Ghaiyyath, Magical Remain On Course For Epic Battle In Oct. 17 Champion Stakes

A star-studded cast remains on course for the 10th running of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, Oct. 17 after the latest forfeit stage on Tuesday.

This includes a record number of acceptors at this stage for the headline race of the day and the most valuable race this year, the QIPCO Champion Stakes, with 29 standing their ground.

The most valuable raceday in Great Britain this year remains on the cards for a string of headline acts including the world's highest-rated racehorse, Ghaiyyath, who could take his place in the QIPCO Champion Stakes against Magical, bidding to become the first horse to win a race at three different QIPCO British Champions Days.

Also still engaged are other equine A-Listers including Palace Pier, Kameko, Mishriff and Fancy Blue together with the Arc-bound trio Enable, Love and Stradivarius.

QIPCO British Champions Day features four Group 1 races, a Group 2 and a competitive mile handicap.

In total, 38 Group 1 winners remain entered and, between them, they have accumulated 84 victories at the highest level.

David Egan is counting down the days to the biggest ride of his short career, when he is due to be reunited with ante-post favorite Mishriff in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.

It has been a difficult year for most of course, but being unable to partner Prince Faisal's hugely progressive colt in either the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly or the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano at Deauville has made it especially difficult from a professional point of view for former champion apprentice Egan – not that he is one to dwell on the negatives.

The 21-year-old, who missed the French Derby owing to coronavirus travel restrictions and then Deauville through an untimely suspension, said: “Everyone has been affected by coronavirus and there are much more important things to worry about than missing those rides. That kind of thing goes with the job, and I'm just delighted that Mishriff has gone on to prove himself a champion and that I'm lucky enough to be able to get back on him.”

It would be perfectly understandable if Egan watched Mishriff's French wins with mixed feelings, but he said: “Look, I'm retained by Prince Faisal and so I want his horses to do as well as they can, whether I'm the one riding them or not. I was over the moon watching Mishriff win the French Derby, thinking I'd be able to ride him next time, and then it was just unfortunate I couldn't get back on him at Deauville. But I've had some good days on him, and hopefully there will be many more.”

Egan grew up in a family steeped in racing, as a son of jockey John Egan and trainer Sandra Hughes, a nephew of three-time champion jockey Richard Hughes, and a grandson of the legendary Dessie Hughes, so he is unlikely to be troubled by big-race nerves at Ascot.

He has complete confidence in Mishriff and he is excited at the possibility of winning such a prestigious race on such a huge occasion.

He said: “I rode Mishriff for the first time when he won by ten lengths at Nottingham last year, and then I was on him again when he was a good second in the Saudi Derby, when he made up a lot of ground in the straight after being a bit slow out of the gates.

“When we went to Newmarket in June most people seemed to be expecting his stable-mate Waldkonig to win, but Mishriff showed he was still improving by winning really well. He's gone on improving since, and it's been great to see. It's a privilege to ride him.

“He's so straightforward and he really tries for you. He's got a very low head carriage and he just eats up the ground. He's gone on good going, he's gone on bottomless ground and he's gone on dirt, so he's very genuine and versatile.”

The QIPCO Champion Stakes has long been Mishriff's target and John Gosden is optimistic of a third win in the race following two wide-margin victories by Cracksman.

Mishriff sets a high standard and Egan is well up to the task.

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Kitten’s Joy’s Kameko Back On Top In the Joel

Saddled with a five-pound penalty as a result of his G1 2000 Guineas triumph, Qatar Racing’s Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) proved himself one of the better winners of that Classic in recent times when overcoming the extra burden to take the G2 Shadwell Joel S. over the same Newmarket mile on Friday. Settled behind the leading duo early by Oisin Murphy, the 85-40 second favourite needed rousing to get to last year’s winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) but responded by usurping that rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. At the line, he had half a length to spare over the strong-finishing Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) who was having one of his better days, as the 7-4 favourite Benbatl faded late to be the same margin behind in third. “I’m delighted for Sheikh Fahad and everyone,” Murphy said. “To give weight away to older horses is a very difficult task and he stuck his head out and did everything right in the race. He ran straight as a die. He is so tough and consistent and, on ratings, I think that will rate higher than his Guineas win as to give weight away to older horses shows what a top horse he is. He is a very intelligent horse. I took him down in a hack canter and I had him really quiet at the gate. If I lit him up at all, he would have travelled really on the bridle. I was happy for him to race a little lazily today.”

