Latest news with #CarlSpackler
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Carl Spackler adds truly international flavour to Queen Anne cracker
Three times a Grade One winner for Chad Brown in the States, the Lope De Vega five-year-old is now owned by Yulong Investments and with a new trainer in Ciaron Maher, meaning he will be a first Australian runner in a race superstar American mare Tepin won in 2016. Connections feel they have the right type of horse to be competitive, with William Bourne, Maher's bloodstock manager, saying: 'The sample size (of international runners in the Queen Anne) isn't huge, but his times really stacked up and just his temperament and attitude, he's the perfect horse to travel – he's an absolute dude and I think he's going to run a big race. Yulong Investments have confirmed the purchase of Carl Spackler, who will target the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal @Ascot! The horse, who has joined @cmaherracing, will become the first Australian-trained runner in the race before heading down under for a spring campaign. — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 26, 2025 'He's a very straightforward horse, there's not much to know – what you see is what you get. He's got a great temperament, he's like a kid's pony, he's made it so easy to bring him here, get him into the rhythm and train him. He's definitely made life easy for the boss. 'It's a red-hot race, there's no hiding, you're at Royal Ascot in a Group One so you're under no impression you're going to get an easy field. It is what it is, we think he's a pretty good horse and hopefully he can show up on Tuesday. 'When you speak to English owners and trainers at the Melbourne Cup, the buzz is the whole week and this is very similar – great weather, a lot of people, a lot of hype. It's a very international raceday and world class so just to even be here as a spectator or have a horse here, it's a privilege and to have Yulong entrust us with the horse is just amazing.' Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech set a high standard for Carl Spackler to aim at, having filled the first four places in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. With Sardinian Warrior a non-runner due to being off colour, John and Thady Gosden will rely on Lead Artist in Berkshire. Lead Artist (pink cap) just got the better of Dancing Gemini in the Lockinge (Steven Paston/PA) John Gosden said: 'I think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit him well rather than a slick mile and it's a wonderful race. 'You have the first four in the Lockinge all turning up and will they finish in the same order, that will be the question. 'He got stuck in the ground at Sandown and he doesn't like that. He likes what we got at Newbury in the Lockinge and what we're hopefully going to get at Ascot on Tuesday. 'He was in need of the race at Sandown and he came there travelling nicely, it was just on that ground he struggled to get home. He turned that round and it wasn't a huge surprise. Did I think he would win? Probably not, but I did think he would run a huge race.' Notable Speech won last year's 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes and Charlie Appleby expects him to take a good step forward from his Lockinge reappearance. He told the Godolphin website: 'Notable Speech comes into this in great order and we are looking forward to seeing him on the straight track at Ascot. 'The Lockinge was his first start of the year and he has definitely come forward for the run. Conditions are there to suit him and it looks a fantastic race to kick off the meeting.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Carl Spackler adds truly international flavour to Queen Anne cracker
Three times a Grade One winner for Chad Brown in the States, the Lope De Vega five-year-old is now owned by Yulong Investments and with a new trainer in Ciaron Maher, meaning he will be a first Australian runner in a race superstar American mare Tepin won in 2016. Connections feel they have the right type of horse to be competitive, with William Bourne, Maher's bloodstock manager, saying: 'The sample size (of international runners in the Queen Anne) isn't huge, but his times really stacked up and just his temperament and attitude, he's the perfect horse to travel – he's an absolute dude and I think he's going to run a big race. Yulong Investments have confirmed the purchase of Carl Spackler, who will target the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal @Ascot! The horse, who has joined @cmaherracing, will become the first Australian-trained runner in the race before heading down under for a spring campaign. — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 26, 2025 'He's a very straightforward horse, there's not much to know – what you see is what you get. He's got a great temperament, he's like a kid's pony, he's made it so easy to bring him here, get him into the rhythm and train him. He's definitely made life easy for the boss. 'It's a red-hot race, there's no hiding, you're at Royal Ascot in a Group One so you're under no impression you're going to get an easy field. It is what it is, we think he's a pretty good horse and hopefully he can show up on Tuesday. 'When you speak to English owners and trainers at the Melbourne Cup, the buzz is the whole week and this is very similar – great weather, a lot of people, a lot of hype. It's a very international raceday and world class so just to even be here as a spectator or have a horse here, it's a privilege and to have Yulong entrust us with the horse is just amazing.' Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech set a high standard for Carl Spackler to aim at, having filled the first four places in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. With Sardinian Warrior a non-runner due to being off colour, John and Thady Gosden will rely on Lead Artist in Berkshire. John Gosden said: 'I think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit him well rather than a slick mile and it's a wonderful race. 'You have the first four in the Lockinge all turning up and will they finish in the same order, that will be the question. 'He got stuck in the ground at Sandown and he doesn't like that. He likes what we got at Newbury in the Lockinge and what we're hopefully going to get at Ascot on Tuesday. 'He was in need of the race at Sandown and he came there travelling nicely, it was just on that ground he struggled to get home. He turned that round and it wasn't a huge surprise. Did I think he would win? Probably not, but I did think he would run a huge race.' Notable Speech won last year's 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes and Charlie Appleby expects him to take a good step forward from his Lockinge reappearance. He told the Godolphin website: 'Notable Speech comes into this in great order and we are looking forward to seeing him on the straight track at Ascot. 'The Lockinge was his first start of the year and he has definitely come forward for the run. Conditions are there to suit him and it looks a fantastic race to kick off the meeting.'
