Headlines
Gold Cup goes to Scandinavia
Mezcala lands Buckinghanm Palace stakes
Sun Scorches Ascot
Precise is spot on at Ascot
Cat escapes the Box at Redcar
Double in a Rush at Ascot
Report
We start at Ascot on Thursday where in the 2m 4f group 1 Gold Cup Scandinavia ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil), Trawlerman (Cliff), went to post.
Scandinavia prominent, pushed along over 3f out, went second over 2f out, ridden and challenging from over 1f out, kept on well to lead final strides, winning by a head. He gets 52.65 points.
Trawlerman, Led, ridden over 2f out, faced challenge from over 1f out, stayed on but headed final stride, 2nd beaten a short head. He gets 27.4 points.
In the 7f handicap Mezcala (Steve), went to post, Dwelt start, raced near side, towards rear, waiting for room over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and led narrowly inside final 110yds, kept on, 1st of 22 in group, winning by a neck. He gets 35.4 points.
At Ascot on Friday in the 6f group 1 Commonwealth Cup Venetian Sun (Martin, Peej), took her chance, In touch with leaders up the centre, headway over 1f out, soon ridden to lead, faced challenge inside final furlong, just did enough, 1st of 14 in group, winning by a head. She gets 54.76 points.
In the 1m group 1 fillies Coronation Stakes Precise ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Peej ) took her chance, Awkward start then slowly into stride, towards rear, headway on outer 4f out, led 2f out, soon against far rail and ridden, kept on well final 110yds, winning by 1 ½ l. She gets 53.24 points.
At Redcar on Saturday in the 5f handicap Schrodingers Cat (Peej), went to post, Travelled strongly, made all, shaken up and went clear over 1f out, ridden briefly and ran on well inside final furlong, winning unchallenged by 4 ¼ l. He gets 23.82 points.
At Ascot in the 6f Heritage handicap Double Rush ( Bob, Steve), went to post, Raced centre, in touch with leaders, headway on near side of group and led overall over 1f out, soon faced challenges, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, just prevailed, 1st of 19 in group, winning by a head. He gets 31.55 points.
The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
June Total
Cliff 251.57 542.55
Bob 271.32 525.43
Cod 216.25 512.59
Neil 238.77 435.86
Peej 247.72 432.59
Steve 174.93 386.68
Martin 54.76 247.97
Royal Ascot Grand Slam
Neil 238.77
Bob 191.12
Cliff 186.97
Steve 174.93
Peej 121.4
Cod 94.25
Martin 54.76
So Neil gets the Ascot Grand slam 20 points.
Stats Per String
Runs Wins
Martin 22 6
Bob 30 13
Cliff 28 12
Neil 28 11
Peej 27 11
Cod 30 11
Steve 21 11
The Weeks Losers
Gilded Prize, Trawlerman, Carmers , Maho Bay, Wise Approach, Charles Darwin, True Love , Kalpana, Jan Brughel, Soldiers Tree, Binhareer, French Master
Weekend Runners
Friday
Yarmouth
2.39 Ya Karim
Newcastle
6.17 Ya Karim
6.52 Morrophore
Saturday
Newcastle
3.45 Power Fizz
York
2.25 Schrodinger,s Cat
2.58 Never So Brave
Curragh
3.55 Estrange, Faiyum, Fallen Angel, , Red Letter,
Churchill Downs
23.03 Sovereignty
Sunday
Curragh
3,20 Faiyum, Purview, Port Ferdinand, Shaihaan
4.35 Christmas Day, Raheeb, Pierre Bonnard, Port Ferdinand, Shaihaan, James J Braddock
5.15 Nobody Knows
News
Europe's richest race, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, will be opened to geldings for the first time in 2027, after board members at France Galop voted to remove restrictions on Monday. France will need to request a change in the entry conditions at a full meeting of the European Pattern Committee but it seems extremely unlikely that any of the other major European nations will object to a measure which brings France's most important race into line with theirs.
Owen Burrows is relishing his first shot at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby as Raaheeb prepares to put his unbeaten record on the line against what is likely to be a formidable Aidan O'Brien-dominated field in Sunday's Classic at the Curragh. Raaheeb is Britain's shortest-priced runner at 5-1 for the Group 1, behind only the O'Brien-trained duo of Benvenuto Cellini and Derby hero Christmas Day in the market.
The Shadwell Estates-owned colt was on course to feature at Epsom after a convincing success under Rossa Ryan in Sandown's Classic Trial in April, but he had a minor setback and was forced to miss the race. He has been back in work for several weeks now and Lambourn-based Burrows is excited at the prospect of a Classic assault this weekend. Burrows said: "He's still on track for Ireland. I wanted to touch base with the track to see what the ground was like. There was meant to be plenty of rain last week, so hopefully they've had a nice drop and there's a bit more coming.
Ante-post favourite Ombudsman, rated the best in the world after a Royal Ascot tour de force, will miss the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday week. The Godolphin star was evens favourite with the sponsors for the £1 million contest in which he was beaten by Delacroix last year, but will instead aim to win back-to-back running’s of the Juddmonte International at York on August 19.
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