Varian looking at starting options for The Platinum Queen

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Roger Varian has identified races at York and Haydock as potential starting points for The Platinum Queen ahead of a crack at the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Cotai Glory filly was one of the stars of the 2022 Flat season when trained by Richard Fahey, justifying ambitious campaigning from previous owners Middleham Park Racing by picking up a silver medal in the Nunthorpe and plundering the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp in October.

She was sold to Katsumi Yoshida for 1.2million guineas at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and she will now sport the colours previously worn in the UK by Flotus when she makes her first start for Varian, having also swapped the northern racing hotspot of Malton for Newmarket in the close season.

The Platinum Queen will be trained by Roger Varian this season
The Platinum Queen will be trained by Roger Varian this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

Her new trainer has nominated the five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes as the three-year-old’s Royal Ascot target and is considering either York’s Westow Stakes (May 18) or the Temple Stakes at Haydock (May 27) as options to first blow away the cobwebs.

“I think there’s the Listed race for three-year-olds at York or there’s the Temple Stakes and we would like to run her before Ascot,” said the Carlburg Stables handler.

“We would like to run her in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot, but it would be nice to get a run into her beforehand and those would be the two options I think.”

Jimmi Hendrix calls the tune at Newbury

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Ralph Beckett will consider his options before making any firm plans for Newbury’s BetGoodwin Spring Cup winner Jimi Hendrix, who stayed on well to take the valuable mile handicap under Rossa Ryan.

Things did not go according to plan when fancied for the Lincoln, where he had finished a disappointing 13th of 22.

Jockey Rossa Ryan felt the fitting of blinkers helped his cause as he powered to a three-and-a-half-length victory over Lattam.

“He is just a bit claustrophobic, hence putting the blinkers on and hence me coming across on my own. It has done the trick, really,” said Ryan.

“He has beaten an Irish Lincoln winner pulling up and he took a lot of pulling up, so I wouldn’t fear going up in trip again with him.

“He has not hit his ceiling and you’d like to think there’d be more to come.”

Beckett, who was recording a double, having taken the Fred Darling with Remarquee, added: “I think he likes this ground to degree. But he’s won on fast ground at the July meeting, so I don’t think it is that important to him.

“But the blinkers today and a bit of space on the wing has really made the difference.

“I’m not sure where we go. The Royal Hunt Cup maybe, with something in between, we’ll have to go away and work it out.”

Golspie/Newbury
Golspie surprised Eve Johnson Houghton (Simon Milham/PA)

Newbury maidens at this time of year are invariably informative, although Eve Johnson Houghton was as surprised as anyone when Golspie (12-1) landed the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden by a length and a half in the hands of Charlie Bishop.

“Slightly unexpected,” said Johnson Houghton. “I thought he would get very tired in the ground. My other horse got very tired on the ground.

“Actually, he quite enjoyed it I think, but he possibly wants further, so it was a lovely surprise.

“We were going to go for a maiden next time!

“He wasn’t very well when we first bought him so gave him loads of time and we were never really going to run him as a two-year-old, and he is still weak, but he’s going to be a nice horse with a bit of luck.”

Klondike/Newbury
Klondike looked a smart recruit in the mile and three-furlong maiden (Simon Milham/PA)

Klondike (7-2), a son of Galileo, who cost 600,000 guineas as a yearling, is bred to be a nice horse.

He overcame abundant greenness under Tom Marquand to take the Too Darn Hot Darley Maiden Stakes by a head for trainer William Haggas.

After his polished and patient ride, where he taught the three-year-old plenty, coming from off the pace to score, Marquand said: “It was a proper William-style run. It is probably as much as you want to see. William likes them to be ridden like that.

“It’s lovely to see a horse like that go and drop down that last half furlong, and actually go and win a race like that.

“You teach them. That is the whole point of their first and early runs, to teach them what their job. We want them all to win, but sometimes emptying the tank isn’t the way they learn the most.

