Latest news with #Coolmore
New Paper
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Calandagan can do it again
French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is aiming to double the score in the £1.5 million (S$2.58 million) Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on July 26. The desire to cross the English Channel and plunder one of UK's better-known riches is the same, but not quite the stress levels. Last year, the Chantilly handler had walked into the Ascot paddock, happy to fly under the radar with his charge Goliath, but quietly confident the 25-1 roughie could - unlike his namesake - turn giant-killer. However, Graffard was not so sure when he stood in the parade ring and glanced up at the market. "I was on my own, and Lisa my wife didn't come. I think I was 30-1 and I was like 'oh my god, I will probably look like a fool'," he said. However, the German-bred fooled pundits by upstaging a star-studded field that included the eventual Arc winner Bluestocking, 2023 Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin and Godolphin star Rebel's Romance, among others. "When he entered the straight, he was cruising, that was a really good thrill," said Graffard. "The way he won was fantastic and I want to go back there and win that race again." With Calandagan this time, the odds will be a lot shorter for the recent Group 1 first-time scorer. Four consecutive times bridesmaid at elite level, the Aga Khan-owned four-year-old gelding finally broke his duck at his last start, in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2,400m) on June 29. The five-time winner by Gleneagles is the 7-4 favourite in ante-post betting, a well-deserved status even if he will be up against a stronger band of performers than the ones he met in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Coolmore's Jan Brueghel was his nemesis in the last of that frustrating run of four Group 1 misses, the Coronation Cup (2,400m) at Epsom on June 6. Also entered are Epsom Derby-Irish Derby double winner Lambourn, Rebel's Romance who snapped a long run of outs for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m) on June 21, and interestingly, defending champion Goliath himself. Graffard has, however, indicated that Goliath's new American owner, John Stewart of the world's latest big-spending player Resolute Racing, would rather aim for the Grade 1 Arlington Million (2,000m) at Colonial Downs, US, on Aug 9 instead. Putting all his eggs in the one Calandagan basket does not seem to faze Graffard. In his eyes, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud win has put him up there with the big boys. "It was a real pleasure to see him winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. But it's really the way he did it that pleased me," he said. "The horse was very impressive that day. We got the job done and in a very good manner." The bullishness also stems from Calandagan already having a proven track record at Ascot, and over the same course and distance. In 2024, he won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2,400m) at the Royal Ascot meeting, bolting up by six lengths. "He was so impressive that day. That was really nice to watch," recalled Graffard. The late Aga Khan's racing manager Nemone Routh shared the same enthusiasm. "He's a very consistent horse. Things probably do have to just fall a little bit right for him to get his head in front," she said. "But he's a very classy horse, consistent and genuine. So, we're looking forward to a good race at Ascot." A win would not only continue the legacy of the famous green and red epaulettes, but also its breeding arm. "We were really looking for that Group 1 win. So he's got that under his belt now," added Routh. "It is important to run internationally, for the Aga Khan studs, for the brand, for our stallions, for bloodstock." While such lofty expectations can weigh heavily on some trainers, they seem to strike a chord with Graffard. "When you do this sport, you want to be competitive and be seen on the bigger stage. There is no point winning small races," he said. "But when they asked me to train at Aiglemont (Aga Khan's stables), that's my way, I'm very competitive, I want to win big races. So, that was part of the deal." manyan@
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Minnie Hauk's Irish Oaks success extends Aidan O'Brien's stunning Group One winning streak
Minnie Hauk's Juddmonte Irish Oaks success at the Curragh on Saturday means that Aidan O'Brien has saddled the winners of 33 per cent of Group One races run in Ireland, Britain and France so far this season. The remarkable tally of 11 top-flight contests before even halfway through the campaign puts the Irish trainer in contention to break his own world record haul of 28 Group/Grade One races in a single season set in 2017. One bookmaker makes O'Brien a 9-2 shot to do just that in what is fast turning into, even by his own stellar standards, a rare display of elite domination. Minnie Hauk was his seventh Classic victory in 2025. The 2-11 favourite became the 16th filly to complete the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double and is a 10-1 favourite for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. READ MORE Afterwards, the Coolmore brains trust led by supremo John Magnier