Tag: Royal Ascot

State Of Rest Makes All In The Prince Of Wales’s

Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. came down to a display of supreme jockeyship, but it was not Moore or Dettori or even Demuro who provided it but Shane Crosse, whose masterclass from the front on the under-rated State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) proved the difference in such a tight Royal Ascot encounter. The race is a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November. While Frankie fumbled with the blindfold on Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the gates opened and lost all chance there, Crosse was out and in control quickly on the 5-1 shot with no pressure on the lead. Hard though the 10-11 favourite Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) chased in the straight, from the two pole it was a lost cause with Joseph O'Brien's flagship performer having too much of an advantage. At the line, there was a length between the accomplished G1 Cox Plate, G1 Prix Ganay and GI Saratoga Derby winner and the Stoute runner as they pulled 2 1/4 lengths clear of Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who justified her supplementary entry. “In the space of the last 12 months, this horse has done a lot. He has done it all and I am just over the moon,” Crosse said. “To get here and participate is a huge thing. To ride a horse like this in top-class races is a dream. You cannot describe it.”

While this renewal showcased the remarkable distance that racing has come since the last century in terms of international competition, there is possibly still a sense that achievements overseas can be overlooked in the Royal Ascot analysis. State of Rest had been at inflated odds before a late gamble thrust him back to 5-1, which was in hindsight an insult given that he had faced the thrust of battle on contrasting surfaces in the States, Australia and France. Having outgunned Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) at Moonee Valley in October, State of Rest was probably only in his comfort zone dealing with the French contingent in the Ganay at the start of May and connections felt that his subsequent third three weeks later in The Curragh's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup could be bettered. Running the final three furlongs there faster than the first and second Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), he was always going to be dangerous let loose on the lead.

State of Rest may have clocked a moderate overall time for the race, especially given how the ground has allowed for some rapid outcomes over the first two day, but his finishing effort up the straight was that of a top-class performer and a rematch with the still-promising runner-up will be fascinating to witness. Remarkably, this was Joseph O'Brien's first Royal Ascot winner as a trainer and it is fitting that it arrived 10 years after he won this aboard another Cox Plate hero in So You Think (NZ). “It's very special. It's been a long time coming,” he said. “We've had a lot of horses run well here. It's special to get a winner here and not only a winner, but to win a race like the Prince of Wales's Stakes is hugely special. We have a great team of owners and a special horse.”

“We had a good chat with Shane and decided to make the running. It could not have worked out better. He got the fractions perfect,” he added. “State of Rest is a very tough horse. He is very versatile and I take some of the blame myself for not using him enough last time, but it was a great run. We knew coming here today that we had a live chance of winning the race and I'm just pleased that the horse has proved himself. It is a huge day and I am very proud of everyone. This is what it is all about. We love the game, we are born and bred into the game. It is all we know. To have a big winner here is what we do it for.”

Paul Cashman of Rathbarry Stud, part-owner of the winner, said, “Things did not go to plan in the Tattersalls Gold Cup–the ground was not on our side that day. It was Joseph's plan to go forward. He knew from furlong to furlong what he wanted and that is how it panned out. It doesn't always work like that, but they had the confidence and the horse to do that. Joseph said he was unlucky in the spring of his three-year-old career. He pulled a muscle in the spring and did not have a Guineas campaign, so was a second half of the season horse. So for me he'd been under the radar for a race like this. I thought he should have been half the price he was.”

“It's just a very proud week to be an Australian,” Henry Field told TDN AusNZ on the win. “It was absolutely fantastic. It was a crack-hot field with the top-class middle distances European horses and Japanese horses. It means a lot because he has shown he is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in the world. It has taken a long time for us to step into this part of the market and find a middle distance horse to stand at stud, but after his Cox Plate win we took a leap of faith and I think that after today's [Wednesday] result that decision has been very much vindicated.

“He's a star horse. He's won Group 1s in America, France, obviously the Cox Plate and now Royal Ascot–that is quite the record. He has got one of the strongest syndicates of owners we have ever put together for a horse and it includes some breeders from New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand, so it's just a great thrill and many of them are here–it's a day we will never forget.”

“I was actually talking to Chris Waller before the horses came to Ascot and how the week could be a big one for Australia,” Field added. “We have seen the Japanese horses travel round the world and really vindicate the power of their racing. So, to see a horse like Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) win the [G1] King's Stand [S.] on Tuesday, and not just win but blow his rivals away, and then our Cox Plate winner, albeit a horse trained in Ireland, prove he is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in the world, I think all this is very important for Australian racing to showcase to the world how powerful our product is.

