British Champions day roundup: 40-1 Anmaat shocks feature

Shadwell runner Anmaat overcame a trouble in running to cause a 40-1 upset in the Group 1 Champion Stakes. The victory earns him the final win-and-you're-in berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf.

In what proved to be an eventful edition of the day’s showpiece event, Anmaat, like eventual runner-up Calandagan, was unable to get a clear run as the field bunched early in the home straight.

However, Jim Crowley managed to extricate the six-year-old with time to spare, at which point his mount stormed home to collar 3-2 favorite Calandagan in the final strides. The winning margin was half a length, with Royal Rhyme (25-1) just under two lengths further back in third. Anmaat finished the 1 1/4 miles over soft turf in 2:08.96.

Anmaat, who landed last year’s Prix d’Ispahan (G1) on his only other appearance at the highest level, disappointed on his latest start when fifth in the Prix Dollar (G2).

Winning trainer Owen Burrows, enjoying his first winner at the meeting, said: “We’ve always thought a lot of this horse. I know it sounds easy afterwards, but last year after he won his Group 1 in France, I did really fancy him for the Eclipse – but he had a very complex foot injury, which took a long time to come right. Credit to the team back at Shadwell, and obviously Sheikha Hissa’s patience with him as well.

“It just went wrong in France two weeks ago. It was a muddling old race and I think Jim will admit it probably wasn’t his finest hour but the horse came back fine.

“I had to convince Sheikha Hissa to come today but credit to her, I spoke to her on Monday morning and sent her a video of an easy piece of work he did last Saturday. She was happy with it and so was I.

“I was never too fussed on ground conditions, as he won on very soft ground in France last year. How he’s done it has surprised me. I put my binoculars down halfway up the straight, as I thought he had no chance from where he got pushed back to. To pick up in this ground like that, I thought it was a heck of a performance.”

Crowley said, “We had a nice draw and I wanted to go and sit third or fourth, one off the rail, and give myself an option. But I could see early on that Los Angeles wasn’t taking Ryan (Moore) at all and, when we turned into the straight, I had horses on my outside keeping me in.

“I was going well, but then we had to try and work our way through and we got completely stopped. There was no option at the time, we were just stuck. I won’t tell you what I was thinking. But when he got the gap, it was extraordinary the way the horse picked up and, believe me, it was no fluke.

“I thought he’d win the Eclipse last year against Paddington. I was convinced he would win and he went wrong the day before. It looked like he would never race again and everyone has done a wonderful job to get him back.

“He won on his reappearance at Haydock – he scraped home but he was probably only 70 percent ready. Then we decided to go to France to have a nice, easy win and then go here. I held him up off a slow pace, but he just didn’t pick up that day, and he’s gone under everybody’s radar here. It was touch and go whether he ran in this race off the back of France and it was a brave call; we were coming here to finish third and fourth so to go and do what he did is great.

“This year has been a bit slow. I am used to having these big winners all the time and this is my first Group 1 this year. To do it on a horse that has come back from injury, and Owen has done this with Hukum as well; it’s a great comeback. Anmaat will be around next year all being well and he can show everyone again how good he is.

Calandagan’s trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said, “Second again – I am so upset! We had a very difficult draw and, in that ground this horse makes too much effort. But we had a very good race; he quickened clear and I thought the race was for us. Then I got caught on the line, so that’s it. Another second! He made too much effort in that ground, especially over 10 furlongs. We have to ask him to follow the pace. Yes, he will stay in training next year.”

Marie Velon, who took fourth on Iresine, said, “That was very good – he liked the ground. I followed Calandagan as much as I could, and he finished very well.”

William Haggas said of sixth-place Economics, “Disappointing obviously. Tom (Marquand) felt the ground was a bit soft for him, but I said I wouldn’t use that as an excuse so I’m not going to. He’s fine. There’s a little blood in his nose, so we’ll sort that out.”

Kalpana asserts her class in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

Juddmonte 3-year-old Kalpana continued her progression with a dominant victory in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1). The victory earned her the final win and you're in berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The Andrew Balding-trained 10-3 favourite could be called the winner a long way out, travelling sweetly under a confident William Buick, who unleashed the daughter of Study Of Man approaching the final two furlongs.

Kalpana quickly put the race to bed and galloped out strongly to beat Wingspan (12-1) by two lengths, with Tiffany (13-2) three lengths further back in third. Kalpana finished the 1 7/16-mile trip in 2:29.57 over going rated soft.

