Tag: Top News Europe

Dark Angel’s Khaadem Upsets The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee

There are very few, if any, riders able to navigate Royal Ascot's straight course like Jamie Spencer and he used every bit of his mix of talent, guile and experience to steer the Charlie Hills-trained 80-1 shot Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) to glory in Saturday's feature G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. Like sweet medicine for these old campaigners who seem to have lost their way, the jockey who had partnered a 50-1 winner up the same strip on Thursday could be spotted some way out getting a rare tune out of Jim and Fitri Hay's flagbearer who had unshipped him behind the stalls and who had failed to come out of them in last year's G1 King's Stand S.

Relishing the hold-up tactics, last year's G2 King George V S. winner cut through the pack to overhaul Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) close home and had a neck to spare over Cheveley Park Stud's mare where it counted. There was a further 1 1/4 lengths back to the 11-4 favourite Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was having her second group 1 start and was achieving her second placing of the week. Like her, the Australian raider Cannonball (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}) was also coming back after the King's Stand but lost Danny Tudhope in the stalls.

“It's just amazing that we've got to where we have now at his age, but I have always had massive faith in this horse and that's why I've kept him for so long,” Charlie Hills said of the former Shadwell representative. “He won a group 2 last year over five, but this year I wanted to try and race him properly again and drop him in to make sure we got the six furlongs well. He is a high-energised horse who has just taken time to come to himself. Jamie Insole rides him out every morning and there has been a great team effort with this horse through his career. It really is the icing on the cake today.”

 

It is a challenge to summarise the story of Khaadem, who started out in the royal blue and white and won Goodwood's prestigious Stewards' Cup as a 3-year-old before finishing fourth in this and the G1 July Cup the following season. One win in eight in 2021 meant he was let go by Shadwell and was reinvented as a five-furlong performer when bagging Newmarket's G3 Palace House S. and the King George back at Goodwood before another spell in the doldrums. After an uninspiring period in Meydan, he was back in Britain to warm up for this with a third in Salisbury's Listed Cathedral S. last month but had still offered little evidence that such a late career breakthrough was on the cards.

Reserved at the back of the six-strong group racing up the centre led by The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), at halfway Khaadem was about to unleash his full ability getting the Spencer treatment for the first time. Spencer just waits and waits up the straight course here and being the last to be asked a question was the key as the eventual winner was willing to give his all with Sacred his final target. Highfield Princess was forced to do her own work towards the stands' rail and gave another highly creditable display as she dominated that side.

“I felt no pressure,” Spencer said. “I followed Frankie and Tom and could see Tom was going well at halfway. So, just like in a cycling race, you let him do the work for you and you hope that when you pull out you have a little bit to fire. It's difficult for me to put into words what Jim and Fitri have been like as friends to me for a long time. Getting on the horses in group ones is the hardest part, but it's a fantastic day and I'm going to enjoy it.”

Sacred's trainer William Haggas said, “It is mixed emotions. I am thrilled with the way she has run, but gutted that she has got caught. She got left a bit in front, that was the problem. She has run a great race and I am very proud of her.” Jason Hart said of Highfield Princess, “I don't know how many times we have run against Khaadem, but every time we have beaten him. Maybe it is down to different track position and they were always up on me on the other side. I felt her battle for me all the way to the line and she has run her race.”

Pedigree Notes
By one of Royal Ascot's sire stars, Khaadem is out of White Daffodil whose prior best was Dark Angel's Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy winner and G2 Norfolk S. and G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Log Out Island (Ire). She is kin to three black-type performers headed by the Listed Carnarvon S. and Listed Prix Saraca winner Lady Links (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), who is also the dam of the Listed Oh So Sharp S. winner Selinka (GB) (Selkirk) who in turn produced the G3 Curragh S. and G3 Mercury S. winner Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and the Limestone S. scorer Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}). From the family of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Bold Edge (GB) (Beveled), White Daffodil's 3-year-old full-brother to Khaadem, Themainprotagonist (Ire), is a winner for this yard, while she also has a yearling filly again by Dark Angel.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE S.-G1, £1,000,000, Ascot, 6-24, 4yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.42, g/f.
1–KHAADEM (IRE), 131, g, 7, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
2nd Dam: Sparky's Song (GB), by Electric (GB)
3rd Dam: Daring Ditty (GB), by Daring March (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (750,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jamie Spencer. £567,100. Lifetime Record: SP-UAE, 30-8-2-4, $1,412,909. *Full to Log Out Island (Ire), SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire & SP-Fr, $250,585. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sacred (GB), 128, m, 5, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Sacre Caroline, by Blame. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £215,000.
3–Highfield Princess (Fr), 128, m, 6, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £107,600.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 80.00, 9.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Artorius (Aus), The Astrologist (Aus), Al Suhail (GB), Kinross (GB), Coeur de Pierre (Fr), Run To Freedom (GB), Wellington (Aus), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Art Power (Ire), Big Invasion, Sandrine (GB), Rohaan (Ire).

