Latest news with #FloraOfBermuda
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Newsboy's ITV selections for Newmarket, York and Ascot on Saturday
Newsboy is backing Flora Of Bermuda to flourish in the July Cup at Newmarket and he expects Run Boy Run score a third win on the July course in the Bunbury Cup, both on ITV FLORA OF BERMUDA is fancied to prove a thorn in the side of favourite Notable Speech in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup (4.35) at Newmarket today. The Andrew Balding trainee, a close third in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot last October, went under by a neck to this afternoon's rival Inisherin when making her return in the Group 2 1895 Duke Of York Stakes in May. But she had that rival in behind when finishing third in the top-tier Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, finishing three and a half lengths behind Lazzat. Neither the winner nor runner-up Satono Reve are in opposition here, and Flora Of Bermuda's Ascot effort needs marking up as she came from further back than the front pair. Notable Speech heads the betting but steps back from a mile and Flora Of Bermuda, with Wathnan Racing jockey James Doyle on board for the first time, can show the favourite a clean pair of heels. RUN BOY RUN is the choice to improve on an impressive record at Newmarket's July Course by beating 12 rivals for the bet365 Bunbury Cup (2.50). Richard Spencer's four-year-old has two wins and two seconds to show from four visits to the summer venue and ran a cracker when fourth to this afternoon's favourite More Thunder over the final six furlongs of the Rowley Mile on 2,000 Guineas day in May. My selection was subsequently a good second to Aramram over the same trip at Newbury a fortnight later and should be forgiven a down-the-field effort behind Never So Brave in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot on his most recent outing, as he was marooned in a group of three towards the far side. The following afternoon, things didn't go to plan for MISS NIGHTFALL in the Sandringham Fillies' Handicap, but the James Fanshawe trainee has plenty to recommend her in the Trustatrader 20th Anniversary Fillies' Handicap (2.12). A well-backed 16-5 favourite, Miss Nightfall did best of those attempting to make ground from the back and won't be troubled by going back from a mile to seven furlongs. Another Ascot also-ran, RAAFEDD, is taken to bounce back in the bet365 Mile Handicap (3.25). Tom Marquand's partner found daylight hard to come by in the Britannia Handicap but clear water here will enable him to show his true colours. The blistering form of Aidan O'Brien's juveniles points to favourite ITALY in the Group 2 bet365 Superlative Stakes (4.00), while the stars can align for ORION'S BELT in the Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (1.50). At York, HAND OF GOD, impressive in two wins in 2024 but beaten on both starts this season, is given the chance to get back on track in the John Smith's Cup (3.10). AL QAREEM is on a roll for Karl Burke and should continue the good work by capturing the Group 3 John Smith's Silver Cup (3.45). He comes here on a losing streak of nine, but WASHINGTON HEIGHT drops down to Listed class for the John Smith's City Walls Stakes (2.35), and is poised to take advantage. A 4lb rise for a course-and-distance score at the Dante fixture may not be enough to prevent OLD COCK from following up in the John Smith's Racing Handicap (2.00). With an excellent strike-rate of two from three at the track, and top-class form at the trip, HAATEM makes obvious appeal in the Group 2 Cornish Orchards Summer Mile (2.12) at Ascot. A third in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at the royal meeting enhanced his burgeoning reputation, so REDORANGE should go well in the LK Bennett Butterfly Mark Heritage Handicap (4.50). Saturday's selections NEWMARKET 1.40 ORION'S BELT 2.12 MISS NIGHTFALL (NB) 2.50 RUN BOY RUN 3.25 RAAFEDD 4.00 ITALY 4.35 FLORA OF BERMUDA (NAP) 5.10 ASGAARD'S CAPTAIN YORK 2.00 OLD COCK 2.35 WASHINGTON HEIGHTS 3.10 HAND OF GOD 3.45 AL QAREEM 4.15 DACRES CROSS 4.45 ROCK N ROLL PINKIE 5.25 FISCAL POLICY ASCOT 1.45 CREST OF FIRE 2.22 HAATEM 2.57 CALVERT 3.03 ORANGE SKY 4.10 MOUNT ATLAS 4.50 REDORANGE 5.20 WAR HOWL CHESTER 4.20 MOON ANGEL 4.55 BANG ON THE BELL 5.30 WITNESS STAND 6.05 EASY PEELER 6.35 I CAN IMAGINE 7.10 WHATSGOINGONMARVIN SALISBURY 5.40 LITTLE MISS MAGIC 6.15 A BIT OF SPIRIT 6.45 SWISS LIGHTNING 7.20 SOUL DANCE 7.50 LEXINGTON KNIGHT 8.20 GRAND HARBOUR HAMILTON PARK 5.50 STORMY PEARL 6.25 UTMOST RESPECT 7.00 TAYGAR 7.30 TWO AULD PALS 8.00 RAINWATER 8.30 SHANAZ 9.00 REDONDO DOUBLE: FLORA OF BERMUDA and MISS NIGHTFALL
