Tag Archive for: The King

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.”

Circle Of Fire tests Derby credentials at Lingfield

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The King could yet have a Betfred Derby runner during his coronation year as Circle Of Fire attempts to book his ticket to Epsom in the Fitzdares Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes.

The late Queen famously had a Derby runner just days after her own coronation in 1953 when Aureole went down narrowly to Pinza in the Epsom showpiece and 70 years on, the quest to see the famous purple and red silks in the winner’s enclosure after the premier Classic continues.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Circle Of Fire impressed when breaking his maiden at Salisbury on his second start and again caught the eye on reappearance, finishing second in the Newmarket Stakes over 10 furlongs.

He is now stepped up to the Derby distance and is reported to have sharpened up from his Rowley Mile return ahead of this Listed event, which will be run on the all-weather for the first time since 2012 due to waterlogging on Lingfield’s turf course.

Ryan Moore will once again wear the King’s colours aboard Circle Of Fire
Ryan Moore will once again wear the King’s colours aboard Circle Of Fire (David Davies/PA)

“Sir Michael is very pleased with his progress from Newmarket and the extra two furlongs will certainly be to his benefit,” said John Warren, racing manager to the King and Queen.

“This race will give us a good steer as to where to go next.”

One horse that was due to appear in the same Newmarket contest as Circle Of Fire was Ed Walker’s Waipiro – who had won in commanding fashion at the track in his previous start.

However, he was withdrawn after rival Forca Timao kicked out on the way to the start leaving jockey Tom Marquand requiring stitches.

The son of Australia was none the worse for the incident, with the jockey bearing the brunt, and Walker has been quick to reroute his charge to a race in which he tasted success with English King in 2020.

“The plan was obviously to run at Newmarket, which I would have preferred to have done for obvious reasons – it probably wasn’t as strong a race and he was proven over the track and trip,” said Walker.

“The tight nature of this track I don’t think will suit many Derby type horses, but he’s a well-balanced horse and I would rather run on the all-weather than heavy ground.”

He went on: “You don’t tend to get too excited about the trials, because the nature of trials is you walk away most of the time with bubbles burst and going back to the drawing board. We don’t have a heap of mile-and-a-half horses to compare him to, so we need to compare them to other peoples. So we go there knowing as much as you do really.

“The horse is fine, the poor old jockey took the brunt of things last week. He seems really well and I think there is more to come from this horse and he will get better as the season goes on.

“After Saturday we will know which route we are going – hopefully we are going to Epsom, but if not then hopefully it is Royal Ascot. It’s a strong race but he has a good draw and fingers crossed for a big run.”

Charlie Appleby’s Adayar was second in this in 2021 before going on to triumph at Epsom and it is somewhat fitting his brother Military Order will continue his own charge towards the Derby here.

“Military Order goes into this on the back of a good win at Newbury,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told www.godolphin.com.

Military Order after shedding his maiden in style at Newmarket
Military Order after shedding his maiden in style at Newmarket (Adam Morgan/PA)

“We have no real concerns with the switch to the all-weather, while we feel stepping up to this trip will see further improvement. This is his next test that will hopefully propel him on to being a Derby candidate.”

William Haggas’ Laafi was a place behind Military Order when the pair met in a hot Newmarket maiden on debut before winning a Nottingham maiden named after Derby hero Golden Horn on his second start.

The Cloth Of Stars colt could possess plenty of untapped potential moving up in trip, while similar comment applies to the John and Thady Gosden-trained Inquiring Minds who bolted up at Newcastle on his racecourse bow earlier this month for owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer.

“I don’t see why he won’t run a nice race, but the opposition looks really strong. This will tell us what kind of standard he is,” said Oppenheimer.

The Kingman colt would have to be supplemented for the Derby if successfully navigating this trial, but does hold an entry for the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race Oppenheimer thinks could suit well.

He continued: “The King Edward is the sort of race one thinks he might enjoy. I would think he will be more suited to Ascot (than Epsom).

