Tag: Royal Ascot

Kingman’s TDN Rising Star Age Of Kings Wins The Jersey

Things hadn't gone smoothly for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Brant's TDN Rising Star Age Of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–Turret Rocks {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) since last summer, but it finally clicked into place for the talented Ballydoyle second-string and Wayne Lordan in Saturday's G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot. In the shadow of Ryan Moore's choice The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the 1.1million gns Book 1 graduate was nevertheless let go at a surprising 22-1 given that Aidan O'Brien had run him first time up this season in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas.

Placed close to the strong early pace set by the 11-4 favourite Covey (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the son of the G2 May Hill S. winner Turret Rocks was committed inside the two and had to fight to the line as the closers came. Finding it in time, he prevailed by a length and a neck from fellow outsiders Zoology (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Streets Of Gold (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) respectively to provide his trainer with an 85th Royal winner and deliver a 12th Royal Ascot trainer's title.

 

Granted his TDN Rising Star tag following his emphatic Curragh conditions win at the beginning of last June, Age Of Kings had come here days later to contest the G2 Coventry S. and was seventh before returning to Kildare to be a close fourth in the G2 Railway S. on his third start in 25 days. Whether that busy workload cost him afterwards is hard to say, but it was significant that he was the stable's chosen representative in Leopardstown's G3 Tyros S. in July which is always a marker of merit when it comes to Ballydoyle's juveniles. Only third there before disappearing off the radar, he was a surprise member of the line-up for the Irish Guineas and although he was 10th he was beaten less than eight lengths by Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).

“Wayne kept it uncomplicated and said he'd get a mile if we wanted,” O'Brien said. “The Guineas was only his first run of the year, it was a very good run and he came forward from that.” Lordan added, “At two he had a few runs and maybe got a bit weak, but he's come back and he's stepped forward nicely, even in his work.”

Trainer James Ferguson said of Zoology, “They went very hard and, in the mid-stage of the race, you just think he's struggling to keep up but they've all come back and he's stayed on very well. It's a tough race this and the fast ground certainly suited him. He has done absolutely nothing wrong and ran a super race in the Greenham, when he obviously didn't like the ground. Back on a sounder surface, he's run an absolute belter of a race and I've got very high hopes for this horse. I think he could be a superstar.”

Streets Of Gold's trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said, “That's probably the hardest race he has run in and, on Timeform figures, that's probably the highest he's ever run to. He is in the Bunbury Cup, we might go there or we might try to find an easy race to win–we will see.”

Pedigree Notes
Age Of Kings is the first foal out of the aforementioned Turret Rocks, who also took the G3 Blue Wind S. and G3 Meld S. and was runner-up in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and third in the G1 Pretty Polly S. for Jim Bolger. She is a half-sister to Beyond Thankful (Ire) (Whipper), who captured the G3 Newcastle Cup and was second in the G3 Killavullan S, while this is also the family of the G2 Fuji TV Sho Spring S. winner and G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) third Galore Creek (Jpn) (Kinshasa no Kiseki {Aus}), the G3 Stanerra S. winner Cimeara (Ire) (Vocalised) and her 2-year-old full-sister Comhra (Ire) who was third in last month's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. Turret Rocks, who is also related to the brilliant Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), has the 2-year-old colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) who was a 600,000gns purchase by David Redvers at last year's Book 1 Sale. Named Trafalgar Square (Ire), he is followed by a yearling full-brother to Age Of Kings.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
JERSEY S.-G3, £150,000, Ascot, 6-24, 3yo, 7fT, 1:26.93, g/f.
1–AGE OF KINGS (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Turret Rocks (Ire) (MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $396,000), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Beyond Compare (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Gold Bust (GB), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (1,100,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Brant; B-Farmleigh Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. £85,065. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 7-2-1-1, $136,790. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zoology (GB), 129, c, 3, Zoustar (Aus)–Peach Melba (GB), by Dream Ahead. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (90,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-R Kent & Executors of Lady Lonsdale (GB); T-James Ferguson. £32,250.
3–Streets Of Gold (Ire), 129, c, 3, Havana Gold (Ire)–Truly Honoured (GB), by Frankel (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£27,000 Ylg '21 TATIRY). O-J Allison & G C Stevens; B-Vimal & Gillian Khosla (IRE); T-Eve Johnson Houghton. £16,140.
Margins: 1, NK, NK. Odds: 22.00, 22.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Holloway Boy (GB), Olivia Maralda (Ire), Holguin (GB), Flight Plan (GB), Thunderbear (Ire), Covey (GB), Alexander John (Ire), Enfjaar (Ire), Mysterious Night (Ire), The Antarctic (Ire), Empty Metaphor (Ire), Quar Shamar (Ger).

