Goode/PA)

The son of Kitten’s Joy would be at the side of the Kerry native for almost half of his top-level haul, and after defeats in the Craven and Guineas the Roaring Lion story began to take shape in the Dante when storming to success in York’s preeminent Classic trial.

Derby dreams were ultimately crushed amidst nagging stamina doubts, but 10 furlongs was Roaring Lion’s forte and he would soon embark on a thrilling four-timer which saw him claim some of the summer’s most prestigious prizes.

His winning streak would begin at Sandown, when finally toppling old nemesis Saxon Warrior in the Eclipse, and after dazzling once again on the Knavesmire, this time in the Juddmonte International, it would have been hard to believe even better was still to come.

“I can’t remember how many Group One winners I had that year, but it was one of my best seasons,” said Murphy.

“Roaring Lion had an incredible run up to the Irish Champion Stakes. He was brilliant in the Juddmonte International at York. Those sort of horses, they make careers for jockeys and trainers and I have very fond memories of him.

Roaring Lion accounting for Saxon Warrior in the Eclipse
Roaring Lion accounting for Saxon Warrior in the Eclipse (Julian Herbert/PA)

“His run of good form started in the Dante and in that race he was electric. He got beat in the Craven and the Guineas, but all of a sudden it started to click and I remember in the Dante he was really strong through the line.

“He didn’t stay in the Derby and there was a lot of pressure on in the Eclipse, but he got the job done and then he was a different level of horse in the Juddmonte International.”

With Group One victories at Sandown and York secured, the Irish Champion Stakes was next and the John Gosden-trained colt marched on to Leopardstown with the high-pressure occasions becoming a regular occurrence during Murphy’s halcyon summer aboard the talented grey.

Sent off the 8-11 favourite, Aidan O’Brien was responsible for four of the seven-strong field – including Saxon Warrior – as Ballydoyle queued up to knock the hat-trick seeker off his perch.

It was a huge afternoon for the then 23-year-old Murphy, who having forged his career in Britain had limited experience of riding the Dublin track.

Keen to keep his wits about him, Murphy had the right ally by his side and delivered Roaring Lion to perfection at the end of an enthralling contest.

“I knew the Irish Champion Stakes was going to be very tactical, but I thought I was on the best horse if I could get a clear run at them,” continued Murphy.

“I had to challenge a little bit wide and Saxon Warrior got first run on me, but he showed an amazing attitude and a massive turn of foot from the bottom of the straight to run down Saxon Warrior.

“The thing that was extraordinary about him was his disposition at the start. He never got wound up or anything, he just used to walk round calmly as if he knew how good he was.”

However, celebrations had to be curtailed with Murphy required on a trans-Atlantic mission the following day, with the magnitude of Roaring Lion’s success on Irish soil taking some time to sink in.

Roaring Lion and Oisin Murphy turning for home at Leopardstown
Roaring Lion and Oisin Murphy (left) turning for home at Leopardstown (PA Wire)

Murphy added: “I was actually flying to Canada that evening so I was under a bit of pressure and I didn’t get to really acknowledge what we had achieved at the time. I was riding at Woodbine the next day.

“Looking back on it now it was a truly extraordinary performance and he was just an outstanding horse.”

The Roaring Lion journey did not end in Dublin and he would win for the fourth straight time on the biggest stage when showing his versatility and successfully dropping back to a mile in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day.

The swansong of the US-bred superstar would fittingly come at the Breeders’ Cup where his ambitious tilt at the Classic would end in disappointment, but by that stage his place in the affections of those associated with him was already secured.

Queen Elizabeth II presents Oisin Murphy with his trophy after Roaring Lion's win at Ascot
Queen Elizabeth II presents Oisin Murphy with his trophy after Roaring Lion’s win at Ascot (Julian Herbert/PA)

Murphy has of course become one of the leading names in the weighing room and a three-time champion jockey. But he will never forget the summer the Lion roared loudly.

“He went on to Ascot and won the QEII and he was probably a tired horse at that stage of the year bearing in mind he had his first start in April,” explained Murphy.

“It took a lot of bravery for him to win that day and actually when he went to America after that, the way he trained in the mornings, I really began to believe he could run well. Of course, the dirt was a bit of a shock to him on the day.

“He’s probably the highest rated I’ve ridden. Benbatl probably achieved similar ratings on his best days, but there’s no doubt Roaring Lion was phenomenal.”



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Shin Emperor all set for Irish Champion-Arc double after Paris gallop

Japanese raider Shin Emperor is on course to attempt an ambitious double in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after coming through a ParisLongchamp gallop.

The three-year-old certainly has the pedigree for a European adventure, being a French-bred full-brother to Sottsass, who took the same route to Arc glory in 2020.

Shin Emperor was last seen finishing third in the Japanese Derby towards the end of May and looked in good spirits when given a public workout in Paris on Sunday.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, whose many international successes include a Breeders’ Cup double and Panthalassa in the Saudi Cup, the Siyouni colt will ultimately attempt to go one better than El Condor Pasa and Orfevre, who both finished second in the Arc for Japan.

