Tag Archive for: Leovanni

Leovanni set for Cheveley Park Stakes after gallant Lowther effort

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Royal Ascot heroine Leovanni will bid to regain the winning thread in Newmarket’s Cheveley Park Stakes next month after tasting defeat for the first time at York.

An impressive winner on debut at Nottingham, Karl Burke’s youngster marched on to the Royal meeting where she dazzled in the Queen Mary Stakes, showing plenty of speed to win in commanding fashion.

Upped to six furlongs for the Lowther Stakes at York, she was still in the discussion approaching the finishing line but was unable to pass Ed Walker’s Celandine as she finished an honourable third.

However, connections are taking plenty of positives from Leovanni’s Knavesmire appearance, with the daughter of Kodi Bear now poised to move into Group One company on the Rowley Mile on September 28.

“She’s bounced out of the race well and we’re delighted,” said Richard Brown, European racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“She definitely got home over the six furlongs and I thought she ran very well under a penalty.

“She relaxed nicely which was good to see and she will come to Newmarket for the Cheveley Park all being well.”

It was mixed fortunes for the Wathnan string during the Ebor weekend as the peacock blue and old gold silks failed to appear in the winner’s enclosure despite some fine efforts from the squad in defeat.

The likes of Gregory and exciting juveniles Artagnan and Realign joined Leovanni in making the podium in Yorkshire, but there was the odd disappointment along the way – especially Hamad Al-Jehani’s high-profile recruit The Strikin Viking who failed to figure in the Gimcrack Stakes last Friday.

“Most of them ran really well and we’ve had plenty of luck this year so we were probably due a week where things didn’t quite go our way,” continued Brown.

“The Strikin Viking was very disappointing and too free – he was out on a wing and we need to get cover with him.

“We will give him a break now and probably bring him back for one target at the back-end. He’s a big horse so I think he has scope for next year.”

Also on the Wathnan York team was William Haggas’ King Edward VII Stakes runner-up Space Legend who was not disgraced in the Great Voltigeur and could now be put away for a four-year-old campaign.

Brown added: “He’s a big horse and he’s only going to get better over the winter and we’ll see what we think.

“I wouldn’t completely dismiss the option of putting him away for next year as I really think he is a horse for next year.

“He has plenty of speed and I don’t think being out of a Dark Angel mare he will get an extreme trip, so we will see. We’ve made no firm decisions with him yet.”



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Burke believes Leovanni has ‘major chance’ of Lowther joy

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Karl Burke appears to hold all the aces as the exciting Leovanni seeks to replicate her Royal Ascot heroics in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York on Thursday.

The flying daughter of Kodi Bear confirmed the promise of her taking Nottingham debut when following up in style in the Queen Mary Stakes, and having been given a break following her exertions at the summer showpiece, she is back to serve a reminder of her qualities.

She is one of three in the mix for the Spigot Lodge handler, alongside Queen Mary fourth and Naas Listed scorer Miss Lamai and dual winner Unspoken Love.

However, it is Leovanni who has Burke most excited following an impressive piece of work in preparation for this Knavesmire Group Two, which the North Yorkshire handler has won twice in the last five years.

“She worked exceptionally well last Friday and I’m very happy with her and I think we go there with a major chance,” said Burke. “I think she’s a deserved favourite.”

Leovanni went into Wathnan Racing folklore when getting them off the mark for the week at Ascot in June and the Qatari operation are excited to see her step up to six furlongs, in what is seen as the “obvious next target” for the £190,000 breeze-up purchase.

“We’re looking forward to seeing her back, we gave her a little break after Ascot, with this the obvious next target,” said Richard Brown, the owners’ European racing adviser.

Leovanni and jockey James Doyle at Ascot
Leovanni and jockey James Doyle at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“Karl and the team seem to be happy with her. She’s up in trip and has to carry a penalty, but she’s in good form and we’re looking forward to seeing her on course again.

“It’s a fast six furlongs at York, so I don’t think the step up in trip will be an issue.”

