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Royal Ascot Carnival - 16th to 20th June 2009:
The Royal Ascot Carnival is held over five days and consists of 17 Group races and no less than seven Group 1 events. The Carnival would be a memorable one for Australia with star Perth galloper Scenic Blast engaged on day 1 of the carnival. Top UK stayer Yeats would be aiming for his fourth consecutive Ascot Gold Cup on day 3 whilst leading jockey Johnny Murtagh is riding for his fourth leading jockey title. Many questions would be answered in what turned out to be an unforgettable five day carnival.
The first race on day 1 of the carnival was the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes run over 1600m down the straight. Leading Godolphin stable saddled up the solid 9-4 favourite but it was top British trainer Richard Hannon who saluted with second pick Paco Boy. With major query's on Paco Boy's ability to run out the 1600m he soon proved his doubters wrong to finish strongest and score impressively by 1½ lengths. Godolphins short priced favourite Gladiatorus couldn't repeat his efforts that saw him win effortlessly in Dubai last start. He was the first horse beaten 400m from home. Paco Boy travelled best throughout and after taking the lead 200m from home he was never in any danger. Connections will now head to the Prix De La Foret and cancel their plans for the July Cup.
The race all Australians had been waiting for was the Group 1 King Stands Stakes with top Perth galloper Scenic Blast to run. Having been sent out a well backed 11-4 favourite Scenic Blast proved that Australia has the best sprinters in the world winning impressively by ¾ of a length. The victory makes it the fourth time Australia has won the event after Choiser (2003), Takeover Target (2006), and Miss Andretti (2007) had all done before him. Many wondered if the wide barrier would affect his chance but the field played into his hands running the 1000m journey down the middle of the track. Scenic Blast jumped well and soon took cover towards the rear of the field but it was obvious nearing the 400m he would be the one to beat. Scenic Blast pulled into the clear, strode up to them 400m out and kicked clear to score in dominant fashion. The victory makes it four Group 1 wins for trainer Daniel Morton who will now set the star galloper for the July Cup over 1200m at Newmarket on July 10.
Day 3 was to be a memorable day for all racing fans with leading UK stayer Yeats aiming for his fourth consecutive Ascot Gold Cup. As champions do Yeats produced a career best performance to become the first horse in history to claim the Gold Cup for the fourth time. The Aiden O'Brien trained 6yo was sent out a 6-4 favourite and after being beaten 32 lengths on a wet track first up the star stayer looked in good order. Ridden by leading jockey Johnny Murtagh Yeats enjoyed a beautiful run throughout before being set alight approaching the home turn. Yeats straightened for the judge with a 5 length lead and proved himself the best in the country winning by a comfortable 2½ lengths. The win is Yeats' seventh Group 1 victory out of 24 career starts with 15 wins overall. Some of Britains leading bookies have opened Yeats a 5-1 equal favourite to make it 5 in a row in the 2010 Ascot Gold Cup.
Day 5 the final day of the Carnival holds one of the Global Sprint Challenge events the Golden Jubilee. The Group 1 1200m event was taken out by 20-1 English sprinter Art Connossieur. Top South African sprinter J J The Jet Plane 5-2 favourite and leading Hong Kong galloper Sacred Kingdom 3-1 second favourite where both beaten a long way from home. Art Connossieur settled towards the rear and came from almost last with 200m to run to break a 12 month win drought for trainer Michael Bell. Australia's top sprinter Takeover Target was scratched from the event that earns back some respect for English sprinters.
Johnny Murtagh missed the final two days of the carnival through suspension but held off late challenges to claim his fourth Royal Ascot Jockey title. Both jockey Johnny Murtagh and Richard Hughes ended the carnival with four wins but it was Murtagh's second place in the Queen Anne Stakes that secured him the title.
We all look forward to the 2010 carnival and hope to see more Australian trainer's and jockey's involved in the breath taking 5 day event.
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The first race on day 1 of the carnival was the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes run over 1600m down the straight. Leading Godolphin stable saddled up the solid 9-4 favourite but it was top British trainer Richard Hannon who saluted with second pick Paco Boy. With major query's on Paco Boy's ability to run out the 1600m he soon proved his doubters wrong to finish strongest and score impressively by 1½ lengths. Godolphins short priced favourite Gladiatorus couldn't repeat his efforts that saw him win effortlessly in Dubai last start. He was the first horse beaten 400m from home. Paco Boy travelled best throughout and after taking the lead 200m from home he was never in any danger. Connections will now head to the Prix De La Foret and cancel their plans for the July Cup.
The race all Australians had been waiting for was the Group 1 King Stands Stakes with top Perth galloper Scenic Blast to run. Having been sent out a well backed 11-4 favourite Scenic Blast proved that Australia has the best sprinters in the world winning impressively by ¾ of a length. The victory makes it the fourth time Australia has won the event after Choiser (2003), Takeover Target (2006), and Miss Andretti (2007) had all done before him. Many wondered if the wide barrier would affect his chance but the field played into his hands running the 1000m journey down the middle of the track. Scenic Blast jumped well and soon took cover towards the rear of the field but it was obvious nearing the 400m he would be the one to beat. Scenic Blast pulled into the clear, strode up to them 400m out and kicked clear to score in dominant fashion. The victory makes it four Group 1 wins for trainer Daniel Morton who will now set the star galloper for the July Cup over 1200m at Newmarket on July 10.
Day 3 was to be a memorable day for all racing fans with leading UK stayer Yeats aiming for his fourth consecutive Ascot Gold Cup. As champions do Yeats produced a career best performance to become the first horse in history to claim the Gold Cup for the fourth time. The Aiden O'Brien trained 6yo was sent out a 6-4 favourite and after being beaten 32 lengths on a wet track first up the star stayer looked in good order. Ridden by leading jockey Johnny Murtagh Yeats enjoyed a beautiful run throughout before being set alight approaching the home turn. Yeats straightened for the judge with a 5 length lead and proved himself the best in the country winning by a comfortable 2½ lengths. The win is Yeats' seventh Group 1 victory out of 24 career starts with 15 wins overall. Some of Britains leading bookies have opened Yeats a 5-1 equal favourite to make it 5 in a row in the 2010 Ascot Gold Cup.
Day 5 the final day of the Carnival holds one of the Global Sprint Challenge events the Golden Jubilee. The Group 1 1200m event was taken out by 20-1 English sprinter Art Connossieur. Top South African sprinter J J The Jet Plane 5-2 favourite and leading Hong Kong galloper Sacred Kingdom 3-1 second favourite where both beaten a long way from home. Art Connossieur settled towards the rear and came from almost last with 200m to run to break a 12 month win drought for trainer Michael Bell. Australia's top sprinter Takeover Target was scratched from the event that earns back some respect for English sprinters.
Johnny Murtagh missed the final two days of the carnival through suspension but held off late challenges to claim his fourth Royal Ascot Jockey title. Both jockey Johnny Murtagh and Richard Hughes ended the carnival with four wins but it was Murtagh's second place in the Queen Anne Stakes that secured him the title.
We all look forward to the 2010 carnival and hope to see more Australian trainer's and jockey's involved in the breath taking 5 day event.
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