22 Wednesday, June 21, 2017 SPORTS Joy for Shaikh Mohammed, heartbreak Shaikh Mohammed, the founder of the Godolphin racing for Dettori empire, shelters from the rain at Royal Ascot (Guardian) Ascot take the Group One second behind Velazquez to win the King’s ubai ruler Shaikh King’s Stand Stakes. O’Brien’s star in the Stand Stakes in almost as Mohammed bin The racing had English 2000 Guineas, impressive style as she had in al-MaktoumD celebrated a got underway once a and vindicated the Queen Mary Stakes under treble on the first day of Royal minute’s silence was Shaikh Mohammed’s the Italian last year. Ascot, including two Group observed -- with Queen decision to miss the Her time was just 0.1sec Ones, 40 years to the day Elizabeth II and other Irish equivalent and outside the course record for since he had his first winner members of the Royal come to Ascot.“That five furlongs (1000 metres). in England. Family standing in the was what Shaikh “That was awesome. Lady Whilst Shaikh Mohammed parade ring -- in honour Mohammed wanted Aurelia is a very special filly,” and his Godolphin Operation of the memories of the and he was dead purred trainer Wesley A had a welcome day in the sun victims of the London right,” said Barney Ward, who was welcoming after a woeful period which tower block fire last Roy’s trainer Richard home his eighth Royal Ascot ended with chief executive week and the terror Hannon. winner. John Ferguson stepping down attacks that have struck O’Brien -- who Ward, who was the first amid scathing criticism by England in recent until Tuesday had American to train a winner trainer Saeed bin Suroor, months. carried almost all at Royal Ascot back in 2009, Godolphin’s former golden Shaikh Mohammed’s before him this season spared a thought for Dettori jockey Frankie Dettori had a joy was unconfined as in winning three of the as did Velazquez, who was day to forget. Ribchester broke the Barney Roy rides to victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes four English classics -- only due to have one ride on The 46-year-old Italian course record for a mile in the James’s Palace Stakes. “Hatta was my first horse said Churchill had run a good Tuesday. “I arrived at half was forced to admit defeat opening Queen Anne Stakes. Shaikh Mohammed’s and people were surprised race, but jockey Ryan Moore past eight this morning and in his battle to recover from His mood was even sweeter delight at Ribchester’s victory when she beat the favourite was perplexed. saw I had 10 missed calls,” an arm injury and then as his nemesis Aidan O’Brien’s in the course record time of at Brighton,” said Shaikh “He was never comfortable, said the 45-year-old two-time watched 2000 Guineas double 1min 36.6sec was palpable, Mohammed. I’m not sure why,” said Moore. Kentucky Derby winning as crack winner Churchill couldn’t kissing one of his daughters in “In life there is no winning Dettori said missing Ascot rider. “They were wondering American summon up his namesake’s his box -- the surroundings a post. You have to keep going, was ‘soul-destroying’ and where I was and then they rang filly Lady fighting spirit, and was left far cry from when Hatta won otherwise the rest will catch his mood would not have me when I was going through Aurelia floundering in fourth as at Brighton four decades ago up with you.” Barney Roy’s improved as his top ride customs and I said I would stormed Godolphin’s Barney Roy to spark a great love affair with success turned the tables on for the day, Lady Aurelia, have to ring them back... I’m home to won the feature St the turf. Churchill, having finished blitzed the field under Johnny pleased I did!” (AFP) Mayweather return won’t overshadow me: Golovkin Golovkin defends his world Mayweather-McGregor, which But Golovkin-Alvarez is a WBO -- will not be on the line title belts at the T-Mobile Arena he sees as a “circus show”. fight for the ages, one of the when the pair collide, but the three weeks after Mayweather “This (Mayweather- most eagerly awaited boxing winner on Monday was offered faces Conor McGregor at the McGregor) is not for fighters, match-ups in recent memory. the chance to fight for it later same Las Vegas venue. but business,” Golovkin told Golovkin, a knockout this year. Five-weight world champion reporters at a press conference machine from Kazakhstan but Alvarez, who cruised to a Mayweather, now 40, will not in London Monday. now based in California, has wide points win over fellow have fought for nearly two years “I think people understand made 18 consecutive Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez by the time he faces 27-year-old what is a true fight, a boxing world middleweight title Jr in May, admitted he did Irishman McGregor, a mixed fight, like mine with Caneno or defences and was taken to not know who WBO world London martial arts fighter, on Aug 26. a big show, maybe sometimes points for the first time since middleweight champion Billy ennady Golovkin has But McGregor, a two- for people a funny show, like a 2008 by American Daniel Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) was dismissed the idea weight UFC champion, has circus show. Jacobs in March.Alvarez, 26, when the Briton addressed him thatG Floyd Mayweather Jr’s never fought as a professional Regardless of some also has an impressive record at a press conference in London comeback against Conor boxer and faces the sport’s best dismissing it as a mismatch, that has seen him win world on Monday. McGregor will overshadow practitioner for decades. Mayweather-McGregor is titles in two weight divisions Saunders was linked to his Sep 16 clash with Saul Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs), 35, expected to do record business with one blemish -- by majority fighting Golovkin in his ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. insists his fight with Alvarez for a boxing fight and may points decision to Mayweather homeland of Kazakhstan on Gennady Golovkin WBC-IBF-WBA (49-1-1, 34 KOs) is bigger eclipse Golovkin-Alvarez in in 2013. June 10, but the fight never middleweight champion and of more significance than revenue and television viewers. Only one world title -- the happened. .