The expression “pace makes the race” is a common one in the U.S., but it also sums up the feature race on the fourth day of Royal Ascot, the Coronation Stakes (gr. I), run over a mile for three-year-old fillies. On soft ground the 1,000 Guineas (gr. I) winner, Homecoming
ROYAL ASCOT – DAY THREE: VISION OF GOLD
Despite being run over 2½ miles, the Ascot Gold Cup (gr. I) resulted in a three way photo finish. In a Godolphin one-two, and after surviving a stewards’ inquiry, the verdict went to four-year-old Colour Vision, over Halling’s son, Opinion Poll, and Saddler’s Rock. The defending champion of the race,
ROYAL ASCOT: DAY 2 – RETHINK
New Zealand-bred So You Think came to the yard of Aiden O’Brien with a ranking as the official high-weight on the International Classifications in the long-distance category, as well being highly-rated at shorter distances. However, that long-distance rating, which was earned with a brave third under top-weight in Melbourne Cup
ROYAL ASCOT DAY 1: FRANKEL!
“He’s not a horse, he’s a bloomin’ steam engine…” We were reminded of that statement, made by the legendary jockey Fred Archer, after being run off with on Newmarket Heath by the mighty St. Simon. Frankel didn’t quite bolt off on Ascot Heath yesterday, although it did take Tom Queally
E DUBAI – A NORTH EAST STANDOUT
A couple of recent observations drew our attention to E Dubai, who we’ve noted before as a very good value-for-money sire. One was the upset victory last weekend of the progressive 3-year-old filly My Gi Gi in the Honeymoon Handicap (gr. II). The other was a look at the leading
UNION OF INFLUENCES
Although Union Rags went into winter quarters widely regarded as the leading prospect for the Triple Crown events, a superficial reading of his pedigree could have been interpreted to indicate than he’d struggle with the ten furlongs of the Derby, let alone the 1½ miles of the classic he did
CHICHICASTENANGO AND NEVER BEND
A few weeks ago, when looking at the emerging French second year sire, Turtle Bowl, we noted that he conformed something of a recent trend in France, the appearance of a number of good sires with relatively unfashionable pedigrees, other examples that come to mind including Linamix (by Mendez), Muhtathir
GHOSTZAPPER’S EXCELLENT WEEKEND
The most recent weekend’s racing in the U.S. was highlighted by an epic Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) duel between Shackleford and Caleb’s Posse. However, it also featured a notable achievement by a former Metropolitan Handicap victor – Ghostzapper – who was represented by graded winners on all-weather, turf and dirt. On
MAKING AN IMPACT
The astonishing start to his stud career made by the Japanese sire, Deep Impact, continued at the week when he enjoyed a graded stakes double that included a victory by his son Deep Brillante in the Japanese Derby (gr. I). Almost inevitably, Deep Impact is a son of the Halo stallion
TURTLE BOWL – THE NEW FRENCH STALLION STAR
At the end of 2011, the French-based sire, Turtle Bowl drew some attention to himself when his son French Fifteentook the Criterium International (gr. I) to propel Turtle Bowl to a position as Leading Freshman Sire and Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds in France. Promising as that start was, it is
Alan Porter
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