Monday, April 14, 2003
42 IN BRILLIANT VODAFONE CORONATION CUP ENTRY
English/Irish, French, German and Italian Derby Winners Could Clash
This year's Vodafone Coronation Cup has attracted a fantastic 42-strong international entry - an increase of nine on 2002 - with one of the highest-quality races of recent seasons in prospect at Epsom Downs on Friday, June 6.
Irish champion Aidan O'Brien has yet to win the £300,000 event, the first race of the initial legs of the new Summer Triple Crown/Grand Slam with its £1 million and £4 million bonuses, but he hopes to run last year's Vodafone Derby hero High Chaparral, who subsequently took the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh and Breeders' Cup Turf at Arlington Park in October.
O'Brien's five entries also include last year's Vodafone Derby runner-up Hawk Wing, who was later successful in the Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, the 2001 St Leger hero Milan, Black Sam Bellamy, who won a Group One event in Italy at the back end of last season, and High Chaparral's lead horse Ice Dancer.
The Godolphin colours have been successful in the Vodafone Coronation Cup twice - with Daylami in 1999 and Mutafaweq two seasons later - and the Maktoum family's team is responsible for no less than 11 entries this year including last year's superb French Derby winner Sulamani, who has already proved that he has trained on this season by scoring in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba in March.
Godolphin's entry also includes World Racing Series champion Grandera, a three-time Group One winner last season, Irish St Leger second Pugin, Arc fourth Califet, Vodafone Derby fifth Fight Your Corner, Highdown, St Leger second Highest, Mamool, Milstreet, Narrative and Sights On Gold.
The Mark Johnston-trained Bandari, last season's St Leger third, is another being targeted at the Vodafone Coronation Cup."He's done well over the winter and put on quite a lot of weight which is what we wanted and he's looking better than ever at the moment," said Johnston. "The Coronation Cup and the King George are his two big aims." The now 11-year-old Yavana's Pace, who last year became the oldest horse to win a European Group One, has also been entered by Johnston along with the Hardwicke Stakes winner Zindabad and Systematic.
Any runner from Andre Fabre's powerful French stable should be noted as the trainer has won the Vodafone Coronation Cup on five occasions with Saint Estephe (1986), In The Wings (1990), Apple Tree (1994), Sunshack (1995) and Swain (1996).
Fabre accounts for two of the five French-trained entries, Deauville Group Two winner Polish Summer and French Oaks second Dance Routine. The Elie Lellouche-trained Bright Sky, the French Oaks winner who later captured the Group One Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp, is also entered as are the Hong Kong Vase winner Ange Gabriel, trained by Eric Libaud, and the lightly-raced Freddie Head-trained Secret Singer.
A German-trained challenger, Boreal, landed last year's Vodafone Coronation Cup and the Andreas Schutz-trained Next Desert, rated one of the best German Derby winners of recent years, could bid to add to that record. Last season's Italian Derby winner, Rakti, has also been entered by his new trainer Michael Jarvis.
A plethora of other top-class entries include the Yorkshire Oaks and Vodafone Nassau Stakes heroine Islington, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the Marcus Tregoning-trained Nayef, last season's Juddmonte International Stakes winner, and the 2002 St Leger hero Bollin Eric.
Stephen Wallis, Managing Director at Epsom Downs Racecourse, commented: "We could not have wished for a better set of entries for the 2003 Vodafone Coronation Cup and we look forward to one of the best races for older horses of recent years. The race should make a memorable start to Vodafone Derby weekend."
