Royal Ascot: “We Know He Is Good Enough.” Artorius Back for Jubilee Burn-Up

Royal Ascot 2023 winds up on Saturday with the centrepiece the meeting's now-familiar international dash, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. These are some of the fastest equine dragsters on the planet, with the 1:11.05 six-furlong course record of Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) potentially under threat as the high pressure continues to build over Berkshire. Australia's Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) returns a year older and more mature than when a close third 12 months ago as he covered the final three furlongs faster than any. Hong Kong's Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) gets the dual benefit of an overseas holiday in the English sun and some time away from his nemesis Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}). He's also got Ryan Moore, which can't be bad.

Sam Freedman is not feeling the same pressure with the current favourite Artorius as 12 months ago.

“He is a lot shorter in the market and there is a bit more expectation, but last year it was the unknown and whether he was going to measure up–this year we know he is good enough,” he explained. “I am not so concerned about the opposition, but more where he will end up and where he will get to in the run. I am confident taking on any of the sprinters in the world, but it is a case of getting the right transit and a bit of luck.”

US interest comes in the form of the Christophe Clement-trained Big Invasion (Declaration Of War) on a big day for Dean and Patti Reeves who had a share of the Albany success of Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) on Friday. He faces a stark new challenge here, but looked the kind of strong closer in the GI Jaipur that will enjoy this stiff six. English queen Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is back on the track four days after her gallant effort in the G1 King's Stand S., where she was definitely compromised by Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) who due to his drift looked a more worthy winner than he actually was. The good news for fans of John Quinn's triple group 1 winner is that she is not the type to let such an injustice fester and the vibe from her accomplished trainer straight after was that the experience will even bring her to a peak.

“We left her down all week and looked at her on Thursday morning and she seems fine, so we're quite happy to roll the dice,” her Malton-based trainer said. “Plenty of horses have run well in both races, so it's doable. She seems bright and she's no travelling to do, which is important.”

Marc Chan's G1 British Champions Sprint S. hero Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will have to travel faster than he's ever done, something that won't be a problem for the dual Wokingham winner Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) who finally gets his crack at the meeting's big one on the fast ground he loves. Based on his times when taking his second renewal of the day's big handicap, he would have been in the mix in this especially as he was carrying seven pounds more than the Platinum Jubilee winner Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and clocked a final three furlongs 2/10 second faster than Artorius.

With the ground quickening with each passing day, Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. could be robbed of its star turn as connections of Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) revealed they will be checking out the lay of the land ahead of the mile-and-a-half test. Trainer Owen Burrows has avoided this kind of surface since the debut of Shadwell's G1 Coronation Cup winner and would welcome some storms in Berkshire. “This was the obvious race for him, our only slight worry is the ground being a bit quick for him, so I think we'll walk the track at midday on Saturday and make sure we're happy with it,” he said of the 6-year-old who was so impressive in last month's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. “He's won on a range of grounds, but I know speaking to Sheikha Hissa after he won at Sandown that Jim [Crowley] had mentioned to her that he's so much better on good ground and we want to look after him this year–we won't risk him on fast ground.”

George Strawbridge's talented Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is hardly the biggest fan of fast ground either, but she handled something near this when accounting for Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton S. at York last month. Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was on a quick surface when landing the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. over the course and distance when last seen and Willie Muir is relishing the end of the long wait. “As I've said all the way through, this is hopefully a prep race for the King George and will put the edge on him,” he said. “I've got no doubt his ability is all still there, but he's been off the course for a long time and we just want to get through this race and move on. As long as he goes through the race nice and comes home nice, we're laughing.”

Opening the card is the seven-furlong Listed Chesham S., where Ballydoyle's strong collection of juveniles is represented by the Navan scorer Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never) and the eye-catching Leopardstown third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). In a renewal dominated by Irish-trained fillies, others to note are Lindsay Laroche's Limerick winner Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and The Curragh scorer Nemonte (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) who is another to represent Reeves Thoroughbred Racing owned in partnership with Steven Rocco.

Shadwell's TDN Rising Star Enfjaar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ballydoyle's proven The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Juddmonte's Covey (GB) (Frankel {GB}) seem the trio to focus on in the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S., with the latter unusually impressive in the always-competitive Silver Bowl H. at Haydock last month. “He's a very exciting horse and we look forward to seeing him out again,” Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said. “He looks to have plenty of pace for seven furlongs and he gets a mile, so the stiff seven in Ascot should be fine for him.”

