Bringing It Back Home In The Platinum Jubilee

Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. was a reminder, if it was needed, that Antipodean sprinters operate at an elevated level compared to the majority of their European counterparts and the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. which dominates the closing day of Royal Ascot 2022 could serve to underline that. While he may have been lucky to defeat stablemate Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) in the Feb. 19 G1 Black Caviar Lightning, Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) who had earlier captured the G1 Coolmore Stud S. also at Flemington still represents exalted form as he bids to complete a landmark double for Chris Waller.

“I feel with Home Affairs, after his dominant win in the [G1] Coolmore Stud S., that he is very good over 1200 metres provided he settles and we have done a lot of work with him on that,” his trainer explained. “I loved his jump out at Flemington before getting on the plane–he relaxed very quickly which is what he will have to do to win.”

A Match Made In Heaven

Australia also has last year's G1 Blue Diamond hero Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), who has 3 1/2 lengths to make up on Home Affairs from the Coolmore Stud S. but is tailor-made for this stiff six furlongs. One of the most familiar sights at Royal Ascot is that of Jamie Spencer sitting chilly behind a wall of horses long after most would dare and his unique style appears the perfect accompaniment to this raider.

“He's a hold-up horse who is usually a bit slow out of the boxes and wants a good strong tempo. He's probably more of a 1400-metre horse, but that should hold him in good stead at Ascot,” Sam Freedman said. “His last 100 metres will be excellent, but his problem is that he can give himself too much to do. He always hits the line hard and just needs to stay in touch. Hopefully Jamie can get him out of the gates a bit better and hold a spot a little closer. We went for him for a reason.”

Getting Reacquainted

One of the intriguing factors in the major sprints is the amount of interplay between the protagonists, with such fine margins separating them and raceday conditions paramount to the outcomes. There was hardly a more dramatic event at last year's Royal meeting than the tussle in testing conditions in the G1 Commonwealth Cup between the dominant pair Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), with the latter being awarded the race by the stewards. 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol went on to dance many of the dances in Britain for the remainder of 2021 and it is to be hoped that this season's early form is not a reflection of a decline. Campanelle, who also beat Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the 2020 G2 Queen Mary S., heads here possibly with higher confidence following her cruise in the Apr. 16 Giant's Causeway S.

A Baptism Of Fire

This is an ideal race for fast seven-furlong performers, given the perpetual incline to the line which can find out the pure speedsters and one who looks just quick enough to cope is Cheveley Park Stud's scarcely-seen Sacred. Remarkably, given that she was a busy 2-year-old, she was seen only three times last term and this is her seasonal debut but there is a sense that she has the potential to be as much of a force over six as over that extra furlong. Her defeat of Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in Newmarket's G3 Nell Gwyn S. on her 2021 bow stands up to inspection, as does her smooth G2 Hungerford S. win when last seen in August. Fast-ground-dependant, the heatwave has come in time for her and William Haggas has her primed.

“It will be nice to see her again. They're going to go hard, so she will be finishing off well but it's whether they can draw the sting out of her by going so hard–we don't know,” he said. “There isn't a seven-furlong Group 1 until October. There are three seven-furlong Group 2s and they are all within a month, the Lennox, the Hungerford and the City of York, so it's not very helpful.”

Lane One

Saturday also sees the return of the accomplished Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who is unpenalised in the G2 Hardwicke S. despite his trio of victories in the G1 Irish Derby, G1 St Leger and G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Asked to race on ground faster than he has encountered so far in his career, Godolphin's Arc-bound luminary is the first of the Charlie Appleby stable's big Frankels to reappear with the comeback of Adayar (Ire) frustratingly stalled. Both were spoken of last season as being potential improvers at four and there is nothing in their pedigrees to suggest otherwise, so this first sighting of Hurricane Lane is one of the key moments of the meeting.

“What we've seen since he worked on the July Course, we've been very pleased with,” Appleby said. “His constitution as a 3-year-old was phenomenal and on what we've seen early in his 4-year-old career, hopefully we're going to be dealing with the same horse. It's always a question mark, whether it's two to three or three to four, their first run of the season you are hoping you see the same horse but the signs have all been good. We know that his preferred ground is on the easy side of good but it was pretty quick when he won the Irish Derby. If anything, he looks sharper than last year and the team are very excited to see him have his first outing of the year. His programme is working back from the Arc.”

 All Eyes On Alfred Munnings

Aidan O'Brien has made a point of singling out one of his brighter future prospects for the Listed Chesham S. in recent times and it is no different on Saturday, with the easy May 13 Leopardstown maiden winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) the focus in the day's opener. The half-brother to Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has a big reputation which his trainer has so far not played down, so his performance in a renewal that looks full of potential from elsewhere should provide interesting insight. Amo Racing and Omnihorse Racing's £900,000 Goffs London acquisition Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) looked a smart colt when beating Alfred Munnings's unlucky stablemate Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in a Curragh maiden over this seven-furlong trip at the start of June and bids to turn around the fortunes of Kia Joorabchian and trainer Michael O'Callaghan at the meeting.

