Jersey Stakes
Group 3, Ascot 14:30 £75,000 added, 3yo, 7f, Class 1
Wednesday 17th June 2015

1 Dutch Connection 14-1
2 Fadhayyil 9-1
3 Bossy Guest 8-1
16 ran Distances: ½l, ¾l, hd
TIME 1m 26.83s (slow by 1.23s)

Dutch Connection goes in at 14-1 ahead of Fadhayyil and Bossy Guest

Dutch Connection
© Racehorse Photos

Trainer Charlie Hills recorded his second Royal Ascot winner when Dutch Connection took the Jersey Stakes, but victory came at a cost to the trainer's father, Barry, who saddled the half-length runner-up Fadhayyil.

Charlie grinned when asked to reflect upon the defeat he had inflicted upon his father, and said: "I'll get a bollocking now!"

He added: "It's a big shame, because Dad would have loved to train another winner here [he has 25 to date]."

Charlie remembered when Moonax, trained by his father, beat Broadway Flyer, trained by his late half-brother John, in the Ladbrokes St Leger. "He [Barry] took that pretty hard," said Charlie, adding: "It's a shame to beat him because he's been such a massive help to all of us, but he'll have his day again I'm sure."

Of today's race, Charlie said: "Ivawood [the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas third] looked the obvious one, but my horse has done nothing wrong and the horses weren't quite right when he ran [unplaced] in the Guineas. He travelled so well in that race and along with Gleneagles was one of the last off the bridle.

"We've taken our time since then and he's come along nicely. I'm sure he'll get an easy mile, but he travels very strongly and generously in his races. This is his optimum trip, but we'll see if he gets stronger as he gets older. He's in the July Cup [over six furlongs], but we could have a look at the Sussex over a mile at Goodwood - we'll see how he comes out of this race."

Barry Hills, who has trained 25 Royal Ascot winners over the years, finished second with Fadhayyil.

"She's run a marvellous race," said Barry. "Paul [Hanagan] said she got a little bit intimidated in the final furlong when the winner came across her a bit.

"She is a good filly and will win plenty of good races.

"If I could not win the race, I am pleased Charles did - it is better than us finishing second and third."

Hanagan added: "Not many excuses, although the ground is very quick and she may have been feeling it a bit. The winner did carry me left a little bit in the final furlong, and while I'm not saying I would have won, that didn't help."

Bossy Guest
© Racehorse Photos

Bossy Guest, who was dropping back in trip to seven furlongs after finishing fourth behind Gleneagles in the 2000 Guineas, was a further length and a quarter back in third.

Trainer Mick Channon said: "I'm pleased with him. I'll definitely take him back up to a mile. That could be the mistake I've made [dropping him down to seven furlongs] but, having said that, I went for the right race. I nearly ran yesterday [in the St James's Palace Stakes] but the other horse [Gleneagles] had beaten us comprehensively, and I thought we'd come here with a decent chance. He's the only one who was finishing his race.

"He's in the Sussex Stakes and everything else over a mile, and I think he's got a great attitude and is a smashing horse to have around."

Charlie Bishop, who rode Bossy Guest, said: "He ran a brilliant race, an absolute cracker, but I think going back over a mile is more his game. We had to come here, rather than the St James's Palace Stakes, because it looked more winnable, but he's done nothing wrong and over a mile you can ride him a bit more patiently to finish his race. From halfway, I was trying to wind him up and that meant we were at it from a long way out. He's brilliant - he's given me some big days and I'm very grateful to Mr Channon and the owners."

Jersey Stakes
£75,000 added, 3yo only, 7f, Class 1
16 ran
Going: Good to Firm