Royal Ascot

Nannina Wins at Royal Ascot for Second Successive Year
20/06/07

1st (7) Nannina 3/1 CF3
2nd (9) Satwa Queen 3/1
3rd (8) Sabana Perdida 50/1

Last year’s Coronation Stakes heroine Nannina made a winning return to Royal Ascot when scoring by three lengths from Satwa Queen in the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes.

Trainer John Gosden said: “She got bumped two out and Jimmy (Fortune) had to kick-on as he couldn’t disappoint her by pulling her back.

“I think she is back to her best - the ground was too soft for her at Epsom last time.

“Good or good to firm ground is ideal for her but she doesn’t want it soft. It just doesn’t suit her action. Only a very few horses go on all types of ground.

“The Nassau Stakes at Goodwood has always been a big target for her this year - she was third behind Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun in it last year.

“She could well go to the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket next and there is the Pretty Polly in Ireland, although that is only 10 days away and might come too soon.

“She is not an over big filly and is improving all the time. She is not over raced and could finish the year in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, although that’s a long way off Royal Ascot in June!

“She likes it here. We did consider running her in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes today, but thought it was probably best to avoid having a hard race against the colts at this time of the season - it could have knocked the stuffing out of her.

“My main concerns today were that the pace might be inadequate and that she is better over 10 furlongs. I don’t want to get caught out in false run races with her as happened in the Falmouth last year.

“She is now a Group winner at two, three and four - not many horses achieve that.”

Jimmy Fortune added: “I was worried the pace might be too slow and so that is why I kicked on two out.

“She shows her best form at this course and is a proper Group One filly.

“It was a great training performance - I only had to steer her!”

Fortune is now the leading jockey at Royal Ascot 2007 and is heading the London Clubs International Trophy with three winners and looking ahead to the rest of the week commented: “I don’t expect anything.

“I’m just glad to have had three winners so far.”

DE ROUALLE SECOND ON FIRST VISIT TO ASCOT

Satwa Queen, trainer Jean de Roualle’s first runner in England, ran an excellent race to finish three-lengths second to Nannina in the Windsor Forest Stakes.

“I’m delighted and the winner won impressively,” said de Roualle. “We beat Nannina in the Prix de l’Opera last year but I have no complaints and that race will be the aim again. She may have a prep run at Deauville and would prefer softer ground and a longer trip.”

David Metcalfe, racing manager to the filly’s owner Steven Lamprell, said: “We came here instead of the La Coupe because her owner is English and wanted to come to Ascot. We really needed another two feet of rain last night so she has run very well on that ground.”

Alain de Royer Dupre, who saddled 50/1 chance Sabana Perdida to finish third, said: “Today’s ground must have been good or faster today for her to have run so well and finish third. I’m not sure where we’ll go now, but she’ll follow the ground.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said of the fifth Echelon: “There was a steady pace and they just quickened away from her. She wants a stronger pace.”

Rider Jamie Spencer said of the sixth-placed Flashy Wings: “She ran disappointingly.”

3.05pm WINDSOR FOREST STAKES (GROUP TWO)
£130,000 guaranteed, 1m, For 4yo+ fillies and mares Weights 8st 12lb Penalties after September 1, 2006, a winer of a Group 2 race 3lb; of a Group One race 5lb Entries 33 pay £380 1st Forfeit 20 pay £430 Confirmed 11 pay £270 Penalty Value 1st £73,814; 2nd £27,976; 3rd £14,001; 4th £6,891; 5th £3,497; 6th £1,755

1 NANNINA (Cheveley Park Stud) John Gosden 4-8-12 Jimmy Fortune [7] 3/1 Co-fav
2 SATWA QUEEN (FR) (S Lamprell) Jean de Roualle FR 5-8-12 Frankie Dettori [5] 3/1 Co-fav
3 SABANA PERDIDA (IRE) (Scuderia Zero) Alain De Royer Dupre FR 5-8-12 Christophe Lemaire [2] 50/1
4 FANN (USA) (Saeed Manana) Clive Brittain 4-8-12 Ryan Moore [8]
5 ECHELON (Cheveley Park Stud) Sir Michael Stoute 5-8-12 Kerrin McEvoy [9] 3/1 Co-fav
6 FLASHY WINGS (Jaber Abdullah) Mick Channon 4-8-12 Jamie Spencer [10]
7 WASSEEMA (USA) (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Sir Michael Stoute 4-8-12 Richard Hills [6]
8 GWENSEB (FR) (Wertheimer Et Frere) Carlos Laffon-Parias FR 4-8-12 Olivier Peslier [4]
9 EXPENSIVE (M Tilbrook) Chris Wall 4-8-12 Eddie Ahern [1]

Non-runner: 1 Bahia Breeze (ground)
9 ran
Distances: 3, 3/4, 3/4, 1, 2, sh, 4, 23
Time: 1m 40.97s
Breeding: b f Medicean - Hill Hopper (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Breeder: Cheveley Park Stud Ltd
Totes: Win: £4.20 Places:£1.70; £1.40; £7.90 Exacta: £14.20

