Royal Ascot Notes

The Queen’s grand mare Estimate is not the first Ascot Gold Cup winner for her dam Ebaziya.

The Queen with Estimate
Photo by Racing and Sports

A triple Listed winner by Darshaan, Ebaziya is also the dam of Enzeli, the Kahyasi) stayer who won the famous staying test in 1999.

Their half siblings also include two other Group One winners Ebadiyla (Sadler’s Wells), winner of the Irish Oaks, and Edabiya (Rainbow Quest), who won the Moyglare Stud Stakes).

Estimate, by the late German champion Monsun, was bred by The Aga Khan’s Studs and was given to Queen Elizabeth as an 80th birthday gift.

Monsun (Konigsstuhl) sired 100 stakes winners at Gestüt Schlenderhan before his death in 2012.

Estimate made history as The Queen became the first reigning monarch to own the winner of the Gold Cup in its 207-year history.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained mare also gave the The Queen her 22nd win at the Royal meeting.

* DIAMOND Jubilee Stakes winner Lethal Force is the first Group One winner by Dark Angel, a son of Acclamation who was retired after a standout juvenile campaign.

Trained by Barry Hills Dark Angel won the G1 Middle Park Stakes and G2 Mill Reef Stakes among a total of four wins from nine starts.

One of five winners for the unraced Machiavellian mare Midnight Angel, Dark Angel also counts the Listed-winning sprinters Night At Sea and Shoalhaven among his relatives.

The grey Lethal Force is out of the unplaced Desert Style mare Land Army who has produced only one other winner to date.

His second dam is the winning mare Family At War (Explodent) who produced nine winners including Flanders, the second dam of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Flotilla.

Family At War is the grandam of the G3 Louvain (Sinndar), the dam of last year’s champion 2YO filly in France Flotilla (Mizzen Mast).

Lethal Force became Dark Angel’s second Group winner last year when beating Strong Suit in the G2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury after Alhebayeb won the G2 July Stakes.

He had only had one start this year prior to the Diamond Jubilee finishing second to Society Rock in the G2 Duke Of York Stakes at York, a result he reversed at Royal Ascot.

* IMPRESSIVE colt Berkshire, a son of former Australian shuttle sire Mount Nelson, stamped himself as a top 2000 Guines prospect with his win in the Chesham Stakes on the final day at Royal Ascot at only his second start.

He is the fourth stakes winner from two crops racing by Mount Nelson, a son of Rock Of Gibraltar who stands at Newsells Park Stud in England.

He shuttled to Hunter Valley stud Baerami Thoroughbreds for one season in 2009.

Purchased for 60,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale – Book 2, Berkshire is out of the G1 winning Dr Devious mare Kinnaird who has produced three winners from four foals to race to date.

His second dam is Ribot’s Guest (Be My Guest) who is also the dam of the Group winner Mickdaam (Dubawi). The family includes Hong Kong G1 winner Helene Mascot (Peintre Celebre).

* NEW Zealand Bloodstock's International Bloodstock Manager John Cameron had reason to celebrate when War Command won the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Cameron and his wife Jackie, alongside Hong Kong-based Mathew and Elizabeth Oram, William Fan and Moon Fai Tung own Out of Egypt (Red Ransom), a full-sister to War Command's dam Wandering Star.

Out of Egypt is the dam of four winners to date including G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Rollout the Carpet.

Out of Egypt missed to Starspangledbanner in 2012 and is due to deliver a Commands foal this spring.

* CLASSY colt Hillstar capped a big week at Royal Ascot for progeny by Danehill Dancer with his powerful win in the King Edward VII Stakes.

Hillstar (Danehill Dancer x Crystal Star, by Mark Of Esteem) looked an exciting prospect when he led home a 1-2-3 for Coolmore sires in the G2 event for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

The colt, bred by Renee Robeson and is raced by her brother Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, led home Derby runner Battle Of Marengo (Galileo) and Contributer (High Chaparral).

A great day for Danehill Dancer continued when the 8YO veteran Forgotten Voice (Danehill Dancer x Asnieres, by Spend A Buck) returned to the scene of his 2009 Royal Hunt Cup victory to win the Listed Wolferton Handicap.

Danehill Dancer was also responsible for Wednesday’s G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Duntle.

Duntle (Danehill Dancer x Lady Angola, by Lord At War) returned a year after winning the Listed Sandringham Handicap for her second Royal Ascot success.

The filly, who had scored in G3 company on her seasonal comeback, finished first in last year’s G1 Matron Stakes before being disqualified and placed second and will now look to step up to G1 company again.

David Wachman trains the Airlie Stud-bred filly for the Niarchos family. He said Deauville’s G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, a race sponsored by Maria Niarchos, will be on the agenda.

* ANOTHER Coolmore sire to make an impact at Royal Ascot was Scat Daddy, sire of the brilliant US raider No Nay Never.

No Nay never (Scat Daddy x Cat’s Eye Witness, by Elusive Quality) broke Ascot’s juvenile five-furlong track record with his great turn of speed in Thursday’s G2 Norfolk Stakes.

His Kentucky based trainer Wesley Ward said he he would like to give the colt a break and bring him back for the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville in France in August.


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