Royal Ascot | Horse Racing Free Tips

First Black-Type Winner For Ardad As Perfect Power Wins the Norfolk

Impressive both visually and on the clock when off the mark over this five-furlong trip at Hamilton eight days previously, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) delivered the same acceleration to take Thursday's G2 Norfolk S. and provide his Overbury Stud-based first-season sire with a first black-type winner. Drawn in 10 and forced to come up the middle which had looked unfavourable over the first two days, the Richard Fahey-trained £110,000 Goffs UK Breeze Up graduate was outpaced and towards rear at halfway in this GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint qualifier. As he had against lesser company in Scotland the week before, the 14-1 shot turned on the afterburners to arrive into contention towards the stand's side as the line neared. With Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) keeping all on the far side at bay throughout, it was Perfect Power who swooped in the final stride to crown Paul Hanagan's comeback from serious injury on the other part of the track. The judge was needed with the front two split wide apart and it was officially a head that separated them, with just a nose back to the stand's-rail runner Project Dante (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in third. In a tight finale, the 5-1 favourite Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) was just half a length away in fourth coming up the far rail. “Beautiful,” said Hanagan, who had recently completed his convalescence having fractured his T3, T4 and T6 in a fall last February. “I don't usually get emotional, but I'm lucky to be here at all after the accident. It's been a very character-building few months, but I had the will to get back and I appreciate I got a second chance to take with both hands. This is what it's all about–it's just an amazing feeling.”

Third on debut over this trip behind the James Tate-trained Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in a May 25 Newcastle novice that had already started to work out well, Perfect Power may not have beaten any stars at Hamilton but the manner of his performance stayed with all who witnessed it. Running similarly in this race which was stripped of one of its more-fancied runners as the Clive Cox-trained Instinctive Move (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) reared in the stalls, he was a touch stranded up the centre but at least had Lucci (Not This Time) to aim at dead ahead. That Ward runner only gave best in the last 50 yards as Perfect Power and Project Dante swamped him, while on the far side it was Go Bears Go and Cadamosto who had it between them in a thrilling finale.

“They went quite hard and I had to sit and suffer on him, but I'm glad I did as he didn't half power home and run through the line,” Hanagan added. “As a horse, you couldn't get better and that's probably what got him beat first time–we were all expecting him to win, but he got stage fright. He'd come out of that so well and Hamilton brought him on again. He's going the right way.” Richard Fahey added, “It was a good race for me to watch, as we had three runners in it with two involved in the finish [including the sixth-placed Khunan (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}). I thought we'd got beat, but I'm just delighted for the whole team at Musley Bank, it's a great result for us all and I'm delighted for Sheikh Rashid, he's supported us the last two or three years now and to get him a Royal Ascot winner is fantastic, he's a real nice man. He was slowly away at Newcastle and got beat because of it, so it was a good decision to go to Hamilton a week ago. I always think it's tough for a once-raced two-year-old, it takes a good one to do it so it probably helped us today.”

Perfect Power, who was emulating the Royal Ascot success of Ardad who took the Listed Windsor Castle S. in 2016, is the first foal out of a granddaughter of Saga D'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who is in turn a full-sister to the Arc hero Sagamix (Fr). She is also a half to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and to Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), who produced the high-class Galileo (Ire) trio of Japan (GB), Mogul (GB) and Secret Gesture (GB) and is one of the world's leading broodmares. This is also the Aga Khan family of Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), a 4-year-old filly in training with Mikel Delzangles who took the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber in May. The dam Sagely (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}) is a half to the Listed Upavon S. runner-up Sagaciously (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who beat her when they raced together and went one-two in a decent 10-furlong handicap at Glorious Goodwood five years ago. Her yearling filly is by Kodiac (GB), while she also has a colt foal by Galileo Gold (GB).

Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
NORFOLK S.-G2, £80,000, Ascot, 6-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.44, g/f.
1–PERFECT POWER (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Ardad (Ire)
1st Dam: Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire)
2nd Dam: Saga Celebre (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Saga d'Ouilly (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (16,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; £110,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Paul Hanagan. £47,360. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $72,797. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Go Bears Go (Ire), 127, c, 2, Kodi Bear (Ire)–In Dubai, by Giant's Causeway. (£50,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY; 150,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing Limited & P Waney; B-Micheal D Ryan (IRE); T-David Loughnane. £17,912.
3–Project Dante (GB), 127, c, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Thatsallimsaying (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). (125,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 115,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Bond Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Bryan Smart. £8,952.
Margins: HD, NO, HF. Odds: 14.00, 6.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Cadamosto (Ire), Lucci, Khunan (GB), Twilight Jet (Ire), Nakatomi, Korker (Ire), Andreas Vesalius (Ire), Navello (GB), Second Wind (Ire), Little Earl (Ire), King of Speed (Ire), Straits of Moyle (Ire). Scratched: Instinctive Move (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

The post First Black-Type Winner For Ardad As Perfect Power Wins the Norfolk appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Royal Ascot: Ward-Trained Pair Headline Thursday’s ‘Win And You’re In’ Norfolk Stakes

Trainer Wesley Ward is seeking his third victory in the US$113,000 Norfolk Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds when he sends out U.S. maiden winners Lucci and Nakatomi in the 5-furlong race on Thursday at Royal Ascot. The winner of the Norfolk Stakes will gain an automatic berth into the US$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Norfolk Stakes winner to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 furlongs at Del Mar. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 25 to receive the rewards.

The Norfolk Stakes is the third of four Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races to be conducted during the Royal Ascot meeting. The race will be televised live on NBCSN and TVG.

Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable, and Windmill Manor Farm's Lucci, a Kentucky-bred son of Not this Time, won a 5-furlong maiden special weight by 3 lengths over the Widener turf course at Belmont Park on May 9 under jockey John Velazquez, who has the mount again for the Norfolk.

Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and David Howden's chestnut Kentucky-bred gelding Nakatomi, by Firing Line, broke his maiden by 2 ¼ lengths over a sloppy track in a 4 ½-furlong race at Keeneland on April 14.

“At home, we have been working Lucci and Nakatomi together,” said Ward, who has 11 victories at Royal Ascot coming into the 2021 meeting. “Nakatomi was coming out on top, but then they had a workout in Newmarket on the Limekilns and Lucci turned the tables. He just bounced straight through to the front and would not give up the lead.”

Last year, the Ward-trained Golden Pal finished second by a neck in the Norfolk Stakes before going on to capture the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland. Ward saddled Norfolk winners No Nay Never (2006) and Shang Shang Shang (2018).

Trainer Aidan O'Brien plans to start a son of No Nay Never in the Norfolk with Cadamosto (IRE), owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Westerberg. Cadamosto broke his maiden on April 10, winning the 5-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF maiden by 3 ½ lengths.

O'Brien has saddled three Norfolk Stakes winners in Johannesburg (2001), Waterloo Bridge (IRE) (2015), and Sioux Nation (2017).

Amo Racing Limited and Peter Waney's Go Bears Go (IRE) has a maiden victory over the Ascot course. Trained by David Loughnane, Go Bears Go, a son of Kodi Bear (IRE), won a 5-furlong Novice stakes at May 8 by 1 ½ lengths.

Another winner first time out is Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Instinctive Move (GB). A bay son of Showcasing (GB) out of Peach Melba (GB) by Dream Ahead, Instinctive Move earned a 2 ¼-length victory in a 5-furlong EFB maiden race at Bath on May 12.

The post Royal Ascot: Ward-Trained Pair Headline Thursday’s ‘Win And You’re In’ Norfolk Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Stradivarius Poised For Historic Feat

It's Thursday at Royal Ascot, which can only mean that it's time for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) with the Gosden titan now bidding for a record-equalling fourth renewal of the G1 Gold Cup. As Yeats (Ire) did before him, Bjorn Nielsen's stayer supreme just keeps coming back to deal with the latest set of opponents looking to stretch him. In his inaugural triumph in 2018, it was the French doyen Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) who felt his breeze as Frankie's favourite winning post loomed, while a year later it was Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) who tasted the same medicine. Last season, in front of the vacant stands, the chestnut had no meaningful competition and duly opened up to put on a rare show with a 10-length success despite the soft ground. Never at his best when there is cut underfoot, he glided through the “summer soft” as Gosden Sr termed it at the Royal meeting but when it got testing in the autumn it found him out and he went into winter quarters having beaten only one of his 13 rivals in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. If the expected thunderstorm misses or fails to deliver the quantities of rain forecast and it stays good-to-firm, as it was when he won the G3 Sagaro S. on his return here Apr. 28, there may be little hope for the rest so it is in the lap of the gods now.

