Royal Fixation handed Lowther mission at York
With Karl Burke sending the winner into Group One company next, that leaves the path clear for Royal Fixation to set the standard on the Knavesmire.
'We've never had a Group winner yet and we're up to a 99 winners, so depending on how our next few results go, it would be quite special if our 100th winner was our first Group winner,' said Opulence's Edward Brown.
'Royal Fixation is an unbelievable filly who possesses a lot of raw, natural speed and talent, when she came into Ed's yard everyone was very complimentary about her.
'We headed to Thirsk with high hopes ahead of her debut and she was very professional that day, she even jumped the winning line which I always remember Luca Cumani saying was a good sign as it meant they had plenty left!
'She really settled down after that but it was a bonus to win first time with her as a Palace Pier filly, she is in some of the more forward lots.
'We thought we'd aim high in the Duchess of Cambridge and thought she'd run a strong race but we'd all seen how good Venetian Sun was at Ascot.
'We rode her different, wanting her to settle, which she did, but then you ask yourself if she'd got out quicker would she have got up and won? We'll never know.
'I echo Ed's post-race comments though, to get as close as we did to what looks an unbelievable filly was a big effort.
'We're going to head for the Lowther now, I think the track will suit her and they are talking of Venetian Sun going for a Group One, so we don't have to worry about her.
'You wouldn't rule out her getting further but if she runs well in the Lowther, you couldn't rule out her going for the Cheveley Park. Being by Palace Pier, she could stay further next year but for now we're concentrating on the Lowther.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman's absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy. Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May. Saeed bin Suroor's Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier's yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month. Menuisier said: 'He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he'd be better over further. 'He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we're hopeful he'll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we'll keep them on.' The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month. 'He's really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I'm very pleased,' Menuisier added. 'When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you're giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it's a good level, but at level weights. 'Goodwood is our back garden, so we're going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we're going there to try and win. 'Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I'm honest. It's the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it's nearly a dream come true.' Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O'Brien's pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby's Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton's July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes. Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett's dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding's French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman's absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy. Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May. Saeed bin Suroor's Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier's yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month. Menuisier said: 'He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he'd be better over further. 'He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we're hopeful he'll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we'll keep them on.' The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month. 'He's really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I'm very pleased,' Menuisier added. 'When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you're giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it's a good level, but at level weights. 'Goodwood is our back garden, so we're going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we're going there to try and win. 'Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I'm honest. It's the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it's nearly a dream come true.' Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O'Brien's pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby's Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton's July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes. Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett's dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding's French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman's absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy. Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May. Saeed bin Suroor's Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier's yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month. Menuisier said: 'He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he'd be better over further. 'He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we're hopeful he'll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we'll keep them on.' The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month. 'He's really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I'm very pleased,' Menuisier added. 'When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you're giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it's a good level, but at level weights. 'Goodwood is our back garden, so we're going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we're going there to try and win. 'Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I'm honest. It's the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it's nearly a dream come true.' Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O'Brien's pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby's Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton's July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes. Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett's dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding's French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.
