Tag: Paul Hancock

Canberra Legend Swoops Late For Feilden Triumph

James Ferguson trainee Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}–Rocana {GB}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) registered a 3 1/2-length tally in his Feb. 20 debut over one mile at Newcastle and made a smooth transition into stakes company with a game victory in Wednesday's Listed bet365 Feilden S. at Newmarket. The 15-2 chance broke well from the far-side stall and tracked the leaders in fifth for most of this straight nine-furlong contest. Easing into third approaching the quarter-mile marker, he took some time to engage top gear and, once doing so, devoured the ground under continued urging up the hill to deny Kolsai (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by a half-length in the dying strides for a career high.

“I was delighted with how professional he was when the gates opened and, from that wide draw, he had every opportunity to be keen and free, but he settled into the race really well,” said Ferguson of the G1 2000 Guineas, G2 Dante Stakes and G1 Derby entry. “I thought he was given a lovely ride and, from the jockey's action, it looked like he was pretty happy the whole way, so I'm thrilled. He has always been a big type and we made an executive decision to leave him and let him develop over the winter. That run at Newcastle and today has shown that he does have that ability we thought he had at home. The whole way through his training has been fairly smooth, so credit to the guys back home as they all do a wonderful job.” Looking ahead, the local conditioner added, “I think he will definitely get further in time and we've got a lot of options ahead of us. It is very exciting to have a horse of this calibre for his owner, who has been with me since I started. He is in both the Dante and the Derby and I think we have to see how he comes out of the race first. The [2000] Guineas is not far away and he looks like he wants further, but I have to talk to the owner first.”

Pedigree Notes
Canberra Legend, half to a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), is one of three scorers from as many runners produced by an unraced half-sister to four black-type performers headed by G2 Gimcrack S. victor Blaine (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}), the stakes-winning Bogart (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and G3 Prix Eclipse runner-up Legal Attack (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}). Descendants of the April-foaled chestnut's fifth dam Djallybrook (Fr) (Djakao {Fr}) include GI Breeders' Cup Sprint-winning US champion Lit de Justice (El Gran Senor), G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Commander Collins (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby third Colonel Collins (El Gran Senor).

Wednesday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 FEILDEN S.-Listed, £50,000, Newmarket, 4-19, 3yo, 9fT, 1:56.24, g/s.
1–CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Lauren Louise (GB), by Tagula (Ire)
3rd Dam: Movie Star (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (125,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 350,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-James Ferguson; J-Daniel Muscutt. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $47,440. *1/2 to Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), GSW-Eng, $184,480.
2–Kolsai (GB), 128, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Fizzi Top (GB), by Frankel (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (160,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Roger Varian. £10,750.
3–Killybegs Warrior (Ire), 128, c, 3, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Alltherightmoves (Ire), by Namid (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (100,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; €50,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-M Doyle; B-Glashare House Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Johnston. £5,380.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 7.50, 16.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Regal Honour (Ire), Bold Act (Ire), Galactic Jack (Ire), Intinso (GB), Blanchland (Ire), Captain Wierzba (GB).

 

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Dark Angel’s Indie Angel Springs A Surprise In the Duke of Cambridge

In hindsight, a starting price of 22-1 on a Cheveley Park Stud-owned filly trained by the Gosdens and ridden by Frankie Dettori at Royal Ascot was bordering on the ludicrous and despite her form deficiencies Indie Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) stepped up to make a mockery of those odds in Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. Since Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) exited the stall closest to the stand's side in the meeting's opening G1 Queen Anne S. the day before, all bar one of the races staged on the straight track had fallen to horses also drawn highest with the other winner only three off that fence. Whether there is a genuine bias near the stand's rail remains to be seen, but Indie Angel likes her space and so exiting from stall 12 of 12 was a real benefit here. Freshened up since finishing fourth behind Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket May 2, the winner whose portfolio boasted just a listed win in the Fleur de Lys Fillies' S. over a mile on Lingfield's Polytrack in October was steadied in rear early. Allowed to coast into contention approaching two out, the grey was in front soon after and able to dominate the closing stages to score by 2 1/2 lengths. Lady Bowthorpe, who came up the centre along with the 11-4 favourite Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal), won the tussle for the bridesmaid's role by a short head but was always fighting a losing battle overall. “I'll be honest with you, that was unexpected,” Dettori said after his 75th Royal winner. “She's got ability, but everything has to fall right for her. She needs cover, a fast pace and plenty of room. She was too free with me at Newmarket last time, so I didn't know what to expect but today was a good day and she just took off.”

