Diamond Jubilee Stakes |
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| Group 1, Ascot 16:20 £600,000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 18th June 2016 | |
1 Twilight Son 7/2
2 Gold-Fun 7/1
3 Signs Of Blessing 25/1
NR: Jungle Cat (IRE)
9 ran Distances: nk, shd, hd
TIME 1m 13.84s (slow by 1.24s)
Twilight Son wins the Diamond Jubilee in a brilliant finish
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Twilight Son gave trainer Henry Candy his third Royal Ascot winner, his first since Pipedreamer won the Royal Hunt Cup in 1979, when he ran out the winner of the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs this afternoon.
The son of Kyllachy, who Candy also trained to win the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York in 2002, was one of a host of horses in with a chance as the field thundered past the furlong pole.
Jockey Ryan Moore was not for passing though and the 7/2 shot stuck his neck out bravely as the line approached to deny runner-up Gold-Fun by a neck.
Candy admitted after the race that the build-up to this contest had not been easy.
"It's not been easy recently with this one," said Candy.
"I took him to Newbury recently to do a piece of work with him and he decided that he wanted to do two bits of work. He got rid of his work-rider and did a piece of work himself and then we did what we'd come there to do. Looking at him now after the race, he doesn't even want to come back! He's a strong character. After York (where he finished fifth in the Group Two Duke Of York Stakes behind Magical Memory), I realised that he probably needed quite a bit of work and I was quite hard on him.
"Today showed the results of that - he's certainly stayed on well enough. Being me, I've never come here thinking we'll ever have a winner! We've been close a good few times in the past and it's nice to get the job done finally - we've had to wait for it. I was thinking during the race that he was going to be third, especially when I saw Frankie (Dettori - rider of Magical Memory) thundering down the outside. He dug deep though and the chap on top (jockey Ryan Moore) dug deep too. I thought that if Ryan won the third (he won the first two races), then he definitely wouldn't win this one! It's a wonderful day - he's a top man isn't he?
"He's earned his place at Cheveley Park Stud (co-owners, along with Godfrey Wilson) now hasn't he? I hadn't quite realised what a state our horses were in when I took him to York. They were all getting to the furlong pole and then not going any further. It was nice to have a winner at Newbury last week though but they've been few and far between. I had to take fairly drastic measures with this guy which included the trip to Newbury. It was a fairly strong piece of work with La Rioja, who ran well yesterday (when fourth in the Group One Commonwealth Cup). He's done plenty since. It was unbelievable at Newbury really - both La Rioja and Twilight Son got rid of their riders and they a nice spin round loose. It wasn't funny at the time really! I could do without mornings like that!"
Godfrey Wilson, co-owner of Twilight Son, was clearly emotional after the race.
"This is our first Royal Ascot winner - we have come close before but this is absolutely brilliant and I am very emotional," said Wilson.
"This horse was bred by my wife and she won the small breeder of the year prize last year. She will be absolutely over the moon."
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
(British Champions Series & Global Sprint Challenge)
£600,000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft
| Pos | Draw | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (3) | Twilight Son 7/2 | R L Moore 9-3 |
H Candy | 4 | |
| 2nd | (5) | nk | Gold-Fun (IRE) 7/1 | C Soumillon 9-3 |
R Gibson | 7 |
| 3rd | (6) | s.h | Signs Of Blessing (IRE) 25/1 | O Peslier 9-3 |
Francois Rohaut | 5 |
| 4th | (10) | hd | Magical Memory (IRE) 3/1f | L Dettori 9-3 |
C Hills | 4 |
| 5th | (4) | s.h | Suedois (FR) 12/1 | D Tudhope 9-3 |
D O'Meara | 5 |
| 6th | (2) | 2 | Undrafted (USA) 8/1 | John Velazquez 9-3 |
Wesley Ward | 6 |
| 7th | (9) | 2½ | Holler (AUS) 12/1 | James McDonald 9-3 |
J A O'Shea | 4 |
| 8th | (8) | ¾ | The Tin Man 10/3 | T P Queally 9-3 |
J R Fanshawe | 4 |
| 9th | (1) | 3¾ | Mattmu 20/1 | D Allan 9-3 |
T D Easterby | 4 |
| NR | (7) | Jungle Cat (IRE) 16/1 | Non Runner 9-3 |
C Appleby | 4 |
Hong Kong-based trainer Richard Gibson offered no excuses for Gold-Fun's second, after the seven-year-old went down by a neck to Twilight Son at odds of 7/1.