“He worked on the July Course last week and I was very happy with him,” John Gosden said. “Touch wood, we're ready to go again. He has been remarkable. His win in the Sagaro was tidy, pleasant, and Frankie didn't ask him too much so let's hope he's ready for the big one again. I fear one thing for Stradivarius–thunderstorms–because he has this wonderful turn of foot after two and a half miles but the wet ground, soft ground, blunts it, so we'll see how we go.”

When it was deep ground on Champions Day, it was Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) who excelled with a 7 1/2-length romp in the Long Distance Cup as Stradivarius floundered. While that was a marked upgrade on his previous form, the Alan King-trained 5-year-old had previously hinted that he was at least not out of place in that line-up. Proving it was no fluke when 3/4-of-a-length second to Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) attempting to give that rival five pounds in the G3 Ormonde S. over an extended 13 furlongs at Chester May 6, he will not run if the rain fails to arrive in sufficient quantities to ease the current quick conditions. “I was extremely happy at Chester–it was a great performance giving weight to a Group 1 winner,” jockey Hollie Doyle said. “He's come out of that very well apparently and a bit of ease in the ground would be lovely.” Alan King added, “He's been declared, but we are very reliant on thunderstorms hitting Ascot. He's in great nick and I couldn't be happier with him, but if it doesn't rain he doesn't run. It will have to go to good, or good-to-soft.”

Mark Johnston likes to have a go at the reigning champion and tries again with the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who came back this year just as strong when winning the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Mar. 27. Back in fifth on that occasion was Team Valor Llc and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), who has since beaten Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) in the G2 Yorkshire Cup over 14 furlongs May 14. “He did have an injury in that Dubai race,” Johnston said. “It's taken him a little while to come back from that and as a result we haven't had any race in between. I think this is the best horse I've gone to war with Stradivarius with. We know what a tall order that is–we've finished second to him so many times before. I won't be looking at tactics to beat Stradivarius, we've just got to hope that we've got the best horse on the day.”

Santiago is one of a trio from Ballydoyle and is reunited with Seamie Heffernan for the first time since winning last year's G1 Irish Derby. Relishing the soft ground when successful in the G2 Queen's Vase at this meeting 12 months ago, he will be interesting going over this marathon trip along with his G1 Epsom Derby-winning stablemate Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Supplemented last week, the latter is a rare blue riband winner tackling this prestige event and adds another dimension. “Obviously we won't know if Serpentine stays the trip until he runs over it, but we always thought he'd stay further than a mile and a half,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He seems to be in good form at home, he's had a run this season and we're hoping he'll run well. Santiago is in good form and this has always been the plan for him. He's had his two runs already this season and we've been happy with him since his last run at York.”

Andrew Balding said of Spanish Mission, “I thought it was a really good effort at York, but he faces some mighty opponents here in the likes of Stradivarius, Subjectivist, and Santiago, not to mention Serpentine, who I wasn't expecting. It's a really intriguing race, as a Gold Cup should be, but Spanish Mission is in great form. It's another two furlongs further than the Doncaster Cup, which he won last year, but I'd be hopeful that he'll stay.”

Ward Looks To Get Off The Mark

The day's action starts with the five-furlong G2 Norfolk S. for the 2-year-olds, where Wesley Ward and John Velazquez combine with the May 9 Belmont Park maiden special weight winner Lucci (Not This Time) who races for Andrew Farm, Forthepeople Racing Stable and Windmill Manor. Velazquez is hoping he will be able to cope with the ground if the forecast rain arrives. “He won very nicely on the grass in New York. It seems like we're probably going to get a little bit of rain tomorrow and hopefully he can handle that,” he said. Ward, who also saddles the Apr. 14 Keeneland maiden special weight winner Nakatomi (Firing Line) who races in the Qatar Racing silks, is still looking for his first winner of the week and said of his duo, “At home, we have been working Lucci and Nakatomi together. Nakatomi was coming out on top, but then they had a workout in Newmarket on the Limekilns and Lucci turned the tables. He just bounced straight through to the front and would not give up the lead.”

