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Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes - 28th September 2013 |
Berkshire Passes Royal Lodge Test
28/09/13
1 Berkshire 11/8J
2 Somewhat 11/8J
3 Sir Jack Layden 40/1
5 ran Distances: nk, nk, ½l
TIME 1m 39.97s (slow by 4.67s)
Berkshire followed up his Royal Ascot win with a workman-like success in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.
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Paul Cole's juvenile made a huge impression when swooping from last to first to win the Chesham Stakes and had been off the track since. He was sent off the 11-8 joint-favourite with Mark Johnston's Somewhat, and it was the market leaders who fought out the finish.
After initially travelling well into the dip, Berkshire did not show the explosive acceleration that was evident at Ascot and Somewhat made him pull out all the stops, despite finishing behind him at the Royal meeting. Jim Crowley managed to galvanise Berkshire to win by a neck, with the rank outsider Sir Jack Layden running a massive race in a close-up third.
Crowley, who picked up a two-day whip ban, told Channel 4 Racing: "He's not run for three months and was a bit fresh early on. We've always said he wants a fast surface, but he might not want it that quick.
"He's got the job done and he will be an even better three-year-old. He stayed the trip very well and I thought the ground was possibly on the fast side for him today. The second horse has clearly improved, so that's good."
Cole added: "It was quite an exciting race. He looked a bit green and had not run for a long time. It can be quite hard for two-year-olds on their first run back after a long time off.
"I don't know (where he will run next), it's a bit early to say. He won't be having a busy time this year, he probably won't run again. He's a big horse and next year is going to be his year."
The bookmakers were not overly impressed, with William Hill now going 12-1 about his 2000 Guineas chance, while he is 20s from 25s for the 2014 Epsom Derby.
Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)
£100,000 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good to Firm
| Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
| 1 |
Berkshire P F I Cole |
Jim Crowley 8st 12lbs |
11 - 8 Winner |
| 2 |
Somewhat M Johnston |
G Mosse 8st 12lbs |
11 - 8 Neck |
| 3 |
Sir Jack Layden D H Brown |
R Hughes 8st 12lbs |
40 - 1 Neck |
| 4 |
Washaar R Hannon |
P Hanagan 8st 12lbs |
9 - 1 1/2 length |
| 5 |
Kingfisher A P O'Brien |
R L Moore 8st 12lbs |
7 - 1 2 3/4 lengths |
