Tag: Royal Ascot

Australian Flavour On The Track and On The Rails

Royal Ascot has burst back to life after the two muted years of Covid, with one of the most welcome aspects of this year's meeting being the return of the Australians. The Antipodean participation is not confined to horses, owners, and trainers, however, as among the throng of the betting ring is an unfamiliar name to British punters but one which is very well known on the tracks of Sydney, Melbourne and beyond.

Robbie Waterhouse, husband of legendary trainer Gai, has set up his bookmaker's pitch in the Queen Anne Enclosure between the track and the grandstand and reported a successful first day of trade in completing a long-held dream to operate at the meeting.

“I've been to many Royal Ascots and enjoyed them all but I must say I would rather be working rather than sipping Champagne, as nice as that is, and as nice as my wife is,” he said. “I tried to buy a pitch four years ago and couldn't, and then we were thwarted by Covid, so it is wonderful to be here.”

The meeting got off to a terrific start for Australia when the Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) blazed to success in the G1 King's Stand S., and there was more to come on Wednesday when Australian-born Jane Chapple-Hyam trained her first Royal Ascot winner, Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. Waterhouse, too, was enjoying a successful run.

“I did manage to win which is the main idea,” he said. “I lost too much to my clients on the Australian horse, which can't be helped.”

Comparing working at Ascot to his homeland, he added, “I hate to say it but I think it's almost better than Australia on the metric of the number of bookmakers at work. We've got 253 at work here and probably only a dozen in Australia. The average age of bookmakers is also much younger here, and I think the fact that we are in front of a crowd is a huge advantage to us.”

He also admitted to pacing himself in order to get the marathon five-day trip.

Waterhouse said, “I've cancelled all my social events this week to be here every day. My very obedient wife had my dinner on the table at the hotel waiting for me last night, but I did set the alarm for 2am and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week.”

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No Nay Never’s Little Big Bear Best In The Windsor Castle

The subject of a momentous gamble in Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S., Ballydoyle's Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never–Adventure Seeker {Fr}, by Bering {GB}) duly delivered to maintain the 100% record of the TDN Rising Stars in Royal Ascot's two-year-old contests. Hammered into 6-5 favouritism to get Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore off the mark for the week, the impressive Naas maiden winner raced near the pace far side before being sent forward with hands and heels passing halfway. In the end, the imposing bay had to fight to fend off the stand's-side winner Rocket Rodney (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) but was equal to the task to score by a neck, with Eddie's Boy (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) 1 3/4 lengths back in third. “It was a good performance from a horse who is still learning,” Moore said. “He was out on the wing and the horses in the middle were ahead–he got a bit lonely, but he has plenty of ability. He is a big horse and I thought he did that comfortably. I know he didn't win by far, but there was more in the locker.”

Runner-up by a short head to the subsequent G3 Marble Hill S. runner-up Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and ahead of future winner Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on debut at The Curragh Apr. 10, Little Big Bear dealt with the drop to this trip without fuss when dominating his maiden from the well-regarded Joseph O'Brien-trained Alexis Zorba (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) at Naas May 7. The extent of the money flow in his direction leading up to the off spoke volumes about the expectation surrounding him and he was carrying that weight looking to provide Aidan O'Brien with the Royal Ascot winner the form of his juveniles seemed to suggest was a formality this Spring.

Rosegreen's two-year-olds are never hard-baked for this meeting and there were a few moments when Little Big Bear needed encouragement from Moore before halfway as several appeared to be travelling sweeter across the track. It was only as he approached the furlong marker that the sizeable colt began to emerge as one of the chief protagonists and by the time he had got to half a furlong out he had the measure of Rocket Rodney who was a few horse-widths out of range. “He was drawn a little away from the pace, but we were delighted with him,” O'Brien said. “He should get further in the future and is in the Phoenix Stakes. He is a big horse. It is obviously a very fast race and horses need to know a lot in it and be very educated. He had only had the two runs, so we were a bit worried about that, but we're delighted really.”

