Coroebus claims dramatic victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot
Coroebus was made to pull out all the stops to supplement his 2000 Guineas triumph with victory in a thrilling renewal of the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Month: June 2022
Arizona Racing Commission Drops Cases Against Trainer, Jockey In Juror Case
The Arizona Department of Gaming's Racing Division has reached settlement agreements with trainer Juan Pablo Silva and jockey Fausto Rodrigues Da Silva in the matter of Juror, who was pulled up in the fourth race at Turf Paradise on March 10, 2022.
Settlement agreements in both cases, signed June 13, state there is “insufficient evidence” to substantiate a violation of state racing rules and statutes. Both licensees have had their suspensions and fines dropped and have agreed to waive the right to further appeals or judicial remedies.
Juror was entered into a claiming race on March 10 for a $3,500 tag, having last raced for a $30,000 tag on Feb. 1. Da Silva pulled the 1-20 favorite up a few jumps out of the starting gate and later told the stewards he thought the horse had banged his shoulder going into the gate and that he was not comfortable with the way the horse was traveling as they broke.
Da Silva was given a 30-day suspension and stewards wrote a ruling citing Da Silva for “conduct detrimental to racing” and “for his failure to take his mount … to the track vet for an examination, after he suspected that the horse might have an injury.”
Trainer Silva was given a 180-day suspension, and stewards wrote in his original ruling that they believed he ran the horse “knowing he was sore and unfit to race.”
Juror was claimed from that race and because Arizona does not have a voided claim rule, he became the property of his new owners as soon as the gate opened, despite pulling up lame.
Juror was later placed on the veterinarian's list for a lameness in his left front leg. He was examined prior to the race but did not allow state veterinarian Dr. Susan Gale to palpate and fully flex his left front. He has since been retired and placed in a home for a second career.
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Coroebus Overcomes Trouble To Win St James’s Palace Stakes
Coroebus became the 16th horse to complete the 2,000 Guineas/St James's Palace Stakes double in the post-war period after edging a thrilling finish to the Group 1 mile contest for colts.
In what turned out to be a steadily-run affair, Coroebus was never too far away from the lead despite being locked in behind horses on the inside. However, the gap came when Lusail edged away from the rail in the straight and, although the classy son of Dubawi had raced a touch keenly, he had enough in the tank to battle his way to the front.
The 10/11 favourite prevailed from runner-up Lusail (28/1) by a head in a bunched finish, with a short-head back to third-placed My Prospero (4/1). The major eyecatcher of the race was Maljoom, who flew home from the back of the field to take fourth.
Coroebus is the second Godolphin horse to do the big-race double after Dawn Approach in 2013.
Appleby said: “It was a tough, gritty performance. We knew coming into today that it would be a different style of race. I just wish the pace had been stronger. William just said Coroebus was taking him on the whole way round. Thankfully, the turn allowed him to have a breather.
“I felt it was class and determination which got us over the line there. Going forward, we'll have discussions, but I think the Sussex Stakes is an option along with the Prix Jacques Le Marois.
“I'm sure it's a discussion we would like to have in the coming weeks [Sussex Stakes clash with Baaeed]. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin have never shied away from a challenge, and it will be a good healthy conversation and something that is strongly looked upon.
“It is always a fantastic race, isn't it? The Sussex Stakes – the older horses and the three-year-olds taking each other on, and we were confident [beforehand] that we'd hopefully be doing that on the back of today. I think that is still very much in conversation.
“As always we'll let the dust settle, and the discussions with His Highness and the team and we'll firm those plans up. On the evidence of what I have seen today, Coroebus deserves to be there for sure.
“Baaeed was very impressive winner, taking nothing away from him, but this was just our horse's fifth start of his career, and I thought it was a gutsy performance in a race that probably wasn't run particularly to suit us.
“I said to William to jump and sit fourth or fifth. We didn't want to lose that position as we knew the speed was on the outside. Therefore, he was always just having to keep the revs under him and in doing so the horse got keener and keener and, in hindsight, I don't think we would have played it any differently, I just think it paid in the last 100 yards.
“It is going to be a big learning curve for him today and I was delighted with how he took it in the preliminaries – he has never been more than 20 minutes up the road out of Newmarket. Those challenges have been put upon him and he has ticked the boxes. These are big pluses!”
Buick said: “You have to enjoy these good horses. I am very privileged to get on these good horses but, at the same time, it is a case of getting the job done.
“It was one of those races where it was tricky. I had a good draw, but a good draw can turn into a bad draw very quickly. Coroebus travels extremely strongly and you just want him to drop his head.
“In the straight, I had to go for the rail and there was enough room. I could have come back a stride and gone around them, which I was prepared to do, but when Pat Dobbs [on Lusail] went on and didn't go to the fence, it was a very natural place for me to go.
“Coroebus was brave, has a good turn of foot and a will to win. He has everything you could ask for in a racehorse. I knew I had won at the line. The St James's Palace is always confirmation of a top three-year-old miler. Of his generation, he and Native Trail are the best around.”
