View Full Version : Royal Ascot
cheesebeast
18-06-2003, 21:22
Day 2
Can access fairly good quality (slightly delayed) video feed of the UK races via this link below.
http://www.virtuetv.com/clients/arena-livestream/deliverlive.asp?stream=broadband
Best to open a Windows Media Player and then go File Open Url and paste the url in there, I couldn't get it working by trying to open the link in an IE window.
Use this one if you you're a peasant and you haven't got broadband.
http://www.virtuetv.com/clients/arena-livestream/deliverlive.asp?stream=low
cheesebeast
18-06-2003, 21:34
Race 1 7 furlong Group 3
£1,251,000 matched before jump
£1,309,000 matched by finish includes in-running betting.
Winner = Membership
cheesebeast
18-06-2003, 22:10
Race 2 5 furlong Group 3
£1,271,000 matched before jump
£1,302,000 matched by finish includes in-running betting.
Winner = favourite Attraction
cheesebeast
18-06-2003, 22:55
Race 3 1 mile 2 furlong Group 1
£1,206,000 matched before jump
£1,264,000 matched by finish includes in-running betting.
Winner = Nayef
Moon Ballad and Grandera still finishing.
cheesebeast
18-06-2003, 23:28
Race 4 1 mile Handicap
£840,000 matched before jump
£876,000 matched by finish includes in-running betting.
Had a look in at the Sporting Options Exchange - £97K matched before jump, £110K matched at finish.
Winner = Macadamia
Bizarre spectacle - 1 mile straight race with the field split in half either side of the track, grandstand side many, many lengths better.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Nayef stormed to a convincing victory in the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
I knew in the back straight he was going to run a big race from there on in
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39179000/jpg/_39179004_nayef_deep270.jpg
Winning jockey Richard Hills
Photos from Ascot
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Trained by Marcus Tregonning, the 5-1 shot hit the front a furlong out under Richard Hills and quickly pulled clear of his rivals to take the Group One prize.
Outsider Rakti (50-1) ran a superb race to take second, two and a half lengths behind, with Islington (7-1) a further length away third.
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Godolphin, seeking victory in the race for the fourth year in a row, saw their hopes disappear in the home straight when Moon Ballad, ridden by Frankie Dettori, tired quickly.
Winning jockey Hills was deighted with Nayef's success, saying: "He flew today.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39177000/jpg/_39177922_yank2_300.jpg
American jockey Gary Stevens enjoys a surprise victory on Membership in the opening race on Wednesday
"I know my horse stays real good and I was happy with the pace. I knew in the back straight he was going to run a big race from there on in. I was going so well it was silly waiting.
"We learned a bit from last year. This year we've been patient and let him come and tell us. The boys have done a great job and Marcus is a classic trainer."
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Trainer Tregoning said: "It's a great experience to win here. I've always said Ascot is the greatest place to win a horserace and especially this meeting."
"He's really won it emphatically. He's got plenty of speed, so I'm sure he will be well supported when he eventually goes to stud, but not just yet I hope!
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Attraction is the first winning favourite of the meeting, romping to victory in the Queen Mary Stakes
He seems to run really well at Ascot, so I wouldn't rule out the King George
Nayef's trainer Marcus Tregoning
"We'll discuss it with Sheikh Hamdan of course, but obviously the Eclipse and the King George are serious considerations.
"He seems to run really well at Ascot, so I wouldn't rule out the King George. The Eclipse is a possibility, but the King George very much so, I would say."
Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Godolphin's two unplaced runners, Moon Ballad and last year's winner Grandera, said: "That was a very disappointing result.
"They both look fine after the race. They are class horses and there will be races for them later in the season."
Dettori knew the writing was on the wall for Moon Ballad some way out.
"He was very fresh - too fresh," said Dettori. "Three furlongs out I knew we were in trouble. But with this race under his belt, I'm sure he will improve."
Firebolt needs to recharge - Marwing
NICK PULFORD
Firebolt's disappointing run at Royal Ascot was due to tiredness after a long season, according to jockey Weichong Marwing. Ivan Allan's sprinter finished ninth in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday after failing to keep up with the blistering pace set by the Australian-trained winner Choisir.
Firebolt raced in second place through the first half of the 1,000-metre race but eventually trailed in about eight lengths adrift of Choisir, whose time of 59.68 seconds was less than half a second outside the track record.
''He was fast out the gates and I had the position I wanted, but it was obvious quite a long way from home that he wasn't going to win,'' Marwing said. ''He looked in good fettle before the race and I can only put it down to the hard season he's had. I'm not really disappointed because he is such an honest horse and this was maybe one race too many for him.
''He has been on the go since last autumn whereas the British horses are reaching the peak of their season. Even Choisir hadn't run for more than three months, so he was a fresh horse. The important thing now is to freshen Firebolt up for next season and I'm sure he'll come back a stronger horse."
Marwing, who was having his first ride in Britain, added: ''The atmosphere was fantastic and it has been a great experience for me. Hopefully I will get the chance to ride in England again.''
cheesebeast
19-06-2003, 22:54
£1,287,000 matched on 2 mile 4 furlong Gold Cup won by Mr Dinos and Kieren Fallon by 6 lengths.
