Appleby In Wonder At English Derby Hope
- Thursday, 24 October 2013 00:30
Charlie Appleby may only be in the infancy of his training career but the victory of Sudden Wonder in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Houghton Conditions Stakes at Newmarket has already sparked Derby dreams for the Godolphin handler.
Not beaten far behind stablemates Outstrip, who subsequently ran in the Dewhurst, and Pinzolo, who runs in the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday, on his two previous visits to the racecourse, he faced just three rivals but was the only maiden in the field.
Sent off the 8-11 favourite, the son of New Approach was never far from the pace under Mickael Barzalona and put the race to bed on entering the Dip, coming home eight lengths clear.
"After his last run we never wanted to rush him. We'd looked at a couple of maidens but saw this race and it worked out well," said Appleby.
"He's done physically very well, that will probably be it for the season now.
"I think he's going to hopefully stretch out to 12 furlongs but we'll start off over 10 next year.
"He's got a nice attitude and went through the gears.
"Hopefully he'll start off in a Derby trial somewhere and we'll see how he does through the winter. We've always held him in the regard that we could think about that route."
Appleby and Barzalona then doubled up in the British Stallion Studs E B F TBA Maiden Stakes when Moontime made a winning debut, making it a rapid 50 winners for the trainer since taking over from the disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni at Moulton Paddocks.
Fresh Setback For St Nicholas Abbey
- Wednesday, 23 October 2013 21:45
Multiple Group One winner St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a setback in his fight to recover from life-threatening injury and illness.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained winner of six Group Ones suffered a fractured pastern in July and was also treated for colic.
He had a further setback in August when it was discovered a steel weight-bearing pin in a cannon bone had broken and this week owners Coolmore reported he was suffering from mild laminitis.
"St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a setback over the last 24 hours having developed mild laminitic changes in the left fore," Coolmore said.
"This is disappointing as he is now weight bearing and walking well on the operated (fractured) leg which has healed amazingly well to date.
"Although laminitis could be a life threatening complication we are hoping the condition will stabilise.
"Obviously the next weeks are critical in his recovery but St Nicholas Abbey remains comfortable with a good appetite and incredible attitude."
Farhh Gives Godolphin Champion Stakes
- Saturday, 19 October 2013 23:59
Farhh has brought some consolation at the end of a difficult season for Sheikh Mohammed with victory in the STG1.3 million ($A2.19 million) Champion Stakes at Ascot.
The five-year-old moved to the lead early in the straight under Silvestre De Sousa and fought hard to resist the 2011 winner Cirrus Des Aigles and Epsom Derby champion Ruler Of The World.
Twice a wide-margin runner-up to Frankel last season, Farhh seized the opportunity to restore some gloss to Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin racing stable.
In May one of the sheikh's trainers, Mahmood Al Zarooni, was banned for eight years after anabolic steroids were found to have been administered to 22 of his horses. Those horses were banned from racing for six months but Farhh was not in Al Zarooni's care.
Farhh opened his campaign by winning the Lockinge Stakes on May 18 but had been sidelined since after dislodging a flake of bone from his ankle.
It was a fine training performance from Saeed Bin Suroor to bring the horse back to concert pitch after his five-month absence.
"This horse is very tough to train," Bin Suroor said.
"He gets injured every time he runs but his home work in the build-up was brilliant.
"It is a great result at the end of the season and it gives us a boost for the future. We needed that."
Farhh's finest racing moment was also his last. He was immediately retired to the sheikh's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket to take up stallion duties.
It was his fifth victory from 10 career starts during which he never finished out of the first three.
Testing ground made the 2000m race a demanding assignment but Farhh never flinched in a driving finish.
He held on by a scant neck from the late-closing French challenger, Cirrus De Aigles, who also finished second in the race to the all-conquering Frankel last year.
Cirrus des Aigles' trainer, Corine Barande-Barbe, was philosophical in defeat for her seven-year-old gelding who has won 18 of his 52 races.
"My horse was drawn on the inside and had to race with horses around him from the start," she said.
"Christophe (Soumillon, who rode the horse) couldn't get a clear run when he wanted and you cannot catch a horse like Farhh if he makes his run before you. But I am pleased the horse ran well.
"He is not finished, as some people thought in the summer."
Farhh's triumph ensures Godolphin will end the season as leading owner in Britain for the ninth time in 17 years.
