Latest news with #FieldOfGold
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Babouche could deliver something special for Lyons and Keane
By James Toney at Royal Ascot Colin Keane's new status brings added pressure at Royal Ascot but winning a Group One for the trainer who has supported him for so long would be something extra special. Keane has made a fine start to his status as Juddmonte's retained jockey, piloting the brilliant Field of Gold to victory in the St James's Palace Stakes, with three other places this week too. Last year he delivered his Dad Gerry a first Royal Ascot winner and repaying trainer Ger Lyons's long-time support in the Commonwealth Cup would match that achievement. It's eight years since Lyons only previous winner at the meeting and Babouche, racing in those famous pink and green silks, represents a gilt-edged chance of doubling that tally. After Lyons and Keane combined to win at the Breeders' Cup last year, the Co. Meath trainer admitted he didn't have the ammunition to match the jockeys ambition. "He's the most understated Champion Jockey in the world," he said. "I need the world to wake up to him." Juddmonte were clearly listening, so there's extra significance for Keane in this ride for his mentor and old boss in their colours, choosing Babouche ahead of their other contender Jonquil. She was a two-year-old Group One winner at the Curragh last year and impressed to win at Naas on her last outing, dispelling Lyons's early season anxiety about her form. "We asked the questions in her last race and she answered them with bells on. She was back, it was the Babouche we all know and love," said Lyons. "She's a Group One winner and we've always loved her and we've been working towards this for a while." Advertisement Babouche got the better of Aidan O'Brien's Whistlejacket in the Lacken Stakes and he'll be looking for revenge as one of two Ballydoyle entries. Also flying the flag for the Green Team is Joseph O'Brien with Lady With The Lamp, Adrian Murray's Arizona Blaze and Eddie and Patrick Harty's Carla Ridge, a 100-1 winner at Naas last year. "We always thought this race would suit Whistlejacket," said O'Brien, narrowly leading British rivals John and Thady Gosden in the trainer standings after three of five days. "The more competitive the race, the better I think he will be, a high tempo from the start would be absolutely ideal. I wouldn't discount Ides of March either, he will love this ground and seems in good form." The absence of O'Brien's Lake Victoria from the Commonwealth Stakes made Friday's other Group One a little weaker, the Irish 1000 Guineas and Breeders' Cup heroine would have been a hot favourite after five unbeaten starts. Ryan Moore has selected January ahead of other Ballydoyle entry Exactly, as he looks to finally crack that 150 Group One winning barrier in partnership with O'Brien. "Ryan really likes her," added O'Brien. "The run in the Irish Guineas was with a view to this race and I was happy with Exactly's French Guineas run too, she just didn't quite get the luck she needed." There have been seven Irish winners across the opening three days of the meeting, with Paddy Twomey and Henry de Bromhead joining O'Brien in the winners' enclosure. Donnacha O'Brien has a chance of joining them with Albany Stakes hopeful Balantina, with Tom Marquand taking the ride. O'Brien's super star filly Porta Fortuna won this race two years ago, Donnacha's first Royal Ascot success and followed up to win last year's Coronation Stakes too. Balantina races in the same colours and an eye-catching win at the Curragh in May only enhances her credentials, despite the fact the market is fronted by his father's Frankel-colt Signora. "She's been in great form since winning at the Curragh and I've no worries about the track and ground suiting her, it'll be competitive but she'll run well," said the two-time Royal Ascot winning trainer.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Royal Ascot: Field Of Gold strikes to deliver performance worthy of occasion
Royal Ascot's uncanny ability to deliver performances to suit the occasion was to the fore once again on Tuesday as Field Of Gold, the odds-on favourite, overwhelmed his rivals in the St James's Palace Stakes with a sustained burst of speed a quarter of mile out that put the result beyond doubt well before the furlong pole. If there is a better performance over a mile by a three‑year-old later on in the season, it feels long odds‑on that Field Of Gold will be the horse to produce it. John and Thady Gosden's grey colt was one of three Classic winners in the field, though his winning performance was further evidence that, had Ruling Court not been allowed first run in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the fast-finishing Field Of Gold would surely have taken that too. Ruling Court was only third here, nearly four lengths behind Henri Matisse, the French 2,000 Guineas winner, who was in turn three and a half adrift of Field Of Gold at the line. Advertisement Related: Royal Ascot 2025 day one updates: news, previews and more – live Kieran Shoemark shouldered the blame for Field Of Gold's defeat at Newmarket and Colin Keane, newly appointed as the Juddmonte operation's retained rider in Europe, enjoyed one of the smoothest rides of his career in his saddle on Tuesday. 