Duke Of York on Cheka radar

The Cheka

EVE JOHNSON-HOUGHTON’s thoroughly honest and reliable sprinter, The Cheka, seems as good, if not better than ever at the age of six, so take advantage of some of the best racing odds around for the Duke Of York Stakes next week, writes Elliot Slater.

He won in style on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster in listed company and is now likely to take his chance on the Knavesmire in what is building up to be a fine renewal of the Group 2 contest.

Although his only win last term came in the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock over seven furlongs, The Cheka ran a series of fine races in defeat, including when fourth in a strong renewal of the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

He was beaten just one length into third in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting in September and wasn’t disgraced when running a cracker to finish third behind Pastoral Player in a valuable handicap at Ascot the following month.

The drop back to 6f clearly suited, as the gelded son of Xaar outpaced the very useful Jimmy Styles on Town Moor - the runner-up having arrived at Doncaster following a pleasing campaign in Meydan over the winter.

His Cammidge Trophy success has convinced connections that at six furlongs, their gelding can mix it with some of the best in the business. That theory is put to the test at York, where he may face the likes of Hoof It, Bated Breath, Society Rock, and recent Newmarket winner Mayson.

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‘Freakish’ Frankel

The unbeaten: Frankel

FRANKEL (1-3) spearheads the QEII Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday October 15 as he bids to land a ninth-straight victory and fifth Group One of a short career which has enthralled the racing world, writes Joel Sheldon. This is muted as being his final tilt at the eight-furlong distance, one that he has utterly dominated this year, as trainer Sir Henry Cecil looks to step him up in trip next season.

Frankel is a phenomenon but still I hear whispers from the shadows, mostly on message boards and forums of people uttering that Frankel has not been fully tested in the races he has contested. Even Tom Segal, Racing Post’s most celebrated tipster, labelled Frankel’s campaign ‘boring’ - suggesting the horse had been given an easy season in his ‘comfort zone’. I take serious issue with these defaming whispers. Just because Frankel has made these victories LOOK easy, it doesn’t mean they were by any means of that simplicity.

So, I’ve taken a look at Frankel’s form book. From that I’ll take the most impressive of those defeated horses, i.e. those that have gone on to win Group One’s or those that had won a Group One either this season or last, therefore I feel I am taking into account any pretender that may have been on the decline when Frankel was victorious. 

So below is a list of horses Frankel has defeated, that have won at group level; 

Nathaniel (Group 2 & Group1 winner)

Genius Beast (Group 3 winner)

Klammer (Group 3 winner)

Treasure Beach (Group 1, Graded 1 (USA) & Group 3 winner)

Roderic O’Connor (2x Group 1 winner)

New Greenfield (Group 3 winner)

Dream Ahead (6 wins from 9 races. 5 Group 1’s over 6 & 7 furlongs)

Saamidd (Group 2 winner)

Excelebration (5 wins from 8 races, twice beaten by Frankel. Winner of one Group 1 and 2 Group 2’s between 7f & 1m)

Strong Suit (2x Group 2 & 1x Group 3 winner)

Dubawi Gold (2x Listed winner & 1 Group 2)

Native Khan (2 Group 3’s)

Pathfork (Unbeaten until he faced Frankel, Group 1&2 winner)

Rerouted (Group 3 winner)

Casamento (1 Group 1,2&3)

Zoffany (Group 1 & Group 3 winner)

Wooton Bassett (Group 1 winner & unbeaten as a 2yo)

Canford Cliffs (Won 7/11 of his races. 5 Group 1’s in a row & 1 Group 2)

 

Below is a table showing how many group races the horses Frankel has beaten have either won or gone on to win at Group level, both at home and abroad.

 

	Total Winners
Group/Grade 1’s	20
Group 2’s	13
Group 3’s	11

 

Winning Distances

Of the entire Group standard horses above that have been beaten by the mighty Frankel just two, Zoffany and Nathaniel, have managed to get to within a length. The latter pushed him all the way in their maiden at Newmarket last year when the sons of Galileo traded blows right to the line, with the rest of the field floundering five lengths behind.

