Royal Ascot 2011
To open Royal Ascot 2011, The Queen unveiled a magnificent bronze sculpture in the Ascot's main paddock of Coolmore's stallion, Yeats, who is the only horse to win Ascot's Gold Cup four times.
It set a quality tone for international racegoers and fans on the first day of Royal Ascot which offers three Group 1 races featuring some of the world's top Turf horses.
This year is also the first year of the British Champions' Series and winners of those three Group 1s qualify for inclusion.
The King's Stand Stakes also qualified for the Global Sprint Challenge.
Breeders' Cup executives actively scout the races on Day 1 and 2 for talent to include in their November championship races which will be held November 4 and 5 at Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.
Arguably the first and third races generated the most interest generated by the presence of Canford Cliffs, Cape Blanco, Goldikova in the first and mega-star Frankel in the third.
The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m (8f, 1600m)for 4yo+
Canford Cliffs got the better of Goldikova. Photo ©David Hastings
Flash Dance was pacemaker for Freddie Head's Goldikova, 6yo triple Breeders' Cup Mile winner and 13-Group 1 winner, who was sent out with her jockey Olivier Peslier weighing in two pounds overweight.*
Handicap officials acknowledge that the extra weight negated her fillies' allowance and cost her a length.
With trainer Richard Hannon gunning for blood after his colt Paco Boy's multiple losses to the mare (costing him over £1.5 million in earnings) and a very fit Canford Cliffs under top jockey Richard Hughes, Goldikova could expect no mercy.
With the weight disadvantage, her jockey should not have taken the lead too early if he wanted to avoid setting her up as a sitting duck.
Further, he did not appear notice Canford Cliffs oncoming assault 1f out and responded too late for even a dead heat.
Goldikova is a mare who will always try with her tremendous speed and determination if she gets the jockey signal soon enough. She did not get it and came in second by 1 length.
Cityscape was another 1¾ lengths in third. The talented Cape Blanco had an off day 16 lengths behind the winner and beat only Flash Dance home and behind Rio De La Plata and Ransom Note.
The King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series and Global Sprint Challenge), 5f (5/8m, 1000m) for 3y0+
Nineteen runners from eight countries competed in this sharp 5f sprint and the impressive foreign competitors looked to have the advantage over Britain's horses.
Robert Cowell's four-year-old gelding, Prohibit, beat out three foreign-trained horses in a tight close with Australia's Star Witness, South Africa's mare Sweet Sanette and Hungary's speedster Overdose.
Prohibit races best from behind under a strong pace and he got his conditions paying 7/1.
He gave Ballydoyle's Zoffany the chance to streak from the rear 1f out to nearly, but never able to, catch him.
Favourite Kingsgate Native at 11/2 was 3¾ lengths behind the winner in sixth and the second favourite at 13/2, Sole Power, was eighth by 4¼ lengths.
*In Peslier's attempt to lose his extra 2 pounds, he took a sauna and grabbed boots which looked like his. They were not and he was fined £650. Not his best day.
The St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m (8f, 1600m) for 3yo entire colts
The world's highest-rated horse, unbeaten Frankel, won his cliffhanger St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Photo ©David Hastings
This must be the race of races at this year's Royal Ascot.
There is no adequate description of the excitement leading up to seeing the world's highest rated horse, Frankel, annihilate another hapless field of the year's best three-year olds.
Yet confused signals between the pacemaker Rerouted who went too fast burning himself out early and the wilful Frankel who forced himself into the lead 2f out and then dawdled almost contemptuously.
The playful Frankel left part of the audience holding its collective breathe and other sounding as if they were having heart attacks with the tension.
After watching Goldikova's being pipped, it was good to see jockey Tom Queally rally his colt thereby averting disaster.
Zoffany has the rare distinction of getting closest to the Wonder at a ¾ length, but only because of a failed Cecil (Sir Henry) team tactic.
Cecil promised to change tactics in future races and defended his jockey from what he felt was unfair criticism.
Marco Botti's Excelebration lost again to Frankel - this time ceding second to Zoffany and just holding third from Neebras by a head. They were 2¼ and 2½ lengths behind the winner.
The other five competitors were too far behind to be in the same class: Dream Ahead, Dubawi Gold, Wootton Bassett, Grand Prix Boss from Japan and pacemaker Rerouted.
The three races were fast on good ground, but this race was the fastest by 0.76s (1m 39.24s).
One can only admire Sir Henry Cecil for allowing the Juddmonte colt his head and experimenting with different tactics.
He is not playing it safe. Frankel will have his chance to show how good he really is.
Day Two
Races with international 'star' horses and good weather increased Royal Ascot's opening day crowd by 10% over last year to 43,354. Even Tote betting increased by 14% over last year to £1,245,535.
The second day of Royal Ascot has three world-class Group races which were full of surprises and without a favourite winning.
The Jersey Stakes (Group 3), 7f (7/8m, 1400m) for 3yo
After seeing Richard Hannon's Strong Suit in the saddling area, it was difficult to imagine the imposing colt not being the favourite (11/1), but Codemaster was at 7/4.
Strong Suit was one of last year's best two-year olds. Breathing problems developed this year and he had surgery to relieve the difficulty.
When he powered up, Codemaster and the third Western Aristocrat at 9/2 had no answer. Strong Suit was out front by ½ length and a neck in 1m 26.09s (fast by 0.61s).
The victory gave trainer Richard Hannon and son-in-law Richard Hughes their second Group victory in Royal Ascot's opening races.
The Windsor Forest Stakes (Group 2), 1m (8f, 1600m) for 4yo+ fillies and mares
Ireland's Lolly For Dolly bested 12 far more experienced and higher-rated fillies to win by 1½ lengths over Sir Henry Cecil's Chachamaidee and David Simcock's First City (by another length).
Tommy Stack, trainer of the winner. attributed her victory to staying ability and newly-fitted blinkers. Wayne Lordan gave her a perfect ride and was thrilled with his first win at Royal Ascot.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m) for 4yo+
Frankie Dettori's flying dismount from Godolphin's Rewilding after winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Photo ©David Hastings
This race probably had the most shocking conclusion of any during the meet.
Ballydoyle's famous import from Australia, So You Think NZ, was sent out 4/11 favourite. Any and all would probably have done battle over his being the one sure winner of the day.
Godolphin did not agree and they sent in their Debussy and Rewilding, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic, to take on the challenge.
Debussy is a better frontrunning horse at 7f or a mile and Rewilding is a true 1m4f stayer who lags in the back to make bursting closes.
Godolphin bet on So You Think's actually not being a stayer and Rewilding having the ability to handle a sharper trip than usual. And they have jockey Frankie Dettori.
The saddling-up area is the best place to assess the fitness and mood of potential winners. Those three horses, plus the underestimated Sri Putra, looked the best.
I bet on the sleek and lightly-raced Rewilding, half brother of Dar Re Mi by dam Darara, who looked outstanding to me.
Jan Vermeer, who was So You Think's pacemaker, missed the break and took 2f to get to the front putting SYT in second to be closely shadowed by Debussy.
Ryan Moore had trouble settling his mount SYT who was sweating in the paddock.
Once they hit the front, it appeared the race was locked down 1f out until the Dettori torpedo shot from back of the pack to wear down So You Think winning by a neck with Sri Putra third 6 lengths out.
The crowd was stunned and Godolphin jubilant.
Dettori did his flying dismount after earning himself a nine-day ban for excessive use of the whip.
Aidan O'Brien claimed his horse lost, because he was not fit enough. Australians and New Zealanders had much more unkind assessments.
Day Three
The third day of Royal Ascot draws the largest crowd of the Meet as it is Ladies' Day and the ladies come in droves to outdo each other in fashion.
It is also Gold Cup Day. For the last four years, the race was won by Yeats who is now retired to the Coolmore Stud and commemorated on Day One by The Queen when unveiling his statue in the main paddock.
This year's tussle for Royal Ascot's iconic was between the two major racing empires: Opinion Poll for Godolphin (Darley) and Fame And Glory for Ballydoyle (Coolmore).
The Gold Cup (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 2m4f (20f, 2½m, 4000m) for 4yo+
Yeats' worthy successor Fame And Glory outclassed Royal Ascot's Gold Cup field winning by 3 lengths over Opinion Poll. Photo ©David Hastings
The race was slowly run in 4m 37.51s (16.51s) and perfectly set up for jockey Jamie Spencer to bring Ballydoyle's relaxed Fame And Glory to the front of 14 other competitors in the final furlongs of the Gold Cup.
His stamina gave him the edge in the staying race over Godolphin's respected Opinion Poll and trainer Andre Fabre's accomplished Brigantin who raced for owners Team Valor.
Fame And Glory won easily by 3 lengths over Opinion Poll and a further 4½ lengths over Brigantin.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed that the five-year old horse will be prepared for October's Arc de Triomphe and he will return to Royal Ascot next year to try to equal or best Yeats' Gold Cup record.
Day Four
Thursday at Royal Ascot may be Ladies' Day, but the fourth day of Royal Ascot or Friday has the showcase mile race for the best international fillies of the three-year-old Classic generation.
The Corronation Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m (8f, 1600m) for 3yo fillies
Robert Collet and son brought their dynamic filly duo, Immortal Verse and Nova Hawk, from France to take first and second in Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes. Photo ©David Hastings
Twelve fillies competed led by some of Britain and Ireland's best females.
France's Robert and son Ron Collet believed they had two of the best three-year old fillies, Immortal Verse and Nova Hawk, of 2011 and committed them to Royal Ascot's prestigious Coronation Stakes.
They were right. The beautiful Immortal Verse beat her beautiful compatriot Nova Hawk by 2¼ lengths followed a half length by Richard Fahey's Barefoot Lady.
The British were stunned but gracious to the happy Frenchmen. Regretfully, there is some truth in the French trainers complaint to the French press that they received only a tepid reception for their victories.
The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2), 1m4f (12f, 1½m, 2400m) for colts and geldings
Trainer John Gosden usually has good reasons when he brings a three-year-old colt who has only won a maiden to compete in one Royal Ascot's Group 2 historic races.
Nathaniel was second to Treasure Beach in the Group 3 Chester Vase and did not face as stiff competition in the King Edward.
The handsome Nathaniel, who has proven to be best at 12 furlongs, waltzed 5 lengths past his nearest rival (of nine) Fiorente and another 2 lengths ahead of Alexander Pope in a slow 2m 34.48s (slow by 4.48s).
Young jockey William Buick rode Nathaniel to perfection.
The team is just beginning its upward curve for they have a very talented colt.
Day Five
Royal Ascot's closing day on Saturday is often family day which has one of the best races for two-year olds and a prestigious 6f sprint which is part of the Global Sprint Challenge along with the 5f King's Stands Stakes won by Britain's Prohibit on opening day.
Many foreign sprinters come to Royal Ascot just to compete in both races as the 5 and 6 furlong distances.
Until recently the British sprinters were easy prey for the superior foreign horses, but that has changed with Prohibit and Society Rock (below).
The Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series and Global Sprint Challenge, 6f
Society Rock outpowered Monsieur Chevalier and Star Witness in Royal Ascot's Golden Jubilee Stakes. Photo ©David Hastings
Australia's Star Witness travelled to Royal Ascot to compete in both its Global Sprint Challenge races a 5 and 6 furlongs.
He was unfortunate to be touched off by Prohibit in the King's Stands Stakes, but had no excuses when he lost to Society Rock by 1¾ lengths. He was third 1¼ lengths behind trainer Richard Hannon's Monsieur Chevalier who has recovered much of his earlier form.
Trainer James Fanshawe always seems to produce a winner at Royal Ascot.
The Chesham Stakes (Listed Race), 7f for 2yo fillies and colts
Future star Maybe in the Ballydoyle Tabor colours imposed herself on 15 other 2y olds by 2¼ lengths in Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes. Photo ©David Hastings
Sometimes trainers are overly enthusiastic about their horses, but Aidan O'Brien's words about his two-year-old filly Maybe were understatements.
With Ryan Moore on board, the filly was sent out 5/2 favourite in Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes and she thrashed the field of 16 - 2¼ lengths in front of Fort Bastion and another 3 lengths before Self Centered.
The youngster is a very finished professional filly and one expects great things from her.