'Good horses make it look easy,' Keane said. 'I don't know when was the last time three Guineas winners clashed, but Field Of Gold was very good at the Curragh and very good again today. If anything, the leaders probably didn't bring us far enough and we got there plenty soon, but he's tough and genuine. I am fortunate enough to be riding him and, at this moment, he is the best horse I have sat on.' Gosden said afterwards that if Field Of Gold had not run in the Irish Guineas, a step up in trip in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown next month would have been a possibility, but his winner is more likely to wait for the Sussex Stakes, over a mile at Glorious Goodwood, for which he was cut to even-money favourite from around 4-1. Advertisement 'This year, he has been exemplary in everything he has done,' Gosden said. 'He is a pleasure to train because he's a pretty laid‑back character, which is very useful. It was never the plan to go to Ireland, it became the plan [after his defeat at Newmarket], so he's had a trial, two Guineas and this. It's a lot of racing and we're not even beginning to be halfway through the season. 'When they win like that, they make it look easy, but they are taking a lot out of themselves, so I wouldn't want to be seen as someone trying to run him back in the Eclipse quick off this.' Royal Ascot stages three of its eight Group One races on the opening afternoon and, while the Juddmonte colours prevailed in the feature event, two trainers from outside the small group of powerhouse bloodstock operations celebrated landmark wins earlier in the day. Harry Eustace's Docklands, at 14-1, edged out the 5-2 favourite, Rosallion, by a nose in the opening Queen Anne Stakes, while American Affair, from Jim Goldie's stable 20 miles south‑west of Glasgow, had a neck to spare over Frost At Dawn in the King Charles III Stakes. For both trainers, it was the first Group One success of their career. Advertisement 'I have lost my voice,' Eustace said after his win with Docklands, who was winning for the first time since taking the Britannia Handicap at this meeting in 2023. 'That was pretty sweet. He has been an absolute legend for us and if ever there was a track where you'd want a horse that's a specialist, it's here because it's the best racing.' American Affair's latest win before Tuesday's Group One success was in a handicap at York's Dante meeting in May off a mark of 98. 'I have trained the family for three generations, so it's very sweet,' Goldie, who saddled his first runners in 1995, said. 'I was quite confident he could do it today. He has the talent. I knew he was probably one of the fastest horses in the race, but it's how you control that. We've come down a day early, got him relaxed and it all fell into place. It means a lot.' Hopes for a winner in the Royal colours were dashed later in the day as Willie Mullins's Reaching High, the 11-4 favourite, finished ninth behind Henry de Bromhead's Ascending (20‑1) in the Ascot Stakes Handicap after a tricky passage in the straight. Advertisement The scarlet and purple silks will be on a likely favourite again on Wednesday when Rainbow's Edge, a lightly raced four-year-old filly, goes to post for the Kensington Palace Stakes at 5.35pm. See The Fire a red-hot fancy Jeff Smith, the owner of See The Fire, paid a £70,000 supplementary fee to get her into the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, and it can prove to be money well spent when his four-year-old filly goes to post for the feature event on day two of the meeting. See The Fire is a daughter of Arabian Queen, who won York's International Stakes at 50-1 in Smith's colours back in 2015, and showed glimpses of top-level ability in the autumn of her three-year-old season. Advertisement She has looked much-improved with another winter behind her, however, and travelled like the best horse in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown in April before lack of a run started to tell in the closing stages. See The Fire (4.20) then stepped up significantly for the outing in the Middleton Stakes at York, where she powered a remarkable 12 lengths clear of her field and stopped the clock in a time that backed up the visual impression of the form. A 3lb sex allowance from the market leaders, Los Angeles and Anmaat, is another plus and she is an attractive bet at around 5-1 to underline her improvement with a first Group One success on Wednesday. Royal Ascot 2.30 A