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French Aim For English King

A day removed from the G1 Investec Derby, trainer Ed Walker said English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), fifth as the early favourite, had come out of the race well and could target the G1 Grand Prix de Paris in September.

“We’ll let the dust settle and mull over it for a few days,” Walker said. “I think an obvious target would be the Grand Prix de Paris, because he’s French-bred and qualifies for the premiums. I wouldn’t rule out the St Leger, but I wouldn’t want to run him on ground any slower than it was at Epsom–rattling quick ground and a nice, even tempo is his gig.”

Walker said he was disappointed with how the race played out, but not with his horse.

“He’s come out of the race good,” he said. “It was an unsatisfactory race, from our point of view, but fair play to the winner [Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}]–he’s obviously a very good, well-bred horse who got loose on the front end and won well on the day. I’m very proud of our horse. It was frustrating, because there’s only one Derby and it didn’t go our way, but I’m pleased with the way he ran and excited for the future.

“We were never going to ride him aggressively. I thought Frankie [Dettori] gave him a very good ride, and I have no regrets whatsoever. I think if you ran the race 10 times he might come out on top a few times, but it wasn’t to be. He finished faster than any other horse in the race, and hopefully there are big days ahead for him.”

Dettori reflected on Sunday afternoon, “I was trying to put a brave face on, but when Ed told me I was drawn one I knew we had a mountain to climb.

“As the stalls opened he jumped left and then I was playing catch up, basically. I was relying on Mogul and Ryan [Moore], the one horse I thought I had to beat, to take me into the race but coming round Tattenham Corner he couldn’t lay up. I had Oisin [Murphy, on Kameko] and Ryan in my reach, but the winner had gone and I think the winner’s was a good performance. I wasn’t far away from being second and perhaps if things had gone better I’d have been second or third.

“It was just one of those things, the Derby is like that, and I think the horse has got a nice future.”

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Dubawi’s Ghaiyyath Takes the Eclipse

Charlie Appleby had relayed loud and clear that Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was now the horse he had been waiting for and Godolphin’s dynamic performer proved the point in style in Sunday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Casual this time getting to the front after the first half a furlong, the 9-4 second favourite was stalked by Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) taken back early racing four lengths off his tempo. Tackling the headwind up the straight as Japan chased hard, the G1 Coronation Cup hero had to draw on his significant reserves to plough on uphill to the line as the returning even-money favourite Enable stayed on down the outer. Her progress was a touch laboured, as John Gosden had suggested it might be when declaring her “85%” beforehand, and the leader was ultra-game to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths, with Enable denying Japan the runner’s-up spot by a head.

Jockey William Buick had every fraction right and he said, “He’s got a huge cruising speed and he knows how to use it. It was his first go over a mile and a quarter in a group one and he was in a nice rhythm the whole way. Charlie had him in great shape. We were obviously concerned about Enable coming into the race, but it was her first run of the season and I’m sure she’ll improve from the race.”

Re-setting Newmarket’s Rowley Mile’s mile-and-a-half track record a month previously when leading Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) a merry dance in the Coronation Cup, Ghaiyyath was putting two big efforts back-to-back after his 8 1/2-length success in the Feb. 20 G3 Dubai Millennium at Meydan. That suggested that the 5-year-old had turned a corner from last term, when one of his typically audacious front-running displays tended to be followed by a drop-off the next time. That was the case when his remarkable 14-length win in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden preceded a dive in fortunes in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, but it is widely-held that he went off too fast in testing ground there.

Having not always been comfortable on ground with some bounce, it holds no fears for the imposing bay these days and he was unhurried by William Buick despite not breaking best. It may have taken him a few strides to get into his customary position, but when he got there he was free to do as he pleased with the only other pace angles Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) restrained. Frankie was intent on keeping Enable away from the possibility of a prolonged duel, but when the time came to join pursuit she had a touch less than her customary zip. Japan gave way eventually as Ghaiyyath maintained his momentum and it was clear on the rising ground to the line that Juddmonte’s mare would not be adding another prestige event to her illustrious tally.

