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Newmarket: Shuwari Faces Ylang Ylang Again in Fillies’ Mile Decider

Unable to live with Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus) when outmanoeuvred and outspeeded in the G2 Rockfel S. at Newmarket last month, Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) face an entirely different test on Friday as they compete in the track's feature G1 Fillies' Mile. In all likelihood, fast ground over seven furlongs suited neither filly and now that the rain has come the kind of bias that proved ideal for Carla's Way's style will have disappeared. We know that Shuwari is made of the right material based on her prior defeat of Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the Listed Star S. at Sandown in July, hours before Ylang Ylang proved worthy of her TDN Rising Star status when capturing Leopardstown's G3 Silver Flash S. The question now is how they match up on a level playing field.

Shuwari's trainer Ollie Sangster commented, “She's a straightforward horse who relaxes and settles well and I can't see the step up in trip being a problem. It's nice to have a chance in a race like this and hopefully she will run well for us.” Ryan Moore said of Ylang Ylang, “She was taken off her feet a bit on quick ground over seven furlongs here last time, so the step up to a mile will suit and she has form on soft if we get a lot of rain. I'd like to think she is the filly to beat if returning to the form of her Leopardstown win.”

This is probably no match, with Doreen Tabor's Sandown maiden winner Classical Song (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) one of the lesser-exposed types held in high regard. Jeff Smith's G2 May Hill S. runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Anthony O'Callaghan and Sabina Kelly's G3 Weld Park S. scorer Caught U Looking (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) look capable of better and have little to find to get to the level of the main protagonists.

Smith's racing manager David Bowe said, “She still ran a bit green in the May Hill and has come on since then mentally. We're hoping that she will do us proud and she is obviously a really smart filly and we'll see how she fares. She has a really stout pedigree and she has the looks to go with it. She's a beautifully-proportioned filly and just neat and tidy for a two-year-old. We're very lucky that both her and Ghostwriter seem to be in good shape for the obvious next year. We don't want to tempt fate and get too excited, but it's nice to have a couple of nice horses on the books and we're in good shape.”

Skellet To The Test In The Oh So Sharp…
Also on the card is the seven-furlong G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp S., which features Juddmonte's recent acquisition Skellet (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Earning TDN Rising Star status over this trip at Salisbury last month, the Ralph Beckett-trained half-sister to Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) is met by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's comparatively vastly-experienced four-times winner Chic Colombine (Fr) (Seahenge) and Godolphin's course-and-distance scorer Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said of Skellet, “We're looking forward to seeing her out and we'll find out a bit more about her. It looks a good race–Charlie Appleby's filly looked very good the day she won. Ours is a big filly and it's all about next year with her, but it will be good to give her a bit more experience. She has a beautiful pedigree [and] the fact she's by Kingman made her extra appealing.”

City Of Troy Faces Seven In The Dewhurst…
Saturday's G1 Native Trail's Dewhurst S. at Newmarket will see Coolmore's TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify) make his eagerly-awaited third start as he looks to seal juvenile champion honours. Kept away from slow ground after his win in the July Festival's G2 Superlative S., he may have to deal with those conditions with rain expected ahead of the seven-furlong highlight. He will be joined by stablemate Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is to be partnered by Frankie Dettori, with Aidan O'Brien withdrawing Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Three of the main rivals to the favourite will be Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's G2 Champagne S. winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Shadwell's G3 Tattersalls S. scorer Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Juddmonte's supplemented G2 Mill Reef S. winner Array (Ire) (No Nay Never).

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Ace Impact Retired to Haras de Beaumont

Ace Impact (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}), the brilliant winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Prix du Jockey Club, will not race on and is set to take up stud duties at his part-owner Kamel Chehboub's Haras de Beaumont from 2024.

Speaking to TDN at Tattersalls, Chehboub said, “When we established Haras de Beaumont the idea was to target exceptional future stallions prospects. Ace Impact has won the French Derby, he's won the Arc, he's unbeaten. As we all know, to race on for another year is taking a risk for the horse, and a lot of breeders want to use him. He's a true champion; there is a demand for him. For France it is fantastic news, and from day one that was part of the project.”

Bred by Waltraut Spanner, Ace Impact was bought by his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget on behalf of owner Serge Stempniak for €75,000 at the Arqana August Sale. A member of the first crop of Cracksman, he is out of the winning miler Absolutly Me (Fr) (Anabaa Blue {GB}) who had already produced the Listed-placed multiple winners Alessandro (Fr) and Apollo Flight (Fr). He hails from the same family as Lord Derby's seven-time Group 1 and dual Classic winner Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who went on to produce the Derby winner Australia (GB).

Ace Impact started racing in January of this year at Cagnes-sur-Mer, where he made a winning debut over 10 furlongs before progressing through a conditions race in Bordeaux to the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly. There, on his next start, he handed out a sound beating to the favourite Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the Prix du Jockey Club. His Classic victory, completed in record time, was extraordinary not just for the winning margin of three and a half lengths but for his acceleration from the back of the 11-strong field to take charge in the final 400 metres with a devastating turn of foot.

Cristian Demuro, who rode Ace Impact in five of his six starts, said, “He's a horse from another planet. You only come across horses of this calibre every ten years. To win an Arc as a three-year-old, in which his powers of acceleration shone to the fore, while retaining his unbeaten record, is extraordinary.”

He won the Jockey Club in the colours of Stempniak and, following his part-sale, Ace Impact raced thereafter in the green-and-yellow silks of the Chehboub family's Gousserie Racing. These same colours were carried by by the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Champion S winner Sealiway (Fr), who, earlier this year became an important new sire at Beaumont, France's newest stallion operation.

