WEEK 25 17th-23rd JUNE, 2013

Royal Ascot was top of everyone’s agenda last week and I am glad to report an Avondhu winner from the Berkshire track, plus 9 other winners from locals in the UK.

O’NEILL’S ‘WELL SHARP’ BRIDGES 23 YEAR ROYAL ASCOT GAP

Castletownroche trainer Jonjo O’Neill had a week to remember when he recorded his second Royal Ascot winner with the J.P. McManus owned Well Sharp (9/1) in the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f. A 23 year gap since his last Royal Ascot winner is a long time between drinks and no doubt the memories of Gipsy Fiddler’s Windsor Castle Stakes win in 1990 came flooding back.

Ridden by Fran Berry, Well Sharp produced a brilliant display here considering he carried 9-10, was upped in trip by four furlongs, was 10Lb higher than for his York win and was only having his second run on the flat in a staying event. A five year old son of Selkirk, who cost connections 250,000gns, he can now be considered one of the best staying performers in Europe.

Held up off the pace, Well Sharp was noted travelling strongly in the hands of Berry to halfway. Closing to chase the leaders off the home turn, Berry set about the business of picking off the pace setters. The response was immediate and hitting the front inside the final furlong, Well Sharp stayed on strongly for a two and a half length win from Tiger Cliff (4/1f) back in second.

Entered again in the Queen Alexandra on the Saturday of Royal Ascot, Well Sharp didn’t show up to emulate Simenom, who completed the double last year. The gelding will no doubt show up next in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup next month. Thinking further afield, connections may well consider the Melbourne Cup or the Irish St Ledger, which is open to older horses. The sky may well be the limit if connections can keep him sound.

Jonjo O’Neill, trainer went onto say, “He’s a lovely horse but he has had his problems and he doesn’t really like jumping as much as the flat. Whether we come back again Saturday will depend on how he comes out of the race.”

O’Neill went onto to record another two jumps winners last week, in the shape of Another Hero (4/7f), who justified his short odds when making it two from two in bumpers under jockey Tony McCoy at Stratford.

O’Neill’s third winner came with Cut The Cards (5/1), again ridden by McCoy in a class 4 handicap hurdle over 2m at Ffos Las. This moves O’Neill’s Jackdaws yard onto the 22 winner mark over jumps for the 2013-14 season.

O’MEARA’S IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR LEXINGTON

Fermoy trainer David O’Meara rarely stops for breath these days and he added another three winners last week, bringing his 2013 flat total to 67.

His first winner came with the ex-French trained Tetbury (9/4) in a class 5 handicap over 1m4f at Ripon. Dropped in class and retaining the hood he wore on his previous start, Tetbury, ridden by Graham Gibbons, made virtually all off a slow pace. Joined three furlongs from home by Choisan (11/1) and soon pushed along, he eventually stayed on too strongly for the aforementioned Choisan to win by one and three-quarter lengths at the line.

A four year old son of Giant’s Causeway, Tetbury stills looks well treated on his old form in France for trainer Pascal Bary and could well follow up on this evidence. Rated 73 here, he is rated fully 11Lb higher on the all weather at 84, which would indicate a horse who has more to offer in future races.

O’Meara’s second and third winners came in the final two races at Redcar last Saturday. The first of those was Lexington Place (11/4f) in a class 6 handicap over 5f. Ridden by Michael O’Connell, this well supported son of Compton Place was having his first start for O’Meara. Taking a keen hold early doors, O’Connell settled his mount just off the leaders. Taking closer order at halfway, Lexington Place was ridden to challenge pace setter Megaleka (20/1) inside the final furlong and although hanging left, stayed on well to win by half a length.

O’Meara’s well known reputation for winning with horses having their first start for his yard seems to have worked the oracle again here. Previously with top trainer Richard Fahey, he seemed to be losing his way recently. This may well instill a revival in the horse and he is one to note if turned out quickly again this week.

Guy Brewer, assistant to O’Meara, went onto say, “We haven’t had him long, so we’re still finding out about him, but that was a pleasing start.”

O’Meara and O’Connell went on to complete that double with Spiekeroog (9/2) taking a class 6 handicap over 14f. Wearing a hood for the first time and with his rating on an all time low of 62, Spiekeroog never had a better opportunity of getting his head in front, something he hadn’t done on the flat since July 2009.

