Latest news with #SeaTheStars
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Banker material' Aidan O'Brien horse banned from Royal Ascot backed off the boards for next race
AN Aidan O'Brien horse punters are certain is 'banker material' has been backed off the boards for his next race - after being banned from Royal Ascot. Two-year-old colt Italy is all the rage for Saturday's Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. 1 Ryan Moore usually waits until the last minute to decide who he rides - but he has picked an Aidan O'Brien horse out days early, signalling the pair's huge confidence behind him Credit: PA Italy was hugely impressive when overcoming inexperience to score at 4-9 on debut at Leopardstown in May. Those who watched said at the time they were confident the horse 'wins wherever he goes' next time out. The form has been boosted massively too, with 16-1 runner-up Thesecretadversary finishing second in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. Italy was blocked from running in that race because it is only for two-year-olds whose sire won over 10f. Italy, who cost 200,000 guineas and is by Wootton Basset out of a sister to O'Brien's Derby winner Serpentine, hasn't run since his awesome debut. But he is all set to tear up the Superlative - and follow in the hoofsteps of former O'Brien superstars City Of Troy and Gustav Klimt. O'Brien said Moore doesn't make his mind up on who he will ride until five minutes before the cut-off time of 1pm. But in an unusual move, Moore has already been jocked up on Italy for the 7f Group 2. Most read in Horse Racing It is a particularly interesting development because O'Brien also has £350,000 Dorset in the race too - although he is unlikely to run. Bookies initially went 11-10 Italy but he has been backed off the boards since and is now as short as 8-13. Italy is already 12-1 favourite for next year's Derby but that price could collapse if he demolishes rivals this weekend. Godolphin's No1 trainer Charlie Appleby has fired some good ones at the Superlative in recent years as well. Former champion two-year-old and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas are among the winners. He is set to run Saba Desert this year - a winner at Sandown on debut last month. But the son of Dubawi out of a Sea The Stars mare is nowhere near as strong in the market as Italy. Speaking after his first run, O'Brien was clearly trying to temper expectations but couldn't hide his delight. He said: "He won his maiden very well at Leopardstown and he is a colt that we always liked at home. "We have been happy with him since then. 'He was green when he ran at Leopardstown, but we liked him before the race, and he will improve again from that. I was more than happy with the performance. 'The form has been given a boost as the runner-up put in a good solid run to finish second last time out in the Chesham at Ascot." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
New Paper
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Old guard firm up in Sandown classic
SANDOWN The £1 million (S$1.7 million)Coral-Eclipse Stakes (2,000m) is named after one of the greatest racehorses of the 18th century, and one who reportedly had to walk more than 2,000km to compete in races around Britain. Since those far-off days, this Group 1 event has had a long history of attracting world class equine talents, and again that is the case at Sandown Park on July 5. A potent mix of generations includes three-year-old Group 1 Classic winners Ruling Court (2000 Guineas, 1,600m) at Newmarket and Camille Pissarro, last month's Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) victor over 2,100m at Chantilly. The latter will be partneredatSandown by Christophe Soumillon with Ryan Moore staying loyal to fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained contender Delacroix, who was disappointing when a beaten favourite in theGroup 1 Epsom Derby (2,400m). Though Epsom "also-rans" do not have a great record in the Eclipse, clearly much better is expected of the twice impressive Leopardstown Group 3 winner over 2,000m this season. Three-year-olds are on a roll in the Eclipse Stakes, having landed the last fourrunnings, but the older horses look formidable this year with Ombudsman catapulted to favouritism after his superb winning display in what looked a strong renewal of last month's Group 1 Princeof Wales's Stakes (2,000m) at Royal Ascot. The Godolphin colt appeared to be having a nightmare trip there, but when a gap appeared his change of gear was instantaneous. His jockey William Buick sent an ominous warning after the son of Night Of Thunder captured his fifth win in six starts. "He was an unknown quantity coming into Ascot but he was impressive there, very impressive," said Buick. "He has low miles on the clock and I think that was a taste of what is to come." It is a fast turnaround (17 days) between runs, a reason why the Princeof Wales's Stakes-Eclipse Stakes double is rarely achieved. However, Ombudsman's joint-trainer Thady Gosden remains upbeat. "Obviously it is very tight and you'd rather give them longer. But he hasn't