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HEADLINE NEWS The Idea is Excellence. For information about TDN, Rahy’s RIO DE LA PLATA Runs in call 732-747-8060. St. James’s Palace S. (G1) Today www.thoroughbreddailynews.com TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008 Ascot Three-Peat for Yeats? Perhaps the main attention surrounds the hat-trick bid of Yeats (Ire) (Sadler=s Wells) in the traditional show- piece, the G1 Gold Cup which was inaugurated in 1807. No horse since the TOP HAT AND RAILS Francois Boutin-trained Sagaro Millinery, etiquette, champagne, sunshine and some (GB) has achieved the feat and of the finest Thoroughbreds the world can offer provide Susan Magnier and Diane Nagle=s the customary blend as Royal Ascot 2008 gets under- seven-year-old will be bridging a way today. All the stylizing aside--the track is even 31-year gap since that great staging its own fashion show this year featuring the stayer wrapped up the third of eccentric displays of Philip Treacy and Vivienne his successes in a golden age of Yeats Horsephotos Westwood--it is the track action which provides the the race. AThere will probably be focus for racing=s purists. As The Duke of Devonshire, around 285,000 people this Her Majesty the Queen=s Representative and Chairman week and we=re really happy with the site and the race- of Ascot Racecourse, outlines in his course,@ Ascot=s PR Chief Nick Smith introduction to the Royal meeting=s said. AWe=re trying to engage the media guide, this year=s renewal will crowds and the jockeys more this open with three Group 1 races for year and make them more integrated. the first time in its near 300-year his- We have three Group 1 to start the tory. Some of that rich ancestry is first day, which is absolutely amazing evident in the name of the very race and the Aussies are back in town.@ which has changed the face of this year=s opener as the King=s Stand S. A Royal Rivalry... joins the Queen Anne S. and the St Some of His Highness the Aga James=s Palace S. in its newly ele- Khan=s finest have gone to post at Ascot Monday: The Calm Before the Royal Meeting vated status. Named after the initia- this meeting and he can count Getty Images tive by King George IV to bring the G1 Queen Anne S. winners Kalanisi nation=s elite to survey the scene in 1845, the five- (Ire) and Valixir (Ire) among them. His furlong dash is the fourth contest to have been pro- Highness is represented in today=s renewal of that race moted to the highest level since 1999. This year, prize by the supplemented Sageburg (Ire) (Johannesburg), money will total ,4 million for the first time, none of who sets up an intriguing family clash with Princess the 30 races will be worth less than ,60,000 and the Zahra=s filly sensation Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar). While the leading jockey will sport a yellow tour de France-in- pair have already met, with Sageburg coming off spired armband as the riders take on a more central role 2 1/2 lengths to the good in Longchamp=s G1 Prix in proceedings. d=Ispahan May 18, their trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is uncertain as to which will prove best here. AI think Tuesday 17 June Darjina is better now than she was in the d=Ispahan, as 2.30 G1 Queen Anne S. 4yo/up, 1mT she had not completely returned to her best and she is 3.05 G1 King’s Stand S. 3yo/up, 5fT very well,@ he commented. ASageburg needed time to 3.45 G1 St James's Palace S. 3yo, c, 1mT mature, but has progressed and I think a mile is good 4.20 G2 Coventry S. 2yo, 6fT for him, rather than going longer. It will be very close 4.55 Ascot S. (Hcp.) 4yo/up, 2 1/2mT between them.@ 5.30 Windsor Castle S. (L) 2yo, 5fT Cont. p2 www.juddmonte.com P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 6/17/08 • PAGE 2 of 11 Fleeting Fancy... When asked in a recent interview with the Sunday It is rare that a three-year-old filly can prove capable Times to compare him to the ARock@ and another previ- of shaking up the older ranks of battle-hardened sprint- ous winner in Giant=s Causeway, O=Brien said, AThis ing colts and geldings, but in Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invin- fellow is quicker than they were and I don=t think the cible Spirit {Ire}) there is a real livewire in the division move up to 10 furlongs would bother Henry in the and she bids to deal some more blows in today=s slightest. He can go to sleep in his races, wake up G1 King=s Stand S. High-class as well as consistent at when he needs to and produce that killer kick, which two for the Searchers syndicate, she was unbeaten makes it difficult for any other horse. If we keep doing over this trip and found only one too good in Natagora a proper job with him, he will show himself to be an (Fr) when tackling an extra panel in the G1 Cheveley exceptional horse.