Connections opt to miss French Oaks with Falakeyah
Having bypassed the Oaks at Epsom to wait for France, her third Group One option of three after she won on her comeback at Newmarket was the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, should connections decide on coming back to a mile next week, she would need to be supplemented.
Angus Gold, racing manager for the filly's owners, Shadwell, said: 'She scoped dirty 10 days ago.
'We treated her and worked her this morning, she worked beautifully, we were all very happy, but Owen just said she had a decent blow having missed a crucial bit of work.
'It is hard enough to win a Classic when you are 110 per cent so we're not going to risk running her.
'We haven't got as far as discussing the next plan yet, but she won't be going to France, it's just bad timing.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
27 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ombudsman sees off Delacroix to secure International Stakes success
A summer of odd and muddling Group One races continued as Ombudsman, the favourite, eventually stayed on well through the final furlong to win the International Stakes by three and a half lengths, after Birr Castle, the 150-1 pacemaker, had straightened up for home with a 20-length lead. It was an ultimately convincing success for a high-class and still-improving four-year-old, who did not see a racecourse until June 2024 but, less than a month after Qirat's 150-1 win in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, it was not an easy watch. Rab Havlin did not set a tearaway pace on Birr Castle but when Keita Tosaki, on the Japanese-trained Danon Decile, reined back at an early stage and stacked up the remaining runners behind him, the outsider soon acquired a huge lead. He eventually finished third behind Ombudsman and Delacroix, the market leaders, a clear sign that Havlin's fractions had not been overblown. 'We've had a couple of races this season where we've probably wished we had one,' William Buick, Ombudsman's jockey, said of the pacemaker, 'especially the Eclipse [when Delacroix beat Ombudsman by a neck], and today we weren't going to make that mistake again. 'Birr Castle is a proper stakes horse, and if you give a horse like that a lead on a flat track like York, it's always a danger. So I was thinking: 'This is a bit dangerous,' and I was hoping Danon Decile would cut the deficit, because he's proven over further. 'I had to cut the deficit myself and then he [Ombudsman] went again, which is a hard thing to do. To still have that finish in him at the end of the race was amazing.' The Irish Champion Stakes, in September, and the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October are obvious targets for Ombudsman, although the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, over an extra furlong and a half, is another option that John Gosden, his trainer, did not entirely rule out. 'William thinks he'll stay a mile and a half but I think why change things?' Gosden said. 'Were he to go for the Arc, we'd need one of the rare occasions with a fast-ground Arc.' York 1.50 Royal Fixation 2.25 Raakeb 3.00 Apiarist (nap) 3.35 Minnie Hauk 4.10 Aeolian 4.45 Dublin Bay (nb) 5.20 Eternal Sunshine Lingfield 2.00 Calchas 2.35 Mezcala 3.10 Starsong 3.45 Inlet 4.20 Best Adventure 4.55 Love Rock Newton Abbot 2.10 Whatyouwaitingfor 2.45 Charlie My Boy 3.20 My Girl Katie 3.55 Hope Rising 4.25 Finest View 5.00 Faded Fantasy 5.35 Limerick Leader Chelmsford 5.30 Apodictique 6.00 Isambard Kingdom 6.30 Havana Smile 7.00 Alkumatic Sam 7.30 Hot Frank 8.00 Vitalline 8.30 Poetic Jack 9.00 Pebble Island Newcastle 5.45 Hatysa 6.15 Circus Of Rome 6.45 Alpine Sierra 7.15 Eldrickjones 7.45 Pixie Diva 8.15 Hyperchromatic 8.45 Eye Of Dubai The Arc de Triomphe is no longer in play for Pride Of Arras, however, as the winner of the Great Voltigeur Stakes earlier on the card has been gelded since running poorly in the Irish Derby in June. Pride Of Arras is also barred from the St Leger at Doncaster next month, but there was still an eye-catching trial for the final Classic in Wednesday's race as Carmers, the Queen's Vase winner at Royal Ascot in June, stayed on well to finish second after being outpaced halfway down the straight. Paddy Twomey's colt is still available at double-figure odds for the Leger and that seems sure to be his next start. 'I think he's learned more today than in any race he's won,' the trainer said. 'It's a big run and back up to a mile and six will suit him.' Thursday's four-runner Yorkshire Oaks is in effect dead as a betting race as Minnie Hauk (3.35), the Oaks winner in England and Ireland, will set off at around 1-3 to complete a Group One treble in the feature event on day two of York's Ebor meeting. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Aidan O'Brien, her trainer, completed the same treble with Snowfall in 2021, and is looking for his fifth win in the race in the past six seasons. The locally trained Estrange is her only significant rival on form and deserves this tilt at a Group One after taking the Lancashire Oaks last time out, but it will be a considerable surprise if Minnie Hauk, already the second-favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, does not take another positive step towards the Paris showpiece in October. York 1.50 America Queen is a fascinating unknown quantity after a devastating 12-length debut success at Haydock last month, but the timefigure for the race was only so-so and Ed Walker's Royal Fixation has more solid credentials after a close second in the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting. York 2.25 Richard Hannon landed this hugely valuable two-year-old prize five times in seven years from 2016 to 2022 and the conditions favour Raakeb as he seeks to make it six from 10 for the yard. He gets a useful 7lb from the subsequent Group Three winner Tadej, who was just in front of him in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. York 3.00 A host of possibilities in what is often as competitive a handicap as the Ebor itself but Apiarist has taken a slightly unusual route to the race and may have been slightly overlooked in the market as a result. Kevin Ryan's four-year-old has done most of his winning on the all-weather, but he was a course winner as a juvenile, ran well on firm ground at Ascot in June and was an eye-catcher in a valuable seven-furlong handicap at the Galway Festival this month. He was the strongest finisher of all after finding trouble in running on the home turn, and is an interesting each-way option at around 12-1 from a handy draw in stall seven. York 4.10 There are two runners in the royal colours in this Listed event for fillies and mares and, while Rainbows Edge is favoured in the betting after a close second at this track last time out, William Haggas's Aeolian looks more likely to improve for this step up to a mile and a half.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Aidan O'Brien still positive despite Lambourn's Voltigeur defeat
A mildly surprising winner at Epsom, he then doubled up at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent and despite giving weight away all round to his rivals, he was sent off the 4-5 favourite to confirm his position as the best mile-and-a-half colt of his generation. However, Ryan Moore was hard at work from some way out as first stablemate Stay True loomed up looking a threat, before the Ballydoyle duo were swamped by Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras. The winner had scored impressively in the Dante at the track in May but finished well behind Lambourn at both Epsom and the Curragh and had subsequently been gelded. O'Brien fielded four in the Group Two and they filled the final four positions. Lambourn is now 5-1 for the St Leger with Coral as his stable companion Scandinavia hardened to 4-5 favourite for the final Classic. 'He went grand, they went steady and he's lazy, I think it was a steadily-run race,' said O'Brien of Lambourn. 'All of them ran grand. The reason we ran Lambourn here was so that he had the option of either the Leger or the Arc. 'I don't think the Leger trip will be a problem, we know he stays a mile and a half well. 'Ryan (Moore) said he felt like he got a little but tired but we'll see how he is. 'Stay True ran a lovely race, he's always looked a lovely horse for the Leger so it looks like he'll be happy doing that.' One horse who enhanced his reputation despite losing his unbeaten record was the Paddy Twomey-trained Carmers, the Queen's Vase winner from Royal Ascot who was dropping in trip. He got caught flat-footed when the pace quickened before staying on for second, beaten a length. 'He maybe didn't get the run of the race but I think it was a very good trial for the Leger,' said Twomey. 'I think he's learned more today than he had in any race he won. It's a big run and back up to the mile and six (furlongs) will suit him. 'I don't think the ground makes any difference to him.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
York tips: Newsboy's picks and 1-2-3 for every race on Thursday on ITV
Our ace tipster takes you through the card for day two of the prestigious Ebor Festival, one of the racing highlights of the summer schedule There is no better way to get prepared for the historic York Ebor Festival than follow ace tipster Newsboy. Over the next four days he will be providing in-depth analysis of every race in his not-to-be-missed column. The day two Thursday card has the Yorkshire Oaks at the Group 1 feature but a disappointing field of four runners appears to provide dual Oaks winner Minnie Hauk with a straightforward task. The Sky Bet Lowther Stakes is the main support race. 1.50 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes STAYA is fancied to make it third time lucky at Group level. George Scott's daughter of Havana Grey did everything right on her debut when galloping to a cosy two-length call in a fillies' novice stakes at