Equinties - Royal Ascot day 1

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

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HEADLINE ROUNDUP

THE SUN HAS GOT HIS HAT ON

Finally, the sun has come out just in time for the biggest flat meeting in the world. Bar none - you heard us America and Dubai! Royal Ascot is the king.

At the moment the ground is GOOD TO FIRM, GOOD IN PLACES. The track had a nice dosing yesterday, watering the track to ensure it is safe. 5mm went on, which isn’t a lot. There are threats of thunderstorms as this is England after all but it should be a quick wicket all week.

Royal Ascot is broadcast in six continents. Far afield as Indonesia, 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the racing loving Caribbean. 11 airlines will be able to watch the Olympics of racing and 18 cruise ships worldwide.

A REMARKABLE SALE

The pre-Royal Ascot Goffs London Sale always attracts interesting business as owners with big pockets tend to bid into the seven figures to ensure they have a runner at the meeting.

However, this year’s top lot had nothing to do with Royal Ascot, though the story around the sale still created an interesting story.

At roughly six o’clock yesterday, many thought that SPARKLING PLENTY had sold for an astonishing £8,100,000. However, it was shortly revealed that this was actually a buyback from owner Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois, and to further add to the drama, Al Shaqab Racing had bought 50% of the horse for £5,000,000.

Narvick International agent Emmanual de Seroux was an underbidder and went to £8,000,000 while Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian went to £7,800,000 while alongside Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest.

On the 50% purchase of her, Al Shaqab’s bloodstock advisor Nicolas de Watrigant said: “Sheikh Joaan is delighted to have her. He’s been patient and we negotiated afterwards. This is the first horse in partnership [between Al Shaqab and Dubois] but we’ve often partnered on horses. With Place Du Carrousel we partnered with Ballylinch Stud and with Brametot we partnered with Mr Augustin-Normand. It works well and we’re happy to do so again.

“She’ll stay with the same trainer and the same team. The trainer will target the Nassau Stakes, the Prix de l'Opéra and maybe the Arc at the end of the year. We’ve been following the filly for a long time. She probably should’ve won the French Guineas [finished sixth], she was very unlucky in that race, but she ran some very good split figures. We like her physically; she keeps progressing and won the Sandringham very easily and she’s got a beautiful page, she’s by a great stallion, she’s got everything going for her.”

Other notable results…TARAJ made £480,000. A squad member for Dermot Weld he won a backend Dundalk maiden and was recently chasing home LOS ANGELES in the Classic trial. Brought by Amo Racing he has an entry in the Hampton Court Stakes.

Amo also brought the daughter of 6x Group 1 winner Lauren’s for £650,000. She is by Kingman who had sired the top lot French Oaks winner Sparkling Plenty and he has 1000 Guineas winner Elmalka to add to his strong season.

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