The O'Brien/Moore team also won the second race of the day, the Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2), 1m4f for 4yo+, with four-year-old colt Await The Dawn who beat Harris Tweed by 3 lengths and Drunken Sailor in third.
Overall World Top Ten Ratings
Outstanding winners and seconds enhanced their reputations on the World Top Ten Ratings with their Royal Ascot Turf performances:
Canford Cliffs and Goldikova rose to 130 and 126 respectively for the Queen Anne race.
Rewilding and So You Think raised their ratings to 130 and 129 respectively for the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
Frankel retains his 133 world leader rating for the 2000 Guineas though his impressive St James's Palace Stakes did not rate a 133.
Workforce earned his 127 from the Brigadeer Gerard and did not compete in Royal Ascot.
Five of the world's top Turf horses competed at Royal Ascot and six of the 11 are European.
Posted June 19, 2011
Royal Ascot Will Set Season's Form Again
To open Royal Ascot 2011, The Queen unveiled a magnificent bronze sculpture in the Ascot's main paddock of Coolmore's stallion, Yeats, who is the only horse to win Ascot's Gold Cup four times.
It set a quality tone for international racegoers and fans on the first day of Royal Ascot which offers three Group 1 races featuring some of the world's top Turf horses.
This year is also the first year of the British Champions' Series and winners of those three Group 1s qualify for inclusion.
The King's Stand Stakes also qualified for the Global Sprint Challenge.
Breeders' Cup executives actively scout the races on Day 1 and 2 for talent to include in their November championship races which will be held November 4 and 5 at Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.
Arguably the first and third races generated the most interest generated by the presence of Canford Cliffs, Cape Blanco, Goldikova in the first and mega-star Frankel in the third.
The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m (8f, 1600m)for 4yo+
Canford Cliffs got the better of Goldikova. Photo ©David Hastings
Flash Dance was pacemaker for Freddie Head's Goldikova, 6yo triple Breeders' Cup Mile winner and 13-Group 1 winner, who was sent out with her jockey Olivier Peslier weighing in two pounds overweight.*
Handicap officials acknowledge that the extra weight negated her fillies' allowance and cost her a length.
With trainer Richard Hannon gunning for blood after his colt Paco Boy's multiple losses to the mare (costing him over £1.5 million in earnings) and a very fit Canford Cliffs under top jockey Richard Hughes, Goldikova could expect no mercy.
With the weight disadvantage, her jockey should not have taken the lead too early if he wanted to avoid setting her up as a sitting duck.
Further, he did not appear notice Canford Cliffs oncoming assault 1f out and responded too late for even a dead heat.
Goldikova is a mare who will always try with her tremendous speed and determination if she gets the jockey signal soon enough. She did not get it and came in second by 1 length.
Cityscape was another 1¾ lengths in third. The talented Cape Blanco had an off day 16 lengths behind the winner and beat only Flash Dance home and behind Rio De La Plata and Ransom Note.
The King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series and Global Sprint Challenge), 5f (5/8m, 1000m) for 3y0+
Nineteen runners from eight countries competed in this sharp 5f sprint and the impressive foreign competitors looked to have the advantage over Britain's horses.
Robert Cowell's four-year-old gelding, Prohibit, beat out three foreign-trained horses in a tight close with Australia's Star Witness, South Africa's mare Sweet Sanette and Hungary's speedster Overdose.
Prohibit races best from behind under a strong pace and he got his conditions paying 7/1.
He gave Ballydoyle's Zoffany the chance to streak from the rear 1f out to nearly, but never able to, catch him.
Favourite Kingsgate Native at 11/2 was 3¾ lengths behind the winner in sixth and the second favourite at 13/2, Sole Power, was eighth by 4¼ lengths.
*In Peslier's attempt to lose his extra 2 pounds, he took a sauna and grabbed boots which looked like his. They were not and he was fined £650. Not his best day.
The St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m (8f, 1600m) for 3yo entire colts
The world's highest-rated horse, unbeaten Frankel, won his cliffhanger St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Photo ©David Hastings
This must be the race of races at this year's Royal Ascot.
There is no adequate description of the excitement leading up to seeing the world's highest rated horse, Frankel, annihilate another hapless field of the year's best three-year olds.
Yet confused signals between the pacemaker Rerouted who went too fast burning himself out early and the wilful Frankel who forced himself into the lead 2f out and then dawdled almost contemptuously.
The playful Frankel left part of the audience holding its collective breathe and other sounding as if they were having heart attacks with the tension.
After watching Goldikova's being pipped, it was good to see jockey Tom Queally rally his colt thereby averting disaster.
Zoffany has the rare distinction of getting closest to the Wonder at a ¾ length, but only because of a failed Cecil (Sir Henry) team tactic.
Cecil promised to change tactics in future races and defended his jockey from what he felt was unfair criticism.
Marco Botti's Excelebration lost again to Frankel - this time ceding second to Zoffany and just holding third from Neebras by a head. They were 2¼ and 2½ lengths behind the winner.
The other five competitors were too far behind to be in the same class: Dream Ahead, Dubawi Gold, Wootton Bassett, Grand Prix Boss from Japan and pacemaker Rerouted.
The three races were fast on good ground, but this race was the fastest by 0.76s (1m 39.24s).
One can only admire Sir Henry Cecil for allowing the Juddmonte colt his head and experimenting with different tactics.
He is not playing it safe. Frankel will have his chance to show how good he really is.
Day Two
Races with international 'star' horses and good weather increased Royal Ascot's opening day crowd by 10% over last year to 43,354. Even Tote betting increased by 14% over last year to £1,245,535.
The second day of Royal Ascot has three world-class Group races which were full of surprises and without a favourite winning.
The Jersey Stakes (Group 3), 7f (7/8m, 1400m) for 3yo
After seeing Richard Hannon's Strong Suit in the saddling area, it was difficult to imagine the imposing colt not being the favourite (11/1), but Codemaster was at 7/4.
Strong Suit was one of last year's best two-year olds. Breathing problems developed this year and he had surgery to relieve the difficulty.
When he powered up, Codemaster and the third Western Aristocrat at 9/2 had no answer. Strong Suit was out front by ½ length and a neck in 1m 26.09s (fast by 0.61s).
The victory gave trainer Richard Hannon and son-in-law Richard Hughes their second Group victory in Royal Ascot's opening races.
The Windsor Forest Stakes (Group 2), 1m (8f, 1600m) for 4yo+ fillies and mares
Ireland's Lolly For Dolly bested 12 far more experienced and higher-rated fillies to win by 1½ lengths over Sir Henry Cecil's Chachamaidee and David Simcock's First City (by another length).
Tommy Stack, trainer of the winner. attributed her victory to staying ability and newly-fitted blinkers. Wayne Lordan gave her a perfect ride and was thrilled with his first win at Royal Ascot.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m) for 4yo+
Frankie Dettori's flying dismount from Godolphin's Rewilding after winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Photo ©David Hastings
This race probably had the most shocking conclusion of any during the meet.
Ballydoyle's famous import from Australia, So You Think NZ, was sent out 4/11 favourite. Any and all would probably have done battle over his being the one sure winner of the day.
Godolphin did not agree and they sent in their Debussy and Rewilding, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic, to take on the challenge.
Debussy is a better frontrunning horse at 7f or a mile and Rewilding is a true 1m4f stayer who lags in the back to make bursting closes.
Godolphin bet on So You Think's actually not being a stayer and Rewilding having the ability to handle a sharper trip than usual. And they have jockey Frankie Dettori.
The saddling-up area is the best place to assess the fitness and mood of potential winners. Those three horses, plus the underestimated Sri Putra, looked the best.
I bet on the sleek and lightly-raced Rewilding, half brother of Dar Re Mi by dam Darara, who looked outstanding to me.
Jan Vermeer, who was So You Think's pacemaker, missed the break and took 2f to get to the front putting SYT in second to be closely shadowed by Debussy.
Ryan Moore had trouble settling his mount SYT who was sweating in the paddock.
Once they hit the front, it appeared the race was locked down 1f out until the Dettori torpedo shot from back of the pack to wear down So You Think winning by a neck with Sri Putra third 6 lengths out.
The crowd was stunned and Godolphin jubilant.
Dettori did his flying dismount after earning himself a nine-day ban for excessive use of the whip.
Aidan O'Brien claimed his horse lost, because he was not fit enough. Australians and New Zealanders had much more unkind assessments.
Day Three
The third day of Royal Ascot draws the largest crowd of the Meet as it is Ladies' Day and the ladies come in droves to outdo each other in fashion.
It is also Gold Cup Day. For the last four years, the race was won by Yeats who is now retired to the Coolmore Stud and commemorated on Day One by The Queen when unveiling his statue in the main paddock.
This year's tussle for Royal Ascot's iconic was between the two major racing empires: Opinion Poll for Godolphin (Darley) and Fame And Glory for Ballydoyle (Coolmore).
The Gold Cup (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 2m4f (20f, 2½m, 4000m) for 4yo+
Yeats' worthy successor Fame And Glory outclassed Royal Ascot's Gold Cup field winning by 3 lengths over Opinion Poll. Photo ©David Hastings
The race was slowly run in 4m 37.51s (16.51s) and perfectly set up for jockey Jamie Spencer to bring Ballydoyle's relaxed Fame And Glory to the front of 14 other competitors in the final furlongs of the Gold Cup.
His stamina gave him the edge in the staying race over Godolphin's respected Opinion Poll and trainer Andre Fabre's accomplished Brigantin who raced for owners Team Valor.
Fame And Glory won easily by 3 lengths over Opinion Poll and a further 4½ lengths over Brigantin.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed that the five-year old horse will be prepared for October's Arc de Triomphe and he will return to Royal Ascot next year to try to equal or best Yeats' Gold Cup record.
Day Four
Thursday at Royal Ascot may be Ladies' Day, but the fourth day of Royal Ascot or Friday has the showcase mile race for the best international fillies of the three-year-old Classic generation.
The Corronation Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series), 1m (8f, 1600m) for 3yo fillies
Robert Collet and son brought their dynamic filly duo, Immortal Verse and Nova Hawk, from France to take first and second in Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes. Photo ©David Hastings
Twelve fillies competed led by some of Britain and Ireland's best females.
France's Robert and son Ron Collet believed they had two of the best three-year old fillies, Immortal Verse and Nova Hawk, of 2011 and committed them to Royal Ascot's prestigious Coronation Stakes.
They were right. The beautiful Immortal Verse beat her beautiful compatriot Nova Hawk by 2¼ lengths followed a half length by Richard Fahey's Barefoot Lady.
The British were stunned but gracious to the happy Frenchmen. Regretfully, there is some truth in the French trainers complaint to the French press that they received only a tepid reception for their victories.
The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2), 1m4f (12f, 1½m, 2400m) for colts and geldings
Trainer John Gosden usually has good reasons when he brings a three-year-old colt who has only won a maiden to compete in one Royal Ascot's Group 2 historic races.
Nathaniel was second to Treasure Beach in the Group 3 Chester Vase and did not face as stiff competition in the King Edward.
The handsome Nathaniel, who has proven to be best at 12 furlongs, waltzed 5 lengths past his nearest rival (of nine) Fiorente and another 2 lengths ahead of Alexander Pope in a slow 2m 34.48s (slow by 4.48s).
Young jockey William Buick rode Nathaniel to perfection.
The team is just beginning its upward curve for they have a very talented colt.
Day Five
Royal Ascot's closing day on Saturday is often family day which has one of the best races for two-year olds and a prestigious 6f sprint which is part of the Global Sprint Challenge along with the 5f King's Stands Stakes won by Britain's Prohibit on opening day.
Many foreign sprinters come to Royal Ascot just to compete in both races as the 5 and 6 furlong distances.
Until recently the British sprinters were easy prey for the superior foreign horses, but that has changed with Prohibit and Society Rock (below).
The Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions' Series and Global Sprint Challenge, 6f
Society Rock outpowered Monsieur Chevalier and Star Witness in Royal Ascot's Golden Jubilee Stakes. Photo ©David Hastings
Australia's Star Witness travelled to Royal Ascot to compete in both its Global Sprint Challenge races a 5 and 6 furlongs.