Yarmouth in May. That victory earned her a crack at the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, where Staya ran above her 16-1 to take fifth, beaten just under two lengths at the line, behind True Love. A drop in class to Listed company then did the trick 16 days later as my selection and Callum Shepherd justified 5-4 favouritism by a head from Military Code on what proved to be her final start at five furlongs. Moving up to six for the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes on Ascot's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes undercard last time out, Staya produced a personal best with a one-length second to Fitzella. Even that may not tell the whole story as the grey made her ground from the back of the 10-runner field while the winner made all the running. There is more to come on the fifth outing of her career and Staya is well capable of making her presence felt back at this Group 2 level. America Queen and Royal Fixation are also fillies of prodigious promise, while Argentine Tango won't go down without a fight. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 STAYA, 2 AMERICA QUEEN, 3 ARGENTINE TANGO 2.25 Harry's Half Million By Goffs ANTHELIA has already won nearly 30 times her purchase price - and she isn't done with yet. Rod Millman did yet another shrewd piece of business when he bought Supremacy's daughter for £6,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale last August - he got two-thirds of the money back when Anthelia made a winning debut at Bath in April. She defied a penalty to double up at Salisbury a month later and then completed the hat-trick when stepping up to Listed class to beat First Legion by one length for the National Stakes at Sandown Park 25 days later. A first try at today's six-furlong trip brought a first career defeat as Anthelia came home in fifth, a couple of lengths behind winner Argentine Tango, in the Listed Empress Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket on her penultimate outing. But Lewis Edmunds' partner was back in business in the Weatherbys Super Sprint over the minimum trip at Newbury last time, battling on bravely to the finish to hold Havana Hurricane by a short head. Although she suffered her only defeat at today's distance, six furlongs should not be an issue for Anthelia and another good account is on the cards. Richard Hannon's record in this race makes Super Sprint sixth Raakeb of interest, with Front Line Fury and Song Of The Clyde others to throw into the mix. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 ANTHELIA, 2 RAAKEB, 3 FRONT LINE FURY 3.00 Clipper Handicap APIARIST is worth making a beeline for. The bad news for backers of the Kevin Ryan-saddled four-year-old is that, while he has an impressive 3-6 all-weather strike-rate, Apiarist has collected just once from 15 attempts on turf. But the good news is that his sole victory on the natural surface came at York, and he also made the frame on his other three visits to the Knavesmire. Among those defeats came an excellent fourth in the three-year-old handicap, run over this course and distance, at last year's Ebor Festival when, anchored at the back of the field from a wide draw, my selection motored home to be beaten three and a half lengths at the line behind Treasure Time. Having captured handicaps at Newcastle, Chelmsford City and Southwell during the winter Apiarist didn't cut much ice when 10th in the Lincoln at Doncaster on his return. But he ran better in Royal Ascot's Buckingham Palace Handicap than his eight-of-27 finishing position might have you believe and also came home well, after being messed about at the start, to finish fourth at the Galway Festival 18 days ago. Back at York, Tom Eaves' partner is expected to reward each-way support - at the least. Bullet Point is due a change of luck and is feared most, ahead of Leadman and Old Cock. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 APIARIST, 2 BULLET POINT, 3 LEADMAN 3.35 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks MINNIE HAUK is deservedly a hot favourite to bag a third Oaks - and Group 1 prize - on the bounce. Frankel's daughter, a €1.85m purchase as a yearling, kept it low key with a couple of starts during her two-year-old season, bettering a full-of-promise second at Cork in October with a half-length beating of Subsonic in a one-mile fillies' maiden at Leopardstown 18 days later. But Minnie Hauk's career has gone to a new level - the highest level - at three. On the back of a 200-day absence, my selection was given the chance to prove her Epsom credentials in the Listed Cheshire Oaks at Chester in May. As Aidan O'Brien mopped up one trial after another, Ryan Moore's mount put into the Ballydoyle pot with a one-length beating of Secret Of Love to earn her place in the Classic line-up. Sent off the 9-2 second choice for the Oaks - 1,000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower led the market - Minnie Hauk passed her toughest test with flying