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Talking Points: Keane Off The Mark At Ascot – But He Deserves More Big-Race Rides

Hard to believe that Colin Keane was 0-50 at Ascot before booting Villanova Queen (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) home to record an emotional victory for Jessica Harrington in the Kensington Palace Fillies' Handicap.

Anyone with even a passing interest in Irish racing will know that Keane is right up there with the best riders in Europe and his royal winner was long overdue.

Of course, it came in rather fortuitous circumstances, with Keane deputising for Harrington's number one rider Shane Foley, who was cruelly ruled out for six weeks after breaking his collarbone at Gowran Park.

Many will point to the fact that Keane came in for the winning ride on Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Irish Derby last year and Dermot Weld called on his services for Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2020.

But the point remains, Keane is a top-drawer rider and one that is deserving of more opportunities to showcase his talents on the international stage like the previous Irish champion jockeys did before him.

Victory aboard Villanova Queen could serve as a reminder of that fact.

Tudhope Hardens Tremendous Ascot Record

Danny Tudhope has had no such problems with finding the back of the net at Ascot. In fact, this is the meeting where he has enjoyed some of his best days in the saddle.

Think Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) storming to Queen Anne success at massive odds, Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) flashing home in the Chesham and Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) scooting clear in the Queen Mary. Tudhope has a lot of fine memories from this meeting.

He also won the Duke Of Cambridge S. in 2019 aboard Move Swiftly (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and doubled his tally of wins in the Group 2 contest on Tuesday when delivering Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at exactly the right time to win by just a neck.

That success brought Tudhope's record at Ascot to 23-231 and hardened his reputation as being a master of his craft on the straight course.

Appleby Proves He's Not Just A Sand Artist

Mick Appleby told TDN Europe back in January how, in many ways, that he had become a victim of his own success on the all-weather and that he'd love to train more two-year-old runners.

The trainer proved on Wednesday that, given the raw material, he can do the business with juveniles by sending out Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) to win the Windsor Castle.

One of the best all-weather trainers in the business, Appleby has gone some way to demonstrating that he is just as good on turf through his handling of progressive sprinter Raasel (GB) (Showcasing) and now Big Evs.

Indeed, Big Evs will also go down as a noteworthy first Royal Ascot winner for Blue Point, the first of the freshman sires to achieve such a feat this week.

Two Things To Take From The Prince Of Wales's Stakes

Few would have seen Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) winning the Prince Of Wales's S before the race was run. Fewer still would have predicted the style in which it would be achieved.

Regardless, there didn't appear to be any fluke about the victory, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained runner quickening up off a steady pace and rounding the field as if they were stationary.

He looks a very smart performer over 10 furlongs, which he proved in Riyadh earlier this year before coming up short behind a global superstar in Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) when upped to 1m4f in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

There were a couple of things to take from Wednesday's race; Equinox is probably the best horse in the world right now and Mostahdaf won't be underestimated in the Juddmonte International.

American Winner An Important One

International competition is what underpins the royal meeting. That's what made the result of the opening Queen Mary such an important one with the American raider Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) hanging on to land a pulsating renewal.

That brought American-trained runners' tally of winners at Royal Ascot to 14. A whopping 12 of those have been trained by Wesley Ward, who is incidentally without a winner since Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the 2021 Commonwealth Cup.

The international runners at Ascot are what the Irish runners are to Cheltenham. It's what makes the meeting so special. Without your Australian sprinters and razor-sharp American-bred juveniles, the meeting would not boast the same lustre.

As a result, Ascot deserves a lot of credit for being proactive in recruiting runners from all over the world. George Weaver's Crimson Advocate won her qualifying race for Royal Ascot at Gulfstream back in May and such an initiative has proved a roaring success.

Connections of Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), beaten just a nose by the American raider on Wednesday, may not agree, but Crimson Advocate's success was an important one as it served to further broaden the appeal of one of the most special race meetings in the world.

