Tag: Inspiral (GB)

Inspiral On Target For Falmouth, As Homeless Songs Stays Home

At the latest confirmation stage 11 fillies, including undefeated juvenile champion and G1 Coronation S. heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), will contest the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. on July 8. The Cheveley Park Stud homebred's rider has not been revealed by John and Thady Gosden, as the former Clarehaven stable jockey Frankie Dettori is on “sabbatical”.

The elder Gosden was at Sandown to saddle Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who was a narrow second in the G1 Coral-Eclipse, an said, “Sabbatical was a very carefully chosen word.

“I'm absolutely over the moon with what Frankie is doing, he's going to Germany [on Sunday], he's going to ride a lot for Mark Johnston at Newmarket next week because Joe [Fanning] has hurt his arm and then he's off to Belmont [next weekend], so he's doing exactly what I wanted to see.

“I'm very happy with it and he and I will be back together quite sensibly when we've passed through this.

“He knows as well as I do that you've got to be riding and not have any distractions. We've spoken again and we're very close friends, but I'm not going to say who is going to ride [Inspiral]–I've got to speak to the owners.”

The Italian has been aboard for four of the five 2021 juvenile filly champion's victories. Rob Havlin rode her in her winning debut at Newmarket last July.

One filly who will not take part in the Falmouth is the Dermot Weld-trained Moyglare Stud homebred Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas in scintillating fashion in May. Some of the fellow sophomore fillies that have stood their ground include G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas second Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), and a trio from Aidan O'Brien, among them Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio). Among the older brigade is the multiple Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), Cheveley Park's G2 bet365 Mile heroine Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), and French raider Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G2 Prix du Muguet in early May.

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Frankel’s Inspiral Scintillating In The Coronation

Lesser mortals than Frankie Dettori would had been in danger of imploding with his June hex, so it was with a large measure of relief that Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) timed her dramatic reintroduction perfectly for Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot. It is clear after this emphatic display that her absence from the 1000 Guineas was a big miss, but the Gosdens were right to wait out the cold Spring and choose an English summer's afternoon that was as glorious as is as gets to present her in full bloom. Heavily-supported into 15-8 favouritism despite conceding race-fitness to all rivals, the homebred daughter of the 2012 Coronation runner-up Starscope (GB) (Selkirk) was not letting Frankie off lightly as she briefly increased the tension by breaking sluggishly and getting behind. Luckily, the tardiness was not of the Emily Upjohn variety and after some early freshness she came on strong as she had in the May Hill and Fillies' Mile to scythe through the field and surge to a 4 3/4-length defeat of Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) and the short-headed Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). “When she fell out of the stalls, I thought 'here we go again' but she has put some good fillies to bed in great style,” her rider said. “It has been a very difficult week–tough, everyone at Clarehaven has been a bit down, but racing is like that and this is good for the team.”

When Royal Ascot comes around, it is generally the case that the contenders for the major events are already well into their stride and up into that hardened state that can only be achieved with racing experience. Like Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on Thursday, Inspiral was forced to enter the heat of competition with just homework as a foundation and there was an air of vulnerability surrounding her that would have been unthinkable last term as she toyed with her peers at Newmarket and Doncaster. Her poise and demeanour in the parade ring said otherwise, however, and the market was saying that the Spring's great mystery was about to be stripped away.

As soon as the gates opened, it was as if the realisation that she was racing again took a second to dawn on her and by that time more than half the field were into their business with the 200-1 outsider Rolling the Dice (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) penning her in towards the back. On the home turn, Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) who had not gone as fast on the front end as had been expected, had a yawning seven-length advantage over the favourite and with just two behind there Frankie looked in trouble again. Applying one smack with the whip approaching two out, he got a ruthless response from Inspiral whose gear change was almost audible as she swooped on Discoveries before swamping Spendarella a furlong later. All anxieties subdued there, her devouring stride and undiminished appetite for domination took care of the rest. Her last two splits were 11.27 and 11.62 and her final three furlongs were completed in a rapid 35.01, much faster than Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) managed in the G1 Commonwealth Cup.

“It took a long time for Inspiral to come to hand and John gave her the time she needed, then in her last couple of works she told us she was good to go,” Dettori said after steering his 77th Royal Ascot winner and one of his most welcome. “It was a question mark if she had trained on–she had pleased us, but we were still unsure. It didn't work out on Lord North, things didn't go right for Stradivarius, we were touched off in the Britannia and the colt [Reach For the Moon] was odds-on. I had the outsider in front of me and I had to avoid her, but I took the chance with the split and you need the horse to do that. She really took off, to the point that I was able to enjoy the last 50 yards for once!”