Fran Ferris on Clap trap...worst ride ever. Stay tuned!
2m 4f. , 1st: £145,000; 2nd: £55,000; 3rd: £27,500; 4th: £12,500; 5h: £6,250; 6th: £3,750
1) MR DINOS (Constantinos Shiacolas) Paul Cole Kieren Fallon [6] 3/1
2) PERSIAN PUNCH (Jeff Smith) David Elsworth Martin Dwyer [5] 20/1
3) POLE STAR (D I Russell) James Fanshawe Pat Eddery [11] 12/1
4) JARDINES LOOKOUT (Ambrose Turnbull Associates) Alan Jarvis Darryll Holland [3]
5) MAMOOL (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori [2] 5/2 Fav
6) SAVANNAH BAY (Joe Allbritton) Brian Meehan Pat Smullen [13]
7) KASTHARI (H H Aga Khan) Sir Michael Stoute Johnny Murtagh [12]
8) BLACK SAM BELLAMY (Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier) Aidan O'Brien IRE Michael Kinane [4]
9) THOLJANAH (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Marcus Tregoning Richard Hills [10]
10) PUGIN (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor Kevin Darley [7]
11) FIGHT YOUR CORNER (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor Jamie Spencer [8]
12) ALCAZAR (J Repard, F Melrose, O Pawle, M Stokes, R Black) Hughie Morrison Michael Fenton [9]
Preparation, planning and patience pay off as another Godolphin star reaches destination
By John Holloway
June 20 2003
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said on the opening day of the Royal Ascot carnival on Tuesday that owner Sheik Mohammed had started the empire on the maxim of three Ps: preparation, planning and patience.
Crisford was speaking after the four-length win of Dubai Destination in the group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, one mile, in just his third run since beating Rock Of Gibraltar 19 months ago.
Dubai Destination has had all sorts of problems in that time, but Sheik Mohammed had reminded all at Godolphin that patience would be rewarded, Crisford said afterwards.
Aided by a pacemaker from the Godolphin camp, Dubai Destination upset the Aidan O'Brien-trained hot favourite Hawk Wing, which pulled up lame with a strained knee ligament after finishing seventh.
Day two of Royal Ascot was not so rewarding for Godolphin. The group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes had nine group 1 winners in the 10-strong field, including Godolphin's Grandera and hotpot Moon Ballad.
Frankie Dettori adopted the frontrunning tactics again on Moon Ballad which had won the stayer the Dubai World Cup at his previous outing, but he was caught 600 metres out and faded to ninth. Grandera was never in the hunt and finished seventh.
The winner was the Marcus Tregoning-trained Nayef, which is related to star performers Nashwan and Unfuwain.
Raced by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, Nayef cleared out in the home stretch to record his ninth win from 16 outings.
He now heads to several group 1 races that can win him bonuses of between £1 million ($2.5m) and £5 million and has a lucrative career as a stallion in the offing. DANCING IN THE STREET: Royal Ascot's opening day belonged to Australia, thanks to a monumental training performance by Paul Perry and his marvellous sprinter, Choisir, which ran the opposition ragged in the group 2 King's Stand Stakes, 1000m.
All the action from the third day of the world's most glamorous race meeting.
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1730 Britannia Stakes
One mile
1. New Seeker (J P Spencer) 16-1
2. Helm Bank (K Dalgleish) 33-1
3. Court Masterpiece (J Murtagh) 14-1
4. Pretence (Pat Eddery) 11-1
Keith Dalgleish on Helm Bank almost came from the back to win for the second time in three races, but was edged out by Jamie Spencer on New Seeker.
New Seeker was one of just five horses to take the unfavoured far side and came home a 16-1 winner.
Helm Bank seemed to be well out of the running, but made a late charge on the near side and would not have seen New Seeker edging to victory by a neck.
Court Masterpiece was a further neck back in third, with Pretence fourth.
1655 Hampton Court Stakes
One mile and two furlongs
1. Persian Majesty (J Murtagh) 8-1
2. Foodbroker Founder (Dane O'Neill) 50-1
3. Evolving Tactics (P J Smullen) 5-1
Result stands after stewards' inquiry.
Johnny Murtagh returned from injury to land the Hampton Court Stakes on Persian Majesty.
The Irishman, who missed Wednesday's meeting following a fall on Tuesday, hit the front early on and held off 50-1 outsider Foodbroker Founder by a neck.
Evolving Tactics was two and a half lengths back in third.
It was no surprise when a stewards' inquiry was announced as there appeared to be some scrimmaging about a furlong out.
However, the result was allowed to stand.
Persian Majesty, trained by Peter Harris, was having his first race for eight months and only the second race of his life.
1620 King George V Stakes
One mile and four furlongs
1. Fantastic Love (Keith Dalgleish) 10-1
2. Salsalino (PJ Smullen) 16-1
3. Lodger (Pat Eddery) 16-1
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Fantastic Love came from the back after a terrible start to beat Salsalino in a photo finish.
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Fantastic Love's stablemate Double Obsession appeared to have stolen a march on his rivals and led with a furlong to run.
But Fantastic Love made the long trip round the outside to hit the front and was neck-and-neck with Salsalino until the finish.
