Marking your card: Mullins looking to Melbourne and another Ascot win
Friday, 21 June 2024
Willie Mullins is looking to add to his tally of ten Royal Ascot winners over the next two days (Racing Post Photos)
Melbourne is still the plan and the one we really want to win. We'll aim for another race somewhere this summer and then we'll be ready. - Rich Ricci on Gold Cup fourth Vauban and his Flemington target
Ireland took their tally to five wins for the week on Thursday as Aidan O'Brien bagged a two-timer for the second consecutive day, writes James Toney.
The brilliant Kyprios, returning for a potentially life threatening injury, became just the third horse in history to regain the showpiece Gold Cup and there are more headline makers primed at Friday's action.
The race that stops a nation has a special place in the heart for Irish trainers since Dermot Weld's Vintage Crop won in 1993.
Since then there has three other Green Team successes, Weld again with Media Puzzle in 2002 and two wins for Joseph O'Brien, Rekindling and Twilight Payment in 2017 and 2020 respectively.
Mullins got closest nine years ago when he booked Frankie Dettori to ride Max Dynamite, who finished a very narrow second to Michelle Payne's history maker Prince of Penzance.
And his team for Flemington later this year is starting to look good.
Cheltenham Festival winner Vauban struggled in the race last year, having underlined his credentials with a win at Royal Ascot.
He was a creditable fourth in yesterday's Gold Cup, owner Rich Ricci entertaining representatives of the Victoria Racing Club and stressing November remains the ultimate ambition.
"He was right in the mix but his run just petered out down the straight," said Ricci. "Melbourne is still the plan and the one we really want to win. We'll aim for another race somewhere this summer and then we'll be ready."
Mullins insists he has learned the lesson of last year when Vauban failed to live up to hype, finishing 14th, seven places behind stable mate Absurde, another Cup hopeful has since won Cheltenham's County Handicap Hurdle.
“We’re going to do it right this year, hopefully with better luck. We learned a lot of lessons from last year and we'll be doing things differently," said Mullins.
New stable arrival Belloccio retained Mullins’ Copper Horse title on Tuesday and could complete a three-strong Flemington raiding party for Closutton.
"I imagine we’ll try to get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup; that would be the long-term aim," added Mullins.
A drop back in trip in the Coronation Stakes - the day's other Group One highlight - might be just what is needed to ignite the form of this Justify filly.
"She was only working for four weeks before the Guineas and really if she had finished mid-division then we would have been happy,” said Aidan O'Brien.
“We knew if we were thinking of coming to Ascot she would have to have a run and I was surprised with how she finished third.
"She could do anything and she could get much further than a mile, she is a big and very straightforward filly.”
Donnacha O'Brien landed his first Royal Ascot winner 12 months ago with Porto Fortuna in the Albany Stakes. He fires her at this challenge after a narrow second place to Elmalka at the 1000 Guineas in Newmarket.
"She'll like the fast ground and while it's a very hot race, but we hope she'll be bang there," he said.
"She's in good form and we think the track and trip will suit."
Amy Marnane bought the horse for €11,000 in November 2022 and two eye-catching wins later sold him for 100 times that amount at Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot.
Frankie Dettori was duly booked for the ride in the Coventry Stakes, where they finished fourth. He's won one of four since and gets just a second Group One race in the Commonwealth Cup, part of the British Champions Series.
Shane Foley takes the ride on a horse has made the headlines without winning, including a head-scratching decision by vets to withdrew him from Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which left Harrington incensed.
The Keanes combine to train and ride the highly-fancied Crystal Black in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, after two very narrow wins at the Curragh this season, taking his unbeaten streak to three.
A tough draw from stall four is not ideal, the clear preference for numbers in the teens in these big field handicaps.
"He's been in great form and earned his ticket over here when winning at the Curragh," said Keane.
"The trip is an unknown but this course should be fine. He's a very straightforward horse who handles most tracks."
Mullins has never won the race but boasts a great record in Royal Ascot staying handicaps, claiming eight since 2012, including a win for Belloccio in this week's Copper Horse Handicap. He fires Ethical Diamond at this, with a prize draw of 18 another tick in the box.
Ryan Moore has ridden all those O'Brien horses and is leading the top trainer title he has won ten times previously. Oisin Murphy is just behind with three wins, one second and two thirds.
Coolmore Partners are the leading owners but the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing are just one win behind.
The brilliant Kyprios, returning for a potentially life threatening injury, became just the third horse in history to regain the showpiece Gold Cup and there are more headline makers primed at Friday's action.
