Twilight Son (white and green) wins from Gold-Fun (yellow), Signs Of Blessing (noseband) and Magical Memory (second right)

 PICTURE: Getty Images

Twilight Son snatches Diamond Jubilee thriller

Report: Royal Ascot, Saturday,   Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 6f, 4yo+

TWILIGHT SON snatched a thrilling victory close home as four runners hit the line almost in unison, with Gold-Fun, Signs Of Blessing and Magical Memory close up in a frantic finish and Suedois right on their heels in fifth.

The Henry Candy-trained winner was a third success of the day for Ryan Moore, who was at his brilliant best with a strong and well-timed finish. This victory clinched the meeting’s top rider award for Moore as he finished the week on a high.

RELATED LINKS,   Race result ,   July Cup betting 

Twilight Son, sent off 7-2 third favourite, won by a neck from Hong Kong raider Gold-Fun (7-1), with long-time leader Signs Of Blessing (25-1) only a short head away.

Magical Memory, the 3-1 favourite, was a somewhat unlucky fourth, having been slowly away and still last going into the final furlong. He powered into contention under Frankie Dettori but his effort petered out in the final 100 yards.

Suedois was a close fifth, just a short head behind Magical Memory, as the last Group 1 of the meeting provided a tremendous final-day highlight.

Twilight Son cut for July Cup

Several of the principals are likely to meet again in the Darley July Cup next month and Paddy Power make Twilight Son 5-1 (from 9) for that Group 1 contest.

William Hill have Twilight Son as 5-1 favourite (from 8) with Magical Memory 6-1 and Limato and Quiet Reflection next on 10-1.

Twilight Son’s veteran trainer, enjoying his first Royal Ascot winner since 1979, said: “We’ve been close a few times and it’s marvellous to get the job done finally. I was looking at Frankie steaming up on the stands side and thinking he [Twilight Son] was probably going to be third, but our horse really dug deep and the jockey on top dug deep. He [Ryan Moore] is a top man.”

Moore added: “I always felt that, when I was going to ask him, he was going to win. He travelled very strongly and the pace wasn’t strong enough for him. It would have been better if they’d gone quicker. He’s a very good colt and is getting more confident.”

No excuses for Gold-Fun

Gold-Fun was flying at the finish and, although he could not quite get past Twilight Son, his trainer Richard Gibson was pleased his raider had shown his Hong Kong form on this big stage.

“We’ve come a long way and from a professional point of view you’re always pleased when your horse runs to his rating,” he said. “It was tight and all credit to the winner, we’ve got no excuses. It was not quite our day but we’re very satisfied with second place.”

British triumph in international field

Five countries were represented in the field of ten and French challenger Signs Of Blessing was soon at the head of affairs, followed by Australia’s Holler and Twilight Son. The Tin Man, 100-30 second favourite, was also prominent but he faded disappointingly, as did Holler.

Having set a steady pace, Signs Of Blessing stuck on well and it took all of Moore’s strength to drive Twilight Son into the lead close home. At that point it was clear that Magical Memory’s charge from the rear would fall short and the late challenge came from Gold-Fun, but it was not enough to deny Moore and Candy a famous victory.

 

Dartmouth delivers a royal win on final day

 BY MARK SCULLY, 18 JUN 2016

 

Report: Royal Ascot, Saturday, Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 1m4f, 4yo+DARTMOUTH handed the Queen her first Royal Ascot victory since Estimate’s famous Gold Cup win of 2013.The final horse to carry the royal colours at this year’s meeting, Dartmouth stayed strongly to the line and had to dig deep to deny Highland Reel by a head in a thrilling battle and land odds of 10-1.The runner-up’s rider, Seamie Heffernan, will wonder what might have been had be not lost his whip late on aboard the 6-1 shot.Almodovar, sent off at 9-1, put in a bold bid from the front under George Baker and deservedly held on for third.The victory was not without some drama as the stewards held an inquiry into possible interference between the winner and Highland Reel, with Dartmouth having hung slightly to his right during the closing stages.Familiar territory for PeslierOlivier Peslier, deputising for Ryan Moore who chose to partner the unplaced favourite Exosphere over Dartmouth and Highland Reel, could have been forgiven for feeling a strong sense of deja-vu on Saturday.When he stepped in to win aboard the son of Dubawi at Goodwood last year, he also had to survive a stewards inquiry that resulted in him being found to have breached careless riding rules. 

