Russian Emperor Goes Back to Back in G1 Champions and Chater Cup

Tara Madgwick - Monday May 29

Superstar Fastnet Rock mare Atlantic Jewel was a champion on the track and has left a legacy at stud as the dam of blue-blood Irish bred Galileo gelding Russian Emperor, who won his third Group I event in Hong Kong on Sunday when taking out the Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (2400m) for the second year in a row.

Advertisement

Russian Emperor wins his second Champions and Chater Cup - image HKJC

A Group III winner at Royal Ascot when trained by Aidan O’Brien, Russian Emperor was sold to race in Hong Kong after finishing seventh in the 2020 Epsom Derby.

Second in the Hong Kong Derby, the Douglas Whyte trained Russian Emperor has been consistent at the top level since then and produced another elite performance for Hugh Bowman to beat the favourite Romantic Warrior by a neck.

“He’s (Russian Emperor) a superstar of my stable and he’s certainly given me one hell of a ride since he’s joined me. We’ve had our ups and downs but there’s been a lot more ups than downs,” Whyte said, referencing February’s successful sortie to the Middle East where he won the QAT G1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m).

“To travel with him and winning in Doha, and coming back now to repeat that effort on a firm track. You’ve just got to give it all to the horse. When he won in Doha that was probably the highlight of my career, both as a jockey and a trainer, to go abroad and do that.

“The issues he has to deal with, and then you get a win out of him in a race today on a track that doesn’t suit him and it just takes you to another level.

“It’s certainly one of the better performances he’s done and one of the highlights of my career. But I don’t stop there, there’s the vets, there’s the farriers – there’s a whole bunch of people I should be thanking because they’re the ones that do the day-to-day work to get this horse to the races and I take the glory and so does the jockey.”

Praising unflappable Bowman, Whyte said the Australian’s ride was “patience personified, really.”

“He’s a great jockey to have on a horse, especially in a big race like that. He makes a difference. They were getting cheap sectionals early, the favourite looked like he was just ambling along and dictating affairs.

“Hugh sussed that out and got rolling at the right time. He dug down deep and prevailed. It was a well-executed ride, a very heady ride. He put him to sleep and let things unfold and took advantage of that at the end.”

A four time Group I winner by Fastnet Rock, Atlantic Jewel was sent to the Northern Hemisphere to begin her stud career for Coolmore and Russian Emperor is the best of her two winners to date.

The last foal of Atlantic Jewel is this colt by Justify (USA) pictured as a yearling.

She was returned to Australia in 2019 and covered by Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) with her colt from that mating sold by Coolmore at Inglis Easter last year for $240,000 to Dermot Farrington Bloodstock.

Named Marvillas, he is being trained by Annabel Neasham, but has yet to trial or race.

Sadly, the colt is her final foal as Atlantic Jewel passed away in 2020.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Standard Chartered-Chater Cup Gr1 2400m

Sha Tin Track: G0 Time: 2:26.87
1
Russian Emperor
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Atlantic Jewel (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: J Bowman 57
2
0.3
Romantic Warrior
- 5g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: Z Purton 57
3
1.3
Five G Patch
- 5g Camelot (GB) x Uliana (USA) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: A Badel 57
4
1.4
Straight Arron
- 4g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: C Y Ho 57
5
2.0
Money Catcher
- 5g Ferlax (NZ) x Warren's Sister (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: K C Leung 57
6
2.3
Panfield
- 6h Lookin At Lucky (USA) x Esterina Ii (ARG) (Orpen (USA))
Tnr: A T Millard Rdr: K Teetan 57
7
2.5
Senor Toba
- 5g Toronado (IRE) x Bahamas (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: Lyle Hewitson 57
8
3.0
Natural Storm
- 6g Pins (AUS) x Miracle Miss (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P Yiu Rdr: Luke Ferraris 57
9
14.0
Columbus County
- 7g Redwood (GB) x Spirit Of Sandford (NZ) (Kilimanjaro (GB))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: M Chadwick 57
More Reading...
Third Black Type Win For Snitzel’s Lazzura
A member of the Waller team to hold a dual acceptance leading into Saturday’s Randwick meeting, it was the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) where 4yo Snitzel mare Lazzura came out on top, recording her third black type victory.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wuddzz Caps Fine 24 Hours For Dwyer
Handy stayer Wuddzz came with a well-timed run under Tim Clark to land the Gold Coast Turf Club Trophy (2400m) at Randwick.
New Star for Hellbent – Savvy Hallie Wins G2 Silver Shadow
Yarraman Park’s Hellbent has made his name with brilliant Group I winning mares Magic Time and Benedetta with exciting filly Savvy Hallie adding her name his list of stakes-winners with a stylish victory in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
First Black Type Victory For Nellie Leylax (IRE)
Not a bad way to break through for your first Australian victory as the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Nellie Leylax (IRE) cleared out by more than two lengths to claim the Group 3 ATC Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick.
Jenni Lets Loose At The Valley
Smart staying mare Jennivamoose recorded her third victory at The Valley when winning the Simpson Construction Handicap (2500m) in similar fashion to her previous victory at the venue.
Winning Return for the Best in Australia - Via Sistina
Set to be crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for last season, the mighty Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) returned on a rain soaked track at Randwick on Saturday to win the $1million Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m).
Unbeaten Run Continues For Autumn Glow
Resuming off the back of two solid barrier trials efforts, Chris Waller’s Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) stepped up to open company for the first time, with the $1.8m yearling purchase extending her unbeaten run to five with victory in the Group 3 ATC Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.
Sterling Express Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Sterling Express stepped up to Group level for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, and a stunning last-to-first performance showed that he belongs.
Carlyon Stakes To Baraqiel – Second SW For Snitzel
Successful in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) last time in, Sniztel’s 7yo son Baraqiel continued his outstanding record at the Moonee Valley circuit, resuming to win the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) first up, highlighting potential Group 1 spring aims.