Wednesday, June 21, 2000

BEST ODDS FOR ROYAL ASCOT TOMORROW

FALLON TO HOSPITAL

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He was badly kicked after his mount Alhawa was brought down in a series of falls which began when Prairie Falcon, ridden by Michael Hills, slipped up approaching the final bend.

The champion jockey was diagnosed before leaving the course as having sustained injuries to his left shoulder and maybe to his neck, though it appeared that no significance should be attached to the police escort. That was involved to ease the path of the ambulance through the heavy traffic.

Dr Richard McKenzie, who attended Fallon at the scene of the fall, said: "He was complaining of pain which started in his left shoulder and went on down his arm. The shoulder was getting more swollen all the time and he did not want to move it, but until it has been x-rayed we cannot tell how badly he has been injured. He was totally conscious all the time, and as far as could be seen at the time that area is the extent of his injuries."

The other two jockeys involved in the melee were Seamus Heffernan and Alan Daly but they and Michael Hills were able to walk back into the weighing room. Heffernan was unscathed and the other two were walking wounded.

Hills, whose mount began the concertina effect and whose kit was covered in grass stains, said "I am OK," and then, with a good example of gallows humour, showed his broken whip to his valet. "You can mend that," he said. "I pulled it through to try to save myself."

Alan Daly, who rode Natural Eight, said "I am very bruised and battered all over. I am very sore but nothing is broken and basically I am alright.

Seamus Heffernan, who partnered Generosa, was the first of the four jockeys to return to the weighing room. "Two horses fell in front of her and she half jumped them," he said. "I am fine, but Kieren's arm does not look very good."

Dr Norman Gordon attended Michael Hills and Alan Daly. He said: "They are both bruised and have injured their knees. I have given them both a red entry so they will have to pass the racecourse doctor before they can ride again but, with luck after a good night's sleep, they may well be fine in the morning, even if they may be a little stiff."

MILLENNIUM SO IMPRESSIVE

The colt led from pillar to post under Jerry Bailey and easily beat off the challenge of Sendawar early in the straight.

In the finish, he won by eight lengths with 66/1 German raider Sumitas running for second place with Beat All third and Sendawar a disappointing fourth.

THIRD RACE RESULT
3.45pm PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES

Class A, Group One, £250,000 guaranteed, 1m 2f, for four-year-olds and upwards. Weights: colts and geldings: 9st; fillies: 8st 11lb. Penalty values: 1st: £156,600; 2nd: £59,400; 3rd: £29,700; 4th: £13,500; 5th: £6,750; 6th: £4,050

1 DUBAI MILLENNIUM (Godolphin) Saeed Bin Suroor 4-9-00 Jerry Bailey [7] 5-4

2 SUMITAS (Baron Georg Von Ullmann) Peter Schiergen (GER) 4-9-00 Terry Hellier [8] 66-1
3 BEAT ALL (Saeed Suhail) Sir Michael Stoute 4-9-00 Kieren Fallon [3] 14-1
4 SENDAWAR (HH Aga Khan) Alain De Royer-Dupre (FR) 4-9-00 Gerald Mosse [4] 6-5 fav
5 KING ADAM (Lord Weinstock) Sir Michael Stoute 4-9-00 Michael Kinane [1]
6 RHYTHM BAND (Godolphin) Saeed Bin Suroor 4-9-00 Ted Durcan [6]
6 ran Non-Runners: No. 2 Border Arrow and No. 5 Pegnitz

Distances: 8, 0.5, 2.5, Nk, 5
Time: 2 minutes 7.48 seconds
Breeder: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum
Breeding: Seeking The Gold - Colorado Dancer (Shareef Dancer)
Totes: Win: £2.00 Places: £1.40; £11.00 Exacta: £130.30

