CARLTON HOUSE (USA) FACTFILE – THE INVESTEC DERBY FAVOURITE
b c Street Cry (IRE) – Talented (Bustino)
Form: 21-1 Owner: HM the Queen Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Breeder: Darley Jockey: Ryan Moore
Carlton House
Bred by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud operation, Carlton House is by Group One Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry out of Talented, winner of the 1993 Group Two Sun Chariot Stakes over 10 furlongs at Newmarket. Carlton House was reportedly one of four yearlings given to the Queen as a present by Sheikh Mohammed after she had gifted Highland Glen to him to race in Dubai.
Put into training with Sir Michael Stoute, the colt made his debut in a soft ground mile maiden at Salisbury on September 29. Having been settled in rear, Carlton House stayed on to take second under Ryan Moore, four lengths behind the victorious Pivotman. It was a different scenario at Newbury a month later when Moore had his mount handy through the initial stages of the mile maiden. Shaken up to lead approaching the final quarter-mile, Carlton House drew clear for an impressive nine-length verdict.
Carlton House made his three-year-old debut in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York on May 12, for which he was sent off an 11/4 shot. Among his five opponents were the Aidan O’Brien-trained Group One Racing Post Trophy runner-up Seville and the highly-regarded Henry Cecil-trained maiden winner World Domination.
The Queen’s colt was reluctant to enter the stalls and, once underway, he raced keenly through the early stages when held up as outsider Pisco Sour set a moderate pace up front. Moore settled Carlton House in behind and, when the race began in earnest with less than three furlongs to race, he nursed his mount into contention, producing him between Seville and Pisco Sour inside the distance. Carlton House, head down and willing, quickened to lead under a considerate hands and heels ride to land the spoils well by a length and a half from Seville.
The Investec Derby Festival’s official betting partner William Hill immediately offered the colt as 5/2 favourite for Epsom Downs glory but the price that was quickly snapped up and he is now an 11/8 chance (May 25). Carlton House impressed on his final serious workout before the Investec Derby at Newmarket on Wednesday, May 25.
Race Record: Starts: 3; Wins: 2; 2nd: 1; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £90,713
The Queen
The Queen, who celebrated her 85th birthday in April, has been involved with horses from her earliest days of riding ponies and retains her enthusiasm for all things equine. She still rides but racing and breeding are her main interests.
Her enthusiasm for racing was fired when she accompanied her parents to see Big Game and Sun Chariot in training with Fred Darling at Beckhampton during the Second World War – Sun Chariot won three and Big Game another of the five Classics in 1942, and she was 23 when she had her first runner Astrakhan, a present from the Aga Khan, who was second at Ascot in October, 1949. Her first winner came over fences when Monaveen, whom she shared with the Queen Mother, was successful at Fontwell in the same month and it was that horse that gave her a first big race win at Hurst Park a short time later.
Astrakhan, at Hurst Park in 1950, was her initial Flat winner and her first success as Queen came from Choir Boy at Newmarket in May, 1952 though, as the court was still in mourning for her late father, Choir Boy raced in the name of the Duke of Norfolk.
As far as Classics are concerned, she has done far better with fillies than with colts. Her first success at this level came in the 1957 Oaks at Epsom when Carrozza scored under Lester Piggott. The filly was bred by the National Stud and leased to the king or queen of the time.
Dunfermline won the Oaks and the St Leger 20 years later, during the owner’s Silver Jubilee, and between times, Highclere took the 1000 Guineas and the Prix de Diane in 1974. Her only Classic winning colt was Pall Mall, who won the 2000 Guineas in 1958, though the best horse she has owned, Aureole, was runner-up to Pinza in the 1953 Derby when Sir Gordon Richards finally won at the 28th and final attempt. Aureole, who was trained by Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot as well as the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Hardwicke Stakes during Royal Ascot.