Owner Susumu Fujita’s racing manager Hiroshi Ando told Sky Sports Racing: “I spoke to both of the assistant trainers and the rider told them Shin Emperor adapted really well on the track and he said we could make no excuse for the ground.

“He was comfortable to handle that ground; so we did the test today, we felt really well and we are very satisfied.

“Of course, he has a French background and pedigree and that’s why we are here.

“I have really realised Shin Emperor is French, because as soon as he was back in Chantilly, he reacted like he was back home!

“He looked very comfortable and he loved the French oats, which was a surprise, because normally the Japanese horses don’t eat, but he ate very well. He’s really loving being in France, I think.”

Shin Emperor is set to face a star-studded field in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, with the likes of Economics, Auguste Rodin and Los Angeles scheduled to oppose him.

Ando added: “His full-brother Sottsass, I think he went to the Irish Champion Stakes, too (finished fourth) – so we try to copy that, I guess.

“We thought that race is really good for us, so after galloping today, conditions should be good to go there, fitness-wise.

“Of course, we want to go to the Arc after that, so we have to manage his condition, but we will try our best for the Irish Champion Stakes, too.

“We really respect the Irish Champion Stakes, we don’t want to miss any race and we will try our best.”

Regular pilot Ryusei Sakai will fly over to partner Shin Emperor and has been backed to handle such big tests.

“He is a very young jockey but he rode in the Kentucky Derby this year (beaten narrowly in third), he also won the UAE Derby and the Saudi Derby with Forever Young, so he’s a very talented young jockey,” said Ando.

“Also, he won two years ago at Longchamp, so we don’t have any issue with that.”



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O’Brien keeping options open over Los Angeles programme

Los Angeles will either run in the Betfred St Leger or the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on September 14.

Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner defied a 5lb penalty in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last week, with stablemate Illinois closing him down rapidly in the last of the 12 furlongs.

If he stays at home for the Irish Champion, he will be dropping to 10 furlongs, but should he run at Doncaster, he will be stepping up to a mile and three-quarters.

O’Brien is well stocked for both races, with Auguste Rodin pencilled in for the highlight of the Irish Champions Festival, while at Doncaster, stablemates Illinois, the unbeaten Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square are heading the betting.

With City Of Troy set to skip the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in favour of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Los Angeles could book his ticket for Paris by running well at Leopardstown.

“He could go to either the St Leger or the Irish Champion Stakes. Obviously, if he’s going to the Arc, he could go for the Irish Champion Stakes,” said O’Brien.

“Auguste Rodin could go there as well with Luxembourg. That’s a little bit of a change this week.

“We’ll see what the ground is going to be like at Doncaster and there are three other horses that could run in the St Leger if he (Los Angeles) didn’t run there.

“He seems to have come out of the race (in York) well. We’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”



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Yoshito Yahagi gives Shin Emperor option of Irish Champion Stakes

Having already conquered America, Australia and the Middle East, leading Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi could be set to target one of Ireland’s top races.

Yahagi has entered French-bred three-year-old Shin Emperor for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 14.

The veteran handler – well known for his inimitable taste in hats – has enjoyed huge success on home turf with the likes of local Triple Crown winner Contrail and is never afraid of trying his luck further afield.

Loves Only You and Marche Lorraine gave him a famous double at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup, while Lys Gracieux landed Australia’s Cox Plate in 2019.

Stable stalwart Panthalassa provided Yahagi with a second Dubai Turf triumph in 2022 and went on to prevail in the Saudi Cup the following year.

Shin Emperor appears to be an ideal candidate to pick up the globetrotting baton after finishing a close fifth in the Japanese 2,000 Guineas and then taking third place in his home Derby, the Tokyo Yushun.

He is a son of Siyouni and is out of Galileo mare Starlet’s Sister, making him a full-brother to 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass.

The only previous Japanese raider to run in the Irish Champion Stakes was Deirdre, who followed up her Nassau Stakes success at Glorious Goodwood by finishing fourth behind Magical at Leopardstown five years ago.

See It Again is one of two South African entries, with the dual Grade One victor being trained by former top jockey Michael Roberts, who partnered Indian Skimmer to glory in this race back in 1988 during his time in the saddle.

Aidan O’Brien has made 14 entries for a race he has won for the last five years and a record 12 times overall, including title holder Auguste Rodin and 2022 scorer Luxembourg.

City Of Troy, Los Angeles, Henry Longfellow and Ylang Ylang are featured on the Ballydoyle list from the current Classic generation.

Recent Tattersalls Gold Cup star White Birch would be another strong home contender for John Joseph Murphy, while a 17-strong British contingent includes Inspiral, Emily Upjohn and last year’s third, Nashwa.

Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval and French 2,000 Guineas ace Metropolitan could attempt to emulate the 2016 Gallic triumph of Almanzor.



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Monday Musings: Of Champions and Challengers

Whatever happened to Trials Day? For many years, three weeks before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the French conveniently staged a trio of perfectly-framed races principally for the home defence to flex their muscles in preparation for their upcoming day of destiny at (Paris)Longchamp on the first Sunday in October, writes Tony Stafford. It also attracted some of our best candidates to reveal their talents.

