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
France 2011
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Vive Le "Fighting" Cirrus!
"Fighting" Cirrus Des Aigles suddenly appeared to cut down So You Think by a ¾ length in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot. ©Photo David Hastings
The French went mad with joy. Their own precious Persian Punch, Cirrus Des Aigles, came off the pace to cut down the big Australian noise, So You Think, in the £1,300,000 QIPCO Champion Stakes (Group 1), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m) for 3yo+ on good Turf at Ascot.
Ransom Note (Red Ransom USA) under front-running Michael Hills and the overly-keen, hard-pulling Nathaniel IRE (Galileo IRE) contested the front with So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE), Cirrus Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE) and Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA) beautifully placed just off the pace.
At just the right moment, Ryan Moore moved So You Think out to take the lead in what appeared to be a sure victory.
The crowd was stunned when an unfamiliar gelding swung out to cut down the leader by ¾ lengths and the badly-hampered Snow Fairy was finally able to take third a ½ length behind SYT.
Had she been able to escape the rail earlier, she might have been the winner.
Christophe Soumillon on Cirrus made sure she wasn't.
The mare Midday (Oasis Dream) was another 2 lengths behind Snow Fairy with Nathaniel in fifth.
Whatever disappointment the losers' connections felt, it was nothing compared to Soumillon's after the Stewards' decision to ban him for striking Cirrus six times with the whip in the final furlong (limit is seven) and stripping him of his £50,000+ earnings on the winner's payout of $579,280.
[A jockeys' strike over the British Horseracing Authority's changes to whip Rules was postponed for special meetings and hearings with the BHA on Monday. Specific appeal hearings will take place the following week after a review of possible premature implementation of the new Rules.]
Popular French trainer Corinne Barande-Barbe was effusive with praise for her beloved "Fighting" Cirrus, who unfortunately lost the Prix Dollar Arc weekend, for winning his first Group 1 race at five.
Twenty-five Group 1 victories were held by the horses he defeated.
"It is a marvelous moment. One wishes the day would never end. Cirrus has realised the dream that I have always had for him.
This improving horse should have contested the Arc, but geldings cannot.
A pity this loveable horse is a gelding and sad that his victory should be shrouded in controversy.
As to the sanction on Soumillon, Barande-Barbe said "Cette sanction est inadmissible."
Soumillon called it a scandal and an embarrassment to British racing.
It is as stupid as the Dar Re Mi controversy was in France when the unrelenting Stewards would not bend to reason.
Hopefully, the British can accept their mistakes and correct the damage of starting Rules changes in the height of a season.
Too many jockeys and connections are involved for the authorities not to reconsider.
©Posted October 16, 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
"Fighting Cirrus"
Deauville racegoers got more than they asked for from their beloved Cirrus Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE).
Skipping the Ebor Festival for the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron - Hong Kong Jockey Club, 1m2f for 4yo+ on Turf, France's "Fighting Cirrus" slaughtered Lancelot and four other rivals by 8 lengths.
Between kisses for her five-year-old horse, winning trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said "We now have prospects for an autumn campaign and the Prix Dollar could be one objective."
The Grand Prix de Deauville at the end of August could be his next race.
Immortal Verse Smashed Her Elders
The three-year-old winner of Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes in June took out one of the most distinguished fields of European milers in the Group 1 Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois for colts, fillies and mares on good-to-soft Turf at Deauville.
The super-fast filly, Immortal Verse IRE (Pivotal), was one of two horses who was most adapted to the rain-soaked ground as was Royal Bench IRE (Whipper USA) whose sire, like Pivotal, performed well on soft ground.
Both were trained by Robert Collet and owned by R-C Strauss.
It was a strange race in that those on the ends of the 12 stalls peeled into the centre of the mile straight course bumping as they did. None moved towards a rail.
The 11/10 favourite Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) was lucky to reach seventh off the pace.
It was so frantic that both of Goldikova's pacemakers, Polemique and Flash Dance, had difficulties getting to the front.
It was one of the most ill-judged races on a simple course.
Poor little Goldikova was trapped as soon as she tried to move forward and got several bumps from hanging and uncontrolled Planteur.
She did move on and managed to dominate the race briefly until speedy Immortal Verse flew all the way from the back along Goldikova's left side blindsighting her and perhaps her jockey.
Gutsy Immortal Verse with jockey Gerald Mosse dove across the field and eyeballed the 14 Group 1 winner.
Goldikova picked up but could not regain momentum despite being struck many times by Olivier Peslier and took second a length behind the winner.
Sahpresa USA (Sahm USA) swooped at the end to miss out on second by a nose.
Her trainer Rodolphe Collet, son of Robert, is shocked that she has not won a Group 1 this year. She also runs less well on soft ground.
It was a day when females triumphed.
One male, Royal Bench, was fourth - two lengths behind them.
Collet sees his Immortal Verse as a "super filly" who is "out of the ordinary". She is entered in all the big races is likely to take on Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day October 15.
Anyone who saw her Coronation Stakes knows Collet is not exagerrating.
Mosse describes her race as "C'est magique!"
Does this loss mean Goldikova is now chopped liver?
She was sent out on ground she loses on and had a sapping race two weeks ago. Both Immortal Verse and Sahpresa were fresh.
Her trainer Freddie Head offered no excuses.
Not only has she won 14 Group 1s, but she has never placed lower than second.
Given a rest, better ground and a little less interference, she should be back to form.
Immortal Verse defeated Nova Hawk in Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes.
Photo ©David Hastings
©Posted August 15, 2011
French Update
Goldikova and Immortal Verse will meet again in the September 4th in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
Goldikova's trainer admitted that, not only was the ground against her, but she was not ridden correctly to respond to Immortal Verse's surge.
Mutual Trust will join them at the Prix and Sahpresa will try to win her third Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket September 24 before going on to the Japan Mile November 20.
©Posted August 17, 2011
Galikova's Revenge
France's darling double Poule/de Diane (Guineas/Oaks) winner, Golden Lilac IRE (Galileo IRE), was sent out evens favourite in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D'Ornano, 1m2f, for 3yo on good-to-soft Turf.
Her old rival Galikova FR (Galileo IRE) was 13/5 second favourite.
Galikova's trainer Freddie Head sent out gelding Slow Pace USA (Distorted Humor USA) to set the pace and he had to fight Colombian IRE (Azamour IRE) until the latter tired.
Golden Lilac had a perfect position in third on the rail for the entire race.
Galikova was second last and rode very wide.
When her jockey Olivier Peslier gave he the signal to speed up, he was not satisfied that she responded quickly enough. When he tried to galvanise her speed with a few cracks, she reacted badly.
It could have cost her the race. Once Peslier got the message and let her have her head, she dug down and put the race away with the brilliant fast close she was always capable of.
She lost the Prix de Diane to Golden Lilac in a similar situation.
One hopes her experienced jockey realises that this is a filly who does not like to be struck and it throws her off her stride.
Slow Pace was second 2 lengths behind.
Golden Lilac was in trouble 100m out and never really picked up to pass Slow Pace. She was another 1½ lengths behind him.
Her jockey complained that she had trouble gaining traction on the ground and is best on good ground.
Galikova, half sister to Goldikova, proved her stamina and speed. She kept going past the post and was full of energy.
She is well capable of the 1m4f (1½m, 2400m) distance of the Prix Vermeille in September and/or the Arc de Triomphe in October.
It may have been an off-day for Golden Lilac, causing her to lose her unbroken record, but 1m2f (1¼m, 2000m) appears to be her maximum distance.
I doubt that she will beat the very progressive Galikova again unless the latter's jockey does not heed his filly's warning.
Her victory is the first for a female since 1985.
Peslier won the first four races on the card and has passed 100 Group 1 wins with Galikova - two of the other races were for owners Wertheimer et Frere.
Trainer Head, Peslier and owners Wertheimer et Frere won a one-two in this race with Galikova and Slow Pace.
©Posted August 15, 2011
Arqana Sales And Deauville Races
The coming weekend is one of the most important in Deauville's thoroughbred season.
On Monday following major Group races, the Arqana Sales open just a block from the Deauville Racecourse and last through Thursday in a new fixture format.
Thoroughbred sales have been inching up worldwide since the worst of the recession started.
Sheikh Mohammed just bought over $8 million of horses at his Fasig Tipton auction house and Arqana is hoping for a large contingent of foreign buyers to improve their bottom line.
Monday's quality races alone will draw racegoers and buyers to Deauville.
The great Goldikova may face 16 (at the first forfeit) in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois (Group 1) at a mile.
Freddie Head, her trainer, has entered Flash Dance as her pacemaker and two others: Polemique and Rajsaman.
The winner of the Prix Ganay, Planteur, is already at the racecourse working out for trainer Ellie Lelouche.
Richard Hannon is keen to "ruffle Goldikova's feathers" with Dick Turpin and Dubawi Gold if they get soft enough ground.
The Juddmonte team includes Cityscape and Mutual Trust.
Godolphin may send Delegator, who has been unlucky in finding the right ground, Emerald Commander and Rio De La Plata.
Also on the card is the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D'Ornano for three-year-olds, 1m2f, may showcase another confrontation between two exceptional fillies: Golden Lilac and Galikova (Goldikova's half sister).
Britain may send Pisco Sour and Colombian, Ireland Dunboyne Express and Godolphin three talented colts: Casamento, Hunter's Light and Biondetti.
Both of the fillies' trainers, Andre Fabre and Freddie Head, may reserve them for the Prix de la Nonette which is restricted to three-year-old fillies.
©Posted August 10, 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
Goldikova: 14 Times Lucky
"C'est magnifique!" said Freddy Head of his mare Goldikova's easy 14th Group 1 and fourth victory in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville (above in her Breeders' Cup blanket commemorating her three BC Mile victories).