“I think he is quite useful, but I don’t think he’s number one in the stable, so I don’t think we can expect too much.”

Andrew Balding’s Ndaawi had his momentum checked in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud last October but had previously won at both Epsom and Goodwood and now makes his reappearance, while the eight-strong line-up is completed by the James Tate-trained pair of Regal Empire and Think First.

King’s Lynn just misses out on royal victory at Chester

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Nymphadora denied the King and Queen a first winner since their coronation as stablemate King’s Lynn had to make do with the runner-up spot in the CAA Stellar Handicap at Chester.

King’s Lynn has mixed at the very highest level in the sprinting division, last season winning the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock before contesting both the King’s Stand and the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Dropping back into a handicap for the first time in over two years, the six-year-old was a 5-2 favourite to carry the royal colours to victory on the Roodee under Ryan Moore, but he was ultimately unable to reel in his fellow Andrew Balding-trained runner Nymphadora.

The latter was a 3-1 shot to bounce back from a disappointing start to her campaign at Bath last month and did just that in the hands of Oisin Murphy, finding enough when challenged by King’s Lynn to prevail by a length.

Nymphadora after winning at Chester
Nymphadora after winning at Chester (Neil Morrice/PA)

Anna Lisa Balding, the trainer’s wife, said: “The lad who rides Nymphadora said she was in the form of her life, and there’s a fresh strip of ground which encouraged us she would handle it.

“John Warren (King and Queen’s racing manager) said Ryan would ride King’s Lynn and it was great to have Oisin, who is riding with such confidence. It’s good to have him back in the team.

“It didn’t happen for this filly at Bath but we put a line through it and started again. All being well she will go direct to Royal Ascot now.”

Balding and Murphy doubled up in the TMT Group Handicap with 9-4 favourite City Streak.

The four-year-old had been placed three times since his latest win at Wolverhampton in July, most recently finishing third on his first start of 2023 at Chelmsford.

In what was a rough race around Chester’s tight turns, City Streak moved up menacingly early in the straight and hung under pressure, but it was not enough to stop him winning by a neck from Dark Pine.

“Oisin is very aware that you can get buffeted around here – he rode a fine race,” said winning owner Lord Blyth.

“His dam is the same as Quickthorn and this horse has exactly the same rating Quickthorn did on this day last year.

“Quickthorn ran a good race in Dubai and goes for the Yorkshire Cup next week.”

Platinum Jubilee Stakes to be run in honour of the late Queen

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The Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot has been renamed in honour of the late Queen and will now be known as The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

The late Queen’s love of racing and passion for breeding was rewarded with Classic success in all of the major British races except the Derby, but it is the Royal meeting in June which she became synonymous with.

She entered with winner’s enclosure 24 times throughout her reign with her first winner Choir Boy in the 1953 Royal Hunt Cup and Tactical her final triumph in the Windsor Castle three years ago. However, the Berkshire venue was also the place of one of her finest hours as an owner when Estimate lifted the 2013 Gold Cup.

To honour the late Queen’s patronage and with the blessing of the King, Ascot have decided to change the name of Saturday’s six-furlong feature once again.

Sir Francis Brooke Bt., the King’s Representative at Ascot, said: “The late Queen’s close association with Ascot Racecourse was well known throughout the world, but no race at the Royal Meeting previously carried the name of Queen Elizabeth II.

“His Majesty the King has approved the renaming of the Platinum Jubilee Stakes to The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. This will both honour Her Late Majesty in perpetuity and maintain the connection with the three Jubilees celebrated since the inception of the race as the Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2002.”

Saga just fails in quest for coronation day victory

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Saga narrowly failed to give the King and Queen a winner on their coronation day after he was beaten in a photo at Newmarket.

Partnered by Frankie Dettori, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Saga was sent off an 8-1 shot for the Howden Suffolk Stakes.

He travelled well throughout the contest, but Dettori briefly struggled to find a clear passage when the race began in earnest and while Saga made up significant ground in the closing stages of the nine-furlong affair, King Of Conquest had already flown.

Saga was beaten a head at the line, with the four-year-old going down by the same distance when bidding to give the late Queen a final Royal Ascot win in the Britannia Stakes last term.

Dettori said: “Almost! He ran a super race, I couldn’t go when I wanted to and William (Buick) got a couple of lengths on me, but he ran a super race.

“Oh yes (it was a thrill to wear these colours). I watched the whole thing (coronation) this morning, it was pretty special wasn’t it? I know I’m old, but I’ve not seen one before!”

Gosden said: “He ran great. It wasn’t his fault, he didn’t get the gap in time. William (Buick) got first run (on King Of Conquest) and we had to wait to get through and then he ran out of real estate at the end, but he ran a super race.

“He was slightly unfortunate not to get there but it’s nobody’s fault, that’s racing. We’ll probably step up to a mile and a quarter and take it from there.”

The Richard Hughes-trained Candle Of Hope had earlier finished fourth in the same colours in the Listed William Hill Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.

Castle Way in front but Appleby has Ascot not Epsom in mind

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Castle Way got the Qipco Guineas meeting off to the perfect start for Charlie Appleby and William Buick with a dominant display in the Newmarket Stakes, in the process denying the King a winner.

Sent off the 7-1 apparent Appleby second-string with the James Doyle-ridden and eventual third Victory Dance the 7-2 favourite, Castle Way was handy throughout.

Buick kicked clear well over a furlong out and seemed to catch many of his rivals on the hop, with Victory Dance suddenly finding himself out of his ground.

Castle Way, a son of Almanzor, soon had the race won and it was left to Circle Of Fire, trained by Sir Michael Stoute in the royal colours on coronation weekend, to chase him home but he was beaten a length and three-quarters.

The race lost some of its interest before the start with Ed Walker’s Waipiro having to be withdrawn.

Just as the horses pulled up near the stalls, Forca Timao kicked out and caught Waipiro’s jockey Tom Marquand, who was deemed not fit enough to take the ride.

The winner was cut to 25-1 from 33s by Betfair for the St Leger.

Appleby said: “I don’t quite know why the market was the way it was, that’s not my business, but William has always loved Castle Way. He was sitting on the fence as to which horse he would like to ride, but he did say he’s always loved this horse and wanted to stick with him.

“I said to William before he went out to let him get on with it and use himself and he’ll stay further for sure.

“I’m very pleased with Victory Dance as well. It was his first time over that trip and on a more conventional track I think you’ll see further improvement.

“I would say Castle Way will go to Royal Ascot (King Edward VII Stakes). The only reason I didn’t put him into the Derby picture is because he went round Epsom as a two-year-old and got beat as a favourite. Admittedly the ground was soft, but Adam (Kirby) said he hated the track.

“He’s just one of those horses and a big unit. He’s tried and tested once on that track and I don’t really want to go back there again and potentially lose the horse.”

Circle Of Fire (red sleeves) was second for the King
Circle Of Fire (red sleeves) was second for the King (Tim Goode/PA)

The King and Queen Consort’s racing manager John Warren said of Circle Of Fire: “I simply have no idea whether the King would be able to watch this live, but the good thing is the King and the Queen Consort are loving their involvement with the horses, which is tremendous.

“No doubt they’ll be watching the video when they can cram it in and Circle Of Fire is a lovely horse in the making.

“I get feedback all the time of how important the royal patronage is to racing. The King takes it seriously and understands the bigger picture of everything he does.

“I don’t think the racing is just for him to enjoy his horses alone, I think knowing the effect the royal patronage has doesn’t get lost on the King or the Queen Consort.

“In racing we’re lucky enough to have two members of the royal family keen, so hopefully we can get lucky with a few horses for them to make it even more enjoyable.”