He was unfortunate to be touched off by Prohibit in the King's Stands Stakes, but had no excuses when he lost to Society Rock by 1¾ lengths. He was third 1¼ lengths behind trainer Richard Hannon's Monsieur Chevalier who has recovered much of his earlier form.
Trainer James Fanshawe always seems to produce a winner at Royal Ascot.
The Chesham Stakes (Listed Race), 7f for 2yo fillies and colts
Future star Maybe in the Ballydoyle Tabor colours imposed herself on 15 other 2y olds by 2¼ lengths in Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes. Photo ©David Hastings
Sometimes trainers are overly enthusiastic about their horses, but Aidan O'Brien's words about his two-year-old filly Maybe were understatements.
With Ryan Moore on board, the filly was sent out 5/2 favourite in Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes and she thrashed the field of 16 - 2¼ lengths in front of Fort Bastion and another 3 lengths before Self Centered.
The youngster is a very finished professional filly and one expects great things from her.
The O'Brien/Moore team also won the second race of the day, the Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2), 1m4f for 4yo+, with four-year-old colt Await The Dawn who beat Harris Tweed by 3 lengths and Drunken Sailor in third.
Overall World Top Ten Ratings
Outstanding winners and seconds enhanced their reputations on the World Top Ten Ratings with their Royal Ascot Turf performances:
Canford Cliffs and Goldikova rose to 130 and 126 respectively for the Queen Anne race.
Rewilding and So You Think raised their ratings to 130 and 129 respectively for the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
Frankel retains his 133 world leader rating for the 2000 Guineas though his impressive St James's Palace Stakes did not rate a 133.
Workforce earned his 127 from the Brigadeer Gerard and did not compete in Royal Ascot.
Five of the world's top Turf horses competed at Royal Ascot and six of the 11 are European.
Posted June 19, 2011
Royal Ascot Will Set Season's Form Again
The five-day Royal Ascot Meet occurs during the early peak season for most horse. Its races are known to establish the year's form for the horses competing in its wide range of races and distances.
It is suitable, that given 2011 is the 300th Anniversary of Royal Ascot, the QIPCO British Champions Series should start its first Series in the same year having seven of Royal Ascot's races are part of the Series.
Three major QIPCO BCS races are on opening day June 14th.
The Queen Anne Stakes (1m, 4yo+) has lured six-year-old Goldikova back to England to repeat her success last year. She is up against very tough competition against powerful males like Canford Cliffs, Cape Blanco, Citiscape, Ransom Note and Rio Del La Plata. Flash Dance will be her pacemaker.
Given the mess in the Prix de Diane, one hopes Goldikova's jockey remembers that she is 2010 Horse of the Year in both England and France as well as being the three-times' winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile.
The King's Stand Stakes (5f, 3yo+) has attracted 19 of some of the world's finest sprinters - except Black Caviar who will compete in 2012 - and trainers.
Overdose is back for the Czech Republic. Todd Pletcher brought Bridgetown and Wesley Smith brought Holiday For Kitten to be ridden by Zenyatta's partner Mike Smith who is riding in Britain this Spring.
Star Witness is currently favourite and hails from Australia.
The European home team claims the favourites in Sole Power and game Kingsgate Native.
This is the most open race of the three starting the RA/BCS Series.
The St James's Palace Stakes (1m, 3yo) promises to be a thriller with eight taking on Frankel who is the highest-rated colt in the world at 130.
Japan is not affraid of him. It has sent Grand Prix Boss with Dubai World Cup winner Mirco Demuro on board. Dumuro is proving to be one of the world's top jockeys in and out of Italy along with his chum Frankie Dettori.
Dubawi Gold and Wootton Bassett return to the challenge against Frankel along with Dream Ahead, Excelebration, Rerouted, Godolphin's Neebras and Ballydoyle's Zoffany.
Many think Canford Cliffs will beat Goldikova. He may, but my heart is always with her.
I cannot predict the sprint outcome, but I cannot see any colt beating Frankel unless he has his first bad day.
Inside international horse racing paddocks with form expert Susan Trevelyan-Syke
Arc de Triomphe 2011
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Les Reines de l'Arc de Triomphe
It is always makes one feel good when Racing International 's unusal predictions come true in major races.
We predicted a one-two-three female victory in Europe's iconic Group 1 Qatar Arc de Triomphe, 1m4f (12f, 1½m, 2400m), at Longchamp on good-to-fast Turf.
In our preview analysis, we rated Danedream GER (Lomitas GER) as having the best chance to win along with Snow Fairy and Sarafina.
We got it right about Danedream and Snow Fairy who was third.
Sarafina, probably the best horse in the race, never fired until the very end - too late to make up lost ground.
Her formidable stablemate, Shareta, was the surprise female of the trio coming in second.
We predicted that Shareta, St Nicholas Abbey and Treasure Beach would pacemake for Sarafina and So You Think.
So You Think was the male to come closest to the three divas reaching fourth with St Nicholas Abbey in fifth by a shoulder.
The controversy of whether So You Think could outlast a real stayer like Snow Fairy was finally settled when she held him firmly at bay by a half length.
Meandre, Sarafina and Silver Pond took the next three places with the eight other race participants a minimum of four lengths behind.
The horses who did the best love good-to-fast ground.
After Shareta fought off Ballydoyle's St Nicholas Abbey and Treasure Beach, the way was paved for Germany's Danedream to emerge from her safe rail position speeding past the others in a record-breaking 1.24.29 bettering Peintre Celebre's 1997 record of 2.24.60.
Danedream's jockey Andrasch Starke rode a course-perfect race taking advantage of her enviable Stall 2 position to control the rail when Hiruni D'Amour from Stall 1 lost it.
Starke rode her off the pace in the middle avoiding the fractious, battling leaders and taking the shortest route round the course thereby conserving her energy for a stunning run for home.
Fortunately, fading horses kept racing and Starke found a gap at the perfect time to use his three-year-old filly's tremendous speed to outdistance the others leaving them in shock to scrap for placings.
It was Germany's second (our mistake in an earlier column said the first) victory in the Arc. The first was by Star Appeal in 1975.
Since her owner Gestut Burg Eberstein sold half interest in her to Japanese breeder Teruya Yoshida two days before the race, Japan has its first victory of the Arc - technically speaking that is.
She was bred by Gestut Brummerhof and trained by Germany's leading trainer Peter Schiergen who said she was the best horse he ever trained.
"When she was winning, I was in a dream. I am not sure that now is not a dream."
Her connections made a wise decision to supplement her for €100,000 and got a nice return in the £1,970,344.83 first prize.
Danedream won a 132 Timeform rating. A half share in her has been sold to Japanese breeder Teruya Yoshida before the race and she will retire to stud in 2013 in Japan.
©Posted October 2, 2011
Arc Day Races
Qatar Prix Du Cadran (Group 1), 2m4f for 4yo+ on Turf, £123,146.55
One of the most satisfactory results for many who follow the 23/10 favourite, Casbah Bliss FR (Kahyasi), was his 1¼ length victory over Tres Rock Danon and a short neck over Brigantin in the long-distance race.
The nine-year old prodigy of Francois Doumen was brilliantly ridden by veteran Gerald Mosse and is a particular favourite of the trainer and well-loved by the French.
Qatar Prix De L'Abbaye De Longchamp (Group 1), 5f for 2yo+ on Turf, £147,775.86
Seven-year-old Tangerine Trees (Mind Games) brought home a hard-fought prize for British trainer Bryan Smart and jockey Tom Eaves winning by a short neck and nose over Britain's Secret Asset and Sole Power in fast time 55.53s (fast by 1.27s).
Total Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium Des Pouliches (Group 1), 1m for 2yo fillies on Turf, £147,775.86
Despite a near arrest for suspected spying when entering France, trainer John Gosden managed arrived in time for the race and to cheer home his wayward Elusive Kate USA (Elusive Quality USA).
Zantenda was sent out 4/5 favourite, but was no match for the British filly who could have lost the race after taking the lead and hanging so far left that she was almost off the course.
She won by 3 lengths, Fire Lily was second and Zantenda another 1¼ lengths behind in third.
Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1), 7f for 2yo colts and fillies on Turf, £172,405.17
Luck changed for Frankie Dettori when he was reuinited with the exciting Dabirsim FR (Hat Trick JPN). He was 1/2 favourite.
They hugged the rail quietly and it looked as if Dettori might not get the gap in time, but his timing was perfect and the colt won by a comfortable ¾ length over Sofast and a short head over Salure.
Dabirsim is one of the most talented youngsters racing in Europe today and is not for sale despite many offers, according to young trainer Christophe Ferland.
The colt is now a five-for-five winner at two and favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Qatar Prix De La Foret (Group 1) 7f for 3yo+ on Turf, £147.775.86
It was not easy for the Darley July Cup and Haydock Sprint winner Dream Ahead USA (Diktat) to beat older performers like Goldikova (1/2 favourite) and Surfrider, but the three-year old did in thrilling form by a head and 6 lengths.
Young William Buick rode both Elusive Kate and Dream Ahead. David Simcock trained the colt.
Qatar Prix De L'Opera (Group 1), 1m2f for 3yo+ fillies and mares on Turf, £172,405.17
Juddmonte's four-year-old Announce (Selkirk USA) was sent off 2/1 favourite in one of the most controversial races of the day thanks to her jockey Maxime Guyon.
Frankie Dettori rode the promising three-year-old Nahrain (Selkirk USA) of young British trainer Roger Varian for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.
Compared to Announce with nine races, the inexperienced three-for-three Nahrain was rated no beter than 9/2 and underestimated by many except Announce's jockey.
Dettori wisely kept his filly up with the pace along the rail. When Announce made her run for the lead, Guyon slowed up his filly to trap Nahrain.
Dettori desperately searched for a gap, found a small one and found his little filly slammed by the imposing Announce.
He escaped to win by a nose with Banimpire third 1½ lengths out in 2m2.74s (fast by 1.16s).
Guyon had the nerve to complain to the stewards that Dettori interfered with him. His claim was dismissed.
He managed to cost his own filly her best chance and certainly cut into Nahrain's run. One of them would have done better than a nose without the bad tactics.
Nahrain and Announce will meet again at the Breeders' Cup.
©Posted October 2, 2011
Arc Saturday: Not Frankie's Or Favourites' Day
For The Man in demand, none of Frankie Dettori's races panned out to plan on the Saturday of the Qatar Arc de Triomphe Weekend at Longchamp.
Nor could anyone agree on the ground. Some said 'soft', Dettori said 'good' and I saw dusty divots flying which means dry and loose.
The favourite horses were unlucky as well in three of the four Group 2 races for thoroughbreds.
The best and most satisfactory race of the day was actually the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Group 1 PA), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m), for females on the Flat Turf.
The talented four-year-old Kiss De Ghazel (Dormane FR) was at a disadvantage by the slow pace led by the eventual second, Djanet Monlau (Dormane FR), but powered away to win by 1½ lengths in 2.19.69s.
She is trained by Jean-Francois Bernard and ridden by Jean-Baptiste Eyquem for her Saudi Arabian owner, Haif bin Mohammed Al Ghatani, who was present.
This is her second major Group 1 PA of the year. She won the coveted President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) at Ascot this Summer.
Her next effort may be the Breeders' Challenge at Toulouse.
Since Arabian horses start their racing careers a year later than thoroughbreds, Kiss De Ghazel is equivalent to just a three-year old thoroughbred and could race as long as the great mare Al Dahma.
Kiss De Ghazel is a formidable filly with the most beautiful name.
Qatar Prix Chaudenay, Group 2, 1m7f (15f, 1-7/8m, 3000m) for 3yo
This is the one Group 2 race of the day in which the favourite prevailed. Shankardeh IRE (Azamour IRE), who started racing at three winning or placing each time, was sent off 18/5 favourite.
Jockey Christophe-Patrice Lemaine (Sarafina's partner) managed to defeat 10/1 Miss Lago IRE (Encosta Del Lago AUS) by a head and the second favourite, Pacifique IRE (Montjeu IRE), by another length in the five-runner race.
Pacifique's trainer, Alain De Royer Dupre (Sarafina and Reliable Man's trainer), felt she was undone by the fast ground.
Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein, Group 2, 1m (8f, 1600m), for 3yo+
This is the first of three races where Frankie Dettori's tactics either backfired or he was unlucky or he was on horses who just were not good enough.
His Rio Del La Plata USA (Rahy USA) made for home a bit too early at 150m and was headed by Rajsaman FR (Linamix FR) for his first loss out of three battles with Rajsaman.
Rio De La Plata has raced six times this year as a six-year old and has lost every race. He has always placed, but it may be time for the lovable chestnut to join his brothers, Noverre and Fantastic Light, in retirement.
Best Dating IRE (King's Best USA), four-year-old gelding, was third by another length and was snapped up in the Arqana Sales by Anthony Stroud to race in the Dubai Carnival.
Qatar Prix de Royallieu, Group 2, 1m2.5f (12.5f, 1m3/8, 2500m), for females of 3yo+
Frankie Dettori's second mount, Modeyra (Shamardal IRE), started her career with double wins and seems to have lost her way in her fourth year.
The imposing filly was sent off by Dettori to lead at a very slow pace putting the field to sleep.
Unfortunately, it was a distance to short for her and three of two others, but played to the strength of a fast, late closer like Sea Of Heartbreak IRE (Rock Of Gibraltar IRE) who beat Modeyra into third with Miss Crissy IRE (Verglas IRE) taking second by a half length and a shoulder respectively.
Sea Of Heartbreak, who won her first Group race, will race in the Fillies' race at Woodbine and may be in the December Sales.
Qatar Prix Dollar, Group 2, 1m1-3/4, (9.75f, 1-3/8m, 1950m), for 3yo+
For the French, this race should have been won by 'Fighting Cirrus' Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE), but Byword (Peintre Celebre USA) shouldered him on the line.
After nine hard races in 2011, it may have been a bit too much to expect of Cirrus who has won or placed in all these races.
Byword, a Group 1 winner at Ascot last year, finally got back to form.
Frankie Dettori's French Navy (Shamardal USA) made a good try from the rear, but lost his 2011 winning ways ending in ninth. He did NOT like the ground.
Let's hope there are no hard luck stories Sunday on Arc de Triomphe Day.
©Posted October 1, 2011
Dettori Bullish On Snow Fairy
Lanfranco 'Frankie' Dettori could not be more bullish on his four-year-old filly, Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA), whom he will ride in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, 1m4f (1½m, 12f, 2400m) at Longchamp Sunday.
Dettori's views must be respected as he has won three Arcs on Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001) and Marienbard (2002).
"Longchamp is a very flat course and the race itself will be very slick, suiting a horse that is light on its feet and able to go through the gears. On that score, it is tailor made for Snow Fairy."
He compared her progress against the favourite of many, So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE), when she closed the nine-length gap in Sandown's Coral-Eclipse to a half length in last month's Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes. Both races are 1m2f (1¼m, 10f, 2000m).
He dismissed the highly-vaunted So You Think with "The Irish Champion suits a grinder rather than a horse with a turn of foot. I really think a fast-run mile and a half on a quick, flat track will see Snow Fairy in her best light - So You Think will have to be every bit as good over the extra two furlongs to stay ahead of her."
Fortunately, Snow Fairy's owner Christina Patino trusted her trainer, Ed Dunlop, when he leapt at the chance for his filly in the Arc (when the ground changed).
If Dettori is right, SYT's owners may regret not listening to their trainer and save him for the more appropriate
QIPCO British Champions Day.
©Posted October 1, 2011
Workforce A Likely
Longchamp's Course Clerk will water the course Saturday night to assure good and fair ground for all the Sunday races.
This is very good news for connections of last year's winner, Workforce (King's Best USA), who finds fast ground jarring.
Since Workforce has recovered from a serious injury on good ground in Ascot's King George, trainer Sir Michael Stoute is extra protective of his wonderful colt and will decide his participation after he walks the course Saturday.
He will be reunited with his jockey Ryan Moore, who has recovered from a broken collar bone, in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Moore warned punters "not to forget Workforce" as he has been training exceptionally well.
If they are both recovered and the horse has trained on, he merits better than 7-8/1 odds.
What a pity should he not run!
©Posted October 1, 2011
Arc Favourites After Stall Assignments
Sarafina 3-4/1
So You Think 4-5/1
Galikova 13/2-7/1
Workforce 7-8/1
Meandre 10-12/1
Reliable Man 10-12/1
Snow Fairy 10-12/1
Masked Marvel 12-14/1
Hiruno D'Amour 14/1
Danedream 16-20/1
©Posted September 30, 2011
Ground And Stalls Limit Arc Runners
Two weeks ago it appeared that the dowager Qatar Arc de Triomphe would be run on good-to-soft ground in typical cooler Autumn weather.
A full complement of 28 horses were expected to run eliciting the usual fears of lessor horses with uneven talents endangering and hampering better horses.
Today, we have an unseasonal heat wave with no rain in sight. Longchamps is forced to water the racecourse up till Thursday for safety sake and the ground is expected to be fast.
The race is run on a right-handed course at a distance of 1m4f (1½m, 12f, 2400m) on Turf.
The horses run straight to a long, gentle curve until the straight when they spread to sprint.
Of the 16 horses declared, including three supplemented at €100,000 each because of fast ground, two more of the 13 others horses may drop out because of it.
Reliable Man (Dalakhani IRE), authoritative three-year-old winner of the Qatar Prix Niel, may be pulled Sunday morning at final declaration time.
His trainer, Alain de Royer Dupre, is concerned that the French clay-based soil will pack too solidly for his colt's safety.
He pointed out that French turf is not as deeply rooted as English turf; it is frequently filled in and replaced creating pitting.
That issue also could deter trainer Sir Michael Stoute from allowing last year's Arc winner Workforce (King's Best USA) to race.
Workforce appears to have recovered from the serious back injury incurred in the King George where Rewilding died.
The winner of that race, Nathaniel IRE (Galileo IRE), has been pulled from the race in favour of the supplemented St Leger winner Masked Marvel (Montage IRE) due to ground by their trainer John Gosden.
The second problem for the 16 participants is the draw with the two favourites, Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) and So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE), getting the unhelpful wide 13 and 14 stalls.
Only two horses in the last eight years have won from those outside stalls.
Hence, both are drifting in the betting.
Plum Stall 1 went to improving Hiruno D'Amour JPN (Manhattan Cafe JPN) who has a jockey in Shinji Fujita who knows how to race on the French course.
Stall 2 went to supplemented filly Danedream GER (Monson GER).
Should either win, it would be a first for their countries. The filly, who loves fast ground, has a new half-share owner in Japan's prominent breeder Teruya Yoshida.
Of the favourite French horses, Galikova FR (Gallileo IRE) has lucked out with Stall 4 and Reliable Man, who may not run, has Stall 7. Meandre FR (Slickly Fr) is in Stall 10.
Britain's Masked Marvel and Workforce have Stalls 5 and 8 respectively. Workforce won last year from 8. Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA) is in 11.
Ireland's Ballydoyle has its pacemaker, St Nicholas Abbey IRE (Montjeu IRE), in the good position of Stall 6, Treasure Beach (Galileo IRE) in 12 and star So You Think in 14.
It is an interesting mix of 16 with two five-year olds, So You Think and Nakayama Festa JPN (Stay Gold JPN), who was second in the Arc last year.
Four are four-years old: Hiruno D'Amour, Sarafina, Silver Pond FR (Act One FR) and Workforce.
The remaining six are exceptionally talented three-year olds: Danedream, Galikova, Masked Marvel, Meandre, Testosterone IRE (Dansili) and Treasure Beach.
Six are improving females: Danedream, Galikova, Sarafina, Shareta, Snow Fairy and Testosterone.
Snow Fairy has the most winning international experience of the females and was supplemented because of fast ground. Whether she can overcome Stall 11 is a question. Then again she has Frankie Dettori as her jockey which gives her a great chance.
Both she and Sarafina like to race from the back, but she proved how good she is when closing down So You Think to a half length in the Irish Champions Stakes coming from off the pace.
Sarafina could be cursed with her similar style of racing to Zenyatta's with a late close and Blame's victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic proves the vulnerability of that style.
Most the the remaining horses like to race off the pace.
Only St Nicholas Abbey looks like a pacemaker unless Nakayama Festa's jockey repeats an early burnout as he did in the Prix Vermeille.
Foreign jockeys under the extreme pressure of an Arc sometimes race counter intuitively with it ending badly for them.
Positioning and tactics are key to winning with smooth quick action to exploit gaps between tiring horses.
This race will be fast and no horse can win it without speed at the right time and stamina.
That puts So You Think's chances into question on the basis of stamina, distance, his ability to handle fast ground and the disadvantage of the wide stall.
On the other hand, Masked Marvel broke the speed record at Doncaster in winning the 1m5f St Leger on fast ground.
Jockey William Buick, though young, is seasoned at Longchamp and in Group 1s and is in Stall 5.
From the perspective of position, speed and stamina, the advantages should go to Danedream, Galikova, Masked Marvel, Meandre, Snow Fairy and Hiruno D'Amour if he can handle fast ground.
It will take all of jockey Christophe-Patrice Lemaire's skill to position his Sarafina to win. It can be done if they are lucky.
He will probably have to wait and wait to bring her wide in the way Dalakhani won his Arc.
That way she is not in a position to be stopped as she was last year.
Sarafina is still the best horse in the race and still merits favouritism.
Snow Fairy has the experience, Galikova has the ability with favourable stall and Olivier Peslier, but Masked Marvel is the wild card.
Update: Speedy and progressive filly Testosterone IRE (Dansili) landed prime Stall 3, the frontrunning stablemate of Sarafina, Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE), Stall 9, Silver Pond FR (Act One) and Nakayama Festa JPN (Stay Gold JPN), who was second in the Arc last year, drew the farthest Stalls - 15 and 16 respectively.
Not a plodder in the bunch.
©Posted September 30, 2011
Dettori In Demand
Despite Godolphin's not having too many entries in the Arc weekend, their retained jockey Lanfranco 'Frankie' Dettori has been co-opted for three choice Group 1 rides.
The first is on the outstanding unbeaten 2yo colt, Dabirsim whom he partnered for the first time in the Prix Morny, who is favourite for the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
After Dettori's successful pairing with Snow Fairy in the Irish Champion Stakes when she came within a half length of So You Think, Dettori was offered the ride on her in the Arc - and probably in any other race he can manage.
There have been major changes with Worthadd's Italian connections and Dettori has inherited the ride from his friend Mirco Demuro in the Qatar Prix de la Foret, 1m, against the great French mare Goldikova.
Shadwell Stud has tried to purchase the Dubawi colt without success. One hopes the changes allow them another chance.
He deserves to have a major stud promoting him.
Dettori has three good Godolphin candidates on Saturday in Group 2s: improved French Navy in the Qatar Prix Dollar, everyone's favourite Rio De La Plata in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein and the filly Modeyra in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu.
He will also partner filly Nahrain in Sunday's Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Opera, 1m2f (10f, 2000m), for owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and trainer Roger Varian.
Everyone wants Frankie.
©Posted September 30, 2011
It's How It Is
The big question of will So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE) or won't SYT race in the Qatar Arc de Triomphe distance of 1m4f (1½m, 12f, 2400m) on October 2 at Longchamp is settled in the affirmative.
He will race at an untried distance on fast, dry ground despite his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, preferring he try a mile or 1¼ at the Qipco British Champions Day October 15.
O'Brien appears to have suspicions that his horse may not have the stamina for an Arc and could win a good Group 1 at a shorter distance.
Who listens to trainers? O'Brien trains them and his Ballydoyle/ Coolmore bosses make the decisions.
They think the Arc is a more prestigious event for his stud value than the other races at Ascot.
The Down-Under contingent who bred and trained him has not been too happy with the way their wonder horse has been campaigned since he left their shores and they are fretting that the Arc may not be the right race for him.
Additionally, the horse has another problem in being drawn wide in Stall 14.
At least he will have sympathetic jockey, Seamie Heffernan, who rides out on him every day.
Such is So You Think's reputation that he remains second favourite to Sarafina and he is the first choice of British and Irish bettors.
