Away smartly from the widest draw, the 9-1 shot was kept handy by Gary Carroll and mastered the 6-5 favourite Mansa Musa (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) a furlong out en route to a convincing 2 1/4-length success with Lia Fail another 1 1/4 lengths behind in third making it a one-three for the impactful son of Invincible Spirit (Ire).

“He's only coming, this lad,” Carroll said. “Inns Of Court didn't win until the very back-end himself. Every run he's been improving and he was very professional there today. I didn't make enough use of him the last day, I should have won. It was a good run, he's very honest and hopefully he'll step forward again. He'll get seven anyway, I'm not sure about a mile as he's not a slow horse.”

Megarry (9/1) lands the Listed @BallyhaneStud Bleinheim Stakes and in really likeable style under Gary Carroll for @gavincromwell1.

What a day for trainer, saving the best until last in a brilliant across-the-card four-timer @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/TjY63wQ3zR

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 18, 2023

The winner is currently the last known foal out of Highest Praise (GB) (Acclamation {GB}), a daughter of the listed scorer Yarastar (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and granddaughter of the G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Yara (Ire) (Sri Pekan).

BLENHEIM S.-Listed, €40,000, Fairyhouse, 9-18, 2yo, 6fT, 1:16.99, yl.
1–MEGARRY (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Inns Of Court (Ire)
     1st Dam: Highest Praise (GB), by Acclamation (GB)
     2nd Dam: Yarastar (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Yara (Ire), by Sri Pekan
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (€25,000 Ylg '22 GOFSPT). O-J R Brennan & E Hughes & Kiva Cromwell; B-Highest Praise Syndicate (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell; J-Gary Carroll. €24,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0, $52,772.
2–Mansa Musa (Ire), 131, c, 2, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Sundiata (GB), by Showcasing (GB). (60,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 55,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; €49,383 RNA 2yo '23 GOFFDU). O-Team Valor International LLC & Gary Barber; B-Middlelane Farm (IRE); T-Diego Dias. €8,000.
3–Lia Fail (Ire), 126, f, 2, Inns Of Court (Ire)–Balqaa, by Invasor (Arg).
1ST BLACK TYPE. (€5,000 Ylg '22 GOAUYR). O/T-Michael Mulvany; B-Kelly Equine Services (IRE). €4,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 1.20, 12.00.
Also Ran: Rush Queen (Ire), Matter of Fact (Ire), Verified (Ire), Edwardian.

The post First Black Type Winner For Inns Of Court In The Blenheim appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The seven-year-old mare raced in the colours of another owner-breeder, George Strawbridge, for whom she won twice and was listed-placed before being sold for 170,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sale in 2020. It is a family with some smart Ascot form in the book as Illumined is a half-sister to Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), whose son Novellist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) still holds the 1m4f track record, set when he won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. in 2013.

“It's such a thrill for us,” said Laroche, who had travelled to Ascot from San Francisco with his wife Deborah. “Daithi Harvey, my good friend and bloodstock manager, picked out the mare Illumined with a little bit of my help. We loved the German blood and the distance, and Expert Eye–well they seemed to work well together today at least.”

He continued, “We're very excited because we have a Blue Point (Ire) yearling filly and a Gleneagles (Ire) colt foal, and the mare has had three February 10, 8 and 12 babies, so she's a machine.”

Illumined boards at David and Tamso Cox's Baroda Stud alongside another of Laroche's mares, Princess Yaiza (Ire), who, like Snellen, was a Gavin Cromwell trainee. She won the G2 Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend in 2018.

Laroche said, “[Illumined] is in foal to Bayside Boy (Ire). There were deals required to get to New Bay (GB)! 

“But it's very exciting: a shout out to the thrill to come here to race in England, and in Ireland. We're based in California and we love the racing there but this is very, very special.

“Princess Yaiza was probably our biggest thrill until today, if not tied, as she won at Longchamp. She has a baby and another one coming.”

Another Harvey purchase, Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}), who was placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and runner-up in both the G2 Debutante S. and G3 Park S., will join the broodmare band next year.

In his home country, Laroche, who also races under the Highland Yard banner, has horses in training with Christophe Clement. His colours have been carried to success there by the GIII Modesty H. winner Walk Close ((Tapit) among others.

