A perfect Knight as Churchill is beaten
DECORATED KNIGHT grabbed a second Group One in Ireland in 2017 when causing a 25-1 upset in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Roger Charlton’s five-year-old had been beaten three times since lifting the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May, but bounced back in spectacular fashion in the mile-and-a-quarter showpiece to claim the €712,500 first prize.
Andrea Atzeni held him up in last place in the early stages, as Eminent set the pace from Success Days, with 8-11 favourite Churchill close up.
Eminent and Frankie Dettori still led until the final furlong, but he was being attacked on all sides and finally gave way. Moonlight Magic threatened briefly, while dual 2000 Guineas winner Churchill was a little tight for room on the rail.
The wide outside was the place to make a challenge and Decorated Knight made a decisive swoop, with Poet’s Word also putting in a strong bid but ultimately having to settle for second. Eminent was third, while Churchill faded to seventh.
Atzeni said: ‘He had a bad draw and we thought the ground would be too soft, we didn’t know whether to run him or not but it’s actually nice ground out there. It’s great for the owners and obviously Mr Charlton has done a great job with him.’
Charlton said: ‘Andrea said he knew he was going to win turning in. I couldn’t believe it. He’s tough, consistent and very sound. He’s produced an amazing turn of foot and ran right to the line. There was nothing fluky about it.
‘He’s been a bit unlucky in his last couple of races. He hated the ground at York, got bashed about at Sandown in the Eclipse and ran a great race at Royal Ascot. He’s been on the go since March and he’s improved and improved. To keep going all season is a tribute to the horse. I guess we will now look at the Champion Stakes in Ascot.’
He added: ‘Ireland has been very lucky for me with three Tattersalls Gold Cups, a Pretty Polly and now this.’
Earlier, Hydrangea ended the winning run of her illustrious stablemate Winter when springing a surprise in the day’s other Group One, the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes.
Hydrangea had been put in her place four times in Group One races by Winter since beating her in the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial on this course in April.
The pair are also regular work companions at Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable, but Winter had suffered an interrupted preparation for this race after having Hydrangea back in fourth place when landing a fourth successive victory at the top level in the Nassau Stakes Goodwood five weeks ago. That may have made the difference in a tight finish.
Another O’Brien filly, Roly Poly, made the running with the two stable companions not far behind. It looked as though Winter’s class might prevail, but Hydrangea (20-1) just would not give in for Wayne Lordan and got the verdict by a head over the Even-money favourite. The John Gosden-trained Persuasive (61) was three-quarters of a length away in third.
O’Brien said: ‘I’m delighted for the filly and I’m delighted for Wayne. She is Winter’s work partner all year, and maybe she turned around and said “Hydrangea, you can have this one today!”. They ran together in the trial
before going to Newmarket and Hydrangea pipped Winter, so it was great really. She was the only one of the four fillies that had not won a Group One. We felt that Winter was going to improve a bit from the run. She was carrying a little bit of a tummy, but needed to run.
‘The winner will stay further. She could go for the Prix de l’Opera. Winter is in the Arc, and the Opera is another option.’
Nelson made virtually all the running to take the Group Three spoils in the Group Three Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes.
The son of Frankel led home a onetwo-three for the Aidan O’Brien stable as he ran his rivals ragged in the hands of the trainer’s son, Donnacha.
Nelson (11-2) came home clear from Kew Gardens, with stable first choice Delano Roosevelt only third.
The winning rider said: ‘He kept galloping all the way to the line. It was a nice performance. I thought I’d gone a nice even pace. I quickened from the bend and thought it would take a good one to get me.’
Eziyra (9-10 favourite) got up close home to justify her short price and register a second Group Three success in the KPMG Enterprise Stakes for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.
Suedois (10-3) showed a determined attitude when running out a gutsy winner of the Group Two Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes for David O’Meara in the hands of Danny Tudhope.