Tag Archive for: Rockfel Stakes

Bubbling powers home for convincing Rockfel victory

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Bubbling finished with gusto to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a fourth victory in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.

A winner on her second start at Galway before finishing third in a Listed event at the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown two weeks ago, Bubbling was a well-supported 11-8 favourite to successfully graduate to Group Two level on the Rowley Mile and make it a treble on the card for Ryan Moore.

After being slightly slow into stride, Moore gave the No Nay Never filly time to find her feet during the early stages of the seven-furlong contest while the Victorious Racing-owned pair of Serving With Style and Duty First vied for the lead.

However, Bubbling was produced with a well-timed challenge against the far rail inside the final furlong and the further she went, the better she looked, eventually passing the post with two and a quarter lengths in hand over Serving With Style in second.

The previously unbeaten Formal, bidding to give the soon-to-retire Sir Michael Stoute his fourth Rockfel success, was disappointing in fourth.

Paddy Power cut Bubbling to 6-1 from 16-1 for the Fillies’ Mile back at Newmarket on October 11, although her trainer suggested she may not run again this season.

O’Brien watched from home but said: “We were delighted with that.

“She ran a very good race the last day but things just didn’t work out for her, it was a bit messy.

“She’s definitely a filly to look forward to for next year. She could be a middle-distance filly but she’ll be fine over a mile also.

“I’m not sure if she’ll run again this year, possibly not, but we’ll see.

“She obviously handled the soft ground very well anyway, I don’t think any ground is going to bother her.”

Moore told Racing TV: “They didn’t go that mad and when they quickened, she just got a bit lost and unbalanced. She’s still learning and stayed on well up the hill. She’ll be comfortable going a bit further.

“We’re still learning about them (O’Brien’s juvenile fillies), it’s early days. They won’t finish their progressions for a while yet, so we’ll learn and run them and Aidan will work them out.”

Formal seeking final Rockfel success for Stoute

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Formal is out to give Sir Michael Stoute a fourth and final victory in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday, with his glittering training career nearing an end.

The Cheveley Park-owned and bred filly has an incredibly smart pedigree as she is by Dubawi and out of Veracious, a Group One-winning Frankel mare who was also trained by Stoute.

Formal saw off two subsequent winners when making a winning debut at Newbury in July and followed up in some style at Leicester earlier this month to earn herself a move to Group Two level, although her participation is ground dependent.

“We just have to make sure the ground is going to be fine, but the intention is to run,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson.

“She came out of her last race well and obviously Sir Michael is happy with her, so we look like we’re going to be stepping out again and stepping up hopefully.

“It would be great to win a nice race for Sir Michael before the season is over. Hopefully Formal and Anna Swan, who could run in the Fillies’ Mile next month or the Oh So Sharp Stakes on the same day, can progress between them to give him a bit of a swansong.”

Aidan O’Brien fires a twin assault, with stable jockey Ryan Moore siding with Ecstatic over her stablemate Bubbling, who will be ridden by Sean Levey.

Tipperary maiden winner Ecstatic was last seen finishing fifth in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, while Bubbling placed third in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown last time out.

Ryan Moore rides Ecstatic in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket
Ryan Moore rides Ecstatic in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Ecstatic progressed nicely from her debut at Leopardstown to win on her second start at Tipperary, keeping on well to comfortably land the race in the final stages,” Moore told Betfair.

“She was then disappointing at Doncaster when last seen in the Group Two May Hill Stakes, stumbling when coming out of the stalls, but hopefully she can learn from that.

“She went on to finish fifth behind some talented fillies in Desert Flower and stablemate January and she is probably the form horse in the race, although it does look an open contest.

“Bubbling ran a nice race at Leopardstown during the Irish Champions Festival, just being bumped when coming out the stalls but stayed on well, only finishing a length back in third behind Chantez who looks a nice horse.

“It is an open race with Formal also in there who I rode to victory last time out at Leicester, but both Aidan’s fillies’ look to have their chances.”

Other contenders include Archie Watson’s Prestige Stakes runner-up Duty First and the Ed Walker-trained Troia, who has not been seen in competitive action since making a successful start to her career Newbury in mid-July.

Newmarket TV Trends: Fri 27th Sept 2024

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Another big day of LIVE ITV racing this Friday as the cameras head to Newmarket to take in four races, including the Group Two Rockfel and Joel Stakes.

As always, we’ve got it all covered with all the big-race trends for the LIVE races, plus our verdict on each contest.

