Tercentenary Stakes |
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| Group 3, Ascot 15:05 £90,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 2f, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 16th June 2016 | |
1 Hawkbill 11/2
2 Prize Money 4/1f
3 Long Island Sound 9/2
9 ran Distances: 1¼l, 2¾l, 1¾l
TIME 2m 9.59s (slow by 5.09s)
Hawkbill leads a Godolphin 1-2 with Prize Money to win the Tercentenary Stakes
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Charlie Appleby was delighted with the performance of Hawkbill, who gave the trainer his second Royal Ascot success when running out the one and a quarter length winner of the Group Three Tercentenary Stakes this afternoon.
The Godolphin trio of the winner, runner-up Prize Money and pacemaker Race Day went off in front, with the latter setting a particularly strong pace. The same three horses were still in front as the field turned for home but, while the pacemaker gave way two furlongs from home, both Hawksbill and Prize Money (trained by Saeed bin Suroor) stayed on strongly to give Godolphin a one-two in the race.
Appleby was understandably wreathed in smiles following the victory of the 11/2 shot.
"I was delighted with that," said Appleby.
"First of all, I'd like to say well done to Martin (Lane - rider of pacemaker Race Day) who set perfect fractions. It was our plan to have a nice strong pace and hopefully, if he got the trip, he'd win.
"He's shown there what he shows us at home. He's a great traveller and sees it out as well. I wasn't worried about the ground as the guys at home didn't think it would be a problem. His biggest challenge is himself sometimes but we've got him settled down.
"I told William to ride him like he was the best horse in the race and that's what he's done. Turning for home, I know they were travelling well behind us but we were travelling supremely well there up with the pace and I knew that he'd gallop all the way to the line - he showed that when winning at Newmarket.
"It's a pleasing effort and I'm delighted to finally get a winner on the board. As they say, you come down here to put some manners on you and I've had two days of that!
"We were thinking about going to France (for the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly - the French Derby) as he's a good horse. Full credit to William as he was the one who got off him at Newmarket and said immediately that he should go to France.
"I'd say that we made the right decision though as it's all about keeping his head in the right place. Full credit to the team at home, his groom and work rider Shane Fetherstonhaugh (who rode Frankel in his work) has done a great job and everyone has done their bit.
"I have to give Shane and everyone a lot of credit for keeping Hawkbill quiet. He has done a lot of travelling for his age. We took him to America because we felt mentally he could not take the travelling in Europe but we didn't get a run over there.
"We took him to Dubai and he just strengthened and developed throughout the winter. He enjoyed his track work but we did not know what level of horse we were dealing with until we took him to Newmarket. The reason we went there was because I wanted to take him somewhere close to home and not worry about the travelling so much. We'll get back, regroup and see where we go from there. He's not a horse that I'd want to go to the well too often with. He's got a nice future ahead of him."
Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3)
£90,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 2f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (2) | Hawkbill (USA) 11/2 | W Buick 9-0 |
C Appleby | 3 | |
| 2nd | (4) | 1¼ | Prize Money 4/1j | James Doyle 9-0 |
S bin Suroor | 3 |
| 3rd | (7) | 2¾ | Long Island Sound (USA) 9/2 | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 4th | (6) | 1¾ | Steel of Madrid (IRE) 12/1 | P J Dobbs 9-0 |
R Hannon | 3 |
| 5th | (3) | ¾ | Royal Artillery (USA) 14/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-0 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 6th | (9) | s.h | Race Day (IRE) 33/1 | Martin Lane 9-0 |
S bin Suroor | 3 |
| 7th | (1) | 3 | Blue De Vega (GER) 11/2 | K Fallon 9-0 |
M O'Callaghan | 3 |
| 8th | (8) | 1¼ | Abdon 4/1j | L Dettori 9-0 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 3 |
| 9th | (5) | ½ | Mulk 10/1 | P Hanagan 9-0 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 3 |
Prize Money certainly contributed his bit when he came a good one-and-a-quarter length second to fellow Godolphin contender Hawkbill.
The Authorized colt, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, holds an entry to the Irish Derby but connections were unsure whether he would stand his ground in the Irish Classic.
John Ferguson, Godolphin's Chief Executive and Racing Manager, commented: "It would come soon enough after running on this ground I would think, but we are delighted with his run.
"I would say a step-up in trip is likely. It was natural to come here for the Tercentenary after the way he ran at Goodwood (in a Listed 11-furlong race) where he had to make all his own running. He just got collared in the last furlong. So it was natural to come here for a mile and a quarter.
"He ran a super race, is a big strong horse and could be a lovely horse next year as well."
Saeed Bin Suroor added about the 4/1 joint-favourite; "I think the winner was the better horse on the day and I think Prize Money will be a better horse over a mile and a half. We will have to see how the horse comes out of the race before we decide where to go next."
James Doyle, rider of the second, said: " He has taken another step forward. We got a nice tow from the pacemaker but we just hit a flat spot when I needed him to quicken.
"He stayed at it well though. I think a mile and a half will be his trip."
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of the third Long Island Sound, who finished two and three quarter lengths behind the second, said: "He will be better on better ground. I was very happy with the run."
