Royal Ascot: Irish Kingpins Dominate The Features

Royal Ascot Friday sees the Irish contingent to the fore as TDN Rising Stars Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) exercise iron grips on the feature G1 Coronation S. and G1 Commonwealth Cup respectively. While the former flashed her considerable talent just twice as a juvenile, Ballydoyle's champion of 2022 domineered his way through three important black-type tests before injury halted his momentum. Now the winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, Tahiyra comfortably has the measure of chief rival Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) so far in her career but if there is one thing Dermot Weld will know about beating Ballydoyle is that you have to do it again and again and maintain your level.

Little Big Bear, who became the latest in a line of his stable's big guns to miss a beat in the 2000 Guineas, may actually get a mile in time but while he is so comfortable at these sprint trips and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is around it is a case of back to basics. As he sauntered back to winning ways in the G2 Sandy Lane S., it was as if that dull day at Newmarket where his brilliance was diminished never happened. Intriguingly, it was an experience shared with his key opponent and fellow TDN Rising Star Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who also struggled to cope with his speed edge bludgeoned by conditions on the Rowley Mile.

Sakheer's trainer Roger Varian was giving off all the right vibes on Thursday. “He looks like he could still be a high-class colt, we certainly believe he can be, and we're looking forward to Friday,” he said. “He had an easy time after the Guineas and we were always going to come to Ascot, but he's built up over the last few weeks into this race nicely, his work has been on point, he's been really well and we're hopeful.”

Newmarket woes also apply to the case of Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who was among the backwash in the 1000 Guineas and now gravitates back to her comfort zone. She has to improve even off her G1 Cheveley Park S. win, which puts her on a virtual par with the now-retired Middle Park hero Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) who was always a few pounds adrift of Ballydoyle's champion last term. She and Sakheer are joined by the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning TDN Rising Star Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), so disappointing behind the revelation Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in Newbury's Listed Carnarvon S. last time, in having a lot to find with an elite Little Big Bear but this is Royal Ascot where certainties have a way of unravelling.

The Gosdens showed on Wednesday and Thursday that they are never to be left out of the group 1 equation and despite her obvious experience deficit, Normandie Stud's TDN Rising Star Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) goes into the Coronation which her dam Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won in 2012 as very much a live contender. It's not just about pedigree with her, however, as her performance when narrowly denied by Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}) with the run of the race favouring that Jessie Harrington raider in York's Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. confirmed her as a major talent.

“She is the least experienced in the field, but improved when upped in class at York and has taken that in her stride,” Thady said. “This is another major step up, but we feel she has every right to take her chance.” Kate Harrington added of Sounds Of Heaven, “She is lovely filly and a very underestimated filly who only does as much as she has to. She has a great mind and I think Ascot will really suit her. We're hopeful of a big, big run.”

In the opening G3 Albany S., the Crisfords' impressive Doncaster maiden winner Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will have an abundance of followers now that the time performance of that defeat of the subsequent 11-length-winning TDN Rising Star Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) is known. Lezoo's half-sister Navassa Island (Ire) (Territories {Ire}), now the property of Ecurie Ama Zingteam, also wowed with her sectionals despite going down to the re-opposing Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) on a spectacular debut in Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S.

TDN Rising Stars Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Persian Dreamer (Calyx {GB}) are just two more in the mix in the Albany, which for the past three years has featured the following season's 1000 Guineas heroine in the beaten trio Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Interestingly, the Newmarket maiden taken by Mawj and Cachet prior to meeting their match here was won last month by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Jabaara (Ire), another daughter of Exceed And Excel with big hopes attached. “She will like the fast ground if it stays that way and six furlongs looks her trip for the moment,” Varian said. “She's an exciting filly, I think.”

Amo Racing broke their duck at the Royal meeting on Thursday and the racing and operations manager Tom Pennington is excited about their representative here. “I haven't lost any faith in Persian Dreamer, she was very impressive on debut,” he said. “The sharp five furlongs on quick ground at York in the Marygate has probably played against her and she didn't let herself down. She's a big, strong filly and just didn't enjoy the ground.”