Initially restricted to handicaps over seven furlongs and a mile last term, Indie Angel garnered a brace of wins at Newmarket in July and at Salisbury the following month before being tried in Sandown's G3 Atalanta S. in late August. Eighth there, she was disappointing with no obvious excuses when subsequently seventh in a competitive course-and-distance handicap in September. By the time she tackled the Fleur de Lys, connections had found the key to her and with Frankie keeping her separate from the rest and looping the field she was able to gain a breakthrough black-type success. Penned against the rail for most of her return to the Polytrack for that venue's seven-furlong All-Weather Fillies' and Mares' Championships Conditions S. Apr. 2, she flopped when fifth as the 4-5 favourite there and despite being kept isolated in the Dahlia was still a soundly-beaten 3 1/4-lengths fourth.

While it is easy to see why the punters had given up on her, she was able to make a step forward as older fillies from this yard can do in what amounted to a perfect storm of draw, ground, pace and the fact that both Lady Bowthorpe and the Dahlia runner-up Queen Power were racing under penalties. Solid yardstick Lavender's Blue (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who had beaten her by 2 3/4 lengths when third in the Dahlia, was four lengths behind her in this and the way she tracked and brushed aside Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) suggests it would be naive to put this down to mere track bias. She was the second of three winners for her sire in two days at the meeting, sandwiched in between Berkshire Shadow (GB) and Real World (GB), as the Dark Angel success story gathers further momentum.

Gosden, who won this 12 months ago with Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), commented, “In fairness, she won very well last backend but it went a little wrong and I probably ran her before she had come to herself in the spring. She had a little complication in her last race, but we knew she could be competitive with the top fillies. To say that she'd win by two-and-a-half lengths would have been wishful thinking, but she relaxed beautifully and she's bloomed. She looked a different filly today than when we last ran her back in May.”

Looking ahead, the senior member of the Clarehaven partnership added, “She's now won a group two, so maybe you start trying to climb even higher up the ladder. We won it last year and there are nice races like the [G1] Sun Chariot and the nice fillies' race [the G1 Falmouth S.] at the July meeting for her, so those are possibilities. Right now, we're savouring this moment.”

Lady Bowthorpe's trainer William Jarvis was inclined to blame the fast surface for her eclipse. “All credit to the winner, who was very impressive, but I feel easier ground would have suited us better,” he said of the runner-up. “When a filly is running as well as she is, my inclination is not to give her a break. She's in the [July 9] Falmouth, but ideally I would love her to try at a mile and a quarter on decent ground in the [July 29 G1] Nassau [at Goodwood], with the [G1] Sun Chariot a possibility longer term.” Sir Michael Stoute said of Queen Power, “She's a model of consistency, that's for sure, and I guess the trip was a little short of her best.”

Indie Angel, who was a 600,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, is out of the Listed Silver S. winner and G3 Prix d'Aumale third Indigo Lady (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}), who is kin to the Listed Rockingham S. winner Prism (GB) (Spectrum {Ire}). The third dam Simply Gorgeous (GB) (Hello Gorgeous) is also the ancestress of the G1 Premio Roma hero Imperial Dancer (GB) (Primo Dominie {GB}) and the G3 Blue Wind S. winner and G1 Nassau S. runner-up One Voice (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}), as well as being a half-sister to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Give Thanks (GB) (Relko {GB}) whose own descendants are headed by the G1 1000 Guineas winner Harayir (Gulch). Also hailing from the family of the G1 Epsom Derby hero and sire Teenoso (Youth), Indigo Lady has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Churchill (Ire) named Miss Clementine (Ire) who was bought by BBA Ireland and Ed Dunlop Racing for 90,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE S.-G2, £140,000, Ascot, 6-16, 4yo/up, f, 8fT, 1:39.92, g/f.
1–INDIE ANGEL (IRE), 126, f, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Indigo Lady (GB) (SW-Ire & GSP-Fr), by Sir Percy (GB)
2nd Dam: Seal Indigo (Ire), by Glenstal
3rd Dam: Simply Gorgeous (GB), by Hello Gorgeous
1ST GROUP WIN. (600,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £82,880. Lifetime Record: 14-5-1-2, $200,020. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lady Bowthorpe (GB), 129, 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. £31,346.
3–Queen Power (Ire), 129, m, 5, Shamardal–Princess Serena, by Unbridled's Song. (500,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Roundhill Stud (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £15,666.
Margins: 2HF, NO, 3/4. Odds: 22.00, 3.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Champers Elysees (Ire), Lavender's Blue (Ire), Fooraat (Ire), Valeria Messalina (Ire), Agincourt (Ire), Double Or Bubble (Ire), Onassis (Ire), Parent's Prayer (Ire), Posted (GB). Scratched: Bounce The Blues (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Camelot’s Youth Spirit Battles to Chester Vase Win

