Tag: G2 Richmond S.

Goodwood: “I Can’t Wait To Get Into It.” Head Relishing Blue Rose Cen’s Nassau Test

So far at Goodwood this week, the front end has been the place to be in the races that matter most and that is good news for connections of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) as she prepares to battle her elders for the first time in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. They include the gilt-edged 4-year-old Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but Hollie Doyle no doubt has a far greater tactical task than Aurelien Lemaitre on the French raider who is even drawn in one to add more bolster to her cause.

Yeguada Centurion's homebred is admirably straightforward, as she proved on her last three Group 1 starts which included the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane and that is always an advantage on this notoriously difficult track. “I think it is a very tactical racetrack and a very interesting one,” trainer Christopher Head said. “She has had a brilliant preparation and we are very happy with her and we can't wait to get to Goodwood races. She is a wonderful filly, the filly of my life for now, and I'm really happy to have the luck to train her. I can't wait to get into it, because there is such a good atmosphere at the races in the UK and it is really a unique feeling when you run a horse there.”

“The ground should not be any issue for her,” he added. “She has already encountered various tracks and there is no problem at any of them. We will need to see her run, but there is a project about seeing what she is capable of doing in a staying capacity, such as the Vermeille, just to see if she is capable of going further. We don't have the limit of the filly now–she looks like she can do everything! For now, she has the benefit of choice.”

Nashwa, who excelled on a contrastingly fast surface 12 months ago, was back to her excellent best last time in the G1 Falmouth S. but this is no doubt as far as she wants to go these days and the ground will only serve to make it a genuine test. Imad Al Sagar's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe is hoping the Newmarket run will serve as a relaunch of the filly in 2023. “I think it was so encouraging the way she did it at Newmarket,” he said. “Everybody's faith has been repaid, as it were. She looked good and had done well over the winter and, if anything, might have done a bit too well.”

“She is a big, scopey filly and sometimes they just take a little while to come to themselves,” Grimthorpe added. “It was never that she worked badly, she was always going nicely, but I think after Newcastle it looked like she suddenly began to take hold of the bridle. It is a very interesting race and the French filly looks exceptional. We are always hopeful, but the good thing is she is going into the race how we'd want her to.”

With the French challenger new to this kind of test and Nashwa not certain to perform to last year's standard, the way could be open to either Shadwell's fast-improving G3 Hoppings S. winner Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) or to last year's G1 Prix Saint-Alary-winning TDN Rising Star Above The Curve (American Pharoah). Both have had Nashwa behind this season and if the latter is allowed an easy time in front she will be dangerous as she proved in the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in May.

 

 

Is Vandeek The Answer In Beleaguered Richmond?

With Clive Cox withdrawing the G2 July S. winner and likely hot favourite Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Aidan O'Brien also opting to leave TDN Rising Star Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at home, Goodwood's G2 Markel Richmond S. has become much more open on Thursday. KHK Racing Ltd's 625,000gns joint-topper at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) made the ideal start to his career over this six-furlong trip at Nottingham last month and has all the upside that is required for one of these.

“He looked a bit inexperienced at Nottingham and just fell out the stalls, but with the ground the way it is–it was soft when he won there–it will help,” Ed Crisford said. “He seems to have come on for that mentally for the last few weeks, so we thought we'd take a chance. If he can take a step forward from his maiden win, we'll be pleased. He is one for the future and it is not all about this.”

That also applies to Manton Park Racing's five-length Newbury novice winner Sketch (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) from the Freddie and Martyn Meade stable. The dam, by Siyouni (Fr), is kin to Prolific (Ire) (Compton Place {GB}) who took this on good-to-firm in 2008. “Obviously it is quite a quick turnaround, but he was a true professional at Newbury,” Freddie said. “It looks a tough renewal, but I think he showed he's entitled to be there and he is a big, strong horse and it is not all about this season. Not many can do what he did first time out and the sectional times were good if you compare them to the Hackwood.”

 

I Spy A Leger Horse?

Goodwood's G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S. is all about St Leger prospects, with the mile-and-a-half contest attracting Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Last year's G1 Criterium International runner-up was up to near this trip for the first time when making a belated start to the season in Roscommon's Listed Lenebane S. and is on that familiar upward curve that the Rosegreen runners do so well. Also here is The King's last chance of a Classic winner in his inaugural year as owner of the Royal runners, the King George V H.-winning fellow TDN Rising Star Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), while Godolphin's Listed Glasgow S. scorer Chesspiece (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) looks the type to relish the deep ground.