“This guy is trained by Joseph, who is a child prodigy and has an extraordinary brain. One of the greatest parts of investing in this horse is being able to pick Joseph's brain over the phone and I don't think I've ever spoken to a smarter younger man in the horse business. But to see both the Australian sprinting and middle-distance form stack up as it has this week, it's a week that Australians should be really proud of and it is really important for the future of our industry. It's just a very proud week to be an Australian. ”

Added Field, “Fingers crossed Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) can give us something to celebrate on Saturday, but if he doesn't we will all be cheering on Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) for Coolmore.”

Sir Michael Stoute was far from downcast following the end of Bay Bridge's sequence and said, “The race didn't pan out brilliantly for him, but he ran a very big race and we're absolutely delighted. We haven't run him on fast ground before, but that didn't inconvenience him–there was no problem there. Whether we stick at 10 furlongs or go to 12 furlongs, no decision will be taken for a little while.” Lord North was in a race of his own for much of the contest, left several lengths behind after the blindfold had become caught in the bridle, while the G1 Tokyo Yushun and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) failed to fire on another disappointing day for Japan here. “When I asked to go, he didn't have the same acceleration as last time,” rider Cristian Demuro explained.

State of Rest's unraced dam Repose (Quiet American) is now the property of Juddmonte and their recent acquisition takes on even greater import following this latest confirmation of their unerring shrewdness. Also responsible for the G3 Blue Wind S. winner Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), she is a daughter of Monaassabaat (Zilzal) who captured the Listed Virginia S. before producing the listed winners Prince Alzain (Street Sense) and Echo River (Irish River {Fr}), with the latter also second in the G3 May Hill S. She is also the second dam of the G2 Royal Lodge S. and G2 Vintage S. runner-up Artigiano (Distorted Humor).

The third dam is the 16-times-winning dual GI Vanity H. heroine and champion It's In the Air (Mr. Prospector), whose descendants include the triple group 1-winning Champion S. hero Storming Home (GB) (Machiavellian), the GI American Oaks heroine Music Note (A.P. Indy) and her G1 Dubai World Cup-winning son Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), plus the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}). Repose's 2-year-old filly Double Scoop (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was a €180,000 purchase by Anthony Dutrow at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, while she delivered a filly foal by Sea the Stars (Ire) this year.

State of Rest will stand at Rathbarry Stud, Ireland and shuttle to Newgate Farm, Australia upon his retirement.

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES'S S.-G1, £1,057,500, Ascot, 6-15, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:07.79, g/f.
1–STATE OF REST (IRE), 128, c, 4, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Repose, by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Monaassabaat, by Zilzal
3rd Dam: It's in the Air, by Mr. Prospector
(45,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-State Of Rest Partnership; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Shane Crosse. £599,708. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Aus & Fr, GISW-US & G1SP-Ire, 12-5-1-3, $3,808,013. *1/2 to Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bay Bridge (GB), 128, c, 4, New Bay (GB)–Hayyona (GB), by Multiplex (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-James Wigan & Ballylinch Stud; B-London Thoroughbred Services Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £227,363.
3–Grand Glory (GB), 125, m, 6, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Madonna Lily (Ire), by Daylami (Ire). (€18,000 Ylg '17 AROYRG; €2,500,000 5yo '21 ARQDEC). O-Haras de Hus; B-Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville (GB); T-Gianluca Bietolini. £113,787.
Margins: 1, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 5.00, 0.91, 16.00.
Also Ran: Shahryar (Jpn), Lord North (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Dubawi’s Eldar Eldarov Edges The Queen’s Vase

Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase was staged over 14 furlongs, but it took a pixel study for the judge to call it as TDN Rising Star Eldar Eldarov (GB) inched out Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to continue the fine week for Dubawi (Ire). KHK Racing's unbeaten colt had launched his season with a win over 10 furlongs on Newcastle's Tapeta May 24, but Roger Varian had plumped for this staying test of all the options here and ultimately was fully justified as the £480,000 Arqana Breeze Up graduate needed every yard to get in front. Anchored towards the rear of mid-division early by David Egan, the 5-2 favourite had plenty of ground to make up on Zechariah from the top of the straight as Colin Keane struck for home, but his stirring finale saw him take it from that rival on the line. While the official nose margin seemed too vast a measurement, there was a relatively gaping neck back to Hafit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third as they drew clear of the remainder. “I have never hit the line so strong in a mile and six-furlong race and ended up by the St James's Palace Stakes start,” Egan said. “He was full of running. Stamina is his biggest attribute–we always thought he was a horse who would also like ease in the ground, so there is a lot more to come.”

