By Tom Frary
Ascot's G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup carried the promise of an epic and so it proved as Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) edged out Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a pulsating finale which was arguably the day's chief event. Always travelling with serious intent tracking the pace, last year's G1 St Leger and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero was sent to the front approaching two out as the 8-13 favourite loomed in behind. Headed by Bjorn Nielsen's relentless achiever a furlong later, the 7-2 second favourite stayed in the fight and regained the advantage in the final yards to prevail by a nose. Stradivarius's stablemate Royal Line (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was another five lengths away in third in a renewal that will be talked about for some time. “He got an unbelievable ride, a very intelligent and strong ride from Donnacha and he's a brave horse,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “We were coming to the Gold Cup with him, but he got an injury and it set him back for the whole season and he barely got back. We didn't think he'd get back, so there are many people to be so thankful to. He's a classy horse.”
Kew Gardens, who was running over further than he had done so far, was the sole force that Stradivarius had yet to encounter on his seemingly endless journey of success in these Cup events. While the chestnut was running up his customary sequence of Ascot, Goodwood and Lonsdale Cups, Ballydoyle's lurking star of this firmament was gradually coalescing and building back to racing condition in Co. Tipperary. His earlier effort when caught late by Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) when runner-up in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom May 31 offered further evidence that marathon trips could be his forte and when he was able to finish off so strongly from behind to be second to Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish St Leger at The Curragh Sept. 15 everything pointed to a huge run here.
While Donnacha enjoyed the perfect tow from stablemate Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Withhold (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) in third, Frankie never looked entirely comfortable on Stradivarius just in behind and where the ground was at its deepest he visibly struggled. Heading to two out, Kew Gardens looked to be going the better but the dual millionaire still had his trump card to play and that all-too-familiar burst took him past for a few precious strides. Despite going almost a neck up, Stradivarius's connections and legion of fans would have despaired at the fact that he never went any further clear and memories of Kew Gardens' closing surge in the Irish Leger must have eaten at their confidence. Ultimately, it was the Irish challenger who had the fractional extra strength on the ground and although the photo confirmed the minimum margin it caught the exact moment of the runner-up's full extension.
“He pulled all the muscles in his back just before Ascot,” Aidan O'Brien added. “He barely made the Irish Leger and that race just didn't go right. He's an incredible horse. It's possible he'll be around next year, but the lads will decide what they want to do. There is a big chance he will be. I'd say the Gold Cup next year would definitely be the target if he stayed in training and I would imagine that's it for the season.” Donnacha said,. “He was the one horse in the race that you couldn't be sure that Stradivarius was better than and these Galileos are so genuine and don't know when to lie down. I played him plenty early and when Frankie came to me I thought he was going to go past but mine found another gear and battled real hard. He showed today he is a top-class stayer.”
Stradivarius was beaten but unbowed according to John Gosden, as he reflected on the 5-year-old's first defeat since finishing third in this in 2017. “I think we were brave to run, as this is not his ground but he has run a wonderful race and has come back in and had a whinny, so he is happy,” he said. “It's not anybody's fault and take nothing from the winner who came back and battled. He did well to win it last year, as they went no pace. This year he found it too much of a slog in the ground. He's a top-of-the-ground horse and it's no digrace to go down by a nose. We will be back for the Ascot Gold Cup on good-to-firm in good shape.”
Kew Gardens is a son of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine and G1 Pretty Polly S. runner-up Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}), whose previous best was the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Also the second dam of this year's Listed El Gran Senor S. winner Justifier (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), she is a half-sister to the Listed Amethyst S. winner and GIII Elkhorn S. runner-up European (Ire) (Great Commotion) and the dual listed winner and G3 Irish St Leger Trial S. runner-up Downdraft (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Also connected to the G2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer and GI San Juan Capistrano H. runner-up River Warden (Riverman), Chelsea Rose has two more Galileos to come, with the 1.2million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate and 2-year-old filly Snow (Ire) having raced twice for this stable. The other is a yearling colt.
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP-G2, £450,000, Ascot, 10-19, 3yo/up, 15f 127yT, 3:29.49, g/s.
1–KEW GARDENS (IRE), 133, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 9.5-10.5f, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Ity, $527,260), by Desert King (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino
3rd Dam: Sweet Simone (Fr), by Green Dancer
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Donnacha O'Brien. £255,195. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 14f+, G1SW-Eng & Fr, G1SP-Ire, 17-6-5-2, $1,823,538. *1/2 to Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $262,616; and Hamlool (Ire) (Red Ransom), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stradivarius (Ire), 133, h, 5, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Private Life (Fr), by Bering (GB). (330,000gns RNA Ylg '15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John Gosden. £96,750.
3–Royal Line (GB), 133, h, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Melikah (Ire), by Lammtarra. O-HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing; B-Darley (GB); T-John Gosden. £48,420.
Margins: NO, 5, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 0.60, 12.00.
Also Ran: Mekong (GB), Withhold (GB), Capri (Ire), Cleonte (Ire), Max Dynamite (Fr), Bin Battuta (GB). Scratched: South Pacific (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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