Royal Ascot

Indian Ink Makes Her Mark
22/06/07

1st 5 Indian Ink 8/1
2nd 7 Mi Emma 10/3
3rd 3 Darjina 7/2

Indian Ink bounced back to form with an impressive six-length victory in the Coronation Stakes to give both trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes their first Group One success at Royal Ascot.

The winner travelled superbly throughout and went right away inside the final furlong.

Richard Hannon said: “The ground made a big difference to her today. To be honest, I thought the rain that came might not make a difference but obviously it has.

“All her best runs last year came on soft ground and Hughesy told me in the paddock beforehand that he thought the ground was right for her today. In the Guineas, the ground was all wrong for her.

“It looked as if she was travelling brilliantly, although with Hughesy you never really know!

“This filly has always worked well and has always been very straightforward.”

The winner was well-supported in the betting market this morning but Hannon was quick to point out that the money did not come from him: “The gamble didn’t come from my end!

“But well done to those who backed her. Good luck to the punters who looked at her form on soft ground and backed her.”

Indian Ink continued this season’s trend of relatively cheap horses winning at the highest level, having only cost 25,000 guineas as a yearling.

Hannon continued: “Raymond (Tooth, owner) was behind me when I bought her at Tattersalls.

“I just bought her on spec. I didn’t have an owner when I bought her so Raymond asked me if he could buy her.

“I thought being by Indian Ridge and out of a Darshaan mare she was cheap at 25,000 guineas.

“I couldn’t find anything wrong her and just think she was one who slipped through the net.

“She is definitely the best filly I’ve ever had.

“Being out of a Darshaan mare, she should stay well. We will look at maybe taking her to France and she is also entered in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket - I would love to go there if the ground is right.

“She could even go over further. There is no great rush as to where she goes next.”

Jockey Richard Hughes added: “All this filly needs is the ground, especially being by Indian Ridge.

“We were disappointed after her run in the Guineas - the firm ground did not suit her there.

“It was a relief today as she showed just how good she is.

“I thought ‘brilliant’ each time it rained today!

“Today I managed to get her in a great rhythm and followed Kevin Manning on Finsceal Beo. I then kicked on and she ran on well - she is an exceptional filly.

“We ride winners at Bath, Folkestone and Windsor all week but this is what it is all about.

“I just want the ground to dry up now for Asset in the Golden Jubilee Stakes tomorrow!”

INTERNATIONAL RAIDERS PLACED

Mi Emma and Darjina played their part in making today’s Coronation Stakes a vintage renewal, but neither international contestant could handle Indian Ink’s sensational turn of foot finishing six lengths and a head adrift respectively.

Andreas Wohler, the German trainer of Mi Emma, said: “The winner likes soft ground and my horse is speedier on faster ground.

“She ran a terrific race and I am happy and to be second in a race like this is like winning the race!

“She will run next in five weeks’ time in the Group One Prix d’Astarte - a mile race for fillies (Deauville, July 29). She’s fine and probably needed the run after having a break.”

Princess Zahra Aga Khan said of third-placed Darjina, who she owns and bred and is trained in France by Alain de Royer Dupre, said: “She didn’t like the ground and that was not her usual good action.

“I’m not sure where she will run next but she could go for the Prix d’Astarte with maybe another run beforehand.”

When it was suggested to Her Highness that it was unlucky that the rain had come, she responded: “That’s how it goes - that’s racing.”

GROUND SLOWS BEO

Trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning felt that the rain-softened ground slowed down dual Guineas winner Finscal Beo, who finished only eighth when sent off 100/30 joint-favourite for the Coronation Stakes.

“Kevin felt she was just not able to quicken on this ground,” said Bolger. “I’d say she just doesn’t like it when it’s like that - she’s not the same filly on it. We’ll be more careful about the ground in future and there’ll no doubt be other days - she’ll have all the entries.”