©Posted September 30, 2011
Arc Favourites
After Longchamp's Arc trials on September 11, several horses have proven their ability to handle the 1m4f (1m½) distance on all sorts of Turf and the list of favourites has solidified in a tight betting race with no doubts about the Aga Khan's filly Sarafina as the best and the three-year-old filly Galikova progressing with every race:
Sarafina 3/1
Workforce 5/1
Nathaniel 11/2
Galikova 6-7/1
Reliable Man 7/1
So You Think 7/1
Meandre 12-14/1
Hiruno D'Amour 16-20/1
Nakayama Festa 25-33/1
Galikova, Reliable Man (sire Dalakhani IRE is an Arc winner) and Hiruno D'Amour strongly impressed in their trials and moved up in betting.
Meandre and So You Think are not likely to race in the Arc.
The French team is solid to win unless Britain produces a Workforce back to last-year's form and Nathaniel progresses.
We have seen in two St Leger's what the latter's trainer John Gosden can do so do not count him out.
*Neither Ballydoyle nor Godolphin appear to have a candidate for the big race and are likely to concentrate on Ascot's Champion Stakes.
©Posted September 12, 2011
So You Think For Arc?*
Latest news from Ballydoyle is that So You Think's connections feel it is worth risking his record in the Qatar Arc de Triomphe distance of 1m4f (1½m, 12f) on October 2.
It is a distance he has never tried.
Ten furlongs (1m2f or 1¼m) has always been his best distance though he lost this year to Rewilding at Ascot and was only a half length in front of filly Snow Fairy at the Curragh.
Both are stayers and SYT was forced to stretch as never before.
He was third by 3½ lengths Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup (1m6f, 14f, 1¾m).
He is favourite for the QIPCO Champion Stakes race at Ascot, 1m2f (1¼m, 10f) on October 15.
So You Think's connections feel that winning the Arc is a more prestigious Group 1 on his stallion record than the Champion Stakes.
*It is a very big risk, but he is second favourite after Sarafina to win the Arc.
Godolphin will be happy, because their three-year-old Dubai Prince IRE, who was injured in April forcing him to miss the Classics, has healed and put in an eye-catching performance in the Dubai Free Conditions Stakes 1m1f (9f, 1-1/8m) at Newbury.
He has quickly moved up the betting charts for the Champion Stakes.
©Posted September 15, 2011
Fabre Stable Virus
Meandre FR (Slickly FR) was sent out 3/5F in the Qatar Prix Niel, but finished second - 2 lengths behind the winner Reliable Man.
He and 'missing in action' Golden Lilac suffered from the virus afflicking trainer Andre Fabre's stables.
He would have to be supplemented for the Arc and connections are looking to a later race for him.
©Posted September 14, 2011
Boys Gang Up On Sarafina
Sorry if the header is offensive. But what the boys tried to do to flying filly Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) in the Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2), 1m4f at Longchamp, was a gang up and just as offensive.
One can only imagine what they will do to the favourite in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if last year's Arc and the Prix Foy are examples.
Yes, her jockey Christophe-Patrice Lamaire deserves criticism for forcing the issue in not taking the safe route around the determined obstructionists.
Going round so close to the winning post was a losing strategy.
So I and her many fans (all France) say "Bravo C-P!" despite enduring a stewards enquiry.
Not only did she prevail, but she learned the valuable lesson that she is capable of getting through the tightest gaps created by bullying males (jockeys actually) to win.
Little Sarafina is a brave filly who cruised home on heavy ground conditions with her big hooves eating up the Turf to defeat a vastly-improving Hiruno D'Amour JPN (Manhattan Care JPN).
The big danger in any race is inexperienced horses and jockeys.
There is no excuse for Japanese jockeys to ride their fine horses in France the same way they do in Japan. They will lose the Arc again if they do not learn how to ride the Longchamp racecourse and learn the Rules of racing in France.
Japanese trainers have brought their horses over to Chantilly early enough to work out their learning curve.
Japan's Nakayama Festa's jockey took off from the stalls at break-neck speed gaining many lengths on the three others in the Prix Foy.
Christophe Soumillon, on St Nicholas Abbey IRE (Montjeu IRE), closed up the wide gap advantage perhaps sooner than necessary and the super-fast pace may have worn him out his horse who had nothing left at the end.
Sarafina lopped along last without a concern until NF tired near the post and the three others closed in on him.
When she made her attempt to win, St Nick and HDA with Shinji Fujita on board closed the gap on her until her jockey bumped her through the closed gap.
Lemaire was criticised in a stewards enquiry, but kept the race.
Though worried throughout the enquiry, her trainer Alain de Royer Dupre was thrilled with her performance the the lessons she learned.
"She did not have a hard race and will be at peak for the Arc." he said.
She is now quoted 3/1 favourite over a small, but tight betting field.
Hiruno D'Amour was second by a neck, St Nicholas Abbey by 2½ lengths and Nakayama Festa third by another ½ length.
Galikova FR (Galileo IRE) upped her game in the Qatar Prix Vermeille and Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA), who was closing down So You Think in the Irish Champion Stakes, may join the other two females in the Arc.
We could have a one-two-three now of fillies called the Arc Angels.
©Posted September 12, 2011
Royer Dupre's Second Serious Arc Contender
After a nail-biting stewards' room decision which finally allowed HH The Aga Khan's Serafina to keep the Prix Foy, her trainer Alain de Royer Dupre acquired a second solid competitor for the iconic Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe October 2.
Reliable Man (Dalakhani IRE out of On Fair Stage IRE (Saddler's Wells USA)), winner of the 1m2f French Derby, romped home in the second Arc trial: the Group 2 Qatar Prix Niel 1m4f for 3yo colts and fillies on Turf at Longchamp.
The colt lost the Grand Prix de Paris (at the longer Arc and Prix Niel distance of 1m4f) in July to Meandre FR (Slickly FR). He was third 4½ lengths from the winner.
The betting public was not convinced that Reliable Man was capable of the 1m4f distance despite his sire being an Arc winner.
That was the reason Meandre was sent out 3/5 favourite in the Niel and Reliable Man at 5/2.
Both horses kept the pace along with RM's half brother, Vadamar FR (Dalakhani IRE), who is owned by the Aga Khan and also trained by Royer Dupre.
Once the winner made his move, neither could catch him. M was 2 lengths behind in second and V third by another length.
Reliable Man has won five of his six starts and his trainer thinks the the firm ground of the Prix de Paris caused him to lose that race.
He was bred in England by N P Bloodstock Ltd and is owned by the Pride Racing Company named for their great racing mare Pride whom Royer Dupre trained in her illustrious international career.
©Posted September 12, 2011
Galikova Proves Her Mettle
There is no longer a question if Galikova FR (Galileo IRE) has the potential of her half sister Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA) or whether she is qualified to run in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
She won her Arc trial in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille, 1m4f (Arc distance), for fillies and mares at Longchamp by 2½ lengths on heavy ground.
She did it in emphatic style over the long-time leader Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE), trained by Alain de Royer Dupre for HH The Aga Khan, and Pascal Bary's progressive Testosterone IRE (Dansili) who stole second by a neck.
Ballydoyle's Wonder Of Wonders USA (Kingmambo USA) folded in the fast closing pace and was fifth by 9¾ lengths.
Galikova has no trouble with keeping a sedate or fast pace, getting the distance or winning. She still scrambles to pick up to challenge off a slowish pace despite having Olivier Peslier as her jockey.
She has raw power and is getting better every time she races. The slow pick up is her only flaw.
Her trainer Freddy Head said "What pleased me was that she stayed and the way she finished. Like her sister, she has won a Group 1."
He believes that her owners, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, will want her to go for the Arc and stay in training at next year when she is four.
Their Goldikova will race in the Prix de la Foret before trying for her fourth consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs November 5.
©Posted September 12, 2011
Excelebration To Challenge Frankel Again
Young Italian trainer Marco Botti, who trains in Newmarket, walked off with the prestigious Group 1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, 1m for 3yo+, with his exciting miler Excelebration IRE (Exceed And Excel AUS), 11/5 favourite.
It is Excelebration's first Group 1 after losing two top races to his fellow three-year-old Frankel (Galileo IRE) who is unbeaten in eight starts.
It is Botti's second Group 1 which was won by Gitano Hernando in 2009.
Godolphin's Rio De La Plata USA (Rahy USA) took second, for the second year, by 1½ lengths and Rajsaman third.
Excelebration will either contest Frankel again at Ascot's Queen Elizabeth II October 15 or confront Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile November 5 for the European miler's crown.
©Posted September 13, 2011
Britain's Prohibit Won French Sprint
A horse trained in Great Britain won the Qatar Prix Du Petit Couvert (Group 3) 5f on Turf for 3yo+ at Longchamp.
It was the second British victory on the six-race card.
Six-year-old Prohibit (Oasis Dream) won his 32nd start by a head after engaging in spirited battle with Mar Adentro FR (Marju IRE) to the line.
Jim Crowley rode a fierce finish on trainer Robert Cowell's gelding. Christophe Soumillon on MA complained to the stewards and his objection was overruled.
Tim Easterby's Hamish McGonagall (Namid) was third by 1½ lengths.
Prohibit will compete in the Prix de la Abbaye on the Arc weekend.
©Posted September 13, 2011
Injured Pour Moi Retired
Sadly, Andre Fabre's "best I've ever had" colt, Pour Moi, seriously injured his near-fore fetlock and was retired to Coolmore stud for the 2012 breeding season.
It was a bitter disappointment for his trainer, jockey Mikael Barzalona and his Coolmore owners who felt he had every chance to win the Arc de Triomphe. He was favourite.
In June, they appeared to have an embarassment of racing riches fpr tje Arc with him, St Nicholas Abbey and Recital.
Neither of the latter have proven themselves competitive enough to beat the new favourite Sarafina, Workforce (last year's winner), Nathaniel or Galikova.
So You Think may be diverted to tackle the 1m4f distance for the first time if his Ballydoyle/Coolmore owners feel he can win.
Cape Blanco, their winner of the Arlington Million, will compete in the Cox Plate in SYT's place.
Pour Moi dominated betting after his breathtaking last-to-first victory in the Investec Derby it greives one to see a brilliant career cut short.
©Posted September 6, 2011
Japan Team For Arc
Four or more horses of trainer Shinichi Izumi will arrive in France to prepare for their assault on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Nakayama Festa who was second to Workforce in the Arc last year will join Victoire Pisa, winner of the Dubai World Cup, and Hiruno D'Amour in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Foy.
Nakayama Knight will race in the Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2).
©Posted August 10, 2011
Sarafina On Course To Arc
Two male contenders for the Qatar Arc de Triomphe will battle each other in the shorter Coral-Eclipse, 1m2f7y, on Saturday at Sandown Park: So You Think NZ (three times Cox Plate winner) and Workforce (last year's Investec Derby and Arc winner).
Third in last year's Arc after being impeded, solid Arc contender filly Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE), expended a lot of energy battling her own jockey Christophe Lemaire in both the paddock and early quarter of the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, 1m4f (2400m, 1½m) on Turf for 4yo+.
Lemaire finally settled the overly-keen filly at the back of the six for so long and so late that her many fans (including the breathless French race announcers) thought her task of closing on the soft leader Cirrus Des Aigles was impossible.
But the tiny filly has a turn of foot and is capable of multiple accelerations that are staggering.
From 400m to 200m, she covered the distance in 10.80s relaxing at 11.30s to win by a neck in 2m34.40s.
Once she moved, no one could doubt her perfect condition and that, with each race, her trainer Alain de Royer Dupre gives her more demanding tests at the Arc distance so that she peaks in time for her final career race.
She may just be unbeatable by the flawed So You Think and Workforce if they do not overcome their stamina problems.
Then all she has to worry about the younger French males Pour Moi and Reliable Man.
She may meet three-year-old Testosterone IRE (Dansili), who won the Group 2 Prix de Malleret on the same bill, in her Arc prep - the Prix Vermeille - or tackle the Prix Jean Romanet, according to Lemaire.
The 'pouliche de classe' is a bit of a madam and Lemaire said it requires sound nerves to ride her ("il fallait avoir des nerfs").
But what a joy Sarafina is to watch!
Scrappy Sarafina On Target For Arc
French colts are not chopped liver, especially Tin Horse, but French fillies are 'formidable', par example, everyone's Horse of the Year Goldikova.