In The Image Of The Iron Horse

The unusual combination of Shadwell and Saeed bin Suroor is represented in the G3 Jersey S. by the intriguing Monaadah, one of the last of the Giant's Causeways who has impressed so much in his three winning starts at Meydan, Newcastle and Kempton.

Operating under a double penalty in the latter race over this seven-furlong trip at the start of the month, the chestnut shrugged it off to beat 'TDN Rising Star' Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) with ease and he is one of the meeting's most exciting 3-year-olds. Last year's Listed Flying Scotsman S. winner and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) looked to  be clicking with a six-length success allowed to bowl along in front in Newmarket's Listed King Charles II S. Apr. 29 and a repeat of those tactics will be effective on the fast surface.

“Noble Truth is a very headstrong horse and gelding him since he won at Newmarket seems to have settled him down slightly,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He won't mind the quick ground and should hopefully be a live player.”

Click here for the group fields.

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Exceed and Excel’s Sacred Too Strong In The Hungerford

Saturday belonged to William Haggas, with two of the Newmarket handler's pattern-race successes coming at the same time during an action-packed period mid-afternoon. While Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) was causing an upset at Deauville in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, the yard's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was tearing it up in Newbury's G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. Back from a weather-enforced break having failed to see out the mile of the G1 1000 Guineas when seventh at Newmarket May 2, Cheveley Park Stud's impressive G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner was anchored in rear early by a confident Tom Marquand. Slicing between rivals passing two out, the 6-1 shot surged to the fore with 150 yards remaining and comfortably held the seasonal debutante Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) by a length as the 3-year-olds dominated. “They said she was top-class. To jump into the race like that was very impressive,” her rider said.

Kept to five and six furlongs as a juvenile, Sacred was runner-up in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, G2 Lowther S. at York and G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster before finishing last of eight in Newmarket's G1 Cheveley Park S. in late September. Back with a bang trying this trip for the first time in the Apr. 14 Nell Gwyn, the homebred had been prepared for the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G3 Oak Tree S. after the Guineas but had missed out due to the summer storms. This was confirmation of her earlier promise and she remains unbeaten at this trip.”When Ryan [Moore] won the Nell Gwyn on her, he said it was like riding a motorbike,” Maureen Haggas said. “We've timed her with the latest equipment at home and some of her figures are unbelievable. She grew two inches through the winter and I hope that after her light season the owners might keep her in training at four. She's in the [G2] City of York [on Saturday], but that is very quick and could undo all the good that's happened for her break. Then there's the [Oct. 3 G1 Prix de la] Foret [at ParisLongchamp], but she would only go if it stayed dry.”

Sacred is the first foal out of Sacre Caroline (Blame), a half-sister to the five-times grade I-winning champion turf female Lady Eli (Divine Park) who cost the operation 300,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Also a half to the GIII Regret S. and GIII Mint Julep H. winner Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex), the dam is connected to the high-class Sweet Loretta (Tapit), Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger), Spring in the Air (Spring at Last), Palace Episode (Machiavellian), Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley), Pays to Dream (High Yield) and The Last Zip (City Zip). Her unraced 2-year-old filly is Enshrine (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), while she also has a 2020 colt by that sire who is due to sell at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
BETVICTOR HUNGERFORD S.-G2, £100,000, Newbury, 8-14, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.99, gd.
1–SACRED (GB), 123, f, 3, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Sacre Caroline, by Blame
2nd Dam: Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: Kazadancoa (Fr), by Green Dancer
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 8-3-3-0, $170,432. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Laneqash (GB), 126, c, 3, Cable Bay (Ire)–Bonhomie (GB), by Shamardal. (£175,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Highclere Stud (GB); T-Roger Varian. £21,500.
3–Njord (Ire), 132, g, 5, Roderic O'Connor (Ire)–Rosalind Franklin (GB), by Intikhab. (€1,000 Wlg '16 GOFNOV; €14,000 Ylg '17 TIRSEP; €54,000 3yo '19 GOFHIT). O-Blessingndisguise Partnership; B-Mrs Eithne McDonnell (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £10,760.
Margins: 1, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 6.00, 22.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Dreamloper (Ire), Nando Parrado (GB), Al Suhail (GB), Tactical (GB), Motakhayyel (GB), D'bai (Ire), Line of Departure (Ire). Scratched: Danyah (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Commonwealth Cup in the Cards For Sacred

Cheveley Park Stud homebred Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is being pointed at the G1 Commonwealth Cup S. at Royal Ascot. Runner-up in a trio of Group 2 events in 2020, the William Haggas charge captured the G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket on Apr. 14, but tired to seventh in the May 2 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas when last seen.

“That [Commonwealth Cup] is the wish at this point in time,” said Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director Chris Richardson. “We thought that she didn't stay in the Guineas. The Commonwealth Cup is a tough race, but it's the logical race for her.