Photo ©Racing International
Trainer Freddie Head's awestruck comment about his six-year-old mare Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) when she won her 14th Group 1 race and her fourth Prix Rothschild in a row could be considered an understatement.
"C'est magnifique!"
She is the first horse since European Pattern was introduced in 1971 to win the same top-level race in France for four successive years.
Goldikova is also the only horse in Breeders' Cup history to win three consecutive Breeders' Cup races - the BC Mile.
Today, she barely raised a sweat in finishing off several very fine female competitors in the one-mile Group 1 Prix Rothschild for fillies and mares, 3y+, on good Turf ground.
Her pacemaker Flash Dance put in her usual admirable fast pace setting up the race for her stablemate who followed in second and third until 1½ furlongs out when FD began to tire. Goldikova took the lead at 1 furlong.
Sir Henry Cecil's Timepiece (Zamindar), ridden confidently by Tom Queally, shadowed Goldikova as he did with Sahpresa USA (Sahm USA) in the Falmouth Stakes.
The latter lost to Timepiece when Queally changed tactics slowing up the pace. He would have no such opportunity with the clockwork Goldikova team.
When Goldikova took the lead at 1 furlong out, the other six made their moves including a powerful challenge from Timepiece.
It is worth noticing in the video how small Goldikova is compared to the others and how she hunkers down to the ground with absolute concentration.
Watch her tight leg action and try to see how fast her legs move if you can. She fast forwards.
Sahpresa was always the danger based on form and she made a fine challenge from the rear in the final furlong. She was always held and lost by a neck-shoulder.
Her connections were thrilled that she got so close to Goldikova and will race in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket and be campaigned in Japan later in the year.
Olivier Peslier, Goldikova's jockey, eased up on her at the end so it was never a real contest between her and Sahpresa.
Timepiece was third 2 lengths behind reversing the order of the Falmouth.
Peslier described Goldikova's performance as "just a nice piece of work and I never touched her with my whip. She just needed pushing out and there was still plenty of gas left in the tank at the end of the race. She is an exceptional horse."
She looked cool and unraced as she walked off the course.
She should have won the Princess Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but she had very bad luck in her jockey being overweight costing her a length according to the official handicapper. She lost to Canford Cliffs by a length.
Her next race may be the one-mile Prix Jacques Le Marois August 15 at Deauville if she is ready and the ground is not too soft.
Canford Cliffs connections declined the suggestion that he take her on in France; instead he was soundly defeated by Frankel at Glorious Goodwood last week.
If Goldikova misses the Jacques Le Marois, Head will consider the 7-furlong Prix du Moulin de Longchamp September 4 where she will meet Juddmonte's nice colt Mutual Trust and then have a final prep for the Breeders' Cup in the mile Prix de la Foret.
The French went wild today with pride in this little brown wren who is their equestrian Maryanne.
For them, nothing can be more 'magnifique' than when she wins and the whole country will probably celebrate in a parade down the Champs Elysee if Goldikova wins her fourth Breeders' Cup.
©Posted July 31, 2011
Timepiece vs Goldikova
On a roll, the Frankel/Twice Over/Midday team is confident in sending Timepiece (Zamindar) to take on Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild (Group 1) at Deauville on Sunday July 31.
Out of four races this year, Timepiece won two, but was defeated by two formidable females in the other two: Godolphin's Antara and stablemate Midday.
Goldikova lost the Queen Anne's Stakes to a very fit Canford Cliffs, just defeated by Frankel, at Royal Ascot.
She only lost by a length and, since her jockey was two pounds overweight, she lost her fillies' allowance and lost a length advantage, according to the BHA handicapper.
She won't have that problem at Deauville which is one of her favourite courses.
©Posted July 29, 2011
Menandre Defeated Two Derby Winners
That Meandre FR (Slickly FR) could win the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, 1m4f (12f, 1½m, 2400m) on Turf, should not be a total surprise to racegoers.
The progressive three-year-old colt started winning his races once the distance was increased from 10f to 11f and 12f. The farther the better.
Hence, his trainer Andre Fabre targeted the Grand Prix winning the race for the eleventh time at Longchamp.
Jockey Maxim Guyon managed to calm the excited colt before entering the stalls and kept him steady in third place despite the desperate pace set by Aidan O'Brien's Seville IRE (Galileo IRE) and Treasure Beach IRE (Galileo IRE) in first and second for most of the race.
Treasure Beach won the Irish Derby and Reliable Man won the shorter French equivalent, the Prix du Jockey Club (1m2f).
Meandre, who had never won more than a Listed race, moved without effort once Guyon pressed him in the straight to move past the leaders defeating Seville by 1½ lengths in 2m26.63s.
Reliable Man, who raced in fourth throughout the race and had trouble picking up, finally overtook the tiring Treasure Beach for third by a neck.
Meandre is owned by the President of France Galop Edouard Rothshild and is a credit to the former President Jean-Luc Lagardere's famous stallion Linamix who is the sire of Slickly.
The colt is quoted at 10-14/1 for the Arc de Triomphe and is thought to be more versatile than Pour Moi.
Watar Took Longer Prix Maurice de Nieuil
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's six-year-old Watar IRE (Marju IRE) beat a distinguished field of stayers in the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, 1m6f (14f, 1¾m, 2800m) on Turf at Longchamp.
Trainer Freddie Head was so pleased with Watar's recovery from injury and his race performance that he said "he is an Arc horse".
From the growing list of possible competitors, this might be the most crowded Arc field in history.
July 16, 2011
Mutual Trust Took Prix Jean Prat
There are some exciting races of very talented horses which leave one is left feeling regret that just one wins. Dead heats of three horses rarely happen and it did not happen today in Chantilly.
Juddmonte's Mutual Trust (Cacique IRE) thrust through hard-working Strong Suit USA (Rahy USA) and evens-favourite Zoffany's joint battle for first to win on the line by a head in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, 1m on Turf for 3yo.
Both losing horses are very experienced with multiple Group victories and have recovered brilliantly from past setbacks.
Both were ridden competitively by Irish jockeys Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore who is back on a Ballydoyle horse, Zoffany IRE (Dansili), after his loss on So You Think to Rewilding in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Despite superior form, they were no match for the less-experienced Andre Fabre-trained colt on Fabre's home racecourse. His horses have won nine of the 12 races at this season's Chantilly meet.
Mutual Trust has only had three career races which he has won (just one Group - a 3) before the prestigious Jean Prat.
His impressive victory in his last race placed him on 21/10 odds. Racing International tipped him after seeing that race.
The husky colt played up a bit before entering the stall, but was quickly settled by jockey Maxime Guyon and was kept in the first four during the race.
Filly Glorious Sight led most of the way until Hughes struck for front with the powerful Strong Suit who is trained by his father-in-law Richard Hannon.
Any doubts of Zoffany's first try at a mile were dispelled when he made his move on SS and appeared to be the winner until the unexpected Mutual Trust spoiled his day in sprint time of 11.02s for the last 200 meters.
Strong Suit was third by a nose and Glorious Sight another 1½ lengths behind. Venomous followed her by a nose and Godolphin's Neebras sixth 2½ lengths behind.
Temp Au Temps walked out of the gate, refused to race and was pulled up.
Mutual Trust looks as if he can stay further than a mile and has a very promising future.
However, Fabre appears to prefer the the mile distance for MT for now. His next race could be a challenge to Goldikova in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 14 or the Prix de Moulin de Longchamp September 4.
Posted July 3, 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!
Is Golden Lilac The New Zarkava?
With effortless grace, beautiful Golden Lilac IRE (Galileo IRE - Grey Lilas IRE) swept aside all eight other fillies in the Group 1 Longines Prix de Diane for three-year-old fillies, 1m 2½f, on good-to-soft Turf at Chantilly, France.
Despite having won four of her four starts, she was sent off second favourite at 13.5 because some felt her form was questionable and she had not raced beyond a mile.
Galikova FR (Galileo IRE - Born Gold USA), who shares her dam with Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) as well as her owners, trainer and jockey, was sent off evens favourite.
Her pacemaker Polemique set an excellent, steady pace helping the winner win in fast time of 2m 7.90s (fast by 0.10s).
For most of the race, Galikova raced just outside of Golden Lilac who hugged the rail three or four off the leaders.
Maxime Guyon found a opening at the 200m marker for Golden Lilac and seized it while Galikova's jockey Olivier Peslier dawdled before kicking on his filly.
No question his sleeping at the controls wrecked Goldikova's chances of winning.
The French announcers on the video (above) were so incensed and her trainer, Freddie Head, said he intended 'talking' to Peslier.
Glorious Sight IRE (Singspiel IRE), 41.1, looked safe in second.
When Peslier finally rallied Galikova 100m out, she showed both her class and a deadly end run similar to her sister's.
All too late by a length but she nudged GS out of second by a neck.
If today's performance is any indication, it is understandable that Peslier has never won the Prix de Diane.
Let us hope the real Olivier Peslier shows up with Goldikova for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot June 14.
Despite the recognition of Golden Lilac's abilities, it would be unwise to underestimate Galikova in the future.
She was as unlucky as a horse could be today and the failure of her stunning flying close broke one's heart.
Golden Lilac 's great French trainer Andre Fabre now has another Arc de Triomphe candidate along with his Investec Derby winner Pour Moi.
She is quoted at 10.1 and described as possibly being another Arc winner like Zarkava.
Her owners Gestut Ammerland are known to want the Arc trophy badly. Her five out of five career starts should convince them that they finally have a good chance.
Fabre won his fourth Prix de Diane though Sunday was just another day for Fabre. He won five of the seven races at Chantilly including all the Group races - the Group 1 Prix de Diane and three Group 3s.
