Hardwicke Stakes
Group 2, Ascot 15:45 £213,300 added, 4yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
Saturday 21st June 2014

1 Telescope 7/4F
2 Hillstar 7/1
3 Pether's Moon 8/1
10 ran Distances: 7l, hd, 2¾l
TIME 2m 27.45s (fast by 1.45s)

Telescope streaks clear to win the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Tipped up by Angus McNae in his blog.

Telescope
© Racehorse Photos

Telescope produced a scintillating performance to land the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes by seven lengths at Royal Ascot this afternoon.

The 7/4 favourite gave trainer Sir Michael Stoute and jockey Ryan Moore their second winner of the day following Arab Spring's success in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap and Moore believes both the trip and the ground were the key to Telescope's victory today.

"He has got a real good attitude in his races now," said Moore.

"It probably wasn't the strongest of Hardwickes but I am delighted with the way he did everything through the race.

"He stayed on very well and sees that trip out very well - 10 furlongs has just been a bit sharp for him.

"He travelled very well at Chester but, when I let him down, he struggled on that ground as was lugging in and wasn't comfortable.

"The ground was a lot better for him today, as was the trip. I think that's the key to him.

"This was a career best and hopefully he can push on from here."

Connections of Pether's Moon felt the four-year-old would have benefited from a stronger early pace after finishing third.

Pether's Moon
© Racehorse Photos

"He's run a super race but he'd have been second if they'd gone a bit quicker," said Richard Hannon senior, whose son Richard trains the colt. "He's gone up in grade today and proved that's where he should be. There's a good Group race in him over a mile and a half."

Forgotten Voice finished fourth and trainer Nicky Henderson commented: "He was a bit keen early on but Kieren (Fallon) put him to sleep and he showed that he really stayed. The winner is a Group One horse but we've run well.

"I don't think two miles would be too far for our's and he loves that fast ground. We could think about the Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup at York."

Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
£213,300 added, 4yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to firm