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Epsom and Ascot countdown for 26 May 2008Filed on 26 May 2008 @ 12:44
Major race entries 2008: Derby | Oaks | Coronation Cup | Sussex Stakes Classic countdown, w/c: 7 April | 14 April | 21 April | 28 April | 5 May | 12 May | 19 May | 26 May Sunday 1 June 2008Andre Fabre bids for a seventh Coronation Cup win at Epsom on Friday with runaway Jockey Club Stakes winner Getaway. The master trainer said on Sunday: "The horse is very well and the plan is to run him on Friday. There are more runners than normal and the race does look very good. We wanted to go to Epsom as he avoids carrying a penalty. "He is still improving and isn't a Group One winner yet. Depending on what happens in the race he will then head to the King George, but I am taking it one race at a time." The Group Three John of Gaunt Stakes over 7f at Haydock on Saturday was won by Richard Hannon's Major Cadeaux, who added to his win in last month's Group Two Sandown Mile despite Ryan Moore's saddle slipping during the race. The four-year-old took the lead in the final furlong and forged clear to beat Big Timer by half a length, with a head back to Appalachian Trail in third. Both the second and third home were trained by Linda Perratt. Major Cadeaux will run in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot if there is cut in the ground. The Luca Cumani-trained Bankable landed a four-timer when stepping up from an Ascot handicap win to land the Listed On The House Stakes over a mile at Goodwood on Saturday on his first try in stakes company. The win has seen the colt installed as favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. Cumani's wife Sara said: "He had a bit on his plate and a lot to learn. He had only had four races in his life and he lacked experience racing in a field and round a bend. We were also worried about the soft ground, as this is softer than Ascot soft. "He got warm too, but did it well and Luca was very much of the opinion he needed a race as he is such a big, gross horse. The Hunt Cup will be his next step and we'll see where we go from there." Viking Spirit won the goodwood.co.uk Handicap under a positive ride from Adam Kirby. Having missed the cut for the Wokingham Handicap last year, the six-year-old will head there this year and has been cut to 20-1 for the race. Up at York, Tawaash made all under top weight to land the Organs For Life Stakes. Winning trainer Michael Jarvis was pleased with the effort and said: "We might go for the Jersey Stakes now if Sheikh Hamdan agrees because he looks like a seven-furlong specialist. He might just have an entry in the Britannia too, he might get a mile on fast ground." Friday 30 May 2008A maximum field of 20 is due to go to post for Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, and 1000 Guineas winner Natagora will be ridden by Frankie Dettori in the absence of Godolphin's Ibn Khaldun. The filly's regular pilot Christophe Lemaire has been claimed to ride High Rock for Jean-Claude Rouget. Owner Stefan Friborg's racing manager Patrick Barbe said on Friday: "After work this morning, about eight o'clock English time, Godolphin took their horse out. We are pleased to get him, of course. He won the race last year. "Our filly is 100%. No filly has won the race for over 100 years so it's hard to be confident but we are optimistic. We are very happy with the draw, no problem." Sheikh Mohammed will have his colours carried by the Andre Fabre-trained Democrate, purchased this week. Fabre also saddles Thewayyouare and Prospect Wells. Dermot Weld is due to saddle Famous Name, and Aidan O'brien has Achill Island in the race. Prix du Jockey Club (Group One)(3yo)Chantilly, 5:35pm Sunday 1 June 2008. 2100m.