His winners were Monarch's Way in the Prix De La Reine Marie-Amelie (Conditions), Mutual Trust in the Prix Paul De Moussac, Kreem in the Prix Du Lys and Byword in the prix Du Chemin De Fer Du Nord.
Both the three-year-old colts have a promising future. Mutual Trust and Byword, who is back to form, are Juddmonte horses.
Golden Lilac has won both French Classics for fillies and is a remarkable filly.
But even she cannot compete with her remarkable trainer who also plays a mean polo match.
Posted June 12, 1911
Battle Royale Of French Fillies
Update: Only nine run. Don't Hurry Me and Nosail dropped out at the final declaration. Polemique will act as pacemaker for Galikova and field. Posted June 12, 2011
French racegoers are salivating in anticipation of the riveting contest between Golden Lilac IRE, brilliant winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and Galikova FR (half sister of Goldikova by mare Born Gold USA) in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 12.
The €850,000 Prix is a Group 1 for three-year-old fillies, 2100m (10.5f, 1m 3/8) on Turf.
It is the final Spring Classic and is equivalent to the English and Irish Oaks for three-year old fillies though it is two furlongs shorter than the English and Irish versions.
Both fillies are by Europe's leading older sire Galileo IRE and are co-favourites with the edge given to Golden Lilac.
Golden Lilac has won 4 of 4 starts for trainer Andre Fabre (trainer of Pour Moi - Investec Derby winner) and Galikova has won 3 of her 4 for Freddie Head who also trains Goldikova.
Galikova 's only loss was to Misty For Me, Irish 1000 Guineas winner, last October.
Progressive Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE), who is trained by Andre De Royer Dupre (trainer of Reliable Man - Prix du Jockey-Club winner), and Fabre's Godolphin filly, Wavering IRE (Refuse To Bend IRE), could upset fans' expectations.
French experts seem to think this race is a replay of the 2008 contest between brilliant Zarkava and Goldikova who lost. Goldikova only emerged from Zarkava's shadow when the latter retired after winning the Arc de Triomphe.
Given the example of this year's Prix du Jockey-Club, Investec Oaks and Investec Derby, the fillies' race could be wider open than the experts see.
Having said that, most of the eleven in the race have raced against each other and the favourites have beaten most of the remaining: Andromeda Galaxy, Haya Landa, Don't Hurry Me, Glorious Sight, Epic Love, Nosail and Polemique.
Andromeda Galaxy and Don't Hurry Me, who likes to lead, are among the French favourites.
Also on the card are three Group 3 races.
The €80,000 Prix Paul De Moussac is for three-year-old males, 1800m (1m 1f, 1-1/8m), on Turf. Venomous is one of the potential stars of this race.
The €80,000 Prix Du Lys is for three-year-old males, 2400m (12f, 1½m), on Turf.
The €80,000 Prix Du Chemin De Fer Du Nord is for four-year-old plus, 1600m (1m), on Turf and includes seasoned campaigners Byword, Sir Oscar and Beacon Lodge.
Posted June 11, 2011
Reliable Man Boosts Dalakhani Line In Jockey-Club
The Pride Racing Club has its first Classic winner in France since Pride FR (Peintre Celebre USA) herself reigned over international racing for French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre and her Swedish owners.
Flying from the back under Gerard Mosse, Reliable Man (Dalakhani IRE) slashed down his opponents in Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club (Group 1), 2100m (10½f, 1-5/16m) right-handed on Turf, at Chantilly.
The colt jumped from two minor career races to a Group 1 Classic taking the scalps of the Irish 2000 Guineas' winner Roderic O'Connor IRE (Galileo IRE) and the French 2000 Guineas' winner Tin Horse (Sahkee USA). They could do no better than eighth and fifth respectively.
Promising Baraan FR (Dalakhani IRE) left his stall late and floundered at least 15 lengths out only to make it all up at the end taking third two lengths behind Bubble Chic FR (Chichicastenango FR) who was ¾ lengths behind the winner.
Colombian IRE (Azamour IRE), with William Buick on board for trainer John Gosden, was only foreign horse to place - fourth out of the 16 participants.
Both Godolphin's talented Casamento IRE (Shamardal USA) and Ballydoyle's Roderic O'Connor fought for the lead and burnt themselves out.
Roderic and Baraan were betting favourites and Casamento was thought to have a good chance as well.
Unfortunately, the major training operations battle each other and the French just race their races.
Hence, I did predict that a French-trained horse would beat them, but no one seems to have factored in the inexperienced Reliable Man who went from a 109 rating to a solid 120 after his Prix performance.
Stephane Giraut, in tears, said that when RM "was young at the stud farm. He was always a very gentile colt, very calm like his sire (Dalakhani). He has distinguished himself. C'est magnifique!"
De Royer Dupre, winning his sixth Prix, said "He's a horse of great quality. He's got a lot of class, but it's all still very new to him."
He will aim him for the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, July 14th, where he is likely to meet the other Dalakhani colt Baraan.
The owner of both Baraan and the Arc winner sire Dalakhani, HH The Aga Khan, said that his horse probably needs 2400m (1m4f or 1½m) of the Grand Prix de Paris. It is the same distance as the Arc and considered a good trial for the biggest race of France's season.
All four French colts of the first five finishers show great promise of improvement and could be Qatar Arc de Triomphe contenders.
They will have to progress considerably in a few more races before they are seasoned enough to take on Workforce or Pour Moi who will race in the Prix Jean Prat on July 3rd.
Posted June 6, 2011
Prix du Jockey-Club Preview
France's winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (2000 Guineas), Tin Horse IRE (Sakhee SA) remains favourite to duplicate Lope De Vega's double Guineas/Derby victory in Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club (Group 1), 2100m (10½f, 1-3/8m) right-handed on Turf, at Chantilly.
Jean-Claude Rouget's Baraan FR (Dalakhani IRE) should not be undervalued after winning the Prix la Force April 10.
Ballydoyle has diverted its Irish Guineas' winner Roderic O'Connor IRE (Galileo IRE) from the Derby to compete with their Alexander Pope possibly setting the pace.
Godolphin skipped the Derby also and entered Casamento IRE (Shamardal USA) and Andre Fabre's Grand Vent IRE (Shirocco GER) as well.
Pascal Bary's Glaswegian (Selkirk USA) carries Juddmonte colours in the Prix and is one of the favourites.
Form and odds indicate a victory for one of the major owner/breeders.
Tin Horse will run from the 15th stall. Being a very balanced and fast horse, a wide draw should not hamper him. He will stalk others using them to set the pace.
Most French trainers do not use their own horses as pacemakers.
Roderic O'Connor, 4.1 favourite, will be up with the pace and try to outrun Tin Horse and any others.
This is a very high quality race - perhaps the best and most talent balanced of the weekend.
Posted June 3, 2011
Goldikova Slighted Again In Rankings/Ratings
Goldikova parades in her Breeders' Cup Mile blanket highlighting
her three back-to-back victories in the race - a record feat at the BC.
Photo Racing International
Racing International joins the Jour de Galop in asking the world's handicappers "OU EST "GOLDI"?
One of the world's most remarkable horses of any historical period, Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA), has not been included in the World Thoroughbred Rankings by either the International Federation of Horseracng Authorities or by the Racing Post's handicapper.
Our resume of Goldikova's international records is breifly described in the adjacent column Sacrebleu!
How could any responsible handicapper fail to include her in the Top Ten?
The Top Ten rankings of the IFHA range from 130 down to 122 and horses are ranked on their best performances in a race of a designated period.
Goldikova's recent Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan was an easy dismissal of her rivals earning a race rating of 125.
Canford Cliffs IRE (Tagula IRE) has only raced once this year in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes where he was awarded a 125 on performance.
Dick Turpin IRE (Arakan USA), whom Goldikova beat by 34 lengths in the Prix, is listed at 124 for his Group 2 victory of 2½ lengths over 119-rated Cityscape.
Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) is rated at 121 for her fine Prix Corida in her season debut.
What excuses do these handicappers have for excluding Goldikova?
Why are they antagonising racegoers?
Whatever reasons - they are unacceptable.
Posted May 29, 2011
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
Sacrebleu!
Not only has Goldikova won 13 Group 1 races, she has beaten 44 Group 1 winners (information thanks to the very proud Jour de Galop).
Only three males John Henry USA with 16 and Forego USA and Kingston Town AUS with 14 Group 1 victories are ahead of her.
With 13 Group 1s, she is in the company of Spectacular Bid USA, Sunline AUS, Tie The Knot AUS and Zenyatta USA.
JDG rightly points out that comparisons of Milers in Europe to the rest of the world is impossible considering the variable courses and standards.
European Turf miles are for the grown ups.
Goldikova is also closing in on Zenyatta's USA record earnings of $7,304,580 and Sunline's world record of $8,400,189.
Goldikova's current earnings are $6,355,545 and she has five races to go before retiring.
She is Europe's record earner.
Isn't it interesting that the world's top earning horses are all FEMALE?
Posted May 24, 2011
Goldikova's 13th Group 1 In Prix D'Ispahan
The amazing six-year-old mare, Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA), easily disposed of her seven male competitors in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan, 1m1f (1-1/8) on good Turf, at Longchamp.
This is a back-to-back success for her in the Prix despite the distance of 9f being a one-furlong stretch for the classic miler.
The race was nicely set up by the only other female in the race, her trainer and owner's pacemaker Flash Dance (Zamindar USA), who set a mightly pace with Goldikova settled in second or third for the first three quarters of the race.
The final time was 1m 51.00s (fast by 2.00s) which is no surprise as Goldikova has previously set the course record in the this race.
Good milers like Dick Turpin IRE (Arakan USA) were burnt off early by the time Goldikova was set off by jockey Olivier Peslier to pass Flash Dance 2f from home.
