Royal Hunt Cup
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Heritage Handicap, Ascot 17:00
£175,000 added,
3yo plus,
7f 213y, Class 2   
Wednesday 21st June 2017

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1 Zhui Feng 25/1
2 Blair House 16/1
3 Tashweeq 66/1
4 Ballet Concerto 20/1
5 Tabarrak 10/1
29 ran NR: Battle Of Marathon Distances: ½l, nk, 1¾l
Time: 1m 37.82s (fast by 0.78s)

Zhui Feng makes all to land a shock 25-1 victory for Martin Dwyer & Amanda Perrett

Zhui Feng
© Caroline Norris
Zhui Feng
 
Seventeen years after training her first Royal Ascot winner, Amanda Perrett came up with her second thanks to Zhui Feng in the Royal Hunt Cup.
 
Owned by John Connolly and Odile Griffith, and ridden by Martin Harley, Zhui Feng and most of the field came up the stands' side before he clinched victory by half a length from Godolphin's Blair House. In third, beaten a further neck, was Tashweeq, while Ballet Concerto took fourth.
 
Perrett said: "He loves the track and the ground, was very brave from the front, and we had a great draw [26] - and it was a great front-running ride. John and Odile are very patient people and thoroughly deserved this win.
 
"In the Victoria Cup [his previous start] he ran a blinder, but had to come across a long way to get to the front, but today with the draw it was fine.
 
"It's been a long time since Give The Slip won [the 2000 King George V Handicap], and it's marvellous to have a horse good enough to run here, let alone be a winner."
 
Her husband, Mark, said: "I was hopeful rather than confident - how can you be confident in these big handicaps? But he's been in fantastic form and just needed a bit of luck in running."

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Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap (Str)
£175,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f 213y, Class 2
29 ran
Going: Good to Firm

Pos Dr D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (26) Zhui Feng (IRE) 25/1 M Dwyer
9-0		 Mrs A J Perrett 4
2nd (22) ½ Blair House (IRE) 16/1 M Barzalona
8-11		 C Appleby 4
3rd (18) nk Tashweeq (IRE) 66/1 Dane O'Neill
9-6		 J H M Gosden 4
4th (11) 1¾ Ballet Concerto 20/1 R L Moore
9-2		 Sir Michael Stoute 4
5th (30) 1¼ Tabarrak (IRE) 10/1 Jim Crowley
9-11		 R Hannon 4
6th (15) s.h Remarkable 25/1 Kieran Shoemark (3)
9-5		 J H M Gosden 4
7th (29) nk Gm Hopkins 20/1 James Doyle
9-5		 J H M Gosden 6
8th (8) nk Master The World (IRE) 50/1 P J Dobbs
9-5		 D R C Elsworth 6
9th (14) hd Fastnet Tempest (IRE) (ex5) 15/2 P Cosgrave
8-13		 W J Haggas 4
10th (3) ¾ Elleval (IRE) 66/1 O J Orr (5)
9-0		 D Marnane 7
11th (25) s.h Another Touch (ex5) 20/1 Connor Murtagh (7)
9-3		 R A Fahey 4
12th (32) ½ Withernsea (IRE) 66/1 P Hanagan
8-11		 R A Fahey 6
13th (23) hd Hors De Combat 16/1 Oisin Murphy
9-3		 D J Coakley 6
14th (13) hd Bossy Guest (IRE) 16/1 S De Sousa
9-3		 M R Channon 5
15th (31) nse Abe Lincoln (USA) 13/2f G Mosse
8-13		 J Noseda 4
16th (28) s.h Boomshackerlacker (IRE) 100/1 L P Keniry
9-0		 George Baker 7
17th (20) ½ Bravery (IRE) 40/1 D Tudhope
9-4		 D O'Meara 4
18th (16) s.h Cote d'Azur 40/1 R Kingscote
8-11		 J L Eyre 4
19th (19) nk G K Chesterton (IRE) (ex5) 11/1 W Buick
8-13		 C Appleby 4
20th (12) s.h El Vip (IRE) (ex5) 9/1 J P Spencer
8-13		 L M Cumani 4
21st (2) nk Belgian Bill 66/1 T E Whelan
9-0		 George Baker 9
22nd (1) nse George William 12/1 S M Levey
8-12		 R Hannon 4
23rd (4) 1 Yuften 20/1 Andrea Atzeni
9-5		 R Charlton 6
24th (17) ¾ Big Baz (IRE) 100/1 D C Costello
9-2		 W R Muir 7
25th (27) 1½ Von Blucher (IRE) 33/1 P McDonald
8-13		 Rebecca Menzies 4
26th (7) 2¼ Banksea 10/1 L Morris
9-4		 L M Cumani 4
27th (9) 2¼ Castle Harbour 40/1 P J Smullen
9-2		 J H M Gosden 4
28th (21) 4½ Early Morning (IRE) 33/1 A Kirby
9-2		 H J L Dunlop 6
29th (10) 1¼ My Target (IRE) 100/1 O Peslier
8-11		 M Wigham 6
NR (33) Battle Of Marathon (USA) Jack Osborn (7)
9-7		 J Ryan 5

