Irish trainer bags first Royal Ascot winner with first runner
Carmers provided Irish trainer Paddy Twomey with his first ever Royal Ascot winner from his first runner when running out a determined victor of the Queen's Vase.
The Wootton Bassett colt had been successful on his two previous starts at Ballinrobe and Navan and was a 9-2 shot to complete his hat-trick in this one-mile-six-furlong Group Two.
Always to the fore in the hands of Billy Lee, Carmers took over from Shackleton rounding the home turn and answered his rider's every call to repel the staying-on pair of Furthur and Rahiebb, with three-quarters of a length the winning margin.
'I knew he'd stay and I knew turning in that Billy looked comfortable,' said Twomey.
'I was happy to see a horse come up alongside him and help him at the front, he looked comfortable when the bell rang and I knew he had a chance.
'I think staying is his game and I think he's a pretty good horse.'
Ladbrokes installed the Fiona Carmichael-owned winner as the 8-1 second-favourite for the Betfred St Leger, and Twomey added: 'He's done everything we've asked, he's obviously going to have an entry in the Leger at Doncaster – we'll see.
'He's done what was asked of him today, he's run three times, he's won three times and hopefully he continues to win.
'We've nice horses, we've good owners and it's fantastic to be able to bring them here.
'It's nice to have good horses to win on the big days for a small stable.'
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The 42
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Royal Ascot tips: ‘He's down in grade with a brilliant jockey taking charge' – Templegate aims to follow up winning NAP
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Most winners are above 94 in the official ratings and most winners of this have been on the track at least three times. All scorers in living memory had won at least one of their past five and it's best to have run within the past 50 a big plus to have won this season too. That sees us left with a shortlist of Caspi Star, Catalina Delcarpo, Garden Of Eden and Serenity Prayer. Given Aidan O'Brien is going for his third win in a row GARDEN OF EDEN looks the one to beat. She's lightly raced and bred to improve at 1m4f so looks the danger. Caspi Star was a more than decent third in the Cheshire Oaks last time and should appreciate this stiffer stamina test. Go Go Boots wasn't herself in the Oaks where the track didn't suit but had shaped well before that behind Serenity Prayer. First-time blinkers may help if that Epsom effort hasn't left a mark. 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The 42
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