ROYAL ASCOT 2020 – DAY 4
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- 22 June 2020
ART POWER SO IMPRESSIVE IN THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE HANDICAP
Art Power
The five-furlong Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap got proceedings underway on day four of Royal Ascot 2020. Despite being a 21-runner handicap for three-year-olds, the contest was turned into something of a procession as red-hot 6/4 favourite Art Power came home three and a half lengths clear.
It was a sixth Royal Ascot winner for trainer Tim Easterby and a seventh for jockey Silvestre de Sousa. William Easterby, assistant to his father, said: “Art Power is a really nice horse. It was Alastair Donald’s [King Power Racing Manager] decision which race to go for, so we left it up to him and it worked out well. Art Power is a horse we have always liked. We took our time with him last year and it seems to have paid off now. He won over six furlongs last time, so we will go for either five or six furlongs next time – we will just see what is around. This race was the first target. It was great to get a winner for the King Power team as they love this meeting so much. We will see how he is and then go from there.”
“Dad loves to support this kind of race and it was a great initiative to have races like these this year. Art Power goes on good ground really well, but he goes on soft ground, so he didn’t mind the rain at all. We will see how he goes. I don’t think Dad will want to over-face him too soon. Something like the Abbaye could be of interest to him. We might have a look and see what there is at Goodwood, as I know that is another important meeting to the King Power team, maybe for the King George Stakes but we will see. We are really grateful for King Power’s to support. They are great to train for and we are lucky to get some good horses for them.”
Silvestre de Sousa said: “Art Power is a very talented horse. After he won at Newcastle, we decided to go for this race because we thought we had have a few pounds in hand and we thought we would get the ground that suits him. I think he is still on his way up – I don’t think we will see him in a handicap again. I have thought a lot of him since the first day I rode him in the gallops, and he has done nothing wrong. Mentally, he is still very babish but he done very well, and loves the ground.”
“I love him this year over 5f, I think he has plenty class to go over any race over 5f. But next year we see him over 6f and 5f as well, I think he is a classy horse in the race today and if he keeps on improving we could see him in Grade 1s. I would like to see him next year in the G1 races here; touch wood he will stay in one piece, obviously. I think a lot of him and he is better than a Listed horse. He is still a baby, but he went and done it really professionally, and on the way back he quickened for me and then he stopped – he was waiting for the old ones, you know. In my mind I was hoping to get a lead, but he was so quick out of the gates that none of them could give me a lead, so I just rode the race from the front in the way that suits the horse. He has got two gears – he is quick out and he is quick again.”
“This is very important, especially for my team King Power Racing and Top [Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha), obviously his Dad is not here but whatever way he is he will be looking down for his horse, I am so glad to be involved with King Power Racing it is a big operation and getting bigger. This is the place we like to have winners, big winners like this. The ground is soft. There’s no bias; I had a walk of the course and it is a little touch quicker around the middle, but there is no bias.”
1.15pm Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap
1 Art Power [drawn 19] Tim Easterby 3-9-00 Silvestre de Sousa 6/4 Fav
2 Keep Busy [21] John Quinn 3-8-10 Cieren Fallon (3) 6/1
3 Dancin Inthestreet [11] William Haggas 3-8-00 John Egan 9/1
4 Lambeth Walk [20] Archie Watson 3-8-10 Oisin Murphy 33/1
6th Royal Ascot win for trainer Tim Easterby
7th Royal Ascot win for jockey Silvestre de Sousa
21 ran
Non-Runner: 6 Will To Win (Self Certificate, Going)
Time: 1m 0.57s
Distances: 3 ½, nk, ½
Tote Win: £2.10 Places: £1.30, £2.90, £3.70 Exacta: £11.90
Click here for audio interviews with William Easterby and Silvestre de Sousa:
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31587
DANDALLA GIVES BEN CURTIS FIRST ROYAL ASCOT SUCCESS WITH DAZZLING ALBANY STAKES VICTORY
Dandalla
Dandalla made it two wins from as many starts when powering to an impressive victory in the G3 Albany Stakes over six furlongs, handing jockey Ben Curtis his first Royal Ascot win.
