Deadheat, but Major back in business
04 Aug 2012 | Racenewsonline.com A final-furlong, sinew-stretching showdown between Trumpet Major and Archbishbop ended in a dead-heat for the Group 3 RSA Thoroughbred Stakes.
For Trumpet Major's team at Richard Hannon's yard this was a gratifying return to form, for the colt had finished last in the Irish 2000 Guineas on his previous outing, and his win today was all the more rewarding for the fact he conceded 4lb to his 13 rivals.
Richard Hughes, who rode Trumpet Major in the colours of John Manley, said: "I don't mind dead-heats - I just don't want to be beaten. He's not over-big, but he's a brave little horse and really stuck his neck out.
"He's the happiest little horse - there are no frills with him, he's not flash, he just gets on and does his job. He's very genuine."
"He may have been written off by some, but not in our yard. He came back from Ireland a sick horse which was very unfortunate. We gave him time to get over it and didn't hurry him to Royal Ascot for fear we might never get him back if anything went wrong.
"This was a nice little race, even with the 4lb penalty, and it should prove a good stepping stone to bigger events. The Prix de la Foret would be his main aim, but other French races like the Moulin or Prix Jacques Le Marois might fit in."
Hannon confirmed the Prix de la Foret was on the colt's agenda, and added of the dead-heat: "Half a cake's better than none. He looked all over the winner half a furlong out, but the post just didn't come in time. I think he gets a mile okay, but the Foret [over seven furlongs] is probably the race for him."
Of Trumpet Major's Irish Guineas flop, Hannon said: "He came back and produced a bad scope after Ireland. I don't know whether it was the travelling, but he didn't turn up at home very well and we knew he was wrong. It looked like he had a bit of an infection because the white cells were up. We put him on antibiotics and he's fine now.
"He wants good or faster ground and I think he can improve again."
Archbishop, who had spoiled a winning chance at Newmarket by hanging in the closing stages on his first run of the season, ran home straight and true under Frankie Dettori to force a dead-heat with Trumpet Major in the RSA Thoroughbred Stakes.
"I couldn't call it when I watched it, but that was a good race to win," said the three-year-old's trainer Brian Meehan. "It was a Group 2 in all but name. He's a talented and improving horse, lightly-raced and still on the upgrade, and Frankie gave him a great ride.
"At Newmarket he got tired, as simple as that, and next time when he was second at Chantilly he was perfectly straightforward. We'll probably be taking on older horses next, but we'll decide when and where after we've talked with the owners." Archbishop, by Arch, carries the colours of US breeder Catesby Clay.
The first thing Dettori did on dismounting was to plant a kiss on the cheek of Trumpet Major's rider Richard Hughes, with whom he had shared the spoils. "I didn't think I'd got back up," he said. "Both heads were down and mine was trying his hardest, but so was his. But both of us have won and two teams are happy."
£55,000, Group 3 RSA Thoroughbred Stakes (1600m) For 3yo which have not won a Group 1 Pattern race, 1st £31,190.50 2nd £11,825.00 3rd £5,918.00 4th £2,948.00 5th £1,479.50 6th £742.50
1=) ARCHBISHOP (USA) (Catesby Clay) Brian Meehan 3-9-00 Frankie Dettori [13] 10/1
1=) TRUMPET MAJOR (IRE) (John Manley) Richard Hannon 3-9-04 Richard Hughes [3] 6/1
3) ALJAMAAHEER (IRE) (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Roger Varian 3-9-00 Paul Hanagan [1]
4) STIPULATE (Khalid Abdulla) Sir Henry Cecil 3-9-00 Tom Queally [2]
5) MIBLISH (Saeed Manana) Clive Brittain t3-9-00 Silvestre De Sousa [11]
6) SAIGON (Patrick Dalby & Richard Schuster) James Toller b3-9-00 Kirsty Milczarek [15]
7) TALES OF GRIMM (USA) (Sir Robert Ogden) Sir Michael Stoute 3-9-00 Ryan Moore [6]
8) RED DUKE (USA) (Maxilead Limited) John Quinn 3-9-00 Johnny Murtagh [4]
9) COUPE DE VILLE (IRE) (Macdonald, Wright, Creed, Smith & Jiggins) Richardf Hannon 3-9-00 Dane O'Neill [8]
10) EWELL PLACE (IRE) (Brendan Kerr, Mrs B B Mills) Robert Mills 3-9-00 Stevie Donohoe [7]
11) SILVERHEELS (IRE) (Goldswain, Hunter, Jefferson, Williams) Paul Cole p3-9-00 Chris Catlin [12]
12) PTOLEMAIC (Mrs F Denniff) Bryan Smart v3-9-00 Tom Eaves [5] 7/2 Jt Fav
13) BORN TO SURPRISE (Dr Ali Ridha) Michael Bell 3-9-00 Jamie Spencer [14]
14) GREGORIAN (IRE) (HRH Princess Haya Of Jordan) John Gosden 3-9-00 William Buick [10] 7/2 Jt Fav
14 ran Non-Runner: Talwar (Self Cert (Off Colour))
Time: 1m 37.53 Distances: dead heat, ¾, ½, 2¼, ½, ½ , 2¾, 2¼, 7, sh, ¾, 14, ¾
Breeder: Trumpet Major - John Cullinan
Archbishop - Runnymeade Farm, J Clay II & M O'Dowd
Breeding: Trumpet Major - b c Arakan (USA) - Ashford Cross (Cape Cross IRE)
Archbishop - b c Arch (USA) - Avaricity (USA) (Carson City (USA))