ROYAL ASCOT 2020 – DAY 3

HIGHLAND CHIEF IN COMMAND IN GOLDEN GATES HANDICAP

Highland Chief

Day three of Royal Ascot 2020 began with a decisive success for top-weight Highland Chief (20/1) in the 10-furlong Golden Gates Handicap. This was a first Royal Ascot success for a training partnership, permitted by the BHA since the resumption of racing on June 1, with Paul and Oliver Cole being responsible for handling Highland Chief. Paul Cole trained 21 Royal Ascot winners when solely responsible for the training licence. Highland Chief’s victory was a first Royal Ascot success for jockey Rossa Ryan.

Grand Rock held a clear lead entering the straight but faded quickly in the final furlong and it was Highland Chief who stayed on to take the honours from Tritonic (Alan King/Oisin Murphy), with 7/2 favourite Global Storm (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) back in third.

Oliver Cole said: “It is fantastic, isn’t it? It is history, it is brilliant. Highland Chief is a very good horse; he won at Newbury on soft ground and was only beaten a few lengths by Pinatubo. He got bashed in that race and then made another run, so he has got ability. We would always have liked the ground today – luckily the heavens have opened. We could not be happier. Rossa [Ryan] rode his first Group winner for us – Duke Of Hazzard – who the other day probably got a bit tired, so I think we’ll see a better horse next time. It is all positive stuff.”

Referring to the fact that he now shares the licence with his father Paul, Oliver said: “As the expression goes, if it’s not broken, why try to fix it? We have got some good horses and we are very lucky to have them. “This would have given Highland Chief a lot of confidence today. I think Eve [Johnson Houghton]’s [HMS President] came to head us and then he went again. He is a very good horse, but he only just does what he has to, so he is potentially unexposed. As the same time, he has come all the way up the rail and done a lot more than anything else. Dare I say, he is still a bit babyish – probably not quite the full racehorse yet. Obviously, the further he goes the better he’s getting. He is an exciting horse and probably very good. His mother was good. Sadly, my father is at his best friend’s funeral today [Ben Leigh], which is why he didn’t come. I did say to him today I thought we’d get an Ascot winner.”

Rossa Ryan said: “It has not really sunk in yet. I am a bit shocked that it has happened. I cannot thank everyone enough who has supported me to get here today. To ride a winner the Coles and for Mrs Fitri Hay is incredible. I was a long way back on Highland Chief, but the plan going out was to just get this lad to relax, travel and ride him to come home. Because it was his first run of the year, he was going to be a bit fresh and unknown at this trip. Highland Chief travelled lovely and he was picking up turning in. When I looked up, we were getting to the two-furlong pole and I thought the bird might have flown and I was going to miss the boat.”

“However, the two furlongs at Royal Ascot are the longest two furlongs anywhere and he showed that today. I was a bit worried coming into today with all the rain that we had. Until I got up on him on the way to the start, he felt like he was going to go on it. It is lovely, loose ground. It is soft, but it’s loose so horses are getting through it – it really paid dividends to me. It might have been a different story if the ground was a bit dead and tacky, but it was lovely and loose and Highland Chief was able to quicken. I’m still 19 and 20 next month. This is my third season over in England, going into my fourth season you could say. It has been tremendous – I am mainly based with Richard Hannon and he has brought me through the ranks really well.”

“I am just slowly, but surely building my contacts all the time. My agent Steve Croft is second to none. He is like a brother to me. I have got a lovely team of people behind me and it just has to fall into place – that’s all. I spent a lot of summers growing up at Willie Mullins’ and Enda Bolger’s yards. I learnt more at Enda Bolger’s than anywhere else. In my last year of pony racing we decided to take a crack at the Flat if I could keep my weight right and we went from there.”

1.15pm Golden Gates Handicap

1 Highland Chief [drawn 16] Paul & Oliver Cole 3-9-07 Rossa Ryan 20/1

2 Tritonic [7] Alan King 3-9-01 Oisin Murphy 9/1

3 Global Strorm [9] Charlie Appleby 3-8-12 William Buick 7/2 Fav

1st Royal Ascot win for training partnership of Paul & Oliver Cole (Paul Cole trained 21 Royal Ascot winners)

1st Royal Ascot win for jockey Rossa Ryan

12 ran

Non-Runners: 3 Laser Show (Self Certificate, temperature); 12 Dogged (Going); 14 Cemhaan (Self Certificate, heat in leg) – replaced by reserve Bronze River who takes number 14

Time: 2m 11.20s

Tote Win: £25.05 Places: £7.50, £4.20, £1.65 Exacta: £169.00

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MOUNTAIN ANGEL HANDS JAMES DOYLE HIS THIRD WINNER
LISTED WOLFERTON STAKES

Mountain Angel

Jockey James Doyle bagged his third winner of the week as he superbly delivered Mountain Angel (8/1) up the inside to comfortably take the Listed Wolferton Stakes over 10 furlongs.