THE 2003 VODAFONE CORONATION CUP
Class A, Group One, 300,000 Total Prize Fund, Epsom Downs, Friday, June 6, 2003. For four-year-olds & upwards. One mile, four furlongs and about ten yards. Weights: colts & geldings 9st; fillies 8st 11lb. Entries closed April 9, entries revealed April 10 (42 entries), forfeit stage May 20, 20,000 supplementary entry stage May 31, five-day-confirmation stage May 31, final declaration stage 10.00am, June 4. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys & are correct up to and including Friday, April 11, 2003.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
1/115- ALBANOVA 4 Kirsten Rausing Sir Mark Prescott
32111-2 ANGE GABRIEL (FR) 5 Mrs Henri Devin Eric Libaud FR
1/10113- BANDARI (IRE) 4 Hamdan Al Maktoum Mark Johnston
25501-1 BLACK SAM BELLAMY (IRE) 4 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
322331- BOLLIN ERIC 4 Sir Neil Westbrook Tim Easterby
221310- BRIGHT SKY (IRE) 4 Ecurie Wildenstein Elie Lellouche FR
4244-(0)0 CALIFET (FR) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
216120- CHORIST 4 Cheveley Park Stud William Haggas
112201- DANCE ROUTINE 4 Khalid Abdulla Andre Fabre FR
2/5234-3 EKRAAR (USA) 6 Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning
11/015-5 FIGHT YOUR CORNER 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
0/12646- FOREIGN AFFAIRS 5 C Walker, J Carroll & Kirsten Rausing Sir Mark Prescott
5130-(1)(4) GRANDERA (IRE) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
22122(0)- HAWK WING (USA) 4 Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
111131- HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) 4 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
42411-6 HIGHDOWN (IRE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
2122-10 HIGHEST (IRE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
0051/01- ICE DANCER (IRE) 5 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
4004-40 IMPERIAL DANCER 5 Imperial Racing Mick Channon
25460-(4) INDIAN CREEK 5 Seymour Cohn David Elsworth
101153- ISLINGTON (IRE) 4 Exors of the late Lord Weinstock Sir Michael Stoute
4/4154-1 MAMOOL (IRE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
41152/P- MILAN 5 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
32221-4 MILLSTREET 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
01205-4 NARRATIVE (IRE) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
13421-(3) NAYEF (USA) 5 Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning
11/1211- NEXT DESERT (IRE) 4 Gestut Wittekindshof Andreas Schutz GER
131413- NYSAEAN (IRE) 4 Jeffen Racing Richard Hannon
3/65-(3)(0)1 PAWN BROKER 6 Raymond Tooth David Elsworth
214D5-4 POLISH SUMMER 6 Khalid Abdulla Andre Fabre FR
0120-20 PUGIN (IRE) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
111630- RAKTI 4 Gary Tanaka Michael Jarvis
1/22-4 SECRET SINGER (FR) 4 Mrs Ying Shen Freddie Head FR
224040- SHOLOKHOV (IRE) 4 Gary Tanaka Michael Jarvis
3212-26 SIGHTS ON GOLD (IRE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
11112-1 SULAMANI (IRE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor UAE
211511- SYSTEMATIC 4 Maktoum Al Maktoum Mark Johnston
021015- TARENO (GER) 5 Patsy Byrne Jeremy Noseda
(6)11/140- ULUNDI 8 D Heath Paul Webber
152422- WARRSAN (IRE) 5 Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
321533- YAVANA'S PACE (IRE) 11 Joan Keaney Mark Johnston
13135-0 ZINDABAD (FR) 7 Abdulla BuHaleeba Mark Johnston
42 entries, 11 UAE-trained, 5 Irish-trained, 5 French-trained, 1 German-trained
BREAKDOWN OF ENRTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE VODAFONE CORONATION CUP
11 Entries
Saeed bin Suroor UAE (2001 MUTAFAWEQ, 1999 DAYLAMI)
5 Entries
Aidan O'Brien IRE
4 Entries
Mark Johnston
2 Entries
David Elsworth (1991 IN THE GROVE)
Andre Fabre FR (1996 SWAIN, 1995 SUNSHACK, 1994 APPLE TREE, 1990 IN THE WINGS, 1986 SAINT ESTEPHE)
Michael Jarvis (1982 EASTER SUN)
Sir Mark Prescott
Marcus Tregoning
1 Entry
Clive Brittain
Mick Channon
Tim Easterby
William Haggas
Richard Hannon
Freddie Head FR
Elie Lellouche FR
Eric Libaud FR
Jeremy Noseda
Andreas Schutz GER
Sir Michael Stoute (2000 DALIAPOUR, 1997 SINGSPIEL, 1993 OPERA HOUSE, 1992 SADDLERS HALL)
Paul Webber
VODAFONE CORONATION CUP
Past Results 1988-2002
2002 1 BOREAL (Gestut Ammerland) 4-9-00 Peter Schiergen GER Kieren Fallon 4/1
2 Storming Home (Maktoum Al Maktoum) 4-9-00 Barry Hills Michael Hills 7/2
3 Zindabad (Abdulla Buhaleeba) 6-9-00 Mark Johnston Kevin Darley 9/1
6 ran 2m 45.01s Dist: 3 1/2 , 6
2001 1 MUTAFAWEQ (Godolphin) 5-9-0 Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori 11/2
2 Wellbeing (Plantation Stud) 4-9-0 Henry Cecil Richard Quinn 7/2
3 Millenary (L Neil Jones) 4-9-0 John Dunlop Pat Eddery 6/4 F
6 ran 2m 36.05s Dist: sh, 4
2000 1 DALIAPOUR (H H Aga Khan) 4-9-0 Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon 11/8 F
2 Fantastic Light (Godolphin) 4-9-0 Saeed bin Suroor Chris McCarron 7/4
3 Border Arrow (Bob Michaelson & Wafic Said) 5-9-0 Ian Balding Jimmy Fortune 6/1
4 Ran 2m 41.63s Dist: 3/4, 3/4
1999 1 DAYLAMI (Godolphin) 5-9-0 Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori 9/2
2 Royal Anthem (Thoroughbred Corporation) 4-9-0 Henry Cecil Kieren Fallon 2/1 F
3 Dream Well (The Niarchos Family) 4-9-0 Pascal Bary FR Cash Asmussen 7/2
7 Ran 2m 40.26s Dist: 3/4, 1/2,
1998 1 SILVER PATRIARCH (Peter Winfield) 4-9-0 John Dunlop Pat Eddery 7/2
2 Swain (Godolphin) 6-9-0 Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Evs F
3 Ebadiyla (H H Aga Khan) 4-8-11 John Oxx IRE John Murtagh 10/1
7 Ran 2m 37.6s Dist: 1 1/4, nk
1997 1 SINGSPIEL (Sheikh Mohammed) 5-9-0 Michael Stoute Frankie Dettori 5/4F
2 Dushyantor (Khalid Abdulla) 4-9-0 Henry Cecil Kieren Fallon 9/2
3 Le Destin (M Debeusscher) 4-9-0 Philippe Demercastel FR Thierry Gillet 14/1
5 Ran 2m 37.72s Dist: 5, 1/2
1996 1 SWAIN (Sheikh Mohammed) 4-9-0 Andre Fabre FR Frankie Dettori 11/10F
2 Singspiel (Sheikh Mohammed) 4-9-0 Michael Stoute Michael Kinane 9/4
3 De Quest (Khalid Abdulla) 4-9-0 Andre Fabre FR Pat Eddery 7/2
4 Ran 2m 40.27s Dist: nk, 5
1995 1 SUNSHACK (Khalid Abdulla) 4-9-0 Andre Fabre FR Pat Eddery 10/1
2 Only Royale (Frank Stronach) 6-8-11 Luca Cumani Frankie Dettori 11/4
3 Time Star (Fahd Salman) 4-9-0 Paul Cole Richard Quinn 11/1
7 Ran 2m 35.85s Dist: hd, 1
1994 1 APPLE TREE (Sultan Al Kabeer) 5-9-0 Andre Fabre FR Thierry Jarnet 12/1
2 Environment Friend (Bill Gredley) 6-9-0 Richard Shaw Michael Roberts 40/1
3 Blush Rambler (Maktoum Al Maktoum) 4-9-0 Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn 14/1
11 Ran 2m 35.43s Dist: 1, 2
1993 1 OPERA HOUSE (Sheikh Mohammed) 5-9-0 Michael Stoute Michael Roberts 9/4F
*2 Environment Friend (Bill Gredley) 5-9-0 Nigel Wright Michael Hills 16/1
*3 Apple Tree (Paul de Moussac) 4-9-0 Andre Fabre FR Thierry Jarnet 11/2
8 Ran 2m 35.13s Dist: *hd, *sh
*After a stewards' enquiry, Apple Tree, who originally finished second, was disqualified for causing interference in the final furlong to Environment Friend, who originally finished third.
1992 1 SADDLERS' HALL (Lord Weinstock) 4-9-0 Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn 5/4F
2 Rock Hopper (Maktoum Al Maktoum) 5-9-0 Michael Stoute Pat Eddery 7/1
3 Terimon (Dowager Lady Beaverbrook) 6-9-0 Clive Brittain Michael Roberts 12/1
9 Ran 2m 35.73s Dist: 3/4, 3/4
1991 1 IN THE GROOVE (Brian Cooper) 4-8-11 David Elsworth Steve Cauthen 7/2
2 Terimon (Dowager Lady Beaverbrook) 5-9-0 Clive Brittain Michael Roberts12/1
3 Rock Hopper (Maktoum Al Maktoum) 4-9-0 Michael Stoute Willie Carson 15/8F
7 Ran 2m 36.32s Dist: 1/2, nk
1990 1 IN THE WINGS (Sheikh Mohammed) 4-9-0 Andre Fabre FR Cash Asmussen 15/8F
2 Observation Post (Robert Sangster) 4-9-0 Barry Hills Willie Carson 5/1
3 Ibn Bey (Fahd Salman) 6-9-0 Paul Cole Richard Quinn 5/1
6 Ran 2m 36.43s Dist: 1 1/2, 1 1/2
1989 1 SHERIFF'S STAR (Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk) 4-9-0 Lady Herries Ray Cochrane 11/4F
2 Ile de Chypre (Athos Christodoulou) 4-9-0 Guy Harwood Greville Starkey 6/1
3 Green Adventure (J Garcia-Roady) 4-9-0 Guy Harwood Cash Asmussen 11/1
9 Ran 2m 35.49s Dist: 1/2, 2 1/2
1988 1 TRIPTYCH (Peter Brant) 6-8-11 Patrick Biancone FR Steve Cauthen 11/8F
2 Infamy (Gerald Leigh) 4-8-11 Luca Cumani Ray Cochrane 4/1
3 Moon Madness (Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk) 5-9-0 John Dunlop Pat Eddery 15/8
4 Ran 2m 34.84s Dist: 3/4, 2
EXCITING EASTER ACTION AT WINCANTON
Wincanton Racecourse holds it traditional Easter fixture on Monday, April 21, 2003. The six-race card begins at 2pm with the final race of the day taking place at 4.30pm.
