By Tom Frary
While the term underdog may not be entirely appropriate to Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the truth is that once again the Niarchos homebred was expected to play second fiddle to the Classic generation in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International and once again he brushed them aside to add York's feature to his G1 Eclipse S. title. Sent off at 4-1 coming back off a respectable second to the 3-year-old generation's clear leader Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) on testing ground in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., the chestnut oozed class as Jim Crowley waited and waited in behind Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). When given the office with just over a furlong remaining, he killed the race with his superior acceleration and at the line had two lengths to spare over the latter who came back to his dual Guineas-winning form. This is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” prize and Sir Michael Stoute, who was registering a record sixth renewal, is pointing Ulysses at the Longines Turf at Del Mar. “It all went so smoothly and there was never a blip,” he said. “I think it was his best performance to date. We had planned to drop in behind and I never had any worries the way he was travelling. I think it's time to give him a break and I know Maria [Niarchos] is keen on the Breeders' Cup Turf, so we'll work backwards from that.”
Wednesday, York, Britain
JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL S.-G1, £1,000,000, YOR, 8-23, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 2:12.11, g/s.
1–ULYSSES (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Light Shift (G1SW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $691,954), by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Lingerie (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Northern Trick, by Northern Dancer
O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Jim Crowley. £567,100. Lifetime Record: 12-5-3-1, $1,868,883. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Churchill (Ire), 125, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Meow (Ire), by Storm Cat. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Liberty Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £215,000.
3–Barney Roy (GB), 125, c, 3, Excelebration (Ire)–Alina (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (30,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; £70,000 Ylg '15 DNPRM). O-Godolphin; B-Eliza Park International Pty Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £107,600.
Margins: 2, NK, 4HF. Odds: 4.00, 2.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Cliffs of Moher (Ire), Decorated Knight (GB), Shutter Speed (GB), My Dream Boat (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Sir Michael Stoute's prior five winners of this event were all admirable performers, with Singspiel (Ire) arguably the classiest overall. His success in 1997 had many similarities to this year's, as he also traded at 4-1 despite his many achievements beforehand with all the emphasis on the brilliant filly Bosra Sham (Woodman). Like that former Sheikh Mohammed luminary, Ulysses keeps turning up on the major stages and producing with metronomic reliability now that he has reached full maturity under a trainer who knows more than most when to press buttons and when to don kid gloves. Fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf when taken to Santa Anita more as an education than anything else, he returned a different animal when swooping with deadly precision in the Apr. 28 G3 Gordon Richards S. over Sandown's Eclipse distance before tackling the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot June 21. Jim Crowley was on for the first time there and went to the front too soon which allowed Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a target and he ended up third to that dog of war.
In the Eclipse, Crowley was intent on holding on for much longer and it paid handsome dividends as Ulysses had enough in the tank to withstand Barney Roy's late thrust and while he went through the deep surface at Ascot with the same elan in the July 29 King George he was never able to land a serious blow on Enable. Back on an even terrain that was always going to play to his smooth-travelling strengths and on ground without the sapping nature of that he encountered in Berkshire, he was able to easily follow the tussle that happened up ahead as James Doyle looked to upset a Ballydoyle tactical ploy. Whereas Seamie Heffernan got the lead on Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), he was never able to enjoy it with Barney Roy consistently applying pressure as Doyle sought to exploit his stride. Ryan Moore was in behind that pair on Churchill but he never looked entirely happy on the rain-deadened ground so that when he engaged Barney Roy on the 5-2 favourite approaching two out they were sitting ducks for Ulysses. Crowley could have taken them at any point, but with Royal Ascot in mind instead he counted to ten and it was only at the furlong pole that he set his mount alight and from there it was a turn of foot that made the difference.
“There is pretty much only one way to ride him, as he likes to be ridden with confidence and I always had plenty of horse–he just lobbed around and got there quite soon,” Crowley commented. “I just had to nurse him along and he picked up well. He's improving as well, as today was the best feel I've gotten off him. I knew after Ascot that the rain that came this morning was not a problem and I think he's one of those who only does as much as he has to.” Stoute is in no doubt as to the merit of Ulysses compared to his previous winners. “He's a professional athlete now and has everything–constitution, rhythm and pedigree and I think he's as good over 12 furlongs,” he said. “The King George was run in a swamp and on today's performance I'd put him right up there with any of my previous winners or even in front of them.”
Aidan O'Brien was pleased to get the real Churchill back after his disappointing effort at Royal Ascot and said, “He ran very well and we are very happy with him. The ground wasn't ideal, but he still ran well.” It is expected that he will head for the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown Sept. 9 with stamina assured. “He didn't wilt anyway,” he added. “It was a great run for his first try at the trip. We knew conditions weren't ideal, but at least he has left Ascot behind him. Goodwood messed us up really, as we were ready to run there but you can't do anything about the weather. The Irish Champion Stakes is very possible, but he would have to be very well.” Richard Hannon said of Barney Roy, “That was another very solid run. They took each other on a long way out and probably set it up for the winner. We might run him over 10 furlongs again, but a lot will depend on the ground. If it comes up soft we could go back to a mile with him.”
The formation of a colt of the prowess of Ulysses is another triumph for the long-established Niarchos bloodlines which command respect the world over. The dam Light Shift proved that this family is always capable to pulling something special out of the bag when improving rapidly from two-to-three to capture the 2007 G1 Epsom Oaks, while her half-sister Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector) was able to beat Daylami (Ire) in the 1999 G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Most of Lingerie's daughters proved capable of producing class campaigners such as this year's G1 Prix Ganay, G2 Prix d'Harcourt and G3 Prix Exbury winner Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the G2 Prix d'Harcourt scorer and G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup runner-up Smoking Sun (Smart Strike), while the latter's GSP half-sister Ikat (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) gave the operation the champion Main Sequence (Aldebaran). Ulysses's third dam is the formidable Northern Trick (Northern Dancer), Horse of the year and champion 3-year-old filly in France as a result of her victories in the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Vermeille and second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and G1 Prix Saint-Alary in 1984.
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