Merchant overcomes wide draw for King George V glory
Moore was still in front as they entered the final furlong but Merchant picked up well to defy an 8lb rise for winning at York last time out and justify 3-1 favouritism by a length, with Pantile Warrior a further neck back in third.
'It was difficult to watch because all I was watching was the time per furlong and they set off like scalded cats,' said Haggas.
'I then thought they hadn't gone fast enough because in every race this week on the round track, they've gone so fast and everything has come off the speed.
'He was plenty far back and I knew when he turned for home he'd be able to sit a bit, I knew he'd come home. I was really pleased with him.
'You hope (they are good enough). He's clearly progressive and I'm afraid I don't know how far he will go. It's extremely exciting.'
Arabian Story provided Saeed bin Suroor with a 40th Royal Ascot winner in a dramatic finish to the Britannia Stakes.
Having just the fourth run of his life and his first on turf, the 15-2 chance had to be brave under Oisin Murphy.
La Botte and Fearnot both threw down late challenges but it was Arabian Story who prevailed by a neck and a head.
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Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Trinity College has all the answers in Hampton Court Stakes
With the formidable pair having already landed the Norfolk with Charles Darwin and the Ribblesdale with Garden Of Eden, French Derby fourth Trinity College was the 5-2 favourite for his Group Three assignment and dictated at the head of affairs from the start. Tornado Alert, fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, was Trinity College's nearest pursuer throughout and tried to keep tabs on him in the straight, but the winner found another gear inside the final furlong and was well on top as he passed the post with three and a half lengths in hand. O'Brien was delighted to see the son of Dubawi get his moment in the spotlight after his fine effort at Chantilly last time and said: 'It was a lovely run in the French Derby and Wayne (Lordan) rode him the last day and we were very happy. 'He wasn't beaten that far and he turned around the form with Detain (third in Chantilly) here. 'Ryan gave him a lovely, uncomplicated ride. He's a lovely, straightforward horse and his trip is a mile and a quarter. 'We've always thought he was a nice horse and he's only really started to progress now – you would have to be very happy with that. 'I would say 10 furlongs is his trip and he's very comfortable at that distance because he's not slow. 'He could go to America and there is an American Derby (at Churchill Downs) he could run in but the problem is it is only in a couple of weeks, so we will have to see how he is, it could be too soon. He's a good member of the team.' Trinity College provided Moore with his 90th winner at the Royal meeting, 17 years on from his first at the summer showpiece aboard Sir Michael Stoute's Colony. Moore said: 'It's great to get to 90. I've rode for great people for a lot of years and a lot of people who put in a lot of hard work and sweat. Obviously having Aidan in my corner is also a massive help.' Saeed bin Suroor is eager to get Tornado Alert's head in front next time. He said: 'He ran well to finish sixth in the Derby, and now second in a nice race here is good. He is improving. We will see how he comes out of this, but we will look for a Group Three race.' Glittering Legend was third for James Fanshawe but the trainer expects the horse to move to a new country now. He said: 'He ran really well. He got a bump early on, which just set him alight a bit, but he dropped his head really well and kept on well. 'Unfortunately, I think he's off to Hong Kong now, but he's done really well. I think it will turn out to be a good race.'
Leader Live
18 hours ago
- Leader Live
Merchant overcomes wide draw for King George V glory
Drawn in stall 20, Marquand had chosen to drop in behind horses while Ryan Moore on Serious Contender, who was also posted out wide, opted to go forward. Moore was still in front as they entered the final furlong but Merchant picked up well to defy an 8lb rise for winning at York last time out and justify 3-1 favouritism by a length, with Pantile Warrior a further neck back in third. 'It was difficult to watch because all I was watching was the time per furlong and they set off like scalded cats,' said Haggas. 'I then thought they hadn't gone fast enough because in every race this week on the round track, they've gone so fast and everything has come off the speed. 'He was plenty far back and I knew when he turned for home he'd be able to sit a bit, I knew he'd come home. I was really pleased with him. 'You hope (they are good enough). He's clearly progressive and I'm afraid I don't know how far he will go. It's extremely exciting.' Arabian Story provided Saeed bin Suroor with a 40th Royal Ascot winner in a dramatic finish to the Britannia Stakes. Having just the fourth run of his life and his first on turf, the 15-2 chance had to be brave under Oisin Murphy. La Botte and Fearnot both threw down late challenges but it was Arabian Story who prevailed by a neck and a head. Bin Suroor said: 'We took him to Dubai and physically he improved a lot. He always works well in the morning and I said to Oisin keep him handy and he gave him a great ride. Oisin is the best – he is world-class and one of the best around. 'He is still improving and it was only his second race in the UK. We'll have to maybe find a Group race for him now and Oisin said he is definitely a Group horse. 'He's good at the mile but he could go further, maybe up to a mile and a quarter.' Never So Brave, trained by the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute in his early days, then provided Murphy with a double in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. Now with Andrew Balding, the 4-1 favourite positively shot clear once a gap appeared on the rail and triumphed by two and a quarter lengths. Akkadian Thunder ran on for second, with Holguin a further two and a quarter lengths back in third. It was Balding's 13th winner at the meeting and he said: 'He's a really lovely horse and I think gelding him over the winter has helped him and improved him. 'Sir Michael always had a high opinion of him and he ran here in the Jersey Stakes last year, so I think he was probably a Group horse in a handicap today. 'He settled well today and I think the key is to get him to relax early in his races. He has an excellent turn of foot when you can get him to do that.'
Rhyl Journal
18 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Trinity College has all the answers in Hampton Court Stakes
With the formidable pair having already landed the Norfolk with Charles Darwin and the Ribblesdale with Garden Of Eden, French Derby fourth Trinity College was the 5-2 favourite for his Group Three assignment and dictated at the head of affairs from the start. Tornado Alert, fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, was Trinity College's nearest pursuer throughout and tried to keep tabs on him in the straight, but the winner found another gear inside the final furlong and was well on top as he passed the post with three and a half lengths in hand. O'Brien was delighted to see the son of Dubawi get his moment in the spotlight after his fine effort at Chantilly last time and said: 'It was a lovely run in the French Derby and Wayne (Lordan) rode him the last day and we were very happy. 'He wasn't beaten that far and he turned around the form with Detain (third in Chantilly) here. 'Ryan gave him a lovely, uncomplicated ride. He's a lovely, straightforward horse and his trip is a mile and a quarter. 'We've always thought he was a nice horse and he's only really started to progress now – you would have to be very happy with that. 'I would say 10 furlongs is his trip and he's very comfortable at that distance because he's not slow. 'He could go to America and there is an American Derby (at Churchill Downs) he could run in but the problem is it is only in a couple of weeks, so we will have to see how he is, it could be too soon. He's a good member of the team.' Trinity College provided Moore with his 90th winner at the Royal meeting, 17 years on from his first at the summer showpiece aboard Sir Michael Stoute's Colony. Moore said: 'It's great to get to 90. I've rode for great people for a lot of years and a lot of people who put in a lot of hard work and sweat. Obviously having Aidan in my corner is also a massive help.' Saeed bin Suroor is eager to get Tornado Alert's head in front next time. He said: 'He ran well to finish sixth in the Derby, and now second in a nice race here is good. He is improving. We will see how he comes out of this, but we will look for a Group Three race.' Glittering Legend was third for James Fanshawe but the trainer expects the horse to move to a new country now. He said: 'He ran really well. He got a bump early on, which just set him alight a bit, but he dropped his head really well and kept on well. 'Unfortunately, I think he's off to Hong Kong now, but he's done really well. I think it will turn out to be a good race.'
