Tag: july festival

Inspiral The Focus At HQ On Friday

Friday's Newmarket card features arguably the July Festival's leading light as Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has what appears to be a facile task in the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. Racegoers have the pleasure of getting up close to the latest filly star in the firmament and, while it would be insulting to say this amounts to little more than a glorified exercise gallop given the manner of her performance in the G1 Coronation S., her cramped odds say it all. Royal Ascot's explosive return to the limelight was surprising, given the nature of way the Gosdens prepare their seasonal debutantes, and it could be that we see an improved filly here which is plain frightening for her four rivals. The Cheveley Park's trio of previous Falmouth winners, which include the high-achiever Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), could pale in comparison with this year's red-white-and-blue luminary by the end of the season.

 

Return Voyage

Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) knows all about Inspiral, having chased her home on three of her last four starts, but the latest of those when she beat only two rivals in the Coronation is so far below her previous seconds in the G2 May Hill S. and G1 Fillies' Mile that it is easily excused. Also runner-up in the 1000 Guineas from which Inspiral was AWOL, she needs some inspired craft from Ralph Beckett to subdue the favourite here and her trainer is taking a realistic view. “There's a decent chance of winning some good prize money–that's the idea,” he admitted. “It is difficult.”

'TDN Rising Star' Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) bids to put the unhappy experience of missing the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. due to getting upset in the stalls behind her and the G2 Prix du Muguet winner has subsequently passed a stalls test.  Christopher Head is undaunted at coming back to England for one of the big prizes. “This is the path we want to stay on now,” her trainer said. “She is very strong mentally, she can race from the front and it won't worry her if the ground is fast.”

 

Lines Converging

As it does so often at this meeting, the varying pieces of Royal Ascot form come together once more in the six-furlong G2 Duchess of Cambridge S., with the June 15 G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Maylandsea (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) meeting the June 17 G3 Albany S. second and fourth Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Queen Olly (Ire) (No Nay Never). While it is difficult to knock any form from the Royal meeting, it did take a knock here on Thursday with the defeat of the filly that split that pair in third, Ivory Madonna (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 'TDN Rising Star' Mawj and Queen Olly looked too exciting on their respective debuts on Newmarket's Rowley Mile May 14 and at York May 12 to be labelled one-hit wonders, with the former especially so given that she is a half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

 

Fourteen Set For July Cup

Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup has attracted a field of 14, with Christophe Soumillon back in Britain a week on from his Eclipse victory to resume his partnership with Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}). “His turn of foot is his special weapon,” the rider told QIPCO British Champions Series. “For a sprinter, he is able to settle very easily and when you ask him to quicken he's able to show that turn of foot which not so many horses have. He does everything perfectly now.”

Godolphin's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. one-two Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are drawn close enough to each other in 13 and nine to suggest they will race much closer than they have in the past, while Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), who was third in that Royal Ascot feature, is next to Naval Crown in 12.

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July Festival Gets Underway

With the skies free of cloud, Newmarket begins its three-day July Festival on Thursday which for many afficionados of the turf is their highlight of the year. The feature on day one is the G2 Princess Of Wales's Close Brothers S., which sees Godolphin's international bigwig Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) face off against Shadwell's still-improving Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Yibir may have slipped a little of late, with a surprise second to Living Legend (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Rowley Mile's G2 Jockey Club S. presaging another disappointing reversal when third in the May 14 GI Man o'War, but the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Turf title holder has enjoyed a freshener and returns to the scene of his G3 Bahrain Trophy win at last year's Festival.

“He had a break after coming back from New York in May, he looks great and he's in good order for this,” Charlie Appleby said of Yibir. “He will be aimed at the [GI] Sword Dancer back in the States early next month.”

Mostahdaf's second in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot June 18 was his first try at this mile and a half and it may be that Jim Crowley can be more positive now that his stamina is proven as tactics promise to play a big part. “He's quite a tough horse,” Angus Gold said of the Shadwell representative. “As a 3-year-old he was quite immature, but now he's more mature he should be able to cope with the quick turnaround with any luck.”

 

Big Noise

As the 2-year-old form slowly unfolds in 2022, the reputation of Ballydoyle's 'TDN Rising Star' Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) just gets further inflated and the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. winner cuts a formidable figure in Thursday's G2 Close Brothers July S. In his three starts to date, he has beaten three subsequent black-type scorers including the G2 Railway S. hero Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a host of other winners, all done with a degree of comfort suggesting he has an abundance in reserve. He meets Amo Racing's June 14 G2 Coventry S. runner-up Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in a fascinating encounter, with Brian Goodyear's unlucky G2 Norfolk S. fourth Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and Charlie Appleby's unexposed June 9 Newbury novice scorer Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) adding intrigue.

“His sire Mehmas was second in the Coventry before going on to win the July Stakes, so I'm hoping he can do the same,” Persian Force's trainer Richard Hannon said. “He's got the right profile going into the race and he is still the horse we hope he is.”