The Queen’s many other big race winners have included Almeria in the Yorkshire Oaks and the Park Hill Stakes, Canisbay in the Eclipse, Hopeful Venture in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Example in the Park Hill, while her most valuable success came via Unknown Quantity in the 1989 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park, Illinois, USA.
Her trainers in the past included Sir Noel Murless (who was in charge of the Royal horses leased from the National Stud), Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, Peter Hastings-Bass, Ian Balding, Dick Hern and Lord Huntingdon, but the dismissal of Hern from his post as her top trainer in 1989 fanned many flames throughout racing, with the Queen’s racing manager of the time Lord Carnarvon seen in many quarters as the villain of the piece.
The Queen’s horses went through a quiet time in the 1980s but fared better in the 1990s. Colour Sergeant won the 1992 Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and Sharp Prod scored in Pattern races in Germany, as did 1993 Group Three Diomed Stakes winner Enharmonic. Her best horses of the 1990s were Phantom Gold, winner of the Ribblesdale, John Porter and Geoffrey Freer Stakes, and Blueprint, who won the 1999 Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot and the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes.
Blueprint was the first Royal winner trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who now shares the Queen’s horses with Richard Hannon, Andrew Balding, Michael Bell and Roger Charlton. Stoute came closest to giving the Queen another Classic success when Flight Of Fancy finished the length and a quarter runner-up to Imagine in the 2001 Oaks.
More recently, Banknote brought further Pattern race success in Germany, while Free Agent won the 2008 Chesham Stakes, her 20th success at Royal Ascot. Other useful performers to carry the Royal silks in recent times include Royal Exchange, Golden Stream, My Kingdom Of Fife (a recent Group One winner in Australia since being sold) and Medley, who raced for Her Majesty in the USA under the guidance of trainer Christophe Clement.
The Queen’s horses, with some 25 in training each year, are managed by John Warren. She also has a few jump horses in training, having inherited those interests from the late Queen Mother. Her jump trainers are Nicky Henderson and Henrietta Knight.
The Queen inherited the Royal Studs in 1952 and currently maintains a band of primarily Flat racing mares. Among the numerous winners bred by the Queen, there have been seven Group One scorers. The Royal Studs now incorporate Sandringham Stud and Friar Marcus Stud (on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk) as well as Polhampton Lodge Stud (near Newbury).
They are managed by Joe Grimwade, supported by Phil Haworth and stud secretary Katie Powell. The stud groom at Sandringham is Bob Rowlands. Motivator (syndicated) and Royal Applause (co-owned) stand at Sandringham Stud which has excellent facilities and grazing covering 300 acres for visiting mares and those belonging to Her Majesty.
Investec Derby Record: 1953 Aureole (2nd); 1954 Landau (8th); 1956 Atlas (5th); 1957 Doutelle (10th); 1958 Miner’s Lamp (6th [dht]); 1959 Above Suspicion (5th); 1978 English Harbour (18th); 1979 Milford (10th); 1981 Church Parade (5th)
Sir Michael Stoute
Born in Barbados on October 22, 1945, where his father was chief of police, Michael Stoute came to Britain in 1965 to nurture his love of racing.
He joined Pat Rohan at Malton before moving to Newmarket three years later to work for Doug Smith and then Tom Jones. Stoute took out a public licence to train in 1972, recording his first success that year when Sandal won at Newmarket on April 28.
Since then he has risen to the top of his profession and has been champion trainer 10 times – in 1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009.
Stoute has won the Derby at Epsom Downs five times (1981 Shergar, 1996 Shahrastani, 2003 Kris Kin, 2004 North Light, 2010 Workforce) making him the most successful current trainer in the premier British Classic.
The year 2000 was memorable for Stoute when his horses included 2000 Guineas winner King’s Best and Kalanisi, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Champion Stakes. A terrific 1997 was headed by the two older horses Singspiel and Pilsudski. Four Group One successes went Pilsudski’s way – the Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes, Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and Japan Cup, while Singspiel won the Dubai World Cup, the Coronation Cup and the Juddmonte International.
He has won the 2000 Guineas five times with Shadeed (1985), Doyoun (1988), Entrepreneur (1997), King’s Best (2000) and Golan (2001). His long list of big-race successes also includes the 1000 Guineas (twice), St Leger (once), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (five times), Oaks (twice), the Irish Derby (three times), Irish Oaks (six times), Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas as well as many other races across the globe.
Stoute, who was knighted in 1998 for his services to sport and tourism in Barbados, trains at Freemason Lodge, Newmarket. The highlight of 2009 for Stoute came when he saddled the first three home in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by Betfair at Ascot – Conduit, Tartan Bearer and Ask – which played a significant part in him becoming champion trainer for the 10th time.
He also saddled Conduit to a second successive Breeders’ Cup Turf triumph. In 2010, Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce and the phenomenal King VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Harbinger set the standards for the stable.
Investec Derby Record: 1978 Hill’s Yankee (19th); 1979 Hardgreen (6th); 1980 Running Mill (21st); 1981-SHERGAR (WON); 1983 Shearwalk (3rd); 1984 My Volga Boatman (14th); 1985 Shadeed (13th); 1986 SHAHRASTANI (WON); 1986 Jareer (12th); 1987 Ajdal (9th); 1987 Ascot Knight (11th); 1988 Doyoun (3rd); 1989 Warrshan (11th); 1991 Mujaazif (13th); 1992 Alnasr Alwasheek (7th); 1993 Shareek (15th); 1994 Golden Ball (7th); 1994 Just Happy (8th); 1994 Jabaroot (16th); 1994 Foyer (UR); 1996 Double Leaf (10th); 1997 Entrepreneur (4th); 1998 Greek Dance (5th); 1999 Beat All (3rd); 2001 Golan (2nd); 2001 Dilshaan (7th); 2003 KRIS KIN (WON); 2004 NORTH LIGHT (WON); 2006 Best Alibi (6th); 2006 Papal Bull (10th); 2008 Tartan Bearer (2nd); 2008 Doctor Fremantle (4th); 2008 Tajaaweed (8th); 2010 WORKFORCE (WON).
Ryan Moore
Ryan Moore arrived at Epsom Downs for the 2010 Investec Derby Festival without a Classic win to his name and left two days later having bagged both the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks, courtesy of Workforce and Snow Fairy respectively, the first jockey to achieve this double since Kieren Fallon in 2004.
Moore, who was born on September 18, 1983, was champion apprentice in 2003 when he enjoyed 59 winners and champion jockey just three years later in 2006 when he recorded 182 victories. He has claimed the title twice more, in 2008 and 2009.
His family is steeped in the sport. His late grandfather Charlie was a trainer, Sussex-based dad Gary, a former jump jockey, is a successful trainer under both codes, while mum Jayne was an accomplished amateur rider, as was his aunt Candy Morris. His older brother Jamie is a successful jump jockey, while his sister Hayley has also ridden winners under Rules and his youngest brother, Joshua, has followed the others into a riding career.
Ryan Moore’s career began over hurdles, when making a winning debut as an amateur on Mersey Beat at Towcester on May 15, 2000. His first major success on the Flat came as a 5lb claimer when he captured the 2002 Cesarewitch at Newmarket on the Martin Pipe-trained Miss Fara. He is now first rider to Sir Michael Stoute. He enjoyed his first Group One success on Notnowcato in the 2006 Juddmonte International at York and partnered the same horse to victory in the 2007 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park.
Moore suffered a complex fracture of his right arm following a fall at Lingfield on March 16, 2007, and missed three months of that season as a result. However, he still finished third in the jockeys’ championship and regained his title in 2008, the year he won a first Breeders’ Cup Turf on Conduit.
The following season he was champion jockey for a third time with 178 victories and won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Conduit. Moore also rode Conduit to success in a second Breeders’ Cup Turf and landed further Group One victories in the Investec Coronation Cup on Ask, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Spanish Moon and the Prix Maurice de Gheest on King’s Apostle.
As well as his Epsom Downs Classic triumphs in 2010, Moore partnered Workforce to victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Snow Fairy to success in the Irish Oaks as well as Group/Grade One wins in Japan and Hong Kong. He suffered a wrist injury when Rocket Rob slipped up after finishing third at Windsor on August 9 last year and was out of action for nearly a month which cost him his chance of winning the jockeys’ championship again.
This season he has successfully teamed up with Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien when not required by Stoute. He rode St Nicholas Abbey to win the Ormonde Stakes plus three other winners for O’Brien at the Chester May meeting. Moore gave the Queen’s Carlton House a masterful ride to win the Dante Stakes on May 12 at York which saw the colt become the hot favourite for the Investec Derby, the premier British Classic at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 4.
Moore lives in Newmarket and supports Arsenal. He has two children, Toby and Sophie, with his partner Michelle.
Investec Derby Record: 2005 Unfurled (7th); 2006 Best Alibi (6th); 2008 Tartan Bearer (2nd); 2009 Black Bear Island (10th); 2010 WORKFORCE (WON)
THE QUEEN’S NINE DERBY RUNNERS
AUREOLE (1953 – 2nd)
Aureole had shown useful form in two starts as a juvenile, winning the six-furlong Acomb Stakes for maidens by a head at York in August and then finishing six lengths fifth behind the impressive Nearula in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
The Cecil Boyd-Rochfort-trained colt was fifth once more to Nearula in the mile Classic, the 2000 Guineas, on his three-year-old bow at Newmarket before heading to Lingfield for the Derby Trial on May 16. Aureole made no mistake at the Surrey track as he powered clear for a five-length verdict over the smart Mountain King who had won the Royal Stakes at Sandown on his previous start.
Aureole came closest to giving the Queen a Derby victory when runner-up to Pinza at Epsom Downs. Ridden as previously by Harry Carr, the colt was sixth into the home straight and made headway in the final three furlongs but was unable to peg back Pinza who had quickened clear to win by four lengths.
Aureole was a top-class four-year-old and won the 1954 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. He also went on to a successful stud career and was champion sire in 1960 & 1961.
LANDAU (1954 – 8th)
Landau was ranked fourth among two-year-olds in the 1953 Free Handicap after winning his final three starts of the season with ease, including the six-furlong Produce Stakes at Doncaster that September.
Third to Arabian Night when conceding weight on his three-year-old debut at Newmarket on April 7, Noel Murless’s charge was then well beaten in the 1954 2000 Guineas at Newmarket as the mile Classic was won by Darius.
Landau subsequently finished a length second to Rowston Manor in the Lingfield Derby Trial on May 14 but in the Derby itself, the colt led from three furlongs out until the quarter-mile mark, at which point he weakened tamely to finish eighth under Willie Snaith as Never Say Die went on to victory.
Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood later that season.
ATLAS (1956 – 5th)
Atlas failed to win in two starts as a two-year-old in 1955. After finishing fourth on debut at Ascot on October 7, he went down by only a head to Dacian in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket 20 days later.
Trainer Cecil Boyd-Rochfort chose the Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom for the colt’s three-year-old debut. Atlas finished third to Monterey and followed that effort with victory in the Dee Stakes at Chester.
Sent off a 50/1 shot for the Derby, Atlas made late headway at Epsom, coming home strongly to take fifth under Harry Carr, a little over three lengths behind the victorious Lavandin.
Atlas went on to triumph in the Doncaster Cup over two and a quarter miles on Town Moor in September.
DOUTELLE (1957 – 10th)
Doutelle won one of his five starts as a two-year-old in 1956 but competed in top company and was runner-up to Crepello, to whom he was conceding 4lb, in that year’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
As a three-year-old, the Cecil Boyd-Rochfort-trained colt’s only defeat in five starts came in the Derby. Victory in Kempton’s 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes on April 20, 1957, preceded a neck success in the Lingfield Derby Trial. Those wins saw him start as a 100/6 chance for the Derby at Epsom in June, but the Queen’s colt, ridden by Harry Carr, was never in contention as he trailed in 10th behind the triumphant Crepello and runner-up Ballymoss.
Doutelle returned to action that autumn, winning the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot and the Limekiln Stakes at Newmarket.
As a four-year-old, Doutelle won the John Porter Stakes and the Ormonde Stakes, defeating Ballymoss in the latter, and was third in both the Gold Cup and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
MINER’S LAMP (1958 – 6th [dht])
Miner’s Lamp’s sole two-year-old outing saw him finish second in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot for trainer Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. He began the 1958 season with victory in Epsom’s Blue Riband Trial Stakes on April 22 and returned to Epsom Downs for the Derby after finishing runner-up in the Newmarket Stakes on May 14.
Partnered by Bill Rickaby at Epsom, Miner’s Lamp was never able to challenge the front rank in the Derby and shared sixth place with Alberta Blue, seven lengths behind the winner, Hard Ridden. The colt subsequently won the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket in July.
ABOVE SUSPICION (1959 – 5th)
Above Suspicion finished down the field in three starts as a two-year-old but improved throughout his three-year-old season. The Cecil Boyd-Rochfort-trained colt was runner-up in his first two starts of 1959, in the Royal Stakes at Sandown on April 25 and the Newmarket Stakes on May 13.
Sent off at 100/6 for the Derby in June, Above Suspicion raced towards the rear under Doug Smith before making strong progress in the home straight, running on to take fifth, three lengths behind his victorious stablemate, Parthia.
The colt provided Her Majesty with a notable triumph at Royal Ascot on his next start as he won the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile and later that summer landed the Gordon Stakes over a mile and a half at Glorious Goodwood.
ENGLISH HARBOUR (1978 – 18th)
English Harbour finished fifth behind Shirley Heights on his two-year-old debut in Newmarket’s Limekiln Stakes in July, 1977, before winning a Newbury maiden a month later, his only win from four juvenile starts.
The Ian Balding-trained Mill Reef colt captured his first two races as a three-year-old, starting out in the Somerset Stakes at Bath on April 24, and following up with a length verdict over the subsequently top-class performer Ile De Bourbon in Goodwood’s Predominate Stakes.
English Harbour was never a factor under Joe Mercer in the Derby as he trailed home a distant 18th behind Shirley Heights.
MILFORD (1979 – 10th)
Trained by Dick Hern, Milford finished runner-up on both his juvenile starts, the second of those being a length defeat in Newmarket’s Houghton Stakes at the hands of subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine One In A Million.
The colt warmed up for the Derby with wins in Ascot’s Group Three White Rose Stakes and the Group Three Lingfield Derby Trial, winning the latter by an easy seven lengths.
Those wins saw him sent off the 15/2 third favourite for the Derby but, after racing in second under Lester Piggott, the Royal colt weakened in the straight to finish about 15 lengths behind the triumphant Troy.
Milford bounced back from that disappointing run when wining the Group Two Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket in July.
CHURCH PARADE (1981 – 5th)
Church Parade defeated To Agori Mou to win a Newmarket maiden on his career debut in July, 1980, and went on to win the Listed Champagne Stakes at Goodwood, before wrapping up his three-race juvenile campaign with third place behind Gielgud in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Dick Hern’s charge returned to action in the 2000 Guineas in May, 1981, but was 13th behind the victorious To Agori Mou. He then went to Epsom Downs for the Derby where, having been sent off a 25/1 chance, he kept on at one pace under Willie Carson to take fifth, 18 lengths behind the imperious Shergar.
Church Parade was then a close third in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam and landed his only victory that year when defeating Robellino in the High Line Stakes at York in August.
