Asfoora second in Goodwood’s G2 King George Qatar S.
Asfoora (Flying Artie) had the best of Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) at Royal Ascot, but in Friday's G2 King George Qatar S. on Goodwood's fast downhill five-furlong strip, she carried 2.5kg more and the Mick Appleby-trained 3-year-old saw out the distance strong enough to hold out Asfoora by a short head.
“I thought she was coming to do him at the end, but he's very tough and Tom gave him a great ride,” Appleby said. “The finish is completely different here to Ascot and the fast ground helped too. I'll have to have a chat with (owner) Paul (Teasdale) to see where we go, but we've got the Nunthorpe and the Abbaye if the ground comes quick which is probably unlikely. I'd imagine that whatever happens we'll be back to America.”
Henry Dwyer said of Asfoora, “She is a quick mare, but they went a bit quick for her early. Big Evs was able to control his own destiny, whereas we were stuck behind a couple and got a bit of a bump at around the 300. I think that's probably cost her the win, but she's run great. The leaders here just have such an easy time of it early, because they run downhill for the first 400. It levels out a bit after that, but if they're going quick early, they get an easy time. She's gone terrific–I couldn't have hoped for her to go better, just disappointed not to win, having gone so well. Everyone has been so great to us, and we've very much enjoyed the experience.”
Big Evs took his record to six wins from nine starts, having previously won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at two.
Mertens stood down after barrier incident
Jockey Beau Mertens was stood down for Races 7 and 8 at Flemington after being injured in a barrier incident earlier on the card.
Good day for Nunes at Murray Bridge
Brazilian jockey, Manoel Nunes, won his first victory in Australia on Maracourt (Hampton Court) at Murray Bridge, then quickly made it two by winning the next on Fox Gem (Foxwedge).
Hong Kong’s Ho to ride in German Oaks on Sunday
Star Hong Kong jockey Vincent Ho will figure among a strong international contingent in Sunday’s G1 Preis der Diana on Lady Mary (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}). “It’s lovely to be able to ride there,” Ho told scmp.com.
Vincent Ho | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’ve been asking Ryan Moore and other jockeys in the room at Goodwood just now for some advice who have been there. They all said the track is pretty difficult and tricky. Lady Mary definitely has good form; she ran close in a Group Three and all that. Let’s see how the race pans out. There’s a lot of horses in there in different situations and especially on that track, so let’s see.”
Justify and Gun Runner added to USA Hall Of Fame
At a ceremony on August 2, both Justify (USA) and Gun Runner (USA) were added to the USA Hall Of Fame. Unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify won all his six starts, although he has since been disqualified from the G1 Santa Anita Derby. "He always had an aura about him," co-owner Elliott Walden, CEO of Winstar Farm, told bloodhorse.com
"Gun Runner's ability is so obvious, and that's what got him here," trainer Steve Asmussen said of the five-time Group 1 winner. “But what a perfect combination of two great racing families, for them to (take) the financial risk and sacrifice of running him as a 4-year-old, the confidence that they had in him to do what he went on to do.”
Also inducted was jockey Abe Hawkins. Born enslaved and enslaved for most of his life, Hawkins was a preeminent jockey in the 19th century. Characterised by historian Katherine Mooney as "nothing less than a national figure," Hawkins won the Jersey Derby, the Travers Stakes, and the inaugural Jerome Stakes, all in 1866.
Jockey Joel Rosario joined Justify and Gun Runner in this year's contemporary inductee class.
Three Group 1 races for Saratoga on Saturday
It's a Grade I bonanza Saturday afternoon (Sunday morning AEST) at Saratoga Racecourse, as the track plays host to a trio of elite-level races–short and long, turf and dirt.
The richest of the three events is the $1-million Whitney Stakes, offering the winner a fees-paid berth into the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on the first Saturday of November. The other two are the G1 Saratoga Derby and the G1 Test S. At Del Mar, the G1 Clement L Hirsch S. will run.
Inglis USA to offer Helicity
Helicity (USA) (The Factor {USA}) will be offered via a flash sale by Inglis Digital USA, the auction house announced Friday. Placed in both his two starts to date, the 2-year-old colt will be aimed at the September 1 $1-million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint or the $1-million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile on September 8
Helicity (USA) | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Cinderella’s Dream wins Saratoga Oaks
There was no glass slipper, but the royal blue silks of Godolphin floated home the fairest of winners all the same as Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) claimed the second leg of the Turf Triple in the G2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational S.
“She's obviously a classy filly and the class of the race,” said trainer Charlie Appleby.
“Going forward, I would say we would look to maybe the G1 E. P. Taylor or give her a little more of a break and go for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland and then take a view of a Breeders' Cup–but we'll see and we'll see what's around. What she would take to that meeting would be plenty of experience and, as you know in the Breeders' Cup, you need that and a draw.”
Juddmonte wins G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. with Lead Artist
Juddmonte's homebred 3-year-old colt Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made a smooth transition up to pattern-race level with a polished display in Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood.
“Hopefully he's good enough to come back for the G2 Celebration Mile here,” said co-trainer John Gosden. “He missed all of last year, he started first time out this year in the Wood Ditton and he's very much a horse on an upward curve. The good thing is you've got August, September and October and there's plenty of racing to come. Time will tell, but if he gets better and better, he'll be a lovely 4-year-old.”
Maximum Security stripped of Saudi Cup win
Maximum Security (USA) (New Year's Day {USA}) has been disqualified from his victory in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup and Midnight Bisou (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}) has been promoted to first, the stewards committee of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) announced on Friday.
The change in finishing order of the Feb. 29, 2020 race was the result of an inquiry into the charges brought by the JCSA against Maximum Security's trainer Jason Servis, who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for doping horses under his care. The inquiry took place on May 22-23 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. The charges issued against Servis were proved and sanctions were imposed by the stewards committee 1,616 days after the race was run.
