Tag Archive for: Richard Brown

Kyprios sights set on Gold Cup repeat

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Kyprios is out to regain his crown in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

The Aidan O’Brien trained six-year-old beat Mojo Star by half a length to win the 2022 renewal, but was absent last year as he was restricted to just two runs by injury and finished second in both of those races, including when beaten a neck by the reopposing Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup.

But this season he has shown a return to the type of form that saw him win six out of six as a four-year old.

He has beaten Queenstown twice as a long odd-on favourite over a mile and three-quarters at Navan and Leopardstown and the step back up to two and a half miles will hold no fears for the son of Galileo.

Aidan O’Brien (left) and Ryan Moore hold up the Ascot Gold Cup
Aidan O’Brien (left) and Ryan Moore hold up the Ascot Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

O’Brien said: “Kyprios is a hardy horse and everything has gone well with him, he’s training well and seems in good form. He’s an unbelievable horse and to have him back to this pitch, we’re delighted really.

“I don’t think there is any worries about the ground and I always thought he wanted nice ground, he’s a very good mover.”

Victory for David Menuisier’s Caius Chorister would cap a remarkable career trajectory for his five-year-old mare.

The daughter of Golden Horn won off a handicap mark of 53 at Yarmouth as recently as May 2022 before working her way up to Group race territory over the last eight months.

She landed the Group Three Prix Belle de Nuit in France in October before being headed in Gold Cup trials at Ascot and Sandown by Coltrane and Sweet William respectively, both times when conceding a 3lb penalty.

Sweet William, right, beats Caius Chorister, left, by a head in the Chasemore Farm Henry II Stakes at Sandown
Caius Chorister, left, has been beaten by a head in her last two starts (John Walton/PA)

“She’s been unbelievable from the start, because she’s never really shown much on the gallops and she’s not the prettiest, although we love her, don’t get me wrong. She’s so tough and she always turns up,” Menuisier told the British Champions Series.

“The only race she’s disappointed was when the lad who rides her at home was away following a family bereavement, so perhaps she was grieving too. She didn’t win last year until Saint-Cloud in October, but I think she was extremely unlucky in the Ebor.

“She’s amazing and I take my hat off to her every morning when she walks past. She’s a street fighter. Whatever happens we’ll enjoy the day, but I’m keeping everything crossed that she can win the race, not for me or for Clive (Washbourn, owner) but for her.

“It would be fantastic if she could strike at Group One level after working her way up from 53.”

Gregory represents Wathnan Racing who won the race last year with the currently sidelined Courage Mon Ami.

Gregory and Frankie Dettori (left) on the way to winning the Queen’s Vase
Gregory and Frankie Dettori (left) on the way to winning the Queen’s Vase (David Davies/PA)

Gregory won at the meeting last season in the hands of Frankie Dettori when landing the Queen’s Vase and he warmed up for this race with his only appearance this season when third to Giavellotto in the Yorkshire Cup during the Dante Festival.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan, is confident Gregory can stay the course over a distance five and a half furlongs further than he has ever run before.

“We were delighted with York and thought it was a great prep for this, I thought he was finishing off strongly.

“It was amazing for Wathnan to win this race last year in what was really their first few weeks of ownership and it’s amazing to be going back with a colt with another chance.

“It’s a very tough race and Kyprios is a worthy favourite, but there’s others in there to worry about as well. Hopefully he can be a good substitute for Courage Mon Ami.

“I think he will stay but you never know until you run them over those extreme distances.

“The one thing James (Doyle) has always said is he has such a great temperament and that is such an asset in those staying races because you have to gallop down the hill and many horses lock on there, and James felt he would just be able to switch him off for two miles and get him into a rhythm and that is so important in those staying races.”

Trawlerman will be hoping to deny Kyprios once again when the pair renew their rivalry over two and a half miles.

Trawlerman, right, defeats Kyprios, left, by a neck at Ascot
Trawlerman, right, defeated Kyprios, left, by a neck at Ascot last October (John Walton/PA)

It will be the first appearance on British soil for John and Thady Gosden’s charge since defeating his O’Brien-trained rival by a neck on Champions Day in October.

He finished three and a half lengths behind Tower Of London in third in the Dubai Gold Cup in March, with William Buick, who rides the six-year-old for the first time, confident of another strong showing.

“I sat on him for the first time and rode work on him last week, and he’s in great form,” Buick said. “He was a good third in the Dubai Gold Cup and the question with him and a lot of the others is the last half mile.

“I haven’t had much luck in the Gold Cup, but he’d be one of my better rides in it for sure.”

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.”