Tag: Shadwell

Seven Days: Succession

Last week this column was led by Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Now, for the same owner/breeder, Shadwell, it is the turn of Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

It was quite the boost for Newcastle's all-weather G3 Hoping Fillies' S. that both the winner Al Husn and runner-up Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) went on to win a Group 1 on the turf on their next start. With Nashwa having won the G1 Falmouth S. in emphatic fashion, she reopposed Al Husn in attempting to defend her crown in the G1 Nassau S., eventually finishing third, just half a length behind Above The Curve (American Pharaoh), who was the same distance behind Shadwell's winner.

Al Husn thus became the fourth individual Group 1 winner for Shadwell this season following Hukum, Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), and the seventh since Sheikha Hissa took over at the head of the operation from her late father. This year there have also been Group 2 wins for Alfaila (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

When Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum died in March 2021 and Shadwell subsequently significantly reduced its stock, it would have been easy to assume that the operation would gradually wind down. Happily, the reverse appears to be true, and the streamlining, which would undoubtedly have been painful, is now paying dividends. 

Shadwell's elite troops have marched to glory in impressive fashion, with the old housemates in their Newmarket assistant trainer days, Owen Burrows and Roger Varian, supplying the latest Group 1 winners, while William Haggas, John and Thady Gosden, and Charlie Hills have all played their parts. A select amount of restocking took place at last year's yearling and foal sales, with Angus Gold signing for 10 fillies at Books 1 and 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, while another six colts and one filly were recruited from the December Foal Sale. A group of young trainers were added to the roster, with Harry Eustace, Kevin Philippart de Foy and George Boughey each receiving four Shadwell horses this year.

And then there are the stallions, present and future. The highest-rated turf horse in the world last year, Baaeed (GB), joined the Nunnery Stud while Group 1-winning sprinter Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) went to Derrinstown. Whether Hukum eventually stands on the same roster as his brother remains to be seen, but the dual Group 2 winner Mutasaabeq is from the same family and will deserve a place at stud, as does Anmaat, while the G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf is a hugely enticing prospect. 

More pleasing still for racing fans is that, at four, Al Husn, Israr and Alfaila are the youngest of the horses mentioned here. We are getting the chance to see these bigger names compete, and improve, over several seasons. And that, after all, is what it's all about. 

A Classic for the King?

Similar concerns were raised as to the continuation of the Royal Studs following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September. In the immediate aftermath of her passing there was a day's delay to the St Leger, a race the Queen had won in her Silver Jubilee year of 1977 with Dunfermline (GB). 

There could be no finer tribute to the Queen's beloved breeding operation than a major success close to her anniversary in this year's race, and in the Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood winner Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), King Charles and Queen Camilla have a noteworthy potential contender. The William Haggas-trained colt has now won four of his six starts, most importantly last week's G3 Gordon S. While Haggas has trained one of Sea The Stars's faster runners in Baaeed, there looks to be little doubt that Desert Hero will see out the Leger trip. His unraced dam Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was gifted to the Queen by Sheikh Mohammed, as was her full-brother, Dartmouth (GB), winner of the G2 Yorkshire Cup and G2 Hardwicke S. among his four Pattern wins. Another of the mare's siblings, Manatee (GB) (Manduro {Ger}), won the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, while the family's middle-distance and staying record was further enhanced by the Listed success over almost two miles of another half-sister, Gaterie (Dubai Destination).

Desert Hero may be arguably the most important budding stayer at Haggas's Somerville Lodge, but there is clearly a big soft spot for Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who is ridden daily by the trainer's wife Maureen and was bred by his father Brian. 

Hamish, who beat Hukum in the G3 September S. of 2021, is unbeaten this season in three Group 3 contests and could yet aim to give his stable a St Leger double if the plan to head to the Irish Champions Weekend comes to fruition. Now seven, he's been a slow burn, but he is exactly the type of horse the racing public loves to latch on to. Three of Hamish's six wins have come at York, the track that Haggas pere et fils would consider to be their local, despite the fact the horse is trained in Newmarket. More remarkably, six of Hamish's nine wins have been in Group 3 contests. Don't rule him out of striking at a higher level eventually. 

William Haggas signed for Hamish's granddam, the unpromisingly-named Frog (GB) (Akarad {Fr}), at the Tattersalls Houghton Sale of 1994 for 16,000gns, and she went into training with his former boss, Sir Mark Prescott, winning five of her 11 starts. Her greater achievement has been as a broodmare, however. 

