Gitano Hernando missed his intended engagement in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes last month due to a splint problem but trainer Marco Botti is hopeful that his top-class colt will be at peak fitness in time for a possible tilt at the £350,000 Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Champions Day, Saturday, 16th October.
Successful in October in the Grade One Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, USA, Gitano Hernando is one of 66 outstanding entries for what promises to be another fantastic renewal of the historic 10-furlong contest.
Owned by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, the Hernando colt progressed throughout last season but his four-year-old campaign has been compromised by injury. His last start came in the Group One Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline at Meydan in March when, in a race that was not run to suit his style, he finished a close sixth.
Botti revealed: “Gitano Hernando had a splint but he is back in full work now and we are looking forward to the autumn. The horse is doing well so we have given him an entry in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and we will see how he comes along. He looks well and he is an athletic horse so he always keeps himself quite fit at home. I am pleased with him.
“At the moment, nothing is set, there is plenty of time to decide between now and the middle of October, so we will see how he progresses before committing him to any target.
“He will probably have a prep race and that is something I will discuss with the owners closer to the time. It is not easy to get a horse fully fit for a race like the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes after a long lay-off without a prep, but it all depends on how he is in the next few weeks.
“I will leave plans in Team Valor’s and Gary’s (Barber) hands and we will sit down and decide where he goes. It has not quite been decided yet if the Breeders’ Cup is his long term target, we will just see at the moment how he progresses and then we will consider his options but the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes is a race we will look at.”
The fantastic entry also includes the sport’s latest sensation, Harbinger, who won the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on 24th July by a record 11 lengths.
Sir Michael Stoute’s charge had this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco, trained by Aidan O’Brien, a distant second at Ascot and the latter colt’s stablemate Fame And Glory, impressive when winning last season’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and victorious in the Group One Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, is also among the entries.
Twice Over won the Group One Coral-Eclipse and Henry Cecil’s popular five-year-old could attempt to become the first back-to-back winner of the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes since Alborada (1998 & 1999), having won the race last year by half a length from the Marcus Tregoning-trained Mawatheeq.
The 2009 Investec Oaks heroine Sariska, trained by Michael Bell, was third that day having previously chased home subsequent Group One Dubai Sheema Classic winner Dar Re Mi, trained by John Gosden for Lady Lloyd-Webber, in the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
Twice Over’s stablemate Midday won the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf last season and, having run second to Sariska in the Group Two totesport.com Middelton Stakes at York in May, gained a second consecutive victory in the Group One Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last week.
Another tremendous filly among the entries is this year’s Investec Oaks winner Snow Fairy, trained by Ed Dunlop, who emulated Sariska with a wide-margin triumph in the Group One Darley Irish Oaks on her next start after Epsom.
Since 1990, fillies have won the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes on six occasions and others of note are the O’Brien-trained Group One Coronation Stakes winner Lillie Langtry and the Jim Bolger-trained Lush Lashes, a triple Group One winner in 2008 who is back in training at the age of five after losing the foal she was carrying to Sea The Stars.
The all-conquering Richard Hannon has entered one of the best three-year-olds in training, Group One Prix Jean Prat victor Dick Turpin.
There is a real depth of quality to this year’s Emirates Airline Champion Stakes entry with the Andre Fabre-trained Byword, successful in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, joined in the entries by 11 other hugely-talented French raiders including this season’s Group One 2000 Guineas hero Makfi from Mikel Delzangle’s stable.
Vision D’Etat already has four Group One wins on the board and the Eric Libaud-trained Prix du Jockey Club hero of two years ago, victorious in the 2009 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase, is looking to bounce back after being last seen finishing down the field in the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Alain de Royer-Dupre, successful with Pride in 2006, has also entered a Classic winner in the shape of unbeaten Group One Prix de Diane scorer Sarafina. The trainer has also engaged Group Two Prix Eugene Adam hero Shimraan, Mellon Martini and Reggane.
Criquette Head-Maarek saddled the brilliant Hatoof to win the race in 1993 and the Chantilly-based trainer has entered Fuisse, the impressive winner of a Group Three contest at Maisons-Laffitte on 17th July, while Jean-Claude Rouget, triumphant with Literato in 2007, may run last season’s impressive Prix de Diane winner Stacelita, who was runner-up to Midday in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes on 31st July.
O’Brien, who has 11 of the 13 Irish-trained entries, could also saddle 2009 Group One Sussex Stakes hero Rip Van Winkle, runner-up to Canford Cliffs in this year’s renewal of that same race on 28th July, as well as last winter’s ante-post Investec Derby favourite St Nicholas Abbey.
There are 13 Godolphin entries split between trainers Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni.
The former’s contingent includes Group One winners Cavalryman, Campanologist and Cutlass Bay, as well as Nassau Stakes third Antara, while Al Zarooni could saddle Group One Deutsches Derby winner Buzzword and Investec Derby third Rewilding.
THE EMIRATES AIRLINES CHAMPION STAKES
Class One, Group One, £350,000 Guaranteed. Newmarket, Saturday, October 16, 2010. For 3yo+, 1m 2f. Weights: 3yo colts and geldings 8st 12lb; 3yo fillies 8st 9lb; 4yo+ colts and geldings 9st 3lb; fillies and mares 9st. Entries closed August 3, entries revealed August 4 (66 entries). Scratchings deadline Tuesday, September 28, five-day confirmation & £30,000 supplementary stage Monday, October 11, final declaration stage 10.00am Thursday, October 14. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, August 2, 2010.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
411636 AKDARENA 3 Kirsten Rausing Jim Bolger IRE
113-06 AL ZIR (USA) 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
(1)(1)(4)(3)03 ALLYBAR (IRE) 4 Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
1/41246- ALWAARY (USA) 4 Hamdan Al Maktoum John Gosden
111-133 ANTARA (GER) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
10- AWAIT THE DAWN (USA) 3 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
0-14316 BARSHIBA (IRE) 6 Jeff Smith David Elsworth
461(6)-64 BEETHOVEN (IRE) 3 Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE
203-112 BUSHMAN 6 Khalifa Dasmal David Simcock
5-04031 BUZZWORD 3 Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
44-1121 BYWORD 4 Khalifa Abdulla Andre Fabre FR
0-10431 CAMPANOLOGIST (USA) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
11-1012 CAPE BLANCO (IRE) 3 Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE
13-(0)550 CAVALRYMAN 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
120-D4 CHABAL (IRE) 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
21-1641 CHINCHON (IRE) 5 Sarl Darpat France Carlos Laffon-Parias FR
1/11-115 CUTLASS BAY (UAE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
1553-14 DAR RE MI 5 Lord Lloyd-Webber John Gosden
6-0(0)104 DEBUSSY (IRE) 4 H R H Princess Haya of Jordan John Gosden
6-12221 DICK TURPIN (IRE) 3 John Manley Richard Hannon
51-4460 DIXIE MUSIC (IRE) 4 Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE
66-3111 FAME AND GLORY 4 Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE
12-3111 FUISSE (FR) 4 Haras Du Quesnay Criquette Head-Maarek FR
12(1)(1)-(1)(6) GITANO HERNANDO 4 Team Valor Marco Botti
142-136 GLASS HARMONIUM (IRE) 4 Ballymacoll Stud Sir Michael Stoute
04-1115 GREEN MOON (IRE) 3 Mrs Ben Goldsmith & Lady Annabel Goldsmith Harry Dunlop
03-1111 HARBINGER 4 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing(Adm. Rous) Sir Michael Stoute
1-03100 HIBAAYEB 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
121- JOSHUA TREE (IRE) 3 Derrickl Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE
(4)011(1)0- KIRKLEES (IRE) 6 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
310-515 LILLIE LANGTRY (IRE) 3 Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE
120/364- LUSH LASHES 5 Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
1-110 MAKFI 3 Matthieu Offenstadt Mikel Delzangles FR
6/0112-0 MAWATHEEQ (USA) 5 Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning
112 MELLON MARTINI (USA) 3 J Gerin Almeida Camargo Alain de Royer Dupre FR
3131-21 MIDDAY 4 Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil
43513-0 MONITOR CLOSELY (IRE) 4 Lawrie Inman Michael Bell
163412 MUSIC SHOW (IRE) 3 Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
41125- NIDEEB 3 Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
(2)10550 PRESVIS 6 Leonidas Marinopoulos Luca Cumani
(1)11-21 RAINBOW PEAK (IRE) 4 Peter Savill Michael Jarvis
(1)011 REBEL SOLDIER (IRE) 3 The Honorable Earle Mack Jeremy Noseda
0-20521 REDWOOD 4 Khalid Abdulla Barry Hills
66-3251 REGGANE 4 Haras de la Perelle Alain de Royer Dupre FR
21-213 REWILDING 3 Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
025-011 RIO DE LA PLATA (USA) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
211(0)-62 RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE) 4 Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE
4/-65135 RUSSIAN CROSS (IRE) 5 Baron Edouard de Rothschild Andre Fabre FR
111 SARAFINA (FR) 3 H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
1123-12 SARISKA 4 Lady Bamford Michael Bell
5114-20 SHALANAYA (IRE) 4 H H Aga Khan Mikel Delzangles FR
121 SHIMRAAN (FR) 3 H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
110-11 SIMON DE MONTFORT (IRE) 3 Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
430-111 SNOW FAIRY (IRE) 3 Anamoine Ltd Ed Dunlop
50-1022 SRI PUTRA 4 H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah Michael Jarvis
111-6 ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE) 3 Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE
110-412 STACELITA (FR) 4 Martin Schwartz Jean Claude Rouget FR
14-402(6) STEINBECK (IRE) 3 Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE
1/54-640 STIMULATION (IRE) 5 Michael Kerr-Dineen Hughie Morrison
56-(2)233 TAZEEZ (USA) 6 Hamdan Al Maktoum John Gosden
2/1-3546 THE CHEKA (IRE) 4 Anthony Pye-Jeary And Mel Smith Eve Johnson Houghton
11(3)-(0)21 TWICE OVER 5 Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil
0-20353 VISCOUNT NELSON (USA) 3 Sue Magnier/Diane Nagle Aidan O’Brien IRE
11201-(0) VISION D'ETAT (FR) 5 J Detre Eric Libaud FR
5-12231 WIGMORE HALL (IRE) 3 M B Hawtin Michael Bell
13-1612 ZAZOU (GER) 3 W H Sport International Mario Hofer GER
66 entries
13 Irish-trained
12 French-trained
1 German-trained
DUNBOYNE EXPRESS OUT TO MAINTAIN IRISH DOMINATION OF JUMEIRAH DEWHURST STAKES
Irish-trained horses have dominated the past four renewals of the £300,000 Group One Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes and Co Kildare handler Kevin Prendergast could aim to take the majority of the spoils back across the Irish Sea once more with his unbeaten Dunboyne Express, who features among 81 entries for the seven-furlong contest.
The Shamardal colt scored on his debut in a Leopardstown maiden in June and followed up with a comprehensive eight-length victory over Samuel Morse in the Group Three Jebel Ali Stables & Racecourse Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh on 18th July.
He is now set to return to the Curragh and take on the current ante-post favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas, the Richard Hannon-trained Strong Suit, in the Group One Phoenix Stakes on Sunday, 8th August.
Prendergast reported: “We have given Dunboyne Express an entry in the Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes and the race is certainly an option for him. He is hopefully running in the Phoenix Stakes on Sunday and, while I would rather that we weren’t coming up against Strong Suit, we are going to have to take him on at some point.