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Can Royal Scotsman Deliver in the Irish Guineas?

There was a time around three decades ago when Paul Cole's name was synonymous with the turf's leading lights left, right and centre around Europe. Over 30 years on from his last win in any of the British, Irish or French Classics, the Whatcombe Estate frontiersman who now runs his stable along with son Oliver has found one again. Not since the heady days of Generous (Ire) and co has the Berkshire stable been as electrified as it is at present thanks to Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and it is with great expectations and some jitters that they await the reckoning of Jim and Fitri Hays' flag-bearer  in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh.

What is beyond doubt is that Royal Scotsman is a class act, with his close second to Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. possibly even better form than his third in the 2000 Guineas itself, with the Newmarket Classic's cutting edge blunted by nagging heavy rain. When the sun burned and the turf rode slick at the Goodwood Festival in July, he was able to take apart the six-furlong G2 Richmond S. with pace that will be lethal if he can carry it this far.

Strongly-supported by the hard hitters on Friday, Royal Scotsman will most likely head to post the favourite and Oliver Cole is abuzz with the cross-sea travelling having gone to plan. “He's in great form, he left for Ireland on Thursday night and arrived Friday morning and has eaten up, so we couldn't be happier with him,” he said. “To do what he did at Newmarket, to be keen and pull for four furlongs and then finish shows he's pretty good. He broke the track record in the Richmond at Goodwood and he was in the second-fastest ever Dewhurst–his sectionals were amazing after the first furlong. He is a very, very good horse, everything just needs to go right for him.”

A Classic Conundrum...
While it is too early to say, the 2000 Guineas looks far from vintage at this stage and this version follows the same narrative on paper at least. Newmarket's Classic was stacked even more than usual with fast colts, who bar Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) seemed the most exciting of those lining up but so many hopes were ultimately dashed as the ground deepened and stretched staying power all around. While the Irish 2000 is set to take place on far livelier terrain, those who helped light up the Classic three weeks ago are already firmly on the road to the Commonwealth Cup.

So what are we left with? TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) exceeded all expectations to be an errant second, one of a long line of rank outsiders to make the frame in the Guineas, but it is impossible to tell how he will back up here. Royal Scotsman may have been third after over-racing, but he far from convinced with how well he ultimately saw out the mile.

The O'Brien Factor…
Six of the last 10 winners of this hadn't been to Newmarket, which of course brings in the Aidan O'Brien contingent (is there ever a time when they could be safely counted out?) and in particular the Listed Tetrarch S.-winning TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) with all his upside. While he will have his many supporters, it is perhaps Donnacha who has charge of the colt with all the boxes ticked. Step forward Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who went the Mac Swiney route of Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial only to fall short against Jessie Harrington's genuine Derby contender Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).

Proud And Regal won on debut here in June, went too fast early in the Futurity on his second visit and already needed further than seven furlongs when denied in the Vincent O'Brien National S. tackling the Kildare venue for the third time. His one try at a mile yielded a Criterium International, but the heavy ground there would have been against the chestnut son of Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) so his defeat of Ballydoyle's classy Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could even be upgraded.

In The Fast Lane…
A Classic is a Classic, but few would forgive those who are placing Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane S. over the Curragh feature on Saturday, such is the pull of the 3-year-old sprinting generation this year. As mentioned above, the Guineas boasted the likes of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) and while the former has since disappointed, the latter is very much alive and kicking in the category. This is a case of clean slate for the brilliant juvenile of 2022, who has everything in his favour and defeat here will not be enough to stop the worries that he is not the force he was. Physically, the beast who took apart the Phoenix assembly including the beleaguered fellow TDN Rising Star Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) must be at least as good this year and with the calendar stacked against Ryan Moore, it is Frankie who gets to push the buttons for possibly the only time. Lucky man.

What Now For Bradsell?
We see it every year. A wide-margin, dynamic Spring success for a juvenile blessed with “early”, possibly a Royal Ascot sprint wrapped up while that precocity still dominates and then a slow slide into the wilderness. For Bradsell, the latter scenario has thankfully not played out with injury stopping him after his unlucky experience in the Phoenix and a highly respectable comeback effort in Ascot's G3 Pavilion S. last month. While the re-opposing winner Cold Case (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) had his measure that day, Victorious Racing's Coventry hero is on a sounder surface here and Archie Watson has him in a good place. “He travelled very well at Ascot and got a bit tired late, which was to be expected,” he said. “I hope he can take a good step forwards fitness-wise from there. It looks a very strong trial for the Commonwealth Cup. I'd say whatever wins will be the one to beat at Ascot, so at least we'll all know after the weekend.”

