2012 Champagne Stakes

racing news/

Outstrip Sparkles in Champagne Stakes
14/09/13

1 Outstrip 13/8J
2 The Grey Gatsby 13/8J
3 Cable Bay 5/1
NR: Anjaal, Exogenesis (IRE), Picks Pinta
4 ran Distances: 3l, hd, 13l
TIME 1m 26.90s (slow by 3.10s)

Outstrip won the seven-furlong Group Two At The Races Champagne Stakes, the opening race at Doncaster on Ladbrokes St Leger Day, in great style, scoring by three lengths eased down by Mickael Barzalona.

Outstrip
© www.godolphin.com

The Godolphin two-year-old, who gave trainer Charlie Appleby his biggest success to date, was slow into stride as Barzalona wanted to hold up the grey Exceed And Excel colt.

Outstrip raced a bit keenly initially in third but was then settled last of the four runners. He made good progress on the outside to challenge below the distance and took the lead by the furlong-pole.

Outstrip went clear and Barzalona was able to take things easy in the closing stages. The winning time was 1m 26.90s.

Appleby, who started training for Godolphin on July 25, said: “I was very confident, without being too confident, coming into the race. When he ran in the Vintage Stakes (at Glorious Goodwood), we just got touched off on the line and Mickael said that, if he knew that the horse had such a turn of foot, he would have waited longer that day.

“They were two nice colts that went away from the rest in the Vintage, so I was confident today. Hopefully, the winner will frank the form in Ireland.

“ We were always going sit and wait today – drop him in and ride him for that turn of foot that he showed us at Goodwood. He is a nice horse and I thought he would handle the conditions today. He has got a turn of foot as we saw again today and it was a decent performance.

“Going forward, we will look at the Dewhurst Stakes (Group One, Newmarket) or go to France for the Lagardere (Group One, Longchamp). Those are the two options we have in place and we will see how the horse comes out of this race.

“He is a horse who will strengthen. I would like to see him do that and a mile will be his trip next year. We will cross those bridges when we come to them.”

Mickael Barzalona added: “I wanted to give him the best experience that I could – drop him in, make him relax and quicken well in the end. He’s a nice horse – he has improved plenty since his last run. It was maybe my fault last time that he didn’t win but today I gave him a good experience and he will improve again.

“I think he has the potential to win a Group One and he will be a serious horse for next year.”

This was Godolphin’s sixth success in the At The Races Champagne Stakes following on from Noverre (2000), Dubai Destination (2001), Almushahar (2002), Poet’s Voice (2009) and Saamidd (2010).

At The Races Champagne Stakes (Group 2)
£89,200 added, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

GATSBY COULD RETURN TO DONCASTER

Trainer Kevin Ryan was very happy with The Grey Gatsby after he finished the three length runner-up to Outstrip in the At The Races Champagne Stakes at Doncaster this afternoon.

The 13/8 joint-favourite has been remarkably consistent this season and finished second in the Acomb Stakes at York last month after making a winning debut on the Knavesmire in July.

“We’re delighted with that given the fact that he’s still a little inexperienced,” said Ryan.

“He’s improving with every run and it looked like he was going to get beaten for second at one point but he keeps sticking his neck out. He’s very genuine and was going on again at the end.

“He’s in the Dewhurst (at Newmarket) and the Racing Post Trophy back here at Doncaster so we’ll take a look at those two races and see how they pan out.

“There were no excuses with the ground as he needs a bit of juice in it which should mean he has his conditions later on in the year. Time will tell whether he’ll be a miler but I suspect he may end up over a mile and a quarter as a three-year-old. We’ve got plenty to look forward to.”

Charles Hills was also looking to the future with Cable Bay after the 5/1 shot had finished a further head back in third.

“He was a bit short of room at a crucial point and was probably intimidated a little bit,” said the trainer.

“He’s run a very solid race but I just wonder whether the trip stretched him a bit. He’s in the Dewhurst and the Racing Post Trophy but there’s a decent Group Two race at Maisons-Laffitte over six and a half furlongs later on in the year that I’ve got my eye on and he may end up there.”

RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP

2012 Toronado Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Carmichael Humber 11/4
2011 Trumpet Major Richard Hannon Richard Hughes John Manley 7/1
2010 Saamidd Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 5/6 fav
2009 Poet’s Voice Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 10/1
2008 Westphalia Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh M Tabor, D Smith, S Magnier 100/30
2007 McCartney Mark Johnston Ryan Moore Sheikh Mohammed 8/1
2006 Vital Equine Eoghan O'Neill Richard Mullen Fasthandle Ltd 16/1
2005 DH Close To You Terry Mills John Egan Miss J A Leighs 8/1
DH Silent Times Eoghan O'Neiill Jamie Spencer John Fretwell 6/1
2004 Etlaala Barry Hills Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 6/1
2003 Lucky Story Mark Johnston Darryll Holland Abdulla Buhaleeba 2/1
2002 Almushahar David Loder Frankie Dettori Hamdan Al Maktoum 8/11 fav
2001 Dubai Destination David Loder Frankie Dettori Sheikh Mohammed 3/1
2000 Noverre David Loder FR Frankie Dettori Godolphin SNC 7/2
1999 Distant Music Barry Hills Michael Hills Khalid Abdullah 13/8 fav