Lady Iman Poised For Del Mar
Ger Lyons’ extremely impressive two year old Lady Iman impressed with a great ride to win the Molecombe Stakes under Ryan Moore and looks poised for the Breeders Cup sprint at Del Mar later in the year. After being beaten at the Curragh last month by Aidan O’Briens Beautify, a group three at Goodwood would be where Lyons’ would look to end his three year winless drought in England, and the young filly put that to bed on her return to five furlongs. Following the impressive win, Ryan Moore told Lyons if she gets a low draw in the Breeders Cup she will win, and going against Ryan Moore’s word isn't usually a good idea.
Lyons, who isn't convinced to go to Nunthorpe to take on the older horses, prefers the idea of taking Lady Iman to Del Mar, and a return back up to six furlongs will be another test overseas, once again, going against Colin Keane’s word. A risky decision, but something Lyons is passionate about, and a challenge Lady Iman looks well up for.
Henri Matisse Needs At Least 10 Furlongs
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien matched up against John and Thady Gosdens’ star Field Of Gold for a second time after their race at Royal Ascot, and although Moore and Matisse had the beat over Buick and Field Of Gold this time, it is still obvious he needs a mile and two. Their race at Ascot showed Henri Matisse had surpassed a mile, and would really thrive over 10 furlongs, the two extra were clearly needed to even have a crack at Field Of Gold. The quickening over the last furlong at Ascot indicated his staying ability is prominent, but over a longer distance, that's where his best chances are.
It looked as if Moore had the run in over Rosallion over the final furlong, but despite staying on and going with the pace, the extra furlong would suit him perfectly, and a step up in trip could be expected going forward. Even though he has put up a good fight against the likes of Field Of Gold, the step up is where he will bloom properly, and where he can become a true Aidan O’Brien world beater.
Is Field Of Gold Too Dependent On Flat Tracks?
An extremely odd and disappointing race for Field Of Gold saw him finish fifth under William Buick in the Sussex Stakes in a race that can only be described as messy, and uncalculated. Losing out to his own pacemaker Qirat by some margin showed his one weakness that is becoming more and more apparent is that his performances over specialist and tricky tracks are subpar. After Kieran Shoemark lost his job to Colin Keane after a second place finish to Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas, and now the loss down in Goodwood, his form over tricky tracks with specialist obstacles isn't so great.
His trainer John Gosden believes the track may have been the key reason behind his poor race, saying ‘he just got a little unbalanced coming out of the dip into the bend’, highlighting how the challenging course at Goodwood may have been too much to ask of him. At Ascot it was clear the straight mile was a walk in the park for him, and the timings, and pacing were perfect over an easy and unchallenging track, and with his next race booked for York, a return to a flat and unchallenging specialist track may mean he is back to his best. There is no doubt that Field Of Gold is a great horse, but dealing with tricky tracks isn't something you can just skimp on, and may be what stops him from reaching elite status in the future.
Unlucky Rosallion Is Inches Away From That Big Group 1 Win
A sickening second loss on the trot for Rosallion and Sean Levey shows the four year old who has been within touching distance of group one glory is poised for a big win soon, and after losing out to a 14/1 shot, and a staggering 150/1 shot today by Qirat, it cant get anymore frustrating for Levey. Losing by a nose to Docklands in the Queen Anne at Ascot, and now losing in a race in which he left Field Of Gold in the dust to a 150/1 shot is sickening, but still shows positive signs going forward. The one job Levey had was to get Field Of Gold’s number, which he did, but a sloppy ride, and an uncalculated race altogether means another air punching moment for Richard Hannon, and that big group one win can't come any sooner.
A step back down to seven furlongs at Newbury and York next month means hopefully a victory for Rosallion comes, and the back luck is finished. But, with how the Sussex Stakes went today, it is no doubt that Levey and Hannon will be kicking themselves, beating the big favourite, only to get it wrong in the biggest moment. The win can't come any sooner, but it will come eventually.
Qirat Proves Goodwood Knowledge Prevails Class And Talent
Juddmonte and Ralph Beckett’s Qirat was supplemented for £70,000 in order to simply be a pacemaker for Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes, little did he and jockey Richard Kingscote know they would run away with the big one at 150/1. Kingscote was given brief instructions to stay clear out with the Coolmore pacemaker Serengeti, and make 12 second furlongs in which Kingscote timed to perfection, but after leading clear after about four furlongs, he just never stopped. After Serengeti cleared away, and Field Of Gold was out of sight, Kingscote kicked for home, stunning the rest of the field, and beating Rosallion by a neck. Despite being the pacemaker, Qirat had something the others simply didn't have; Goodwood knowledge, and the expertise to win on this specialist track.
Qirat who’s only wins have come from Goodwood in the last year had no chance being a pacemaker, but his class over the trip and course just prevailed any sort of talent and class the others had, and after going clear, he looked too far gone for anybody to catch him. In reality, his 150/1 market value wasn't realistic, and for a solid horse who knows the track as well as anybody, that is what ultimately got him the win. They say mad results come from Glorious Goodwood, but Qirat has produced the maddest of them all, and has proved you have to know these tracks well in order to win the big ones.
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