Tag: Westover (GB)

Hukum Rises To Joint-Second On The Longines WBRR

After taking the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot, Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been given a mark of 128 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday.

Another Shadwell representative, G1 Prince Of Wales's S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), is also at 128, with only Japan's Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) higher in the pecking order at 129. After the leading trio is Juddmonte's Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was second in the King George, one better than King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (120).

Rankings newcomer White Abarrio (Race Day) is at 122 after taking the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga on Saturday. Another fresh face on the WBRR is Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), successful in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen. He sits at 121 pounds, one better than crack sprinter Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), at 120. The grandson of Invincible Spirit (Ire) has won all four of his 2023 starts, including the G1 July Cup S. last month.

For the full rankings, please go to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities website.

The post Hukum Rises To Joint-Second On The Longines WBRR appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Crowley Banned, Fined for King George Ride

Jockey Jim Crowley has been banned for 20 days and fined £10,000 for his winning ride aboard Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot. Both he and Rob Hornby, who was aboard runner-up Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), were referred to the British Horseracing Authority's Whip Review Committee following the tight finish with only Crowley receiving a ban.

On Monday the whip rules were tweaked once more by the BHA following a six-month review period and under the new regulations Flat riders are only permitted to use their whip six times in a race, with a four-day ban for going one over the limit and seven days for going two over. Crowley used his whip nine times, which incurs a 10-day ban and is doubled for a class one race. Hornby benefitted from the revisions, but had the rules not been changed he would have received an eight-day ban.

Crowley will be sidelined from Aug. 15-21 and Aug. 23-Sept. 4 and will miss riding Shadwell's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 16 during the Ebor meeting at York.
“I'm extremely disappointed, obviously I had an inkling it was coming so I prepared myself,” Crowley said. “I can't change it, I've got to get on with it.

“I don't think anything untoward has happened to those horses in any way, it was a brilliant race. I used my whip in a very correct manner, how I've been brought up to use it. I gave the horse time to respond, we never used it in any incorrect place or at shoulder height or anything like that. Unfortunately it's not something I was aware that I'd done, and neither was Rob. It's very difficult to count in that scenario.”

Crowley hasn't decided if he will appeal his punishment.

“Although I broke the rules and I wasn't aware I broke the rules, I didn't think it was a problem watching the race. The horse's welfare always comes first and to me that wasn't a problem. I think they've been very severe and ruled with an iron fist, they don't want the win-at-all cost races. Jockeys aren't aware they're doing it, that's the problem.

“It's very unfortunate but it shouldn't take away from a brilliant race and a fantastic horse. I hope this doesn't overshadow that.”

Hornby also didn't think he had violated the whip rule.

“I wasn't aware on the day, not at all,” Hornby said. “In fact I was kicking myself as I thought I'd only done five (strokes)–that shows what my counting is like in that situation. I'm sure Jim is the same. It's a shame that it has cast a shadow over such a brilliant race, it should be remembered for two great horses.”

The post Crowley Banned, Fined for King George Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Sea The Stars’ Hukum Prevails In King George War

After all that build-up, Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Qipco S. had to live up to the billing and it managed it with a stirring finale provided by Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Aghareed, by Kingmambo) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as the older horses ruled the roost at Ascot. Kept away from fast ground after his defeat of Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown in May, the Owen Burrows-trained full-brother to Baaeed (GB) would have been any price for this prior to that revelatory comeback but traded at only 13-2 after the significant rain during the week tipped the scales in his favour.

Always travelling easily under cover in mid-division with Jim Crowley content to wait with the homebred, he went forward as Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) disappeared out of view turning for home with Ryan Moore giving up the unequal struggle and easing the 9-4 favourite out of the race. It was Westover who provided the target as Rob Hornby committed approaching two out, but Hukum had that extra helping of speed and after gaining the edge a furlong out denied the rallying Juddmonte runner by a head in this 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November. There was a 4 1/2-length margin back to the 3-year-old King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in third, with some tired horses further back in what turned into a war of attrition with the winning time the third-slowest since 1997.

“I've always believed in this horse and he's out of his brother's shadow now,” Crowley said. “That was something special. It went real smoothly and although Westover got first run on me it gave me something to aim at. He's so tough and it never felt like he was going to come off second best there.”

First emerging on the scene with a win in the course-and-distance King George V H. at the Royal meeting here three years ago, Hukum was St Leger-bound after beating up the older horses in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. but was ill-equipped for such a stamina test at that stage and could manage only fifth to close out a decent 3-year-old campaign. After his third on soft ground in the G2 Hardwicke S. the following June, he was confined to group 3 company and looked to have reached a ceiling with a second to this race's absentee Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in the G3 September S.