Roger Varian, who had introduced the winner over an extended mile at Nottingham in October, had also been worried about the fast conditions and commented, “The ground was a concern because Eldar Eldarov is so inexperienced and I thought, on fast ground, he looks like a horse laden with lots of stamina so let's go the distance. There was a lot of chat about him in the winter because he'd won at Nottingham in a similar style to the Derby winner and of course we were excited about him and hoping to get him to a Derby trial, but the horse just didn't thrive in the spring. We went to Newcastle, where I think he was only 90% and that was a strong novice.”

“There is a lot to come from this horse and I think his best days are ahead of him. He put in one hell of a performance and you would think looking down the road that he could develop into a St Leger horse. Even looking to next year, hopefully he can keep improving. I'm delighted for KHK, Sheikh Khalid [ bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa] and everyone involved. They are supporting the industry very strongly, they are supporting me. Days like this are very special to all of us and to get the horse home in front with a lot of expectations is very satisfying.”

Trainer Martyn Meade had to suffer the agony of losing out in the bobber and said of Zechariah, “A mile and six furlongs and you think crikey, I don't need to lose by that! That's racing for you! We have been waiting to run him over this sort of distance and have been building up to this. The betting did not show it, but we had a lot of faith coming into this and he looked as though he'd been well placed at one stage. Today was a bit of an experiment to see if our judgment had been right and he would get the trip. It opens up a whole new array of opportunities. He could have Cup hopes in time. Travelling to Australia could be an option with Aquis involved. They have horses with us to run them here, but he might be better there in time.”

Eldar Eldarov is the third of five foals and the second scorer out of Kirsten Rausing's Listed Prix de Liancourt, Listed Prix Zarkava and Listed Prix de la Pepiniere winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Also responsible for the Listed Rothesay S.-placed A La Voile (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), she is one of five black-type performers produced by the G1 Deutschlandpreis, G1 Rheinland-Pokal and G1 Preis von Europa heroine Albanova (GB) (Alzao), who is a full-sister to the dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) and a half to the dam of Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who brought up her own German group 1 treble last term in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, Grosser Preis von Bayern and Preis von Europa. All At Sea's 2-year-old colt Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion) was bought by Glyn Davies for €130,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, while she also has a yearling filly by Study of Man (Ire).

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
QUEEN'S VASE-G2, £262,500, Ascot, 6-15, 3yo, 14f 34yT, 3:01.33, g/f.
1–ELDAR ELDAROV (GB), 128, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: All At Sea (GB) (MSW-Fr, $133,622), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£110,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR; £480,000 2yo '21 ARQDEA). O-KHK Racing Ltd; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. £155,400. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $196,428. *1/2 to A La Voile (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zechariah (Ire), 128, c, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Nancy O (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (15,500gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; £40,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Aquis Farm & Manton Park; B-John Gunther (IRE); T-Freddie & Martyn Meade. £58,774.
3–Hafit (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Cushion (GB), by Galileo (Ire). (2,100,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Floors Farming & Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £29,374.
Margins: NO, NK, 5. Odds: 2.50, 20.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Al Qareem (Ire), Anchorage (Ire), Nahanni (GB), Green Team (Fr), Typewriter (Ire), Ruler Legend (Ire), Perfect Alibi (GB), Emotion (GB), Baltic Bird (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Queen Mary Glory For Showcasing’s Dramatised

Making it two-for-two for the TDN Rising Stars in Royal Ascot's juvenile prizes, Clipper Logistics' Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}–Katie's Diamond {Fr}, by Turtle Bowl {Ire}) put up an impressive display in a fast time in Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. under an in-form Danny Tudhope. Handed the monicker after her dynamic four-length debut win at Newmarket Apr. 29, the filly that Karl Burke regards as the fastest he has had through his hands was backed into 5-2 favouritism and raced near the front line towards the stand's side early. Committed passing two out by Tudhope, who had won the last two races on Tuesday's card, the bay was green and possibly idling in the clear as her rider lost his whip but stayed in command to the line. She had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over Maylandsea (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) there, with Maria Branwell (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “It's job done,” her trainer stated. “She has a lot of natural speed. She lengthens and she keeps going. She's a diva, but was very good today and is definitely a group 1 filly.”