But Keith Dalgleish's mount took it by a short head, with Lodger a further length and a half back in third.
1545 Gold Cup
Two miles and four furlongs
1. Mr Dinos (Kieren Fallon) 3-1
2. Persian Punch (Martin Dwyer) 20-1
3. Pole Star (Pat Eddery) 12-1
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Kieren Fallon got his tactics spot on to win Ascot's Blue Riband event by a massive six lengths.
The champion jockey kept the four-year-old in contention before grabbing the lead from Persian Punch in the home straight and powering on for home.
Gold Cup veteran Persian Punch took up the early lead and held his momentum to take the runner's up place in his eighth time out.
Pole Star, trained by James Fanshawe, emerged from the pack to finish third.
"Mr Dinos was travelling even though he was lazy," said Fallon, who notched up his first winner of the meeting on the Paul Cole-trained horse.
"I switched him on in the final straight and he found another gear and I knew he could use his stamina."
1505 Ribblesdale Stakes
One mile and four furlongs
1. Spanish Sun (Richard Hughes) 9-2
2. Ocean Silk (Jimmy Fortune) 7-2F
3. Mezzo Soprano (Frankie Dettori) 6-1
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Spanish Sun held on to take the Ribblesdale Stakes by just a short head from favourite Ocean Silk.
The filly, who has not run for 269 days, showed good stamina as she made her run from the outside.
Jimmy Fortune got Ocean Silk flying towards the post but it was not enough to peg back Sir Michael Stoute's winner.
Mezzo Soprano, who had set a fast pace right from the off, settled for third place.
1430 Norfolk Stakes
Five Furlongs
1. Russian Valour (Kevin Darley) 4-1
2. Khelef (Frankie Dettori) 8-13F
3. Nevisian Lad (Kieren Fallon) 20-1
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Russian Valour made all the running to cause an upset in the opening race of day three.
Kevin Darley pushed the two-year-old on along the rails to beat hot favourite Khelef by a length and three-quarters, with Nevisian Lad running on well for third.
Russian Valour continued a good week for trainer Mark Johnston who notched up his 17th Ascot winner and his third juvenile winner of the week.
"Russian Valour found a bit extra to come back when the other runners were closing him down but I knew he was the one to beat," Johnston said after the race.
by Michael Clower
DERMOT WELD has decided to run Australian sprint champion Belle du Jour in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, as one of six of the 23 runners to be having their second start within a week.
The mare, who won the world's richest two-year-old race, the Golden Slipper in Australia, was beaten a neck by Miss Anabaa on her second Irish start in the Ballyogan Stakes at Cork last Sunday.
She will be joined by fellow traveller Choisir as well as four of those who finished behind the history-making colt when he won the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday, becoming the first Australian-trained winner in Britain.
The others having a shot at likely odds-on favourite Airwave are Bahamian Pirate (7th), Captain Rio (8th) and Continent (15th), all trained by David Nicholls, and Peace Offering who ran 13th for Terry Mills.
Nicholls has warned that Bahamian Pirate and Captain Rio will only run if there is sufficient rain. Jamie Osborne has issued a similar bulletin for Danger Over.
Weld said: “Belle du Jour ran a good race at Cork, she is tough and she has come out of it well.
"She has not got a lot of time left - she is to visit Sadler’s Wells in August - so she will take her chance in the Golden Jubilee.”
Airwave is 10-11 with Irish bookmakers Paddy Power to lift the Group 1 prize and looks to have been blessed with a good draw, near the stands’ rails in stall four.
As well as Australian raider Choisir, there is an American runner in the Randy Morse-trained Morluc, the mount of Gary Stevens, drawn one.
:cool: :cool: :cool:
If anybody is staying up late tonight to watch the races then you can come into chat and meet everyone on TNHRCF
http://groups.msn.com/TheNewHorseRacingCommunityForum/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-au
cheesebeast
21-06-2003, 22:55
Choisir wins again, led all the way and held off the fave Airwave by a 1/2 length, 8.80 on BF, not as good as the 34 midweek but no complaints here.
Matched £1,840,000.
Handy Harry
30-05-2004, 17:51
The Tim Martin trained Exceed And Excel has galloped well at Newmarket UK, partnered by Australian Kerrin McEvoy.
Godolphin have confirmed that McEvoy, their number two rider, will be aboard the stallion in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee which will be run at Ascot on June 19.
McEvoy has continued his good form in England by snaring Godolphin their first two-year-old win of the season on Crimson Run.
The Danzig colt won the 1200m EBF Zetland Maiden Stakes on fast ground by a length and a half under McEvoy on Saturday and is now a possible for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Saeed bin Suroor, his trainer, was very pleased with the performance and said:
"He's a nice horse and he improved for the York race. We will now find a better race for him."
By: Jo Adams -www.racenet.com.au Sunday, 30 May 2004
by Keith Hamer
EXCEED AND EXCEL’S participation at Royal Ascot is in doubt as the crack Australian sprinter is receiving treatment for a blood abnormality.
The four-year-old, bought by Sheikh Mohammed in March, is being prepared for the Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday week at Geoff Wragg's Newmarket stables.
But on Saturday the colt, trained by Sydney-based Tim Martin, failed to show his usual sparkle at exercise and a blood test taken on Monday revealed a problem.
