Tag Archive for: Lead Artist

Lead Artist brushes aside Liberty Lane for Newmarket win

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Lead Artist continued his progression with a smooth victory in the Space Blues Darley Stakes at Newmarket.

The only three-year-old in the field, following the morning withdrawal of fellow Juddmonte-owned Skellet, he held off the Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane inside the final furlong.

A winner from King’s Gambit at Goodwood in the summer, his last performance was meritorious enough when second to multiple Group One winner Kinross at Doncaster.

Kieran Shoemark was content to sit off the pace as Al Mubhir and Liberty Lane set the fractions and when Al Mubhir dropped away to leave Liberty Lane in front, Lead Artist moved menacingly up to challenge.

He went a length up but briefly looked like he may have to really battle as Liberty Lane threatened to make a fight of it.

However, on meeting the rising ground, the 3-1 chance pulled a length and a half clear to give John and Thady Gosden something to look forward to next year.

Peace Man, a stablemate of the winner and having his first run for over a year, was back in third.

John Gosden said: “He’s done everything right and he came second to a very good horse who is a multiple Group One winner (Kinross) at Doncaster last time.

“He’s done it well and beaten the Cambridgeshire winner, it was a solid race and the ground was slightly on the testing side, but it was good and for this time of year we’re lucky to have it.

“I’m delighted for the winner – and the other horse of ours, Peace Man, has been off for a year and has come back and finished third, so that was good.

“I think the door is open now to probably go a mile and a quarter with him next year. He has been slow to come to himself but he has improved dramatically both physically and mentally and I think next year will be an exciting time for him.

“He’s in the Bahrain Trophy and that could be a place we run before coming back next year.”

Dubai Future Champions Festival – Newmarket Racecourse – Saturday 12th October
Lead Artist (right) on route to victory (Mike Egerton for The Jockey Club).

Barry Mahon, racing manager for the owners, added: “He’s always been a nice colt that we felt could be high class.

“We bumped into Kinross last time, which was no mean feat, and he proved he is still a good horse when he was second at Longchamp in the Foret.

“I think he will continue to progress, a mile and a quarter will be within his compass and some better ground will be a bit more favourable. It gives us plenty of options.”



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Princess Royal defence in Time Lock’s sights

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Time Lock could bow out on a high if she successfully defends her Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes crown at Newmarket on Friday.

The Juddmonte homebred stormed to her first Group-level victory 12 months ago when she scored by four and a quarter lengths ahead of Sweet Memories.

The Frankel mare finished second in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes over the same 12 furlongs she faces here back in May and has not run since finishing third in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes in July.

Giavellotto, centre left, on their way to winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket
Time Lock, left, came third on her last start at Newmarket (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte, hinted the 15th start of her career is likely to be Time Lock’s final appearance on the track, unless conditions suit for a last hurrah, as the Harry Charlton-trained five-year-old leads a field of eight.

He said: “She’s had a nice break, a little freshen up and she’s going back to familiar territory having won this race last year.

“She’s coming up to the last race of her career, maybe her second last depending on ground conditions, but she’s in good form and Harry is really happy with her, so we are hopeful of a good one.

“We wouldn’t want to have too much rain, (I’m) not sure what the weather’s like but she wouldn’t want it too soft.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Place Of Safety leads the younger rivals alongside Mistral Star, who is looking to build on a Listed success at the July course for Hughie Morrison.

Sea Of Roses, trained by Andrew Balding, arrives on the back of victory in the August Stakes at Windsor, Divina Grace is a course-and-distance winner for Rae Guest and David Simcock has Hollie Doyle booked for Sinology.

Comic Book represents Jessica Harrington and the line-up is completed by Charlie Johnston’s Francophone.

The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes looks set to be a hot contest despite the small field of six over the mile.

Karl Burke’s Ice Max comes into the contest on the back of Group Two success in the Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood last month and will renew his rivalry with Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Poker Face, who he beat in that race by a length.

Prague was second last time out at Haydock for Dylan Cunha and he steps up to Group Two level for the first time, while Dancing Gemini is seeking a first win of the year for Roger Teal having been set some stiff tasks.

Kinross wins the Betfred Champagne Stakes on day three of the Betfred St Leger Festival
Lead Artist, second left, will step back up to a mile after finishing second behind Kinross in the Champagne Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Gosden-trained Lead Artist returns to a mile after finishing second to Kinross when dropped to seven furlongs for the first time in the Park Stakes at Doncaster on St Leger Day.

“He’s come out of it (Doncaster) great, I thought he ran a good race beaten by a quick horse on the day,” Mahon said of the Juddmonte colt.

“Dropping back to seven (furlongs) wasn’t ideal, but we didn’t get to run at Goodwood (in the Celebration Mile) with heavy ground so it didn’t leave us with a huge amount of options. He ran a good race, back up to a mile will suit and he wouldn’t want too much rain.