Back In Her Comfort Zone?
One of the big performances of the two Guineas at Newmarket was that of Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the 1000 as she effectively “won” the race behind Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) despite having appeared to have gone off too quickly. Having been third in the Lowther when possibly York's fast six furlongs proved too slick, she made all in Newmarket's Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' S. as the ground eased in the autumn so it is a question of whether it will all be happening too quickly again here. “Her Guineas run puts her in the picture and we should be bang there,” trainer Kieran Cotter said. “In an ideal situation we would have liked a bit of rain, but she handled quick ground when she ran at York in the Lowther and she is pretty versatile.”

Fields Of Stars…
Saturday's cluttered action across Britain and Ireland requires a whistle-stop preview and much analysis after with Royal Ascot particularly in mind. The Curragh's card sees the TDN Rising Stars Noche Magica (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never) go the “Blackbeard route” to Berkshire, while the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp heroine The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) makes her debut for Katsumi Yoshida and Roger Varian in Haydock's G2 Temple S. White Birch Farm's unbeaten Prince of Wales's S. and Eclipse entry Francesco Clemente (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) faces his first black-type test in Goodwood's Listed Festival S., while York's G3 Bronte Cup plays host to George Strawbridge's G2 Park Hill S.-winning 4-year-old Mimikyu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Her sister Journey (GB) really got going at that age, so its still all to play for the quirky but talented representative of the Gosdens.

Tahiyra Heads Sunday Delights…
Dermot Weld would have been heartened by the inside draw handed to Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh as The Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star was the key member of the 10-strong cast confirmed on Friday. Also set to be represented by live contender Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal), the Rosewell House handler has booked Billy Lee for that G3 Cornelscourt S. runner-up. Aidan O'Brien's trio is headed by Tahiyra's old rival Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is alongside the likely favourite in two and set for a Moyglare rematch on the faster ground she relishes so that scores can finally be settled. A thrilling G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup was confirmed, with Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) good to go in the first big older horse encounter of the European season.

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Royal Scotsman Scoots To Richmond Triumph

Fitri Hay's Royal Scotsman (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}–Enrol {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) finished a close up third in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. and justified odds-on favouritism with a snug victory over the same six-furlong trip in Thursday's G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood. Fourth behind the 'TDN Rising Star' display of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) contesting a hot novice heat over five furlongs at Ascot in his May 7 debut, he graduated by five lengths over this course and distance 13 days later before his black-type debut in the Coventry last time. The 5-6 pick was well away to stalk the leaders in a handy fourth and raced under a firm grip through halfway. Shaken up passing the quarter-mile marker, he quickened for control approaching the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing stages to easily hold the Windsor maiden winner Al Karrar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths in a new track-record time. Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Listed Rose Bowl S. winner Chateau (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) ran on well to finish 1 1/2 lengths further adrift in third.

“Royal Scotsman likes a bit of cover and switches off well,” commented trainer Paul Cole. “Our main worry was just getting some cover, but nothing could have gone better today and it all went exactly as we'd hoped it would go. Nothing worries him and he is a fantastic horse. There is the possibility of stepping up in trip, but he has a lot of speed and is out of a fast mare. I can't see anything around that has as much speed as him. There are very good races on the horizon such as the [G1 Prix] Morny and potentially York. I'm not good at making quick decisions. I've had two or three other great horses, but leading up to this race he gave me a better vibe. You're never certain, as anything can happen, but everything went well and I couldn't comprehend being beaten. If you're looking at the [G1] 2000 Guineas, good horses can win over a lot of trips and the way he behaves is very good. Whether he gets a mile or not I don't know, but he is bred for it.”

Winning rider Jim Crowley, remaining on a high plateau after the G1 Sussex S. success of Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), added, “Royal Scotsman had the best form in the book, his Coventry form has worked out well and he was unlucky that day as I was drawn one and got a bump. He still travelled very strongly today, he would be even better with a bit of cut in the ground, and it was a nice performance. If the gap had shut, I would have kicked myself for not going. He was always going nicely and, once we got inside the final two furlongs, it was all over really. He has a lot of speed and could be a horse for the [G1] Prix Morny. He is physically strong and has lots of speed. The more he learns to relax, he will be able to go further.”

