Sacred (GB)

There are very few, if any, riders able to navigate Royal Ascot's straight course like Jamie Spencer and he used every bit of his mix of talent, guile and experience to steer the Charlie Hills-trained 80-1 shot Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})--White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) to glory in Saturday's feature G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. Like sweet medicine for these old campaigners who seem to have lost their way, the jockey who had partnered a 50-1 winner up the same strip on Thursday could be spotted some...

Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}--Sacre Caroline, by Blame) had failed in three prior attempts at Group 1 level, but top-table options remain open after she collected a third pattern-race triumph in Saturday's recalibrated G3 Fitzdares Chartwell Fillies' S. at Lingfield. She was making her first start on a synthetic surface here and 2021's G3 Nell Gwyn S. and G2 Hungerford S. victrix returned to action for this seven-furlong heat coming back off a second over the same trip in October's G2 Challenge S. at Newmarket. Sacred...

Confirming his love for Newmarket, Gary and Linnet Woodward's Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) made all under a perfectly judged ride from William Buick to register a third pattern-race success in Friday's G2 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge S. Always happy against the far rail shading it from the eventual third Misty Grey (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the May 28 G3 John of Gaunt S. and June 25 G3 Criterion S. winner drew away from that rival and beyond the reach of Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) to score by...

On all known form, Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was entitled to win Friday's Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup but having disappointed when sixth in the Aug. 20 G2 City of York S. there was an element of doubt which she put firmly to bed with a confidence-restoring command performance. Always happy tracking the pace over the Newbury course and seven-furlong distance at which she excelled in 2021 when taking the G2 Hungerford S., the 10-11 favourite treated the useful pair of Saleymm (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})...

Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. was a reminder, if it was needed, that Antipodean sprinters operate at an elevated level compared to the majority of their European counterparts and the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. which dominates the closing day of Royal Ascot 2022 could serve to underline that. While he may have been lucky to defeat stablemate Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) in the Feb. 19 G1 Black Caviar Lightning, Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) who had earlier captured the G1 Coolmore Stud S. also at Flemington still...

Saturday belonged to William Haggas, with two of the Newmarket handler's pattern-race successes coming at the same time during an action-packed period mid-afternoon. While Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) was causing an upset at Deauville in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, the yard's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was tearing it up in Newbury's G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. Back from a weather-enforced break having failed to see out the mile of the G1 1000 Guineas when seventh at Newmarket May 2, Cheveley Park Stud's impressive G3 Nell...

Cheveley Park Stud homebred Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is being pointed at the G1 Commonwealth Cup S. at Royal Ascot. Runner-up in a trio of Group 2 events in 2020, the William Haggas charge captured the G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket on Apr. 14, but tired to seventh in the May 2 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas when last seen. "That [Commonwealth Cup] is the wish at this point in time," said Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director Chris Richardson. "We thought that she didn't stay in...

One of the most exposed of the fillies gathered for Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket, Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was nevertheless totally unexposed at this seven-furlong trip and showed more than adequate stamina combined with decisive speed to prevail. Switched off towards the rear by Ryan Moore, the 6-1 shot was delivered up the far rail passing halfway by Ryan Moore but needed a gap heading down into the "dip". Slicing between rivals as soon as the chance appeared, the homebred...

MG1SW One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who won the 2018 and 2019 editions of the G1 Prix de la Foret on Arc Day, is on course for a third attempt, trainer William Haggas revealed. A winner of the G3 Oak Tree S. at Goodwood this July, the Lael Stables homebred has been runner-up in her past two starts-the G2 City of York S. on Aug. 22 and the Sept. 12 G2 Park S. at Doncaster last out. Haggas said, "She ran very well. She's just been unfortunate, but that's...