 

A popular horseThe win was Sir Michael Stoute’s 75th overall at Royal Ascot, equalling the record of the great Sir Henry Cecil, while it was also an amazing tenth victory in the Hardwicke Stakes and his fourth for the Queen.”Olivier corrected him very, very quickly and it didn’t affect the result,” Stoute said of the incident that triggered the enquiry.”It’s a great mark to reach [75 winners] but I hope it doesn’t stop there! He’s a lovely, quality horse and everybody in the yard is very fond of him.”

 

‘The Queen got such a thrill’ The Queen’s bloodstock advisor, John Warren, said of the success: “It’s been a long wait with a few little ups and downs but he’s a very smart horse.”He’s never been in this company before so we weren’t sure what to expect but he did win his last two Group races.”Michael is such a master at training horses just to their peak and it means a lot to the Queen. Michael had it firmly in mind that this would be the objective and he’s such a genuine horse.”The Queen got such a thrill watching him stick his neck out.”

 

 

Commissioned: became Gordon Elliott’s first Royal Ascot winner PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

 

Kirby gives Elliott first Royal Ascot winner

BY STUART RILEY,  18 JUN 2016

 

Report: Ascot, Saturday,   Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race) 2m5½f, 4yo+ADAM KIRBY partnered his third winner of a monumental week in which he has landed two Group 1s and become a father as he guided Gordon Elliott’s new recruit Commissioned to glory in the longest Flat race in Britain.

 

RELATED LINKS,   Ascot Saturday results 

 

It was a first winner at the meeting for Elliott, who has already won a Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup in a highly successful career as a jumps trainer. Elliott bought Commissioned for £65,000 in April when John Ferguson dispersed his string, and in picking up £49,800 for winning the Queen Alexandra he has almost paid for himself on his first start.”It’s been unbelievable, what do you say? I don’t know,” said Kirby. “I didn’t expect to come into this week with this sort of outcome it’s just great isn’t it? It’s what it’s all about. Gordon told me he was in great order and gave me the orders to put him where you wanted him. It’s great for everyone.”

 

 

 

Outback Traveller (pink stripes): got the better of Brando in a tight finish PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

 

Also on Saturday,   Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 6f, 3yo+MARTIN HARLEY punched the air as he crossed the line in front in the Wokingham aboard the Robert Cowell-trained Outback Traveller. The five-year-old finished fastest to get the better of Brando by a head.

 

The 7-1 joint-favourite was collared close home by the 10-1 chance, with a pair of 25-1 shots, Glen Moss and Absolutely So, third and fourth. Buckstay was fifth at 10-1.”I need to go back to the yard and see who is training these horses as they need a pay rise!” joked Cowell, who also won the Norfolk with Prince Of Lir. On Outback Traveller he added: “I wouldn’t mind dropping him back to five furlongs – I think he’s nailed on to win something nice over that trip.”Six furlongs just about stretches him in this company but if we drop him to five, he could be even better.

 

I’m blessed to have a really good bunch of riders working for me at the moment, including Martin, who has been a lucky jockey for me. It’s been a mind-boggling week and it will take a long time to sink in.”

 

 

 

Ryan Moore: celebrated aboard Sir Isaac Newton PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

 

Wolferton Handicap (Listed) 1m2f, 4yo+RYAN MOORE and Aidan O’Brien made it two wins from two on the final day of Royal Ascot as they teamed up with the well backed Pricewise selection Sir Isaac Newton to land the Wolferton.The victory allowed Moore to establish his position at the head of the meeting’s top rider standings in his own right, having previously been tied with Frankie Dettori on four winners.”I had a very good trip round,” said Moore, who scraped paint off the rail the whole way round. “He’s a high-class horse who sort of lost his way.”We thought a lot of him last year and the trainer’s done remarkably well to get him back winning today. He’s definitely got the ability [to go back to a higher level] and I think just racing can hopefully improve him and move him forward.”

