Written by Melissa Bauer-Herzog
Lord North registers first Group 1 in Prince of Wale’s S.
Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) made the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. his own on Wednesday, romping home in the headline race of the day.
Racing over 2000 metres, Lord North jumped quickly from the widest gate and angled in to race at the back of the field just behind an eager Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) took on the role of pacesetter in the small field with Australian dual-Group 1 winner Addeyb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) settling into second.
Running on the inner rail as the field turned into the straight, Lord North had to make a change of strategy with 500 metres left to run when he was stuck behind a wall of horses. He then went five wide to find a place to run and quickly joined the group of four battling for the lead. With James Doyle aboard, it didn’t take long for the gelding to show his supremacy over the field, running away with a 3.75l win.
Making his first start since his Group 1-winning trip here two months ago, Addeybb was a clear second when crossing the line 1.25l in front of Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) to give geldings a 1-2-3 finish in the race with fourth placed Japan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the first intact horse to cross the line.
"Lord North has got better and better,” trainer John Gosden said post-race. “He is very powerful and, for a gelding, he has a great body to him. I was looking at the race and talking to Peter [Shoemark, Gosden's Racing Office Manager] and I thought this race was winnable for Lord North, so at 9.55am we put him in - it was very late. I was toying between this race and the Listed Wolferton under a penalty as you want to have a winner at Royal Ascot. I said no, let's go for this.”
Winning by a nose on June 7 in his 2020 debut, Lord North ended last season with a victory in a Listed race for his first stakes win. The winner of five of his eight starts, Lord North’s only non-top two finish was an eighth in his first Listed attempt last May with the Dubawi (Ire) son gelded soon after that.
"Lord North was gelded [after the race], he needed to be,” Gosden explained about the decision. “He was tormenting himself. Testosterone is the most dangerous drug in the world, and he is a lovely horse to be around now. Lord North has a lovely character now and when they let Bangkok have his head as I thought that would do one day, boy we had an honest gallop.”
Lord North’s victory provided a major update to a mare living in Australia with stakes winning Australian resident Sweet Victory’s (USA) (Blame {USA}) dam a half-sister to Lord North’s dam.
Purchased for US$400,000 (AU$581,866) by Boomer Bloodstock at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Sweet Victory was imported to Australia in February 2017. The mare was covered by All Too Hard that year and had an All Too Hard filly in 2018. After missing the following year, she was covered by Dundeel (NZ) last season.
Russian Emperor wins Hampton Court for Atlantic Jewel
Australian Champion Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) registered a Royal Ascot success on Wednesday when her 3-year-old son Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won the G3 Hampton Court S. and put himself in contention for the G1 Epsom Derby.
The third foal out of his dam, Russian Emperor took the 2000 metre race in stride under Ryan Moore. Breaking on top of the field, he quickly dropped back to second last alongside stablemate New World Tapestry (USA) (War Front {USA}) as King Carney (GB) (Australia {GB}) went to the front to set the pace.
Sitting to the outside of New World Tapestry, Russian Emperor was in no hurry to go for the lead with Moore finally rousing him to pick up the pace with 500 metres left. Switched to the centre of the track while a change in lead was going on in front of him, Russian Emperor steadily made ground on the now-leading Berlin Tango (GB) (Dansili {GB}) – who was soon to have to hold off the Queen’s First Receiver (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
It looked like the battle may be between those two for the win but switching into another gear with 150 metres left to run, Russian Emperor quickly joined them. In the final 75 metres, First Receiver took over the lead for a brief period to have viewers dreaming of a victory for the Queen before Russian Emperor threw down a challenge.
It took only a few strides for the Irish-trained colt to prevail by 0.5l and put himself in Epsom Derby conversations. Berlin Tango finished 1.25l behind First Receiver and was well clear for third with fourth placed Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}) 3l behind him in fourth.
"He is a lovely colt, straightforward and with a good attitude,” said Moore, who scored his 60th Royal Ascot win with the victory. “He was very professional. He has had the benefit of a couple of runs this year and let us see if he will keep progressing. He has a very good pedigree - his dam was exceptional in Australia. I think he will be a nice horse going forward for the rest of the year."
If Russian Emperor does take on the July 4 Epsom Derby, he will be trying to emulate Friday’s G2 Hardwicke S. runner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as the second Derby winner in as many years out of a top Australian mare. Last year’s Epsom Derby winner is out of G3 Diamond Prelude (f) winner Believe’N’Succeed (Exceed And Excel), who produced New Zealand Champion Bounding (Lonhro) as her first foal, she was a Group 1 winner then dam of a US$4 million (AU$5,822,076) colt at Keeneland September in 2019.
I Am Excited
Russian Emperor is one of two runners and winners out of the dual-Australian Champion Atlantic Jewel, with her first runner – his full brother Pacific Ocean (Ire) – winning last year. Already from a top Australian family with his dam a half-sister to Group 1-winning Commanding Jewel (Commands), the colt saw a notable update in March when I Am Excited (Snitzel) won The G1 Galaxy.