Little Big Bear is bred to stay much further on the dam's side, with the Listed Prix de Liancourt winner, G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up and GI E P Taylor S. fourth Adventure Seeker being a granddaughter of the legendary All Along (Fr), the French champion and US Horse of the Year in 1983 courtesy of her G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, GI Turf Classic, G1 Rothmans International and GI Washington D. C. International victories. A half to the precocious but ill-fated G3 Princess Margaret S. third Along Again (Ire) (Elusive City), she produced Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway) who was second in the 12-furlong G3 Hobart Cup. Also connected to the G3 Prix du Muguet winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-placed Art Francais (Lyphard's Wish {Fr}), the dam's yearling is a full-brother to Little Big Bear.

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
WINDSOR CASTLE S.-Listed, £100,000, Ascot, 6-15, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.33, g/f.
1–LITTLE BIG BEAR (IRE), 131, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Adventure Seeker (Fr) (SW & GSP-Fr, $155,312), by Bering (GB)
2nd Dam: American Adventure, by Miswaki
3rd Dam: All Along (Fr), by Targowice
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Camas Park Stud & Summerhill (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £59,200. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $84,657. *1/2 to Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway), GSP-Aus, $352,585. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rocket Rodney (GB), 131, g, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)–Alushta (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (18,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 18,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Victorious Racing Ltd; B-R W Stapleton (GB); T-George Scott. £22,390.
3–Eddie's Boy (GB), 131, c, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Spontaneity (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (45,000gns Ylg '21 TATSOM). O-Middleham Park Racing XLV & Partner; B-Crossfields Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Archie Watson. £11,190.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.20, 14.00, 40.00.
Also Ran: Chateau (Ire), Jumbeau (GB), Bolt Action (Ire), Silencer (Ire), Wodao (Fr), Union Court (GB), Kuwait City (Ire), Ramazan (Ire), Kaasib (Ire), Rocking Ends (GB), Yahtzee (Ire), Mehmar (Ire), Knebworth (GB), Edgar Linton (Fr), Far Shot (Ire), Democracy Dilemma (Ire), Finn Russell (Ire), Guiteau (Ire), Star of Lady M (GB), Seismic Spirit (Ire), Whistle and Flute (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Inspiral Faces 11 in the Coronation, But Homeless Songs Is Absent Due To Ground Concerns

Juvenile Group 1 winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will lock horns with 11 rivals in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on Friday. Although the Cheveley Park homebred will face the winners of the G1 1000 Guineas in Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) and Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), victress of the French equivalent, G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will stay home. Connections' concerns over the quick ground ended her participation in the marquee event.

Besides the trio of European Group 1 winners, American runners Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}), who is undefeated and a dual graded winner, and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will take part. Other signed on are the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), 1000 Guineas runner-up Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), group winner and G1 Cheveley Park S. third Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) and Cheveley Park scorer Tenebrism (Caravaggio), among others.

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New Bay’s Saffron Beach Wins The Duke of Cambridge

Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. offered another episode of stalls drama that seems to have dogged the first two days of Royal Ascot, but by the time Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) had come home alone there was a sense that Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) would have needed wings had she not been removed from the contest after going down in the gates. Making her European return under a five-pound penalty due to her winning exploits in Newmarket's G1 Sun Chariot S. in October, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained 5-2 joint-favourite gifted William Buick an easy task from the time the field left behind the withdrawn Sibila Spain. Helped by the target of Novemba (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}) dead ahead, the chestnut who was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf S. at Meydan Mar. 26 slid by passing the three-furlong marker and was soon beyond recall. At the line, she rated as the second widest-margin winner so far at the meeting with a 3 1/2-length verdict over the outsider Thunder Beauty (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), with Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) a further head away in third. “We were going slow, but she got into a nice rhythm. I wanted to get there in good time and not turn it into a two-furlong sprint, but she won very well and it was straightforward for her,” Buick said.

