Coventry Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 15:05
£150,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
6f, Class 1    
Tuesday 20th June 2023

Boylesports

1 River Tiber 11/8F
2 Army Ethos 20/1
3 Bucanero Fuerte 16/1
4 Givemethebeatboys 7/1
20 ran NR: Buyin Buyin, Chief Mankato
Distances: nk, ¾l, ¾l Time: 1m 15.49s (slow by 3.19s)

River Tiber extended his unbeaten record to three with a determined performance in the two-year-old Grade 2.  

The Wootton Bassett colt found plenty for pressure in the closing stages, holding off the fast-finishing Army Ethos by a neck. Bucanero Fuerte was three-quarters of a length further back in third.

River Tiber’s narrow victory was a record tenth Coventry Stakes win for trainer Aidan O’Brien, his first since Arizona in 2019, and fourth for jockey Ryan Moore.

O’Brien said: “We brought River Tiber back to five last time. We got a little bit of a shock, as he came off the bridle over five and lacked a little bit of sharpness. We knew then he was going to get six and seven comfortably.

“When we started working him, he always looked very good. You need the best horse to win the Coventry. He was never disappointing in any of his work and the stronger the work got, the stronger he became. And at the end, the last piece of work he was doing too well, so that was my worry. He has matured a lot, put on a lot of weight, and he just finds it very easy. You could see him through the first part of the race today, he was going very easily.”

He added: “You never expect to have any winner here, that’s the truth. It’s a relief and I’m so delighted for everyone because everyone places so much on this week through the whole year.”

Moore said: “It was tricky to start with, with horses getting upset, and River Tiber didn't settle like he usually would in the stalls. We travelled lovely, although I probably put him to sleep too much, and then had to wake him up to get past Frankie [Dettori on Givemethebeatboys]. He did that and then the other horse Army Ethos attacked in the middle of the track. I think we had a bit more to give and we've always loved him. He's got plenty of speed, but I would have thought he's going to be a Dewhurst horse."

Of River Tiber's physique, Moore said: "We got to the start for a 22-runner race and he stood over all of them. He's different class."

FormRatings

Last year’s winning trainer Archie Watson said of Army Ethos: “We've almost won two Coventrys in a row, which for a yard like us would have been massive.

"I couldn't be happier with the horse – he's always had so much class from the moment Oliver [St Lawrence, bloodstock agent] bought him at the Somerville Yearling Sale. The plan was always to go to Ayr and then come straight here.

"Hollie [Doyle] felt Ryan got a better tow into the race and she had to do it all herself when they started falling away on our side of the track. For a horse on his second run it was a massive effort and I'm very proud of him."

Doyle added: “Army Ethos is a very nice horse – a big shell still with a lot more to come. We probably could have done with being on the other side, realistically, to have something to battle with like the winner has had, but he’s done nothing wrong and ran straight as a die.”

Cleeve Racing £10 trial

Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
£150,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
20 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (6)    River Tiber 2 9-3 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 11/8F
2 (12) nk Army Ethos 2 9-3 Archie Watson Hollie Doyle 20/1
3 (14) ¾ Bucanero Fuerte 2 9-3 Adrian Murray Kevin Stott 16/1
4 (7) ¾ Givemethebeatboys 2 9-3 Mrs John Harrington Frankie Dettori 7/1
5 (8) 1 Haatem 2 9-3 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 28/1
6 (5) shd Bobsleigh 2 9-3 Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop 14/1
7 (13) 1¾ Watch My Tracer 2 9-3 George Scott Daniel Muscutt 50/1
8 (19) ¾ Spanish Phoenix 2 9-3 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 33/1
9 (17) ½ Asadna 2 9-3 George Boughey William Buick 7/2
10 (16) 5½ Cuban Thunder 2 9-3 Dominic Ffrench Davis Rossa Ryan 50/1
11 (15) nk Fandom 2 9-3 Wesley A Ward John Velazquez 11/1
12 (11) 1½ Emperor's Son 2 9-3 Richard Fahey Oisin Orr 22/1
13 (21) 1¼ The Camden Colt 2 9-3 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 80/1
14 (22) hd Prince X J 2 9-3 M D O'Callaghan Colin Keane 200/1
15 (3) nk Ticktyboo 2 9-3 Nigel Tinkler Rowan Scott 200/1
16 (2) 3 Flag Of St George 2 9-3 Jane Chapple-Hyam Robert Tart 66/1
17 (4) ½ Politico 2 9-3 Charlie Johnston James Doyle 100/1
18 (20) 2 Alfa Whiteburd 2 9-3 Craig Lidster Clifford Lee 300/1
19 (1) 6 Packard 2 9-3 Richard Hannon David Egan 80/1
20 (18) 1¾ Zoulu Chief 2 9-3 Heather Main Billy Loughnane 125/1
WD 6 (9) Buyin Buyin 2 9-3 W P Browne WITHDRAWN
WD 7 (10) Chief Mankato 2 9-3 Charles Hills WITHDRAWN

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COVENTRY STAKES
Previous results

YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WEIGHT SP

2022 BRADSELL Archie Watson Hollie Doyle Victorious Racing 2 9-03 8/1
2021 BERKSHIRE SHADOW Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd No1 Fanclub 2-9-01 11/1
2020 NANDO PARRADO Clive Cox Adam Kirby Marie McCartan 2-9-01 150/1
2019 LORD GLITTERS Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 2-9-01 15/8F
2018 CALYX John Gosden Frankie Dettori Khalid Abdullah 2-9-01 2/1F
2017 RAJASINGHE Richard Spencer Stevie Donohoe Rebel Racing 2-9-01 11/1
2016 CARAVAGGIO Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 2-9-01 13/8F
2015 BURATINO Mark Johnston William Buick Godolphin 2-9-01 6/1
2014 THE WOW SIGNAL John Quinn Frankie Dettori Al Shaqab Racing 2-9-01 5/1JF
2013 WAR COMMAND Aidan O’Brien IRE J A Heffernan J Allen/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith 2-9-01 20/1
2012 DAWN APPROACH Jim Bolger IRE Kevin Manning Jackie Bolger/J P Spain 2-9-01 7/2
2011 POWER Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier 2-9-01 4/1F
2010 STRONG SUIT Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Julie Wood 2-9-01 15/8F
2009 CANFORD CLIFFS Richard Hannon Richard Hughes The Heffer Syndicate 2-9-01 7/4F
2008 ART CONNOISSEUR Michael Bell Jamie Spencer Richard Green 2-9-01 8/1
2007 HENRYTHENAVIGATOR Aidan O’Brien IRE Michael Kinane Sue Magnier 2-9-01 11/4F
2006 HELLVELYN Bryan Smart Ted Durcan Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed 2-9-01 4/1JF
2005 RED CLUBS Barry Hills Michael Hills Ronnie Arculli 2-8-12 11/2
2004 ICEMAN John Gosden Kieren Fallon Cheveley Park Stud 2-8-12 5/1JF
2003 THREE VALLEYS Roger Charlton Richard Hughes Khalid Abdullah 2-8-12 7/1
2002 STATUE OF LIBERTY Aidan O’Brien IRE Michael Kinane Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 2-8-12 5/2F
2001 LANDSEER Aidan O’Brien IRE Jamie Spencer Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 2-8-12 20/1
2000 CD EUROPE Mick Channon Steve Drowne Circular Distributors Ltd 2-8-12 8/1
1999 FASLIYEV Aidan O’Brien IRE Michael Kinane Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 2-8-12 15/8F
1998 RED SEA Paul Cole Richard Quinn Fahd Salman 2-8-12 6/1
1997 HARBOUR MASTER Aidan O’Brien IRE Christy Roche Sue Magnier 2-8-12 16/1
1996VERGLAS Kevin Prendergast IRE Willie Supple Chryss O'Reilly 2 8-12 9/1
1995 ROYAL APPLAUSE Barry Hills Walter Swinburn Maktoum Al Maktoum 2 8-12 13/2
1994 SRI PEKAN Paul Cole Richard Quinn Sultan Ahmad Shah 2 8-13 6/1
1993 STONEHATCH Peter Chapple-Hyam John Reid Robert Sangster 2 8-13 EvensF
1992 PETARDIA Geoff Wragg Walter Swinburn Mollers Racing 2 8-13 5/1CF
1991 DILUM Paul Cole Alan Munro Fahd Salman 2 8-13 11/10 F
1990 MAC'S IMP Bill O'Gorman Alan Munro Tamdown Ltd 2 8-13 2/1F
1989 ROCK CITY Richard Hannon Willie Carson A F Budge (Equine) Ltd 2 8-13 9/1
1988 HIGH ESTATE Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Jim Joel 2 8-13 10/11 F
1987 ALWAYS FAIR Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn Maktoum Al Maktoum 2 8-13 9/2
1986 CUTTING BLADE Lester Piggott Cash Asmussen Mahmoud Fustok 2 8-11 11/1
1985 SURE BLADE Barry Hills Brent Thomson Sheikh Mohammed 2 8-11 3/1F
1984 PRIMO DOMINIE Brian Swift John Reid Peter Wetzel 2 8-11 4/7F
1983 CHIEF SINGER Ron Sheather Ray Cochrane Jeff Smith 2 8-11 20/1
1982 HORAGE Matt McCormack Pat Eddery Ahmed Rachid 2 8-11 85/40
1981 RED SUNSET Guy Harwood Greville Starkey Paddy Burns 2 8-11 14/1
1980 RECITATION Guy Harwood Greville Starkey Anthony Bodie 2 8-11 11/1
1979 VARINGO Ryan Price Brian Taylor PTP Plant Hire Ltd 2 8-11 11/8F
1978 LAKE CITY Ryan Price Brian Taylor Harry Demetriou 2 8-11 7/1
1977 SOLINUS Vincent O'Brien IRE Lester Piggott Daniel Schwartz 2 8-11 7/4F
1976 CAWSTON'S CLOWN Neil Adam Taffy Thomas John Murrell 2 8-11 11/2

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