This was a third straight victory for Kalpana, following similarly impressive wins in the Glasgow Stakes and September Stakes (G3).

Balding said, “I have never known a horse improve as much as Kalpana. I think I even mentioned to Barry (Mahon, Juddmonte) that we might put her in a sale this time last year! Just every time we started doing more with her, she’s just improved and improved, from Wolverhampton to here in 10 months.

“I don’t think she’d even done any fast work at this time last year, so it has been a pretty steep trajectory from Wolverhampton to here. I very much hope she’ll stay in training, that was the plan anyway unless something has changed tonight.

“She is just an absolute diamond, as you can see afterwards. She has a very special temperament and is by an exciting young stallion. She’s from the first crop of Study Of Man, so it’s pretty exciting for them as well.

“He is a great guy William, a brilliant jockey, and when Oisin (Murphy) couldn’t ride, Barry Mahon was very keen to have William and, given the history, I was very, very happy with that. He gave her a perfect ride.”

Buick said, “Kalpana has an incredible mind and is a jockey’s dream. I parked her up three wide with no cover but she was always comfortable, never wasted any energy and saved the whole way in that ground.

“It is a very special moment because it is my first Group 1 winner for Andrew. I started with Andrew, and Andrew and his whole family have played a huge part in my career so thank you to him and, obviously, Kalpana; what she did there was very good and she’s only going to improve.”

Aidan O’Brien said of Wingspan, “She looks to have got the trip well, and I’m delighted with the run. It isn’t decided yet whether she will stay in training, but it’s definitely possible.”

Tiffany’s trainer Sir Mark Prescott said, “She ran very well. We had every chance, I thought. She was in a lovely position all the way. She’s done everything, except win a Group One. She’s been placed in one, so she has to run in Group Ones, and it is up to the trainer to be as devious and Machiavellian as possible to find the right Group 1 to run her in. But that’s what she has to do. She may go to Germany, I think it is November 10 (in Munich). We won the race with Alpinista. So if she is alright after this, we will go there.”

Luke Morris added, “Tiffany ran a brave race. She got a perfect trip throughout and she’s got some very valuable Group 1 black type. Fingers crossed we might be able to win a Group 1 with her.”

Charyn turns back Facteur Cheval in Queen Elizabeth II

Charyn secured his third Group 1 prize of the season with a top-class performance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

The son of Dark Angel, bet down to 13-8 favoritism, moved through the contest like a class act but needed to dig deep when French raider Facteur Cheval threw down a strong challenge entering the final furlong.

Charyn responded like a champion, finding plenty for Silvestre de Sousa’s urgings to pull away and score by two lengths. He finished the mile over soft turf in 1:45.98. Facteur Cheval (11-2) filled the runner-up spot for the second successive year, with Tamfana (7-2) four and a quarter lengths further back in third.

The Roger Varian-trained winner, who is owned by Nurlan Bizakov, was following up victories this season in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) and Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1).

Varian said, “Charyn is a super horse and that was fantastic. Everything went very smooth, and it was a lovely race to watch. Silvestre got me a bit nervous! He just sat comfortable and you could see the second coming, and then Charyn had to get to work and he showed his battling qualities. He’s got everything, that horse.

“I promise you, he’s got the most amazing constitution. Every time I’ve run him in his life, I’ve thought he was too heavy, because he just holds his condition like no other horse. Touch wood, he’s sound, he loves his work, he loves his racing. He’s just got such a good mentality for the game, and an engine to go with it.

“He recovers from his races so well and takes his training so well. He doesn’t waste any energy at home. He has had a long year, but he doesn’t stress about life. He is under the radar at home. He is not wasting energy doing barn-storming gallops or flashy canters; he is completely cool to the point where you’re not sure, ‘Come on, mate’! But when he gets to the races, he’s completely here, which is why I think he can get through the year like he has done.

“I think it’s already been announced that he will retire at the end of this season. He will be a stallion for Nurlan Bizakov’s stud operation in France. I, of course, would love him to stay in training, but I think that’s not going to be the case. We’ll have to see how he comes out of this race, we might just contemplate one more international run.”