 

Tags: Commissioned   |  Outback Traveller   |  Sir Isaac Newton   | Gordon Elliott   |  A P O’Brien   |  Robert Cowell   |  Adam Kirby   | Martin Harley   |  Ryan Moore   |  Royal Ascot    |  ASCOT  

ASCOT RESULTS

 

GOING: GOOD TO SOFT (GoingStick: Stands’ side: 7.8, Centre 7.6, Far side 7.6, Round 6.4). Weather conditions:Overcast. 

STALLS: Straight course – Centre; Round course – Inside

 

2:30 - Chesham Stakes (Listed Race) Full result 7f, Class 1, £45,368.00 1 Churchill 8/11F  2 Isomer 25/1  3 Cunco 7/2  NR: Devil’s Bridge (IRE), Walter Raleigh (IRE) 13 ran Distances: ½l, 1l, ½l TIME 1m 29.57s (slow by 3.97s) Jockey: Ryan Moore Trainer: A P O’Brien WIN £1.90 PL £1.02, £6.70, £1.80 Ex £22.80 CSF £33.34 TRICAST £58.17 Analysis	3:05 - Wolferton Handicap (Listed Race) Full result 1m2f, Class 1, £45,368.00 1 Sir Isaac Newton 7/1  2 Second Wave 20/1  3 Revolutionist 9/1  NR: Our Channel (USA) 15 ran Distances: ½l, ¾l, hd TIME 2m 7.59s (slow by 3.09s) Jockey: Ryan Moore Trainer: A P O’Brien WIN £7.10 PL £2.20, £6.60, £3.20 Ex £153.40 CSF £147.95 TRICAST £1303.97 Analysis	3:40 - Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) Full result 1m4f, Class 1, £127,597.50 1 Dartmouth 10/1  2 Highland Reel 6/1  3 Almodovar 9/1  NR: Eagle Top 9 ran Distances: hd, 3¼l, 3¾l TIME 2m 32.06s (slow by 3.46s) Jockey: Olivier Peslier Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute WIN £7.30 PL £2.20, £1.80, £3.10 Ex £62.30 CSF £69.37 TRICAST £566.43 After a Stewards inquiry the placings remained unaltered Analysis
4:20 - Diamond Jubilee Stakes (British Champions Series & Global Sprint Challenge) (Group 1) Full result 6f, Class 1, £340,260.00 1 Twilight Son 7/2  2 Gold-Fun 7/1  3 Signs Of Blessing 25/1  NR: Jungle Cat (IRE) 9 ran Distances: nk, shd, hd TIME 1m 13.84s (slow by 1.24s) Jockey: Ryan Moore Trainer: Henry Candy WIN £4.50 PL £1.60, £2.50, £6.90 Ex £30.20 CSF £28.96 TRICAST £534.75 Analysis	5:00 - Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) Full result 6f, Class 2, £108,937.50 1 Outback Traveller 10/1  2 Brando 7/1J  3 Glen Moss 25/1  4 Absolutely So 25/1  NR: George Dryden (IRE) 28 ran Distances: hd, 1½l, ¾l TIME 1m 14.05s (slow by 1.45s) Jockey: Martin Harley Trainer: Robert Cowell WIN £10.50 PL £2.50, £2.60, £12.00, £7.10 Ex £95.00 CSF £70.23 TRICAST £1811.71 Analysis	5:35 - Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race) Full result 2m5½f, Class 2, £49,800.00 1 Commissioned 12/1  2 Cayirli 40/1  3 Clondaw Warrior 7/2J  NR: Sureness (IRE), Wordiness 18 ran Distances: 1¾l, 3¾l, 1½l TIME 5m 0.77s (slow by 16.77s) Jockey: Adam Kirby Trainer: Gordon Elliott WIN £15.50 PL £4.40, £12.60, £2.00 Ex £611.10 CSF £455.68 TRICAST £2063.84 JACKPOT Not won. Pool of £75,024.00 carried forward to Sunday 19th June. PLACEPOT £1,080.30 to a £1 stake. Pool: £533,428.56 – 360.43 winning units QUADPOT £150.10 to a £1 stake. Pool: £39,104.18 – 192.68 winning units Analysis