Tag Archive for: Royal Ascot Festival

Delight for British raider with gutsy Greenlands victory

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James’s Delight swooped on the line to take home the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.

Trained by Clive Cox, James’s Delight was settled on the heels of pacesetter Lethal Levi by Oisin Murphy, who was hard at work as the field entered the last of the six furlongs.

The 22-1 winner kept responding for pressure though and edged a short head victory over Lethal Levi on the line, with Big Gossey a further neck back in third after struggling to find a gap at a crucial stage.

Australian import Storm Boy was sent off the 6-4 favourite on his European bow for Aidan O’Brien, but he dropped away after racing prominently early on and was also slightly hampered in the finish, eventually ending up last of the nine runners.

Paddy Power cut James’s Delight to 14-1 from 25s for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Murphy said: “Clive was very happy with him. The plan was actually to get a bit of cover, but the speed wasn’t very fast and he broke well. He is a tough, game horse for very good owners, the Rooneys.

“Jason Maguire (the owners’ racing manager) does a top job and it’s fantastic they have kept this guy in their colours and he can pick up valuable prizes like today.”

James’s Delight was continuing a recent British domination of the race, with Cox’s winner a fourth successive triumph for the raiding party.

Asked why British runners have been so successful of late, Murphy added: “We generally have quite a lot of them and the handicap system is quite tough on them.

“They really have to perform in those big Saturday class two races. This guy came through that system and the guys have done a great job bringing him over here and preparing him for such a big day.”

Mgheera storms home to secure smart Temple triumph

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Mgheera finished with a flourish to lift Group Two honours in the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock.

Previously trained in France, the five-year-old was having her second start for Ed Walker having won a ParisLongchamp Group Three on her debut for the yard earlier in the month.

Partnered by William Buick, who had already ridden three winners on the card, Mgheera was settled early on as Law Of Average set a testing pace, but she was travelling notably well up the nearside rail in the final furlong.

She’s Quality had set sail for home on the other side of the track but 10-1 shot Mgheera had too much in reserve and swept through to take the prize by half a length, with Washington Heights the same distance back in third.

Mgheera is now two from two for Ed Walker
Mgheera is now two from two for Ed Walker (Martin Rickett/PA)

The winner was cut to 14-1 from 20s for the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot by Paddy Power, while Coral were more impressed and make her a 12-1 chance from 20s.

Walker, while keen on taking her to Ascot, feels the Nunthorpe at York would be the perfect race for her – if she is still in his care with a trip to Australia in the pipeline.

“She’s done absolutely nothing wrong since she joined us and we weren’t massively surprised when she won in France,” said Walker.

“The only thing that I was surprised about was how much she drifted in the betting. She was 4-1 and she’s gone and won at 10-1.

“I know it wasn’t the strongest Group Two ever but it was deep enough.

“She’s always slowly away, whether she’ll keep getting away with it, particularly at Ascot which is where I think we’ll go next, I don’t know.

“A stiff five will suit her but I think the Nunthorpe will be perfect for her, she’s very quick.

“There’s talk of her going to Australia to visit Too Darn Hot, but it will be hard to pass up a realistic chance in the Nunthorpe – I hope!

“It looks an inspired decision to buy her now in hindsight, but we didn’t envisage it working out this well. We knew her form quite well from taking Makarova over to France and she wasn’t beaten far by Bradsell in a Listed race.

“The game looks easy when it turns out like this. It’s pretty cool and she’s very exciting.”

Brussels sprouts wings late on to land Curragh maiden

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Brussels followed in the hoofprints of fellow Aidan O’Brien-trained runner Henri Matisse by winning the Avenuebloodstock.com Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh.

The subsequent French 2000 Guineas victor landed the six-furlong contest on his juvenile bow 12 months ago, while Unquestionable won for O’Brien in 2023, and Brussels (11-4) ensured a third successive win for the handler.

The Wootton Bassett colt was the pick of stable jockey Ryan Moore and duly proved too good for another Ballydoyle runner in Kansas, coming home three-quarters of a length in front, with the Ger Lyons-trained favourite Learntodiscover a further length and a quarter back in third.

