logo
Kind draw key to Gosden French Guineas hopes with Detain

Kind draw key to Gosden French Guineas hopes with Detain

Leader Live06-05-2025
The son of Wootton Bassett impressed on the all-weather at two before a below-par display in the Doncaster mud rounded off his juvenile campaign.
But after a winning return at Chelmsford in the Cardinal Stakes, the talented colt is now back on the Classic trail and is one of 21 contenders to stand their ground for the ParisLongchamp Classic.
'He's in good form and is French Guineas-bound,' said Gosden, who trains the colt alongside son Thady.
'That's where we plan to send him, and I think the track will suit him.'
He added: 'The only thing about the French Guineas is, well just please draw a single number, because if you get from 10 out to 16 or 18, you may as well trot back.
'I used to walk the track every year with Frankie (Dettori) and if you ever stand at the start over a mile at Longchamp, you'll see what happens to the track, it immediately turns right downhill, and you have to stay straight. Those on the inside have already taken two lengths out of you and it can be a problem, the mile start at Longchamp.'
Detain might not be the only Juddmonte-owned colt crossing the Channel for action in the French capital, with Andrew Balding's impressive Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil still in the mix.
'Hopefully the rain stays away from Longchamp and he seems in good form,' said Balding.
'We were expecting a good run at Newbury and he's been working like a high-class horse.'
Other potential challengers from the UK include Aomori City from Charlie Appleby's in-form team, Charlie Fellowes' Luther – who was not far behind Detain at Chelmsford – and Peter Chapple-Hyam's Harvey.
Brian Meehan's Rashabar misses the race, however.
Aidan O'Brien has left in Rock Of Cashel, Henri Matisse, Officer, a winner at the Curragh on Monday, Serengeti and Camille Pissarro, while Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell is another potential runner.
There are 16 left in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, with O'Brien able to choose from Bedtime Story, Exactly, Merrily and Heavens Gate.
Ollie Sangster, second and third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, has left in Celestial Orbit, with Zanzoun another big player for the Gosdens and Fellowes set to field Shes Perfect.
Vertical Blue and Zarigana form part of the home team.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gosdens lament Field Of Gold's lacklustre Sussex run
Gosdens lament Field Of Gold's lacklustre Sussex run

South Wales Guardian

timea day ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Gosdens lament Field Of Gold's lacklustre Sussex run

The Juddmonte-owned grey was the 1-3 favourite as he came into the race having won both Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes this season, so was bidding for a Group One hat-trick with a new rider in the saddle as William Buick replaced the suspended Colin Keane. Juddmonte's second-string, the Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat, was the mount of Richard Kingscote and employed as a pacemaker, albeit a useful one, as was Aidan O'Brien's Serengeti, who looked set to lead stablemate Henri Matisse into the race. Those two did indeed settle into the lead, but as the race developed it became apparent that the favourite could not close the gap and he finished an eventual fourth when three and three-quarter lengths behind 150-1 winner Qirat. John Gosden told ITV Racing: 'He's done nothing wrong and actually the other pacemaker (Serengeti) got left (at the start), he comes round and finally they are going a pace. We are sitting a long way behind, that's life and the pacemaker goes and wins it. 'If you let them have those fractions they will do it, he ran on but he didn't seem to be balanced on the track, it's a different type of track to what he has ever run on and he just got a little unbalanced coming out of the dip into the bend. I'm not making any excuses, you ignore the pacemaker and pay the price. 'He ran a huge race in the Guineas (when runner-up at Newmarket) and was flying at the finish, but he was not flying at the finish so there's a very big difference. He wasn't at his best so we will have to see why. He is having a normal blow so we will have a good look. 'William said as soon as he asked him the engine wasn't there, simple as that. He would have run on to be up there with Rosallion, but he didn't fire today.' Thady Gosden added: 'Congratulations to Ralph and Juddmonte of course for winning, but obviously it was a messy race and I think we can put a line through it. 'We saw he quickened up well but it was too late on, Rosallion was in a good position in front of us and he didn't quite get there as they'd got a bit of rope in front. 'Hopefully he comes out of it OK, we know how talented he is and today wasn't a true reflection of his ability. We'll move on. 'We could see what was unfolding for us a mile out, but obviously it is great for Juddmonte to have a home bred winner.' Richard Hannon's 11-2 shot Rosallion was the runner-up under Sean Levey, beaten a neck after giving chase to the runaway Qirat. Hannon said: 'It's pride, not frustration, but what does he have to do to win? 'Sean did the right thing and moved closer to the pacemakers, and he's run a super race but didn't win. It's life, isn't it? 'He's a great horse, his day has already come and there are other days to come. He's certainly not done with. 'He's beaten the best three-year-old we've seen for years and also the French Guineas winner (Henri Matisse). 'It's not a great day when you are second in these races but we are very lucky to be part of it. We have an extremely good horse and he went down fighting.' Henri Matisse, also an 11-2 chance, was third under Ryan Moore when beaten two and a half lengths, with stablemate Serengeti eventually last of the seven runners. O'Brien said: 'Obviously (Serengeti) was there to make sure it was an even gallop and he missed the break, so Wayne (Lordan) had to let him relax and give him a chance. 'He came round the field wide and then when he joined up with the other pacemaker, the winner, he pulled back off and so Wayne was left making the running, but well done to everyone. 'We are very happy with Henri Matisse. We think we haven't got him really right yet, but we think we are getting there. Every time he runs we are learning more, and we were happy with him here other than he didn't win, obviously. 'Sean's (Levey) horse (Rosallion) just came down the outside of him and took a couple of lengths out of him quickly, Ryan just said that coming down the hill at Goodwood it just took him a little time to get organised as he's a baby three-year-old. He felt he wasn't finished with and there's more to come. 'We think he's a miler, but Ryan thinks he'll stay further. We'll see how he is but he could go back to France for the mile races and could end up in America for their mile races, or he could go up in trip, although we've never thought he was short of pace.'

