Weekly Wrap for June 20

If your glass is half empty, you will only grieve the timing of his loss. If half full, on the other hand, you will instead celebrate the emergence–with fateful punctuality–of a potential successor. But everyone, regardless, can raise a toast to Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) for making Royal Ascot 2016 a vintage of such heady effervescence.

To have lost the stallion so abruptly last December–at the age of just 11, and after a year in which he sired 18 stakes winners–must now seem harder than ever to his owners. Presumably, after all, they find themselves in increasingly urgent need of classy outcross options for all their Galileo (Ire) blood. But how marvellous that they seem to have been left a legitimate heir.

For the superiority of Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) to his rivals for the G2 Coventry S. had a nearer equivalence than may seem evident to that of 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) when she broke loose in the G2 Queen Mary S. As Ryan Moore said afterwards, Caravaggio in effect won two different races: first obliged to impose himself on those he was tracking on the stands' side; and then taking off again, when artfully allowed to sway to his right, to run down the horses clear on the far rail. The margin back to the next home on the stands' side, who finished fifth, was over eight lengths–still greater, in other words, than that opened up in such surreal fashion by Lady Aurelia.

The scrupulously unexcitable Moore permitted himself to acknowledge that no juvenile he has ridden would match Caravaggio at this stage of his career. The way his mount saw out a stiff sixth furlong on slow ground encourages you that he might get a mile, but perhaps the question of Newmarket next spring should be deferred. With so many dirt lines embedded in his family tree, and a style so evocative of his grandsire, you would not be surprised to see Caravaggio first try the distance in a very different environment this autumn–in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park.

Moore or Less Perfect…

Moore had an interesting week, a treble on Saturday taking him to six for the meeting and so qualifying him as its leading rider for the sixth time in seven years. Yet he had an excruciating experience in both the Group 1 races over the turning mile, given the slip on The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. and forced to yank Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) wide before flying into third in the G1 Coronation S.

Much as was the case for US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Derby, Moore found his options limited when The Gurkha–likewise making only his second start outside maiden company–missed the kick. In contrast with Epsom, however, the tempo was pretty steady. Rather than buzz up his mount, or circle the field, Moore sat and suffered and Dettori seized his moment on Galileo Gold (Paco Boy {Ire}). This was a huge result for the winner's connections, who had been on the back foot after rejecting Epsom only to see him beaten at The Curragh. They are evidently taking him to Goodwood, in view of their sponsorship commitments there, but fast ground round that sharp track might leave him a little exposed. Not for the first time, the stubborn way he saw out the race made him look well worth a go over 10 furlongs.

The same Al Shaqab silks also prospered for Moore's misfortunes in the fillies' race, through Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). But a mile would seem the limit for this one, unless and until she starts to relax better in her races.

Galileo Pulls Rank…

By dint of running against each other in the Listed Chesham S., Cunco (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Frankuus (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) were bound to reduce the remarkable strike-rate of their rookie sire. In the event, they finished third and fifth respectively, Cunco giving another interesting glimpse of the short fuse that could be inherited along with any of that explosive brilliance. He was very headstrong to post, but a conservative tempo in the race itself did not prevent him channelling his energy into the same buoyancy he had shown on his debut at Newbury, again galloping out strongly. It will be remembered that Frankel himself, in his youth, resented any attempt to inhibit his stride and, if some of his stock do happen to have fairly precarious temperaments, then others may simply be straining to express themselves. Remembering his sire running amok in the G1 2000 Guineas, it would be interesting to see Cunco make the running next time.

But it was Frankel's own, omnipotent sire who reiterated his seniority on this occasion. Preceded from Ballydoyle by much talk and more money, despite defeat on his only previous start, Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks yet another top-class prospect for the great patriarch. Still extremely raw, he was unable to switch leads to correct a leftward drift once in front, duly only able to hold out by a half-length. Both his dam and granddam were very quick, so it remains to be seen how far his paternal genes can carry him, but at the very least he looks the sort to draw out more from a stronger gallop. All in all, with a very powerful physique, Churchill seems certain to put together a much more flamboyant performance somewhere along the line, as he becomes more professional.

Traveller in the Fast Lane…

With no disrespect to the week's three Group 1 sprint winners, you would not be surprised to see them all rattled before the end of the season by the winner of a mere handicap on Saturday. Outback Traveller (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) travelled with great zest through the Wokingham before ultimately rather scrambling home. Having operated largely at seven furlongs for his previous trainer, he already looks a cunning acquisition for 62,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale last autumn. But Robert Cowell's uncanny touch with sprinters–as corroborated a couple of days earlier, by a younger animal, in the G2 Norfolk S.–suggests that his latest ugly duckling will prove a still lovelier swan once taking another drop in trip. Lady Aurelia apart, there can't be too many horses around capable of getting Outback Traveller off the bridle.

Lightning Ready to Strike…

Tepin (Bernstein) added versatility and pluck to her many proven assets in the G1 Queen Anne S., while her jockey Julien Leparoux introduced many fellow Europeans to the unsuspected genius he exported to the New World a few years ago. More parochial eyes, however, allowed themselves to focus on the performance of Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in third. While Leparoux kept his mare handy, both the others who made the podium gave her a considerable start–and Lightning Spear, having raced freely on his first start since October, did especially well to finish off as well as he did. Having lost his way somewhat last season, and since joined David Simcock, he remains pretty lightly raced and, with that freshness out of his system, will be an interesting proposition in any company next time. Half full or half empty, the glass can always be recharged.