Gibson said: "In these Group Ones I never like making excuses and Royal Ascot is the top level and we missed it by a whisker, which is disappointing.
"He's a fantastic horse and he's done us all proud today.
"We have come a long way and, from a professional point of view, you are always pleased when your horse runs to his rating. It was tight and all credit to the winner - we have got no excuses today.
"He really did finish well. It's not quite our day but we are very satisfied with a second place and it's a great credit to Mr Sutong Pan (owner) for allowing us to bring him here."
Commenting on future plans, the trainer continued: "It's back home now for the international races in December. He will have a break and we will try again in December in Hong Kong."
French trainer Francois Rohaut, was pleased with Sign Of Blessing's (25/1) effort to finish third, a short head behind second. He said: "He ran a bad race last time in Deauville. He doesn't like it there and he had some trouble with his back, but he was just much better today.
"I had the feeling he would run a really nice race and he did. I always thought he would be a Group One horse. As a colt he was very difficult and that's why we gelded him last year and it's made all the difference."
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES
Past Results
2015-WINNER-UNDRAFTED 5-9-03 Owner-Wes Welker & Sol Kumin; Trainer-Wesley Ward USA; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP- 14/1
2ND-Brazen Beau 3-9-03 Owner-On Track Racing; Trainer-Chris Waller AUS; Jockey-Craig Williams; SP-7/2 Jt Fav
3RD-Astaire 4-9-03 Owner-Angie Bailey; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-25/1
15 ran; Time-1m 12.69s; Dist-1⁄2, 13⁄4 7/2 Jt Fav Mustajeeb (5th)
2014-WINNER-SLADE POWER 5-9-04 Owner-Sabena Power; Trainer-Edward Lynam IRE; Jockey-Wayne Lordan; SP-7/2F
2ND-Due Diligence 3-8-11 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magner; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-5/1
3RD-Aljamaaheer 5-9-04 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-Roger Varian; Jockey-Paul Hanagan; SP-4/1
14 ran; Time-1m 12.40s; Dist-1½; hd
2013-WINNER-LETHAL FORCE 4-9-04 Owner-Alan Craddock; Trainer-Clive Cox; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-11/1
2ND-Society Rock 6-9-04 Owner-Simon Gibson; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-4/1 Fav
3RD-Krypton Factor 5-9-04 Owner-Fawzi Abdulla Nass; Trainer-Fawzi Nass BAH; Jockey-Luke Morris; SP-25/1
18 ran; Time-1m 13.36s; Dist-2, 1¾
2012-WINNER-BLACK CAVIAR 6-9-01 Owner-G J Wilkie, Mrs K J Wilkie et al; Trainer-Peter Moody AUS; Jockey-Luke Nolen; SP-1/6
Fav
2ND-Moonlight Cloud 4-9-01 Owner-George Strawbridge; Trainer-Freddy Head FR; Jockey-Thierry Jarnet; SP-5/1
3RD-Restiadargent 3-8-08 Owner-Guy Pariente; Trainer-Alex Pantall FR; Jockey-Maxime Guyon; SP-40/1
14 ran; Time-1m 14.10s; Dist-hd, nk
2011-WINNER-SOCIETY ROCK 4-9-04 Owner-Simon Gibson; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Pat Cosgrave; SP-25/1
2ND-Monsieur Chevalier 4-9-04 Owner-Valerie Hubbard & Ian Higginson; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-25/1
3RD-Star Witness 4-9-04 Owner-Widden Stud; Trainer-Danny O’Brien AUS; Jockey-Steven Arnold; SP-4/1
16 ran; Time-1m 17.22s; Dist-½, 1¼ 3/1 Fav Bewitched (14th)
2010-WINNER-STARSPANGLEDBANNER 4-9-04 Owner-Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Ms Massey; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien
IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-13/2 Jt Fav