Gosdens lament Field Of Gold's lacklustre Sussex run
Gosdens lament Field Of Gold's lacklustre Sussex run

Rhyl Journal

timea day ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Gosdens lament Field Of Gold's lacklustre Sussex run

The Juddmonte-owned grey was the 1-3 favourite as he came into the race having won both Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes this season, so was bidding for a Group One hat-trick with a new rider in the saddle as William Buick replaced the suspended Colin Keane. Juddmonte's second-string, the Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat, was the mount of Richard Kingscote and employed as a pacemaker, albeit a useful one, as was Aidan O'Brien's Serengeti, who looked set to lead stablemate Henri Matisse into the race. Those two did indeed settle into the lead, but as the race developed it became apparent that the favourite could not close the gap and he finished an eventual fourth when three and three-quarter lengths behind 150-1 winner Qirat. John Gosden told ITV Racing: 'He's done nothing wrong and actually the other pacemaker (Serengeti) got left (at the start), he comes round and finally they are going a pace. We are sitting a long way behind, that's life and the pacemaker goes and wins it. 'If you let them have those fractions they will do it, he ran on but he didn't seem to be balanced on the track, it's a different type of track to what he has ever run on and he just got a little unbalanced coming out of the dip into the bend. I'm not making any excuses, you ignore the pacemaker and pay the price. 'He ran a huge race in the Guineas (when runner-up at Newmarket) and was flying at the finish, but he was not flying at the finish so there's a very big difference. He wasn't at his best so we will have to see why. He is having a normal blow so we will have a good look. 'William said as soon as he asked him the engine wasn't there, simple as that. He would have run on to be up there with Rosallion, but he didn't fire today.' Thady Gosden added: 'Congratulations to Ralph and Juddmonte of course for winning, but obviously it was a messy race and I think we can put a line through it. 'We saw he quickened up well but it was too late on, Rosallion was in a good position in front of us and he didn't quite get there as they'd got a bit of rope in front. 'Hopefully he comes out of it OK, we know how talented he is and today wasn't a true reflection of his ability. We'll move on. 'We could see what was unfolding for us a mile out, but obviously it is great for Juddmonte to have a home bred winner.' Richard Hannon's 11-2 shot Rosallion was the runner-up under Sean Levey, beaten a neck after giving chase to the runaway Qirat. Hannon said: 'It's pride, not frustration, but what does he have to do to win? 'Sean did the right thing and moved closer to the pacemakers, and he's run a super race but didn't win. It's life, isn't it? 'He's a great horse, his day has already come and there are other days to come. He's certainly not done with. 'He's beaten the best three-year-old we've seen for years and also the French Guineas winner (Henri Matisse). 'It's not a great day when you are second in these races but we are very lucky to be part of it. We have an extremely good horse and he went down fighting.' Henri Matisse, also an 11-2 chance, was third under Ryan Moore when beaten two and a half lengths, with stablemate Serengeti eventually last of the seven runners. O'Brien said: 'Obviously (Serengeti) was there to make sure it was an even gallop and he missed the break, so Wayne (Lordan) had to let him relax and give him a chance. 'He came round the field wide and then when he joined up with the other pacemaker, the winner, he pulled back off and so Wayne was left making the running, but well done to everyone. 'We are very happy with Henri Matisse. We think we haven't got him really right yet, but we think we are getting there. Every time he runs we are learning more, and we were happy with him here other than he didn't win, obviously. 'Sean's (Levey) horse (Rosallion) just came down the outside of him and took a couple of lengths out of him quickly, Ryan just said that coming down the hill at Goodwood it just took him a little time to get organised as he's a baby three-year-old. He felt he wasn't finished with and there's more to come. 'We think he's a miler, but Ryan thinks he'll stay further. We'll see how he is but he could go back to France for the mile races and could end up in America for their mile races, or he could go up in trip, although we've never thought he was short of pace.'

