Galileo Thursday Double As Kyprios Wins The Gold Cup

Thursday's G1 Gold Cup maintained its place at the heart of Royal Ascot with a thrilling and dramatic finale as Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ryan Moore outgunned Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), with the latter falling foul to ill fortune for the second consecutive year. Sent off the 13-8 favourite on the back of his wins in Navan's Listed Vintage Crop S. Apr. 23 and Leopardstown's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. May 13, Kyprios who represents the consortium of Moyglare Stud, whose colours he sports, and messrs Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Westerberg was held up in mid-division early out wide and out of trouble. It was a typical Gold Cup without much movement until the scramble out of the back straight and with Frankie panicking into angling off the rail he ended up nine-wide in the run for home as the Ballydoyle representative stayed on past Mojo Star in the final 150 yards. At the line, Kyprios had the measure of Amo Racing's seasonal debutante by half a length, with 3/4 of a length back to Stradivarius who paid for the errant passage he was forced to take.

Ryan Moore revealed it was far from straightforward afterwards. “It wasn't a nice race to ride,” he said. “I had to move him to the outside and I don't like doing that, but I felt I had to keep Kyprios going. Mojo Star has come to us, but this fella kicked in then and it was comfortable at the line. It wasn't a true test today and I don't think we saw the best of him. It was a more complicated race than it should have been and I think he was much the best. To be fair, Aidan had him earmarked for this a year ago! He knows what he is looking for and identified the right horse in him and it all worked out right.”

Kyprios was burying the memories of his three prior unhappy visits to this country, which had resulted in well-beaten efforts in the 2020 G3 Zetland S. and Listed Lingfield Derby Trial last May and an injury sustained in the stalls before this meeting's G2 Queen's Vase. Unbeaten in Ireland and still a lightly-raced project, the chestnut was tardy from the gates here and possibly further back than Moore would have wanted as Earlofthecotswolds (Fr) (Axxos {Ger}) enjoyed an easy time in front but it was Dettori who had the real issue as Stradivarius was hemmed against the rail and essentially trapped.

As Moore wound up the eventual winner approaching the home bend, Stradivarius was caught behind a wall and as he took a diagonal path to daylight the Willie Mullins raider Burning Victory (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) loomed full of running up the inside route he could have enjoyed had Frankie held his nerve. Mojo Star looked to have pulled off a remarkable training performance from Richard Hannon until deep inside the last furlong, but Kyprios was too strong for a record eighth Gold Cup for Aidan O'Brien. “The horse was very brave,” he said. “We brought him here last year, but he came out underneath the stalls and his back was badly bruised and he didn't get to race any more. He missed the St Leger, so it was always the plan that we would train him with this race in mind and give him two preps for it.”

“He had the same tenacity that he showed all the other times and Ryan was very strong on him. It was great Stradivarius was here–it makes these races even more special and incredible. Kyprios is light-bodied and a good mover who looks after himself and they are all the things that he will need. He did it today and hopefully he can do it in the years to come. He could go to Goodwood next or something like the Irish St Leger.”

Richard Hannon said of Mojo Star, who came so close to emulating Le Moss (Ire) in winning this on his seasonal bow, “The Gold Cup next year will be the plan. He's very manoeuvrable. He can go back to a mile and a half and, now he gets two and a half miles, anything in between. I worked him with my milers–with Lusail and Chindit at Kempton and I thought he might have worked the best and wondered if he ought to be in the Queen Anne, or something! I thought then he might run a big race if he got the trip and he got the trip. It is gutting, it really is galling. We've had too many seconds this week, but it will come. The horse is a real pleasure to be associated with, and his day will come. He's been second in three group ones, now–Derbys, St Legers, Gold Cups; there aren't many of them.”

Reflecting on the deflating experience of watching helpless as Stradivarius became the victim of circumstance once again, John Gosden said, “I was bit surprised from having been in the box seat that we dropped back so far. The problem is when they sprint, you had to come wide to get a run and he had to come widest of all. He had a chance the last furlong and the race slipped on him as they had gone a steady pace. Stradivarius is a great horse to get here and to now run in five Gold Cups–to have the longevity he has had. He came back in and had a neigh, so he seems happy. Great credit to the horse and the owner-breeder to keep him racing. There are younger horses there that are first and second. I just wish we had been a little handier and not had to go through a wall of horses.”

Dettori added, “The younger horses had more legs than me at the end. I had every chance to get them, but they were stronger than me. He's been a great hero and came out flying. I had to pull out wide and the only place I could go was the outside and everything was getting tight. When I've pulled him out plenty of times, usually he's got the electric turn of foot, but he's not four anymore, he's eight. I laboured a bit at the end and I was never going to get them. He has been a star. You have to pass on the baton to the younger ones. He did his best and we're very proud of him.”