“He came out of the Anglesey Stakes well and he couldn’t have won more impressively. He had Samuel Morse eight lengths behind him and the same colt was beaten four and three-quarter lengths by Strong Suit in the Coventry Stakes, so we have some cause for optimism, although I am sure that Richard’s colt could have won by further at Royal Ascot.
“He has a very good pedigree and he’s the first colt that I have trained for his owner/breeder John Connaughton, who had horses in training with my brother Paddy. There have been plenty of offers for the colt but he’s not selling at the moment.
“We have also entered a nice unraced colt Ansaab and Longhunter, who scoped badly after disappointing in the Railway Stakes but is fine now - hopefully he will be back for the Group Two Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on 21st August.”
Aidan O’Brien enjoyed a one-two in last year’s Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes as Beethoven edged out Fencing Master in a thrilling finish and the master of Ballydoyle is responsible for 21 entries, headed by recent Group Three winner Zoffany, Naas maiden scorer Lake Ontario and Samuel Morse.
A quartet of entries from Jim Bolger, who racked up a hat-trick of victories with Teofilo (2006), New Approach (2007) and Intense Focus (2008), includes impressive maiden winner Head Space and Glor Na Mara, while Jessica Harrington has entered Pathfork, who won the same Curragh maiden that launched the careers of both Teofilo and New Approach.
Richard Hannon has enjoyed phenomenal success with his juveniles this term and the experienced handler may bid for a first success in the Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes with Strong Suit, who posted a nose verdict over the Michael Jarvis-trained Elzaam in the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Wiltshire trainer may also be represented by King Torus, whose two Group Two wins so far this term included an all-the-way success in the 32Red.com Superlative Stakes, and Group Two TNT July Stakes scorer Libranno, who also followed up success at the Champagne Lanson July Festival with a Group Two victory at Glorious Goodwood.
Other notable entries include impressive Newmarket novice stakes winner Peter Martins, from the stable of Jeremy Noseda, Listed Chesham Stakes scorer Zaidan, representing Clive Brittain, and Native Khan, who made an eye-catching debut for Ed Dunlop when taking a maiden at the Champagne Lanson July Festival.
For more information please contact:
Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, 07802 844 578
Tony Rushmer, Racing PR Manager, 07702 579 382
THE JUMEIRAH DEWHURST STAKES
Class One, Group One, £300,000 Guaranteed. Newmarket, Saturday, October 16, 2010. For 2yo colts & fillies, 7f. Weights: colts 9st, fillies 8st 12lb. Entries closed August 3, entries revealed August 4 (81 entries). Scratchings deadline Tuesday, September 28, five-day confirmation & £20,000 supplementary stage Monday, October 11, final declaration stage 10.00am Thursday, October 14. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, August 2, 2010.