“I gave him a flick a furlong and a half out to get him to straighten up and another flick with half a furlong to go.

“He’s a lovely horse and stays well, and hopefully has a pretty exciting future.”

Isaac Shelby puts the famous Sangster silks back in the limelight

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It may be remembered for the day Frankie Dettori and leading 2000 Guineas hope Chaldean parted company when receiving a bump at the start of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.

Yet it was also a welcome red-letter afternoon for the famous emerald green and blue silks of the Sangster family.

While the unfortunate Chaldean was loving life at Newbury without a rider on his back, Isaac Shelby and Sean Levey made the best of it up front and, unchallenged, won in the style of a good horse.

Paddy Power were quick to react to his success, making him an 8-1 chance for glory in the Guineas in a fortnight’s time but with trainer Brian Meehan seemingly favouring the French Guineas, you can probably treble that.

As a trial, those who put their hard-earned on the winner of the Greenham for the Guineas invariably keep those dastardly bookmakers in ice cream for the summer.

Consider the facts. Wollow won the Greenham and then the Guineas in 1976. It was another 35 years before Frankel did the double. The late Sir Henry Cecil was the master trainer of those outliers who successfully completed the feat.

Indeed, the last winner of the Newmarket colts’ mile Classic to run in the Greenham was nine years ago when Night Of Thunder, Isaac Shelby’s sire, went one better than he had done at Newbury.

So Meehan, tempted though he may be to head to Newmarket, may be right to head to France.

Isaac Shelby had won the Superlative on Newmarket’s July course, a different beast to the Rowley Mile where he subsequently finished last of seven in the Dewhurst when last seen in October. Worse still, he came out of that lame.

Sam Sangster, whose father Robert’s colours were carried to Guineas triumphs by the likes of Rodrigo De Triano, Lomond and El Gran Senor, and Derby victories by The Minstrel and Golden Fleece, may feel Newmarket is not to be sniffed at.

However, he was happy for now to bask in the moment and stick to the plan.

“It was fantastic,” said Sangster, who owns him as part of the Manton Thoroughbreds VII syndicate.

“We thought a lot of him as a two-year-old and we were not surprised when he won at Newmarket.

“Something was amiss in the Dewhurst and it wasn’t back to the drawing board for us, we just kept ticking over.

“He came back so well over the winter and we took him for a little run around at Lingfield. He was on point there, but ever since then he has just been improving more and more at home, so we came here with a lot of confidence. The way he won was very, very professional.

“But that is just him out and out. He has got a wonderful mind. He is just a real professional and seems to thrive every time he runs, so we are excited about the French Guineas, that’s for sure.

“We’ll obviously keep one eye on the British Guineas, but he loved that ground there today and I just think that (ParisLongchamp) will be a nice fit.

“I don’t think he is ground dependent, but the way he went through it today would give just cause to go to France.

“We can always take the boys on at Ascot. See how we go in France and then go to Ascot.”

Isaac Shelby may have had plenty fall his way in testing ground that was always going to have his rivals toiling to reel him back.

But rider Sean Levey felt he had plenty against him and overcame the odds to score readily.

He said: “To be honest, my horse ran a blinder under circumstances that I didn’t think really suited him – the first one being the ground, secondly the loose one actually lit me up. We ran keen for far longer than I would have liked.

“I think he proved himself in the Superlative on faster ground and then disappointed thereafter.

“He has obviously done well over the winter. He needed to improve and it looks as though he has.

“I did think he’d have to improve if the Guineas was going to be his route, but you can’t help but be fairly impressed with him today.

“Brian had the French Guineas on his mind but that could change. I think we always thought Newmarket wouldn’t suit.

“He has got the horse in a good place. He is a quality animal, but it is still early doors and it is not until after the Guineas you know what real quality is.”

While Isaac Shelby will likely skip HQ, the unfortunate Chaldean remains on course to emulate his sire.

