Tag: Cambridgeshire Meeting

Newmarket: “He Goes In There With A Favourite’s Chance.” Vandeek To Star On Super Saturday?

   Saturday's action features four Group 1s and four Group 2s across Newmarket and ParisLongchamp, with all ages and distances covered from the six furlongs of the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. and G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. to the two and a half miles of the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran. It is the former pair of prizes that take centre stage, with so much at stake for the precocious stars of their generation. The onus is very much on KHK Racing's G1 Prix Morny winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the Middle Park given the manner of his success in that Deauville feature, having taken the G2 Richmond S. en route.

Since 2012, five winners of the Morny have followed up here including three of the last four in Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) and Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), so the Crisfords' leading light has history on his side. Ed Crisford is keen to see if he can become the latest to do the tough double.

“It's a good field, as you'd expect for a race of this stature, but I'd say he goes in there with a favourite's chance,” he said. “It will be the first time he's encountered ground this fast, but he's a nice-moving colt by Havana Grey so that shouldn't be a problem.”

   Third in the Morny after his well-documented training troubles, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the obvious thorn in Vandeek's side now that he has a clear preparation for this highlight. He had a host of smart peers behind including Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. on ground similar to the unseasonably fast conditions he encounters here and Ryan Moore is happy to tackle Vandeek again and another quintet of group winners including the G2 July S. hero Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) from the always-to-be-feared Clive Cox stable.

“He wasn't at peak fitness [for the Morny] and I thought he shaped very well in the circumstances,” Moore said of River Tiber, who represents the stable successful in three of the last six runnings. “I would expect him to get a lot closer to the winner here and I'd say we had a very fair shot at winning this group one. He's in good shape.”

 

 

Relief Rally Poised For Cheveley Park Coronation

Whatever wins Newmarket's Cheveley Park S. will first have to see off Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose sole defeat in five starts was as a result of coming out the wrong side of a head-bobber with Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot. Having dealt with every European rival thrown at her so far, including Ballydoyle's Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) in York's G2 Lowther S. last month, the William Haggas trainee has some new contenders to front up to here but the willingness to fight is almost her forte.

Jockey Tom Marquand has faith that she can come through her most important bout to date. “She has taken big steps forward with each of her runs and she was unfortunate not to win at Ascot, but she has shown a high level of form,” he said. “I was really looking forward to riding her over six furlongs at York, as I thought it would suit her so well and she proved us right.”

One of the lesser-known rivals to Relief Rally is Wathnan Racing's Criterium d'Ete scorer Jasna's Secret (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), who saw off the smart yardstick Zorken (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) in that valuable Deauville prize and is entitled to due respect as a result. Whether Carlos and Yann Lerner's bargain €42,000 Arqana Deauville September purchase has the know-how to cope with some hardened opponents remains to be seen, with the G3 Albany S. scorer Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and the G3 Princess Margaret S. scorer Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) boasting the touch of class necessary to win one of these.

 

Capulet Heads Strong Royal Lodge Cast

Newmarket's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. is one of the day's more intriguing contests, with Ballydoyle's G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Capulet (Justify) taking on Godolphin's G3 Solario S. winner Aablan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Listed Ascendant S. scorer Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Another in the mix for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf qualifier is Jeff Smith's unbeaten Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the recent winner of a seven-furlong Ascot novice from which the impressive subsequent winner Military Artist (Munnings) emerged.

Ryan Moore said of Capulet, “He did it nicely on his debut at Dundalk last month and he obviously improved a good deal when running Diego Velazquez to half a length at Leopardstown last time. That form looked strong at the time and it looks even better now with the well-beaten fourth, Deepone, coming out and winning the Beresford next time. All of these have the potential to take a big step forward, most notably Ghostwriter maybe, but he deserves to be the favourite as it stands as the Leopardstown form is the best on offer going into the race.”

Clive Cox said of Ghostwriter, “His first success at Newmarket on the July course, and the way he was balanced and produced a winning debut, gives me confidence he will handle the track. He followed that up with a really impressive success at Ascot and showed a lot of class. He has thrived throughout, he is a wonderful physical, big, strong colt and I'm looking forward to seeing him step up to a mile. He is very deserving of running in this sort of grade. He's a horse we have always loved and he definitely sets the pulse racing.”

