 UK & Ireland Expert - Wendyll Woods |
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| Wendyll Woods began his riding career in Hong Kong as an apprentice jockey to trainer Lawrence Fownes in 1983. He became Fownes' retained jockey from 1987/88 to end of 2001/02 when he was retained by his younger brother Sean Woods. During his Hong Kong racing career, he rode an impressive 3,897 Hong Kong races, riding 321 winners with a winning percentage of 8.2%, including the Queen Mother Memorial Cup with CARACOLER in 2002. Woods also spent five years racing in England where he won several key races including Heron Stakes and Princess Elizabeth Stakes. He currently runs a stud farm with his older brother in England. | |
Overseas Expert Column for JLT Lockinge Stakes (Wendyll Woods)
S1-1 JLT Lockinge Stakes
Milers aged four years or older take centre stage in the 1600-meter Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes.
Richard Hannon has trained the last two winners of the Lockinge, this year saddling STRONG SUIT and DUBAWI GOLD. After finishing last on his seasonal reappearance in the 2011 Greenham Stakes, STRONG SUIT showed the benefit of a breathing operation when winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. He then went on to capture two more Group 2 contests in taking style, and will be looking to make his mark in Group 1 races this season. He ended his season with a disappointing run in the Breeders' Cup. You'd have to feel he'll be more at home on a track like Newbury, but he'll do extremely well to make the first two in this, especially as all of his winning form has come on a quicker surface.
EXCELEBRATION had an excellent campaign last season when trained by Marco Botti, subsequently being sold in a big money move to race under the tutelage of Aidan O'Brien; he comes into this contest race-fit after a straightforward victory in a Group 3 race at the Curragh. He was a standout second best to FRANKEL in the mile division last season, finishing behind him in the Greenham Stakes and the QEII Stakes on British Champions Day. He was a classic winner in his own right, winning the German 2000 Guineas and also despatched of the older horses in the Group 1 Prix de Moulin de Longchamp. He has been tipped to win several big races this season, but is likely to come up one short once again in this year's Lockinge.
The greatest miler we've seen for some time; FRANKEL makes his seasonal reappearance here, with a view to target over longer distances later in the season. Regarded by Sir Henry Cecil as the best he's ever trained, the highest rated horse in the world is unbeaten in all of his nine starts to date. He simply destroyed his rivals in the British 2000 Guineas last season, before capturing the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He then produced a brilliant performance in the Sussex Stakes, handing out a five length beating the five time Group 1 winner, CANFORD CLIFFS. He was the star attraction on the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, where he ran out an impressive four length winner in the QEII Stakes, notching the fifth Group 1 of his career. His form, ability and scope are to improve further as a four year old, will be factored in his skinny price in this renewal of the JLT Lockinge Stakes. His main rival, EXCELEBRATION comes into the race with a fitness edge, but FRANKEL is one of the most talented racehorses of all time, and should begin an exciting season with a victory here.
Selections: FRANKEL, EXCELEBRATION & STRONG SUIT
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