Aidan O’Brien won this in 2018 with Fairyland and his Heavens Gate looks to add her name to the roll of honour, having won the Ballyhane Stakes at Naas earlier this month and placed in both the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and the Albany at Royal Ascot before that.

Ryan Moore takes the mount and told Betfair: “A beautifully-bred filly, who is uncomplicated, consistent, straightforward and hasn’t been out of the first three in five starts.

“Her third in the Albany reads well considering what Simmering has done since and she showed a great attitude to land the Ballyhane at Naas last time out. Obviously more to do here but a fast track like York will suit her well.”

Celandine has been holding her own up against colts of late but now the Empress victor reverts to competing against fillies, with trainer Ed Walker feeling she will be right in the mix.

Celandine winning at Newmarket earlier in the year
Celandine winning at Newmarket earlier in the year (Steven Paston/PA)

Walker said: “I’m looking forward to seeing her back among her own sex and the ground should suit.

“The easy six furlongs will be ideal for her and she has Tom (Marquand) on board, so I think she has plenty in her favour.

“She’s been fairly busy, but she has taken it really well and she’s a very good filly. She’s well proven and I think it is going to take a good one to beat her. We’re hoping for a big run.”

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Betty Clover and Ralph Beckett’s Tales Of The Heart finished second and third behind Simmering in the Princess Margaret Stakes recently, with Ollie Sangster’s winner giving the form a strong boost in France at the weekend.

Weatherbys Super Sprint third Time For Sandals steps up to six furlongs for Harry Eustace, while Hilary Needler winner Perfect Part will try to do what The Mackem Bullet narrowly failed to do in 2018 and give Brian Ellison Lowther glory on the Knavesmire.



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Leovanni on target for Lowther date

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Leovanni will bid to maintain her unbeaten record in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes next month, with the Royal Ascot heroine delighting connections since her Queen Mary Stakes triumph.

Trained by Karl Burke, the £190,000 breeze-up buy made the perfect start when impressing at Nottingham on debut and marched on to Ascot where she got her owners Wathnan Racing off the mark for the week with a brilliant success in the hands of James Doyle.

Given an easy time following her exertions at the summer showpiece, the daughter of Kodi Bear is now back in work and undergoing preparations for her York assignment on August 22, where she could give her handler a third victory since 2019 in the Knavesmire Group Two.

“Leovanni has done particularly well and has had a nice, easy time since Ascot,” said Burke.

“The idea has been to go straight to the Lowther and we have plenty of time between Ascot and York. I couldn’t be happier with her physically and I think she has strengthened and grown a little bit since Ascot.

“She is only starting to work back again now but she does things very well. We have had to get on with her because she was getting very fresh in herself and I’ve got two very good lads who ride her who say she is the best horse they have ridden, so we’re very happy with her.”



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Prix Morny the ‘obvious’ aim for Shareholder

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A move up in trip for the Prix Morny appears likely for Shareholder, with connections confident there is more to come from their impressive Royal Ascot hero as the season progresses.

Shareholder was one of the highlights of a successful week at the Royal meeting for owners Wathnan Racing as he blitzed the opposition in the Norfolk Stakes.

Both Shareholder and fellow Karl Burke-trained juvenile Leovanni obliged for the Qatar-based operation as their pre-Ascot spending spree at both the breeze-up sales and privately paid dividends over the course of the five-day meeting.

And having rapidly gone from exciting €460,000 purchase to Royal Ascot winner via a race at Beverley and in little over a month, the future appears bright for Shareholder.

A trip to Deauville for Group One action on August 18 has been described as “pretty obvious” by Wathnan racing adviser Richard Brown, who is excited to see how the son of Not This Time develops under the careful tutelage of the Spigot Lodge team.

“It was an amazing week and the horses did us proud.” said Brown.

“I think Shareholder was winning 40 days after being in the sales ring and he has gone from France to Newmarket, then to Karl’s and had a run in between and I think everything he has done so far has been done on pure ability.

“He is going to have to learn to race a bit more professionally and he’s seen plenty of daylight in both races. I think he is going to be much better when tucked in and given some cover over six furlongs and then showing that turn of foot coming from behind.

