By Tom Frary
Strong and direct at two and just the same on this seasonal return, AlMohamediya Racing's Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) was the main player on Royal Ascot Friday as he provided trainer Clive Cox and jockey Adam Kirby with yet another major sprint when making virtually all in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Always at the head of the stand's-side group and in front overall before two out, the 5-1 shot whose sire captured the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. for this partnership here in 2013 kept digging in to beat Kimari (Munnings) by 1 1/2 lengths. Ventura Rebel (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) was 2 1/2 lengths back in third, with the field eventually spread out as the ground and the winner's raw speed took its toll.
“I kept it uncomplicated–I thought the Wesley Ward horse would give me a lead past halfway, but he's got that natural cruising speed and it was all very easy for me,” explained Kirby, who made no secret of the bond between him and the trainer. “Clive is like a second father to me. We have always had a good relationship and long may it last. We have been together a long time–he knows me and I know him and we are very honest with each other. That's why we get on so well together. It is straightforward. I have been a very lucky boy and ridden a lot of very good sprinters, but this lad is right up there. He is extremely talented.”
Fourth on debut at Newbury last May, Golden Horde made the requisite strides forward when taking a Windsor novice contest by 4 1/2 lengths in early June and was just 1 3/4 lengths behind Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) when fifth in the G2 Coventry S. over this trip at this meeting later that month. Upsetting TDN Rising Star Theat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) in the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood at the start of August, the chestnut was third to Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) in Deauville's G1 Prix Morny later that month and a neck second to that star juvenile after a tussle in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in September.
With Kimari taken back by Frankie Dettori at the break, it was Kirby who found himself on the front of his pack with Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) leading the other group which contained the keen-going TDN Rising Star Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) at a forcing pace. By the time the field passed the two-furlong marker, the outcome was solely between those on Golden Horde's side and despite the gallant pursuit of last year's G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Kimari there was no getting to the imposing colt ahead of her.
“Golden Horde is a proper horse,” his rider added. “When he had his first run at Newbury last season, we knew he was pretty decent but he's done nothing but improve. He has strengthened up very well over the winter. He is just like his dad, just a different colour and will improve as time goes on. He is quite a special horse.”
Clive Cox had been exhibiting positive vibes for a long time about the winner, who arguably should have been favourite on last year's form. “We've enjoyed lots of big days here and it's great to win this race. He was a great horse last year and we felt he would build again this year,” the Lambourn-based trainer said. “He was a big horse last year, but he has really grown into that frame this year. He is just top-class. He has got a lovely temperament, is great to deal with and that ability to go on any type of ground is very special as well. We always trained him last year with the knowledge that with the right sort of behaviour he would be a better horse this year as well.”
“The great thing about Lethal Force was he kept progressing with age. There is always that hope when you know they've got that ability and the size and stature to carry it out.” added Cox, who is thinking about the G1 July Cup at Newmarket July 11 now. “That is very much on our minds if he comes out of this okay. He has done the job really well today and I would like to think that would put a real edge on him. I think mentally with these sprinters, to have a race is important and better ground will be better for him too.”
Golden Horde's dam Entreat (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who scored over 10 furlongs, was a Cheveley Park Stud cast-off for just 14,000gns at the 2016 Tattersalls July Sale but had subsequently produced Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) who took the Listed Pipalong S. She is a half-sister to the G3 Criterion S., G3 Supreme S. and G2 International Topkapi Trophy winner Producer (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) from the family of Robert and Beverly Lewis's legendary Serena's Song (Rahy). She carried all before her on the track prior to producing the high-class Storm Cat pair of Grand Reward and Sophisticat, the latter winning the G1 Coronation S. here in 2002.
This is also the family of the G3 Tetrarch S. and G3 Greenham S.-winning sire Vocalised (Vindication), the GI Metropolitan H. and GI Whitney S.-winning champion Honor Code (A.P. Indy) and G1 Coronation S. and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). It also includes Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal), who was third in Tuesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at this meeting. Entreat's yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire) sold for £260,000 to Oliver St Lawrence at last year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, at which he achieved the third-highest price. Now named Line of Departure (Ire), he is followed by a yearling filly by Zoffany (Ire).
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COMMONWEALTH CUP-G1, £250,000, Royal Ascot, 6-19, 3yo, 6fT, 1:14.56, g/s.
1–GOLDEN HORDE (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Lethal Force (Ire)
1st Dam: Entreat (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: River Saint, by Irish River (Fr)
3rd Dam: Imagining, by Northfields
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (£65,000 Ylg '18 GOUKPR). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-CN Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. £148,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 7-3-1-1, $451,034. *1/2 to Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), SW-Eng, $124,356. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kimari, 123, f, 3, Munnings–Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene. ($152,000 Ylg '18 FTKJUL). O-Ten Broeck Farm Inc; B-China Horse Club International Ltd (KY); T-Wesley Ward. £55,975.
3–Ventura Rebel (GB), 126, c, 3, Pastoral Pursuits (GB)–Finalize (GB), by Firebreak (GB). (£28,000 Ylg '18 TASAYG). O-Abdullah Menahi; B-Crossfields Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Richard Fahey. £27,975.
Margins: 1HF, 2HF, HD. Odds: 5.00, 5.00, 50.00.
Also Ran: Royal Commando (Ire), Millisle (Ire), Royal Crusade (GB), Southern Hills (Ire), Pistoletto, Royal Lytham (Fr), Shadn (Ire), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Dubai Station (GB), Les Hogues (Ire), Aberama Gold (GB), Mums Tipple (Ire), Pierre Lapin (Ire). Scratched: Wooded (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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