Headlines
Soul is Punters Friend at Ascot
Kyprios Takes Goodwood Gold
Speech makes a Notable Impression
Report
We start a Ascot on Saturday where in the 1m group 3 for fillies and mares Friendly Soul (Martin), took her chance, Made all, ridden over 1f out, went clear inside final furlong, winning readily by 3l. She gets 38.9 points.
In the 1m 4f group 1 King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Bluestocking ( Steve), took her chance, Held up in last, headway from over 4f out, bit short of room over 3f out, hung right but in touch with leaders 2f out, went second over 1f out, no chance with winner final furlong, finishing 2nd beaten 2 ¼ l. She gets 27.5 points.
Apologies to Bob, one I missed, at Thirsk on 20 June, American Affair went to post in the 5f handicap, Prominent in centre of group, going easily 2f out, shaken up to lead 1f out, pushed out inside final furlong, ridden briefly final 110yds,winning comfortably by 1l. He gets 35.4 points.
On Tuesday at Goodwood in the 2m group 1 Goodwood Cup, Kyprios (Cliff, Neil), took his chance, Cajoled along and pressed leader early, raced in third after 3f, pushed along to lead 2f out, ridden clear from over 1f out, ran on well, winning by 4l. Cliff gets 53.24 points. Neil 26.62
On Wednesday in he 1m group 1 Sussex Stakes Notable Speech (Bob), went to post, Raced in third, waiting for room 2f out, switched right over 1f out, soon ran on, led inside final furlong, jockey dropped whip inside final 110yds, winning comfortably by 1 ½ l. He gets 83 points.
Remembering A Legend
Aidan O'Brien has described Istabraq as an "almost mystical character" for the legacy he left after one of modern jump racing's most iconic equine superstars died at JP McManus's Martinstown home at 32 years of age.
I think that the word legend is over used in sport, and my personal definition is that it when some one or horse in this case draws new people in to their sport. My neighbour Alan joined us on the bus for Chelenham on the eve of Istabraq’s historic third win, he had never been racing before, and wanted to be there, and Istabraq did not disappoint.
Under a vintage ride from Charlie Swan, this great horse put ‘the night of doubt and sorrow’ behind him and jumped the last to a lion’s-mouth roar from the assembled faithful, thrilled to be in the congregation on the day Istabraq married immortality.
Never under-call the extraordinary feat of O’Brien in bringing this very highly strung animal to the bear-pit of Cheltenham for a fourth triumph. This is a horse with a short touch-paper, and there is little time between lighting it and ignition. O’Brien memorably described him as ‘just on the right side of toppling over on to the wrong side’, but the high-wire act is the trainer’s more than anyone’s.
Having won 2 starts on the flat for John Gosden from 11 starts his record over hurdles read, with rider Charlie Swan, 14 Grade 1 successes and won 23 of their 29 outings together over hurdles, with Istabraq indisputably becoming that rare thing for racehorses these days – a household name. Retired after being pulled up early in the 2002 Champion Hurdle, he had spent his remaining days at Martinstown.
John Torpey Memorial Trophy
July Total
Neil 135.5 748.86
Cod 91.25 484.06
Bob 156.88 482.83
Cliff 128.31 463.76
Steve 113.75 445.51
Peej 142.5 315.74
Martin 114.65 240.65
So Congratulations to Bob who is July trainer of the month
News
Vandeek will miss next weekend's Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest after suffering a setback in training.
The talented sprinter, who has won four of his six starts, had been due to run at Deauville over six and a half furlongs next Sunday but will not run, with no timeframe put on when he will return to work.
Ed Crisford, who trains alongside his father Simon, said in a statement posted on X: "Unfortunately Vandeek has met with a setback. It is too early to say how much time he will need before resuming full training. It is very frustrating for everyone concerned as he had looked as good as ever in his recent work."
Passenger is likely to miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an injury in the Sky Bet York Stakes on Saturday. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old finished third behind Alflaila in the Group 2 but was felt to be lame by jockey Richard Kingscote afterwards and was pulled up quickly after the winning post. Racecourse vets found that the Ulysses colt had fractured the cannon bone of his right foreleg, which is likely to see the colt sidelined for a number of months.
Weekend Entries
Friday
Ascot
2.25 Dancing Gemini
Saturday
Goodwood
1.50 Continuous, Hamish
3.35 Mostabashir, Summerghand
Newmarket
4.25 Cool Legend
Sunday
Chester
5.05 Cool Legend
Haydock
6.15 American Affair
Grand Slam
Leg 1 Neil
Leg 2 Tony
Leg 3 Tony
Leg 4 Cliff
Leg 5 Neil
Leg 6 Peej
Leg 7 Tony
Leg 8 Steve
Leg 9 Steve
Leg 10 Steve
Leg 11 Steve
Leg 12 Cliff
Leg 13 Neil
Leg 14 Cliff
Leg 15 Bob
Leg 16 Bob
Leg 17 Peej
Leg 18 Bob
Leg 19 Neil
First winner bonus available, In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Southwell, , Worcester
In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Laytown, Downpatrick, Listowel, Kilbeggan
