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Le Havre’s Wonderful Tonight Dismisses Hardwicke Opposition

There was one certainty in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. and that was that Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) would love the underfoot conditions and despite trainer David Menuisier's misgivings about her readiness, Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine was able to register an impressive win on her comeback. Keen initially for William Buick before being granted a lead, the 5-1 shot moved three-wide on the home bend and had plenty in reserve to seize the advantage two out en route to a 1 1/2-length defeat of the 9-4 favourite Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) as Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) finished the same margin back in third. “When I rode her on Champions Day, I rode her like a real stayer and made plenty of use of her but today she really took me by surprise when she quickened up,” Buick said. “She's top-class and handles this ground well, unlike others, and showed a turn of foot today which she hadn't before. It was her first start of the year, so I thought I'd take a lead and she dropped her head after a couple of furlongs. She's very versatile tactically, as long as she doesn't get chased along too early, and she has a big year ahead.”

Wonderful Tonight, who unusually broke her maiden at Saint-Cloud in a 10-furlong maiden at two, was fourth in Newbury's Listed Abingdon Fillies' S. over that trip on her 3-year-old bow last June before running second to the high-class Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Listed Prix de Thiberville over this distance at ParisLongchamp July 23. Turning the tables on that rival when making all in the G3 Prix Minerve at Deauville in August, she was fifth in the G1 Prix Vermeille also over 12 furlongs on livelier ground back at ParisLongchamp in September prior to her victories in the 14-furlong Royallieu there and British Champions Fillies & Mares S. over this track and trip.

Free initially before Buick found cover behind Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) as fellow Mark Johnston trainee Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) took up pace-setting duties, Wonderful Tonight had everything covered behind with Broome tracking her but unable to begin to match her change of pace after straightening up. Just as Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had in this 12 months ago, she was quickly gone beyond recall with the colts beaten up in her wake. David Menuisier was leaving no one in any doubt as to the importance of the moment in his training career afterwards. “She keeps on amazing me–she is so game and tries hard, as she's only 85% fit today,” he said. “She runs her heart out and I'm so proud of her–no words can describe what it means. You carry it like a monkey on your back until it happens and I'm pleased that Her Majesty managed to come to see Wonderful Tonight! She will go where the ground is softest, whether that's in the [July 4 G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, or the [G1] King George [VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 24] or the [Aug. 19 G1] Yorkshire Oaks–anywhere over a mile four where there is a good downpour. The [Oct. 3] Arc is the target. Would we try her on good ground before that? I don't know.”

The success was also a first for Christopher Wright, who said, “I couldn't believe it. What a filly. She is amazing. I have been running horses here for 40 years, almost every year at least one, sometimes several. I've never ever had a winner at Royal Ascot–lots of seconds, lots of very good horses. Culture Vulture, who won a Classic, was second twice, but I've never had a winner here. I almost can't believe it–I thought I never ever would have a winner here, but I have. It means everything, actually. There are winners and winners, but a Royal Ascot winner. I've won a lot of very good races, but to win at Royal Ascot is like I've died and gone to heaven.”

“After last year, when we almost ran Wonderful Tonight in the Arc, we thought that we would target the Arc this year. I know that's like shooting for the moon and it's a pretty tough target to aspire to, but that has been the target and her programme has been based round it, so we didn't want her to start the season too early,” Wright added. “We don't think she's a filly who will like a mid-season break particularly, so we wanted to start the season and gradually bring her along so she could peak on the first weekend of October. This was step one of that plan.”

