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Racing News
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Australians
Thriving Ahead Of Darley July Cup 04/07/06
King's Stand Stakes hero Takeover Target and his compatriots Falkirk and Glamour Puss are reported to be in fine form ahead of a three-pronged Australian assault on the £360,000 Darley July Cup on Friday, July 14, at Newmarket's July Course.
The trio will attempt to emulate Japanese runner Agnes World who is to date the only non-European-trained winner of the Darley July Cup, having taken the race in 2000.
Ben Janiak, assistant trainer to his father Joe Janiak, is looking forward to Takeover Target's bid to become the first Australian-trained horse to win the prestigious Group One six-furlong contest, which is Europe's richest sprint.
Janiak reported today: "Takeover Target worked on the Al Bahathri this morning. He worked over 1,000 metres and he ran up the last 600. The horse felt good and he's on track for the Darley July Cup.
"We'll take him over to the course on Thursday morning to give him a look at the track and he'll only do a bit of three-quarter work, but I'll try and get him two looks at the track before race-day."
The seven-year-old became the second Australian victor, after Choisir in 2003, of the Group Two King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, defeating 28 rivals with a blistering display of speed over five furlongs.
The Australian sprint champion turned out again four days later for the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes, running a respectable third behind Les Arcs over an extra furlong.
While Choisir pulled off a memorable Royal Ascot sprint double, he failed in his attempt to add the 2003 Darley July Cup, finishing runner-up to Oasis Dream, and Takeover Target's connections are hopeful their charge can go one better.
Janiak commented: "The King's Stand was a good run but we thought he was a little bit under-done going into it, so he had a gut buster then and gave everything he had, which meant he was a little bit flat for the Golden Jubilee, and I believe that's why he didn't win.
"It was still a good effort in the Golden Jubilee. Jay (Ford) got off him and said he was gone probably 200 metres from the post but he just stuck to his guns and plugged away and ran a nice third.
"The Australian horses have thrived in the conditions over here, so we might even stay for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York but we're not sure yet."
Falkirk, a Group Two winner over his preferred trip of six furlongs in Australia, was only a length behind Takeover Target when fourth in the King's Stand, and side-stepped his engagement in the Golden Jubilee.
Trainer Lee Freedman's representative, Clinton Youngson, revealed today: "Falkirk's doing well at the moment and is working nicely. He'll probably do a bit more on the Limekilns on Thursday and then we'll give him a look at the track on Saturday. He's enjoying the weather at the moment - it's more like back home.
"He ran a good race in the King's Stand but he's much better over six furlongs. He would have a big chance so long as the track's not too hard, that would be our main worry."
The Danny O'Brien-trained Glamour Puss was a staying on fourth in the King's Stand but failed to show her true running when six lengths 10th to Les Arcs in the Golden Jubilee.
The six-year-old mare had Takeover Target back in fourth when winning the Group One Seppelt Salinger Stakes over six furlongs at Flemington in October and could attempt to repeat that result at Newmarket if she continues to please her trainer.
O' Brien reported today: "She's fit and well. She'll have a gallop on Saturday morning and if I'm happy with her work she'll go to the Darley July Cup and then we'll head home.
"Quick ground wouldn't be a problem for her."
The Group One Darley July Cup is the feature event of the Newmarket July Course's three-day July Festival, which takes place from Wednesday, July 12, to Friday, July 14.
Australian Stars Among Sparkling 66 Entries For Darley July Cup 17/05/06
A sparking entry of 66 has been received for the £360,000 Darley July Cup, the richest sprint race in Europe, and the highlight of the three-day Ritz Club July Festival at Newmarket.
The
Darley July Cup, run on Friday, July 14, this year, has proved itself
to be one of the most international events in the European racing calender
in recent seasons, with Japanese raider Agnes World landing the six-furlong
contest in 2000, while Australian superstar Choisir only found Oasis
Dream too good in 2003.
