Treve on course for Royal Ascot
Jun 12, 2014 23:13:19 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Jun 12, 2014 23:13:19 GMT -5
Love this filly!
Treve on course for Royal Ascot
Brisnet
Last year's Cartier Horse of the Year Treve is set to spearhead Al Shaqab Racing's team at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday. Treve, the five length winner of the 2013 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, lost her unbeaten record when going down by a short-neck to Cirrus des Aigles on her seasonal debut in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on April 27.
"She came out of her last race very well," said Harry Herbert, Al Shaqab's racing advisor. "(Trainer) Criquette (Head-Maarek) called me the next day and said Treve hadn't left an oat which was encouraging after a tough race on sticky ground against a great racehorse.
"It has all been really encouraging news since, the way she's been training. I spoke to Criquette yesterday and touch wood she's more than happy with the filly. Ascot has been the plan from the beginning and we're nearly there. You'd have to think she'd go on good to firm ground although extremes are always an issue. The trainer is confident Treve will go well on faster ground.
"Of course, it's disappointing that she got beat (in the Prix Ganay). I think Treve had got Cirrus des Aigles beat that day then Christophe Soumillon got to the rail on that sticky ground and that was worth a length or so. She still ran a great race and the winner had had a couple of runs beforehand and has done brilliantly since."
Assessing Treve's attributes, Herbert added: "She's a fantastic mover, Frankie (Dettori) describes her as having the most extraordinary action of any horse he's ridden. He says it's the way she keeps her body very still and the movement below gives him an unbelievable feel.
"I first saw her in December and the Motivators can be a little light-framed but when I saw her she was an absolute monster, she was so not what I was expecting. The most notable thing about her is her depth of girth and shoulder -- it is a remarkable physique. She's very intelligent but can be tough to be around -- she lets you know who is boss in the box. But that's part of her brilliance."
After next week, Treve could head to the Group 1, £1 million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot July 26.
"We'll see how we go," added Herbert. "Criquette put it wonderfully, she said if Treve likes Ascot then we'll go back. The King George is the natural race for her and we've seen some great fillies and mares take this route.
"She's taking her training well but it is one step at a time. But personally I'd love to see her come to the King George. It would be a perfect race for her in many ways. Criquette believes Treve can do that, the Vermeille and the Arc. It is one step at a time."
Other Al Shaqab hopes include Toronado in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes and The Wow Signal in the same day's Coventry Stakes.
"Toronado is absolutely fine and been given plenty of time," Herbert said. "He looks amazing. Both he and Treve are physically monsters, they are beautiful horses with great physiques.
"I saw Toronado the day before yesterday and physically he looks absolutely spot on. He's hard and well, moving beautifully and his work has been extremely good. Team Hannon reckon they have him spot on for the Queen Anne and this has been his target for many months.
"The Wow Signal goes to the Coventry. We bought him privately through the bloodstock agent Richard Knight. You never quite know what you're buying when a horse wins that well on debut. But the form since purchase has been sensational, which is great to see.
"John (Quinn) is mad about the horse and thinks he's very good. I just wouldn't want the ground to get overly quick, that's the only slight question mark."
Saturday's Woodcote Stakes winner Baitha Alga could be out in next Thursday's Norfolk Stakes.
"He didn't lose any weight or condition in the Woodcote and is a very smart, tough two-year-old," Herbert added. "He goes for the Norfolk, which also gives a bit more time. Duncan Moir, Al Shaqab's vet looked at him, and said to run him."
Qatari interests will be well represented even beyond Al Shaqab's formidable team. Hannah Wall, assistant to Qatar Racing's David Redvers, racing and bloodstock manager for Qatar Racing, Qatar Bloodstock and Pearl Bloodstock, talked about their plans for Royal Ascot.
Wall mentioned Lightning Thunder, runner-up in both the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish One Thousand Guineas, first. The filly is a prospect for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes next Friday, June 20.
"Lightning Thunder is fine after the Irish Guineas -- she had a tough race at Newmarket and another tough race in Ireland on ground she would not have liked. She is working again this morning and (trainer) Olly (Stevens) is a 100 percent happy with her."
