Wednesday, June 27, 2007

INDIAN INK AMONG 37 IN UAE HYDRA PROPERTIES FALMOUTH STAKES

Darjina and Finsceal Beo, separated by just a head in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp on May 13, finished third and eighth respectively behind Indian Ink at Royal Ascot, and could bid for revenge at the July Course next month.

The John Oxx-trained Arch Swing chased home Finsceal Beo in the Stan James 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile on May 6 before disappointing behind the same rival in the Irish equivalent. She finished a decent fourth in the Coronation Stakes last time and makes up part of the seven-strong Irish entry.

Nannina went down by just three-quarters of a length to 50/1 chance Rajeem in a tactical renewal of the UAE Hydra Properties Falmouth Stakes last year and proved her current well-being with a clear-cut success in the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20, defeating Satwa Queen by three lengths. Her handler, John Gosden, has also entered Costume, third in the Listed Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20.

Having racked up an incredible seven-timer last season for trainer Michael Bell, Red Evie started 2007 in terrific style when landing the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 19 by a head from Ramonti, only to finish seventh to that rival in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot a month later.

Simply Perfect, trained by Jeremy Noseda, was a Group One scorer as a two-year-old and finished an excellent third behind Finsceal Beo in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on her seasonal return. She was last seen running sixth to Light Shift in the Oaks at Epsom on June 1, when she looked to find the 12-furlong trip too far.

The Chris Wall-trained Wake Up Maggie gained a well deserved first Pattern success with an emphatic three and a half length victory in the Group Three Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield on May 12. She could bid for the Group One prize along with stable companion Expensive.

Echelon, who has four wins to her name in Group Three company, dual Listed scorer Wasseema and Heaven Sent, second to Championship Point in the Listed Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot on June 22, are the three contenders for the Sir Michael Stoute stable, while Pam Sly has entered her 2006 Stan James 1000 Guineas heroine Speciosa, unplaced in the Lockinge Stakes last time out having chased home the top-class Manduro on her seasonal reappearance in the Weatherbys Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket on April 19.

The Brian Meehan-trained Rainbow Promises looked a bit special when coasting to a facile five-length success in a Lingfield Polytrack maiden in October but has not been seen since, while Clive Brittain, who supplied last year’s shock scorer Rajeem, has another candidate for honours in the shape of Darrfonah, a 10-furlong Listed winner at Newbury on June 14.

French-based trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias is represented by Impressionnante, twice runner-up at the highest level and winner of the Group Two Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly in June, 2006, and Gwenseb, unplaced in the Windsor Forest Stakes on her latest outing.

The single South African entry is Irridescence, trained by Mike de Kock. Successful three times at the highest level, the globetrotting mare’s latest victory came in the Audemars Piquet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin in April, 2006.

Michael Prosser, Director of Racing for Newmarket Racecourses, said: “The UAE Hydra Properties Falmouth Stakes has attracted a fantastic international entry, as befits a very valuable prize with Group One status.

“With the likes of Indian Ink, Finsceal Beo and Darjina entered, it has the makings of a classic renewal, while it is especially pleasing to have South African challenger Irridescence added to the mix. It will certainly ensure the best possible start to the Ritz Club July Festival on Wednesday, July 11.”

UAE HYDRA PROPERTIES FALMOUTH STAKES (GROUP ONE)

Class 1, Group One, £200,000 Total Prize Fund. One mile of the Bunbury Mile course, Wednesday, July 11, 2007 For three-year-olds and upwards, fillies and mares only. Weights three-year-olds 8st 10lb; four-year-olds and upwards 9st 5lb. Entries closed June 20, entries revealed June 27 (37 entries). Six-day confirmation & £15,000 supplementary entry stage Thursday, July 5. Final declaration stage, 10.00am, Monday, July 9. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, June 25, 2007.

