Reel deal takes Moore to Ascot glory
HIGHLAND Reel benefited from a brilliant front-running ride from Ryan Moore to claim top honours in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Narrowly beaten by the reopposing Dartmouth in the Hardwicke Stakes at last month’s Royal meeting, the four-year-old was a well-backed 13-8 favourite to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a fourth King George success.
Moore sent his mount into a clear lead racing down the back straight before giving his mount a breather, which allowed the chasing pack to bridge the gap.
Highland Reel remained in front turning for home, however, and answered Moore’s every call to score by a length-and-a-quarter from Wings Of Desire.
Moore said: “He’s a very good horse and won in America and Hong Kong. It’s a marvellous achievement from Aidan to get him back in this shape to win.”
O’Brien said: “He had a lovely run here in the Hardwicke and we were delighted with him at home.
“The horse has been progressing and we couldn’t be happier. Ryan gave him a beautiful ride.
“This is an incredible horse. As everyone knows, he travels the world and he’s getting better, which is amazing. He can go back to Australia, he can do Japan, Hong Kong and there’s the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He’s an amazing horse and has so many options.”
Having already provided the Queen with a Royal Ascot winner in the year of her 90th birthday, Dartmouth was bidding to become the first horse since Aureole in 1954 to carry the royal colours to King George glory.
Leading French jockey Olivier Peslier rode a patient race and while his mount came home strongly to pick up minor honours in third, it was all too late.
John Warren, racing manager to The Queen, said: “Olivier was thrilled with him.
“He got a little bit lost turning into the straight. He was on the wrong leg and it took him a few moments to get back organised again and he lost a little momentum at that point.
“The Queen is delighted. He is a genuine trustworthy horse that tries his best in this company.”
Frankel filly Fair Eva earlier kept her unbeaten record intact with an impressive display in the Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes.
Roger Charlton’s filly was the 4-6 favourite stepped up to Group Three level in the hands of Frankie Dettori and those who took the prohibitive odds had few worries throughout the six-furlong heat.
Fair Eva was cut to around 4-1 for the 1000 Guineas next spring and could next run in either the Lowther at York or the Moyglare at the Curragh.
Librisa Breeze is due a step up in grade after winning the Gigaset International Stakes, while Apex King triumphed in the Wooldridge Group Pat Eddery Stakes.
The latter race, better known as the Winkfield Stakes, was run for the first time in memory of the peerless jockey following Eddery’s death last November.
A plaque at Ascot was also unveiled by his children in honour of the great man.
The 11-times champion jockey’s daughter Nicola Eddery said: “The whole day is quite emotional. I still can’t believe he is not here.”
Charlton and Fair Eva’s owner Prince Khalid Abdullah also struck with Time Test in the Sky Bet York Stakes at the North Yorkshire circuit.
Kimberella later dominated his rivals to win the Sky Bet Dash at the third attempt for Dandy Nicholls, with Sir Alex Ferguson at York as a joint-owner to cheer home Nautical Haven, who landed the opening maiden.