Friday, June 23, 2000

BEST ODDS FOR ASCOT HEATH TOMORROW

Douglas Erskine-Crum, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, said: "We had record crowds on the Tuesday and today, and racegoers have enjoyed outstanding racing all week."

BIG INCREASE IN TOTE TURNOVER

Today's on-course cash Tote betting turnover was 1,632,349, which represents an increase of 8.1% compared with the 1999 figure.

Turnover for the entire four days of the meeting was up by 3.1% at 6,365,000.

Rob Hartnett, the Tote spoesman, said: "We are delighted to be able provide a betting service that is so popular with racegoers."


LEADING JOCKEYS



Kieren Fallon wins the London Clubs Charity Trophy for the leading jockey at the meeting, even though he missed half of it through injury.

His four winners, two each on the first and second days, were enough to hold off Richard Quinn and Johnny Murtagh.

Quinn's three winners at Royal Ascot have earned £1,200 for Ascot's Charity 2000 Appeal.

Eurobet, Coral's Internet betting service, agreed to donate £400 for every Ascot winner between the start of Royal Ascot and the end of the season ridden by Richard Quinn, who announced last week that he would be the Appeal patron.

There are now 10 racedays left in Ascot's Flat season, including tomorrow's Ascot Heath fixture.

Ascot's year-long Appeal will benefit four charities supporting people with impaired sight and hearing. The Royal Racecourse has pledged to raise a minimum of £100,000 to be split equally between Action for Blind People, Fight for Sight, Deafblind UK and Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association.

CRIMPLENE LEADS ALL THE WAY IN CORONATION

Philip Robinson rode a forceful race on the Lion Cavern filly and as the field entered the straight it soon became apparent that she was not going to be passed and she went on to score by . Princess Ellen ran on for second place with Bluemamba back in third.

The success gave Philip Robinson his first Royal Ascot success since Katies landed the same race in 1984.
THIRD RACE RESULT
3.45pm CORONATION STAKES

Class A, Group One, £250,000 guaranteed, 1m, for three-year-old fillies. Weights: 9st. Penalty values: 1st: £156,600; 2nd: £59,400; 3rd: £29,700; 4th: £13,500; 5th: £6,750; 6th: £4,050

1 CRIMPLENE (Sheikh Marwan Al Maktoum) Clive Brittain 3-9-00 Philip Robinson [6] 4-1 JF
2 PRINCESS ELLEN (Mrs Soo Thomas) Gerard Butler 3-9-00 Kevin Darley [3] 6-1
3 BLUEMAMBA (Ecurie Skymarc Farm) Pascal Bary(FR) 3-9-00 Olivier Peslier [5] 7-1
4 ZARKIYA (HH Aga Khan) Alain De Royer Dupre (FR) 3-9-00 Gerald Mosse [2] 4-1 JF
5 TOTAL LOVE (John Brown/Megan Dennis) Ed Dunlop 3-9-00 Richard Quinn [1]
6 IFTIRAAS (Kuwait Racing Syndicate II) John Dunlop 3-9-00 Pat Eddery [7]
7 DECISION MAID (The Eclipse Partnership-2) Geoff Wragg 3-9-00 Darryll Holland [8]
8 SEAZUN (John Breslin) Mick Channon 3-9-00 Steve Drowne [9]
9 AMETHYST (Sue Magnier/Johnny Jones Jnr) Aidan O'Brien(IRE) 3-9-00 Michael Kinane [4]

9 ran

Distances: 2.5, 4, 1, 2.5, 3, Nk, 3.5, 2.5
Time: 1 minute 41.55 seconds
Breeder: Sheikh Marwan Al Maktoum
Breeding: Lion Cavern - Crimson Conquest (Diesis)
Totes: Win: £3.30 Places: £1.50; £2.20; £2.30 Exacta: £21.30