Brussels is a 14-1 shot with Paddy Power for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, but O’Brien expressed some doubt about running in Berkshire next month.

He said: “Ryan was very happy. He said he was very green, he was very babyish when he got on and going down. He said he will come forward a lot from it.

“All these horses are running with Ascot in mind, but Ryan said that he was so babyish that it might come too quick. We’ll see how much he comes on.

“He said that he thought he would have no problem getting seven. He’s very big, a massive, big, powerful horse.

“The second horse ran lovely. I’m not sure if he’s quick and six is far enough for him. It was five in Naas and he might be a fast horse.”

O’Brien’s son Joseph was also on the scoresheet as Trustyourinstinct (5-4 favourite) made the most of a drop to Listed company as he beat Romzina by four lengths in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Orby Stakes.

The JP McManus-owned five-year-old was running over hurdles at this point 12 months ago, but O’Brien plans to stick to the level now.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse, very consistent and he loves it here at the Curragh. I’m delighted to have a nice winner for JP.

“He’s well enough handicapped over hurdles but he doesn’t really jump with great fluency. He’ll probably stick to the Flat.

“He’s a very solid Listed/Group Three horse and he pays his way every year. We’ve ran him internationally a few times as well and we might look at that again at a later date.”

Apercu (9-1) is set for a rise in class after getting the better of Cloud Seeker by a short head in a thrilling finish to the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Handicap.

Winning trainer Andy Oliver said: “She was enjoying herself and was going sweetly. She battles and when the horse came back at her, she just kept finding.

“She’ll go up for that (black type company) and that would be the plan.

“Mares, when they do stay in training and start improving, you never know. What’s good about her is that she just does enough. She’s a great doer at home and brings it all to the racecourse.”

Moore completed a double as the Ed Dunlop-trained Skukuza (9-2) secured his first win in over a year in the QuinnBet Emerald Mile Handicap.

The handler said: “We’re delighted. We came here for the rain and it came at the right time.

“He deserved to win this. He got injured in the Britannia, which he ran so well in (when second last year), and things haven’t gone right for him.

“He’s a smart horse and I’m delighted for my team and obviously for Mrs (Gaynor) Rupert. Possibly the Hunt Cup next.

“It’s a nice pot, a great day and a long time since I had a winner here. I haven’t had many runners here. We won a few Classics here but it seems like a while ago.”

Moore made it a treble aboard the O’Brien-trained Propose (8-13 favourite) in the closing Finlay Volvo Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.

Amiloc enters Ascot equation after Goodwood success

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Amiloc maintained his unbeaten record in an ultimately impressive manner in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.

Ralph Beckett’s charge bagged a brace of Kempton victories last term and had already run out an emphatic winner over a mile at this venue earlier this month.

Stepping up to 11 furlongs, he was sent off the 11-10 market leader under Richard Kingscote, who opted to settle his mount at the back of the field early on.

Favourite backers will have had a few anxious moments as Amiloc appeared to be under pressure a couple of times, but patience proved a virtue as he eventually came back on the bridle and comfortably picked off stablemate Sir Dinadan before pulling clear to prevail by four lengths.

Having been gelded, Amiloc is unable to run in the Betfred Derby, but Royal Ascot will come into the reckoning and he was also cut to 25-1 from 33-1 with the sponsor for the Coral-Eclipse.

Beckett told Racing TV: “It was not a surprise. Obviously, he’s a short-price favourite but when he was racing rather lazily out in the country, I was sort of thinking ‘come on pal’.

“But I was never that concerned and then of course when he loomed up on the outside, it was all obvious that it was going to work out that way.

“The second is a good horse, he’s tough and I think he’s a Queen’s Vase horse, and the winner might be a Queen’s Vase horse as well, so we’ve got to shuffle the pack a little bit there and work out what we do next time.”

Asked if Amiloc could have been a Derby contender but for being gelded, the trainer added: “His work has never suggested so, but obviously he races a lot better than his work. I think he’s obviously very talented.

“His dam was tricky and some of them out of her were tricky, Brimham Rocks took a long time to get the hang of things before he became a group horse in Australia, there was a Kingman filly who was half mad as well, so it’s never been that straightforward.