James Doyle aboard Shareholder after winning the Norfolk Stakes
James Doyle aboard Shareholder after winning the Norfolk Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“It’s pretty obvious, there is only really one race, and I would imagine he would go to the Prix Morny.

“I’m sure now Karl will have a bit more time with him, he will be able to bring him back and get him to a good place and he will have so much more time over six furlongs to race professionally and when he does, hopefully he can show he is up to Group One standard.”

Leovanni was equally as impressive when scorching to Queen Mary success a day earlier and having got Wathnan off the mark for the week, it will be a victory Brown will always be grateful for.

The daughter of Kodi Bear, who was a £190,000 Doncaster breeze-up buy, had impressed on debut at Nottingham, but found herself somewhat unwanted on the day of the race at Ascot and was sent off at odds of 22-1.

However, she made a mockery of that price to strike by almost two lengths and now has connections working back from Newmarket’s Cheveley Park Stakes later in the season.

“I was really impressed with Leovanni and her biggest asset is her temperament, she was so chilled before, during and after the Queen Mary,” continued Brown.

“You couldn’t help but be impressed by the way she quickened away from them and she did us proud.

“She got us out the blocks after a slightly frustrating Tuesday when we hit the crossbar a couple of times and it was great – she was a big pressure release for the whole team and I think I will forever be in her debt because there was a lot of pressure on.

Leovanni (right) winning the Queen Mary
Leovanni (right) winning the Queen Mary (David Davies/PA)

“The whole point of the team assembled was that it is not just about Ascot, but also the future and she will definitely be a big part of that now.

“I really haven’t had much of a chance to properly talk to the team yet, but I would imagine we will work backwards from the Cheveley Park. She will probably get a bit of a break now, she’s had a sale and two fairly quick runs.”

As well as the two to find the scoresheet, there was also plenty of excitement derived from the performances of Archie Watson’s Electrolyte and Richard Fahey’s Columnist, who were beaten a nose and a quarter of a length respectively in the Coventry Stakes.

With both Shareholder and Leovanni set for a short breather before returning to action, it is the vanquished Ascot runners who will fly the Wathnan flag in the coming weeks with Electrolyte on course for the July Stakes at Newmarket and stablemate Aesterius heading to Sandown on Friday week for the Dragon Stakes.



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Leovanni produces sizzling display to take Queen Mary

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Leovanni stormed clear in the final furlong to land the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Karl Burke-trained filly raced prominently in the group on the far side before James Doyle got to work and sent her to the front.

Winner of her only previous start, the Wathnan Racing-owned youngster had far too much speed for the rest and pulled clear down the centre of the track to land the honours by a ready length and three-quarters at 22-1.

Mighty Eriu stayed on to take second for Gavin Cromwell, with the Adrian Nicholls-trained Maw Lam taking third.

James Doyle gives Leovanni a pat in the winner's enclosure
James Doyle gives Leovanni a pat in the winner’s enclosure (PA)

“It’s been a lot of work from everyone behind the scenes, it’s easy for me just riding them, but a lot of work has been put in by Richard Brown (racing adviser to Wathnan) and his whole team,” said Doyle.

“I was pleased with her on debut, she won like a potentially smart filly, but it’s so hard to tell. Look at yesterday, I had the choice of three in the Coventry Stakes and the one I picked finished out the back. The other two just got beat. It’s very difficult to make choices, thankfully I didn’t have to choose between two in this race!”

He added tellingly: “I won this race before on a filly called Rizeena for Clive Britain (2013) and I would say this filly has all the class that she had. The raw speed, the ability to relax, the temperament, being versatile with the ground. There is a lot to look forward to with her.”

Burke said: “It looked very, very smooth, James said she travelled beautifully. She’s got a fantastic mind, not just for a two-year-old but a breeze up two-year-old, she’s unbelievable. Going forward I’m sure she’ll stay six (furlongs).

“Richard Brown and the team have done fantastically well, I know they’ve paid a lot of money and that adds more pressure. To get one winner is great, hopefully it’s not the last.”