What that defeat actually did was create a dividing line between Hukum Part 1 with limitations and the new sleeker model which was on display at Epsom last June as he blew away Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) by 4 1/4 lengths in the G1 Coronation Cup. Injury struck there and so the fates looked sealed, particularly while Baaeed took a sibling rivalry that had never looked a fair fight to new levels. Instead of retirement, there was in its place a concerted effort between the Burrows stable and Shadwell to give Hukum a 6-year-old campaign which would answer some lingering questions and the Brigadier Gerard did that and how.

While the heavy rain into Thursday played against Auguste Rodin and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and probably also the fleet-footed King Of Steel most notably, it meant that Hukum had all boxes ticked in a race that was always going to boil down to small margins. For Auguste Rodin, this was a re-run of the 2000 Guineas disaster, only played out over a greater time scale as the all-or-nothing dual Derby hero proved unequivocally that he needs it fast. Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) went as quick as they could in front, but all bar the favourite were comfortable in behind and turning for home the eventual one-two-three were those with jockeys sitting the most quiet.

Any prospect of a blanket finish diminished rapidly straightening up, with Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Pyledriver treading water and Emily Upjohn floundering as the front two drove on into daylight with King Of Steel coming to the end of his stamina reserves. Looking at Westover, who had been such a flop here 12 months ago and who ran away from Hornby's whip to lose momentum in the closing stages, the deciding factor was probably the two years of hardening and extra maturity that the Shadwell representative had in his favour. Emerging as two true King George giants, they in the process gained overdue credibility having endured their fair share of being at times under-rated and under-valued by the press.

For Owen Burrows, the outcome was a dream scenario which 12 months ago would have seemed fanciful to even the biggest romantic. “He's an absolute star, isn't he? It is a big team effort, especially from my head lad who rides him every day, John Lake, and this season for whatever reason he's shown a lot more speed.”

“I can't put into words what it means,” he added. “The guys back at Shadwell rehabilitated him after his injury at Epsom, so huge credit to them. It was the type of injury that wouldn't retire a horse, but he'd just won a group one and he was five so hats off to Sheikha Hissa for giving him a chance. This horse has been a huge part of my career. He was my first Royal Ascot winner, first group one winner and he won in Dubai when we first went out after the sad passing of Sheikh Hamdan.”

Juddmonte's Barry Mahon described connections' mixed feelings after going so close. “We're devastated but delighted,” he said. “What a horse, what a horse race. He's run a career-best in what was being touted beforehand as the middle-distance race of the year and he went down gallantly. I felt he was even battling back again at the finish. He put it all on the line and he's doing what we thought he'd do this year. Last year he was big and immature and he's mentally and physically grown up. To break the track record the last day in Saint-Cloud was a big performance and to back it up with a run like that three weeks later is unbelievable.”

Rob Hornby added, “This race deserves a spectacle like that and to have an ovation for this horse, coming second like we did, was special. It is tough to take, but I'm really proud of him. He stays very well. He rolled around twice and I pulled my stick through and corrected him. When he got into a head-to-head, he was tough all the way to the line and he was just edged out unfortunately.”

Roger Varian said of King Of Steel, “I think he ran a great race, he lost nothing in defeat and came there with a great chance. He has been beaten by two mature, good, older horses. I'm not sure he got home as well as the first two. We have always got the option of coming back to 10 furlongs, but he had some great horses in behind him, two very good ones in front of him, and it's only his fifth run so he can only improve can't he?”

“He has the scope and is a big horse,” Varian added. “I'm sure he needs a little time between races. He's had a tough race today, but he's like a teenager, still. We got beat, but it was a super race–a championship race. He turned up and really ran his race.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Auguste Rodin, “Whatever happened, the power ran out and it ran out early. That is the unusual thing. The race wasn't even started. He was calm in the paddock, we were very happy with him. There is obviously a reason and we'll find it. It is frustrating, but that's the way.”

Pedigree Notes

Hukum, who was the fifth member of his family to run in this and the second to win it as he emulated the feat of Nashwan in 1989. It was in this race in 1982 that his fifth dam Height Of Fashion (Fr) raced for Sheikh Hamdan for the first time after he had purchased her from The Queen and she was seventh after banging her head coming out of the stalls. Prior to the victory of Nashwan, her son of Northern Dancer, Unfuwain, was second to Mtoto (GB) in 1988 while her other participant Nayef went down by a head to Golan (Ire) in a finish almost identical to this in 2002. He was also here a year later, but finished seventh as the 3-1 favourite on ground similar to this.

The Listed Prix de Liancourt winner Aghareed is nothing short of a goldmine for the operation, having been the best bred from the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) who like Hukum took time to gather momentum before exploding as champion grass mare in the Autumn of 2007. The fourth dam Bashayer (Mr. Prospector) is a full-sister to the Listed Oh So Sharp S. scorer Sarayir, who produced the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) who is in turn responsible for the classy miler Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Less than 24 hours after her 3-year-old colt Naqeeb (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) managed to get beaten for the third time at Newmarket, Aghareed's story has gained an extra momentous chapter. She also has the 2-year-old colt by Night Of Thunder (Ire) named Waleefy (Ire) and a 2023 full-brother to Hukum and Baaeed to come.

