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Curragh Classic beckons for Cosmic Year

Cosmic Year proved out of this world after blowing his rivals away in the TrustATrader King Charles II Stakes to set up a Classic date at the Curragh.

The Harry Charlton-trained son of Kingman looked a Group race winner in waiting when taking the step up to Listed class in his stride. Partnered for the first time by Ryan Moore the 6/4 favourite never looked in danger of losing his unbeaten record at any point in the seven furlong contest.

Once sent on by Moore the Juddmonte-owned favourite quickly found another change of gear to scoot into a clear advantage with only daylight ahead of him.
Although recent Kempton Park scorer Marvelman tried to match the effort of Cosmic Year he failed to have the legs to match him with a length-and-a-half separating the pair at the line.

Charlton said: “The race didn’t pan out exactly how you would have wanted it to as the two to his right split right. Ryan said he thought they were all going to go that way, but they didn’t and he wished he would have followed them as he would have been more impressive if had that lead to the one pole. As it were he has had to let him slide along three down. He has not handled the Dip perfectly, but Ryan liked the way he knuckled down in the final furlong. Barry (Mahon) and Prince Khalid’s family have made the right call in that they had three horses that could have run in the 2000 Guineas.

“Ryan said he could see why I didn’t want to come here for a quick ground 2000 Guineas. He said that was absolutely fine. He said he would be quite comfortable, and Oisin had said this before, that he would be comfortable trying the quicker ground when meeting the rising ground at Ascot. We are lucky we have got some good horses around, but I think he has got a lot of potential to come.”

Following the race triumphant trainer Charlton earmarked the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas as the next port of call for Cosmic Year.

He said: “We have come here with the view of going to the Irish Guineas. I think the plan will still be to go to Ireland and I think that will suit better.You get a good pace there and you can ride them a bit differently. Whether that leads on to a St James’s Palace Stakes I think that will depend on results, and results of the 2000 Guineas tomorrow.

“He is quick, but one of the benefits we have seen in all his races is that he has been able to relax, like he did at Sandown Park with no cover, and at Kempton Park with no pace. He has this chameleon ability to be happy going 32mph to quicken up to 43mph and that will hold him in good stead in better quality races.”

Equally impressed with the display was Barry Mahon, European racing manager to Juddmonte, who hinted that a clash with fellow Juddmonte-owned colts Jonquil and Field Of Gold is not out of the equation in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Mahon added: “I thought he did it very well and we all saw why we came today and not tomorrow.

"He won two races very easily and hasn’t really learnt a lot, but I think that will be the making of him. Ryan was very complimentary afterwards so that is good.

“It is very possible (they could all meet at Ascot). Coming into the race we had a loose plan of going to Ireland, but we have to see how he comes out of this.”

Hardwicke next for Justum

Bellum Justum may have come up short at Group race level in Britain last year, but he earned a shot at taking on the best middle-distance horses around after staying on well to land the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes.

After winning the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom Downs on his return last year the son of Sea The Stars failed to convert three subsequent Group races opportunities in Britain before signing off the campaign with a Grade Three victory at Kentucky Downs.

Looking in need of the run in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury 20 days, where he finished fifth behind Divina Grace, the King Power Racing-owned colt was sent off an 11/2 chance to turn the tables on his stablemate in first time cheek pieces.

As last year’s Irish Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly waved the white flag entering the final three furlongs of the mile and a half test, and with early leader Divina Grace backing out of the equation, it was left to Bellum Justum to take the fight to favourite Silver Knott. Showing the benefit of that pipe opener at Newbury last month Bellum Justum gradually wore down Silver Knott as the pair climbed up to the line before going on to collect the Group Two prize by a length and a half to complete a treble for Kingsclere handler Balding.

The winning trainer said: “He is a high class horse that has some good form from last year and the second is a very good horse as well. I’m delighted as he had been a big disappointment in the John Porter so it is nice to see him back on track. I think the cheek pieces helped as he was pretty solid at the end of the race. It was an excellent performance.”

Although Bellum Justum holds an entry in the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs next month Balding suggested that an outing in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting is a more likely target.

He added: “He is in the Coronation Cup, but I think we will probably wait for the Hardwicke Stakes as he has had a hard enough race. It would be nice to have runners with a chance for King Power at the Royal meeting so that is the most likely aim.”

The victory also completed a double on the card for Classic winning rider Murphy, who believes Bellum Justum still has lots more to offer.

He said: “Even today he raced like a horse that is still a little bit ring rusty. He was kind of keen early then a bit lazy half way. He was then very tough when I asked him under pressure. I’m really pleased with him. He has a high level of form from last year and he could be a real flag bearer going a mile and a half and travelling abroad if Andrew chooses that and he is brilliant at travelling horses.

“He loved Epsom when he won the trial there, but the Derby he just wasn’t on form that day. Calandagan has been pencilled in for the Coronation Cup so I’m sure lots of people will be trying to avoid him.”

