Al Kazeem runs down Mukhadram

© Racing Post

Bafflingly sent off the 11-4 second favorite behind Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) despite beating that rival comprehensively in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh last time May 26, John Deer’s Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) turned that into fuzzy logic when extending his sequence in yesterday’s G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot. With the wheels coming off last year’s triple Classic hero and 5-2 crowd’s choice here, the homebred had another rival to worry about, but was typically tenacious when getting to Mukhadram (GB) (Shamardal) late on to prevail in a thriller. Settled in fourth early as the latter set honest fractions, the bay had to chase hard as the leader got away in early stretch. Looking for that first Royal winner, the rising jockey talent James Doyle urged him on and he responded by wearing down the Shadwell runner in the final strides for a neck success as only two mattered. "The name of the game is patience, as Sir Henry Cecil once said, and we always thought we had a really good horse who was worth waiting for," trainer Roger Charlton said of the winner, whose career has been stop-start. "I would have been disappointed if he had been beaten by Camelot, as I thought he won easily last time and I knew he would improve. He’s very tough and genuine, ticks all the boxes and at the moment doesn’t have many weaknesses."

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES’S S.-G1, £500,000, Royal Ascot,6-19, 4yo/up, 1 1/4mT, 2:03.06, gd/fm.
1--AL KAZEEM (GB), 126, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Kazeem (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Kanz, by The Minstrel
3rd Dam: Treasure Chest, by Rough’n Tumble
O-D J Deer; B-D J & Mrs Deer; T-Roger Charlton; J-James Doyle; £283,550. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 11-6-4-0, £560,865. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Mukhadram (GB), 126, c, 4, Shamardal--Magic Tree (UAE), by Timber Country. (190,000gns wnlg ‘09 TATDEC). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Wardall Bloodstock; T-William Haggas; £107,500.
3--The Fugue (GB), 123, f, 4, Dansili (GB)--Twyla Tharp (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Lord Lloyd-Webber; B-Watership Down Stud; T-John Gosden; £53,800.
Margins: NK, 3 1/4, HF. Odds: 11-4, 14-1, 13-2.
Also Ran: Camelot (GB), Miblish (GB), Maxios (GB), Side Glance (GB), Afsare (GB), Red Cadeaux (GB), Saint Baudolino (Ire), Windsor Palace (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Still a raw talent at three, Al Kazeem managed a distant second to Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) on one of that high-class horse’s good days before filling the same berth behind older horses in Newbury’s G3 Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial and G3 St Simon S. in the Fall. His one start between the end of 2011 and the beginning of this season resulted in an emphatic score in the G2 Jockey Club S. over 12 furlongs at Newmarket last May, but a stress fracture of his pelvis kept him out of the main events to come. Impressive on his belated return in Sandown’s G3 Gordon Richards S. over 10 furlongs Apr. 27, he readily upstaged a one-paced Camelot in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and, despite holding the favorite’s position in this race’s ante-post market for much of the build-up, lost it late on with the punters in a forgiving mood. Whereas he had tracked the Ballydoyle star before pouncing at The Curragh, it was Joseph O’Brien who was content to follow this time as they sat in fourth and sixth respectively off the strong tempo set by the free-rolling Mukhadram. As that colt cut loose when the button was pushed by Paul Hanagan after the home turn, it was only Al Kazeem who was able to close the gap with Camelot failing to engage another gear. Although the long-time leader was unrelenting in the drive to the line, the extra stamina of the winner made the difference in the end.
   "I thought Paul Hanagan gave his horse a fantastic ride--he got his fractions right and got a couple of lengths on me turning in, but he digs deep and is a tough horse," a typically humble James Doyle said. "It’s magical to get a Royal Ascot winner and this is what it’s all about." Charlton was keen not to commit to any definite targets at first, saying, "There are lots of lovely races and without discussing with the owners I don’t know where he will go next, but like most people I’d love to have a runner in the Arc. He’s a horse that’s very happy if the ground is on the soft side and he’s proved that he needs a mile and a half. That would probably be the end-of-season target and it’s important not to be too greedy and plan it. If he were to run in that, we would maybe go for the G1 King George [VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 27] and not run again before that. The G1 Eclipse S. [at Sandown] is 17 days away and he’d be favorite for that, but the horse will tell us."
   The runner-up’s rider Paul Hanagan said, "We’ve always had faith in him and I just thought he deserved to win that. He fought back against a very good horse all the way up the straight and couldn’t have given me any more. He doesn’t have to make the running, but he has such a lovely long stride I don’t like taking him back. When I kicked I thought I definitely had it won and that it would take a very good horse to beat me. That’s what happened."
   Lord Lloyd-Webber’s The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) put up a creditable effort to be third on her belated seasonal bow and is set to defend her crown in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood Aug. 3 before a potential rematch with Al Kazeem in the King George. "The first two set a high standard, but I was thrilled with her," trainer John Gosden told PA Sport. "She travelled really well and loved that ground, which is key to her. We’ll look at all the races like the Nassau and the King George." Aidan O’Brien was not admitting defeat yet regarding Camelot, who is set to be put through the mill now. "He’d had a tough winter and you’ve got to bear that in mind," he told PA Sport. "We’ve always been very conscious of what he’s been through, but maybe now is the time to start chasing him. There are a lot of options--the Eclipse and races like that."

