Tag: G1 Qipco Champion S.

Inspiral To Avoid Ascot; Paddington To The QEII

Storm Babet has decided the final shape of the fields for Saturday's Qipco Champions Day fixture, with the softening ground ruling Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and making up Aidan O'Brien's mind as to where to point Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). That four-times group 1 winner takes up his engagement in the QEII, leaving a total of nine to take part in the G1 Qipco Champion S. Heading the list for the 10-furlong highlight is last year's winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), with the improving Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) and Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) declared alongside Shadwell's G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Prince of Wales's S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who had been a doubt earlier in the week due to the dire forecast. There are 11 engaged in the QEII, with The Aga Khan's Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) a doubt to tackle Paddington if the ground worsens again, while Imad Al Sagar's Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been diverted from the Champion by the Gosdens.

Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson said of Inspiral on Thursday, “We've obviously been monitoring the weather and the rain that's fallen. I know John Gosden walked the track yesterday, there's been a subsequent 12 millimetres and it looks like there's more to come. As we know, when she ran on soft ground in the Sussex at Goodwood in the summer, Frankie looked after her as it wasn't the sort of performance she was enjoying. The decision now is whether the Breeders' Cup [Filly & Mare Turf] is an option. John is going to speak to Mrs Thompson about it and then we'll know more, but it's very much up to her to decide whether she wants the filly to go to America. They're liaising between them and there's decisions to be made on whether she runs again this year and whether she's kept in training next year. She's a wonderful filly, Mrs Thompson is the owner of the horse and will make the decision.”

In other news, the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 July Cup hero Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) will not run in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint. Steve Brown said of the 3-year-old, who was disappointing in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, “He wasn't just tracking through as normal behind with his movement. It looks minimal, but given the ground conditions, which are obviously going to be pretty testing, we're just not prepared to take any chances with him. It's as simple as that really.”

Marc Chan's defending Champions Sprint title-holder Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will face 14 in the six-furlong bonanza, there are 14 declared for a wide-open G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S., and Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) faces seven in the G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup. The storm has resulted in 13mm of rain falling, with further rain forecast on Friday.

Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickels is ready to switch the Long Distance Cup, Filly & Mares and Champion S. to the drier inner hurdles track for the first time since 2019. “If we have heavy ground on any part of the round course, we can move the round course races to the inner track and we have to decide that before 8 a.m. on Saturday,” he explained. “Looking at the forecast for Friday, I would say that is quite likely. I think the rain we will get overnight will turn us back to soft on the round course and maybe even if we get the top end, some heavy places on the round course. It's a shame we are a week later in the calendar this year and even today, John Gosden said if we were racing today the ground would have been perfect.”

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Bay Bridge Upsets Baaeed In The Champion

Caught off guard in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. and Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse, James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud's Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}–Hayyona {GB}, by Multiplex {GB}) made it third time lucky at the highest level when upsetting the hitherto undefeated Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and a stellar field in Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot. The race is a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland next month. Having appeared set fair to join the upper echelons when routing his rivals by five lengths and more in May's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown, the 4-year-old bay failed to justify odds-on favouritism when usurped by State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) over course and distance in June and didn't fire as expected when fifth behind Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) in Sandown's annual highlight in July. The eventual winner occupied an ideal slot in third behind a steady tempo through halfway and the 10-1 chance shifted gears rounding the home turn, moving into second at the top of the straight. Hooking up with the revitalised Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the leading wave passing the quarter-mile marker, the expected surge of Baaeed failed to materialise in speed-blunting conditions as the 1-4 favourite's stablemate My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) joined the mix inside the final furlong. An enthralling battle ensued with Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote teasing every last drop out of Bay Bridge to edge ahead in the closing stages for a career high, with Adayar outbobbing My Prospero by a nose for second. Baaeed lost no caste in defeat and ran on to finish 1 1/4 lengths further adrift in fourth.

Surprisingly, Bay Bridge's success provided Sir Michael Stoute with a first positive outcome on the programme since Champions Day was recalibrated in 2011 and a first in the contest for the veteran conditioner since Kalanisi (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}) outgunned Montjeu (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in 2000. “Bay Bridge was very brave and I am absolutely thrilled,” Stoute said. “The staff have done a great job with this horse and we are all delighted. He was in very good shape coming here. He came back from Sandown with a knock and we had to back off him, so he's been very consistent this year with the exception of that race. We thought the favourite was unbeatable, or I did, but I thought he had a great chance of being second, because he was in terrific shape. I'm delighted to have won two Group 1 races this year, the staff have been brilliant and it's down to them.”

While Stoute was rekindling memories of yore, it has been a breakthrough year for winning rider Richard Kingscote. “It is surreal really,” he said. “I guess we came here knowing we have a nice horse, but we were taking on one of the best around. You cannot be afraid of one horse. They've always liked Bay Bridge back home and it's perfect to ride beautiful horses like this. He looked like he would have a big one in him and, on that ground, he showed he is a really lovely animal. He was a bit fresh and ran with enthusiasm for the first three-quarters of the race. He was going well into the turn and, when the others tried to put a bit of pace into it, he responded and knuckled down when William [Buick] came to us on Adayar. He put in a very good effort.” Reflecting on a banner season, Kingscote continued, “I am very grateful to everyone for having me. Two spectacular horses have made it a great year.”

