Tag Archive for: Simmering

Sangster considering Curragh option for Flight and Simmering

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Ollie Sangster is toying with the idea of giving Flight or Simmering the chance of Classic redemption in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas later this month.

The Manton inmates went down valiantly when filling the placings behind Charlie Appleby’s Desert Flower in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and having come out of that contest well, their handler feels a trip to the Curragh on May 25 could suit either of his high-class fillies.

Sangster said: “They have both come out of it spot on and both have an entry at the Curragh for the Irish 1,000 Guineas – they both won’t go but one of them might and we’ll just see how the next week or so goes.

“Simmering has nice form there at two and was second in the Moyglare, but the big, galloping nature of the track I think will suit Flight, so it would be a good fit for either of them, depending on what connections want to do and how the fillies are doing.”

The duo also have entries for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, with that big-race assignment very much on the agenda for the coming months.

Sangster added: “Whether either of them go to the Curragh or not, the primary target at the moment would be the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. That is what we will be working back from, it’s just whether they have a run in the meantime.”

Sangster satisfied with ‘fantastic’ Classic places

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Ollie Sangster was “elated” having saddled Flight and Simmering to be second and third respectively behind Desert Flower in the Betfred 1000 Guineas.

Still a relative newcomer to the training ranks, Sangster nevertheless hails from a famous family and came close to adding his name to the roll of honour.

While ultimately just coming up short, he is looking forward to the future with two top-class prospects who outran their 28-1 and 33-1 odds behind the hot favourite, trained by Charlie Appleby.

“We’re elated. Second and third is fantastic. Obviously we all want to win, but there was a lot of confidence in the vibes from Godolphin beforehand so we thought the favourite was kind of unbeatable,” said Sangster.

“To come so close is a feather in the cap of the two fillies and all the team at home. They were big prices but we were happy with what we had seen at home from them and happy to let them take their chance – and they’ve shown why today.”

Simmering had finished down the field in the Fred Darling on her seasonal bow, while Flight was having her first run of the campaign.

Sangster said: “Everything had gone well for Simmering since Newbury, we kind of put a line through that. Flight’s work all along has been very good, she came here for a racecourse gallop during the Craven meeting.

“It’s hard to know as you are dealing with the champion filly from last year, but we always felt ours were top-class fillies, as did the jockeys who had been riding them.

“The only thing is it is hard to know when you are competing at the top table, as it is not something we’ve done a lot of, but we had faith in the fillies.

“It looked like Flight got in front coming out of the dip, it was hard to tell with them being on separate sides.

“It would have been nice if she would have had a bit of company but they’ve both run exceptionally well.

“We all want to win but to be second and third is fantastic.

“Flight was a little disorganised going into the dip but she came out of it strongly, but as she was on the other side, it was hard to know. They’ve both run very good races but well done to Charlie and his team.”

Of future plans, the trainer added: “For Simmering, a mile will be her max, she likes quick ground. Flight might get 10 furlongs but a nice, strongly-run mile at the Curragh may suit and we’ll go for that instead.”

For Saeed bin Suroor it was a second big-priced fourth place in a Classic in the last two days, as Elwateen came out best behind the front three.

“The way she works in the morning, she works all the time with Tornado Alert (fourth in 2000 Guineas), she shows her class every time, that is the reason I ran her in a Classic on just her second start,” said Bin Suroor.

“The filly is improving and she will improve a lot for this race. The further she goes, the better.

“She will go straight to Epsom for the Oaks, the Musidora is too close.

“I’ve got two nice hopes for Epsom this year, it’s nice to see them run well. From a maiden to a Classic is a big jump, so she’s done well, a little bit more give would have helped her too.”

Simmering coming to the boil for Newbury return

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Ollie Sangster looks to put the finishing touches to Simmering’s 1000 Guineas preparations when she heads to Newbury seeking local success in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.

Just one of a crack team of fillies at the Manton handler’s disposal this season, the daughter of Too Darn Hot excelled in top company during her juvenile campaign and now uses this prestigious Group Three event as a springboard to a potential trip to Newmarket for Classic action next month.

“It’s a big afternoon and she’s obviously a horse we’ve been looking forward to all winter, so it is nice to get her back out on the track,” said Sangster. “Newbury is our local track and we’re hopeful she can run a nice race.

Simmering (left) gave Lake Victoria plenty to think about at the Curragh last autumn
Simmering (left) gave Lake Victoria plenty to think about at the Curragh last autumn (Niall Carson/PA)

“I’d say she probably sets the standard on form, but there are a couple of talented fillies in the race and a couple who she has raced against before. Charlie Appleby’s filly (Mountain Breeze) is obviously match-fit and been in good form in Dubai.

“We hope she runs a nice race, but we also think it will bring her forward nicely with a view to the 1000 Guineas, all being well.”

Simmering will not lack for assistance in the saddle with star international pilot Christophe Soumillon taking over from the unavailable Dylan Browne McMonagle – a new association which Sangster is relishing.

The trainer said: “We were really keen to see if Christophe would be interested in riding her and he is, which is great for me as I’ve enjoyed watching Christophe ride all these fantastic horses over a number of years, he’s such a fantastic jockey. To have him riding a horse of ours is really exciting.

Christophe Soumillon will ride Simmering
Christophe Soumillon will ride Simmering (Steven Paston/PA)

“Dylan rode her a few times last year and we were keen to keep him on her this year. He’s been over and ridden her a few times this spring but he’s busy tomorrow with other assignments elsewhere, which is absolutely fine.

