Tag Archive for: Royal Ascot Festival

Inisherin returning to scene of finest hour in great form

/in /by

Confidence is high in the Inisherin camp as the top-class sprinter bids to make it back-to-back wins at Royal Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Kevin Ryan’s speedball was one of the most impressive winners of the entire meeting 12 months ago when blitzing his rivals in the Commonwealth Cup, so it was a little underwhelming that he could only finish fifth in Newmarket’s July Cup next time and he really disappointed in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

However, having undergone wind surgery during the off-season, Inisherin bounced back to form when landing the 1895 Duke of York Stakes on his seasonal debut last month and Adam Ryan, assistant to his father, expects him to take his game to another level on Saturday.

“We made no secret of the fact he was only about 80 per cent at York and we feel he’s taken a big step forward in his training since,” he said.

“We’re delighted with him and really looking forward to Saturday. The stiff six (furlongs) obviously suited him down to the ground last year, so you can’t be anything but happy coming back here.

“It’s going to be a top-class race, we’re under no illusions, but I wouldn’t swap him for anything.

“They don’t give Group Ones away, but as I say I wouldn’t be swapping our fella for anything in the world. Hopefully it’s a good race and if he runs his race he should be there or thereabouts.”

Royal Ascot sprints are international affairs these days and this year’s renewal is no exception, with Inisherin joined at the head of the market by leading contenders from France and Japan.

Satono Reve carries Japanese hopes at Royal Ascot
Satono Reve carries Japanese hopes at Royal Ascot (Adam Morgan/PA)

Satono Reve is a fascinating challenger from the Far East, who produced a sparkling workout in Newmarket last week, while Lazzat has been a star for Jerome Reynier, winning his first six career starts before being touched by the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest in the Golden Eagle in Australia.

A tilt at the Hong Kong Mile did not pay off and he was also beaten on his first start of this year at Saint-Cloud, but a dominant display on his most recent start in a Listed event at Chantilly was enough to persuade powerhouse owners Wathnan Racing to step in ahead of his British debut.

“Lazzat is a horse we’ve been following for a very long time and he was unlucky in Australia in the Golden Eagle at the back-end of last year and it was a similar story in Hong Kong, which didn’t pan out for him either,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“But we were deeply impressed with what he did in France on his comeback run, the time was very good and I think the straight six furlongs at Ascot will be right up his street. Six and seven should be his best distances, so a stiff six should be perfect for him.

“He’s a great addition to the team and we’re looking forward to seeing him in the Wathnan colours.”

The Qatar-based operation have a second string to their bow with another new recruit in Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, who was a neck second to Inisherin at York in mid-May.

Brown added: “She ran a great race behind Inisherin at York and was arguably unlucky not to have won that day, it’s great to have her on the team.

“The draw (stall four) is probably not the best, but she’s a filly who comes from behind and hopefully it won’t impede her chances too much. She’s a really admirable filly and we’re looking forward to seeing her run.”

Lazzat is joined on the trip across the Channel by Topgear, who has won his last three starts over seven furlongs for Christopher Head.

Other runners include Aidan O’Brien’s Australian recruit Storm Boy, who needs to put a disappointing Irish debut behind him, and Clive Cox’s pair of outsiders James’s Delight and Jasour, with the latter turning out quickly after finishing down the field in Tuesday’s King Charles III Stakes.

Cox said: “Jasour has come back very well after Tuesday. It wasn’t the early plan (to run again) but he has come back very well indeed and I think six furlongs is definitely more his gig.

“James’s Delight was excellent in Ireland (last time out). He’s also in good form but he wouldn’t have minded easier ground. He’s in great shape though and is looking to follow up a very exciting success on the Curragh.”

Headline buy Ghostwriter gets mile-and-a-half chance in Hardwicke

/in /by

Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter has already made the headlines this week having changed hands for £2million and now he gets the chance to let his ability do the talking in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Cox and previous owner Jeff Smith had been itching to step the four-year-old up in trip to a mile and a half following a succession of good runs over 10 furlongs last season against the likes of City Of Troy and Look De Vega.

Bought by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing at Monday’s Goffs London Sale, he will be ridden by David Egan for the first time.

“He obviously went through the ring on Monday but we’ve been wanting to step him up in trip for a little while now and this looks a good time to do it,” said Cox.