This year's entry includes three Australian hopefuls, headed by the Joe Janiak-trained Takeover Target, already successful in the Group One Lightning Stakes and, appropriately, the Group One Newmarket Handicap in 2006, with both of those victories coming at Flemington. The seven-year-old could be joined by Falkirk, trained by Lee Freedman and Glamour Puss from the stable of Danny O'Brien - a Group One winner at Flemington in October.
Further international interest is provided by Cape Of Good Hope, trained in Hong Kong by David Oughton and successful in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot at York in 2005. The well-travelled eight-year-old was beaten less than a length by Takeover Target on his latest start in the Lightening Stakes and finished fourth in the 2004 Darley July Cup. The Japanese look to have another live contender on their hands in the shape of Symboli Gran, a Group Two winner in his native country and a close-up sixth in one of Japan's best sprints, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, at Chukyo in March.
Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien, successful with Stravinsky in 1999 and Mozart two years later, has 10 to choose from, headed by the brilliant Stan James 2000 Guineas victor George Washington, who has been given the option of a return to sprinting. The O'Brien contingent also includes the well-regarded Art Museum, unbeaten in two outings last season.
The Maktoum family's Godolphin operation has yet to add the Darley July Cup to its list of Group One winners, but looks to have a strong hand in 2006 with seven entries. These include Iffraaj, winner of Royal Ascot's Wokingham Stakes in 2005 when trained by Michael Jarvis, Opera Cape, a very useful two-year-old last season but disappointing on his seasonal debut in the Stan James 2000 Guineas and Silca's Sister, triumphant in the Group One Prix Morny last season and fourth last time out in the Stan James 1000 Guineas. An interesting entry from Godolphin is Astronomia, who previously raced in Australia for Gai Waterhouse and finished fourth in the Group One Crown Oaks at Flemington in November.
Sir Michael Stoute is the most successful current trainer in the Darley July Cup, with three wins courtesy of Marwell (1981), Green Desert (1986) and Ajdal (1987). Freemason Lodge's two hopes this year are Home Affairs and Tawaassol, who caught the eye with a facile maiden success at Yarmouth last month.
Other leading contenders include Amadeus Wolf, winner of the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last season who appeared to not get home in the Stan James 2000 Guineas last time out, La Cucaracha, heroine of the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York last season, the lightly-raced Soldier's Tale, fourth in the 2005 Darley July Cup, multiple Group One scorer Somnus and Soviet Song, who could revert to six furlongs for the first time since her debut win as a two-year-old back in 2002.
Etlaala, third in 2005, has won both his starts this year, while both Ashdown Express and Balmont have run well twice in the Darley July Cup. Ashdown Express, trained by Chris Wall, was sixth last year and second in 2004, with the Jeremy Noseda-trained Balmont fifth in 2005 and third the previous year.
Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course at Newmarket, commented: "Newmarket is proud to be staging Europe richest sprint, the £360,000 Darley July Cup, and we are over the moon to have received such high quality entries for our summer racing highlight.
"We look forward to welcoming runners from around the world to Newmarket on Friday, July 14. With Agnes World winning for Japan in 2000, Choisir going very close for Australia in 2003 and Cape Of Good Hope coming fourth in 2003, the Darley July Cup has always been at the forefront of international competition and we look forward to that trend developing even further this year."
The £360,000 Darley July Cup is Europe's richest sprint and the highlight of the three-day Ritz Club July Festival, which is also supported by Jaeger and runs from Wednesday, July 12 through to Friday, July 14.
