Queen Anne Stakes |
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| Group 1, Ascot 14:30 £600,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 14th June 2016 | |
1 Tepin 11/2
2 Belardo 9/2f
3 Lightning Spear 20/1
NR: Arod (IRE)
13 ran Distances: ½l, 1¼l, ¾l
TIME 1m 43.98s (slow by 5.18s)
Queen Anne Stakes winner Tepin to follow-up in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood
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The Mark Casse-trained Tepin was a gutsy half-length winner of the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, the first race of the 2016 Royal meeting.
She is the only the second older American-trained horse to win at Royal Ascot, following on from the Wesley Ward-trained Undrafted in the 2015 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
She is also the first female to succeed in the Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile since Goldikova in 2010. The previous filly or mare to win was Kandy Sauce in 1956.
Having travelled kindly under Julien Leparoux, the American mare battled gamely in the final furlong to fend off the late challenge of Belardo by a half-length to register a notable success for connections on ground that was soft.
A delighted Casse commented: "There were a lot of things stacked against today but in the end her greatness prevailed. A lot of people in the United States will be delighted with this result. I have to tip my hat to Robert Masterson [owner], he was a true sportsman who encouraged us to come.
"We trained her without Lasix and all the things she was accustomed to and we felt that she handled that fine. She thought she was over here on vacation and then before the race she realised that she had to work. She will be fine, go back and relax. She is just a remarkable horse. Julien Leparoux hit her a couple of times which he usually doesn't have to so I was just waiting for the wire to come.
"Thanks to everybody. They have all been so kind and it has just been a first class experience. We truly appreciate it. Everyone has been just wonderful with us. It is something to remember. I couldn't even dream anything like this. To be here and run at the most remarkable place I have ever been and actually have a winner here with a great horse like Tepin, I mean what can I say, it is so special.
Casse added: "The plan would be to now go back for the Breeders' Cup Mile (in November) but at the moment I am not sure where she will go."
Norman Casse, assistant trainer of Tepin, remarked: "You have to bring the right horse over here and we definitely did. She takes everything in her stride and as soon as she got off the plane, we knew she would do alright. Julien Leparoux rode a perfect race on her.
Robert Masterson, Tepin's owner, said: "The mare is the best thing in the world. She is fantastic and did a fantastic job today. People say Americans have to have drugs in their horses but she had no drugs, no nasal strip and nothing that everybody was worried about in the paper. She just performed magnificently. It is a great message to send back home.
"The biggest thing we were worried about was the ground. She has won on the soft before but we weren't exactly sure how it was. She had never been on a straight track and she had never been going uphill. There were a lot of things to overcome for the first time and she just did it. I think Mark Casse and Norman have done a wonderful job. If it wasn't for them, we would not be here."
Queen Anne Stakes (British Champions Series)
£600,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (12) | Tepin (USA) 11/2 | Julien Leparoux 8-11 |
Mark Casse | 5 | |
| 2nd | (2) | ½ | Belardo (IRE) 9/2j | James Doyle 9-0 |
R Varian | 4 |
| 3rd | (13) | 1¼ | Lightning Spear 20/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-0 |
D M Simcock | 5 |
| 4th | (14) | ¾ | Toormore (IRE) 12/1 | W Buick 9-0 |
R Hannon | 5 |
| 5th | (9) | 1¾ | Ervedya (FR) 9/2j | C Soumillon 8-11 |
J C Rouget | 4 |
| 6th | (7) | s.h | Amazing Maria (IRE) 20/1 | O Peslier 8-11 |
D O'Meara | 5 |
| 7th | (3) | ½ | Kodi Bear (IRE) 9/1 | A Kirby 9-0 |
C G Cox | 4 |
| 8th | (6) | 2¾ | Cougar Mountain (IRE) 20/1 | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 5 |
| 9th | (10) | 1 | Endless Drama (IRE) 11/2 | C T Keane 9-0 |
G M Lyons | 4 |
| 10th | (11) | 3 | A Shin Erwin (IRE) 66/1 | C Demuro 9-0 |
Hidemasa Nakao | 5 |
| 11th | (8) | nk | Mondialiste (IRE) 25/1 | P J Smullen 9-0 |
D O'Meara | 6 |
| 12th | (4) | 13 | Barchan (USA) 200/1 | Jack Mitchell 9-0 |
R Varian | 4 |
| 13th | (1) | 1 | Esoterique (IRE) 7/1 | P C Boudot 8-11 |
A Fabre | 6 |
| NR | (5) | Arod (IRE) 20/1 | J P Spencer 9-0 |
P W Chapple-Hyam | 5 |
GODOLPHIN SECOND & FOURTH
Trainer Roger Varian was delighted with Belardo's effort, after the four-year-old finished second, half a length adrift of the American raider Tepin. The Godolphin-owned colt was sent off the 9/2 joint favourite in the 13-strong field.
