Latest news with #ASCOT
New Paper
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Satono Reve in need of Magic in QEII Jubilee
ASCOT Horses from Ireland and France have flown miles to Royal Ascot to contest the £1 million (S$1.73 million) Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m), but Satono Reve has travelled over 13,000km from Japan. No horse has made the journey and won in 10 tries to conquer Britain's most iconic race meeting, but no Japanese contender has been as good as Satono Reve. The Lord Kanaloa six-year-old is a Group 1 winner in Japan, but is probably better known for finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in the HK$22 million Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) at Sha Tin on April 27 - which is no better endorsement given that Ka Ying Rising is the best sprinter in the world. Satono Reve arrived in Newmarket on May 2 to be given plenty of time to prepare and has been stabled at James Horton's yard. "After arriving from Hong Kong, Satono Reve had some time to recover before steadily building up his training," said his trainer Noriyuki Hori. "He had his final gallop on June 11, a five-furlong (1,000m) piece of work on the July Course at Newmarket, ridden by Ryan Moore. "Although it's a different environment from what he's used to, he's been coming along well thanks to the warm support of James Horton, his team and everyone involved." Satono Reve will be ridden by Joao Moreira. The Brazilian jockey known as the "Magic Man" was in the saddle when Satono Reve won the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo in Japan on March 30. "He's such a good horse," said the globetrotting jockey. "I'm excited about riding him at Ascot. He just needs to bring that type of form here to be competitive." The French-trained Lazzat leads the opposition, with trainer Jerome Reynier confident of a good performance. "He has such a high cruising speed," said the French trainer. "His last run was his first over as short as 1,200 (metres), but he can take a good grip and stay on well. I think he is the perfect match for the race." Last year, Inisherin was the easy winner of a Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot on fast ground, the Commonwealth Cup (1,200m). The Shamardal four-year-old was subsequently rather disappointing but returned to win the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes (1,200m) on May 14. Trainer Kevin Ryan could not conceal his delight at York. "That's a relief. I was nervous but it went well," he said. "He'll improve for that run. I'm delighted because he's such a lovable, sensible horse." The formidable duo of trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, who have already claimed five races after three days at Royal Ascot, command respect with their representative Storm Boy. The only three-year-old in the race, the Justify colt moved from Australia to Ireland this year. Last year he won sprints up to Group 2 level for leading Sydney trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, but finished last when favourite on his UK debut last month in Ireland. The Coolmore ward will surely do better, as O'Brien would not run him if he was not confident of a better performance. The race in which Storm Boy was last was won by the Clive Cox-trained James's Delight, who is a live outsider in Saturday's contest. HKJC
New Paper
19-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Shadow Of Light to shine again
ASCOT Shadow Of Light will face 21 rivals as he bids to get back to winning ways in the £725,750 (S$1.25 million) Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (1,200m) for three-year-olds at Royal Ascot on June 20. A unique winner of the Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last season, which saw him crowned champion two-year-old, Shadow Of Light returned to action this season by finishing third behind stablemate Ruling Court and St James's Palace Stakes hero Field Of Gold in the Group 1 2000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket on May 3. After quickening up nicely, the son of Lope De Vega faded in the closing stages on his first start over a mile, leaving connections to opt to drop him back to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup. Charlie Appleby's colt is a 7-4 chance to claim further Group 1 honours, with the Ger Lyons-trained Babouche, who landed the Group 3 Lacken Stakes (1,200m) at Naas last time, the main danger according to the market. Appleby would be keen for a change of luck as it has been three years since he cracked open the champagne at Royal Ascot. Godolphin's main trainer could barely hide his disappointment after favourite Cinderella's Dream finished second to Crimson Advocate in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (1,600m) on June 18. Joining Babouche in the colours of Juddmonte will be Andrew Balding's Jonquil. The colt is another son of Lope De Vega dropping back to 1,200m on the back of finishing runner-up in the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas (1,600m) last time. Balding will also saddle the improving Berkshire Whisper. Aidan O'Brien is dual-handed thanks to last year's Group 1 Prix Morny (1,200m) scorer Whistlejacket and Ides Of March, while the Michael Appleby-trained Big Mojo also takes his chances. Arabian Dusk and Soldier's Heart both go for Simon and Ed Crisford, with Rayevka and Shisospicy, who represent France and America respectively, adding further international spice. Later on the card, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Zarigana heads 11 declarations for the £725,750 Group 1 Coronation Stakes (1,600m). Carrying the colours of his late Highness Aga Khan, the daughter of Siyouni took her record to four from five with a dramatic victory in the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas (1,600m) at ParisLongchamp on May 11. Challengers are aplenty, with Owen Burrows' impressive Listed Pretty Polly Stakes (2,000m) winner Falakeyah defending her unbeaten record for Shadwell, while Kon Tiki will also put her perfect status on the line having been supplemented by Jane Chapple-Hyam on the back of a commanding win in the Listed Sky Bet Fillies' Stakes (1,600m) at York. O'Brien's pair Exactly and January also take their chances, while the Ollie Sangster-trained duo of Flight and Simmering, who finished second and third to Desert Flower in the Group 1 1000 Guineas (1,600m) respectively on May 4, add further depth. RACING AND SPORTS
New Paper
19-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Ombudsman lays down the law in Prince of Wales
