WHAT HAPPENED IN JUDDMONTE OAKS ON LADIES DAY, FRIDAY, JUNE 6

The outsider Look Here triumphs

DERBY FESTIVAL 2008 - LADIES DAY
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
EPSOM DOWNS, FRIDAY, JUNE 6

Race 5: The Juddmonte Oaks
Winners Quotes

LOOK HERE LIGHTS UP BECKETT

Trainer Ralph Beckett made a serious attempt to break the world record for handshaking after a superb performance by his filly Look Here who galloped the opposition into the ground in the Judmonte Oaks at Epsom Downs, bringing the Whitsbury handler his first victory in a British Classic.

Its the most amazing feeling. When all is said and done, we could go skint now and it wouldnt matter, he said.

The trainer did not rush his filly as a two-year old. We left her alone and left her alone and eventually it got to the point where we had to run her and she hosed up at Salisbury which is only 10 minutes away and that form is rock solid, he said.

The going that day was soft and the horse Look Here beat was Doctor Fremantle, who goes in tomorrows Vodafone Derby with a good chance..

In Look Heres opener this season, in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield, the filly ran second after meeting trouble. Things didnt work out for us there, said Beckett.

Nor was the preparation for the Juddmonte Oaks trouble-free. She worked diabolically last week, shockingly, and I said we have to work her again because we cant go there [to Epsom] off the back of this, said Beckett.

Then it rained all week and we were chuffed, but in the end that didnt matter. Before the race, Im not saying that I was confident, but I knew that she would run a race, added the trainer.

For Beckett, who missed out on winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2005 when Penkenna Princess went down by the narrowest of margins, this was a very, very welcome consolation.

Becketts delight was matched by the owner Julian Richmond-Watson, a former chair of the Epsom Race Committee and the current senior steward of the Jockey Club . Ive always loved the place and if theres one place Id want to win a big race, its here, he said.

Seb Sanders, riding his first Oaks winner, said: I made a hash of it in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield, but it was a trial. I found out a lot about her because of that mistake and I could have sat on her a lot longer today but a horse appeared on her outside and I knew I would get home and shes got a lovely turn of foot.

Ive come here today and no-one has asked me anything about her. Its been absolutely lovely and deep down I really thought that she would run a massive race today. She gave me a really lovely feel at Lingfield and it was disappointing to get beat there but I learnt a lot about her so its benefited us today.

FIFTH RACE PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
JUDDMONTE OAKS (GROUP 1)

LOOK HERE PROVIDES CLASSIC RESULT FOR BECKETT

Trainer Ralph Beckett sprang a 33/1 surprise with his only his third runner in a British Classic when Look Here ran away with the Juddmonte Oaks by three and three-quarter lengths in the colours of her owner-breeder Julian Richmond-Watson.

It has sunken in yet but Ive got a feeling of amazement, you just never expect youll win a race like this when you start out training. They dont come along very often, said Beckett, who has held a licence since November, 1999. One part of you is looking out for dangers and the other is willing her to go on.

She ran first time at Salisbury mainly because it is 10 minutes down the road from me, it was good to soft ground and I wanted to get a run into her. Shed actually only done two pieces of work before she ran and only been on the grass once.

She beat Doctor Fremantle and I thought it was a solid run but thought after the race that Doctor Fremantle might have had an off day. I was in the sales in Ireland and Kerrin McEvoy rang me on the way home then rang me the following morning, which I thought was unusual. His agent got in touch with me at the start of the season asking about riding plans for her.

She was sent back for a good break at her owners place until January and then came second at Lingfield. I was hopeful we would turn the form round from there and we were making sure we held her together and got her here in one piece. But we never do anything too serious with her at home.

Weve trained two of her sisters and they were best fresh and Ill endeavour to bear that in mind for the rest of the time Look Here is with us. I was actually worried today might come a bit soon for her.

My immediate reaction, and it is my prerogative to change my mind, is that I wont travel her for the Irish Oaks. She was quite warm and edgy beforehand and its the travelling that would worry me.

She didnt break sweat when she galloped last week but she showed us what we needed to see when she worked again on Saturday.

Im delighted for Seb (Sanders), loyalty is his key word and that works for both of us. He and I got beaten a head in the Irish Guineas (with Penkenna Princess) and I must thank Sir Mark (Prescott) for letting him off from Wolverhampton this afternoon - his agent and I really did have that conversation!

