Queen's Vase
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 15:05
£262,500 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m 6f 34y, Class 1  
Wednesday 15th June 2022

SureWIn

1 Eldar Eldarov 5/2F
2 Zechariah 20/1
3 Hafit 9/1
12 ran Distances: nse, nk, 5l
Time: 2m 1.33s (fast by 1m 0.17s)

Eldar Eldarov justified his strong home reputation by snatching victory in a thrilling finish to the Group 2.
 
The unbeaten colt joined Zechariah on the line and, after a considerable wait, the judge finally called David Egan's mount the winner, much to the delight of favourite backers.
 
After breaking slowly, Egan was forced to hold the 5/2 market leader up towards the back of the field but the splits came early in the straight and the son of  Dubawi  made up ground hand over fist to reel in the leader in the final stride. 
 
It was heartache for Zechariah and jockey Colin Keane, with Hafit just a neck off the front pair in third.
 
It was a 10th Royal Ascot success for trainer Roger Varian, who said: “The ground was a concern because Eldar Eldarov is so inexperienced – we had so little racecourse experience to go on.
 
“I thought we were a good winner before the line and a good winner after the line, but I thought we got the bob wrong, which sometimes can go against you. I'm delighted for KHK, Sheikh Khalid and everyone involved. They are supporting the industry very strongly, they are supporting me… days like this are very special to all of us, and to get the horse home in front with a lot of expectations is very satisfying.
 
“The horse just didn’t thrive in the spring. There was a lot of chat about him in the winter – he’d won at Nottingham in a similar style as the Derby winner – those end of October maidens, look at the horses that come out of them. So of course we were excited about him, hoping to get him to a Derby trial, which we couldn’t do. We went to Newcastle – if he was to go to Royal Ascot, he had to run, but I think he was only 90 per cent. That was a strong novice – the third won by nine lengths off 86 next time and we gave him 7lb. Then we were unsure, King Edward VII Stakes or Queen’s Vase, and the ground we were unsure about as well. I just thought, on fast ground, he looks like a horse laden with lots of stamina, so let’s go the distance. And he got every inch of it – David [Egan] said he couldn’t pull him up. Who knows what his future holds in terms of trip, but he obviously stays very well. There is a lot to come from this horse and I think his best days are ahead of him.
 
“He put in one hell of a performance and you would think looking down the road that he could develop into a St Leger horse. Even looking to next year, hopefully he can keep improving."

Trainers Quotes

David Egan said: “I have never hit the line so strong in a mile and six-furlong race and ended up by the St James's Palace Stakes start. Eldar Eldarov was full of running. They went a nice gallop and everything worked out well. 
 
“I am delighted to get his head in front and it's all down to my sponsor Shaikh Khalid. He is a man who from the beginning started having racehorses and said he wanted a stallion. To win a race like that, he has done that now and I am over the moon for him.
 
“I was happy to sit mid-division. I was hoping I could sit one off the rail. I was very lucky to be able to follow the Godolphin horse. I then switched out and it was just a case of winding this lad up. I was happy he ran in this race as I think stamina is his biggest attribute. He ran well there on quick ground and we always thought he was a horse who would also like ease in the ground - there is a lot more to come."
 
Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of KHK Racing said: “We were worried about the ground. He is a special horse to me because I chose him. We saw the horse and I liked him. He was so special from day one. Getting into a Group race was a concern, and I didn't want to push the horse to the limit.
 
“Eldar Eldarov showed he can do better, and he will do better. My brother was sure we had won, but I was blinded so I couldn't be sure. It was a very tough one.”
 
Martyn Meade said of Zechariah: “A nod! Can you believe it? A mile and six furlongs and you think crikey, I don't need to lose by that! That's racing for you!
 
"We thought for a minute we'd won it, but we were on the stands and could not really tell, we were too far away. It must have been a difficult one to call, a dead-heat would have been preferable.
 
"We have been waiting to run him over this sort of distance and have been building up to this. The betting did not show it, but we had a lot of faith coming into this and he looked as though he'd been well placed at one stage.
 
"Today was a bit of an experiment to see if our judgment had been right and he would get the trip. It opens up a whole new array of opportunities. He could have Cup hopes in time.
 
"Travelling to Australia could be an option with Aquis involved [Australian stud farm]. They have horses with us to run them here, but he might be better there in time.”