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH QIPCO S.-G1, £1,250,000, Ascot, 7-29, 3yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:33.95, g/s.
1–HUKUM (IRE), 135, h, 6, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     1st Dam: Aghareed (SW-Fr), by Kingmambo
     2nd Dam: Lahudood (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Rahayeb (GB), by Arazi
O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley. £708,875. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, 17-11-1-2, $1,859,692. *Full to Baaeed (GB), MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, $3,398,976. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Westover (GB), 135, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £268,750.
3–King Of Steel, 124, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Eldacar (GB), by Verglas (Ire). ($200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC (KY); T-Roger Varian. £134,500.
Margins: HD, 4HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 6.50, 7.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Luxembourg (Ire), Pyledriver (GB), Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), Emily Upjohn (GB), Point Lonsdale (Ire), Deauville Legend (Ire), Auguste Rodin (Ire). Scratched: Hamish (GB).

 

The post Sea The Stars’ Hukum Prevails In King George War appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Ascot: King George No Soft Option For Auguste Rodin

You've heard for a while that Saturday's edition of the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. is a special one. “Race for the ages” has been bandied about and for good reason given the accumulation of top-class mile-and-a-half horses set for the Ascot joust. What had for so long been starved of a meaningful intergenerational clash and threatened to become a bygone curio has suddenly been dusted off and revived due largely to the presence of the Derby winner.

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is no ordinary Derby winner either, displaying pace as he closed out the Blue Riband that can only be described as phenomenal. Thankfully, the deification of speed confined solely to distances no further than 10 furlongs can now be dispelled given that we can see the evidence of what a colt like Ballydoyle's newest star can do over this sacred trip of a mile and a half. For too long, a colt with the immense commercial significance of Auguste Rodin wouldn't have been here for this race, yet here he is.

Despite the unflattering visuals of his finish to the Irish Derby, Auguste Rodin was quick there too but what he doesn't need is soft ground, as we found out at Newmarket. Ascot's midweek rain has ensured that the surface is not going to be conducive to the kind of alacrity that he has shown in his two Derbys, yet connections have never wavered in their commitment to be present in this great event. Friday's two course-and-distance handicaps were slowly-run, but still they were completed in times between :11 and :12 seconds slower than standard, so that's what we are dealing with. Even if the surface dries ahead of Saturday afternoon, Auguste Rodin will have to produce something extra as he seeks dominion over his elders.

“The better the ground, the better it will suit him,” Aidan O'Brien said. “We wouldn't want it getting any worse. He's a beautiful mover, he doesn't raise his feet much. We'll definitely walk the track, obviously.”

Ryan Moore added, “This race is as good as it gets in recent years and certainly in terms of depth, even with the no-shows. We'd like to think Auguste Rodin is towards the top of the list of the most likely winners though and [it was] a strong Derby, [so] we expect him to be very competitive here.”

 

 

Kings And Queens Of Speed

What makes this King George especially strong is the presence of multiple runners able to produce outstanding time performances, not least the physical giant King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) whose blast from three to two out in the Derby was undeniably that of a top-class 3-year-old. He might have been getting tired due to lack of match-fitness as the O'Brien runner outstayed him at the death, but his stamina for this trip is not as-yet fully proven given that his G2 King Edward VII S. success was gained off a notably moderate pace. A day before King Of Steel put in that powerful sectional in the Derby, Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) had blown by a significant peer in Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) over the same course and distance to win the G1 Coronation Cup with the killer blow being her rapid :10.52 split to two out. Only the very best can explode in that manner, even allowing for the speed-inducing nature of Epsom at that point of the race, while Westover went to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud next time and ran a hole in the wind.

Horses For Courses and Points To Prove

   Ascot is very much a track that sees horses that have performed there come back time and again, so that bodes well for last year's winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) who boasts a perfect record in a total of three course-and-distance runs. Emily Upjohn and Westover were caught out by the initial downhill run from the stalls in this 12 months ago, with the former over-racing under restraint and the latter charging off too fast through the early stages. The Gosdens' filly has returned in the interim to win a G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. on ground a touch worse than this, so she has little to prove while Westover looks a more tractable character at four and should have a strong pace to slip behind this time.

That exacting tempo provided by the runaway version of Westover and the Ballydoyle stalwart Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) last year should be in evidence again given the presence of Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), so the race set-up will tell us just how good Pyledriver really is. For a horse that is always prone to being slightly under-valued by the press, the indomitable 6-year-old is some achiever and Willie Muir is undaunted by this test.

