It’s uncertain there’s a better-named horse in coaching than Prix Royal-Oak (G1) hero Scope , who put jockey Rob Hornby up in group 1 lights for the first time after his victory Oct. 24 at ParisLongchamp and gave Ralph Beckett and owner-breeder Julian Richmond-Watson a winter to dream about what his raw chestnut frame might become next season.
Hornby rode a race of immense maturity, utilizing his inside draw for most of the race before angling into clean air, never asking Scope to fully commit until the ultra-tough Skazino had already thrown down his challenge.
“He’s been running really well all year, and stamina is the thing,” said Hornby. “He deserved that, I’m pleased for him, the horse is a real trier and I’ve got on well with him.”
Scope finished a never-nearer sixth in the Sept. 11 Cazoo St. Leger (G1) after stumbling out of the stalls, before taking a step forward when running away with the listed Harrogate Water B Corp Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot this month.
He becomes the fifth 3-year-old to win the Royal-Oak in the last seven years, completing a group 1 double in as many days for Beckett after Angel Bleu landed the Criterium International (G1) at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.
“I wasn’t anticipating any of this,” Beckett mentioned of his weekend success. “I assumed the horse yesterday would most likely win however I wasn’t positive about immediately, so it is simply improbable.”
Whereas the Leger should still be a supply of remorse, Beckett selected to focus on how far the son of Teofilo has come after enduring a difficult summer in the wake of his third to subsequent Cazoo Derby (G1) winner Adayar at Lingfield.
“He had a tough mid-part of the year and nothing really went right for us at home,” said Beckett. “It was a huge run in the Great Voltigeur (G2) off the back of his preparation. I was very reticent about his chances of running any kind of a race that day. So for him to run as well as he did that day, I was absolutely thrilled.
“The Leger is the one that got away because he missed the gates, which was really unfortunate. And then he was impressive at Ascot, and he has been again today.”
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ G1 Royal-Oak sired by Teofilo (IRE)
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ G1 Royal-Oak sired by Teofilo (IRE)SCOPE (IRE) 🇮🇪 is a new Group 1 winner for @DarleyEurope sire Teofilo (IRE) 🤩 after touchdown the G1 Prix Royal Oak @paris_longchamp 👏
Bred by Garden Stud 💪
— ITM (@IREthoroughbred) October 24, 2021
Scope is out of a half sister to Richmond-Watson’s 2008 Juddmonte Epsom Oaks (G1) winner Look Right here and Beckett felt he might need one other basic winner on his palms at first of this season, although he admitted it was Doncaster relatively than Longchamp that was foremost in his thoughts.
He mentioned: “In the beginning of the 12 months I assumed this horse is perhaps a St. Leger horse and his kind has labored out sensationally all alongside, going again to Mojo Star as a 2-year-old and the Lingfield Derby Trial.
“It’s a great family and it was always going to throw up another really good one at some point. It just happened to be him. That’s what we should concentrate on and thank our lucky stars.”
Skazino traveled well into the straight and gave his usual gutsy display, but was unable to match Scope in the final furlong.
“Once again he’s run a great race but it’s possible a tough season was just telling on him late on, because he wasn’t quite as decisive as usual,” said Skazino’s trainer Cedric Rossi.
“I’d say 300 meters out the jockey thought he had the winner, but he just wasn’t able to go with him late on. After a good long break he’ll be back for more next year.”
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