Eminent Impresses In Craven
He was produced to lead approaching the final furlong and ran on well despite displaying signs of greenness to beat Requinto Dawn (Requinto), himself a debut winner at Doncaster on 1 April, by three quarters of a length, with Rockin Fella (Society Rock) a further three and three quarter lengths adrift in third.
Excellently Poised is the first foal out of the Listed-winning Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Excellette and holds an entry in the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes (5f) later in the season.
The Paul Cole-trained Plunger (2 c Helmet – Percolator by Kheleyf) made a winning debut over five furlongs at Kempton Park last Saturday.
The colt, who is the third foal out of the Group Three-winning Kheleyf (Green Desert) mare Percolator, raced on the shoulder of the leader throughout in the hands of champion jockey Jim Crowley.
Once asked to quicken, he showed a smart turn of foot to stretch a length and a half clear of Dragon’s Teeth (Dragon Pulse) in second, with Quick Skips Lad (Lilbourne Lad) a further neck behind in third.
The Godolphin-raced Sound And Silence (2 c Exceed And Excel – Veil Of Silence by Elusive Quality) made an impressive start to his career over five furlongs at Newmarket on Tuesday.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the colt raced up with the pace throughout in the hands of William Buick before easing into a narrow lead approaching the final furlong.
He ran green when in the lead but held on well to beat the running-on Never Back Down (Kodiac) by half a length, with a break of two lengths back to Areen Faisal (Bahamian Bounty) in third place.
Sound And Silence is one of six named foals out of an unraced half-sister to Group One winner Ibn Khaldun (Dubai Destination), while his second dam is the dual Group One winner Gossamer (Sadler’s Wells).
Elsewhere, Rioticism (2 f Rio De La Plata – Romanticism by Cape Cross) ran out a taking winner on her second career start at Maisons-Laffitte on Tuesday.
The filly, who is Darley second season stallion Rio De La Plata’s (Rahy) 12th individual two-year-old winner, ran sixth on her debut at Saint-Cloud last month.
She showed the benefit of that experience when quickening three and a half lengths clear of Lamchope (Captain Chop) under Eddy Hardouin, with Kyvon Des Aigles (Style Vendome) a further length and three quarters behind in third.
At Newmarket on Wednesday, the Tom Dascombe-trained Formidable Kitt (2 f Invincible Spirit – Ceiling Kitty by Red Clubs) made a winning debut over five furlongs.
The filly made all the running to win by half a length under Richard Kingscote, showcasing a good attitude to hold off the late challenge of Take Shelter (Harbour Watch), with the same distance back to Ziarah (Iffraaj) in third place.
The Chasemore Farm owned and bred filly is the second foal out of the Queen Mary Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) winner Ceiling Kitty (Red Clubs), making her a half sister to one winner, and her trainer said after the race that she could head to the Royal Ascot Group Two in an attempt to emulate her dam.
Three-Year-Olds
The Martyn Meade-trained Eminent (3 c ex You’ll be Mine by Kingmambo) ran out an impressive winner of the Craven Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Newmarket on Thursday and in the process provided Frankel (Galileo) with his seventh stakes winner.
The Sir Peter Vela-raced three-year-old was having the second start of his career having broken his maiden on debut at Newmarket in September. The field of seven runners split into two groups across the track, and Eminent travelled strongly behind the Group One winner Rivet (Fastnet Rock) in the early stages.
When Jim Crowley asked for an effort, the colt responded to lead inside the final furlong and score by one and three quarter lengths from Rivet in second with just neck back to Benbatl (Dubawi) in third, and he is now a general 9/1 chance for the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) on 6 May.
Frankel, whose oldest crop are three-year-olds, stands at Juddmonte Farm for a fee of £125,000.
The John Gosden-trained Daban (3 f ex Malaspina by Whipper) showcased her 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) credentials when she ran out a ready winner of the Nell Gwyn Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Newmarket yesterday and in the process provided Acclamation (Royal Applause) with his 41st stakes winner.
The three-year-old filly won her only previous career start over seven furlongs on the all weather at Kempton in November and she had no problems stepping into stakes company for the first time, beating Unforgetable Filly (Sepoy) by half a length with another one and a quarter lengths back to Poet’s Vanity (Poet’s Voice) in third.
The filly was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock at last year’s Tattersalls Breeze Up Sale for 260,000gns from the Derryconnor Stud draft and following yesterday’s victory her odds for the 1,000 Guineas were slashed from 40-1 to 12-1.
The Rathbarry Stud-based stallion Acclamation stands for a fee of €30,000.
The progressive Brametot (3 c Rajsaman – Morning Light by Law Society) ran out a comfortable winner of the Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr 3, 1600m) at Chantilly on Sunday.
The colt, who was making his first appearance this season having taken out the Grand Criterium de Bordeaux (Listed, 1600m) in October, blew the start under Cristian Demure and trailed the field in the early stages of the contest.
However, after making steady progress to rejoin the pack with 600 metres left to travel, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained three-year-old made smooth headway on the outside of the field before quickening clear in taking fashion inside the 200 metres to score by two and a half lengths from Stunning Spirit (Invincible Spirit), with Spotify (Redoute’s Choice) just a head away in third.
Senga (3 f ex Beta Leo by A. P. Indy) won the Prix de la Grotte (Gr 3, 1600m) at Chantilly on Sunday, in the processing providing Blame (Arch) with his ninth stakes winner.
