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GP von Baden Doubles in Value to €400,000

The 153rd Grosser Preis von Baden, which has doubled in value to €400,000 for 2023, has drawn 46 entries at its early closing stage, including 10 from Godolphin and seven trained by Joseph O'Brien.

On the home front, defending champion Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) takes top billing for trainer Sarah Steinberg, and his compatriots with entries include last year's Deutsches Derby winner Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Tunnes (Ger) (Giuliani {Ger}), the half-brother to 2021 Grosser Preis von Baden and Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}).

Last year's G1 Preis von Europa winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who went on from Germany to land the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, heads the Godolphin list, with former Breeders' Cup Turf winner Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) also entered.

Stephan Buchner, Managing Partner of Baden Galopp said, “We are already looking forward to September 3, when the 153rd Grosser Preis von Baden, one of the sporting highlights in European horse racing, will be held. Of course, we are a bit disappointed with the number of nominations but, as always, the accounts are only settled at the end. Maybe there will be one or two late entries.”

The Grosser Preis von Baden is the feature race of five days of racing at Baden-Baden throughout the week of August 26 to September 3, with five further days of action scheduled at the Iffezheim track during 2023 from May 18.

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Strong Australian and American Support Among Overseas Entries For Royal Ascot

Dual Australian Group 1 winner Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) is one of the leading runners signed on from foreign climbs for the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting in June. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the G1 Lightning S. heroine is targeting the G1 King's Stand S.

David Eustace said, “Coolangatta galloped yesterday and will have her first proper workout next week. She has improved again physically from the Lightning S. and we feel we are ahead of the game in terms of her preparation.

“We are stepping into the unknown when it comes to international travel but Coolangatta has done a lot of travelling around Australia and is used to being in unfamiliar places. We are hopeful that she will handle that side of things well but you never know until you do it. We think the 1000 metres of the King's Stand, with the uphill finish, looks ideal and genuine fast ground will be to her advantage as well.”

Coolangatta is not the only Australian runner signed on to the royal meeting, as both Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who are trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, and Leon and Troy Corstens, respectively, are both aiming for the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. Artorius finished third in the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and enters off a victory in the G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick earlier this year. In The Astrologist's case, he ran too good to lose when second by a head in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan at the end of March.

Sam Freedman said, “Artorius had his first improving gallop the other day, having come off a bit of a fresh. He seems to be shaping up really well and will have a couple of trials over here before we put him on the plane.

“I think he is definitely hitting Royal Ascot this year in better form than he was 12 months ago.His form lines are strong and I think you guys over there will see a more tactically versatile horse. He will be able to sit a lot closer, which will be important, whereas last year he was rattling home.”

Troy Corstens said, “We were delighted with The Astrologist's effort in Dubai. He ran to expectations and came very close, which gave us the confidence to continue the journey with him.

“He has settled beautifully in Newmarket–he is a very adaptable horse and enjoys the travel. The plan is for him to have a racecourse gallop this week on the Rowley Mile in preparation for the G2 1895 Duke Of York S.

“He will then head to Royal Ascot for the Platinum Jubilee. We feel that this will be the perfect race for him. He is a renowned straight-track horse in Australia and we feel the testing course of Ascot will suit him immensely.”

Strong American Contingent Ready To Go

Twelve-time Royal Ascot-winning trainer Wesley Ward is bringing a slew of Royal Ascot runners, anchored by Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) and Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) for Stonestreet Stables to Royal Ascot. Both enter off of stakes victories at the recently concluded Keeneland Spring Meet, with the former pointing to the King's Stand S. and the latter eyeing both the King's Stand and the G1 Commonwealth Cup S.

Ward said, “Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming are doing great. They are both coming off nice comeback wins and their owner Barbara Banke [of Stonestreet Stables] is really looking forward to getting them over there. She loves Ascot as much as me and we are all excited.

“I was really happy with Love Reigns in the Limestone S. She had to switch a couple of times in the run but showed a great attitude to get up on the line, while Twilight Gleaming showed a lot of speed in her comeback race.

“Twilight Gleaming will definitely go for the King's Stand S., whereas Love Reigns will have an entry there and in the Commonwealth Cup.”

Besides Ward's older horses, he has at least three juveniles making the trip for the storied 2-year-old prizes in 'TDN Rising Star' American Rascal (Curlin) out of King's Stand and G2 Queen Mary S. victress Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy); Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), and Bledsoe (Igbaal).

Ward added, “American Rascal has come out of his first race in super shape. The team at Stonestreet really liked him and it was exciting to see him produce a performance like that.

“Fandom looks another good prospect after his debut win on the grass and we also have some nice 2-year-olds to run at Belmont, so we will see what else unfolds in the coming days.

“Bledsoe has already travelled over to England and will run in a novice race at Ascot on 13 May. He won America's first 2-year-old race of the year on the dirt at Keeneland but his mother Shrinking Violet was a multiple stakes winner of the turf, so we are looking forward to getting him on the grass.”