 

Masekela Goes Trophy Hunting

In the 13-furlong G3 Bahrain Trophy which acts as an early St Leger pointer, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Derby fourth Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) bids to put down his marker for the Doncaster Classic as he returns to the scene of his short-head defeat by Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G2 Superlative S. at last year's July Festival. Whereas he chose Epsom to burst back onto the scene, Aquis Farm and Manton Park's Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) had Royal Ascot as the backdrop to his revival as he went down by an agonising margin to the leader Leger fancy Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the June 15 G2 Queen's Vase. As a juvenile, the Freddie and Martyn Meade-trained Zechariah had a 2 1/4-length margin to spare over Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Newbury's Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions S. Form which looks very healthy as of this moment in time. Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) began his heady ascent in this card's Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil S. and a year on, the race which pays tribute to the Town's much-missed great sees the Gosdens-Dettori link re-established with Saeed Suhail's G1 St James's Palace S. fifth Mighty Ulysses (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}).

Inspiral And Frankie Face Four In Falmouth

John and Thady Gosdens' Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will remain the mount of Frankie Dettori in Friday's G1 Falmouth S., which drew four rivals set to line up against last year's champion filly. The Cheveley Park Stud homebred is unbeaten and swept to an imperious G1 Coronation S. victory at Royal Ascot.

“Inspiral hasn't done much since then [the Coronation], but all has been well with her and she enjoyed a nice stretch on Saturday with Robert Havlin on board,” said Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director Chris Richardson. “Frankie knows her well, having ridden her in all her races bar her first, and Mrs. Thompson is pleased that John [Gosden, joint trainer] is happy for him to ride her again on Friday.”

Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) is next in the ratings, and will attempt to build on her G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. third, while G1 1000 Guineas second Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and group winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) attempt to return to form after unplaced efforts behind Inspiral in the Coronation. 'TDN Rising Star' Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) enters on the back of a gritty victory in the G2 Prix du Muguet in May.

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‘I Had Big Hopes’: Moubarak Disperses British Stable, Will Return To U.S.

G1-winning trainer Mohamed Moubarak has quit as a trainer and is returning to the US frustrated at not being able to compete at the level he had hoped, despite starting his second spell in Newmarket with Zaaki in his stable.

Moubarak, 55, saddled his final runner at Newmarket's July Festival to bring an end to a six-season stay and will fly to Saratoga this week with plans to continue working in the racing industry, though not as a trainer.

“I really would have liked to have been able to compete at the highest level here,” he said. “When I left here in 1992, I had a stable full of Group horses and there was no money made from prize-money. Then I come back 30 years later and it's still the same money. I left everybody here arguing and trying to go on strike to raise prize-money and they are still at it today.”

In his first spell with a trainer's license Moubarak trained 53 winners in Britain and a hatful of big-race successes, including the Yorkshire Oaks with Magnificent Star, the Royal Lodge with Made Of Gold, the Park and Duke Of York Stakes with Green Line Express and the Mill Reef with Forest Wind. He was then in his 20s.

Moubarak's hopes of experiencing similar success second time were undermined when Zaaki, now one of Australia's top-rated horses, was moved on after one season having competed at up to G2 level. As a result there has not been a big win among his 33 winners.

“The progression was very slow and we never exceeded 12 or 13 horses in the stable and they were all bought very cheaply, with the exception of Zaaki and Poets Dream, who I bought in the first year and they turned out to be very nice horses,” he said.

“Neither stayed with me from two to three which hurt me a lot because they could have gone a long way. One went to Sir Michael Stoute and the other one went to Qatar. They were moved by the owners.

“I had big hopes for them turning three. I made a mistake. What I should have done was not run them until much later in their 2-year-old season, but having so few horses you are inclined to attack a little early.”

Zaaki, who cost 40,000gns as a yearling, went on to land two G3 races for Stoute but has really flourished in Australia under Annabel Neasham, winning the G1 Doomben Cup and two G2s to establish himself among the country's elite performers.

There have been others who have profited under Moubarak's care.

“We bought Royal Dynasty for 1,000gns and the other day she sold for 80,000gns after she won seven races and was placed seven times,” he said.

“Texting was bought for 14,000gns and she won five races and placed literally every time. It's been hard. I bought Tailor Made for 9,000gns and we sold him for 150,000k to Hong Kong.

“Overall I can't complain about the job done by me and my team, but I am not happy with the fact we didn't get a big horse.”

Lebanese-born Moubarak has been involved in racing since his teens, learning his trade under John Oxx, Paddy Mullins and Vincent O'Brien. He left Britain in 1982 to pick up his career in the US with his main owner Mahmoud Fustok, first as trainer then racing manager until Fustok was killed when hit by a car while out jogging in 2006.