In the day's other pattern race, the presence of Amo Racing's Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has ensured a small line-up, with a trio of Derby disappointments engaged headed by Juddmonte's Arrest (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Jeff Smith's Artistic Star (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Roger Varian is keen to come back quickly from the Blue Riband, the form of which received a major boost with the win of Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}) here on Thursday. “He has looked great from the day he got back from Epsom and is in good form,” he said. “He looked very good in defeat and that bodes well for this week, the rest of the season and beyond hopefully. These races are not easy to win, but he looks like a horse who will take us to the big spots and we look forward to Friday.”

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York: All Eyes On Gold Cup-Bound Eldar Eldarov In The Yorkshire Cup

Friday's G2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup features two high-class veterans in the G2 Lonsdale Cup winner Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) whose reinvention as a stayer was confirmed with a G2 Dubai Gold Cup success, but it could be that youth counts as Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes his seasonal return in the 14-furlong feature. Primed for two major efforts at three when successful in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase and the G1 St Leger at Doncaster, KHK Racing's flagbearer was only seventh stretching out to two miles in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup but is back in his sphere of comfort here. “He's really doing well of late and has obviously been very good at both tries over this distance,” trainer Roger Varian said. “We do see him being very effective when he races over Cup distances, but I think a mile and six furlongs is a good distance to start his season off at, and we hope he runs a good, solid race on Friday that means we can then take aim at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.”

The Quick And The Dead

In a strong year for the stayers, the incredible 14-length success of Quickthorn in the two-mile Lonsdale Cup was one of the peak performances of 2022. Trainer Hughie Morrison believes that the impact of that wide-margin win from Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was lost after his subsequent heavy defeats in the G1 Prix du Cadran and British Champions Long Distance Cup. Lady Blyth's homebred was also sixth behind Broome in the Dubai Gold Cup and the trainer is hoping he can arrest the worrying declining trend. “My concern is that I might have left my year behind in Dubai, but I've been perfectly happy with him at home,” he told the Qipco British Champions Series. “It wasn't easy getting him out of a field in December to have him ready for a fast-ground race in Dubai that looked like a group one three months later.”

“It was a Flightline-type performance, but he didn't get the Flightline-type recognition,” Morrison added of the Lonsdale Cup victory. “It might have been a once-in-a-lifetime performance, but I do think it was exceptional, and the disappointment was that neither Stradivarius nor Trueshan ran that day because we'd have got the credit then. Coltrane obviously didn't run to his best, but Quickthorn absolutely dominated him and I think if you look at the sectionals, he went fast all of the way. The ground had gone when he went to Longchamp, and it was the same story at Ascot. The year before he'd had enough by October, and I think that was probably a factor again, too.”

Marygate Poser

Friday's undercard at York includes the 19th edition of the five-furlong Listed Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies' S. which has attracted a trio of juveniles by first-crop sires. Chief among them is Amo Racing's TDN Rising Star Persian Dreamer (Calyx {GB}), one of two representing Dominic Ffrench Davis, who bids to underline a stunning debut performance at Newmarket last month. Her contemporaries include race sponsor Clipper Logistics' Newmarket runner-up Dorothy Lawrence (GB) (Soldier's Call {GB}) from the double-handed Karl Burke team and the once-raced Brian Ellison trainee Callianassa (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}).

Queen Bee?

Also on Friday is a potentially talent-rich renewal of the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S., where Normandie Stud's TDN Rising Star Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) bids to take further steps towards the G1 Coronation S. won by her dam Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) 11 years ago. With the John and Thady Gosden stable which houses its usual quota of high-class fillies, she made the ideal start at Ascot early this month and Thady is hoping she keeps building. “She seems to have come forward for the run and although it is a big jump up into listed company, we'd be hopeful,” he said. Also engaged in what could be a key prep for the Royal Ascot fillies' feature is Godolphin's Newmarket maiden winner Silver Lady (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal), and James Wigan's Haydock scorer Stormy Sea (GB) (Territories {Ire}), a half-sister to Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}).

