Intelligence Cross Appreciates Drop In Grade
The son of War Front (Danzig) trailed the exciting Mehmas (Acclamation) in both the July Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Newmarket and Richmond Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Goodwood on his last two starts, but was far too strong for these rivals.
The bay colt travelled smoothly before pulling four and a half lengths clear of Holy Cat (Kitten’s Joy) with a neck back to De Boss Man (Dandy Man) in third.
Following the race Aidan O’Brien said the colt could now be aimed at the Middle Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Newmarket on 24 September.
Also at the Curragh on Sunday, Sea Of Grace (2 f ex Lady Dettoria by Vettori) won the Flame Of Tara Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) to provide first season sire Born To Sea (Invincible Spirit) with a first stakes success.
Trained by John Oxx, the two-year-old filly upheld the form of her Tipperary maiden defeat of Eziyra (Teofilo), who was backed into even-money favouritism to reverse form with Sea Of Grace.
The daughter of Born To Sea showed good acceleration and a willing attitude to fend off Eziyra and win by a neck.
At Goodwood on Saturday, the Mark Johnston-trained Kilmah (2 f ex Perfect Star by Act One) became the second stakes winner for Sepoy (Elusive Quality) when taking out the Prestige Stakes (Gr 3, 7f).
Ridden by Franny Norton, the filly was ridden to lead from the outside stall and showed a resolute attitude to hold off the strong finishing Promising (Invincible Spirit) and win by a neck.
Three-year-old
The Jean-Pierre Carvalho-trained Savoir Vivre (3 c Adlerflug – Soudaine by Monsun) built on his runner-up effort in the Deutsches Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) at Hamburg on 10 July with victory in the Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr 2, 2500m) against the older horses on Sunday.
The three-year-old colt raced keenly in the early stages of the race before he was allowed to stride on by jockey Maxime Guyon. Savoir Vivre soon stretched clear and was always doing enough to hold off last year’s winner Siljan’s Saga (Sagamix) by a neck with odds-on favourite and Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) entrant Erupt (Dubawi) only managing third.
Meanwhile at Goodwood on Sunday, the Mick Channon-trained Opal Tiara (3 f Thousand Words – Zarafa by Fraam) continued her progression with victory in the Supreme Stakes (Gr 3, 7f).
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, the three-year-old tracked the leader Code Red (Bahamian Bounty) before making her challenge with a furlong to go.
She stayed on well to beat the fast finishing Convey (Dansili) by a neck with the same distance back to the Charles Hills-trained Jallota (Rock Of Gibraltar) in third.
The previous day on the Sussex Downs saw Platitude (3 g Dansili – Modesta by Sadler’s Wells) post an impressive display to win the March Stakes (Listed, 1m6f).
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old had disappointed on his previous start at Goodwood in the Gordon Stakes (Gr 3, 1m4f) but relished the step up in trip on Saturday when beating Vive Ma Fille (Doyen) by five lengths under Andrea Atzeni.
At Tipperary on Thursday, the Dermot Weld-trained Tanaza (3 f Dubawi – Tanoura by Dalakhani) returned to form with victory in the Fairy Bridge Stakes (Gr 3, 7.5f).
The daughter of Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) had failed to live up to the heights of her juvenile career in three starts as a three-year-old, but was far too strong for these rivals, beating 8-15 favourite Creggs Pipes (Rip Van Winkle) by three and a half lengths.
Older horses
The David Simcock-trained Lightning Spear (5 h ex Atlantic Destiny by Royal Academy) returned to form after finishing down the field in the Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) and the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr 1, 1600m) with victory in the Celebration Mile (Gr 2, 1m) at Goodwood on Saturday.
Previously Group One-placed in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot, the five-year-old entire showed good acceleration after he was initially denied a clear run and beat Zonderland (Dutch Art) by a length and three quarters Arod (Teofilo) a head further back in third.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Thikriyaat (Azamour) was unable to justify favouritism and failed to beat a rival home.
In winning Lightning Spear became the 132nd stakes winner for Cheveley Park stallion Pivotal (Polar Falcon) and was consequently shortened into 14-1 by bookmakers for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Ascot on 15 October.
Also winning at Group Two level for the first time at the weekend was the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Markaz (4 c Dark Angel – Folga by Atraf) who won the Goldene Peitsche (Gr 2, 1200m) at Baden-Baden on protest.
The victory came in controversial circumstances, however, as the Owen Burrows-trained Markaz crossed the line in second place, three quarters of a length behind Jean-Pierre Carvalho-trained Donnerschlag (Bahamian Bounty) who had hung right and impeded the David O’Meara-trained Watchable (Pivotal), who finished fourth, on the home turn.
Watchable’s jockey Andreas Suborics protested to stewards that he would have finished third without the interference and under German rules, the stewards had no option but to disqualify the winner and demote him to fourth.
The decision deprived Carvalho a memorable double after he won the Grand Prix De Deauville less than an hour earlier with Savoir Vivre.
Victory for Markaz provided further success for Yeomanstown Stud stallion Dark Angel (Acclamation) who sired recent Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) winner Mecca’s Angel and whose progeny filled six of the top ten lots at the recent Goffs UK Premier Sale.
Meanwhile at Deauville on Sunday, Siyoushake (4 f Siyouni – Shakeyourbody by Giant’s Causeway) won the Prix Quincey (Gr 3, 1600m) under Stephane Pasquier.
A previous Listed winner, Siyoushake was settled towards the rear of a group that raced on the stands’ side before he made good headway to lead in the closing stages.
The son of Siyouni (Pivotal) beat Caointiorn (Stormy River) by three parts of a length despite hanging left, with the Yann Barberot-trained Waikika (Whipper) another half a length back in third.
The Haras de Bonneval sire Siyouni was quickly provided with a stakes double at Deauville when the Fabrice Chappet-trained Finsbury Square (4 g ex Diamond Square by Dyhim Diamond) held on to win the Prix de Meautry (Gr 3, 1200m).
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the four-year-old gelding was ridden prominently and was travelling noticeably well on entering the closing stages.
Once asked to quicken, Finsbury Square ran on to lead in the final 100 metres and looked set to record a comfortable victory before the Pierre-Charles Boudot-trained Walec (Shamardal) was produced with a storming late run.
Finsbury Square had done enough, though, and won by a short head with the David O’Meara-trained Lord Of The Land (Shamardal) half a length further back in third.
At Windsor on Saturday, the Henry Candy-trained Chain Of Daisies (4 f Rail Link – Puya by Kris) caused an upset when conceding weight to the 8-11 favourite Ulysses (Galileo) in the Winter Hill Stakes (Gr 3, 1m2f).
A Listed winner at Salisbury on her previous start, Chain Of Daisies made all under Fergus Sweeney with Gordon Stakes (Gr 3, 1m4f) winner Ulysses giving chase in vain and finishing a short head in arrears at the finishing line.
The front pair pulled a long way clear of the remainder with the John Gosden-trained Foundation (Zoffany), who continues to disappoint as a three-year-old, six lengths back in third.