Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

[denphone]

SO EASY FOR SENSATIONAL FRANKEL.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Frankel extended his unbeaten record to 12 with another awesome performance in the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Following his 11-length demolition job in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the world's highest-rated racehorse faced just three rivals as he defended his Goodwood crown, including his pacemaker Bullet Train.

The latter predictably cut out the early running, but Tom Queally was never too far behind on Frankel in second and the 1-20 favourite eased to the front with a couple of furlongs to travel. The result was never in doubt thereafter as Sir Henry Cecil's incredible four-year-old engaged top gear to pull right away in the closing stages.

[denphone]

OLYMPIC FLIES FOR VINTAGE GLORY.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Olympic Glory was produced with a withering late run to give Richard Hannon a third successive triumph in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Hannon had saddled King Torus and Chandlery to win the last two runnings of the Group Two juvenile prize and Olympic Glory was 11-4 to follow up his victory in last month's Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

As the rest of the field went for home, Richard Hughes seemed keen to play his cards late on the eventual winner. He was still last of all with a couple of furlongs to run but the jockey timed his run to perfection, getting up by half a length to beat Artigiano.

[denphone]

HIGGINS POTS GOODWOOD PRIZE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...s&sub=&day=Thu

Hurricane Higgins held off the late thrust of Irish raider Defence Of Duress to take the Goodwood Stakes for Mark Johnston.

Hurricane Higgins and Never Can Tell looked to have it between them and just as Hurricane Higgins began to win that argument, Defence Of Duress finished with a wet sail down the outside. Tom Taaffe's runner was closing all the way to the line, but Johnston's 14-1 chance held on by a head under Joe Fanning.

[denphone]

MCCAIN ON GALWAY TRAIL AGAIN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Donald McCain aims to bring the Guinness Galway Hurdle trophy back to Britain for the second time in three years with the improving Lexi's Boy.

The Grand National-winning trainer saddled his fantastic dual-purpose performer Overturn to win the prestigious handicap in 2010, the first UK-trained winner of the race since Sagaman in 1991.

[denphone]

QATAR TEAM LAUNCH RICHMOND RAID.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...2&sub=&day=Thu

Ahern and Cay Verde represent Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing Ltd in today's Audi Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

David Barron's Ahern was a close third in the July Stakes last time when inexperience caught him out, while Mick Channon's Cay Verde has won a Listed race at the Curragh and finished sixth in the Norfolk Stakes.

The owner's racing manager David Redvers said: "I think it was just a little bit of immaturity which caught Ahern out last time at Newmarket. It's probably more mental with him than anything and we'd hope that with that experience under his belt, he'll be a more complete horse."

PRINCE SEEKING GLORIOUS SUCCESS.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Dubai Prince will aim to go some way to fulfilling his huge potential in the Coutts Glorious Stakes at Goodwood on Friday.

Unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile when trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, the son of Shamardal has not quite progressed as anticipated since joining Godolphin.

Training problems meant he did not make any of the British Classics, but when he did eventually turn out as a three-year-old, he could not have been more impressive in a Newbury conditions event.

[denphone]

FRANKEL TAKES SUSSEX ROMP IN STRIDE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Frankel has come out of his Qipco Sussex Stakes romp with flying colours and is firmly on course for the Juddmonte International at York later this month.

Sir Henry Cecil's unbeaten superstar took his winning run to 12 at Glorious Goodwood as he repeated his victory of last year in the Group One mile event. He will now step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time on August 22, in a race sponsored by his owner, Khalid Abdullah.

"I was delighted with Frankel on Wednesday in the Sussex Stakes. He has grown up a lot mentally and took it all like a true professional," Cecil told his website:

[denphone]

SADDLER'S ROCKS AT GOODWOOD.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...odwood&day=Thu

Saddler's Rock ground out a determined victory in the Artemis Goodwood Cup under Johnny Murtagh.

John Oxx's stayer was the 2-1 favourite to exact his revenge on Godolphin's Colour Vision, who had beaten him into third in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June but had to carry a penalty for that Group One triumph.

Saddler's Rock wore down Electrolyser inside the final two furlongs and found plenty for Johnny Murtagh to take the prize by a length from the fast-finishing Askar Tau. Colour Vision was under pressure early in the straight, but stuck to his task doggedly to pick up minor honours in third

[denphone]

REBEL FITZ THE BILL.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Rebel Fitz just held off the late thrust of Cause Of Causes to take the glory in an incident-packed Guinness Galway Hurdle.

Strongly-supported favourite Drive Time and Ruby Walsh suffered a nasty fall before the race really began in earnest, bringing down another leading hope in Donald McCain's British challenger Lexi's Boy under Jason Maguire.

The Michael Winters-trained Rebel Fitz travelled sweetly in the hands of Davy Russell, who sent his mount to the lead and looked set to run out a ready winner, but celebrated with a few strides to go and Cause Of Causes only just failed to catch him. Captain Cee Bee ran a highly creditable race to finish third, with Plan A fourth.

METAL TOO TOUGH TO PASS.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Richard Hannon was denied his fifth successive victory in the Audi Richmond Stakes as Heavy Metal bounced back to form for Mark Johnston.

The youngster had won two of his first three career outings but having seemingly had his limitations exposed in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Stakes at Newmarket, he was a 9-1 shot for this Group Two Test.