Only Cirrus Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE) and Rajsaman FR (Linamix FR) were capable of giving serious chase to France and England's 2010 Horse of the Year.
Chistopher Soumillon and Thierry Jarnet put those two horses in the frame with their considerable jockeyship.
Despite the Prix being her first season outing, Goldikova flicked them off by a neck and ¾l respectively without more than a workman-like performance - for her.
One forgets just how fast Goldikova is when she is merely cruising.
Flash Dance came in another five lengths behind Rajsaman putting three horses trained by Freddy Head in the first four. She is also owned by Wertheimer & Freres and was ridden with great confidence by Mikael Barzalona.
Goldikova is expected to compete again in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and end her career in an attempt to win a fourth consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs November 5.
She is the only horse in the Breeders' Cup history to win any race three times.
There is talk that she might extend her final racing career to include the Hong Kong Mile.
Posted May 23, 2011
Godolphin's Wavering Bags Prix Saint-Alary
For those fillies who did not compete in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1000 Guineas) for three-year-old fillies at one mile, the Group 1 Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary offers a trial for the longer-distance Prix de Diane (Oaks), 1m 2f (10f, 1¼m).
None of the Prix de Diane favourites (Galikova, Golden Lilac and Shareta) participated which left opportunities for other fillies to qualify for the Classic and gain black type.
This race was one of the best of the day with really well-balanced competition, good timing and smart tactics.
The favourite Epic Love IRE (Dansili) was sent out 2.1 favouite with Dalura, Don't Hurry Me and Glorious Sight close behind in betting.
The winner, Wavering IRE (Refuse To Bend IRE), was trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona and still only thought worthy of 6.1.
Don't Hurry Me set a good pace and was succeeded by Epic Love at about a furlong from the post.
Nonsuch Way and Glorious Sight clustered round Epic Love at the end only to to be outrun on the outside by Wavering who won the race by a short neck over Epic Love and Nonsuch Way (27.1) in third by a neck.
Glorious Sight came in ¾ lengths behind the third and Don't Hurry Me in eighth.
The time was 2m 5.80s (slow by 1.90s) and reflected slow time in all the Longchamp races on good ground except for the fast Prix d'Ispahan of victor Goldikova.
Posted May 23, 2011
Goldikova's 8 Pretenders
The six-year-old champion mare, Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA), will make her season debut in the Group 1 Prix D'Ispahan, 1m 1½l (1850m) at Longchamp on May 22.
She will face old foes in Richard Hannon's Dick Turpin, Andre Fabre's Byword and her own trainer Freddie Head's Rajsaman, who will be ridden by Thierry Jarnet as the new retainer for owner Saeed Nasser Al Romaithi. He was hired after his Poule d'Essai des Poulains victory on Tin Horse.
Olivier Peslier will partner Goldikova again.
Head plans to run her in the same six races this season as last year ending in an attempt to win a fourth back-to-back Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.
Rivals claim she is too old to succeed.
Don't they hope!
Posted May 21, 2011
Battle of Fillies
French racegoers are salivating at the anticipated riveting contest between Golden Lilac IRE, brilliant winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and Galikova FR (half sister of Goldikova by mare Born Gold USA) in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 12.
The Prix de Diane is equivalent to the English Oaks though two furlongs shorter.
Both fillies are by Europe's leading older sire Galileo IRE and are co-favourites.
Golden Lilac has won 4 of 4 starts and Galikova 3 of her 4.
No one talks of any other fillies in the race. Their fans will be lucky if there is no female Tin Horse, like the improving Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE) to upset their expectations.
Posted May 21, 2011
Golden Lilac and Tin Horse Take French Guineas
The most demanding early Group 1 races in Europe are the English, French and Irish Guineas for the top fillies and colts.
They are the first Classics of each country's season and are run at one mile on Turf for three-year olds.
The English 2000 Guineas for males and 1000 Guineas for females at Newmarket are generally the stiffest tests offering no place to hide up and down the stamina-draining dips of the straight Rowley Mile.
The French Guineas are perceived to be a little easier, because the curving back arm of Longchamp's course allows horses to manoeuvre for position just before the final turn when they break free in a final sprint up the straight.
The Irish Guineas are run a week later at the Curragh on lush, softer ground on the undulating racecourse where horses can take advantage of the rail.
Their Guineas tend to be dominated by Irish horses as Europe's race movement tends toward the Eastern mainland. England is a hub and easy to reach, but Ireland is cut off.
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Today's races were the Group 1 French Guineas or the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (female 1000) and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (male 2000).
There was no surprise that Golden Lilac IRE (Galileo IRE), sent off 6.4 favourite in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches as she had been touted as an exceptional filly, cruised past the other 15 who ran beating Glorious Sight IRE (Singspiel IRE) by three lengths.
She had already beaten GL by 4¾ in a Group 3 last month ending GL's winning streak.
Third was Wild Wind GER (Danehill Dancer IRE) by another half length.
The race surprise was that the placed fillies were Glorious Sight who went off at 36.1 and Wild Wind at 27.1.
None of the other favoured horses placed including Maqaasid (Green Desert IRE) who was third in the English 1000 Guineas and fared no better than eighth in the Poule.
Maqaasid (in Stall 14) had no real chance to overcome the course bias against higher stall numbers. One has to feel sympathy for her connections trainer John Gosden and jockey Richard Hills.
Another victim of course bias was improving Nova Hawk (Hawk Wing USA) who equalled her fourth in the English Guineas by ¾ lengths behind Wild Wind. NH came from Stall 11.
There is not just course bias against higher stall numbers on the right-hand track, there is a rule bias as well.
Horses must run in their stall positions across the back course and cannot cut over to the rail until approaching the final turn. They can sprint down the short home stretch.
Horses drawn wider have to cover far greater distances racing wide around the curves than those drawn near the rail.
The Poule winner and place horses were from Stalls 6, 2 and 1 respectively.
Having said that, the winner has won all of her four starts and did so with ease under master jockey Olivier Peslier for master trainer Andre Fabre.
She is owned and bred by Gestut Ammerland.
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
The outcome of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains also favoured the rail and mid position horses .
It was also a heartbreaker for England when its outstanding colt Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj IRE) was drawn 14 of 15.
He was 2.1 favourite even though he had not raced this season.
Paul Hannigan, champion jockey, tried the only strategy open to him by cutting fast across the course as soon as allowed.
He set a burning sprint pace that unfortunately burnt him out into fifth.
Outsiders Havana Smoker (Dubawi IRE), Venomous (Red Ransom USA) and Temps Au Temps IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE) made their challenges to tiring Wootton Bassett just before the 2 furlong marker.
In one of the smoothest moves of the day, jockey Thierry Jarnet slipped his colt Tin Horse IRE (Sakhee USA) out from his covered cruising position of fifth on the rail to make a sweeping challenge wide round all the hopefuls.
The little grey was hardly noticed when he accelerated past the melee to win by two comfortable lengths.
He is trained by Didier Guillemin and owned by his breeder, the Marquise de Moratalla, who has raced many champions.
Tin Horse was sent out at 10.1 from Stall 1 and never left the rail till his final swoop.
Havane Smoker (35.1) and Temps Au Temps (53.1) did well to muscle over from Stalls 11 and 15 to take second and fourth in the race ahead of Wootton Bassett.
Venomous, sent out at 25.1, from Stall 6 was third.
It was a great day for French-trained horses and jockeys despite unexpected upsets mostly due to the quirky French racing Rules.
Only Golden Lilac did what everyone expected her to do.
Given that Tin Horse's illustrious sire Sakhee won the Arc de Triomphe by an unbeaten record of six lengths, this sleek colt may also prove to be one of the great ones.
Posted May 15, 2011
Longines To Sponsor Prix Diane
France Galop, France's racing authority, announced that Longines will sponsor the glamourous Prix Diane (1000 Guineas for fillies) at Chantilly on June 12.
Longine will also become the official timekeeper at Chantilly, Deauville and Longchamp.
It will also sponsor a race on Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris day at Longchamp on July 14.
Longines is also a sponsor at the Singapore Cup, the Melbourne Cup and the Kentucky Derby.
Goldikova - France's Horse of the Year
Goldikova's effortless 'record' third consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile in 2010.
Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA) was chosen as France's Horse of the Year by readers of Jour de Galop. Her trainer Freddy Head, jockey Olivier Peslier and owners, the Wertheimer brothers, were also leaders in their categories.
The six-year-old mare is the only horse in history to have won three consecutive Breeders' Cups - all were the BC Mile.
Contrary to the sad controversy over the 2010 Eclipse, there was no dispute in either France or the UK that she is the best.
She was chosen Cartier Horse of the Year and has just been chosen Older Turf Horse of the Year by the UK's Racehorse Owners' Association.
And she has been nominated as the USA's Eclipse Older Turf Female of the Year.
Goldikova will return at six with a career trajectory towards winning her fourth Breeders' Cup Mile.
Goldikova At Six
French owners of Goldikova decided to let her race next year in a Summer and Fall campaign which will probably eliminate Ascot.
It is also likely that she will be named the Cartier Racing Awards' Horse of the Year in England.
Miesque Dead
One of the great mares, Miesque USA (Nureyev USA), was euthenised at 27 due to age infirmaties.
She was the winner of 10 Group/Grade 1 races in 16 starts in France, England and the USA. She won 13 of them placing in the other three.
Two of the races were Breeders' Cup Miles at three and four years of age.
Owned by the Stavros Niarchos and trained by Francois Boutin, Miesque was the inspiration for Freddie Head, who rode her, in his training of France's Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA).
Miesque was the dam of the legendary sire Kingmambo by Mr Propector.
Kingmambo also raced for the same connections and stands at Lane's End Farm where his dam resided.
