Thursday, July 5, 2007

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE TOPS EXCELLENT ENTRY FOR LADBROKES ST LEGER - AIDAN O’BRIEN TALKS ABOUT LADBROKES ST LEGER HOPES

The 231st running of the Ladbrokes St Leger will be the richest ever and the world’s oldest Classic returns to Doncaster having been held at York last year while its traditional home was undergoing a £32-million redevelopment.

Having finished a fine fifth to Authorized in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom Downs on June 2, Soldier Of Fortune produced a terrific performance at the Curragh a month later, powering home nine lengths clear of stable companion Alexander Of Hales, with another stablemate, Vodafone Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain, a short-head away in third. He is the 4/1 market leader with the sponsors for the Ladbrokes St Leger, with Alexander Of Hales at 16/1 and Eagle Mountain at 14/1.

The trio’s handler, Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien, is responsible for 15 entries in all as he bids for a fourth Ladbrokes St Leger victory after the wins of Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005).

The master of Ballydoyle’s squad also includes Mahler, who was 11th in the Vodafone Derby but proved his staying prowess with a decisive three and a half length victory over Veracity (14/1) in the Group Three Queen’s Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot on June 22, and is 5/1 with Ladbrokes.

Vodafone Oaks third All My Loving, a 12/1 chance, then also ran well when staying on to be second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and Montjeu colt Honolulu (8/1) has won two of his three races, most recently a Listed event at Limerick, while there were big hopes for Macarthur (12/1) earlier in the season.

O’Brien said today: "Soldier Of Fortune seems to be fine after the Irish Derby. We thought there was a change in him from Epsom to the Curragh and were delighted with his performance on Sunday.

"He’s a definite possible for the Ladbrokes St Leger. We consider the St Leger a very important and prestigious race. It is a race we like to target every year and we are looking forward to Doncaster this year with all the new facilities - it is going to be a spectacular day.

"We were delighted also with Mahler at Royal Ascot. Pat Smullen rode him in the Derby and just thought he was very babyish and would learn a lot from the race. We were really looking forward to Ascot and he ran a huge race. We think the Leger would really suit him.

"All My Loving will run in the Irish Oaks and she looks a filly who is crying out to go further, so she is definitely another candidate.

"Macarthur was given a mid-summer break with the view to bringing him back for a prep for the Ladbrokes St Leger. There is no definite race in mind at the moment but it could be the Voltigeur or something like that.

"Eagle Mountain looks like a horse who would not have any problem stepping up in trip or dropping down in distance. I don’t think it will worry him which way we go. He has just run and we are going to leave him a week or so before we decide but you definitely could not rule him out of the Leger."

Marcus Tregoning has a prime Ladbrokes St Leger candidate on his hands with the lightly-raced Aqaleem, who is 5/1 with the sponsors. The Sinndar colt broke his maiden tag in the Group Three Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield on May 12 before running a cracker to take third place in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom Downs the following month on only his fourth career start. Tregoning is targeting Aqaleem at the Doncaster Classic, taking in Goodwood’s Gordon Stakes on July 31 as a stepping stone.

The trainer commented: "The plan is to run Aqaleem in the Gordon Stakes. He’s only just started back in his work as we gave him a holiday after the Derby and decided not to go to Ireland (for the Irish Derby), and I’m delighted we didn’t. He’s coming along steadily and he'’l be stepping up the pace soon."

Boscobel (10/1), trained by Mark Johnston, ran with great credit to take fourth place in the Irish Derby, having previously recorded a gutsy length success over Vodafone Derby fourth Lucarno in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22, with the likes of Yellowstone, Lion Sands, Spice Route and Salford Mill all behind.

Godolphin, successful in the Ladbrokes St Leger on four occasions with Classic Cliche (1995), Nedawi (1998), Mutafaweq (1999) and Rule Of Law (2004), has made four entries, headed by Eastern Anthem, who suggested a step up in trip would suit when second to the Mick Channon-trained Halicarnassus in the Listed Peters Opal Stakes at Goodwood on May 24.

Empire Day, third to Passage Of Time in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud when last seen in November, and Kirklees, successful in the Group One Gran Criterium at San Siro, Italy, in October, were both trained by Mark Johnston at two. Newbury Listed scorer Measured Tempo, unplaced in the Oaks at Epsom, completes the Godolphin quartet.

