Trueshan dominates Goodwood Cup
The scratching of four-time Goodwood Cup winner Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) changed the complexion of the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday but in the end Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) proved why bettors made him the new race favourite.
Racing just behind the leaders in the 3200-metre race, Trueshan took command under Hollie Doyle with 600 metres left to run. Inside the final 200 metres, the gelding’s win wasn’t in doubt as he pulled away to win by 3.75l over Away He Goes (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) with Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) in third.
"Hollie has given him a great ride and the owners have been great supporters of mine,” said trainer Alan King. “Trueshan can be a little keen so I'm glad he had a proper race at Newcastle – he could have been ferocious today if he hadn't had that run."
Trueshan is one of five winners for his dam from 10 to run and the first stakes winner in three generations. The 5-year-old was winning his first Group 1 after winning his first Group win with a 7.5l romp in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup last year.
Kinross takes out Lennox
It was a second straight Group victory for Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 Unibet Lennox S. on Tuesday after being gelded in March.
The gelding proved to be keen in the 1400-metre race but jockey Rossa Ryan kept a hold on him for much of the run. Ryan tried to find him room to run with 400 metres to go but it wasn’t until they were close to the 200 metre mark that he got his chance. He took the lead in the final 100 metres and held off Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 0.25l with Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) a head back in third and Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) another 0.25l back in fourth.
“He has never been a particularly difficult horse to train, he's just been a difficult horse to read. I felt that last year I was always trying to get him ready, so I didn't bother getting him ready for Kempton when he won the Hyde S., I just got him there in reasonable shape,” said trainer Ralph Beckett, who won two of the three stakes at Goodwood.
Kinross is out of the stakes-winning Ceilidh House (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) from the family of multiple Graded stakes winner Battle Of Hastings (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and South African G1 Golden Slipper second Felix The Cat (SAF) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}).
Angel Bleu wins Vintage
Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) made it a dramatic edition of the G2 Unibet Vintage S. but in the end took home the win by 0.75l to give his sire the one-two finish in the race.
Frankie Dettori had his hands full as Angel Bleu tried to use his energy early when taking a keen hold in the 1400-metre race. Using the leaders for cover, Angel Bleu was finally given a chance to unleash his energy 1000 metres later. The colt drifted to the right in the final 400 metres and interfered with Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) but that colt was still able to get within 0.75l of him at the end with Austrian Theory (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) 1l behind the Dark Angel (Ire) duo in third.
Angel Bleu is out of a full sister to the G1 Caulfield S. winner Cape Of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and shuttle stallion Highland Reel (Ire). The filly’s grandam is the G1 Australasian Oaks third Hveger (Danehill {USA}), who is the dam of five stakes performers with G1 VRC Oaks Valdemoro (Encosta De Lago) among her Australian stakes performers alongside Cape Of Good Hope. Angel Bleu’s third dam is Group 1 winner Circles Of Gold (Marscay), who is also the dam of Champions Elvstroem and Haradasun.
American Pharoah has impressive winner at Beverley
American Pharoah (USA) saw son Sed Maarib (USA) make waves at Beverley in England on Tuesday with a 4.75l win in the opener.
Racing over 1500 metres, the juvenile tracked the leaders early on before taking over with 500 metres left to run. From there the question was only how far he’d win by with Bababobo (Ire) (Australia {GB}) the closest at the wire when 4.75l back.
Out of a stakes-placed half-sister to two other stakes performers, Sed Maarib comes from the family of G1 Sydney Cup winner Polarisation (GB) (Echo Of Light {GB}) and stakes winner Clearly (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Clearly had her first foal, a Zoustar colt, last August and was bred to Deep Field last season.
Galway 'winner' disqualified after wrong horse saddled
A mix-up between two fillies trained by Jessica Harrington led to the first past the post in Galway's second race, the Colm Quinn Irish EBF Fillies' Mdn, later being disqualified.
The juvenile contest initially appeared to have been won by Kirsten Rausing's debutante Alizarine (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Following an objection and stewards' enquiry, the filly transpired to be her 3-year-old stable-mate Aurora Princess (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}), a dual winner in June who was set to be making her 10th start. She was subsequently withdrawn.
An initial enquiry disqualified the filly under Rule 262(iv)c, with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) confirming that the “horse could not be positively identified post race”. The short-priced favourite Twinkle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), trained by Aidan O'Brien, was promoted to first place.
Twinkle is out of Believe’N’Succeed (Exceed And Excel), making her a full sister to the ill-fated G1 Epsom Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The dam, who captured the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude, is also responsible for the G1 Railway S.-winning Bounding (Lonhro).