DWYER IS BACK IN THE HUNT FOR WINNERS
 
It is six years since Dwyer rode a winner at the Royal Meeting (Manassas for Brian Meehan in the Buckingham Palace Handicap) and the seventh Royal Ascot success of his career.
 
Dwyer said: "He's a tough horse; he's pretty good and he ran well in the Victoria Cup [over course and distance in May; Zhui Feng finished third]. 
 
"It's very unusual this year - in the mile handicaps there are no front-runners. It was a carbon copy of the Victoria Cup - nothing wants to make the running, everything is held up. A horse like him who is allowed to dominate and use his stride, he had plenty left in the tank, where in previous years there are lots of horses trying for the lead.
 
"He's been crying out for the firm ground and I knew beforehand I had a really good shot at it. In these big mile handicaps it is difficult to make all, but I knew we'd get a relatively easy lead as no one wanted to make it and he's got a big stride. Ian Balding [the former Kingsclere trainer, to whom Dwyer was apprenticed] always taught me that if you get to the front, you've got to go up the rail.
 
"It's the hardest meeting in the world to have winners at and it's a great feeling to have one."
 
BLAIR DELIGHTS APPLEBY ON RETURN
 
Blair House, a 16/1 chance for Godolphin, came home a half-length second to Zhui Feng.
 
The Pivotal gelding, who had not run since October 2016 and a gelding operation, delighted his trainer, Charlie Appleby, who said: "If you had told me this morning he was going to be second I would have taken that. I am delighted. 
 
"He is a horse who we always thought would appreciate a bit of cut in the ground, he has more proven form with juice in the ground. 
 
"Mickael [Barzalona, jockey] said that he travelled well into the race, but at the end maybe the ground found him out. He wasn't quite letting himself down fully."
 
Barzalona added: "It was a good race. We came but he didn't want to pass the leader. Ground maybe?"
 
John Gosden, trainer of the neck third, Tashweeq, a horse who missed all of last season through injury, was happy with his charge's second run back. 
                
Gosden said: "Tashweeq ran great with plenty of weight. I am happy with him. 
 
"The handicapper just needs to give him a bit of relief."

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Past results

2016-WINNER-PORTAGE 4-9-05 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Michael Halford IRE; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-10/1
2ND-Librisa Breeze 4-8-11 Owner-Tony Bloom; Trainer-Dean Ivory; Jockey-Robert Winston; SP-8/1
3RD-Mitchum Swagger 4-9-08 Owner- Paul Dean & the Mitchum Swagger P’Ship; Trainer-David Lanigan; Jockey-George Baker; SP- 14/1
4TH-Azraff 4-8-13 Owner-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; Trainer-Marco Botti; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-20/1
28 ran; Time-1m 43.01s; Dist-11⁄4, nk, 1⁄2 13/2 Fav Convey (22nd)

2015-WINNER-GM HOPKINS 4-9-03 Owner-Robin Geffen; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-8/1
2ND-Temptress 4-8-12 Owner-The Pyoneers; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-9/1
3RD-Chil The Kite 6-9-08 Owner-Hazel Lawrence & Graham Doyle; Trainer-Hughe Morrison; Jockey-George Baker; SP-16/1
4TH-Balty Boys 4-8-12 Owner-Koo’s Racing Club, Carr & Jacobs; Trainer-Brian Ellison; Jockey-Silvestre de Sousa; SP-25/1 30 ran; Time-1m 40.30s; Dist-nk, 11⁄2, 1⁄2 7/1 Fav Ayaar (9th)