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE S. (FORMERLY THE WINDSOR FOREST S.)-G2, £125,000, Royal Ascot, 6-19, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:39.47, gd/fm.
1--DUNTLE (IRE), 124, f, 4, by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
1st Dam: Lady Angola, by Lord at War
2nd Dam: Benguela, by Little Current
3rd Dam: Lady Winborne, by Secretariat
(78,000gns wnlg ‘09 TATDEC; €36,000 yrl ‘10 GOFSEP). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Airlie Stud; T-David Wachman; J-Wayne Lordan; £77,375. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Ire, 8-5-1-0, £209,964. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Ladys First (GB), 124, f, 4, Dutch Art (GB)--Like a Dame (GB), by Danehill. (16,000gns wnlg ‘09 TATDEC; €100,000 yrl ‘10 GOFSEP). O-Mrs Helen Steel; B-Sparsholt Stud; T-Richard Fahey; £29,335.
3--Dank (GB), 124, f, 4, Dansili (GB)--Masskana (Ire), by Darshaan (GB). O-James Wigan; B- London Thoroughbred Services Ltd; T-Sir Michael Stoute; £14,681. Margins: HF, HD, HD. Odds: 10-3, 25-1,
7-2.
Also Ran: Beatrice Aurore (Ire), Sarkiyla (Fr), Chigun (GB), Sweetnessandlight (GB), Dancewiththedevil (SAf), Thistle Bird (GB). Scratched: Intense Pink (GB), Moonstone Magic (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Duntle landed a monster gamble when successful in the Listed Sandringham H. at last year’s Royal meet, and doubled up in the Aug. 16 G3 Desmond S. at Leopardstown next time. She was then controversially disqualified after passing the post first in the G1 Matron S. there again Sept. 8, a reverse which was later confirmed after a failed appeal, but she rebounded with a decisive score in the May 12 G3 Amethyst S. back at the Foxrock track once more on seasonal return last time. Duntle was positioned in midfield through the sensible early fractions of this straight mile test and inched ever closer to the front rank from halfway. Quickening in good style to challenge entering the final quarter mile, she led soon after and exhibited admirable determination under a power drive in the closing stages to deny the rallying pacesetter Ladys First (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and the late flourish of Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}). "I traveled really well, but I think I might have got to the front too soon," admitted winning rider Wayne Lordan. "She didn’t kill herself when she got to the front, but picked up when challenged late on and deserved it. She improved an awful lot as a 3-year-old and is still going the right way. This is where everybody wants a winner so it was an important win." Conditioner David Wachman, celebrating his third Royal Ascot success, added, "Wayne gave her a very good ride. She didn’t want to be in front too soon and she was hanging on in the end. She doesn’t win by too far, but she’s tough and genuine. She has loads of options as there’s a good programme for fillies so we’ll see what [owner] Maria [Niarchos-Gouaze] and [racing manager] Alan [Cooper] want to do." Richard Fahey is mulling over a Stateside campaign for the runner-up Ladys First and told PA Sport, "She’s tough and very consistent, but I’m starting to feel a bit sorry for her now. She might go to America for the [Aug. 17 GI] Beverly D S., as that would suit her." Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Dank, added, "She never lets us down and is so consistent. She’s in the [July 21] G2 Kilboy Estate S. over nine furlongs at the Curragh, but we’ll wait and see."