Form Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer
4-1 ALEAGUEOFTHEIROWN (IRE) 3-8-10 Jay Syndicate David Wachman IRE
50-2414 ALEXANDER TANGO (IRE) 3-8-10 Noel O'Callaghan Tommy Stack IRE
11-1204 ARCH SWING (USA) 3-8-10 Pat Garvey John Oxx IRE
2033-22 BAHIA BREEZE 5-9-05 S Balfour Rae Guest
1410 CHANTILLY TIFFANY 3-8-10 Ballygallon Stud Ltd Ed Dunlop
3250 CHERRY HINTON 3-8-10 Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
3-3413 COSTUME 3-8-10 Khalid Abdulla John Gosden
1-113 DARJINA (FR) 3-8-10 Princess Zara Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
2-(0)0001 DARRFONAH (IRE) 3-8-10 Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
125-115 ECHELON 5-9-05 Cheveley Park Stud Sir Michael Stoute
66(1)210 EXPENSIVE 4-9-05 M Tilbrook Chris Wall
11-1210 FINSCEAL BEO (IRE) 3-8-10 Michael Ryan Jim Bolger IRE
01- FLAMINGO GUITAR (USA) 4-9-05 Sue Magnier David Wachman IRE
3/023-66 FLASHY WINGS 4-9-05 Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
262-540 GWENSEB (FR) 4-9-05 Wertheimer et Frere Carlos Laffon-Parias FR
5045-15 HARVEST QUEEN (IRE) 4-9-05 Bakewell Bloodstock Ltd Peter Makin
13-3122 HEAVEN SENT 4-9-05 Cheveley Park Stud Sir Michael Stoute
121620- IMPRESSIONNANTE 4-9-05 Wertheimer et Frere Carlos Laffon-Parias FR
211-251 INDIAN INK (IRE) 3-8-10 Raymond Tooth Richard Hannon
1154-30 IRRIDESCENCE (SAF) 6-9-05 Team Valor Mike de Kock SAF
01-120 MAJESTIC ROI (USA) 3-8-10 Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
2345-31 NANNINA 4-9-05 Cheveley Park Stud John Gosden
332132 PEEPING FAWN (USA) 3-8-10 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
212-30 RAHIYAH (USA) 3-8-10 H E Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Jeremy Noseda
(1)- RAINBOW PROMISES (USA) 3-8-10 Michael Tabor Brian Meehan
1115-10 RED EVIE (IRE) 4-9-05 Terry Neill Michael Bell
411-20 SANDER CAMILLO (USA) 3-8-10 Sir Robert Ogden Jeremy Noseda
150-106 SCARLET RUNNER 3-8-10 Nicholas Jones John Dunlop
3123-50 SILCA CHIAVE 3-8-10 Aldridge Racing Partnership Mick Channon
2611-00 SILK BLOSSOM (IRE) 3-8-10 Edward Kessly Barry Hills
3011-36 SIMPLY PERFECT 3-8-10 Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Jeremy Noseda
1406-20 SPECIOSA (IRE) 4-9-05 Michael Sly, Dr Tom Davies, Pam Sly Pam Sly
141-020 SWEET LILLY 3-8-10 Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
1220-21 TOPATOO 5-9-05 Mrs P Bowring Mark Tompkins
52022-1 WAKE UP MAGGIE (IRE) 4-9-05 J Lambton Chris Wall
1113-40 WASSEEMA (USA) 4-9-05 Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute
3-160 YAQEEN 3-8-10 Hamdan Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis

37 entries
7 Irish-trained
3 French-trained
1 South African-trained

SIXTIES ICON TOPS 39 ENTERED IN PRINCESS OF WALES’S WBX.COM STAKES

Jeremy Noseda’s first Classic winner made a sparkling reappearance this season in the Group Two StanJamesUK.com Jockey Club Stakes over course and distance on May 6, defeating Admiral’s Cruise in decisive fashion, only to run below-par next time when last of seven to Scorpion in the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Last year’s Epsom Derby victor Sir Percy has not been able to show his true colours since that momentous day, but Marcus Tregoning’s colt would be a danger to all if returning to his best.

