Tag: Richard Fahey

Ardad’s Perfect Power Takes The Commonwealth Cup

Confirming his position as the chief three-year-old sprinting colt, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) came out on top in a highly-competitive G1 Commonwealth Cup on Friday. Successful in the G2 Norfolk S. at last year's meeting, the subsequent G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner had been seventh in the 2000 Guineas following his success in Newbury's seven-furlong G3 Greenham S. Apr. 16 and started as the 7-2 joint-favourite back sprinting. Settled halfway down the field initially by Christophe Soumillon racing far side, the Richard Fahey-trained bay gave his familiar surge to take over from TDN Rising Star Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) passing the furlong pole and win by 1 1/4 lengths from Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) who denied Flotus by half a length.

 

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Brazen Beau’s The Ridler In Controversial Norfolk Win

Dreams came true in Royal Ascot's opener on Thursday for Steve Bradley as his homebred The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}–Colorada {GB}, by Lope de Vega {Ire}) came out on top in the G2 Norfolk S. to gain a 'Win and You're In' berth at the Breeders' Cup. Let go at 50-1, the bay who had hidden his light under a bushel up to this point did not earn it without controversy, however, in a race that is certain to attract heated debate for some time to come. A promising if unexciting third in Beverley's Two Year Old Trophy Conditions S. over this five-furlong trip last time May 28, The Ridler's win gained extra significance as he was partnered by Paul Hanagan whose longstanding relationship with the Richard Fahey stable was announced to have come to an official end last month. Proving there is no fall-out, it was a case of friends reunited as they enjoyed the fruits of the biggest shock in the history of this prestige event, which they had also landed 12 months ago with Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}).

Anchored early behind the leaders up the centre, The Ridler produced a strong run to overhaul TDN Rising Star and 7-4 favourite Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) with half a furlong remaining en route to a 1 3/4-length score. That was only half the story, however, as the winner had seconds earlier drifted markedly left and significantly hampered Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), who ended up a neck behind in third having had his momentum checked at a crucial stage. The fourth, Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), also met with major interference as a result of the winner's drift but the stewards opted relatively quickly to leave the order as it finished.

Hanagan, who was handed a 10-day ban, was convinced he had won fair and square before he had the opportunity to watch a replay. “The Ridler pricked his ears in front and I always felt he was clear,” he explained. “I don't think they had to stop riding. He is still very green and a baby. I put my stick down to get him straight, so I could not have done much more.”

Fahey said, “That was a bit of a surprise–I know we were mad about the second horse [Walbank] in the breeze-up, but he made a little bit too much than we wanted to pay. I didn't think The Ridler was a 50-1 shot. He's a good hardy horse. We had him in the Coventry and had a long chat about it all, then decided to go here. You need a good six-furlong horse to win, especially the pace they went, so we're delighted.”

Of the change in the jockey situation at Musley Bank, the trainer added, “Paul is happy, I'm happy. We haven't really had a change around of jockeys, it was just bringing a young guy [Oisin Orr] in and Paul would still ride for us and has ridden for us today. You've got to look to the future, though. We will get Ascot out of the way before we think about the future, but we'd think about a flat six furlongs. He's quite a quick horse–you'd like to think of something like the Prix Morny, because if you've got a group 2, you've got to think of a Group 1.”

Steve Bradley said of his pride and joy, “The Ridler has got a reverse question mark on his face and The Riddler on every outfit has loads of question marks, including in reverse. As soon as he was born, it was a no-brainer. Weatherbys didn't like it with two 'd's, so we settled for one and the rest is history. My son Leigh is a Batman fan more than me, but it's been around for a long time, more than 60 years. Weatherbys were worried about the copyright–they didn't want to take on whoever owns Marvel Comics these days and they got a sweat on about that. I think Marvel Comics have got more money than I have! We use the National Stud to breed most of our horses and I have been involved heavily in the last 10 years in racing. It's amazing. This is the best day of my life, along with getting married and having children.”

Walbank's trainer David Loughnane was finishing runner-up for the second year in succession having missed out with Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and said, “Deja vu! The horse has done very well. He has run his race and I don't think he could have done anything different. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't heartbroken, but that's racing. We were out in front and he has probably got a little bit lonely. The winner has come down the outside and a long way across the track.”

Michael O'Callaghan was convinced the winner's move cost Crispy Cat the race. “He should have won. It is plain and simple,” he stated. “Silvestre [de Sousa] said he would have won. He never had a clear run through the race, even from the mid part of the race, and then he got wiped out by the winner when he was coming through. It wasn't the first time he had to check and he has run on again, so he should have won, unfortunately.” Brave Nation's rider James Doyle said, “He ran with a lot of credit–he would have been third without the interference.”

The Ridler, who had given little indication that he was about to deliver a performance such as this when getting off the mark at Ripon May 6 prior to finishing behind Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S. fourth Chateau (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) at Beverley, hails from the family of the G3 Prix Corrida winner Trumbaka (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and last year's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Emaraaty Ana (GB) by Lope de Vega's sire Shamardal. Colorada's yearling colt is by Time Test (GB).