“The Al Shaqab team and Sheikh Joaan (owners) have a great association with Christophe and have enjoyed plenty of success together.”

Sangster has a second string to his bow for the Fred Darling in Listed course-and-distance winner Ellaria Sand, who will sport the famous colours of the trainer’s late grandfather, Robert Sangster, after blowing away the cobwebs at Kempton recently.

“She’s won twice at Newbury and likes the track and she’s a big mare who grew a lot over the winter,” continued Sangster.

“We went to Kempton as it was the right sort of questions and we needed to get her out and get a run under her belt. She’s had that run and taken a step forward from it and hopefully she has realistic place claims.”

Formal is another putting her Classic aspirations to the test when she makes her debut for new handler Andrew Balding.

The daughter of Dubawi was with Sir Michael Stoute last year and won her first two outings before finishing fourth in the Rockfel, but there is hope she can leave that minor blip behind her in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Chris Richardson, of owners Cheveley Park Stud said: “I think nicer ground is going to be in her favour, it was pretty quick when she impressed on her debut. There’s no rain forecast.

Formal has joined Andrew Balding following Sir Michael Stoute's retirement
Formal has joined Andrew Balding following Sir Michael Stoute’s retirement (Adam Morgan/PA)

“A trial is important for her. She’s shown she is talented but I’d have just liked to have seen her grow a little bit more than she has, but as we all know, some of the best things come in small packages.”

Adrian Murray’s California Dreamer is a Group-race veteran despite her tender age. Only two of her eight races have not been in Pattern company, including the Dundalk maiden she won in February.

“She’s very consistent, hopefully she’ll step up again and we’ll see what happens. She’s very good,” said Murray.

“She won over a mile last time but she could easily be a filly that moves around trip-wise as she’s very pacey.”

The aforementioned Mountain Breeze has been hugely impressive in two runs in Dubai this year, while Harry Eustace’s Time For Sandals and Aidan O’Brien’s Heavens Gate are others with smart form to their names.

Sangster reports ‘no negatives at this stage’ with star fillies

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Ollie Sangster is counting down the days until his crack team of high-class fillies put their Classic aspirations to the test at the beginning of the new Flat turf season

The Manton handler – who is the grandson of the great owner-breeder Robert Sangster – has proven adept at nurturing fillies to peak on the big occasion during his short training career, with Shuwari a breakout performer during his first full season with a licence in 2023.

The 2024 campaign saw Moyglare runner-up Simmering and Star Stakes winner Celestial Orbit headline his legion of talented two-year-olds who, along with May Hill third Flight, form just a part of a catalogue of big-race hopefuls currently being put through their paces ahead of an exciting new campaign.

Simmering, Celestial Orbit and Flight all possess a ticket for the Betfred 1000 Guineas, as does Radley Stakes scorer Ellaria Sand, with Sangster eager to see which of last year’s star juveniles can make it onto the Newmarket teamsheet by the first weekend in May.

Ollie Sangster has a top team at his dispersal this term
Ollie Sangster has a top team at his disposal this term (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Whether some of them take trials in or go straight to Newmarket or elsewhere, I guess it will sort itself out in the next couple of weeks or so,” said Sangster.

“There are plenty of options available in terms of trials, but they all seem to be in great form and have wintered well and I would be happy with how things are going at the moment.

“We’d be hopeful one or two of them would be up to lining up at Newmarket and putting in a nice performance and there’s no negatives at this stage.

“They are all starting to come to themselves now and have done well physically, it’s just finding out what level they fit in and where they all fall in line. We’ll find that out in the next month to six weeks but it’s a long season and I’m happy with how they are looking at the moment.”

Simmering’s fine second to Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother at Royal Ascot attracted the attention of Al Shaqab Racing to the Manton gates and the Qatar operation’s patronage was rewarded when she won both the Princess Margaret Stakes and Prix du Calvados last summer.

Simmering (left) and Lake Victoria (right) crossed swords at the Curragh last September
Simmering (left) and Lake Victoria (right) crossed swords at the Curragh last September (Niall Carson/PA)

It was another Ballydoyle inmate and 1000 Guineas hopeful Lake Victoria that proved too strong when the daughter of Too Darn Hot had to settle for second at the Curragh in September.

However, with Fallen Angel a Classic winner from her sire’s first crop, there is hope Simmering could turn the tables in a Rowley Mile rematch.

“Simmering was very good last year and of course bumped into Lake Victoria in the Moyglare, which looks very smart form,” said Sangster.

“She’s a nice-sized filly and the ground was too slow for her in the Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, she wants quick ground and hopefully she can have a productive season.

“Too Darn Hot did very well with his Classic generation of fillies last year, so I would be hopeful she is going to have a nice season.”

Celestial Orbit was impressive when winning at Sandown last summer
Celestial Orbit was impressive when winning at Sandown last summer (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Hopes are also high for Flight and Celestial Orbit, with the latter, who saw her juvenile season curtailed early due to a setback, one who could find herself diverted from Newmarket to France in search of her preferred going.

“Flight ran well in the May Hill and probably had one run too many by the end of last year when she was again third in the Oh So Sharp,” continued Sangster.

“She’s wintered very well and she’s probably the biggest of those fillies by a good way, she’s a fair-sized filly and she probably wasn’t entitled to do what she did at two – and hopefully this will be a more suitable season for her.

