CALIFORNIA MEMORY WINS LONGINES HONG KONG CUP

Click above to watch California Memory winning the Hong Kong Cup (Gr1)
(Image : Vince Caliguri - Footage : Mr BC Frankel)

Longines Hong Kong Cup (Group 1)
Sha Tin, Turf, 2000m
9 December 2012

When Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top) was declared from Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup because of injury, it certainly made life easier on the likes of California Memory (USA) (Highest Honor), who was looking to become the first repeat winner in the history of the event. In the end, it may not have mattered. The diminutive gray, arguably the most popular horse in Hong Kong, got through in the stretch and put the race to bed in a matter of strides before going on to a one-length victory from Giofra (GB) (Dansili) and Australia’s Alcopop (Aus) (Jeune).

Following his mild upset over the likes of Ambitious Dragon and Cirrus des Aigles last year, California Memory couldn’t quite solve the Horse of the Year when third in the Stewards’ Cup over a mile January 29 and in the Hong Kong Gold Cup February 26, then was a listless 12th behind Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk) in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes March 31.

Not always the easiest to keep sound, California Memory was well enough for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup going this track and trip April 29, but finished only fifth, and closed a once-promising season with a seventh in the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup May 20.

Given a two-race build-up to this title defense, the 6-year-old returned to action with a very useful fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths to Ambitious Dragon, in the Sha Tin Trophy Handicap October 28 and put it all together last time with a short-head success from 2011 Cup runner-up Irian (Ger) (Tertullian) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup November 18.

California Memory jumped on cue, and that allowed Matthew Chadwick to slide up the fence into a handy third and just behind the leaders as the field raced out of the stretch for the first time. Dan Excel (Ire)(Shamardal) was at the head of affairs for most of the first half of the journey, but began to get some midrace pressure, first from Autumn Gold (Ger) (Ransom o’War) and then a fired-up Feuerblitz (Ger) (Big Shuffle), the two injecting just enough speed to set things up for those from off the pace. California Memory found himself shuffled back past midfield with a half-mile to race, but Chadwick cooly allowed him to advance into contention turning for home. From there, it was a matter of when to pull the ripcord, and the response was immediate from California Memory, as he hit the lead with less than a furlong to race and coasted in.

Giofra rallied well for second, and Alcopop did his country proud, snatching third on the wire. Carlton House (Street Cry) enjoyed a clean trip, but finished a one-paced sixth.

“He showed great acceleration, and showed his authority today,” said Tony Cruz, a former champion jockey in Hong Kong who trained the legendary Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie) to a pair of wins in the Hong Kong Sprint. “When he quickened, Matthew said he put everyone to bed,” Cruz continued. “And then he started to idle in front, and the horse started thinking ‘where is everybody?’ But when they started to come back to him, he thought ‘I’d better go a bit faster again.’”

Cruz also paid tribute to local vet staff for helping to get his charge to the big day in one piece. “We have to give credit to the vet Ben Mason, because the horse has had his niggles and been lame many times, but he fixed the problem,” he commented.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

TREASURE BEACH HEADS IRISH DERBY 1-2-3 FOR BALLYDOYLE

Click above to watch Treasure Beach winning the Irish Derby (G1)
(Image : SportingLife - Footage : Horseracing AUS)

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY (Group 1)
26 June 2011

Since taking over at Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien has retrieved all the former glories of the legendary stable, and when Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo) led home stable companions Seville (Ger) (Galileo) and Memphis Tennessee (Ire) (Hurricane Run) in yesterday’s G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, another historic milestone was reached. That result meant a sixth consecutive renewal for the Rosegreen establishment, a ninth overall for its trainer and a remarkable fourth one-two-three in the race since 2002.

Having been denied in the final yards of the June 4 G1 Epsom Investec Derby, Treasure Beach had no Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu) to spoil his party this time, and the 7-2 second choice was delivered with accurate timing by Colm O’Donoghue to work his way past Seville and the pacesetting Memphis Tennessee in the final 150 yards and win by 3/4 of a length. Carlton House (USA) (Street Cry), who was again the hot favorite as he had been at Epsom, never looked like justifying odds of 5-4 and was a one-paced fourth.