Richard Hannon said of Lusail: “He's run a super race. He has confirmed the run from the Guineas, which we thought was an extremely good run; he didn't get it right in the gates and I think we proved it right here.
“A lot of people thought we should be going to the Jersey Stakes, but he's won Group Twos, and he's run not necessarily the race of his life, but he's put his name in place in a Group One, and one's going to fall his way before the end of the year, I'm sure.”
Pat Dobbs added: “Lusail over-raced a little bit through the race; I wish he'd have relaxed better, as he would have saved a bit more energy for the end, but it was a massive run.”
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Australia’s Nature Strip Dominant In King’s Stand; Golden Pal Misses Break, Fades
Australian star Nature Strip lit up the opening day of Royal Ascot by running out a stunning 4 1/2-length winner of the Group 1 1 King's Stand Stakes.
It was a King's Stand Stakes that had a major international flavour to it, with Nature Strip dominating the betting alongside Golden Pal – but the US raider blew the start and Nature Strip had the five-furlong showpiece under control from a long way out.
An eight-time G1 winner in his homeland, Nature Strip was always front rank under James McDonald and it was clear two furlongs out that the home challengers were struggling to get to grips with Chris Waller's top-class sprinter.
The 8-year-old saw his race out strongly to come home clear of runner-up Twilight Calls (11/1), with 200/1 chance Acklam Express back in third for trainer Nigel Tinkler.
Nature Strip may now try and follow in the footsteps of fellow Australian sprinter Choisir and Blue Point by completing the big Royal Ascot sprint double in Saturday's G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes.
It was a second Royal Ascot winner for McDonald, who partnered Expert Eye to victory in the 2018 Jersey Stakes, and a first for trainer Waller, who is best known for training the mighty Winx.
Waller said: “It means a lot. We don't get the opportunity very often to come here and take on the English, Irish, French, Americans and even Dubai and Hong Kong runners.
“To therefore bring a horse here and not only run, but win, is very special. It was breathtaking – Nature Strip is a very good horse and has been for a very long time. I guess he is in the twilight of his career, but he has learned to be a racehorse.
“Nature Strip was tricky early on in his career, but he has got better with age and it is an honour to train a horse like him.
“Australia has a huge racing and breeding industry. To showcase our breeds and what we do is important. Ratings stack up and he is one of the highest-rated horses in the world, but until you do it on the main stage it's another story. It will just remind everybody about how strong we are in Australia.
“It's six and a half Australian victories at Royal Ascot as James McDonald and I are New Zealanders of course. Six and a half to Australia and a half to New Zealand.
“Nature Strip still has jobs to do in Australia, but we'll see how he comes through this race and no decision [as to whether he runs in Saturday's Platinum Jubilee] will be made today. This is the top five in my career. Any win is great. We work with some amazing people who have been very good to us.”
McDonald said: “That was incredible. The team have done a marvellous job. I'm so lucky to be on Nature Strip. He is just a freak of a horse and has silenced a few critics with that performance, because it was scintillating.
“We had a bit of a scare when I thought one was coming for me and it had no rider on [Khaadem] – I thought that was a bit unfair! The way Nature Strip quickened up, the way he executed his gallop, was scintillating. It was an unbelievable feel coming up the rise; he was just idling along and, like I said, I didn't think a horse could come with him, so when the horse appeared without the rider, I did get a bit of a fright.
“I saw Golden Pal charge through and at the two-furlong pole, I thought are you going to come, and he had no response. Away he went and that riderless horse gave me a little fright to be honest with you.
“I said to Katelyn [partner] on the plane over, 'I've had an unbelievable year and this would be the icing on the cake'. It's a dream come true to come here with such good horses, and for him to travel like he had, and Chris prepping him like he had, I don't think he's ever been better. He was in unbelievable form before he left.
“It was one of my greatest highlights winning at Royal Ascot on Expert Eye. To come back and win a Group 1 in front of this crowd – it's unbelievable, it is the best feeling.”
Twilight Calls' trainer Henry Candy said: “I am absolutely delighted, what can you say about the winner? How many races has he won? How many millions has he won?! So it is no shame to finish second, and I thought Twilight Calls ran an absolute cracker.
“Ryan said there was a slightly messy start, and lost a length which did not help, but it did not make a difference. He might have been a better second, that's all.
“I would imagine we will go to York and somewhere they go very quick! He loves this fast ground.”
Nigel Tinkler said of Acklam Express: “The winner is very, very good. We thought we'd finish in the first half, although we did not expect to be as close as that. I am delighted. He is just a lovely, lovely horse.
“York and Goodwood are the targets. He shows a lot of pace and is very quick. He was just a bit too prominent today – we thought we'd come from behind. He would have liked to have been further back early on, but he really travelled. It was brilliant. The owners backed him to finish in the first half at 40/1!
“He has been to Dubai before, and the Breeders' Cup is high on the agenda, and we can't wait to travel again.”
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