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| King Edward VII Stakes 2011 |
Nathaniel Excels in King Edward VII Stakes
17/06/11
1 Nathaniel 11/4 Fav
2 Fiorente 9/1
3 Alexander Pope 12/1
NR: Dordogne (IRE)
10 ran Distances: 5l, 2l, 1¾l
TIME 2m 34.48s (slow by 4.48s)
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The winner received a 3/1 quote from the sponsor for the Ladbrokes St Leger and although trainer John Gosden nominated the final Classic as a likely target, owner Lady Rothschild’s racing manager James Wigan reported that the colt is not certain to head to Doncaster.
“The St Leger is the last Classic, so we have got to start thinking about it,” said Goden. “He is a nice horse, he loved the ground and he stayed well. He and (yesterday’s King George V Handicap winner) Brown Panther - I remember buying his dam Treble Heights for Michael Owen and she stayed well - I think that those two now have shown themselves to be legitimate favourites for the St Leger. These are proper staying horses
“Nathaniel gets very fizzy and warm but that is just his nature. I have trained three out of the family and that is their nature but the jockey pointed him in the right direction, so that was good.
“I ran his brother Percussionist in the Derby but he couldn’t run down the hill because the ground had dried up so we learned from him and didn’t run Nathaniel at Epsom
“The Voltigeur is a strong possibility now - he would go there with a penalty - and I also quite like the race at Newbury. We will look at one of those before the St Leger, if the owners wish to go for the race, which I hope they do.”
James Wigan added: “I don’t think that soft ground is essential for him but I don’t think that he would like very firm ground. He has rather a high action and we were nervous about running him on the good to firm ground at Epsom. That was simply why he didn’t run in the Derby - we thought coming down that hill on the ground wouldn’t suit him.
“He ran a very good race at Chester but the track didn’t suit him and it was much too sharp for him. He was coming back at the winner in the finish, and the winner has been second in the Derby.”
“There are other chances for him before the St Leger. He probably would get a mile and six furlongs but I think that he is good enough to win a Group One over a shorter distance.”
Jockey William Buick added: “The sweating had no effect in him. He just wants to get on with it and that is just him. He loved the ground, he stays well and the only thing was that I won by a bit too far. It’s nice to get one in.
“I don’t think he has to have it soft, just ground with no jar in it. Good ground would be perfect and I hope I’ll win the Leger again this year!”
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Nathaniel J H M Gosden |
William Buick 8st 12lbs |
11 - 4 Winner |
|
2 |
Fiorente Sir Michael Stoute |
R L Moore 8st 12lbs |
9 - 1 5 lengths |
|
3 |
Alexander Pope A P O'Brien |
C O'Donoghue 8st 12lbs |
12 - 1 2 lengths |
|
4 |
Mijhaar R Varian |
N Callan 8st 12lbs |
10 - 3 1 3/4 length |
|
5 |
Fulgur L M Cumani |
K Fallon 8st 12lbs |
14 - 1 4 1/2 lengths |
|
6 |
Genius Beast M Al Zarooni |
Ahmed Ajtebi 8st 12lbs |
11 - 1 6 lengths |
|
7 |
Glen's Diamond R A Fahey |
J Fortune 8st 12lbs |
6 - 1 29 lengths |
|
8 |
Hurricane Higgins M Johnston |
J Fanning 8st 12lbs |
20 - 1 1 3/4 length |
|
9 |
Glencadam Gold H R A Cecil |
I Mongan 8st 12lbs |
25 - 1 2 lengths |
|
10 |
World Domination H R A Cecil |
T P Queally 8st 12lbs |
8 - 1 Neck |
|
NonRunner |
Dordogne M Johnston |
S De Sousa 8st 12lbs |
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‘BABYISH' FIORENTE WANTED TO BE WITH THE CROWD
Runaway winner Nathaniel proved too good for his King Edward VII Stakes rivals, but strong-finishing Fiorente, ridden by Ryan Moore, produced an eye-catching effort.
He finished second, beaten five lengths, and trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "He acquitted himself well and handled the ground alright - I'm pleased with him."
Fiorente and fourth-placed Mijhaar raced wide of their rivals soon after leaving the stalls, along a strip of ground by the rails which often rides quicker following rain - the disadvantage is that horses concede ground, and the two horses which took that option rejoined their colleagues at the rear of the field.
Sir Michael said: "Ryan and I had a chat beforehand, but unfortunately the horse was a little too babyish, and wanted to rejoin the others - it didn't really work out."
Fiorente has been introduced to Ladbrokes St Leger betting as a 16/1 chance by William Hill, but when asked if the colt might be aimed at that Classic, Sir Michael said: "I hope he might prove even better than that."
The third horse, beaten another two lengths, was Alexander Pope, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Colm O'Donoghue.