huge field of lightly-raced juvenile fillies includes seven unbeaten runners and 13 that won last time out, but Karl Burke's Zelaina has dominated the market since running away with a Nottingham maiden earlier this month. She achieved no more or less than several rivals, however, and while American-trained challenger Lennilu is an obvious danger, the 12-1 on offer for Staya catches the eye too. George Scott's filly travelled extremely well and then quickened impressively to win at Yarmouth first time up in a strong time. Advertisement Royal Ascot 3.05 This mile-and-three-quarter trip is at least two furlongs more than most of these three-year-olds have tried as yet, so plenty can be expected to progress for the experience and Francis-Henri Graffard's Asmarani could take the biggest step forward. He ran well enough to finish a close second in a Group Three when dropped back to 11 furlongs last time but has plenty of stamina on both sides of his pedigree and this trip will probably be his optimum. Royal Ascot 3.40 A repeat of her form when pulling nearly five lengths clear of her field in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket should be enough to see Cinderella's Dream register another Group Two win. Hamilton 2.15 Rampant 2.50 Baggot Street 3.23 Canon's House 4.00 Havana Rum 4.40 Blufferonthebus 5.20 Cymbidium 5.55 Desert Of The Sea Royal Ascot 2.30 Staya 3.05 Asmarani 3.40 Cinderella's Dream 4.20 See The Fire 5.00 Qirat (nb) 5.35 Independent Expert (nap) 6.10 Rogue Legend Advertisement Worcester 2.40 Rocks Up Late 3.15 Jeudidee 3.50 Chicago Storm 4.30 Whizz Kid 5.10 Twirling 5.40 Carlton 6.20 Gore Point Lingfield 5.45 Writteninthestars 6.15 Rory Rocket 6.45 Due Date 7.15 Sawgrass 7.45 Golden Handshake 8.15 Classic Cause 8.45 Offiah's Boy Ripon 6.30 Duskaura 7.00 Modern Times 7.30 Lord Protector 8.00 Mr Cool 8.30 Jenubiyah 9.00 Azucena Royal Ascot 5.00 A pair of lightly-raced four-year-olds – My Cloud and The Liffey – dominate the betting for this year's Royal Hunt Cup and fit the profile of several recent winners of this ultra-competitive handicap, but neither has as much experience as Qirat over Ascot's straight course and Ralph Beckett's runner appeals as a better bet at around 12-1. He was headed in the final strides of the Victoria Cup over seven furlongs here, and on very similar ground, when making his seasonal debut in May and both the run and first-time blinkers could prompt further improvement. Advertisement Royal Ascot 5.35 Stephen Thorne's Independent Expert could outrun her odds of around 16-1. Her trainer is in only his second season with a licence but has an impressive 23pc strike rate this year and has also shown an aptitude for improving recruits from other stables. His first runner at the Royal meeting got off the mark for her new yard with a decisive victory at Naas last time and a 7lb rise in the weights does not look too severe. Royal Ascot 6.10 The usual big field for the Windsor Castle but Rogue Legend stands out on his form to date and a rival may well need to show abnormal improvement to give him a race.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I'm supremely confident my big Royal Ascot tip on Friday will be far too good for his rivals
It's hotting up on and off the track now MATT CHAPMAN I'm supremely confident my big Royal Ascot tip on Friday will be far too good for his rivals Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUT of the shadows and into the limelight — that's what I'm expecting for last season's champion juvenile at Ascot on Friday. We've made it to Day Four of the Royal meeting, and SHADOW OF LIGHT (3.05) — last season's Group 1 Middle Park and Dewhurst hero — drops back in trip for the Commonwealth Cup. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Is Shadow Of Light a bit of a good thing in what would normally be a hugely competitive Commonwealth? Credit: PA Like many, I suspect he will take all the beating after his comeback third to stable companion Ruling Court and Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas. Shadow Of Light might well have won that race if he had been delivered a little later, but whatever the case, the drop to 6f should be exactly what he will enjoy and I just think he will be far too good. I'm happy with stall 19, so come on, William Buick. GOLD DIGGER (2.30) can get the day off to a flyer in the Albany Stakes. She looked special on debut at Yarmouth and it would be a famous winner here for Phil Cunningham and Richard Spencer. I was there that day, and many thought Awaken would take all the beating for George Boughey. She ran well, but was no match for Gold Digger, a Starman offspring who cost 260,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up sale. She stays well and will be well suited to a Jamie Spencer special from off the pace. Stall 14 should not be an issue. ETHICAL DIAMOND (3.40) was fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh last year when the 7-4 favourite. But he was out in stall 18 that day and get a much handier box in stall seven this time. The Willie Mullins challenger will hopefully be a stronger horse this time as he just weakened late on in 2024 and I suspect he will take all the stopping under Ryan Moore. He was a fine fourth at Cheltenham in the County Hurdle. For many the big one of the day is the Group 1 Coronation Stakes. We get the chance to see what might be a monster in FALAKEYAH (4.20) and her draw (stall two) has worked in her favour. Owen Burrows was considering the French Oaks after her demolition job in the Pretty Polly but also the Irish 1,000 Guineas. I'm pretty sure she has the speed for this test. She should be improving all the time as had only been to Wolverhampton prior to her Newmarket victory. She looks an absolute tank. Jim Crowley takes the mount. NEVER LET GO (5.00) is the one for me in the Sandringham. A strong gallop will be ideal for her and she has plenty of experience for Ed Walker. Many in this race are stepping up in trip, but Never Let Go drops in distance and looks sure to be suited by a proper gallop. Kieran Shoemark would not usually want to get down to a weight of 8st10lbs every day but he might just be rewarded here for making the effort. She's up in the handicap for a Listed third when last seen but as a lightly-raced animal I'm not too fussed about that. An each-way wager. Amiloc could easily win the King Edwards VII Stakes - also known as the Ascot Derby. But ZAHRANN (5.35) might just be one of the best Johnny Murtagh has trained in his career. The Aga Khan-owned colt and son of Night of Thunder was impressive in Listed company at Leopardstown last time and stayed this trip very well. He was well backed and it looked as though the stable knew he's classy. I'll chance him each-way. The day closes with JORGE ALVARES (6.10) in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap. A lot of very fast horses here and I suspect something will come flying through late. He could be the one each-way for Colin Keane and Ger Lyons. The gelding has plenty of experience and ran really well when last seen at Curragh staying on strongly having been close to the pace. He's up 1lb here but that shouldn't make any difference and he's raced up to seven furlongs so that bit of stamina could be useful. Good luck one and all. Yeeehaaa! FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Royal Ascot punter tried to put £370k bet on big race favourite Field Of Gold
According to a report, the punter asked to put the extraordinary wager and pay with their bank card on the eventual St James's Palace Stakes but was turned down in the betting ring A Royal Ascot punter tried to put a colossal bet on a big race favourite at the track. Outside the Cheltenham Festival, the five-day royal meeting is the biggest betting event of the year. Sums of up to six figures are traded with bookmakers in the Royal Ascot betting ring, but stakes exceeding £100,000 are rare. Last year Royal Ascot bookie Ben Keith's Star Sports, a firm known for standing big bets, twice had to pay out £200,000 each after accepting a pair of winning wagers worth £100,000. On day one of this year's meeting Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold was one of the hotpots of the week for the St James's Palace Stakes for which he was the 8-11 favourite. Not surprisingly, many punters were prepared to cash in on the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt and put their money down before Field Of Gold romped to an emphatic victory. But, according to one report, one significant bet was turned away by a bookmaker. Simon Knott, who compiles a daily report from the ring on behalf of Star Sports, said in a post on X: 'I'm told someone asked a bookmaker on the lower rail for $500,000 (around £370,000) bet Field Of Gold on his card, yes that is dollars and card. 'Luckily they didn't ask Star Sports. It was a bad enough day as it was.' Knott went on to detail how much damage was done to Star Sports' bank balance by backers of Field Of Gold. 'The punters had evidently been waiting for Field of Gold, having bets of £20,000 – £22,000, £10,000 – £11,000 £10,000 – £11,000 and £1000 – £1100 plus the double should the first leg cop, fair bets to lay before cutting the price. 'A trade bet of £10,000 – £12,000 followed swiftly after but stayed 5/6 which it did on most other joints too.' He continued: 'A further grand and two grand at 10/11 the jolly topped things up, back to 5/6 it was again, and a punter had £600 to win £500. By the time the field headed for the stalls, the jolly was 8/11. 'Punters were walking past trying to blag 5/6 and 4/5 but that ship had sailed, you can't stand back and hope they get bigger, then beg the price when you miss it. No sir. 'Well, what can you say, even the world 's top train stopper couldn't put the kibosh on the impressive winner Field Of Gold. The book lost £58,155, Ben quietly and stealthily, probably quite sensibly, left the building and Tony and Emily to pay pay pay. 'It got worse, Lofty's team blew £6700 and the massive queue waiting to draw were crowing.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I'm super sweet on this 7-1 Royal Ascot tip who can be the new kid on the block in the Gold Cup
