Tag Archive for: Ed Crisford

Crisfords hoping West can be best at Newmarket

/in /by

The progressive West Wind Blows will take on a quartet of rivals in the Jockey Club Stakes, with Ed Crisford mindful he needs to settle to show his best at Newmarket on Friday.

The four-year-old takes on the might of triple Group One winner Hurricane Lane and Godolphin’s second string, recent Meydan Group Two scorer Global Storm, in the 10-furlong contest.

Yet Crisford, who trains in partnership with his father Simon, is confident this outing will bring on West Wind Blows for what promises to be a “fun” summer campaign for the Abdulla Al Mansoori-owned Teofilo colt.

“He ran in the Derby then won a Listed race at Hamilton and won well. It all went wrong a little bit at Goodwood in the Gordon Stakes, but then he did progress,” said Crisford.

Dropped back to 10 furlongs in the Prix du Prince d’Orange at ParisLongchamp in September, he gained the third success in his six-race career before finding a couple of talented rivals too good in the Prix Dollar over the same course and distance in very soft ground a month later.

Crisford added: “He settled a lot better and won well in Paris when he won the Group Three, and then stepped up again on ground that wouldn’t suit him as much as a sounder surface and he got beaten again by two very good horses that day – Owen Burrows’ horse Anmaat and Andre Fabre’s Junko.”

West Wind Blows holds entries that include both the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he is versatile over 10 furlongs and is not ground dependent.

“We always thought that a mile and a half, if he could settle, would be a good trip for him,” said Crisford.

“He seems to have grown up with racing last year and through the winter this year.

“He has strengthened nicely into his four-year-old year. The Jockey Club is close to home and it is a small field, although very competitive, but it just seems a nice starting point for him.

“I think he is quite versatile in regards to ground, although I do think a sound surface would be better. He is a good-moving horse, but if he can settle, I think he can be a lot of fun for us over the summer.

“I think we will just have to see how he gets on before we make any decisions. It is his first run of the year and we have to take it from there.”

Charlie Appleby has two runners in the blue silks of Godolphin, with both Global Storm and Hurricane Lane lining up.

Hurricane Lane winning the St Leger
Hurricane Lane winning the St Leger (Mike Egerton/PA)

The latter horse is a three-time Group One winner with an Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger under his belt, but he has not been successful since Doncaster in 2021 and was last of seven when last seen in the John Porter.

“Hurricane Lane was disappointing at Newbury. The ground was very testing that day and he was racing on the back of a long layoff,” the trainer told www.godolphin.com

“William (Buick) felt that he got very tired in the last couple of furlongs. From what we have seen at home, he has come out of the race very well.

“We have applied the cheekpieces to hopefully encourage some more enthusiasm.”

Of his other runner he added: “Global Storm is a good, solid horse and has proven in the past that he can be competitive in this calibre of race.”

Archie Watson’s internationally-campaigned Outbox is set to contest the race after finishing third in it last season, with Rae Guest’s Jewel In My Crown completing the field of five.

Algiers to enjoy well-deserved holiday, with long-term Breeders’ Cup aim

/in /by

Algiers will be held back for an autumn campaign and could be pointed towards the Breeders’ Cup following Saturday’s fine runner-up effort in the Dubai World Cup.

The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Sharmardal gelding had finished second to Missed The Cut in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Lingfield in November, before winning two Grade Two races over a mile and an extended nine furlongs at Meydan.

Back to a mile-and-a-quarter in the $12million Dubai World Cup, he was running the race of his life under big-race jockey James Doyle, who looked to have his rivals beaten turning in.

However, the 11-4 chance was run down in the final furlong by Ushba Tesoro and just held on for second from Emblem Road.

“He ran his heart out and did us all proud,” said Ed Crisford. “It was a great performance from him and he proved himself among the top dirt horses in the world.

“They just went so quick up front – they were going some serious fractions, and that set it up for the deep closers, but all credit to him to keep going.”

Having tracked Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa and outsiders Remorse and Bendoog, who had set a searching gallop, Doyle set sail for home from the final turn.

After burning them off, Algiers led a furlong and a half out, only for Yuga Kawada aboard the Noboru Tagaki-trained Japanese raider fly past in the final 110 yards.

“All the horses around him stopped fairly quickly,” added Crisford. “I think coming into the straight, we all thought he’d won, but that last furlong was excruciating.

“It wasn’t to be, but he did us all proud. It is great for the team at home. It’s not so bittersweet. If someone had said to me in December, when he had got beaten in a Listed race at Lingfield that he would finish second in a World Cup, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“He has come a long way and he will go on a holiday now.”

