Tag: G2 King Edward VII S.

Wootton Bassett’s King Of Steel Dominates The King Edward VII

He's as big as it gets among top-class thoroughbreds, but Amo Racing's King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Eldacar {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}) showed for the second time this month that he has grace in abundance as he stormed to glory in Friday's G2 King Edward VII S. Denied only by Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in a dramatic finale to the Derby, the imposing grey was at risk of coming back too quickly but his odds of 11-10 reflected the confidence in Roger Varian not to make that particular error.

In the event, Kevin Stott faced as tricky a tactical quandary as Chris Hayes had earlier on the card on Tahiyra (Ire) with the pace notably slow and the exuberant favourite needing anchoring at the back. It takes a true class act to circle a KEVII field already quickening, but that was what King Of Steel had looked at Epsom and he duly confirmed that impression with a 11.54 split to two out where he seized control. Chased by Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) from there, he lugged right to the rail but stayed powering on to beat Ballydoyle's representative by 3 1/2 lengths. Derby also-ran Artistic Star (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was another 2 1/2 lengths behind in third.

“They didn't go fast and he was a bit keen–I couldn't get him to drop it until halfway and so I was a little bit nervous but in a matter of strides he was in front and then was just lengthening,” commented Stott, who was enjoying his breakthrough moment at Royal Ascot. “He could easily go back to ten–he has plenty of speed and is so quick on his feet for a big horse.”

 

“He has a blue eye on one side and you have to be nice and relaxed with him, because he might be a tiny bit blind on that side,” his rider added. “You can see how big he is and, if he stays in training next year and fills into this big frame, you don't know how good he could be. It's very exciting for me and for Kia to have such a good horse.”

Varian has another group 1 target in mind now. “It is a relief, as when they run so big in the Derby you want them to back it up,” he said. “He's got such a great constitution and we went on the signs he was giving us, which were great. He's a super horse and so agile. It is very satisfying that he confirmed today what he did in the Derby. We'd like to go to the Grand Prix de Paris, but a lot can change with horses so let's see how he is tomorrow.”

Pedigree Notes

King Of Steel is the last foal out of Eldacar, who died from foaling complications after producing the King Edward VII winner. She is a granddaughter of the Listed Prix Yacowlef winner and G3 Prix du Calvados-placed Seralia (GB) (Royal Academy). One of Lady O'Reilly's many successful broodmares, she produced a trio of black-type performers including the G3 Prix de Psyche winner Serisia (Fr) (Exit To Nowhere) who was in turn responsible for the G1 Chipping Norton S. and G1 Ranvet S.-winning Australian champion miler Contributer (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). A half to Exit To Nowhere's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Shaka (GB), she is also the ancestress of Le Havre's multiple group-placed Sotteville (Fr) and Crisolles (Fr) and the Listed Prix de la Californie scorer and G3 Prix Texanita third Straight Right (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Another family member, the G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Sorciere (Ire) (Orpen), is the dam of Thursday's surprise Buckingham Palace S. winner Witch Hunter (Fr) also by Siyouni.

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £250,000, Ascot, 6-23, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:35.30, g/f.
1–KING OF STEEL, 128, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Eldacar (GB), by Verglas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Seracina (GB), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Seralia (GB), by Royal Academy
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. ($200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Bonne Chance Farm LLC (KY); T-Roger Varian; J-Kevin Stott. £141,775. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 4-2-1-0, $602,398. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Continuous (Jpn), 128, c, 3, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Fluff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg; B-Wynatt, Chelston Ireland & Orpendale Bloodstock (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien. £53,750.
3–Artistic Star (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Nechita (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-J C Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £26,900.
Margins: 3HF, 2HF, 2. Odds: 1.10, 9.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Dubai Mile (Ire), Arrest (Ire), Relentless Voyager (GB).

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Galileo’s Changingoftheguard Gets Royal Winner Number 80 For Aidan O’Brien

All the rage for Friday's G2 King Edward VII S., Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) issued a display of resolute galloping in the Westerberg silks to make it a landmark 80th Royal Ascot winner for Aidan O'Brien. Fifth in the Derby only 13 days ago, the G3 Chester Vase winner was taken to the lead by Ryan Moore soon after the start and was asked several questions on the long journey to the home straight, but kept responding to pressure to see off all bar the Derby 11th Grand Alliance (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Whereas the run to the line was straight and true for the heavily-backed 11-10 favourite, the Charlie Fellowes trainee was off on a tangent and drifting left with Danny Tudhope in the closing stages. That meant that when the moment of truth came, the short-head verdict went the way of the Ballydoyle runner, with a four-length margin back to Lysander (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in third.

