Tornado goes down a storm in Munich
Having been sent across Europe in pursuit of top-level success, in a race Bin Suroor and Murphy won with Benbatl in 2018, Tornado Alert was never too far off the pace and quickened up smartly to lead halfway up the home straight.
Map Of Stars, bidding to provide his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with a second Group One success in as many days following Calandagan's triumph in the King George at Ascot on Saturday, came from further back to throw down his challenge under James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing silks. But try as he might he could not get on terms with Tornado Alert, who was ultimately well on top at the line.
Bin Suroor said: 'He won well, the ground was heavy and he's never run before on this ground, but he handled it well.
'I said to Oisin before the race 'just keep him happy and give him a chance', but he was travelling good all the way and when he came off the bridle he saw it out well.'
Tornado Alert holds big-race entries in the Juddmonte International at York and the Celebration Mile at Goodwood next month, but Bin Suroor is in no rush to firm up future plans, adding: 'We'll see how he comes back after the race and then we'll make a decision.
'He's a horse who is improving all the time. He ran well at Royal Ascot, his form is very good and he has improved every time he has run.
'Physically he looks better now than when he finished fourth in the Guineas, but with time and age that is what you would expect.
'He has plenty of speed, but I think a mile and a quarter is his best trip at the moment.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
11 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Asfoora carrying plenty of stable confidence for second crack at Goodwood sprint
The Antipodean speedster stuck around on British soil after her famous Royal Ascot win in the King Charles III Stakes last year and although out of luck at this year's Royal meeting, her team are confident of bettering last year's short-head defeat on Friday. Dwyer said: 'The conditions of the race are a lot more suitable this year and she has a bit less weight without the Group One penalty she had last year and the main opposition, Time For Sandals and Big Mojo, both have quite a bit of weight for their age and are dropping back from six furlongs to five furlongs. Big Evs gets back to winning ways in the King George Qatar Stakes, driven all the way by @TomMarquand to repel the challenge of Asfoora 👏@Q_REC | @MickApplebyUK — Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) August 2, 2024 'So I think the race sets up well for us, it's just a case of whether she can find her best and if she finds it, I think she goes very close to winning and if she's for some reason a length or two below her best, I still think she will still be right there. 'She's nice and relaxed again after Ascot and we gave her two weeks out in the paddock after that to help her settle in a bit more and she seems in a good space. 'I think there's definitely more to come and I do think she will improve again in three weeks' time for York, but she's on an upward curve and is going the right way and hopefully she is in very good shape for this race.' It was Mick Appleby's Big Evs who denied Asfoora in this last year and the Rutland handler, who has formed a great friendship with his Australian counterpart, looks to be a thorn in Dwyer's side once again with July Stakes runner-up and course and distance scorer Big Mojo. 'He's in great order and hopefully we can go and win the race again,' said Appleby. 'He's got plenty of pace and I think at Goodwood it will definitely suit him dropping back to five furlongs and on form he should have a very good chance. 'Asfoora is probably the one to beat, but I think we will be thereabouts anyway.' Joining Big Mojo in reverting back to five furlongs is Time For Sandals who was one half of Harry Eustace's memorable Royal Ascot Group One double when landing the Commonwealth Cup. However, like Appleby, the Newmarket handler has few concerns about the shorter distance and said: 'The big question mark is obviously going back to a sharp five for her having won over a stiff six at Ascot. 'Personally, I don't think it will be a problem and Richard (Kingscote) is pretty positive she'll be fine over it too, but if we're going to find her out this year it will be in this race.' Also expected to thrive on one of the fastest five-furlong tracks in the country is Karl Burke's Night Raider who is backed to showcase his blistering cruising speed. 'When we were buying him I always thought this was the race for him,' said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing. 'He's very fast and Goodwood is a very quick five as we know. It didn't work at Ascot for him, but I do think this will be right up his alley.' Meanwhile Ed Walker's Lowther Stakes winner Celandine will bid to make up for lost time after being kept on the sidelines in the first half of the season. 'It's been a very frustrating year with her so far,' said Walker. 'The plan was to go to Newmarket for the Kilvington as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup. The form from the Lowther was obviously rock solid in the Commonwealth Cup with Time For Sandals winning, so it was pretty heartbreaking being sidelined with a throat infection which dragged on and on. 'We got her back for York in the Summer Stakes, she ran a big race. She was hassled all the way, which wasn't ideal. She didn't get the kind of easy lead she likes but still battled on well to finish third and proved that she's trained on and she's back. 'She had a good blow and she'll come on a lot for that run. I'm not afraid to bring her back to five, so I think she'll be a danger in a wide-open sprint division.'