In a statement, Henry Plumptre racing manager for Darley Australia, said: "The horse seems fine. He's eating well and his temperature is normal. However, we are just not happy with his blood picture.
"His work on Saturday morning was slightly below what we'd expected and we ran a blood test on Monday. It revealed a slight abnormality. He is receiving treatment, but obviously he is under a cloud for next week.
"We are making every effort to make sure he runs on Saturday, June 19 in the Golden Jubilee Stakes."
Nick Smith, head of public relations at Ascot, said: "Tim Martin is now not able to attend our press conference tomorrow for obvious reasons which we completely understand. His priority must be the horse."
Exceed and Excel has yet to race for Sheikh Mohammed, having won a Group 1 contest over six furlongs at Flemington on his last start for his previous owners Nick Moriatis and Alan Osburg.
He is thought to be better than another Australian speedster Choisir, who recorded a famous double in the King's Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting last year before being purchased by Coolmore.
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Cape Of Good Hope tackles the Group Two King ’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
Photo:Dustin Shum
Alan Aitken
Trainer David Oughton reports that all is well with Cape Of Good Hope and Bowman's Crossing as they prepare for the Royal Ascot meeting on Tuesday.
Cape Of Good Hope runs in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes over 1,000 metres, while Bowman's Crossing tackles the Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1,600 metres) at the time-honoured meeting.
"They both travelled over well, they've done well here and I couldn't be happier," said Oughton yesterday. "They both worked nicely on Tuesday morning and will have their final gallop [today] but in terms of condition, they are right where I'd like them to be."
In terms of opposition, though, Oughton fears a tough task for Bowman's Crossing against outstanding mares Russian Rhythm and Six Perfections.
"I believe those two will both run so it's a pretty tall order," he admitted. However, the trainer was brighter about the prospects of Cape Of Good Hope. "I suppose the interesting thing is going to be the sort of formline he will give us on Silent Witness. Cape Of Good Hope's such a solid horse who runs a great race every time and the stiff five furlongs [1,000 metres] at Ascot will be ideal. I'd be guessing as to his chances but I do expect him to run to his mark and we'll see where that puts him."
Oughton's hopes high for Ascot
'It's a great thrill to be back, it's a homecoming for me,' says UK-born trainer
NICK PULFORD in London
Hong Kong raiders Cape Of Good Hope and Bowman's Crossing line up at Royal Ascot today in the most international race meeting ever staged in Britain.
Horses have travelled from all over Europe, as well as from North America and Japan, in a bid to emulate the feats of Australian sprinter Choisir, who scored a famous double at last year's meeting.
Cape Of Good Hope runs in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes - the same 1,000-metre race that brought Choisir his first victory in 2003 - and just over an hour later Bowman's Crossing goes for the Group One Queen Anne Stakes over a mile.
Both horses are trained by British-born David Oughton, who will be saddling his first runners in his homeland since he left for Hong Kong 17 years ago. "It's a great thrill to be back, it's a homecoming for me," Oughton says.
"I had a few runners at Royal Ascot when I was training in England, but only in the handicaps. I had to look it up, but my last runner was Running Flush, who finished 15th in the Royal Hunt Cup in 1986, the year before I came to Hong Kong. Both horses have very sporting owners and it's all for the prestige - Royal Ascot is something special."
Royal Ascot is Britain's most famous and competitive race meeting, with six major Group One prizes and seven Group Twos up for grabs over the next five days. Cape Of Good Hope is rated a 14-1 chance for the King's Stand by British bookmakers, who have Bowman's Crossing at 20-1 for the Queen Anne.
Oughton recognises it will be tough but believes his horses will appreciate the testing uphill finish on Ascot's straight course, on which both races are run. "Cape Of Good Hope probably has the better chance of the two because the King's Stand looks a slightly easier race," he says. "He's got strong sprint form and is a good, tough horse. On a flat track, 1,200 metres is probably his best trip, so I think the stiff 1,000 metres at Ascot will suit him.
"Bowman's Crossing has never run a bad race but it will be tougher for him because the Queen Anne is a Group One. His best trip is probably 1,800 metres, but again the hill at Ascot will suit him and so should the straight mile."
There are other pluses, too. Mick Kinane, who spent seven years as stable jockey for Oughton in Hong Kong and has ridden 30 Royal Ascot winners, partners both horses.
"He knows both of the horses very well, he's ridden them several times, and we couldn't wish for a better jockey," Oughton said.
A dry spell means the ground will be fast and both the Hong Kong horses have drawn a favoured low berth, with Cape Of Good Hope in stall one and Bowman's Crossing in six. "I'm quite happy with those draws," said Oughton. "The question now is whether the horses are good enough."
One major drawback is that Royal Ascot comes at the end of the Hong Kong season - a factor that was blamed by Ivan Allan after his raider Firebolt finished ninth in last year's King's Stand - but Oughton said his horses had shown no sign of fatigue since their arrival on June 3. "They both travelled very well and had an uninterrupted journey," he said. "We waited a few days before giving them their first piece of proper work but they came through that very well and I'm pleased with their condition.
