Blues and Royals Euthanized HEADLINE p. 1 ATW NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2005 ON THE CAUSEWAY WILD WILD WEST There is an open feel to today’s renewal of the G1 With the sand flying on York’s home turn, yester- Coronation S., but Martin Schwartz’s Maids Causeway day’s G1 Ascot Gold Cup resembled a scene from High (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) will be looking to complete a Noon, and it was Ecurie Wildenstein’s Westerner (GB) memorable Royal Ascot double at (Danehill) who proved to be the York for her sire today. Shamardal quick draw in downing Distinction got the “Iron Horse” off the mark in (Ire) (Danehill) by a cosy neck. The Tuesday’s G1 St James’s Palace S., 7-4 pick barely needed a gear shift and this filly looks to be hewn from to readily reel in the 33-1 outsider the same material. One of last sea- approaching the final eighth. From son’s top juveniles, she took the G3 there it was a procession as Olivier Sweet Solera S. in August and G2 Peslier allowed him to coast to the Rockfel S. at Newmarket in October Westerner Getty Images line, leading an unlikely one-two for either side of tussles with Playful Act his sire. For his owner/breeder Alec Maids Causeway Getty Images (Ire) in the G2 May Hill S. at Wildenstein, it was an emotional moment. “For my Doncaster and G1 Fillies’ Mile at Ascot in September. father, and the family, it is wonderful,” he said. “He is a The chestnut bested all bar Virginia Waters friend--I was very worried when the pace was so slow, (Kingmambo) in the G1 1000 Guineas S. on her return but the horse is so maneuverable. He’s achieved every- at Newmarket May 1, but was drawn away from the thing you can ask.” Cont. p2 main action when fifth in the Irish equivalent at The GOLD CUP-G1, £225,000, Royal Ascot at York, 6-16, Curragh three weeks later. “We think that draw made 4yo/up, 2 1/2mT, 4:19.49, gd/fm. all the difference in Ireland, as the ground on the stand 1--WESTERNER (GB), 128, h, 6, by Danehill side was a lot slower,” trainer Barry Hills' son Charlie 1st Dam: Walensee (Ire) (Co-Ch. 3yo Filly-Fr, told PA Sport. “It felt it to walk on, and the filly had G1SW-Fr, $108,748), by Troy (GB) nothing to race against.” Susan Magnier and Michael 2nd Dam: Warsaw (Fr), by Bon Mot (Fr) Tabor’s Virginia Waters has been busy since her impres- 3rd Dam: War Path III, by Blue Prince sive Newmarket victory, running eighth in The Curragh O-Ecurie Wildenstein; B-Dayton Investments Ltd; T-Elie Classic before failing to land a blow when fourth in the Lellouche; J-Olivier Peslier; £130,500. Lifetime Record: Hwt. G1 Epsom Oaks June 3. “She’s in good form and has- Older Horse-Fr at 14+f, MG1SW-Fr, 25-11-8-1, £697,402. n’t done much since the Oaks,” Aidan O’Brien said. *1/2 to War Game (Fr) (Caerleon), GSW-Fr. “She won’t mind fast ground, as it was very fast at 2--Distinction (Ire), 128, g, 6, Danehill--Ivy Leaf (Ire), by Newmarket, so we’re hopeful that she runs well.” She Nureyev. (28,000gns wnl ‘99 TATDEC; Ir£190,000 is deserted by Kieren Fallon in favor of Damson (Ire) yrl ‘00 GOFORB). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Entrepreneur {GB}), who showed blistering speed to Ltd; B-Orpendale & Minch Bloodstock; T-Sir Michael win the G2 Queen Mary S. at this meeting 12 months Stoute; £49,500. ago before beating the colts in the G1 Phoenix S. at 3--Vinnie Roe (Ire), 128, h, 7, Definite Article (GB)-- The Curragh in August. Softer ground may have been Kayu (Ire), by Tap On Wood (Ire). (Ir48,000gns wnl to blame for her subsequent eclipses when third in the ‘98 GOFNOV; Ir£50,000 yrl ‘99 GOFORB). O-Seamus G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket in October and Sheridan; B-Mrs Virginia Moeran; T-Dermot Weld; ninth on her return in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Both the £24,750. Newmarket and Curragh Classics appear to hold the Margins: NK, 5, 2HF. Odds: 7-4, 33-1, 9-2. key to this race, as Karen’s Caper (War Chant) and Also ran: Wolfe Tone (Ire), Winged d’Argent (Ire), Franklins Gardens (GB), Cape Columbine (GB) (Diktat {GB}) were fourth and Fight Your Corner (GB), Mr Dinos (Ire), Darsalam (Ire), Barolo (GB), Corrib fifth in the former and Utterly Heaven (Ire) (Danehill) Eclipse (GB), Percussionist (Ire), Darasim (Ire), Razkalla, Jardines Lookout filled fourth in the latter. Coronation cont. p4 (Ire), Papineau (GB), Sun Bird (Ire). Scratched: Shabernak (Ire). (859) 233-4252 www.claibornefarm.