ASCOT (UNITED KINGDOM) - For the second consecutive day an Irish-trained horse won the feature race at Royal Ascot when Free Eagle, trained by Dermot Weld, just lasted home in the pound sterling525,000 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over 2000m.
Race-goers (L) pose for a 'selfie' photograph whilst waiting in the parade ring for the arrival of the Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (unseen) during the second day of Royal Ascot, in Berkshire, west of London, on June 17, 2015
Free Eagle’s triumph followed that of Gleneagles 24 hours earlier and took Ireland’s tally to four wins after eight races.
A compelling second day also saw Wesley Ward saddle a winner for the US, courtesy of Acapulco in the Queen Mary Stakes.
And Frankie Dettori got in on the act by winning his 50th race at this prestigious fixture in the concluding event.
But on a day of desperately close finishes the honours belonged to Weld and Free Eagle, who defied a lengthy absence to justify a reputation that saw him favoured by British bookmakers to win last year’s Epsom Derby.
This was only Free Eagle’s fifth lifetime start in a career plagued by ailments, yet he battled manfully to resist the flying late thrust of The Grey Gatsby.
The latter would surely have won had his jockey, Jamie Spencer, been able to secure a clear passage when he needed it.
There was a scant short-head between them at the line, with Western Hymn a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third place.
Neither Criterion, from Australia, nor Spielberg, from Japan, could strike a blow in finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
Before the race Weld feared Free Eagle’s nine-month absence from the racetrack would count against his horse.
“He had a heavy head cold a couple of weeks ago,” the trainer said of Free Eagle. “I had him as good as I could with his limited preparation, but I had huge confidence in his ability.”
In contrast to some in the nine-runner field, Free Eagle was always well placed under Pat Smullen, who sent his mount into the lead early in the home straight.
Racing room was at a premium thereafter, with The Grey Gatsby, Criterion and Cannock Chase all encountering various degrees of congestion. Smullen, for his part, was out in the clear.
Having seen Weld nurse Free Eagle towards the race, Smullen was overjoyed to have won it. “I don’t think I have got as much pleasure from riding a winner as I did today,” he said.
Weld and Smullen will combine again on Thursday, when Forgotten Rules bids to justify his status as favourite for the meeting’s signature event, the Ascot Gold Cup -– although Weld will first walk the course to ensure prevailing ground conditions are not too fast for his unbeaten stayer.
Ryan Moore was another to pick up where he left of on Tuesday, when he rode the last three winners on the six-race card.
The jockey followed up with two more winners, the first of them aboard Acapulco, who became her trainer’s fifth winner at the Royal fixture. That latter detail resonates because Ward trains in the US.
“I’m so blessed to have had the success that I’ve had here,” Ward said after Acapulco had breezed to a one and a half length triumph. “I think she (Acapulco) has a big future, she’s a beautiful, gorgeous filly.”
Moore, who later won the Royal Hunt Cup aboard GM Hopkins, was equally impressed “She cruised up and had far too many gears form them,” the jockey said.
Dettori, meanwhile, was in typically ebullient form after Osaila had reeled in Always Smile to win the Sandringham Handicap.
After a six-month, drugs-related suspension and a spell in the wilderness this time last year, Dettori’s feet have barely touched the ground since he won the Derby at Epsom aboard Golden Horn three weeks ago.