South Wales Guardian
11 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Day three of Goodwood hit by torrential rain
After the first two days took place in pleasant weather, the forecast always suggested conditions on day three could take a turn for the worse. The first race passed on good to firm ground, but as the runners gathered at the start for race two, the Markel Richmond Stakes, the storm clouds were gathering. Current conditions at Goodwood ⛈️☔️ — Molly Hunter (@mollhun) July 31, 2025 As Clive Cox's Coppull crossed the line in front, the heavens had opened and an almighty downpour ensued. It took no time at all for puddles to form in the paddock and clerk of the course Ed Arkell took the decision to call a temporary halt to proceedings. After a 20 minute dousing, the rain began to ease off and the meeting was allowed to get back under way. However, with lightning in the area the Gordon Stakes was started by flag, rather than stalls. There was also a delay to the feature Qatar Nassau Stakes with the course keen for the day's main attraction to begin via starting stalls, with Arkell telling ITV Racing: 'We've had 26mm in 20 minutes or so and we'll make a ground change and it will probably be heavy. 'We might have a delay to the Group One while they get the lightning out of the way so they can use the stalls with it being a Group One. It's very important for the integrity of the race but it's a decision for the stewards, the starters, the jockeys and myself. 'If we can possibly use starting stalls by holding a race up by five minutes or so that would be great. 'Your guess is as good as mine as to how much more rain is to come, there's some more about and we weren't forecast this, but I'm not sure the forecast is that reliable at the moment.'
Powys County Times
11 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Ndaawi awarded Galway Hurdle in dramatic circumstances
Last year's runner-up Ndaawi was called the winner of the Guinness Galway Hurdle after first past the post Helvic Dream was demoted by the stewards. It is 20 years since trainer Noel Meade saddled his most recent winner of the Ballybrit highlight in More Rainbows but he had come close on several occasions since, while Ndaawi's trainer Gordon Elliott had never won it previously. Helvic Dream, a Group One winner on the Flat for Meade in the 2021 Tattersalls Gold Cup, was an 8-1 shot in the hands of Donagh Meyler and settled down to fight it out with the 13-2 shot Ndaawi and Jack Kennedy in the home straight. However, the pair did come close together all the way up the run-in as both horses and jockeys gave their all, with Ndaawi short of room against the far rail, and while Helvic Dream passed the post a head in front the stewards felt the interference was significant enough to reverse the placings. Following a stewards' enquiry, Ndaawi is awarded the @GuinnessIreland Galway Hurdle 🏆 — Galway Races (@Galway_Races) July 31, 2025 Elliott, completing a big-race double after landing Wednesday's Galway Plate with Western Fold, said: 'We have won most of the big handicaps so this is the race I wanted to win, although it is not a nice way to win. 'Noel is one of my greatest friends and there isn't a day goes by that we don't talk and we have great banter, but that's the way it goes unfortunately. 'The stewards have their jobs to do, Jack said it straightaway after the race and I was talking to Ruby (Walsh) as well and he felt we would definitely get it. 'It is unbelievable to win the two big races here this week and the horses have all run well, I can't believe it.' On future plans for Ndaawi, the trainer added: 'There is a $150,000 Flat race in America for him in October now.' Meade later indicated he will appeal the decision. He told Racing TV: 'I didn't think we'd lose it, considering the race and considering Jack didn't have to stop riding. 'I do believe in my heart and soul it's the wrong decision and I will appeal it.'