John and Thady Gosden were getting off the mark for the week and Gosden Sr said, “There was an element of relief at the furlong pole and surprise at the line. I asked Frankie coming in and he said we could go a mile and a quarter with her. Frankie didn't over-complicate, which he did yesterday but that's over, it's the past and we move on. You have races like the Nassau at Goodwood or you could go for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. She will meet the older horses now, but she does get weight from them which helps.”

Graham Motion, who had finished second in the race with Sharing (Speightstown) behind another Dettori-partnered seasonal debutante in Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in this two years ago, was delighted with the performance of Spendarella. “She ran great–I could not be more proud of her,” he said. “William [Buick] had her in the perfect spot, she was very brave to hang on for second I thought. The winner's very good. She'll go back to the States now. I don't come over here just for the hell of it. We've run second a couple of times now, so I feel like I know what it takes. We don't have many opportunities in the States, which is kind of why this race made sense, this early in the season, and I think she's really a miler so we didn't miss out on much in the States.”

There was to be no family treble for Discoveries, who just held on from Tenebrism (Caravaggio) to manage a placing in the race her full-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) won in similar style to Inspiral in 2018 and in which her aforementioned half-sibling Alpine Star followed suit in 2020, but Jessie Harrington was typically upbeat. “I am absolutely thrilled with Discoveries. She reversed the form from the 1000 Guineas and ran a great race,” she said. “The winner is obviously a very special filly, but I am delighted with our filly.”

As well as placing in this, Starscope was also second in the 1000 Guineas and retired as one of her Stud's more promising broodmares. Responsible for four winning foals so far, they also include the Listed Cocked Hat S. third Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}) while her fifth is a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr). The second dam Moon Goddess (GB) (Rainbow Quest) also produced the Listed Rosemary S. winner Solar Magic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and is a daughter of the Listed Sweet Solera S. winner Mystic Goddess (Storm Bird). Also second in the G3 Queen Mary S. here, she threw the leading sire Medicean (GB) (Machiavellian) whose victories included the G1 Eclipse S., G1 Lockinge S. and G2 Queen Anne S. This is also the family of the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Mondreise (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

Friday, Ascot, Britain
CORONATION S.-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 6-17, 3yo, f, 7f 213yT, 1:39.20, g/f.
1–INSPIRAL (GB), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Starscope (GB) (MG1SP-Eng, $251,626), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Moon Goddess (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Mystic Goddess, by Storm Bird
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur, 5-5-0-0, $862,797. *1/2 to Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spendarella, 128, f, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. ($220,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Gainesway Farm; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (NY); T-Graham Motion. £107,500.
3–Discoveries (Ire), 128, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-The Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £53,800.
Margins: 4 3/4, NO, NO. Odds: 1.88, 9.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Tenebrism, Cachet (Ire), Honey Girl (GB), Sandrine (GB), Pizza Bianca, Mangoustine (Fr), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), Grande Dame (GB), Rolling The Dice (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Stars Out For Friday At Royal Ascot

It has taken over a month longer than expected, but Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) finally gets racing again on Friday as she bids to pick up the thread of her flawless 2-year-old campaign in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation S. While her achievements in winning the G2 May Hill S. and G1 Fillies' Mile seemed laudable enough at the time, subsequent events have unfolded to display them in even better light particularly as they were garnered during her formative phase. As the Fillies' Mile and May Hill runner-up Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) chased home the Fillies' Mile third and 'TDN Rising Star' Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in the 1000 Guineas, the Gosdens' unbeaten filly was at Clarehaven waiting to fully bloom. Now that “Flaming June” is here with the weather to accompany it, she is here in glorious, vibrant colour with the world for now still at her feet.

 

Careful Tending

It was once said by Jim Joel that the late Sir Henry Cecil was “a man with green fingers for horses”, and it is that gentle and nurturing approach that has been adopted by John Gosden as patience was called for throughout recent weeks. “Inspiral was very slow coming to hand this year–it can happen to some fillies hormonally in the Spring,” he told QIPCO British Champions Series. “She had a tough Spring. You don't want to be forcing them and she was like a little bud that stayed tight, but we are very hopeful we'll get her there in good order. We are beginning to see the filly of last year again, so hopefully she'll put in a big performance. It will be great to have her back and her form from last year has looked great this year.”

 

Established Prestige

Highclere Thoroughbred's landmark Classic winner Cachet is undeniably at the forefront and the fact that she was just undone by Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp a fortnight after her Newmarket exploits only serves to enhance her reputation. She did not go fast enough there and James Doyle will be keen to revive the aggressive tactics that worked so emphatically at her beloved Newmarket from his draw in nine. That should set up a tactically straightforward affair, with her old rival Prosperous Voyage also sure to go forward from stall 12 to ensure a hot pace. With Inspiral absent from the Guineas, Cachet has to prove that she owns the crown and it was not merely leased but trainer George Boughey the filly with the admirable work ethic to shine again. “I think her work has stepped forward again and she looks stronger,” he told QIPCO British Champions Series. “She was coming back at the end at Longchamp and I slightly blame myself. We were drawn wide and I didn't want to blow her in front, so told James to crawl round if he could and turn it into a sprint. I'm very confident she stays a mile well and so we'll possibly look to make plenty of use of her. The weather looks set fair for fast ground, which her best form is on.”