Newmarket Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)

 

1.50 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF Rosemary Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 1m ITV3

13/13 – Had between 3-6 runs that season
12/13 – Had won over 1m before
12/13 – Didn’t win last time out
10/13 – Won between 1-3 times before
10/13 – Winning distance – 1 length or shorter
10/13 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
9/13 – Drawn in stalls 7 or lower
9/13 – Aged 3 years-old (5 of the last 6)
7/13 – Had run at Newmarket (Rowley) before
5/13 – Placed horses from stall 3 (2 winners)
4/13 – Raced at Ascot last time out
3/13 – Trained by William Haggas (3 of the last 10)
3/13 – Trained by John Gosden (3 of the last 9)
2/13 -Trained by Richard Hannon
2/13 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
0/13 – Winning favourites
Richard Hannon won the race in 2013 and 2020
William Haggas won the race in 2014, 2017 & 2018
John Gosden won the race in 2015, 2016 & 2023

2.25 – Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 1m4f ITV3

17/19 – Ran in the last 8 weeks
16/19 – Had won over 1m2f or further in the past
16/19 – Finished in the top 4 last time out
15/19 – Placed favourites
15/19– Won between 1-3 times before
12/19 – Aged 3 years-old
12/19 – Returned 9/2 or shorter in the betting
8/19 – Winning favourites
8/19 – Won last time out
3/19 – Ran at Doncaster last time out
3/19 – Ridden by William Buick
3/19 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
2/19 – Trained by Sir Michael Stoute
Time Lock won the race in 2023
The horse from stall 12 has won 3 of the last 11 runnings
Trainer John Gosden has won 4 of the last 12 runnings

3.00 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) Cl1 7f ITV3

19/20 – Had won 1-2 times in the past
17/20 – Placed in the top 3 last time
17/20 – Raced in the last 6 weeks
13/20 – Won by a March or April born foal
11/20 – Placed favourites
10/20 – Won over 7f before
9/20 – Won last time out
5/20 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
4/20 – Winning favourites (just 1 in the last 9)
4/20 – Winners from stalls 1 or 2
3/20 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
3/20 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
2/20 – Trained by trainer Mick Channon
2/20 – Won by the Hills yard
2/20 – Won by trainer Jim Bolger
2/20 – Went onto win the 1,000 Guineas the following season
James Doyle has ridden 2 of the last 9 winners
9 of the last 15 winners came between stalls 5-8 (inc)

3.35 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 1m ITV3

18/20 – Had won a Listed or Group race before
17/20 – Officially rated between 111-118
16/20 – Had won a Group race before
15/20 – Had won over 1m before
15/20 – Raced in the last 6 weeks
15/20 – Failed to win last time out
15/20 – Priced 5/1 or shorter in the betting
14/20 – Had raced at Newmarket (Rowley) before (6 won)
12/20 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
12/20 – Won 4 or less times before
10/20 – Raced at either Doncaster, Haydock, Newmarket or Newbury last time out
8/20 – Winning favourites
7/20 - Aged 4 years-old
4/20 – Won by Godolphin (Saeed Bin Suroor)
4/20 – Ridden by Oisin Murphy
3/20 – Trained by Sir Michael Stoute
3/20 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (including 2 of last 9 runnings)
2/20 – Trained by Roger Charlton
2/20 - Trained by David O’Meara (2 of the last 12)
2/20 - Trained by Andrew Balding (2 of the last 7)
Trainer Charles Hills has won the last two runnings
Jockey Jim Crowley has ridden the last two winners
The last 9 winners were drawn in 6 or lower
5 of the last 6 winners drawn in 2 or 3
4 of the last 9 winners came from stall 2

 

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Carla’s Way rocks at Newmarket to line up Breeders’ Cup bid

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Carla’s Way could have booked a trip to the Breeders’ Cup after storming to victory in the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s juvenile cruised past the trailblazing Spiritual between the final two furlongs and was always doing enough under a masterful James Doyle ride to stay clear of the fast-finishing Shuwari.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner was eighth in the Albany at Royal Ascot after a Doncaster debut win and then finished second to Darnation in the Prestige at Goodwood following a wind operation.

This was another big step in the right direction for the 7-2 winner and connections will now consider a trip to Santa Anita.

“She did it really well, I think the fractions early on were pretty strong so all credit to her for picking up well,” a delighted Simon Crisford told ITV Racing.

“I think she was slightly running on empty the last hundred yards, so that’s probably as far as she wants to go trip wise.

