Latest news with #GroupThree
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Andrea Atzeni bullish about Patch Of Theta: ‘I wouldn't swap the horse for anything else in the race'
Andrea Atzeni has strong confidence in his two Group Three mounts at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Bidding to add to what has already been a fruitful campaign, Andrea Atzeni has declared he wouldn't swap Patch Of Theta for any other ride in Sunday's Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin. The Sardinian jockey has legitimate claims in the final two features of the season, with Patch Of Theta and his Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) mount Bundle Award shaping as strong contenders. Atzeni, who sits third in the jockeys' championship with 54 wins, hops aboard Patch Of Theta for the first time as Francis Lui Kin-wai's classy five-year-old chases a second Group Three triumph this term. Victorious in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) in January, the Zoustar gelding put the writing on the wall with a fast-finishing third to Helios Express in the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) last start. Smart win, Patch Of Theta! 🫡 Francis Lui's Hong Kong International Sale graduate could be Stewards' Cup bound after his smashing G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup victory on New Year's Day at Sha Tin... @KarisTeetan #LuckyStart | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 2, 2025 'He's a very good ride to get,' Atzeni said. 'His last run was very good. If he can repeat that, he shouldn't be too far away. To be honest, I'd say I wouldn't swap the horse for anything else in the race. 'I think 1,400m is his perfect trip because he's not short of speed and he can travel strong. Sometimes 1,200m looks a little bit sharp and a mile, although he's won over it, can be a little bit far for him.' Patch Of Theta emerged as one of Lui's more progressive gallopers during his championship-winning campaign last season with four wins – all over 1,400m at Sha Tin. Since winning a Class Two mile and the Chinese Club Challenge Cup, he has been tested at a much higher level and, despite finishing well back in his two Group One starts, he was not disgraced. Atzeni highlighted another progressive Lui galloper in Packing Hermod, who shoots for a third consecutive win, and Group One victors Beauty Eternal and Invincible Sage as Patch Of Theta's major rivals on Sunday. Bundle Award drops back in trip in the Premier Plate after a solid fifth to Voyage Bubble in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) when making late ground from the tail of the field. The John Size-trained gelding has won three races this season, crowned by last month's Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m). 'He's another good ride. He ran very well the other day in the mile-and-a-half race,' Atzeni said. 'If you take away the winner Voyage Bubble, it was a very close finish – there wasn't far between second, third, fourth and fifth. I didn't get stuck behind horses but if I got a slightly better run in the straight, I think I would have finished a lot closer. 'Back down into a Group Three handicap with a bottom weight [of 115lb], I know he's dropping back to 1,800m but he won over it before he went on to run in the Derby. 'It's a competitive race, but with the weight difference I think he's definitely well in.' Bundle Award jumps from gate 13 in an even race featuring the likes of dual Group Two winner Straight Arron, Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Cap Ferrat and last-start Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) winner Pray For Mir. Blazing Wukong, an impressive debut winner for Ricky Yiu Poon-fai, and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's talented three-year-old South Star are among the best of Atzeni's other rides this weekend. 'Blazing Wukong is a really nice horse. He trialled the other day and looked like he's sharpened up from his first run,' Atzeni said. 'It looks like a nice race, but I do like my horse and I think whatever he does this season, he's going to be a much better horse for next year. 'South Star is another horse I like a lot. It's a very good race with some young horses who could be pretty smart next season taking each other on.'