Winning trainer:-Name: Brittain, Clive Edward
Born: Calne, Wiltshire, 15/12/33 Date of first licence: 1972 Previous Occupation: Joined Sir Noel Murless as stable lad in 1949 Classic wins: (8) Sagitta 1000 Guineas (1984 Pebbles,1993 Sayyedati); Sagitta 2000 Guineas (1991 Mystiko); Vodafone Oaks (1992 User Friendly), Pertemps St Leger (1978 Julio Mariner, 1992 User Friendly); German 1,000 Guineas (2000 Crimplene), Irish 1,000 Guineas (2000 Crimplene) Other major wins include: Japan Cup (1986 Jupiter Island), Breeders' Cup Turf (1985 Pebbles), St James's Palace Stakes (1974 Averof, 1976 Radetzky), Coral-Eclipse Stakes (1985 Pebbles), Sussex Stakes (1995 Sayyedati), Juddmonte International (1991 Terimon), Yorkshire Oaks (1992 User Friendly), Cheveley Park Stakes (1992 Sayyedati), Champion Stakes (1985 Pebbles), Prix Jean Prat (1988 Lapierre), Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1993 User Friendly), Prix Jacques Le Marois (1993 Sayyedati), Italian Derby (1991 Hailsham, 1995 Luso), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1997 Air Express), Hong Kong International Vase (1997 Luso); Nell Gwyn Stakes(1998 Cloud Castle) Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile (1999 Teggiano) Wins in a season(1983-99):45:33:51:39:38:40:36:42:53: 63:37 :37:51:35:26: 23:40 Horses in training (1984-2000): 102:88:115:125:130:119:145:176:143:118 :124 :111:114:75:104:100:77 Wins this season: 13 Trains at Carlburg Stables, Newmarket, Suffolk First Goodwood winner: Grey Thunder (August 1, 1974 - Gordon Stakes) First Royal Ascot win: Averof (June 6, 1974 - St James's Palace Stakes) Royal Ascot wins: (14) St James's Palace Stakes (1974 Averof, 1976 Radetzky), Queen Anne Stakes (1978 Radetzky, 1991 Sikeston, 1993 Alflora), Queen's Vase (1982 Evzon), Coronation Stakes (1984 Katies, 2000 Crimplene), Royal Hunt Cup (1985 Come On The Blues), Hardwicke Stakes (1985 Jupiter Island), Chesham Stakes (1987 Lapierre, 1995 World Premier), Ribblesdale Stakes (1992 Armarama), Britannia Handicap (1992 Efharisto), King Edward VII Stakes (1996 Amfortas).

Winning jockey:-Name: Robinson, Philip Peter.

Born: 10/1/61 in Newmarket
Apprenticeship: With father, Peter Robinson.

First winner: Busting (Yarmouth, June 14, 1978)
Classic wins: (5) Sagitta 1,000 Guineas (1984 Pebbles); St Leger (1993 Bob's Return); German 1,000 Guineas (2000 Crimplene), Irish 1,000 Guineas (2000 Crimplene), French Derby (2000 Holding Court)
Other major wins include: Coronation Stakes (1984 Katies, 2000 Crimplene); Great Voltigeur Stakes (1993 Bob's Return);
First Goodwood win: Karamita (August 1, 1980)
Wins (1995-99): 41,31,0,28,53
Wins this season: 21
Other details: Rode in Hong Kong 1989-91 (leading rider 1989 and 1990) and returned in 1997
Royal Ascot wins: (2) Coronation Stakes (1984 Katies and 2000 Crimplene)


WINNING QUOTES RACE THREE
CORONATION STAKES

KENTUCKY BECKONS FOR CRIMPLENE

"She is a very serious filly, people have been underestimating her," said trainer Clive Brittain after Crimplene had led from start to finish to take the Coronation Stakes in the most decisive style from the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas runner-up Princess Ellen.

"I think she would have won the Guineas if we had run her in it, which was the plan if things had gone right for her in Italy, with all due respect to Lahan, who is a good filly."

Certainly a line through Princess Ellen suggests that the trainer's claim is fully justified.

But Crimplene could finish only third in Italy after having had a very unhappy time at the start, and when Lahan was winning at Newmarket Brittain's filly was taking the German Guineas.

"She was quite a nervy filly last year, but when I took her to Dubai for three weeks to run her in the UAE Derby - people thought it was tough putting in a filly against colts at that time of year and that Derby was a hotter race than I had anticipated.

"But the three weeks she had there helped her to settle and my one worry here was that she had not had a run for a couple of weeks and that she might be a bit keen.

"We shall probably give her a bit of a spell off now, and then for later in the year it is a case of Kentucky here we come (likely to be for the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on November 4) - and we are coming to win."

