Tag: Frankie Dettori

The Major Talking Points From Day Four at Royal Ascot

Hard to keep a rider as talented as Frankie Dettori out of the spotlight and, after a difficult start to the royal meeting, the legendary rider answered his critics aboard Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who produced a stunning performance to win the G1 Coronation S.

From Dettori bouncing back to Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) confirming himself one of the fastest horses in training, in doing so sparking debate about where he may stand as a stallion, Brian Sheerin discusses some of the main talking points from another hugely entertaining afternoon's racing at Royal Ascot.

Inspiral Another Cheveley Park Superstar

What's the first thing you think about when Cheveley Park is mentioned? Most likely it's outstanding racemares.

From Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo) and Nannina (GB) (Medicean {GB}) to Echelon (GB) (Danehill) and more recently Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the list of high-class racemares to carry the stud's renowned red, white and blue silks has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Add Inspiral to that list. The G1 Coronation S. had been billed as one of the races of the week with the G1 1000 Guineas winner, the G1 French 1000 Guineas scorer and a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine in the line-up, but Inspiral stamped her authority on the field.

The only filly missing from the line-up was Dermot Weld's brilliant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who missed the royal meeting due to unsuitably quick ground.

It will be fascinating to see if Homeless Songs and Inspiral lock horns between now and the end of the season, although John Gosden did suggest the latter could well step up in trip.

Regardless of where she goes next, Inspiral looks as though she will be very hard to beat and is another top-class racemare for Cheveley Park Stud to look forward to.

And what about the rider? Frankie Dettori had endured a hellish week up until the Coronation S. but trusted his instincts aboard Inspiral and class came to the fore.

Let's not forget the performance of Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}), either. She may have lost her unbeaten record to Inspiral but, if anything, enhanced her reputation in defeat.

Trained by American-based handler Graham Motion, who sent out Sharing (Speightstown) to fill the same spot in this race in 2020, Spendarella ran a cracking race and is a hugely exciting filly in her own right.

Fellow American raider Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), owned by Bobby Flay and trained by Christophe Clement, didn't enjoy the clearest passage and never threatened back in eighth.

The attraction of Royal Ascot is underpinned by international competition and the American fillies played a major part in what will go down as a memorable race.

 A Perfect Fit For Power?

It is hard to believe that the G1 Commonwealth Cup was first run in 2015. In eight short years, the race has become one of the foremost stallion-making contests in Europe, with Muhaarar (GB), Caravaggio and more recently Advertise (GB) featuring among the list of winners.

Perfect Power will be in-demand as a stallion after his dazzling display in this year's edition of the race. However, the question remains, where will he stand?

A dual Group 1 winner at two, Perfect Power carried over that brilliance to his 3-year-old campaign, bouncing back from his G1 2000 Guineas defeat to prove himself one of the fastest horses in training.

There will be any number of suitors for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's talented sprinter for a stud career.

Given Tally-Ho bred Perfect Power, and the County Westmeath operation's modus operandi is to stand speedy stallions, they may well be the favourites to sign Richard Fahey's star. Time will tell.

Spencer Rolls The Big Dice

Richard Spencer, best known for sending out Rajasinghe (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) to win the G2 Coventry S. in 2017, was rewarded for rolling the big dice with Ivory Madonna (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G3 Albany S.

Picked up for 150,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April, Ivory Madonna ran with credit when third on her only start at Goodwood.

Spencer clearly felt his filly was capable of much better, and was vindicated by running her in the opener on Friday, as Ivory Madonna belied her inexperience to stay on for third, picking up valuable black-type in the process.

She should be a shoo-in to break her maiden status and looks a promising filly for connections.

A Proper Ascot Pedigree

The style in which Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) landed the G2 Duke Of Edinburgh S. would suggest William Haggas has a Pattern-class performer on his hands.

One might think that Haggas, one of the finest practitioners of his craft, thought as much given he sat on a mark of 91 and charted a path to Royal Ascot without the benefit of a prep race with the gelding.

It proved an inspired decision, with Candleford pulling six lengths clear at the winning line, in doing so, bolstering his family's fine record at the track.

Candleford's half-brother Atty Persse (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) won the King George V S. at the royal meeting in 2017 and was second on his only other start at the track.

Speaking of Ascot-loving families, the Jessica Harrington-trained Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) had a hard act to follow in the G1 Coronation S. given her sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half-sister Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) feature among the roll of honour.

