Tag: Ralph Beckett

Beckett Blasts Poor Prize Money As No Runners Declared For Newbury Race

Irish Derby-winning trainer Ralph Beckett has blasted the poor prize money on offer in Britain in response to no runners being declared for the final race at Newbury on Saturday.

Beckett, who sent out Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to win the Curragh Classic last month, labelled the purse for the Newbury race that did not attract a single declaration “a disgrace.”

He said, “£6,500 for a novice race at a Grade 1 track on a Saturday is a disgrace. Furthermore, when the race conditions were published a month ago, it was published at £5,300. It was only upped on Monday and that was too little, too late.”

Beckett added, “Horsemen are independent people and are fed up with the derisory prize money on offer in general and in this instance they decided to vote with their feet.”

In what can only be viewed as a boycott in response to the issue of poor prize money, not one of the 13 entries for the Stonegate Homes Fillies' Novice S. were declared.

The 10-furlong contest had a prize fund of £6,500, the same as the opening contest on the card, for which 11 runners were declared.

Some of the biggest yards in the country had entries at the initial stage, including John and Thady Gosden, Saeed bin Suroor, Roger Varian and Beckett.

The feature Super Sprint carries £200,000 in prize money while the bet365 Hackwood S. and the Highclere Castle Gin S. both carry a prize fund of £60,000.

Beckett, who is president of the National Trainers' Federation, has decided to run his entrant elsewhere due to the prize money on offer. 

The other six races on the Newbury card features 64 runners but the track's chief executive Julian Thick described himself as disappointed that the finale couldn't attract a runner.

He said, “It is hard to imagine this isn't a concerted action with a race that had 13 entries from 10 different stables receiving no declarations. It's particularly disappointing for our racegoers to only have six races to enjoy on Saturday afternoon with over £400,000 of prize money on offer.

“Newbury has always had a portfolio of races run at different values and aimed at different types of horses throughout the year, this year is no different. As an independent PLC we are transparent about our prize money strategy and our finances and have an ongoing dialogue about this with the NTF.

“We have to run the racecourse on a sustainable basis and we have committed to return to overall 2019 prize money levels this year, despite having lost £2.4m in 2020 and barely breaking even last year as a result of Covid.

“With all the revenue uncertainty and the rising cost pressures racecourses are facing at this current time, we believe that's a substantial commitment by our shareholders. Looking at our forecast for 2022, we will be putting up £2.5m in executive contribution to prize money this year, which is the largest amount the racecourse has ever committed to.

“We have recently publicly announced an increase to prize money levels when our new media contract comes into effect next year, committing a minimum of 40 per cent of total media revenues to our prize money for the next three years.

“As a PLC, our total media revenues and profits are always fully disclosed unlike most other racecourses, giving full transparency so there can be no misunderstanding about our commitment.

“Given this background, it's disappointing this has happened and at a time when the industry needs to pull together.”

A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority, said, “It is the responsibility of all leaders within racing to work together to improve the prize-money situation so that we can retain the best horses in Britain whilst also maintaining a horse population that consistently provides competitive and compelling racing.

“Addressing this challenge will form a key part of the strategy that British racing's leaders recently pledged to work together on last month.

“While it is disappointing to have arrived at such a situation on a key day for racing, the BHA remains optimistic that improvements to prize money and its distribution across the race programme can be found through constructive dialogue between ourselves, racecourses and participants.”

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Group 1-Winning Stayer Scope Put Down After Gallops Accident

Ralph Beckett's Group 1-winning stayer Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has been put down after suffering a serious injury in a routine piece of work.

The 4-year-old enjoyed his finest hour when lifting the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp in October and connections had been looking forward to him making his presence felt this season.

However, Beckett reported in his website blog, “Scope was put down this (Tuesday) morning after fracturing his right-hind cannon bone and pastern, whilst at routine exercise.

“Having trained him, his entire family, and won a Group 1 with him last autumn, he meant a great deal to us and we will miss him sorely.”

The news illustrates the high and lows of racing, as it comes just days after the stable won the G1 Irish Derby in brilliant fashion with Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Giving an update on the colt, Beckett said: “He has come out of it well, and is a possible for the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. at the end of July.”

 

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Seven Days: Much Ado About Frankie

Such a high-profile split, whether temporary or not, between Frankie Dettori and the John and Thady Gosden stable, has naturally dominated the headlines of the last week. Whatever one's thoughts of the events during and post-Royal Ascot, there was no mistaking the affection in which Dettori is held among racegoers as he was cheered back into the winner's enclosure on his sole ride in Britain since the Saturday of the royal meeting. He has nothing booked for this week either, but intriguingly Dettori has been snapped up by Charlie Appleby to ride in the Belmont Derby and Oaks on July 9 in the Godolphin blue silks that were once synonymous with the rider.