“We'll go there and run our race and see how good everyone else is,” he said. “They've all got great credentials, they're all horses that have been out and proved themselves this year. They're all there to go and have a go.”

 

 

Free Hit For Hukum

Days before Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) brought his brilliant 3-year-old campaign to a dramatic climax, his full-brother Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was annihilating his rivals over this course and distance in a soft-ground G3 Cumberland Lodge S. having been subdued by Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in the G3 September S. a month earlier. At that point, we were talking about a nice horse who had limitations, possibly a Group 3 bully, but then he blew away Pyledriver in the Coronation Cup last June and we had to have a re-set. That was the case again on his belated next start when upsetting Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown in May, so what can we expect of Shadwell's low-mileage veteran in a humdinger such as this?

Angus Gold is unsure. “It looks a fabulous race, let's hope it lives up to its billing. Now it's just a question of getting luck in running and whether he's good enough,” he said. “We've obviously won the King George before with Taghrooda and Nashwan and it's always been a huge race. It was the most important race of the summer when I was growing up and people of my generation still consider it a very important race, so it's lovely to have a horse in with a chance.”

Is Luxembourg The Forgotten Horse?

Prior to being jumped by Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prince of Wales's S., Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was one of this race's key favourites. While it is hard to forgive that effort given how intense this affair is going to be, the fact is that the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero was one of four who ran far below their best alongside Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) for unexplained reasons. What is clear from all evidence is that he is made for this trip and while for all that he isn't Auguste Rodin he could be a Dylan Thomas or Duke Of Marmalade and that is usually enough.

“He'll love a mile and a half and will get the trip very well,” Aidan O'Brien said. “It's a race we were always looking at with him and we thought it was going to suit. He's solid, has had his two runs and he's ready.”

Ryan Moore has had to go elsewhere this time, but he is acutely aware of his threat. “Luxembourg is also a proper Group 1 horse and he has unfinished business at this trip after an inconclusive run in very deep ground in the Arc,” he said. “A win for him wouldn't surprise me at all.” Intriguingly, one of the best judges in any of the world's weighing rooms is also looking further afield for the most credible threat to Auguste Rodin. “I'd be most wary of Emily Upjohn, who I probably think has the best form coming into the race after her second to Paddington in the Eclipse,” he offered up on his Betfair blog.

Hamish Doubt

William Haggas on Friday warned that the multiple Group 3 winner Hamish is unlikely to line up if the ground worsens further. “Hamish will only run if it rains properly, otherwise he won't,” he said. “He's not going to run on good-to-soft, but there's rain around and who knows? If it came up proper soft, that's what he wants and in this company he needs it really soft or heavy, not only for him but also to maybe blunt some of the others' ability.”

York Boost For My Prospero?

While William Haggas readies to pull the Somerville Lodge pet Hamish from Ascot's showpiece, he has important business in his native Yorkshire as My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) bids to get back on track in the G2 York S. One of the four flops in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. and possibly the most disappointing given his upside heading to that contest, Sunderland Holding's G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner who went so close in the G1 Champion S. has the ideal opportunity to rebuild here.

“It's one of those races, but he's very well and he should go well,” his trainer said. “I was a bit disappointed with his run at Ascot, he's definitely better than that I think, but Saturday will tell us because he needs to be shaping up well here.”

Heading the opposition to My Prospero is Shadwell's Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), another Owen Burrows special who took the G3 Strensall S. and G3 Darley S. at the end of his 3-year-old campaign. “It's his first start since October, but he was a progressive horse last year,” Angus Gold said. “The funny thing with him is he's by Dark Angel and out of an Oasis Dream (GB) mare and yet he stays a mile well and even a mile and a furlong. We're going up again in trip to a mile and a quarter, but I don't see that being a problem, it's more a question of how rusty he is. He had quite an injury obviously, but he's been sound and everything since he's been back in training and we didn't rush him and targeted this race. It's a trappy little contest and he'll need to be at his best, but it will just be nice to get him back on the track.”

A Study Of Symbology

On Ascot's card, the six-furlong G3 Princess Margaret S. sees Isa Salman Al Khalifa's exciting Symbology (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) bid to back up the impression of her debut win at York a fortnight ago. Trainer Clive Cox is happy to jump straight into pattern company with the half-sister to El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}).

“This is a huge step forwards in comparison, but this is a filly we like very much,” he said. “We've been having a really pleasing run with the 2-year-olds and that was another pleasing success in a week where we'd won the July S. and had a double at Doncaster as well, so it gave us a good feel.”

Surprisingly, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's G3 Albany S. third Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is declared, despite having been third to Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in Thursday's Listed Star S.

 

The post Ascot: King George No Soft Option For Auguste Rodin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights