Royal briefing – day five
14 for Dark Angel
Khaadem (7 g ex White Daffodil by Footstepsinthesand) became the 14th individual elite-level winner for Yeomanstown Stud stallion Dark Angel (Acclamation) when recording a shock success in yesterday’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Ascot. Ridden by Jamie Spencer for trainer Charlie Hills, the seven-year-old gelding came from the rear of the field to defeat Sacred (Exceed And Excel) by a neck with a further one and a quarter lengths back to Highfield Princess (Night Of Thunder) in third. The fifth foal out of the winning Footstepsinthesand (Giant’s Causeway) mare White Daffodil, Khaadem is a brother to Listed scorer Log Out. Yesterday’s success was Khaadem’s first Group 1 win from nine attempts in the grade. Dark Angel stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season for a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$98,270).
65 for Kingman
Age Of Kings (3 c ex Turret Rocks by Fastnet Rock) became the 65th individual stakes winner for Kingman (Invincible Spirit) when getting the better of a number of more fancied rivals to take out yesterday’s Jersey Stakes (Gr 3, 7f), Dropping back in trip after finishing down the field in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m), the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt belied his odds of 22-1 to register his second victory in seven starts. The mount of Wayne Lordan beat Zoology (Zoustar) by a length, with Streets Of Gold (Havana Gold) a neck further away in third. A 1.1 million guineas buy out of Book 1 at Tattersalls, Age Of Kings is the first foal out of Group 2 winner Turret Rocks (Fastnet Rock), who herself is a half-sister to Beyond Thankful (Whipper), winner of the 2015 Newcastle Gold Cup (Gr 3, 2300m) for Chris Waller. Kingman stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season at Juddmonte for a fee of £125,000 (approx. AU$237,980).
O’Brien lands fourth Jersey Stakes
Aidan O’Brien trained the winner of the Jersey Stakes for the fourth time when Age Of Kings struck yesterday, but it was not with the runner most were expecting. Stablemate The Antarctic (Dark Angel) was sent off the 9-2 second-favourite under Ryan Moore, but managed to beat only two of his 14 rivals home, with Wayne Lordan riding his fifth Royal Ascot winner, but first since 2014. “It’s great to be coming over here for rides, especially for Aidan and to get a winner is fabulous. Any day here is special,” the winning rider said.
First for Expert Eye
Another Juddmonte stallion, Expert Eye (Acclamation), sired his first stakes winner on arguably the biggest stage of all when Snellen (2 f ex Illumined by Sea The Moon) edged out favourite Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never) in a tight finish to the Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f). Lining up off the back of a recent debut win at Limerick, the Gavin Cromwell-trained filly scored by a head, with Golden Mind (Galileo Gold) and Oddyssey (Ulysses) dead-heating for third, another half-a-length away. Carrying the colours of her breeder Lindsay Laroche, Snellen is the first foal out of the winning Sea The Moon (Sea The Stars) mare Illumined, who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Night Lagoon (Lagunas), the dam of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Novellist (Monsun), and also to Night Tango (Acatenango), who finished second in the German Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) in 2005. Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr 1, 8f) winner Expert Eye stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season at Banstead Manor Stud for a fee of £7,500 (approx. AU$14,280).
Carroll surprised by result
Gavin Cromwell and Gary Carroll teamed up successfully for the second time at Royal Ascot when Snellen landed yesterday’s Chesham Stakes, but the outcome of the photo finish came as something of a surprise to the winning rider. “I thought I was beaten to be honest,” he said when learning the result. “I thought we would all be staying stands’ side, but the fancied horses all ended up further away from me. The last half furlong was a very long half furlong for me – she was looking for company and started to lean a bit, but she’s a very good filly. She’s only really after coming to herself in the last month. We were going to run her in this race first time out, but after running in a barrier trial the Limerick race presented itself and seemed an ideal starting point. She was very green that day so I’m glad we gave her that run.” Cromwell and Carroll landed the Queen Mary (Gr 2, 5f) with Quick Suzy (Profitable) in 2021.
Wayward Pyledriver returns a winner
Despite doing just about everything wrong, Pyledriver (6 h Harbour Watch – La Pyle by Le Havre) proved to be too smart for his six rivals when he returned from a lengthy absence to land the Hardwicke Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f). Having his first start since winning last year’s King George over the course and distance in July, the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained six-year-old pulled fiercely early on before hanging left and then right in the home straight. Although a stewards’ inquiry was called, the outcome was never really in much doubt after Pyledriver crossed the line a length and a quarter clear of West Wind Blows (Teofilo), with Changingoftheguard (Galileo) another length away in third. The win was a first at Royal Ascot for jockey PJ McDonald who said: “This is Royal Ascot…. I’m 41 years of age and I’ve been coming here a bit, but you need a good horse coming here. There’s no point unless you have a good animal – whatever happens now I’m a Royal Ascot winner!”
Watson gets instant improvement from Saint Lawrence
Archie Watson’s stable debutant Saint Lawrence (Al Kazeem) provided him with another big winner at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting when landing the Wokingham Stakes (6f) under Hollie Doyle. Having been a Listed winner and placed in Group 3 company on three occasions when trained by Roger Varian, the five-year-old gelding came with a strong late run down the centre of the track to beat Apollo One (Equiano) by a length with a further neck back to the third-placed Juan Les Pins (Invincible Spirit).
Burdett Road nabs Golden Gates
Having started the week on a high note when Triple Time (Frankel) ran out a shock winner of the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m), Neil Callan ended the meeting in the best possible fashion when his final mount Burdett Road (Muhaarar) took out the Golden Gates Stakes (1m 2f). Trained by Michael Bell, the colt beat Lion Of War (Roaring Lion) and Local Dynasty (Dubawi) by three-quarters of a length and two-and-three-quarter lengths respectively.
Dawn Rising lands the finale
Ryan Moore rode his sixth winner of the week and Joseph O’Brien-trained his second when the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes (2m 5.5f) went the way of Dawn Rising (Galileo) Sporting the silks of JP McManus, the six-year-old beat The Grand Visir (Frankel) by half-a-length with Run For Oscar (Oscar) another two and a quarter lengths away in third.
Moore crowned leading rider as O’Brien takes trainers’ title
Ryan Moore won the award for leading rider at Royal Ascot for the tenth time with six winners at this year’s meeting, while four winners proved enough for Aidan O’Brien to take the trainers’ title.
Ascot and HKJC announce five-year partnership renewal
The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Bet With Ascot have renewed their bespoke World Pool agreement for another five years, following on from the extension signed with the Tote, it was announced yesterday.