2015 Royal Ascot news round-up: Territories ruled out of St James’s Palace
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Leading French hope Andre Fabre’s Territories has been ruled out of St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot after suffering a stone bruise.
The Andre Fabre-trained colt, who is owned by Godolphin, was a top class juvenile and ran a blinder when chasing home Gleneagles in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when last seen in action.
He had been 7/1 with Coral for the Group 1 contest on the opening day of the meeting on Tuesday, June 16th.
John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock advisor, said on the Godolphin website: “Unfortunately Territories was not sound this morning and it is understood to be a stone bruise.
“He will therefore not take up his engagement in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.”
Gleneagles is now odds-on at 8/13 with Coral for the St James’s Palace, with Territories stable companion Make Believe next best in at 11/4. Unbeaten colt Consort continues to attract support and is now 5/1, and it’s 12/1 and upwards for the rest.
Trip To Paris given Gold Cup ticket
Chester Cup winner Trip To Paris has been supplemented for the Ascot Gold Cup at a cost of £35k and introduced into the betting at 12/1 by Coral.
The Ed Dunlop-trained gelding, who won at Lingfield and Ripon prior to success at Chester, is progressing at a rate of knots and posted a career-best effort when chasing home Vent De Force in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown last time out after enduring a troubled passage.
With slight doubts about the participation of the market leader Forgotten Rules (11/4) on account of fast ground, Dunlop and owners the La Grange Partnership have decided to take the gamble and let the four-year-old have a crack at the Group 1 contest run over 2m 4f on Thursday, June 18th.
The trainer told his website: “Following hours of deliberation, the decision has been made to supplement Trip To Paris for the Gold Cup on Thursday.
“This hasn’t been an easy call, with £35k a hefty sum of money, but he’s a young, progressive stayer who enjoys quick ground.
“His owners are keen to run and it’s impossible to knock such a sporting decision – here’s hoping it proves a fruitful one.”
Goldolphin purchase leading Ribblesdale hope Pleascach
Godolphin have purchased Irish 1000 Guineas winner Pleascach and the filly will carry their famous all-blue colours when she runs in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday, June 18th.
The Jim Bolger-trained daughter of Teofilo won the 1m 2f Blue Wind Stakes at Naas before dropping back to a mile for a 1/2 length success over Found in the Guineas at the Curragh.
Pleascach, who has now won three of her five starts, is a very exciting prospect and will tackle 1m 4f for the first time in the Ribblesdale for which she is among 14 remaining at today’s latest confirmation stage.
John Ferguson, bloodstock advisor to Godolphin boss Sheikh Mohammed, said: “Jim is keen for the filly to run at Royal Ascot, with the Irish Derby and the Irish Oaks both being targets in the future.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed believes when buying young Classic fillies, you look at them as a 10-year plan rather than just as a racehorse, and with the stallions that we now have at our disposal, the future is exciting.”