Leovanni (left) won in real style
Leovanni (left) won in real style (John Walton/PA)

Brown was quick to praise Doyle, who left Godolphin to join the big-spending but fledgling Wathnan operation.

He said: “We had to work hard to get James. He is a world-class jockey, I think it is obvious to see that.

“He’s a top-class sportsman and we were very young, we were only nine months in and we were asking him to leave a top job. But I think he could see the vision of Wathnan and it’s great to see him up there picking up the trophy.

“More than being a brilliant jockey he is an amazing guy and a top team player, we are very lucky to have him and I’m delighted for him.”

He went on: “No amount of investment guarantees success in any sport, in particularly racing when there are 27 others lining up against you who cost an almighty amount of money between them.

“This filly cost a decent amount of money, but in the grand scheme of it it would not have been what some of them would have cost.

“Whether it is Wathnan or anyone it is our job to get people to participate in this amazing sport. I have been coming here for over 20 years and yet you still look around, see the royal procession and the racing, it is still a world-class sporting event.

“For Wathnan to come in with the scale of ambition they have shown and have winners at this meeting it is great for them.”

Connections of Leovanni pose for pictures with the Queen Mary winner
Connections of Leovanni pose for pictures with the Queen Mary winner (PA)

Of the runner-up, Cromwell – who won the Queen Mary in Quick Suzy in 2021 – said: “It was a great run and I certainly won’t complain. She needed to wait a while for the gap to open and she went through it well and won the race on her side. She probably got a bit lonely in front of her bunch, but it was a lovely run and we’re delighted.

“The winner won well and we won’t take anything away from her. She’s a nice horse for the rest of the year and she is only going to keep on improving. Trip-wise, I think five or six furlongs will be fine and she has a great attitude and a great mind for it, a lovely relaxed filly.”

Nicholls was proud to see Maw Lam run a big race for his relatively small yard.

He said: “I’m delighted and she was very unlucky as well the last day (Hilary Needler at Beverley). I haven’t got the firepower that a lot have coming down here, this is my only runner and you are coming with hope rather than expectation.

“She ran a great race, they went fast Hollie (Doyle) said and she has finished strong. To get black type in the Queen Mary is brilliant and it is onwards and upwards.

“She’s very relaxed, loves attention and she was asleep 20 minutes before the girls put the bridle on her which stands her in good stead.

“I’ll see what the team want to do, maybe go for a Listed race and then onwards to better things.

“Hopefully now we can go to maybe France or a race in Ireland, we’ll let her stop blowing and then make a decision. For us, with 20 horses, it is very exciting to have something that let’s us play a part in these big meetings.”



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Leovanni team eager for Queen Mary test

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Wathnan Racing are excited by the potential of Leovanni as she steps up in class for the Queen Mary Stakes on the second day of Royal Ascot.

The Karl Burke-trained filly bolted up on her racecourse debut at Nottingham a fortnight ago and is one of a number of exciting two-year-olds for the Qatari operation.

Racing adviser Richard Brown is now eager to see just what they have with her as she tackles Group Two company.

Brown said: “James (Doyle) was quite taken with Leovanni and she did it nicely at Nottingham.

“I like the way she travelled, she travelled away really nicely on the bridle without pulling. She’s an easy mover, she’s economical, very fast and strong at the line which she is going to have to be with it being a stiff uphill finish at Ascot.

“She was going away from them at the line at Nottingham and galloped out strongly. She has that profile of one run, one win and there will be a group of fillies who will have the same, but we have just got to hope for luck and then find out if we are good enough.”

Kassaya is a half-sister to 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean and broke her maiden at Nottingham earlier this month after finishing second on debut when looking very green at Salisbury.

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon expects improvement in the daughter of Kingman, although he is not certain five furlongs is her optimal distance.

Mahon said: “She improved plenty for her first run and I think she will improve again.

“I thought she still looked plenty green in Nottingham, she was chopping and changing her legs, so I think there’s room to come on and improve again from that.

“Five furlongs could be a little on the sharp side for her but it’s a stiff five at Ascot and she’s a filly who we think can progress as the year goes on.

“Andrew (Balding) has always had a high opinion of her and we’re looking forward to seeing her run.”