Doyle, who has now ridden a total of 16 Royal Ascot winners, said: “He did it, it worked out perfectly for him. Obviously, he ran a good race in it last year, finishing fifth, when he got into a bit of scrimmaging in Swinley Bottom and that put paid to his chances. Today the rain has come for him nicely, as he relishes cut in the ground, and it couldn’t have been much smoother, he travelled around really good. I could have done with them going just a bit quicker to help him relax, but he carted me into it. I pulled my googles down when we turned in, and couldn’t believe how much room we had up the inside. It was just a case of not getting there too early and he really knuckled down well when I asked him.”

Regarding the week as he has had so far, Doyle added: “You have to enjoy it. It is obviously a bit, well a lot, different from what we are used to here. I was watching the replays back last night and it all seemed a bit quiet. It is nice to ride a winner to try and liven things up a little bit! I am not Frankie, unfortunately, but it is nice to be standing here!”

Roger Varian, enjoying his second winner of the week, said: “Mountain Angel had everything in his favour. He is a good horse fresh – he has shown that over the years. He gets the trip well, loves a bit of dig in the ground and trained well at home.”

“Mountain Angel ran well in the race last year [finished fifth] after getting shuffled back early from stall one. It was probably a slightly stronger renewal last year, but he has run well today. I am delighted for the owner [Ziad A Galadari] who has been very supportive of me and very patient with this horse. A big thanks to the team at home who have been doing a great job over the last few months.”

“Mountain Angel is a horse who probably doesn’t need over-racing. We took him to Bahrain [Bahrain International Trophy, finished 13th] on a fact-finding mission last autumn to see if he would be an international horse, but he just didn’t like that firm ground.”

“I think we will bide our time with him, as he ran well in a couple of Group races last autumn and I think we will follow a similar programme. I think he will deliver when things are in his favour. He was placed in a Prix Dollar last year and on the back of that, I think he has a Group race in him.”

“Prince Eiji [finished fourth] ran a great race and probably just didn’t quite get home.”

1.50pmWolferton Stakes (Listed)

1 Mountain Angel [drawn 5] Roger Varian 6-9-03 James Doyle 8/1

2 Sir Dragonet [7] Aidan O’Brien IRE 4-9-03 Ryan Moore 15/8 Fav

3 Regal Reality [11] Sir Michael Stoute 5-9-03 Jim Crowley 11/2

7th Royal Ascot win for trainer Roger Varian

16th Royal Ascot win for jockey James Doyle

13 ran

Non-Runners: 1 Dubai Warrior (Going); 15 Aloe Vera (Vet’s Certificate, (Lame); 16 Bubble And Squeak (Going)

Time: 2m 11.9s

Distances: 2¼, ½

Tote Win: £7.70; Places:£2.50, £1.60, £1.95 Exacta: £25.50

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MOLATHAM IS FIFTH WINNER OF THE WEEK FOR CROWLEY
G3 JERSEY STAKES

Molatham

Jockey Jim Crowley is enjoying a Royal Ascot to remember, and he recorded his fifth winner of the week when Molatham (11/2) landed the G3 Jersey Stakes by half a length from Monarch Of Egypt (4/1) after a sustained battle. Like all of Crowley’s four previous winners this week, Molatham is owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, to whom Crowley is retained jockey.

Crowley said: “Molatham was very tough. He had the one run at the backend of last year on soft ground at Newmarket and he didn’t fire. His form before that was very strong. He beat Wichita at Doncaster earlier in the year.”

“I had been down to ride him work earlier in the year when we were thinking of the 2000 Guineas. He was working quite lazily at home, but today when the rain had come, I was a little bit concerned. However, when you look at his pedigree, it showed that he wouldn’t mind a bit of cut in the ground and the way he moves suggests that too. He handled soft ground well today and maybe at Newmarket last season it was the undulations that caught him out.”

“I got headed and probably found myself there too soon in the race. Molatham is a horse who does not want to be in front two furlongs out. He was going so well and I found myself in front. On the soft ground, it was difficult for me to sit and then expect him to pick up, so I went for home on him. I got headed [by Monarch Of Egypt, second] and that did me a favour.”

“The reason we came back to seven furlongs is that we weren’t 100% sure he would get the mile. However, on that run today, you would imagine a mile would not be a problem, but I don’t think there is a need to step back up at the moment. He is just as good on fast ground and now soft ground, so that is another string to his bow really. I had six winners at Royal Ascot coming into this! I am not complaining though. When you are a jockey, you take one for the meeting, so to get five is great. I am very lucky to ride such nice horses and for such a big operation.”

Trainer Roger Varian, enjoying a 57.5/1 double on day three following the Wolferon Stakes success of Mountain Angel, said: “Molatham is a lovely horse with a great temperament. He has done nothing wrong in his career, really – he was second here in a very good maiden on his debut, and the form of his Listed win reads very well with Wichita, the 2000 Guineas second, in behind him that day.” 

“We have always thought the world of this horse and he has come to himself in the last few weeks. It is nice to have a good horse like this for Sheikh Hamdan, who has been a great supporter of mine since I started. Molatham has got a top attitude. He might not ever win by four lengths because he is not that sort of horse, but he is tough and straightforward, and obviously very talented.”

“He looks like he will get a mile. He is built like a fast horse, so I don’t think he will get beyond a mile, but the way he gutsed it out here on this ground over this stiff seven, it looks like he will get a mile. But he travelled and Jim [Crowley] said he almost got there too soon, so he doesn’t lack speed, this guy.”

“We will keep everything on the table at the moment. Molatham is obviously one of the top three-year-olds around after that performance, and at some point those nice three-year-olds will have to come together, but… I will speak with Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Hamdan’s team, we will see how he comes out of this race and we will see which direction we want to go with the horse. He is a jolly nice horse to look forward to with.”

“Nothing is impossible – he has just won a Jersey and this race has a rich history of producing good horses. He looked a good horse today, and we will be excited about him for the rest of the season for sure.”

2.25pm Jersey Stakes (Group 3)

1 Molatham [drawn 5] Roger Varian 3-9-01 Jim Crowley 11/2

2 Monarch Of Egypt [6] Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-01 Ryan Moore 4/1

3 Symbolize [14] Andrew Balding 3-9-01 David Probert 40/1

8th Royal Ascot win for trainer Roger Varian

11th Royal Ascot win for jockey Jim Crowley

13 ran

Non-Runners: 3 Fleeting Prince (Going); 11 Repartee (Going)

9/4 Fav King Leonidas (6th)

Time: 1m 28.94s

Distances: ½, 3¼

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SO EASY FOR STRADIVARIUS AS HE WINS HIS THIRD GOLD CUP

Stradivarius

Superstar stayer Stradivarius was simply imperious as he won the G1 Gold Cup for the third consecutive time for owner Bjorn Nielsen, trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori.

The six-year-old Sea The Stars horse joins Sagaro (1975, 1976, 1977) as a triple Gold Cup winner with only four-time scorer Yeats (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) having won the two and a half mile staying showpiece more. Today saw Stradivarius score by 10 lengths, the most decisive of his career. Having moved up effortlessly on the bridle behind long-time leader Nayef Road, Stradivarius went right away in the final furlong and won as he liked. Nayef Road held on for second, eight lengths clear of Cross Counter.

John Gosden said: “I had to have an excuse ready [the ground] in case I messed up the training and I get the blame as the trainer. For a horse to do that, I mean Sagaro was trained by a great friend of mine, Francois Boutin, and ridden by Lester Piggott. I remember watching all his races and he was something. Yeats was a phenomenon. To have a horse mentioned in that bracket is what it is all about. We are very proud to have won the race three times and it is great for the owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen. He is passionate about his breeding and broodmares. He has been trying to breed a Derby winner, but he has got a very good Gold Cup horse. For him, it is profoundly fulfilling for him as much as it is for us – it is a pity he can’t be here today. We have been on the phone quite a lot before the race and already talked after the race.”

“Stradivarius is quite a character. I must change my aftershave, as he got quite coltish whilst I was saddling him. I must have overdone the aftershave or something. He is quite a noisy character and he was having a shout and play out there – he does think life is a bit of fun and when you win races like this, I suppose it is. “He showed me that the hard race he had at Newmarket had not flattened him. When he was that fresh when I was saddling, I thought that the bounce factor was under control.

“It was a superb performance today from Stradivarius. I think the benefit of running in the Coronation Cup in a track record time meant he was fully fit. I was concerned about the bounce factor and him maybe not being fully fit, but he was full of himself saddling.

