Easy Pickings For Palace Pier In the Lockinge

Frankie Dettori could afford to be at his showboating best at Newbury on Saturday, with TDN Rising Star Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in imperious mood as he gave his evergreen rider the ideal big-race thrill in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. Hot property as the 1-2 favourite following his eight-length comeback success in the Apr. 23 G2 Sandown Mile, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois hero travelled typically smoothly in the early stages despite ending up towards the rear after receiving an early bump. In the event, the normally laid-back dude could have afforded his mostly outclassed rivals even more of a headstart as he was on their case with uncharacteristic alacrity as soon as Frankie moved in the saddle approaching three out. Once his jockey had indulged in two lengthy glances behind and to his left, Palace Pier was off and away and by the two pole there was an air of the ridiculous about a renewal that so many had believed was deep and competitive. Thankfully, the filly Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) saw to it that he had to gallop out to the line but as she pulled away from the rest it was clear that she was only keeping the winner marginally occupied. At the line, there was as comfortable a 1 1/2-length margin as is possible, while the progressive and smart yardstick Top Rank (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 5 1/2 lengths away in third and clear of the main pack. “What he did between the three and the one was mindboggling,” commented Dettori, who has begun 2021 as he left off last year by taking two of the three domestic group 1s staged so far. “He usually hits a flat spot, but he just took off today and was just a bit bored in front.”

Oozing talent at two, Palace Pier had a way of making his racing look easy in a brace of outings over seven furlongs at Sandown before any fancy plans were offset by a minor tibia injury. Missing the G1 2000 Guineas as a result, he instead went for a mile handicap on the same day on Newcastle's Tapeta and did enough there and in the interim to earn a tilt at Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the St James's Palace S. Outstaying Godolphin's champion there before overcoming soft ground to upstage the G1 Coronation S. heroine Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in the Jacques le Marois, his final 3-year-old start was in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. but little went to plan in deep ground there and he could only manage third on three racing plates.

While crack milers like his own sire, the moment the gears shift is often a brief one but Palace Pier's performance on his seasonal bow at Sandown last month was of a different ilk. Ultimately undeniably impressive as a wide-margin winner there, he could not be described as push-button but this slicker display may have delayed the move to longer distances that was immediately touted for him after that race. Frankie may have lost his beloved Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), but he has a rare talent on cue again to head to his favourite meeting along with Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). “These kind of horses don't come along very often,” he said. “This is what champions can do, they make other horses look moderate and pass them like they are standing still. It's an amazing feeling and a nice surprise, as he is very deceptive–he's so lazy in the mornings so I didn't expect him to do that. He took five lengths out of the field and was in front a long way out with a headwind.”

Dettori is convinced he can do more. “He is 100% up there with the best milers I've ridden, but he's probably got to win another couple of group 1s to say he's the best,” he added. “He has low mileage and is just learning. I love the horse–he's a very happy horse and great to be around in the mornings. He saves his best for the races and mentally he's grown up and knows how to run his race now. He's a joy to ride, like a hovercraft on water and everything went so smooth.”

John Gosden said, “He relaxed well in the race and having been a little bit squeezed leaving the gate, Frankie said he got back further than he wanted. He came through very nicely and had to go, then he got a little bit lonely looking around in front having picked those others off so fast. A lot of them do get quicker with age and there's no doubt he accelerated more than Frankie expected, with the filly running a great race to be second. He hasn't been over-raced, so is on an upward curve and I think he would get a mile and a quarter as he relaxes so well.”

“With his father, if you told me I had to change his trip I would have brought him back to six for a July Cup–he had that kind of speed–but a change for this horse would mean going up two furlongs,” Gosden Sr added. “We'll see, but it's pretty obvious at this stage to go for the [June 15 G1] Queen Anne [at Royal Ascot] and think about it after that. I could see the Juddmonte International as a very possible target for him, as Royal Ascot to the Eclipse is very tight with 16 days being quite tough if they've had a hard race. Although the Juddmonte would be a strong possibility, there is a little race in France called the Prix Jacques le Marois at the same time, but getting to France is quite difficult now. He has a bundle of class and is a good character like his father. An exciting horse.”