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Ombudsman shows star quality with sizzling Prince of Wales's display
Ombudsman displayed a devastating change of gear to run out a brilliant winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Successful on each of his first four starts last season, including a Group Three win in France, John and Thady Gosden's colt met with defeat for the first time when second to Almaqam on his return to action in last month's Brigadier Gerard at Sandown. The Godolphin-owned four-year-old faced a further hike in class for this Group One feature, but after being settled well off the strong early pace by William Buick, he engaged overdrive once in the clear halfway up the straight and readily picked off the gallant Anmaat to win by two lengths going away. See The Fire was third, another two and a half lengths behind the 7-1 winner, but Aidan O'Brien's Los Angeles, the 13-8 favourite, faded into fifth place. WOW! OMBUDSMAN THROUGH TRAFFIC TO WIN THE PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES! #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2025 Gosden senior, celebrating his 70th Royal Ascot winner, said: 'He's a special horse and it's just a question of an owner giving you the time to let them mature and get there. 'He's got a turn of foot and he (Buick) knew it, it was a matter of getting out, but I did notice when he finally got daylight there was a furlong to go.' He went on: 'It's a question of, when you get to the straight, whether you get the luck. He wasn't in a position where he could swing round the field, it was more of a case of waiting for the gap. 'He was very patient. I knew when there was a gap at the furlong pole that this horse has an extraordinary turn of foot – he was patient and he was rewarded. 'When we bought him he was an immature horse, he didn't run as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old we brought him on and then put him away. He's horse who is now properly grown and developed as a four-year-old. 'He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse, he's got a wonderful turn of foot as you saw and I think we'll play to that strength. As far as I'm concerned he's done nothing but grow in stature. 'He is a horse that because he hasn't over-raced this year, he could be a horse you could look at the Eclipse. 'That wouldn't be my choice (to run him against Field Of Gold).' Thady Gosden added: 'When William found a gap he asked him to go through it and he was very quick. 'The Eclipse looks like the natural step to take. It was a top-class field today, it was the most elite field of the week as it often is and he showed what he was capable of there. 'It wasn't a huge field but it was highly elite, as you'd expect at this meeting. He certainly came up good.' Buick was noticeably jubilant on passing the line, after an opening day that had seen high-profile reverses for Notable Speech and Ruling Court. He said: 'This place tames lions. It's so special to win here because it's so tough, everyone comes here in great form and everyone is doing their very best of course. 'They went a hard gallop. I was always going to have to ride for a bit of luck and he quickened instantly. I thought he was impressive. 'I think that was a taste of what's to come for sure. He's got low miles on the clock, he's an exciting horse.'
The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ombudsman has all the answers in Prince of Wales's Stakes with O'Brien's favourite fifth
OMBUDSMAN DISPLAYED A devastating change of gear to run out a brilliant winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Successful on each of his first four starts last season, including a Group Three win in France, John and Thady Gosden's colt met with defeat for the first time when second to Almaqam on his return to action in last month's Brigadier Gerard at Sandown. The Godolphin-owned four-year-old faced a further hike in class for this Group One feature, but after being settled well off the strong early pace by William Buick, he engaged overdrive once in the clear halfway up the straight and readily picked off the gallant Anmaat to win by two lengths going away. See The Fire was third, another two and a half lengths behind the 7-1 winner, but Aidan O'Brien's Los Angeles, the 13-8 favourite, faded into fifth place. Gosden senior, celebrating his 70th Royal Ascot winner, said: 'He's a special horse and it's just a question of an owner giving you the time to let them mature and get there. 'He's got a turn of foot and he (Buick) knew it, it was a matter of getting out, but I did notice when he finally got daylight there was a furlong to go.' He went on: 'It's a question of, when you get to the straight, whether you get the luck. He wasn't in a position where he could swing round the field, it was more of a case of waiting for the gap. Advertisement 'He was very patient. I knew when there was a gap at the furlong pole that this horse has an extraordinary turn of foot – he was patient and he was rewarded. 'When we bought him he was an immature horse, he didn't run as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old we brought him on and then put him away. He's horse who is now properly grown and developed as a four-year-old. 'He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse, he's got a wonderful turn of foot as you saw and I think we'll play to that strength. As far as I'm concerned he's done nothing but grow in stature. The Prince of Wales presents a commemorative saddle blanket to trainer John Gosden following his 70th win. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'He is a horse that because he hasn't over-raced this year, he could be a horse you could look at the Eclipse. 'That wouldn't be my choice (to run him against Field Of Gold).' Thady Gosden added: 'When William found a gap he asked him to go through it and he was very quick. 'The Eclipse looks like the natural step to take. It was a top-class field today, it was the most elite field of the week as it often is and he showed what he was capable of there. 'It wasn't a huge field but it was highly elite, as you'd expect at this meeting. He certainly came up good.' William Buick with the trophy for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Buick was noticeably jubilant on passing the line, after an opening day that had seen high-profile reverses for Notable Speech and Ruling Court. He said: 'This place tames lions. It's so special to win here because it's so tough, everyone comes here in great form and everyone is doing their very best of course. 'They went a hard gallop. I was always going to have to ride for a bit of luck and he quickened instantly. I thought he was impressive. 'I think that was a taste of what's to come for sure. He's got low miles on the clock, he's an exciting horse.'