THERE's something rather dishy about Philippa Cooper, and one of racing's top owner-breeders might just pull of an historic win at Ascot on Thursday afternoon. Philippa owns SWEET WILLIAM (4.20) who lines up in the most prestigious race of week, the £650,000 Ascot Gold Cup. Advertisement 1 Robert Havlin with Philippa Cooper will aim to land the Gold Cup with super Sweet William Credit: Alamy It's time for a new kid on the Gold Cup block, with Kyprios now retired and his trainer Aidan O'Brien relying on Illinois . The latter might just blow the field apart and, as well as being proven at the track with a Queen's Vase win last year, has been really well backed ante-post. However, Illinois, last year's Gold Cup second Trawlerman and interesting French raider Candelari will have to be right at their best to deny Sweet William a place at the very least. Last year Sweet William was rated 109 when third, but the six-year-old — who runs under the Normandie Stud banner — is now on a mark of 116, which shows you he's better than ever. Advertisement Trainer John Gosden has his runners in great form and has already been in the winners this week, notably with fabulous Field Of Gold on the opening day. Rab Havlin gets on well with Sweet William who goes on any ground and is a rock-solid each-way wager at around 7-1. Day Three of Royal Ascot 2025 starts with the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for colts over five furlongs. WISE APPROACH (2.30) looked a machine on debut at this track which was good news for Godolphin as he cost 1,000,000gns. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing The son of former Coventry second Mehmas was unable to carry a penalty against re-opposing First Legion at York next time, but that was over six furlongs and I suspect he will enjoy dropping back in distance. He still promises much for Charlie Appleby and William Buick and is another fair each-way bet. Up next is the mile-and-a-half King George V Handicap for three-year-olds. The well-backed Merchant has a nasty draw to work from, otherwise he would have been a big fancy. Advertisement The one who interests me is the James Ferguson-handled GUNSHIP , owned by Qatar BS, China Horse Club and David Howden. He has form with Sing Us A Song from Sandown where he looked badly in need of this longer trip as he stayed on well from the back of the field into third. Stall ten looks a perfect position to work from and Oisin Murphy takes the ride which can only be positive. Another Group 2 in the Ribblesdale for three-year-old fillies over 1m4f at 3.40pm. Advertisement None of these have a crazy high rating but SERENITY PRAYER should have more to give at this trip. The Andrew Balding runner was impressive on debut at Newbury and then chased him Whirl in the Musidora at York where she stayed on strongly. That gives big hopes for this distance and she's bred to stay well being out of a Galileo mare. Murphy is on top again. After the Gold Cup is the Britannia Handicap for three-year-olds over 1m. Advertisement CONSOLIDATION looks as though he will relish a step up in trip and he gets it here for Ralph Beckett and James Doyle. Gelded at the end of last season, my selection returned with a battling success at Goodwood and gets the help of the Wathnan No1. Hopefully a low draw is not a problem. Up in class again now for the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes for three-year-olds over 1m2f at 5.35pm. Advertisement Big chance here for Detain although he's not a horse I like much as far as head carriage is concerned. I'm happy to support TORNADO ALERT each-way for Saeed bin Suroor and the classy James McDonald. The Guineas fourth and Derby sixth promises to be well suited by this intermediate trip and he has a perfect box to get a position from stall four. Finally the Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap over 7f. Advertisement WITCH HUNTER is down to 103 – the rating he had when taking this in 2023 - and he is an absolute specialist over this trip. Last season he was fourth in the Group 1 Queen Anne when rated 109 so, while he has dropped 6lbs, is still just 2lb off top weight in this contest. It could be tricky to win against some low-rated rivals sure to improve, but he really does have the ability to at least make a splash if he's on a going day. Sean Levey will be on top for Richard Hannon. Advertisement So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas! FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