Kameko was coming back from some reversals here, but he had also done that at two when following runner-up placings in Sandown’s G3 Solario S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S. also over this track and trip with a dominating success in the G1 Futurity Trophy on Newcastle’s Tapeta in November. Having conquered Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the June 6 Classic here, he has surprisingly gone three starts without making the frame but each effort had a valid excuse attached. Out of his ground over a mile and a half when tried in the July 4 G1 Epsom Derby, he was denied a clear run in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 29 and was again stretched too far when fourth for the third consecutive time in York’s G1 Juddmonte International over an extended 10 furlongs last time Aug. 19.

While he was slightly lethargic during the Guineas, he was markedly more so here as early as halfway but was still able to gain the advantage well before the final furlong and there was a feeling from there that he was only doing enough to stay in command. Regal Reality had shown when winning the Aug. 9 G3 Sovereign S. that he can be a force to be reckoned with at this trip and his proximity does not undermine Kameko’s prospects of shaking up Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in next month’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. That target is set in stone according to Andrew Balding. “It’s a bit of a relief, as this was a tough task giving weight away to older horses,” he said. “I thought that Benbatl would have gone a slightly stronger gallop and he hit a flat spot but picked up well, so it’s nice to get back on track. The QEII has been on his agenda the whole season and I just hope the ground isn’t too soft by then. He hasn’t had a lucky season at all and it has felt like trying to put a square peg in a round hole since the Guineas.”

Kameko will be the second member of his immediate family to tackle the QEII, with the dam Sweeter Still (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) a half to the G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Kingsbarns (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was third in the 2013 edition. Sweeter Still, who was successful in the GIII Senorita S. and placed in the GII Providencia S. and GII Honeymoon H., is also a half to the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S. winner Belle Artiste (Ire) (Namid {GB}). This is the family of the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Ace (Ire) (Danehill), who was fifth in the 2004 QEII, and his G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup-winning full-brother Danish (Ire) and the triple group 1 runner-up Hawkeye (Ire) also by that sire. Her 2-year-old daughter of Big Blue Kitten had sold to Atlantic Bloodstock for only $5,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, but went to David Redvers for £200,000 at the Arqana 2020 Breeze Up Sale at Goffs UK. Eleven days before this race, Capital System Co. paid $190,000 for her yearling filly by Optimizer.

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
SHADWELL JOEL S.-G2, £80,000, Newmarket, 9-25, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:34.41, gd.
1–KAMEKO, 131, c, 3, by Kitten’s Joy
     1st Dam: Sweeter Still (Ire) (GSW-US, $311,603), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Beltisaal (Fr), by Belmez
     3rd Dam: Ittisaal (GB), by Caerleon
($90,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £45,368. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, 9-4-2-0, $510,817. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Regal Reality (GB), 130, g, 5, Intello (Ger)–Regal Realm (GB), by Medicean (GB). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £17,200.
3–Benbatl (GB), 130, h, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Nahrain (GB), by Selkirk. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor. £8,608.
Margins: HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.13, 8.50, 1.75.
Also Ran: Tilsit, Zabeel Prince (Ire), Top Rank (Ire). Scratched: Duke of Hazzard (Fr), Urban Icon (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Murphy’s Law At Newmarket On Friday