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Queen's Vase (Group 2)
£262,500 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 6f 34y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY
1 (3)     Eldar Eldarov 3 9-2 Roger Varian David Egan 5/2F
2 (6) nse Zechariah 3 9-2 Freddie & Martyn Meade Colin Keane 20/1
3 (1) nk Hafit 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby James Doyle 9/1
4 (8) 5 Al Qareem 3 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 10/1
5 (9) 1¼ Anchorage 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 15/2
6 (7) 1½ Nahanni 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 7/2
7 (12) ¾ Green Team 3 9-2 Owen Burrows Marco Ghiani 40/1
8 (10) shd Typewriter 3 8-13 Andrew Balding David Probert 33/1
9 (2) 1¾ Ruler Legend 3 9-2 J A Stack Jamie Spencer 25/1
10 (5) ¾ Perfect Alibi 3 8-13 William Haggas Tom Marquand 22/1
11 (4) 4¾ Emotion 3 8-13 John & Thady Gosden Cieren Fallon 14/1
12 (11) 5 Baltic Bird 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori 15/2

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QUEEN’S VASE WINNERS

YEAR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2021 2 KEMARI Charlie Appleby William Buick Godolphin 3-9-00 15/2
2020 2 SANTIAGO Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-00 100/30
2019 2 DASHING WILLOUGHBY Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy Mick & Janice Mariscotti 3-9-00 6/1
2018 2 KEW GARDENS Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-00 10/3
2017 2 STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Andrea Atzeni Bjorn Nielsen 3-9-00 11/2
2016 L SWORD FIGHTER Aidan O’Brien IRE Colm O’Donoghue Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier 3-9-03 33/1
2015 L ALOFT Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-03 5/2F
2014 3 HARTNELL Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-03 7/2
2013 3 LEADING LIGHT Aidan O’Brien IRE Joseph O’Brien Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-04 5/4F
2012 3 ESTIMATE Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore H M The Queen 3-8-12 3/1F
2011 3 NAMIBIAN Mark Johnston Silvestre De Sousa Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-01 7/2F
2010 3 MIKHAIL GLINKA Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 3-9-01 2/1F
2009 3 HOLBERG Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-01 7/1
2008 PATKAI Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Ballymacoll Stud 3-9-01 6/4F
2007 3 MAHLER Aidan O’Brien IRE Michael Kinane Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith 3-9-01 7/1
2006 3 SOAPY DANGER Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Renata Jacobs 3-9-01 4/1
*2005 3 MELROSE AVENUE Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 4/1
2004 3 DUKE OF VENICE Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-11 9/2
2003 3 SHANTY STAR Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-11 7/2F
2002 3 MAMOOL Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-11 9/1
2001 3 AND BEYOND Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-11 11/1
2000/20/06 3 DALAMPOUR Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon H H Aga Khan 3-8-11 3/1F
1999 3 ENDORSEMENT Henry Cecil Kieren Fallon Cliveden Stud 3-8-06 5/1
1998 3 MARIDPOUR Sir Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn H H Aga Khan 3-8-11 6/1
1997 3 WINDSOR CASTLE Paul Cole Richard Quinn Fahd Salman 3-8-11 9/2
1996 3 GORDI Dermot Weld IRE Michael Kinane Allen Paulson 3-8-11 7/1
1995 3 STELVIO Henry Cecil Michael Kinane Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 7/4F
1994 3 SILVER WEDGE Geoff Lewis Michael Hills Shirley Robins 3-8-11 20/1
1993 3 INFRASONIC Andre Fabre FR Pat Eddery Khalid Abdullah 3-8-11 3/1F
1992 3 LANDOWNER John Gosden Ray Cochrane Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 8/1
1991 3 JENDALI Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 15/2
1990 L RIVER GOD Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 6/4F
1989 L WELD William Jarvis Bruce Raymond Lord Howard de Walden 3-8-09 16/1
1988 L GREEN ADVENTURE Guy Harwood Greville Starkey J Garcia-Roady 3-8-09 6/4F
1987 L ARDEN Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Lord Howard de Walden 3-8-09 7/2
1986 L STAVORDALE Tom Jones Michael Roberts Solna Thomson Jones 3-7-10 33/1
1985 3 WASSL MERBAYEH Tom Jones Richard Hills Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 3-8-00 6/1
1984 3 BAYNOUN Fulke Johnson Houghton Willie Carson H H Aga Khan 3-8-00 13/8F
1983 3 SANTELLA MAN Guy Harwood Greville Starkey Roy Taiano 4-9-08 11/1
1982 3 EVZON Clive Brittain Lester Piggott Capt Marcos Lemos 4-9-03 16/1
1981 3 ORE Kevin Prendergast IRE Willie Carson Patrick Prendergast 3-8-00 15/2
1980 3 TOONDRA Michael Jarvis Paul Cook Lady Beaverbrook 3-8-00 15/2
1979 3 BUTTRESS Dick Hern Willie Carson H M Queen 3-8-05 3/1F
1978 3 LE MOSS Henry Cecil Geoff Baxter Carlo d’Alessio 3-8-00 7/4F
1977 3 MILLIONAIRE Peter Walwyn Pat Eddery Mrs D McCalmont 3-8-05 8/1
*run at York
run at two miles from 1977 to 2016.

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