“As a horse, you go with what Ghaiyyath wants to do–he’s not a horse who likes to be controlled,” Buick added. “You just sit against him, let him use his huge stride and go when he’s ready. He’s a joy to ride and a very, very good horse. As a five-year-old he’s mature physically and mentally–he’s becoming the finished article. I think a mile and a quarter will be his optimum trip, as he’s very fast. Sometimes when you ride him over a mile and a half you’re always worried the last furlong is going to be a long one, but he keeps going.”

Charlie Appleby, 45 on Sunday, was enjoying the perfect gift and said, “He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard and we’ve seen the performances he can put up. Obviously he’d been an emphatic winner in France and in Germany and out in Dubai, but I think the Coronation Cup win gained him a lot of fans and support. We were never concerned about dropping him back to the 10 furlongs today. He’s got loads of pace and statistically this track suits front-runners. We had immense respect for Enable, who I felt lost nothing in defeat–it was a great battle up the straight.”

“This year he seems to be taking his races better,” he added. “We toyed with the idea of going for the [G2] Prince of Wales’s Stakes after the Coronation Cup, but we thought we’d give ourselves an extra couple of weeks and we know this track can favour a front runner. The [G1] Juddmonte International at York would be up there. He’s shown his versatility now, winning over 10 and 12 furlongs. You don’t beat Enable having an easy run, so we’ll see where we are over the next week and then decide whether we head to York or whether he needs a bit more time. There’s plenty of racing coming up over the autumn, so I don’t think we need to be making any rash decisions. Our plan was always to work back from another crack at the Arc. If Enable is in it, we’ll just have to take her on again.”

John Gosden was thinking about Ascot in three weeks’ time and a third King George for the runner-up. “I’m delighted with her,” he said. “She ran a gorgeous race. We know Ghaiyyath and as I warned everybody it is a great front-runners track, Sandown. If he gets free on the front, as he is a fabulous horse, you are never going to get to him. We found that out in the Coronation. She has put in a perfect performance and has come with a lovely run. I’m delighted with the way she came there. Frankie said the last half a furlong she just needed it, so he looked after her. It is the perfect platform we were looking for for the King George. We were very happy.”

“She enjoyed it and her zest and desire is there, but trying to get involved with a front-running horse like him was never going to be her deal. I think I did warn everybody about that left, right and centre. She is an older mare now and it has taken a great deal more to get her to this point, but she has run a beautiful race and I couldn’t be more thrilled with her. We knew coming we were 85 per cent and you are not going to beat a front-running horse like that around here. She has run the most perfect race to point towards the King George.”

Ghaiyyath is a son of the dominant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has also produced the GI Man o’War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. winner Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War). From the family of the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King’s Drama (Ire) (King’s Theatre {Ire}), Nightime has understandably become something of a legend at the major sales auction houses.

Zhukova was bought by Sheikh Mohammed for 3.7million gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, while the following year’s auction saw Stroud Coleman Bloodstock pay 700,000gns for the Foal Sale’s top-priced full-brother to Ghaiyyath who is now named New Kingdom (Ire). At the Goffs November Foals Sale in November, Nightime’s latest son of Dubawi set a new record when again being knocked down to Godolphin for €1.2million.

Sunday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £250,000, Sandown, 7-5, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:04.48, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 129, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
(€1,100,000 Wlg ’15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £141,775. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 11-14, G1SW-Ger, MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-UAE, 11-8-0-2, $762,840. *1/2 to Zhukova (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS)), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-USA & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Enable (GB), 126, m, 6, Nathaniel (Ire)–Concentric (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £53,750.
3–Japan (GB), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Shastye (Ire), by Danehill. (1,300,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Masaaki Matsushima; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O’Brien. £26,900.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1HF. Odds: 2.25, 1.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Magic Wand (Ire), Deirdre (Jpn), Regal Reality (GB), Bangkok (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Lope de Vega’s Manuela de Vega Wins the Lancashire Oaks