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 6/17/05 • PAGE 2 of 6 Gold Cup cont. Thursday, Royal Ascot at York, Britain INTO THE WEST Westerner was beaten by Papineau RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £140,090, Royal Ascot at York, (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in this race 12 months ago, but 6-16, 3yo, f, 1 1/2mT, 2:31.18, gd/fm. had confirmed himself time and again Europe’s leading 1--#@THAKAFAAT (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Unfuwain stayer with stellar performances at his beloved 1st Dam: Frappe (Ire), by Inchinor (GB) Longchamp. These have included successes in the last 2nd Dam: Glatisant (GB), by Rainbow Quest two renewals of the G1 Prix du Cadran and G1 Prix 3rd Dam: Dancing Rocks (GB), by Green Dancer Royal-Oak, the last two runnings of the G3 Prix de (160,000gns yrl ‘03 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Barbeville, last year’s G3 Prix Gladiateur and the G2 Rashid al Maktoum; B-Norelands Bloodstock; T-John Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, which he used as a warm-up for Dunlop; J-Willie Supple; £81,252. Lifetime Record: this on his latest start May 22. For jockey Olivier 6-3-1-0, £103,868. Peslier, it was plain sailing. “We were in a good place 2--Twyla Tharp (Ire), 123, f, 3, Sadler’s Wells--Sumoto on the inside so I stayed there and waited,” he ex- (GB), by Mtoto (GB). O-Lord Lloyd-Webber; plained. “He wanted to go earlier, but I knew he had a B-Watership Down Stud; T-John Gosden; £30,820. good turn of foot and when I asked him he kept going.” 3--Asawer (Ire), 123, f, 3, Darshaan (GB)--Sassy Bird, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Managing Director by Storm Bird. (600,000gns yrl ‘03 TATHOU). Harry Herbert was delighted with the performance of O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; B-6C the runner-up, known as “Big D” in the stable. “I Stallions Ltd; T-Sir Michael Stoute; £15,410. Margins: SHD, 2, SHD. Odds: 22-1, 11-1, 11-1. thought when he went clear he had done enough and Also ran: Something Exciting (GB), Secret History, Silk and Scarlet (GB), he fought back when Westerner came,” he said. “He’s Desert Move (Ire), Anaamil (Ire), Fashionable (GB). an amazing horse and has improved every year--he was Sheikh Hamdan, who had already won the G1 Epsom very unlucky in the G1 Melbourne Cup last year and is Oaks with a daughter of his beloved Unfuwain, going back there again.” Seamus Sheridan’s four-time watched as Thakafaat provided the late Shadwell stal- G1 Irish St Leger winner Vinnie Roe (Ire) (Definite Arti- lion another success. After taking a handicap at cle {GB}) could not match the late burst of the front Pontefract on her seasonal bow Apr. 27, she found two, but ran his usual game race to fill third spot. “It Something Exciting (GB) (Halling) 1½ lengths too was an exceptional race and they went a good pace strong in the Listed Lupe S. at Goodwood May 18 and throughout,” jockey Pat Smullen commented. “The first sat out the Epsom Oaks, in which that rival finished three quickened at the end and he just ran out of stam- second. Supplemented for this contest last week, she ina towards the latter part of the race. This is his last justified their boldness to win this war of attritio. Keen year and I would have loved to win this and bow out a to exploit her stamina, Willie Supple sent the filly to the Gold Cup winner, but he ran a very good race.” front after the first quarter mile and she led the field Click for the Racing Post or the free brisnet.com into the straight before crossing over to the stands’ rail. catalogue-style pedigree. She was still at the head of affairs as Twyla Tharp emerged widest of all with the greatest threat and, after being briefly headed with 100 yards remaining, dug deep to reclaim the advantage in the final dip of her head. “She’s very tough and stays and hasn’t had too hard a season so far,” her trainer commented. “She deserved it and the obvious target is the G2 Park Hill S. [at Doncaster Sept. 7]. Easier ground will probably be Friday 17 June more suitable.” Trainer David Elsworth was disap- 2.30 G3 Albany S. 2yo, 6f pointed with the performance of the Something Excit- 3.05 G2 King Edward VII S. 3yo, c/g, 1 1/2mT ing. “Maybe the winner has improved, but [jockey] 3.45 G1 Coronation S.