THE DARLEY JULY CUP
Class 1, Group 1, £360,000 Total Prize Fund. Newmarket, Friday, July 14, 2006, six furlongs. For three-year-olds and upwards. Weights: 3yo colts & geldings 8st 13lb; fillies 8st 10lb; 4yo+ colts & geldings 9st 5lb; fillies 9st 2lb. Entries closed May 10 (66 entries), forfeit stage June 20, £25,000 supplementary entry stage July 8, five-day confirmation stage July 8, final declaration stage, 10.00am, July 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, May 15, 2006.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
25360-6 AD VALOREM (USA) 4 Sue Magnier & R Ingram Aidan O'Brien IRE
413162- AJIGOLO 3 Timberhill Racing Partnership Mick Channon
0332-20 AMADEUS MOZART (IRE) 3 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan
O'Brien IRE
13211-0 AMADEUS WOLF 3 Duddy McDonald Heeney Irish National Stud Kevin
Ryan
11- ART MUSEUM (USA) 3 Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien
IRE
04310-0 ASHDOWN EXPRESS (IRE) 7 John Jackson Chris Wall
413-(1)0 ASSET (IRE) 3 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing XXVI Richard Hannon
124124- ASTRONOMIA (NZ) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
033520- BALMONT (USA) 5 Sanford Robertson & Hatta Bloodstock Jeremy
Noseda
216011- BALTHAZAAR'S GIFT (IRE) 3 Ryder Racing Ltd Kevin Ryan
31360-2 BEAUTY BRIGHT (IRE) 3 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien
IRE
030-360 BECKERMET (IRE) 4 Bishopthorpe Racing Two Roger Fisher
BUSTIN JUSTIN (USA) 3 Zayat Stables Ltd Jeremy Noseda
1/2546-0 CAPE COLUMBINE 4 Mrs R Lowe David Elsworth
10335-3 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 8 Guy Carstairs & J Carstairs David Oughton
HK
6/01112- CARADAK (IRE) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
CHIEF CRAZY HORSE 3 Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan
O'Brien IRE
13315-(6) COURT MASTERPIECE 6 Gainsborough Stud Ed Dunlop
1210- DICKENSIAN (IRE) 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
3600-11 ETLAALA 4 Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills
300024- EXCUSEZ MOI (USA) 4 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Clive
Brittain
00010-1 FALKIRK (NZ) 6 Windsor Park Stud Ltd Syndicate Lee Freedman AUS
065220- FAYR JAG (IRE) 7 Jonathan Gill Tim Easterby
205202-5 FONTHILL ROAD (IRE) 6 Una Towell Richard Fahey
31111-1 GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE) 3 Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick
Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
0/13110- GIFT HORSE 6 Alfi and Partners David Nicholls
11-4452 GLAMOUR PUSS (NZ) 6 G Chittick Danny O'Brien AUS
0/13406-1 HOME AFFAIRS 4 Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute
111010- IFFRAAJ 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
1124(0)-00 IVAN DENISOVICH (IRE) 3 Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Mr & Mrs
Irving Cowan Aidan O'Brien IRE
6323-1 KAMARINSKAYA (USA) 3 Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien
IRE
3142-0 LA CHUNGA (USA) 3 Sir Robert Ogden Jeremy Noseda
