Tag: G2 Coventry S.

Coventry Glory For Wootton Bassett’s TDN Rising Star River Tiber

Significantly-supported into 11-8 favouritism for Tuesday's G2 Coventry S., TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Transcendence {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) justified that confidence to provide Aidan O'Brien with a landmark 10th renewal of the juvenile feature which had announced his arrival back in 1997. Successful by a cumulative margin of 12 1/2 lengths in two starts at Navan and Naas, the 480,000gns Book 1 graduate could be spotted cruising near the front of the far-side group led by Bronsan Racing's oven-ready purchase Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

Students of Ryan Moore's body language would have noted that he sat motionless for the first four furlongs and as he asked the question two out River Tiber picked up as expected to wear down Monday night's Goffs London sensation with just over half a furlong to race. From there the sense of inevitability became reality as he found the line a neck ahead of the Archie Watson-trained Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}), who was a few horse-widths away up the centre with another son of Wootton Bassett in Bucanero Fuerte (GB) 3/4 of a length behind him in third.

There had been trouble in the stalls, with the outsider Buyin Buyin (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle (GB) becoming upset and affecting his next-door neighbough Chief Mankato (GB) (Sioux Nation) in the process, leading to their withdrawal.

“It was a tricky start, with those horses getting upset and he didn't settle like he usually does in the stalls,” commented Moore, who was riding the first winner of an afternoon treble which would ultimately take him to 76 at Royal Ascot. “He travelled really well in the race and I probably put him to sleep a bit too much. I had to wake him up to get to them and I think he had a bit more in hand. We've always loved him and he'll probably go on to be a Dewhurst horse I'd have thought. For me, he stood over all of these–he looked different class.”

Aidan O'Brien, who was about to become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history, was not holding back as to his regard for the winner, who probably ranks up with the likes of Fasliyev, Landseer (Ire), Henrythenavigator, Power (GB) and Caravaggio. “He always looked very good,” he said. “He was never disappointing in any of his work and the stronger the work got, the stronger he became. His last piece of work he was almost doing too well, so that was my worry. We knew when he went over five last time that he was going to get six and seven comfortably.”

“You need the best horse to win the Coventry,” O'Brien added of the winner, whose inherent stamina probably made the difference off a hot early pace. “He has matured a lot, put on a lot of weight and just finds it very easy. We always thought he was a Guineas horse. If you think you have a Coventry horse, you almost know you have.”

Archie Watson, who was soon to have his moment in the sun with last year's Coventry winner Bradsell, was delighted with another big performance for a Victorious Racing colour-bearer in Army Ethos. “He's always had so much class from the moment Oliver [St Lawrence] bought him at the Somerville Yearling Sale,” he said. “Hollie [Doyle] felt Ryan got a better tow into the race and she had to do it all herself when they started falling away on our side of the track. For a horse on his second run, it was a massive effort and I'm very proud of him.”

 

Pedigree Notes

The second TDN Rising Star to win the Coventry in successive years and the fourth to win a Royal Ascot juvenile contest since the start of the 2022 meeting, River Tiber is the second foal and first winner for the unraced dam, a daughter of the Swedish listed winner Cover Girl (Ire) (Common Grounds {GB}) who produced the Listed Harry Rosebery S. scorer and G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Molecomb S.-placed Mister Manannan (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}) and his Luther Burbank H.-winning and G3 Cornwallis S. and GIII Senorita S.-placed full-sister Shermeen (Ire).

Shermeen is responsible for a trio who represented Coolmore in some form in the G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. runner-up Sudirman (Henrythenavigator), the G3 Hampton Court S. runner-up Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the latter's full-brother Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who captured last year's Listed Dee S. and has gone on to add Australia's Listed Rosehill Gold Cup to his tally. Transcendence's yearling colt is by Mehmas (Ire).

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-20, 2yo, 6fT, 1:15.49, gd.
1–RIVER TIBER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cover Girl (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
3rd Dam: Peace Carrier (Ire), by Doulab
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $144,735. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Army Ethos (GB), 129, c, 2, Shalaa (Ire)–Dream Dana (Ire), by Dream Ahead. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (20,000gns RNA Wlg '21 TADEWE; 120,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass; B-Plantation Stud (GB); T-Archie Watson. £32,250.
3–Bucanero Fuerte (GB), 129, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Frida La Blonde (Fr), by Elusive City. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€165,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Amo Racing Ltd & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (GB); T-Adrian Murray. £16,140.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.38, 20.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Givemethebeatboys (Ire), Haatem (Ire), Bobsleigh (Ire), Watch My Tracer (Ire), Spanish Phoenix (Ire), Asadna (Ire), Cuban Thunder (Ire), Fandom (GB), Emperor's Son (Ire), The Camden Colt (Ire), Prince X J (Ire), Ticktyboo (GB), Flag Of St George (Ire), Politico (Ire), Alfa Whiteburd (Ire), Packard (Ire), Zoulu Chief (GB). Scratched: Buyin Buyin (Ire), Chief Mankato (GB).

 

The post Coventry Glory For Wootton Bassett’s TDN Rising Star River Tiber appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gulfstream to Offer Royal Ascot Juvenile Qualifiers

The winners of Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile S. and $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies S., both set for May 13, each will earn an automatic entry into one of Royal Ascot's six 2-year-old races. The two five-furlong turf events will be the first-ever U.S. automatic qualifiers for a race at Royal Ascot.

Additionally, the connections will receive a $25,000 equine travel stipend.

“1/ST RACING is thrilled to announce this new global partnership with Ascot Racecourse,” Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Racing & Gaming, said. “Gulfstream Park is honored to host two automatic qualifiers to challenge the world's best at this year's Royal Ascot meeting,”.

