Goliath wins King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes to offer France first victory since 2006

Goliath produced a spectacular efficiency at Ascot to offer France a primary King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes winner since 2006.

Hurricane Run was the final Gallic raider to land this midsummer showpiece, however Francis-Henri Graffard’s four-year-old ended that drought in emphatic style.

Turning for dwelling, the stage appeared set for a battle between market principals Auguste Rodin and Insurgent’s Romance, nevertheless it was quickly obvious that Christophe Soumillon was cruising in behind on Goliath.

Runner-up within the Hardwicke Stakes on the Royal assembly, the 25/1 outsider responded instantly – and impressively – when requested to kick on, powering clear to win by two and 1 / 4 lengths, with Bluestocking staying on for second.

Insurgent’s Romance was nicely overwhelmed in third, whereas it was to not be on this race once more for fifth-placed Auguste Rodin.

Graffard stated: “I do know my horse likes working off a superb tempo and may quicken like this, so we got here right here to Ascot to discover a robust tempo, as final time at Royal Ascot he was nonetheless too eager.

“So, we have been determined for some tempo however once I noticed his massive odds I assumed ‘oh my God, no one believes in him’.

“But he travelled so nicely and when he was like that, I knew he was able to quicken strongly.

“While you come and you’re round 28/1, you are feeling you would possibly appear like a idiot and you do not need that, however I believe some punters will likely be joyful now.”

Hailing the display of Soumillon, the trainer added: “He is simply such a proficient jockey, he by no means sat on the horse, however he galloped one other horse the opposite day and this one was in behind, so he knew what he was sitting on.

“But he just knew what to do before the race, I didn’t have to tell him anything. You need to be a horseman and talented with your hands on this horse and Christophe knew exactly what to do and I think he really enjoyed it.”

Graffard, who gained the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot with Calandagan, continued: “I worked for four years here in England for Sheikh Mohammed and went to every racetrack and fell in love with racing here, I think they have amazing races here.

“I at all times wished to coach in Chantilly however I knew that as quickly as I had good horses I’d attempt to come over and be aggressive right here. It is at all times incredible to be right here and I actually get pleasure from it.”

Asked about future plans for his star, Graffard said: “I do not know with out chatting with the homeowners. He cannot go for the Arc (as a gelding), so we’ll have a look at worldwide races.

“Breeders’ Cup, the Japan Cup – all options are open to him. We’ll see how he comes back, but I can’t say for definite at this moment.”

A delighted Soumillon, who rode the aforementioned Hurricane Run in his King George win, stated: “When I had a chance to look at the big screen I saw I was two or three lengths clear and I had to check I was not dreaming.

“It is such an incredible feeling successful one of many largest races on the planet with an incredible horse. He was a 25-1 shot, however I used to be very optimistic and I knew he simply wanted a quick tempo within the race. It was like a dream.”

Northern Express steams to International success

Northern Express produced a game front-running performance to pick up a deserved valuable prize in the £150,000 Moet & Chandon International Stakes over seven furlongs at Ascot.

The Michael Dods-trained six-year-old had run well in a series of big handicaps this season without quite claiming top honours, including two runner-up efforts at York and fifth place in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting here.

Nonetheless, he put that proper when making all beneath common pilot Paul Mulrennan at 22/1, simply holding on from fast-finishing duo New Picture and Contemporary by a few necks.

Mulrennan stated: “He has been a real good servant to everyone, we discussed it last week that he was just getting a little bit cute in his old age so we popped the cheekpieces on.

“He is been very constant in knocking on the door, and the cheekpieces had the specified impact. We could not see any tempo on and by chance I used to be in a position to get onto a reasonably simple lead.”

Friendly Soul bounces back in some style at Ascot

Kieran Shoemark enjoyed a welcome big-race victory as Friendly Soul galloped on strongly from the front to land the Longines Valiant Stakes at Ascot in convincing style.

Shoemark has had mixed fortunes since taking over as number one jockey for John and Thady Gosden, but silenced his doubters with a first Group Three triumph for the yard.

Friendly Soul was pressed by Doom entering the home straight, but responded admirably and powered clear to prevail by three lengths at 100/30.

She made it three wins from four outings, with the sole blip being a disappointing effort when sent off the odds-on favourite for the Musidora Stakes at York.

John Gosden said: “She gained as a two-year-old and gained very nicely within the Listed race (Fairly Polly, at Newmarket in Might) over a mile and 1 / 4 and we have been pondering Prix de Diane.

“She was drawn nine at York and when you come out of stall nine over a mile and a quarter at York the stables are on your right. She saw that and cocked her jaw. She is a strong-willed lady and she cocked her jaw the whole race, so that explains that.

“We did loads of checking her out as nicely and could not discover something improper and gave her plenty of day without work, as she continues to be an immature filly, and introduced her again for this. She has completed it in good model.

“The break has helped and she is still relatively immature, she is the type of filly who will get better as the year goes on. Mr (George) Strawbridge bred her and he knows the family well and she will be a lovely filly next year.

“That could be a stiff mile and it rises quite a bit and I believe a mile and 1 / 4 is her correct journey – I would not wish to go a mile and a half. We deliberate to run her within the Prix de Diane, however that race was in June so now we must give you one other Baldrick plan.”

He went on: “It has been tough for Kieran as a result of loads of our horses have not been proper. Our highest rated three-year-olds are her and Non secular so our three-year-olds are, I am afraid, method beneath what our homeowners would have wished and the older horses, loads of them did not click on with the chilly spring we have had, so to that extent it is not been simple.