Next Stop Emily Dickinson

Last year's renewal of Leopardstown's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. saw the arrival front-and-centre of Ballydoyle's Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on the stayers' scene with a 14-length success in the 14-furlong Gold Cup prep and Friday's edition sees the stable's more-than-able deputy Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Demonstrative when ending her 3-year-old campaign and beginning her current season with clear-cut wins in the division's key Irish races, the G3 Loughbrown S. and Listed Vintage Crop S., the daughter of Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) bids to win over Ryan Moore who dashes here from York after partnering another potential Gold Cup ride in Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

Modern Games Stars In Lockinge Field

Godolphin's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, GI Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will face 12 rivals in Saturday's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury. Charlie Appleby reported the 2022 Eclipse Champion Male Turf Horse, who was second in Keeneland's GI Maker's Mark Mile last month, to be raring to go for the mile feature for which he is drawn on the wing. “Hopefully, this will be the opportunity for Modern Games to win a Group 1 in the UK. The Maker's Mark Mile proved a strangely-run race from our perspective, but he came out of it well and heads to Newbury in great shape. We know that he is a crack miler and he goes here with the benefit of a run under his belt. Conditions at Newbury should suit, especially with the drying ground, and he is going to be a big player.”

John and Thady Gosden supply Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star and G1 Sun Chariot S. runner-up Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}), while fellow Newmarket raider My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) kickstarts his 4-year-old campaign having finished third in the G1 Champion S. at Ascot in October. He is drawn next to Modern Games in 12, while Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who finished third behind Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Modern Games in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., is drawn on the other extreme in one.

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A 31st TDN Rising Star For Kingman

Ascot's Naas Racecourse Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies' S. offers the G1 Coronation S. hopefuls a chance to get acquainted with the track and Normandie Stud's Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–Fallen For You {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) could be one for that contest after earning TDN Rising Star status on Wednesday. Debuting in the mile encounter, the John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of the 2012 Coronation heroine whose half-siblings include the multiple group winner Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and who is a full-sister to the listed scorer Love Is You (Ire) recovered from a tardy start to find cover behind the leaders in fifth after the initial stages.

Looming large on the stands' side at the quarter-mile marker, the 4-1 chance quickened smartly to lead approaching the final furlong and was ridden out by Robert Havlin in the closing stages to account for Copy Artist (GB) (No Nay Never) by two lengths. “This filly is still raw, but she has talent,” the rider said. “She quickened up well, she'll have learnt plenty and she can only come forward for the run.” Thady Gosden added, “She'd been going nicely at home and her mother won the Coronation Stakes, while Kingman was a champion miler. So yes, we would take a look at the Coronation Stakes. It's five weeks away, but another run would benefit her.”

 

Queen For You, amazingly the 31st TDN Rising Star for her sire, whose best in that category so far are Persian King (Ire) and Palace Pier (GB), is the sixth of eight foals and fourth scorer produced by Fallen For You, whose progeny include the multiple group winner Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Kingman's Listed Radley S. scorer and G3 Nell Gwyn S. third Love Is You (Ire). A daughter of the Listed Silver Trophy scorer and multiple group-placed Fallen Star (GB) (Brief Truce), she is kin to the Listed Heron S. winner Fallen Idol (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and to the G2 Lancashire Oaks runner-up Fallen In Love (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

Fallen In Love was in turn responsible for Kingman's Serve The King (GB), who took the GII Red Smith S. and was second in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and also for the G3 Prix de Flore scorer Loving Things (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who was third in the Lancashire Oaks. Also connected to the G1 Lockinge S.-winning sire Fly To The Stars (GB) (Bluebird) and the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen winner Peace At Last (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Fallen For You's 2-year-old filly Fight For You (Ire) is by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) while she also has a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire).

3rd-Ascot, £40,000, Cond, 5-3, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:46.04, gd.
QUEEN FOR YOU (IRE), f, 3, by Kingman (GB)
     1st Dam: Fallen For You (GB) (G1SW-Eng, $286,833), by Dansili (GB)
     2nd Dam: Fallen Star (GB), by Brief Truce
     3rd Dam: Rise And Fall (GB), by Mill Reef
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $25,703. O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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