Tag Archive for: Zarakem

Calandagan and Zarakem offering French resistance to City Of Troy

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Francis-Henri Graffard hopes his Royal Ascot winner Calandagan is ready to step forward when he takes his chance in the Juddmonte International at York.

The Gleneagles gelding faces a star-studded line-up on the Knavesmire, with Derby and Eclipse winner City Of Troy and Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly part of the record 13-strong field for York’s richest-ever race.

Calandagan has impressed this year and was a three-quarter-length second on his seasonal reappearance in a Listed event at Saint-Cloud.

He then won the Group Three Prix Noailles and Prix Hocquart at ParisLongchamp, with all three of those races coming on soft or heavy ground.

Calandagan displayed his versatility when he won the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on good to firm, and Graffard is confident he is ready to move up to the highest level for the first time, in an event which is part of the Qipco British Champions Series.

Graffard said: “He’s in very good form. We gave him time after his win at Ascot and he’s back to his best form and ready to take his chance. He’s ready for the next level and we’ll see where we stand.

“The opposition is very strong, but I think York will suit him as it’s a big, galloping track with a long straight compared to somewhere like Deauville.

Francis-Henri Graffard
Francis-Henri Graffard has enjoyed Group race success in England this season (John Walton/PA)

“He was very difficult as a two-year-old and we were struggling to get the best out of him, so we had no choice (to geld him), but he’s a completely different horse now.”

Zarakem is another French raider, with trainer Jerome Reynier seeing the race as the perfect preparation for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later in the year.

The four-year-old disappointed on his first attempt at Group One level in the Prix Ganay, but it was a different story in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes when only beaten three-quarters of a length in second by Auguste Rodin at 33-1.

Jerome Reynier
Jerome Reynier will bring Zarakem across the English Channel (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“They are talking about the hottest race of the year. We are not very far from it. It is going to be a very strong test,” Reynier said.

“Obviously, he ran a really good race at Royal Ascot and he showed he was able to deal with the fast ground at the highest level. We are going to wait at the back for some pace and hopefully we will be finishing as fast as the other day.

“It was a long trip (to Ascot) and he had to recover from it. He looks amazing and he’s been training very well. We are really looking forward to seeing him again in England and his final target will be the Arc in early October and we thought this was the perfect race to use as a trial.

“We are going to try our best to be the most competitive we can. There’s a long straight and he’s been handling Longchamp heavy ground and fast ground at Ascot, so he’s shown he’s very versatile and there shouldn’t be any issue with the racetrack.”

Ghostwriter winning the Royal Lodge Stakes last year
Ghostwriter winning the Royal Lodge Stakes last year (Tim Goode/PA)

Clive Cox is confident of a strong run from Eclipse third Ghostwriter, despite a less than ideal draw.

Cox said: “As we expected, it is one of the most competitive races of the year. It was always going to be highly competitive and we’re really looking forward to it.

“He ran really well at Sandown and the form has been franked with the second horse winning in Germany (Al Riffa in the Grosser Preis von Berlin), so we’re happy. I would have chosen a different draw (13) given a choice, but I’m very happy that we’re going there in good form.

“We’re looking forward to this week and that will guide us accordingly (for future plans this season). We’d prefer a drier build-up than a wet one.”

Durezza is another from overseas taking his chance, with the Japanese St Leger winner making his UK debut.

“He has won the Japanese St Leger, but his other four wins have been around 10 furlongs,” said Yusuke Sai, racing manager for Japan’s Northern Farm, who bred the international contender.

“He is not a thorough stayer, he has a bit of class. He can stay, but we think 10 furlongs to a mile and a half is his best distance.”

Alflaila
Alflaila has won three times at Group level at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Owen Burrows-trained Alflaila is a course specialist, having won the Group Three Strensall Stakes and Group Two York Stakes twice.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “He’s another older horse, he’s there to try to win what he can, we are taking on the very best so nobody’s saying he’s going to go and win it.

“But I’m sure if he runs his race he’ll be there or thereabouts. He’s got a great mind on him, lovely attitude and loves his work.

“Our horse is a regular Group Two verging Group One class and who knows, he might not be good enough, that’s fine, but I’m sure he will be give a good account of himself.”

Maljoom (right) chases home Notable Speech (left) at Goodwood
Maljoom (right) chases home Notable Speech (left) at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

William Haggas’ Maljoom ran a big race when second to Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and jockey Tom Marquand believes he will handle the step up in trip.

He said: “It was a massive run at Goodwood, where he was second to a Guineas winner and an exceptional horse, and everyone was in agreement afterwards that the step up to a mile and a quarter would help him and was the next logical step.”

Israr steps up to Group One level after winning the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and Richard Hills, assistant racing manager for Shadwell, said: “He’s in there on his own merits.

“Sheikha Hissa took the view that he deserves his chance. He loves fast ground; York will suit him really well and I think he’ll run a big race. He’s in good nick.”



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Zarakem has sights set on York before Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bid

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Jerome Reynier has described Zarakem as “better than ever” ahead of a pre-Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trip to York next month.

The four-year-old was last seen chasing home Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, going down by just three-quarters of a length with a quality field behind him.

Prior to that he had shown plenty of ability in his native France, winning the Group Two Prix d’Harcourt at ParisLongchamp before a rare blip in the Prix Ganay at the same track.

That run was put well behind him at the Royal meeting and now he has another British Group One in his sights in the shape of the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor meeting.

The race is an intended stepping-stone en route to arguably the most coveted middle-distance prize on the calendar.

Zarakem has taken his travels well and has pleased his trainer ahead of another journey across the Channel, after which he will focus on Paris in the autumn.

“I’m very happy with him, he came back in very good shape after Royal Ascot,” the trainer said.