had a hard season," said Gosden who trains in partnership with his father John. "He hasn't had a hard career really, so we thought why not see if he'd be ready for a race like this." The other older star in the six-horse field is the Andre Fabre-trained Sosie. The Sea The Stars six-year-old was ridden by Maxime Guyon in all six of his career wins, a tally that includes two stylish Group 1 ParisLongchamp victories this season, latterly when his acceleration proved decisive in the Prix d'Ispahan (1,800m) in May. Fabre has not had an Eclipse Stakes contender for 20 years and although the Chantilly-based maestro has described Sosie as "more of a mile-and-a-half horse" those two eye-catching 2025 victories have come over trips nearer to this one, while the uphill straight at Sandown Park places an obvious premium on stamina. Sosie is surely a very serious threat to all if he handles likely faster ground at Sandown. HKJC
Leader Live
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
The Lion In Winter joins battle in the Prix Jean Prat
It is interesting the son of Sea The Stars reverts to the distance he excelled over at York as a juvenile, winning an Acomb Stakes which had Wimbledon Hawkeye in second and subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court back in third. That would be his final outing at two, with a late setback ruling him out of the Dewhurst Stakes, but he was one of the market leaders throughout the winter until somewhat underwhelming in his comeback run in the Dante back on the Knavesmire. Unperturbed by that performance, connections continued to Epsom, but after again failing to sparkle when well beaten in the premier Classic, The Lion In Winter now drops back to seven furlongs on the Normandy Coast. Juddmonte have added Andre Fabre's filly Apollo Fountain to the field for a race the master trainer has won a joint-record five times. She joins fellow Juddmonte-owned contender, Harry Charlton's Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year, and Charlie Appleby's high-class Shadow Of Light in what could be a red-hot cast, with the home defence led by Christopher Head's Maranoa Charlie who brings British interest thanks to his owners, the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbreds operation.
Glasgow Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
The Lion In Winter joins battle in the Prix Jean Prat
It is interesting the son of Sea The Stars reverts to the distance he excelled over at York as a juvenile, winning an Acomb Stakes which had Wimbledon Hawkeye in second and subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court back in third. That would be his final outing at two, with a late setback ruling him out of the Dewhurst Stakes, but he was one of the market leaders throughout the winter until somewhat underwhelming in his comeback run in the Dante back on the Knavesmire. Unperturbed by that performance, connections continued to Epsom, but after again failing to sparkle when well beaten in the premier Classic, The Lion In Winter now drops back to seven furlongs on the Normandy Coast. Juddmonte have added Andre Fabre's filly Apollo Fountain to the field for a race the master trainer has won a joint-record five times. She joins fellow Juddmonte-owned contender, Harry Charlton's Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year, and Charlie Appleby's high-class Shadow Of Light in what could be a red-hot cast, with the home defence led by Christopher Head's Maranoa Charlie who brings British interest thanks to his owners, the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbreds operation.
Powys County Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
The Lion In Winter joins battle in the Prix Jean Prat
Aidan O'Brien has added The Lion In Winter to Sunday's Prix Jean Prat at Thursday's supplementary stage, meaning a maximum of 10 will line-up in Sunday's Group One feature at Deauville. It is interesting the son of Sea The Stars reverts to the distance he excelled over at York as a juvenile, winning an Acomb Stakes which had Wimbledon Hawkeye in second and subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court back in third. That would be his final outing at two, with a late setback ruling him out of the Dewhurst Stakes, but he was one of the market leaders throughout the winter until somewhat underwhelming in his comeback run in the Dante back on the Knavesmire. Unperturbed by that performance, connections continued to Epsom, but after again failing to sparkle when well beaten in the premier Classic, The Lion In Winter now drops back to seven furlongs on the Normandy Coast. Juddmonte have added Andre Fabre's filly Apollo Fountain to the field for a race the master trainer has won a joint-record five times. She joins fellow Juddmonte-owned contender, Harry Charlton's Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year, and Charlie Appleby's high-class Shadow Of Light in what could be a red-hot cast, with the home defence led by Christopher Head's Maranoa Charlie who brings British interest thanks to his owners, the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbreds operation.