Saffron Beach had won the G3 Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket in October 2020 before finishing second to Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the seven-furlong G3 Nell Gwyn S. and to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the 1000 Guineas last Spring. Getting it together in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown last August and the Sun Chariot, she had failed to fire at Meydan but her trainer had worked on having her at fever-pitch for this. “It is hard going to Dubai off a winter break,” Chapple-Hyam explained. “She was up against hardened colts and geldings and it showed in the finish. We didn't have a prep race, whereas here we went to Chelmsford and the July Course to get the work into her. I presume it will be the [G1] Prix Rothschild [at Deauville] on August 2, the Sun Chariot at Newmarket, and then the Breeders' Cup.”

Jason Kelly, assistant to David O'Meara, said of the runner-up who outran her 40-1 odds. “Thunder Beauty has run a great race. We'll probably drop back to seven furlongs. There is the [G3] Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood and that will be high on the agenda. She is a high-class filly and is versatile ground-wise. She was big odds and we thought Saffron Beach would be handy so, instead of getting into a duel early, we thought we'd take our time and challenge late. She is probably slightly better over seven furlongs, so we wanted to make sure she got home. It was a super run. My uncle David Kelly owns her and we are creeping up. She was listed-placed last year, then group three-placed and now we are group two-placed.”

Primo Bacio was regaining some form after a lean spell and trainer Ed Walker said, “Finally she has got her ground! This race was a bit of an afterthought really, so we are hoping there will be improvement to come. I did not think we'd get here, but she worked really well and, due to a lack of alternative options, we thought let's have a go. On that basis, you have to be super happy with that. I think she would have been a clear second if she was A1. I think we will go to the [G1] Falmouth, as she ran so well in it last year.”

Saffron Beach, who cost a mere 55,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, is out of Falling Petals (Ire) (Raven's Pass) who was sold by Godolphin to the China Horse Club for €235,000 at the 2016 Goffs November Mares Sale. She is a half-sister to the G1 Middle Park S. third Huntdown (Elusive Quality), whose full-sister Continua produced the G3 World Trophy S. and G3 Molecomb S.-winning sire Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). The third dam Eternal Reve (Diesis {GB}) annexed the G3 Matron S. and was runner-up in the G1 Coronation S. here and is connected to the leading sire Miswaki. Falling Petals' unraced 2-year-old filly Providenciales (Ire) (Australia {GB}) was a 450,000gns purchase by Blandford Bloodstock at the Book 1 Sale, while she also has a yearling full-brother and foal full-sister to Saffron Beach.

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE S.-G2, £175,000, Ascot, 6-15, 4yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:39.99, g/f.
1–SAFFRON BEACH (IRE), 133, f, 4, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Falling Petals (Ire), by Raven's Pass
2nd Dam: Infinite Spirit, by Maria's Mon
3rd Dam: Eternal Reve, by Diesis (GB)
(55,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA). O-Mrs B V Sangster, J Wigan & O Sangster; B-China Horse Club International Ltd (IRE); T-Jane Chapple-Hyam; J-William Buick. £103,600. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 10-5-2-0, $793,851. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thunder Beauty (Ire), 128, f, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Quiania (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (€42,000 Ylg '19 TIRSEP; £175,000 RNA 4yo '22 GOFLON). O-D K Kelly; B-Kildaragh Stud & Michael Downey (IRE); T-David O'Meara. £39,183.
3–Primo Bacio (Ire), 128, f, 4, Awtaad (Ire)–Suvenna (Ire), by Arcano (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (100,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-David Ward; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Ed Walker. £19,583.
Margins: 3HF, HD, 1. Odds: 2.50, 40.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Novemba (Ger), Bashkirova (GB), Mother Earth (Ire), Kennella (Fr). Scratched: Sibila Spain (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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