Merchant overcomes wide draw for King George V glory

South Wales Argus

9 hours ago

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.'