Royal Ascot

Henry Gallops to Guineas Favouritism
19/06/07

1st (12) Henrythenavigator 11/4 FAV
2nd (19) Swiss Franc 25/1
3rd (14) Luck Money 13/2

It may be nearly 11 months away but the Aidan O’Brien-trained Henrythenavigator is as short as 5/1 (with Boylesports) for next year’s 2000 Guineas after winning the opening Coventry Stakes in scintillating fashion.

The Kingmambo colt, who was sent off 11/4 favourite, set a course record time of 1 minute 12.46 seconds when scoring by three-quarters of a length.

“We always thought he’d get further than six furlongs yet he won well today,” said O’Brien. “It was a big thing coming here today and we were delighted with how he did it.

“It’s a long way to the Guineas but we’ve always hoped he might be that type of horse. He’s always worked like an exciting horse at home and has stood out from the early horses but we do have some later-maturing types to come through.

“He travelled well in the early paces today and then saw a lot of open spaces but knuckled down well.

“He’s won over seven furlongs and a mile would be no problem - he’s always had a lot of natural speed so the drop back to six was no problem today. There are a lot of choices about where we can go now.”

ELSWORTH HAPPY WITH ‘RESOLUTE’ FRANC

Trainer David Elsworth put on a brave face after Swiss Franc went down by three-quarters of a length to Henrythenavigator in the Coventry Stakes.

Elsworth said of the second-placed son of Mr Greeley: “It is always frustrating being second. They just got away from us and he was caught for a little bit of toe and then stayed on resolutely.

“He just needed a bit more distance. But he is a cracking little horse with a wonderful temperament.

“He will most probably get a mile next year but we will keep to six or seven for the moment.”

Paul Cole, trainer of the third-placed Luck Money, said: “He gave his chance away by hanging. It might have been a bit firm for him. But he is a progressive horse and ran very well.

“He is a little bit immature and we will give him a bit of time. We will look at Goodwood - probably the Richmond, I would think.”

Tracey Collins, trainer of fourth-placed Pencil Hill, said: “I am very pleased with him. The horse has run a very good race.”

2.30pm COVENTRY STAKES (GROUP TWO)
£80,000 guaranteed, 6f, For 2yo Weights colts and geldings 9st 1lb; fillies 8st 12lb Entries 37 pay £309 Penalty value 1st £45,424; 2nd £17,216; 3rd £8,616; 4th £4,296; 5th £2,152; 6th £1,080

1 HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (USA) (Sue Magnier) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-01 Michael Kinane [17] 11/4 f
2 SWISS FRANC (Lordship Stud) David Elsworth 2-9-01 Ted Durcan [11] 25/1
3 LUCK MONEY (IRE) (Stephanie Smith) Paul Cole 2-9-01 Richard Quinn [10] 13/2
4 PENCIL HILL (IRE) (McLean Brothers Partnership) Tracey Collins IRE 2-9-01 Pat Shanahan [19] 6/1
5 MOUNT PLEASURE (USA) (Cavendish Star Racing) Jamie Osborne 2-9-01 Martin Dwyer [5]
6 CEE BARGARA (A Taylor) Jamie Osborne 2-9-01 Ryan Moore [2]
7 BOBS SURPRISE (Bob Morton) Barry Hills 2-9-01 Michael Hills [12]
8 DECLARATION OF WAR (IRE) (Violet Mercer) Peter Chapple-Hyam 2-9-01 Robert Havlin [9]
9 SOUTH DAKOTA (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-01 Johnny Murtagh [1]
10 BURNWYND BOY (Robert Reid) Ian Semple 2-9-01 Tom Eaves [8]
11 ATHEER DUBAI (IRE) (Mohammed Rashid) Clive Brittain 2-9-01 Eddie Ahern [3]
12 GREEK MYTHOLOGY (IRE) (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-01 Seamie Heffernan [13]
13 AAIM TO STORM (USA) (Stuart Le Gassick Racing Syndicate) Mick Channon 2-9-01 Darryll Holland [4]
14 YEM KINN (Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum) Mick Channon 2-9-01 Hugh Bowman [7]
15 COASTING (Sir J Ritblat, Sir David & Jennifer Sieff) Amanda Perrett 2-9-01 Jim Crowley [14]
16 ERNIE OWL (USA) (Roldvale Limited) Brian Meehan 2-9-01 Jamie Spencer [15]
17 BERE DAVIS (FR) (H Sweeney) David Evans 2-9-01 Dean McKeown [16]
18 DUBAI DYNAMO (Fitri Hay) Stan Moore 2-9-01 John Egan [6]
19 LINDORO (Karyl Harris) Walter Swinburn 2-9-01 Adam Kirby [20]
20 RUFF DIAMOND (USA) (John Griffin, Owen Mullin) John Best 2-9-01 George Baker [18]