. The Group Two Henry II Stakes saw rookie trainer Simon Callaghan gain a maiden Group win when Finalmente came home best in the two mile contest. Balkan Knight (second) and Royal And Regal (third) were trappped for a run and could have been unlucky, with the margins a head and a nose. Finalmente was fourth in last year's Ascot Gold Cup and he will line up once more this year. Also at Sandown, Icesolator won the Listed National Stakes over five furlongs and booked a berth at the Roayl meeting. Trainer Richard Hannon said afterwards: "He is a lovely little horse and that is not his trip - he wants six furlongs. I don't know where he will go. I need to look at the conditions of the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, but he might be good enough for the Norfolk." At Great Leighs, David Elsworth's sprinter Nota Bene had a satisfactory prep for the Wokingham Handicap with a conditions stakes win. The six-year-old is a 20-1 chance for the race, in which he ran last year. Jeremy Noseda has reported that Fleeting Spirit has come out of the Temple Stakes well. “She has come out of the race in great order and I’m more than happy with her," the trainer said. “It was always the intention for the Temple to be her ‘prep’ and she did the job well but her main target lies ahead in the shape of the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot. “I have no doubt that it is going to be a much tougher assignment than she had at Haydock but her performance there - at the very least - augurs well for her prospects at the Royal meeting. “She is a very simple filly to work with in that she is very professional. I feel that her race at Haydock has put her spot on and it is just a case of us ticking her over until Tuesday June 17. “From our perspective, we just have fingers crossed that she stays healthy and sound so that she can participate on the big day.” Thursday 29 May 2008The Dermot Weld-trained Casual Conquest, ante post favourite for the Derby after an emphatic win in the Derinstown Stud Derby Trial, is likely to be supplemented for the Derby. The Hernando colt worked at Leopardstown after racing on Wednesday evening and satsfied the trainer, who is to recommend to the owner that Casual Conquest be supplemented for the Derby. Weld said at Epsom's Breakfast With The Stars on Thursday: "I will speak later today to Mr Haefner (Walter Haefner, owner of Moyglare Stud) and my recommendation for him is to run at Epsom. I will encourage him to supplement the horse and to run in the race." Weld continued: "Casual Conquest worked yesterday evening at 9.15pm and I was satisfied with the way he worked. He wasn't as explosive at the end as when he won the Derrinstown, But Pat Smullen was very pleased with him and said he idled when he hit the front. He's come out of the work well and I'm very happy with him." Casual Conquest has been cut to 5-2 for Epsom. Godolphin are to run Rio De La Plata in the Derby, with Ibn Khaldun contesting Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club. John Gosden is "leaning towards" running Newmarket handicap winner Bronze Cannon in the Derby. John Oxx is happy with the progress of Oaks entrant Katiyra: "So far so good, she's in good form," the trainer told At The Races. "We had a four-week interval with which to work between the Guineas Trial and the Oaks, which is nice for her as we had a bit of a rush to get her ready for the Guineas Trial. "Obviously she has to step up in her work again at the end of this week but I couldn't be happier, she's looking well and she's relaxed in herself. "She's just a filly we would have liked to have had a few more runs as she's had setbacks and is inexperienced but her form is good. I think you'd be surprised if she didn't stay well as her dam stayed well. The only concern I have is that she had a three-parts sister called Katirisa, who didn't stay a yard beyond seven furlongs but she was by Spinning World and they don't always stay." Wednesday 28 May 2008The EBF ladbrokes.com Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Leicester on Tuesday was won by the Mich Channon-trained Please Sing, who earned a quote of 20-1 for the Queen Mary after a length and a quarter success. Weekedn Listed winner Unnefer could run in the Hampton Court Stakes, with Alan Cooper, racing manager to the owners the Niarchos family, telling PA Sport: "The possible plan is to consider the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting. All will depend on the ground - that's a big factor as we don't want him to run on firm ground and there is also the possibility of taking in a Group race in France the following week." The Niarchos family also own recent Listed winner Arcadia's Angle, who could be bound for the St James's Palace Stakes. Cooper added: "There was a forfeit stage for the race today and after talking it through, we have decided to leave him in. It's too early to say whether that is a possibility really and at the moment he is going to run in the Prix Paul de Moussac on June 8. He is a horse that Pascal Bary likes very much. He is proven on soft ground but I'd expect he could go on good ground as well." Tuesday 27 May 2008Casual Conquest will work after racing at Leopardstown on Wednesday, following which connections will decide whether to supplement the Derrinstown winner for the Derby. Whilst the supplementary entry stage is next Monday, trainer Dermot Weld is due to take part in Epsom's Breakfast with the Stars on Thursday. Mick Channon took the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar on Monday with Capable Guest and the six-year-old will now probably line up in the Royal Hunt Cup. Channon's representative Lesley White said: "The boss tried different tactics today. He said Joe [Fanning] should let the horse do his own thing and he has gone and done it well in the end. He said that he will now possibly go for the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot." James Bethell was on the mark with Rowayton winning the Winning Syndicates With Middleham Park Racing Maiden Auction Stakes impressively. The Queen Mary will be her target at the Royal Meeting. Indian Days was a convincing winner of the totesport betXtra Win Only Handicap, and winning trainer James Given said: "I will not mind if he goes up six or seven pounds for that because he then might sneak in at the bottom of the handicap for the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot. The mile and a