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| Sumita Pawar |
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As Mostahdaf defeated his rivals in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, John and Thady Gosden joined the Royal Ascot celebration, marking Clarehaven yard's first victory at this year's event.
Despite being considered a closely contested Group One race, Mostahdaf, owned by Shadwell Estate and sired by Frankel. The underdog secured a decisive win with jockey Jim Crowley at the helm.
Mostahdaf's Stunning Comeback Victory
At the start of the race, Luxembourg led the pack with Classic Causeway close behind, followed by Adayar, My Prospero, and Bay Bridge. The eventual winner, Mostahdaf, started at the back of the six-runner group.
Ryan Moore, riding Luxembourg, made a move to take the lead as they turned into the straight. The other horses in contention were struggling to catch up, but Mostahdaf, ridden by Jim Crowley, was still in a good position. He made a strong surge down the outside and took the lead with a furlong and a half left to go.
John Gosden, who has won the 10-furlong contest five times overall and three times in the past 10 years, celebrated his first victory in partnership with his son Thady.
“I was expecting him to pick up well in the straight, but not to make them look like they were standing still,” Gosden said.
“In fairness to him, he did it in Riyadh. He won the Neom Cup in that style, he just flew away. When the ground dries up he’s a brilliant horse. The amount he quickened did surprise me, but not the fact that he loved the ground and was in top form.
“We were going to run him in the Brigadier Gerard, but he hadn’t quite recovered from his Middle Eastern campaign. If you check the form book, he took on a certain Japanese horse in the Sheema Classic (Equinox) and a mile and a half is beyond him, he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse, but he put it up to them and gave it his best go.
On immediate plans, Gosden said, “I always find the Eclipse comes too close. I’d wait for the Juddmonte International; that would be the race for me. He likes to run fresh – too many nights out on the town, we don’t bounce like we used to. I think the Juddmonte International should be the big target.”
Tom Clover's filly triumphs at Royal Ascot while Jessica Harrington celebrates debut win
Tom Clover secured his first Royal Ascot victory as his filly won by a neck, narrowly defeating Random Harvest who was expertly ridden by Saffie Osborne while leading from the front.
Pinching himself at recording a first career win at the meeting, Clover said, “It takes some explaining and it hasn’t sunk in to be honest. You dream about this all year round. She cost 35 grand so it’s unbelievable and it’s what we all do it for. I love the filly and I love training for the Rogues – it’s the most wonderful feeling.
“I brought her back in trip because she’s been travelling so strong, look at the Middleton at York, she got outstayed there. In her work at home she’d been travelling really well behind six- and seven-furlong horses. Going back to a mile helps with the broodmare hat on too with black type in mind.
“I backed her today, I was quietly confident, she was in great form and while we hadn’t had a great year – we’ve had too many seconds – luckily a bit of luck went our way today.
“We now have a Group One filly on our hands. I’d say we’d keep her against fillies. I didn’t put her in the Falmouth as that is a sharp mile so we may to go to Deauville.
Trainer Jessica Harrington celebrated a winning debut for Villanova Queen in the Kensington Palace Fillies' Handicap at Royal Ascot, with the horse defying 25/1 odds.
However, Villanova Queen produced a burst of speed to overtake Don't Tell Claire and secure the win, with Tarrabb finishing third. The victory was significant for Harrington, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer and has described her horses as "therapy".
The Owen Burrows-trained Tarrabb looks well-treated to progress further here after a promising season as a 3YO.
A debut win on Chelmsford's all-weather track a year ago was following a further two victories at Ascot and Haydock, the latter of which saw her get the better of the highly-rated Queen Aminatu, who subsequently went on to enjoy Listed successes.
Tarrabb did little wrong when finishing second in a small-field event at Chelmsford 48 days ago. Jockey William Buick was ideally equipped to get the best out of Tarrabb, who was unexposed over this trip.
Big Evs, ridden by jockey Jason Hart, secured Mick Appleby's first victory at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Appleby said: “He’s won really well. He worked with Annaf (third in Tuesday’s King’s Stand) so we knew he was good. We really fancied him today, to be honest.
“I’m not really sure where we go now, they will be big targets though so we’ll just see where we go with him.”