“He ran well in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and prior to that in Dubai so I’m hopeful that he’ll relish the chance to step up in trip and I hope he does well for his new connections.

“The race has changed in complexion with Kalpana not running. I’m hugely respectful to Rebel’s Romance as he’s such a consistent performer and he’s a credit to everyone involved with him, but I’m hopeful we can get involved at the finish.

“He’s run well on the straight track at Ascot before, he’s never been on the round course there but I’m happy that he’s in excellent form and I hope he can put his best foot forward.”

The aforementioned Rebel’s Romance has been an absolute star for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.

Now seven, he has won Group One races in America, Germany, Hong Kong and Dubai over a mile and a half and last time out won the Yorkshire Cup over an extra two furlongs.

“I keep telling people, if I need to explain what Rebel’s Romance is all about, they are probably not racing fans,” said Appleby on his globetrotting stable stalwart.

“He comes here in great order and he’s well renowned for what he can do. I think the trump card could be the drop back to a mile and a half and that is going to be more comfortable for him. It was his guts that got him over the line at York, he’s an absolute star.”

William Haggas, who got off the mark for the week on Thursday with Merchant, runs three, the shortest priced of them being the Wathnan Racing-owned Space Legend, who finished second in the King Edward VII last season to Calandagan

“We used the Huxley as a prep for this which was an inadequate trip and I’m not sure Chester’s tight nature would have been ideal for him,” said Wathnan’s Richard Brown.

“Ascot back up in distance will hopefully be more suitable, but he will have to perform to his very best as it’s an incredible Hardwicke and he’ll need to be on top form to make the top three – if he was to finish in the first three we would be delighted.”

Godolphin and Wathnan are to the fore in the Chesham Stakes, too, with Appleby’s Treanmor living up to his €2million price tag on debut.

Appleby said: “We were confident going into Newmarket over the six furlongs and he qualifies for the Chesham on the back of his sire Frankel.

“Frankel has phenomenal stats here at Ascot and I think he’s second only to Dubawi, so we come here confident the step up in trip will suit and I think both physically and mentally he has come forward from that first run at Newmarket.”

Humidity was bought by Wathnan following a winning Newbury debut in the Cheveley Park Stud colours.

“He was bred for this and both physically and on pedigree you would think he would want further than six furlongs,” said Brown.

“His full-brother Holloway Boy won this on debut in 2022 and hopefully it is the right spot for him.

“I was really impressed with him at Newbury but this is going to be a tough race. Aidan (O’Brien) is bringing a smart horse over (Moments Of Joy) and Charlie Appleby’s Treanmor looked special when winning at Newmarket.

“However, our lad is one from one and did it well and we’re now going to find out how good he is.”

Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot – In pictures

/in /by

Nothing says glamour quite like Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot, but it was not just the fashion that was scorching on a blazing day in Berkshire. Fans and water at the ready, we take in the sights at one of the summer social events of the year – oh, and there’s a couple of horses included too!

One of the day's most eyecatching hats
One of the day’s most eyecatching hats (David Davies/PA)

A fabulous hot pink number reflected the theme of the day
A fabulous hot pink number reflected the theme of the day (David Davies/PA)

Fans of more than just the racing kind were in evidence
Fans of more than just the racing kind were in evidence (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Racegoers take a seat on day three of Royal Ascot
Racegoers take a seat on day three of Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

The King and Queen have been out of luck with their runners so far, but were still smiling at the start of the day
The King and Queen have been out of luck with their runners so far, but were still smiling at the start of the day (James Manning/PA)

The drinks were flowing as racegoers tried to keep their cool
The drinks were flowing as racegoers tried to keep their cool (James Manning/PA)

The one and only Chesney Hawkes was among those taking in the action
The one and only Chesney Hawkes was among those taking in the action (Andrew Matthews/PA)

There was plenty of water on hand to cool down the equine stars
There was plenty of water on hand to cool down the equine stars (John Walton/PA)

Charles Darwin got punters off to a winning start with a stunning show of speed in the Norfolk Stakes
Charles Darwin got punters off to a winning start with a stunning show of speed in the Norfolk Stakes (David Davies/PA)

At the other end of the scale, Trawlerman and William Buick galloped their rivals into submission in the marathon Gold Cup
At the other end of the scale, Trawlerman and William Buick galloped their rivals into submission in the marathon Gold Cup (John Walton/PA)

The King and Queen congratulate Gold Cup-winning rider William Buick
The King and Queen congratulate Gold Cup-winning rider William Buick (John Walton/PA)

Trawlerman comes of age with Gold Cup haul

/in /by

It is not a common occurrence for a horse to start winning Gold Cups at seven – Yeats had two triumphs on his CV by the time he added a third in his seven-year-old season, Drums Taps was defending his title when he won in 1993, so too was Invershin in 1929.

