Lion Scores Taking Victory In Sirenia Stakes
The colt, who has yet to finish out of the first three in eight career starts, was settled on the shoulder of the pacesetter by jockey Joe Fanning and travelled strongly into the lead at the top of the straight.
Once shaken up he quickened clear for an impressive four length victory over the running-on Koropick (Kodiac), with Unabated (Bated Breath) a further half a length behind in a never nearer third.
Connections suggested after the race that The Last Lion, who has already placed twice at Group Two level, could be turned out quickly for the Flying Childers Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Doncaster on Friday.
Madam Dancealot (2 f ex Sisal by Danehill) took out the Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at Salisbury on Thursday to provide first season sire Sir Prancealot (Tamayuz) with his first stakes winner.
The Joseph Tuite-trained filly led virtually throughout in the hands of Tom Queally, kicking on three furlongs out and holding on bravely by a length and a quarter from Mystic Dawn (Oasis Dream), who in turn was a length ahead of Pellucid (Excelebration).
The result also provided Tuite with his first Group success as a trainer, and Madam Dancealot could now head to the Rockfel Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Newmarket on 23 September.
British raider Afandem (2 c Vale Of York – Al Mahmeyah by Teofilo) won the Prix d’Arenberg (Gr 3, 1000m) at Chantilly on Thursday.
Trained by Hugo Palmer at Newmarket, the colt tracked the pace early before quickening clear in ready fashion to beat Hargeisa (Speightstown) by a length and a quarter, with Barroche (Kodiac) a further half a length down in third.
Like The Last Lion, Afandem holds an entry in the Flying Childers Stakes and could be set for a quick back up as well.
Kontrastat (2 c My Risk – Sikkim by Linamix) showed a smart turn of foot to land the Prix la Rochette (Gr 3, 1400m) at Saint-Cloud on Sunday.
The colt settled well on the rail in midfield under Theo Bachelot but, once angled out to challenge at the 300 metres, he swept by the front-running Mate Story (Makfi) to win going away by three quarters of a length. Listed winner Baileys Showgirl (Sepoy) was a further length and three quarters behind in third.
The son of My Risk (Take Risks) is now likely to attempt to emulate both Karakontie (Bernstein) and Full Mast (Mizzen Mast), who took out the Prix la Rochette before going on to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Gr 1, 1400m) in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Navarra King (2 c Lope De Vega – Navarra Queen by Singspiel) won the Steinhoff Zukunftsrennen (Gr 3, 1400m) at Baden-Baden on Sunday.
The Peter Schiergen-trained colt beat the favourite Miss Infinity (Rock Of Gibraltar) by a length and a quarter, with the same distance back to Real Value (Rip Van Winkle) in third position.
Frankuus (2 c ex Dookus by Linamix) gave Frankel (Galileo) his third stakes winner in the Ascendant Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Haydock on Saturday.
The Mark Johnston-trained colt was sent straight to the lead by jockey Franny Norton and, clearly relishing the step up to a mile, he galloped on strongly to beat Star Of Rory (Born To Sea) by three quarters of a length, with Cunco (Frankel) a further half a length down in third.
Three-year-olds
The top-class Quiet Reflection (3 f Showcasing – My Delirium by Haafhd) ran out a dominant winner of the Sprint Cup Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Haydock on Saturday.
The daughter of Showcasing (Oasis Dream) took out the Commonwealth Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot earlier in the season and was sent off the 7-2 favourite to secure a second Group One success.
In testing conditions, she could be spotted travelling powerfully off the pace in the hands of Dougie Costello and eased into the lead a furlong and a half from home.
The Tin Man (Equiano) gave chase inside the final 100 yards, but Quiet Reflection ran on strongly to score by a length and three quarters, with the consistent Suedois (Le Havre) a further two and a half lengths adrift in third.
The Karl Burke-trained Quiet Reflection will now head straight to the British Champions Sprint Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) on British Champions Day at Ascot on 15 October.
The Godolphin-owned Move Up (3 c Dubawi – Rosinka by Soviet Star) won the Bosphorus Cup (Gr 2, 2400m) at Veliefendi in Istanbul on Sunday.
The colt, who has now won four of his seven starts, travelled well in midfield under Mickael Barzalona but briefly looked in trouble as the front-running Fly By Me (Karabey Han) quickened at the entrance to the home straight.
Move Up found his stride approaching the 200 metres and shot clear for an authoritative two length victory over the well-ridden Fly By Me, with Elbereth (Mount Nelson) a further length behind in a never nearer third.