This fixture, which is the perfect entertainment for all the family, is always one of the popular of the season at Wincanton, with a large crowd attending.
There is a nine-hole golf course open throughout the year at Wincanton (excluding racedays) and, in recognition of this, the opening race of the day has been designated the WINCANTON GOLF COURSE NATIONAL HUNT' NOVICES' HURDLE (2pm) over two miles. The Martin Pipe-trained Idaho D'Ox landed this event in 2002 and went on to finish second to Intersky Falcon in a valuable handicap at Aintree five days later. He was also runner-up to Chauvinist in the valuable Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot last Christmas.
The Cadbury Business Park sponsors for the fifth time at this fixture, backing the second race on the card, the CADBURY BUSINESS PARK NOVICES' CHASE (2.30pm) over three miles, one and a half furlongs. Local trainer Paul Nicholls has landed the last two renewals of this contest with Satshoon in 2001 and Tobago last year.
The golf theme is taken up again in race three, the PAY AND PLAY NATIONAL HUNT' NOVICES' HURDLE (3pm) over two miles and six furlongs. Minehead-based trainer Philip Hobbs sent out Dunster Castle to win in 2002.
Next on the agenda is the WESSEX WASTE DISPOSAL HANDICAP CHASE (3.30pm) over two miles. Wincanton regular Castle Prince was successful 12 months ago for another Somerset handler, Ron Hodges.
Race five of the afternoon is the EVENING DOUBLE HANDICAP HURDLE (4.00pm) over two miles and six furlongs.
Concluding the action is the WURZELS AT WINCANTON HANDS AND HEELS' CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS' HANDICAP HURDLE (4.30pm) over two miles, which celebrates the fact that the Wurzels will be playing live at Wincanton's evening fixture on Friday, May 9. This race is restricted to conditional (trainee) jockeys, who may only use their whips for corrective purposes.
Stephen Higgins, Racecourse Manager at Wincanton, commented: "The Easter Monday fixture at Wincanton is always one of the most popular of the whole year and I would advise racegoers to arrive in good time - we open at noon.
"Wincanton prides itself on offering a friendly and informal atmosphere and Easter Monday is a real family affair."
LOTS OF EASTER FUN
In addition to the exciting horseracing, there is plenty to keep all members of the family amused at Wincanton Racecourse on Easter Monday.
There will be a wide variety of FREE children's entertainments including "Jolly Jumpers" - a bouncy castle and assault course and "Snag Golf", the exciting new way to play golf, where plastic clubs are used to hit the ball on to velcro targets.
The racecourse will also be offering a FREE creche for younger children (those aged between 3 and 8) throughout the afternoon. As at all Wincanton fixtures, accompanied children aged 16 and under gain FREE admission.
Racing begins at 2pm with the WINCANTON GOLF COURSE NATIONAL HUNT' NOVICES' HURDLE, with the sixth and final race of the day, the WURZELS AT WINCANTON HANDS & HEELS' CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS' HANDICAP HURDLE, due off at 4.30pm.
Admission charges for Easter Monday, April 21, are Club Enclosure £17 (17-25s with ID £10), Tattersalls Enclosure £12 (17-25s with ID £9), Course Enclosure £6 and cars parked in the Course Enclosure £6. Other parking is FREE. As stated before, children aged 16 and under, accompanied by a responsible adult, gain FREE admission to all enclosures. The gates open at noon.
There are lots of facilities at Wincanton to help ensure that racegoers are able to thoroughly enjoy their afternoon at the friendly Somerset racecourse.
Wincanton offers snack bars in every enclosure and a choice of seven public bars, including the "See More Business" bar in the Club Enclosure which is named after the Paul Nicholls-trained 1999 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, who was successful in the Country Gentlemen's Association Chase at Wincanton earlier this season.
The excellent restaurant overlooking the paddock needs to be booked in advance by contacting the racecourse. The indoor viewing gallery with seats, opposite the winning post in the Club Enclosure, provides good viewing in a comfortable environment and has a bar and snack bar.
After Easter Monday, Wincanton is next scheduled to race on the evening of Friday, May 9, when the first race is due off at 6pm and the Wurzels will be providing the musical entertainment, with the season concluding with Ladies Night (including a fashion competition) on Thursday, May 15, when the first race is again set for 6pm.
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