Dalakhani's Defoe Prevails in the Hardwicke

Springing back to the fore when winning the G1 Coronation Cup, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) held off the Czech raider Nagano Gold (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) to provide the follow-up in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot. Positioned in the last trio early by Andrea Atzeni, the 11-4 favourite was delivered with the same potent acceleration as he had been at Epsom to strike the front 1 1/2 furlongs out and deny the race's surprise package by a half length. “He's a very straightforward horse and since his gelding operation he's improved and turned a corner this year,” Atzeni said. “He travelled well and picked up nicely and ground-wise, he's versatile. If anything, I got there sooner than I'd have liked and that isn't really his style. We actually thought he was a soft-ground horse but Sheikh Mohammed Obaid always said he was a fast-ground horse and he was right. It's not fast out there, but it's definitely on the quick side and he enjoyed it.”

One of the significant moments of this race came at the very start, with Godolphin's Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) stumbling out of the stalls and Nagano Gold losing notable ground with Christophe Soumillon glancing behind. As Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) cut out the running with Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in close attendance, the returning G1 Epsom Derby winner was adrift of the pace later reported by the jockeys as less-than-exacting but Defoe was always well within himself playing the waiting game. Pat Dobbs committed Mirage Dancer on the turn into the straight, but the Juddmonte blueblood's lead was short-lived with Defoe showing a dynamic turn of foot to mow him down and bring the Czech sensation in his wake. As they drove towards the line, it was the grey who was the stronger with the runner-up emerging from the contest with great credit.

With his defeat of Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the May 31 Coronation Cup, Defoe was raising a few eyebrows as he had spent the last year chasing a revival of the kind of form that had seen him win the 2018 G3 John Porter S. and G2 Jockey Club S. with ease. Runner-up to Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) in the latest edition of the latter Newmarket prize May 4, he had lined up at Epsom an 11-1 shot which seemed fair given he had assumed a limited profile. His “Sliding Doors” moment may have come at the break there, as he missed it and gave Atzeni little choice than to sit in rear rather than assume the customary prominent position.

Trainer Roger Varian believes that extra maturity is the key to Defoe's sudden emergence as a top-class runner. “He's getting better with age and is a gentleman of a horse,” he said. “That was a strong performance today and he's just a chilled-out dude who has got sounder and handles this ground better as he's got older. Some of his past wins had been very impressive, but as a younger horse he struggled to handle this fast ground and this year he's doing that better and showing his true potential. Of course, the [July 27 G1] King George is on the agenda now. This is a special moment.”

Tomas Janda, representing Nagano Gold's owner-trainer Vaclav Luka, said, “Christophe said he had a problem at the start and then again in the straight and he couldn't really run and of course when you are so close you always think what might have been. We are happy with the run and a lot of people are watching the race at home, so it will help racing in Czech. Even people who don't watch racing in Czech knew about this. Through the winter we came up with this plan after he had won a listed race in France. He needs a faster pace and we thought the style of racing in England would suit better. We have entered him for a Group 1 in Germany in August, then we would like to run in the Arc.”

Teddy Grimthorpe said of Mirage Dancer, “He has run a really good race, he travelled very well in the race and we couldn't have been happier turning for home. He just did not find enough to finish it off, but he has run a blinder.” Masar's jockey James Doyle said of the returning Derby winner, who managed fifth after his eventful start, “I'm not really sure what happened, but his nose disappeared leaving the stalls and luckily when he came back up, he hit me in the chest and put me back in the saddle. It is not the start you want in a big race like that and we planned on being a bit handier, but that's racing. They did not go that quick and we got caught for a bit of speed in the straight, but he ran good on his first start for over a year. Hopefully he'll come out in one piece and we can move on.”

Charlie Appleby said of Masar, “I'm delighted to see him back. We had a little bit of a mishap with a bit of a stumble out of the gates and therefore it didn't materialise quite how we wanted it to. They have gone a sensible gallop, but as you saw he was a bit fresh and over-raced in the first quarter of the race. Once he was travelling well into it, I was pleased how he came into the straight and James said he just got a little bit tired in the last half a furlong. As much as you want to do at home, there is no better thing than match fitness and he has got that match fitness now. Let's hope he comes out of the race fit and well. Without speaking to His Highness yet, I'd imagine he could go for something potentially like the [G1] Juddmonte International [at York Aug. 21], as I wouldn't mind coming back in trip. For me, he has still got plenty of boot there.”

Defoe's dam Dulkashe (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who has an unraced 2-year-old colt by Shamardal named Ghanim and a yearling filly by Toronado (Ire), is a granddaughter of Close Comfort (Far North) who is kin to the G1 Prix Morny-winning champion and stakes-producing Ancient Regime (Olden Times) and her sire full-brother Cricket Ball with six group victories to his credit. Close Comfort was responsible for the G3 Scottish Classic and G3 Brigadier Gerard S. winner Husyan (Alleged), while her descendants include the GI Vosburgh S. hero Rock Fall (Speightstown) and the triple G2 Geoffrey Freer S. winner and Arc runner-up Mubtaker (Silver Hawk).

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HARDWICKE S.-G2, £225,000, Ascot, 6-22, 4yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:31.09, gd.
1–DEFOE (IRE), 127, g, 5, by Dalakhani (Ire)
1st Dam: Dulkashe (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Saik, by Riverman
3rd Dam: Close Comfort, by Far North
O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Andrea Atzeni. £127,598. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, MG1SP-Ger & G1SP-Ire, 18-9-4-1, $955,105. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nagano Gold (GB), 127, h, 5, Sixties Icon (GB)–Never Enough (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). (3,500gns Wlg '14 TATFOA). O/T-Vaclav Luka Jr; B-J Knight & E Cantillon (GB). £48,375.
3–Mirage Dancer (GB), 127, h, 5, Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)–Heat Haze (GB), by Green Desert. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £24,210.
Margins: HF, 1, 3. Odds: 2.75, 25.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Morando (Fr), Masar (Ire), Southern France (Ire), Salouen (Ire), Communique (Ire). Scratched: Lah Ti Dar (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.