Latest news with #AtTheRaces
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Field sights set on Sussex gold
Narrowly denied Classic glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden's grey has made no mistake in two subsequent starts, demonstrating his dazzling acceleration in both the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. His sire Kingman landed both of those Group One events before completing his hat-trick in this race 11 years ago and Field Of Gold is odds-on to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who takes over in the saddle from the suspended Colin Keane. SUPERSTAR! FIELD OF GOLD ROUTS THEM IN THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES! #RoyalAscot — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 'The horse is athletic, he's got great balance, and hopefully he'll handle the track well. It's very different to the round mile of Ascot or the Curragh, that's for sure,' said John Gosden. 'He does have that great turn of foot, let's hope we get a clear run and he can produce it on the day. 'His father won the Sussex in somewhat cheeky fashion, it was an extraordinary race. They literally crawled, then sprinted in the last two furlongs, and fortunately we got it just right on the line.' Field Of Gold renews rivalry with St James's Palace runner-up Henri Matisse, who had previously landed the French 2000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien. The Wootton Bassett colt has three and a half lengths to find with the hot favourite from their Royal Ascot meeting and O'Brien is keeping his fingers crossed he can at least close the gap. 'So far everything has gone well since Ascot and we're looking forward to seeing him run,' he said. 'We think he's gone the right way since Ascot.' The older brigade is headed by Docklands and Rosallion, who were split by just a nose when second in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. Harry Eustace, the trainer of Docklands, said: 'The track should suit him. He has run there before (in 2023) and to the eye was a little disappointing, but it was his first run off the back of his win in the Britannia and, in hindsight, I don't know whether I had him 100 per cent. 'He handled Epsom well, so I have no problem with the cambers at Goodwood. The quality of the race might be another matter. 'It can't be overstated how important he's been for us for the last three years. We'll cherish his two wins at Royal Ascot forever. 'We're a relatively young business and he is by a long way our flagship horse – he has been key to everything that's happened since.' Meanwhile, Richard Hannon will be looking to replicate some of the great days his father enjoyed in this race with the likes of Canford Cliffs and Toronado as he runs his stable star Rosallion. Like Field Of Gold, the son of Blue Point suffered defeat in the 2000 Guineas before landing Classic honours in Ireland and then scoring at Royal Ascot and his loyal pilot Sean Levey is relishing this mouthwatering clash of generations. He told Ladbrokes: 'There's no doubt Field Of Gold is going to be very difficult to beat, based on what we've seen of him so far. He's an exceptional horse, but I think we have the right attributes to take him on. 'He's a four-year-old this year which means he has to give away weight, but he's improved with every run, in my opinion, from the Lockinge to just being denied at Ascot in the Queen Anne. He's improved, as good horses do, and I know he's in a really good place coming into this. 'To be fair, I think we were very unlucky to be denied in the Queen Anne by what was literally the flare of a nostril and he ran into a specialist in Docklands, who was very good on the day. 'But Goodwood is a different story altogether and Rosallion is a good horse who has shown his versatility across a number of racetracks.'
