Grade One-winning hurdlers Echoes In Rain and Vauban are part of a team of “four or five runners” Willie Mullins is preparing for Royal Ascot later this month.
The Closutton trainer was again a dominant force at the Cheltenham Festival in March – and is no stranger to success at the showpiece Flat meeting, with eight previous victories.
Two of those were provided by Stratum, who returns to bid for a Queen Alexandra Stakes hat-trick, having taken the 2021 and 2022 renewals.
Mullins, who has plundered the Ascot Stakes on four previous occasions, will try again, relying on Bring On The Night, who has not run since being beaten three-quarters of a length in the same race last year by Ascot Gold Cup favourite Coltrane.
But it is the high-class Echoes In Rain and Vauban who will provide the most intrigue from the Mullins raiding party.
Echoes in Rain, owned by Barnane Stud, has been well supported in the two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Gold Cup, the feature on Ladies’ Day, and is as short as 9-1 with Coral for the Group One prize.
The seven-year-old mare was beaten narrowly in the Irish Cesarewitch in September, and having won a Grade Three hurdle at Naas in January, she was subsequently fourth to Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Grade One honours fell her way in the Mares’ Champion Hurdle, over two miles and three furlongs at Punchestown on her last run in April.
Mullins, though, thinks it will be tough to win the Ascot Gold Cup.
He said: “She’s in good form, working well and we’re very happy to take our chance.
“We’re delighted to have one to run in it. She has run well on decent ground before and I hope it won’t be an issue.
“It will be hard to think she’d have a winning chance, but if she could finish in the first six, it would be a tremendous run.”
Vauban, whose three Grade One wins last year included the Triumph Hurdle and the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown, holds an entry in the Copper Horse Handicap on the opening day.
He was last seen chasing home stablemate State Man in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Meanwhile, the Tony Bloom-owned Stratum will doubtless have plenty of support to complete a momentous three-timer in the extended Queen Alexandra, the final race of the five-day meeting, which starts on June 20.
“Hopefully we will have a small team of four or five runners,” said Mullins.
“Stratum, who won there last year, will go for the same race again on the Saturday.
“Vauban will probably will go for the mile and six, while Bring On The Night, who was beaten in a four-way finish last year, will probably go back for the same race.
“We’ll have a small team, but we’re looking forward to it.”
Eve Johnson Houghton is weighing up Royal Ascot options for Woodcote winner Bobsleigh.
The Elzaam colt made a good start to his career when winning a Brighton maiden by two and three-quarter lengths in early May, after which he took on stiffer company in the Woodcote, a conditions race known for producing future Group winners.
Under Charlie Bishop the bay was a 5-1 chance at Epsom and was at one stage in the trailing group, but the rider had timed his run well and when pulled out wide Bobsleigh passed every horse in front of him to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Royal Ascot is the next step for the two-year-old, but as his debut was over five and a half furlongs and his Derby day win over six, both the Windsor Castle and the Coventry are under consideration.
“We were absolutely thrilled with him, really happy,” Johnson Houghton said of the Epsom success.
“Charlie gave him a good ride, he was very patient and he showed a lovely turn of foot so that was great.
“He’ll definitely go to Ascot but we just haven’t decided which race yet.
“I don’t know where we’re going to go, I honestly don’t as he’s won over five (furlongs) and six. We’ll have to look at both races and make a decision.”
Bobsleigh is owned by The Woodway 20, a syndicate assembled by Johnson Houghton who enjoyed Ascot glory in 2021 when Chipotle won the Listed five-furlong Windsor Castle in the same silks for the same trainer.
The partnership, for whom Johnson Houghton seeks to buy good value horses that will be sold at a profit at the end of the their juvenile campaign, will be relishing another day out at the Royal meeting with their latest prospect.
Johnson Houghton said: “Either way it will be a great day out for them.”
David Evans will send Rohaan to Royal Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes “with every chance – as long as the stalls open!”.