Winning trainer:-Name: Bin Suroor, Saeed
Trains at Newmarket for Godolphin, the racing entity of Sheikh Mohammed, whose horses winter in Dubai and race worldwide. Classic wins: (8) Sagitta 2000 Guineas (1996 Mark of Esteem, 1999 Island Sands), Sagitta 1000 Guineas (1998 Cape Verdi), Vodafone Oaks (1994 Balanchine, 1995 Moonshell); Vodafone Derby (1995 Lammtarra); Pertemps St Leger (1995 Classic Cliche; 1998 Nedawi; 1999 Mutafaweq) Other major wins include: Irish Derby (1994 Balanchine), Irish Champion Stakes (1994 Cezanne; 1998 Swain), Irish St Leger (1998 & 1999 Kayf Tara), French 2000 Guineas (1995 Vettori); Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1995 Lammtarra); Prix d'Ispahan (1996 Halling), Eclipse (1995,1996 Halling; 1998 Daylami); Juddmonte International Stakes (1995 Halling), Ascot Gold Cup (1996 Classic Cliche; 1998 Kayf Tara), King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (1995 Lammtarra; 1997 & 1998 Swain, 1999 Daylami), Nunthorpe Stakes (1995 So Factual), Derby Italiano (1998 Central Park), Lockinge Stakes (1998 Cape Cross), Prix Jean Prat (1998 Almutawakel), Prix de la Salamandre (1998 Aljabr), Man O' War Stakes (1998 Daylami), Lockinge Stakes (1998 Cape Cross, 1999 Fly To The Stars), Great Voltigeur Stakes (1998 Sea Wave) Vodafone Coronation Cup (1999 Daylami), Sussex Stakes (1999 Aljabr) Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup (1999 Diktat), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1999 Dubai Millennium), Predominate Stakes (2000 Roscius), Prince of Wales's Stakes (1998 Faithful Son, 2000 Dubai Millennium) Wins in a season (1995-99) 14:48:41:38:41 Other details: Champion trainer 1996;1999 Completed full set of classic wins following Cape Verdi's victory in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas. First Royal Ascot win: So Factual (June 22, 1995 - Cork and Orrey Stakes) Royal Ascot wins: (15) Cork and Orrery Stakes (1995 So Factual), Queen Anne Stakes (1996 Charnwood Forest, 1997 Allied Forces, 1998 Intikhab, 1999 Cape Cross), Gold Cup (1996 Classic Cliche, 1998 Kayf Tara), Chesham Stakes (1996 Shamikh), Hardwicke Stakes (1997 Predappio), Windsor Castle Stakes (1997 Asfurah), Prince of Wales's Stakes (1998 Faithful Son, 2000 Dubai Millennium), Ribblesdale Stakes (1998 Bahr, 1999 Fairy Queen) King Edward VII Stakes (1999 Mutafaweq) Wins this season: 10

Winning jockey:- Bailey, Jerry Age: 42 Born: Dallas, USA First Win: Fletch (November, 1974) Career Successes (as at end of last year): 4,676 Career Earnings (as at end of last year): $181,856,743 Major wins include: 2 Kentucky Derbys (Grindstone and Sea Hero); 4 Breeders' Cup Classics (Black Tie Affair, Arcangues, Concern and Cigar); 2 Dubai World Cups (Cigar and Singspiel), Prince of Wales's Stakes (2000 Dubai Millennium) Major Awards: Inducted into Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga (1995); Eclipse Award USA (1995, 1996 and 1997). First Royal Ascot winner.

MORE WINNING QUOTES RACE THREE
PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES

ALL UTTERLY
IMPRESSED

"He is the best horse we have ever had. You can wait for 20 years and never get a horse like this," said a delighted Sheikh Mohammed after Dubai Millennium had galloped his rivals into the ground.

"He is a true champion and I have never seen or owned a horse like him, the way he trains, the way he looks. He is quite outstanding - there is no horse like this horse.

"I was not at all worried about the fact that we had not had a winner for a while - there were excuses for a lot of the horses who were beaten recently, as about five of them are lame.

"This horse is very, very good, and he showed that this afternoon. There has never been anything like him that I have seen. He will retire to Dalham Hall at the end of this season."

Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford joked as he went into the press conference "It is a long time since I have been in here!

"That was tremendous, fabulous. It was a quite exceptional performance; once he applied the pressure four furlongs out he had them all in trouble and by the time they reached the straight there was going to be only one winner.

"This was a very similar performance to when he won the Dubai World Cup. They don't come any better. Maybe he was tying up a bit near the line, but by then he had already beaten a very good horse in Sendawar and he has beaten him very, very easily.

"You will not see a better-looking thoroughbred and then he also has the ability to go with that. He had them all burned off by the time they reached the straight.

"I think ten furlongs is his best trip and although he has been entered for the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, the only time he has been beaten was in the Derby over a mile and half.

"There are no plans for him at the moment, apart from the fact that his last race will be in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and he will probably not do too much travelling before that. He may well go over to the States a bit earlier than some of our other runners there have done in the past.

