Tag: Highfield Princess (Fr)

Newmarket: “It Will Be A Different Sort of Pressure.” Shaquille the Target in the July Cup

First there was Dettori's ban, meaning that the one missing English group 1 on his palmares was going to stay void. Then the setback to Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). Now, the persistent rain that dogged Friday's action at Newmarket's July Festival and has changed the complexion of Saturday's feature G1 Pertemps Network July Cup. Ironically, every bit of that unexpected wet spell acted further to aid the cause of Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who would have been Frankie's final ride in his last-chance saloon which is now closed for business forever.

Among all those twists and turns, the one imperturbable element has been 2023's shock sensation from Julie Camacho and Steve Brown's North Yorkshire-based stable little-known outside of the UK. What their ludicrously-talented 3-year-old colt Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) doesn't know about racing at this stage probably isn't worth labouring over, with his ability to do it any which way offering little hope for his opponents. Showing disdain for some basic universal rules when comfortably overcoming a criminally-slow start in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, he established himself as the sprint division's poster boy and this is his to lose.

“It will be a different sort of pressure, as it looks like we are going to start favourite whereas at Ascot Little Big Bear was a short-priced favourite and we went there slightly under the radar,” Brown said. “So it's different from that perspective, but you've got to deal with it and what a great position to be in–to have a favourite for a group one race. Physically, for all he will probably be a nicer horse next year, he is a big strong fella who holds condition well. We just hope he is maturing as we are going along. It has been a steady progression in the right direction with him and hopefully that will continue on Saturday.”

Camacho added, “We turned him out for three or four days and he started to get a bit fresh. He cantered on the Wednesday after Royal Ascot and he did a nice piece of work last Saturday and everything seems to be good.”

Rain In Time For Kinross…

While Friday's rain was an unwelcome sight for connections of most in this line-up, it was welcomed by Marc Chan and Ralph Beckett as they ponder a second major sprint for TDN Rising Star Kinross. Challenging Shaquille for favouritism on Friday night, last year's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint S. hero looks to have things falling into place at the eleventh hour. That cannot be said for fellow TDN Rising Star, who already had a question mark over him given how readily he was brushed aside late by Shaquille at Royal Ascot before his foot problem. Aidan O'Brien is happy to let him take his chance, but softening ground could add to his woes. “At the moment everything is going well with him. It hasn't been ideal, obviously, but we're happy enough,” he said. “He just missed five or six days last week and we won't know until he runs how much it has affected him.”

Horses For Courses...

If there is one in the field who can be called a track specialist it is Michael Dods's latest sprinting starlet Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir), who is four from five in this town including the Listed Boadicea S. and Listed Kilvington S. Upping her game last time to upset Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G2 1895 Duke of York S. in May, she will be assisted by Paul Mulrennan who is hoping for more of the same. “She wintered very well and is more like a colt–I think she weighs more than 500 kilos and has definitely got better with age,” he said. “She seems to love Newmarket and that's a big thing as the two courses there are unique and test just about everything.”

City Of Troy And Great Truth In TDN Rising Star Superlative Tussle…

Newmarket's G2 Superlative S. has always signalled the beginning of the focus on next year's 2000 Guineas and Saturday's edition is no exception as TDN Rising Stars City Of Troy (Justify) and Great Truth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) square up after their impressive debuts. While the former excelled in a Curragh maiden that Ballydoyle have turned into a springboard for their Classic prospects down the years, Godolphin's Great Truth was doing his stuff in a Leicester novice that Charlie Appleby used for last year's leading juvenile Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Aidan O'Brien was waxing lyrical about City Of Troy and his stride after his debut and said, “We've always thought he was a nice horse. This looks an ideal race for him and hopefully it will do him good long term and it gives him a good education.”

Appleby said of Great Truth, “He was very green that day and hung across to the left, but mentally and physically he's done very well since. When I say physically, he's tightened up, but mentally he galloped on Wednesday, William rode him, and he was very slick. We were second with Victory Dance last year and he didn't quite get to where we hoped he might get. But this year, with Aidan's horse, it will be tough, because he looks decent. But we like our horse. He is slick.”
Charlie Hills has a live contender in Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who may not have carried the same gravitas of the big two into his introduction at Newbury but who gave the impression he has a bright future nonetheless. “Charlie is quite bold on him and he shows up quite well in the mornings,” Teme Valley's racing manager Richard Ryan said. “We're hopeful progress can continue to be made, but it is a hell of a race.”

Best Of The Rest…

Ascot's Saturday card sees the G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile, where Shadwell's Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}) looks to build on his solid comeback fourth in Newmarket's G3 Criterion S. at the start of the month. The William Haggas-trained Listed Spring Trophy winner was coming back off a 420-day absence in that seven-furlong contest and has the easing ground to suit, as does the 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who could make it a big day for Marc Chan and Ralph Beckett. The nationwide rain was also very welcome for another Haggas bigwig in Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) ahead of York's G3 Silver Cup.