Today, four-year-old Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) threw down her challenge to all the boys.
She and her connections intend to win France's most important mid-distance race - the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - to be held at Longchamp on October 2.
In last year's Arc, the little filly scythed through a melee of fading males to nearly close down the winner Workforce at the post.
This year, she started her 2011 season in the Prix Ganay last month where she came in a length behind the progressive colt Planteur IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE).
At St Cloud today, her beaming owner/breeder, HH Aga Khan, looked over his filly in the paddock and saw her race on a left-handed course for the first time in the Prix Corrida (Group 2) 1m2½f for 4yo+ fillies and mares.
The course posed no problems for the elegant and diminutive filly who bowled along in fifth position of six under Christophe Lemaire's gentle hands.
Two tireless fillies alternated setting a slow, steady pace for their betters when Juddmonte's burly chestnut Announce (Selkirk) sprung a surprise early run that almost caught Sarafina off guard.
Lemaire only had to ask and his filly scrunched herself into a ball and propelled herself like a bullet after her rival.
As she passed them all by, one could only say "There she goes."
She has been installed as third favourite for the Arc behind Workforce and everyone's new favourite for everything So You Think.
Those boys had better watch their backsides. If Sarafina has any chance to get through the Arc pack, she will run them down with her speed, toe and sheer class.
Many of us thought she was the best horse in last year's Arc and regretted that she was impeded so often that reaching post first was impossible.
Her final close was almost shockingly amazing. If there were any justice, she would have made it.
This year we will be pulling for the scrappy little terrier.
Posted May 23, 2011
Sarafina's Next
Connections of the glorious filly Sarafina have decided that she will remain in France to prepare for her assault on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe October 2 when she will take on So You Think and Workforce for the trophy.
Her next race will be the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud on June 26.
Given her exceptional turn of foot, it would be foolish to underestimate her chances of defeating powerful males.
The French have fondly nicknamed her "La Pouliche de Classe" and, I suspect, she will carry their standard.
Posted May 24, 2011
It is always makes one feel good when Racing International 's unusal predictions come true in major races.
We predicted a one-two-three female victory in Europe's iconic Group 1 Qatar Arc de Triomphe, 1m4f (12f, 1½m, 2400m), at Longchamp on good-to-fast Turf.
In our preview analysis, we rated Danedream GER (Lomitas GER) as having the best chance to win along with Snow Fairy and Sarafina.
We got it right about Danedream and Snow Fairy who was third.
Sarafina, probably the best horse in the race, never fired until the very end - too late to make up lost ground.
Her formidable stablemate, Shareta, was the surprise female of the trio coming in second.
We predicted that Shareta, St Nicholas Abbey and Treasure Beach would pacemake for Sarafina and So You Think.
So You Think was the male to come closest to the three divas reaching fourth with St Nicholas Abbey in fifth by a shoulder.
The controversy of whether So You Think could outlast a real stayer like Snow Fairy was finally settled when she held him firmly at bay by a half length.
Meandre, Sarafina and Silver Pond took the next three places with the eight other race participants a minimum of four lengths behind.
The horses who did the best love good-to-fast ground.
After Shareta fought off Ballydoyle's St Nicholas Abbey and Treasure Beach, the way was paved for Germany's Danedream to emerge from her safe rail position speeding past the others in a record-breaking 1.24.29 bettering Peintre Celebre's 1997 record of 2.24.60.
Danedream's jockey Andrasch Starke rode a course-perfect race taking advantage of her enviable Stall 2 position to control the rail when Hiruni D'Amour from Stall 1 lost it.
Starke rode her off the pace in the middle avoiding the fractious, battling leaders and taking the shortest route round the course thereby conserving her energy for a stunning run for home.
Fortunately, fading horses kept racing and Starke found a gap at the perfect time to use his three-year-old filly's tremendous speed to outdistance the others leaving them in shock to scrap for placings.
It was Germany's second (our mistake in an earlier column said the first) victory in the Arc. The first was by Star Appeal in 1975.
Since her owner Gestut Burg Eberstein sold half interest in her to Japanese breeder Teruya Yoshida two days before the race, Japan has its first victory of the Arc - technically speaking that is.
She was bred by Gestut Brummerhof and trained by Germany's leading trainer Peter Schiergen who said she was the best horse he ever trained.
"When she was winning, I was in a dream. I am not sure that now is not a dream."
Her connections made a wise decision to supplement her for €100,000 and got a nice return in the £1,970,344.83 first prize.
Danedream won a 132 Timeform rating. A half share in her has been sold to Japanese breeder Teruya Yoshida before the race and she will retire to stud in 2013 in Japan.
©Posted October 2, 2011
Arc Day Races
Qatar Prix Du Cadran (Group 1), 2m4f for 4yo+ on Turf, £123,146.55
One of the most satisfactory results for many who follow the 23/10 favourite, Casbah Bliss FR (Kahyasi), was his 1¼ length victory over Tres Rock Danon and a short neck over Brigantin in the long-distance race.
The nine-year old prodigy of Francois Doumen was brilliantly ridden by veteran Gerald Mosse and is a particular favourite of the trainer and well-loved by the French.
Qatar Prix De L'Abbaye De Longchamp (Group 1), 5f for 2yo+ on Turf, £147,775.86
Seven-year-old Tangerine Trees (Mind Games) brought home a hard-fought prize for British trainer Bryan Smart and jockey Tom Eaves winning by a short neck and nose over Britain's Secret Asset and Sole Power in fast time 55.53s (fast by 1.27s).
Total Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium Des Pouliches (Group 1), 1m for 2yo fillies on Turf, £147,775.86
Despite a near arrest for suspected spying when entering France, trainer John Gosden managed arrived in time for the race and to cheer home his wayward Elusive Kate USA (Elusive Quality USA).
Zantenda was sent out 4/5 favourite, but was no match for the British filly who could have lost the race after taking the lead and hanging so far left that she was almost off the course.
She won by 3 lengths, Fire Lily was second and Zantenda another 1¼ lengths behind in third.
Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1), 7f for 2yo colts and fillies on Turf, £172,405.17
Luck changed for Frankie Dettori when he was reuinited with the exciting Dabirsim FR (Hat Trick JPN). He was 1/2 favourite.
They hugged the rail quietly and it looked as if Dettori might not get the gap in time, but his timing was perfect and the colt won by a comfortable ¾ length over Sofast and a short head over Salure.
Dabirsim is one of the most talented youngsters racing in Europe today and is not for sale despite many offers, according to young trainer Christophe Ferland.
The colt is now a five-for-five winner at two and favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Qatar Prix De La Foret (Group 1) 7f for 3yo+ on Turf, £147.775.86
It was not easy for the Darley July Cup and Haydock Sprint winner Dream Ahead USA (Diktat) to beat older performers like Goldikova (1/2 favourite) and Surfrider, but the three-year old did in thrilling form by a head and 6 lengths.
Young William Buick rode both Elusive Kate and Dream Ahead. David Simcock trained the colt.
Qatar Prix De L'Opera (Group 1), 1m2f for 3yo+ fillies and mares on Turf, £172,405.17
Juddmonte's four-year-old Announce (Selkirk USA) was sent off 2/1 favourite in one of the most controversial races of the day thanks to her jockey Maxime Guyon.
Frankie Dettori rode the promising three-year-old Nahrain (Selkirk USA) of young British trainer Roger Varian for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.
Compared to Announce with nine races, the inexperienced three-for-three Nahrain was rated no beter than 9/2 and underestimated by many except Announce's jockey.
Dettori wisely kept his filly up with the pace along the rail. When Announce made her run for the lead, Guyon slowed up his filly to trap Nahrain.
Dettori desperately searched for a gap, found a small one and found his little filly slammed by the imposing Announce.
He escaped to win by a nose with Banimpire third 1½ lengths out in 2m2.74s (fast by 1.16s).
Guyon had the nerve to complain to the stewards that Dettori interfered with him. His claim was dismissed.
He managed to cost his own filly her best chance and certainly cut into Nahrain's run. One of them would have done better than a nose without the bad tactics.
Nahrain and Announce will meet again at the Breeders' Cup.
©Posted October 2, 2011
Arc Saturday: Not Frankie's Or Favourites' Day
For The Man in demand, none of Frankie Dettori's races panned out to plan on the Saturday of the Qatar Arc de Triomphe Weekend at Longchamp.
Nor could anyone agree on the ground. Some said 'soft', Dettori said 'good' and I saw dusty divots flying which means dry and loose.
The favourite horses were unlucky as well in three of the four Group 2 races for thoroughbreds.
The best and most satisfactory race of the day was actually the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Group 1 PA), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m), for females on the Flat Turf.
The talented four-year-old Kiss De Ghazel (Dormane FR) was at a disadvantage by the slow pace led by the eventual second, Djanet Monlau (Dormane FR), but powered away to win by 1½ lengths in 2.19.69s.
She is trained by Jean-Francois Bernard and ridden by Jean-Baptiste Eyquem for her Saudi Arabian owner, Haif bin Mohammed Al Ghatani, who was present.
This is her second major Group 1 PA of the year. She won the coveted President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) at Ascot this Summer.
Her next effort may be the Breeders' Challenge at Toulouse.
Since Arabian horses start their racing careers a year later than thoroughbreds, Kiss De Ghazel is equivalent to just a three-year old thoroughbred and could race as long as the great mare Al Dahma.
Kiss De Ghazel is a formidable filly with the most beautiful name.
Qatar Prix Chaudenay, Group 2, 1m7f (15f, 1-7/8m, 3000m) for 3yo
This is the one Group 2 race of the day in which the favourite prevailed. Shankardeh IRE (Azamour IRE), who started racing at three winning or placing each time, was sent off 18/5 favourite.
Jockey Christophe-Patrice Lemaine (Sarafina's partner) managed to defeat 10/1 Miss Lago IRE (Encosta Del Lago AUS) by a head and the second favourite, Pacifique IRE (Montjeu IRE), by another length in the five-runner race.
Pacifique's trainer, Alain De Royer Dupre (Sarafina and Reliable Man's trainer), felt she was undone by the fast ground.
Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein, Group 2, 1m (8f, 1600m), for 3yo+
This is the first of three races where Frankie Dettori's tactics either backfired or he was unlucky or he was on horses who just were not good enough.
His Rio Del La Plata USA (Rahy USA) made for home a bit too early at 150m and was headed by Rajsaman FR (Linamix FR) for his first loss out of three battles with Rajsaman.
Rio De La Plata has raced six times this year as a six-year old and has lost every race. He has always placed, but it may be time for the lovable chestnut to join his brothers, Noverre and Fantastic Light, in retirement.
Best Dating IRE (King's Best USA), four-year-old gelding, was third by another length and was snapped up in the Arqana Sales by Anthony Stroud to race in the Dubai Carnival.
Qatar Prix de Royallieu, Group 2, 1m2.5f (12.5f, 1m3/8, 2500m), for females of 3yo+
Frankie Dettori's second mount, Modeyra (Shamardal IRE), started her career with double wins and seems to have lost her way in her fourth year.
The imposing filly was sent off by Dettori to lead at a very slow pace putting the field to sleep.
Unfortunately, it was a distance to short for her and three of two others, but played to the strength of a fast, late closer like Sea Of Heartbreak IRE (Rock Of Gibraltar IRE) who beat Modeyra into third with Miss Crissy IRE (Verglas IRE) taking second by a half length and a shoulder respectively.
Sea Of Heartbreak, who won her first Group race, will race in the Fillies' race at Woodbine and may be in the December Sales.
Qatar Prix Dollar, Group 2, 1m1-3/4, (9.75f, 1-3/8m, 1950m), for 3yo+
For the French, this race should have been won by 'Fighting Cirrus' Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE), but Byword (Peintre Celebre USA) shouldered him on the line.
After nine hard races in 2011, it may have been a bit too much to expect of Cirrus who has won or placed in all these races.
Byword, a Group 1 winner at Ascot last year, finally got back to form.
Frankie Dettori's French Navy (Shamardal USA) made a good try from the rear, but lost his 2011 winning ways ending in ninth. He did NOT like the ground.