Evans is still smarting from Saturday’s Epsom Dash, where four stalls – 16, 18, 19 and 20 – opened marginally later than the others.
It seemingly affected the chances of a quartet of well-backed horses, including the trainer’s Lihou, drawn 18, who finished last in the five-furlong contest.
While the stewards admitted the four stalls had opened “fractionally slower” than the remainder, they decided the chances of the four runners in those stalls were not “materially impacted” by the start and therefore took no further action.
“It was a farce,” said Evans. “Something should be done.
“I’ve been through it and unless a third of the field were affected, you can’t void the race.”
Evans is hoping for better luck when crack sprinter Rohaan takes aim at the six-furlong Group One contest on June 24.
The five-year-old powered to success in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting for a second year in succession 12 months ago, and returned to the Berkshire track in October to take the Group Three Bengough Stakes.
Having only been beaten a length in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, Evans feels he has the capacity to continue to be competitive at the top level.
Rohaan has had one run this term, when finishing eighth of nine under Tom Marquand in a Listed race at Salisbury.
The Monmouthshire handler feels a line can be drawn under that display.
He said: “It was a bit of a non-event. I just wanted to get a run into him and see how he came back.
“He came back fine. He wouldn’t let himself down on the ground. Tom said he jumped the path and after that he was on the wrong leg all the way, but all being well he’ll definitely go to Ascot for the Jubilee.
“He’s had a long old break since his last run. I thought he was fit enough, but he had a good old blow afterwards. He just wouldn’t let himself down.
“The aim with him has been to target Ascot all year and I don’t think it will be as quick as it was at Salisbury. They put a lot of water on, but it was very warm that evening. I just wanted to get him a run and that was the only opportunity.
“He’s done his bit, but will definitely go there and he loves the track. What will be will be. He goes there with every chance, hopefully – as long as the stalls open!”
Jessica Harrington will turn to Colin Keane and Ronan Whelan to ride her strong team at Royal Ascot, but hopes Shane Foley will be back to partner Sprewell in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
Foley suffered a broken collar bone when the Harrington-trained Snowhaven clipped heels on the home turn in the final race at Gowran Park on Monday evening.
He now faces a race against time to be fit to renew the partnership with the talented son of Churchill for the Curragh Classic on July 2.
Foley was aboard when Sprewell landed the Group Three Derby Trial at Leopardstown last month and again when coming with a withering run in Saturday’s Betfred Derby, only to find his path blocked on two occasions.
Sprewell, who was stabled with Harrington’s great friend Nicky Henderson before heading to Epsom, has taken his fourth-placed effort behind Auguste Rodin in his stride.
Harrington said: “He went to Nicky’s beforehand and he came out of the race grand.
“He just had a nice trot and little canter on Wednesday morning. He looks well and I’m happy enough with him. He’s eaten up well and put on weight.
“I’m not saying he would have won or been second, but I thought he would have been third, had he had a clear run. He was blocked twice.”
Though Harrington has yet to finalise her Royal Ascot team, which looks set to include Sounds Of Heaven, who will bid to land the Coronation Stakes, she is has her fingers crossed Foley makes a quick recovery for a rematch with Auguste Rodin.
She added: “Sprewell will go to the Irish Derby next. Hopefully Shane will be back to ride him by then.
“Ronan Whelan has won a couple of stakes race for me already this year, or there’s Colin Keane. They are the two most likely jockeys to use at Ascot. We will have a nice team of horses, hopefully.”
Carey McLeod was crowned 2023 long jump champion as the 2023 NCAA Division 1 National Outdoor Track and Field Championships got underway in Austin, Texas on Wednesday.
McLeod led a University of Arkansas 1-2 finish as Wayne Pinnock won the silver medal while Jordan Turner of the University of Kentucky made it a Jamaican 1-2-3 when he won bronze.