Owned by Nick Bradley Racing & Elaine Burke, the daughter of Dandy Man took up the running well over a furlong from home and never looked in any danger after that point. The 11/4 favourite Sethare stayed on to take second, six lengths adrift of Dandalla. It was a second Royal Ascot victory for trainer Karl Burke.
Karl Burke said: “We were worried about the rain the last 48 hours. I walked the track yesterday and it was very wet. We did not have as much rain today, but the ground is tacky. The thing that sort of tempered that was in her work, Dandalla has always been a strong galloper with a turn of foot. She has plenty of stamina on the dam’s side [Chellalla] and I think that came into play today and hopefully that will come into play again in the future with maybe the 1000 Guineas. If Dandy Man (her sire) is going to have a 1000 Guineas winner, it could be her.”
“Dandalla has got a great turn of foot and then she keeps on galloping. A few times at the top of the Middleham gallop where we do most of our work, jockeys have been struggling to pull her up. My daughter Lucy earmarked her since before Christmas. She actually came in one day and said ‘I hate to say it, but this filly reminds me of Laurens.’ That will tell you how high she thought of her. She is probably more precious than Laurens – Laurens had not even run at this time during her two-year-old career. She is also speedier than Laurens. The question now is how far we stay, and we have got plenty of time to think about.”
“She was entered in the Queen Mary. She obviously won’t run there and that was just in case the deluge came and we thought if it was heavy ground we would go for five furlongs rather than six furlongs. We only declared in the Queen Mary as there wasn’t a maximum field.”
“Quiet Reflection was our first Royal Ascot winner and that was a massive result for us. This is a great result and it’s great to get a two-year-old winner here. I think we have done well with the two-year-olds over the last ten years. To go and buy one for €22,000, and our daughter Kelly will be absolutely delighted as she bought her at the sale. To buy them, train them, we own half of her – it’s great all round really.”
Regarding possible targets, Burke continued: “The Prix Morny comes into consideration for Dandalla. I have a few nice colts for that which I am considering as well, so we will just have to sit down and have a chat. Today was always the immediate plan. It was always going to be Newcastle and then here so we’ll sit down and think about things. There is no reason why we won’t be looking at G1 races for her.”
“Time will tell how strong the race is. She has destroyed horses and now you would like to see one of those placed horses come out next time and frank the form and that is what we will be looking first and then take it from there. Either way, we have got a very strong filly.”
Ben Curtis said: “It is on every jockey’s to-do list. I have been coming down to Royal Ascot for a good while now and not really getting involved, so finally to get a winner is unbelievable. Karl’s daughter Lucy rides Dandalla every day and does all the hard work at home. I remember her coming down from the gallops one day, and she mentioned her in the same sentence as Laurens, and said she gave her that kind of feel. When she said that it gave me all the hope in the world. When Dandalla went to the racetrack the first time and did what she did [she won on her debut by two lengths at Newcastle on June 2], we knew she’d improve a ton, and everything went perfectly today and she’s demolished them. She has shown her class and it is brilliant. I ride for Karl all the time, so to be able to ride him a winner at Royal Ascot is unbelievable.”
“It is funny, it was a surreal feeling. I came there are the two [furlong pole] travelling very well, and I just popped her between a couple just inside the two, and she came alive. I knew when we accelerated that nothing else would be able to pick up the way I did, because she picked up very well. In the last furlong I said, ‘We’re out on our own’, and it was a brilliant feeling and a great performance by the filly.”
“I don’t care, crowd or no crowd! I am in racing to ride winners, and ride big winners, and try to improve myself year on year. We came into this year looking for quality – we have had the numbers before – and I have had two Group Three winners and now a Royal Ascot winner. I think I am just going to go in and pinch myself now in a second.”
“When you are the one going for it, you hope it [a big break] is going to come. I was sitting on the shelf hoping it was going to come. I am elated; I cannot believe it. Luckily, I had a filly who was willing to do it before me.”