 

Zoffany was the next to push Frankel to the limit when getting to within three-quarters of a Length in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot this year. However, it is widely regarded that the man who has been ever-present in the saddle, Tom Queally, gave him an uncharacteristically poor ride.  Asked for an effort before the bend on the mile course at Ascot, perhaps taking into account the relatively short straight at the racecourse, Frankel appeared to tire inside the furlong and had almost come to a stand-still in the last 150 yards.

Cecil claimed after the race that it was always the plan to go to the front early. It is my thought that they really wanted to test Frankel, and to see not only if they could settle him in behind the pace, but also how long he could keep up the devastating stride he uses to put his races to bed. I think we can safely say it didn’t go exactly as planned and his handler said: “I don’t think we’ll be riding him like that again”. Queally felt Frankel still had more to give at the line but was simply in front for too long and began to idle given the lack of company for the final two or three furlongs.

Form Lines

From the above list I’m going to take a look at the form lines through the six most impressive horses in their own right. Canford Cliffs, Strong Suit, Excelebration, Nathaniel, Dream Ahead and Treasure Beach, who in my opinion is a top class horse who was ludicrously used as a pacemaker in this year’s Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp.

Nathaniel – Workforce- St Nicholas Abbey

Dream Ahead – Goldikova –Bated Breath-Worthadd-Tin Horse-Strong Suit

Canford Cliffs-Goldikova-Worthadd-Rip Van Winkle-Dick Turpin-Free Judgement-Cape Blanco-Ransom Note-Twice Over

Strong Suit-Red Jazz-Beacon Lodge-Chachamaidee-Western Aristocrat

Treasure Beach-Banned-Seville-Nathaniel-Carlton House-Within a head of Derby winner Pour Moi.

Excelebration-Dubawi Gold-Rajsaman-Rio De La Plata-Royal Bench-Planteur

 

As you can see the various form lines that I’ve selected are extremely strong and although Strong Suit is yet to add a Group One to his name, his two victories at Group Two level have been executed on the bridle in very taking fashion. Excelebration won the German Guineas by an impressive seven lengths before going on to bigger and better things in France when taking a Group One convincingly against proven types on very testing ground.

 

Treasure Beach and Nathaniel have proven themselves to be more effective over longer distances since their encounters with Frankel. But, both are still undeniably top class performers with Treasure Beach invading the USA and coming back with the Grade One Secretariat Stakes. Nathaniel meanwhile took the Group Two Edward VII stakes comfortably before returning to Ascot to land the King George eye-catchingly, in what proved a messy race.

 

The most impressive form line though belongs without doubt to the recently retired Canford Cliffs. He had wins to his name against some greats which included Goldikova and Rip Van Winkle, as well as numerous Group On winner Twice Over, and recent Group Two victor Ransom Note. Also taking into account Cape Blanco’s incredible form in the US - Canford Cliffs was clearly a fantastic miler. Further evidence of Frankel’s domination in this sphere came at Glorious Goodwood when he eased to a five-length success over the Richard Hannon inmate.

 

For me, this list of very good horses that have consistently finished in behind Frankel makes him the finest Miler around at the moment. I am not here to compare him with past greats; I believe he’ll do that much more efficiently than I can when he steps up in trip next year. All I know, is that it’s going to take something very special to beat Frankel.

But I do believe question marks over his form and whether he is a great horse should be put to rest. His form hasn’t just been franked, it’s been Frankeled.

Click here to visit The Tiki Taka and read more from the Racing Post’s very own Joel Sheldon.

A star in the making? Noble Mission..

Noble Mission's full-brother, Frankel with Khalid Abdullah, Sir Henry Cecil and Tom Queally

WHILE the mighty Frankel has a remarkable record of eight wins from eight starts, including Classic success in the 2000 Guineas, punters can hardly wait for the debut of stablemate and brother – Noble Mission.

Like his sibling, Noble Mission is owned by Khalid Abdullah and trained by Sir Henry Cecil and the yard have huge admiration for the young horse who is believed to be working very well at home.

Whilst horse betting pundits note that a race has not yet been outlined for his bow, it is well worth making a note of the horse given that a big future is expected.