Kyprios becomes the third top-level winner for Moyglare's incredible Polished Gem (Ire) (Danehill) alongside his full-sister Search For a Song (Ire), who captured two renewals of the G1 Irish St Leger, and the G1 Prince of Wales's S.-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). He is her last known foal, with her tally of eight black-type winners also including the seven-times group scorer Custom Cut (Ire) (Nonowcato {GB}) and the G2 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Kyprios's other two full-siblings are the listed scorer and G2 Blandford S. runner-up Amma Grace (Ire) and last year's Chester Cup winner Falcon Eight (Ire).

Polished Gem is a full-sister to the GI Matriarch S. heroine Dress To Thrill (Ire), with both being out of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Trusted Partner (Affirmed) who is also the third dam of the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The third dam Talking Picture (Speak John) collected the GI Matron S. and GI Spinaway S. before producing five stakes winners, with the G2 Premio Legnano winner Easy To Copy (Affirmed) the ancestress of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Sydney Cup hero Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
GOLD CUP-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 6-16, 4yo/up, 19f 210yT, 4:26.52, g/f.
1–KYPRIOS (IRE), 129, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Polished Gem (Ire) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Trusted Partner, by Affirmed
3rd Dam: Talking Picture, by Speak John
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Moyglare Stud, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £283,550. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 7-5-0-0, $434,026. *Full to Search For A Song (Ire), 2x Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 14f+, MG1SW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, $951,390; Falcon Eight (Ire), SW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $202,827; Amma Grace (Ire), SW & GSP-Ire; and 1/2 to Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, $926,416; Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 11-14f, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, $518,947; Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}), Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 7-9.5f, MGSW-Eng & Ire, $951,925; and Valac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), GSW-Aus, $356,631. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mojo Star (Ire), 129, c, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Galley (GB), by Zamindar. (130,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Barbara Prendergast (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £107,500.
3–Stradivarius (Ire), 130, h, 8, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Private Life (Fr), by Bering (GB). (330,000gns RNA Ylg '15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £53,800.
Margins: HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 1.63, 7.50, 2.00.
Also Ran: Burning Victory (Fr), Tashkhan (Ire), Princess Zoe (Ger), Bubble Smart (GB), Alignak (GB). Scratched: Trueshan (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Brazen Beau’s The Ridler In Controversial Norfolk Win

Dreams came true in Royal Ascot's opener on Thursday for Steve Bradley as his homebred The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}–Colorada {GB}, by Lope de Vega {Ire}) came out on top in the G2 Norfolk S. to gain a 'Win and You're In' berth at the Breeders' Cup. Let go at 50-1, the bay who had hidden his light under a bushel up to this point did not earn it without controversy, however, in a race that is certain to attract heated debate for some time to come. A promising if unexciting third in Beverley's Two Year Old Trophy Conditions S. over this five-furlong trip last time May 28, The Ridler's win gained extra significance as he was partnered by Paul Hanagan whose longstanding relationship with the Richard Fahey stable was announced to have come to an official end last month. Proving there is no fall-out, it was a case of friends reunited as they enjoyed the fruits of the biggest shock in the history of this prestige event, which they had also landed 12 months ago with Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}).

Anchored early behind the leaders up the centre, The Ridler produced a strong run to overhaul TDN Rising Star and 7-4 favourite Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) with half a furlong remaining en route to a 1 3/4-length score. That was only half the story, however, as the winner had seconds earlier drifted markedly left and significantly hampered Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), who ended up a neck behind in third having had his momentum checked at a crucial stage. The fourth, Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), also met with major interference as a result of the winner's drift but the stewards opted relatively quickly to leave the order as it finished.

Hanagan, who was handed a 10-day ban, was convinced he had won fair and square before he had the opportunity to watch a replay. “The Ridler pricked his ears in front and I always felt he was clear,” he explained. “I don't think they had to stop riding. He is still very green and a baby. I put my stick down to get him straight, so I could not have done much more.”

Fahey said, “That was a bit of a surprise–I know we were mad about the second horse [Walbank] in the breeze-up, but he made a little bit too much than we wanted to pay. I didn't think The Ridler was a 50-1 shot. He's a good hardy horse. We had him in the Coventry and had a long chat about it all, then decided to go here. You need a good six-furlong horse to win, especially the pace they went, so we're delighted.”

Of the change in the jockey situation at Musley Bank, the trainer added, “Paul is happy, I'm happy. We haven't really had a change around of jockeys, it was just bringing a young guy [Oisin Orr] in and Paul would still ride for us and has ridden for us today. You've got to look to the future, though. We will get Ascot out of the way before we think about the future, but we'd think about a flat six furlongs. He's quite a quick horse–you'd like to think of something like the Prix Morny, because if you've got a group 2, you've got to think of a Group 1.”

