.png)
India's first & foremost horse racing portal
Register Now 
Papal Bull makes an impression
By Tom Krish | 30 Jun 2006 |
As Friday's racing began at Royal Ascot, one of the main points of interest was whether Kieren Fallon would catch Jamie Spencer for the riding title. Spencer held a 4-2 lead and Fallon had a number of good mounts on Friday and Saturday. The leading jockey is awarded the 'London Club' trophy, a prestigious achievement in British racing. Friday's feature was the Coronation Stakes, a Group One race for sophomore fillies over a mile.
The Albany Stakes was the first race on Friday. Eighteen three year-olds went postward for the six-furlong sprint worth 34,068 pounds to the winner. Sander Camillo, a $500,000 purchase, was the firm favorite at 4-1 and 7-2. She had been beaten in her debut at Newmarket on soft ground. The argument was made that Sander Camillo would be much better on a fast track and she proved her backers right. Frankie Dettori made no mistake and as it turned out, that was Dettori's only winner at the Royal Ascot meeting. The Goldolphins went without a victory.
Papal Bull had been nominated to the Epsom Derby at a cost of 70,000 pounds. The Montjeu colt had encountered insurmountable road trouble. In the King Edward VII Stakes, a Group Two race worth 122,394 pounds to the winner, Papal Bull, a Michael Stoute trainee, was the 5-4 choice. Red Rocks, a Galileo progeny and Dettori's mount, was next in demand at 3-1. Red Rocks shot to the front to lead the way for the 10-horse field in the 12-furlong race. Papal Bull, Kieren Fallon up, lay third and not more than three lengths off at any point. Dettori was having a pressure-free time up front. When Papal Bull moved, it looked like Red Rocks would have enough. In a duel of attrition, Fallon and Papal Bull wore down Red Rocks and Dettori to edge ahead close home. Papal Bull is now being mentioned as a possible starter in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.
"He's getting better and better. I was confident turning for home. He has a future and you have not seen his best," said Fallon commenting on his winning ride.
Fifteen fillies went to the gate in the Coronation Stakes, a mile-race for three year-old fillies. The race was worth 152,170 pounds to the winner. The rage was Nannina, a Medicean filly. Nannina, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Jimmy Fortune, had shown promise as a freshman. She was eased in Newmarket's 1,000 Guineas on a soft track. She ran a blinder to win the race going away. She was held up in mid-division, asked for an effort inside the last quarter and strode out majestically to leave her rivals standing. Flashy Wings, the top freshman filly in 2005, ran on to be second. Nighttime, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas, was forwardly placed and fell back as the race took a serious turn. Speciosa, the English 1,000 Guineas heroine, was a disappointment.
The next race, the 10-furlong Wolferton Handicap, went I'm So Lucky who led start to finish in the hands of Joe Fanning at 15-1. Wild Savannah found her best stride late to be the bridesmaid.
Kevin Darley, a name Indian fans should readily recognize, won the fifth race, the Queen's Vase. It was a 2-mie affair and there were eleven horses in the race. Darley had Soapy Danger in fourth position, then third, challenged the pace-setting Galient midstretch, cut across Galient sharply when moving to the inside to wrest the winning lead. The result stood after an inquiry by the stewards. Galient, a colt by Galileo, was going for his third consecutive win. Road To Mandalay, an Aidan O'Brien trainee, had won a maiden race at Navan and was gambled on. Kieren Fallon held Road To Mandalay up in the rear and had no response when he asked for it.
Kevin Darley won the sixth race as well. It was the King George V Stakes, a 12-furlong race worth 34,276 pounds to the victor. Linas Selection was well-placed and drew away when it mattered. Pearly King, a Fallon mount, was the favorite. Pearly King was prominent and faded as they raced down the long Ascot stretch.
Linas Selection was giving trainer Mark Johnston a hat trick. He had earlier saddled I'm So Lucky and Soapy Danger. The Racing Post reported that Mark Johnston's training treble was worth 466-1.
With Spencer holding a one-win advantage going into Saturday, the fifth and final day at Royal Ascot, the British bookmakers were offering 8-11 on him. Kieren Fallon, with several promising rides, was at even money.
Saturday's racing began with Champlain, a maiden, winning the seven-furlong Chesham Stakes. Philip Robinson asked for an effort in the final furlong and Champlain, a Seeking The Gold colt, responded readily. Taking second place was Country Song who was going for three in a row. Fallon was the rider.