Dramatised, who beat the dual subsequent winner Malrescia (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) hollow on her racecourse bow at the Guineas meeting, could be asked to carry her considerable speed over an extra furlong now according to Burke. “We'll certainly consider the [G1] Prix Morny,” he said. “There's still more to come from her. I think she was just green at Newmarket, where she was jamming on the brakes and still clocked a fast time. I think she will stay six. We trained her dam and she was good enough to be a Guineas filly. We could be looking at the Cheveley Park at the end of the year, but I'm not sure she'd be a Guineas filly, that might be a stretch.”

Clipper Logistics' Steve Parkin added, “We started in racing 20 years ago and, through a guy called Joe Foley, I started a breeding operation and this is our first big winner in terms of something we have bred. She has come from the farm and it is a huge thrill. We saw her as a baby, watched her develop on the farm and to watch her come through like that is very special and very emotional. This is a five-to-ten-year plan, and to come here and have a homebred winner so early in the stud's life is a massive thrill. It is the biggest thrill in my life, apart from having my children.”

Foley, who acts as Parkin's bloodstock advisor, added, “Karl told me last night it was only a matter of how far today! Trainers usually get scared coming into a run, but I had to tell him to stop talking. Her dam Katie's Diamond ran away going to the start in the Boussac, she ran away in the race, and was still in front 50 yards from the line. She was a highly-talented mare, but a bit crazy. She is a beautiful-looking mare. She has a belting yearling filly by Night of Thunder, a beautiful colt foal by Pinatubo, he is gorgeous, and she is in-foal to Showcasing.”

Michael Bell said of Maylandsea, who was further advertising the prowess of first-season sire sensation Havana Grey, “That was an excellent run. She's a filly with a big future, hopefully. I think the winner is very highly-regarded and beat us fair and square today, but this is a very nice filly going forward.” Jockey Kieran Shoemark said of Maria Branwell, “She travelled nicely, but actually when I let her down, the ground was quick enough for her really. She'll get six furlongs and is an exciting filly for the rest of the year.”

The aforementioned Katie's Diamond captured the Listed Empress S. and was third in the G3 Prix du Calvados and, as Joe Foley recounted, finished fifth in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on her penultimate start. A half to the dam of the GIII Jimmy Durante S.third Quattroelle (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), she hails from the family of the G3 Prix Miesque winner Aquatinta (Ger) (Samum {Ger}).

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
QUEEN MARY S.-G2, £115,000, Ascot, 6-15, 2yo, f, 5fT, :59.34, g/f.
1–DRAMATISED (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Katie's Diamond (Fr) (SW-Eng & GSP-Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire)
2nd Dam: Aaliyah (Ger), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Arpista (Ger), by Chief Singer (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Clipper Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Daniel Tudhope. £68,080. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $91,722. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Maylandsea (GB), 128, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Different (GB), by Bahamian Bounty (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (40,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; 100,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Middleham Park Racing LXXI & Partners; B-Denniff Farms Ltd (GB); T-Michael Bell. £25,749.
3–Maria Branwell (Ire), 128, f, 2, James Garfield (Ire)–Princess Pearl (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€22,000 Ylg '21 GOAUTY). O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Barry Kennedy & Anna Murphy (IRE); T-David O'Meara. £12,869.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 2.50, 28.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Love Reigns (Ire), Miami Girl (Ire), Katey Kontent (GB), Olivia Maralda (Ire), Carmela (Ire), Funny Money Honey (Ire), Lady Tilbury (GB), Yahsat (Ire), Omniqueen (GB), The Platinum Queen (Ire), Manhattan Jungle (Ire), Primrose Ridge (GB), Queen of Deauville (Ire), Lady Beano (Ire), Grand Oak (Ire), Lost Angel (Ire), One More Olly (GB), All The Time (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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King’s Stand Winner Nature Strip Won’t bid for Royal Ascot Double

Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}), a brilliant winner of Tuesday's King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, will not bid to double up in the Platinum Jubilee S. on Saturday.

Trained by Chris Waller, Nature Strip slammed his King's Stand S. rivals by over four lengths and, despite pulling out of the race in rude health, will not bid to emulate the great Choisir (Aus), who was the last Australian-trained horse to complete the King's Stand and Platinum Jubilee double in 2003.

Nature Strip's managing owner Rod Lyons told Racing.com, “No [he won't run]. I think there was a fair bit of pressure on the boss to get him to run, but he said he's done his job, let's get him quarantined, get him home and get him ready for The Everest.”

Waller will be represented in the Platinum Jubilee instead by Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), and the legendary trainer described himself as proud of Nature Strip on Wednesday.

He Tweeted, “Our king Nature Strip has pulled up a treat and we are so proud of him. He's certainly made us very proud. It was a memorable moment for everybody.”

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