“Her work this year has been good and we would be hopeful of picking up at least a stakes race and hopefully perform at a higher level – she’s bred to do better this year.”

Flight is expected to thrive at three
Flight is expected to thrive at three (Steven Paston/PA)

He went on: “Celestial Orbit was a good winner of the Star at Sandown but she picked up a small injury in that. It was nothing serious and we just gave her plenty of time to get over it and she’s wintered well.

“Her work has been good and she likes a bit of ease in the ground. She might be one to go out to France with and it will be interesting to see what trip she makes, as she’s by No Nay Never and they don’t tend to stay too far, but her half-brother (Nayef Road) was a very good stayer.”

Glamis Road, another of last year’s stakes-winning two-year-olds, may have seen her momentum checked when only third in the Prix la Camargo at Saint-Cloud recently, but there could be another filly with a bright future lurking at Manton after 100,000 guineas buy Bijoux made a taking debut at Southwell earlier this month.

Sangster said: “She’s a nice filly and we’ve always held her in high enough regard. She had a couple of setbacks last year, which is why she has only debuted now.

“We left plenty of learning on the job for her at Southwell, she was plenty green and should now take a nice step forward.

“She will probably be one to go for another novice with but she could pop up in a trial and we’ll just have to see how the next few weeks go.”

On the Saint-Cloud reversal of the Nick Bradley-owned Glamis Road, Sangster added: “It was a good performance in a handy enough race for the grade and it was her first run back off her winter break and first time at a mile.

“I think she’ll improve for it and hopefully will pick up another stakes race this year. I’d say the French 1000 Guineas may be a lofty target after that, but she wasn’t fully tuned up and hopefully there might be a nice bit of improvement to come and we can see where that lands us.”

Glamis Road another hot prospect for thriving Sangster stable

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The future is bright for Ollie Sangster after Glamis Road gave the trainer more reason to dream ahead of next season when winning at Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

The Manton handler, who is the grandson of the legendary owner-breeder Robert Sangster, has already registered stakes victories with Simmering, Ellaria Sand and Celestial Orbit this term, while Flight is another two-year-old to perform with credit in deep waters during the Flat turf season.

Now he has added another member to his crack team of fillies thanks to the Nick Bradley Racing-owned youngster, who made up for a luckless trip to Chantilly when fourth in the Prix Miesque by winning the Listed Prix Herod in the Paris suburbs.

With the handler blessed with a yard stacked with talent to fire at next year’s early-season Classic trials, and having shown a liking for racing on the continent, Sangster envisages a return to France for Glamis Road in 2025, with hopes high she can continue heading in the right direction following her season-ending success.

Sangster said: “She won well and we thought she was maybe a bit unlucky the last day in the Prix Miesque. She’s been in good form since, so we were happy to have another go and try and win a stakes race with her.

“It was straightforward and she did it really well – she probably idled in the last furlong but she was well on top, I think.

“She will be done for the year now and we will probably work back from a Guineas trial, I suppose. She seems to enjoy herself in France and I’m in a nice position where I have a few talented mile fillies moving forward for next year, so she could be one we target at a French Guineas or something.”

Trainer Ollie Sangster has enjoyed a fine season
Trainer Ollie Sangster has enjoyed a fine season (Simon Marper/PA)

Sangster hit the headlines with Shuwari during his first season in the training ranks and has showcased his handling skills once again this term, with Simmering proving the star attraction during a year that has yielded over £400,000 in prize-money in the UK alone.

Second to Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, she went on to be purchased by Al Shaqab Racing and won both the Princess Margaret Stakes and Prix du Calvados at Group level, before finishing runner-up to Ballydoyle’s unbeaten Lake Victoria in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes in September.

Simmering finished her season with a fourth-placed effort at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Marcel Boussac, but the trainer is hopeful she will be able to make her mark at the highest level next year, especially when encountering quicker ground.

Sangster said: “I was happy with her run in France and they got a bit strung out and we were quite a way off the pace. It was just that soft ground didn’t quite work for her and the wheels were spinning. We were happy with the run in the circumstances.

Simmering has starred for Ollie Sangster in 2024
Simmering has starred for Ollie Sangster in 2024 (Steven Paston/PA)

“She will hopefully be a nice filly for some quick-ground mile races next year and hopefully we have a chance of putting a Group One next to her name – she already has a Group Two and Group Three.”

On his star-studded team for 2025, he added: “Hopefully, the fillies I have can progress into next year. It’s always hard to know but at the start of the season, we always felt like we had a nice team of two-year-olds and a nice group of fillies judged on their homework earlier this year.

“Until you get them to the track, it’s hard to know quite where that level is and luckily they have proven to be of a reasonable level and they have performed well consistently throughout the year. We won stakes races earlier in the year and it is nice to win one now in November as well.”

All eyes on budding superstar Zarigana in Boussac

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Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zarigana will bid to uphold family honour in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

The filly, owned and bred by the Aga Khan, has an impeccable pedigree as she is by Siyouni and out of Zarkamiya, a Group winner who is herself out of the undefeated Arc heroine Zarkava.

She made her debut at Chantilly in July, strolling to a four-length victory ahead of nine rivals in a seven-furlong maiden to take the first steps in living up to the expectations that inevitably come with such breeding.

She then lined up at Longchamp last month for the Group Three Prix d’Aumale, a race run over the Boussac course and distance that became the scene of another taking victory as she came home three lengths to the good under a hands-and-heels ride from Mickael Barzalona.

