The Weekly Wrap: Camelot Advances

[Wandering Eyes]

A football World Cup always allows a moment for new names to shine in the most valuable shop window of all. Thus, in the currently ongoing and captivating tournament, the likes of of Russian playmaker Aleksandr Golovin and the silky Mexican Hirving Lozano have moved from relative obscurity to becoming multi-million pound transfer targets.

During the summer weeks in which European racing dominates the sport’s global agenda, it is Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) who has grasped the nettle. After a solid if not spectacular start with 18 winners in his first crop in 2017, which saw his fee at Coolmore trimmed to €30,000, it has become clear that the young stallion, like his progeny, has just needed time.

Within the last month, Camelot has been collecting stakes events with abandon, from G3 Premio del Giubileo S. winner Wait Forever (Ire), Pollara (Ire) in the G3 Prix de Royaumont S., and a pair of Royal Ascot victories through Hunting Horn (Ire) and Arthur Kitt (GB).

On Saturday came not only his first at the highest level, but his first in a Classic after Joseph O’Brien’s Latrobe (Ire) evaded a host of challengers belonging to the young trainer’s father Aidan in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Latrobe had only won a maiden in four previous starts, but his jockey Donnacha O’Brien was impressed, praising his mount’s “guts and determination”. “The Camelots seem to be really coming out this time of year as 3-year-olds, they’re improving the whole time,” he said.

Just as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo might well have vacated the international stage for good after Argentina and Portugal’s exits, so too one day will Galileo (Ire). Camelot, who was emulating Montjeu (Ire) in winning and siring an Irish Derby winner, is waiting in the wings for further opportunities.

Thanks for the Memories Dessie…

It won’t feel quite the same watching an Irish Derby reaching its crescendo without the audio accompaniment of Des Scahill, who presided over his 47th and final renewal at the weekend. The commentator’s evocative tones have conveyed the excitement of every great race in most people’s recollection, such as the epic between Galileo and Fantastic Light in the 2001 Irish Champion S. and Florida Pearl (Ire) winning a fourth Irish Gold Cup in 2004, to a humble handicap at Sligo on a Tuesday afternoon.

On Saturday, he produced one more tour de force with a hearty, “It’s going to be an all O’Brien finish, but who’s going to win it? Latrobe is going to win it!”

All good things must come to an end, and when Scahill bows out after this month’s G1 Irish Oaks, he will be succeeded by his long-time deputy Jerry Hannon.

As commentators tend to be heard and not seen, many of us had assumed that Hannon, who has a similarly resonant pitch, might have been of a similar era to 69-year-old Scahill. Hannon is in fact 32 years his junior, so there is plenty of time for his face to catch up with his voice.

Cup Campaigns…

Thoughts of the G1 Melbourne Cup returned through Latrobe, given that he carries the dark blue silks of Australian tycoon Lloyd Williams, and it would not be impossible to imagine him following the path of Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) last November.

However, the most significant pointer towards Flemington on Saturday came up at Newcastle as Withhold (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) delivered as authoritative a performance as one will see in a competitive handicap under a frontrunning masterclass from Robert Winston in the Stobart Rail & Civils Northumberland Plate H.

Roger Charlton’s stable has been slower than usual to peak, due to various issues with health and the weather, but appears to have emerged from the doldrums as the reliable Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) also contributed in the Listed Fred Archer S. at Newmarket.

Withhold had not been seen since landing a huge gamble in the Cesarewitch H. last October and Charlton is planning a sparing campaign in order to sneak him into the Cup with a light weight. He is likely to be joined on the plane by runner-up Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), who could not have had a more contrasting season. Charlie Fellowes’s stayer ran four times in Dubai and was third in last month’s GII Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S.

Kelleway’s Italian Job…

Gay Kelleway’s enterprising attempts to scour corners of Europe to find her own Melbourne Cup candidate might one day pay off if Cosmelli (Ity) (Mr Vegas {Ire}) continues his progressive path.

Beaten only three lengths in last year’s Northumberland Plate, he caused a 33-1 surprise in the Vase consolation race to provide a rare recognised winner for his little-known sire, who won a listed race at Newmarket 13 years ago and stands at Scuderia Andy Capp near Siena.

“It’s so difficult to buy a Melbourne Cup horse but I thought I might have a chance in Italy,” explained the Newmarket trainer. “I went down to see him in Pisa a couple of years ago and just liked him. He cost €60,000 from the Botti family and we bought Kaspersky (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who ran so well in last year’s Queen Anne, for Jane Chapple-Hyam at the same time.”

“He had a few back problems but he’s come right and hopefully it’ll be Melbourne next year,” she said. “We’ll enter him in races like the Ebor and the Cesarewitch.”

Red Letter Day for Newsells Park…

Galileo is not finished yet, by any means, and he added yet another Group 1 win to his incredible haul through Waldgeist (GB) in Sunday’s Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud S, as well as scores in Ireland for Yucatan (Ire) in the G3 International S. and Flag Of Honour (Ire) in the G2 Curragh Cup S.

Newsells Park Stud put Waldgeist’s dam Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) through the ring for €100,000 at Arqana eight years ago in order to foster a partnership with Dietrich von Boetticher of Gestut Ammerland. Not only has she produced a likely Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner with her first foal, the younger half-sister Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) took the G2 Prix de Malleret S. with ease on the same card. She looks a Prix Vermeille contender through and through.

Julian Dollar, Newsells Park’s general manager, is unsurprisingly thrilled with that decision. “We’re very commercial and we don’t usually get the chance to develop these families,” he said. “Thankfully Dietrich has come in with us when we wanted to keep them, and hopefully it’s paying off.”

Waldlerche has also delivered another Galileo foal. She has every chance to be a star, too.

What’s in a Name…

Recycled names are a frequent occurrence and one throwback returned with the impressive winning debut of Klute (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at The Curragh. The most infamous Klute, presumably taking inspiration from the title of Jane Fonda’s detective movie, was a non-Thoroughbred and belonged to a lady called Lesley Bruce who believed that he was the fastest horse in the world.

She was confident enough that she rode Klute herself in a specially organised match race at Haydock Park in 1988 against one of Jack Berry’s sprinter’s called So Careful (GB) (Dalsaan {GB}), which was shown on national television. Unfortunately she was beaten out of sight, and another attempt, for the ‘World Speed Challenge’ at Catterick two years later also ended in a heavy defeat against Berry’s Valldemosa (GB) (Music Boy {GB}).

The latest Klute has plenty of dash himself, as he made most of the running to land what is often an informative seven-furlong maiden. Jessica Harrington is unlikely to be making any bold claims to match those of Ms. Bruce, but was not rejecting the possibility that her €120,000 Goffs Orby purchase could end up in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. later in the season.

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