An ‘Entente Cordiale’ At Royal Ascot

By Emma Berry 
In 15 starts, the horse that trainer Freddy Head describes as a “great warrior”, has passed the post with his noble grey head in front on 10 occasions. Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire})’s first Group 1 win at Meydan–and the first in Dubai for his globe-trotting French trainer–was no doubt special, but it’s unlikely that anything can match a top-flight victory at Britain’s flagship meeting while taking the scalps of some notable opposition from around the world. 

“I love Ascot, and I have some great memories of being here,” said Head, which is no surprise considering his sprint star Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) came closer than any horse to beating Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) when finishing just a head behind her in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. of 2012, while the great Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) gave him his first success at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne five years before Solow made his mark. 

A potential pitched battle between Hong Kong superstar Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), Richard Hannon’s dual Group 1 winner Night Of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Solow provided the show-stopping opener for this year’s Royal Meeting, but the first two named failed to produce their best form, leaving the 5-year-old gelding to lead home his compatriot Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), trained by Head’s Chantilly neighbor Andre Fabre. 

“It’s what you call entente cordiale,” said a beaming Head to the assembled press pack. “You came over and won the Prix de Diane on Sunday and we come to beat you now.” 

Having made three consecutive successful forays to the Breeders’ Cup with his last Queen Anne S. winner Goldikova, Head looks likely to eschew this year’s event, stating, “I’m not a fan of the Keeneland track–I think it’s a bit tight so we won’t go to America this year. I’m not going to run in everything that comes because I want him to last. Maybe he will come back [to England] for the [G1] Sussex S.” 

That possibility sets up a potentially mouth-watering clash of the generations with the most exciting 3-year-old miler in Europe, the dual Guineas winner Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who extended his trainer Aidan O’Brien’s enviable record in the G1 St James’s Palace S. to seven victories. 

When one considers that the master of Ballydoyle’s previous winners of the race include Giant’s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) and Mastercraftsman (Ire), to hear O’Brien claim that Gleneagles is the best miler he’s ever trained illustrates the high regard in which he holds his current stable star, who has been beaten past the line only once in his career. 

“He’s very like Giants Causeway in that he’s got the same constitution, but he has more speed,” said the trainer. “You could ride Giant’s Causeway near the pace and he would grind it out, but this horse can relax and quicken. I don’t think we’ve had a miler as good as him. As a 2-year-old he was never going to get up the ratings because he only would only do the minimum– today I was surprised he won by 2 1/2 lengths.” 

While Ryan Moore has been in the saddle for his three victories this season, Joseph O’Brien, the eldest son of the 45-year-old trainer, rides Gleneagles at home and has played a key role in the treble Group 1 winner’s career, according to his father. Hinting at the increasing role Joseph is playing in the training of the Ballydoyle string, O’Brien said, “I’m getting older now and the younger lads are coming on. I’m watching more and going with the flow. It’s great to see younger people coming along and taking responsibility and the pressure.” 

“I only look on–I just stand at the top of the gallops and watch the work, which is good for me, and a lot less pressure,” he added. 

It’s unlikely that anyone is fooled by O’Brien’s modest claims, however. His attention to detail is famed and his Ascot record speaks for itself. Of current trainers, he is second only to Sir Michael Stoute for the number of winners at the Royal Meeting, which now stands at 45 following a double on the opening day. The victory of Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the closing Listed Windsor Castle S. will have been particularly pleasing for the home team at Coolmore, as he is the second stakes winner for first-season sire Zoffany (Ire).