Richard Hughes Hits Season Double Century
- Wednesday, 23 October 2013 00:15
Richard Hughes partnered his 200th winner of the season as he steered Aertex to victory at Kempton.
The rider notched his first double century as he produced the Richard Hannon inmate to snatch the glory in the rewards4racing.com Maiden Fillies' Stakes in the dying strides.
Aertex, sent off an 8-1 shot, prevailed by a length and a quarter for Hughes, who is the first jockey since Kieren Fallon in 2003 to achieve the feat of riding 200 winners.
Dandino Camp Sets Sights On Melbourne Cup
- Saturday, 19 October 2013 08:45
Marco Botti believes Dandino is the "perfect horse" for next month's Melbourne Cup after seeing his charge run a fantastic race to fill the runner-up spot behind Fawkner in the Caulfield Cup.
Making his Australian debut under Craig Williams, who was chasing his third successive Caulfield Cup triumph, Dandino was dropped out towards the rear in the early stages of the 2400m Group One contest.
He began to make headway heading down the back straight, but found himself behind a wall of horses and Williams was forced to switch wide to deliver his challenge at the top of the home straight.
Once in the clear, Dandino fairly rattled home, but it was all too late as the Robert Hickmott-trained Fawkner held on to claim victory in the hands of Nicholas Hall.
While bemoaning his luck, Newmarket-based Botti was understandably delighted with Dandino's performance.
"We are thrilled with the horse. It was a great performance and he ran a huge race," Botti said.
"He flew home in the straight and I think he showed he was the best horse in the race. With a bit more luck in running, he probably would have won.
"You would have to say after that run he looks the perfect horse for the (Melbourne) Cup."
Photo: Quentin J Lang
Cirrus In Frame For Hong Kong
- Monday, 21 October 2013 02:45
Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe is in no rush to decide whether Cirrus Des Aigles will head to Asia this year following another fantastic run in defeat in Saturday's Champion Stakes.
Winner of the race in 2011 and second behind Frankel 12 months later, the seven-year-old was sent off favourite to regain his Ascot crown having looked right back to his best in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp.
While he came up narrowly short, going down by a neck to the talented but fragile Farhh, Cirrus Des Aigles emerged with his reputation intact and connections are now considering a tilt at the Hong Kong Cup on December 8.
"He has one or two cuts on his leg, which probably happened at the moment he got a bit bumped, but they don't seem too heavy and he is on his way home now," Barande-Barbe said.
"It was another great performance from him. Maybe if he hadn't been bumped he could have started his run a bit earlier, but who knows what would have happened? That's racing.
"He will be entered for the Hong Kong Cup tomorrow and we will let him come back from Ascot and see how he is.
"We will take our time with him and when we make a decision, we'll let everyone know.
"As long as he's happy he will stay in training next year."
Hannon Breaks New Ground
- Friday, 18 October 2013 20:59
Richard Hannon has broken his own record for the number of victories in a calendar year with Musical Comedy taking the trainer to the 219-winner mark at Haydock.
Hannon first broke the double century barrier in 2010 with a haul of 210 winners and the progress has continued as he managed 218 in both 2011 and 2012.
With over two months of the year remaining, that figure looks set to be smashed in 2013.
Musical Comedy (5-4) broke the record with an impressive all-the-way success under Hannon's son-in-law Richard Hughes on what was also a milestone afternoon for the jockey.
Hughes kicked off the day by scoring on Hughie Morrison's Fun Mac to take his tally for the year to 200, with No.201 coming up on Musical Comedy shortly after.
Cheveley Park Strikes Deal For Intello
- Monday, 21 October 2013 02:45
Top-class colt Intello will stand at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket for the next two years before returning to France.
Hugely impressive in the French Derby before finishing third behind brilliant filly Moonlight Cloud in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, the Galileo colt occupied the same position behind Treve in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Connections swiftly announced the three-year-old, owned by the Wertheimer brothers and trained by Andre Fabre, had run his last race and would be prepared for his stud career with Cheveley Park. He will stand for STG25,000. ($A42,066)
After standing at Cheveley Park in 2014-15, Intello will move to the Head family's Haras du Quesnay stud for the following two years.