From a totally Jamaican perspective it was a Kingston College 1-2 with Calabar High third.
McLeod, the 2023 NCAA Indoor champion achieved the winning mark of 8.26m in the opening round equalling the facility record set by Steffin McCarter of Texas in 2021. Pinnock, the 2022 champion, followed leapt out to 8.15m for silver with Turner only two centimetres behind with 8.13m.
McLeod is the sixth Razorback to win a NCAA Outdoor long jump while Pinnock won the program’s sixth silver medal.
Meanwhile, Arkansas’ Phillip Lemonious was the fastest through to the finals of the 110m hurdles with a personal best 13.28. Fellow Jamaican Giano Roberts, representing Clemson University was also among the automatic qualifiers when he finished second in semi-final three with a personal best of 13.35.
Rasheem Brown of the Cayman Islands, a senior at the University of Tennessee also ran a personal best of 13.53 to advance to the finals that will be run on Friday.
It wasn’t all good news for Caribbean athletes however as Clemson’s Tarees Rhoden did not finish his 800m semi-final after leading at the end of the opening lap while Navasky Anderson struggled to a third place finish in his semi-final heat but his time of 1:48.79 was not fast enough to see him advance to the Friday final.
Rhoden will have a shot at a 4x400m relay medal after helping Clemson to a time of 2:59.78 that saw the advance to the final.
Barbados’ Rasheeme Griffith, a junior at Tennessee, ran 49.00, the third-fastest time going into the final of the 400m hurdles. He finished third in the last of three and fastest of the semi-final. Alabama Chris Robinson won the heat in 48.79 with Baylor University’s Nathaniel Ezekiel finishing second in 48.95.
Jamaica’s national 400m champion JeVaughn Powell is through to the final of the 400m with a time of 45.02. The University of Florida junior’s time was the seventh fastest to qualify.
Justin Robinson of Arizona State ran a time of 44.54 to lead all qualifiers into the final set for Friday.
Shian Salmon’s win at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston was another step towards achieving a personal best this season and with it, a place on Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this summer.
Following her victory, the 24-year-old Salmon, revealed that while she was not pleased with the winning time of 55.10, was elated at the fact that this was her third win from five races so far this season.
“My season is going awesome. The conditions weren’t what I expected but who cares about times when you’re winning,” said Salmon, who went into Saturday’s race off a 54.42 third-place finish at the Diamond League in Rabat, Morocco on May 28.
“I came out here to win and did just that so I am happy with my performance.”
The time might not have been important on Saturday, but it will be as the season unfolds for Hydel High alum who ran a personal best of 53.82 on that same track during Jamaica’s National Championships in 2022.
“If I am being really honest, I am just trying to get back to my personal best and go beyond that; anything I get I will be grateful,” said the 2018 World U20 400m hurdles silver medallist, who believes a new personal best will assure her a ticket to the World Championships in Budapest in August.
“There are three spots available at trials and I am aiming to get one of them. Whatever time gets me into the top three I will be happy with that.”
Having beaten all the contenders for those three available spots, Salmon revealed, has boosted her confidence that she will be able to do so once again once the championships begin in July.
“But of course (I am confident). I don’t want people to be beating me left and right so whenever I get the chance to beat them, I beat them.”
For her next race, most likely in Europe, Salmon hopes to take a crack at her personal best that will further empower her to return to Jamaica knowing that only good things can come from it.
“Hopefully, the conditions will be right and I can get close to my personal best but I am just aiming to perfect my execution and I will be okay.”
Lionel Messi has announced he is to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
The 35-year-old Argentina forward had been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, to join a league which already features Cristiano Ronaldo and now Karim Benzema.
However, with Messi’s two-year contract at Paris St Germain coming to an end this month, the World Cup winner confirmed in a joint interview with Spanish publications Mundo Deportivo and Sport he was set to head to the United States.
“I made the decision that I am going to go to Miami,” Messi said.
