Almanzour pours it on
A French filly was best of British on a stellar day at Ascot
delighted for everybody. She’s a very special filly.
“She’s won at the top level at a mile, mile and a quarter and a mile and a half and then to bring her back down in trip to win an all-aged mile race,they have to be very special.
“Maybe the lads will now bring her back to race again next year. They’ll sit down and talk about that now but hopefully she can race again. She’s an incredible filly.”
THE TIN MAN COMETH
The Tin Man struck a blow for the smaller owner when winning the Group 1 Champions Sprint. The Fred Archer Racing syndicate are not regular faces at the big meetings and trainer James Fanshawe was delighted to land them a big prize. He said: “They have owned two horses – this one, who will be rated about 120 after this race, and the other rated 57.”
It was the first Group 1 success for the horse, who finished fourth in the race 12 months ago. He came with a powerful win to score by a length from 50-1 shot Growl. Fanshawe added: “He’s been a very difficult horse to get right this year – in the Spring he didn’t really thrive, and while I thought I’d got him right for Royal Ascot it didn’t work out.Then the ground came up soft at Haydock Sprint Cup and so this is the first time this year we’ve had a really clear run with him, although it’s easy to say in hindsight.
“It’s been a really big team effort to get him right for today. It’s great for jockey Tom Queally who has been a big help to the yard this year – he rode him really coolly and stuck to the way he said he would ride him and it’s great to see him riding a Group One winner again.”
JOURNEY GOES ALL THE WAY
Journey went one better than last year’s second in the Group 1 Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes. Frankie Dettori treated the crowd to a flying dismount after winning by four lengths.
Trainer John Gosden said: “I said to Frankie, just try to settle where you can and she’ll tell you when she’s happy,and he rode her beautifully.
“She showed great acceleration – she was just caught out last year when the ground was just too soft,but it was a marvellous effort given that she was beaten by the St Leger winner, Simple Verse.
“She’s a fabulous filly and has beaten an exceptional filly in Speedy Boarding, who won the Prix de l’Opera just 13 days ago. She is a bit quirky at home – she’s one of those fillies that you don’t argue with. She’s got her mind set on what she wants to do and you go with her – if you try and impose your will upon her she will quickly tell you what to do.”
STAYERS TAKE CENTRE STAGE
The Long Distance Cup won by Sheikhzayedroad was a Group 2 in name but you wonÕt get a better field of stayers. Trainer David Simcock was delighted with his 11-1 shot, who followed up his Doncaster Cup win in great style. He said:“It’s fantastic – it was great to watch.“I’m very proud of the horse.