Ramonti: Champion Miler Wins Queen Elizabeth II
The Tough Get Tougher
Battling Ramonti Fr (Martino Alonso Ire by Marju Ire) firmly dissed his detractors with an authoritative win of Ascot's prestigious The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Class 1) Group 1.
It was his third Group 1 in 2007 since Godolphin bought him and their only Group 1's to date in Europe this year.
The horse shows similar improvement, as a five-year old under Saeed bin Suroor, as Manduro Ger (Monson Ger) did when moved to Andre Fabre.
Ramonti has had a busy season and could be rested or aimed at the Breeders' Cup Mile or the Hong Kong Cup. If either is chosen, one can be sure that George Washington Ire (Danehill USA) will be diverted elsewhere.
His jockey Frankie Dettori proudly made the case for the public finally accepting Ramonti as the world's champion turf miler and blamed himself for the horse's two losses to Red Evie Ire and Darjina Fr--both fillies. Their being fillies might offer a clue as to why he lost those two races. Shades of Curlin and Rags to Riches.
Ramonti clearly has no compunctions about grinding down his male opponents. Trainer Aiden O'Brien took George Washington, the favourite only rated at 121 BHB, out before the race. Since Ramonti has beaten him before, it appeared that Ballydoyle/Coolmore did not want to risk another defeat. Plans for George are indefinite.
Ramonti pasted their race second, Excellent Art (Pivotal), by a slightly better distance than in their previous race against each other.
It is difficult to rate Ramonti higher as he only does enough to hold and win.
The losers' connections still continue to claim his wins were unlucky. Some blamed the erratic jockey Jamie Spencer for holding Excellent Art back too long, but he got the horse up there in an exciting flash. His horse just could not pass Ramonti.
Even the handicapper had to justify giving the horse another 125 RPR based on beating Excellent Art twice in the same manner.
It would be a relief if we could just accept that a horse who won the race really won the race and is good enough to beat the horses he beat on several occasions.
The one bewildering performance was Darjina's Fr (Zamindar USA) struggling last since she had just beaten Ramonti in the Prix de Moulin early this month. Her connections said she just hated the ground at Ascot which was good to soft. Some discredit should go to her jockey, Christolphe Soumillon, who rode her with the same jerky commands at the rear that Mandesha Fr (Desert Style Ire) endured.
No matter how much Ramonti does he will not get the credit he is due. He will be kept in training at six and, perhaps then, he can be accepted on merit.
As a horsewoman, Ramonti appeals to me as a gorgeous, anxious, keen, improving male-male and is a credit to his groom Zanfar Khan.
His connections at Godolphin have taken a lot of flack in the last couple of years for not matching the high performance levels of earlier years. Speculators suggested several reasons:
1) its leader, Sheikh Mohammed, did not have the time to sort things out since becoming Ruler of Dubai and Vice
President of the UAE in 2006.
2) key people needed to be replaced.
3) the breeding operation was not producing talent as good as its competitor Coolmore.
4) they had to buy better horses including Ramonti who actually is bred from Darley horses.
5) the operation had lost its will and its way.
Racing Manager Simon Crisford defended Godolphin in saying that all organisations go through difficult periods and they are emerging from theirs.
The same can be said for the Ascot Authority which will make some changes to its paddock areas in response to criticisms. The new team is really trying.
It is hard to fault Ascot excessively as they consistently provide the most beautifully-maintained course and the highest quality racing.
Even the Ascot form has held throughout the 2007 season and, in the Festival, has produced at least two future 2000 and 1000 Guineas contenders: City Leader Ire (Fasiliyev USA) in The Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Class 1) (Group 2) and Listen Ire (Sadler's Wells USA) in The Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile (Class 1) (Group 1).
Listen, trained by O'Brien, jumped to top contention for the 2008 1000 Guineas by beating rivals Proviso (Dansili), Saoirse Abu USA (Mr Greeley USA) and hot newcomer Kotsi (Nayef USA).
All in all, it was a superb Meet with plenty of surprises that show future form.
Battling Ramonti Fr (Martino Alonso Ire by Marju Ire) firmly dissed his detractors with an authoritative win of Ascot's prestigious The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Class 1) Group 1.
It was his third Group 1 in 2007 since Godolphin bought him and their only Group 1's to date in Europe this year.
The horse shows similar improvement, as a five-year old under Saeed bin Suroor, as Manduro Ger (Monson Ger) did when moved to Andre Fabre.
Ramonti has had a busy season and could be rested or aimed at the Breeders' Cup Mile or the Hong Kong Cup. If either is chosen, one can be sure that George Washington Ire (Danehill USA) will be diverted elsewhere.
His jockey Frankie Dettori proudly made the case for the public finally accepting Ramonti as the world's champion turf miler and blamed himself for the horse's two losses to Red Evie Ire and Darjina Fr--both fillies. Their being fillies might offer a clue as to why he lost those two races. Shades of Curlin and Rags to Riches.
Ramonti clearly has no compunctions about grinding down his male opponents. Trainer Aiden O'Brien took George Washington, the favourite only rated at 121 BHB, out before the race. Since Ramonti has beaten him before, it appeared that Ballydoyle/Coolmore did not want to risk another defeat. Plans for George are indefinite.
Ramonti pasted their race second, Excellent Art (Pivotal), by a slightly better distance than in their previous race against each other.
It is difficult to rate Ramonti higher as he only does enough to hold and win.
The losers' connections still continue to claim his wins were unlucky. Some blamed the erratic jockey Jamie Spencer for holding Excellent Art back too long, but he got the horse up there in an exciting flash. His horse just could not pass Ramonti.
Even the handicapper had to justify giving the horse another 125 RPR based on beating Excellent Art twice in the same manner.
It would be a relief if we could just accept that a horse who won the race really won the race and is good enough to beat the horses he beat on several occasions.
The one bewildering performance was Darjina's Fr (Zamindar USA) struggling last since she had just beaten Ramonti in the Prix de Moulin early this month. Her connections said she just hated the ground at Ascot which was good to soft. Some discredit should go to her jockey, Christolphe Soumillon, who rode her with the same jerky commands at the rear that Mandesha Fr (Desert Style Ire) endured.
No matter how much Ramonti does he will not get the credit he is due. He will be kept in training at six and, perhaps then, he can be accepted on merit.
As a horsewoman, Ramonti appeals to me as a gorgeous, anxious, keen, improving male-male and is a credit to his groom Zanfar Khan.
His connections at Godolphin have taken a lot of flack in the last couple of years for not matching the high performance levels of earlier years. Speculators suggested several reasons:
1) its leader, Sheikh Mohammed, did not have the time to sort things out since becoming Ruler of Dubai and Vice
President of the UAE in 2006.
2) key people needed to be replaced.
3) the breeding operation was not producing talent as good as its competitor Coolmore.
4) they had to buy better horses including Ramonti who actually is bred from Darley horses.
5) the operation had lost its will and its way.
Racing Manager Simon Crisford defended Godolphin in saying that all organisations go through difficult periods and they are emerging from theirs.
The same can be said for the Ascot Authority which will make some changes to its paddock areas in response to criticisms. The new team is really trying.
It is hard to fault Ascot excessively as they consistently provide the most beautifully-maintained course and the highest quality racing.
Even the Ascot form has held throughout the 2007 season and, in the Festival, has produced at least two future 2000 and 1000 Guineas contenders: City Leader Ire (Fasiliyev USA) in The Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Class 1) (Group 2) and Listen Ire (Sadler's Wells USA) in The Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile (Class 1) (Group 1).
Listen, trained by O'Brien, jumped to top contention for the 2008 1000 Guineas by beating rivals Proviso (Dansili), Saoirse Abu USA (Mr Greeley USA) and hot newcomer Kotsi (Nayef USA).
All in all, it was a superb Meet with plenty of surprises that show future form.
Comments