The Hamdan Sultan Ali Alsabousi-owned six-year-old has now won just short of £2.5m in prize-money in his 21-race career.

Though winning four of his 14 starts on turf, he has only once finished out of the first two in all seven on artificial surfaces, including three wins, and connections are keen for him to ply his trade in that sphere from now on.

“I don’t think we’ll see him on turf again and I don’t think we will see him until the end of summer at some stage,” added Crisford.

“Obviously it is early days, and we are long way from it, but you’ve got to be potentially thinking of something like a Breeders’ Cup.”

Jadoomi could make his seasonal return at Newbury
Jadoomi could make his seasonal return at Newbury (Donall Farmer/PA)

Meanwhile, the stable’s dual Group Two-winning miler Jadoomi could bid for success at the top level this term.

Having taken Goodwood’s Celebration Mile, Jadoomi followed up in the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

He was last seen when beaten a length and a half by Bayside Boy in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot in October.

Crisford said: “Jadoomi is good. He is coming along. His first target would be the Lockinge at Newbury, depending on ground.

“He’s doing nicely and hopefully by mid-May he’ll be ready to go.”

Algiers win would set World in motion in for Crisfords

/in /by

Algiers bids to cap a fantastic winter campaign at Meydan by providing Ed and Simon Crisford with a dream success in the Dubai World Cup on Saturday.

It is three years since Ed teamed up with father Simon to become Britain’s first officially licensed training partnership.

Together the pair have already enjoyed notable highs with the likes of Century Dream, Jadoomi and Without A Fight – but victory for Algiers in this weekend’s $12million showpiece would be by far and away their biggest to date.

Ed (left) and Simon Crisford at Epsom
Ed (left) and Simon Crisford at Epsom (John Walton/PA)

“Just to have a runner in race like this is so difficult, so to have a proper live contender with a good chance is fantastic,” said Ed Crisford.

“If we can run well or go and win this race it would be a dream come true, but I think we’ll have to let the horse do the talking now. We can’t do much more, so let’s see what happens.”

Algiers has established himself as a major contender by winning the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge on the Meydan dirt by six and six and a half lengths respectively.

Connections had the option of taking in round three on ‘Super Saturday’, while a tilt at the Saudi Cup was also mooted, but the Crisfords elected to keep their powder dry for the World Cup.

“We’re very pleased with Algiers – his preparation has been great,” Crisford added.

“At the moment we’re happy we decided against running in round three. You’ve got to take these races very seriously and if round three had taken even just one or two per cent away from him running to his full potential in the World Cup, we wouldn’t forgive ourselves.

“He’s fresh and well. He’s had seven weeks between round two and the World Cup, he’s done extremely well for it and we couldn’t be happier going into this race.”

While pleased with his stable star’s condition, Crisford is under no illusions about the task in hand.

Chief among his rivals is last year’s winner Country Grammer, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and returns to defend his crown off the back of a second successive narrow defeat in the Saudi Cup.

This year Bob Baffert’s charge was narrowly beaten in Riyadh by Panthalassa, who is again in opposition and heads a formidable Japanese challenge.

Crisford – whose father played an instrumental role in the inauguration of Dubai World Cup night during his time working for Sheikh Mohammed – said: “It’s a very solid race and you have top-class horses from around the world. You have last year’s winner, the Saudi Cup first and second, the Saudi Cup winner from two years ago (Emblem Road) and some proper dirt horses from Japan.

“It is a very deep field, but we’re right up there on ratings and the way he’s been winning, albeit against local horses, has been very impressive.

“He’s drawn in stall 13, but the first three in the betting are very wide in 13, 14 (Country Grammer) and 15 (Panthalassa), so there should be a lot of pace outside.

“Our horse has won twice on the track, so we know he goes on that dirt and that counts for a lot.”

‘All systems go’ for Algiers and Dubai World Cup bid

/in /by

Ed Crisford has given the go-ahead to a Dubai World Cup bid for Algiers following his back-to-back victories at Meydan.

Narrowly beaten by George Boughey’s Missed The Cut in the Churchill Stakes at Lingfield in November, Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge has since made a huge impression in two starts on dirt in Dubai – winning the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge in dominant style.

Connections had the option of taking in the Saudi Cup on Saturday week, while round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Super Saturday at Meydan on March 4 is an obvious stepping-stone to World Cup night.

However, Ed Crisford confirmed the six-year-old will instead head straight for the Dubai showpiece on March 25.

“He won round two very well and the step up in trip on the dirt was no problem, so it’s all systems go for the World Cup,” he said.