Shawanda, a Godolphin runner, was a scratch in the second race, the Hardwicke Stakes. It was a 12-furlong race worth 79,492 pounds to the winner. Sir Michael Stoute had three runners in the eight-horse field. Mountain High, beaten in the slop at Goodwood last time out, was a lukewarm 7-2 favorite. Maraahel, the highest rated in the field, was 9-2. Hard Top, with Mick Kinane, was 4-1. Maraahel stayed in striking range and went in chase of Mountain High who had taken over with 1 1/2 furlongs left and went one better in the dash to the wire. The latter was third, quickened to take charge, shaped like a winner and knuckled under in a tight photo. Michael Stoute said, "Maraahel is a horse with one good move. Richard (Hills, the jockey) timed his move to perfection. Mountain High is progressing. He raced extremely well in defeat."
Eighteen horses answered the starter's call in the third race, the 6-furlong Golden Jubilee Stakes. It was a Group One race worth $198,730 to the winner. The 33-1 Les Arcs shocked the Saturday crowd in the hands of John Egan. Takeover Target, winner of the King's Stand Stakes on opening day, was going for a Royal Ascot double and finished third. Taking second was the 50-1 Balthazaar's Gift. The Exacta paid 3,498 pounds for a one pound ticket.
Baltic King and Jimmy Fortune won the fourth race, the Wokingham Stakes, a six-furlong race worth 49,856 pounds to the winner. Firenze, strongly fancied and Jamie Spencer's mount, was the runner-up. Tweny eight horses were in this six-furlong event.
Young Mick, 30-1, had the last laugh in the next race, the 1 1/2 mile Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. The race was worth 34,276 pounds to the winner.
Baddam won the last race of the Ascot meeting completing a staying double. It was the Queen Alexandra Stakes over 2 miles and 5 1/2 furlongs (4300 metres approx). Baddam had won the Ascot Stakes over 2 1/2 miles (4000 metres approx.) on opening day. Ian Mongan had Baddam in the rear until the final turn.Making up ground with every stride, Baddam got up in the waning yards to beat Cover Up and Kieren Fallon.
Cover Up, a nine year-old, was seeking his third Queen Alexandra win. He was also going for his fourth win at Royal Ascot. He had won the Ascot Stakes as well. He was carrying 9 stones and 12 pounds (63 kgs approx) in a 2 mile 5 1/2 furlong race (4300 metres). It was a heartbreaker for Cover Up.
The Irish Derby is at the Curragh on Sunday. Darsi, owned by the Aga Khan, is favored. Darisi won the Prix du Jockey Club (the French Derby) at Chantilly on June 4. Christophe Soumillon has the mount, Dragon Dancer is a maiden and was second in a photo in the Derby at Epsom. He will take his place in the Curragh line-up. Darryl Holland is the jockey.
Dylan Thomas and Papal Bull are expected to go. An exciting race is in prospect.
Royal Ascot was a great experience. An observation or two. There are no vantage points to watch the action, The Royal Family, sitting in the special glass-enclosed box, has a great view. That is it. No matter what you pay and where you go, race-watching is difficult if not impossible.
Mobility was difficult. Yes, there were big crowds. If you went to watch the horses in the paddock, getting to the betting ring from the paddock was an arduous exercise.
The toilets- that's another story. Long lines were getting longer. With all the champagne flowing, the toilet facilities were not simply enough.
It was hard to adhere to the time-frame because of conflict with World Cup (soccer) matches. All bookmaking outfits promoted the World Cup with such intensity that racing at Ascot took a back seat.
Races run on the straight course-horses were taken to the stands side. The effort to bank the final turn (for round races) had created a bias. No rider wanted to go to the far side. This problem, I am sure, will be addressed.
The Ascot management is very cognizant of all these questions. Repeated assurances have been given that things will be taken care of.
All said and done, Royal Ascot is Royal Ascot. There is no other meeting in the world quite like Royal Ascot. The quality of racing, the pageantry, the excitement and the general ambience-these are unique. If there is one race meeting, a racing fan should have on the 'must attend' list, it is Royal Ascot.
News Letter
Contact
Email: info@indiarace.com
✕
- HOME
- STUD FARMS
- ARCHIVES
- GLOSSARY
- CLASSIFIEDS
- EX-NAME SEARCH
- DAM
- SIRE
- ROLL OF HONOURS
- FEEDBACK
- HORSE TALK