Perhaps Trawlerman was prevented from an earlier success by the other things he clearly had on his mind as a young horse, namely a one-sided feud with the starting stalls that scuppered his chances more than once.

When that score was settled is unknown, but it is clear that with time, patience and expert handling he has developed into the kind of standing-dish stayer associated with Ascot’s oldest race.

The term ‘dour stayer’ usually enters the racing vocabulary in the wettest part of winter when the ground is hock-deep, but it was on rapid going and under a sweltering sun that Trawlerman managed to call the phrase to mind several months out of season.

The 85-40 favourite under William Buick, John and Thady Gosden’s gelding nipped into an early lead and lolloped along at the head of affairs to gain an advantage that only seemed to widen as the race progressed.

When he swung for home and passed the clanging bell there was evidently no blow that could reach him, and it was with consummate ease that he sauntered home seven lengths ahead to break the track record over the trip and take his place at the head of the staying standings.

“We came here today and William was very clear what he was going to do, he was going to set a good, even pace and gradually press them from Swinley Bottom all the way through,” said John Gosden.

“The pretenders – the Aga Khan horse (Candelari) and the Coolmore and Ballydoyle horse (Illinois) – they’d have to stay two and a half miles properly. And they didn’t stay, we took them for stamina.

“It was the plan, beyond the plan, absolutely the plan – and he carried it off to perfection. We spend months planning this, we don’t just think ‘oh, shall we run at Ascot next week?’.

“It’s months in the making and they come here in top order. He’s one of the most relentless, proper gallopers. Going wire to wire in this takes a bit of doing, as does breaking the track record,

“It gives me enormous pleasure, I love the Cup races and I always have done. I’m inclined to run one more race and then put him away and come back next year.

“That’s more important than anything, we’ve won it once now, let’s see if he can win it again.”

Of Trawlerman’s earlier waywardness and his more mannerly approach as an older horse, Gosden added: “He used to be a hooligan, an absolute hooligan!

“Now even I’d ride him, though I don’t suppose he’d particularly appreciate that.

“He’s a fabulous horse to be around, he’s like his father – incredibly brave. Golden Horn would run through a wall for you and this horse is the same.”

Trawlerman has always been a very good horse, but he has not always been a very good boy – now he is both.

Ascot Eyecatcher will not be an Understudy for long

/in /by

John and Thady Gosden’s Understudy is unlikely to be so overlooked next time she lines up after finishing second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Beaten three and a quarter lengths by the far more experienced Garden Of Eden, Understudy proved she was underestimated when a 40-1 chance under Robert Havlin.

The run was only her third racecourse start and a big leap up in class, pointing to plenty more to come from the flashy chestnut daughter of Sea The Stars.

Trinity College has all the answers in Hampton Court Stakes

/in /by

Trinity College produced a dominant front-running display in the Hampton Court Stakes to complete a treble on day three of Royal Ascot for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.

With the formidable pair having already landed the Norfolk with Charles Darwin and the Ribblesdale with Garden Of Eden, French Derby fourth Trinity College was the 5-2 favourite for his Group Three assignment and dictated at the head of affairs from the start.

Tornado Alert, fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, was Trinity College’s nearest pursuer throughout and tried to keep tabs on him in the straight, but the winner found another gear inside the final furlong and was well on top as he passed the post with three and a half lengths in hand.

O’Brien was delighted to see the son of Dubawi get his moment in the spotlight after his fine effort at Chantilly last time and said: “It was a lovely run in the French Derby and Wayne (Lordan) rode him the last day and we were very happy.

“He wasn’t beaten that far and he turned around the form with Detain (third in Chantilly) here.

“Ryan gave him a lovely, uncomplicated ride. He’s a lovely, straightforward horse and his trip is a mile and a quarter.