The two-year-old now steps up in grade on return to Longchamp and heads the market for the Group One in a field of 11.

“She is very well, everything has gone smoothly and we’re looking forward to Sunday,” said Graffard.

“She won nicely in her two races and it’s big step up in class now, hopefully she can show she is competitive against Group One fillies.

“She won on soft ground the other day so we’re not worried about that, she’s a good looking, well-bred filly with a lot of talent. Fingers crossed for Sunday.”

Opposing Zarigana will be Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story, who blew away her rivals when taking the Chesham at Royal Ascot by nine and a half lengths.

She then landed both the Silver Flash and the Debutante Stakes, albeit by lesser margins, but connections were disappointed to see her finish last of five in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on her most recent outing.

Bedtime Story at Royal Ascot
Bedtime Story at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“She just jumped smart and was then a little bit keen in the Moyglare and we think that was the reason for her little bit of a disappointing run,” O’Brien said of the defeat, during which she finished behind stablemate Exactly and Ollie Sangster’s Simmering.

Both Exactly and Simmering reoppose, with January completing the Ballydoyle trio and Simmering a late addition to the field having been supplemented following the Moyglare second and a prior Prix Calvados triumph.

“I think she will be a filly to go a mile next year, but we will see,” Sangster said of the latter.

“She seemed to see out seven furlongs well in both the Moyglare and the Calvados.

“They went a good hard gallop in the Moyglare, but I don’t imagine they will go so hard in France on Sunday. We will find out, but I would suspect she will handle the mile.

“Lake Victoria who won the Moyglare was impressive in the Cheveley Park last week. Nothing else has come out of it yet, but we felt it was a very strong race going into it and I think everyone in the race was quite high on theirs and it was probably the strongest fillies’ race of the year so far at the time. I suspect the form of the Moyglare will continue to work out.”

Simmering and McMonagle keeping partnership intact

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Dylan Browne McMonagle might be missing out on the chance to partner Al Riffa in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but he has retained the ride aboard the supplemented Simmering in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac on Sunday.

McMonagle has been a regular aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Arc contender, steering the son of Wootton Bassett to both his Group One victories, including his most recent success in the Grosser Preis von Berlin.

But Al Riffa’s owner Masaaki Matsushima has handed Japanese stalwart Yutake Take the opportunity to be in the saddle at ParisLongchamp this weekend, leaving McMonagle without a ride in Europe’s richest middle-distance contest.

However, he will still be in action on the Bois de Boulogne having been called upon by Ollie Sangster to partner his star filly Simmering once again.

The duo successfully joined forces to claim Deauville’s Group Two Prix du Calvados in the summer, while the Irishman was also in the saddle when the Manton raider chased home subsequent Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lake Victoria in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland.

“Dylan is going to ride her again, he has ridden her the last two starts and is riding very well. He knows her and was available and we’re very happy to use him,” said Sangster.

Simmering (left) chased home Lake Victoria at the Curragh
Simmering (left) chased home Lake Victoria at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

It has cost connections €28,800 to add Simmering to the Boussac line-up where she is set to renew Moyglare rivalry with Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story and also face the unbeaten French filly Zarigana.

However, Sangster explains this contest has always been on the cards for the talented daughter of Too Darn Hot, especially since changing ownership following her fine Royal Ascot performance behind Fairy Godmother.

“Since Al Shaqab purchased her it has been a race that has been provisionally earmarked, she wasn’t actually in it at the time so obviously we’ve had to supplement,” continued Sangster.

Ollie Sangster will saddle Simmering on Arc day
Ollie Sangster will saddle Simmering on Arc day (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It’s a big weekend for their team with lots of runners with it being sponsored by Qatar and the owners were keen to run.

“She came out of the Moyglare in good shape and has been training well since. It looks a competitive race but we’re looking forward to taking her over.”

Others to be supplemented for Sunday’s Group One action include John and Sean Quinn’s Breege who joins Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Big Rock in being added to the Prix de la Foret, while Alicja Karkosa’s Prix La Rochette runner-up Heybetli joins the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere ranks.

Immediate plans still to be decided for Simmering

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Simmering could have one more chance to bag a Group One victory this season, with connections weighing up options in France and America.

Trained by Ollie Sangster, the Too Darn Hot filly was bought by Al Shaqab Racing having finished second to Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Since then she has won the Princess Margaret Stakes, the Group Two Prix du Calvados at Deauville and then headed to Ireland last weekend for a strong renewal of the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Up against the likes of Chesham winner Bedtime Story, the highly-regarded Red Letter and Sweet Solera heroine Lake Victoria, it was the latter who came with a late withering run to win, with Simmering in second.

“She’s come out of the race very well, it was a a very good race with lots of well-regarded fillies in it,” said Sangster.

“She ran a very good race. Obviously we want to win but second was ultimately a very good result.

“We’ll see how she is, she does seem to have come out of it well but she’ll either be finished or she’ll have one more run.

“That would either be in the Prix Marcel Boussac or the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Turf). There are different timescales and different options to weigh up, but I suspect she’ll only have one more as she’s had a few quick runs since the end of July and the Princess Margaret.”

Flight (red hat) was a respectable third behind Desert Flower
Flight (red hat) was a respectable third behind Desert Flower (Mike Egerton/PA)

Sangster also saw another of his smart two-year-old fillies pick up some nice black type when Flight finished third in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week behind the unbeaten Desert Flower.

“I thought she ran a very commendable race,” said Sangster.