Dettori explained: “He was getting a little bit restless in the stalls and I jumped a bit slow. I was half a length behind Charlie (Bishop, aboard Streets Of Gold). He veered right and we went left.

“He took the foot out of my iron and that was it – I was on the floor. Simple as that. I didn’t have time to think.”

Chaldean may, of course, still be up to the task, but missing this crucial test will not help his cause, especially since there are just two weeks between this particular trial and the Guineas.

Take nothing away from Meehan’s winner of what looked a reasonable renewal.

He looks the part, has all but filled his powerful frame, has a good eye, a powerful back end and somewhat stood out among nine other precocious boys of summer, who have begun to strut their stuff.

Those with deep pockets and unsound minds spend millions on these wonderful creatures. Still, there is no guarantee their genes will play the winning game their profile says they should.

Bubbles will undoubtedly be burst, for some today, for others later down the line. Perhaps a fortnight later.

Now, Chaldean is a very good horse. He has a bright future and will almost certainly win other top-class races. He remains at 5-1 for the Guineas, but if Andrew Balding did not have a tough enough task on his hands with the burden of history, now a lack of a thorough prep is on Chaldean’s powerful shoulders.

Emily Dickinson enhances Gold Cup claims at Navan

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Emily Dickinson could be a ready-made substitute for Aidan O’Brien to fill the void left by Kyprios in the Gold Cup following her easy win in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

O’Brien often uses the Listed contest over a mile and three-quarters as a starting point for his Gold Cup horses – indeed Kyprios was successful 12 months ago before going on to Ascot glory.

With the chestnut on the sidelines O’Brien needed a stayer for the Cup races and this filly, who signed off last year with a Group Three win, looks just the ticket.

Never far from the pace under Ryan Moore, she bounded clear in the heavy ground to beat the useful French Claim by five lengths.

She is now a general 4-1 shot for the Gold Cup.

O’Brien said of his 11-8 winner: “She loves a trip and she relaxes, that’s the key. She stays well and she has class as well. She’s an exciting filly, she has a big engine.

“The plan was to come here and then go to Leopardstown for the Saval Beg. Then, hopefully, she will go from there to the Gold Cup.

“She is a filly that we always thought when she went beyond a mile and a half, we would see the best of her.

“She handles an ease in the ground well, but she also handles quick ground.”

Police and Ayr officials praised for dealing with protest in ‘very efficient manner’

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Animal rights protesters attempted to disrupt the Coral Scottish Grand National on Saturday.

Just seven days on from the scenes at Aintree which saw the Grand National delayed by around 15 minutes, a handful of people broke on to the track at Ayr before the scheduled 3.35pm start time of the big race.

However, as soon as they were on the track, the protesters – some pictured sporting pink Animal Rising T-shirts – were tackled by security staff and police and the matter was soon brought under control.

Protesters being detained by police
Protesters being detained by police (Jane Barlow/PA)

There was an increased security presence due to last week’s protest where 118 arrests were made by Merseyside Police.

Ayr’s managing director David Brown praised the swift action of the police and security teams on course.

He said: “The police and security dealt with it like the consummate professionals that they are.

“The race went off to time, there was no notable delay and the professionalism of the team up here in Scotland was a credit to them, they dealt with it in a very efficient manner.

“What a great race it was and a great story, for Christian Williams to win it for the second year in a row with Kitty’s Light, after he finished second last year. I think for me this is Scotland’s showpiece race and it all ran to time.”

A tweet from Police Scotland read: “We are responding to a protest which is ongoing at Ayr Racecourse this afternoon. A significant operation is under way to safely remove those involved. A number of arrests have been made and an increased police presence remains at the scene.”

Mojo Star racing career could be over after finishing lame at Newbury

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Mojo Star – runner-up in two Classics and the Ascot Gold Cup for Richard Hannon – could be retired after he finished lame in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The five-year-old, who was second in Adayar’s Derby and occupied the same spot behind Hurricane Lane in the St Leger before finding only Kyprios too good in last year’s Gold Cup, was making his seasonal return after a 310-day lay-off.

