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UPI
13 hours ago
- Sport
- UPI
Royal Ascot looms after a weekend of big races from France to Japan
1 of 2 | Meisho Tabaru wins Sunday's Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse, earning "Win and You're In" spots in both the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar and the W.S. Cox Plate in Australia. Photo by and courtesy of Katsumi Saito June 16 (UPI) -- The Royal Ascot started taking firm shape this weekend even as the winners were cooling out from Sunday's "Win and You're In" qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup Turf, the W.S. Cox Plate and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Back in the States, some potentially late-blooming 3-year-olds took steps forward at Monmouth Park and Delaware Park. And Motorious started off his 7-year-old season with another convincing win. Oh boy! Royal Ascot. Around the world, around the clock Royal Ascot The five-day Royal meeting gets underway Tuesday, starting with a bang in the form of the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. It's worth setting the alarm clock, as familiar foes Rosalion, Dancing Gemini, Lead Artist and Notable Speech top a quality field for the straight one-mile test. Also in the field is the first big American hope, Carl Spackler. The 5-year-old multiple Grade 1 winner, trained by Ciaron Maher, exits a win in the Grade I Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in April and has been prepping at Saratoga. Also on the Tuesday card are the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at 5 furlongs, the Group 1 St. James's Palace Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 mile and the Group 2 Coventry Stakes for 2-year-olds. Wednesday's traditional feature is the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes. A flock of retirements has left the Thursday centerpiece, the Group 1Ascot Gold Cup, a bit more open than in recent years. On Friday, it's the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup for 3-year-olds at 6 furlongs and the Group 1 Coronation Cup for 3-year-old fillies. The final Group 1, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, wraps things up on Saturday. Japan Meisho Tabaru scored a front-running upset win in Sunday's Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse, turning back a late challenge by the favorite, Bellagio Opera, and running on to win by 3 lengths. The 4-year-old son of Gold Ship earned "Win and You're In" spots in both the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate in Australia and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. Sadly, lacking a time machine he's not going to contest both, as the Cox Plate is Oct. 25 and the Breeders' Cup is Nov. 1. Meisho Tabaru, last seen finishing fifth in the Group 1 Dubai Turf in April, benefitted from jockey Yutaka Take's decision to go for the lead and see how far he could go. "I knew the other horses were going to make their bid early but my mount had good momentum going around the fourth corner and I was hoping that he would manage to push through," the veteran rider said. France Gezora rallied to the lead inside the 100-meter mark in Sunday's Group 1 Prix de Diane or French Oaks at Chantilly and held safe a late charge by Bedtime Story to win by 1 length. Gezora, an Almanzor filly racing for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, scored her fourth win following a victory in the Group 2 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp on May 11. Bedtime Story, a Frankel filly, won her first four starts last season for trainer Aidan O'Brien, but had been up the course in three intervening starts. The race now is a "Win and You're In" for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October and Gezora's odds accordingly were whacked down for that race. Meanwhile, back in the States The 3-year-olds Bracket Buster returned to form, and then some, in Saturday's $150,000 NYRA Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Vekoma colt, trained by Vickie Oliver, finished second in the Grade III Lexington at Keeneland two starts back but then finished seventh in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. In the Pegasus, he dueled for the lead, then took over and won off by 7 lengths. Admiral Dennis took a big step forward in Saturday's $200,000 Delaware Derby at Delaware Park, stalking the pace before kicking away to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Barbadian Runner. On the Triple Crown trail, he finished sixth in the Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park after a slow start, then finished fourth in the Grade I Blue Grass at Keeneland. Classic / Dirt Mile Bishops Bay rolled smoothly over a sloppy Monmouth Park track to win Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Salvator Mile be new Steven y 5 lengths over Nelson Avenue. The 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo improved to seven wins and three seconds from 10 starts despite a 17-month, mid-career interruption. Since returning from that hiatus, he's 5-for-6. The 3-year-old fillies Fondly returned from a 13th place showing in the Kentucky Oaks, her first career loss, to win Saturday' $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks by 3 lengths after leading from the early going. The favorite, Margie's Intention, started last of nine and came on late to finish second. On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Take Charge Milady engaged in a tight stretch duel with odds-on favorite Immersive in the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Stakes for 3-year-old fillies with Take Charge Milady prevailing by a neck at the wire. Immersive, last year's Breeders' Cup and Eclipse Award 2-year-old filly champ, entered undefeated in four previous starts. Distaff Majestic Oops, shipped in from Oaklawn Park, drew off from four rivals in the stretch run of Saturday's $150,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park and won by 4 1/2 lengths over the favorite, Occult. Malibu Beauty led all the way to a 3-length score in Saturday's $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaward Park. Sprint Full Moon Madness enjoyed a bit of class relief in Saturday's $100,000 Alapocas Run Stakes at Delaware Park. The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding came with a late surge to catch Buccherino and win by a neck. Turf Vote No got the thumbs up in Saturday's $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old Divisidero gelding had some rough going early and raced well back in the field but swung four-wide into the lane and made up all the ground to win by 3/4 length over Harrow. Redistricting, the odds-on favorite, led virtually all the way to a 5-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Monmouth Stakes. Rebel Red won Saturday's $200,000 Chorleywood Stakes at Churchill Downs by 2 lengths. And Nitti came from last of five to win Sunday's 1 3/4-miles Grade III San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita by 2 1/2 lengths. Filly & Mare Turf Mrs. Astor, the odds-on favorite, had all she could do to handle long shot Mahina in the closing stages of Saturday's $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita. Both rallied from behind a moderate pace set by Kentucky Gal but Mrs. Astor got the better trip and won by a nose. Whiskey Decision, returning from seven months on the sidelines, won Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park by 2 lengths over the favorite Maggie Go. Turf Sprint Motorious kicked off his 7-year-old season with a convincing 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita. The British-bred Muhaarar gelding, second in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, swung outside rivals crossing the dirt track, rallied by the leaders and drove home first by 1 1/2 length. He's won three of his last four starts going back to last August. Gata Brazil won Sunday's $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park by a nose over the pacesetting favorite, Roja. Super Chow took Sunday's off-the-turf $100,000 Get Serious Stakes at Monmouth Park by 1 3/4 lengths.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Gezora takes Prix de Diane honours at Chantilly from Bedtime Story
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gezora raced in the pack through the 10-furlong contest before switched out to launch her challenge with around a furlong and a half to run. She kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, having enough in reserve to hold off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bedtime Story, who only narrowly failed to come from last to first under Ryan Moore. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect turned for home and momentarily looked she would again be involved at the business end, but while she was in front with two furlongs to run, she had raced keenly in second and was ultimately eased by Kieran Shoemark when her chance had gone. Gezora was beaten by stablemate Mandanaba on her initial start in April, but the Almanzor filly landed the Prix Saint-Alary last time – a performance which gave Graffard plenty of confidence. He said: 'She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all time and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself.' Bookmaker reaction was positive to a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid, with Coral introducing Gezora at 14-1, and Graffard added: 'It's great to have the Arc 'win and you're in races' and we know she loves the soft ground and we close no doors.' Soumillon praised the winner's heart for a battle, saying: 'When they started to quicken in the straight I was following them really easily, I knew she'd be able to change gear and that's exactly what she did. The pace was on and she was ready to react at the right time. 'I saw Ryan coming on my outside and thought 'here comes Aidan again!', but she had a great heart and we won it.' Asked about the Arc, the rider said: 'She can do a mile and a half, I think, we'll see what she can do in the Vermeille. We know she likes soft ground and the form from the Prix de Conde (last year) was great, the winner (Lazy Griff) was second in the Derby at Epsom and here (she is) the winner of the Prix de Diane, so sometimes you never know.' For owner Peter Brant, the victory in his White Birch Farm colours was the realisation of a long-held ambition to win the French fillies' Classic. Brant purchased Gezora after she won two of her four juvenile starts and was thrilled to see her better Sistercharlie, who was beaten just a length in the 2017 renewal before going on to a stellar American career. He said: 'I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamt of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race – it's always stiff competition. 'We were second with Sistercharlie, a great filly who won seven Grade Ones and she couldn't even win this race because she got into trouble. It's a very difficult race to predict.' O'Brien said of the runner-up: 'We're delighted with Bedtime Story's performance. She ran a magnificent race. Her improvement is clear. I've consistently run her in good races, and she's now showing her true form. 'This result, over this distance, opens a lot of doors. I'm not sure yet what we'll do next. We need to see how she comes out of it.' Meanwhile, Fellowes will now drop back in distance with Shes Perfect, who finished ninth, and could also dip in class in search of what would a deserved Group-race win. He said: 'I think it's clear she just didn't really stay. I always thought 10 furlongs would be in her range, but then she did a really sparkling piece of work earlier in the week and I thought maybe she had more speed than I gave her credit for. 'She won a Pouliches so we have a very, very good filly, it was the right thing to roll the dice here over 10 furlongs and we have learned a lot. 'The Falmouth would be the obvious race for her, but we might even think about dropping back in grade to try to get her head in front, give her a bit of a confidence boost and get that stakes win. 'I have a slight niggle in the back of my head that she might prefer a bit of ease underfoot, even though she ran so well in the Pouliches, maybe she was just saving herself a bit today as I walked the course and it was fast enough. 'If it turned up quick for her next run, I wouldn't shy away, but I think we'll let the dust settle a bit before making a firm plan.'
