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Murphy, Gosdens, Godolphin Take Ascot Titles

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy secured his first leading rider title at Royal Ascot on Saturday, with John and Thady Gosden clinching the leading trainer title and Godolphin walking away as leading owner.

Murphy, whose last of five victories on the week came aboard Foxes Tales (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the penultimate race of the meeting, the Golden Gates Handicap, said, “I wouldn't have expected it if you had asked me on Tuesday morning if I would be leading jockey this week–of course not. It normally belongs on Ryan [Moore] or Frankie [Dettori], but they gave me a turn this week.

“Thanks very much to the fast horses. It has been a super week. It's special, because as I get older, I appreciate these days more and more. I know I'm only 25, but life, as we learnt this week, is precious, and it's a continuous reminder.”

“My best moment of the week was Alcohol Free [winning the G1 Coronation S.],” he added. “She came along at a very important time in my career last year–I was under a lot of pressure and I managed to nail a Group 1, and [Friday] was a similar scenario. The pressure was on.”

John and Thady Gosden became the first training partnership to lead the trainers' standings at Royal Ascot with four wins and a second, while Godolphin enjoyed three wins, including Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Queen's Vase and Creative Force (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the closing-day G3 Jersey S.

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Murphy, Gosden, Godolphin Clinch Royal Ascot Titles

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy secured his first Leading Jockey title at Royal Ascot with five victories, one ahead of Ryan Moore, with Frankie Dettori and William Buick both partnering three winners during the meeting.

Murphy, whose final day success on Foxes Tales in the Golden Gates Handicap helped clinch the title, said: “I wouldn't have expected it if you had asked me on Tuesday morning if I would be leading jockey this week – of course not. It normally belongs on Ryan or Frankie, but they gave me a turn this week.

“My best moment of the week was Alcohol Free. She came along at a very important time in my career last year – I was under a lot of pressure and I managed to nail a G1 – and yesterday was a similar scenario. The pressure was on.”

John & Thady Gosden broke new ground as the first training partnership to take Leading Trainer honours at Royal Ascot. The father and son combination sent out four winners, the same total as Andrew Balding, but took the title by virtue of Reach For The Moon's second in Saturday's Listed Chesham Stakes.

John Gosden said: “First of all, we had the most glorious weather for three days – cool on Thursday, stunningly hot and summer on Tuesday and Wednesday, and great racing under those conditions. It was wonderful to see people back in here; 10,000 people, all socially distanced, tests taken.

“There is no doubt with the rain that came heavily here on the Friday. The Ascot executive and all the groundstaff did a magnificent job in changing some of the railing, organising to get away from some of the places that were a little bit waterlogged, and we raced right through yesterday and right through today.

“Fabulous racing and horses seemed in great order, and I think it's a testament to willpower that it's been pulled off with government blessing to go ahead, and I think it's a very safe environment. Of course, we are in big, open spaces, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, but it was very safe at the same time.

“The first race on the first day, Palace Pier, was wonderful for us. The Gold Cup – we didn't have the best trip [with Stradivarius] but I thought the winner was the best horse, and I think he won in great style. We had a great meeting with some fillies winning G2 races, and it was a good atmosphere here – safe, sensible and people actually coming out and living their lives again.”

Godolphin received the Leading Owner award thanks to three victories, including Kemari winning the G2 Queen's Vase and Creative Force beating Naval Crown to provide the operation with a 1-2 in the G3 Jersey Stakes.

Hugh Anderson, Godolphin Managing Director (UK and Dubai) said: “I am delighted for everyone at Godolphin and of course His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. This has already been a memorable season for Godolphin with Derby success and to be crowned Royal Ascot Leading Owner once again is very special. We hope for more success throughout the rest of the year.”

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Third Time’s The Charm For Dream Of Dreams In Diamond Jubilee At Royal Ascot

After taking the silver medal in 2019 and 2020, Dream Of Dreams made it third time lucky in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes with a tenacious victory.

The G1 highlight over six furlongs is always an exciting contest and the latest edition was no exception, with seven-year-old Dream Of Dreams (3-1 favorite) fighting off the persistent challenge of Glen Shiel (7-1) to prevail by a length. Third home Art Power (7-2) was the one to catch for much of the race, before giving way to the front two.

It was an 82nd Royal Ascot success for Sir Michael Stoute – the meeting's most successful trainer. Moore was chalking up win number 65 and moved ominously into second place in the leading jockey standings for the week with three wins.

Stoute said: “I am delighted – the horse deserves it. The past two years, he has been beaten a head finishing fastest of all, so I am really thrilled for him.

“He has got more and more relaxed; he doesn't go to post like a sprinter, does he? I thought he was going to pull up halfway down. He is more relaxed, and a little better. He's fully developed and strong now. But it's his mind – he's really, really chilling.

“He loves a little cut in the ground, but I don't think he's run on ground quite as soft as this, so I was a little concerned. Ryan [Moore] had it all planned and it all worked out, and told me what he was doing, so I said, kick on.

“Any winner here is a great thrill, particularly a Group One. But additionally, this fellow has just been touched off twice, so I'm pleased for him – he deserves it.

“I thought I wasn't going to have a Royal Ascot winner this year – this is the last runner we've got. It's been tough – it's always been tough, but it's tougher.”