“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse and he’s only really started to progress now – you would have to be very happy with that.

“I would say 10 furlongs is his trip and he’s very comfortable at that distance because he’s not slow.

“He could go to America and there is an American Derby (at Churchill Downs) he could run in but the problem is it is only in a couple of weeks, so we will have to see how he is, it could be too soon. He’s a good member of the team.”

Trinity College provided Moore with his 90th winner at the Royal meeting, 17 years on from his first at the summer showpiece aboard Sir Michael Stoute’s Colony.

Moore said: “It’s great to get to 90. I’ve rode for great people for a lot of years and a lot of people who put in a lot of hard work and sweat. Obviously having Aidan in my corner is also a massive help.”

Saeed bin Suroor is eager to get Tornado Alert’s head in front next time.

He said: “He ran well to finish sixth in the Derby, and now second in a nice race here is good. He is improving. We will see how he comes out of this, but we will look for a Group Three race.”

Glittering Legend was third for James Fanshawe but the trainer expects the horse to move to a new country now.

He said: “He ran really well. He got a bump early on, which just set him alight a bit, but he dropped his head really well and kept on well.

“Unfortunately, I think he’s off to Hong Kong now, but he’s done really well. I think it will turn out to be a good race.”

O’Brien expecting Illinois progress after Gold Cup defeat

/in /by

Aidan O’Brien feels there is room for improvement in the staying division with Illinois, after his planned super-sub had to make do with the silver medal in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Less than a month ago the Ballydoyle handler expected to be saddling dual Gold Cup hero Kyprios in his bid for a 10th victory in the two-and-a-half-mile feature, but the recurrence of an old injury and his star stayer’s subsequent retirement left O’Brien with no option but to shuffle his pack.

Illinois looked bound for the Coronation Cup at Epsom following his winning reappearance in Chester’s Ormonde Stakes, but Jan Brueghel successfully stepped in to fill that void, meaning Illinois was asked to run over a full mile further in Berkshire and he found Kyprios’ old rival Trawlerman too strong.

O’Brien said: “We thought Illinois would be a Gold Cup horse next year and obviously the plan was Kyprios would come here this year and Illinois would step up next year.

“The plan was for him to go to the Coronation and I was training him as a good mile-and-a-half horse, and then when Kyprios retired we switched him to this race.

“We have to be happy with the run and he had a lovely preparation the last day. Maybe if we knew he was coming here straight away, we might of had him going earlier and maybe lighter.”

While Illinois was seemingly put in his place by Trawlerman, O’Brien would not shirk a potential rematch in the Goodwood Cup, adding: “He might go to Goodwood and meet this horse again and I would imagine he will progress again then.

“He got tired at the two-furlong pole today, like a lot of horses do, and we will see if we can improve him another little bit for this distance.

“It shows how good Kyprios was as Trawlerman had been second to him a couple of times, I think.”

Illinois was beaten seven lengths by Trawlerman and was a further seven lengths clear of Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future in third.

“He did well and he stayed. I put a hood and cheekpieces on him which made him nice and relaxed in the race,” said bin Suroor.

“James (McDonald) gave him a good ride and he’s tough – he’s a horse who at nine years old is still young at heart. He’s doing really well and we are very happy with him.

“I think we will go to Goodwood next. The winner is a good horse, but I am pleased with my horse’s run.”

The disappointment of the race was perhaps French raider Candelari, who had won four of his five previous starts for Francis Henri-Graffard but was a well-beaten sixth on this occasion.

Graffard said: “He was travelling nicely when the pace was fine but when the winner started to quicken and upped the pace, my horse was quite surprised.

“To come here in this type of race, they need the experience. In France they don’t learn an awful lot as they crawl in races then sprint. This horse has a great turn of foot but he can’t use his turn of foot in a race like that over that distance.

“He gained a lot of experience there and he is only four and still improving, but it is still disappointing. I need to learn and think how I can get him better to be competitive.

“I think he is still an exciting stayer, as you saw from his win in France, but today was a different game over a very long distance.

“I have a lot of faith in him and six months ago he hadn’t seen a racecourse, so he has come a long way in a short space of time.”