Frog's eight winning offspring are led by the G1 Doomben Cup winner Beaten Up (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), while his half-brother, Harris Tweed (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), who was named after Haggas Sr's company, won the Listed March S. at Goodwood. Their sister Vow (GB), by Hamish's sire Motivator, was fourth in the Oaks after winning the Lingfield Oaks Trial. Her current three-year-old, Pledgeofallegiance (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), has won two staying handicaps this season for Prescott in the colours of Victorious Racing, but the majority of the family has raced, initially at least, for the Haggases. It is the dual winner Tweed (GB) (Sakhee), the dam of Hamish, who holds the bragging rights so far among Frog's broodmare daughters. 

Tom and Nathaniel

No jockey was in finer form at Goodwood than Tom Marquand, whose four winners were all at group level. The aforementioned Hamish and Desert Hero provided a brace of Group 3s, and he committed daylight robbery in the G1 Goodwood Cup aboard Lady Blyth's homebred Quickthorn (GB), later producing a similar front-running masterclass with Sumo Sam (GB) in stamina-sapping conditions in the G2 Lillie Langtry S. before racing was abandoned halfway through the final day of the meeting. 

Quickthorn and Sumo Sam provided two further examples of the prowess of Nathaniel (Ire) as a sire. While Enable (GB) never graced Goodwood with her presence, another of Nathaniel's top daughters, Lady Bowthorpe (GB), won the G1 Nassau S. of 2021. With Quickthorn becoming his seventh Group 1 winner on the Flat (Burning Victory (Fr) won the G1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival), Nathaniel remains one of the unsung heroes of the British stallion ranks, and a friend to Flat and National Hunt breeders alike.

Ralph Beckett, who had a winning week all over the place, was Goodwood's leading trainer on countback. His three winners in Sussex included taking the G2 Lennox S. for a second time with Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and another for the King and Queen, for whom Beckett is the longest-standing trainer. The royal winner, Serried Ranks (GB) (Land Force {Ire}), is a seventh-generation descendant of one of the Royal Studs' foundation mares, Feola (GB) (Friar Marcus {GB}), who was runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas for King George VI and is the dam of the 1,000 Guineas and Dewhurst winner Hypericum (GB) (Hyperion {GB}). He thus belongs to the same distinguished family as Baaeed and Hukum.

Now a dual winner this season, the juvenile Serried Ranks has a full-sister catalogued as lot 95 in the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale (good on Goffs UK for re-rebranding this sale thus, as everyone still calls it 'Donny' anyway). The filly is one of two yearlings to be offered in the sale by Highclere Stud on behalf of the Royal Studs.

Northern Lights

The battle to be champion sprinter of the year looks to be between two Yorkshire-trained speedballs in Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). The latter's trainer, John Quinn, tied with Ralph Beckett at Goodwood on three winners, and he will no doubt have been most delighted to get his star mare back in the winner's enclosure following three placed efforts this season, including two runs at Royal Ascot.

The pair is unlikely to meet in the Nunthorpe, in which Highfield Princess will aim to defend her title, with Shaquille being pointed towards the Haydock Sprint Cup. It is encouraging, however, for Britain, and the north of the country in particular, to have two such high-class sprinters in the ranks.

In The Footsteps of Monsun

In Germany, it has been quite the season for Sea The Moon (Ger) and also for Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, who is involved in different ways with both the G1 Deutsches Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) and G1 Preis der Diana victrix Muskoka (Ger).

As highlighted by Sean Cronin in Monday's TDN, Lanwades resident Sea The Moon became the first stallion in 19 years, following his own damsire Monsun (Ger), to sire the Derby-Oaks double in the same year. And it is more than 100 years since the same sire (Ard Patrick in 1910) had the trifecta in the German Oaks as he did, with Kassada (Ger) and Sea The Lady (Fr) chasing home Muskoka.

Baumgarten bred Muskoka with his former wife Antje, and the filly is inbred 4×3 to Monsun's dam Mosella (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}). This family was also fairly recently given a Classic boost by Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}), the winner of the 2017 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club, whose dam Morning Light (Ger) is a Law Society half-sister to Monsun and is the granddam of Muskoka.

Having sold Muskoka at the BBAG September Yearling Sale through Gestut Ohlerweiherhof for €80,000, Baumgarten later that day signed for Stauffenberg Bloodstock's Sea the Moon colt for €49,000. Subsequently named Fantastic Moon, he went on to be champion two-year-old in Germany before winning the Derby for Baumgarten's investor-driven Liberty Racing syndicate. 

