Royal Ascot

Silkwood Classy in Ribblesdale Romp
21/06/07

1st 12 Silkwood 4/1 2F
2nd 1 All My Loving 15/8
3rd 4 Dalvina 8/1

Silkwood showed that she is a most progressive filly when making a successful transition from handicapping to Group company by taking the Ribblesdale Stakes in tremendous style.

The three-year-old Singspiel filly, having her fourth start, was re-routed to Royal Ascot after connections swerved the Oaks as a result of the easy ground conditions at Epsom.

It proved a shrewd decision as she travelled like a dream in the Group Two at the Royal Meeting, easily picking off the long-time leader Majounes Song as they swung down the straight.

She veered left inside the final furlong but had no bother in cruising home by five lengths from All My Loving for a 4-1 triumph.

Victorious trainer Michael Jarvis said: “I thought she would win if she got the trip. She is out of a very fast mare from the Miesque family. She wasn’t really trained last year. We got her going through the winter and started off with her at Wolverhampton.

“She has always shown enormous talent. By Singspiel, she is such a fluent mover. We were considering running her in the Oaks but when it came up soft, having discussed it with Sheik Mohammed and John Ferguson, we thought we’d wait and come here.

“She has a tendency to lean when she comes off the bridle - she did it at Sandown.”

The relief was obvious to Jarvis as he celebrated victory with a huge smile.

He added: “It is a pressure situation. There is a lot of pressure at this meeting - I keep doing it as I enjoy it.”

Philip Robinson commented|: "That was very nice. Early on I was a bit worried - at Sandown she travelled a little bit keen, and I was worried she might do the same thing first time over a mile and a half, but I was delighted as she switched off nicely early on, and when I asked her to start increasing she did everything easily.

"I wanted to get a lead as far as I could before I went on myself, as she hasn't had a lot of racing, and with the crowd and everything you have to worry that she might idle in front. I think she's an extremely nice filly. That's why we were so disappointed that the rain came before the Oaks, as we thought she had a serious chance of winning the Oaks."

HENRY, DUNLOP AND ROUGET SATISFIED AFTER RIBBLESDALE

Richard Henry, husband of part-owner Roisin Henry, said of All My Loving, beaten five lengths into second place by Silkwood in the Ribblesdale Stakes: “She stumbled coming out of the stalls and was always on the back foot after that.

“She’s a real trier and ran on great at the end.

“We’ll live to fight another day. It’s up to the trainer (Aidan O’Brien) where we go now.”

Ed Dunlop was very happy was the performance of third-placed Dalvina, who was back to form after a disappointing run in the Oaks at Epsom.

The Newmarket handler said: “We’re much happier today. That puts her back on track.

“I think we were beaten by a very good filly today.

“That run gives her some black type and enhances her value.

“Jamie (Spencer, jockey) said she is still a bit weak.

“We may now give her a break and come back later in the season. Whether or not she stays in training next year, I don’t know. That will be up to the owners.”

Back in fourth was French raider Baroness Richter and her trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget commented: “The pace was too fast for her - our horses are not suited to running like that.

“She has run a promising race.”

3.05pm RIBBLESDALE STAKES (GROUP TWO)
£130,000 guaranteed, 1m 4f, For 3yo fillies Weights 8st 12lb Penalties a winner of a Group 1 or Group 2 race of 1m 2f or more 3lb Entries 72 pay £380 1st Forfeit 39 pay £430 2nd Forfeit 1 pay £11,000 Confirmed 15 pay £270 Penalty value 1st £79,446.59; 2nd £30,110.78; 3rd £15,069.38; 4th £7,513.70; 5th £3,763.85; 6th £1,888.92

1 SILKWOOD (Sheikh Mohammed) Michael Jarvis 3-8-12 Philip Robinson [2] 4/1
2 ALL MY LOVING (IRE) (Roisin Henry & Sue Magnier) Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-8-12 Michael Kinane [8] 15/8f
3 DALVINA (St Albans Bloodstock Llp) Ed Dunlop 3-8-12 Jamie Spencer [5] 8/1
4 BARONESS RICHTER (IRE) (Joseph Allen) Jean-Claude Rouget FR 3-8-12 Christophe Lemaire [1] 16/1
5 MARZELLINE (IRE) (Karyl Harris) Walter Swinburn 3-8-12 Adam Kirby [11]
6 MAJOUNES SONG (Renata Jacobs) Mark Johnston 3-8-12 Jean-Pierre Guillambert [3]
7 COSMODROME (USA) (Fittocks Stud) Luca Cumani 3-8-12 Frankie Dettori [4]
8 HANGING ON (Karyl Harris) Walter Swinburn 3-8-12 Ted Durcan [6]
9 SHORTHAND (John Greetham) Sir Michael Stoute 3-8-12 Kerrin McEvoy [12]
10 PARTY (IRE) (Highclere Thoroughbred Racing XXXV) Richard Hannon 3-8-12 Richard Hughes [10]
11 LOST IN WONDER (USA) (The Queen) Sir Michael Stoute 3-8-12 Ryan Moore [9]
12 FASCINATIN RHYTHM (W Harrison-Allan) Vince Smith 3-8-12 Seb Sanders [7]

