Royal briefing – day one
29 for Frankel
Triple Time (4 c ex Reem Three by Mark Of Esteem) became the 29th individual elite-level winner for Frankel (Galileo) when running out a shock winner of yesterday’s Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m). Sent off a 33-1 chance for his first start at the highest level, the Kevin Ryan-trained colt defeated Inspiral (Frankel) by a neck with Light Infantry (Fast Company) another two and a half lengths away in third. Carrying the colours of his breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Triple Time is closely related to Group 1 winner Ajman Princess (Teofilo), being the ninth foal out of the winning Mark Of Esteem (Darshaan) mare Reem Three. Frankel stands at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud for a fee of £275,000 (approx. AU$516,985).
33 for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) sired his 33rd individual stakes winner, and first ever winner at Royal Ascot, when River Tiber (2 c ex Transcendence by Arcano) stretched his unbeaten record to three with a victory in yesterday’s Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f). Lining up on the back of wins at Navan and Naas, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was sent off the heavily backed 11-8 favourite and duly obliged for his legion of supporters, beating Army Ethos (Shalaa) by a neck. Bucanero Fuerte (Wootton Bassett) finished another three-quarters of a length away in third. A 480,000gns purchase out of Book 1 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, River Tiber is the the second foal out of the unraced Transcendence (Arcano), herself a half-sister to the stakes-winning siblings Mister Manannan (Desert Style) and Shermeen (Desert Style), the latter the dam of Group 1 winner Sudirman (Henrythenavigator). Wootton Bassett stands for a fee of €150,000 (approx. AU$242,015) and will shuttle to Coolmore Australia for a fee of $93,500 (inc GST).
Record-extending tenth Coventry Stakes for Aidan O’Brien
The market spoke volumes as to the chances of River Tiber providing his trainer with a record-extending tenth win in the Coventry Stakes and, while Aidan O’Brien was delighted with the colt’s preparation, he was taking nothing for granted regarding yesterday’s race. “You never expect to have any winner here, that’s the truth,” O’Brien said after welcoming Royal Ascot winner number 82 back to the winner’s enclosure. “It’s a relief and I’m so delighted for everyone because everyone places so much on this week through the whole year.” Regarding River Tiber, who is now rated as short as 6-1 to win next year’s 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket, O’Brien said: “When we started working him he always looked very good. You need the best horse to win the Coventry. He was never disappointing in any of his work and the stronger the work got, the stronger he became. And at the end, the last piece of work he was doing too well, so that was my worry. He’d matured a lot, put on a lot of weight, he just finds it very easy. You could see him through the first part of the race today, he was going very easily, Ryan [Moore] had him in a lovely position.”
Ahorsewithnoname bows out in style
Having her final career start with mare duties on the horizon, Ahorsewithnoname (Cacique) signed off in spectacular fashion with a win in yesterday’s marathon Ascot Stakes (2m 4f). Trained by Nicky Henderson, the eight-year-old is in foal to Darley stallion Cracksman (Frankel), himself a dual winner at Ascot, albeit not at the royal meeting. Partnered by William Buick, Ahorsewithnoname was winning for the seventh time in 19 starts, and took her flat record to five from seven, as she beat Calling The Wind (Authorized) by a length and three-quarters. Topweight Tritonic (Sea The Moon) finished another three-quarters of a length away in third. Winning rider, William Buick said: “The filly gave me a beautiful ride and Nicky [Henderson] was very confident beforehand. She came here in great shape and throughout the race it was just a case of staying with them. I needed a bit of luck from where I was [on the rail] but to be fair to her when I asked her to quicken she picked up. Not many horses can do that over this trip. I got the gaps when I needed them and a bit of luck came.”
Royal just Champion in Wolferton
The appropriately named Royal Champion (5 g Shamardal – Emirates Queen by Street Cry) found himself in the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure after landing yesterday’s Wolferton Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f). Trained by Roger Varian, the five-year-old got the better of a number of highly tried rivals as he provided Jack Mitchell with a first ever winner at the royal meeting, the pair crossing the line a length and a quarter clear of Bolshoi Ballet (Galileo). Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock), who is now co-owned by Ozzie Kheir and partners, finished another three-quarters of a length behind in third. “It’s amazing, I’m no spring chicken in the weighing room and it’s nice to get the monkey off my back,” Mitchell said after his landmark win. “It’s unbelievable. I can’t thank Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and Roger Varian enough for keeping me on this horse. He’s delivered and given me a great day.” Buckeroo, meanwhile, is now set to be aimed at an Australian campaign with the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) on his agenda. Speaking before yesterday’s race, Kheir told Racing.com: “We have been in discussions for close to a year now with Qatar Bloodstock concerning Buckaroo. We have always liked him. He had a minor set-back and both parties agreed to wait until he recovers and start a partnership on the right note. Although his best result is only a Listed win, we have had a big opinion of him and so does [trainer] Joseph O’Brien. He’s a horse that we hope will naturally improve with more racing and measure up in our better weight-for-age races in Australia. He will continue to be trained by Joseph and, provided his form warrants a trip to Australia for a Cox Plate, Joseph has indicated he will be on a plane.”