Let's hope there are no hard luck stories Sunday on Arc de Triomphe Day.
©Posted October 1, 2011
Dettori Bullish On Snow Fairy
Lanfranco 'Frankie' Dettori could not be more bullish on his four-year-old filly, Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA), whom he will ride in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, 1m4f (1½m, 12f, 2400m) at Longchamp Sunday.
Dettori's views must be respected as he has won three Arcs on Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001) and Marienbard (2002).
"Longchamp is a very flat course and the race itself will be very slick, suiting a horse that is light on its feet and able to go through the gears. On that score, it is tailor made for Snow Fairy."
He compared her progress against the favourite of many, So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE), when she closed the nine-length gap in Sandown's Coral-Eclipse to a half length in last month's Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes. Both races are 1m2f (1¼m, 10f, 2000m).
He dismissed the highly-vaunted So You Think with "The Irish Champion suits a grinder rather than a horse with a turn of foot. I really think a fast-run mile and a half on a quick, flat track will see Snow Fairy in her best light - So You Think will have to be every bit as good over the extra two furlongs to stay ahead of her."
Fortunately, Snow Fairy's owner Christina Patino trusted her trainer, Ed Dunlop, when he leapt at the chance for his filly in the Arc (when the ground changed).
If Dettori is right, SYT's owners may regret not listening to their trainer and save him for the more appropriate
QIPCO British Champions Day.
©Posted October 1, 2011
Workforce A Likely
Longchamp's Course Clerk will water the course Saturday night to assure good and fair ground for all the Sunday races.
This is very good news for connections of last year's winner, Workforce (King's Best USA), who finds fast ground jarring.
Since Workforce has recovered from a serious injury on good ground in Ascot's King George, trainer Sir Michael Stoute is extra protective of his wonderful colt and will decide his participation after he walks the course Saturday.
He will be reunited with his jockey Ryan Moore, who has recovered from a broken collar bone, in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Moore warned punters "not to forget Workforce" as he has been training exceptionally well.
If they are both recovered and the horse has trained on, he merits better than 7-8/1 odds.
What a pity should he not run!
©Posted October 1, 2011
Arc Favourites After Stall Assignments
Sarafina 3-4/1
So You Think 4-5/1
Galikova 13/2-7/1
Workforce 7-8/1
Meandre 10-12/1
Reliable Man 10-12/1
Snow Fairy 10-12/1
Masked Marvel 12-14/1
Hiruno D'Amour 14/1
Danedream 16-20/1
©Posted September 30, 2011
Ground And Stalls Limit Arc Runners
Two weeks ago it appeared that the dowager Qatar Arc de Triomphe would be run on good-to-soft ground in typical cooler Autumn weather.
A full complement of 28 horses were expected to run eliciting the usual fears of lessor horses with uneven talents endangering and hampering better horses.
Today, we have an unseasonal heat wave with no rain in sight. Longchamps is forced to water the racecourse up till Thursday for safety sake and the ground is expected to be fast.
The race is run on a right-handed course at a distance of 1m4f (1½m, 12f, 2400m) on Turf.
The horses run straight to a long, gentle curve until the straight when they spread to sprint.
Of the 16 horses declared, including three supplemented at €100,000 each because of fast ground, two more of the 13 others horses may drop out because of it.
Reliable Man (Dalakhani IRE), authoritative three-year-old winner of the Qatar Prix Niel, may be pulled Sunday morning at final declaration time.
His trainer, Alain de Royer Dupre, is concerned that the French clay-based soil will pack too solidly for his colt's safety.
He pointed out that French turf is not as deeply rooted as English turf; it is frequently filled in and replaced creating pitting.
That issue also could deter trainer Sir Michael Stoute from allowing last year's Arc winner Workforce (King's Best USA) to race.
Workforce appears to have recovered from the serious back injury incurred in the King George where Rewilding died.
The winner of that race, Nathaniel IRE (Galileo IRE), has been pulled from the race in favour of the supplemented St Leger winner Masked Marvel (Montage IRE) due to ground by their trainer John Gosden.
The second problem for the 16 participants is the draw with the two favourites, Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) and So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE), getting the unhelpful wide 13 and 14 stalls.
Only two horses in the last eight years have won from those outside stalls.
Hence, both are drifting in the betting.
Plum Stall 1 went to improving Hiruno D'Amour JPN (Manhattan Cafe JPN) who has a jockey in Shinji Fujita who knows how to race on the French course.
Stall 2 went to supplemented filly Danedream GER (Monson GER).
Should either win, it would be a first for their countries. The filly, who loves fast ground, has a new half-share owner in Japan's prominent breeder Teruya Yoshida.
Of the favourite French horses, Galikova FR (Gallileo IRE) has lucked out with Stall 4 and Reliable Man, who may not run, has Stall 7. Meandre FR (Slickly Fr) is in Stall 10.
Britain's Masked Marvel and Workforce have Stalls 5 and 8 respectively. Workforce won last year from 8. Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA) is in 11.
Ireland's Ballydoyle has its pacemaker, St Nicholas Abbey IRE (Montjeu IRE), in the good position of Stall 6, Treasure Beach (Galileo IRE) in 12 and star So You Think in 14.
It is an interesting mix of 16 with two five-year olds, So You Think and Nakayama Festa JPN (Stay Gold JPN), who was second in the Arc last year.
Four are four-years old: Hiruno D'Amour, Sarafina, Silver Pond FR (Act One FR) and Workforce.
The remaining six are exceptionally talented three-year olds: Danedream, Galikova, Masked Marvel, Meandre, Testosterone IRE (Dansili) and Treasure Beach.
Six are improving females: Danedream, Galikova, Sarafina, Shareta, Snow Fairy and Testosterone.
Snow Fairy has the most winning international experience of the females and was supplemented because of fast ground. Whether she can overcome Stall 11 is a question. Then again she has Frankie Dettori as her jockey which gives her a great chance.
Both she and Sarafina like to race from the back, but she proved how good she is when closing down So You Think to a half length in the Irish Champions Stakes coming from off the pace.
Sarafina could be cursed with her similar style of racing to Zenyatta's with a late close and Blame's victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic proves the vulnerability of that style.
Most the the remaining horses like to race off the pace.
Only St Nicholas Abbey looks like a pacemaker unless Nakayama Festa's jockey repeats an early burnout as he did in the Prix Vermeille.
Foreign jockeys under the extreme pressure of an Arc sometimes race counter intuitively with it ending badly for them.
Positioning and tactics are key to winning with smooth quick action to exploit gaps between tiring horses.
This race will be fast and no horse can win it without speed at the right time and stamina.
That puts So You Think's chances into question on the basis of stamina, distance, his ability to handle fast ground and the disadvantage of the wide stall.
On the other hand, Masked Marvel broke the speed record at Doncaster in winning the 1m5f St Leger on fast ground.
Jockey William Buick, though young, is seasoned at Longchamp and in Group 1s and is in Stall 5.
From the perspective of position, speed and stamina, the advantages should go to Danedream, Galikova, Masked Marvel, Meandre, Snow Fairy and Hiruno D'Amour if he can handle fast ground.
It will take all of jockey Christophe-Patrice Lemaire's skill to position his Sarafina to win. It can be done if they are lucky.
He will probably have to wait and wait to bring her wide in the way Dalakhani won his Arc.
That way she is not in a position to be stopped as she was last year.
Sarafina is still the best horse in the race and still merits favouritism.
Snow Fairy has the experience, Galikova has the ability with favourable stall and Olivier Peslier, but Masked Marvel is the wild card.
Update: Speedy and progressive filly Testosterone IRE (Dansili) landed prime Stall 3, the frontrunning stablemate of Sarafina, Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE), Stall 9, Silver Pond FR (Act One) and Nakayama Festa JPN (Stay Gold JPN), who was second in the Arc last year, drew the farthest Stalls - 15 and 16 respectively.
Not a plodder in the bunch.
©Posted September 30, 2011
Dettori In Demand
Despite Godolphin's not having too many entries in the Arc weekend, their retained jockey Lanfranco 'Frankie' Dettori has been co-opted for three choice Group 1 rides.
The first is on the outstanding unbeaten 2yo colt, Dabirsim whom he partnered for the first time in the Prix Morny, who is favourite for the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
After Dettori's successful pairing with Snow Fairy in the Irish Champion Stakes when she came within a half length of So You Think, Dettori was offered the ride on her in the Arc - and probably in any other race he can manage.
There have been major changes with Worthadd's Italian connections and Dettori has inherited the ride from his friend Mirco Demuro in the Qatar Prix de la Foret, 1m, against the great French mare Goldikova.
Shadwell Stud has tried to purchase the Dubawi colt without success. One hopes the changes allow them another chance.
He deserves to have a major stud promoting him.
Dettori has three good Godolphin candidates on Saturday in Group 2s: improved French Navy in the Qatar Prix Dollar, everyone's favourite Rio De La Plata in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein and the filly Modeyra in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu.
He will also partner filly Nahrain in Sunday's Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Opera, 1m2f (10f, 2000m), for owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and trainer Roger Varian.
Everyone wants Frankie.
©Posted September 30, 2011
It's How It Is
The big question of will So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE) or won't SYT race in the Qatar Arc de Triomphe distance of 1m4f (1½m, 12f, 2400m) on October 2 at Longchamp is settled in the affirmative.
He will race at an untried distance on fast, dry ground despite his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, preferring he try a mile or 1¼ at the Qipco British Champions Day October 15.
O'Brien appears to have suspicions that his horse may not have the stamina for an Arc and could win a good Group 1 at a shorter distance.
Who listens to trainers? O'Brien trains them and his Ballydoyle/ Coolmore bosses make the decisions.
They think the Arc is a more prestigious event for his stud value than the other races at Ascot.
The Down-Under contingent who bred and trained him has not been too happy with the way their wonder horse has been campaigned since he left their shores and they are fretting that the Arc may not be the right race for him.
Additionally, the horse has another problem in being drawn wide in Stall 14.
At least he will have sympathetic jockey, Seamie Heffernan, who rides out on him every day.
Such is So You Think's reputation that he remains second favourite to Sarafina and he is the first choice of British and Irish bettors.
©Posted September 30, 2011
Arc Favourites
After Longchamp's Arc trials on September 11, several horses have proven their ability to handle the 1m4f (1m½) distance on all sorts of Turf and the list of favourites has solidified in a tight betting race with no doubts about the Aga Khan's filly Sarafina as the best and the three-year-old filly Galikova progressing with every race:
Sarafina 3/1
Workforce 5/1
Nathaniel 11/2
Galikova 6-7/1
Reliable Man 7/1
So You Think 7/1
Meandre 12-14/1
Hiruno D'Amour 16-20/1
Nakayama Festa 25-33/1
Galikova, Reliable Man (sire Dalakhani IRE is an Arc winner) and Hiruno D'Amour strongly impressed in their trials and moved up in betting.
Meandre and So You Think are not likely to race in the Arc.
The French team is solid to win unless Britain produces a Workforce back to last-year's form and Nathaniel progresses.
We have seen in two St Leger's what the latter's trainer John Gosden can do so do not count him out.
*Neither Ballydoyle nor Godolphin appear to have a candidate for the big race and are likely to concentrate on Ascot's Champion Stakes.
©Posted September 12, 2011
So You Think For Arc?*
Latest news from Ballydoyle is that So You Think's connections feel it is worth risking his record in the Qatar Arc de Triomphe distance of 1m4f (1½m, 12f) on October 2.
It is a distance he has never tried.
Ten furlongs (1m2f or 1¼m) has always been his best distance though he lost this year to Rewilding at Ascot and was only a half length in front of filly Snow Fairy at the Curragh.
Both are stayers and SYT was forced to stretch as never before.
He was third by 3½ lengths Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup (1m6f, 14f, 1¾m).
He is favourite for the QIPCO Champion Stakes race at Ascot, 1m2f (1¼m, 10f) on October 15.
So You Think's connections feel that winning the Arc is a more prestigious Group 1 on his stallion record than the Champion Stakes.
*It is a very big risk, but he is second favourite after Sarafina to win the Arc.
Godolphin will be happy, because their three-year-old Dubai Prince IRE, who was injured in April forcing him to miss the Classics, has healed and put in an eye-catching performance in the Dubai Free Conditions Stakes 1m1f (9f, 1-1/8m) at Newbury.