012112- LA CUCARACHA 5 Guy Reed Barry Hills
(1)-(1)(1)(1)12 LES ARCS (USA) 6 Willie McKay Tim Pitt
32235-1 MAJORS CAST (IRE) 5 Susan Roy Jeremy Noseda
0116-5(6) MANSTON (IRE) 3 Gallagher Equine Ltd Brian Meehan
1524-22 MARCUS ANDRONICUS (USA) 3 Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue
Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
211002- MASTA PLASTA (IRE) 3 Transcend Bloodstock LLP Howard Johnson
35311-1 MISS SALLY (IRE) 4 Mrs M Mullen Michael Halford IRE
4101-15 MISU BOND (IRE) 3 Reg Bond Bryan Smart
1124- MODEEROCH (IRE) 3 Ballylinch Stud Jim Bolger IRE
51053-0 MOSS VALE (IRE) 5 Lady O'Reilly David Nicholls
0121- MURFREESBORO 3 George Strawbridge John Gosden
1215- NIDHAAL (IRE) 3 Hamdan Al Maktoum Ed Dunlop
2212-4 NORTHERN EMPIRE (IRE) 3 Clipper Group Holdings Brian Meehan
21123-0 OPERA CAPE 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
0014-10 PARADISE ISLE 5 The Equema Partnership Chris Wall
30154-6 PATAVELLIAN (IRE) 8 John Deer Roger Charlton
510/00-0 PIVOTAL POINT 6 Ray Bernard Peter Makin
00-(2)203 QUITO (IRE) 9 Michael Hill David Chapman
62155- RACER FOREVER (USA) 3 Mohamed Obaida John Gosden
3224-10 RED CLUBS (IRE) 3 Ronald Arculli Barry Hills
(1)31111- RESPLENDENT GLORY (IRE) 4 Resplendent Racing Limited Terry
Mills
40406-0 ROYAL MILLENNIUM (IRE) 8 Jackie & George Smith Mick Channon
21114/0- SATCHEM (IRE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
511-4 SILCA'S SISTER 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
21/114- SOLDIER'S TALE (USA) 5 Budget Stable Jeremy Noseda
00-(1)(1)60 SOMETHING (IRE) 4 John Humphreys Terry Mills
400465- SOMNUS 6 Legard Sidebottom & Sykes Tim Easterby
116/312- SOVIET SONG (IRE) 6 Elite Racing Club James Fanshawe
1221-03 STRIKE UP THE BAND 3 The Oak Apple Syndicate David Nicholls
0211-36 SYMBOLI GRAN (IRE) 4 Symboli Stud Yoshihiro Hatakeyama JAP
011-131 TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS) 7 J & B Janiak Joe Janiak AUS
3-12 TAWAASSOL (USA) 3 Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute
13111-3 TAX FREE (IRE) 4 Ian Hewitson David Nicholls
12- THE WILD SWAN (USA) 3 Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien
IRE
66 Entries
12 Irish-trained
3 Australian-trained
1 Hong Kong-trained
1 Japanese-trained
The Darley July Cup – The Sprint Championship
Since the World Rankings (formerly International Classifications) first
began in 1977, there have been 29 runnings of the Darley July Cup and
incredibly no less than 22 of the winners in that time have been crowned
champion European sprinter, with the other seven all being of the highest
quality. Time and again the Darley July Cup has proved to be Europe’s
sprint championship.
Year Winner Rating
2005 PASTORAL PURSUITS 118 (Joint with Whipper)
2004 Frizzante 113 (4th to Somnus & Var on 117)
2003 OASIS DREAM 125
2002 Continent 117 (3rd to Kyllachy on 119)
2001 MOZART 125
2000 Agnes World 119 (3rd to Namid on 127)
1999 STRAVINSKY 127
1998 ELNADIM 121
1997 COMPTON PLACE 121 (Joint with Elnadim and Royal Applause)