Lady Bowthorpe's trainer William Jarvis was fully rewarded for his decision to send the runner-up into battle here and he was left pondering what damage the G2 Dahlia S. winner could do back among her own sex. “We're absolutely delighted and very proud of her,” he said. “We knew what we were taking on with Palace Pier, but she's finished five lengths clear of the third and so it was a great performance. It's funny, because when Ryan Moore finished unplaced on her in a Newmarket handicap last year we were left scratching our heads, but she got no run and Ryan said she was definitely listed-class and probably a group filly. She's special and is going back against fillies in races like the [June 16 G2] Duke of Cambridge [S. at Royal Ascot] and the [G1] Falmouth [S. at Newmarket July 9].”

Palace Pier's unraced dam Beach Frolic (GB) (Nayef) is a half to the G2 Dante S. winner Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and this stable's G2 Windsor Forest S. and G3 Musidora S. scorer Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was also third in the GI Beverly D S. She is a granddaughter of Miss d'Ouilly (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}), who is a half-sister to another Jacques le Marois winner in Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who later produced the GIII Cardinal H. winner Miss Caerleona (Fr) (Caerleon). She is in turn the dam of another former notable Gosden runner in Karen's Caper (War Chant), who took the G3 Nell Gwyn S., GIII Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup H. and GIII Eatontown S. and was also runner-up in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and the G1 Coronation S.

Miss Caerleona was also responsible for the GII Davona Dale H. winner Miss Coronado (Coronado's Quest), who was herself responsible for the stakes scorer and GI Las Virgenes S. third Arethusa (A.P. Indy). This is also the family of the triple group 1-winning 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks heroine Blue Bunting (Dynaformer) and the group 1 sprinter Comicas (Distorted Humor). Beach Frolic's 2-year-old colt Highland Frolic (Fr) (Highland Reel {Ire}) was a 320,000gns purchase by McCalmont Bloodstock at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, while she also has a yearling colt by Almanzor (Fr).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
AL SHAQAB LOCKINGE S.-G1, £350,000, Newbury, 5-15, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:40.96, g/s.
1–PALACE PIER (GB), 126, c, 4, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Beach Frolic (GB), by Nayef
2nd Dam: Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Miss d'Ouilly (Fr), by Bikala (Ire)
(600,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £198,485. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9.5f & G1SW-Fr, 8-7-0-1, $1,089,811. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lady Bowthorpe (GB), 123, m, 5, Nathaniel (Ire)–Maglietta Fina (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). (82,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Ms E L Banks; B-Scuderia Archi Romani (GB); T-William Jarvis. £75,250.
3–Top Rank (Ire), 126, h, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Countess Ferrama (GB), by Authorized (Ire). (26,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Saeed Manana; B-Wicklow Bloodstock (IRE); T-James Tate. £37,660.
Margins: 1HF, 5HF, 4 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 22.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Lord Glitters (Fr), Happy Power (Ire), Lord Campari (Ire), My Oberon (Ire), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Century Dream (Ire), Pogo (Ire), Safe Voyage (Ire). Scratched: Bless Him (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Sea the Stars Colt a New Rising Star At Newmarket

Friday's Betfair Novice S. at Newmarket looked a strong heat on paper, but Juddmonte's Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) turned the mile contest into a procession as he registered a 6 1/2-length success in the style almost demanded of a half-brother to Clarehaven's stellar Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Just over an hour after the filly that beat him at Newbury last time, Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}), had proven such a disappointment at York the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred was intent only on moving forward at a rate of knots. Always happy racing towards the front up the centre of the track under Martin Harley, the 10-11 favourite was left in control of affairs well before the two-furlong pole and hardly had to come out of second gear to set his seal on the race. Shaken up to put the result beyond doubt heading down into the “dip”, the bay was amply generous as he inflicted the heavy defeat on the well-regarded William Haggas-trained Fireworks (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), in turn a head in front of the newcomer Injazati (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Derab does hold an entry in the G1 Epsom Derby June 5, but John Gosden is not entertaining that great leap. “We will either keep him at a mile or go a mile and a quarter and look at options over those trips,” he said. “He has made big bounds, as he has always wanted to be in a hurry about life but he is doing things in the correct rhythm now.”

Second on debut over seven furlongs behind TDN Rising Star and subsequent G3 Tattersalls S. winner and G3 Craven S. runner-up La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) at Ascot on his sole juvenile start in September, Derab was 1 3/4 lengths behind Snow Lantern upped to this more suitable trip at Newbury Apr. 18 but was a different proposition this time. Ultra-professional throughout, the stoutly-bred blueblood has the world at his feet with all the indications that he will progress markedly when upped in trip. “He ran very well at Ascot first time out, then we ran into a problem in the autumn,” Gosden explained. “He came back and he was a bit fresh. We were very keen to settle him at Newbury and we were more interested in settling him than anything else. He was much more sensible today and he has run a lovely race. He has grown up a lot.”