half will be OK as he settles so well and he will like the fast ground." At Leicester, Michael Bell showed he has his juveniles in flying form, with Brae Hill making all in the 5f juvenile maiden to win by an impressive seven lengths, earning a run in the Windsor Castle Stakes. The King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket was won in the last two years by subsequent Jersey Stakes winners Jeremy and Tariq. Godolphin's Calming Influence came with a late flourish to grab the spoils on Saturday, and no plans have been announced for the King's Best colt. The second horse, Stimulation, will line up in the Jersey, with trainer Hughie Morrison feeling he was unlucky on Saturday. He said: "If it had been half a furlong shorter on Saturday he would have been impressive. Afterwards our initial thinking was that we might bring him back to six furlongs. But after some thought I think we'll stick to seven furlongs and go to Royal Ascot for the Jersey." Morrison is also reported to be considering running Sakhee's Secret only in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Ascot. The trainer told PA Sport: "He's very well, but we're just contemplating whether to scratch him in the King's Stand as his race is probably the Golden Jubilee. "I'll sleep on that one before deciding. We'll go for the Golden Jubilee and I might just leave him in the King's Stand and see. I think he has the pace for it, but the six-furlong race would be the right one for us to go for at Ascot. We could always come back in trip later in the year at York or in the Prix de l'Abbaye if necessary." Prix Morny winner Myboycharlie was a touch disappointing behind Astronomer Royal in the Greenlands Stakes on Sunday, but he is expected to improve for the run and is an intended starter in the the Golden Jubilee Stakes. Monday 26 May 2008We add Royal Ascot to our preview coverage this week, but first up is the news that the Ballydoyle Derby colts should be sorted out this week, with Aidan O'Brien indicating that Kingdom Of Naples will not line up at Epsom after meeting a setback. Henrythenavigator won the Irish 2000 Guineas with some brilliance on Saturday, and John Magnier has said that the decision of whether to run the Kingmambo colt at Epsom will be taken by those close to the horse. He said: "Ultimately, it'll be vet John Halley, Aidan, Johnny Murtagh and all the lads who'll get together and decide. They'll give me their opinions and we'll see after that. "I don't decide but if you ask me what I'd like to do I'd say that Epsom is where everything is decided. When the horse was bred, he was bred to go there - he's by Kingmambo and out of a Sadler's Wells mare. "We've taken horses to Epsom before who shouldn't have gone there and they've run well, but we've also taken horses there who we thought would run well and they haven't. I'm not ruling the Derby out, but I wouldn't go and tell someone to back him either." Stubbs Art was again third behind Henrythenavigator and New Approach, and a run in the St James's Palace Stakes, with owner Matthew Green telling the Racing Post: "David [Elsworth] and I will have to see what else is going for the St James's Palace, but that's the race I'd like to aim for next. "Stubbs Art ran a tremendous race, on ground that favoured Henrythenavigator more than it did us, and, if Aidan O'Brien's horse goes to the Derby, which I think he should, that would encourage us to go for Ascot. "New Approach seems likely to be aiming for the Irish Derby and, with the Irish 2,000 Guineas first and second racing elsewhere, I'd like to think we'd have a favourite's chance in the St James's Palace. "It's not going to be easy, with Twice Over a possible rival and a number of other good colts sure to be there, but Stubbs Art has earned his chance and, if he's fit and well on the day, I'd be keen to go for it." In the Irish 1000 Guineas the improving Halfway To Heaven held on from her challengers. Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "Seamus gave her a great ride. He was very positive and she is a hardy filly. We'd probably look at the Coronation Stakes now as she stays well and you need to stay to win the Coronation." Tuscan Evening, demoted to fourth, will reoppose. Trainer John Murphy said: "She hung all the way up the straight but she had been in brilliant form. She'll go to Ascot now for the Coronation as we know she handles fast ground and stays a mile." Sunday's other Group One winner Duke Of Marmalade will contest the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Aidan O'Brien was also on the mark with the gelding Hebridean in the Gallinule Stakes - his sire Bach's first Stakes winner. The trainer said: "He is an amazing horse and has got better and better with every run. He is gelded so isn't in any Derbys - can you believe it? I'll have a look at Royal Ascot and the big races there over a mile and half, with the King Edward VII a possibility." Sir Michael Stoute is set to run Dee Stakes winner Tajaaweed in the Derby. The colt beat subsequent Listed scorer Unnefer at Chester, and Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "I think he will run as long as everybody is happy with him. Obviously, we were thrilled with him last time as he did it very well at Chester and as long as everything progresses smoothly in the next 10 days, I hope we'll be there." "It was nice to see Unnefer at the weekend, it never does any harm. Maybe there isn't a standout in the Derby but there are obviously some very decent horses in there and we'll see if he's up to it. He's done everything right this year so I think we'll have a crack at it." The John Gosden-trained Bronze Cannon ran up a four-timer in impressive style at Newmarket on Sunday, beating Woolfall Treasure by two and a quarter lengths in an impressive display that saw the Lemon Drop Kid colt cut from 33-1 to 16-1 for the Derby. The colt had beaten Doctor Fremantle, who is to be supplemented for Epsom, over course and distance last time. He will have to improve again to take a hand in the finish at Epsom, but such improvement cannot be ruled out. Hugo Lascelles, racing advisor to owner Anthony Oppenheimer, said: "John and Mr Oppenheimer are away, so we will have a sit-down next week and make a plan. He is still in the Derby and it will be considered. But he is a lovely little horse. He is not big, but has a huge heart." Filed on 26 May 2008 @ 12:44
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