Tamfana will continue her search for a Group One win on Saturday with David Menuisier’s star filly featuring amongst the 11 confirmations for the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
Many will be relishing a possible first-ever clash between the John and Thady Gosden-trained pair of Inspiral and Nashwa in the Rowley Mile contest, but Menuisier’s filly is a proven performer herself at the highest level and will arrive on the back of a confidence-boosting success at Sandown.
She advertised both her class and suitability to compete back down at a mile when winning the Group Three Atalanta Stakes in late August and fresh from saddling Sirona to win in stakes company at HQ, the Sussex-based Frenchman is excited to run his talented daughter of Soldier Hollow.
Menuisier said: “Hopefully Sirona winning on Friday will prove a dress rehearsal!
“Tamfana is in great form, hopefully we have some luck, she deserves to win a Group One. The owners need a Group One and so does the trainer!
“She was good at Sandown and has been placed in three Group Ones before that.
“It’s been one of those seasons, but let’s hope somebody can hear us up there.”
As well as defending champion Inspiral, her returning stablemate Nashwa and fellow Gosden fillies Running Lion and Friendly Soul, the race could also feature Roger Varian’s 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka, Rogue Millennium, Darnation, See The Fire and Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Wingspan and Ylang Ylang.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/277290306-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-09-30 12:31:432024-09-30 12:31:43Tamfana among Sun Chariot field as Inspiral and Nashwa set to clash
Elmalka is likely to return to the scene of her thrilling 1000 Guineas success for her next start, with Roger Varian eyeing a Newmarket repeat in the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes.
Since scooping Classic honours in May, the talented daughter of Kingman has gone on to run with credit in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when finishing fourth, before testing the waters at 10 furlongs in Goodwood’s Nassau Stakes, filling the same position, beaten just over three lengths.
Varian is taking plenty of encouragement from both of those appearances in defeat and having been pleased with what he has seen from the filly since her run on the Sussex Downs, will now drop back in trip for her next outing.
Although holding an entry for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown during Irish Champions Weekend, the Carlburg Stables handler is leaning towards waiting until October 5 for the Sun Chariot.
“She’s doing really well and I couldn’t be more pleased with her at the moment,” said Varian.
“I think most likely we will wait for the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. I think back in trip, hopefully on a bit of autumn ground, it all makes sense to head there, back to the course and distance of her Guineas win.
“I’m really pleased with her and I think she ran very well both at Ascot and at Goodwood. Although she hasn’t backed up her Guineas run with another Group One win, I think they were two Group One performances.
“I do think she will win another Group One and I think she will be well-suited to the challenge the Sun Chariot presents to her in October.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/276082230-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-08-28 14:06:022024-08-28 14:06:02Varian favouring Sun Chariot date for Elmalka
Frankie Dettori registered his 500th winner at Newmarket in steering star filly Inspiral to victory in the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes.
The duo had combined to record a thrilling success in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in the summer and followed that up to add a fifth Group One triumph in this Rowley Mile feature.
Settled in mid-division travelling nicely alongside French challenger Mqse De Sevigne, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Inspiral made a stylish move to the inner with three furlongs to run and soon made her way home.
Heading into the dip she had built up a three-length advantage and there was no stopping the 10-11 favourite as she surged clear and entered the record books in ultra-impressive style. Andre Fabre’s Mqse De Sevigne was three and three-quarter lengths away in second at the line, with the supplemented Heredia in third.
Dettori – who retires at the end of the year – said: “We knew the pace wasn’t going to be that strong and she wants a much stronger tempo. She has got a crescendo of three furlongs and I didn’t want to mess around so I thought ‘come on let’s go and let them come and try to catch you’. She has strode out really well. She is a super filly when she is on-song and today she was.
“She showed the world today what a superstar horse she is. She gave me a nightmare ride in France, but today she was good. I was quite worried when she was so quiet as when they are quiet it is maybe because they are over the top or maybe they are in season, but that wasn’t the case. She was quiet because she was having a good day.
“When I got to 499 last week I thought at least I’ve got Inspiral to look forward to as I know she will be thereabouts. I didn’t know until last week when Amy Starkey (of the Jockey Club) told me I was so close. It (Newmarket) has been my home for 38 years. It is fantastic to be able to do it (ride 500 winners at Newmarket) in a Group One on a special filly. I couldn’t have written a better ending.”
Reflecting further, he said: “My first big one here was on Didicoy for Jeremy Tree and Khalid Abdullah in the Coral Bookmakers Handicap. I was only a teenager, but that for me then was like winning the Derby. All my Guineas winners are special.
“My last Guineas winner, Chaldean, I knew I had a chance but I didn’t expect it and that was probably the sweetest one I had.
“I woke up this morning with a knot in my stomach. I didn’t feel myself. I felt nervous, sad and emotional, but at least I’ve got it done now. I’ve got two weeks left. It is getting close and I’m getting so many best wishes, but I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t like this.
“At Longchamp they (crowd) were amazing, York they were amazing. Everywhere I’ve been they have been incredible, and I don’t think it will be any different on my last day at Ascot (Champions Day). I’m allowed to cry that day, but I’ve tried to keep it together today.”
Paying his tribute to his long-time friend, Gosden senior said: “It is lovely. What a way to do it in a Group One. He is an absolute icon. He is wonderful and he has been great over the years to work with and continues to be so. I’m sure I’ll be running some horses in California (Breeders’ Cup) for him.
“He is great working with in the mornings and not all jockeys are like that. He is a great judge in the mornings on his work and I will miss him there as much as racing in the afternoon strangely. I would have thought when he retires he fully retires.
“He is doing it cleverly. He is not just stopping bold. He is doing it the right way. He is bringing it down gently. He will be riding in Japan, Hong Kong, California and in the Middle East in the winter. Where there are big races he will pop up. I don’t know that (if he was to carry on riding in Britain after this year), but it would be a huge thing.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/262944631-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-10-07 14:25:082023-10-07 15:25:05Inspiral gives magical Dettori his 500th career winner at Newmarket
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