PASSAGE to GLORY the ENDURING QUEST Dr
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FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2010 For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. PASSAGE TO GLORY THE ENDURING QUEST Dr. Ronan Lambe's Rite of Passage (GB) (Giant's Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), Denied Causeway), better known as a hurdler of high merit, a Classic victory by the Newmarket stewards after called on his experience in that sphere to outlast Age of finishing first past the post in the G1 1000 Guineas Aquarius (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in yesterday=s pulsating May 2, could write another chapter in the remarkable renewal of the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. With only story of owner Noel Martin today in the G1 Coronation two runs on the flat S. at Royal Ascot. Her nose defeat of Special Duty (GB) under his belt culminat- (Hennessy) at Newmarket represented a huge improve- ing in an eight-length ment on her previous seventh in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. at success in the that track Apr. 14, and trainer Henry Cecil--who also Leopardstown Novem- saddles the May 14 Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. ber H., the Dermot Weld-trained chestnut winner Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB})-- was mainly ignored at thinks there is a lot more to come. "I wasn't very happy 20-1 coming off a break with running Jacqueline Quest in the Guineas, as I since finishing third didn't really have her at her best, so she did very well over hurdles at the considering," Cecil explained. "I had been very easy The ‘Rite’ Stuff Horsephotos famed Cheltenham Na- with her, because I was trying to get her to settle and tional Hunt Festival in relax, so I needed more time. I was delighted with the March. Always traveling easily close to the early pace, way she ran, and [the stewards' decision] was just one he was moved up by Pat Smullen to take on Age of of those things. I think she has improved, and is going Aquarius as Johnny Murtagh sent that rival to the front there with a chance.@ Cecil added, AIt has taken a long with a half mile remaining. Rite of Passage edged ahead time to get Chachamaidee right after she got highly at the furlong marker, stayed committed all the way to strung and unsettled at two, and she has blossomed the line and had a neck advantage over the game run- since York. They have both done very well, and are ner-up at the end, shaving over a second of the previ- coming to themselves.@ Cont. p7 ous track record in the process. Cont. p2 Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain Oasis Dream=s Approve wins G2 Norfolk.............p3 GOLD CUP-G1, ,250,000, Ascot, 6-17, 4yo/up, 2 1/2mT, 4:16.92 (NTR), gd/fm. 1--#@sRITE OF PASSAGE (GB), 128, g, 6, by Giant’s Causeway 1st Dam: Dahlia's Krissy (SP-US, $138,904), by Kris S. 2nd Dam: Dahlia's Image, by Lyphard 3rd Dam: Dahlia, by *Vaguely Noble (20,000gns yrl >05 TATOCT). O-Dr Ronan Lambe; B-Newsells Park Stud; T-Dermot Weld; J-Pat Smullen; ,141,925. Lifetime Record: *3-3-0-0, ,170,974. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A. 2--Age of Aquarius (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)--Clara Bow (Fr), by Top Ville (Ire). (i1,400,000 yrl >07 ARQAUG). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Eduard Mordukhovitch; B-Berend van Dalfsen; T-Aidan O'Brien; ,53,800. 3--Purple Moon (Ire), 128, g, 7, Galileo (Ire)--Vanishing Prairie, by Alysheba. (i550,000 yrl >04 DEAAUG; 440,000gns HIT >06 TATHIT). O-Craig Bennett; B-Gestut Sohrenhof; T-Luca Cumani; ,26,925. Margins: NK, 6, 13. Odds: 20-1, 8-1, 12-1. Also Ran: Bannaby (Fr), Ask (GB), Kasbah Bliss (Fr), Kite Wood (Ire), Tastahil (Ire), Darley Sun (Ire), Manifest (GB), Akmal (GB), Montaff (GB). Scratched: Clowance (GB). *Flat racing only. (859) 233-4252 www.claibornefarm.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 6/18/10 • PAGE 2 of 12 • thoroughbreddailynews.com GOLD CUP-G1 cont. Rite of Passage started late in this discipline, but by the time he scored at first asking at Ballinrobe in Sep- tember, he had already cut a dash in National Hunt flat races, and had been third in the Cheltenham Festival's Champion Bumper. Following his rout of overmatched rivals in the November H., the chestnut=s attentions were switched back to the jumps, and he started favor- ite for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle back at Cheltenham last time Mar. 17. The joker in the pack here, he settled in third while sticking close to Age of Aquarius. The pair entered the straight with Purple Moon on their heels, and it was soon clear that they had it between them. Despite Johnny Murtagh getting a tune out of Ballydoyle's latest high-class stayer, it was Rite of Passage who had that ounce more strength as the duo ensured the time dipped well under the previous best. "I've always believed in this horse and that he had the potential to win a Gold Cup since I bought him as a yearling," trainer Dermot Weld said. "His great- granddam is Dahlia, who was very famous around this particular racetrack, and I thought if he inherited any of her genes, he would do me.