One, the Prix Niel, was for three-year-olds; another, for four and upwards was the Prix Foy, these two both at Group 2 level. The third, the Group 1 Prix Vermeille, was and remains for three and up fillies and mares. All three are run over the full Arc distance of 2400 metres (1m4f).

They staged it yesterday as usual, but it was totally over-shadowed by the second day of Irish Champions Weekend, run at the Curragh – no longer it seems with the requirement of the definite article, viz “The” to go before the track name. I find it as incongruous as I do to precede Longchamp with the name of the country’s capital making it most unnecessarily unwieldy.

Why not LondonEpsom? I shouldn’t be irritated but I just can’t help it. In one other regular piece of work I do every day, I even referred to the Matron Stakes as being run at The Curragh. Silly me.

While the two Group 2 races have £65k to the winner, this was seemingly not enough inducement for a challenger from the UK. There were just a couple of Aidan O’Brien pages to accompany his Vermeille contender Warm Heart, winner last time of the Yorkshire Oaks. There, with a mixture of speed and determination under James Doyle, she held off the Frankie Dettori-ridden Free Wind, with Coolmore first string Savethelastdance third.

Warm Heart recovered well enough from her York exertions to join William Haggas’ Sea Silk Road and Joseph O’Brien’s Above The Curve in challenging for the French Group 1 and she came out on top again in another tight finish.

She had a neck in hand of home runner Melo Melo with Sea Silk Road an excellent third at 31/1. This race carried £303k to the winner and brought Aidan O’Brien a 4,000th career victory.  He had a few also at the two days at Leopardstown and Curragh, although racegoers (and me) hoping to see the colt I think could be the best juvenile we’ve seen in recent years, City Of Troy, were disappointed as he was withdrawn from the National Stakes owing to the unsuitably slow ground.

Of course, you don’t get to 4,000 winners without making provision for such frustrations, and in what was left as a four-runner race, his colt Henry Longfellow got the Ryan Moore touch as a narrow favourite in the market.

Henry Longfellow, by Dubawi out of Minding, if you please, had won quite impressively on debut, but it was only just enough to convince the bookmakers who considered Bucanero Fuerte, easy winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last time and an Amo Racing colt trained by Adrian Murray, to be his near equal on the boards.

The team evidently formulated a plan to try to thwart City Of Troy had he been there – and stayed with it to handle the substitute. The trouble was, both pacemaker Cuban Thunder and Bucanero Fuerte went off fast, leaving Ryan to sit behind them as though going out for a Sunday ride on his hack in the park. When he asked for an effort, either the effect was instantaneous, or the other pair were already knackered, but a five length win from the fourth runner Islandsinthestream, a two-length runner-up to Henry last time, and running on for second again, gives the form a solid look.

Elsewhere yesterday, Kyprios’ return to action in the Irish St Leger provided a disappointment. Last year’s champion stayer, held up in rear in another four-runner affair, never quite managed to challenge Roger Varian’s 2022 Doncaster St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, who was always travelling best. You can expect a major improvement from Kyprios next time and it will be interesting to see the outcome if they reconvene at Ascot next month on our Champions Day.

I went to Ian Williams’ Owners’ Day yesterday and enjoyed some delicious food – yes, the neuralgia has been behaving itself as long as I do likewise. While queueing, I met a man who works for Arena Racing and he was looking forward to Wednesday’s final day of the Racing League, moved from Thursday so the jockeys that have been assigned to the various teams, would not be excluded by having to ride on the normal opening day of this year’s St Leger meeting at Doncaster.

The big race on Saturday is sure to benefit from the non-clash with the Leopardstown segment of last weekend’s Irish spectacular and, with pots of money to be doled out to owners, teams and jockeys, that can only be a good thing.

Some trainers who had been very much against the idea have been virtually forced to go along with it, as quite a few of the regular races in the Calendar have been lost to accommodate the 50-odd heats in the competition.

It’s easy to see why 39 have been entered for the final race on Wednesday as this open-ended affair (top-rated 107) over 1m4f carries a £51k first prize, which compares very well with the two French Group 2 races yesterday. The slight snag is that to get a run, you must convince your team’s manager – in the case of Williams, it’s Jamie Osborne for Wales and the West – that your horse merits inclusion. Late decisions have inevitably caused trainers to miss other equally suitable if less remunerative alternatives.

For those left on the shelf – and it has happened more lately after some less than inspiring early entry figures – there’s always the option of running instead for instance at Bath. The seven races on the same day carry a total win money of £31,000. The Arc/Sky led series was a small step in the right direction, and as my fellow buffet-queuer said, “At least it might bring some younger people in to enjoy racing. There are not many youngsters here, are there?”

Thereby the conundrum. To own a horse takes a lot of money and the profile of owners with Williams is generally of people who either now have or have had their own businesses, made their money, and can afford the expense and can put up with the poor prizemoney.