"Fighting" Cirrus Des Aigles suddenly appeared to cut down So You Think by a ¾ length in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot. ©Photo David HastingsThe French went mad with joy. Their own precious Persian Punch, Cirrus Des Aigles, came off the pace to cut down the big Australian noise, So You Think, in the £1,300,000 QIPCO Champion Stakes (Group 1), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m) for 3yo+ on good Turf at Ascot.
Ransom Note (Red Ransom USA) under front-running Michael Hills and the overly-keen, hard-pulling Nathaniel IRE (Galileo IRE) contested the front with So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE), Cirrus Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE) and Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA) beautifully placed just off the pace.
At just the right moment, Ryan Moore moved So You Think out to take the lead in what appeared to be a sure victory.
The crowd was stunned when an unfamiliar gelding swung out to cut down the leader by ¾ lengths and the badly-hampered Snow Fairy was finally able to take third a ½ length behind SYT.
Had she been able to escape the rail earlier, she might have been the winner.
Christophe Soumillon on Cirrus made sure she wasn't.
The mare Midday (Oasis Dream) was another 2 lengths behind Snow Fairy with Nathaniel in fifth.
Whatever disappointment the losers' connections felt, it was nothing compared to Soumillon's after the Stewards' decision to ban him for striking Cirrus six times with the whip in the final furlong (limit is seven) and stripping him of his £50,000+ earnings on the winner's payout of $579,280.
[A jockeys' strike over the British Horseracing Authority's changes to whip Rules was postponed for special meetings and hearings with the BHA on Monday. Specific appeal hearings will take place the following week after a review of possible premature implementation of the new Rules.]
Popular French trainer Corinne Barande-Barbe was effusive with praise for her beloved "Fighting" Cirrus, who unfortunately lost the Prix Dollar Arc weekend, for winning his first Group 1 race at five.
Twenty-five Group 1 victories were held by the horses he defeated.
"It is a marvelous moment. One wishes the day would never end. Cirrus has realised the dream that I have always had for him.
This improving horse should have contested the Arc, but geldings cannot.
A pity this loveable horse is a gelding and sad that his victory should be shrouded in controversy.
As to the sanction on Soumillon, Barande-Barbe said "Cette sanction est inadmissible."
Soumillon called it a scandal and an embarrassment to British racing.
It is as stupid as the Dar Re Mi controversy was in France when the unrelenting Stewards would not bend to reason.
Hopefully, the British can accept their mistakes and correct the damage of starting Rules changes in the height of a season.
Too many jockeys and connections are involved for the authorities not to reconsider.
©Posted October 16, 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
"Fighting Cirrus"
Deauville racegoers got more than they asked for from their beloved Cirrus Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE).
Skipping the Ebor Festival for the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron - Hong Kong Jockey Club, 1m2f for 4yo+ on Turf, France's "Fighting Cirrus" slaughtered Lancelot and four other rivals by 8 lengths.
Between kisses for her five-year-old horse, winning trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said "We now have prospects for an autumn campaign and the Prix Dollar could be one objective."
The Grand Prix de Deauville at the end of August could be his next race.
Immortal Verse Smashed Her Elders
The three-year-old winner of Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes in June took out one of the most distinguished fields of European milers in the Group 1 Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois for colts, fillies and mares on good-to-soft Turf at Deauville.
The super-fast filly, Immortal Verse IRE (Pivotal), was one of two horses who was most adapted to the rain-soaked ground as was Royal Bench IRE (Whipper USA) whose sire, like Pivotal, performed well on soft ground.
Both were trained by Robert Collet and owned by R-C Strauss.
It was a strange race in that those on the ends of the 12 stalls peeled into the centre of the mile straight course bumping as they did. None moved towards a rail.
The 11/10 favourite Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) was lucky to reach seventh off the pace.
It was so frantic that both of Goldikova's pacemakers, Polemique and Flash Dance, had difficulties getting to the front.
It was one of the most ill-judged races on a simple course.
Poor little Goldikova was trapped as soon as she tried to move forward and got several bumps from hanging and uncontrolled Planteur.
She did move on and managed to dominate the race briefly until speedy Immortal Verse flew all the way from the back along Goldikova's left side blindsighting her and perhaps her jockey.
Gutsy Immortal Verse with jockey Gerald Mosse dove across the field and eyeballed the 14 Group 1 winner.
Goldikova picked up but could not regain momentum despite being struck many times by Olivier Peslier and took second a length behind the winner.
Sahpresa USA (Sahm USA) swooped at the end to miss out on second by a nose.
Her trainer Rodolphe Collet, son of Robert, is shocked that she has not won a Group 1 this year. She also runs less well on soft ground.
It was a day when females triumphed.
One male, Royal Bench, was fourth - two lengths behind them.
Collet sees his Immortal Verse as a "super filly" who is "out of the ordinary". She is entered in all the big races is likely to take on Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day October 15.
Anyone who saw her Coronation Stakes knows Collet is not exagerrating.
Mosse describes her race as "C'est magique!"
Does this loss mean Goldikova is now chopped liver?
She was sent out on ground she loses on and had a sapping race two weeks ago. Both Immortal Verse and Sahpresa were fresh.
Her trainer Freddie Head offered no excuses.
Not only has she won 14 Group 1s, but she has never placed lower than second.
Given a rest, better ground and a little less interference, she should be back to form.
Immortal Verse defeated Nova Hawk in Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes.
Photo ©David Hastings
©Posted August 15, 2011
French Update
Goldikova and Immortal Verse will meet again in the September 4th in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
Goldikova's trainer admitted that, not only was the ground against her, but she was not ridden correctly to respond to Immortal Verse's surge.
Mutual Trust will join them at the Prix and Sahpresa will try to win her third Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket September 24 before going on to the Japan Mile November 20.
©Posted August 17, 2011
Galikova's Revenge
France's darling double Poule/de Diane (Guineas/Oaks) winner, Golden Lilac IRE (Galileo IRE), was sent out evens favourite in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D'Ornano, 1m2f, for 3yo on good-to-soft Turf.
Her old rival Galikova FR (Galileo IRE) was 13/5 second favourite.
Galikova's trainer Freddie Head sent out gelding Slow Pace USA (Distorted Humor USA) to set the pace and he had to fight Colombian IRE (Azamour IRE) until the latter tired.
Golden Lilac had a perfect position in third on the rail for the entire race.
Galikova was second last and rode very wide.
When her jockey Olivier Peslier gave he the signal to speed up, he was not satisfied that she responded quickly enough. When he tried to galvanise her speed with a few cracks, she reacted badly.
It could have cost her the race. Once Peslier got the message and let her have her head, she dug down and put the race away with the brilliant fast close she was always capable of.
She lost the Prix de Diane to Golden Lilac in a similar situation.
One hopes her experienced jockey realises that this is a filly who does not like to be struck and it throws her off her stride.
Slow Pace was second 2 lengths behind.
Golden Lilac was in trouble 100m out and never really picked up to pass Slow Pace. She was another 1½ lengths behind him.
Her jockey complained that she had trouble gaining traction on the ground and is best on good ground.
Galikova, half sister to Goldikova, proved her stamina and speed. She kept going past the post and was full of energy.
She is well capable of the 1m4f (1½m, 2400m) distance of the Prix Vermeille in September and/or the Arc de Triomphe in October.
It may have been an off-day for Golden Lilac, causing her to lose her unbroken record, but 1m2f (1¼m, 2000m) appears to be her maximum distance.
I doubt that she will beat the very progressive Galikova again unless the latter's jockey does not heed his filly's warning.
Her victory is the first for a female since 1985.
Peslier won the first four races on the card and has passed 100 Group 1 wins with Galikova - two of the other races were for owners Wertheimer et Frere.
Trainer Head, Peslier and owners Wertheimer et Frere won a one-two in this race with Galikova and Slow Pace.
©Posted August 15, 2011
Arqana Sales And Deauville Races
The coming weekend is one of the most important in Deauville's thoroughbred season.
On Monday following major Group races, the Arqana Sales open just a block from the Deauville Racecourse and last through Thursday in a new fixture format.
Thoroughbred sales have been inching up worldwide since the worst of the recession started.
Sheikh Mohammed just bought over $8 million of horses at his Fasig Tipton auction house and Arqana is hoping for a large contingent of foreign buyers to improve their bottom line.
Monday's quality races alone will draw racegoers and buyers to Deauville.
The great Goldikova may face 16 (at the first forfeit) in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois (Group 1) at a mile.
Freddie Head, her trainer, has entered Flash Dance as her pacemaker and two others: Polemique and Rajsaman.
The winner of the Prix Ganay, Planteur, is already at the racecourse working out for trainer Ellie Lelouche.
Richard Hannon is keen to "ruffle Goldikova's feathers" with Dick Turpin and Dubawi Gold if they get soft enough ground.
The Juddmonte team includes Cityscape and Mutual Trust.
Godolphin may send Delegator, who has been unlucky in finding the right ground, Emerald Commander and Rio De La Plata.
Also on the card is the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D'Ornano for three-year-olds, 1m2f, may showcase another confrontation between two exceptional fillies: Golden Lilac and Galikova (Goldikova's half sister).
Britain may send Pisco Sour and Colombian, Ireland Dunboyne Express and Godolphin three talented colts: Casamento, Hunter's Light and Biondetti.
Both of the fillies' trainers, Andre Fabre and Freddie Head, may reserve them for the Prix de la Nonette which is restricted to three-year-old fillies.
©Posted August 10, 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
Goldikova: 14 Times Lucky
"C'est magnifique!" said Freddy Head of his mare Goldikova's easy 14th Group 1 and fourth victory in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville (above in her Breeders' Cup blanket commemorating her three BC Mile victories).