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Dark Angel’s Khaadem Upsets The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee

There are very few, if any, riders able to navigate Royal Ascot's straight course like Jamie Spencer and he used every bit of his mix of talent, guile and experience to steer the Charlie Hills-trained 80-1 shot Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) to glory in Saturday's feature G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. Like sweet medicine for these old campaigners who seem to have lost their way, the jockey who had partnered a 50-1 winner up the same strip on Thursday could be spotted some way out getting a rare tune out of Jim and Fitri Hay's flagbearer who had unshipped him behind the stalls and who had failed to come out of them in last year's G1 King's Stand S.

Relishing the hold-up tactics, last year's G2 King George V S. winner cut through the pack to overhaul Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) close home and had a neck to spare over Cheveley Park Stud's mare where it counted. There was a further 1 1/4 lengths back to the 11-4 favourite Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was having her second group 1 start and was achieving her second placing of the week. Like her, the Australian raider Cannonball (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}) was also coming back after the King's Stand but lost Danny Tudhope in the stalls.

“It's just amazing that we've got to where we have now at his age, but I have always had massive faith in this horse and that's why I've kept him for so long,” Charlie Hills said of the former Shadwell representative. “He won a group 2 last year over five, but this year I wanted to try and race him properly again and drop him in to make sure we got the six furlongs well. He is a high-energised horse who has just taken time to come to himself. Jamie Insole rides him out every morning and there has been a great team effort with this horse through his career. It really is the icing on the cake today.”

 

It is a challenge to summarise the story of Khaadem, who started out in the royal blue and white and won Goodwood's prestigious Stewards' Cup as a 3-year-old before finishing fourth in this and the G1 July Cup the following season. One win in eight in 2021 meant he was let go by Shadwell and was reinvented as a five-furlong performer when bagging Newmarket's G3 Palace House S. and the King George back at Goodwood before another spell in the doldrums. After an uninspiring period in Meydan, he was back in Britain to warm up for this with a third in Salisbury's Listed Cathedral S. last month but had still offered little evidence that such a late career breakthrough was on the cards.

Reserved at the back of the six-strong group racing up the centre led by The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), at halfway Khaadem was about to unleash his full ability getting the Spencer treatment for the first time. Spencer just waits and waits up the straight course here and being the last to be asked a question was the key as the eventual winner was willing to give his all with Sacred his final target. Highfield Princess was forced to do her own work towards the stands' rail and gave another highly creditable display as she dominated that side.

“I felt no pressure,” Spencer said. “I followed Frankie and Tom and could see Tom was going well at halfway. So, just like in a cycling race, you let him do the work for you and you hope that when you pull out you have a little bit to fire. It's difficult for me to put into words what Jim and Fitri have been like as friends to me for a long time. Getting on the horses in group ones is the hardest part, but it's a fantastic day and I'm going to enjoy it.”

Sacred's trainer William Haggas said, “It is mixed emotions. I am thrilled with the way she has run, but gutted that she has got caught. She got left a bit in front, that was the problem. She has run a great race and I am very proud of her.” Jason Hart said of Highfield Princess, “I don't know how many times we have run against Khaadem, but every time we have beaten him. Maybe it is down to different track position and they were always up on me on the other side. I felt her battle for me all the way to the line and she has run her race.”

Pedigree Notes
By one of Royal Ascot's sire stars, Khaadem is out of White Daffodil whose prior best was Dark Angel's Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy winner and G2 Norfolk S. and G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Log Out Island (Ire). She is kin to three black-type performers headed by the Listed Carnarvon S. and Listed Prix Saraca winner Lady Links (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), who is also the dam of the Listed Oh So Sharp S. winner Selinka (GB) (Selkirk) who in turn produced the G3 Curragh S. and G3 Mercury S. winner Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and the Limestone S. scorer Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}). From the family of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Bold Edge (GB) (Beveled), White Daffodil's 3-year-old full-brother to Khaadem, Themainprotagonist (Ire), is a winner for this yard, while she also has a yearling filly again by Dark Angel.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE S.-G1, £1,000,000, Ascot, 6-24, 4yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.42, g/f.
1–KHAADEM (IRE), 131, g, 7, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
2nd Dam: Sparky's Song (GB), by Electric (GB)
3rd Dam: Daring Ditty (GB), by Daring March (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (750,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jamie Spencer. £567,100. Lifetime Record: SP-UAE, 30-8-2-4, $1,412,909. *Full to Log Out Island (Ire), SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire & SP-Fr, $250,585. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sacred (GB), 128, m, 5, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Sacre Caroline, by Blame. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £215,000.
3–Highfield Princess (Fr), 128, m, 6, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £107,600.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 80.00, 9.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Artorius (Aus), The Astrologist (Aus), Al Suhail (GB), Kinross (GB), Coeur de Pierre (Fr), Run To Freedom (GB), Wellington (Aus), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Art Power (Ire), Big Invasion, Sandrine (GB), Rohaan (Ire).