Powys County Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Doyle banking on Bermuda to turn up the heat at Newmarket
James Doyle is relishing the prospect of his reunion with Flora Of Bermuda as she seeks a change in fortunes in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket. The Andrew Balding-trained filly was purchased by Wathnan Racing before Royal Ascot, where she finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes under PJ McDonald as Doyle rode Lazzat, also owned by Wathnan, to success. Her prior form includes plenty of near-misses, including a second-placed run in the Duke of York Clipper Stakes this season and three smart Group One efforts last term. Doyle, who rode the four-year-old in her career debut as a juvenile and has partnered her just once since, is hopeful she will this time be favoured by fortune as she tries again to score at the highest grade. He said: 'When you look at her profile she's only won a Group Three and then the Alice Keppel before, which is mad,' said Doyle. 'She ran a hell of a race in the Champions Sprint, just behind Kind Of Blue. She wasn't beaten far at all. 'She ran a hell of a race at Haydock as well and she ran well in behind Lazzat in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last year. 'She's run some incredible races in Group Ones, so you'd like to think she can get her head in front in one of them. 'It's been a little bit frustrating for the guys, and I'm sure her previous owners – hopefully she can get that Group One on the board.' Of Flora Of Bermuda's CV, which has seen her win only twice from 15 runs but also only come home out of the money twice, Doyle added: 'She doesn't seem to get the most luck in running, she seems to find a few traffic problems. 'She's due a nice draw in the middle somewhere, that would be lovely for her just to simplify things. 'I think she's a filly who likes to just be ridden with a touch of restraint, just not too far off them.' Doyle, who has yet to land the July Cup, feels Flora Of Bermuda has the credentials to lay claim to a Group One and is naturally hopeful that Saturday's race will prove the ideal opportunity. 'I haven't ridden her for a little while, but I think with the form she's shown and the way she's hit the crossbar in these Group Ones, I'm hoping she can win one,' he added. 'Whether it's the July Cup or other targets further down the line, we'll have to wait and see, but she thoroughly deserves her spot in the line-up.'
Glasgow Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Eclipse supplement ruled out for Haatem
The son of Phoenix Of Spain was one of Wathnan Racing's Ascot heroes when winning the Jersey Stakes in 2024 and repeated the dose at this year's Royal meeting, successfully stepping up to 10 furlongs to claim the Wolferton Stakes. Trainer Richard Hannon mooted a tilt at Sandown's feature Group One on Saturday week, but the Wathnan team have ruled out that option, instead considering both a return to a mile and his happy Ascot hunting ground for the Summer Mile on July 12 or a trip to York for the Sky Bet York Stakes (July 26) if deciding to continue campaigning over a mile and a quarter. 'I wouldn't rule out going back to a mile with him as he's a big, gross horse who takes a couple of runs to get fit and I wouldn't even rule out that run will bring him on again,' explained Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown. 'We won't be supplementing for the Eclipse and we might look at the Summer Mile back at Ascot or the mile and a quarter Group Two at York, we just have to talk about it as a team. 'I would imagine it would be one of those two races, but don't be surprised to see him back at a mile, as I think he's very versatile.' Haatem was one of five winners at Royal Ascot for the Emir of Qatar's racing operation who left the summer showpiece buoyant after another stellar week. New Wathnan recruit Flora Of Bermuda has bounced out of Ascot (Andrew Matthews/PA) The Wathnan team are now waiting on the performance of Ascot defector Kind Of Blue at Newcastle on Saturday before finalising future options for their crack team of sprinters which includes Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes one-three Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda. 'I would say we haven't completely decided on plans for the sprinters and the only thing we have decided on is Flora Of Bermuda seems to have bounced out of Ascot,' said Brown. 'Andrew (Balding) says she is very fresh and as long as she keeps on showing us signs she is in good shape she will head to the July Cup. 'We'll watch Kind Of Blue run on Saturday and then have a chat and see where is going to suit him best and where is going to suit Lazzat, we might decide to keep them apart.'