“I think the Filles’ Mile back here in two weeks might just be stretching her stamina too much, but a quick two-turn mile at the Breeders’ Cup in California might be OK, as this was a win-and-you’re-in race.”

On a potential Classic bid next year, Ed Crisford added: “Whether she will quite stay a mile I’m not sure. We will get this year out of the way and then think about next year and see how she is training over the winter before thinking of the 1000 Guineas.”

Shuwari (13-8 favourite) was two and a quarter lengths back in second, with Ylang Ylang staying on for third.

And while Carla’s Way is unlikely to go for the Fillies’ Mile, Shuwari could be back at Headquarters on October 13.

Trainer Ollie Sangster said: “I was very happy, and she ran great. I suppose the way the race panned out she had a lot to do but she stayed on well.

“It was just the way the race panned out, but she came home very strongly. We will see how the next week goes but we could think about coming back for the Fillies’ Mile.

“She had been off for 64 days and she will come on again so we will definitely think about the Fillies’ Mile.”

Shuwari commanding plenty of attention on Newmarket return

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Shuwari returns from a two-month absence in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday, with her form being franked in some style during that lay-off.

Ollie Sangster’s filly followed up a Newbury novice stakes success by getting the better of Fallen Angel in the Listed-class Star Stakes at Sandown towards the end of July.

That runner-up has since gone on to land the Sweet Solera at Newmarket and the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Sangster. “Her first two runs were pretty straightforward, she looks a lovely filly and I think the better ground will bring out the best in her.

“We wanted to run her in the Prestige at Goodwood, but she suffered a small setback which ruled that out.

“So she’s not as battle-hardened as some of the other runners in the race, but that can’t be helped and we’re hopeful she can carry on improving.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Ylang Ylang bids to redeem her lofty reputation in this Group Two contest over seven furlongs after disappointing in the Moyglare.

The Frankel filly was made favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas following a couple of convincing victories, but finished last of nine at the Curragh earlier this month.

Carla’s Way was a beaten favourite in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot after impressing on her Doncaster debut, but showed the benefit of a wind operation last time out.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner was prominent for a long way when second to Darnation in the Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.

Ed Crisford said: “She ran a nice race at Goodwood when finishing second on ground that probably didn’t suit her. She comes into this in good form, I think she’s just come on a bit for that run, and the going should be spot on for her this time.”

Spiritual was weak in the market before her Leicester debut and showed signs of greenness early on, but overcame that inexperience in fine fashion.

John and Thady Gosden’s charge is bred to stay and the €280,000 purchase galloped on strongly to win going away.

Alshinfarah claimed wins at Doncaster and Haydock before finishing a close third behind Freville in a Group Three at ParisLongchamp.

Jim Crowley’s mount made the running over a mile and was only headed in the closing stages, so dropping back down in distance could suit.

Zenjabeela gets a deserved step up in class following strikes at Southwell and Beverley, showing a good attitude to wear down subsequent Ayr scorer Miss Roberts at the Yorkshire track.

Carolina Reaper was well beaten in the Sweet Solera after an emphatic success on the July course here but recovered to secure some black type in Germany last time out.

Charlie Johnston’s charge battled on well to edge out Schutzenzauber by a neck in a Group Three contest at Baden-Baden.

Marcella has a Chester win to her credit but was 50-1 when fifth of six in a Haydock Listed event.

Weather key to Alshinfarah’s Rockfel run

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Kevin Philippart de Foy’s Alshinfarah could be headed for Newmarket’s Rockfel Stakes after a pleasing juvenile campaign so far.

The Shadwell homebred filly, who is by Noble Mission, made a winning start to her career when taking a Doncaster fillies’ maiden over seven furlongs in July.

She followed that victory with another at Haydock, this time in a novice event that she won by a length and a quarter when the only filly in the field.

Alshinfarah then took a step up to Group Three level at ParisLongchamp in early September for the Prix d’Aumale over mile, making the running under Jim Crowley and missing out by half a length when passed in the final strides of the race.

Philippart de Foy was nevertheless encouraged by the run and all being well, the bay will drop back to seven furlongs to contest the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday, a Group Two for which she is currently a 10-1 chance.

The trainer said: “The filly has been confirmed for the Rockfel on Friday and, depending on the weather, we will make a decision on Wednesday as to whether she runs or not.

“She came out of her French race in good form, she did a good piece of work on Saturday and we are very happy, everything is good with her.

“Her run in France was very good, she had to make the running for the first time over a mile, she was just caught in the last 50 yards but she didn’t disgrace herself at all. She was very gutsy.”