“We took him out of the Saudi Cup as we just felt we’d be better off staying in Dubai and aiming at the big one on World Cup night.

“Round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge is on Super Saturday, but I’d say we’ll swerve that and go straight to the World Cup. He’s had two quite good runs in quick succession, so we can freshen him up and ready him for the big night.”

Crisford expects to have a clearer idea of what Algiers will be up against at Meydan after the Saudi Cup is run in Riyadh.

He added: “I think we’ll find a lot out next weekend in Saudi in terms of what horses are coming. The Japanese and the Americans have some seriously good dirt horses and I think it’ll all come to light after Saudi.

“The World Cup will be a big step up for our horse, but he’s the best horse in the UAE at the moment on the dirt and it’s hugely exciting.”

Crisford added that James Doyle, on board Algiers the last twice, will keep the ride.

Al Agaila on hat-trick trail in Winter Oaks feature

/in /by

Al Agaila bids to complete her hat-trick in the talkSPORT Winter Oaks at Lingfield on Saturday.

Following three placed efforts last summer, Simon and Ed Crisford’s filly bolted up when opening her account at Kempton last month before following up in similarly impressive style in the Winter Oaks Trial over this course and distance just before Christmas.

An 11lb hike makes life significantly tougher, but a bold bid can nevertheless be expected in the £100,000 all-weather feature of Lingfield’s Winter Million Festival.

“She went up 11lb for her win last time out, when she won very impressively. She’s an improving filly, but 11lb is a big hike,” said Ed Crisford.

“She has a good draw (stall two). It’s a big step up, but if she can carry the 11lb extra then I’m sure she’s capable of better things.

“She’s potentially an exciting filly.”

The Harry Eustace-trained Makinmedoit was beaten two and a half lengths into second place by Al Agaila little over four weeks ago and does have a significant pull at the weights.

“Makinmedoit has been a star really and just keeps on improving,” said Eustace.

Makinmedoit (red cap) chases home Al Agaila at Lingfield
Makinmedoit (red cap) chases home Al Agaila at Lingfield (Zac Goodwin/PA)

“We’re 10lb better at the weights with the Crisford horse, which probably won’t be enough, but we came from a long way back that day and there’s less runners this time round, which is extraordinary given the prize-money.

“If we could just sit a bit closer, you never know.”

Eustace has a second string to his bow in At A Pinch, who has not run on the Flat since 2021 but is fit from a recent spell over obstacles.

Eustace added: “With At A Pinch, the money was just too good not to roll the dice with her. She was bought to be a hurdler, but she’s got Flat form and there’s no reason why she can’t run a race.

“I was actually looking at the prize-money for Cheltenham the other day and if she was the very best hurdler we had going there, she’d be running for £125,000 added prize-money and she can run for £100,000 added in an eight-runner fillies’ handicap, so we’ll just see how we go.

“It’s extraordinary there’s less runners this time round than for the trial race a month ago. Everyone moans about prize-money, they put it on and no one goes for it, but there we are.”

Another trainer firing a twin assault is Charlie Fellowes, with top-weight Purple Ribbon joined by stablemate Tequilamockingbird.

Purple Ribbon steps back into a fillies’ handicap after finishing second to the highly-rated Belloccio in the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton in November, while Tequilamockingbird was only a short head behind Makinmedoit when third in the Winter Oaks Trial.

“Purple Ribbon is a very lightly-raced filly, but she’s very consistent. Barring an unfortunate run around Lingfield, she’s not finished out of the first two,” said Fellowes.

“She ran a blinder last time out in a pretty competitive Listed race. She’s got the class in the race, but she has to give weight away to everyone, which will be tough.

“But she’s a pretty good filly and I’ve got no concerns about the drop back to 10 furlong as she’s got plenty of speed, so I’m looking forward to seeing her run.

“Tequilamockingbird is a model of consistency and has a very good record around Lingfield – 10 furlongs around there is literally perfect for her.

“She was a bit unlucky last time out when they went absolutely no gallop and off a stronger pace, she goes in there with a nice each-way squeak.”

Charlie Fellowes is delighted with the prize-money on offer at Lingfield
Charlie Fellowes is delighted with the prize-money on offer at Lingfield (Mike Egerton/PA)

Fellowes was keen to give praise to Lingfield’s owners Arena Racing Company for putting on such huge prize-money at a time when owners are struggling to resist huge offers from abroad.

He added: “You’ve got to give all credit to ARC. It’s prize-money like this that will encourage people to keep horses in training and Tequilamockingbird is a perfect example of that, as she was due to be sold at the mares sale last year and I managed to persuade the owners to remove her from the sale and keep her in training over the winter for a crack at this.