Sir Michael Stoute has yet to taste glory in the Ladbrokes St Leger, having landed every other British Classic at least once, although he has saddled the runner-up on no less than five occasions, most recently with Quiff in 2004. Arabian Gulf, narrowly denied by Soldier Of Fortune in the Group Three Chester Vase on May 10, is his one entry this year.

France could be represented by the Jonathan Pease-trained Sagara, a superbly-bred son of Sadler’s Wells owned by the Niarchos Family, who ran on when seventh to Lawman in the Prix du Jockey Club (the French Derby) at Chantilly on June 3. Ladbrokes have introduced him into the betting at 10/1.

The Michael Bell-trained Regime disappointed behind Authorized in the Vodafone Derby but had previously impressed with an authoritative victory in the Group Three Classic Trial at Sandown on April 28, and Raincoat (16/1), who chased home Authorized in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York on May 17, bids to bounce back from a below-par effort last time in the Prix du Jockey Club for John Gosden, trainer of 1996 Ladbrokes St Leger hero Shantou.

Heron Bay (14/1), who fought back bravely once headed to land the King George VI Handicap at Royal Ascot over a mile and a half on June 21, is entered for Newmarket handler Geoff Wragg, whose father Harry won the race twice as a jockey on Sandwich (1931) and Herringbone (1943) and once as a trainer with Intermezzo (1969).

Luca Cumani, who sent out Commanche Run to take the Ladbrokes St Leger in 1984, has entered impressive Folkestone debut scorer Speed Gifted and Leicester maiden winner Wing Express besides Lion Sands.

Moonax scored a 40/1 success in the 1994 Ladbrokes St Leger for Barry Hills, who also sent out The Last Drop to take second last year at 50/1 and has Celestial Halo entered this year for the latter’s Yorkshire owner Jack Hanson, while Henry Cecil has taken the prize four times with Light Cavalry (1980), Oh So Sharp (1985), Reference Point (1987) and Michelozzo (1989) and has Yarmouth maiden scorer Tempelstern engaged.

Pat Eddery was successful four times as a jockey in the Ladbrokes St Leger with Moon Madness (1986), Toulon (1991), Moonax (1994) and Silver Patriarch (1997). Queen’s Vase third Secret Tune, owned by Khalid Abdulla, could become his first runner in the race as a trainer and is a 14/1 chance.

Ladbrokes sponsor the final British Classic of the season for the third successive year in 2007.

The four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster starts on Wednesday, September 12.

Ladbrokes’ prices for the Ladbrokes St Leger - Doncaster, Saturday, September 15.

4/1 Soldier Of Fortune

5/1 Aqaleem

5/1 Mahler

8/1 Honolulu

10/1 Sagara

10/1 Boscobel

12/1 All My Loving

12/1 Macarthur

14/1 Arabian Gulf

14/1 Eagle Mountain

14/1 Heron Bay

14/1 Secret Tune

14/1 Veracity

16/1 Raincoat

16/1 Yellowstone

16/1 Alexander Of Hales

20/1 bar

Others on request. 1/4 odds 1-2-3

THE LADBROKES ST LEGER
Class 1, Group 1, £500,000 Total Prize Fund. Doncaster, Saturday, September 15. For 3yo only, entire colts and fillies. One mile, six furlongs & 132 yards. Weights: colts 9st; fillies 8st 11lb. Entries closed July 4, entries revealed July 5 (40 entries). Forfeit stage August 28, six-day confirmation & £40,000 supplementary entry stage September 10, final declaration stage 10.00am, September 13. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, July 3, 2007.

Form Horse Owner Trainer
120 ACAPULCO (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien
IRE

33-1102 ALEXANDER OF HALES (USA) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien
IRE

1232 ALL MY LOVING (IRE) Roisin Henry & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

32-13 AQALEEM Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning

0-12 ARABIAN GULF Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute

(1)(1)2114 BOSCOBEL Sheikh Mohammed Mark Johnston

5-1630 CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) Jack Hanson Barry Hills

6 DIEGO VELASQUEZ (IRE) Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, Diane
Nagle Aidan O’Brien IRE

214-523 EAGLE MOUNTAIN Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan
O’Brien IRE