The Pascal Barry-trained filly, who was making her seasonal bow having not been seen since running fourth in the Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr 1, 1600m) at Chantilly in October, was held up in fourth, racing keenly in the early stages in the hands of Stephane Pasquier.
After being asked for her effort inside the final 400 metres, she edged into the lead approaching the 200 metres and was able to pull away to win by a length from La Sardane (Kingsalsa) with Lady Frankel (Frankel) another half a length away in third.
Later that afternoon, the Andre Fabre-trained Soleil Marin (3 c Kendargent – Sousmarine by Montjeu) continued his winning run in the Prix Noailles (Gr 3, 2100m) at Chantilly on Sunday.
The son of Kendargent (Kendor), who is now unbeaten in his previous five starts, including victory in the Prix Francois Mathet (Listed, 2100m) at Saint-Cloud on 23 March, raced on the outside of the field in fourth in the early stages under Mickael Barzalona.
The Godolphin-raced colt was ridden to the lead with 300 metres to travel and, after being briefly headed by stablemate Akihiro (Deep Impact) in the closing stages, Soleil Marin battled back under pressure to narrowly beat Akihiro by a head.
The Freddy Head-trained Normandy Eagle (New Approach) was a further length and a half adrift in third.
British import Delectation (3 f Delegator – Chushka by Pivotal) preserved her unbeaten record at Cologne on Monday, winning the Schwarzgold-Rennen (Gr 3, 1600m) at her first start in Germany
The former Bryan Smart-trained filly, who has now won each of her three career starts, took out the Firth Of Clyde Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at Ayr at her final start as a two-year-old before being purchased by Australian Bloodstock and transferred to Andreas Wohler.
She quickened clear in the home straight to beat Alicante (Lando) by two lengths, with Hargeisa (Speightstown) and Peace In Motion (Hat Trick) a further neck behind in a dead heat for third.
The John Gosden-trained Khalidi (3 c ex Bezique by Cape Cross) took out the Feilden Stakes (Listed, 1m1f) at Newmarket on Tuesday to provide late Coolmore shuttler High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) with his 97th stakes winner.
The colt travelled strongly into contention for Frankie Dettori and battled on well to hold off the Group One-placed favourite Salouen (Canford Cliffs) by a neck, with Law And Order (Lawman) a further three and a quarter lengths adrift in third.
Gosden said after the race that Khalidi, who is out of the Italian Listed-winning mare Bezique (Cape Cross), could now run in the Chester Vase (Gr 3, 1m4f) next month.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Whiteciffsofdover (3 c ex Orate by A.P. Indy) was an impressive all-the-way winner of the European Free Handicap (Listed, 7f) at Newmarket yesterday and in the process provided his sire Coolmore America-based sire War Front (Danzig) with his 58th stakes winner.
The three-year-old colt, who was last seen running third in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Gr 1, 1600m) at Chantilly in October, was ridden quickly to the front by Ryan Moore and he set good fractions in the early stages of the contest.
After being asked to quicken inside the final furlong he was able to pull away unchallenged to post a comfortable two and three quarter length victory over the Simon Crisford-trained Rodaini (Exchange Rate) with another half a length back to Seven Heavens (Frankel) in third.
O’Brien enjoyed a stakes double on Wednesday, courtesy of War Secretary (3 c ex Upperline by Maria’s Mon) who won the Patton Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Dundalk and in the process provided War Front (Danzig) with this 57th stakes winner.
The three-year-old was making his seasonal reappearance having not been seen since breaking his maiden over seven furlongs at Dundalk last October.
He kept on well for pressure inside the final furlong to beat Noivado (Casamento) by a neck with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Ambassadorial (Elusive Quality) in third. War Front stands at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky for a fee of US$250,000.
War Secretary is out of the multiple Grade Three winner Upperline (Maria’s Mon).
Older Horses
The Richard Hannon-trained Steel Of Madrid (4 c Lope de Vega – Bibury by Royal Applause) ran out a convincing winner of the Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Gr 3, 1m1f) at Newmarket on Wednesday.
The four-year-old, who was making his seasonal reappearance having not been seen since running the seventh in the Old Rowley Cup (1m4f) in October, raced keenly in the early stages in the hands of Pat Dobbs.
He was still full of running approaching the final furlong and moved up to join leader and Group One-placed Folkswood (Exceed And Excel) well inside the last 200 yards.
Despite being carried left by Folkswood close home, the colt edged ahead to win by half a length from Folkswood with Spark Plug (Dylan Thomas) another four lengths adrift in third.
The Kevin Ryan-trained Brando (5 g Pivotal – Argent du Bois by Silver Hawk) made a winning return to action in the Abernant Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at Newmarket on Thursday at his first start since finishing third in the British Champions Sprint Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) in October.
The five-year-old gelding was settled in fourth by Tom Eaves with the early pace being set by Ornate (Bahamian Bounty) under Ryan Moore.
With just over a furlong left to travel, Eaves sent Brando after Ornate, and he duly showed a smart turn of foot to run down that rival close home to win going away by a length, with Windfast (Exceed And Excel) a further two lengths behind in third.
After the race, Yorkshire-based Ryan said Brando would be aimed towards a tilt at the Duke Of York Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at York next month before a tilt at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot in June.