After producing a filly by Galileo (Ire) in 2018 and a colt by the sire in 2019, Atlantic Jewel returned home to Australia last August and visited Coolmore Australia’s Triple Crown winning Justify (USA).
Toronado provides Queen with Windsor Castle winner
The Queen may not be at Royal Ascot this week but 2-year-old colt Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) made sure to give her something to celebrate with a victory in the Listed Windsor Castle S. over 1000 metres.
The colt by Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (Ire) was making his second start after finishing third on debut at Newmarket on June 4 and was highly regarded, going off as the favourite.
Tactical broke from the barrier closest to the nearside rail, taking advantage and staying in the nearside pack led by the Wesley Ward-trained Sheriff Bianco (USA) (Speightster {USA}), who had the overall lead on the field as well. James Doyle moved his mount up closer to the leader half-way through the race, giving Tactical the perfect position to pounce when it was time to go.
That time came with 400 metres left as the Ward trainee faded and Muker (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) took command closer to the centre of the track. Tactical gained on the leader slowly as they hit the final stage of the race, not getting the lead until 75 metres out. But once he had it, the colt was full of steam and built up a 1.25l margin at the line with the late closing Yazaman (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) just sticking his head in front of Muker for second.
"We thought Tactical had learnt a lot [on his debut] and would be a bit sharper, and that very much proved to be the case,” trainer Andrew Balding said. “But he still had to get the job done and did it nicely at the end. I think he will be better over six furlongs, and we stuck at five because we thought the Coventry S. would be a much stronger race, but he will certainly be going six furlongs and looks up to Group class, anyway."
Continuing a top month for Balding, Tactical gave the recent G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas winning trainer his first 2-year-old winner at the Royal meeting with the victory.
"Everyone involved is thrilled,” said John Warren, The Queen’s Racing Manager. “All of Her Majesty's stud team and staff team at Sandringham and Polehampton through to the operations that provide the horses and obviously Andrew Balding and his team. It is a big team effort and it's wonderful for Toronado to sire a big 2-year-old winner like that. It is obviously a great shame that Her Majesty is not at Royal Ascot to enjoy the buzz of a winner. She has studied every bit of it today watching the races. The last two days she has been able to spend a little bit of time watching the big races. This was the icing on the cake to have a winner for Her Majesty - it is tremendous.”
Toronado (Ire) | Standing at Swettenham Stud
By Toronado, the colt is out of Makfi’s (GB) stakes placed Make Fast (GB), who is a daughter of Group 3-winning Raymi Coya (Can) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}). The colt’s fourth dam is US Group 1 winner Try Something New (USA) (Hail The Pirates {USA}), who is also the dam of German Champion 2-Year-Old Somethingdifferent (USA) (Green Forest {USA}).
Currently wrapping up his Northern Hemisphere breeding season, Toronado will soon be returning to Swettenham Stud in Victoria, where he’ll stand for $27,500 inc GST.
Sir Prancealot gelding kicks off card
It didn’t take long for Australia to get on the board Wednesday when Cornerstone Stud resident Sir Prancealot (Ire) sired the winner of the first race with Sir Busker (GB) storming home in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup H.
Coming into the 1600 metre race after winning on June 2, Sir Busker ran near the back of the nearside pack that led the overall race. Jockey Oisin Murphy had to navigate traffic in his group in the final 400 metres, switching Sir Busker to a hole on the rail to pass most of the field than swerving to another tight hole between the leading Salayel (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and fading rivals with 100 metres left to run.
Time was running out for Sir Busker but he still had plenty left, heading Salayel with 50 metres left and pulling away to win by 0.75l over Salayel with Alternative Fact (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) another from their group to finish near the front when third.
It was the first victory for trainer William Knight, whose recently moved to Newmarket after previously training in West Sussex.
"Just unbelievable,” he said of the win. “To be honest with you, we had high hopes for this lad at the end of last year coming into this year. At Christmas time [a move to] Newmarket wasn't even on the radar. It is a great facility that we are in in Newmarket, and it's just lovely to have started off so well and to have my first Royal Ascot winner is the icing on the cake. Elated, very, very happy. It is such a shame that we can't enjoy it all with the owners, Kennet Valley, because they are such a lovely group of people; I'm sure there would have been a good booze-up in the car park afterwards, but we will have to wait and get home to do that.”
Sir Prancealot (Ire) | Standing at Cornerstone Stud
By Australian-based Sir Prancealot, five time winner Sir Busker comes from the family of 2002 Champion Turf Mare Golden Apples (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who also produced Group 3 winner Habaya (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}) and is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Alexander Three D (Ire) (Pennekamp {USA}).
Shuttling to Australia for the first time in 2017, Sir Prancealot became a permanent resident in the country for a few seasons before shuttling to Rancho San Miguel in California for the first time this year. Standing for $9900 inc GST this season at Cornerstone, the stallion’s first Australian crop hits the track next season.
