Strong Australian and American Support Among Overseas Entries For Royal Ascot

Dual Australian Group 1 winner Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) is one of the leading runners signed on from foreign climbs for the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting in June. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the G1 Lightning S. heroine is targeting the G1 King's Stand S.

David Eustace said, “Coolangatta galloped yesterday and will have her first proper workout next week. She has improved again physically from the Lightning S. and we feel we are ahead of the game in terms of her preparation.

“We are stepping into the unknown when it comes to international travel but Coolangatta has done a lot of travelling around Australia and is used to being in unfamiliar places. We are hopeful that she will handle that side of things well but you never know until you do it. We think the 1000 metres of the King's Stand, with the uphill finish, looks ideal and genuine fast ground will be to her advantage as well.”

Coolangatta is not the only Australian runner signed on to the royal meeting, as both Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who are trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, and Leon and Troy Corstens, respectively, are both aiming for the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. Artorius finished third in the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and enters off a victory in the G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick earlier this year. In The Astrologist's case, he ran too good to lose when second by a head in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan at the end of March.

Sam Freedman said, “Artorius had his first improving gallop the other day, having come off a bit of a fresh. He seems to be shaping up really well and will have a couple of trials over here before we put him on the plane.

“I think he is definitely hitting Royal Ascot this year in better form than he was 12 months ago.His form lines are strong and I think you guys over there will see a more tactically versatile horse. He will be able to sit a lot closer, which will be important, whereas last year he was rattling home.”

Troy Corstens said, “We were delighted with The Astrologist's effort in Dubai. He ran to expectations and came very close, which gave us the confidence to continue the journey with him.

“He has settled beautifully in Newmarket–he is a very adaptable horse and enjoys the travel. The plan is for him to have a racecourse gallop this week on the Rowley Mile in preparation for the G2 1895 Duke Of York S.

“He will then head to Royal Ascot for the Platinum Jubilee. We feel that this will be the perfect race for him. He is a renowned straight-track horse in Australia and we feel the testing course of Ascot will suit him immensely.”

 

Strong American Contingent Ready To Go

Twelve-time Royal Ascot-winning trainer Wesley Ward is bringing a slew of Royal Ascot runners, anchored by Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) and Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) for Stonestreet Stables to Royal Ascot. Both enter off of stakes victories at the recently concluded Keeneland Spring Meet, with the former pointing to the King's Stand S. and the latter eyeing both the King's Stand and the G1 Commonwealth Cup S.

Ward said, “Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming are doing great. They are both coming off nice comeback wins and their owner Barbara Banke [of Stonestreet Stables] is really looking forward to getting them over there. She loves Ascot as much as me and we are all excited.

“I was really happy with Love Reigns in the Limestone S. She had to switch a couple of times in the run but showed a great attitude to get up on the line, while Twilight Gleaming showed a lot of speed in her comeback race.

“Twilight Gleaming will definitely go for the King's Stand S., whereas Love Reigns will have an entry there and in the Commonwealth Cup.”

Besides Ward's older horses, he has at least three juveniles making the trip for the storied 2-year-old prizes in 'TDN Rising Star' American Rascal (Curlin) out of King's Stand and G2 Queen Mary S. victress Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy); Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), and Bledsoe (Igbaal).

Ward added, “American Rascal has come out of his first race in super shape. The team at Stonestreet really liked him and it was exciting to see him produce a performance like that.

“Fandom looks another good prospect after his debut win on the grass and we also have some nice 2-year-olds to run at Belmont, so we will see what else unfolds in the coming days.

“Bledsoe has already travelled over to England and will run in a novice race at Ascot on 13 May. He won America's first 2-year-old race of the year on the dirt at Keeneland but his mother Shrinking Violet was a multiple stakes winner of the turf, so we are looking forward to getting him on the grass.”

Brad Cox's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Caravel (Mizzen Mast) is pencilled in to make the trip, and GI Belmont Derby victor Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) for trainer Ken McPeek is a potential starter in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S.

McPeek said, “Classic Causeway had a nice run first time up this year on the dirt at Oaklawn. Then we came back for the [GII] Oaklawn H. and he was off the board, so we have decided to switch back to the turf.

“He is going for a prep race in Kentucky on 3 June in the Arlington S. and, if he runs well there, we will point him towards the Prince Of Wales's S.”

New York Thunder (Nyquist) for trainer Jorge Delgado holds a Commonwealth Cup entry, while Hong Kong runner Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard) has been nominated for both the Platinum Jubilee and King's Stand.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We are very pleased to see entries for Royal Ascot 2023 from across the world including Group 1 winners from Britain, Ireland, France, the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.