Meanwhile, Frankel is still on course for the Quipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 15. The son of Galileo is now as short as 1/3 in the ante-post market despite what is set to be a competitive renewal. The price does not appear to have deterred many ante-post punters, as there has been some strong market support already and to many, the price can still be seen to represent value.

Others of interest in the race include Excelebration (5-1), Zoffany (16-1) and Dick Turpin (20-1). While Excelebration may be considered a serious challenger, both the Irish raider and Richard Hannon charge may be forced to settle for a supporting role and will be of particular interest to each-way punters.

Stateside Superstar: Uncle Mo

Uncle Mo

Let me take you back to April 9 2011 and UNCLE MO, winner of his first four races by a combined 26¾ lengths, travelled to The Aqueduct Racecourse in New York for a shot at the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes (Grade 1).

He had impressive Grade 1 form in the bag, winning The Champagne Stakes and The Breeders Cup Juvenile as a two-year-old. He was once again heavily fancied, and had been heavily backed; nothing in the form book suggested this would be anything other than routine… He breaks well and looks as though he’ll win as he likes, from the front, just as he did on his previous two starts.

THE UNTHINKABLE

Heading into the final one and a half furlongs his jockey, John Valazquez presses his sizable button and looks to put the contest to bed. But something appears wrong inside the last; Uncle Mo is usually 2-3 lengths clear by now, and lengthening. But, in this instance his rivals are closing in on him, wearing him down.

Valazquez was hard at work and driving for the line and inside the last 110 yards he was headed. This is incredible, he’s never been in a battle like this and it appears that he can find no extra. Fading inside the final 100 yards he was again headed on the line to finish a disappointing third at odds of 1-10. A stunned silence spreads across this famous racecourse, similar to that of Zenyatta’s exploits in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November 10′, as the great Uncle Mo, favourite for this year’s Breeders Cup Classic, was beaten.

THE RETURN

Fast forward to Saratoga’s Travers Day 2011, and after more than 140 days off the Track, Uncle Mo is back. It’s been a long road for the popular colt (by Indian Charlie, out of Praya Maya), following irregular blood work and extensive medical testing found him to have contracted a rare Liver disease, cholangiohepatitis.

It was this condition that was cited for his ‘poor’ (despite finishing third in a Grade 1) run at The Aqueduct earlier in the year. As a result he lost an inordinate amount of weight. The condition was so serious that Uncle Mo was unable to train and was sent to recover within the peaceful confines of WinStar Farm. There was talk that he’d never be able to race again!

THE FACTOR

But, thankfully, this Saturday we get to see him again in the Kings Bishop Stakes at Saratoga. It’s time to find out whether Uncle Mo was a ‘flash in the pan’ two-year-old, or whether he could be the real deal. He’s coming up against high quality racehorses and Flashpoint in particular will make Uncle Mo work extremely hard to win on his reappearance. However, Uncle Mo can return to winning ways and trainer Todd Pletcher has made it no secret about how well his preparation has gone in the build up to this race.

Another highly regarded three-year-old makes his comeback from an ankle injury. The Factor will contest the Pat O’Brien Stakes rather than attempting the King’s Bishop and the change of heart has been put down to not wanting to burn the horse out through travelling. However, surely if his trainer Bob Baffert thought he had a shot of toppling Uncle Mo, or if the former Triple-Crown hopeful was in anyway ‘vulnerable’, he’d be taking him on this weekend. The fact is he’s not and that could be the biggest ‘Factor’ of them all…

Joel Sheldon

Rewilding eyes King George

Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner: Rewilding

Preparation for the King George Stakes at Ascot has begun for Rewilding as the recent Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner is reported to have stepped up his work at home, writes Pete South

Having already provided one impressive upset this year after he overcame subsequent Coral-Eclipse Stakes winner So You Think in the Royal Ascot Group 1, another monumental showdown appears to be on the cards with St Nicholas Abbey.

Rewilding is best priced 11-4 for the race later this month, and Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford reports the four-year-old to have taken to his preparation well and remains fit and healthy.

“He’s in great form and goes for the King George,” Crisford told At The Races.

“He came out of his Ascot race very well and has been quiet until now. Soon he’ll start getting ready for Ascot,” He added.