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Royal Ascot wrap: Godolphin-owned Ombudsman takes day two feature with sizzling Prince of Wales's display
Successful on each of his first four starts last season, including a Group Three win in France, John and Thady Gosden's colt met with defeat for the first time when second to Almaqam on his return to action in last month's Brigadier Gerard at Sandown. The Godolphin-owned four-year-old faced a further hike in class for this Group One feature, but after being settled well off the strong early pace by William Buick, he engaged overdrive once in the clear halfway up the straight and readily picked off the gallant Anmaat to win by two lengths going away. See The Fire was third, another two and a half lengths behind the 7-1 winner, but Aidan O'Brien's Los Angeles, the 13-8 favourite, faded into fifth place. Gosden senior said: "He's a special horse and it's just a question of an owner giving you the time to let them mature and get there. "He's got a turn of foot and he (Buick) knew it, it was a matter of getting out, but I did notice when he finally got daylight there was a furlong to go." He went on: "It's a question of, when you get to the straight, whether you get the luck. He wasn't in a position where he could swing round the field, it was more of a case of waiting for the gap. "He was very patient. I knew when there was a gap at the furlong pole that this horse has an extraordinary turn of foot - he was patient and he was rewarded. "When we bought him he was an immature horse, he didn't run as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old we brought him on and then put him away. He's horse who is now properly grown and developed as a four-year-old. "He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse, he's got a wonderful turn of foot as you saw and I think we'll play to that strength. As far as I'm concerned he's done nothing but grow in stature. "He is a horse that because he hasn't over-raced this year, he could be a horse you could look at the Eclipse. ADVERTISEMENT "That wouldn't be my choice (to run him against Field Of Gold)." Thady Gosden added: "When William found a gap he asked him to go through it and he was very quick. "The Eclipse looks like the natural step to take. It was a top-class field today, it was the most elite field of the week as it often is and he showed what he was capable of there. "It wasn't a huge field but it was highly elite, as you'd expect at this meeting. He certainly came up good." Buick was noticeably jubilant on passing the line, after an opening day that had seen high-profile reverses for Notable Speech and Ruling Court. He said: "This place tames lions. It's so special to win here because it's so tough, everyone comes here in great form and everyone is doing their very best of course. "They went a hard gallop. I was always going to have to ride for a bit of luck and he quickened instantly. I thought he was impressive. "I think that was a taste of what's to come for sure. He's got low miles on the clock, he's an exciting horse." My Cloud scooted up the stands side rail to justify favouritism in the Royal Hunt Cup. Roger Varian's charge was sent off the 3-1 market leader for one of the betting highlights of the week and was ridden with plenty of confidence by Silvestre de Sousa. The 30-strong field split into three groups and while My Cloud was clearly in front on his side of the track, Bullet Point was running him close on the other side, with the favourite edging in front of the 11-1 second by three-quarters of a length, with Bopedro taking third at 50-1. Rainbows Edge could finish only seventh in the colours of the British King and Queen, as Miss Information claimed top honours in the Kensington Palace Stakes. With the well-fancied Reaching High unable to land a blow when the 11-4 favourite for Tuesday's Ascot Stakes, attentions turned to the next runner to carry the royal silks in the penultimate race on Wednesday's card and Rainbows Edge was the 3-1 market leader come the off. The four-year-old had won three of her four starts for the the in-form training team of John and Thady Gosden, but while she travelled strongly for the first half of this straight mile contest under William Buick, she was a spent force with two furlongs to run and faded out of contention. Crimson Advocate swooped with some style in the final furlong to secure a second Royal Ascot success, this time in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Winner of the Queen Mary Stakes two years ago when trained by American George Weaver, Crimson Advocate is now with John and Thady Gosden in the colours of Wathnan Racing and came from last to first in the hands of James McDonald. Fellow Gosden runner and defending champion Running Lion made a bold