1-32 EASTERN ANTHEM (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

1313- EMPIRE DAY (UAE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

5 GLENSTAL ABBEY (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

10-3010 HALICARNASSUS (IRE) Box 41 Mick Channon

6-5 HERNANDO CORTES Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

6231 HERON BAY Mollers Racing Geoff Wragg

311 HONOLULU (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien
IRE

213431- KIRKLEES (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

34-14 LION SANDS Stronach Stables Luca Cumani

2(1)142 LUCARNO (USA) George Strawbridge John Gosden

1-33 MACARTHUR Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

01101 MAHLER Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

1-10 MEASURED TEMPO Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

0-416 PRINCE ERIK Dr Ronan Lambe Dermot Weld IRE

1-120 RAINCOAT Khalid Abdulla John Gosden

4120-10 REGIME (IRE) Highclere Thoroughbred Racing XL Michael Bell

2-120 SAGARA (USA) Niarchos Family Jonathan Pease FR

(6)(4)3410 SAHRATI Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

(2)-(1)2160 SALFORD MILL (IRE) Tony Thompson David Elsworth

0-32 SAMUEL Normandie Stud Ltd John Dunlop

2113 SECRET TUNE Khalid Abdulla Pat Eddery

12-1151 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
Aidan O’Brien IRE

0-12 SONG OF HIAWATHA Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan
O’Brien IRE

41-020 SPANISH HARLEM (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan
O’Brien IRE

1 SPEED GIFTED J M C Breed & Race Limited Luca Cumani

0115 SPICE ROUTE Gilly Rowland-Clark and Kevin Mercer Michael Bell

33-2041 TEMPELSTERN (GER) Ennismore Racing I Henry Cecil

04-0 THE ETHIOPIAN (IRE) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

0-2(1)12 VERACITY Sheikh Mohammed Michael Jarvis

41 WING EXPRESS (IRE) J M C Breed & Race Limited Luca Cumani

3-50203 YELLOWSTONE (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan
O’Brien IRE

40 entries
16 Irish-trained
1 French-trained

WRAGG PLEASED WITH IVY CREEK AHEAD OF PRINCESS OF WALES’S WBX.COM STAKES

The Gulch four-year-old is on a hat-trick after defeating The Geezer in a Pontefract Listed contest on June 24, and scoring from Shahin in the same grade at Goodwood earlier that month. Both successes came over the Princess Of Wales’s WBX.COM Stakes distance of a mile and a half.

Wragg revealed this morning: “Ivy Creek will go for the race if all is well. I was very pleased with his run at Pontefract - he ran a good race. He doesn’t mind the soft so that won’t be a problem.”

Ivy Creek, a half-brother to leading stayer Distinction, won his first two starts as a three-year-old in 2006 before finishing runner-up to Art Deco in the Group Three Dee Stakes at Chester. The colt’s season was curtailed following a close sixth to Snoqualmie Boy in the Listed Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Wragg explained: “He had a bit of back trouble but we’ve got that right now and I’m very pleased with him this season. Whether he’s up to Group Two or not is another matter - we’ll find out.

“I think he’s the kind of horse who could improve a bit and now that he has overcome his back problem he could be quite useful. He would stay further but I’m going to stick at a mile and a half at the moment.”

Entries for the Princess Of Wales’s WBX.COM Stakes also include the 2006 Group One Ladbrokes St Leger hero Sixties Icon, as well as fellow Group One winners Youmzain and Sudan.

Other possible runners include Vodafone Derby fourth Lucarno and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Group Three winner Ask, while Mark Johnston’s seven-strong entry includes King Edward VII Stakes winner and Irish Derby fourth Boscobel as well as last year’s winner Soapy Danger.

Newmarket trainer Michael Bell could saddle the progressive three-year-old Spice Route, who was last seen finishing four and a half lengths fifth to subsequent Group One Budweiser Irish Derby fourth Bosocobel in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22.

The King’s Best three-year-old, who made a good impression when winning handicaps at Haydock and York in the spring, will also be given an alternative entry at the Ritz Club July Festival.

Bell revealed this morning: “Spice Route is very well and will be left in the Princess Of Wales’s WBX.COM Stakes but he’s also going to be put in the Listed Bahrain Trophy, so we will have a look at both options and see which horses turn up for the Group Two race before making a final decision about which route we’ll go.”