Another filly in the Coronation Stakes is Kiyoshi.
"Kiyoshi had a very untimely infection of the hock just on the eve of traveling up to Newmarket for the One Thousand Guineas and she missed the Irish Guineas as well," Wall said.
"She is fine and back working. She worked on Tuesday and will do so again on Saturday. She is still in the Coronation Stakes and will probably have an entry in the Jersey Stakes (Group 3 on Wednesday) as well. Her participation in the races has not been decided yet. It depends on how she works on Saturday.
"She is happy and sound and did a nice piece of work on Tuesday. She is a filly we think a huge amount of and we feel she has improved. We won't be rushing her.
"Both Hot Streak and Pearl Secret will run in the King's Stand Stakes (Group 1 on Tuesday), with Jamie (Spencer) on Hot Streak and Richard Hughes on Pearl Secret. Both are absolutely fine after Haydock (where Hot Streak and Pearl Secret ran one-two in the May 24 Temple Stakes).
"Hot Streak is amazing for a three-year-old in that division (sprinting). He is infinitely tough and seems to have incredible maturity, both mentally and physically. He won at Haydock from Pearl Secret that day on (soft) ground neither would want.
"Kevin (Ryan) says Hot Streak is one of the best horses he has ever trained. Kevin is happy with Hot Streak and so is David Barron with Pearl Secret. Things did not go right for Pearl Secret at Newmarket and he raced closer to the pace at Haydock. There is not much between the two sprinters and both are in good form ahead of Royal Ascot."
Turning to two-year-olds Likely and Mind of Madness, Wall remarked: "Likely will have a couple of Royal Ascot entries and we were very pleased with how she won her maiden. She was a breeze-up filly and she has an incredible temperament for racing. She did not need the experience on her debut as she knew what to do perfectly well. She has plenty of speed.
"Mind of Madness won at Newmarket and was beaten the other day (when second to Adaay in a Yarmouth novice). He is by Azamour and out of a very speedy Oasis Dream mare, who is a great speed influence on Mind of Madness. He has natural cruising speed and is likely to run in the Windsor Castle (Tuesday)."
Treve on course for Royal Ascot
Brisnet
Last year's Cartier Horse of the Year Treve is set to spearhead Al Shaqab Racing's team at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday. Treve, the five length winner of the 2013 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, lost her unbeaten record when going down by a short-neck to Cirrus des Aigles on her seasonal debut in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on April 27.
"She came out of her last race very well," said Harry Herbert, Al Shaqab's racing advisor. "(Trainer) Criquette (Head-Maarek) called me the next day and said Treve hadn't left an oat which was encouraging after a tough race on sticky ground against a great racehorse.
"It has all been really encouraging news since, the way she's been training. I spoke to Criquette yesterday and touch wood she's more than happy with the filly. Ascot has been the plan from the beginning and we're nearly there. You'd have to think she'd go on good to firm ground although extremes are always an issue. The trainer is confident Treve will go well on faster ground.
"Of course, it's disappointing that she got beat (in the Prix Ganay). I think Treve had got Cirrus des Aigles beat that day then Christophe Soumillon got to the rail on that sticky ground and that was worth a length or so. She still ran a great race and the winner had had a couple of runs beforehand and has done brilliantly since."
Assessing Treve's attributes, Herbert added: "She's a fantastic mover, Frankie (Dettori) describes her as having the most extraordinary action of any horse he's ridden. He says it's the way she keeps her body very still and the movement below gives him an unbelievable feel.
"I first saw her in December and the Motivators can be a little light-framed but when I saw her she was an absolute monster, she was so not what I was expecting. The most notable thing about her is her depth of girth and shoulder -- it is a remarkable physique. She's very intelligent but can be tough to be around -- she lets you know who is boss in the box. But that's part of her brilliance."
After next week, Treve could head to the Group 1, £1 million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot July 26.
"We'll see how we go," added Herbert. "Criquette put it wonderfully, she said if Treve likes Ascot then we'll go back. The King George is the natural race for her and we've seen some great fillies and mares take this route.