1996 ANABAA 127
1995 LAKE CONISTON 127
1994 OWINGTON 124 (Joint with Bigstone)
1993 Hamas 120 (3rd to Wolfhound on 125)
1992 Mr Brooks 121 (Joint 3rd to Sheikh Albadou on 127)
1991 POLISH PATRIOT 126
1990 Royal Academy 129 (2nd to Dayjur on 133)
1989 CADEAUX GENEREUX 124
1988 SOVIET STAR 125
1987 AJDAL 127
1986 Green Desert 122 (4th to Last Tycoon on 126)
1985 NEVER SO BOLD 130
1984 CHIEF SINGER 132
1983 HABIBTI 131
1982 SHARPO 128
1981 MARWELL 130 (Joint with Sharpo)
1980 MOORESTYLE 131 (Also champion three-year-old)
1979 THATCHING 132
1978 SOLINUS 128 (Joint with King Of Macedon)
1977 GENTILHOMBRE 133
DARLEY JULY CUP PAST RESULTS & STATISTICS
Year Winner Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP Ran
2005 Pastoral Pursuits 4-9-05 The Pursuits & National
Stud P/Ship Hughie Morrison John Egan 22/1 19
2004 Frizzante 5-9-02 Jan Hopper & Elizabeth Grundy James Fanshawe
Johnny Murtagh 14/1 20
2003 Oasis Dream 3-8-13 Khalid Abdulla John Gosden Richard Hughes 9/2
16
2002 Continent 5-9-05 Lucayan Stud David Nicholls Darryll Holland 12/1
14
2001 Mozart 3-8-13 Michael Tabor/Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE
Michael Kinane 4/1F 18
2000 Agnes World 5-9-05 Takao Watanabe Hideyuki Mori JPN Yutaka Take
4/1F 10
1999 Stravinsky 3-8-13 Michael Tabor/Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE Michael
Kinane 8/1 17
1998 Elnadim 4-9-05 Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop Richard Hills 3/1F
17
1997 Compton Place 3-8-13 Duke of Devonshire James Toller Seb Sanders
50/1 9
1996 Anabaa 4-9-05 Mrs Alec Head Criquette Head FR Freddie Head 11/4
10
1995 Lake Coniston 4-9-06 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoff Lewis Pat
Eddery 13/8F 9
1994 Owington 3-8-13 Baron Georg von Ullmann Geoff Wragg Paul Eddery
3/1 9
1993 Hamas 4-9-06 Hamdan Al Maktoum Peter Walwyn Willie Carson 33/1 12
1992 Mr Brooks 5-9-06 Paul Green Richard Hannon Lester Piggott 16/1 8
1991 Polish Patriot 3-8-13 Dick Kirstein Guy Harwood Ray Cochrane 6/1
8
1990 Royal Academy 3-8-13 Classic Thoroughbreds Plc Vincent O'Brien IRE
John Reid 7/1 9
1989 Cadeaux Genereux 4-9-06 Maktoum Al Maktoum Alex Scott Paul Eddery
10/1 11
1988 Soviet Star 4-9-06 Sheikh Mohammed Andre Fabre FR Cash Asmussen
15/8F 9
1987 Ajdal 3-8-11 Sheikh Mohammed Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn 9/2
11
1986 Green Desert 3-8-11 Maktoum Al Maktoum Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn
7/4F 5
1985 Never So Bold 5-9-06 Edward Kessly Robert Armstrong Steve Cauthen
5/4F 9
1984 Chief Singer 3-8-11 Jeff Smith Ron Sheather Ray Cochrane 15/8 9
1983 Habibti 3-8-08 Mohamed Mutawa John Dunlop Willie Carson 8/1 15
1982 Sharpo 5-9-06 Monica Sheriffe Jeremy Tree Pat Eddery 13/2 16
1981 Marwell 3-8-08 Edmund Loder Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn 13/8F
14
1980 Moorestyle 3-8-11 Moores Int. Furnishings Robert Armstrong Lester
Piggott 3/1F 14
1979 Thatching 4-9-06 Robert Sangster Vincent O'Brien IRE Lester Piggott
2/1F 11