“I still haven’t closed it one hundred per cent. I’m missing some things, but we decided to continue on the path.”
Islandsinthestream is set for an immediate step up to Pattern level after coming from last to first to make a winning start to his career at the Curragh.
Connections went to €135,000 to secure the Wootton Bassett colt as a yearling in October and he was a 9-1 shot on his competitive debut for Joseph O’Brien in the Holden Plant Rentals Irish EBF Maiden, a race won by subsequent Group-race winners Point Lonsdale and Crypto Force in the the last two seasons.
Ridden confidently by Declan McDonogh, Islandsinthestream swooped on the outside of the field to beat 5-2 joint-favourites School Of Law and Portland by a length and a half-length respectively.
The winner does not appear bound for Royal Ascot, but does have some high-profile options on home soil later in the summer.
O’Brien said: “Declan rode him in a few bits of work at home and he’s quite a laidback horse. We thought this would be a lovely starting point for him and didn’t expect him to go and win.
“Dec was very impressed with him. He really got the hang of things late and was green when he hit the front but is smart.
“We thought if he ran into a place that he would be hard to beat here in a month’s time.
“He’ll probably be making his way into a Tyros or a Futurity Stakes on his next start.”
O’Brien completed a double as Nusret (3-1 favourite) landed the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap in the hands of Mikey Sheehy.
Hot favourite Alabama was upstaged by his stablemate The Liffey in the Oak Solutions Group Irish European Breeders Fund Race.
Alabama was all the race as an 8-15 shot, having finished third on his Cork debut in April, but weakened late on and passed the post in fourth place.
But The Liffey, a half-brother to last month’s Dee Stakes winner San Antonio, ensured victory went to Aidan O’Brien in any case on his introduction, repelling the late surge of My Mate Alfie by a neck in the hands of Seamie Heffernan.
“He was working nice, but first time we thought he’d be green,” said O’Brien.
“He jumped quick and travelled well. He got the trip well and Seamus said he felt like he had loads of speed.
“He’s a big horse so he will improve plenty. You could say he’s an Ascot horse but maybe we might take our time and come back here for the Railway Stakes.
“He’s a big, powerful horse, he’s growing and putting on plenty of weight, so it’s a balancing act between backing off him and keeping him going. If you back off him too muchm he’ll get too heavy and yet you don’t want to push him too much. Hopefully he’ll keep progressing.”
Run Ran Run (5-1) got the best of thrilling finish in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day, holding Maria Branwell by a head, with a further head back to Cash Or Crypto in third and the fourth, Apache Outlaw, just a neck behind him.
Winning trainer Fozzy Stack said: “He could go for the three-year-old five-furlong handicap (Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes) at Royal Ascot on the Friday.
“It would suit him as needs to get there late and presumably there will be plenty of pace on.
“We won this with Son Of Rest (in 2017, who went on to win the Ayr Gold Cup the following year) and if he turns out winning what he did, we’ll be all right!”
Rosallion and Son may have both earned themselves a place in Richard Hannon’s squad for Royal Ascot after opening their respective accounts at Newbury on Tuesday.
Rosallion was unraced prior to the first division of the Get A Run For Your Money At BetVictor Maiden Stakes, but there was plenty of confidence behind him in the market as the 11-8 market leader.
The Blue Point colt needed a little persuasion from rider Sean Levey, but the further he went, the better he looked and he was ultimately well on top at the line.
A tilt at the Coventry Stakes – a race the trainer’s father Richard Hannon senior won with Rock City in 1989, Canford Cliffs in 2009 and Strong Suit in 2010 – would appear an obvious target and he is a 14-1 shot for the Group Two contest with Paddy Power.
“I was delighted. He’s got the job done and going past the line he’s quite impressive,” Hannon told Racing TV.
“He took a bit of time to get going, he’s never really been off the bridle at home and when you come to the races with those horses that do it very easily at home, they miss out on that side of the education.
