Delpech on his ‘something special’ moment at Ascot
AIM. HIS DREAM OF RETURNING WITH A WINNER CAME TRUE
Different the one to watch at Deauville on Sunday.
South African champion Anthony Delpech has enjoyed some magical moments during his illustrious career, but he confessed his first British winner on Glenys the Menace at the Shergar Cup at Ascot last Saturday was “something special”.
Delpech, representing the Rest of the World squad, also boasted a second and a fourth from his five rides at the popular annual international jockeys challenge, finishing in fourth place with 30 points, just seven short of Fran Berry, who took the Silver Saddle as leading rider and helped the GB-Irish team celebrate a third victory in the competition.
Reflecting on his first experience of European racing, Delpech, 48, said: ”My aim was to return home with a winner, and thanks to Glenys The Menace that dream became reality.
“Ascot is the most beautiful track – one of the best I’ve ridden at – and it was a privilege to be a part of the Shergar Cup.
“I was fortunate enough to link up with Vengeance Of Rain 10 years ago – he was Horse of the Year in Hong Kong that season - and we also teamed up to win the Sheema Classic in Dubai, but it has always been an ambition of mine to ride in Britain.
“I thought my chance had gone when Smart Call went lame last year and had to miss the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket, but the mare’s owner (Jessica Slack) recommended me for this trip, and it couldn’t have worked out better.”
We are on the “back nine” of Deauville’s season - the popular seaside course in France - but all eyes on Sunday will be on the unbeaten DIFFERENT LEAGUE, the home-trained “pocket rocket” who, having silenced the glamour gals of England and Ireland when springing a big surprise in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, reappears in the Group 1 Prix Morny.
Royal Ascot was a 20-1 success for David over Goliath in more ways than one, with the diminutive Different League, twice a winner in the French provinces and based with small Maisons Laffitte trainer Matthieu Palussiere, flooring the Irish giant Alpha Centauri, with Coolmore’s Clemmie, who is now second-favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas, having subsequently won two Group races, finishing only seventh.
Connections have since refused several “telephone number bids” for Different League, who was led out unsold at 8 000 guineas at Doncaster Sales as a yearling, but has thrived after a break and reportedly put on weight, so, while the French have only managed to keep this prestigious prize at home once in the last 12 years, stable confidence is sky-high.
Highlight on the Normandy course last week-end was a seventh Prix Jacques le Marois success for French legend Andre Fabre, courtesy of the Frankie Dettori-ridden Al Wukair.
Fabre had a face like thunder after Gregory Benoist’s ride on Al Wukair in the 2000 Guineas – the youngster found every dark alley on the Rowley Mile and finished an unlucky third behind Churchill – but the colt bounced back from a twisted ankle which delayed his return, showing plenty of spirit to squeeze home in a fourway photo-finish.
The QEII at Ascot is now the target for Al Wukair, with Fabre considering then stepping him up to 2000m for the Champion Stakes on the same track on 21 October.
Godolphin, second and third at Deauville, also had a frustrating afternoon in Germany, with last year’s Eclipse Stakes hero Hawkbill finding one too good in locally-trained Dschingis Secret in the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin at Hoppergarten.
Charlie Appleby made no excuses for Hawkbill, but thinks the style of racing in North America would suit this front-running colt, who will launch a twin-attack on Toronto in the autumn, with next month’s Northern Dancer Stakes being the chosen prep-race for the Canadian International at Woodbine.
It was a case of so near yet so far for Moore and O’Brien in Chicago last weekend, with Deauville taking the bronze medal in the Arlington Million and Taj Mahal silver in the Secretariat.
However, Moore could help the holiday expenses today, with some excellent rides at Salisbury, including Sir Michael Stoute’s PLAYFUL SOUND in the feature, the Listed race for fillies.
Playful Sound, who comes from the same family as King George winner Nathaniel, has been a beaten favourite in her last two races, but did little wrong when third at York recently and this will take less winning.
And I can also recommend following Moore in the opening twoyear-old novice, in which he rides STRATEGIST for The Queen. This Shamardal colt looked a hardy sort when showing promise on his Ascot debut, and his work at home suggests he has come on for that experience.
One who might pop up at rewarding odds on Saturday is LIBRISA BREEZE in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.
This race looks sure to be run at a helter-skelter pace, which will suit Librisa Breeze.
And granted the breaks I think he can turn the form around with the Goodwood winner, Breton Rock.
Indeed, last year’s winner Richard Pankhurst and Ibn Malik, both 1400m specialists, are preferred as others to put in the mix.