Wonderful Tonight, who was a €40,000 private purchase at the 2018 Arqana August Sale, is a daughter of Salvation (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) whose first progeny was the stakes winner Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}). They are out of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Birdie (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), who produced the GIII Providencia S. scorer Hostess (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Birdie is kin to the listed-winning Fickle (GB) (Danehill), whose G3 Dahlia S.-winning daughter Tarfah (Kingmambo) was responsible for the G1 2000 Guineas, Epsom and Irish Derby hero and leading sire Camelot (GB) by Salvation's sire Montjeu. Also connected to the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Polygamy (GB), Salvation's 2-year-old colt by Recorder (GB) was bought by Haras de Montfort and Preaux for €70,000 at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale. Her yearling filly is by the same sire.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HARDWICKE S.-G2, £160,000, Ascot, 6-19, 4yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:35.31, sf.
1–WONDERFUL TONIGHT (FR), 124, f, 4, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Salvation (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Birdie (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fade (GB), by Persepolis (Fr)
(€40,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Christopher Wright; B-Ecurie La Cauviniere (FR); T-David Menuisier; J-William Buick. £90,736. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 14f+, G1SW-Eng & Fr, 9-5-1-1, $595,662. *1/2 to Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}), SW-US & MSP-Fr, $376,306. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Broome (Ire), 127, h, 5, Australia (GB)–Sweepstake (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (€120,000 RNA Ylg '17 GOFOR; 150,000gns Ylg '17 TATDEY). O-Masaaki Matsushima, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £34,400.
3–Hukum (Ire), 127, c, 4, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Aghareed, by Kingmambo. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £17,216.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 5.00, 2.25, 8.00.
Also Ran: Thunderous (Ire), Albaflora (GB), Japan (GB), Sir Ron Priestley (GB), Ilaraab (Ire), Highest Ground (Ire), Deja (Fr). Scratched: Bangkok (Ire), Logician (GB), Mogul (GB), Pablo Escobarr (Ire), Tiger Moth (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Dubawi’s Creative Force Leads A Godolphin One-Two In the Jersey

The betting suggested that there would be a Godolphin one-two in Saturday's G3 Jersey S. and that projection was right with Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and James Doyle upstaging Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and William Buick to win the battle of the 5-1 joint-favourites. Always travelling strongly restrained towards the rear of the group racing up the middle, the chestnut who captured the Listed Carnarvon S. over six furlongs at Newbury May 15 moved through to take control of that pack with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Drifting left as the opening race's winner Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) had, Creative Force was nevertheless resilient to register a 1 1/4-length verdict over his stand's rail-running stablemate Naval Crown. The filly Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) closed to be 3/4 of a length away in third. “He's a little star and a yard favourite,” Doyle said. “The race panned out pretty straightforward for me–they went a really nice pace and travelled strong throughout. I could have done with a target for a bit longer, but they were going well on the stand's side so I had to be brave and press on. We weren't 100% sure about his stamina, but the dam's side was pretty strong so we were hopeful it would carry him through and he's very tenacious and that helped. He was in front a long way out, which is not ideal at Ascot and he coped with the ground pretty well.”

At this point, Creative Force's sole defeat came when 10th in the G2 Coventry S. here last June, after which he was absent until his 3-year-old bow at Newmarket in a six-furlong handicap at the Craven meeting Apr. 15. Beating the subsequent Palace of Holyroodhouse S. winner Significantly (GB) (Garswood {GB}), the smart Jumby (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and the G2 Sandy Lane S., G3 Pavilion S. and Wokingham H. winner Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) there, he went back over the same course and distance to deny Thursday's Britannia H. winner Perotto (GB) (New Bay {GB}) on the 2000 Guineas card May 1. In the Carnarvon, it was the first time he had encountered ground softer than good and he relished it to win by three lengths, but this was a new challenge.
Charlie Appleby was registering his 11th Royal winner and said, “Both horses turned up in great order and full credit to the team. I worked them together probably about 10 days ago and said to Marie [Murphy] and Alex [Merriam], the assistants, 'we don't want to be doing that again' as they are both very genuine horses and it was a stronger piece of work than I ideally wanted. From William's point of view, he said to me 'Charlie, it is such a hard choice'–full credit to the lads, they've given both of them a great ride and it's obviously nice to come here and have a 1-2.”

“We were hopeful on Creative Force's pedigree, and what he has shown us at home in his attitude and the way he is finishing out in his gallops and his races, that stepping up to seven furlongs would be within his realm and he's gone and duly obliged today. I think we'll probably look at something like the [G1] Prix Maurice de Gheest [at Deauville Aug. 8] dropping back to six and a half. He's got bags of pace, travels well and picks up well, so I think that'll be a nice race there to suit his profile. Potentially, the likelihood is the same for Naval Crown–they might just have to take each other on again and see if we can reverse the form.”