IRISH DERBY (G1)
Final Result

#	Horse	Sire	Jockey	Trainer
1	TREASURE BEACH (GB)	Galileo	C O’Donoghue	Aidan O’Brien
2	SEVILLE (GER)	Galileo	J Heffernan	Aidan O’Brien
3	MEMPHIS TENNESSEE (IRE)	Hurricane Run	J O’Brien	Aidan O’Brien
4	CARLTON HOUSE (USA)	Street Cry	R Moore	Sir Michael Stoute
5	DUNBOYNE EXPRESS (IRE)	Shamardal	D McDonogh	Kevin Prendergast
6	RODERIC O’CONNOR (IRE)	Galileo	W Lordan	Aidan O’Brien
7	NATIVE KHAN (FR)	Azamour	J Murtagh	Ed Dunlop
8	NOTABLE GRADUATE (IRE)	Galileo	P Smullen	Dermot Weld

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

ROYAL ASCOT 2011

Click above to watch Aidan O’Brien discussing his runners for Royal Ascot 2011
(Image and Footage : At The Races UK)

ROYAL ASCOT
Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th June 2011

There are few sporting venues that can match the rich heritage and history of Ascot Racecourse. For almost 250 years, Royal Ascot has established itself as a national institution and the centrepiece of the British social calendar as well as being the ultimate stage for the best racehorses in the world.

Tradition, pageantry, fashion and style all meet in a glorious setting at one of the most beautiful racecourses in the country. The quality of the horseracing at Royal Ascot is simply outstanding, with nearly £4million in prize money on offer and a total of eighteen ‘Group’ races over the five days.

With the country still reeling from a dramatic Epsom Derby, where Carlton House (Street Cry) went so near to providing a victory in the Queen’s silks, it will be a case of the famous British stiff upper lip for the royalists this week as the action switches to the hallowed Berkshire site.

Now in its Tercentenary year, which is celebrated by the re-naming of Thursday’s upgraded Hampton Court Stakes, the fixture continues to dominate the summer of the international season.

There is no commanding equine presence running for the monarch over the next five days, but if the Derby was all about the Queen, this illustrious week in the racing calendar is all about Henry Cecil. Or Sir Henry, as he is now to be addressed after the monarch finally announced the bestowal of the award the British public yearned for.

Fittingly, the icon from Warren Place fills centre stage on day one with the meeting’s most important turn Frankel (Galileo), who looks to take his stable’s tally here to 73. This freakish product of Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte breeding operation won by 10 lengths over this track and trip in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes in September, where a certain Treasure Beach (Galileo) was made to look ordinary prior to his close second in Epsom’s blue riband.

Cecil is aware of the public expectation surrounding his colt and, despite feeling the nerves, is happy to be in the position of handling the colt at the eye of the storm. “He’s obviously a very good and exciting horse, and I’d love him to continue being a champion, because it’s so good for racing,” Cecil said. “Racing needs a Sea The Stars, a Mill Reef, or an Arkle over jumps - it lifts the whole industry up and people who are not really involved in racing catch on and show an interest. When you have a horse of this caliber, it’s a case of keeping him right and dreading something happening every day, but he’s a lovely horse to train and, so far, everything is going well. I just hope he continues doing what he has been doing. There is no such thing as a certainty, and we’ll do our best.

Sticking to the royal theme, racing’s own queen Goldikova (Anabaa) follows the traditional procession with her own version in the curtain-raising G1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Bidding to become the first dual winner of this race in over 100 years, Gerard and Alain Wertheimer’s 6-year-old shows no sign of stopping if her 13th Group 1 win in Longchamp’s Prix d’Ispahan is anything to go by. Whether she can master Canford Cliffs (Tagula), the colt that Richard Hannon claims is the best he has trained and who faces his biggest test since being acquired by Coolmore, remains to be seen.

While there will be inevitable disappointment if Goldikova is dethroned, few would harbor any resentment for Hannon, whose tenure in the British training ranks has also seen him taken to the hearts of the public.