20 ran
Distances: 3/4, sh, 3/4, 1 1/2, hd, 1 3/4, 1/2, nk, nk, 1, 1/2, 1 1/2, 1/2, nk, 3 1/2, 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 3/4, dist
Time: 1m 12.46s (course record - previous 2yo record 1m 14.16 - overall previous record 1m 13.12s)
Breeding: b or br c Kingmambo (USA) - Sequoyah (IRE) (Sadler’s wells (USA))
Breeder: Western Bloodstock
Totes: Win: £3.70 Places: £1.80; £7.60; £2.90 Exacta: £89.10

Winning jockey:-Name: Kinane, Michael Joseph Born: County Tipperary, Ireland, June 22, 1959 Apprenticeship: With Liam Browne. First winner: Muscari (Leopardstown 19/3/75) Classic wins: (8) Vodafone Derby (1993 Commander In Chief, 2001 Galileo); Vodafone Oaks (1998 Shahtoush, 2001 Imagine), 2000 Guineas (1990 Tirol, 1997 Entrepreneur, 1998 King Of Kings), St Leger (2001 Milan) Irish Classic Wins: Irish 1,000 Guineas (1988 Trusted Partner, 2003 Yesterday), Irish 2,000 Guineas (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Irish Oaks (1989 Alydaress, 1996 Dance Design), Irish Derby (2001 Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral), Irish St Leger (1993, 1994 Vintage Crop, 2006 Kastoria) Other major wins include: Champion Stakes (1997 Pilsudski), Cherry Hinton Stakes (2005 Donna Blini) Cheveley Park Stakes (1995 Blue Duster); Coral Eclipse (1993 Opera House, 1997 Pilsudski, 2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Hawk Wing), Coronation Cup (2007 Scorpion), Derby Italiano (1992 In A Tiff, 1995 Luso); Dewhurst Stakes (2001 Rock Of Gibralter); Fillies’ Mile (1996 Reams Of Verse); French 1,000 Guineas (2001 Rose Gypsy), French 2,000 Guineas (2002 Landseer), Gold Cup (1996 Classic Cliche, 2000 Kayf Tara), Hong Kong Invitational Bowl (1991 Additional Risk), Irish Champion Stakes (1989 Carroll House,1994 Cezanne, 1997 Pilsudski, 2000 Giant’s Causeway,2003 High Chaparral), Japan Cup (1997 Pilsudski), Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (2003 Hawk Wing), Juddmonte International (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2005 Electrocutionist), July Cup (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart); King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (1990 Belmez, 1994 King's Theatre, 2000 Montjeu, 2001 Galileo, 2005 Azamour), Melbourne Cup (1993 Vintage Crop), Nunthorpe (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart); Phoenix Stakes (1999 Fasliyev; 2000 Minardi; 2001 Johannesburg), Prix du Moulin (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Prix de l'Abbaye (1985 Committed), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1989 Carroll House, 1999 Montjeu), QueenElizabeth II Stakes (2006 George Washington), Racing Post Trophy (1997 Saratoga Springs), St James's Palace (1992 Brief Truce, 1994 Grand Lodge, 2000 Giant’s Causeway), Sussex Stakes (1998 Among Men, 2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2005 Proclamation), Tattersalls Gold Cup (2000 Montjeu, 2003 Black Sam Bellamy) Yorkshire Oaks (2006 Alexandrova) Royal Ascot wins: (39) First Royal Ascot win: St James’s Palace Stakes (June 15, 1982 Dara Monarch) Major Royal Ascot wins: St James’s Palace Stakes (1982 Dara Monarch, 1992 Brief Truce, 1994 Grand Lodge, 2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2004 Azamour), Gold Cup (1996 Classic Cliche, 2000 Kayf Tara), Coronation Stakes (1994 Kissing Cousin, 2002 Sophisticat), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1999 Lear Spear, 2005 Azamour), Golden Jubilee Stakes (2005 Cape Of Good Hope), Coventry Stakes (1999 Fasliyev, 2002 Statue Of Liberty, 2007 Henrythenavigator) Leading Rider at Royal Ascot: 1994 (4 wins), 1995 (4wins), 1996 (5wins), 2005 (6wins) Wins in Britain 1992-2006: 4; 4; 23; 28; 29; 23; 24; 22; 26; 26; 15; 3; 9; 23; 14 Wins in Britain in 2007: 8