Need For Minimum Ratings

That brings us onto Steven Seagull (GB) (War Command). Royal Ascot is supposed to be about bringing the best horses and people the world has to offer and pitching them against each other for one brilliant week of racing.

So what was the 46-rated Steven Seagull doing running in the Queen's Vase? We had a similar situation a few years back when the 54-rated My Lucky Penny was allowed to run in the 2020 Irish 1,000 Guineas and duly tailed off at odds of 400-1.

Connections didn't even have an excuse of a day out on that occasion given the race took place behind closed doors due to Covid.

These lowly-rated horses have their place, of course they do, but it's not on the biggest of stages where their participation could do more harm than good. Minimum ratings would serve to eliminate such needless worries going forward.

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The Major Talking Points From Irish Derby Day at the Curragh

The Curragh, IRELAND–Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby revolved around Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and he didn't disappoint.

The fact that Colin Keane was handed the ride at the expense of Rob Hornby, who was aboard the colt at Epsom, provided a fascinating sub-plot to the race and both men emerged from the weekend with reputations not only intact but enhanced.

Westover was the winner the Curragh needed and his victory tees up a fascinating rematch between himself and the Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot next month.

From Westover, to the Curragh crowds and Johnny Murtagh registering an important winner for the Aga Khan, we examined the main talking points from an enthralling day's action.

Class Comes to the Fore in the Irish Derby

In sauntering to Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby glory, Westover provided further proof that this year's Derby at Epsom was won by a proper horse in Desert Crown.

With no Desert Crown to worry about at the Curragh, Westover stamped his class over the opposition, and boy did the race need this.

The Irish Derby has been a mixed bag in terms of quality throughout the past decade. There was no doubting the class of this year's winner.

Nor that of the rider. Much of the talk in the build-up to Saturday revolved around the fact that the three-times Irish champion jockey Colin Keane was taking over in the saddle from Rob Hornby, who had ridden Westover in all bar one of his five starts before the Curragh.

Saturday would have been one of the most difficult days in Hornby's career but, judging by how the rider dealt with the news and even went as far as offering Keane advice on how to ride the horse he knows so well on the morning of the race, he is clearly a man of immense character.

We learned as much from Keane moments after the race. Keane had just ridden his third Irish Classic winner, the second in the Juddmonte silks after of Siskin (First Defence) in the G1 2000 Guineas in 2020, but his immediate priority was to acknowledge the role Hornby played in the success.

He said, “Fair dues to Rob Hornby. I rang him this morning and he told me everything I needed to know about the horse. A true gentleman.”

Keane added, “The horse is very good and Rob told me that he'd get the trip well and will even stay further. He told me not to be afraid to use him up because the one thing he'll do is get to the line, and Ralph said the same. He told me to get him rolling and that he'd stay going.”

Stay going is putting it mildly. Westover devoured the Curragh straight as his rivals cried enough. The win represented a fourth Classic success for Ralph Becket but the first the trainer recorded with a colt.

Many people viewed Westover an unlucky loser behind Desert Crown at Epsom given he was stopped in his tracks and encountered traffic problems at vital stages in the race.

The prospects of a rematch between the pair was raised following the Irish Derby with the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot next month the most likely destination for both colts. Now that would be class.

Murtagh Making the Most of Aga Khan Support

Less than two years after it was announced that Johnny Murtagh would train horses for the Aga Khan, the Curragh-based operator sent out Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to land the G2 GAIN Railway S.

Murtagh was closely associated with the Aga Khan Studs during his long and fruitful period as stable jockey with John Oxx, with his most famous partnership in the world-famous green and red silks coming aboard Sinndar (Ire) (Grand Lodge), the dual Derby hero who went on to snare the Arc in 2000.

Saturday represented another hugely important milestone for Murtagh and the Aga Khan who, in his role as trainer, has now become a vital cog in the wheel of the Irish operation.

Shartash is an unusually quick runner for the Aga Khan. Out of the five-time winner Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won back-to-back editions of the G2 Blandford S. in 2016 and 2017, Shartash has an exciting future.