Following on from the successes of Kyprios (Ire) and Magical Lagoon (Ire) on Thursday, Changingoftheguard was supplying his remarkable late sire with a Royal Ascot treble in 2022 and puts him one behind his great rival Dubawi (Ire). John Magnier was on hand to witness the latest Galileo to lay down a particular milestone. “The secret's out,” he quipped in his inimitable manner. “It's well-known and well-discussed that Galileos have their will to win and it's coming through with his sons and daughters. It is all over the place really.” When asked about the now 899 group winners for Aidan O'Brien, he reflected, “That does the talking–he doesn't have to do it. It's refreshing to see a modest approach, I think. You see it with Chris Waller too. Their records show it.”

Aidan O'Brien said of the winner, “Changingoftheguard is a tough hardy horse–very genuine and he'll stay further. We think the horse might be very happy going the St Leger trip. He doesn't surrender.” Moore added, “He was not at his best today–he was having a look and wasn't focused. The runner-up has run across the track, but I needed a bit of help really. He is a very honest horse, but he just gallops. He could have done with a bit of company and he wasn't getting a lot of it, so we were sitting ducks but he does have that bit of class.”

Fellowes said of the runner-up, “To have a really good one for the Roys is fantastic. They have been supporters of mine for quite a long time now and the lads have done such a great job with the horse. He is not straightforward. He has his own ideas about the game, but he's very talented and is a pleasure to have around the place. He'll have his day–it's not today, but he will. The St Leger has been mentioned. Whether he'll stay that far, I don't know.”

Changingoftheguard's dam Lady Lara (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}) registered five wins in stakes company, with the pinnacle being the GII Honey Fox S. and GIII My Charmer H. The fourth dam Dancing Rocks (GB) (Green Dancer) captured the G2 Nassau S. before producing three black-type winners headed by the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks-placed Rockerlong (GB) (Deploy {GB}), while she is also the ancestress of seven group one winners including the 2000 Guineas-winning sire Footstepsinthesand (GB), as well as the European champion Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}) whose wins featured the G3 Norfolk S. at this meeting. Lady Lara's unraced 2-year-old Galileo's Compass (Ire) is, as his name suggests, a full-brother to Changingoftheguard who was bought by BBA Ireland for Yulong Investments for €250,000 at the Goffs Orby, while she also has a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Friday, Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £250,500, Ascot, 6-17, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:30.44, g/f.
1–CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Lady Lara (Ire) (MGSW-US, SW & MGSP-Eng, $781,203), by Excellent Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Shanty (GB), by Selkirk
3rd Dam: Pippas Song (GB), by Reference Point (GB)
O-Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £142,059. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-0, $319,658. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Grand Alliance (Ire), 128, c, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Endless Love (Ire), by Dubai Destination. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Mrs Susan Roy (IRE); T-Charlie Fellowes. £53,858.
3–Lysander (GB), 128, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Darting (GB), by Shamardal. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (120,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Beehives); B-Highclere Stud (GB); T-William Haggas. £26,954.
Margins: NO, 4, NO. Odds: 1.10, 10.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Ottoman Fleet (GB), Dark Moon Rising (Ire), Savvy Victory (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Derby Runner-Up Hoo Ya Mal Supplemented To King Edward VII S.

Ahmad Al Shaikh's Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) has been supplemented for £15,000 to the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot next Friday. Trained by Andrew Balding , the colt was second last out in the G1 Cazoo Derby In Memory Of Lester Piggott on June 4. Off the mark at second asking at York in August, he was second in Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman S. a month later and was shelved. He resumed from winter quarters with a third in the G3 Craven S. behind subsequent G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas runner-up Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) on Apr. 13 and was second again, this time in the Listed Newmarket S., on Apr. 29.

Also supplemented to the 12-furlong King Edward field is the stakes-placed Kevin Ryan trainee Dark Moon Rising (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who bears the colours of Mrs. Angie Bailey. At this stage, there are four Aidan O'Brien trainees signed on, including Derby fifth Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while William Haggas has left in the listed-placed Lysander (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Roger Varian saddles the undefeated Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the winning Subastar (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

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Pyledriver on Course for Derby

Group 2 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) remains on course for the G1 Investec Derby as long as he continues to please trainer William Muir ahead of the premier Classic on July 4.The Harbour Watch colt put himself in the picture for the Epsom showpiece with a convincing victory in the King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. Muir reports his stable star to have taken those exertions in his stride, so far.

“He’s been fine since the race, he’s absolutely wonderful,” said the Lambourn handler. “As I’ve said to everyone from day one about the Derby, he will go to the Derby if he tells me all is well and at the moment all is well. Sometimes horses come out of a race and they are bouncing for a week and then they hit a bit of a lull the following week. As long as he keeps going the way he is and all is well, we will give it a go.

“He’s just moseying around doing a bit of lobbing canters and enjoying life. He’s eating really well, he looks well. We weigh them once a week so he’ll be weighed again on Wednesday and as long as he’s put his weight back on we’ll be ready to go.”

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