Moore in the Twilight zone with Jubilee win
TWILIGHT SON emerged victorious after a thrilling climax to the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Henry Candy’s charge was unbeaten after his first five starts last season, completing the tremendous run with victory in September’s Sprint Cup at Haydock.
He rounded off his campaign by chasing home champion sprinter Muhaarar at Ascot and having blown away the cobwebs with a run at York last month, he was a 72 chance for the main event on the final day of the showpiece meeting in Berkshire.
Ryan Moore buried the fouryear-old in the middle of the field for much of the sixfurlong journey before launching his challenge with a furlong to run.
French runner Signs Of Blessing, Hong Kong raider Gold-Fun and Charlie Hillstrained favourite Magical Memory were all in with a chance as the post loomed to set up a grandstand finish, but Twilight Son was in front where it mattered. Gold-Fun was just a neck away in second, with Signs Of Blessing third.
Moore said: ‘I always felt when I was going to ask him he would go and win. He travelled very strongly. When I rode him here last year (second to Muhaarar) he felt like a very good horse. ‘He has obviously taken a while to come to hand this year, but Mr Candy was very confident about him.
‘He’s done very little wrong - he’s only been beaten a a couple of times and he’s proved he’s a high-class horse.’
The victory completed a treble on the afternoon for the brilliant jockey, but he was typically understated when asked what it meant to him. He added: ‘It would mean more to ride four!’
Meanwhile, Gold Cup hero Order Of St George is to be given an entry in the Melbourne Cup. The Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old stamped his class on the Royal Ascot showpiece on Thursday, and is likely to be seen next in an autumn campaign, which will include the defence of his Irish St Leger crown.