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Five-Year Pool Betting Deal Renewed Between Ascot And HKJC

A five-year partnership renewal agreement for pool betting was agreed upon by Ascot Racecourse and the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) on Friday.

The deal renewal, signed by Michael Fitzsimons of the HKJC and Felicity Barnard of Ascot, features the delivery of a dedicated HKJC feed from Ascot, as well as additional content to help raise awareness of the racing at Ascot in Hong Kong. It will begin on July 1, 2023 and last until July 1, 2028. It is an extension of a deal that began between the two companies in 2019. It covers the commingling of bets into the World Pool for another five years, as well. This year, Ascot will host seven World Pool days including all five days of Royal Ascot, King George day and the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day.

Felicity Barnard, Commercial Director at Ascot Racecourse, said, “This is exciting for Ascot and exciting for racing in general. The relationship has grown and grown and this renewal shows that the Hong Kong Jockey Club are invested in racing across the world. It gives us the opportunity to expand what we are doing on the global stage so we are absolutely thrilled.

“All the revenue we generate, we look to invest in the business so our partnership with the Hong Kong Jockey Club is incredibly important to allow us to invest a significant amount into prize money. That in turn generates better-quality runners and a better product for World Pool customers.”

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “The partnership is great for us, for Ascot and for racing generally around the world. The continuity of big brands working together for the benefit of racing has been really important in bringing familiarity of the product, and of the betting markets, to customers around the globe. Working together to really promote racing in a truly global sense has been brilliant for everybody.

“We know that our customers are familiar with UK racing. They like Ascot and they like the brand of Ascot especially. Thousands of people will be watching Royal Ascot this week in Hong Kong and, when Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus) runs in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S., I'm sure we will see a serious spike in the numbers. We are all very keen for Hong Kong to put its own horses on the map, and the World Pool unites everybody in a way that's never really been done before and we are very proud of working with Ascot and other racetracks.”

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Kingman’s TDN Rising Star Age Of Kings Wins The Jersey

Things hadn't gone smoothly for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Brant's TDN Rising Star Age Of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–Turret Rocks {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) since last summer, but it finally clicked into place for the talented Ballydoyle second-string and Wayne Lordan in Saturday's G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot. In the shadow of Ryan Moore's choice The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the 1.1million gns Book 1 graduate was nevertheless let go at a surprising 22-1 given that Aidan O'Brien had run him first time up this season in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas.

Placed close to the strong early pace set by the 11-4 favourite Covey (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the son of the G2 May Hill S. winner Turret Rocks was committed inside the two and had to fight to the line as the closers came. Finding it in time, he prevailed by a length and a neck from fellow outsiders Zoology (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Streets Of Gold (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) respectively to provide his trainer with an 85th Royal winner and deliver a 12th Royal Ascot trainer's title.

 

Granted his TDN Rising Star tag following his emphatic Curragh conditions win at the beginning of last June, Age Of Kings had come here days later to contest the G2 Coventry S. and was seventh before returning to Kildare to be a close fourth in the G2 Railway S. on his third start in 25 days. Whether that busy workload cost him afterwards is hard to say, but it was significant that he was the stable's chosen representative in Leopardstown's G3 Tyros S. in July which is always a marker of merit when it comes to Ballydoyle's juveniles. Only third there before disappearing off the radar, he was a surprise member of the line-up for the Irish Guineas and although he was 10th he was beaten less than eight lengths by Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).

“Wayne kept it uncomplicated and said he'd get a mile if we wanted,” O'Brien said. “The Guineas was only his first run of the year, it was a very good run and he came forward from that.” Lordan added, “At two he had a few runs and maybe got a bit weak, but he's come back and he's stepped forward nicely, even in his work.”

Trainer James Ferguson said of Zoology, “They went very hard and, in the mid-stage of the race, you just think he's struggling to keep up but they've all come back and he's stayed on very well. It's a tough race this and the fast ground certainly suited him. He has done absolutely nothing wrong and ran a super race in the Greenham, when he obviously didn't like the ground. Back on a sounder surface, he's run an absolute belter of a race and I've got very high hopes for this horse. I think he could be a superstar.”

Streets Of Gold's trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said, “That's probably the hardest race he has run in and, on Timeform figures, that's probably the highest he's ever run to. He is in the Bunbury Cup, we might go there or we might try to find an easy race to win–we will see.”