Hukum gives Shadwell fourth win in King George V
In what has been a top Royal Ascot meeting for Shadwell and jockey Jim Crowley, the partnership added a fourth win from 10 races to their resume in the King George V S. with Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Racing over 2400 metres for the first time in his seasonal debut, Hukum raced along the rail just behind the leading Oleksander (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) with a bit of bumping among others in the field to Hukum’s outside. The field was tightly packed throughout the running with many of the horses moving closer to the leader as the field swung into the straight with Hukum making his move as they entered the last 450 metres.
Slipping through a hole, he quickly took over the lead but had to fend off Kipps (Ire) (War Command {USA}) in the final 200. Kipps gained on him with every stride, moving to run right beside him but that was the exact motivation Hukum needed to pull away right before the line to win by 0.5l over Kipps with Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) making a late rush to finish third 1.25l behind the winner.
The victory provided trainer Owen Burrows with his first Royal Ascot success in what has turned into a big week for the Shadwell team.
"Owen has done a great job,” said Crowley. “The horse had been away to Lambourn and galloped there, but he also took him to Kempton for an away-day there, and really on the back of that he'd almost had a run - it worked out great. He's a fine, big horse with plenty of scope about him and he stays very well. I'm sure as the season goes on he will keep progressing as well.”
As has been the talk after most of the 3-year-old races with the G1 Epsom Derby running after Royal Ascot this year, Hukum’s name was thrown into the mix thought Crowley wasn’t sure if the colt has enough experience to handle the Derby.
"I am sure we'll have a think about it and we'll go back and have a chat with Sheikh Hamdan,” Burrows said. “But as Jim said there, he is still very inexperienced. He just said he was lugging left a bit the majority of the way around so whether or not he will handle Epsom, we will see. We will see how he is, he was just a little stuck into there on his right hind. It looks superficial, just as if it is the skin, but once we get it back and cleaned up, we will be able to see it a lot more then.”
A winner by Sea The Stars (Ire), Hukum is out of Listed winner Aghareed (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), a daughter of 2007 US Champion Turf Female Lahudood (GB). A fifth generation homebred for Shadwell, the colt’s fifth dam is bluehen mare Height Of Fashion.
Dark Vision annexes Royal Hunt Cup
Beaten just a head by fellow Royal Ascot winner Sir Busker (GB) only a few weeks ago, Dream Ahead’s (USA) Dark Vision (Ire) redeemed himself in the Royal Hunt Cup when registering his first win since July 2018 for Godolphin.
Racing alongside 22 other horses in the 1600 metre race down the straight, the Mark Johnston-trained 4-year-old colt broke a step slowly to run among the back of the group closest to the near rail as the field broke into two groups.
Racing more toward the centre of the track in that group, Dark Vision had only a few horses beat with 600 metres to go before William Buick started pushing the colt forward. The pair weaved through the pack, ending up just a few horses off the rail when finding clear running room with 200 metres left.
Given a target to aim for in Shadwell’s Montatham (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Dark Vision relished the challenge and went after that rival then easily passing him to win by 1.25l and relegate the Shadwell challenger to second with Zebedee’s (GB) 4-year-old son Pogo (Ire) finishing a clear third.
The stakes-winning Dark Vision continues what has been a good week for his Listed placed dam Black Dahlia (GB) (Dansili {GB}) after his year-younger half-brother Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) finished third in last Friday’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas.
That colt is set to run in the G1 Commonwealth Cup here on Friday as well. This pair also comes from the family of two-time Group 1 winner Soviet Line (Ire) (Soviet Star {USA}).
Fujaira Prince rewards patient approach in Copper Horse
Owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and trainer Roger Varian have been extremely patient with 6-year-old Fujaira Prince (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and on Wednesday he paid them back with a Royal Ascot victory in the Copper Horse H.
Last seen a year ago when finishing third to Baghdad (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) in the Duke of Edinburgh S., Fujaira Prince has been lightly raced during his four racing seasons – only making one start as a 3-year-old, two at four, and three last year. But that strategy has paid off with the gelding winning four times and never finishing worse than third with the unconventional schedule.
On Wednesday, the grey raced keenly a few paths off the rail in second behind the leading Hochfeld (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) for much of the race until Shailene (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) made a sweeping move from midpack to draw even with the leader with 1200 metres left to run. With that prompt, Fujaira Prince pulled even with the old leader and the rest of the field quickly tightened up as Shailene took the clear lead.
Racing into the final 500 metres, Fujaira Prince was tired of racing with the pack and quickly broke away to run away with the lead. Andrea Atzeni just had to give Fujaira Prince a few taps at the 100 metre mark before switching to a hand ride as his mount raced to a 3.75l victory over Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) with that Qatar Racing-owned gelding finishing 0.5l in front of Almania (Ire) (Australia {GB}).
Stretching to 2800 metres for the first time in his career, Fujaira Prince showed that he has inherited the stamina that made his half-brother Nichols Canyon (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) a seven-time Grade 1 winner over jumps. The gelding’s dam Zam Zoom (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) is a half-sister to Exceed And Excel’s G3 Winter Derby winner Nideeb (GB) and hails from the family of Australian stakes winner Rugged Cross (Cape Cross {Ire}) and G1 Caulfield Cup fourth Blue Monday (GB) (Darshaan {GB}).