Brad Cox's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Caravel (Mizzen Mast) is pencilled in to make the trip, and GI Belmont Derby victor Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) for trainer Ken McPeek is a potential starter in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S.

McPeek said, “Classic Causeway had a nice run first time up this year on the dirt at Oaklawn. Then we came back for the [GII] Oaklawn H. and he was off the board, so we have decided to switch back to the turf.

“He is going for a prep race in Kentucky on 3 June in the Arlington S. and, if he runs well there, we will point him towards the Prince Of Wales's S.”

New York Thunder (Nyquist) for trainer Jorge Delgado holds a Commonwealth Cup entry, while Hong Kong runner Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard) has been nominated for both the Platinum Jubilee and King's Stand.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We are very pleased to see entries for Royal Ascot 2023 from across the world including Group 1 winners from Britain, Ireland, France, the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.

“It is particularly exciting to see so many strong entries from Australia, including the Black Caviar Lightning S. winner Coolangatta, who looks set to try and follow Nature Strip's victory in the King's Stand S. It's also exciting to see Artorius is on track to try and go two better than when third in the Platinum Jubilee S. last year.

“Wesley Ward again has a strong team headed by Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming along with the 2-year-olds while it will also be great to see Breeders' Cup winner Caravel represent America.”

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Channon’s Classic First Keeps it in the Family

Jack Channon took up the reins at the fabled West Ilsley yard in January and has made a determined start in his bid to follow the 32-year training career of his father, Mick.

Currently saddling winners at an impressive strike-rate, including a double on Bank Holiday Monday, the younger Channon can approach the prospect of his first Classic runner in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas with a degree of confidence. Yes, the filly in question, Caernarfon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), may be trading at up to 50/1 for Sunday's feature but the last time she was seen in action in public it was when posting a victory over course and distance in the Listed EBF Montrose Fillies' S. in October.

“It's a big weekend ahead,” Channon admits. “But Caernarfon seems to be in great form. Touch wood, all her work to this point has been foot-perfect, and we think we've got her exactly where we want. She's pretty much just come in her coat, so I think she's flourishing at the right time, and I couldn't be happier with the way she is. Now it's just whether she's good enough, which is always the case, isn't it?”

There is a touch of deja vu to this particular Classic runner, for the Channon stable, in the days of Mick's reign, sent Caernarfon's full-sister Dan's Dream (GB) to Newmarket for the 1,000 Guineas after she won the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury. Both fillies have run in the colours of their breeder, Steven Smith's Hunscote Stud, with Caernarfon being owned in partnership with Paul Humphreys and Jonathan Sweeney.

“Funnily enough, seeing as they're full-sisters, they actually couldn't be more different as fillies,” says Channon of the siblings. “Dan's Dream was a lot stockier, and she didn't get the mile. She was an out-and-out seven-furlong filly, whereas this filly I feel will be a mile-and-a-quarter filly in time.

“Even though, obviously, they share the ability, they're different types, which will hopefully grant Caernarfon better fortunes in the Guineas than her sister.”

Though arriving at Newmarket without a prep run, Caernarfon is not short of experience. From her July debut, she ran seven times in 2022, winning twice and finishing in the top three on a further four occasions, including taking third in the Listed Silver Tankard S. over a stiff mile at Pontefract before her stakes victory on the Rowley Mile. The undulations should hold no fear for her.

Cannon continues, “She's a filly that doesn't need an awful lot of work. She's quite a light-framed filly, and I didn't feel like she needed a prep run to get her spot on.

“I think we've got her exactly where we want her. She's done some nice bits of work, and she's been there and done it over the course and distance. The track won't be a problem, so it's all down to ability now.”

With nine wins to his credit already this year, Channon has ensured it's very much business as usual at West Ilsley, which has previously housed such star names as Queen's Logic (Ire), Youmzain (Ire), Samitar (Ire), Music Show (GB), Nahoodh (Ire) and Zafeen (GB) since Mick Channon bought the Berkshire stable from HM The Queen in 1999.

“I think if you've got good horses to aim at good races, there's a natural buzz that it creates around the place,” says Channon of the current mood in the yard. “We're very busy, so it's hard to stop and properly take it all in. But definitely, just to have those good horses to even compete in the big races gives you that buzz that you feel like you're properly involved. It's been an enjoyable time for everyone.”

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Daughter Of Fallen For You Debuts At Ascot

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

2.40 Ascot, Novice, £40,000, 3yo, f, 8fT
QUEEN FOR YOU (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the fifth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. heroine Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who faces a stiff task on debut in this Naas Racecourse Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies' S. for aspirants of the 2023 renewal of that Royal test. Normandie Stud's March-foaled bay, whose half-siblings include the multiple group winner Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and who is a full-sister to the listed scorer Love Is You (Ire), is pitched against experienced rivals by John and Thady Gosden but receives upwards of nine pounds as a result.

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