Steve Talks To Nick Smith About His Quest To Lure Horses To Royal Ascot
As the competition for international runners, from racing jurisdictions around the globe, ever increases; the ardor in pursuing competitors is similarly growing for a multitude of reasons which reflect a changing face of racing characterised by wagering on ‘away from home’ product, commingling, television rights and merchandising.
It now extends beyond the novel or ’feelgood’ publicity generated by the appearance of a trail-blazing Choisir (Danehill Dancer); a taxi driver-trained Takeover Target (Celtic Swing) or the saturation coverage which the unbeaten Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) generated.
Of course these stories, and others including the exploits of American trainer Wesley Ward, remain significant in maintaining the cosmopolitan vibe – rivalled only by Hong Kong’s International meeting in December – which has become one of the key elements of the modern Royal meeting.
The publicity generated by those tales cannot be underestimated. England played Italy in a quarter final of the European Cup football the day after Black Caviar won at Ascot and yet she pushed the football news off many of the back pages of English newspapers. England lost on penalties by the way!
But, nowadays, there is more at stake than newspaper inches.
“It’s more than tourism, hospitality and generating media coverage. It’s about brand and reputation, licensing of the brand, media rights and potentially driving betting revenue.
“Without any question, the betting is significant. The appearance of high profile visiting horses can stimulate interest in the races with the home (UK) audience and from overseas jurisdictions who will bet on the races and therefore provide a clip of the ticket to the host club, which is especially so with Japan now on board.
“Plus, of course, the appearance of international runners creates an interest from visiting country broadcasters,” Smith said.
While horses from Ireland and France have won at Royal Ascot ‘forever’, you could argue the key moment in the cosmopolitan transformation came in 2003 when Choisir became the first horse trained outside Europe to win at the meeting.
The international interest in the Royal meeting looks to remain strong despite the increased competition and may be further fostered after last year’s outstanding win of the USA-trained mare Tepin (Bernstein) in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) which Smith described as a ‘big, big moment.’
“It was a Choisir like moment in terms of breaking new ground, proving that the best US turf performers can compete beyond the two-year-old and short course races. The spin off is we may get Tepin back this year and possibly others from the States,” Smith said.
The landscape has, of course, changed considerably since Choisir won. Sydney now has The Championships with the T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) offering $2,500,000 in prize money and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has opened up so many more races to international competitors including The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr 1, 1200m), a new alternative although in effect a replacement for the defunct Kris Flyer Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) in Singapore.
“The Chairmans Sprint in Hong Kong could potentially lure some horses away. In a sense it’s a competitor but, on the other hand, it provides an opportunity to split the journey as was the case with Takeover Target, who came via Singapore, and Criterion.
“The options at home for Australian sprinters have been always been plentiful but that hasn’t stopped past visitors and, of course, there is always the prospect of creating a dual hemisphere stallion prospect.
“At this stage, I’d say we have a high level of interest from Australia. Jameka looks certain to come to the UK and France with connections discussing race choices rather than whether they will or won’t come. Royal Ascot is possible for her or they may look to the King George the following month or the Yorkshire Oaks.
“Global Glamour is looking a distinct possibility to make the trip and naturally we’ll talk to the connections of the Lightning Stakes winner Terravista, although he seems unlikely to come, along with those of Spieth and Star Turn, who have that stallion potential which makes the Royal Ascot stage so much more attractive,” Smith said.
The connections of Spieth (Thorn Park) are believed to be keen on the prospect of a Royal Ascot assault and therein could lay another great tale should the son of Thorn Park (Spinning World) achieve his breakthrough Group One win on foreign soil after the heartache of his nose defeats in the Darley Classic (Gr 1, 1200m) and Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
Global Glamour (Star Witness) is prepared by Gai Waterhouse (and Adrian Bott) who has been a frequent visitor to Royal Ascot and represented on the track by Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre), Cafe Society (Motivator) and Wandjina (Snitzel).
Jameka (Myboycharlie) is trained by Ciaron Maher has confirmed the interest of the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winning mare’s connection although her performance in the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) will be critical to future plans. “We’ve looked into racing at Royal Ascot, trying to have her right for the King George (King George And Queen Elizabeth Stakes),” Maher said.
The Lightning Stakes, along with The Chairman’s Sprint Prize and the Royal Ascot Sprints, form part of the ten race Global Sprint Challenge series and has often been the precursor to international success as was the case with Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago) and Black Caviar while it was also won by Scenic Blast (Scenic), Miss Andretti (Ihtiram), Takeover Target and Choisir who were later Royal Ascot winners.
The 2015 Lightning Stakes runner-up Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) ventured to Royal Ascot where he was arguably an unlucky runner-up in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) when he tracked an unaccompanied course wide on the track.
Other horses to finish top three in the Lightning and later perform well internationally, in the same year, include Nicconi (Bianconi, 4th King’s Stand); Apache Cat (Lion Cavern, 3rd HKIR Sprint); Magnus (Flying Spur, 3rd King’s Stand); Cape Of Good Hope (Inchinor, 4th King’s Stand) and Falvelon (Alannon, 1st HKIR Sprint).