“So, gelding him early helped him and we’ll see what happens. The (King) Edward VII (Stakes at Ascot) is a possibility and we’ll put him in everything, he’s in the Eclipse, so we’ll see, it’s a good problem to have.”

Fitzella delights Hugo Palmer in ‘booking Ascot ticket’

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Fitzella “booked her ticket” to Royal Ascot with a thoroughly professional display in winning the Betfred ‘Supporting Macmillan’ EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Haydock.

Showing the benefit of a debut second at Ascot, when belying odds of 33-1 to go down by just a neck against Godolphin hotpot Military Code, Hugo Palmer’s Too Darn Hot filly was fast into her stride under Oisin Murphy and made all of the running over six furlongs.

Richard Hannon’s Tahalel, who cost €500,000 as a yearling, had been backed into 6-5 favourite, but she could not lay a glove on 5-4 shot Fitzella, who kept on strongly from the front to beat her market rival by three and a half lengths.

Palmer told Racing TV: “I’m relieved more than anything. When you’ve got one you like and they are odds-on all morning and then I went in to watch the screen and I realised she wasn’t even favourite, you can imagine my stomach was doing backflips.

“But she’s done it with the minimum of fuss, which is obviously what we hoped she’d do. We’ve loved her from day one, she was I think our most expensive yearling last year (£170,000) and every day at home, she’s lived up to that.

“Everything we’ve done with her at home, she’s learned and done it so much better the next time, and that’s exactly what she’s done today.

“Obviously, she’s going to go up massively in grade, I think she has to. Oisin said that she’s booked her ticket to Ascot and if I were you, I’d go over six. Oisin feels, and I think I agree with him, that she’s potentially a miler.

“She’s gorgeous, she’s beautifully bred and yes, she’s booked her ticket for the Albany.”

Fitzella was cut to 10-1 from 16s for the Albany with Coral, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power.

Frost At Dawn was another to blaze a trail throughout in the Women In Racing/British EBF Cecil Frail Listed Stakes over the same trip, giving Murphy a quick double.

William Knight’s four-year-old, who has entries in the King Charles III Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting, faced late challenges across the track from Prime Art and Nighteyes but the 9-5 chance battled on to oblige by a neck and half a length.

Murphy said: “There was plenty of wind in this compared to the two-year-old race and she maybe did well to make her own running. It was a real pace collapse late but she showed a good attitude.

“She’s been busy over the last few weeks but running to a very good level and I’m delighted to see her win.”

Wild Desert took his first step towards upholding family honour with a successful debut in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Novice Stakes over seven furlongs.

Charlie Appleby’s colt is a half-brother to last year’s champion two-year-old Shadow Of Light and fellow Group One-winning juvenile Earthlight and he got better and better as the race went on, eventually pulling clear to prevail by five lengths at even money.

Jockey Billy Loughnane said: “He did everything very professionally. Obviously, he’s got a super page and it was very straightforward really.

“I managed to get a bit of a lead into the straight, it took a while for the penny to drop but when it did in the last three-parts of a furlong, I really liked his attitude.”

Royal Ascot reappearance adds up for Economics

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Economics is very much on course for a return to action in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and is reported to have “done really well from three to four”.

William Haggas only managed to get one run into him as a juvenile but the son of Night Of Thunder soon made up for lost time last term, stepping up on a Newbury maiden win to demolish his Dante rivals at York by six lengths.

Connections resisted the temptation to go for the Derby with such an unfurnished type and he rewarded that patience with a Group Two triumph at Deauville and then a thrilling victory in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, where he edged out Auguste Rodin by a neck.

Despite closing his campaign with a below-par effort in the Champion Stakes at Ascot, Economics remains one of the most exciting horses in training and is tipped for big things this season.

Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas told Racing TV: “The plan is to go to Ascot and he looks great. We’ve been happy with him and at the moment, he’s progressing as William wants, so it’s all systems go for Ascot.

“He’s done really well from three to four, he’s strengthened up, he’s got much more bulk about him and strength behind the saddle, so hopefully that will stand him in good stead.