“I always remind people that we had a couple of winners at Ascot and they say we’ve had a terrible year and I say to them ‘what do you mean’ as we haven’t even got halfway through the year yet. As you know we’ve got the rest of the season to come and there is so much racing into late summer and autumn and if you want to you can carry on 12 months of the year. “

Shoemark stated: “John has been brilliant and offers me plenty of support. We’ve got a lot of nice horses and it’s very exciting going forward. John and Thady continue to have my back, as do all the owners, so it’s a pleasure and a privilege to ride for the team at Clarehaven and I look forward to what lies ahead.

“I believe she is a progressive filly and I’m glad to see her again to successful methods after her flop within the Musidora. We are able to put that behind us now and he or she hopefully has a vivid future.”

Ryan Moore brings Simmering to the boil just in time

Simmering shed her maiden tag in style with a tenacious victory in the Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot.

Third in a hot novice at York first time up, she was thrown into the much hotter waters of the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, where only Aidan O’Brien’s exciting Fairy Godmother proved too good as she stormed home late in the day.

Bought privately to Al Shaqab Racing since then, Ollie Sangster’s filly gave her new homeowners an instantaneous return with Group Three honours.

There was a scare for backers of the 11/8 favorite when Mandurah obtained first run in the marketplace chief, however as soon as Ryan Moore obtained into the drive place, she completed strongly to beat Betty Clover and Tales Of The Coronary heart by a neck and half a size.

Sangster stated: “We’ll enjoy this and it was always the next step for us after the Albany.

“Ascot was a terrific day, though we obtained overwhelmed, and the filly has taken a superb step ahead and he or she has gained it properly in the long run.

“I think everyone was surprised Fairy Godmother did what she did in the Albany; she came out of the clouds didn’t she.

“There have been a number of anxious moments a few furlongs out, however Ryan was joyful and he or she did nicely.

“I think she has won it nicely in the end, despite having a few traffic problems, and hopefully she will take another step forward – Ryan said he thinks she will and said she was still a bit green coming through horses there. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season with her.

“She’s obtained loads of velocity and her sire Too Darn Sizzling was an excellent miler. Ryan stated he would advise going as much as seven furlongs subsequent time, so we could have to take a look on the schedule.

“I suppose we need to speak with Ryan and connections, they will have their own ideas on a schedule – and see how the filly is more importantly, and then make a plan.”

Simmering’s success continued a superb week for the yard, with stablemate Celestial Orbit having scored in Listed firm at Sandown on Thursday.

Sangster added: “Both Simmering and Celestial Orbit showed up sort of together in the spring and did a lot of work together, so that gave me a bit of extra confidence coming into today after the filly won well on Thursday.

“They’re each various kinds of filly nevertheless it’s good to have them within the yard and connections like that within the yard – will probably be good to see them get their heads in entrance once more.”

Regarding Al Shaqab’s investment, he said: “The possession modified at about half previous 9 on Thursday and it was fairly manic within the workplace.

“I’ve grown up watching Al Shaqab and Sheikh Joaan’s good horses like Toronado and Treve and all those other good horses, so for them to buy into a horse in our yard is a privilege and for it to get off to a good start, it couldn’t have gone any better.”

Al Shaqab racing supervisor Alison Begley commented: “We have had an eye on her since Ascot and then it was a case of getting our ducks in a row. The form was there in the book and she was sort of the obvious one, so I’m delighted it’s worked out well for everybody.

“Ryan was saying there that he thinks the Breeders’ Cup can be supreme. She’s obtained velocity however he thinks she will likely be higher once more stepping as much as seven furlongs – clearly Del Mar is a really sharp mile.

“That would be very long term and we would have to speak to the Al Shaqab team and everything and see where we go, but I think quick ground will be key to her.

“She was inexperienced nonetheless at present and I believe she could have discovered quite a bit having to come back by horses like she did, we have been delighted together with her.”

Hannon voices Terms of endearment for Ascot maiden winner

Ryan Moore made all on Our Terms to take the British EBF Crocker Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes at Ascot, where Al Misbar, who cost 1.5million guineas as a yearling, ultimately finished well beaten.

The Richard Hannon-trained winner had run with promise when fourth on his debut in a good maiden won by Field Of Gold on the July course at Newmarket and built on that with a determined display.

Back In Black pushed the 7/2 winner in the closing stages, but Moore’s mount refused to buckle in scoring by half a length.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Al Misbar – who is a half-brother to brilliant sprinter Battaash – was not the quickest away but was still able to move into it quite stylishly at halfway, looking a real threat before being eased when his chance had gone.

Hannon, who has a fine record in this race, said: “We have at all times fairly favored him, and his first run was very good. We determined to make use of his expertise, it is at all times a wise horse that wins this.

“The Mill Reef closes on Monday and then there’s the Gimcrack, but Ryan thinks he’s more of a seven-furlong horse. He’s something very nice to look forward to.”

Appleby stated of Al Misbar: “It was his first day at school and it didn’t matter where he turned up, he was always going to be a fancied horse given his pedigree and his price. They don’t know their price though, so I never worry about stuff like that.

“Will (Buick) stated he was happening good and quiet however he was lugging to the left, lugging to the correct, the same old first day stuff. We’ll get him again out once more in three weeks’ time.”