“He knows what’s required now and he’ll improve massively for that. He could be a very good horse.”
When asked about future plans, the trainer added: “Yes he’s in the Railway Stakes, yes he could be a Coventry horse and yes I think he’s a horse for next year.
“They always say that today is the last day to make Royal Ascot horses and we’ll see how he comes out of the race. He’s a very good horse and that’s what we came here to see.”
The Herridge handler looked to have every chance of doubling up in the second division, with Son a 6-5 favourite to build on the promise of his debut third at Ascot last month and he did so with a clear-cut victory in the hands of Pat Dobbs.
Owner Julie Wood, whose colours were carried to Coventry Stakes success by Strong Suit 13 years ago, would be quite happy for Son to head for Berkshire in a fortnight’s time.
She said: “It’s always a standing joke that anything that wins leading up to Ascot you always consider it and of course we will. Whether he ends up there or beyond I don’t know, but today we came away with the result we wanted and we’ve got a nice horse.
“I thought he did it nicely. There was one point in the middle of the race when you didn’t know which way it was going, but Pat didn’t really have to get serious with him and he lengthened away well.”
The other two-year-old race on the card, the opening Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, went the way of the Amo Racing-owned Mapmaker (9-4 favourite).
Amo already has a strong team of juveniles bound for the Royal meeting and Daryll Holland’s Mapmaker, who finished third on her introduction at Redcar just last week, threw her name into the hat into the ring with a two-length verdict under Kevin Stott.
“She ran a nice race at Redcar and was bound to come on from that,” said the jockey.
“Daryll said she’d come out of the race really well and her homework was good. We had a bit of experience and she put it to bed at the two-furlong pole, so I was pleased.
“We’ve got a good team going to Ascot and I’m not sure what Daryll and Kia (Joorabchian, owner) would like to do with this filly, I’ll leave it to them,
Stott went on to complete a double of his own aboard 11-4 favourite Champagne Sarah in the Tune In To Weekend Winners Handicap.
Neil Callan also booted home two winners, steering Ed Dunlop’s Seal Of Solomon (6-1) to victory in the Follow BetVictor On Twitter Handicap and the Michael Bell-trained Burdett Road (6-1) to a runaway success in the concluding Gamble Responsibly At BetVictor Handicap.
Lorne Donaldson has expressed concerns about aspects of his senior Reggae Girlz transitional play ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup, but at the same time, he remains optimistic that the playing philosophy will come together in time for the global showpiece.
Donaldson's preparation and plans around the make-up of his final 23-player squad for the July 20 to August 20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, has been dogged by injuries to key players and unconvincing performances at times, more recently in a 2-0 win over Sheffield United in England.
That has forced the tactician and his assistants Xavier Gilbert and Ak Lakhani to conduct further assessments, with an upcoming camp scheduled for June 11-20 in Kingston, representing the last opportunity for players to impress the coaching staff.
"We didn't get a chance to do what we wanted to do in England so after this camp, we can select the final 23 and then we fly to Amsterdam on July 1 and the real preparation to fine tune our team chemistry, the speed of our transitional play and playing philosophy starts there," Donaldson shared.
"We will of course also take a close look at how we defend, but that's something the whole team must be involved in, not just the back line. So, our final decision in terms of the players we take to the World Cup is going to be done on the basis of who is ready to play right now," he declared.
Though the initial plans bringing the team to the island was for a two-match sendoff series, Donaldson explained that there were logistical issues in securing the games and so the just over a week-long camp will have to suffice.
"We would have loved a sendoff game but the logistics around the game is very difficult and that is nobody's fault. So, there is disappointment that we won't get a game, but I think we will get a lot out of the camp because we need to look at some players and I think that will help us to get a better evaluation of where the players are," Donaldson added.
Former captain Konya Plummer, who is still working her way back to full fitness coming off maternity leave and winger Trudi Carter, are among the 26 players Donaldson intends to invite for the camp.