“He always looked very leggy last year, he doesn’t look leggy anymore. He’s a big horse obviously, but he really has put on some muscle, which is good.”

Storm Boy headlines ‘very competitive’ Greenlands field

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All eyes will be on Storm Boy in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh, with Aidan O’Brien having described the exciting Australian import as “very quick”.

The three-year-old son of Justify hit the jackpot during his time with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the southern hemisphere, collecting more than £930,000 for an emphatic Magic Millions 2yo Classic triumph on the Gold Coast.

That was one of five wins from 10 starts and even eighth place in The Everest on his most recent outing at Randwick last October was worth almost £375,000.

Storm Boy is already among the ante-post favourites for both the King Charles III Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and has reportedly acclimatised well at Ballydoyle.

O’Brien said in a stable visit earlier this year: “Before he came, I wasn’t sure whether he’d want six, seven or a mile, but there’s no doubt he’s a sprinter, he’s fast. He’s big and powerful. You’d be very happy with everything he’s doing.”

The same connections successfully pulled off a similar coup seven years ago with Merchant Navy, who was a Group One winner in Australia before taking this prize on route to Diamond Jubilee Stakes glory at the Royal meeting.

Ryan Moore has hailed Storm Boy as “an exciting horse to have in the yard” but feels this is a tough first European assignment against some proven performers.

Writing in his World Pool blog, the jockey said: “He’s got a big reputation, and he’s a big, strong boy, but it’s his first start for a long time and it will just be nice to get him started over here.

“The Curragh will be a new experience for him, as it’s a stiff six furlongs rather than running round a bend.

“There are some good horses in there, like Iberian, Big Gossey, James’s Delight, My Mate Alfie and Vespertilio, so it looks a very competitive Group Two, and we’re just looking forward to getting him up and running for the season.

“The Everest is the strongest sprint in the world, so we’ve got no doubt about his ability.”

Former 2000 Guineas contender Iberian features among a strong British challenge, having shown his well-being following a lay-off by scoring on the all-weather at Southwell in December and then going down by an agonising neck to Spycatcher in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster, with James’s Delight fifth for Clive Cox.

Trainer Charles Hills said: “I was really pleased with his Doncaster run, he was probably a bit unlucky with the way he dived across the track and seemed to lose his concentration for a little bit.

“He hit the line strong though, so we’ll put that behind us now and look forward to the rest of the season.”

Grand Grey showed plenty of promise in France for Gianluca Bietolini and made a fine start for Kevin Ryan when second to Sajir in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, where Karl Burke’s reopposing Lethal Levi was just half a length back in third.

The Ger Lyons-trained My Mate Alfie stands out from the other home hopes, having signed off last season with a hat-trick and running well in second on his four-year-old debut at Naas.

Quddwah puts Queen Anne case with smooth return in Paris

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Simon and Ed Crisford’s smart performer Quddwah returned to action with a fine win in the Prix de Montretout at ParisLongchamp to set up a potential trip to Royal Ascot for the Queen Anne Stakes.

Haatem who was sent off the short-priced favourite for the Listed contest off the back of some top-class form last year. He was expected to improve for his comeback run at Sandown and with Quddwah making his seasonal reappearance he looked to face a stiff task.

However, he also possessed some smart form and having won his first four races, he only lost his unbeaten record when a fine fourth to Charyn in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Fifth behind that same rival on Champions Day at Ascot, he was allowed to dictate his own pace under Callum Shepherd, stacking his rivals up early in the straight before kicking on for a one-and-three-quarter-length win.

Simon Crisford said: “We were delighted with him today, he wasn’t quite ready to start back in the Lockinge so we opted to go to Paris with him and he acquitted himself with great credit.

“We’ll consider the Queen Anne for his next race, he goes well at Ascot and we were delighted with his comeback run.

“He ran well in the Jacques le Marois last year, he’s got form on the round course and the straight course at Ascot, but that straight course does suit him well and today puts him in contention for a win in the Queen Anne.”

Coral cut the winner to 16-1 from 20s for the Queen Anne and Ed Crisford added: “It was a deep Listed race, but a perfect starting point for him and he did it nicely.

“I think he’ll come on for the race and hopefully go on to better things now.

