Reflections on Royal Ascot so far and thoughts on potential Australian success
The David Hayes-trained Redkirk Warrior may well improve the six winners from 34 (not the 35 listed in the media guide) runners Royal Ascot strike rate of Australian-trained horses which is the best of any country outside the UK and Europe.
But what of the strike rate of Merchant Navy’s handler Aidan O’Brien who has won 18 races in the three previous years at Royal Ascot and his near unblemished Royal meeting record with acquisitions from Australia, to wit So You Think, Haradasun and Starspangledbanner? The right things happen for Coolmore/Ballydoyle or somehow they make them happen with no stone unturned preparations.
Yes, Redkirk Warrior had the better of Merchant Navy in the Newmarket despite conceding him five kilograms and they now meet on equal terms. However, they were on opposite sides of the track and while Redkirk Warrior’s finish was visually impressive his rival, in fact, ran the last 600 metres six lengths quicker.
Betting solely on relative weights is a rapid path to the poorhouse; Merchant Navy has had the huge benefit of a lead-up run (and win) in the region and the Ascot six furlongs (1200 metres) is a much stiffer test than that at Flemington and that might be some query with a resuming Redkirk Warrior.
The presence of Harry Angel in the race, means the odds will allow you to back both visitors. That I will do but with a clear loading to O’Brien’s charge.
Eve Johnson Houghton and the Mitchells
Johnson Houghton won the opening race of the week, the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes with Accidental Agent to claim her first Royal Ascot success and first at the highest level.
Delighted to be on hand was Segenhoe Stud’s racing manager Bill Mitchell who, before training in his own right, worked for Johnson Houghton’s father Fulke, who prepared ten royal meeting winners.
“I worked with Eve’s father in 1979 and 1980 and Eve later came to Australia and stayed and worked with us so it was great to be there on Tuesday to see her achieve such a momentous win,” Mitchell said.
Winx
The 25 straight-winning wonder mare would have had the aforementioned Queen Anne Stakes at her mercy but, instead, connections resisted the Royal Ascot overtures in favour of having Chris Waller prepare her for a fourth Cox Plate. But could she grace the Queen’s meeting in 2019?
Co-owner Debbie Kepitis, with husband Paul and daughter Kara, were guests of Great British Racing and well enamoured with how well they were feted even in the absence of the world’s best turf performer. “It really has been a great experience and the hospitality excellent. You would love to bring a horse here,’ said the engaging Paul.
Winx doesn’t have any significant day-to-day management issues according to the Kepitis’ and she is about turn ‘only’ seven. You imagine her to be older. And while most of us assumed that a fourth Cox Plate, especially if successful, would be her denouement – I wonder if that may not necessarily be the case. The week, of course, saw one possible Cox Plate challenger in Cracksman lose lustre and that fourth Cox Plate (touch wood) is more probable than possible.
Blue Point
Training performance of the week goes to Charlie Appleby – winning the King’s Stand Stakes with Blue Point. Rarely do horses win Group 1 races coming off a below-par performance and yet Blue Point bounced back from two failed international missions in Dubai and Hong Kong. Not to mention a rough trip home.
Appleby said the horse took no harm from the Hong Kong trip and had responded well to a freshen up after an eventful return flight.
“He had a little break when he came back and responded really well. There was a bit of turbulence on the flight back so it wasn’t the smoothest of journeys for him. His run in Hong Kong was disappointing but we were taking those speedballs on in their own patch and probably erred tactically,” he said.
Interestingly, the previous British-trained sprinter to go to Hong Kong was The Tin Man. He missed last year’s Hong Kong Sprint with a fever but returned to win first-up in the UK and today contests the Diamond Jubilee Stakes which he won last year.
James McDonald
McDonald claimed his first Royal Ascot winner aboard Expert Eye for Sir Michael Stoute and might that be a precursor to a more permanent relationship between the two given that many of Stoute’s ‘go to’ riders are often committed elsewhere?
“It’s a huge thrill to come here and ride a Royal Ascot winner. I can’t put into words how much this means,’ said the 26 year-old Mcdonald who is, in this scribe’s opinion, as naturally gifted as any jockey and one who probably has ‘fire in the belly’ after his 18 months ban.