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN MARY S.-G2, £100,000, Royal Ascot, 6-19, 2yo, f, 5fT, :59.29, gd/fm.
1--@RIZEENA (IRE), 124, f, 2, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Serena’s Storm (Ire), by Statue of Liberty
2nd Dam: Princess Serena, by Unbridled’s Song
3rd Dam: Serena’s Sister, by Rahy
(50,000gns yrl ‘12 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Round Hill Stud; T-Clive Brittain; J-James Doyle; £56,710. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, £76,346. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Sweet Emma Rose, 124, f, 2, City Zip--Miss Moneypenny, by Deputy Minister. ($40,000 yrl ‘12 KEESEP). O-Hat Creek Racing; B-The Peter J Callahan Revocable Trust; T-Wesley Ward; £21,500.

3--One Chance (Ire), 124, f, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)--Towards, by Fusaichi Pegasus. (120,000gns yrl ‘12 TATOCT). O-Recycled Products Limited; B-Mrs C Regalado-Gonzalez; T-Tim Pitt; £10,760.
Margins: 2, 1, HF. Odds: 6-1, 16-1, 66-1.
Also Ran: Fig Roll (GB), Reroute (Ire), Survived (GB), Alutiq (Ire), Ventura Mist (GB), Kaiulani (Ire), Fast (Ire), Fire Blaze (Ire), Bye Bye Birdie (Ire), Blithe Spirit (GB), Beldale Memory (Ire), Robynelle (GB), Lorimer’s Lot (Ire), Oriel (GB), Diamond Lady (GB), Quatuor (Ire), Sandsman’s Girl (Ire), Baytown Kestrel (GB), Corncockle (GB), Go Glamorous (Ire), Excel’s Beauty (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Clive Brittain had not tasted Royal Ascot success since the victory of Zaidan (Street Cry {Ire}) in the 2010 Listed Chesham S., but the 79-year-old bridged that gap in style as Rizeena prevailed in this juvenile fillies’ dash. The bay was a long-odds fifth behind Fire Blaze (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Newmarket on debut
Apr. 18, shed maiden status over this course and distance May 10, and continued her rapid ascent with an impressive score in the May 30 Listed National S. at Sandown last time. Rizeena was positioned slightly better than midfield after an alert getaway as Wesley Ward’s speedball Sweet Emma Rose blazed a trail from the outset. Rowed along approaching the quarter-mile marker, she was at that rival’s quarters entering the final eighth and drew off under urging in the dying strides to provide jockey James Doyle with his third victory of the afternoon. "I’d have taken one winner at the start of the day, but to have three is just unbelievable," commented Doyle, who assumed the lead in the meet’s jockeys’ title. "I saw her win in the National S. and she looked pretty impressive that day so I was excited to get the ride here. Those American horses don’t hang about and they went an electric pace. I caught a glimpse of Sweet Emma Rose out of the corner of my eye and she must have been four or five lengths ahead of me at one stage, but Rizeena dug deep and showed how good she really is. It’s great when it all comes together, and she’s a super filly." The success provided Brittain with a 17th Royal Ascot triumph and the veteran Newmarket conditioner, who performed his customary jig in the winner’s enclosure, added, "It is great to have a filly like this to handle. It has not been easy and a lot of credit must go down to the girl who looks after her, and [the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. fifth] Miblish. Miblish has been her lead horse for the last two months. He has taught her how to walk, how to canter and how to lengthen her stride. What he can’t do is quicken, but she can quicken." The trainer subsequently revealed that Rizeena will now target the Sept. 1 G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh.

A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) from Eddie Woods’s consignment brought a bid of $525,000 from Conquest Stable to become the new sale topper at OBS June.
 
The colt, named Tracker Jacker, was produced by the SP 9-year-old mare Early Vintage (Jump Start), a half sister to MGSW Tasha’s Miracle (Harlan’s Holiday) and to the dam of MGSW Concord Point (Tapit). He was purchased for a modest $42,000 by W.D. North Thoroughbreds last September.
 
Tracker Jacker breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at the under-tack show.