Second time around Moubarak has been indebted to Royal Dynasty's owner David Fremel who “has been a super owner and the backbone of the whole stable”. But he was not so lucky with others who either failed to come up with the promised support or proved bad payers, which hurt him financially.

“Certain people told me to get a license and they will give me support,” he said. “I got the license and they weren't there. I am old enough to know that without a big owner behind you it doesn't work.

“It's left me not in a good financial position with some guys that really hurt me. It hurts much more with a small stable.”

Moubarak has dispersed his string and will regroup in the US where he previously sourced horses for the likes of Nick Zito, Richard Dutrow, Patrick Byrne and Bill Mott.

“I always bought most of the nice horses that Rick had when I was there, winning all types of races at Breeders' Cups, Dubai World Cups, and G1s all over America.” he said. “I hope to be recruiting horses over there. I also have a small market to get American horses for Saudi Arabia and Qatar.”

This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.

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Snow Lantern Delivers ‘Very Special’ Redemption For Richard Hannon In Falmouth

Trainer Richard Hannon hailed Snow Lantern's victory in Friday's Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes as “very special” and admitted he was relieved to have settled a score eight years after her mother's defeat by a neck in the same race.

The three year old Frankel filly and jockey Sean Levey were the decisive winners of the Group One feature contest on day two of the Moët & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket, defeating QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth (5-1) and a high class field.

Afterwards Hannon admitted the result provided some compensation following the defeat of her dam, Sky Lantern, in 2013 when the winner Elusive Kate kept the race after a stewards' enquiry.

Owned and bred by the Keswick family's Rockclife Stud, Snow Lantern prevailed by half a length, with Alcohol Free, the 5-2 favorite, another neck away in third.

Hannon said: “It is very special because there was a score to settle in terms of Sky Lantern a few years ago. The stud, Rockcliffe Stud, hadn't bred a Group One winner until today.

“We went to York to try and bag a Listed races but it didn't work out. She has learned to settle since then and I always thought she was not just good, but extremely good – this filly has a pedigree.

The Richard Hannon-trained Sky Lantern wins the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot 2013

“Sky Lantern is by Red Clubs and she was exceptional and I think this filly is exceptional. She has that pedigree being a Frankel out of a Classic-winning mare. She was a little bit unlucky in the Coronation, as you know, and she looked exceptional when she won her novice at Newbury.

“Normally in the Falmouth there are two or three nice fillies but all the good fillies were there today and she showed how good she is and what she is capable of.

“All you feel is relief more than anything. After she ran at York you are out on a limb and she needed to do something otherwise you look a bit of a plonker. I think she showed that at Royal Ascot on ground that probably didn't suit her.

“She has been working absolutely awful, as she does, and I took her to Newbury and she worked moderately there. She is one of those fillies that is not moody or anything but she just doesn't do a lot at home, but she is extremely good.

“I'm delighted for Rockcliffe Stud after everything that has gone on with the mare and she has always created a lot of interest and a big following. Of course you feel immense pleasure but it is more relief than anything.”

Asked about the way the race unfolded for jockey Levey, Hannon added: “She looked like she was going to struggle for room and if you struggle for room it is generally because you have not got the horse but he had the horse and it is great for him.

“Sean is riding great but a winner like this does an awful lot for him and for us. I think I shouted down there and I never shout because as soon as I shout they tend to stop.

“You look around and all the people were looking at you but they were shouting louder than me. She is a Frankel and he is having a phenomenal year, but her revs are a little bit high sometimes.

“She will get a mile and a quarter I think. She is in Nassau and the Sussex Stakes. I'd probably say she would go to the fillies' race (the 10-furlong Nassau Stakes at Goodwood). She is also in the Juddmonte International. I'm very hopeful she will stay in training next year. I love her.

“These Group One races you need to be at your best and there are no weak ones at all. I'm delighted to win one and not be unlucky for a change.”

On Sky Lantern he added: “You don't want to win a race in the stewards' room and when the day is over and I think 'do you want to win a race in that way?' That is done and today is great all these years on.”

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of runner-up Mother Earth, said: “She ran very well and we're delighted with her run. I'm not too sure in terms of where next – there may be a fillies' race in France for her but we'll wait and see how she is.

“We'll keep her to these fillies' races. We could try her over further but she's got plenty of speed.”

Oisin Murphy, the jockey of third home Alcohol Free, said: “She relaxed well in front and I just felt the race went to plan apart from at the three (furlong pole) when we got racing a little early. I tried to save horse but the last 50 yards told.”

Kieran Shoemark, who was aboard fourth home, Lady Bowthorpe, added: “It was a good run and I think the 10 furlongs of the Nassau Stakes (at Goodwood) will really suit her. She'll get the extra two furlongs easy and she was unlucky here.

“She didn't get the splits so I had to switch out and she's run well. I have no doubts that she's the best filly in the race.”

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