Winning Trainer:-Name: Gosden, John Harry Martin Born: Hove, 30/3/51 Date of first trainer’s licence (Britain): 1988 (previously a leading trainer in USA, 1980-1988) Classic Winners: (3) Sagitta 1000 Guineas (2000 Lahan), Vodafone Derby (1997 Benny The Dip), St Leger (1996 Shantou), Wins in a season (1989-2006): 28; 87; 86; 113; 110; 93; 86; 75; 91; 77; 74; 82; 55; 85; 72; 66; 92; 56 First winner in Europe: Intimidate, Kempton, March 27, 1989 Other major wins include: Challenge Stakes (1993 Catrail, 2006 Sleeping Indian), Cheveley Park Stakes (1993 Prophecy), Falmouth Stakes (1997 Ryafan), Fillies’ Mile (2000 Crystal Music, 2004 Playful Act, 2005 Nannina), French 1,000 Guineas (1999 Valentine Waltz, 2002 Zenda), Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1995 Presenting), Gran Premio di Milano (1997 Shantou), Grosser Preis Von Baden (1992 Mashaallah), Haydock Sprint Cup (1993 Wolfhound), Hungerford Stakes (1994 Pollen Count - dh with Young Ern), Irish St Leger (1992 Mashaallah), Irish Champion Stakes (1993 Muhtarram), July Cup (2003 Oasis Dream), Lingfield Derby Trial (2004 Percussionist), Middle Park Stakes (2002 Oasis Dream), Nunthorpe Stakes (2003 Oasis Dream), Ormonde Stakes (2005 Day Flight), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1994 & 1995 Muhtarram, 1997 Shantou), Prix de l’Abbaye (1991Keen Hunter), Prix de la Foret (1992 Wolfhound, 2001 Mount Abu), Prix Marcel Boussac (1996 Ryafan, 2001 Sulk), Prix Jean Prat (1995 Torrential), Prix de la Salamandre (1995 Lord Of Men), Prix Lupin (1995 Flemensfirth), Prix Maurice de Gheest (2002 May Ball), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2000 Observatory), Royal Lodge Stakes (1996 Benny The Dip, 2002 Al Jadeed, 2005 Leo), Santa Anita Handicap (1983 Bates Motel), Sun Chariot Stakes (1991 Ristna), Lennox Stakes (2000 Observatory), European Free Handicap (2001 Clearing) Trains at Clarehaven Stables, Bury Road, Newmarket, Suffolk (previously at Manton and Newmarket) Wins in 2007: 22 Royal Ascot wins: (21) Chesham Stakes (1990 Chicarica), Jersey Stakes (1991 Satin Flower, 2000 Observatory), Queen’s Vase (1992 Landowner), King George V Handicap (1993 Learmont, 1997 Heritage), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1994 & 95 Muhtarram), Britannia Handicap (1996 North Song, 1998 Plan-B), Chesham Stakes (1998 Rhapsodist) Ascot Stakes (1999 High And Mighty), Norfolk Stakes (1999 Warm Heart), Britannia Stakes (2000 El Gran Papa, 2001 Analyser), Buckingham Palace Stakes (2002 Demonstrate), Golden Jubilee Stakes (2002 Malhub), Coventry Stakes (2004 Iceman), King Edward VII Stakes (2005 Plea Bargain), Coronation Stakes (2006 Nannina), Windsor Forest Stakes (2007 Nannina) First Royal Ascot Win: Chicarica (June 21, 1990 - Chesham Stakes)

Winning jockey:-Name: Fortune, James Joseph. Date of birth: 14/6/72 Apprenticeship: With Mike O'Neill. Big wins Include: Ayr Gold Cup (1989 Joveworth, 1996 Coastal Bluff), VC Bet Challenge Stakes (2006 Sleeping Indian), Gimcrack Stakes (2006 Conquest), July Stakes (2004 Captain Hurricane), Lincoln Handicap (2000 John Ferneley, 2001 Nimello), Middle Park Stakes (2002 Oasis Dream); Racing Post Trophy (1998 Commander Collins); Royal Hunt Cup (2002 Norton), Sun Chariot Stakes (1999 Lady In Waiting), totesport.com Handicap (2006 All Ivory), Vodafone Stewards’ Cup (1994 For The Present,1996 Coastal Bluff); Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile (2004 Playful Act; 2005 Nannina), Royal Lodge Stakes (2005 Leo), Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes (2006 Court Masterpiece), Yorkshire Cup (2007 Sergeant Cecil) Wins (1988-2006): 8, 29, 46, 32, 26, 25, 56, 46, 83, 78, 108, 94, 93, 71, 92, 46, 72, 96, 77 Wins in 2007: 39 Royal Ascot Winners: (9) Ascot Stakes (2007 Full House), Queen Mary Stakes (1999 Shining Hour), Royal Hunt Cup (2002 Norton), Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (2003 Waverley), King Edward VII Stakes (2005 Plea Bargain), Coronation Stakes (2006 Nannina), Wokingham Handicap (2006 Baltic King), Jersey Stakes (2007 Tariq), Windsor Forest Stakes (2007 Nannina)