Although it is yet unknown where the withdrawn Waipiro will be rerouted to put his Epsom credentials to the test, Marquand will have to sit out of the weekend’s action due to the injuries he sustained in the pre-race incident.

He was due to partner Roger Varian’s Charyn in the Qipco 2000 Guineas and Hugo Palmer’s Stenton Glider in the Qipco 1000 Guineas, but revealed on twitter he will be on the sidelines for the next two days.

He said: “Absolutely gutted to be ruled out of this weekend’s Guineas meeting after being kicked in the arm while cantering down today.

“Thankfully my X-rays have come back clear and I’m now stitched back together after a fairly messy looking wound.”

Saga and Hope aiming to crown racing’s coronation celebrations

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Coronation fever heads to the racecourse on Saturday where only a few hours after the King is crowned in Westminster Abbey, two runners will attempt to carry his colours to a fitting success.

It had been hoped the King would have a runner in the 2000 Guineas in scenes reminiscent of 1953 when, just days after her coronation, the late Queen’s Aureole took part in the Derby at Epsom.

However, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Slipofthepen will instead be aimed at the French version of the one-mile Classic with hopes of a coronation winner resting on Clarehaven’s Saga in Newmarket’s Howden Suffolk Stakes and Richard Hughes’ Candle Of Hope, who will bid for Listed honours in the William Hill Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.

Candle Of Hope before the Denford Stakes at Newbury last year
Candle Of Hope before the Denford Stakes at Newbury last year (Steve Paston/PA)

The daughter of Cable Bay was beaten less than two lengths in her reappearance at Lingfield and John Warren, racing manager to the King and Queen, is hoping the stars will align and add to the coronation celebrations.

He said: “Candle Of Hope is a tough, genuine filly who will probably be at her best when the ground is quick.

“Their majesties will obviously be overwhelmed with events, but they are fully aware of what their horses are doing.

“All we can hope is that we get a little luck that could add to a wonderfully historic weekend.”

The King and the Queen Consort watch the action at Royal Ascot
The King and the Queen Consort watch the action at Royal Ascot (Aaron Chown/PA)

Saga, meanwhile, came close to providing the late Queen with a final Royal Ascot victory when beaten a head in the Britannia Stakes in the summer and will attempt to go one better when he reunites with Frankie Dettori for the competitive Rowley Mile handicap at 3.55pm.

“He went very close in the Britannia and has always been a horse with plenty of ability,” said Thady Gosden.

“Stepping up in trip on his last start of last year he ran well, he wasn’t beaten a long way and he seems to have done well over the winter.

“He’s been gelded since and it’s a fairly sharp one-mile-one at Newmarket. Obviously it is a very competitive field and there’s a couple of near enough Group horses in there, so we will have to see how he gets on.”

Waipiro seeking to book Derby ticket with Newmarket victory

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Ed Walker’s Waipiro will look to secure his Derby place on Friday, as he returns to the Rowley Mile for the Newmarket Stakes.

The three-year-old has an eyecatching pedigree as he is by Australia and out of London Plane, the same dam who produced the Hong Kong superstar Waikuku – three times a Group One winner at Sha Tin.

Waipiro, who runs in the same silks, made his debut in a Kempton novice in December and finished sixth of 13 runners from a wide draw.

He demonstrated considerable progression in his seasonal comeback at the Craven meeting a fortnight ago, cruising to an impressive win the bet365 British EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes.

Winning by three and a half lengths over 10 furlongs from Karl Burke’s Liberty Lane, the bay now returns to the same track for a course and distance repeat at Listed level.

Waipiro (second left) winning the bet365 British EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes
Waipiro (second left) winning the bet365 British EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes (Tim Good/PA)

“He came out of his win at the Craven meeting very well. I would have loved another week or so before going into a race like this in an ideal world, but there’s no reason not to run as he’s put the weight back on and he’s fresh and well,” Walker said.

“The reason for going here was that he handles the track and the trip won’t be an issue. We want to find out sooner or later if he is a horse who could be lining up at Epsom, so really he needs to be winning this in order to do so.

“I worry that Chester and Lingfield could be quite soft ground, but I think the ground will be perfect for him tomorrow. He’s not in the Dante so via a process of elimination we’ve ended up here, but it does seem like the right move given how well he won last time.

“It was very impressive, if you were trying to take the gloss off it you could say that the first two home sat first and second the whole way and nothing else had a chance to get into it. It wasn’t the most truly run of races, but he couldn’t have done it any better. I know Karl Burke thinks a lot of his horse, who was carrying a penalty.”

Waipiro holds an entry for the premier Classic and so this race represents a crucial test of his ability, one he must pass if he is to head to Epsom in June.

“I think it was, all in all, a good performance. He’s got to take another step forwards, he took a big step forwards from his debut and he’s got to take another tomorrow,” Walker said.

“We think he’s nice and we left him in the Derby for a reason, so let’s hope he can justify that decision.”

The King and Queen Consort have a runner in Sir Michael Stoute’s Circle Of Fire, an impressive three-and-a-quarter-length victor in a Salisbury novice at the back end of last season.

John Warren, racing manager to the royals, said of the homebred Almanzor colt: “Circle Of Fire has been pleasing Sir Michael in his work and Ryan (Moore) has been complimentary having sat on him a few times.

“This is his first test in stakes company so it is going to be very interesting to see what level he is up to.”

Ralph Beckett’s Salt Bay heads the market, and was a winner on debut at Haydock in September and then a Group One third when contesting the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud the following month.

He will be joined by the Godolphin duo of Castle Way and Victory Dance – both trained by Charlie Appleby.

Castle Way was triumphant last time out in a nursery handicap, whereas Victory Dance is a Listed winner who signed off last season with a third-placed effort behind Nostrum in the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes.

Victory Dance at Newbury
Victory Dance at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)

“Castle Way brings good course experience, having ended his campaign with a nice win on the Rowley Mile, and goes into the race in good order,” Appleby said via the Godolpin website.

“The trip is not a concern at all and we will potentially be stepping up further in distance after this.

“Victory Dance showed a high level of form as a two-year-old. This is a big step up from seven to 10 furlongs but it is something that we feel he will appreciate based on his work at home. He could be an interesting horse over this distance.”

James Ferguson is represented by Farhh colt Like A Tiger and Andrew Balding’s Relentless Voyager and Richard Hannon’s Forca Timao complete the field.

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.”

Steal A March books Festival ticket for the King

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Steal A March could be a Cheltenham Festival runner for the King after triumphing in a Pertemps qualifier at Wincanton on Boxing Day.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, Steal A March ran out a three-quarter-length winner of the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle – providing His Majesty with a first National Hunt winner in the famous royal silks.

Steal A March also has the distinction of having struck gold for the late Queen on her Platinum Jubilee weekend back in June, when he secured a popular success at Worcester.

Henderson is now looking towards the Pertemps Final at the Festival in March, with the Seven Barrows handler hoping the Queen Consort will be in attendance at Prestbury Park in March.

Nicky Henderson and the Queen Consort at Cheltenham in 2017
Nicky Henderson and the Queen Consort at Cheltenham in 2017 (Andrew Matthews/PA)

He said: “It was (quite momentous having a first jumps winner for the King) and it gave us a lot of pleasure. Amazingly he wasn’t quite the last of the Queen’s winners but he won at Worcester on Derby Day which was Platinum Jubilee weekend.

“Everyone was trying to get a winner for the Queen that weekend but good old Steal A March jumped up, although he wasn’t the most obvious one.

“I thought we ought to try to make sure we have a runner at the Festival and that was a Pertemps qualifier – I said whatever you do, get qualified. He got the job done really well and the plan would be to go straight there.

“I spoke to the Queen Consort on Tuesday morning. It was great and it is nice to get going. Hopefully she will be able to come to Cheltenham.”