Morning Mist, the dam of Muskoka, has a yearling filly by Reliable Man (GB) in this year's BBAG Yearling Sale as lot 175, again in the Ohlerweiherhof draft, while the Masar (Ire) half-sister to Fantastic Moon is in the Goffs Orby Sale, consigned by her breeders Philipp and Marion Stauffenberg as lot 373.

Anodin Strikes Gold

France held onto another one of its Group 1 prizes this season–just–when the six-year-old King Gold (Fr), the winner of a handicap four starts earlier in April, landed the Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday. It was not only a first Group 1 winner for his sire Anodin (Ire), the brother to the mighty mare Goldikova (Ire), but also for his trainer Nicolas Caullery. 

The latter, a kind of younger, Gallic Mick Jagger, would look equally at home headlining Glastonbury as he does picking up gongs in Deauville, but he was visibly moved by this notable milestone in his career provided by a horse he co-owns with King Gold's breeder Christiane Wingtans.

Anodin, who moved from Haras du Quesnay to Haras de la Haie Neuve ahead of the 2022 breeding season, had been leading the French sires' table even before King Gold's major success, and he has now surged farther clear of the reigning champion Siyouni (Fr), who has been represented by most of his major runners this season outside France. That list of course includes last week's G1 Sussex S. winner Paddington (GB) and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Tahiyra (Ire), though Mqse De Sevgine (Fr) landed a blow at home in the previous weekend's G1 Prix Rothschild.

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Sea The Stars’ Hukum Prevails In King George War

After all that build-up, Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Qipco S. had to live up to the billing and it managed it with a stirring finale provided by Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Aghareed, by Kingmambo) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as the older horses ruled the roost at Ascot. Kept away from fast ground after his defeat of Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown in May, the Owen Burrows-trained full-brother to Baaeed (GB) would have been any price for this prior to that revelatory comeback but traded at only 13-2 after the significant rain during the week tipped the scales in his favour.

Always travelling easily under cover in mid-division with Jim Crowley content to wait with the homebred, he went forward as Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) disappeared out of view turning for home with Ryan Moore giving up the unequal struggle and easing the 9-4 favourite out of the race. It was Westover who provided the target as Rob Hornby committed approaching two out, but Hukum had that extra helping of speed and after gaining the edge a furlong out denied the rallying Juddmonte runner by a head in this 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November. There was a 4 1/2-length margin back to the 3-year-old King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in third, with some tired horses further back in what turned into a war of attrition with the winning time the third-slowest since 1997.

“I've always believed in this horse and he's out of his brother's shadow now,” Crowley said. “That was something special. It went real smoothly and although Westover got first run on me it gave me something to aim at. He's so tough and it never felt like he was going to come off second best there.”

First emerging on the scene with a win in the course-and-distance King George V H. at the Royal meeting here three years ago, Hukum was St Leger-bound after beating up the older horses in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. but was ill-equipped for such a stamina test at that stage and could manage only fifth to close out a decent 3-year-old campaign. After his third on soft ground in the G2 Hardwicke S. the following June, he was confined to group 3 company and looked to have reached a ceiling with a second to this race's absentee Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in the G3 September S.

What that defeat actually did was create a dividing line between Hukum Part 1 with limitations and the new sleeker model which was on display at Epsom last June as he blew away Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) by 4 1/4 lengths in the G1 Coronation Cup. Injury struck there and so the fates looked sealed, particularly while Baaeed took a sibling rivalry that had never looked a fair fight to new levels. Instead of retirement, there was in its place a concerted effort between the Burrows stable and Shadwell to give Hukum a 6-year-old campaign which would answer some lingering questions and the Brigadier Gerard did that and how.

While the heavy rain into Thursday played against Auguste Rodin and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and probably also the fleet-footed King Of Steel most notably, it meant that Hukum had all boxes ticked in a race that was always going to boil down to small margins. For Auguste Rodin, this was a re-run of the 2000 Guineas disaster, only played out over a greater time scale as the all-or-nothing dual Derby hero proved unequivocally that he needs it fast. Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) went as quick as they could in front, but all bar the favourite were comfortable in behind and turning for home the eventual one-two-three were those with jockeys sitting the most quiet.