New Paper
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Royal Ascot still regal even against 'headwinds'
ASCOT The "headwinds" of prizemoney and rival racing festivals are even more concerning than they were last year. Nevertheless, the quality of foreign runners at Royal Ascot is "pretty positive", director of racing Nick Smith told AFP. The five-day meeting - described by Hong Kong-based Australian trainer David Hayes as "Melbourne Cup week on steroids" - which starts on June 17 is commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Royal Procession. Thankfully for the members of the Royal Family and their guests, the carriages are led by horses considerably slower than the splendid thoroughbreds that provide the day's entertainment. Mixing it with the best of mainstream European talent, there will be runners from Japan, Australia, the United States and "quirky" runners from Norway. Despite famous victories for Australian horses in years gone by from Choisir's remarkable double to superstar Black Caviar and American star Tepin, it takes both a lot of hard graft and Smith's powers of persuasion to coax their successors back. Smith concedes that being unable to compete in terms of prize money - Royal Ascot will boast at least £10 million (S$17.4 million) in 2025 - with festivals such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia makes his task that much tougher. "The headwinds are more concerning and more widespread than last year," said Smith. "None of those problems have gone away and they have even been exacerbated. It is getting harder and harder every year. "Over 50 Japanese horses went to Saudi and Dubai and those sort of numbers are not replicated in Europe. "We are doing our best in difficult circumstances. So overall I am satisfied with the situation." Smith says subsidies are offered to runners that are three-years and older as "you have to do that, you would get nowhere if you did not". Two-year-olds are excluded as "they could be anything, and if we did, there would be planeloads of them". Satono Reve, who bids to become Japan's first winner at the meeting after 10 previous challengers fell short, in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) on June 21 and America's top-rated US turf horse Carl Spackler, who is Australia-bound, in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m) on the opening day are perhaps the most eye-catching. Previously trained by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler was bought by Yulong and will race at Ascot under Melbourne champion trainer Ciaron Maher and will be partnered by Sydney champion jockey James McDonald. The eight-time winner by Lope De Vega will then continue his career in Australia. "It would not be the strongest year nor the weakest," said Smith. "The numbers are not so relevant, more important is they are genuinely competitive. "Wesley Ward's two-year-old's are very strong. There are also a few quirky horses, including a Norwegian runner later in the week. "The Australian Asfoora coming back (after winning the King Charles III Stakes last year) is great, though the Aussie sprinters this year have been up and down truth be known. "Overall, though, pretty positive." Smith says of course there are names missing that would have enriched the meeting even more. "One is always wanting more," he said. "I would have liked Hong Kong stars Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising but one has to accept that talent seems to spread itself around." However, there is much for Smith to enthuse about. Attendance forecast is up from 2024, and the Saturday of Royal Ascot remains the only race meeting outside of the US that NBC broadcasts on its main channel. "As ever it is a big week, a chance to be positive, show the best of British racing, advertise what Britain does best," he said. "We can get back to the politics and controversy in a week or so's time, which I am sure we will." AFP
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Carl Spackler adds truly international flavour to Queen Anne cracker
Three times a Grade One winner for Chad Brown in the States, the Lope De Vega five-year-old is now owned by Yulong Investments and with a new trainer in Ciaron Maher, meaning he will be a first Australian runner in a race superstar American mare Tepin won in 2016. Connections feel they have the right type of horse to be competitive, with William Bourne, Maher's bloodstock manager, saying: 'The sample size (of international runners in the Queen Anne) isn't huge, but his times really stacked up and just his temperament and attitude, he's the perfect horse to travel – he's an absolute dude and I think he's going to run a big race. Yulong Investments have confirmed the purchase of Carl Spackler, who will target the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal @Ascot! The horse, who has joined @cmaherracing, will become the first Australian-trained runner in the race before heading down under for a spring campaign. — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 26, 2025 'He's a very straightforward horse, there's not much to know – what you see is what you get. He's got a great temperament, he's like a kid's pony, he's made it so easy to bring him here, get him into the rhythm and train him. He's definitely made life easy for the boss. 'It's a red-hot race, there's no hiding, you're at Royal Ascot in a Group One so you're under no impression you're going to get an easy field. It is what it is, we think he's a pretty good horse and hopefully he can show up on Tuesday. 