2ND Society Rock 3-8-11 Owner-Simon Gibson; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Pat Cosgrave; SP-50/1
3RD Kinsale King 5-9-04 Owner-Sheehy LLC; Trainer-Carl O’Callaghan USA; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-8/1
24 ran; Time-1m 12.57s; Dist-1¾, hd 13/2 Jt Fav Fleeting Spirit (4th)
2009-WINNER-ART CONNOISSEUR 3-8-11 Owner-Richard Green; Trainer-Michael Bell; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-20/1
2ND-Cannonball 4-9-04 Owner-Ken & Sarah Ramsey; Trainer-Wesley Ward USA; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-11/1
3RD-Lesson In Humility 4-9-01 Owner-Michael Nelmes-Crocker; Trainer-Karl Burke; Jockey-Andrew Elliott; SP-33/1
14 ran; Time-1m 14.90s; Dist-nk, 2½ 5/2 Fav J J The Jet Plane (4th)
2008-WINNER-KINGSGATE NATIVE 3-8-11 Owner-John Mayne; Trainer-John Best; Jockey-Seb Sanders; SP-33/1
2ND-War Artist 5-9-04 Owner-Vintage Thoroughbreds; Trainer-James Eustace; Jockey-Kerrin McEvoy; SP-8/1
3RD-Sir Gerry 3-8-11 Owner-Mrs Gerry Galligan; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-20/1
17 ran, Time-1m 13.33s, Dist-1¼, ¾ 4/1 Fav Takeover Target (4th)
2007-WINNER-SOLDIER’S TALE 6-9-04 Owner-Budget Stable; Trainer-Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-9/1
2ND-Takeover Target 8-9-04 Owner-Joe & Ben Janiak; Trainer-Joe Janiak AUS; Jockey-Jay Ford; SP-8/1
3RD-Asset 4-9-04 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing XXVI; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-14/1
21 ran, Time-1m 14.51s, Dist-hd, ½ 2/1 Fav Miss Andretti (15th)
2006-WINNER-LES ARCS 6-9-04 Owner-Willie McKay; Trainer-Tim Pitt; Jockey-John Egan; SP-33/1
2ND-Balthazaar’s Gift 3-8-11 Owner-Ryder Racing Ltd; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-50/1
3RD-Takeover Target 7-9-04 Owner-Joe & Ben Janiak; Trainer-Joe Janiak AUS; Jockey-Jay Ford; SP-7/2 Fav
18 ran, Time-1m 13.12s, Dist-nk, 2
2005-WINNER-CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 7-9-04 Owner-Exors of the late R Carstairs; Trainer-David Oughton HK;
Jockey-Michael Kinane; SP-6/1
2ND-Galeota 3-8-11 Owner-John Lazzari; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-15/2
3RD-Balmont 4-9-04 Owner-Sanford Robertson & Hatta Bloodstock; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-9/2 Fav
15 ran, Time-1m 8.58s Dist-hd, 1½ (run at York)
2004-WINNER-FAYR JAG 5-9-04 Owner-Jonathan Gill; Trainer-Tim Easterby; Jockey-Willie Supple; SP-12/1
2ND-Crystal Castle 6-9-04 Owner-J Raw; Trainer-John Hammond FR; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-8/1
3RD-Cape Of Good Hope 6-9-04 Owner-Exors of the late R Carstairs; Trainer-David Oughton HK; Jockey-Michael Kinane; SP-13/2
14 ran, Time-1m 13.35s Dist-hd, hd 100/30 Fav Avonbridge (5th)
2003-WINNER-CHOISIR 4-9-04 Owner-Terry Wallace and Partners; Trainer-Paul Perry AUS; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-13/2
2ND-Airwave 3-8-08 Owner-Henry Candy and Partners; Trainer-Henry Candy; Jockey-Dane O’Neill; SP-11/8 Fav
3RD-Baron’s Pit 3-8-11 Owner-Jeff and Kath Thomas; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-50/1
17 ran, Time-1m 12.23s Dist-½, 1
2002-WINNER-MALHUB 4-9-04 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Kevin Darley; SP-16/1
2ND-Danehurst 4-9-01 Owner-Cheveley Park Stud; Trainer-Sir Mark Prescott; Jockey-Seb Sanders; SP-13/2
3RD-Three Points 5-9-04 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-4/1
12 ran, Time-1m 14.34s, Dist- 1½, ½ 3/1 Fav Johannesburg (9th)
