It was an unforgettable day for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Godolphin as they celebrated a treble on the first day of Royal Ascot, including two Group Ones, 40 years to the day since he had his first winner in England.
The racing had got underway once a minute’s silence was observed – with Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family standing in the parade ring – in honour of the memories of the victims of the London tower block fire last week and the terror attacks that have struck England in recent months.
Ribchester struck the first blow for Godolphin when he broke the course record for a mile in the opening Queen Anne Stakes.
And Sheikh Mohammed’s mood was even sweeter as his nemesis Aidan O’Brien’s 2000 Guineas double winner Churchill couldn’t summon up his namesake’s fighting spirit, and was left floundering in fourth as Godolphin’s Barney Roy won the feature St James’s Palace Stakes.
Godolphin’s treble was completed by Sound And Silence in the Windsor Castle.
Sheikh Mohammed’s delight at Ribchester’s victory in the course record time of 1min 36.6sec was palpable, kissing one of his daughters in his box – the surroundings a far cry from when Hatta won at Brighton four decades ago to spark a great love affair with the turf.
“Hatta was my first horse and people were surprised when she beat the favourite at Brighton,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“From that day, we’ve moved forward and we are really enjoying it.
“In life there is no winning post. You have to keep going, otherwise the rest will catch up with you.”
Barney Roy’s success turned the tables on Churchill, having finished second behind O’Brien’s star in the English 2000 Guineas, and vindicated Sheikh Mohammed’s decision to miss the Irish equivalent and come to Ascot.
“That was what Sheikh Mohammed wanted and he was dead right,” said Barney Roy’s trainer Richard Hannon. “It means everything to win this.”
Class act: Barney Roy (r) speeds past his rivals in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The James Doyle-ridden colt looked at ease on a flatter surface, travelling kindly in midfield during the early stages of the mile contest.
As Lancaster Bomber, stablemate of the odds-on Churchill, pressed on early down the straight, the market principals were wound up for their efforts, with the eventual winner coming under a maximum drive over a quarter of a mile from home.
While Barney Roy responded to pressure, Churchill’s hopes of a fifth top-level victory in succession were soon over, with the favourite having no more to give from a furlong or so out.
Going through the gears late on, Barney Roy swooped past Lancaster Bomber close to the line to defeat the O’Brien runner by a length in a course-record time, with Thunder Snow a further head back in third.
Hannon added: “He is the horse we always thought he was. We went to the Guineas to prove he is a good horse and he did that. He was slightly unlucky there and he has won very well today.
“He has a lovely long stride and he uses that. He takes time to get going and no doubt he will get further. I thought this track would suit him as the dips at Newmarket just caught him out.”
O’Brien – who until yesterday had carried almost all before him this season in winning three of the four English classics – said Churchill had run a good race, but jockey Ryan Moore was perplexed.
“He was never comfortable, I’m not sure why,” said Moore.
Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Thunder Snow, felt a surface with more give in it would be beneficial.
He said: “I’m happy with him, he ran really well. I think he would be better with easy ground, but I am happy with the way he ran.”
Source: Press Association