“That is what everyone wants – to see horses kept in training in Britain. We have a fantastic industry and it’s frustrating for a lot of people that the cream of our horses tend to get sold abroad.

“The more of this (prize-money) we can get, the more we can keep horses in training and rebuff these ridiculous offers we’re getting from abroad.

“It’s all down to prize-money and the more money we can offer, the more we can attract our owners to keep horses here and the stronger our industry will be.”

Generation triumphs as racegoers make brief return at Doncaster

/in /by

Latest Generation won the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Doncaster – the first race run in front of a paying crowd in Britain in almost six months.

Racing went behind closed doors from March 16 due to the outbreak of coronavirus – and just two days later the sport was cancelled entirely, ultimately not restarting until June 1.

Participation was initially restricted to essential staff – and while owners were allowed to return from July 4, hopes to stage a pilot event in front of a crowd of 5,000 at Goodwood on August 1 were scrapped at the 11th hour following a change to Government regulations.

Racegoers place bets at Doncaster
Racegoers place bets at Doncaster (David Davies/PA)

It has taken another six weeks for a renewed pilot to test out the return of spectators – and an estimated crowd of 2,500 spectators was expected on Town Moor for the opening afternoon of the St Leger Festival.

That figure was due to rise to around 6,000 for the Pertemps St Leger on Saturday.

However, it was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon racing will go back behind closed doors for the rest of the meeting after Doncaster Council called a halt to the pilot in light of an imminent change in Government policy, which restricts social gatherings to six from a maximum of 30 people.

Having finished a promising third on his racecourse debut at Sandown last month, Latest Generation was the 8-11 for the curtain-raiser under William Buick and was prominent from the off.

Newcomer Stay Well came with a late run and shaped with plenty of promise, but Simon and Ed Crisford’s market leader always had matters in hand and passed the post a length and a half to the good.

Buick said: “He was in front, but we went fractions to suit him, so I’m not sure how hard it was for him.

“At the end of the day he’d only had one run and was in front a long way there, but he’s done it well.

“He’ll be a nice horse for next year. I don’t think you could ask any more from him.”

Tarboosh (centre) on his way to winning at Doncaster
Tarboosh (centre) on his way to winning at Doncaster (David Davies/PA)

The Paul Midgley-trained Tarboosh claimed Listed honours with victory in the bet365 Scarbrough Stakes.

Ridden by Kevin Stott, the 8-1 shot finished with a flourish to get the better of Johnny Murtagh’s Irish challenger Urban Beat and Frankie Dettori by a length and a quarter, with 5-2 favourite Dakota Gold a neck further back in third.

Midgley said: “He was good today and when he’s good, he’s very good. He ran a good race at York, I’m just not sure what happened at Beverley last time – it just didn’t happen. We started to think he could be better on flat tracks.

“There’s a Group Three for him at Newbury on Ayr Gold Cup day and that is highly likely, I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to win a Listed race with him.

“He deserves a chance at a big one. I didn’t put him in the Abbaye with all the travel problems, but we said if we were lucky enough we could always supplement him, so that is an an option.”

The Yorkshire-based trainer admitted to being disappointed on hearing the news there will be no crowds on track for the rest of the week.

He added: “It all seemed really good, having a few people back in and for the first few races we had a little bit of atmosphere back, which was excellent.

“To hear they won’t be back tomorrow is a shame. It’s trying times for everyone I’m afraid, we’ve got to just do what is right and do the best we can.”

There was a thrilling climax to the bet365 Nursery Handicap, with Terry Kent’s recent York scorer Ataser justifying 100-30 favouritism under Ray Dawson with a head verdict over Party Game.

Jedd O’Keeffe ran two in the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap and it was bottom-weight Strait Of Hormuz under Andrea Atzeni who came out on top.

Strait Of Hormuz swoops late under Andrea Atzeni
Strait Of Hormuz swoops late under Andrea Atzeni (David Davies/PA)

“He’s doing really and what is crucial to him is a strong pace, you’ll see the best of him when he gets it,” said O’Keeffe.

“He wouldn’t get in the Cambridgeshire this year so we might have to give it some serious thought for next year.”

He added on the crowd situation: “I feel really sorry for Doncaster when you look around and see the effort that has been made with the marquees on both sides of the track. I’m sure lots of people have made a huge amount of effort, not just the racecourse itself, but we’ve got to protect the people.”

The closing Parkes Bros Roofing Contractors Handicap went to Sound Of Iona who beat her Jim Goldie-trained stablemate Primo’s Comet.