Westover Camp Aiming For Coronation Cup

Juddmonte's Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran a strong second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, will make his return in the June 2 G1 Coronation Cup, according to trainer Ralph Beckett.

Successful in the G3 Classic Trial at Sandown last April prior to a third in the G1 Derby at Epsom, the bay stormed to a seven-length victory in the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh in late June. Leading for part of the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., he failed to land a blow when fifth to Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and was sixth in very soft ground in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in October. Epsom's Coronation Cup will be his second run this term.

“We are not really going back because we feel we have unfinished business, it is more so that Epsom clearly suited him last year,” said Beckett. “He handled the track really well for a big horse.

“As long as we are in the right place with him then I will be happy. I think inevitably he is physically a more mature horse this year and you can see that in him. I think in the long-term going to Dubai will make a difference.

“His work has always been good but it has never been stunning. I would be fairly relaxed about what happens at home now. It is important that he reaches his ceiling on the track. sure.

“You would hope that he would be a better horse this year because of his size but he has already run to a pretty high level. In that sense it is about maintaining that progression.”

Added Beckett of the 4-year-old's longer-term goals, “What I would really like to do, if he were to win the Coronation Cup, would be to drop him back to 10 furlongs for the [G1] Eclipse [in July].

“He likes Sandown. He won his maiden around there as a 2-year-old and the Classic Trial last year. I think the track really suits him. I'd be keen to go back to a mile and a quarter there as it would really play to his strengths.

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Gold Cup Bid On The Cards For Golden Horn’s Aston Park Winner Haskoy

Further underlining the merit of last year's G1 St Leger, Juddmonte's Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) got up late to register a winning return in Saturday's G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury and enhance her claims in next month's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Demoted from second to fourth in the Doncaster Classic, which was coming up quickly after her success in York's Listed Galtres S. in August, the homebred only just made this gig after what her trainer Ralph Beckett described as a “tough Spring” and was held up behind the early leaders with Frankie Dettori keen to let her build into a steady rhythm.

Taking time to wind up, the 5-2 second favourite arrived with strength in the final 100 yards as the past TDN Rising Stars Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) duked it out. At the line, she had edged it by a short head from the Shadwell runner, with Ballydoyle's Bolshoi Ballet continuing his return to old form a head away in third. “She hasn't really thrived all Spring–she got upset when we were trying to fit the tongue-tie beforehand and wasn't having that, so I was concerned that we were in a hole,” Beckett said. “She was a little fresh and still a little green in behind horses, so she's a pretty special filly to have done that. She made up a lot of ground in the last 100 yards–when she stayed as well as she did in the Leger on only her third start and with her pedigree, I'd have no real concerns about where we go. The Gold Cup is a possibility–we'll see nearer the time. That entry was how we felt about her beforehand and we still do.”

Introduced only in late July in a Wolverhampton novice, Haskoy has gone where her talent allows the whole way and it was significant that her trainer moved so fast with her following that seven-length debut win. Impressing Ryan Moore and just about everybody else in the Galtres, the bay was supplemented to the St Leger and ran the proverbial blinder only to lose out to Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) before being stripped of second by the officials having crossed the path of Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was fifth in the Leger, had already done enough to suggest that the form was solid but it was Friday's G2 Yorkshire Cup that confirmed we are dealing with a strong renewal of the oldest Classic. More so, it looks an edition stacked with the kind of “Cup” horses that the British public have come to love once more. Only one filly has won the Gold Cup since Dr Vincent O'Brien's Gladness in 1958 and that was The Queen's Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), so it is particularly exciting that Haskoy is a leading challenger in this year's contest.

Pedigree Notes
It was on this card six years ago that the dam Natavia (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a rare purchase at that phase for the operation when a 600,000gns Book 1 graduate, powered into the Oaks picture when dominating the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial. Although she was last in that Classic and failed to win again, the memory of that performance remains vibrant and Haskoy is a significant first foal. Kin to the G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World) and to the dam of the GIII Jimmy Durante S. scorer Tezzaray (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), she is a granddaughter of the important broodmare Lady Blackfoot (Ire) (Prince Tenderfoot).

Under that third dam are the likes of the GII  Budweiser International hero Alrassaam (GB) (Zafonic) and the GI Hollywood Derby-winning fellow sire Labeeb (GB) (Lear Fan) as well as the latter's GII Arlington H. and GII San Luis Obispo H.-winning full-brother Fanmore who was also runner-up in the GI Arlington Million and GI Hollywood Gold Cup. Natavia also has the 2-year-old filly Silver Sixpence (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a yearling daughter of Siyouni (Fr) and colt foal by Too Darn Hot (GB).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
AL RAYYAN S. (REGISTERED AS THE ASTON PARK S.)-G3, £100,000, Newbury, 5-20, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:32.33, gd.
1–HASKOY (GB), 125, f, 4, by Golden Horn (GB)
                1st Dam: Natavia (GB) (SW-Eng), by Nathaniel (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Our Queen of Kings (GB), by Arazi
                3rd Dam: Lady Blackfoot (Ire), by Prince Tenderfoot
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Frankie Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $193,029. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Israr (GB), 128, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Taghrooda (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £21,500.
3–Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), 128, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Alta Anna (Fr), by Anabaa. O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £10,760.
Margins: SHD, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 7.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Yibir (GB), Kemari (GB), Old Harrovian (GB), Gaassee (Ire).

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Dazzling Blue Dazzles Once Again at Churchill

2nd-Churchill Downs, $127,840, Alw (NW2X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 5-19, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.28, ft, 8 3/4 lengths.
DAZZLING BLUE (f, 3, Into Mischief–Blue Violet {SW & MGSP, $237,356}, by Curlin) broke her maiden on debut last fall at Churchill Downs when she won by 4 1/2 lengths and then shipped to her trainer's winter base in December where she won the Letellier Memorial S. by 3 lengths at Fair Grounds before going to the bench. Off as the 4-5 favorite here, the bay filly seized the lead down the backstretch after a slow beginning. Rounding the far turn, Dazzling Blue set sail and into the stretch she dropped the hammer on previously unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Sunday Shoes (Pioneerof the Nile) to declare victory by 8 3/4 lengths. The winner's dam dropped a new colt by Bolt d'Oro Feb. 24. Sales History: $500,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $205,920. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Juddmonte; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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Sounds Of Heaven Prevails In York Thriller

Craig Bernick and John Camilleri's 3-year-old filly Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Ring The Bell {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) did not have the benefit of an early-season outing heading into Friday's Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S. at York, but that was of little consequence as she found plentiful reserves at the business end of a thrilling renewal to emerge with a career high.

The Jessica Harrington trainee shaped with promise when posting a debut fourth at Gowran Park in September and shed maiden status going one mile at Leopardstown the following month when last seen. Sounds Of Heaven was swiftly into stride and found a smooth rhythm in second through halfway. Racing on the bridle for much of the long straight, the 14-1 chance was nudged to the fore approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the latter stages to deny 'TDN Rising Star' Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by a short-head in a three-way photograph. Godolphin's Silver Lady (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) played her part in a pulsating finale and finished a neck further adrift in third.

Sounds Of Heaven is the leading performer produced by a daughter of G2 Prix du Gros-Chene victrix Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself the dam of four pattern-race winners headed by G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Matron S. victrix Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Ranvet S. winner The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is a half-sister to Listed Cairn Rouge S. placegetter Voice Of Angels (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire).

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