debated the correct route to Longchamp for her, either through the Yorkshire Oaks next month or a test over the Arc course and distance in the Prix Vermeille in September. Both contests figure in the 46 top-class races still up for grabs in Europe's three major racing jurisdictions this season. With global options also expanding in the autumn, including at the Breeders' Cup, a new record tally could be on O'Brien's radar. What's certain is that his current mark is equal at the same point as during his momentous 2017 campaign and that the resources he has available to him are unparalleled. Over the weekend O'Brien revealed that his most exciting two-year-old Albert Einstein probably won't race again this season. There are also doubts about the future of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria who may be retired. Despite that, if anything, his hold on this season's top races appears to be only tightening. He has indicated the Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel will renew Epsom rivalry with the top French horse Calandagan in this Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. That will allow him keep in reserve the dual-Derby hero Lambourn for a potential tilt at more Classic glory in September's St Leger at Doncaster rather than take on holder horses in British racing's midsummer highlight. 'At the moment I'd say Jan Brueghel is most likely to go to the King George, with Continuous. Lambourn is still on the boiling pot for it, but I don't think he'll be forced into it by any means, and he is a three-year-old,' O'Brien said. 'Jan Brueghel seems to be in very good form and everyone seems to be very happy with him. I'd imagine the lads might let him go there. 'That would mean Lambourn would have a couple of easy weeks and he might go to the Great Voltigeur, even though he's a Group One winner, and kind of set him up for the Leger. They haven't really decided yet, but reading between the lines that's what could happen,' he added. Almost immediately after the King George is the start of the Goodwood festival, where O'Brien horses are favourites for two of the three Group One contests up for grabs there. Illinois is odds-on for the Goodwood Cup, while the Pretty Polly heroine Whirl tops lists for the Nassau Stakes. In between, Henri Matisse is set to again take on his St James's Palace Stakes conqueror Field Of Gold. There are a handful of Group One prizes up for grabs in Deauville. One horse out of the King George equation is the King Edward VII Stakes winner Amiloc. He hasn't recovered from his Royal Ascot exertions in time to satisfy his trainer Ralph Beckett. 'It's a training decision and Ralph felt he could just do with a little bit more time having had a hard race at Royal Ascot,' said a spokesman for Amiloc's ownership. 'The real racing for this horse will be in the autumn time and Ralph thinks it's a little too quick after his last race. It's nothing more than that and nothing untoward.' Monday evening's domestic action in Ballinrobe is more ordinary fare, but the transformed handicapper Deuteronomy gets a shot at completing four wins in a row. Nicola Burns's mount keeps winning by half a length but has been upped 9lbs for winning at Limerick and has to overcome a wide draw.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
True Love powers home for Railway Stakes demolition
Aidan O'Brien had saddled 14 previous winners of the Group Two contest, with Rock Of Gibraltar (2001), George Washington (2005) and last year's victor Henri Matisse (2024) among them, and it was significant his chief hope this time around was the sole filly in a field of four. Having filled the runner-up spot on her first two starts, True Love (1-2 favourite) was an impressive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes and followed up in fine style, travelling strongly under Ryan Moore before quickening five lengths clear of stable Puerto Rico with the minimum of fuss. 👀 Queen Mary heroine 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 – a rare filly to even run in the @GAINEquine Railway Stakes @curraghrace – follows in the estimable hoofprints of stablemate and last year's winner Henri Matisse 💕@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 O'Brien said: 'Obviously she's fast so we weren't sure she'd get six (furlongs). I suppose we were finding out a little bit about her really. 'She was a Queen Mary winner so it was very hard for Ryan not to ride her. We couldn't be happier with her really. 'Obviously the Phoenix Stakes would be there for her as well as the Prix Morny and the Cheveley Park. It was a Group Two today and she'd be ready for one of those Group Ones now.' Coolmore supremo John Magnier was making a rare appearance on track and said: 'She's a good individual and she's very well bred, it's the Galileo family. 'Somebody told me that this is the first time in 30 years that a filly has won this race. 'There is a real pedigree there and a pedigree like that is like a road map, anything can happen.' When asked whether he felt True Love could be a contender for next year's 1000 Guineas, for which she was cut to 16-1 from 25-1 by Paddy Power, Magnier added: 'Fingers crossed. It's no mean feat to win the Queen Mary, either. 'The old breeders used to really think a lot of that race, it started a lot of families.'