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
NORFOLK S.-G2, £110,000, Ascot, 6-16, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.50, g/f.
1–THE RIDLER (GB), 129, c, 2, by Brazen Beau (Aus)
1st Dam: Colorada (GB), by Lope de Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Isabella Glyn (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Questina, by Rainbow Quest
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Steve Bradley; B-Smarden Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Richard Fahey; J-Paul Hanagan. £65,120. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $90,774. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Walbank (Ire), 129, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–No Lippy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (525,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing & Omnihorse Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-David Loughnane. £24,629.
3–Crispy Cat (GB), 129, c, 2, Ardad (Ire)–Mara Grey (Ire), by Azamour (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (7,500gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; £105,000 Ylg '21 TATIRY). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Saeed Nasser Al Romaithi (GB); T-Michael O'Callaghan. £12,309.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 1. Odds: 50.00, 1.75, 7.00.
Also Ran: Brave Nation (Ire), Bakeel (GB), Pillow Talk (Ire), The Antarctic (Ire), Thunder Moor (Ire), Redemption Time (GB), Jungle Fever (Ire). Scratched: My First Rodeo (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Seamie Heffernan: ‘Time To Take Prize-Money Off Guilty Jockeys’

Multiple Classic and Breeders' Cup-winning rider Seamie Heffernan thinks taking prize-money off winning jockeys found guilty of careless riding is the best way to avoid controversial climaxes to races.

Heffernan was speaking shortly after Paul Hanagan was handed a 10-day ban for careless riding after winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot aboard 50-1 outsider The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}).

Hanagan, who was recently demoted as Richard Fahey's stable jockey, allowed The Ridler, trained by his former boss, to drift across the track, hampering a number of his rivals in the process.

Despite the fact that an inquiry was called, the stewards found that The Ridler, who had just under two lengths to spare from 7-4 favourite Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at the winning line, had not improved his finishing position by veering across his rivals.

However, Heffernan, who has ridden big-race winners all across the globe, including a memorable Breeders' Cup triumph aboard Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2016, thinks the prospects of guilty jockeys losing out on prize-money could make the sport much safer.

He said, “There's no consistency in the stewarding in Britain and Ireland. Different stewards take a dislike to different riders and trainers. When they have the power to do them, they'll do them. I have seen it countless times, the exact same incident could generate a completely different result, depending on the stewards and the trainers and riders involved.”

Heffernan added, “The best way of dealing with it is taking away the prize-money. It's a grey area and the stewarding is inconsistent. It's a win-at-all-cost mindset at the moment but I bet if you told some of the riders that they would lose the prize-money if you wiped out another rider they'd think twice. I know I'd think twice about what I was doing.”

The Norfolk S. was worth £65,120 to the winner, of which, Hanagan, who described The Ridler as “babyish” and didn't seem to see much wrong with his efforts in the saddle, received just under 10% of the prize-money on top of his riding fee.

Speaking after the race, Hanagan said, “He's still very green and babyish. I always felt I was clear. I don't think they had to stop riding [in behind], that's the impression I got. There's a lot of emotions going through me at the minute. I'm delighted to ride Richard and the owners this winner, so I'll enjoy the moment.”

One of the constants at Ballydoyle for over two decades, Heffernan, famed for his sense of humour, volunteered another way of policing the sport if the governing bodies failed to examine the careless riding rules following Thursday's controversy.

He explained, “Sometimes I'm guilty and I get done for it. Sometimes I'm guilty and I get away with it. That's just the way it is. It's a game of doubt. It's inconsistent.

“Racing is a dangerous sport. There is a reason two ambulances follow horses around in a race. The minute you swing your leg over a horse, you are in danger and, if we could reduce the risk and keep it safe, then that is the right thing to do.”

Heffernan added, “Do you know the lie detector machines? Maybe they should bring them into the stewards room. If you are in racing, you have to be a very good liar. Stick the lie detector on them and watch them sweat!

“A lot of the stewards are there for the greater good of racing but it would be great if we could get a lie detector on some of the jockeys, trainers and owners.”

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Fahey Reveals Commonwealth Plan for ‘Power’

Richard Fahey has revealed that Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) will be aimed at the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot with the trainer of the opinion that the colt failed to stay the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas trip at Newmarket on Saturday.

Perfect Power, who won the Greenham S. over seven furlongs at Newbury on his seasonal bow, failed to cope with the extra furlong in the Guineas when seventh behind Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

However, Fahey said he believed a return to six furlongs, a distance at which he won two Group 1 races–the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Middle Park at Newmarket–as a juvenile over will reap rewards.

“It looked that way [didn't stay the Guineas trip], so we'll regroup,” Fahey said. “He travelled well through the race but, just when they picked up, he didn't go with them.

“We had to have a go. It's one of those where you regret it when they run that way, but we can't change it and there's still plenty to look forward to hopefully. He's come out of the race grand, no issues.”

Speaking about future targets, Fahey identified the Commonwealth Cup as the main aim, and added: “We've got to look at that. He's showing plenty of speed, so we'll see. If he goes for that he'll go straight to Royal Ascot.

“There's plenty of races for us, races like the Prix Maurice de Gheest. As we get further on into the year there's plenty of Group 1s to be had.”

Also on Saturday, stablemate Umm Kulthum (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire}) made a successful return from 11 months off the track in the Listed Kilvington S. A tilt at the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. at the Royal meeting could be next.

Fahey said: “I was delighted with her. She's the sort of filly that would prefer it if they went flat out in front as she's always coming home, which is always a huge bonus.

“She finishes her races well and seems to go on any ground, so we'll see how she is. The Duke of York might just come a bit quick, but I'd definitely be thinking about Ascot if conditions turned up on the easy side. The Jubilee might be a race she could run well in.”

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