Meanwhile, as So You Think was removed from the list of runners for the King George as expected, the team behind Workforce – who the Australian champion edged out to take the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, a race the pair where free bet favourites for -  have yet to confirm either way regarding their intentions.

Workforce’s defeat gave Rewilding a nice form boost and Crisford had plenty of praise for the standard of racing that has been on show so far this term.

“It was a fantastic race, Crisford commented, “The form is rock solid. This season has been excellent with some top-notch performances and I think there’s plenty more to come.”

St Nicholas Abbey, who landed the Investec Coronation Cup last time out and is likely to be well supported, could be joined by well-known stable-mate Seville as they attempt to scupper Rewilding’s designs for the race.

The Coral Charge..

Leading Coral Charge hope: Night Carnation

Joel Sheldon takes a closer look at this afternoon’s renewal of the Coral Charge and more specifically, the leading contenders:

Triple Aspect: Tough races recently, runner-up to the impressive Bated Breath who holds Darley Cup hopes after a poor run at Ascot on unsuited ground. Poor draw in stall five.

Kingsgate Native: No win in his last nine outings, two tough races at Ascot where he failed to make any impression in either, also a tough draw from stall nine.  Also carrying top weight, not much in his favour.

Astrophysical Jet: Disappointing since his reappearance at Newmarket, has to be respected based on three year-old form.

Margot Did: Looks a very good prospect, two impressive efforts recently. Must be respected despite difficult draw.

Pastoral Player: An unknown quantity in this company but does hold a Nunthorpe entry.  Good run at Ascot behind Deacon Blues on soft grounds earns respect, may be settled in the rear before making a late move, threat.

Night Carnation: Has seven lengths to find on Margot Did, solid form in early sprinting career, great draw in stall two, should have a clear run and can make an impression.

VERDICT

On a day where the Coral-Eclipse battle between Derby winner Workforce and Australian import So You Think takes centre stage, another intriguing race on the Sandown card has caught my eye.  My first flat season and I have really taken to the sprint division, 50 seconds of fast and furious racing, with the draw and racing position absolutely paramount. Tim Easterby’s Captain Dunne has helped to ignite my passion for the sprints, having backed him three times this season he’s twice ran into second and then overcame top weight and an unfavourable draw in a ferociously run Epsom ‘Dash’ on Derby day, showing blistering early pace to bag the rail from La Fortunata and staying on bravely to take it by a neck.

The Captain was taken out of the Sapphire Stakes at The Curragh last week, a race I feel he would have struggled to win given the way Hamish McGonagal and Inxile cut each others throats by running an exceptionally quick first four furlongs, setting it up for Invincible Ash to come storming through and take it in the last 200 yards.  He’s not a horse that likes to come from the back of the field and is more comfortable going full pelt and burning off his rivals with that afore-mentioned early pace. It had been speculated he could come to Sandown this weekend but he is now aimed at the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

That, in my opinion has blown this one wide open. There are a few seasoned sprinters in the shape of six year-old Kingsgate Native and five year-old Triple Aspect, as well as some impressive newcomers in three year-olds Margot Did and Night Carnation. Astrophysical Jet has been slightly disappointing since her seasonal bow at Headquarters after a very impressive run of form last year saw her overcome Triple Aspect and globetrotting sprinter Inxile who has shown some exceptional form this year.  As previously mentioned, the draw will play its part, and its favourable to be drawn low.  Night Carnation’s draw stands out in stall two, he should get a clear run from there and with enough pace out the stalls, he is certainly able to make an impression. The draw has not been kind to Triple Aspect, Pastoral Player and Astrophysical Jet (drawn 5,6 and 7 respectively) as these are the most fruitless stalls in this contest. In terms of form, the stand out is Margot Did, impressive on her last two outings and ran an absolute stormer in the Scurry Stakes containing the disappointing Night Carnation to win by five lengths. Kingsgate Native hasn’t won in his last nine outings but as the most experienced of the runners, he commands respect having run Sole Power close this season.  With two disappointing efforts at Royal Ascot in mind however, I don’t feel he will make an impression from a tough draw, carrying 9st 3lb.

