Dix neuf ans après Lucky Lionel, Richard Hannon obtient un second titre dans le Prix Robert Papin. L’entraîneur anglais connaît une belle réussite dans l’Hexagone: Paco Boy, Dick Turpin ou encoreHavana Gold. Le programme Outre-Manche offre plus de possibilités au niveau groupe, Kool Kompanyn’en est pas à son coup d’essai à ce niveau. Il avait disputé les Coventry Stakes (Groupe 2) le 17 juin à Ascot en étant invaincu en 3 courses. La sortie d’après il remettait les pendules à l’heure en s’adjugeant les Gain Railways Stakes (Groupe 2) au Curragh. Son expérience a donc primé ce dimanche, bien qu’il ait été pris de vitesse par Goken, Kool Kompany a pu souffler et donner un coup de rein imparable.

South Bank, fille de Special Duty lauréate de cette course en 2009, n’a sans doute pas montrer son vrai visage. Avant-course, Christiane Head-Maarek avait poussé un petit coup de gueule contre son jockey. Une fois au rond de présentation, Christophe Soumillon avait dû retourner aux vestiaires pour changer de bretèches, les sponsors étant interdits dans les courses de Groupes ! La domination est totale dans Prix Robert Papin puisque Strath Burn prend la 2ème place un nez devant Lehaim.

Richard Hannon avait prévu d’accorder un break après sa dernière course à Kool Kompany mais le cheval semble bien encaisser ses combats, trois options s’offrent donc à lui, le Prix Morny, les Phoenix Stakes ou les National Stakes, pour ces deux dernières solutions il devra être supplémenté.

Kool Kompany est issu de Jeremy, étalon au National Irish Stud, qui l’a bien signé !

l’étalon Jeremy

Arrivée définitive: 3-2-1

fonte: Equidia

Mukhadram: set to join Taghrooda in Saturday’s £1 million King George

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Sheikh Hamdan to play both King George aces

HAMDAN AL MAKTOUM is set to play both of his aces, Taghrooda and Mukhadram, in a bid to take his already stellar year to new heights in the £1 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

RELATED LINKS

Having committed Oaks winner Taghrooda to the line-up last Thursday, the season’s leading owner will bolster his forces against ante-post favourite Telescope with Eclipse Stakes winner Mukhadram, the intended mount of Dane O’Neill. 

It will be O’Neill’s highest-profile ride since being appointed second jockey to Sheikh Hamdan in October 2012. The former champion apprentice will partner Mukhadram in place of the owner’s first jockey Paul Hanagan, who has ridden the William Haggas-trained star on all 13 previous outings.

Hanagan is set to stick with Oaks winner Taghrooda, 7-4 joint favourite with Coral, although 5-2 elsewhere, after she went well in a gallop in Newmarket on Saturday morning. She will bid to become the first three-year-old filly to win the mile-and-a-half event since Pawneese in 1976.

Mukhadram, general 8-1 fourth favourite, will be racing into the unknown at the weekend as the five-year-old has yet to run beyond a mile and a quarter and O’Neill has never ridden him either at home or on the track.

“I’m expecting Mukhadram to run in the King George,” said Haggas on Sunday. “I haven’t heard any different and he’s been in good form at home since Sandown. I’m pretty sure Paul Hanagan will be riding Taghrooda and, anyway, Dane O’Neill would struggle to do the weight on her which is 8st 6lb whereas Mukhadram will be carrying 9st 7lb.” 

He added: “I expect Dane will ride Mukhadram and I’m not worried about the fact he’s never ridden him before as he’s quite a straightforward horse.”

Mango Diva (pink silks) closes in on front-runner Lahinch Classics

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Moore at his best on Mango Diva

Report: Curragh, Sunday, Kilboy Estate Stakes (Group 2) 3yo+ fillies 1m1f

MANGO DIVA got the full treatment from Ryan Moore to edge a thrilling renewal of the Kilboy Estate Stakes.

RELATED LINKS

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute for the Antoniades Family,Mango Diva didn’t appear to be going anywhere fast as Lahinch Classics struck the front under Wayne Lordan in the straight but, under strong urging from Moore, she gradually engaged top gear to run down the leader on the line.

“She’s a good moving filly and wants good ground,” said Stoute’s travelling head lad James Savage. “We think this could be her perfect trip, they go a bit quick for her over a mile.”

The winner returned the 9-2 second-favourite, with the runner-up a 5-1 shot. Favourite for the race was Coronation Stakes fourth My Titania, who looked a shade one pace in third after moving into contention stylishly.

Victory for Mango Diva was her first at Group 2 level and comes off the back of a solid effort behind subsequent Group 1 winner Thistle Bird at Epsom last month.

Also on Sunday . . . 

Curragh: Meld Stakes (For The Defence Forces Cup) (Group 3) 3yo+, 1m2f

Parish Hall got up in the final strides to land the Meld Stakes for jockey Kevin Manning and trainer Jim Bolger.

The five-year-old, who returned the 11-8 favourite, won the Group 1 Dewhurst as a juvenile but was landing his most high profile race since.

Una Manning, daughter of winning trainer Jim Bolger, said: “Dad was delighted. The horse showed a good turn of foot and he’ll stick to races over this trip and on fast ground. He really feels that he’s finally getting over his injury and that he’ll go on to better things.”

Front-runner Afternoon Sunlight finished second, while Irish Derby fourth Ponfeigh was third.

Curragh: Rockingham Handicap 3yo+, 5f

Sir Maximilian provided trainer Tim Pitt and jockey Stevie Donohoe with a big pay day when cutting down the front-running Caspian Prince to land the prestigious Rockingham Handicap.

The runner-up, winner of the Dash at Epsom last month, broke like a greyhound from an unfavourable draw in stall three and was able to track across to lead the field on the favoured far rail under Adam Kirby.

The only challenger to get anywhere close to the leader’s early fractions was My Good Brother as the field was string out like in the closing stages of a four-mile chase.

Just when it appeared it would be between the pace-setters, Donohoe brought Sir Maximilian with a surging run from midfield to deny the enthusiastic Caspian Prince, with My Good Brother in third.

It was the biggest win for Pitt since he relocated from Newmarket to Helshaw Grange in Shropshire last year, the 73 acre site owned by former Port Vale chairman Paul Wildes, who also owns Sir Maximlian.