Discoveries ran a hugely respectable race to finish third, looking much more comfortable on a flat track like Ascot than she did at Newmarket in the 1000 Guineas, and there should be more to come from her this season.

And let's not forget Ivory Madonna for this segment, who we have already mentioned, as her dam Clem Fandango (Fr) (Elzaam {Aus}) finished third in the G2 Queen Mary S. in 2016.

Magnier Makes An Important Appearance

John Magnier made an increasingly rare appearance at Royal Ascot on Friday but for good reason.

The Coolmore boss, who hasn't been seen on a racecourse for some time, made the hugely significant trip to the royal meeting to see Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) land the G3 Albany S. before Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ran out a fortuitous winner of the G2 King Edward VII S.

That double brought Aidan O'Brien's tally of Royal Ascot winners to 80, an amazing achievement, and one that went some way to explaining Magnier's presence on the day.

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Frankel’s Inspiral Scintillating In The Coronation

Lesser mortals than Frankie Dettori would had been in danger of imploding with his June hex, so it was with a large measure of relief that Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) timed her dramatic reintroduction perfectly for Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot. It is clear after this emphatic display that her absence from the 1000 Guineas was a big miss, but the Gosdens were right to wait out the cold Spring and choose an English summer's afternoon that was as glorious as is as gets to present her in full bloom. Heavily-supported into 15-8 favouritism despite conceding race-fitness to all rivals, the homebred daughter of the 2012 Coronation runner-up Starscope (GB) (Selkirk) was not letting Frankie off lightly as she briefly increased the tension by breaking sluggishly and getting behind. Luckily, the tardiness was not of the Emily Upjohn variety and after some early freshness she came on strong as she had in the May Hill and Fillies' Mile to scythe through the field and surge to a 4 3/4-length defeat of Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) and the short-headed Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). “When she fell out of the stalls, I thought 'here we go again' but she has put some good fillies to bed in great style,” her rider said. “It has been a very difficult week–tough, everyone at Clarehaven has been a bit down, but racing is like that and this is good for the team.”

When Royal Ascot comes around, it is generally the case that the contenders for the major events are already well into their stride and up into that hardened state that can only be achieved with racing experience. Like Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on Thursday, Inspiral was forced to enter the heat of competition with just homework as a foundation and there was an air of vulnerability surrounding her that would have been unthinkable last term as she toyed with her peers at Newmarket and Doncaster. Her poise and demeanour in the parade ring said otherwise, however, and the market was saying that the Spring's great mystery was about to be stripped away.

As soon as the gates opened, it was as if the realisation that she was racing again took a second to dawn on her and by that time more than half the field were into their business with the 200-1 outsider Rolling the Dice (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) penning her in towards the back. On the home turn, Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) who had not gone as fast on the front end as had been expected, had a yawning seven-length advantage over the favourite and with just two behind there Frankie looked in trouble again. Applying one smack with the whip approaching two out, he got a ruthless response from Inspiral whose gear change was almost audible as she swooped on Discoveries before swamping Spendarella a furlong later. All anxieties subdued there, her devouring stride and undiminished appetite for domination took care of the rest. Her last two splits were 11.27 and 11.62 and her final three furlongs were completed in a rapid 35.01, much faster than Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) managed in the G1 Commonwealth Cup.

“It took a long time for Inspiral to come to hand and John gave her the time she needed, then in her last couple of works she told us she was good to go,” Dettori said after steering his 77th Royal Ascot winner and one of his most welcome. “It was a question mark if she had trained on–she had pleased us, but we were still unsure. It didn't work out on Lord North, things didn't go right for Stradivarius, we were touched off in the Britannia and the colt [Reach For the Moon] was odds-on. I had the outsider in front of me and I had to avoid her, but I took the chance with the split and you need the horse to do that. She really took off, to the point that I was able to enjoy the last 50 yards for once!”

John and Thady Gosden were getting off the mark for the week and Gosden Sr said, “There was an element of relief at the furlong pole and surprise at the line. I asked Frankie coming in and he said we could go a mile and a quarter with her. Frankie didn't over-complicate, which he did yesterday but that's over, it's the past and we move on. You have races like the Nassau at Goodwood or you could go for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. She will meet the older horses now, but she does get weight from them which helps.”

Graham Motion, who had finished second in the race with Sharing (Speightstown) behind another Dettori-partnered seasonal debutante in Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in this two years ago, was delighted with the performance of Spendarella. “She ran great–I could not be more proud of her,” he said. “William [Buick] had her in the perfect spot, she was very brave to hang on for second I thought. The winner's very good. She'll go back to the States now. I don't come over here just for the hell of it. We've run second a couple of times now, so I feel like I know what it takes. We don't have many opportunities in the States, which is kind of why this race made sense, this early in the season, and I think she's really a miler so we didn't miss out on much in the States.”