North Wales Chronicle
6 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Field sights set on Sussex gold
Narrowly denied Classic glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden's grey has made no mistake in two subsequent starts, demonstrating his dazzling acceleration in both the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. His sire Kingman landed both of those Group One events before completing his hat-trick in this race 11 years ago and Field Of Gold is odds-on to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who takes over in the saddle from the suspended Colin Keane. SUPERSTAR! FIELD OF GOLD ROUTS THEM IN THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES! #RoyalAscot — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 'The horse is athletic, he's got great balance, and hopefully he'll handle the track well. It's very different to the round mile of Ascot or the Curragh, that's for sure,' said John Gosden. 'He does have that great turn of foot, let's hope we get a clear run and he can produce it on the day. 'His father won the Sussex in somewhat cheeky fashion, it was an extraordinary race. They literally crawled, then sprinted in the last two furlongs, and fortunately we got it just right on the line.' Field Of Gold renews rivalry with St James's Palace runner-up Henri Matisse, who had previously landed the French 2000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien. The Wootton Bassett colt has three and a half lengths to find with the hot favourite from their Royal Ascot meeting and O'Brien is keeping his fingers crossed he can at least close the gap. 'So far everything has gone well since Ascot and we're looking forward to seeing him run,' he said. 'We think he's gone the right way since Ascot.' The older brigade is headed by Docklands and Rosallion, who were split by just a nose when second in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. Harry Eustace, the trainer of Docklands, said: 'The track should suit him. He has run there before (in 2023) and to the eye was a little disappointing, but it was his first run off the back of his win in the Britannia and, in hindsight, I don't know whether I had him 100 per cent. 'He handled Epsom well, so I have no problem with the cambers at Goodwood. The quality of the race might be another matter. 'It can't be overstated how important he's been for us for the last three years. We'll cherish his two wins at Royal Ascot forever. 'We're a relatively young business and he is by a long way our flagship horse – he has been key to everything that's happened since.' Meanwhile, Richard Hannon will be looking to replicate some of the great days his father enjoyed in this race with the likes of Canford Cliffs and Toronado as he runs his stable star Rosallion. Like Field Of Gold, the son of Blue Point suffered defeat in the 2000 Guineas before landing Classic honours in Ireland and then scoring at Royal Ascot and his loyal pilot Sean Levey is relishing this mouthwatering clash of generations. He told Ladbrokes: 'There's no doubt Field Of Gold is going to be very difficult to beat, based on what we've seen of him so far. He's an exceptional horse, but I think we have the right attributes to take him on. 'He's a four-year-old this year which means he has to give away weight, but he's improved with every run, in my opinion, from the Lockinge to just being denied at Ascot in the Queen Anne. He's improved, as good horses do, and I know he's in a really good place coming into this. 'To be fair, I think we were very unlucky to be denied in the Queen Anne by what was literally the flare of a nostril and he ran into a specialist in Docklands, who was very good on the day. 'But Goodwood is a different story altogether and Rosallion is a good horse who has shown his versatility across a number of racetracks.'
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Illinois expected to thrive over Goodwood Cup trip
Following the latter's retirement, Illinois was drafted into the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and performed admirably to finish best of the rest behind the front-running Trawlerman – and with the latter not in attendance, the four-year-old is favourite to go one better on the Sussex Downs. TRAWLERMAN IS THE 2025 GOLD CUP HERO! #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2025 O'Brien said: 'He ran well in the Gold Cup and we're looking forward to this, obviously it's a shorter trip than Ascot. 'We thought this would be a nice third race back for him this year and we've been very happy with him since Ascot.' Connections have a major second string to their bow in the form of Scandinavia, a dominant winner of the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket three weeks ago and as the sole three-year-old in the field, he is in receipt of a stone in weight from Illinois and the rest of his rivals. 'He was good in Newmarket and he seems in good form. Obviously he's only a baby, but he liked the extra distance in Newmarket the last day and seems to have come out of the race well,' O'Brien added. Sweet William won the Summer Handicap at Goodwood in 2023 (Andrew Matthews/PA) Despite deciding against running Trawlerman, John and Thady Gosden are well represented, with Gold Cup fourth Sweet William joined by French Master and Military Academy. French Master claimed his fourth win from six career starts in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal meeting and now tests the water over two miles on a track where he has been successful before. John Gosden said: 'Sweet William has been in very good form. He broke well in the Gold Cup, it was a tough race and in the end the two and a half (miles) was a little too far for him – he's a two-mile to two-and-a-quarter-mile horse, but he ran a brave race. 'He's in very good form and he knows Goodwood well, so back we go again.' French Master will dip his toe in Group company for the first time (John Walton/PA) Of French Master, the trainer added: 'I think he's a horse who will rise to the occasion. He won in good style (at Royal Ascot), but he's going from a handicap to a completely open Group One. 'We're hopeful he'll run a good race and we're very much looking forward to running him and seeing the jump in class. If he doesn't handle it, we can regroup.' Saeed bin Suroor (John Walton/PA) Another who appears better suited to the drop in trip will be Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai Future, who split Illinois and Sweet William when third in the Gold Cup. Bin Suroor said: 'Dubai Future worked well on Thursday and heads to Goodwood in good order. 'He ran a good race in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but two miles suits him better, as he showed in the Dubai Gold Cup. 'He has done very well this year and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on.'