@ Park S. at Newmarket in October. Her next start was in Secret Tops Strong Jubilee List... Haydock=s G2 Temple S. on her sophomore bow May Bridget Swire=s Sakhee=s Secret (GB) (Sakhee) faces a 24, where she smashed the track record. AI am very stern test as the likely favorite for Saturday=s G1 Golden happy with Fleeting Spirit,@ trainer Jeremy Noseda Jubilee S. after a field of 27 sprinters remained at yes- commented. AHer build-up has gone well and she ap- terday=s five-day stage. Steve Drowne will renew his pears to be in tip-top order. It looks as association with last year s G1 July if she will get her favoured fast ground- = Cup hero and he is relishing the test. -now we=ll just ask for a good break AHe doesn=t come off the bridle at and a little bit of luck in running.@ AIn the fast-paced home because we have nothing to take Hooray Henry! technology driven him off,@ he said. AHe did everything It has become clear that the G1 St world, TDN=s alert we expected in his work and he=s A1 James=s Palace S. is a prime focus for service allows the and ready to go. He=s definitely the one opportunity for to beat, but it will be tough against the Ballydoyle in recent years and a 50- users to remain percent strike rate since the millennium continuously French horse.@ That reference is to year shows Aidan O=Brien targets this updated with salient Carla Giral=s dual G1 Prix Maurice de prize with unerring intensity. Like Rock industry highlights. Gheest hero Marchand d=Or (Fr) of Gibraltar (Ire) six years ago, I think this (Marchand de Sable) from the Freddy Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo) is on functionality is Head stable, while Aidan O=Brien has a terrific.@ team of five, including Michael Tabor, hallowed ground as a dual Guineas winner attempting a formidable trio - Josh Taylor, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Jo- here and Susan Magnier=s star in the Midlantic Ltd. seph Allen=s US Ranger (Danzig), Frank ascendant holds all the aces. Tagg and Coolmore=s Haradasun (Aus) Ballydoyle=s leading man looked a cut Click Here to Sign Up (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Astronomer above as the conqueror of the subse- Royal (Danzig). Six horses engaged in quent G1 Epsom Derby hero New Approach (Ire), first today=s G1 King=s Stand S. are still entered, including narrowly at Newmarket May 3, and more comprehen- the Searchers Syndicate=s Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible sively at The Curragh three weeks later and he could be Spirit {Ire}), Joe Janiak=s Takeover Target (Aus) (Celtic among the very best to have gone to post for this event. Swing {GB}) and Godolphin=s Dandy Man (Ire) (Mozart {Ire}), while other notables include Budget Stable=s A # will distinguish first-time stakes-winners, a @ will 2007 hero Soldier=s Tale (Stravinsky), Karreman Blood- indicate first-time graded stakes-winners, a s will stock=s Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Susan denote a first-time Grade/Group 1 winner. Magnier=s Myboycharlie (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}). P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 6/17/08 • PAGE 3 of 11 Named after the meeting=s founder, this contest Today’s Graded Stakes threw up one of last year=s finest spectacles with a brought to you by four-way go in which Ramonti (Fr) prevailed for Godolphin. While that operation is without a representa- tive this time due to the injury to likely favorite Creachadoir (Ire), the latest renewal remains a top-class affair. Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar=s Tariq and Cheveley Park Stud=s Cesare were third and fourth, respectively, behind Creachadoir in the G1 Lockinge S. 9:30a Queen Anne S.-G1, ASC TVG at Newbury last time May 17 and have shown their 10:05a King’s Stand S.-G1, ASC TVG best form at this track previously. Tariq beat US Ranger 10:45a St James’s Palace S.-G1, ASC TVG comprehensively in the G3 Jersey S. here 12 months 11:20a Coventry S.-G2, ASC TVG ago and trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam is hoping he can All Times Eastern Daylight Time build on his encouraging comeback in the Lockinge.