Lope De Vega's Arapaho Triumphs in Premier's Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday August 20

After winning the Group III ATC Premier's Cup (2000m) twelve months ago with Harpo Marx (IRE) (Galileo), trainer Bjorn Baker and jockey Rachel King went back to back with Arapaho (FR) at Randwick on Saturday.

Arapaho launches down the centre of the track (image Steve Hart)

The 6yo son of Lope De Vega (IRE) launched down the centre of the track to defeat the Frankel gelding Francesco Guardi (IRE) by a neck with the Reliable Man gelding Lord Ardmore a half-length back in third.

The Listed CRJC Grafton Cup winner in July, Arapaho (FR), advances his record to six wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 22 starts with earnings of  $520,600.

"The horse is flying. Credit to Bjorn (Baker) and the team, they've got him absolutely bouncing out of his skin," King said.  

"Back up in distance today really helped him. He had to overcome a wide gate, but he settled well early and just towed me into it at the top of the straight.

Advertisement

"I probably was a little bit worried, but there wasn't much I could do about it from back there; I sort of had to sit and suffer.

"For a horse who gets over ground, he has got a very good turn of foot, so I knew he was always going to sprint hard. It was just a case of whether we would give them too much of a head start.

The son of Lope De Vega (IRE) was a Listed winner at Deauville at three for Andre Fabre. After finishing last in a Listed event at Saint-Cloud, Arapaho (FR) was consigned to the 2020 Arqana Autumn Sale, where Bjorn Baker Racing/Avenue Bloodstock/Clarke Bloodstock had the final say at €140,000.

Arapaho a €140,000 Arqana purchase

Advertisment

Race Result - Premier's Cup Gr3 2000m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:05.02
1
Arapaho
- 6g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Alzubra (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 56
2
0.3
Francesco Guardi
- 5g Frankel (GB) x Trophee (FR) (Mr Sidney (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: W Pike 53
3
0.8
Lord Ardmore
- 5g Reliable Man (GB) x Outshine (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 56
4
1.2
Grove Ferry
- 6g Excelebration (IRE) x Rebelline (IRE) (Robellino (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 53
5
1.8
Yiyi
- 5g No Nay Never (USA) x Memories Of You (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 53
6
1.9
Toomuchtobear
- 5g Press Statement (AUS) x Bearish (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
7
2.9
Le Don De Vie
- 7g Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) x Leaderene (GB) (Selkirk (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: N Rawiller 60
8
7.3
She's A Maneater
- 6m Reliable Man (GB) x Ebony And Ivory (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: P W Lock Rdr: Tyler Schiller 53
9
9.6
Carif
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 54.5
10
10.5
Chalk Stream
- 5g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Golden Stream (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 53
11
23.4
Durston
- 7g Sea The Moon (GER) x Caribana (GB) (Hernando (FR))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: A Adkins 53
More Reading...
Blueblood Lonhro Colt Wins G1 Spring Champion
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate dreamers’ and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who capped his meteoric rise to fame with a thrilling victory in the $2million Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Lope De Vega's Arapaho Captures Tancred Stakes
Twelve days after winning the Listed Canberra Cup, the six-year-old Lope De Vega gelding Arapaho (FR) scaled the heights to Group 1 success in the Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Arapaho Claims the G2 Zipping Classic
Taking a step back from the silk department, Bjorn Baker’s fantastic money spinner Arapaho (FR) made a delayed trip to Melbourne worthwhile for Rachel King with victory in the $750,000 Group II Quayclean Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield.
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).
Arapaho Strikes in Canberra Cup
Arapaho’s last three runs have come in the Melbourne Cup, Apollo Stakes and Chipping Norton Stakes. So, with nothing of the calibre of Anamoe in Monday’s $200,000 Listed Canberra Cup, it was the perfect time to revisit the winner’s circle for the first time since the Premier’s Cup at Randwick last August.
Te Akau Win G3 War Decree Stakes with Snitzel Filly
Te Akau Racing made a blistering start to the afternoon across both New Zealand meetings on Saturday, racking up six wins in a three-hour period including with a pair of potential candidates for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
French Bred Stayer Arapaho Tops $4mil with Sydney Cup Romp
The remarkable eight-year-old, Arapaho (Fr) threw aside any two-mile doubts with a brilliant win in Saturday’s Group I Sydney Cup, taking his career earnings over $4million.