Claymore (Fr)

It seems strange to say that Saturday's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S., a "Win And You're In" for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, has attracted the best available of the 3-year-olds of either sex without hosting a winner of either Epsom Classic. In Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ascot's jewel has the two that really count. Both suffered ill fortune of varying degrees in the Derby and Oaks, with the filly in particular a victim of savage circumstance...

ASCOT, UK--One person at Ascot on Friday had a broader smile than most as Günther Schmidt, the German breeder of Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), was not only able to collect his Royal Ascot winning breeder's trophy but is also travelling on to the Knavesmire to see the colt in action in the G2 Sky Bet York S. on Saturday. "The timing is perfect," said Schmidt, who was at Ascot with his wife Elke. "We've come straight here this morning from the Harwich ferry and then we are driving up...

Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam revealed plans for a pair of her Royal Ascot stars, with G3 Hampton Court S. hero Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) set for the G2 York S. on July 23. A winner at first asking as a juvenile, he was second to subsequent G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Apr. 13 G3 Craven S. at Newmarket. Unplaced in the G1 French 2000 Guineas in mid-May, he bounced back in fine style at the Royal meeting. "I'm glad I know...

There was so much focus on The Queen's Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the build-up to Thursday's G3 Hampton Court S., it had almost assumed the air of a foregone conclusion but in the final analysis the Royal runner was second-best to the G3 Craven S. runner-up Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}). With Frankie's day about to get even worse, Adam Kirby set off in front on Mary Slack's 7-1 second favourite and refused to let the Gosden runner past when it came down to...