Following Ace Impact's wins in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in August, and ultimately the Arc, there was speculation that, even if retired this year, he could see out his career with a trip to the Japan Cup for a showdown with Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}).

Chehboub said, “We had a discussion with our partner and we felt that to go to Japan was a very long journey for him, although we'd have loved to take on Equinox. But he has delivered everything we have asked of him. We are obviously very proud to have him, and to retire him to our farm. It's a very exciting next step.”

Stempniak added, “Ace Impact is the horse of my lifetime. It's been an extraordinary experience.

“The colt's ability to quicken has made quite an impression on me, and I think it has made an impression on everyone. It invited comparisons with Dancing Brave's Arc.

“I hope he will become a great stallion, and [I know] we can count on the professionalism of the whole team at Haras de Beaumont when it comes to managing his new career.”

Haras de Beaumont manager Mathieu Alex was at Tattersalls with Cheboub during the week. He said, “Over this week in Newmarket we have met many people who are keen to use him. That's great to hear; he's a very important horse for France.”

He added, “Welcoming an athlete of Ace Impact's calibre to Haras de Beaumont is an extraordinary privilege. Now rated 133 by Timeform, he is the world champion three-year-old. His performances in the Prix du Jockey Club and the Arc de Triomphe were truly amazing and the way he can quicken makes him very special.

“We are very proud to be standing this champion in France and would like to take this opportunity to thank again Serge Stempniak to have allow us to partner in this horse and Jean-Claude Rouget for his success with this champion.”

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Reduction in Runners Among a Package of Changes to Grand National

As part of a “relentless focus on welfare”, the Jockey Club has announced a number of changes to the Randox Grand National, including reducing the maximum number of starters from 40 to 34.

Having canvassed the views of a wide range of racing industry stake-holders as well as World Horse Welfare, the Jockey Club has settled upon five key changes to the Aintree showcase, which will be run next year on Saturday, April 13. Last year's race was delayed by 15 minutes after protestors invaded the track. One of the runners, Hill Sixteen (GB), was fatally injured after falling at the first fence, an incident his trainer Sandy Thomson said was exacerbated by the heightened tension surrounding the delay.

Along with the reduction in the number of runners, the first fence will be moved 60 yards closer to the start line in order to minimise the horses' speed on approach to the fence. The start time of the race will also be brought forward in the day, and horses will no longer be led by a handler in a pre-race parade. Instead they will be released at the end of the horse walk to canter to post as is normal in other races.

Other changes including lowering the height of the eleventh fence by two inches, alterations to the running rail to assist with the capture of loose horses, and further investment in the track's irrigation system.

The mimimim handicap rating for runners will be increased to 130 (from 125).

Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive of the Jockey Club, said “The Randox Grand National is the most iconic race in the world and one which transcends our sport. It is part of the fabric of British sporting life alongside the likes of Wimbledon, the FA Cup and the Open golf and is loved and watched by millions of people all over the world every year. For many it is also their introduction to horseracing and I believe that a competitive, fair and safe Randox Grand National is one of the best ways of ensuring the sport continues to thrive for generations to come and remains an important part of Britain's culture and economy.”

He continued, “That means our sport, like many other sports have done, needs to recognise when action needs to be taken to evolve because the safety and care of horses and jockeys will always be our number one priority. In making these changes at Aintree we are underlining our relentless focus on welfare and our commitment to powering the future of British racing.”

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Dettori Cancels Retirement Plans to Ride in America

Frankie Dettori attended a photo call in London on Thursday morning, posing underneath a banner saying 'Thank You Frankie' to mark his forthcoming final ride in Britain at QIPCO British Champions Day on October 21.

But while this was taking place, the Racing Post published a story online with quotes from the jockey stating that his long-held retirement plans are off and that he will ride next year in America, basing himself at Santa Anita.

Dettori's stated plan had been to ride at some of the major international meetings through to the end of the year after waving goodbye to Britain at his beloved Ascot. His decision to stall his retirement and move to California will not come as a surprise to many within the racing industry, but it does rather undermine the drawn out farewell tour he has been conducting in Europe throughout the season.

He told Lee Mottershead of the Racing Post, “I didn't expect this year to be so successful. I feel like I still have to get it all out of my system, so the obvious choice for me is to move full-time to America because I had such a good time there over the winter. I'm going to be based at Santa Anita but I'll also do a bit of stuff on the international scene in Dubai and Saudi Arabia when available.”

Dettori, who had been in tears in Deauville in the summer when French racing acknowledged his final ride at the track, admitted that he had started to rethink retirement after winning the G1 Juddmonte International aboard Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for his long-term ally John Gosden.

In a post on his Twitter account on Thursday morning, Dettori said, “I'm in London promoting British Champions Day, and it will be my last one ever. But, a scoop for you guys, I've decided to prolong my career and I am going to go to the United States from next year.”

He did not, however, rule out the possibility that he could yet reappear in Britain, the country which has been his home for 37 years.

“I accept that's a question but at the moment I can't see any further than the Kentucky Derby,” he told the Racing Post. “My goal is to get a decent ride in that. I therefore can't answer the question yet.

“In the past, American jockeys have come over to Royal Ascot to ride for people like Wesley Ward. It would all depend on how it clashes with the American calendar. I am committed to going to America and having a proper go at it there. I can't be going backwards and forwards between America and Britain like a yo-yo. That would be impossible.

“I'll tackle the question of riding in Britain again closer to the time. I can't say yes, I can't say no because I don't know. We'll see.”

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