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Royal Ascot: “We Know He Is Good Enough.” Artorius Back for Jubilee Burn-Up

Royal Ascot 2023 winds up on Saturday with the centrepiece the meeting's now-familiar international dash, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. These are some of the fastest equine dragsters on the planet, with the 1:11.05 six-furlong course record of Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) potentially under threat as the high pressure continues to build over Berkshire. Australia's Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) returns a year older and more mature than when a close third 12 months ago as he covered the final three furlongs faster than any. Hong Kong's Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) gets the dual benefit of an overseas holiday in the English sun and some time away from his nemesis Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}). He's also got Ryan Moore, which can't be bad.

Sam Freedman is not feeling the same pressure with the current favourite Artorius as 12 months ago.

“He is a lot shorter in the market and there is a bit more expectation, but last year it was the unknown and whether he was going to measure up–this year we know he is good enough,” he explained. “I am not so concerned about the opposition, but more where he will end up and where he will get to in the run. I am confident taking on any of the sprinters in the world, but it is a case of getting the right transit and a bit of luck.”

US interest comes in the form of the Christophe Clement-trained Big Invasion (Declaration Of War) on a big day for Dean and Patti Reeves who had a share of the Albany success of Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) on Friday. He faces a stark new challenge here, but looked the kind of strong closer in the GI Jaipur that will enjoy this stiff six. English queen Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is back on the track four days after her gallant effort in the G1 King's Stand S., where she was definitely compromised by Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) who due to his drift looked a more worthy winner than he actually was. The good news for fans of John Quinn's triple group 1 winner is that she is not the type to let such an injustice fester and the vibe from her accomplished trainer straight after was that the experience will even bring her to a peak.

“We left her down all week and looked at her on Thursday morning and she seems fine, so we're quite happy to roll the dice,” her Malton-based trainer said. “Plenty of horses have run well in both races, so it's doable. She seems bright and she's no travelling to do, which is important.”

Marc Chan's G1 British Champions Sprint S. hero Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will have to travel faster than he's ever done, something that won't be a problem for the dual Wokingham winner Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) who finally gets his crack at the meeting's big one on the fast ground he loves. Based on his times when taking his second renewal of the day's big handicap, he would have been in the mix in this especially as he was carrying seven pounds more than the Platinum Jubilee winner Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and clocked a final three furlongs 2/10 second faster than Artorius.

With the ground quickening with each passing day, Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. could be robbed of its star turn as connections of Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) revealed they will be checking out the lay of the land ahead of the mile-and-a-half test. Trainer Owen Burrows has avoided this kind of surface since the debut of Shadwell's G1 Coronation Cup winner and would welcome some storms in Berkshire. “This was the obvious race for him, our only slight worry is the ground being a bit quick for him, so I think we'll walk the track at midday on Saturday and make sure we're happy with it,” he said of the 6-year-old who was so impressive in last month's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. “He's won on a range of grounds, but I know speaking to Sheikha Hissa after he won at Sandown that Jim [Crowley] had mentioned to her that he's so much better on good ground and we want to look after him this year–we won't risk him on fast ground.”

George Strawbridge's talented Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is hardly the biggest fan of fast ground either, but she handled something near this when accounting for Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton S. at York last month. Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was on a quick surface when landing the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. over the course and distance when last seen and Willie Muir is relishing the end of the long wait. “As I've said all the way through, this is hopefully a prep race for the King George and will put the edge on him,” he said. “I've got no doubt his ability is all still there, but he's been off the course for a long time and we just want to get through this race and move on. As long as he goes through the race nice and comes home nice, we're laughing.”

Opening the card is the seven-furlong Listed Chesham S., where Ballydoyle's strong collection of juveniles is represented by the Navan scorer Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never) and the eye-catching Leopardstown third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). In a renewal dominated by Irish-trained fillies, others to note are Lindsay Laroche's Limerick winner Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and The Curragh scorer Nemonte (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) who is another to represent Reeves Thoroughbred Racing owned in partnership with Steven Rocco.

Shadwell's TDN Rising Star Enfjaar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ballydoyle's proven The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Juddmonte's Covey (GB) (Frankel {GB}) seem the trio to focus on in the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S., with the latter unusually impressive in the always-competitive Silver Bowl H. at Haydock last month. “He's a very exciting horse and we look forward to seeing him out again,” Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said. “He looks to have plenty of pace for seven furlongs and he gets a mile, so the stiff seven in Ascot should be fine for him.”