The G1 Phoenix S. could be the obvious next race for him and he should have no trouble getting seven furlongs in time.

Tide Finally Turns For Teresa

There were few more deserving winners of the Listed Dubai Duty Free Dash S. than Teresa Mendoza (Ire) (Territories {GB}).

It seems a long time ago now since Ken Condon's filly burst onto the scene by winning a Curragh maiden as a 2-year-old in good style back in 2020.

She had placed six times at listed and group level since, before finally bagging that all-important listed success at the Curragh on Saturday.

That win sugar-coated a good weekend for her sire. Ger Lyons unleashed another smart runner by Territories at the Curragh on Friday in the shape of Slan Abhaile (Ire), who slalomed her way through the field under Colin Keane before pulling clear at the line.

Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB), who was sold for a whopping £1.2 million to join Gai Waterhouse in Australia at the Goffs London Sale recently, showed that it's not all about speed when it comes to Territories. He is clearly a sire going places.

Aikhal Proves Doubters Wrong

He may have finished last of the 11 runners behind Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. when last seen, but Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) showed that he is colt not to be underestimated in running away with the G3 ARM Holding International S. on the Curragh card.

It's not often that Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore team up with a 20-1 runner and Aikhal proved his doubters wrong in producing a fine performance to scamper clear of some solid rivals.

Saturday's victory represented just the sixth start of his career and his first over 10 furlongs. Judging by the style the win was achieved, he should have no trouble getting 1 1/2 miles and Saturday may not be the last time he surprises people.

Respectable Curragh Crowds

Curragh chief executive Brian Kavanagh said in the build-up to Derby weekend that he was more focussed on people enjoying themselves than getting bums on seats.

Well, the Curragh achieved both on Saturday and, for the first time in a long time, there was a genuine buzz around the place.

Kavanagh was quoted as saying “roughly 11,300” came through the turnstiles on Saturday.

Despite the fact that the newly developed €81-million Curragh can cater for over 30,000 people, the fact that 11,300 turned up on Saturday represented a positive step.

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The Major Talking Points From Day Three at Royal Ascot

There has been no shortage of talking points at Royal Ascot this week but, perhaps the most controversial incident of them all came in the opening race on Thursday, when Paul Hanagan received a 10-day careless riding ban for veering halfway across the track en route to victory in the G2 Norfolk S. aboard The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}).

From that controversy to another forgettable afternoon's work for Frankie Dettori, out of luck aboard Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Gold Cup and The Queen's 2-5 favourite Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Hampton Court S., Brian Sheerin dissects the main talking points from Thursday's action.

Listen To Heffernan – Racing Needs To Wake Up

What needs to happen in Britain and Ireland for the stewards to start protecting riders? Let's not pretend that this is a problem confined to British racing because it is not.

Just last autumn, Shane Foley found himself on the receiving end of a five-day ban for careless riding when partnering No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) to victory in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend.

Race-favourite Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was one of the worst affected by Foley edging to his left aboard the winner and there was genuine dismay from the international audience looking in on our product that the result wasn't changed.

Lessons haven't been learned and there was an element of groundhog day at Ascot when Paul Hanagan veered halfway across the track aboard The Ridler, inconvenienced a number of big-race rivals, but was allowed to keep the G2 Norfolk S.

What you permit, you promote, and the rules, as they are interpreted, meant that The Ridler was never in any real danger of being chucked out.

Seamie Heffernan gave a candid interview to TDN Europe in the immediate aftermath of the farcical contest where he raised the point that riders should have to forfeit their winner's cheque if found guilty of dangerous or careless riding.

In Hanagan's case, he was handed a 10-day riding ban for careless riding, and one can only assume he took that punishment with a smile.

Put simply, there is no deterrent for riding dangerously and, as Heffernan described, a “win-at-all-cost mentality” has crept into racing in recent times.

It begs the question; what needs to happen for the interference rules to be brought into line to reflect what happens in America, Australia and France?