Last year's G1 Derby hero Adayar was making his first start in elite-level company since running fifth in last year's renewal and his renaissance thrilled Charlie Appleby. “We know Adayar's back on the top table again and I am delighted,” the trainer commented. “It is always in the back of your mind when you've won a conditions race, but he is where he was when he left off last year. There were no excuses there, William said they didn't go quite as strong a gallop as you would like, but he committed when he did. That was always the plan and he stuck to his guns well. We were beaten by a horse that we know has always had plenty of potential there and has been waiting for the ground.”

Reflecting on a first defeat in 11 starts for Baaeed, William Haggas admitted, “It is deflating, but he is still a good horse and I'm sad he didn't win for him and his connections as well as all the people at the yard who have worked tirelessly to get him there. There you go, it's horse racing. Jim [Crowley] felt Baaeed just couldn't pick up in the ground. All I know is he didn't win and I need to watch it again. I was busy watching the others as well and I tend not to make an assessment straight after. Let's hope this is eradicated from people's minds quite quickly. My Prospero couldn't quite nut Adayar on the line for second, so it looks like we'll have to wait for next year until we have a go at the Trainers' Championship. My Prospero ran a magnificent race and has lots to look forward to. He is a beautiful horse, a great big horse and I think he has a good future. Dubai Honour ran well, but James [Doyle] said they went no gallop for him.”

For rider Jim Crowley, Baaeed's defeat was down to one factor alone. “The ground, simple as that,” he insisted. “I turned into the straight and, normally, he would be able to do it on good to soft, but that kick just wasn't there. It was heavy weather really and as soon as I went for him I knew I was in trouble. In the past, it has just been instant, but it just wasn't there, simple as that. It is unbelievable the journey we have been on. He is a very special horse and it is sad that he does not finish his career unbeaten as we have come so far. Baaeed has captured the imagination and I'm sorry we couldn't do it today. He is a special horse still.”

Bay Bridge is the fourth of seven foals and one of two scorers from three runners out of a half-sister to G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Shimraan (Fr) (Rainbow Quest). He is kin to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Stormy Sea (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Time Test (GB). His stakes-winning third dam Shemaya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who produced G1 Prix du Jockey Club second Shamkiyr (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), is kin to G3 Prix Allez France victrix Shemima (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Cormorant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie victrix Shemala (Ire) (Danehill). Descendants of Shemala, herself a daughter of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}), include G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Shakeel (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO CHAMPION S.-G1, £1,300,000, Ascot, 10-15, 3yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:09.46, g/s.
1–BAY BRIDGE (GB), 133, c, 4, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Hayyona (GB), by Multiplex (GB)
2nd Dam: Shemriyna (Ire), by King Of Kings (Ire)
3rd Dam: Shemaya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-James Wigan & Ballylinch Stud; B-London Thoroughbred Services Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Richard Kingscote. £737,230. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-1, $1,284,847. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Adayar (Ire), 133, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Anna Salai, by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £279,500.
3–My Prospero (Ire), 129, c, 3, Iffraaj (GB)–My Titania (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William Haggas. £139,880.
Margins: HF, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 10.00, 6.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Baaeed (GB), Stone Age (Ire), Dubai Honour (Ire), Helvic Dream (Ire), Mac Swiney (Ire), Royal Champion (Ire).

 

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No Arc For Baaeed As Champion S. At Ascot The Confirmed Target

Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will bow out in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot rather than the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, his trainer William Haggas has revealed.

Following a stunning display on his first start over 10 furlongs in the Juddmonte International at York, connections indicated that they might consider supplementing Baaeed for the 12-furlong French feature on Oct. 2.

However, following discussions between Haggas and the unbeaten star's owners Shadwell, it has been decided that Baaeed will sign off on his career closer to home next month.

Haggas said, “After much consultation with Sheikha Hissa and her team, we have decided that Baaeed's final start will be in the QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 15.

“He was very impressive in the Juddmonte International and it was only right that we explored every option. But I, in particular, was very keen to keep him at a mile and a quarter and therefore the Qipco Champion S. was the only logical solution.”

The trainer added, “There are many, I'm sure, who are going to be disappointed that he is not going to be running in the Arc, but we can't do both and we all feel that it is the right decision for the horse, so Ascot it will be. Let's hope we have him in top form for that.”

Baaeed is unbeaten in 10 career starts, with his last six victories all coming at Group 1 level.