Finale goes the way of Vauban
Three-time Grade 1-winning hurdler Vauban (Galiway) added a Royal Ascot victory to his haul of big-race successes when slamming his 15 rivals in the concluding Copper Horse Handicap (1m 6f). The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old, who has been touted as a Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) possible, came home seven and a half lengths clear of stablemate Absurde (Fastnet Rock) with Cemhaan (Muhaarar) a short–head further behind in third.
Moore and O’Brien lead race for top jockey and trainer titles
Victory for Vauban gave Ryan Moore an early lead in the race to be crowned top jockey at Royal Ascot once again on three winners after the first day of the meeting, while his long-term ally Aidan O’Brien is top of the standings for the leading trainer award with two.
Mawj out of Coronation Stakes
English 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Mawj (Exceed And Excel) has been ruled out of her Royal Ascot rematch with Tahiyra (Siyouni) in the Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) on Friday following an unsatisfactory scope. The three-year-old followed up two wins at Meydan this year with a half-length victory over Tahiyra in the Classic at Newmarket in May. Tahiyra was odds-on to reverse the form, while Mawj was a general 3-1 chance to score at the royal meeting before Godolphin yesterday revealed she would not be declared.
Syndicator Bosma excited by Royal runner
Go Racing director Albert Bosma will bring some Kiwi flavour to Royal Ascot this week, with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Etna Rosso (Decorated Knight) set to carry their silks in today’s Queen’s Vase (Gr 2, 1m 6f). “It is very exciting and the culmination of a plan we put in place last year,” Bosma said. “Etna Rosso is a lightly raced but very good three-year-old stayer and should relish the distance. He has only had two starts, so is still raw and green, but is untapped as a stayer and Joseph has been very happy with his work going into Royal Ascot. He is a horse we have big targets for later in the season, including the English St Leger in September and he is a potential Sydney and Melbourne Cups horse next year.” Bosma is particularly excited for his New Zealand connections who will be trackside this week. “We have a group of owners that have travelled up to Royal Ascot to watch him race and they are in the Royal Enclosure, so they will have the time of their lives,” Bosma said. “If you love racing and own horses, it is a bucket list thing to do.”
Kheir and co to have a runner in Queen’s Vase
Also keeping a close eye on the outcome of the Queen’s Vase will be Ozzie Khier, who along with his partners, has purchased a share in the two-time winner Saint George (Roaring Lion), one of 14 runners declared for today’s race. Like Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock), who finished third in yesterday’s Wolferton Stakes, Saint George sports the silk of Melbourne Cup- winning owner Sheik Fahad. Khier told Racing.com: “The relationship with Sheik Fahad is a growing one with some members of the group also involved in racing Saint George on the Wednesday in the Queen’s Vase (2800m). He is a lightly raced three-year-old stayer who will make his way to Australia under the Ciaron Maher/ Dave Eustace banner. He’s a progressive horse who we will take our time with and potentially target some better races in the autumn as it might all come too quick for him. We will wait and see how he goes before we decide on a plan.”
Trueshan left in Gold Cup
The heavy rain which hit Ascot yesterday morning was good news for connections of Trueshan (Planteur) with the mud lover declared for tomorrow’s Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2m 4f). A total of 14 remain in contention for the race with last year’s King Edward VII (Gr 2, 1m 4f) winner Changingoftheguard (Galileo) the only horse to come out at the final declaration. His trainer Aidan O’Brien still holds two chances in the race though, in the shape of Emily Dickinson (Dubawi) and Broome (Australia).
Supplemented Al Asifah faces 18 in Ribblesdale
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Al Asifah (Frankel), who was supplemented for the Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f) following her impressive win at Goodwood recently, heads a bumper field of 19 set to go to post for the race tomorrow. Among her rivals is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Warm Heart (Galileo), a Listed-winning daughter of Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock).