York Thursday
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2)
OTHERS came with bigger reputations, but it was Item (Andrew Balding/Colin Keane) who emerged triumphant in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York on Thursday to lay down his claim for Epsom glory.
Sent off at 11/2 behind Ballydoyle favourite Christmas Day, the Juddmonte-owned son of Frankel won both his starts in minor company at two but was showing much improved form to run down longtime leader Action (Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan) to win by two and three-quarter lengths, looking sure to relish the Derby trip.
Christmas Day (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) ran on for third, four and a half lengths off the winner, and looking as if in need of a stiffer test.
Action, who showed an awkward head carriage in the Bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown, looked more straightforward despite again carrying his head slightly high and briefly looked as though he would put his rivals to the sword when quickening again early in the straight, but Keane always looked confident on the winner, who impressed with his powerful finish and looks a horse that can take high order among the three-year-olds this summer. The Frankel colt was subsequently slashed into 6/1 by the sponsors for the Betfred Derby next month.
Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said: “That was only his third lifetime start and his first this year. He does his work nicely at home, but he’s not flashy and we were a little unsure where we were, but that was a good performance.
“We’ve won a trial so the obvious place to go is the Derby. Juddmonte buy and breed these horses to compete at the top table in the best races, and the Epsom Derby is still one of the best races in the world. Colin said he felt like a horse who would get further so we’ll talk to the owners, but hopefully they’ll want to go to Epsom.”
SEE The Fire (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) was sent off a 5/6 chance to make it back-to-back wins in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes having swept to a twelve-length success in the race last year, and with a win in the Nottinghamshire Oaks already under her belt for the season, the daughter of Dubawi duly doubled up.
Albeit not as impressive as when winning 12 months ago, she had more than enough in hand to score by three-parts of a length from Red Letter (Ger Lyons/Colin Keane) having tracked pacesetter Fallen Angel until making her bid with three furlongs left.
Asked about the decision to keep the five-year-old in training rather than retire her to the paddocks, Anna Lisa Balding replied: “It’s such a brilliant decision because she’s such a lovely filly to have in the yard and I think she’s the first filly to win the Middleton twice.
“I saw that the first two furlongs were 14 seconds or something, but Oisin just got off her and said she is an absolute machine. He said he felt she was going to win all the way, so I’m delighted. She obviously won the race last year very impressively and you never know if she is going to come back and do it again, but she’s been doing some lovely work at home. She’s not a straightforward filly to train so I think it’s a big credit to the team at Kingsclere.
“She’s got an entry [in the Coronation Cup] at Epsom and who knows what will happen, but it will be a good long season ahead. It’s so often Jeff’s decision; he decides where everything goes, so fingers crossed there’s another big one in her.”
Ryan on the mark
It’s rare a York meeting goes by without Kevin Ryan saddling a winner and the Irishman struck with Dickensian (Shane Gray) in the Listed Westow Stakes on Thursday. The winner lacks the physical scope of some of his rivals but was suited by the strong pace in the five-furlong contest and finished best to catch Simplify (Andrew Balding/P J McDonald) close home for a half-length success. The winner was returned at an SP of 12/1 with the evens favourite Aspect Island (James Owen/Oisin Murphy) finishing a close third. Top-rated Revival Power was handy for much of the way before fading, shaping as if in need of the run.
York Wednesday
Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Group 3)
LEGACY Link (John & Thady Gosden/Colin Keane), by Dubawi and out of a full-sister to Frankel, looked the type to do much better when fourth behind Precise in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in the autumn and that impression was underlined when she landed the Group 2 Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday.
Sent off at 6/4 with the Fillies’ Mile form well advertised in the 1000 Guineas, Legacy Link engaged in a ding-dong battle with Felicitas (Ed Walker/Kieran Shoemark) up the Knavesmire straight, with Legacy Link keeping on best of a determined pair to prevail by three-parts of a length, with K Sarra (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan) staying on late for third, another length and a half away.
“She did well,” said John Gosden, who was winning the race for a ninth time, equalling the record set by Henry Cecil. “She was a little bit green early on and fresh first time out; she broke away from the others but then got herself organised before getting on the wrong lead around the bend.
“She was just learning but I liked how she came through the race and that’s a very nice filly in second, I thought she was superb at Sandown. I think to that extent it’s a very good trial and I liked the way she fought her way back and galloped out strongly. Colin feels she should go to Epsom; she has a Prix de Diane entry but all being well we’ll go to Epsom.
“She can do nothing but improve for the race and we could take her to the gallops morning at Epsom. If she’s in good order, she can go and have a spin around Tattenham Corner and learn about the track at three-quarter pace.”
THE Group 2 Minster Stakes, previously run as the Duke of York Stakes, went to Elmonjed (William Haggas/William Buick), who had the benefit of stall one on a day when the low numbers dominated the sprint races, beating next-door neighbour Kind of Blue (James Fanshawe/James Doyle) in stall two by a length, with Regional (Ed Bethell/Callum Rodriguez) third, a further three-parts of a length in arrears. Behind several of his rivals in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month when looking rusty, Elmonjed was allowed to start at 8/1 but returned to his very best with his usual cheekpieces reapplied, and in doing so gained a fourth win from five starts over course and distance.
The five-year-old wasn’t the quickest into stride but soon found a strong rhythm and was produced to tackle Kind of Blue a furlong out before quickening best for a cosy win. William Buick was again on board as retained rider Jim Crowley is still sidelined after a fall from stablemate Almeraq in the Garrowby Stakes here last September, a race Elmonjed won.
Elmonjed will skip Royal Ascot, but Kind Of Blue and Regional are on course for a rematch in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes next month, with the former’s trainer James Fanshawe upbeat about his prospects, saying: “We’ve just had a much better run with him coming into the spring; last year was very messy. He looked like he just got a bit tired but I’m very pleased with him. He’s been really well behaved today, and he’s run a great race apart from winning. All being well and if he’s in one piece it’ll be onto Ascot.”
As for the winner, trainer William Haggas said: “He really loves this track, although I think the draw helped today. He’s a really tough horse; he’s gone from handicaps and won the Listed [Garrowby Stakes] in September. We kept him in training to win this race as we thought we may as well have a go at a Group 2.”
“Almeraq is fine, he worked this morning, he’s sound and I’m happy with him, he’s pencilled in to run next weekend either at Salisbury or in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh, but he could do with a bit of rain. He’ll need his first run; he was a bit shook up after the fall but obviously not as badly as Jim and Trevor [Whelan – injured when his mount was brought down in the same incident].”
On plans for Elmonjed, Haggas said: “He’s in the Wokingham but I don’t suppose he’ll be running in the Wokingham! I didn’t put him in the Jubilee so I’d think we might have a go at the Maurice de Gheest [at Deauville]. I’m talking off the top of my head, but a fast, flat track is what he likes.”