Palace Pier stays undefeated in St. James’s Palace
Connections’ decision to skip the Guineas races and go for an easier spot with Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) to start his season paid off in spades on Saturday when the colt won the G1 St. James’s Palace over Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}).
Held back at the break, Palace Pier spent the 400 metres of the 1600 metre race in the back of the pack just ahead of Pinatubo.
While the Ballydoyle trio set the pace up front, the only one willing to take them on was Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) as the other three in the field bided their time just behind. Hitting the 600 metre mark, 2000 Guineas second Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) had the lead with Threat going with him as Pinatubo and Palace Pier ranged up beside them while racing stride-for-stride.
Pinatubo looked to be back to his best form as he struck the lead with 200 metres left but Palace Pier was quickly challenging him again and put his head in front with just 100 metres to run.
As Palace Pier started inching away, Pinatubo had another worry with Wichita making a late rally up his inside to attempt to grab second. In the end, Palace Pier finished a length ahead of the duelling duo with Pinatubo finishing a head in front of Wichita with fourth placed Positive (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) 5.5l behind the leading three.
“The race panned out well,” said Gosden, who also trained the colt’s sire. “Frankie said he wanted to ride Palace Pier a little cold. He settled him off the pace. He knew there would be a searching pace and I think Ryan Moore was happy with how the race turned out on Wichita. It got a little rough and Frankie avoided all of that. He swept around the outside and I think that he demonstrated superior stamina, which he also showed at Newcastle when he was really strong in the last furlong. He is a really talented horse and he will go for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, which his father Kingman won.”
The sixth win of the week and third of the day for Frankie Dettori allowed him to win 73 career Royal Ascot races and equal the late Pat Eddery’s record. Frankie said the way Palace Pier had trained at home dictated going to a Newcastle handicap rather than the G1 2000 Guineas.
"I sat next to Pat for 15 years; he was one of my heroes, I used to nickname him 'God' and to equal him gives me great satisfaction, God bless him.
“What a day! We always thought a lot of Palace Pier, but he got a bit sleepy on us in the mornings and we were scratching our heads,” he said. “John did a great job, and he thought, let's start him off in a handicap at Newcastle to see whether he would wake up, and he did. We threw him in at the deep end today, but in the back of our minds we knew that there was a good horse in that big body, and we just were not sure how much of a good horse he was. Today was no fluke.”
Winning the same race as his sire did in 2014, Palace Pier is one of two winners for his dam Beach Frolic (GB) (Nayef {GB}), who is a half-sister to British Group 2 and Listed Grafton Cup winner Bonfire (GB) and Royal Ascot Group 2 winner Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
The colt hails from a strong North American family with 10 of the stakes horses under his third dam getting their black type on the continent.
Alpine Star follows sister’s lead in Coronation Cup
Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) followed half-sister Alpha Centarui’s (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) lead on Saturday when winning the G1 Coronation S., the same race that filly won two years ago.
Breaking strongly, Alpine Star raced in about second a few lengths behind the leading Run Wild (Ger) (Amaron {GB}) in the early stages just inside Cloak of Spirits (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Run Wild still had a few lengths on the field with 700 metres to go but that quickly changed as they turned into the straight.
Cloak of Spirits with the first to run past the leader as they straightened out for the final 500 metres with Quadrilateral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) confronting the new leader from the outside and Alpine Star from the inside. While Quadrilateral leaned on Cloak of Spirits as she tried to pass, Alpine Star ran cleanly on by the duo and wasn’t to be caught.
In the final 100 metres, the US-based Sharing (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) made a late run but Alpine Star had already opened up a sizable lead and won by 4.25ls with Quadrilateral finally getting into a clear third in the closing metres.
"It is absolutely amazing because I am sitting here, I can't go racing, and watching it on the telly is very hard,” said trainer Jessica Harrington from Ireland. “I could not believe it because she was the only horse in the field that hadn't had a run this year, but she is amazing. She is a half-sister to a complete superstar, Alpha Centauri, who gave me my first Royal Ascot winner.
"She was just amazing today, she did it so easy. She is very laidback and nothing like Alpha Centauri, who was a great big, very imposing filly. This filly is not very big, she is not a great colour - a little bit of a mealy chestnut. If you saw her trotting around in the string, you wouldn't pick her out, but she has the most wonderful attitude. "
One of three stakes winners for Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy {USA}) following her four-time Group 1 winning half-sister Alpha Centarui and Listed winner Tenth Star (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), each of the five runners out of her dam have won at least once.
Alpine Star is the second winner of the week to come from the East Of The Moon (USA) (Private Account {USA}) branch of the Miesque (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) family tree. Alpine Star’s granddam is also the third dam of G3 Jersey S. winner Molatham (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) earlier in the week.
East Of The Moon is also the granddam of Chris Waller-trained G3 JRA Cup winner Captain Cook (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and herself is a half-sister to Champion Sire Kingmambo (USA).