ASCOT Father-and-son training duo John and Thady Gosden celebrated a big-race double on Day 2 of Royal Ascot on June 18 with Ombudsman landing the £1.06 million (S$1.83 million) Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes (2,000m). The feat came one day after their superstar Field Of Gold destroyed his rivals in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes (1,600m) on the first day of the five-day meeting. Ombudsman's jockey William Buick held his nerve when looking for a gap through a wall of horses as the race reached its climax. However, the Norway-born jockey found a way round and then stormed clear to give the Gosden stable a sixth win in the race. Having endured a tough time, Buick, 36, released his pent-up emotion, punching the air in delight as he steered the $42 outsider past the post. "It has been a difficult few days," said Buick. "I have got a little bit of experience, so I try and stay level. "I have a lot of good rides. You look forward right?" John Gosden, for whom it was a 70th Royal Ascot winner, said Buick had been "patient and rewarded". Earlier the Gosdens had enjoyed a record-extending sixth win in the £225,000 Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (1,600m). Top Australia-based New Zealand jockey James McDonald swooped to win on Crimson Advocate ($38). "Absolutely delighted, pleasure to ride a winner for the group (the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing for whom it was their third winner of this year's edition)," said McDonald, recording his fifth Royal Ascot winner. "I am very lucky to be jogging on the right spot at the right time. "Even when you do not have a fancied horse in a race here it is a very special, elegant and graceful place to ride at." Earlier, Aidan O'Brien ticked off one of the rare races missing from his win list, True Love winning the opening £150,000 Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes (1,000m) in fine style. It was the 55-year-old Irish master trainer's 93rd Royal Ascot winner, English multiple-champion jockey Ryan Moore's 87th. AFP
Washington Post
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Trawlerman turns on the style to win the Gold Cup on Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot
ASCOT, England — On a sun-kissed day showcasing elegance and fashion at Royal Ascot, Trawlerman turned on the style to win the signature Gold Cup by seven lengths on Thursday. Jockey William Buick rode the favorite to victory in the top race of the week and earned a first prize of $500,000 for Trawlerman's owner, the Dubai-based Godolphin operation.
New Paper
16-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Royal Ascot still regal even against 'headwinds'
ASCOT The "headwinds" of prizemoney and rival racing festivals are even more concerning than they were last year. Nevertheless, the quality of foreign runners at Royal Ascot is "pretty positive", director of racing Nick Smith told AFP. The five-day meeting - described by Hong Kong-based Australian trainer David Hayes as "Melbourne Cup week on steroids" - which starts on June 17 is commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Royal Procession. Thankfully for the members of the Royal Family and their guests, the carriages are led by horses considerably slower than the splendid thoroughbreds that provide the day's entertainment. Mixing it with the best of mainstream European talent, there will be runners from Japan, Australia, the United States and "quirky" runners from Norway. Despite famous victories for Australian horses in years gone by from Choisir's remarkable double to superstar Black Caviar and American star Tepin, it takes both a lot of hard graft and Smith's powers of persuasion to coax their successors back. Smith concedes that being unable to compete in terms of prize money - Royal Ascot will boast at least £10 million (S$17.4 million) in 2025 - with festivals such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia makes his task that much tougher. "The headwinds are more concerning and more widespread than last year," said Smith. "None of those problems have gone away and they have even been exacerbated. It is getting harder and harder every year. "Over 50 Japanese horses went to Saudi and Dubai and those sort of numbers are not replicated in Europe. "We are doing our best in difficult circumstances. So overall I am satisfied with the situation." Smith says subsidies are offered to runners that are three-years and older as "you have to do that, you would get nowhere if you did not". Two-year-olds are excluded as "they could be anything, and if we did, there would be planeloads of them". Satono Reve, who bids to become Japan's first winner at the meeting after 10 previous challengers fell short, in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) on June 21 and America's top-rated US turf horse Carl Spackler, who is Australia-bound, in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m) on the opening day are perhaps the most eye-catching. Previously trained by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler was bought by Yulong and will race at Ascot under Melbourne champion trainer Ciaron Maher and will be partnered by Sydney champion jockey James McDonald. The eight-time winner by Lope De Vega will then continue his career in Australia. "It would not be the strongest year nor the weakest," said Smith. "The numbers are not so relevant, more important is they are genuinely competitive. "Wesley Ward's two-year-old's are very strong. There are also a few quirky horses, including a Norwegian runner later in the week. "The Australian Asfoora coming back (after winning the King Charles III Stakes last year) is great, though the Aussie sprinters this year have been up and down truth be known. "Overall, though, pretty positive." Smith says of course there are names missing that would have enriched the meeting even more. "One is always wanting more," he said. "I would have liked Hong Kong stars Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising but one has to accept that talent seems to spread itself around." However, there is much for Smith to enthuse about. Attendance forecast is up from 2024, and the Saturday of Royal Ascot remains the only race meeting outside of the US that NBC broadcasts on its main channel. "As ever it is a big week, a chance to be positive, show the best of British racing, advertise what Britain does best," he said. "We can get back to the politics and controversy in a week or so's time, which I am sure we will." AFP