   Newmarket’s Friday fixture is replete with black-type events and it is Oisin Murphy who holds the key to the featured G2 Shadwell Joel S. Having partnered the impressive 2019 winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), he hands that ride to Frankie Dettori this time as he helps prepare Qatar Racing’s G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Kameko has by dint of fate and circumstance failed to make the places in three starts after his finest hour when taking that mile Classic on June 6 and he is back over the same course and distance here in a no-excuse exercise. “Benbatl is one of the highest-rated horses in the world and Kameko is a Classic winner who ran the fastest-ever Guineas, so it’s a mouthwatering prospect,” Murphy said. “It will be hard for Kameko with the penalty–we have to give Benbatl a pound–but there were limited options and he’s in super form and ready to run. I obviously love Benbatl. I only raced against him once and that was in the Juddmonte International when I won on Roaring Lion. I’ve ridden Benbatl in work recently as well and he’s also in super form.”

With two of Kameko’s subsequent defeats coming over further than 10 furlongs and his only other outing at this trip resulting in a luckless fourth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 29, his rider is happy that he is at the right distance. “He travelled very well in the Sussex and got into second place in the Juddmonte, having sat last, and then his run petered out at the line,” he explained. “Hopefully the ground continues to dry today–both he and Benbatl want top of the ground.”

Last year, Benbatl was winning this off a 10-month gap before finishing a tailed-off last in the QEII at Ascot but he proved in the spring that he retains all his ability and was last seen finishing third in the inaugural Saudi Cup on dirt at Riyadh on Feb. 29. Saeed bin Suroor said he wants the rain to stay away. “He did his last piece of work on the Watered Gallop here in Newmarket and he is doing really well,” he commented. “It is his first run in Europe since he went to Dubai and Saudi Arabia. We are looking for a good result from him. It’s a tough race, but he won it last year and it’s the right race for him. We don’t want the ground to be too soft–good ground would be good for him.”

This is no two-horse race, with Cheveley Park Stud’s talented but mercurial Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}), Saeed Manana’s Sept. 5 G3 Superior Mile winner Top Rank (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Khalid Abdullah’s July 31 G3 Thoroughbred S. scorer Tilsit (First Defence) also in contention.

Also on the card is the G2 Shadwell Rockfel S., where Ballydoyle’s Sept. 12 Listed Ingabelle S. winner Monday (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Paul and Clare Rooney’s seven-length Aug. 29 G3 Prestige S. scorer Isabella Giles (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) appear to be the main protagonists.

The G3 Princess Royal Muhaarar S. sees Kirsten Rausing’s Aug. 20 G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) set the standard, but she faces some up-and-comers including Qatar Racing’s impressive Aug. 1 Listed Chalice S. winner Katara (Fr) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

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Ghaiyyath Aims for Group1 Hat Trick in Juddmonte International

Now that all the building blocks are laid on solid foundations, Godolphin’s imposing presence Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the complete structure as a mature 5-year-old entire capable of enormous efforts. The latest of those was a once barely-conceivable 2 1/4-length defeat of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in Sunday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and he lines up a worthy short-priced favourite for Wednesday’s G1 Juddmonte International at York. This is a race that suits his age group, with the likes of Halling (Ire), Singspiel (Ire), Falbrav (Ire) and Sulamani (Ire) having triumphed over the younger generations in recent times. Boasting the best form and dynamite on the lead, the bay who broke Newmarket’s mile-and-a-half track record in the June 5 G1 Coronation Cup is also on prime territory on York’s “Knavesmire”, which has long been branded the “front-runner’s track”.

It is hard to see fault, but this is a race borne in the county of no-nonsense that respects results over reputation, that saw the only undoing of the great Brigadier Gerard (GB) in its inaugural year and recently of other similarly cramped-odds favourites as Al Kazeem (GB), Golden Horn (GB), Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Despite its tendency to favour those on the front end, it is remarkable that of the last 10 winners only the filly Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was ridden prominently.