The Chesham winner's name was well chosen considering her sire Expert Eye, as she takes her title from the famed Dutch ophthalmologist Herman Snellen, designer of the Snellen Chart which features ever-decreasing rows of letters and which can be found in optician stores the world over. 

Laroche added, “People were asking before the race if I had pins and needles, but that was for her last race, the first race, when we wondering if she was any good. 

“Gavin has all these two-year-olds and they are all about the same, and he said, “I don't know if they are all good or if they are all bad.' So it was a thrill just to get here and to do this, but there were less nerves this time.”

After Saturday, one thing is pretty clear: neither Cromwell nor Laroche will need glasses to see that they have a special filly on their hands. 

The post Snellen Provides Laroche With 20/20 Vision of Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“The last half furlong was a very long half furlong for me–she was looking for company and started to lean a bit, but she's a very good filly,” Carroll said. “She is a little bit weak and was getting a little lonely when she started rolling. I tried to correct her in Limerick when she went like that and lost momentum. So I was going forwards and thought, 'keep going', and thankfully I hung on.” Cromwell added, “She has been nice from the word go and is progressing. I think she's going to improve as well.”

Close! It's a second #RoyalAscot winner for @gavincromwell1 as Snellen lands the Chesham under Gary Carroll… @Ascot pic.twitter.com/LXPcfn0BoV

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 24, 2023

Richard Henry said of Pearls And Rubies, “She went to win her race and maybe got a bit lonely on her own. She has run a great race and will come on for the run. She is a sweet filly. Ryan thinks she could be very good.”

Pedigree Notes
The dam Illumined, who was a winner over 12 furlongs and was third in the Listed Foundation S. for George Strawbridge, was a 170,000gns purchase by Harvey Bloodstock at the 2020 Tatts December Mares Sale. Snellen, who becomes a landmark first black-type winner for her second-crop sire, is her first foal. She is kin to the listed scorer and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Night Tango (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) and the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), who is in turn the dam of five black-type performers headed by the four-times group 1-winning King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S. hero Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Illumined's second foal is a yearling filly by Blue Point (Ire), while she also has a colt foal by Gleneagles (Ire).

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CHESHAM S.-Listed, £100,000, Ascot, 6-24, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.36, g/f.
1–SNELLEN (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Expert Eye (GB)
1st Dam: Illumined (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Sea The Moon (Ger)
2nd Dam: Nenuphar (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Narola (Ger), by Nebos (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-L H LaRoche (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell; J-Gary Carroll. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $88,302.
2–Pearls And Rubies, 126, f, 2, No Nay Never–Diamondsandrubies (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Richard Henry & Mrs John Magnier; B-Premier Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,500.
(DH) 3–Golden Mind (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo Gold (GB)–Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £10,760.
(DH) 3–Oddyssey (GB), 131, c, 2, Ulysses (Ire)–Last Echo (Ire), by Whipper. (10,500gns Ylg '22 TADEY). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Pinnacle Thoroughbreds 3; B-Culworth Grounds Farm (GB); T-Patrick Owens. £10,760.
Margins: HD, HF, HF, HF. Odds: 12.00, 1.75, 12.00, 125.00.
Also Ran: Hot Fuss (Ire), Carolina Reaper (GB), Nemonte (Ire), Dallas Star (Fr), Warnie (Ire), Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire), Matnookh (Ire), Maymay (Fr), Content (Ire), Lightning Leo (GB), Count Palatine (Ire), La Guarida (Ire). Scratched: Quatre Bras (Ire).

The post Expert Eye’s Snellen Wins The Chesham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The one key difference 12 months on was that the owners of Flooring Porter (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) and Allaho (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) were allowed on course to celebrate in person. And celebrate they did. The huge black-and-white-bedecked entourage that accompanied the dual Stayers' Hurdle winner Flooring Porter made the most of every second of the aftermath of their tough little horse's rousing victory, prompting scenes in the winner's enclosure resembling a pitch invasion as the winning jockey Danny Mullins was carried on the owners' shoulders. 

It was hard not to share in their joy and marvel at the pillar-to-post success of the 7-year-old, who was given to his trainer Gavin Cromwell four years ago after failing to reach his reserve of €6,000 at the store sales. He has now won £462,000 in prize-money and, as his manner of victory showed, is clearly still full of running. 