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Expert Eye’s Snellen Wins The Chesham

Saturday's Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot was all about the fillies as the Gavin Cromwell-trained Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}–Illumined {Ire}, by Sea The Moon {Ger}) found the line just ahead of Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never). Off the mark at Limerick 10 days earlier, having won her barrier trial beforehand, Lindsay Laroche's homebred was keen early tracking the leader of the stand's-side group but had plenty in reserve when committed by Gary Carroll approaching two out. Green and errant late as the 7-4 favourite Pearls And Rubies drove to the line many lengths wider out in the centre of the track, the 12-1 shot was there a head in advance of her Aidan O'Brien-trained compatriot. Golden Mind (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) and Oddyssey (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) fared best of the colts, finishing off strongly to be half a length away in a joint-third.

“The last half furlong was a very long half furlong for me–she was looking for company and started to lean a bit, but she's a very good filly,” Carroll said. “She is a little bit weak and was getting a little lonely when she started rolling. I tried to correct her in Limerick when she went like that and lost momentum. So I was going forwards and thought, 'keep going', and thankfully I hung on.” Cromwell added, “She has been nice from the word go and is progressing. I think she's going to improve as well.”

 

Richard Henry said of Pearls And Rubies, “She went to win her race and maybe got a bit lonely on her own. She has run a great race and will come on for the run. She is a sweet filly. Ryan thinks she could be very good.”

Pedigree Notes
The dam Illumined, who was a winner over 12 furlongs and was third in the Listed Foundation S. for George Strawbridge, was a 170,000gns purchase by Harvey Bloodstock at the 2020 Tatts December Mares Sale. Snellen, who becomes a landmark first black-type winner for her second-crop sire, is her first foal. She is kin to the listed scorer and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Night Tango (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) and the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), who is in turn the dam of five black-type performers headed by the four-times group 1-winning King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S. hero Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Illumined's second foal is a yearling filly by Blue Point (Ire), while she also has a colt foal by Gleneagles (Ire).

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CHESHAM S.-Listed, £100,000, Ascot, 6-24, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.36, g/f.
1–SNELLEN (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Expert Eye (GB)
1st Dam: Illumined (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Sea The Moon (Ger)
2nd Dam: Nenuphar (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Narola (Ger), by Nebos (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-L H LaRoche (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell; J-Gary Carroll. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $88,302.
2–Pearls And Rubies, 126, f, 2, No Nay Never–Diamondsandrubies (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Richard Henry & Mrs John Magnier; B-Premier Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,500.
(DH) 3–Golden Mind (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo Gold (GB)–Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £10,760.
(DH) 3–Oddyssey (GB), 131, c, 2, Ulysses (Ire)–Last Echo (Ire), by Whipper. (10,500gns Ylg '22 TADEY). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Pinnacle Thoroughbreds 3; B-Culworth Grounds Farm (GB); T-Patrick Owens. £10,760.
Margins: HD, HF, HF, HF. Odds: 12.00, 1.75, 12.00, 125.00.
Also Ran: Hot Fuss (Ire), Carolina Reaper (GB), Nemonte (Ire), Dallas Star (Fr), Warnie (Ire), Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire), Matnookh (Ire), Maymay (Fr), Content (Ire), Lightning Leo (GB), Count Palatine (Ire), La Guarida (Ire). Scratched: Quatre Bras (Ire).

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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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Talking Points: Life After Frankie Won’t Be Bleak With Magical Murphy Around

I don't know about you, but I can't seem to remember a better big-race ride in recent times than what Oisin Murphy produced in winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup aboard Julie Camacho's Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).

It would be hard enough to win a middle-of-the-road handicap after blowing the start like Shaquille did. A Group 1 at Ascot? You must be having a laugh. 

The in-running punters agreed and quickly laid Shaquille at odds all the way up to 90 on the exchanges. Ouch. But even when Shaquille got to the quarters of Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), the layers must still have fancied the heavy favourite to fight back given the ground Murphy's mount had to make up to get into a winning position. 