True, they deserve to be looked after when they go racing, but the younger people that are so eagerly sought to become enthusiasts and regular racegoers are confronted by high entrance fees, even with some junior concessions, and very expensive catering. There are many countries which stage high-class horse racing where costs for the pubic are nowhere near as forbidding.

It was good to see Auguste Rodin add the Irish Champion Stakes to his Derby and Irish Derby wins, never mind his two lapses in the 2,000 Guineas and King George. If he had won the first Classic, instead of running at Leopardstwn on Saturday, he could have been trying to go one better than Camelot, aiming to be the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky in 1970, the stated aim for him at the start of the year.

For a short time yesterday, seeing that Doncaster doesn’t begin until Thursday, I wondered why it was only going to be a three-day meeting instead as the usual four.

Checking with the BHA site, though, I saw that, as with the first meeting every year on Town Moor, it will now extend to Sunday, a welcome injection of high-class racing on that day after some pitifully drab two-meeting Sundays in the UK in recent weeks.

The Group 3 Sceptre Stakes for fillies and mares and the Listed Scarbrough Stakes are joined by some lesser quality but competitive handicaps. But what represents a master stroke by the race planners (just a one-week reprieve for you I’m afraid, BHA) is that the Legends’ race for former great jockeys can have a fabulous weekend television and on-the-spot audience. Well done! Credit where it’s due.

- TS



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Varian ‘delighted’ with Irish Champion hope King Of Steel

Roger Varian believes King Of Steel looks stronger now than at any stage this season and is hoping his patience is rewarded with a victory in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Amo Racing-owned grey faces a rematch with his Derby conqueror Auguste Rodin over a reduced trip of 10 furlongs in the highlight of the two-day Irish Champions Festival.

While Auguste Rodin did follow up in the Irish Derby, he ran no race at all in the King George at Ascot, just like he had done in the 2000 Guineas.

King Of Steel, on the other hand, won the King Edward VII and ran well to finish third in the King George, after which Varian felt the extra time between that race and this would be more beneficial than heading to York.

King Of Steel (right) and Auguste Rodin dominated the Derby
King Of Steel (right) and Auguste Rodin dominated the Derby (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We’ve been delighted with King Of Steel since the King George. He ticked over nicely for a couple of weeks afterwards and we built up his work heading towards the Irish Champion Stakes,” said the Newmarket handler.

“I thought the King George was a very attritional race and he ran really well, but you’d be kidding yourself if you didn’t think he had a hard race, so we felt the extra two and a half weeks the Irish Champion Stakes gave us over the Juddmonte International was beneficial for a horse of his age and at this stage of his career.

“I think he’s been maturing and strengthening throughout the year and you won’t see the finished article maybe until next year, but his performances have shown you that he’s well up to performing (at this level) and we think he can only get better.

“He looks stronger now than he did three months ago and I think with a winter on his back he’ll be even stronger next year.”

Aidan O'Brien with Auguste Rodin and his work rider Rachel Richardson
Aidan O’Brien with Auguste Rodin and his work rider Rachel Richardson (Tom Maher/PA)

Auguste Rodin now has something of a question mark hanging over him but having brought him back from his dismal run in the Guineas to win the Derby, Aidan O’Brien is not too concerned.

He said: “We’re really happy with him, the circumstances are all different for this. It’s a mile and a quarter, quicker ground, he’s drawn in rather than out and we’ve been happy with him since Ascot.

“There’s a lot of things different this time. Ryan (Moore) felt him come off the bridle early last time and didn’t take a chance, he took the decision to protect him rather than damage him, which definitely wasn’t the wrong thing.”

O’Brien also runs last year’s winner Luxembourg and Point Lonsdale.

Luxembourg just got the better of Onesto last year
Luxembourg just got the better of Onesto last year (Donall Farmer/PA)

“Luxembourg is very well also since Ascot, we probably rode him a little bit forceful over a mile and a half on that ground, he’s not a mile and six horse, he’s a mile and a quarter horse that gets a mile and a half,” said O’Brien.

“He has done a lot of hard, strong work and seems in good form.”

Owen Burrows, and in particular owners Shadwell, have enjoyed a stellar season in the top races and chase another Group One with the supplemented Alflaila.

With Mostahdaf winning the Prince of Wales’s and the Juddmonte International, Al Husn taking the Nassau and Hukum starring in the King George, the famous blue and white silks have been as prominent as ever this season, despite the streamlining of the operation.

“Touch wood, all has gone well and he’s had a nice prep from York,” said Burrows referring to his only start this season, a victory in the York Stakes.

“He’s not had a break as such, but he’s obviously had a nice spell between the two races. I’m not sure about it (bounce factor) to be truthful, but it certainly eliminates that possibility anyway.

“We’re all happy he goes there in good form and we’ll see on Saturday whether or not he’s good enough.

“He hadn’t run for a good few months when he went to York obviously, so he’s going to be sharper for it and he’s going to have to be.

“But he’s won his Group Threes and he’s won a Group Two and this is the logical next step up. There isn’t too much at home for him to go for and it’s sporting that Shadwell have supplemented him to give us a chance of being involved in another top, top race.”