 

A Diverse Cast

Under the Brit A-listers Inspiral and Cachet, there are key protagonists from France, Ireland and the States in what constitutes a fully stocked flowerbed for the mile championship for the 3-year-old fillies. Next to each other in seven and eight are the US duo Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) and, with their contrasting racing styles, it will be fascinating to see where they are positioned by Jose Ortiz and William Buick respectively. Spenderella likes to force it, as she proved when winning the GII Appalachian S. at Keeneland Apr. 9, while Pizza Bianca uses her power late. Spenderella's trainer Graham Motion told QIPCO British Champions Series, “We feel she really belongs. I don't want to compare her with the other fillies I have brought, because they were really good fillies in their own right. She is obviously less-campaigned than they were and she hasn't run against the likes of these horses, but she really hasn't done anything wrong.” A fast pace will also set it up for 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio), the daughter of the 2011 Coronation heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who could prove that her eighth in the Guineas was all wrong.

 

Celebrating The Commonwealth

Tenebrism would have been a major player in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, which looks a wide-open affair as it enters its eighth year. Now firmly fixed in the Royal Ascot schedule and the international racing calendar, the only question is “why did it take so long to be established?” Last year's G2 Norfolk S. winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), who went on to capture the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S., is back in his comfort zone after a valiant try at the 2000 Guineas and there are no weak spots where he is concerned over this stiff six. It is notable that in Newbury's seven-furlong G3 Greenham S. Apr. 16, he readily beat Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) who has since taken off and almost won Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S. El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) is a genuine contender, with his winning streak culminating in Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane S. May 21 where he had several of these behind. Shadwell's 'TDN Rising Star' Ehraz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) gives the impression he is building towards something special, while Ger Lyons is hoping that his luckless streak with raiders here can come to an end via Juddmonte's talented G3 Round Tower S. winner Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}).

 

An Albany To Savour

Friday's card gets underway with a fascinating G3 Albany S., where a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Godolphin's Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Amo Racing's Queen Olly (Ire) (No Nay Never) take on Ballydoyle's May 15 G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. scorer Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never). Mawj, a half-sister to Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), was a scarcely-believable 4 3/4-length debut winner from a subsequent scorer at Newmarket May 14 given her pedigree and normal progress will make her hard to beat. Queen Olly also impressed at York May 12 and looks to give Amo Racing that first Royal Ascot winner. In the G2 King Edward VII S., Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) represents the Derby form and he was an admirable fifth in Epsom's June 4 Blue Riband, especially as he probably raced too hard early and paid for it in the straight.

 

Diane Attracts 18

Ensuring there was no repeat of the Prix du Jockey Club double-draw farce, an independent bailiff was on hand to oversee Thursday morning's presentation for the 173rd edition of Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Proceedings concluded without hitch, with the overnight pre-confirmations all standing their ground and a final field of 18 is set to head postward for Sunday's €1-million 10 1/2-furlong Classic, turfdom's very own Competition of Elegance. Imad Al Sagar's Oaks third and 'TDN Rising Star' Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) fared well in stall two, to the outside of Juddmonte's G2 Prix Greffulhe runner-up Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on the fence. Last term's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine and this year's 1000 Guineas fourth Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was also drawn favourably in five, while the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third, fourth and fifth Times Square (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Daisy Maisy (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) are worse off in stall nine, 17 and 11, respectively. Last month's G1 Prix Saint-Alary second and third, Place du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Queen Trezy (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), are drawn alongside each other in stalls eight and seven while Ballydoyle's Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been allocated post 16.

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Ringside At Royal Ascot On Thursday

If Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) could talk, and by now it's almost as if he can, he would probably sound like Ali as he approaches his own version of the legendary “Rumble In the Jungle” at an Ascot with a suitably high reading on the thermometor. “I'm gonna dance!” he would shout. “There's nothing to be scared of.” Whether he's been busy handcuffing lightning or chopping down trees ahead of his great hour fighting to regain his title in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup only connections know, but his preparation has apparently been carefully masterminded to deal with the challenge. And it is a challenge, of every nerve and sinew in his perfectly biomechanically-engineered body, a body that has withstood over 60 miles of racing and thousands of miles of training gallops. If that isn't remarkable enough, his mental fortitude is. He has an unflinching desire to carry the fight into his veteran stage and gain that oh-so-hard-to-get fourth Gold Cup. There is nothing like the Royal meeting's monument, so revered in past times and so needlessly neglected for a spell in the later part of the last century. It is back where it belongs as the showcase of the week, thanks largely to a truly great racing character like Stradivarius.