Soapy Danger showed plenty of determination when landing last year’s renewal and is one of seven entries for Mark Johnston. Linas Selection, not seen since running third to Sixties Icon in the BGC Stakes at Goodwood in August, and progressive three-year-old Boscobel, winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22 from Lucarno, previously fourth in the Epsom Derby behind Authorized, are also possible contenders.

Ask, mightily impressive when powering to a two-length victory over Scorpion in the Group Three Ormonde Stakes at Chester on May 11, is one of three entries for Sir Michael Stoute, who has taken the Princess Of Wales’s wbx.com Stakes five times.

The master of Freemason Lodge has also entered last year’s runner-up Mountain High, who made his breakthrough at Group One level in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud on June 24, when the Mick Channon-trained Youmzain could only finish fifth, and last year’s King Edward VII Stakes victor Papal Bull.

Godolphin is responsible for six entries, including multiple Group one winners Laverock and Cherry Mix, 2005 St Leger runner-up The Geezer, and Stage Gift, who landed the Group Three La Coupe at Longchamp on June 14, when stable companion Formal Decree slipped up on the turn for home. Tam Lin completes the entry for the Dubai-based outfit.

Sudan, victorious in the Group One Gran Premio di Milano at San Siro, Italy, on June 17 when trained by Elie Lellouche, is now in the care of top Newmarket handler Michael Jarvis, who has also entered Harland, disappointing behind Boscobel in the King Edward VII Stakes on his latest outing.

The Geoff Wragg-trained Ivy Creek appreciated the step up to 12 furlongs when landing the Listed Hildon Stakes at Goodwood on June 1, and followed up in good style in a similar contest at Pontefract on June 24.

Regime, trained by Michael Bell, looked good when taking the Group Three Classic Trial at Sandown on April 28 but beat only four home in the Epsom Derby next time, while Lion Sands, impressive winner of a Haydock maiden on May 25, ran well upped in class when a close fourth to Boscobel in the King Edward VII Stakes next time.

Mont Etoile, the 2006 Ribblesdale Stakes heroine part-owned by Lester Piggott, is the only entry for trainer William Haggas.

Michael Prosser, Director of Racing for Newmarket Racecourses, said: “We are delighted with the entry for the Princess Of Wales’s wbx.com Stakes, in terms of both quality and numbers.

“With a host of middle distance stars entered, including Classic winners Sir Percy and Sixties Icon, plus some really progressive performers like Boscobel and Lucarno, this year’s renewal looks like developing into one of the best seen in recent years.”

CARTIER RACING AWARDS LATEST & MANDURO RAISES THE BAR AT ROYAL ASCOT

Baron Georg von Ullman's Monsun five-year-old put four previous Group One winners to the sword in the 10-furlong race on June 20, and so raised the bar in the contest for the 2007 Cartier Racing Awards, European horseracing's most prestigious accolades, which will be presented during a glittering ceremony in London on November 14.

The coveted eight horse awards are now in their 17th year and celebrate the champions of the Turf, plus one person and are European horseracing's equivalent of the Oscars.

The Cartier Racing Awards are determined by points earned in Pattern races combined with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists plus votes from readers of the Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph, a system which accurately rewards supreme excellence.

The Andre Fabre-trained Manduro saw off a pair of Derby heroes and a
Breeders' Cup Turf winner as he made it three wins from as many starts this season with a commanding length and a quarter success over Dylan Thomas in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes to leap to the top of the Cartier Older Horse division with 72 points. The official handicappers described Manduro's performance as the best on turf so far this year.

Last season's Budweiser Irish Derby hero Dylan Thomas (60 points) is his nearest pursuer in that category, while Ramonti and Yeats are level on 48 points, with Scorpion, winner of the Vodafone Coronation Cup and second in the Hardwicke Stakes next on 44.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Ramonti, runner-up in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes on his seasonal debut, demonstrated courageous tenacity to come out on top in a four-way photo-finish to secure the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19, over a mile under Frankie Dettori and could be a major contender for Cartier honours by the season's end.