"He has now shown that he is as brilliant on grass as he is on dirt and we might well drop him back in trip at some stage." he added. "He showed that he was a champion over a mile last year (when he won the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes)."


THIRD RACE JOCKEY WINNING QUOTES
PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES

HAPPY BAILEY

Jerry Bailey, Dubai Millennium's rider, said: "You know with a good horses there is a certain amount of pressure, but that's what you want pressure with - a good horse."

Asked by Willie Carson on BBC Television whether Dubai Millennium is as good as Cigar, a past American champion whom Bailey rode, the jockey said: "It is hard to tell because one was dirt and one was grass but he is equally impressive without a doubt."

Carson then asked if Bailey agreed with Sheikh Mohammed's comment that this is the best horse in the world. The American jockey replied: "I definitely agree - I haven't seen anything on the other side of the pond that could touch him.

"He settled. Frankie and Sheikh Mohammed talked to me and said the best thing was not to get in his mouth - let him have his head - he will relax better that way.

"He did in the middle of the race pick it up a bit but then he came back off the bridle enough times to save himself.

"It is a wonderful experience - I have lost several races here and now I have won one - it is much better winning.

"My only decision was when I did a flying dismount. I looked at Frankie's ankle and thought if I land on it I've got another mount - maybe he'll be out for six months - but I said no! This is Frankie's ride and I just appreciate filling in for the moment."


MORE THIRD RACE WINNING QUOTES
PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES

MORE BAILEY

Jerry Bailey, who replaced the injured Frankie Dettori on the winner, had no doubt about the winner's quality.

"He was brilliant, everything I had been told he would be," he said. "I almost felt that I had the race won from the moment we left the gate, and the only reason that I looked behind soon after the start was that I wanted to make sure that there was nothing behind me as I went across to the rails. I did not want to lose the race on a disqualification.

"Cigar (on whom Bailey won many major races including the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic) was a super horse, but this is the best I have come across in a long time.

"I don't know about the three-year-olds back in the States, we shall have to see how they develop through the summer and the fall, but as far as the older horse are concerned I cannot see anything to touch him.

"I have had a marvellous time at Ascot this week; everyone has been very good to me and I have really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the rest of the meeting."

BEST HORSE

Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of the third Beat All, said: "Dubai Millennium is probably the best horse I have ever seen - they don't come around very often.

"Beat All has not really been firing at home - there is nothing wrong with him but he has not been sparkling so we were quite happy with that."

Joe Mercer, the former top jockey who rode great horses like Brigadier Gerard, commented: "Dubai Millennium's performance was unbelievable."

DETTORI HAPPY

Frankie Dettori, who missed the winning ride because of injury, commented: "It brings tears to my eyes - I have never been so nervous in my life. Dubai Millennium is the best horse I have ridden - he's exceptional. I didn't think he was going to win that easily as they pumped up Sendawar to be a great champion.

"It just shows what Dubai Millennium can do with champions - he destroys them.
He was wonderful. Everybody likes to see great champions and he is a great champion.

"It is going to be the Breeders' Cup Classic and I will give them something to talk about when we get to America."


THIRD RACE PLACED QUOTES
THE PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES (GROUP 1)

SENDAWAR DIDN'T STAY

Top miler Sendawar could finish only fourth, 11 lengths behind the outstanding winner Dubai Millennium, in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and his owner the Aga Khan felt that the ten-furlong trip was too far for him.

"The winner is very, very good," said the Aga. "But Sendawar just didn't get the trip. That was always a big question mark and you could see that he just stopped at the mile marker. But that's racing.

"They went a really fast pace and I told (jockey Gerald) Mosse not to take the horse out of his natural pace, but to stay where he was."

Mosse added: "I am sure that my horse is the champion but just doesn't stay, that is why he was beaten for second.

"He slowed down at the 400-metre marker and I was not surprised by it, I understood what was happening.

"I tried to be second but he slowed down for even that, he was just tired."

The German-trained Sumitas defied his odds of 66/1 to finish second. His owner Baron Georg von Ullman said: "I love it - the horse has run extremely well, much better than you'd expect a 66/1 chance, although the 66/1 was a bit of an insult since he is a very good horse.