SELECTION

With his good draw and weight for age compensation, Night Carnation is sure to make an impression here as he continues to progress in this early stage of his career and at 13-2 he represents the value bet in the race.

Scale (1-5) = 2pts win @ 13/2 (Stan James & Boyle Sports)

A look ahead to Friday’s Royal action….

King Edward VII Stakes favourite: Nathaniel

As Brown Panther (7-1 nap) was eased down to win what looked a competitive renewal of the King George V Stakes, punters regained the upper-hand on day three of the Royal Ascot Festival and Joel Sheldon talks us through the ups and downs of what has proved an intriguing but difficult week so far….

My first Royal Ascot and it hasn’t disappointed!!  The quality of racing in the first three days has been FRANKly stunning; we’ve seen some great performances from the likes of Canford Cliffs, Frankel and Fame And Glory along with several eye-catching young-guns who may be worth following such as Bapak Chinta, Shumoos and Best Terms.  But from a punting point of view, things haven’t gone my way having passed up most races on Tuesday, choosing to watch rather than bet, Wednesday was a disaster. The low point coming as Julienas held off Dance and Dance in the Royal Hunt Cup, but ironically, this was because I had backed the Walter Swinburn representative…

 AGONY

Julienas was thrown into a 20-1 double with the Australian import So You Think, and having already seen the heavily fancied favourite beaten by a neck to Rewilding and Frankie Dettori in the previous race, watching Julienas hold up his end of the bargain was a bitter pill to swallow.  By far, my punting high has been the Michael Owen owned, Tom Dascombe trained Brown Panther, one of my favourite horses winning impressively for one of my favored yards.  The Manor House clan have been good to me over the past few weeks as they’ve racked up winner after winner, so seeing Brown Panther win so well and become my first winner of the week was extremely satisfying, it was also a victory for a website not a million miles away from here!!!!

So moving onto Friday and with my confidence restored, what a great days racing we have in prospect.  Many big name players are due to contest both the King Edward VII Stakes (15:05) Grp 2 and The Coronation Stakes (15:45) Grp 1. The latter of these looks like an absolute minefield, Together is the favourite and rightfully so, as a lot of the runners are unproven in this company, but with Theyskens’ Theory, Memory and Joviality, an upset could be on the cards…

The King Edward VII Stakes looks easier to call, with the winner surely coming from one of the two market principals, World Domination and Nathaniel. Both were expected to run in The Investec Derby this year but the showcase was swerved for respective reasons and they have subsequently ended up at Royal Ascot.

OPTIONS

It’s really difficult to call between these two; World Domination’s first race was won in pretty impressive fashion at Newbury when destroying Solar Sky by almost four lengths.  Nathaniel’s only victory to date has come when 1-20 favourite in a small field at Haydock but he hasn’t yet been outside the top two in his four starts and got to within ½ a length of Frankel last season as a two year-old, which incidentally is his largest losing margin.

It should also be mentioned that both jockeys involved in this battle have come in for some criticism this week, in my opinion slightly harshly in the case of Tom Queally, who got an inordinate amount of condemnation for the way he lit Frankel up so early in the St James Palace Stakes, despite going on to win the race!  I do however, feel that William Buick’s ride on the heavily backed Zigato was slightly lackluster.  Buick is a top rider and I think he’s a great young jockey, especially when pairing up with John Godsen, but he gave the fast finishing Zigato too much to do in the Ascot Stakes on the opening day and left many punters angered.

However, this will be Buick’s fifth time piloting Nathaniel and he seems to have a really good rapport with the horse.  Based on the fact that Nathaniel is more experienced and has been competitive in all four of his starts, he receives slight preference.  His form is working out well behind Treasure Beach and Frankel and given that World Domination was beaten so convincingly in the Dante Stakes at York, the fact he is yet to race over 1m 3f and with the forecast of heavy rain, (Nathaniel’s close second to Frankel came on soft ground) The John Godsen trained three year-old is going to be my NAP of the day, and William Buick’s first win at Royal Ascot 2011!

Scale (1-5) = 5pts win @ 11-4 (Hills, Coral, VC)