Royal Ascot

Winker Watson Gives Fortune his Fifth Winner
21/06/07

1st 16 Winker Watson 2/1 FAV
2nd 1 Art Advisor 14/1
3rd 13 Spirit Of Sharj' 9/2

Jockey Jimmy Fortune extended his lead at the top of the London Clubs International Trophy when winning his fifth race of Royal Ascot 2007 aboard Winker Watson in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes, the opening race on Ladies Day.

The winner showed plenty of determination when running on well inside the final furlong to record a length and a quarter victory over Art Advisor.

Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam said: “We just got away with that today as I think he wants further than five furlongs. He had been trained for the Norfolk Stakes and so we came for this race instead of the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday, where we ran Declaration Of War instead.

“The horse is still quite green. I think he could be the best of our early two-year-olds but who knows what will happen by the end of the season.

“Dutch Art won this race last year and kept going throughout the season so why shouldn’t this horse?

“He will step up in trip but I’m not sure where he will go next. He could well go to France as the owners would like to run in something like the Prix Morny. I think he is pretty good and is still improving.”

Jimmy Fortune added: “This horse is certainly top-class on everything I’ve asked him to do. He took a while to get going today and is still a bit green, a baby, but picked up well when I asked him.

"He got there and I probably should have pulled my stick through, he's just ducked that way when I've hit him, but he's done it very well.

"The plan was to come to Ascot, and Peter didn't know whether to go for this race or the Coventry. He chose this race, but Peter and I think he's going to be a better horse over six furlongs."

“I knew I had good rides at the start of the week, although you count yourself lucky if you get one winner at Royal Ascot. I’ve still got some good rides to look forward to but this is the world’s hardest meeting to ride winners at.

“To be honest, I think anyone could have won on my five winners so far this week!”

JOHNSON AND FIELDEN LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR

Trainer Howard Johnson believes there is better to come from Art Advisor after the Noverre colt finished a length and a quarter second to Winker Watson in the Norfolk Stakes.

“He ran very well but he’s still green and probably would have liked more give in the ground,” said Johnson. “He’ll get six furlongs no problem and he could go for the Gimcrack at York but he’s going to make a right three-year-old.”

Julia Feilden was also delighted with third-placed Spirit Of Sharjah. “Kerrin (McEvoy) said the horse wants six now but I’m delighted with how he’s run, we were only beaten a short-head for second,” said Feilden.

“I hope he gets a mile next year and we can have a crack at the Guineas. He’ll go over six furlongs next time and we may have a look at the July Stakes at Newmarket - I’m not too familiar with the Pattern Book!”

2.30pm NORFOLK STAKES (GROUP TWO)
£70,000 guaranteed, 5f, For 2yo Weights colts and geldings 9st 1lb; fillies 8st 12lb Entries 30 pay £310 Penalty value 1st £39,746; 2nd £15,064; 3rd £7,539; 4th £3,759; 5th £1,883; 6th £945

1 WINKER WATSON (The Comic Strip Heroes & Mrs John Trotter) Peter Chapple-Hyam 2-9-01 Jimmy Fortune [16] 2/1f
2 ART ADVISOR (IRE) (Matthew Green & Howard Johnson) Howard Johnson 2-9-01 Seb Sanders [3] 14/1
3 SPIRIT OF SHARJAH (IRE) (A Dee) Julia Feilden 2-9-01 Kerrin McEvoy [6] 9/2
4 SILVER GUEST (John Guest) Mick Channon 2-9-01 Darryll Holland [4] 33/1
5 STRIKE THE DEAL (USA) (The Searchers) Jeremy Noseda 2-9-01 Johnny Murtagh [10]
6 CARLETON (Capital) Mick Channon 2-9-01 Hugh Bowman [8]
7 ROKER PARK (IRE) (T Alderson) Karl Burke 2-9-01 Pat Cosgrave [2]
8 BESPOKE BOY (Wendy Lucas) Pat Haslam 2-9-01 Frankie Dettori [15]
9 JEBEL TARA (Saeed Manana) Clive Brittain 2-9-01 Ryan Moore [9]
10 WARSAW (IRE) (Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-01 Michael Kinane [11]
11 CRACKING (IRE) (A Pickford & N Woodcock) Richard Hannon 2-9-01 Richard Hughes [1]