Parvaneh (3 f Holy Roman Emperor – College Fund Girl by Kahyasi) took out the Badener Stutenpreis (Gr 2, 2400m) at Baden-Baden on Saturday.
The Waldemar Hickst-trained filly, who fetched €175,000 from the draft of Grove Stud at the Arqana Saint-Cloud Breeze Up Sale in 2015, was ridden along in midfield by Anthony Crastus at the 500 metres but responded well to pressure to move into a challenging position.
She hit the front approaching the 200 metres and stayed on powerfully to beat Preis der Diana (German Oaks) (Gr 1, 2200m) fourth Kasalla (Soldier Hollow) by two lengths, with Techno Queen (Manduro) just a head further away in third.
Godolphin’s Promising Run (3 f Hard Spun – Aviacion by Know Heights) landed the Istanbul Trophy (Gr 3, 1600m) at Veliefendi on Saturday.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained filly, who took out the Rockfel Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) last season, came with a sustained challenge inside the final 300 metres to get the better of Willpower (Victory Gallop) by half a length, with Tatvan Incisi (Scarface) a further three lengths adrift in third.
Moonshiner (3 c Adlerflug – Montezuma by Monsun) outlasted his rivals to take out the Prix de Lutece (Gr 3, 3000m) at Saint-Cloud on Sunday.
The colt was strongly challenged by Dounyapour (Lope De Vega) from 300 metres out but dug deep under firm pressure from Maxime Guyon to win going away by a length, with the favourite Cleonte (Sir Percy) a further half a length away in third.
Older horses
The Hans-Jurgen Groschel-trained Iquitos (4 c Adlerflug – Irika by Areion) ran out a ready winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr 1, 2400m) at Baden-Baden on Sunday, one of the most prestigious races in the German calendar.
The son of Adlerflug (In The Wings), who finished a close fourth to Elliptique (New Approach) in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Gr 1, 2000m) on his previous start, was patiently ridden by Ian Ferguson in rear.
He began to pick his way through the field on the approach to the home straight and came with a strong run to lead just inside the 200 metres, drawing clear to beat Group One-winning filly Nightflower (Dylan Thomas) by two and three quarter lengths, with a break of five lengths back to Pagella (Soldier Hollow).
Groschel suggested afterwards that the Preis von Europa (Gr 1, 2400m) at Cologne on 25 September would be Iquitos’ next assignment.
Earlier in the week at Baden-Baden, Pas De Deux (6 g Saddex – Palucca by Big Shuffle) took out the Oettingen-Rennen (Gr 2, 1600m) on Thursday.
The gelding, who has Group winning form over 2000 metres, broke sharply under Stephen Hellyn and set about making the 1600 metre contest a stern test of stamina.
Pas De Deux kicked clear at the 400 metres and was never in any danger thereafter, keeping on stoutly to beat the favourite Degas (Exceed And Excel) by five lengths, with Drummer (Duke Of Marmalade) a further three quarters of a length behind in third place.
The Andrew Balding-trained Blond Me (4 f Tamayuz – Holda by Docksider) got up in the dying strides to take out the Topkapi Trophy (Gr 2, 1600m) at Veliefendi on Sunday.
Godolphin’s Silent Attack (Dream Ahead) looked certain of victory when moving into the lead under Mickael Barzalona 200 metres out, but he jinked badly left into the centre of the track, allowing Blond Me to swoop through for a neck victory, with a head back to Dayim Benim (Lion Heart) in third.
The William Haggas-trained Hathal (4 c Speightstown – Sleepytime by Royal Academy) returned from a lengthy absence to take out the Superior Mile Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Haydock on Saturday.
The son of Speightstown (Gone West) had been off the track since taking out the Dubai Duty Free Cup (Listed, 7f) in September last year, but he travelled smoothly throughout for Frankie Dettori and kept on well in the closing stages to beat Mitchum Swagger (Paco Boy) by a head, with Convey (Dansili) a further neck down in third.
Arab Spring (6 h Monsun – Spring Symphony by Darshaan) drew away in fine style to take out the September Stakes (Gr 3, 1m4f) at Kempton Park on Saturday.
The entire, who finished 11th of 12 in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2.5f) on his previous start, was well positioned throughout and showed a smart turn of foot to beat Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Robin Of Navan (American Post) by two and a quarter lengths, with Godolphin’s Sky Hunter (Motivator) a further half a length behind in third.