Steve Bradley said of his pride and joy, “The Ridler has got a reverse question mark on his face and The Riddler on every outfit has loads of question marks, including in reverse. As soon as he was born, it was a no-brainer. Weatherbys didn't like it with two 'd's, so we settled for one and the rest is history. My son Leigh is a Batman fan more than me, but it's been around for a long time, more than 60 years. Weatherbys were worried about the copyright–they didn't want to take on whoever owns Marvel Comics these days and they got a sweat on about that. I think Marvel Comics have got more money than I have! We use the National Stud to breed most of our horses and I have been involved heavily in the last 10 years in racing. It's amazing. This is the best day of my life, along with getting married and having children.”

Walbank's trainer David Loughnane was finishing runner-up for the second year in succession having missed out with Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and said, “Deja vu! The horse has done very well. He has run his race and I don't think he could have done anything different. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't heartbroken, but that's racing. We were out in front and he has probably got a little bit lonely. The winner has come down the outside and a long way across the track.”

Michael O'Callaghan was convinced the winner's move cost Crispy Cat the race. “He should have won. It is plain and simple,” he stated. “Silvestre [de Sousa] said he would have won. He never had a clear run through the race, even from the mid part of the race, and then he got wiped out by the winner when he was coming through. It wasn't the first time he had to check and he has run on again, so he should have won, unfortunately.” Brave Nation's rider James Doyle said, “He ran with a lot of credit–he would have been third without the interference.”

The Ridler, who had given little indication that he was about to deliver a performance such as this when getting off the mark at Ripon May 6 prior to finishing behind Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S. fourth Chateau (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) at Beverley, hails from the family of the G3 Prix Corrida winner Trumbaka (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and last year's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Emaraaty Ana (GB) by Lope de Vega's sire Shamardal. Colorada's yearling colt is by Time Test (GB).

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
NORFOLK S.-G2, £110,000, Ascot, 6-16, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.50, g/f.
1–THE RIDLER (GB), 129, c, 2, by Brazen Beau (Aus)
1st Dam: Colorada (GB), by Lope de Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Isabella Glyn (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Questina, by Rainbow Quest
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Steve Bradley; B-Smarden Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Richard Fahey; J-Paul Hanagan. £65,120. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $90,774. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Walbank (Ire), 129, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–No Lippy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (525,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing & Omnihorse Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-David Loughnane. £24,629.
3–Crispy Cat (GB), 129, c, 2, Ardad (Ire)–Mara Grey (Ire), by Azamour (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (7,500gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; £105,000 Ylg '21 TATIRY). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Saeed Nasser Al Romaithi (GB); T-Michael O'Callaghan. £12,309.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 1. Odds: 50.00, 1.75, 7.00.
Also Ran: Brave Nation (Ire), Bakeel (GB), Pillow Talk (Ire), The Antarctic (Ire), Thunder Moor (Ire), Redemption Time (GB), Jungle Fever (Ire). Scratched: My First Rodeo (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Seamie Heffernan: ‘Time To Take Prize-Money Off Guilty Jockeys’

Multiple Classic and Breeders' Cup-winning rider Seamie Heffernan thinks taking prize-money off winning jockeys found guilty of careless riding is the best way to avoid controversial climaxes to races.

Heffernan was speaking shortly after Paul Hanagan was handed a 10-day ban for careless riding after winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot aboard 50-1 outsider The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}).

Hanagan, who was recently demoted as Richard Fahey's stable jockey, allowed The Ridler, trained by his former boss, to drift across the track, hampering a number of his rivals in the process.

Despite the fact that an inquiry was called, the stewards found that The Ridler, who had just under two lengths to spare from 7-4 favourite Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at the winning line, had not improved his finishing position by veering across his rivals.

However, Heffernan, who has ridden big-race winners all across the globe, including a memorable Breeders' Cup triumph aboard Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2016, thinks the prospects of guilty jockeys losing out on prize-money could make the sport much safer.

He said, “There's no consistency in the stewarding in Britain and Ireland. Different stewards take a dislike to different riders and trainers. When they have the power to do them, they'll do them. I have seen it countless times, the exact same incident could generate a completely different result, depending on the stewards and the trainers and riders involved.”

Heffernan added, “The best way of dealing with it is taking away the prize-money. It's a grey area and the stewarding is inconsistent. It's a win-at-all-cost mindset at the moment but I bet if you told some of the riders that they would lose the prize-money if you wiped out another rider they'd think twice. I know I'd think twice about what I was doing.”

The Norfolk S. was worth £65,120 to the winner, of which, Hanagan, who described The Ridler as “babyish” and didn't seem to see much wrong with his efforts in the saddle, received just under 10% of the prize-money on top of his riding fee.

