Queen's Vase |
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| Listed, Ascot 17:35 £90,000 added, 3yo only, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Friday 17th June 2016 | |
1 Sword Fighter 33/1
2 Harbour Law 8/1
3 Twilight Payment 20/1
NR: Goldmember
18 ran Distances: ¾l, ¾l, nk
TIME 3m 34.55s (slow by 11.55s)
Sword Fighter wins the Queens Vase canny front running ride from Colm O'Donoghue
Huge congratulations to Epsom trainer Laura Mongan with Harbour Law finishing a close 2nd
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The Aidan O'Brien-trained Sword Fighter was a surprise winner of the the final race on day four of the Royal meeting.
Under a superb front-running ride by Colm O'Donoghue, the son of Galileo was able to fend off all challengers in the home straight to register a game three-quarter length success.
O'Donoghue, an integral part of the Ballydoyle operation, was registering his first Royal Ascot winner and was delighted the performance. He said: "I got it very easy in front to be fair and Sword Fighter stays well. He had won in heavy ground [Sligo 1 May] before, I know that was only a maiden but it helps and Aidan trains them for the day.
"It's ground that if you handle it, it is very hard to make up ground on it. Obviously, me and the second [Harbour Law] got into a nice position so once we were handling the ground it was going to take a good horse to get by us.
"Sword Fighter has done everything right. He settled and travelled and is not short of speed either. We picked up from a mile out and he was strong to the line.
"He has plenty of stamina and there are not many more superlatives you can give to Galileo. He is an unbelievable sire who gives them lots of heart a great action and speed and stamina.
"The St Leger could possibly suit him. It was one of those things where I got in a position where others were going to find it hard to get back to me. I'll leave the future up to Aidan."
The victory capped what has been a superb week for Ballydoyle so far with the colt's success the fifth for Aidan O'Brien at this year's meeting and his 53rd overall at Royal Ascot. O'Donoghue remarked: "It's very special and it's important to Mr Magnier, Mr Smith and Mr Tabor to come and here and have winners. They love this meeting and the horses are primed to win on the day. It is great to be part of it."
Queen's Vase (Listed)
£90,000 added, 3yo only, 2m, Class 1
18 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (4) | Sword Fighter (IRE) 33/1 | C O'Donoghue 9-3 |
A P O'Brien | 3 | |
| 2nd | (13) | ¾ | Harbour Law 8/1 | G Baker 9-3 |
Mrs L J Mongan | 3 |
| 3rd | (19) | ¾ | Twilight Payment (IRE) 20/1 | K J Manning 9-3 |
J S Bolger | 3 |
| 4th | (11) | nk | Landofhopeandglory (IRE) 10/3f | R L Moore 9-3 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 5th | (6) | ½ | Ebediyin (IRE) 4/1 | P J Smullen 9-3 |
D K Weld | 3 |
| 6th | (15) | 1¾ | Gunnery (FR) 9/1 | J P Spencer 9-3 |
P W Chapple-Hyam | 3 |
| 7th | (17) | 2 | The Tartan Spartan (IRE) 33/1 | T P O'Shea 9-3 |
J P Shanahan | 3 |
| 8th | (3) | 2 | Girling (IRE) 14/1 | F M Berry 8-12 |
R M Beckett | 3 |
| 9th | (5) | 2¼ | Beaverbrook 33/1 | W Buick 9-3 |
M Johnston | 3 |
| 10th | (10) | hd | Soldier In Action (FR) 16/1 | J Fanning 9-3 |
M Johnston | 3 |
| 11th | (1) | 6 | Ormito (GER) 5/1 | David Probert 9-3 |
A M Balding | 3 |
| 12th | (18) | 1¼ | Cole Porter (IRE) 16/1 | J A Heffernan 9-3 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 13th | (12) | 10 | Opposition 10/1 | L Dettori 9-3 |
E A L Dunlop | 3 |
| 14th | (14) | 14 | Daphne 20/1 | P Cosgrave 8-12 |
W J Haggas | 3 |
| 15th | (8) | 13 | Saga Sprint (IRE) 66/1 | K Fallon 8-12 |
J R Finn | 3 |
| 16th | (7) | 3 | Birthplace (IRE) 50/1 | Anastasia O'Brien 9-3 |
Joseph P O'Brien | 3 |
| 17th | (9) | 1½ | King Julien (IRE) 100/1 | A Kirby 9-3 |
J Ryan | 3 |
| 18th | (16) | 1¾ | Magnum (IRE) 40/1 | J Fortune 9-3 |
B J Meehan | 3 |
| NR | (2) | Goldmember 14/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-3 |
D M Simcock | 3 |
MONGANS DELIGHTED WITH HARBOUR
Trainer Laura Mongan and her husband (and former jockey) Ian were delighted with the performance of Harbour Law after the 8/1 shot finished an admirable runner-up.
The son of Lawman was always handy under jockey George Baker and he was always tracking the winner as the field turned for home. The three-year-old stayed on well but couldn't quite reel in the winner, eventually going down by three quarters of a length.
Laura Mongan was beaming as her horse came back to the winner's enclosure and revealed that this test of stamina is exactly what the three-year-old requires.
"We're thrilled with him," said Laura Mongan.
"He couldn't have done anymore. He's a nice horse. He's a stayer and this is the sort of trip he will excel at in time.
"He's an out-and-out stayer - he settles well and he stays."
Ian Mongan said: "Give it a couple of years and he might be at Cheltenham - though it might not be with us,
"The owner has already had some good offers but if he keeps him, we'll probably go to Goodwood as there's a Group Three there for him and obviously some of the big staying races towards the end of the year.
"We'll see how he comes out of today but he's a very relaxed horse. He's easy to train so we'll see what happens. I'd love him to stay in the yard but there you go."