Haydock’s G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks was blighted by the withdrawals of Antonia de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Dame Malliot (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), but such was the manner of victory of Waverley Racing’s hot favourite Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) it may be that their resistance would have proven futile regardless. Having made all in dramatic fashion when beating the subsequent G2 Hardwicke S. scorer Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the course-and-distance G3 Pinnacle S. June 7, the 1-2 market-leader was content to track the pace this time under Harry Bentley. Taking over travelling easily approaching three out, the bay was soon clear and while it looked slow-motion at the end she had a comfortable 5 1/2-length margin to spare over the outsider Makawee (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), with another six lengths back to Hereby (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). “She travelled very nicely throughout and went through the ground nicely,” Bentley said. “She’s put a good bit of distance between them and she stays well. I think she’s quite versatile regards ground and the [G2] Lillie Langtry [at Goodwood] could be a nice race for her.”

Manuela de Vega began last term as a live Oaks contender, having won the Listed Silver Tankard S. in style at two and she upheld that when fourth in the Epsom Classic after a second in the Listed Cheshire Oaks in May. Fifth in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh in July and second upped to 14 furlongs for the Lillie Langtry in August, the bay went back to Goodwood to be third in the G3 March S. before finishing runner-up in Chester’s Listed Stand Cup over an extended 12 furlongs in September. Beaten a neck by Nancho (Ger) (Tai Chi {Ger}) when runner-up in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich in November, she has come back stronger this season and it may be that she is able to land a top-level contest when the ground rides like this.

Manuela de Vega is a full-sister to the G2 Gran Criterium hero Hero Look (Ire) and the dual listed winner Isabel de Urbina (Ire) and a half to the ill-fated Lincoln H. winner Auxerre (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). Their dam is the dual listed-placed Roscoff (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), a daughter of the listed scorer and multiple group-placed sprinter Traou Mad (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}). She is one of four black-type winners out of the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Pont-Aven (Ire) (Try My Best), including the top-class multiple group 1-placed speedster Sainte Marine (Ire) (Kenmare {Fr}) and the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Josr Algahoud (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Roscoff also has a 2-year-old full-sister to Manuela de Vega to follow.

Sunday, Haydock, Britain
BET365 LANCASHIRE OAKS-G2, £52,000, Haydock, 7-5, 3yo/up, f, 11f 175yT, 2:35.71, sf.
1–MANUELA DE VEGA (IRE), 131, f, 4, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Roscoff (Ire) (MSP-Fr), by Daylami (Ire)
2nd Dam: Traou Mad (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Pont-Aven (Ire), by Try My Best
(€100,000 Ylg ’17 GOFOR). O-Waverley Racing; B-Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Harry Bentley. £29,489. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ger, 11-4-4-1, $317,455. *Full to Hero Look (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Colt-Ity, Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 7-9.5f & MGSW-Ity, $342,989; and Isabel de Urbina (Ire), MSW-Eng, $131,502. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Makawee (Ire), 131, m, 5, Farhh (GB)–Storming Sioux (GB), by Storming Home (GB). O/B-Geoff & Sandra Turnbull (IRE); T-David O’Meara. £11,180.
3–Hereby (Ire), 131, f, 4, Pivotal (GB)–Look Here (GB), by Hernando (Fr). O-J H Richmond-Watson; B-Lawn Stud (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £5,595.
Margins: 5HF, 6, 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 28.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Cabaletta (GB), Spirit of Appin (GB). Scratched: Antonia de Vega (Ire), Dame Malliot (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Deep Impact’s Fancy Blue Prevails in the Diane

Aidan O’Brien has yet to win the G1 Prix de Diane Longines and son Donnacha has the jump on him in his first season training after Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) battled to glory in Sunday’s Chantilly Classic. Runner-up but the major eye-catcher in the June 13 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh, Michael Tabor’s second-string behind the winner of that Classic Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was always close to the pace set by the G1 Coronation S. heroine Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}). Gaining the edge with 300 metres remaining, the 8-1 shot kept finding to deny that 2-1 favourite in a nip-and-tuck finale. At the line, she had a short neck to spare over the Niarchos homebred, with two heads separating Peaceful and Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a four-way thriller.