“It would have been nice if she’d had something to take her further into the race as she was left in front a long way from home after travelling very well.

“She’s taken a big step up again and we’re happy with that. She’s a big filly and she’s really one for next year.

“She might have one more run, we’re thinking something like the Oh So Sharp, it would be nice to win a stakes race if we could so we’ll maybe work back from something like that for the time being.”

Simmering camp have sights set on Paris and Del Mar

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A return to France and a trip to the Breeders’ Cup are among the options under consideration for Ollie Sangster’s star juvenile filly Simmering.

Third on her debut at York before finishing best of the rest behind Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the daughter of Too Darn Hot has since completed a big-race double by landing Ascot’s Princess Margaret Stakes and the Prix du Calvados at Deauville.

Her most recent success proved she stays seven furlongs and handles soft ground, making the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp an attractive target before a possible outing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“I spoke to Ollie on Friday morning and he said she’s come out of the Deauville race very well and he’s really happy with her, so we’ll sit down and make a plan for her,” said Alison Begley, racing manager for owners Al Shaqab Racing.

“It’s under discussion where we go next. The Breeders’ Cup is probably the end-of-season target, so it’s really a question of whether we give her another run before that or keep her fresh for then.

“When Ryan (Moore) rode her at Ascot, he thought the Breeders’ Cup would be a good option for her at the end of the year, so we’ll see, but the fact that she won on softer ground in Deauville has opened up a few options for her.

“The Prix Marcel Boussac is an option, as obviously that meeting is important to Sheikh Joaan with the Qatar sponsorship, so they’d probably be the two targets we’re looking at.”

Simmering proves far too smart for Deauville rivals

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Simmering produced a performance full of class to claim an impressive win in the Group Two Prix du Calvados at Deauville.

Dylan Browne McMonagle gave Ollie Sangster’s juvenile filly a confident ride and she justified that faith by easing her way through to the front two furlongs from home.

Jean-Claude Rouget’s Fraise Des Bois, unbeaten in her first four starts, briefly looked as though she was going to prove a major threat.

However, Simmering found another gear when asked and powered away to prevail by three lengths, following up her Princess Margaret success at Ascot and earning a quote of 16-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas from Coral.

“It was a much easier watch than the Princess Margaret,” said Sangster. “She travelled smoothly and put the race to bed really nicely.

“It was a lovely ride and I know Dylan from when I did my stint at Joseph’s (O’Brien). He’s a very nice rider, rides in a good style and kept it simple, which was always the plan.

“The step up to seven seemed to bring about improvement and I think the added racing also helped, there was an element of greenness there when she won at Ascot. I also think she will improve for some better ground and she’s a scopey filly and I don’t think she will just be a two-year-old.

“She will have a maximum of two more starts and the Breeders’ Cup is a possible option – and we’ve also got the Prix Marcel Boussac, which is something we would consider. It’s nice to have new owners in Al Shaqab in the yard and obviously Arc weekend is sponsored by Qatar, so it’s an option we will consider.”

Apples And Bananas kept on well from the front to land the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage for Joseph O’Brien and McMonagle.

The son of Wootton Bassett comfortably held off the late charge of Rosa Salvaje to score by three-quarters of a length, with Charlie Johnston’s Lazy Griff a further three and a half lengths adrift in third.

Odds-on favourite Aventure came from last to first in the home straight to secure a cosy success in the Group Two Prix de Pomone for Christophe Ferland and Stephane Pasquier.

Jessica Harrington’s Trevaunance and the John and Thady Gosden-trained One Evening were only just behind at the line, but the winner appeared to have plenty in hand.

Simmering all set to move up in trip at Deauville

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Simmering heads to France for the next stop in her promising career when she steps up in trip for the Prix du Calvados at Deauville.

Third at York behind Prix Morny contender Arabie on debut, Ollie Sangster’s filly found just Aidan O’Brien’s exciting Fairy Godmother too good when second in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The daughter of Too Darn Hot was making her first start in the silks of new owners Al Shaqab when she returned to Ascot to shed her maiden status with an impressive display in the Princess Margaret Stakes last month.

It was a performance which convinced connections to test the water over seven furlongs, which she does on Saturday where Dylan Browne McMonagle rides for the first time.

“She took the race at Ascot really well and has come out of the race in good form,” said Sangster.

“I haven’t done loads with her since, but she seems to be in good order and this is a nice next stepping stone for her.

“She saw the stiff six (furlongs) of Ascot out well and was doing her best work at the end, so I think this step up to seven furlongs is logical and Ryan (Moore, who rode at Ascot) suggested that as well.

“It looks a nice opportunity and hopefully it will be quick ground and we’re looking forward to running her.”

Bouvier (left) pushed Dreamy close at Goodwood
Bouvier (left) pushed Dreamy close at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole’s Bouvier pushed Ballydoyle’s well-regarded Dreamy all the way when a neck second at Goodwood on her second outing and is another contender from Britain alongside Grant Tuer’s Love Talk.

However, the biggest test to Simmering could be presented by Jean-Claude Rouget’s unbeaten Fraise Des Bois having maintained her perfect record in Listed company at La Teste De Buch.

Owned by Denford Stud, she holds an entry for Newmarket’s Cheveley Park Stakes in the autumn and connections are keen to get a gauge of her level from this steep jump into Group Two company.

“She has won four out of four and is climbing the ladder slowly,” said Richard Evans of Denford Stud.

