Lady Cecil Commits To Warren Place Future

Tuesday, 24 September 2013 01:45

Lady Cecil plans to be firmly active at the sales and would "love to win a Group One" next season after confirming she is to continue to train from the historic Warren Place stables in Newmarket.

Speculation had been rife about the potential future of the yard, for so long associated with Lady Cecil's late husband Sir Henry Cecil.

Lady Cecil took over the licence on a temporary basis following the death of Sir Henry on June 11, and saddled her first winners just a few days later.

More success followed at Royal Ascot, with Riposte an emotional winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at the meeting where Sir Henry was the leading trainer by some way.

Lady Cecil told www.sirhenrycecil.com: "I have spoken to our owners and our staff and confirmed that it is my intention to carry on as trainer at Warren Place.

"It is too early to discuss stable string plans for next year and, in terms of our numbers, the yearling sales at Tattersalls are likely to have a bearing.

"We are aiming to be active at the sales, both for our existing owners and, hopefully, for potential new clients. Part of the challenge is to find new owners and we will be doing our best in that area.

"It's hard to look too far into the future at this point, but I am optimistic that we can continue to achieve good results."

Simenon Prepares For Australian Excursion

Saturday, 21 September 2013 02:15

Simenon is due to jet out to Australia next week ahead of an intended assault at the Melbourne Cup on November 5.

The six-year-old finished second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot back in June and was last seen being edged out by Ahzeemah in the Lonsdale Cup at York in August.

Simenon is currently serving his quarantine period in Newmarket with other Melbourne-bound runners.

Although he is not yet guaranteed to make the cut for the Melbourne Cup, trainer Willie Mullins is "hopeful" he can sneak into the field.

"He's in quarantine at the moment," Mullins said.

"He did a nice bit of work the other day under Jack Madden and I'll go and see him next week. I might bring Emmet Mullins over to ride him.

"He flies to Australia next week. He's number 36 in the ballot and needs 12 to come out, but number 38 got in last year so we're hopeful of getting a run.

"He'll be entered in the Caulfield Cup and another handicap on October 12."

Fabre Sizes Up Contenders For Arc Bid

Tuesday, 24 September 2013 01:15

Andre Fabre has four main contenders for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 6.

The master French trainer has won Europe's feature race seven times, more than any other handler.

However, he has not won the mile-and-a-half event since sending out Rail Link in 2006 and while none of his contenders are outsiders, none of them are troubling the ante-post favourites at this stage.

Flintshire had headed the betting for the Arc before his eclipse on soft ground in the Prix Niel when only fourth to Japanese Derby winner Kizuna and he will run as long as the ground is good.

Ocovango finished fifth behind Ruler Of The World in the Derby at Epsom but was much closer to him in the Niel when a length in front of Flintshire. He would prefer softer ground.

Penglai Pavilion is likely to represent Godolphin having won a Saint Cloud Listed race last time out and it may be that Intello is now Fabre's major hope after cruising to victory in his prep race at the weekend.

"Flintshire will run if it is good, Penglai Pavilion will run too, with Ocovango we are watching the weather as he likes it softer and of course Intello will run," Fabre said.

"Triple Threat and Sky Hunter will not run.

"Intello was not impressive at the weekend, but I didn't want him to be. All I wanted was for him to have a nice, confident race. I don't like my horses to be impressive in their trials.

"I think all of them deserve to run, but you wouldn't say any of them are the favourites.

"The one with the class is Intello."

Cirrus Des Aigles Back To Winning Ways

Friday, 20 September 2013 23:59

Cirrus Des Aigles has returned to the winner's enclosure for the first time this year with victory in the La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte.

Sent swiftly to the front by Christophe Soumillon, the Corine Barande-Barbe-trained gelding set just a steady pace through the early stages before being asked a few questions by Smoking Sun.

The pair went head-to-head from a furlong and a half (300m) out but Soumillon's mount asserted in the closing stages to win from Valley Jem with Smoking Sun eventually third.

Now a seven-year-old, Cirrus Des Aigles was having his 50th career outing and recorded his 17th win, three of those at Group One level.

Paddy Power halved him in price to 7-1 for the Champion Stakes at Ascot, a race he won in 2011.

Barande-Barbe was delighted to see her stable star return to winning form and is now planning another crack at the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend, a race he has won twice, before heading to Ascot for the Champion Stakes on October 19.

"It was a very good performance, he ran very well and I'm very happy with him," Barande-Barbe said.

"It's nice to see him back winning again.

"I think he will go for the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend and then on to Ascot for the Champion Stakes.

"Beyond that, I don't know what we will do - he will tell us and we will see what happens."

Aidan O'Brien Outlines Arc Options

Monday, 23 September 2013 01:59

Aidan O'Brien has four horses in the mix for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with plans likely to be firmed up next week.

The champion Irish trainer is seeking a second Arc after Dylan Thomas in 2007, and at this stage can call on Ruler Of The World, Leading Light, Kingsbarns and Camelot, although ground conditions are crucial to the latter.

Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World stated his case when narrowly beaten in the Prix Niel while Queen's Vase winner Leading Light landed the English St Leger at Doncaster to earn a possible supplementary entry for the Longchamp showpiece on October 6.

"At the moment we have in the mix Ruler Of The World, Leading Light, Camelot and Kingsbarns. Camelot will only run if the ground is good or better," O'Brien said.

"Leading Light will have to be supplemented and he will work next week before any decision is made. He's lazy but is not short of class."

