Ancient Egypt (Ire)
Friday's G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot will witness a clash of the Guineas heroines as G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victrix Precise (Starspangledbanner) and G1 1000 Guineas winner True Love (No Nay Never) meet for a third time. Ryan Moore will partner the Precise, while Wayne Lordan will be aboard True Love. Nine-strong opposition to the Aidan O'Brien stablemates includes the Donnacha O'Brien-trained GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Balantina (Ten Sovereigns). Earlier on the card, 22 speedsters will go forward for the G1 Commonwealth Cup with Ballydoyle supplying...
Declarations for Epsom's G1 Betfred Derby and G1 Betfred Oaks were confirmed Wednesday morning with 14 standing their ground for Saturday's Blue Riband and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) the only notable absentee from Friday's Oaks. Last month's G3 Chester Vase winner Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) is joined by Aidan O'Brien stablemates Action (Frankel), Christmas Day (Camelot) and Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) as the trainer seeks to enhance his record haul of 11 in the Derby. Other leading contenders Ancient Egypt (Frankel), Bay Of Brilliance (New Bay), Maltese Cross (Sea...
One of Frankel's plethora of TDN Rising Stars, Amo Racing's 1.1million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase Ancient Egypt served notice that he is a genuine Derby contender in Friday's Listed Newmarket Stakes. All at sea when last seen trailing Bow Echo and co in the Royal Lodge here, the Charlie Johnston-trained relative of the brilliant Midday was able to bowl along in front of My Love Is King (Kingman) as they raced apart from the other three. Maintaining the gallop down into the dip and up the other side,...
Amo Racing's Tattersalls October Book 1 millionaire Ancient Egypt (Frankel) registered a half-length debut win tackling an extended seven furlongs at Beverley last month and delivered a TDN Rising Star performance, racing under a seven-pound penalty, upped to one mile in Sunday's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Goodwood. "It was a messy, stop-start race, but the benefit was that he had something to aim at," said Charlie Johnston. "He was still a little bit gawky when he did hit the front and it looked to me that there...
Amo Racing's Ancient Egypt (Frankel) had already caused a stir when knocked down for 1,100,000gns at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 sale and he made a winning debut for the Charlie Johnston stable in Tuesday's EBF Novice Stakes at Beverley. "Nothing but winning would have done today and we'd have been disappointed with second," admitted Mark Johnston. "He got a bit warm and was coltish beforehand, so I was a little bit concerned. The race didn't pan out exactly as planned and it took a little while for the...