Any prospect of a blanket finish diminished rapidly straightening up, with Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Pyledriver treading water and Emily Upjohn floundering as the front two drove on into daylight with King Of Steel coming to the end of his stamina reserves. Looking at Westover, who had been such a flop here 12 months ago and who ran away from Hornby's whip to lose momentum in the closing stages, the deciding factor was probably the two years of hardening and extra maturity that the Shadwell representative had in his favour. Emerging as two true King George giants, they in the process gained overdue credibility having endured their fair share of being at times under-rated and under-valued by the press.

For Owen Burrows, the outcome was a dream scenario which 12 months ago would have seemed fanciful to even the biggest romantic. “He's an absolute star, isn't he? It is a big team effort, especially from my head lad who rides him every day, John Lake, and this season for whatever reason he's shown a lot more speed.”

“I can't put into words what it means,” he added. “The guys back at Shadwell rehabilitated him after his injury at Epsom, so huge credit to them. It was the type of injury that wouldn't retire a horse, but he'd just won a group one and he was five so hats off to Sheikha Hissa for giving him a chance. This horse has been a huge part of my career. He was my first Royal Ascot winner, first group one winner and he won in Dubai when we first went out after the sad passing of Sheikh Hamdan.”

Juddmonte's Barry Mahon described connections' mixed feelings after going so close. “We're devastated but delighted,” he said. “What a horse, what a horse race. He's run a career-best in what was being touted beforehand as the middle-distance race of the year and he went down gallantly. I felt he was even battling back again at the finish. He put it all on the line and he's doing what we thought he'd do this year. Last year he was big and immature and he's mentally and physically grown up. To break the track record the last day in Saint-Cloud was a big performance and to back it up with a run like that three weeks later is unbelievable.”

Rob Hornby added, “This race deserves a spectacle like that and to have an ovation for this horse, coming second like we did, was special. It is tough to take, but I'm really proud of him. He stays very well. He rolled around twice and I pulled my stick through and corrected him. When he got into a head-to-head, he was tough all the way to the line and he was just edged out unfortunately.”

Roger Varian said of King Of Steel, “I think he ran a great race, he lost nothing in defeat and came there with a great chance. He has been beaten by two mature, good, older horses. I'm not sure he got home as well as the first two. We have always got the option of coming back to 10 furlongs, but he had some great horses in behind him, two very good ones in front of him, and it's only his fifth run so he can only improve can't he?”

“He has the scope and is a big horse,” Varian added. “I'm sure he needs a little time between races. He's had a tough race today, but he's like a teenager, still. We got beat, but it was a super race–a championship race. He turned up and really ran his race.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Auguste Rodin, “Whatever happened, the power ran out and it ran out early. That is the unusual thing. The race wasn't even started. He was calm in the paddock, we were very happy with him. There is obviously a reason and we'll find it. It is frustrating, but that's the way.”

Pedigree Notes

Hukum, who was the fifth member of his family to run in this and the second to win it as he emulated the feat of Nashwan in 1989. It was in this race in 1982 that his fifth dam Height Of Fashion (Fr) raced for Sheikh Hamdan for the first time after he had purchased her from The Queen and she was seventh after banging her head coming out of the stalls. Prior to the victory of Nashwan, her son of Northern Dancer, Unfuwain, was second to Mtoto (GB) in 1988 while her other participant Nayef went down by a head to Golan (Ire) in a finish almost identical to this in 2002. He was also here a year later, but finished seventh as the 3-1 favourite on ground similar to this.

The Listed Prix de Liancourt winner Aghareed is nothing short of a goldmine for the operation, having been the best bred from the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) who like Hukum took time to gather momentum before exploding as champion grass mare in the Autumn of 2007. The fourth dam Bashayer (Mr. Prospector) is a full-sister to the Listed Oh So Sharp S. scorer Sarayir, who produced the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) who is in turn responsible for the classy miler Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Less than 24 hours after her 3-year-old colt Naqeeb (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) managed to get beaten for the third time at Newmarket, Aghareed's story has gained an extra momentous chapter. She also has the 2-year-old colt by Night Of Thunder (Ire) named Waleefy (Ire) and a 2023 full-brother to Hukum and Baaeed to come.