“This is another great moment in a very strange season, but it’s all going well now,” winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot commented. “I’m absolutely thrilled to win a first Classic for such a young trainer and he said she was very straightforward and easy to ride and would stay very well. We didn’t go very fast in front, but it wasn’t in our interest nor that of Stephane Pasquier to set the pace for the others. She really put her heart into it for me.”

Donnacha is only 21 and was understandably delighted to become the third member of his family to train a Classic winner. “There’s so much pressure and a lot of work goes into it, but this feeling is great,” he said. “I always knew she was a very good filly and we always thought the step up in trip would suit her. Pierre is a very good rider and I told him to do what he wants. There was no pace early so he went forward on her and sat upsides the leader. It was exactly what I would have liked him to do. She quickened up well and stuck at it. We’ll get her home and see how she is. We might have a look at the [G1] Irish Oaks at The Curragh.”

Trained at Ballydoyle last term, Fancy Blue was off the mark on debut over seven furlongs at Naas in September before taking the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. at The Curragh the following month. Making up an abundance of ground out wide against the bias in the Irish Guineas, she was at the forefront here and from some way out had only Alpine Star to beat. Despite the oncoming threat of Peaceful and Raabihah to her left, it was the market-leader down on the rail who she had to subdue and she finally did so in the last 50 metres.

Alpine Star’s trainer Jessie Harrington said of the runner-up, “She’s gone very close and it was a whisker either way. Maybe the ground was a bit too quick for her, but that’s life. It’s quite a funny feeling to be disappointed after running second in a group one. She ran her heart out. It’s pretty quick after Ascot and I’m delighted with her. She seems to stay and she did everything right.”

Fancy Blue is out of Chenchikova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), who was also responsible for the Listed Star Appeal S. winner and G1 Dewhurst S. third Smuggler’s Cove (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and his dual listed-winning full-brother Casterton (Ire). The second dam Kasora (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) was “Broodmare of the Year” in 2002 and 2003 courtesy of the exploits of Chenchikova’s famed full-brother, the G1 Epsom and Irish Derby and dual GI Breeders’ Cup Turf hero and leading sire High Chaparral (Ire) and his G2 Dante S.-winning full-brother Black Bear Island (Ire) who was also runner-up in the GI Secretariat S. Also connected is the listed-placed Treasure the Lady (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who is in turn the second dam of this year’s G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial winner Love Locket (Ire) (No Nay Never). Kasora is also the second dam of the G3 Hampton Court S. winner Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was third in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational as well, and the G2 Beresford S. scorer and G1 National S. third David Livingston (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Chenchikova also has an as-yet unraced filly by Zoffany (Ire) named Miss Chess (Ire) and a yearling filly by Caravaggio.

Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €600,000, Chantilly, 7-5, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:05.46, g/s.
1–FANCY BLUE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Chenchikova (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Kasora (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Kozana (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O’Brien; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €342,840. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Ire, 4-3-1-0, €432,092. *1/2 to Smuggler’s Cove (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), SW-Ire & G1SPEng, $137,682; and Casterton (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), MSW & GSP-Fr, $163,024. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Alpine Star (Ire), 126, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €137,160.
3–Peaceful (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Missvinski, by Stravinsky. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €68,580.
Margins: SNK, HD, HD. Odds: 8.10, 2.10, 3.90.
Also Ran: Raabihah, Magic Attitude (GB), Ebaiyra, Solsticia (Ire), Speak of the Devil (Fr), Miss Extra (Fr), Mageva (GB), Vadsena (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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