Moore said: “Sir Michael has been great to me throughout my whole career. He has got this horse, who is seven now, to perform here three times in a row and it's great that he's able to win today.

“Dream Of Dreams has been a great horse. He has got better every year. A stiff six [furlongs] with cut in the ground, it's perfect for him.

“Any winner here is important and the bigger the race… a race like this, a prestigious race like this…it's great.”

Archie Watson said of the runner-up: “I am delighted with Glen Shiel. He tries so hard. Hollie said that Ryan came to her late and whilst Glen Shiel kept on battling, she just wished they had come to him earlier as he just keeps on finding.

“He has backed up his Group One win with another solid run in a Group One and we'll just keep on rolling through these races during the summer.

“It's very simple with these sprinters. We'll go to the July Cup next and then he'll probably have a crack at the Prix Maurice De Gheest – I think the six and a half furlongs will really suit him there. Then you have the Sprint Cup and then back here in October for the Champions Sprint. I might throw something else in along the way. But that will be the gist of it.”

Hollie Doyle said: “It was an unreal run. It's a bit disappointing not to win, but we know that Glen Shiel is back to his best so early on in the year whereas he didn't hit top form till the end of last year. We have plenty to look forward to.”

Art Power's trainer Tim Easterby said: “He has run an absolute blinder. He ran to the line and just got a little tired in the last half-furlong. The other horses were just a bit stronger, and he was out on his own for a long time. He ran a great race and will come on again. The King George at Goodwood is a possible now.”

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Menuisier Celebrates First Royal Ascot Win With Wonderful Tonight

Wonderful Tonight gave trainer David Menuisier a first Royal Ascot success when beating the boys in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes over a mile and a half.

The four-year-old filly was making her seasonal debut after winning the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on her final start in 2020.

Racing keenly early on, jockey William Buick eventually got Wonderful Tonight (5/1) settled behind the leaders before kicking clear in the straight for an impressive length and a half success over 9/4 favorite Broome. Hukum (8/1) was the same distance again back in third.

Menuisier said: “Wonderful Tonight is an absolute champion. I couldn't be bullish in the press before the race because she was always going to improve for the run.

“She was running against tough opposition with the benefit of at least one run, so you always have to be on the side of caution, but she is amazing. I didn't know what to say in the last 50 yards, it gave me a great sense of pride.

“Wonderful Tonight showed a tremendous turn of foot which she perhaps never showed before. I am very proud of the team, proud of the filly and also proud it is the only day Her Majesty came to this week, so I'm pleased she got to see this filly live.

“The fact that she handles soft/heavy ground so well compensated for the lack of fitness today. Can I go as far to say she will show the same traits on good ground? I don't know. Perhaps we will try in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if the ground happened to be good. Would we try her on good ground before that? I don't know. She loves Longchamp and Ascot so we will keep an eye on all the races she can run it at both venues.

“The King George was run on very soft ground last year. The Hardwicke was not the plan until last week and at the confirmation stage I saw that there was rain forecast and we decided to keep her in. Sometimes you need to be lucky as well!

Speaking about what a first Royal Ascot win means, he added: “It means the world because you carry it like a monkey on your back until it happens. I am absolutely thrilled.”

Winning owner Christopher Wright said: “I couldn't believe it. I honestly couldn't believe it, I was breathless. Absolutely staggered. I knew she needed the race. What a filly. She is amazing.

“I wasn't expecting her to win, the trainer had managed my expectations and he had also managed the expectations of the entire punting public in the Racing Post by saying that she was at 80/85 percent fit. Maybe she was, I don't know, but didn't she win so well! What a filly she is, that was unbelievable.

“I have been running horses here for 40 years, almost every year at least one, sometimes several. I've never ever had a winner at Royal Ascot – lots of seconds, lots of very good horses. Culture Vulture, who won a Classic, was second twice, but I've never had a winner here. I almost can't believe it – I thought I never ever would have a winner here, but I have.

“It means everything, actually. There are winners and winners, but a Royal Ascot winner… I've won a lot of very good races, but to win at Royal Ascot is like I've died and gone to heaven.

“After last year, when we almost ran Wonderful Tonight in the Arc, we thought that we would target the Arc this year. I know that's like shooting for the moon, and it's a pretty tough target to aspire to, but that has been the target and her program has been based around it, so we didn't want her to start the season too early. We don't think she's a filly who will like a mid-season break particularly, so we wanted to start the season and gradually bring her along so she could peak on the first weekend of October. This was step one of that plan.”

Buick is still in the hunt for the Royal Ascot leading jockey title after riding his third winner of the week. He said: “Wonderful Tonight has a lot of stamina. I won the Fillies & Mares on her on Champions Day last year and I rode her like a real stayer because she'd won the Royallieu, the 14-furlong fillies race on Arc weekend, making plenty of use of her.

“She is top-class. She probably does handle this ground well compared to some others, but I thought that performance today against the colts was her best yet. And she showed a turn of foot today that I don't think she'd shown before. I thought she looked great – David and his team had done a great job with her over the winter and have bided their time.

“She is very versatile tactically. She can make her own running as long as she's in a good rhythm and doesn't get chased along too early. She was entitled to be a bit fresh today, first run for a while, but I was very comfortable where I was after a furlong or so. It was a nice smooth race; good performance from her and she's got it all ahead.”

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