“It is particularly exciting to see so many strong entries from Australia, including the Black Caviar Lightning S. winner Coolangatta, who looks set to try and follow Nature Strip's victory in the King's Stand S. It's also exciting to see Artorius is on track to try and go two better than when third in the Platinum Jubilee S. last year.

“Wesley Ward again has a strong team headed by Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming along with the 2-year-olds while it will also be great to see Breeders' Cup winner Caravel represent America.”

The post Strong Australian and American Support Among Overseas Entries For Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Multiple Group 1 Winner Artorius Targets Platinum Jubilee Before Stud Duty

Multiple Group 1 winner Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) is pointing to the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot in June, trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman announced on Wednesday.

“Following another fantastic performance in the G1 George Ryder S., Artorius has run his last race in Australia,” the Freedmans said in a statement. “However, he will head back to Royal Ascot to contest the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. on Saturday, June 24 before returning to Australia to retire at Newgate Stud.

“We are proud of his return to Australia following last year's European campaign to win his second Group 1 in the Canterbury S. at Royal Randwick. He is now in the paddock enjoying a short break before we begin the preparation towards Royal Ascot.

“We would like to thank and congratulate all the people behind the scenes in the stable as well as all his owners on Artorius's career to date. We are sure he will do us all proud again.”

A winner of the G1 Blue Diamond S. at two, the 4-year-old placed in both the 2022 Platinum Jubilee and G1 July Cup S. during his first Northern Hemisphere sojourn. His latest campaign has been a productive one, as he claimed the Canterbury S. by a head in early March, and then was a close fourth behind Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) in the G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill on Mar. 18.

The post Multiple Group 1 Winner Artorius Targets Platinum Jubilee Before Stud Duty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Hong Kong Superstar Purton to Ride Artorius in Australia

Top Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton will return to ride in his native Australia for the first time since the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup, Australia's News Corp. reported.

The 40-year-old reinsman will pilot Group 1 winner Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) in the G1 Canterbury S., the 2-year-old King's Gambit (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) in the G2 Todman S. and possibly Communist (Aus) (Russian Revolution {Aus}) in the G1 Randwick Guineas, all at Royal Randwick on Mar. 4.

“I am coming back to ride Artorius in the Canterbury Stakes and some other very good horses,” Purton told News Corp. “It works out well because I got suspended [Sunday] in Hong Kong and I start my suspension after I ride in Sydney, so maybe I can spend a bit of extra time there [in Australia.

Purton has won Group 1 races in five countries since he started riding in 2007.

The post Hong Kong Superstar Purton to Ride Artorius in Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Big Stars Twinkle As Entries Taken For Dubai World Cup Meeting

Defending G1 Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist) is one of over 1,600 entries, including 892 individual horses from 21 countries, entered in the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup night card.

The featured event, sponsored by Emirates Airline, attracted 171 entries. Of the 24 Group or Grade 1 winners besides the Zedan Racing-owned and Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer, is the duo's three-time Grade I winner Taiba (Gun Runner).

Joining them could be a pair of longshot headliners from last year; namely, GI Kentucky Derby champ Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and upset G1 Saudi Cup victor Emblem Road (Quality Road). Japan continues their well-documented rise on the international racing stage, and 2022 G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) holds a Dubai World Cup nomination this time.

As for the rest of the card, the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic nominations includes Japanese stars like the 2022 winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world last year. Standing in their way is Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby who has entered Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

Speaking of the Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World, the other half of the dead heat from last year in Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns, while newcomer Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) made the list. They could be facing rookie international shipper and reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). Meanwhile, the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen could pit the Steve Asmussen trainee Gunite (Gun Runner) against RRR Racing's local hero Switzerland (Speightstown).

Grass sprinting noms in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Azizi Developments, are led by the well-travelled Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) who could make the journey from Down Under. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's three wins in the G2 UAE Derby make him a logical frontrunner, especially as he has nominated GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The G2 Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, could signal the return of 2021 winner and G1 Gold Cup hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). While the rundown of entries for the G2 Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Nakheel, is marked by defending champion Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), as well as Japanese challengers like Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) and Derma Louvre (Jpn) (Pyro), plus Americans hopefuls like Pioneer Of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) and White Abarrio (Race Day).

“We are delighted by the strength and depth of entries for this year's Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for the Club. “To have horses from more than 20 countries considering the trip shows the meeting's continued global appeal.”

Invitations for the meeting are set to go out during February. Click here, for the full list of the nominations.

 

The post Big Stars Twinkle As Entries Taken For Dubai World Cup Meeting appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights