Markel Richmond Stakes
Group 2 | Class 1 | 2YO only
Winner £99,242 - 9 ran
led stands side group, overall leader over 1f out, ran on well, pushed out readily
tracked leaders stands side, edged right and went 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner final furlong, kept on
bumped slightly start, in rear stands side, headway from 2f out, switched right over 1f out, pressing for 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner, kept on
not much room start, held up in touch stands side, effort over 2f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, kept on final 100 yards, no impression
prominent stands side, ridden over 2f out, edged right and unable to quicken over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
not much room and carried left start, chased leaders in centre, edged left over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent in centre, led group over 1f out, no impression on stands side group and weakened inside final furlong
led centre group, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
edged left start, prominent in centre, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
This is not quite the race it once was – the likes of J. O. Tobin and Warning took it late in the last century – though this year’s renewal was at least an upgrade on the previous two notably weak ones. The first two advanced their claims but also those of others: Gstaad, who had beaten him into 3rd in the Coventry at Royal Ascot in Coppull’s case; and True Love, who had beaten him by 5 lengths in the Railway at the Curragh in Puerto Rico’s.
The race started in dry conditions and ended in wet ones, with the downpour continuing for some time, which may account for a slightly underwhelming overall time. The winner’s final 2f of 23.88s on what was probably primarily “good” going at this stage equates to a 99.3% finishing speed.
The runners split into 2 groups, with those drawn in stalls 5 to 9 quite close to the stand side throughout and filling the first 5 places with the remainder in the centre in the first 4 positions early and doing too much too soon as it transpired.
COPPULL (111 here, 104 previously) paid a compliment to Gstaad, who had beaten him into 3rd in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, but probably improved in any case, looking a smart sprinter in the making, leading on the near side but mid-field overall until taking it up over 1f out and running on strongly. There is little in the way of stamina in his pedigree.
PUERTO RICO (104 here, 101 previously) ran at least as well as he had when tonked by True Love the time before and will surely win races, improving in the penultimate 1f then one-paced in the final one. He should be suited by 7f/8f.
HAVANA HURRICANE (103 here and previously) ran well again, a bit better than he had at Newbury the time before, and that despite again possibly not being entirely at home on the undulations, soon behind and niggled, ridden well over 1f out then making quite good headway before petering out near the end. He could well prove best around this trip.
CHICAGO CALL (94 here, 79 previously) stayed on to show borderline useful form.
MAXIMIZED (90 here, 95 previously) failed to see things out and tended to edge right.
EGOLI (83+ here, 94 previously) can be upgraded having raced in the centre group, first home there ultimately.
SUPER SOLDIER (80+ here, 103 previously) disappointed even when allowance is made for pace and positioning, finding little late on.
UNDERWRITER (65 here, 91 previously)
AZIZAM (61 here, 92 previously)
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Good to Firm | 9 | Black Forza | 5 | 2 | 9 2 | - | 51 | 22 days | M O'Callaghan | Dylan McMonagle | 9/ 1 | 1:09.97 |
| 2023 | Soft | 7 | Vandeek | 3 | 2 | 9 2 | - | 1 | 13 days | S & E Crisford (120 miles) | Andrea Atzeni | 11/ 8 | 1:13.45 |
| 2022 | Good to Firm | 8 | Royal Scotsman | 5 | 2 | 9 2 | - | 413 | 44 days | P & O Cole (73 miles) | Jim Crowley | 5/ 6 | 1:09.66 |
| 2021 | Good to Soft | 7 | Asymmetric | 7 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 112 | 21 days | A King (74 miles) | Martin Harley | 11/ 4 | 1:14.31 |
| 2020 | Good | 7 | Supremacy | 2 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 61 | 24 days | C G Cox (85 miles) | Adam Kirby | 11/ 2 | 1:10.13 |
| 2019 | Good | 13 | Golden Horde | 5 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 415 | 44 days | C G Cox (85 miles) | Adam Kirby | 15/ 2 | 1:11.01 |
| 2018 | Good | 9 | Land Force | 1 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 31331 | 28 days | A P O'Brien | Ryan Moore | 5/ 2 | 1:11.50 |
| 2017 | Soft | 7 | Barraquero | 3 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 31 | 30 days | B J Meehan (86 miles) | William Buick | 4/ 1 | 1:15.42 |
| 2016 | Good to Firm | 4 | Mehmas | 3 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 11221 | 21 days | R Hannon (75 miles) | Frankie Dettori | 7/ 2 | 1:11.00 |
| 2015 | Good | 8 | Shalaa | 6 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 811 | 21 days | J & T Gosden (120 miles) | Frankie Dettori | 11/ 8 | 1:10.82 |
| 2014 | Good to Firm | 8 | Ivawood | 5 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 11 | 21 days | R Hannon (75 miles) | Richard Hughes | 2/ 5 | 1:10.09 |
| 2013 | Good | 10 | Saayerr | 1 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 118 | 42 days | W J Haggas (120 miles) | Ryan Moore | 5/ 1 | 1:10.14 |
| 2012 | Good | 8 | Heavy Metal | 5 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 811207 | 21 days | C & M Johnston (291 miles) | Joe Fanning | 9/ 1 | 1:11.41 |
| 2011 | Good to Firm | 10 | Harbour Watch | 2 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 11 | 22 days | R Hannon (75 miles) | Richard Hughes | EVENS | 1:10.80 |
| 2010 | Good to Firm | 6 | Libranno | 1 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 11 | 22 days | R Hannon (75 miles) | Richard Hughes | 5/ 4 | 1:11.48 |
| 2009 | Good | 9 | Dick Turpin | 4 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 11 | 20 days | R Hannon (75 miles) | Richard Hughes | 6/ 5 | 1:11.31 |
| 2008 | Good to Firm | 12 | Prolific | 11 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 1233 | 22 days | R Hannon (75 miles) | Richard Hughes | 5/ 1 | 1:11.12 |
| 2007 | Good to Soft | 12 | Strike The Deal | 7 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 153 | 12 days | J Noseda (120 miles) | E Ahern | 7/ 1 | 1:11.59 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 7 | Hamoody | 6 | 2 | 9 0 | - | 1 | 22 days | P W Chapple-Hyam (120 miles) | A Munro | 5/ 6 | 1:10.68 |
| 2005 | Good to Soft | 6 | Always Hopeful | 6 | 2 | 8 11 | 5 | 215 | 13 days | E J O'Neill | G Gibbons | 12/ 1 | 1:13.00 |