If it does go soft, that will count against Ballydoyle's Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) who has been withdrawn several times both before and after his impressive win over this trip on Dundalk's Polytrack Apr. 10. “This horse has missed a lot of potential engagements since winning on his debut at Dundalk in April and I really hope that the rain that is forecast from Wednesday night all through Thursday is not as bad as some are suggesting,” Ryan Moore said. “This is a colt we like and he really impressed me when beating a fair sort in Silver Surfer at Dundalk. He has a lot of class and speed and I expect him to go well.” Bond Thoroughbred's Project Dante (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) proved on his winning debut at York May 12 that he handles good-to-soft and his defeat of the re-opposing Korker (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) looks better now that the runner-up has won at Carlisle May 28.

Stars On The Rise

In the G2 Ribblesdale S., Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) bids to go one better than her half-sister Mori (GB) who went under by a neck to Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in this four years ago. At the time of her 3 3/4-length second to Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G3 Musidora S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York May 12, there was an air of disappointment but subsequent events have since proven that to be highly respectable. In front of the subsequent G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) there, the daughter of Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) comes into this fresh after a late setback ruled her out of the Epsom Classic.

Aidan O'Brien saddles Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ran third in the Oaks and who as a daughter of Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab) has limitless potential. Ryan Moore said of her, “Aidan was expecting an improved performance from her at Epsom and she duly delivered it, again not having the best of passages but sticking on really well to be third. I know she was beaten a long way and she probably has something to find with the likes of Noon Star, a filly I have a lot of time for, but any rain won't bother her and she has a fair shot at this.” The Gosden stable has won three of the last four renewals and seems best-represented by Bjorn Nielsen's Gloria Mundi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was a neck second to Shadwell's Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. over 10 furlongs May 15.

William Haggas will be hoping the rain fails to materialise for another Shadwell jewel in Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who was forced to miss the G1 Epsom Derby when the storms hit Surrey and who heads the cast for the 10-furlong G3 Hampton Court S. Provided the ground stays at least good, his five-length defeat of the re-opposing Secret Protector (War Front) in the May 1 Listed Newmarket S. over this trip should be enough to see the famed silks back in the winner's enclosure at this meeting. William Haggas is again looking at his best plans being waylaid by the changeable weather and said, “He looks absolutely fantastic, he's ready to go. He obviously doesn't want much rain but he'll run, I promised Sheikha Hissa he'd run at Ascot regardless. It's just the way it is, it's typical. Everything has been good with him, he's in great form and he really is a lovely horse, we just won't see him at his best on soft ground but that's the way it is. He'll still run a good race, he's very well.”

If Mohaafeth underperforms, the answer could be One Ruler who did run in the Derby won by his stablemate Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Godolphin's G3 Autumn S. winner and G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up is back quickly after Epsom, in which he was a well-beaten sixth having looked unhappy on the track. Also sixth in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 1, he will be at home if it rains and Charlie Appleby has now won the G2 Dante S. and G2 Queen's Vase alongside the Derby. “One Ruler has come out of the Derby in good shape and will appreciate the drop back to a mile and a quarter, together with any ease in the going,” he said. “We are confident that he can be very competitive under a [four-pound] penalty.” Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Movin Time (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) comes here with abundant potential, having beaten Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase winner Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by four lengths in a 10-furlong Newmarket maiden May 13 and Roger Varian has a useful bunch of 3-year-old colts to measure him against.

Varian also supplies a live contender for the Britannia H. over a mile in Amo Racing's Raadobarg (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who is looking for a fourth consecutive win, while Aidan O'Brien has opted to run the one-time Derby contender Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) under top weight in the 12-furlong King George V H. The latter looks a particularly strong renewal, but Ballydoyle ran Constantinople (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to be second two years ago giving weight away to all rivals. He went on to place in the G2 Great Voltigeur and G3 Gordon S. and it is easy to imagine Sir Lamorak treading the same path. “He also doesn't want much rain, but I think he has a big run in him if the ground remains decent,” Ryan Moore said. “He may be 15 pounds higher than when winning for me at Leopardstown back in April, but you had to be very impressed by what he did that day and I think he is a good colt and hopefully one better than his current mark of 100.”

Click here for the group fields.