Longshot Nando Parrado upsets Coventry
Going off at 150/1, Nando Parrado (GB) gave Kodiac (GB) the 2-year-old double on Saturday when upsetting the G2 Coventry S. to become the highest-priced winner in Royal Ascot’s modern era.
Going up to the front quickly in the 1200 metre race, Nando Parrado was just one horse gunning for the lead from the beginning. For a brief period, Thunder of Niagara (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) had a clear lead over the other four in the front but he couldn’t hold it as the field entered the final 400 metres.
From there it was all Nando Parrado, who went back to the front under Adam Kirby and only had to worry about how far he’d win by with Qaader (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) close behind him but never any real threat to the victory.
Nando Parrado won by 1l over that rival with Saeiqa (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) a clear third to give his freshman sire a placing at Royal Ascot.
“I am delighted to win it,” said Kirby. “We have fired a lot of live bullets in the race and I am very pleased to have the race won now. He could well be a Guineas horse. I can see him getting a mile very easily. He has got a decent mind, is very relaxed and there is no reason he can't get a mile. It is no fluke he won today on the front end and toughed it out, I am pleased for him."
While trainer Clive Cox had total faith in his horse even after a disappointing debut, owners Paul and Marie McCarten weren’t sure about running him in this spot. Cox convinced them to run with it paying off in spades.
“We actually took him out the other morning, because he wasn't sure he could really go for the Coventry, and I persuaded him to put him back in there,” Cox said. “Paul McCarten's a great guy and I am really pleased to train a winner for him and Marie. He thought after Newmarket, could we really turn up and take the right step, and I am grateful - I have a great team at home. Jerry McGrath rides this horse at home every day, and he has made all the right steps since he came back from Newmarket.”
A 165,000gns (AU$Tattersalls December Foals Sale purchase, Nando Parrado is out of Argentine Group 3 winner Chibola (Arg) (Roy {USA}), who has produced three stakes horses from five to race. Nando Parrado comes from a strong South American family with his dam a full sister to Group 1 winner Chollo (Arg) with multiple Group 1 winning and placed horses under his third dam.
Lady Aurelia connections prevail in Queen Mary
Searching for his first G2 Queen Mary S. winner since Lady Aurelia (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) in 2016, trainer Wesley Ward had two chances in the 1000 metre race, including one owned by Lady Aurelia’s co-owner.
That filly, the Irish-bred Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) got the job done and gave Ward his fourth victory in the race early on the card on Saturday.
Breaking from stall one, Campanelle and Frankie Dettori set back from the normal Ward-trainee position and raced in midpack during the early stages. It was a battle between Sardinia Sunset (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and Caroline Dale (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) to decide who would set the pace with neither yielding.
The pair raced as the leaders on different sides of the track as Dettori waited to make his move a few lengths behind them. The jockey didn’t ask his mount to pick up until the final 350 metres and she quickly joined the fight for the lead with Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel), who had also quickly joined into the fray.
In the final 150 metres, Campanelle found another kick to secure the lead completely with Dettori giving her an easy ride in the closing stages to win by 0.75l over Sacred with Caroline Dale winning the battle over Sardinia Sunset for the third position.
"Wesley told me Campanelle had a tendency to lean right, so he was very happy to have the right rail next to me, but she went straight as a gun barrel and she won really well,” Dettori said. “Wesley leaves tactics up to me, but she was in the stalls for a very long time and she lost a bit of concentration. She jumped a little bit slow but they went so fast, and I was able to be on the flank of the field and find my own pace. I had plenty of horse left at the two-furlong marker and, in fairness, she quickened up really well. She has got a very sensible racing head. She did everything I asked of her and it was a good performance.”
Ward said that this is likely not the last time Campanelle will race in Europe this year with a trip to France on the cards for later in the summer.
“We are going crazy here! I am in the stable yard with all my boys,” Ward said from his base at Keeneland in Kentucky. “I have Charlie O'Connor from Coolmore with me - they had the favourite and he is cheering for me, so don't tell the boss whatever you do! She is something and in think that we are going to be heading to the Prix Morny now. I will talk it over with Barbara Banke and the team. We are all really excited - I had all the stables lads here at the barn and they are all jumping up and down.”
The first part of the 2-year-old double for Kodiac, Stonestreet Stables-owned Campanelle is one of four winners from five to race out of Listed-winning Janina (GB) (Namid {GB}).
Purchased from Book 1 of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 190,000gns, Campanelle booked her ticket to Royal Ascot when winning her debut in late May by 3.5l on the turf at Gulfstream Park.
Kevin Stott Doubles Up in Wokingham
Only 35 minutes after winning the G1 Diamond Jubilee with Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), Kevin Stott recorded his second career Royal Ascot winner with Hey Jonesy (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) in the Wokingham S.