"She's taking her training well but it is one step at a time. But personally I'd love to see her come to the King George. It would be a perfect race for her in many ways. Criquette believes Treve can do that, the Vermeille and the Arc. It is one step at a time."
Other Al Shaqab hopes include Toronado in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes and The Wow Signal in the same day's Coventry Stakes.
"Toronado is absolutely fine and been given plenty of time," Herbert said. "He looks amazing. Both he and Treve are physically monsters, they are beautiful horses with great physiques.
"I saw Toronado the day before yesterday and physically he looks absolutely spot on. He's hard and well, moving beautifully and his work has been extremely good. Team Hannon reckon they have him spot on for the Queen Anne and this has been his target for many months.
"The Wow Signal goes to the Coventry. We bought him privately through the bloodstock agent Richard Knight. You never quite know what you're buying when a horse wins that well on debut. But the form since purchase has been sensational, which is great to see.
"John (Quinn) is mad about the horse and thinks he's very good. I just wouldn't want the ground to get overly quick, that's the only slight question mark."
Saturday's Woodcote Stakes winner Baitha Alga could be out in next Thursday's Norfolk Stakes.
"He didn't lose any weight or condition in the Woodcote and is a very smart, tough two-year-old," Herbert added. "He goes for the Norfolk, which also gives a bit more time. Duncan Moir, Al Shaqab's vet looked at him, and said to run him."
Qatari interests will be well represented even beyond Al Shaqab's formidable team. Hannah Wall, assistant to Qatar Racing's David Redvers, racing and bloodstock manager for Qatar Racing, Qatar Bloodstock and Pearl Bloodstock, talked about their plans for Royal Ascot.
Wall mentioned Lightning Thunder, runner-up in both the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish One Thousand Guineas, first. The filly is a prospect for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes next Friday, June 20.
"Lightning Thunder is fine after the Irish Guineas -- she had a tough race at Newmarket and another tough race in Ireland on ground she would not have liked. She is working again this morning and (trainer) Olly (Stevens) is a 100 percent happy with her."
Another filly in the Coronation Stakes is Kiyoshi.
"Kiyoshi had a very untimely infection of the hock just on the eve of traveling up to Newmarket for the One Thousand Guineas and she missed the Irish Guineas as well," Wall said.
"She is fine and back working. She worked on Tuesday and will do so again on Saturday. She is still in the Coronation Stakes and will probably have an entry in the Jersey Stakes (Group 3 on Wednesday) as well. Her participation in the races has not been decided yet. It depends on how she works on Saturday.
"She is happy and sound and did a nice piece of work on Tuesday. She is a filly we think a huge amount of and we feel she has improved. We won't be rushing her.
"Both Hot Streak and Pearl Secret will run in the King's Stand Stakes (Group 1 on Tuesday), with Jamie (Spencer) on Hot Streak and Richard Hughes on Pearl Secret. Both are absolutely fine after Haydock (where Hot Streak and Pearl Secret ran one-two in the May 24 Temple Stakes).
"Hot Streak is amazing for a three-year-old in that division (sprinting). He is infinitely tough and seems to have incredible maturity, both mentally and physically. He won at Haydock from Pearl Secret that day on (soft) ground neither would want.
"Kevin (Ryan) says Hot Streak is one of the best horses he has ever trained. Kevin is happy with Hot Streak and so is David Barron with Pearl Secret. Things did not go right for Pearl Secret at Newmarket and he raced closer to the pace at Haydock. There is not much between the two sprinters and both are in good form ahead of Royal Ascot."
Turning to two-year-olds Likely and Mind of Madness, Wall remarked: "Likely will have a couple of Royal Ascot entries and we were very pleased with how she won her maiden. She was a breeze-up filly and she has an incredible temperament for racing. She did not need the experience on her debut as she knew what to do perfectly well. She has plenty of speed.
"Mind of Madness won at Newmarket and was beaten the other day (when second to Adaay in a Yarmouth novice). He is by Azamour and out of a very speedy Oasis Dream mare, who is a great speed influence on Mind of Madness. He has natural cruising speed and is likely to run in the Windsor Castle (Tuesday)."
