J-Mac scores fifth Royal Ascot winner aboard Crimson Advocate
Having landed the Queen Mary Stakes at the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting when trained by US-based trainer George Weaver, the now John and Thady Gosden-trained Crimson Advocate (4 f Nyquist – Citizen Advocate by Proud Citizen) doubled her tally at the royal meeting when she came home with a wet sail to score in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) on Wednesday.
Handing visiting Australian-based rider James McDonald with his fifth Royal Ascot winner, the daughter of Nyquist (Uncle Mo) flew home late to collar Cinderella’s Dream (Shamardal) and win by a length and three-quarters.
The third-placed Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot), who won last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m), finished a further head behind the runner-up.
“She gave me an absolutely beautiful ride and did everything we asked. We got last crack and she was really, really strong,” McDonald said.
“It’s a pleasure to ride a winner for the group, Wathnan [Racing], and we’re given every opportunity and I thank them very much.
“It makes James’s [Doyle, Wathan’s first rider] job so hard picking [from] such nice horses all the time; I’m just very lucky to be jogging on the spot at the right time and head home and watch them from afar probably in the near future. Very honoured to be wearing the silks. Richard Brown and Olly Tait thank you very much.”
On the occasion of riding again at Royal Ascot, McDonald said: “It’s so special that I can’t really put it into words.
“Even when you don’t have a chance and you’re riding here it’s such a huge thrill; it’s one of the best carnivals anywhere around the world, it’s very elegant, very special, it’s so meaningful and I just can’t thank enough people for the opportunity to be on this big stage.”
Crimson Advocate’s victory was also the third this week for owners Wathnan Racing