CROWNING GLORY
Appleby claims one-two in £1m feature as O’Brien posts 900th Group race win
NAVAL CROWN helped turn the final day of Royal Ascot Godolphin blue as the 33-1 shot beat stablemate Creative Force by a neck in a dramatic photo-finish to the £1million Platinum Jubilee Stakes.
It was a fourth win of the week for trainer Charlie Appleby but a first of the week on his 20th ride for James Doyle who admitted he was worried his chances were running out.
Doyle added that the basis of the win of Naval Crown, who was running for the 15th time but for only the second occasion over six furlongs, had been a disastrous run in a valuable race in Saudi Arabia in January over seven furlongs when the colt went off much too fast and ran himself into the ground.
Doyle said: ‘I know my fella was 33-1 but he is pretty good, isn’t he. He has stamina in his legs from running further and he is very genuine.
‘He owes me a big day. He was red hot favourite for the race in Saudi. He jumped impeccably but tore off. It was a bit of as disaster but it taught us one thing that he is definitely a sprinter so we dabbled with the idea.
‘He ran a cracking race (when fourth) in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai which taught him plenty. That stood him in good stead today.’
Naval Crown and William Buickridden Creative Force clashed at Royal Ascot last year when it was the latter who emerged on top in the seven-furlong Jersey Stakes by a length and a quarter.
But expectation in the Godolphin team was that there would not be much between them yesterday and so it proved as the duo saw off a strong international challenge with Aussie challenger Artorius and US hope Campanelle.
Doyle had admitted to some frustration riding as second jockey to Appleby, while his great friend Buick gets the pick of the rides. That frustration was eased when Doyle landed the first two Classics of the season with Coroebus (2,000 Guineas) and Cachet (1,000 Guineas).
Buick was back on Coroebus when the colt won the St James’ Palace Stakes on Tuesday so making sure he got something out of the biggest Flat meeting of the season was important to 34-year-old Doyle.
He said: ‘Any season to get two Classic winners at the start of the season is incredible but it sets the bar quite high. It is tough to follow.
‘Will had been winding me up all week saying, “It is about time you pulled your finger out’’ and Charlie asked me before the race, “Why are you looking so grumpy?’’ I said I was running out of bullets. For this fella to get me out of jail is brilliant.’
Appleby, welcoming home his fourth winner of the week, reckoned if the ground had been softer it may have swayed the decision in favour of Creative Force.
He and Buick had earlier won the Jersey Stakes with 4-1 favourite Noble Truth, and the reigning champion trainer’s stable is moving through the gears in ominous fashion. He came into the meeting in fourth place in the season’s standings and left it top of the pile.
One that got away yesterday was the Hardwicke Stakes when Appleby’s 8-11 favourite could only finish third to Aidan O’Brien’s 6-1 shot Broome.
But Appleby was unperturbed by the defeat given that seasonal debutant Hurricane Lane, last year’s Irish Derby and St Leger winner, has one aim in 2022 — to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October having been third last season.
Broome benefited from yet another fine ride this season by Ryan Moore, this time from the front.
The win was also another milestone for Aidan O’Brien, top trainer for the week with five wins, who has now won 900 Group races worldwide and all the more meritorious given Broome fractured a shin when kicked by another horse after being unplaced in the Japan Cup in November.
Moore would later thread his way through the field to pounce on three-quarter length winner Rohaan who became the first horse since Selhurstpark Flyer (1997-98) to win back-to-back runnings of the ferociously competitive Wokingham Stakes.
It was seventh winner of the week and 73rd in total for Moore.