Creative Force was no secret at the 2019 Goffs Orby Sale, selling for €400,000 as the son of the Listed Fairy Bridge S. winner and G2 Blandford S.-placed Choose Me (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) whose previous best was the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. heroine Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Also responsible for the Listed Distaff S. winner and G3 Prix de Lieurey runner-up Tisbutadream (Ire) (Dream Ahead), Choose Me is kin to the Listed Waterford Testimonial S. winner Shanghai Glory (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), while the third dam Ajuga (The Minstrel) was responsible for the G2 EuropaChampionat winner Bad Bertrich Again (Ire) (Dowsing) and the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Alumni (GB) (Selkirk). The latter is in turn the dam of the Czech champion Dux Scholar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who was runner-up in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and G2 Oettingen-Rennen. The fourth dam is the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Champion S. heroine Cairn Rouge (Ire) (Pitcairn {Ire}), whose descendants include the prolific grade I-winning Ventura (Chester House). Next up from the dam is the unraced 2-year-old full-brother to Persuasive named Mr Zero (Ire). He was a 100,000gns purchase by SackvilleDonald at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
JERSEY S.-G3, £75,000, Ascot, 6-19, 3yo, 7fT, 1:29.06, sf.
1–CREATIVE FORCE (IRE), 127, g, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Choose Me (Ire) (SW & MGSP-Ire, $388,395), by Choisir (Aus)
2nd Dam: Hecuba (GB), by Hector Protector
3rd Dam: Ajuga, by The Minstrel
1ST GROUP WIN. (€400,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Godolphin; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £44,400. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-0, $127,445. *1/2 to Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & MG1SP-Ire, $1,161,785; and Tisbutadream (Ire) (Dream Ahead), SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Fr, $133,016. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Naval Crown (GB), 127, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Come Alive (GB), by Dansili (GB). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £16,793.
3–Vadream (GB), 124, f, 3, Brazen Beau (Aus)–Her Honour (Ire), by Shamardal. O-D R J King; B-Crispin Estates Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. £8,393.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HD. Odds: 5.00, 5.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Rhythm Master (Ire), Fundamental (GB), Legion of Honour (GB), Tactical (GB), Spycatcher (Ire), Storm Damage (GB), Khartoum, Light Refrain (GB), Great King (Fr), Mehmento (Ire), Bellosa (Ire), New Mandate (Ire), Mutasaabeq (GB), Fast Raaj (Fr), Nando Parrado (GB). Scratched: Ace Aussie (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Australia’s Point Lonsdale Takes The Chesham

'TDN Rising Star' Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) entered Saturday's Listed Chesham S. with a substantial reputation from Ballydoyle and while it was hard work in Ascot's slow ground he duly delivered as the 10-11 favourite. Held on to this time unlike when successful by 5 1/2 lengths over this seven-furlong trip on yielding ground at The Curragh June 2, the full-brother to Broome (Ire) edged ahead with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and despite veering left denied The Queen's Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by half a length in a thrilling finale. Amo Racing's Great Max (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was third, 3 1/4 lengths away. “He's from a good family and is still green and learning,” Ryan Moore said. “They are very attritional conditions and he's doing this on pure class at the moment. He handles that ground, but he doesn't need it.”

This was a fascinating renewal with some well-regarded colts in attendance and with Reach For the Moon taken towards the far side along with Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir), it was the Charlie Appleby trainee New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and the Archie Watson-trained Sweeping (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who Moore opted to track on the favourite. Keen under restraint for the first time, the blaze-faced bay travelled into contention smoothly approaching the final two furlongs but the Royal runner was not stopping under Frankie Dettori and it was soon clear that Point Lonsdale would have to graft to subdue him. While Reach For the Moon lugged right, the winner was going the other way but he was notably game in the closing stages to cling on. This seven-furlong contest is unique, being restricted to sons and daughters of either a sire or dam who won over at least 10 furlongs, and Aidan O'Brien was keen to stress the uniqueness of the winner afterwards.

Of his previous five Chesham scorers, Churchill (Ire) was the most notable in 2016 and the master of Ballydoyle who was registering a 76th Royal winner is thinking of the same route for Point Lonsdale. “He can go back for races like the [G3] Tyros [at Leopardstown July 22], the [G2] Futurity [at The Curragh Aug. 21], the [G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien] National Stakes [at The Curragh Sept. 12] and the [G1] Dewhurst [at Newmarket Oct. 9] and all those sort of races like Churchill,” he said. “He's very brave and is full of that Galileo in that his head goes down and out. He didn't learn too much the first time and so it was nice he got a little bit of a lead today. The first and second pulled clear, so I'd day they are two good colts.”