Manning added: “She was travelling unbelievably well and I arrived there but couldn’t quicken on the ground, she was losing her footing on it.”

3:45pm CORONATION STAKES
Class 1, Group 1, £250,000 guaranteed, 1m; For 3-y-o fillies; Weights: 9st; Entries: 75 pay £700; 1st Forfeit: 39 pay £800; Confirmed: 16 pay £500; Penalty value 1st £141,950; 2nd £53,800; 3rd £26,925; 4th £13,425; 5th £6,725; 6th £3,375

1 INDIAN INK (Raymond Tooth) Richard Hannon 3-9-00 Richard Hughes [2] 8/1
2 MI EMMA (Rennstall Darboven) Andreas Wohler GER 3-9-00 Eddie Pedroza [1] 100/30JF
3 DARJINA (Princess Zahra Aga Khan) Alan De Royer Dupre FR 3-9-00 Christophe Soumillon [7] 7/2
4 ARCH SWING (Pat Garvey) John Oxx IRE 3-9-00 Michael Kinane [11]
5 MISSVINSKI (J Cour) Jean Claude Rouget FR 3-9-00 Christophe Lemaire [5]
6 SCARLET RUNNER (Nicholas Jones) John Dunlop 3-9-00 Kerrin McEvoy [6]
7 MAJESTIC ROI (Jaber Abdullah) Mick Channon 3-9-00 Jamie Spencer [8]
8 FINSCEAL BEO (Michael Ryan) Jim Bolger IRE 3-9-00 Kevin Manning [3] 100/30JF
9 YAQEEN (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Michael Jarvis 3-9-00 Richard Hills [9]
10 RAHIYAH (Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed) Jeremy Noseda 3-9-00 Ted Durcan [4]
11 PUGGY (Investment AB Rustningen) Roy Kvisla 3-9-00 Frankie Dettori [10]
12 CHERRY HINTON (Sue Magnier) Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-9-00 Johnny Murtagh [13]
13 SILK BLOSSOM (Edward Kessly) Barry Hills 3-9-00 Michael Hills [12]

13 ran
Distances: 6, hd, 1, ½, nk, sh, ½, 2, 1½, 5, 1, 8
Unplaced Favourite: Finsceal Beo 100/30JF (8th)
Time: 1m 42.26s
Breeding: ch f Indian Ridge - Maid Of Killeen (IRE) (Darshaan)
Breeder: Killeen Castle Stud
Totes: Win: £13.00; Places: £3.80; £1.90; £1.30; Exacta: £51.90