The victory of Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) in Saturday's Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S. on Dettori's home track of Newmarket was therefore a huge shot in the arm for him after he had given a television interview assuring viewers that he was not about to retire. There was a little wobble on landing from his customary flying dismount, but he was back to his showman best as he kissed the veteran former trainer Clive Brittain on both cheeks in the winner's enclosure and then promptly departed for Istanbul and his ride in the following day's Turkish Derby.

Lezoo's win will have been well received at Tweenhills, the northern hemisphere home of her sire Zoustar, who has his first European runners this year. He has had just three winners to date but is one of only three first-season sires to have a stakes winner to his name, along with Tasleet (GB) and James Garfield (Ire), and the second half of the season is always far more telling when it comes to the quality of runners on show.

Lezoo was bred at Chasemore Farm by Andrew Black, who has previously stated his fondness for mares by the late Red Clubs (Ire) and enjoyed notable success with that stallion's daughter Ceiling Kitty (GB), who won the G2 Queen Mary S. ten years ago. She went on to produce another Newmarket Listed winner, Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), while her final foal, Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}), emulated his mother by becoming a juvenile Royal Ascot winner when taking the Chesham S. in 2018.

Ceiling Kitty sadly died while foaling Arthur Kitt but her daughter is continuing the line at Chasemore. Eartha Kitt is now the dam of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was sold last year as a yearling for 525,000gns to Godolphin and won on debut at Ascot on May 7. It has been a good season for the Surrey-based farm so far, with homebred Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) winning the G2 Greenlands S. at the Curragh last month. 

Lionhearted

There was a further fillip for the Tweenhills/Qatar Racing team when Lion Of War (GB), unbeaten in two starts, became the latest juvenile to be awarded a TDN Rising Star on Thursday, in so doing paying his own tribute to his late sire Roaring Lion. David Redvers spoke to Brian Sheerin about the issue which meant Lion Of War cost only 7,000gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year, but his co-trainer Mark Johnston has famously put pedigree ahead of conformation in his yearling selection over the years with notable success, and he and son Charlie look to have a smart colt on their hands.

Roaring Lion has to date been represented by just five runners. The two that have won, including Swift Lioness (GB), are both inbred to Sadler's Wells.

A Summer to Savour

At this stage it is hard to know which big-race contest to look forward to the most in the coming weeks. This Saturday's Coral-Eclipse seems a good place to start, with Alenquer (Fr), Bay Bridge (GB), Native Trail (GB), Lord North (Ire), Stone Age (Ire)  and Mishriff (Ire) remaining among the confirmations at the five-day stage, while the Aga Khan's Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni (Fr) was supplemented at a cost of £50,000 on Monday. 

Then there's the potential rematch between Kyprios (Ire), Stradivarius (Ire) and Mojo Star (Ire) in the Goodwood Cup, which, if it comes up soft enough (but not too soft for Stradivarius) could include Saturday's epic weight-carrying hero Trueshan (Fr), who is working his way into the hearts of the racing public as all good stayers who return year after year are wont to do.

Most tantalising of all, however, must surely be the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. It is not out of the question that Ascot's high summer feature could include the Derby and Irish Derby winners of this year and last, not to mention the 2021 Arc winner.

On a memorable day for Ralph Beckett on Saturday, which started with Lezoo's stakes win at Newmarket, Westover (GB) franked the Derby form in emphatic fashion when bowling to a dominant success in the Irish Derby to add to Frankel's Classic haul for the season, which already included the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Prix de Diane.

A big, long-striding colt, the lightly-raced Westover looks to have plenty of maturing still to do, which can also be said of Desert Crown (GB), who was so impressive at Epsom despite still looking like a gangly teenager. 

We've so far been denied a sighting of Adayar (Ire) this year but it would be fantastic to see him attempt to defend his King George crown, while Hurricane Lane (Ire) will surely come on from his comeback third in the G2 Hardwicke S.

We also shouldn't overlook the claims of Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has drawn favourable comparisons with another Gosden star by the same sire, Taghrooda (GB), who landed the King George after winning the Oaks in 2014. At this stage, Britain's premier 1m4f weight-for-age contest really does look the race not to miss this summer.

No Slacking

It has been a good couple of weeks in Europe for South African owner/breeder Mary Slack, whose UK arm of her famous Wilgerbosdrift Stud bred Saturday's G3 International S. winner Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Slack owns the Aidan O'Brien-trained 3-year-old colt, who remains among the acceptors for this Saturday's Eclipse S., in partnership with Coolmore and Westerberg. She raced his dam Diamond Fields (Ire), a half-sister to Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), whom she bought through Form Bloodstock as a yearling. The daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus) won the G3 Gladness S. and was runner-up in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, where Slack enjoyed success this year with the G3 Hampton Court S. winner Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}).