“We’ll see how he is, talk to his owner Sheikh Ahmed, but potentially he should fit into the Queen Anne nicely.

“When you see how well he ran in the Jacques le Marois, and he didn’t run badly on Champions Day he was just a bit far out of his ground, he doesn’t have much to find.

“He’s another year older and you’d hope there’s still a bit more to come as he’s lightly raced.”

Basher Watts determined to give Fellowes his first ‘official’ Group One

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Syndicate manager Basher Watts is looking to the future with Shes Perfect having unsuccessfully appealed against the demotion of his filly from first place in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

Having crossed the line a nose in front of the French favourite Zarigana, the stewards deemed Shes Perfect drifted off a true line into Exactly, who in turn impeded Zarigana.

With a line finally drawn under the race, Watts and trainer Charlie Fellowes now have to decide whether to take on the best fillies around over a mile at Royal Ascot or step up in trip and return to France for the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks.

“It’s definitely 50-50 between Ascot for the Coronation and the French Oaks,” said Watts, who has developed a strong following on TikTok and Instagram and set up Basher Watts Racing on the back of his social media success and interactions with followers.

“When Kieran (Shoemark) came back in after ‘winning’ the Guineas, he said stick at a mile. Although we were demoted, we won one of the best mile races you can run in, so it seemed silly to step up in trip.

“However, there’s Galileo on her dam’s side so she is bred to stay, she’ll definitely stay further and to me the Coronation looks one of the hottest Royal Ascot races of the week.

“You don’t want to dodge horses, but the chance to run in another Classic, which looks a slightly easier option…and how sweet would it be to go back and win with no questions asked.

“I never thought I’d have a chip on my shoulder about winning a Classic, but we’ve got one more chance and that’s the Prix de Diane. It’s a wonderful position to be in and I’d love to go back over and get Charlie his Group One.

“If we could provide Charlie with that it would be huge. I came into the game two years ago next month as a complete novice. Charlie took me under his wing and now I view him as one of my best mates.

“I used to say to him ‘I’ll win you your first Group One’ and he’d sort of roll his eyes, but in my book we know we did it and if we can do it officially, that would be fantastic.”

While initially winning and then losing a Classic, it is easy to forget the giant strides Shes Perfect has made in two outings this season, pushing Zarigana to a neck in a Group Three first time out having shown only decent form at two.

“Heading into the Prix de la Grotte, the French were talking about Zarigana as if she was the second coming. She’s a beautiful horse and it’s a pleasure to be taking on horses like that and it is one-one in our books,” said Watts.

“Even in behind us in the Guineas there was a Royal Ascot winner in Bedtime Story, who was one of four from Coolmore, so it was very much a ‘pinch me’ moment, let alone being first past the post.

“She was always a big two-year-old and was always going to strengthen between two and three and this is why I love Charlie – he’s such a patient trainer, he just gave her two runs and didn’t run her again.

“His placement to get black type first up was sensational and he’s just been unlucky with the rub of the green these last few years, but if you give him the ammunition, he’s one of the best out there.”

Underwriter cashes in for returning James Doyle at Ayr

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James Doyle returned from a frustrating spell on the sidelines with a winner as the very promising Underwriter bolted up at Ayr.

The Mehmas colt cost his owners Wathnan Racing £200,000 from the Goffs breeze-ups and was following the same route as Electrolyte, who Archie Watson also sent to Ayr for his debut before missing out by a nose to Rashabar in the Coventry Stakes.

Paddy Power cut Underwiter to 8-1 from 12s for the same race at Royal Ascot and Doyle said: “I was very pleased with him, obviously that was my first look at him today.

“He did everything very professionally on the way to the start and through the run he was very relaxed, did everything the right way round.

“I kicked myself a little bit as I was told he was very relaxed so I got into him early, but he skipped away and then spent a furlong looking around.

“I didn’t expect him to pick up that well. He’d done his breeze and a few other bits, but he was very professional. I was able to teach him a little and that will hopefully stand him in good stead.

“We’ve plenty more to come out and we’ll try to slot them all in. We were successful with Electrolyte up here and he was just touched off in the Coventry, so Archie has a good handle on these speed horses.”