“I was just pointing out that he has beaten the great Vazirabad, Order Of St George, Torcedor, Dee Ex Bee – you go through and it isn’t bad horses which he has beat you know.”

“He has that exciting thing which is a turn of foot. He is a bit of a mate, as he lives below the guest bedroom. When Bjorn Nielsen comes to stay and opens the window, Stradivarius is just there looking at him.”

“The rail is chewed up by the racing and Ryan Moore told me that as he went round, there was water on the track.”

“He has beaten some good horses in his time. People have tried to criticise the opposition, but he has put them away with that turn of foot and he has even done it on this ground.”

Asked whether Stradivarius would return a tilt at a joint-record equalling fourth Gold Cup next year, Gosden replied: “I am not sure, that’s Bjorn’s decision – the way he liked my aftershave I am not sure! We will look towards the Goodwood Cup and a fourth win there. He has won three of them already. We will have a look at that and if we run there, we might then take a pull. There is talk of running in an Arc. He ran brilliantly in the Coronation Cup and maybe an Arc on autumn ground is not out of the question.”

Dettori, who had now won the Gold Cup eight times (Lester Piggott holds the record number of Gold Cup wins, 11) said: “Tremendous. I was worried about the rain; they were talking about the Martyn Meade horse [Technician] a lot, it was a concern, and he actually really surprised me because he went like a hot knife through butter, really. I had everybody covered by the four, then was surprised that I didn’t have anyone to challenge me. It is always a scary moment when you get to the furlong marker whether you will pick up or not, but he did and stretched away by 10.”

Frankie Dettori with the trophy

“I was trying to use the horse in front of me as a reference point, but I didn’t want anyone to pounce on me quick, so with my first glance I saw James Doyle [Cross Counter] off the bridle, and I couldn’t see Oisin [Murphy] on the grey horse [Technician], and then he was in trouble as well, so I thought I would leave them behind and just ride my race to get Ryan Moore [Nayef Road]. I was surprised to see that they were all spent forces by then.”

“I am so proud of the horse. He is a joy to be around. He will go down as one of the great stayers like Yeats and Sagaro and who knows, maybe we will try for the four [wins] next year. Well done to Bjorn [Nielsen, owner and breeder] and John Gosden to have him so good today. Even with no crowd, I am quite emotional. It is a very proud moment. Bjorn, if you are watching, let’s go for it!”

“We purposely stayed wide on the fresh ground, so that helped a little bit, but nevertheless it is still very soft. It just shows you what a fighter and how versatile he is. It is all about Stradivarius today. Stradivarius is a wonderful horse. You never ever are on the bridle in the Gold Cup a furlong out, because usually everybody labours by the three. So, it was an amazing feeling, and a fantastic performance.”

“One day when I am sitting in my rocking chair, to say I rode the horse who won three Gold Cups in a row – that’s a big number. I am very proud of it. I have ridden some great horses, and he will go down as one the great stayers, definitely my best stayer. I am very proud of the horse, as he has given people so much joy. He is such a character and wears his heart on his sleeve. It is great to have him around.”

“Does the fact that I have now won eight Gold Cups mean I am old, or I have been lucky in the race…?”

Charlie Johnston, son of and assistant trainer to Mark Johnston, trainer of runner-up Nayef Road, said: “I thought the rider of Withhold was going to ruin his own race as well as ours; it was obvious our horse was doing quite a lot in front and kept harrying him down the hill and out of Swinley Bottom as well. Watching, I thought he would do well to keep going, so to keep going and beat the rest so comfortably was a good effort. There is nothing you can say about the winner that hasn’t been said. It was quite special, actually, standing out the front there – there has been absolute silence watching every race go by and then there, every single person stood out there started applauding; that was one of those quite special moments to watch.

“I think we could quite comfortably come back to a mile and six, two miles – he’s not a slow horse and Ryan [Moore] said the petrol gauge was on empty the last two furlongs and he was running on courage. He is a very honest horse. What we have got to cling to is that we [Nayef Road] are only four, so maybe one day we won’t have him to face up to!”

Charlie Appleby, trainer of third home Cross Counter, said: “I am very pleased with Cross Counter. The plan was to ride him cold and let him float round the back there and passing horses. I think since Melbourne, we haven’t ridden him differently, but he has been ridden slightly more positively. I just thought today let him go past horses and see if the enthusiasm is still there. For me I was delighted to see him do what he did. He galloped out on ground he doesn’t really enjoy. James thought he would nick a bit of ground coming on the inside, but it was an encouraging run. The horse will have enjoyed that and come forward for it.”