“I had two things on my agenda. One was to ride a G1 winner, and I am still looking for that, and the other was to ride a Royal Ascot winner, and that is one off the list. Those two things were at the very top of my list. Every jockey would like to have a stab at being champion and being able to hold that title, so if I ever got in a position to go for the title, I would give it 120%.”
1:50pm Albany Stakes (Group 3)
1 Dandalla [drawn 14] Karl Burke 2-9-00 Ben Curtis 13/2
2 Setarhe [6] Roger Varian 2-9-00 Andrea Atzeni 11/4 Fav
3 Mother Earth [5] Aidan O’Brien 2-9-00 Ryan Moore 100/30
2nd Royal Ascot win for trainer Karl Burke
1st Royal Ascot win for jockey Ben Curtis
13 ran
Non-Runner: Ventura Vision (withdrawn at start)
Time: 1m 16.38s
Distances: 6, nk
Tote Win: £9.55 Places: £2.80 £1.60 £1.50 Exacta: £37.00
Click here for audio interviews with Karl Burke and Ben Curtis:
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31588
THE LIR JET POWERS HOME TO TAKE NORFOLK STAKES HONOURS
The Lir Jet gets up close home
It looked as if American challenger Golden Pal (Wesley Ward/Andrea Atzeni, 12/1) had the G2 Norfolk Stakes in the bag but a strong run from 9/2 chance The Lir Jet (Michael Bell/Oisin Murphy) in the closing stages saw the latter get up to score by a neck. It was an eighth Royal Ascot victory for Newmarket-based Bell and a fifth for Oisin Murphy – the jockey’s second win of the week following Sir Busker in Wednesday’s Silver Royal Hunt Cup. The winner is now unbeaten in two starts, having won on debut at Yarmouth on June 3, when he was owned by the trainer’s son Nick. Following that win, the two-year-old Prince Of Lir colt was purchased by Qatar Racing.
Michael Bell said: “During the race, I was a bit worried when the leader went so far clear. Oisin [Murphy] obviously thought he had it in control, but The Lir Jet battled. He is very inexperienced – he had only run the once – and has never had to dig in before because when he won at Yarmouth, he won on the bridle. He has learnt how to race today and I think you will see an even better performance next time, hopefully.”
“At Yarmouth he broke the track record, but he did not learn a lot because he went so easy, so today he really had to dig in and learn how to race. I think it’s so good when you see a horse with that sort of attitude, and it bodes very well for the future. I think he is all speed; he is by a sprinter out of a Green Desert mare. I think he will definitely get six, but I wouldn’t be thinking he will get further than that.”
“The sire [Prince Of Lir] won the Norfolk [in 2016] on soft ground, so we were quite hopeful with the ground, I did not think that would worry him. He has obviously already won on fast ground, so he is one of those lucky horses that goes on anything.”
“My son Nick found him from Robson Aguira, who bought him very cheaply and was going to breeze him up. When the breeze-ups were cancelled Robson and Nick came to an arrangement and the horse came to us. Then Sheikh Fahad was watching Yarmouth on telly and sent me a text asking if he was for sale, and the rest is history. A good bit of business for all involved, and very nice for us to have a good winner for a very important owner – it is high profile for us. Any trainer needs good horses and good winners, especially for big operations like Qatar. I am particularly pleased because this is very much Nick’s deal and he must take a huge amount of credit.”
“My gut feeling is that if The Lir Jet runs in another G2, he’ll be carrying a penalty, so I’d be inclined to point him at something like the [G1] Prix Morny, but I think we should talk to Sheikh Fahad and David Redvers, and we will come up with a plan. The Nunthorpe would be another option, but the balls will go in the air. When you start winning Group races with two-year-olds there is stallion potential, so there are all sorts of things that need to be considered. But if Battaash was to go for the Nunthorpe, I would probably say he should be avoided. The Commonwealth Cup would be an obvious target this time next year – when all the crowds will be here.”