Doyle was out for just over a month with a broken collar bone and paid tribute to the staff at Peter O’Sullevan House in Newmarket.

He told Racing TV: “There’s never a nice time for anything like that to happen, but it was frustrating watching the Guineas and the French Guineas and things like that, but it’s only four weeks since my operation so it’s a testament to the guys at Sir Peter O’Sullevan House, I really appreciate it.”

Lava Stream team mapping out ambitious schedule

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The Nassau Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks are among the high-profile options under consideration for Lava Stream following her narrow defeat at Royal Ascot.

David O’Meara’s filly has made giant strides since rounding off a four-race juvenile campaign with a narrow novice win at Ayr, making a winning reappearance in handicap company at Doncaster off a mark of 74 before successfully stepping up to Listed class at Goodwood.

The daughter of Too Darn Hot faced another hike in grade for the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes and was priced up accordingly at 20-1, but belied her odds with an excellent effort – travelling powerfully to the lead before Aidan O’Brien’s Port Fairy battled back to prevail by a neck.

As stud manager for owners Elwick Stud, Gary Moore has been part of Lava Stream’s journey since the day she was foaled and he is excited to see what the rest of the season has in store.

He said: “She ran a blinder, didn’t she? Danny (Tudhope) thought he hit the front a bit soon and if he’d held onto her a bit longer, she would have gone past (Port Fairy), and she wouldn’t have battled back. He was a bit gutted but we were over the moon – second in the Ribblesdale is fantastic.

“She’s always travelled well in her races – she’s got quite a lot of speed. It doesn’t matter what the ground is like, she’s pretty straightforward. You just need to give her a chance early and she doesn’t half quicken.

“She kind of half plans herself, as we may as well aim high now. David was thinking about putting her in the Nassau. After that, we’ll have to go for the Yorkshire Oaks I’d say and then aim for the Fillies & Mares (at Ascot on Champions Day) at the end of the year, probably.

“David did mention supplementing for the Irish Oaks, but there’s plenty of other races. We can look at the Nassau and the Yorkshire Oaks, rather than trying to fit in the Irish one, but David might change his mind, you never know.”

Lava Stream (grey) came close to victory at Royal Ascot
Lava Stream (grey) came close to victory at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Lava Stream’s performance is a significant boost to a stud founded by the late Geoff Turnbull, with her dam Stream Song still producing at Sheraton Farm in County Durham.

“Lava Stream was always a good-looking animal, she always had that touch of class about her and I always loved her,” Moore added.

“We’ve got a Sea The Stars yearling colt that’s really nice, probably as nice as Lava Stream at this stage, and there’s a Baaeed foal who could be even better – she’s got a lot of class about her.”

Maher plotting Melbourne Cup tilt with Middle Earth

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Ciaron Maher is already making plans for Middle Earth after the four-year-old he owns in a partnership with Qatar Racing finished third in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Not surprisingly, the Melbourne Cup is on the agenda, with the Caulfield Cup likely to figure in his schedule as well.

He is not on his travels just yet, though, with John and Thady Gosden looking to run him in Europe at least once more before he heads to Australia.

“He was a little bit slow into gear and they only went a moderate tempo and he closed off really well,” Maher told www.racing.com.

“We’ll just work out where he is in terms of handicapping, but we’re very excited to get him out here.

“I’d say the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups would be the go.”

Pentle Bay (yellow hat) was no match for Bedtime Story
Pentle Bay (yellow cap) was no match for Bedtime Story (David Davies/PA)

Maher also has an interest in the George Boughey-trained Chesham Stakes runner-up Pentle Bay, a New Bay colt he now owns in a partnership with Teme Valley Racing, who themselves only bought the juvenile after his debut win at Leicester.

“I was just going to see where the Caulfield Guineas sat with him, obviously it’s tough to do early in the season being a Northern Hemisphere two-year-old, three-year-old,” Maher said.

“He’s obviously got some ability, he’s bred to get over ground and you wouldn’t think a New Bay should be doing what he’s doing. He’s got plenty of options.”

Maher will also take care of Sayedaty Sadaty, fifth in the Derby for Andrew Balding.