The relief 😅
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) June 20, 2024
Aidan O’Brien cool as a cucumber for Kyprios’ #RoyalAscot Gold Cup win 🏆 #GreenTeam | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/e3ByQQnJcU
Green Team assemble for Melbourne Cup
Willie Mullins has almost won it all but makes no secret of his desire to add one missing prize to his collection - the Melbourne Cup.The race that stops a nation has a special place in the heart for Irish trainers since Dermot Weld's Vintage Crop won in 1993.
Since then there has three other Green Team successes, Weld again with Media Puzzle in 2002 and two wins for Joseph O'Brien, Rekindling and Twilight Payment in 2017 and 2020 respectively.
Mullins got closest nine years ago when he booked Frankie Dettori to ride Max Dynamite, who finished a very narrow second to Michelle Payne's history maker Prince of Penzance.
And his team for Flemington later this year is starting to look good.
Cheltenham Festival winner Vauban struggled in the race last year, having underlined his credentials with a win at Royal Ascot.
He was a creditable fourth in yesterday's Gold Cup, owner Rich Ricci entertaining representatives of the Victoria Racing Club and stressing November remains the ultimate ambition.
"He was right in the mix but his run just petered out down the straight," said Ricci. "Melbourne is still the plan and the one we really want to win. We'll aim for another race somewhere this summer and then we'll be ready."
Mullins insists he has learned the lesson of last year when Vauban failed to live up to hype, finishing 14th, seven places behind stable mate Absurde, another Cup hopeful has since won Cheltenham's County Handicap Hurdle.
“We’re going to do it right this year, hopefully with better luck. We learned a lot of lessons from last year and we'll be doing things differently," said Mullins.
New stable arrival Belloccio retained Mullins’ Copper Horse title on Tuesday and could complete a three-strong Flemington raiding party for Closutton.
"I imagine we’ll try to get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup; that would be the long-term aim," added Mullins.
Willie ❤️ Aidan
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) June 20, 2024
Aidan ❤️ Willie
Welcome to the #GreenTeam Appreciation Society at #RoyalAscotpic.twitter.com/xvZQsvwDLE
Singer to hit right notes in Group One clash
Opera Singer was so good winning a first Group One at Longchamp on Arc day last October but found the Irish 1,000 Guineas too testing at the Curragh.A drop back in trip in the Coronation Stakes - the day's other Group One highlight - might be just what is needed to ignite the form of this Justify filly.
"She was only working for four weeks before the Guineas and really if she had finished mid-division then we would have been happy,” said Aidan O'Brien.
“We knew if we were thinking of coming to Ascot she would have to have a run and I was surprised with how she finished third.
"She could do anything and she could get much further than a mile, she is a big and very straightforward filly.”
Donnacha O'Brien landed his first Royal Ascot winner 12 months ago with Porto Fortuna in the Albany Stakes. He fires her at this challenge after a narrow second place to Elmalka at the 1000 Guineas in Newmarket.
"She'll like the fast ground and while it's a very hot race, but we hope she'll be bang there," he said.
"She's in good form and we think the track and trip will suit."
Harrington's headline maker targets first Group One win
Givemethebeatboys provided one of the winners of last year's Royal Ascot - now the Jessica Harrington trained colt is back to try and actually win a race.Amy Marnane bought the horse for €11,000 in November 2022 and two eye-catching wins later sold him for 100 times that amount at Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot.
Frankie Dettori was duly booked for the ride in the Coventry Stakes, where they finished fourth. He's won one of four since and gets just a second Group One race in the Commonwealth Cup, part of the British Champions Series.
Shane Foley takes the ride on a horse has made the headlines without winning, including a head-scratching decision by vets to withdrew him from Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which left Harrington incensed.
Keane's keep it in the family at Royal Ascot
Champion Jockey Colin Keane got himself off the mark at last year's Royal Ascot but a win for father Gerard on Friday could eclipse that.The Keanes combine to train and ride the highly-fancied Crystal Black in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, after two very narrow wins at the Curragh this season, taking his unbeaten streak to three.
A tough draw from stall four is not ideal, the clear preference for numbers in the teens in these big field handicaps.
"He's been in great form and earned his ticket over here when winning at the Curragh," said Keane.
"The trip is an unknown but this course should be fine. He's a very straightforward horse who handles most tracks."
Mullins has never won the race but boasts a great record in Royal Ascot staying handicaps, claiming eight since 2012, including a win for Belloccio in this week's Copper Horse Handicap. He fires Ethical Diamond at this, with a prize draw of 18 another tick in the box.
Latest Royal Ascot top jockey, trainer and owner standings
After three days of racing, O'Brien leads the top trainer standings with four wins and two seconds, well ahead of John and Thady Gosden, who have two wins from their seven places.Ryan Moore has ridden all those O'Brien horses and is leading the top trainer title he has won ten times previously. Oisin Murphy is just behind with three wins, one second and two thirds.
Coolmore Partners are the leading owners but the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing are just one win behind.