Tag Archive for: Slipofthepen

Slipofthepen loses unbeaten record at Sandown

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Slipofthepen had to settle for third, as Captain Winters was given a superb, enterprising ride by Neil Callan to cause an upset in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown.

Royal runner Slipofthepen – who came into the race unbeaten after landing two all-weather mile races at Kempton – was sent off the 4-9 favourite under James Doyle to win for the King and Queen.

However, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Night Of Thunder colt was a stride or two slow from the stalls and was still last of the quartet turning for home.

Slipofthepen and James Doyle after finishing third at Sandown
Slipofthepen and James Doyle after finishing third at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

Though he appeared to travel well as the keen Grey’s Monument set the pace, Slipofthepen did not pick up as expected.

Callan stole a march on the Kevin Ryan-trained 12-1 outsider approaching two furlongs out and with Finn’s Charm – who had beaten him 10 lengths at Musselburgh – folding quickly, it was left to the long-time leader to keep up the challenge.

Though Captain Winters tired near the line, he just had enough to score by a fast-diminishing nose.

Gosden senior pointed towards the ground playing its part in Slipofthepen’s reverse.

“He just found the ground a little tacky. He is a horse that loves top of the ground,” he said.

“He just laboured in the ground and he didn’t have his usual zip. But you are coming from the all-weather to his first race on turf which is a big difference.

“It is a good stiff track Sandown and he didn’t float off the ground. He was a little bit keen, but I’m not blaming that. The ground was just a little bit tacky for him.

“We will see how he is when he gets home then make plans.”

Of the winner, Ryan said: “I’m delighted with him. Off his rating he did have a bit of work to do, but we thought a lot of him last year.

“He is from a family that generally improves with age. You could put a line through his run last time at Musselburgh as I just thought the track didn’t suit him.

“I think he is a horse that just saves a bit for himself, but if you think you have a good horse it is worth pitching them in to good races.

“I don’t go into races like this to make up the numbers. If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong.

“We will have a chat with Sheikh (Mohammed) Obaid (Al Maktoum) over the next few days and see what to do.

“There could be options to go over to France with him, while we will also see what options there are at home. It is nice to have opportunities to make such plans.”

Slipofthepen can write his ticket to Ascot with Sandown victory

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Slipofthepen will bid to punch his ticket to Royal Ascot when he takes on three rivals in the Heron Stakes at Sandown on Tuesday evening.

The unbeaten colt, who is owned by the King and Queen, is a general 16-1 chance for the Betfred Derby a fortnight on Saturday.

However, it seems likely that Slipofthepen, who will be ridden by James Doyle, will bypass the Epsom Classic and head to the Royal meeting, where he holds an entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Slipofthepen after winning at Kempton
Slipofthepen after winning at Kempton (Jockey Club)

The son of Night Of Thunder won a novice race over a mile on debut at Kempton in November.

He returned to the same all-weather course and distance to score with some ease in a conditions event last month, yet Sunday’s Poule d’Essai des Poulins at ParisLongchamp came a little too quickly.

The King’s racing manager, John Warren, said: “We were disappointed not to get Slipofthepen to the French 2000 Guineas, but the ground was too heavy for such a good-moving colt.

“We are hoping for a good showing so that we can find out where he sits to be aimed at Royal Ascot.

“John Gosden thinks he is a pretty smart colt, so we are treating him with plenty of respect.”

Slipofthepen has a little to find on ratings with the Ralph Beckett-trained Grey’s Monument, who won twice last season as a juvenile and signed off with a runner-up finish in the Group Two Horris Hill at Newbury.

He tackles a mile for only the second time in eight starts, having opened his Classic campaign with a 19-length defeat by subsequent French Guineas runner-up Isaac Shelby in the Greenham back at the Berkshire track.

Beckett said: “The track and ground should suit him. He’s in great shape and he’s come on for his seasonal debut and we’re looking forward to seeing him on a round track.

Ralph Beckett feels Grey's Monument will improve for his recent Newbury run
Ralph Beckett feels Grey’s Monument will improve for his recent Newbury run (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I don’t think he got bogged down in the mud (in the Greenham). I just think he needed it.

“It will be only his second run over a mile, but arguably it was his best run at York when he won over this trip, so we’re looking forward to it.”

The Charlie Johnston-trained Finn’s Charm, who won a decent mile handicap at Musselburgh on his return, and Captain Winters, who was 10 lengths behind him on his seasonal bow, complete the field for the Listed contest.

