Golden Commonwealth Cup for Horde and Cox
Son of Lethal Force lands elusive Group 1 on day four of Royal Ascot
After placing at Group 1 level twice as a two-year-old, Golden Horde (Lethal Force) broke his elite-level maiden in yesterday’s Commonwealth Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot.
The Clive Cox-trained colt, who was having his first start since finishing second in the Middle Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) in September, came down grandstand side rail and kicked past the leader Mums Tipple (Footstepsinthesand) to score by a length and a half.
American raider Kimari (Munnings) was second with Ventura Rebel (Pastoral Pursuits) coming home two and a half lengths back in third.
“I am very proud of him,” Cox said. “We have got a great team at home and to win a Group 1 first time out with any horse is difficult, but given the way things are this year, it’s the same for a lot of people, but I am really proud.
“He is a horse to go forward with – I really hope and pray he has got a longer journey to go ahead of him.
“Golden Horde is just top-class. He has got a lovely temperament, is great to deal with and that ability to go on any type of ground is very special as well.
“He is out of a Pivotal mare (Entreat) by Lethal Force who we enjoyed such a wonderful day with when winning the Diamond Jubilee in 2013 – it is very special.
“We always trained him last year with the knowledge that with the right sort of behaviour he would be a better horse this year as well. It is just fantastic when it goes right and when dreams are realised.”
Asked about the July Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Newmarket on July 11 as a logical target for Golden Horde, Cox replied: “I would like to think so. That was very much on our minds. He has done the job really well today and I would like to think that would put a real edge on him having a race. I think mentally with these sprinters to have a race is important.
“I think with the knowledge that you have a good horse, and when they do so succeed as you hope they do, it is like watching your own children, so that is why I’m proud of him.”
Winning jockey Adam Kirby added: “Golden Horde is a proper horse. When he had his first run at Newbury last season, we knew he was pretty decent, but he’s done nothing but improve. He has strengthened up very well over the winter. He is just like his dad, Lethal Force, and will improve as time goes on.”
Purchased by his trainer for £65,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, Golden Horde (3 c Lethal Force – Entreat by Pivotal) has run seven times for three wins and two placings, amassing £366,776 in prize-money.
He is one of four winners out of Pivotal (Polar Falcon) mare Entreat, making him a half-brother to Listed scorer Exhort (Dutch Art). Entreat herself is half-sister to five-time stakes victor Producer (Dutch Art).
Golden Horde’s third dam, Imaging (Northfields), is also responsible for multiple Grade 1 winner Serena’s Song (Rahy) who herself produced Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) victrix Sophisticat (Storm Cat).
Further back, this is also the family of Swettenham Stud stallion Puissance De Lune (Shamardal).
Golden Horde’s victory provided Lethal Force, who was also trained by Cox and won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) and July Cup in 2013, with his first Group 1 win as a sire.
The son of Dark Angel (Acclamation) stood at Haras de Grandcamp in France for a fee of €6,000 in 2020.
Gosden and Dettori take out Hardwicke with Fanny Logan
After teaming up to take out the Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2m 4f) with Stradivarius (Sea The Stars) on Thursday, John Gosden and Frankie Dettori returned to Royal Ascot yesterday to land another feature race with the progeny of Sea The Stars (Cape Cross), this time with Fanny Logan in the Hardwicke Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f).
The four-year-old took advantage of a two–pound weight allowance against the rest of the field, being the only mare in the race, and stormed past her rivals to win by two and a half lengths.
Alounak (Camelot) was second with Defoe (Dalakhani) coming home a further length and three-quarters back in third.
Gosden, who was celebrating his fifth win of the week, said he was confident Fanny Logan could run a big race after she finished second in the Pinnacle Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 2f) at Haydock last start.
“It wasn’t a fluke,” the champion trainer said. “She went up to Haydock, and I asked Rab Havlin (jockey) to drop her out as she can be keen.
“She ran a lovely race to be second and had a very good blow, so we know the benefit of having that race in. She has been very bright and well in herself since.
“Wearing a hood settled her for her first run, but I find it can dull them a little bit and you aren’t going to go winning a Hardwicke if you’re dulled. To that extent it worked well for her.
“She had to have it last year and learned to settle – you might remember PJ McDonald winning on her at York, and she took him on for two, three furlongs – but she has grown up and learnt a lot, and she certainly raced properly today.
“Frankie had the plan of making the running today, but I told him I didn’t think that was a good idea, and consequently that position was occupied by Communique, who went a good clip. He has ridden her coolly and sat out the back and swept down the outside, and she was clearly the best on the day.”
The win also marked the 70th for Dettori at Royal Ascot to which he was delighted.
“I actually forgot I was one short of 70 winners, so that’s another milestone – it is good,” he said”
“It’s brilliant to have 70 – that’s a lot. I want number 71 now.”
Fanny Logan (4 m Sea The Stars – Linda Radlett by Manduro) has now won six races and placed on three occasions in 11 starts, earning a total of £293,887 in prize-money.
She is the only winner from two to race out of the Listed-placed mare Linda Radlett (Manduro), who herself is a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Hunter’s Light (Dubawi).
Further back, this is the family of champion mare Dar Re Mi (Singspiel), the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Too Darn Hot (Dubawi); he is set to shuttle to Darley’s Kelvinside base in the Hunter Valley later this year, where he will stand for an introductory fee of $44,000 (inc GST).
Fanny Logan is one of 62 stakes winners for Sea The Stars, who stood at Gilltown Stud in Ireland for a career-high fee of €150,000 (approx, AUD$244,500) in 2020.