Champion of Champions
French favourite beats Arc winner Found for a second time to land top prize at Ascot’s Flat season finale. By Trevor Bailey
ALMANZOR confirmed his reputation as the best colt of the Classic generation with another stunning display in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot. Trained by the champion trainer of France, Jean-Claude Rouget, he followed up his Irish Champion Stakes win by beating Found once again.
Given Aidan O’Brien’s mare won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in between her races against Almanzor, it shows just how good the Wootton Bassett colt is.
After being drawn in stall one Christophe Soumillon was at pains to make sure he was not trapped in against the rails and while he ended up in a pocket at one stage, Almanzor was good enough that it made no difference.
The Grey Gatsby returned to form and hit the front, taking over from Racing History with two furlongs to run, but Soumillon looked cool. Ryan Moore moved Found up on his outside but Almanzor, the 11-8 favourite, showed a blistering turn of foot once more to win by two lengths.
Jack Hobbs ran a tremendous race on his comeback, staying on for third.
Soumillon said: “He is an amazing horse. Everything you do with him looks easy, it just shows you how good he is.
“I never thought at the start of the season he would be that strong the whole year. He is getting smarter and smarter. A few horses were going left and right in the beginning. I was trying to get a good position but unfortunately I had to go on the inside. When I came on the outside with The Grey Gatsby I knew he was going to give me something.
“I went a bit early for him and I knew Found was there and how strong she is, so I was giving him a chance to finish well and the last 100 yards he kept going. We have never tried a mile and a half but I am sure he will stay.”
It has been an incredible season for Rouget, who has cleaned up in his homeland but was dealt a blow when his French Guineas and Oaks winner La Cressonniere was ruled out of the Arc.
It was suggested by some that Almanzor would be rerouted from Ascot to Chantilly to replace her, but Rouget stuck to his original plan and was repaid in kind, and those present at Ascot were glad he did.
Rouget said: “He’s a champion, he put in the same performance as in Leopardstown. He had the time, five weeks between the two races, which was perfect.
“He beat Found a little further today because I think she felt the Arc in her legs, it was only 13 days ago, but still she’s a champion, too. With him, Found, Minding – it really is Champions Day.
“I wanted to keep him at this distance. We will keep him next year and we’ll see if he goes to the Arc then. He’ll have a good rest in the winter and we’ll see where we go in the spring.
“He was quite backward at two, he didn’t show he was a Group horse but he improved from race to race, with each race he got better.”
O’Brien said of Found: “I’m delighted for her. She’s a great mare and she still kept coming with her head down.
“Ryan gave her a great ride as she was drawn out wide which is a difficult enough place.
“She looked great and was well in herself. I’m not sure about the Breeders’ Cup, the lads will have to talk about that.”
John Gosden said of Jack Hobbs: “It’s great to have the old boy back as it has been a long road with him and we know he’s a mileand-a-half horse.
“He ran a blinder and will go to Dubai for the Sheema Classic.”
A big meeting at Ascot would not be the same without a Frankie Dettori-ridden winner and the ever-popular Italian duly obliged with Journey in the Fillies & Mares Stakes.
In fact, Dettori may not have ridden many to more impressive successes than the John Gosdentrained filly (4-1).
Second in the same race 12 months ago, she rocketed clear in the straight on this occasion to beat James Fanshawe’s Speedy Boarding by four lengths.
Dettori said: “I can’t believe the turn of foot she showed today, she picked up like she had roller skates.”
Fanshawe struck earlier in the afternoon when The Tin Man justified the unwavering faith of his trainer and jockey Tom Queally in the British Champions Sprint, leaving a top-class field in his wake.
Queally, who twice won at this meeting as the rider of the mighty Frankel, judged it to perfection in beating Growl and Brando by a length and a short head.
Earlier Jim Crowley was officially crowned Stobart Champion Flat Jockey.
The 38-year-old was presented with his trophy by showjumping great and Rio 2016 gold medallist Nick Skelton.
Crowley – afforded a guard of honour by his weighing-room colleagues – said: “It feels amazing and it is beyond my wildest dreams. To come from jumping and do this is just madness.”