2014-WINNER-FIELD OF DREAM 7-9-01 Owner-N Jackson; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-20/1
2ND-Chil The Kite 5-9-09 Owner-Hazel Lawrence & Graham Doyle; Trainer-Hughie Morrison; Jockey-George Baker; SP-14/1
3RD-Steeler 4-9-06 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Charlie Appleby; Jockey-Silvestre de Sousa; SP-33/1
4TH-Sea Shanty 4-8-12 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-14/1
28 ran; Time-1m 37.88s; Dist-11⁄4, 11⁄4, sh 7/2 Fav Abseil (8th)

2013-WINNER-BELGIAN BILL 5-8-11 Owner-PJL Racing, Byrne, Baker; Trainer-George Baker; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-33/1
2ND-Premio Loco 9-9-09 Owner-Bernard Westley; Trainer-Chris Wall; Jockey-George Baker; SP- 40/1
3RD-Arsaadi 4-8-12 Owner-Sultan Ali; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Liam Jones; SP-50/1
4TH-Don’t Call Me 6-9-05 Owner-Matt & Lauren Morgan; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Pat Dobbs; SP-25/1
28 ran; Time-1m 38.68s; Dist-3⁄4, 1⁄2, 1⁄2 10/1 Co Favs Two For Two (12th), Fury (18th), Stirring Ballad (22nd)

2012-WINNER-PRINCE OF JOHANNE 6-9-03 Owner-David Storey; Trainer-Tom Tate; Jockey-John Fahy; SP-16/1
2ND-Excellent Guest 5-8-11 Owner-John Guest Racing; Trainer-George Margarson; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-33/1
3RD-Don’t Call Me 5-8-08 Owner-Matt & Lauren Morgan; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Sam Hitchcott; SP-50/1
4TH-Field Of Dream 5-9-00 Owner-Ken Gundlach; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-66/1
30 ran; Time-1m 38.24s; Dist-1⁄2, 3⁄4, nk 9/2 Fav Dimension (8th)

2011-WINNER-JULIENAS 4-8-08 Owner-Peter Harris; Trainer-Walter Swinburn; Jockey-Eddie Ahern; SP-12/1
2ND-Dance And Dance 5-9-03 Owner-Mohammed Rashid; Trainer-Ed Vaughan; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/1 Fav
3RD-Invisible Man 5-9-06 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-20/1
4TH-Pendragon 8-8-04 Owner-Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway; Trainer-Brian Ellison; Jockey-Jimmy Quinn; SP-33/1
28 ran; Time-1m 38.53s; Dist-1⁄2, 2, ns

2010-WINNER-INVISIBLE MAN 4-8-09 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-28/1
2ND-Riggins 6-9-00 Owner-Dubai Thoroughbred Racing; Trainer-Andrew Balding; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-12/1 3RD-St Moritz 4-8-07 Owner-Renata Jacobs; Trainer-Mark Johnston; Jockey-Joe Fanning; SP-12/1
4TH-Tryst 5-8-05 Owner-Ms L A Morgan; Trainer-John Hammond FR; Jockey-Hayley Turner; SP-12/1
29 ran; Time-1m 37.16s; Dist-1⁄2, 1, 1 8/1 Fav Dandy Boy (21st)

2009-WINNER-FORGOTTEN VOICE 4-9-01 Owner-Susan Roy; Trainer-Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-4/1 Fav
2ND-Huzzah 4-8-10 Owner-J Gale, J Finch, D Cole, Robin Dollar, David Powell; Trainer-Barry Hills; Jockey-Michael Hills; SP-25/1
3RD-Mia’s Boy 5-9-03 Owner-Iraj Parvizi; Trainer-Chris Dwyer; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-9/1
4TH-Nanton 7-8-06 Owner-Stuart Morrison; Trainer-Jim Goldie; Jockey-Daniel Tudhope; SP-16/1
25 ran; Time-1m 40.41s; Dist-21⁄4, 3⁄4, 11⁄2

2008-WINNER-MR AVIATOR 4-9-05 Owner-Sue Brendish; Trainer-Richard Hannon snr; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-25/1
2ND-Docofthebay 4-9-06 Owner-Paul Dixon; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-10/1
3RD-Royal Power 5-8-12 Owner-David Nicholls; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Adrian Nicholls; SP-25/1
4TH-Kavachi 5-8-04 Owner-Bryan Pennick & Roy Martin; Trainer-Gary Moore; Jockey-Franny Norton 33/1
29 ran, Time-1m 39.63s, Dist-nk, nk, 3⁄4 13/8 Fav Bankable (5th)

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