“Her last race was probably the most impressive when she won by seven lengths and she is a progressive filly now heading to a Group Two and then after that we can see about some Group One entries depending on how she does on Saturday.

“The race on Saturday will tell us really where we are, I think, and the competition is going to be a lot stiffer obviously. Ollie Sangster has his nice filly Simmering in there and the competition will be high and we will see how she does.

“If she can win or even run a good race then I would say she will probably go for a Group One in France or we have the Cheveley Park entry as well.”

Love Talk is another of British interest for trainer Grant Tuer as she tries to bounce back from a sixth-placed finish in a Listed contest at Sandown last month.

Owner Nick Bradley was successful in this race with Fev Rover in 2020 and Love Talk’s chances will be boosted with booking of 2023 winning jockey Mickael Barzalona in the saddle.

“She won on debut, went to the Star Stakes (at Sandown) and everything kind of went wrong, she got shuffled back and stuck on the outside,” Bradley said.

“She steps up in grade in terms of the name of the race, but it doesn’t look the strongest of Group Twos in my opinion.

“Simmering will be hard to beat, but I think we go there with a decent each-way chance.”

Monday Musings: Beaten by Sepsis

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It’s funny when you speak regularly with people in racing, especially in my case primarily those I’d known in my previous incarnation, that memories come flooding back, writes Tony Stafford.

For example, before the first at Ascot on Saturday, a two-year-old contest, representing part-owner Jonathan Barnett and his Fire Flame, I stood at the end of the paddock to view it on the big screen. While there, I ran (or rather stumbled) into David Loder and John Garnsey. Many years ago, when Loder started training at Sefton Lodge in Newmarket, he had terrific success, notably with his juveniles, which were always well-schooled and ready to run.

Ricky Bowman was an “enthusiastic” work rider at a time when whip use was less frowned upon and indeed “when whips were whips”.

So, the Loder horses went into action with the equivalent of a race behind them and it was pretty easy to find winning opportunities. Many of the best prospects found their way into my Daily Telegraph tips as I was in contact with David every day.

So much so that when I bumped into legendary punter Harry Findlay at Doncaster sales maybe 15 years later, he said that when I napped one, he had his maximum on. “No commission, Harry?”

David has stopped training for some time. When he left Newmarket for the first time to look after the Sheikh Mohammed horses in Evry, France, on the site of the former racecourse, after Jeremy Noseda declined the offer, the contact finished.

Before he left, we regularly used to suggest that John Gosden didn’t seem to be doing much of a job with the Sheikh Mohammed home-breds in his yard. The first year he returned, I bumped into him as he was about to run his juvenile City On A Hill in the July Stakes. Of course it won, as did Noverre the following year.

As we were about to pass, he stopped me and said:” You know we used to laugh at John Gosden about what a crap job he did with the Sheikh Mo home-breds?” "Of course", I laughed. “Well, I’ve got them now and I think he was a f…… genius to do what he did with them!”, he said.

Now the wheel has turned full circle, David and Anthony Stroud are back buying the sales horses for Godolphin in close concert with the boss and Charlie Appleby, who was with Loder in the yard back in those Evry days.

I was chatting to Charlie a bit later along with Jono Mills, who was the young manager for the Rabbah (Godolphin-lite as I used to call them) horses at the time. Quite a few were in the revised Loder team after the Sheikh ended the Evry project and David took out a licence to train publicly from Egerton stud, next to the National Stud in the town, and the base for David Elsworth until his retirement a couple of seasons ago. Johnny Murtagh, before his Classic-winning time at Coolmore and post-John Oxx, rode the horses and unlike in David’s first go at the job, they tended to finish 2nd. Murtagh couldn’t ride a winner and Dave soon ended the experiment - Jono still remembers the frustration of it all.

Now, tall and lean and looking like some distinguished film producer, Loder can lay claim to Thursday’s wide-margin Sandown debut winner Ruling Court, a €2.3 million buy from Arqana. “Maybe he beat trees, but he looked good,” he said. A son of Justify so maybe another City Of Troy would be the hope

John Garnsey was and is an almost exact (but slightly younger) contemporary of mine, him at the Daily Express. Quiet and amusingly laconic whenever we meet, he usually says something like: “Well at least we’re still here!”

We had all agreed as the horses milled around behind the stalls that one of the runners, Letsbeatsepsis, had a most unfortunate name. Trained by Gary and Josh Moore, obviously there was a story behind it. Loder was there to watch another of his discoveries, the 1.5million gns Al Misbah, the 11/10 favourite.

A slow start didn’t help the favourite and he could only keep on for fourth, just ahead of a tubby-looking Fire Flame, with both beaten for third by Letsbeatsepsis, an 80/1 shot.

I thought I’d better investigate and indeed there is a story. I called Jayne Moore, wife of Gary, mum to joint-trainer Josh, recently-retired jump jockey Jamie and TV star Hayley. Oh, there’s also Ryan, who won that race on Richard Hannon’s Our Terms and went on to take the next, the Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3) for Ollie Sangster.

Jayne explained that Letsbeatsepsis’ owner-breeder Patrick Moorhead had fallen ill with sepsis a few years back and hadn’t heard of it until he caught the disease. He was in ITU for months, but when he recovered, thought it would be an appropriate name to make people aware of it.

Saturday’s runner, a first foal, shows enough talent to do just that. I did some research and discovered that sepsis in the UK claims 48,000 deaths annually. The much more publicised breast cancer (11,500) and prostate cancer (12,000) claim together less than a half as many victims. To illustrate the full horror of sepsis, it is estimated that 11 million, one-fifth the world’s annual death toll, succumb to it.