Merchant looking to bank another big race for Highclere
Merchant looking to bank another big race for Highclere

Rhyl Journal

timea day ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Merchant looking to bank another big race for Highclere

Always held in high-regard by trainer William Haggas, the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned three-year-old excelled when landing the King George V Stakes and after connections resisted the temptation of an Ascot return and a daring King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes tilt, now climbs the ladder into Group Three company on the Sussex Downs. 'The Gordon was always the plan and the next logical step for him and a horse of his profile,' said Highclere's Harry Herbert. MERCHANT takes the King George V Stakes for @TomMarquand and trainer @WilliamHaggas. Congratulations to connections. — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2025 'He comes into it – according to William – in really good form and he's been working well at home. 'It's one step at a time with him and we will see how he gets on but we would be very hopeful of a big show as he's a fast-improving horse and one we think the world of.' The last four winners of this have gone on to contest the St Leger and although his team are refusing to rule out a Classic tilt, it could be an audacious trip to Paris that comes calling in the autumn if Merchant continues his rapid progression through the ranks. Herbert added: 'The St Leger is certainly possible it's just whether we want to go the mile and six route or whether we stick to a mile and a half. 'It will all depend on how he progresses and if he happens to win the Gordon Stakes we would then all being well head to the Great Voltigeur (at York, August 20) and if he happened to win that then the conversation would be do you go for the St Leger or have a crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. 'I think it's wide open at this stage and of course there is a lot of water to flow under the bridge still. But William and I have been discussing it for a while and I'm not certain the St Leger would be the right move for this horse, although I hate to say that now when we're nowhere near that point. 'Hopefully all goes well at Goodwood and once that is out of the way we can go from there.' Eve Johnson Houghton has already made her mark in the juvenile Group races this week and will bid for Super Sprint compensation with Havana Hurricane in the Markel Richmond Stakes. The Royal Ascot winner narrowly missed out on a huge bounty when beaten a short head at Newbury but now returns to six furlongs, the distance over which he went down fighting to Charlie Appleby's reopposing Maximized in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom. 'It would be exciting to make it a Group Two double for the week,' said Johnson Houghton. 'He's in great form, he's done nothing wrong and I think six furlongs will really suit him now we know to hold on to him for a bit longer. 'We obviously kicked too soon at Epsom, but we learned from it.' Clive Cox has bided his time since with Coppull since finishing third in the Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting but with the form looking smart, is hopeful he can show the required progress in a race the Lambourn handler has won with Golden Horde (2019) and Supremacy (2020). 'I was really pleased with his effort in the Coventry and I just wanted to give him a little bit of time as he's still developing,' said Cox. 'He's done nothing but please so far and this is another big step, but we really like him. 'It's nice to be heading to these races with horses in form.' Disappointing in the Coventry was Archie Watson's Underwriter, but after being returned to Ayr for a confidence-boosting win since, attempts to go one better than owners Wathnan Racing's The Strikin Viking who was touched off in this race 12 months ago. 'We took him back up to Ayr and he was impressive there on debut and again the other day, he just had a complete blip for whatever reason at Royal Ascot,' said Wathnan's Richard Brown. 'We couldn't find any reason for the poor performance at Ascot so we went back up to Ayr with a penalty and he showed us what he could do. 'It's a step up in class, but we'll find out where we're at.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store