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Gezora takes Prix de Diane honours at Chantilly from Bedtime Story
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gezora raced in the pack through the 10-furlong contest before switched out to launch her challenge with around a furlong and a half to run. She kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, having enough in reserve to hold off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bedtime Story, who only narrowly failed to come from last to first under Ryan Moore. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect turned for home and momentarily looked she would again be involved at the business end, but while she was in front with two furlongs to run, she had raced keenly in second and was ultimately eased by Kieran Shoemark when her chance had gone. Gezora was beaten by stablemate Mandanaba on her initial start in April, but the Almanzor filly landed the Prix Saint-Alary last time – a performance which gave Graffard plenty of confidence. He said: 'She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all time and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself.' Bookmaker reaction was positive to a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid, with Coral introducing Gezora at 14-1, and Graffard added: 'It's great to have the Arc 'win and you're in races' and we know she loves the soft ground and we close no doors.' Soumillon praised the winner's heart for a battle, saying: 'When they started to quicken in the straight I was following them really easily, I knew she'd be able to change gear and that's exactly what she did. The pace was on and she was ready to react at the right time. 'I saw Ryan coming on my outside and thought 'here comes Aidan again!', but she had a great heart and we won it.' Asked about the Arc, the rider said: 'She can do a mile and a half, I think, we'll see what she can do in the Vermeille. We know she likes soft ground and the form from the Prix de Conde (last year) was great, the winner (Lazy Griff) was second in the Derby at Epsom and here (she is) the winner of the Prix de Diane, so sometimes you never know.' For owner Peter Brant, the victory in his White Birch Farm colours was the realisation of a long-held ambition to win the French fillies' Classic. Brant purchased Gezora after she won two of her four juvenile starts and was thrilled to see her better Sistercharlie, who was beaten just a length in the 2017 renewal before going on to a stellar American career. He said: 'I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamt of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race – it's always stiff competition. 'We were second with Sistercharlie, a great filly who won seven Grade Ones and she couldn't even win this race because she got into trouble. It's a very difficult race to predict.' O'Brien said of the runner-up: 'We're delighted with Bedtime Story's performance. She ran a magnificent race. Her improvement is clear. I've consistently run her in good races, and she's now showing her true form. 'This result, over this distance, opens a lot of doors. I'm not sure yet what we'll do next. We need to see how she comes out of it.' Meanwhile, Fellowes will now drop back in distance with Shes Perfect, who finished ninth, and could also dip in class in search of what would a deserved Group-race win. He said: 'I think it's clear she just didn't really stay. I always thought 10 furlongs would be in her range, but then she did a really sparkling piece of work earlier in the week and I thought maybe she had more speed than I gave her credit for. 'She won a Pouliches so we have a very, very good filly, it was the right thing to roll the dice here over 10 furlongs and we have learned a lot. 'The Falmouth would be the obvious race for her, but we might even think about dropping back in grade to try to get her head in front, give her a bit of a confidence boost and get that stakes win. 'I have a slight niggle in the back of my head that she might prefer a bit of ease underfoot, even though she ran so well in the Pouliches, maybe she was just saving herself a bit today as I walked the course and it was fast enough. 'If it turned up quick for her next run, I wouldn't shy away, but I think we'll let the dust settle a bit before making a firm plan.'
Leader Live
a day ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Gezora takes Prix de Diane honours at Chantilly from Bedtime Story
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gezora raced in the pack through the 10-furlong contest before switched out to launch her challenge with around a furlong and a half to run. She kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, having enough in reserve to hold off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bedtime Story, who only narrowly failed to come from last to first under Ryan Moore. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect turned for home and momentarily looked she would again be involved at the business end, but while she was in front with two furlongs to run, she had raced keenly in second and was ultimately eased by Kieran Shoemark when her chance had gone. Gezora was beaten by stablemate Mandanaba on her initial start in April, but the Almanzor filly landed the Prix Saint-Alary last time – a performance which gave Graffard plenty of confidence. He said: 'She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all time and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself.' Bookmaker reaction was positive to a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid, with Coral introducing Gezora at 14-1, and Graffard added: 'It's great to have the Arc 'win and you're in races' and we know she loves the soft ground and we close no doors.' Soumillon praised the winner's heart for a battle, saying: 'When they started to quicken in the straight I was following them really easily, I knew she'd be able to change gear and that's exactly what she did. The pace was on and she was ready to react at the right time. 'I saw Ryan coming on my outside and thought 'here comes Aidan again!', but she had a great heart and we won it.' Asked about the Arc, the rider said: 'She can do a mile and a half, I think, we'll see what she can do in the Vermeille. We know she likes soft ground and the form from the Prix de Conde (last year) was great, the winner (Lazy Griff) was second in the Derby at Epsom and here (she is) the winner of the Prix de Diane, so sometimes you never know.' For owner Peter Brant, the victory in his White Birch Farm colours was the realisation of a long-held ambition to win the French fillies' Classic. Brant purchased Gezora after she won two of her four juvenile starts and was thrilled to see her better Sistercharlie, who was beaten just a length in the 2017 renewal before going on to a stellar American career. He said: 'I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamt of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race – it's always stiff competition. 'We were second with Sistercharlie, a great filly who won seven Grade Ones and she couldn't even win this race because she got into trouble. It's a very difficult race to predict.'