2.25pm Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
1 The Lir Jet [drawn 1] Michael Bell 2-9-01 Oisin Murphy 9/2
2 Golden Pal [6] Wesley Ward USA 2-9-01 Andrea Atzeni 12/1
3 Imperial Force [2] Andrew Balding 2-9-01 James Doyle 15/2
8th Royal Ascot win for trainer Michael Bell
5th Royal Ascot win for jockey Oisin Murphy
12 ran
7/4 Fav Eye Of Heaven (9th)
Non-Runners: 3 Emirati Dirham (Vet’s Certificate, stiff), 5 Get It (Going)
Time: 1m 1.55s
Distances: nk, 3
Tote Win: £7.25; Places: £2.05, £2.90, £2.30 Exacta: £37.90
Click here for audio interviews with Michael Bell and Oisin Murphy:
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31589
LANDMARK 70TH SUCCESS FOR DETTORI AS FANNY LOGAN TAKES THE HARDWICKE
Fanny Logan wins comfortably
Frankie Dettori was in the winner’s enclosure for the 70th time at Royal Ascot after four-year-old filly Fanny Logan landed the G2 Hardwicke Stakes over a mile and a half. Dettori delivered the daughter of Sea The Stars with a perfectly timed challenge entering the final furlong and the 17/2 chance went on to score by a comfortable two and a half lengths from Alounak.
Frankie Dettori said: “I love Fanny Logan. On paper, I thought maybe we were just racing for a place, but John gave me a lot of confidence and said she had come out of Haydock really well. She had improved mentally and physically. I was further back than I wanted to be, but they started racing pretty early and by the time I got to the furlong marker, they were all dead and she showed a good turn of foot – it was good.”
“Look, she has improved from three to four, she is bigger and stronger, she was very fit, and she liked the ground. It was a proper performance and she has definitely improved from last year. I actually forgot I was one short of 70 winners, so that’s another milestone – it is good. It’s brilliant to have 70 – that’s a lot. I want number 71 now.”
Frankie Dettori after riding his 70th Royal Ascot winner
Trainer John Gosden, saddling his fifth winner of the week, said: “It wasn’t a fluke. She went up to Haydock, and I asked Rab Havlin to drop her out as she can be keen. She ran a lovely race to be second and had a very good blow, so we know the benefit of having that race in. She has been very bright and well in herself since.”
“Wearing a hood settled Fanny Logan for her first run, but I find it can dull them a little bit and you aren’t going to go winning a Hardwick if you’re dulled. To that extent it worked well for her. She had to have it last year and learned to settle – you might remember PJ McDonald winning on her at York, and she took him on for two, three furlongs – but she has grown up and learnt a lot, and she certainly raced properly today.”
“Frankie had the plan of making the running today, but I told him I didn’t think that was a good idea, and consequently that position was occupied by Communique, who went a good clip. He has ridden her coolly and sat out the back and swept down the outside, and she was clearly the best on the day.”
“Frankie didn’t use that turn of foot in time in California in the Breeders’ Cup [finished fourth], so he’s learnt! Fanny Logan had won three or four on the trot in the autumn and was a filly in great form. We should have stayed closer to the pace and moved a bit earlier. She ran a blinder – that is a fast mile and a quarter at Santa Anita. She ran very well – what I loved about her was her last furlong that day. This year it is Keeneland and we’d probably be very keen to take her, but it’s a sand track, which is great when it is dry but when it rains, it gets very loose.”
“Frankie’s belying his years and it is a pleasure to be around him. His knowledge and his feel when riding work in the morning – he is one of the few who is extremely accurate when talking about horses in the mornings – what they need and what they don’t need – and he is a great race-reader and a fabulous jockey. We are lucky to have him about.”
Asked about Gold Cup hero Stradivarius, Gosden added: “Stradivarius is very well in himself today, bouncy and full of it. He ate up and couldn’t wait to go out for a lead-out and a pick of grass. The Arc was talked about for Stradivarius last year. We didn’t do it – we came here and got chinned over a slightly shortened two miles on the hurdles track. It has come back into play again. I did enter him earlier this week, so it wasn’t like I was ducking the issue. I think it is the concept of Ardross, who was a great, great Cup horse who then went and ran a fabulous second in the Arc, I believe, with Lester, and I think Bjorn [Nielsen] is thinking in those terms, and he is fully entitled to do so. We will simply see how we are doing come the autumn and what the plan is. But I always say the horse will let you know. Give them 10 days and they will let you know what they want to do.”