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Tasleet’s TDN Rising Star Bradsell Wins The King’s Stand

Bouncing back to the form which saw him win last year's G2 Coventry S., Victorious Racing's TDN Rising Star Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}–Russian Punch {GB}, by Archipenko) survived an inquiry to capture the G1 King's Stand S. to reward Archie Watson's supplementary entry. Always travelling strongly for Hollie Doyle tracking the 7-4 favourite Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) throughout, the 14-1 shot mastered that mare inside the final furlong en route to a length verdict. There was significant interference for the stewards to analyse, as the winner drifted across the runner-up in the closing stages, but the 3-year-old's authority at the line ultimately proved decisive. The 50-1 shot Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) was 1 3/4 lengths away in third. The King's Stand is a “Win And You're In' GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint qualifying race.

“Well done to Archie for supplementing him and stepping him back in trip, which he's really relished today,” Doyle said. “All credit to Mick Murphy, who rides him every day because he's really turned a corner in the last few weeks. You can tell. The way he travelled into it was unbelievable and he quickened up nicely.”

Having beaten Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) in a star-studded Coventry, Bradsell's career went briefly South as he injured himself when fourth in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh and he many have needed his comeback when third in the G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial S. here in April. Beaten 9 1/4 lengths by the Phoenix hero Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) when third again in Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane S., this was his first try at five and the early signs showed why connections had come to that decision.

Whereas Jason Hart was moving on the eventual runner-up two out, Hollie still sat motionless as they pulled away from the rest up the centre with the speed dying out on both wings. Soon in command, Bradsell drifted left to intimidate Highfield Princess and while there was definite interference, the officials saw enough to let Archie Watson's colt keep the race and banish memories of his heartbreaking loss of the 2021 G1 Commonwealth Cup with Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the stewards' room.

“When Dragon Symbol had the race taken away, it was terrible and I know we're seen as a big yard, but to be winning a Group 1 here is the best thing on the planet,” the trainer said. “There was dread when that bing-bong happened, especially having just been chinned in the Coventry, but it's amazing and I'm so pleased for everyone involved. This horse was like a bull in a china shop over the winter and Michael Murphy had to put up with a lot. He had to trot for months and Michael does a fantastic job with him, day in, day out.”

“We just felt this year he was showing a lot more speed in his races and not getting home over six,” Watson added. “I thought we'd get a proper tow into the race today and I didn't want to sound arrogant, but nothing could take us off the bridle until deep into the race and it was kind of what we really felt with him. I thought he showed up best of the horses in the Commonwealth Trial and got a bit tired late, but I knew it couldn't have been tiredness in the Sandy Lane so it was an easy decision to pull back to five. I imagine the Nunthorpe will be the plan.”

John Quinn is considering coming back on Saturday for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. “Jason thought she was getting going again and he's certainly got a case,” he said. “The only thing that's holding us back is–and I don't make excuses, whatever the result is, well done to whoever–when you can run her and run her, she's better. If she ran well today, Saturday was always right in mind. We are leaving her down tonight and I'll go and have a look at her–if she's okay, she will run.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Bradsell's Listed Radley S.-winning dam Russian Punch, whose 2-year-old colt Tribal Rhythm (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) was a £150,000 purchase by Manor House Farm at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. From the extended family of the G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Run To Jenny (Ire) (Runnett {GB}), her 2022 foal by Twilight Son (GB) unfortunately died.

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING'S STAND S.-G1, £627,500, Ascot, 6-20, 3yo/up, 5fT, 1:00.91, gd.
1–BRADSELL (GB), 127, c, 3, by Tasleet (GB)
1st Dam: Russian Punch (GB) (SW-Eng), by Archipenko
2nd Dam: Punch Drunk (GB), by Beat Hollow (GB)
3rd Dam: Bebe De Cham (GB), by Tragic Role
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. (12,000gns Ylg '21 TATSOM; £47,000 2yo '22 GOFTY). O-Victorious Racing; B-Mrs D O'Brien (GB); T-Archie Watson; J-Hollie Doyle. £355,855. Lifetime Record: 6-3-0-2, $612,660. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Highfield Princess (Fr), 130, m, 6, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £134,913.
3–Annaf (Ire), 133, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Shimah, by Storm Cat. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (16,000gns 2yo '21 TATAHI). O-Fosnic Racing; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Michael Appleby. £67,519.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 14.00, 1.75, 50.00.
Also Ran: Twilight Calls (GB), Equilateral (GB), Desert Cop (GB), Marshman (GB), Mitbaahy (Ire), Existent (GB), Raasel (GB), Coolangatta (Aus), Vadream (GB), Mooneista (Ire), Happy Romance (Ire), Dramatised (Ire), Twilight Gleaming (Ire), Cannonball (Aus). Scratched: Chipstead (GB), Manaccan (GB).

 

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