Tag Archive for: Jonquil

Celebration time for back-to-form Jonquil

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Colin Keane delivered Jonquil at the perfect moment to return to winning ways in the Virgin Bet Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

Winner of the Greenham Stakes on his seasonal return, the career of Andrew Balding’s talented colt has somewhat stalled since finishing second in the French 2,000 Guineas earlier in the summer.

After suffering defeats at Royal Ascot over six furlongs and at this venue over seven in the Lennox Stakes, the son of Lope De Vega relished this second try at a mile on the Sussex Downs.

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With Keane showing patience, the 3-1 chance was nursed into contention by Juddmonte’s retained rider, before battling past Ralph Beckett’s course winner Saqqara Sands late on for a neck success.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “It’s a huge result and credit to Andrew and the team down at Kingsclere.

“He was nearly a Classic winner but for the barest of margins and obviously we then made an error of judgement dropping him back to six furlongs and it’s just taken us a little while to get him back on track.

“He’s firmly back on track today and the great thing was Colin felt he could maybe get a little bit further, which opens a few more avenues.

Jonquil with Colin Keane (left) after winning at Goodwood
Jonquil with Colin Keane (left) after winning at Goodwood (Steven Paston/PA)

“We’ll have to look at the programme book and see what’s available, but he’s definitely a horse you who you wouldn’t shy away from another furlong.

“It probably wasn’t the strongest-run mile and going a better pace he may even get the mile better, but he’s a talented colt and it will be exciting to work out where we go next.

“It most definitely has to be the aim to get him back in Group One company before the end of the year, he was a nose away from being a Classic winner so we’ll be working towards Group Ones. He’s won a Group Two now so the next logical step would be to go Group One.”

Juddmonte juggling pack with leading milers

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Connections of Lead Artist are confident the Lockinge hero will put Royal Ascot disappointment behind him before the season is out.

The Juddmonte-owned four-year-old claimed Group One honours for the first time at Newbury last month and was consequently among the leading contenders for last week’s Queen Anne Stakes, but he was ultimately well beaten in seventh place.

“I think they just went far too slow, they crawled for four furlongs and then sprinted and Lead Artist is a horse we know stays beyond a mile,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager, Barry Mahon.

“It just didn’t pan out for us on the day, but he’s a better horse than that, we know that, and we’ll get him back on track and see the best of him again.”

Where and when Lead Artist will bid to redeem himself is uncertain, with Juddmonte possessing an enviable hand in the mile division, with the Irish Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes hero Field Of Gold the undoubted top dog.

Lead Artist holds an entry in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes, but is unlikely to head that way if that is the chosen target for his illustrious stablemate, while Harry Charlton’s Irish Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year must also be thrown into the mix.

Mahon added: “I don’t know where we’ll go with Lead Artist yet. There’s going to be a bit of juggling there with him and Field Of Gold and Cosmic Year and Jonquil as well.

“We haven’t quite worked it out yet, but we will as we go.”

Andrew Balding’s Jonquil is another looking to bounce back from an underwhelming performance at Royal Ascot, having seemingly found the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup too sharp.

Jonquil will step back up in trip
Jonquil will step back up in trip (David Davies/PA)

He was one of two Juddmonte-owned runners who failed to run up to expectations in that Group One contest, with the Ger Lyons-trained Babouche also well held.

“Babouche was disappointing, she was just too keen and you don’t get away with being that keen in a Group One in Ascot,” said Mahon.

“It was her second time in England and her second time doing that, so we’ll have to go back to the drawing board. We’ll probably keep her in Ireland for the rest of the year and see if we can get her back on track.

“Jonquil was just a bit of a square peg in a round hole – six furlongs was too short for him. Christophe (Soumillon) felt he came home great in the last half-furlong, but he said he needs a mile and we’ll try and find an opportunity.”

Keane and Babouche looking to turn on the style in Commonwealth Cup

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Colin Keane has made a blistering start to his role as Juddmonte retained rider and it would be fitting if he could cap a fine week at Royal Ascot with victory for his mentor Ger Lyons aboard Babouche in the Commonwealth Cup.