Jim Hay, husband of owner Fitri Hay, continued, “That was thrilling and it's why we do it. Paul and Oliver [Cole] were as confident as you can be coming into Goodwood. This is a very tricky track and there are no shoo-ins. We love coming to Goodwood and had a lot of success here. Win, lose or draw here, you have a fantastic day. Royal Scotsman is a serious horse.”

“I am thrilled with his run on only his second start,” Tom Clover said of Al Karrar's second-place finish. “Experience has just caught him out there, as he was on and off the bridle the whole way. He hit the line really strong and galloped out. He has done everything bar win. He is a lovely horse with a lovely future. I think we have done the right thing coming here and to be second in a Richmond is pretty good. What is lovely for us is that he should improve for the experience. We have him in the [G2] Champagne S. [at Doncaster] and, whether we will go six furlongs or seven furlongs next time, I don't know. If we get a smooth run through the autumn, he is a lovely horse for next year.”

Jake Warren, advisor to Chateau's owner Isa Salman Al Khalifa, said, “He has run very well considering the tight turnaround from Newbury. He was a bit unlucky in running, he got caught on the rail and nearly had to start his race again at the halfway point. He has finished off really well. He is a lovely horse and we will try and find a nice race for him. We will look at the [G2] Gimcrack [at York] and the 2-year-old Pattern as it unfolds. Havana Golds tend to be sharp horses, he is a nice big-framed animal and one would have to think that it could be possible [to go up in trip] in time. We will see.”

Royal Scotsman is the latest of five live foals out of the dual stakes-placed Enrol (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), herself kin to Listed Golden Rose S. and Listed Boadicea Fillies' S. placegetter Enact (GB) (Kyllachy {GB). The April-foaled bay's Graded stakes-placed third dam Appointed One (Danzig) is kin to seven black-type performers headed by her multiple Group-winning full-brother Emperor Jones and G1 William Hill Futurity victor and dual Classic-placed British champion Bakharoff (The Minstrel).

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
RICHMOND S.-G2, £150,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:09.66, g/f.
1–ROYAL SCOTSMAN (GB), 128, c, 2, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Enrol (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Constitute, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Appointed One, by Danzig
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (125,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Paul & Oliver Cole; J-Jim Crowley. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $132,428. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Al Karrar (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Moghamarah (GB), by Dawn Approach (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€180,000 Ylg '21 GOAUTY). O-Raed El Youssef; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover. £32,250.
3–Chateau (Ire), 128, c, 2, Havana Gold (Ire)–Petit Trianon (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€47,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY; 90,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Select Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £16,140.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, NO. Odds: 0.83, 6.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Crispy Cat (GB), Bluelight Bay (Ire), Swift Asset (Ire), Legend Of Xanadu (GB), Shine's Ambition (Ire). Scratched: Marshman (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Cox Pair Bound for Morny

GSWs Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), both trained by Clive Cox, will clash in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville on Aug. 23, all being well. The former won the G2 Richmond S. at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on July 30 and claims two wins from three starts, while the latter broke his maiden at second asking in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot back in June. Cox is relishing the match up between two group-class colts.

“We’re very pleased with the way he’s come out of the race this week,” Cox said of his Richmond S. winner. “That was the first step and he will have an entry in the Prix Morny–we very much think that six furlongs will continue to be his trip. The G1 Middle Park S. at the end of the year is our plan at this stage and we couldn’t be more pleased with what he’s done.”

A minor injury scuppered plans for Nando Parrado to step forward in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, but the son of Kodiac is now in fine fettle 21 days out from the Morny.

Added Cox of Nando Parrado, “He worked yesterday and we were very pleased that he’s come through that work really well. I am very pleased that we’re talking about the race [the Prix Morny] for two really high-class 2-year-olds–a Coventry winner and a Richmond winner. At the moment they would both be intended runners, we’ll just have to see how it pans out. It’s just a huge thrill to be talking in the same breath about two horses of that calibre.

“Nando Parrado would definitely cope with more ease in the ground, if that was the case, but we can’t really be sure at this time of year. Supremacy will very much be in charge of his own well being in the mean time, having only run last week, but first impressions are very favourable.”

“I would say he [Nando Parrado] could have the potential to go a little further. He’s given me that impression–he’s a very strong, athletic colt. I think six furlongs is clearly agreeable after winning the Coventry as he did, but I think he has the scope and potential to go a little bit further as well.”

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