1978 Solinus 3-8-11 Danny Schwartz Vincent O'Brien IRE Lester Piggott
4/7F 14
1977 Gentilhombre 4-9-06 J Murrell Neil Adam Paul Cook 10/1 8
1976 Lochnager 4-9-06 C Spence Mick Easterby Edward Hide 3/1F 10
1975 Lianga 4-9-04 Daniel Wildenstein Angel Penna FR Yves Saint-Martin
10/1 13
1974 Saritamer 3-8-10 Charles St George Vincent O'Brien IRE Lester Piggott
11/4 9
1973 Thatch 3-8-10 John Mulcahy Vincent O'Brien IRE Lester Piggott 4/5F
6
1972 Parsimony 3-8-07 E Holland-Martin Fulke Johnson Houghton Ron Hutchinson
16/1 5
1971 Realm 4-9-03 R Boucher John Winter Brian Taylor 11/2 8
1970 Huntercombe 3-8-06 Horace Renshaw Arthur Budgett Sandy Barclay 8/13F
4
1969 Tudor Music 3-8-06 David Robinson Michael Jarvis Frankie Durr 4/5F
3
1968 So Blessed 3-8-02 David Robinson Michael Jarvis Frankie Durr 7/2
7
1967 Forlorn River 5-9-00 Mrs W Richardson Arthur Stephenson Bruce Raymond
8/1 9
1966 Lucasland 4-8-11 John Baillie Jack Waugh Eric Eldin 100/6 18
1965 Merry Madcap 3-7-13 Mrs H Freling-Huysen Freddie Maxwell Ron Hutchinson
100/8 14
1964 Daylight Robbery 3-8-02 R A Budgett Arthur Budgett Scobie Breasley
100/9 7
1963 Secret Step 4-8-11 Paul Mellon Peter Hastings-Bass Geoff Lewis 2/1
F 8
1962 Marsolve 4-9-01 Sir Malcolm McAlpine Reg Day Bill Rickaby 5/1 4
1961 Galivanter 5-9-08 Major Lionel Holliday Dick Hern Harry Carr 9/2
3
1960 Tin Whistle 3-8-10 B Grainger Pat Rohan Lester Piggott walkover
1959 Right Boy 5-9-08 G Gilbert Pat Rohan Lester Piggott 11/10F 6
1958 Right Boy 4-9-08 G Gilbert Bill Dutton Lester Piggott 4/5 F 4
1957 Vigo 4-9-08 T H Farr Bill Dutton Lester Piggott 7/2 4
1956 Matador 3-8-10 Mrs J E Ferguson Jack Waugh Bill Rickaby 11/2 5
1955 Pappa Fourway 3-8-10 Mrs E Goldson Bill Dutton Harry Carr 1/6F 3
1954 Vilmoray 4-8-08 Anthony Green B Bullock Willie Snaith 6/4F 4
1953 Devon Vintage 3-8-07 R C Boucher Jack Colling Gordon Richards 11/4
5
1952 Set Fair 3-8-02 C W Bell Walter Nightingall Eph Smith 15/8F 4
1951 Hard Sauce 3-8-10 Sir Victor Sassoon Norman Bertie Gordon Richards
8/1 6
1950 Abernant 4-9-08 Reginald Macdonald-Buchanan Noel Murless Gordon
Richards 8/13F 6
1949 Abernant 3-8-10 Reginald Macdonald-Buchanan Noel Murless Gordon
Richards 2/11F 3
1948 Palm Vista 3-7-10 E Broadbelt Rufus Beasley Eph Smith 13/8F 9
1947 Falls Of Clyde 3-8-03 Miss P Vaughan Evan Williams Sam Wragg 100/30
5
1946 The Bug 3-8-04 Norman Wachman Gerald Wellesley IRE Charlie Smirke
8/11F 3
1945 Honeyway 4-9-06 Lord Milford Jack Jarvis Eph Smith 8/11F 4
Longest-priced winner: 50/1 Compton Place (1997)
Shortest-priced winner: 1/50 Delaunay (1905)
Most successful current trainers
3 wins
Sir Michael Stoute
2 Wins
John Dunlop
Michael Jarvis
Aidan O’Brien IRE
1 win
Mick Easterby
Andre Fabre FR
James Fanshawe
John Gosden
Richard Hannon
Criquette Head-Maarek FR
Fulke Johnson Houghton
Hideyuki Mori JPN
Hughie Morrison
David Nicholls
James Toller
Geoff Wragg
Most-successful current jockeys
2 wins
Paul Eddery
Michael Kinane
1 win
John Egan
Darryll Holland
Richard Hills
Richard Hughes
Johnny Murtagh
Seb Sanders
Yutaka Take