Heavy Metal was always towards the front end and although Hannon's Master Of War was closing in the last of the six furlongs, Joe Fanning's mount held on by half a length to give the rider his third win of the meeting and Johnston his fourth.

GOODWOOD GOES WILD FOR COCO.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Sir Henry Cecil and Tom Queally both notched up their fourth winner of the 2012 Glorious Goodwood meeting as Wild Coco made an excellent return to action in the iShares Fillies' Stakes.

The four-year-old had disappointed 12 months ago when a hot favourite for the Group Three contest better known as the Lillie Langtry Stakes, and was also well held on her only subsequent start at York last August.

The 6-1 chance looked to have plenty to do on her belated return against a clutch of in-form rivals, but she showed a smart change of gear to take up the lead. French outsider Jehannedarc ran on well to fill the runner-up spot, beaten two and three-quarter lengths, with Estimate a further head away in third.

[denphone]

BROKEN ANKLE FOR WALSH.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Ruby Walsh is set for a spell on the sidelines after a fall from the well-fancied Drive Time in the Guinness Galway Hurdle.

Walsh was partnering the Willie Mullins-trained favourite in the prestigious handicap until he came to grief at one of the hurdles passing the stands with a circuit to run, and was temporarily knocked unconscious.

He was motionless on the turf for a while before being stretchered off the track and taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays.

He tweeted: "Thanks to doctors at racecourse and all in Galway university hospital for looking after me. Small break in my ankle be out for a bit."

[denphone]

GOSDEN DUO SET FOR NASSAU BATTLE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...2&sub=&day=Fri

John Gosden holds all the aces in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday.

The Clarehaven handler is represented by Group One winner Izzi Top, as well as The Fugue, who has been placed in the Oaks and the Ribblesdale.

"They both have different ground requirements as Izzi Top likes a bit of juice, while The Fugue prefers it on top and she hasn't had that since being knocked over at Epsom. The ground was a bit slow for The Fugue at Royal Ascot, but she ran well," Gosden said.

[denphone]

THRILLER ENDS IN DEAD-HEAT.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Trumpet Major and Archbishop shared the spoils in the RSA Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood after the judge called a dead-heat.

Richard Hannon's Trumpet Major was 6-1 to bounce back from a disappointing performance when favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas and was given a confident ride by Richard Hughes.

He looked set to win outright when moving to the lead inside the final furlong, but Brian Meehan's 10-1 shot Archbishop stuck to his guns well in the hands of Frankie Dettori and the two passed the line as one.

[denphone]

GLORIOUS FOR AUSSIES WITH ORTENSIA.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Australian raider Ortensia came good in Britain at the third attempt with a classy display in the Gordon's King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood under William Buick.

A Group One winner in her homeland as well as in Dubai during the winter, big things were expected of Paul Messara's mare when she arrived earlier this season, but she disappointed in the King's Stand before finishing a creditable fourth in the July Cup.

Sent off the 6-1 joint-favourite dropping down to Group Two level, the seven-year-old was towards the rear early on before being unleashed down the centre. Once she found top gear, she soon dashed to the lead and passed the post a ready winner by a length and a quarter.

[denphone]

REALM STRONG IN OAK TREE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Regal Realm finished best of all to win a competitive Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood for Jeremy Noseda and Ryan Moore.

The Group Three contest centred around Godolphin's filly Gamilati, who was making a belated return to a British racecourse having impressed twice in Dubai during the winter.

She was the 9-4 favourite for this first start since February but could not pick up in the straight and finished well down the field.

Regal Realm mixed it in top company as a juvenile, but having not been seen since finishing second-last in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket in April, she was a 10-1 shot for this seven-furlong test.

JOHNSTON STRIKES WITH FULBRIGHT.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Mark Johnston secured his fifth winner of the week as Fulbright and Silvestre de Sousa claimed the Betfred Mile at Glorious Goodwood.

Turned out under a penalty having edged a six-furlong handicap at Newmarket last weekend, the 7-1 chance was tackling this distance for the first time in his career.

The Brazilian rider was never too far off the pace and there was never really any doubt he would collect after he swept to the lead in the straight. Mabait came with a strong late run but was unable to reel in Fulbright, who ran out a decisive scorer by a length and a quarter.

[denphone]

TIME FOR CECIL MARE TO SHINE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Connections of Timepiece feel she may be on the verge of returning to her best for the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood today.

Sir Henry Cecil's mare won the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last summer, but has been well beaten in two starts so far this year.

She has significant ground to make up on Izzi Top on their latest meeting in the Middleton Stakes, but Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "She has turned a corner and everyone seems much more pleased with her - she is working better and moving much better."

[denphone]

FAHEY BACK IN GOODWOOD GROOVE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Sat

Richard Fahey was relieved finally to be back on the scoresheet at Glorious Goodwood as Johannes returned to one of his favourite courses in the Get Your Bet On At bluesq.com Stewards' Sprint Stakes.

Sent off at 22-1 in this competitive six-furlong handicap, Johannes was given a helping hand by George Chaloner's 7lb claim, but the apprentice rode above himself as he forced his mount half a length ahead of Louis The Pious

"I'm not sure, but I don't think I've had a winner here since this fellow won this race three years ago. It's been frustrating, we had a load of seconds here last year and it's nice to get one," said Fahey.