“We said we would roll the dice, he’s a lightly-raced horse, didn’t run at two, so the experience has done him good and in fairness, Kinross is a warrior. He looked very good that day.”

The Ralph Beckett-trained Task Force has been knocking on the door in Group company this season and will be ridden by Ryan Moore for the first time at Newmarket.

He is a second Juddmonte contender after taking fourth place on his last start when trying nine furlongs in the Strensall Stakes at York.

Mahon added: “He’s had a little freshen up since York so he’s in good shape and in an ideal world you wouldn’t be running them together, but opportunities are few and far between so we’ll roll the dice and see how we get on.

“Rossa (Ryan) has been brilliant on him all year to be fair, but as he tends to do, Ryan does ride for us when he’s free and he has no commitments. We are lucky to secure his services on Friday and hopefully we will be able to reap the rewards.”



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Lead Artist aiming to take starring role at Newmarket

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Impressive York scorer Lead Artist will bid to give owners Juddmonte back-to-back victories in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden – who won this race with Mighty Ulysses the last time it was staged in 2022 – the son of Dubawi was narrowly denied in the Wood Ditton on debut before shedding his maiden status in real style on the Knavesmire.

He now makes the jump up to Listed level, where he could tee-up a step into even classier company if thriving in a race named after the man who enjoyed many great days training for the owners.

“He’s going to run on Thursday and he’s in good shape,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager.

“We obviously bypassed Royal Ascot, which was hopefully the wise thing to do, and he’ll go there in good shape and he’s one that we’re looking forward to.

“It’s been a high-class race in the last couple of years to be fair and it’s a nice stepping-stone into those nice races in the second half of the season – races like the Sussex and the Marois.

“We’re hoping that Lead Artist can jump into that sort of level.”

A field of six will head to post for the one-mile event, with Charlie Hills’ unbeaten Socialite another chancing his arm at this level having impressed in calmer waters, while Oisin Murphy will once again partner the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Kitty Rose after her fifth in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Al Musmak drops back to a mile at Newmarket
Al Musmak drops back to a mile at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Richard Fahey’s Native American and Charlie Appleby’s Bold Style will both be making the move up to a mile for this event, while Roger Varian’s Al Musmak was a winner over this trip last season before placing in the Royal Lodge and is one who now drops back in distance.

There may be only four in the opening Bahrain Trophy Stakes, but there looks to be a quality quartet engaged as connections seek to continue Space Legend’s education.

A part of Wathnan Racing’s pre-Ascot spending spree, the son of Sea The Stars had no answer for the impressive Calandagan in the King Edward VII Stakes, but has been pleasing trainer William Haggas since and now gets the chance to tackle an extra furlong.

“The slight step up in trip won’t harm him and I think this horse is going to stay,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

Space Legend (left) bumped into Calandagan at Royal Ascot
Space Legend (left) bumped into Calandagan at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“He ran a tremendous race at Ascot and just bumped into one, Calandagan looked a bit of a freak that day.

“He has come out of Ascot well and we were pondering whether to wait for Goodwood, but William has said he is fit, well and healthy and I think he is still a big baby who will get better with racing, so he is going to go and take his chance.

“Charlie Appleby runs Ancient Wisdom and he deserves a huge amount of respect, as does the rest of the opposition, it looks a tight little race.”

Andrew Balding’s Royal Supremacy was a place behind Space Legend in third at the Royal meeting, while it is Ancient Wisdom who heads the bookmakers’ lists for the Moulton Paddocks team.

Ancient Wisdom securing Group One honours at Doncaster last season
Ancient Wisdom securing Group One honours at Doncaster last season (Richard Sellers/PA)

A Group One winner at two, he was second to heralded Dante winner Economics at York on his return to action before finishing in mid-division in the Derby.

Ancient Wisdom has not been seen since Epsom, but now bids to give his handler a third Bahrain Trophy win in four years.

“They’ve had rain at Newmarket, although it looks as though the ground will be good to soft or probably nearer genuine good ground,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

“We feel that the step up in trip is going to be the most important thing for Ancient Wisdom and he goes there in good order.”

Aidan O’Brien will saddle Portland
Aidan O’Brien will saddle Portland (Damien Eagers/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s Portland completes the line-up seeking to become his handler’s first winner of this race since Housesofparliament in 2016.

His jockey Ryan Moore told Betfair: “Ancient Wisdom looks the one to beat on his juvenile form, and then the others in here look pretty evenly matched, with King Edward VII runner-up Space Legend the up-and-comer of those.

“A winner over a mile and a half previously, Portland definitely shaped like a greater test of stamina would suit in the Hampton Court over 10 furlongs last time and he gets that here.”