The Queen Anne Stakes saw the eagerly-awaited return of the brilliant George Washington, winner of the 2005 Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Award and the 2006 Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Award, and his close fourth bodes well for his chances of securing a Cartier Awards hat-trick.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Yeats secured back-to-back victories in the Group One Gold Cup at the Royal meeting on June 21, and is in pole position to retain the Cartier Stayer Award he collected last year.

The six-year-old champion held the late challenge of Geordieland (32) by a length and a half, with the German raider Le Miracle third (18). The hugely popular Sergeant Cecil (17), winner of this season's Group Two Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup in May, was a below-par last of 14, while Allegretto (16) was unable to build on her victory in the Group Two WBX.com Henry II Stakes in finishing ninth in the Royal Ascot feature.

The Australian speedsters stole the headlines on day one of the Royal
meeting (June 19) as Miss Andretti blitzed her rivals over five furlongs in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes but the balance of power shifted back to the home sprinters when the Jeremy Noseda-trained Soldiers Tale won the final day's Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes (June 19).

Soldiers Tale leads the Cartier Sprinter division with 36 points after
collaring Aussie star Takeover Target (18) on the line for a head victory in the six-furlong showpiece. The Robert Collet-trained Beauty Is Truth and Peace Offering, trained by David Nicholls, each have 20 points, while Group Two Duke of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes victor Amadeus Wolf, a disappointment when 11th in the Golden Jubilee, remains on 16 points.

Dual Guineas winner Cockney Rebel continues to lead the Three-Year-Old Colt Award section despite coming home fifth to Excellent Art in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting. Geoff Huffer's star was found to have fractured his pelvis after the race and is expected to return to action later in the campaign.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Excellent Art's victory sees him climb onto the leaderboard with 36 points, four points behind stablemate and Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Astronomer Royal, who was third in the St James's Palace Stakes.

Also in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division, Vodafone Derby winner Authorized (64) and Prix du Jockey Club Mitsubishi Motors hero Lawman (57) are prominent in the chase for Cartier honours.

Jim Bolger's brilliant charge Finsceal Beo, winner of the 2006 Cartier Award for Two-Year-Old Filly, heads the Three-Year-Old Filly category with 88 points due to her English and Irish Guineas triumphs and a runner-up finish in the French equivalent.

The crack filly's reputation took a knock in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22, however, as the Richard Hannon-trained Indian Ink (36) stormed to a six-length triumph in the mile contest, with Finsceal Beo only fifth and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Darjina (48) in third and Arch Swing (32) fourth.

Harry Herbert, Cartier's racing consultant, commented today: "The Cartier Awards are all about rewarding supreme excellence and Royal Ascot never fails to produce exceptional racing. I'm sure we will see many of the heroes and heroines of the Royal meeting among the nominees for Cartier honours at the season's finale.

"The increasing international flavour of Royal Ascot is refreshing and
certainly enhances the competition. The Australian sprinter Miss Andretti was scintillating and her compatriot Takeover Target again showed that he has real class and guts in his last stride defeat by the redoubtable Soldiers Tale.

"Manduro's victory was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the week as was Indian Ink's sensational defeat of the best of her peers, while Yeats showed again what a great stayer he is. This season is shaping up to be a vintage one."

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly

Finsceal Beo 88

Darjina 48

Light Shift 48

Indian Ink 36

Arch Swing 32



Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt

Cockney Rebel 72

Authorized 64

Lawman 57

Astronomer Royal 40

Excellent Art 36



Cartier Older Horse

Manduro 72

Dylan Thomas 60

Ramonti 48

Yeats 48

Scorpion 44



Cartier Sprinter

Soldier's Tale 36

Beauty is Truth 20

Peace Offering 20

Takeover Target 18

Amadeus Wolf 16



Cartier Stayer

Yeats 48

Geordieland 32

Le Miracle 18

Sergeant Cecil 17

Allegretto 16

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

©Racenews
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services