Glam and tradition
June 22nd 2008 01:41
In another surprise result in a feature sprint event over the Royal Ascot carnival, Kingsgate Native, starting at 33/1, defeated a top field of international and European sprinters to win the richest sprint race in Europe.
This longshot win comes after the long odds win of Equiano in the King’s Stand Stakes (the first leg of the feature double) on Tuesday, and follows the earlier success of John Best, trainer of Kingsgate Native, who shocked everyone when providing the 100/1 winner of the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes on opening day, Flashmans Papers.
Flashmans Papers becomes the first Listed Race winner for the champion Australian sprinter, Exceed And Excel.
(photo: AP Photos Wong Maye-E)
Kingsgate Native had resumed for his 3yo campaign last Tuesday in the King’s Stand Stakes when he finished a distant 10th. Last season Kingsgate Native had won the feature Group One 2yo race, the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. His arrival as one of the best sprinters in Europe has come unannounced and with surprise, but he looks set now to be a benchmark sprinter for comparison throughout Europe.
Takeover Target at his last Royal Ascot appearance was magnificent again with his gallant 4th. On aggregates again he proves how great a world-class sprinter he is, reversing his order of finish from competition last year in the King’s Stand Stakes/Golden Jubilee Stakes with a 2nd followed by a 4th (last year 4th then 2nd). On aggregates this year he still comes out as the best performed sprinter at Royal Ascot. Incredibly durable and consistent - worthy of the title of Champion. At his six starts at Royal Ascot Takeover Target has finished no worse than fourth. His record stands as, King’s Stand Stakes: (in year order) first, fourth and second. Golden Jubilee Stakes: third, second and fourth. His only other start in England was in the July Cup of 2006, where he finished 7th.
Jay Ford believes that perhaps Takeover Target jarred up on the firm track as he did not stretch out as usual in the final stages after leading to the furlong. That something was slightly amiss appears obvious in replay.
Second home was the well backed War Artist, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and starting at 8/1. Sir Gerry at 20/1 was third, with Aidan O’Brien’s US Ranger finishing fifth, just behind Takeover Target. Seachange raced in the leading group but faded in the latter stages to finish 12th. She got lost (and raced too keen) coming down the middle of the track.
In Australia the feature race was the Group One Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm. Considered very unlucky by her trainer (and any observation) at her last start in the Stradbroke Handicap, Absolut Glam cruised home for an impressive win. This filly has taken another step up since the addition of blinkers three starts ago, being immediately placed in the Group 3 BTC Sprint, before her unlucky 4th in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and culminating with Group 1 victory on Saturday. Danny O’Brien will now set Absolut Glam for the Group One Myer Classic (for fillies & mares) and Group One Emirates Stakes, two feature races won previously by the Champion Female Miler, Divine Madonna (though not in the same season - she won The Emirates Stakes in 2006 and The Myer Classic in 2007). These plans and expectations of Danny O’Brien are obvious, given that at the same stage in their careers Absolut Glam has already a far better record than Divine Madonna at this highest level.
Golden Jubilee Stakes 2008:
This longshot win comes after the long odds win of Equiano in the King’s Stand Stakes (the first leg of the feature double) on Tuesday, and follows the earlier success of John Best, trainer of Kingsgate Native, who shocked everyone when providing the 100/1 winner of the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes on opening day, Flashmans Papers.
Flashmans Papers becomes the first Listed Race winner for the champion Australian sprinter, Exceed And Excel.
Takeover Target & Joe Janiak
(photo: AP Photos Wong Maye-E)
Kingsgate Native had resumed for his 3yo campaign last Tuesday in the King’s Stand Stakes when he finished a distant 10th. Last season Kingsgate Native had won the feature Group One 2yo race, the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. His arrival as one of the best sprinters in Europe has come unannounced and with surprise, but he looks set now to be a benchmark sprinter for comparison throughout Europe.
Takeover Target at his last Royal Ascot appearance was magnificent again with his gallant 4th. On aggregates again he proves how great a world-class sprinter he is, reversing his order of finish from competition last year in the King’s Stand Stakes/Golden Jubilee Stakes with a 2nd followed by a 4th (last year 4th then 2nd). On aggregates this year he still comes out as the best performed sprinter at Royal Ascot. Incredibly durable and consistent - worthy of the title of Champion. At his six starts at Royal Ascot Takeover Target has finished no worse than fourth. His record stands as, King’s Stand Stakes: (in year order) first, fourth and second. Golden Jubilee Stakes: third, second and fourth. His only other start in England was in the July Cup of 2006, where he finished 7th.
Jay Ford believes that perhaps Takeover Target jarred up on the firm track as he did not stretch out as usual in the final stages after leading to the furlong. That something was slightly amiss appears obvious in replay.
Second home was the well backed War Artist, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and starting at 8/1. Sir Gerry at 20/1 was third, with Aidan O’Brien’s US Ranger finishing fifth, just behind Takeover Target. Seachange raced in the leading group but faded in the latter stages to finish 12th. She got lost (and raced too keen) coming down the middle of the track.
In Australia the feature race was the Group One Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm. Considered very unlucky by her trainer (and any observation) at her last start in the Stradbroke Handicap, Absolut Glam cruised home for an impressive win. This filly has taken another step up since the addition of blinkers three starts ago, being immediately placed in the Group 3 BTC Sprint, before her unlucky 4th in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and culminating with Group 1 victory on Saturday. Danny O’Brien will now set Absolut Glam for the Group One Myer Classic (for fillies & mares) and Group One Emirates Stakes, two feature races won previously by the Champion Female Miler, Divine Madonna (though not in the same season - she won The Emirates Stakes in 2006 and The Myer Classic in 2007). These plans and expectations of Danny O’Brien are obvious, given that at the same stage in their careers Absolut Glam has already a far better record than Divine Madonna at this highest level.
Golden Jubilee Stakes 2008:
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