What he lacks in stature – and he was easily the smallest and slightest of the 10-runner field – Flooring Porter makes up for in heart, with a running style that lays down the gauntlet to his rivals and says 'catch me if you can'. Catch him they couldn't, even though the favourite, and Flooring Porter's conqueror last time, Klassical Dream (Fr) (Dream Well {Fr}), loomed ominously when freewheeling down the hill under a motionless Paul Townend. But Danny Mullins was sitting aboard a partner with deeper reserves, and as Flooring Porter's challengers lined up behind him, he flew the final hurdle to land spring-heeled and find another gear to boost him back up the hill for home. With Klassical Dream fading out of contention, Thyme Hill (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB) ran on for second, with the 2019 winner Paisley Park (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) just a nose behind him in third. 

“For these races you have plan A to Z, but I never came out of plan A, and that hardly ever happens,” said a beaming Mullins, whose father Tony has enjoyed a share of the limelight in recent years as the trainer of Princess Zoe (Ger).

“These championship races are what it's all about. The most special thing about it today is the reaction from the owners. They weren't here last year to enjoy it and it's very special for them. It's fantastic to hear the boys enjoy it like that, and it shows it can be done with a syndicate. You don't have to be in the elite to win at Cheltenham, and that's the magic of jump racing.”

The team of four friends that make up the Flooring Porter Syndicate ended up buying the horse after spotting a Facebook advert, and they include Ned Hogarty, who owns a flooring business in Galway. He said, “It shows you don't have to be a sheikh to win a Grade 1! We came here hopeful. The rain yesterday probably didn't play to our strengths, but it worked out. We all needed this at home. It's been strange times the last couple of years and this is a morale boost.”

Hogarty added, “If anyone had told me we wouldn't have won again [since the last Festival] until now I wouldn't have believed them. The horse was due it, we were due it, the parish was due it, and the country was due it. Hopefully we can all celebrate and drink a few pints on Paddy's Day. It's memories we'll have forever.”

A key figure responsible for helping to make those memories is Cromwell, the former farrier who took Cheltenham by storm three years ago when saddling Espoir d'Allen (Fr) to win the Champion Hurdle. Sadly the 5-year-old was never seen on a racecourse again after suffering a fatal accident in training some months later. But Cromwell has returned from that tragedy with a horse whose quirks have taken some careful management but who has stamina and verve in abundance. For good measure, between Flooring Porter's two Cheltenham victories, the versatile trainer has also enjoyed a 2-year-old group victory at Royal Ascot with Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}).

“I was worried as to whether he'd get done for a turn of foot but Danny kept his cool and he knew what he was doing – he knew what he had underneath him,” said Cromwell. 

“Danny is so good with these front-runners, he seems to have a serious clock in his head. It's there for everyone to see and Flooring Porter hasn't been straightforward, he's just gone with him straight away and he's just a proper horseman.”

He added, “The crowd here is just magic. It was amazing here when Espoir d'Allen won the Champion Hurdle but we came here as an outsider and he wasn't that expected. Coming here today we had one of the fancied ones and we fancied him. It all worked out, so it's fantastic.”

Allaho All Class

It wouldn't be the Cheltenham Festival, or St Patrick's Day, without a winner for Willie Mullins but the trainer had to suffer a heart-rending reversal in the opening contest, the G1 Turners Novices' Chase, when Galopin Des Champs (Fr) (Timos {Ger}) fell at the last after a superb display of galloping and jumping which had put him into an apparently unassailable position. While he lay stricken on the landing side of the final fence, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}) galloped on past him, having to be urged up the hill by Rachael Blackmore for what had looked an unlikely victory for so much of the contest. 

With Galopin Des Champs mercifully just winded and returning sound to the unsaddling enclosure, it wasn't long before his trainer and jockey Paul Townend were back out in front, with the imperious Allaho defending his crown and leading home a one-two for Mullins in the Ryanair Chase.

“It makes you wonder why I didn't pick him last year, doesn't it?” said Townend, who has chosen Allaho's stable-mate Min (Fr) in 2021, leaving Rachael Blackmore to land the spoils. “He gallops and jumps. He's just really, really good. We took our time learning about him, and I think we've got there now. That's what he likes to do and he's built for it, look at the size of him. I'm delighted.”

Mullins, now with five winners at Cheltenham this week, said of Allaho, “He jumped from fence to fence and came down to the last as if it wasn't there, and that is a mark of a champion. I was a nervous wreck. The horse was doing everything right for Paul then coming to the last I thought 'here we go again', but he got over it and jumped it well. Paul has nerves of steel and I'm delighted he is on our side.”