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Calandagan not certain to take Juddmonte International chance
Calandagan found only City Of Troy too strong in the Juddmonte International last summer – but while Graffard is not ruling out a return to the Knavesmire, he feels his stable star will need a break at some stage if he is to head abroad in the latter part of 2025. THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 'He came back yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime and ate everything. He lost 13 kilos, which is normal, and he was at the track this morning and seems fine,' the trainer told Sky Sports Racing. 'It (Juddmonte International) is in the back of my head and he is entered. I think that would be great for the sport if he can go there, (but) he showed that a mile and a half on good ground is what he really likes and where he's very efficient. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess (Zahra, who leads the management team of the Aga Khan Studs) and I haven't been in touch with her since (Saturday). He has big targets in Japan, Hong Kong, the Breeders' Cup and Dubai, so I can't keep him going non-stop and will probably have to stop at one stage. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess, but at the moment I am probably going to go for a break with him.' Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Ascot (John Walton/PA) Graffard has a second Aga Khan-owned Juddmonte International entry in the form of Daryz, who was last seen stretching his unbeaten record to four in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam. When asked whether he was a possible contender for the York feature, Graffard added: 'He is, again that would be a discussion I need to have with the Princess. 'He's a very nice prospect, Daryz, I really like the horse, but is he ready to go into a race like the Juddmonte International against these very strong horses? It's a big question mark. 'If he doesn't go to York, he can go the classic French way of the Prix Niel and the Arc.' Graffard also confirmed the Prix de la Foret as a likely target for French Guineas heroine and Coronation Stakes runner-up Zarigana, while Prix Jean Prat victor Woodshauna is being aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest ahead of a possible trip to Haydock for the Sprint Cup in September.
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Calandagan rules supreme for France in King George
Francis-Henri Graffard's gelding was bidding to keep the trophy in the Chantilly yard after Goliath prevailed 12 months ago, with his key rival seemingly Aidan O'Brien's Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel, who had edged the Aga Khan Studs-owned four-year-old at Epsom. Calandagan was the well-backed 11-10 favourite to turn the tables and after an incredibly patient ride from Mickael Barzalona he swept through to pick off all of his rivals and pass the gallant Kalpana ahead of the line for a one-length triumph. It is the fifth time the race has been won by a horse carrying the green and red silks, with Shergar the most famous of the those winners after prevailing for the fourth Aga Khan, who died in February this year at the age of 88. THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 'I am so pleased for the horse, it was a competitive race,' said Graffard. 'The tactics during the race were not what I was expecting, when I saw Continuous going very steadily it was all different. 'When the filly (Kalpana) kicked on for home my horse was still travelling well, I was hoping he was going to catch her at the end. He lengthened so strongly, he's a very good horse. 'I wanted to see my horse getting into his rhythm and lengthening his stride, when I really saw him coming I started to shout. 'He won nicely again today, he's a good horse, that's two in row now in Group Ones. 'Mickael knows him very well and he has a lot confidence in the horse. You saw the ride he gave him, he had a lot of confidence and he won – we are so happy.' Future plans could include another trip to York for the Juddmonte International, in which he was second to City Of Troy last year. Graffard said: 'We'll see how he comes out of the race, but he's in the Juddmonte International and why not, I wouldn't mind going back there. I would have no problem bringing him back to 10 furlongs, but I will discuss it with the owner. 'A mile and a half is also the perfect distance for him, but he ran really strongly in the race at York last year and if he comes back really well, why avoid the race? 'We could maybe go for the Japan Cup at the end of the season, but he will have a big target somewhere.' Jubilant rider Barzalona added: 'This means a lot and it has come at the right time for me. 'It's took a bit of time to win his Group One, but now he has won two in a row and to win a King George means a lot. 'He's a lovely horse to ride and he has an engine and a beautiful action. Once he finds his rhythm he is never going to let you down and as a jockey you just need to put him in the right spot and let him do the rest. 'I was very confident I would get to Kalpana and this is a great result.'