The Newmarket handler said: "We are pleased - he ran a hell of a good race. We are obviously disappointed not to win because we are competitors. I thought a furlong from home we might just catch her, but she just kept finding more and more. Belardo showed up, ran a great race and we had no excuses on the day. We had conditions to suit and I thought James (Doyle) gave him an excellent ride - he gave Belardo every chance of winning. When everything goes right and there are no excuses and there is one better, you have to tip your hat to the winner and say fair play to the American filly. I thought it was commendable to come over here and win under such different conditions.
"I am very proud of Belardo. He ran a really great race and I am sure that we have big days ahead with him for the remainder of the year. If you looks at his last five runs, he has become ultra-consistent, which is perhaps part of the game which he lacked last year. He will be labelled a soft-ground horse because he has run in these great races on soft ground but I would love him to get the chance to run on good ground and show people that he can perform as well on good ground.
"It's the very firm ground that we will probably avoid, but he obviously handles these conditions and that's a comfort coming into these races on the soft ground. He has run four times this year, so he can probably afford a little break now and come back for a campaign in the second half of the season. There's the Jacques le Marios and he will be in all of the big mile races, including the Sussex Stakes.
"We will regroup with connections - Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin and Prince A A Faisal - and all be on the same page. I think the obvious race is back here for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October, in which he ran so well last year. I am sure he will run a couple of times before that but that will be his big target at the end of the year."
Belardo, who was last seen winning the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and James Doyle, who was not on board that day, said: "I'm really pleased with him, he ran a solid race. Hats off to the winner, she's got to be pretty special to do that. I thought for a minute I was grinding her down but she found a bit more."
Godolphin also had the fourth, the Richard Hannon-trained Toormore, who under William Buick, adopted different tactics to come from behind with a good run.
Richard Hannon commented: "I was delighted. William has held him up and he seemed to enjoy the ground. We will have a look at the Lennox Stakes (Glorious Goodwood 7f G2 which he won in 2015) and races like that."
William Buick said: "he has run very well. We just changed the tactics a little bit today. Richard (Hannon) was keen to get a lead as long as possible and it has worked out. I thought he ran his race and he goes on that ground very well."
The third home, the David Simcock-trained Lightning Spear, finished a length and a quarter adrift of Belardo.
David Simcock: "I'd love to have run him on faster ground. He's a very nice horse to inherit [from former trainer Olly Stevens] and I guess he will go for the obvious races, but I'd just like to win a race with him. He has no penalties,so I might put him in a Listed race or Group Three, and I daresay he might go travelling later in the year. He's a lovely horse to have around and on faster ground I am sure you will see his true colours."
Lightning Spear's jockey Oisin Murphy added: "I'm delighted with him - the ground wasn't right for him, but he put in a very brave effort and picked up going to the line. If he can build on that, he will be very hard to beat in Group Ones later in the season."
