Tag Archive for: Israr

Alflaila unlikely for Eclipse after encouraging Royal Ascot run

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Alflaila is likely to skip the Coral-Eclipse with connections of the belief it comes too soon after his fine comeback at Royal Ascot.

Trained by Owen Burrows, the five-year-old was having his first run of the season in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and lost little in defeat, beaten less than four lengths in fourth behind Auguste Rodin.

“He ran really well, but he’s had a long time off and cleverer people than me will say that sometimes they run a really good race first time and if you run them back quick they bounce, to use the expression,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for the Shadwell operation.

“There are lots of races to be won with this horse, he’s very much on our side in terms of his attitude and determination which is a huge bonus as a five-year-old, so I think it will be more fun for Sheikha Hissa and her family for us to find races we think he could win rather than knock your head against the very best.

“We’ll probably have a scout through the book and see what we can come up with, the York race (Sky Bet York Stakes) he won last year will be in the mix. It was a really good run and it was nice to se him show his old enthusiasm and that he is still competitive at that level.”

The Shadwell colours were carried to success at the big meeting by John and Thady Gosden’s Israr in the Wolferton Stakes, and he will now step back up in class.

Israr fairly bolted up in the Wolferton
Israr fairly bolted up in the Wolferton (John Walton/PA)

“When everything goes his way, like it did at Ascot, he’s a pretty smart horse. With a fast pace and a mile and a quarter he looks good, but I think we’ve been guilty of stretching him out in trip,” said Gold.

“I know he won over a mile and a half last year, but things fell in his lap.

“Although he’s a scratchy mover he seems to love top of the ground so with a fast pace over 10 furlongs – they went like scalded cats – the only possible danger was getting to the front too soon, which if anything he did.

“Jim (Crowley) had no option when the gap opened, but to be fair to the horse he kept going. I know everyone defends their own horses, but I don’t think for one minute he is ungenuine and think he just does what he has to do so it was nice to see him run all the way to the line.

“He’s in the Juddmonte International with Alflaila, he’s a high-class horse on his day so well try to find a race for them both.”

Anmaat progressed from winning the John Smith's Cup to a Group One in France
Anmaat progressed from winning the John Smith’s Cup to a Group One in France (Nigel French/PA)

Another top-class performer for the team is Anmaat, but he has not been seen since he won the Prix d’Ispahan in May last year.

“We’re trying to get Anmaat back. He had a nasty injury afterwards and it’s taken an awful long time to get him back,” said Gold.

“He’s in half-speed work at the moment, so we’ll see where we are with him, but he’s a Group One winner so we mustn’t forget him.”

Alyanaabi once again ran respectably at Ascot when fifth in the St James’s Palace Stakes, having filled the same spot in the Guineas, and he will now move up in trip.

Gold said: “Alyanaabi ran very well at Ascot and proved to us that if he’s going to be competitive at that level he needs to go up to a mile and a quarter, he just doesn’t have the speed of those top milers.

“His pedigree would suggest he has every chance of staying 10 furlongs and we’ll see if we are right in due course.”



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Israr among strong raiding party on Bahrain Trophy

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This year’s Bahrain International Trophy looks like being the strongest to date with a strong international contingent lined up.

The contest has been upgraded to Group Two level following last season’s renewal and the prize money, which has been increased to $1million, has attracted runners from five different countries.

Among them is John and Thady Gosden’s Israr, a Shadwell owned and bred colt who has been in good form all year.

The four-year-old was second in a Group Three at Newbury and the Listed Ebor trial at York before winning the Group Two Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket in July – beating 2021 Derby winner Adayar.

He finished his domestic campaign with another second-placed run, this time in the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot, and now heads out to Bahrain in hope of collecting more prize money there.

Israr winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes
Israr winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)

John Gosden, who trains Israr alongside his son, Thady, said: “We are confident Israr will run a really nice race over the mile and a quarter, it’s a very competitive field but so it should be.

“It’s an exciting, lovely race, well timed in the calendar and the prize money has been increased so that makes it even more attractive. We’ve been second in it, so we are itching to win it one day.”

Of Shadwell’s fortunes throughout the season, Gosden added: “They have had an incredibly successful year. It is a huge achievement on the part of everyone at Shadwell to be leading owner and a lot of that success has been down to the older, homebred horses, such as Israr.

“Since Sheikh Hamdan died, his daughter Sheikha Hissa has taken hold of the operation and her father would be extremely proud of her.”

Also set to represent the UK in the race is Richard Fahey’s Spirit Dancer, co-owned and bred by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the winner of the Group Three Strensall Stakes at York.

Spirit Dancer at York
Spirit Dancer at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Daniel and Claire Kubler have an entrant in Astro King, twice a winner this season including in the 34-runner Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in late September.

Above The Curve has been entered by Joseph O’Brien whilst his father Aidan could saddle Point Lonsdale, with Noel Meade putting forward a further Irish runner in Layfayette.

There are two French-trained horses on the list in Andre Fabre’s Birr Castle and Andreas Schutz’s French 2000 Guineas winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi, whereas the home team is represented by Fawzi Nass’ Calif and Qaader.

