Racing round-up

Sulamani is the summer’s middle distance king

Sulamani was crowned the BHB Middle Distance Champion when he landed the Juddmonte Stakes at the York Ebor meeting yesterday.

The victory was the five-year-old’s finest since a Group 1 win at Dubai last season, but he has finished in the money in all four of his starts this season, which have included three Group 1 races.

The championship sees points awarded for the top six finishers in the races which make up the BHB Summer Triple Crown. These include:

• Vodafone Coronation Cup, Epsom
• Vodafone Oaks, Epsom
• Vodafone Derby Stakes, Epsom
• The Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot
• Coral Eclipse Stakes, Sandown Park
• The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot
• Juddmonte International Stakes, YorkAs well as fighting back hard at York, and spoiling the expectations of French youngster Bago, Sulamani was impressive in both of the Ascot races, eventually defeating many of his rivals from earlier this season in his bid to be king of the middle-distancers.Quiff lands the Yorkshire OaksOuija Board was withdrawn at the last moment from this afternoon’s Yorkshire Oaks due to the softness of the ground. Trainer Ed Dunlop had been extra cautious following the overwhelming defeat of top filly Attraction at the weekend precisely because the soft ground didn’t suit her.This opened the way for Quiff, ridden by Kieren Fallon, who held on in spite of her greenness to take a storming, 11-length victory.The Irish jockey had been originally due to take the ride on Ouija Board, whom he has partnered to victory on all three o fher wins this season, but was claimed by trainer Michael Stoute to ride Quiff at the last minute.“She’s a very good filly, she needs the rain and she got it,” commented Fallon. “She ran a great race in the Ribblesdale [when she finished third behind Punctilious] but the ground was too firm for her. I did a bit of work with her last week and she was very impressive, and it went right for us today!”Thierry Doumen retiresThe jockey world loses one of its better looking specimens with the news that Frenchmen Thierry Doumen has retired from race riding due to a shoulder injury.This heralds the end of a distinguished riding career – Doumen junior achieved major victories in England, Ireland and his native France. His partnershiop with top hurdler Baracouda was legendary: the horse won 16 of his 21 starts, all under Doumen.All is not lost, however, as he will still be a force to be reckoned with on the racecourse. He is continuing in his bid to emulate his father, Francois, as one of the world’s leading jumps and flat trainers. He will be based in Chantilly, France.

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