Photo ©Racing International
Trainer Freddie Head's awestruck comment about his six-year-old mare Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) when she won her 14th Group 1 race and her fourth Prix Rothschild in a row could be considered an understatement.
"C'est magnifique!"
She is the first horse since European Pattern was introduced in 1971 to win the same top-level race in France for four successive years.
Goldikova is also the only horse in Breeders' Cup history to win three consecutive Breeders' Cup races - the BC Mile.
Today, she barely raised a sweat in finishing off several very fine female competitors in the one-mile Group 1 Prix Rothschild for fillies and mares, 3y+, on good Turf ground.
Her pacemaker Flash Dance put in her usual admirable fast pace setting up the race for her stablemate who followed in second and third until 1½ furlongs out when FD began to tire. Goldikova took the lead at 1 furlong.
Sir Henry Cecil's Timepiece (Zamindar), ridden confidently by Tom Queally, shadowed Goldikova as he did with Sahpresa USA (Sahm USA) in the Falmouth Stakes.
The latter lost to Timepiece when Queally changed tactics slowing up the pace. He would have no such opportunity with the clockwork Goldikova team.
When Goldikova took the lead at 1 furlong out, the other six made their moves including a powerful challenge from Timepiece.
It is worth noticing in the video how small Goldikova is compared to the others and how she hunkers down to the ground with absolute concentration.
Watch her tight leg action and try to see how fast her legs move if you can. She fast forwards.
Sahpresa was always the danger based on form and she made a fine challenge from the rear in the final furlong. She was always held and lost by a neck-shoulder.
Her connections were thrilled that she got so close to Goldikova and will race in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket and be campaigned in Japan later in the year.
Olivier Peslier, Goldikova's jockey, eased up on her at the end so it was never a real contest between her and Sahpresa.
Timepiece was third 2 lengths behind reversing the order of the Falmouth.
Peslier described Goldikova's performance as "just a nice piece of work and I never touched her with my whip. She just needed pushing out and there was still plenty of gas left in the tank at the end of the race. She is an exceptional horse."
She looked cool and unraced as she walked off the course.
She should have won the Princess Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but she had very bad luck in her jockey being overweight costing her a length according to the official handicapper. She lost to Canford Cliffs by a length.
Her next race may be the one-mile Prix Jacques Le Marois August 15 at Deauville if she is ready and the ground is not too soft.
Canford Cliffs connections declined the suggestion that he take her on in France; instead he was soundly defeated by Frankel at Glorious Goodwood last week.
If Goldikova misses the Jacques Le Marois, Head will consider the 7-furlong Prix du Moulin de Longchamp September 4 where she will meet Juddmonte's nice colt Mutual Trust and then have a final prep for the Breeders' Cup in the mile Prix de la Foret.
The French went wild today with pride in this little brown wren who is their equestrian Maryanne.
For them, nothing can be more 'magnifique' than when she wins and the whole country will probably celebrate in a parade down the Champs Elysee if Goldikova wins her fourth Breeders' Cup.
©Posted July 31, 2011
Timepiece vs Goldikova
On a roll, the Frankel/Twice Over/Midday team is confident in sending Timepiece (Zamindar) to take on Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild (Group 1) at Deauville on Sunday July 31.
Out of four races this year, Timepiece won two, but was defeated by two formidable females in the other two: Godolphin's Antara and stablemate Midday.
Goldikova lost the Queen Anne's Stakes to a very fit Canford Cliffs, just defeated by Frankel, at Royal Ascot.
She only lost by a length and, since her jockey was two pounds overweight, she lost her fillies' allowance and lost a length advantage, according to the BHA handicapper.
She won't have that problem at Deauville which is one of her favourite courses.
©Posted July 29, 2011
Menandre Defeated Two Derby Winners
That Meandre FR (Slickly FR) could win the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, 1m4f (12f, 1½m, 2400m) on Turf, should not be a total surprise to racegoers.
The progressive three-year-old colt started winning his races once the distance was increased from 10f to 11f and 12f. The farther the better.
Hence, his trainer Andre Fabre targeted the Grand Prix winning the race for the eleventh time at Longchamp.
Jockey Maxim Guyon managed to calm the excited colt before entering the stalls and kept him steady in third place despite the desperate pace set by Aidan O'Brien's Seville IRE (Galileo IRE) and Treasure Beach IRE (Galileo IRE) in first and second for most of the race.
Treasure Beach won the Irish Derby and Reliable Man won the shorter French equivalent, the Prix du Jockey Club (1m2f).
Meandre, who had never won more than a Listed race, moved without effort once Guyon pressed him in the straight to move past the leaders defeating Seville by 1½ lengths in 2m26.63s.
Reliable Man, who raced in fourth throughout the race and had trouble picking up, finally overtook the tiring Treasure Beach for third by a neck.
Meandre is owned by the President of France Galop Edouard Rothshild and is a credit to the former President Jean-Luc Lagardere's famous stallion Linamix who is the sire of Slickly.
The colt is quoted at 10-14/1 for the Arc de Triomphe and is thought to be more versatile than Pour Moi.
Watar Took Longer Prix Maurice de Nieuil
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's six-year-old Watar IRE (Marju IRE) beat a distinguished field of stayers in the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, 1m6f (14f, 1¾m, 2800m) on Turf at Longchamp.
Trainer Freddie Head was so pleased with Watar's recovery from injury and his race performance that he said "he is an Arc horse".
From the growing list of possible competitors, this might be the most crowded Arc field in history.
July 16, 2011
Mutual Trust Took Prix Jean Prat
There are some exciting races of very talented horses which leave one is left feeling regret that just one wins. Dead heats of three horses rarely happen and it did not happen today in Chantilly.
Juddmonte's Mutual Trust (Cacique IRE) thrust through hard-working Strong Suit USA (Rahy USA) and evens-favourite Zoffany's joint battle for first to win on the line by a head in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, 1m on Turf for 3yo.
Both losing horses are very experienced with multiple Group victories and have recovered brilliantly from past setbacks.
Both were ridden competitively by Irish jockeys Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore who is back on a Ballydoyle horse, Zoffany IRE (Dansili), after his loss on So You Think to Rewilding in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Despite superior form, they were no match for the less-experienced Andre Fabre-trained colt on Fabre's home racecourse. His horses have won nine of the 12 races at this season's Chantilly meet.
Mutual Trust has only had three career races which he has won (just one Group - a 3) before the prestigious Jean Prat.
His impressive victory in his last race placed him on 21/10 odds. Racing International tipped him after seeing that race.
The husky colt played up a bit before entering the stall, but was quickly settled by jockey Maxime Guyon and was kept in the first four during the race.
Filly Glorious Sight led most of the way until Hughes struck for front with the powerful Strong Suit who is trained by his father-in-law Richard Hannon.
Any doubts of Zoffany's first try at a mile were dispelled when he made his move on SS and appeared to be the winner until the unexpected Mutual Trust spoiled his day in sprint time of 11.02s for the last 200 meters.
Strong Suit was third by a nose and Glorious Sight another 1½ lengths behind. Venomous followed her by a nose and Godolphin's Neebras sixth 2½ lengths behind.
Temp Au Temps walked out of the gate, refused to race and was pulled up.
Mutual Trust looks as if he can stay further than a mile and has a very promising future.
However, Fabre appears to prefer the the mile distance for MT for now. His next race could be a challenge to Goldikova in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 14 or the Prix de Moulin de Longchamp September 4.
Posted July 3, 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!
Is Golden Lilac The New Zarkava?
With effortless grace, beautiful Golden Lilac IRE (Galileo IRE - Grey Lilas IRE) swept aside all eight other fillies in the Group 1 Longines Prix de Diane for three-year-old fillies, 1m 2½f, on good-to-soft Turf at Chantilly, France.
Despite having won four of her four starts, she was sent off second favourite at 13.5 because some felt her form was questionable and she had not raced beyond a mile.
Galikova FR (Galileo IRE - Born Gold USA), who shares her dam with Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) as well as her owners, trainer and jockey, was sent off evens favourite.
Her pacemaker Polemique set an excellent, steady pace helping the winner win in fast time of 2m 7.90s (fast by 0.10s).
For most of the race, Galikova raced just outside of Golden Lilac who hugged the rail three or four off the leaders.
Maxime Guyon found a opening at the 200m marker for Golden Lilac and seized it while Galikova's jockey Olivier Peslier dawdled before kicking on his filly.
No question his sleeping at the controls wrecked Goldikova's chances of winning.
The French announcers on the video (above) were so incensed and her trainer, Freddie Head, said he intended 'talking' to Peslier.
Glorious Sight IRE (Singspiel IRE), 41.1, looked safe in second.
When Peslier finally rallied Galikova 100m out, she showed both her class and a deadly end run similar to her sister's.
All too late by a length but she nudged GS out of second by a neck.
If today's performance is any indication, it is understandable that Peslier has never won the Prix de Diane.
Let us hope the real Olivier Peslier shows up with Goldikova for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot June 14.
Despite the recognition of Golden Lilac's abilities, it would be unwise to underestimate Galikova in the future.
She was as unlucky as a horse could be today and the failure of her stunning flying close broke one's heart.
Golden Lilac 's great French trainer Andre Fabre now has another Arc de Triomphe candidate along with his Investec Derby winner Pour Moi.
She is quoted at 10.1 and described as possibly being another Arc winner like Zarkava.
Her owners Gestut Ammerland are known to want the Arc trophy badly. Her five out of five career starts should convince them that they finally have a good chance.
Fabre won his fourth Prix de Diane though Sunday was just another day for Fabre. He won five of the seven races at Chantilly including all the Group races - the Group 1 Prix de Diane and three Group 3s.