Gerald Mosse has his passport ready for action again, writes Murray Bell. The champion French jockey is off to England to ride Westerner, trained by Elie Lellouche, in the Ascot Gold Cup over 4,000 metres on Thursday. Jockey Club licensing secretary Kim Kelly said that Mosse would depart after tomorrow's Happy Valley meeting and return for riding engagements at Sha Tin on Sunday - the final meeting of the season.
cheesebeast
16-06-2004, 00:58
Cape of Good Hope ran second in the sprint not sure about Bowman's Crossing (definitely unplaced) was traded for $100 on Betfair!
cheesebeast
16-06-2004, 11:21
Courtesy SCMP
RACING
Cape Of Good Hope does Hong Kong proud
NICK PULFORD in London
The rising quality of Hong Kong racing - and in particular the sprinters - received another international seal of approval yesterday when Cape Of Good Hope finished a fine second at Royal Ascot.
The David Oughton-trained raider was beaten 1-1/2 lengths by The Tatling in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes - the best placing ever achieved by a Hong Kong horse in Europe. Oughton - who later fared less well with Bowman's Crossing, seventh in the Queen Anne Stakes - is now considering keeping Cape Of Good Hope in England for a crack at Group One company. The options are the Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday, the final day of the Royal Ascot meeting, or the July Cup at Newmarket on July 8.
"I'd have to be tempted to run him in one or both of those races, depending on how he comes out of this," Oughton said after the race. "I've no preference between the two races at the moment, though I'd like to see them put some water on the track if he is to run at Ascot on Saturday. For him it's the end of a long season, but he doesn't seem to be showing signs that it is getting to him. He has pretty much run up to his best Hong Kong form today."
The run confirmed Cape Of Good Hope's ability at the highest level, following his third place in last year's Group One Hong Kong Sprint, but it was just as significant for the boost it gave to Silent Witness' reputation. Cape Of Good Hope has been beaten six times this season by Silent Witness - never finishing closer than 1-3/4 lengths behind - and Tony Cruz's unbeaten superstar must have even stronger claims now to be regarded as the world's best turf sprinter.
Cape Of Good Hope was always in the front rank of the 19 runners in yesterday's 1,000-metre race, with jockey Mick Kinane making the most of stall one to stick close to the favoured stands rail in the early stages. Kinane pulled out to challenge inside the last 400 metres and Cape Of Good Hope responded well to take the lead briefly. However, he was unable to hold the late thrust of The Tatling, who had finished behind both Silent Witness and Cape Of Good Hope when seventh in the Hong Kong Sprint.
Oughton's raider was sent off 13-2 third favourite, having attracted strong support in the British betting market, and is sure to be among the leading fancies if he runs again in Britain. The Golden Jubilee and July Cup are the first two of the big three sprints in Britain and both are held over a straight 1,200 metres, which could prove even more suitable for Cape Of Good Hope.
Bowman's Crossing will have his summer break now after finishing seventh of the 16 runners in the Queen Anne. He did not get the smoothest run in the Group One mile contest and, despite staying on well, was never a threat. The race was won by Godolphin's Refuse To Bend, last year's English 2,000 Guineas winner.
"He ran quite well considering he got into a bit of a bumping match with one of the other runners," Oughton said. "He's earned a rest now but he'll wait for Cape Of Good Hope and go back to Hong Kong with him."
Seabiscuit
16-06-2004, 11:51
Good to see Cape of Good Hope has the guts to try his luck overseas unlike some others.
Looks like Silent Witness is 0.25 lengths better than English G2 standard. And Choisir exposed just how weak that standard is last year.
cheesebeast
16-06-2004, 12:15
Next you'll be advocating sending St Basil to the arc! :D :D :D
Handy Harry
16-06-2004, 21:21
JNB,
Have to say the paddock at Royal Ascot has to be one of the greatest if not the greatest racing theatre. Just superb in all ways.
The queen comes down to the paddock for a wander around to polite applause. Down into the paddock sweeps the godolphin owners - about 20 or so. There's dettori waving his arms and a very young McEvoy making sure he only speaks when spoken to. Dettori goes out to win the race and does his flying dismount - aussie stewards would put a stop to that. Then you hear a chorus of 'excuse me excuse me' and it's the losing jocks pushing their way through the crowd around the winners enclosure trying get to the weighing room.
Just a wonderful afternoon in the paddock - can see why they want to tear the rest of it down though - think doomben/eagle farm.
Once you see the track you really appreciate what Choisir did. It's a straight 8F. From the 5F start they go along 1F then up a hill for 1F then flat for 1F then a really punishing uphill 2F with about 50M flat ontop of the hill to the winning post. Tougher course than any australian sprint but suited to tough strong sprinters.
sam
from ausrace
Handy Harry
16-06-2004, 21:24
Hi, John NB,
The reality for UK turf sprinters is far more positive than this.
Of the top 20 world ranked sprinters (Racing Post), UK has 7, Australia 5, Hong Kong 5, Japan 2 and France 1.
UK has at least 7 of the world's best sprinters and remains the leading country. Monsieur Bond and Avonbridge are world ranked 2nd and 4th=. This is "poor/fair, with only one or two notable exceptions"??