The lightly-raced son of Sea The Stars was fourth to surprise winner Grand Alliance in the Group Three contest registered as the John Porter.

However, Kevin Stott’s mount, owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, hung in the closing stages and was taken to a nearby veterinary hospital in a horse ambulance.

Hannon said: “He came in lame and has gone straight to the vets in Newbury to Jamie O’Gorman.

Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup
Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

“He has a bit of a history, so that’s why he doesn’t run too often.

“That’s all we know at the moment – he was lame and it doesn’t look great. But he is a horse who has been a big part of our lives for five years.

“He is a class horse. He is a gentleman and also a horse very close to his owner’s heart. He is in the best place and he’ll be fine.

“Whether he continues his racing career or not, is probably doubtful. He has given us several great days and has been a pleasure to have about.

“He’ll be OK. But he is so generous. He travelled great and then he started hanging and he thinks that’s when it happened. I would think it might be suspensory, but he has such a big heart the horse he’s run right to the line. That’s why we all love him.

“He is a very special horse.”

Rubaud takes Scottish Champion Hurdle spoils

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Paul Nicholls was full of praise for his jockey Harry Cobden after watching him make all the running on Rubaud in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

Cobden worked out on Friday that in front was the place to be – riding a treble for his boss – so he was keen to be in the box seat on the 7-2 favourite.

Since being bogged down in the ground when fancied for the Betfair Hurdle the five-year-old has won the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton, and it seems he prefers to go that way round.

Cobden had difficulty steering him at times, yet despite that still had plenty up his sleeve to hold off the late thrust of Lorna Fowler’s Colonel Mustard.

On quick ground, Rubaud jumped fluently throughout and stayed on strongly, holding off the Irish challenger by three lengths. Last year’s winner Anna Bunina was back in third.

Nicholls, who will be officially crowned champion trainer for the 14th time next week, said “That was a fantastic ride from the front, he’s not the easiest of rides but he’s beginning to relax.

“He went to Aintree last week, but we didn’t run him as the ground had gone soft. That was a fantastic ride.

“He jumps brilliant, you can see, he’ll be a fantastic chaser. He’s only young so we might start over hurdles and see where we end up.

“Harry is fantastic, he has a lot of confidence, he’s only 24 and is a fantastic team player, I’m really proud of him.”

Cobden told ITV Racing: “He’s definitely better right-handed. He was hanging the whole way. Down the back I edged into the middle of the course and going around the top bend I actually had two hands on my left rein to get him round it.

“He’s a lovely horse and will make a lovely chaser next year.”

Kitty’s Light gives Christian Williams an emotional victory in the Scottish National

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Wales beat Scotland in the Coral Scottish Grand National with last year’s runner-up Kitty’s Light getting the better of Cooper’s Cross in a thrilling encounter.

Beaten by stablemate Win My Wings in the Ayr showpiece 12 months ago, the Christian Williams-trained chaser is still only seven yet has been running in these big handicaps for the past three years.

Raised 8lb for his win in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February, Kitty’s Light was ridden by Jack Tudor, who recently took the job as stable jockey for David Pipe.

It was with Williams with whom he started his career, though, and in the aftermath it was clear just what the result meant to the pair of them.

Dropped out, Kitty’s Light’s jumping was much better on this occasion, at least until he got to the final fence at which he went right through the top.

But that did not stop his momentum too much, and as Stuart Coltherd’s Cooper’s Cross tried with all his might to keep the prize at home, Kitty’s Light (4-1 joint-favourite) stayed on strongly to score by three lengths. Flash De Touzaine was third with Threeunderthrufive fourth.

Williams has had his world turned upside down recently with the news his five-year-old daughter Betsy has been diagnosed with leukaemia, and was emotional in the aftermath.

He said: “It’s brilliant. He’s a very important horse. We’ve a big battle on at home with my daughter, but this is great and will cheer everyone up.

