Goliath produced a spectacular performance at Ascot to give France a first King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes winner since 2006. The French horse defeated Auguste Rodin and Rebel's Romance to land the prestigious Group 1.
Saturday 27 July 2024 19:29, UK
Goliath produced a spectacular performance at Ascot to give France a first King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes winner since 2006.
Hurricane Run was the last Gallic raider to land this midsummer showpiece, but Francis-Henri Graffard's four-year-old ended that drought in emphatic fashion.
Turning for home, the stage looked set for a battle between market principals Auguste Rodin and Rebel's Romance, but it was soon apparent that Christophe Soumillon was cruising in behind on Goliath.
Runner-up in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, the 25/1 outsider responded immediately - and impressively - when asked to kick on, powering clear to win by two and a quarter lengths, with Bluestocking staying on for second.
Rebel's Romance was well beaten in third, while it was not to be in this race again for fifth-placed Auguste Rodin.
Graffard said: "I know my horse likes running off a good pace and can quicken like this, so we came here to Ascot to find a strong pace, as last time at Royal Ascot he was still too keen.
"So, we were desperate for some pace but when I saw his big odds I thought 'oh my God, nobody believes in him'.
"But he travelled so nicely and when he was like that, I knew he was able to quicken strongly.
"When you come and you are around 28/1, you feel you might look like a fool and you don't want that, but I think some punters will be happy now."
Hailing the display of Soumillon, the trainer added: "He's just such a talented jockey, he never sat on the horse, but he galloped another horse the other day and this one was in behind, so he knew what he was sitting on.
"But he just knew what to do before the race, I didn't have to tell him anything. You need to be a horseman and talented with your hands on this horse and Christophe knew exactly what to do and I think he really enjoyed it."
Graffard, who won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot with Calandagan, continued: "I worked for four years here in England for Sheikh Mohammed and went to every racetrack and fell in love with racing here, I think they have amazing races here.
"I always wanted to train in Chantilly but I knew that as soon as I had good horses I would try to come over and be competitive here. It's always fantastic to be here and I really enjoy it."
Asked about future plans for his star, Graffard said: "I don't know without speaking to the owners. He can't go for the Arc (as a gelding), so we will look at international races.
"Breeders' Cup, the Japan Cup - all options are open to him. We'll see how he comes back, but I can't say for definite at this moment."
A delighted Soumillon, who rode the aforementioned Hurricane Run in his King George win, said: "When I had a chance to look at the big screen I saw I was two or three lengths clear and I had to check I was not dreaming.
"It's such an amazing feeling winning one of the biggest races in the world with an amazing horse. He was a 25-1 shot, but I was very optimistic and I knew he just needed a fast pace in the race. It was like a dream."
Northern Express produced a game front-running performance to pick up a deserved valuable prize in the £150,000 Moet & Chandon International Stakes over seven furlongs at Ascot.
The Michael Dods-trained six-year-old had run well in a series of big handicaps this season without quite claiming top honours, including two runner-up efforts at York and fifth place in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting here.
However, he put that right when making all under regular pilot Paul Mulrennan at 22/1, just holding on from fast-finishing duo New Image and Fresh by a couple of necks.
Mulrennan said: "He has been a real good servant to everyone, we discussed it last week that he was just getting a little bit cute in his old age so we popped the cheekpieces on.
"He's been very consistent in knocking on the door, and the cheekpieces had the desired effect. We couldn't see any pace on and luckily I was able to get onto a fairly easy lead."
Kieran Shoemark enjoyed a welcome big-race victory as Friendly Soul galloped on strongly from the front to land the Longines Valiant Stakes at Ascot in convincing style.
Shoemark has had mixed fortunes since taking over as number one jockey for John and Thady Gosden, but silenced his doubters with a first Group Three triumph for the yard.
Friendly Soul was pressed by Doom entering the home straight, but responded admirably and powered clear to prevail by three lengths at 100/30.
She made it three wins from four outings, with the sole blip being a disappointing effort when sent off the odds-on favourite for the Musidora Stakes at York.
John Gosden said: "She won as a two-year-old and won very well in the Listed race (Pretty Polly, at Newmarket in May) over a mile and a quarter and we were thinking Prix de Diane.
"She was drawn nine at York and when you come out of stall nine over a mile and a quarter at York the stables are on your right. She saw that and cocked her jaw. She is a strong-willed lady and she cocked her jaw the whole race, so that explains that.
"We did a lot of checking her out as well and couldn't find anything wrong and gave her lots of time off, as she is still an immature filly, and brought her back for this. She has done it in good style.
"The break has helped and she is still relatively immature, she is the type of filly who will get better as the year goes on. Mr (George) Strawbridge bred her and he knows the family well and she will be a lovely filly next year.
"That is a stiff mile and it rises a lot and I think a mile and a quarter is her proper trip - I wouldn't want to go a mile and a half. We planned to run her in the Prix de Diane, but that race was in June so now we will have to come up with another Baldrick plan."