“The Henry II Stakes at Sandown will be on his agenda. He won’t have to carry a penalty and thankfully there will be no Stradivarius. The long-term target has always been the Melbourne Cup [which Cross Counter won in 2018]. He ran a very creditable race in it again last year. I think more importantly, what we have seen today he is back to where he was in Melbourne. Just ride him chilly, as he sees it out well and has a good turn of foot. I was very encouraged to see what I saw today and hopefully there is a race or two left in him.”

3.35pm G1 Gold Cup

1 Stradivarius [2] John Gosden 6-9-02 Frankie Dettori 4/5 Fav

2 Nayef Road [1] Mark Johnston 4-9-01 Ryan Moore 11/1

3 Cross Counter [6] Charlie Appleby 5-9-02 James Doyle 7/1

53rd Royal Ascot win for trainer John Gosden

69th Royal Ascot win for jockey Frankie Dettori

8 ran

Time: 4m 32.60s

Distances: 10, 8

Tote Win: £1.50 Places: £1.20, £2.50, £2.10 Exacta: £8.30

Frankie Dettori’s eight Gold Cup wins: (1992 & 1993 Drum Taps, 1998 Kayf Tara, 2004 Papineau, 2012 Colour Vision, 2018, 2019 & 2020 Stradivarius)

Click here for audio interviews with John Gosden and Frankie Dettori: 

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31582

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IT IS CROWLEY AGAIN AS KHALOOSY TAKES BRITANNIA

Khaloosy

Jockey Jim Crowley chalked up win number six of Royal Ascot 2020 as Khaloosy recorded an impressive four and a half length victory in the mile Britannia Heritage Handicap. It was also a near 35/1 double on day three for the Ascot-born jockey following the success of Molatham in the G3 Jersey Stakes. It is also proving to be a very memorable week for trainer Roger Varian, who heads the trainer standings with four wins. Varian, previously successful today with Mountain Angel and Molatham, was enjoying a near 321/1 treble on day three.

Crowley said: “I think Roger was tight getting him here, so he has done a great job. We were a little bit unsure about the ground, although when he won his race at Wolverhampton, he clocked a really good time and we have always held him in high regard. Six winners is the stuff of dreams, and it is great they are all for my boss (owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, Crowley is his retained jockey). It is a shame he can’t be here, but hopefully he is watching on the telly.”

“You can’t do it without the horses, and I have come here many times. It is the hardest place to ride winners and I am very grateful to be riding horses capable of winning. No, it isn’t impossible [passing Ryan Moore’s modern record of nine winners at Royal Ascot]. Obviously, Elarqam’s form is working out really well, and he has run well on good to soft, although he wouldn’t want it too testing [in tomorrow’s G2 Hardwicke Stakes]. Khaadem [runs in Saturday’s G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes] is a very good horse in his own right, and hopefully he can step up to being a Group 1 horse.”

Roger Varian said: “I will pinch myself and wake up soon! We have always liked this horse, but to be honest, he is not flashy at home. I have to credit John Lowe, who rides him every morning and has been happy with his work. He had a little setback a month ago, which probably prevented us getting a run into him, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise, because he came here in good form. We were a little bit worried about ground conditions, but he got through that OK and won well.”

“I think if you watch his Wolverhampton win and, although it was just a Wolverhampton novice and I am not sure what we beat that day, he won it in pretty good style, and he went into the winter as a colt we were looking forward to training this year. It has been such a funny beginning, with us having to wait until June to race. For sure, some of the horses have been working for a while and one or two are getting a bit bored at home. It has not been the easiest to judge where any of them are, but we have been pleased with this colt.”

“We weren’t sure what to expect today, but we are delighted with what we saw. He won in the style of a horse with a big future. He has got a great pedigree, going back to Nathaniel and Great Heavens and that good Magnificent Style female line, so he has got the blood to be a good horse. He has done nothing today to say that he won’t be. You would think that would be it for handicaps – we could dream about only going up two or three pounds, but I don’t think that will happen. He looks like a 100+ horse and will have to go into Pattern company now.”

“Ascot is a hard place to have any winners. As a big stable with a few chances, you dread going the week without a winner, but to get three in a day and four for the week, as I said, I’ll have to pinch myself and I will wake up soon.”

“We have got some nice horses to run. We might have used all our luck up now and we will have to see what happens in the next few days, but obviously the string are healthy and in good form, and that always helps, as you know.”

