He has a name which suggests he struck a chord as a yearling, but until
Saturday’s Lingfield Derby Trial Kilimanjaro (High Chaparral) had looked
unlikely to reach anything like the heights of his predecessor who raced for Sir
Michael Stoute in the late 90s and managed a second in the King Edward VII S.
(Eng-G2).
Last of nine on debut in the Gowran Park maiden which his stable companion
Highland Reel (Galileo) turned into a procession at the start of July, the gray
was a moderate sixth in another maiden there in September and returned with a
hood fitted for his sophomore bow on Dundalk’s Polytrack April 24. Staying on
strongly to score over an extended 10-furlong trip there, he was sent to
Lingfield after his stable companion Order of St George (Galileo) was kept in
Ireland to compensate for the absence of John F Kennedy (Galileo) in Sunday’s
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Ire-G3) at Leopardstown.
Settled in last early by Ryan Moore as Magic Dancer (Norse Dancer) led the
favorite Christophermarlowe (Tapit) up front, Kilimanjaro’s gradual creep down
the outer meant that he was able to swoop on a front-runner who was already
softened up. Despite Magic Dancer winning the battle with the Tabor first-string
ahead, it was the Ballydoyle colt’s excess stamina which decided the war in the
final 100 yards.
“He’s done it nicely, as he had a lot to do turning for home but he kept
steadily picking up and he was a bit idle when he got to the front,” Moore said.
“He’s got a good attitude — he only won a maiden a couple of weeks ago and this
is all happening quite fast for him. He’s a nice, progressive colt and he could
have a good year. He’s done well to make up that ground in the straight at
Lingfield, as it’s not an easy place to do that.”
Not entered at Epsom, Toujours l’Amour (Authorized) saw off some highly
regarded rivals in the Lingfield Oaks Trial to place connections in a quandary
ahead of the June 5 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1).
Going into notebooks when off the mark on debut over a mile at Newmarket in
September, she went into the shadows when only fifth in the Montrose Fillies’ S.
on her last outing over the same track and trip at the start of November.
Keen initially shuffled back towards the rear with the favorite Wedding Vow
(Galileo) alongside, the bay traveled down the hill better than that Ballydoyle
raider and snuck up the inner to enter contention in the straight. Earning the
lead with hard graft passing the furlong pole, Toujours l’Amour toughed it out
for Harry Bentley to deny Bellajeu (Montjeu) as Wedding Vow got going too late.
“She was a bit fresh and they went no gallop early, but he gave her a canny
ride up the inside and got a lucky gap,” trainer William Haggas said. “She
stayed on well and wanted to win, then pricked her ears at the end. It looked
quite a nice race and I had said to the owners beforehand that she might be
better for the race.
“She’s not in the Oaks, so they will have to be brave but I would have
thought that probably wouldn’t be the plan. She surprised me when she won first
time out and then disappointed me when she didn’t second time. She surprised me
today and we have to go forward. She’s in the Ribblesdale S. ([Eng-G2] at Royal
Ascot June 18) and she stays well — that is her forte.”
Hardened by the Irish handicap system last term, Majestic Queen (Kheleyf) was
launched into black-type company for the six-furlong Ballyogan S. (Ire-G3) at
Leopardstown in June and duly upset the hot favorite Joyeuse (Oasis Dream) to
open her account in that sphere. Second under a subsequent penalty in the
Brownstown S. (Ire-G3) over seven furlongs at Fairyhouse the next month, the bay
was a touch unlucky in running when fourth in The Curragh’s Renaissance S.
(Ire-G3) dropping back a furlong in August before running 15th in that venue’s
Bold Lad Sprint H. over the same distance on her season finale in September.
Back with a moderate effort when eighth in the Gladness S. (Ire-G3) also at
The Curragh April 18, Majestic Queen rebounded to secure another pattern race in
Saturday’s Chartwell Fillies S. (Eng-G3) with an authoritative win against the
younger brigade. Professional from her wide draw to slot in behind the leading
group, she was produced passing the quarter pole and after gaining the lead
there, kept finding to ward off the penalized sophomore New Providence (Bahamian
Bounty).
“I told William (Buick) to be positive on her, as she was in good form and
had worked well,” trainer Tracey Collins said. “She had a super year last year
and was very consistent, so the owners decided to continue and not cover her.
She is a very versatile filly.”
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