'When you speak to English owners and trainers at the Melbourne Cup, the buzz is the whole week and this is very similar – great weather, a lot of people, a lot of hype. It's a very international raceday and world class so just to even be here as a spectator or have a horse here, it's a privilege and to have Yulong entrust us with the horse is just amazing.' Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech set a high standard for Carl Spackler to aim at, having filled the first four places in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. With Sardinian Warrior a non-runner due to being off colour, John and Thady Gosden will rely on Lead Artist in Berkshire. John Gosden said: 'I think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit him well rather than a slick mile and it's a wonderful race. 'You have the first four in the Lockinge all turning up and will they finish in the same order, that will be the question. 'He got stuck in the ground at Sandown and he doesn't like that. He likes what we got at Newbury in the Lockinge and what we're hopefully going to get at Ascot on Tuesday. 'He was in need of the race at Sandown and he came there travelling nicely, it was just on that ground he struggled to get home. He turned that round and it wasn't a huge surprise. Did I think he would win? Probably not, but I did think he would run a huge race.' Notable Speech won last year's 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes and Charlie Appleby expects him to take a good step forward from his Lockinge reappearance. He told the Godolphin website: 'Notable Speech comes into this in great order and we are looking forward to seeing him on the straight track at Ascot. 'The Lockinge was his first start of the year and he has definitely come forward for the run. Conditions are there to suit him and it looks a fantastic race to kick off the meeting.'
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Carl Spackler adds truly international flavour to Queen Anne cracker
Three times a Grade One winner for Chad Brown in the States, the Lope De Vega five-year-old is now owned by Yulong Investments and with a new trainer in Ciaron Maher, meaning he will be a first Australian runner in a race superstar American mare Tepin won in 2016. Connections feel they have the right type of horse to be competitive, with William Bourne, Maher's bloodstock manager, saying: 'The sample size (of international runners in the Queen Anne) isn't huge, but his times really stacked up and just his temperament and attitude, he's the perfect horse to travel – he's an absolute dude and I think he's going to run a big race. Yulong Investments have confirmed the purchase of Carl Spackler, who will target the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal @Ascot! The horse, who has joined @cmaherracing, will become the first Australian-trained runner in the race before heading down under for a spring campaign. — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 26, 2025 'He's a very straightforward horse, there's not much to know – what you see is what you get. He's got a great temperament, he's like a kid's pony, he's made it so easy to bring him here, get him into the rhythm and train him. He's definitely made life easy for the boss. 'It's a red-hot race, there's no hiding, you're at Royal Ascot in a Group One so you're under no impression you're going to get an easy field. It is what it is, we think he's a pretty good horse and hopefully he can show up on Tuesday. 'When you speak to English owners and trainers at the Melbourne Cup, the buzz is the whole week and this is very similar – great weather, a lot of people, a lot of hype. It's a very international raceday and world class so just to even be here as a spectator or have a horse here, it's a privilege and to have Yulong entrust us with the horse is just amazing.' Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech set a high standard for Carl Spackler to aim at, having filled the first four places in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, as does Sardinian Warrior. John Gosden is responsible for both Lead Artist and Sardinian Warrior, who is coming off a career-best in the Prix d'Ispahan. Of Lead Artist, Gosden said: 'I think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit him well rather than a slick mile and it's a wonderful race. 'You have the first four in the Lockinge all turning up and will they finish in the same order, that will be the question. 'He got stuck in the ground at Sandown and he doesn't like that. He likes what we got at Newbury in the Lockinge and what we're hopefully going to get at Ascot on Tuesday. 'He was in need of the race at Sandown and he came there travelling nicely, it was just on that ground he struggled to get home. He turned that round and it wasn't a huge surprise. Did I think he would win? Probably not, but I did think he would run a huge race.' Of Sardinian Warrior, he added: 'He ran a nice race in France and it's always nice to have a good second-string. 'I think the other horse did outstay him but let's face it, Sosie is a really good horse. Andre Fabre saw the race was there for taking and supplemented him, but he's a mile-and-a-quarter-plus horse really and coming back to a mile could suit our horse.' Notable Speech won last year's 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes and Charlie Appleby expects him to take a good step forward from his Lockinge reappearance. He told the Godolphin website: 'Notable Speech comes into this in great order and we are looking forward to seeing him on the straight track at Ascot. 'The Lockinge was his first start of the year and he has definitely come forward for the run. Conditions are there to suit him and it looks a fantastic race to kick off the meeting.'