Royal Ascot will be held this year from Jun. 20-24.

“We're thrilled to be partnering with 1/ST RACING on this initiative and building on the already solid foundations of success that American juveniles have at Royal Ascot. Hopefully the incentives will attract a quality field and we look forward to welcoming their connections at Ascot,” Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs, Ascot Racecourse, said.

The six juvenile races during the June Royal Ascot meeting are:
June 20
-The G2 Coventry, 6 furlongs
June 21
-The G2 Queen Mary, 5 furlongs, fillies
-The Windsor Castle, 5 furlongs, listed
June 22
-The G2 Norfolk, five furlongs
June 23
-The G3 Albany, 6 furlongs, fillies
June 24
-The Chesham Stakes, listed

Nominations for the Royal Palm Juvenile and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies close Apr. 30.

The post Gulfstream to Offer Royal Ascot Juvenile Qualifiers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tasleet’s Bradsell Best In The Coventry

Becoming the first of the TDN Rising Stars to emerge successful at Royal Ascot in 2022, Victorious Racing Limited's Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}–Russian Punch {GB}, by Archipenko) conquered a host of talent to win the G2 Coventry S. under Hollie Doyle. Keen initially from her draw in the centre, the Archie Watson-trained £47,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up graduate tracked Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to two out and after taking over soon after forged away for a 1 1/2-length verdict over Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who edged Royal Scotsman by a neck for second.

 

The post Tasleet’s Bradsell Best In The Coventry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Regal Presence Opens the Royal Meeting

While it is expected that The Queen will be at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, the fact that the monarch is not going to attend each day and that there will be no royal procession means that as far as normality is concerned we are far from out of the woods.

In an upgrade on the atmospheric void that was 2020, there will be 12,000 in attendance to create some buzz at Flat racing's magnificent summer showcase which still boasts a strong, if slightly diminished, international element. While French entries have suffered the most this year, it is debatable whether they would have supplied anything to hamper the opening race's star turn Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}). One of if not the key protagonist of this year's meeting, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's 'TDN Rising Star' has all the ingredients of a “banker” with Frankie Dettori in the saddle looking for an instant addition to his 73 Royal Ascot winners.

Heading 11 declarations confirmed on Sunday for the mile contest, last year's G1 St James's Palace S. hero who has since also captured the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville and the May 15 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury comes here with an air of invulnerability. “He's a lovely horse and has done everything right in his life,” John Gosden said last week. “We're happy with him and there's plenty to look forward to with him.”

As usual, Wesley Ward is looking strong and he kicks off the 2021 expedition with Gregory Kaufman's Kaufymaker (Jimmy Creed), who bids to become the first filly since Diadem in 1916 to win the G2 Coventry S. There is also a North American flavour to the G1 King's Stand S., in which the elite sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) faces 15 rivals including the Mar. 27 G1

Al Quoz Sprint hero Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid) and Wesley Ward's Maven (American Pharoah). Frankie Dettori has been snapped up by Brendan Walsh for Extravagant Kid after Ryan Moore was committed to Doreen Tabor's Keep Busy (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and that is not the only notable spare ride for the 50-year-old with Joseph O'Brien booking him for Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. Last of 14 in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 1, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner bids to bounce back along with fellow flops Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Battleground (War Front), with Ryan Moore picking the latter this time.

Of the 13 declared for the St James's Palace, the Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) is the current favourite for a wide-open affair with Jim Bolger happy to go again after the homebred was subsequently sixth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and runner-up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas. “It's been an extraordinary season, with just one real hiccup and another that was self-inflicted at The Curragh,” his owner, breeder and trainer said. “Nothing went right in the race at Longchamp and we've drawn a line through it. He came back very quickly to finish second at The Curragh, so he's very, very hardy–you couldn't do that with every horse. The biggest trouble I have is keeping the weight off him. He's a great doer and he still has to do plenty at home, despite the schedule.”

“Dawn Approach was pretty hardy too and took it well, but he wouldn't have been the same as Poetic Flare,” Bolger added. “I might have had one or two others like him and I remember when I won the 4-year-old hurdle at Aintree in 1978 with Beparoejojo she had to have a blow-out on the morning of the race, but I've never had a colt of his quality who needed as much work as he does. He's very well and I think he has a big chance–the bookmakers seem to think so too. He goes on any ground too, which is a big advantage. It was good-to-firm when he won at Newmarket, but personally I'd prefer it if there was no firm in the description as horses last longer that way.”

In recent times, it seems almost impossible that the meeting can escape significant rain and there is also a very real threat of thunderstorms in the middle of the week this time. Tuesday's action is certain to start on a lively surface, however, as Ascot's Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels ponders the watering policy. “Going wise we are good, good-to-firm in places and in the middle of a watering cycle,” he explained on Sunday. “It's a very warm day today–29 degrees as the afternoon goes on and we are expecting a warm, dry day tomorrow too. The track is in lovely condition. We'll end up with good-to-firm ground by the middle of the afternoon on Tuesday.”

“The question then comes what do we do in the evening after racing, depending on the forecast,” he added. “We'll have to play that one by ear when the forecast for the remainder of the week becomes clearer. We may have to put a bit of water on on Tuesday night to hold it at good-to-firm. There does look like a breakdown in the middle of the week. Certainly Wednesday night into Thursday, when some thunderstorms might develop from northern France. The nature of thunderstorms is they are hit-and-miss, but there is confidence in that forecast after racing Wednesday and on Thursday. This far out on Sunday, talking about Wednesday night, it's very difficult to imagine what is going to happen at this stage.”

The post Regal Presence Opens the Royal 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