"He was unlucky last year - he had some health problems and he had no luck in running last time out in Rome. I'm extremely happy and loved taking on these horses and want to say thank you to my trainer and jockey. I'm not sure where he will race next."

Kieren Fallon, who partnered third-placed Beat All, said: "He was running on well and I thought he'd be second."

ASCOT'S CROWD FIGURE


Today's attendance came to 55,763, up 3.1% compared to last year's 54,092 and 54,088 in 1998.

TODAY'S WINNERS AT ROYAL ASCOT

TEGGIANO GOES FOR RIBBLESDALE

The Mujtahid filly will be making her seasonal reappearance and is running for the Godolphin operation for the first time, having been trained by Clive Brittain last season.

RUNNERS FOR THE CORONATION STAKES

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Form Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey

243-102 AMETHYST (IRE) 3-9-00 Sue Magnier/Johnny Jones Jr Aidan O'Brien IRE Mick Kinane 4
1-31 BLUEMAMBA 3-9-00 Ecurie Skymarc Farm Pascal Bary FR Olivier Peslier 5
3-63311 CRIMPLENE (IRE) 3-9-00 Marwan Al Maktoum Clive Brittain Philip Robinson 6
51-04 DECISION MAID (USA) 3-9-00 The Eclipse Partnership - 2 Geoff Wragg Darryll Holland 8
2142-15 IFTIRAAS 3-9-00 Kuwait Racing Syndicate II John Dunlop Pat Eddery 7
105-025 PRINCESS ELLEN 3-9-00 Mrs Soo Thomas Gerard Butler Kevin Darley 3
121-244 SEAZUN (IRE) 3-9-00 John Breslin Mick Channon Steve Drowne 9
0233-02 TOTAL LOVE 3-9-00 John Brown/Megan Dennis Ed Dunlop Richard Quinn 1
1-241 ZARKIYA (IRE) 3-9-00 H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR Gerald Mosse 2


Nine declared runners.

The Aga Khan, on a major roll with three winners on the first day of the meeting and bright prospects with Sendawar in the Prince of Wales's Stakes today and Enzeli in the Gold Cup tomorrow, will be looking at another Group 1 triumph with Zarkiya in the Coronation Stakes on Friday.

After a very close and unlucky fourth to Bluemamba in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, when she had to be switched to make her final furlong run and was beaten less than half a length, Zarkiya stayed on well to take a Group 3 race at Chantilly and is clearly going the right way.

With better luck in running she may be able to reverse the French Guineas form with the winner Bluemamba, though both fillies will be racing on ground much faster than any they have encountered this year.

Although the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas winner Lahan is unable to take part because of injury, Princess Ellen and Seazun, who were respectively second and fourth to her at Newmarket, will be doing their best to uphold the form of that classic.

Both have since run in the Irish 1,000 where they could not cope with Crimplene, who made just about all the running and held on well against Amethyst, with Seazun again in fourth and Princess Ellen somewhat disappointing. She was found to be in season after the race which may excuse her indifferent effort.

Crimplene was running for the fifth time this year when she won the Curragh classic. She had previously been successful in the German Guineas and, in the opinion of her trainer Clive Brittain, might have taken the Italian version before that if she had not had an unhappy time at the start.

Iftiraas, who beat the subsequent Guineas winner Lahan in very soft ground at Newbury first time out, was only fifth behind Bluemamba at Longchamp last time.

Decision Maid needs to improve on what she showed when fourth to Corinium at Goodwood last time, but her trainer Geoff Wragg brought Balisada to the Coronation last year with similar apparently modest credentials and landed a serious touch.

Total Love, who completes the nine horse line-up, is moving up to this mile from seven furlongs. She was only inched out over that trip last time on her first appearance for seven weeks, but this looks a great deal tougher.

SAKHEE TO GO FOR ECLIPSE

BESTS AND HOLLOW TO RUN ON SUNDAY

Trumpet Sound, trained by Luca Cumani and Jeremy Noseda's Kalypso Katie are also entered for the race but are doubtful runners. Kalypso Katie runs in tomorrow's Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ballydoyle could possibly be represented by Shakespeare, Ciro or Bach.

ARMSTRONG TO QUIT TRAINING

Armstrong commented: "I have for some time had other business interests outside racing, and this seems to be an opportune time to concentrate on them. I'm 56 years old, and I should start at that sooner rather than later."

The best horses trained by Armstrong were champion sprinters Moorestyle and Never So Bold.

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