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH QIPCO S.-G1, £1,250,000, Ascot, 7-29, 3yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:33.95, g/s.
1–HUKUM (IRE), 135, h, 6, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     1st Dam: Aghareed (SW-Fr), by Kingmambo
     2nd Dam: Lahudood (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Rahayeb (GB), by Arazi
O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley. £708,875. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, 17-11-1-2, $1,859,692. *Full to Baaeed (GB), MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, $3,398,976. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Westover (GB), 135, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £268,750.
3–King Of Steel, 124, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Eldacar (GB), by Verglas (Ire). ($200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC (KY); T-Roger Varian. £134,500.
Margins: HD, 4HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 6.50, 7.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Luxembourg (Ire), Pyledriver (GB), Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), Emily Upjohn (GB), Point Lonsdale (Ire), Deauville Legend (Ire), Auguste Rodin (Ire). Scratched: Hamish (GB).

 

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Plans Outlined for Shadwell Runners

After missing the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot due to fast ground, Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is expected to make his next start in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. July 29. Victorious at the Royal meeting last season in the G1 Coronation Cup, the 6-year-old returned after almost a year on the sidelines following a hind leg fracture to defeat Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in May 25 G3 Brigadier Gerard S.

“Hukum will run if and when we get some rain,” confirmed Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold. “It was a touch and go situation Saturday. We were longing to run him, but [trainer] Owen [Burrows] just felt in the end that, while we could run him and he could win it, he might come back a bit sore after it and we'd all look silly.”

He continued, “We kept him in training and spent a lot of time getting him right again after his injury last year and he just felt it was too big a risk. It is frustrating but sensible.

“Very much the idea is the King George. If the ground was good or even if it was good to firm, we might have to take a chance. That's the big day. We will see how we are going nearer the time.”

Gold also confirmed that G1 Prince of Wales's victor Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will miss next week's G1 Coral-Eclipse S., a race that has been earmarked for G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}).

“Mostahdaf has come out of it very good, said Gold. “I spoke to [trainer] John Gosden [Saturday] and he says he is bouncing.”

“The Eclipse is off the cards for Mostahdaf. We still have Anmaat in, ground permitting. If he's in good form and conditions look suitable, hopefully, we will go there with him.”

“I think we will be sitting still with Mostahdaf and, hopefully, get him to York in the same form in August.”

Listed winner Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who finished sixth after being supplemented to Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S., will also be given some time off, according to Gold.

“We'll give her a break now and get her back in the autumn,” he said. “I still think she will be a very nice filly. We haven't even discussed targets. We will give her some gentle downtime, three weeks or so, then bring her back and take it from there.”

Dual Group 2 winner Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will also be given a freshener following an eleventh in the GI Queen Anne S. Tuesday. Victorious in the G2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket May 5, the 5-year-old came home fifth in Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. May 20.

“We'll see what there is for him, but we will just give him a bit of time now,” he explained. “He's had three runs relatively quickly, but he's the sort of horse who could easily come out and win another Group 2 later in the year.”

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‘It Couldn’t Be Better’: Living the American Dream at Ascot 

ASCOT, UK–There's plenty of red, white and blue draped about this most patriotic of race meetings, but the Union Jack had to give way for the Star-Spangled Banner during the early rounds of Royal Ascot's Wednesday fare. First Crimson Advocate blazed a trail in the G2 Queen Mary S., and even through she was all out at the line in an attempt to repel the fast-finishing Relief Rally (Ire), her nose was down where it mattered, providing the 27 owners who had travelled from America in support with a day they will never forget. 

The daughter of Nyquist has been well travelled in her short career, racing in Kentucky, Florida and now England in the last two months. From a debut third at Keeneland, she landed the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies' S. at Gulfstream Park, a win-and-you're-in qualifier for the royal meeting. 

Among the combined ownership group is Jake Ballis's Black Type Thoroughbreds, who bought into the George Weaver-trained Crimson Advocate after her first start.

The Lexington-based syndicator said, “George really liked the filly on debut at Keeneland and I have a lot of horses with him. She ran third and George called me up after the race and said 'We've got to put some people together to buy this filly. She's very, very fast'. The people who owned her originally buy to race and then sell.”

He continued, “George said he was going to put her on the turf at Gulfstream and then we're going to Royal Ascot. When we bought into her, that was the dream, but plans in this sport don't always work out. This one did, and we brought all our friends and families here; it couldn't be better. I've brought two people here who have never owned a horse before and they're my good luck charm–they're two for two.”

Of the tight finish, in which his filly held on by a nose, Ballis added, “From my vantage view I had zero idea who had won and I just said 'Please one time just give me the photo', and then my phone started ringing.”