"Players like a Konya and Trudi and other players have been without a club so we need to make sure that we know where they are, and we still might have one or two young players come in. But again, our final decision is going to be based on who is ready to play right now.
"Yes, there are some players who are safe, but they still have to show something because the players coming in are going to push them. We can't live in the past we have to look at what we have now and select the best team possible to show up at the World Cup and perform," the head coach stated.
But beyond that, Donaldson pointed out that he is already looking to position the programme for the next cycle.
"The younger players will be key for the next World Cup cycle, so we have to look at the squad to find a balance. We have a lot of young players with potential and as you know the next cycle includes the Women’s Gold Cup and all those games that we will be playing," he reasoned.
"So, it's a good to start getting those players involved from now in international competition because we won't always get the English-based and European-based players for those games. We have to broaden the pool of players and make sure other people are getting a chance to see what the international stage is like," Donaldson ended.
Karl Burke took the wraps off another exciting two-year-old at Nottingham when Beautiful Diamond scorched the turf in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
A £360,000 breeze-up purchase, the daughter of Twilight Son was easy to back all morning before late money saw her go off the 100-30 second favourite.
Having broke smartly from the stalls under Clifford Lee, she was travelling smoothly throughout behind Rainyniteingeorgia.
When Lee decided it was time to make a move, the response was immediate and she shot clear to win by three and a half lengths.
Burke is well stocked in the juvenile division this season and saddled the first two home in the Listed Marygate Stakes at York over five furlongs in Got To Love A Grey and Dorothy Lawrence, leaving some decisions to be made around his Queen Mary Stakes contenders.
“I was delighted with that, she’s obviously a very smart filly with a high cruising speed,” said Burke.
“Clifford gave her a good ride and she’s had a very easy introduction there, it couldn’t have gone much better.
“I didn’t feel any extra pressure because of the price tag because I didn’t actually buy her! Richard Brown, who buys a lot for Sheikh Rashid (owner) bought her, so I’d say he was feeling the pressure more than me but he was delighted, and relieved as well I think.
“Got To Love A Grey will definitely go to Ascot. I was pretty sure she was going Queen Mary, but I’ll have her chat with the Middleham Park guys (owners) as Beautiful Diamond looked a little bit special there and Got To Love A Grey would stay six furlongs.
“They are two very good fillies and I wouldn’t like to split them at this stage and Elite Status is in great form too since winning the National Stakes, he’ll be going to Ascot as well.”
Betfair and Paddy Power introduced the winner at 6-1 for the Queen Mary.
Sheila Lavery feels both “privileged and proud” to have trained New Energy as he prepares relocate to Australia for new connections.
The New Bay colt caught the eye when finishing second in last season’s Irish 2,000 Guineas at odds of 40-1.
He then flew the flag for the stable in a string of Group events across Ireland, England and France, coming home three lengths behind Coroebus in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and finishing second when beaten just a length in Doncaster’s Park Stakes.
This year the chestnut finished fourth in the Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown and was most recently seen placing third behind Cosmic Vega in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas in late May.
Australian Bloodstock have followed New Energy’s movements for over a year and have now purchased the colt to be trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The latter’s brother Harry, who trains in Newmarket, will house the horse until he sets sail for his new home and prepares for his ultimate target in the Cox Plate.
Lavery and her brother John, who owns the horse, have been fielding offers for some time now and eventually agreed to part with their stable star and let him shine in another racing jurisdiction.
“They’ve been trying to buy him for over a year and in the end it just made economical sense for the owner to sell him,” the trainer said.
“They’ve some very deep pockets and I was at a bit of a crossroads with him. It makes economical sense for the owner for him to go to Australia, so I’m delighted for John but heartbroken to see him go.
“I’m gutted. I didn’t think I’d be as upset as I am, but it’s the right thing and it’s the right business decision. I’ve been very privileged and proud to train him.”