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
True Love powers home for Railway Stakes demolition
Having filled the runner-up spot on her first two starts, True Love (1-2 favourite) was an impressive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes and followed up in fine style, travelling strongly under Ryan Moore before quickening five lengths clear of stable Puerto Rico with the minimum of fuss. 👀 Queen Mary heroine 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 – a rare filly to even run in the @GAINEquine Railway Stakes @curraghrace – follows in the estimable hoofprints of stablemate and last year's winner Henri Matisse 💕@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 O'Brien said: 'Obviously she's fast so we weren't sure she'd get six (furlongs). I suppose we were finding out a little bit about her really. 'She was a Queen Mary winner so it was very hard for Ryan not to ride her. We couldn't be happier with her really. 'Obviously the Phoenix Stakes would be there for her as well as the Prix Morny and the Cheveley Park. It was a Group Two today and she'd be ready for one of those Group Ones now.' Coolmore supremo John Magnier was making a rare appearance on track and said: 'She's a good individual and she's very well bred, it's the Galileo family. True Love after winning the Railway Stakes at the Curragh (Gary Carson/PA) 'Somebody told me that this is the first time in 30 years that a filly has won this race. 'There is a real pedigree there and a pedigree like that is like a road map, anything can happen.' When asked whether he felt True Love could be a contender for next year's 1000 Guineas, for which she was cut to 16-1 from 25-1 by Paddy Power, Magnier added: 'Fingers crossed. It's no mean feat to win the Queen Mary, either. 'The old breeders used to really think a lot of that race, it started a lot of families.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
True Love powers home for Railway Stakes demolition
Aidan O'Brien had saddled 14 previous winners of the Group Two contest, with Rock Of Gibraltar (2001), George Washington (2005) and last year's victor Henri Matisse (2024) among them, and it was significant his chief hope this time around was the sole filly in a field of four. Having filled the runner-up spot on her first two starts, True Love (1-2 favourite) was an impressive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes and followed up in fine style, travelling strongly under Ryan Moore before quickening five lengths clear of stable Puerto Rico with the minimum of fuss. 👀 Queen Mary heroine 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 – a rare filly to even run in the @GAINEquine Railway Stakes @curraghrace – follows in the estimable hoofprints of stablemate and last year's winner Henri Matisse 💕@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 O'Brien said: 'Obviously she's fast so we weren't sure she'd get six (furlongs). I suppose we were finding out a little bit about her really. 'She was a Queen Mary winner so it was very hard for Ryan not to ride her. We couldn't be happier with her really. 'Obviously the Phoenix Stakes would be there for her as well as the Prix Morny and the Cheveley Park. It was a Group Two today and she'd be ready for one of those Group Ones now.' Coolmore supremo John Magnier was making a rare appearance on track and said: 'She's a good individual and she's very well bred, it's the Galileo family. 'Somebody told me that this is the first time in 30 years that a filly has won this race. 'There is a real pedigree there and a pedigree like that is like a road map, anything can happen.' When asked whether he felt True Love could be a contender for next year's 1000 Guineas, for which she was cut to 16-1 from 25-1 by Paddy Power, Magnier added: 'Fingers crossed. It's no mean feat to win the Queen Mary, either. 'The old breeders used to really think a lot of that race, it started a lot of families.'
