Harry Angel Flies Home In July Cup
The two-year-old filly, who is a sister to multiple Group One winner and stablemate Churchill, was settled in midfield by Ryan Moore as the Mark Johnston-trained Nyaleti (Arch) cut out the early running.
Clemmie travelled strongly into contention under a confident-looking Moore, and once asked to stretch she quickened smartly away from her rivals inside the final 150 yards to beat Nyaleti by a length and three quarters, with a further half a length back to Mamba Noire (Wootton Bassett) in third place.
The Group Two was a second stakes victory for the daughter of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) following on from her success in the Grangecon Stud Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at the Curragh at her last start on 2 July.
Fellow Galileo two-year-old Gustav Klimt (2 c ex Massarra by Danehill) bravely overcame trouble in running to win the Superlative Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at the same track on Saturday.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was sent off the well-backed 5/6 favourite having broken his maiden in good style at the Curragh at his previous start, but he was stuck behind a wall of horses and hampered when trying to close at the two-furlong marker.
Ryan Moore angled him over to the far side rail to deliver his challenge, and he knuckled down well to collar Nebo (Kodiac) by a head in the closing stages, with Great Prospector (Elzaam) another half a length away in third.
Gustav Klimt is now a general 7/1 favourite for next season’s 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket.
The promising Cardsharp (2 c Lonhro – Pure Illusion by Danehill) swooped inside the final furlong to win the July Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) on Thursday.
The Mark Johnston-trained colt had finished third in the Norfolk Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Royal Ascot at his last start but relished the step up to six furlongs under James Doyle.
He travelled strongly into contention and quickened clear in the closing stages to beat U S Navy Flag (War Front) by a length and three quarters, with the Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) winner Rajasinghe (Choisir) a further three quarters of a length behind in third.
Coolmore America’s first season sire Declaration Of War (War Front) sired his first stakes winner on Saturday, courtesy of Actress’ (2 f ex Nasty Storm by Gulch) win in the Anglesey Stakes (Gr 3, 6.5f) at the Curragh.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly, who finished runner-up in the Tipperary Stakes (Listed, 5f) at her previous start, showed a smart change of gear inside the final furlong to beat Thebold (Teofilo) by a length and three quarters, with another half a length back to Brother Bear (Kodiac) in third.
Three-Year-Olds
The Clive Cox-trained Harry Angel (3 c Dark Angel – Beatrix Potter by Cadeaux Genereux) made most of the running to win a vintage renewal of the July Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Newmarket on Saturday.
The Godolphin-raced colt raced enthusiastically on the front-end in a race run at a modest early gallop, and he had his rivals in trouble around two furlongs out as the pace began to increase.
Last year’s July Cup winner Limato (Tagula) gave chase inside the final 150 yards, but Harry Angel was in command in the closing stages and ran on strongly to win by a length and a quarter, with Brando (Pivotal) finishing well for a never nearer third.
The previously unbeaten Caravaggio (Scat Daddy), who ran down Harry Angel to win the Commonwealth Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot, struggled to pick up off the steady tempo but eventually ran on to take fourth place.
Harry Angel is likely to be given a short break, with the Sprint Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Haydock in September his next target, while Caravaggio could now head to the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr 1, 1300m) at Deauville on 6 August.
Later on Saturday, the John Gosden-trained Enable (3 f Nathaniel – Concentric by Sadler’s Wells) followed up her success in the Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) at Epsom with a dominant success in the Irish Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) at the Curragh.
The filly travelled strongly throughout the Classic under Frankie Dettori, who eased her into a challenging position approaching the final three furlongs.
Once asked to extend, she immediately put daylight between herself and her toiling rivals, with Rain Goddess (Galileo) five and a half lengths behind in second with another two lengths back to Eziyra (Teofilo) in third.
Enable will now head to the Yorkshire Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) next month, with a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) in October also under consideration.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Roly Poly (3 f War Front – Misty For Me by Galileo) ran out a comfortable winner of the Falmouth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket last Friday.
The three-year-old filly, who won the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) on the same card last season, was settled just in behind the leaders by Ryan Moore in the early stages of the contest.
As the field quickened inside the final furlong she picked up well to lead a furlong out and powerfully drew clear to beat the previously unbeaten Wuheida (Dubawi) by a length and a quarter, with Arabian Hope (Distorted Humor) another half a length adrift in third.
The Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Shakeel (3 c Dalakhani – Shamiyra by Medicean) led in the final stride to take out the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr 1, 2400m) at Saint-Cloud last Friday evening.
The Aga Khan-bred and raced three-year-old colt was always travelling well under Christophe Soumillon, who sent him after the front-running Permian (Teofilo) approaching the final 300 metres.
Permian ran on bravely under William Buick, but Shakeel lunged close home to win by a nose, with Venice Beach (Galileo) a further length away in third.
The Brian Meehan-trained Raheen House (3 c Sea The Stars – Jumooh by Monsun) stayed on strongly from off the pace to win the Bahrain Trophy (Gr 3, 1m5f) at Newmarket last Thursday, putting himself into the St Leger Stakes (Gr 1, 1m6.5f) picture.
The colt ran fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes (Gr 2, 1m4f) at Royal Ascot at his last start and was ridden patiently by Jamie Spencer in the early stages of the race, which is a recognised trial for the Doncaster Classic.
He came under pressure approaching the final two furlongs but found plenty for his rider’s urgings to beat Desert Skyline (Tamayuz) by a length, with Sofia’s Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar) a further half a length behind in third.
The David Simcock-trained Mystic Dawn (3 f Oasis Dream – Frivolity by Pivotal) ran out a narrow winner of the Summer Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at York last Friday.
The three-year-old filly had not tasted success since August last year, but she turned in a brave performance to beat Queen Kindly (Frankel) by a short head with another five lengths back to Eartha Kitt (Pivotal) in third.
Older Horses
The William Haggas-trained Mutakayyef (6 g Sea the Stars – Infallible by Pivotal) successfully defended his Summer Mile Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) crown when he ran out a comfortable winner at Ascot on Saturday.
The six-year-old gelding, who was most recently seen running second behind Ribchester (Iffraaj) in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot, was placed in fifth by Dane O’Neill in the early stages with Kaspersky (Footstepsinthesand) setting good early fractions.
As the field turned in, Kaspersky had moved into a clear lead at the head of affairs, but O’Neill always looked confident and delivered the son of Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) to lead approaching the final 100 yards, with the pair eventually winning by three lengths.
There was a disappointing postscript for connections, however, as the gelding was found to have damaged a tendon during the race, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Hawkbill (4 c Kitten’s Joy – Trensa by Giant’s Causeway) saw off his stablemate Frontiersman (Dubawi) to win the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (Gr 2, 1m4f) at Newmarket last Thursday.
The four-year-old colt, who won last season’s Eclipse Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f), set even fractions on the front end under James Doyle who was gifted an easy lead.
He began to increase the tempo on the approach to the final two furlongs, and he found plenty once challenged by the well-bred Frontiersman, who is a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Australia (Galileo), to win by three quarters of a length, with Algometer (Archipenko) a further three and three quarter lengths behind in third place.
In winning the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes, Hawkbill is now ballot exempt for the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m).
At the Curragh on Sunday, the Tony Coyle-trained Caspian Prince (8 g Dylan Thomas – Crystal Gaze by Rainbow Quest) ran out a shock winner of the Sapphire Stakes (Gr 2, 5f).
The rapid eight-year-old adopted his customary front-running role and rallied gamely to fend off the Group One winner Marsha (Acclamation) by a short head, with a further two and a half lengths back to Ardhoomey (Dark Angel) in third.