ROYAL ASCOT 2011
Overview

Tuesday 14th June
The opening day of what is sure to be a spectacular Royal Meeting gets off to a flying start with three Group 1 races (i.e. the very best in the world); the Queen Anne Stakes, the King’s Stand Stakes - the first British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge – and the St James’s Palace Stakes. As the first day of Royal Ascot, the fashion stakes are high but the atmosphere is relaxed which allows racegoers the chance to enjoy a glass of Champagne between races or explore the racecourse at their leisure.
Wednesday 15th June
The highlight of the second day is the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, arguably the most important race at the Royal Meeting in the modern era with £400,000 prize money on offer. Also on the card are the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes, for older female milers and the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, for the best up and coming two year old fillies (females). Wednesday is perfect for groups of friends to enjoy the Royal Ascot experience at a slightly more gentle pace.
Thursday 16th June
Thursday’s highlight is the Group 1 Gold Cup, a battle of stamina and determination over two miles and four furlongs - this undisputed long distance world championship is not for the faint hearted! Style, elegance and the height of the summer social calendar all combine on Gold Cup Day, colloquially known as ‘Ladies’ Day’. Although the whole week of Royal Ascot is a fashion show like no other, it is Thursday when the designer creations and millinery masterpieces reach new heights. To commemorate 300 years of racing, the Hampton Court Stakes has been renamed the Tercentenary Stakes.
Friday 17th June
The feature race on Friday is the Coronation Stakes, which traditionally brings together the leading three-year-old fillies in Europe. Also on the card is the King Edward VII Stakes, colloquially called the Ascot Derby, as its conditions mirror those of the Epsom Classic. This is the perfect way to start the weekend with friends and work colleagues.
Saturday 18th June
The final day of the Royal Meeting always provides a dramatic climax and features one of the world’s most important and international races, the Golden Jubilee Stakes, - the second British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. Saturday is a relatively new addition to the Royal Meeting, having been introduced as recently as 2002. Although the fashions are as elaborate as they are during the week, there is a pronounced, relaxed family feel as many people who are unable to attend until the weekend come to enjoy the experience of the greatest race meeting in the world.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News and Royal Ascot

www.ascot.co.uk

POUR MOI WINS INVESTEC DERBY IN SCINTILLATING STYLE

Pour Moi wins the Investec Derby (Gr1)
(Image : Guardian)

INVESTEC DERBY (Gr1)
Epsom Downs, 4 June 2011 

Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu), who burst onto the Epsom scene only after a successful run in the Gr2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on May 7, finally provided Andre Fabre with a victory in the Gr1 Investec Derby after nine failed attempts. Brought with his familiar rattle from last to first by the 19-year-old jockey prodigy Mickael Barzalona, the 4-1 second choice grabbed the Ballydoyle outsider Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo) in the shade of the post with his jockey standing up in the irons in celebration.

“He’s a good horse, and is the one I wanted to win this race with,” Fabre said after saddling the first French-trained Blue Riband winner since Empery in 1976. “It is no accident that he has won. I was surprised to see he had two accelerations, one to catch up and another gear to win. Running a mile and a half for the first time helped him. It is such a pleasure to win this race with my young jockey - I couldn’t be happier.” He continued, “He gave everything today and deserves a rest. I will probably give him a summer break and bring him back for a prep ahead of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (at Longchamp October 2). All horses improve with time.”

In the end, a head separated the front two, with The Queen’s 5-2 favorite Carlton House (Street Cry) 3/4 of a length behind in third, having run a genuine race after missing the kick and losing a shoe late on.

Trainer of Carlton House, Sir Michael Stoute told PA Sport, “He’s run very well, but things just haven’t gone right. He had a hold-up close to the race and during it he got too far back and then had to run wide into the straight. He’s still a high-class colt, and he will have a big day.”

Aidan O’Brien expressed himself pleased with all his four runners, three of whom made the first six.

INVESTEC DERBY (Gr1)
Final Results

#	LBH	Horse	Sire	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	POUR MOI	Montjeu	7	M Barzalona	Andre Fabre
2	hd	TREASURE BEACH	Galileo	12	C O’Donoghue	Aidan O”Brien
3	3/4	CARLTON HOUSE	Street Cry	13	R Moore	Sir Michael Stoute
4	3/4	MEMPHIS TENNESSEE	Hurricane Run	6	J O’Brien	Aidan O”Brien
5	3/4	NATIVE KHAN	Azamour	3	J Murtagh	Ed Dunlop
6	2	RECITAL	Montjeu	4	P Smullen	Aidan O”Brien
7	nk	VADAMAR	Dalakhani	9	C Lemaire	Alain de Royer-Dupre
8	4	MASKED MARVEL	Montjeu	5	W Buick	John Gosden
9	19	PISCO SOUR	Lemon Drop Kid	1	J Fortune	Hughie Morrison
10	3	SEVILLE	Galileo	2	C Soumillon	Aidan O”Brien
11	7	OCEAN WAR	Dalakhani	10	L Dettori	Mahmoud Al Zarooni
12	3 1/4	CASTLEMORRIS KING	And Beyond	11	M Coumbe	Michael Attwater
13	55	MARHABA MALYOON	Tiger Hill	8	J Spencer	David Simcock

