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Ladbrokes St Leger 2010 |
St
Leger
Arctic Cosmos Comes Out of the Cold to Land St Leger
11/09/10
1 Arctic Cosmos 12/1
2 Midas Touch 13/2
3 Corsica 40/1
William Buick, seen by many as the most exciting young jockey around, enjoyed a first British Group 1 success when giving Arctic Cosmos a ride full of confidence to land the 234th running of the Ladbrokes St Leger.
It was a third win in the final Classic for John Gosden, who trained the colt for his wife Rachel Hood and Robin Geffen.
“The shower just before the race helped and he’s won like a good one,” said Gosden. “We kept our patience and always believed in this horse.
“William just took a pull because he thought he was going too well. He knew it was a big, long straight and he was clever. He did the same on Dar Re Mi when winning on her in Dubai.
“We put blinkers on just to help him focus, if you watch his run at Goodwood he just dropped himself out a bit.
“He’s Breeders’ Cup eligible and we might think about dropping him back to a mile and a half for the Turf at Churchill Downs now. Conduit did both and William thinks he can step back in trip no problem. Beforehand we had been thinking of the Prix Royal Oak but I’m thinking the other way now.
“He’s the most beautiful horse by an unfashionable sire (North Light), who might be more fashionable now - I have a lovely filly by the sire at home as well.
“William’s a very talented young man with great balance. Two great jockeys - Frankie Dettori and another person I won’t name - told me this was the rising star in the weighing room. He’d never ridden for me or even ridden out when he came to me. We need young people like him to come through and William’s been nothing but a delight to work with.
“He’s very level and I told him to keep it steady on the PR front, there is so much celebrity froth about now. He’s just starting out in his career and it’s nice to get this (British) Group 1 monkey off his back. He’s got to build on it now.
“He’s got to hope I have the horses to help him or otherwise he might move on. This fellow was not some Galileo who cost a fortune, I got him out of Book 2 at Tattersalls for 47,000gns and I didn’t have an owner. I have to use my wits a bit to get these horses.
“I always buy one on spec every year and got him the day I worked Raven’s Pass at Lingfield. Nobody wanted him so he ended up in Rachel’s Christmas stocking.”
Paddy Power quote Arctic Cosmos at 10/1 for the Breeders’ Cup Turf after today’s win.
Neptune Investments Management founder Geffen, who bought a share in Arctic Cosmos during the summer, added: “This is just the most fantastic experience and I’ve loved it to bits. John has been so patient with the horse and that has paid off when it matters.
“I’ve a strange feeling that when he saw in the morning paper today that he might be going jumping he thought no thanks! He’ll maybe have to wait a year or two for that now!”
Rachel Hood, Gosden’s wife, added: “I’ve done nothing, it’s all down to my husband and William Buick, who rode a fantastic race. It’s a feeling like nothing in the world to win this.”
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
|
1 |
Arctic Cosmos J H M Gosden |
William Buick 9st 0lbs |
12 - 1 Winner |
|
2 |
Midas Touch A P O'Brien |
C O'Donoghue 9st 0lbs |
13 - 2 1 3/4 length |
|
3 |
Corsica M Johnston |
J Fanning 9st 0lbs |
40 - 1 Nose |
|
4 |
Snow Fairy E A L Dunlop |
E Ahern 8st 11lbs |
8 - 1 1 1/4 length |
|
5 |
Joshua Tree A P O'Brien |
J P Spencer 9st 0lbs |
9 - 1 2 3/4 lengths |
|
6 |
Rewilding M Al Zarooni |
L Dettori 9st 0lbs |
1 - 1 3/4 length |
|
7 |
Theology J Noseda |
P Hanagan 9st 0lbs |
40 - 1 1 1/2 length |
|
8 |
Dandino J G Given |
P Mulrennan 9st 0lbs |
7 - 1 1/2 length |
|
9 |
Total Command Sir Michael Stoute |
R L Moore 9st 0lbs |
40 - 1 22 lengths |
|
10 |
Ted Spread M H Tompkins |
D Holland 9st 0lbs |
33 - 1 6 lengths |
BUICK CALM AFTER FIRST CLASSIC SUCCESS
Arctic Cosmos gave his 22-year-old rider William Buick a first Classic win in the 234th running of the world’s oldest Classic, the Ladbrokes St Leger, at Doncaster today.
Buick reacted: “It is unbelievable - this is the victory we needed. We have had a good first season together (with trainer John Gosden) and I am really enjoying it.
