Tag Archive for: Soprano

Soprano aiming to hit Pipalong high notes

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Soprano bids to put Royal Ascot disappointment behind her in the Weatherbys Hamilton Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract on Tuesday.

Winner of the Sandringham Stakes at the Royal meeting last season, George Boughey’s filly returned to the Berkshire circuit on the back of a successful reappearance in Listed company at Kempton.

However, the four-year-old was too keen to do herself justice in the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes and weakened to finish last of seven behind Crimson Advocate, who she had beaten on her previous outing.

Harry Herbert, managing director for Soprano’s owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: “She’s in great form and looks absolutely fantastic, the best she’s looked this year I think.

“Sadly we had a disaster at Royal Ascot when she ran with the choke out for more than half the race and obviously didn’t get home, so she doesn’t need to do that again.

“She was just too fresh going into that race but she’s well, Billy (Loughnane) knows her very well and while it’s a tough race giving weight away at Pontefract, I think she’ll be very competitive.

“We had beaten the winner at Ascot the time before so it was frustrating what happened, she beat herself on the day. She thrives on racing and we probably should have given her another run, but it’s easy in hindsight.

“George and the team closest to her think she’s bang on for this to run a big race.”

Soprano heads a field of 11 fillies and mares declared for Pontefract’s Listed feature, with Dave Loughnane’s Sparks Fly and Royal Dress from James Tate’s yard among her rivals.

Loughnane raring to get going at Royal Ascot again

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Billy Loughnane has reflected on his phenomenal Royal Ascot breakthrough 12 months ago – and is banking on an old friend to replicate last year’s success this time around.

There were emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure when the 19-year-old, adorned in the famous Sangster silks that have been a staple of Ascot, opened his account at the summer showpiece in the second race of the meeting by steering Brian Meehan’s Rashabar to Coventry Stakes glory at 80-1.

Loughnane’s week would get better when his Newmarket training ally George Boughey legged him up aboard Soprano in the Sandringham Stakes, completing a double on the biggest stage and a week he will always remember fondly.

Billy Loughnane after riding Rashabar to victory in the Coventry Stakes
Billy Loughnane after riding Rashabar to victory in the Coventry Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“It was a good Ascot last year and I’m excited to get back there, said Loughnane.

“It was a brilliant feeling winning the Coventry and ticking it off so early in the week was great. It was a special day and it was great to be there on the big stage. To also win on Soprano later in the week really was the icing on the cake.”

The young jockey has big ambitions of another dream week in Berkshire and is already busy amassing a stacked book of rides for five of the biggest days of the Flat season.

And it is last year’s Ascot heroine Soprano who Loughnane is pinning his hopes on once again as she returns to the Royal meeting for the Duke of Cambridgeshire Stakes, along with stablemate Bountiful who could provide a Sandringham double for not only Loughnane and Boughey but also owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

Loughnane continued: “I’ve hopefully got a good book of rides and some good teams behind me. I’ve got some nice ones for George and Jane Chapple-Hyam and some other connections as well.

“Royal Ascot is the peak of our whole season so it’s important to go there with chances of winning. I’m hoping for a big week and will be disappointed to shoot a blank.

“Soprano will probably be my standout of the week and was a winner there for me last year. She’s going to run again and is in great nick. I’ve been riding her at home, she likes Ascot and loves quick ground and providing we get that I think she seems really well and will be going there with a good squeak.

“Bountiful can also run well for Highclere and George. She’s going to run in the Sandringham and her work has been good and I think stepping up to a mile will help her. I think she could be a bit of a sleeper.”