A Royal opening as Henry sets new record

Henrythenavigator cemented his position as Europe’s supreme miler (Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) Tuesday’s opening of the five-day Royal Ascot meet featured three Group 1 races off the bat, and the most anticipated, the St. James’s Palace S. for three-year-old colts, proved to be quite the crowd pleaser as dual classic winner and odds-on choice HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (Kingmambo) swept to another victory that proved in no uncertain terms that he will be a force in whatever races might be on his schedule the remainder of the year. Flattered to no end when New Approach (Galileo [Ire]), whom he had beaten in both the English (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), impressively captured the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) on June 7, Henrythenavigator was sent off at 4-7 and, in a style reminiscent of his Guineas triumphs, turned in an explosive rally down the stretch under Johnny Murtagh to win by three-quarters of a length from a charging Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality), the 7-1 third choice. Final time over Ascot’s Round Mile rated good-to-firm was 1:38.7, a record performance over a course which was altered in 2005.

Rated near the rear while stablemate Minneapolis (Sadler’s Wells) cut out a
quick early tempo, Henrythenavigator remained in that position until just over
two furlongs out when Murtagh switched out toward the stands’ side to commence
his rally. Meanwhile, Minneapolis gave way readily three furlongs out when Poule
d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) winner Falco
(Pivotal), the 13-2 second choice, assumed control along the rail. Falco,
however, had little punch in the last quarter-mile and was soon passed by both
Twice Over (Observatory) and then Cat Junior (Storm Cat). Henrythenavigator
split rivals approaching the eighth-pole and was followed on the outside by
Raven’s Pass, who had trailed early, but Henrythenavigator was always in command
once he got rolling and held that rival safe to the line.

Twice Over, at 8-1, finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Raven’s Pass, reversing the
order in which those two finished the Craven S. (Eng-G3) at Newmarket earlier
this year. Cat Junior was next under the wire and was followed by Falco, Stubbs
Art (Hawk Wing), Alexandros (Kingmambo) and Minneapolis. Rio de la Plata (Rahy)was withdrawn due to the fast ground.

“He’s a great horse and I think it’s very hard to say that we’ll get a better
miler than this lad,” trainer Aidan O’Brien, who also trained Rock of Gibraltar
(Ire) to victories in both Guineas and the St. James’s Palace in 2002, told PA
Sport. “I think all things are open to him. You could drop him back
(in trip), step him up or leave him at a mile — it’s a great decision to have
to make.”

If kept to a mile, logical options for Henrythenavigator would include the
Sussex S. (Eng-G1), Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1), Prix du Moulin (Fr-G1),
Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Henrythenavigator now boasts a 7-5-1-1 mark. Last
season, he captured the Coventry S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot, but failed to run
up to his best in his final two juvenile outings on soft ground. Henrythenavigator finished second in the Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) to the filly
Saoirse Abu (Mr. Greeley) and third to New Approach in the Futurity S. (Ire-G2).

Bred by Western Bloodstock, Henrythenavigator is out of Irish highweight
Sequoyah (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). He is a full brother to Irish Group 3 winner
Queen Cleopatra, who placed in both the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and
Prix de Diane (Fr-G1). Sequoyah is herself a full sister to Listen, the Irish
highweight juvenile filly of 2007. This is the family of Irish Two Thousand
Guineas hero and highweight Saffron Walden (Sadler’s Wells), German highweight
Dolphin Street (Bluebird) and Canadian Grade 1 queen Insight (Fr) (Sadler’s
Wells).