“We rode Goodwood like a trial with Arctic Cosmos - it wasn’t going to be a be-all, end-all race. He ran well there (third) and came out of the race very well. He didn’t have a hard race there.
“The horse gave me a lot of confidence. Today he had blinkers on and the race panned out perfectly. I think my Dad (ex-jockey Walter) gets more worried than I do.
“I am very fortunate to be in the position I am in. I am riding a lot of nice horses - there are a lot of good jockeys who deserve a chance too.
“I was always going to win except if Nijinsky came from behind!
“Arctic Cosmos showed his true class. At home, we did fancy him and he has proved us right.
“I was very glad the rain came just before the race - it opened up the ground and the going was just on the easy side - this horse would not want it too quick.
“He has got speed and I just felt he was tying up a bit at the end so a mile and a half should be fine
“To be standing in the winner’s enclosure here at Doncaster after winning the Ladbrokes St Leger is special.
“Everything went perfectly in the race - he travelled good today. It was all very straightforward - he showed what a good horse he is today. To win a Classic is what every jockey wants to do and it has been my dream since I came into racing.”
SPONSORS THRILLED AS MASSIVE REWILDING GAMBLE GOES ASTRAY
The nationwide gamble on Rewilding went astray and left bookies celebrating a shock winner of the Ladbrokes St Leger.
Frankie Dettori's mount was backed into even money as punters piled into the Godolphin hotpot only to see the horse finish sixth.
Big-race winner Arctic Cosmos drifted to 12/1 as punters overlooked the John Gosden-trained runner.
Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: “The gamble on Rewilding was colossal. We put our heads on the block with our standout top price and duly got bowled over with Frankie fans.
“Arctic Cosmos had slipped off many a radar on the day and we were leading the cheers as William Buick brought him back into the winner's enclosure. We've absolutely no complaints whatsoever.”
STAMINA SAPS SNOW FAIRY AS MIDAS AND CORSICA MAKE THE FRAME
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Dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy, successful in mile and half Classics at Espom and the Curragh this season, found the extended mile and six furlongs of the Ladbrokes St Leger a distance too far as she finished fourth under Eddie Ahern, three lengths behind the victorious Arctic Cosmos.
Trainer Ed Dunlop is now considering dropping the filly back to 10 furlongs against her own sex at Longchamp in three weeks.
He said: “She ran a great race and was probably about the last horse to come off the bridle - she just didn’t stay. Two out she was cruising.
“We may go to the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Arc weekend. It means dropping back half a mile in trip but the way she travelled in the race today was fantastic until her stamina ran out.
“All credit to the winner, it was a great performance, but I’m pleased with our filly, she ran a good race.”
Midas Touch, trained by Aidan O’Brien, took second place in the world’s oldest Classic, a length and three quarters behind the winner.
Jockey Colm O’Donoghue commented: “He’s ran a great race and has competed in top-class races all year. He might make a better four-year-old.”
Corsica ran a typically game race in making the running before taking third, a further nose back. The Mark Johnston-trained colt was utilised to set the pace for Godolphin’s Rewilding (6th) but connections were always keen to stress that Joe Fanning’s mount was competing on his own merits, and so it proved.
Deirdre Johnston, assistant trainer to her husband, said: “He ran a fantastic race and just got a perfect ride. He was only just caught for second and Joe initially thought he had hung on.
“We were there on our own merits but to help Godolphin too and it suited everyone.
“We will sit back and discuss the horse’s options and see how he is before making any plans.”
SECOND TO TENTH TALK
Colm O'Donoghue, on board the three quarter of a length second Midas Touch, said: “He was very tough and very genuine. He's getting better and better all the time and should make up into a lovely four-year-old."
Joe Fanning, on the third Corsica, said: “He travelled gorgeously. He had every chance at the two-marker but just kept galloping on."
Eddie Ahern, on fourth-placed Snow Fairy, remarked: “She ran a blinder and I thought I was going to win at the two-pole, but she just ran out of petrol.”
Jamie Spencer, on the fifth Joshua Tree, commented: “He ran well and I would be happy with him.”
Frankie Dettori, on sixth-placed Evens favourite Rewilding, said: “I couldn’t bridge the gap early on. I thought I would just wait till I got up the straight and ask him again but he was on his knees. I was never at the races. He ran flat - I was beaten at Rose Hill so he underperformed for whatever reason.”