No Coronation Classic bid for Slipofthepen

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Slipofthepen could be rerouted to the French 2000 Guineas after connections decided against a bid for Classic glory at Newmarket this weekend.

Two impressive all-weather wins at Kempton from John and Thady Gosden’s promising colt raised the exciting prospect that the three-year-old could give the King and the Queen Consort a runner in the Qipco 2000 Guineas on the ruling monarch’s Coronation Day.

Slipofthepen enjoyed a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile last week, but was not left in the first Classic of the season at Monday’s confirmation stage, with the team opting for a more patient approach.

Slipofthepen galloping at Newmarket
Slipofthepen galloping at Newmarket (The Jockey Club/John Hoy/Megan Ridgwell)

Speaking on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast, the King’s racing manager John Warren said: “I think we were all hoping for that to be the case (that Slipofthepen would run in the 2000 Guineas), especially because it would have been both the King and the Queen Consort’s first Classic runner.

“But I think once we pieced all the jigsaw together and really analysed his prospects, I think we thought it’s come a little bit too soon. He’s an inexperienced horse who is only just learning how to use his legs as fast as he needs to.

“He’s won two races on the all-weather impressively and John Gosden thinks he’s up to becoming a high-class performer, (but) when we added it all together we felt it would be kinder to the horse to give him a little bit more experience.”

Slipofthepen could run at Royal Ascot for owner King Charles III
Slipofthepen could run at Royal Ascot for owner King Charles III (Molly Darlington/PA)

Whether Slipofthepen heads for ParisLongchamp or not, his main target is to run in front of his owners at Royal Ascot next month.

Warren added: “He’ll do some important racecourse gallops and because he’s held in high regard, there’s a possibility that we will not discount looking at the French Guineas.

“It’s early days to be firm on the plan, but here we are two weeks out from that and that’s what we’re looking at, and if we don’t make it there is the Heron Stakes at Sandown a few days later with the objective that all roads lead to Ascot, which would be great.

“We’re hoping the King and the Queen Consort will be able to attend racing that week, so it would be tremendous to give them a few runners.”

Slipofthepen still in Guineas frame following Newmarket workout

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Slipofthepen could yet give King Charles III a Classic runner on his Coronation Day after warming up for a possible Qipco 2000 Guineas bid with a racecourse gallop at Newmarket.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is a son of Night Of Thunder, who won the 2000 Guineas in 2014 for Richard Hannon, and has been visually impressive in winning each of his two starts to date.

The three-year-old enjoyed a leg stretch on the Rowley Mile on Thursday and retains the option of returning to the track on Saturday week, where he would carry the royal colours of the King and the Queen Consort just hours after His Majesty is officially crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Speaking after Slipofthepen’s morning gallop, John Gosden said: “He worked well and we’ll obviously make our decision over the next few days.”

Slipofthepen and James Doyle at Newmarket
Slipofthepen and James Doyle at Newmarket (Jockey Club/John Hoy/Megan Ridgwell/PA)

Slipofthepen is a best priced 20-1 to strike gold in the 2000 Guineas, a race the late Queen Elizabeth II won in 1958 with Pall Mall.

James Doyle has partnered Slipofthepen to his two Kempton triumphs and was also on board for his Thursday morning spin – and with stable jockey Frankie Dettori seemingly set to partner Chaldean in the Guineas, Godolphin-retained rider Doyle could again come in for the mount, subject to his availability.

“It depends. Frankie at the moment obviously has Chaldean, the Dewhurst winner, so we’ll just have to see,” Gosden added.

“Depending on what else runs, James may well be available. There are decisions to be made.”

Slipofthepen team in no rush to make Classic call

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Whether Slipofthepen bids for Classic glory in the colours of the King and Queen Consort on Coronation day has still to be decided.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is as low as 12-1 in places for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, which takes place on May 6, the same day as King Charles’ Coronation to the throne.

Slipofthepen was bred by the Queen, who died in September, and is from the eighth generation of a family bred by the royal stud.

A debut winner by over five lengths at Kempton in November, he returned to the Sunbury venue to defy a penalty earlier this month.

In the aftermath of his recent victory, John Gosden mooted the St James’s Palace Stakes as a potential target.

“There are no exact plans at the moment,” said Gosden snr.

“There are two or three routes we could go but we are just going to sit on it until next week and then make decisions.”

Slipofthepen emerges as potential Classic horse for the King

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The King may have a Classic contender on his hands in the John and Thady Gosden-trained Slipofthepen, who overcame trouble in running and a shade of immaturity to land a taking success at Kempton.

Bred by the late Queen, the Night Of Thunder colt followed up his cosy mile debut victory in November with another eyecatching display over course and distance in the Join Racing TV Now Conditions Stakes.

Trapped in last place turning for home, jockey James Doyle had to remain patient aboard the flashy chestnut with four white socks – who also runs in the name of the Queen Consort – before producing the 8-11 favourite approaching two furlongs from home.

And once he did, Slipofthepen cruised past his four rivals on the bridle, his long stride putting a length and a quarter between him and Ensued at the line.

Thady Gosden said: “It was a very pleasing run. He did it nicely and stretched out well on the bridle. It worked out well.

“Obviously there is a very strong headwind today, which makes it harder for them to quicken up and they are not finishing as they normally would.

“He got lit up, but then relaxed well. He did well and seemed well after the race. He has a lot of class about him.”

James Doyle returns aboard Slipofthepen
James Doyle returns aboard Slipofthepen (Jockey Club)

Coral cut Slipofthepen to 16-1 for the Derby and the 2000 Guineas – which takes place on the weekend of the King’s coronation – and asked if he was a potential Classic prospect, Gosden added: “We will see how he comes out of the race, but it is possible he will be going in that direction.

“He looks a miler and we think something like the St James’s Palace Stakes might be the race for him further down the line. As for a Classic trial, we will see.”

Gosden senior said: “This horse I think is a miler. He feels and trains like a miler. He has a high cruising speed and a good turn of foot. Whether he goes to a Guineas it is a little bit premature to be talking about that.

The late Queen with John Gosden and Frankie Dettori at Royal Ascot
The late Queen with John Gosden and Frankie Dettori at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“For a Guineas you need a bundle of experience and he has gained some today. We will just see how he is the next 10 days and make some decisions.”

“That (St James’s Palace) is a race I very much have in mind for him. Either you decide you want to go for the Guineas, or the Heron Stakes and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

“Those are the two routes and I’ve had lot of good luck winning the St James’s Palace going from the Heron. Everything is open for discussion and the horse will tell us how he is over the next few days and we can make our mind up from there.”

Running Lion had earlier made it three wins from three on all-weather surfaces when comfortably taking the Racing TV Fillies’ Conditions Stakes, sparking a double for the co-trainers.

The daughter of four-time Grade One winner Roaring Lion, who was likewise trained by the Gosdens, had been beaten on her seven-furlong turf debut in July, yet had subsequently won twice with ease over a mile in novice events once switched to the all-weather, and duly made it a hat-trick on her three-year-old debut.

The 6-4 favourite, ridden by Oisin Murphy, tracked the early pace set by Rainbow Sky and Ellexis and once making her challenge at the cut-away, she was always holding the late challenge from Dancing Goddess to score by a length.

Running Lion was cut to 16-1 (from 20-1) for the 1000 Guineas by Paddy Power, who also clipped her to 33s (from 100-1) for the Oaks.

Thady Gosden said: “That was good for her first start of the season. Obviously she won a decent enough race before.

“It was a lovely run. She tries hard and is a tough filly.

“She has got the speed for the mile, but obviously Roaring Lion won over a mile and a quarter, so we’d like to think this filly will stay that sort of trip in the future.”

Action Point produced a similarly impressive winning debut for trainer Archie Watson in the five-furlong Racing TV/EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.

Hollie Doyle’s mount broke smartly and the 11-10 favourite showed a neat turn of foot to put the race to bed, holding off the persistent challenge of fellow newcomer Ponga and a late thrust from eyecatcher Anfaal, was also making her debut.

The length-and-a-quarter victory was a first for sire Blue Point, a four-time Group One-winning sprinter for Charlie Appleby.

Max Mayhem (15-2) overcame a wide draw to land a competitive renewal of the Racing TV-sponsored Rosebery Handicap under in-form 3lb claimer Benoit De La Sayette.

The Kevin Philippart De Foy-trained five-year-old, who was sold out of Joseph O’Brien’s yard for 42,000 guineas in October, was having his first start for connections.

He showed plenty of grit to down HMS President by half a length, with Jewel In My Crown coming from an almost impossible position to grab third in a bunch finish for the minor honours.