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Posts Tagged ‘Royal’

Starspangledbanner completed a big Group One double when he followed up his Golden Jubilee Stakes victory at Royal Ascot by taking the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s speedball (2-1 favourite) slightly missed the kick and was soon chased along behind fellow Royal Ascot hero Equiano, with Johnny Murtagh steering him over to the far rail.

He looked to have it to do a furlong out as 66-1 chance Alverta threatened, with Fleeting Spirit and Kingsgate Native just behind, but the ex-Australian ace found plenty for pressure to foil the gallant Equiano by a neck. Alverta finished third.

O’Brien said: “He’s very tough, he’s a serious horse. Johnny made the decision to go over to the far rail and it paid off.

“He’s got some courage and great pace. Very few horses have that much courage when they are so fast. It was great that the two Ascot winners were first and second, it’s great when they come together like that.”

Murtagh added: “Not many horses win this after winning at Ascot, but he’s not just got class, he’s got plenty of guts and he’s hardy.

“I thought the rail would help my horse, I had to make my own mind up and it helped win the race. Stamina helped us win it, some Australian horses don’t go up the hill but this lad does.”

Connections now face a decision on whether Starspangledbanner goes to stud or stays in training.

O’Brien explained: “We have to decide by midnight if he is going to go to Australia for the covering season.

“John (Magnier), Michael (Tabor) and all the lads (at Coolmore) will debate hard over the next few hours and we will only know after that if he is going to go into quarantine. I’ll give my penny’s worth and as you all know I’d love to see him stay here and keep on racing.”

Starspangledbanner followed in his sire’s footsteps as the son of Australian champion Choisir blazed to victory in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien warned jockey Johnny Murtagh before his British debut at York last month that he would need a parachute to slow the four-year-old, such was his blistering speed.

And while he may have been beaten that day, the colt showed his true colours on the final day of the Royal meeting as he made all on the stands rail to take the six-furlong dash.

Murtagh stole an advantage breaking from his inside berth and was never headed as the 13-2 joint favourite blitzed his way to a length-and-three-quarter success from Society Rock and Kinsale King.

O’Brien said: “If he hit the gates the way we thought he could, then we knew it would be straightforward as there is no horse who can lead him. I have not seen the time of the race but can believe it is quick as he sets serious fractions at home.

“He worked coming here and did the second-last furlong in just over 9.5 seconds. We have never had that before and I have never seen a horse do less than 10 seconds. He is one of those very unusual beasts.

“He’s the fastest we’ve had, no doubt. We’ve never had one go that fast furlong by furlong. We will look forward to the July Cup, hopefully. He’s an incredible sprinter.”

Choisir landed the Golden Jubilee in 2003 and went on to finish second in the July Cup.

Murtagh added: “Aidan was very confident coming into this race. He told me just to jump him out and let him use that stride. Everything just worked perfect. He jumped well, travelled really well, a good strong gallop all the way.

“I sensed them coming to him at the two and when I let him go, he ran straight up the rail. He responded very well and went all the way to the line. I couldn’t pull him up. He’s a great horse. He’s very similar to his sire Choisir, big and strong.”

Freddie Head believes Goldikova to be in the best shape of her career ahead of a cracking renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

The dual Breeders’ Cup Mile heroine may be favourite at 13-8 with Stan James to land her ninth Group One, but she faces extremely tough competition headed by last year’s winner Paco Boy and Rip Van Winkle.

“I think she is very well and I have her in very good condition. Everything has been going to plan since her last run and I expect her to run a great race on Tuesday. It is hard to say if she is better than ever as she has been so good, but I would think she is in the best shape I have ever had her,” Head told At The Races.

“She won the Prix d’Ispahan over nine furlongs last time, but a mile is her distance. She is a real miler. I am happy with being drawn in stall one. Olivier (Peslier) will do his best. She is an easy to ride, you can do whatever you want with her. What we want is a clear run and I hope she runs her best.

“You can put her where you like and she has a very good turn of foot too. I know she will have to be at her best. It’s not a walkover – we know it’s a top-class race.

“I’ve got no problem with her at the start. She has been going into the stalls since her last race. Everything has been OK and she has run in England before and I think she will behave well. I am very hopeful she is in the best form and I think she will run a cracking race.

“I would love to win at Royal Ascot. I haven’t been lucky there but I think she will turn things around.”

While Head is not worried about her behaviour at the start, Peslier admits he is slightly concerned.

He said: “Obviously she has won eight Group Ones and Paco Boy is very strong, but mine broke the record last time. It depends how she starts how I will ride her. It also depends on the pace if I ride her near the front or back. She’s not easy to get in the gate. That’s the only point that is tricky with her.”

Richard Hannon’s Paco Boy confirmed his well-being when put through his paces on Sunday morning and told his website, www.richardhannonracing.tv: “Paco Boy worked well with Lucky General and is in great shape for his clash with Goldikova and Rip Van Winkle, which should be a humdinger of an opener to the meeting.”

Paco Boy’s team are in confident mood ahead of Royal Ascot’s ‘race of the week’ – the Queen Anne Stakes.

Dual Breeders’ Cup Mile heroine Goldikova and Sussex Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle are preparing to take on the apple of Richard Hannon’s eye in what should be a thrilling contest.

His son and assistant Richard jnr told At The Races: “The Queen Anne looks like being the race of the week and hopefully they will all turn up and it will be a very good race. Goldikova is very good and she’ll be very hard to beat.”

He added: “I think Paco Boy is better this year, he seems to have improved but Goldikova is a champion and Paco Boy is not at that status yet.

“He does seem better this year than ever and if he’s ever going to beat her, it will be this year.

“There is still a very small chance we might have a look at the Golden Jubilee, but I would say that it is more than likely he’ll run in the Queen Anne. He’s very adaptable, he’s very fast.

“We need them all to meet for racing. Not that we need to build Royal Ascot up, but I imagine there will be a lot of people going just to see that race alone.”