King Kyprios
Another win for Kyprios, his 7th of the season. This race was far more about his versatility rather than his stamina, as he controlled the pace with his stablemate The Euphrates. Once Ryan Moore lifted the pace with half a mile to run, he showed a turn-of-foot that he is often not credited for, running furlongs of 12.30 and 12.49s as they turned into the straight. If we compare that with Anmaat (13.28, 13.07) and Kalpana (12.57, 12.29) later on the card, it gives a reasonable idea of the speed that Kyprios possesses if he needs it. Once in front he has produced the fastest final furlong (13.34s) and he comes out fastest on the Run-Out Speed calculated by TPD with a speed of 31.63 mph 2-seconds after crossing the line, suggesting there was much more there if needed. Assuming all goes well, he is going to be very hard to beat in the Group 1 staying races next season as he goes in search of another Ascot Gold Cup.
However, there is a case to be made for the 2nd placed Sweet William too. He has always had ability, though it is probably fair to say that it is his mental qualities that have held him back. He is 0-3 with Kyprios this season but he has been getting closer with each start and there were lots of positives to take out of this race for his connections. In a race controlled by the Ballydoyle pair in front, he recovered well from a poor start to get into position behind the leaders and although never on terms, he was a clear best of the rest. His average stride length (23.62ft) was longer than the winner, as was his maximum stride length (24.34ft) and his top speed (37.83 mph). Having covered 3,163.6m, fully 7m further than Kyprios, you could argue that he was an unlucky loser with just 2.5 lengths separating the pair at the line. He had a slower run-out speed than the winner, but given that he has had to work much harder to get there I am prepared to forgive that and I think it is fair to argue that this was a career best effort from the Gosden’s charge. The short straight at Ascot and the steady early fractions didn’t help his cause and whilst Kyprios has considerably better form, if Sweet William were to repeat this effort next season, perhaps at a more galloping track, he may yet get his day in the limelight.
Anmaat’s Day in the Sun
At a prize-giving ceremony before the race, Mike Cattermole wished the Chairman of France Galop “Bonne Chance” for his country’s representatives. However, luck was not on their side in the Champion Stakes. I’ll begin with Calandagan. He had a higher top speed than Anmaat, as well as a longer average stride length and a better run-out speed. He was the best galloper in the field, yet the decision by Stephane Pasquier to stay on the inside rail and hope for some luck in running has limited his opportunity to use that ability. A similar case could be made for Iresine, who was also ridden for luck and endured a nightmare passage through. As they are both geldings, it is likely that we might see Calandagan meet Anmaat again next year and on a more galloping track, the French horse would be a short priced favourite to get his revenge in my book.
However, we should give some love to the winner, who has endured an equally difficult passage in the home straight under Jim Crowley. Conceding 4lbs to Calandagan, he showed the better speed in the final furlong when the pair of them knuckled down to fight out the finish and his final furlong time of 12.80s was the fastest of the day. This was due reward for his connections patience, but I can’t help but feel that this was his day in the sun. The post-race pace chart confirms this for me, as Anmaat was able to conserve energy at a couple of key points in the race, whereas Calandagan was having to use his to get his racing room. If the pair meet again next season and Calandagan has a less troubled passage where he can race more efficiently, he will surely have too much in the locker for Anmaat, even allowing for the fact that they will meet off level weights next time.
Keeneland
Favourite backers robbed in the Perryville Stakes
Racing is a game of fine margins and if you were a backer of the short-priced favourite for this Grade 3 contest, you have the right to feel aggrieved. Book’em Danno was sent off at odds of 1.57 and looked the most likely winner as the field turned for home, but split-second decisions can make all the difference and whilst Irad Ortiz Jr chose to take his mount through a gap on the inside, Luan Machado chose to stay wider with the eventual winner Brunacini. The latter was able to maintain his momentum on the outside of the tiring leader, whilst the former was forced to briefly snatch up his mount and lose vital momentum when briefly short of racing room. The half-furlong sectional times provided by TPD show that this resulted in a loss of just 0.18s, but when you lose the race by 0.06s, that can make all the difference. Irad Ortiz Jr. is a fantastic jockey and given this ride again, he would surely come wider to make his challenge, especially as the sectionals show that the winner had already used his burst of speed in the furlong before this incident, but that’s horse racing.