He has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock, the team behind 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip.

“Our trick is we have to beat the handicapper, but we need to make sure we get into the race,” said Luke Murrell of Australian Bloodstock.

“He is probably going to be better suited at 2400 metres at this early stage. But he definitely profiles like he will stick on for a Melbourne Cup.

“He was third-up into the Derby, so his next two runs should hopefully be impressive and that will give us a better indication.”

Charlton rues the one that got away with King’s Gambit a York possible

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The Sky Bet York Stakes has emerged as a potential next port of call for King’s Gambit following his luckless defeat at Royal Ascot last week.

Harry Charlton’s Saxon Warrior colt was a hot favourite for Thursday’s Hampton Court Stakes after routing his rivals in the London Gold Cup at Newbury, but connections were left wondering what might have been after he charged home from an unpromising position to finish a close second to Brian Meehan’s Jayarebe.

King’s Gambit already holds an entry in the Group Two Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket over a mile and a half, but he could instead stick to a mile and a quarter and seek compensation on the Knavesmire on July 27.

“Take nothing away from Brian’s horse, who is a lovely horse. He won the race and we can’t forget that,” Charlton told Sky Sports Racing.

“From the moment the gates opened William (Buick) was never able to get where he wanted to, we were a long way back and even in the straight we got a bump or two. He made up an exceptional amount of ground and was closing the winner down, but it was just too much of an effort for him.

“He’s run with huge credit and we’re very proud of him, but had things panned out a little differently in the first two furlongs, I’m sure a victory was possible for him. In that sense it’s frustrating, but we need to be realistic and say that’s racing – and he’s a horse to look forward to.”

Considering future plans, Charlton added: “He’s in the Group Two at Newmarket against older horses. It’s a possible, that’s obviously up in trip, and he might stay at 10 furlongs, so maybe something like the Sky Bet at York is a possibility.

“There are a few other races – there are some three-year-old only 10-furlong races at Deauville in August – but I suspect we might be leaning towards York.

“We’ll discuss it with Mohammed Jaber (owner) once we’ve got through this week and just see how he’s come out of the race. I think when you go and run a big effort like that, it takes more out of you than you think because you’ve run a lot further than some other horses and made up a lot of ground.”

Hand Of God winning at Royal Ascot
Hand Of God winning at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Charlton saddled just four horses across the five-day meeting, striking gold with Hand Of God in Saturday’s Golden Gates Stakes after Kikkuli had pushed Haatem to a short head in the Jersey Stakes earlier that afternoon. His only runner not placed was Roarin’ Success in the Kensington Palace Stakes and she effectively lost all chance by rearing in the stalls.

The trainer admitted to having mixed emotions, saying: “You go there hoping for a winner and we came away with a winner and two seconds.

“We have to be delighted, but obviously you’re always thinking what could have been. Maybe we were due another one, but it didn’t quite happen.

“Hand Of God was well handicapped on the basis that we hadn’t run him since Sandown. We went into the week thinking and hoping that we had a horse with quite a few pounds in hand and that’s how it transpired.”

He went on: “He’s got a huge stride for the size of horse he is and he’s always had a wonderful attitude. He’s a horse we’ve always liked and when you’ve got horses like King’s Gambit and Kikkuli around, it makes it a lot easier to put a gauge on where the horses are in terms of ability.

“He was showing plenty of ability before, so went into the week thinking he was our best chance of a win and that’s how it proved.

“I guess he’s heading for a 10lb rise, we’ll see what the handicapper does tomorrow (Tuesday) and make plans from there. He’s in the John Smith’s Cup and the weights are already out. He’s on 7st 11lb and he’ll get a 5lb penalty, but I’d be surprised if that’s enough to get in.

“He is in the valuable 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting for three-year-olds, that’s also an option, but Mohammed Jaber might say he wants to step up in class and he would be perfectly entitled to do so, so we’ll have a few discussions and see where we get to.

“He’s exciting because we haven’t got the max of him yet.”