Adding further spice is John and Thady Gosden’s multiple Group One-winning filly Nashwa, who lost little in defeat when beaten a length by stablemate Mostahdaf at York.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Imad Al Sagar, said: “It’s really exciting to be going there with her in what looks to be a top-class renewal.

“She came out of York really well, she’s bouncing, and she deserves to be there.

“Her York run was a rock-solid performance in every way and we’re delighted to be there. The BHA viewed her York run as a career-best, they put her up to 121 which is the second highest in the race.

“Hopefully, Leopardstown could suit her style.”

Onesto was second to Luxembourg last year and is back for another crack for Fabrice Chappet – with Frankie Dettori on top.

“He has a bit of experience doesn’t he. He knows his way round,” said Chappet of Dettori.

“He was supposed to ride Onesto earlier this year and he has ridden for me in the past. I have no worries having Frankie aboard and we are all very happy about that.”

On comparing last year with this year, he went on: “The first two in the Derby look decent and a Group One race is never easy. But I am happy with my horse and he has worked well since his race first time out in the Jacques le Marois, which was a good effort.

“It’s not easy for me to say at this stage and at this time of the year is when we get the chance to compare the three-year-olds and the older horses. Before they meet each other, I guess it is difficult to say. It is consistently a good race.”



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Onesto back to go one better in Irish Champion Stakes

Fabrice Chappet is confident last year’s runner-up Onesto will put up another bold show when he takes on the likes of King Of Steel and Auguste Rodin in Saturday’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.

The French raider found only Luxembourg too strong in a high-class renewal 12 months ago and the pair are among nine runners declared for the latest edition of the Leopardstown showpiece this weekend.

Luxembourg is one of three contenders for Aidan O’Brien as he goes in search of a fifth straight victory in the 10-furlong Group One, with his dual Derby-winning stablemate Auguste Rodin considered the stable’s first string despite failing to fire in the King George at Ascot in July.

Point Lonsdale also runs for the Ballydoyle team.

Onesto has been a rare sight on the racecourse this season, but Chappet was happy with his reappearance when fourth over a mile in the Prix Jacques le Marois and is optimistic ahead of his return to Dublin, where he will be partnered by Frankie Dettori.

“One place better than last year will do,” quipped Chappet.

“He has never run a bad race, he has been unlucky a few times, but he rarely runs a bad race. So I expect a good run one more time.

“He had a little issue in the spring, but the best races for him are coming up now anyway. He is a very versatile horse, he is a Group One winner going 2400 metres (Grand Prix de Paris) and ran a very good race in this last year going 2000 metres and also ran a good race down in trip in the Jacques le Marois.

“He definitely has more speed than a mile and a half horse and he can probably do anything from a mile to middle distances – he showed a good bit of speed last time.”

Royal Ascot winner King Of Steel is favourite for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes
Royal Ascot winner King Of Steel is the possible favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes (David Davies/PA)

Some bookmakers have Roger Varian’s King Of Steel, who drops back in trip after some fine efforts at a mile and a half this season, at the head of their betting.

A victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot sandwiches placed efforts in both the Derby and in the King George and connections believe they are in the right place to hunt an elusive Group One victory for the son of Wootton Bassett.

“The ground will be on the quick side of good which wouldn’t concern us overly based on his runs at Epsom and Royal Ascot,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing.

“Auguste Rodin is on the comeback trail, Nashwa has obviously been a model of consistency this season and I thought Joseph O’Brien’s horse Al Riffa ran a very nice race in France.

“There is no such thing as an easy Group One but hopefully our patience will be rewarded. We’ve looked after him this year and Roger has been very patient and we’re excited.”

Owen Burrows’ progressive four-year-old Alflaila arrives bidding to extend a four-race winning run having been supplemented for the race earlier in the week and will look to give owners Shadwell yet another big-race success this term.

John and Thady Gosden are represented by Nashwa, who was last seen finishing best of the rest behind stablemate Mostahdaf in York’s Juddmonte International, while Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa has finished second in both starts this term, but was a big-race scorer during the Irish Champions Festival in 2022.

The field is completed by the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell, who won the Derby Trial over the course and distance before finishing fourth and sixth in the Derby and Irish Derby respectively.

Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine Tahiyra is the star attraction among 13 fillies set to go to post for the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes.

Tahiyra winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot
Tahiyra winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Trainer Dermot Weld also saddles high-class older filly Homeless Songs, who is one of two hopefuls for Moyglare Stud Farm along with Paddy Twomey’s Just Beautiful.

Aidan O’Brien relies upon Meditate, Zarinsk bids for a third straight win for Ger Lyons and Ralph Beckett’s Prosperous Voyage, Tom Clover’s Rogue Millennium and Olivia Maralda from Varian’s yard all travel from Britain for the Group One contest.

Impressive Curragh scorer Diego Velazquez is a hot favourite for KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes as one of three runners for Aidan O’Brien alongside Capulet and Democracy. His oldest son Joseph runs the supplemented Atlantic Coast and Bad Desire, while his younger son Donnacha saddles Bremen.



