QUEEN FOILED AS IDAHO DARTS IN
Hardwicke joy for O’Brien
Her Majesty’s horse faded into fourth after looking like the winner two furlongs out in the Hardwicke Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute’s horse was trying to repeat his memorable royal victory of 12 months ago. And for most of the mile- and- a- half trip, everything seemed to be going to plan with Dartmouth getting a nice lead from the front- JASON HEAVEY running Dal Harraild. But as the cheers rang out for the Queen’s horse, he was swamped in the final furlong with Aidan O’Brien’s Idaho striding to victory.
Idaho, a full-brother to Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Highland Reel, was brilliantly ridden by Seamie Heffernan.
The victory also secured top trainer honours for the week for O’Brien, who had six winners.
O’Brien said: “We have always loved him. It was his first run of the year in the Coronation Cup last time. He only arrived at the track an hour before and he was very upset.
“He was very unlucky in the St Leger last year when he unseated Seamus.
“He’s by Galileo and they don’t know when to stop improving or stop trying. It’s very possible he’ll progress, there’s plenty of races for him.
“I think he gets a mile and a half well.”
Idaho could now join Highland Reel in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month. WISHFULL DREAMING (3.40) looks the answer to the feature race at Worcester and can land the nap at the main expense of Rene’s Girl.
The mount of Richard Johnson (below) the six-year-old fell at Taunton four outings back with the race in the bag and then unseated the champ at the sixth at Newton Abbot last time when travelling well.
Set to race off the same mark here, I suspect a clear round will see him make up for lost time and see off top weight Jack Last Hope.
Johnson can initiate a double in the opening novice chase with the smart stayer, GOLDEN DOYEN.
This athletic sort could have too much pace for stayers Kelvingrove and Ballinure.
Over at Pontefract, ABINGDON looks the answer to the £45,000 Listed fillies’ event at 3.30.
Winner of the Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes at York, the daughter of Street Cry will relish the fast ground and can use this as a stepping stone before moving back up into graded company.
The lung-bursting two-and-a-quarter mile Pontefract Cup (4.00) looks competitive but affords a good chance for the veteran TEAK to exact revenge on the hat-trick-seeking Frederic.
The 10-year-old has a