Wednesday, 19 November 2008
FRANCE 12/11...CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD (G1) 2000M
1. FAME AND GLORY (GB) 2c Montjeu-Gryada by Shirley Heights
O-D Smith, S Magnier & M Tabor; B-Ptarmigan B/s & Kirsten Rausing; T-A O'Brien
2. Drumbeat (Ire) 2c Montjeu-Maskaya by Machiavellian
3. Feels All Right (Ire) 2c Danehill Dancer-Zagreb Flyer by Old Vic
Fame and Glory made a smooth transition into stakes company to claim the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. In so doing, the once-out maiden winner provided trainer Aidan O'Brien with a 23rd top-level success for the season by defeating stablemate Drumbeat by a half-length.
"What a year it has been," enthused winning jockey Johnny Murtagh. "This is win number 21 for me in a Group 1 race and number 23 for Aidan."
Success brought a third renewal for O'Brien, who was previously successful with Ballingarry (Sadler's Wells) in 2001 and Alberto Giacometti (Sadler's Wells) the following year.
Successful in his only prior start, in a one-mile maiden at Navan on October 22, Fame and Glory upped his performance level to plunder this G1 with aplomb.
The eventual winner was alert from the gate and raced under a tight hold in third through the early fractions. Shaken up rounding the home turn, he came under more vigorous urging at the quarter-mile marker and found late gears under a powerful Murtagh drive to edge out Drumbeat nearing the line.
"He won impressively at Navan and had come on a lot for that run," Murtagh said. "He's a very strong and robust individual and took to the ground conditions well. He ought to be a very nice middle-distance horse next year." NEW ZEALAND 15/11...TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS (G1) RICCARTON 1600M
1. TELL A TALE (Aus) 3g Tale of the Cat--Cheeky Veronika by Sir Tristram
O-Fortuna (No 5) Syndicate; B-Davilora Lodge;
T-Mark Walker
2. Il Quello Veloce 3f Captain Rio - Nishaani by Gold Brose
3. Minstrel Court (Aus) 3c Danehill Dancer-Tregurrian by Rory's Jester
Matamata's master trainer Mark Walker extended his lucrative relationship in the 2000 Guineas with Tell A Tale. He was previously successful with Windsor Pk stallion King's Chapel in 2003 and with The Oaks Stud's stallion Darci Brahma in 2005.
Tell a Tale didn't put a foot wrong in the build up to the first ever $1million dollar race in the South Island, winning the G2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) and the Listed Canterbury Stud Stakes (1600m) in his two starts prior.
However, victory was by no means as clear cut over the concluding stages, with the race looking to be at the mercy of the G1 winning Captain Rio filly Il Quello Veloce. However, she was nabbed on the line. JAPAN 16/11...QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP (G1) KYOTO 2200M
1. LITTLE AMAPOLA 3f Agnes Tachyon- Little Harmony by Commander in Chief
O/B-Shadai Corporation; T-Hiroyuki Nagahama
2. Kawakami Princess 5m King Halo-Takano Secretary by Seattle Slew
3. Bella Rheia 4f Narita Top Road-Malli Star by Baldski
Fourth pick Little Amapola partnered by Christophe Lemaire claimed this year's QE II Cup by easily holding off the challenge of Kawakami Princess.
The race started off with third pick Portofino stumbling and unseating his rider, Yutaka Take, immediately after the break. Cosmo Platina set the pace while Lemaire settled Little Amapola in fifth position.
Little Amapola was quick to launch his bid, taking the lead around the 200m pole and displaying an impressive burst of speed in the last furlong to claim the race.
- Thoroughbred Express
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