Derab's half-sibling Enable needs little introduction, with her brilliant haul including a record-setting three G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and two renewals of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as the G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks, a G1 Eclipse S. and a GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The dam Concentric (GB) (Sadler's Wells), who was successful in the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte and runner-up in the G3 Prix de Flore at or around 10 furlongs, has also produced the useful Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) who was third in the G2 Prix de Pomone and G3 Prix Allez France, and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who was second in the G3 Musidora S. Her 2-year-old full-brother to Enable is named Lenient (GB), while she also has a 2021 full-sister to Derab.

The second dam Apogee (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) was successful in the G3 Prix de Royaumont before producing the G3 Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Apsis (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) and Dance Routine (GB) (Sadler's Wells) who took the G2 Prix de Royallieu and also the Royaumont and was runner-up in the G1 Prix de Diane. She in turn produced Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}), whose exploits included two victories in the GI Sword Dancer S. and wins in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and GI Manhattan S. as well as two second placings in the Arc. The third dam is the Epsom Oaks runner-up Bourbon Girl (GB) (Ile de Bourbon) whose best performer was the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud runner-up Daring Miss (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and who is the ancestress of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Spanish Moon (El Prado {Ire}) and his G2 Ribblesdale S.-winning full-sister Spanish Sun.

5th-Newmarket, £8,050, Novice, 5-14, 3yo, 8fT, 1:38.85, g/s.
DERAB (GB), c, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
     1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler's Wells
     2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
     3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl (GB), by Ile de Bourbon
Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $14,216. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Early Return For Stradivarius in Sagaro

   Following the exploits of stablemate Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Friday, the onus is on Clarehaven's longer-standing cult hero Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to maintain the momentum for John and Thady Gosden in Wednesday's G3 Longines Sagaro S. at Ascot. Out earlier this year with some excess weight to shed ahead of his bid for a dream fourth G1 Gold Cup at the Royal meeting, the 7-year-old will be a warm order back in his favoured arena despite his 2020 campaign tailing off with a disappointing 12th in the course-and-distance G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup in October. That uncharacteristic flop came on the back of two attempts at a mile and a half, with a narrow second to Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp in September preceding a failed Arc tilt when seventh in deep ground in that  venue's showcase.

John Gosden is keen to stress that Bjorn Nielsen's beloved chestnut will strip fitter after this reintroduction. “He's a bigger, heavier horse this year so he may well need his first race,” he said. “If he needs another race, there's the [G2] Yorkshire Cup, but we'll see. He likes Ascot, obviously, and I feel the trip is right to start him off at two miles. He's a 7-year-old and he's weighing heavier, so to that extent he may need two races before the Gold Cup but we don't know yet. Age is becoming a bit of issue–maybe less so if he was a gelding, but he's a full horse. He seems happy in himself and is his usual vociferous self, so we're looking forward to running him.”

Of the two unplaced efforts that rounded off last season, he added, “Obviously the last two races were both run in exceptionally heavy ground. He wasn't in love with it. There was no pace in the Arc, then they sprinted. He ran very well in the Prix Foy and did nothing wrong before that.”

Successful in this last year when it was transferred to Newcastle's Tapeta, Nayef Road (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has a third tilt at Stradivarius having finished runner-up in the Gold Cup and the G1 Goodwood Cup. “If Stradivarius comes back in the same form as last year, then he'll be extremely difficult to beat,” commented trainer Mark Johnston, who arguably has three stayers with which to take on the Gosden flag-bearer this year. “We've run some very good horses against Stradivarius and come second. That said, we've got a much stronger team this year and it's going to be very interesting to see. He did have a setback at the end of last season, but he seems to have got over it well and he's ready to run.”

Also on the card which acts as a sighter for certain Royal Ascot races is the G3 QIPCO British Champions Series horseracinghof.com Pavilion S., in which the G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) flexes his muscle ahead of the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Trainer Clive Cox said, “I'm delighted that it's this year and not last, with the chance to have a prep and not go to Ascot first time out. He's done really well, but this is very much his first step back and he comes to himself when it gets a bit warmer. I'm very happy we've got a chance to run on some quick ground. This is his first step back with a penalty. He's a wonderful horse and he's got such an amazing temperament for a sprinter, which is why I'm really pleased we've got a chance to have a trial race in the build-up to Royal Ascot. That is where we're looking for him to come to the boil 100%.”