Appleby colt on Derby Trail

Alpine Trail continued scaling the heights after maintaining his unbeaten record with a clear cut front running success in the Nyetimber Newmarket Stakes.

Arriving on the back of wins at Wolverhampton and Yarmouth the son of Dubawi was sent off the 10/11 favourite to make it three out of three in the Listed contest.
William Buick kept things simple aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained market leader after bouncing him out in front swiftly after exiting the stalls.

Although Nebras emerged as a serious threat entering the final two furlongs of the mile-and-a-quarter test he could not close the gap with Alpine Trail passing the post with three lengths in hand.

Appleby said: “He has done nothing wrong. Even at home he has never been an exciting horse to watch, but the lads say he is a hard horse to get past if you have one in the gallop with him. He has done it all nicely today. I think what he has shown is that he stays. Stepping up to the mile and a half he might improve and he might take another step forward again. He was just a big raw Dubawi that needed a bit of time. He was purchased at Deauville and we just gave him all the time and he got and he has repaid us so far.”

According to Appeby the Listed William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial on Saturday, May 10th, could be next up for the Alpine Trail, who was introduced at 25/1 for the Betfred Derby, which he needs supplementing for, by Paddy Power.

Appleby added: “We could pop him in something like the Lingfield Derby Trial. Do I think he is really a Derby horse, I don’t know, because as we say he doesn’t jump out at home, but you can’t fault what he is doing on the track. He is not in the Derby, but at any stage we can pop him in. I think let’s step him up to Lingfield and see what materialises from there.”

As for the runner-up Nebras he looks like being kept at ten furlongs for the time being according to his joint-trainer John Gosden.

He said: “He ran a great race. He is still learning all the time. He just lost his balance a little bit on the ridges coming down into the Dip, but a lot of horses do that, and I like the way he has run on. He has given the favourite a good run for his money.

“I think this trip is where he belongs as he got caught the other day at Southwell over a mile from a horse that was getting seven pounds from him, but he has run a nice race here today.”

Zgharta team eye Ascot

Andrew Balding hinted that a trip to Royal Ascot could be on the cards for Zgharta, who opened her account at the third attempt of asking in the Darley EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

With the form of her second behind Victory Queen at the track boosted following her success at Ascot on Wednesday the daughter of Ghaiyyath put her previous experience to good use to land the mile-and-a-quarter contest.

Having sat mid division early on the 13/8 favourite moved with early pacesetter Pearla entering the closing stages before forging ahead close to the line and prevailing by a head under Hollie Doyle.

Balding said: “It is a relief that she is a winner but she probably didn’t quite see out the trip as well as we hoped so we would have to consider coming back down in trip. I thought she would stay it well, but Hollie just felt she was running on fumes a little bit in the last half-a-furlong. I think her class and experience has got her through it.

“Time will tell, but I think there were some nice fillies in the race and it wasn’t a bad effort. We could possibly look at the Sandringham with her, but we want to discuss it with Imad (Alsagar) and we will see how he feels, but it is a possibility.”

George swoops late

Fort George showed the benefits of a winter gelding operation when swooping late to secure a career first success on his turf debut in the Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap.

Having shown more than enough ability in three runs at two the Ed Walker-trained Territories gelding looked a different proposition switched to turf in the mile contest under Tom Marquand. Victory looked to be heading the way of the Marco Botti-trained Molveno entering the final furlong.

However, at the same time as his stride began to shorten close to the line Fort George was hitting full stride, and with one final effort he forged past before scoring by a length.

Alex Cole, racing manager to owners Jim and Fitri Hay, said: “The gelding helped him. We try to buy horses that have a bit of a future in them so anything at two is a bit of a bonus. He is a lovely horse that is going the right way and he has done his job today. I’m not a huge fan of the all-weather as it is slightly one dimensional.

“We were very disappointed at Newcastle, but with hindsight it served its purpose and he got a nice mark and he has won here today well, but they went very fast.
Ed Walker has done a fantastic job with him so hopefully there is more to come.”

Bigger days ahead for Information

Miss Information could take aim at some of the most valuable handicaps on the calendar after having all the answers in the Betfted “Nifty 50” Handicap.

Appearing in need of her comeback run over course and distance 16 days ago the daughter of Blue Point reversed placings with Fifty Nifty, who finished three places ahead of her in second on that occasion, to get off the mark for the year.

Sticking the task well, the 3/1 chance was not for stopping under Oisin Murphy after pulling out plenty to score by three-quarters of a length to hand Classic winning handler Balding his second winner on the card.

Balding said: “We were happy with the way she had come on for her first run. It wasn’t going to be too much of a muddle, but it almost was tactically, but she did it well. She is a lovely filly and hopefully she can keep progressing. You watch the race last time and she came there to run a massive race, but she just got tired so we were expecting her to improve today.

“She is still in the handicap system. We might look at the Victoria Cup if it doesn’t come too soon as it is a week tomorrow. We will put it all in the mix. Something like the Bunbury Cup could work well as she obviously likes Newmarket.”

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