Form Horse Owner Trainer
33 ALEXANDER POPE (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
AMEN (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
ANSAAB Hamdan Al Maktoum Kevin Prendergast IRE
APACHE (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
01 BLOODSWEATANDTEARS Four Men & A Dream Partnership William Knight
BRAVESTOFTHEBRAVE (USA) Anthony Oppenheimer John Gosden
3 BUCKLAND (IRE) Brimacombe, McNally, Vinciguerra, Sangster Brian Meehan
DAREJ (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum William Haggas
DEAN SWIFT Lady Rothschild Brian Meehan
1 DREAM AHEAD (USA) Khalifa Dasmal David Simcock
11 DUNBOYNE EXPRESS (IRE) John Connaughton Kevin Prendergast IRE
EAGLE CANYON (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
EBONY SONG (USA) Bluehills Racing Limited Jeremy Noseda
2 EDMAAJ (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills
4 EL MUQBIL (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Brian Meehan
123 ELZAAM (AUS) Hamdan Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis
EMKANAAT Hamdan Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis
024104 EMPEROR HADRIAN (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
FACTUM (USA) Joseph Allen/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
FIRST SEA LORD (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
FRANKEL Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil
GARDE COTIERE (USA) Sir Robert Ogden Jeremy Noseda
4 GLOR NA MARA (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
HAPPY TODAY (USA) Jaber Abdullah Brian Meehan
1 HEAD SPACE (IRE) Jackie Bolger/June Judd Jim Bolger IRE
012 HIGH RULER (USA) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
1121 IRISH FIELD (IRE) John Hills John Hills
113 KHAWATIM Hamdan Al Maktoum Jean Claude Rouget FR
1411 KING TORUS (IRE) Sir Robert Ogden Richard Hannon
KOTA SAS (IRE) H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah Michael Jarvis
61 LAKE ONTARIO (USA) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
6 LAMASAAS (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills
111 LIBRANNO McDowell Racing Richard Hannon
10 LONGHUNTER Silverton Hill Partnership Kevin Prendergast IRE
1 MALTHOUSE (GER) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston
MANTOBA Manton Racing Partnership Brian Meehan
MASHAAREF Hamdan Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis
MASKED MARVEL Bjorn Nielsen John Gosden
5221 MASTER OF HOUNDS (USA) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
MUNTASIB (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning
41 MUSIC IN THE RAIN (IRE) June Judd & Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
NAQASH (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Gosden
1 NATIVE KHAN (FR) Ibrahim Araci Ed Dunlop
NO HERETIC Fitri Hay Paul Cole
52 NOONENOSE Four Men & A Dream Partnership William Knight
353 OCEAN BAY Ocean Trailers Ltd John Ryan
52 ORACLE (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
1 PATHFORK (USA) Silverton Hill Partnership Jessica Harrington IRE
1 PETER MARTINS (USA) The Honorable Earle I Mack Jeremy Noseda
332S PETRONIUS MAXIMUS (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
RAAHIN (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute
RAYMBEK BATYR (IRE) Nurlan Bizakov Jeremy Noseda
21 RIGOLLETO (IRE) Box 41 Mick Channon
421 ROBIN HOOD (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
31 RODERIC O'CONNOR (IRE) Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sangster Family Aidan O'Brien IRE
1 ROMAN EAGLE (IRE) Alan Spence Michael Jarvis
413 RUDOLF VALENTINO Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
SAM LORD'S CASTLE (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
11422 SAMUEL MORSE (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
15 SATIN LOVE (USA) Crone Stud Farms Ltd Mark Johnston
SEVILLE (GER) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
1 SHROPSHIRE (IRE) The Hon Mrs Catherine Corbett & Chris Wright Barry Hills
SISINDU (IRE) Brimacombe, McNally, Vinciguerra, Sangster Brian Meehan
561 SLIM SHADEY Phil Cunningham Stan Moore
5122 STENTORIAN (IRE) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston
11 STRONG SUIT (USA) Julie Wood Richard Hannon
TANJUNG AGAS (IRE) H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah Michael Jarvis
TEAJAYBE (USA) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
61 TEMPS AU TEMPS (IRE) Marquesa de Moratalla Mikel Delzangles
0 THE BELLS O PEOVER D & G Mercer Mark Johnston
212 THE PADDYMAN (IRE) Mr & Mrs R Scott William Haggas
1 TITUS MILLS (IRE) Sangster Family Brian Meehan
53 TOM SAWYER Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
U(1)1 TOOLAIN (IRE) Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis
UNEX DALI Bill Gredley John Gosden
UTLEY (USA) George Strawbridge John Gosden
621 WAITER'S DREAM R P Foden Brian Meehan
11 ZAIDAN (USA) Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
ZAIN SHAMARDAL (IRE) Jaber Abdullah Brian Meehan
11611 ZOFFANY (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
81 Entries
29 Irish-trained
1 French-trained
END