He went on: "It's been difficult for Kieran because a lot of our horses haven't been right. Our highest rated three-year-olds are her and Spiritual so our three-year-olds are, I'm afraid, way below what our owners would have wanted and the older horses, a lot of them didn't click with the cold spring we've had, so to that extent it's not been easy.
"I always remind people that we had a couple of winners at Ascot and they say we've had a terrible year and I say to them 'what do you mean' as we haven't even got halfway through the year yet. As you know we've got the rest of the season to come and there is so much racing into late summer and autumn and if you want to you can carry on 12 months of the year. "
Shoemark said: "John has been brilliant and offers me plenty of support. We've got a lot of nice horses and it's very exciting going forward. John and Thady continue to have my back, as do all the owners, so it's a pleasure and a privilege to ride for the team at Clarehaven and I look forward to what lies ahead.
"I think she is a progressive filly and I am glad to see her back to winning ways after her flop in the Musidora. We can put that behind us now and she hopefully has a bright future."
Simmering shed her maiden tag in style with a tenacious victory in the Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot.
Third in a hot novice at York first time up, she was thrown into the much hotter waters of the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, where only Aidan O'Brien's exciting Fairy Godmother proved too good as she stormed home late in the day.
Sold privately to Al Shaqab Racing since then, Ollie Sangster's filly gave her new owners an immediate return with Group Three honours.
There was a scare for backers of the 11/8 favourite when Mandurah got first run on the market leader, but once Ryan Moore got into the drive position, she finished strongly to beat Betty Clover and Tales Of The Heart by a neck and half a length.
Sangster said: "We'll enjoy this and it was always the next step for us after the Albany.
"Ascot was a great day, even though we got beaten, and the filly has taken a good step forward and she has won it nicely in the end.
"I think everyone was surprised Fairy Godmother did what she did in the Albany; she came out of the clouds didn't she.
"There were a few anxious moments a couple of furlongs out, but Ryan was happy and she did well.
"I think she has won it nicely in the end, despite having a few traffic problems, and hopefully she will take another step forward - Ryan said he thinks she will and said she was still a bit green coming through horses there. We're looking forward to the rest of the season with her.
"She's got plenty of speed and her sire Too Darn Hot was a very good miler. Ryan said he would advise going up to seven furlongs next time, so we will have to have a look at the schedule.
"I suppose we need to speak with Ryan and connections, they will have their own ideas on a schedule - and see how the filly is more importantly, and then make a plan."
Simmering's success continued a good week for the yard, with stablemate Celestial Orbit having scored in Listed company at Sandown on Thursday.
Sangster added: "Both Simmering and Celestial Orbit showed up sort of together in the spring and did a lot of work together, so that gave me a bit of extra confidence coming into today after the filly won well on Thursday.
"They are both different types of filly but it's nice to have them in the yard and connections like that in the yard - it will be nice to see them get their heads in front again."
Regarding Al Shaqab's investment, he said: "The ownership changed at about half past nine on Thursday and it was pretty manic in the office.
"I've grown up watching Al Shaqab and Sheikh Joaan's good horses like Toronado and Treve and all those other good horses, so for them to buy into a horse in our yard is a privilege and for it to get off to a good start, it couldn't have gone any better."
Al Shaqab racing manager Alison Begley commented: "We have had an eye on her since Ascot and then it was a case of getting our ducks in a row. The form was there in the book and she was sort of the obvious one, so I'm delighted it's worked out well for everybody.
"Ryan was saying there that he thinks the Breeders' Cup would be ideal. She's got speed but he thinks she will be better again stepping up to seven furlongs - obviously Del Mar is a very sharp mile.
"That would be very long term and we would have to speak to the Al Shaqab team and everything and see where we go, but I think quick ground will be key to her.
"She was green still today and I think she will have learned a lot having to come through horses like she did, we were delighted with her."
Ryan Moore made all on Our Terms to take the British EBF Crocker Bulteel 'Confined' Maiden Stakes at Ascot, where Al Misbar, who cost 1.5million guineas as a yearling, ultimately finished well beaten.
The Richard Hannon-trained winner had run with promise when fourth on his debut in a good maiden won by Field Of Gold on the July course at Newmarket and built on that with a determined display.
Back In Black pushed the 7/2 winner in the closing stages, but Moore's mount refused to buckle in scoring by half a length.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Al Misbar - who is a half-brother to brilliant sprinter Battaash - was not the quickest away but was still able to move into it quite stylishly at halfway, looking a real threat before being eased when his chance had gone.
Hannon, who has a fine record in this race, said: "We've always quite liked him, and his first run was very nice. We decided to use his experience, it's always a smart horse that wins this.
"The Mill Reef closes on Monday and then there's the Gimcrack, but Ryan thinks he's more of a seven-furlong horse. He's something very nice to look forward to."
Appleby said of Al Misbar: "It was his first day at school and it didn't matter where he turned up, he was always going to be a fancied horse given his pedigree and his price. They don't know their price though, so I never worry about stuff like that.
"Will (Buick) said he was going down nice and quiet but he was lugging to the left, lugging to the right, the usual first day stuff. We'll get him back out again in three weeks' time."
