Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Magician to be declared for Palace

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

Trainer Aidan O'Brien is to declare both Magician and Mars for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

Coolmore said on Friday that Magician, brilliant winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas on his last start, had sustained minor bruising following a knock on Thursday.

A statement posted on www.coolmore.com on Saturday said it is hoped the Ballydoyle duo will both take their chance in the Group One contest over a mile, for which declarations are made on Sunday morning.

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Morawij in a hurry in Scurry.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

Morawij put up a bewitching performance for all connoisseurs of speed when blitzing his rivals from gate to line in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Scurry Stakes at Sandown.

Roger Varian left out the orders for Ryan Moore, whose decision to blast out on the 10-11 chance was hardly rocket science at a course where horses stalled on the fence really have only one option.

And although it did not suit Morawij's style of running, the forcing tactics paid handsome dividends as Moore's powerfully made mount grittily held March by a neck, with another three and a quarter lengths back to Sandreamer.

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Animal heads Queen Anne field

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sun

Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and this year's Dubai World Cup, will face 12 rivals in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trained by American-based Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom has proved his versatility over several distances and different surfaces but faces a new task this week over a straight mile for the first time.

Taking him on is Aidan O'Brien's Declaration Of War, who flopped when sent off favourite for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last time

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Treve in stunning Diane win

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Treve was a most impressive four-length winner of the Prix de Diane at Chantilly for Criquette Head-Maarek.

The unbeaten daughter of Motivator had won two minor races before stepping up in class for the race better known as the French Oaks, while many of her rivals brought Classic form into the race.

None more so than the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Flotilla, who had the perfect trip before fading inside the final two furlongs, and there appeared to be no excuses for any of the beaten horses as Treve spreadeagled the field under Thierry Jarnet, beating another outsider Chicquita, with Silasol third.

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Al Kazeem and Camelot clash again.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

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Dawn out for Palace redemption.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Mon

Connections of Dawn Approach are convinced the return to a mile can help the colt return to his imperious best in the St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot on Tuesday.

Jim Bolger's charge was magnificent when running away with the 2000 Guineas but blotted his copybook when tailed off last in the Derby after being virtually uncontrollable for jockey Kevin Manning when running too free early in the race.

"Dawn Approach is in great form and I have been very happy with his work since he ran at Epsom Downs," Bolger told www.godolphin.com

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Reckless pleases Cox ahead of Ascot.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Tue

Clive Cox's stable star Reckless Abandon heads the home team's challenge in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

Unbeaten as a juvenile, picking up two Group Ones along the way, the three-year-old was considered a possible 2000 Guineas candidate by some during the winter before work this spring prompted Cox to go down the sprinting route.

He ran a fine race on his seasonal return in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, beaten just half a length into third, and Cox feels his charge will benefit hugely for that run.

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Dawn delivers in thriller.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Tue

Dawn Approach got his career back on track with victory in a thrilling finish to the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Jim Bolger's 2000 Guineas hero had run deplorably when far too keen in the Investec Derby at Epsom, but was strongly-backed as the 5-4 favourite returning to a mile and once again pulled for his head in the early stages.

The three-year-old was seriously squeezed for room in the straight in an incident which also hampered Toronado, but picked up well in the hands of Kevin Manning and triumphed by just a short head as the pair of them battled all the way to the line.

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Sole powers to sprint glory.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Tue

Sole Power edged out South African raider Shea Shea to claim a deserved victory in a thrilling climax to the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Eddie Lynam's stable star has been knocking at the door in Group One sprints ever since springing a 100-1 shock in the Nunthorpe at York three years ago, and finished an excellent third in last year's King's Stand.

Shea Shea was the 11-4 favourite and appeared to have claimed victory when coming through on the far side of the track, but 8-1 shot Sole Power was produced to perfection by Johnny Murtagh, absolutely blitzing through the final furlong and getting up right on the line on the near side of the track.

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Here are my tips for day two of Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot

2.30 Garswood
3.05 Chigun
3.45 Camelot
4.25 Fury
5.00 Rizeena
5.35 Hint of a tint

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Camelot bids for redemption.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Wed

Jockey Joseph O'Brien is confident Camelot can silence the doubters and return to his brilliant best in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot today.

The Montjeu colt was hailed a potential superstar after he followed up an unbeaten juvenile campaign with victories in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Investec Derby at Epsom and Irish Derby at the Curragh, but he then suffered defeats in the St Leger and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Although he suffered a life-threatening bout of colic not long afterwards, trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed the apple of his eye would return for a four-year-old campaign, but after a winning return to action in the Mooresbridge Stakes he was beaten by Al Kazeem in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The two renew rivalry in today's 10-furlong feature.

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Perfect Ten in Jersey.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Gale Force Ten provided Aidan and Joseph O'Brien with their third winner of this year's Royal Ascot when battling back to beat Montiridge in the Jersey Stakes.

Having run well in the French and Irish Guineas already this season, Gale Force Ten was sent off the 9-2 favourite as he dropped in class and trip.

He made what looked a race-winning move two furlongs out when getting a break on the field, but Montiridge quickened up well and just edged in front 100 yards from the line.

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Kazeem crowned Prince of Ascot.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Al Kazeem got up in the shadow of the post to deny Mukhadram in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The race was billed as a match up between Al Kazeem and Camelot, but Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner was ultimately disappointing after travelling strongly for much of the journey.

Paul Hanagan gave William Haggas' Mukhadram a bold sight from the front, kicking a few lengths clear and at the furlong pole appearing like he may hold on. But James Doyle got stuck into Roger Charlton's stable star and the 11-4 chance was on top just before the line.

The Fugue ran a blinder on her first run of the year back in third.

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Perfect Ten in Jersey.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Gale Force Ten provided Aidan and Joseph O'Brien with their third winner of this year's Royal Ascot when battling back to beat Montiridge in the Jersey Stakes.

Having run well in the French and Irish Guineas already this season, Gale Force Ten was sent off the 9-2 favourite as he dropped in class and trip.

He made what looked a race-winning move two furlongs out when getting a break on the field, but Montiridge quickened up well and just edged in front 100 yards from the line.

To his credit, Gale Force Ten battled back to win by a head, with Godolphin's Tawhid performing well in third and Garswood in fourth

O'Brien keeps faith in Camelot.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...amelot&day=Thu

The Coral-Eclipse at Sandown could be the next port of call for Camelot following his disappointing showing in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby hero was sent off the well-backed 5-2 favourite but couldn't make an impact on Al Kazeem and Mukhadram, who fought out a thrilling finish.

Roger Charlton's Al Kazeem, who had beaten Camelot in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month, edged the verdict over the William Haggas-trained Mukhadram, with The Fugue taking third for John Gosden.

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Estimate takes Gold test.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Sir Michael Stoute is well aware the Queen's filly Estimate faces the toughest test of her career in today's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old daughter of Monsun has won three of her six career starts and heads to the two-and-a-half-mile test as one of the least experienced members of the 18-runner field.

Nevertheless, she is a likely favourite having provided Her Majesty with a win at the meeting last year in the Queen's Vase and she also impressed on her seasonal reappearance.