No weather worries for O’Brien as temperatures rise at Ascot

/in /by

With Royal Ascot baking in the sunshine, and temperatures set to be even hotter for the final two days of the showpiece fixture, Aidan O’Brien praised all involved in horse welfare this week.

And the master of Ballydoyle also allayed any fears the equine athletes on show would find conditions unduly oppressive, despite the mercury rising.

O’Brien said: “Horses love heat, it’s in their nature and when you are training horses they thrive in the heat and in the cold they don’t always try, they don’t like the cold weather.

A horse is washed down on the track at Ascot
A horse is washed down on the track at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“Heat is always an advantage for horses and as long as there is plenty of water at hand, you would prefer it to be warm – if you asked the horse what weather he would like, I would know what he would say.

“Ascot do an incredible job and we’ve had beautiful weather this week. I promise you, if you are training horses you would see the difference. When it’s warm horses train better and get bigger and stronger, they eat better and drink better. When it’s cold they put all their energy into keeping warm, so it’s better it is warm any day.”

Ascot’s clerk of the course Chris Stickels underlined the amount of water that is readily available at the track.

He said: “We’ve got plenty of water available and there is over 3,000 litres in the unsaddling enclosures.

“We also ice the water and there is a 1,000-litre water bowser which sits on the finishing line of the jumps course and is able to be towed anywhere on the racecourse it is needed.

“There is also 800 litres at the winning line and pull-out area to be dished out by the dedicated team, who are not only there to top up the buckets but help out stable staff as required.

Ascot has cooling fans to hand for the equine stars
Ascot has cooling fans to hand for the equine stars (Adam Morgan/PA)

“We’ve got the misting fans and there are a lot of resources available. Horses get used to the heat and they do get acclimatised and it’s worse if it suddenly gets hot, but the key thing is just to have a team on hand to keep on top of the resources.”

Dr Sally Taylor, head of equine regulation, safety and welfare for the British Horseracing Authority, told ITV Racing: “The most important thing to realise is horses are very able to acclimatise to hot weather. When horses sweat it is their primary mechanism of losing heat, as the sweat evaporates it takes with it the heat so that is what you see when a horse sweats at the start.

“When they finish racing we are able to mimic that process by applying cold water and creating a breeze. Ascot does a fantastic job, there is iced water available, horses are supervised by vets at all stages of their journey across the racecourse and they have state-of-the-art fans here to create a breeze.”

Trawlerman nets biggest staying prize of them all

/in /by

Trawlerman made every yard of the running in the Gold Cup to go one better than last year for John and Thady Gosden in the Royal Ascot highlight.

Second to Kyprios 12 months ago, the Godolphin-owned seven-year-old took full advantage of the dual winner’s retirement under an excellently-judged ride from William Buick.

Illinois, who had stepped into Kyprios’ shoes for Aidan O’Brien, was well placed if good enough, but inside the final furlong Trawlerman (85-40 favourite) began to pull away and ran out an impressive seven-length winner. Dubai Future was third for Saeed bin Suroor in the Godolphin colours.

Buick said: “It’s an extreme distance, two and a half miles, so you need an extraordinary horse with an extraordinary set of skills.

“He’s got that lung capacity and stamina. He got in a great rhythm – it’s a tough thing to do, be in front for two and a half miles like that, but he’s so genuine.

“I knew he would stay, which is a big help. It’s taken me a long time to win this – I knew he was the right horse, I just hoped I would get it right on him.”

Winning connections with Trawlerman
Winning connections with Trawlerman (PA)

John Gosden spoke of his relief after what felt like a long final furlong for the Clarehaven handler.

He said: “I didn’t enjoy it (final furlong) because anything can happen, you never know until they cross the line. He’s part of the furniture you know. It’s absolutely amazing. He’s the most grand, lovely horse he really is. The other horse, Sweet William (fourth), they’re great old friends.”

Trawlerman set a new course record and Gosden praised Buick’s ride, repeating the tactics he employed to such good effect when also winning at Sandown last time out.

“We ran him in the Henry II at Sandown and William got it spot on,” said Gosden.

“He went what they call in America ‘wire to wire’, that was two miles around Sandown.

“He’s an out-and-out galloper and he rode him beautifully, judged it perfectly – not an easy thing to do over two and a half miles.

