Anthelia stays unbeaten with National Stakes success
The daughter of Supremacy – who was purchased by Middleham Park Racing after her debut win at Bath before following up at Salisbury earlier this month – was patiently ridden against the rail and Lewis Edmunds judged it nicely as the pair got up to win by a length at 25-1.
First Legion chased her down on the outside, but left his challenge too late, with Rod Millman's filly holding on to take Listed honours.
Millman said: 'We paid £6,000 for her and we had her earmarked for a good order. We were going to buy one for £50,000, this is one we picked out, but we weren't sure she was worth £50,000 so we bought something else and then she was walking round the ring and I saw there were no bids on her so I picked her up for £6,000. She's probably worth a bit more now.
'We didn't want to get in a duel for the front because we wanted to finish off and to be honest the main thing today was to get some black type. As it's turned out she's better than we thought she was.
'She will still be learning the game and when she won at Bath she came from the pack and then it was only a four-runner race last time and this will be the first time she has been roughed up in a race.
'It's very exciting for the future really and we haven't had one finish at the top of our gallops like her for a long time.'
Despite beating some well-entered opposition and being handed a quote of 14-1 for the Queen Mary Stakes by Coral, connections seem keen to avoid Royal Ascot, with Newmarket's Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes on June 26 seen as a suitable alternative.
The trainer's son and assistant James Millman added: 'The aim was to miss Royal Ascot and go to the Empress and it is very tough taking on the best at Royal Ascot and sometimes you don't have a horse afterwards.
'The Super Sprint was her main aim, but she's a bit ahead of that now. She wants six furlongs and that's why she didn't go to the Marygate at York, as five would have been a bit sharp for her there.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘His class makes him very hard to beat' – Templegate's NAP loves this trip
TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS Horse racing tips: 'His class makes him very hard to beat' – Templegate's NAP loves this trip TEMPLEGATE'S Sunday tips are below. Back a horse by clicking their odds. Advertisement HAMISH (4.45 Goodwood, nap) Is still going strong for William Haggas. This nine-year-old was as good as ever last season with a Coronation Cup second at Epsom before finishing the campaign with a big-field Listed win at The Curragh. We know he loves this trip with a little cut in the field and his class makes him very hard to beat. SCHMILSSON (3.22 Perth, nb) Looked a natural when winning on his chasing debut over course and distance last month. He made mincemeat of his rivals and a 7lb rise in the weights should hold no fears. Trainer Olly Murphy is in flying form and he can add to his winning tally with Sean Bowen up. Advertisement MISS TONNERRE (3.35 Goodwood, treble) Was behind Oaks second Whirl in the Musidora last time when very much needing the run. The form of her Fred Darling fourth has been franked and she can show more here. IMPERIAL ALEX (4.32 Perth) Looks good for the Lucky 15 after a close second at Uttoxeter last time. He sees out three miles well. Advertisement Templegate's tips FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Powys County Times
11 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Johnston can afford to dream of what might be to come with Lazy Griff
Charlie Johnston is dreaming of the rest of the season with Lazy Griff, after the 50-1 shot chased home Lambourn in the Betfred Derby. It was the second time this year the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt has found Aidan O'Brien's new mile-and-a-half star too strong, as the same two horses filled the same positions in the Chester Vase last month. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Lazy Griff – who got off the mark at the third time of asking as a two-year-old at Beverley – cruised around Tatttenham Corner and while his large army of owners will no doubt have been briefly thinking they were about to hit the jackpot, the winner was going away again at the line. Should he head to the Irish Derby next it would likely mean round three with Lambourn, but Johnston also raised the possibility of a return to France for the Grand Prix de Paris. Lazy Griff won a Group Three at Chantilly last year. 'We told as many people as would listen we couldn't understand why he was such a huge price. Lambourn was 13-2 yet this morning we were 100-1! It's safe to say the Chester form held up well,' said Johnston. 'I'm delighted, I'm surprised how well he handled the track because that was always my biggest concern because he's quite a heavy-topped horse and we felt if the ground wasn't as soft as it was he wouldn't be here. 'I said after Chester that Doncaster (St Leger) would be his place, but to run so well leaves us dreaming about the rest of the year. 