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Mehmas’s Minzaal Electrifies The Sprint Cup

Haydock missed the rain on Friday night and Saturday and so the depleted line-up for the feature G1 Betfair Sprint Cup needed a stimulant. It got that and then some in the form of Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who came to the fore in scintillating fashion to become yet another in a long line of star sprinters operating in the Shadwell livery.

Looking ready for this career-defining moment when storming to success in Newbury's G3 Hackwood S. on a similarly fast surface over this six-furlong trip July 16, the 7-2 second favourite who had been second to Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in Deauville's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in the interim Aug. 7, was visually full of running covered up in mid-pack by Jim Crowley. Let loose approaching the final furlong, the Owen Burrows-trained 4-year-old piled it on to romp to a 3 3/4-length verdict over last year's winner Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal), who denied Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) by a short head.

“That was impressive, but it's not a surprise because we've always held him in high regard,” Crowley said. “He won the Gimcrack at two and then he went wrong after that. He is a remarkable horse because he is so laid-back. He is like a boxer–literally the bell goes and he wakes up then. He is a real dude.

“He has been a bit slow away in the past, which has probably cost him a couple of races, but today he jumped nicely and they went a nice pace. I was always travelling very comfortably and as I got the split he was away and gone. He is equally effective on good-to-soft as he is on fast ground and the main aim would now be Champions Day, so we will try and nick another one with him.”

Having won the G2 Gimcrack S. and finished third in Newmarket's G1 Middle Park S. as a 2-year-old, Minzaal was off the track until Ascot's Listed Rous S. over five furlongs in early October and his effort when second there proved he had lost little effectiveness during his downtime. Third in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. a fortnight later, he went into winter quarters with the chance of a clean run through the 2022 season and on his comeback ran into what looks to be the clear sprint division leader in Highfield Princess when third to her in the May 11 G2 1895 Duke Of York S. Apparently averse to cheekpieces when only 13th in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. at the Royal meeting June 18, he was back in the groove without headgear in the Hackwood and Maurice de Gheest to set up this career-best.

Tracking the right rivals up the centre of the track in Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Emaraaty Ana, the bay took a few strides to really engage top gear when brought between them approaching the furlong pole but stretched out willingly from there to forge a large opening on top-class opponents. The 3-1 market-leader Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was disappointing as he beat only one of the 12 runners, with the five non-runners due to the fast ground including the leading contenders Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Owen Burrows, whose record for Shadwell on big Saturdays is outstanding, was delighted his stable star had finally achieved what looked inevitable on that gloomy August day on York's Knavesmire two years ago. “He ran a big race in France last time and credit to Shaun his groom, who's been telling me that he's been in better form coming into this than he was for France and he was right. It was a big performance,” he said. “He's a pleasure to deal with, that's his one major attribute that he's got a temperament to die for as a sprinter. He's so laid-back about life, he just eats, sleeps and works and he's just lovely and a pleasure to train.”

“There was plenty of room so once he jumped and got a nice position behind the leaders–something which didn't quite materialise in France–I was happy and it's a massive performance,” he added. “I'm thrilled for him, he's been knocking on the door for some time and through no fault of his own he didn't get a chance last year to show what he can do and he's finally got to prove it. He'll go to Ascot next, all being well, Jim has been saying for most of the year that he'd appreciate a bit of juice but it didn't look that way just then!”

Emaraaty Ana's jockey Andrea Atzeni said, “He ran a blinder. It was very similar to last year in that he travelled beautifully through the race and when I let him down he really picked up for me, he just found one a bit too good on the day.”

Hollie Doyle said of Rohaan, “It was a great run and they went flat out, a lot quicker than at Newbury and I think that played into most of our strengths.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Minzaal's unraced dam Pardoven (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), whose maiden 2-year-old Maxi King (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) was a 280,000gns purchase by A C Elliott at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and whose yearling daughter of Footstepsinthesand (GB) was bought by Grande Ville Breeding for 80,000gns at the latest edition of that auction, is kin to four black-type performers headed by the G3 Gordon S. runner-up Firebet (Ire) (Dubai Destination). Their dam, the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial-placed Dancing Prize (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), is a full-sister to the G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Dance To The Top (GB) whose progeny list is headed by the G2 Al Fahidi Fort winner and G1 Dubai Duty Free runner-up Bankable (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy scorer Cheshire (GB) (Warning {GB}).

