Royal Ascot 2005

racing_news/

THRILLING SHAMARDAL
14/06/05

Shamardal slammed his field in the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes and is now all set for a showdown with the Vodafone Derby winner Motivator in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes over 10 furlongs at Sandown on July 2.

Leading from pillar to post under Australian Kerrin McEvoy, who was deputising for the suspended Frankie Dettori, Shamardal, last year’s champion two-year-old, had only run nine days ago when he scrambled home in the French Derby at Chantilly, having previously taken the French Guineas. Shamardal remains unbeaten on turf.

“Now we must go for the Eclipse against Motivator,” beamed Sheikh Mohammed, who heads up the Godolphin operation. “I think it would be good for racing for the two horses to meet at Sandown. At a mile and a quarter, I think Shamardal might be able to meet Motivator. But Motivator is a very good horse.”

Once the field had swung into the straight McEvoy quickened the pace and soon had the entire field in trouble, winning by three lengths. Ad Valorem came home best of the others.

It was only an hour before the race that Sheikh Mohammed and his brother Sheikh Maktoum decided to withdraw Dubawi and switch McEvoy to Shamardal in place of Kevin Darley because of the ground conditions.

“If the rain had come we would have run Dubawi,” added Sheikh Mohammed. “Now Dubawi will wait for the better ground and maybe races like the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

“We were not worried about running Shamardal so soon after winning the French Derby because he has been in very good form. He is tough.”

Simon Crisford, racing manager to Godolphin, said: “We knew were taking a risk running Shamardal so soon. Kerrin is always very calm and was ice cool today. But Frankie is our number one, we missed him today as he sat on the beach in Sardinia.”

He added: “Shamardal has continued to progress with each race and today he fulfilled our expectations and more.”

McEvoy said: “Shamardal is uncomplicated and an easier horse to ride than Dubawi and I was glad that Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Maktoum made the decision they did.

“Of course, it was tough on Frankie to miss this meeting but he has been a great help to me and I am going to give him a call to see what he thinks. I know he will be pleased for me and the team.

“There was pressure today because it was such an important race. But that a part of being a jockey that I like. A bit of pressure brings out the best in you.

”Shamardal was the easiest winner of a Group race I have ridden.”

AUSPICIOUS RETURN FROM AD VALOREM

Although no match for the impressive winner Shamardal, last season’s Middle Park Stakes hero Ad Valorem made a promising comeback when second in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The runner-up’s trainer Aidan O’Brien also saddled third-placed Oratorio, who bounced back from a disappointment when failing to stay in the Vodafone Derby.

“Ad Valorem ran a lovely race, Mick (Kinane) said he stumbled when the stalls opened but was delighted with it. He came home very well and we learned that he gets a mile,” said O’Brien. “Oratorio is a real tough hardy horse and takes his races very well, he’ll improve with all the racing he gets.

“We know we can try him over a mile and a quarter again although we won’t send him over a mile and a half.”

Ad Valorem’s rider Mick Kinane added: “He stumbled coming out of the stalls but then picked up and ran a very encouraging first race of the season.”

Indesatchel disappointed when finishing last of the eight runners and his rider Jamie Spencer said: “I wasn’t happy after 100 yards, he was never going and is a horse that normally travels very fluently.”