THE QUEEN ANNE STAKES
Past Results
2015-WINNER-SOLOW -9-00 Owner-Wertheimer & Frere; Trainer-Freddy Head FR; Jockey-Maxime Guyon; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Esoterique 5-8-11 Owner-Baron Edouard De Rothschild; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Pierre Charles-Boudot; SP-16/1
3RD-Cougar Mountain 4-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore: SP-16/1
8 ran; Time-1m 37.97s; Dist-1, nk
2014-WINNER-TORONADO 4-9-00 Owner-Al Shaqab Racing; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey- Richard Hughes; SP-4/5 Fav
2ND-Verrazano 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Joseph O’Brien; SP-6/1
3RD Anodin 4-9-00 Owner-Wertheimer & Frere; Trainer-Freddy Head FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-9/1
10 ran; Time-1m 37.73s; Dist-3⁄4, 11⁄4
2013-WINNER-DECLARATION OF WAR 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Joseph Allen; Trainer-
Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Joseph O’Brien; SP-15/2
2ND-Aljamaaheer 4-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-Roger Varian; Jockey-Paul Hanagan; SP-8/1
3RD-Gregorian 4-9-00 Owner-Princess Haya Of Jordan; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-16/1
13 ran; Time-1m 38.48s; Dist-¾, ½ 5/4 Fav Animal Kingdom (11th)
2012-WINNER-FRANKEL 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Sir Henry Cecil; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-1/10 Fav
2ND-Excelebration 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Joseph O’Brien; SP-5/1
3RD-Side Glance 5-9-00 Owner-Qatar Racing Limited; Trainer-Andrew Balding; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-33/1
11 ran, Time-1m 37.85s; Dist 11, nk
2011-WINNER-CANFORD CLIFFS 4-9-00 Owner-The Heffer Syndicate, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-11/8
2ND-Goldikova 6-8-13 Owner-Wertheimer et Frere; Trainer-Freddy Head FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-5/4 Fav
3RD-Cityscape 5-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-14/1
7 ran, Time-1m 38.38s; Dist: 1, 1¾
2010-WINNER-GOLDIKOVA 5-8-11 Owner-Wertheimer et Frere; Trainer-Freddy Head FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Paco Boy 5-9-00 Owner-The Calvera Partnership No 2; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-11/4
3RD-Dream Eater 5-9-00 Owner-Jeff Smith; Trainer-Andrew Balding; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-50/1
10 ran, Time-1m 37.74s; Dist: nk, 3¼
2009-WINNER- PACO BOY 4-9-00 Owner-The Calvera Partnership No 2; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-100/30
2ND-Cesare 8-9-00 Owner-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-11/1
3RD-Aqlaam 4-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Richard Hills; SP-10/1
9 ran, Time-1m 39.31s; Dist: 1½, ½. 9/4 Fav Gladiatorus (6th)
2008-WINNER-HARADASUN 5-9-00 Owner-Frank Tagg/Sue Magnier/Frank Meduri/Garry Moffitt; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien
IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-5/1
2ND-Darjina 4-8-11 Owner-Princess Zahra Aga Khan; Trainer-Alain De Royer-Dupre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-5/1
3RD-Finsceal Beo 4-8-11 Owner-Michael Ryan; Trainer-Jim Bolger IRE; Jockey-Kevin Manning; SP-9/2 Fav
11 ran, Time-1m 38.98s, Dist: hd, ¾
2007-WINNER-RAMONTI 5-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-5/1
2ND-Jeremy 4-9-00 Owner-Betty Moran; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-14/1
3RD-Turtle Bowl 5-9-00 Owner-B van Dalfsen; Trainer-Francois Rohaut FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-33/1
8 ran, Time-1m 37.21s, Dist: sh, sh 10/11 Fav George Washington (4th)
2006-WINNER-AD VALOREM 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier & Bob Ingham; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-13/2
2ND-Court Masterpiece 6-9-00 Owner-Gainsborough Stud; Trainer-Ed Dunlop; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-11/2
3RD-Proclamation 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-2/1
7 ran, Time-1m 40.0s, Dist: 1½, nk 7/4 Fav Peeress (4th)
2005-WINNER-VALIXIR 4-9-00 Owner-H H Aga Khan; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-4/1
2ND-Rakti 6-9-00 Owner-Gary Tanaka; Trainer-Michael Jarvis; Jockey-Philip Robinson; SP-5/6 Fav
3RD-Starcraft 5-9-00 Owner-The Australian Syndicate; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Darryll Holland; SP-7/1
10 ran, Time-1m 36.64s Dist: 1½, ½ (Run at York)
2004-WINNER-REFUSE TO BEND 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-12/1
2ND-Soviet Song 4-8-11 Owner-Elite Racing Club; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-6/1
3RD-Salselon 5-9-00 Owner-Scuderia Briantea Srl; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Darryll Holland; SP-12/1
16 ran, Time-1m 39.14s Dist: nk, ¾ 5/2 Fav Six Perfections (6th)
2003-WINNER-DUBAI DESTINATION 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-9/2
*2ND-Right Approach 4-9-00 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-20/1
3RD-Where Or When 4-9-00 Owner-John Humphreys (Turf Accountants Ltd); Trainer-Terry Mills; Jockey-Kevin Darley; SP- 8/1
10 ran, Time-1m 38.56s Dist: 4, ¾ 8/13 Fav Hawk Wing (7th)
*Tillerman originally finished second but was disqualified after failing a post-race urine test