Kia Joorabchian, whose Amo Racing silks were carried by the second and the third–Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire})–was rightly fuming after the race. So, too, was Crispy Cat's trainer Michael O'Callaghan, not to mention the international bettors who got involved on the World Pool.

The damage caused by these farcical decisions pose a serious risk to the sport and Thursday's race should be the wake up call racing needs.

The problem is, this is an alarm bell that has been ringing for a while.

Forgettable Day For Frankie

Yesterday we spoke of how Irad Ortiz's week went from bad to worse and, unfortunately for Frankie Dettori, one of the all-time greats of the weighing room, he had a similarly forgettable day at the office.

John Gosden is not a man who goes around ruffling feathers for no reason but he was clearly disappointed with the ride Dettori gave Stradivarius in the Gold Cup, feeling the legendary rider was too far out of his ground in a slowly-run contest.

“I was a bit surprised that being in the box seat we dropped back so far,” Gosden told ITV Racing. He added, “It would have been nice to be a touch handier, to say the least.”

Dettori was once again out of luck in the Britannia S. when, in another stride or two, he almost certainly would have clinched victory aboard The Queen's Saga (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

At least there was a 2-5 favourite to steer home, eh? Wrong. Reach For The Moon ensured this was a day that would be remembered for all the wrong reasons when, despite being sent off at prohibitively short odds, Gosden's charge fluffed his lines in the G3 Hampton Court S.

It should also be noted that Reach For The Moon represented the third odds-on favourite of the week at Royal Ascot after Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) got the meeting underway as a 1-6 jolly in the G1 Queen Anne S and Bay Bridge(GB) (New Bay {GB}) got turned over at odds of 10-11 in the Prince Of Wales's S. on Wednesday.

Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who runs in the L Chesham S., and short-priced G2 Hardwicke S. fancy Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), are set to start at odds-on for their respective races on Saturday.

That will bring the total number of odds-on shots at this year's Royal meeting to five. There was consternation over the fact that there were five odds-on shots at Cheltenham back in March. Where is the outcry this week?

Stradivarius Going Nowhere

There seems to be an unhealthy obsession, certainly in some quarters of the media, in feeling the need to bring up the prospects of retirement as soon as any top horse appears to be on the wane.

Stradivarius is clearly not the force of old, yet he ran a gallant race to finish third in the G1 Gold Cup behind Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and many felt he was unlucky not to have won.

The most pleasing aspect of the performance, however, was that the old boy seemed to retain all of his enthusiasm for the game, which was evidenced by the live pictures of him strutting out of the parade ring afterwards like the champion that he is.

So why this constant talk of retirement? Stradivarius is a racehorse and, to these eyes at least, he still loves to run.

Judging by his fine effort in defeat, he will go close to winning the G1 Goodwood Cup and there is also the option of travelling to Paris later in the season.

Stradivarius has been masterfully handled by John and Thady Gosden. They will know when the time is right to bring the curtain down on his career. Judging by Thursday's performance, that time doesn't appear to be any time soon.

Brilliant Boughey Continues To Build

It is hard to believe that George Boughey has only recently turned 30. Since sending out his first winner in 2019, Boughey has bagged a breakthrough Classic success this year and sugar-coated what has been a memorable season by adding a Royal Ascot victory to his CV when Inver Park (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) landed the Buckingham Palace S.

Boughey got his training career up and running, by and large, with early 2-year-olds, but the standard of his Newmarket operation has risen dramatically with each season, as we saw when Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) won the G1 1000 Guineas.

Things could get even better for Boughey on Friday when Cachet lines out in the G1 Coronation S., which is shaping up to be one of the races of the week. His stock is not just on the rise, it's sky-rocketing.

Also, it would be remiss not to mention the exploits of Jane Chapple-Hyam this week. Twice the trainer's unmissable white bridle has been carried to victory at the royal meeting, with Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) running out a gritty winner of the G3 Hampton Court S. just 24 hours after Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) bolted up in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S.

Chapple-Hyam's only other runner this week, Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), also ran a cracker to finish second in Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup.

The post The Major Talking Points From Day Three at Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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