Pedigree Notes
Age Of Kings is the first foal out of the aforementioned Turret Rocks, who also took the G3 Blue Wind S. and G3 Meld S. and was runner-up in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and third in the G1 Pretty Polly S. for Jim Bolger. She is a half-sister to Beyond Thankful (Ire) (Whipper), who captured the G3 Newcastle Cup and was second in the G3 Killavullan S, while this is also the family of the G2 Fuji TV Sho Spring S. winner and G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) third Galore Creek (Jpn) (Kinshasa no Kiseki {Aus}), the G3 Stanerra S. winner Cimeara (Ire) (Vocalised) and her 2-year-old full-sister Comhra (Ire) who was third in last month's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. Turret Rocks, who is also related to the brilliant Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), has the 2-year-old colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) who was a 600,000gns purchase by David Redvers at last year's Book 1 Sale. Named Trafalgar Square (Ire), he is followed by a yearling full-brother to Age Of Kings.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
JERSEY S.-G3, £150,000, Ascot, 6-24, 3yo, 7fT, 1:26.93, g/f.
1–AGE OF KINGS (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Turret Rocks (Ire) (MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $396,000), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Beyond Compare (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Gold Bust (GB), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (1,100,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Brant; B-Farmleigh Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. £85,065. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 7-2-1-1, $136,790. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zoology (GB), 129, c, 3, Zoustar (Aus)–Peach Melba (GB), by Dream Ahead. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (90,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-R Kent & Executors of Lady Lonsdale (GB); T-James Ferguson. £32,250.
3–Streets Of Gold (Ire), 129, c, 3, Havana Gold (Ire)–Truly Honoured (GB), by Frankel (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£27,000 Ylg '21 TATIRY). O-J Allison & G C Stevens; B-Vimal & Gillian Khosla (IRE); T-Eve Johnson Houghton. £16,140.
Margins: 1, NK, NK. Odds: 22.00, 22.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Holloway Boy (GB), Olivia Maralda (Ire), Holguin (GB), Flight Plan (GB), Thunderbear (Ire), Covey (GB), Alexander John (Ire), Enfjaar (Ire), Mysterious Night (Ire), The Antarctic (Ire), Empty Metaphor (Ire), Quar Shamar (Ger).

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Expert Eye’s Snellen Wins The Chesham

Saturday's Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot was all about the fillies as the Gavin Cromwell-trained Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}–Illumined {Ire}, by Sea The Moon {Ger}) found the line just ahead of Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never). Off the mark at Limerick 10 days earlier, having won her barrier trial beforehand, Lindsay Laroche's homebred was keen early tracking the leader of the stand's-side group but had plenty in reserve when committed by Gary Carroll approaching two out. Green and errant late as the 7-4 favourite Pearls And Rubies drove to the line many lengths wider out in the centre of the track, the 12-1 shot was there a head in advance of her Aidan O'Brien-trained compatriot. Golden Mind (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) and Oddyssey (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) fared best of the colts, finishing off strongly to be half a length away in a joint-third.

“The last half furlong was a very long half furlong for me–she was looking for company and started to lean a bit, but she's a very good filly,” Carroll said. “She is a little bit weak and was getting a little lonely when she started rolling. I tried to correct her in Limerick when she went like that and lost momentum. So I was going forwards and thought, 'keep going', and thankfully I hung on.” Cromwell added, “She has been nice from the word go and is progressing. I think she's going to improve as well.”

 

Richard Henry said of Pearls And Rubies, “She went to win her race and maybe got a bit lonely on her own. She has run a great race and will come on for the run. She is a sweet filly. Ryan thinks she could be very good.”

Pedigree Notes
The dam Illumined, who was a winner over 12 furlongs and was third in the Listed Foundation S. for George Strawbridge, was a 170,000gns purchase by Harvey Bloodstock at the 2020 Tatts December Mares Sale. Snellen, who becomes a landmark first black-type winner for her second-crop sire, is her first foal. She is kin to the listed scorer and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Night Tango (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) and the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), who is in turn the dam of five black-type performers headed by the four-times group 1-winning King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S. hero Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Illumined's second foal is a yearling filly by Blue Point (Ire), while she also has a colt foal by Gleneagles (Ire).

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CHESHAM S.-Listed, £100,000, Ascot, 6-24, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.36, g/f.
1–SNELLEN (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Expert Eye (GB)
1st Dam: Illumined (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Sea The Moon (Ger)
2nd Dam: Nenuphar (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Narola (Ger), by Nebos (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-L H LaRoche (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell; J-Gary Carroll. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $88,302.
2–Pearls And Rubies, 126, f, 2, No Nay Never–Diamondsandrubies (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Richard Henry & Mrs John Magnier; B-Premier Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,500.
(DH) 3–Golden Mind (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo Gold (GB)–Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £10,760.
(DH) 3–Oddyssey (GB), 131, c, 2, Ulysses (Ire)–Last Echo (Ire), by Whipper. (10,500gns Ylg '22 TADEY). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Pinnacle Thoroughbreds 3; B-Culworth Grounds Farm (GB); T-Patrick Owens. £10,760.
Margins: HD, HF, HF, HF. Odds: 12.00, 1.75, 12.00, 125.00.
Also Ran: Hot Fuss (Ire), Carolina Reaper (GB), Nemonte (Ire), Dallas Star (Fr), Warnie (Ire), Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire), Matnookh (Ire), Maymay (Fr), Content (Ire), Lightning Leo (GB), Count Palatine (Ire), La Guarida (Ire). Scratched: Quatre Bras (Ire).

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