 

Trueshan Looks For Second Cadran

At ParisLongchamp, the Cadran sees Alan King's star stayer Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) bid to double his tally in the prestige marathon having mastered Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in style on easy ground two years ago. Back with a bang after a second wind operation in the G2 Doncaster Cup earlier this month, he has no genuine staying star of that calibre to contend with in a disappointing turnout but he does have Ballydoyle's ever-reliable Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). While the ground is not as easy as she would like it, neither is it for Trueshan and a repeat of the form of her latest second in the G1 Goodwood Cup would be good enough should the veteran giant deliver one of his deflating efforts.

Aidan O'Brien said of her, “We think the trip will suit her and any ease in the ground will suit her as well. If the ground had come up soft or heavy, we probably would have had a good, strong think about the Arc, but we thought over the Cadran trip she would be more comfortable. She does stay very well and she seems in good form. When she ran in the Gold Cup she ran very well even though the ground was quick–she didn't have any problems with it.”

 

 

All To Play For In Open Royallieu

There is no stand-out in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu and it is fair to say that there have been better editions of the 14-furlong contest since it was elevated to top-level status in 2019. They have included an Oaks heroine in Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the top-class Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), but this is a line-up of wannabes at present headed on the formbook by Wathnan Racing's G2 Prix de Pomone winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Most of her rivals have had plenty of chances at a lesser level and missed the target, so perhaps The Aga Khan's progressive G3 Stanerra S. and G3 Irish St Leger Trial S. winner Shamida (Ire) (Australia {GB}) could be the answer or the Arbibs' G2 Lillie Langtry S. and G2 Park Hill S. scorer Sumo Sam (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) if she can transfer her soft-ground dominance to this livelier surface.

 

Big Things On The Horizon?

ParisLongchamp's trio of Group 2 races see Moyglare Stud's exciting Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) look to enhance his reputation in the staying category in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay; Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's G3 Sovereign S. dead-heater Embesto (GB) (Roaring Lion) act as one of the more promising types lining up for the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein; and one of the day's more exciting runners in Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) look to boss the Qatar Prix Dollar.

Horizon Dore, who has flaunted his wares in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, is one of the more lively outsiders at present for next month's G1 Champion S. and he sports the Gousserie silks already renowned at that Ascot fixture. Compatriots Cirrus Des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) and Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and also the British raider Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) have taken this en route to making a major play at the Champion and so Saturday's closing act of ParisLongchamp's pattern-race bonanza takes on extra weight.

 

Sunday's Supporting Group 1s Confirmed

Friday saw ParisLongchamp's five other Arc-supporting Group 1 contests finalised, with the opening two being the big juvenile prizes. The Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere features Philippe Allaire and Haras d'Etreham's unbeaten G3 Prix la Rochette-winning TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac includes Newtown Anner Stud Farm's impressive G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prestige S. winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Haras d'Etreham and Craig Bernick's G2 Prix du Calvados-winning  TDN Rising Star Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never).

In the Prix de l'Opera Longines, Yeguada Centurion SL's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) takes on 11 rivals, while the 19 due to assemble for the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines include the star sprinting mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret sees last year's winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) favourably drawn in two bidding to provide Frankie Dettori with the ultimate Paris send-off.

 

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Retraining Of Racehorses Parade To Be Held At Newmarket On Sept. 24

Six retired racehorses will parade in the paddock for the Retraining of Racehorses Parade at Newmarket's Rowley Mile during the Cambridgeshire Meeting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. Sponsored by Juddmonte, the parade features six different disciplines that Thoroughbreds are retrained for, and which Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) supports through the staging of competitions and classes. The disciplines showcased on Saturday are: dressage, endurance, eventing, polo, show jumping, and showing. 2016 G1 July Cup hero Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) will be on display in the last-named category.

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Ulysses Colt Takes The Eye In Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Opener

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a half-brother to Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

1.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT
A DUBLIN LAD (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is slated to be the first favourite of Newmarket's three-day Cambridgeshire meeting which plays host to some exciting juveniles and is one from John and Thady Gosden's crew who sports the Derby-winning silks of Saeed Suhail. A 300,000gns Book 1 graduate, which made him the sire's clear highest-priced progeny sold at auction last year, the April-foaled bay is a half-brother to the G2 Hungerford S. winner Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) who reminded everybody what a class act she is last week at Newbury. In the maiden won in recent times by Telescope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), another interesting contender is the similarly-unraced William Haggas-trained Garden Route (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of the G1 S A Nursery winner Cloth Of Cloud (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) from the family of Artie Schiller who represents Magnier/Shanahan/Nagle/Kantor.