bid to make all but had no answer as Crimson Advocate (13-2) collared her inside the final furlong and pulled clear of 5-4 favourite Cinderella's Dream. Carmers maintained his unbeaten record with a determined display in the Queen's Vase. A first runner at the Royal fixture for trainer Paddy Twomey, the Wootton Bassett colt had been successful on his two previous starts at Ballinrobe and Navan and was a 9-2 shot to complete his hat-trick in this one-mile-six-furlong Group Two. Always to the fore in the hands of Billy Lee, Carmers took over from Shackleton rounding the home turn and answered his rider's every call to repel the staying-on pair of Furthur and Rahiebb, with three-quarters of a length the winning margin. True Love shed her maiden tag in style with victory in the Queen Mary Stakes. Trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, True Love had chased home Tuesday's Coventry Stakes winner and stablemate Gstaad on her latest start and was duly sent off the 9-4 favourite. True Love took some time to work her way into the race as Zelaina set a scorching early pace, but she stayed on to real effect in the final furlong to beat 100-1 shot Flowerhead, with Patrick Biancone's American raider Lennilu third. It was win number 93 for O'Brien at the big meeting, although rather surprisingly his first in the Queen Mary.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Ombudsman shows star quality with sizzling Prince of Wales's display
Successful on each of his first four starts last season, including a Group Three win in France, John and Thady Gosden's colt met with defeat for the first time when second to Almaqam on his return to action in last month's Brigadier Gerard at Sandown. The Godolphin-owned four-year-old faced a further hike in class for this Group One feature, but after being settled well off the strong early pace by William Buick, he engaged overdrive once in the clear halfway up the straight and readily picked off the gallant Anmaat to win by two lengths going away. See The Fire was third, another two and a half lengths behind the 7-1 winner, but Aidan O'Brien's Los Angeles, the 13-8 favourite, faded into fifth place. WOW! OMBUDSMAN THROUGH TRAFFIC TO WIN THE PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES! #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2025 Gosden senior, celebrating his 70th Royal Ascot winner, said: 'He's a special horse and it's just a question of an owner giving you the time to let them mature and get there. 'He's got a turn of foot and he (Buick) knew it, it was a matter of getting out, but I did notice when he finally got daylight there was a furlong to go.' He went on: 'It's a question of, when you get to the straight, whether you get the luck. He wasn't in a position where he could swing round the field, it was more of a case of waiting for the gap. 'He was very patient. I knew when there was a gap at the furlong pole that this horse has an extraordinary turn of foot – he was patient and he was rewarded. 'When we bought him he was an immature horse, he didn't run as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old we brought him on and then put him away. He's horse who is now properly grown and developed as a four-year-old. The Prince of Wales presents a commemorative saddle blanket to trainer John Gosden following his 70th win at Royal Ascot with Ombudsman (David Davies/PA) 'He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse, he's got a wonderful turn of foot as you saw and I think we'll play to that strength. As far as I'm concerned he's done nothing but grow in stature. 'He is a horse that because he hasn't over-raced this year, he could be a horse you could look at the Eclipse. 'That wouldn't be my choice (to run him against Field Of Gold).' Thady Gosden added: 'When William found a gap he asked him to go through it and he was very quick. 'The Eclipse looks like the natural step to take. It was a top-class field today, it was the most elite field of the week as it often is and he showed what he was capable of there. 'It wasn't a huge field but it was highly elite, as you'd expect at this meeting. He certainly came up good.' William Buick was all smiles after winning on Ombudsman (John Walton/PA) Buick was noticeably jubilant on passing the line, after an opening day that had seen high-profile reverses for Notable Speech and Ruling Court. He said: 'This place tames lions. It's so special to win here because it's so tough, everyone comes here in great form and everyone is doing their very best of course. 'They went a hard gallop. I was always going to have to ride for a bit of luck and he quickened instantly. I thought he was impressive. 'I think that was a taste of what's to come for sure. He's got low miles on the clock, he's an exciting horse.'