3.00pm Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
1 Fanny Logan [drawn 8] John Gosden 4-8-12 Frankie Dettori 17/2
2 Alounak [1] Andrew Balding 5-9-01 Oisin Murphy 40/1
3 Defoe [5] Roger Varian 6-9-01 Andrea Atzeni 6/1
54th Royal Ascot win for trainer John Gosden
70th Royal Ascot win for jockey Frankie Dettori
9 ran
9/4 Fav Anthony Van Dyck (5th)
Non-Runners: 5 Desert Encounter (Going); 10 Spanish Mission (Going)
Time: 2m 34.49s
Distances: 2½, 1¾
Tote Win: £8.75 Places: £2.10, £7.70, £1.80 Exacta: £194.90
Click here for audio interviews with John Gosden and Frankie Dettori:
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31590
CLASSY PERFORMANCE FROM GOLDEN HORDE TO TAKE G1 COMMONWEALTH CUP
Golden Horde well on top
Friday’s G1 highlight, the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs, saw a decisive victory for 5/1 chance Golden Horde. It was an eighth Royal Ascot victory for both trainer Clive Cox and jockey Adam Kirby. Always travelling well, the son of Lethal Force held a clear advantage a furlong from home and was never threatened as he scored by a length and a half from American challenger Kimari (Wesley Ward/Frankie Dettori).
Clive Cox said: “Golden Horde was G1 placed twice last year and was great in [winning] the Richmond Stakes. We always believed this year he would be able to take a step up physically. He was a big horse last year, but he has really grown into that frame this year. I am very proud of him. We have got a great team at home and to win a G1 first time out with any horse is difficult, but given the way things are this year, it’s the same for a lot of people, but I am really proud. He is a horse to go forward with – I really hope and pray he has got a longer journey to go ahead of him.”
“Golden Horde is just top-class. He has got a lovely temperament, is great to deal with and that ability to go on any type of ground is very special as well. He is out of a Pivotal mare [Entreat] by Lethal Force who we enjoyed such a wonderful day with when winning the Diamond Jubilee in 2013 – it is very special. We always trained him last year with the knowledge that with the right sort of behaviour he would be a better horse this year as well. It is just fantastic when it goes right and when dreams are realised. He would have had a penalty if he had run up at Newcastle in the Pavilion Stakes. We didn’t see the point of giving him a harder time than needs be. Martin Berry rides him at home, he is my head lad at home.”
“We had an away day at Kempton with him. Jerry McGrath, who rides out for me in the summer, had a sit on him. When we took the rugs off him today, I was delighted with what I saw and I am pleased the performance has backed that up.”
“The great thing about Lethal Force was he kept progressing with age. He was a better four-year-old than he was three-year-old. There is always that hope when you know they’ve got that ability and the size and stature to carry it out.”
“Adam is rock solid and we have enjoyed lots of good days here, this really takes the biscuit. I am really pleased for Sheikh Sultan. It’s shame there are no owners here, but I am really grateful for his support.”
Asked about the July Cup at Newmarket on July 11 as a logical target for Golden Horde, Cox replied: “I would like to think so. That was very much on our minds. He has done the job really well today and I would like to think that would put a real edge on him having a race. I think mentally with these sprinters to have a race is important. I think with the knowledge that you have a good horse, and when they do so succeed as you hope they do, it is like watching your own children, so that is why I’m proud of him.”
Adam Kirby said: “Golden Horde is a proper horse. When he had his first run at Newbury last season, we knew he was pretty decent, but he’s done nothing but improve. He has strengthened up very well over the winter. He is just like his dad, Lethal Force, and will improve as time goes on. He jumped away, travelled good – he has a very high cruising speed. He is just like his dad, just a different colour. We won’t be coming in back in trip or going any further. He is very quick, but he is very strong over six and I don’t think there’s any reason to change. He is quite a special horse.”
“Clive [Cox] is like a second father to me. We have always had a good relationship, and long may it last. We have been together a long time; he knows me and I know him, and we are very honest with each other. That’ s why we get on so well together. It is straightforward. I have been a very lucky boy and ridden a lot of very good sprinters, but this lad [Golden Horde] is right up there. He is extremely talented.”