As far as the race was concerned, Brittain said that Crimplene "had them all flat to the boards she really had the race won. Philip (Robinson) said that if nothing was going to go on, he would be happy to do so and she has really just galloped them into the ground. She is a very serious filly."

MORE WINNING QUOTES
CORONATION STAKES
WINNING RIDER PHILIP ROBINSON

Philip Robinson is celebrating having his second Royal Ascot win - the other was in the same race on Katies in 1984 - and a fantastic season having had overseas classic success on Crimplene and Holding Court.

The winning jockey said: "I think the best is still to come with this filly - she thrives on racing and I wouldn't be surprised if she goes all over the world now.

"This filly is something really very special. I intended making the running unless anybody went a crazy pace - if they were going to leave me alone - I was happy to do it.

"I was just a bit concerned as she slipped coming out of the stalls. I just sat on her for a second and she just took me there - we went a nice sensible pace. When I asked her to quicken again at the two-marker she did so.

"This filly, I am pretty sure, is going to get a mile and a quarter - this is a very stiff mile.

"I could see the improvement in the parade ring and the preliminaries - that is where you see the big difference with this filly because she is enjoying it - taking it all in her stride. She used to sweat up and be on her toes but now she is relaxed and knows what to do. I think she will keep on improving."

"We are having a terrific year and long may it continue - a dream really - three classic winners and now the Coronation on top."

TODAY'S WINNERS AT ROYAL ASCOT

"He is bred to want further than a mile and a half really, but where we go with him now will depend on what the Prince (Ahmed Salman of the Thoroughbred Corporation) feels when we talk about things," said the trainer,

"It would be nice to keep him to a mile and a half for his value, but you have to run horses in what are the right races for them," added Cecil as he confined his answer to questions about the Irish Derby and the St Leger to "we'll see".

"I bought him in Ireland after the Prince had said to me that he wanted a mile and a half horse," Cecil went on.

"I had to give him a run after his first race, and the only race I could find for him was over a mile and a quarter (at Newmarket when he was second). I hope he will be OK after this, but I had to withdraw Shiva (from the Hardwicke) because of the ground. She was jarred up for three months after she had beaten Daylami last year.

"He is a still a big, backward horse but he is one with lots of potential. John Lowe has done a marvellous job with Subtle Power - he rides him every day and I am very lucky to have such a good team of riders."

He added about his Vodafone Derby third Beat Hollw has come out of the classic well. Cecil said: "Beat Hollow runs on Sunday (Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp) and I would like to get a Group One race into him now against his own age - he's a bit immature."

3.05 Hardwicke Stakes-Fruits Of Love
SECOND RACE WINNING QUOTES
THE HARDWICKE STAKES
JOHNSTON LEADS THE WAY

Fruits Of Love led a 1-2 for trainer Mark Johnston when taking the Hardwicke Stakes for a second consecutive year after finishing a length and a half ahead of stablemate Yavana's Pace.

"I've always said he's out of the top drawer," said Johnston of the winner. "He's as good as they come and to have the 1-2 is just fantastic.

"Yavana's Pace was in no way in there as a pacemaker, I thought both my horses would come from the back. But the first two showed jockeyship at its best, they threw the plans out of the window and went on. It was fantastic.

"The horse suits the track and I've always known he was top-class since 1997 when he was working well with the likes of Lend A Hand."

The winner suffered a potentially career-threatening suspensory injury in Japan at the end of last year and Johnston added: "I hope he's OK afterwards, the veterinary reports last December mostly said that he wouldn't come back but I went against the vets' advice as it's 99 per cent certain that he will retire to stud after this year.

"He will be back here for the King George and follow the same route of last year, going on to Toronto and the Japan Cup. Let's find out in the King George if he is better than last year.

"Olivier Peslier said he couldn't believe it was so easy, he hasn't lifted his stick at all.

"Last year his win in the race was the performance of the meeting - why should we assume Royal Anthem was wrong that day?"

Peslier, after giving the winning trainer a kiss, added: "He came on well after a good lead. He fights well and just gallops - I didn't fight a lot with him, I just showed him the whip once.

"For me this is the best meeting in the world and I am sorry that I missed the ladies yesterday when I had to ride at Longchamp, although I did have a winner there."