Bouncing back from a fourth in last month's Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket on seasonal comeback, Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) dented a number of Classic aspirations with a determined victory in Wednesday's G3 Chester Vase. He had bettered a debut fourth over seven furlongs at Haydock when annexing a hot Newmarket maiden tackling the same trip next time and hit the board contesting Goodwood's July 28 G2 Vintage S. in the last of three juvenile outings. The April-foaled bay was let go at 15-2 and settled third along the fence, in the wake of 6-4 pick and eventual fourth Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), through halfway in this extended 12-furlong Classic trial. Bustled along as the tempo increased approaching the quarter-mile marker, he straightened for home in second–as Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus})'s forward thrust carried that rival to the front on the final turn–and stayed on strongly under a late drive to withstand the running-on effort of Sandhurst (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths. Fancy Man ultimately suffered for his home-turn burst and finished one length back in third, with Listed Blue Riband Trial victor Wirko fading late to finish another seven lengths adrift in fourth.

“He's always been a horse we've rated very highly, but the question mark was whether he stayed or not,” admitted Andrew Balding. “There is stamina on the sire's side, obviously, but there is plenty of speed on the dam's side. He saw the trip out really well and I'm thrilled. I knew he'd improve a good bit from Newmarket, because he'd been off the track a long while before running there, and everything happened a bit quick for him. He's obviously come on for it and I thought he did everything really nicely today.”

Looking ahead to a date with Classic destiny, Balding indicated Youth Spirit will bid to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ian Balding-trained Mill Reef making an indelible mark on the Blue Riband honour roll by going one better than connections' runner-up finish with Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) last year. “The plan, as long as everything goes all right between now and then, is to head for Epsom [for the June 5 G1 Derby]. I obviously can't compare him with Mill Reef because I wasn't around then and, in any case, Youth Spirit is a long way from ticking the boxes that Mill Reef had, but he could have a live chance in the Derby.”

Jockey Tom Marquand added, “It's great for [owner] Ahmad Al Shaikh to have another one for the Derby. Last year that was a fairy story with Khalifa Sat finishing second and, hopefully, they can go one better. Khalifa Sat surprised me in the Derby because he looked more of a staying type. This lad is the other way around and 12 furlongs is as far as he'll want. He is really game and genuine and I'm sure we'll have a go. It will have been a real good experience to have been around here because it is pretty different compared to everywhere else. It should stand him in good stead for Epsom.”

Youth Spirit, half-brother to a 2-year-old colt by Tamayuz (GB) and a yearling colt by Australia (GB), is the first of two foals produced by an unraced half-sister to G2 Gimcrack S. hero Blaine (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}), Two-Year-Old Trophy victor Bogart (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and last term's G3 Prix Eclipse second Legal Attack (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}). His dam Rocana (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is out of a winning half-sister to Listed Prix Urban Sea placegetter Golden Accolade (GB) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and hails from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Lit de Justice (El Gran Senor), G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Commander Collins (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby third Colonel Collins (El Gran Senor) and G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up City Leader (Ire) (Fasliyev).

Wednesday, Chester, Britain
CHESTER VASE S.-G3, £80,000, Chester, 5-5, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT, 2:45.83, g/s.
1–YOUTH SPIRIT (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Lauren Louise (GB), by Tagula (Ire)
3rd Dam: Movie Star (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€60,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV; €100,000 RNA Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Tom Marquand. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-1, $80,680. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sandhurst (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–How's She Cuttin' (Ire), by Shinko Forest (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £17,200.
3–Fancy Man (Ire), 126, c, 3, Pride of Dubai (Aus)–Fancy (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Michael Pescod; B-Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £8,608.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1, 7. Odds: 7.50, 6.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Wirko (Ger), Pleasant Man (GB), Law of the Sea (GB). Scratched: San Martino (Ire), Sir Lamorak (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigreex. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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