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A couple of leading riders had contrasting weeks. Jockey Robby Albarado broke his collar bone, as also his left index finger and thumb, after a fall at Saratoga and will be out of action for an indefinite period. Actually the race in which Albarado's mount, Hunt for Candie (by Northern Afleet), was participating had ended, with the filly finishing sixth – the incident took place while pulling up. Meanwhile, Kent Desormeaux, scored his ninth win of this Saratoga meeting on Wednesday. Given that he had been facing alcohol-related issues, this was something of a personal triumph for the 40-year-old.
Europe
The Deauville meeting in France in August each year showcases some of the best racing anywhere in the world. The superbly-maintained racecourse, officially known as Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques, was established in 1864 and underwent a major renovation in 1994-95. Five Group 1 events take place during the summer, one of which is the 1300 m. Prix Maurice de Gheest.
This year's renewal of that hallowed sprint, first contested in 1922, saw 15 in opposition last Sunday, with the Aga Khan's Varenar the best-fancied. Finishing fast to grab the honours was Dab Hand Racing's Regal Parade (Pivotal-Model Queen, by Kingmambo), who benefited from a smart ride by Adrian Nicholls partnering a runner trained by his father, David "Dandy" Nicholls. Last year, this gelding had surprised when capturing the Betfred Haydock Sprint Cup (Gr.1); earlier he had triumphed in the Ayr Gold Cup.
His story is interesting – his dam was a Juddmonte home-bred and was culled as a three-year-old for 92,000 guineas to Highclere Stud and Harry Herbert, who bred Regal Parade and sold him as a yearling for 430,000 guineas to Sheikh Hamdan, for whom he won thrice. When his connections felt he was no more than useful, the chestnut was disposed off for a mere 16,000 guineas in 2007. Nicholls has transformed the six-year-old out of all recognition – and earned over £500,000 for his owners! Ironically he beat a Shiekh Hamdan-owned runner here in the shape of the small-made Joanna (by High Chaparral) who was a mere neck in arrears. High Standing (by High Yield) was a faraway third.
Superstar stallion Dansili, standing at Juddmonte's Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket, has a really good one in the Aidan O'Brien-trained 2-y-o Zoffany (out of Tyranny, by Machiavellian), who made the transition to Group 1 company with ease. The smart colt, who annexed the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last Sunday, was bred in Ireland by Denis Brosnan's Epona Bloodstock and was sold for 220,000 guineas to John Magnier at last year's Tattersalls October yearling sale.
His dam was no more than an ordinary winner, but his grandam, Dust Dancer, won the Prix de la Nonette (Gr.3) over 2000 m. which suggests Zoffany should turn out to be a 1600 m. to 2000 m. performer next year. In fact, he will probably get further. In the beaten brigade – he finished third – was the Richard Hannon-trained Strong Suit, a rare reverse this year for the East Everleigh stables.
"We said before Royal Ascot that he'd only had two very easy runs and that's obviously the trouble with going there as a baby," O'Brien explained. "He suffered from stage fright, so all we could do when he came back was step him up in trip so things would happen a bit slower and he would learn a little bit more.....he's always had that unbelievable acceleration...we saw that in his first two starts and now he's starting to relax, he's very exciting....he's getting heavier all the time and that's a great sign,"
With the unfortunate injury to Harbinger, it seems Fame And Glory (Montjeu – Gryada, by Shirley Heights) will be the prime older contender for honours in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1) at Longchamp in October. The Aidan O'Brien trainee did his cause no harm with a bloodless victory in the 2000 m. Keeneland Royal Whip Stakes (Gr.2) at the Curragh on Sunday, sauntering home 3-1/2 lengths clear. So superior was he that he started at odds of 1-12! The British-bred has now won 9 of his 14 starts and earned € 2,223,154, not a bad return on the 190,000 guineas he cost as a weanling. For the record, stablemates Dixie Music (by Montjeu) and Grand Admiral (by Giant's Causeway) followed him home.