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
JERSEY S.-G3, £75,000, Royal Ascot, 6-19, 3yo, 7fT, 1:25.32, gd/fm.
1--@GALE FORCE TEN (GB), 127, c, 3, by Oasis Dream (GB)
1st Dam: Ronaldsay (GB) (SW-Eng, $224,860), by Kirkwall (GB)
2nd Dam: Crackling (GB), by Electric (GB)
3rd Dam: Birch Creek (GB), by Carwhite (Ire)(£280,000 yrl ‘11 DONAUG).
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-S Tindall, D Ludlow & Stowell Hill Ltd; T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Joseph O’Brien; £42,533. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Ire & G1SP-Eng, 11-3-2-2, £182,154. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Montiridge (Ire), 127, c, 3, Ramonti (Fr)--Elegant Ridge (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). (€10,000 RNA yrl ‘11 GOFFEB; £55,000 yrl ‘11 DONAUG). O-M Clarke, J Jeffries, R Ambrose, B Reilly; B-Century Bloodstock; T-Richard Hannon; £16,125.
3--Tawhid (GB), 130, c, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)--Snowdrops (GB), by Gulch. O-Godolphin; B-West Lodge Stud; T-Saeed bin Suroor; £8,070.
Margins: HD, 1HF, 1. Odds: 9-2, 15-2, 25-1.
Also Ran: Garswood (GB), Music Master (GB), Pearl Flute (Ire), Dont Bother Me (Ire), Ninjago (GB), Jammy Guest (Ire), Tamayuz Star (Ire), The Brothers War, Here Comes When (Ire), Well Acquainted (Ire), Blaine (GB), Complimentor (Ire), Parliament Square (Ire), Pearl Sea (Ire), Mutin (Fr), Ian’s Dream, One Word More (Ire), Ajraam.
Click for the Racing Post result or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   No favorite had won the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot since Mozart (Ire) in 2001, but it was a colt from the same stable in the same silks with a similar profile who ended the long wait here. Runner-up to Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate) in the G2 Norfolk S. over five furlongs here 12 months ago, Gale Force Ten followed two indifferent starts on testing ground with a third placing in the G1 Middle Park S. over six furlongs to round off his juvenile campaign at Newmarket in October. After returning to win the seven-furlong Listed Patton S. on Dundalk’s Polytrack Apr. 5, the bay was fourth in a blanket finish to the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp May 12 before going to The Curragh 13 days later to emulate Mozart by finishing second in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas. Enjoying a perfect tow early from compatriot Dont Bother Me (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), he was left in front with 2 1/2 furlongs remaining and, despite being headed by Montiridge inside the final eighth, battled back for Joseph O’Brien in the final yards as the stand’s side "winner" Tawhid threw away his chance by veering left. "He’s very tough, but I was praying someone would come to me because he wasn’t doing a stroke in front," his rider explained. " He got a mile very well at the Curragh, so that’s why I didn’t want to get too far back but I got to the front a mile too soon. When he saw the other horse he put his head down and fought. He’s small but he has a big heart." Michael Tabor added, "We were very hopeful that he’d be good enough despite being drawn poorly and he was very game, which is what you would expect of Aidan’s horses. He looked like he was beaten and came again."

Declaration of War

Opening Day of Royal Ascot kicked off with a bevy of impressive victories across the card. Both Team Valor's Barry Irwin and Liesl King report from the historic venue, and Irwin recounts what he feels was Animal Kingdom's reason for the loss. The New York Racing Association has named Chris Kay its new President and CEO. The OBS June Sale began Tuesday with a colt by Circular Quay topping the leaderboard at $275,000. All that and more in today's TDN.

A UNIQUE APPROACH
Just 17 days since his blow-out in the G1 Epsom Derby, Godolphin’s Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) paid the ultimate tribute to the informed guile of his intuitive trainer Jim Bolger when winning the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot. After a pulsating war of attrition with the rival who should have been his main threat in the G1 2,000 Guineas, Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), the cream of the "TDN Rising Stars" placed himself back on the mantle that his breeder and conditioner had placed him as early as his G2 Coventry S. victory here 12 months ago. Keen again early without being as reckless as in the blue riband, the 5-4 favorite delivered his surge wide to lead with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and, despite being briefly headed by Toronado, gained the upper hand in the final 50 yards to score by a short head. "The biggest risk is not taking the risk," commented Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in reference to the trainer’s late decision to run. "Jim bred the horse and knows the horse very well, so when he decided to run we all supported him. That proved to me that he’s the best miler in the world."