His winners were Monarch's Way in the Prix De La Reine Marie-Amelie (Conditions), Mutual Trust in the Prix Paul De Moussac, Kreem in the Prix Du Lys and Byword in the prix Du Chemin De Fer Du Nord.
Both the three-year-old colts have a promising future. Mutual Trust and Byword, who is back to form, are Juddmonte horses.
Golden Lilac has won both French Classics for fillies and is a remarkable filly.
But even she cannot compete with her remarkable trainer who also plays a mean polo match.
Posted June 12, 1911
Battle Royale Of French Fillies
Update: Only nine run. Don't Hurry Me and Nosail dropped out at the final declaration. Polemique will act as pacemaker for Galikova and field. Posted June 12, 2011
French racegoers are salivating in anticipation of the riveting contest between Golden Lilac IRE, brilliant winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and Galikova FR (half sister of Goldikova by mare Born Gold USA) in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 12.
The €850,000 Prix is a Group 1 for three-year-old fillies, 2100m (10.5f, 1m 3/8) on Turf.
It is the final Spring Classic and is equivalent to the English and Irish Oaks for three-year old fillies though it is two furlongs shorter than the English and Irish versions.
Both fillies are by Europe's leading older sire Galileo IRE and are co-favourites with the edge given to Golden Lilac.
Golden Lilac has won 4 of 4 starts for trainer Andre Fabre (trainer of Pour Moi - Investec Derby winner) and Galikova has won 3 of her 4 for Freddie Head who also trains Goldikova.
Galikova 's only loss was to Misty For Me, Irish 1000 Guineas winner, last October.
Progressive Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE), who is trained by Andre De Royer Dupre (trainer of Reliable Man - Prix du Jockey-Club winner), and Fabre's Godolphin filly, Wavering IRE (Refuse To Bend IRE), could upset fans' expectations.
French experts seem to think this race is a replay of the 2008 contest between brilliant Zarkava and Goldikova who lost. Goldikova only emerged from Zarkava's shadow when the latter retired after winning the Arc de Triomphe.
Given the example of this year's Prix du Jockey-Club, Investec Oaks and Investec Derby, the fillies' race could be wider open than the experts see.
Having said that, most of the eleven in the race have raced against each other and the favourites have beaten most of the remaining: Andromeda Galaxy, Haya Landa, Don't Hurry Me, Glorious Sight, Epic Love, Nosail and Polemique.
Andromeda Galaxy and Don't Hurry Me, who likes to lead, are among the French favourites.
Also on the card are three Group 3 races.
The €80,000 Prix Paul De Moussac is for three-year-old males, 1800m (1m 1f, 1-1/8m), on Turf. Venomous is one of the potential stars of this race.
The €80,000 Prix Du Lys is for three-year-old males, 2400m (12f, 1½m), on Turf.
The €80,000 Prix Du Chemin De Fer Du Nord is for four-year-old plus, 1600m (1m), on Turf and includes seasoned campaigners Byword, Sir Oscar and Beacon Lodge.
Posted June 11, 2011
Reliable Man Boosts Dalakhani Line In Jockey-Club
The Pride Racing Club has its first Classic winner in France since Pride FR (Peintre Celebre USA) herself reigned over international racing for French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre and her Swedish owners.
Flying from the back under Gerard Mosse, Reliable Man (Dalakhani IRE) slashed down his opponents in Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club (Group 1), 2100m (10½f, 1-5/16m) right-handed on Turf, at Chantilly.
The colt jumped from two minor career races to a Group 1 Classic taking the scalps of the Irish 2000 Guineas' winner Roderic O'Connor IRE (Galileo IRE) and the French 2000 Guineas' winner Tin Horse (Sahkee USA). They could do no better than eighth and fifth respectively.
Promising Baraan FR (Dalakhani IRE) left his stall late and floundered at least 15 lengths out only to make it all up at the end taking third two lengths behind Bubble Chic FR (Chichicastenango FR) who was ¾ lengths behind the winner.
Colombian IRE (Azamour IRE), with William Buick on board for trainer John Gosden, was only foreign horse to place - fourth out of the 16 participants.
Both Godolphin's talented Casamento IRE (Shamardal USA) and Ballydoyle's Roderic O'Connor fought for the lead and burnt themselves out.
Roderic and Baraan were betting favourites and Casamento was thought to have a good chance as well.
Unfortunately, the major training operations battle each other and the French just race their races.
Hence, I did predict that a French-trained horse would beat them, but no one seems to have factored in the inexperienced Reliable Man who went from a 109 rating to a solid 120 after his Prix performance.
Stephane Giraut, in tears, said that when RM "was young at the stud farm. He was always a very gentile colt, very calm like his sire (Dalakhani). He has distinguished himself. C'est magnifique!"
De Royer Dupre, winning his sixth Prix, said "He's a horse of great quality. He's got a lot of class, but it's all still very new to him."
He will aim him for the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, July 14th, where he is likely to meet the other Dalakhani colt Baraan.
The owner of both Baraan and the Arc winner sire Dalakhani, HH The Aga Khan, said that his horse probably needs 2400m (1m4f or 1½m) of the Grand Prix de Paris. It is the same distance as the Arc and considered a good trial for the biggest race of France's season.
All four French colts of the first five finishers show great promise of improvement and could be Qatar Arc de Triomphe contenders.
They will have to progress considerably in a few more races before they are seasoned enough to take on Workforce or Pour Moi who will race in the Prix Jean Prat on July 3rd.
Posted June 6, 2011
Prix du Jockey-Club Preview
France's winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (2000 Guineas), Tin Horse IRE (Sakhee SA) remains favourite to duplicate Lope De Vega's double Guineas/Derby victory in Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club (Group 1), 2100m (10½f, 1-3/8m) right-handed on Turf, at Chantilly.
Jean-Claude Rouget's Baraan FR (Dalakhani IRE) should not be undervalued after winning the Prix la Force April 10.
Ballydoyle has diverted its Irish Guineas' winner Roderic O'Connor IRE (Galileo IRE) from the Derby to compete with their Alexander Pope possibly setting the pace.
Godolphin skipped the Derby also and entered Casamento IRE (Shamardal USA) and Andre Fabre's Grand Vent IRE (Shirocco GER) as well.
Pascal Bary's Glaswegian (Selkirk USA) carries Juddmonte colours in the Prix and is one of the favourites.
Form and odds indicate a victory for one of the major owner/breeders.
Tin Horse will run from the 15th stall. Being a very balanced and fast horse, a wide draw should not hamper him. He will stalk others using them to set the pace.
Most French trainers do not use their own horses as pacemakers.
Roderic O'Connor, 4.1 favourite, will be up with the pace and try to outrun Tin Horse and any others.
This is a very high quality race - perhaps the best and most talent balanced of the weekend.
Posted June 3, 2011
Goldikova Slighted Again In Rankings/Ratings
Goldikova parades in her Breeders' Cup Mile blanket highlighting
her three back-to-back victories in the race - a record feat at the BC.
Photo Racing International
Racing International joins the Jour de Galop in asking the world's handicappers "OU EST "GOLDI"?
One of the world's most remarkable horses of any historical period, Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA), has not been included in the World Thoroughbred Rankings by either the International Federation of Horseracng Authorities or by the Racing Post's handicapper.
Our resume of Goldikova's international records is breifly described in the adjacent column Sacrebleu!
How could any responsible handicapper fail to include her in the Top Ten?
The Top Ten rankings of the IFHA range from 130 down to 122 and horses are ranked on their best performances in a race of a designated period.
Goldikova's recent Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan was an easy dismissal of her rivals earning a race rating of 125.
Canford Cliffs IRE (Tagula IRE) has only raced once this year in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes where he was awarded a 125 on performance.
Dick Turpin IRE (Arakan USA), whom Goldikova beat by 34 lengths in the Prix, is listed at 124 for his Group 2 victory of 2½ lengths over 119-rated Cityscape.
Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE) is rated at 121 for her fine Prix Corida in her season debut.
What excuses do these handicappers have for excluding Goldikova?
Why are they antagonising racegoers?
Whatever reasons - they are unacceptable.
Posted May 29, 2011
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
Sacrebleu!
Not only has Goldikova won 13 Group 1 races, she has beaten 44 Group 1 winners (information thanks to the very proud Jour de Galop).
Only three males John Henry USA with 16 and Forego USA and Kingston Town AUS with 14 Group 1 victories are ahead of her.
With 13 Group 1s, she is in the company of Spectacular Bid USA, Sunline AUS, Tie The Knot AUS and Zenyatta USA.
JDG rightly points out that comparisons of Milers in Europe to the rest of the world is impossible considering the variable courses and standards.
European Turf miles are for the grown ups.
Goldikova is also closing in on Zenyatta's USA record earnings of $7,304,580 and Sunline's world record of $8,400,189.
Goldikova's current earnings are $6,355,545 and she has five races to go before retiring.
She is Europe's record earner.
Isn't it interesting that the world's top earning horses are all FEMALE?
Posted May 24, 2011
Goldikova's 13th Group 1 In Prix D'Ispahan
The amazing six-year-old mare, Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA), easily disposed of her seven male competitors in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan, 1m1f (1-1/8) on good Turf, at Longchamp.
This is a back-to-back success for her in the Prix despite the distance of 9f being a one-furlong stretch for the classic miler.
The race was nicely set up by the only other female in the race, her trainer and owner's pacemaker Flash Dance (Zamindar USA), who set a mightly pace with Goldikova settled in second or third for the first three quarters of the race.
The final time was 1m 51.00s (fast by 2.00s) which is no surprise as Goldikova has previously set the course record in the this race.
Good milers like Dick Turpin IRE (Arakan USA) were burnt off early by the time Goldikova was set off by jockey Olivier Peslier to pass Flash Dance 2f from home.