That's what made the ride a brilliant one. It was Murphy's reaction to the poor start that ultimately made the difference. While other riders would have panicked and tried to make up that ground lost in the early stages, Murphy kept calm, and never put Shaquille on his head. 

It would be doing Shaquille and Murphy a disservice by saying that the leaders went too quick up front which resulted in a burn up. The early indications on times would suggest that that wasn't the case at all. 

It's best to chalk this down as a top-notch performance from a sprinter on the up and an even better ride from Murphy. 

As for the runner-up, Little Big Bear, one could draw comparisons between him and the former Ballydoyle-trained Ten Sovereigns (Ire), another talented son of No Nay Never. 

Returning to Newmarket during high summer for the July Cup could see Little Big Bear in a better light, as it did Ten Sovereigns, who also tasted defeat in the Commonwealth Cup before scorching to that memorable success at Newmarket. 

Always Leave Them Wanting More

Call me a miserable fart [I've been called worse], but is it not getting a bit repetitive for television presenters to be willing Frankie Dettori to ride on for another year every time he bags a winner on the big stage?

One well-respected pundit even commented that, 'John Gosden will be tearing his hair out' as he tries to find a replacement for the legendary jockey. 

Okay, we get it, Frankie is box office and is arguably riding as well this year as he has for a long time but is this a narrative that will continue up until his intended retirement at either the Breeders' Cup or the Melbourne Cup? I certainly hope not. 

Britain is in a good place in terms of the talent in the weighroom, as Oisin Murphy demonstrated aboard Shaquille and as the reigning champion William Buick has proved time and time again, season after season. 

There are few professions where the lines between success and failure are more blurred than race-riding. Such a statement was summed up in commercial fashion by amateur jockey David Maxwell after he won the Champion Hunter Chase on his own horse Bob And Co at Punchestown a couple of years back. 

Maxwell said of his riding endeavours, “some days you are the dog, and then others you are the lampost.”

Frankie has been the top dog of the weighing room for the majority of his career. He made his decision to exit the stage while still operating at the top of his game.

They say all great sports stars should leave their fans wanting more and Frankie is clearly doing that at Ascot this week but it would be a shame to see him relegated to the lampost by staying on longer than he feels his body will permit him to. 

Big Bloodstock Agents Bolster Their Reputation 

It can be easy to roll your eyes and scoff at the role bloodstock agents play in this industry. Touring the world spending other people's money, you say? Where do I sign up?

The reality is that the fickleness of this game that we often hear afflicting trainers and riders also applies to bloodstock agents. This is a results-based business and the big agents need to pull the big-race riches out of the bag the same as everybody else. 

That's what made the exploits of Billy Jackson-Stops, Richard Brown, Mark McStay and others noteworthy this week. 

It has been well-documented that Jackson-Stops bought G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for just 35,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. 

Brown has inherited a major client in Wathnan Racing and his strike-rate has been nothing short of phenomenal with two Royal Ascot winners Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) and Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for the new ownership vehicle, the latter going down as an inspired buy after winning the Gold Cup on just his fourth start.

McStay's fingerprints were all over the G3 Albany S. winner Porta Fortuna (Ire) after he recommended Donnacha O'Brien's Caravaggio filly to American owners after she won her maiden on debut at the Curragh. 

The top agents have certainly earned their fee this week. 

Job Done For Tahiyra – And She's Much Better Than She Showed 

The fewer the runners in a race, the more tactical it becomes. We saw that in the Group 1 feature on Friday with Chris Hayes doing his best to keep things simple on the heavy favourite Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}).

The Irish 1,000 Guineas winner may have only won by a length in the finish and had to overcome a stewards' inquiry after she caused what appeared to be minimal interference to the runner-up Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}), but there are many reasons why she can be deemed much better than what she showed at Ascot. 

Tahiyra's main asset is an explosive burst of speed and she did not get to utilise that in the Coronation S. The stronger the pace, the better Dermot Weld's charge will be, and she rates a hugely-exciting miler to follow for the rest of the season. 

With Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) likely to step up in trip and Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) proving that he is in fact beatable, there could be an opening in that division, and it would be fascinating if she were to take on the colts at some stage in the campaign. She looks the real deal.

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