Tuesday Evening Notes
– A blanket finish in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot, with the Godolphin-owned Ramonti coming out a head in front of the rest, giving Sheik Mohammed his first Group 1 winner in Britain since 2005. “We needed that, badly,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor afterwards (Guardian). Hot favorite George Washington finished fourth. “We were delighted with his run. After going to stud and covering 60 mares you would be a bit fresh, wouldn’t you?,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien of the colt’s effort (Sporting Life Ascot blog).
– Aidan O’Brien had better luck in the Saint James Palace Stakes, in which his starters finished one-two-three (ThoroTimes).
– An intriguing idea from Bill Finley for keeping racing stars in training: “Imagine what would happen if every Grade I race in the country, or even just the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races, were restricted to horses whose sires were 5-years-old or older at the time the horse was conceived” (ESPN).
– Saying she’s “already proven herself against the boys,” owner Michael Tabor said it was unlikely Belmont winner Rags to Riches would face colts again this year. Rather than run in the Travers, she may start next in the Coaching Club American Oaks and then in the Alabama. “We plan to run her next year, and who’s to say she won’t run as a 5-year-old?,” said Tabor. “We have all the time in the world to consider running her against the boys” (NY Times).