South Wales Argus
26-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Eclipse supplement ruled out for Haatem
The son of Phoenix Of Spain was one of Wathnan Racing's Ascot heroes when winning the Jersey Stakes in 2024 and repeated the dose at this year's Royal meeting, successfully stepping up to 10 furlongs to claim the Wolferton Stakes. Trainer Richard Hannon mooted a tilt at Sandown's feature Group One on Saturday week, but the Wathnan team have ruled out that option, instead considering both a return to a mile and his happy Ascot hunting ground for the Summer Mile on July 12 or a trip to York for the Sky Bet York Stakes (July 26) if deciding to continue campaigning over a mile and a quarter. 'I wouldn't rule out going back to a mile with him as he's a big, gross horse who takes a couple of runs to get fit and I wouldn't even rule out that run will bring him on again,' explained Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown. 'We won't be supplementing for the Eclipse and we might look at the Summer Mile back at Ascot or the mile and a quarter Group Two at York, we just have to talk about it as a team. 'I would imagine it would be one of those two races, but don't be surprised to see him back at a mile, as I think he's very versatile.' Haatem was one of five winners at Royal Ascot for the Emir of Qatar's racing operation who left the summer showpiece buoyant after another stellar week. New Wathnan recruit Flora Of Bermuda has bounced out of Ascot (Andrew Matthews/PA) The Wathnan team are now waiting on the performance of Ascot defector Kind Of Blue at Newcastle on Saturday before finalising future options for their crack team of sprinters which includes Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes one-three Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda. 'I would say we haven't completely decided on plans for the sprinters and the only thing we have decided on is Flora Of Bermuda seems to have bounced out of Ascot,' said Brown. 'Andrew (Balding) says she is very fresh and as long as she keeps on showing us signs she is in good shape she will head to the July Cup. 'We'll watch Kind Of Blue run on Saturday and then have a chat and see where is going to suit him best and where is going to suit Lazzat, we might decide to keep them apart.'
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Eclipse supplement ruled out for Haatem
Trainer Richard Hannon mooted a tilt at Sandown's feature Group One on Saturday week, but the Wathnan team have ruled out that option, instead considering both a return to a mile and his happy Ascot hunting ground for the Summer Mile on July 12 or a trip to York for the Sky Bet York Stakes (July 26) if deciding to continue campaigning over a mile and a quarter. 'I wouldn't rule out going back to a mile with him as he's a big, gross horse who takes a couple of runs to get fit and I wouldn't even rule out that run will bring him on again,' explained Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown. 'We won't be supplementing for the Eclipse and we might look at the Summer Mile back at Ascot or the mile and a quarter Group Two at York, we just have to talk about it as a team. 'I would imagine it would be one of those two races, but don't be surprised to see him back at a mile, as I think he's very versatile.' Haatem was one of five winners at Royal Ascot for the Emir of Qatar's racing operation who left the summer showpiece buoyant after another stellar week. New Wathnan recruit Flora Of Bermuda has bounced out of Ascot (Andrew Matthews/PA) The Wathnan team are now waiting on the performance of Ascot defector Kind Of Blue at Newcastle on Saturday before finalising future options for their crack team of sprinters which includes Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes one-three Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda. 'I would say we haven't completely decided on plans for the sprinters and the only thing we have decided on is Flora Of Bermuda seems to have bounced out of Ascot,' said Brown. 'Andrew (Balding) says she is very fresh and as long as she keeps on showing us signs she is in good shape she will head to the July Cup. 'We'll watch Kind Of Blue run on Saturday and then have a chat and see where is going to suit him best and where is going to suit Lazzat, we might decide to keep them apart.'
