Time for a roundup of last weeks action. The biggest news probably were that super mare Snow Fairy had to be retired after suffering another injury. Find further down the page a couple of her big race successes. On the racetrack itself spectacular things happened yet again. Andre Fabre looks to have another exciting prospect on his hands, while his French fellow man Alain de Royer-Dupre celebrated a big win over in Ireland. This week saw also the comeback of Sir Michael Stoute's Telescope...
France: Grand Prix De Paris - Winner: Flintshire
The Andre Fabre trained Flintshire won the big Group 1 last Saturday at Longchamp in really impressive style. Sent off the 5/4 favourite the 3yo Dansili pulled hard in the early stages of the race due to a slow pace but produced a tremendous turn of foot once asked for a full effort over 2f out. Hands and heels in the end, an easy victory and the future look bright for Flintshire. Ocovango, fifth in the Epsom Derby, finished 3rd here, while Aiden O'Brien's Battle Of Marengo, fitted with Blinkers- and held-up in rear for the first time, showed a lacklustre performance.
France: Grand Prix De Vichy-Auvergne - Winner: Saga Dream
The seven year old Saga Dream made all from the front to prevail in a wild finish in the Group 3 Grand Prix De Vichy on Wednesday. This gelding developed relatively late into a pattern class horse and used to perform in Handicap company until reaching his fifth year of age. He's now a three times Group winner, and won already earlier this year a Group 3.
England: Leicester Conditions Stakes - Winner: Telescope
Te highly regarded Telescope made an impressive return to the racetrack with a 24 lengths success in a Conditions Stakes race at Leicester on Thursday. He was once thought to be a potential Derby winner, but pulled out of the big race after a poor racecourse gallop at Lingfield a week before the race. Telescope had his injury problems but looks back to his best judged on this run. He didn't beat much that day but the visual performance was impressive and his winning time was just shy of the course record. He should prove to be even better over further than 10 furlongs and a Group 1 success looks very much on the cards. The King George, Arc or St. Leger... there are many opportunities out for this exciting colt, trained my Sir Michael Stoute.
Ireland: Irish Oaks - Winner: Chicquita
An impressive victory for the French raider Chicquita in the Irish Oaks on Saturday. The Alain de Royer-Dupre trained filly is a real character and makes life tough for trainer and jockey, yet she has loads of talent and showed that yesterday at the Curragh. She finished 2nd in the French Oaks to the exciting Treve, so was entitled to go close if she would run straight. With the Cecil trained Riposte and Epsom Oaks winner Talent in the line-up this was going to be an epic Irish Oaks. Chicquita travelled well throughout the race, never too far off the pace, in the perfect position turning for home. Jockey Johnny Murtagh gave her a peach of a ride. He held her together and covered until the 2f marker, when the race really unfolded and helped her then to run a straight as possible in the closing stages while she was slightly hanging though. But she got up on the line, to win in impressive style and one can only hope that the filly learned from this run as she's exciting no doubt. Breaking the maiden tag in a Classic is also something you don't see too often. Second and third place went to Aiden O'Brien with Just Pretending running a huge race from the front as well as Venus De Milo who looks a bright prospect as she had way too much to do coming from way off the pace. She finished like a train on what was only her third start. Royal Ascot winner Riposte finished only fifth in a wild finish, while Epsom Oaks winner Talent was a big disappointment finishing down the field in last.
Ireland: Minstrel Stakes - Winner: Darwin
Red hot favourite Darwin won the Minstrel Stakes in good style, beating in Gordon Lord Byron a former Group 1 winner. Darwin started his career in the US and looked smart on his debut, which came as no surprise as he's been a US$1.3 million yearling. After a 2nd start over there he was shipped to Ireland to Aiden O'Brien and made a winning debut for his new trainer at Naas. He followed up with this impressive Group win yesterday and there is no doubt that he has a bright future ahead of him.
England: Super mare Snow Fairy retired
Sad news emerged last week when trainer Ed Dunlop announced that super mare Snow Fairy was retired with immediate effect. Unfortunately she suffered another injury during training and trainer and connections felt left with only one decision in the end. Snow Fairy retires to stud now and one can only wish her all the best. Surely she'll be a lovely mum. She was a very special horse, much loved by many in the world. She conquered the globe, won almost £4 million in prize money, was successful in six Group 1's, made the English and Irish Oaks double in 2010, won the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup in Kyoto, Japan twice, she won the Hong Kong Cup and the Irish Champion Stakes. Snow Fairy was a true champion, one we will remember for a very long time.
Snow Fairy in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup 2010:
Snow Fairy wins the Irish Okas 2010:
Snow Fairy's win in the Irish Champion Stakes 2012:
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