4.10pm Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

1 Khaloosy [drawn 19] Roger Varian 3-9-02 Jim Crowley 9/2

2 Finest Sound [17] Simon & Ed Crisford 3-8-09 Andrea Atzeni 11/4 Fav

3 Cherokee Trail [2] John Gosden 3-9-02 Ryan Moore 16/1

4 Enemy [21] John Gosden 3-8-11 Oisin Murphy 6/1

9th Royal Ascot win for trainer Roger Varian

12th Royal Ascot win for jockey Jim Crowley

22 ran

Non-Runners: 10 Johan (Self Certificate, (blood analysis not normal – replaced by reserve Overwrite); 17 Grove Ferry (Vet’s Certificate, Lame)

Time: 1m 41.22s

Distances: 4½, 4, hd

Click here for audio interviews with Roger Varian and Jim Crowley:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31583

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LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE AS TURNER & FELLOWES COMBINE FOR ANOTHER 33/1 SANDRINGHAM HANDICAP SUCCESS

Onassis

Trainer Charlie Fellowes and jockey Hayley Turner won the mile Sandringham Handicap for the second year in succession as 33/1 chance Onassis came home a length and a quarter in front. A year ago, the trainer and jockey had combined to take the mile contest with Thanks Be, who was also returned at 33/1. Onassis boasts a superb pedigree, being by Dubawi and out of 1,000 Guineas runner-up Jacqueline Quest.

Turner, who is only one of two female jockeys to have ridden a winner at Royal Ascot along with Gay Kelleway, said: “Onassis felt really good. She had the perfect profile for the race – the same as Thanks Be last year – and Charlie [Fellowes] told me she would win it about three months ago! She took the conditions really well and took her time. She is a very nice filly and did it easily.”

Hayley Turner

“I rode a very similar race to the one I rode on Thanks Be last year, and that was the plan from a similar draw. It is a very stiff, testing mile today, so I was able to tuck Onassis in and let her find her feet a bit and get settled in, and she just cruised through them. She did it really well. I thought, it is not going to be the same [without crowds], but actually I am buzzing just as much as last time. I was just hoping everyone at home was cheering. I could hear my Nana shouting!”

“It is still an Ascot winner – still the same race, same grade of horses. It is just as hard to ride winners whether anyone is here or not. When jockeys come racing, the weighing room is like a sanctuary for us and you don’t really see them socialising; it’s more the trainers it makes a difference to. Nothing really changes for us, apart from not having everyone cheering you when you come in.”

“It has been a bit frustrating [since I returned to race riding], but I have been getting plenty of rides and knocking on the door. It is just a case of keeping patient and carrying on as you are. If you don’t let it fry you, you just keep riding as you can.”

“The ground is soft, heavy in patches. I would imagine it is slightly better on the straight course than it was on the round course, but it’s certainly heavy on the round course and very slow on the straight.”

Charlie Fellowes said: “Onassis has an outstanding pedigree and I begged the owners to have a crack at this. This was the perfect race for her. She is a very good traveller and I thought the stiff mile would suit her. I have been wrong about everything else today, but I got this one right which is a relief. Onassis loves being ridden patiently, which is another reason I thought Ascot would suit her. I was a little concerned about the ground, but I should not have been because Dubawis are Dubawis and they go on anything – he is an outstanding stallion.”

“To win this race two years in a row, same weight, similarly awful draw. We thought we had an appalling draw and lucky we got the same result – it is amazing. Ascot tames lions. It was a tough day until now. First Prophet was really disappointing and King Ottokar had a lot of ground to make up – luckily Hayley saved the day.”

The 9/4 favourite African Dream sustained a pelvic injury in the concluding Sandringham Handicap. She has been taken to the stables and is in a stable condition.

4.40pm Sandringham Stakes (Handicap)

1 Onassis [drawn 1] Charlie Fellowes 3-8-01 Hayley Turner 33/1

2 Waliyak [18] Roger Varian 3-8-04 David Egan 4/1

3 Dubai Love [11] Saeed bin Suroor 3-9-07 Frankie Dettori 8/1

2nd Royal Ascot win for trainer Charlie Fellowes

2nd Royal Ascot win for jockey Hayley Turner

15 ran

Non-Runners: 3 Festive Star (Going); 4 Wejdan (Going); 7 Graceful Magic (Going)

9/4 Fav African Dream (PU)

Time: 1m 42.89s

Distances: 1¼, nk

Click here for audio interviews with Charlie Fellowes and Hayley Turner:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31584