@ www.pinoakstud.com Among Dahlia=s glittering array of international tro- phies were two victories in the G1 King George VI and Coming of Age... Queen Elizabeth S. AHe took time and was a big, weak Age of Aquarius's co-owner Derrick Smith told PA and immature horse who was very slow to mature, but Sport, "We couldn't be more happy with him. He ran he's gone from strength to strength since starting as a very respectably--I thought he was going to get four-year-old,@ Weld continued. AWhen he won the swamped a furlong out, but he kept going and stayed November H. on heavy ground, this became his target. every yard. He was beaten by a better horse on the He's a beautiful-moving horse and a tremendous day. You have to be delighted, although you are obvi- individual--he's such an athlete and an active horse, and ously disappointed to only just get beaten." As for I always believed he'd handle this faster ground. He's third-place finisher Purple Moon, trainer Luca Cumani is won twice on the flat, but also won two bumpers, looking at the July 29 G2 Goodwood Cup and G2 Lons- including at Galway two years ago on firm ground.@ dale Cup at York Aug. 18, as well as a possible return Weld added of the Gold Cup, AIt=s a race I've always to Flemington for the G1 Melbourne Cup. The chestnut wanted to win and had been second with Vinnie Roe gelding was runner-up by a half-length to Efficient (NZ) (Ire) and Vintage Crop (Ire), so it's third-time lucky.@ (Zabeel {NZ}) three years ago. As for Rite of Passage=s next target,@ Weld offered, AA lot will depend on what handicap mark he gets for the G1 Melbourne Cup, and I have Profound Beauty (Ire) [Danehill] as a distinct possibility for that after she defeated Age of Aquarius two weeks ago. He'll have a summer break now, and come back for the G1 Irish St Leger [at The Curragh Sept. 11]." Weld is currently the subject of a new film about the campaigning of Vintage Crop in the Melbourne Cup. Click for the Racing Post chart, the TRN1.com PPs o r the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, courtesy attheraces.com. Dermot Weld (left), The Queen & Connections Horsephotos P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 6/18/10 • PAGE 3 of 12 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain NORFOLK S.-G2, ,90,000, Ascot, 6-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.14, gd/fm. 1--#@APPROVE (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Oasis Dream (GB) 1st Dam: Wyola, by Sadler's Wells 2nd Dam: Rubies From Burma, by Forty Niner 3rd Dam: Perfect Example, by Far North (i52,000 wnlg >08 GOFNOV; 65,000gns RNA yrl >09 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Bahram); B-Abbeville and Meadow Court Partners; T-William Haggas; J-Eddie Ahern; ,51,093. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, ,58,362. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. JOHN WARREN PURCHASE for HIGHCLERE 2--Reckless Reward (Ire), 127, c, 2, Choisir (Aus)- - Champagne Toni (Ire), by Second Empire (Ire). (i16,000 wnlg >08 GOFNOV; ,38,000 yrl >09 DONAUG). O-W P Drew; B-Ken Carroll; T-Richard Hannon; ,19,368. 3--Excel Bolt (GB), 127, c, 2, Exceed and Excel (Aus)- - Dearest Daisy (GB), by Forzando (GB). (,5,000 RNA yrl >09 DONAUG). O-Elders, Turton, Brown & Rhodes; B-P A Mason; T-Bryan Smart; ,9,693. Margins: 1 1/4, HF, NK. Odds: 16-1, 16-1, 7-1. Also Ran: Stone of Folca (GB), Zebedee (GB), Dinkum Diamond (Ire), Emperor Hadrian (Ire), Arctic Feeling (Ire), Al Aasifh (Ire), Dubawi Gold (GB), Black Moth (Ire), Little Lion Man (GB). Approve was off the mark over five furlongs at Salis- bury May 20 before stepping up a panel to finish fourth in the Listed Woodcote S. over Epsom's fast circuit 12 days ago. With that experience of battle in his favor, the bay was a model of professionalism here. He broke sharply and raced prominently, then rolled to the front with 150 yards remaining and drew clear of Reckless Reward, as well as the lone stands-side runner Excel Bolt.