International Diary

INTERNATIONAL

DIARY

JULY 25, 2006

by Kellie Reilly

In this installment, I'll review the star performers from the

Royal Ascot meeting last month, take stock of the three-year-olds after

developments in France and Ireland, and look ahead to a gem of a showdown in

Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot.

Several outstanding individuals turned in top-drawer

performances at Royal Ascot, but the highlight of highlights was OUIJA

BOARD's (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) fantastic burst of acceleration to garner

victory in the June 21 Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1). This 10-furlong

showpiece had lured an all-star cast, headed by Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) hero

ELECTROCUTIONIST (Red Ransom) and Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) victor DAVID

JUNIOR (Pleasant Tap). Although the sedate early pace dictated by

Electrocutionist did not really play to the strengths of Ouija Board or David

Junior, the brilliant mare coped with it and the four-year-old colt did not.

Ouija Board exploded late to overhaul Electrocutionist by a half-length, with

David Junior a disappointing fourth. It was another well deserved laurel for

Ouija Board, her trainer Ed Dunlop and her sporting owner/breeder, Lord Derby,

who has allowed fans the world over to enjoy his mare's exploits on the track

rather than packing her off to stud prematurely.

Ouija Board and David Junior clashed again in the July 8

Coral-Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) at Sandown. After the Prince of Wales's, David

Junior's connections did not want to take a chance in another Group 1 event

without the benefit of a pacemaker, so they acquired one for the prestigious

10-furlong prize. The pacemaker didn't go especially fast, but the tactic worked

nonetheless and David Junior showed his true ability, powering to a 1 1/2-length

success. Ouija Board had a wretched trip, boxed in for much of the stretch and

basically mugged a few times before checking in fifth. Given the way David

Junior won, and the fact that Ouija Board wasn't traveling particularly sweetly

before the trouble, I don't think the mare would have beaten him with a clean

trip, although she would have been a lot closer.

Both still have the Breeders'

Cup on their fall agenda. Ouija Board will gun for her second Filly & Mare Turf

(G1), having captured the 2004 edition, while the Brian Meehan-trained David

Junior will tackle the Classic (G1). Their next stops are in England, though,

with Ouija Board reverting to purely female competition in the August 5 Nassau

S. (Eng-G1) at Goodwood and David Junior planning for the August 22 Juddmonte

International S. (Eng-G1) at York.

To return to Royal Ascot, two other distaffers scored noteworthy

victories. NANNINA (Medicean) strode out a commanding two-length winner

of the one-mile Coronation S. (Eng-G1) on June 23 in a fast time of 1:39,

labeled a course record by the Racing Post. In light of the fact that the

track has been renovated, I don't want to push that point too far. Still, the John Gosden-trained filly routed everyone who was anyone in the sophomore filly miler

set, including the winners of five nations' One Thousand Guineas. Among the

older female milers, the top-class SOVIET SONG (Marju) showed why she's a

two-time English highweight in this division when crossing the wire as much the

best in the June 21 Windsor Forest S. (Eng-G2).

When Soviet Song and Nannina squared off in what promised to be

an informative intergenerational test in the July 12 Falmouth S. (Eng-G1)

at Newmarket, the result was an unfortunate muddle. With no early pace at all to

speak of, the race didn't set up for Soviet Song's late punch, and she wound up

sixth. Nannina was also inconvenienced, but because she had been more forwardly

placed than Soviet Song, she was able to finish second, beaten just

three-quarters of a length by the 50-1 shocker RAJEEM (Diktat). Although

Rajeem hadn't hit the board in four previous outings this year, the Clive

Brittain trainee had been an unlucky fifth in the Coronation and was entitled to

show more. Having said that, though, it's unlikely she could have upstaged

Nannina and Soviet Song in a truly run contest.

Soviet Song and Nannina could take on males in the

August 2 Sussex S. (Eng-G1) at Goodwood, which will feature classic-winning

three-year-old ARAAFA (Mull of Kintyre), one of the most dashing winners

at Royal Ascot, and AD VALOREM (Danzig), one of the messiest. The June 20

Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1) was a roughly run affair, and considering how Ad

Valorem caused a domino effect of interference to hamper both PEERESS

(Pivotal), who retreated to fourth, and COURT MASTERPIECE (Polish

Precedent), a hard-charging second, it was surprising that he wasn't demoted,

even allowing for England's more liberal interpretation of these offenses.

Moreover, the high-class PROCLAMATION (King's Best) ran as if very much

in need of a race on his 2006 debut and finished a one-paced third. In short,

although Ad Valorem once again demonstrated how good he can be on his preferred

fast ground, this result can't be read at face value.

