Ralph Beckett

There was a buzz about Juddmonte's Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the 10th foal produced by unique dual Classic heroine Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy {GB}), as he went postward as the even-money favourite for Saturday evening's Starman At Tally Ho Stud British EBF Maiden S. at Salisbury. He proved why as he returned with a TDN Rising Star rosette after delivering a deeply promising 3 1/4-length success in the six-furlong contest. Swiftly into stride from an outer stall, the G2 Champagne S. entry cut across to shadow the pace in...

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson    A field of eight make up Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, and a strong Irish contingent faces just one English challenger, Juddmonte's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Aidan O'Brien runs four fillies, including the favourite, Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The Aga Khan homebred Azazat (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is another who is taking her chance in this 1 1/2-mile Classic at the Curragh, and will attempt to become the third winner for her owner/breeder after Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in 1997 and Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar...

First there was Dettori's ban, meaning that the one missing English group 1 on his palmares was going to stay void. Then the setback to Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). Now, the persistent rain that dogged Friday's action at Newmarket's July Festival and has changed the complexion of Saturday's feature G1 Pertemps Network July Cup. Ironically, every bit of that unexpected wet spell acted further to aid the cause of Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who would have been Frankie's final ride in his last-chance saloon which is now...

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) failed to contend with subsequent G1 Coral-Eclipse runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in last month's G1 Coronation Cup, but regained the winning thread in emphatic style with a record-breaking performance in Saturday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Westover raced in a handy third behind Ralph Beckett-trained chaperone Malabu Drive (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was usurped for the lead by last term's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern victor Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), and eased into second...

Trainer Ralph Beckett has revealed that Group 3-winning filly Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}--Natavia {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}) has been retired due to a tendon injury. Haskoy, fourth in the St Leger last year, having gone past the post in second, made a winning return at Newbury when landing the G3 Al Rayyan S. She had been just 8-1 for the Gold Cup at Ascot. Beckett said of the Juddmonte-owned filly on Twitter, "Haskoy has strained a tendon, consequently she is being retired to the paddocks." Haskoy is the first...

Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is pointing to either Royal Ascot's G2 Hardwicke S. later this month, or the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on July 8, according to Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon. "The Hardwicke is a possibility," said Mahon of the Ralph Beckett trainee. "It's probably coming too soon, but it's a possibility. It's a toss-up between that and the [G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, he'll run in one or the other of those hopefully." Last year's G1 Irish Derby hero ran fifth in the G1 King...

Juddmonte's Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran a strong second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, will make his return in the June 2 G1 Coronation Cup, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. Successful in the G3 Classic Trial at Sandown last April prior to a third in the G1 Derby at Epsom, the bay stormed to a seven-length victory in the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh in late June. Leading for part of the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., he failed to...

Further underlining the merit of last year's G1 St Leger, Juddmonte's Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) got up late to register a winning return in Saturday's G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury and enhance her claims in next month's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Demoted from second to fourth in the Doncaster Classic, which was coming up quickly after her success in York's Listed Galtres S. in August, the homebred only just made this gig after what her trainer Ralph Beckett described as a "tough Spring" and was held...

Highclere Stud's Land Force (Ire) (by No Nay Never) was the latest first-season sire to get off the mark on Friday as The King and Queen's Serried Ranks (GB) scored on debut in Nottingham's five-furlong Watch On Racing TV Maiden S. Tracking the early pace under Rob Hornby, the Ralph Beckett-trained 7-2 shot mastered the 4-6 favourite Desert Master (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) approaching the furlong pole before staying on strongly to beat that rival by 3 3/4 lengths. "He'll be better over six--he's a laid-back horse and he needed...

Manton Park Stud resident Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when the Ralph Beckett-trained Matters Most (GB) prevailed in Thursday's £10,000 Byerley Stud British EBF Novice S. over five furlongs at Salisbury. Originally sold for 135,000gns as a foal, the colt was knocked down at 500,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1 to Richard Knight on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi and was one of 17 horses later reoffered privately through Tattersalls when payment for the yearlings was not forthcoming. Mick Kinane stepped...

Juddmonte filly Juliet Sierra (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) will not proceed to Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. The winner of the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury last autumn, the homebred ran fifth in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at the end of September. "We have decided not to run Juliet Sierra in the Guineas, as we feel she needs a little more time," said Beckett, who will still field Cheveley Park heroine Lezoo (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Remarquee (GB)...

Julian Richmond-Watson and Ralph Beckett tasted Classic success in 2008 with G1 Oaks heroine Look Here (GB) (Hernando {Ger}) and they are once again eyeing a moment in the spotlight after Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Regardez {GB}, by Champs Elysees {GB}), who is from the family of Look Here, downed 11 rivals with something to spare in Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free S. (Fred Darling S.) at Newbury. Positioned under cover and racing a shade enthusiastically in mid division through the initial fractions of this straight seven-furlong test, the Sept. 29...