“The only way we were going to win was to just say, ‘if you’re going to beat me, you’re going to know you’ve been in a race, as you’re going to have to go two and a half miles at a proper gallop’.”

William Buick aboard Trawlerman salutes the Ascot crowd
William Buick aboard Trawlerman salutes the Ascot crowd (John Walton/PA)

Gosden already has a title defence on his mind and given Trawlerman will be eight next year, he is eager to measure the gelding’s efforts ahead of that long-range target.

He added: “I think he should be aimed at coming back next year, and he shouldn’t be over-raced at all in between time. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see him again until the Henry II next year. That could be a reality.

“I’ll discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed, but he doesn’t need to be going to all these races. He might come back here in the autumn (for the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day), he’s won that, we might go for that, and then put him away.”

Garden Of Eden blossoms in Ribblesdale Stakes

/in /by

Garden Of Eden continued her progress to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a record sixth victory in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Ballydoyle handler saddled three runners in the Group Two contest, with Ryan Moore siding with Garden Of Eden (7-1), who struggled in successive Group races in the spring but raised her game to claim a Listed prize at Naas on her most recent appearance.

Island Hopping was deployed in a pacesetting role, but her early exertions took their toll from the home turn, while Garden Of Eden galloped on powerfully up the straight to score by three and a quarter lengths from Understudy, with 2-1 favourite Catalina Delcarpio back in third.

O’Brien said: “I was impressed with that, I’m delighted. She’s getting better which is great.

“We always thought stepping up in trip would help her and we stepped her up to a mile and a quarter the last day and she improved a lot.

“She’s by Saxon Warrior and when they go up in distance they do get better so she obviously improved for the step up.

“The Irish Oaks would be a possibility, but she could also go to America for a Grade One over there, we will have to see.”

Merchant overcomes wide draw for King George V glory

/in /by

Tom Marquand extricated himself from a difficult position to win the King George V Stakes on Merchant for William Haggas.

Drawn in stall 20, Marquand had chosen to drop in behind horses while Ryan Moore on Serious Contender, who was also posted out wide, opted to go forward.

Moore was still in front as they entered the final furlong but Merchant picked up well to defy an 8lb rise for winning at York last time out and justify 3-1 favouritism by a length, with Pantile Warrior a further neck back in third.

“It was difficult to watch because all I was watching was the time per furlong and they set off like scalded cats,” said Haggas.

“I then thought they hadn’t gone fast enough because in every race this week on the round track, they’ve gone so fast and everything has come off the speed.

“He was plenty far back and I knew when he turned for home he’d be able to sit a bit, I knew he’d come home. I was really pleased with him.

“You hope (they are good enough). He’s clearly progressive and I’m afraid I don’t know how far he will go. It’s extremely exciting.”

Arabian Story provided Saeed bin Suroor with a 40th Royal Ascot winner in a dramatic finish to the Britannia Stakes.

Having just the fourth run of his life and his first on turf, the 15-2 chance had to be brave under Oisin Murphy.

La Botte and Fearnot both threw down late challenges but it was Arabian Story who prevailed by a neck and a head.

Bin Suroor said: “We took him to Dubai and physically he improved a lot. He always works well in the morning and I said to Oisin keep him handy and he gave him a great ride. Oisin is the best – he is world-class and one of the best around.

“He is still improving and it was only his second race in the UK. We’ll have to maybe find a Group race for him now and Oisin said he is definitely a Group horse.

“He’s good at the mile but he could go further, maybe up to a mile and a quarter.”

Never So Brave, trained by the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute in his early days, then provided Murphy with a double in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

Now with Andrew Balding, the 4-1 favourite positively shot clear once a gap appeared on the rail and triumphed by two and a quarter lengths.

Akkadian Thunder ran on for second, with Holguin a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

It was Balding’s 13th winner at the meeting and he said: “He’s a really lovely horse and I think gelding him over the winter has helped him and improved him.

“Sir Michael always had a high opinion of him and he ran here in the Jersey Stakes last year, so I think he was probably a Group horse in a handicap today.

“He settled well today and I think the key is to get him to relax early in his races. He has an excellent turn of foot when you can get him to do that.”

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

/in /by

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.”

Falakeyah putting mile credentials to the test against Zarigana

/in /by

Falakeyah and Zarigana lock horns in a fascinating clash for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.