11 ran
Non-runners: 5 Drawnfromthepast (ground), 6 Dream Eater (vet’s certificate), 7 Enodoc (vet’s certificate), 9 Kingsgate Native (vet’s certificate), 10 Magical Speedfit (ground)
Distances: 1 1/4, sh, 1, hd, 1/2, 3/4, 1 3/4, nk, 3/4, 5
Time: 1m 00.83s
Breeding: ch c Piccolo - Bonica (Rousillon (USA))
Breeder: Mrs John Trotter
Totes: Win: £3.40 Places: £1.70; £3.40; £1.90 Exacta: £37.00

Winning trainer:-Name: Chapple-Hyam, Peter William Based: St Gatien, All Saints Road, Newmarket, Suffolk Date of birth: 2/4/63 Date of first licence:1991 Previous Occupation: Assistant to Barry Hills. Trained at Manton, now occupied by Brian Meehan. Returned from spell training in Hong Kong at the beginning of 2004 Other details: From Coventry but supports West Bromwich Albion FC Classic wins: (3) Stan James 2000 Guineas (1992 Rodrigo De Triano), Vodafone Derby (1992 Dr Devious, 2007 Authorized) Wins in a season (1991-2006): 27; 41; 52; 39; 37; 52; 37; 37; n/a; n/a; n/a; n/a; n/a; 30; 32; 40 Horses in training (1992-2007): 73; 79; 98; 96; 113; 84; 86; 96; n/a; n/a; n/a; n/a; 40; 71; 71; 74 Wins in 2007: 15 Other major wins include: Champion Stakes (1992 Rodrigo De Triano, 1995 Spectrum), Cornwallis Stakes (2005 Hunter Street), Dee Stakes (2004 African Dream), French 2000 Guineas (1998 Victory Note), Grand Criterium (1996 Revoque), Irish Champion Stakes (1992 Dr Devious), Irish 2,000 Guineas (1992 Rodrigo De Triano, 1994 Turtle Island, 1995 Spectrum), Italian Derby (1993 White Muzzle, 1997 Single Empire), Juddmonte International Stakes (1992 Rodrigo De Triano), July Stakes (2004 Captain Hurricane), Prix de l’Abbaye (1997 Carmine Lake), Prix de la Salamandre (1996 Revoque), Prix Morny (2006 Dutch Art), Racing Post Trophy (1998 Commander Collins), Richmond Stakes (2004 Montgomery’s Arch, 2006 Hamoody), Shadwell Middle Park Stakes (1991 Rodrigo De Triano, 2006 Dutch Art) First Royal Ascot win: Stonehatch (June 15, 1993 - Coventry) Royal Ascot wins: (7) Coventry Stakes (1993 Stonehatch), Norfolk Stakes (1993 Turtle Island, 2006 Dutch Art, 2007 Winker Watson), Chesham Stakes (1993 State Performer), Queen Mary Stakes (1999 Shining Hour), Jersey Stakes (2007 Tariq)

Winning jockey:-Name: Fortune, James Joseph. Date of birth: 14/6/72 Apprenticeship: With Mike O'Neill. Big wins Include: Ayr Gold Cup (1989 Joveworth, 1996 Coastal Bluff), VC Bet Challenge Stakes (2006 Sleeping Indian), Gimcrack Stakes (2006 Conquest), July Stakes (2004 Captain Hurricane), Lincoln Handicap (2000 John Ferneley, 2001 Nimello), Middle Park Stakes (2002 Oasis Dream); Racing Post Trophy (1998 Commander Collins); Royal Hunt Cup (2002 Norton), Sun Chariot Stakes (1999 Lady In Waiting), totesport.com Handicap (2006 All Ivory), Vodafone Stewards’ Cup (1994 For The Present,1996 Coastal Bluff); Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile (2004 Playful Act; 2005 Nannina), Royal Lodge Stakes (2005 Leo), Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes (2006 Court Masterpiece), Yorkshire Cup (2007 Sergeant Cecil) Wins (1988-2006): 8, 29, 46, 32, 26, 25, 56, 46, 83, 78, 108, 94, 93, 71, 92, 46, 72, 96, 77 Wins in 2007: 42 Royal Ascot Winners: (11) Ascot Stakes (2007 Full House), Queen Mary Stakes (1999 Shining Hour), Royal Hunt Cup (2002 Norton, 2007 Royal Oath), Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (2003 Waverley), King Edward VII Stakes (2005 Plea Bargain), Coronation Stakes (2006 Nannina), Wokingham Handicap (2006 Baltic King), Jersey Stakes (2007 Tariq), Windsor Forest Stakes (2007 Nannina), Norfolk Stakes (2007 Winker Watson). His fifth winner of the meeting - the record at the meeting since 1975 is eight.