colours, getting the better of a battle with stable-companion Whirl by a neck. Her follow-up in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh last month was routine rather than spectacular as the 2-11 hotpot ground to a length-and-a-quarter supremacy from Wemightakedlongway. As the only Group 1 winner in the three-runner line-up, Minnie Hauk is a class above - and it will be the shock of the meeting if she loses. Lancashire Oaks heroine Estrange is taken for the silver medal, with Oaks eighth Qilin Queen preferred to Garden Of Eden for the final place on the podium. Free £2 Shop Bet with William Hill inside your Mirror every day of the York Ebor Festival THE big guns are being readied and loaded to fire at York's Ebor Festival which starts on Wednesday August 20, 2025- and your Mirror is bringing you everything you need to celebrate the final flourish of the racing season including FREE shop bets from William Hill. Don't miss your paper every day of the festival, from Wednesday August 20 until Saturday August 23, 2025, to get your hands on packed pullouts, free £2 shop bets, and insight from the racing team you trust. Find out more here. 4.10 British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes LADY VIVIAN didn't shine at Royal Ascot - but it's early days to be writing her off. Too green to do herself justice at Lingfield Park last November when making her racecourse debut, Ralph Beckett's daughter of Camelot finished a return-to-action second at Southwell in February before going one better at the Rolleston course a month later. That victory earned Lady Vivian a British Horseracing Authority mark of 80 and she proved ahead of that assessment at Chester's May meeting, making all the running to hold Way Of Stars by one length. Wathnan Racing then recruited my selection for Royal Ascot and Lady Vivian took on 10 rivals for the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes. Sent off at 11-1, James Doyle's partner came home a so-so seventh, unable to land a blow in the straight and beaten just over seven lengths, behind Garden Of Eden. But there are reasons to expect a more prominent showing today from a filly who is far from fully exposed. For a start, this Listed contest represents two steps down the class ladder, and the form of the Beckett stable - unusually quiet during Royal Ascot - is now red-hot with a strike-rate above one in five during the past two weeks. Rainbows Edge is the clubhouse leader in terms of form and commands respect, along with fellow royal runner Aeolian and Alice Monet. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 LADY VIVIAN, 2 RAINBOWS EDGE, 3 AEOLIAN 4.45 Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap AMAZING JOURNEY did enough at the Qatar Goodwood Festival to be of definite interest this afternoon. There was plenty of encouragement to be gleaned from his debut when the son of Starspangledbanner finished fourth at Chelmsford City at the beginning of June - and he duly went three places better in a novice stakes at Chepstow 22 days later. Jamie Osborne then sent his colt for a six-furlong nursery at York, and Amazing Journey defied an opening handicap mark of 76 to beat Son Of Sarabi by half a length. But the South Downs have been the scene of many a hard-luck story and so it proved as the youngster and Osborne's daughter Saffie sought the hat-trick in a similar event over seven three weeks ago. Amazing Journey had anything but, shuffled back to ninth passing the furlong pole but flying home once in the Clare to take fifth behind Sir Albert. A 1lb nudge up the weights is neither here nor there for Amazing Journey, who still has untapped potential to draw upon as he steps onto a racecourse for the fifth time. In a field of two-year-olds whose best days lie ahead of them, Daydreama, Peel Park and Champion Island all merit a second glance. 5.20 British EBF Fillies' Handicap PERFECT PART is nearer the bottom of the betting list than the top - but don't let that put you off. Brian Ellison's daughter of Mehmas, who marked her racecourse bow with a 125-1 skinner in Beverley's Hilary Needler Stakes in June 2024, ran above her 50-1 odds when fifth to Celandine in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at this fixture 12 months ago. And she took the eye back here for a 14-runner handicap over this afternoon's seven-furlong trip in May, having to wait for a gap before coming home with gusto to take fourth to Rare Change. A 22-1 Listed-race fourth at Musselburgh two starts ago was no disgrace and Perfect Part then filled the same placing at Chester - the first three were all prominently ridden - on her latest outing. A British Horseracing Authority mark of 94 - the same as for her last visit to the Knavesmire - looks within reach for Cam Hardie's mount. In an open finale, Dance In The Storm, Maybe Not and Ormolulu are capable of having a say in proceedings. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 PERFECT PART, 2 DANCE IN THE STORM, 3 ORMOLULU