The Owen Burrows-trained Falakeyah looked every inch a top-class filly in the making when dominating her rivals in the 10-furlong Pretty Polly at Newmarket, after which the Betfred Oaks at Epsom and the French equivalent were mooted as potential Classic targets.

However, with connections ultimately deciding against stepping up to a mile and a half at Epsom and the Prix de Diane also ruled out, the daughter of New Bay will instead drop back to a mile on the penultimate day of the Royal meeting after being supplemented for the Coronation at a cost of £46,000.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owner-breeders Shadwell, said: “It was a hard decision to supplement, just because of the amount of money involved. I just felt when the entries for the race closed we’d be looking at a mile and a quarter at least for her given she had won over an extended mile on her debut.

“I said to Owen I was just trying to save money and that there was no point even entering her if we thought she was going to be running over further.”

While Gold admits to having doubts about how effective Falakeyah will be dropping back in trip, he is taking some confidence from the feedback of Shadwell’s retained rider Jim Crowley.

“To Jim’s credit, he kept saying every time he sat on her that she had a lot of speed and his first words to me having got off her at Newmarket were ‘she’d have killed them over a mile’. He thought she’d have gone close in the Guineas had she run in that, so I had to take notice,” Gold added.

Jim Crowley on board Falakeyah after winning the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes
Jim Crowley on board Falakeyah after winning the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Unfortunately we were going for the Prix de Diane but then she had a hold-up and we ran out of time. They now feel she’s back to her best.

“We could have waited a month for the Falmouth but as she’s well we’ve taken the chance.

“She likes to get on with things so that is probably contributing to the fact she looks like she’s got a lot of speed.

“It’s only her third race so we’re still learning and I couldn’t put my hand on my heart and say she’s definitely a miler, but she has plenty of speed and we felt after discussing it this was worth a try.”

The trip is of no concern to French raider Zarigana, who has won four of her five starts for Francis-Henri Graffard in the colours of the late Aga Khan.

She was most recently awarded the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards’ room after first past the post Shes Perfect was deemed to have caused sufficient interference for the placings to be revised – and while connections are hoping for a bold showing in Berkshire, they are taking nothing for granted.

Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan’s French studs, said: “Zarigana worked well last week, she’s in good form and we’ve been very happy with her since the Pouliches.

“It is a competitive race and it’s the first time she’ll have to travel abroad and she can have moments where she gets quite worked up. It looks like it’s going to be very hot as well, but she’s got to get through all that as part of the test of being a Group One filly.

“She’s very consistent – she’s won four of her starts and was beaten a nose in the other one. This is a big test for her and she’s got to maintain that form and hold it all together in the preliminaries and have luck in running and everything else.

“If there’s any weakness it will be found out, but we’re happy with her preparation and while she goes on anything, she’s probably better on fast ground.”

Further strength in depth is added by Aidan O’Brien’s Exactly, who was little over a length behind Zarigana when fourth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches last month, while the also-supplemented Kon Tiki puts her unbeaten record on the line for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Charles Darwin lives up to his billing in Norfolk Stakes

/in /by

Charles Darwin enhanced his already lofty reputation with a dominant front-running victory in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A full-brother to a top-class two-year-old in Blackbeard, the imposing Aidan O’Brien-trained son of No Nay Never finished fourth on his Curragh debut but had since impressed with victories at Navan and Naas.

Those who sent him off at odds of 8-13 will have had few concerns, with Charles Darwin soon bowling along in front under Ryan Moore, finding plenty once challenged and going away at the line to readily account for Wise Approach and Sandal’s Song.

“He’s lovely, Ryan always loved him and everyone always loved him at home,” said O’Brien.

“He’s a big, powerful, strong horse. He really looks like a four-year-old racing against two-year-olds.

“I didn’t know if Ryan was going to make the running or drop him in, but he decides that. He always thought he had loads left with the way he came on the bridle.

“He’s very quick, a big and mature physical and everyone who rides him says he has a very good mind as well – he’s very exciting.

“We were hoping he would get a lead as he never sees the front at home, he’s very strong and very quick.”

On the Ballydoyle pecking order regarding juveniles, O’Brien added: “Albert Einstein is always just something like we’ve never seen before, the way he works.

