Bayside Boy and jockey Tom Marquand came from the back of the pack to spring a 33-1 surprise in the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) Saturday at Ascot.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Breeders' Cup Challenge 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the $2-million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland and Bayside Boy earned an automatic, fees-paid berth with Saturday's triumph.
The pre-race focus for Queen Elizabeth II Stakes had all been on Inspiral and Frankie Dettori who was chasing a third win in a row on the card.
However Inspiral fell out of the stalls and gave away crucial ground. It was to prove a deficit she could not make up.
With the favorite out of the picture, the race was set up to be a battle between Modern Games and Jadoomi, who'd got a break on the field after accelerating with three furlongs to go.
That was before Bayside Boy delivered a remarkable late surge to land his first Group 1.
Speaking to ITV immediately after the race, winning trainer Roger Varian commented, “We thought he was a lively outsider. We're not going to say we thought he'd win because he had to step up massively but he had very good juvenile form.
“He won the Champagne Stakes and he was third in the Dewhurst. We had high hopes for him this season, but he really didn't enjoy the firm ground in the summer.
“He won nicely at Sandown last time, that must have been a good confidence booster for the horse but we're delighted with him today. I'm looking forward to watching it again, he showed a great turn of foot.”
Bayside Boy, who covered the one-mile contest in 1:45.43 on good to soft turf, is a 3-year-old by New Bay from the Anabaa mare Alava. He was bred in Ireland by Ballylinch Stud, who campaigns him in partnership with Teme Valley and also enjoyed a victory one race later on the card as co-owner with James Wigan of Bay Bridge in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1).
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