Speaking after the race, Hanagan said, “He's still very green and babyish. I always felt I was clear. I don't think they had to stop riding [in behind], that's the impression I got. There's a lot of emotions going through me at the minute. I'm delighted to ride Richard and the owners this winner, so I'll enjoy the moment.”

One of the constants at Ballydoyle for over two decades, Heffernan, famed for his sense of humour, volunteered another way of policing the sport if the governing bodies failed to examine the careless riding rules following Thursday's controversy.

He explained, “Sometimes I'm guilty and I get done for it. Sometimes I'm guilty and I get away with it. That's just the way it is. It's a game of doubt. It's inconsistent.

“Racing is a dangerous sport. There is a reason two ambulances follow horses around in a race. The minute you swing your leg over a horse, you are in danger and, if we could reduce the risk and keep it safe, then that is the right thing to do.”

Heffernan added, “Do you know the lie detector machines? Maybe they should bring them into the stewards room. If you are in racing, you have to be a very good liar. Stick the lie detector on them and watch them sweat!

“A lot of the stewards are there for the greater good of racing but it would be great if we could get a lie detector on some of the jockeys, trainers and owners.”

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Galileo’s Magical Lagoon Fights For Ribblesdale Glory

Adding to the remarkable diversity of the Platinum Jubilee Royal Ascot, Jessie Harrington became the 16th trainer to celebrate success from 17 races run by the time Yuesheng Zhang's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had prevailed in Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S. Freshened for this following her second in Navan's Listed Salsabil S. over a mile and a quarter Apr. 23, the 11-4 second favourite tracked the pace in a distant third early and worked her way to the lead two out before Sea Silk Road (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) emerged on her left. That 15-8 market-leader gained a slight advantage soon after, but as she veered away from Tom Marquand's whip Magical Lagoon reached into her reserves for Shane Foley and ultimately outstayed her chief rival in the last 50 yards. At the line, there was half a length between the race's two most progressive fillies, with 2 3/4 lengths back to History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third.

It was a first Royal winner for Foley, who said, “This filly responds really well for pressure. The day she won at the Curragh, she was the same. She really fights for you and digs deep. The pace was on and she wasn't travelling as nicely as I thought, but I was happy enough because this filly does not do a lot when she gets there. She stays very well and only goes through the motions.”

Sent off as favourite when introduced over a mile at Naas in August, Magical Lagoon was only fourth there but Harrington opted to pitch the bay into The Curragh's G3 Flame of Tara S. later that month and she duly obliged before finishing seventh behind Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October. Posting a respectable comeback effort in a decent renewal of the Salsabil, she had been kept back for this meeting and rewarded all that patience with a gritty performance to deny the Haggas filly at the venue at which her illustrious half-brother Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) dominated the 2013 King George.

“I always knew that if she got into a battle, she'd be really tough,” Harrington said. “She's a beautiful, powerful filly and she loves that quick ground. She's very easy to train–she has a lovely temperament and is very relaxed about life. The plan was to come here and then go to the Irish Oaks. She's a proper mile and a half filly.”

Haggas said of the runner-up, “She came to win and the other horse outstayed her, that was my take on the race. We thought she'd prefer the ground and she did. It didn't quite look like she is a real true stayer to me, but maybe the other horse is. The Yorkshire Oaks is quite a tough thing, so I don't think that will be on the agenda, maybe the Lyric Stakes at the track. The [G2] Prix de Malleret on July 14 might be possible.”

Magical Lagoon is the last known foal out of the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), whose claim to fame came in the producing of the aforementioned Novellist who also took the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club as well as this track's midsummer jewel. Her other black-type performers include the G3 Preis der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe runner-up Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), while she is kin to the G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Night Tango (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}). This is also the family of the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Novelle (Ger) (Northfields).

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £200,000, Ascot, 6-16, 3yo, f, 11f 211yT, 2:31.36, g/f.
1–MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Night Lagoon (Ger) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ger, Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ger & GSW-Ger), by Lagunas (GB)
2nd Dam: Nenuphar (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Narola (Ger), by Nebos (Ger)
(305,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Yuesheng Zhang; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. £113,420. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 5-2-1-0, $193,580. *1/2 to Novellist (IRE) (Monsun (GER)), Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, Fr, Ger & Ity, $1,873,588; Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSP-Ger; Ninfea (Ger) (Selkirk), SP-Ger; and Nerud (Bernardini), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sea Silk Road (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Oriental Magic (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (190,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas. £43,000.
3–History (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Prize Exhibit (GB), by Showcasing (GB). (2,800,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,520.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.75, 1.88, 6.50.
Also Ran: Mukaddamah (GB), Life of Dreams (GB), Mystic Wells. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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