Lavery expects New Energy to benefit from the style of racing out in Australia and is looking forward to seeing the horse campaigned at the top level in new colours in the future.
She said: “He’s a gorgeous, sound horse that needs pace to run at and I think the style of racing in Australia will really suit him, so I’ll really look forward to seeing him win his Group Ones there.
“We’ll have to move on to the next one, but I think he’s going to win a lot of money and a lot of races out there – more than he probably would have won in Europe.
“His best runs were in straightforward races where there was a lot of pace – the (Irish) Guineas and the Group Two in Doncaster – he just loved it and he thrives on that kind of racing.
“In fairness they have been trying to buy him from the get-go, since he won as a two-year-old almost.
“They’ve really had their eye on him and they’ve been watching his career very closely.”
John Ryan is eager to take on the overseas contenders in the King’s Stand Stakes with Manaccan – and hopes to have Frankie Dettori in the saddle at Royal Ascot.
The four-year-old ended last season in rude health, winning Listed races at Doncaster and Ascot, plus a Group Three at Dundalk.
He began this season conceding weight in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket under Dettori and having been drawn on the wrong side of a rain-softened track, ran admirably to be beaten just a length and a half by Vadream.
“I was delighted with him this morning and should all go well between now and then, the King’s Stand is where we are going and hopefully Frankie is going to ride him,” said Ryan.
“We were umming and ahhing over whether we should go to Newmarket or Haydock first time out and I wanted one run before the King’s Stand.
“We went for Newmarket, despite him having to carry a penalty, because Haydock’s Temple Stakes is usually run on soft ground but it wasn’t this year.
“Obviously, with the penalty, the way the ground went and being drawn on the wrong side, he ended up running a big race but crucially it also gave him more time to get over the run than Haydock would have done.”
The King’s Stand went the way of Australia last year with Nature Strip and this year his compatriot Coolangatta is towards the head of the betting, but Ryan is unperturbed.
“We’re in the situation where we’ve got a lot more in our favour than most,” he said.
“He’s already proved he likes Ascot having won there before, we know he wants fast ground and it’s looking like it should be that and while he might not have won at this level yet, he’s won a Listed and a Group Three as well as at the Shergar Cup and those races can be very competitive.
“He’s tough and he’s sharpened his teeth now, he’s certainly earned his place in the race. He’s tough and deserves to take them on.
“Whether the opposition comes from Australia or Kathmandu, it doesn’t bother me, he always gives his best and given some fortune with the draw, I’m sure he’ll run a good race.”
Pam Sly will consider an ambitious tilt at the Falmouth Stakes with Astral Beau after her stable star went down fighting at Epsom last week.
The four-year-old was rated in the mid-70s at this stage of last season, but has taken her game to another level this term, putting together three excellent runs.
After blowing her rivals away when landing a heavy ground Doncaster Mile on her April reappearance, Astral Beau proved that performance was no fluke when third in the Group Two Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Guineas weekend.
She encountered much quicker conditions in the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday, but again performed with great credit to finish third, beaten just three-quarters of a length by the Frankie Dettori-ridden Prosperous Voyage.
Sly has not yet made any firm plans, but raised a step up to Group One level in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes on July 14 as a possibility.
“For us, she’s a diamond,” said Sly.
“We were well pleased with the run because the ground was pretty quick for her and I couldn’t understand it when the handicapper dropped her 2lb on Tuesday.
“There’s nothing for her really this month, so we’ve either got a Listed race at Pontefract (Pipalong Stakes, July 11) or we could be absolutely extreme and go for the Falmouth. That would be extreme, but there might be hellish thunderstorms or something at that time of the year, so we’ll see.
“We’re very pleased with her, she’ll have a couple of weeks out in the paddock now and we’ve got one or two Group races between now and September we might be able to have a go at. If we can keep picking up a bit of black type, it will be good.”
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