One-time Derby favourite Kingsbarns has had just one run since winning last year's Racing Post Trophy. He was eased down when last of six in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

"It would be a big call after Leopardstown and he's also in the Champion Stakes at Ascot," O'Brien said.

O'Brien added that he was likely to be represented by Wonderfully in the Shadwell Fillies' Mile at Newmarket on Friday but that Darwin and Cristoforo Colombo were set to bypass the Joel Stakes on the same card.

Wednaan Victory Fires Dubai Carnival Dream

Friday, 20 September 2013 01:15

Yarmouth is known as being a nursery for emerging equine talent but Wednaan will be heading in a different direction to most maiden winners on the Norfolk coast.

The strapping Dubawi colt, who cost $A650,000, was South African trainer Mike de Kock's first juvenile winner from his Newmarket satellite base as he claimed the British Stallion Studs EBF Sprint Maiden Stakes.

Horses like Ouija Board, Dubai Millennium and Raven's Pass took tentative steps on the track early in their careers and Wednaan will now form part of what is always a potent De Kock squad for next year's Dubai carnival.

Encountering wet and blustery conditions rather than the Gulf heat, the 11-8 favourite took a while to get into stride under Pat Cosgrave but he came smoothly through the middle of the field and held off the challenge of Silver Treasure by three-quarters of a length.

"He's a nice horse. He'll go to Dubai now, I doubt he'll run again, and he could be our (UAE) Guineas horse in Dubai," the trainer's assistant, Steve Jell, said.

"He was very green, and I thought that might get him beat."

Dramatic Outcome To Cologne Feature

Sunday, 22 September 2013 20:59

In a dramatic aftermath to the Preis Von Europa in Cologne, Meandre and Empoli have been demoted after finishing first and second respectively in the Group One contest.

The Jens Hirschberger-trained Vif Monsieur, who was originally a well-beaten third, was subsequently promoted to first place with Earl Of Tinsdal upgraded to second.

Meandre had quickened impressively to pass the post first in the mile-and-a-half (2400m) event, beating Empoli with the pair clear of the rest.

A lengthy stewards' inquiry ensued into what officials said was interference caused by the two to Earl Of Tinsdal.

Meandre was subsequently placed third and Empoli fourth.

Hirschberger said: "In Baden-Baden they took a victory away from us because of hindrance, so this is now justice," Hirschberger said.

"In any case it was a great performance from Vif Monsieur, who continued to quicken."

The trainer said the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was a possibility for Vif Monsieur.

Sun Central Ruled Out Of Melbourne Cup

Friday, 20 September 2013 00:59

Sun Central has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after suffering a setback.

William Haggas had entered the four-year-old for the November 5 feature after he won Listed races at York and Chester on his last two starts, but he will not be taking up his antipodean engagement.

"He has had a setback and unfortunately he won't be going. Hopefully he'll make it next year instead," Haggas said.

Arc Trial Goes To Plan For Intello

Sunday, 22 September 2013 02:30

Intello has booked his ticket for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with an easy victory in the Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp.

The Andre Fabre-trained Prix du Jockey Club winner was never out of second gear under Olivier Peslier in beating Morandi by just over a length in the Group Three race over 10 furlongs (2000m).

Connections were running in the hope of making a decision over whether to target the Arc or the Champion Stakes at Ascot a little easier and his effortless win, in heavy ground, appears to have convinced them to try a mile and a half (2400m) back at Longchamp on October 6.

"It was a pretty easy victory. It was just what we wanted for his prep race," Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to Intello's owners the Wertheimer brothers, said.

"He won nicely and there were no dramas.

"We'll see how he is after this race but if he comes out of it OK we will head for the Arc we think.

"I don't think there's a chance he'll run in both races, for the moment we are just thinking about the Arc.

"We were very pleased with him today as it was very heavy ground.

"I think he'll stay the trip and the way he won the Jockey Club suggests it, too, but of course you never know until they run over it.

"He has enough class and there is no reason not to go."

Fabre is the most successful trainer in the history of the Arc with seven winners.

Japanese horse Orfevre, runner-up last year, is the favourite for the Arc on October 5.

Arc Looms As Ideal Race For Kazeem: Doyle

Thursday, 19 September 2013 01:45

James Doyle believes the trip and track at Longchamp will be "perfect" for Al Kazeem when he bids for glory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 6.

The in-demand rider is relishing a crack at Europe's end-of-season middle-distance showpiece with Roger Charlton's five-year-old, who has won three Group Ones this year at a mile and a quarter.

He has been placed in two others, most recently in the Irish Champion Stakes, and will try a mile and a half for the first time time since winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in May last year.

Doyle was aboard that day, as he has been ever since, and he told Racing UK: "I rode at Longchamp a couple of weeks ago for the first time, I walked the whole of the track and I thought it would be perfect for him.

"That nice false straight and long straight, it takes plenty of getting and I thought it was the perfect track for him.

"The race looks pretty tough after watching the trials at the weekend, Treve looked spectacular the way she quickened up and Orfevre couldn't have won any easier, so the competition is pretty strong.

"Al Kazeem has done really to well to have done what he's done over a mile and a quarter and on good to firm and sometimes firm ground.

"I've ridden him once over a mile and a half on soft ground and he was pretty awesome that day. I'm not really a sectionals man, but I read somewhere that the last five furlongs of that race were 0.02 seconds slower than a six-furlong Group Three on the card.

"That just shows he's a pretty useful horse over a mile and a half with cut in the ground."