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Sacred Moments

While Saturday sees the hosting of the signature race of Newmarket's three-day Cambridgeshire meeting, the card is mostly about the 2-year-olds with the venue staging its pair of six-furlong jewels in the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. and G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. In the former, Ger Lyons will be hoping that his stable's current purple patch can continue with the sponsors' unbeaten Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) who looked to be moving still upwards in the G3 Round Tower S. at The Curragh Aug. 27. That form has taken a couple of knocks subsequently, so she will need to raise her game again to justify her current cramped odds but as a full-sister to Viadera (GB) she is about more than just precocity.

“I wouldn't change her for anything,” Lyons said ahead of the race that launched him onto a bigger stage via the exploits of Lightening Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) in 2011. “What other trainers are doing is their business and my job is to get this filly there on Saturday in good health and if she rocks up and does what she has been doing all summer then happy days. This is her sternest test, she's stepping into the big leagues now in Group 1 level and invariably they fail and that's not to be negative. In the Round Tower, I thought the way she did it in group company was visually spectacular and it was also fast ground, which I think is the key to her. She hasn't let me down yet. After the Round Tower, I don't think she's out of her depth.”

Primed to prolong Kirsten Rausing and Andrew Balding's season of seasons is Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), whose G3 Albany S. win at Royal Ascot June 18 received a boost on Friday with the performances of Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in the G2 Rockfel S. She again had that pair behind when denying Desert Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the July 9 G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. on this surface at the July festival before going down by a length to Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) in York's G2 Lowther S. Aug. 19. Racing under a penalty there and giving away valuable ground at the start, the homebred comes into the rematch with confidence behind her. “She's done nothing wrong this year,” Balding commented. “It was probably too quick a test and the draw didn't work out as we'd have wanted at York. She doesn't have to carry a penalty in this and she seems in good form, so we're hoping she'll run well.”

Zain Claudette, who also nosed out Desert Dreamer in the G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. at Ascot July 24 prior to the Lowther, will be bidding to provide trainer Ismail Mohammed with a red-letter day and he said, “She has very good recovery and she is handling everything so well. It's the same fillies, it's only the Irish fillies that she hasn't beaten. In the end, we will see if she is the champion or not, but from my side I feel she is already a champion.”

Westerberg, Coolmore and Merribelle Stables's 'TDN Rising Star' Tenebrism (Caravaggio) has a tall task attempting to overcome a 181-day absence since her visually stunning debut success at Naas Mar. 28, but as the sole Ballydoyle representative warrants respect. “Obviously, things haven't been straightforward for her since then,” Ryan Moore said. “However, she's been doing things nicely at home and I'd be hopeful she'd run well but I do think it's a very strong Cheveley Park.” Another 'TDN Rising Star' Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) relished the switch to front-running tactics when winning the Aug. 30 Listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy and she is right in the mix on that form.

In the Middle Park, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's June 17 G2 Norfolk S. and Aug. 22 G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) looks poised to continue his momentum with the stiff six certain to play to his strengths. Trainer Richard Fahey is confident. “Whatever beats him wins,” he said. “He's pretty smart and has a great mind. He does everything right at home and is easy to train. He goes fast easily which makes my job very easy in turn. I've got every piece of work into him that I needed to and feel he's still progressing. Like all the other good ones I've had, he's very straightforward.”

Perfect Power, who handled this good-to-firm ground when powering home at Royal Ascot and good-to-soft in the Morny at Deauville, may have one achilles heel according to his trainer. “My one concern for Saturday is the draw, I hate being in stall one on the straight course at Newmarket, it limits your options and things can happen away from you,” Fahey explained. “I just hope we're in the right place, because we have the right horse if we are.”