“I’m lucky to have the staff I’ve got, and the family. It’s a great tonic to the children watching at home and I’m looking forward to getting back tonight and seeing them all.”

Tudor told ITV Racing: “He’s a legend. He’s small and he’s not a brilliant jumper and he’s been trained to the absolute minute.

“This is brilliant for Christian, his little daughter is really unwell so it’s a massive lift for him more than anyone, the whole family, Charlotte (Williams’ wife), it means a lot this one so well done to everyone at the yard. People won’t know what this will mean to Christian.

“If Betsy can be as tough as Kitty’s Light she’ll be fine.”

Expanding on the performance of his winner, Williams told Racing TV: “He bumped into a horse last year that looked unstoppable, nothing could have beaten her (Win My Wings) that day.

“With Kitty we had a plan to go Eider Chase and then this. He was a bit slow to come to hand earlier in the season, but he did a piece of work 10 days ago that Jack said we hadn’t seen the likes of for 12 months.

“We came here fairly confident, but we knew we’d need luck in running because he’s only small.

Jack Tudor and Christian Williams
Jack Tudor and Christian Williams (Jane Barlow/PA)

“It just goes to show the luck you need, he’s Flat-bred yet he’s running in four-mile chases. Fences probably get in his way. They aren’t too big here and he just seems to come to himself at this time of year.

“The only thing about last year is Jack wasn’t on the winner so I didn’t quite get the same kick out of it. To win it on Kitty’s this year is great.

“We won’t write Sandown (bet365 Gold Cup) off just yet because he can have a nice long break after that.”

Prior to the start, protesters from Animal Rising attempted to disrupt proceedings, but they were quickly dealt with by police and officials and there was no repeat of the delay at Aintree, with the race going off just a couple of minutes late.

Isaac Shelby the Greenham hero, as Chaldean suffers dramatic early exit

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Isaac Shelby ran out an impressive winner of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury, in which hot favourite Chaldean dramatically unshipped Frankie Dettori on coming out of the stalls.

The Group Three trial was supposed to be the ideal stepping-stone for Chaldean – who won the Dewhurst for Andrew Balding and Dettori last season – en route to the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

However, his race was over before it began, with Chaldean jinking to his left as the stalls opened, as Streets Of Gold went the other way, and Dettori coming off to his right.

Isaac Shelby returns victorious with Sean Levey
Isaac Shelby returns victorious with Sean Levey (PA)

Isaac Shelby, trained by Brian Meehan, won the Superlative Stakes last season before finishing last of seven in the Dewhurst, and was soon in an early advantage under Sean Levey with only the loose Chaldean for company.

On testing ground nothing came close to throwing down a challenge, as Isaac Shelby (15-2) beat Charyn by three lengths with Theoryofeverything claiming third.

Of Chaldean’s exit, Balding said: “It was one of those unfortunate things, isn’t it? We are just thankful it was a trial and the horse seems to have come back fine and Frankie is fine. It is real bad luck.

“We’ve got two weeks to the Guineas. It is what it is and the Guineas was always the main aim, and that’s where we’re going.

“He was fit and well and ready to run a big race. As long as everything is all right, happily he pulled up pretty quick – had he gone and done another circuit of the track, it would have been a big problem, but he’s had a decent workout and probably enjoyed it.”

Chaldean remains on course for the 2000 Guineas
Chaldean remains on course for the 2000 Guineas (Mike Egerton/PA)

Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon added: “The main thing is the horse is OK and the jockey is OK.

“I think it was one of those freak things, Frankie said the horse beside him just came over and caught his leg and ripped it out of the stirrup. The horse was a little slow (from the stalls) and the horse on his outside came across and literally caught his leg.

“No harm done and the horse has had a day out. That was the whole aim of today, to get him out. We continue on as normal and as long as Andrew is happy with the horse in the next few days he’ll still go to Newmarket.