 

Gosden's Corner

John Gosden was also keen to use a boxing analogy as he held court to the press in the build-up. “He's an old pro now, he goes in the ring, does what he has to do and comes home,” he said. “His regime [is] a little bit mixed up, but don't go trying to make anything tougher or harder for him–that does not go down very well at all. He was probably in his prime at five maybe into six, but at eight you have to face the fact that it's like a boxer getting back in the ring too late in his career sometimes. He's up for it and the plan was always to try to run at Ascot and Goodwood and we're sticking to the plan as long as he's with us and he is at the moment.”

 

The Contender

If 2021 was Stradivarius's version of rope-a-dope, Thursday could see him throw those combinations that have set him apart from the 210 opponents he has mastered down the years. Every great bout needs a significant opponent and with Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) almost certainly out of the equation, that is Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Half the Nielsen runner's age and as vibrant and menacing as it gets, he hails from a Ballydoyle stable that specialises in fostering the power of its heavyweights. He is the Foreman or Frazier, intent on destruction from the front coming off a 14-length win in Leopardstown's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. May 13. Surging to the fore in Navan's Listed Vintage Crop S. Apr. 23, the chestnut who sports the Moyglare silks has one problem as he enters Stradivarius's back garden. His three visits to England have resulted in no-shows in the 2020 G3 Zetland S. and Listed Lingfield Derby Trial last May and a panic in the stalls before this meeting's G2 Queen's Vase which injured him. As Foreman was lost in Zaire, will it be the case that Kyprios's strength is diminished by unfamiliar terrain?

 

In Battaash's Shadow

Kicking off the action is the G2 Norfolk S., where Ballydoyle are again prominent with the super-charged The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). His full-brother Battaash (Ire), so dominant in deepest Sussex and virtually unbeatable elsewhere, took four goes to win here and was successful only once in five appearances at Royal Ascot. Aidan O'Brien has talked about keeping a lid on the grey ahead of this examination and while he has hardly been electric at Tipperary and Naas, it may be that he is about to cut loose.

 

Precedent Set For Walbank

Tuesday saw Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) convert the currency gained from a wide-margin prep win at York into success in the prestigious G2 Coventry S. and Amo Racing and Omnihorse Racing's fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Star Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) bids to do the same in the Norfolk after scoring by seven lengths on the Knavesmire May 22. The Coventry was robbed of the high-class Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who had beaten Walbank over this course and distance May 7, but Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) did the form a great service having been fourth on that occasion behind the talented duo and another of this race's protagonists in Redemption Time (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}). The latter represents Dalham Hall Stud's first-season sire, while Coolmore's Sioux Nation has both Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Apr. 27 Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions S. winner Bakeel (GB) and Brian Goodyear's six-length Apr. 23 Doncaster maiden scorer Brave Nation (Ire) to fly his flag.

 

Within Reach

As far as the Royalists are concerned, the best is saved for second last on Thursday with The Queen's Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) set to go off very short in the penultimate G3 Hampton Court S. Frankie's Royal Ascot has been one to forget so far and if Stradivarius can turn things around at 4:20p he will be perfectly teed up for this grand climax. Off the board on Wednesday, Jane Chapple-Hyam looks to provide the sternest opposition with Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), whose second in the G3 Craven S. Apr. 13 was followed by a nightmare trip in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp May 15, where the combination of a wide draw and over-racing put paid to any chance.

“I'm not afraid to wreck the Queen's Platinum Jubilee–it will be 'off with her head' if I do,” she joked. “It is an interesting race, as clearly the Queen's horse is the favourite and Frankie Dettori and John Gosden have been very bold about that. I think that is their banker and many people's banker of the week. When Claymore was second in the Craven, the third horse Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) was subsequently second in the [G1] Derby and people are forgetting that. I think he has got a bit of a squeak.”

 

The Road Most Taken

The G2 Ribblesdale S. unfortunately has no Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), but in Sunderland Holding's Sea Silk Road (GB) it has another daughter of the Gilltown Stud giant who could yet make waves. There is little in the form of her narrow success in Goodwood's May 20 Listed Height of Fashion S. that suggests she is worthy of her cramped odds, but of course we are talking about a lightly-raced William Haggas-trained filly and the trend of late has been for punters to follow blind. Zhang Yuesheng's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has an experience edge and Jessie Harrington has been waiting patiently since her second in Navan's Listed Salsabil S. over a mile and a quarter on Apr. 23.

 

Songs Stays At Home

As expected, Moyglare Stud's brilliant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was not confirmed  for Friday's G1 Coronation S. with the hot and dry forecast remaining in place until at least Saturday. Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will face 11 rivals, including the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}).

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