In contrast, Araafa's triumph in the one-mile St. James's

Palace S. (Eng-G1), also on June 20, was clear-cut. In his first outing since

upsetting George Washington (Danehill) in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas

(Ire-G1), Araafa strode to a comprehensive two-length success. What was most

significant about Araafa's win was that it came on fast going, completely

different from the bog-like conditions in which he surprised George Washington,

proving that he's no soft-ground fluke. It's regrettable that George had to skip

the St. James's Palace because of injury, as a rematch on ground suitable to

both would have been fascinating. Araafa reportedly turned in a brilliant work

in preparation for the Sussex, a major race that should have serious

implications for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) picture.

The strength of the St. James's Palace result was underscored

when runner-up STORMY RIVER (Verglas [Ire]) came right back to capture

the July 9 Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1), unleashing a potent turn of foot in

the stretch. Trainer Nicolas Clement is eyeing a few big mile targets for the

talented colt, who may just be hitting his best stride.

Another French-based sophomore to mark is Juddmonte Farms'

homebred RAIL LINK (Dansili [GB]). The Andre Fabre pupil has progressed

quickly this spring, graduating from a maiden win to scores in the Prix du Lys

(Fr-G3) and most recently the 1 1/2-mile Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) on

July 14. Rail Link could be the type to find his way to Bobby Frankel's barn

eventually.

Runner-up in the Grand Prix de Paris was the J. Paul Reddam-owned

RED ROCKS (Galileo [Ire]). This intriguing colt had finished a brave

second to the highly regarded PAPAL BULL (Montjeu [Ire]) in the June 23

King Edward VII S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot in his previous outing. Red

Rocks' trainer, Brian Meehan, continues to suggest that he could show up in the

United States this fall. Given his American owner, and the fact that Meehan

already plans to send David Junior over, I suspect that Red Rocks will be seen

on this side of the Atlantic.

Turning to Ireland, the July 2 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and

July 16 Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) at the Curragh witnessed superb performances

by an Aidan O'Brien-trained colt and filly who had been seen in those respective classics at Epsom.

ALEXANDROVA (Sadler's Wells) accomplished a memorable English/Irish Oaks

double, reiterating her superiority with a riveting four-length victory in

Ireland that left rider Kieren Fallon reaching for superlatives. O'Brien suggested that she may tackle males at some point, perhaps in the

September 9 Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1).

In the Derby, DYLAN THOMAS (Danehill) did not go gentle

into that good straight (pardon the allusion), but instead destroyed a high-class field by 3 1/2

lengths. The O'Brien trainee, who was coming off a close third in the four-way

photo in the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), emphatically turned the tables on Epsom

runner-up DRAGON DANCER (Sadler's Wells), who checked in fourth here.

Dylan Thomas probably improved in the interim, but jockey Fallon believed that

the Curragh suited him much more than tricky Epsom had. By routing the winners

of the Derby Italiano (Ity-G1) and Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1),

along with the Epsom second, Dylan Thomas has made a strong case for divisional

leadership. Epsom winner SIR PERCY (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), currently

taking a break before his autumn campaign, will surely have something to say

about this before season's end.

Unfortunately, none of these exciting sophomores will take part

in Saturday's King George, which historically serves as an acid test for

the three-year-olds as they take on the best of the older horses. We're still in

for a fascinating race, with three outstanding veterans in the 1 1/2-mile

affair. Electrocutionist posted a very good work beneath Frankie Dettori

last week, according to

the Godolphin website, and this resolute galloper appears to be at the top of

his game.

Reigning European Horse of the Year HURRICANE RUN (Montjeu

[Ire]) is exiting a surprising defeat in the June 25 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud

(Fr-G1), in which he was just caught on the line by the classy mare Pride (Peintre

Celebre). Fabre felt that his charge would move forward off that effort, and all

expectations are for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) winner to return to

his best here.

Europe's elite may end up chasing the Japanese shipper HEART'S

CRY (Sunday Silence), last seen surging to a 4 1/4-length triumph in the

March 25 Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) at Nad al Sheba. He remains the only

horse to have ever defeated the phenomenal DEEP IMPACT (Sunday Silence),

who ran away with the June 25 Takarazuka Kinen (Jpn-G1) and is now bound for the

Arc. Heart's Cry has reportedly settled in well at Newmarket, and this adaptable

colt, who can carve out the pace, or stalk, or come from the clouds, as the need

arises, could make his homeland proud in one of England's most coveted races.