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ST JAMES’S PALACE S.-G1, £350,000, Ascot, 6-18, 3yo, c, 1mT, 1:39.23, gd.
1--DAWN APPROACH (IRE), 126, c, 3, by New Approach (Ire)
1st Dam: Hymn of the Dawn, by Phone Trick
2nd Dam: Colonial Debut, by Pleasant Colony
3rd Dam: Kittihawk Miss, by Alydar
O-Godolphin; B/T-Jim Bolger; J-Kevin Manning; £198,485. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur, Eng & Ire, G1SW-Ire, 9-8-0-0, £791,513. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Toronado (Ire), 126, c, 3, High Chaparral (Ire)--Wana Doo, by Grand Slam. (€40,000 wnlg ‘10 ARQDEC; €55,000 yrl ‘11 ARQAUG). O-Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani; B-Paul Nataf; T-Richard Hannon; £75,250.
3--Mars (Ire),126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)--Massarra (GB), by Danehill. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Massarra Syndicate; T-Aidan O’Brien; £37,660.
Margins: SHD, 2 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 5-4, 5-1, 10-1.
Also Ran: Mshawish, Glory Awaits (Ire), Dundonnell, George Vancouver, Leitir Mor (Ire), Magician (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Dawn Approach’s career has been against the grain for most of the way so far, with a surprise debut win for a colt with his pedigree in the opening five-furlong maiden at The Curragh last March followed by his defeat of more precociously-bred rivals in the Coventry at this meeting. While the route was more predictable afterwards as he took in the G1 National S. at The Curragh and Newmarket’s G1 Dewhurst S. and 2,000 Guineas, a tilt at the Derby was another diversion from the obvious. Due to his ability to successfully bend to whatever test he had been set up to then, the majority believed that the blue riband was a dream within reach and the answer remains in the ether after he wrecked his opportunity just yards from the start. Having said he would not be going to Ascot, the Irish maverick u-turned as he had with the colt’s sire ahead of the Derby five years ago, and it was up to the flashy chestnut to provide the justification for that choice and deflect the critique that was certain to come Bolger’s way if failure was the outcome. For much of the first half of this contest, the tension rose for connections as he teetered on the edge under Kevin Manning once again, but with Leitir Mor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) setting the honest sprinter-miler fractions he needs, the extravagance was successfully contained. Following the move of Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as they turned for home, he was the victim of scrimmaging as Glory Awaits (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) jinked into the Ballydoyle raider, causing interference to both the winner and patiently-ridden runner-up at the quarter pole. Undeterred, the dominant duo set down for the duel to the line and, although Toronado held a slight edge for a few yards inside the final furlong, it was Dawn Approach who had that extra ounce of reserve. "The Derby was a big blow to everybody and so disappointing, so to come back and do that is fantastic," Kevin Manning said. "He took a bit of a bite and lit up again, but I arrived there full of running and thought I was going to do it well only for the horse on the inside to come out and catch me in the girth. Once I got my head in front he was always holding the runner-up. He’s very gutsy and determined and a real battler. He was very impressive in Newmarket and it was a shock at Epsom--I still can’t make head nor tail of it, so have drawn a line through it and moved on. I always felt he was a horse who would go beyond a mile, but we tried it and it didn’t work." Bolger added, "The nature of the sport is that you take chances and sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t, but Sheikh Mohammed was a very willing risk-taker. He’s very tough and hardy and was fortunate to survive that knock. I knew he wouldn’t let me down."

FIRST BLOOD TO BALLYDOYLE
   Coolmore and Joseph Allen’s partnership was taken to the dizzy heights yesterday as Declaration of War (War Front) opened up an amazing double and the Royal meeting itself with an unexpected victory in a renewal of the G1 Queen Anne S. that appeared beforehand to belong to Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). As that 5-4 favorite pulled hard without cover and was gone by the three-furlong pole before back-pedaling to finish a disappointing 11th, it was Ballydoyle’s handsome bay who profited from the visitor’s implosion. Sent off at 15-2 after bombing out as favorite for the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 18, Declaration of War was always traveling strongly under the cover denied the market leader. Muscling through a gap with a furlong remaining, he collared Aljamaaheer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) 100 yards later en route to a three-quarter length success, which was in turn a 38th at the meeting for Aidan O’Brien. "We thought the world of him last year and I didn’t have him ready for the Lockinge, but he’d made great progress since and has come back to what we hoped he would be," his trainer said. "We learned in the Lockinge that he’s all speed, and so he waited and waited today. He’s a big, powerful horse and when Joseph produced him he put his head in there and went through. It doesn’t get any better than this."