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Champion Glory For Galiway’s Sealiway

After a few days where moving the date of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe had been mooted and widely-discussed, Haras de la Gousserie's Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) proved that the 13-day turnaround from the ParisLongchamp monument to Ascot's G1 QIPCO Champion S. holds no fears with a career-defining success in Saturday's feature. While most of the focus had been on how Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) would deal with being backed up from ParisLongchamp, it was the bargain €62,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate Sealiway who bounced back from a fifth placing there to scoop this prestigious prize after a tussle with Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}). Travelling with enthusiasm in fourth early in the hands of Mickael Barzalona, last year's impressive G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero got to Adayar and to the front two out and battled hard to see off the supplemented Dubai Honour and prevail by 3/4 of a length. There was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in third, with the 13-8 favourite Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) a length away in fourth. “It's great to be back in the big time,” Barzalona said of the Cedric Rossi-trained 12-1 shot. “I've been with him since the beginning and he deserved that. The team said he had improved a lot since the Arc run, so although it was a tough race they were pretty confident. He showed plenty of stamina in the Arc, but today he showed plenty of speed and is just an excellent horse.”

Out early as a juvenile last term, Sealiway had won over six furlongs on debut at Saint-Cloud in May and at Chantilly in June before finishing third in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over seven at ParisLongchamp in July. Taking Vichy 's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles by five lengths the following month, the chestnut had run second in the G3 Prix la Rochette back at ParisLongchamp in September prior to his eight-length romp in the Lagardere on Arc day. Fifth after meeting some trouble in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in November, he returned to be second in the Apr. 18 G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and eighth in the May 16 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains over a mile at ParisLongchamp before moving up in trip.

No match for the Poulains hero St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) when second in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 6, he was reappearing for the first time when finishing off strongly late under Franck Blondel to finish 3/4 of a length behind the fourth-placed Adayar at 58-1 in the Arc. Entitled to come on for that first effort off a lengthy break, he was fresh and keen throughout the early stages as last year's winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Adayar made it honest in front. As he had two Sundays ago, Adayar looked turning for home as if he might be stretching the field, but his finish was not as dynamic as it had been here in July nor at Epsom before that and as Sealiway loomed at his side the game was up. Mishriff tried hard to get on terms with the French challenger before fading, while Mac Swiney had his run interrupted by Dubai Honour and had to switch inside. Sealiway's sole danger late was another who took part in Arc weekend, but the impressive G2 Prix Dollar winner Dubai Honour was never quite able to find that extra surge to get past as the 3-year-olds took command.

William Haggas said of the runner-up, “Dubai Honour was a little bit unfortunate, because he's a hold up horse drawn in stall 10. Adayar missed the break and just as James [Doyle] was trying to get him in, Adayar went hurtling past him and set him alight a bit. No excuse, we were quite far back but that's the way he needs to be ridden. He came with what looked like a winning run, but the other horse outstayed him. He's another that has made great progress. I was thinking that the Hong Kong Cup might suit him. He would enjoy that long straight and seems to run well right-handed. I don't know about Australia for him yet.”

Charlie Appleby said of Adayar, who ended up fifth, “Will said it was the ground. He was always just doing too much really and it paid up the straight. Will just said his exertions paid towards the end. At the end of the day, we made the decision to come here and maybe it was a tougher race than we thought in the Arc. We'll put him away for the winter and we've got a nice horse for next year. We know we can step him back up to 12 furlongs too. We know how to set our stall out next year. Today there was not going to be any natural pace and he was just over-racing and it paid towards the end.” Mishriff's rider David Egan said of the beaten favourite, “He is a better horse on better ground.”

Sealiway is out of the Listed Prix Herod winner Kensea (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), whose full-brother to the winner Seagali (Fr) sold to the MAB Agency for €115,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville September Yearling Sale and whose Seagala (Fr) also by Galiway was a €380,000 purchase by SARL Trotting Bloodstock at the recent Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale. This is the family of the listed-placed Exit To Nowhere pair of Enjoleur (Fr) and Epicurien (Fr), the G2 Prix Malleret scorer Another Dancer (Groom Dancer) and the G3 Park Express S. winner Pollen (Ire) (Orpen).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO CHAMPION S.-G1, £1,260,000, Ascot, 10-16, 3yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:08.31, g/s.
1–SEALIWAY (FR), 127, c, 3, by Galiway (GB)
     1st Dam: Kensea (Fr) (SW-Fr), by Kendargent (Fr)
     2nd Dam: Sea Island (Fr), by Gold Away (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Equatoriale (Fr), by Saint Estephe (Fr)
(€62,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Le Haras de la Gousserie; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Cedric Rossi; J-Mickael Barzalona. £714,546. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Fr, G1SW-Fr, 12-5-3-1, $1,876,650. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dubai Honour (Ire), 127, g, 3, Pride of Dubai (Aus)–Mondelice (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (110,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Mohamed Obaida; B-Macha Bloodstock/Meridian International (IRE); T-William Haggas. £270,900.
3–Mac Swiney (Ire), 127, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Halla Na Saoire (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). O-Mrs J. S. Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). £135,576.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 1. Odds: 12.00, 6.00, 40.00.
Also Ran: Mishriff (Ire), Adayar (Ire), Addeybb (Ire), Foxes Tales (Ire), Al Aasy (Ire), Euchen Glen (GB). Scratched: Bolshoi Ballet (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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