Sky Lantern storms home in Sun Chariot; Vorda BC-bound off
Cheveley Park
On the go since April, Ben Keswick’s Sky Lantern showed no signs of weariness
Saturday as she collected a fourth Group 1 victory in Newmarket’s Sun Chariot.
Coming into this on the back of two unlucky defeats in the July 12 Falmouth and
August 3 Nassau, the 7-4 favorite swooped from last to first under a typically
confident Richard Hughes ride to overhaul Integral inside the final 100 yards
and score by a length.
“I couldn’t see her getting beaten and she deserved that,” her jockey
commented. “She was very lethargic and totally asleep, but came alive at the
three pole. She likes to be on her own and do her own thing, but she’s
brilliant.”
All of Sky Lantern’s best performances have been marked by a turn of
acceleration from in behind, and when that situation has been compromised either
through misfortune or a misjudged ride, she has failed to shine. When things
fell right for the gray, she was electric in the Moyglare Stud at two and in the
Coronation at Royal Ascot June 21, and was also able to annex the One Thousand
Guineas in less flashy fashion over this track and trip May 6.
Luck had been against her in November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
and also this term when carried across the July Course by Elusive Kate in the
Falmouth when and hampered by Winsili in the Nassau at Glorious Goodwood, but
Hughes sought clear daylight for her this time and the tactic paid off
handsomely.
Content to allow Just the Judge and Elusive Kate a substantial head start,
Hughes waited until the former wilted and the latter started her usual drift
leftward heading downhill inside the final quarter. Integral eventually gave him
the most concern on the far side as she struck for home, but Sky Lantern was
delivering her irresistible surge to stamp her authority on proceedings.
“It’s great to see her back,” said Richard Hannon Jr., the trainer’s son and
assistant. “I think we’ll go to Hong Kong, as the owner is very keen and so am
I. It’s a gutsy call to take a three-year-old filly out there, but I think we
can do it with her. We might look at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (at Ascot
October 19) before and decide whether we go a mile or a mile and a quarter at
Sha Tin after that. It’s a very similar track at Ascot and she’ll love it.”
Earlier at Newmarket, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Thani’s Vorda advertised
her claims for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The French shipper had
suffered one defeat at the hands of No Nay Never in the Prix Morny, and
underlined the strength of that form by taking Saturday’s Cheveley Park. Sent
off the 11-8 favorite, the bay tracked the leading trio and, when pushed out by
Olivier Peslier, swamped Princess Noor with 150 yards remaining en route to a
snug three-quarter-length score.
“It was a slow pace, so we were lucky as it was like a French race and I just
followed and left her to sprint,” her rider said. “She needs more experience,
but I think she’ll stay a mile. She’s not very big, but she has a big heart.”
Vorda beat the subsequent listed-placed Aventure Love on debut over five
furlongs at Chantilly April 29 before registering a first black-type success in
Maisons-Laffitte’s Prix la Fleche over that trip June 11. Upped to 5 1/2
furlongs for the latter venue’s Prix Robert Papin July 21, she conquered that
staging post before having to finally submit to a superior in No Nay Never in
the Prix Morny.
Becoming the second filly to emerge from that highlight and score at the top
level after the subsequent Moyglare Stud winner Rizeena, she enjoyed a
straightforward trip here off a steadily-increasing gallop and showed more
instant dash than her chief market rivals Kiyoshi and Joyeuse to brush aside the
enterprisingly-ridden Princess Noor without being fully extended.
For young trainer Philippe Sogorb, the result represented a new high.
“I knew straight away from the feel of her as an ex-jockey that she was a
good filly, as she was able to do everything so easily,” he explained through an
interpreter. “She stood out from the rest, but I didn’t imagine she would be a
Group 1 filly. I regret not being able to ride her myself, but I take immense
pleasure watching her from the stands.
“We will take her to the Breeders’ Cup and see if she can stay a mile out
there. She’s bred for speed and has a lot of it, so that will be the test
regarding the mile.”
Jockey Johnny Murtagh said of Princess Noor, “The trainer (Roger Varian) said
she was very tough and genuine and I thought I had nicked it going down the
hill, but Peslier’s horse came by me very strong. Next year, I think she’ll get
a mile as she’ll tough it out. She was perfectly happy on her own and is hardy.”
In the Royal Lodge for juveniles at a mile, Berkshire got the better of the
gritty Somewhat by a hard-fought neck, with Sir Jack Layden the same margin back
in third.
Like all the best middle-distance prospects, Berkshire showed enough early
speed to be tried over six furlongs in a Newbury maiden and only came up short
by a length when third to the more streetwise Championship in that May 17
contest. Making giant strides when next seen at Royal Ascot, the imposing dark
bay romped away with the spoils in the Chesham, which can often be one of the
meeting’s least competitive events.
This time, the June 22 renewal boasted several burgeoning stars including the
runner-up Bunker, who gave some indication as to the merit of the form when
beating the subsequent Prix la Rochette winner Karakontie in a listed race at
Deauville next time. The third was the filly Ihtimal, who had taken the Sweet
Solera and May Hill and finished third in the Fillies’ Mile in the time that
Berkshire was stabled at Whitcombe.
Somewhat and Sir Jack Layden had finished eight lengths and more in arrears
in the Chesham, and it was the former who set off to dictate the fractions to
suit his own cause under Gerald Mosse as his main market rival was anchored in
behind by Jim Crowley. Berkshire was shaken up for a few strides at halfway, but
was quickly back on the bridle and on the heels of Somewhat and Washaar, who had
ensured that rival was unable to gain a soft lead. Challenging wide entering the
“dip,” he was marginally ahead of the game front runner with a furlong remaining
and, despite looking green, still battled to the line to prevail.
“He was a bit gassy and fresh early on and he took me on a little,” jockey
Jim Crowley commented. “We’ve always said he wants fast ground — he might not
want it that quick. He’s got the job done and is going to be an even better
three-year-old. He stayed the trip very well today and the second horse has
clearly improved a fair bit.”
Trainer Paul Cole added, “He looked a bit green, but had not run for a long
time and two-year-olds have to regroup sometimes. Whether he got unbalanced or
not I don’t know, but if they are good they’ll get there.”
Although Berkshire earned an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Turf, Cole sounded more inclined to head to winter quarters.
“It’s a bit early to say whether he will run again this year, but he won’t be
having a busy time,” the trainer noted. “He probably won’t run again, as he’s a
big horse and next year is going to be his year.”
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