The latter is trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, the resident trainer in Newmarket's historic Abington Place, which is also owned by Slack.

Twomey in Form: I Should Coco!

There was a time when Paddy Twomey was more regularly seen on the sales grounds as a consignor and pinhooker, but over the last ten years his training business has gradually taken hold to the point where he currently boasts the finest strike-rate in Ireland, where he is in seventh place in the table for this season with significantly less ammunition than those above him.

Some of the shine was taken off his first Group 1 victory with La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) when his third-place finisher Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Star {Ire}) was disqualified after Wayne Lordan weighed in 5lbs light, having reportedly been asked to remove 5lbs of lead from his weight cloth by the clerk of the scales when weighing out. An appeal will doubtless ensue, but when the frustration subsides, Twomey can take great pride in the progression of Team Valor's La Petite Coco, who has won her last four starts, stepping up from a median auction race success at Killarney last July to win at Group 3 and Group 2 level before returning from a 287-day absence to land the G1 Pretty Polly S.

She thus became the second winner of that race for her now-Italian-based Derby-winning sire after Iridessa (Ire), and was another feather in the cap for the small Co Offaly town of Rhode, where she was bred by Bernd and Ute Schone.

Twomey had already reached a Group 1 landmark in another field, as he was the breeder of Serious Attitude (Ire) (Mtoto {GB}), winner of the G1 Cheveley Park S. and GI Nearctic S. for Rae Guest. Since being sold to Shadai Farm, she is now the dam of Grade II winner and GI Tenno Sho runner-up Stiffelio (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}).

In what is well on its way to becoming his best season, Twomey, with a strike-rate of 35%, also saddled Sunday's Irish Derby third French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}).

Going Rogue

Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided an enormous thrill for 80 members, friends and family of the The Rogues Gallery syndicate who turned up at Epsom to watch her run seventh in the Oaks after winning the Lingfield Oaks Trial. The smartly-bred filly added more black type to her record when second in the G3 Hoppings Fillies' S on Friday evening.

Earlier that day, her trainer Tom Clover unleashed the second smart 2-year-old to race this season for the Tony Elliott-run syndicate when Rogue Lightning (Ire) ((Kodiac {GB}) bolted home at Newmarket for an easy debut success. 

That followed the second victory of Rogue Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who got off the mark at Beverley in May and then beat subsequent G2 Norfolk S. winner The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) when second in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at the same course before winning easily at Wolverhampton on June 20.

All three horses mentioned were purchased relatively inexpensively by Clover with bloodstock agent Billy Jackson-Stops, who married Lily Gredley at the weekend. 

Rogue Spirit was an 11,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls December Sale, at which Rogue Millennium was also recruited for 35,000gns, while Rogue Lightning was picked up for 42,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up Sale. All three look set to provide plenty more fun outings for the jolly band of rogues.

A Knight To Remember

The quiet achiever of the week award must go to the Irish National Stud resident Decorated Knight (GB), who was represented by a pair of smart novice winners over the weekend. Ferrari Queen (Ire) zoomed to success on her debut for Charlie and Mark Johnston, winning by six lengths at Doncaster, to become her sire's first winner from his second crop. A half-sister to two Group 2-winning stayers in Pale Mimosa (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) and Nearly Caught (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), she looks well bought by her trainers at €18,000 at last year's Orby Sale.

The following day Prince A A Faisal's 3-year-old Kind Gesture (GB) won her second race on the bounce, this time by ten lengths at Windsor for Roger Varian and David Egan, who had also ridden Ferrari Queen.

Kind Gesture was bred, like her sire, by Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, which celebrated its first homebred Classic winner the previous weekend with Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Prix de Diane. The stud will be offering Nashwa's half-sister by Decorated Knight as lot 93 in the forthcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale. It is the first time that Blue Diamond Stud will appear on the list of consignors in Deauville and its draft of three also includes an Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-brother to Kind Gesture (lot 252). Gerry Meehan took the helm as yearling manager at Blue Diamond Stud earlier this year and anyone who perused the Newsells Park Stud yearling drafts during Meehan's lengthy stint there will know to expect a well prepared consignment. 

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The Major Talking Points From Irish Derby Day at the Curragh

The Curragh, IRELAND–Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby revolved around Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and he didn't disappoint.

The fact that Colin Keane was handed the ride at the expense of Rob Hornby, who was aboard the colt at Epsom, provided a fascinating sub-plot to the race and both men emerged from the weekend with reputations not only intact but enhanced.

Westover was the winner the Curragh needed and his victory tees up a fascinating rematch between himself and the Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot next month.

From Westover, to the Curragh crowds and Johnny Murtagh registering an important winner for the Aga Khan, we examined the main talking points from an enthralling day's action.