Of the races you have detailed, UK have won 2 and Australia won 2, which is as it should be when sending the very best to Royal Ascot and Newmarket, and long may it continue. Cape Of Good Hope (7th = world ranking) was bought outof UK to race in HK but was still beaten by a UK horse at Royal Ascot.
regards,
Robert
Message: 12
From: "John NB" <jayenbee@btinternet.com>
To: "AUSRACE" <ausrace@it.net.au>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 16:11:26 +0100
Subject: [Ausrace] Royal Ascot (UK) - Day 1
Reply-To: ausrace@it.net.au
The Hong Kong runner Cape Of Good Hope 13/2 was beaten 1-1/2 lengths, by The Tatling 8/1 in this afternoons group 2 Kings Stand.
Last years winner was the excellent Choisir, and those who study the formbook would have noted :
Jul 03 the Oz star was beaten 1-1/2 lengths, by our best sprinter Oasis Dream in the group 1 July Cup .......... the time was 2.6 seconds better than median/standard.
A month later The Tatling was beaten 2-1/2 lengths by Oasis Dream in thegroup 1 Nunthorpe .......... the time was 1.8 seconds better than median/standard.
Tracks conditions were identical in all four races.
In international terms the quality of Pommie sprinters remains poor/fair,with only one or two notable exceptions.
Regards -
The Honourable John NB
:eek: :cool: :p
Seabiscuit
16-06-2004, 21:31
The Honourable John NB has it right. UK sprinters are lousy and HK sprinters are just as lousy.
St. Basil should be aiming for the big one - The Breeders Cup Classic. I am sure he could pull it off with a bit of luck. The Arc could be used as a barrier trial for his Breeders Cup assault.
Handy Harry
17-06-2004, 12:56
Allan the owner goes one better than the Cape at Royal Ascot
MURRAY BELL
The mercurial Ivan Allan has done it again. Just when his career as a trainer is winding down, he comes up with another personal first - as the owner of Chateau Istana, winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot in England.
Chateau Istana provided a wonderful back-up to the performance of Hong Kong sprinter Cape Of Good Hope, who ran so bravely for second behind The Tatling in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes.
Allan's Chateau Istana, named after the historic residence of the president of Singapore, was having only his third start and comfortably racked up his second win. It was the first victory at the Royal meeting for 62-year-old Allan.
The three-times champion Hong Kong trainer said he had gone close before with the likes of Commanche Run, his multiple Group One winner of the mid 1980s. But it took the best part of another 20 years before the Nick Littmoden-trained Chateau Istana gave him the long-awaited breakthrough. "I've had a few seconds and thirds, but this is the first and it feels very nice," said Allan. "I bought him for ?85,000 at Goffs and he looks a lovely horse, who I hope can improve."
Allan met Littmoden in 2000 after buying the classy sprinter Cliffhanger from the Newmarket trainer, to race in Hong Kong, and the pair immediately hit it off. Cliffhanger ran third to Fairy King Prawn in the 2001 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy and second to the champion again in the Chairman's Sprint Prize, though a respectful four lengths in arrears. He only won once, the 2001 Chief Executive's Cup, but did earn $4.2 million in prizemoney.
"I have had a great deal of enjoyment with Nick, he's a lovely guy," Allan said. "He is the trainer's trainer, he is happy to sit down and really discuss things - a joy to deal with."
Allan was already renowned as an international owner, with his overseas successes including the English St Leger and Champion Stakes with Commanche Run, the New Zealand Derby with Jolly Jake, the STC Coolmore Classic with Strawberry Fair and the Victoria Oaks with My Tristram's Belle.
Meanwhile, the grand performance of Cape Of Good Hope in finishing second in the King's Stand Stakes (1,000m) has confirmed Silent Witness' ranking as the world's premier sprinter. The Tatling came to Hong Kong and finished seventh behind Silent Witness in the $10 million Hong Kong Sprint, while Cape Of Good Hope ran a creditable third, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.
In the three Triple Crown sprints this spring, Cape Of Good Hope has finished an average of 2-1/2 lengths behind the Witness.
Jockey Club chief handicapper Ciaran Kennelly praised the effort of Cape Of Good Hope in particular, and Hong Kong racing in general, after the classy sprinter come so close to becoming the first Hong Kong-trained winner in Europe.
"This run gives a lot of credibility to Hong Kong horses and Hong Kong racing. When Cape Of Good Hope left the UK a couple of years ago he was rated in the mid-90s. Today he has run to a mark about 20 pounds higher."
Handy Harry
18-06-2004, 09:15
NICK PULFORD in London
Cape Of Good Hope will run again at Royal Ascot tomorrow after satisfying trainer David Oughton that he is ready for another assault on Britain's most prestigious meeting.
The Hong Kong raider will step up to Group One company in the 1,200-metre Golden Jubilee Stakes, only four days after finishing second in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes. In a welcome twist of fate, he has been allocated the favoured number one stall - just as he was for the King's Stand. The Golden Jubilee is another difficult assignment, with many of Britain's in-form sprinters lying in wait, but Oughton is keen to give Cape Of Good Hope the opportunity to go one better.
"We'll take our chance now we're here," Oughton said. "He ate up well after Tuesday's race and appears to have come out of it well. The longer trip will suit him, but we know it's another tough race." Mick Kinane will be in the saddle again.