He has quickly moved up the betting charts for the Champion Stakes.
©Posted September 15, 2011
Fabre Stable Virus
Meandre FR (Slickly FR) was sent out 3/5F in the Qatar Prix Niel, but finished second - 2 lengths behind the winner Reliable Man.
He and 'missing in action' Golden Lilac suffered from the virus afflicking trainer Andre Fabre's stables.
He would have to be supplemented for the Arc and connections are looking to a later race for him.
©Posted September 14, 2011
Boys Gang Up On Sarafina
Sorry if the header is offensive. But what the boys tried to do to flying filly Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) in the Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2), 1m4f at Longchamp, was a gang up and just as offensive.
One can only imagine what they will do to the favourite in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if last year's Arc and the Prix Foy are examples.
Yes, her jockey Christophe-Patrice Lamaire deserves criticism for forcing the issue in not taking the safe route around the determined obstructionists.
Going round so close to the winning post was a losing strategy.
So I and her many fans (all France) say "Bravo C-P!" despite enduring a stewards enquiry.
Not only did she prevail, but she learned the valuable lesson that she is capable of getting through the tightest gaps created by bullying males (jockeys actually) to win.
Little Sarafina is a brave filly who cruised home on heavy ground conditions with her big hooves eating up the Turf to defeat a vastly-improving Hiruno D'Amour JPN (Manhattan Care JPN).
The big danger in any race is inexperienced horses and jockeys.
There is no excuse for Japanese jockeys to ride their fine horses in France the same way they do in Japan. They will lose the Arc again if they do not learn how to ride the Longchamp racecourse and learn the Rules of racing in France.
Japanese trainers have brought their horses over to Chantilly early enough to work out their learning curve.
Japan's Nakayama Festa's jockey took off from the stalls at break-neck speed gaining many lengths on the three others in the Prix Foy.
Christophe Soumillon, on St Nicholas Abbey IRE (Montjeu IRE), closed up the wide gap advantage perhaps sooner than necessary and the super-fast pace may have worn him out his horse who had nothing left at the end.
Sarafina lopped along last without a concern until NF tired near the post and the three others closed in on him.
When she made her attempt to win, St Nick and HDA with Shinji Fujita on board closed the gap on her until her jockey bumped her through the closed gap.
Lemaire was criticised in a stewards enquiry, but kept the race.
Though worried throughout the enquiry, her trainer Alain de Royer Dupre was thrilled with her performance the the lessons she learned.
"She did not have a hard race and will be at peak for the Arc." he said.
She is now quoted 3/1 favourite over a small, but tight betting field.
Hiruno D'Amour was second by a neck, St Nicholas Abbey by 2½ lengths and Nakayama Festa third by another ½ length.
Galikova FR (Galileo IRE) upped her game in the Qatar Prix Vermeille and Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA), who was closing down So You Think in the Irish Champion Stakes, may join the other two females in the Arc.
We could have a one-two-three now of fillies called the Arc Angels.
©Posted September 12, 2011
Royer Dupre's Second Serious Arc Contender
After a nail-biting stewards' room decision which finally allowed HH The Aga Khan's Serafina to keep the Prix Foy, her trainer Alain de Royer Dupre acquired a second solid competitor for the iconic Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe October 2.
Reliable Man (Dalakhani IRE out of On Fair Stage IRE (Saddler's Wells USA)), winner of the 1m2f French Derby, romped home in the second Arc trial: the Group 2 Qatar Prix Niel 1m4f for 3yo colts and fillies on Turf at Longchamp.
The colt lost the Grand Prix de Paris (at the longer Arc and Prix Niel distance of 1m4f) in July to Meandre FR (Slickly FR). He was third 4½ lengths from the winner.
The betting public was not convinced that Reliable Man was capable of the 1m4f distance despite his sire being an Arc winner.
That was the reason Meandre was sent out 3/5 favourite in the Niel and Reliable Man at 5/2.
Both horses kept the pace along with RM's half brother, Vadamar FR (Dalakhani IRE), who is owned by the Aga Khan and also trained by Royer Dupre.
Once the winner made his move, neither could catch him. M was 2 lengths behind in second and V third by another length.
Reliable Man has won five of his six starts and his trainer thinks the the firm ground of the Prix de Paris caused him to lose that race.
He was bred in England by N P Bloodstock Ltd and is owned by the Pride Racing Company named for their great racing mare Pride whom Royer Dupre trained in her illustrious international career.
©Posted September 12, 2011
Galikova Proves Her Mettle
There is no longer a question if Galikova FR (Galileo IRE) has the potential of her half sister Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA) or whether she is qualified to run in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
She won her Arc trial in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille, 1m4f (Arc distance), for fillies and mares at Longchamp by 2½ lengths on heavy ground.
She did it in emphatic style over the long-time leader Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE), trained by Alain de Royer Dupre for HH The Aga Khan, and Pascal Bary's progressive Testosterone IRE (Dansili) who stole second by a neck.
Ballydoyle's Wonder Of Wonders USA (Kingmambo USA) folded in the fast closing pace and was fifth by 9¾ lengths.
Galikova has no trouble with keeping a sedate or fast pace, getting the distance or winning. She still scrambles to pick up to challenge off a slowish pace despite having Olivier Peslier as her jockey.
She has raw power and is getting better every time she races. The slow pick up is her only flaw.
Her trainer Freddy Head said "What pleased me was that she stayed and the way she finished. Like her sister, she has won a Group 1."
He believes that her owners, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, will want her to go for the Arc and stay in training at next year when she is four.
Their Goldikova will race in the Prix de la Foret before trying for her fourth consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs November 5.
©Posted September 12, 2011
Excelebration To Challenge Frankel Again
Young Italian trainer Marco Botti, who trains in Newmarket, walked off with the prestigious Group 1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, 1m for 3yo+, with his exciting miler Excelebration IRE (Exceed And Excel AUS), 11/5 favourite.
It is Excelebration's first Group 1 after losing two top races to his fellow three-year-old Frankel (Galileo IRE) who is unbeaten in eight starts.
It is Botti's second Group 1 which was won by Gitano Hernando in 2009.
Godolphin's Rio De La Plata USA (Rahy USA) took second, for the second year, by 1½ lengths and Rajsaman third.
Excelebration will either contest Frankel again at Ascot's Queen Elizabeth II October 15 or confront Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile November 5 for the European miler's crown.
©Posted September 13, 2011
Britain's Prohibit Won French Sprint
A horse trained in Great Britain won the Qatar Prix Du Petit Couvert (Group 3) 5f on Turf for 3yo+ at Longchamp.
It was the second British victory on the six-race card.
Six-year-old Prohibit (Oasis Dream) won his 32nd start by a head after engaging in spirited battle with Mar Adentro FR (Marju IRE) to the line.
Jim Crowley rode a fierce finish on trainer Robert Cowell's gelding. Christophe Soumillon on MA complained to the stewards and his objection was overruled.
Tim Easterby's Hamish McGonagall (Namid) was third by 1½ lengths.
Prohibit will compete in the Prix de la Abbaye on the Arc weekend.
©Posted September 13, 2011
Injured Pour Moi Retired
Sadly, Andre Fabre's "best I've ever had" colt, Pour Moi, seriously injured his near-fore fetlock and was retired to Coolmore stud for the 2012 breeding season.
It was a bitter disappointment for his trainer, jockey Mikael Barzalona and his Coolmore owners who felt he had every chance to win the Arc de Triomphe. He was favourite.
In June, they appeared to have an embarassment of racing riches fpr tje Arc with him, St Nicholas Abbey and Recital.
Neither of the latter have proven themselves competitive enough to beat the new favourite Sarafina, Workforce (last year's winner), Nathaniel or Galikova.
So You Think may be diverted to tackle the 1m4f distance for the first time if his Ballydoyle/Coolmore owners feel he can win.
Cape Blanco, their winner of the Arlington Million, will compete in the Cox Plate in SYT's place.
Pour Moi dominated betting after his breathtaking last-to-first victory in the Investec Derby it greives one to see a brilliant career cut short.
©Posted September 6, 2011
Japan Team For Arc
Four or more horses of trainer Shinichi Izumi will arrive in France to prepare for their assault on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Nakayama Festa who was second to Workforce in the Arc last year will join Victoire Pisa, winner of the Dubai World Cup, and Hiruno D'Amour in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Foy.
Nakayama Knight will race in the Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2).
©Posted August 10, 2011
Sarafina On Course To Arc
Two male contenders for the Qatar Arc de Triomphe will battle each other in the shorter Coral-Eclipse, 1m2f7y, on Saturday at Sandown Park: So You Think NZ (three times Cox Plate winner) and Workforce (last year's Investec Derby and Arc winner).
Third in last year's Arc after being impeded, solid Arc contender filly Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE), expended a lot of energy battling her own jockey Christophe Lemaire in both the paddock and early quarter of the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, 1m4f (2400m, 1½m) on Turf for 4yo+.
Lemaire finally settled the overly-keen filly at the back of the six for so long and so late that her many fans (including the breathless French race announcers) thought her task of closing on the soft leader Cirrus Des Aigles was impossible.
But the tiny filly has a turn of foot and is capable of multiple accelerations that are staggering.
From 400m to 200m, she covered the distance in 10.80s relaxing at 11.30s to win by a neck in 2m34.40s.
Once she moved, no one could doubt her perfect condition and that, with each race, her trainer Alain de Royer Dupre gives her more demanding tests at the Arc distance so that she peaks in time for her final career race.
She may just be unbeatable by the flawed So You Think and Workforce if they do not overcome their stamina problems.
Then all she has to worry about the younger French males Pour Moi and Reliable Man.
She may meet three-year-old Testosterone IRE (Dansili), who won the Group 2 Prix de Malleret on the same bill, in her Arc prep - the Prix Vermeille - or tackle the Prix Jean Romanet, according to Lemaire.
The 'pouliche de classe' is a bit of a madam and Lemaire said it requires sound nerves to ride her ("il fallait avoir des nerfs").
But what a joy Sarafina is to watch!
Scrappy Sarafina On Target For Arc
French colts are not chopped liver, especially Tin Horse, but French fillies are 'formidable', par example, everyone's Horse of the Year Goldikova.
Today, four-year-old Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) threw down her challenge to all the boys.
She and her connections intend to win France's most important mid-distance race - the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - to be held at Longchamp on October 2.
In last year's Arc, the little filly scythed through a melee of fading males to nearly close down the winner Workforce at the post.
This year, she started her 2011 season in the Prix Ganay last month where she came in a length behind the progressive colt Planteur IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE).
At St Cloud today, her beaming owner/breeder, HH Aga Khan, looked over his filly in the paddock and saw her race on a left-handed course for the first time in the Prix Corrida (Group 2) 1m2½f for 4yo+ fillies and mares.
The course posed no problems for the elegant and diminutive filly who bowled along in fifth position of six under Christophe Lemaire's gentle hands.
Two tireless fillies alternated setting a slow, steady pace for their betters when Juddmonte's burly chestnut Announce (Selkirk) sprung a surprise early run that almost caught Sarafina off guard.
Lemaire only had to ask and his filly scrunched herself into a ball and propelled herself like a bullet after her rival.
As she passed them all by, one could only say "There she goes."
She has been installed as third favourite for the Arc behind Workforce and everyone's new favourite for everything So You Think.
Those boys had better watch their backsides. If Sarafina has any chance to get through the Arc pack, she will run them down with her speed, toe and sheer class.
Many of us thought she was the best horse in last year's Arc and regretted that she was impeded so often that reaching post first was impossible.
Her final close was almost shockingly amazing. If there were any justice, she would have made it.
This year we will be pulling for the scrappy little terrier.
Posted May 23, 2011
Sarafina's Next
Connections of the glorious filly Sarafina have decided that she will remain in France to prepare for her assault on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe October 2 when she will take on So You Think and Workforce for the trophy.
Her next race will be the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud on June 26.
Given her exceptional turn of foot, it would be foolish to underestimate her chances of defeating powerful males.
The French have fondly nicknamed her "La Pouliche de Classe" and, I suspect, she will carry their standard.
Posted May 24, 2011