Kikkuli (pink hat) is touched off by Haatem in the Jersey Stakes
Kikkuli (pink hat) is touched off by Haatem in the Jersey Stakes (John Walton/PA)

Kikkuli is bred in the purple as a half-brother to the great Frankel by crack sire Kingman and Charlton is excited to see what the rest of the season has in store following his narrow Jersey defeat.

“I haven’t watched it back as many times as some, but I’m told before the line and after the line he was ahead,” he added.

“He travelled exceptionally strong and I actually don’t think they went a great pace.

“Haatem is an incredible horse and has had lots of runs and for Kikkuli to run him that close is mighty impressive in what I thought was a very deep Jersey.

“It’s exciting to think what he might be able to do down the line.”

Guarnieri pencils in Deauville date for Big Rock

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Big Rock will likely bid to get his career back on track at Deauville later in the summer after a disappointing run in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old was a brilliant all-the-way winner of last season’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the same course and distance on Champions Day, but has not managed to recapture that form since leaving Christopher Head to join Maurizio Guarnieri.

After being beaten into sixth place on his stable debut in the Lockinge at Newbury last month, hopes were high that Big Rock would raise his game on his return to the scene of his finest hour.

However, after blazing a trail down the centre of the track, with only compatriot Facteur Cheval for company as the rest of the field raced towards the stands’ rail, he weakened out of contention to finish 10th.

Guarnieri believes the forceful tactics backfired on quick ground and hopes to see him return to an easier surface at Deauville, where he could either contest the Prix Jacques le Marois on August 11 or drop down in class in search of a confidence-boosting success.

“He is OK after the race, but as you know he went on the right and most of the other horses were on the left,” said the trainer.

“I think after five furlongs on a track that was very hard, the race was finished (for him).

“He will probably go to Deauville, I’m not sure if we go in the Group One or in a Group Three.”

The following afternoon Guarnieri saddled four-time Group One-winning filly Blue Rose Cen in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but she too was unable to land a telling blow, finishing a well-beaten seventh of 10 behind Auguste Rodin.

The daughter of Churchill also has Deauville on her agenda.

Guarnieri added: “With Blue Rose Cen we tried to win, but with a four-year-old filly in the first part of the year, it is very difficult to beat a big, champion colt like Auguste Rodin.

“We tried to beat a champion, but the champion is the champion and he is a very strong horse.

“For us it is better to run with fillies. She was a champion filly as a two-year-old and a three-year-old, but she never ran against colts and it’s not so easy to go against horses like Auguste Rodin and all the others.

“Normally, she will go to Deauville for Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville on August 18.”

Goodwood return on the cards for Facteur Cheval

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Facteur Cheval will be readied for a second tilt at the Sussex Stakes following his “nightmare” outing at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old found only Paddington too strong at Goodwood last year and following further placed efforts in Group One company in the Prix du Moulin and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, he broke his top-level duck with a surprise victory in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March.

Facteur Cheval was considered a major contender for the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes, but after tracking his pacesetting compatriot Big Rock for much of the way, he was left out on his own when the race began in earnest and passed the post a well-beaten sixth.

“The tactics of following Big Rock (did not work) as at the three-furlong pole he had to make his effort on his own, which was impossible,” said trainer Jerome Reynier.

“He needs someone (another horse) to rely on and he was just on his own. He’s a fighter and when he won the Dubai Turf he came between horses and when Namur came on his outside he kept battling hard.

“He also lost a shoe, I think quite early in the race (at Ascot), so it was just a disaster and a nightmare.

“The plan is to go back to Goodwood because he ran so well there last year. Obviously the ground was very heavy and I think he is better with a bit of cut in the ground.”

On the same afternoon Reynier saddled Group Three winner Darlinghurst in the St James’s Palace Stakes and on first inspection the 40-1 shot had his limitations exposed, finishing last of eight.

However, his trainer is adamant his charge is better than he showed, adding: “He travelled pretty well but Christophe (Soumillon) felt he was a bit anxious and not breathing properly and we think he’s been playing with his tongue.

“He was making a bit of noise after the race and we scoped him and everything was fine, so next time out I think we’ll go for the Prix Daphnis at Deauville on August 4, a Group Three for three-year-olds over a mile, and he’ll probably be wearing a tongue-tie.”