Only Cirrus Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE) and Rajsaman FR (Linamix FR) were capable of giving serious chase to France and England's 2010 Horse of the Year.
Chistopher Soumillon and Thierry Jarnet put those two horses in the frame with their considerable jockeyship.
Despite the Prix being her first season outing, Goldikova flicked them off by a neck and ¾l respectively without more than a workman-like performance - for her.
One forgets just how fast Goldikova is when she is merely cruising.
Flash Dance came in another five lengths behind Rajsaman putting three horses trained by Freddy Head in the first four. She is also owned by Wertheimer & Freres and was ridden with great confidence by Mikael Barzalona.
Goldikova is expected to compete again in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and end her career in an attempt to win a fourth consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs November 5.
She is the only horse in the Breeders' Cup history to win any race three times.
There is talk that she might extend her final racing career to include the Hong Kong Mile.
Posted May 23, 2011
Godolphin's Wavering Bags Prix Saint-Alary
For those fillies who did not compete in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1000 Guineas) for three-year-old fillies at one mile, the Group 1 Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary offers a trial for the longer-distance Prix de Diane (Oaks), 1m 2f (10f, 1¼m).
None of the Prix de Diane favourites (Galikova, Golden Lilac and Shareta) participated which left opportunities for other fillies to qualify for the Classic and gain black type.
This race was one of the best of the day with really well-balanced competition, good timing and smart tactics.
The favourite Epic Love IRE (Dansili) was sent out 2.1 favouite with Dalura, Don't Hurry Me and Glorious Sight close behind in betting.
The winner, Wavering IRE (Refuse To Bend IRE), was trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona and still only thought worthy of 6.1.
Don't Hurry Me set a good pace and was succeeded by Epic Love at about a furlong from the post.
Nonsuch Way and Glorious Sight clustered round Epic Love at the end only to to be outrun on the outside by Wavering who won the race by a short neck over Epic Love and Nonsuch Way (27.1) in third by a neck.
Glorious Sight came in ¾ lengths behind the third and Don't Hurry Me in eighth.
The time was 2m 5.80s (slow by 1.90s) and reflected slow time in all the Longchamp races on good ground except for the fast Prix d'Ispahan of victor Goldikova.
Posted May 23, 2011
Goldikova's 8 Pretenders
The six-year-old champion mare, Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA), will make her season debut in the Group 1 Prix D'Ispahan, 1m 1½l (1850m) at Longchamp on May 22.
She will face old foes in Richard Hannon's Dick Turpin, Andre Fabre's Byword and her own trainer Freddie Head's Rajsaman, who will be ridden by Thierry Jarnet as the new retainer for owner Saeed Nasser Al Romaithi. He was hired after his Poule d'Essai des Poulains victory on Tin Horse.
Olivier Peslier will partner Goldikova again.
Head plans to run her in the same six races this season as last year ending in an attempt to win a fourth back-to-back Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.
Rivals claim she is too old to succeed.
Don't they hope!
Posted May 21, 2011
Battle of Fillies
French racegoers are salivating at the anticipated riveting contest between Golden Lilac IRE, brilliant winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and Galikova FR (half sister of Goldikova by mare Born Gold USA) in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 12.
The Prix de Diane is equivalent to the English Oaks though two furlongs shorter.
Both fillies are by Europe's leading older sire Galileo IRE and are co-favourites.
Golden Lilac has won 4 of 4 starts and Galikova 3 of her 4.
No one talks of any other fillies in the race. Their fans will be lucky if there is no female Tin Horse, like the improving Shareta IRE (Sinndar IRE) to upset their expectations.
Posted May 21, 2011
Golden Lilac and Tin Horse Take French Guineas
The most demanding early Group 1 races in Europe are the English, French and Irish Guineas for the top fillies and colts.
They are the first Classics of each country's season and are run at one mile on Turf for three-year olds.
The English 2000 Guineas for males and 1000 Guineas for females at Newmarket are generally the stiffest tests offering no place to hide up and down the stamina-draining dips of the straight Rowley Mile.
The French Guineas are perceived to be a little easier, because the curving back arm of Longchamp's course allows horses to manoeuvre for position just before the final turn when they break free in a final sprint up the straight.
The Irish Guineas are run a week later at the Curragh on lush, softer ground on the undulating racecourse where horses can take advantage of the rail.
Their Guineas tend to be dominated by Irish horses as Europe's race movement tends toward the Eastern mainland. England is a hub and easy to reach, but Ireland is cut off.
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Today's races were the Group 1 French Guineas or the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (female 1000) and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (male 2000).
There was no surprise that Golden Lilac IRE (Galileo IRE), sent off 6.4 favourite in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches as she had been touted as an exceptional filly, cruised past the other 15 who ran beating Glorious Sight IRE (Singspiel IRE) by three lengths.
She had already beaten GL by 4¾ in a Group 3 last month ending GL's winning streak.
Third was Wild Wind GER (Danehill Dancer IRE) by another half length.
The race surprise was that the placed fillies were Glorious Sight who went off at 36.1 and Wild Wind at 27.1.
None of the other favoured horses placed including Maqaasid (Green Desert IRE) who was third in the English 1000 Guineas and fared no better than eighth in the Poule.
Maqaasid (in Stall 14) had no real chance to overcome the course bias against higher stall numbers. One has to feel sympathy for her connections trainer John Gosden and jockey Richard Hills.
Another victim of course bias was improving Nova Hawk (Hawk Wing USA) who equalled her fourth in the English Guineas by ¾ lengths behind Wild Wind. NH came from Stall 11.
There is not just course bias against higher stall numbers on the right-hand track, there is a rule bias as well.
Horses must run in their stall positions across the back course and cannot cut over to the rail until approaching the final turn. They can sprint down the short home stretch.
Horses drawn wider have to cover far greater distances racing wide around the curves than those drawn near the rail.
The Poule winner and place horses were from Stalls 6, 2 and 1 respectively.
Having said that, the winner has won all of her four starts and did so with ease under master jockey Olivier Peslier for master trainer Andre Fabre.
She is owned and bred by Gestut Ammerland.
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
The outcome of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains also favoured the rail and mid position horses .
It was also a heartbreaker for England when its outstanding colt Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj IRE) was drawn 14 of 15.
He was 2.1 favourite even though he had not raced this season.
Paul Hannigan, champion jockey, tried the only strategy open to him by cutting fast across the course as soon as allowed.
He set a burning sprint pace that unfortunately burnt him out into fifth.
Outsiders Havana Smoker (Dubawi IRE), Venomous (Red Ransom USA) and Temps Au Temps IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE) made their challenges to tiring Wootton Bassett just before the 2 furlong marker.
In one of the smoothest moves of the day, jockey Thierry Jarnet slipped his colt Tin Horse IRE (Sakhee USA) out from his covered cruising position of fifth on the rail to make a sweeping challenge wide round all the hopefuls.
The little grey was hardly noticed when he accelerated past the melee to win by two comfortable lengths.
He is trained by Didier Guillemin and owned by his breeder, the Marquise de Moratalla, who has raced many champions.
Tin Horse was sent out at 10.1 from Stall 1 and never left the rail till his final swoop.
Havane Smoker (35.1) and Temps Au Temps (53.1) did well to muscle over from Stalls 11 and 15 to take second and fourth in the race ahead of Wootton Bassett.
Venomous, sent out at 25.1, from Stall 6 was third.
It was a great day for French-trained horses and jockeys despite unexpected upsets mostly due to the quirky French racing Rules.
Only Golden Lilac did what everyone expected her to do.
Given that Tin Horse's illustrious sire Sakhee won the Arc de Triomphe by an unbeaten record of six lengths, this sleek colt may also prove to be one of the great ones.
Posted May 15, 2011
Longines To Sponsor Prix Diane
France Galop, France's racing authority, announced that Longines will sponsor the glamourous Prix Diane (1000 Guineas for fillies) at Chantilly on June 12.
Longine will also become the official timekeeper at Chantilly, Deauville and Longchamp.
It will also sponsor a race on Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris day at Longchamp on July 14.
Longines is also a sponsor at the Singapore Cup, the Melbourne Cup and the Kentucky Derby.
Goldikova - France's Horse of the Year
Goldikova's effortless 'record' third consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile in 2010.
Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA) was chosen as France's Horse of the Year by readers of Jour de Galop. Her trainer Freddy Head, jockey Olivier Peslier and owners, the Wertheimer brothers, were also leaders in their categories.
The six-year-old mare is the only horse in history to have won three consecutive Breeders' Cups - all were the BC Mile.
Contrary to the sad controversy over the 2010 Eclipse, there was no dispute in either France or the UK that she is the best.
She was chosen Cartier Horse of the Year and has just been chosen Older Turf Horse of the Year by the UK's Racehorse Owners' Association.
And she has been nominated as the USA's Eclipse Older Turf Female of the Year.
Goldikova will return at six with a career trajectory towards winning her fourth Breeders' Cup Mile.
Goldikova At Six
French owners of Goldikova decided to let her race next year in a Summer and Fall campaign which will probably eliminate Ascot.
It is also likely that she will be named the Cartier Racing Awards' Horse of the Year in England.
Miesque Dead
One of the great mares, Miesque USA (Nureyev USA), was euthenised at 27 due to age infirmaties.
She was the winner of 10 Group/Grade 1 races in 16 starts in France, England and the USA. She won 13 of them placing in the other three.
Two of the races were Breeders' Cup Miles at three and four years of age.
Owned by the Stavros Niarchos and trained by Francois Boutin, Miesque was the inspiration for Freddie Head, who rode her, in his training of France's Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA).
Miesque was the dam of the legendary sire Kingmambo by Mr Propector.
Kingmambo also raced for the same connections and stands at Lane's End Farm where his dam resided.