Cape Of Good Hope was beaten 1-1/2 lengths by The Tatling in the 1,000-metre King's Stand Stakes - a reversal of form from their previous meeting in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin last December, when Cape Of Good Hope finished third behind Silent Witness, with The Tatling only seventh.
Oughton said: "It's a long way to come and get so close without winning. Cape Of Good Hope ran well, but it was slightly annoying to finish behind a horse we'd beaten before. Before the race The Tatling was one horse I felt sure we would beat, but it's the end of our season and we beat The Tatling last time when it was the end of his.
"Cape Of Good Hope was probably a bit below his best Hong Kong form, not by much, but he looked as if he had come to win the race and then his run petered out in the last 100 metres. I would have expected him to finish off the race better than he did.
Oughton believes 1,200 metres is Cape Of Good Hope's best distance, which will be in the gelding's favour tomorrow, but the Golden Jubilee field includes several high-class rivals. Whereas the 19 runners in the King's Stand included only one horse who had won at Group Two level, the 15-strong line-up tomorrow features a Group One winner and six Group Two scorers.
The sole Group One winner is Airwave, who finished runner-up to Choisir in last year's Golden Jubilee and is the probable favourite. Cape Of Good Hope is likely to be next in the betting.
John NB
In 2003 Mark Johnstons filly ATTRACTION won the Queen Mary, and this season made history by winning both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas.
Today she made it 8 (eight) consecutive victories, in the group 1 Coronation Stakes over the round mile. Oz commentator Jim McGrath described her as 'a new superstar' .......... which could be an understatement.
Unlike yesterdays champion stayer, Attraction is not bred in the purple. In fact her dam never won a race, while her sire Efisio was a useful sprinter in the eighties.She has a dip in her back and front legs which splay at extreme angles. Poor conformation means she never went through the sales ring.
What does it matter, Attraction is an exceptional racehorse .......... must be nearly as good as Sunline !!
The Honourable John NB
Godolphin’s Doyen sizzles in record-breaking win at Royal Ascot
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DOYEN
Racing Post photo
It has been a memorable week at Royal Ascot for Godolphin Racing, and the stable gained further honors when homebred Doyen broke the 1 1/2-mile course record there on Saturday in the Hardwicke Stakes (Eng-G2).
The four-year-old son Sadler’s Wells defeated last year’s English St. Leger (Eng-G1) runner-up High Accolade by six lengths. Doyen passed the winning post in a time of 2:26.53 on firm turf, breaking the mark set by English and Irish champion distaffer Stanerra (Ire) in 1983. Persian Majesty finished third in the six-horse field.
Doyen, a half brother to 1995 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) winner Moonshell (Ire), trained in France last year with Andre Fabre for whom he finished fourth to Dalakhani (Ire) in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Switched to trainer Saeed bin Suroor by Godolphin chief Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Doyen ran well when second to Warrsan in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1) on June 4 at Epsom and seems likely to meet that rival again in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-G1) at Ascot on July 24.
Doyen was the sixth winner of the week for Godolphin and jockey Frankie Dettori, who said: "This horse took my breath away. He’s very special, and reminds me of the good old days when we had horses like Swain (Ire), Daylami (Ire) and Fantastic Light."
Dettori now faces the conundrum of choosing between three horses in the King George. Sulamani (Ire) would be the logical choice on soft ground, but Doyen or Papineau (who won the Gold Cup (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot on Thursday) would be preferred if the ground rides fast.
Bred in Ireland, Doyen is out of the English Group 3 winner and French classic-placed Moon Cactus, by Kris. With Saturday’s record-setting win, his resume improves to four wins in eight career starts.
Also on the card, Whazzat, a daughter of Daylami (Ire) and the only filly in the 12-runner field, squeezed through and opening in the straight and galloped on to a 3½-length victory in the seven-furlong Chesham Stakes for two-year-olds whose sires won over at least 1¼ miles.
Whazzat was held up before racing clear under jockey Michael Hills (whose father, Barry, trains the winner). She beat first-time starter Brecon Beacon, a son of Spectrum, and Wilko, a maiden-winning Kentucky-bred son of Awesome Again, who finished second and third, respectively.
Whazzat, campaigned by Bill Gredley, was bred in England by Eruostrait Ltd. and is now unbeaten in two career starts. Her dam, the Generous mare Wosaita, is a half sister to 1990 Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) winner Rafha (GB) and to Group-1 winning sprinter Invincible Spirit.—Carl Evans
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=46132&subsec=3
Nick Pulford in London
Cape Of Good Hope was frustrated again yesterday in his bid for Royal Ascot glory when he finished a brave and unlucky third in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes.
The Hong Kong sprinter, who had been second in his first attempt on Tuesday, was finishing fast but went down by less than half a length behind Fayr Jag.
Trainer David Oughton said: "He did not have the best of luck in running. He ran into interference and it probably cost him the race. I know the second horse came from behind us and just pipped mine, but Cape Of Good Hope is a long-striding horse and it takes him a little bit longer to get going. With a clear run I'm sure he'd have won."