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Alflaila handed Group One chance in Irish Champion

Alflaila is set for his first shot at Group One glory at Leopardstown on Saturday after being supplemented for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.

Having won a Listed prize at Pontefract and Group Threes at York and Newmarket last season, the Owen Burrows-trained colt made a triumphant return from nine months on the sidelines when powering home to lift the Group Two York Stakes in July.

The four-year-old had the option of returning to the Knavesmire for last month’s Juddmonte International, but owners Shadwell already had a leading contender for that prestigious contest in the eventual winner Mostahdaf and decided to split their aces.

Alflaila has therefore been added to the feature event on day one of the Irish Champions Festival at a cost of €75,000, and his connections are relishing the challenge.

“The other choice was the Juddmonte International, but we were lucky enough to have Mostahdaf there and we chose not to run the two of them against each other,” said Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold.

“Alflaila wasn’t in the Irish Champion initially because he obviously had a little injury at the end of last year and we hadn’t seen him back on the track when the entries were made, but it now makes sense to have a go at this.

“It’s a very high-class race, as you would expect, but we’ll have a go and see what happens.”

Mostahdaf (left) beating stablemate Nashwa in the Juddmonte International
Mostahdaf (left) beating stablemate Nashwa in the Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA)

While Alflaila’s ticket is booked, Mostahdaf will not be making the trip across the Irish Sea after being taken out of the 10-furlong showpiece at Tuesday’s forfeit stage.

Gold added: “To be honest I don’t think Mostahdaf was ever really going to come here. Straight after the race at York it was an obvious one to mention, but realistically we said we’d give him a bit of time between his races and we’d love to go to Ascot for the Champion Stakes.

“It is unlikely he’ll run there if the weather has turned by then, so let’s hope we get a dry autumn, otherwise it will probably be the Breeders’ Cup (Turf).”

Alflaila is one of 13 horses still in contention for the Irish Champion Stakes, with John and Thady Gosden’s Nashwa – runner-up to stablemate Mostahdaf at York – another intended British challenger.

King of Steel winning at Royal Ascot
King of Steel winning at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Roger Varian’s King Of Steel is a leading hope off the back of his third in the King George, while Sir Michael Stoute could saddle Bay Bridge and William Haggas could send My Prospero.

Aidan O’Brien has whittled his team down to four, with last year’s winner Luxembourg and dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin joined by Broome and Point Lonsdale.

French raider Onesto (Fabrice Chappet), Al Riffa (Joseph O’Brien), Sprewell (Jessica Harrington) and White Birch (John Murphy) are the other hopefuls.

The other Group One on the card is the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes, in which Dermot Weld appears to have a particularly strong hand.

The master of Rosewell House could give Homeless Songs her first run since April in the one-mile contest and she could be joined by Tahiyra, who emulated her stablemate by winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May before following up in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Above The Curve (Joseph O’Brien) and Just Beautiful (Paddy Twomey) are also among 21 possibles.

The O’Brien family dominate the entries for the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, with Joseph interestingly supplementing impressive Curragh maiden winner Atlantic Coast.

Frankel colt Diego Velazquez and course and distance winner Chief Little Rock are two of six contenders for O’Brien senior.

Fourteen horses are in the mix for the €200,000 Dullingham Park Stakes, formerly known as the Boomerang Mile, while the Haggas-trained Al Aasy heads 13 entries for the Paddy Power Stakes.



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Nashwa in ‘great shape’ ahead of Irish Champion challenge

Nashwa is set to throw her hat into the ring for next weekend’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes following a pleasing workout in Newmarket on Saturday morning.

Having secured her third Group One victory with a dominant performance in the Falmouth at Newmarket in mid-July, John and Thady Gosden’s filly has since finished third in the Nassau at Goodwood and second in the Juddmonte International at York.

She now looks set to take on the boys once more at Leopardstown, with dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin and King Edward VII Stakes winner and King George third King Of Steel among her potential rivals.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Nashwa’s owner Imad Al Sagar, said: “We are positive, she did a nice little bit with Hollie solo on the Limekilns yesterday morning and everyone’s very happy.

“It seems the right spot to go for. She’s come out of York very well and Imad’s excited about going to Leopardstown next weekend.

“She’s in great shape and we’re looking forward to it.”



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Luxembourg and Auguste Rodin both Irish Champion-bound

Aidan O’Brien is planning to run both last year’s winner Luxembourg and Auguste Rodin in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week.

Luxembourg got the better of French-trained duo Onesto and Vadeni in the showpiece event of the Irish Champions Festival last season and has added the Tattersalls Gold Cup to his top-level CV this term.

His last two runs have come at Ascot as he finished second to subsequent Juddmonte International hero Mostahdaf in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes before placing fourth in the King George, a race in which his dual Derby-winning stablemate Auguste Rodin proved a bitter disappointment.

Auguste Rodin will bid to bounce back at Leopardstown
Auguste Rodin will bid to bounce back at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien has found no obvious reason for that listless display, but is hopeful he can bounce back at Leopardstown on September 9.

