Time to Crow
ASCOT TREBLE FOR FAMILY MAN JIM
JIM CROWLEY, the former champion Flat jockey, stole the show on Qipco Champions’ Day at Ascot to the delight of his family when riding a treble.
“My three children and my wife are my lucky charms,” said Crowley.
“The last time they were all here was when I was champion jockey.”
The highlight of Crowley’s bounty, at the meeting that resembles Royal Ascot week rolled into one day, was partnering Baaeed to victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Despite the presence of Palace Pier, earmarked as the world’s best miler, that accolade now clearly goes to Baaeed.
“I think Baaeed could be a world champion,” said Crowley about the William Haggas-trained colt, who comfortably beat the favourite trained by John and Thady Gosden.
“He’s just a beast, he keeps getting better.”
Crowley was also on the mark with Eshaada
in the Champions
Fillies & Mares Stakes for Roger Varian. And this was topped off when the former jump jockey guided Aldaary to victory in the Balmoral Handicap, also for Haggas. Crowley said: “For me it was one of the best day’s racing that I’ve seen, let alone to have been a part of.” The French-trained Sealiway turned many heads when accounting for Adayar and Mishriff in the Champion Stakes.
In the opener, Trueshan again confirmed his superiority over Stradivarius when taking the Long Distance Cup for a second year running in the hands of Hollie Doyle.
But Frankie Dettori, the rider of the third-placed Stradivarius, felt it would have been a different outcome had not been taken out of the race by the Dylan Browne McMonagle-ridden Baron Samedi.
“It was a disgrace,” said Dettori. “The kid in front of me did everything possible to get me beat.”
This was supported by Stradivarius’ trainer John Gosden who said: “One day they box him in and the next day they push him out.
“You look at the Ascot Gold Cup (repeatedly hampered by the Joey Sheridan-ridden Princess Zoey) and today and other guys are riding him. I don’t want to go any further than that.”
Regarding Stradivarius’ future, that will be decided next week.
On yesterday’s evidence, he clearly still has the fire in his belly.