For Richmond-Watson, who is a former chairman of the Epsom Downs race committee, it was the culmination of a 38-year career as a racehorse owner.

Ever since I left school Epsom has been my favourite racecourse and if I could choose to win a good race anywhere it would be here, said Richmond-Watson, who is also senior steward of the Jockey Club. Ive always dreamed of winning the Derby but the Oaks is a very good second best - its only when they have gone past the post that you believe it.

Its only my second runner in a classic (after Kayah was ninth last year in the Juddmonte Oaks) and you know you are pitching at windmills. You dream of winning the mile and a half classics and thats what I breed for.

I should also put it a word for the Jockey Club who have brought back Epsom from where it was. The redevelopment of the stand would be very hard to justify on commercial grounds and I am looking forward to seeing it opened next year.

Race 5 - Juddmonte Oaks (Group One) - placed quotes

OXX UPBEAT ON UNLUCKY KATIYRA

Trainer John Oxx was more than pleased with Katiyras third place finish in the Group One Juddmonte Oaks, but felt that she may have been closer to the winner, Look Here, had she not got caught in traffic coming down the hill.

He explained: Katiyra ran well. She was impeded a little bit coming down the hill, got caught in traffic and stumbled and lost her hind legs crossing the road. It cost her a bit at the time - maybe second place.

But she ran very well in the straight - stayed on and quickened up well. She was maybe a little bit inexperienced, which was our worry but Im overall quite happy.

Meanwhile, Aidan OBrien was also happy with the performance of the second placed Moonstone, one of six runners the Irish handler saddled in the one and a half-mile Classic.

We were delighted with Moonstones run. Ill have to watch the race again to get a proper look at it though.

Race 5 - Juddmonte Oaks (Group One) - more quotes

SMULLEN VERY DISAPPOINTED

Champion Irish jockey Pat Smullen was very disappointed with the run of 5/1 chance Chinese White, who led the field in the straight before weakening to finish ninth in the Juddmonte Oaks.

He said: Chinese White just stopped very quick. I thought going down to the two-furlong marker that I had a big chance of winning but she just didnt pick up.

Maybe something will come to light but I just cant put anything on it yet. Im very disappointed.

Meanwhile, Kevin Manning, rider of 5/2 favourite Lush Lashes, who finished fifth, was also very disappointed with his filly, but simply said that she just didnt stay, full stop.

The John Gosden-trained seventh Michita, who was the subject of a gamble when going off at 8/1, didnt handle the undulating track at Epsom Downs according to her handler.

He said: Michita absolutely hated the track. She didnt come down the hill well but stayed on great in the end.

FIFTH RACE ADDITIONAL QUOTES
JUDDMONTE OAKS (GROUP 1)

MURTAGH DISAPPOINTED

Johnny Murtagh, rider of Adored, who finished 15th in the Juddmonte Oaks, said: I was disappointed with Adored. She emptied out pretty badly coming down the hill and I probably ended up going a good gallop up the hill so she was entitled to get tired. She might not have handled the track. Aidan always thought that Moonstone was the best of the bunch and he sent her to the Musidora. Probably with another couple of runs under her belt she would have been the one today. Shes a very nice filly and I think this race will bring her on a lot.

Michael Hills, rider of Sugar Mint, who finished 12th, said: She gave me a good trip but didnt pick up in the straight.

Ryan Moore, rider of Sail, who came 13th, told the stewards that she was never travelling.

LOOK HERE (GB) FACTFILE - TODAYS JUDDMONTE OAKS WINNER

b f Hernando (FR) - Last Look (Rainbow Quest (USA))

Form: 1-21 Owner: Julian Richmond-Watson
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Seb Sanders Breeder: Lawn Stud

Look Here
Look Here was bred at her owners Lawn Stud in Northamptonshire. She is by the 1993 Prix du Jockey Club winner Hernando out of Last Look. All of Last Looks seven foals have won. Look Here was victorious on her only outing as a juvenile in a mile maiden at Salisbury on October 3. Sent off a 16/1 shot under Kerrin McEvoy, she stayed on strongly in the final furlong to brush aside the 1/3 favourite and Derby contender Doctor Fremantle by two and a half lengths. Having raced on good to soft ground when securing that debut success, Look Here was faced with good to firm going on her seasonal return in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield on May 10. Ridden by Seb Sanders, the filly raced at the back of the field in the extended 11-furlong contest. Having made a forward move approaching the turn, she failed to negotiate it smoothly and dropped to the rear before staying on to take second, three quarters of a length behind Miracle Seeker. She clearly learnt from that experience, as she showed tremendous improvement on her next start to land the Juddmonte Oaks by an impressive eight three and three quarter lengths from Moonstone to record a memorable 33/1 success, the biggest shock in the Classic since Jet Ski Ladys 50/1 success in 1991. Along with Frieze (1952), Look Here is the second highest-priced winner of the Juddmonte Oaks since the second world war.
Race Record: Starts: 3; Wins 2; 2nd: 1; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £177,575

Julian Richmond-Watson
Julian Richmond-Watson was born on December 6, 1947 and is the son of Sonny Richmond-Watson, a Northamptonshire landowner and former deputy senior steward. He was elected to the Jockey Club in 1993, became a Steward in 2000 and Senior Steward in 2003. He has been chairman of Nottingham Racecourse and the Epsom Race Committee, and was a director of United Racecourses as well as a racecourse steward at Warwick, Newmarket and Nottingham. In 2000 he was appointed as chairman of the then British Horseracing Boards Race Planning Committee. Richmond-Watson has owned racehorses since 1970 - currently his string are shared between Ralph Beckett, Amanda Perrett and James Fanshawe - and he owns Lawn Stud in Potterspury, Northamptonshire. He owned last years Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial victor Kayah, who finished ninth at Epsom Downs but this year he gained by far his greatest ever success when Look Here was the hugely-impressive winner of the Juddmonte Oaks today.
Juddmonte Oaks Wins: 2008 LOOK HERE

Ralph Beckett
Born June 24, 1971, Ralph Beckett is a cousin of Prince Khalid Abdullas racing manager Lord Grimthorpe. Formerly assistant to Peter Walwyn, he began training at his old boss Windsor House Stables, Lambourn, in November, 1999, and moved to his present base, David Elsworths former stables at Whitsbury Manor Stables, Hampshire, in January, 2006. Beckett previously worked for the likes of Martin Pipe, Arthur Moore, Jimmy Fitzgerald, David Loder, Australian trainer Colin Hayes and Tom Skiffington in the US. He came close to Classic victory in 2005 when Penkenna Princess was beaten a short-head in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. The filly had already won the Listed Oh So Sharp Stakes and Group Three Fred Darling Stakes. Richmond-Watsons father sent Beckett the last horse he had in training but sadly passed away before the filly won at Beverley. He gained an emotional first Classic victory when Look Here, owned by Julian Richmond Watson, won the Juddmonte Oaks at Epsom Downs in 2008.
Juddmonte Oaks Record (since 1984): 2007-9 Kayah; 2008-1 LOOK HERE

Seb Sanders
Born September 25, 1971, Sanders began his racing life as an apprentice at Bryan McMahons yard near Tamworth. That was one of his local stables as he is a Midlander by origin and remains a keen supporter of Birmingham City. His first success came when Band On The Run won at Pontefract in July, 1990, and has never really looked back since becoming champion apprentice in 1995. He moved on from McMahons to a successful link-up with Reg Akehurst when that trainer was winning many big handicaps from his Epsom base and has since developed very successful associations with Peter Makin and Sir Mark Prescott, who has retained his services as stable jockey since 2004. His biggest wins have come via Compton Place, who won the Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket in 1997 at 50/1, Bachelor Duke, winner of the 2004 Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Prescott-trained Confidential Lady who won the 2006 Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks). His first English Classic success came on Look Here in the 2008 Juddmonte Oaks. He has become a regular in the top half dozen in the jockeys championship in recent seasons, having ridden a century of winners in each of the last six years and last year shared the title with Jamie Spencer after the duo tied on 190 winners each. Sanders and his wife Leona, whom he first met racing at York and persisted in asking out until she finally submitted, live near Bury St Edmunds. Mrs Sanders is fluent in seven languages and worked as a stewardess for Japan Airlines until she retired in 2001. She competed in the showing ring in her younger days and they have enjoyed success in the point-to-point field with The Graduate.

Juddmonte Oaks Record (since 1984): 2005-7 Cassydora; 2007-9 Kayah; 2008-1 LOOK HERE