 

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP S.-G1, £350,000, Haydock, 9-3, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:08.44, g/f.
1–MINZAAL (IRE), 131, c, 4, by Mehmas (Ire)
                1st Dam: Pardoven (Ire), by Clodovil (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Dancing Prize (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
                3rd Dam: Aim For The Top, by Irish River (Fr)
   1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (85,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 140,000gns
Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Ringfort
Stud (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley. £198,485. Lifetime
Record: G1SP-Fr, 11-4-2-3, $580,785. Werk Nick Rating: B+.
   *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
   Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Emaraaty Ana (GB), 131, g, 6, Shamardal–Spirit Of Dubai
(Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al
Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Kevin Ryan.
£75,250.
3–Rohaan (Ire), 131, g, 4, Mayson (GB)–Vive Les Rouges (GB),
by Acclamation (GB). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (£36,000 Ylg '19
GOFFPR; 20,000gns 2yo '20 TATAHI). O-Chris Kiely Racing Ltd
& Mr J Tomkins; B-Liam Phelan (IRE); T-David Evans. £37,660.
Margins: 3 3/4, SHD, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 7.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Flaming Rib (Ire), Chil Chil (GB), Harry Three (GB), Go Bears Go (Ire), Art Power (Ire), Khaadem (Ire), Hala Hala Athmani (GB), Naval Crown (GB), Dubawi Legend (Ire). Scratched: Brad The Brief (GB), Castle Star (Ire), Great Ambassador (GB), Kinross (GB), Umm Kulthum (Ire).

 

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Oxted to Be Examined After July Cup Third

Two-time Group 1 winner and Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup third Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) will undergo a thorough examination by a veterinarian prior to racing again, according to trainer Roger Teal. Last year's July Cup hero, who also bagged the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on June 15, veered right across the course during the running of the Newmarket sprint on Saturday.

“He seems absolutely fine, but we're going to have him checked out because we don't know why he hung across the track,” said Teal. “We'll have the vet look at him and see if there's anything untoward. He's never hung across the track like that before, so we'll monitor him over the next few days and see if anything comes to light.”

The Sept. 4 G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock is a possible next port of call for the two-time Group 1 winner, all being well after the veterinary exams.

“We're sort of running out of options now, so the Sprint Cup at Haydock would be his next target if all is well,” added Teal.

Another July Cup also-ran, the dual group winner Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), could take his chances in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. The 3-year-old gelding ran 10th in the July Cup after a trio of wins including the Wokingham S. at the Royal meeting.

“He could go for the Maurice de Gheest,” said trainer David Evans. “There might not be so many runners and not as good a field as in the July Cup. That was probably the best sprint race of the season.”

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Oxted Faces 22 in July Cup Defence

A total of 23 horses have been confirmed for the July 10 G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, including Roger Teal's 2020 victor Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}). Second in the G3 Abernant S. at HQ on Apr. 15, the entire was third behind the reopposing Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G2 Duke Of York S. on May 12, prior to doubling his Group 1 tally in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on June 15. Dual group winner and last out June 19 Wokingham S. hero Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) and listed winner Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) were both supplemented.

“It feels like a real championship race, you have all the best horses of the generation in there, but it's a shame not to have the Diamond Jubilee winner there alongside the King's Stand winner,” Starman's trainer Ed Walker said. “Starman has got an opportunity to be the sprinter of his generation because he's only got the one blip on his record, I'd love to think he could be the next Muhaarar.

“He's done absolutely nothing wrong bar that run on bad ground, I just don't know how much is up his sleeve–only he can answer that question and hopefully he does answer it on Saturday.”

Group 3 winner Chil Chil (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is “at the top of her game” according to her trainer Andrew Balding and is trying the Group 1 level for the first time. The King Power Racing 5-year-old is lining up for the July Cup. A half-sister to four-time Group 2 winner Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), Chil Chil saluted in a May 1 handicap at Newmarket and earned a career high when saluting in the G3 William Hill Chipchase S. at Newcastle on June 26.

“She will go for the July Cup if the ground is good or faster,” said Balding. “She showed some pretty useful form last year when conditions were right and she was a little bit unfortunate on a couple of occasions. Beat The Bank, her brother, got better with age and it appears she is. It is a big step up in class but she likes the track at Newmarket and I don't see why she won't like this one, so why not have a go?

“She travelled strongly at Newcastle and I was impressed with the way she picked up in the second half of the race. She is clearly a filly at the top of her game. It would be nice if she could prove up to this level.”

First past the post in the G1 Commonwealth Cup S. at Royal Ascot, but disqualified for interference, Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) returns for trainer Archie Watson. Watson also sends out G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprit S. winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was second to the now-injured Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. also at Royal Ascot.

Among the other entrants as of Monday are: G3 Jersey S. winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for trainer Charlie Appleby, G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) for trainer Clive Cox, Joseph O'Brien's Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who won the G1 National S., the group winner Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for Tim Easterby and G1 Queen Anne S. second Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for Aidan O'Brien.

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