The Thompson family of Cheveley Park Stud were the leading owners at last year's Festival with three winners, and two of those, Sir Gerhard (Ire) (Jeremy) and Allaho, have now backed up in 2022. For the final day, they also have a major chance in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup with A Plus Tard (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), who was second to his stable-mate Minella Indo (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}) 12 months ago and is currently favourite to go one better on Friday. 

Though the Cheveley Park Stud colours bear the patriotic red, white and blue of Britain, where the Thompsons' Flat horses are bred and trained, the late David Thompson chose to base his select National Hunt string in Ireland, and he was well rewarded for the investment he made. Cheveley Park Stud has now been represented by nine Cheltenham Festival winners.

Britain Fights Back 

Despite a fairly lacklustre performance from the British trainers at last year's Festival, this time around the honours are more even, with Ireland leading Britain by 11 winners to 10 going into the final day. Thursday's three Grade 1 contests all went to Irish stables but the remainder of the day's races fell to stables in England and Wales. 

The Harry Fry-trained Love Envoi (Ire) (Westerner {Ire}) remained unbeaten when winning the G2 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle to give jockey Jonathan Burke his first Festival victory. Dual-purpose trainer Hughie Morrison was rewarded with his first Cheltenham winner since Frenchman's Creek (GB) in 2o02 when Mouse Hamilton-Fairley's homebred Third Wind (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) held off Alaphilippe (Ire) (Morozov) in a tight finish to the G3 Pertemps Final, while Cheltenham specialist Coole Cody (Ire) (Dubai Destination) landed the G3 Craft Irish Whiskey Plate for Welsh-based Evan Williams.  

Williams's namesake, the unrelated Venetia Williams, notched her second win at this year's Festival when Chambard (Fr) (Gris De Gris {Fr}) sprang a surprise in Thursday's finale to win the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup in the hands of Lucy Turner at odds of 40/1. 

A tip of the chapeau must go to former TDN contributor-turned-Paris restaurateur Emmanuel Roussel who was absent from Cheltenham for the first time in many years but was represented on the roll of honour as co-breeder of Chambard with André Cyprès and Antoine-Audoin Maggiar. Roussel, who also named the 10-year-old, explained that Chambard translates loosely to “a noisy mess”. His victory was thus a rather fitting way to bring the curtain down on the penultimate day of the Festival, as the record crowd of 73,754 departed Prestbury Park in varying states of inebriation to regroup for one last hurrah on Gold Cup day. 

The post Porter Floors ‘Em To Remain King Of The Stayers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Quick Suzy was purchased privately by Eclipse after breaking her maiden at The Curragh on May 3, and she finished second in their colours in the G3 Fillies Sprint S. before winning the Queen Mary. On her only run since, she finished ninth in the G1 Prix Morny.

The post Quick Suzy To Miss Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

Owned by the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Quick Suzy blitzed her rivals in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot on June 16 and will be looking to emulate Campanelle (IRE) by completing the Queen Mary-Prix Morny double, which Lady Aurelia also achieved in 2016.

Quick Suzy is trained by Gavin Cromwell in Navan, Ireland. Cromwell commented, “Quick Suzy goes for the Prix Morny. She was entered in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) at the Curragh last week, but we gave her a break after Ascot and the race just came too soon after that break. Fillies have a very good record in the Prix Morny and, on top of that, Queen Mary winners have a great record in it too, so it looks the right race for her. It fits perfectly into her schedule too. Gary Carroll will ride and we're really looking forward to the race. She's in great form.”

The Richard Hannon-trained and Al Shaqab Racing-owned Armor (GB) won the Group 3 Markel Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood by 3 ¼ lengths and steps up to Group 1 company for the first time. The son of No Nay Never will be ridden by Patrick Dobbs.

The unbeaten Velocidad (GB) took out the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh on his second start. Trained by Joseph O'Brien, the 2-year-old son of Gleneagles (IRE) will be ridden by Ryan Moore for the first time.

Asymmetric (IRE) is another Group 2 winner in the field. The son of Showcasing (GB) built on his second-place finish in the Group 2 Tattersalls July Stakes at Newmarket to win the Group 2 Unibet Richmond Stakes in his latest start. Runner-up that day at Goodwood in the Unibet Richmond Stakes was Khunan (GB). The son of Twilight Son (GB) is one of two runners in the race for trainer Richard Fahey, who also saddles Group 2 Norfolk Stakes winner Perfect Power (IRE). Hollie Doyle and Christophe Soumillon are booked to ride, respectively.