Held up in rear, O’Connell again made his move at the halfway stage down the outside. Under pressure and strongly ridden over two furlongs out, Spiekeroog led at the furlong marker. Getting first run on favourite Patella (9/4f) proved vital, with the line just coming in time as that rival joined Spiekeroog right at the winning post. An official winning margin of a head was called by the judge, but O’Meara’s charge always seemed to be holding the late charge of Patella who seemed to get going all too late. Whether Spiekeroog can follow up on this win with a penalty is open to debate.

LANE MAKES ALL WITH POWER AND VIGOR

Kilworth flat jockey, Martin Lane continued where he left off last week when recording a brace of winners at Brighton. Since his two high profile winners at Epsom’s Derby meeting, Lane has been noted getting rides for some top Newmarket trainers. Riding Vigor (5/2) in a class 5 maiden over 6f for trainer David Simcock, Lane had the added headache of only 5 runners with the possibility of a muddling pace. Tracking the early leader By The Light (33/1) for the first furlong, Lane took the bull by the horns and led fully four furlongs out. Clear inside the final furlong the partnership went on to win by six lengths eased down from odds-on favourite Bewitchment (4/5f) back in second.

On only his second start, this two year old son of Iffraaj improved from his initial start and could go on to better things. The handicapper will not be so impressed by the ease of this win and a rating likely to be nearer 80 rather than 75 will no doubt follow.

Martin Lane jockey went onto say, “Vigor has done it quite nicely. He has learned an awful lot from his debut at Yarmouth and done it really well. He travelled well and handled the track, which is key”.

Lane went on to record a Brighton double on board the Paul Cole trained Sovereign Power (7/1) in a class 6 handicap over 1m2f. Stepped up in trip this three year old son of Royal Applause was given an easy lead and never sighted another rival. Making all, he went on to win by two and three-quarter lengths from Uganda Glory (9/2) back in second place.

Having only his seventh start. Sovereign Power could be one to follow up giving similar tactics and he holds a race entry this Wednesday at Bath.

Lane also went close with one of his rides at Royal Ascot when finishing second, beaten only half a length on Sheikhzayedroad (8/1) in the Wolferton Handicap. His trainer David Simcock went on to say, “He’s improving all the time. He’s now 17lb higher than at the start of the season and will have a little break now.”

MIRACLE MAN KENIRY STILL ‘PUCON’ ABOVE HIS WEIGHT

Killeagh flat jockey Liam Keniry added two more winners to his season’s total of 33. A double on the night at Lingfield Park, one of which was a rare dead-heat. Riding Pucon (10/1) in a class 6 handicap over 5f for trainer Roger Teal, Keniry led the field from flag fall. Coming under pressure and hard ridden over one furlong out, Pucon kept responding to her jockey’s urgings and was joined right on the line by favourite Nafa (5/4f). With a tense wait for the resulting photo finish the judge called a dead-heat and the spoils were shared. Recording her third win from 13 starts, this four year old daughter of Kyllachy always looks better when positive tactics are employed.

Daniel Mark Loughnane trainer of Nafa went onto say, “I thought we got there on the line, but Liam Keniry gave Pucon some ride and nearly nicked it.”

Keniry went on to record a double on the night when winning a class 5 maiden for two year olds on Miracle Of Medinah (3/1) for trainer, Mark Usher. With seven runners, Keniry got away well on this son of Milk It Mick and made all to draw clear inside the final furlong for a very impressive three and a half length win from Blue Bounty (25/1) back in second.

Previous experience stood to Miracle Of Medinah here, having been slowly away on his first two starts. He looked a totally different proposition here travelling smoothly and powering clear. No doubt this was a very taking performance and a rating in the low 80’s may now follow, making life difficult for him when nurseries (2yo handicaps) start in early July.

Mark Usher trainer went on to say, “I always thought a bit of him. He fluffed his lines first time out but then ran a decent race at Sandown. He’ll go to Salisbury a week on Sunday for a maiden auction that’s worth quite a bit. He doesn’t get a penalty for winning a class 5.”

NO ROYAL DANCE FOR VAUGHAN

A note on Rockmills trainer, Ed Vaughan whose Dance And Dance didn’t make the cut for the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot despite being quoted as second favourite for the race. Ed did run Redvers in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and he ran a blinder finishing seventh of twenty seven, only beaten three lengths or so. He finished second in his own group, which was considered the bad side of the draw and is a horse to note in future races.