By Tom Frary
Bouncing out of Leopardstown's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, Ballydoyle's Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) demonstrated the buoyant health of his stable by landing a strong renewal of the G3 Hampton Court S. on Wednesday. Second eight days ago racing against the bias at that Foxrock venue, Laurie Macri and Coolmore's 10-3 second favourite was delivered from rear by Ryan Moore with a surge to overwhelm the 9-4 favourite First Receiver (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the final yards. With full momentum as he crossed the line, the son of the triple group 1 heroine Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) forged a half-length success over The Queen's representative, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Berlin Tango (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who was excelling under a four-pound penalty.
“He is a lovely horse that is straightforward and has a great attitude,” commented Ryan Moore after steering a landmark 60th Royal winner. “He was very professional–he has had the benefit of a couple of runs this year and let's see if he will keep progressing. He has a very good pedigree–his dam was exceptional in Australia. I think he will be a nice horse going forward for the rest of the year.”
Having scored before the lockdown in a mile maiden on soft-to-heavy ground on the Irish season opener at Naas Mar. 23, Russian Emperor was the leading candidate for the yard in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and despite meeting with narrow defeat Seamie Heffernan was at pains to point out that he was compromised by a front-running bias at Leopardstown that day. Anchored in rear early with Moore tracking Dettori on the keen-going Royal runner, the bay was the last of the main protagonists to arrive on the scene after the smooth-travelling G3 Classic Trial winner Berlin Tango and First Receiver had swamped the aggressively-ridden G1 2000 Guineas fifth Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on the front end at the top of the straight. His finishing flourish suggests the mile-and-a-half of the July 4 G1 Epsom Derby will pose no problem and it could be a case of the Russian Emperor vs the English King in the blue riband.
Dettori said of the runner-up, “He ran a bit fresh, but he ran a super race.” Andrew Balding was pleased with the effort of Berlin Tango and said, “He ran very well with a penalty. It was an excellent run from three good horses. He will go to the [G2] Dante [at York July 9] next. A mile and a quarter is his trip.”
Russian Emperor is the third foal out of the distinguished dam, who was crowned champion 3-year-old filly and older mare in Australia by virtue of her successes in the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas, G1 All-Aged S., G1 Caulfield S. and G1 Memsie S., among others. A half-sister to Commanding Jewel (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), who also captured the Schweppes Thousand Guineas, she also has a 2-year-old full-sister and yearling full-brother to the winner to follow.
Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HAMPTON COURT S.-G3, £60,000, Ascot, 6-17, 3yo, 9f 212yT, 2:05.86, gd.
1–RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Ch. 3yo Filly-Aus, Ch. Older Mare-Aus & MG1SW-Aus, $1,559,748), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Regard (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ)
3rd Dam: Nanshan (Ire), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Laurie Macri, Susan Magnier, et al; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £35,520. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 4-2-1-1, $76,502. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–First Receiver (GB), 126, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Touchline (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). O/B-The Queen (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £13,434.
3–Berlin Tango (GB), 130, c, 3, Dansili (GB)–Fantasia (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £6,714.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 3. Odds: 3.33, 2.25, 4.00.
Also Ran: Juan Elcano (GB), New World Tapestry, Kenzai Warrior, Mascat (GB), King Carney (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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