The French challenge is headed by the Andre Fabre-trained Trident (FR). Impressive on debut, Trident was narrowly beaten in the Group 3 Darley Prix de Cabourg over course and distance. He will be partnered with Mickael Barzalona.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Darley Prix Morny to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at five furlongs over the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

The post Quick Suzy Goes For Prix Morny, BC Juvenile Turf Sprint Berth Sunday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trained by Gavin Cromwell, Quick Suzy was purchased privately by the American-based Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners after breaking her maiden at The Curragh on May 3. Joseph Burke, who brokered that deal, said, “She worked well at The Curragh on Tuesday. But having spoken to Gavin, [jockey] Gary Carroll and Aron Wellman–the head of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners–we figured, having given her a holiday following Royal Ascot, that we'd give her another couple of weeks and aim for the Prix Morny instead. She gets an extra pound from the colts in Deauville as well-four pounds as opposed to three pounds at The Curragh–and fillies have a very good record in the Morny. She's already group-placed in Ireland, a group winner at Royal Ascot and the joint-highest rated 2-year-old in Ireland, so it would be great to get some Group 1 form in France on her CV next.”

Quick Suzy's key end-of-season goal is the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November.

“Ultimately, her season revolves around the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar and we're working back from there,” added Burke. “This race [the Morny] fits in nicely, and we might take in the Cheveley Park then, all being well, before going to Del Mar.

“We're very lucky to have her. She's brought a lot of joy to all of us already, and we hope the second half of her season will be just as rewarding.”

The post Morny Date For Quick Suzy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trained by Gavin Cromwell, Quick Suzy was bred in Ireland out of the Marju mare Snooze. She was a $23,712 yearling purchase at the 2020 Goffs October online sale, then later purchased privately by Eclipse in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Joseph Burke.

“I told Gavin after Naas that after Ascot she'd probably be heading to America, but (Eclipse president) Aron (Wellman) said they are doing such a good job there was no reason to take her away from Gavin – which I was delighted to hear,” Burke told ATR. “After the Cheveley Park there's then five weeks until the Breeders' Cup, where she's got five weeks in between, so it fits in nicely and she'll run in the Juvenile Sprint Turf.”

Read more at attheraces.com.

The post Royal Ascot Winner Quick Suzy Penciled In For Breeders’ Cup Run appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables enjoyed success in the same race last year with Campanelle (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) but this time around had to settle for second when the front-running Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {Fr}) was overhauled in the final furlong by the filly owned by fellow American enterprise Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. 

“We wouldn't be here if it were not for the great efforts of Aron Wellman and his team at Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners,” said a delighted Mariam Zerehi, the sole representative of the ownership group who had made the trip from the U.S. to savour the moment of a winner at Royal Ascot.

She continued, “They are really great at picking quality horses and they are true horsemen. They care about what races they put the horses in and making sure they don't step them up too quickly. Aron and his team work relentlessly so we can have these types of moments, which are so elusive.” 

Zerehi, who is involved in around 30 horses with Eclipse, was making her first trip to Ascot, having missed out on the experience of watching Sharing (Speightstown) compete last year.

“We had Sharing last year in the Coronation Stakes and she placed second but none of us were able to be here to witness that so I am just happy to be here,” she said. “This is a really big moment because we are in a very different place today than we were just a year ago. I think this Royal Ascot represents a lot of hope and optimism that we are all moving in the right direction, so that's special to be a part of–it's not just an ordinary Ascot for me.”

Having undergone “extensive Covid testing” to be able to make the trip from Los Angeles, Zerehi added, “I have to say, standing here right now, it was all worth it.”

She continued, “I was a little nervous watching the filly being saddled as she was a little fresh and I was worried that she was unsettled, but I spoke with Gavin and he said 'No, she's ready to go.' And obviously he knows better than I, and he was right. 

“For Eclipse, we've been moving more into turf racing. Dirt is great and that's what the Americans do best and know best, but we've had some really good success with our turf horses in recent years and this might be another confirmation that we are going in the right direction with our selections.”