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No rush to firm up plans for smart-looking Lead Artist

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Connections of Lead Artist are keen to let the dust settle on the exciting colt’s dominant display at York last week before considering the next plan of attack.

Beaten a nose by Charlie Appleby’s First Conquest on his debut in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket’s Craven meeting, the son of Dubawi reversed that form in some style in novice company on the Knavesmire, pulling almost five lengths clear of his rivals, with First Conquest 11 lengths back in fourth.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained winner holds an entry in the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he appears far from certain to take such a leap in class so early in his career.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: “Lead Artist was very impressive, he’s a beautiful colt and has always been a beautiful colt.

“John and Thady have taken their time with him and we were disappointed to get beat the first day, even though it was the smallest of margins. In another few yards we would probably have got up, but it was probably no harm that he got to have another go at his maiden and we were delighted with him at York.

“I don’t really have a plan for him at this point in time. I think we’ll give him a week or 10 days, see how he comes out of it and then start thinking about where we’re going to go.”

On an appearance at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace, Mahon added: “It would be a massive step and it would be a conversation to be had, but I think in an ideal world you’d like to be going for an intermediary (race) before going for a race of that calibre. I’m sure John and Thady will come up with something next week.”



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Lead Artist takes starring role at York

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John Gosden may have found a contender for the St James’s Palace Stakes after Lead Artist bolted home by four and three-quarter lengths at York.

Lead Artist was beaten a nose by First Conquest when the pair made their debuts in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket in April, but in receipt of 6lb this time, he reversed that form with ease on the Knavesmire.

The three-year-old was battling with First Conquest for the lead with two furlongs remaining before he hit the front.

Lead Artist was closely followed by Dark Tornado and Under Siege, but he continued to stretch his advantage as he powered to the line and shed his maiden tag comfortably in the Darley EBF Novices Stakes, with Under Siege a distant second for Andrew Balding.

The Dubawi colt has an entry for the Group One contest at Royal Ascot and Gosden, who trains in partnership with his son Thady, did not rule out the option, with Lead Artist now a 12-1 shot from 33s with Coral.

“We couldn’t run him last year but he’s come on from the Wood Ditton,” he said. “Obviously the Wood Ditton winner was giving him weight today, but he’s pulled nicely clear in the last furlong, that was his most impressive.

“He’s a grand horse. I think a stiff mile is his game right now. He’s out of Obligate, a good Juddmonte family, but when you look at him he looks like a powerful Dubawi, so I wouldn’t want to stretch him out.

“I wouldn’t be keen on bringing him back to seven, but a stiff mile would be good. Something has to take on the Guineas winner (Notable Speech at Ascot) and my, he was impressive.

Lead Artist
Lead Artist eased to victory in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’d watched him win at Kempton and he’s the most beautiful moulded horse, by the same sire. Someone has to finish second and third!”

Botanical ran out an impressive three-length winner of the Knights Solicitors Handicap.

The Roger Varian-trained market leader justified his 5-2 price tag when he got his nose in front for the first time inside the closing stages before blitzing the other 15 runners in the mile-and-two-furlong race.

Botanical, Loyal Touch, King’s Code and Qitaal were to the fore with just over a furlong to run and it looked as though it could have been a blanket finish.

But it was four-year-old, in the hands of James Doyle, who kicked on when it mattered most to secure victory on his first appearance of the season, ahead of David Evans’ King’s Code with Reach, trained by Mick and David Easterby, a length and a quarter further adrift in third.

Botanical
Botanical comes home to win the Knights Solicitors Handicap (Mike Egerton/PA)

It provided another success for Varian and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum in this race, having won with UAE Prince in 2019.

Doyle said: “He was in super nick today. The worry was the drying ground.

“He was so dominant on soft to heavy ground in Hamilton, maybe it was a weak race, but he showed there that he can cope with these conditions no problem.”

Riot (16-1) ended a nine-race winless run when claiming the Yorkshire Equine Practice Stakes by two and a half lengths.

Riot
Riot secured the Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap on Friday (Mike Egerton/PA)

The David O’Meara-trained seven-year-old hit the front inside the final furlong before bursting further clear, with Richard Fahey’s Gincident only a neck clear of Hectic in second.

Jockey Danny Tudhope said: “I got a lovely track through, sometimes you can get boxed in. Your horse needs to be ridden with a lot of luck, he travelled super and got a nice gap.”

Jubilee Walk then claimed the concluding Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap for Oisin Murphy and James Ferguson, streaking to a length-and-a-quarter victory as the 4-1 favourite.

The three-year-old was dropping back to five furlongs for the first time and seemed to relish the sprint distance when giving his jockey, who took the Boodles Yorkshire Cup on Giavellotto earlier in the day, a double on the card.



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