POINT LEADS THE WAY FOR BUICK
Blue is the colour as big two are beaten
BLUE POINT ripped up the script to break his Group 1 duck in the King’s Stand Stakes. The five-furlong test had been billed as a head-to-head between American raider Lady Aurelia – defending champion and in search of a Royal Ascot hat-trick – and home-trained speedball Battaash. But William Buick pounced late on the Charlie Appleby four-year-old to collar pacemaking Battaash and give the Derby-winning combination – Blue Point was carrying the Godolphin silks of Epsom hero Masar – another cherished prize. “To have a Derby winner and then have a Royal Ascot winner is great,” said Appleby, racking up a fifth royal triumph. The son of Shamardal was scoring for the third time at Ascot, and Appleby added: “He brings his A game here and I couldn’t have been happier with his preparation.” Charlie Hills praised his runner-up Battaash – “he ran a very good race” – but Lady Aurelia’s connections were mystified by the filly’s flat seventh.
“She didn’t have the kick she normally does,” said her jockey Johnny Velazquez. “She just didn’t fire.”
The fixture began with a 33-1 Accidental Agent shock as gave trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and jockey Charles Bishop a first royal success – and Group 1 victory – in the Queen Anne Stakes.
“I’ve never trained a Group winner, let alone a Group 1 winner, and I’ve never trained a Royal Ascot winner, let alone a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot!” said Johnson Houghton, whose horse was named in honour of her grandfather, a World War II spy.
The Ascot Stakes proved a Willie Mullins benefit as Ireland’s champion jumps trainer, capturing the race for the fourth time, saddled first Lagostovegas home – as well as third Stratum, fourth Chelkar and fifth-placed Whiskey Sour.