Nayef was a decisive winner over eight other Group 1 winners in a high-class renewal of the $587,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes Wednesday at Royal Ascot, as Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad weakened to finish ninth of 10.
Earlier, Gary Stevens rode 20-1 shot Membership to victory in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes to record his first win at this year's Royal Meeting and the fourth of his career.
Russian Rhythm will be all the rage in the betting ring at Royal Ascot on Friday when she takes on 10 rivals in the $455,000 Group 1 Coronation Stakes.
A Kentucky-bred 3-year-old daughter of Kingmambo, Russian Rhythm took Newmarket's one-mile 1000 Guineas in her first start of the season on May 4, turning back the unlucky favorite Six Perfections by 1 1/2 lengths.
Kieren Fallon will be aboard Russian Rhythm once again for trainer Michael Stoute.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Australian Group 1-winning filly Bollinger is in California and will compete this winter in the United States.
A 4-year-old Dehere filly, Bollinger won the Group 1 Coolmore Classic in Australia this spring when she was in Gai Waterhouse's barn. Bollinger arrived in the United States about 10 days ago and is with Neil Drysdale at Hollywood, according to Bates Newton, general manager of Vinery, which owns Bollinger. But the filly probably won't make her first start until autumn.
Alcazar's Cinderella story can continue if he can outlast 12 opponents Thursday in the 2 1/2-mile Ascot Gold Cup, the $420,000 Group 1 feature that traditionally serves as Royal Ascot's centerpiece.
Alcazar, a gelded 8-year-old son of Alzao, missed the entire 1999 and 2000 seasons with a broken pelvis, won his only start in 2001 in a 1 3/4-mile handicap, then missed all of last year with tendon problems.
Dubai Destination gave Godolphin its biggest win of the year, a four-length triumph over Tillerman in the Group 1, $420,000 Queen Anne Stakes on Royal Ascot's opening day Tuesday. Odds-on favorite Hawk Wing lumbered home seventh in the one-mile race.
Falbrav is in a position to upset Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad in the Group 1, $585,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot Wednesday.
Falbrav was trained in Italy last year and won three Group 1 races, including the Japan Cup by a nose over Sarafan. Falbrav is now with trainer Luca Cumani at Newmarket. The 5-year-old son of Fairy King won the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan by 1 1/2 lengths over Bright Sky going 1 1/8-miles, 55 yards last month at Longchamp, and should relish the good to firm ground with top Italian rider Mirco Demuro aboard.
Falbrav is in a position to upset Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad in the $585,000 Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
Trained in Italy last year to win three Group 1 races including the Japan Cup by a nose from Sarafan, Falbrav is now with Luca Cumani at Newmarket. The 5-year-old son of Faity King won the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan by 1-1/2 lengths from Bright Sky going 1 1/8-miles, 55 yards last month at Longchamp and should relish the good to firm ground with top Italian rider Mirco Demuro aboard.
Hawk Wing, an 11-length winner of the Lockinge Stakes in his 4-year-old debut last month, will be difficult to beat over the straight mile of the $418,000 Queen Anne Stakes Tuesday, opening day of Royal Ascot's prestigious five-day meet.
Four times a runner-up in Group 1 company last year, the Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Woodman ran a perfect race at Newbury, giving Queen Elizabeth II winner Where or When no chance. It was another nine lengths back to Breeders' Cup Mile winner Domedriver in fourth, making the form of the Lockinge solid.
DUBLIN, Ireland - The happiest man at Epsom Downs on Vodafone Derby Day was surely Saeed Suhail, the owner of Kris Kin, a U.S.-bred colt who defeated 19 other 3-year-olds to claim a winner's purse of about $1.4 million.
Suhail had gambled roughly $150,000 as a supplement to get his colt into the race, and he couldn't stop smiling despite the unfamiliar top hat on his head. Michael Stoute, Kris Kin's trainer, was just as relieved, since he had urged Suhail to pay the supplement and looked every bit the prophet after the result was in.
American-trained horses will run at Royal Ascot for the first time ever next week.
Four U.S. horses, headed by Morluc, will run at the five-day meeting, which begins Tuesday.
Morluc, a Randy Morse-trained sprinter, will be ridden by Gary Stevens in the June 21 closing-day feature, the six-furlong Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes. Morluc departed Churchill Downs on Wednesday for Toronto, from where he will be flown to England, arriving at Geoff Wragg's Newmarket yard on Saturday morning. Morse is scheduled to arrive at Newmarket on Monday.