“He's very smart and it's unusual for a horse bred to be a middle-distance horse to be out so early and be so forward,” O'Brien added. “For an Australia, he always had a lot of speed and was very natural from early on. He's still a bit of a baby, but everyone always thought a lot of him and he's really genuine. When you ask him, he digs very deep and we'd hope he'll be a classy horse, a Guineas and Derby-type horse. We were worried about the ground a little. Broome bends his knee a little bit, but this horse doesn't and is a low, slick mover. None of those horses in that race would have encountered ground like that before.”

Thady Gosden said of Reach For the Moon, who had a special audience on Saturday with his owner-breeder present. “It was a great run and we're really happy with him. That was only his second career run, he is still very inexperienced. I think Reach For the Moon and the winner Point Lonsdale got lonely in front, but they both ran on well and look two nice prospects. Obviously our lad handled the ground, but he would also prefer better ground in the future–he is one to look forward to.”

Point Lonsdale's aforementioned full-brother was unable to provide the dam Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) with a black-type double in the G2 Hardwicke S., but he has done plenty for her already by winning four times in pattern company–including this year's G2 Mooresbridge S.–and finishing runner-up in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Sweepstake, who took the Listed National S. and was runner-up in the GIII Appalachian S., is a daughter of Dust Flicker (GB) (Suave Dancer) who is a full-sister to the G3 Prix de la Nonette winner Dust Dancer (GB). She is in turn the second dam of the G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Zoffany (Ire) and the G3 Bengough S. winner Projection (GB), who shares Acclamation (GB) as a sire with Sweepstake.

Dust Flicker is also kin to the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Bulaxie (GB) (Bustino {GB}), dam of the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Claxon (GB) (Caerleon) whose daughter Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) took the GIII Hillsborough S. and was runner-up in the G1 Nassau S. Her three black-type winners include this stable's triple group 3 scorer Ernest Hemingway (Ire) by Australia's sire Galileo and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Toulifaut (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Sweepstake also has a yearling filly by Lope de Vega (Ire).

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CHESHAM S.-Listed, £65,000, Ascot, 6-19, 2yo, 7fT, 1:30.46, sf.
1–POINT LONSDALE (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng & US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (575,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerberg; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £38,480. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $64,991. *Full to Broome (Ire), MGSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Fr, $595,734.
2–Reach For The Moon (GB), 129, c, 2, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Golden Stream (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O/B-The Queen (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £14,554.
3–Great Max (Ire), 129, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Teeslemee (Fr), by Youmzain (Ire). (€72,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 260,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Ennistown Stud (IRE); T-Michael Bell. £7,274.
Margins: HF, 3 1/4, HD. Odds: 0.91, 11.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Sweeping (GB), Masekela (Ire), Withering (GB), New Science (GB), Out In Yorkshire (GB), Radio Caroline (GB), Sharp Combo (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Sky Sports Racing To Show Breeders’ Cup

Sky Sports Racing will continue its long-standing partnership with Breeders' Cup and show a live broadcast of this year's meeting at Del Mar Racetrack on Nov. 5 and 6. Sky Sports Racing will show the NBC-produced feed in addition to having its own talent on-site. A digital broadcast will likewise be available on attheraces.com via skysports.com.

Matthew Imi, chief executive of At The Races, said, “We're delighted to continue our valued relationship with the Breeders' Cup and it's great news that Del Mar in November will be able to welcome racegoers with 100% of seated capacity. The Breeders' Cup goes from strength to strength and continues to be a focal point and culmination for our comprehensive coverage of U.S. racing, as we stream and broadcast events throughout the year for fans in the UK and Ireland and via more than 30 bookmaker partners.”

Drew Fleming, president and chief executive officer of Breeders' Cup Limited, said, “The Breeders' Cup World Championships is a truly international event and fans around the world deserve increased access to and in-depth coverage of the world's most talented horses, jockeys, and trainers. Sky Sports Racing has been a valued long-term partner and we're pleased to be extending our relationship so they can provide coverage of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships for racing fans in the UK and Ireland.”

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