The result was also cause for celebration in County Kildare, at Oghill House Stud to be precise, where Quick Suzy was bred by a trio of Hyland brothers–Pat, Hugh and James–along with a couple of their nephews. 

It is six years since the farm celebrated the listed Windsor Castle S. victory of Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was bred at Oghill House in partnership with Chris and James McHale. There will have been widespread delight throughout the Hyland family at this latest triumph, especially as the story involves their farrier Liam O'Donovan, who bought the filly for her original owners, the Dunphy family, for whom she made her first two starts, while it was the Hylands' longtime ally Joseph Burke who recommended her to Aron Wellman.

“She was sold privately off the farm as a yearling and the man I must mention is Liam O'Donovan, as he's a brilliant judge of a horse and he bought her for the Dunphys,” said Burke. 

“Liam kept sending me videos of her when she was in pre-training and then in training, and once she won her second start at the Curragh I could then approach Aron and say, 'Look, I've known her from the start and I know all her history,' and when I asked him if he was interested he was just brilliant, he said yes straight away.”

Burke continued, “Obviously Aron knows more about these things than I do but he had no hesitation when I recommended that we keep Gary [Carroll] on board. He said, 'Book him, make sure he knows,' and that was for the last race. He was 100% behind keeping Gary on board for Ascot. Gary had so much confidence in the filly and I firmly believe there's nothing better than a guy getting up and thinking 'this is a machine, she's going to win.' And he's ridden her like that.”

Quick Suzy was making her second start in the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners silks having been runner-up in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint at Naas on her most recent outing.

Burke added, “Aron rang last night and he couldn't have been better. He just said, 'Go and enjoy the day. We've got her stakes-placed and if she wins, great, and if she doesn't we'll regroup afterwards.' And how many people say that to you really?”

In the aftermath of victory, Burke was also quick to remember one of Quick Suzy's co-breeders, the much-loved Pat Hyland, who died in February at the age of 78.

He said, “Pat loved nothing more than Royal Ascot. He dressed up at home and he watched every single bit, the fashion included, and he would have been so delighted to see her win like that today.”

The post Turf Venture Reaps Ascot Glory For Eclipse Thoroughbreds  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The Wesley Ward-trained US challenger Twilight Gleaming (9/4 fav) was expected to go close in the five-furlong contest for 2-year-old fillies, but she lacked the finishing burst of Quick Suzy (8/1) who finished best in a race that developed up the stands' side rail.

Twilight Gleaming held on for second, beaten a length and a quarter, with Cheerupsleepyjean (50/1) closing fast for third.

Cromwell, who is one of Ireland's leading Jump trainers, said: “Royal Ascot is such an occasion and to have a winner, it's fantastic.

“I was very confident Quick Suzy was going to run a big race, but where she lay with the English or the American horses, we didn't know until we came here.

“She won her maiden well, it was only an auction maiden and it wouldn't carry as much weight, but she then went to a G2 in Naas [Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes] and finished second. She showed blistering pace and we thought plenty of her.

“I'm not a known as a trainer of 2-year-olds or sprinters, so it was very hard to tell but I knew she was in great nick. This goes down to the staff at home and the big effort they have put in.

“The plan was she would remain with me until Royal Ascot and then go to America. Maybe we can twist the owners' arm and go for the Breeders' Cup with her.”

Carroll said: “Fair play to Gavin, three-mile Stayers' Hurdle to five furlongs at Ascot – he can do it. She was very good today.

“She didn't have the best prep, but to be fair he got her here spot on today. She travelled well, travelled very easy – I thought we didn't go quick enough. I knew she'd get to the line well today and would probably outstay the American horse.

“She jumped well and I thought the American horse would be going a really good gallop and that I'd be chasing, but I actually sat close to the American horse and every step of the way I was waiting, waiting, and then when I got inside the two, the American horse got maybe half a length on me and I chased her down. I just outbattled her to the line, and we actually got to the line well. She's a very good filly.

He added: “This means a lot – the season's going very well so far, but you need these big winners really to put yourself on the platform, so it's great to get it. Especially today, with the crowds – it's a long time since we've felt an atmosphere like that, and it was magical.

“If I could have extended the walkway back in, I would have – I soaked it all up and it was great. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but it was a magic race to win, with such prestige; it's what jockeys dream of.”

The post Eclipse Thoroughbreds’ Quick Suzy Runs Down Ward Trainee In Queen Mary appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post