“We’re very happy with Luxembourg, everything has gone very well. The King George is a tough race and he was on the pace,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

“The plan is at the moment both he and Auguste Rodin are going to Leopardstown. Really we don’t know what happened to Auguste in the King George. He was drawn very wide and trapped very wide and he came off the bridle a lot earlier than Ryan (Moore) would have thought.

“His first impulse was to protect the horse and he was very surprised what happened. Before he had to ask too much he just pulled him up and that’s the reality of the situation.

“It’s probably a blessing in disguise as if he came off the bridle at the stage he was probably going to get a very tough race. For a baby three-year-old he was probably lucky he didn’t get into a brawl and he came home very well.”

O’Brien hinted that whatever the result at Leopardstown Auguste Rodin, a son of Japanese sire Deep Impact, is unlikely to remain in training as a four-year-old.

“He’s such a unique horse pedigree-wise he’s kind of irreplaceable really,” he said.



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King Of Steel bypasses York in favour of Irish Champion Stakes

King Of Steel will head to the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes next with connections deciding to stick to their original plan.

The Derby second and King George third, who has also won the King Edward VII Stakes this season, had been given the option of taking on Paddington and Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte International at York next week.

However, the Roger Varian-trained colt was not confirmed for the York highlight and he will drop down to 10 furlongs at Leopardstown on September 9.

“We didn’t confirm him today for York,” said Tom Pennington, racing manager for owners, Amo Racing.

“I know when you look at the prize money and think it could be quite a small field, you might get a bit carried away, but we are going back to what was always Plan A and go to Ireland.

“We’ve been patient with him all the way along and I don’t think another couple of weeks is going to do us any harm.

“He’s in good form and he’s on the right track, we’re very happy with him.

“He is a particularly big horse but he’s beautifully proportioned and he’s very well balanced, not many horses that size can go round Tattenham Corner but he floated round there.

“When you look at his size, touch wood, he should be even better again next year and we’re playing the long game with him.”



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Monday Musings: Very Few Racing Certainties

As a certain young tennis player showed the world last week, nothing is guaranteed in sport, writes Tony Stafford. Certainly, when Aidan O’Brien assembled the cavalry for their dual skirmishes around the Curragh and on the manicured lawns of Longchamp last weekend, he and the Coolmore owners were expecting more than a single winner.

Okay, so St Mark’s Basilica, forced out of York but now refreshed for the task in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, did see off the dual threat of top older mare Tarnawa and fellow multiple Group 1-winning three-year-old Poetic Flare, but that is pretty much where it ended.

True, Mother Earth should have won the Matron Stakes on the same day bar being pressed against the rail by 25-1 winner No Speak Alexander, whose rider forced Ryan Moore to ease her close home when short of room. It was only the intervention of second-placed Pearls Galore that prevented the 1,000 Guineas and Prix Rothschild winner from collecting a third Group 1 in the stewards’ room.

Luck in general was hardly on their side over the weekend. Innisfree, one of their best-backed horses at Leopardstown, was poised to collect in the Group 3 when going wrong and having to be pulled up by the same luckless pilot.

But when sending seven individual winners of Group 1 races during the current season for such an important two days’ racing not just in Ireland (Champions Weekend), but also in France (Arc Trials Day) and UK (Saturday’s St Leger), one may be forgiven for expecting at least a few of them to win.

The biggest shock of course was the ending of the explosive victory roll throughout the year of Snowfall, from unconsidered winner of the Musidora in May, through the record-making 18-length romp in the Oaks, nine-length demolition in the Irish version, and latterly a more measured four in York.

Cynics said divide it again and make it two but rather than a multiplying factor, it was the linear reduction that applied. Go from nine to four, take off another five, and you get a first defeat. Teona, third at York and a 28-length disappointment in tenth at Epsom, opted out of the Curragh and a return to the Knavesmire, instead restoring her reputation in a Windsor Listed race. Roger Varian had her primed and the resulting one and a half length (that’s the linear version working to a nicety!) put the 1-5 shot in her place.

The tell-tale stat, as if we needed to illustrate further the law of diminishing Snowfall returns, was the location of La Joconde, a daughter of Frankel and part of the regular team of maids of honour attending the queen on her perambulations around Europe.

La Joconde, a 40-1 shot at Epsom, was 11th of 14 there, beaten 34 lengths. At the Curragh, having first stopped off at Roscommon to break her maiden, she was again 40/1 when sixth, beaten 20 lengths, and the gulf contracted to just under seven lengths at York. Yesterday La Joconde, 44-1 under Hollie Doyle, was only half a length behind her principal in third, so some nice black type for her – well, they needed something on which to reflect favourably!

The Frankie Dettori magic on O’Brien horses – often getting on the Ryan Moore discards – didn’t extend to Doncaster on Saturday, either. With the stable number one in Ireland, Frankie had his first experience of riding one-time Derby favourite High Definition in the St Leger but true to form this disappointing animal proved worst of the quartet from Ballydoyle beating only one home.