Peter Brant's 'TDN Rising Star' Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) had his June 26 G2 Railway S. conqueror Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and the May 22 G3 Marble Hill S. winner Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) behind when second to Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh Aug. 8. Judged by the way Ebro River performed in the G1 National S., that may be strongest piece of six-furlong juvenile form to date and the Ger Lyons trainee looks to have abundant improvement as a strong stayer at the trip.

“His work has always been impressive, but we've always trained him with next year in mind,” Lyons said. “I'm happy going into the Middle Park–I'm not saying he'll win it, but he'll be competitive. He's always showed quality. I would much rather be going over seven furlongs with him, but we are erring on the side of weakness at the moment. Colin [Keane] has always said 'stick to six with him for the moment'. I think it is the six furlongs that has been getting him beat up to now. Colin said he would reverse the form of the Railway S. and he was right, but then we bumped into one in the Phoenix. The Dewhurst is not out of the question. We'll see what happens on Saturday–he's had a light season and I can't wait to see him over seven.”

Go Bears Go, who was also second in the Norfolk before his Railway win and Phoenix third, is looking to bring up a notable double for Amo Racing and David Loughnane following the success of the combination's Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in Friday's G2 Rockfel S. “He's not let us down yet, so it's all systems go,” Loughnane commented. “He was my first runner in a Group 1 in the Phoenix when he was third and he's my only one. The winner franked the form in the National S., so we'll be going confident that he's a Group 1 horse. He seems in a great place. We gave him a little break for a freshen-up after the Phoenix and I couldn't be happier with him at the moment.”

From Ballydoyle is Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg and Sikura's progressive HMS Endeavour (War Front), who has fast ground in his favour in a race his trainer has won with 25-1 and 10-1 shots in the last 10 years. Considering the depth of experience in pattern-race company that his rivals boast here, the son of Lady Eli (Divine Park) has to progress markedly on his latest success in a five-furlong conditions race on Dundalk's Polytrack Sept. 17. “This looks a very competitive race,” jockey Ryan Moore admitted. “HMS Endeavour has been progressing with each start, but this is a step up in class and he'll have to improve to be in the mix here.”

On a card where only the Cambridgeshire and the closing handicap are not for juveniles, Classic clues are in abundance with the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. seeing Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) tackle Godolphin's July Course debut winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Aug. 18 G3 Acomb S. scorer Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Beaten a short head by Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G2 Superlative S. at the July festival July 10, Masekela has since denied Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in the Listed Washington Singer S. also over seven furlongs at Newbury Aug. 14 and both pieces of form have been subsequently boosted.

Oisin Murphy's enthusiasm for the Kingsclere runner was obvious on Friday. “Masekela is the one I'm looking forward to most this weekend in the Royal Lodge,” he said. “I've loved him since the first time I saw him and although he's a horse for next year, hopefully we can get one more run out of him as a 2-year-old. All the signs have been good at home, if anything he's got quite lazy, but a mile will suit him well. Royal Patronage brings strong form into the race, he'll probably go forward again and hopefully Masekela can follow them along and show them how good he is.”

Having a line on Masekela through Native Trail, Charlie Appleby is happy to pitch in Coroebus, whose Aug. 13 win over this trip has also been boosted. “Coroebus won his maiden in a raw style, but did it well and has come on for the run,” he said. “We have been pleased with him going into this and feel that he is ready to test himself in pattern company.”

Royal Patronage looks certain to improve for an extra furlong following his dominating York success from the front and Harry Herbert said, “He was impressive last time at York, I don't think there was any fluke about that and he's now put together two very good performances. He's improving rapidly, so we're hopeful that he'll give everyone a big shout on Saturday. If he's come on the same amount as he has been showing in all of his races then you'd have to hope he'd be right up the sharp end–we love the horse and it's great to hear he has been working impressively.”

In between the Cheveley Park and the Middle Park, The Curragh stages the G2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford S. where the Westerberg-Coolmore-Ballydoyle alliance is represented by the July 14 Killarney conditions winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). He beat the re-opposing Tuwaiq (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) in convincing fashion there and that rival has since added substance to the form by finishing runner-up in the Listed Churchill S. at Tipperary Aug. 6, while Joseph O'Brien saddles the five-length Galway maiden scorer Swan Bay (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for the Lloyd J Williams Syndicate and said, “He's a horse that we always hoped would be stakes class and we are looking forward to seeing how he fits into this company.”

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