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ANNE S.-G1, £350,000, Royal Ascot, 6-18, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:38.48, gd.
1--sDECLARATION OF WAR, 126, c, 4, by War Front
1st Dam: Tempo West, by Rahy
2nd Dam: Tempo, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Terpsichorist, by Nijinsky
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Joseph Allen; B-Joseph Allen; T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Joseph O’Brien; £198,485. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 8-6-0-0, £286,925. *1/2 to Vertiformer (Dynaformer), SW-Fr & GSP-US, $143,958. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2--Aljamaaheer (Ire), 126, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)--Kelly Nicole (Ire), by Rainbow Quest. (100,000gns wnlg ‘09 TATDEC). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Corrin Stud & Sean O’Keeffe; T-Roger Varian; £75,250.
3--Gregorian (Ire), 126, c, 4, Clodovil (Ire)--Three Days in May (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (85,000gns yrl ‘10 TATOCT). O-HRH Princess Haya of Jordan; B-Rathasker Stud; T-John Gosden; £37,660.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 2. Odds: 15-2, 8-1, 16-1.
Also Ran: Elusive Kate, Trade Storm (GB), Libranno (GB), Chil The Kite (GB), Penitent (GB), Sovereign Debt (Ire), Trumpet Major (Ire), Animal Kingdom, Monsieur Chevalier (Ire), Gabrial (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Like several of Joseph Allen’s homebreds, Declaration of War started off at Jean-Claude Rouget’s Pau base and flashed star quality from the outset with wide-margin wins on the all-weather surfaces of Pornichet-la-Baule and Deauville in late 2011. Sent to Rosegreen, the imposing colt started off with a fourth in The Curragh’s G3 Solonaway S. over this trip in September before winning a 10-furlong conditions event at that venue three weeks later. Taking his record to a perfect three-for-three on artificial surfaces when annexing the G3 Diamond S. over an extended 10 furlongs on Dundalk’s Polytrack in October, he returned this term back over a mile to register a smooth score in Leopardstown’s Listed Heritage S. Apr. 14. Sent off the 5-4 favorite for the Lockinge, he never looked like landing a blow on the runaway winner Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in fifth but Aidan O’Brien had his own view of what happened there and the unique computing that goes on in his brain started to get to work in the interim. Keen initially off the steady tempo set by the outsider Libranno (GB) (Librettist), he quickly settled into a rhythm for Joseph O’Brien and traveled with purpose in a pocket. As Aljamaaheer and Gregorian (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) struck for home on the far side of the group approaching the furlong marker, it looked for a few strides as if Declaration of War would be stuck in behind, but when half a gap arrived he was able to seize it and run down that duo for a decisive success. "I’m not sure 100% what happened in the Lockinge, but dad said he didn’t have him as fit as he would have liked," Joseph O’Brien said. "He said he had him 100% today and he’s a very good horse." Animal Kingdom’s trainer Graham Motion was downhearted after his star horse’s over-exuberant performance and said, "It took the wind out of our sails, as there was a lot of hype for this race. Johnny said he had no punch at the half-mile pole and he had a hard time getting him covered up. It’s very awkward starting in the middle of the track, which is very unusual for us and I always cautioned about the unknowns that he was facing and I’m afraid it caught up with him today." Aljamaaheer’s trainer Roger Varian told PA Sport, "It’s frustrating, but we have no complaints. The race panned out exactly as we had hoped, but the winner just quickened up better than us. He’ll be in all the big mile races and we’ll just try to win a Group race with him."