Paul Hanagan on the seventh Theology, commented: “We went a real nice gallop and mine just stayed on.”
Paul Mulrennan, who partnered the eighth Dandino, said: “The ground was a lot slower down the back than he was used to and he was labouring on it.”
Ryan Moore, rider of the ninth Total Command, declared: “He ran bad. I just don't know why.”
Darryll Holland, the rider of the 10th and last Ted Spread, said: “The ground was not soft enough for him - that is it basically.”
ARCTIC COSMOS (USA) FACTFILE - THE WINNER
b c North Light (IRE) - Fifth Avenue Doll (USA) (Marquetry (USA))
Form: (4)4-(1)3(1)231 Owner: Rachel Hood & Robin Geffen Trainer: John Gosden
Breeder: Sheridan & Iadora Farm Jockey: William Buick
Arctic Cosmos started his career over a mile on Kempton's Polytrack on October 8, 2009, finishing fourth under Robert Havlin. The North Light colt filled the same berth eight days later over the same trip on good to firm turf at Redcar and was then put away for the winter. Arctic Cosmos returned to action in a nine-furlong Polytrack maiden at Wolverhampton on April 20, when he drew clear for an impressive four-length triumph. Sent to Newbury for his handicap debut over a mile and three furlongs on May 14, the John Gosden-trained three-year-old stayed on to finish third under William Buick, five lengths behind Berling. A return to the Polytrack at Kempton on June 9, in a 12-furlong handicap, brought an easy four and a half-length success for Arctic Cosmos. That run prompted connections to pitch him into the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes over the same trip at Royal Ascot on June 18, and he showed the measure of his progress in finishing just over two lengths second to Monterosso. Arctic Cosmos warmed up for the Ladbrokes St Leger when coming home a length and a half third behind the victorious Rebel Soldier in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 27, a race in which Dandino was a length and a quarter ahead of him in second. The North Light colt was a 47,000 guineas yearling purchase at Tattersalls in October, 2008. His dam, Fifth Avenue Doll, won 10 races in the US. Today he won the Ladbrokes St Leger by a length and three quarters.
Race Record: Starts: 8; Wins: 3; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £332,280
Rachel Hood & Robin Geffen
Chairman of Save Historic Newmarket Action Group and a qualified barrister, Rachel Hood is married to trainer John Gosden. She is a strident activist against Lord Derby's plans to build 1,200 new homes at the Hatchfield Farm site on the edge of Newmarket. Hood also serves as vice president of the Racehorse Owners' Association, as a trustee of the Animal Health Trust and as a director of both Racing Enterprises Ltd and the Horsemen's Group. She made the Conservative long-list as a potential candidate to stand as Newmarket's MP at the 2010 general election. She has owned horses for over 20 years, among them this season's Cheshire Oaks winner Gertrude Bell, the Listed St Hugh's Stakes winner Head Over Heels, Deprecator, Gwaihir and Vikings Bay. Robin Geffen, the founder of Neptune Investment Management, bought into Arctic Cosmos after the colt ran second in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He had long been involved in syndicate ownership before paying 280,000 guineas for the Evan Williams-trained Fiulin at Tattersalls in October, 2009, and also owns Listed Coral Marathon Stakes winner King Of Wands, third in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup at York last month. His aim is to buy Flat horses with potential as hurdlers. Born in London in 1957, he went to Rugby public school and graduated with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Keble College, Oxford in 1979. He joined Charterhouse J. Rothschild as a graduate trainee and his career progressed through moves to Eagle Star, York Trust, Scottish Equitable and Orbitex Investments Limited, where he served as Chief Investment Officer from 1997. In 2002, while all around him were setting up hedge funds, Geffen established Neptune Investment Management in Hammersmith, a long-only fund management business. A boutique operation, Neptune employs around 90 people, all of them part-owners in the business, which manages assets of over £5 billion. Neptune focuses exclusively on fund management and offers a range of collective investment schemes principally investing in equities. In 2008 Neptune Investment Management won over 20 industry awards and has continued to pick up accolades. Neptune sponsors the Champagne Stakes at the 2010 Ladbrokes St Leger Festival and is also a major supporter of Jump racing. Geffen, who lives in south west London, is a keen real tennis and racquets player.