The Mediterranean (28/1) in third and Hollie Doyle-ridden Interpretation (shortest of the quartet at 8-1) in fourth did as well as could be expected as Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane continued his upward climb for William Buick and Charlie Appleby. Mojo Star, second in the Derby to Adayar and unlucky-in-running in Ireland, ran a big race again but was no match for the winner who is right up there at the top of the tree.

High Definition had been favourite for all three earlier starts, but now the plug had been properly pulled and he was relatively friendless at 14’s. In all honesty he should have been double those odds but highly-held reputations earned on the Ballydoyle gallops are not easily relinquished, especially among the bookmakers.

Reappearing at York in May after an interrupted preparation he was a rusty third behind Hurricane Lane in the Dante. Yet there he was next time at the Curragh, again favourite, this time for the Irish Derby, and you could hardly have imagined a less enthusiastic performance: always loitering at the back while Hurricane Lane was again doing their untroubled business while others, notably Mojo Star, were getting hung up in traffic.

The final straw ought to have been the Great Voltigeur back at York, the traditional St Leger trial, when again unbelievably favourite, he mooched into sixth of eight. He was a decent enough juvenile but the glitter has evaporated on the track in his Classic year. It happens to the best of trainers and even Aidan.

Talking of final straws, Hughie Morrison, spitting blood when Sonnyboyliston edged out his rallying Quickthorn for first prize in the Ebor, citing how well handicapped Johnny Murtagh’s horse had been, now has chapter and verse on his side as Murtagh’s stayer collected yesterday’s Irish St Leger. Rated 113, he got the better of 117-rated Twilight Payment to earn the greater part of €300k more to swell his month’s earnings to half a million, Raducanu proportions almost!

Quickthorn beat the 2020 St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco, conceding him weight in a conditions race at Salisbury last week, proving much too good despite losing 20 lengths at the start. No doubt he’ll be giving weight to Murtagh’s horse next time!

Appleby and Buick again had the wood on O’Brien and Moore at the Curragh yesterday in the National Stakes when Native Trail saw off Point Lonsdale in a clash of two unbeaten colts. Both had gone through the ring at Tattersalls: Point Lonsdale, by Australia, at the yearling sales when a 575,000gns purchase by MV Magnier. His four wins in a row – a maiden, Listed, Group 3 and Group 2, all with comfort – explained the 8/13 starting price.

But Native Trail, a 210,000gns acquisition from the Craven Breeze-ups this year, had won two, with a narrow success in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at the July meeting at his home course, suggesting better to come. So it proved, Native Trail overturning the favourite after a short, sharp tussle. He must have moved right to the top of the two-year-old rankings after that.

Hard as the high-profile defeats had been, it must have been even more disappointing that Love and Broome, back in Group 2 company having both added in numerical terms to their top-level success – Love’s Ascot victory had been a little palled by two subsequent third places, admittedly in the King George and Juddmonte – could not convert the lower-level opportunities.

Broome had won the Group 1 Prix de Saint-Cloud but a return to France for his Arc Trial in the Prix Foy proved a disappointment as the Japanese Deep Bond made all in this full dress rehearsal for four-year-olds and up. Anyone fancying a bet on the big race next month would be well served placing a bet on course on the PMU as the hordes of supporters of the Japanese horses always distort even markets on world pool races.

Love’s defeat came from an unlikely source. When my friend Nicolas Clement bought a filly by Derby-winning Galileo stallion Ruler Of The World for Jonathan Barnett he paid the princely sum of €21,000 (his budget was €40k!). Clement has been adamant all along that she is the most promising of his fillies for next year and expects her to make a debut late next month. His reasoning was that Ruler Of The World is a vastly underrated sire.

As the result of yesterday’s Group 2 Blandford Stakes is digested it will show that La Petite Coco was winning for the fourth time in five starts for Paddy Twomey. She got up in the last stride to deny Love, with the third horse three lengths away. Already rated 110, La Petite Coco looks one to follow.

She has been the joint most productive filly by her sire in Ireland, from only a small representation, as he is based in France. Pineapple Express, trained and ridden by father and son Andrew Slattery (x2), was beaten a neck in the 23-runner finale handicap there yesterday. That made in four wins and three seconds in ten 2021 outings for her. I can’t wait to see Jonathan’s filly on the track.

**

In other news, it will hopefully be off to Yarmouth this week, either Wednesday or Thursday, for the three-year-old Dusky Lord, in whom Barnett is a partner along with Theona’s trainer, Roger Varian. I expect Roger to be in a decent mood when I speak to him before the race.

One very sad note was the death of Andy Stewart, owner of Big Buck’s and so many great jumpers, starting with Cenkos, over the past three decades. I knew him from even before he set up the company of that name with which he made his fortune.

We first met when he worked with investment bankers Singer & Friedlander, sponsors of a big chase every year at Uttoxeter. He liked to talk about his team of greyhounds at Hove stadium, with little thought of moving up into horses. That he did and with Paul Nicholls too was a joy for so many, especially the way in which he embraced horse racing and how graciously he treated everyone he met.

  • TS


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