Gary had only half a dozen two-two-year old wins in the past five years but now with Josh on the licence you can expect the younger end of the team to press for more flat horses and if possible of a precocious nature.

One young man on the fast track to success is Ollie Sangster, and not the least of his skill in only his second season as a trainer has been to judge the time when allowing big-name owners to buy out the existing owners.

Judging by the smiles of parents Ben and Lucy before the Princess Margaret, the price paid for the twice-raced maiden Simmering by Al Shaqab Racing was substantial enough for original partner Lucy to enjoy the day whatever happened.

Just as at Royal Ascot where Simmering flew home in the shadow of highly rated Fairy Godmother, showing similar finishing speed in the Albany Stakes to the winner, Simmering again got a fair way behind. Then Ryan, switched from her Royal meeting nemesis, found himself a fair way back but came through the middle of the field and was well on top at the finish. A 70,000gns daughter of Too Darn Hot, Simmering will have enhanced her value still further, but that sure touch Ollie showed when lining up a Group 3 to break a maiden will have impressed the international set.

Later, Ben Sangster, still with a full-on smile, was anxious not to put too much expectation on the young man’s shoulders. Ollie, obviously grandson to Robert Sangster, should according to Ben, “take small steps. The dream is still there though that one day he can move into the main yard at Manton House.”

One final point about King George day and the main event. Before the race Aidan O’Brien, having walked the course earlier, and Ryan Moore told Michael Tabor of their misgivings after 3mm of water were added overnight. Also, near the inside they had put down a fair amount of sand. Michael, realistic as ever, said: “It’s what it is!” almost resigned to another down to the 2023 Derby winner’s in-out career.

One thing I’m pretty sure of: the winner, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained gelding Goliath will have been the first winner of the race with such a pronounced case of stringhalt. As he went past us in the pre-parade, I was dying to ask him: “Can you do it as well with your right hind leg?" Bet he can’t! Decent performance though.

**

Yesterday featured the last day’s UK jump racing for around three weeks. While the top jockeys will be able to afford to go on exotic trips, their lesser-earning counterparts will be ruing the fact of reduced earning possibilities. Nicky Richards told me that he thought the stop was an opportunity missed. In Ireland they have races for jockeys that have won fewer than 20 races in the previous season and he reckons that should have been copied here.

Meanwhile, on another contentious issue, Dylan Cunha, who won a Racing League contest at Yarmouth last Thursday, goes further, believing that the top 20 trainers could be excluded to no harm for themselves, leaving the better prize money in these races to the remainder. Hughie Morrison, one of the Team Scotland trainers in the Racing League, believes that the bigger than usual for the grade money available has merely been “stolen” from the rest of the UK’s races in their respective grade. Three men with plenty to say and all with feasible opinions.

- TS

Sangster hopes Simmering can heat up once again at Ascot

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Royal Ascot runner-up Simmering returns to the Berkshire track in a bid to go one better in Saturday’s Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes.

The daughter of Too Darn Hot finished a promising third when favourite to make a winning debut at York in the spring and the form could hardly be stronger, with the winner Arabie now a dual Group-race scorer in France and the second and fourth also enjoying success since.

Simmering enhanced her own reputation by finishing second to Fairy Godmother in last month’s Albany Stakes, and the subsequent Duchess of Cambridge Stakes effort of third-placed Heavens Gate, the winner’s stablemate, paints that performance in a good light.

It is perhaps no surprise therefore that prominent owners Al Shaqab Racing have since snapped up Ollie Sangster’s filly and she will be well fancied to open her account at the third attempt at Group Three level this weekend in the hands of Ryan Moore, who takes over in the saddle from Jamie Spencer.

“She has done her final work, Jamie (Spencer) has been in recently and was very happy with her and we’re really looking forward to running her,” said Sangster.

“The form from Ascot has worked out well at Newmarket and the Karl Burke horse who beat her on debut is now a Group Two winner in France. It will be nice to get her back out.”

On the change in colours ahead of Saturday, Sangster added: “We’re very excited to have Sheikh Joaan and the Al Shaqab team in the yard and look forward to training for them. Hopefully we can have some success together.”

Oisin Murphy is looking forward to partnering the Andrew Balding-trained Handcuffed, who is a half-sister to the talented Tactical and carried the royal colours of the King and Queen to a debut victory at Newbury three weeks ago.

“She won nicely at Newbury and was still a little bit babyish and this is a step up in class, but when they win on debut with the pedigree she has, she’s entitled to step up to a Pattern race,” said the former champion jockey.

“I haven’t ridden her since Newbury, but Andrew seems very happy with her.”

Definitive also obliged on her introduction and has her sights raised by Clive Cox, who said: “She won very pleasingly at Haydock first time up and it was a very good display for a first outing.

“It’s a big step and she will come forward hugely for that first run. We liked her going into that race and she did everything really nicely.

“It was her first day away from home and we’ve been thrilled with how she has come back, hence the reason we are taking this step.”

Newmarket scorer Mandurah is a third once-raced winner in the mix for Simon and Ed Crisford, while Ralph Beckett saddles the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes sixth Tales Of The Heart.

Of Mandurah, Ed Crisford said: “She won her maiden well at Newmarket, we’ve always liked the filly and at home she looks like she’s improved enough to take her chance in a stakes race.