The Kensington Palace S. which followed the Queen Mary may not have carried black type but it was no less celebrated for myriad reasons. The Crager family, who own the 25/1 winner Villanova Queen (Ire), have horses in their native America with Graham Motion, but the daughter of Mastercraftsman (Ire) was a special Royal Ascot winner for Jessica Harrington in the joyful week that she was given the all-clear following recent treatment for cancer. It was also a first win at the meeting for Ireland's champion jockey Colin Keane.

“We have a few in training with Mrs Harrington in Ireland and a few with Roger Varian in England. We also keep a few mares at Baroda Stud,” said New York-based William Crager, whose father Bill, the CEO of Envestnet, missed out on their first Royal Ascot victory but is due to join the celebrations in England later this week.  

He continued, “We really love racing over here especially. We get treated so very well and this is just incredible. The Harringtons are incredible–they are so good at what they do. We felt hopeful about what the filly could come and do but I don't think we could have expected that. And Colin–what a ride! All in all, what an experience. We're very thankful.”

Joining the celebrations in the winner's circle was Ben McElroy, who is no stranger to success at Royal Ascot thanks to the dual winner Campanelle (Ire). The agent also bought Villanova Queen, for €60,000, at the Goffs Orby Sale and she has gone on to win twice in Ireland, as well as being Group 3-placed and finishing eighth in last year's Irish 1,000 Guineas. Bill Crager also tasted success at last year's July meeting at Newmarket with his first homebred Miss Carol Ann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) but this was the family's first runner at Royal Ascot.

“We've gone in right on top but we're in for the long ride,” William Crager said. “Dad and Paul Hondros are flying over later in the week and we'll all be celebrating. 

“Ben bought this filly at Goffs; he's a phenomenal agent. [Eventually] She'll be back at Baroda and bred here [in Europe].”

There were plenty of first-time winners at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, one of those being Wathnan Racing, a name we will surely hear plenty more if their high-profile purchases continue apace. The G2 Queen's Vase winner Gregory (GB) was bought by Wathnan Racing, the leading owner in Qatar this season, after his victory in the Listed Cocked Hat S. for owner-breeder Philippa Cooper. Similarly, the group now owns Isaac Shelby (Ire), runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and fourth in the St James's Palace S., while on Thursday Wathnan Racing will be represented by Courage Mon Ami (GB) in the Gold Cup. If their colours look familiar it is because they are only a shade away from those made famous by Germany's Gestut Rottgen.

As Gregory was led in triumphant, Frankie Dettori aboard, the inevitable roar from the crowd turned to cries in some quarters of, “Jump, Frankie, jump.”

Jump he did. How could he not? As Dettori beamed from the rostrum he was joined by Thady Gosden as the latter's father John, co-trainer of two group winners on the day ,watched on from the sidelines. Two doors about to close, perhaps, as one is pushed open, strengthened by new foreign investors in British racing. 

https://twitter.com/Ascot/status/1671560821867171840?s=20

 

The Royal Ascot 'firsts' continued with George Weaver being joined on the trainers' roll of honour by Tom Clover, who saddled Rogue Millennium (GB) to win the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. for The Rogues Gallery syndicate.

The story of the Dubawi (Ire) filly was widely reported last year when she ran in the Oaks as she was bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for 35,000gns as an unraced two-year-old from her breeder Shadwell during that operation's reduction of stock.

Any lingering regrets that the Shadwell team may have had about 'one who got away' will soon have been erased by the barnstorming victory of Mostahdaf (Ire) in the day's feature, the G1 Prince of Wales's S. His half-sister Nazeef (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is already a dual Group 1 winner for the operation and now Shadwell has another enticing stallion prospect in the form of Mostahdaf, who has appeared at the royal meeting in each of the last three years and is bred on the same Frankel-Dubawi cross as Adayar (Ire), whom he beat into third, half a length behind the runner-up Luxembourg (Ire).

Sheikh Hamdan was the leading owner during what would transpire to be his final Royal Ascot in 2020. It is easy to imagine that he would be delighted to see the foundations he laid being built upon by his daughter Sheikha Hissa with many of the same trusted lieutenants at her side for wise counsel. 

Since Sheikh Hamdan's passing in March 2021, Shadwell has been represented by no fewer than six Group 1 winners in Baaeed (GB), Hukum (GB), Eshaada (GB), Minzaal (Ire), Anmaat (Ire), and now Mostahdaf: four homebred, and two bred by the remarkable team at Ringfort Stud. That those results have been provided by four different trainers spreads the enjoyment further still. Sometimes the red isn't needed: the white and blue has been doing just fine for Shadwell. 

 

 

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