On a turbulent season that included 1,000 Guineas (G1) success and losing two significant owners in Amo Racing and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Varian said, “I think the game matches Charyn. It’s a tough game with ups and downs every month and every week but I’ve got great people around me, great people at home, support and some wonderful owners. I am very lucky to train some special horses and you pick yourself up when you take a knock and you get on with it. I could reflect on the year and say yes, it’s had its challenges but it’s been a fantastic year; we’ve got one of the top milers in Europe, if not the world, and we’re housing an English Classic winner amongst plenty of other good stuff, so we’ve had a good year. It’s had its ups and downs but we’re here again in the winner’s enclosure on Champions day.”

De Sousa said, “Charyn just had a look there at the big screen, but he’s such a good horse and I hope it’s not going to be too long before I sit on something like him again.  Roger has done such a great job with this horse, and the whole team at home as well.

“I thought I was in front a bit too soon, but the ground is so wet and, when it’s wet, you can lose momentum if you try and take them back. You just have to sit quiet and I knew that, whatever challenged me in the final furlong, I had plenty left.

“Charyn can do it from fast ground to bottomless ground. He has proved he is a true champion and deserves to be here on a day like this and be favourite in this race. He’s a dream horse. I always thought I would bump into one one day, and he’s the dream.”

Facteur Cheval’s trainer Jerome Reynier said, “You can’t really be frustrated by being beaten by such a big champion like Charyn – he is the number one miler in Europe. Obviously, we beat him last year in the Sussex on testing ground, so we were hoping to be able to do it again, but obviously he has been improving a lot this year and Charyn is just unbeatable. It’s like a victory to be second and Facteur Cheval is so consistent – he never lets you down and is a dream horse.”

Oisin Murphy said of Tamfana, “Huge effort from her. It was different ground to what she’s faced before, but she’s only been beaten by colts and it’s a long way back to the rest of them. I am looking forward to next year with her.”

Leading stayer Kyprios remains perfect in seven starts this season

Kyprios underlined his superiority in the staying division with a commanding two-and-a-quarter length victory in the Group 2 British Champions Long Distance Cup.

The 8-11 favorite was always front-rank under Ryan Moore and, having assumed control turning for home, the imperious stayer kept on rolling to make it seven wins from seven starts this year. Kyprios finished the 1 15/16 miles in 3:25.91 over ground rated soft.

The same 1-2-3 from the 2023 edition came to the fore again, with Sweet William (8-1) in second and last year’s winner Trawlerman (5-1) a length and a half further back in third.

Aidan O’Brien, registering his first winner at the meeting since 2019, said, “All credit goes to the team – everyone at home who has done all the work with him and have a very close connection to him. It is incredible to have him back (Kyprios had a serious infection in a joint capsule after the 2022 season). We thought the best that would happen would be that we could save him to go to stud. He still has a massive team around him. His stable is outside the front door and we see him every day.

“He is a very special horse. Ryan was in total control on him after the first furlong, and it was a joy to watch it. He is relentless and has an unbelievable amount of quality, so it doesn’t matter if you go slow or if you go fast, he just goes there and he switches off. Ryan rides him incredibly and knows him inside out.

“He is very relaxed, loves racing, and he loves this distance and finds it very comfortable. Credit to the lads for leaving him at this distance – he enjoys it. You wouldn’t have known he had had a race the last day and he didn’t lose any weight. He is so laidback, his blood doesn’t get up until after the race – you can see him now, having a buck – but it takes a race to get his blood up.

“The plan was to come here, give him the winter off, then give him two trials before the Gold Cup next year. So that’s what we are working for – we will get through the winter and the spring, and try to come back here for the Gold Cup.”

Moore said: “It worked out very smoothly and I was always happy, although on paper I thought there might be more pace in the race. Good horses, they make it smooth.

“The ground is soft. You’re not going to see the best form on this ground, but it’s a great race to win.”

Winning co-owner Michael Tabor said, “Absolutely magical. Ryan knows Kyprios so well now; just very, very special. Ryan knows where to place him early in a race, gets in a good position and, for me, he was never going to get beat today.”

John Gosden said of the second and third, “Both of Aidan’s horses controlled the pace up front. Everybody thought there would be a good gallop, all the front runners took back, so the fractions were pretty steady and then they gradually increased and kicked off the bend. Both of ours ran really well, they probably would have preferred a stronger even pace. There was not much William (Buick) could do about it, as he was tucked down on the inside, and Sweet William was three wide the whole way. But they’ve run exceptionally well. The other horse has just got a gear more than the rest – simple as that. I think we will come back with these horses next year. They are lovely horses for the staying races, both of them have great enthusiasm for it still and they make it fun these long distance horses.”

