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Post-Race Analysis:
Lexington, KY April 27, 2001: Augustin Stables' Pompeyo (Chi) won
the $185,875 Grade I Royal Chase defeating last year's steeplechase
Champion All Gong (GB) by three lengths while establishing a new
stake record of 4:34.56 for the 2 1/2 miles. New Zealand invader
Rand (NZ) finished third, another length behind All Gong.
Trained by Sanna Neilson, Pompeyo was making his first Grade I
start against open company after having captured the first two legs
of last year's Triple Crown for novice steeplechasers. The 7-year-old
son of Nureyev Dancer (by Nureyev) was content to bide his time
in mid-pack until the last time down the backside when he launched
a five-wide move. Pompeyo took the lead at the 10th of 13 fences,
passing Al Skywalker who had led the entire race up until that point.
All Gong moved with Pompeyo, as those two drew clear around the
far turn. The issue was never in doubt as the field straightened
away into the stretch, as Pompeyo drew clear under a steady hand
ride from jockey Gus Brown. "He just jumped flawlessly," Brown said
after the race. "It's fun for him. He settled in and I didn't have
to be that close, but his jumping made him that close."
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Pompeyo, shown here winning the Hard
Scuffle last year, captured his first unrestricted Grade I
race when he won the Royal Chase. (Mike Marten photo)
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Pompeyo has now won seven of 11 lifetime starts over
hurdles while racking up over $351,000 in steeplecase earnings.
Racing on the flat and over jumps he has won 11 of 33 starts and
$528,093. The Royal Chase was the fifth graded stakes win in the
last year for the champion novice steeplechaser of 2000, although
it was the first unrestricted Grade I victory of his career. He
is line-bred (both sire and dam) 5 x 5 to Nearco. Owner George Strawbridge
said that Pompeyo will be pointed to the Saratoga meeting this summer.
Calvin Houghland's All Gong was forwardly placed early
on in the Royal Chase, and moved into second place entering the
far turn the last time. Yet despite constant urging from jockey
Blythe Miller, the English-bred son of Kris (by Sharpen Up) was
not able to close any ground on Pompeyo through the stretch. Dispatched
as the favorite by the crowd of 18,154, All Gong has now finished
second in both of his Grade I starts over fences this year.
Eamon Cleary's Rand finished a credible third in his United States
debut, especially considering that he had just arrived from Japan
two days before the race. The 7-year-old son of Omnicorp (a grandson
of Sir Tristram) raced near the back of the pack early, and Jockey
Ed Lamb was slow to make a move when his American counterparts stepped
on the gas down the backside the last time. When he finally got
in gear, the big gray seemed to be gaining fastest of all coming
to the last two fences, but flattened-out in the stretch. Rand was
undefeated in all six of his career starts over fences (five in
New Zealand and one in Japan) before he was brought down by a horse
that fell in front of him in the $1.3 million Nakayama Grand Jump
on April 14th.
Neither of this year's upset winners of the Grade I Carolina Cup
(Al Skywalker) and the Grade I Atlanta Cup (Electron) fared well
in the Royal Chase. Al Skywalker checked in seventh after leading
until the 11th fence while Electron, who raced in second place until
12th fence, finished fourth.
Masamadas (GB) fell at the 11th fence and was put down after suffering
a leg injury.
All three of the previous runnings of the Royal Chase had been
won by steeplechase Eclipse award winners: Flat Top captured the
inaugural running in 1998 as well as last year's edition of the
race, and Lonesome Glory won the Royal Chase in 1999.
Past performance charts for the Royal Chase can be purchased from
the Daily Racing Form. To
subscribe click here.
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Daily Racing Form past performance charts, you can contact their
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The complete results of the Royal Chase are set forth below.
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All Gong and jockey Blythe Miller, shown
here before the Atlanta Cup last year, finished second to
Pompeyo in the Grade I Royal Chase. (Brad Galyean photo)
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back to top
Results:
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FP
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Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Pompeyo (Chi) |
158 |
G. Brown |
J. Sheppard |
Augustin Stables |
|
2
|
All Gong (GB) |
158 |
B. Miller |
F.B. Miller |
Calvin Houghland |
|
3
|
Rand (NZ) |
158 |
E. Lamb |
M.Oulaghan |
Eamon Cleary |
|
4
|
Electron |
158 |
C. Thornton |
J. Griggs |
John K. Griggs |
|
5
|
Popular Gigalo |
158 |
C. Miller |
C. Miller |
Clorevia Farm |
|
6
|
Romantic |
158 |
A. Kingsley |
J. Sheppard |
Timber Bay Farm |
|
7
|
Al Skywalker |
158 |
T. Foley |
J. Majette |
Frank D. Adams |
|
PU
|
Turkish Corner |
158 |
M. McCarron |
F. B. Miller |
Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords |
|
PU
|
Allgrit |
158 |
J.W. Delozier |
J. Sheppard |
Hudson River Farms |
|
F
|
Masamadas (GB) |
158 |
C. Murphy |
J. Elliot |
Mrs. S.K. Johnston |
| Winner: |
Pompeyo (CHI) - Dark Bay or Brown Gelding,
September 9th, 1994
Bred by Haras Santa Amelia in CHI |
| Pedigree: |
Nureyev Dancer - Pouliche (CHI), by Domineau
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| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
| 3 |
Pompeyo (CHI) |
7.80 |
3.80 |
3.00 |
| 10 |
All Gong (GB) |
|
3.20 |
2.80 |
| 1 |
Rand (NZ) |
|
|
4.80 |
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Pick 3 |
3-1/4/5-3
(3 correct) |
3,386.40 |
33,447 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
3-10 |
24.40 |
214,466 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
3-10-1 |
130.40 |
198,522 |
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| Pgm |
Comment |
| 3 |
Pompeyo (CHI) - inside,moved 5w,took over
final turn,drew clear, steady drive |
| 10 |
All Gong (GB) - stalked leaders,edged inward,moved
with winner inside,no match |
| 1 |
Rand (NZ) - between foes near inside,in contention,mild
gain |
| 6 |
Electron - raced inside, well placed to stretch,held
position,empty late |
| 7 |
Popular Gigalo - came away slowly, trailed,
reach contention far turn,empty late |
| 9 |
Romantic - rated in behind leaders, tired
nearing final turn |
| 2 |
Al Skywalker - clear lead till 11th jump faded
steadily thereafter |
| 5 |
Turkish Corner - outrun, saved ground, left
course stretch,pulled up |
| 8 |
Allgrit - gave way at midway point, left course
stretch, pulled up |
| 4 |
Masamadas (GB) - never a serious threat, fell
over 11th hurdle |
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| Owners: |
3 Augustin Stable; 10 Calvin Houghland; 1
Eamon J. Cleary; 6 John K. Griggs; 7 Clorevia Farm Charles W.
Strittmatter; 9 Timber Bay Farm; 2 Frank D. Adams; 5 Jeffords,
Jr., Mrs. Walter M.; 8 Hudson River Farms; 4 Johnston, Jr.,
Mrs. S. K. |
| Trainers: |
3-Sanna Neilson, 10-F. Bruce Miller, 1-Mark
Oulaghan, 6-John K. Griggs, 7-F. Bruce Miller, Jr., 9-Jonathan
E. Sheppard, 2-Jennifer Majette, 5-F. Bruce Miller, 8-Jonathan
E. Sheppard, 4-Janet E. Elliot |
back to top
Pedigree of Winner
POMPEYO (CHI) G, 1994 DP = 6-2-12-0-0
(20) DI = 2.33 CD = 0.70
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Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigre of Winner
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