The post Stradivarius Poised For Historic Feat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Turf Venture Reaps Ascot Glory For Eclipse Thoroughbreds

ASCOT, UK–The G2 Queen Mary S. victory of the well-named Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) brought not only the diverse training skills of Gavin Cromwell to wider attention but also a welcome touch of internationalism to the Royal Meeting. The latter is usually a given, but with restricted travel in the last two seasons, there have been fewer overseas travellers than usual, though those who have made the trip have largely been well rewarded at Britain's showcase meeting.

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables enjoyed success in the same race last year with Campanelle (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) but this time around had to settle for second when the front-running Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {Fr}) was overhauled in the final furlong by the filly owned by fellow American enterprise Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

“We wouldn't be here if it were not for the great efforts of Aron Wellman and his team at Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners,” said a delighted Mariam Zerehi, the sole representative of the ownership group who had made the trip from the U.S. to savour the moment of a winner at Royal Ascot.

She continued, “They are really great at picking quality horses and they are true horsemen. They care about what races they put the horses in and making sure they don't step them up too quickly. Aron and his team work relentlessly so we can have these types of moments, which are so elusive.”

Zerehi, who is involved in around 30 horses with Eclipse, was making her first trip to Ascot, having missed out on the experience of watching Sharing (Speightstown) compete last year.

“We had Sharing last year in the Coronation Stakes and she placed second but none of us were able to be here to witness that so I am just happy to be here,” she said. “This is a really big moment because we are in a very different place today than we were just a year ago. I think this Royal Ascot represents a lot of hope and optimism that we are all moving in the right direction, so that's special to be a part of–it's not just an ordinary Ascot for me.”

Having undergone “extensive Covid testing” to be able to make the trip from Los Angeles, Zerehi added, “I have to say, standing here right now, it was all worth it.”

She continued, “I was a little nervous watching the filly being saddled as she was a little fresh and I was worried that she was unsettled, but I spoke with Gavin and he said 'No, she's ready to go.' And obviously he knows better than I, and he was right.

“For Eclipse, we've been moving more into turf racing. Dirt is great and that's what the Americans do best and know best, but we've had some really good success with our turf horses in recent years and this might be another confirmation that we are going in the right direction with our selections.”

The result was also cause for celebration in County Kildare, at Oghill House Stud to be precise, where Quick Suzy was bred by a trio of Hyland brothers–Pat, Hugh and James–along with a couple of their nephews.

It is six years since the farm celebrated the listed Windsor Castle S. victory of Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was bred at Oghill House in partnership with Chris and James McHale. There will have been widespread delight throughout the Hyland family at this latest triumph, especially as the story involves their farrier Liam O'Donovan, who bought the filly for her original owners, the Dunphy family, for whom she made her first two starts, while it was the Hylands' longtime ally Joseph Burke who recommended her to Aron Wellman.

“She was sold privately off the farm as a yearling and the man I must mention is Liam O'Donovan, as he's a brilliant judge of a horse and he bought her for the Dunphys,” said Burke.

“Liam kept sending me videos of her when she was in pre-training and then in training, and once she won her second start at the Curragh I could then approach Aron and say, 'Look, I've known her from the start and I know all her history,' and when I asked him if he was interested he was just brilliant, he said yes straight away.”

Burke continued, “Obviously Aron knows more about these things than I do but he had no hesitation when I recommended that we keep Gary [Carroll] on board. He said, 'Book him, make sure he knows,' and that was for the last race. He was 100% behind keeping Gary on board for Ascot. Gary had so much confidence in the filly and I firmly believe there's nothing better than a guy getting up and thinking 'this is a machine, she's going to win.' And he's ridden her like that.”

Quick Suzy was making her second start in the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners silks having been runner-up in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint at Naas on her most recent outing.

Burke added, “Aron rang last night and he couldn't have been better. He just said, 'Go and enjoy the day. We've got her stakes-placed and if she wins, great, and if she doesn't we'll regroup afterwards.' And how many people say that to you really?”

In the aftermath of victory, Burke was also quick to remember one of Quick Suzy's co-breeders, the much-loved Pat Hyland, who died in February at the age of 78.

He said, “Pat loved nothing more than Royal Ascot. He dressed up at home and he watched every single bit, the fashion included, and he would have been so delighted to see her win like that today.”

The post Turf Venture Reaps Ascot Glory For Eclipse Thoroughbreds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post