Finally, there is a significant Godolphin challenge for the race as Charlie Appleby intends to run Canadian International winner Nations Pride and Highland Avenue and Saeed bin Suroor will saddle last year’s winner Dubai Future and Real World.



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Israr takes Princess of Wales’s honours, as Adayar disappoints

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Israr was well on top of the line, as 2021 Derby and King George winner Adayar disappointed in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket.

Charlie Appleby’s Adayar was a long odds-on favourite to get back to winning ways following a meritorious run in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Back up to his favoured mile and a half on the July course, the 1-3 market leader was expected to take care of three rivals before heading to the King George and an attempt to reclaim the crown he won two years ago.

Everything appeared to be going smoothly three furlongs from home as Jim Crowley began to get serious with Israr, but Adayar was not pulling away.

As soon as Israr, trained by John and Thady Gosden, pulled level, William Buick began to send out distress signals but there was no response from Adayar, with Israr (7-2) ultimately pulling four and a half lengths clear.

Appleby said: “I think obviously we have a decision to make, but you know me, I won’t rush into anything. We’ll get him back and see if there is anything untoward, but unless we find anything out of the ordinary…

“We will give it a week or 10 days and see if anything transpires. He owes no one anything – he’s a Derby winner. You certainly can’t go to a King George or a race like that on the back of a performance like that, though.

“I thought he would go there and put it to bed. Israr, to be fair to him, came under the pump earlier than we did and we got him at it, but Will said he just emptied as he hit the rising ground on me.

“We will see what his vitals are like after the race, but it wasn’t the ground. I’m not going to use that as an excuse.

“We will see if anything comes out in the wash. I don’t think the race came too quickly after Ascot because the signs at home were good.”

Israr was too good for Adayar
Israr was too good for Adayar (left) (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

Of the winner, Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold said: “I don’t know what the plan is, I said to John we have never got beyond trying to win a stakes race with him.

“We will have to talk. We tried him over a bit further and he didn’t get it. He is versatile in the respect he has a beautiful attitude on him. He’s a good looking horse.”

Crowley added: “It was a big improvement coming back in trip with him. He sort of outstayed the other horse, battled harder. I thought when I got upsides him, it was game over. We broke the track record, though.”

On possible plans for Israr, Gosden senior said: “We were confident he would put a good performance in, but I think if we space his races he will be a nice horse right the way through to the (Dubai) Sheema Classic next year.

“I do (have some stepping stones on my mind), but I’ve not got them organised yet. I will have to get the old book out.”



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Grand day out in prospect for Israr at York

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Israr has the chance to strike in Pattern company for the first time at York on Saturday when he heads a field of seven for the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes.

John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old got on the scoresheet twice last season, progressing expertly through the handicap ranks and picking up valuable prizes at both Newbury and Doncaster.

He then took a rise in grade in his stride when returning in the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month, forcing the now-retired Haskoy to pull out all the stops as he went down by a short head to a filly who was given single-figure quotes for the Ascot Gold Cup.

“Israr ran well first time out this year,” said Thady Gosden.

“He’s stepping up in trip which should suit him and they do a great job with the ground at York, so hopefully conditions won’t be too quick. He’s quite versatile, but like most he wouldn’t want it lightning fast.

“He’s improving and he took the step from handicap to stakes company well last time.”

William Haggas’ Roberto Escobarr won this two years ago and returns to the Knavesmire on the back of victory in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, while Hughie Morrison’s Lonsdale Cup hero Quickthorn is another with course experience on his side.

Roberto Escobarr (left) ridden by jockey Richard Kingscote (left) on their way to winning the Racehorse Lotto Henry Ii Stakes at Sandown
Roberto Escobarr (left) ridden by jockey Richard Kingscote (left) on their way to winning the Racehorse Lotto Henry II Stakes at Sandown (Adam Davy/PA)

Also engaged is the Archie Watson-trained Hambleton Racing stalwart Outbox who is out to snap a near two-year losing run on home soil at the track he almost scooped Group Three honours behind Hukum in 2021.

“His career-best effort is over course and distance,” said Cosmo Charlton, head of racing for the owners.

“He’ll enjoy the quick ground. We’re hopeful of a good run. Everything’s right for him – ground, trip and track.”

It could be a big afternoon for Hambleton, who are doubly represented in the supporting Oakmere Homes Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap with Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights and another of Watson’s string, Garner, who goes handicapping following a pair of taking victories in maiden and novice company.

Washington Heights and Kevin Stott (centre) on their way to winning at Carlisle
Washington Heights and Kevin Stott (centre) on their way to winning at Carlisle (Tim Goode/PA)

“Washington Heights has done brilliantly this season so far,” continued Charlton.

“He has run a cracker on each of his last two starts and we’re hoping for another big run. We think York suits him well. He has some solid course and distance form to his name. He ran well in the sales races last year and we’re hoping he has a good each-way chance in a strong race.

“Garner is more of an unknown quantity. His inexperience could be an issue in a very competitive race, but he’s in good form at home and he won easily at Lingfield in a novice, his first start for us. We’re hoping his mark is fair and that he can make an impact in a race of this nature.”



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