“We were considering this morning whether to actually run or not, or come for a racecourse gallop. There was a little uncertainty with the way the ground is, probably it’s no bad thing he’s had his day out, he’s had a gallop and he hasn’t had a hard time.

“He’s in great form, the horse looked great when he came back and Frankie is fine.”

While Chaldean is still on course for Newmarket, a trip to France is the target for the winner.

Meehan: “He is smart. I’ve always thought so. Things went wrong at Newmarket in the Dewhurst. He came back lame but luckily it wasn’t serious.

“We got him right within a couple of weeks and touch wood he’s been 100 per cent since.

“We are here today and he’s fine. He’s in the French Guineas, which was always the plan.

“I was spooked by Newmarket and the Dewhurst. I don’t want to go back there until he’s a little older or a little more mature. I don’t want to go back there again, because he was lame and he didn’t go to the Craven.

“It will be French Guineas and then take it from there. I was so disappointed in the Dewhurst, because he was not the finished article. There was so much more to come.

“Mentally he’s always been a calm horse, but Newmarket was only his second run.

“He has won a Group Two on good to firm. He seems to go on everything.

“I think it was quite holding ground and difficult. Chaldean was very unfortunate, Nobody wants to see that happen to anyone.

“It is a shame for Andrew and Juddmonte and so on.”

River Tiber rockets to most impressive Navan win

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Aidan O’Brien’s River Tiber was introduced into the Coventry Stakes betting in the wake of a sparkling debut in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden at Navan.

The Wootton Bassett colt was expected to oblige and was sent off the 5-6 favourite, but even so connections will have been delighted with what they witnessed.

Ryan Moore waited until just over a furlong out before pressing the button and the result was impressive.

River Tiber – who cost 480,000 guineas – streaked to a 10-length victory over Zona Verde with Betfair going 8-1 for the Ascot contest.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “A lovely introduction, he was very impressive. His work has been strong at home and it is great he brought the same to the track.

“He’s a lovely horse and you love everything about him – athletic, physical and a good mind.

“He’s one that could go to the winners’ race in Naas or maybe something like the Marble Hill at the Curragh, and then hopefully on to Ascot. Something like the Coventry.

“He’s very exciting and another nice horse hopefully for Wootton Bassett.”

He went on: “It is unfortunate the rain coming today, but Navan is a lovely track to start them. Aidan has brought a lot of good horses here before – we start them here and they have always progressed plenty from it. It is a lovely track and always well presented.

“I suppose his class got him through (the ground), he travelled very strongly and when Ryan asked him to lengthen and pick up, the response was there immediately.

“He has plenty of class and is a lovely horse to look forward to. He has got plenty of speed and travels.”

Jessica Harrington enjoyed a Listed-race double, with Ocean Quest (10-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes and Village Voice (7-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.

Ocean Quest booked her ticket to the Commonwealth Cup
Ocean Quest booked her ticket to the Commonwealth Cup (PA)

Of Ocean Quest, Harrington’s daughter, Kate, said: “She was going to the Cheveley Park last year and pulled a muscle the week before, so we put her away for the rest of the season.

“We knew she was good last year – she won the first two-year-old race of the season and we bided our time with her and let her strengthen up.

“Her owners have been rewarded with waiting with her, I thought she looked a picture in the paddock beforehand.

“She’ll go to the Commonwealth Cup, that’s what mum said on the phone! Obviously, mum will have a chat with the owners and everything, but it looks like the likely aim at the moment.

“The form of her Ballyhane run (in third at Naas) is top-notch.”

It was not long before Village Song followed up, with Harrington adding: “I’d imagine we will go Ribblesdale now.

“It has been a good day and a great tonic for mum. I think it is the quote of the year – I rang her coming in here and she said ‘why are you ringing me? They are about to go into the stalls!’. I told her the race had finished and she obviously pressed pause and didn’t fast forward it again!

“I told her Village Voice won and Foniska was third and she said ‘oh, brilliant!’.”