A rather sedate pace to the 2 1/2 mile Ascot Gold Cup (gr. I) ensured that several of the field were in with a shot close home, but in the end Trip to Paris prevailed to secure his first stakes victory, accounting for Galileo’s son, Kingfisher, and the previously undefeated
ROYAL ASCOT DAY II – THE EAGLE HAS LANDED
Even without reigning U.S. Horse of the Year California Chrome – sidelined by a foot issue – the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (gr. I) was still a remarkably international race with runners from England, Ireland, France, Australia and Japan. In the end, Ireland’s Free Eagle, making only his fifth start,
MILERS STAR ON DAY 1 AT ROYAL ASCOT
Day 1 at Royal Ascot was most notable for group one victories by a pair of outstanding milers. In the Queen Anne Stakes, for older horses over the straight mile, the expected clash between Able Friend and Solow fizzled out when the Hong Kong star failed to fire. That left
ROYAL ASCOT: DAYS 4 & 5: RIZEENA & TELESCOPE RETURN TO FORM
One of last year’s top two-year-olds – when her victories included the Queen Mary Stakes (gr. II) at the Royal meeting, and the Shadwell Fillies Mile (gr. I) – Rizeena failed to fire in the 1,000 Guineas (gr. I), but bounced back for a ¾ lengths victory in the one
ROYAL ASCOT: DAY 3 – GOLDEN LIGHT
If you are used to the steady diet of six to nine furlongs fed by racing on the principal surface (dirt) in U.S., the Royal Ascot meeting serves as a refreshing reminder of the diverse fair that thoroughbred racing can offer. On day one, we had the King’s Stand Stakes
ROYAL ASCOT:DAY 1 – KING OF THE KICK
Highlight of day one at Royal Ascot was the St. James’s Palace Stakes (gr. I) which brought a rematch between the upset 2,000 Guineas (gr. I) victor, Night of Thunder, and the third in that race, Kingman, who had since taken the Irish 2,000 Guineas (gr. I). Night of Thunder
A NON-INTERFERING RECEPTACLE
The dean of English bloodstock writers, Tony Morris, once described the great broodmare Mrs. Moss as a “non-interfering receptacle,” by which he meant that rather than imparting her own characteristics, she somehow allowed the best qualities of her mates to be expressed. Perhaps the ultimate example of such a mare
ENGLISH & FRENCH GUINEAS – Dubawi, Dansili consolidate status; a potential new star in France
The 2,000 Guineas (gr. I) was supposed to lie between the undefeated Invincible Spirit colt, Kingman, and Aiden O’Brien’s highly-touted Australia, winner of the last two of his three juvenile starts, the last of which came in the form of a six lengths win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
UNTAPABLE, UNSTOPABLE – Kentucky Oaks winner is from a family on fire
The day before the Derby, the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) was won by Untapable, who like California Chrome is by a son of Pulpit from a family that has written more than a few headlines. Despite their similarities, there are some distinct differences between the two pedigrees, however. To start
Alan Porter
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