Running for the second time this week after finishing second to last in the Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, Hey Jonesy had the addition of blinkers to focus him for this run. It proved to be just what the gelding needed as he went straight to the lead in the far side group to start the 1200 metre race.
Also holding the overall lead, Hey Jonesy had a cavalry charge behind him in the final 300 metres but had a clear lead. That would all change in the final 100 metres when Summerghand (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) made a huge run from last in the nearside group to get to the lead of that group with 50 metres to go. It was a last-second surge for that gelding, who ran on just a bit too late to lose by a nose in a photo finish.
The finish was a tight one all around with Spanish City (GB) (Exceed And Excel) finishing third and the top five only separated by 1.75l.
“It is very emotional. It means so much, and to my family at home in Denmark as well watching it,” Stott said after the win. “They aren't here, I can't fly out to see them, they can't fly over here - it means a lot that they are watching at home. It has been absolutely amazing. I don't know what to say really - I can't find the words. An hour ago I didn't think this would ever happen, and now I'm standing here with two Royal Ascot winners, things that you could never dream of. My first Group 1 as well. I am speechless.”
Excelebration’s Group 3-placed Hey Jonesy is the best horse under his first two dams with his granddam’s half-brother With Reason (USA) (Nashwan {USA}) and her blood sister Jural (GB) (Kris {GB}) the first two Group winners on the page with Jural also Group 1-placed.
Who Dares wins provides Marquand first Royal Ascot win
It was the final race of the week but jockey Tom Marquand finally registered his first career Royal Ascot victory on Saturday in the 4000 metre Queen Alexandra S. on Who Dares Wins (Ire) (Jeremy {USA}) to close the 36 race meet.
Racing just behind the leading Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) for the first few hundred metres out of the gate, the gelding dropped back a bit further just a few metres later as Adrrastos (Ire) (Areion {Ger}) took over the lead with Mukha Magic (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) running just behind the leader in front of the now-third Nate The Great.
Knowing they still had a long way to go, the jockeys just galloped along calmly in the early paces with not much of a change in position for the first 3200 metres. The tempo picked up as they entered the far turn with Who Dares Wins maneuvering off the rail and trying to draw even with the leaders.
In the final 400 metres, it was anyone’s race with Who Dares Wins joined by The Grand Visir (GB) (Frankel {GB}) outside the leaders and no one looking like they were going to give in. It wasn’t until they entered the final stage that Who Dares Wins and The Grand Visir entered their own battle about a length in front of the others to see who the overall victor would be.
Who Dares Wins always had the advantage and kept himself 0.5l in front to the line to record his 11th victory and 25th top-three finish in 44 career starts. It was a happy reunion for the gelding and his jockey with Marquand riding him 13 times previously and earning three wins as an apprentice when named on the mount and two others after he became a journeyman.
"In all honesty, the week was looking pretty tough,” Marquand said. “Coming into the week, I had my best book of rides and I have been very fortunate that I've been here every year since I was an apprentice for five years. I was coming in every day thinking this could be it, but obviously I just needed to get that winner on the board.”
A winner over both the flat and jumps, Who Dares Wins is another Royal Ascot winner over the last two days to be bred 4 x 3 to Danzig along with yesterday’s two 2-year-old winners.
The 8-year-old is one of seven winners for his dam, and a half-brother to Group 2 winner Saint Bernard (GB) (Three Valleys {USA}) and Listed-winning Momix (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) with his dam a half-sister to Group 1-winning Field of Hope (Ire) (Selkirk).
Chiefofchiefs kicks off card with Silver Wokingham win
Kicking off the final card of the week, 7-year-old Chiefofchiefs (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) gave Charlie Fellowes his second win of the week with a 1.25l win in the Silver Wokingham H. on Saturday.
Making his first career Royal Ascot start after running in Meydan over the winter, Chiefofchiefs had the services of William Buick for the first time in his career. Breaking in the middle of the pack in the 1200 metre race, Chiefofchiefs angled over to run at the back of the stands’ side group as Vintage Brut (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}) set a hot early pace.
Much of the field went over to the stands’ side rail as they entered the final 600 metres, giving Chiefofchiefs plenty of traffic to navigate if he wanted the lead.
While it looked like he’d have to put in plenty of work to find his way through the field, the gelding had exceptional luck in running. The right holes opened up in front of him as he worked his way forward to put him among the leaders with 200 metres to go. The gelding slowly gained on Nahaarr (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the closing stages, just collaring him in the final 100 metres.
1.25l behind him, Burmese Waltz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was able to just get his head in front of Nahaarr to nab second with Louie De Palma (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) 0.75l back in fourth.
One of two winners from three to race out of Danvers (GB), Chiefofchief’s dam is also a half-sister to Group 1 winner Zoffany (Ire) and Lindsay Park-trained Group 2 winner Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