“It’s a competitive race and there’s some very good fillies in there, but if she improves, hopefully she’ll be in the mix.

“You’ve got to see where you stand really. It’s only her second run, but we’ve been very pleased with her since Newmarket and she’s got a nice pedigree, so we’ll let her take her chance.”

Simmering targets successful return to Ascot in Princess Margaret

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Simmering will return to Ascot attempting to go one better than her Albany Stakes second in the Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes on Saturday week.

Trained by Ollie Sangster and sporting his family’s famous silks, the daughter of Too Darn Hot was denied by Karl Burke’s above-average subsequent Group Two winner Arabie on debut and bumped into another high-class rival at Royal Ascot when finding just Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother too good.

The form of the Albany was given a useful boost by those just behind Simmering in Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes last week and although still a maiden, connections are keen to continue aiming high with their top juvenile prospect.

Simmering will now head back to Berkshire for Ascot’s six-furlong Group Three event, a race Sangster feels will lead perfectly into the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York later in the summer.

Trainer Ollie Sangster has high hopes for Simmering
Trainer Ollie Sangster has high hopes for Simmering (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m very happy with how she is doing, the form from the Albany is looking good and all being well she is going to go for the Princess Margaret at Ascot,” said Sangster.

“I think it will be a nice stepping stone to something like the Lowther. She has also got an entry in the Prix du Calvados over seven furlongs and I just did that in case we wanted to go up in trip. Although I think I want to go next weekend, then all being well on to the Lowther.

“There’s been no problems since Ascot and this has always been the target. I thought about the Duchess of Cambridge where the third and fourth from the Albany went, but I decided to wait.”

Sangster also has high hopes for another two-year-old filly he has stabled at his historic Manton base, Flight.

Flight (red hat) finished second to Desert Flower at Newmarket
Flight (red hat) finished second to Desert Flower at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA)

The daughter of Siyouni has bumped into taking winners in both starts so far, but having caught the eye in defeat, hopes are high she can make her mark before the season is over.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s above average and I think she is stakes class,” continued Sangster.

“It will be interesting to see what the Godolphin filly (Desert Flower) does next time and she will probably move up to a mile herself next time.

“She’s a big filly and it will be good to try to get some black type at the end of the year, but hopefully she will improve into next year as well.”

Sangster expects Simmering to sparkle over the summer

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Simmering is backed to come to the boil later in the summer having gone close to opening Ollie Sangster’s Royal Ascot account when second in the Albany Stakes.

Sangster has made a fine start to his career, training out of the historic Manton yard his family name is synonymous with, saddling Inquisitively to finish third at last year’s Royal meeting before knocking on the door once again this time around.

Although beaten on debut at York, Simmering has always been held in high regard, and with Jamie Spencer sporting the famous Sangster silks aboard the daughter of Too Darn Hot, she was sent off a 9-1 chance for the Group Three which opened Thursday’s action at Ascot.

She made stylish progress from a position towards the rear of the field and although at one stage it may have appeared a race-winning burst, she was denied by Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother who had navigated a wall of horses in the hands of Ryan Moore to strike late in the day.

“We were delighted and were hopeful going into the race, she has always worked very well and we’ve always thought highly of her,” said Sangster.

“Jamie rode her work two weeks ago and loved her. We weren’t really surprised and we just bumped into a very talented filly in Fairy Godmother.

“Take nothing away from the winner, she came from a very difficult position and won well, but she had already ran twice.

“We had only run the once and I think she is only going to keep improving – she came from quite far back herself.”

It was a performance that indicated there could be many big days ahead for Simmering and although still a maiden, Sangster is eyeing some exciting options moving forwards.

Spencer pinpointed York’s Group Two Lowther Stakes as the perfect summer target when dismounting at Ascot, while a more immediate proposition is Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, a race won by Albany scorers Dandalla and Sandrine in 2020 and 2021 respectively and also captured by 2022 Albany runner-up Mawj on her next start.

Ollie Sangster has made a bright start to his training career
Ollie Sangster has made a bright start to his training career (Mike Egerton/PA)

Sangster continued: “I just want to let the dust settle but the first thing Jamie said when he hopped off her was she would be tailor-made for something like the Lowther. She travels very strongly and has a lot of speed – that was Jamie’s initial thoughts.

“I won’t be rushing her out in the next few weeks and she would have had a hard enough race at Ascot.

“The Duchess of Cambridge is a possibility, we will see how she goes over the next couple of weeks, but I will probably wait a little longer with her. It’s often a nice race and often doesn’t have a crazy big field so it is a possibility.”

It was high-class filly Shuwari who helped put Sangster on the map during his first season in the training ranks and it was somewhat fitting it was his one-time Classic hope who the trainer was attending to while discussing his latest hot prospect.

Shuwari could be back later in the year
Shuwari could be back later in the year (Nigel French/PA)

Second in both the Rockfel Stakes and Fillies’ Mile at the back-end of 2023, Shuwari missed out on her shot at 1000 Guineas glory having suffered a setback in the early stages of the season.

Connections have had to show patience in her recovery and are still optimistic the talented daughter of New Bay could return to the track later in the year.

“I’m hand-walking her right now, that’s the schedule we’re on right now and I’m walking her,” added Sangster when asked about his star filly’s progress on Sunday. “Maybe we will get her back for the autumn.”

He went on: “She’s doing really well and things are going the right way, it’s just a lengthy process. Hopefully, if things keep going well, then she might be back for an autumn campaign.”