Johnston also saddled the runner-up Yavana's Pace and said of him: "He is a brilliant, brilliant tough horse. He is supposed to come from the back but was up there today and he made a good attempt to get back today after he got passed.

3.45 Coronation Stakes-Crimplene

4.20 Wokingham Handicap-Harmonic Way
FOURTH RACE WINNING QUOTES
THE WOKINGHAM STAKES

HARMONIC GOES FROM
LAST TO FIRST
The Roger Charlton-trained Harmonic Way was piloted from last to first by Richard Hughes to take the Wokingham Handicap to score by a length from Tussle.

Charlton said: "Richard said in the paddock before he won the Stewards' Cup last year that he would drop him in last. I said maybe not last but Richard was definite so I said ‘OK you're the driver' and it worked.

"Richard said that he had got the horse relaxed today and that he knew he was going to win as soon as the stalls opened. He was drawn on the right side and got the breaks.

"He has improved a lot as he was rated 94 this time last year. I hope he can win a Group 3 now and he might go for the five-furlong race at Goodwood. It would great if he could win a Group race as his owner has a small stud near Athens and would love a Mr Prospector-line stallion."

The trainer's horses were badly out of form earlier in the year. He added: "When things are bad it's desperate, this is a very up and down game. This horse never coughed but he went in his coat and was very subdued.

"He's never worked over more than two furlongs in the last six weeks. I couldn't be sure he was 100 per cent, you had to take it on trust that he was fit.

"I haven't had a winning three or four-year-old for 40 days and you go numb - you can't say they're going to win beforehand. "

Winning jockey Richard Hughes said: "Everything went right and we had the luck. I knew that I was on the best horse in the race and when you're going that easily you can be a bit cheeky and stick you're head where you wouldn't normally. He can pass two or three and then fly. Halfway through I knew I'd get there, the splits were coming at the right time.

4.55 Windsor Castle Stakes-Autumnal
WINNING QUOTES RACE FIVE
WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES

GREEN'S FIRST ROYAL
MEETING WINNER

"It has taken me ages to do it, but at last that is my first Royal Ascot winner," said Paul Green after his home-bred filly Autumnal had caught Give Back Calais in the last few strides to win by a neck.

"I have had any number of places, including when Tyrone Bridge was second in the Gold Cup ten years ago," Green added.

"I have just two broodmares now, and Charlie Gordon-Watson does the mating plans for them. They live at Lord Lloyd Webber's Kiltinan Stud in Co Tipperary."


The winner's trainer Brian Meehan said of Pat Eddery's second success of the meeting: "She is a very nice filly and she looks from the way she was finishing that she will get further than this.

"We have had a funny old week, Shoeshine Boy disappointed earlier on and he was a bit dull and quiet this morning, but this has ended things on the right note."



5.30 Queen Alexandra Stakes-Dominant Duchess

SIXTH RACE WINNING QUOTES
THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES

HILLS BREAKS DUCK

Trainer John Hills, who finally won his first race at Ascot with Bold King in the Victoria Cup two months ago, recorded his first triumph at the Royal Meeting when Dominant Duchess took the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes.

"I'd been trying to win a race here since 1987," said Hills. "We've been beaten short heads and finished second on many other occasions and then we managed to win the Victoria Cup so I thought our luck had changed.

"I wasn't confident today but she did a great job. She goes completely to sleep, when she passed the stands for the first time you'd have thought she would be lucky to get round again, but that's her style. There were a couple of anxious moments when I wondered if she would get a gap.

"We've tried to mess it up all along the way with her, running in claimers and then she broke a blood vessel at Goodwood. She was beaten by an exceptional horse in Top Cees in the Cesarewitch last year and this has been the plan since then. She will probably go back to Goodwood and then go for the Cesarewitch again."

HIGH-RISE RETIRED

The five-year old High-Estate horse, who had been transferred by Godolphin to US trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, suffered a fractured sesamoid in his near-fore when trailing in last in the Grade One Manhattan Park Handicap on June 10.

In addition to his success in the Derby, High-Rise was second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot behind Swain and seventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, after encountering trouble in running. His only success after Epsom came in the listed Dubai City Gold at Nad Al Sheba on February 24.

JARVIS DELAYING COURT DECISION

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