Royal Ascot

running order/results

royal ascot 2013/

Berkshire Blasts Home in Chesham
22/06/13

1 Berkshire 16/1
2 Bunker 11/4 Fav
3 Ihtimal 7/1
NR: Adeste Fideles (USA), Flying Author (IRE)
19 ran Distances: 2½l, 1½l, 4l
TIME 1m 28.46s (slow by 2.46s)

Berkshire ran out a convincing winner of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Berkshire
© Caroline Norris

Trainer Paul Cole liked the leggy yearling by Mount Nelson so much at the sales he spent 60,000gns to buy him on spec.

That proved a shrewd piece of foresight, for the same colt – now named Berkshire – ran out an impressive winner of today’s Chesham Stakes in the colours of a long-standing patron of Cole’s yard, HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah. The Jim Crowley-ridden winner scored by two and a half lengths from Bunker, with Ihtimal a further one and a half lengths back in third.

Cole said: “I bought him on spec at the sales because I liked him so much. Right from the start he gave me a good feel.

“On his debut run at Newbury [when third] he was exposed too much and proved too keen – he did too much. He was drawn one there and 21 today, and we thought the same thing was going to happen, but he had a good jockey on who managed to get him in behind and switched off. Even then he could have done with being covered up a bit longer, but he made the right decision.

“I didn’t expect him to beat what looked a pretty classy field so easily.

“He’s a big horse and his dam, Kinnaird, trained on and got better at three, so I shouldn’t think you’ll see much more of him this year. One more run maybe, but I’ll speak to the Sultan.”

When asked about his last Royal Ascot winner – Mr Dinos in the Gold Cup 2003 – Cole quipped: “I’m too old to remember. But I know I’ve won this race four times.

“It’s fantastic to be in the winner’s enclosure anywhere, but especially at Royal Ascot.”

Jockey Jim Crowley predicted a big future for Berkshire after the colt won in impressive style.

“That was impressive. I was lucky enough to get the ride on Berkshire at Newbury but he led all the way that day and did everything back to front. We have always thought he was a lovely horse and he proved that today.

“I had a really bad draw to overcome because there were no horses to take me into the race and I was drawn next to a pair having their first starts. I got there sooner than I would have liked but he is a serious horse. He is physically imposing and will only get better with time. I think he’ll be a really nice middle-distance horse next season. He’s a serious horse.”

Chesham Stakes (Listed)
£60,000 added, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1
19 ran
Going: Good to Firm

HANNON LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH BUNKER

The connections of 11/4 favourite Bunker were full of praise for Chesham Stakes winner Berkshire after he recorded a two-and-a-half length victory in the opening race at Royal Ascot this afternoon.

The twice-raced son of Hurricane Run ran a race full of promise but he couldn’t quite master the winner and trainer Richard Hannon thinks there is much more to come from his two-year-old colt.

“I don’t know if the draw has made the difference but the winner has won it well,” said Hannon.

“He must be a very smart horse because I know ours is. He’ll definitely improve again and he’ll be a very nice horse one day.

“I’m very happy with the run but maybe this came a bit too soon for him.”

Saeed bin Suroor was another trainer with an eye on the future following the performance of 7/1 shot Ihtimal, who finished a further length-and-a-half back in third.

“She’s a nice filly and she tries very hard,” said bin Suroor.

“She wasn’t quite up there in the last two furlongs but I was very happy with the way she finished the race.

“She should improve a lot for this and will be a nice filly for the future.”