Even so, Oughton expressed satisfaction with Cape Of Good Hope's odyssey and revealed that it may not be over yet. "I'm delighted with him. He's come a long way and has run two cracking races in a week. We will see how he comes out of it, but he could go for the July Cup. The other possibility is to go to Glorious Goodwood towards the end of July and Bowman's Crossing might run again, too. I'll make a decision at the end of the week."
The result of yesterday's 1,200-metre race was scant reward for Oughton's bravery not only in taking Cape Of Good Hope to Britain's most prestigious meeting, but in persevering after the gelding's frustrating second place in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday. On that occasion, Cape Of Good Hope was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by The Tatling, who had previously finished well behind Oughton's gelding in the Hong Kong Sprint in December.
The Golden Jubilee was a much tougher contest on paper but Cape Of Good Hope, having his 11th run since the Hong Kong season started back in September, came even closer to glory this time with another gallant display.
Having drawn the favoured number one gate for the second time in the week, jockey Mick Kinane settled Cape Of Good Hope behind favourite Avonbridge in the early stages, but at the halfway mark it became apparent that being on the stands rail was a curse as well as a blessing. Kinane had to wait for an opening before launching his challenge and, by the time he got free, Fayr Jag was in the clear.
Cape Of Good Hope closed all the way to the line but could not overhaul Fayr Jag. The 12-1 winner held on by a head from Crystal Castle, who had followed Cape Of Good Hope throughout and was equally unlucky, with the Hong Kong hope another head back in third. Bowman's Crossing, who finished seventh in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot, has stayed in Britain pending Oughton's decision on race plans.
Royal Ascot on the move23/09/2004 02:12
By Dave Thompson
LONDON (Reuters) - Fancy Royal Ascot next year? Well, don’t go to Ascot -- the meeting is at York.
Britain’s most illustrious racecourse closes down after this weekend’s three-day meeting for around 20 months for major redevelopment costing 185 million pounds.
The course’s fixtures have been dispersed to various tracks with York, 186 miles to the north, landing the plum Royal meeting next June.
After racing on Sunday, there will be communal singing round the bandstand to mark the end of an era but also to look forward to the Royal meeting in 2006 when the course re-opens.
In world terms, Ascot is showing signs of its age and officials say a complete redevelopment is needed.
The Duke of Devonshire, course chairman, said: "Our plans take advantage of the best that modern architecture and structural engineering technology can offer and I believe the result will be an outstanding new racecourse."
The centrepiece will be the new grandstand featuring internal, naturally-lit galleries and topped by a parasol roof structure meant to replicate in architectural form the natural tree lining in which the course delights.
Crowd flow will be improved by moving the track 40 metres and building the stand further away from the main road. A 9,000-capacity parade ring will be located behind the stand, making it much easier to reach than at present.
British Horseracing Board chairman Martin Broughton said: "The new facilities will enhance Ascot as an international sports venue of the highest calibre."
NATURAL CLEARING
Racing at Ascot owes its being to horse-mad Queen Anne who, before she became too fat, was riding on the edge of Windsor Great Park one day in 1711.
She happened upon a natural clearing near the hamlet of East Cote, now Ascot, and ordered a course to be laid out "for horses to gallop at full stretch".
By 1768 racing at the course had evolved into a royal meeting and modern-day Royal Ascot is now a glittering highlight of the sporting and fashion calendar with the Gold Cup just one of the many historic races.
York, known locally as the Knavesmire, is already gearing up for its time as host of the Royal meeting. Tickets go on sale from October 4 and passes for those blessed with Royal Enclosure status will be available from January 4.
York chief executive William Derby said: "The Royal procession on the Knavesmire will be a real piece of history."
But Ascot knows all about history.
This weekend’s meeting marks the eighth anniversary of Frankie Dettori riding all seven winners at cumulative odds of more than 25,000-1 -- a day still known as Black Saturday in the bookmaking profession.
Dettori will be in action again and it would be unwise to rule out the Italian showman bringing down the Ascot curtain with a spectacular of some sort.
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Beadman sets sights on world domination at Ascot
John Schell
August 6, 2007
DARREN Beadman heads to the UK tomorrow night keen to make an impact in his role in the Rest of the World team in the Shergar Cup at Ascot on Saturday.
And while Beadman heads north, Sydney Turf Club track manager Lindsay Murphy revealed on Saturday that the Ascot course manager, Chris Stickels, would be at Rosehill on August 18 in preparation for a racecourse managers' conference in Melbourne the following week.
The meeting will include representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the US.
"Chris will be out here having a look around and it will be good to have someone of his standing seeing how we do things," Murphy said on Saturday at Rosehill, where Beadman rode one winner, only to be outdone by son Mitchell. The apprentice rode his second double of the past three weeks.
Beadman snr has not ridden at Ascot before. The course is the scene of the five-day Royal meeting every June, at which Australian sprinters Miss Andretti, Takeover Target and Choisir have won the King's Stand Stakes in recent years.
"It will be a great experience for me to get over and ride there," Beadman said. "I'm really looking forward to it, it will be something different for me."
Beadman will ride under the guidance of Rest of the World team captain Hugh Bowman, who is set to return to Sydney later this month following a successful UK stint based at the stables of Mick Channon.
Japanese legend Yutaka Take will also be part of the World team. Frankie Dettori will captain Europe and riders for other teams include top British jockeys Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer.
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