12 ran
Distances: 5, 1 1/4, 3/4, nk, 3 1/2, 3 1/2, 6, 1 1 /2, 3, 9, 14
Time: 2m 30.22s
Breeding: br f Singspiel (IRE) - Wood Vine (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Breeder: Darley
Totes: Win: £5.60 Places: £2.00; £1.20; £2.90 Exacta: £14.70

Winning trainer:-Name: Jarvis, Michael Andrew Born: Lewes, 14/8/1938 Date of first licence: 1968 First winner: Knotty Pine, Doncaster, March 26, 1968 Previous Occupation: Son of jump jockey Andrew Jarvis, worked for Bob Turnell and Ryan Price, rode 3 winners as National Hunt jockey, head lad to Towser Gosden for 6 years, head lad to Gordon Smyth for 2 years, private trainer to David Robinson for 8 years. Wins in a season (1991-2006): 24: 28: 21: 15: 18: 20: 17: 19: 35: 38: 56: 55: 57: 65: 59; 73 Number of horses in training (1991-2007): 59: 46: 39: 39: 43: 36: 45: 66: 61: 73: 95: 106: 103: 94:100: 110; 113 British Classic Wins: 1000 Guineas (2001 Ameerat), Vodafone Oaks (2005 Eswarah) Major wins include: Champion Stakes (2003 Rakti), Chester Cup (2004, 2005 Anak Pekan), Coronation Cup (1982 Easter Sun), French Derby (2000 Holding Court), Haydock Sprint Cup (1969 Tudor Music, 1971 Green God, 1984 Petong), Italian St Leger (1989 Sierra Star), Italian Derby (1989 Prorutori, 2001 Morshdi), Juddmonte International (1981 Beldale Flutter), Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (2005 Rakti), July Cup (1968 So Blessed, 1969 Tudor Music), Nunthorpe Stakes (1968 Flying Legs, 1973 Bitty Girl), Premio Presidente Della Repubblica (1985 Bob Back, 2003 Rakti), Premio Parioli (1984 Southern Arrow), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (1989 Carroll House), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2004 Rakti), Racing Post Trophy (1980 Beldale Flutter), Italian Oaks (2007 Fashion Statement) Trains at: Kremlin House, Newmarket, Suffolk Wins in 2007: 34 Royal Ascot wins: (14) Cork and Orrery Stakes (1969 Tudor Music), Queen Mary Stakes (1973 Bitty Girl), Jersey Stakes (1973 Pitskelly), Queen’s Vase (1980 Toondra), Wokingham Handicap (1984 Petong, 2005 Iffraaj), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1985 Bob Back, 2004 Rakti), Queen Alexandra Stakes (2001 Life Is Life), Buckingham Palace Stakes (2003 Attache), Sandringham Rated Stakes (2004 Celtic Heroine), Wolferton Rated Stakes (2004 Red Fort), Chesham Stakes (2006 Champlain), Ribblesdale Stakes (2007 Silkwood) First Royal Ascot win: Cork and Orrery Stakes (June 19, 1969 Tudor Music)

Winning jockey:-Name: Robinson, Philip Peter. Born: January 10, 1961 in Newmarket Apprenticeship: With father, Peter Robinson. First winner: Busting (Yarmouth, June 14, 1978) British Classic wins: (3) 1,000 Guineas (1984 Pebbles; 2001 Ameerat); St Leger (1993 Bob's Return) Other major wins include: German 1,000 Guineas (2000 Crimplene), Irish 1,000 Guineas (2000 Crimplene), French Derby (2000 Holding Court), Coronation Stakes (1984 Katies, 2000 Crimplene); Vodafone Nassau Stakes (2000 Crimplene) Great Voltigeur Stakes (1993 Bob’s Return); Premio Presidente della Repubblica (2003 Rakti), Vodafone Coronation Cup (2003 Warrsan); Champion Stakes (2003 Rakti); Queen Alexandra Stakes (2001, Life Is Life), Buckingham Palace Stakes (2003, Attache), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (2004 Rakti), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2004 Rakti), Lockinge Stakes (2005 Rakti) Wolferton Rated Stakes (2004 Red Fort), totesport Chester Cup (2004, 2005 Anak Pekan), Wokingham Stakes (2005 Ifraaj) Wins (1992-2006): 52, 52, 50, 41, 31, 0, 28, 53, 57, 47, 55, 70, 67, 70, 75 Wins in 2007: 26 Royal Ascot wins: (10) Coronation Stakes (1984, Katies and 2000, Crimplene); Queen Alexandra Stakes (2001, Life Is Life), Buckingham Palace Stakes (2003, Attache), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (2004 Rakti), Wolferton Rated Stakes (2004 Red Fort), Royal Hunt Cup (2005 New Seeker), Wokingham Stakes (2005 Iffraaj), Chesham Stakes (2006 Champlain), Ribblesdale Stakes (2007 Silkwood) First Royal Ascot winner: Coronation Stakes (June 20, 1984, Katies) Other details: Rode in Hong Kong 1989-91 (leading rider 1989 and 1990) and returned in 1997.