Click here for the group fields.

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Kingman’s Palace Pier Dominant In the Sandown Mile

Sandown played host to the TDN Rising Star Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Friday and Clarehaven's heir apparent did not disappoint on his return in the G2 bet365 Mile. Still an unknown quantity despite wins in the G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last term, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's 4-11 favourite who signed off 2020 with a third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot shadowed Shadwell's well-regarded Khuzaam (Kitten's Joy) throughout the early stages. Left in front passing three out as that All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions S. winner started to fade, the bay was pushed out to assert for a comfortable eight-length defeat of the outsider Bless Him (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), with the G2 Challenge S. winner Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 4 1/2 lengths further behind.

John Gosden had stated beforehand that Palace Pier had yet to get on the Newmarket grass gallops this Spring, so this comeback effort can be upgraded. “It was a good performance–I was very clear he was at about 80%, but luckily nobody put it up to him today,” he said. “He enjoys this track–he won as a two-year-old here and Frankie was very happy with him. He was having a very good blow afterwards, but this has saved me going up and down the all-weather gallops at home hundreds of times so in terms of going to the [G1] Lockinge [at Newbury May 15] next this is the right place. He's a lovely horse and hopefully we can go to the Lockinge and then Royal Ascot.”

Gosden is looking at stepping Palace Pier up in trip after his immediate mile targets, with this track's G1 Eclipse S. mooted July 3. “We'll take it as we go, but it was nice to come here and the race has worked out well for him,” he added. “He'll go further in time when we want to, but for the time being we'll concentrate on this. He was a top miler last year and I'll concentrate on those right now. At some stage, we'll go a mile and a quarter with him as he's always shown me that in his work. The Eclipse is a possibility, but it's very close to Royal Ascot. It's always tight for a horse if they've had a hard-ish race, but we'll put him in and take a look.”

Palace Pier, whose sole defeat came in the QEII after he had lost a shoe, is out of the unraced Beach Frolic (GB) (Nayef) who is a half to the G2 Dante S. winner Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and this stable's G2 Windsor Forest S. and G3 Musidora S. scorer Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who was also third in the GI Beverly D S. She is a granddaughter of Miss d'Ouilly (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}), a half-sister to the Jacques le Marois heroine Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who produced the GIII Cardinal H. winner Miss Caerleona (Fr) (Caerleon). She is in turn the dam of another former Gosden luminary in Karen's Caper (War Chant), who was successful in the G3 Nell Gwyn S., GIII Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup H. and GIII Eatontown S. and also runner-up in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and G1 Coronation S. before producing the G3 UAE Two Thousand Guineas winner Kinglet (Kingmambo) and G2 Derby Italiano runner-up King's Caper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).

Miss Caerleona's other class act was the GII Davona Dale H. winner Miss Coronado (Coronado's Quest), later the dam of the stakes-winning Arethusa (A.P. Indy) who was also third in the GI Las Virgenes S. This is also the family of the triple group 1-winning 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks heroine Blue Bunting (Dynaformer) and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). Beach Frolic's 2-year-old colt by Highland Reel (Ire) was sold for 320,000gns to McCalmont Bloodstock at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, while she also has a yearling son of Almanzor (Fr).

Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 MILE-G2, £67,500, Sandown, 4-23, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:44.43, gd.
1–PALACE PIER (GB), 127, c, 4, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Beach Frolic (GB), by Nayef
2nd Dam: Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Miss d'Ouilly (Fr), by Bikala (Ire)
(600,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £38,279. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, 7-6-0-1, $809,979. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bless Him (Ire), 127, g, 7, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Happy Land (Ire), by Refuse To Bend (Ire). (65,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; 100,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT; €600,000 2yo '16 ARQMAY; 31,000gns 4yo '18 TATAHI). O-Tony Perkins & Partners; B-Knocklong House Stud (IRE); T-David Simcock. £14,513.
3–Happy Power (Ire), 130, h, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Tamarisk (Ger), by Selkirk. (625,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £7,263.
Margins: 8, 4HF, 12. Odds: 0.36, 28.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Khuzaam. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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