There was to be no family treble for Discoveries, who just held on from Tenebrism (Caravaggio) to manage a placing in the race her full-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) won in similar style to Inspiral in 2018 and in which her aforementioned half-sibling Alpine Star followed suit in 2020, but Jessie Harrington was typically upbeat. “I am absolutely thrilled with Discoveries. She reversed the form from the 1000 Guineas and ran a great race,” she said. “The winner is obviously a very special filly, but I am delighted with our filly.”

As well as placing in this, Starscope was also second in the 1000 Guineas and retired as one of her Stud's more promising broodmares. Responsible for four winning foals so far, they also include the Listed Cocked Hat S. third Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}) while her fifth is a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr). The second dam Moon Goddess (GB) (Rainbow Quest) also produced the Listed Rosemary S. winner Solar Magic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and is a daughter of the Listed Sweet Solera S. winner Mystic Goddess (Storm Bird). Also second in the G3 Queen Mary S. here, she threw the leading sire Medicean (GB) (Machiavellian) whose victories included the G1 Eclipse S., G1 Lockinge S. and G2 Queen Anne S. This is also the family of the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Mondreise (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

Friday, Ascot, Britain
CORONATION S.-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 6-17, 3yo, f, 7f 213yT, 1:39.20, g/f.
1–INSPIRAL (GB), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Starscope (GB) (MG1SP-Eng, $251,626), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Moon Goddess (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Mystic Goddess, by Storm Bird
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur, 5-5-0-0, $862,797. *1/2 to Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spendarella, 128, f, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. ($220,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Gainesway Farm; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (NY); T-Graham Motion. £107,500.
3–Discoveries (Ire), 128, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-The Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £53,800.
Margins: 4 3/4, NO, NO. Odds: 1.88, 9.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Tenebrism, Cachet (Ire), Honey Girl (GB), Sandrine (GB), Pizza Bianca, Mangoustine (Fr), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), Grande Dame (GB), Rolling The Dice (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Two-Day Ban For Dettori After Stradivarius Ride In The Gold Cup

Frankie Dettori was given a two-day riding ban by the stewards at Ascot on Friday, following an inquiry into his use of the whip on Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Gold Cup.
The stewards were unable to interview Dettori on Thursday, so the hearing was carried forward 24 hours.
The officials ruled Dettori had used his whip above the permitted level in the closing stages of the race, one which prompted much discussion afterwards and left trainer John Gosden wondering out loud why Dettori had opted to take the three-time winner back from his early position.
“I was a bit surprised that being in the box seat we dropped back so far,” Gosden said on Thursday. “It would have been nice to be a touch handier, to say the least.”
Stradivarius had to be switched widest of all for a run, and despite finishing with a flourish could only manage third behind Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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The Major Talking Points From Day Three at Royal Ascot

There has been no shortage of talking points at Royal Ascot this week but, perhaps the most controversial incident of them all came in the opening race on Thursday, when Paul Hanagan received a 10-day careless riding ban for veering halfway across the track en route to victory in the G2 Norfolk S. aboard The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}).

From that controversy to another forgettable afternoon's work for Frankie Dettori, out of luck aboard Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Gold Cup and The Queen's 2-5 favourite Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Hampton Court S., Brian Sheerin dissects the main talking points from Thursday's action.

 

Listen To Heffernan – Racing Needs To Wake Up

What needs to happen in Britain and Ireland for the stewards to start protecting riders? Let's not pretend that this is a problem confined to British racing because it is not.

Just last autumn, Shane Foley found himself on the receiving end of a five-day ban for careless riding when partnering No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) to victory in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend.

Race-favourite Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was one of the worst affected by Foley edging to his left aboard the winner and there was genuine dismay from the international audience looking in on our product that the result wasn't changed.

Lessons haven't been learned and there was an element of groundhog day at Ascot when Paul Hanagan veered halfway across the track aboard The Ridler, inconvenienced a number of big-race rivals, but was allowed to keep the G2 Norfolk S.

What you permit, you promote, and the rules, as they are interpreted, meant that The Ridler was never in any real danger of being chucked out.

Seamie Heffernan gave a candid interview to TDN Europe in the immediate aftermath of the farcical contest where he raised the point that riders should have to forfeit their winner's cheque if found guilty of dangerous or careless riding.

