Albany Stakes
(Fillies' Group 3) Ascot 14:30 £70,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
Friday 20th June 2014

1 Cursory Glance 14/1
2 Sunset Glow 7/1
3 Patience Alexander 9/2JF
NR: Lady Gemini, Ocean Crystal, Sleepy Dust (IRE)
21 ran Distances: 2l, nk, hd
TIME 1m 13.85s (slow by 1.45s)

Cursory Glance flies past Sunset Glow and Patience Alexander to win the Albany Stakes.

MansionBet chalk up 25-1 about Albany winner Cursory Glance for the 1,000 Guineas.

Andrea Atzeni on his first Royal Ascot winner: "It is really great to win. I had some good rides this week."

Cursory Glance

Cursory Glance maintained her unbeaten record in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot this afternoon, staying on strongly to record a two length victory.

The 14/1 shot was always travelling sweetly under jockey Andrea Atzeni and her finishing kick proved too strong for American challenger Sunset Glow in the final furlong, with the 9/2 joint-favourite Patience Alexander a further neck back in third.

Atzeni revealed after the race that he has always liked the filly and that she has the size and scope to get further in time.

"It's great - I had a good book of rides this week and I was hoping to get a winner," said the Sardinian.

"I've always liked her. At one point, I didn't think we'd get to the American horse but she's stayed on really strongly and she'll definitely get further in time.

"She's done it very well. She jumped well and I was able to settle her nicely in the middle of the pack as they've gone such a good clip up front.

"She won her maiden nicely at Kempton and has definitely come on since then. She's improved since then and I'd expect her to come on again.

"She's mentally and physically stronger now and she stays very well. She's one to look forward to - I think she could be a 1,000 Guineas contender for next year."

Trainer Roger Varian was quick to pay tribute to owner and breeder Craig Bennett.

The daughter of Distorted Humor belied odds of 14/1 to defeat American raider Sunset Glow and the 9/2 joint-favourite Patience Alexander and her trainer thinks there is more to come from his two-year-old filly.

"She seems to have outstayed them there," said Varian.

"She came to us in November of last year from the States and I liked her immediately.

"I rang Craig in March and told him we had a really nice filly. That's not normally like me as it's always dangerous to say that sort of thing to owners!

"Ascot was always the plan after she broke her maiden. Craig's a great guy and he's put a lot into the sport. I'm pleased for him as it's justified his investment, not only with this filly but with the band of broodmares he's also bought.

""To have winners here means everything. I had been saying earlier in the week that Friday and Saturday were our bigger days. Friday has come along and we have to start walking the walk.

"We have always thought a lot of this filly. Her homework has been exceptional - she was very green when she won at Kempton and she had come on a lot. I am delighted with her today.

"It's only her second start and this is Royal Ascot, with all of the people, the atmosphere and it's a hot day. She behaved great in the preliminaries, which is what I wanted because she wasn't so well behaved first out."

Bennett, who owns Merry Fox Stud, was also delighted following the race.

"I have about 40 horses now, with about 14 in training and the best horse have had was Purple Moon, who ran in Melbourne and everything else," he said.

"We bought fillies in 2006 and 2007 - we bought this filly's mother in 2006 and she was always better than she showed. Luca entered her for the Yorkshire Oaks but she was a bit of a madam and Jamie Spencer said that she would breed us a champion because she saves so much for herself. To be here and winning at Royal Ascot -it's just a dream."

Albany Stakes
£70,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
21 ran
Going: Good to firm