Sweet William’s jockey Robert Havlin said, “Great run. We thought they’d go a lot quicker than they did, so that was a surprise. He has done nothing but improve all year and is still improving at his age, so it will be really nice to look forward to him next year.”

Owner Clive Washbourne said of the fourth Caius Chorister, “We have always known she is a proper stayer. That was the best staying race of the season and she has run a blinder.’’

Kind of Blue is third from close family to win British Champions Sprint

Kind Of Blue followed in the footsteps of relatives The Tin Man and Deacon Blues by winning the British Champions Sprint (G1) for trainer James Fanshawe.

The lightly raced sprinter travelled strongly towards the middle of the track before finding plenty under pressure to hold off Swingalong and Flora Of Bermuda by a head and a neck. Kind of Blue, 8-1 in the wagering, finished the six furlongs in 1:17.22 over soft turf.

Racing in the colours of Wathnan Racing for the first time and partnered by retained jockey James Doyle, Kind Of Blue was purchased after losing out narrowly in the Sprint Cup (G1) at Haydock Park last month.

Fanshawe trained Deacon Blues, a full brother to Kind Of Blue’s dam Blues Sister, to win the inaugural running of this race in 2011. The trainer followed up in 2016 with The Tin Man, who is a half-brother to Blues Sister.

Fanshawe said: “Kind Of Blue is the third close relation that has won this race, all from the same family and all bred by the Hoppers, the Grundys and the Morrises. All trainers get attached to families that do them well and this is a family that has done us tremendously well.

“Wathnan Racing bought him three weeks ago and he’s a really exciting horse for them going forwards. He’s got the Group 1 under his belt now. It’s been a big team effort to get him here. Dan Muscutt has ridden him in all his races and done all the homework on him; obviously to all the team back home, I’m really grateful.

“Kind Of Blue had a couple of niggles as a 2-year-old, but up Warren Hill in the spring he was looking pretty special early on. He’ll be done for the year now. Obviously we’ll talk with Richard Brown and the connections but he’s had a long season and we’ll look forward to next spring.”

Doyle said, “To think Kind Of Blue was unraced before the start of this season, he has made giant strides and run some cracking races in defeat. He ran well here back in June in the Commonwealth and ran great in the Haydock Sprint, when he was just touched off.

“He improved with every race and there’s no greater man than James Fanshawe to prepare a Champions Sprint winner here at Ascot – he knows what he needs. It was great.

“It was a long last 10 strides! He was very brave. For a very inexperienced horse to lead a furlong and a half out and still knuckle down when he felt the second horse come to me is a true testament to not only his ability but the heart that he has.

“There is a superb team behind Wathnan Racing, headed by Richard Brown, that source these horses. We’ve had some near misses through the season, so to get one of these proper Group One winners is very important. The team did a great job.”

Swingalong’s trainer Karl Burke said, “I am delighted with the filly. Three seconds in Group Ones in a year is a bit frustrating, but she’s a fantastic filly to have and credit to everyone in the yard. She’s brilliant. Two furlongs out I thought, surely we’ll get there. Then I thought I was beaten, then she was coming again at the death. She just doesn’t know when to give in. Once she’s in that rhythm, she doesn’t stop, whatever the ground is.

“It is a good question as to whether she stays in training – it will be up to the owner. Whatever he decides to do, she has done enough to go off to the paddocks; if she had won today I’d have said pack her in. But there’s no reason why she can’t go on another season physically – she’s a very sound filly, touch wood. It’s the owner’s choice and I wouldn’t like to recommend either way.”

Anna Lisa Balding said of Flora Of Bermuda, “Absolutely delighted. She is a very special filly. She has had a lot of bad luck and was pretty unlucky at Haydock; that would have been her best career run. Today she has taken it off the charts. Jake Warren bought her; we’ve had a few little hiccups with her, and to do it like that on Champions Day, that’s what we were dreaming of. She will stay in training and you never know, we might bump her up to seven furlongs in time.”

Oisin Murphy added, “That’s a career best. Flora Of Bermuda deserved that. She had a good trip behind the winner throughout, and I think the form is pretty strong.”