In Hanagan's case, he was handed a 10-day riding ban for careless riding, and one can only assume he took that punishment with a smile.

Put simply, there is no deterrent for riding dangerously and, as Heffernan described, a “win-at-all-cost mentality” has crept into racing in recent times.

It begs the question; what needs to happen for the interference rules to be brought into line to reflect what happens in America, Australia and France?

Kia Joorabchian, whose Amo Racing silks were carried by the second and the third–Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire})–was rightly fuming after the race. So, too, was Crispy Cat's trainer Michael O'Callaghan, not to mention the international bettors who got involved on the World Pool.

The damage caused by these farcical decisions pose a serious risk to the sport and Thursday's race should be the wake up call racing needs.

The problem is, this is an alarm bell that has been ringing for a while.

 

Forgettable Day For Frankie

Yesterday we spoke of how Irad Ortiz's week went from bad to worse and, unfortunately for Frankie Dettori, one of the all-time greats of the weighing room, he had a similarly forgettable day at the office.

John Gosden is not a man who goes around ruffling feathers for no reason but he was clearly disappointed with the ride Dettori gave Stradivarius in the Gold Cup, feeling the legendary rider was too far out of his ground in a slowly-run contest.

“I was a bit surprised that being in the box seat we dropped back so far,” Gosden told ITV Racing. He added, “It would have been nice to be a touch handier, to say the least.”

Dettori was once again out of luck in the Britannia S. when, in another stride or two, he almost certainly would have clinched victory aboard The Queen's Saga (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

At least there was a 2-5 favourite to steer home, eh? Wrong. Reach For The Moon ensured this was a day that would be remembered for all the wrong reasons when, despite being sent off at prohibitively short odds, Gosden's charge fluffed his lines in the G3 Hampton Court S.

It should also be noted that Reach For The Moon represented the third odds-on favourite of the week at Royal Ascot after Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) got the meeting underway as a 1-6 jolly in the G1 Queen Anne S and Bay Bridge(GB) (New Bay {GB}) got turned over at odds of 10-11 in the Prince Of Wales's S. on Wednesday.

Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who runs in the L Chesham S., and short-priced G2 Hardwicke S. fancy Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), are set to start at odds-on for their respective races on Saturday.

That will bring the total number of odds-on shots at this year's Royal meeting to five. There was consternation over the fact that there were five odds-on shots at Cheltenham back in March. Where is the outcry this week?

 

Stradivarius Going Nowhere

There seems to be an unhealthy obsession, certainly in some quarters of the media, in feeling the need to bring up the prospects of retirement as soon as any top horse appears to be on the wane.

Stradivarius is clearly not the force of old, yet he ran a gallant race to finish third in the G1 Gold Cup behind Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and many felt he was unlucky not to have won.

The most pleasing aspect of the performance, however, was that the old boy seemed to retain all of his enthusiasm for the game, which was evidenced by the live pictures of him strutting out of the parade ring afterwards like the champion that he is.

So why this constant talk of retirement? Stradivarius is a racehorse and, to these eyes at least, he still loves to run.

Judging by his fine effort in defeat, he will go close to winning the G1 Goodwood Cup and there is also the option of travelling to Paris later in the season.

Stradivarius has been masterfully handled by John and Thady Gosden. They will know when the time is right to bring the curtain down on his career. Judging by Thursday's performance, that time doesn't appear to be any time soon.

 

Brilliant Boughey Continues To Build

It is hard to believe that George Boughey has only recently turned 30. Since sending out his first winner in 2019, Boughey has bagged a breakthrough Classic success this year and sugar-coated what has been a memorable season by adding a Royal Ascot victory to his CV when Inver Park (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) landed the Buckingham Palace S.

Boughey got his training career up and running, by and large, with early 2-year-olds, but the standard of his Newmarket operation has risen dramatically with each season, as we saw when Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) won the G1 1000 Guineas.

Things could get even better for Boughey on Friday when Cachet lines out in the G1 Coronation S., which is shaping up to be one of the races of the week. His stock is not just on the rise, it's sky-rocketing.

Also, it would be remiss not to mention the exploits of Jane Chapple-Hyam this week. Twice the trainer's unmissable white bridle has been carried to victory at the royal meeting, with Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) running out a gritty winner of the G3 Hampton Court S. just 24 hours after Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) bolted up in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S.

Chapple-Hyam's only other runner this week, Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), also ran a cracker to finish second in Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup.

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