 

Class Comes to the Fore in the Irish Derby

In sauntering to Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby glory, Westover provided further proof that this year's Derby at Epsom was won by a proper horse in Desert Crown.

With no Desert Crown to worry about at the Curragh, Westover stamped his class over the opposition, and boy did the race need this.

The Irish Derby has been a mixed bag in terms of quality throughout the past decade. There was no doubting the class of this year's winner.

Nor that of the rider. Much of the talk in the build-up to Saturday revolved around the fact that the three-times Irish champion jockey Colin Keane was taking over in the saddle from Rob Hornby, who had ridden Westover in all bar one of his five starts before the Curragh.

Saturday would have been one of the most difficult days in Hornby's career but, judging by how the rider dealt with the news and even went as far as offering Keane advice on how to ride the horse he knows so well on the morning of the race, he is clearly a man of immense character.

We learned as much from Keane moments after the race. Keane had just ridden his third Irish Classic winner, the second in the Juddmonte silks after of Siskin (First Defence) in the G1 2000 Guineas in 2020, but his immediate priority was to acknowledge the role Hornby played in the success.

He said, “Fair dues to Rob Hornby. I rang him this morning and he told me everything I needed to know about the horse. A true gentleman.”

Keane added, “The horse is very good and Rob told me that he'd get the trip well and will even stay further. He told me not to be afraid to use him up because the one thing he'll do is get to the line, and Ralph said the same. He told me to get him rolling and that he'd stay going.”

Stay going is putting it mildly. Westover devoured the Curragh straight as his rivals cried enough. The win represented a fourth Classic success for Ralph Becket but the first the trainer recorded with a colt.

Many people viewed Westover an unlucky loser behind Desert Crown at Epsom given he was stopped in his tracks and encountered traffic problems at vital stages in the race.

The prospects of a rematch between the pair was raised following the Irish Derby with the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot next month the most likely destination for both colts. Now that would be class.

 

Murtagh Making the Most of Aga Khan Support

Less than two years after it was announced that Johnny Murtagh would train horses for the Aga Khan, the Curragh-based operator sent out Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to land the G2 GAIN Railway S.

Murtagh was closely associated with the Aga Khan Studs during his long and fruitful period as stable jockey with John Oxx, with his most famous partnership in the world-famous green and red silks coming aboard Sinndar (Ire) (Grand Lodge), the dual Derby hero who went on to snare the Arc in 2000.

Saturday represented another hugely important milestone for Murtagh and the Aga Khan who, in his role as trainer, has now become a vital cog in the wheel of the Irish operation.

Shartash is an unusually quick runner for the Aga Khan. Out of the five-time winner Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won back-to-back editions of the G2 Blandford S. in 2016 and 2017, Shartash has an exciting future.

The G1 Phoenix S. could be the obvious next race for him and he should have no trouble getting seven furlongs in time.

 

Tide Finally Turns For Teresa

There were few more deserving winners of the Listed Dubai Duty Free Dash S. than Teresa Mendoza (Ire) (Territories {GB}).

It seems a long time ago now since Ken Condon's filly burst onto the scene by winning a Curragh maiden as a 2-year-old in good style back in 2020.

She had placed six times at listed and group level since, before finally bagging that all-important listed success at the Curragh on Saturday.

That win sugar-coated a good weekend for her sire. Ger Lyons unleashed another smart runner by Territories at the Curragh on Friday in the shape of Slan Abhaile (Ire), who slalomed her way through the field under Colin Keane before pulling clear at the line.

Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB), who was sold for a whopping £1.2 million to join Gai Waterhouse in Australia at the Goffs London Sale recently, showed that it's not all about speed when it comes to Territories. He is clearly a sire going places.

 

Aikhal Proves Doubters Wrong

He may have finished last of the 11 runners behind Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. when last seen, but Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) showed that he is colt not to be underestimated in running away with the G3 ARM Holding International S. on the Curragh card.

It's not often that Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore team up with a 20-1 runner and Aikhal proved his doubters wrong in producing a fine performance to scamper clear of some solid rivals.

Saturday's victory represented just the sixth start of his career and his first over 10 furlongs. Judging by the style the win was achieved, he should have no trouble getting 1 1/2 miles and Saturday may not be the last time he surprises people.

 

Respectable Curragh Crowds

Curragh chief executive Brian Kavanagh said in the build-up to Derby weekend that he was more focussed on people enjoying themselves than getting bums on seats.

Well, the Curragh achieved both on Saturday and, for the first time in a long time, there was a genuine buzz around the place.

Kavanagh was quoted as saying “roughly 11,300” came through the turnstiles on Saturday.

Despite the fact that the newly developed €81-million Curragh can cater for over 30,000 people, the fact that 11,300 turned up on Saturday represented a positive step.

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