The £30,000 Listed Bahrain Trophy is run over a mile and five furlongs and is the opening race on day two of the fantastic three-day Ritz Club July Festival (Wednesday, July 11 - Friday, July 13).

Bell continued: “I would say Spice Route certainly copes with a bit of ease in the ground. Whether he’d want proper soft ground is another matter and I don’t know that until he runs on it.

“I was happy enough with his run at Royal Ascot. Basically the winner had all his own way up front and was given a very good tactical ride. I think this horse has got more to offer, hopefully.”

Iain Turner, Horse Racing and Sponsorship Manager for WBX.COM, said: “WBX.COM is delighted to be sponsoring the Princess Of Wales’s WBX.COM Stakes for the second year. We are the fourth biggest sponsors in horseracing and this prestigious race is the pinnacle of our involvement.

“It is an honour for WBX.COM to be associated with such a high-class contest on Ladies Day at what is an historic Ritz Club July Festival with the unveiling of the stunning new July Course redevelopment.

“The Princess Of Wales’s WBX.COM Stakes promises to be a fantastic spectacle and I’m pleased that progressive horses like Ivy Creek and Spice Route look set to test their credentials against proven top-class performers.

“We saw a thrilling race last season when Soapy Danger made a successful transition to Group Two level and this year’s contest promises to be equally exciting with several established stars such as Sixties Icon among the entries.”

LATEST GOING
Newmarket Clerk Of The Course Michael Prosser is hopeful that ground conditions will be drier than at present when the Ritz Club July Festival commences on Wednesday, July 11.

Prosser revealed today: “The ground is Soft at the moment. It rained last night but it has been a dry morning, so it will be interesting to see how much the course has dried out.

“The long range forecast is unsettled but the showers are more hit and miss next week. There is further rain forecast this evening. Although there are isolated showers around on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it is likely that we could miss the majority of them. We could get further rain Sunday night into Monday but that is not guaranteed to be coming over us and next week is hit and miss.

“There is a certain amount of optimism, especially as temperatures are higher next week - we’re talking 20-22 degrees Celcius. This place dries very quickly and it’s virgin ground that hasn’t been raced on since last August. If the wind blows, the temperatures rise and we get a bit of sunshine then it’s not going to take a great deal for it dry out and there’s every possibility we could be starting the meeting on good ground.”

LANSON LADIES' DAY SET TO ATTRACT A BIG CROWD

Day two of The Ritz Club July Festival, Thursday, July 12, is the most stylish raceday in the Newmarket racing calendar, Lanson Ladies’ Day, when the biggest crowd of the week is likely to attend. Away from the track, all eyes will be on the ladies as they compete to be crowned Lanson’s ‘Best Dressed Lady’ and win some fantastic prizes.

1st Prize – A year’s supply of Lanson Champagne and Pantene Shampoo
2nd Prize – £250 personal shopper and make-over experience courtesy of Debenhams, Cambridge.

3rd Prize – Ladies’ Lunch for six at the Tuddenham Mill Hotel and Restaurant, near Newmarket.

All 10 finalists will receive a Goodie Bag which includes tickets for the Newmarket Nights fixture on the July Course on Friday, August 10, when Ronan Keating will be live on stage after racing.

NATIONAL STUD TEAM UP WITH THE RACECOURSE TO OFFER AN EXCLUSIVE CHAMPAGNE TOUR

Before racing on Wednesday and Thursday, July 11 and 12, there is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an exclusive champagne tour of the National Stud. The special package includes coffee on arrival, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Stud, a champagne and canapés reception after the tour, a Premier Enclosure badge for the afternoon's racing and free entry into a prize draw to win a meal for two at Steven Saunders' Newmarket restaurant.

There are only limited places. Package price: £45 per person - to book call the National Stud on 01638 663 464.

RACECOURSE ADMISSION DETAILS

Tickets for all enclosures on all three days can be purchased in advance with a 20% discount for booking on-line (note: no discounts for the three-day badge/ticket):

Premier Enclosure - £32 each day or £69 for a three day badge
Grandstand & Paddock - £20 each day or £45 for a three-day ticket
Garden Enclosure - Closed

Children aged under 16 accompanied by an adult will be admitted FREE to both enclosures every day.

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

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