Ghaiyyath has three big rivals, with the withdrawal of the G2 York S. winner Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}) on Tuesday taking out the only live outsider, and they will be keen to seize on any of the favourite’s frailties exposed by this track. Up in trip is Qatar Racing’s June 6 G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy), who due to a mixture of circumstance and ill fortune has been winless since the Newmarket Classic. Ballydoyle’s mare supreme Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could be better than ever in 2020 and HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing’s impressive June 17 G1 Prince of Wales’s S. hero Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is impossible to peg down at present.

Charlie Appleby is relishing the prospect of Ghaiyyath passing this test and said, “This could be one of the best races of the season and it is exciting to be part of it. The Juddmonte International is always a great spectacle and it looks a very strong race, but I think they all have to come up to his level. It is the first time the top 3-year-olds will be taking on the older horses at this trip and he is special. You don’t win a Group 1 by 14 lengths like he did in Germany [in last year’s G1 Grosser Preis Von Baden] by being just an okay horse. That day at Baden Baden, the ground rode on the fast side of good. Before that, we thought he was more comfortable on a slower surface but what he has shown us since on quicker ground knocks that theory out of the park.”

“He’s the finished article now and that has a lot to do with it. He’s shown that he has grown up mentally and physically and he has taken his races so well this season. He was digging deep over the final furlong in the Eclipse, yet he came back fine,” he added. “It was no harder race for him than the Coronation Cup, which he won going an end-to-end gallop over a mile and a half in record time. He showed maturity at Sandown. He showed he was manageable in a race, which is the result of growing up.”

Galileo has sired five of the last 10 winners, a record which speaks for itself, and Aidan O’Brien holds the record of six wins jointly with Sir Michael Stoute, so Magical has a lot going for her even allowing for the fact that she is herself a six-time winner at this level. The latest of those to come in England was in Ascot’s Champion S. in October and without Enable and the aforementioned Crystal Ocean in her way would now be boasting five straight successes in this country. The manner of her performances when registering a brace over this trip in The Curragh’s G1 Pretty Polly S. June 28 and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup July 26 suggests she has been going through the motions in her native land and, perhaps more importantly, have added a new dimension to her running style. Now capable of dominating from the front, she could set up a potential tactical battle with Ghaiyyath should Ryan Moore elect to sit close to the royal blue runner throughout.

“We’ve been happy with Magical’s two runs this year. She’s been to The Curragh twice and won twice and everything has gone well since then,” O’Brien said. “We’ve been very happy with her all the way through this year, really. She’s very comfortable at 12 furlongs, but she stays 10 furlongs really well. She wouldn’t be worried what the ground is, she’s fairly versatile.”

Should Ghaiyyath and Magical get into all-out war, James Doyle could be the chief beneficiary on Lord North who showed a quality previously only hinted at with his romp in the Prince of Wales’s. He has followed a similar route to one of a trio of dual winners of this race in Halling, who also scaled the heights via the Cambridgeshire H., and is in some ways the “dark horse” in the line-up. “It was pretty exceptional, his performance at Ascot. There was plenty of confidence behind him that day and I don’t think there was any fluke about it,” Doyle commented. “He was up against Japan, Barney Roy and Addeybb, who are all solid Group 1 performers. He put them away quite convincingly and he’ll go to York a fresh horse.”

Taken to the G1 Epsom Derby in a spirit of sportsmanship, Kameko emerged from the July 4 blue riband unperturbed and showed his wellbeing in the July 29 G1 Sussex S. Denied a clear passage in that Goodwood mile feature, he ended up in the same position in fourth that he had been at Epsom and neither is a fair reflection of his capabilities. He showed a tendency to race freely in the Sussex and will need to settle better here to have any prospect of matching the older horses, while Oisin Murphy suggested in the immediate aftermath of that contest that he saw his mount predominantly as a miler. This is very much a fact-finding mission for connections of the 3-year-old, who is still unexposed as he tackles this trip for the first time. David Redvers said, “We’re very much looking forward to it–it is hugely exciting. It’s the best race of the year so far, Kameko is our best horse and we’re going to give it our best shot. The feeling in the camp earlier in the year was that a mile and a quarter could be his optimum trip, but he has sharpened up quite a bit of late and got stronger. We have got to try and we’ll see how it works out on the day.”