Ladbrokes St Leger winner with first runner - 2010 ARCTIC COSMOS
John Gosden was born on March 30, 1951, the son of respected trainer Towser Gosden. After Cambridge University, he worked in land management in Venezuela before returning to Britain to become assistant to Sir Noel Murless from 1974 to 1975 and then Vincent O'Brien from 1976 to 1977. After a brief period assisting Tommy Doyle in California, Gosden set up on his own in the States in 1979 and enjoyed a very successful nine years training on the west coast. He was responsible for saddling Bates Motel to win the Santa Anita, Monmouth, and San Antonio Handicaps and also sent out the Robert Sangster-owned Royal Heroine to take the inaugural Breeders' Cup Mile at Hollywood Park in 1984 - both horses won Eclipse Awards. In 1988 he took out his first licence in Britain at the instigation of Sheikh Mohammed and established himself as a leading trainer on these shores at Newmarket, having his best season in 1992 when he recorded 113 wins. The 1996 St Leger was a seminal moment in the trainer's career as it marked his first English Classic success when the Sheikh Mohammed-owned Shantou collared Dushyantor to win at Doncaster. Gosden gained another success in Britain's oldest Classic 11 years on with Lucarno, who was bred and owned by another of his leading patrons, George Strawbridge. He also trained Sonus to be second behind User Friendly in the 1992 running. The trainer has a particularly notable record in the Investec Derby, filling two of the places in 1995, training Shantou to finish third in 1996 and then having a first success in the Classic courtesy of Benny The Dip in 1997. His other British Classic success was with Lahan in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2000, the first season that he trained at the famous Manton Estate in Wiltshire. He was previously based at Newmarket in Stanley House Stables owned by Sheikh Mohammed and returned to headquarters after the 2005 season and is now settled at Clarehaven Stables on the Bury Road. Other good horses to have been trained by Gosden include the champion sprinter Oasis Dream, Irish Champion Stakes winner Muhtarram, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victor Observatory, Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine May Ball, Golden Jubilee Stakes scorer Malhub, Coronation Stakes victor Nannina and Challenge Stakes winner Sleeping Indian. In 2008, Gosden saddled 93 winners - Raven's Pass won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, Rainbow View easily won the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and Donativum took the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. Another Breeders' Cup success came in 2009 when Pounced won the Juvenile Turf, while Debussy enjoyed Stateside success in 2010, winning the Arlington Million. Dar Re Mi landed three top-flight wins for Gosden in 2009/10 including the Yorkshire Oaks and the Dubai Sheema Classic. Gosden's list of owners includes Sheikh Mohammed's wife Princess Haya, Hamdan Al Maktoum, Cheveley Park Stud, George Strawbridge, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing and Khalid Abdulla. John is married to Rachel Hood, a barrister and vice-president of the Racehorse Owners' Association. The couple have four children and are passionate about preserving Newmarket as Britain's premier racing centre. Arctic Cosmos today gave him a third Ladbrokes St Leger success.
Ladbrokes St Leger Record: 2010 -1 ARCTIC COSMOS, 2007-1 LUCARNO, 2007-10 Raincoat, 1996-1 SHANTOU, 1993-7 Silverdale, 1993-8 Winged Victory, 1993-9 Azilian, 1992-2 Sonus
The 22-year-old William Buick is probably the brightest young talent in British racing at present. He was announced as the new stable jockey to powerful Newmarket handler John Gosden in January and cemented that partnership with a success aboard Lady Lloyd-Webber's Dar Re Mi in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic in March. Born on July 22, 1988, in Norway, where his father Walter (an eight-time champion in Scandinavia) was a jockey at the time, he had his first ride in August, 2006, and his first success the following month (September 27) when scoring on Bank On Benny at Salisbury. He was apprenticed to trainer Andrew Balding and shared the 2008 apprentices' championship with David Probert, who was attached to the same stable. His first big win came in the 2007 Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot on Dark Missile and he landed both the 2008 St Simon Stakes and 2009 Ormonde Stakes on Buccellati. His first top-level success came when winning the Grade One E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in Canada in October on the Mick Channon-trained Lahaleeb. He enjoyed further top-flight success across the Atlantic last month when partnering Debussy to victory in the Grade One Arlington Million in Chicago for Gosden. The following day, Buick landed in France and rode the David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead to victory in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville. Buick won the Apprentice Jockey of the Year award at the Lesters in 2007 and 2008, making him the only rider to receive the accolade twice. He won his Classic, and indeed first British Group One, on Arctic Cosmos today.
Ladbrokes St Leger winner with first ride - 2010 ARCTIC COSMOS