“I kept it uncomplicated, although the race went a bit back to front. I thought the Wesley Ward horse would give me a lead to half-way but he didn’t jump. Golden Horde has a great natural cruising speed, and it was all very easy. Full credit to Clive, he has done a great job. Obviously that was a great day [birth of first child and Profitable’s win in the 2016 King’s Stand Stakes] that was a while ago now. I left the hospital that morning, left poor old Megan to get on with it, but she has done a fantastic job, she is a fantastic mum, and hopefully the kids will be at home watching.”
3.35pm Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
1 Golden Horde [drawn 10] Clive Cox 3-9-00 Adam Kirby 5/1
2 Kimari [11] Wesley Ward USA 3-8-11 Frankie Dettori 5/1
3 Ventura Rebel [14] Richard Hannon 3-9-00 Tony Hamilton 50/1
8th Royal Ascot win for trainer Clive Cox
8th Royal Ascot win for jockey Adam Kirby
16 ran
100/30 Fav Lopez Y Fernandez (11th)
Non-Runner: 13 Wooded (Going)
Time: 1m 14.56s
Distances: 1½, 2½
Tote Win: £7 Places: £2.15, £2.15, £15.90 Exacta: £30.90
Click here for audio interviews with Clive Cox and Adam Kirby:
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31591
SANTIAGO A COMFORTABLE WINNER OF QUEEN’S VASE
Santiago
Santiago was the comfortable winner of the G2 Queen’s Vase over a mile and six furlongs, giving both trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore a fourth success of the meeting. After delivering his challenge entering the final quarter mile, the son of Authorized quickened impressively for a decisive two and three-quarter length victory.
Aidan O’Brien said: “Santiago is a lovely, straightforward horse. He travels and stays well. He is a very easy horse to train and get fit – we are very happy. We thought he was going to be an ideal St Leger [Doncaster, September 12] horse. We will give him another run in between. Santiago could be a Gold Cup horse next year, so we will keep that in our minds. He is a strong traveller and will get better from three to four. We have plenty of horses in the Derbys – the Irish Derby will come too soon and we will think about Epsom. But I think we will take our time with him this year.”
Reflecting on Anthony Van Dyck’s fifth-placed effort in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes earlier on the card, O’Brien commented: “We were pleased with Anthony Van Dyck. He was being kept in by Andrea [Atzeni, Defoe], but he hit the line very strong. It was a non-event for him really, but he ran a really good race. The plan was to come here and then have a look at the King George [Ascot, July 24].”
The master of Ballydoyle saddles Wichita and Arizona in tomorrow’s G1 St James’s Palace Stakes and provided an update on their wellbeing ahead of the mile showpiece. He revealed: “Both horses are good and seem to be well since the 2000 Guineas. They have done the same amount of work, they haven’t done an awful lot, but seem to be well.
“You get away with some horses [running twice in quick succession] but most you don’t. We didn’t have much choice and our racing in Ireland only started last week so there was nothing we could do. We are delighted to have horses to run and you think their form will improve again once they have more time between races.”
Ryan Moore said: “He just looked to the rail for a bit of help. I am very happy with what he has done today, he has a good attitude. He went through the race very smoothly. The form looks fairly solid, the second horse had run a good race at Lingfield and the third horse he won a Listed race here on King George day and was placed in a couple of Group races in France. It wasn’t a big field, but I would say they brought a fair level of form.”
