Wimbledon Hawkeye scores in Royal Lodge; Hotazhell takes Beresford

Sep 28, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby kicked off on Saturday with a pair of one-mile events at historic racecourses in Great Britain and Ireland.

At Newmarket, the “Headquarters” of British racing, Wimbledon Hawkeye drove clear in the Royal Lodge (G2). Not long afterward at the hallowed Curragh in County Kildare, Hotazhell prevailed in the Beresford (G2).

Wimbledon Hawkeye and Hotazhell each picked up 10 points applicable to the Euro/Mideast Road leaderboard, although their classic ambitions lie on the European turf.

Interestingly, the two could square off in another Euro/Mideast Road event, the Oct. 26 Futurity Trophy (G1) at Doncaster. That’s the next objective for Hotazhell, while Wimbledon Hawkeye’s immediate plans are less definitive.

Wimbledon Hawkeye – Royal Lodge (G2)

A British homebred for the Gredley Family, Wimbledon Hawkeye was breaking through with his first stakes victory. The James Owen trainee had placed in his prior stakes attempts at seven furlongs, finishing third in the Superlative (G2) and most recently runner-up in the Acomb (G3) to highly-regarded The Lion in Winter.

The step up to a mile brought out the best in Wimbledon Hawkeye, who paid $9.60 as the fourth choice. Always prominent under James Doyle, Wimbledon Hawkeye tracked longshot pacesetter Hawksbill and took charge with about a quarter-mile to go.

Favorites Angelo Buonarroti and Puppet Master briefly tried to get involved, but neither could find enough to threaten. Angelo Buonarroti, a €1 million two-year-old in training purchase by Justify, may not have been suited by the rain-softened ground.

Royal Playwright stayed on to take second, 1 1/2 lengths adrift of the winner, and earned five points. Another 1 3/4 lengths back in third came Angelo Buonarroti (three points), who headed fourth-placer Puppet Master (two points). There was a 5 1/2-length gap back to the lackluster Luther in fifth (one point). Early leader Hawksbill faded to sixth, and Law of Design trailed.

Wimbledon Hawkeye continues his upward curve in fine style, staying on gamely in the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes with @the_doyler in the saddle 🏆@JPOwenRacing | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/FIF0ZxFStg

— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) September 28, 2024

Wimbledon Hawkeye negotiated the straight “Rowley Mile” in 1:38.38 on soft going. His record stands at 4-2-1-1, including a debut win over Kempton’s Polytrack.

His first-crop sire, Kameko, just missed in the 2019 Royal Lodge. But the following year, he went on to score his signature win over this same course and distance in the 2000 Guineas (G1).

Wimbledon Hawkeye likewise has the Guineas as his target for the first Saturday in May 2025. His connections’ Derby dreams revolve around Epsom, not Churchill Downs.

Hotazhell – Beresford (G2)

Hotazhell races for Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton’s Silverton Hill Farm of Springfield, Kentucky. But their $261,362 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up purchase is a British-bred with a thoroughly European pedigree, suggesting that his future remains on turf.

The aptly-named son of Too Darn Hot brought fine credentials into the Beresford. The winner of the July 25 Tyros (G3), Hotazhell was coming off a second in the Aug. 24 Futurity (G2). He accordingly vied for favoritism on Saturday with Windlord, the lone British shipper.

Trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, Hotazhell settled at the midpoint of the five-horse field in the opening stages. Dashing forward early was Aidan O’Brien’s Trinity College, who appeared to race too keenly up front.

In the stretch, the stalking Tennessee Stud loomed to challenge. Trinity College was all out attempting to stave him off, in an unsuccessful effort to give O’Brien a 22nd victory in this race.

By that point, Hotazhell was rallying best of all to overtake them both. Getting up by three-quarters of a length, he clocked the mile on good to yielding ground in 1:38.16 and returned $5.20.

Tennessee Stud held second (five points) by a half-length from Windlord, who closed belatedly from last for third (three points). Trinity College tired to fourth (two points), and stablemate Lambourn received one point in fifth.

Hotazhell bolts up in the Montane Developments Beresford Stakes, finding the winning formula once again for the duo of Shane Foley and @Jessica_Racing 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ssrppl108B

— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) September 28, 2024

Hotazhell improved his scorecard to 5-3-1-0. Fourth on debut at Leopardstown behind eventual Vincent O’Brien National (G1) hero Scorthy Champ, the bay won next time out at the Curragh and promptly graduated to Group company.