French raider Big Rock produced a devastating front-running performance Saturday to slam his rivals by six lengths in the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Ascot.
Sent off at 5-1 odds and always travelling strongly under Aurelien Lemaitre, Big Rock just kept on rolling as the opposition toiled in behind and ultimately had no trouble ending a run of three successive runner-up placings this season at the highest level. He covered one mile is 1:44.58 on turf rated as soft.
Facteur Cheval kept on from off the pace to make it a one-two for French-trained runners, a neck in front of Tahiyra who could never get to grips with the runaway winner.
The 7-4 favorite Paddington was well below par, offering Ryan Moore nothing when push came to shove, finishing ninth in the field of 11.
With Saturday's win, Big Rock, a 3-year-old Rock of Gibraltar colt, earned an automatic, fees-paid berth in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita via the Breeders' Cup Challenge: Win and You're In.
His victory Saturday marked was a poignant success for trainer Christopher Head, whose father, Freddy, won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes twice, most recently with Solow in 2015.
“Big Rock was tremendous,” Head said. “Today was pretty much the best mile race of the season and seeing him win this way is crazy. What a horse, what a season. He's really doing very well on that type of ground, but that was very, very impressive.
“I am really happy for the owner-breeder [Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals of Yeguada Centurion SL] because he has done tremendous work with the breeding and this horse is the pinnacle of the breeding system.
“You are always a bit scared that the rest of the runners will come on to you but he was always going faster and faster. We had faith because we have known him all throughout the season and he has always been like this.
“It is very nice to see him winning this race, because it is one of the best mile races in Europe. We need to discuss with the owner about whether he will stay in training and Leo will decide what we do.”
Lemaitre, who was riding his first winner in Britain, said: “That was very easy. Big Rock loved the ground today. He is a professional horse – he loved the soft ground, had very good pace and a great turn of foot. It is fantastic to win a Group 1 at Ascot. I am very happy.”
Big Rock is out the Sea The Stars (IRE) mare Hardiyna (IRE).
Mickael Barzalona said of runner-up Facteur Cheval: “He raced very well, he traveled easy and he's been very tough to get second place.”
Tahiyra's rider Chris Hayes said: “It was an unusual race. Big Rock had us all under pressure; he set a quick tempo on very testing ground. I'm very proud of my filly on ground she hated. She wouldn't accept defeat, and she kept trying to the line. Hopefully she's there next year; she is a remarkable filly.”
Dermot Weld added: “Tahiyra has run a brilliant race. We are delighted with her, it's just the conditions on the mile are very testing. She didn't really handle the ground, but she tries so hard. Somebody had to go after the horse in front and she said, 'I'm going after him!' ”
On future plans, he said: “We will see how she comes out of the race and will make a decision.”
The post ‘What A Horse’: Big Rock Wins QE II Stakes On Front End, Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