4.10pm Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
1 Santiago [drawn 5] Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Ryan Moore 100/3
2 Berkshire Rocco [2] Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Oisin Murphy 3/1
3 Al Dabaran [4] Charlie Appleby 3-9-00 William Buick 6/1
74th Royal Ascot win for trainer Ryan Moore
62nd Royal Ascot win for jockey Ryan Moore
8 ran
Non-Runner: 4 London Arch (Going)
11/4 Fav Born With Pride (4th)
Time: 3m 5.67s
Distances: 2¾, 8½
Tote Win: £4.85 Place: £1.75, £1.35, £1.90 Exacta: £15.10
Click here for an audio interview with Aidan O’Brien:
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?a=UmFjZW5ld3M=&b=31592
33/1 SCARLET DRAGON HANDS HOLLIE DOYLE FIRST ROYAL ASCOT SUCCESS IN THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH HANDICAP
Scarlet Dragon
Hollie Doyle created history in 2019 when recording the highest number of wins ever by a female jockey in a calendar year – 116. The jockey now has another addition to her CV after partnering 33/1 shot Scarlet Dragon to victory in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap, providing her with a first Royal Ascot victory. The seven-year-old came from off the pace before getting on top in the final half-furlong, scoring by half a length from Deja. It was a second Royal Ascot win in 2020 for trainer Alan King.
Doyle, 23, said: “Scarlet Dragon is a strong old traveller, and you need that horse underneath you to do those kind of manoeuvres, especially at this track, so I was lucky. I know him very well – I won the Old Rowley Cup [October, 2016] on him, and I had to sit and suffer that day, but when he gets those gaps, he really flies through them.”
“This means a huge amount to me. You walk into Ascot every year with really high hopes, and try to picture in your head what it’s like to ride a winner here, but it is very hard to come across winners, as I have learnt. This today was amazing for me. It is definitely the icing on the cake. I have got a lot of people to thank for my success recently; I can’t really put into words what it means.”
“Hayley Turner has been there and done it, she has ridden G1 winners. It is hard to imagine ever riding a G1 winner myself, but she has done it so I know it is possible one day. My aim is to improve every year on what I achieved the year before, ability-wise, so I have luckily been getting the opportunities and I have improved as a rider, but I have got a long, long way to go. That is something I really look forward to because you can never stop improving or learning, so that is what it is for me from now on.”
“When I was a 5lb claimer at Richard Hannon’s, Mr (Henry) Ponsonby, who owns Scarlet Dragon, had a few in training there and he used to put me up on his horses, and I luckily got on Scarlet Dragon when Eve Johnson Houghton trained him and won the Old Rowley Cup. That just led on to more opportunities because he has horses in training with other trainers. He had First Mohican who was my first Glorious Goodwood ride. Little things like that help you get to the next level, and it is weird that I have done it today on this horse.”
HOLLIE DOYLE
“It was really important that I got that Royal Ascot winner. I mean it is important for any jockey out there, it is just a monkey off my back. I am very grateful. It was a great training performance from Mr King as well, as this horse had lost his way a little bit on the Flat, I suppose you could say, but to run like that off a lay off takes some doing. For once in my life, I have beaten Tom [Marquand, her boyfriend] to it!”
Henry Ponsonby, who manages the syndicate that owns Scarlet Dragon, said: “The biggest prize this horse had won up today, well bigger than today, was the £150,000 Old Rowley Cup as a three-year-old. I don’t think he has won on the Flat since then, but he has been five times Group placed. This is his prep for the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen next month! To be honest, turning for home I didn’t think we would be in the action. Hollie has not ridden him for some time and she gets a tune out of this horse, and I said on my owners’ line this morning that if she gets the tune she got at Goodwood, just hope for the best.”
“He is not very big and didn’t cost very much. Eve Johnson-Houghton did a fabulous job on the Flat and Alan King has taken two years to win a race on the Flat! But well done Alan, he is having a good Ascot. We have got Who Dares Wins tomorrow in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, so fingers crossed.”
4.40pm Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)
1 Scarlet Dragon [drawn 12] Alan King 7-9-02 Hollie Doyle 33/1
2 Deja [2] Peter Chapple-Hyam 5-9-05 Andrea Atzeni 9/1
3 West End Charmer [3] Mark Johnston 4-9-09 William Buick 4/1 Fav
14 ran
Non-Runners: 2 El Misk, 4 Dal Horrisgle, 5 Universal Order, 6 Byron Flyer, 13 Koeman (all going)
Time: 2m 35.4s
Distances: ½, 1½
Tote Win: £51.40 Places:£9.90, £3.15, £1.90 Exacta:£440.50