“She was the last off the bridle at Newmarket, in fairness–she just ran out of puff. We think she's come on well for the experience, and William is pleased with her, so we'll roll the dice.”

Another Cheveley Park colourbearer, the two-for-two Potapova (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is a possible starter in the G1 Coronation S., also at Royal Ascot. The bay Sir Michael Stoute trainee broke her maiden at first asking over seven furlongs on the synthetic at Chelmsford on Nov. 26 and returned on May 17 to pick up another novice win going that trip in her turf bow at Redcar.

“We haven't made that decision yet,” he added. “That is what I would favour personally, but Sir Michael is playing his cards close to his chest, so we'll see.

“I know that he rates this filly very highly. She did take a while to come to herself last year, but obviously she has come earlier [this year] and she has plenty of potential, which we've already witnessed.

“We can't commit [to the Coronation] just yet, but I'm hoping she might turn up there. She's got plenty of talent and she's one that we can bring along gradually–and I'm sure she'll keep improving.”

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Exceed and Excel’s Sacred Takes the Nell Gwyn

One of the most exposed of the fillies gathered for Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket, Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was nevertheless totally unexposed at this seven-furlong trip and showed more than adequate stamina combined with decisive speed to prevail. Switched off towards the rear by Ryan Moore, the 6-1 shot was delivered up the far rail passing halfway by Ryan Moore but needed a gap heading down into the “dip”. Slicing between rivals as soon as the chance appeared, the homebred who was runner-up in three group 2s last term cut down Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) with a furlong remaining en route to a 3/4-of-a-length success, with the 11-4 favourite Love Is You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “Her work has been very slick this spring and I think the ground is important to her, quick ground is a must,” trainer William Haggas said. “She got the trip well and if the ground is fast, we'll be coming back here on Guineas day. It's a bit of a no-brainer for me.”

It has been a tumultuous period for the Stud, with the news that David and Patricia Thompson had been awarded CBEs in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in October preceding that of David's passing in January. While the operation has dabbled successfully with jump racing and unearthed some leading talent in that sphere, there is nothing that better epitomises their ethos than success at the local track with a homebred filly in a prestigious flat race. Sacred was campaigned over five and six furlongs at two, winning here on debut in June before playing bridesmaid in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, G2 Lowther S. at York and G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster. Out of sorts when last of eight in the G1 Cheveley Park S. back at this venue in late September, she was worth a try at this distance given that she is out of a half to Lady Eli (Divine Park) and Haggas has been adamant she was more than just a fast juvenile.

“She got beat in three group twos last year, which was frustrating, before she went off the boil but I've always maintained she'd stay and she's proved that today,” the master of Somerville Lodge commented. “She's got a nice turn of speed and she picked up really well. Ryan said seven is her trip, but there's only one Guineas a year and she can always drop back down later. I don't think she does much in front either, so if you're brave you can wait longer. He gave her a lovely ride and I thought she won nicely.” Saffron Beach will meet the winner again in the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said, “I thought she ran well–I was really pleased, Adam [Kirby] was happy with her and she ran right through the line. She had a good blow, which we knew she would because she's 85-90 per cent fit, so we'll look forward to the Guineas now. She looked to me as if she's ready for a mile now, comfortably. She was coming back at the line.”

Sacred's dam Sacre Caroline (Blame) was a shrewd 300,000gns purchase by the Stud at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale and the half-sister to the five-times grade I-winning champion turf female Lady Eli and to the GIII Regret S. and GIII Mint Julep H. winner Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex) has provided instant reward with this first foal. Not that Lady Eli is the only top-level performer in the family, with the likes of Sweet Loretta (Tapit), Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger), Spring in the Air (Spring at Last), Palace Episode (Machiavellian), Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley), Pays to Dream (High Yield) and The Last Zip (City Zip) all under the third dam Kazadancoa (Fr) (Green Dancer). Next up from the dam is the 2-year-old filly Enshrine (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), while she also has a 2020 colt by that sire.

Wednesday, Newmarket, Britain
LANWADES STUD NELL GWYN S.-G3, £45,000, Newmarket, 4-14, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.89, gd.
1–SACRED (GB), 126, f, 3, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Sacre Caroline, by Blame
2nd Dam: Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: Kazadancoa (Fr), by Green Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Ryan Moore. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 6-2-3-0, $91,779. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Saffron Beach (Ire), 126, f, 3, New Bay (GB)–Falling Petals (Ire), by Raven's Pass. (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. £9,675.
3–Love Is You (Ire), 126, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Fallen For You (GB), by Dansili (GB). O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Charlton. £4,842.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 6.00, 4.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Chocoya (GB), Star of Emaraaty (Ire), Divine Light (Ire), Seattle Rock (GB), Ventura Diamond (Ire), Mamba Wamba (Ire), Tawahub (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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