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The St James's Palace Stks
THE ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES - G1 Mile Round Course
The mile test for the 3yos is Ascot’s ‘Guineas’. Most run in this off either a 2000 Guineas start at Newmarket or in Ireland and some of the best stallion prospects based in Europe or shuttling are winners of this race. Coolmore have had a field day with this race since the turn of the century. Who takes the prize in 2013?
Previous Winners - Last 10 Years
* Run at York
PROFILING THE RACE OVER RECENT YEARS
o A Group One since 1988, it is run from down near Swinley Bottom.
o Not always for those who’ve won the 2000 Guineas.o Aidan O’Brien has had two burst of three consecutive wins but hasn’t won for 3 years so might be due again.
o Mick Kinane has a total of six wins himself in the race.o Most Improved last year at 9-1 was the longest priced winner in a while.
o Winner’s Lead Up Races - Irish 2000 Guineas (6), English 2000 Guineas (1), Prix du Jockey Club (2), Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1)RECENT WINNERS
2012 - MOST IMPROVED 3c (Lawman x Tonnara) (9-1)
Jockey: Keiren Fallon, Trainer: Brian MeehanBarrier: 15, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 1:40.14
Margin: 0.75L, Track: Dead, Starters: 162nd: Hermival (57.0kg), 3rd: Gregorian (57.0kg)
Review: Compared to the past few seasons, this crop of European 3yos was not considered quite as strong. So much so that Most Improved had finished 14th, albeit unlucky, in the French Derby and yet started only 9-1 here. His only other win was in a maiden back in August but had placed in the Dewhurst. He was drawn wide but Fallon rode him aggressively to be in a position to strike behind the field’s pacemaker. He pounced just after straightening and had to hold on for a long way. He just kept boxing on over the placegetters with Sea The Stars and Galileo’s little brother Born To Sea into fourth.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Barrier: 5, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 1:39.24
Margin: 0.75L, Track: Dead, Starters: 92nd: Zoffany (57.0kg), 3rd: Excelebration (57.0kg)
Review: What we witnessed at Newmarket was a masterpiece of power and aggression. To lead by almost 12 lengths by halfway in the 2000 Guineas was a sight to behold considering he wasn’t the pacemaker but a 2s on favourite. He had his fellow 3yos by the throat. And then Ascot happened. For whatever reason, it was chalk and cheese. With a leader 10 in front, the rest of field were concertinaed. He was allowed off the fence but Queally went charging off after that front runner and took over at the six mark. Left a sitting shot he was ‘gone’ at the 300m but the chasers just weren’t quite able to get him down. It would end up his second closest margin in his career only beaten by Nathaniel’s run in their maidens.
2010 - CANFORD CLIFFS 3c (Tagula x Mrs Marsh) (11-4 eq fav)
Jockey: Richard Hughes, Trainer: Richard HannonBarrier: 6, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 1:39.55
Margin: 1L, Track: Good, Starters: 92nd: Dick Turpin (57.0kg), 3rd: Hearts Of Fire (57.0kg)
Review: After taking the Coventry a season earlier, it took him to the Irish 2000 Guineas before he would get that G1 on the CV. That race had often been the form line for the St James’s Palace as it was run closer to Ascot than the English version and those Newmarket horses often dovetailed into the Derby. Canford was a miler by comparison and despite the Curragh triumph, he still started at a decent price with chances afforded his stable mate Dick Turpin, the French horse Siyouni who’d run fav in the French 2000 Guineas and the English 2000 Guineas winner Makfi as well. He went back to third last early. Held up near the fence for a long way, he was produced through them to score comfortably on the line.