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING’S STAND S.-G1, £350,000, Royal Ascot, 6-18, 3yo/up, 5fT, :58.88, gd.
1--SOLE POWER (GB), 130, g, 6, by Kyllachy (GB)
1st Dam: Demerger, by Distant View
2nd Dam: Merida (GB), by Warning (GB)
3rd Dam: Metair (GB), by Laser Light (GB)
(£32,000 yrl ‘08 DONAUG). O-Mrs S Power; B-G Russell; T-Edward Lynam; J-Johnny Murtagh; £198,485. Lifetime Record: Co. Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 5-7f, G1SP-UAE & Ire & GSP-Ire, 33-7-6-5, £815,748. *1/2 to Cornus (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), GSP-Eng, $197,841. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Shea Shea (SAf), 130, g, 5, National Emblem (SAf)--Yankee Clipper (SAf), by Jallad. (R550,000 ‘09 EMPNAT). O-Brian Joffee & Myron C Berzack; B-Klawervlei Stud; T-Mike de Kock; £75,250.
3--Pearl Secret (GB), 130, c, 4, Compton Place (GB)--Our Little Secret (Ire), by Rossini. (20,000gns yrl ‘10 TATOCT; £90,000 2yo ‘11 DONAPR). O-Pearl Bloodstock Ltd; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud & Pigeon House Stud; T-David Barron; £37,660.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 8-1, 11-4, 10-1.
Also Ran: Jack Dexter (GB), Reckless Abandon (GB), Heeraat (Ire), Move In Time (GB), Swiss Spirit (GB), Shamexpress (NZ), Bungle Inthejungle (GB), Medicean Man (GB), Stepper Point (GB), Hoyam (GB), Doc Hay, Prohibit (GB), Kingsgate Native (Ire), Angels Will Fall (Ire), Spirit Quartz (Ire), Ballesteros (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.

POWER SURGE AT ROYAL ASCOT
   Sabena Power’s Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) twice finished behind South African superstar Shea Shea (SAf) (National Emblem {SAf}) at Meydan in March, and bounced back from a fourth in last month’s G2 Temple S. at Haydock to gain his revenge on that rival in yesterday’s G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. Restrained in rear initially, the 8-1 chance produced a blistering late surge to oust his old foe on the line to win by a neck. Sole Power arrived on the scene with a shock 100-1 win in the 2010 G1 Nunthorpe S. at York and has since lifted three black-type events as well as garnering three further placings at the highest level. Runner-up when Shea Shea broke the five-furlong track record in the Mar. 9 Listed Meydan Sprint, he ran fourth as that rival smashed the clock once more in the Mar. 30 G1 Al Quoz Sprint back at Meydan on World Cup day Mar. 30, and returned to Europe with a win in the May 4 G3 Palace House S. at Newmarket. The bay lined up off a fourth in Haydock's May 25 G2 Temple S. and employed his usual waiting tactics in rear behind a searching early pace. Making smooth headway from halfway, he was last off the bridle inside the final quarter mile and powered home using the stands’ side rail for guidance to seal a last-gasp win and a second Group 1 triumph. "I’m really proud of achieving forty winners at Royal Ascot and, as a jockey, this is where you want to perform," enthused winning rider Johnny Murtagh. "It makes riding all the Mondays and Fridays worthwhile when you come here and get to ride great horses for great people. I’ve just been one of the lucky ones. I know what Sole Power likes and [trainer] Eddie [Lynam] told me to do as I normally do and ride him like I own him. He’s got a great turn of foot when you can conserve his energy and he’s very willing, but if he gets going too early it’s as though he runs out of steam. I didn’t see Shea Shea on the other side of the track, but I thought we hit the line well." Conditioner Eddie Lynam, celebrating his first Royal success, added, "Sole Power’s not always been lucky, but he’s always been good." Mike de Kock was satisfied with the performance of runner-up Shea Shea and didn’t entirely rule out a crack at the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. on Saturday. "I’m very proud of him and I suppose second is better than third," he told Racing Post. "He was beaten by a pretty decent horse and I think he acquitted himself well. Things didn’t go exactly as we wanted them and, in a race like that, a head here and a neck there can make all the difference. I’ll see how he pulls out in the morning, but my hunch is that he won’t run on Saturday. Having said that, I’m not a stubborn man. [Jockey] Christophe [Soumillon] said that the horse hasn’t had a race and says we should run him again. We’ll try to make a decision in the morning."

Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £120,000, Ascot, 6-18, 2yo, 6fT, 1:12.86, gd.
1--WAR COMMAND, 127, c, 2, by War Front
1st Dam: Wandering Star (GSW-Can, SW-Eng & GSP-US, $295,434), by Red Ransom
2nd Dam: Beautiful Bedouin, by His Majesty
3rd Dam: Gris Vitesse, by Amerigo (GB)
O-Joseph Allen, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Joseph Allen; T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan; £68,052. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £77,308. *1/2 to Naval Officer (Tale of the Cat), GSW-Fr, $182,831. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2--Parbold (Ire),127, c, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)--Gala Style (Ire), by Elnadim. (€48,000 wnlg ‘11 GOFNOV; 42,000gns yrl ‘12 TATOCT). O-David W Armstrong; B-Tony Cosgrave; T-Richard Fahey; £25,800.
3--Sir John Hawkins, 127, c, 2, Henrythenavigator--Peeping Fawn, by Danehill. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Orpendale & Chelston; T-Aidan O’Brien; £12,912.
Margins: 6, 3/4, HF. Odds: 20-1, 16-1, 6-1.
Also Ran: Thunder Strike (GB), Jallota (GB), Stubbs (Ire), Wahaab (Ire), Mawfoor (Ire), Rosso Corsa (GB), Rogue Wave (Ire), Dubawi Fun (GB), Lanark (Ire), Riverboat Springs (Ire), Championship (Ire), Thrtypointstothree (Ire). Scratched: Bahamian Heights (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   War Command did not enjoy the best of trips when opening up at Leopardstown June 7, but showed the necessary guile to get up late for a neck success, despite his inexperience, in that seven-furlong test. Dropped one panel for this, he belied his long odds by fairly scooting up in Joe Allen’s green-and-white checks to earn quotes as low as 5-1 favorite for next term’s G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Exhibiting a tinge of greenness and settled in rear after allowing his rivals half a stride at the break, he cruised into contention in hand approaching the final quarter mile and made his rivals look distinctly second rate when leaving them for dust in the closing stages to secure a hugely impressive win by daylight. "I’m speechless really and this is a wonderful, wonderful day," beamed winning breeder and co-owner Joe Allen. "It is a rare, but wonderful experience of horse racing. I have been in racing for 35 years and today has been the highlight of all highlights. Two major winners on the first day of Royal Ascot, one a Group 1 and the other a Group 2, it just doesn’t get any better. We got lucky and we have a good horse." Aidan O’Brien, who claimed a record-equaling seventh renewal, added, "We have always liked him, he was very green in his maiden and had to make a few moves, but he still won snugly. He won over seven [furlongs] and can do a lot of things now so has a lot of options. He could be trained for the [six-furlong G1] Phoenix S. [at The Curragh Aug. 11] or any one of those races." Richard Fahey, trainer of the runner-up, commented, "Parbold ran well and I thought we might have found another two or three lengths with a better run, but we wouldn’t have beaten the winner. He’ll come on a bit for that and we might now look for a sales race for him."

   The New York Racing Association Reorganization Board of Directors unanimously named Chris Kay to NYRA’s vacant CEO position yesterday, more than 13 months after former NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward was terminated. The now state-controlled NYRA released Hayward last May after a report by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board found that he was aware of NYRA’s failure to reduce take-out by 1% on certain wagers for 15 months after state law mandated a reduction. The error was discovered in December of 2011 and said to have cost bettors more than $8 million. Former COO Ellen McClain, who served as NYRA’s president following Hayward’s departure, subsequently announced in January that she would be resigning. McClain’s last day at NYRA was Apr. 30, at which point the NYRA board installed VP of Racing Facilities and Racing Surfaces Glen Kozak, VP of Corporate Development David O’Rourke and Senior VP and CFO Susanne Stover as an interim management team while they searched for a permanent CEO. Kay, a 1978 graduate of Duke Law School, was an equity partner in several Orlando-area law firms before serving as vice president and general counsel and later COO of Toys “R’ Us. After a two-year stint as an executive at Universal Parks and Resorts, Kay became COO of The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a major non-profit land conservation organization. He left that post earlier this year. Kay will receive a base salary of $300,000 with up to $250,000 in additional performance bonuses. He will start July 1.