Camelot's Hunting Horn Takes the Hampton Court

Hunting Horn | Racing Post

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Performing with credit when sixth from a wide draw last time in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was on song on Wednesday in the Susan Magnier silks as he won the G3 Hampton Court S. with authority to provide Ryan Moore with a 50th Royal Ascot winner. Racing in sixth without cover early, the 5-1 second favourite was sent past Crossed Baton (GB) (Dansili {GB}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and despite lugging down towards the rail stayed on strongly to score by 4 1/2 lengths from that rival, with a half length back to Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in third. “We were delighted with his last run and he can travel and quicken well like his sire,” Aidan O'Brien commented on his 63rd Royal winner. “We thought a mile and a quarter would suit well and Ryan gave him a lovely ride. You could look the [July 7 G1] Eclipse [at Sandown] or step back up to a mile and a half and go to France [for the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris] or have a little rest. He has a lot of options, but he's been busy for the last few weeks and might have a break.”

Having beaten the useful Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in a 10-furlong maiden at Naas Apr. 13, Hunting Horn was an eye-catching closer when third in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial at that trip a fortnight later before running into the same spot in the May 9 G3 Chester Vase trying a mile and a half. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan in the Jockey Club, he was wide the whole way but stuck to his guns to finish best of the stable's quartet and less than three lengths off Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). That experience stood him in fine stead here as it was a similar story, with his double-figure stall meaning that he had no cover throughout but his rider was always confident and when he sent him in the straight he was ultimately impressive.

Moore was already looking for winner number 51 afterwards, which came up quickly thanks to Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and typically was not ready to publicly congratulate himself for his achievement. He said of the winner, “Hunting Horn has progressed with every start this year. The race today went nice and smoothly for him. He got there and had a little look around. It wasn't until I got after him in the last furlong that he started stretching. He is a progressive horse and that was obviously a big jump up on what he has done before. He is getting better and hopefully will carry on that way.” John Gosden said of Crossed Baton, “Rab [Havlin] gave Crossed Baton a great ride from the outside and they had every chance. I thought the winner was just too good. We would have been beaten with any draw as the winner was impressive and I'm just thrilled to be second. He is a horse who likes to use his stride and he is a lovely horse–that was a solid race.”

Hunting Horn is now the second pattern-race winner for the unraced Mora Bai (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) alongside former Ballydoyle representative David Livingston (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Successful in the G2 Beresford S. and G3 Rose of Lancaster S., he was also runner-up in the G1 National S. as a juvenile. The second dam Kasora (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) produced the six-times group 1-winning champion and leading sire High Chaparral (Ire) who lays claim to being the best Aidan O'Brien has trained after his English and Irish Derby and dual Breeders' Cup Turf victories. His full-brother Black Bear Island (Ire) took the G2 Dante S. and was second in the GI Secretariat S., while his full-sister Chenchikova (Ire) is the dam of the listed-winning pair of full-siblings by Fastnet Rock (Aus), Smuggler's Cove (Ire) and Casterton (Ire), with the former finishing third in the G1 Dewhurst S. for this stable. The third dam Kozana (GB) (Kris {GB}) captured the G2 Prix de Malleret and the G3 Prix de Sandringham and was third in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Mora Bai also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old full-brother to Hunting Horn.

Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HAMPTON COURT S.-G3, £90,000, Ascot, 6-21, 3yo, 9f 212yT, 2:03.02, g/f.
1–HUNTING HORN (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Camelot (GB)">Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Mora Bai (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
2nd Dam: Kasora (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Kozana (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 7-2-1-2, $109,280. *1/2 to David Livingston (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, $213,983. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crossed Baton (GB), 126, c, 3, Dansili (GB)–Sacred Shield (GB), by Beat Hollow (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £19,350.
3–Zaaki (GB), 126, c, 3, Leroidesanimaux (Brz)–Kesara (GB), by Sadler's Wells. (40,000gns Ylg '16 TAOCT). O-Ahmad Alotaibi; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £9,684.
Margins: 4HF, HF, 1. Odds: 5.00, 16.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Vintager (GB), Global Giant (GB), Key Victory (Ire), Masaarr, Nordic Lights (GB), Wadilsafa (GB), Stephensons Rocket (Ire), Mini P (Ire), Silver Quartz (GB), Fajjaj (Ire), National Army (GB), Main Street (GB), Shakour (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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