Chris Richardson is keen to see what the Roger Varian-trained Spherical has in the tank.

The Cheveley Park Stud managing director said: “I don’t know what she beat first time out, but she couldn’t have done it more easily and the plan is to find out a bit more about her.

“It makes sense to have a go, I think she’s done well since the race and worked nicely last week.”

Laurel returns to the track following a 396-day absence in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

Laurel
Laurel has been off the racecourse for more than a year (Steven Paston/PA)

The Group One-placed filly was due to run in the race last year but suffered a setback ahead of the meeting and has been sidelined since.

Mahon said: “It will be a big training performance from John and Thady (Gosden) and it is going to be a very big ask.

“To be fair, they are very happy with the filly, but it’s difficult at the best of times (to train winners at Ascot) and when you have been off the track for over 12 months and heading into Royal Ascot, it is a whole different ball game.

“That being said, they are happy with the filly and her work has been nice. But she is bound to need a run and will probably improve from it. We’re hopeful of a good run, but under no illusions that she is definitely going to improve for the run.”

Shadow Army won at the Dante Festival
Shadow Army won at the Dante Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)

Shadow Army was another one to catch the eye of Wathnan and Brown ahead of his engagement in the Windsor Castle.

Brown said: “James went up to Richard’s (Fahey) to ride him in a piece of work and he was impressed with him. He’s sharp and fast.”

In the Royal Hunt Cup, Roger Varian expects the admirable Perotto to be in the mix despite making his seasonal debut.

The six-year-old won the Shergar Cup Mile at the track when last seen in August and took the Britannia Stakes in 2021.

Perotto wins the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile
Perotto wins the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Steven Paston/PA)

Varian told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m not sure what ground he wants, I’m never really worried what the ground is as he seems to go on anything. He’s an admirable horse and has won at the meeting before when trained by Marcus (Tregoning).

“He won two nice races for us last year. He’s on a mark where he’d have to be at his very best to bring home the Hunt Cup on his first run of the year, but he’s dangerous in these handicaps when he does get things run to suit.

“He’s a fun horse and has given his owners great days over the years, hopefully he will again on Wednesday.”



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Leovanni makes waves in Queen Mary market

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Leovanni caused a shake-up in the ante-post market on the Queen Mary Stakes after securing an impressive debut success at Nottingham for Karl Burke and James Doyle.

A £190,000 purchase at the breeze-up sales by Wathnan Racing, the daughter of Kodi Bear was always prominent and kept on well to win by two and a quarter lengths from Sunshine Soul at 6-4.

Last year’s renewal of this maiden fillies’ stakes was won by stablemate Beautiful Diamond, who went on to finish third in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

Doyle told Racing TV: “It’s always hard to tell, but all the signs are very positive. She was a true professional on her first day at school.

“She’s a breezer, so she had a bit of experience, but she floated down to the start quietly, stood in the gates when there was a few antics going on, and she didn’t get fazed at all.

“I was hoping to get a lead really, that was the plan, to try to teach her what we could today, but she broke sharply into her stride and we were left there, so I had to let her get on with it.

“She got a little unbalanced later on, she hit a few little ridges, so the whole experience will pull her together.”

Leovanni was a fifth juvenile debut winner for the Wathnan team this term and hopes are high of making an impression at the Royal meeting.

Doyle added: “It’s been a superb effort by all the team, headed by Richard Brown buying all these breeze-up horses.

“Obviously he’s an expert in all of bloodstock, but particularly the breeze-up field. He’s bought many a good winner in the past, so he’s fully qualified to be picking these ones out and he’s done a faultless job so far.

“The first hurdle is for them to win and then go on to Ascot. We know how difficult Ascot can be to win at, but hopefully we’ve got a few going there, and if a couple can hit the board and even win, that would be great.”

Coral were suitably impressed and quoted this latest two-year-old victor at 8-1 for the Queen Mary.

Spokesperson David Stevens said: “Wathnan Racing have been busy building their team for the Royal meeting and in Leovanni they look to have a juvenile filly who would have a major chance in the Queen Mary.”



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