"We are delighted to be standing such a talented racehorse as Intello, who compliments and expands the portfolio of outstanding stallions currently standing at Cheveley Park Stud," Cheveley Park managing director Chris Richardson told www.thoroughbreddailynews.com.
"An arrangement between three world-class breeding operations brings together the opportunity for European breeders to benefit from this new and very exciting initiative."
Cirrus Faces Nine Champion Stakes Rivals
- Friday, 18 October 2013 00:45
Cirrus Des Aigles will face nine rivals as he bids to regain his crown in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The French-trained seven-year-old took the honours in 2011 and put up a sterling effort when beaten only a 1-3/4 lengths by Frankel 12 months ago.
He has taken time to come to form this season after suffering a setback late last year, but victories on his last two starts have shown Corine Barande-Barbe's stable star is no back number.
Ryan Moore is set to continue his partnership with Ruler Of The World, having guided him to victory in the English Derby at Epsom in June.
It had been expected he would be on Hillstar for Sir Michael Stoute, but has instead been booked for the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt.
Champion jockey Richard Hughes will now ride Hillstar, winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting.
Farhh has been declared for this race rather than the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained entire has not raced since winning the Lockinge Stakes over a mile at Newbury in May.
Godolphin have a second representative in Hunter's Light from the same yard.
The line-up is completed by Mukhadram, Main Sequence, Parish Hall, Morandi and Triple Threat.
QEII Glory For Richard Hannon
- Sunday, 20 October 2013 01:45
Olympic Glory spreadeagled his rivals to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot which almost certainly sealed the trainers' championship for veteran Richard Hannon.
Wearing blinkers for the first time, the 11-2 chance burst through a gap for Richard Hughes over a furlong (200m) out and powered clear to win by 3-1/4 lengths.
Top Notch Tonto ran a great race to finish second, justifying Brian Ellison's decision to persuade owner Keith Brown to put up the STG70,000 ($A118,133) late entry fee.
Aidan O'Brien's Kingsbarns also ran well for third, with Dawn Approach fourth in what was his final race.
"I spoke to The Queen this morning and she said she was presenting the trophy for the QEII, so I said, 'I'll see you later!'," Hannon said.
"He's a very good horse, this.
"He likes a bit of a cut in the ground. We put a pair of blinkers of him at home and Hughesie settled him nicely. They certainly helped.
"He stays in training next year."
Hughes, who is the trainer's son-in-law, said it was a thrill to be a part of Hannon's team.
"Hopefully that's sealed it (championship) for the boss," he said.
"He's a fabulous trainer who has been doing it all his life, but it's really only in the last five years he's been getting these really good horses. Imagine if he was getting them 20 years ago."
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said the track condition was not to the liking of multiple Group One winner Dawn Approach.
"The ground was against him which blunted his turn of foot but he has won four of the best Group One races in our calender so his record is fantastic," Crisford said.
"He is now retiring to Kildangan Stud and we are very much looking forward to seeing his progeny in the future."
Estimate Chases More Ascot Glory For Queen
- Friday, 18 October 2013 00:30
Estimate has already orchestrated the most popular moment of the 2013 Flat season and her jockey Ryan Moore is readying himself for the filly's belated racecourse comeback at Ascot this weekend.
A first Gold Cup victory for The Queen prompted spontaneous scenes of joy across the vast Berkshire course, even within the Royal Box itself as Her Majesty became as elated as anyone could remember.
It was an achievement of which Moore, who taken many of the world's best races in his stride, clearly has great pride.
"Riding a winner for The Queen at the Royal meeting is a big deal, it's something I always wanted to do, and the fact it was the Gold Cup made it of extra special importance," he said.
The British Champions Long Distance Cup represents a drop back two miles, but the daughter of Monsun has already registered two courses successes at that distance in last year's Queen's Vase and on her only other start this term in the Sagaro Stakes.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute withdrew Estimate from an intended start in the Lonsdale Cup at York's Ebor meeting when he was not quite happy with her.
While reports on her current well-being have been positive, Moore's main concern would be her acting on testing ground.
"The last meeting there it was soft ground, that was two weeks ago, it is still fairly wet and I'd be very surprised if it wasn't soft all round on Saturday," he said.
"She's a bigger and stronger filly now, though. I don't think it will be a problem, but you never know until they have been on it."
Estimate was not bred by The Queen herself - she was a present from the Aga Khan - but she will join the Royal broodmare band in due course.