The Group One-winning daughter of Kodiac has been a standout performer for the duo of late and is part of a strong hand for her owners, who also have Andrew Balding’s Greenham hero Jonquil dropping back in distance following his fine second in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “Babouche is in good form and won the trial for this race in Ireland in good style. We would be hopeful of a good run, but we wouldn’t be fussy which one won.

“I think it would have been tough for Colin to get off Babouche having ridden her in all her starts and his association with Ger, but both horses are in good form and ready to run well.”

Jonquil (left) is a high-class second string for owners Juddmonte
Jonquil (left) is a high-class second string for owners Juddmonte (David Davies/PA)

On Jonquil, who will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Mahon added: “Dropping back to six furlongs is a bit of an unknown, but he showed a lot of speed when winning the Greenham at Newbury and also showed plenty of speed in France and hit the front a furlong down. Oisin (Murphy) and Andrew both felt it was a good option for him.”

Babouche got the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket in the Lacken Stakes last time, with the Ballydoyle runner fourth in the Norfolk Stakes at this meeting last year before winning the Prix Morny at two.

Meanwhile, another colt dropping back in distance after an honourable third in Classic action is Charlie Appleby’s Middle Park and Dewhurst champion Shadow Of Light, who lost nothing when chasing home Ruling Court and Field Of Gold at Newmarket.

Speaking on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “Shadow Of Light is in great order, and I’m pleased with the draw (stall 19).

“He ran a great race in the 2000 Guineas and we are confident that the drop back to six furlongs is going to suit. I can’t give any negatives and I’m hopeful he is the one to beat.”

Mick Appleby’s Big Mojo won the Pavilion Stakes over course and distance in April and after no luck in running in the Sandy Lane at Haydock bids to give his connections another magical moment at the summer showpiece, as Hollie Doyle takes over the steering from husband Tom Marquand.

“He’s in good order and hopefully he has a decent chance,” said Appleby.

“It’s a shame Tom (Marquand) can’t ride him, but Hollie isn’t a bad substitute – hopefully Tom has given her the lowdown.

“He had no luck in running at Haydock last time and I think with a clear run he could have gone close. He just got stuck behind a wall of horses with nowhere to go.

“He won well at Ascot earlier in the year and is drawn in the middle which is nice as it should be good to go either way. Fingers crossed he can run really well.”

International interest is provided by Jose Francisco D’Angelo’s prolific US winner Shisospicy, who will be the mount of the aforementioned Murphy, while Francis-Henri Graffard’s Rayevka was also supplemented along with the American challenger after impressing at Chantilly earlier this month.

“It’s a very tough race and a big field and a bit of a cavalry charge, but she’s a three-year-old sprinting filly and if we’d waited we were going to have to run in a Group Three against older horses,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs.

“She won a Listed race well last time and this was her last opportunity to run in a Group race against her own age group. It is a big ask and we’d be really chuffed if she was to run into a place.

“She’s in good form, sprinting is her game and she is a top of the ground horse.”

Balding contemplating Commonwealth challenge for Jonquil

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Andrew Balding has raised the possibility of Poule d’Essai des Poulains runner-up Jonquil dropping back in distance for a shot at the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

The Juddmonte-owned son of Lope De Vega has excelled in the early stages of the season winning the Greenham before finding just Henri Matisse too good in France.

However, rather than a St James’s Palace Stakes rematch with his ParisLongchamp conqueror, the Kingsclere handler is contemplating reverting to sprinting at the Royal meeting.

“Jonquil is really good since France and obviously we’re hoping for Royal Ascot and he has a number of engagements there,” said Balding.

“I think the most likely at this stage is dropping him back to six for the Commonwealth Cup but it’s all in the mix. I’d hope he has enough speed for that.”

Balding is one of the main beneficiaries of the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute having inherited both Jonquil and the high-class Epsom-winning filly Formal and he added: “I think if Sir Michael had the horses we’ve acquired, they would have done exactly the same as what they’ve done with us this year.

“They were well looked after and well prepared and we’re very fortunate to have them.”