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

CARLTON HOUSE : KING FOR THE QUEEN

Carlton House
(Photo : Racingbase)

INVESTEC DERBY (Gr1)
Epsom Downs Racecourse
4 June 2011

The Queen’s Carlton House (Street Cry) will face a maximum of 16 rivals in Saturday’s G1 Investec Derby after the six-day declarations were made Monday. Almost certain to start favorite for the blue riband, the Sir Michael Stoute trainee will face a clutch of colts from Coolmore interests with the list showing a quintet from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable alongside the Andre Fabre-trained Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu).

The Queen’s Racing Manager John Warren had nothing but good news for fans of the G2 Dante Stakes winner yesterday. “Carlton House is all on target for Epsom,” Warren said. “He had a nice blow yesterday at Newmarket and the trainer is very happy with him at this point. Carlton House will be kept ticking over this week. There is excitement all round and I think the whole country is starting to focus on it and everyone is excited by the prospect.”

Godolphin left in a trio, but are expected to field a sole representative in the general 16-1 shot Ocean War (GB) (Dalakhani). Nevertheless, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be watching the unfolding story of Carlton House keenly, as he bred the colt and presented him to the monarch as a present. “I am sure he would be absolutely thrilled, almost as excited as The Queen,” Racing Manager Simon Crisford commented yesterday. “Obviously, everyone wants The Queen to win and we’ll all be trying our best to beat Carlton House, but having gifted the colt to The Queen I think it would mean a huge amount to Sheikh Mohammed. He’s incredibly excited about the whole possibility.”

Queen Elizabeth comes to Derby Day every year, usually accompanied by Prince Philip.

As a racehourse owner, The Queen has had nine attempts to win the Epsom Derby - with a second place (Aureole, Coronation year, 1953) the best. Her last entry was thirty years ago. Her previous entries are detailed below:

AUREOLE (1953 - 2nd)
Aureole came closest to giving the Queen a Derby victory when runner-up to Pinza at Epsom Downs. Ridden by Harry Carr, the colt was sixth into the home straight and made headway in the final three furlongs but was unable to peg back Pinza.

LANDAU (1954 - 8th)
Landau finished a length second to Rowston Manor in the Lingfield Derby Trial but in the Derby itself, the colt led from three furlongs out until the quarter-mile mark, at which point he weakened tamely to finish eighth under Willie Snaith as Never Say Die went on to win.

ATLAS (1956 - 5th)
Sent off a 50/1 shot, Atlas made late headway at Epsom, coming home strongly under Harry Carr, to take fifth, a little over three lengths behind the victorious Lavandin.

DOUTELLE (1957 - 10th)
A winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial, Doutelle was at 100/6 chance for the Derby. But he was never in contention, trailing in tenth behind the winner Crepello under jockey Harry Carr.

MINER’S LAMP (1958 - 6th)
Miner’s Lamp’s won Epsom’s Blue Riband Trial Stakes but was never able to challenge the front rank in the Derby and shared sixth place behind the winner, Hard Ridden.

ABOVE SUSPICION (1959 - 5th)
Sent off at 100/6 for the Derby, Above Suspicion raced towards the rear under Doug Smith before making strong progress in the home straight, running on to take fifth, three lengths behind his victorious stablemate, Parthia.

ENGLISH HARBOUR (1978 - 18th)
Ridden by Joe Mercer, English Harbour was never a factor in the Derby as he trailed home a distant 18th behind Shirley Heights, a horse he had finished fifth behind on his two-year-old debut in Newmarket’s Limekiln Stakes.

MILFORD (1979 - 10th)
Sent off the 15/2 third favourite under Lester Piggott, the Royal colt weakened in the straight to finish about 15 lengths behind the triumphant Troy.

CHURCH PARADE (1981 - 5th)
Church Parade kept on at one pace under Willie Carson to take fifth, 18 lengths behind the imperious Shergar.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News