If Kameko fails to inspire in the International, Qatar Racing and Murphy may still leave York on day one in upbeat mood should the unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) keep that record intact in the G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. Owned in partnership with his breeders Watership Down Stud, the 3.5million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 topper comes to the track at which his dam Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) enjoyed one of her finest days in the 2009 G1 Yorkshire Oaks and at which his full-sisters So Mi Dar (GB) and Lah Ti Dar (GB) excelled. Following an impressive debut win at Newbury July 8 with an easy follow-up at Newmarket July 24, he enters unknown territory in terms of stamina but it would be a surprise if he does not possess it. “I think we would have ideally liked to run him over 10 furlongs again, but there wasn’t really a suitable race so we’re going to try 12,” David Redvers commented. “We are guided by what Mr. Gosden wants to do. I think we’re all very excited to see him run and we’ll have a better idea of where he fits in afterwards. I have an inkling 10 furlongs might be his ideal trip, but let’s see.”

Aidan O’Brien saddles another ‘TDN Rising Star’ in Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who is re-opposed by Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) after he beat them with a degree of comfort in Goodwood’s G3 Gordon S. July 30. “We were happy with him at Goodwood. He’d clearly come forward with each of his runs and we were happy with him going into it,” his trainer said. “I don’t think we’re viewing him as a St Leger horse. All going well, he could go for the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris after this. A mile and a half might be as far as he wants to go.”

Mogul was fourth when Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) captured the G2 King Edward VII S. over this trip at Royal Ascot June 16, but was in front when the pair renewed rivalry in the July 4 G1 Epsom Derby. Over seven lengths behind Mogul was 11th there, Pyledriver will be more in his comfort zone here and trainer William Muir is hopeful. “I think he’s got a good chance–he seems in great form,” he commented. “I think he’s a stronger horse than he was six weeks ago. I’ve been saying all year that he’ll get stronger as the year goes on and again next year–he’s not the finished article yet. That’s why I always thought it was a big ask to run him at Ascot and in the Derby, but that isn’t why he finished down the field at Epsom, that was because he got knocked over. I’m very happy with him at the moment and I’m sure he’ll run very well.”

Also in the mix is Hussain Alabbas Lootah’s Roberto Escobarr (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who needs a sizeable jump forward despite impressing with a course win over an extended 10 furlongs July 19. “It’s a big step up for him, but I thought he won nicely there last month and I think he deserves a shot,” trainer William Haggas said. “Whether this is too far too soon, I’m not sure, but I think he will be up to this level in time.”

Also on the card is the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. for 2-year-olds, with Godolphin’s authoritative Aug. 2 Leicester novice winner Cloudbridge (Hard Spun) likely to start favourite. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, “He won impressively on his debut at Leicester, where he did things the right way round and galloped out strongly at the finish. He was entitled to come on for that run and we’ve seen that at home since. The form of the Leicester race has worked out fairly well, which gives me a bit of confidence. He’s a live player.”

Kevin Ryan is looking for a third renewal since 2016 and puts forward Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Darvel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who broke his maiden over six furlongs at Ayr July 20. “He’s stepping up a furlong which will suit him. We’re looking forward to running him,” his trainer said.

Marco Botti expects Praise Of Shadows to build on his debut success when he jumps up to Group 3 level in the Tattersalls Acomb S. at York on Wednesday.

Cloudbridge is one of four in the line-up with a winning sole start to their name and another is the Marco Botti-trained Aug. 10 Chester winner Praise of Shadows (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). “Obviously we like the horse and we thought he was very professional. It’s not easy around Chester, but he handled the sharp track,” his Newmarket-based trainer said. “He quickened nicely and has come out of the race well. This race is a good opportunity to see where we are with him. I don’t think he had a hard race. We are hoping it will be good ground and not soft. We are hopeful and I think he has come on for the run.”

Click here for the group fields.

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