“He is getting more mature and stronger and he seems to be better than ever.

“For the Arc we think this race is a good race in between with the timing, it’s going to be a pretty hard race with City Of Troy and Calandagan.

“There are a few very good horses in there but he’s done it so well at Royal Ascot, we just have to forget about the Prix Ganay where he was ridden too offensively.

“I’m very happy and we are really looking forward to seeing him again at the highest level.”



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International mission an option for Zarakem

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Jerome Reynier is considering the Juddmonte International as a potential stepping-stone to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Zarakem following his excellent effort in defeat at Royal Ascot.

Having disappointed as favourite for the Prix Ganay, the French raider was a widely unconsidered 33-1 shot for what looked a red-hot renewal of Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but did his connections proud by emerging best of the rest behind the now six-time Group One winner Auguste Rodin.

“It was just unreal, Maxime (Guyon) rode the perfect race from the inside,” said his trainer.

“I think Auguste Rodin was very hard to beat that day, but we were a clear second and he has run the best race of his life.

“He has now shown that he’s able to win a Group Two on heavy ground and finish second to a top-class horse in a Prince of Wales’s on fast ground, so he’s very versatile and a pure athlete.”

Reynier has identified Europe’s premier middle-distance contest back on home soil at ParisLongchamp in October as the four-year-old’s ultimate target, but he could first return to Britain for another top-level prize at York in late August.

He added: “He seems to be improving mentally and physically, so maybe the best is yet to come and we can aim for the Arc at the end of the year with him.

“He won a Group Two in Longchamp, so he handles the track and he doesn’t mind the ground and he promises to be a horse who could have a decent chance in the Arc.

“Maybe we will go to York for the Juddmonte International, that would be an interesting race and it is right between the Prince of Wales’s and the Arc, so it could be a good race to run in.

“I think he will only have one more run (before the Arc), just with all the travel and everything and he’s a horse who likes his races spaced out quite a bit, so it would be better to arrive in the Arc without too many runs under his belt.

“We want him to be fresh for the end of the year because after the Arc he could go for the Japan Cup or the Hong Kong Vase.”



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Inspiral ‘ready to step up’ in Prince of Wales’s

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Chris Richardson is confident Inspiral can recover from her disappointment in the Lockinge Stakes with a bold effort in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Inspiral was sent off a short-priced favourite at Newbury, but it was her stablemate, the 22-1 shot Audience, who took the honours by a length and three-quarters, with the five-year-old mare beaten 13 lengths in fourth.

John Gosden, who trains Inspiral with his son Thady, and big-race jockey Kieran Shoemark both felt she was in need of the run and are expecting a far better showing at the Royal meeting, where connections have opted to step up in trip to 10 furlongs from what had been thought her most likely target of the Queen Anne over a mile.

Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: “It will be exciting to see how she does. I think she’s ready to step up, that is the indication John has got from her work this spring.

“It’s obviously a very good race and Auguste Rodin is there as a worthy favourite.

“Like Inspiral he was impressive at the Breeders’ Cup, although I know he was beaten by White Birch last time in Ireland.

“It’ll be an exciting race full of class horses.”

Blue Rose Cen
Blue Rose Cen was last seen at Longchamp (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Maurizio Guarnieri is hoping for a big run from Blue Rose Cen after she made her seasonal debut following an extended break with a fifth-place finish in the Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp.

That was her first run for Guarnieri since switching from the care of Christopher Head and he is happy with how she has come out of the race after only being beaten two lengths.

Christophe Soumillon has been booked for the ride due his greater experience of Ascot as Guarnieri hopes she can rediscover the form that saw her win four times in Group One company for Head.

Christophe Soumillon will ride Blue Rose Cen
Christophe Soumillon will ride Blue Rose Cen (Mike Egerton/PA)

Guarnieri said: “Blue Rose Cen did a really good canter after her run in the Group One Prix d’Ispahan and everything has been good with her after the race.

“She did a good trial recently with Soumillon on board and everything went well.

“After the race at Longchamp she has had a good time. She is in good condition and eats everything every day.

“It will be very hard to take on colts like Auguste Rodin and a filly like Inspiral who has changed distance. But we hope Blue Rose Cen can run a really good race.”

Auguste Rodin was second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Auguste Rodin was second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Brian Lawless/PA)

Aidan O’Brien expects better ground will help last year’s dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin in his bid to get back on track.

He was beaten into second by White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, after finishing last of the 12 runners in a disappointing display in the Dubai Sheema Classic in his only other run this season.

O’Brien told Racing TV: “We were happy with his run at the Curragh and have been very happy with him since. At the Curragh the ground got a little bit slower than he would have liked and he had a bit of a wobble coming down the hill.

“We have always had our eye on this race for a long time and all the other races were kind of stepping stones along the way.

“You can’t win every race every day, but we’ve been very happy with him.”

Zarakem is another French raider and trainer Jerome Reynier is looking to put a disappointing effort in the Prix Ganay behind him in Berkshire.

Reynier said: “He’s done nothing wrong and won five in a row last year as a three-year-old, including two Listed races.

“His reappearance was really good when he won the Prix d’Harcourt in early April and then we supplemented him for the Prix Ganay where everything went wrong.

“We will ride him like we did in the Harcourt, riding him from the back for a place and you never know what could happen.

“If there is enough pace he will be able to come from behind and he is a really nice, improving horse and is behaving much better than he did as a three-year-old. Now it is time to take this shot and a gamble.”

Auguste Rodin’s conqueror White Birch was taken out at the declaration stage following an imperfect blood test, but Horizon Dore, Alflaila, Royal Rhyme, Lord North, Hans Andersen and Snobbish have all stood their ground.



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