Ascot 25th and 26th

Must say well done to Tellytrack, crossed over to Ascot as the owners of Shamandar are in SA, and as I mentioned the bigger the field the bigger the cert, well done to the connections "Scott" sad to say no relations.

Mastercraftsman confirmned a NR, 8/11 Rvw,9/4 DEL,6/1 AQU,25/1 ZAC

Murtagh eyes first QEII win with Rip Van Winkle


JOHNNY MURTAGH rates Rip Van Winkle one of the best horses he has ever ridden and hopes the three-year-old can bring him a first success in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.


The BGC Sussex Stakes winner was denied by Sea The Stars in the Eclipse, and had to settle for fourth behind the John Oxx-trained star in the Derby and 2,000 Guineas as well, but Murtagh believes lessons have been learnt ahead of his latest Group 1 bid.

The Ballydoyle representative faces Delegator, Aqlaam and Zacinto without a pacemaker at Ascot, but Murtagh is confident he can break his QEII duck without added assistance.


Murtagh told At The Races: “Rip Van Winkle is very straightforward. He’s got a great cruising gear, loads of class - he gives you a great feel. I don’t need to jump him out. I’ll let him just cruise there.

"If there is one in front of him, great. If there’s nothing in front of me - no problem. It will be a true test and the best horse will win.”

Speaking about the Guineas and the Derby performances, Murtagh said: “I spent too much time trying to settle him and then, from settling him, trying to get him to quicken up. I was learning about him and he wasn’t sure really what he had to do.”

The son of Galileo is the 5-6 favourite for the Sony-sponsored mile contest on Saturday and Murtagh said: “Now knowing him I think he’s a horse that likes to use that high cruising gear. I would say a mile is good for him and maybe, later in the campaign, he might get a mile and a quarter.

“They are only young horses. He hasn’t had that many races. The key to him is the way he settles. He’s more mature mentally, he’s always been very high class but I think from now on he’s going to show his true potential.”

“He’s got a good presence, brilliant mover, great balance, he’s got speed. He’s probably of one of the best I’ve ever ridden.”

Rip Van Winkle ready to prove class in QEII


RIP VAN WINKLE is set to display his considerable talents in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and travels to Ascot in search of a second Group 1 success with stablemate Mastercraftsman, who was left in the race as a precaution, staying at home in Ballydoyle.

Having silenced the doubters to some degree when running Sea The Stars to a length in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, Rip Van Winkle produced further evidence that he was a bit special when landing the BGC Sussex Stakes convincingly despite a scare on the eve of the race when a recurrence of a foot problem cast doubts over his participation.

He returned sore from his Goodwood triumph and was on the easy list for some time afterwards, but trainer Aidan O'Brien reported that all has gone well with the son of Galileo in recent weeks.

O'Brien said: "Rip has had plenty of interruptions to his schedule this year, but the past couple of weeks have been a lot better for him and he's in good form.”


In an old fashioned clash between the forces of Coolmore and Godolphin, the latter's trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey Frankie Dettori are pinning their hopes on Delegator.

With the stable's three-year-old team short on quality this year, Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes runner-up Delegator was bought to fill the void and gave connections their first return on the investment with a smooth win in the Totesport.com Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

Now he returns to Ascot, where he was narrowly beaten by Mastercraftsman in June, in pursuit of the Group 1 triumph that will set him on course to Santa Anita where he will compete at the Breeders' Cup.

Suroor said: "He is the best three-year-old we have. It will be great to see if he can win a Group 1 before we take him to the Breeders' Cup. He is working well, is in good condition."

The Sony-sponsored race is completedby the William Haggas-trained Aqlaam, winner of the Prix du Moulin last time, and Zacinto from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard

Rip Van Winkle shows his class in QEII battle

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) 1m

RIP VAN WINKLE proved just how good he is when holding the sustained challenge of Zacinto to land his second Group 1 victory of the season.

Aqlaam broke well from the stalls and led the field in the early stages, but Rip Van Winkle was right on the leader’s tail and Johnny Murtagh decided to send his charge to the front fully three furlongs out.



Aqlaam, a Group1 winner last time out, had no answer as the winner swept by and dropped right away, leaving just three to fight out the finish.

First Delegator started to move up menacingly, but as feared the petrol started to run dry and from the back, 18-1 outsider Zacinto emerged as the most likely to winner.

Ryan Moore had ridden the perfect race on the son of Dansili and he ranged up to get within a length of the leader. However, Murtagh still had plenty of horse under him and asked his mount for maximum effort.

Rip Van Winkle, the 8-13 favourite, showed all his class in front and found an extra gear for Murtagh. Zacinto just could not pass the son of Galileo and if anything the winner was going away again at the finish.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge will now be aimed at the Breeders’Cup Classic and on this effort he will take all the beating.

O’Brien said: “We are looking forward to going to America and the plan is to run in the Classic.

“We have no horse at home who can lead him, so it was brilliant the way the race turned out. It is only in the last two weeks that we have had an uninterrupted preparation. It was a brilliant performance and Johnny was superb on him."


Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, said of Zacinto: "It was nearly, but you get nought for finishing second. We had been thinking about the Champion Stakes before this race, but we'll also now have to think about the Breeders' Cup Mile and Breeders' Cup Mile Dirt."

Sir Michael Stoute added: "I gave him a shout! He's on the up."

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said of third placed Delegator: "On the day, at the time, at the place, there were two better horses. There are no excuses, he wasn't good enough.

"He'll still go for the Breeders' Cup Mile, though. With today's horses and Goldikova in there, it'll be a huge test, as was today. He came up short, but we'll see what happens in America."

This could prove to be the final race of Aqlaam's career, as connections felt the classy four-year-old may still be feeling some of the injuries he suffered earlier in his career.

Owner Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold said: "Richard (Hills) said he was never moving as well as he normally does. He has had a lot of problems and has carried injuries all through his life. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, but he has run through his injuries.

"We've felt that every day is a bonus with him. William and his team have done a fantasticjob, but we've known for a while that his problems have been catching up with him.

"We were thrilled to win a Group 1 with him, but though we'll have to speak with Sheikh Hamdan, there's every chance he'll now be retired."

Personally I don't think this was Aqlaam's run but if it was then Rip van Winkle must be right up there with Goldikova!!!

Bring on the American Breeders Cup!!!!

I can't wait to see all these fantastic horses lined up against one another!

I really love this game!!!!!!!

Morning Tommy, must say looking forward to the Arc and Breeders Cup meeting this year, a few classic races in store.

Rip Van Winkle, QE II.

Attached files

Thanks Don, must have been great.

2/1 fav for the Breeders Cup Classic