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| Staff Writer |
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It was a dramatic 35-minute period for Ralph Beckett, as Sonny Liston narrowly lost the Royal Hunt Cup before Doha claimed victory in the Kensington Palace Stakes by the same margin.
The quick turnaround provided much-needed compensation for the trainer, as his decision to shorten Doha's distance to a mile proved to be an excellent move.
Both Doha and Hopeful demonstrated their strong handicaps by pulling clear from the furlong pole, with Hector Crouch's mount ultimately securing the narrow victory at the finish line.
Beckett said: "It was a somewhat up and down half an hour! Sonny Liston ran great, it was a good effort.
"I would love to say Doha was a plot, but it was and it wasn't. I dropped her back to a mile because it was Ascot and she won her maiden over a mile. She was always a bit keen over a mile and a quarter, so there was thinking behind it and it worked out.
"The way she travels through her races was what I was banking on, and that's the way it worked out."
Crouch certainly had a successful day, securing his second royal win three years after his first on Surefire in the King George V Stakes. This time, there was a crowd to cheer him on as he returned.
Crouch said of Doha: "I always felt I was getting the upper hand. She was probably only just getting going inside the last furlong, so I felt I was always getting there.
"It's four years since Surefire won here and it's lovely to be back in the winner's circle. Ralph has been a great supporter of mine. I can enjoy it a bit more this time as there was nobody to celebrate with last time."
Hopeful's punters were probably starting to get confident as she hit the front over a furlong out, but Mickael Barzalona's mount was just denied.
Barzalona said: "She ran a great race. For a while I thought we were going to nick it, and then she just got caught on the line."
1st- Doha | Owner: Al Shaqab Racing &Trainer: R M Beckett
2nd- Hopeful | Owner: Prince A A Faisal &Trainer: A M Balding
3rd- Victoria Falls | Owner: Mr D R Passant &Trainer: H Palmer