Winning trainer:-Name: Aidan O’Brien Date of birth: 16/10/69 Previous occupation: Assistant trainer to Jim Bolger and Anne-Marie Crowley O’Brien Date of first licence: 1993 British Classic wins: (10) Vodafone Derby (2001 Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral), 2000 Guineas (1998 King Of Kings, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2005 Footstepsinthesand, 2006 George Washington), 1000 Guineas (2005 Virginia Waters),Vodafone Oaks (1998 Shahtoush, 2001 Imagine, 2006 Alexandrova), St Leger (2001 Milan, 2003 Brian Boru, 2005 Scorpion) Irish Classic Wins: (12) Irish 2,000 Guineas (1997 Desert King, 1999 Saffron Walden, 2001 Black Minnaloushe, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Irish 1,000 Guineas (1997 Classic Park, 2001 Imagine, 2003 Yesterday), Irish Derby (1997 Desert King, 2001 Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral, 2006 Dylan Thomas), Irish Oaks (2006 Alexandrova) Other major wins include: Vodafone Coronation Cup (2005 Yeats, 2007 Scorpion), Coventry Stakes (1997 Harbour Master), Criterium de Saint-Cloud (2001 Ballingary, 2002 Alberto Giacometti), Dante Stakes (1998 Saratoga Springs), Darley Dewhurst Stakes (2001 Rock Of Gibraltar), Eclipse Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Hawk Wing), French 2,000 Guineas (2002 Landseer, 2006 Aussie Rules, Astronomer Royal), French 1,000 Guineas (2001 Rose Gypsy), Irish Champion Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2003 High Chaparral), Juddmonte International Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway), Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (2003 Hawk Wing), July Cup (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (2001 Galileo), Nunthorpe Stakes (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart), Prix du Moulin (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2006 George Washington), Racing Post Trophy (1997 Saratoga Springs, 1999 Aristotle, 2001 High Chaparral, 2002 Brian Boru), Royal Lodge Stakes (2006 Admiralofthefleet), Sussex Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Tattersalls Gold Cup (2003 Black Sam Bellamy), Yorkshire Oaks (2006 Alexandrova) Wins in Britain 2000-2006: 10; 20 (champion trainer for win and place prize money); 10 (champion trainer for win and place prize money); 6; 4; 20; 11 Wins in 2007 (In Britain): 5 Royal Ascot wins: (17) Coventry Stakes (1997 Harbour Master, 1999 Fasliyev, 2001 Landseer, 2002 Statue Of Liberty, 2007 Henrythenavigator), Chesham Stakes (1999 Bach), St James’s Palace Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2001 Black Minnaloushe, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Norfolk Stakes (2001 Johannesburg), Jersey Stakes (2001 Mozart), Coronation Stakes (2002 Sophisticat), Hampton Court Stakes (2004 Moscow Ballet, 2005 Indigo Cat), King Edward VII Stakes (2004 Five Dynasties), Queen Anne Stakes (2006 Ad Valorem), Gold Cup (2006 Yeats)