THE Royal Hunt Cup is a race like no other. A cluster of screaming women stormed the winner’s circle in the aftermath, each of them animated in their excitement. They had just heard that their horse, Able Baker Charlie, had come second in a pulsating finish which had the judge calling for print after print. Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the same enclosure, Mike Dawson fought hard against his tears.
He had just seen Mine, a 16-1 chance, carry his pink and purple silks to an improbable victory. There must have been a dozen horses ahead of Mine with 200 yards remaining, but the hardy six-year-old, a standing dish in the man’s world of big-field handicaps, dug in and summoned one final thrust. It was to carry him past Able Baker Charlie in the last stride.
Mind you, not that too many could tell with the naked eye. For this was a finish in which a herd of horses, spread across the full width of the track, lunged in unison for the wire. They were separated by inches at the end of a mile; it was as if a giant wave had rolled up and engulfed a sandy beach.
For Dawson, savouring his first Royal Ascot winner, the moment was almost too much. His has been a considerable equine investment and here was the biggest dividend yet. “This really is the icing on the cake,” he said when his voice returned. “Mine is a superb horse. He never gives up.”
The same could be said of James Bethell, Mine’s trainer, who is enjoying one of his finest seasons in a long and fruitful career. He had already saddled Mine to win the competitive Victoria Cup here last month. “Now that Mine is six, I suppose I’ve just learnt how to train him,” Bethell joked.
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A race which amplified the diverse nature of British racing was epitomised by Zonergem, who finished third after a late flourish. A quirky six-year-old, Zonergem warmed up for this flat-out cavalry charge by winning twice — over hurdles at Huntingdon. Such an approach might appeal to David Wachman, who trains an ever-expanding mixed string with increasing prowess in Ireland.
Wachman is undoubtedly a name for the future. Two years ago he married John Magnier’s daughter, Katie, which did his career prospects no harm. But there is evidently more to the young handler than a charming turn of phrase, as he showed when his first Royal Ascot runner, Damson, brushed aside 16 Queen Mary Stakes opponents with regal disdain.
The big field tanked along at a headlong gallop, which played into the waiting hands of Jamie Spencer aboard Damson. Spencer bided his time before weaving a way through toiling rivals to prevail by three lengths, in the process earning a 1,000 Guineas quote of 20-1 from Paddy Power. It was quite a British debut from both horse and trainer — especially the latter, who said he had no inkling of what it would take to win a race of such quality.
So much so that Wachman related: “I only entered Damson on Friday when I saw that she was 5lb clear in the ratings. When she won at Naas last time the ground was quite fast, so I rang the owners and said we would probably miss Ascot.” Those owners are Magnier and Michael Tabor; the strength of Wachman’s juvenile team, rumoured to be considerable, will become evident as the season unfolds.
The strength of Sir Michael Stoute’s string is well known. Another strand was added by Favourable Terms, who bounded away with the Windsor Forest Stakes in the style of a much-improved horse. It was a straightforward triumph from a straightforward filly given a straightforward ride by Kieren Fallon, who paid her handsome tribute afterwards. “I would say that she’s the most fluent mover I have ever ridden,” the jockey said.
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The same cannot be said of Crimson Palace, a heavily-backed favourite at 6-5. Contrasting messages swept the racecourse ahead of her running a lacklustre sixth; either way, her scratchy stride when at full pelt was hardly helped by the prevailing fast ground.
Stoute also confirmed that North Light, winner of the Derby, was on course for the Irish equivalent a week on Sunday. “He did a bit of work this morning and he is fine,” the trainer said. In contrast, Yeats, favourite for the Derby ahead of his defection just days before the race, was not among 57 entries released yesterday for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.