'I would say it will be the Irish Derby or the Grand Prix de Paris. The Irish Derby would mean going into the lion's den I suppose, but it will be one or the other I would say.' Soumillon partnered Lazy Griff at Chantilly and did not need to be asked twice to ride him in the Derby. 'What a race and I was travelling so well, the whole race I was travelling so well and I was just cruising down the hill,' said Soumillon, who has still to win the premier Classic. 'This kind of track suits him and when I came downhill I was talking Mickael (Barzalona, on Midak) that there was nobody able to follow us, we were cruising. I thought at that point I would be able to win the race two furlongs out, then I took my time to come out, which I don't think was the best option. 'I maybe should have stayed on the rail, but the horse in front was so lazy in the turn I thought he would stop at a point, but he never gave up and went to the end. Rounding the bend I thought 'now I go and we will see' and for two furlongs I thought we will get the winner, but in the end he was too strong. 'I'm so proud of my horse. It's a great run and it's the same form as the Chester Vase. I was very surprised when I saw the odds in the paper this morning at the airport. I thought how can I be so high? For me it was a nice horse with a decent chance and finally he proved it today on the track. 'He would be able to make the German Derby, but I just spoke to the trainer who was asking me if he could go in the St Leger. I think that can also be an option, he stays really well. We'll just see how he comes back from this race.' He added: 'When my agent called me to say I could ride this horse I said 'let's go' straight away. I loved him last year and he did everything I asked. Mr Johnston's horses are really tough and that's what you need and this really feels like a winner to me. I'm so proud of the horse. It's a great result.' Joseph O'Brien was watching his father win the race for an 11th time, but the man who rode two of them, Camelot and Australia (the sire of Lambourn), was close to his own piece of history by saddling Tennessee Stud to finish third. He said: 'I'm very proud of him, it was a serious run and he came home strongly. I'm so pleased for the owners, it's very good to be placed in the Derby and he's an unexposed type from whom there should be plenty more to come.'
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien claims amazing eleventh Derby victory as 50-1 shot finishes second
Lambourn, one of the few horses in the field to have already won at a mile and a half, led from start to finish in £1.5 million race at Epsom on Saturday The amazing Aidan O'Brien clinched his 11th victory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday. The master trainer has dominated the Derby Festival, winning the Coronation Cup and Oaks on Friday, and saddled three colts in the £1.5 million Classic. The victories of Jan Brueghel and Minnie Hauk 24 hours earlier were their trainer's tenth and 11th wins in the respective races. Stable jockey Ryan Moore partnered those two winners and chose favourite Delacroix in the Derby with Wayne Lordan on Lambourn and Colin Keane on The Lion In Winter. But coming down the hill to Tattenham Corner it was evident that Moore had his work cut out on Delacroix who had just two behind him. Up front Lordan was determined to make full use of Lambourn's stamina, which he confirmed when winning the Chester Vase over the Derby trip. And once his jockey kicked for home in the straight, it was clear he wasn't going to be caught. Lambourn stretched away to record a three and three quarter length triumph from 50-1 outsider Lazy Griff, running for 150 members of the Middleham Park Racing syndicate, with Tennessee Stud, trained by Aidan O'Brien's son Joseph third. Lambourn, returned at odds of 13-2, delivered the Ballydoyle maestro's 32nd success in Epsom's three Group 1 races. O'Brien said: 'Wayne gave him an incredible ride. He is a great fella, done so much hard work over the years. Everybody knew what he was going to do. Wayne knew he'd stay so he was going to go forward. 'This horse is uncomplicated, genuine and committed. His runs have been very good this year. He was second to Delacroix, then he went and won very impressively at Chester. Ryan loved him in Chester but obviously couldn't be on them all. He is probably an Irish Derby horse and he will get further.' He added: 'Ryan said he got taken out of it early, up the hill I think he got bumped and he was back and he said his chance was over from halfway. Colin said he felt at the top of the hill he wasn't going forward. Wayne was forward and he wasn't going to stop. He got the fractions 100 per cent perfect.' Lordan, stable number two at Ballydoyle, was riding his first Derby winner at the ninth attempt. 'I thought anybody who got to me would have to stay well and that would be tough for them,' he said. 'It's one of the greatest races for any jockey. I work for Aidan, Ballydoyle and Coolmore so I am in a lucky position that I get to ride a horse like this.'