“This horse is very fast – he’s a sprinter, I don’t know how far he’s going to get, because he’s very quick, and the horse the other day (Gstaad) looks like he’s going to get seven, which means he could get a mile.”

Paddy Power made Charles Darwin 4-1 to become the first two-year-old since Kingsgate Native in 2007 to win York’s Nunthorpe Stakes later in the summer, with O’Brien suggesting connections would have to consider that event if the speedy colt continues to thrive over the minimum trip.

“It would obviously be possible as he’s fast, he’s big and he’s mature,” said O’Brien.

“The lads will decide and it’s obviously really early days to be talking about that yet, but it would be possible.

“He’s obviously a Middle Park Stakes-type of horse and obviously there is the July meeting at Newmarket and Goodwood to come, so there’s plenty of races to come.”

Charlie Appleby was determined to take the positives from Wise Approach’s run in second after he bounced back from defeat at York.

Appleby said: “We felt we were very much drawn on the wrong side, but the main thing about today was setting him up for the future and riding a very different race to what we saw at York. We wanted to drop him in and we didn’t feel there was the strength there to carry us through the race if we rode him handy.

“We made the decision to drop in, ride a race and get him to finish and he’s done all of that, so finishing second to a very high-class racehorse in Charles Darwin, you have to take plenty of positives.

“There’s going to be a nice pot in this horse and I think although he’s versatile enough for five or six furlongs, we can probably look for six now and ride a similar sort of race. With racing he’s learning.

“I’m not sure where we go, we have Maximized teed-up for the July Stakes at Newmarket and his form is working out nicely after the Windsor Castle, but you can never have too many in them. There will be options and I’ll move them around accordingly.”

There was not to be a second Royal Ascot winner for US handler George Weaver, but connections can remain positive about the new Wathnan Racing acquisition who will now be targeted at the Breeders’ Cup.

Wathnan’s US representative Case Clay said: “George really knows what he is doing with these two-year-olds and his assistant Blair (Golen) has done a wonderful job since getting here.

“As you saw in the paddock beforehand he is a very straightforward horse and I’m very proud of his effort. There was a moment there I got very excited, but he was beaten by a very good colt and it was such a valiant effort in defeat.

“We will take him back to the US and we’ll target the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and work backwards from that and try to get there.”

Inisherin and Lazzat crossing swords with Satono Reve on Saturday

/in /by

Inisherin and Lazzat feature among a quality field of 16 runners declared for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot.

Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin was a brilliant winner of the Commonwealth Cup over the course and distance 12 months ago and while he subsequently failed to run up to expectations in either the July Cup or the Sprint Cup, he got the show back on the road with a comeback win at York last month.

French raider Lazzat won his first six starts for Jerome Reynier before suffering a narrow defeat at the hands of the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest in Australia. He disappointed in the Hong Kong Mile and over the longer trip on his Saint-Cloud return, but having bolted up back over six furlongs at Chantilly he has since been snapped up by the powerful Wathnan Racing operation.

Christopher Head’s Topgear is another improving sprinter from across the Channel, while further international spice is added by the presence of Japanese raider Satono Reve, who caught the eye of work-watchers in a recent gallop in Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s Australian recruit Storm Boy runs, with the only two not declared from the confirmation stage being George Boughey’s Believing, who ran in the King Charles III Stakes on Tuesday, and James Fanshawe’s Champions Day winner Kind Of Blue.

Nine juveniles are set to go to post for the opening Chesham Stakes, with Charlie Appleby’s impressive Newmarket winner Treanmor the likely favourite ahead of O’Brien’s Leopardstown scorer Moments Of Joy.

Al Aasy heads a 12-runner field for the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes, with Rebel’s Romance and Al Riffa two of his rivals, but ante-post favourite Kalpana is a notable absentee.

Remmooz will put his unbeaten record on the line for Owen Burrows in the Group Three Jersey Stakes, which has attracted 15 participants in total, while the two handicaps on the card – the Wokingham and the Golden Gates – have maximum fields of 28 and 16 runners respectively.

The two-mile-five-furlong Queen Alexandra Stakes traditionally brings the Royal meeting to a close and plenty will be putting their faith in Sober, who represents the formidable combination of Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore. The six-year-old, who was a multiple winner in France for Andre Fabre before scoring over hurdles on his first start for Mullins, heads a field of 11 in the finale.