BY PETER SCARGILL4:10PM 18 OCT 2014
Report: Ascot, Saturday
Noble Mission just edges out Al Kazeem in a thrilling Champion
NOBLE MISSION stepped out from the shadow of his brother Frankel by emulating his famous sibling in winning the Champion Stakes and reducing his trainer Lady Cecil and many others to tears.
He did so in the most pulsating and heart-thumping manner earning himself many new admirers with a tenacious, game and ever so resilient defeat of Al Kazeem.
And for Lady Cecil the triumph had a special resonance as she was able to match the victory her late, great, husband Sir Henry Cecil achieved with Frankel two years previously. Cecil's words after the race were felt by many others. "I did an interview before the race and said it would be a fairytale if he won and that's what it feels like to me," she said. "We hardly dared to dream this could happen. We knew he was in great shape but this was a tough race."
Front-running has transformed Noble Mission this season. Having been called names for his weakness in the finish in the past, he has proved a tough and courageous performer this season.
Straight out of the stalls and into the lead, Noble Mission was relaxed and comfortable in front with Al Kazeem tracking. Cirrus Des Aigles was caught out wide from his stall in nine and was keen in the opening stages.
Turning for home Noble Mission and Al Kazeem were still going the best and there was to be no fairytale for Cirrus Des Aigles, who was under pressure and going nowhere. Anyway, there was another story developing between the front two.
Noble Mission was trying his heart out in front and Al Kazeem was trying his heart out to catch him up. The two drew level inside the final furlong. Al Kazeem got his nose in front. Noble Mission battled back. Noble Mission got the glory.
Lady Cecil and James Doyle with Frankel's brother Noble Mission
Winning jockey James Doyle, who was handed a seven-day ban and fined £10,000 for using his whip above the permitted level on Noble Mission, was as pleased with the performance of the second as the first having enjoyed many fine days last summer with Al Kazeem.
Doyle said that he knew Al Kazeem would not be an easy horse to beat and added: "Straight away as soon as I saw his head I knew it was him and he's ran an absolute cracker. Al Kazeem is good but this fella is unbelievable - he just relaxes in the lead now.
"It is a great team effort by everybody at Warren Place. He was tough and I thought Al Kazeem had the better of us at one point but luckily he saved enough for the final half furlong. He is gutsy, tough and versatile and the family just improve with age."
Roger Charlton was thrilled with the performance of Al Kazeem as well. The six-year-old had been returned to training earlier in the year having proved subfertile at stud and produced his best performance since coming back to the racetrack.
"I am almost emotional," Charlton said. "He's a wonderful horse to deal with he's done everything I've asked of him. He's never acted like a stallion since he has returned.
"I couldn't be more chuffed. I was a bit insulted by his price at the beginning of the week (50-1). I knew he would like the ground, and he was only beaten five lengths in the Arc. I think he is back to his best. It's wonderful. I'm delighted."
Jockey Christophe Soumillon offered no excuses for the vanquished Cirrus Des Aigles and said: "He had a good run but unfortunately I didn't have any power when I came into the straight today. It was a run for nothing, it just happens sometimes with horses. The ground was not to blame as they are his best conditions."
Report: Ascot, Saturday
Noble Mission just edges out Al Kazeem in a thrilling Champion
NOBLE MISSION stepped out from the shadow of his brother Frankel by emulating his famous sibling in winning the Champion Stakes and reducing his trainer Lady Cecil and many others to tears.
He did so in the most pulsating and heart-thumping manner earning himself many new admirers with a tenacious, game and ever so resilient defeat of Al Kazeem.
And for Lady Cecil the triumph had a special resonance as she was able to match the victory her late, great, husband Sir Henry Cecil achieved with Frankel two years previously. Cecil's words after the race were felt by many others. "I did an interview before the race and said it would be a fairytale if he won and that's what it feels like to me," she said. "We hardly dared to dream this could happen. We knew he was in great shape but this was a tough race."
Front-running has transformed Noble Mission this season. Having been called names for his weakness in the finish in the past, he has proved a tough and courageous performer this season.
Straight out of the stalls and into the lead, Noble Mission was relaxed and comfortable in front with Al Kazeem tracking. Cirrus Des Aigles was caught out wide from his stall in nine and was keen in the opening stages.
Turning for home Noble Mission and Al Kazeem were still going the best and there was to be no fairytale for Cirrus Des Aigles, who was under pressure and going nowhere. Anyway, there was another story developing between the front two.
Noble Mission was trying his heart out in front and Al Kazeem was trying his heart out to catch him up. The two drew level inside the final furlong. Al Kazeem got his nose in front. Noble Mission battled back. Noble Mission got the glory.
Winning jockey James Doyle, who was handed a seven-day ban and fined £10,000 for using his whip above the permitted level on Noble Mission, was as pleased with the performance of the second as the first having enjoyed many fine days last summer with Al Kazeem.
Doyle said that he knew Al Kazeem would not be an easy horse to beat and added: "Straight away as soon as I saw his head I knew it was him and he's ran an absolute cracker. Al Kazeem is good but this fella is unbelievable - he just relaxes in the lead now.
"It is a great team effort by everybody at Warren Place. He was tough and I thought Al Kazeem had the better of us at one point but luckily he saved enough for the final half furlong. He is gutsy, tough and versatile and the family just improve with age."
Roger Charlton was thrilled with the performance of Al Kazeem as well. The six-year-old had been returned to training earlier in the year having proved subfertile at stud and produced his best performance since coming back to the racetrack.
"I am almost emotional," Charlton said. "He's a wonderful horse to deal with he's done everything I've asked of him. He's never acted like a stallion since he has returned.
"I couldn't be more chuffed. I was a bit insulted by his price at the beginning of the week (50-1). I knew he would like the ground, and he was only beaten five lengths in the Arc. I think he is back to his best. It's wonderful. I'm delighted."
Jockey Christophe Soumillon offered no excuses for the vanquished Cirrus Des Aigles and said: "He had a good run but unfortunately I didn't have any power when I came into the straight today. It was a run for nothing, it just happens sometimes with horses. The ground was not to blame as they are his best conditions."
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