Winning Trainer: Name- Hannon, Richard Michael Date of birth: 30/5/45 Date of first licence:1970 Trains at Marlborough, Wiltshire Other details: Champion trainer 1992 First Winner: Ampney Prince, Newbury, April 17, 1970 First Group Winner: Crespinall (Nassau Stakes, 1972, Goodwood) Classic wins: (3) 2000 Guineas (1973 Mon Fils, 1987 Don't Forget Me, 1990 Tirol) Other major wins: Brigadier Gerard Stakes (1995 Alriffa), Cherry Hinton Stakes (1993 Lemon Souffle, 2004 Jewel In The Sand), Diomed Stakes (1994 Bluegrass Prince), European Free Handicap (2000 Cape Town), Falmouth Stakes (1991 Only Yours, 1993 Niche, 1994 Lemon Souffle, 1995 Caramba), Fred Darling Stakes (2006 Nasheej), Golden Jubilee Stakes (1992 Shalford), Hungerford Stakes (2002 Reel Buddy), July Cup (1992 Mr Brooks), Lockinge Stakes (1993 Swing Low), Lowther Stakes (1992 Niche), Wokingham Stakes (1994 Venture Capitalist), Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes (2000 Umistim, 2001 King’s Ironbridge), Molecomb Stakes (1993 Risky), Moyglare Stud Stakes (1993 Lemon Souffle), Nunthorpe Stakes (1992 Lyric Fantasy), Prix de l’Abbaye (1992 Mr Brooks), Prix Maurice de Gheest (2000 Bold Edge), Prix de Ris Orangis (2006 Presto Shinko), Queen Mary Stakes (1992 Lyric Fantasy & 1993 Risky), Rockfel Stakes (2001 Distant Valley), Sussex Stakes (2003 Reel Buddy), Yorkshire Cup (1993 Assessor), Cheveley Park Stakes (2006 Indian Ink) Number of horses in training (1985-2007): 67: 75: 74: 80: 85: 107: 131: 139: 155: 178: 167: 155: 149: 145: 155: 162: 147: 169: 169: 149: 169; 163 Number of wins in a season (1982-2006):38: 49: 28: 37: 56: 33: 43: 55: 73: 126: 154: 182: 112: 115: 109: 94: 108: 123: 135: 110: 121: 122: 113: 145; 127 Wins in 2007: 50 Royal Ascot wins: 21 First Royal Ascot winner: Fly Baby (June 17, 1981 - Queen Mary Stakes) Major Royal Ascot wins: Wokingham Handicap (1990 Knight Of Mercy, 1994 Venture Capitalist), King Edward VII Stakes (1992 Beyton), Queen Mary Stakes (1981 Fly Baby, 1992 Lyric Fantasy, 1993 Risky, 2006 Gilded), Coronation Stakes (2007 Indian Ink)

Winning jockey:-Name: Hughes, Richard David. Date of birth: 11/1/73 Apprenticeship: With father, Dessie Hughes, in Ireland. First winner: Viking Melody (Roscommon maiden, August 2, 1988) Wins in Britain (1994-2006):19, 68, 62, 33, 55, 95, 102, 90, 126, 122, 73, 124, 113 Wins in 2007: 55 Major wins include: Blue Square Ormonde Stakes (2005 Day Flight), Celebration Mile (2002 Tillerman), Cherry Hinton Stakes (2004 Jewel In The Sand), Coventry Stakes (2003 Three Valleys), Craven Stakes (2000 Umistim, 2001 King’s Ironbridge), Dahlia Stakes (2006 Violet Park)Derby Italiano (1996 Bahamian Knight), Duke Of York Stakes (1999 Sampower Star), French Oaks (2003 Nebraska Tornado), French 1,000 Guineas (2002 Zenda), Gordon Richards Stakes (2006 Day Flight), Gran Premio d’Italia (1995 Posidonas), Great Voltigeur Stakes (2006 Youmzain), Jockey Club Cup (2000 Persian Punch), July Cup (2003 Oasis Dream), Lingfield Derby Trial (2001 Perfect Sunday), Middle Park Stakes (2003 Three Valleys), Nunthorpe Stakes (2003 Oasis Dream), Prix D’Ispahan (2001 Observatory), Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (2003 American Post), Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (2003 Nebraska Tornado), Yorkshire Cup (1999 Churlish Charm),

Cheveley Park Stakes (2006 Indian Ink), Musidora Stakes (2007 Passage Of Time) Other details: Retained jockey to Khalid Abdulla Royal Ascot wins: (14) Jersey Stakes (1995 Sergeyev, 1996 Lucayan Prince), King’s Stand Stakes (1995, Piccolo), Wokingham Stakes (2000 Harmonic Way), Duke Of Edinburgh H’cap (2002, Thundering Surf), Norfolk Stakes (2002, Baron’s Pit), Wolferton Rated H’Cap (2002, Ulundi), Buckingham Palace Stakes (2002, Demonstrate), Coventry Stakes (2003 Three Valleys) Balmoral Handicap (2003 Deportivo), Ribblesdale Stakes (2003 Spanish Sun), Albany Stakes (2004 Jewel In The Sand), Queen Mary Stakes (2006 Gilded), Coronation Stakes (2007 Indian Ink).